I was triggered by 'Jay Jay' Okocha's video - Adekoya

Seattle Sounders new signing Seyi Adekoya has revealed his father played him Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha videos to motivate when he was growing up.

“I started playing when I was around two or three, thanks to my dad who’s Nigerian,” said youngster Adekoya.

“He grew up in Nigeria playing soccer and cricket. His favorite player had always been ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha.

When I was a kid he would always show me videos of Okocha and say, ‘Watch this video, you need to do this move like him.”

“I remember back then Sounders Academy was the biggest deal, because everyone was so talented,” Seyi remarked about his time in the Rave Green youth system. “I was really excited and honoured to be on a team with such great players.”

Adekoya signed with UCLA in large part because of its strong medical program. His father always wanted him to become a doctor.

“When I first got to UCLA and went through the preseason practices I did terribly,” laughed Adekoya. “I would have guys like [Mac Hermann Trophy winner] Leo Stolz yelling at me, and I got so nervous I couldn’t even connect simple passes. But I kept working hard and believing in myself.”

Adekoya broke into the team as a freshman and recorded 20 goals, eight assists and 37 starts in three seasons with the Bruins.

He spent his first two seasons at UCLA as a central striker, often relying on his blistering pace to stretch the field and latch onto through-balls, but in the 2016 campaign he lined up as a wide attacker.

“Spending this last season on the wing I found that my game was based less on athleticism and more on combining with teammates,” said Adekoya.

“I think that helped my game because I learned how to play both ways. I can be a connecting player and set people up or I can be someone who runs in-behind and scores goals.”

He credits UCLA for helping him develop into a versatile attacking player.

As he reminisces on his college career, his favorite memory is scoring the game-winning goal against the University of Washington in Seattle during his freshman season. Sharing such a special moment with all of his friends, family, former teachers and coaches in the crowd reaffirmed his desire to return home after his college career.

“When I got to UCLA I realized that I really love Seattle and I missed it,” said Adekoya. “Every single second I was there I wanted to be here. I really love this city and I’m happy to be back now.”

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40 vehicles was recovered from retired directors by ICPC

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) yesterday handed over 40 recovered vehicles coveted by retired directors and assistant directors at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

One of the directors carted away five vehicles.

But ICPC said the affected retired public officers would face the law after investigation.

Its Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta, said the vehicles were recovered by a crack team led by the commission’s Director of Asset Tracing, Mr. Frank Nanakumo.

Nta, who was represented on the occasion by a Commissioner in ICPC, Alhaji Bako Abdullahi, said the anti-graft agency acted on intelligence report on the looting of operational and utility vehicles of the affected ministry.

According to records by ICPC, the breakdown of the recovered vehicles is as follows: Hilux pickup (13); Hilux pickup (one); Toyota RAV4 (two);  Audi Q7 (one);  Ford Explorer (one); Land Rover (one);  Nissan Patrol (one);  Toyota Prado (eight); Toyota Avensis (three); Toyota Corolla (seven);  Toyota Camry (one) and Audi A6 (one).

Nta said: “It is extremely sad that vehicles meant for the administrative and operational responsibilities of government establishment were dishonestly made away with by retiring senior public officers in whose oversight were the vehicles.

“However, it is fulfilling because the commission in its usual effort was alive to her law enforcement and prevention mandate in the fight against corruption.

“In all seriousness, this formality should not just be for handing-over of recovered vehicles from an anti-corruption agency to another public institution. Rather, it should be a moment for solemn reflection on our avowed commitment to public service and the thought processes of the public servant going into retirement.

“You will agree with me that, it is not so much that official vehicles of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources were dishonestly made away with by retiring public servants.

“However, what is more significant is the need to ask some questions and consistently interrogate how 40 government vehicles were removed without authorisation.”

He added: “It is also important to say that in the fight against corruption, it is not so much about those who dishonestly enriched themselves through government vehicles, but the opportunities for corruption that made this corrupt act possible in the first place.

“Consequently, there is also the need for everyone to know that those who saw the vehicles being carted away and said nothing are also part of the conspiracy for abuse of entrusted office and property.

“It is binding on you to ensure that all observations raised and subsequent recommendations made by the commission are compiled with in future.”

Asked if the retired public officers would be prosecuted, Abdullahi said: “Investigations are still ongoing, we cannot take action until we have concluded the findings.”

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Hajiya Rabi Jimeta, said the affected retired officers acted with impunity.

Mrs. Jimeta said: “Some of the vehicles carted away by the retired public officers were operational and utility vehicles. We found ourselves strangulated, incapacitated and unable to discharge our duties.

“Some of them took away as many vehicles as five. That was a clear case of impunity and irresponsibility.

“I was told that the officers responsible had written, but those concerned refused to return the vehicles. So, I was really delighted that ICPC got information and they tracked these vehicles even to the remotest parts of the country.

“We thank ICPC; we appreciate this esteemed organisation for returning 40 vehicles to us.”

Responding to a question, the permanent secretary said: “No former minister and no ex-permanent secretary was involved. Those involved were mostly directors and others.

“Once an officer retires, if his vehicle is not boarded, he or she is expected to return to the transport pool of a ministry or agency.”

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Chinese Most Valuable Player Award won by Ronaldo

Real Madrid superstar, Cristiano Rolando has been awarded the Most Valuable Player by Chinese supporters.

The 31-year-old has already claimed the two major football’s individual awards, the Ballon d’Or and the inaugural, the Best FIFA Men’s Player award.

The Portuguese captain has now been named MVP for 2016 by Dongqiudi, a Chinese website backed by the Sunning Group, which owns Inter Milan.

The former Sporting Lisbon forward, who became the first footballer to be named European Sportsperson of the year by PAP, thanked supporters who voted for him for the Dongqiudi prize.Rolando wrote on his official Instagram page, “Thanks for the support of Chinese fans.”

Real Madrid will be up against Celta Vigo on Wednesday in the second leg of the Copa de Rey quarter-final at Bala!dos where Rolando is expected to lead the attack and looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg.

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See/know the last thing Obama did before leave the Ofice for Trump

The last thing ex US President Barack Obama before he left the White House for Donald Trump has been revealed.

It has been revealed that Barack Obama administration’s final act in office was to release $221m of funding to the Palestinian Authority, The Independent reports.

Republican members of Congress had tried to block the allocation after the group sought membership of international organizations.

The funds are to be used for humanitarian aid in the West Bank and Gaza, and other projects around governance and political reform.

Though holds placed by members of Congress are generally respected by the executive branch, they are not legally binding, and State Department officials said they would release the money just hours before Donald Trump’s inauguration on 20 January, Yahoo reported.

Further money was also released for climate change programmes and to various UN agencies—$4m and $1.25m respectively.

The UN money will go to projects for tackling sexual exploitation, ozone protection and peace building.

The news came as it was announced Mr Trump’s administration was in the “beginning stages” of discussing a plan to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Mr Trump by telephone on Sunday evening, but the White House statement released after the call made no mention of the embassy.

The Palestinians have said that an embassy move would kill any prospect for peace.

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