Soldiers unleash mayhem on Ikorodu road; vandalise and burn BRT buses

This morning a BRT bus hit and killed a soldier who was reportedly riding on a bike on the BRT lane. As a result of that tragic incident, soldiers are unleashing terror on the busy Ikorodu road.
The soldiers who expressed anger over the death of their colleague earlier blocked the road at palmgrove and vandalised every BRT in sight, causing a massive traffic. The drivers of the buses came out of their cars and escaped.
The windscreens of the buses were vandalised and at about 9.30am, soldiers began setting the buses on fire at palmgrove.

A journalist who attempted to take photos was severely beaten by the soldiers and had to be rushed to the hospital.

The Scoop counted at least 80 soldiers on the road between Onipanu and Palmgrove and pedestrians were required to raise their two hands as they passed to avoid beating by the soldiers.
Some other pedestrians who were making calls with their phones or even just holding the phone in sight were slapped and kicked and their phones seized or damaged.
At Palmgrove, there was a terrible scene as soldiers set a BRT bus on fire in the midst of four other BRT buses and just across an MRS fillong station. Vehicles passing by including fuel tankers stand the risk of being caught in the event of an explosion especially as there is a massive gridlock on the road.

World Cup Goal-Line Technology Gets First Use, Works Just Fine

France made history in its 3-0 victory over Honduras on Sunday, scoring the first World Cup goal that was confirmed by goal-line technology. French striker Karim Benzema blasted a shot off of the inside of the bar, and it bounced off of Honduran goalkeeper Noel Valladares just over the line. Brazilian referee Sandro Ricci went to the replay technology to confirm that it was in fact a goal, one that belonged as an own-goal rather than to Benzema, who ended the game with a brace rather than a hat trick.

While much in soccer remains up to the referee’s perceptions and inclinations, FIFA has taken a historic step in the right direction this World Cup by introducing goal line technology. The FIFA laws of the game state that a goal occurs “when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar.” This may sound simple enough, but it can sometimes be very hard to tell.

Arguably the most controversial World Cup example comes from the 1966 final, where Geoff Hurst gave England a 3-2 lead over West Germany with a controversial goal:

What’s tricky about these sorts of goals is timing and vantage point. The ball may only be in the goal for a fraction of a second and so it can be difficult for a human eye to tell what really happened. It is also plausible that what looks like a goal from the perspectives of the referee and linesman does not reflect the actual position of the ball. In 1996, two Oxford engineers used video sequencing to discover that Hurst’s shot was at least 6 centimeters away from fully crossing the goal line. Ex post-facto science aside, England went on to win that World Cup final 4-2. The Germans are still upset about the injustice of it all.

However, FIFA’s choice to bring goal line technology to this year’s competition probably has more to do with an egregious moment from the 2010 competition in South Africa—again during a match between England and Germany. Frank Lampard’s shot, which would have tied the game 2-2, clearly made it over the goal line, but was disallowed by the referee. Germany won the game 4-1. Later, Uruguayan linesman Mauricio Espinosa admitted that he could not see the ball well enough to make the right call.

FIFA accepted bids from four goal-line technology companies before awarding a probationary contract to German company GoalControl last year. The GoalControl system—which costs around $250,000 to install per stadium—uses 14 high-speed cameras to track the ball’s position both on the field and in the air. If the ball passes the goal line, a buzzing smartwatch alerts the referee within a single second. As BusinessWeek points out, sports with a long tradition often inspire a Luddite streak. The key to GoalControl is that it can discreetly offer goal confirmation without disrupting the flow of the game. During Sunday’s game between Honduras and France, it took just one minute for the TV audience to see that it was in fact a goal.

Welcome to HENRY OKERE's Official Blog Page: ECSTATIC PUSKAS AWARD IN THE MAKING!!!

Welcome to HENRY OKERE's Official Blog Page: ECSTATIC PUSKAS AWARD IN THE MAKING!!!: Three days in to this World Cup and already the champions have a weaker grip on their trophy. Spain lost the first game four years ago, t...

ECSTATIC PUSKAS AWARD IN THE MAKING!!!

Three days in to this World Cup and already the champions have a weaker grip on their trophy. Spain lost the first game four years ago, too, but defeat by Switzerland in South Africa cannot compare psychologically to these stunning events in north-east Brazil.
Spain’s worst defeat since a 1963 reverse to Scotland, this was more than a setback. This was a humiliating, humbling capitulation, a defeat that asks as much about the mental fortitude of Vicente del Bosque’s team as it does their hapless defending.
Some defeats in sport represent more than the loss of a solitary contest and this was one of them. This was a 7&6 in Ryder Cup singles, an Ashes defeat by an innings, a round one knockout in Vegas. Some teams would not recover from this. It remains to be seen if Spain can.



