Monday, 27 January 2014

Arsenal announce long-term Puma kit deal

The Gunners have confirmed an agreement with the sportswear manufacturers which will take effect in the summer of 2014
Arsenal

The reality star tells Jimmy Kimmel where her wedding will be.

This summer, the city of love and light will be turned into the city of Kimye.
Kim Kardashian visited Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday flaunting her post baby body in a Pink Dior crop top and skirt, where she said that it's "kind of obvious" she and fiancé , Kanye West will say "I Do" in Paris.
"We will be getting married this summer hopefully in Paris, we love it there," Kim said. "When I said hopefully I didn't mean hopefully getting married, I just meant hopefully this summer." Kim and Kanye, who became engaged this past October, were recently spotted in Paris, which she calls "her second home," where they not only hit up a few fashion shows, but made a stop at the Palace of Versailles. However, despite reports Kim will not be walking down the aisle at the famed palace.
"We took a private tour," Kim said of her time at Versailles. "Him [Kanye] and I have never been there so we wanted a private tour and of course everyone thought we were picking that as our wedding place and all of that."

Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, pregnant Ciara and Amber Rose looking fabulous at last night's Grammy Awards which held at The Staples Center in Los Angeles. Continue to see more red carpet photos and full list of winners...

17-year-old Lorde won Best Pop Solo Performance and Song of the Year for Royals. Amazing! Love that song...

Album of the Year

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

NOMINEES:

Sara Bareilles - The Blessed Unrest

Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, M.A.A.D City

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist

Taylor Swift - Red

Record of the Year

Daft Punk Featuring Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers - "Get Lucky"

NOMINEES:

Imagine Dragons - "Radioactive"

Lorde - "Royals"

Bruno Mars - "Locked Out Of Heaven"

Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell - "Blurred Lines"

Justin Bieber Skips Grammys For Panama

A face that was noticeably missing from this year's Grammy Awards is one recently seen smiling in a mug shot. Bieber was apparently absent because he's in Panama with manager Scooter Braun, BFF Ryan Butler and mentor Usher. Though, according to reports, the dudes aren't on a casual vacation. Bieber's friends are staging a sit-down with the singer to talk some sense in to him after his bad behavior has landed him in hot water recently. Jury's still out on whether or not any kind of intervention might have an impact.

Photos: Singer Dencia at the Grammys, mistaken for Nicki Minaj

The Cameroonian singer stepped on the Grammy red carpet last night and some people mistook her for US rapper Nicki Minaj. Entertainment Weekly had to do a public announcement letting people know she wasn't Nicki. See that after the cut. Dencia looks fab!

Grammys Xclusive:-Beyoncé's Booty Breaks The Internet

Queen Bey opened the 2014 Grammy Awards with a twerk-tastic rendition of her hit "Drunk (In Love)." Rocking a black bodysuit and wet hair, Beyoncé spun on a slowly rotating platform, proving her power vocals and her insane dance skills with ease. But it was when her hubby Hova appeared on stage that the performance heated up to smokin' hot. The moment where Jay Z grabbed his wife's butt basically broke the internet. We can't seem to get the GIF out of our minds... nor do we want to.

See GOBE:-Regent University student buys cannabis with tuition fee

A Nigerian undergraduate student who used his tuition fee to buy hard drug has been arrested for drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said in a statement on Saturday.

NDLEA said the suspect, Udiomeh Kufre Ita, a student of the faculty of Management Sciences at the Regent University in Ghana, was arrested at the weekend at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. He was caught with 1.745 kilogrammes of dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis popularly called hemp.

Tonto and AY are good friends. She's even done a few skits for AY comedy shows but last night the two friends went for each other, well more like Tonto went for AY.

Trouble started after the comedian re-posted a link to a story on his blog which was an earlier post about Tonto's look at the Calabar Carnival in December 2013. Tonto felt he was making fun of her and went for the jugular. See more tweets after the cut..

Picture courtesy of McLaren

Photos: Rihanna wows in yellow at pre-Grammy gala #jawdrops

Li Na: slump in form followed her maiden major title at the 2011 French Open but don't expect a repeat this time

It says a lot that Li Na opted to take a nap shortly before her Australian Open final triumph, finding brief relief from the relentless attention which follows her every move.

