WOMEN DRIVERS AWARD

I have had these pictures of the top 10 winners of the "Women Dreivers Award". The photos are displayed from the 1st position to the 10th ... what do u think!

EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR NAMED AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor was Tuesday night named CAF African Player of the Year for 2008 at an elaborate awards ceremony in Lagos. Adebayor beat Mohamed Aboutrika of Egypt and Ghana’s Michael Essien to win the prestigious award, which involved voting by the national team coaches of CAF’s member-nations. “This is a special night for me. I dedicate this award to my mum, without her, I would be nothing. My father is no more but where ever he is, he will be proud of me,” said Adebayor, who was accompanied by his mother. Adebayor took away a crystal trophy and a cash prize of $20,000. This is the first time that a Togolese will be voted as Africa’s best player. The Arsenal star's exploits of the past year were mainly with his English Premier League club. In the absence of France international Thierry Henry, who moved to Spanish club Barcelona, the Togo star stepped up to finish the season with an impressive tally of 30 goals. The striker also inspired Togo to reach the final qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations. congrats to all gunners! The awards night was graced by many dignitaries including FIFA president Joseph Blatter and CAF president Issa Hayatou. Ahly’s Aboutrika got a consolation prize as the Inter-Club Player of the Year. The list of award winners: CAF Player of the Year Emmanuel Adebayor - Togo/Arsenal CAF Young Player Salomon Kalou - Ivory Coast/Chelsea CAF Female Player Alice Matlou - South Africa National Team of the Year Egypt Coach of the Year Hassan Shehata - Egypt Best Club Ahly - Egypt Inter-Club Player of the Year Mohamed Aboutrika - Al Ahly African Legend Christian Chukwu - Nigeria

THE MAYONNAISE JAR

just felt should let you guys read this... When things in your life seem, Almost too much to handle, When 24 Hours in a day is not enough, Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee. A professor stood before his philosophy class And had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, He picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar And proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students, If the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls. He then asked The students again If the jar was full.. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand And poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded With an unanimous 'yes.' The professor then produced Two cups of coffee from under the table And poured the entire contents Into the jar, effectively Filling the Empty space between the sand. The students laughed. 'Now,' said the professor, As the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that This jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, Friends, and Favorite passions – Things that if everything else was lost And only they remained, Your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter Like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else -- The small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued, 'there is no room for The pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time And energy on the small stuff, You will never have room for The things that are Important to you. So... Pay attention to the things That are critical to your happiness. Serve God with all you've got. Fellowship with Holy spirit Play With your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. There will always be time To clean the house and fix the disposal. 'Take care of the golf balls first -- The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.' One of the students raised her hand And inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked'. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for A couple of cups of coffee with a friend.' Please share this with other "Golf Balls" and hopin you found it educative and importantly you got the moral...

INTER DIDN'T GIVE ME MANY CHANCES - QUARESMA

He was branded the biggest transfer flop of the Serie A season by sections of the Italian media, and wasn't well liked by most Inter fans either, so Ricardo Quaresma will not be too displeased with his loan move to Chelsea until the end of the season. In his first interview as a member of the Blues, predictably enough he was not too kind on the Nerazzurri. "Throughout my career and for all the teams I've played I have always tried to give my best," he said. "Now that I'm in the Premier League, another important league like Serie A, I have to show what I can do. "At Inter they did not give me too many chances to show myself. Now I want to show I am good enough for Chelsea." He did thank his former team for giving him a big opportunity: "It was a good thing for me to go to Inter, but right now I want to thank [Luiz Felipe] Scolari and everyone who made it possible for me to come to England." Quaresma managed 12 Serie A appearances in his first few months at Inter. Coach Jose Mourinho left him out of the Champions League squad, and after that it was no surprise that he left, although not many expected he would join Chelsea. i hope restless blue fanswould be patient enough to give him whatever chance he requires...

JUVENTUS AND INTER TO BATTLE OVER EMMANUEL EBOUE

Juventus and Inter are fighting it out for this year's Scudetto, and both teams are now set to do battle over Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue. Sportmediaset.it claim that the Ivory Coast international will be out of contract in the summer and that he could be the bargain of the transfer window as clubs line up to sign him for free. Arsenal have moved to offer the player a new contract, however, the former Beveren player hasn't signed it, fuelling speculation that he is no longer interested in being a part of Arsene Wenger's side at the Emirates Stadium. With Juve's defence looking uncertain this season, some reinforcements are expected in the summer. Picking Eboue up on a free transfer would fall neatly into line with the club's tight budget. If he does chase the powerful player, Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri may face stiff competition from Inter. Jose Mourinho, the Nerazzurri's coach, has been reportedly studying Eboue, who can also play in midfield. Rumours in Italy seem to suggest that the 25-year-old will be leaving London at the end of the season, and both the Old Lady and the Nerazzurri are on standby. With no transfer fee expected, the stopper is likely to be tempted by the club offering the highest wages. In this scenario, the Milanese giants would be expected to have the upper hand over Juventus, but there may yet be other sides keen on the robust Ivorian. hey! eboue should watch it before jumpin ship ooh, some left and ...

