35 year old former Nigerian Striker and current Manchester United forward, Odion Ighalo will become the Highest Paid African Player if he accepts Shanghai Shenhua's over £400,000 per week two-year contract extension, that's a very very very huge sum of money, when converted into the Nigerian currency, it will be 176,000,000 naira every blessed week.


If Ighalo should accept £400,000 per week to return to his parent Chinese club, Shenhua Shanghai at this stage of his career, then it's a fair play to him, he has fulfilled his dream and made an impact in the Manchester United's season, but if he still chooses to take a pay cut and stay for the love of the club, then that will be an incredible passion and commitment.





Many Nigerians have been advising him to take the money, including Nigerian Singer and Song writer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, who reacted to the news, under the comment section of popular blogger and former singer, Tunde Ednut. The blogger had shared the post, and ask his fans what they think about the offer, Davido simply reacted and wrote "Take The Money".





Poll: The  question is, will Ighalo take the money or will he take a pay cut to remain at his childhood dream club?.

To be commissioned May 27, 2020

Balotelli Remind The World What Makes Cristiano Ronaldo Goat


Mario Balotelli had stir up aggressive fight between the two world best players. In a statement released, he gave his support to one player while he insulted the second player.

Balotelli who love the idea of proving yourself in all nature of football and making a difference that is vivid as supported Cristiano will to make a change in challenge and erase all excuse of him been helped by some set of people to achive greatness.

He condemn Messi excuse to avoid his throne been put to test under different conditions.



"I would rather win 2 Ballon d’Ors with 2 different clubs like Cristiano Ronaldo than win 5 or 6 Golden Balls with one club. What's the point of spending a whole career in one club and saying I'm the best really it's shameful."


A lot of people had considered this statement as a threat to the peace among the two players. It is obvious that he was actually condemning the choice of Messi staying with Barcelona and winning trophies

Please drop your thoughts on this and reshare the post

Let us know maybe he's right or absolutely wrong

The player has been in voluntary home isolation. He will continue to be monitored and will follow the same regime

   

Report has it that UEFA has decided to postpone Euro 2020 and are looking to hold the tournament next summer.
The tournament was scheduled to have been held from June 12 to July 12 across 12 countries, including England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

UEFA have just decided to postpone the EURO 2020 into next summer
The above therefore may give room to accommodate the completion of the English Premier League games which have been on hold due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

And if the above materializes, then Liverpool who just need six points out the maximum 24 points from their remaining eight matches could be crowned the 2019/2020 EPL winners with just two wins or six draws.


Liverpool could finally win their 30th EPL title with just six points
Meanwhile, Wembley was due to host seven matches at the tournament including the semi-finals and final. But it has now been confirmed that the tournament will be delayed for 12 months and is now scheduled to take place from June 11, 2021 to July 11, 2021 National Daily further learnt.

UEFA have held meetings on Tuesday to discuss the rescheduling of their tournaments, including the Champions League and Europa League.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Norwegian Football Association announced: ‘UEFA has decided that the European Championship is postponed to 2021. ‘It will be played from 11 June to 11 July next year.’

More to follow…

The most popular league in the world was suspended due to the recent outbreak of Covid-19 all over the world.however 90 percent of league's in Europe and all over the world was suspended temporary .while Chinese league was suspended permanently due to the deadly virus. It has be recorded that some popular players and coaches In some countries come in contact with the deadly virus ,and they are currently in the isolation center or room in order to investigates more and find solutions to it.

The most prestigious league in the world was put on hold. Such as the premier league who has also suspended their league notice for now until further notice. Same as li liga and series A.

Meanwhile, the Good news is that those popular leagues have announced their resumption date which is April 4th while others like series A , bundasliga and LA laliga to resume on the 5th of April.

POPULAR LEAGUES AND THEIR RESUMPTION DATES

a) English premier league:- set to resume on the 4th of April 2020

B) EFL :- on the 5th of April 2020

C) SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE :- on the 5th and 6th of April

D) SERIE A;- 5th of April 2020

E)GERMAN BUNDASLIGA :- 10th of April 2020

F) LA LIGA :- 5th of April 2020

G) PORTUGAL LEAGUE :- 10 the of April 2020

H) FRENCH LIGUE April 2020

UEFA CHAMPION LEAGUE ;- date not yet confirmed

I) HOLLAND LEAGUES :- 5th of April 2020

J) MLS :- 13th of April 2020

Meanwhile those dates can be changed by the football officials depending on the eradication of the deadly virus covid-19.we pray that everyone should be safe and healthy.

