‘Why I Refused Arsenal and Tottenham Offer for 2014 W/Cup’ – Vincent Enyeama Reveals
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has revealed the reason he refused signing for Arsenal and Tottenham while he was at the peak of his career.
Enyeama, a Nations cup winner with Nigeria, went to Israel after leaving Nigeria, joining Bnei Yehuda in 2005 before moving to Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2007 where he spent four years.
He then went to France in 2011, spending seven years at Lille where he won the Prix Marc-Vivien Foé prize of Best African player in League 1, in 2014.
Enyeama shone for Nigeria at the 2014 World Cup with his most memorable performance the 1-0 loss to Argentina where he denied Argentina and in particular Lionel Messi several opportunities to score.
After the tournament, Arsenal reportedly wanted to sign the goalkeeper and now Enyeama says he rejected Arsenal and Tottenham because of one specific reason.
Arsenal wanted me for second choice, but I was not interested. I also had an offer from Tottenham that wanted me for second choice also and I wasn’t interested; ..
Enyeama told ESPN
It was after the 2006 Nations Cup and then again around the 2014 World Cup. When I turned them down, that is when they [Arsenal] took David Ospina.
For me, I was at the stage where I preferred playing even if it was for one of the smallest teams. That is what the agents that were involved told me. That Arsene (Wenger) wanted me but he is not so sure because of my height and things like that.
People have their choices and I respect their choices.
Vincent Enyeama
Enyeama also said he wonders why he never signed for British club Bolton Wanders despite going for a trial at the club in the early 2000s.
“I am still wondering why I didn’t sign. It was a trial that went so well,” he continued.
“They even told me I was going to get jersey number 35. All that was left was just to do the medicals.
“I was supposed to be number three, because Bolton had two goalkeepers already, with Jussi Jaaskelainen as number one.
“But I don’t regret it because it gave me the opportunity to go to Israel. I am so happy that I went to Israel because it opened doors for me.”
Sarah Fuller, the first woman to play in a “Power 5” football game.
Sarah Fuller, a senior goalie for the Vanderbilt soccer team, became the first woman to play in a Power Five college football game on Saturday at Missouri, handling the kickoff for the Commodores to start the second half.
Sarah Fuller, the Vanderbilt women’s soccer goalie could be making history on Saturday by becoming the first woman to play in a “Power 5” football game.
Sarah’s story on the soccer field has no shortage of fascinating details since 1994. Now, she finally earned her first start in “Power 5” football game. Sarah is a talented kicker which could be the reason she was chosen for this role in 2020.
According to a report by Simon Gibbs in Vanderbilt’s student newspaper, Fuller’s call-up wasn’t a “performance-related decision.” (Given that Vanderbilt’s football team is currently 0-7 on the season – and 3-7 in field goals – perhaps it should have been performance-related.) Instead, with many specialists in COVID-19 related quarantines – and graduate transfer kicker Oren Milstein opting out of the season – there was a roster spot to fill. And given Fuller’s recent success on the soccer pitch, she got the call.
However, Fuller’s fast ascent – and the news articles documenting it – are representative of a larger problem that female athletes face in the fight for better treatment. For male athletes to receive media coverage, the bar is not particularly high. But for female athletes to receive the same spotlight, it isn’t as easy as just playing their sport.
Fuller was asked to join the Commodores’ football team this week after COVID-19 contact tracing depleted the roster of specialists. Last Sunday, she led the Vanderbilt soccer team to an SEC tournament title.
She follows New Mexico’s Katie Hnida (2003) and Kent State’s April Goss (2015), who both scored points as kickers in FBS games, though in Group of Five conferences.
Fuller had “Play Like a Girl” written on the back of her helmet.
Women have made a few appearances in college football games since 1997, when Liz Heaston kicked two extra points for Willamette, then an NAIA program.
Rafael Nadal beats Novak Djokovic at French Open for record tying 20th major
Rafael Nadal beats Novak Djokovic at French Open for record tying 20th major
In this unusual, surreal 2020, Rafael Nadal carved out a remarkable piece of history by reaching a landmark 20 in tennis terms.
More specifically, winning a 20th grand slam title to equal pal and fellow “Big Three” member Roger Federer’s men’s all-time record.
He did so by beating the other member of the elite group, Novak Djokovic, 6-0 6-2 7-5, under the roof on Philippe Chatrier Court amid Paris’ late afternoon autumnal chill.
Rafael Nadal bites the winning trophy after claiming the French Open title for the 13th time with a straight sets victory over Novak Djokovic.
