LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC MEDAL RANKINGS

NO	COUNTRY	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE	TOTAL
1	USA	46	29	29	104
2	P.R China	38	27	22	87
3	Great Britain	29	17	19	65
4	Russian Federation	24	25	33	82
5	Republic of Korea	13	8	7	28
6	Germany	11	19	14	44
7	France	11	11	12	34
8	Italy	8	9	11	28
9	Hungary	8	4	5	17
10	Australia	7	16	12	35
11	Japan	7	14	17	38
12	Kazakhstan	7	1	5	13
13	Netherland	6	6	8	20
14	Ukraine	6	5	9	20
15	Cuba	5	3	6	14
16	New Zealand	5	3	5	13
17	Islamic Republic of Iran	4	5	3	12
18	Jamaica	4	4	4	12
19	Czech Republic	4	3	3	10
20	DPR Korea	4	0	2	6
21	Spain	3	10	4	17
22	Brazil	3	5	9	17
23	Belarus	3	5	5	13
24	South Africa	3	2	1	6
25	Ethiopia	3	1	3	7
26	Croatia	3	1	2	6
27	Romania	2	5	2	9
28	Kenya	2	4	5	11
29	Denmark	2	4	3	9
30	Poland	2	2	6	10
30	Azerbaijan	2	2	6	10
32	Turkey	2	2	1	5
33	Switzerland	2	2	0	4
34	Lithuania	2	1	2	5
35	Norway	2	1	1	4
36	Canada	1	5	12	18
37	Sweden	1	4	3	8
38	Colombia	1	3	4	8
39	Georgia	1	3	3	7
39	Mexico	1	3	3	7
41	Ireland	1	1	3	5
42	Slovenia	1	1	2	4
42	Serbia	1	1	2	4
42	Argentina	1	1	2	4
45	Tunisia	1	1	1	3
46	Dominican Republic	1	1	0	2
47	Trinidad and Tobago	1	0	3	4
47	Uzbekistan	1	0	3	4
49	Latvia	1	0	1	2
50	Algeria	1	0	0	1
50	Bahamas	1	0	0	1
50	Uganda	1	0	0	1
50	Venezuela	1	0	0	1
50	Granada	1	0	0	1
55	India	0	2	4	6
56	Mongolia	0	2	3	5
57	Thailand	0	2	1	3
58	Egypt	0	2	0	2
59	Slovakia	0	1	3	4
60	Armenia	0	1	2	3
60	Belgium	0	1	2	3
60	Finland	0	1	2	3
63	Chinese Taipei	0	1	1	2
63	Estonia	0	1	1	2
63	Malaysia	0	1	1	2
63	Bulgaria	0	1	1	2
63	Puerto Rico	0	1	1	2
63	Indonesia	0	1	1	2
69	Portugal	0	1	0	1
69	Montenegro	0	1	0	1
69	Botswana	0	1	0	1
69	Cyprus	0	1	0	1
69	Guatemala	0	1	0	1
69	Gabon	0	1	0	1
75	R. Moldova	0	0	2	2
75	Qatar	0	0	2	2
75	Singapore	0	0	2	2
75	Greece	0	0	2	2
79	Morocco	0	0	1	1
79	Saudi Arabia	0	0	1	1
79	Kuwait	0	0	1	1
79	Bahrain	0	0	1	1
79	Afghanistan	0	0	1	1
79	Tajikistan	0	0	1	1
79	Hong Kong, china	0	0	1	1

Get all you need with regards to sport on sportspedal blog.

SAMUEL OKWARAJI; 23 YEARS AFTER YOUR MEMORY LINGERS ON

 He is one of the brightest talent to have come out of Africa, the star was dimmed on the 12th of August, 1989, while playing for his nation in a 2nd round Group c, Italia World Cup, qualifier against the parlanca negras of Angola, He slumped and died right there on the pitch, at National stadium, Surulere Lagos, He surrendered to what the doctors called congestive heart failure. Though the green Eagle’s won the hard fought battle 1-0,( the goal was scored by Stephen Keshi in the 44th minute) But lost the sole world cup ticket to the indomitable lion’s of Cameroon. The lost ticket was one of his numerous dreams which the cold hands of death did not allow him to fulfill, as he was unable to complete his PhD thesis and also his dream to play in the then prestigious Belgium League was unfulfilled, (just sign a record 450,000 dollars with a Belgium club). And many other promises made to his team mates about securing for them a move to Europe.

1964 -1989

  He was born in Orlu Eastern Nigeria to the Okwaraji family On May 19, 1964 and he shone like a million star by passing his WASC examination in flying colors and he got admitted into the University of Rome to study law, where his prodigious footballing talent was spotted by the Eagle eye of the AS Roma Scout and was promptly signed on while he was still a student in 1984 (at age of 20) this marked the beginning of a short but illustrous footballing career.

