Management of Rangers International FC has approved a Ten days break for its players following the suspension of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Club’s Spokesperson, Norbert Okolie disclosed this in a statement to newsmen in Enugu on Saturday.
According to him, the club’s General Manager, Davison Owumi announced the Ten days break to the players on Friday, at their Camp located at Nkponkiti Independence Layout, Enugu.
Owumi urged the players to be conscious of the health situations around them during the break.
” This break is necessitated by the suspension order from the NFF on all football activities in the country.
” The management in its wisdom wants you (players) to be with your various families in this challenging health period.
” It is our belief that you will maintain a high level of discipline and return after the break, stronger to challenge for a top finish in the season, ” Owumi said.
The club Technical Adviser, Salisu Yusuf also advised the players to maintain high level of fitness during the break.
Yusuf told the players that, they could be called up earlier than expected should the league organisers cut short the suspension of the league.
” This is an emergency break but I hope we will be professional enough in our conducts so that we can maintain a high level of fitness when we return, ” Yusuf said.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) suspended all football activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging the world. (NAN)
Tag: Coronavirus
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COVID 19: Rangers players get 10 days break – Official
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Kano residents applaud school closure over Coronavirus
Residents in Kano have commended the state government for the closure of schools to prevent spread of Coronavirus in the state.
A cross section of the residents, who spoke with NAN on Saturday, said the act was commendable as it aimed at protecting children in schools and guard against spread of the disease.
Adamu Garba, a civil servant, said that the attention accorded to the pandemic would protect the people and the state safer.
“That is how responsible government should act because prevention is better than cure,” he said.
Malam Idi Saidu, a trader, noted that the development indicated state government’s commitment to contain the pandemic and protect public health.
Saidu enjoined parents and guardians to encourage their children to remain at home and observe high standards of personal hygiene.
Mrs Amina Bala, urged the governments to adopt proactive measures to enhance access to sanitisers, face mask and hand washing facilities at public places.
She advised the people to report suspicious cases to health authorities for prompt response.Kano State Government had ordered for the closure schools and constituted a Task Force committee to contain the pandemic. (NAN )
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Italy’s Covid-19 death toll up by nearly 20% to 4,032
Italy’s death toll from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, on Friday rose to 4,032, in a 18.4-per-cent increase from Thursday.
In its daily bulletin, the Italian Civil Protection Agency also reports that the total number of contagions is up by almost 15 per cent to 47,021.
Recoveries are up by 15.5 per cent to 5,129, while the number of intensive care patients, a closely watched figure given the shortage of hospital beds, has risen by around 6 per cent, to 2,655.
Lombardy, which surrounds Milan, remained the region worst hit by the outbreak, with more than 22,000 cases and 2,549 deaths. Lazio, the region that include Rome, reports 1,008 cases and 43 deaths.(dpa/NAN) -
‘Look out for each other’ – England boss Southgate writes to fans
England boss Gareth Southgate has urged fans to “look out for each other” in an open letter on Friday as Britain continues to battle with the coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has closed all schools and cancelled forthcoming exams for students with many businesses also closing in a struggling economy.
In football terms, England should have been preparing to face Italy and Denmark in now postponed friendlies at the end of month and this summer’s Euro 2020 has been delayed by 12 months to 2021.
“For everyone in our country, the primary focus of the present – and the coming months – is undoubtedly to look after our families,” Southgate writes.
“In the way you’ve all come together to support our team, we must now work together to combat a virus that is causing physical and emotional issues to so many.”
“Look out for each other,” Southgate added.
“Please don’t suffer alone, and remember that our great country has come through these enormous challenges before – and, together, we will do so again.”
Southgate’s letter continued to praise hospital staff and medical workers as “heroes.”
“They won’t receive the individual acclaim,” he wrote. “But we all know their importance is beyond anything we do on the pitch.”
In summary, Southgate said this summer’s postponed Euros should be forgotten but added that every member of his squad will have their chance next year.
“We shouldn’t spend another moment thinking about the postponement of the competition,” Southgate said.
“I feel sure that, when that moment comes, I will never have been prouder to be the leader.”
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Coronavirus: FG adds Sweden, Austria to restricted countries
Austria and Sweden have been added to the list of high-risk countries restricted from entering Nigeria over the coronavirus pandemic.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said this at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday.
Nigeria had, on Wednesday, placed travel restrictions on entry into the county from 13 countries with high-burden of coronavirus.
The countries are China, Iran, South Korea, Germany, Italy, United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, France, and Japan.
The country also announced a temporary suspension of visa-on-arrival policy.
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China reports no new virus infections, but ‘imported’ cases rise
For a second consecutive day, China has reported zero locally transmitted coronavirus infections, while the number of “imported” cases has risen to 39.
There were no new locally transmitted coronavirus infections in the original epicentre of the disease in Hubei province or elsewhere across mainland China over the past day, the National Health Commission said Friday.
