THE GOSPEL

Wednesday, 4 May 2016

U.S. Election Roundup: Trump Becomes Presumptive Republican Nominee; Sanders Wins Indiana

After nearly a year of hard-fought campaigns, the race for the Republican and Democratic parties’ nominations for president is drawing to a close. With no one left in the Republican field, Donald Trump is the party’s only contender, while Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders continue to fight for the Democratic Party ticket. Both parties will hold their national conventions this July, during which each party will officially nominate their respective candidates for the presidency.

Presumptive Republican Party nominee for president, Donald Trump
Cruz and Kasich drop out, Trump becomes presumptive Republican nominee
Following a devastating loss in the Indiana primary election, Texas Senator Ted Cruz dropped out of the race for the Republican nomination for president, leaving Donald Trump as the presumptive nominee. Shortly after Mr. Cruz's announcement, the Republican Party Chairman, Reince Priebus, officially confirmed Mr. Trump's status as the presumptive nominee.
In the winner-take-all contest, Mr. Trump gained all 57 delegates from Indiana, bringing his total delegate count to 1,047. In order to secure the nomination, he needs 1,237 delegates, which he will surely win now that Mr. Cruz has withdrawn from the race.
On Wednesday afternoon, Ohio Governor John Kasich followed suit and announced that he suspended his campaign, leaving Mr. Trump as the party’s sole candidate.
The ascendancy of Mr. Trump has shocked the Republican Party establishment, who has been doing everything in its power to stop him from winning the party’s nomination. Establishment members have been skeptical of Mr. Trump’s lack of political experience and his controversial statements. This anti-Trump sentiment within the Republican Party culminated in the “Never Trump” movement, a multimillion-dollar campaign aimed at nominating one of Mr. Trump’s rivals.

Niger Delta Militant Group Warns Tompolo Over Letter To Buhari

Fugitive ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, has been handed a stern warning by a new militant group known as the Niger Delta Avengers over his letter to President Muhammadu Buhari disowning the group and assuring the federal government of safety on the proposed repair works on damaged gas pipelines in the region.

Tompolo SaharaReporters Media
On Tuesday, Tompolo had, in an open letter to President Buhari personally signed and titled "I AM NOT PART OF THE NIGER DELTA AVENGERS GROUP,‎" alleged that the oil pipeline repair servicing companies engaged in sabotage to secure surveillance and repair contracts from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) due to its known deficiency in its handling of jobs.
Tompolo also disowned ‎the Niger Delta Avengers and called on the oil servicing company who awarded the contract to repair the damaged Forcados 48-inch pipeline to go about its job without fear.
But the new militant group, in a statement sent to media outlets yesterday via email, warned Tompolo against giving false assurances to oil servicing contractors, adding that his recent show of support to the President Buhari-led Government is provocative.
According to the statement, "With due respect Sir, we the Niger Delta Avengers respect you and all former agitators from the region. We admire your love for the region and all you have done. The Niger Delta Avengers made it clear that we are not part of the Presidential Amnesty program because the program is not genuine.
"We the Niger Delta Avengers have only decided to pick the struggle up from where you and the former Niger Delta agitators left off; it is only the actors that are new. You are not one of us and you need not border yourself to try to convince anyone.
"As a result, if you can’t join us, PLEASE take your hands off our activities because it’s a slap on our face for you to give a nod for repair works to continue on the 48-inch pipeline at Forcados despite a stern warning by us for no one to go near the blast site.”
The group proceeded to threaten Tompolo in its statement, saying, “We hereby give you a three-day ultimatum to apologize to the Niger Delta Avengers in the same national dailies, as anything other than that will mean that we shall bring the war to your doorstep by blowing up all oil installations within your backyard, Gbaramatu Kingdom, since you have taken sides with the federal government to fight the Niger Delta people."

EFCC, when are you going to ARREST this BLOODY OTUOKE FOOL?!!!!! May 29th is fast approaching oh!!!

EFCC Arrests Former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) last night arrested, on fraud allegations, a former governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa.

Achike Udenwa

He is accused of receiving N350 million which had been diverted from last year’s presidential campaign of Mr. Goodluck Jonathan.
Mr. Udenwa was last night grilled by EFCC investigators for several hours at their headquarters, following which he was released after signing a bond to repay the funds to the federal government within two weeks.
Our sources say he admitted collecting the funds from former finance minister Esther Nenadi, who was herself arrested last week and has reportedly paid back massive sums of money.
It would be recalled that Mrs. Usman confessed that former NSA Sambo Dasuki gave her billions of Naira,from which she paid several party officials.
They include Femi Fani-Kayode, who received N840m in his private account at Zenith Bank.