Being the most successful player from the world's most populous country in a global sport can't be an easy burden to carry - but she made light work of the load on Saturday night on Melbourne Park.
Not without a few blips, that is, having let Dominika Cibulkova back in the first set from an early break up then failing to serve it out, as if just to keep her hefty following on tenterhooks.

"Li will certainly be a popular champion among the WTA given the fan base she brings to the tour, while a thoroughly likeable character (Cibulkova) from another country with relatively little heritage in the game will do it no harm at all."
Tim Clement

The drama stopped there as she romped through the second set 6-0 but that one-sided scoreline is a contrast to her route to this moment of glory.
Two final defeats on the Rod Laver Arena, also from a set to the good, must have been hard to eradicate from the mind after eventually closing out the first set.
Responding to failure seems an obvious issue but it has actually been the success which seems to have really caused the real mental problems, with her breakthrough Grand Slam success sparking a sharp decline in results.
Li bounced backed from her first Australian Open final loss in 2011 by claiming the French Open title later that year, only to fail to make it past the fourth round at any of the following six majors.
Becoming a first Grand Slam champion from her continent, and the inevitable raised expectations that came with that, appeared to be all too much.
Last year, however, things started to get back on track with another final appearance at Melbourne Park followed by quarter-final and semi-final runs at Wimbledon and the US Open.

Kind draw

Mata pays tribute to Chelsea fans in heartfelt open letter

The Spain international, who moved to Stamford Bridge from Valencia in 2011, has thanked the west London club's supporters and praised former team-mates and managers

New Manchester United signing Juan Mata has penned a moving and classy farewell letter to the fans of former club Chelsea after bidding farewell to Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Read it in full below...

Hi everyone,

As you can imagine this is a very important day in my life, and with these lines I would like to express the memories and emotions that come to me as I write.

This letter is written from my heart, and first of all I would like to say that I will never forget all the affection given to me by the Chelsea fans. From the very first day until the last.

With your support and affection I have grown up as a player and I have had an amazing time both on and off the pitch. I will always feel the gratitude towards you. Always. No words are enough to give back all the things I have received.

There has been plenty of good moments: the FA Cup, my first trophy as a Blue; the immense happiness of winning titles for the first time in the club’s history, such as that magical Champions League night in Munich and the Europa League.

On the other hand, I have experienced some complicated situations from a personal point of view, mainly during the last six months. Every message I got through the social media, every nice word you have said to me on the street, and of course, your support in the stadium, has made me feel incredibly proud of the Chelsea fans; you deserve a team like the one you’ve got, with so many fantastic players.

I won’t forget the faith you put in me when I was given the player of the year award the last two seasons. I feel really proud and I will never forget those nights.

Thank you so much for the way you have treated me, you have been unbelievable. I hope you understand that after going through a complicated and, for me, new situation in the last few months, I believe this is the best choice in order to carry on with my football career and to keep enjoying this sport.

"And [thank you] to Jose, for making me a stronger player, because in difficult moments, I have learnt to remain positive and to keep working hard"

- Juan Mata

Before last summer, my intention was to stay here for a long time; as long as the club wanted me to, and to keep winning trophies for Chelsea FC. This is how happy I was in the club and in the city. However, as you all know, things changed after the preseason. From feeling like an important player, I started to experience some difficult situations and I felt unable to help the team to the extent that I wanted and was used to. Obviously, I fully respect the circumstances.

Football is a team sport and it’s not easy to play regularly in such a good squad. In sports you may win or lose, but the most important thing is to give everything. I hope you know and feel that I have always done so. In every game, in every training session, without exception. I have always tried my best for the club.

I would like to emphasise the affection, admiration and respect that I’ve had for my former team mates since the first day. I want to thank the captains for their help and understanding at all times. They made me feel comfortable when I arrived and they have supported me throughout the difficult times this season.

I thank all my former team mates for these two and a half years and I wish them the best, personally and professionally, for the future. Of course I have been closer to some of them, but the most important thing is that my years in Chelsea have left me with great friends. Friends forever, football rivalries aside.

I also want to highlight the day-to-day job of every member of the Chelsea staff: medical team, kit men, staff at Cobham and Stamford Bridge, media and marketing department, Chelsea TV team… All of them are very important in making this club a great one. Thank you for your treatment and your efforts to make the life of the players easier.

