Activists and affected communities in Nigeria’s Cross River state continue to protest plans to build a major highway cutting through farmland and forest that’s home to threatened species such as the Cross River gorilla.The federal government ordered a slew of measures to minimize the impact of the project, but two years later it remains unclear whether the developers have complied, even as they resume work.Environmentalists warn of a “Pandora’s box” of problems ushered in by the construction of the highway, including illegal deforestation, poaching, land grabs, micro-climate change, erosion, biodiversity loss and encroachment into protected areas.They’ve called on the state government to pursue alternatives to the new highway, including investing in upgrading existing road networks. OKUNI, Nigeria — The bulldozers returned to the forests of Cross River state in southeastern Nigeria in January. Their metal blades resumed tearing down rainforest, rubber and cocoa plantations, homes and farms to make way for a six-lane superhighway, dispossessing thousands of villagers and threatening precious habitat for endangered species along the route.The original route, proposed by Cross River Governor Ben Ayade in 2015, would have slashed more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) through intact forest. Half of this length was to have run through a national park sheltering the critically endangered Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli); the proposal claimed an astonishing 20–kilometer (12-mile) buffer on either side of the route.The original superhighway route would have run through 115 kilometers (71 miles) of forest inside the national park and nearby community-controlled forests. Map courtesy of WCSEnvironmentalists, NGOs and local communities have fiercely resisted the project, launching a series of legal challenges and numerous petitions to state and national authorities.Environmental impact assessments for the project have been rejected three times by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Environment for failing to meet required standards; the assessments have been found to be comprehensively inadequate — missing baseline data, engineering specifications, and required environmental safeguards — as well as failing to properly consult affected communities.In July 2017, the ministry mandated the state government to reduce the buffer to 70 meters (230 feet), and to reroute the road away from the boundaries of the national park and community forests, among dozens of other conditions. The ministry also called for concrete plans for resettlement and livelihood restoration for affected villagers, and mitigation of potential negative impacts on biodiversity.Compliance with these requirements should have been published for public scrutiny before work at the site resumed this year.If this work has been done, none of it has been made public, though the road’s route is understood to have been changed to avoid driving through the heart of Cross River National Park.Nor has Governor Ayade’s administration clarified where funding for the project will come from. In February, Ayade’s administration wrote to the state assembly seeking approval for a massive loan of 648.87 billion naira ($1.8 billion) to fund the new highway.More than 1,500 plant species are found in the park, of which 77 are endangered. Besides the namesake gorilla, fewer than 300 of which are believed to remain in the wild, the region is also home to forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis), pangolins, slender-snouted crocodiles (Mecistops cataphractus), and primates including the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti), drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus), and Preuss’s red colobus monkey (Piliocolobus preussi), which is found only in the park’s Oban division and just across the border in Cameroon’s Korup National Park. read more

Popular in the CommunitySponsoredSponsoredOrangutan found tortured and decapitated prompts Indonesia probeEMGIES17 Jan, 2018We will never know the full extent of what this poor Orangutan went through before he died, the same must be done to this evil perpetrator(s) they don’t deserve the air that they breathe this has truly upset me and I wonder for the future for these wonderful creatures. So called ‘Mankind’ has a lot to answer for we are the only ones ruining this world I prefer animals to humans any day of the week.What makes community ecotourism succeed? In Madagascar, location, location, locationScissors1dOther countries should also learn and try to incorporateWhy you should care about the current wave of mass extinctions (commentary)Processor1 DecAfter all, there is no infinite anything in the whole galaxy!Infinite stupidity, right here on earth.The wildlife trade threatens people and animals alike (commentary)Anchor3dUnfortunately I feel The Chinese have no compassion for any living animal. They are a cruel country that as we knowneatbeverything that moves and do not humanily kill these poor animals and insects. They have no health and safety on their markets and they then contract these diseases. Maybe its karma maybe they should look at the way they live and stop using animals for all there so called remedies. DisgustingConservationists welcome China’s wildlife trade banThobolo27 JanChina has consistently been the worlds worst, “ Face of Evil “ in regards our planets flora and fauna survival. In some ways, this is nature trying to fight back. This ban is great, but the rest of the world just cannot allow it to be temporary, because history has demonstrated that once this coronavirus passes, they will in all likelihood, simply revert to been the planets worst Ecco Terrorists. Let’s simply not allow this to happen! How and why they have been able to degrade this planets iconic species, rape the planets rivers, oceans and forests, with apparent impunity, is just mind boggling! Please no more.Probing rural poachers in Africa: Why do they poach?Carrot3dOne day I feel like animals will be more scarce, and I agree with one of my friends, they said that poaching will take over the world, but I also hope notUpset