The commission counted three new deaths across the country, including two in Hubei province.
There were 39 new cases of “imported” infections among travellers who came from abroad – the largest daily number reported so far.
Beijing has enacted a series of measures to prevent a second wave of COVID-19 infections, including mandatory quarantine for all international arrivals to the capital and the redirection of some inbound flights.
China has so far counted 228 “imported” infections.
So far, 80,967 people have fallen ill with the coronavirus in China and 3,248 have died, while 71,150 have recovered to date, according to the commission. (dpa/NAN)
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BREAKING:The first coronavirus patient in Nigeria now tests negative – Lagos
The Lagos State Commissioner of Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, says the Italian who brought coronavirus to Nigeria now tests negative.
He said this at a press conference on Thursday, Day Break reports.
According to him, the Italian will be tested one more time and will be released if he tests negative again.
Coronavirus was first recorded in Nigeria on February 27 when the Italian businessman, who was on a visit to Lafarge Africa Plc, Ewekoro, Ogun State, was diagnosed with the disease and taken to Lagos State.
The second coronavirus case was a Nigerian, who had contact with the Italian and was isolated in Ogun State. Although he tested positive twice, subsequent tests were negative.
Details later…
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Coronavirus: Ogun shuts schools indefinitely
The Ogun State Government on Thursday said it has extended the ban of all high-density gatherings to school and worship centers in the state.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Abeokuta.
He stated that the ban on high-density gatherings affected all schools – public and private – as well as all religious activities in the State.
The statement read in part, “Consequently, all schools in the state will remain closed indefinitely after school hours on Friday, March 20, 2020.
“Also, all religious centres and activities including regular and special services that bring together 50 or more persons in the same place are banned with immediate effect.
“These measures will be reviewed at regular intervals in response to the development surrounding the coronavirus disease.
“The Government, therefore, enjoins all parents and guardians who have their children and wards in any boarding facility within the State to immediately evacuate them and return them to their respective homes at the close of schools on Friday, March 20th, 2020.
“Governor Dapo Abiodun pleads for the understanding of parents, school owners and the entire citizenry to comply fully with all laid down measures and for them to offer useful information for the state to respond appropriately to the COVID-19 challenge.”
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Coronavirus: TUC advocates tax holidays to boost economy
The Trade Union Congress (TUC), has called on the Federal Government to grant tax holidays to business owners in the country to enable them cushion the adverse economic effects associated with the outbreak of coronavirus.
Mr Quadri Olaleye, the TUC President, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja during an interactive parley with journalist.
Olaleye said that it is a global practice to grant tax holidays during economic crisis, adding that the coronavirus outbreak has impacted negatively on the Nigerian economy.
He said: “The expectations of workers from government is that the Nigerian government should assist the people.
“The government should also look at how it can cushion the effects for business owners, especially providing adequate financing, to enable them continue to run their businesses.
“Budget some amount of money to rescue businesses, especially people in entertainment and transport sectors.
“Everything is not about taking away from businesses, in situation like this, one of the ways you can encourage people is to give them tax holidays.
“So we (TUC) are going to take a step towards that, to see how we can discuss with government to give tax holidays to encourage businessmen, so that more people are not pushed into the labour market.”
On the new minimum wage, the TUC president commended the Federal Government for implementing the pay rise.
He also commended the states that have implemented the new minimum wage, and urged others yet to do so to commence implementation.
“About 80 per cent of the states have implemented the minimum wage and I want to salute their courage.
“We have few states that have not implemented. For those ones, we have issued out letters of ultimatum to them and we are going to take action.
“When TUC issues ultimatum, we follow it up and for the few states that have not implemented, I am sure they are ready for us.
“We are going to shut down the states and let us see how they are going to perform if they are not ready to pay the minimum wage’” Olaleye added.
The TUC president called for more collaboration with the media to enable the Congress serve the people better.
According to him, the media is key to ensuring that the TUC lived up to its responsibility and accountable to the people. (NAN)
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Don’t play politics with Covid-19, PDP advises APC
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has counseled the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to play politics with the Coronavirus (Covid-19) but join other wellmeaning Nigerians in seeking solution for the scourge.
The party gave the advice in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to Ologbondiyan, it is on record that the APC was yet to offer any meaningful suggest on ways to address the raging pandemic.
“Nigerians will recall that the PDP had on several occasions advised the Federal Government on effective pre-emptive measures as well as the need for concerted efforts and safeguards in the fight against Covid-19.
“The PDP had been on the forefront in canvassing for stringent steps at our international ports and borderlines, consequent upon which President Muhammadu Buhari had approved international travel ban from 13 countries,” he said.
Ologbondiyan recalled that the PDP presidential candidate in 2019 general election, Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday advised the President to reduce the pump price of fuel and suspend stamp duties on all accounts as palliative measures against Covid-19, which was on Wednesday implemented.
He said that the PDP would not be distracted in its commitment to the wellbeing and safety of Nigerians.(NAN)