Djokovic seeks to turn up heat in California desert

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Serbia's Novak Djokovic / AFP PHOTO / MARTIN BUREAU

Five-time champion Novak Djokovic will be out to reassert his dominance on the hard courts of Indian Wells this week, seeking to shake off the slump that has dogged him into 2017.

Djokovic’s five titles in the California desert include the last three.

But the Serbian star arrives at a tournament he has owned shaken by a second-round exit at the Australian Open, which was followed by a shocking quarter-final loss to young Australian Nick Kyrgios in Acapulco.

The setbacks come on the back of a troublesome second half of 2016, when he lost his world number one ranking to Andy Murray and relinquished his Wimbledon and US Open titles.

Acknowledging that his longed-for first French Open crown last year left him emotionally depleted, Djokovic nonetheless says his game remains good enough to get him back to the summit.

“Right now I feel like it was better than it was, especially in the second part of last season,” Djokovic said Thursday as unseeded men swung into action in the first ATP Masters tournament of the year.

“Particularly after the US Open I had those couple months where I wasn’t myself on the court. Now I’m at the better place and I believe that I’m headed in the right direction.”

Djokovic, who lifted the trophy in Doha this year before his Australian Open defeat, insisted the latest setbacks haven’t discouraged him.

“Generally if I see myself kind of (in) larger perspective today compared to end of last season, I’m a different player,” he said. “I feel more comfortable, I feel more fresh. I look forward to competing and I feel more confident on the court.”

But he’s got a monumental task in Indian Wells, where he anchors a bottom quarter that also includes four-time champion Roger Federer, and three-time winner Rafael Nadal.

– Dangerous draw –
The talent-laden section also includes former US Open winner Juan Martin del Potro, Kyrgios and young German Alexander Zverev.

“I haven’t had too many draws like that,” Djokovic said. “It’s quite amazing to see that many quality players are in one quarter.

“It is what it is,” he added. “Obviously Nadal and Federer are starting to build their rankings. They haven’t played, especially Roger hasn’t played for six months of the last season.

“Winning the Australian Open he got in the top 10 but he’s still not top eight, obviously that’s potentially putting him in position to play last 16 with a top eight player.

“We’ll see what happens. I guess in the first four or five days of the tournament we’ll have some very, very strong matches.”

Murray heads the draw that gives all 32 seeded players a first-round bye.

Among Thursday’s matches, Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi downed Robin Haase of the Netherlands to book a first-round meeting with third-seeded Swiss Stan Wawrinka.

Canadian qualifier Vasek Pospisil defeated Taiwan’s Lu Yen-Hsun 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-3 to earn a clash with Murray, while France’s Jeremy Chardy beat Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 to book a meeting with eighth-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem.

The 23-year-old Thiem, who won his eighth ATP title in Rio last month, is among the young players keen to muscle in on the game’s “Big Four” of Murray, Djokovic, Nadal and Federer.

Even after his 2016 Australian Open victory more than a year ago, Djokovic indicated he could feel them coming, telling reporters that wolves running up the hill are hungrier than the wolf at the top.

“I guess I’m one of the wolves going up now,” Djokovic said Thursday. “And I’m hungry.”

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Kaduna Airport ready for international operations

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Kaduna Airport

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) says the Kaduna International Airport is now set for international operations.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Saleh Dunoma, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said the organisation has installed all safety equipment needed for the operation.

“All the things we need for international operations are on ground. What is important actually is the safety equipment for the landing of the aircraft.

“We have seen the runway is good, the Instrument Landing System (ILS) has been installed and the terminal building is ready.

“The contractor has been directed by the Acting President to redouble his effort so that the remaining items of work that is remaining should be completed before the commencement of the international operations in Kaduna.

“I think this is one of the luckiest airports; they have five generators as standby power supply. So we have more than enough,’’ he said.

Similarly, Mr Fola Akinkuotu, Managing Director of NAMA, told NAN that once the Abuja Airport is closed, NAMA would deploy the mobile tower from the airport to Kaduna to complement what is already on ground.

He said that NAMA management has certified the capability of Kaduna Airport, adding that its engineers have done a good job on it.

“As far as this (Kaduna) airport is concerned, NAMA management, we are very satisfied that we have done a good job.

“At the inception of the project, the ILS (Instrument Landing System) was not accessible but as of today, I can tell you that not only have we installed a brand new ILS, we have also calibrated it.

“We have a calibration certificate from a UK concern.

