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Gerrard is pure Liverpool

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Brendan Rodgers had just one word to describe his captain Steven Gerrard ahead of what promises to be an emotional Anfield farewell - 'Liverpool'.

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London - Brendan Rodgers had just one word to describe his captain Steven Gerrard ahead of what promises to be an emotional Anfield farewell - 'Liverpool'.

Gerrard will wave goodbye to the Liverpool fans in his final home match against Crystal Palace on Saturday after 17 years sterling service, packed with career-defining moments of individual heroism.

With the midfielder quitting the club at the end of the season for a swansong in Major League Soccer, Rodgers assessed the impact of a player, whose loyalty was tested on a number of occasions, but always stayed faithful to his boyhood club.

“I've asked a number of people and I've asked a lot of my staff if they could describe Steven in one word, what would it be,” Rodgers told reporters on Friday.

“(I heard) all the words you will have heard before - words that come to mind in terms of being genuine, quality and world class. All the adjectives you would describe him with.

“But for me, the word I would describe him with is 'Liverpool'. Not just Liverpool as a football club or Liverpool and the supporters, but Liverpool the city...

“What he has given to this city, politicians haven't given to this city. Local hospitals, the charities, all the work he does, it's unheralded.

“He is a wonderful symbol for the people here and an incredible, incredible icon of the club.”

Gerrard's status as one of the club's most iconic talents is safely assured after a career that will be remembered for his ability to bring his best game to the biggest stages, frequently hauling Liverpool over the line with acts of sheer willpower.

His performance in the 2005 Champions League final when he led Liverpool's fightback from 3-0 down against AC Milan to claim the trophy will go down as one of the greatest individual performances in the club's history.

With the current Liverpool squad perhaps lacking players of the highest stature, Rodgers acknowledged that his presence will be sorely missed.

“I will miss Steven Gerrard as a man. I think both our interests are purely devoted to Liverpool Football Club,” he said.

While Gerrard's Anfield playing days are almost certainly over, Rodgers did not completely rule out a return on loan, with the MLS season ending in December and the 2016 campaign not starting until March.

“Steven has always made it clear in our talks that he would look to help the club in any capacity he can,” Rodgers said.

“If we feel that could be from a playing perspective it's something we will look at another time.” – Reuters

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What now for Real Madrid?

Twelve months on from winning their 10th Champions League, Real Madrid are two games from finishing the season empty- handed.

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Twelve months on from winning their 10th Champions League, Real Madrid are two games from finishing the season empty- handed. What happens next? It is the question everyone in the Spanish capital is asking. Sportsmail offers the most probable answers.

The problems

Not since Alfredo di Stefano in the summer of 1983 has a Madrid coach survived after not winning anything. As many as 14 have been sacked after failing to deliver a trophy and Carlo Ancelotti is unlikely to be the exception. Madrid continue to spend more than any other club but the trophies don’t match the outlay. They have only won the league once in the previous six seasons.

The spending

The philosophy continues to be non-negotiable — spend, spend, spend. They will keep throwing money at the problem despite having just been turfed out of the Champions League by one of their own. It was former youth-team striker Alvaro Morata who scored the goal that sent Juventus through to the final in Berlin on June 6 but there will be no U-turn on club policy — big signings will be more important than developing from within. Right now Madrid’s B-team are stranded in the third tier of Spanish football having failed to win promotion under Zinedine Zidane. So there is little — beyond 16-year-old starlet Martin Odegaard, who will be loaned out — coming through anyway.

The Manager

Ancelotti as much as admitted after Wednesday’s Champions League elimination that his future is now in the hands of Real president Florentino Perez, who has never kept on a coach after he failed to produce a single trophy in a season. Jurgen Klopp is the most high-profile candidate and he will be free when he leaves Dortmund this summer. Klopp doesn’t speak Spanish and is understood to favour the Premier League, however, and Real’s president is understood to want a Spanish replacement for Ancelotti. That could clear the way for Rafael Benitez — who is likely to leave Napoli at the end of the season — but don’t rule out a Spanish coach already working in La Liga with European experience. Ancelotti will ride off into the sunset with that Champions League he claimed last year under his arm. There will be no shortage of suitors, but they are unlikely to include Manchester City, who have consistently said the Italian is ‘not their type of manager’.

