Former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow takes Chelsea role

Chelsea have appointed former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow as their new head of global commercial activities.

Purslow, 50, will lead the Blues' attempts to expand their brand around the world after the club announced that Ron Gourlay is leaving his role as chief executive.

"The club believes Mr Purslow has the vision and the leadership qualities to help us achieve these plans," a short statement on the club's official website said.

Purslow joined Liverpool in June 2009, succeeding Rick Parry, with the aim of bringing more revenue to the club.

However, his role changed when then owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks decided to sell and he helped the sale process to John W. Henry's Fenway Sports Group before stepping down the following October.
He remained as a non-executive director and special adviser until February 2011.

Chelsea also said that they do not expect to announce further senior appointments in the near future, with chairman Bruce Buck and director Marina Granovskaia set to assume the executive responsibilities formerly held by Gourlay.

Muslim-Muslim ticket: Obasanjo urges politicians to be sensitive

Former Nigerian President,Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has advised Nigerian politicians to be religiously sensitive, a necessary ingredient that he said will enhance peace and security of the nation and also encourage confidence and trust in the people at this period in the country.

He also warned politicians and political parties not to toy with the nation at this delicate period.

In a statement issued today, Obasanjo declared that sensitivity is the necessary ingredient that every politician must apply to the nation’s polity.

The statement titled:’Muslim-muslim or Christian-christian ticket not in tune with Nigeria political trend’, Obasanjo said that disregarding fears on this sensitive issue will amount to bad politics.

“Sensitivity is a necessary ingredient for enhancement of peace, security and stability at this point in the political discourse and arrangement for Nigeria and for encouraging confidence and trust.

“It will be insensitive to the point of absurdity for any leader or any political party to be toying with Muslim- muslim or Christian-Christian ticket at this juncture.

“Nigeria cannot at this stage raise the spectre and fear of Islamization or Christianization. The idea of proselytization in any form is a grave danger that must not be contemplated by any serious-minded politician at this delicate situation in Nigeria, as this time is different from any other time.

“Therefore, disregarding the fact that there are fears that need to be allayed at this point will amount not only to insensitivity of the highest order but will also amount to very bad politics indeed,”the statement read.

Obasanjo did not state why he made this statement, but the political mill has been abuzz with speculations that one of the major political parties, the All Progressives Congress may want to raise a Muslim-Muslim ticket to battle President Goodluck Jonathan and his vice-president, Namadi Sambo. Jonathan and Sambo are christian-muslim.

The first time Nigeria broke the rule of religious sensitivity was in 1993, when the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Moshood Abiola, picked a northern muslim, Babagana Kingibe, as his running mate. Both won the election resoundingly, but were never allowed to rule as the military government annulled the election. The annulment however was based on a different reason.

There have been similar criticisms of the speculations that the APC would re-enact the spirit of 1993 in 2014 and have candidates that would not recognise Nigeria’s religious divide, especially at a time that the nation is seriously polarised along religious lines, what with Islamist Boko Haram attacks on Christians and their churches in Northern Nigeria.

FIFA gives Nigeria Monday deadline

For the umpteenth time this year the world football governing body, FIFA, has given Nigeria a deadline to avoid suspension from international football.

Confederation of African Football President, Issa Hayatou, has warned that Nigeria is in danger of being banned by FIFA by Monday (today) after a court sacked the recently elected Nigeria Football Federation Executive Committee. Indeed, it was explained that the Super Falcons were allowed to play the AWC final 

match against Cameroon on Saturday after a plea was made to FIFA executives led by Sepp Blatter.

Last Thursday, the Federal High Court sitting in Jos gave a ruling setting aside the NFF elections of September 30 in Warri which had ushered in the new Exco. The court ruling has angered FIFA officials who had warned that the country would be banned if there were any further interference from any civil court on purely football matters.

Hayatou told the Minister of Sports Dr. Tammy Danagogo in Windhoek, Namibia that they were fed up with 

events in Nigeria.

He said, “I (Hayatou) had to plead passionately with FIFA President, Mr. Sepp Blatter not to take action on Nigeria on Friday, because Nigeria was in the final of the African Women Championship and a ban on your 

 country would have been bad for the competition and our sponsors. We all heard the news of the court ruling on Thursday, and the football world is angry with Nigeria. That is the truth.

“The FIFA letter that came to your Federation before the elections of September 30 was very clear about an automatic suspension should there be any interference with the political process, and after the elections went ahead, we all thought you had settled your issues.”

