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Zico steps up for Blatter’s job

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Brazilian soccer legend Zico has formally declared his candidacy for the Fifa presidency.

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Rio de Janeiro - Brazilian soccer great Zico formally declared his candidacy for the Fifa presidency on Wednesday, but admitted there would probably need to be a change of rules in order to make his run viable.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter announced last week he was standing down after the body was hit by a wave of corruption allegations that are still sending shockwaves around the soccer world.

Under Fifa's current statutes, however, candidates to succeed the Swiss in a ballot likely to take place later this year must have the support of federations from five countries affiliated to soccer's world governing body.

Zico said he does not yet have that backing.

The 62-year-old said Uefa boss Michel Platini had advised him to run for head of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) first but Zico said that was almost impossible as he did not have the required support of the eight state federations and five clubs.

“There's more chance of Fifa than the CBF,” Zico told reporters in Rio de de Janeiro.

“The ideal thing would be here in Brazil, but unfortunately the rules of the game do not favour outsiders.”

Zico, one of the best players to have graced the game, has managed in Brazil, Japan, Turkey, Russia and Greece and was a former minister of sport in his homeland.

Reuters

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Palace, Sporting to play in Cape Town

The inaugural Cape Town Cup will feature Crystal Palace FC and Sporting Clube de Portugal at the Cape Town Stadium.

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Cape Town - The inaugural Cape Town Cup competition will feature English Premiership outfit Crystal Palace FC and the Primeira Liga’s Sporting Clube de Portugal at the Cape Town Stadium next month.

Co-hosts Ajax Cape Town and fellow PSL rivals SuperSport United will complete the field for the four-team event that kicks off on Friday, July 24, and ends two days later. Double-headers will be played on both tournament days.

Event hosts, the City of Cape Town and Ajax, unveiled the tournament details in Green Point, on Wednesday.

Sporting, one of ‘The Big Three’ in Portuguese football, finished third in the Primeira Liga, and are former holders of European Cup Winners’ Cup. The club will be playing in the UEFA Champions League play-off round next season.

The club has a huge following in some African countries like Angola and Mozambique, and Anton Groenewald, the Executive Director of Tourism, Events and Economic Development in the City of Cape Town, said plans were in place for supporters from these countries to attend the event.

The Selhurst Park-based side, Crystal Palace, finished 10th in the English Premiership. Palace Chief Executive Phil Alexander said he expected many fans of the South London club to come out to attend the matches at the iconic 2010 World Cup venue.

“We have many fans in South Africa and we are not just coming here to make up the numbers. We’re coming to win the tournament. We’ll be bringing over our first team as part of our pre-season preparations,” said Alexander.

The tournament fixture draw, which was conducted at the launch, pitted Palace against SuperSport United and Sporting against Ajax, in the first double-header on July 24.

ANA

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Khune fully committed to Bafana

While his club future remains undecided, goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune is concentrating on his efforts with Bafana Bafana as they prepare to take on Gambia in an Afcon qualifier.

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Durban – While his club future remains undecided, goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune is concentrating on his efforts with Bafana Bafana as they prepare to take on Gambia in an Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier at Moses Mabhida Stadium, in Durban, on Saturday.

Khune learnt his Kaizer Chiefs fate when management announced in a press conference on June 2 that they would not renew his contract after talks between the club and the player had broken down.

Now Khune is gearing up for national duty and appears fully-committed.

“I told myself that as soon as I get to the national team I have to switch off on other matters, and I have been able to do that very well,” said Khune.

“There is nothing bothering me at the moment, I am fully focussed on the national team.”

The 27-year-old was not part of the Bafana squad during the 2015 Afcon qualifiers and also missed the tournament due to injury. He only made his return earlier this year after an absence of just over a year.

Khune still believed he had the ability to be the Bafana number-one shot-stopper.

“I am happy to be back even though I was not getting enough game time at my club but I have shown that I am capable of doing the business.”

Without much prior knowledge of their opponents, Bafana still had work to do on preparing for the Gambian challenge according to Khune.

“I don’t know much about Gambia but by the time we face them we should know what we are dealing with.

“I have heard that they have more than 10 Europe-based players which means it is going to be a tough match for us and a very important one to win so we start on a high.”

All the players – except Oupa Manyisa – were back at full training, including Sphelele Ntshangase, who has joined from the National Under-23 squad, Thuso Phala due to flu and Thulani Hlatshwayo after he struggled with tight thigh muscles.

