Izuchukwu OkosiAfter a two-week hiatus occasioned by the international break across the world, football fans will be pleased to see their favourite clubs in action this weekend.
The managers/head coaches are already speaking with the media on Friday in their press conferences ahead of the league actions.
Prime Business Africa’s Izuchukwu Okosi looks at four interesting things that took place either on or off the pitch as qualifying matches and friendly games were witnessed.
1. Ancelotti’s Doctorate Degree
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was honoured after receiving an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Parma during the international break.
Ancelotti is among the 13 sports personalities mentioned in the Pandora Papers published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
‘Don Carlo’ received the honorary doctorate from the University of Parma on 11 October 2023, following his research in “Sciences and Techniques of Preventive and Adapted Motor Activities.”
Born 10 June 1959 in the Reggiolo area of his native Italy, Ancelotti worked as a player and manager of Parma and AC Milan. He was also in charge of Napoli, then moved abroad to great effect as manager of Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Everton and Real Madrid.
Ancelotti who believes his former coached sides, Bayern Munich wil^l join Real Madrid, La Liga rivals Barcelona and current European champions Manchester City as favourites to win the UEFA Champions League is poised to become the new head coach of the Brazilian national team after the 2023/2024 La Liga season.
2. Akon On CAF Draws Duty
While the Super Eagles of Nigeria were getting set to play against Saudi Arabia, global music superstar, Akon, hosted the final draw of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 last week Thursday in Abidjan.
The final draw was held at the new Parc Des Expositions venue in Abidjan.
The African-American rapper is of Senegalese descent and has shown immense delight in being part of several sporting events on the continent.
Akon was joined for the draws by African Football icons in the past and present, former Nigeria international and captain John Obi Mikel, Sadio Mane, Didier Drogba and Achraf Hakimi.
3. For the Love of Dogs
Football is a passionate game that unites people from different races, beliefs, colours and gender.
The game transcends boundaries but when humans show immense love to animals in sometimes hostile places where animal rights are not protected, it is refreshing to see.
Spanish side, Espanyol made a significant difference in the lives of 11 homeless puppies.
The Barcelona-based club’s recent noble gesture has brought them into global headlines for a human angle story.
Just before their game kicked off against Real Valladolid, rather than walk onto the pitch with mascots, the players marched out with the homeless puppies in their arms.
The initiative came after the club decided to find homes for these stray puppies. The players even clicked a routine pre-match picture with these adorable puppies.
4. Mental Health Day Care
Championship side Norwich City in the second tier of English football posted an emotional video on their social media account to mark the World Mental Health Day.
The video left some watchers in tears, with one person writing that the ending ‘hits like a tonne of bricks’.
It shows two Norwich City fans attending a number of matches together, with one appearing to be quiet and reserved, with the other making a lot of noise and jumping around when his side scores.
The video then goes dark and has a message which reads: ‘At times, it can be obvious when someone is struggling to cope.’
It then shows the quiet supporter going to the game without his friend and laying a scarf over where they had been sitting, while getting a tap of support on the back from someone on the row behind.
The message then continues: “But sometimes, the signs are harder to spot. Check in on those around you #YouAreNotAlone. For immediate help: Call 999. Call 111 and select option 2. Or call Samaritans for free 24/7 on 116 123.’
Supporters applauded the message behind the video on the club’s social media handles.
The post is a reminder that mental health struggles are real and could be suffered by the next person sitting close to us even when they appeared to be okay.
Common signs of mental health cases include: being withdrawn, mood swings, talks on deaths and sui*cide, tearful reaction to another person’s accident and injuries,
YouTuber Jaack summed it up in his reaction to the video when he stated: “Wow. Norwich City FC have created one of the most powerful adverts around mental health I think I’ve ever seen. Watch this until the end. Hits like a tonne of bricks. Talk to someone.”
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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