Author: Editor

By Paul Chukwurah


The first lesson is to know one’s self: Who am I? What am I?
Until we discover who we truly are and why we exist on earth, we would be living in someone else’s shadow!

By Paul  Chukwurah


Often, people leave the less difficult things and engage in chasing after the wind. Which is easier: To be one’s self or to be something else? 
The world awaits our individual real self, and it takes boldness to express it!

It’s one thing to have interest in a thing and another thing to be committed to a thing. The difference between the two is what distinguishes achievers from the unfulfilled!

By Paul Chukwurah


It’s miserable to labour only for food and blissful to engage in such works that future generations would benefit from – Labour not thy self for that perishes!

By Samuel Ekun

Gerrard joined Liverpool aged nine and has played 695 games in all competitions, scoring 180 goals.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says the word “legend” does not do Steven Gerrard justice after the midfielder confirmed he will leave the club.


Captain Gerrard, 34, whose contract expires this summer, is believed to be wanted by clubs in the United States.
“It is almost an impossible task to find the words to appropriately sum up Steven Gerrard,” said Rodgers.
“As a leader and as a man, he is probably incomparable to anyone I have ever worked with.”


BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty:
“Steven Gerrard’s decision will leave a hole that manager Brendan Rodgers will find incredibly difficult to fill. Gerrard remains an iconic figure, a footballer who arguably competes with Kenny Dalglish for the title of the greatest ever to wear the red shirt.”


Read more from Phil McNulty
Gerrard joined Liverpool aged nine and has played 695 games in all competitions, scoring 180 goals.


In a statement, Gerrard called his decision to leave the club “the toughest” of his life, adding that he would continue playing – but not in the Premier League.
Rodgers added: “This is an era where the word ‘legend’ is vastly overused, but in his case it actually doesn’t do him justice.
“As a player he is immense and the influence he has on games should never be understated.
“At times he has carried this club on his back and in my time here he has always shown the ability that has rightly seen him be regarded as one of the world’s best for well over a decade.
“He is also someone who has always put the club and team ahead of himself and I think that will ultimately be his legacy.
“People better placed than me to judge have said Steven is Liverpool’s greatest ever player; when you look at the company he is in, that is some statement.”


Gerrard in numbers
695 – Club appearances (all competitions) 180 – Club goals (all competitions)
494 – Premier League appearances 116 – Premier League goals
114 – England caps 21 – England goals
10 – Main trophies won 8 – Appearances in PFA Team of the Year
3 – Appearances in FifPro World XI 6 – Premier League player of the month


Liverpool’s owners have told Gerrard that he will always have a place at club.
“There is sadness that such a great player and person is leaving and won’t be playing for Liverpool beyond this season,” said Liverpool owner John W Henry and chairman Tom Werner in a joint statement.
“But there is also a sense of celebration and gratitude, that we’ve all been privileged to watch and work with one of the true greats, not just of this club, but the game in general.
“His contribution to the club is almost beyond measure.”


Reaction from Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool team-mates


Striker Rickie Lambert: “Stevie is his own man but he is Mr Liverpool. He is number one for me and I think he always will be. He has meant everything to me growing up as a Liverpool fan.”


Defender Kolo Toure: “Steven is a man for great days. He makes the magic when no-one can make it.”
Striker Mario Balotelli: “I think of him as being at the same level as Pirlo. Vision, technique but he is powerful as well. Steven can do anything, he is an amazing player.”


Striker Daniel Sturridge: “Stevie will always be a legend, not just for Liverpool but to England as well. He will go down in history as one of the best midfielders in the game.


Winger Raheem Sterling: “He’s an inspiration and a great captain.”


Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge told BBC Radio 5 live: “I always knew he was going to be a star. I’ve 
been watching Liverpool for 50 years and he is the best player I have ever seen.
“Someone like Kenny Dalglish was different class but my logic is when Kenny played all 11 players were superstars. Steven has played with some basic, ordinary footballers who wouldn’t have gotten into Kenny’s reserve team.”


Former Liverpool midfielder Ray Houghton added: “He has seen some of the tough time as well as the good times. To go out season after season shows the character of the player. He has been first-class.”

By Samuel Ekun

By Samuel Ekun

Spanish champions Atletico Madrid claim they have turned down an offer from Manchester City for 19-year-old defender Jose Gimenez. (Daily Mirror) (external)

Manchester United are set to make striker Radamel Falcao’s loan deal from Monaco permanent within the coming days after becoming satisfied that the 28-year-old Colombia star is “fully up to scratch physically”. (Metro) (external)

Tottenham are interested in signing Everton midfielder James McCarthy. The 24-year-old cost the Toffees £13m when he joined them in September 2013. (Daily Mail) (external)

Midfielder Frank Lampard, 36, could stay at Manchester City beyond the end of this season, says the club’s manager Manuel Pellegrini. (Guardian) (external)

Birmingham City aim to keep hold of 18-year-old winger Demarai Gray after rejecting a £1.5m bid from Championship leaders Bournemouth. (Birmingham Mail) (external)

Central defender Martin Demichelis, 34, will be offered a new one-year deal with Manchester City to keep him at the club until the summer of 2016.(Manchester Evening News) (external)

OTHER GOSSIPS

Didier Drogba is set to hang up his boots at the end of the season as Chelsea close in on the signing of Croatian striker Andrej Kramaric, with the 36-year-old striker set to take up a coaching role under Jose Mourinho instead. (Daily Express) (external)

Ryan Bertrand, 25, is ready to sign a permanent deal at Southampton when his season-long loan from Chelsea comes to an end. (Setanta.com) (external)


West Brom have tempted former Stoke and Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis back into management with a massive salary and transfer budget.(Sun, subscription required) (external)

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho may face a ban from the Football Association after he criticised the fitness of referee Phil Dowd following the Blues’ 5-3 defeat by Tottenham on Thursday. (Times, subscription required) (external)


Mourinho also says that attacking midfielder Eden Hazard, 23, needs to be protected by referees or the Belgium international will leave the Premier League.(Daily Telegraph) (external)

Manchester United’s Ashley Young, 29, who can play in midfield or as a wing-back, will be out for at least a month because of a hamstring injury. (Sun, subscription required) (external)

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson has called for a greater use of television technology to decide controversial moments. It comes after the Foxes conceded a dubious penalty in their 2-2 draw at Liverpool. (Times, subscription required) (external)

Derby boss Steve McClaren has dismissed speculation linking him with the vacant Newcastle United manager’s job. (Newcastle Chronicle) (external)

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA
A New York City fan posted a ‘missing poster’ of Frank Lampard on Twitter (external) after the 36-year-old midfielder extended his loan deal at Manchester City.

Tottenham winger Andros Townsend, 23, paid tribute on Twitter (external) to team-mate Harry Kane after his two-goal heroics helped the North London club beat Chelsea 5-3 on Thursday. He wrote: “He’s one of our own, he’s one of our oooown @hkane28 he’s one of our own!! What a win! Great start to 2015!”

AND FINALLY…
It was not just Townsend who was impressed with Kane as the 21-year-old striker was bombarded with marriage proposals following the victory over Chelsea.(Daily Star)

By William Oyo-Ita
Denrele wore suit? wonders shall never end, however he looks good.