Meet the SPORTS THEME SONG- FIFA WORLD CUP

SPORT: FOOTBALL

ROLE: MUSIC

TITLE: TOP 5 WORLD CUP THEME SONGS OF ALL TIME

 

Since 1962, Football's governing body; FIFA, has conveyed the spirit of the world's greatest sport through a powerful medium; MUSIC.

Every four years, official and unofficial world cup theme songs are released and audiences get to choose the songs they best identify with.

However, we now bring to you the best five songs of the World Cup based on votes, popularity, sales, artiste attraction and just sheer brilliance. 

5. ANTHEM 

This was the official theme song of Korea/Japan 2002. It was composed and performed by popular Greek Composer, Vangelis. It has gone on to be a popular instrumental, used for various FIFA Award ceremonies.  

4. WAKA WAKA

Composed by South African band- Freshlyground and performed by Colombian Singing sensation- Shakira, WAKA WAKA (This time for Africa) was the official world cup song for South Africa 2010. It is the most commercially successful world cup song in history and 11th most watched video of all-time on YouTube as of  June 2015.  

3. UN ESTATE ITALIANA (Pronounced as UN  ES-TA-TEY  E-TA-LIA-NA)

Loosely translated as ''To be number one'' was the official song of Italia '90 performed by Italian superstars Gianni Nannini and Edoardo Bennato. It is termed the most dramatic world cup song.  

   

2. THE CUP OF LIFE  

Performed by popular Puerto-Rican Crooner- Ricky Martin was the official song for France '98. It is heralded as the most entertaining world cup song due it's fine blend of English, Spanish and French as well as its catchy tune.   

1. WAVIN'FLAG by K'naan

This is a song by Somali-Canadian artiste, K'naan. It was the theme song of South Africa 2010 and majorly sings about freedom for people of different nationalities. It's widely regarded as the most unifying world cup song and has been translated into numerous languages.

Meet the SportsWOMAN- BLESSING OKAGBARE

Nigeria's Golden Girl

SPORT: TRACK AND FIELD

ROLE: SPRINTER, LONG JUMP 

 NATIONALITY: NIGERIAN 

 

Blessing Okagbare was born on the 10th of September 1988 in Sapele, Delta State.

As a teenager, she started off as a footballer in High School before building more interest in track and field. 

She tried her hands at various events such as triple jump, high jump, long jump in 2004, winning medals in all three events in the National Sports Festival of the same year. 

Her first international showing was in the 2006 World junior Championships in Beijing, China. However, it was in 2008 she won her first international medal at the Beijing Olympics , carting home the bronze medal in the long jump category. 

She started sprinting in 2009 and in the 2010 African Championship, she won Gold in the 100m event. Subsequently, she ran at the 2011 Games in Daegu but failed to reach the finals.  

 

Her international breakthrough in sprint came in 2012 where she set a new African record of 10.79 s and won the 100 m race at the London Anniversary Games. Okagbare also won the silver medal in the long jump at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow. 

At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, she won a gold medal in the 100m with a time of 10.85, breaking the games record of 10.91s  set by Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie in 2002. Okagbare also won the gold medal in the 200m, with a time of 22.25 seconds. 

The 2015 season has been immense for the 5 ft 11 star who won the IAAF Diamond league in Shanghai blitzing past Olympic Gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Veronica Campbell Brown. She also took home gold in the Jamaican Invitational and the IAAF World Championships in the Bahamas in the relay event. 

The Delta born beauty has now run inside 11 seconds, a record 12 times more than Mary Onyali-Omagbemi who ran 10.97 (1993) and 10.99 (2000) and Chioma Ajunwa, the first Nigerian to break 11 seconds in the event and the second fastest Nigerian ever with the 10.84 seconds she ran in 1992. 

In November 2014, she married ex Nigerian Football International, Igho Otegheri in her hometown in Sapele. 

Blessing Okagbare was one of the sports personalities recently rewarded by President Goodluck Jonathan for their stewardship and contribution to sports development in Nigeria. 

However, she recently criticized the AFN for patronizing more non-Nigerian nationals in representing the country than developing the system within stating  

''Enough is enough with the short cuts to success because our nation and athletes are so better than this''. 

