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Maradona’s “Hand Of God” shirt goes on sale for $2 million T. he shirt worn by Diego Maradona when he scored his famous “Hand Of God” goal against England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico could be available for $2 million following the Argentine’s death on Wednesday, says an American sports memorabilia expert. The shirt is owned by former England player Steve Hodge, who got it from Maradona after the match in which his attempted back pass led to the controversial goal that helped dump England out of the tournament which Argentina went on to win in Mexico. “I was walking down the tunnel and Maradona was coming in the opposite direction. I just tugged my shirt and we swapped there and then,” Hodge, who had been delayed on leaving the pitch doing a TV interview, told British media. The shirt is currently on display at England’s National Football Museum in Manchester. “It’s very difficult to gauge (the value) with the “Hand Of God” jersey, but I know that the owner was looking for a $2 million private sale,” David Amerman of Goldin Auction in New Jersey told Reuters. “It certainly could be a possibility, the values have jumped quite a bit in soccer.” … Police launch investigation into Maradona’s death *Okoku, SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 29, 2020, PAGE 23 Diego Maradona’s death will be investigated by Argentinian police to decide whether it was a case of medical negligence, judicial sources have revealed. Recordings from neighbourhood security cameras have been requested by three prosecutors working on the case. Maradona died of ‘acute lung edema and chronic heart failure’, according to a preliminary autopsy report, in his sleep at noon while resting at his home in Tigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday. His laywer, Marias Morla, had earlier called for an investigation into claims ambulances took more than half an hour to reach the football star’s home in response to a call on the day of his death. The prosecutor’s office in Buenos Aires has opened a file entitled ‘Maradona, Diego. Determination of the cause of death.’ Okoku lauds mandate to have four NPFL stars in Eagles E x-international, Paul Okoku, has welcomed the decision to mandate Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, to include four players from the Nigeria Professional Football League in future Super Eagles squads. Speaking against the backdrop of the recent poor showing of a wholly foreign-based Eagles squad against Sierra Leone in a 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Dennis faces fine of 100,000 Euros Emmanuel Dennis should be fined at least 100,000 Euros after he stormed off the team bus for a UEFA Champions League tie, according to a former star of Club Brugge. This week, Dennis caused a huge uproar when he got off the team bus heading for a Champions League clash after he was not allowed to sit where he wanted. He was dropped for the game at Borussia Dortmund, which Club Brugge lost 3-0. Former Club Brugge star Gert Verheyen has now said the player ought to be hit seriously in the pocket for him to come round to his senses. “The board has to resolve this matter. The only way to check such behavior is with a heavy fine”, Verheyen told Het Nieuwsblad Aribo not suffering from corona virus, Rangers reveal Glasgow Rangers have disclosed that striker, Joe Aribo was not suffering from corona virus as was being speculated, but only a stomach infection. A tweet from the club said: “Rangers can confirm that Joe Aribo is currently being treated for a minor illness and is being monitored accordingly over the weekend. We expect Joe to rejoin the first-team squad *Dennis early this week.” On Thursday, coach Steven Gerrard had said: “Joe was unwell. He had a stomach complaint last night. Hopefully he will be available for the weekend. “It’s important to say it is not Covid-related. He was negative on his test, before people start putting two and two together” *Maradona double-header earlier in the month, Okoku frowned at the reluctance of Rohr to have home-based players in his squad. A member of the Eagles team that won silver at the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations under Coach Adegboye Onigbinde, Okoku, said that it was commendable that the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare and top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation, led by President Amaju Melvin Pinnick, were in agreement on the need to have at least four NPFL stars in the country’s elite team. Speaking further, Okoku, a former vice-captain of the first Flying Eagles team to qualify for the 1983 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Mexico, said that, ‘’this decision will encourage our players in Nigeria to be at their best in all games because they know that somebody is watching them and if they excel, they will most probably get an invitation to the Super Eagles team. ‘’It is a morale booster for the players playing at home and serves as an impetus to reach for heights never reached before and increases the competitive spirit in the players, the local teams and the Super Eagles. ‘’This is the way to go because no meaningful and sustainable development can be attained in our football if we neglect the homebased players in our Super Eagles squad. “Players like my humble self, Tarila Okorowanta, the Olukanni brothers, Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amiesiamaka, Taju Disu, the late Stephen Keshi and a host of others, were discovered from the local scene and going back to that model of football development is the way to go for the success of the Super Eagles’’, added Okoku, winner of the first Tessema Cup with Nigeria in 1984. Going forward, Okoku said that, ‘’I would love to see the number of homebased talents in the Eagles rise, without putting a cap on the number’’. Piqué wants Messi at Barca for years to come *Piqué and Messi Gerard Piqué hopes Barcelona can convince Lionel Messi to stay at the club for years to come. Messi, 33, sensationally requested to leave the La- Liga giants during the close season, but ended up staying at the club. However, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner is linked with the likes of Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter with his contract expiring at the end of the season.But Piqué hopes Messi will remain at Barça, where he has spent his entire professional career. “We will have to ask Leo. It is his personal decision … and we will see what happens,” the defender told Radio Marca. “I believe that as long as he continues to wear the Barça shirt there is always hope. “We hope they can seduce him so that he stays more years.” Outrage as Edo 2020 postponement hits athletes, coaches hard By Ben Efe Nigerian athletes and coaches have been pouring out their hearts after the Presidential Task Force on Covid’19 and the Sports Ministry threw the spanner in the works of the National Sports Festival. “Edo 2020” was postponed for the second time last week with just a few days to the start of the festival and it set off alarm bells among athletes and coaches around the country. Though the sports fiesta has now been rescheduled for January 3-17 in Benin City, the main actors are not impressed by the seeming lack of understanding of how much work they have put into preparations, only for the powers that be to pull the plug. “It is very demoralising, the zeal to focus on training and performance has been thwarted,” coach Johnny Igboka fired from Awka, Anambra State. “Athletes have targeted time for training and each time the festival is postponed, time and money are lost and who is going to bear the cost in these hard times?” “It’s devastating, discouraging and disappointing,” high jump coach, Kola Adebayo gushed out, as he let down his stopwatch during a competition at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos. “It seems our governament doesn't have the interest of the athletes at heart. We devote so much energy preparing. This is the life of many of our youths. “Is the government trying to sabotage our efforts? Because I don’t want to believe that it is because of coronavirus they are doing this. Other countries that are hardest hit by the virus have moved on. Even in midst of the pandemic, sports is going on in those countries, so why is Nigeria doing this to us? “We have only a few athletes who have qualified for the Olympics. Those who are eager to meet the standards are looking to use the narrow window to earn qualification before the Games next year. “And then as a country you now shut down such an opportunity. Nigeria does next to nothing for her athletes and now you are slowing down the efforts of athletes who are struggling to meet world standards. Is this not sabotage? “This thing is even more than what we are seeing,’’ sprinter and coach, Prince Adegboyega Emmanuel concurred. Most parents are even so discouraged and have urged their wards not to come into athletics. “I can’t even look at some of the parents in the face anymore, because it hard to convince them athletics will help them achieve their aims in life,”said coach Isaac Osagie- Ikhabome. Deji Aliu, who won the world junior in 1992 couldn’t hide his feelings. “I feel so ashamed to call myself a Nigerian. They don’t have any regard for how the athletes and their coaches feel. “We worked so hard in training and then what do we get, postponement after postponement. Is this how it is done in other countries? And we are aiming to match their results?’’, he asked rhetorically. NWFL: Edo Queens target success Edo Queens Football Club of Benin-City captain Os ahenoma Igbinovia, has reiterated the club’s commitment in winning laurels in the forthcoming 2020/21 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) season. Captain Osahenoma, told her colleagues during a training session in Abuja to brace up, adding that the only way to get the State government’s attention is by winning matches. “We must know that it is no longer business as usual,if we must enjoy full support of the State government, it is mandatory for us to win matches, because the only way to draw government’s attention to meet our demands is for us to show total commitment to our job and doing very well.” “We should remember that Edo Queens FC is highly rated among female clubs in the country, and alot of female league players want to come to Edo Queens because of the commitment of the State government towards the club and rebranding that has taken place. So it is our collective responsibility to ensure that Edo Queens do what is expected of them as professional league players.” Liverpool fans angry over Salah’s disallowed goal Liverpool fans have questioned how pedantic VAR should be after Mohamed Salah had a goal against Brighton and Hove Albion ruled out. The Reds thought Salah had put them into the lead against Brighton when the attacker ran through and slotted past Mat Ryan. It was a devastatingly efficient attack which was ultimately ruled out by the narrowest of offsides. It prompted fans to question why VAR decisions with offside should not be clear and obvious like it is with penalties. Despite the decision, pundits Peter Crouch and Joe Cole praised the build-up play for the disallowed goal. Cole said it was an example of the quality Liverpool have in their side and praised Salah’s finish, which bounced over the goalkeeper after initially hitting the ground. He said: “When you play for Liverpool and you have that quality, you can make things out of nothing. “They were poor, Liverpool, but this is exquisite, this is divine. The finish, he’s bearing down on goal, it’s on his weak foot, and he’s hit it into the ground, Salah, and you can’t discount the fact that, a player of his quality, I think he’s done that on purpose.”
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