Manyisa sat out the morning session at People’s Park on Tuesday, next to the Moses Mabhida Stadium, due to tight muscles.

Tokelo Rantie, meanwhile, has still not reported for training but the matter should be clearer later on Tuesday after a meeting of the Bafana technical team.

Representing Bafana always brought a keen sense of responsibility said Khune.

“When you walk in the streets people always remind us of what we have done in the past and what you have to do in the future – the big challenge is how you handle the pressure that comes, so we have to take it one game at a time.

“This Saturday we have to make sure that we apply ourselves and give our best for the country.

“Our culture is winning every game, even in international friendlies we strive to win, we give our all.

“Playing at home means we have the support so it is crucial that we start on a positive note with a convincing win. We know what lies ahead of us. We just need to start well and I believe the team is ready.” - ANA

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Gerrard wants answers from Brendan

Steven Gerrard wants Brendan Rodgers to explain what is going on at Liverpool after two of his backroom staff were sacked.

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Steven Gerrard wants Brendan Rodgers to explain what is going on at Liverpool after two of his backroom staff were sacked last week.

The Liverpool manager’s job was severely under threat after a lacklustre season, but after crunch talks with chairman Tom Werner and Fenway Sports Group president Michael Gordon, Rodgers remained in charge while his long-serving assistant Colin Pascoe and first-team coach Mike Marsh were let go.

Gerrard is now expecting a public explanation from his former boss on why the changes have been made.

The former Liverpool captain said: ‘I am very interested to see who Brendan has alongside him and also to hear why he has made those decisions. I was very surprised. I didn’t expect there to be any changes in the staff positions.

‘I think Brendan and the bosses have made those decisions and I’m keen to see how he tries to improve or strengthen his staff. I don’t have that relationship with Brendan any more where I might have got a bit of a nudge on it.’

Rene Meulensteen and Sami Hyypia are under consideration for the No 2 role, as is Pako Ayestaran, who worked with Rafael Benitez at Anfield. Rodgers will have to choose wisely, given that his performances next season will be under scrutiny after his failure to win a trophy in three years at the club and struggling to sixth in the table last campaign. But Gerrard believes that the players he signs — having already secured the services of Danny Ings from Burnley and James Milner from Manchester City — will play a more important role.

Speaking at the launch of BT Sport Europe, Gerrard said: ‘Now I’m on the outside looking in, I hope they strengthen in a few areas and make the team competitive in the league and break back into the top four. Everyone is hurting and frustrated at how last season went.’

On whether the staff changes would affect the unity of the squad, Gerrard added: ‘We will have to wait and see. The most important thing is who they sign to strengthen the team.’

The former England captain also warned forward Raheem Sterling that he risks becoming a bit-part player at another club if he leaves Anfield this summer. ‘For the player’s sake and for all of us fans, he needs to make the decision quickly,’ said Gerrard. ‘I hope he stays. For his development as a player he has a fantastic manager to look after him and a great set of team-mates.

‘I think it’s important he plays week in, week out and keeps trying to learn and strive to become a world-class player.

‘The frustrating thing would be if he went to a club and became a squad player and didn’t have that chance to progress. That’s the risk.’ – Daily Mail

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Newcastle sack Carver as coach

Newcastle sacked John Carver as head coach, with Steve McClaren set to take over.

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Newcastle sacked John Carver as head coach, with Steve McClaren set to take over.

Head coach Carver and first-team coach Steve Stone left the club after a disastrous second half to the season in which they avoided relegation on the final day.

Owner Mike Ashley will pay around £1.5million in severance payments to the pair.

Former Blackpool boss and Newcastle midfielder Lee Clark is in the running to come in as assistant to McClaren, who will finalise his move to Tyneside in the next 24 hours after a holiday in Crete.

Fitness coach and psychology guru Steve Black — who worked closely with Jonny Wilkinson — is also in line for a role. He worked in a freelance capacity for McClaren at Derby County. McClaren could also return to his old club for coach Paul Simpson and goalkeeping coach Eric Steele, although both remain under contract at the iPro Stadium. – Daily Mail

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Barca coach signs contract extension

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has ended uncertainty over his future by agreeing a one-year contract extension with the Spanish and European champions.

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Barcelona - Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has ended uncertainty over his future by agreeing a one-year contract extension with the Spanish and European champions until the end of the 2016-17 season.