            In just five years, he was able to play for NK dynamo Zagreb, Vfb Stuttgart and SSV ulm 1846, In the process he bagged the bachelor and masters degree in International Law and can speak five languages fluently that is English, German, Spanish, Italian and Igbo language, this shows the amount of courage in his large heart and the fact that he started playing career abroad before coming back home to play for Nigeria and not the other way round summarizes the potentials in him. 

okwaraji in jersey no 6. nig vs ang 12/8/89

            On that fateful Saturday afternoon, Nigerians were trooping out in their thousands all roads lead to National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. By 12noon the stadium was jam packed and was overcrowded at the 4pm, expectations were high, At stake is the then elusive world cup ticket and a win for the Green Eagles was non Negotiable which a draw in Yaoundé in a fortnight guarantee Nigeria’s first World cup berth, All media attention was on one Man, A dreadlock Nigeria No 6, Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji because of the incident that occurred prior to the match between his club SSV ulm 1846, and the then NFA chairman, captain obakpolor of blessed memory, that before they can release him Nigeria will have to pay 45, 000 dollars, the amount the club will lose in gate taking while he was away with the national team and the chairman brokered a deal of 15,000 dollars for him to be released but the player was reported to have charged at his club managers, that he will be representing Nigeria without paying a dime, he was quoted by Obakpolor as saying “I am a lawyer you know and signed to play football for certain conditions but I don’t think it included reselling my services to my country, you or your club cannot stop me from playing for my country, let me tell you, I am going to represent my country in the world cup in Italy Whether you like it or not” end of quote.

            He left the club and embarked on a journey of no return to represent his country.

He lasted only 77 minutes on the pitch before he slumped and died, lying on the turf very close to Bala Ali and an Angola No 4 jersey player; his level commitment, patriotsm, Discipline, Professionalism is unparalleled and a role model among his mates, he never hold the country to ransom over match bonus, flight or return ticket money he would rather pay his way and not ask for refund or any match bonus.

            Samuel, your life seems short but it was eventful and memorable, still fresh in my memory is your thunderous strike against Cameroon in maroc 88, which resulted in one of the fastest goals in the AFCON history, and your exploits at the Seoul 88 Olympics.

            The sporting world still missed you, but it is your Aged mother and kids left behind that missed you most.
 The government numerous unfulfilled promise made nonsense of your sacrifice and love for your nation and they cant even keep to their pledge of retiring the jersey no 6  which you wore last playing for your nation, in your honor and in that of those passionate seven fans that died with you due failure of the security personel  to control the over crowded stadium on that fateful day.

            Adieu Sochukmma.

Nigeria Team list on that fateful day:

1. David Ngodigba                   2. Sadi dahiru              3. Bala ali          4. Stephen Keshi     5. Andrew uwe     6. Samuel okwaraji           7. Osaro Obabaifo       8. Austin Eguavon   9. Samson Siasia   10. Etim esin                 11. Uchenna Okafor (RIP).

FIFA RANKING POINTS EQUATION EXPLAINED

 The FIFA monthly ranking has always been an irony of comedy each month the world football governing body releases the list of best football playing nation for the month as administrators and fans and amazed by the list without having any clue as to why and how their favorite team move up or down the ladder. we present to you the mathematical magic that guide the monthly FIFA routine . Have a nice time reading and dont forget to have your say after reading through

 P=M*I*T*C
where P=points earned,which will added to points accumulated previously
M=winning an international match
T=strength of the opposition
C=strength of the confederation.
M will fetch 3points and a draw will fetch 1point while I which represent international matches have varying degree of points,friendly matches earn 1point,qualifier earn 3points competition earn 3

points and world matches earn 4 points while T represents strength of the opposition which earn between 1 and 2 points maximum while C represents the strength of the confederation,Euro/South America 3 points,Asia/ CAF 2points while others take 1point. The ranking started in 1993 and team were first ranked based on their performance in the last 4years. But now the format has been modified,on the international matches played in the month under review so any team that do not play any international match in the said month gain no point added to the point the country had accumulated in the previous months.

TITO BAYO VILANOVA; THE SHOE MAY BE BIGGER THAN HIS LEG

P9BGA6AFX8W8

He was made popular by Jose Morinho eye poking incident in the Copa del Rey 2011 final after the initial controversy generated by the incident. He has since forgiven the special one, and weather he has forgotten that is a debate for another day.

Francesc "Tito" Vilanova i Bayó was born on 17th September 1969, he was a retired Spanish footballer `who played as a centre mid fielder.

He managed to play only 26 La liga games in three years combined , One of the highlight of his short playing career was during his time at Lleida, in a 1998 Copa Catalunya game against Barcelona, coached by José Mourinho who swapped responsibilities with head coach Louis van Gaal during the tournament, Vilanova scored a goal, becoming the first player to net against a team directed by the Portuguese.

His managerial career stated when he was appointed as the technical director at Terrassa FC, before he was appointed as assistant manager at FC Barcelona B, under Pep Guardiola with the club in the fourth division. In 2008, after leading the reserve side to promotion to level three, the pair was assigned to the first team, replacing Dutch Frank Rijkaard and Johan Neeskens.

Villanova’s first season at the Camp Nou was the most successful in Barcelona's history, with the club winning six major trophies, becoming the first team in Spain to win the domestic cup, league and European club titles the treble in the same season and the duo later succeeded in to 14 major titles.

No doubt the unprecedented success story of his predecessors will definitely put him under pressure to continue the winning streak especially the domination of their domestic rival in Real Madrid and the other external rivals at the UEFA champion’s league, only time will tell whether this rookie coach can match the high standard expected at the Nou camp?

Can he come up with a winning formula that can sustain the team week in-week out and also can he keep the team fit throughout the season to compete for trophies at all front?

Another question that will come up to the mind of the follower of the game is how many trophies will he win at the end of the season? Perhaps he has started answering these questions at the pre season games by winning all the matches so far including the Trophy de Paris where PSG was defeated 4-1 on penalty shootout after playing 2-2 at full time.

The shoe vacated by Guardiola is quite big but will the shoe not be an oversize for the new kid on the block?

Your reactions are welcome.