Sport: Arsenal Injury Issue

This talented young lad actually began his career as a left
winger and when he joined the club in 2007, Gael Clichy was in
the peak of his powers after the mantle was passed on to
him following the acrimonious departure of Ashley Cole to
Chelsea. Clichy played all 38 Premier League games for Arsenal
that season and his consistent performances saw him earn a
place alongside Bacary Sagna, Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel
Adebayor in the 2008 PFA Team of the Year. Gibbs had to
make do with a loan switch to Norwich in the winter of
2008, where he notched up seven league appearances.
Arsenal's 2008/09 campaign was vital for Gibbs' education as
he featured heavily in the domestic competitions but got his
breakthrough when Clichy suffered an injury. With the
Frenchman out of action, Wenger exposed Gibbs to Premier
League and Champions League action, and the young
Englishman repaid his manager's faith with some consistent
performances till his ill-fated slip in the Champions League
semifinal against Manchester United, and Park Ji-Sung wasted
no time in punishing him for his error.
Arsenal also crashed out of the FA Cup semifinals to the
eventual winners, Chelsea, and it was another fruitless
campaign for Arsene Wenger and his men. With Clichy
suffering another injury in the 2009/10 campaign, Wenger
entrusted Gibbs to hold the fort but a metatarsal injury in the
Champions League game against SC Braga brought his season
to an abrupt end as he went under the knife to fix the issue.
Even though many fans, journos and pundits alike loved
watching Gibbs play and tipped him for great things, there
was a unanimous agreement that his countless injury
problems were denting his career. With the departure of
Clichy for the petro-greens of Manchester City, Wenger
confirmed that he wasn't going to invest for a new left back
because he trusted Gibbs' abilities and he named him as Clichy's
successor.
Following another trademark injury to Gibbs, Wenger fielded
the inexperienced Armand Traore against Manchester United
in Old Trafford in a game that turned out to be Wenger's
worst outing as Arsenal's manager. After his team was
mutilated by the Red Devils, Wenger delved into the market to
make some "panic buys" and life with Andre Santos began.
In the mysterious period where all Arsenal's fullbacks were
out injured, Gibbs made a return from his hernia operation and
he scored his first league goal in the 3-0 victory over Aston
Villa. Gibbs played a significant role in the final game of the
season against West Brom when he put his body in the line to
block a goal-bound Billy Jones shot.
Last season, Gibbs managed to stay fit for a considerable
chunk of the campaign, relegating Andre Santos to the bench.
The Brazilian's lack of play time took its toll on his
performances to the stage that he played very poorly in
almost every game he was selected. With Gibbs suffering
another thigh injury against Liverpool last winter, Arsenal
reacted quickly to secure Nacho Monreal's service from
cash-strapped Malaga while shipping out Andre Santos in a big
ribbon back to Brazil.
The Monreal – Gibbs competition last season was very
interesting as the manager rotated them to bring out the
best in both players. This season, Gibbs has also opened his
goalscoring account this season with his strike against
Fenerbahce and his stellar performances this season has
seen Monreal relegated to substitute appearances, but he
made his first start in the Capital One clash with West Brom.
His consistency and quality has been a major highlight this
season, and he has managed to balance his defensive and
attacking play superbly. According to WhoScored, here are
Gibbs' stats thus far this season.

Nigeria: ASUU Dares FG Over Forceful Re-Opening of Universities

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned
that any plan by the federal government to forcefully reopen the
nation's universities will be met with stiff resistance.
The development came as President Goodluck Jonathan has
decided to personally intervene in the resolution of the impasse
and has summoned the leadership of ASUU to the Presidential Villa,
Abuja.
ASUU chairman, University of Abuja Chapter, Mr. Clement Chup,
who confirmed the invitation by President Jonathan for meeting,
however, said anything short of a clear agenda for implementing
the 2009 Agreement would not be acceptable to the Union.
In a statement he signed and made available to journalists in Abuja
during the weekend, Mr. Chup, said any form of authoritarian
approach in the resolution of the crisis would not work.
He added the surest and the shortest route to industrial harmony
in the university system was the fastest approach to revitalising
the system.
The UNIABUJA chairman of ASUU, stressed that the union would
not in any way be intimidated into jeopardising the future of
Nigerian students, and by implication, the country, through half
measures or by coercion.
He said "The attention of our union is drawn to some recent
reports in some media alleging that the President of Nigeria would
direct the re-opening of all Nigerian universities with or without
an amicable resolution with ASUU.
"We wish to state that while the President of the Federation
has issued an invitation to the leaders of our union for dialogue, it
will be totally unacceptable to our members if government fails to
come out with a clear agenda on implementing the 2009
Agreement.
"Authoritarian posturing has never solved and will not solve the
impasse. We are calling on Mr President to tow the path of
honour and as a democrat, respect the 2009 Agreement.
"This is the surest and the shortest route to industrial harmony
in the University system and the fastest approach to revitalising
the system.

