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Category: Sports

  • Tennis-Australian Open men’s singles round 4 results

    Jan 21 (Infostrada Sports) – Results from the Australian Open Men’s Singles Round 4 matches on Monday

    Jeremy Chardy (France) beat 21-Andreas Seppi (Italy) 5-7 6-3 6-2 6-2

  • Espoir Fc 0-1 Police FC

    {{Police FC has ended the first leg of the 2012/13 Primus National Football league in style. }}

    The youthful squad coached by Goran Kopunovic snatched a commanding 1-0 victory over Espoir on Saturday in Rusizi.

    The solitary goal of the game was scored by striker Imran Nshimiyimana on 25th minute to help Police FC jump from third position to the summit of the Primus National Football League standings with 28 points in 14 matches played this season.

    Police FC has dethroned SC Kiyovu to second position with 26 points while Rayon Sport is third position with 25 points.

    Initially, Saturday’s match was supposed to be played a fortnight ago but was cancelled following a road accident that claimed the lives of four police officers while escorting the team to Rusizi.

    Espoir remain on tenth position with 14 points as the league standings remains unchanged for other clubs.

    Head coach Goran said that he is happy for the victory. “It was a tough and difficult earned victory. This is good for the players’ confidence.”

    “We are on top of the league table with 28 points and the journey continues. We will resume with training on Monday, no time to rest as the second round gets closer,” added Goran.

    The second leg of the Primus National Football League gets underway on January 26.

    RNP

  • Africa Cup:Ethiopia Survive 5-goal Beating to Reach Finals

    {{Ethiopia achieved the rare feat of conceding five goals in a qualifier and still reaching the Africa Cup of Nations.}}

    Sudan scored five in Khartoum only to come off second best in the scramble for a ticket to South Africa on the away-goal rule after losing the second leg 2-0 in Addis Ababa.

    Supporters of the Walias Antelopes — an endangered species found in the mountains of northern Ethiopia — danced and sang late into the night in the streets of the capital to celebrate a return to the Cup of Nations.

    When the fearless national team walk on to the Mbombela Stadium pitch in Nelspruit on January 21 to face title holders Zambia they will be ending a three-decade absence from the African football showcase.

    Ethiopia have been drawn with Zambia, Nigeria and Burkina Faso in Group C and the last time they played in the tournament 31 years ago they also met the Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) and the Super Eagles in Libya.

    The Antelopes fell 3-0 to Nigeria and 1-0 to Zambia and just about every football supporter outside the east African state expects similar outcomes this time, leaving the Ethiopians and the Burkinabe to fight for third place.

    Just getting to the 2013 tournament has been a great achievement for coach Sewnet Bishaw and his team as they eliminated favoured Benin, also on away goals, before being paired with Sudan.

    Bishaw is in his second spell at the helm and has changed the weekend life style of many countrymen, who traditionally shunned a struggling national side and watched televised English Premier League and Spanish La Liga games instead.

    “We worked really hard to qualify and people should appreciate that. We cleared difficult hurdles in Benin and Sudan and will not make life easy for any of our opponents,” he told Ethiopian reporters.

    “Hard work and unity are our strengths. We succeeded because of intense training and a high level of discipline. I just hope we can learn from some of the silly goals we conceded in Khartoum.”

    Bishaw inherited one of the hottest national-coach seats in Africa with 15 occupants during the past decade, including Scot Iffy Onuora, who was sacked for telling reporters he had to clear grazing cows before training sessions.

    There are no animals these days — just a dedicated group of footballers dominated by league champions Saint George and runners-up Dedebit, who supply 17 of the 23-man squad.

    But the star of the team, striker Saladin Said, is based in Egypt and there are two other foreign-based Antelopes heading for South Africa — midfielder Yusuf Salah plays in Sweden and striker Fuad Ibrahim in the United States.

    Virtually unknown outside his country until last year, Said has a habit of scoring spectacular goals and if he clicks, Ethiopia could be celebrating a first Cup of Nations victory since overcoming Uganda 37 years ago.

  • Bayern Appoint Guardiola as Manager

    {{Former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola will takeover as Bayern Munich head coach for the 2013/14 season, the Bundesliga giants confirmed Wednesday, with the Spaniard offered a contract until 2016.}}

    The 41-year-old Guardiola, who has twice coached Barcelona to the Champions League title, will replace current Munich boss Jupp Heynckes, whose contract expires in June, just after his 68th birthday.

    Guardiola, who is currently living in New York with his family, resigned as Barcelona coach last year after four years coaching the Spanish giants but chose to snub the English Premier League in what will be seen to be a major coup for the rival German Bundesliga.

    He had been linked with Manchester rivals United and City as well as European champions Chelsea since taking a break from the game at the end of last season.

