Outgoing US Ambassador Malac: A Diplomat to Remember
Madam Deborah R. Malac succeeded Linda Thomas-Greenfield in September of 2012 as United States Ambassador to Liberia. She, like her predecessors, has represented US interest and worked diligently to continue nurturing the bilateral relations between her country and Liberia. Like Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, whose administration saw the revamping of the Armed Forces of Liberia and the Liberia Coast Guard, Ambassador Malac will be remembered, first and foremost, for her humanitarian role in the devastating health crisis Liberia and its neighbors faced in 2014.When Ebola worsened beginning in August 2014, making Liberia the hardest hit country, Ambassador Deborah Malac happened to be in the United States attending various meetings including the US-Liberia Education Dialogue, the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), now referred to as Mandela Washington Fellowship, and the US-Africa Leaders Summit. Upon completing these meetings in August 2014, she, without delay or fear of the disease, immediately returned to Liberia, helping to restore hope in Liberians and urging them to be resilient.She quickly contacted her government seeking emergency support to provide capacity to the Liberian government to fight the disease. Through her advocacy, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) sent the first batch of 500 health personnel to Liberia with laboratory equipment for testing. In addition, President Barrack Obama deployed 4,000 military personnel to Liberia, many of whom were trained health and medical personnel. They quickly built Ebola Treatment Units in Bomi, Montserrado and Nimba Counties and parts of southeastern Liberia. Amidst the devastating crisis, which caused people, including health and medical personnel, to drop dead everywhere, Ambassador Malac herself could not remain in Monrovia but traveled across the country, including the Ebola affected counties, to ensure that the assistance provided by the government and people of the United States was making a positive and substantial difference in the fight against the deadly virus.In order to prepare Liberia adequately for future outbreaks of any epidemic, the US government, during Ambassador Malac’s tenure, established a CDC presence in Liberia, fully equipped with the necessary staff and equipment.Besides her dynamic role in the successful combat against the deadly Ebola outbreak, Ambassador Malac, during her tenure, freely and constantly provided encouragement to Liberians in the fight against corruption, and in the struggle for national development. In addition to inspiring foreign investment, she also encouraged the government to prioritize and stimulate private domestic investment above and beyond the concessions. She also served as an advocate for the Liberia Business Association.On corruption, she has been frank to admit that it is endemic in Liberia, excusing no sector. She also encouraged Liberians to consider development as a process that takes time and requires everyone’s effort, and not government alone.There is a saying that “Life is not about making an income but making an impact; and not about getting and having, but giving.” The Daily Observer is of the view that Ambassador Malac’s service here, especially during the time the country was under an intense and devastating medical attack, is something that this nation and its people should always remember with gratitude. Remember that during the Ebola period some ambassadors fled the country and advised their governments to shut their doors. Not the US Ambassador. This, in fact, caused former Foreign Minister Augustine K. Ngafuan to question the “African Solidarity” that African nations profess to have with one another. He could not, he said, understand why some African countries had stigmatized Liberia and closed their borders to the affected nations.Ambassador Malac truly deserves the high honor bestowed upon her by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. We at the Daily Observer call on all Liberians to join us in wishing Ambassador Deborah R. Malac Godspeed in her new assignments.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Commissioner Jefferson Saye Gondah points to a hole in the roof of the Commissioner’s Compound-GAC cites mismanagement and irregularitiesNimba County– In the town of Gbahn, county officials approved $30,000 from the Nimba County Social Development Fund (CSDF) in 2012 to build a four-bedroom guest house to generate revenue for the town, a five-minute drive from Ganta. The guesthouse was completed in 2014 but, four years later, the town has not generated a dime.The guest house is surrounded by overgrown grass. There are no beds, signage, curtains and other furnishings to welcome guests. The well that was built with CSDF money has dried up and is of no use to the town’s 700 residents. The building has been locked for most of the last four years.