about Amazon fires last year? Focus on deforestation this year (commentary)Bullhorn4dLies and more leisSponsoredSponsoredCoke is again the biggest culprit behind plastic waste in the PhilippinesGrapes7 NovOnce again the article blames companies for the actions of individuals. It is individuals that buy these products, it is individuals that dispose of them improperly. If we want to change it, we have to change, not just create bad guys to blame.Brazilian response to Bolsonaro policies and Amazon fires growsCar4 SepThank you for this excellent report. I feel overwhelmed by the ecocidal intent of the Bolsonaro government in the name of ‘developing’ their ‘God-given’ resources.U.S. allocates first of $30M in grants for forest conservation in SumatraPlanet4dcarrot hella thick ;)Melting Arctic sea ice may be altering winds, weather at equator: studyleftylarry30 JanThe Arctic sea ice seems to be recovering this winter as per the last 10-12 years, good news.Malaysia has the world’s highest deforestation rate, reveals Google forest mapBone27 Sep, 2018Who you’re trying to fool with selective data revelation?You can’t hide the truth if you show historical deforestation for all countries, especially in Europe from 1800s to this day. WorldBank has a good wholesome data on this.Mass tree planting along India’s Cauvery River has scientists worriedSurendra Nekkanti23 JanHi Mongabay. Good effort trying to be objective in this article. I would like to give a constructive feedback which could help in clearing things up.1. It is mentioned that planting trees in village common lands will have negative affects socially and ecologically. There is no need to even have to agree or disagree with it, because, you also mentioned the fact that Cauvery Calling aims to plant trees only in the private lands of the farmers. So, plantation in the common lands doesn’t come into the picture.2.I don’t see that the ecologists are totally against this project, but just they they have some concerns, mainly in terms of what species of trees will be planted. And because there was no direct communication between the ecologists and Isha Foundation, it was not possible for them to address the concerns. As you seem to have spoken with an Isha spokesperson, if you could connect the concerned parties, it would be great, because I see that the ecologists are genuinely interested in making sure things are done the right way.May we all come together and make things happen.Rare Amazon bush dogs caught on camera in BoliviaCarrot1 Feba very good iniciative to be fallowed by the ranchers all overSponsored Animals, Birds, Birds Of Prey, Conservation, Happy-upbeat Environmental, Interviews, Pesticides, Wildlife A snowy owl injured on its Massachusetts wintering grounds was brought to Tufts Wildlife Clinic this spring.In nature, wildlife must heal fast or perish if they can’t find food or defend themselves from predators, but the lucky ones are brought to a clinic specializing in injured animals.Tufts Wildlife Clinic at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University is one such place.Mongabay interviewed the clinic’s assistant director about the healing path of “snowy 397” before his eventual successful release. When wild animals are injured, they must heal fast or perish if they can’t find food or defend themselves from predators. A lucky subset of such wildlife is found by humans and brought to a clinic specializing in injured animals. Often associated with nonprofits and staffed in whole or in part by trained and certified volunteers, there are also programs run by educational institutions such as Tufts University.A snowy owl injured on its Massachusetts wintering grounds this spring was brought to Tufts Wildlife Clinic where it was stitched up, fed, and readied for release by its Assistant Director, Dr. Maureen Murray, and her team. This is the story of his journey back to the wild.Erik Hoffner for Mongabay: When was the snowy owl brought to Tufts Wildlife Clinic, and why?Dr. Maureen Murray: The snowy owl was admitted to Tufts Wildlife Clinic on April 3, 2019, after being found at Logan Airport in Boston with lacerations to both wings. Snowy owls prefer open spaces, and so unfortunately are drawn to airports, which presents threats both to the birds and to airplanes. But fortunately, Logan Airport works with Norman Smith, Director of Mass Audubon’s Blue Hills Trailside Museum, to capture, band, and relocate the owls.“Snowy 397” stretches his healing wings in the Shalin Liu Healing Cage at Tufts Wildlife Clinic. Photo courtesy of Maureen Murray for Tufts University.The bird’s lacerations were treated initially with cleaning, bandaging and application of raw honey, which is an excellent antimicrobial and also promotes wound healing. Once the wounds were clean, some of the lacerations on the more severely affected wing were sutured. Because of the location of the lacerations, one wing required continued bandaging to prevent the normal motion of the wing from inhibiting healing of the wounds.What can you share about the animal, do you name your patients?This bird is a third-year male. As it’s important for us to maintain our perspective that our patients are wild animals that need to retain their natural behaviors to be released back to the wild, we do not name them. We referred to this owl by his case number, “snowy 397” – as he was the 397th patient admitted in 2019 – or more often just as “the snowy” since he was the only snowy owl in the clinic during his stay with us.On May 24, the owl was cleared for rehabilitation in the Shalin Liu Healing Cage, what’s the purpose of this facility?The Shalin Liu Healing Cage is a 100-feet-long by 40-feet-wide by 40-feet-tall enclosure in which our bird of prey patients are able to fly freely. The time they spend in this cage is crucial for us to be able to evaluate them to ensure their flight is normal and strong prior to being released. When birds have sustained wing injuries, such as fractured bones, or, in this case, wounds that required somewhat prolonged immobilization of the wing, it can take time for the wing to regain strength and for the bird to have full range of motion