International Football
NIGERIAN BORN DAVID OLAOYE BECOMES FIRST ENGLISH SPEAKING FOOTBALLER IN ARGENTINA
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
The connection of Nigeria and Argentina football-wise recently took a new turn as David Olaoye became the first English footballer in the South American country. Olaoye is a Nigerian-born British citizen.
Both Nigeria and Argentina have met in every facet of men football at national level and have become rivals in almost every World Cup both jointly qualified for.
There have been five out of six instances both have had to belong to the same group.
As if to prove the football bond of both countries, Nigeria in 2012 appointed a former board member of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Chive Kaave as its ambassador to Argentina.
Kaave’s ambassadorial appointment to Argentina was with concurrent accreditation to Peru, Chile and Paraguay.
David Olaoye has settled in Argentina
The focus on football in Argentina is now more than just finding out information on Nigeria’s World Cup opponent but also that of a Nigeria blood sweating making waves on the turfs of that country.
Olaoye, according to an on-line Argentina media group, the TyC Sports, Olaoye, a striker, arrived before TV cameras to feature for fourth division El Porvenir.
British tabloid, The Sun, added that the 21 year old David Olaoye started his career in the English non-league before moving to Greece and Slovenia. He began his career at non-league sides Newham, Ware Town and Barking in the United Kingdom before his footballing adventure took him to Greece and Slovenia before taking the huge decision to move to the southern hemisphere and play for El Porvenir in Argentina’s Primera C.
Born in Nigeria. The Olaoye twin brothers, David and Daniel.
The Olaoye twin brothers and their Nigerian mother.
David Olaoye has a twin brother, Daniel who is also experiencing a footballing odyssey in Sweden — playing for Nordvarmlands FF.
He last month made his debut for the Argentine club in a 1-1 draw with Berazategui. “I chose Argentina because the great players come from America and it’s a place where I felt I could to flourish and have a successful career, I just thought that ‘no English plays here’, ” Olaoye was quoted by TyC Sports to have told the British media.
He added: “I signed a contract for two years after arriving in August, but it took me a while to get my work permit and I was only able to play one month ago, here are passionate fans, they are crazy, in all divisions, in how they support his teams during the games.” Olaoye, who was born in Nigeria and then lived in London, revealed that his ultimate goal is to play for Arsenal in the Premier League, although he would like to fulfil the dream of playing with his twin, who is currently playing in Sweden. “We understand each other very well, many people get confused because we are identical,” he said. “To be honest, I do not think there’s anything anti-English here in Argentina, obviously I’ve heard about things from the past like the Falkland Islands War, but it has not been a problem for me,” he said.
International Football
Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Abdellatif-Akhrif.png)
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
International Football
FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/arsene-wenger.jpg)
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
International Football
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/baggio.jpg)
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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