Togo withdraw from ANC

January 9, 2010

Togo have withdrawn from the African Nations Cup in Angola following the machine gun attack on their team bus on Friday, with the death toll now understood to have risen to four.

The team bus was attacked by rebels after crossing the border from the Democratic Republic of Congo into the Angolan enclave of Cabinda ahead of the tournament.

There have been conflicting reports about the identity of those shot, but Togo assistant coach Abalo Amelete and a spokesperson, Stanislas Ocloo, have died along with goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale. The bus driver is also understood to have been killed in the attack.

Kodjo Samlan, a Confederation of African Football (CAF) official, confirmed that Ocloo and Amnalate had died.

“Communications chief Stanislas Ocloo and assistant coach Abalo Amnalete died at four o’clock this morning,” he said.

Striker Jonathan Ayite confirmed that Obilale had been killed. He was reported to have been taken to hospital in South Africa.

Ayite told French radio station RMC: “He (Obilale) is dead and even if you bring the president and even (Barack) Obama himself, we’re leaving immediately. We’re going back home. Ghana and the Ivory Coast are in solidarity with us.”

Defender Serge Akakpo, who plays his club football in Romania, was confirmed by his club last night as the other player shot in the attack.

Reports in France suggested early on Saturday that the players had taken the decision not to take part in the competition, which starts on Sunday, and midfielder Alaixys Romao later confirmed they had withdrawn.

“We’re waiting for the plane to return to Lome,” the Grenoble player told L’Equipe. “We’re also talking to the other teams in our group to try to convince them to boycott the competition, too.”

A statement on Manchester City’s website also stated that Emmanuel Adebayor and his team-mates were returning to their clubs.

It read: “Togo has pulled out of the Africa Cup of Nations after their team bus came under gunfire in Angola. City star Emmanuel Adebayor, who is captain of the Togo side, was unharmed in the ambush and he and his team-mates met this morning before deciding that they wished to pull out of the tournament.

“Their first game in the tournament had been scheduled to take place on Monday against Ghana, but they are now heading home to their families.

“Two players were shot and injured in the attack in the northern province of Cabinda, and the coach driver was killed. Seven others were wounded. Organisers have so far insisted the tournament will go ahead.

“The club is in regular contact with Emmanuel, his advisors and the English Football Association. It has been made clear by manager Roberto Mancini and senior officials that Emmanuel will now be given as much time as he needs to recover from the horrific attack.”

Coach Hubert Velud had earlier claimed the authorities should seriously consider whether to call off the tournament after the attack.

Angola insist their country is committed to hosting a secure tournament and said they would step up security.

Officials are set to hold a meeting with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Saturday and Velud believes the future of the competition should be called into question.

“We can at least pose ourselves that question,” Velud told French radio station RMC on Saturday morning. “It’s an act of barbarism while we are here to celebrate African football.

“We left the hospital a short time ago to come to the centre for the teams in the competition. We stayed in the hospital a long time so that we could be very united. In these situations, you become a bit paranoid, you doubt everything. We don’t feel that the authorities are taking this very seriously.

“I don’t mean that they want to hush up the matter, but almost. What will happen I don’t know. We will have a meeting with the players and technical staff to take a decision.”

While Velud was disappointed with the way the authorities are dealing with the incident, he was full of praise for the army.

“What’s sure is that the army saved our lives,” he said. “Without them, the rebels would have destroyed us because we didn’t have any defence. And I wouldn’t be here to speak to you now.

“I was hit in the arm but it’s nothing compared to what happened to the assistant coach, who took a bullet in the stomach, as did the press attache.

“Goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale took one in the kidney. My case is minor in comparison to them, but we are all in shock because it’s an act of war. There was a lot of blood and fear in the bus. I’m thinking of people I know but there is also a huge thought for the driver, who was killed.”

Tags: africa cup of nations, african nations cup, akakpo, assistant coach, cabinda, confederation of african football, democratic republic of congo, football caf, french radio, gun attack, Ivory Coast, kodjo, l equipe, o clock, romao, team bus, team mates

Germany goalkeeper Enke commits suicide

November 11, 2009

German international goalkeeper Robert Enke has been killed after he threw himself under a train at a level crossing, police said on Tuesday.

“There has been fatality at a level crossing at Neustadt am Rubenberge,” police spokeswoman Martina Stern told AFP.

“He threw himself under a train and died of his injuries. It was definitely suicide,” she added.

Jorg Neblung, a close friend and advisor to the six-times capped goalkeeper, also confirmed it was suicide.

“I can confirm that it was suicide,” he said.

“Robert took his own life shortly before six o’clock (1700GMT).

“A press conference in Hannover on Wednesday will reveal more details,” he added.

The 32-year-old Germany and Hannover 96 goalkeeper – who leaves a widow and a daughter of eight months who they adopted in May three years after their two-year-old daughter died of a heart illness – had been suffering from an intestinal infection.

He pulled out of the Germany squad two days ahead of their 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Azerbaijan in early September.