The outs

Real Madrid’s bench has been poor this season. Bringing on Javier Hernandez to salvage a Champions League semi-final is not good enough for a club who spent fortunes building the best side in Europe last season. Real have a £195million forward line and many at the club see it as unacceptable that they have a Manchester United fringe player as their fourth striker. Chicharito will not be retained but he will not be the only one to be shown the door. Fabio Coentrao has only played 38 per cent of possible games in his four years at the club and will be sold. Alvaro Arbeloa is likely to follow him. Lucas Silva only joined in January but will now be loaned out. Asier Illarramendi could end up back at Real Sociedad after being a £30m flop and 22-year-old striker Jese could be farmed out on loan.

The ins

If they dodge the bullet of a potential transfer ban from Fifa, Madrid will spend big again. David de Gea is a priority. Iker Casillas wants to see out the final two years of his contract at the Bernabeu but Real want to get some money for him now and bring in the goalkeeper who will succeed him at international level. They could yet sign left back Jose Gaya from Valencia despite him having signed a new contract two weeks ago, while a better fourth striker than Hernandez is also high on their list of targets. But perhaps their most important purchase will be an aggressive midfielder whose running will allow the likes of James Rodriguez and Gareth Bale to play with fewer defensive responsibilities.

Gareth Bale

Bale stays. Perez did not spend €100m of the club’s money to cash in after two campaigns. It will not be too long before Cristiano Ronaldo heads off to the USA to finish his career in the Californian sunshine and Bale is first in line to the throne. He wants to make his third season as successful as his first and there is some recognition at the Bernabeu that he needs to be used better. There is no point in having someone with his explosive pace and finishing ability, only to load him down with defensive responsibilities on the right of a 4-4-2. Madrid want to go back to a 4-3-3 next season with a new midfielder to toughen up the team and allow Bale and Ronaldo to run free and terrorise defences as they were doing last season.

And Ronaldo . . . ?

He can become the club’s all-time top scorer next season but then it may well be time to start thinking about his next career move. He has become more of a centre forward this year and less of a rampaging deep-lying attacker. Next season the emphasis will be on him working with Bale instead of against him. Karim Benzema and Rodriguez will contest the third striking berth and a heavy-weight such as Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan or Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti will be brought in to bolster a midfield also containing Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.

Real Madrid 2016?

de gea

varane

marcelo

bale

Rodriguez

ronaldo

modric

verratti

kroos

danilo

ramos – Daily Mail

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Welbeck to miss United clash

Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck will miss the chance to haunt former club Manchester United for a second time this season after being ruled out of thePremier League game at Old Trafford.

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London - Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck will miss the chance to haunt former club Manchester United for a second time this season after being ruled out of Sunday's Premier League game at Old Trafford with a knee injury, manager Arsene Wenger said.

The 24-year-old, who has scored eight goals for Arsenal since joining for 16 million pounds ($25.2 million) last year, scored the winner in the Gunners' 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final victory at Old Trafford in March.

But England international Welbeck, who made started brightly at the Emirates but has since gone off the boil playing in an unfavoured wide position, has missed Arsenal's last two matches through injury.

“Welbeck is short a fraction but is not far away from returning,” Wenger told a news conference on Friday.

“I would have loved to have him available but we will have to do without him.”

Arsenal's hopes of a second-placed finish took a hit on Monday after a 1-0 defeat by Swansea but Wenger's side, who have 70 points from 35 matches, still boast a game in hand on Manchester City who are three points ahead.