Holland were brilliant. So hungry as to be ravenous and driven relentlessly forwards by the mesmeric talents of Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben.
The upshot was one of the World Cup’s most startling results. We all remember Argentina’s loss to Cameroon in 1990, France succumbing to Senegal in Seoul 12 years later. In the very same way, we will remember this.
Taken in isolation, the result was staggering enough. Spain 1 Holland 5. Say it slowly to make sure it’s real.
What made this even more remarkable, though, was the way that it happened. Moments before half-time, Spain were a goal ahead and cruising. Had David Silva scored when played clear at this time the champions probably would have won.

Fast forward an hour, though, and Spain were on their knees. In their eyes they had the shocked look of street mugging victims. Holland scored five and could have scored eight. Iker Casillas – who had a dreadful night – produced a stunning double save late on, while Wesley Sneijder fell over when it looked easier to score.
'In the end, it could have been six, seven or eight,' said Van Persie. 'But, really, it couldn’t be better.'
Ultimately, the only thing that saved Spain was the full-time whistle. Back in the quiet of the dressing room, they will have looked at each other and seen faces they did not recognise staring back.

The highlights reel will, of course, show them scoring first. Once again there was controversy about it but few will care now. 

Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo

BRAZIL VS CROATIA 20:00GMT

Of the three biggest clubs in Sao Paulo, the only one which previously did not own a stadium with the necessary size and infrastructure to host games was the city’s best-supported side: Sport Club Corinthians Paulista.
Yet this long-yearned for dream of the Corinthians faithful will finally come true ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in the shape of the Arena de Sao Paulo. Under construction in the neighbourhood of Itaquera, which is in the city’s Eastern Zone and a traditional Corintianos stronghold, the project is scheduled to be completed by early 2014.
The stadium works are also expected to boost development in the Eastern Zone, which is one of Sao Paulo’s most deprived areas and home to nearly four million people, as well as ensuring hundreds of workers gain professional qualifications. A total of close to 6,000 people will be employed either directly or indirectly over the course of the construction process.

The Arena de Sao Paulo has been chosen to host the Opening Match of Brazil 2014 and will also welcome five other encounters, including one semi-final. Its capacity will be 62,601.

Spain, Argentina, Chile and Cameroon arrive in Brazil

The national teams that feature FC Barcelona players make their way to Brazil ahead of the opening match of the World Cup on Thursday

With only three days before the World Cup kicks off, the majority of the national teams set to participate in the tournament have made their way to Brazil. The Spanish national team arrived in Brazil from the United States on Monday morning, they completed their first training session in Curitiba that afternoon.

Alex Song’s Cameroon also arrived in Brazil after disputes over World Cup bonuses were resolved with the county’s FA.

Messi and Mascherano’s Argentina were given a hero’s send off before the trip to Belo Horizonte.

Alves “eager” to get things started

This Monday, Dani Alves held a press conference ahead of the opening match of the World Cup, which is scheduled for Thursday. “We’re very eager for the World Cup to start,” he said. “Spain are favourites because they are defending the title,” he added. The right back concluded the press conference by saying that he hopes for a Brazil-Argentina final and that he’s “sure Neymar will leave his mark” on the tournament.

France, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador and Honduras land in Brazil

Opponents in the third round of the group stage, the teams of Ecuador and France, have landed this afternoon in Porto Alegre and Sao Paulo respectively. “I'm excited to be in Brazil for the FIFA World Cup”, said French coach Didier Deschamps. “We had a good preparation and the players are ready to go. They look forward to playing in the Maracana stadium as well, where our third group match will be.” The French squad then travelled to Ribeirao Preto, in the interior of the state, where they will train at the Estadio Santa Cruz, while the Ecuadorians continued on their way to Viamão, about 40 minutes away from the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, where they will prepare for the tournament at the Centro de Treinamento Vila Ventura . Early in the evening, the city of Belo Horizonte welcomed two South American teams and two former FIFA World Cup™ champions: Uruguay, winner in 1930 and 1950, when it was responsible for what became known as the 'Maracanazo' (defeating Brazil in the final at the Maracana stadium); and Argentina, champion in 1978 and 1986 and great rival of the host country's national team. Both drove to the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerais. Argentina will practice at the Cidade do Galo, in Vespasiano, and Uruguay will prepare for the competition at the Estadio Joaquim Henrique Nogueira (better known as Arena do Jacare), in Sete Lagoas. "We prepared for the tournament at home. It's a major privilege to be able to feel the warmth and the care coming from the public in our everyday routine", explained La Celeste's centre back Diego Lugano. Uruguay open their campaign in the World Cup on Saturday, 14 June, against Costa Rica, while France, Argentina and Ecuador have their first matches on the next day, 15 June, against Honduras, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Switzerland, respectively. In total, 25 national teams (in addition to the Brazilian delegation) are already in the country ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Honduras, who will train at the city of Porto Feliz, state of Sao Paulo, have just landed in Brazil. Costa Rica are expected for later tonight.