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu announced the agreement at a news conference on Tuesday assessing a season in which the Catalan giants won a treble of Champions League and domestic league and Cup titles in Luis Enrique's first term in charge.

The former Barca and Spain midfielder, who was upset with the sacking of sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta in January, had refused to say whether he would stay on when quizzed about his future after Saturday's 3-1 win over Juventus in the Champions League final.

Barca became the first team to win the treble in the same season on two occasions, repeating their feat from 2009.

“After a year like the one we have had, with difficulties but with a great end result, we are more than excited hoping to secure more titles,” Luis Enrique said on Barca's website (www.fcbarcelona.es) after signing his new deal.

Bartomeu, flanked by the three trophies, also formally stepped down to allow him to stand in the forthcoming presidential election, which he called in January with the club in the midst of an institutional crisis.

Barca were due to hold the election in 2016 but Bartomeu decided to bring it forward by a year following the dismissal of Zubizarreta.

The former Barca and Spain goalkeeper, who was responsible for hiring Luis Enrique, paid the price for a FIFA ban on signings for two windows over a breach of rules on the transfer of foreign Under-18 players.

Bartomeu will be hoping some of Barca's success this term rubs off, although he looks likely to face a challenge from former president Joan Laporta, who was in charge when Barca won their maiden treble in 2008-09.

Laporta, a lawyer and politician who fiercely supports Catalan independence, has strongly hinted he will stand but has yet to formally declare his candidacy.

Bartomeu stepped up to the top job from vice president in January 2014 after Laporta's successor Sandro Rosell resigned amid allegations of tax fraud in the deal to sign Brazil forward Neymar.

Barca announced earlier on Tuesday that their Brazil right back Dani Alves had agreed a two-year contract extension with an option for a further year.– Reuters

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Khedira joins Juve from Real

Juventus moved to strengthen their midfield by signing Germany international and World Cup winner Sami Khedira from Real Madrid on a free transfer.

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Juventus moved to strengthen their midfield by signing Germany international and World Cup winner Sami Khedira from Real Madrid on a free transfer, the Italian champions said.

Khedira, 28, has agreed a four-year contract with the Champions League runners-up and will join the Turin club on July 1, Juve said on their website (www.juventus.com) on Tuesday.

“Khedira, who is normally deployed in front of the defence as a ball-winning midfielder, is able to cover a lot of ground while also possessing excellent passing and shooting ability and great vision of the game,” Juve said.

“Bianconeri boss Massimiliano Allegri is set to add a player of class, quality and international experience to his ranks, ready to enrich one of the strongest midfields in world football.”

After joining Real from VfB Stuttgart in 2010, Khedira had a reasonably successful five-year stint with the La Liga club but fell out of favour after talks on a contract extension failed.

Last month, he accused Real of freezing him out by dropping him from the team even though he was fit to play.

He barely featured since the turn of the year, with Real citing a series of minor injuries as the reason for his absence, but Khedira said the club had decided he was no longer wanted.

“I've always felt that I've had the coach's backing, but the message indirectly came through to me that I was no longer needed, I was frozen out and wouldn't have a chance to continue playing,” he told Marca sports daily.

“It hurts that I'm accused of a lack of professionalism because I've always put the team ahead of myself,” he added. “I've always gone with the truth.”

Khedira's move to Juve could facilitate the exit of their France midfielder Paul Pogba, who is reportedly a target for clubs including Real, European champions Barcelona and several English teams as well as Paris St Germain. – Reuters

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Warner questions America’s jurisdiction

Former Fifa executive Jack Warner says he’s unlikely to receive a fair trial in the United States.

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Trinidad - Fallen Fifa executive Jack Warner said on Tuesday that US authorities would be unable to give him a fair trial, while an Argentinian businessman indicted in the soccer body's sprawling corruption scandal handed himself over to Italian police.

Warner, a former schoolteacher and Trinidadian justice minister at the heart of the criminal case engulfing football's world body, is the subject of a US request to have him extradited from Trinidad.

The 72-year-old said the United States is not the “appropriate jurisdiction” to handle the matter “fairly” and claimed America is trying to exact revenge because it tried but failed to lobby Fifa to host the 2022 World Cup.

“One must be extremely careful to question whether the United States can be fair in taking action against officials of an international body whom it feels has done it wrong,” Warner wrote in an editorial in the weekly Sunshine newspaper, which he owns.

