Relegation looms large for Hull

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The Premier League relegation picture should become clearer this weekend as the five teams still in danger scramble for points in the quest for survival.

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London – The Premier League relegation picture should become clearer this weekend as the five teams still in danger scramble for points in the quest for survival.

With Queens Park Rangers and Burnley already down, third bottom Hull City need at least two points and probably three from their remaining two matches to stand a chance of keeping their top-flight status.

Defeat on Saturday at Tottenham will not mathematically send them down – since fellow strugglers Leicester and Sunderland play each other – but with a home match against Manchester United on the final day, manager Steve Bruce admits the situation is getting desperate.

“We still need a couple of results,” Bruce said this week. “Who knows? One might be enough. We’ve got to make sure we make a fight of it down at Tottenham, make a fist of staying alive.”

“We have to make sure we take it to the last day against Manchester United. Who knows what will happen then? We’ve seen strange results again.

“Teams expected to win haven’t and the bottom teams are winning.Leicester, in particular, have produced another win (against Southampton) which is quite remarkable. We need a reaction.”

Bruce said the club had targeted 37 or 38 points from the start of the season and, currently on 34, had simply not been good enough.

“We haven’t performed anywhere near to the level which we are capable of performing and when that happens you get frustrated,” he said.

Newcastle, one place and two points above Hull, could still be in big trouble if they fail to at least earn a point at QPR.

A draw last weekend against West Brom ended a run of eight straight defeats but the Magpies are still fighting for their lives.

“It is up to us to get to that 38, 39 or 40 point mark and then make sure it does not happen again next season,” defender Ryan Taylor said.

“I don’t want to go down. I have had it once before when I first signed and don’t want that feeling again. All I am thinking about is

helping this team pull through the difficult situation we are in.”

Having won six games out of seven to get out of the bottom three, Leicester can assure their safety by beating Sunderland, who still have a game in hand.

“If two months ago you’d have said it would be in our own hands going into the last game of the season, I’d have taken it,” manager Nigel Pearson said.

At the other end, Manchester United can seal the last Champions League spot by avoiding defeat against Arsenal.

And in the race for the last automatic Europa League spot, awarded for sixth, Tottenham will watching the results of both Southampton and Swansea.

Seventh-placed Southampton, one point behind Tottenham, host another relegation-threatened club, Aston Villa, while Swansea are another point behind before they face outgoing champions Manchester City.

Steven Gerrard will play his last home game for Liverpool, against Crystal Palace, while Burnley host Stoke and West Ham take on Everton in the weekend’s other games. – DPA-ANA



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United director defends Glazer family

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Manchester United's “one-year experiment” without Champions League football has not seriously harmed profitability although it was painful, the club's group managing director Richard Arnold said.

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London - Manchester United's “one-year experiment” without Champions League football has not seriously harmed profitability although it was painful, the club's group managing director Richard Arnold said.

United's worst Premier League finish in 2013-14 meant they were absent from Europe's blue-riband club competition this year, giving further ammunition to critics of the Glazer family who bought the club 10 years ago.

Marking the anniversary of the Glazers' takeover of England's biggest club, the Independent Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) this week issued a statement accusing the Americans of “ownership crime” saying they had saddled the club with debt.

However, Arnold said the owners' “long-term vision” meant the three-times European champions remained strong, on and off the pitch, and were still competing for the world's top players.

“Yesterday was the 10-year anniversary of the our current owners and that long-term approach they've taken, the vision they've shown and the decisions they've made have borne out on and off the pitch and they've been strong,” Arnold said at the Daily Telegraph Business of Sport forum in London.

“(MUST) would have their view. I wouldn't agree with it.

“It's a unique position to be in, the way that fans feel about a club and that is at the heart of everything we do. You can't take that for granted.”

United are virtually assured a top-four finish in the Premier League, after slipping to seventh last season, meaning a return to the Champions League, albeit probably via a playoff.

Arnold said the real pain of not rubbing shoulders with the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich was felt by the players and fans rather than the club's bean counters.

“Whatever you call the competition, not being at the top table that you can be in is a matter of pride, it's where the players want to play, it's what the fans want to see, not being there hurts, it's a key achievement milestone for us.

“In taking the long-term vision, structuring the business to be profitable and having a diversified income stream, it's a much smaller number than people expect in how it's affected our profitability and our ability to compete economically for the best players.

“But the fact we manage our finances to make sure that in the long term we are sustainable and solid doesn't take away from the fact that not being in it was really painful.

