I will retire as an Evertonian: Howard

everton's top choice goalkeeper and one of the leaders of the U.S. National soccer team TIm Howard has stated categorically that he wants to retire at Everton."I play for the U.S. National team and Everton is the club that I love. have said that before.I have a nice contract here and I want to retire here at Everton.Howard enthused.

The very hardworking and reliable shot stopper talked about the secrete of his consistency being hard work and always making sure that he wants to play every game he can and not looking too far ahead .

He also talked about how the performance of the U.S. National soccer team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in brazil has impacted on the growth of football in America."The impact has been huge.As Much as the MLS Is very important,our national team doing well at the World Cup producing good players makes soccer grow and pushes soccer forward .Its great to see how the fans as you say the fans in Nigeria are so passionate about soccer.The fans in America have become very very passionate and very knowledgable .They are beginning to understand the game and it's really good to see " Tim Howard said to Oma Akatugba in Germany.

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Watch My Exclusive on Didier Drogba Exclusive.

EXCLUSIVE : Didier Drogba speaks to Oma Akatugba.Talks about his age,retirement plans,Ivory coast and Nigeria.

Didier Drogba is perhaps the Biggest African Footballer alive.His record speaks volume of the kind of footballer he is.Off the pitch he is also as great as he is on it as he has touched so many lives across the world especially in his home country Ivory Coast where he is Building Hospitals to help the poor get free healthcare and stand a chance to live and pursue thier dreams just like him.

AT 36 he is still waxing stronger scoring goals for his Club Chelsea on his return after 2 years away.

He spoke with Nigerian International football expert,Oma Akatugba In gelsenkirchen Germany after Chelsea´s victory over Schalke 04.

Oma:You are 36 and still scoring,what is the secrete

Drogba: There is no secrete,for me its a passion.I am happy to be on the pitch.Anytime i have the chance to be on the football pitch i try to enjoy it that's why I keep going.Its all about passion.

Oma.Any plans to retire in the next 1 or 2 years ?

Drogba : I have to think about it soon ehn...laughs..but i try to to enjoy the moment and one day for sure it would have to come.You can not continue forever,it has to stop one day.

Oma:I follow you on instagram so i see you are already preparing for retirement by building hospitals.Please tell us about that project.

Drogba: Ahh this is i would say the game of my life.Building hospitals and setting up a mobile team to go to people to make checks and try to save lives......Diego costa nudges him at the back jokingly...That is Diego Costa you know he said to......I know him with a smile.I know him,he has taken your place at Chelsea.......Drogba cuts in ....I never had a specific place in Chelsea.I am a part of the team and you can see everybody is giving his best and working for the team.That is our focus at Chelsea.

Oma: Talking about working for the club.are you looking at taking up a job at Chelsea after retirement? 

Drogba : Not really.What am looking at at  the moment is how can i help the team achieve success.What can i bring to the team,how can i help the team.Thats the most important thing.I dont look at 4,5 or 10 yeas.My focus is now.

Oma: When would ivory coast win the Nations Cup ? 

Drogba:I hope  so,i am from ivory coast i hope we win the nations cup.I was sad for your country Nigeria.You have a great team and Obi Mikel my team mate is one of the leaders of the team so i was sad for them but at the same  feel its good for the other teams to qualify as they deserve to be there.I hope Ivory coast would win the nations cup this time.

My conversation with (The Special One ) Jose Mourinho

The special one as he is fondly called by his fans worldwide spoke to journalist at the Veltins Arena of Schalke 04 ahead of thier UCL game and Oma Akatugba was one of the privileged international journalist at the press conference.The practice is you are free to ask as many questions as you like so long the floor is open so I used the opportunity to throw some questions at the Special one Mr Mourinho.

I The section started with questions for Thibaut Courtois and after that it was time for Jose to answer questions .Yours truly fired the first salvo and my question was "petr Cech is one of the best goal keepers in Europe and was very solid for Chelsea  during and after your time at the club. thbaut Courtois came from Athletico and stole the number one shirt.How have you been able to manage him in Cech in this situation ? Easy.....He is a professional and has the motivation to always want to play.That is what keeps you at a top club like Chelsea.I am very lucky to have two very good goal keepers.as a manager I am very privileged because lots of treats have just one and I have two then it's good for me and the club .

My next question was "Do you think you have been lucky so far or it's been real quality on the side of your team."I think the draw we had in our matches we where closer to wining that loosing.we missed a penalty against Maribor.we were denied a penalty against Manchester United .the players  are doing well and that is why we are winning.We have a good team and I am happy.

 I asked him about his thoughts on Diego Costa's form.and he said Without a good team you can not do anything.i don't want to speak about one player .We have Fabregas and other players doing well too but he is scoring goals and doing well and that's good for the team 

My final question was is there any team he would like to avoid in the next round of the UCL ? 

Mourinho said Maybe I go to the Europa league,it makes no sense to think about the last 16 now.we need points to play there that is why we are here.

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I am not thinking of revenge :Roberto Di Matteo

Schalke manager Roberto Di Matteo has said he is not thinking of revenge ahead of Tonight's UEFA champions league cracker against his former team Chelsea fc.Speaking at the press conference ahead of the game taking place at the Veltins Arena which is the home ground if his team.Yours truly asked him if he thinks getting a win against his former club would be like pay back for Chelsea who sacked him  unceremoniously after winning the then elusive UEFA Champions League..He said a win would mean 3 points for his team and that's Schalke.He also said he has nothing against Chelsea that he actually has a lot of friends in the team and they still keep their friendship.He went further to say that Chelsea are Favourite for this game going by their domestic form but believes Schalke will qualify for the next round of the UCL .

