Falcao returns for Monaco after six months out

(AFP) – Monaco striker Radamel Falcao made his first appearance for over six months as a second-half substitute in his side’s 2-2 friendly draw against Valencia in London on Saturday.
The 28-year-old Colombia international had not played since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a French Cup game against amateur side Chasselay on January 22.
The injury cut short his debut season at the big-spending Ligue 1 club and prevented him from appearing at the World Cup, where Colombia reached the quarter-finals.
Falcao replaced Dimitar Berbatov with 18 minutes to play at the Emirates Stadium, taking up a central role alongside Valere Germain in a 4-4-2 system, but did not manage any attempts on goal.
“Falcao played for 20 minutes to help him overcome his anxiety, which is natural when you come back after six months without playing,” said Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim.
“He played well. It was important for him to play a bit, so tomorrow (Sunday, against Arsenal) he can play from the beginning.
“Let’s see tomorrow if he can play for 60 minutes or just 45.”
Falcao has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, who have already signed his international team-mate James Rodriguez from Monaco in a deal worth around 80 million euros ($108 million, £63.9million).
But Jardim said: “At this moment, regardless of what people say, Falcao is with us. He’s in the final stages of his recovery. I count on him for this season.”
The match was the opening game of the Emirates Cup pre-season tournament, which also features hosts Arsenal and Benfica.
Monaco took the lead in the 30th minute when Joao Moutinho’s left-wing corner was met by Aymen Abdennour and flicked into the net off Ruben Vezo for an own goal.
A Ricardo Carvalho own goal six minutes later levelled the scores and Valencia went in front 20 minutes from full-time when substitute Paco Alcacer tapped in a low cross from Aly Cissokho.
But after Falcao had made his entrance from the bench, Lucas Ocampos struck an 80th-minute equaliser for Monaco, running from deep and planting a shot in the bottom-left corner from outside the box.
Monaco, runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain last season, open their Ligue 1 campaign at home to Lorient a week on Sunday.
Valencia’s season does not begin until August 23, when they visit Sevilla in La Liga.

Gov Orji’s succour for generator fumes victims

 Orji, represented by his deputy, Sir Emeka Ananaba, during a visit to Austin Grace Hospital at Okigwe Road, yesterday, said it was in fulfilment of the promise of the state government to offset the medical bills of the victims. Ananaba, accompanied by his wife, Nene, and some government officials, said the governor was touched by the incident and decided to assist the victims. The deputy governor, who thanked the medical team, police and others who ensured the victims were evacuated and taken to hospitals for treatment, noted that it could have been a more devastating situation if not for the prompt intervention. Though Ananaba could not disclose the amount, it was gathered that the medical bills of the victims were over N7million. Narrating how the incident happened, the coordinator of UtutuN Young Peoples Christian Fellowship, Abia State University, Uturu Miss Blessing Best Okeke, said, “The night vigil is national. The meeting took place with members from all over ngeria. Around 1:45am, we spoke with the National President. After that, we commenced the warfare prayer. I was the third person that took over the microphone . This happened between 2:10 and 2:15am that Saturday. The last thing I could remember was that after saying a word of prayer, my head was so heavy that I could not carry myself. Everywhere became so dark. I was not seeing the person standing behind me, but I kept praying. “We were doing a long haul prayer. My legs could not carry me. I tried to stan d, I couldn’t. All I could do was to go to a nearby pillar to lean on it but my legs were shaking. I knelt down. I was still having the microphone with me praying. “After the last prayer point that we said, I handed over the microphone to another person. I didn’t know what happened thereafter. “Where I was still kneeling, my knee could not carry me. I had to lie down. I was lying on the floor. All I knew was that I heard people’s voices but I was not seeing them around me. At a point, I was giving a sign with my hands, telling them to come and pray for me. I knew they were not hearing what I was saying because my mouth was not opening. We were 17 in number (16 adults and a boy of two years.” Mr. Ben Miracle Kalu, the convener and coordinator of the group in Aba, responding on behalf of other members of the group, attributed their survival to the mercy of God. Kalu thanked Orji, his deputy and Abians who were in prayers for their survival. The Medical Director of Austin Grace Hospital Dr. Mark Iwuagwu, said that, apart f rom the child that was dead before help could come, the patients were going to be discharged tomorrow even as he assured that they were all medically fit and had regained consciousness