Fourth-placed United are two points behind Arsenal having played a game more and Wenger believes victory at Old Trafford would be another crucial part of his side's development.

“Our recent away form has been very strong and that's always a sign of a team who is in progress,” Wenger said. “To win at Old Trafford again would convince us that we have the strength and help us be stronger next season.

“Mathematically, we can put a distance between them and us in the top four and basically secure top three.

“There is a symbolic statement, because we want to win the FA Cup and, psychologically, winning this weekend and securing third would be very important for this.

“Against Manchester United, you expect a game of quality first, but we want to bounce back from defeat to Swansea straight away and put a good performance in, with a good result. A win would be great.” – Reuters

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Chiefs skipper scoops award

Kaizer Chiefs captain Tefu Mashamaite has won yet another award after being voted the KICK OFF Footballer of the Season.

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Johannesburg – Kaizer Chiefs captain Tefu Mashamaite has won yet another award after being voted the KICK OFF Footballer of the Season.

The Bafana Bafana defender, who lifted the Absa Premiership trophy for his club, came out on top of a vote by thousands of fans from across the country.

According to kickoff.com, the 30-year-old attracted 13 762 votes to edge out compatriot and AmaKhosi defensive partner Mandla Masango, who pulled 13 469 votes.

Mashamaite has played over 2700 minutes for Chiefs throughout the course of this season, becoming the first outfield player to do so since Thanduyise Khuboni in 2011/12, and the first defender to complete a 100% season since Rooi Mahamutsa and Wayne Arendse in 2010/11.

“In particular Tefu has had a superb campaign this season, first lifting the MTN8 trophy after taking over the club’s captaincy, and then had it finish on an even higher note when he lifted the Absa Premiership title recently,” KICK OFF magazine editor, Richard Maguire, said.

“He was an ever present force for Kaizer Chiefs with their title-winning campaign and scored three goals in the process – a leader both on and off the field.”

Mashamaite is also on the three-man shortlist for the PSL Footballer of the Year prize, to be announced at the annual awards in Sandton on Sunday.

He is also a candidate for the Absa Premiership Player’s Player of the Season, the Absa Premiership Defender of the Season and the MTN8 Player of the Season awards. – ANA

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Gerrard dreading Anfield farewell

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says he has been dreading the moment he must wave goodbye to his adoring Anfield fans.

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London - Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says he has been dreading the moment he must wave goodbye to his adoring Anfield fans this weekend when he plays his final home game for the club.

After 17 years with his boyhood team, during which time Gerrard has made more than 700 appearances, Saturday's clash with Crystal Palace will mark the end of an era.

“I don't know what it will be like at the end of the game when I say goodbye for real,” said the 34-year-old midfield general who will join the Los Angeles Galaxy when the season finishes.

“I've been dreading this moment in a strange way because I'm going to miss it so much, playing in front of the fans at Anfield and with my team mates,” Gerrard told a packed news conference at Liverpool's Melwood training ground.

“It will be emotional but the plan is to keep it together and avoid the tears.”

Few players have worn their club shirt with more pride than Gerrard and he said he has enjoyed some “unbelievable highs” as well as some “cruel lows” over the years.

“Istanbul still makes the hairs on my neck stand up,” he added of the night in 2005 when Gerrard inspired a Liverpool fightback from 3-0 down at halftime to beat AC Milan on penalties in the Champions League final.

“It was the best night of my life. Every footballer thinks it's the best cup to win. It will go down as the best Champions League final ever and as captain of that team there was no prouder man on the planet.”

Gerrard said not winning the Premier League title put a dent in his memories and he paid tribute to former manager Gerard Houllier. “I owe an awful lot to Gerard Houllier. He was a father figure and I won three trophies under him,” he said.

“He gave me the captaincy at 23 and it was a brave thing to do.”

Gerrard, who has played 253 Premier League games at Anfield, said he hoped he could return one day in a coaching role.

