Sports

Opinion: Chelsea FC Can’t Afford To Ignore Primate Ayodele This Season

Published

1 year ago

August 22, 2023

Sahara Weekly

Is Primate Ayodele’s Prophecy On Olubadan-Designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin Coming To Pass?

Opinion: Chelsea FC Can’t Afford To Ignore Primate Ayodele This Season

By Isaac Fashanu

During the last football season, Chelsea FC committed many errors and did not get any relevant trophies and recognition in every league. The club was closer to relegation than victory in the premier league. The Champions League was nothing to write home about for the club last season. It was the club’s worst performance in years despite having the most sophisticated players.

One of the mistakes Chelsea FC made last season was ignoring warnings and pieces of advice from stakeholders, especially the spiritual angle. Many don’t know that there is a huge connection between football and spirit; it is a spiritual exercise and that’s why we hear about players casting spells and visiting witch doctors in order to excel. The relationship between these two phenomena particularly regarding Chelsea FC, was confirmed by the warnings of Nigerian Prophet, Primate Elijah Ayodele to the club which he released before things went haywire.

Primate Ayodele is known for his prophecies on every sector including sports. He is popular for his predictions on scores of football matches, winners of leagues and cups, the fate of footballers, etc. It is on record that he foretold the victories of Manchester City at the last Champions League, Argentina at the last world cup, Senegal at the last AFCON, the sudden exit of C.Ronaldo at Manchester United, unimpressive performances of Lukaku, Edouard Mendy, to mention but a few.

During the last season, Primate Ayodele specially warned Chelsea FC against making some moves and advised the management on steps to take in order to restore the club’s glory. The man of God categorically stated the club will not finish well except cleansing is done. He advised the new owner of the club to get the blessings of the former chairman, Roman Abramovic who had to leave due to the crisis between Russia and Ukraine. Primate Ayodele warned in several videos that there will be so many failures in the club unless the needful is done.

These were his words

“Chelsea is finished. If they are not careful they will not function again. The people who bought Chelsea should go back to the owner and get his blessings. Otherwise, if they put 10, 20 strikers, defenders, and the best keeper in the world, there is a curse troubling Chelsea at this moment. I have told you, to take these my words very very seriously if you want to progress, otherwise, Chelsea can go to total relegation. Any team that faces Chelsea now can beat them, they need spiritual cleansing for them to wake up to the challenges that are ahead of them.” (https://www.blueprint.ng/video-what-chelsea-must-do-to-bounce-back-to-reckoning-primate-ayodele/)

At the time the prophet made this statement, Chelsea was number 10 and was still in the Champions League. However, the club got kicked out of the Champions League and battled relegation to finish number 12 on the premier league table.

We are in a new dispensation now, the league has just resumed with just few matches played yet. Chelsea has gotten a new coach, and spent a lot of money on new players yet, the club has not picked up.

Just like the previous season, Primate Ayodele has released another prophecy warning the club’s management to put its house in order to avoid a non-palatable season.

He mentioned that if care isn’t taken, the club will struggle between 10th and 11th position.

‘’If you are not careful, the coming season will not be too palatable as expected. I don’t know who your players are but it’s still going to be rough. The only way Chelsea can do what the fans are expecting is by putting their house in order. If not, the club will struggle between 10 and 11. Honestly, the club needs to be very prayerful’’ (https://www.tiktok.com/@primateayodele/video/7261530381663374598?_r=1&_t=8VvCbtQWgtq&fbclid=IwAR2W-zDYdIWwjo-iiEawK8KPo2Hr7VjxWZjAHtjPpA_ECf2lYL_MMDsJ9gI)

These statements are very powerful revelations about the fate of Chelsea FC in the new football season. Any serious manager would understand the importance of this and if indeed Chelsea is serious about winning trophies in this dispensation, ignoring these statements isn’t the best thing to do.

The season is still very fresh and the club still has time to correct what needs to be corrected. The team still has time to follow the directives of Primate Ayodele. It won’t be an appropriate thing for the club to finish 10th or 11th on the premier league table this season. The management made a mistake by ignoring the prophet’s warning last season, this is another opportunity to obey.

Isaac Fashanu writes from Delta

Sports

Oleksandr Usyk Defeats Tyson Fury Again, Solidifies Legacy Among Boxing Greats

Published

19 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Oleksandr Usyk Defeats Tyson Fury Again, Solidifies Legacy Among Boxing Greats

Ukrainian boxing sensation Oleksandr Usyk retained his heavyweight championship titles and cemented his place in boxing history with a unanimous decision victory over Britain’s Tyson Fury in their rematch on Saturday night.

The judges scored the bout 116-112 in Usyk’s favor across the board, marking his second consecutive win over Fury. This victory extended Usyk’s flawless professional record to 23-0, with 14 knockouts, adding another chapter to a career already highlighted by Olympic gold and an undisputed cruiserweight championship.

A Masterclass Performance

Usyk, 37, showcased his signature precision and relentless pace, repeatedly catching Fury with clean left hooks and dominating the latter stages of the fight. Fury, at 6ft 9in (206cm) and weighing a career-high 281 pounds, attempted to impose his physicality but was unable to break Usyk’s composure.

The fight, held in Saudi Arabia, saw Usyk wearing traditional Cossack attire during his entrance, while Fury entered the arena dressed in a festive Santa-inspired robe to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”

The early rounds were competitive, with Fury landing powerful jabs and body shots. However, Usyk’s endurance and tactical brilliance began to shine in the middle rounds. The Ukrainian landed sharp combinations and dictated the tempo, including a stunning uppercut in the final round that left little doubt about the outcome.