Currently, US prosecutors accuse 14 people of taking part in a sweeping kickbacks scheme going back 20 years involving a total of $150-million in bribes.

The revelations have thrown the soccer world into turmoil and led to the resignation of long-serving Fifa president Sepp Blatter last week, just four days after his re-election to a fifth consecutive term.

Warner called the United States two-faced, since he and Blatter had once been welcomed to the White House by President Barack Obama.

“Was the president of the United States seeking a strong lobby from a Fifa vice-president or was he 'bribing' a Fifa official with a visit and a meal to the White House? I think not,” Warner said.

“In each case, the answer is no, but it just goes to show how selective this 'bribe' issue can be,” he added.

Among those indicted is Argentine sports marketing executive Alejandro Burzaco. He turned himself in to police in Italyy after initially fleeing authorities.

Burzaco, 50, was held in Bolzano, near Italy's northern border with Switzerland after “turning up spontaneously” at a police station with his two lawyers, police said in a statement.

Burzaco's whereabouts had been a mystery since seven Fifa executives were arrested in the Swiss city of Zurich on May 27, the eve of a Fifa Congress.

According to reports, Burzaco was in the hotel where the executives were cuffed and promptly disappeared in the knowledge he was likely to be on the indicted list.

It is believed he was not in his hotel room at the time because he was having breakfast.

After he turned himself in, Burzaco was briefly detained in a cell and was then allowed to leave the police station but placed under house arrest, Italian news agency AGI reported.

The Argentinian, who also has Italian citizenship, had already rented a house near Bolzano in expectation of being placed under house arrest, reports said.

Burzaco is wanted by US authorities in connection with his role as president of sports marketing company Torneos y Competencias.

The US suspects him of paying tens of millions of dollars in bribes to win and retain the media rights contracts for football tournaments in Latin America.

The Torneos y Competencias company held the television rights for the Argentinian league between 1992-2009 and in association with Aaron Davidson, president of Traffic Sports USA who was arrested in Zurich, and another company, Full Play, hold the rights for the Copa America tournament which kicks off in Chile next month.

The whereabouts of Full Play owners, Argentinian father and son Hugo and Mariano Jinkis, are unknown.

USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, a World Cup-winning striker for West Germany in 1990, said on Tuesday he expects there to be more revelations in the scandal.

“If there is one thing I know for sure, when the American authorities have evidence, then they see things through and more things will come out,” Klinsmann said in Cologne ahead of a friendly match against Germany.

“The whole world is wishing that Fifa will be cleaned up and those who comply will do things differently in the long term.”

AFP

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MPs won’t question Jordaan on Fifa scandal

ANC MPs shot down a request that Danny Jordaan and Molefi Oliphant be summoned to account for the Fifa allegations.

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Parliament - ANC MPs in the parliamentary portfolio committee on sport on Tuesday shot down a request from opposition parties that Danny Jordaan and Molefi Oliphant be summoned to account for allegations that South Africa paid a bribe to host the 2010 World Cup.

In a heated meeting of the committee, MPs from the Democratic Alliance (DA), National Freedom Party (NFP) and the United Democratic Movement (UDM) pushed for Molefi, the then SA Football Association (SAFA) president, and Jordaan, the current SAFA president, to be summoned to explain the payment of 10 million US dollars to the Caribbean football association Concacaf.

“They [2010 bid committee] are involved in a dirty public point scoring and they haven’t had the platform to take South Africans into their confidence and Parliament is that platform,” DA MP Solly Malatsi said in apparent reference to Oliphant telling the media he felt betrayed, claiming Jordaan had not disclosed the existence of a 2007 letter to Fifa asking that the US$10 mln be paid to Concacaf.

Mncedisi Filtane from the UDM supported the DA’s call, saying: “We have questions we need answers to. We are the last hope of the country in this matter…”

But ANC MPs said they would not support this move - insisting that sports minister Fikile Mbalula, notwithstanding the fact that he was not part of the 2010 bid committee, should be the one to account to Parliament.

MPs cited the US investigation into the bribery allegations, and the possibility that both Oliphant and Jordaan could be indicted as reason not to call them.

“This thing started in America and we’ve seen people arrested in Zurich. We have for all these years respected the sub judice thing. All of a sudden we want to break it,” said ANC MP Samuel Mmusi.