“We have only had a one-year experiment and it's not our plan to make it a longer one so dear God let's not try that experiment again!”

United will announce their third quarter earnings on Thursday. – Reuters



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Emotional farewell awaits Gerrard

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An emotional Anfield will witness the end of an era when Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard makes his final home appearance.

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London - An emotional Anfield will witness the end of an era when Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard makes his final home appearance after more than 700 games and 17 years playing for his boyhood club.

Tickets that normally cost 47 pounds ($73.52) are on sale on the internet for more than 1,300 pounds such is the demand to see the Gerrard's last match on home soil against Crystal Palace after his exceptional, glittering, one-club career.

Last week the former England skipper was part of a guard of honour saluting champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and this week Palace's players are expected to line up and applaud him as he leads the team out of the Anfield tunnel for the last time.

After Saturday's match, Liverpool have one game left at Stoke City on the final day of the Premier League season on May 24 when Gerrard, who turns 35 at the end of the month, will bid farewell to his adoring fans before joining LA Galaxy.

With Chelsea having won the title and Burnley and Queens Park Rangers already relegated, the only issues still be decided are who fills the third relegation spot and the destination of the three Europa League places.

Liverpool will clinch one of them with a win over 12th placed Palace who are chasing their highest finish in the Premier League era.

Liverpool still have a remote mathematical chance of making the top four but, wherever they finish, Gerrard will no doubt relish his last home appearances in a red shirt.

He said earlier this week, the spark went out of his game when manager Brendan Rodgers told the midfielder earlier this season that he would have a restricted role in the side.

“When a manager gets you into the office and says your role is going to change and it's going to become more limited - that's when you make your decision.

“It's not a selfish thing but coming on as a sub is just not the same buzz so things have changed this year,” he said at a gala dinner for former Liverpool players.

Two matches that are likely to have an impact on both the Europa League and relegation spots are between Southampton and Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur and Hull City.

Southampton and Spurs are in contention for European places while Villa and Hull need points to guarantee their safety.

Villa have improved since Tim Sherwood became manager in February and could also qualify for the Europa League by beating Arsenal in the FA Cup final on May 30.

Hull slipped into the bottom three after losing 1-0 on Saturday at home to Burnley, who were subsequently relegated because of other results.

Five clubs - Villa, Hull, free-falling Newcastle United, who visit QPR, Sunderland and Leicester City, who face each other, are still in danger of going down with only four points separating Villa on 38 and Hull on 34.

The key relegation scrap is at Sunderland, who improved their chances of staying up after winning 2-0 at Everton last week while Leicester look set to escape after winning six of their last seven.

Unlike in the past when Manchester United played Arsenal and titles or cups depended on the outcome, all that is at stake at Old Trafford on Sunday is who will finish higher in the top four and qualify for the Champions League group stage.

The fourth-placed team will have to successfully negotiate a potentially tricky Champions League playoff round.

Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion will be in a relaxed mood when they meet at The Hawthorns with Jose Mourinho's side having won the title and the Baggies safe in mid-table. – Reuters



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Depay wants to be the ‘next’ Ronaldo

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Memphis Depay arrived in England and announced his intention to become one of the best players in the world.

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Memphis Depay arrived in England and announced his intention to become one of the best players in the world.

Speaking just days after his £25m move from PSV Eindhoven to Manchester United was confirmed, Depay laid out his ambitions at Old Trafford and his inspirations so far, including Louis van Gaal and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Depay was compared to Ronaldo recently by Netherlands team-mate Leroy Fer, and it was not a comparison which Depay shied away from. Rather, he embraced it and said he is aiming for Ronaldo's stature at the very top of the world game.

“I believe I can be one of the best players in the world and I have to dream and believe to achieve that,” said Depay, at an Under Armour boot launch in London yesterday afternoon.

The 21-year-old has had a brilliant 12 months, scoring twice at the World Cup in Brazil last year before being the best player and one of the leading scorers in this year's Eredivisie, which PSV have won easily.

“You just have to work every day on your dreams,” Depay explained. “My dreams started with going to the World Cup and then, when I was there, I scored two goals, becoming the youngest-ever Dutch goalscorer, and I was very happy. But when the World Cup was finished, I realised that was not it. I had to do more on the pitch.”