Nadal sunk to his knees after an ace on championship point in what was a surprisingly lopsided finale to the fortnight.
But this is indeed Nadal on clay. He said the tournament’s new balls and cool weather don’t favor his spin heavy game — the coronavirus pandemic prompted organizers to move the event from its usual late May start — but the 34-year-old Spaniard overcame the conditions to tally a 13th French Open crown without dropping a set and 100th Roland Garros match victory.
He elevated his game to oust his conqueror in his lone warmup tournament, Diego Schwartzman, in the semifinals before stepping it up another notch Sunday.
Nadal compiled 31 winners to only 14 unforced errors to hand the 17-time grand slam winner the worst loss in any of his 27 grand slam finals. Nadal has never lost a French Open final but Djokovic certainly seemed to present danger for him in the finale.
He had won their last three grand slam matches and they were huge blows to Nadal — including in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros five years ago.
Novak Djokovic plays through pain to reach French Open semifinals
The Serb had only suffered defeat in one match in 2020 — that default at the US Open last month against Pablo Carreno Busta — and benefited from more buildup matches in the past two months than his rival.
Djokovic suffered neck and shoulder issues in his rematch with Carreno Busta on Wednesday, when he donned long sleeves, and one couldn’t help but wonder if something was bothering the world No. 1 again.
The long sleeves were back, two days after he sported short sleeves in his semifinal against Stefanos Tsitsipas that started in the evening and ended around 10:30 p.m. local time. He reverted to the short sleeves after he fell behind by two sets.
He lost a set 6-0 at a major for only the fourth time in his grand slam career according to website Tennis Abstract and even though Djokovic has used the drop shot extensively on the clay, he attempted an eye-catching four in the first game.
His unforced error tally soared to 52.
Nadal was dominant throughout the final at Roland Garros.
He was broken from 40-15 in the opening game to give Nadal the best possible start in front of the limited number of fans in attendance. They were capped at 1,000 amid the pandemic.
The duo exchanged several extended rallies that saw both players well outside the doubles lines, Nadal habitually coming out on top.
Djokovic was given a small glimmer of hope by saving a trio of break points to begin the second yet the respite didn’t linger.
In his next service game, Nadal did break through for a 2-1 advantage.
With Djokovic unable to put away a shot near the net, Nadal crushed a forehand down the line to rub salt in the wounds.
Djokovic’s play was a clear marker that he wouldn’t be the first man in 83 tries to rally from two sets down against Nadal at Roland Garros and an inevitable break came at 2-2 in the third after Nadal continued to knock on the door.
However, it wasn’t straight forward from there.
Nadal was broken for the first time and Djokovic got the crowd going with his emphatic celebration.
It kickstarted a brief renaissance as he went ahead 4-3 in the third.
Djokovic was now moving better and launching himself into shots but Nadal met the challenge and yelled “come on” to hold for 4-4. Finally it was a contest.
Djokovic fended off a break point thanks a gutsy second serve, backhand combination, but cracked at 5-5 on a double fault wide.
Nadal then served it out to love, capping the historic contest with the ace out wide to seal another French Open victory.
Manchester United captain, Harry Maguire arrives at court after he was arrested for ‘punching police officer’ on Greek island of Mykonos
Manchester United captain, Harry Maguire has been pictured arriving at court following his arrest in Mykonos for ‘punching a police officer.’
The 27-year-old England international was detained along with two other men after an altercation outside a bar in the early hours of the morning on the Greek island. He was later transferred to Syros island where he was pictured heading into court as police confirmed punches were thrown.
Greek police confirmed on Friday the captain, 27, was “verbally abusive to an officer and then hit him” after the trio rounded on cops.
Spokesman Petros Vassilakis added: “All of the three were arrested but during the effort to do so, the other two, including the football player, got violent also.
“They threw down at least two policemen, hit them with their fists and kicked them.
“I can’t tell you what they were telling us. All English swear words against the authorities and against the work of the police.”
United issued a statement on Friday morning which read: “The club is aware of an alleged incident involving Harry Maguire in Mykonos last night.
“Contact has been made with Harry and he is fully co-operating with the Greek authorities. At this time we will be making no further comment.”
Manchester United captain, Harry Maguire arrives at court after he was arrested for
The former Hull defender will reportedly face a charge of aggravated assault.
Local report said he was involved in an altercation with other British tourists last night. When the officers tried to intervene, three men including the England international allegedly fought back physically and verbally while resisting arrest.
As a result, they were detained in the early hours of Friday August 21, and led away in handcuffs.
