South Africa vs Gambia game delayed

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As a result of logistical challenges, two of the match officials for the SA vs Gambia clash were unable to arrive in SA last night.

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Cape Town - As a result of logistical challenges, two of the match officials of the above mentioned match were unable to arrive in the country in time aboard their scheduled flight to South Africa on Friday night.

The two match officials are scheduled to arrive in South Africa around 16h00 on Saturday, 13 June 2015.

As a result hereof, the kick off of Satuday’s match is regrettably delayed until 19h00 on Saturday, 13 June 2015, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

ANA



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Taarabt leaves QPR for Benfica

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Morocco midfielder Adel Taarabt has joined Benfica on a five-year deal after his QPR contract was terminated.

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London - Morocco's controversial midfielder Adel Taarabt has joined Benfica on a five-year deal after his Queen's Park Rangers contract was terminated by mutual consent.

“I don't think it's necessary to explain why I chose Benfica. It's a great club that have produced great players over the years and they were champions last season,” he told Benfica TV.

“When my manager told me of Benfica, I said I was ready to change because this is a great opportunity for me”, the 26-year-old Taarabt was quoted as saying on the club's official website (www.slbenfica.pt).

Taarabt made 164 appearances for QPR, scoring 34 goals, after joining in March 2009 from Tottenham Hotspur, initially on loan before a permanent move the following year.

In 2010/11, he captained QPR to the Championship (second tier) title and was the division's Player of the Year after a season in which he scored 19 goals and had 19 assists, helping the club return to the Premier League after a 15-year absence.

The next season he helped QPR retain their Premier League status, scoring crucial goals in wins over Arsenal and Spurs.

Taarabt, who had loan spells in 2013-14 at Fulham and AC Milan, has courted controversy during his career and was criticised by then-QPR manager Harry Redknapp in October last year for being “about three stone overweight”.

He played five times after Redknapp quit for health reasons and was replaced by Chris Ramsey in February but was unable to help the club avoid relegation to the Championship.

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Bafana blast-off

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A return to the Afcon qualifying campaign, and the venue of SA’s last competitive win, will back bring happy memories for Bafana.

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Durban - A return to the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, and to the venue of South Africa’s last competitive win, will bring back happy memories as Bafana Bafana target a morale-boosting victory over Gambia at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

The bar was set high when qualification for the last edition was achieved with a match to spare.

South Africa thereafter disappointed with early exits from the 2015 Afcon finals in Equatorial Guinea and the Cosafa Cup on home soil.

In between those events, Bafana drew with Nigeria at home and beat Swaziland away in international friendlies.

Durban sets a bright mood for some of the regulars in the squad, such as Thulani Serero, Rivaldo Coetzee, Anele Ngcongca, Oupa Manyisa and Andile Jali.

They featured in the 2-1 victory over Sudan in November that booked Bafana’s spot in Equatorial Guinea.

Following a topsy-turvy week for coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba, in which players pulled out for a variety of reasons, the squad could do with a dose of positivity to tackle the unknown Gambians.

After one player withdrew, citing ”family commitments”, and another failed to show up after his wedding, there may be doubts about players’ motivation.

Before the camp began, defender Tefu Mashamaite was excused after he said he needed to attend to “family commitments”, while striker Tokelo Rantie indicated he might arrive late because he was to get married.

Mashaba accepted both reasons, but after Rantie’s no-show he had to call up replacement striker Thamsanqa Gabuza two days before this Group M opener.

If the withdrawals question the players’ commitment, the nation can rest assured those who are in camp will give their all.

Besides several newcomers hungry for action at the highest level, there are a few seniors raring to have a go at Gambia.

The changes for this game essentially cover the absences of central defender Eric Mathoho, midfield anchor Dean Furman and forwards Rantie and Bernard Parker.

Among the established stars, midfielder May Mahlangu and goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune won’t be spurred purely by national pride. Both are soon to be out of contract with their clubs, Mahlangu with Konyaspor of Turkey and Khune with Kaizer Chiefs.

Turning out for South Africa affords them an international platform to remind potential suitors about what they offer.

The pair are favourites to start when the clash gets under way at 3pm.

