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Tag: Belgium

  • Importers of fake PMS won’t go unpunished- NNPC

    Importers of fake PMS won’t go unpunished- NNPC

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has said firms that imported the recent adulterated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, into the country would not go unpunished.

    In a statement signed by its Group General Manager- public affairs, Garba Deen Muhammad, pointed out that NNPC is working with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDRA) to take necessary actions in line with subsisting regulations.

    Reassuring Nigerians of its capacity to restore sanity in the supply and distribution of quality PMS across the country within a short period, the Chief Executive Officer/ Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, pointed out that defaulting suppliers have been put on notice for remedial actions.

    The statement, in parts, read: “Providing a graphic chronicle of the unfortunate incident, the NNPC CEO said that on 20th January 2022, the company received a report from its quality inspector on the presence of emulsion particles in PMS cargoes shipped to Nigeria from Antwerp-Belgium.

    “He explained that NNPC investigation revealed the presence of Methanol in four PMS cargoes imported by the following Direct-Sale-Direct-Purchase (DSDP) suppliers as listed in the table below.

    Importer Vessel Name Load Port

    1 MRS — MT Bow Pioneer — LITASCO Terminal, Antwerp-Belgium

    2 Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium —- MT Tom Hilde —- LITASCO Terminal, Antwerp-Belgium

    3 Oando — MT Elka Apollon — LITASCO Terminal, Antwerp-Belgium

    4 Duke Oil —– MT Nord Gainer —-LITASCO Terminal, Antwerp-Belgium

    “He noted that cargoes quality certificates issued at loadport (Antwerp-Belgium) by AmSpec Belgium indicated that the gasoline complied with Nigerian Specification.

    It is important to note that the usual quality inspection protocol employed in both the load port in Belgium and our discharge ports in Nigeria do not include the test for Percent methanol content and therefore the additive was not detected by our quality inspectors

     

    “The NNPC quality inspectors including GMO, SGS, GeoChem, and G&G conducted tests before discharge also showed that the gasoline met Nigerian specification,” he said.

    According to the statement, Kyari noted that as a standard practice for all PMS imports to Nigeria, the said cargoes were equally certified by an inspection agent appointed by the NMDRA.

    “It is important to note that the usual quality inspection protocol employed in both the load port in Belgium and our discharge ports in Nigeria do not include the test for Percent methanol content and therefore the additive was not detected by our quality inspectors” Kyari stated.

    Adding: “However, in order to prevent the distribution of the petrol, the NNPC CEO said the company promptly ordered the quarantine of all un-evacuated volumes and the holding back of all the affected products in transit (both truck & marine).

  • Former Tottenham player Mousa Dembele retires

    Former Tottenham player Mousa Dembele retires

    Former Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele has chosen to retire.

    Dembélé left European football and Tottenham for China’s Guangzhou City FC in January 2019.

    Now several foreign media sources report the midfielder has decided to end his career.

    Something that his former club Tottenham confirms by congratulating Dembélé on a great career.

    “A special talent. Congratulations on an incredible career, Mousa. Enjoy your retirement,” stated the London club.

  • Thierry Henry questions character of modern players

    Thierry Henry questions character of modern players

    Arsenal legend Thierry Henry says he feels ready to return to management.

    Henry, who coached AS Monaco and Montreal Impact, admits he’s struggled to understand the character of the modern player.

    He told GQ: “I would love to do this, but you have to be equipped for it. Sometimes you also need the right tools, the right team that understands what and who you are.

    “You have to go and meet this new generation.

    “You must understand that sometimes being late for them is good. So I was educated in a certain way, but the players at the moment are re-educating me.

    “I grew up in the ‘shut up and play’ era. I grew up where you can’t challenge your trainer. I grew up with the idea that if you don’t play, you know why, it’s because you are s***.”

  • Hazard can no longer dribble 5 to 6 players – Benteke

    Hazard can no longer dribble 5 to 6 players – Benteke

    Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke says Eden Hazard retains the support of his Belgium teammates.

    Hazard will miss Belgium’s clash with Wales after helping his country qualify for the World Cup with victory over Estonia.

    He is now back with Real Madrid and Benteke says the decision is one Belgium’s players understands.

    He said: “Today Eden Hazard is a different player because he has a history of injuries. He learns things and tries to avoid contact, even if his game requires it.

    “But he shows intelligence in what he can do better. He is still a human being who tries to avoid take hits because there are pains that remain and unconsciously, you think about it.

    “The Eden that dribbled five or six men is over. But the fact that he no longer does it does not mean that it will not be decisive.”

  • Eden Hazard architect of his career problem – Belgium legend

    Eden Hazard architect of his career problem – Belgium legend

    Belgium legend, Marc Desgryse, has revealed why Eden Hazard failed at Real Madrid.

    He said that the Belgium national team captain underestimated his big-money transfer from Chelsea to Real Madrid.

    Hazard departed Stamford Bridge for the Santiago Bernabeu in 2019 after seven successful years in west London.

    But his Real Madrid career has so far been blighted by injuries and poor form, with the winger currently on a 10-match goalless streak for the LaLiga giants.

    Desgryse believes that Hazard was the architect of his own problems majorly because the 30-year-old turned up overweight to his first ever training session at Real Madrid.

    “Incomprehensible. I still don’t understand it today. That he came to the first training with 7 kilos overweight,” he told Het Laatste Nieuws.

    “It doesn’t matter if they were five. How do you do that? Gain five kilos in three weeks. It’s hard to understand that you start preparing like this.

    “Then he started training at the same pace as the other players, but that is not possible. First you have to get rid of those extra kilos.

    “As a result, he immediately suffered a muscle injury. And then he rejoined without having laid the foundations of a good season.

    “He seriously underestimated Real Madrid.”

