The 2014/15 Season Champions League Draw

The Champions League draw for 2014/2015 season was held yesterday in Monaco, with a couple of the teams appearing to have an easy group, but that is only on paper. As we all know football is not mathematics, time and time again, the underated teams have shown that in football nothing is cast in stone.

There have been countless instances in football, where the under-estimated teams surprised everyone, by removing the big teams from the competition.

Champions League Trophy

In this year's draw there are no three big teams in one group, which makes it look, as if it is a forgone conclusion, that the two big teams in each group, will qualify in the group phase of the competition.

But as I already mentioned, it is very dangerous to assume that, because all the smaller teams are capable of pulling an upset, which is a very good thing for the beautiful game.

Without much ado, the following are how the draws stands.

Group   A                                 Group   B

Atletico Madrid                     Real Madrid
Juventus                          FC  Basel
Olympiakos                     Liverpool
Malmo                             Ludogorets  Razgrad

Group   C                                    Group   D

Benfica                             Arsenal
Zenit St. Petersburg          Borussia Dortmund
Bayer Leverkusen             Anderlecht
Monaco                             Galatasaray

Group   E                         Group   F

Bayern Munich                 Barcelona
Manchester City                Paris Saint Germaine
CSKA Moscow                 Ajax                
AS Roma                           Apoel Nicosia               

Group   G                        Group  H

Chelsea                             Porto
Schalke 04                        Shakhtar Donetsk
Sporting Lisbon                Athletic Bilbao
Maribor                             Bate Borisov                                     

Read also: Africanfootie.blogspot.com

Sports News In Brief

Tiger Woods (38), the former world number one golfer has announced, that he has separated from his coach, Sean Foley. He said that he will no longer work with him. Woods said in his website, that he thanked him as his coach and friend, but added that it was the right time to end their professional relationship. ''I 'd like to thank Sean for his help as my coach and for his friendship. Sean is one of the outstanding coaches in golf today, and I know he will continue to be successful, with the players working with him.''
Tiger who has won 14 major titles, is at the moment nursing a back injury, and is without a coach after the split.

Germany has won the Fifa Women Under - 20 World Cup, by beating Nigeria 1 - 0 in the extra time of the final, on Sunday in Montreal, Canada. It was a very entertaining and exciting match, with the Nigerian girls dorminating the first half of play. The Nigeria's Falconets squandered so many scoring opportunities. The very talented, pacey and reliable Asisat Oshoala, who scored 4 goals in the semi-final against North Korea, missed most of the Nigerian chances in the encounter. It seemed her finishing skills deserted her on the day. It was really not her day, to score a goal, but inspite of that, she had a good game and the team as a whole, did amazingly well in the tournament. The Germans also missed a couple of chances too, until a defensive error cost Nigeria the title, they were hoping to win for the first time. Lena Petermann scored the only goal of the match in the extra time.
Asisat Oshoala who was an outstanding star of the tournament, won the Adidas Golden Ball and Adidas Golden Boot (7 goals), while the German goalkeeper, Meike Kaemper won the Adidas Golden Glove. The fair play award went to the host nation - Canada.

The English Premier League (EPL), giant clubside Liverpool has signed the troubled, but gifted Ghanaian born Italian, Mario Balotelli (24), from his Serie A club AC Milan. He was contracted for a long time costing €20m. It was a big gamble on the part of the Merceyside manager, Branden Rodgers, by signing him, because of Balotelli's imature behaviours on and off the pitch. Rodgers is hoping that Mario has learnt a big lesson, with all the fracas he was involved in in the past. The manager believes that it was a smart business, to bring him to the Anfield. It maybe so, only time will tell.
''This transfer represents outstanding value for the club, and I think we have done a really smart piece of business here,'' Rodgers said. Balotelli who is elated to be coming back to the EPL after leaving about 18 months ago, said that he made mistake in leaving England. ''I'm happy to be back because I left England and it was a mistake. I wanted to go to Italy, but I realised it was a mistake.'' Read also: Africanfootie.blogspot.com

SOME WEEKEND EUROPEAN LEAGUE RESULTS

Dutch Eredivisie

Heerenveen     2  -  0   Excelsior
Willem 11       3  -  0   AZ  Alkmaar
G.A. Eagles    0  -   0   Dordrecht
Heracles          0  -  1   Cambuur
Ajax                1  -  3   PSV
PEC Zwolle    2  -  1   Vitesse
Feyenoord      1  -  2    Utrecht
NAC Breda    1  -  1    Twente
Ado D. Haag  3  -  0    Groningen

English Premier League (EPL)

Aston Villa       0  -  0   Newcastle
Chelsea             2  -  0   Leicester
Crystal palace   1  -  3   West Ham
Southampton    0  -  0    West Brom
Swansea           1  -  0    Burnley
Everton            2  -  2    Arsenal
Hull                  1  -  1    Stoke
Tottenham       4  -  0    QPR
Sunderland      1  -  1    Man United
Man City             -        Liverpool

