Latest news with #Nees
CAF
28-03-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Zimbabwe Coach Michael Nees reflects positively on Nigeria draw
Zimbabwe's head coach Michael Nees has taken a positive view of his side's 1-1 draw against Nigeria in their recent FIFA World Cup qualifier, despite the Warriors remaining at the bottom of Group C. The match, which was played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, looked set to end in a loss for Zimbabwe, but a dramatic 90th-minute equalizer from Tawanda Chirewa ensured the Warriors walked away with a valuable point. Nees, whose team has yet to register a win in the qualifiers, highlighted the resilience and fighting spirit displayed by his players throughout the match. Despite Nigeria dominating for large stretches, Zimbabwe held firm, and their persistence paid off when Chirewa struck late to secure the draw. 'Regarding the match, everybody could see that it was a hard-fought battle,' Nees commented after the game. As we anticipated, we knew that Nigeria had gained confidence after their win against Rwanda, and they came into this match with high expectations to turn their World Cup qualification around. We knew the longer the game went, the more chances we would have.' He continued, emphasising the challenging conditions Zimbabwe faced during the match. "It was incredibly hot, with temperatures around 35°C and 90% humidity. To expect to outplay a team like Nigeria, especially under such conditions, was always going to be a tall order. But I think we showed that we are capable of playing football, and we didn't just come here to defend'. Nees was pleased with his team's approach to the game, noting that they were aggressive from the start, despite the physical toll of playing in such a taxing environment. 'We played football and started very aggressively, even though we knew it was going to be tough,' he explained. 'In the second half, we wanted to finish the job, but it didn't work out. However, we showed resilience and played like I know my team can.' While acknowledging the challenges of playing against a team like Nigeria, Nees emphasized the strategic nature of football. "It's a 90-minute match, and you can't play high-energy football for the entire duration," he said. "Nigeria couldn't do it when they played Cameroon, and no team can sustain that level of intensity. You have to play smart, conserve energy, and wait for your chances.' Despite the draw, Nees was clear in his satisfaction with the performance. "We came here to win, and we believed we could do it. But in the end, I am very satisfied with how we played, and I think the performance shows we are heading in the right direction," he concluded.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Just a lot of uncertainty'; Federal funding orders leaving some Central IL cities concerned
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — It's never easy budgeting or planning for revenue changes. That challenge is increasingly apparent in Champaign and Urbana. 'New orders are coming through all the time, and so it's just a lot of uncertainty around will that grant funding still be available,' said Champaign Finance Director Kay Nees. President Trump ordered a temporary funding freeze last week. The since-repealed memo is one of several federal orders that have started a snowball of potential changes to allotted dollars. Abbott's Florist celebrates love in full bloom 'We're starting to see similar kinds of directives coming from different agencies,' said Elizabeth Hannan, Urbana human resources and finance director. One of those orders came from the Department of Transportation. It lists out funding preferences and limitations based on birth rates, vaccine mandates and compliance with federal immigration enforcement. 'We're not quite sure where these federal orders are going to go, like how deep that impact will be,' Nees said. Both Champaign and Urbana count on millions of dollars in federal funding. Champaign's budget for the last fiscal year had about $10.7 million in grant revenue. Urbana's budget for this year has about $7.4 million planned. Urbana business keeping an eye on tariffs 'If we have to replace ongoing grant funding or if there are perhaps new services that we want to explore, then at this point it appears that we would need new revenue to do either one of those things,' Hannan said. Hannan said Urbana has been brainstorming ways to compensate for a potential loss or change in federal grants. It's in an effort to mitigate the impact on local programs that support vulnerable populations. 'Our residents are going to probably suffer as a result of some of the things that are happening at the federal government,' Hannan said. 'At the same time, we need new revenues which also has an impact on our residents.' She said some ways that Urbana could make up for a potential loss in funding include a tax on streaming services or increasing the city's food and beverage tax. Nees said it's still too early for Champaign to start having those discussions, but didn't write off the possibility of those happening in the coming weeks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