Furthermore, thanks to every manager I have had the pleasure to work with during my time here. They have all been a big help for my progression as a player. I have always respected their decisions, whatever they were; they made me more mature and a stronger person. You learn from everything, and certain situations make you think about other team mates who are coping with similar situations more regularly.

Thank you Andre for giving me the opportunity to join Chelsea FC. Without your support, none of this would have happened. To Robbie and Rafa, for their unlimited trust in me. And to Jose, for making me a stronger player, because in difficult moments, I have learnt to remain positive and to keep working hard.

Lastly, I want to thank the Club, and in particular its owner, Roman Abramovich, for trusting me and making an important investment when signing me. Also for their understanding regarding my situation over the last months. I’m very glad to have been part of the squad that made his and our dream come true: winning the Champions League on that unforgettable night in Munich. Additionally, my years in Chelsea have been profitable for the club, which I’m very pleased about.

I want to make clear that the stage that now comes to an end has been extremely important for me, personally and professionally. Although many of you, like myself, never thought this moment would come, this is football and a new chapter is about to begin.

I would have liked to say good bye to all of you in the stadium, or in a press conference, but it has not been possible. I’m sure I will be able to do it in the future, because that is what you deserve.

Evidently, today is a day of mixed feelings, remembering the past and looking forward to the future and what it has to bring. I look forward to being happy and to enjoy what I like the most: play football.

I will never forget my time in Chelsea and the affection I take with me, I will keep forever.

I wish you the best. A big hug to all of you.

THANK YOU so much,
Juan

North Korea leader reported to have killed his late uncle's entire family

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, may have killed his late uncle's entire family, including children, if reports from South Korea is to be believed. Kim Jong-un (right) executed his uncle, Jang Song Thaek (left), once regarded as the second most powerful person in North Korea, in December 2013 for allegedly 'trying to overthrow the Government'

South Korea's state news agency, Yonhap, reports that Kim not only executed his uncle, but also his entire family, including his children and relatives serving as ambassadors to Cuba and Malaysia.

"Extensive executions have been carried out for relatives of Jang Song-thaek. All relatives of Jang have been put to death, including even children." Yonhap wrote in a report published today January 26th. Continue...

Ramsey the best player in Premier League this season, says Vieira

The former Arsenal captain says the Wales international has had a major influence on the Gunners' season and has praised Arsene Wenger for keeping his faith in the midfielder
Patrick Vieira believes Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has been the best player in the Premier League this season.

The 23-year-old has scored 13 goals in 27 appearances this term to help guide Arsene Wenger’s side to the top of the table.

Ramsey has not featured for Arsenal since Boxing Day due to a thigh injury but Vieira says the Wales international has had a major influence in his side’s campaign so far.

“Aaron has been terrific and fantastic,” Vieira told reporters. “He has been the best and most consistent player in the Premier League.

“At the start of the season he was fantastic because of the number of goals he scored from midfield but also the number of goals he created.

"If Arsenal are top it's because he has been the best player as the start of the season.”

Vieira praised Wenger for maintaining his trust in Ramsey, whose early career at Arsenal was disrupted after he suffered a double leg break in February 2010.

"Arsene is really good at developing and trusting young players,” Vieira continued.

“What's stopped Ramsey's progress was injuries in the last few years but now he has sorted that out.

"Credit to Arsenal and Arsene who believed in him.

"And credit to Aaron as well because even with all the injuries, he's kept working hard, believing in himself and that he could make it.

"The ability has always been there and I'm pleased he is now showing what he is capable of."

Here's the first pic of Annie Idibia since she gave birth to her second child about 3weeks ago..getting ready to hit the town with her bestie, Mary Koko. And check out her Guiseppe Zanotti sandals. Nice.

Saturday, 25 January 2014

Cartoon of the day:Rosell's special delivery for Neymar's parents

The controversy surrounding the resignation of Barcelona president Sandro Rosell rumbles on in Spain.

Rosell stepped down on Thursday, following the announcement of an investigation into the transfer of Neymar to Camp Nou.

At a press conference on Friday, Rosell's replacement, Josep Maria Bartomeu, was adamant the deal to sign the Brazil international cost €57.1 million.

Of that €57.1m transfer fee, €40m went to Neymar's parents, with the deal - including a signing-on fee, commission, marketing and other add-ons - totalling €86.2m.

"I guarantee we have not lied," Bartomeu said, denying any wrongdoing. "Football games are won on the field of play and we have always been highly responsible in the way we have dealt with our contracts. My colleagues have a high level of expertise."