The Gbahn guest house has been locked up since it was completed in 2014. The well has dried up is of no use to residents.The guesthouse was one of the several projects approved during the Nimba County Council Sitting in April 2012. The projects, budgeted at $413,436.13, included two other guest houses, one in Bunidin and the other in Duo; and the construction of the Bololewee and Lugbaye elementary schools. Those projects were completed during 2014-2016.Nimba County’s CSDF has also been marred with financial mismanagement and irregularities, according to a report by the General Audit Commission (GAC), covering fiscal years 2011/2012 and 2012/2013.According to the GAC, the county failed to follow rules governing the CSDF and the Public Procurement Concessions Commission (PPCC) for expenditures totaling $5,024, and 295.35. The GAC said the county awarded a $260,000 contract for the renovation of the Saniquelle Sports Stadium to Jungle Water Group Investment without providing evidence of a competitive bidding process.“We observed that the chairman of the Nimba County sports steering committee was the owner of the company,” the GAC said, referring to Floyd S. Tomah, who owns Jackie’s Hotel in Ganta and Saniquellie and other businesses. The stadium is one of the unfinished CSDF projects in the county. The renovation included a space to host players during the county meet, but that has not been done.In an interview over the weekend, Tomah said the stadium is almost complete. The unfinished works include landscaping and fencing the stadium, he said.“The dressing room, bathroom and others have been completed but additional work was required to be done on the stadium,” he said.Tomah said he could not provide further details on the stadium project.School projects and bridge show some impactJames Gatei, development chair of Gbahn, said citizens are disappointed that the county spent money on a guest house that is of no value to the community.He wants the county to furnish the guesthouse and make the necessary repairs, so the facility can benefit the community. He said $30,000 was budgeted for the building, but the county spent $26,000 on the building.“Look, we can still make money from this facility if is completed,” Gatei said. “We want the balance US$4,000 to revamp the facility.”Nohn Flomo, Gbahn’s town chief, said the town has not been able to market the guest house because of the lack of sheets, beds, windows and other furnishings.There are a few CSDF projects that are having an impact on citizens, however. For example, children in Blololewee, the Nimba County town bordering Guinea, now have their own school. Before the new school was built, the Blololewee Elementary School students met in a two-bedroom mud house. The new school, which has an enrollment of 162 students, includes six classrooms and office space.The county spent $32,000 to build the school in a town where many of the 500 residents are farmers. Mary Menkor, who has lived in Blololewee before the civil war began in 1989, has two grandchildren at the school.“We are happy for the school because our children have a real school,” she said. “Government needs to help us with copy books for the children. I don’t have anywhere to take money to buy books and uniform.”Before the new school, parents worried about the future of their children because of the condition of the mud house school, with palm thatch roof.“We no longer worry about place for our children to go to school,’’ she said.
The expansion of the Zolowee Elementary SchoolAt Zolowee Elementary School, enrollment increased from 127 to 175 because of the expansion, said Principal Joseph Souh. Before the expansion, children were turned away because of the lack of space, Souh said. But the school has another problem — the lack of teachers. The school relies on volunteer teachers. The teaching staff of seven includes four on government payroll and three volunteers.“The lack of teachers is greatly affecting the school,’’ Souh said.Citizens of Mahn District in the town of Meimpa no longer have to travel to Ganta to settle disputes. Since 2014, residents have been bringing cases of domestic violence, child support, land disputes and witchcraft to the Commissioner’s Compound, which includes a guest house, a palava hut and an outside bathroom.But the compound lacks chairs, tables and electricity. The roof leaks during the rainy months. On a recent day in July, the commissioner summoned 19 people from a nearby town after 10 and 11-year-old boys accused them of being in witchcraft.“I think the center is good for the district because if someone accuses you now, there is easy access to justice,” said a 61-year-old woman who identified herself as YB. “We have an opportunity to resolve issues that could possibly lead to death or serious problems.”In Saclepea, officials and citizens are happy with the new city hall that houses offices and provides space for community meetings and workshops. The city hall, named in honor of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, cost $75,000. The project was approved in 2012/2013 during the District Council Sitting held in Bahn.Mayor Jeremiah B. Yangean said the citizens have taken advantage of the building since it was dedicated in 2014.