CESC FABREGAS HOPING FOR EARLY RETURN TO ARSENAL ACTION

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has revealed that his recovery from injury is going well and that he is hoping to return to first team action ahead of schedule. The Spaniard injured knee ligaments during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool back in December in a tackle with compatriot Xabi Alonso. Initial reports suggested Fabregas would miss the majority of the season with his return pencilled in for April, but it now appears to may return to action before then. Writing in his programme notes before Arsenal’s game with West Ham United yesterday, he confirmed, “My leg is getting stronger and the doctors tell me that the ligament has healed. “Now it is about building up the muscle and on Thursday I had a very little jog for the first time, so it is good news and I am happy because I can see a big improvement. “I will take it step by step, but hopefully I can come back earlier than first expected. However, let's wait and see.” Fabregas has been recuperating in Spain but also revealed he would be returning to London shortly and at that time would be able to set a date for his return to action. He explained, “I will be coming back to England in two weeks' time and, after being assessed by the physios, we will set a target date for my return.” The news will be a huge boost to manager Arsene Wenger, who has struggled with injuries this season. Fabregas is currently joined on the sidelines by such key names as Eduardo, Mikael Silvestre, Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott. yeah! this is cheering news ya all gunners...

EVERTON KNOCK 10-MAN LIVERPOOL OUT OF FA CUP

A dramatic late goal from Dan Gosling ensured that Everton knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup at Goodison Park after extra-time on Wednesday evening. The first half was a near non-event in terms of goalmouth action as neither goalkeeper was forced into shot-stopping action. They key moment of the half came when Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard had to be substituted with a hamstring injury after only 15 minutes. Things improved in the second period, Leon Osman wasting the best chance of the 90 minutes as he struck a post, before Lucas was sent off for Liverpool after picking up a second booking as the game drifted into extra-time. The extra-time period was tense and the game was looking like it was set for a penalty shoot-out. But, in the 119th minute, substitute Gosling found space in the box and shot home to give his side a famous win. hmmm! i hope the reds won't walk alone bythe end of the season...

PROFILE: ANDREI ARSHAVIN

The name of Andrei Arshavin has never been far from the transfer rumour mill since his rise to prominence with Zenit St.Petersburg and his virtuoso performances for Russia at the 2008 European Championships. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Juventus, have all been linked with the highly talented forward, but it is Arsenal who have finally clinched his signature. Exactly who, though, have they managed to snap up? Andrei Sergeyevich Arshavin was born in Russia’s second city, St. Petersburg on May 29, 1981. His was a typical working-class family and his father was by all accounts quite a gifted amateur footballer, although he never played professionally. Like many youngsters Andrei began playing football at an early age and at age seven he was enrolled in the ‘Smena’ football academy of Zenit St.Petersburg. Even at an early age his talent soon became evident. Sergei Gordeev coached Arshavin from the age of 11 and saw than that the boy had superb ability. "Arshavin was always quite small. He didn't stand out, but as soon as he received the ball he was a totally different person," Gordeev explained. "He was very good at draughts. Unusually for a footballer he had strong mathematical abilities." Clearly, then, Andrei was a boy of diverse interests. Arshavin also opted to take a fashion design course at a technology and design school in St Petersburg where he opted for a sewing course. Later he suggested that the reason he chose the course was that he was the only male amongst a class of 20 attractive females. He once wrote a thesis on the development of the sports wear production process, and graduated with a diploma in fashion design. By 1999, he had progressed to play in the Zenit reserve team imaginatively named Zenit 2, and trainer Yuri Morozov handed him his first team debut in an Intertoto Cup tie against English side Bradford City in 2000 which the Russian side won 3-0. That night in Yorkshire was the start of great things for Andrei Arshavin. At the start of the new millennium, Zenit possessed a trio of highly promising youngsters in Arshavin, Alexander Kerzhakov and Vladimir Bystrov and their clique soon became the great hope for the future for the St. Petersburg club. Arshavin quickly made himself an indispensable part of the Zenit side although both Kerzakhov and Bystrov were eventually disposed of after falling foul of trainer Vlastimil Petrzela. He played in various positions, starting as a right midfielder, then as an attacking midfielder and finally adopting the second striker's role behind a target man. In 2001, Zenit finished third in the Russian first division four points behind champions Spartak Moscow. In 2003 they finished as runners-up to CSKA and won the League Cup. In 2006 he was crowned Player of the Season despite Zenit only finishing fourth. A season later though in 2007, and Arshavin led his side to their first ever Russian Premier League title. His talent was never in question, but his attitude was often a stumbling block and was seen a major obstacle to him making the breakthrough as a world-class individual. His self confidence was often misconstrued as arrogance. The Russian press also criticised him for laziness, a lack of willingness to get back to help defend and a lack of fitness. There were further signs of his precociousness in 2006 when Zenit’s Dutch trainer Dick Advocaat dropped Arshavin from the squad and demoted him to the B team for breaking a curfew and going to a nightclub the night before a vital league game with Spartak. He reacted like a spoilt child and his football suffered as a result when he was recalled. Arshavin however returned to his very best and was an instrumental figure in Zenit’s UEFA Cup winning campaign last season which culminated in their impressive 2-0 win over Glasgow Rangers at the City of Manchester Stadium. He was voted Man of the Match after a sublime performance. However, with his star in the ascendancy and the number of ‘big clubs’ reportedly chasing him in the summer of 2008, Arshavin threatened to alienate himself at Zenit when it seemed a proposed move to Tottenham wouldn’t be sanctioned by the Russian club. He allegedly threatened to go on strike. Arshavin's agent, Dennis Lachter claimed that his client was “being treated as a slave”. The move to the Emirates would probably not have been possible without his performances in the white and red of Russia. Arshavin made his debut for the Russian national team in May 2002 against Belarus, but was overlooked for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea and for Euro 2004, meaning he was to miss out twice on the biggest stage. His first goal for his country arrived in a friendly against Romania in 2003 and since then he has scored a total of 15 in 45 appearances for the national side. The pinnacle of his international career, however, came at the European Championships in 2008. Such was his importance to the side that he was included in Guus Hiddink's squad despite being unable to play the first games after picking up a red card during qualifying. But it was in that preliminary campaign, during which he scored three goals, that he'd started to make a true name for himself as a Russian hero. Austria and Switzerland were just to continue this path. After sitting out the opening day defeat to Spain and the narrow win over Greece, Arshavin announced his presence on Europe's top stage with the final goal in the 2-0 win over Sweden. Then came the knockout match against on-form Netherlands, who were put to the sword in the most energetic of extra time finishes - one that Arshavin once again capped with a goal. For both of these games he was judged by UEFA as the best player on the pitch, and although he was largely a bystander during Russia's 3-0 loss to eventual winners Spain in the semi-finals, he had done enough to repay Hiddink's faith and alert a whole slew of suitors - such as Arsenal - into the bargain. With three games played in World Cup qualifying, he has already scored twice, and all eyes will once again be on him on March 28 as lowly Azerbaijan come to Moscow for another encounter. But before that will come his Arsenal debut... Arshavin makes no bones about being a massive Barcelona fan. As a youngster he spent hours playing football manager games on the computer and would always boss the Catalan giants. Particulars Name: Andrei Arshavin Date of Birth: 29/05/1981 Place of Birth: St. Petersburg, Russia Height: 1.72m Weight: 69kg Position: Forward Thought all gunners would want to read this...