Samsung profits slow as Apple bites back Stagnant sales suggest Samsung boom is over.

Samsung's quarterly profits grew at their slowest rate since 2011 in the fourth quarter of last year, with the squeeze from Apple’s iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C likely to blame for the Korean giant’s stagnation.
The company made an overall profit of £4 billion in the three months to December 2013. However, its mobile division’s income proved to be flat compared to the same quarter in 2012.
Sales of its Galaxy S4 device came in at nine million for the quarter, according to Daewoo Securities analysts. While that's only one phone in a huge roster, it does not compare well to Apple’s projected sales of over 55 million iPhones in the same time period.
Samsung’s earnings are expected to flatline in 2014, as it faces up to pressures not only from Apple, but also from manufacturers across Asia offering cheaper smartphones.
Reports have also suggested that the company is looking to slash its huge marketing budget and bring it in line with profits.
Samsung's spending on advertising and marketing has outstripped Apple, Google and HTC in recent years, helping the South Korean tech giant to its position as the world’s biggest mobile-maker.
Samsung will be hoping its forthcoming Galaxy S5 can wrest back the initiative. The device is due to launch in spring, with April a likely release date.
Source:
Bloomberg

Tags: Business, Samsung, Apple, Samsung Galaxy S5

Michael Essien: Could be set for AC Milan loan

According to a report by Channels TV, seven men appeared in court in Bauchi on Wednesday, Jan. 22, on charges of being involved in same-sex relationships.

The case drew thousands of protesters to the court, who threw stones at the men as they were being transported back to prison after the trial, as security forces fired into the air to disperse the angry crowd.

The men were arrested by the Bauchi State Sharia Commission for allegedly engaging in homosexual activities, acts that contravene the Islamic laws which the state had been operating under since 2001.

The men were named as Shehu Adamu, Yusuf Adamu, Aliyu Dalhatu, Abdulmalik Tanko, Usman Sabo and Hazif Sabo Abubakar and Ibrahim Marafa. Continue...

It was the first case since President Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill that criminalises same-sex relationships, defying Western pressure over gay rights and provoking criticism from the United States.

The bill, which contains penalties of up to 14 years in prison and bans gay marriage, same-sex “amorous relationships” and membership of gay rights groups, was passed by the National Assembly last May but Jonathan had delayed signing it into law until early January.

At Thursday’s trial, the prosecuting lawyer said the case was a direct result of the recently-passed law.

“This is further to the law against homosexuals which was signed by the President. It has to be implemented. People caught breaking this law must be prosecuted accordingly,” said Danlami Ayuba.

The trial was adjourned to January 27.

Transfer news: Cardiff and Stoke talks over striker swap deal

Peter Odemwingie: Might be set for switch

Kenwyne Jones: Could be leaving Stoke City

Stoke and Cardiff are in talks over a swap deal involving Peter Odemwingie and Kenywne Jones, Sky sources understand.

Jones is looking to leave Stoke after falling out-of-favour under Mark Hughes, and Cardiff are set to offer him the chance to move to South Wales.
In-return, Odwemingie - who only joined Cardiff in the summer from West Brom - could be set for a quick return to the Midlands.
29-year-old Jones, who joined Stoke from Sunderland in 2010, has started just four league games this season and is yet to score.
Odemwingie, 31, has scored just once for Cardiff since his move.

iPhone 6: Apple testing 4.9” screen-toting smartphone? Chinese site reckons the future of iPhones is larger

The advent of the so-called iPhablet looks to be edging closer, amid claims that Apple is testing a device with a 4.9-inch screen.
According to insiders cited by Chinese site C Technology, the supersized iPhone will likely land next year, when Apple will apparently boost the screen size of the top-end iPhone 5S and its lower-cost cousin, the iPhone 5C.
iphone 6 concept phablet

The 4.9-inch screen, which sits neatly between the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays previously reported to be set to feature on future Apple phones, is seemingly intended for the iPhone 5S. It’s not known how large the refreshed 5C’s display will be.
Talk of an iPhone phablet comes after a coterie of analysts yesterday forecast that Apple could hike the price of the next iPhone by around $100. That’s about £65.
The mooted increase is down to the higher cost of components. Not least the aforesaid larger screen. But also a beefier processor and more storage.
Until now, Apple has kept iPhone prices static with each new generation, seemingly able to absorb increasing parts costs thanks to the high margins the tech giant makes on its handsets.
Via:
Unwired View

Tags: Apple, iPhone 6

Goldie Hawn 'appalled' for calling President Jonathan wonderful after finding out about anti-gay law

Hollywood actress and activist Goldie Hawn met President Jonathan on January 22nd at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, took a pic with him, shared it on twitter and described the president as 'wonderful president of Nigeria'.