A resident leaving the grounds of the Saclepea City Hall named in honor of former President Ellen Johnson SirleafBefore 2015, commercial motorcyclists said they risked their lives traveling on Karn and Din Bridge between Sanniquellie and Blolowee, the town bordering the Guinea border. Motorcyclists said the planks that were put on the bridge were not strong, so they encouraged passengers to walk on the bridge to get on the motorbikes.“Before the bridge was built, we had difficulty coming this way,” said Mark Johnson, 35, a commercial motorcyclist. “Everyone wants to see the road from Ganta to Sanniquellie built now. The road is cut off during the rainy season, thereby causing increment in transportation fares for the people.”MFDP delays impacts developmentIn addition to the $200,000, Nimba County gets from the government every budget year, the county also receives money from ArcelorMittal’s mining operations. Since 2007, Nimba County received an annual allotment of $1.5 million under the CSDF from ArcelorMittal. The mining company decreased its allotment in 2015 because of the Ebola crisis and the drop in iron ore prices.ArcelorMittal’s annual allotment dropped to $750,000, according to Peterson G. N. Walker, chair of the county’s Project Management Committee (PMC). In the 2018/2019 budget, the county is expected to receive $435,000, but it is not clear how much of that money includes allotment from ArcelorMittal, Walker said.Walker said the county may receive $2 million this budget year because the Ministry of Finance Development and Planning (MFDP) owes the county arrears on the CSDF, dating back to 2016.Walker, who served as comptroller before he became PMC chair in 2015, said the last county council sitting was in 2016. The county did not have County Council Sitting in 2013 and 2014, but did have one in 2015 and 2016.Some of the projects were completed in 2014, 2015, 2016 and others are stalled due to lack of resources. Citizens and officials say they’ve had problems undertaking and completing CSDF projects because of delays in receiving the funds from MFDP.For example, during the 2012 county council sitting, the county was earmarked to receive $3.5 million for development, but the county only received $2.6 million from MFDP. It was some of that money that was used to build the three guesthouses, the Saclepea City Hall, expand the Zolowee Public School, build two elementary schools, one in Gbondin and the other Blololewee; the commissioner’s compound in Meimpa; and the Karn and Din bridge between Saniquellie and Blololewee, the town bordering the Guinea border, among others.
The completed Din and Karn Bridge between Saniquellie and Blololowee, near the Guinean border. $75,000 from the CSDF was used to build a concrete bridge, replacing the plywood that motorists used for years before the bridge was built in 2015.Nimba County Representative Roger Dumah (District 7, Unity Party), who was elected in 2017, said there have been a lot of problems with the CSDF, ranging from mismanagement to delays in transmitting money from the government. Some of the projects, he said, are not impacting the communities because citizens were not involved in the planning process.“The contribution of our people in development is very cardinal,” Dumah said, referring to the development projects. “It’s good for the people to identify their own projects within the various districts instead of the officials making decision for them during the county council sitting.”Rep. Dumah said he will push the county legislative caucus to give citizens greater say in the selection of projects and the implementation. He plans to hold elections for a district council that will begin identifying projects based on the needs of the people.“The various communities have to identify their own project before any funding can be provided,” he said.Editor’s Note: Staff Writer Alvin Worzi reported this story with support from the Center for Accountability and Transparency International (CENTAL) under a project aimed at engaging citizens, the media and government stakeholders on the national budget and County and Social Development Fund.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