of all the joints of the wing. We refer to this stage of their rehabilitation as their physical therapy.Will it be released in Massachusetts or taken north where it’s more natural for it to be at this time of year?This bird was in fact released in Massachusetts on June 19 by Norman Smith. Although snowy owls typically depart New England for their arctic breeding grounds in April, there were still sightings of snowy owls in Massachusetts at the time of this bird’s release. Norman brought the bird to an ideal coastal habitat, where the bird could easily hunt and prepare for the trip back up north.See related: ‘Urban Raptors’: Q&A with authors of book on ecology and conservation of city-dwelling birds of preyIs it normal for snowy owls to spend winters in the Northeast US?Many snowy owls will remain in their arctic habitat year round, but they are regular winter visitors to the northern half of the United States, including northeastern states such as Massachusetts. The number of birds that migrate varies year to year depending on a variety of environmental conditions. Some years, large numbers of snowy owls migrate south, an event referred to as an ‘irruption.’ During an irruption in 2013-2014, a snowy owl was reportedly seen in Florida, though it is not typical for them to range that far south.Closeup of “snowy 397” in care of Tufts Wildlife Clinic. Photo courtesy of Maureen Murray for Tufts University.What are the main reasons raptors are brought to rehab centers like yours?The most common reasons birds of prey are admitted to Tufts Wildlife Clinic stem from anthropogenic factors. We see many injuries caused by collisions with motor vehicles, we see gunshot wounds (although it is illegal to shoot birds of prey), we see poisoning caused by anticoagulant rodenticides, which are rodent poisons that interfere with blood clotting and cause potentially fatal blood loss. Birds of prey are exposed to these poisons secondarily, which means by ingestion of prey animals that have consumed the poison, which remains active after it is ingested.At Tufts Wildlife Clinic, we have diagnosed anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning in several snowy owls. My area of research is the exposure of birds of prey to these rodenticides. My most recent published data, collected from 2012 to 2016, showed that 96% of 94 birds tested (red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, barred owls, and eastern screech-owls) were positive for residues of these poisons. This is an environmental issue that needs increased public awareness.Where can a person can find a wildlife rehabilitation program near them?Many states have organizations of licensed wildlife rehabilitators that can easily be found online and that can assist people in finding a local licensed rehabilitator. State fish and wildlife agencies as well as town/city animal control officers can also be excellent resources for information and assistance with injured wildlife.Learn more about Tufts Wildlife Clinic at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University here.A list of U.S. wildlife rehabilitation programs can be found here. Article published by Erik Hoffner read more

Construction of the Pan Borneo Highway will add or expand more than 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) of roadway in Malaysian Borneo.Mongabay staff writer John Cannon spent several weeks traveling the proposed route in July 2019 to understand the effects, both positive and negative, the road could have on communities, wildlife and ecosystems.The project is designed to energize the economies of the region, and though officials have responded to entreaties from NGOs to minimize the harmful impacts of the road, they remain singularly focused on the economic benefits that proponents say the highway will bring. KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia — In July, I traveled most of the length of the proposed Pan Borneo Highway route with the goal of trying to understand the aims, possibilities and pitfalls of this highway’s construction. The trip covered more than 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) of road travel and resulted in a six-part series containing several thousand more words.The highway, a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar project connecting the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah as well as the Indonesian part of the island, is supposed to encourage commerce, shuttle tourists to see the states’ wildlife and cultural riches, and generally make travel quicker and easier. But from the outset and throughout the lengthy construction process, scientists, conservationists and activists have voiced concerns that the road would divide wildlife populations, damage habitat, and bring a bevy of unwanted impacts to local (human) communities.Striking a compromise between competing priorities has proved challenging, if not altogether elusive. Part of that might be that the reality on the ground doesn’t always hew to predictions and expectations made in government offices or around the discussion tables at the NGO headquarters working to influence the course of the road. In those places, calculations aim to map out the economic largesse that the highway could funnel to communities or the statistical probabilities that its construction could wipe out the population of a given species. Without discounting the importance of those sorts of planning, the impacts of the road and its construction on the ground come across as more fundamental than that, affecting the everyday lives of community members, businesspeople and individual animals, sometimes in conflicting ways. Here are five things that struck me the most:Mangroves cleared for the Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah. Image by John C. Cannon/Mongabay.1. Road construction is complex and often messy.I’ve covered the development of infrastructure across the tropics, and in Southeast Asia, for years. But it took seeing the process in person to bring home just what it takes to carve a road through the rainforest. Much of the ecological research on roads demonstrates that the impacts of roads