Three scenarios for the Champions League




European sport is at a standstill. Consequence of the coronavirus pandemic which progresses every day a little more on the Old Continent.

Most competitions have been suspended, including the Champions League where the Europa League when the end of the round of 16 was to be contested this week.

European football leaders must now decide what to do next. And this while a suspension of at least two months is mentioned.

To this end, UEFA will bring together by videoconference this Tuesday its 55 members, those of the ECA as well as a representative of Fifpro, the players’ union.

A planned Final Eight
Several options are available to them. While it seems certain that Euro 2020, scheduled for June, will be postponed to next season, whether it be from this winter or more surely in the summer of 2021, a cancellation of all competitions, including the European Cups, cannot be ruled out.

Some hope, however, to take advantage of the six weeks between mid-May and June 30 to allow the current season to end more or less normally.

To believe the Telegraph, the leaders of the various leagues for the time being seem to favor their domestic championships, which would force the European Cups to reinvent themselves to shorten the final phase as much as possible.

UEFA would thus consider setting up a Final Four like what is done during the League of Nations But this solution only saves one date and obliges to stall the end of the knockout stages and the quarters final.

Also, some are campaigning for a Final Eight, the quarterfinals being played in a single match on the lawn of one of the two teams. Four dates would then be necessary to allow the Champions League and the Europa League to go through with their terms

The decision to hand the title over to table toppers Liverpool now lies in the hand of premier league rivals including Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal who undoubtedly have a key say in whether the club are awarded the title if the season cannot be completed.

Chukwueze

English Premier League club Chelsea are ready to firm up their interest in Samuel Chukwueze by making a bid for the Nigeria international, according to reports. Berlin based media company Onefootball claims.

The Blues are planning to make an offer for the Villarreal winger and manager Frank Lampard wants him in his squad for the 2020-2021 season.

Chukwueze won’t come cheap though as he has a release clause of 100 million euros (approximately N41 billion) which has to be activated before the Yellow Submarine can shred their agreement with the 20-year-old.

The 2015 U17 World Cup winner has made 68 first-team appearances for Villarreal since debuting in September 2018.

Chelsea Football Club wonder start Callum Hudson Odoi has recovered from Coronavirus infection. The player took to his social media page to thank all his supporters and doctors for praying and attending  him promptly, which has necessitated his early recovery.

Remember Odoi was confirmed positive for Covid-19 virus late yesterday and was quarantine for treatment. It seems the player is now perfectly okay.

Odoi appreciated all nurses and doctors battling with infected patients in the hospital.

Read Odoi's full post below..

You may have read the news and that's why I want to calm everyone who are worrying about me, Im fine and I have recovered. At this moment, however,I feel even more obliged to thank all the doctors and nurses who are struggling in hospitals to cope with this emergency. Writing everyone to respect the rules, because this virus doesn't distinguish! Let's do it for ourselves, for our loved ones and for those around us.

#CHO #CALLUMHUDSONODOI💓💓

It is not yet understood if Odoi's early recovery can be attributed to him being an African. Because some health practitioners has said earlier that African blood could prove resistance to the deadly  virus. 

Manchester United fans are known for their flamboyant character when it comes to their new signings. The Old Trafford crowd is usually proud of thier player and can never stop praising new signings whatsoever. Things have further been made easy by social media platforms and groups everywhere. Fans can now chat and discuss the players perfomance at a daily basis.

And as is with the curent situation, the Red Devil fanbase is relishing the signing of Odion Ighalo and Portuguese guy Bruno Fernandes. And last week when Ighalo scored his first goals under a United shirt, fans were left in jubilance.



Apparently, it was Ighalo's double for an English club since netting twice for Watford against Liverpool in a Premier League game in December 2015.

That made him hit two goals in his first two starts for the Red Devils. Twitter went on fire with praise for his FA tier win. The Nigerian thus proved to be a smart loan signing by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, even if few were expecting him to make much of an impact at Old Trafford.



And Ighalo’s incredible fast start at the club csme up with a new nickname. MUFC suporters now dub the 30-year-old the ‘Nigerian R9' a comparison to the legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo Delima. This is obviously a little tongue-in-cheek, but it shows just how much Ighalo has quickly endeared himself as a new fans favourite.

United supporters have even joked of Bruno Fernandes' impact and nicknamed him "the playmaker." Quite fancy lol...

