Chelsea boss backs Mikel over Clatten-bust

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck says his club had no choice but to pursue a claim of racial abuse after he three times reportedly asked the players involved "if they might have heard 'Mikel' instead of 'monkey'" from referee Mark Clattenburg.

Buck told the London Evening Standard that Chelsea was obliged to report to the Football Association once that was denied. The players involved are believed to be black midfielders John Obi Mikel and Ramires.

Buck says "the reaction has been very unfair" as "I felt we had the moral high ground," adding if the club had done nothing then "if that had leaked out, we would've really been crucified."

Buck says Chelsea they are not being "hypocritical" despite backing captain John Terry when he served a ban for racially abusing an opponent.

CAF appoints Ivorian officials for Eaglets, Mali

Match referees for Sunday’s 2013 African U-17 Championship qualifying match between Nigeria and Mali at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar will come from Cote d’Ivoire.

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Kouame Ndri as the centre referee, with his compatriots Cherif Mamadou Bogbe, Kouadio Oussou and Denis Dembele as 1st Assistant, 2nd Assistant and 4^th Official respectively.

CAF also appointed Benoit Zianga as the match commissioner.

On Tuesday, the Nigeria Football Federation formally requested the Federation Malienne de Football to furnish it with details of its delegation’s arrival date, time and vessel as well as size of delegation.

Sunday’s match is the first leg of a final qualifying fixture, after the Eaglets dismissed Niger Republic and Guinea in earlier rounds.

Martins Vow Afcon Place

Levante new sensation, Obafemi Martins, who is styled the Weapon of Mass Destruction, has vowed to get a shirt with his performance on the pitch on Wednesday and in subsequent camping of the team.

“My return is for real and Nigerians will see”, he said. Indeed, Martins looked the sharpest among attackers in camp as he banged in goal after goal in Monday evening training.

The game will be played at the Marlins Stadium in Miami 8pm Miami time and 2am Thursday Nigerian time.

Ameobi, Dike Celebrate Eagles Call

Newcastle United of England’s longest serving player and Nigeria’s latest acquisition, Shola Ameobi, has said he was simply delighted to be part of the Nigerian set up for the first time and hopes it turns out well on Wednesday (Thursday morning in Nigeria).

Ameobi spoke after dinner on Monday night on arrival from England.

“Its good to be here and I will learn to speak Pidgin English as the players have directed”, he joked after his former teammate at the Toons’, Obafemi Martins challenged him to start speaking in Pidgin English, which Keshi has adopted as the official language each time the team is in camp.

Also in ecstasy over his call up is Bright Dike of MLS side Portland Timbers of the United States, who was the last to join camp.

Dike said at breakfast on Tuesday morning that it was a dream come true for him to be part of the Nigerian set up, as Assistant Coach, Sylvanus Okpala tries to size up abilities to speak the Ibo language. “I understand it but don’t speak fluently, it will get better now that I will start coming to Nigeria”, he said amidst smiles.

Ejide captains Eagles against Venezuela

Gangling Israeli based goalkeeper, Austin Ejide, will step out of the shadows of his national teammate, Vincent Enyeama, on Wednesday night in Miami, United States, when he leads the team out as skipper in the international friendly against Venezuela at the Marlins Stadium in the American city.

Head Coach Stephen Keshi said after critical consideration, he has decided to hand Ejide the armband for the match. Indeed, Ejide first joined the national team from Gabros of Nnewi, in the run-up to the Korea-Japan 2002 World Cup, alongside Enyeama and the likes of Justice Christopher.

The Eagles number one jersey has since been alternated between the duo, with Enyeama having the lion’s share, but Wednesday’s game will be another opportunity for Ejide to lay claim to the Eagles number one shirt.