The former Chelsea boss also said when he was asked if he still has glorious images of the night in Munich and which moment will remain fresh in his memory.He said he can not pick out one particular moment but would say it was generally a good experience  and one he will not forget in a hurry .

He lamented the injury of Nigeria's Chinedu Obasi who did not train with the team and ended by saying he loves Schalke and has been following the Bundesliga for years and he is very glad to be the manager of a team like Schalke 04.

Oma Akatugba was amongst other international football journalist present at the pre match press conference at the Veltins Arena of Schalke 04 as they build up to thier UEFA Champions league cracker.

Is Neymar underrated or overrated? Your thoughts pls......

Messi is better than Ronaldo.Paulo Andrade Faria

Paulo Andrade Faria is a Portuguese who lives in Madera where Christiano Ronaldo grew up and still lives whenever he is in Portugal.He is a FIFA Licensed player agent.He was speaking with me today and I thought I should seek his opinion on the Messi vs Ronaldo Debate.I asked" Paulo,between Messi and Ronaldo who do you prefer? Paulo responds emphatically with one world MESSI.I asked again why ? He said because Messi can just wake up and play the game,it's very natural with him that's why you see how easy he does it on the pitch but Ronaldo had to train so hard to reach this level.I live here in Madera and his father was my friend.I am happy because I saw him grow from a young player to the best in the world but I don't think he is better than Messi he said.whats your take guys?

was Keshi Arrogant or Professional?

You call it arrogance but I call it Professionalsim.

this is what happened....A very respected Nigerian Journalist Godwin Enakhena was anchoring his very popular sports show on Top Radio.Top sports.He puts a call through to the media Officer of the Nigerian national Team the super Eagles.After the usual conversation of who is in camp and who is not..The Media Officer says I have the Chief coach stephen Keshi seating close to me and Godwin Enakhena the presenter asked " Can I quickly have a word with him"? The phone was handed to Keshi who in his usual style switched to Pidgin and they exchanged pleasantries.Godwin cuts in and said,Let's go straight to Business with the intention of starting an interview.The first question was "coach tell us,are you under any pressure"...Keshi cuts in and says I give you appointment before wey you wan start interview? Then hangs the phone...This has provoked a serious debate on social media.Most who are fans of the top journalist tagged it arrogance.From what I know about civilized societies.You must have an appointment before conducting an interview especially live on Radio with such an important personality.My question is was the coach arrogant or professional ? Let's get your mind on this.....

Germany celebrates 25 Years since the Fall of the Berlin WallwiththeWorld Champions.

Germany's World Cup winners honoured as The country celebrates 25 Years since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

It was moment of great jubilation a and celebrations in Germany as the nation basked in World Cup glory again on Monday when the national team were honoured before attending the premiere of the official movie about their victory in Brazil In June.

President Joachim Gauck, joined by Chancellor Angela Merkel, awarded the players with the Silver Laurel Leaf, the country's highest sports award for what was Germany's fourth World Cup crown.

"All of us in Germany felt as if we were world champions," Gauck told the players before they received their awards.

"We can be happy that no one is envying our title and the world is happy with us."


Germany lifted the trophy after beating Argentina 1-0 in extra-time in the final following their historic 7-1 demolition of hosts Brazil in the semis.

The captain of the side Pilipp Lahm Said while addressing the audience at the Bellevue Palace "Many of us are not here for the first time," World Cup-winning captain

"But it is something special to have brought the trophy with us this time."

The 21 players who where present and coaches were then taken to another red-carpet occasion as the city celebrated 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall which eventually led to Germany's reunification.Andre Schuerrle and Julian Draxler missed out .

They attended the premiere of the "The Team", the movie detailing their run to the world title with inside glimpses into how the team lived the experience.

One of them was Thomas Mueller's trip and fall during a free kick in the knockout-stage win over Algeria. It was a routine practised over and over again by the Germans which just did not work right on the day.

But more than showing private moments of the players at their seaside camp in northern Brazil, the film highlighted the team spirit that was forged during the six weeks of preparations and competition.

Revenues from the movie will be used for charitable projects, the German Football Association (DFB) said.

Oma Akatugba writes from Berlin.
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international Sports broadcaster / Journalist Oma Akatugba officiallylaunches his Blog.

welcome to my Blog.This will be a compilation of my global football activities,Exclusive interviews with top African and International football stars,Coaches,Officials and everything football.You will also be seeing pictures of me and some of your major sports stars as I cover some of the biggest football games and sporting events worldwide.

As some of you already know that I am a very interesting and entertaining person,I shall be writing about my experience from my football and daily activities around the World.You will also get to read my thoughts on up coming football games as well as my review of top games accross the World.

There would also be my videos as well.Its going to be an interesting ride with me as I criss cross the globe searching for interesting things to entertain you my friends with.I will sometimes write about interesting topics outside football as well but this as you know by what the brand Oma Akatugba stands for will be heavy on sports and of-course more football.I can assure you that anytime you visit my blog you will always find something interesting .

thanks for visiting .

Oma Akatugba at the press confference of a Uefa Champions league game.