Sports
Ronaldo, Pirlo Facing Uncertain Futures
Interestingly, Ronaldo and Pirlo are facing uncertain futures after Juventus’ shock Champions League exit to Port.

Of course, in the grand scheme of things, his poor performance is a mere footnote in Juve’s tale of Champions League woe, which stretches all the way back to 1996.
They’ve lost five finals in the interim. Now, they’ve been eliminated in the last 16 for the second consecutive season. In 2018-19, they were dumped out in the quarters by Ajax.
It wasn’t meant to be like this. Not with Ronaldo. He’s Mr. Champions League. With him on board, a team that reached two finals in three seasons between 2015 and 2017 looked poised to take that agonising final step. Instead, they’re further away from the trophy than when he arrived.
Despite losing 2-1 to Porto in the first leg, Juve had tried valiantly to avoid even thinking about another early exit.
“It’s our duty to go through to the next round,” Juve director and former midfielder Pavel Nedved had told Sky Sport Italia beforehand. Instead, Juve are out of Europe and, this time around, they won’t even have the consolation prize of a Scudetto.
The Serie A title already looks lost, for the first time in 10 years, with Inter currently 10 points ahead of the third-placed Bianconeri at the top of the table. Even a possible Coppa Italia win – Juve meet Atalanta in the final – isn’t going to cut it for Pirlo.
Indeed, a penny for Andrea Agnelli’s thoughts right now. The Juventus president didn’t sanction a €340 million (£292m/$404m) deal for Ronaldo to see his side knocked out of Europe by Ajax, Lyon and now Porto.
Of course, the big question is what Agnelli will decide to do with Ronaldo and Pirlo? The former is a colossal strain on the club’s resources. The latter has failed to prove he can deliver the European glory Juve so sorely crave.
Sporting director Fabio Paratici insisted at the weekend that he retains full faith in the Pirlo project but it was telling that the rookie coach was asked on Monday if he felt his future depended on the outcome of the Porto game.
“If I thought so,” he told reporters, “I wouldn’t be here.” Who knows now, though, how long he’ll be at Juve? The same goes for Ronaldo, who must now be questioning whether he should see out the final year of his contract.
He remains a goalscoring machine but looks unsuited to Pirlo’s style of play. As in the first leg at the Dragao, the Portuguese superstar struggled to get into the game. And as at the Dragao, it was Federico Chiesa – not Ronaldo – who dragged Juve back into the tie.
Juventus had performed pathetically in Porto, but the Italy international’s composed strike with just eight minutes to go secured the visitors a precious away goal.
It was wiped out just 18 minutes into Tuesday night’s return clash in Turin, with Sergio Oliveira coolly converting a penalty awarded for Merih Demiral’s clumsy challenge on Mehdi Taremi.
Consequently, Juve needed two goals just to force extra-time. They got them – thanks to the irrepressible Chiesa.
Ronaldo, to his credit, was involved in the equaliser, laying the ball off for Chiesa, who finished emphatically into the top-right corner of the Porto net.
Then, after Taremi had been stupidly sent off for booting the ball away while already on a booking, Chiesa levelled the tie on aggregate by rising at the back post to expertly guide home the most inviting of crosses from the excellent Juan Cuadrado.
Juve had numerous chances to win the game, even before it went to extra-time, with Ronaldo surprisingly mistiming the kind of header he normally buries with ease.
Almost inevitably, the home side were punished for their profligacy when Sergio struck again, this time with a long-range free kick that Wojciech Szczesny really should have saved even accounting for the shameful disintegration of his wall, with Ronaldo again culpable.
That left Juve needing to win 4-2 to progress and Adrien Rabiot’s header with three minutes of extra time remaining gave the hosts renewed hope of a great escape.
But they could find no way past Pepe & Co. in the dying seconds despite intense pressure. It just wasn’t their night. Or Ronaldo’s game.
And one wonders now whether it will prove his last in the Champions League for Juve…
Sports
22 Years After: Arsenal Clinch the Premier League Title as Prophesied by Dr Chris Okafor
*22 Years After: Arsenal Clinch the Premier League Title as Prophesied by Dr Chris Okafor*
When God speaks, none of His words go unfulfilled.
Just a week ago, the Generational Prophet and popular Lagos cleric, Dr Chris Okafor, declared that Arsenal would win the 2025/26 Premier League title. Despite doubts and predictions favoring defending champions Manchester City, the prophet stated clearly that he had received the word directly from God.
On May 19, 2026, that prophecy came to pass.
After Manchester City drew 1-1 with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, Arsenal were confirmed as Premier League champions with one game to spare. It marked the end of a 22-year wait for the Gunners, whose last league title came in the 2003/04 season.
Football fans across the globe are now congratulating Arsenal Football Club on their historic victory. For many believers, it’s another reminder that true prophecy still speaks today.
Dr Chris Okafor is one of the well-known prophets who many say hears directly from God. With this fulfillment, he joins the list of voices whose words have come to pass on the global stage.
