‘PacMan’ May Be Set To Hang His Fighting Gloves In 2016

If reports coming are anything to go by, we may be preparing to see the curtains fall on the illustrious career of Manny Pacquiao as he is set to fight the last time in 2016.

Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum was out at Craig’s, a popular restaurant in West Hollywood, on Tuesday night when he told TMZ that Manny is planning to fight again next year once he heals up - but that’s probably the very last bout for the 36-year-old:

Manny has been involved in politics for years in the Philippines, and has been elected to Congress twice before.

Pacquiao will turn 37 in December. His career record stands at 57-6-2, with 38 victories coming by way of knockout.

He’ll go down as one of the best boxers ever, and a hero in his home country, regardless of how his final bout turns out by virtue of some of his memorable wars over the years and becoming the first (and so far only) world champion in eight different weight classes.

His last bout came on May 2 of this year against Floyd Mayweather, which he lost by unanimous decision in a technically-sound but nonetheless disappointing bout.

Bayern Munich Is Donating $1.11m To Resettle Refugees

As part of its corporate social services, German giants and Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich football club will donate $1.11m to help refugees and set up a training camp for those arriving in Munich, as the number of people arriving in the city continues to rise.

Thousands have crossed into Germany via Hungary and Austria with Munich’s train station one of the main points of entry.

The plight of those fleeing conflict in their countries such as Syria, as well as people from elsewhere escaping poverty, has polarised opinion in Europe.

“FC Bayern see it as its social responsibility to help those fleeing and suffering children, women and men, to support them and accompany them in Germany,” Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement.

Bayern’s youth academy will set up the training camp for kids, in conjunction with the city of Munich. Apart from regular training, it will also offer meals and German language classes.

Emenike Vows To End Goal Drought For Super Eagles

Super Eagles’  powerful striker, Emmanuel Emenike has declared his readiness to end a 22-month goal drought against Taifas Stars of Tanzania this weekend in Dar es Salaam.

Emenike was top scorer of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa. His four goals (against Burkina Faso, Zambia, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali) famously helped Nigeria to a third African title.

However, the Imo State –born Emenike, who recently moved from top Turkish club, Fenerbahce to Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, has not scored for Nigeria since his two goals against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa in October 2013 virtually ensured Nigeria’s place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

“I look forward to scoring against Tanzania. I am very determined to score again for Nigeria. I’m not happy for the long drought.

“The match in Tanzania is a must-win for us. I am very happy with our Coach (Sunday Oliseh) and the assistants, and the approach to training sessions. Their approach brings out the best from the players,” Emenike said during the week.

The Super Eagles, on the same three points with Egypt, however have one goal less than the Pharaohs, and will seek a handsome win in East Africa to shoot clear at the top. The Pharaohs of Egypt are away to Chad in N’djamena in the other match of Group G.

Nigeria Retains 53rd Position In Latest FIFA Ranking

Nigeria has retained her 53rd position in the latest FIFA global rankings released on Thursday. Super Eagles will tackle Tanzania on Saturday for 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

Algeria leads the continent at 19th position, followed by Cote d’Ivore at 21, Ghana at 27. Tunisia (33), Senegal (38), Congo (42), Cameroon (42), Egypt (49), Nigeria (53) and Cape Verde Islands (56) make up the top ten in Africa.

There is no change at the top of the September edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, with Argentina continuing to lead the way ahead of Belgium (2nd, unchanged) and Germany (3rd, unchanged).

Chile (8th, up 2) are the only team to have made significant movement in the top ten, and they are now in their highest-ever position since the revision of the global ladder in 2006. England (10th, down 2), however, have fallen two places, whereas both Austria (13th, up 1) and Congo (42nd, up 1) are in their best positions since 1993.

Rivaldo's Son, Rivaldinho Signs FOr Portuguese Club

Portuguese top-flight club Boavista announced signing of Rivaldinho, son of former Brazil great Rivaldo.

The 20-year-old forward joined the Porto-based outfit on a three-year deal from Brazil's Mogi Mirim, Boavista said in a statement on Monday, Xinhua reported.

Rivaldinho played 47 matches and scored 11 goals for Mogi Mirim, who currently play in Brazil's Serie B.

His father, who won the Ballon d'Or in 1999, represented Brazil 74 times, scoring 35 goals and playing in the Selecao's 2002 World Cup-winning team.

The 43-year-old ended his 24-year professional career earlier this year after making a comeback for Mogi Mirim.