OCTUPLETS MUM 'DELUGED BY OFFERS'

A Californian woman who gave birth to octuplets has been showered with book and TV offers, the woman's newly-hired publicist has said. The mother, Nadya Suleman, wants to tell her story and is weighing up the offers, said publicist Joann Killeen. Reports that the babies were conceived through in vitro fertilisation has sparked a debate over the ethics of such treatments. News that Ms Suleman already has six children has sparked further criticism. The eight babies were delivered nine weeks early by Caesarean section in a hospital near Los Angeles on 26 January. The facility, the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Bellflower, California, has said it was not involved in the octuplets' conception. Ms Joann Killeen said she was contacted by Ms Suleman to represent her and that hundreds of offers had been received. Many were for interviews but some have been to host TV shows or be a baby expert. "She's the most sought-after mom in the world right now," said her publicist. Ms Killeen said they were looking at all the opportunities, but that Ms Suleman was still in hospital recovering from the births and wanted to focus on her children. Ms Suleman, 33, does want to tell her story at some point, however, Ms Killeen said. Doctors at Kaiser say Ms Suleman's eight babies are so far making good progress. They are the second set of octuplets born in the US, and now they are the longest surviving. The last octuplets known to have survived birth in the US were born in Houston in 1998. One of the babies died one week later. Although Ms Suleman may have been showered with offers for her story, it is not known whether she has been approached by corporate sponsors, as happened with some other multiple-birth cases in the US. The parents of the McCaughey septuplets born in Iowa in 1997 were given a large house, a big van, baby food and a lifetime supply of nappies, the Associated Press news agency said. Hey, guys different stroke for different folks won't u saay... offers to tell what story in naija!

BARCELONA MAY SELL HENRY IN THE SUMMER

Barcelona's board are preparing to sell Thierry Henry in the summer and replace him with Franck Ribery or Yoann Gourcuff despite Pep Guardiola being happy with the Frenchman, according to a report. The Blaugrana directors are not as convinced by the former Arsenal forward's performances even in an improved second season at the club and are considering cashing in on him. AS believe that Henry will only be able to stay at Camp Nou if Guardiola insists upon it, but if assurances are given that either Ribery or Gourcuff will join then he may agree to a sale. Barcelona paid €27 million to land the former Monaco and Juventus star from Arsenal and would hope to recoup a large percentage of that by offering him to Premier League clubs. Henry has improved markedly this term after enduring a tough start to life in the Catalan capital and has formed an impressive trident with Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o. The trio have scored almost 50 goals between them this term and that despite Henry rarely reproducing the form that made him so famous at Highbury. With a contract until 2011, the 31-year-old could insist on staying, especially if he knows Guardiola still likes him, and because he has admitted in the past that he would not want to play for another English team.

COMEDY CLUB LIVE IN LAGOS DEBUTS ON MNET THIS FEBRUARY

M-NET at an event recently in Lagos unveiled three new programmes on its channel available to its numerous subscribers. The event tagged "M-NET Night With The Stars" was indeed a night of magic as guests where treated to good music, food and of course choice "shacks" with Olise Adibua being at his quintessential best. according to Ms. Biola Adekanbi, Channel Director M-NET Africa, the programmes; Let's Dance, Tinsel and Comedy Club is part of M-NET's contribution in local content development, emphasising that Nigeria is becoming a hub for a great lot that is happening at M-NET. She says the programmes creates a platform for homegrown talents in the arts(dance, drama and comedy) to showcase their abilities particularly upcoiming acts. I must say Kudos to the event managers who managed the event that took place at Jades Palace on Adeola Odeku, Victoria Island, yeah NO SURPRISES EVENTS ARCHITECTS they are called. It was a night of groove with splendid, pulsating music, good food, boooze and as a result dances... Obi Asika of Storms, Emem of Kush fame, kunle Coker, the Ibru Damsels, Gideon of BB fame, Mandy and a host more were in attendance.