Cristiano Ronaldo has NOT been infected with the coronavirus despite being held in quarantine in his native Madeira, the president of the Portuguese islands has confirmed.

The Juventus superstar will remain at home while the fear of infection is still high, with Italy on lockdown.

Ronaldo’s team-mate Daniele Rugani became the first Serie A player to contract the illness, with Paulo Dybala also reported to have tested positive - information Juventus have reportedly denied.

The Italian club confirmed 121 players and staff have gone into self-isolation.

Ronaldo initially flew home to Madeira to visit his mother Dolores, who suffered a stroke earlier this month.

He is now unable to return to Italy due to strict mobility restrictions across the continent.

There were reports in Italy that the former Real Madrid icon had contracted the coronavirus but these have been confirmed to be false.

President of the Madeira regional government Miguel Albuquerque said: 'I cannot speak of this issue for data protection reasons, but I want to say that the situation has been properly analysed and it is, at this time, guaranteed that there is no possibility of infection.'

Regional health secretary Pedro Ramos confirmed: 'Both the athlete and his family are asymptomatic.'

Despite remaining in his homeland, Ronaldo is in daily contact with Juventus medical staff and is training in his personal gym.

All Serie A matches have been suspended until at least April 3, with Sampdoria striker Manolo Gabbiadini the second player in the top flight to have been confirmed to have contracted the illness.


dailymail.co.uk

The Premier League has been hit with a wave of the Coronavirus as Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi becomes the first player to have tested positive for the virus. The England international was tested after showing symptoms of the common cold and the club has confirmed that the academy graduate has contacted the virus. Hudson-Odoi becomes the second high-profile Premier League figure to have the virus after Arsenal manager Mikel Arterta tested positive to the virus on Thursday, The official statement from Chelsea reads thus: “Chelsea men’s team player Callum Hudson-Odoi had a positive test result for Coronavirus returned this evening, Chelsea personnel who had recent close contact with the player in the men’s team building will now self-isolate in line with Government health guidelines.”


“These will include initially the full men’s team squad, coaching staff and a number of backroom staff. It is expected that those who did not have close contact with Callum will return to work in the coming days,” the statement continued. The club also disclosed that some parts of the training center would be closed due to the virus. “In the meantime, the men’s team building, one of several separate buildings at our training ground, will remain closed. The rest of our training facility, Stamford Bridge and our other facilities are operating as normal.” “Callum displayed symptoms similar to a mild cold on Monday morning and has not been at the training ground since then as a precaution. However, his test came in positive this evening and he will undergo a period of self-isolation. Despite testing positive for the virus, Callum is doing well and looking forward to returning to the training ground as soon as it is possible.

Callum Hudson Odoi

 “We will continue to adhere to Government and Public Health Guidelines with regard to our facilities and staff and will be discussing next steps with regards to upcoming fixtures with the Premier League on Friday morning. We will provide further updates as necessary via the club’s website.” With this latest development, it is likely that the Premier League clash between Chelsea and Aston Villa set to take place on Saturday would be postponed.

By Don Silas

Chelsea legend and former Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel, has reacted to the death of Nasarawa United player, Chieme Martins.

DAILY POST reported that Martins slumped and died during one of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixtures last Sunday.

It was gathered that Martins collapsed after colliding with a Katsina United player.

Efforts to resuscitate Martins proved abortive, as the defender eventually gave up the ghost before he was even rushed to the hospital.

Reacting, Mikel Obi took to his Instagram page on Tuesday to mourn the late Martins.

He shared his sympathy with the family and friends of the late 22-year-old star.

The Trabzonspor midfielder wrote: “Rest in peace, my prayers and thought are with your family,” accompanied by a crying emoji on the picture of Martins.

It's no more a story that Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-0 yesterday, an important result that has taken alot of pressure off Chelsea boss Frank Lampard.

Billy Gilmour was one of the star of the show, and the best moment was when he destroyed Fabinho with this little bit of quick footed skills.



The Brazilian was outsmarted several times by the young Chelsea player to recover. He was bossed all game by the little man who added the icing on the cake with this brilliant little skill through the midfielder’s legs. Utter humiliation and a massive boost for Lampard’s team.

Watch the clip of skill in the video here:

The 5th round of the FA saw Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC played against each other on the 3rd of March 2020. But unfortunately for Liverpool and fortunately for Chelsea, the match ended in 2 - 0 in favor of Chelsea which will see them advance to the next round.