Thing is, Goldie Hawn is a staunch supporter of gay rights and when some fans lashed out at her for taking a pic with an anti-gay president and praising him, Goldie said she had no idea and was appalled. She immediately deleted the pic with the president and apologized to her twitter followers. Continue.

She told Huffingtonpost this morning at Davos

"First of all, the pic had every right to cause an uproar. I had no idea," Hawn said, noting she "literally hadn't looked at the news" because she's been traveling and writing a book.

Hawn said that's "no excuse," and she was "absolutely appalled" when she found out about Jonathan's anti-gay views. "This has nothing to do with my philosophy,"

Hawn called Jonathan's anti-gay actions "very fear-based" and "full of hatred."

"It breaks my heart because I have my own personal feelings about this. This is man's inhumanity to man of the first order. It's more than ridiculous, it's barbaric," Hawn said

Transfer news: Chelsea's Juan Mata having Manchester United medical

David Moyes welcomes Juan Mata ahead of his Manchester United medical

Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata has arrived to undergo his medical at Manchester United ahead of his proposed transfer, the Premier League champions have confirmed.

The Spain international is expected to train with his new team-mates on Sunday,
with United set to conclude the deal on Monday when the paperwork can be submitted to the Premier League.
The Old Trafford club posted a photo on their Twitter feed which showed Mata being greeted by United boss David Moyes after arriving by helicopter at the club's training ground.
United and Chelsea have already reached agreement over the transfer but the Spain star still has to agree personal terms and pass his medical.
United had confirmed on their Twitter feed on Friday evening: "MUFC has reached agreement with Chelsea for the transfer of Juan Mata for a club record fee.

"The deal is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms. A further announcement will be made in due course."
And Chelsea confirmed: "Chelsea Football Club has reached an agreement with Manchester United for the transfer of Juan Mata. The move is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms."
United will reportedly hand over £37m for Mata, far exceeding their previous club record of £30.75m they spent on Dimitar Berbatov in 2008.
The fee also represents a hefty profit for Chelsea on a player they signed for £23.5m from Valencia in 2011.
Speaking at his Friday afternoon press conference, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho wished Mata well.
He said: "He's a fantastic player and despite not playing a lot for us in the last period could be a very important player for us. But Juan had this fantastic opportunity for him.
"It's what he wants. It's what he asked us to accept. Chelsea Football Club is proud to act this way, in an open way, in a human way."
Mata was named Chelsea's player of the year in each of the past two seasons but has been reduced to a bit-part role since Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge.
"The offer we've received we feel is the right offer for the quality of the player," Mourinho said. "It's a good move for Juan, it's a good move for the Premier League and the offer is the right offer. He was fantastic for Chelsea, and Chelsea were fantastic for him."
Responding to criticism of the sale from some supporters, he said: "If the fans are sad that Juan is leaving, I will say that we are also sad. No one is jumping around the place."

Salah medical

Mata's replacement in the Chelsea squad will be Mohamed Salah, subject to a successful medical.
Salah has agreed personal terms, but Mourinho explained that he will have to have his medical - the last step in the deal to sign him from Basel - in Switzerland.
"He's a non-EC player. He cannot come to England for his medical, so we have to travel to meet him and to have the medical, probably in Switzerland. Only after that can we do the paperwork to bring him to the country," said Mourinho, who is excited by the signing.
"I like the fact that he can play the same way our attacking players do, which is players with adaptability, to play right, left, or behind the striker.
"He's young, he's fast, he's creative, he's enthusiastic. When we analysed him he looks the kind of humble personality on the pitch, ready to work for the team and to work and to adapt himself to a new life.