FOTOS FROM DA-REY a.k.a DARE ART ALADE'S "NOT D GIRL" VIDEO SHOOT

"NOT D GIRL"! Recently shot on location amidst the picturesque backdrop of Cape town,South Africa."Not D Girl" is a simple,stylish n beautifully shot mini drama that compliments this very classic song written by Darey & Cohbams.Watch out for the video premier on facebook soon.

Darey killed it in dis song-perfect delivery.However,without anyone telling,I had always suspected Cobhams had something to do with this album. I'v heard him live on a few occassions and I could sniff his touch.I can wait 2 see Cobhams album.The world is yet to see what a gift this guy is.Kudos Darey!

CHARLY BOY & LADY D 30TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY / LADY D BIRTHDAY Charly Boy trips wife with surprise party For sticking by him in rain and shine for 30 years, maverick musician cum crusader Charles Oputa aka Charly Boy caused a stir at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos last Friday when he threw a surprise private party for his wife, Diane popularly called Lady Di. Apart from a large press crew who witnessed the event, Area Fada’s close pals Bolaji Rosiji, past PMAN President and Dele Momodu, Ovation Magazine Publisher were also there. Both dressed in red tops on a pair of jeans trousers each, a banner bearing the inscriptions “How old are you Lady Di? Happy 30th Anniversary from your Mugu-Charly Boy” welcomed the couple as cameras clicked away. The Pillars, a six man band also ushered them in with soul stirring cool music. An elated Charly Boy told us, “till tomorrow, I still wonder how she has been able to put up with a crazy person like me. This is the least I can do for her.” The celebration continued at the bar with the cutting...

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND-UP: NIGERIA'S HEARTLAND RETURN IN STYLE Goal.com's Samm Audu runs through the latest round of action in Africa... Nigeria's Heartland FC are back in style in Africa's foremost competition after they trounced Black Stars of Liberia 4-0 in a Caf Champions League first round, first leg match in the southeast town of Owerri on Sunday. The host team opened scoring after just two minutes through experienced defender Ike ThankGod, who rose above the Liberians' defence to head home from a freekick. There were also goals from Ghanaian imports, Addae Owusu and Aziz Ansah, who netted from the penalty spot on 46 minutes. Stanley Okoro was also on target for the team formerly known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale. Heartland coach, Okey Emordi, said he is now looking beyond the first round. "I expected a lot more from my team but the Liberians put up a fight especially in the second half. All the same, I don't expect any problems in the return leg in Liberia," said Emordi. In other Champions League matches, Angola's Primeiro Agosto beat Renaissance Aiglons (Congo-Brazzaville) 5-2, Supersport United (South Africa) defeated Curepipe (Mauritius) 3-0 and Monomatapa (Zimbabwe) beat Miembeni (Zanzibar) 2-0. Petro Atletico (Angola) trounced Royal Leopards (Swaziland) 3-0 and AS Douanes (Senegal) were 3-1 winners over Ports Authority (Sierra Leone).

BECKHAM BRINGS IN THE LAWYERS TO HELP WITH MILAN STAY The midfielder has instructed his legal team to begin proceedings to ensure he stays at San Siro... Milan midfielder David Beckham is so keen on extending his stay with the Rossoneri that he has instructed his lawyers to help him find a way of staying at the San Siro. Il Corriere Della Sera claims the England international has already spoken to the Los Angeles Galaxy of his intention to remain in Milan, and that he has sent in his legal team to negotiate with the American club. Beckham has asked for a consensual separation from Bruce Arena's side and his lawyers have just over a month to try and find a legal loophole that will permit him to leave. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid man is due to fly back to Los Angeles on March 9 as his contract with the MLS club expires in 2011. However, both Milan and ‘Becks’ seemingly want the loan deal to be extended - and there are hopes that it could. Rossoneri president Adriano Galliani has revealed his penchant to keep Beckham, but he does not want to get involved in a legal battle with Galaxy. The player will need to wriggle himself free and, when he does that, then Milan will be able to proceed with making the deal a permanent one.

ANDREI ARSHAVIN SPEAKS OUT OVER ARSENAL TRANSFER Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin has spoken out over his potential Arsenal deal, and has stated he will be wearing the no 23 shirt... It was undoubtedly the longest running Premier League transfer saga that ran from the start to finish of the winter window. However, it appears that the wait was worth it as Andrei Arshavin has all but been unveiled as an official Arsenal footballer. Gunners manager Arsene Wenger stated last night that a "positive" outcome would be announced imminently, and Zenit St Petersburg have also confirmed the deal. All that is left to finalise the transfer is the Premier League's official ratification of the paperwork. Andrei Arshavin has today spoken out over the whole ordeal, he told Sky Sports that he thinks he is now an Arsenal player, and that he will sport the no. 23 on his back. "I think [I am an Arsenal player]," the former Zenit hotshot is quoted as saying. "The negotiations came to a close and the details will be revealed today. Now I can only say one thing: if I were to play for Arsenal then I would wear the number 23," he concluded. If the deal goes ahead then the 27-year-old could be in line to make a dream debut against Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

FA CUP TIE AGAINST CARDIFF CITY IS POSTPONED Due to adverse weather conditions, the FA Cup Fourth Round replay against Cardiff City scheduled for Tuesday, February 3 at 7.45pm has been postponed. Match tickets for this fixture remain valid for the rearranged match. The FA Cup 4th Round Replay will now be played as under: Arsenal v Cardiff City FA Cup 4th Round Replay Emirates Stadium Monday 16th February 2009 Kick Off 7.45pm Should Arsenal be successful in this tie they face West Brom or Burnley in the Fifth Round. A date for that game will be announced later.