Tottenham tried to sign Depay last summer but he decided to stay at PSV, a decision vindicated by his performances this season, and his eventual move to United. “When I made the decision to stay, I wanted to be champion and top scorer,” he said. “We became champions in the Dutch league and, with one more game left, I can become top scorer. It was a good choice.”

Now Depay will be reunited with Van Gaal, his coach from the World Cup, and he is looking forward to working with a manager who has been so important to him. “He is different,” said Depay, with real admiration. “His performance on the training ground is different from other trainers. After the World Cup, he told me to stay hungry and I told myself to stay hungry.”

Depay wants to reach the top and he is open in his admiration for Ronaldo, whose free-kick technique has inspired him to develop his own effective way of scoring from dead-ball situations.

Depay said that it was “great to hear” Fer compare him to Ronaldo. “It is great to hear that from other players,” he said. “But I am 21 and I have not reached the level of Cristiano Ronaldo. He is a big hero for me and one day I hope to reach that level. He scores so many goals and I want to fight to be one of the best players in the world.” – The Independent



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Morata fires Juventus into the final

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Juventus have booked their place in the Champions League final, crushing Real Madrid’s dream of an 11th European crown.

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Madrid - Juventus shattered Real Madrid's dream of a record-extending 11th European crown when Alvaro Morata scored against his former club to secure a 1-1 Champions League draw with the holders on Wednesday and send Juve into the final 3-2 on aggregate.

Cristiano Ronaldo netted a 23rd-minute penalty to give Real the upper hand before Morata stunned the Bernabeu when he rifled a shot into the roof of the net off goalkeeper Iker Casillas 12 minutes into the second half.

Spain forward Morata, a Real academy graduate considered surplus to requirements, also scored in the Italian champions' 2-1 win in the first leg in Turin and Juve will bid for their third triumph in Europe's elite club competition when they face Barcelona in Berlin on June 6.

Real pushed desperately for the goal that would have taken the game to extra time but squandered a host of chances and Juve remained on course for a treble of European and domestic league and Cup titles.

“Many people said Juve was not a team that deserved to be here and we have proved them wrong game after game,” Juve midfielder Arturo Vidal told reporters.

“They (Real) have some spectacular players but we are a very united team,” added the Chile international.

“We all know what Barcelona are, they have an incredible side, but we will see who is the best and we will put our lives on the line.”

After Ronaldo's penalty following a clumsy Giorgio Chiellini foul on James Rodriguez, Real could have been further ahead at the break.

Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema all wasted chances on a warm night in the Spanish capital with Real dominating as expected.

The match opened up in the second half and Juve were rewarded when forward Morata found space in the area after a clever layoff from Paul Pogba.

Chances came thick and fast at both ends and Rodriguez powered a shot narrowly over the crossbar, Real keeper Iker Casillas saved brilliantly from Claudio Marchisio and Bale nodded over when well placed.

“Juventus deserve to be in the final while we missed our chance,” Real defender Sergio Ramos told Spanish television.

“After the first goal it seemed like the tie was won but that wasn't the case at all,” added the Spain international, whose side now face the prospect of ending the season without winning any of the Champions League or Spanish league and Cup.

Ronaldo, level with Barca forward Lionel Messi at the top of the 2014-15 scoring charts, became the first player to score at least 10 goals in four different Champions League campaigns.

He jointly holds the all-time goals record for the competition of 77 with Messi.

Reuters



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Why do we have play-offs?

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Matshelane Mambolo laments the need for promotion/relegation play-offs, after an already drawn out season.

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I am tired. And I should be looking forward to a deserved rest. But that cannot be, for two weeks of unnecessary slog await the football slave that is me.

The Nedbank Cup final match between Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns should be the last official clash of the season. And the following night we all assemble at the Sandton Convention Centre to celebrate the stars who entertained us since August.

But no, that is not how it is going to be – thanks to the bloody play-offs! Why do we have them, really? So that some good-for-nothing Premiership team that had a forgetful season can be given the chance of staying up at the expense of a National First Division (NFD) side that worked their socks off all season to finish second?

Surely that is not right? Surely a team that finishes second from bottom in the elite league should be automatically relegated and the one that finishes runners-up in the tier two division be promoted?

The play-offs are very unfair to the lower division side and need to be done away with completely. When a team has worked as hard as Jomo Cosmos did to finish second behind Golden Arrows, surely they shouldn’t be made to then work extra hard to earn their promotion?