Khune’s vast experience places him ahead of Jackson Mabokgwane, who is likely to be the bench-warmer as Brilliant Khuzwayo was felled by flu midway through the camp.

Khune has a chance to close in on André Arendse’s record as the most-capped goalkeeper.

Mahlangu, back in the fold after being banned by Safa for not honouring a call-up late last year, has been a key performer at training.

And with Mashaba set to rely on a loaded attacking midfield to supplement the inexperienced striking unit, Mahlangu will have ample opportunity to win over the supporters.

He could feature in a five-man midfield with Ayanda Patosi, Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa and Thulani Serero.

Defender Thulani Hlatshwayo enjoyed the last qualifiers and looks forward to another solid run with a home win.

“We started well against Sudan last year, so it’s important we start well again because only one team go through from the group,” Hlatshwayo said after the team’s final preparation on Friday.

“A lot of guys went through the last qualifiers and got a taste of Afcon, and we want to do better than last time. It’s very important to start well with a few goals and not concede.”

A backline of Thabo Matlaba, Rivaldo Coetzee, Anele Ngcongca and Hlatshwayo pretty much selects itself, although Marc van Heerden and Clayton Daniels have been pushing hard to sneak in. Chances are they will feature in Tuesday’s friendly against Angola in the Mother City.

Mashaba could throw in one of the surprise call-ups, such as Jabulani Shongwe, Gift Motupa, or Siphelele Ntshangase in a shadow striker role.

The Gambians were also set to train at the match venue on Friday.

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: Thamsanqa Gabuza, Bonginkosi Ntuli, Vuyisile Wana, Gift Motupa, Siphelele Ntshangase

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'Sex scandal' Seymour seeks recall

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Former Safa Cape vice-president Vernon Seymour, banned after a sexual harassment scandal, wants back in the game.

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Cape Town - Former South African Football Association (Safa) Cape Town vice-president Vernon Seymour, who was banned from football for life following a sexual harassment scandal, has turned to the Western Cape High Court in his bid to return to the sport.

However, Safa threw him a curve ball this week when it went to the same court, asking for the case to be kicked out because Seymour knew full well that he should use internal Safa processes to resolve the issue.

The matter came briefly before Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe on Friday, who postponed it to September 10 this year and gave the parties time to file further papers.

Seymour was banned after being found guilty of sexually harassing a female intern at Safa offices in November 2013, allegations he has denied.

He was also charged with bringing the organisation into disrepute, and for allegedly falsely accusing Safa’s Cape Town general secretary of lying.

In Seymour’s application, he suggested that the sexual harassment allegations were part of a campaign to “humiliate and eliminate” him, after he was nominated to Safa’s national executive committee.

The charges were laid about two months after his nomination, he said in an affidavit.

Seymour said he resigned from Safa Cape Town in September last year because he had already experienced “one of the worst years of my life in the game, and could not see any good reason why I should continue”.

However, disciplinary proceedings against him continued and, the following month, the life ban was imposed.

But Seymour said the fact that he resigned meant he was not a member of Safa Cape Town, and so not subject to its jurisdiction.

He alleged that the letter requesting that disciplinary proceedings be initiated was written without a mandate from Safa Cape Town, and claimed that there was no resolution from Safa’s national executive committee.

In addition, he submitted that Safa Cape Town’s statutes provided that only the general council had the power to suspend or expel members.The recommendation that he be banned for life was not tabled for consideration at general council meetings, he said.

Seymour also alleged that other Safa Cape Town members had similar allegations levelled against them, but were never summoned to appear before a disciplinary committee.

“The fact that the members concerned were not charged clearly demonstrated that I was targeted and victimised by Safa Cape Town and by Safa national,” he said.

But Safa said the court should dismiss Seymour’s application. Alternatively, it wants the application stayed until Seymour has exhausted internal mechanisms.

In an affidavit, Safa Cape Town general secretary Nomonde Dlakana said the constitutions of Safa and Safa Cape Town provided for a detailed internal process, in terms of which disputes should be resolved without resorting to the courts.