German Bundesliga

Bayern            2  -  1   Wolfsburg
Dortmund       0  -  2    Leverkusen
FC Koln          0  -  0    Hamburg
E. Frankfurt    1  -  0    Freiburg
Hannover        2  -  1    Schalke
Hertha             2  -  2    W. Bremen
Hoffenheim     2  -  0    Augsburg
M'gladbach     1  -  1    Stuttgart
Paderborn       2  -  2    Mainz

Spanish La Liga

Malaga           1  -  0    Athletic Bilbao
Granada          2  -  1   Deportivo La Coruna
Seville            1  -  1    Valencia
Almeria          1  -  1    Espanyol
Eibar               1  -  0   Real Sociedad
Levante           0  -  2   Villarreal
Barcelona        3  -  0   Elche
Celta de Vigo  3  -  1   Getafe
Real Madrid        -       Cordoba
R. Vallecano        -      Athletico Madrid

French Ligue 1

Evian Thonon   0  -  0   PSG
Guingamp         0  -  1   Marseille
Lille                  2  -  0   Lorient
Bastia                1  -  0  Toulouse
Montpellier       2  -  0   Metz
Nice                  1  -  3   Bordeaux
Reims                0  -  2   Caen
Lyon                  0  -  1   Lens
St. Etienne         0  -  0   Rennes
Nantes               0  -  1    Monaco

Portuguese Premeira Liga

Sporting Lisbon      1  -  0   Arouca
Maritimo                 2  -  1   Academica
Vitoria Guimaraes   3  -  0   Penafiel
Pacos de Ferreira     0  -  1   Porto
Boavista                   0  -  1   Benfica
Belenenses               3  -  1   Nacional
Vitoria Setubal         2  -  0   Gil Vicente
Estoril Praia              1  -  5   Rio Ave
Moreirense                    -       Sporting Braga

Read also: Africanfootie.blogspot.com

It's More Dangerous To Bike Than Driving F1 Cars?

Max Verstappen, the 16 years old son of former Dutch Formula 1 driver, Jos Verstappen, will become the youngest Formula 1 driver, when he competes in the sport next year for Toro Rosso. The F1 team just signed him to race for them as from 2015.

Max will be 17 years when he takes the wheels for Toro Rosso. He will be almost 2 years younger than the current record holder, Jaime Alguersuari, who drove in 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix at the age of 19 years and 125 days.

Max Verstappen

The junior Verstappen is currently competing in Formula 3, and is in the second position on the over all standing table.

The young talented driver is not worried about jumping over from Formula 3 to F1 without much experience in the premier racing championship.

He said that he is a relaxed guy and can handle driving in the upper league.
''I'm a relaxed guy. I will handle it.'' The youngster also does not think that driving in F1 is that dangerous.

''I'm not that worried about it. The cars are really safe,'' Verstappen Jr said.

''I think it's more dangerous to bike through a big city than race in an F1 car,'' he added.

His father Jos Verstappen, drove for F1 teams such as Benetton where he was the team-mate of the sport legend Michael Schumaker, and Honda between 1994 and 2003.

Jos drove in 107 F1 races and finished twice on the podium. He is the most successful Dutch race driver.

Many have already started speculating, that his son will be more successful than him in Formula 1 sport, because of  his talent and he is very relaxed, and racing is his blood.

Anyway, only time will tell whether he will be successful than his father or not. I wish him all the best in his career.
Read also: Africanfootie.blogspot.com

Sports News In Brief

kell 'The Special One' Brooks (28), is the new IBF world welterwight champion, after defeating the defending champion, Shawn 'Showtime' Porter (26), in a 12 round bout in Carson, California. Brook's fight record is (33 - 0 - 0) of which he won 22 with KOs, while Porter's record is (24 - 1 - 1) of which 15 were by KOs. Porter who is from US fought in front of his crowd while Brook from Sheffield, England came with a large British contingents. The British judge scored the fight level at 114 - 114, the other two judges scored the fight 117 - 111 and 116 - 112, for Brooks. After the match the new champion said, that he did what he had to in order to win even though it looked scrappy. ''I looked scrappy but did what I had to do."

The Nigeria Falconets, has booked their place in the semi-final of the Fifa Under - 20 World Cup, that is on going in Canada by beating New Zealand 4 - 1, in the quarter final. Asisat Oshoala and Uchechi Sunday scored two goals each in the Nigeria victory. The Falconets continued with the same fast pace, which they used against South Korea, and within a twinkle of an eye from the kickoff time, Asisat scored the second fastest goal of the tournament in 31 seconds. She headed into the net, Ugo Njoku's perfect crossing from the right flank. Asisat's team-mate Courtney Dike scored the fastest goal in 18 seconds of kick-off time, during the group phase match against South Korea. Emma Rolston scored the only consolation goal for New Zealand. The two semi-finals will be played on the 20th, Korea DPR against Nigeria while Germany will take on France.