What makes it all the more wrong is the fact that the team finishing third in the NFD, in this case Black Leopards, are also competing in the play-offs. Imagine Leopards winning the play-offs, surely it just is not fair for Cosmos who beat them in the league throughout a season where they played against everybody twice.

I know they are a sensible lot, the men and women who make up the PSL Board of Governors, and at their next seating will look into this system and change it.

Those with clubs in the NFD, in particular, should be vocal on this issue if they know what’s good for them, for in their current format the play-offs are pro the Premiership sides.

It wasn’t surprising that Moroka Swallows and all their fans celebrated like they’d won the championship on Saturday when they beat Bloemfontein Celtic to finish in the 15th spot, offering them a second chance at staying up in the lucrative elite league.

This is not how it should be. The league must revert to the two-up, two-down policy of the past. If they must have the play-offs, then have the team finishing third in the NFD take on the one finishing 14th in the Premiership battle it out.

That should make the competition much more interesting than it currently is where teams can have as wretched a season as Swallows did and still have hope of staying in the top echelon . Oh, and by so doing extend our season unnecessarily thus denying us of a deserved rest. It’s not right. - The Star



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Fifa exec banned for eight years

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Fifa has banned former vice president Reynald Temarii for eight years for taking Qatari powerbroker Mohamed bin Hammam’s money.

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Zurich — Fifa has banned former vice president Reynald Temarii for eight years for taking Qatari powerbroker Mohamed bin Hammam’s money to pay legal costs in a corruption case linked to the 2022 World Cup vote.

Fifa says its ethics committee ruled that Temarii accepting 305,640 euros ($343,000) from Bin Hammam in January 2011, breaching five sections of its ethics code.

Temarii was then appealing a one-year suspension by Fifa which barred him from voting in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup contests, won by Russia and Qatar, respectively.

Fifa had judged Temarii guilty of breaking confidentiality and loyalty rules by discussing the World Cup votes with undercover reporters from The Sunday Times.

The official from Tahiti was then president of the Oceania Football Confederation. – AP-ANA



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Stars on the move hunting cup glory

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Ajax and Sundowns are set to lose some of best talent in the country when the season concludes with the Nedbank Cup final.

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The game that brings the curtain down on the 2014-2015 domestic football season is also the occasion that provides closure for a few individuals in the two participating teams.

When Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns meet in the Nedbank Cup final in Port Elizabeth, it’ll be a bitter-sweet afternoon for Keagan Dolly, Erwin Isaacs and Alje Schut – and, at the same time, it could well be the last local sighting of Khama Billiat and Rivaldo Coetzee.

Dolly bids farewell to Ajax to join up with Sundowns in June. He had already signed a contract with the big-spending Pretoria club in January, but was allowed to stay at Ajax, on loan until the end of the season.

Isaacs comes to the end of a hugely successful five-month loan spell at Ajax – he returns to his employers, Wits, in June. While Ajax are eager to make Isaacs’ move permanent, Wits’ asking price looks set to scare off the Cape club.

Sundowns skipper Schut will definitely be playing his last game for a club he’s grown very fond of. Last season, the giant Dutch defender captained the team to the league title – and, this campaign, they’ve ended runners-up to Kaizer Chiefs and made it to the Cup final.

The Pretoria club is keen to keep Schut, but the player has made up his mind that he wants to return home.

“In the meeting I had with the club, they said they wanted me to stay on,” said the 33-year-old Schut. “But I need to move on… I have to get started on to the next phase of my career, and perhaps do my coaching badges. I want to keep the good memories of my time at Sundowns…”

Ajax’s teenage central defender Coetzee and Sundowns’ tricky winger Billiat are in demand. The Cape club’s big brother, Ajax Amsterdam, are first in the queue, while there has also been interest in the 18-year-old from other clubs, both locally and abroad. Zimbabwean Billiat, who came to prominence at Ajax, has attracted interest from Belgium and France.

Both clubs are eager to hang on to their two star players – but it’s no secret that both Coetzee and Billiat are keen on plying their trade in European big leagues. If the right offer comes along, it will be difficult for Ajax or Sundowns to refuse.

Billiat, who like Dolly made the move from Ajax to Sundowns, believes the winger from Westbury will do well in Pretoria.

“He’s shown what he can do at Ajax, now he has an opportunity for a bigger challenge,” said Billiat about Dolly’s imminent move. “He’s definitely good enough. If he puts in the work, I firmly believe he can succeed at Sundowns.”

Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane is treading cautiously ahead of the Cup final against Ajax – not only because he has respect for the talent in the Cape club’s squad, but also because he and his team are under pressure.

“Sundowns are a big club, that is why you have to win something,” said Mosimane. “While we may have finished second in the league to ensure that we compete in Africa, we failed to retain our league title. It’s always good to give our fans something to smile about, and that is why the Cup final is important.

“Cape clubs are always difficult (Sundowns scraped past Parow’s Vasco da Gama 1-0 in the semi-final), they play with fire and passion, and always make things tough. Ajax have a number of good youngsters and, in Nathan Paulse up front, they have a striker who is always difficult to play against.”

While Mosimane will take his place on the Sundowns bench on Saturday, he will look across and see Ajax coach coach Roger de Sa’s place filled by assistant coach Ian Taylor. De Sa was sent off in the Cape club’s last league game for remarks made to the fourth match official – and the coach will watch the final from the stands.

But Mosimane wasn’t reading too much into that.

“That has no influence on the game,” said the Sundowns coach. “The players are still there, they know what to do, they have the system and the game plan… whether the coach is on the bench or not, it doesn’t matter.” - Cape Argus



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PSL awards nominees announced

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Eric Mathoho, Tefu Mashamaite ( both Kaizer Chiefs) and Cole Alexander (Polokwane City) were up for footballer of the season award.

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Johannesburg – The Premier Soccer League announced the nominees for the 2014/2015 season to be held on Sunday.

Heading the list is the PSL Footballer of the season where Eric Mathoho (Kaizer Chiefs), Cole Alexander (Polokwane City) and Tefu Mashamaite (Kaizer Chiefs) were up for footballer of the season.

Both Mashamaite and Mathoho were also nominated for Players’ Player of the Season with Teko Modise of Mamelodi Sundowns the third nominee.

The awards will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre from 8pm and broadcast live on SuperSport.

Full list of awards nominees:

PSL Footballer of the Season

*voted for by 16 PSL coaches

Mulomowandau Mathoho

Cole Alexander

Tefu Mashamaite

Absa Premiership Players’ Player of the Season

*voted for by all PSL players

Tefu Mashamaite

Teko Modise

Mulomowandau Mathoho

Absa Premiership Young Player of the Season

Rivaldo Coetzee

Phumlani Ntshangase

Abbubaker Mobara

Absa Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season

Anssi Jaakkola

Patrick Tignyemb

Moeneeb Josephs

Absa Premiership Defender of the Season

Thulani Hlatshwayo

Tefu Mashamaite

Mulomowandau Mathoho

Absa Premiership Midfielder of the Season

Teko Modise

Cole Alexander

Willard Katsande

Absa Premiership Top Scorer

Moeketsi Sekola

Absa-lutely Awesome Goal of the Season

Aubrey Ngoma

David Zulu

Menzi Masuku

Absa Premiership Coach of the Season

Stuart Baxter

Pitso Mosimane

Kosta Papic

MTN Last Man Standing

George Maluleka

Mandla Masango

Tefu Mashamaite

Telkom Knockout Player of the Tournament

Dove Wome

Thuso Phala

Siyabonga Mpontshane

Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament

Tashreeq Morris

Teko Modise

David Mathebula

Nedbank Cup Young Player of the Tournament

Tashreeq Morris

Bantu Mzwakali

Riyaad Norodien

NFD Top Scorer

Phumelele Bhengu

Referee of the Season

Phillip Tinyani

Kulasande Gqonqo

Robert Smith

Assistant Referee of the Season

Peter Chauke

Zakhele Siwela

Luvuyo Phuphuma – ANA



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Banyana to focus on Olympic qualifiers

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Having completed their qualification for the All Africa Games, Banyana Banyana will now shift their focus to the 2016 Olympic qualifiers.

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Johannesburg – Having completed their qualification for the All Africa Games which will be held in Congo Brazzaville in September this year, Banyana Banyana will now shift their focus to the 2016 Olympic qualifiers.

The qualifiers start this month with only the top two teams in Africa getting a chance to compete at the world stage.

Banyana will be looking to redeem themselves after losing out on a spot to represent the country at the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Vera Pauw’s charges finished fourth at the African Women’s Championships which were held in Namibia in October last year, missing out on the third spot allocated to an African team.

Banyana have only qualified for the Olympics once in 2012 under Coach Joseph Mkhonza.

The Olympic qualifiers are structured in a four-round format with a home and away fixture.