After the match, Liverpool players have took to social media to express their anger towards some players which they believe their performance in not up to par and nothing to write home about.

The players who suffered the bants most is Fabinho and Adrian after a fan called them useless and blame them for being the reason they lost the match against Chelsea.

See some fans reactions below:

In your own opinion, do you think these players deserves the criticism they are getting from fans?

The retired N.B.A. star, 41, and his daughter Gianna were among nine people in a helicopter that crashed near Calabasas, Calif. A college baseball coach and his wife and daughter were also killed.

Bryant was among the passengers traveling onboard the helicopter. Nine people died in the crash, including the pilot, said Alex Villanueva, the Los Angeles County sheriff, during a news conference.
The sheriff’s department was holding a news conference at 8 p.m. Pacific time (11 p.m. Eastern) to give updates on its progress.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it sent a team to California on Sunday evening.
Daryl Osby, the Los Angeles County fire chief, said the crash site was difficult to access and that firefighters had to hike to the area.

It was not immediately clear how many passengers the helicopter was approved to transport, and fire officials said it was not immediately clear whether the helicopter was overloaded.

The N.B.A. sent a confirmation of Bryant’s and Gianna’s deaths to all teams and league employees Sunday afternoon, according to two people familiar with the document.
The other victims of the crash included John Altobelli, a longtime baseball coach at Orange Coast College, a junior college in Costa Mesa. Calif., as well as Altobelli’s wife, Keri, and daughter Alyssa, university officials said.

The Grammy Awards paid tribute to Bryant at the beginning of their show.
At the arena where Bryant put his stamp on the Lakers and the N.B.A., his death cast a pall over a typically ebullient event: the Grammy Awards.

The show’s host, Alicia Keys, paid tribute to Bryant during the opening of the CBS broadcast, performing “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” with the R&B group that made the song popular, Boyz II Men.
“Here we are, together on music’s biggest night celebrating the artists that do it best, but to be honest with you we’re all feeling crazy sadness right now because earlier today Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero,” Keys said. “And we’re literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built.”
A spotlight shined on Bryant’s retired No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys up in the rafters of the Staples Center.

The music industry’s top stars mourned Bryant leading up to the show, from Taylor Swift to Demi Lovato and John Legend.
“In Staples Arena, where Kobe created so many memories for all of us, preparing to pay tribute to another brilliant man we lost too soon, Nipsey Hussle,” John Legend wrote on Twitter. “Life can be so brutal and senseless sometimes.”

Bryant and his daughter were on their way to an academy where he coached her team.
Outside the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, Calif., fans laid flowers and lit candles at an impromptu memorial for their star. The gym had handwritten signs on the door: Closed.

A few dozen people, adults of all ages, stood huddled in silence around the memorial of several jerseys, candles, dozens of bouquets, Sports Illustrated magazines with Bryant on the cover, and a Lakers flag. Written on one bouquet was “We love you Kobe and Gigi.” Another card, the shape of a Lakers basketball, read, “The day we lost a legend: 1-26-20 Thank you for being a role model for me and for others.”

Bryant was on his way to the academy to coach his daughter when the helicopter crashed, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to divulge details of the ongoing investigations.

The academy was hosting the Mamba Cup Tournament Series, a series of tournaments for boys and girls basketball teams from the third through eighth grades. All the games were canceled after the news of Bryant’s death became public.
Momentarily, a few fans wearing Laker jerseys started chanting “Ko-be! Ko-be!” and then stopped.

Eddie Lugo, 21, placed a throwback No. 8 jersey and candles on the memorial. He wore a blue throwback jersey backward, so that Bryant’s name faced forward.
“I was walking my dog meeting up with my buddy, complimenting my buddy on all the Laker gear, actually, when one of my best friends called,” Lugo said. “We were all just mind blown, we thought it was fake.”
Bryant was considered one of the best players in N.B.A. history.

Drafted to the N.B.A. directly out of high school in 1996, Bryant was named an All-Star in 18 of his 20 seasons for the Lakers and helped lead the team to five championships. His hypercompetitive nature led to occasional public disagreements with coaches and other players, but his commitment to winning was never questioned.