The life of a newborn baby boy was recently cut short due to alleged negligence of practitioners at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after he succumbed shortly after burns received from a headlamp in one of the incubators.Little Quavon Forde was born in December 2018 in what was termed a premature birth since he arrived one month earlier than expected.His grandmother, Sharon Harding, in an interview with this publication on Wednesday, explained that the baby was incubated until he was fully developed and his parents were allowed to visit every day. On a subsequent visit some days later, his mother, Odessa Forde, went to check on her baby and made the shocking discovery that he was severely burnt about his body.Before and after Quavon Forde was burntAccording to the grandmother, the child’s mother immediately called on nurses on duty, who shrugged off the matter, insisting that they were unaware of the circumstances. Relatives later learnt that a headlamp would have caused the injuries after doctors briefed them on what transpired.“I told her to ask the nurses around and she kept asking but all the nurses would tell us is that they wasn’t there or they don’t know about that,” the aggrieved grandmother relayed.Asserting that “specialists” would be present to treat the burns, the child was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit where he was later discharged on January 21, 2019, while his wounds were yet to be healed.“She saw a doctor and the doctor told her that it was a headlamp that fall and burn the baby and she must not worry because they brought in specialists to take care of the baby burns,” the grandmother relayed.“I’m assuming that they noticed themselves that the child couldn’t make it and they subsequently discharged this baby and handed it over to her.”A few days later, she noticed that the baby was in agony and was constantly crying. He was readmitted to the hospital where doctors failed in their attempts to save him on February 8.“He was groaning and the burns on the foot wasn’t healed. They discharged this baby wrapped in gauze so we took him back where he was admitted to the ICU. However, later, they said they couldn’t save him,” Harding explained.The grandmother said she contacted the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, George Lewis, but he refuted claims that the baby died as a result of the burns sustained about his body, but rather from the fact the he was born premature.Harding said their troubles did not end there, saying that they faced numerous encounters when the post-mortem examination was due.On Wednesday, efforts by this publication to get a comment from GPHC’s officials proved futile.The death of the baby comes amid mounting calls for public health officials to be sanctioned for negligence.A series of protests have been held outside of the Public Health Ministry after three children, all cancer patients, died under questionable circumstances at the Georgetown Hospital last month.An investigation has since been launched into that incident.Devastated family members are calling for transparency in the investigation and for the family to be informed of the outcome. Adding to that, Harding said such matters require urgent attention to ensure that there is never a recurrence.
Following his February 16th arrest Scott Wesner was charged with drug possession and trafficking, three counts of possession of a weapon and two counts of failing to comply with his probation order.- Advertisement -Originally from the Lower Mainland, he was released from custody the next day but ordered to leave Fort St. John and not to be located with the City limits except for court purposes.However, last Friday he was again arrested in Fort St. John and charged with cocaine possession for the purpose of trafficking and three counts each, of failing to comply with his probation order and failing to comply with a recognizance.Meantime, Dean Carson Panrucker remains in local police custody pending his next court appearance next Monday.He faces 17 separate charges relating to drug and firearms offenses.Advertisement A suspected drug trafficker is scheduled to be back in court today, following his arrest last week for the second time in three weeks.