“To take a role at this club first and foremost you have to be good enough, you never take a role here on reputation,” he said.

“But in a couple of years time when I've been out of the city and can reflect, if there's a role offered I feel I'm good enough for I would consider it.” – Reuters

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Pochettino warns Spurs players

Every Tottenham Hotspur player's future is on the line after a disappointing season, manager Mauricio Pochettino told reporters.

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London - Every Tottenham Hotspur player's future is on the line after a disappointing season that has seen the club miss out on a Champions League qualifying place, manager Mauricio Pochettino told reporters on Thursday.

The Argentine, who is aiming to build a side capable of finishing in the Premier League top four next season and eventually challenging for the title, said Spurs would have to be “clever” in the transfer market rather than splashing out.

The north London club are sixth in the table, 10 points adrift of Manchester United in fourth with two games remaining.

“Always you need to analyse the last season,” said Pochettino. “Nobody is sure that they are staying at the club.”

Spurs spent more than 100 million pounds ($157.72 million) on several players following Wales forward Gareth Bale's world record 85 million pounds move to Real Madrid two years ago.

Roberto Soldado, Erik Lamela, Paulinho, Vlad Chiriches and Etienne Capoue have made little impact, while Pochettino's own signings last year, including defenders Federico Fazio and Ben Davies as well as midfielder Benjamin Stambouli, have struggled.

Former Southampton manager Pochettino knows lessons must be learned from the club's mistakes in the transfer market if they are to be successful.

“You ask me about two seasons ago that maybe the manager had a lot of money to spend like (Ronald) Koeman at Southampton and maybe (Louis) Van Gaal at Manchester United. Are you asking me if I have the same possibility? No.

“We need to look forward and we need to learn from the past but I was not here,” he added

“We have a different plan to develop over the next few years and we need to deliver it.

“We need to be clever in the way that we build the new squad because it is difficult to compete with the money - that's true - so we need to be clever. We want good players, with the right profile.” – Reuters

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Schuerrle to get Premier League medal

Former Chelsea winger Andre Schuerrle will get a Premier League winner's medal after coach Jose Mourinho texted him with the good news, the player said.

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Berlin - Former Chelsea winger Andre Schuerrle will get a Premier League winner's medal after coach Jose Mourinho texted him with the good news, the player said.

The Germany international made 14 appearances for Chelsea earlier this season, most of those as a substitute, before joining VfL Wolfsburg in February.

“I didn't know that I'd get a medal when I didn't play most of the second half of the season,” he told the BBC.

“Jose Mourinho sent me a text to say that I'd get a medal and he asked me to come to the last game. That was very nice for me.

“I'm really happy for the boys. They played a very good second half of the season so of course, for me, it's good to get a medal but the boys did the work.”

Schuerrle joined Chelsea in 2013 but made just 20 Premier League starts, with another 24 appearances coming off the bench.

He returned to the Bundesliga and can win more trophies this season with Wolfsburg facing Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup final later this month.

The Wolves have also qualified for the Champions League next season after securing a top three finish with two matches to spare. – Reuters

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Sevilla coasts into Europa League final

Holders Sevilla swept into a second consecutive Europa League final when a 2-0 victory at Fiorentina secured a crushing 5-0 aggregate.

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Florence, Italy - Holders Sevilla swept into a second consecutive Europa League final when a 2-0 victory at Fiorentina secured a crushing 5-0 aggregate success for the La Liga club in their semi-final tie.

Sevilla had all-but booked their place in the showpiece in Warsaw after thumping the Italian side 3-0 in last week's first leg in Spain and will seal a record fourth triumph in Europe's second-tier club competition if they can overcome Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk on May 27.

The Ukrainians won 1-0 at home to Fiorentina's Serie A rivals Napoli to progress to their first European final 2-1 on aggregate.