The winner of the N.B.A.’s Most Valuable Player Award for the 2007-8 season, and the N.B.A. finals M.V.P. in both 2009 and 2010, Bryant showed a rare commitment to success on both ends of the court, with a résumé that included two scoring titles — and an 81-point game in 2006 that is the second-highest single-game total in N.B.A. history — along with 12 appearances on the league’s All-Defense team. He also thrived on the international stage, where he won gold medals for U.S.A. Basketball in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

In 2016, after various injuries had taken their toll on the longtime superstar, he proved to have one more highlight in him, scoring 60 points in his final game while leading the last-place Lakers to a surprising win over the Utah Jazz.

Off the court, Bryant’s legacy was far more complicated. He was arrested in 2003 after a sexual assault complaint was filed against him in Colorado. A 19-year-old hotel employee claimed that Bryant, who was working to rehabilitate his knee following surgery, had raped her. The legal case against Bryant was eventually dropped, and a civil suit was settled privately out of court, but Bryant publicly apologized for the incident.

“Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did,” he said in his statement. “After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.”

In retirement, Bryant became something of a champion for women’s sports and expanded his purview, winning an Academy Award in 2018 for his animated short film “Dear Basketball” while also creating the web series “Detail” for ESPN in which he analyzed current players.
“My heart can take the pounding / My mind can handle the grind / But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye,” he wrote in “Dear Basketball,” the poem that he wrote to announce his retirement that was the basis for the short film.

He was scheduled to headline the 2020 N.B.A. Hall of Fame nominees.
Fans gathered quickly at Staples Center, where Bryant delivered championships with the Lakers.

The fans who gathered at Staples Center represented the ethnic and racial diversity of Bryant’s professional city.
Leo Márquez, 7, placed a candle at the memorial, his eyes filling with tears. He couldn’t get the words out to explain why he was there.

“He wanted to come because he always watched Kobe on TV with his dad,” said his mother, Alejandra Márquez.
Adam Jackman, 18, a University of Southern California student from New York City, walked from the university to the arena.
“I’m here for the impact that Kobe had on the city of L.A., not just on the court but in the community,” he said. “This is the best place to be with the city as it tries to heal.”
Joe Rivas, 28, a registered nurse, was on a gym treadmill in the town of Cerritos when the news of Bryant’s death flashed on the television.

“The whole place froze,” Rivas said. “It sucked the air out of the room. I couldn’t believe it. I grew up with Kobe. He is my favorite player of all time.”
Rivas said he couldn’t finish his workout. He changed and jumped in his car to drive 25 miles to Staples Center, where he had watched Bryant play his last game in April 2016.

“He was not a perfect man but we all have our faults,” said Rivas, who donned a No. 24 jersey. “It’s beyond basketball.”
A college baseball coach, along with his wife and daughter, also died in the crash.
Among the other victims of the crash was John Altobelli, 56, a longtime baseball coach at Orange Coast College, a junior college in Costa Mesa. Calif. “This is a tremendous loss for our campus community,” said Angelica Suarez, the president of Orange Coast College, in a
statement .

Juan Gutierrez, a spokesman for Orange Coast College, said that Altobelli’s wife, Keri, and daughter Alyssa also died in the crash.
Last year, Altobelli led the Pirates to the California Community College baseball state championship, their fourth state title under Altobelli. He was named one of the American Baseball Coaches Association coaches of the year.

Among the players Altobelli coached was Mets All-Star infielder, Jeff McNeil, in the summer Cape Cod Baseball League. “He took a chance on me, kept me the whole summer,” McNeil told ESPN . “Him taking that chance on me, having me on his team, got me drafted.”
Fans also went to Bryant’s high school in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

The grief over Bryant’s death extended from coast to coast, with his high school alma mater, near Philadelphia, becoming the scene of a spontaneous shrine.
“I was heartbroken,” said Jasmine Strong, 29, who was visiting from Brooklyn and decided to visit Lower Merion High School, where fans brought flowers and other tributes after Bryant’s death. “I’m lost for words.”

She had charted Bryant’s professional career from its start: when he was 17, fresh out of Lower Merion, where he had led the basketball team to a state title in 1996.
“Aces Nation has lost its heartbeat,” Gregg Downer, who coached Bryant, said in a statement.
Indeed, others with ties to the school flocked to the campus on Sunday as word of Bryant’s death spread.

Brittany Ferro, 30, said she had also gone to Lower Merion and had been moved to come with two friends and her newborn son after she learned of Bryant’s death during dinner.

“We were very upset so we wanted to come and pay our respects,” she said. “He was one of the best of his times and he was admired by a lot of people.”