Sport: Mourinho-I made 11 Mistakes

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho could be set
to ring the changes after launching a scathing attack on his
players following their shock 2-0 defeat at Newcastle United.
The Chelsea manager left his squad in little doubt about his
displeasure after an abject display saw them squander an
opportunity to make ground in the Premier League title race.
Chelsea have an immediate chance to atone for a disjointed
performance — which Mourinho described as lacking in all
departments — when they host German side Schalke in the
Champions League this week.
Several of the players who failed to impress at St James' Park
are unlikely to have an opportunity to restore their reputations
immediately, with Mourinho ready to shake things up to avoid a
repeat of the 90-minute no-show in the northeast.
Taking his own share of the blame for a defeat that leaves
Chelsea with just five points from five away league games so far
this term, the Portuguese said: "I made 11 mistakes with my team
selection — 11 mistakes.
"That's the feeling I have when my team plays so badly. We
deserved to lose because for 45 minutes we played at the level
of a friendly. The result is down to the fact that one team
wasn't there.
"There was no aggression there and we lacked intensity. It was
a bad performance and it sends me home with a lot to think
about because I have to try and understand where a display like
this came from. I have to admit I'd be worried if we play like that
again."
Mourinho concedes Chelsea's patchy away form is a concern
after they succumbed to second-half goals from French duo
Yoan Gouffran and Loic Remy.
"We've won just once away in the league this season and that
worries me," he said.
"You have to come here to Newcastle with a certain mentality,
and we just didn't show that. We were lacking everything, to be
honest, and that's how I explain a result like this.
"We're 10 games in and it's an open title race, but that's not
something I'm thinking about every week at the moment. I must
go home and reflect on this game because Newcastle gave us a
lot of space to play in and hurt them, but we just lacked any kind
of sharpness."
Newcastle ended a testing week on a high with a fully deserved
win to help erase the memory of their derby defeat at
Sunderland last weekend.
Manager Alan Pardew paid tribute to his side and dedicated the
win to owner Mike Ashley, who has come in for criticism for
banning three local newspapers from reporting on Newcastle's
games in a stand-off over their coverage of the club.
"We started off conservatively, because if you go chasing from
the start you're in for a long afternoon against Chelsea," he said.
"In the second half we had a bit more energy to put more
pressure on them and that cranked up as we went on.
"We've been playing well for the past four or five games, and if
you work hard enough and keep showing that spirit you'll get the
breaks, and that happened today (Saturday). Our players really
put in a shift and got their reward.
"This win is for Mike Ashley and all our Newcastle fans. Trust
me, he is a fan. I'm pleased for the club. We've had to make a
stand with the local press. We want them to be onside with us
and this was about giving a message to our fans that we are
very much alive and kicking."

Entertainment:One Direction-"I thought Ronaldo Would be proud but he his a joker"

The Irish hunk and his 1D bandmates were reportedly invited to a
Real Madrid training session in exchange for concert tickets for
football manager Jose Mourinho's daughter.
Before meeting Ronaldo, the 'Best Song Ever' hitmaker actually
thought the 28-year-old sportsman would have an "attitude".
Niall Horan went to a Real Madrid training session last year (Dan
Jackman/WENN)
"That was a good day," Horan told The Sun. "José's a really nice
guy but I also couldn't believe how nice Cristiano Ronaldo was.
"I thought he was going to have attitude but he didn't - he's like
the joker of the team."
Cristiano Ronaldo is the "joker" of the team says 1D's Niall Horan
(Sean Thornton/WENN)
Meanwhile, One Direction have finally wrapped up their huge Take
Me Home world tour. The boys will now focus on their third
album, Midnight Memories, which will be available to buy later on
this month.
Their latest single 'Story Of My Life' from the album has already
taken the charts by storm this week.