Sevilla coach Unai Emery paid tribute to his players, who also dispatched Borussia Moenchengladbach, Villarreal and Zenit St Petersburg in the knockout rounds.

“Dnipro have made it and nobody has gifted them anything,” Emery told Spanish television broadcaster Cuatro.

“Knocking out Napoli is an impressive achievement,” he added. “It's not going to be easy, it's 50-50 and we won't be going there as favourites.”

Carlos Bacca fired Sevilla ahead in the 22nd minute at the Stadio Comunale Artemio Franchi in Florence when he sent a close-range effort arrowing into the roof of the net.

That left Fiorentina needing five goals without reply to progress but they fell further behind when Daniel Carrico made it 2-0 to the visitors five minutes later.

Fiorentina's night went from bad to worse midway through the second half when Josip Ilicic sent a penalty kick sailing over the crossbar after Sevilla defender Grzegorz Krychowiak had felled David Pizarro in the penalty area.

If Sevilla clinch a fourth Uefa Cup/Europa league crown in their fourth final they would surpass Inter Milan, Juventus and Liverpool, who also have three.

Sevilla won back-to-back Uefa Cups in 2006 and 2007 and beat Benfica on penalties to secure the renamed trophy last term.

Another triumph would also carry a lucrative berth in the group stage of next season's Champions League. – Reuters

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When WAGs attack: A Diski Divas drama

Two reality show divas axed for public fight, and Teko Modise takes ex-wife to court to protect privacy.

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South Africa’s first football wives and girlfriends reality show is coming apart at the seams.

Mzansi Magic’s Diski Divas has fired two of its stars, Wendy Parker and Kat Mohoaduba, for having a public fight.

It has since emerged that another diva faced trouble before the show started.

The Star has seen papers before the High Court in Joburg that show Teko Modise, ex-husband of diva Felicia Modise, tried to stop the show two days before it aired.

In an urgent application, former Bafana Bafana player Modise said Felicia “has a history of approaching the media and discussing my private life and private affairs, as well as without regard to my privacy and professional and public profile defaming my reputation”.

He used a copy of Drum magazine from April 9 as an illustration in his application.

In the news item, Felicia said she was tired of her ex-husband and that he was not ready to have a family.

In a three-page interview, she says of Modise’s relationship with his daughter: “She only sees her father on the soccer field like the rest of the country – it’s like we don’t even have a daughter together.

“My daughter doesn’t ask about him anymore. He is the ATM, even though I don’t want to look at him that way, but that is the only thing he does.”

In his application, Modise said: “I will be implicated and my life and privacy will be discussed on the show… I am sure she will not respect my privacy, my rights to dignity and good name.”

He complained that Felicia falsely marketed the show, stating that he and his new fiancée, Lizelle Tabane, would be part of it. Modise said the negative publicity affected his performance on the field. He said the publicity would not be healthy for his daughter either.

The parties settled out of court.

lerato.mbangeni@inl.co.za

The Star

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United chief executive lauds LVG

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has won plaudits for his first season in charge from the Premier League giants' chief executive, Ed Woodward.

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Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has won plaudits for his first season in charge from the Premier League giants' chief executive, Ed Woodward.

Under van Gaal, United have all but qualified for the Champions League – something they failed to do when the Dutchman's sacked predecessor David Moyes was in the manager's seat at Old Trafford – and Woodward said the club were well-positioned to challenge for silverware next season.

“As the season approaches its conclusion, we are pleased with the team's performance in Louis van Gaal's first season as manager and are well positioned to achieve a top four finish in the Premier League and to return to European football next year,” said Woodward in a statement announcing United's third-quarter results on Thursday.

“As we look forward to next season, on the playing side we expect to be challenging for trophies in all competitions and on the commercial side we are excited by the numerous opportunities for further growth, including the first year of our 10-year partnership with Adidas,” he added.

