NPFL Elite Players Scheme: Yobo set to join Kano Pillars or Ifeanyi Ubah FC

Former Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, will sign for a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club, after reaching an agreement with the League Management Company (LMC).

According to the LMC, Yobo will be assigned to a club for the last 12 matches, under the NPFL Elite Players Scheme.

Four teams – Kano Pillars, Akwa United, IfeanyiUbah FC and Wikki Tourists – are all fighting to land the former Everton and Fenerbahce defender.

English Premier League: Newcastle, Norwich relegated

Newcastle United and Norwich City were relegated from the English Premier League on Wednesday as Sunderland secured their survival with a one-sided 3-0 victory over Everton.

Sunderland centre-back Lamine Kone’s first two goals for the club and a Patrick van Aanholt free-kick took Sam Allardyce’s side four points clear of danger with one game remaining.
Norwich returned to the Championship a year after promotion despite a 4-2 win over Watford, while Newcastle, Sunderland’s arch rivals, will play in the second tier for the first time since 2010.

It is the fourth season in a row that Sunderland have pulled off a late escape to avoid relegation and it guarantees the northeast club top-flight football for a 10th consecutive season.


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Man-U to offer Rooney captaincy to ward off Chelsea interest

The Red Devils to make the England international Vidic’s successor.

With skipper Nemanja Vidic leaving Manchester United at the end of the season the Red Devils are to offer Wayne Rooney the captaincy to keep him at Old Trafford, reports the Daily Mail.

The Premier League champions have tabled a whopping £300,000-a-week five-year deal to try and convince Rooney to stay, as the forward approaches the final year of his current contract.

Several sides have been linked with a bid for the England international, most prominently Chelsea who made two attempts to try and sign the 28-year-old last summer.

With United in the very realistic position of missing out on Champions League football next term many think that Rooney will leave the club in order to play top European football.

Yet as Moyes searches for a successor for Vidic to give the armband too – with the 32-year-old having confirmed he will be leaving the English champions this summer – the Scot is ready to use this moment to convince the Englishman to stay.

Rooney is the obvious candidate to take over as captain from the centre-back, having been at the Theatre of Dreams for nearly 11 years after a £27m transfer from Everton.

Other veterans of the club such as Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher do not play enough to be handed the responsibility.

However. Moyes does have some criteria for who will be given the honour and it’s something that Rooney may have to listen to carefully.

“We want people to show leadership qualities, not just on the pitch but off the pitch. It is a big standing to be captain of Manchester United,” the 50-year-old was quoted by the Daily Mail.

“The person who takes over has to understand what it means for the club, the responsibility it carries, what is required of you as well.”

Mourinho Continues to Downplay Chelsea’s Title Hopes

Jose Mourinho has told his squad that he fully expects them to win the league this season, according to the Daily Mirror.

Chelsea are top of the table with 13 matches to go after a comfortable home win against Newcastle, on the same day that title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City both failed to win.

But Jose Mourinho still does not think Blues can win the title. One cannot help but think that Mourinho is playing mind games with the rest of the Premier League so as to avoid pressure on his team.

Mourinho has played down talk of his side winning the league in the media, but behind closed doors the Portuguese maestro told his players that they will win the league.

After a disappoint draw at home to West Ham, Chelsea have impressed with wins against Manchester City and Newcastle.

The Blues face Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton before the end of March as well as big games in the Champions League and FA Cup but Mourinho remains confident.

A Daily Mirror source said: “Jose told the players before the West Ham game that they would hear him talk down their title chances.

“He told them to pay no attention because his intention was to take the pressure off the team and put others under the microscope.

“He also told the players that he believes they will be champions this season.”

Manchester City's manager, Manuel Pellegrini, mocks José Mourinho's 'little horse' comment, saying Chelsea may be small but they are very rich. 

Mourinho's comments have been widely teased, especially in light of Chelsea's move to the top of the table. 

Pellegrini also comments on the Premier League title race and its top contenders.