MUCH�ADO

�ABOUT

KESHI�SLIST

Vol 1 Issue 05 FREE May 12, 2014

EARNING SOCCER PLAYERSTHE WORLD'S HIGHEST

CHAMPIONS�AGAINCHAMPIONS�AGAINCHAMPIONS�AGAINMAN�CITYMAN�CITYMAN�CITY

WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN

Real MadridEarnings: $24 millionSalary: $15 millionEndorsements: $9 millionMajor Sponsors: Adidas, EA Sports, Lucozade

Real Madrid spent $118 million last September to sign the 24-year old Welshman from English Premier League Tottenham Hotspur in the second largest transfer of the year after Neymar's move to Barca. It was revealed that his parents, as co-directors with him of a holding company, made $3 million from the 6-year deal that pays him up to $456,000 in weekly wages.

6 - BALE

Manchester UnitedEarnings: $22 millionSalary: $18 millionEndorsements: $4 millionMajor Sponsors: Nike, Samsung, Harper Collins

Rumblings last season of his transfer requests over disagreements with former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, two offers from rival Chelsea and one from Arsenal were swept under the rug this past February when Man U rewarded 10-year veteran Rooney with a record 4-year contract extension worth up to $104 million.

7 - ROONEY

Manchester CityEarnings: $21 millionSalary: $17 millionEndorsements: $4 millionMajor Sponsors: Puma, Pepsi, Gillette

Kun received a contract extension with a salary increase in May 2013 that will keep him with the club until 2017. He then tried to share the wealth by offering to buy five players and pay their salaries for his former Argentinean club Independiente. In 2011 Puma made him their highest paid soccer player with a long-term endorsement deal.

8sergio aguero

EARNING SOCCER PLAYERSTHE WORLD'S HIGHEST

2

Manchester CityEarnings: $21 millionSalary: $18 millionEndorsements: $3 millionMajor Sponsor: Puma

Last April Toure signed a new 4-year deal to stay at Eithad Stadium until 2017. It was reported he was fighting for respect, not money, which could explain why the extension was without an increase on his $334,000 a week salary.

9 - yAYA TOURE

ChelseaEarnings: $20 millionSalary: $17 millionEndorsements: $3 millionMajor Sponsors: Adidas, Pepsi

The 30-year old Spanish striker has been off form from the force he was four years ago at Liverpool which led to his average $200,000 a week contract with present club Chelsea.Last year he switched boot sponsors, from Nike to Adidas, the official sponsor of the 2014 World Cup who was wise to attach itself to Spain, top-ranked in the world.

10 - TORRES

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Earnings: $73 millionSalary: $49 millionEndorsements: $24 millionMajor Sponsors: Nike, Samsung, Tag Heuer, Fly Emirates, Herbalife

Real Madrid rewarded him with a record 5-year contract worth $206 million. Add to that his commercially good looks that have landed him mega sponsorships like his recent deal with Tag Heuer and a personal brand of underwear labeled CR7 on top of his long-term Nike deal, and Ronaldo catapults not just to the top of the highest earning soccer players but among the highest paid athletes in the world.

1 CRISTIANO RONALDOLionel Messi, BarcelonaEarnings: $65 millionSalary: $42 millionEndorsements: $23 millionMajor Sponsors: Adidas, Samsung, Pepsi, Turkish Airlines, Herbalife

After a record four consecutive years as the Ballon d'Or winner, Messi finished runner up in 2013. Sponsors like Adidas, who launched his signature shoe last year, and Turkish Airlines, who has him most recently appearing with NBA superstar Kobe Bryant in a selfie shootout commercial, have invested heavily in Barcelona's prolific goal scorer.

LIONELMESSI 2

Paris Saint-GermainEarnings: $34 millionSalary: $30 millionEndorsements: $4 millionMajor Sponsors: Nike, Volvo

He made up for the lack of sponsorships typically signed ahead of that competition with the hype surrounding a commercial for fellow Swede Volvo. In the elaborate movie-like production that received 4.7 million hits on YouTube, he does semi-naked pull-ups, dives into a freezing lake, and hunts to a rendition of the Swedish national anthem.

3 IBRAHIMOVIC

4BarcelonaEarnings: $28 millionSalary: $12 millionEndorsements: $16 millionMajor Sponsors: Nike, Castrol, Panasonic, L'Oreal, Volkswagen

The Brazilian wunderkind's confidentiality clause was revealed and showed Neymar Jr's signing was worth $124 million, $50 million more than originally reported thanks to several hands involved including Neymar Sr and his former Brazialian club Santos.

