Jonathan: Inter should strengthen in January

The Brazilian was on the scoresheet for the Nerazzurri in Bologna but he believes that new recruits are needed if Mazzarri's side are to maintain their European ambitions

Jonathan has expressed his belief that Inter should be looking to bring in new recruits during the January transfer window.

The Brazilian netted his second goal of the campaign as the Nerazzurri struggled to a 1-1 draw away at Bologna and he reckons that coach Walter Mazzarri must be allowed to delve into the market if the Milan club are to seriously challenge for a Champions league spot.

“Today we have had a lot of chances but the ball just wouldn’t go in,” the 27-year-old explained to Premium Calcio.

“With a little bit of luck we could have done it. We missed those small details that help you win.

“The road is still long, the Champions League is still possible - do not forget that there is also still the January transfer market.”

Jonathan also showed his appreciation of his new boss and the part the Inter coach has played in rejuvenating his career at San Siro after a tough time over the past two years.

“I can still improve. This year Mazzarri is giving me the confidence I needed and I thank him," he enthused.

“Immediately he has said he can count on me and that has made me feel important.”

Fredy Guarin was also keen to look at the positives from the draw too, stating that he is very happy with his displays at the moment and adding the only thing missing are those elusive goals.

“Nowadays, I’m only missing chances because the team played well; the individuality and contribution of everyone was important,” the Colombian told the Inter Channel. 

“I am calm, I’ll just continue to work and be available for the team. For me, the goals will come now the team is doing well, that’s fine like this.”

El-Rufai Is Stupid, He Says Whatever He Likes – Presidency

Following recent allegation by former FCT
Minister, Malam Nasir El-Rufai that
President Jonathan knows oil thieves, the
Presidency has taken a swipe at the interim
Deputy National Secretary of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), calling him a liar. The Presidency said it was stupid of El-
Rufai to condemn the President’s call on
the American and British governments to
help Nigeria stop oil theft, adding that “what
government had done was to check oil
thieves at our end and if they escape cautionary measures in the country and if
the US and Britain don’t buy from them,
they will stop.” The Presidency also described the new
alliance of the opposition political parties
under the aegis of the APC as “mega
nonsense, which cannot go anywhere”. Reacting on behalf of President Jonathan
on Liberty Radio, Kaduna Guest of the Week
programme yesterday, the Special Assistant
to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin
Okupe said, “the President did not just
wake up one day and say Britain and America should help us. It was just one of
the various internal steps that were taken.
There were funds given to the Navy to
acquire boats, and they are already
producing results. It is just like smuggling,
you make a law, you empower the Customs to impound goods at the point of entry, and
also ban sale of such products in the stores. “So, what government has done is it to stop
this oil theft at our end and if they escape
checks and balances that we put in place, if
those people don’t buy from them, then,
they will stop. So, why is El-Rufai pretending
to be stupid? “I just told you, it is right that you guys gave
a platform to El-Rufai, he is a free man, he
is a citizen of Nigeria, but he is not a man
that is worthy of any serious comment. He
just says whatever he likes. “It is a pity that you have chosen me to
respond to Malam El-Rufai’s statements. El-
Rufai is a name that is disgraceful in my
mouth, but I will try to respond. El-Rufai is a
liar, who went to the extent of writing a
book that is full of lies, similes, things that are untrue, half truth, he will now quote
three pages of discussions with people
when he did not record them, and these are
things that happened six to seven years
ago, so, when I say he is a liar, I mean it,”
Okupe stressed. On the emergence of the new opposition
party, the Presidential Spokesman said All
Progressive Congress (APC) was not a mega
party, but a ‘mega nonsense’, which would
collapse very soon. Okupe said, “Members of APC are united
and have been brought together not
because they want to help Nigeria in any
form. They have come together because
they just want power for personal
aggrandizement.”

Obama, Jonathan Set To Meet In New York

President Barack Obama has invited President
Goodluck Jonathan for a meeting in New York
next month, the United States’ Under Secretary
for Political Affairs, Ms Wendy Sherman, has
said. Speaking with State House correspondents
after meeting with President Goodluck
Jonathan, Ms Sherman said Nigeria is a very
important country, not only in Africa but in the
world, which cannot be ignored. Reacting to a question on whether the failure
of Barack Obama to visit Nigeria during his last
trip to Africa was a snub on Nigeria, the
American official parried the question while
emphasising the importance of Nigerian/USA
relations. “Our presidents will likely meet soon. I will
leave that announcement to the President of
the United States and the President of Nigeria. “But Nigeria is a very important country, not
only here on the continent but around the
world.” Nigeria has served on the Security Council of
the UN and it is likely to do so again in future. “It is the head of the Committee on Democracy
and has been leader in so many ways, like in
ECOWAS as a peace-keeper all around the
world. These are the partnerships that are
important to us.” Sherman who is leading a delegation to the
US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission meeting
described the commission as an invaluable
tool for the two countries to work together for
a strong relationship between them. She added that the commission would
support Nigeria as it moves forward to meet
all the challenges before it. She identified the issues before the bi-
national commission to include security,
governance, education and agriculture. Sherman said during her meeting with
Jonathan, she delivered a letter from Obama
to President Jonathan who accepted it adding
that her country looks forward to working with
Nigeria further on the basis of the letter.
[vanguard]