“I thought I’ve won both fights,” Fury said post-match, sporting a bruised right eye. “But I’ll always believe until the day I die that I won that fight.”

A Legacy Sealed

Usyk’s victory solidified his standing as one of the greatest heavyweights in history. Already the first undisputed heavyweight of the four-belt era, Usyk joins the ranks of legends like Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, and Mike Tyson.

The bout, reported to have a prize purse of $190 million, also underscored Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in global sports. Usyk, who served briefly as a soldier during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, celebrated his victory by hoisting a symbolic sabre belonging to Ukrainian nationalist hero Ivan Mazepa.

Fury’s Uncertain Future

The defeat leaves Fury’s future in doubt. Once unbeaten across 35 fights, Fury now stands at 34-2-1. His attempt to reclaim glory after a brief retirement in 2022 has been marred by back-to-back losses to Usyk.

Usyk, on the other hand, continues to add to his already remarkable resume, leaving fans and critics alike in awe of his technical skill, resilience, and determination. As the heavyweight division looks ahead, Usyk’s reign appears unshakable, and his place among boxing’s all-time greats is firmly secured.

Sports

Lille Netted Just €7M from Osimhen’s €70M Napoli Move, Club President Reveals”

Published

4 days ago

December 19, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Lille Netted Just €7M from Osimhen’s €70M Napoli Move, Club President Reveals”

Lille’s financial gain from Victor Osimhen’s high-profile 2020 transfer to Napoli was far less than expected, with the French club earning only €7 million despite the deal being valued at over €70 million. The shocking revelation was made by Lille’s President, Olivier Letang, who explained that the €7 million figure was the net result after factoring in the purchase price of Osimhen, four Napoli players who never played for Lille, and various intermediary fees and commissions.

“The net amount, after accounting for the player’s purchase, four players valued at €20 million who never featured for us, as well as intermediaries and commissions, was around €7 million,” Letang told L’Equipe TV.

This disclosure comes amid ongoing investigations by both Italian and French authorities into the circumstances surrounding the transfer, though Napoli has been cleared of any wrongdoing. Napoli’s legal team highlighted the club’s clean record, with lawyer Mattia Grassani emphasizing that the club had been acquitted after facing scrutiny from multiple judicial levels.

Letang, who took over as Lille’s President months after Osimhen’s departure, has now shed light on the intricate financial details behind the deal that saw Osimhen move to Italy. The striker’s move to Napoli would become a pivotal moment in his career, propelling him to stardom and helping Napoli secure their first Serie A title in 33 years.

Born in the tough environment of Lagos’ Olusosun community, Osimhen’s rise to prominence began at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot with a record-breaking 10 goals. After stints at Wolfsburg in Germany and Charleroi in Belgium, Osimhen’s impressive performances at Lille led to his transfer to Napoli, where he went on to score 76 goals in 133 appearances. In 2023, he helped Napoli end their long wait for the Serie A title, earning the Serie A Golden Boot and breaking records, including becoming the highest-scoring African in Serie A history.

Currently on loan at Turkish giants Galatasaray, Osimhen has continued his impressive form, with 10 goals and five assists in just 14 appearances. Though contracted to Napoli until 2026, his future remains uncertain, as his contract includes clauses that could facilitate a permanent departure either in January or the summer. The details of his transfer and the shifting dynamics between player and club add another layer to the complex and ongoing saga of Osimhen’s career.

Sports

Controversy in Morocco as Lookman Beats Hakimi to African Player of the Year Award

Published

4 days ago

December 19, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Controversy in Morocco as Lookman Beats Hakimi to African Player of the Year Award

Moroccan football enthusiasts have expressed disappointment following Atlas Lions captain Achraf Hakimi’s loss in the race for the 2024 African Footballer of the Year award.

Atalanta’s Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman clinched the prestigious title during the CAF Awards ceremony held in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday evening. Lookman’s achievement sees him succeed compatriot Victor Osimhen, marking consecutive wins for Nigeria in the category.

Lookman’s stellar performances in 2024 made a compelling case for his selection. He played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s historic Europa League triumph, notably scoring a remarkable hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in the final—the Italian club’s first-ever European title. Additionally, the 27-year-old was instrumental in Nigeria’s journey to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final, contributing three goals and an assist, and earning a spot in the official Team of the Tournament.

Speculation leading up to the awards had suggested that Hakimi was the favorite for the accolade, given his outstanding contributions to both the Moroccan national team and Paris Saint-Germain throughout the year. Reports from Moroccan and French media fueled expectations of a Hakimi win, only for Lookman to be announced as the victor.

The decision has drawn criticism from Moroccan football analysts and fans. Tawfiq Al-Sanhaji, a prominent sports commentator, told 365scores: “It is a great regret for all Moroccan fans, and for all those who follow football in Morocco, because Achraf Hakimi presented distinguished levels throughout the year with the Moroccan national team and Paris Saint-Germain.”

Another sports analyst, Abdel Salam Kourahi, suggested potential internal politics within the Confederation of African Football (CAF) might have influenced the outcome. He remarked, “Perhaps there were understandings, calculations, and divisions within CAF that tipped the scales in favor of the Nigerian over the Moroccan international at the last minute.”

Some fans also pointed to past decisions by CAF, noting that Yassine Bounou, a key player in Sevilla’s Europa League victories in 2020 and 2023, was similarly overlooked for the award.

Lookman’s victory represents a milestone for Nigerian football. It is the first time in three decades that the nation has produced back-to-back winners of the African Player of the Year award, harking back to the consecutive victories of Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Ikpeba in 1996 and 1997 respectively.

While Lookman’s achievements are undeniably remarkable, the debate over the decision underscores the intense passion and pride that the African Player of the Year award evokes across the continent.