However, recently he had professed himself delighted to have returned to training last month.

“It has been a long time, almost a quarter of the season. However, once I resumed training I felt really well,” said Enke, who played his last match for the club in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Hamburg.

His death left those closest to him both personally and professionally in total shock.

“We’re in shock. I don’t know what to say,” said national manager Oliver Bierhoff, who along with national coach Joachim Lowe informed his fellow international team-mates – who are preparing for a friendly with Chile this weekend, of the tragedy.

His club president Martin Kind was left stunned.

“It is a total catastrophe. I am finding it hard to understand,” said Kind.

Later around 300 of the club’s fans and several of his club-mates gathered outside the club’s offices as a mark of respect with some laying down bouquets of flowers and lighting candles.

Enke was understudy to then first-team ‘keeper Jens Lehmann during the 2008 European championships and had been in line to fill his boots before being taken ill in September and October.

During that time his rival Rene Adler increased his chances of taking over the role in the national team who have qualified for the 2010 World Cup finals.

Enke had also at one time been linked with a move to German giants Bayern Munich where the former German Under-21 international Michael Rensing had not impressed in his first season between the posts.

However, Uli Hoeness, Bayern’s general manager, had made clear they were not interested in paying the 10million euros transfer fee.

Several people had advised Enke, who had previously had spells at Benfica, Barcelona and Tenerife, to leave Hannover for a more prestigious club and one that was playing in European club competition so he would improve his chances of becoming German number one.

HANOVER, Germany (AFP)

Tags: bouquets, club president, early september, eight months, Goalkeeper, hannover 96, intestinal infection, last match, lighting candles, national coach, o clock, oliver bierhoff, police spokeswoman, president martin, six times

Germany goalkeeper Enke commits suicide

November 11, 2009

German international goalkeeper Robert Enke has been killed after he threw himself under a train at a level crossing, police said on Tuesday.

“There has been fatality at a level crossing at Neustadt am Rubenberge,” police spokeswoman Martina Stern told AFP.

“He threw himself under a train and died of his injuries. It was definitely suicide,” she added.

Jorg Neblung, a close friend and advisor to the six-times capped goalkeeper, also confirmed it was suicide.

“I can confirm that it was suicide,” he said.

“Robert took his own life shortly before six o’clock (1700GMT).

“A press conference in Hannover on Wednesday will reveal more details,” he added.

He pulled out of the Germany squad two days ahead of their 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Azerbaijan in early September.

However, recently he had professed himself delighted to have returned to training last month.

His death left those closest to him both personally and professionally in total shock.

His club president Martin Kind was left stunned.

“It is a total catastrophe. I am finding it hard to understand,” said Kind.

Later around 300 of the club’s fans and several of his club-mates gathered outside the club’s offices as a mark of respect with some laying down bouquets of flowers and lighting candles.

Enke was understudy to then first-team ‘keeper Jens Lehmann during the 2008 European championships and had been in line to fill his boots before being taken ill in September and October.

During that time his rival Rene Adler increased his chances of taking over the role in the national team who have qualified for the 2010 World Cup finals.

However, Uli Hoeness, Bayern’s general manager, had made clear they were not interested in paying the 10million euros transfer fee.

HANOVER, Germany (AFP)

Tags: bouquets, club president, early september, eight months, fatality, germany squad, hannover 96, heart illness, intestinal infection, last match, lighting candles, o clock, oliver bierhoff, police spokeswoman, president martin, robert enke, six times, team mates

Martins won´t be fined over Stoke absence

April 13, 2009

NEWCASTLE (AFP) – Newcastle manager Alan Shearer will not take disciplinary action against Obafemi Martins, despite the Nigeria striker’s late withdrawal from Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Stoke.

Martins was a surprise omission from the Newcastle squad at the Britannia Stadium and Shearer revealed after the match that the former Inter Milan star had only informed him six hours before kick-off that he was pulling out with a groin injury.

Shearer admitted Martins had shown no sign of the injury during the week, but he won’t fine the forward.

“He rang up and said he had a sore groin and unable to play. We got the doctors and physios to go and have a look at him, and he couldn’t play. But there was no evidence earlier in the week he had the injury,” Shearer said.

“After working on a particular system over the previous few days, then it was obviously disappointing to find out so late in the day he couldn’t make it, so we had to reshuffle the pack a little.”

The suggestion after the game was Martins had overslept, breaking a regimented routine implemented by Shearer, so fabricating the groin injury as a cover-up.

But Shearer added: “No, he didn’t sleep in at all. That’s not true. We met just after 11 o’clock, so he never broke any curfews or anything like that.

“I personally spoke to him and I’ll speak to him again on Monday and we’ll have another look at him.

“I wasn’t happy I got the call at 11 o’clock, particularly after we had trained all Thursday and Friday, had massages Friday, and there was no sign of it.

“But it’s happened and we’re hopeful it’s not going to be too serious because he has a big part to play.”