“I’m sorry I’m not going to be part of a group that will agree that Danny Jordaan and Molefi Oliphant be summoned to this committee. We are saying the first port of call must be the minister because that is the correct thing to do because we are not a banana republic.”

ANC MP Strike Ralegoma said since “the South African government is under attack”, Mbalula was the one that needed to answer MPs questions.

In the end, ANC MPs used their majority to push through a resolution that Mbalula be asked to appear before the committee on June 23. It was up to Mbalula to decide whether he would be bringing SAFA executives with him to brief the MPs.

ANA

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Fifa scandal: wanted official surrenders

Alejandro Burzaco, one of three Argentines wanted by the US over the Fifa scandal, surrendered voluntarily to police.

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Rome - Businessman Alejandro Burzaco, one of three Argentines wanted by US authorities over the Fifa bribery investigation, surrendered voluntarily to police in northern Italy on Tuesday.

Italian police said Burzaco turned himself in to authorities in the city of Bolzano, but they provided no further details.

Separately, an Italian regional police official told Argentine radio station La Red that Burzaco showed up unannounced at a police station accompanied by two lawyers, one Italian and one Argentine.

“He just appeared all of a sudden,” the official said.

US prosecutors say Burzaco, 50, along with Argentines Hugo Jinkis, 70, and his son Mariano Jinkis, 40, conspired to win and keep hold of lucrative media rights contracts from regional football federations through payment of bribes. The whereabouts of the father and son are unknown.

The Argentine judge who ordered the three men's arrest on May 28 said at the time that he did not know if they were in the country.

Burzaco was president of Argentine sports marketing firm Torneos y Competencias (Torneos), while Hugo and Mariano Jinkis are controlling principals of Full Play, another sports media and marketing business headquartered in Argentina.

Reuters

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Bilic named new West Ham boss

West Ham United have appointed Croatian Slaven Bilic as their manager, the Premier League club said.

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London - West Ham United have appointed Croatian Slaven Bilic as their manager, the Premier League club said.

The 46-year-old has signed a three-year contract to replace Sam Allardyce who left Upton Park at the end of last season.

Former international defender Bilic played for the Hammers from 1996 to 1997 and was a popular figure who will be welcomed back by supporters.

“I'm really glad to be back with West Ham United,” he told the club's website (www.whufc.com).

“It's in the Premier League, which is among the best in the world. It's a big challenge and you are competing with the best and what better club to do it with than West Ham?”

“It's a big privilege and a big responsibility to now be manager. I would say to the West Ham fans that I will give my best and together we will achieve great things.”

The tough-tackling Bilic joined West Ham in 1996 for a then club record transfer fee of 1.3 million pounds ($1.99 million) and helped the side avoid relegation before joining Everton in 1997.

He won 44 caps for Croatia, scoring three goals, and managed his country for six years from 2006 to 2012, winning 42 of his 65 matches in charge.

Bilic also had spells managing Hajduk Split in his native Croatia, Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow and most recently Turkey's Besiktas, whom he left last month.

West Ham finished 12th in the Premier League last season and decided not to renew Allardyce's contract.

Bilic will have to get down to work quickly. Having qualified for next season's Europa League by way of the Fair Play League, West Ham could be playing in it as early as July 2.

More important is consolidating their Premier League status during the final season at Upton Park before moving to London's Olympic Stadium.

Staying in the top tier would also ensure a share of the lucrative new domestic television deal that begins in 2016. – Reuters

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Alves pens new Barca deal

Dani Alves put an end to speculation about his future when he signed a two-year extension to his deal with recently-crowned European champions Barcelona.

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Dani Alves put an end to speculation about his future when he signed a two-year extension to his deal with recently-crowned European champions Barcelona.

The 32-year-old Brazilian defender's contract was due to expire on June 30, but he came to an agreement with Barca officials for the extension through to 2017, with the option of a third additional season.

Alves, who joined the Catalan club from Sevilla in 2008, has gone on to appear in 343 matches for Barca, more than any other foreigner in the history of the club.

During that time he has won 19 titles, including five La Ligas, three Champions Leagues, three Spanish Cups, two European Super Cups, four Spanish Super Cups and two Club World Cups.

