SAD!! Holland Midfielder Suffers Brain Damage After Collapsing During Pre-Season Friendly

Ajax midfielder Abdelhak Nouri suffered “serious and permanent brain damage” after collapsing in a friendly match on Saturday.

The 20-year-old had “cardiac arrhythmias” – heart rhythm problems – during the game against Werder Bremen.

The club statement said the chances of recovery from the damage is nil.

It added: “The diagnosis was made that a lot of [his] brain is not functioning. All this probably occurred due to a lack of oxygen supply.”

On Monday, the club had said tests showed his “heart is functioning normally” and brain scans did not detect “any anomalies” – but new tests revealed the extent of the damage.

The Amsterdam-born player was flown by helicopter to hospital in Austria – where the abandoned friendly match was being played.

Ajax say he will soon be transferred to a hospital in Amsterdam for further care.

Former Manchester United and Fulham goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, now CEO at Ajax, said: “This is the worst possible message. It is terrible. We feel enormously for his parents, siblings and other relatives.

“The blow is also difficult for Ajax, though we knew we had to consider this scenario. They were uncertain days, lots of people in different ways have sympathised with his situation and is greatly appreciated.

“Abdelhak is such a great talent, but unfortunately we will never know how far his star would have reached had this not happened. ”

Nouri played 15 league and cup games for Ajax in 2016-17, scoring one goal in a Dutch Cup tie.

Arsenal New Signing Lacazette Scores On Debut As Gunners Beat Sydney FC 2-0

New signing Alexandre Lacazette took only 15 minutes to score on his first outing in an Arsenal shirt as he helped to complete a 2-0 friendly victory over Sydney FC.

Sydney FC 0-2 Arsenal: Lacazette scores in pre-season friendly – as it happened
Goals from Per Mertesacker and Alexandre Lacazette gave the Gunners victory on their tour match at the ANZ Stadium
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The £52.7m club-record signing from Lyon was introduced by Arsène Wenger as a 68th-minute substitute in a position just behind Olivier Giroud and showed some neat early touches, dropping deep to link up play and involving his new team-mates as often as possible.

But it was his impact in the 83rd minute that will have pleased Wenger and the club’s fans, with the forward timing a run into the box impeccably before connecting crisply with the ball to steer home Alex Iwobi’s low cross from the right.

Arsenal’s first goal came from an unlikely source, with the centre-back Per Mertesacker bundling the ball home with a hooked overhead kick from a Mesut Özil corner that the hosts failed to deal with.

The match, watched by 80,000 fans at the ANZ Stadium, would have ended 3-0 to Arsenal but for a fine save from Andrew Redmayne from a second-half Danny Welbeck penalty.

Fellow new recruit Sead Kolasinac started the game as Wenger stuck with the 3-4-2-1 formation he adopted towards the end of last season. Arsenal played with purpose throughout as Özil and Theo Walcott stretched Sydney’s defence but struggled with the the final ball. The lively 17-year-old Reiss Nelson was a handful on the right flank while fellow young debutant Joe Willock slalomed through Sydney’s defence.

But the hosts sparked just before the break as Petr Cech denied a marauding Josh Brillante, before Matt Simon turned the rebound into the outside of the back post. Sydney spun into action in the second half and substitute Christopher Zuvela forced replacement Arsenal goalkeeper Emi Martinez into a sharp save.

Wenger then executed a 10-man substitution in the 68th minute, which led to a disjointed period of play before Lacazette’s sharp finish.

Before the match, Sydney FC confirmed that their right-back Rhyan Grant will be sidelined for most of the new A-League season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.

Grant, who was a key part of Sydney’s record-breaking premiership-championship double, went down during a routine passing drill in training this week and will require surgery on his left knee. The injury comes four years after the 26-year-old had suffered the same injury to his opposite knee.

Super Eagles Boss Rohr Finally Gives Update On Resignation Report

Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, has denied reports that he was considering dumping the Nigerian senior national team.

Reports emerged yesterday that the Franco-German gaffer was being frustrated by the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF’s Technical Committee by their attempt to interfere in his job.

But reacting to the report, Rohr told ESPN, “I have seen the reports and there is no truth to this.”

Reports in the British media suggested that Rohr, who has been successful with the Super Eagles in the World Cup qualifiers, may tender his resignation when he meets with the NFF leadership in Morocco during the CAF meetings.

He was said to be very angry at what he considers “meddling” in his work by the NFF’s Technical Committee led by Chris Green.

Nigeria lost 2-0 to South Africa in a 2019 African Nations Cup qualifier, but sit top of their qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup of 2018, and could all but secure a place at the World Cup in Russia with a win over Cameroon next month in Uyo.

Man Kidnaps Himself And Demanded N60m From Sibling

The police in Lagos have arrested one Ufom Udoh for allegedly staging his kidnap in order to fleece his sibling.

The incident occurred on July 3, at Liverpool, Apapa. It was gathered that one Victor Udoh, had reported at the police command that his younger brother was kidnapped by unknown persons.

According to the command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), the case was referred to the anti-kidnapping unit and they swung into action.

He said the unit traced all calls the complainant got on his phone, adding that it led to the arrest of one Paul Okiemute, who reported the case at Udoh’s work place.

Okiemute, upon questioning confessed that Udoh staged his own kidnap to collect money from his elder brother due to his financial problems.

Famous-Cole said: “Udoh was not kidnapped. It was all planned. He staged his own kidnap so that his elder brother can pay ransom.”