“We remain confident about the future of our business. Our commercial revenues were up year over year and we are raising EBITDA (Earnings Before Investments, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation) guidance for fiscal year 2015 from £90-£95 million ($142-$150 million, 125-132 million euros) to £103-£110 million.”

EBITDA is a standard measure of operating profit. - AFP

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Downs need this

Teko Modise believes it will be a travesty of justice for Mamelodi Sundowns to finish the season without a single trophy.

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It’s a travesty of justice for Mamelodi Sundowns to finish the season without a single trophy.

This is according to Sundowns playmaker Teko Modise, who has his sights on inspiring the Brazilians to Nedbank Cup glory this weekend.

“The team is spending millions every off-season to buy players to come and win something for the team so it’s an injustice for us not to win. Yes, we tasted victory last season but we need something this time too,” said Modise.

“Other teams are winning season in and season out. It’s high time Sundowns start doing so. With us the pressure is more of not winning enough trophies. With Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, more or less every two seasons, they win something.”

Sundowns competed for five trophies this season but they have missed out on four already – the Absa Premiership, the MTN8, the Telkom Knockout and the CAF Champions League. The Nedbank Cup, which they will battle for against Ajax Cape Town at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday afternoon, is their only chance of winning any trophy this season. Modise, whose side finished second in the league, is hoping they can atone for their lack of delivery this season and lift the title.

“It’s been a bad season. We have not won anything. Being second is never good enough. We need to do better and hopefully Saturday will be a consolation,” said the player nicknamed ‘The General’.

Modise, double PSL Footballer of the Season, has been one of the stand-out performers for Pitso Mosimane’s side and his efforts have been rewarded with three nominations for PSL awards.

“After all these years I am honoured to be nominated. Whoever wins it I am going to congratulate them. For me what is important is to do well for the team on Saturday. I had a great season last year but for now my goal is to play as best as I can for the team.”

For Modise and his teammates to make the grade, they will have to shrug off the challenge of Roger de Sa’s youthful Ajax side who have adopted a fearless attacking approach, which they execute with vigour. Modise, 32, knows that the men from the capital city have to be at their best if they are to outdo Ajax, who will pin their hopes on Granwald Scott, Bantu Mzwakali, Tashreeg Morris, Riyaard Norodien and Keegan Dolly among others.

“They are very young and energetic. They’re really good and once you make a mistake you know they’ll punish you. We’ll try and minimise the mistakes and score as many goals as we can,” said Modise.

“It’s going to be a tough game. It’s not like we have never played Ajax before but it’s a different game – a cup final. It’s going to be an emotional game and we need to be smart.”

Saturday will also see Sundowns bid farewell to their captain Alje Schut, who is set to return to his home country after three seasons at the six-time PSL champions. The towering Dutch defender has been an influential figure and Modise says Sundowns just have to win the Nedbank Cup in honour of the man who has served them with such distinction.

“He has adapted well to South African football and the guys have learnt so much from him. He says he wants to finish on a high and we want to ensure that he does. We have to send him off with a gold medal.” - The Star

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N West police ready for Cosafa Cup

The police are ready to maintain order during the Confederation of Southern African Football Association tournament in Rustenburg.

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Rustenburg -The police are ready to maintain order during the Confederation of Southern African Football Association (Cosafa) tournament in Rustenburg, North West police said on Thursday.

“This tournament is a major event for the province and it will receive the maximum policing it deserves. We have increased visible policing in the affected areas already,” said acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Lebeoana Tsumane.

Tsumane called on all soccer supporters attending the tournament to play their part in making the tournament a safe and joyful event for all.

Fourteen southern African countries, including South Africa, are scheduled to participate in the tournament. The other countries apart from South Africa are Namibia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Seychelles, Mauritius, Swaziland, Madagascar, Lesotho, Botswana, Ghana, Mozambique, Zambia, and Malawi.

The tournament is to be played at the Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg and at Moruleng Stadium in Moruleng near Sun City. The tournament takes place from May 17 to May 31.