Serena Williams, the world number one women tennis player, has finally won the elusive Cincinnati tennis tournament, by beating the Serbian player, Ana Ivanovic, in the final 6 - 4, 6 - 1 on Sunday. Winning two titles in the month of August is going to help Serena in her preparation in defending the US Open, which she won last year. Earlier in the month she won Bank of the West tournament in Stanford, Carlifornia. After the match against Ivanovic, the new champion said to the media that, ''It was such a great week. I love this moment. I love holding up the trophy.'' On the Men's side, the Swiss legend, Roger Federer defeated David Ferrer 6 - 3, 1 - 6, 6 - 2. This makes it the 6th time Roger Federer is winning the Cincinnati Open.

Diego Lopez (32), the goalkeeper who tended the post for the La Liga giants (Real Madrid), last season has joined the Italian Serie A club AC Milan in an undisclosed fee. Lopez joined real Madrid in January of 2013, when the long time number one keeper, Iker Casillas broke his hand. Lopez was so good that when Casillas came back from injury, the then coach, Jose Mourinho and later the current coach Ancelotti, did not want to remove Lopez as the number one keeper. Carlo Ancelotti, Prefered to use Casillas in the Champions League. The Spanish club signed last month the Costa Rica international goalkeeper, Keylor Navas, from FC Levante. Real Madrid posted a statement of thanks to Lopez which read: ''The club would like to express its thanks for his dedication and professionalism, and to wish him luck in this new stage of his career.'' Diego Lopez, appeared 52 times in the Las Liga for the club last season. He won Copa Del Rey and the Champions League with the club.
Read also: Africanfootie.blogspot.com

Europe Best Player Award Shortlist

The European football governing body (Uefa), has shortlisted 10 top players from which journalists will select the best player in the continent, for their last season's performance (2013/2014). Out of the 10 names listed, 3 of them are now in the final, of which the winner will be announced on the 28th of August.

Cristiano Ronaldo

There is no surprise to the names that made up the final shortlisted 3 players. And without much ado the names are:

1.  Cristiano Ronaldo   (Real Madrid and Portugal)
2.  Arjan Robben          (Bayern Munich and Netherlands)
3.  Manuel Neuer         (Bayern Munich and Germany)

The other 7 players in the 10 listed and how they finished on points are:

4.  Thomas Mueller    (Bayern Munich and Germany)              39 points
5.  Philipp Lahm         (Bayern Munich and Germany)              24    ''
5.  Lionel Messi          (Barcelona and Argentina)                     24     ''
7.  James Rodriguez    (Monaco/Real Madrid and Colombia)   16 points
8.  Luis Suarez            (Liverpool/Barcelona and Uruguay)       13    ''
9.  Angel Di Maria      (Real Madrid and Argentina)                  12   ''
10. Diego Costa          (Atletico Madrid/Chelsea and Spain)      8  points

The past winners since the Uefa introduced the award in 2010 are as follows:

1.  Lionel Messi       (Barcelona, 2010/11)
2.  Andres Iniesta     (Barcelona, 2011/12)
3.  Franck Ribery      (Bayern Munich, 2012/13)

Who is going to win the award for 2013/2014? You can use the comment burton at the bottom of the article, to say who you think will win it and why you choose the player.  Read also: Africanfootie.blogspot.com

Some European Weekend League Results

Dutch Eredivisie

Feyenoord                1   -   1     Heerenveen
PSV                          6   -   1     NAC Breda
Twente                     2   -   2     Ado Den Haag
Dordrecht                 1   -   2     PEC Zwolle
Vitesse                     2   -   2     Cambuur
Groningen                3   -   1     Heracles
Excelsior                  3   -   2     Go Ahead Eagles
AZ Alkmaar             1   -   3     Ajax
Utrecht                     2   -   1     Willem  11

English Premier League (EPL)

Leicester City           2   -    2     Everton
QPR                          0   -    1     Hull City
Man United               1   -    2    Swansea
West Brom                2   -    2    Sunderland
Stoke                         0   -    1    Aston Villa
West Ham                 0   -    1    Tottenham
Arsenal                      2   -    1    Crystal Palace
Newcastle                  0   -    2    Man City
Liverpool                   2   -   1     Southampton (Soton)
Chelsea                           -          Burnley

French Ligue 1

Rennes                    6   -   2     Evian Thonon
PSG                        2   -   0     Bastia
Caen                       0   -   1     Lille
Lorient                    0   -   0    Nice
Lens                        0   -   1    Guingamp
Metz                       1   -   1     Nantes
Toulouse                2   -   1     Lyon
Marseille                0   -   2     Montpellier
St. Etienne             3   -   1     Reims
Bordeaux               4   -   1     Monaco

