Sports

We’re Waiting For You, Criminal Threatens Messi, Left Message Behind

Published

3 months ago

March 3, 2023

Two people on motorcycles shot at a supermarket belonging to the family of Antonela Roccuzzo, wife of Lionel Messi, in Rosario, in Argentina’s Santa Fe province early on Thursday morning.

Local media and the city’s mayor reported that a threatening hand-written message was also left on the shop’s door for 35-year-old Messi.

Messi who plays for French giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is Argentina’s captain and seven-times World Player of the Year.

“Messi, we are waiting for you, (Pablo) Javkin (the mayor) is also a narco, he is not going to take care of you,” it read.

Javkin blamed the security forces for failing to effectively combat organised crime.

Crime in recent years has grown in the important port city, where dozens of ships daily load thousands of tons of grain.

“I spoke (with the Roccuzzos) and they are worried,” Javkin told reporters outside the supermarket that was attacked.

Television images showed bullet casings on the sidewalk where the business belonging to Roccuzzo’s family is located.

The front of the building was hit by 14 bullets and the shop remained closed on Thursday morning.

On the official Twitter account “Team Messi” and Antonela Roccuzzo’s Instagram profile, there were no mentions of the incidents.

The murder rate in Rosario is among the highest in Argentina, as gangs linked to drug trafficking co-exist, according to judicial complaints, and clashes causing injuries and deaths are frequently reported.

The attack came weeks before Argentina play two friendly matches in the South American country.

This will be three months after Messi led the team to victory in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Neither game will take place in Rosario though.

Argentina face Panama on March 23 in the capital Buenos Aires and on March 28 they play in the province of Santiago del Estero against Curacao.

The matches will be the team’s first in Argentina since the 2022 World Cup.

However, Coach Lionel Scaloni has not yet named his squad.

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Featured

Sports Minister Hands Over Leadership To Permanent Secretary

Published

9 hours ago

May 30, 2023

The Gleamer

The Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare has handed over the leadership of the Ministry to the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar as the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration ended on Monday.

At the Handing Over Ceremony held today at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, the Minister thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for giving him the opportunity to serve his Fatherland.

He stated that the appointment enabled him to have a better knowledge and understanding of the challenges of governance as well as that of the youth in particular, adding that it also afforded him with the opportunity to look out ways to profer solutions on complex issues in relation to governance.

Dare who stated further that the portfolio also afforded him the avenue to encourage Nigerian youth to take up sports as a career for the socio-economic development of the country, called on them to also support the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration for enhanced development of the sector.

Responding, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar commended Mr. Sunday Dare for his laudable initiatives in the Ministry.

While thanking the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration for creating an enabling environment for the sector to thrive, he pledged the support and cooperation of the staff and Management of the Ministry to the in coming Administration led by President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

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