Bryant was a standout at Lower Merion, where he helped to elevate the basketball program to extraordinary heights. Bryant, who dominated the court from any position, was a draw — plenty would say the central draw in the mid-1990s.
“It was quite a treat to watch a future superstar,” said Rob Wilson, who still lives in Lower Merion Township and recalled taking his son to watch the adolescent Bryant play.

Soon after Bryant was drafted, he walked into a local diner while Wilson and his son were there.

“I remember him coming into Ruby’s and pointing him out and saying, ‘That guy’s a future superstar in the N.B.A., right here in our little Ruby’s,” Wilson recalled. “I was very touched by the fact that he was not being swarmed.”

Gov. Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania said the state would “never forget our time as Kobe’s home.”

“At Lower Merion HS, he captured our hearts and the attention of the world,” the governor wrote on Twitter. “He truly shined and brought pride to our state.”
Trump, Obama and the Clintons all spoke about Bryant’s death.

Three American presidents spoke out on Sunday after Bryant’s death, a remarkable display of public grief.

President Trump said that Bryant was “just getting started in life,” even after a career that forever marked him as one of basketball’s greats.

“He loved his family so much, and had such strong passion for the future,” the president wrote on Twitter. “The loss of his beautiful daughter, Gianna, makes this moment even more devastating.”

Former President Barack Obama, a noted basketball fan, posted on Twitter that Bryant was “a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act.”
The death of Bryant’s daughter, the former president added, “is even more heartbreaking to us as parents.”

Bryant and Obama had crossed paths over the years, with Obama welcoming the Lakers to the White House and, at another point, with the president and Bryant appearing alongside each other at a community service event.

In 2016, Obama even appeared to mimic Bryant’s “Mamba out” moment at Staples Center. Obama, making the final appearance of his presidency at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, closed his speech with “Obama out” and dropped the microphone.

Former President Bill Clinton, who was in the White House when Bryant ascended to the N.B.A., and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, extolled how Bryant “brought excitement and joy to basketball fans not just in Los Angeles, but all over the U.S. and around the world.”

“Kobe Bryant,” the Clintons added, “lived a very large life in a very short time.”
Federal investigators will look into the configuration of the helicopter.

The National Transportation Safety Board said a team of 18 people would be immediately involved in its investigation, and that officials were expected to arrive in California from Washington late on Sunday.
“Our team will be looking at the history of the pilot and whatever crew was on board,” said Jennifer Homendy, a member of the board. “We’ll be looking at maintenance records of the helicopter. We will be looking at records of the owner and operator of the helicopter and a number of other things.”
N.T.S.B. investigations can stretch for months.

Homendy said federal officials were trying to learn the precise configuration of the downed helicopter — a crucial clue in determining the cause of the crash.
N.B.A. Commissioner Adam Silver said Bryant will be best known for inspiring people to play hoops.

Adam Silver, the N.B.A. commissioner, quickly hailed Bryant as “one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game.”

“For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning,” Silver said, adding that Bryant would “be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability.”

Indeed, Silver, who led the N.B.A. in the final years of Bryant’s career, was certain to note how Bryant had taught Gianna, his daughter who also died in the crash. Silver said the longtime star was “generous with the wisdom he acquired and saw it as his mission to share it with future generations of players, taking special delight in passing down his love of the game to Gianna.”
Nike helped introduce Bryant’s nickname: The Black Mamba.

Bryant was associated with Nike for nearly his entire career. The company, which signed him to a $40 million contract in 2003, said in a statement that it was “devastated by today’s tragic news.”

“We extend our deepest sympathies to those closest to Kobe, especially his family and friends,” the statement said. “He was one of the greatest athletes of his generation and has had an immeasurable impact on the world of sport and the community of basketball. He was a beloved member of the Nike family. We will miss him greatly. Mamba forever.”

Bryant wore the first in his initial line of signature shoes during the 2005-2006 N.B.A. season, including the game in which he scored 81 points in January 2006.

In 2011, the company supported his introduction of the nickname The Black Mamba, releasing a commercial in which he was pitched an idea for an action film by the director Robert Rodriguez. And when Bryant was set to retire, the company christened April 13 “Mamba Day .”
Tiger Woods heard “do it for Mamba” on the course. He found out why after finishing his round.

Tiger Woods said that he heard cries of “do it for Mamba” from the gallery as he finished his final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego, Calif., but he didn’t understand why. Then Woods’s caddie, Joe LaCava, broke the news of Bryant’s death as the two walked from the 18th green to hand in his card. Woods could be heard on the CBS broadcast replying, “excuse me?” to LaCava before he stepped into the clubhouse.