South Africa has been exempted from the first round and are set to get their qualification campaign underway when they lock horns with Gabon in the first leg of round two.

The match is scheduled for Saturday, May 23 in Libreville, Gabon with the return leg set to be played at the end of May at the Dobsonville Stadium, Soweto.

According to the qualifying format, Pauw’s charges will either face Kenya or Botswana in the third round before battling it out with Nigeria or Equatorial Guinea in the final round to book their spot for the 2016 Rio Olympics. – ANA



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I’ve lost some of my buzz - Gerrard

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Steven Gerrard says he has lost some of the "buzz" of playing since discovering he was to have a restricted role at Liverpool.

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Steven Gerrard says he has lost some of the “buzz” of playing since discovering he was to have a restricted role at Liverpool, and that led him to sever ties with the club he has served for 17 years.

Gerrard, for whom Saturday's match with Crystal Palace will be his Anfield swansong, said that discovering early this season that he would be a less regular starter drove his decision.

“I'm going to come on as a sub and the buzz changes,” he said. “For me, I go to work on a Monday morning and I look forward to Saturday, to prepare to go to battle with some wonderful people - with good mates - and that's my buzz.

“When a manager gets you into the office and says that's going to change and it's going to become more limited - that's when you make your decision. It's not a selfish thing; coming on as a sub's just not the same buzz, so things have changed this year.”

He said at the Liverpool Former Players Association gala dinner that he is looking forward to a life of relative anonymity on the west coast of the United States, where he will continue his career with the LA Galaxy.

“It's a new adventure and a new challenge,” he said. “I've been in the spotlight at Liverpool for 17 years and it's time to give a bit back to my family. I've not been there yet but I've heard good things about LA. I'm going to a place the family can enjoy and I can start games.

“You step out of the city [of Liverpool], you breathe for a bit, you enjoy your kids and you go to a place where you are going to enjoy it. I think the league's going to be good. I can still start games and I can still enjoy it. It's tough at the moment because time is running out and I'm going to miss it so much. I've been coming to Liverpool since I was eight years old. Saturday is going to be the proper goodbye but there's another game after that [at Stoke] so I need to stay strong.”

Gerrard is desperate to sign off in strong fashion against the side whose second-half comeback in last season's Selhurst Park fixture finally killed off Liverpool's title hopes.

“Football is all about highs and lows,” he said. “Since the turn of the year I had a hamstring injury and then there was that stupid tackle against Manchester United when I got sent off. I didn't want to go out like that. I wanted to go out on a high. I'll keep giving everything until the very end.”

Gerrard, who turns 35 later this month, urged Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group, who sanctioned nearly £120m of spending last summer, to invest again to fill the void left by his departure. “Hopefully the owners will dig deep so the squad can be strengthened with the quality needed to bring more good times,” Gerrard said. – The Independent



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Toure’s bumper birthday bonus

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Yaya Toure will celebrate his 32nd birthday by picking up a staggering £720 000 bonus from Manchester City for qualifying for the Champions Leaague.

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Yaya Toure will celebrate his 32nd birthday today by picking up a staggering £720,000 (€1million) bonus from Manchester City after they qualified for the Champions League.

The midfielder had the clause built into his contract when he moved to the Etihad Stadium in 2010. City secured Champions League football for next season at the weekend when they beat QPR and are one win away from a guaranteed place in the group stage of the competition.

Toure’s agent Dimitri Seluk last year accused City of failing to make enough of an effort to acknowledge his client’s birthday.

In fact, the club presented their Ivory Coast star with two birthday cakes and shared their best wishes with millions of followers on social media. But it was not enough for Seluk, who pointed out that Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala once bought Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos a £800,000 Bugatti car.

But the one thing Toure and his agent have never had cause to complain about is the staggering sums of money paid to him over the course of his contract.

The former Barcelona midfielder is paid a basic salary of £220,000 a week and signed a new four-year contract in April 2013.

Toure has massive bonuses incorporated into the deal, which includes £357,000 (€500,000) if City win the Champions League.

Despite his huge contract, Toure’s agent claimed last week that the midfielder is ‘90 per cent’ certain to leave the Etihad at the end of the season.

Toure has not been the same driving force this season and he has been linked with a move to Juventus as a makeweight in a deal to sign Paul Pogba.

Inter Milan manager and former City boss Roberto Mancini is also said to be interested but there is a massive stumbling block over the size of Toure’s wages and the length of his contract.