often ripple through the forest, providing an entry point for farmers to settle, companies to access resources, and hunters to track down game. But the process of building a road often requires marshaling a massive amount of resources from the surrounding area. Nowhere was this more apparent than in Sabah, north of the capital city of Kota Kinabalu. Along this stretch of Sabah’s “Gold Coast,” an army of flat-nosed green dump trucks methodically cart loads of dirt to build up the foundation of the future highway in the region’s swampy soils. In their wake, they leave behind a gashed series of hillsides where forests once stood, seemingly ready to erode and slough off their underbellies in the next violent rainstorm.Trucks cart away fill dirt from a hilltop for the highway’s construction. Image by John C. Cannon/Mongabay.2. Enthusiasm for the potential benefits of the highway trumps the possible drawbacks.For many people in Malaysian Borneo — politicians and average citizens like — the construction of the road is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for development. The federal government has promised billions of dollars to upgrade a vital infrastructure artery. Farmers would be happy to have an easier route to get their peppers and raw rubber and palm oil to market. Tour guides and restaurant owners dream of a steady stream of paying customers from Malaysia and beyond making their way to their towns from the big cities and airports of Miri, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. And politicians envision local economies ramped up to their full potential when they’re finally linked with others in Malaysia and even Indonesia. The excitement at these possibilities is often enough to drown out concerns about the effects the beefed-up roadway will have.A mother proboscis monkey and baby in along the Kinabatangan River in Sabah. Image by John C. Cannon/Mongabay.3. Traveling by road in Malaysian Borneo is often long and difficult.The two-lane roads that crisscross the Bornean states of Sabah and Sarawak cover large distances on the world’s third-largest island, which at 743,330 square kilometers (287,000 square miles) is about 10 percent larger than the U.S. state of Texas.Peninsular Malaysia and neighboring Singapore are latticed with highways and railways, boasting some of the most modern infrastructure in the world. By contrast, traveling between Sarawak’s two largest cities can take a day or more. Though airlines have trimmed the travel time between major commercial centers on the island and have increasingly connected it to the broader region of Southeast Asia, road travel is still the most affordable and practical way of getting from one point to another for much of the population. Outside the cities, traffic can be light. But the challenges of the terrain and the weather and the likelihood of getting stuck behind a slow-moving timber truck or oil palm tanker made the prospect of a bit more breathing room on the highway seem like a good idea. One section of roadway between Sandakan and Lahad Datu in central Sabah, where planners hope to build a stretch of the highway, has had a bus-sized sinkhole that crews have only recently begun to fix. An extra lane in each direction could help keep traffic moving, though it also leads to questions about whether a wider road might mean more maintenance headaches for a federal public works department that’s already overstretched.Construction crews have left behind a small piece of a hillside supporting an electricity pole in Sarawak. Image by John C. Cannon/Mongabay.4. Without proper protections, the highway could carve up the habitats of many already-threatened species in Borneo, pushing them to the brink of extinction and extirpation.The development of the road is likely to be a one-way street for wildlife. Once it’s built, the permanent barrier it forms will likely divide populations of elephants, crocodiles, clouded leopards and Borneo’s own species of wild (and endangered) cattle known as the banteng. The Kinabatangan River in Sabah is one of the easiest places in the world to spot a huge variety of Borneo’s unique animals. But wildlife biologists I spoke with, like Benoît Goossens, warn that bringing the Pan Borneo Highway to this region without providing some measure of relief for these already-threatened populations could spell the end of Sabah’s “corridor of life,” along with others still full of abundant wildlife.A saltwater crocodile leaves the shore of the Kinabatangan River. Image by John C. Cannon/Mongabay.5. Environmentalists remain hopeful that they can limit the problems the highway could cause.In spite of the challenges they face, conservationists have shifted their strategy to working with, instead of against, government planners. Their expertise, they argue, could well result in road designs that minimize negative impacts while still connecting communities. In one instance, they even convinced the government to halt work in an area where the environmental impact assessment hadn’t been approved. In both Sabah and Sarawak, scientists and policy experts have mapped out the road. They’ve spoken with the people most likely to be affected by it (both positively and negatively). And they’ve highlighted the stretches where interventions, such as short reroutes or bridges to allow wildlife to cross, would be most effective. Without a doubt, they know the allure that the promise of development can have, but they also seem convinced that adjustments, even small ones, could prove advantageous over time.Banner image of the rainforest in Sabah and Mount Kinabalu by John C. Cannon/Mongabay.John Cannon is a staff writer at Mongabay. Find him on Twitter: @johnccannonFEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the author of this post. If you want to post a public comment, you can do that at the bottom of the page. Popular in the CommunitySponsoredSponsoredOrangutan found tortured and decapitated prompts Indonesia probeEMGIES17 Jan, 2018We will never know the full extent of what this poor Orangutan went through before he died, the same must be done to this evil perpetrator(s) they don’t deserve the air that