…as Granger talks about “decade of development”The new year is here, complete with wishes for a “Happy New Year” from the two major political parties and Presidential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, Dr Irfaan Ali. According to the PPP/C, the new year is a chance to rebuild Guyana after the wreckage left by the incumbent government.PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan AliThe Party in its New Year message to the nation said that over the course of 2019, Guyanese saw for themselves the desperation of A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) to hang on to power by using “every legal and arithmetic trick at their disposal”, after falling to a No-Confidence Motion since 2018.“Happily, by the end of 2019, their desperate attempts have finally been exhausted, and they have been left with no choice but to name a date on which the Guyanese people will be given a chance to elect a government of their choice,” the PPP said in its statement.“The dawn of 2020 is also an occasion for guarded optimism in our country. We start this year as the world’s newest oil-producing nation. In order for the benefits of this development to be enjoyed by all of the Guyanese people, the gross mismanagement of the sector by the incumbent APNU/AFC Government will need to be remedied.”Touching on the coalition’s legacy, PPP noted that they have failed to put in place an effective regulatory framework for oil and gas and botched efforts to renegotiate the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) after Guyana found oil.President David Granger“By ensuring a truly diversified and robust economy, Guyana will soon be joining the fold of prosperous nations of the world and, with good government, every single Guyanese person will benefit from this prosperity. For this promise to be realised, the Guyanese people will be required to make an important choice in March 2020.The incumbent government continues to engage in shallow sloganeering, promising a “decade of development”. The emptiness of this promise is best illustrated by their abject failure to deliver on that other shallow slogan that they have been parroting for the past five years, as “the good life” is yet to be enjoyed by anybody but themselves and their close cronies.”The PPP, therefore, called on Guyanese to “join hands in the collective task of rebuilding Guyana from the destruction and disunity sowed over the past five years.” The Party also expressed hope that 2020 will be a year in which the highest standards of democratic norms are upheld through the conduct of free, fair, and peaceful elections. The Party is also hopeful that good governance and responsible economic management will be restored.Binds us togetherMeanwhile, PPP Presidential Candidate Dr Irfaan Ali used his New Year’s message to praise Guyanese for the characteristics he witnessed during his travels on the campaign trail. According to him, Guyanese are resilient and their potential must be more fully unlocked in the New Year.“Fellow Guyanese, there is more that binds us together than pulls us apart. Guyanese here and in the Diaspora are overflowing with ideas and drive to make our country better. As we stand on the precipice of a new decade, let us look to the future with a deep and abiding hope that tomorrow can be better than today”.“Let us unlock the potential of the Guyanese people by giving them land, a quality education, affordable and available healthcare, lower taxes and an investment in the creation of jobs and other opportunities for all our people,” Ali also said, going on to call for unity and wishing everyone a happy New Year.“Decade of development”In President David Granger’s New Year message, he emphasised that 2020 would be the start of Guyana’s “decade of development”. Granger promised that education and healthcare, infrastructure, energy supply and the economy would improve.“We can look forward to living in a country which enjoys high levels of growth and human development and with accountable government and greater equality. Constitutional reform will allow for the easier resolution of political differences,” he said.“Citizens can be assured that their communities will be safer and that borders will be more secure. The productive sectors will be more resilient by receiving increased support to drive economic development”.Touching on elections, which, according to the Constitution, should have been held since March 2019 but are now scheduled for March 2, 2020, the President promised “free, fair and credible” elections and assured that the security forces would ensure that public order and stability prevail during and after.“The year 2020 will be an unforgettable year. It will demand diligent and dutiful service from all to attain the common good… I extend best wishes to every Guyanese for a happy and prosperous New Year – one which promises to be the most exciting and exhilarating in our nation’s history.”
“What we’re seeing is some growth and some rebuilding, but it will be, I would say gradually increase over the next two to three years,” Boon explains. “The first issue for these ranchers is to pay out their debt that they’ve accumulated over this past 10 years and get that out of the way.”Boon adds, “And then they’ll start and put back in the herd, but we are seeing them retaining more females to breed.”He says province-wide mother cow inventory went from $320,000 in 2005 to less than 200,000 by 2010. General Manger Kevin Boone says it’s a really difficult number to estimate and less than 300 of his association’s 1,100 members responded to a province-wide monitor.That noted he has confirmed on average each respondent reported losing about six head of cattle to wolves and four more to other predators.“That translates to a total of between $9,000 and $9,500 per operation just on wolves alone, and about another $6,000 on other predators,” says Boone.” And of course they’re spread out – these are just averages.”- Advertisement -Those averages would indicate the losses have remained fairly stable, but because of improved markets, the dollar loss has doubled in the past two years.Meantime, Mr. Boone has also confirmed the better economic conditions are prompting ranchers to start increasing the size of their herds.He cautions however, after cutting the size of their herds by about a third in the wake of drought and mad cow disease, the increase in numbers will likely be a slow process.Advertisement