SAD: Enyeama Loses Mother

These are not good times for the Super Eagles most capped player and captain Vincent Enyeama of Lille of France as he will not be available for the weekend’s AFCON 2017 Nations Cup qualifier in Dar Es Salam according to reports.

According to a family source of the goalkeeper: ” Vincent is right now in severe emotional pains, he is not himself at all and his club in France, Lille has given him time out to go to his home town in Akwa Ibom to be with his extended family. He is naturally distraught and right now not himself.”

The source revealed to us that Vincent has since called coach Sunday Oliseh to inform him about his predicament and situation.

“He called coach Sunday Oliseh but right now the coach is really trying to persuade him to come to the Eagles camp and try to be on the trip. But Vincent is definitely not in the right frame of mind to play football right now and he does not want to jeopardise the team’s chances because of his mindset right now, the same reason his Club Lille gave him time off to return to his family in Nigeria. The mum sadly died at the weekend,” revealed the source who disclosed to us that Vincent is in deep emotional pains because of his special relationship to his mum.

Aside from Vincent, all the Super Eagles invitees are already in camp and expecting their team captain. Super Eagles’ camp sources revealed that the officials would love Vincent to still be in the team to Tanzania as an inspiration but the source, a close friend of Vincent insists Vincent is not in the right frame of mind to “Think of football right now.”

Monaco Deems Berbatov Surplus, Joins PAOK

PAOK has agreed to sign Bulgarian forward Dimitar Berbatov after he was released from League 1 club Monaco.

The 34-year-old will sign a reported one-year 1.6-million-euro contract plus bonuses with the Thessaloniki club which reportedly outbid rival offers from Aston Villa and West Ham United.

The former Bulgaria striker joined Monaco in 2014 from Fulham and helped the French side reach the Champions League quarter-finals in April. The former Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur player scored nine times in 37 appearances last season as Monaco finished third in the French league.

Berbatov is Bulgaria's all-time leading goalscorer and has won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times.

PAOK managed a third-place finish in Greece's Super League last season. It was not clear whether the Thessaloniki team had beaten UEFA's Europa League deadline.

I Prefer The Happiness From Football To Sex – Busquets

FC Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets believes that the lasting happiness gained from playing football beats the pleasure derived from sex.

The Spanish international has been with the European champions since 2008 and has won multiple silverware with his club. He also played a key role in Barcelona's treble win last season.

"In football, happiness lasts three or four days," Busquets was quoted as saying by goal.com on Wednesday. "Sex, on the other hand, can last just one minute!"

Although the Spanish club have had a lot of success recently and have earned the adulation of fans, the 27-year-old said he has seen the downsides too that comes with being a professional player.

"After a bad game you just go home, shut the door and you don't want to go out for three or four days," he said.

"Fans don't insult you after a bad day, but many of them remind you it was not your best one."

PZ Cussons Seals Three Year Deal With English Giants, Man City

PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, has sealed a three year partnership deal with Manchester City Football Club which was officially announced at the weekend at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, will see the club embedded in the Nigeria market and deliver increased fan base experience across Africa.

PZ will drive the partnership deal through three of its leading brands – Premier, Olympic and Robb. PZ Cussons’ customers will by this partnership be given the opportunity to win a number of exclusive VIP match day experiences at the Etihad Stadium and opportunities to meet the players and watch private training sessions.

In his address, the Group Category & Brand Director, PZ Cussons Plc, Tim Perman noted that the company’s commitment to Africa goes beyond the provision of quality products but also has a focus at bringing real consumer value through relevant content and services by igniting exceptional experiences to consumers.

I See Myself Becoming FIFA President – Segun Odegbami

Former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami has announced his intention to become the next FIFA president. The 63-year-old, who won the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations as a player, is the second African to go for football’s top job, after Liberia’s Musa Bility. “Africa must play a big role in world football,” Odegbami told BBC Sport.

Candidates wishing to replace the outgoing Sepp Blatter have until 26 October to receive the backing of five FIFA members. Elections will be held on 26 February 2016, with UEFA chief Michel Platini and South Korea’s Chung Mongjoon among those to have already announced their bids.

“The current scandal at FIFA is the organisation’s worst crisis in its 111 years of existence,” Odegbami said in a statement. “Moving forward, FIFA thus requires a new era of leadership that can restore the dignity of the noble sport. “The world is very interested in who becomes the next president of FIFA, considering the present images and state of this institution.