Team news, manager quotes, how to watch, tickets and match stats for Real Madrid vs Manchester City. Yaya Toure will be fit for Manchester City's trip to Real Madrid on Wednesday, manager Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed. The Ivory Coast midfielder missed the first leg, and Sunday's 4-1 defeat to Southampton after limping off in the 4-0 win over Stoke 10 days ago. But his return to training hands the Chilean a huge boost as he seeks to take City to their maiden European final. The 62-year-old has called on his players to produce the performance of their lives, and wants them to attack from the first minute. “The pressure is high in the Bernabeu, so it is important that we are focused,” Pellegrini said. “But we have the personality, mentality and the football to be able to deal with that. “We will try to play in the way we play every week. “The best way to reach the final is to play the way we know. We tried in Manchester but it was not a good day for creative players. We will try to attack.” TEAM NEWS Cristiano Ronaldo is fit for Real Madrid after missing the goalless first leg with a hamstring strain. Karim Benzema, however, missed training on Tuesday and is a major doubt for the clash at the Bernabeu. Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that Yaya Toure has been in training all week and has flown with team-mates to the Spanish capital. Samir Nasri (ineligible), David Silva and Pablo Zabaleta are all unavailable, however. MANAGER QUOTES Zinedine Zidane [in AS]: "It’d be a failure. We’re in good form and we want to go through. It’s a very difficult game and if we don’t go through it’s a failure, because that’s what we want. It will be more difficult than the first leg, because everything will be decided. We’re conscious of that. We will respect the opponent, because they have very good players, especially in attack." 02:05 Prev CL - 1/2 Finals: Real Madrid v Man. City - Eurosport Play 0:00 / 0:00 Fullscreen Mute Share Manuel Pellegrini [in AS]: "They are two teams with good players. The performance could have been better. It’s difficult in the Champions League semi-final, with something as important as the away goal, and the concept of ‘not losing away from home,’ so in the case of Madrid, maybe it is justified. If we analyse the game no one can be satisfied with [Sergio] Aguero, nor David Silva, [Kevin] De Bruyne, [Jesus] Navas, nor [Karim] Benzema, [Gareth] Bale, [Luka] Modric or…in general, with all the creative players, neither team created chances. What was the figure? Joe Hart saved from two corners, Pepe made a couple of important interventions, but unfortunately there was very little creativity. The most important thing is to win. I would prefer not to win with a refereeing error, as with Malaga and Borussia Dortmund. It’s an incomplete feeling. I don’t like, when there’s a semi-final in a full stadium and millions seeing it on television, to try to qualify by any means. I don’t think that way. The chances of reaching a final are much better with good play. Or with an error.” WHERE AND WHEN IS THE MATCH PLAYED? The game takes place on Wednesday night at 7.45pm BST at the Bernabeu. CAN I STILL GET TICKETS? You can visit the Real Madrid online ticket shop here. MATCH STATS 31% of teams who have drawn 0-0 at home in the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie have progressed to the next round (9 out of 29). The last team to do so were Atlético Madrid in the 2014 semi-finals (vs Chelsea). Real Madrid have hosted Manchester City once before at the Santiago Bernabéu; the Spanish side scored two goals in the final three minutes to win 3-2 during a Champions League group stage match in September 2012. Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last nine games against English sides in the Champions League (W6 D3). The last English team to knock Real out in the competition were Liverpool in 2008/09 (5-0 on aggregate in the Last 16). For the sixth time in a row since last season, Real Madrid will play at home in the second-leg of a Champions League knockout tie. Real Madrid have reached the European Cup/Champions League final 13 times, more than any other team. Meanwhile, this is the first time that Manchester City have even made it past the Last 16. Their only previous European final was in the 1969/70 Cup Winners’ Cup (2-1 v Górnik Zabrze). Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates his first goal during the match Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates his first goal during the match - Reuters Manchester City are currently unbeaten in six Champions League matches; their longest run ever in the competition (W3 D3). City have lost three of their last four Champions League matches away in Spain; although they did claim victory in their most recent outing in the country (2015/16 group stage v Sevilla). Real Madrid have played five times at home in the Champions League this season; keeping a clean sheet in all of them. Eight Manchester City players have scored away from home this season in the Champions League; a competition-high. Cristiano Ronaldo has only missed seven of Real Madrid’s 80 Champions League games since his arrival at the club in 2009. In that time, the Merengues have won 71% of their matches when he has featured (52 out of 73) compared to 43% (3 out of 7) when he’s been absent. Ronaldo, who might be absent, has scored/assisted 77% of Real Madrid’s goals in this season’s competition (20 out of 26). He’s only goal away from the Champions League record for most goals in a Champions League campaign, a record he currently holds (17 in 2013/14). Karim Benzema has scored in two of his three Champions League games against Manchester City. However, he’s failed to find the net in his last four Champions League games; only once has he gone on a longer drought in this competition (five games, December 2009-November 2010). Keylor Navas has kept 10 clean sheets in 11 games in his Champions League career. He’s saved 30 of the 32 shots on target he’s faced in the competition. Sergio Agüero hasn’t had a shot on target in the Champions League for 432 minutes. His last one was his goal against Dynamo Kiev in February. Agüero has failed to score in his last four Champions League games, his longest drought in the competition since his run of five games without a goal between November 2011 and October 2012.