WALCOTT COULD RETURN TO ACTION IN FOUR WEEKS Theo Walcott is still leading the race to be the first of Arsenal's long-term absentees to return to action. The England international dislocated his shoulder while on international duty in November but Arsène Wenger revealed that Walcott could get the "green light" for his comeback in four weeks' time. Arsenal fans will have to wait a little longer to see Tomas Rosicky or Cesc Fabregas. The Czech star has been sidelined by a tendon problem for over a year while Fabregas will not be rushed back despite suggesting in his West Ham programme notes that his recovery from knee ligament damage was ahead of schedule. “Walcott is the closest because he has four weeks before he sees a specialist again and then he should get the green light," said Wenger. “Fabregas, I believe, will be six to eight weeks before playing. I can understand his optimism, and we hope [that he will be back quicker] but with a medial knee ligament you have to respect the time. “For Rosicky, [it will be] eight weeks.”

RICARDO QUARESMA JOINS CHELSEA - Report SKY Italia report that Ricardo Quaresma has left Inter to join Chelsea on loan... According to reports from Italy, the deal to send Ricardo Quaresma on loan to Chelsea has been completed, although neither club have released an official statement yet. SKY Italia and Tuttomercatoweb have reported that the Portuguese winger will join the Blues for the remainder of the season on loan. Earlier stories from England had claimed the player was spotted around White Hart Lane and ready to sign for Tottenham Hotspur. Quaresma has been left off Inter's Champions League squad for the remainder of the season by coach Jose Mourinho as he has failed to make the desired impact at the San Siro. Many believe the presence of former Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge has been influential with regards to the nearly done deal of the former Porto winger joining the Blues. Should the deal go through, Quaresma will be hoping to re-ignite his career under his former national team mentor and will battle for a place upfront with the likes of Salomon Kalou, Joe Cole, and Florent Malouda for a place in the starting line-up.

Arsenal And Zenit Agree Fee For Arshavin; Personal Terms Met Just one hurdle remains as this transfer saga draws to a close... Latest reports from Sky indicate that Andrei Arhsavin's move from Zenit St. Petersburg to Arsenal is on the absolute verge of going through. Within the last few minutes it has been said that the Gunners have agreed a fee with their Russian counterparts, and that Arshavin himself has received a wage offer acceptable to him. All that remains now is one obstacle - albeit a tricky one. Zenit are apparently holding out for a payment from Arshavin himself to compensate for his contractual value; until the Russian side receive a promise of this money then the transfer cannot take place. However, with all else being confirmed, it is likely that this will be dealt with within the hour. UPDATE 17:26 CET - It is confirmed that Arshavin has passed his medical. All that is needed now it Zenit's permission for the move to take place - but that hinges on the aforementioned player.

WEATHER LEADS PREMIER LEAGUE TO EXTEND DEADLINE LONDON (AFP) – The Premier League said Monday they would allow clubs a transfer window extension beyond the 1700GMT deadline because of the snow-falls in Britain and Europe, provided certain conditions were met. The Premier League said they would need e-mail confirmation from both teams a deal had been agreed in principle and they would also need to be satisfied that it was the weather which had prevented the transfer being completed. Snowy conditions in Britain and elsewhere in Europe have threatened to delay medicals, the agreement of personal terms and the business of players putting pen-to-paper on contracts. The Premier League's announcement came after talks they held earlier Monday with both the Football Association and world governing body FIFA.

JO JOINS EVERTON FOR REST OF SEASON LIVERPOOL (AFP) – Everton have signed Brazil striker Jo on loan from Premier League rivals Manchester City for the remainder of the season, the Merseyside club announced on their official website here Monday. The deal, Everton's first of the January transfer window, was made public just hours ahead of the 1700GMT Monday deadline. Officials from the two clubs met in Manchester on Saturday and Jo, who has since agreed personal terms, was due to put pen to paper at Everton's training ground on Monday. Jo became something of an 18 million pounds misfit at Manchester City since his pre-season arrival from Russian side CSKA Moscow. The 21-year-old has made 12 starts for City, scoring three goals, but has lately fallen out of favour with manager Mark Hughes. Jo made his name in Brazil with Corinthians before joining CSKA, where he scored 30 goals in 50 starts, in 2006. His arrival is timely for Everton, who have been having to play Australia midfielder Tim Cahill up front as a lone striker because of injuries. Toffees forwards Yakubu and James Vaughan are already out for the season while Louis Saha is currently recovering from a hamstring problem.