Portuguese Premeira Liga    

Porto                    2    -    0     Maritimo
Gil Vicente          1    -    3     Vitoria Guimaraes
Academica           1   -    1      Sporting Lisbon
Penafiel                1   -    3      Belenenses
Nacional               0   -    1     Moreirense
Rio Ave                2   -    0     Vitoria Setubal
Sporting Braga     3   -    0     Boavista
Benfica                 2   -    0     Pacos de Ferreira
Arouca                       -           Estoril Praia

Read also: Africanfootie.blogspot.com

Note: Please more leagues will be added as they begin their new season.
          Thank you.

 

 

 

 

Sports News In Brief

Luis Suarez ban by Fifa, for biting the Italian defender, Giorgio Chiellini, during the group phase World Cup match in Brazil, between Uruguay and Italy, has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). The organisation however, said that the player can train with his new team, FC Barcelona, can attend football games and participate in promotional activities. He can also play in a friendly match. Fifa's ban of four months, 9 international matches and €82,000 fine are upheld. So now Barcelona can unfail him to their fans. His ban for club competition will end on the 25th of October, a day before the first El Classico (against Real Madrid) is played.

Samuel Etoo in Action

 

Samuel Etoo, the Cameroon international who is out of contract, is being pursued by the Dutch giants, Ajax Amsterdam. It was reported in the Dutch media, that Ajax wants to sign him because of his quality and achievements, to help them improve in the Champions League. It was reported that the club's director of football Marc Overmars, met the superstar player in Paris and asked him to join their club. Then Etoo said that he will consider it, but added that he wants €5m a year. It is also reported that he is being chased by his former team Inter Milan, where he won his third Champions League title, and are ready to pay him more than he is asking from Ajax. The latest now is that Liverpool is also considering signing him. Though, because of his desire to play in the Champions League, he may not go to Inter because they did not qualify for it. So at the moment, it seems its between Ajax and Liverpool, if they are serious about it.

The Nigeria Falconets, has qualified for the quarter final in the Women Under - 20 Fifa World Cup, that is on going in Canada. They beat England 2 - 1 on Wednesday at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. The falconets topped their group C table with 7 points, while South Korea finished second and go through with 4 points. The other two teams England and Mexico are out of the tournament. The other African team in the competition, Ghana is out of the tournament unfortunately, even though they had six points just as Korea DPR and the hosts Canada. The goal differences did not favour Ghana. Nigeria finished first in group C and will play the second in group D, which is New Zealand.

Christian Atsu, the Ghana internationl and Chelsea winger has joined Everton on a season loan. He joined Chelsea in 2013 from FC Porto, but did not play for them, rather he was sent on a season loan to FC Vitesse, as soon as he joined the London club. Atsu featured for Ghana in the just concluded World Cup in Brazil. The Everton manager, Roberto Martinez, who was happy to sign him, said, ''He's a player who fits in with the culture and the way we want to play. He's a very gifted technical footballer and he's got the right personality and character to fit in.''
Read also: africanfootie.blogspot.com

Sports News In Brief

Arsenal beat Manchester City 3 - 0, in the community shield match in the Wembley Stadium on Sunday, ahead of next weekend Premier League kickoff. The two teams met in the annual match, between the English Premier League champions and the FA champions, in the weekend before the weekend, when the Premier League begins for the season. Before the match, the Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was asked by the media, who was going to be his captain, after his former captain Thomas Vermaelen, was sold to Barcelona last week. He said that his new captain is Mikel Arteta and the deputy is the World Cup winning defender Per Mertesacker.

Miroslav Klose (36), the Polish-born German international striker, has announced his retirement from international football. He helped Germany to win their 4th World Cup trophy last month in Brazil. Miro holds the record of being the highest goal scorer, in the history of the Fifa World Cup, at 16 goals in 4 World Cups appearences. And he is the only player to have scored in 4 World Cups. Before the last tournament, Brazil's Ronaldo was the highest goal scorer with 14 goals. Klose is also the highest goal scorer in the German national team - (De Mannschaft), with 71 goals in 137 appearances. Miroslav Klose, who plays his club football with the Serie A clubside Lazio, said that, he was happy and proud to have played his part in the German football. ''I am happy and proud to have  contributed to this big success for German football.''

Miroslav Klose

The son of Sir Alex Ferguson, Darren Ferguson who is the coach of a League one clubside, Peterborough FC said that the ''Jinx" of his father, watching his club play has been broken. His club won their League season opener against Rochdale FC with 1 - 0. Darren believes that his father is jinx to his club. He superstitiously believed that each time his father, Sir Alex, the former Manchester United manager comes to watch his team play, they end up losing the game unless his mother Cathy comes along with him. But now he think that the ''Jinx'' has been broken because his father watched the match alone and they won. ''He 'll be delighted that we've won and it's good to break that jinx,'' Darren said.