NEYMAR

5

AS MonacoEarnings: $26 millionSalary: $23 millionEndorsements: $3 millionMajor Sponsors: Puma, Samsung, Gillette

RADAMEL FALCAO

CHELSEA�vs�ATLETICO

4

here has been so much hue about the

Tcomponents of the provisional 30 man list that Coach Stephen Keshi released. The

major talking points have been centred on Osaze Odemwingie, Ikechukwu Uche and Brown Ideye.

The biggest argument has been that if Osaze

can make the list, why not Ike Uche who has been in top form all season. Every coach has his philosophy and way of playing. I have made it abundantly clear on several fora that you don't take your best players to a tournament, rather you take your best team.Ahead of Euro 96 qualifiers, Aime Jacquet dropped Eric Cantona, Jean Pierre Papin and

MUCH�ADO

�ABOUT

KESHI�SLIST

5

David Ginola choosing to build the team around a young and inexperienced Zidane.

Keshi on his part has made it clear that Ike

Uche doesn't fit his playing philosophy and has on different occasions criticised his tactics. Well the tactics may be wrong, but it won us the nation's cup. A tournament where Ike Uche floundered miserably. Not taking anything away from Ike, he is a wonderful player but there have been instances of players who play well for their clubs but don't do well for their national teams. Ike Uche on the other hand has not tried to clear the air. Ideye on the hand we know that for all his industry has failed to deliver for Nigeria and no one can deny he has been given ample opportunity.

My main worry is the number of unfit players that were in the list. Players like Uche Nwofor, Joel Obi, Ahmed Musa, Gabriel Rueben, Nosa Igiebor, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Joseph Yobo all reported to be fighting to regain fitness after nursing injuries.

Keshi should have done his homework well before drawing up the list. This however is not the stage for gambling, we should be putting finishing touches to preparations for the world cup.

The list on the whole consists of arguably the best players we have around and much as we have our opinion, Keshi has proven that he has the experience, he has shown that he knows what he is doing. Question is will he do it again? Time will tell.

Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United), Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland FC), Aus�n Ejide (Hapoel Beer Sheva), Vincent Enyeama (Lille)Defenders: Efe Ambrose (Cel�c), Elderson Echiejile (Monaco), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars), Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor), Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough), Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod), Joseph Yobo (Norwich City)Midfielders: Ramon Azeez (Almeira), Reuben Gabriel (Waasland-Beveren), Nosa Igiebor (Real Be�s), Sunday Mba (CA Bas�a), Joel Obi (Parma), John Mikel Obi (Chelsea), Victor Moses (Liverpool), Nnamdi Oduamadi (Brescia), Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio), Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers)Forwards: Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United), Michael Babatunde (Volyn Lutsk), Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce), Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Uche Nwofor (Heerenveen), Victor Obinna (Chievo Verona), Peter Odemwingie (Stoke City), Michael Uchebo (Cercle Brugge).

Keshi�on�his�part�has�made�it�clear�that�Ike�Uche�doesn't��t�his�playing�philosophy�

MUCH ADO ABOUT KESHI’S LIST

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a forward who can play on the wing or up top.Susic believes he doesn't really need more than two strikers because he will only start with one in Bosnia's opening group match against Argentina.”The midfield is heavily bolstered with 11 players, which includes AS Roma's Miralem Pjanic, Lazio's Senad Lulic and Hoffenheim's Sejad Salihovic.In defence, Bosnia can count on Schalke's Sead Kolasinac and Bayer Leverkusen's Emir Spahic while Stoke City goalkeeper, Asmir Begovic, will be backed by Aalen's Jasmin Fejzic and Borac Banja Luka's Asmir Avdukic.

The Dragons have been placed in Group F with Argentina, Nigeria and Iran and under coach Safet Susic the team plays in either 4-1-3-2 or 4-2-3-1 formations.

osnia and Herzegovina qualified for its Bfirst ever world cup by edging Greece on goals difference. It achieved this

winning eight of its matches, drawing one and losing one.That doesn't make them pushovers as they pack bags of experience in their squad. Time tested players who will not be overawed by the credentials of the likes of Argentina and Nigeria.They also became the first World Cup nation to release their provisional squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and instead of choosing up to 30 players for his provisional squad, Head Coach, Safet Susic, named only a 24-man roster. This shows plenty of confidence and assuredness in their abilities.

Only two strikers were named in this squad, Manchester City's Edin Dzeko and Stuttgart's Vedad Ibisevic, while Istanbul's Edin Visca is

BOSNIA: DANGEROUS GREEN HORNS

WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN

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Talking about their playing style is pretty simple, direct route to front two forward in Dzeko and Ibišević who are tall and can cause problems in the air. They scored more than three goals in over half of their qualifying matches and never conceded more than once. The team has shown that it is excellent at protecting leads and also has no problem coming back from behind. Their defense is pretty strong as shown in the number of goals conceded in the qualifiers (just 6).