The PUNCH learnt that at a meeting that had in attendance Danagogo; Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Namibia, Ambassador Biodun Olorunfemi; Nigeria’s Deputy President of the CAF Appeal Board, Amanze Uchegbulam; CAF General Coordinator, Paul Bassey and CAF media committee member Aisha Falode Hayatou made it clear that Nigeria would be suspended if there was no improvement by the start of the week.

“I appealled to FIFA to give until Monday for Nigeria to put its act together. After that, there is absolutely nothing I can do. It is all very disappointing because we have over 50 national associations in Africa, but a big country like Nigeria is the one always giving us the biggest headache.

“If Nigeria no longer wants to be part of the football world, then so be it.”

NFF president Amaju Melvin Pinnick was stopped by security operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on his way to Namibia on Friday night with the sports minister.

FIFA has warned that If Nigeria gets suspended, they will not revisit the matter until their 65th Congress on May 29, 2015.(PUNCH)

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Five MAPOLY students face trial over assault

Five students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic on Monday appeared before an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court for allegedly beating their landlady and causing grievous harm to her.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the accused persons are Olamide Ayoola, 19, Olumide Ayoola, 21, Damilola Oluwole, 22, Ibrahim Idris, 22 and Sheriff Salami, 21.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Moshood Hammed, told the court that the accused persons committed the offences on Oct. 25 at about 9:00a.m., at 6, Olabisi Olorode St., Abeokuta.

He said that the five accused persons assaulted their landlady, Mrs Kudirat Mutairu, when she summoned them to participate in environmental sanitation.

“The accused beat up the 70-year-old landlady, injuring her left eye, when she called them out for sanitation, which they had refused to do,” he said.

Hammed said that the offence contravened Sections 516, 355 and 249 of the Criminal Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The accused persons, who are facing charges of conspiracy, assault and conduct likely to breach public peace, pleaded not guilty.

Defence counsel, Mr Michael Itiolu, applied for bail of his clients on liberal terms, assuring the court that they would not jump bail.

The Magistrate, Mr Martins Akinyemi, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N50,000 each, with one surety in like sum.

He adjourned the case till Jan. 19, 2015 for definite hearing.

Chelsea's Jose Mourinho 'would not accept' point at Manchester United

Jose Mourinho says Chelsea are going to Manchester United on Sunday to win and "wouldn't accept" a point right now.

Chelsea sit clear at the top of the Premier League by five points, with Louis van Gaal's team trailing the Blues by 10 points after just eight games.

The absence of Loic Remy and uncertainty over Diego Costa have raised speculation over whether the Portuguese coach will repeat the striker-less formation of August 2013, when Chelsea played out a dull 0-0 draw at Old Trafford.

However, Mourinho denied his team were negative in that game, and said they head to Old Trafford full of confidence.

"It's no different. We go to every match to win but sometimes games go in one direction where in pragmatic way you feel one point becomes good result," he told his prematch news conference on Friday.

"[On] Sunday we go to win. If you give me now one point without me going, I won't accept that. I want to fight for three points. But sometimes during a game a point is a positive result."

He said the 0-0 draw last year had been "very difficult for both teams to win" and added: "Both accepted the point as a normal result, but I don't think, in this moment, that from first minute we will go for a point. Maybe [I will] think differently in 90th minute but before it starts we are going to [try to] win.

"We [will] try to play as good as we're playing and trying to play, respecting one of best and most difficult opponents in the Premier League. But we're confident and in a good moment and situation. There's no reason for us to change our feeling. We play a big team, yes, but we're in a good moment and going to discuss the points and try the best result."

Mourinho meets his old mentor Van Gaal for only the second time in his career, but was reluctant to talk about a temporary rival too effusively.

"I think it's not [the] moment to talk about what might have happened without him," he continued. "I have never hidden the respect and relation and his influence. But this is my opponent. Don't make me speak good about him for half an hour.

"I'm not going to speak more about it. He knows what I feel about him. The world knows, because I never hide. What can I add? Nothing to add?"

Mourinho insists Sunday's battle will not be about the coaches, but their respective sides, adding: "Man United is Man United. For me it doesn't matter the manager, the moment, the table, the players. Man United is Man United and I always look at them independent of these factors.