The Northern Ireland golfer Rory Mcllroy (25), has won the US PGA Championship, and said that it was beyond his ''wildest dreams.'' This is his 4th major winning. The young Irishman is having an amazing summer in his career. Last month he won the British Open championship, which was his 3rd major title. He said after winning the US Open, ''I didn't think in my wildest dreams, I would have a summer like this. I just played the best golf in my life.'' Rory who is a fan of Manchester United, said that he will go to the club's season opener on Saturday, and take along his trophy with him. ''I'm going to go to Old Trafford and watch the first game of the season on Saturday, and bring the (Open trophy) Claret Jug with me. That will be a great thrill,'' he said. He has been in top form since calling off his wedding engagement with the tennis star, Caroline Wozniacki in May. Caroline seem to be doing fine too, as she won the Turkey Open last month.

In the Fifa Women Under - 20 World Cup currently going on in Canada, Nigeria beat Korea Republic 2 - 1 in their group C encounter in the tournament. Nigeria played a 1 - 1 draw in their first match against Mexico. The Falconets as they are nicknamed are on top of the table with 4 points after two matches, while their next opponents England is in second position with 2 points. Nigeria needs a draw against them to qualify on Wednesday, no matter what happens between Mexico and Korea Republic. The other African representative in the tournament, Ghana defeated the host, Canada 1 - 0 in their first game but lost 3 - 0 in their second game and are in the 3rd position on the table in group A. Ghana will qualify to the second round, if they beat Finland on Tuesday and Canada lose against Korea DPR, which has won all their games so far. But if Ghana draws and Canada draws as well, then Ghana will be out of the competition, unless the two teams goals differences margin change. Ghana needs to work hard to defeat Finland, which has lost their two previous games, and is likely to fight to win Ghana and get something out of the tournament for their pride.
Read also: africanfootie.blogspot.com

Agnieszka Radwanska, beat Venus Williams 6 - 4, 6 - 2 in two straight sets in the Rogers Cup final on Sunday in Montreal, Canada. The young Polish woman was in control of the match from start to finish. Williams did not present much problem for the winner. Though the first set was much of a challenge than the second set as the results showed. After the match, the Polish woman, Radwanska said, ''I really had an amazing week.'' While on the other hand her opponent, Williams was positive about her defeat, ''I didn't imagine that I would get to the final. I fell a little short today, but it's been a wonderful week.'' In the Men's final of the same tournament, the French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated the Swiss tennis legend, Roger Federer in two straight sets of 7 - 5, 7 - 6 (7 - 3).

Dutch Eredivisie Results

PEC Zwolle            2  -  0    Utrecht
Heerenveen            1  -   2    Dordrecht
NAC Breda            1  -  1     Excelsior
Cambuur                1  -  1     Twente
Heracles                 0  -  3     AZ Alkmaar
Ado Den Haag       0  -  1     Feyenoord
Ajax                       4  -  1     Vitesse
Go Ahead Eagles   2  -  3     Groningen
Willem 11              1  -  3     PSV

Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea manager said that Frank Lampard, was the history of the club and that nobody can forget that, but the former Arsenal captain, Cesc Fabregas who replaced him from Barcelona is the future of the club. ''
Frank is the history of the club, history nobody can forget,'' he said. ''Fabrgas is the future; history is history but the future is more important at the moment,'' he added. Lampard who is legend of the Chelsea club left after his contract was not renewed. He joined the new MLS franchise club, New York City FC, which is owned by the same company that owns the English Premier League champions - Manchester City. The experienced and gifted midfielder is now on loan to Man City, which means he will play in the Premier League and in the Champions League.
Read also: africanfootie.blogspot.com

Sports News In Brief

Didier Drogba (36), the Chelsea and Ivory Coast International striker, has announced his retirement from international football. He wants to concentrate on his club career, with Chelsea in his second spell, and hope to replicate the form that helped the club, to win many domestic and European titles. Drogba who left in 2012 after helping them win their first ever Champions League trophy, said that he was proud to have captained his country, and helped to put them on the world stage. ''I'm proud to have captained this team for eight years, and to have contributed to putting my country on the world stage.'' He played in all the three World Cup tournaments his country has participated in.

The very talented former Liverpool striker, Luis Suarez (27), who joined FC Barcelona this summer will find out next week, if his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), for biting the Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup group match is successful. Suarez, Barcelona and the Uruguay FA are hoping that CAS will reduce his punishment for the incident, which he first denied and then later appologised for his actions.
Fifa banned him for 4 months from all football activities, including 9 international matches and a fine of €81,000. A statement from CAS read:
''The panel will issue it's decision as soon as possible, probably before the end of next week.''