In an interview shortly after, Woods said: “It’s a shocker to everyone and I’m unbelievably sad. One of the more tragic days, I think, well, for me, the reality is just kind of setting in because I was just told probably about five minutes ago.

Woods, 44, and Bryant shared a friendship that dated back to their meteoric rise to the top of their respective sports during the mid-1990s and spanned adversities and scandals as both navigated fame, marriage, parenthood, and injuries. When asked what he would remember about his friend, Woods said: “The fire. He burned so competitively hot. And desire to win. He brought it each and every night on both ends of the floor.”

Players at the N.F.L.’s Pro Bowl reacted and fans chanted “Ko-be.”
News of Kobe Bryant’s death reached the N.F.L.’s Pro Bowl game in Orlando, Fla., where public address announcers asked the crowd at Camping World Stadium to observe a moment of silence to commemorate the Lakers star, which the crowd interrupted with chants of “Ko-be, Ko-be.”

In an ESPN interview, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees spoke about Bryant during the second quarter of the game.

“I had so much respect for him as a competitor. I know he inspired so many people in so many different ways,” Brees said. “I mean, one of the great competitors of any generation, not just with sports, but I think just the way he approached a lot of things and what he was doing now after basketball. So I pray for him, I pray for his family. I know we don’t know all the details yet but it’s a tragic loss.”

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, also interviewed by ESPN, said that Bryant sent him a signed jersey when he was drafted. “That meant a lot,” Jackson said. “That’s one of the GOATs. Him, M.J. and LeBron, them the top three.”
The BBC apologized for using clips of LeBron James rather than Bryant in a television report.

The media coverage of Bryant’s death spanned the globe, but a BBC clip package showing highlights of the Lakers superstar LeBron James instead of Bryant was widely mocked and criticized on Twitter.

The clip package showed James breaking Bryant’s scoring record in a road loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night while a BBC newscaster rattled off Bryant’s achievements.

The segment began with a still photo of Bryant with his daughter Gianna seated courtside at a basketball game.
Paul Royall, a BBC editor, apologized on Twitter , for what he said was a human error.

“In tonight’s coverage of the death of Kobe Bryant on #BBCNewsTen we mistakenly used pictures of LeBron James in one section of the report,” he wrote. “We apologise for this human error which fell below our usual standards on the programme.”

The governor of California says Bryant “made history.”

California’s governor said the state was mourning “the tragic and untimely death of a California icon and basketball legend.”
“In his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, he made history with raw talent and unparalleled dedication that raised the bar and paved the way for a newer generation of players,” Gov. Gavin Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, said in a statement that also cited Bryant’s charity work.

“He was taken too soon and he will be missed,” they said.
Fans reacted swiftly to the news.
Some 200 people had huddled together near the foggy Calabasas at the foot of the hill closest to the crash. Several people were wearing Kobe gear and had basketballs.
Paolo Santos, 27, had looked forward to catching a glimpse of his childhood idol at the Lakers game on Tuesday. “I’ve been watching him since I was a kid,” Santos said. “My stomach just hurts.”

“He’s a figure. He’s a legend. He brought L.A. back. He’s an L.A. icon,” he said. “He was a competitor. His drive, shooting in the gym at 4 in the morning. He’s what everyone wants to be.”

Philip Gordon, 45 of Winnetka, who was wearing a Kobe bathrobe over a Kobe jersey, Kobe shoes and socks, said he was watching the NFL Pro Bowl when he heard the news. “It’s so surreal,” he said.
“For 20 years I looked up to him. I became a fan of his as a person. It’s a huge loss for the city. He’s an icon beyond any Laker. We love Magic, we love Kareem, but Kobe transcends generations.”

Over in Echo Park Lake, joggers ran past residents of the cluster of tents on the lake’s northwest corner who were gathering around a table of donated food.
One man joined them and asked if the others had heard the news about Kobe Bryant. Immediately, expressions of disbelief rang out.
“No way!” someone said, punctuated with an expletive.

The man insisted it was true.
But slowly the reality set in.
Davon Brown, 29, wearing Lakers purple warm-up pants and a matching knitted beanie, said he moved to Southern California from New York years ago to play basketball. He saw Bryant as an example both on the court and off.