Entertainment: The American-Born-Nigerian "Tinie Tempah" Adviced Never To Tie the Knot With a Woman

Tinie Tempah says twice-divorced Lionel Richie warned him to
never get married.
The 'Pass Out' hitmaker has revealed the legendary singer once
advised him to never tie the knot with a woman after his own
two failed marriages to Brenda Harvey, which ended in 1993, and
to Diana Alexander, who he divorced in 2004.
Quizzed about his best cast-iron 'guy tip', Tinie quipped: "Never
get married - Lionel Richie."
The 24-year-old singer is currently single and finds it difficult to
form a deep connection with women.
He said: "We will never completely understand them, and its
pointless even trying."
The rapper also touched upon his most surreal moments since his
debut album 'Disc-Overy' topped the charts in 2010, and said
being called up by U2 frontman Bono was a particular highlight.
Tinie said: "Bono called me one time about a dinner he was having
that he wanted me to attend, we spoke for about 20 minutes
and he said he was really impressed that I was already doing
venues like the O2 in London. I was so nervous!"
The singer claims it will be hard to top his best ever day - 7
November 2011 - in future, but has high hopes for his second
album 'Demonstration".
He reminisced to Britain's GQ magazine: "In the middle of a sold-
out UK arena tour, on my birthday, touring an already double-
platinum album, to then have your manager stop your set and get
10,000 people in the MEN Arena to sing 'Happy Birthday'..."

Etisalat Signs Olamide"Baddo" & Ice Prince As Ambassadors

It's official! Etisalat have Signed Olamide & Ice Prince As
brand Ambassadors
With MTN and Globacom already with a host of
celebrities on their books, telecom giant Etisalat have
joined the group and has started signing stars as
ambassadors.
Their first signings are rap duo Olamide & Ice Prince.
The artistes themselves broke the news on Twitter.
Congrats to them.

Seun kuti on Stella Oduah's Car Scandal

The son of the late Afro king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti has
spoken! Read above Seun Kuti's takes on Stella Oduah,
says "the facts have indicted her".

News: Many killed and Injured In Eastern NigeriaChurch Stampede

At least 28 people have been killed and many more
injured in a stampede at the end of a church vigil in
eastern Nigeria.
Reports reaching us from Anambra, eastern Nigeria
that up to 28 people had been killed in stampede at St
Dominic's Catholic Church early on Saturday morning.
There was no immediate known cause for the
stampede which happened in the grounds of the church
as followers celebrated an overnight vigil to mark All
Saints' Day.
200 victims that survived the stampede were taken
hospitals in Onitsha and Nkpor where a lot of them
were treated and discharged, report.
The event had been attended hours earlier by Anambra
state governor, Peter Obi. He later returned to the
scene and visited the injured in hospital, promising to set
up an inquiry to establish the cause of the accident.

Solar eclipse in Nigeria

Nigerians on Saturday said they were awaiting the annular solar
eclipse, which would be seen in various parts of the world,
including Nigeria today.
Nigerians, from different parts of the country, said they would
not miss the opportunity of viewing the eclipse.
A Lagos-based photographer, Emmanuel Arewa, said he had
decided to go out with his camera to take a photograph of the
eclipse.
"When the last eclipse happened in Nigeria, I was not into
photography. I was in school then. If I remember what happened
then, I regret not taking photographs of it. So, this time around, I
will go out with my camera because I must not miss a shot of
it," he said.
Mr. Marcel Egbuta, a banker, who is based in Mubi, Taraba State,
told SUNDAY PUNCH that he and most people in the state would
watch the eclipse.
He said, "We are not aware of it. We are still trying to ensure
that we are secure from attacks. But now that you have told
me, I will tell my people and we will watch out for it."
An Enugu-based banker, Ngozi Nwachukwu, said she heard about
it but did not know that it could be viewed in Nigeria.
According to www.timeanddate.com, partial eclipse will be visible
in Lagos by 12:50pm, when the moon would touch the edge of
the sun.
It added that by 2:32pm, maximum eclipse would occur and the
moon would be seen closest to the centre of the sun, and
another partial eclipse by 4:01pm, when the moon would leave the
edge of the sun.
The website also stated other dates when eclipse would be visible
from Lagos, including April 15, 2014, (total lunar eclipse), October
8, 2014 (total lunar eclipse), April 4, 2015 (partial lunar eclipse)
and September 28, 2015 (total lunar eclipse).