They have played Argentina once and lost 2 - 0 and gotten a draw and 4 losses against Iran. Nigeria is the only team in the group Bosnia is yet to play.

STARS TO WATCHEDIN DZEKO

Position: ForwardAge: 28Height: 1.91m (6' 3'')Current club: Man CityNumber: 11Goals in qualifiers: 11He is powerful and strong, he has the talent to score from almost any situation and has great movement as well as physical prowess. His temperament can be called into question.Style: Dominant, powerful, agile, a potent striker.

VEDAD IBIŠEVIĆ

Position: StrikerAge: 29Height: 1.88 m (6' 2")Current club: VfB StuttgartNumber: 9Goals in qualifiers: 8

He is a strong finisher who likes to play long balls. He gets fouled often and also commits fouls often.

MIRALEM PJANIĆ

Position: MidfielderAge: 24Height: 1.80 m (5' 11")Current club: RomaNumber: 8An attacking midfielder with huge

technical qualities. He is an

excellent dribbler and also

shoots well from range. A very

versatile midfielder and can play

in different midfield positions.

8

RESULTS

Cardiff City 1 – 2 ChelseaFulham 2 – 2 Crystal PalaceHull City 0 – 2 EvertonLiverpool 2 – 1 NewcastleManchester City 2 – 0 West HamNorwich City 0 – 2 ArsenalSouthampton 1 – 1 Manchester UnitedSunderland 1 – 3 Swansea CityTottenham Hotspur 3 – 0 Aston VillaWest Brom 1 – 2 Stoke City

TABLE P W D L F A GD Pts

Manchester City�38� 27� 5� 6� 102� 37� 65� 86Liverpool� 38� 26� 6� 6� 101� 50� 51� 84Chelsea� 38� 25� 7� 6� 71� 27� 44� 82Arsenal� 38� 24� 7� 7� 68� 41� 27� 79Everton� 38� 21� 9� 8� 61� 39� 22� 72Tottenham 38� 21� 6� 11� 55� 51� 4� 69Manchester Utd�38� 19� 7� 12� 64� 43� 21� 64Southampton� 38� 15� 11� 12� 54� 46� 8� 56Stoke City� 38� 13� 11� 14� 45� 52� -7� 50Newcastle 38� 15� 4� 19� 43� 59� -16� 49Crystal Palace� 38� 13� 6� 19� 33� 48� -15� 45Swansea City� 38� 11� 9� 18� 54� 54� 0� 42West Ham 38� 11� 7� 20� 40� 51� -11� 40Sunderland� 38� 10� 8� 20� 41� 60� -19� 38Aston Villa� 38� 10� 8� 20� 39� 61� -22� 38Hull City� 38� 10� 7� 21� 38� 53� -15� 37West Brom 38� 7� 15� 16� 43� 59� -16� 36Norwich City� 38� 8� 9� 21� 28� 62� -34� 33Fulham� 38� 9� 5� 24� 40� 85� -45� 32Cardiff City� 38� 7� 9� 22� 32� 74� -42� 30

TOP SCORERSName Team Goals Pen. Home AwayLuis Suárez Liverpool 31 0 17 14Daniel Sturridge Liverpool 22 0 12 10Yaya Toure Man City 20 6 12 8Wayne Rooney Man Utd 17 3 7 10Wilfried Bony Swansea City 17 4 10 7Sergio Agüero Man City 17 0 10 7Eden Dzeko Man City 16 0 6 10Olivier Giroud Arsenal 16 1 10 6

inally the English

FPremiership has come to an end without any last

day drama.

Any hope Liverpool nursed of a last minute miracle was snuffed out by an efficient Manchester

9

City who would not let this one slip past them.

Anyway Liverpool have themselves to blame. They had the title in their hands, but inexperience robbed them of it. The passing game and attacking football is a beauty to watch, but it has to be combined with a solid defence to win titles. This is where Liverpool were lacking.

Even as they prepare for next season’s champions league, Brendan Rodgers must come up with solutions for his dreadful defence line.

Champions Manchester City has proved that they are the force in the EPL, but it’s time to become a continental side. The missing factor is the mentality in Europe and they have to build it. Under Pellegrini, there is no doubt that it is achievable. One department were they seriously lack is in the defence. Vincent Kompany is the only reliable defender they have. Lescott is punching above his weight now, whilst Demichelis is a disaster in waiting. City however were worth their weight in gold.

It was pains for Norwich City as they were sent back to the championship with a loss to Arsenal. Their chance before their last game was at best slim. Arsenal on the other hand finished in familiar territory. As usual they finished 4th and ahead next season will have to bolster the squad with a top rate striker even as they chase the FA cup against Hull City.