“He was way beyond” Michael Jordan, he said. “He was more omnipresent.” His game, Brown said, was more like dance.
Basketball, Brown said, has been a lifesaving force for him. And Bryant represented a powerful ethos.

“He had a killer instinct,” he said. “That self-love, that confidence transmutes into play.”
Bryant had been a subject of the conversation among N.B.A. fans this weekend.

On Saturday, the current Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James surpassed Bryant on the league’s all-time scoring list in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Bryant congratulated James in a tweet, with a hashtag, #33644, referring to the number of points James had scored to surpass Bryant’s career total of 33,643 points. Before Saturday, Bryant had stood third only to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone on the list of career points scored.
After the game, James, who joined the Lakers in 2018, spoke at length about what Bryant meant to him, to the team and to the league.

“He had zero flaws offensively,” James said.
James described his long history with Bryant — how he had admired Bryant’s ability to go from high school to the N.B.A., how the two had met in Philadelphia where Bryant had insisted upon the value of hard work. Later, Bryant gave a high-school age James a pair of his signature shoes, which James wore in a game even though they were the wrong size.

“I’m happy just to be in any conversation with Kobe Bean Bryant, one of the all-time greatest basketball players to ever play,” James said. “One of the all time greatest Lakers. The man has two jerseys hanging up in Staples Center. It’s just crazy.”


Jennifer Medina, Neil Vigdor, Marc Stein, Louis Keene, Jill Cowan, Miriam Jordan, Mihir Zaveri, Jon Hurdle, Rachel Abrams, Benjamin Hoffman and Jonah Engel Bromwich contributed reporting.

Chelsea fans flooded social media with calls for Frank Lampard to be sacked after the Blues lost to Southampton.

Chelsea fans have called for the head of Frank Lampard after Chelsea lost 2-0 at home to relegation-threatened

Southampton. Goals from Michael Obafemi and Nathan Redmond either side of half-time sealed the Blues’ seventh loss of the season.

Lampard opted to stick with the 3-4-3 formation which proved so successful away to Tottenham last weekend.

However, Marcos Alonso was absent from the squad and Mason Mount dropped to the bench. Matteo Kovacic was also suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.

Chelsea still had enough firepower and were expected to ease to victory against a struggling Southampton.

But Lampard was unable to prevent his side falling to an embarrassing defeat and fans turned on their former captain on social media.

“Lmaooo 2-0? Sack Lampard now!!! We can’t be losing at home against struggling teams like it’s nothing to @ChelseaFC,” one supporter tweeted.

And another added: “For the first time @ChelseaFC sack lampard before it is too late!”

While a further used wrote: “Sack lampard now such a useless coach gambling every week!! #lampardout.”

And one more fan commented: “This is hard to watch. @ChelseaFC Lampard will always stay average. Losing vs relegation team at the Bridge. Sack him at HT.”

Hoards of other supporters also called for their head coach to be axed despite sitting fourth in the Premier League table.

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has revealed he won’t share a drink with Chelsea boss Frank Lampard after Sunday’s crunch top-four clash between the sides.

Mourinho won three Premier League crowns across two spells at Stamford Bridge, with then Chelsea midfielder Lampard playing a key role in the Portuguese’ success in west London.

The pair have maintained a close relationship, and Lampard said on Friday he has “huge respect” for the 56-year-old but does not want to be a “clone” of him.

The Spurs boss said he would “always love” Lampard but revealed that a hug, rather than a post-match drink, was the only hospitality his opposite number could expect this weekend.
“I don’t think [we will have a drink] because our stadium is built in the way that our office is completely on the inside our private headquarters,” Mourinho said.

“Until now I didn’t invite any managers to go there and I don’t think I’ll do that with Frank.

 But a big hug before the game and another after the game, that’s for sure independent of results and who is happy.

“I think our feelings will be forever. I’ll always be grateful to him for what he gave me as a player.

 Nothing is going to change that. I love the guy, I will always love the guy. I hope he loses on Sunday.”

The pair met as managers when Lampard took his Derby side to Old Trafford last season, but this fixture will have added spice as Mourinho’s Spurs can leapfrog their London rivals with a victory.

Live updates as Arsenal, Man Utd, Wolves, Rangers and Celtic discover their fate in the Europa League round-of-32 draw.


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SHAKHTAR DONETSK vs BENFICA

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AZ ALKMAAR vs LASK

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Champions League Last-16 Draw: Manchester City Draw Real Madrid, Chelsea Face Bayern Munich (See Full Draw)