LIVERPOOL AGREE TO SELL KEANE TO SPURS LONDON (AFP) – Liverpool confirmed Monday they had agreed to sell striker Robbie Keane back to Tottenham Hotspur just months after bringing him to Anfield from their Premier League rivals. "Liverpool Football Club have reached agreement with Tottenham Hotspur for the sale of Robbie Keane," a club spokesman said. The news of Keane's return to White Hart Lane was announced barely an hour before the 1700GMT Monday close of the January transfer window and seems set to end an unsuccessful spell at Anfield for the boyhood Liverpool fan. The Republic of Ireland international was forced to watch from the stands while Fernando Torres scored twice in Sunday's 2-0 win over Chelsea at Anfield as Liverpool reduced champions Manchester United's lead at the top of the Premier League table to two points. The 28-year-old has played just six minutes of Liverpool's last three games and has now failed to feature in four of their last seven matches. He has not completed a full 90 minutes for the club since the 3-1 Champions League victory in the Netherlands against PSV Eindhoven on December 12. Keane cost 20 million pounds when he moved to Anfield from Tottenham in July but reports on Sunday suggested Spurs manager Harry Redknapp was ready to bring him back to White Hart Lane for a fee in the region of 15 million pounds.

PHELPS IN HOT WATER AGAIN AFTER POT PIC SURFACES Michael Phelps embarrassed himself again after a triumphant Olympics, this time getting his picture snapped as he inhaled from a marijuana pipe. The photo wound up in a British tabloid Sunday, forcing Phelps to publicly apologize and his handlers to deal with sponsors who are surely none too pleased about the swimmer's choices away from the pool. "I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," Phelps said in the statement released by one of his agents. "I'm 23 years old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again." It all sounded so familiar, with good reason. After the 2004 Athens Games, an underage Phelps was arrested for drunken driving, pleaded guilty and apologized to his fans, saying he wouldn't make the same mistake again. This was different, to be sure, but it could have the same damaging impact on Phelps' image and reputation, which were riding high after he won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games. "Michael is a role model, and he is well aware of the responsibilities and accountability that come with setting a positive example for others, particularly young people," the U.S. Olympic Committee said in a statement. "In this instance, regrettably, he failed to fulfill those responsibilities." News of the World said the picture was taken during a November house party while Phelps was visiting the University of South Carolina. During that trip, he attended one of the school's football games and received a big ovation when introduced to the crowd.

STEELERS RALLY TO BEAT CARDINALS 27-23, 6TH TITLE TAMPA, Fla. – Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh offense ended a Super Bowl of incredible swings with a final-minute touchdown for a historic victory. Santonio Holmes made a brilliant 6-yard catch deep in the right corner of the end zone with 35 seconds remaining Sunday night, lifting the Steelers to a record-setting sixth Super Bowl win, 27-23 over the Arizona Cardinals. It was one of the most thrilling finishes to the NFL title game, certainly equaling last year's upset by the New York Giants that ended with Plaxico Burress' TD catch — with 35 seconds left, too. But this one was even wilder. The Steelers (15-4), winning their second Super Bowl in four seasons, led 20-7 in the fourth quarter, only to see Kurt Warner and the Cardinals stage a remarkable rally to go in front 23-20 with 2:37 remaining. Warner hit All-Pro receiver Larry Fitzgerald in stride for a 64-yard touchdown with 2:37 left. Already owning a slew of postseason receiving marks this year, Fitzgerald sped down the middle of the field, watching himself outrun the Steelers on the huge video screen. Fitzgerald could only watch from the sideline as Roethlisberger engineered a 78-yard drive to win it in what resembled Heinz Field South. With waves of twirling Terrible Towels turning Raymond James Stadium into a black-and-gold tableau — Steelers fans supporting their beloved team, the economy be damned — Pittsburgh's offense rescued the title. Holmes was selected the game's MVP. "Great players step up in big-time games to make plays," Holmes said. "I kind of lost a little composure, you know, but I knew our defense would give us a chance to make it back."

RAFAEL NADAL CALLS DAVIS CUP HIS NEXT OBJECTIVE MADRID, Spain – Rafael Nadal has already set his sights on his next target after beating Roger Federer for his first Australian Open title. "My objective is the Davis Cup, which I wasn't able to play last year. To win it is my dream this year," Nadal told Spanish reporters from Melbourne on Monday, a day after his 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2 victory. A knee injury sidelined Nadal for Spain's 3-1 victory over Argentina in November's Davis Cup final. It was Spain's third Davis Cup title in eight years. Nadal, who was a member of Spain's 2004 winning team, hasn't yet committed to playing in Spain's first-round match against Serbia from March 6-8 at Benidorm. "It's a dream more than an objective," Nadal said of winning the Cup title. "There is no margin for slowing down now." Nadal's sixth Grand Slam victory — after a fourth straight French Open and first Wimbledon championship last year — was also his third straight win over Federer in a major final. The defeat took its toll on the No. 2-ranked Swiss player, who broke down during the trophy presentation after Sunday's final. "I wasn't able to enjoy this win too much after seeing Federer in the state that he was in after losing the final. It leaves you a little shaken," the 22-year-old Nadal said. "I think that mentally he made such a mountain of it that he came crashing down, but that can happen to anybody." Nadal can become the sixth man to complete a calendar year Grand Slam by sweeping all four majors. He would need to defend his titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon and win the U.S. Open, the only major that's eluded him so far. "The U.S. Open is a tournament that has always taken a little bit more out of me," Nadal said. "Last year it was a shame that I arrived tired, but my objective is to continue improving because it's the only way to complete, or at least try for, the Grand Slam."