0Shares0000Liverpool forward Sadio Mane celebrates a goal during the Champions League semi-final against RomaLIVERPOOL, United Kingdom, May 24- English Premier League side Liverpool FC have renewed their shirt sponsorship package with Standard Chartered Bank for a further four years, a partnership that will go through to the 2022/23 season.The Bank first signed up as the Club’s main sponsor in July 2010, and the agreement was extended in 2013 and again in 2015. Financial terms of the agreement remain confidential. Liverpool FC has a large number of fans across Standard Chartered’s core markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East and the sponsorship provides the Bank with an opportunity to accelerate visibility of its brand, improving recognition across key markets around the world.Additionally, over the last eight years Standard Chartered and Liverpool FC have used their partnership to support a number of the Bank’s sustainability and community investment programmes.Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring Liverpool’s equaliser on the nightThe annual ‘Perfect Match’ game – where LFC players swap the Standard Chartered logo on their shirts for the Seeing is Believing logo – has raised more than Sh48mn to tackle avoidable blindness.Billy Hogan, Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer, Liverpool Football Club said: “As a Club we’re very proud to have Standard Chartered renew their relationship for another four years. Our connection runs deep, it means more than just sponsorship, from the outset it has been about working together with the Club and our communities and supporters around the world.“Importantly, it also means we are able to support our ambitions on the pitch and compete with the best in the world. We have enjoyed many highlights of this relationship so far and I look forward to many more.”Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive, Standard Chartered, said: “Liverpool FC is one of the world’s best-known football clubs and we are proud to be associated with them. It is a fantastic club that shares many of our values and is hugely popular across our global footprint.”“Our partnership has provided valuable support to the charitable initiatives close to our hearts and has helped us to further engage with our clients and staff as well as with LFC fans. We are excited to be able to continue this partnership, and look forward to building on our successful relationship.”0Shares0000(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)
But Solskjaer has made clear that he wants to keep the World Cup winner, as he attempts to steer the Old Trafford club back into the Champions League.The 26-year-old Pogba’s publicly stated wish to leave and his tepid displays at the end of last season have infuriated many United supporters.At United’s final game last term, a 2-0 defeat to already relegated Cardiff City at home, a section of fans barracked Pogba.Asked if he expected even more of a backlash against the Frenchman when the season begins, Solskjaer said: “I think our fans know what Paul has given the club and can give us.”The Norwegian, who will need a fast start to convince doubters he’s the right man for one of the biggest jobs in football, said: “Of course there are some loud and small minority (against Pogba), but Paul has been absolutely top in the group.“Me and the players will testify to that — that he’s never ever been a problem and we are just grateful that he performs as well as he does,” said the manager, speaking on the eve of a friendly against Tottenham Hotspur in Shanghai.Solskjaer meanwhile urged patience and denied that he was frustrated by the club’s failure to sign more players this summer.United have bought winger Daniel James and full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.But they are yet to seal a deal for Leicester City defender Harry Maguire and Solskjaer is also reportedly eyeing Portuguese playmaker Bruno Fernandes.“I am very happy with the two mentioned (James and Wan-Bissaka), we have got to be patient,” said the 46-year-old former United predator, adding that he “believed in” his squad as it is.“It’s a long haul and very important we get the right ones (players) in, we can’t just jump on a different path when you hit a hurdle.”One player who looks certain to leave is forward Romelu Lukaku, who is interesting Inter Milan.The big Belgian will again be absent on Thursday because of injury, but reports suggest that the player and the club are happy to part ways.0Shares0000(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today) 0Shares0000Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates Manchester United’s FA Cup victory against Chelsea with Paul PogbaSHANGHAI, China, Jul 24 – Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer risked angering Manchester United fans on Wednesday, saying it was only a “loud minority” who have turned against Paul Pogba.The French midfielder has made clear his determination to leave the Premier League giants, with Real Madrid and his former club Juventus both said to be interested.
