Hertha Berlin: Could they be kicked out of the Bundesliga?

 Hertha Berlin sit bottom of the pile in the Bundesliga. Though they have three games to save themselves from relegation, reports of mismanagement may mean they suffer an even worse fate. What’s gone wrong?

Hertha Berlin have endured a miserable season, but it could get even worse© Maja Hitij/Getty Images

A first win since February offered Hertha Berlin a rare Saturday of hope and happiness. But this weekend's 2-1 victory over Stuttgart, one of the few sides Hertha can catch in their mission to stay in the Bundesliga, has been overshadowed by an existential threat.

On Monday, German broadsheet Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that the club are in danger of failing to meet the requirements necessary to play in the top two divisions, regardless of where they finish this season.

It's the latest twist in a tumultuous period for the club who, until the recent emergence of Union, were Berlin's biggest.

What's the issue?

There are two main problems. The first is that Hertha are due to pay back a bond of around €40million later this year and don't have a huge amount of cash or saleable assets in the playing squad.

Secondly, the paper's source claims that their relationship with new US investors 777 Partners has breached 50+1 rules. The system, a major talking point in the German game in recent years, essentially stipulates that clubs must be majority owned by their members, with a few exceptions and loopholes. The suggestion is that 777 have overriden this and wield too much power.

How did it come to this?

It was only three years ago that Lars Windhorst threw €374m ($410m) at Hertha in a blaze of publicity centered around a new slogan and identity as a "big city club”. Windhorst stuck around until eventually selling to 777 at the end of last year.

During his time, the club spent a decent chunk on transfers and wages with no discernable uptick in performances. They survived in the relegation playoff last season having been in the lower half of the table the two seasons before that.

This is in stark contrast to Union, who have flourished in the Bundesliga on a much smaller budget, finishing above Hertha in the last two seasons and will again this time round. They've also won the last five Berlin derbies.

The sight of Union celebrating at Hertha's Olympic Stadium has become common© Matthias Koch/IMAGO

Among many lowpoints in the last few years was the 76-day reign of former Germany player and coach Jürgen Klinsmann. To many, it spoke to Hertha's over-ambition.

What next for Hertha?

The club remain tight-lipped. "We are in regular contact with the DFL, both regarding the ongoing licensing process and the content of the partnership with our investor 777 Partners," said a spokesperson on Monday.

"Both topics must be discussed and clarified while complying with all legal requirements – in particular the 50+1 rule – and substantive specifications. However, we will not comment further on these ongoing processes and speculation in the media at the moment."

They will have until June 30 to resolve any issues and a whole range of penalties or sanctions could be imposed. The DFL, who run the Bundesliga, may be keeping a keener eye on situations such as this given the controversy over selling a portion of their international TV rights to overseas investors.

What about on the pitch?

If things look bleak in the boardroom, they don't look a whole lot better on the pitch. Club favorite Pal Dardai returned to the head coaching role for a second time since departing in 2019 in April. He thinks his side must concentrate on continuing to blow oxygen on to the embers of their recovery.

Pal Dardai has returned to the capital to answer yet another SOS call© Revierfoto/IMAGO

"Teams are able to win every game at the end of the season, and that's why we'll continue to fight as long as it's possible," he said. "We haven't managed anything yet, but we're in a better position now. From the three games left, two wins may be enough to avoid automatic relegation and with three we might even be able to guarantee survival. We will give everything to get the most out of them. As long as it's in our own hands, we don't need to talk about hope. I don't like the word "hope."

What happens next?

Dardai may not like it but, regardless of whether his side can take enough points from a trip to Cologne followed by a home match against Bochum and a final day clash in Wolfsburg, he'll also have to hope any issues are resolved off the pitch.

Though relegation to the 2.Bundesliga is still a distinct possibility, being kicked out of the top two leagues is less likely. It's not without precedent though, second tier clubs Duisburg and 1860 Munich saw their licenses revoked in 2013 and 2017 respectively. Given how Hertha have been operating for a while now, it's not impossible that they'd follow suit.

Author: Matt Pearson

Leicester City’s star Nigerian duo could depart the Foxes in the summer

 For Nigerians in need of some entertainment, Premier League football is a go-to option. The world’s biggest domestic league has also featured some of Nigeria’s most famous stars over the years, from Nwankwo Kanu at Arsenal to Jay Jay Okocha at Bolton.