CHINA OFFICIALS SAYS 20 MILLION MIGRANTS LOST JOBS BEIJING (Reuters) – About 20 million Chinese rural migrants have lost jobs as the nation's economic growth has faltered, a senior official said on Monday, promising policies to boost incomes and a softer approach to potential unrest. Chen Xiwen, director of the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group, told a news conference that a recent survey showed 15.3 percent of the 130 million migrants moving from villages to cities and factories had returned jobless to the countryside. Adding this year's 6 to 7 million new entrants into the rural labor market, Chen added, China will this year have about 25 million jobless and potentially restive rural unemployed. For the ruling Communist Party, which has yoked its authority to decades of rapid growth, these new rural jobless -- amounting to more than Australia's total population of 21 million -- are a worry, especially if migrant workers find their farmland has been taken for development. "There's a considerable number of rural migrants who are unemployed. After they return to villages, what about their incomes? How will they live? That's a new factor concerning social stability this year," said Chen. "Protecting employment and protecting people's welfare is protecting rural social stability." Chen, who advises national leaders, was speaking a day after the government issued its first big policy document for 2009, which as in past years was devoted to rural development. That document laid out policies intended to shore up farm incomes, generate jobs for rural unemployed, and extend welfare and healthcare spending in villages. Chen's estimate of migrant worker unemployment was about double an official projection reported by a Chinese magazine early last month. NUMBER COULD DOUBLE Yiping Huang, chief Asia economist for Citigroup, said even that number could double if government stimulus plans fail to offset slowed exports and general gloom. "It is a big number coming from an official source but a lot of people are expecting even bigger numbers," Huang said of Chen's estimate. "These are pretty difficult to check reliably, but people are talking about 30 or 40 million eventually." China has about 750 million people in its countryside -- more than the combined populations of the United States and European Union -- and their incomes and willingness to spend will be crucial to government efforts to boost domestic consumption. Spending plans to extend the electricity grid, upgrade roads and infrastructure, subsidize domestic appliance purchases, and extend rural access to healthcare and schooling will help boost rural incomes and spending, Chen said. Farmers will also be helped by policies to lift minimum purchase prices for grains and expand government and commercial reserves of foods, he added. But some economists are not sure the current stimulus efforts are enough. China's economic growth slumped to an annual 6.8 percent in the last quarter, dragging down the pace of expansion for all of 2008 to a seven-year low of 9.0 percent. "Our assessment is that growth will be there but the job market will weaken. Basically, it's very difficult to provide that many jobs using the fiscal stimulus measures," said Huang from Citibank. "Building infrastructure provides some jobs for migrant workers but it's not necessarily the most labor-intensive activity." POLITICAL THREAT The rising joblessness is also a political threat. China sees many thousands of protests and riots every year -- too small to threaten the ruling Party but enough to worry and distract officials -- and state media reports have said the number could grow, stoked by rising rural unemployment. Factory closures in the far southern province of Guangdong, home to many of the country's exporters, sparked protests and bitter confrontations last year. "Chen's number (of rural unemployed) sounds about right, but could end up being on the conservative side," said Jian Hui, a labor activist in Guangdong who keeps a close eye on factory closures there. Many migrant workers there have been told by bosses to take extended vacations after the Lunar New Year holiday, which officially ended on the weekend. "Some migrant workers have gone home and will decide in a few weeks or even half a year whether it's worth coming out to look for work," Jian said by telephone. "Others have stayed here, because they're afraid of losing the jobs they have." Social stability hinges on keeping up economic growth, a top Chinese security official said in an essay that appeared on Monday Chen said local officials have been told to handle "mass incidents," such as protests and riots, with care. "As soon as sudden incidents occur, leading officials at every level must go to the frontline to explain to and persuade the public," he said. "In principle, police power cannot be applied."

KENYA MOURNS AND FRETS OVER 144 DEAD IN DISASTERS NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya began a week of mourning on Monday for at least 144 people who died in a petrol tanker blaze and another fire in a Nairobi supermarket that have brought a torrent of criticism of poor disaster readiness. Flags flew at half-mast and official functions were put on hold as rescuers continued to pull charred bodies from both disaster sites and relatives hunted for missing people. In one of Kenya's worst accidents of recent times, at least 115 people died when a crowd scrabbling for free fuel crowded round a tanker that crashed near central Molo town Saturday. A cigarette set off the blaze, which engulfed the crowd, also leaving nearly 200 people injured and 100 missing. In Nairobi, a supermarket burned down Wednesday, but it was only days later that the scale of the disaster became clear, with 29 corpses pulled out by Monday, the Red Cross said. "These tragedies happen, but they are ignored," First Lady Lucy Kibaki said, after visiting victims in hospital, in one of numerous acknowledgements by high-profile figures of Kenya's lack of readiness for major accidents. President Mwai Kibaki declared one week of national mourning and cut short a trip to the African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia Monday to attend to the situation at home. Kenyans have lambasted the response to both disasters, saying authorities were unprepared and late. Witnesses spoke of locked fire doors at the Nakumatt supermarket, and hospitals were overwhelmed by the number of dead and injured near Molo. "NO RESPONSE" Prime Minister Raila Odinga said the image of poor Kenyans dying as they scrabbled in the road for fuel under darkness on Saturday was an indictment of the state of the nation. "Poverty is pushing our people into doing desperate things just to get through one more day," he said, visiting victims of the Molo blaze. "There was no response by any disaster team because there is no such team." In hospitals, the injured shared beds or lay on floors. "I saw a wave of fire and before I knew it, my face and leg were burning," said Simon Mwangi, 22, in Molo district hospital. "I tried to remove my trousers but they were stuck to my skin. That is all I remember until I woke up in this hospital." Some witnesses said a man angered at being stopped by police from scooping petrol threw a cigarette butt on the ground deliberately. Police were demanding bribes, some said, though authorities have denied that. "The disaster once again exposed the level of disaster unpreparedness across the country," Kenya's leading newspaper, the Daily Nation, said in an editorial. "Watching top government officials making frantic efforts to get the injured to hospitals in Nakuru and Molo was a study in logistical deficiency." Police sources said the truck driver and loader, who survived the fire, were both arrested Monday. The cause of the Nairobi supermarket fire remains unknown. The East African newspaper said the Nakumatt disaster could easily occur anywhere across the region, given years of neglect and poor investment in disaster management. "Nairobi's inability to respond efficiently and effectively to these disasters is a major setback to its avowed objective of becoming a modern metropolis that is the regional finance and political capital," it added.