“Napoli again! I don’t know how often I’ve now played against Napoli, but they’re obviously a very experienced side. I will need now to have another, closer look at Genk and Salzburg, but I already know they are very young, very exciting and very fresh, so it will be interesting, 100 per cent.”– Jurgen Klopp on the task awaiting holders Liverpool in the group stage.“I think it’s a brilliant group! Good opponents and obviously playing against Liverpool, that’s a huge game, a superb team and an unbelievable challenge.”— Salzburg coach Jesse Marsch on playing reigning champions Liverpool.“Tough group, like always, the group stage is always like that but we are confident. We are Juventus and we are looking forward to starting well in the Champions League. It is a difficult competition to win but we are very confident for this year.”— Cristiano Ronaldo after Juventus were drawn to face Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Lokomotiv Moscow in Group D.“We have shown we can win trophies and win the Premier League and we just have to be ourselves. In the Champions League, everything has to be perfect because if you have one mistake in the quarter-finals, you are out.”— Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain.“I’m a little upset about Manchester City. Now it’s three years in a row.”— Shakhtar Donetsk forward Junior Moraes bemoans his side’s bad luck.Eric Cantona gave an unusual speech as he picked up the UEFA president’s award © AFP / Valery HACHE“Manchester City are a team from another world.”— Dinamo Zagreb captain Arijan Ademi.“A few of us from the team were stood together at breakfast this morning and we all agreed that we’d love to draw Barcelona. Buzzing that it’s actually happened.”— Borussia Dortmund captain Marco Reus.“That really is a very tough group, which makes it an even bigger challenge for us.”— Lucien Favre after seeing his Dortmund team drawn against Barcelona and Inter Milan.“We know like every year that we will have to be up and ready from the very first match. We will prepare in order to perform from the beginning.”— PSG coach Thomas Tuchel, with his perennial under-achievers to face record 13-time winners Real Madrid.“I think the race for the top two places will be between us and Tottenham. Tottenham are a really good side and showed it in the Champions League last year and in pre-season at the Audi Cup.”— Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer on being drawn in the same group as Tottenham, who drew 2-2 with the Germans in a pre-season tournament in Munich.“Against Tottenham, last season’s finalists, we have a good chance to show that we can compete against top-level European sides.”— Bayern defender Joshua Kimmich.“As flies to wanton boys we are for the gods, they kill us for their sport. Soon the science will not only be able to slow down the ageing of the cells, soon the science will fix the cells to the state and so we will become eternal. Only accidents, crimes, wars, will still kill us but unfortunately, crimes, wars, will multiply. I love football. Thank you.”— Cantona’s speech after the Frenchman collected the UEFA President’s award at the ceremony in Monaco.0Shares0000(Visited 37 times, 1 visits today) 0Shares0000The draw for the Champions League group stage in Monaco on Thursday threw up plenty of intriguing ties © AFP / Valery HACHEMONACO, Monaco, Aug 29 – Holders Liverpool will face Napoli again in the Champions League, Tottenham Hotspur must take on Bayern Munich and Barcelona could just face a struggle to make it out of their group.Here, AFP Sport takes a look at some of the best quotes — including a cameo from Eric Cantona — following Thursday’s draw for this season’s group stage in Monaco:
Jurgen Klopp bade an emotional farewell to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, after he watched his side claim a 3-2 victory over Werder Bremen in his final game in charge at Westfalensdtadion.The charismatic boss has become synonymous with Dortmund over his celebrated seven-year spell in the hotseat, and the club’s sensational supporters – who unveiled a huge tribute to Klopp during the game – were evidently cut up over their hero’s exit.After taking the club from Bundesliga also-rans back to silverware, winning two league titles, one German Cup, two DFB Supercups and a Champions League Runner’s up medal, Klopp is unsurprisingly revered as a club legend.His next destination is still unknown, but what is sure is that he will always call the Westfalensdtadion home; as one Fan put it – “he has such a great smile, he takes everybody with him, he shows his great heart and that made our club very, very popular.”Check out Borussia Dortmund fans’ fitting tribute to outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp above!