Team news, manager quotes, how to watch, tickets and match stats for Real Madrid vs Manchester City.

Yaya Toure will be fit for Manchester City's trip to Real Madrid on Wednesday, manager Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed.

The Ivory Coast midfielder missed the first leg, and Sunday's 4-1 defeat to Southampton after limping off in the 4-0 win over Stoke 10 days ago.

But his return to training hands the Chilean a huge boost as he seeks to take City to their maiden European final.

The 62-year-old has called on his players to produce the performance of their lives, and wants them to attack from the first minute.

“The pressure is high in the Bernabeu, so it is important that we are focused,” Pellegrini said.

“But we have the personality, mentality and the football to be able to deal with that.

“We will try to play in the way we play every week.

“The best way to reach the final is to play the way we know. We tried in Manchester but it was not a good day for creative players. We will try to attack.”

TEAM NEWS

Cristiano Ronaldo is fit for Real Madrid after missing the goalless first leg with a hamstring strain. Karim Benzema, however, missed training on Tuesday and is a major doubt for the clash at the Bernabeu.

Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that Yaya Toure has been in training all week and has flown with team-mates to the Spanish capital. Samir Nasri (ineligible), David Silva and Pablo Zabaleta are all unavailable, however.

MANAGER QUOTES

Zinedine Zidane [in AS]: "It’d be a failure. We’re in good form and we want to go through. It’s a very difficult game and if we don’t go through it’s a failure, because that’s what we want. It will be more difficult than the first leg, because everything will be decided. We’re conscious of that. We will respect the opponent, because they have very good players, especially in attack."

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates his first goal during the match - Reuters

Manchester City are currently unbeaten in six Champions League matches; their longest run ever in the competition (W3 D3).

City have lost three of their last four Champions League matches away in Spain; although they did claim victory in their most recent outing in the country (2015/16 group stage v Sevilla).

Real Madrid have played five times at home in the Champions League this season; keeping a clean sheet in all of them.

Eight Manchester City players have scored away from home this season in the Champions League; a competition-high.

Cristiano Ronaldo has only missed seven of Real Madrid’s 80 Champions League games since his arrival at the club in 2009. In that time, the Merengues have won 71% of their matches when he has featured (52 out of 73) compared to 43% (3 out of 7) when he’s been absent.

Ronaldo, who might be absent, has scored/assisted 77% of Real Madrid’s goals in this season’s competition (20 out of 26). He’s only goal away from the Champions League record for most goals in a Champions League campaign, a record he currently holds (17 in 2013/14).

Karim Benzema has scored in two of his three Champions League games against Manchester City. However, he’s failed to find the net in his last four Champions League games; only once has he gone on a longer drought in this competition (five games, December 2009-November 2010).

Keylor Navas has kept 10 clean sheets in 11 games in his Champions League career. He’s saved 30 of the 32 shots on target he’s faced in the competition.

Sergio Agüero hasn’t had a shot on target in the Champions League for 432 minutes. His last one was his goal against Dynamo Kiev in February.

Agüero has failed to score in his last four Champions League games, his longest drought in the competition since his run of five games without a goal between November 2011 and October 2012.

Kevin de Bruyne could have joined Paris Saint-Germain, writes Ben Lyttleton, but he's back just in time to knock them out of the Champions League.

It was like a game of headers and volleys that kids all over the world still play. The ball came to Sergio Aguero, he scooped it up to David Silva, who crisply laid it off to Kevin de Bruyne to volley home Manchester City’s third goal in the 4-0 win over Bournemouth. This was City at their attacking best, in the form that will give Champions League opponents Paris Saint-Germain cause for concern ahead of this week’s quarter-final tie.