    Agencies

  • ‘Sorry I Doped’–Armstrong Says

    {{Lance Armstrong today admitted to Oprah Winfrey that he used performance enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France.}}

    Reports indicate that Armstrong is talking with authorities about paying back some of the US Postal Service money from sponsoring his team.

    He is also talking to authorities about confessing and naming names, giving up others involved in illegal doping.

    This could result in a reduction of his lifetime ban, according to the source, if Armstrong provides substantial and meaningful information.

    Armstrong made the admission in what sources describe as an emotional interview with Winfrey to air on “Oprah’s Next Chapter” on Jan. 17.

    The 90-minute interview at his home in Austin, Texas, was Armstrong’s first since officials stripped him of his world cycling titles in response to doping allegations.

  • Ghana Whips Egypt in 2013 Afcon warm-up

    {{Ghana’s Black Stars thumped seven time African champions Egypt 3-0 in a warm up game ahead of the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa.}}

    Agyemang Badu began the mauling with a superb header in the first half with substitutes Richmond Boakye Yiadom and Asamoah Gyan getting the two goals in the second half.

    Egypt failed to qualify for the tournament and looked almost rusty and physical in a game that saw a superb team performance from the Black Stars and pieces of individual brilliance from Kwadwo Asamoah and Agyemang Badu.

    The Stars were quick and fluid with Bristol City winger Albert Adoma proving a slippery customer to his marker.

    But it was Udinese Star, Agyemang Badu who shot the Stars ahead in the 17th minute when he soared above his markers and powerfully connected a well taken free kick from Kwadwo Asamoah.

    The Pharaohs were slow and hardly threatened the Ghana goal with Fatau Dauda almost enjoying the game watching.

    In a rare attack in the 19th minute, Dauda was quick to grab the ball off the foot of the Egypian striker.

    The game turned very physical with the Egyptians, guilty for most part.

    Skipper Anthony Annan became victim of the attacks and was replaced by Derek Boateng.

    In the 35th minute, Omar Garber was yellow carded for diving after he had, in a sublime one-two situation, got himself in a scoring position in Ghana’s 18 yard box.

    Coach Akwasi Appiah brought in Richard Boakye-Yiadom for Emmanuel Clottey in the second half and the Italy based striker responded positively.

    He had earlier failed to connect a teasing cross from the right by Adomah but when Kwadwo Asamoah set him up with a cheeky side-heel on the left, the Italy based striker coolly placed the ball beyond the reach of the Egyptian goal keeper for Ghana’s second.

    Egypt responded well and breached the Ghana defence with a splitting pass but the resulting strike was too feeble to beat Fatau Dauda who made some really impressive saves on the few occasions he was called upon.

    In the 75th minute the Pharaohs came close to scoring but Derek Boateng tracked back into defence with a timely tackle in the six yard box.

    Striker Asamoah Gyan was brought in with a quarter of an hour left and was beautifully set up by Christian Atsu in the 84th minute. The Al Ain striker halted his goal duck for the Stars with the third and final goal for the Black Stars.

    With three minutes left, Fatau Dauda, in a spectacular fashion, parried a goal bound shot for a corner much to the disappointment of the Egyptians.

    3-0 it ended for the Stars who will play Tunisia in their second and final warm up game before the Nations Cup begin on the 19 of this month.

    {Myjoyonline}

  • Nyarugenge District offers Frw60M to Kiyovu FC

    {{Kiyovu FC will annually receive a financing package worth Frw 60 Million from Nyarugenge district.}}

    The President of Kiyovu FC, Sendege Norbert confirmed to a local tabloid that the District will begin to finance the team staring with the next season of 2013/2014.

    Sendege added that it is not only Nyarugenge that will be financing the club but also Kicukiro District which has vowed to support the club.

    He said Kiyovu FC will no longer face financial problems as soon as the two Districts agreed to support them.

    In this season ending, Nyarugenge will give Frw3,000,000 to the club.
    The club has been facing a problem of players’ salaries.

  • Messi Wins Record 4th Ballon d’Or

    {{Lionel Messi added yet another record to his stellar list of achievements over the past 12 months on Monday when he won an unprecedented fourth, consecutive, Ballon d’Or at a FIFA gala in Zurich.}}

    The accolade seals Messi’s status as the greatest player of his generation after he saw off Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta for the prize.

    Messi received a vote share of 41.60 percent to 23.68 for Ronaldo and 10.91 for Iniesta.

    Messi and former French star, UEFA president Michel Platini, had prior to Monday been the only players to win three straight Ballon d’Or awards while Dutch greats Johan Cruyff and Marco Van Basten both won the accolade on three occasions.

    Spain’s Vicente del Bosque was named coach of the year for 2012, seeing off competition from Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho and former Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola.

    Messi’s success crowned another landmark year for the Argentine who is already the top scorer in La Liga for the ongoing season with 25 goals, having also broken Gerd Mueller’s 40-year record for the most goals in a calendar year.