He forms part of the group of seven players that were in both of Barca's treble winning squads: the latest completed in Berlin with victory over Juventus on the weekend; and that of his first season, 2008-09, when he was forced to sit out the European Cup final in Rome against Manchester United through suspension. – AFP

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Goal-scoring worry for Mashaba

Shakes Mashaba’shappy start to his Bafana tenure was replaced with the stress of leaving the 2015 Afcon finals and Cosafa Cup early.

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Shakes Mashaba knew he had to work on finishing yesterday, but he could not tell when the main striker in his squad, Tokelo Rantie, would arrive in Durban.

After starting his labours in the winter sun of the east coast, the Bafana Bafana coach said he had to quickly reduce rustiness in some of his players who were on club leave, before moving to the perennial problem of banging in goals.

“One big problem in South Africa is the scoring of goals. Nobody can say we are not creating chances or not keeping possession well enough,” said Mashaba, whose happy start to his Bafana tenure was replaced with the stress of leaving both the 2015 Afcon finals and Cosafa Cup early.

His team have averaged just one goal per game in this disappointing period, making him extremely conscious of the need to work on finishing ahead of Saturday’s clash with little-known Gambia in the start to 2017 Afcon qualifying at Moses Mabhida Stadium (3pm kick-off).

However, the veteran coach seemed reluctant to say exactly when Rantie would report for duty – the marksman from newly-promoted English club Bournemouth was given a break to spend time with his new wife.

“We hope to see him later in the week,” was all Mashaba could say.

Since Chiefs star Bernard Parker is not in the squad and the rest of the forwards selected by Mashaba have extremely limited international experience, the coach may well have to call on his midfielders to take on scoring responsibilities this week.

Some Bafana followers may have actually viewed those four forwards as surprise picks because they come from teams relegated from the Premiership recently or clubs in the First Division.

SuperSport winger Thuso Phala was another experienced man absent from both training sessions at People’s Park yesterday, because of influenza, but was expected to bounce back today.

Meanwhile, the Gambians have reportedly formed a new team under young Swiss coach Raoul Savoy following the serving of a two-year ban from the game for age-cheating.

Savoy, 42, previously coached the Central African Republic's national side and has told reporters in tiny Gambia that he plans to get a “positive result” in Durban, meaning a draw, and then a win in the next qualifier at home against Cameroon in September.

His team, whose most recent captain Abdou Jammeh earns his keep as a defender in Finland, are scheduled to play a friendly against Uganda in Kampala today before they fly to South Africa.

They are nicknamed the Scorpions, but have not stung enough opponents down the years to earn the right to play in the finals of the World Cup or Africa Cup of Nations.

This is largely because of a small selection pool and limited resources, with their “star” players tending to feature in modest European leagues or lower divisions of top countries.

Like Durban, Gambia is reportedly better known for its beaches than football teams.

Bafana squad

Goalkeepers: Jackson Mabokgwane, Brilliant Khuzwayo, Itumeleng Khune

Defenders: Thabo Matlaba, Rivaldo Coetzee, Anele Ngcongca, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Marc van Heerden, Clayton Daniels, Patrick Phungwayo, Siyabonga Nhlapho, Tshepo Gumede, Ntsikelelo Nyauza

Midfielders: Oupa Manyisa, Andile Jali, May Mahlangu, Thulani Serero, Mandla Masango, Bongani Zungu, Ayanda Patosi, Thuso Phala, Jabulani Shongwe

Strikers: Tokelo Rantie, Bonginkosi Ntuli, Vuyisile Wana, Gift Motupa, Siphelele Ntshangase

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Can Premier League attract top players?

The Premier League earns the biggest televsion revenue in the leading leagues. But, can they attract the top stars?

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The Premier League earns the biggest televsion revenue in the leading leagues. But, can they attract the top stars? Simon Jones has a look.

Paul Pogba

Juventus — Cost: £65m

Manchester City, United and Chelsea want the Juventus star but agent Mino Raiola is blunt about him going to the highest bidder. Paris Saint-Germain think the France international can spearhead a Champions League push, as do Barcelona, who can do a deal from January 2016. CHANCES: 3/5

Lars Bender

Bayer Leverkusen — Cost: £22m

City have contingency plans should they fail to land Pogba and Bender, 26, is on the list. Watched by Arsenal and Manchester United, he is the twin of Dortmund’s Sven. Lars is a rangy defensive midfielder comfortable bringing the ball out of defence. Contracted until 2019 but has had injury problems. CHANCES: 2/5