Tsumane warned soccer supporters not to bring any item such as bottles, sticks, knifes, firearms and other items which could be used as weapons as there would be security checking visitors and investigating all items brought onto the premises.

“We will also use this opportunity to track and trace wanted suspects on our list,” he said. “We want all our visitors to feel safe while they enjoy the tournament .Those who are found to be at the wrong side of the law will be harshly dealt with.”

ANA

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Ancelotti refuses to discuss his future

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti refused to say whether his time at the club could be coming to an end after his side crashed out of the Champions League.

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Madrid — Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti refused to say whether his time at the club could be coming to an end after watching them crash out of the Champions League in the semifinal against Juventus.

Real Madrid put up a brave fight and could have won the tie if they had taken more of the chances they created in the first half, but all they had to show for 90 minutes was a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty and a second half goal from former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata earned Juventus a 1-1 draw on the night and a 3-2 aggregate win.

“There is not a lot of sense in talking about the future. There is nothing to criticize. We are all sad, but that is normal after going out of the tournament,” said the Italian, who has a further year remaining on his current contract.

“We have to play two more league matches and we have to end the season as well as we can, then we can talk about the future,” he said.

Real Madrid tired as the game progressed while Juventus were able to withstand their constant attacks, that has led to Ancelotti being criticized for not rotating his squad to ensure his team was as fresh as possible.

“I am proud of what the players did in the game and what they have done all season. We have had moments when we have dropped out, but we have always given everything. We have pushed forward a lot in the last two matches and we had a lot of shots against Juve,” explained the coach, who believed “we have not had much luck and small details have made the difference.”

“We did everything we had to do. We attacked and we had chances and we gave everything,” he explained, adding that Juventus were an excellent team. – Xinhua-ANA

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Cup final - the vital battles

Rodney Reiners looks at key battles ahead of the Nedbank Cup final between Ajax and Sundowns.

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The Nedbank Cup final between Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns in Port Elizabeth on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) hinges on who wins the individual skirmishes in vital areas of the park on Saturday.

The cliché trotted out by players and coaches before important football games such as this is always about “who’s better on the day” and “which team wants it most”. While these may be clichés, they are, in fact, spot on. Because that is all it eventually comes down – which players take charge of their respective field positions, and which individual performances contribute to making the difference between winning and losing.

GOALKEEPER DUEL

Anssi Jaakkola (Ajax Cape Town)

The big Finn has been extremely influential for Ajax over the last two years. Last season, he was nominated for the PSL Goalkeeper of the Season award, losing out to Kaizer Chiefs’ Itumeleng Khune. This season, though, his consistent form has seen him again being honoured in the category – and he should be the front-runner for the accolade this time around. Agile, a fantastic shot-stopper and superb on the cross ball, Jaakkola’s performance between the sticks will be crucial if Ajax are to have any chance of winning the Cup final.

Kennedy Mweene (Mamelodi Sundowns)

The Zambian is one of the top keepers on the continent. He stayed loyal to Free State Stars for many years, but was persuaded to join Sundowns when coach Pitso Mosimane took charge in 2013. It was a surprise signing at the time because the Pretoria club had Bafana Bafana man Wayne Sandilands playing well, but Mweene has gone to prove his worth. Known as a penalty-saver of note, the sprightly 30-year-old keeper inspired his country to victory in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, for which he was named as Goalkeeper of the Tournament, and he was also the PSL’s Goalkeeper of the Season in 2008-2009.

MIDFIELD BATTLE

Granwald Scott (Ajax Cape Town)

Scott’s influence and inspirational presence for Ajax were underlined when he was named as the club’s Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season at an awards ceremony on Tuesday night. The pugnacious central midfielder from Kensington is a footballer who never gives up. He makes Ajax tick by being the link man at the heart of their passing rhythm, while he also gets involved in the robust stuff, making tackles and closing down the space for the opposition. Make no mistake, when Scott is in there, urging, inspiring and driving the team forward, Ajax are a formidable unit.