  • Lukaku reveals why he enjoys playing for Belgium

    Lukaku reveals why he enjoys playing for Belgium

    Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku admits he enjoys playing for Belgium.

    Lukaku says he relishes the freedom he enjoys for coach Roberto Martinez’s national team.

    He declared: “The 100 appearances for Belgium? One hundred appearances is something you try to achieve as a young man. I was lucky enough to have started at an early age: now I am 28 years old. It’s been almost 12 years with many ups and downs, but as a team we have always continued to grow.

    “In the end, the ultimate goal remains to win and this is my motivation. Every time I play for the national team, I want to win. And win a tournament.

    “Am I the all-time top scorer for the national team? I didn’t immediately start scoring goals for the national team. It took me some time. But once I got used to it, I knew I would have the opportunity to score and that the other players would let me do it. And everyone else started scoring too, not just me: Eden [Hazard], Kevin [De Bruyne], Dries [Mertens].

    “This made me think that we have a really high quality up front. And for me it was like a sweet shop: always scoring goals.”

  • Euro 2020: Belgium take on Italy, Swiss tackle Spain in Euro quarters

    Euro 2020: Belgium take on Italy, Swiss tackle Spain in Euro quarters

    Top-ranked Belgium take on fellow form side Italy later on Friday as the first Euro 2020 quarter-finals take place.

    Both teams with 100 per cent records so far at the tournament will meet in Munich, with Belgium having major injury doubts surrounding creative midfielders Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne.

    The first quarter-final in St Petersburg pits Switzerland, the conquerors of world champions France, against free-scoring Spain.

    The Spanish started the tournament slowly with two draws but then thumped Slovakia 5-0 and Croatia 5-3 after extra-time in the last 16.

  • Euro 2020: Portugal out as Belgium set up quarter final tie with Italy

    Euro 2020: Portugal out as Belgium set up quarter final tie with Italy

    A moment of class from Thorgan Hazard proved enough to knock out holders Portugal as Belgium continued their pursuit of a first major title by reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2020.

    The Borussia Dortmund winger’s swerving drive from 25 yards arrived late in a cagey first-half and carried Roberto Martinez’s side into a mouth-watering meeting with Italy on Friday.

    Portugal – who again only introduced Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes from the bench – will look back on key Diogo Jota chances, a Ruben Dias header that was saved and a late Raphael Guerreiro drive that struck the post.

    Kevin De Bruyne’s fitness may dominate headlines in the build-up to the Italy showdown in Munich after he limped off moments after half-time, and Belgium also lost Eden Hazard to a complaint late on.

    The world’s highest-ranked side may have key holes to fill but again they have showed they possess the grit to complement their undoubted quality.

  • Euro 2020: Belgium target first win against Portugal in 32 years ahead round of 16 clash

    Euro 2020: Belgium target first win against Portugal in 32 years ahead round of 16 clash

    One of the standout ties in the last-16 stage of Euro 2020 will take place in Seville on Sunday evening, with Belgium, who have a 100% record at this summer’s competition, facing champions Portugal.

    Belgium breezed into the knockout round by winning all three of their Group B fixtures to top the section, while Portugal ultimately qualified from Group F in third behind France and Germany.

    Belgium might have topped their section with three wins from three matches, but Roberto Martinez’s side face a Portuguese side they have not beaten for over 30 years.

    The last time Belgium defeated Portugal was in 1989 during qualifiers for the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

    Playing at home, Belgium triumphed 3-0 in the second-leg of the qualifiers after the first-leg ended 1-1.

    Since the victory 32 years ago, Belgium are winless in their last five fixtures against Portugal, losing three and drawing two.

    Both teams last met in a friendly in June 2018 which ended in a goalless draw.

    Martinez’s team selection for this match is going to be fascinating, but it is expected to be Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard alongside Lukaku in the final third of the field, leaving Dries Mertens on the bench.

    Dedryck Boyata should get the nod over Jason Denayer to start in the back three, while Thorgan Hazard is likely to keep out Yannick Carrasco to feature as the left-sided wing-back for the Red Devils.

    Youri Tielemans was an unused substitute against Finland but will be back in the side for this match, with Witsel also potentially featuring in the middle of the park, which would allow De Bruyne to form part of the front three.

    As for Portugal, Nelson Semedo had been expected to miss out with the problem that he picked up against France in the latter stages of Wednesday’s contest, but the defender has trained ahead of his match and should get the nod once again, with Diogo Dalot on standby.

    Danilo Pereira is also a doubt with the blow to the face that he suffered against the world champions, but the midfielder is being tipped to overcome the issue to feature as part of a midfield three.

    As a result, Bruno Fernandes could again be named on the bench, with Santos likely to stick with the 4-3-3 formation that worked well on Wednesday.

    William Carvalho and Ruben Neves are options to replace Danilo – who trained on Friday – but a switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation could also be in the mind of the manager, which would allow Fernandes to return to the starting side but potentially make the holders more open against a dangerous Belgium outfit.

  • I belong on world class list – Lukaku

    I belong on world class list – Lukaku

    Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku has declared himself “world class”.

    Lukaku feels he still doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.

    He said, “I have progressed a great deal, but always try to give more. Everyone talks about form, but I think it’s more that I have stepped up a level in my career and now I’m trying to make another step. The objective is to win the Euros with Belgium.

    “When people talk about Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema or Harry Kane, they are called ‘world class’ – but when it comes to me, it’s just considered ‘good form.’

    “That motivated me to work harder and get stronger. Now I believe that I belong in that list of world class players.”

    Lukaku was asked about his rivalry with Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

    “I’d like to have Ronaldo’s dribbling skills and his shot. I think he’d like my power and the way I play with my back to the goal.”