Why Lagos Declined To Host Sierra Leone Match Against Ivory Coast

The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Sierra Leone and African champions, the Ivory Coast will now be played in Port Harcourt after Lagos declined to stage the match because of concerns over the Ebola disease.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) agreed to stage the match after Sierra Leone were banned from hosting international matches because of the deadly Ebola scourge ravaging the country.

“The new venue for the game is now Port Harcourt,” NFF official, Emeka Inyama said. “But let’s put it on record that we have not received any letter from the Lagos state government declining to host the match.

“And as I speak to you, we have not heard anything from Lagos, but we changed the venue because both teams preferred to play on natural grass, so there was no need to play the game in Lagos which has an artificial pitch.”

Lagos-based journalist Tobi Emmanuel said authorities in the nation’s financial capital have expressed fears over the spread of the Ebola virus.

“The Lagos government is not comfortable for the match to be played in Lagos. They say they don’t want to take any risks. They argued that they have lost a lot of money and top personalities on account of the Ebola scourge,” he added.

Emenike Arrives Camp As Eagles Jet Out Today, To Arrive By 10 pm

Al Ain FC of Abu Dhabi striker Emmanuel Emenike was the first player to arrive Super Eagles Bolton White Apartments camp ahead of this weekend’s Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifier against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.

Other players who have arrived include KAA Gent of Belgium winger Moses Daddy Simon, AS Trencin of Slovakia duo, Kingsley Madu and Rabiu Ibrahim. Russia based duo, Izunna Uzochukwu and Sylvester Igboun make up the other early arrivals.

Emenike last scored for Nigeria on the 13th of October 2013 in a World Cup qualifier against the Wayla Antelopes of Ethiopia at the National Stadium, Addis Ababa.

Victor Moses Joins West Ham On Loan

Victor Moses has signed a new four-year contract with Chelsea, but will spend the remainder of the season on loan with West Ham United.

The winger spent last season at Stoke City, scoring three goals in 19 English Premier League appearances.

Moses has failed to command a first-team berth at Stamford Bridge though, after arriving from Wigan Athletic in 2012.

Prior to his stint at Stoke, the 24 year-old had a season on loan at Liverpool with limited opportunities though, due to the form of Raheem Sterling.

Moses becomes West Ham’s latest acquisition on transfer deadline day, after securing the services of Alex Song.

Oliseh Waits For Enyeama, Balogun, Omeruo, Others To Hit Camp Today

Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh will be expecting to have all his invited foreign professionals hit the camp today ahead of the team’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania on Saturday in Dar es Salaam.

The team which has been training under the watchful eyes of the former Juventus and Borussia Dortmund star at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja, where the team defeated Amakson Academy of Abuja 3-0 and an academy team 1-0 in two of the warm-up matches.

Already Oliseh has selected six home based players that will join their foreign pros counterparts. They include Ikechukwu Ezenwa(Sunshine Stars),Solomon Kwambe(Warri Wolves),Chima Akas(Sharks),Austin Obaroakpo(Abia Warriors), Usman Mohammed (Taraba) and Prince Aggreh (Sunshine Stars).

Meanwhile, the following foreign professional players are expected to hit the team’s camp today after featuring for their respective clubs at the weekend. They are Vincent Enyeama, Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun, Izunna Uzochukwu, Carl Ikeme, Kingsley Madu, Rabiu Ibrahim, Sylvester Igboun, Lukman Haruna, Emem Eduok and others.

The Eagles is now to fly out to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Wednesday by a chartered flight

Roger Federer Quest For Sixth Us Open Title Begins

World number two Roger Federer will  begin his quest to win a sixth US Open title with a first-round match against Argentina's Leonardo Mayer at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old Swiss has been in sparkling form this season and heads into the final grand slam event of 2015 buoyed by an impressive hardcourt run in Cincinnati earlier this month.

"Now I've got the confidence, I've got the matches and I'm actually still feeling really fresh even after this week," Federer said after beating world number one Novak Djokovic in the Cincinnati final eight days ago.

"Everybody knows it's your last chance to do well at a slam or win a slam," the 17-times grand slam singles champion said of the U.S. Open. "So there are not really easy matches out there. Just want to make sure I get going good at the very beginning."

Also in action at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday will be third-seeded Scot Andy Murray and fifth seed Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland.

Murray faces controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios, who hit the headlines earlier this month when he insulted opponent Wawrinka during a match in Montreal, saying that Thanasi Kokkinakis had slept with the Swiss player's girlfriend.