Israel Adeleke

In a shocking turn of events during the 12th round of the Brazilian second division football match between Grêmio Anápolis and Centro Oeste, the team’s goalkeeper, Ramon Souza, suffered a serious injury after being struck by a rubber bullet.

Brazil’s CNN reported that the incident unfolded after the final whistle, with players engaging in a heated argument with armed police on the sideline.

Suddenly, one of the officers brandished a rifle, forcing the players to retreat. Without warning, the officer fired the rifle, leaving Souza in excruciating pain and struggling to walk off the field.

Disturbing images quickly circulated online, capturing the aftermath of the incident (Ramon Souza screaming in pain and struggling to walk off the field).

Photos showed the keeper lying on the ground with his leg wrapped and covered in blood, while a medical staff member provided first aid before transporting him to the hospital.

However, Grêmio has issued a statement condemning the act and vowing to take action against the responsible party, who was entrusted with ensuring safety at Jonas Duarte Stadium.

“The club condemns the unfortunate and disgusting incident that occurred at Jonas Duarte Stadium on Wednesday night,” the statement read.

“After the end of the match against Centro Oeste, our goalkeeper, Ramon Souza, was hit by a rubber bullet fired by a police officer.”

“This horrible, unreasonable, and criminal act came from someone who was supposed to ensure the safety of people at Jonas Duarte Stadium,” the statement concluded.

In a captivating display of skill and determination, Real Madrid orchestrated a remarkable turnaround to clinch a sensational 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich, booking their ticket to the UEFA Champions League final in a nail-biting clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Despite facing an early setback with Bayern’s opening goal in the second half, Madrid showcased resilience and resilience.

The team delivered two electrifying goals in the dying moments of the game, igniting scenes of jubilation among fans.

With this stunning triumph, Real Madrid advances to the final showdown against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium in London on June 1st, setting the stage for what promises to be an epic battle for European football supremacy.

Israel Adeleke

FREEDOM TIMES reports that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the apportionment of former Nigerian player, Finidi George as the new coach of the Super Eagles FC.

The Federation announced George’s appointment in a statement on its official website on Monday.

The statement read “The Board of Nigeria Football Federation on Monday approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint former ace winger Finidi George as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, Super Eagles.”

Recall that George, who served as assistant to former coach Jose Peseiro for 20 months, assumed interim leadership of the senior national team in March.

He was born on 15th April 1971 (age 53) in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

He played for Ajax, after making a name for himself at Ajax in the Netherlands – being a leading figure in a team which won eight major titles, including the 1995 Champions League – he played several years in Spain with Real Betis, also having a brief spell in England before retiring.

Finidi was an important member of the Nigeria team during the 1990s, appearing in two World Cups.

Finidi played throughout his footballing career for Nigeria with his iconic number 7 jersey.

In September 2021, Enyimba F.C. named Finidi as their new head coach.

He won his first title as a coach on the 11th of June 2023, winning the Nigeria Premier League at Onikan Stadium in Lagos.