CHAMPIONSCHAMPIONSCHAMPIONSAGAINAGAINAGAIN

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arely does a league have a final, but that is what

RLa Liga will have when it goes into the final day of the season. It will finish the way it started. FC

Barcelona will lock horns against Atletico Madrid in what will prove to be their most important match of the season and the only chance of silverware.

A comedy of errors from La Liga’s top 3 ensured we have this finale. Real Madrid failed to capitalise on the many opportunities that came their way and a loss to Celta Vigo sealed their fate. This speaks volumes of Ancelotti’s

league record - 3 league titles in 18 years. Real Madrid won’t be bothered by that record though if he delivers La Decima. Speaking of La Decima, Real’s thoughts may be on that final in Lisbon as they have played without motivation since they qualified for the final.

Back to the Atletico Barca match. A win against Malaga and a draw in the Barca Elche tie would have given Atletico the

BARCA/ATLETIIN�FINAL�LIGA�TIE

11

RESULTS

Villarreal� 4 - 0� Rayo VallecanoLevante� 2 - 0 ValenciaAthletic Bilbao� 1 - 1 Real SociedadAtletico Madrid� 1 - 1� MalagaCelta Vigo� 2 - 0� Real MadridElche� 0 - 0� BarcelonaEspanyol� 1 - 1� OsasunaGetafe� 1 - 0� SevillaGranada� 0 - 2� AlmeriaReal Betis� 4 - 3� Valladolid

TABLE P W D L F A GD Pts

Atletico Madrid� 37� 28� 5� 4� 76� 25� 51� 89Barcelona� 37� 27� 5� 5� 99� 32� 67� 86Real Madrid� 37� 26� 6� 5� 101� 37� 64� 84Athletic Bilbao� 37� 20� 9� 8� 66� 39� 27� 69Sevilla� 37� 17� 9� 11� 66� 51� 15� 60Real Sociedad� 37� 16� 11� 10� 61� 53� 8� 59Villarreal� 37� 16� 8� 13� 58� 43� 15� 56Celta Vigo� 37� 14� 7� 16� 48� 52� -4� 49Levante� 37� 12� 12� 13� 35� 42� -7� 48Valencia� 37� 12� 10� 15� 49� 52� -3� 46Rayo Vallecano� 37� 13� 4� 20� 45� 78� -33� 43Espanyol� 37� 11� 9� 17� 40� 48� -8� 42Malaga� 37� 11� 9� 17� 38� 46� -8� 42Elche� 37� 9� 13� 15� 29� 47� -18� 40Almeria� 37� 11� 6� 20� 43� 71� -28� 39Getafe� 37� 10� 9� 18� 33� 53� -20� 39Granada� 37� 11� 5� 21� 31� 56� -25� 38Osasuna� 37� 9� 9� 19� 30� 61� -31� 36Valladolid� 37� 7� 15� 15� 38� 59� -21� 36Real Betis� 37� 6� 7� 24� 35� 76� -41� 25

PICHICHIName Team Goals Pen. Home AwayCristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid 30 6 18 12Diego Costa Atletico Madrid 28 5 18 10Lionel Messi Barcelona 27 6 15 12Karim Benzema Real Madrid 17 0 11 6Alexis Sánchez Barcelona 17 0 15 2Aritz Aduriz Athletic Bilbao 16 2 9 7Antoine Griezmann Real Sociedad 16 0 9 7Kevin Gameiro Sevilla 15 2 9 6Pedro Rodriguez Barcelona 15 0 8 7Bacca Sevilla 14 1 6 8Gareth Bale Real Madrid 14 0 10 4Carlos Vela Real Sociedad 14 2 8 6

title and a guard of honour in the Nou Camp. Now a titanic battle is on the cards. Atletico would seriously not want to finish like Leverkusen in the Bundesliga a few seasons ago, where they capitulated in all the finals they appeared in. That season Leverkusen finished 2nd in the champions league, cup and Bundesliga. All this in one week,

They also have the distraction of the champions league final to worry about. So while Real Madrid are using Espanyol for a final tune up match, Atletico would be playing the match of their lives against Barca.

In other affairs, Euro places are all tied up. Atletico, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bilbao will play in the Champions League. Sevilla, Sociedad and Villarreal will play in the Europa league.

Relegation battle is a different ball game entirely. While Betis is already relegated, they were bent on dragging Valladolid down and a 4 - 3 victory didn’t do Valladolid any favours. It is now a straight battle between Valladolid, Granada, Osasuna, Getafe and Almeria. Granada locks horns with Valladolid in the final game. While a point for Almeria and Getafe need a point to guarantee survival, Granada must avoid defeat to Valladolid to survive.