The suspect said he made calls to the victim’s elder brother with an unknown number demanding a ransom of N60 million.

“Udoh was later picked up and he confessed to the crime. He said he had checked into a hotel at Iyana-Ipaja area on July 3, where he spent three nights without food and water.

“The suspect said he later trekked to Ifo area in Ogun state, only to return to Lagos looking frail for his story to look convincing,” said Famous-Cole.

Police spokesman said the Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, has directed that Udoh and his accomplice be charged to court to serve as deterrent to others likely to cause breach of peace.

Manchester United Named Most Valuable Football Team In The World (See Top 10)

Manchester United have been named the most valuable football team in the world, according to Forbes Magazine’s annual list.

In the overall list, the Dallas Cowboys are in first position.

The Dallas Cowboys deposed Real Madrid as the world’s most valuable team in 2016 and have retained their position as the world’s most valuable sports team.

Manchester United, top of the list in 2011 and 2012, moved above Barcelona and Real Madrid as the most valuable football team at $3.69bn (£2.86bn).

“Relocations and new stadiums are fuelling big increases in the value of NFL teams,” Kurt Badenhausen, senior editor at Forbes Media, explained.

Forbes’ top 10 most valuable teams

1. Dallas Cowboys $4.2bn (£3.26bn) American football

2. New York Yankees $3.7bn (£2.87bn) baseball

3. Manchester United $3.69bn (£2.86bn) football

4. Barcelona $3.64bn (£2.82bn) football

5. Real Madrid $3.58bn (£2.78bn) football

6. New England Patriots $3.4bn (£2.64bn) American football

7. New York Knicks $3.3bn (£2.56bn) basketball

8. New York Giants $3.1bn (£2.4bn) American football

9. San Francisco 49ers $3bn (£2.33bn) American football

10. Los Angeles Lakers $3bn (£2.33bn) basketball

I Want To Stay At Arsenal

Mesut Ozil says he wants to stay at Arsenal and will discuss his future with the club after a pre-season tour of Australia and China, BBC Sport reports.

The midfielder, 28, is under contract with Arsenal until 2018 but speculation over his future has been widespread.

“It is definitely my preference to stay,” the German said on Wednesday.

“Once everyone is back in London, we will sit down and discuss the future. I have always said that I feel very good at Arsenal.”

Arsenal face Sydney FC on Thursday  and Western Sydney Wanderers  on Saturday before heading to China for two further games.

Arsene Wenger’s side meet Bayern Munich on July 19  in Shanghai and Chelsea  on  July 22 in Beijing before returning to England.

“For now the most important thing is our pre-season and getting through the tour, training and getting fitness,” added Ozil, who joined Arsenal from Real Madrid for £42.4m in 2013.

“I have always said that I feel very good at Arsenal.”

While Ozil appears keen to stay, the futures of Chile forward Alexis Sanchez and France striker Olivier Giroud remain less clear.

Giroud, 30, has been with Arsenal for five years but has been linked with moves to Premier League rivals Everton and West Ham.

“I’ve been through some difficulty this last year, but always succeed to bounce back,” said the former Montpellier forward.

“I’m still an Arsenal player and try to be professional like I always have done and to prepare well for the next season.”

Meanwhile, Sanchez has been linked with Manchester City.

“It would hit the team quite hard if he left because he is a player who always delivers,” said Ozil.

SPORTS Rohr not dumping Eagles – NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation has moved to deny  reports that the Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has threatened to ditch the national team.

Some online outlets reported on Wednesday that the German, who was barracked by fans and the media  after Nigeria suffered a shock   2-0 defeat at the  hands of one of their fierce rivals South Africa in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo on June 10,  had threatened to dump the Eagles because he was  frustrated with how he was treated after  the defeat.

According to the reports, the former Gabon manager may tender his resignation  next week, sparking fears  the development could jeopardise  the country’s Russia 2018 World Cup qualification hopes.

But spokesman for the NFF Ademola Olajire dismissed the reports, saying “there’s nothing it”.

“It’s not true that the coach  has threatened to resign,” Olajire told our correspondent on the telephone.

“He’s preparing for the World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon (in September)  and we are supporting him.

“There’s nothing in the reports; there’s nothing like the coach resigning.”

Rohr is expected to visit Carl Ikeme, who was diagnosed with  acute leukaemia, last Thursday and Victor Moses, who has undergone a toe surgery, in England.

Wolves shot-stopper Ikeme is a long-term absentee for the Eagles as he has begun chemotherapy, which could run for months.

However, Premier League winner Moses is expected to return to action  in time for the crucial Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers against African champions  Cameroon.

The Chelsea right wing-back has not featured for  the Eagles  since his brace against Algeria in November in a World Cup qualifier in Uyo last year. Nigeria defeated the North Africans 3-1.

“Rohr is on his way to England to visit both Ikeme and Victor Moses after their latest fitness concerns,” a source  told SCORENigeria.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s title-winning stars have been handed limited edition watches as a thank-you from owner Roman Abramovich.

According to The Mirror, each player received their Hublot watch this week with a note from Blues chairman Bruce Buck, who congratulated the squad on ‘creating history’ last season.

Willian and Nathaniel Chalobah took to Instagram to reveal their new timepieces which came courtesy of the club’s official timekeeper.

A note from Buck accompanying the gifts for both players read:

“On behalf of Mr Abramovich and also on behalf of the board of directors of the club, congratulations on creating history during the 2016/17 season.”