Andy Murray (27), the British number one tennis player, has been beaten in the quarter final of the Rogers Cup in Toronto Canada, 7 - 6 (7 - 5), 4 - 6,
6 - 4, by the French player Jo - Wilfried Tsonga, who had already beaten the world number one, Novak Djorkovic in the tournament. Murray was the man who ended in 2013, the 75 years of his country waiting in agony to see, a British man win the prestigeous Wimbledon trophy. The last one that won it before Andy was Fred Perry.

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina (31), who was on loan to Serie A clubside Napoli last season has signed a three years contract with German champions Bayern Munich. He was the number one goalkeeper for Liverpool, until the arrival of Simon Mignolet, which forced him to go on a season loan to Napoli. The Spanish international made 394 appearances for the Merseyside club fron 2005 to 2013. Pepe is not going to find it easy to dislodge, Manuel Neuer, from the number one spot. Neuer is in top form and has won many titles including the World Cup champion last month, with the golden gloves as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

Thomas Vermaelen (28), the Belgium international and Arsenal captain has been sold to FC Barcelona at an agreed fee of €18.5m. The Man United coach, Louis van Gaal, was very much interested in signing the defender but did not agree with Arsenal's request of fee plus a player. The Arsenal's coach, ArseneWenger, had earlier this week said over the speculations, surrounding whether Vermaelen will be leaving or staying, he said that he may leave. Wenger said that there was the possibility that he may leave, but that he would have liked him to stay, but understood his need to play more matches, which he did not get last season. When asked yesterday, whether there were outside clubs seriously interested in the player, he answered, yes.

The NBA Champions, San Antonio Spurs has appointed Becky Hammon, as an assistant coach to their franchise. She is the first paid professional woman assistant coach, to be employed on a full time basis, by an NBA team. She is currently playing for San Antonia Stars in the WNBA, and will be retiring at the end of the season, to move to the next phase of her career.
Hammon is not the first woman assistant coach in the NBA to coach men.
Lisa Boyer in 2000/01 worked with John Lucas, the coach of Cleveland Cavaliers, but she was not a paid assistant and couldn't travel with the team.
San Antonio Spurs' coach, Gregg Popovich said, that he is looking forward to working with her, as he believes that she will be of benefit to the team.
''I very much look forward to the addition of Becky Hammon to our staff.''
Check Out also: africanfootie.blogspot.com

Sports News In Brief

The Spanish midfield dynamo Xavi Hernandez (34), has announced his retirement from international football with immediate effect. He will now concentrate on club football with FC Barcelona. Xavi appeared 133 times for Spain and scored 13 goals. He said that he wanted to retire in 2012, after the European Championship, but coach Vicente Del Bosque, persuaded him to stay and participate in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. But he now thinks that the time is right for him to retire from the national team. ''I'm not 20 anymore, but I still have the motivation of a kid,'' he said in a press conference today. He won two European titles in 2008 and 2012 and he is also a World Cup champion in 2010. He had an amazing career with Spain, inspite of their disasterous performance in Brazil 2014.

The Formula 1 boss, Bernie Ecclestone's bribery trial in a Munich court in Germany, has ended with the English Billionaire agreeing, to settle the case with $100m. The German prosecutors agreed to the deal, because of the loophole that exists in the law, which allows for such. Ecclestone who denied any wrong-doing, was charged in April with paying a German banker, Gerhard Gribkowsky, who is now in jail, €33m to make sure that a company, he Ecclestone favoured, would buy stakes in F1. Gribkowsky was sentenced 8 years for the offence in 2012 and is now in jail. Prosecutors said that part of the reason they accepted the settlement, was because of Ecclestone's advanced age. He is 83 years.

Patrice Beaumelle, the national football coach of Zambia, has resigned his post, just after being in charge for 9 months. He replaced Herve Renard, who led Zambia to win the 2012 African Cup of Nations. Beaumelle was Renard assistant at the time, but became the chief coach when Renard resigned in 2013, to take up job as the coach of French Ligue 1 clubside FC Sochaux. But unfortunately Sochaux was relegated to Ligue 2, and now Renard is back in Africa, as the new coach of Ivory Coast. Beaumelle was Renard's assistant not only in Zambia, but also in Angola and at the Algerian clubside USM Algers. There is now speculations, that he resigned in order to join his friend and former boss at the star filled Ivory Coast team.

The European football governing body (Uefa), has punished 4 football clubs
for the racist actions, exhibited by their fans in football games. The clubs  punished with the partial closing of their stadiums, are the Romanian giants Steaua Bucharest, Hungary's Debrecen, Georgia's Chikhura Sachkhere and the Slovenian's NK Maribor. A spokesman for Uefa said, when announcing the punishment, ''The fight against racism is a high priority for Uefa.'' All the incidents happened, during last month's Champion League and Europa League matches.