they breathe this has truly upset me and I wonder for the future for these wonderful creatures. So called ‘Mankind’ has a lot to answer for we are the only ones ruining this world I prefer animals to humans any day of the week.What makes community ecotourism succeed? In Madagascar, location, location, locationScissors1dOther countries should also learn and try to incorporateWhy you should care about the current wave of mass extinctions (commentary)Processor1 DecAfter all, there is no infinite anything in the whole galaxy!Infinite stupidity, right here on earth.The wildlife trade threatens people and animals alike (commentary)Anchor3dUnfortunately I feel The Chinese have no compassion for any living animal. They are a cruel country that as we knowneatbeverything that moves and do not humanily kill these poor animals and insects. They have no health and safety on their markets and they then contract these diseases. Maybe its karma maybe they should look at the way they live and stop using animals for all there so called remedies. DisgustingConservationists welcome China’s wildlife trade banThobolo27 JanChina has consistently been the worlds worst, “ Face of Evil “ in regards our planets flora and fauna survival. In some ways, this is nature trying to fight back. This ban is great, but the rest of the world just cannot allow it to be temporary, because history has demonstrated that once this coronavirus passes, they will in all likelihood, simply revert to been the planets worst Ecco Terrorists. Let’s simply not allow this to happen! How and why they have been able to degrade this planets iconic species, rape the planets rivers, oceans and forests, with apparent impunity, is just mind boggling! Please no more.Probing rural poachers in Africa: Why do they poach?Carrot3dOne day I feel like animals will be more scarce, and I agree with one of my friends, they said that poaching will take over the world, but I also hope notUpset about Amazon fires last year? Focus on deforestation this year (commentary)Bullhorn4dLies and more leisSponsoredSponsoredCoke is again the biggest culprit behind plastic waste in the PhilippinesGrapes7 NovOnce again the article blames companies for the actions of individuals. It is individuals that buy these products, it is individuals that dispose of them improperly. If we want to change it, we have to change, not just create bad guys to blame.Brazilian response to Bolsonaro policies and Amazon fires growsCar4 SepThank you for this excellent report. I feel overwhelmed by the ecocidal intent of the Bolsonaro government in the name of ‘developing’ their ‘God-given’ resources.U.S. allocates first of $30M in grants for forest conservation in SumatraPlanet4dcarrot hella thick ;)Melting Arctic sea ice may be altering winds, weather at equator: studyleftylarry30 JanThe Arctic sea ice seems to be recovering this winter as per the last 10-12 years, good news.Malaysia has the world’s highest deforestation rate, reveals Google forest mapBone27 Sep, 2018Who you’re trying to fool with selective data revelation?You can’t hide the truth if you show historical deforestation for all countries, especially in Europe from 1800s to this day. WorldBank has a good wholesome data on this.Mass tree planting along India’s Cauvery River has scientists worriedSurendra Nekkanti23 JanHi Mongabay. Good effort trying to be objective in this article. I would like to give a constructive feedback which could help in clearing things up.1. It is mentioned that planting trees in village common lands will have negative affects socially and ecologically. There is no need to even have to agree or disagree with it, because, you also mentioned the fact that Cauvery Calling aims to plant trees only in the private lands of the farmers. So, plantation in the common lands doesn’t come into the picture.2.I don’t see that the ecologists are totally against this project, but just they they have some concerns, mainly in terms of what species of trees will be planted. And because there was no direct communication between the ecologists and Isha Foundation, it was not possible for them to address the concerns. As you seem to have spoken with an Isha spokesperson, if you could connect the concerned parties, it would be great, because I see that the ecologists are genuinely interested in making sure things are done the right way.May we all come together and make things happen.Rare Amazon bush dogs caught on camera in BoliviaCarrot1 Feba very good iniciative to be fallowed by the ranchers all overSponsored Article published by John Cannon Agriculture, Animals, Biodiversity, Community Development, Conservation, Conservation And Poverty, Deforestation, Drivers Of Deforestation, Ecology, Ecotourism, Endangered Species, Environment, Featured, Forest People, Forestry, Forests, Government, Illegal Logging, Infrastructure, Logging, logging roads, Poaching, Poverty, Poverty Alleviation, Protected Areas, Rainforest People, Rainforests, Roads, Saving Rainforests, Sustainable Development, Threats To Rainforests, Timber, Tourism, Tropical Forests, Wcs, Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation read more

Après seulement trois journées dans ce championnat 2019/2020, le premier départ de coach est déjà acté : il s’agit de Vitor Pereira, qui quitte la lanterne rouge, Rodange. Lui et ses joueurs ne se «comprenaient pas».La décision est tombée lundi matin : vous quittez le club de Rodange après seulement trois journées de championnat ?Jeudi, j’ai eu une réunion avec mon staff, vendredi on a pris notre décision et samedi, j’ai envoyé un message à mes dirigeants pour leur dire que nous souhaitions une réunion avec eux après le match contre Mühlenbach (NDLR : défaite 1-3), quel que soit le résultat. Ah ! c’est vous qui êtes à l’origine de la séparation ?C’était la solution la plus correcte. On a essayé de donner notre maximum, mais il était devenu évident qu’il fallait une autre solution. J’ai déjà eu des challenges plus difficiles et je n’ai jamais abandonné, mais là…Là ?Là le message était brouillé, complètement crispé. Quand tu essayes de passer une idée à un groupe, elle peut d’ailleurs être bonne ou mauvaise cette