WORLDNEWS VOLCANO ERUPTS NEAR TOKYO RAINING ASH DOWN ON CITY TOKYO – A volcano near Tokyo erupted Monday, shooting up billowing smoke and showering parts of the capital with a fine ash that sent some city residents to the car wash and left others puzzled over the white powder they initially mistook for snow. Mount Asama erupted in the early hours of Monday, belching out a plume that rose about a mile (1.6 kilometers) high, Japan's Meteorological Agency said. There were no reports of injuries or damage from the eruption of the volcano, 90 miles (145 kilometers) northwest of Tokyo. It last erupted in August, 2008, causing no major damage. Chunks of rock from the explosion were found about 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) away from the volcano. Ash was detected over a wide area, including central Tokyo and as far as eastern Chiba. In Tokyo's western district of Fussa, the local government office was flooded with calls from residents asking about "the mysterious white powder" falling from the sky and fire departments fielded calls from people afraid the ash was from a nearby blaze. In the town of Karuizawa, southeast of the volcano, the ash was thick enough to obscure road markings in some areas, town official Noboru Yanagishi said. "Some people said they heard a strange noise in the morning when the eruption occurred," he said. The eruption was not big enough to disrupt daily life near the volcano, though many people awoke to find their cars covered in a fine layer of powder. National broadcaster NHK showed people in Tokyo lining up to get their cars washed or wiping the ash from their windows, with some drivers saying they first thought it was snow. In Tachikawa, a district in northwestern Tokyo, some farming areas were coated with ash. "Because it's February and not harvesting season, there was no real damage to any crops," said Shoichi Matsumoto, a local official. In Tsumagoi, a small town on the volcano with ski resorts and hot spring baths, residents went about their business as usual. Travelers planning vacations to the area had called to inquire, but no one canceled, said Masaru Yoshida, a spokesman for the local tourist association. "The wind has blown the ash to the other side of the mountain," he said. "It's a clear day so you can see some smoke, but not as much as we've had in the past." Mount Asama has been active for thousands of years. Its last major eruption took place in September 2004, spewing enough ash to damage local crops. It frequently spews smaller amounts of ash from its crater. With 108 active volcanos, Japan is among the most seismically busy countries in the world. The country lies in the "Ring of Fire" — a series of volcanoes and fault lines that outline the Pacific Ocean. Later Monday, the agency also reported a minor eruption at another volcano — Sakurajima in southern Japan. An alert level of three was in place Monday for a 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) radius, which bars entry into the area and urges nearby residents to take caution. "We don't think there will be any stronger eruptions, but we don't see the activity stopping anytime soon, either," agency official Kazuya Kokubo said.

HEAVY SNOW IN BRITAIN CAUSES TRAVEL CHAOS LONDON – The British capital ground to a halt on Monday after the worst snowstorm in 18 years caused hundreds of flight cancellations and virtually shut down public transportation. Shops, schools and courts shut down and long trails of commuters trudged through the streets, looking for scarce taxis or ways to work after more than four inches (10 centimeters) of snow fell overnight. "We're not in Russia here," said Guy Pitt, a Transport for London spokesman. "We don't have an infrastructure built for constant snow." Heathrow closed one of its two runways and reported more than 650 cancellations. Major delays and cancellations were also reported at London's other major airports at Gatwick, Luton and Stansted. London's City Airport was closed. An Airbus 330 coming from Cyprus slid off the taxiway at Heathrow with 104 passengers on board. Cyprus Airways spokesman Kyriakos Kyriakou said there were no injuries or damage. No other incidents were reported. There were massive traffic jams on many highways near London. The Met Office, the country's national weather service, said it expected another four inches Monday afternoon. "We are doing everything in our power to ensure that the services — road, rail and airports — are open as quickly as possible and we are continuously monitoring this throughout the day," said Prime Minister Gordon Brown. London Mayor Boris Johnson said the city lacked snowplows. "You can grit and you can salt it but the snow comes down again," he said. "You can make an investment ... in snowplows for London and then not use them for a couple of decades." Johnson said many buses couldn't be sent out because "if they skid they become a lethal weapon." London's subway network was hit hard because much of the system is above ground. Of some 12 lines, only the Victoria Line was unaffected. After waiting in vain for an Underground train to arrive, office worker Caroline Samuel, 36, decided to retreat. "There's no point in going to work today," she said. "I'm going home." Many of the tracks were covered in snow or ice and some transport workers themselves struggled to get in to work. Heavy snowfall in France also disrupted traffic and caused delays at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. Southeast England was hardest hit with up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) reported in some areas.