Archive | March 2015

Fernando Alonso will miss the Australian Grand Prix….

Fernando Alonso

McLaren driver Fernando Alonso will miss the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 15 March on medical advice. Doctors say Alonso is not injured following his crash in testing on 22 February, but advised him not to race in Melbourne because of the risk of suffering a second concussion. Suffering another concussion injury while a patient is still suffering from the first can have serious consequences, which can extend to prolonged coma or even death.

John Terry will not play for another club….

John Terry

John Terry insists he has “a few years left” at Chelsea and says he will not play for another club. The Blues captain, whose contract is up at the end of the season, scored the opener in Sunday’s 2-0 Capital One Cup final win over Tottenham at Wembley. “If this is my last year, then I hope it goes out on a bang,” said Terry. “But I am feeling great at the minute and it would be the wrong time to go.” Asked if he would play for another club, the 34-year-old insisted: “No.” The former England captain added: “I have my little target to play next year, but, beyond that, two or three years, I don’t know.” It is Chelsea’s policy for players over the age of 30 to be offered only 12-month deals. But Terry, who signed his current deal 48 hours after the end of last season, is unfazed by the prospect of again having to wait for the chance to extend his 17-year stay at Chelsea. “The uncertainty has helped me,” he said. “The roles have reversed and now the power is in the club’s hands. That has inspired me.”

Sunderland’s Adam Johnson in sex arrest….

Adam Johnson

England and Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson has been arrested on suspicion of having sex with a 15-year-old girl. Durham Police said a 27-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of sexual activity with a girl under 16. An officer later said he had been bailed. Sunderland AFC said he had been suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation. News of the arrest of a Premier League footballer was revealed earlier in The Sun newspaper. The Sunderland-born winger joined Middlesbrough’s youth academy and made his senior debut at the age of 17, in a 2005 Uefa Cup game. He was loaned out to Leeds United then Watford, returned to Middlesbrough and then in 2010 made a £7m move to Manchester City. In 2012 he signed for Sunderland on a £10m deal, and was handed the Barclays Player of the Month award in January 2014 after scoring a hat-trick in an away win against Fulham. He has also represented England at under-19 and under-21 levels, and at senior level 12 times. His last England appearance was in a friendly win over Italy in August 2012. His arrest came shortly before he was due to travel with Sunderland to Hull for Tuesday night’s Premier League fixture. Sunderland said it would make no further comment on the arrest.

Hector Cuper is Egypt’s new coach….

Hector Cuper

Argentine Hector Cuper is the new coach of Egypt, the country’s Football Association said on Monday. “The Egypt FA board, after a meeting held by his president Gamal Allam, has appointed Hector Cuper as national team coach,” the EFA said on its website. In his career Cuper has led Valencia to the Champions League final in 2000 and 2001, and in 2003 he finished second in Serie A with Inter Milan. Egypt’s previous coach, Shawki Gharib, left the job in November. The Pharaohs missed out on the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations have not qualified for the World Cup since 1990. Cuper, is believed to have been tasked with qualifying the team for the 2018 World Cup – and local media have reported that his contract will be terminated if he does not meet that target. The 59-year-old has had some previous experience as an international coach, but he failed to win a match when in charge of Georgia boss between August 2008 and December 2009.

Mali win African U-17 Championship….

* As Nigeria lose third place match….

Mali beat South Africa 2 – 0 in the final game played yesterday in Niger to clinch the 2015 African U-17 Championship trophy. Siaka Bagayoko opened scoring for Mali in the 67th minute while Aly Malle made it two nil in the 79th minute.

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This entry was posted on March 2, 2015. 1 Comment

Chelsea FC win League Cup….

John Terry lifts the trophy

Chelsea won the League Cup by beating Tottenham 2-0 and had its Premier League title chances boosted by Manchester City’s loss at Liverpool on Sunday, raising the prospect of a second trophy-laden era under Jose Mourinho. Two deflected shots settled a tight cup final between London rivals at Wembley Stadium, with Chelsea captain John Terry opening the scoring in the 45th with the aid of a ricochet off Eric Dier. Diego Costa’s attempted shot then span into the net off Kyle Walker’s outstretched leg in the 56th, propelling Mourinho to his first piece of silverware in his second spell at Chelsea. The Premier League title could also be heading to Stamford Bridge after City lost 2-1 at Anfield to leave Chelsea with a five-point lead and a game in hand.

Keshi offered “a slave contract” by NFF….

Coach Stephen Keshi has described as “a slave contract” what has been offered him to continue as Nigeria coach, vanguard reports. Keshi said he has received his new contract from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), but has been far from impressed what has been offered him. “From the clauses I have seen so far, I don’t know what words to use but the contract can be described as a ‘slave contract’”, he remarked probably in reference to clauses which make him answerable to several persons and committees. Further checks showed he has been offered a two-year contract effective from March 1, 2015 with him to meet several targets or else the deal is off. He should reach the semifinal of the 2016 CHAN and also the last four of the next AFCON or the contract will be called off at “the absolute discretion” of his employers. He will also have to abide by a code of conduct. Keshi himself revealed that he will be paid five million Naira (less than $25,000), which was what he also received during his initial three-year contract, which ran out after last year’s world Cup in Brazil.

Nigeria – Ghana friendly match cancelled by FIFA….

Nigeria’s quest to play Ghana next month in London in an international friendly has been scuttled due to a FIFA directive. According to the FIFA regulations, no country should play two games across two continents in three days, Vanguard reports. The Nigeria Football Federation had announced the Super Eagles would play Bolivia on March 26 in Uyo (Africa) and then take on the Black Stars on 29 March in London (Europe). This means the Ghana Football Association can now consider proposals from teams including Australia. It has the option to play all two matches during the FIFA free window next month either in Europe or Asia. Ghana finished second at the just ended 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea after losing 9-8 on penalties to Ivory Coast. The Super Eagles were seeking to use the game against their sworn rivals to kick-start their preparations for the 2017 African qualifiers.

Results of English Premier League….

Saturday 28 February:

West Ham 1 – 3 Crystal Palace

Burnley 0 – 1 Swansea

Man Utd 2 – 0 Sunderland

Newcastle 1 – 0 Aston Villa

Stoke 1 – 0 Hull

West Brom 1 – 0 Southampton

Sunday 1 March:

Liverpool 2 -1 Man City

Arsenal 2 – 0 Everton