The Kenyan Football Federation, has moved swiftly and appointed Bobby Williamson, the former coach of Uganda as their new coach to replace Adel Amrouche, who they sacked yesterday. Kenya was eliminated on Sunday by Lesotho in the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifier, on an aggregate of 0 - 1 after playing 0 - 0 in Nairobi. The football federation chairman, Sam Nyamweya told the media, ''We are very satisfied with Bobby Williamson.
He took Uganda to where they are now. Let us give him a chance.'' The sacked former coach Amrouche, was given a one year suspension by CAF for spitting on a fourth official. He is appealing the ban and denied any wrong-doing.

The English Premier League is set to introduce new rules on head injuries, as from next season of 2014/15. Any player that suffers head injury, must leave the pitch and must be exmined by the club doctor, who will determine whether the player is fit to continue the match or not. The club management are no longer allowed to make that decision. Also the home team must have a third ''tunnel'' doctor on match days. Kevin Philips a former striker who now works as a coach with the newly promoted Leicester City, thinks that the new rules are good and sensible ones. ''It may frustrate quite a few managers, but the health and safety of the players comes first.''

Serena Williams, the Women world number tennis player, has defeated Angelique Kerber of Germany 7 - 6 (7 - 1), 6 - 3 in the final of the bank of the West tournamnet in Stanford California. Beginning of last month, she dropped out of the Wimbledon doubles with her sister Venus, as a result of virus infection. This was her first tournament since her recovery. The title was her third of the tournament and fourth of the year. In the Men's all Canadian final of the Citi Open in Washington, Milos Raonic beat Vasek Pospisil 6 - 1, 6 - 4. It was the first time in the history of the ATP tour that there was an all Canadian final.
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Debt Held Arsenal Back Says Usmanov

Arsenal's second majority shareholder at slightly over 30%, Alisher Usmanov, said that the club is now in a position to win more trophies, after going 9 years without winning any title, until last season when they beat Hull City 3 - 2 to lift the FA Cup.

The Russian Billionaire told the Daily Telegraph, that Arsenal went into huge debt as a result of building a new stadium - (The Emirates Stadium).

He said that the club taking the loan and agreeing to repay it mainly through match-day revenues meant that the club could not compete with big transfer fees of players before, but now they can do that.

Alisher Usmanov

Usmanove said that there were couple of other methods, of financing the stadium, but the board and main shareholders, chose the above method.
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''It is always up to the shareholders to choose which model to adopt.''

''The board and main shareholders chose the debt option at the time, which led to Arsenal going almost 10 years, without winning a domestic title or the Champions League,'' he said.

''The first trophy only arrived in the 10th year. As a aresult of this choice, they were selling players and were unable to buy top players.

''These difficulties have now been overcome and the team is in a good state, the club's finances are in order, and I believe that Arsene Wenger and the club CEO (Ivan Gazidis), will manage them correctly.

The Uzbek born Russian whose fortune is estimated at $18.6b and at number 43 in Forbes list of richest people said that, because the club's finances are in order, they can bring in top players and challenge for titles.

''The club's well placed to succeed. I think we begin a new era for Arsenal, where we win trophies. That is most important for football.

Alisher Usmanov believes, that the club has put in place, a good decision-making process, which includes selection policy that enables them now, to buy best players available.

''In my opinion, in line with the existing rules, the club has the correct decision-making process in place, including their selection policy, especially now, when they have the means to buy the best players,'' he said.
Read also: africanfootie.blogspot.com

Sports News In Brief

Usain Bolt (27), the world fastest man anchored Jamaica to gold in the 4 x 100m relay, in the Commonwealth Games at the Hampden Park, in Glasgow. The team ran a Commonwealth Game's record of 37.58sec. Before the games began, there were much speculations on whether, Bolt would participate in the tournament or not. This was as a result of his poor attitude towards the games. And also because he was coming back from a 10 month foot injury. England relay team came second while Trinidad and Tobago took the third position.

Yaya Sanogo (21), the Arsenal's young striker scored four goals in the 5 - 1 crushing of the Portuguese League champions - Benfica, in the Emirates Cup match on Saturday. His fellow young striker, Joel Campbell, a Costa Rica international, playing his first match for the Gunners, also registered a goal in the victory. Campbell shined for Costa Rica in the World Cup in Brazil, where his country reached the quarter final. Joel joined Arsenal in 2011, but has been on loan throughout the last three seasons. But with his current form, both at the World Cup and in the Arsenal pre-season matches, it will be hard for his coach, Arsene Wenger to send him on a loan again. Sanogo joined the club last season, made only 14 appearances without scoring a goal.