Hlompho Kekana (Sundowns)

Kekana is the man that does the dirty work which allows the many creative sparks in the Sundowns side to blossom. With so much quality and awesome individual talent going forward, the Pretoria club needs an anchor, a boss man to call the shots… Kekana is that man. But, not only that, he has an extra string to his already threatening bow, in that he has a thunderous long range shooting boot. Last year, he won the PSL’s Goal of the Season award for a powerful, pile-driving bullet-shot that nearly broke the net in a game against Orlando Pirates. He’s a player for the big occasion – and, more than likely, the margin between victory and defeat for Ajax and Sundowns could well depend on whether Scott or Kekana gains control of midfield.

FORWARD WAR

Nathan Paulse (Ajax Cape Town)

Without a ball being kicked as yet, Paulse is already a key figure in the Cup final after Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane singled out the 33-year-old striker as a “difficult customer”. It’s not clear how Ajax coach Roger de Sa will approach his attacking selections, especially because he has the promising Tashreeq Morris as well. But there’s no doubt Paulse will play a role, be it from the start or off the bench. Defenders hate playing against the veteran from Athlone, he’s awkward, unorthodox, and his importance for Ajax cannot be emphasised more.

Cuthbert Malajila (Sundowns)

The Zimbabwean has been one of the leading lights in the goal-scoring department this season. His 10 league goals contributed to Sundowns finishing runners-up in the PSL and his performances were just as crucial in the Pretoria club’s run to the Cup final. Malajila played in his home country, Tunisia and Libya before coming to South Africa to sign for Maritzburg United in 2012.

It was here that his scoring exploits caught the eye of big-spenders Sundowns - and the next season he was on his way to Pretoria.

He hasn’t disappointed; Mosimane remains a big fan of his prowess and the striker is likely to keep Ajax’s young defenders on their toes on Saturday.- Cape Times

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Real’s $227m flops

Real Madrid paid more than 200 million euros to assemble their forward line of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

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Madrid - Real Madrid paid more than 200 million euros ($227.76 million) to assemble their forward line of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema but the attacking trio failed them again in the Champions League exit to Juventus.

Ronaldo did manage to score from the penalty spot to give holders Real a 23rd-minute lead in the semi-final, second leg at the Bernabeu but faded out of the match in the second half, while Benzema and especially Bale missed a string of chances.

It was left to a Real reject to make the decisive contribution, their former striker Alvaro Morata, who joined Juve for 20 million euros in the close season, netting in the 57th minute to send the Italians through 3-2 on aggregate to face Barcelona in next month's final.

Morata's goal ended Real's dream of a record-extending 11th European crown and they are almost certain to end the season without winning one of the three major trophies.

Dumped out of the King's Cup by Atletico Madrid in January, they are four points behind La Liga leaders Barca with two games left and the Catalans can make sure of a fifth title in seven years with a win at Atletico on Sunday.

After a successful first season in Spain following his record move from Tottenham Hotspur, Bale has been under scrutiny amid Real's recent struggles, with many fans blaming him for the club's woes.

He won applause for testing Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon with a powerful long-range effort in the first half on Wednesday but later fluffed at least two opportunities, including a header from Ronaldo's lofted cross that he put over the crossbar.

“I couldn't quite get over the ball which was disappointing but it's one of them things that happens in football and you move on,” Bale told Sky Sports.

“As long as I keep trying usually one goes in but unfortunately it didn't tonight,” added the Wales winger.

“There's been some ups and downs (this season) but I feel personally I've played well.

“I haven't scored as many important chances as I would like but I think my general play has been good.

“I think my finishing has been a bit rusty this year and it's something to work on for next year.

“What don't kill you makes you stronger and I'll learn from this season a lot and take it into next season and have a good season.” – Reuters

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