Lionel Messi (C) challenges Nastic´s defense during a friendly
football match between FC Barcelona and Nastic at the Johan Cruyff
stadium in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona, on September 12, 2020.
(Photo by Pau BARRENA / AFP)
Lionel Messi started and played 45 minutes in
Barcelona’s first pre-season friendly on Saturday as Ronald Koeman
showed no hesitation in reintegrating the
Argentinian.
Barca beat third tier side Gimnastic Tarragona 3-1, with Ousmane
Dembele opening the scoring on his first appearance since
November.
Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho, who was also returning
after his loan spell at Bayern Munich, then each scored penalties,
either side of Javier Bonilla pulling one back for the
visitors.
But Messi’s return at the Johan Cruyff Stadium was perhaps the
biggest plus for Koeman, who was taking charge of his first game
since being appointed coach last month.
Messi also led the team out wearing the armband after Barcelona
had confirmed earlier on Saturday that he will continue as captain
this season.
Both club and player appear keen to put on a united front, at
least for now, ahead of their return to La Liga later this
month.
After condemning the board last week and admitting he had been
forced to stay, Messi arrived early on Monday for his return to
pre-season training and worked on the squad’s days off in a bid to
catch up.
Koeman, meanwhile, said last month he only wanted players who
wanted to be at Barcelona but he was full of praise for Messi on
Friday, calling him “the best”, and backed that up in his first
team selection.
Messi played 45 minutes as part of Koeman’s plan to field two
different l ine-ups in each half.
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Yet his starting front three of Messi, Griezmann and Dembele
looked suspiciously like a first-choice attack, with Dembele making
his first appearance since he tore his hamstring nine months
ago.
Koeman also handed starts to youngsters Carles Alena and Pedri
in midfield while Jordi Alba, Clement Lenglet, Gerard Pique and
Sergi Roberto formed a familiar back four, ahead of Neto, who is
standing in for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal.
New signing Francisco Trincao, Coutinho, Frenkie de Jong and
19-year-old American international Konrad de la Fuente were among
those to come on for the second half.
There was no place in the squad for either Luis Suarez or Arturo
Vidal, who have both been told they can leave.
Barcelona will not play their first La Liga game against
Villarreal until round three at the end of the month, having been
granted extra time off due to their involvement in last season’s
Champions League.
Reigning champions Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla are
also sitting out the first weekend.
But seven games are scheduled this Saturday and Sunday, the
first of them finishing goalless between Eibar and Celta Vigo.
Still without fans due to the coronavirus pandemic, Spain’s top
flight got off to a slow start at Ipurua, where Eibar finished with
10 men after Pape Diop was sent off in the 87th minute.
Granada then picked up where they left off last season by
defeating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at Los Carmenes while newly-promoted
Cadiz, back in La Liga for the first time in 14 years, lost 2-0 at
home to Osasuna.
AFP
FG Pledges to Provide Relief Materials to Flood Victims
In Kebbi
Following the devastating flooding that washed off over 450,000
hectares of rice farmlands and other crops in Kebbi State a few
days ago, the Federal Government has promised to mitigate by
ensuring that the farmers get improved seeds to restart
planting as soon as the rains recede.
Speaking during an on- the- spot assessment of the devastation
caused by floods in the State, the Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji
Muhammad Sabo Nanono in company of the Executive Governor, Kebbi
State , Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said it was one of the worst
disasters witnessed in recent times and said his visit was to
restore hope and build up confidence for the farmers in the
state.
The Minister who visited the scenes of the floods in Argungu and
also those along the Dukku- Makera Road that were completely washed
off, said, “what I have seen here today is very devastating,
my coming here is at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari who
has sent me to commiserate with the people of Kebbi state over the
flood and to give you hope and assurance that the government is
concerned about your plight and will do something”. He
appealed to the farmers not to despair that the Federal
Government “will address the situation”.
He acknowledged that Kebbi State is one of the major producers
of Rice in the country as well as other crops such as
maize, groundnuts, wheat, sweet potatoes, sorghum and millet,
stating that a loss to Kebbi will affect other states of the
federation.
Nanono said the ministry will immediately set up a special
committee to mitigate the situation and ensure that the dry season
farming will be boosted. He said the ministry will also encourage
the farmers to explore the innovative early harvesting of their
produce as is done with other crops and promised to assist them
with improved seeds.
The State Governor, Senator Abubakar Bagudu lamented the massive
loss to the farmers, explaining that it is not only the rice farms
that are affected but also animal crops and fishing grounds as well
as human lives were affected.He acknowledged the resilience of the
farmers and encouraged them to do more not only to compensate for
lost grounds but also to generate more support.
He said the latest flooding in the state is the worst after the
2012 experience and has affected over 450, 000 hectares of
land stretching over 270km of farmlands. He thanked the Federal
Government for the proactive steps taken to embark on an immediate
assessment visit to the state and promised that the state will
remain focused and consistent with its agricultural programmes.
Hundreds of villages are said to be affected and many homelands
washed away by the floods.
The Minister also visited the Sarki – Kebbi Argungu, Alhaji
Samaila Mohammed Mera and the Emir of Gwandu who is also Chairman,
Kebbi State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Ilyasu Bashar . They
both expressed appreciation for the speedy visit of the Federal
Government to commiserate with the state..
The Emir of Gwandu , Alhaji Bashar said, the flooding has
affected many communities who had no option than to relocate. He
said the disaster came just when the people were
recovering from the shock of covid-19 and listed crops lost
to include; Rice, Millet, Sorghum etc.
The traditional ruler also called on the people to be patient
and appealed to the media to assist in sensitizing them on the
government’s efforts.
The Minister visited the Natsimi Gada of Argungu , also affected
by the flood .
Eno Olotu (Mrs)
DD Information
For: Director, Information