The grand plan of the Spanish giants - Real Madrid to renovate their Stadium, has been stopped as the European Commission began investigation, into what they termed a probable '' illegal public help.'' Real Madrid planned to not only renovate the famous Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, but also to build a shopping complex centre and a hotel, in the adjacent land which is empty. In 2011, the Madrid government made some changes in the City's General Urbanisation Plan, so as to accommodate the planned Stadium renovations. So now the European Commission wants to investigate, what they reffered to as ''illegal public assistance,'' and that prompted a Spanish High Court to order the project halted till further notice.

The boxing gloves that the great Muhammed Ali, wore in his 1971 fight against Joe Frazier, have been sold in an auction at the price of $388,375.
Frazier defeated Ali in the bout tagged the ''Fight of the Century.'' Frazier won the fight in a unanimous decision, which crowned him the undisputed World Heavyweight champion. But Muhammed Ali later in 1974 and 1975 beat Frazier and become the greatest boxer in the history of the game.

Manchester United has been winning matches in their pre-season tour in the United States, under the watchful eyes of their new tactician Dutch coach, Louis van Gaal. The latest team they defeated on Saturday was the Spanish giant Real Madrid 3 - 1. Man United will play Liverpool in the final, of the International Champions Cup on Monday. This was their fourth win in the club's current US tour. They had already won AS Roma, LA Galaxy and Inter Milan.

Serena Williams defeated Andrea Petkovic in two straight sets of 7 - 5, 6 - 0
in the semi - final of the on going Bank of the West Classics in Stanford, california. She was playing her first tournament, since virus forced her to withdrew from the Wimbledon's double, with her sister Venus at the beginning of last month. Serena played very well in the match and will be meeting another German player in the final, Angelique Kerber. After her victorious match, she said that she felt good and was excited about finals.
And on the Men's side we will see the all Canadian final on the ATP tour, between Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil.
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Another Adams' History - ''Scottish Rumble In The Jungle?

Nicola Adams (31) of England, has made history again in boxing, by winning gold and thus becomes the first female Commonwealth Games boxing champion, when she beat the Northern Ireland's Michaela Walsh (21) on Saturday, in the women's flyweight in Glasgow.

In the 2012 London Olympics, Adams made history, by becoming the first woman to win gold in boxing.

The Leeds based Nicola Adams, said to the BBC Sport, after her victory, that she was completely over the moon and was overwhelmed. She thought that it was a close fight.

Nicola Adams celebrating her victory

''I'm absolutely over the moon. I'm overwhelmed, I can't believe it. The support I have had - I'd like to say thank you to everyone, who has turned up today and to those who have supported from home.

''I knew it was close through the rounds, but I thought I had done enough to just take it. It's definitely been a Scottish rumble in the jungle,'' she added.

While her opponent, the young Irish woman, Michaela Walsh, disagreed with the decision of the judges, and tearfully said that she felt cheated out of the gold which she believed she won.

''It was a close fight, but I wanted it that wee bit more. She is Olympic champion and the two judges had it level, but I know in my heart I won the fight,'' Walsh said.

''I'd like to say congratulations to Nicola Adams, she is a great boxer for women's boxing, but I do feel I have been cheated of the gold,'' she added.

The sad and tearful Walsh, said that the fight was close and seemed to imply that she lost the bout, because Adams was an Olympic champion. Yes, though it was a close fight, some experts believed Adams won because she landed more clean shots than Walsh, thereby had slightly more points. What do you think? Did you watch the fight? Make your comment.
Read also: africanfootie.blogspot.com

"Wilfried Bony Is Not For Sale," Says Monk

The Ivory Coast international and the English Premier League striker for Swansea City, Wilfried Bony (25), has been declared ''Not for sale'' by his football club manager, Garry Monk.

There has been rumours that a couple of clubs wants to sign him, especially Liverpool FC. But the team turned their attention to the Queens Park Rangers' French striker, Loic Remy, who they agreed to sign with the fee of €10m.

But this week Liverpool pulled out of the deal, after Remy had his medical with the team in USA, where they were having their pre-season, with the reason being that Remy failed his medical.

Harry Redknapp, the QPR manager told the media, that he did not agree with Liverpool reason, he said, that it was not possible that Remy failed his medical.

Redknapp said that Remy had extensive medical at QPR, Newcastle United where he was on loan last season and in June with the French national team for the World Cup.

Anyway, the rumour has began again, that Liverpool may be going back for Bony. Bony represented Ivory Coast at the World Cup in Brazil, where he scored two goals for his country. He scored 25 goals last season in the EPL.

Garry Monk, said that no team has approached them for Bony's services, but even if any club is interested in signing him, he declared that the player is not for sale.

He then added that the only way, they will sell him is if a club offer them an astronomical fee.

''We've had no contact from anyone at all,'' Swansea City manager said.

''At the end of the day he's not for sale, unless someone comes in with an astronomical offer.

''Unless they want to pay an astronomical fee, he's going nowhere,'' Garry Monk said emphatically. Read also: africanfootie.blogspot.com