Gonzalo Higuain

Napoli — Cost: £37million

The Argentina striker wants to leave but Napoli are reluctant to sell without recouping the £32million they paid. He is 27 and carrying a little weight, which concerned scouts at Manchester United. Juventus expressed an interest while Arsenal and Chelsea have monitored his progress. Jose Mourinho is a fan from his time at Real Madrid. CHANCES: 3/5

Bastian Schweinsteiger

Bayern Munich — Cost: £8m

Manchester United have earmarked Schweinsteiger (right) for midfield and are also considering Morgan Schneiderlin of Southampton. The German is on big wages and will be 31 on August 1 but Louis van Gaal wants someone to share Michael Carrick’s burden of pulling the strings in midfield. CHANCES: 2/5

Kevin de Bruyne

Wolfsburg — Cost: £45m

The ex-Chelsea midfielder was named best player in the Bundesliga and City sporting director Txiki Begiristain has spoken to agent Patrick de Koster. Bayern Munich, PSG and Juventus are also keen. Wolfsburg want him to sign a new contract. CHANCES: 3/5

Douglas Costa

Shakhtar Donetsk — Cost: £24m

Brazilian has made his love of Chelsea and Jose Mourinho clear and nearly moved in January. Instead Chelsea signed Fiorentina’s Juan Cuadrado, who has failed to shine. Inter Milan want Cuadrado on loan with a view to a permanent deal and that could pave the way for Costa. Liverpool and Arsenal have also shown an interest in the attacker, who has a Portuguese passport. CHANCES: 4/5

Karim Benzema

Real Madrid — Cost: £35m

Could struggle to make the starting XI at Real Madrid next season, with Rafa Benitez considering playing Cristiano Ronaldo as centre forward. Agent Karim Dajziri is undeterred. ‘I haven’t met with any club in London,’ he said. ‘Not with United or anyone else. He would only leave if Real Madrid told him he was surplus to requirements, because he isn’t going to leave of his own accord.’ CHANCES: 1/5

These are more likely to arrive:

Yohan Cabaye

(PSG) £10m

The stylish midfielder (below) has been pushed out by PSG’s all-star cast so wants a return to the Premier League and Crystal Palace want to sign him.

Cedric Soares

(Sporting Lisbon) £3.5m

Stoke have bid £3.5m for the Portugal right back, also watched by Arsenal and Barcelona.

Anthony Martial

(Monaco) £18.5m

Exciting French forward, 19, who shone in the Champions League. Tottenham will push for a deal.

Cristian Benavente

(Real Madrid) £4m

‘Peruvian Ronaldinho’ has starred for Castilla and is in talks with West Brom.

Pedro Obiang

(Sampdoria) £4.4m

A tough, technical midfielder, 23, who is heading to West Ham.

Shinji Okazaki

(Mainz) £9m

A long-term Leicester target, the Japan striker looks set to move for £8m.

Franck Tabanou

(St Etienne) £3.5m

French left back wants to join Swansea. and the clubs are close to a deal. – Daily Mail

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Gascoigne can’t bear watching England

Former England hero Paul Gascoigne has said the current team under Roy Hodgson lack the passion he was famous for.

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London - Former England hero Paul Gascoigne has said the current team under Roy Hodgson lack the passion he was famous for, and that he cannot bear to watch much football these days because he misses playing so much.

Gascoigne, 48, appeared 57 times for England and more than 400 times for clubs such as Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio and Rangers.

He retired in 2004, struggling with alcoholism and personal problems, and is promoting this week a new documentary film “Gascoigne” about his life and career.

“I hardly try and watch games because I still wish I was playing,” he said in a BBC radio interview.

“I cannot handle watching players getting lots of money and not putting 100 per cent in. The fans paid for my house, my car, my holidays - but I've seen players score a goal, even for England, and just walk back.

“There are young kids there seeing that and thinking it means nothing to score goals. I don't like that.”

He took up that theme in an interview with the Daily Mail, saying of England's widely criticised goalless draw with Ireland on Sunday, “There was the intensity? Where were the characters in this England team? Nowhere.

“I would be in the England dressing-room with Bryan Robson and Terry Butcher and they would be screaming 'nobody comes into my house and takes anything'.”

Another England player of that era, Kenny Sansom, was reported on Sunday to be a homeless alcoholic.

Gascoigne said he tried to assist his former team-mate but added: “I can't help him, no-one in the world can help unless he puts his hand up and says he needs help.” – Reuters

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