idée, le minimum est qu’elle arrive aux intéressés et que tout le monde commencer à penser de la même manière. Je me dis qu’il aurait fallu du temps pour que ce groupe nous comprenne, moi et mon staff. Or le temps, en football, ça coûte très cher et Rodange ne peut pas se permettre d’attendre. Dimanche, contre Mühlenbach, j’ai encore assisté à une rencontre qui n’avait rien à voir avec ce que j’exige de mes équipes. On aurait eu besoin de beaucoup de temps et d’une équipe en capacité de comprendre. Mais je n’ai aucun regret, c’est juste le moment pour le club de Rodange d’explorer une autre solution. Nous, on n’arrivait pas à obtenir ce que l’on voulait des joueurs. Je pouvais perdre des matches, mais pas de cette manière.Qu’on comprenne bien : dans votre esprit, si vous étiez resté, c’était voué à l’échec ?On était loin, très loin, d’obtenir des résultats avec la manière qu’on souhaitait promouvoir. Et perdre les deux ou trois premiers matches fait qu’on n’a pas de temps à perdre. Le mercato est fermé, on n’a pas le temps de repenser l’effectif.Vous avez eu des réactions très crues à la suite des deux derniers matches, laissant penser que vos joueurs sont un peu trop “old school”, travaillés exclusivement par l’envie de jouer un football émotif et de réaction. C’était un problème d’effectif ? Étiez-vous trop ambitieux ou trop exigeant ?Il y a toujours deux opinions très différentes quand il faut répondre à ce genre de question. Je n’aime pas chercher un coupable. Peut-être que moi, je n’ai pas su passer mon message. Peut-être que ce sont eux qui ne l’ont pas reçu. En tout cas, quelque chose s’est passé ou ne s’est pas passé justement, c’est certain. Au niveau des caractéristiques du groupe, je savais qu’il y avait des choses à changer pour entamer une saison de DN, mais ce n’était pas si important de ne pas forcément avoir les caractéristiques de joueurs qu’on désirait à partir du moment où l’on tombait sur des garçons qui avaient une mentalité ouverte et acceptaient de travailler différemment…On comprend donc que la réponse est : les caractéristiques du groupe ne collaient pas à vos préceptes de jeu…Mais on faisait la même chose à Sandweiler par exemple. Les analyses, l’attention portée sur des détails. On mangeait même ensemble les dimanches midi, avant les matches, pour continuer d’en parler et certains, en Promotion d’honneur, trouvaient que c’était trop pour ce niveau. Alors là, en DN, forcément, on a plus de données sur nous, sur les adversaires et c’est normal puisque j’avais constitué un staff de cinq personnes. Des joueurs m’ont dit que c’était trop d’informations à intégrer…Rodange peut-il se maintenir en revenant aux “vieilles” recettes, à quelque chose de moins novateur, qui bouscule moins les habitudes ?Ah le système… Pour moi, le système, c’est juste des plots, des dessins. Les joueurs doivent déjà comprendre qu’en DN, la marge d’erreur est beaucoup plus petite, qu’ils doivent faire attention à la moindre perte de balle et à la façon dont ils doivent être positionnés, au cas où… Le placement, c’est tout bête. Pourtant, c’est exactement ce qu’on était occupés à travailler ces derniers jours. Si on ne contrôle pas ça, on peut mettre n’importe qui à la tête de l’équipe, n’importe quel système… Mais j’ai confiance, ils peuvent s’en sortir.Vous n’auriez pas voulu ou pu, vous, vous adapter à la réalité du club ?On fait attention à tout depuis de longues semaines. Au placement. Au travail individuel. Aux secteurs de jeu. Même dans la difficulté, on le faisait avec plaisir. Mais quand on n’a pas de résultats, si en plus on doit le faire avec des idées de jeu qui ne sont pas les nôtres, alors le plaisir disparaît. En face, chez les joueurs, il n’y avait pas de réponse. On va donc prendre d’autres chemins, sans rancœur et en tirer de l’expérience. Moi, cela renforce mon envie de trouver un club qui me permette de travailler avec mes idées.Entretien avec Julien Mollereau Partager read more

Partager CRASSON A TENTE UN COUP TACTIQUEC’est avec un 3-4-3 novateur que le staff technique dudelangeois a décidé d’entamer cette partie de la dernière chance. Avec un trio Cool-Schnell-Garos qui a très bien tenu et libéré les couloirs pour des tâches plus offensives. De ce point de vue, Bouchouari et Lesquoy ont fait grosso-modo ce qu’on était en droit d’attendre d’eux. L’option n’était pas mauvaise. Le jeu était là. Les occasions de but aussi. La réussite non.LE PHYSIQUE ETAIT A CHARGEThomas Doll avait indiqué la veille de la rencontre qu’il ne changerait pas ses plans à cause du terrain. Mais son onze de base était quand même extrêmement physique. La preuve : deux joueurs seulement en-dessous d’1,80 m et une équipe qui culminait en moyenne à 1,84 m. Le F91 ? Il pointait sept centimètres plus bas, à 1,77 m. Dans le jeu, les petits gabarits très techniques du club dudelangeois ont été bons. Mais ils ont pris cher sur phases arrêtées. L’APOEL n’a presque rien eu besoin de produire pour scorer deux fois grâce à des phases arrêtées. Le côté face…Julien MollereauA LIRE AUSSI : Le F91 éliminé sur un coup de serpillère…A LIRE AUSSI : Cela s’est mal terminé pour Sinani et Stolz…A LIRE AUSSI : les réactions de Dudelange – APOEL Nicosie Le F91 a voulu jouer contre l’APOEL, ce jeudi soir, et il a eu la maîtrise quasi-totale du ballon. Mais il l’a payé sur les phases arrêtées.LE TERRAIN ETAIT MEDIOCRECette pelouse entièrement changée en catastrophe, bâchée toute la nuit, rebâchée après inspection et redécouverte une heure avant le coup d’envoi avait des allures un peu lunaire. Il a fallu, comme l’a prouvé une vidéo publiée dans l’après-midi… l’éponger à la serpillère. Pendant l’échauffement, il était évident que certaines parties étaient très spongieuses et en capacité de freiner le ballon. Mais aucune phase de jeu n’a semblé directement influencée par l’effet de la pelouse. Tant mieux. read more

