ENTERTAINIC

ENTERTAINIC SOURCE As unlikely as it would have felt in the immediate aftermath of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s histrionics and that penalty shoot-out defeat at Wembley, this has been a restorative week for  Chelsea . A second successive derby victory in the period since, albeit one ground out against spirited opposition, has moved Maurizio Sarri’s side back to within two points of the top four, and only five off third-placed Tottenham Hotspur, and all with a game still in hand to fuel hope. More significantly, perhaps, there are signs of acceptance again amid what had been a mutinous support. Just 10 days after being booed on to the turf by his team’s own fans, Jorginho, a player who personifies Maurizio Sarri’s regime, was serenaded appreciatively by those in the Putney End after his most impressive, progressive display in weeks, albeit against a  Fulham  side who opted against employing a man-marker to snap at his every touch of the ball. Sarri, too, will have curried fa...

ENTERTAINIC SOURCE At least 30 political parties under the auspices of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) on Tuesday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections in Southern Ijaw and Nembe local government areas of Bayelsa State. CUPP lamented that there was no elections in most wards in the affected local government areas, alleging even its candidates for the elections could not cast their votes following hijack of materials and violence. The party chairmen and candidates, who spoke in Yenagoa, the state capital, particularly alleged elections failed to hold in wards 4, 14, 15 and 16 in Southern Ijaw as well as all the seven wards in Nembe Bassambiri. The state Chairman of CUPP, Tare Edwin, condemned the abduction of INEC officials and materials meant for the seven wards in Bassambiri and death of some persons in the area. Describing the incidents as most unfortunate, sad and unacceptable, he claimed the incidents we...

ENTERTAINIC SOURCE The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it had compiled with the judgement of Appeal Court and had restored candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State to the ballot in the National Assembly, Governorship and State House of Assembly elections scheduled for February 23 and March 9, 2019. This decision triggered jubilation in the camp of Governor Abdulaziz Yari, whose candidates made the list submitted to INEC by the APC headquarters. However, the APC Senator representing Zamfara Central, Kabir Marafa, whose camp was not favoured, said he had filed an appeal at the Sokoto Division of the Appeal Court, against the decision of the Zamfara State High Court, which INEC relied on for its decision. The commission in a statement signed by its National Commissioner, Mr. Festus Okoye, said it had consistently maintained that it would always obey court judgements and orders. The Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Di...

ENTERTAINIC SOURCE Mesut Özil returned to the Arsenal side as they secured safe passage into the last 16 of the Europa League – but head coach  Unai Emery  insists he is not certain of a regular place in his team. The Gunners went into the second leg against Bate Borisov needing to complete a comeback following a surprise 1-0 defeat in Belarus last week. They responded well and won 3-0 courtesy of a  Zakhar Volkov  own goal and headers from defensive duo Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos. Emery opted to recall Özil having left him at home for the first leg – with the highest-paid player in the club’s history relegated to a peripheral role in recent weeks and making just his second start since St Stephen’s Day. Despite a run of indifferent form, Emery has told Özil he needs to shake off his minor injuries and illness to be more consistent. The former Germany international put in a good showing against Bate and played the whole 90...

ENTERTAINIC SOURCE Gen. Tukur Buratai not to drag the Military into politics. Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan gave the advice in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja. Ologbondiyan, who is also the Director, Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation urged Buratai to refrain himself from acts or actions that would suggest in any way that the military had become an arm of a political party. He said that Buratai’s allusion to the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar as well as his threats to officers and ranks to participate in the electoral process was an aberration of the laws. He said that Abubakar spoke on the side of the law and to respect the wishes of Nigerians so could not be intimidated by anybody. Ologbondiyan said that the loyalty of the military was to the state and that the president did not have the power to deploy soldiers for the conduct of elections. “Our party urges Gen. Buratai to con...

ENTERTAINIC SOURCE Pep Guardiola has urged Manchester City to impose themselves on opponents to prevail in the Champions League. Quadruple-chasing City’s European campaign resumes as they face German side Schalke in the first leg of their last-16 tie at the Veltins Arena on Wednesday. Guardiola said: “We have many dreams in our head. It’s important to score goals – the minimum one goal – but you can’t go through if you are not yourself if you don’t do your best performance. “If you want to dream, go through to the last stages, every single second you have to be incredible – impose your game, to be ourselves. That is what I want to feel.” Schalke have struggled to live up to expectations after their runners-up finish in the Bundesliga last season and are currently toiling in 14th. Former Bayern Munich boss Guardiola said: “I think the quality is there. I know Schalke are always fighting. From my period here, the expectations are high. “They could not alw...

ENTERTAINIC SOURCE Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that defender Dejan Lovren is unlikely to play against Manchester United at the weekend, after missing Tuesday's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. Liverpool  were without Lovren and the suspended Virgil Van Dijk for the visit of Bayern, meaning midfielder Fabinho had to drop back into defence alongside fourth-choice centre-back Joel Matip. Klopp  confirmed Lovren is a major doubt for the trip to Old Trafford to face  United  on Sunday, adding to the long-term absence of Joe Gomez. Before Liverpool's game against Bayern, Klopp said Lovren was never really in contention to feature against the Germans. He said: “There was not a real doubt, to be honest. "It was not mind games but Dejan had no chance for the game today actually, I don’t think he even has a chance for the next game. He will take his time. “It was clear Fabinho and Joel have ...