“On the facilities for landing, like I said, the ILS which comprises of the glide scope and localizer have been calibrated and they have been found satisfactory like 10 on 10.

“Apart from that, we also have the approach light that actually complement and make sure that they have the ILS.’’

The Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, announced the use of the Kaduna airport as alternative for the Abuja airport that would be closed for six weeks for repairs of its runway.

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Sanchez dropped after disagreement with team mates

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Arsenal's Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez reacts during the UEFA Champions League round of sixteen football match between FC Bayern Munich and Arsenal in Munich, southern Germany, on February 15, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Odd ANDERSEN

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s seemingly extraordinary decision to drop Alexis Sanchez before Saturday’s defeat at Liverpool was the result of a training ground row, British media reported Sunday.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Sanchez walked out of training and was involved in a bust-up with angry team-mates days before the match.

The confrontation could, the paper said, hasten his departure from Arsenal at the end of the season, with Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus eager for his signature.

Sanchez has scored 17 goals in 26 league games so far this term but the Chile forward was left on the bench at Anfield — a move that failed miserably as Liverpool swept into a two-goal lead.

Wenger sent on Sanchez at half-time and the 28-year-old forward immediately played in Danny Welbeck to reduce the deficit.

It was too late to spark an Arsenal fightback, however, with the Gunners losing 3-1 as they crashed out of the top four following a third defeat in their last four league games.

Afterwards veteran French boss Wenger justified his decision as a tactical move, saying the “thinking was we had to go more direct”, although he did also accept his plan had backfired.

The Telegraph alleged that Sanchez walked off the training pitch mid-session which prompted his team-mates to confront him in the changing room, where there was a row about his attitude. The row caused Wenger to drop him, the newspaper said.

Pundits who were unaware of the reported background, criticised the under-pressure Wenger’s decision but the Telegraph said “many” Arsenal players backed the 67-year-old’s move in leaving Sanchez out of the starting XI.

Wenger did hint at motives other than tactics when, asked if the Sanchez decision had been “made for the team”, he said: “I will explain that later one time.”

Now the debate will turn to whether Sanchez starts at home to Bayern Munich in the second leg of a last 16 Champions League tie on Tuesday — a match where the Gunners have the seemingly impossible task of overturning a 5-1 deficit.

Wenger is almost certain to face further questions about Sanchez at Monday’s pre-match press conference. The Chilean scored Arsenal’s only goal in the first leg in Germany.

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Mourinho demands United trophy charge

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Manchester United's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho holds up the trophy as Manchester United players celebrate their victory after the English League Cup final football match between Manchester United and Southampton at Wembley stadium in north London on February 26, 2017. Zlatan Ibrahimovic sealed the first major silverware of Jose Mourinho's Manchester United reign and broke Southampton's hearts as the Swedish star's late goal clinched a dramatic 3-2 victory in Sunday's League Cup final. / AFP PHOTO / Ian KINGTON /

Jose Mourinho has challenged his Manchester United stars to use their dramatic League Cup final win against Southampton as a springboard to bigger prizes.

Mourinho lifted the first major trophy of his United reign on Sunday after Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s late header clinched a 3-2 victory at Wembley.

The 54-year-old is the first United manager to win a major competition in his maiden season at Old Trafford and the 19th trophy of his glittering career made him only the third boss, after Alex Ferguson and Brian Clough, to enjoy four League Cup triumphs.

Now Mourinho wants his players to learn from the winning feeling as they chase FA Cup and Europa League titles this term, and ideally Premier League and Champions League glory next season.

“The reality is that we want more: my contract is long, I have two more years with this one, so hopefully I can win more,” Mourinho said.

“This season I know it’s difficult, but the reality is we have to try to fight for more.”

Despite the landmark occasion Mourinho wore a stern expression during the trophy presentation.

But he insisted he was merely hiding his pride because he wanted his players to soak up the adulation.

“I am very happy. I always try to put myself in the secondary position — it’s important for the fans, the club, the players — but it’s also important for me,” he said.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself, you (the media) put a lot of pressure on myself. I wanted very much to win a major trophy at every club. By doing that with Manchester United it’s quite the sense of relief because it was a big target for me.

“I feel very happy with the victory and the fact I did it four times, the same as the biggest one (Ferguson) and Mr Clough.”

– Humble –
After watching United blow a two-goal lead as Manolo Gabbiadini struck twice for the Saints before Ibrahimovic’s winner, Mourinho conceded his team had been fortunate.