Liberian-born former United States professional soccer player and Olympian, Doc Lawson who is the newly appointed Global Ambassador to the Last Well, a not for profit US based organization determined to provide clean drinking water throughout Liberia to eradicate water-borne diseases, has arrived in the country.Mr. Lawson said in an interview yesterday at the YMCA in Monrovia that his presence in the country is to review the clean water projects that have been completed since late 2008 by The Last Well. He will also visit several counties during his stay including Montserrado, Margibi, Bong and Bomi with possible visits to both Grand Kru and Maryland where much of the current work is being done. “I’ll also meet with our local partners to ensure that we meet with the objective to eradicate water-borne diseases from the country by 2020,” he said.Ambassador Lawson is expected to meet with senior government officials at the Ministry of Public Works, Speaker of the House Alex Tyler, Ambassador Julie Endee, Chief Zanzan Karwor, Vice President Joseph Boakai, and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during the duration of his four months visit. Several non-governmental organizations that are in partnership with The Last Well are Water of Life, Living Water International, World Hope International, Samaritan’s Purse, Life Water, Equip Liberia, Christian Revival Church Association, Vision Collaborators, Water 4, Teamwork Africa and Wordsower Liberia.Ambassador Lawson is also working in partnership with the YMCA Liberia to bring sports to the communities served with water and the Gospel.“The idea is a way to provide direction for children to be able to develop their capabilities in their growth as individuals,” Ambassador Lawson said. Ambassador Lawson said while there are lots of potentials, Liberians need a little push and therefore Dr. Todd Philips and The Last Well program wants to give Liberians a helping hand to let them aspire to their full potential.The Last Well, a Christian organization is headed by Dr. Todd Philips and it partners with Liberian ministries and other Christian groups to bring the good news of Jesus to the communities they serve. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) read more

Fast-rising singer, Stunna. Stunna says of rumored ‘love affair’ with Master QueenAfter months of silence, Stunna has finally broken his silence on the relationship that exists between him and award-winning radio personality, Master Queen.Over the last month and a half, Stunna and Master Queen have been rumored to be involved in a serious romantic relationship, which started at the end of last year. Rumors of the love affair between the pair swirled in mid-March 2019, after Stunna released a single featuring Master Queen and dedicated to the radio diva.Since the release of the song, “For Life”, according to eyewitnesses, the two have been spotted together in secret places having fun.In an interview with the Daily Observer, Stunna disclosed that the relationship between him and radio diva is more than an ordinary relationship.“Our relationship is beyond ordinary friendship, but I cannot tell you whether we are lovers or not. The truth here is that she is caring, hardworking and possesses lots of qualities of a good wife material. I’m glad that we are moving strong and making progress with our friendship,” the singer said.STUNNA says Radio Diva Master Queen is “wife material.”Stunna, however, refused to directly confirm whether the relationship between him and Master Queen is romantic, despite being pressed about the matter.When asked if the kiss in ‘For Life’ video was real, Stunna said it was and not fake.“It was just a kiss, and nothing more has happened since then; however, our friendship is moving strong,” Stunna said.On his failed record deal with Universal Music Group (UMG) South Africa, Stunna said the deal did not go through due to differences in the contract.“While I needed such a deal, I did not sign it because it was not beneficial to my career,” Stunna added. “Music is business; therefore, I have always been careful of signing any deal before I get trapped in a messy one.”The UMG deal, which was a tabled by UMG South Africa, was worth US$1.5 million, unlike Temple Music, which is not close to that.The UMG deal, according to sources close to the artist, did not materialize after STUNNA’s management team and the record label failed to agree concerning advance payment and ownership of previously recorded songs.The singer currently regarded as the best young artist right now in Liberia, has a huge crossover potential for success both in Africa and the world at large. He disclosed that he is currently working on his LP and expects it to be out any time soon.“I’m in the process of completing the EP, and I’m doing everything possible to make sure it is a fan-favorite. The project, which is expected to be out anytime soon, will contain lots of catchy songs and up-tempo sounds, touching topics ranging from love to politics,” Stunna added.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) read more

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – This week’s Huskies Player of the Week is #4 Defence Ivan Jasbec.Each week, a different player from the Huskies will be interviewed.As part of a weekly feature, Ivan was met at the rink to talk about himself and his team effort.- Advertisement -Ivan Jasbec Facts:Age: 18Height: 6′ 2″Weight: 190 lbs.Shoots: LeftHometown: Comox, B.C. How long have you been with the Huskies?Ivan: “This will be coming onto my second season with the Huskies.”What position do you play?Ivan: “I play right-side defence.”Advertisement How would you describe your style of play?Ivan: “I’m a stay-home defenceman, I like to move the puck up to the boards quick.”Favourite moment with the Huskies?Ivan: “Last year winning that championship in Grande Prairie. [Scott: “That must’ve been quite the experience!”] Yeah, it definitely was.”Favourite hockey team?Ivan: “The Montreal Canadiens.”Favourite player?Ivan: “Shea Weber.”Advertisement What music do you like?Ivan: “I listen to most music but mostly country and rock.”What’s your favourite food?Ivan: “Chicken pasta or some steak.”What do you hope for the future?Ivan: “Hopefully get a Provincial Championship this year and go to school and get my coaching degree.” read more

