WORLD CUP: I Already Know My Super Eagles’ Final 23 Men – Keshi

The Head Coach of the World Cup bound Super Eagles of Nigeria, Stephen Keshi, says he already had an idea of his final 23-man list to the global tournament in Brazil. Keshi made this revelation on Friday after the team had their first training session at the Philadelphia Eagles Stadium in Philadelphia, United States. The world football governing body, FIFA, had set Monday June 2 as the deadline for all participating teams to submit their final list and Keshi said that he was willing to take full advantage of the time left by only revealing his list on the said date. The Media Officer of the Senior National Team, Ben Alaiya, was said to have quoted Keshi saying, “I have an idea of those who will go with us to Brazil but we will still wait till the last minute before we announce the list.” This deliberate delay, according to the Big Boss, would enable him do double checks on the list and the possibility of finding those who may not measure up when hostilities start in Brazil. While expressing satisfaction at the fitness and tactical readiness of his team, Keshi noted that there was a need to be cautious. The Super Eagles played out a 2-2 draw with Scotland in an earlier played warm up match and would be squaring up against 2004 European Champions, Greece, as well as the USA. The FIFA World Cup, Brazil 2014, kicks off – amidst protests by citizens over monies spent – on June 12 and ends on July 13, 2014. Nigeria has been placed in Group F alongside South American football giant, Argentina; Iran and debutant, Bosnia & Herzegovina, who boast of the most potent attack of all teams at the tournament en route qualification.

SUPER EAGLES LIST OUT

Nsofor,,, Daniel Apeye,,, Joel Obi,,, Uzoeyin,,, Sunday Mba,,, Oduamadi,,, Gabriel Ruben Players out of d 30man list Cut to 23

Parents Share Story of Transgender 6-Year-Old Son

The California parents of a 6-year-old transgender child have gone public with their family’s personal story, posting a poignant seven-minute video to YouTubethat’s drawn more than 3.5 million views in just a few days. “Some told us it was ‘just a phase.’ The trouble was, phases end,” notes the video montage about Ryland Whittington, who was born a girl but recently transitioned to male, thanks to his parents’ full support. “This was only getting stronger.” Ryland, who was born deaf, received cochlear implantsand learned to hear and speak shortly after he was a year old. “We thought we had faced our toughest challenges, but Ryland had more to share with us,” the video explains. “As soon as Ryland could speak, she would scream, ‘I am a boy!’” The video was created and first shared on May 22 at the Annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast in San Diego, a major event that honors the slain LGBT activist and, this year, celebrated the release of the new Harvey Milk commemorative postage stamp. Ryland and his parents, San Diego real estate agents Jeff and Hillary Whittington, received this year’s Inspiration Award at the event, eliciting much applause and many tears from the 1,000-plus attendees. “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my whole life,” Ryland told the crowd. The family declined, through a spokesperson, to be interviewed by Yahoo Shine. But, Jeff told the San Diego LGBT Weeklyabout the video, “One of the most inspiring things that Harvey Milk had done, as far as our family is concerned, was to encourage people to come out — to let their voices be heard, break down the walls, break down the barriers and start allowing people to see them for their authentic selves and be true to themselves. And this is our coming out… This is us making our voices heard.”Though 6 may seem very young for a child to know if he or she is transgender, it is “a typical age, because it’s when people develop their gender identity in a real solidified way,” Michigan-based transgender-youth expert and psychologist Antonia Carettotells Yahoo Shine. She adds that often when parents of transgender children, even teens, come to see her, “They’ll say, ‘But he’s so young!’ And I’ll say, ‘At 13, did you know what gender you are?’” The montage, which includes photos of Ryland through the years, as well as video footage of him with his younger sister, takes viewers succinctly through the family’s story. It explains that, soon after learning to speak, “Ryland began to display increasing amounts of shame … Through tears she asked ‘Why did God make me like this?’ She may have only been 5 years old, but we needed to start truly listening.” The montage’s text adds that, after consulting with professionals, the conclusion was that Ryland is transgender. But then came the really scary news. “Through our research, we discovered a disturbing statistic: 41 percent of transgender people have attempted suicidedue to lack of societal acceptance. The national average is 4.6 percent,” the story explains. “We were not willing to take that risk.” The Whittingtons were advised to allow him to transition to male right away. They cut his hair and changed his room decor, as well as the pronouns they used. In addition, “We sent out a letter to friends and family explaining our change. We lost a few but the people who truly matter stuck by us…We signed up as parents with no strings attached.” Since posting the video to YouTube, the family has received an avalanche of public attention — something that can be both positive and negative, according to Joel Baum, director of education and training for Gender Spectrum. “An obvious pro is that you’re telling your kid’s story in a way that is proud and celebratory and free of shame,” he tells Yahoo Shine. “Also, every one of these stories opens up the door a little bit more.” Possible tradeoffs are that it opens up a family to criticism from folks who may not understand, Baum says, adding that, “we don’t know how this kid will feel about it being out there in the future.” However, “It demystifies who these kids and families are,” says Baum. And to those who fault the parents’ decision to allow transition, he adds a warning: “Until you live with or know a kid like this, be careful with the judgment, because most of these families have looked at about every other possibility… This is not an easy road a family is walking down."

40 BOKO HARAM MEMBERS KILLED AFTER CLASH

Cameroon security forces killed some 40 Boko Haram militants in clashes in the country’s far north, state radio said on Sunday, shortly after the release of two Italian priests and a Canadian nun,,, suspected to have been held hostage by the Islamist Terrorist group.....

40 BOKO HARAM MEMBERS KILLED

Cameroon security forces killed some 40 Boko Haram militants in clashes in the country’s far north, state radio said on Sunday, shortly after the release of two Italian priests and a Canadian nun,,, suspected to have been held hostage by the Islamist Terrorist group.....