    He finished 2012 with an astonishing 91 goals in all competitions.
    But Messi has insisted his scoring records will mean nothing if Barcelona do not go on to take the La Liga title off Real or fail to win the Champions League.

    “It is incredible to receive this prize once again and it’s impressive it makes it four in a row. Each one is special. You never come here thinking you are going to win.

    “I would like to share this with my Barca teammates – particularly with Andres, who is here with me,” said the ever unassuming Messi.

    “I am proud to be able to train alongside him every day. I am also thinking of my teammates in the Argentina squad,” he went on.

    “Thank you to all those who voted for me, skippers, coaches and national coaches.

    “Thank you too to my family, my friends and of course my wife and son, who is the best thing that ever happened to me,” said the 25-year-old from Rosario, who in November became a father to son Thiago.

    Barca coach Tito Vilanova had already eulogised his player in advance of Messi’s win.

    “Leo’s great quality is that he plays as if he is still a child,” Vilanova opined.

    Portugal captain Ronaldo at least has the consolation of having won in 2008 before Messi’s hegemony began while Iniesta can for his part bask in the knowledge that he has won a World Cup and two Euros – including Euro 2012 – whereas Messi still has to replicate such achievements at international level.

    Until he can lift top honours with Argentina, some observers will insist he cannot be classed as the greatest player ever, moving ahead of Pele and Diego Maradona.

    The award of best coach went to Spain’s Vicente del Bosque, who beat off competition from Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho, the 2010 winner, and former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

    “It is an honour for me to receive this award,” said Del Bosque, who led Spain to Euro 2012 – having also landed the World Cup two years earlier.

    “It is an honour to represent Spanish football and the Spanish national side. I thank all the players – they make us (the coaches) better.

    “This prize can be extended to all coaches, to people who dedicate themselves to football,” added the ever humble coach..

    Barcelona and Real Madrid meanwhile contributed five players each to the best XI of the year – Radamel Falcao of Atletico Madrid being the exception in an all Spain-based line-up.

    Slovakia’s Miroslav Stoch edged both Falcao and Brazil’s Neymar for best goal,Best woman player went to Abby Wambach of the USA, who edged Brazil’s Marta and fellow American Alex Morgan while the USA’s Swedish coach Pia Sundhage won the title of best women’s coach.

    The Uzbekistan Football Federation took the fair play award while a special FIFA president award went to German legend Franz Beckenbauer.

    {wirestory}

  • Yanga FC Fail to get Friendly Matches

    {{Tanzania’s Young Africans football team are in Turkey for a two-week training camp, but their hopes of landing high-profile friendlies might not see the light of day.}}

    Jangwani Street side arrived in Antalya on Sunday and have been holding training sessions twice a day.

    However, speaking with The Citizen after yesterday’s evening session, Yanga head coach Ernie Brandts said chances were slim for his team to play friendlies.

    The Dutchman said organisers of the trip have so far failed to get any team that is ready for a date with his boys. “Chances are slim because we have almost four days here and no team has shown interest to play against us.

    “It is very disappointing because I expected some tough matches to strengthen my players,” said the former APR tactician.

    However, Brandts was confident that the team would came back much stronger even if they fail to play build-up matches.

    “I am satisfied with the determination and commitment my players are showing in training. I am optimistic that the team will improve significantly,” he noted.

    Yanga’s trip to Turkey was meant to sharpen the team ahead of the second half of the Mainland premiership season that kicks off at the end of January.

    NMG

  • Serena Offers Warning for Australian Open rivals

    {{Serena Williams felt she was close to accessing the sporting “zone” during her emphatic 6-2 6-1 victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the final of the Brisbane International on Saturday.}}

    Williams needed only 51 minutes to beat the Russian in an ominous warm-up for the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on January 14.

    “I’ve been in the zone a few times,” Williams told reporters.
    “I don’t know if I was in the zone today, but I was definitely heading in that direction. I’ve been in the twilight zone before, where I just felt so good I couldn’t do anything wrong.”

    The world No.3’s performance was so strong that Pavlyuchenkova said afterwards: “I always feel like I don’t know how to play tennis when I play against you.”

    Williams captured the 47th title of her career. She has won 35 of her past 36 matches while claiming Wimbledon, the Olympics, the US Open, the season-ending tour championship and now the opening event of 2013.

    The 31-year-old American roared through the Brisbane tournament without the loss of a set.

    She said: “I was looking at a lot of old matches on YouTube, and I feel like right now I’m playing some of my best tennis. I feel like I want to do better and play better still.”

    Williams said a decision to seek on-court tranquillity after a shattering defeat to Virginie Razzano at the French Open last year had triggered her career resurrection.

    “I really started being more calm on the court and just relaxing more, if it’s possible for me to relax,” she said.