"We [Mourinho and Van Gaal] played some friendlies, but yes. We were never in the same league. In Champions League you depend on draws and happened only once. That's not important. What's important is that I don't play against Louis Van Gaal. It's Chelsea against Man United. During the match I have no time and he has no time to look around and see who opposing manager is. Before and after he's one of my big friends and I will always be happy to see him."

Angel Di Maria, Ander Herrera fit for Man United's clash with Chelsea

Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera have been passed fit to play for Manchester United against Chelsea on Sunday.

Both midfielders were doubts after being substituted in United's 2-2 draw against West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

But manager Louis van Gaal has confirmed they are available, while another midfielder, Michael Carrick, will build up his fitness by playing for the club's reserve team at West Ham on Friday evening.

Herrera, who only lasted 45 minutes against Albion, was making his comeback after being out with a cracked rib while Di Maria was pictured with ice on his thigh after suffering a dead leg, but Van Gaal stated he only missed one day's training.

He said in a news conference: "Ander Herrera was already fit for the last game and [as for] Di Maria, I said after the [West Brom] match that it should be not so heavy. He has trained on Thursday so no problem."

Di Maria, who is United's club record 59.7 million-pound signing, has scored three goals and created four more in his last four games.

United will not welcome back any of their injured contingent, which still includes centre-back Jonny Evans, while captain Wayne Rooney is still suspended.

"I am sorry to say that I cannot say that one player is returning," Van Gaal added.

Midfielder Carrick, who had ankle surgery in July, is set to make a belated debut for United's under-21 side after eight years at the club.

Van Gaal added: "I let Michael Carrick play in London against West Ham in the reserve team because I believe he needs to play matches, especially when you are [out for] five months injured. He told me it is his first appearance in the second team but it is like that."

Former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes is training with United, who will sign him on a permanent contract if he proves his fitness and impresses.

Van Gaal, who managed the Spain international during his days at the Camp Nou, explained: "I have done that already with a lot of players. A lot of players I have a relationship with. I gave also Ronald de Boer or Edgar Davids rehabilitation possibilities or training possibilities when they needed that.

"This is one of those players. Robin van Persie also, when he played with me in the Dutch squad last year, I have allowed him to come to our medical department to get him fit for the World Cup."

Asked if he would sign Valdes, he replied: "Manchester United has always their eyes open."

Nurse Nina Pham Ebola Free, Glad to Go Home to Dog

After weeks in isolation recovering from Ebola, Dallas nurse Nina Pham thanked everyone who cared for her and mentioned that she was finally be going home to her dog, Bentley.

Pham walked out of the National Institutes of Health's hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, this morning to a round of applause.

"I feel fortunate and blessed to be standing here today," she told reporters, adding that she hopes for privacy when she returns to her "normal life" in Texas. 

Pham, 26, contracted Ebola from Liberian national Thomas Duncan, who flew to the United States in September and was diagnosed with Ebola at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.

Pham, a nurse there, cared for Duncan when he was especially contagious. He died on Oct. 8, and she tested positive for the deadly virus on Oct. 11.

It was the first Ebola transmission on U.S. soil.

"I am on my way back to recovery even as I reflect on others who have not been so fortunate," Pham said, reading from her prepared statement at the press conference. 

Pham's colleague, nurse Amber Vinson, 29, also tested positive for the virus on Oct. 15, and was flown from Dallas to Emory University Hospital later that night. The following day, Pham was flown to the Special Clinical Studies Unit of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, at the Dallas hospital's request.

At the news conference announcing Pham's discharge, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, said she tested negative for Ebola five times, and that it wasn't clear which treatment saved her because they were all experimental.

"I want to first tell you what a great pleasure and in many respects, a privilege ...to have the opportunity to treat and care for and get to know such an extremely courageous and lovely person," Fauci said, adding that she represents the health care workers who "put themselves on the line"

He said he wore Pham's nursing school colors for the press conference in her honor.

"I'm going to miss Nina a lot," Fauci quipped at the end of the conference, adding that he gave her his cell phone number. 

Pham also thanked Dr. Kent Brantly, the American missionary who had been treating Ebola patients in Liberia when he contracted the deadly virus in late July. Brantley was declared virus-free in September and has donated plasma to Pham and other American Ebola patients in the hopes of boosting their ability to fight the virus with his antibodies.

Pham's dog, Bentley, was taken to an animal shelter following her diagnosis. He has tested negative for Ebola, but his 21-day incubation period isn't over until Nov. 1. They will likely reunite a few days later.

Vinson's family announced on Oct. 22 that she, too, tested negative for the virus at Emory.