5 things that helped Chelsea to the Champions League trophy

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• The Observer, Sunday 20 May 2012

Didier Drogba, right, had the final say with the penalty that gave Chelsea victory in the Champions League final. Photograph: Michaela Rehle/Reuters

1. MISSED PENALTIES

Lionel Messi at the Camp Nou and then Arjen Robben at the Allianz Arena; two spot-kicks that should have sunk Chelsea but instead failed to hit the net and kept their dreams of European glory alive.

2. MISSED CHANCES

Napoli, Barcelona and Bayern Munich created enough chances in their respective ties with Chelsea to have each won the Champions League10 times over, but they were crucially wasteful, Barcelona especially.

3. WELL-TIMED STRIKES

The margin of victory over Barcelona was fine and, as such, the closing seconds before half-time in both legs of the semi-final tie should be cherished by Chelsea. Didier Drogba scored in that period at Stamford Bridge before Ramires did the same in the return game.

4. SACKING SAVIOUR

The firing of André Villas-Boas after just nine months as manager looked like another reckless move by Roman Abramovich, but he will reflect on that decision with huge satisfaction now. Roberto Di Matteo came in and galvanised the squad towards its greatest moment. The change was an inspired one.

5. DEADLY DROGBA

In what is set to be his final season at Stamford Bridge it was perhaps written in the stars that the Ivorian would make a final, decisive impact

BOY REDUCED TO SKELETON DUE TO 'MYSTERIOUS' ILLNESS

A Saudi newspaper on Thursday published a picture of a boy which it said was reduced almost to a skeleton. The boy is not from famine-hit Africa but from Saudi Arabia, the world’s oil superpower.

Sabq Arabic language daily did not specify the age of the boy,Salman, who it said has been bed-ridden at a hospital in the southern town of Abha.

Doctors told his aging mother that Salman needs to be transferred to a specialized hospital to diagnose his disease and find a treatment. But his mother is still objecting to his transfer on the grounds that she is “much worried about him.”

The boy is the only male in the family after the death of his father. His five sisters have been married and live far away from their village although one of them often comes to help his mother in looking after him.

“He is suffering from a rare disease that has caused him general weakness and continuous loss of weight…sometimes his temperature goes up sharply while he gets infections from time to time,” Sabq reported, quoting Saeed Al Naqeer, information director at the department of health.

culled TALK OF NAIJA

WIZKID, 9ICE TO PERFORM AT SUNNY ADE AND OBEY'S CONCERT IN LAGOS

Like you all already know, Sunday, May 27, 2012 is the D-day all roads would be leading to the Harbour Point Event Centre, Wilmot Road, Victoria Island. On that day by 2P.M, what has taken all of 35 years to plan and to make happen would finally be seen by 800 guests only. 

Those lucky enough to gather to watch 2 of the biggest musical legends of our time play in the persons of Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey and King Sunny Ade, would be 
taken way back on the memory lane and brought back to the present, as the 2 masters play together for the very first time in 3 decades and a half and many are already anticipating a magical night of unbelievable experience, expect music at its best, expect the high and mighty, a convergence of the biggest who is who, it would be extraordinary fun at its best. Already the Chief Commander and his mentor- Fatai Rolling Dollar have been practising, and we can tell you for free that what we heard was heavens made.


The main rehearsals would be starting on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, where the dress rehearsals for the show proper would begin, Obey and KSA would rehearse together, all the equipments would be tested, all the technical details would be sorted out to the last T. A pre-event concert would play out; to make sure the main event itself would be hitch free.

And guess what? The organisers have thought to add extra spice(s), so that all who come would have extra value for money spent? A segment of the concert would have 2 of the future legends of music in the persons of the hottest deal right now- Wizkid and the Alapomeji King himself 9ICE doing duets with the 2 Legends. It would be something to behold by all, a blend of the old with the new, it’s most definite that every one's cup of fun would be filled to the brim and over-flowing.
Tickets (Single tickets, family tables of 8 and corporate tables of 8) are presently going like hot cakes; people are calling to buy tickets from as far as Yola, Adamawa State. So if you haven't bought yours yet, you had better do so now. IT'S ALREADY A COUNTDOWN.

Culled gistmaster

33 YR OLD MAN WITH 30 CHILDREN LAMENTS CHILD SUPPORT

You have to say this much for Desmond Hatchett: He has a way with the ladies.

The 33-year-old Knoxville, Tenn., resident has reportedly set a Knox County record for his ability to reproduce. He has 30 children with 11 women. And nine of those children were born in the last three years, after Hatchett -- who is something of a local celebrity -- vowed "I'm done!" in a 2009 TV interview, saying he wouldn't father more children.

But Hatchett is back in the news this week because he's struggling to make ends meet on his minimum-wage job. His inability to make child-support payments on such a meager salary also means he's back in court again and again, most recently to ask for a break on those payments.

"Yes, we've got several cases with Mr. Hatchett," Melissa Gibson, an assistant supervisor with the Knox County child support clerk's office, said with a sigh.

Hatchett's attorney, Keith Pope, did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Under the law, there's nothing officials can do to force Hatchett to keep his pants on.

"If there's something out there like that, I'm unaware of it," Gibson told The Times, before adding, "It definitely needs to be."

Gibson said Hatchett is believed to hold the Knox County record for most children. (He'd hold a similar record in most counties in the U.S., which might explain why news of his predicament was pinging around the Internet on Friday.)

Gibson said she couldn't say whether any of his children receive public assistance. The youngest is a toddler; the oldest is 14. Asked in a TV interview whether he can "keep up with it all," Hatchett said he knows all their names, ages and birthdates.

Also in a TV interview, Hatchett tried to explain -- in a PG-rated way -- how he managed to end up with so many kids: "I had four kids in the same year. Twice."

When Hatchett is working, he is required to turn over 50% of his wages for child support -- the maximum allowed under law. Child support payments are based in part on the ages and needs of the children.

Some of the mothers of Hatchett's children get only $1.49 a month, reportedWREG in Memphi