By Sunday Adeyemi
Society Herald
Sports
PROF. MONDY SELLE GOLD ANNOUNCES SERVICE OF SONGS FOR LATE MOTHER, MA BEDAGBERE JENNIFER GOLD*
*PROF. MONDY SELLE GOLD ANNOUNCES SERVICE OF SONGS FOR LATE MOTHER, MA BEDAGBERE JENNIFER GOLD*
_A Life Celebrated: Family and Community to Honor 114 Years of Legacy in Newark, New Jersey_
*NEWARK, NEW JERSEY* — Prof. Mondy Selle Gold, Chairman of the Ijaw Diaspora Council and Chairman of the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) in the United States, has announced the _Service of Songs_ in honor of his late mother, *Ma Bedagbere Jennifer Gold (nee Ozikozi), Amaokosuere of Torugbene*, who passed away at the age of 114.
In a public statement, Prof. Gold wrote with a deeply reflective heart to invite family, friends, well-wishers, and members of the Ijaw diaspora community to a sacred gathering celebrating the life, quiet strength, and enduring love of the matriarch.
_“This sacred gathering, set aside to celebrate her life, her quiet strength, and the enduring love she shared so generously, has been scheduled as follows,”_ Prof. Gold stated.
The Service of Songs is scheduled to hold on *Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM* at the *Abundant Grace Christian Center (The Newark Foursquare Church), 708 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ 07108*. And her Burial is slated on 12th -14th July 2026
A reception will follow immediately after the service at the same venue.
The family has indicated that the dress code is optional, suggesting *formal black or white, or all-white attire* in celebration of Ma Bedagbere’s life.
*A Life of Legacy and Cultural Significance*
Ma Bedagbere Jennifer Gold, fondly remembered as _Amaokosuere of Torugbene_, lived 114 years marked by resilience, faith, and generous love for family and community. As a matriarch and custodian of Ijaw cultural values, she was widely respected for her wisdom, humility, and unwavering commitment to her family and people.
Her passing has drawn condolences from across the Ijaw diaspora and beyond, with tributes highlighting her role as a pillar of strength and a unifying figure within the community.
Prof. Gold humbly requested the prayers, presence, and spiritual support of all attendees as they gather _“to celebrate a life well lived and a soul now at rest in the Lord.”_
_“With sincere love and gratitude,”_ Prof. Gold concluded in his announcement.
*About Prof. Mondy Selle Gold*
Prof. Mondy Selle Gold is the Chairman of the Ijaw Diaspora Council and a prominent voice in diaspora advocacy, politics, cultural preservation, and community development for Ijaw people worldwide. He also serves as the Chairman of the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) in the United States, where he continues to champion engagement between the diaspora and homeland development initiatives.
Sports
University Farms Urged to Drive Innovation, Boost Revenue
University Farms Urged to Drive Innovation, Boost Revenue
A former Director in the Directorate of Environmental Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Dr. Akinpelu Basiru Ojo has called for the transformation of university farms into centres of innovation and sustainable revenue generation.
Dr. Ojo made this call at the 2026 Pre-Season Farming Seminar organised by the Directorate of University Farms (DUFARMS), held recently at FUNAAB.
While delivering his keynote address on the theme of the seminar, “The University Farm as an Incubation Ground for Innovation and Revenue Generation,” Dr. Ojo noted that university farms have evolved beyond their traditional roles into dynamic hubs for research, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration.
He identified key areas where university farms could drive innovation, including research and development, student entrepreneurship, technology transfer, and interdisciplinary collaboration. He further urged DUFARMS to explore opportunities in commercial agricultural production, value addition and agro-processing, consultancy services, research partnerships, agritourism, and intellectual property commercialisation.
Highlighting potential challenges confronting university farms, the former Director listed inadequate funding, weak industry linkages, climate change, environmental risks, and limited commercial orientation. He, however, proposed strategies for optimisation, including the adoption of agribusiness models, integration of modern technologies, strengthened partnerships, promotion of student-led enterprises, and the development of sustainable value chains.
Reflecting on the evolution of DUFARMS, Dr. Ojo paid tribute to past Vice-Chancellors, beginning with the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nimbe Adedipe, whose vision led to the establishment of the University Farm. He also acknowledged milestones recorded under successive administrations, including the expansion of cashew and oil palm plantations, as well as the establishment of processing facilities for value addition.
He further commended the contributions of past and present staff, alongside former students who have attained notable academic positions, encouraging staff to uphold discipline, integrity, and continuous professional development.
As part of his recommendations for future growth, Dr. Ojo proposed the establishment of crop collection plots, revival of underutilised crops, exploration of cashew nutshell liquid production for revenue generation, and expansion of tree crop plantations such as cashew and oil palm.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, who declared the seminar open, emphasised the importance of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning in achieving institutional objectives. He described the seminar as timely and essential, noting that the University was established not only for teaching and research but also for meaningful community engagement, particularly in supporting farmers to enhance productivity.
Prof. Kehinde also commended DUFARMS for its efforts, especially its introduction of value addition initiatives, and urged staff, particularly in livestock production, to scale up activities in poultry, beef, pork, and egg production to improve the visibility and impact of the University Farms.
The seminar concluded with a renewed commitment by participants to reposition DUFARMS as a hub for innovation, practical training, and sustainable revenue generation, in line with global best practices.
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