“You could feel in the game the difference in freshness. Southampton were in Spain, relaxing and preparing, and we were playing Europa League and FA Cup,” he said.

“We coped because we are humble, we stuck together and fought together, then we had a bit of luck because the 3-2 came at a moment when they couldn’t react.”

Although more silverware this year would be nice, Mourinho knows the main target is to guarantee Champions League action next season by securing a top-four Premier League finish.

The key to achieving that will be keeping Ibrahimovic fit and firing on all cylinders.

The Swedish veteran, who also scored United’s opener with a fine free-kick, was written off by many when Mourinho signed him on a free transfer last year.

Yet he has defied the critics with 26 goals in all competitions, and Mourinho said he never doubted the forward.

“I was his manager, I know his potential,” said Mourinho of their previous spell together at Inter Milan.

“Only a silly player comes to England at 35 years old, and with the successful career that Zlatan has, if he doesn’t feel he can do it (he wouldn’t have come).

“Who better to know? Him. Not me, not you. Him.”

Ibrahimovic’s future remains uncertain as his contract expires at the end of the season but, while Mourinho won’t plead with him, he expects the star to stay.

“I never beg for a player to sign a contract. I never beg for a player to play for me,” Mourinho said.

“But if needed, maybe United fans can go to the door of his house, and stay there all night if needed!

“We all want, and believe, that he is going to stay another season.”

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Naira devaluation looms in spite of Buhari’s opposition (Read full details)

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Traders increased bets that Nigeria will allow the naira to weaken after the central bank eased some capital controls and President Muhammadu Buhari, who opposes devaluation, extended his sick leave in the U.K.

Forward contracts rose to the highest level since November after the Central Bank of Nigeria said it would “increase the efficiency of the foreign-exchange market” and make hard currency available to Nigerians needing to fund business trips and overseas school and medical bills. The regulator also announced the sale of $500 million of dollar forwards.

Buhari is in London receiving treatment for an unspecified condition after traveling there for medical tests on Jan. 19. The 74-year-old, who has likened a depreciation of the naira to “murder,” handed power to his vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, before departing and was initially scheduled to return on Feb. 5. Buhari was also out the country with Osinbajo in charge when Nigeria allowed its currency to weaken in mid-2016.

“Tests showed he needed a longer period of rest, necessitating the president staying longer than originally planned,” presidential spokesman Femi Adesina said in an e-mailed statement Tuesday, without explaining what Buhari’s illness is or when he’ll be back. “There is no cause for worry.”

Buhari’s absence is heightening concern about government paralysis at a time when the oil-dependent economy is in recession and the stock market is near a 10-month low. Still, investors are betting that a more flexible currency regime is at hand.

Naira forward contracts maturing in three months rose 3.9 percent to 371 against the dollar on Tuesday, the highest close since Nov. 11 and suggesting the currency will depreciate about 15 percent in that period from 315.5. Six-month contracts climbed to 396.5, while the black-rate market rate strengthened to 515 on Wednesday from 520 earlier this week.

The Central Bank of Nigeria said Monday it would sell dollars to people needing to pay for medical and school fees abroad at a rate of as much as 20 percent above the spot price, or roughly 370 against the greenback.

Forward Sales
The measures were part of “efforts to increase the availability of foreign exchange in order to ease the difficulties encountered by Nigerians,” the Abuja-based regulator said.

The central bank this week sold $371 million of 30-day and 60-day forwards to banks, almost $130 million less than it offered, Lagos-based newspaper ThisDay reported. The exchange rates ranged from 315 naira to 360 naira per dollar.

This week’s moves are positive for foreign investors and are probably aimed at accessing funding from the World Bank, Ayomide Mejabi, an analyst at the Nigerian unit of Standard Bank Group Ltd., said in a note to clients.

“Full liberalization is still some way off” but it may be “one of a few steps on the road to a lot more flexibility” and helping to clear a $5.5 billion backlog of demand for dollars, he said.

Nigeria’s Senate President Bukola Saraki visited Buhari at the country’s High Commission in London twice last week, according to the presidency, sparking concern about the severity of his condition. The uncertainty reminds Nigerians of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who flew to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment in November 2009 and was never seen in public again, dying six months later.

To avoid a power vacuum similar to the one Yar’Adua’s absence created, Buhari got lawmakers’ approval to transfer all executive powers to his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, before leaving for the U.K.

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