“A conscientious father would have taken \ driver’s license for a period of time …,” the investigating official said. Bobb’s team found the response to be out of line. “The editorializing and moralizing about the girl is entirely out of place,” the report said. “The report is that the deputy was rude, an allegation that was never investigated. The investigation was nonetheless signed off by the captain and never changed.” The report pointed out two serious problems – complaints were classified improperly as service problems rather than personnel complaints, and in-house investigations were “results-oriented.” In an investigation in Santa Clarita, the official assigned to the case never interviewed the complainant, but rather restated the complaint in a report and made a summary judgment. In another local case, a woman complained she was treated rudely by a deputy who stopped her after she had driven on the opposite side of the road to get around a fallen tree. The deputy, she said, “told her she needed glasses,” according to the report. The investigator determined “the problem appears to be that \ is a poor driver. She didn’t know what to do when her path was blocked.” Again the allegation in the complaint wasn’t addressed. Bobb recommended that countywide operations lieutenants and captains invest more in reviewing in-house investigations. “Approval of biased investigations or summaries should not occur where there is an unwavering commitment to high-quality investigations,” the report said. The report is available online at http://lacounty.info/bobb.htm. Bobb found that, countywide, 35 percent of citizen reports were deficient. Forty percent of those were classified improperly, failing to probe a particular deputy’s actions or behavior. pat.aidem@dailynews.com (661) 257-5251160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! SANTA CLARITA – Countywide handling of citizen complaints by the Sheriff’s Department has improved – except in Santa Clarita, where an independent probe found a high rate of investigations biased in favor of deputies. In a semiannual report on the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department released Thursday, a review team headed by Special Counsel Merrick Bobb found the local station “most in need of improvement” compared with stations throughout the county. “We are also concerned that biased investigations were reviewed and approved throughout the chain of command without apparent comment or concern,” the report said. “At the Santa Clarita Station in particular, the tone of investigative summaries did not always reflect appropriate impartiality and balance.” Santa Clarita station commander Capt. Anthony La Berge was out of town at a conference and could not be reached Thursday for comment. La Berge was assigned in December to head the station, replacing Capt. Patti Minutello, who had been on an extended leave and was then transferred. Some complaints in the report date back to January 2005, said Cmdr. Cecil Rhambo. Sheriff’s officials are reviewing the report, Rhambo said, and determining the validity of the criticism and whether changes are necessary. “We’re visiting each complaint just to see if there’s something we may have missed,” Rhambo said. “We don’t view Mr. Bobb’s report as something we should be overly upset about but if there’s room for changes, we’ll make them.” Missing from the data, he said, was the follow-up to in-house investigations. “There isn’t anything in each case that said what the commander did afterward, whether he talked to the deputy or did any other follow-up,” he said. “I’d love to improve our service – we’re not going to shy away from any advice or criticism – and if what we need to do is more clearly document the after-action, we can move toward that.” In one case a father filed a complain that a local deputy treated his daughter “exceptionally rudely” during a traffic stop. The investigator focused on the deputy’s means of stopping the teenage motorist – ruling it appropriate – but ignored the actual complaint. read more

Darren Fletcher reported nearing the exit – According to widespread reports, the Manchester United stalwart looks set to leave the club this month, with boss Louis van Gaal giving the green light for him to seek a move. Fletcher is in the final six months of his current deal and given his desire for immediate first team football, appears to be weighing up his options. Celtic, Valencia, West Ham and West Brom are all feverishly linked with the 30-year-old. £112m for Marquinhos? – Click the arrow for the latest news on United’s interest in Gareth Bale – That’s the figure being quoted by The Sun, with the publication reporting that in preliminary talks surrounding a potential deal, PSG have told United chiefs that it will take a world record sum to tempt them into selling the 20-year-old defender. While that figure is expected to drop, it is believed to be a signal that the French giants want to make a significant profit on the £26m they spent on Marquinhos in 2013. 4 With just over 10 days remaining in the winter transfer window, the heat is on for clubs to conclude their business.One of those reportedly feeling the pressure to sign new players is Manchester United, who are yet to bring in reinforcements. But is that about to change?Click the arrow for the latest Red Devils transfer gossip… Gareth Bale update – Click the arrow for more about the defensive midfielder linked with a move to Old Trafford – United had been linked with an audacious swap deal that would see goalkeeper David De Gea trade places with Gareth Bale but, speaking to talkSPORT, the club’s former coach Rene Meulensteen has told the Red Devils to ‘forget about’ moving for the Welshman. 4 United to finally land Witsel? – Click the arrow to see which Red Devils’ star looks set to leave the club this month – It seems Axel Witsel has grown weary of life in Russia and is seeking a move to England, naming Man United as one of his favoured destinations. The defensive midfielder was linked with a move to Old Trafford four years ago, but it seems as though at 26 years old, he is keen on testing himself in England. The Daily Mail have the player quoted as saying: “We’ll see in the future. I have always liked Manchester Untied from when I was young.” 4 4 read more