Nowadays, two of Nigeria’s most talented players, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, are turning out for Leicester City, a side that has gone from winning a remarkable 2015/16 Premier League title to facing the very real prospect of dropping into the Championship come the end of the season. For both Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, that potential outcome would be disastrous for both of their careers, with the striker and the defensive midfielder undoubtedly aiming to stay in the Premier League for the foreseeable future and make an impact at international level with the Super Eagles.

illionaire Trader Warns: “If You Leicester are in real trouble

Leicester City’s demise has been pretty remarkable overall. Not many pundits and experts alike had the Foxes as genuine relegation contenders at the beginning of the campaign, but numerous issues have contributed to their evident decline. Leicester have gone from potential top-four challengers to relegation fodder in less than a year, resulting in former manager Brendan Rodgers getting the chop and huge concerns from the fans surfacing after a distinct lack of investment in the team in recent times. With rumours suggesting that the current owners are looking to sell the club, the notable rise that Leicester were illustrating appears to have hit a period of decline, with Foxes fans voicing their concerns, betting sites showing that the club are 6/4 to be relegated, and a somewhat underwhelming appointment of Dean Smith as manager until the end of the season. Leicester certainly aren’t the club that both Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi joined all those years ago, that’s for sure.

Both players would surely attract interest

Should Leicester find themselves in the Championship next season, it would appear as though the chances of keeping quality players in the shape of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi would be slim. Alongside the likes of James Maddison, both players have the ability to shine in the Premier League after proving their ability over the years. If a side is in need of a versatile frontman with an eye for goal, then Iheanacho certainly fits the bill. Likewise, while injuries have hampered his career in recent times, Wilfred Ndidi’s reputation appears to be solid still. The holding midfielder has been linked with major clubs in the past, and at the age of 26, he has his peak years ahead of him. If they go down, Leicester City’s star Nigerian duo surely won’t be joining them.

The Super Eagles need both players at their best

(Image via https://twitter.com/ades36000)

Given their importance to the Super Eagles setup, it would be detrimental to the national team’s chances should both Iheanacho and Ndidi find themselves vying for Championship promotion instead of playing against the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah in European football’s biggest domestic league. As such, it’s hugely important that both players remain at the highest level or the reduced competition they face on a weekly basis could hinder their chances of success with the national team. Of course, both players have the ability to leave Leicester as we’ve mentioned, but it’s not uncommon for players to remain at a club despite relegation, particularly if they’re tied down on a long contract or the selling club in question simply doesn’t receive a suitable offer for the player.

Conclusion

Whatever the outcome this season, to increase Nigeria’s chances of success in the future – and for the good of their careers – it appears as though both Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi need to leave Leicester City, a club on the decline, for pastures new in the summer.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

Fourteen killed at Nigerian bikers' carnival

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t least 14 people have been killed and 24 others injured after a vehicle ploughed into crowds watching bikers at a popular carnival in Nigeria's southern port city of Calabar.

A file picture shows stunt performers at the bikers' event - one of the carnival's the biggest draws© BBC

Eyewitnesses said that a speeding driver lost control of the car.

Pictures shared online in the immediate aftermath of the incident show bodies strewn across the street.

The month-long annual carnival, which features several events, has become a big draw since it was launched in 2004.

Dubbed Africa's biggest street party, it attracts local and foreign tourists throughout December.

Tuesday's incident took place during the popular bikers' parade on one of the major carnival routes which had been closed to vehicle traffic.

The event features riders, including celebrities, from across the country, some adorned in colourful costumes, performing stunts.

The police said a drunk driver - who has been arrested - had lost control of the car and ploughed into the crowd.

Cross River State Governor Prof Ben Ayade cancelled the rest of the bikers' parade and called for an immediate investigation.

Other events planned for the rest of the carnival - which is set to end on New Year's Eve with a fireworks display - have not been cancelled.

Covid-19 will disappear without vaccine - US President, Trump

US President, Donald Trump has said the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic is going to “end without a vaccine.”

Trump told the press during his daily briefing at the White House at the weekend, “This is going to go away without a vaccine, it’s gonna go away, and we’re not going to see it again, hopefully, after a period of time.”


He added, “You may have some flare-ups, and I guess I would expect that.”

As at Friday, the deadly virus had infected at least 1.2 million people in the US killing more than 76,000.

The leading expert on infectious diseases on the US COVID-19 task force, Dr. Anthony Fauci, had repeatedly said a vaccine is still at least a year to 18 months from being produced.


Meanwhile, President Trump insists he relies on what doctors tell him, adding that doctors believe COVID-19 will go away but did not say if it was going to be this year.

“It doesn’t mean, frankly, it’s going to be gone before the fall or after the fall, but eventually it’s going to go away.

The question is whether we will need a vaccine. At some point, it will probably go away by itself.”

NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS WILL COME OUT OF COVID- 19 PANDEMIC STRONGER - OSINBAJO

“We will get through this much stronger economically and much stronger as a people because of our resilience. There are a lot of challenges but they offer significant opportunities for us to turn things around.”