"We believe if he comes that he will have a similar process to the Willian one. Willian needed two or three months to grow up and to feel comfortable playing for us (following his August signing from Anzhi Makhachkala).
"We think with him and (Andre) Schurrle, (Eden) Hazard, Oscar and Willian we will be fine.
"We lose an experienced top player like Juan, but we bring in a young player with great potential.
"Willian did that transition from his previous world to the top world of football. Hopefully, if Salah comes, he can do the same. We are ready to help, we are ready to support.
"He has some experience in Europe, the Europa League, Champions League, so he's not a naive boy arriving in the jungle.
"Hopefully he comes and hopefully with the talented players we have around in the same positions we all can develop together."

Nigeria's former Minister Humphrey Abah& wife welcome baby 23yrs after marriage

Congratulations on the arrival of your baby 23 years after marriage. Did you ever think it was going to be like this?

Before I got married, my view of the marriage institution was that marriage was a sanctuary; a place where a woman could actualise her dream together with her partner. I understood very early that marriage usually gives some form of security and the expectation was that in it, one should blossom, be fruitful and multiply generally as the Bible says. That was basically how I saw marriage in my youthful age because I finally married at the age of 27 and I was still quite young.

In essence, you did not anticipate the challenge of having a baby…

No, I didn’t anticipate it, the truth is that as a young child who was brought up by a very strict mother, I saw life as a bit of calculation: a sort of ‘1+1 =2 and 2+2=4.’ So if you get married, you expect that after nine months, as they say, you will have a child or children. My challenge has made me very sensitive to what parents and well wishers normally do at wedding ceremonies. During a wedding, people start talking about gathering again for a naming ceremony after nine months. They say it as a joke but that is the genesis of pressure on married women. So, if yours doesn’t happen after nine months, there is a question mark there and you begin to fret and other problems come in.

Did you have any health challenge when you were growing up that could have delayed your giving birth?

Not really, it was much later in life that the health challenge came. I have been a banker since 1987 when I undertook my National Youth Service Corps. I served in a bank as a lawyer. I continued to work in the bank thereafter. Because I ended up in the banking industry, I decided to update myself in everything related to the industry.

During these trying moments in your life, did you feel that somebody somewhere was responsible for your predicament?

The truth is that in the whole of the 23 years, I refused to focus on such things. I didn’t worry about who it was, what it was, where it was or how it was. I did not want to get myself involved in what would cause me anguish for the rest of my life.

You are from Cross River State while your husband is from Kogi State. Was there resistance from your parents when you initially wanted to marry Mr. Humphrey Abbah?

The way we met each other was very peculiar and our marriage was also peculiar. Our families did not actually affect us. They were not there when we met and when we started courting. Our families were not so involved and when it came to the decision of marriage, we took that decision on our own but involved our families later. My husband is not somebody that you can force to do something which he doesn’t believe in. So, even when we got married, that was already established in his family . When he said this was the young lady he wanted to marry, I don’t think he had too much opposition. If there was any at all, it was very insignificant. The truth is that my father-in-law was a very lovely person; a gentleman who had a lot of respect for his son. By the time we got married, his mother was late and my parents were late too. So, his father was the focal point and the cordial relationship they had made it easy. The rest of my family and the elders gave us a little bit of tough time as you would expect in inter-cultural marriages. But it didn’t take us time to be able to woo them to our side and that was it.

At what stage did you begin to get worried?

My first signal was when I was 30 years and three years in my marriage. At first, it didn’t really worry me because as a career person, I felt we should take it in our stride. I was already beginning to make waves in the banking industry and the demands of the job were already telling on me. Also in my innocence, I didn’t really feel it was an issue. But by the time I was 30 and nothing had happened, I asked myself, ‘what’s going on here?’ Then I began to be conscious of it and started making deliberate efforts to get pregnant. Before this time, there was no real effort. When the pregnancy was not forthcoming, I began to suspect that there was a real problem. But as usual, I went to the doctors, they said there was no problem and suggested that I should give myself time because I was a busy lady. But after about a year, I went back and they gave me one or two interpretations as to what could be wrong and we started tackling it from there and it came to the point that by 2011, the doctors were saying nothing could be done.

Which was your first point of call, church or hospital?

By 1991 when we got married, we became born again and the church had become a focal point and integral part of our lives. We were praying and fasting; good relationship with the leadership of the church had become part of our daily lives and so the church was always there for us. The church was never against consulting orthodox doctors. The only no-go area for us was to seek help outside God. So I think that was why very early in the journey of this crisis, we knew that anything outside God was not an alternative to take at all
Read the full interview on punch newspaper

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