Griezmann deserved Ronaldo's award

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone says Antoine Griezmann was the best player in Europe last season, not Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo claimed UEFA's Best Player prize ahead of Griezmann and team-mate Gareth Bale after he fired Real Madrid to the Champions League and captained Portugal to Euro 2016 glory.

Simeone feels Ronaldo's trophy successes entitles him to the award, but is in no doubt that Atletico's star forward – who was named Euro 2016's best player after claiming the Golden Boot with six goals for France – has been the best in the continent over the past year.

"He's a decisive player, certainly among the best three in the world," he said of Griezmann, who is set to return to action for Atletico in their LaLiga clash with Leganes on Saturday.

"It's the first game he'll play in. Obviously he'll have a normal process to get to his best, as any player with his pre-season would.

"We always hope for the best from him, there's no doubt about his attitude. We hope he continues in this way, he's a player who gives us a different option in attack.

"Whoever wins deserves to win. Congratulations to Ronaldo. Once more the collective gives power to the individual.

"Certainly, he's won the Champions League and Euro 2016, which puts him in an untouchable place. But for me, without a doubt, Griezmann was the best.

"Unfortunately he could not win the Euros or the Champions League, and Ronaldo justifiably won."

Atletico were held to a shock draw by Alaves in their opening league game last weekend and Simeone expects a similarly stern test against Leganes, who marked their first appearance in the top flight with an impressive 1-0 win at Celta Vigo.

"They had a really good opening game. They worked very well together, with clear ideas in terms of what they had to do on the pitch," added Simeone.

"I expect them to be a team with great enthusiasm, playing at home, having returned to the top division, which is amazing for the fans."

Ali Modu Sheriff is a saint,’ PDP chieftain says

k

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Bode George has said that factional chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff is a saint.

George made the comment in reaction to the conduct of the controversial PDP national convention which held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Wednesday, August 17, 2016.

Read excerpts of his interview with Daily Trust below:

What is your take on the botched Port Harcourt convention?

It was a divine intervention because there would have been a lot of crises at that convention. God knows that there are genuine people who have been prayerful. PDP is very lucky, as a party, because the control by the Rivers governor and his team from Rivers State was overwhelming.

And when he spoke to us a day before (the convention), we were clapping for him, only to go to the accreditation centre…and can you imagine, Lagos State had 51 delegates but they didn’t give us one card.

They gave Ogun three cards out of the delegates. Oyo got three. Osun and Kwara were given the same thing, likewise some states in the North. What was that for? Where was the transparency that he promised us? And it was his chief of staff that was made the chairman of the accreditation committee and the secretary was the attorney-general of the state.

He (Wike) himself was the chairman of the convention committee and the former deputy speaker of the state’s Assembly was the chairman of the electoral panel. So, everything was run by Rivers. Is it a Rivers State affair? This was a national convention of a political party.

I have never seen such a thing in my life. If we had done it, he would have prevented Lagos State delegates from going in because he wanted to camp Jimi Agbaje there. How? If a zone cannot recommend him (Agbaje), who the hell are you people to decide he is the one you want?

We didn’t interfere with them bringing Secondus or the South-east bringing their own candidate. We would save this party, would do everything that is possible to salvage this party.

The South-west had already endorsed somebody, you refused to take that, you were manipulating people, jumping all around. If we had done that when we were building the party, many of them would never have ended up being governors. If you are a governor, you must show a high pitch of responsibility, respectability and civility. For God’s sake, you are messing up with the Yoruba people.

They are saying, ‘This is what we want’ and you are saying, ‘this is the one you would pick for us.’ And they are taking a man who is yet to get his political teeth in Yoruba land in the PDP to make him the national chairman. It is an insult to the Yoruba people and we will never allow it, very disgraceful, very thoughtless.

What do you think we are in Yoruba land? And nobody goes to the Villa (Presidency) without winning the South-west with 6.5m registered voters. I am happy that it (convention) was postponed.

Like I said, it is a divine intervention. Now you can see that Sheriff is a saint. All he has been complaining about, he was right.

A lot of people were saying if the convention had gone as planned, probably Jimi Agbaje would have emerged as the chairman. Would you have accepted him?

That is what they had planned. They tried to manipulate the system to produce a man who doesn’t even know the party yet to be chairman. Sheriff said it before that he (Agbaje) was in his house, when they came to bring him in and then that didn’t work.

And now you want to bring another musketeer to come and be national chairman. So, Yoruba people don’t know what we want? It is not a matter of life and death, but I will resist anybody trying to insult the Yoruba people.

Singer joins voice against domestic violence

TripleMG singer, Augustine Miles Kelechi, popularly known as Tekno Miles or Golden Boy of Africa, is the latest celebrity to add his voice to the case of domestic violence that seems to have taken center stage in Nigeria in recent times, with husbands either maiming or killing their wives.

The Duro crooner has decided not to be silent on the issue as he took to his Instagram page to send a word to women in abusive relationships as well as warning fellow men against violence towards women.

Tekno Miles rises against domestic violence

In a message posted on his Instagram page, the 24-year-old Tekno shares the story of a female fan that was getting physically abused by her boyfriend because of his passion for her and advised ladies to get out of such relationships.
 

President holds secret meeting with Wole Soyinka

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently holding a closed door meeting with Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.

The meeting between the duo is said to be taking place inside Buhari’s office at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Details of the meeting are not yet known.

Soyinka recently admonished Buhari for not taking a firm position against the rampaging Fulani herdsmen who have killed hundreds of people around the country.

Ranieri signs new contract

Claudio Ranieri has agreed a new £3million-a-year contract at champions Leicesterand will pen it before the season starts.
The 64-year-old Italian has two years left on his current City contract after joining last summer.
But the club’s Thai owners have moved to reward him for guiding them to an incredible Premier League title success despite odds of 5,000-1.
His achievements earned him the League Managers’ Association’s annual award in May. Ranieri has previously stated he hoped to sign a new long-term contract at The King Power Stadium as he wanted to finish his career with City.
The deal is expected to see Ranieri double his salary from his current terms of around £1.5million-a-year.

Wenger finding it "very difficult" to find quality players

Arsene Wenger has admitted he is finding it “very difficult” to find quality players in the transfer market - but hasn’t given up hope of doing so.
“We want to spend the money when we have it,” he told Sky Sports.
“What is very difficult today is to find the quality of the players who are available and if you look well despite all the money that is available in England there is very little movement since the start of the transfer market.
“We are in the transfer market and on one side we are focused and concentrated on the players we have to get them in a fantastic shape. On the other hand, of course we are looking outside to strengthen.”

Cristiano Ronaldo lined up by Jose Mourinho

Manchester United hope that Jose Mourinho's arrival can help lure Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford, according to the Daily Star.
Ronaldo is reportedly free to leave Real Madrid if an offer comes in which matches their £80million price tag.
The Portuguese winger works with agent Jorge Mendes, the man who has orchestrated Mourinho's move to United in recent months.
United are in dire need of a new marquee signing - but their lack of Champions League football could thwart the deal.

And The Sun say that the Real Madrid superstar will be returning to Old Trafford if United meet the La Liga giants' asking price. CRISTIANO RONALDO is available for £80m, according to reports.
The key man in the deal is super agent Jorge Mendes.

Now he has star client Mourinho in position at United he can grease the wheel of business and make himself some serious cash.
He is also Ronaldo's agent and could make the deal happen as long as United want to go through with it.