She's currently ranked 4th by the International Association of Athletics Federations following her excellent performances since the athletics season began this year.

Meet the SportsMAN- USAIN BOLT

The Bolt!!!! 

SPORT: TRACK AND FIELD 
ROLE: SPRINTER 
NATIONALITY: JAMAICAN  

Usain Bolt was born on the 21st of August 1986 to Wellesley and Jennifer Bolt in Sherwood County, Jamaica. He grew up with his brother Sadiki and sister, Sherine. 

Widely regarded as the fastest man ever, Usain's first choice sport was not sprint but cricket. His coach noticed his peculiar pace and advised him to take up track and field.  

The Jamaican has gone on to state that if he were not a sprinter, he would be a fast-bowler instead. He's a huge fan of the Pakistani Cricket team and Cricket Great, Sachin Tendulkar.  

Usain is a professed Catholic and is seen frequently making the sign of the cross in his races. His middle name is St. Leo. 

Bolt is one of eight athletes including greats like Valerie Adams, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Yelena Isinbayeva to win world championships at the youth, junior, and senior level of an athletic event.   

The 6 ft 5 Sprinter turned professional in 2004 and has gone on to win 16 Gold medals inclusive of the Six Olympic golds , eight IAAF World Championships titles and one each of the Central American and Caribbean Championships and the Commonwealth Games in the 100m, 200m and Relay events. 

Notable amongst his many achievements is holding the 100m world record  at a time of 9.58 secs and 200m record at 19.19 secs as well as records in relay. 

Usain is one of the most marketable sportsman in history especially due to his track shenanigans and entertaining personality. He often starts or ends his races with his trademark ''lightning bolt'' signal to his spectators. 

His current estimated earning  is $21million; the bulk coming from Endorsement deals and bogus tournament appearance fees which ranks him 73rd in Forbes' 2015 list of highest paid athletes and the number one in track and field.    

The Jamaican has other personal businesses including owning his own headphone range called 'Soul by Usain Bolt' and a restaurant called 'Tracks & Records' in Kingston, Jamaica; where he resides. 

Despite competing in a handful of races due to persistent injuries since last year, Bolt has confessed he wants to play football professionally and participate in Rio 2016's Long jump category.   

However, On 14 February 2015, Bolt announced that he intends to retire from athletics after the 2017 World Championships in London. 

The superstar is single and frequently says he is searching for ''the right one''.  
He also doesn't smoke and has no tattoo. His favourites include the colour green, the meal chicken nuggets and pasta and the animal, Cheetah. 

Bolt is an avid fan of Manchester United fan and regularly plays as a DJ at functions. 

photo credit: Yardie News

Meet the SportsMAN- NOVAK DJOKOVIC

Swoon Alert!!!

SPORT: TENNIS

ROLE: TENNIS PLAYER

NATIONALITY: SERBIAN 

 

Novak Djokovic was born on the 22nd of May, 1987 in war-torn Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now in Serbia). 

He has two younger siblings Marko and Đorđe, who are also following his footsteps as professional tennis players. 

His nicknames are 'Nole' (pronounced as NO-LAY) and 'Joker', the latter defining his brilliant sense of humour. 

He does regular impersonations of fellow tennis stars such as Serena Williams, John McEnroe, Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and a host of others. 

Novak is a multilinguist with fluency in several languages such as Serbian, English, German, Italian and recently, French. 

Having turned professional in 2003 at the age of 16, he didn't win a major until the Australian Open in 2008 where defeated Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, to claim his maiden grand slam title. 

He would later go on to win it five times making him the most decorated player on Australian soil in the Open Era; Men's Singles category. 

Djokovic is the first Serbian player to win multiple Grand Slam titles and the first Serbian player to rank No.1for more than 100 weeks. He has won Eight majors (Australian Open,Wimbledon Championship and the US Open) and 24 Masters 1000 titles to his credit. 

His widespread appeal has seen him amass several high-profile endorsements; key to which are sports brands, wrist-watch magnates, automobiles and private jets facilities. 

On the 21st of October 2014, he welcomed his first child Stefan, with long-time love Jelena Ristic, three months after tying the knot in a lush yet private ceremony in Montenegro. 

He is a celebrity fan of Italian giant, AC Milan.