Those were the words of assurance from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, to Nigerians during his interaction today at the 2020 edition of ‘The Platform’ themed “Nigeria’s battle against COVID-19”.



Yemi Osinbajo
Nigeria’s Vice President
According to him. “I am very confident that Nigerians, with our resilience, our strength and our innovation, we will go through this in great shape.”

The Platform is an annual discussion programme of the Covenant Christian Centre that features discussions around the state of the Nigerian nation and its development. The May 2020 edition featured virtual participants without a life audience as a result of the global pandemic.

The Vice President then laid out some of the Federal Government’s efforts to address the economic fallouts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking specifically about how the country can transform the challenges caused by the pandemic into opportunities for economic diversification and job creation, the Vice President said prioritizing use of local resources and creating local jobs in the construction and allied industry, amongst other things, will be critical in sustaining the economy in the post COVID-19 era.

He said: “We have to prioritize the use of local resources in all public works. In road construction for instance, it is cheaper to build concrete roads using limestone than spending resources on the importation of bitumen. We have limestone in abundance hence we should be looking in that direction. The road from the Apapa port to the Lagos –Ibadan expressway is being built with cement and is of high quality.

“In the housing sector where we have a huge deficit, we need to focus on using local resources to build houses and in the process we will be creating opportunities for young engineers, architects and builders etc.”

In the area of agriculture, the Vice President said government’s initial policies have saved the country from the huge forex burden of food imports and related activities.

“We think that by ramping up agriculture, especially small holder agriculture and improving the value chain, especially in storage and processing facilities, more jobs will be created for many young people.

“We have found ourselves in a situation where we realize that the way to go is to support the creation of the jobs in agriculture and reduce food imports and ultimately address the issue of unemployment and food shortages.

“What we must do as much as we can is to change the narrative about Nigeria and provide more jobs.”

Still on mitigating the fallouts of the COVID-19 pandemic such as inflation, the Vice President said government would focus on improving productivity and improving food stock across the country.

According to him, “if you can ramp up food production and the logistics of bringing food to the urban centres, inflation will be controlled to a large extent.”

He added that boosting agricultural production for export purposes and supporting the mining sector will bolster the country’s foreign exchange earnings and reserves.

Other contributors to discussions at the virtual summit include the Governors Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State; Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and Godwin Obaseki of Edo State. The Director-General of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, Dr. Chike Ihekweazu also spoke at the interaction which included interviews, panel discussion and speeches. The event was moderated by Pastor Poju Oyemade, the Convener of The Platform.

Oyo records 5 new cases of COVID- 19, 4 Ibadan, 1 in Ogbomoso

Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde has confirmed five new COVID-19 cases in Oyo state, taking the total number of infections in the state to 64 cases.

According to Makinde, he said the new infections cases cut across Ibadan and Ogbomoso ( Surulere ).

In his Oyo state Covid-19 Taskforce update for May 9, 2020, Makinde said ” the COVID-19 confirmation tests for five suspected cases came back POSITIVE. The cases are from the following Local Government Areas: Ibadan North (2), a foreigner in Surulere, Ibadan North East (1) and Ibadan South West (1). So, the total number of confirmed cases in Oyo State is 64.

With five new cases in Oyo, Nigeria confirmed a total 239 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, taking the total number of infections in the country to 4,151 cases. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in a tweet on Saturday night, May 9, confirmed the new cases.

According to the agency, 97 of the cases were in Lagos, 44 in Bauchi, 29 in Kano and 19 in Katsina. Borno states had 17 cases the Abuja had seven cases, Kwara had six, Oyo had five, while Kaduna, Sokoto and Adamawa states had three cases each.

IMPEACHMENT: OYO DEPUTY GOVERNOR OUTSMARTS GSM

Despite the intensity of the plot to remove the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, it appears a Herculean task because most members of the state House of Assembly are with the Deputy Governor than Governor Seyi Makinde (GSM).

Early in the life of the administration, the lawmakers have had the ears and support of Olaniyan than the governor, including standing by some of them when in need. The legislators are angry that the governor has been allegedly contemptuous of them.

When the lawmakers were hauled into a hotel by a top member of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) to sell the idea of a likely impeachment of the Deputy Governor, most of them were busy with text and WhatsApp messages (on the spot), leaking reports on how the plot will be hatched. Olaniyan’s strategists were enjoying the game. It is obvious that any impeachment investment will go down the drain.



Notwithstanding, two confidants of the governor from Itesiwaju and Saki West are locked in a fierce battle to produce the successor to Olaniyan.