The player himself did little to play down the speculation yesterday when he appeared at Wembley to launch a FIFA initiative aimed at tackling racism.

‘Today the case of the racism is more important than my future,’ said Toure, who was later subjected to a racist taunt on Twitter.

Manuel Pellegrini provided a rare moment of humour before Sunday’s 6-0 win over QPR by promising to give Toure a cake, and supporters sang happy birthday to him when he came on as a second-half substitute.

Ivory Coast and City team-mate Wilfried Bony has urged Toure to stay, citing him as a major factor in his decision to join the club from Swansea for £28m in January.

Asked if he has discussed Toure’s future with him, Bony said: ‘All the time. He knows what I think. He brought me here so he needs to stay. It’s been difficult for him, yes. You have to remember it’s been three years where there’s been big tournaments — the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.

‘We hope he stays. He’s a big player here and we know everything he is doing for the club. He knows what he can do, everybody knows.

‘Look at everything he has done over the years, what an important player he has been. He’s a legend for this club, for sure. He always will be.’

It was a bad night for City’s youngsters as they lost 4-0 to Manchester United in the Under 21 Premier League. Adnan Januzaj, who has not started for the first team since February, scored and provided an assist for James Wilson with a brilliant 40-yard pass. Goals from substitutes Ashley Fletcher and Matthew Willock completed the rout.

Here’s what our reporters would buy the Manchester City ace for his birthday...

Chris Wheeler

A good book. How about Football Agency for Dummies because Yaya could hardly do a worse job of handling his career than the bizarre Dimitri Seluk. If that’s out of stock, maybe a Mary Berry cook book so he can bake his own cake.

joe bernstein

A pair of rollerskates. It isn’t easy at 32 to keep up with all the young, hungry, energetic athletes in the Premier League, particularly when you are expected to be both a holding midfielder and a goalscorer.

Neil Ashton

A smile and a handshake cost nothing. And a thank-you for playing a part in two Premier League title-winning teams. And lastly, the freedom to find another club.

mike keegan

A copy of former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan’s excellent autobiography. Even if he doesn’t read it, a glance at the title says it all — Be Careful What You Wish For.

riath al-samarrai

Aside from a bowl of jelly and a ‘32 today’ badge, a DVD of his 2013-14 season. It ought to remind Yaya and his silly agent of when he was seen as a wonderful player, not a self-sabotaging diva. – Daily Mail



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Messi is the best player ever - Pep

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Barcelona's Lionel Messi is the best player ever, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said after the Spanish side eliminated the Bavarians.

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Munich - Barcelona's Lionel Messi is the best player ever, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said after the Spanish side eliminated the Bavarians 5-3 on aggregate to reach next month's Champions League final.

“He is the best player of all time,” Guardiola said. “I compare him with Pele. I am so happy to see this football.”

Messi, who is enjoying a sensational season and has scored 10 goals in Europe's elite competition alone, destroyed Bayern in Barca's 3-0 first-leg win after scoring twice last week.

The diminutive Argentine was again instrumental as Barcelona eased into the European Cup final for an eighth time.

“He is back, he is there where I had the privilege to train him,” Guardiola, who twice won the Champions League with the 27-year-old in his four years at Barca between 2008-2012, told reporters. “He is definitely back at his best.”

Messi, who last made the final under Guardiola in 2011 when they Barca won it, has also scored 40 goals in La Liga this season as the Spanish side chase a treble of titles.

Messi's role on Tuesday was less of an executioner and more of an orchestrator as he fell deeper allowing Neymar and Luis Suarez to receive his pin-point passes.

“When Barca have the ball they are extremely strong. I hope in Berlin they can win the fifth European Cup,” said former Barcelona player Guardiola, who has failed to reach the final with Bayern in his two seasons in charge.

“We tried everything. But we had a lot of problems (with injuries) and when you play with so many problems for two months and the players keep charging forward then the team deserves a big compliment.”

Bayern were without wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery plus defenders David Alaba and Holger Badstuber but, despite a 2-1 deficit in the first half, they dug deep to score twice and avoid a first home loss in the competition this season.

Nevertheless, elimination means Bayern will end the season with one title - the Bundesliga.

“The Bayern players sometimes do not know how good they are. Now I want to celebrate our title, go on holiday and hopefully we can play better next season,” Guardiola said.

“We had a lot of problems and it was good to try to overcome these problems and I think we did not give up.