What was more impressive was that it was De Bruyne’s first appearance for City since picking up an injury in the League Cup semi-final against Everton 10 weeks ago. At that point, City were one point behind joint-leaders Arsenal and Leicester. Nine rounds later, City have lost to Leicester, Spurs, Liverpool and Manchester United and drawn with Norwich. Now they are 12 points behind Leicester in fourth place, with United and West Ham breathing down City’s neck.

It would be too easy to say that De Bruyne’s injury has derailed City’s season but there is certainly more to the common narrative that this is a team reliant on Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero, two injury-prone veterans of precious title success at the Etihad.

Raheem Sterling has had an inconsistent first season at City, as he admitted in a recent interview with Sky Sports. “My year has been a bit stop-start,” he said. “I started off really well at the start of the campaign. We went on an unbeaten run and we were top of the Premier League - and then I got a bit sloppy. I’m not trying to make up excuses or anything, but it was probably the number of games that were turning around. It made it very difficult for me. I’m still growing physically so that was a bit hard.”

Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring the second goal for Manchester City - Reuters

There have been no such issues for De Bruyne, who has hit the ground running. His six goals and nine assists in 19 starts don't tell the whole story. He has given City a cutting-edge in the final third and scored some crucial goals in the process: most notably a last-minute winner in the dramatic Champions League group stage win over Sevilla. De Bruyne’s finishing is second only to Aguero at the club. Despite that, he still flies under the radar.

“He's a very important player. I think that before he was injured he made very good performances," City coach Manuel Pellegrini said after the win against Bournemouth. "He was one of the players that scored more goals and was playing very well. It was unlucky for him to have that injury for about two months.”

Pellegrini deserves credit too, for playing De Bruyne as the No. 10 just behind Aguero so pushing Silva wide, which is where he has played for Spain. “I think playing forward near Kun [Aguero] gave him a little bit more space so he did not have to work so hard as a midfielder because after two months it is not easy for him to have good pace. I was sure that he was going to retain [form] the same way that he finished before his injury.”

According to his former coach at Genk, Hans Vanhaezebrouck, De Bruyne is a better player than his compatriot Eden Hazard. “Everyone knew that De Bruyne was a great talent but he is a more complete player than Hazard,” he told Belgian TV show Extra Time in 2013. “He has a better understanding of the game. He can play on the left or right, wide or inside. He can dribble, play the ball inside or shoot from distance. He can even play left, right or in the hole or as a second midfielder alongside a holding player.”

Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring the second goal for Manchester City - Reuters

That versatility may have cost De Bruyne in the past. “Ever since I turned pro everyone has given an opinion about my best position,” he told Sport/Foot magazine in a conversation about his role in the Belgium team in 2014. “I don’t care [about the debate]. I can play in five positions and I think it's an advantage: the four attacking positions and even as number six.”

These must be words that Pep Guardiola, City’s coach next season, dreams of hearing. More than Sterling, who is some way from the finished product – especially when it comes to his finishing - De Bruyne reflects the Spaniard’s vision of attacking versatility. If anyone can play as a false nine and make it work, it would be the Belgian.

“My contribution is primarily an attacking one,” De Bruyne added. “So my job remains the same: give assists and try to score. I am quite fast even if I'm not the fastest in the squad. It does not cause me too many problems because I have good reaction speed. I know very quickly what I'll do. People expect me to make a difference, with a pass or goal. The cameras are always pointed at those who decide an encounter: a striker who scored three goals, a keeper who stops everything. And sometimes that’s me. There are not many players of my style in the squad.”

Paris St Germain signed Angel Di Maria after targeting De Bruyne - Reuters

De Bruyne’s agent Patrick de Koster revealed earlier this season that two other clubs wanted De Bruyne before City got their man. They are both in action this week: Bayern Munich and City’s opponents on Wednesday, PSG.

“The French club really wanted him,” said De Koster. “I met Olivier Letang (assistant sporting director at PSG) a few times. We considered the possible role of Kevin before talking numbers. Their priority was Kevin De Bruyne and not Angel Di Maria. But the transfer of Kevin, if it happened, would have cost more than Di Maria (who was €63m), I am 100 per cent convinced of that.”

PSG’s loss is City’s gain. This week De Bruyne will come up against Di Maria and his PSG team-mates. When the draw was made three weeks ago, PSG were favourites to progress. De Bruyne’s timely return from injury has given City renewed hope.