“It is more important what we did this year compared to last (when Bayern won the double). But a big team must fall this way. It must fall the way we lost today.” – Reuters



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Barcelona secure place in final

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Barcelona’s Neymar struck twice to put the team in the Champions League final despite a loss at Bayern Munich.

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Munich - Barcelona's Neymar struck twice to put the Spanish side in the Champions League final despite a 3-2 loss at Bayern Munich on Tuesday as they progressed 5-3 on aggregate and will face Real Madrid or Juventus next month.

The tricky Brazil forward's double in 14 first-half minutes killed off the hosts' slim chances following the Spanish side's 3-0 first leg win at the Nou Camp last week over their former coach Pep Guardiola's team.

The Spaniards are now one victory away from triumphing in each of the three titles they are chasing including a domestic league and Cup double and the Champions League where they will play in the showpiece game in Berlin on June 6.

Neymar was twice picked out by striker Luis Suarez, after Bayern's seventh minute lead through Medhi Benatia had briefly reignited the Germans' hopes.

Bayern struck back with second-half goals from Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Mueller but were still left needing another three to qualify for the showpiece match.

“We are where we want to be each year, one step from winning everything, and we'll try to take that step,” Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta said.

“We can't stop now, we can't be satisfied with what we have achieved already, because in the end the titles are what count and it would be incredible for the fans and the team.”

Barcelona, into an eighth European Cup final, will make their first appearance since 2011, when they won the trophy under Guardiola.

It was Barca's first Champions League away defeat this term as Bayern ended a four-game losing run in all competitions, but Guardiola's aura of invincibility has been hit after he failed for the second season to reach the final with the German club.

Barcelona almost got a goal after five minutes through Ivan Rakitic but Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer palmed the Croat's shot wide at full stretch.

Two minutes later Bayern got the early goal they needed when Benatia was left completely unmarked to head home.

The Spaniards survived some intense pressure and responded in style when Lionel Messi, pulling the strings from a deep position, sent Uruguayan Suarez through to feed Neymar for an easy tap in after a dazzling South American combination.

Neymar all but ended Bayern's hopes by drilling a low shot home in the 29th after Suarez's cross from the right, with the hosts going into the break needing five goals to advance.

Barcelona eased off in the second half, losing Suarez substituted to a minor muscle problem, and Bayern's Robert Lewandowski notched an equaliser just before the hour, shaking off Javier Mascherano and sending Ter Stegen the wrong way.

Mueller added another in the 74th but it was too little too late for the home side, who were missing several key players, including injured wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

“As a player you always believe and we had incredible support.” said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm. “We gave everything and showed the will. Maybe the last two minutes in Barcelona cost us dearly (when they conceded the third goal).”

Reuters



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Ertugral appointed Black Aces coach

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Former Ajax Cape Town coach Muhsin Ertugral was unveiled as the new coach for Mpumalanga Black Aces.

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Nelspruit - Muhsin Ertugral was unveiled as the new coach of Mpumalanga Black Aces, the club confirmed on Tuesday.

The coach has been given a two-year contract with the club.

Ertugal, 55, has had three stints as coach of Ajax Cape Town in the last decade and also took charge of Kaizer Chiefs from 1999 to 2003.

Club Chairman Mario Morfou said the highly experienced Ertugral was the right man to spearhead the team’s technical objectives.

“We have undertaken a thorough selection process and we all agreed that Muhsin is head and shoulders above the rest,” said Morfou.

“Our league is extremely competitive hence our decision to appoint a coach of Ertugral’s calibre because of his comprehensive knowledge of South African Football. Ertugral is a tactician of note and his high- performance coaching expertise relating to the youth is in line with the club’s vision. The core of our technical vision is to achieve great success and the head coach is central to that plan.”

Ertugral had already put a plan together for his charges ahead of the new season.

“We have already completed and submitted our two months plan to management,” said Ertugral.

“We will commence our pre-season training on the 8th of June 2015. Our aim is to compete while playing an attractive and entertaining style of football and we will in the process introduce youngsters in order to grow our own base of players. We believe that there is no future without the youth,” said Ertugral.

Aces demoted current coach Clive Barker to their youth development after a poor run in the Premiership in March.

Jacob Sakala was the interim coach until the end of the season where Aces finished in 10th position on the log.

Ertugral said at his appointment he would make a number of changes to the team for next season.

“There will be quite a lot of changes, but I believe in youngsters, I will not be going out and signing like Sundowns,” said Ertugral.

ANA



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