Internally, Seymour had three options open to him – appealing to the national appeals board, referring the dispute to the Safa arbitration tribunal, and appealing to the court of arbitration for sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Dlakana said Seymour was an experienced football administrator, who had served at the highest levels of football administration in South Africa. “There can therefore be no excuse for him having failed to make use of the Safa structures to resolve his dispute,” he said.

Dlakana also pointed out that Seymour resigned as a member of Safa Cape Town.

While this did not stop the disciplinary process from continuing, it deprived Seymour of any right to challenge the decisions made by means of a court review.

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Premier League bidders vie for superstars

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Manchester City’s R577m bid for Raheem Sterling has signalled the opening of the serious summer transfer trading.

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London - Manchester City’s £30-million (about R577m) bid for Liverpool contract rebel Raheem Sterling has signalled the opening of the serious summer transfer trading.

News of City’s offer came 24 hours after chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak spoke of “an aggressive market” and the former Premier League champions are bound to face plenty of competition from their rivals at home and abroad in the coming months.

Some deals will go smoothly, others could rumble on. We assess the summer’s biggest transfer sagas and what direction they might take.

Raheem Sterling - Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid

City’s opening offer is £25m plus £5m in add-ons but Liverpool want double that and are prepared to keep Sterling, pictured, at Anfield for another year. There is still a feeling the England star wants to return to London so Chelsea and Arsenal will be keeping a close eye on developments. It’s 50-50 if Sterling goes. This one could run and run.

Madrid want David de Gea and he wants to go home to Madrid - that’s the long and the short of it. Real would like the deal concluded before they go on their pre-season tour but United want £30m to let De Gea leave Old Trafford. This has gone on long enough, though, so expect it to be sorted out sooner rather than later.

Paul Pogba - Man City, PSG, Barcelona

Juventus are holding out for £55m for the former Manchester United midfielder and his agent, Mino Raiola, has admitted that Pogba will move on if the right offer comes in.

The player is said to favour Barcelona and with the Spanish club under a transfer embargo until January, this saga could run until then.

Monaco have dropped their asking price to £25m after the Colombia striker’s less-than-impressive season at Manchester United, but Chelsea would prefer to pay £6m for a season’s loan. José Mourinho has spoken of his desire to bring out the best in Falcao and the player would like his future sorted out before the start of the Copa America, so there shouldn’t be too many delays.

Theo Walcott - Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City, Man United

Walcott has only a year left on his contract at the Emirates and that has inevitably alerted a number of Premier League rivals. Manchester City, in particular, are keen to increase the number of English players in their squad but they will not be the only bidders if Arsenal cannot convince Walcott to sign a new deal and feel they have no option but to sell for around £20m. The power lies with the player, so this one has the legs to go on for a while.

Harry Kane - Man United

Kane is on United’s radar after his spectacular first full season in the Premier League and promotion to the full England squad but persuading Daniel Levy to part with his crown jewel is another matter, even with an offer of £50m. The striker signed a new five-and-a-half-year deal in February and is unlikely to be leaving anytime soon.

Gozalo Higuain - Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid

Higuain is set to follow Rafael Benitez out of Napoli and could link up with fellow Argentine Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid, especially if he is joined there by Carlos Tevez. The Italians will want to recoup the £35m they paid Real two years ago, however, and that could open the door to United, Chelsea and Arsenal. Another auction that could stretch well into August.

Morgan Schneiderlin - Man United, Arsenal, Tottenham

The Southampton midfielder wants to stay in England and play for a Champions League club which in theory narrows down the options, although Tottenham’s former Southampton boss, Mauricio Pochettino, may fancy his chances. United have yet to firm up their interest and are known to be considering higher profile options like Bastian Schweinsteiger so Schneiderlin may have to be patient.

Christian Benteke - Liverpool, Chelsea, Man United, Roma

Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has made no secret of the £32.5m release clause in Benteke’s contract and the big Belgium striker will leave the club if he refuses to sign a new deal. Liverpool are desperate for a striker and have made Benteke their No1 target.

Karim Benzema - Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City

Benzema’s agent says he wants to retire at Real Madrid but the Frenchman may have a change of heart when he realises the implication of new coach Rafael Benitez’s plan to play Cristiano Ronaldo at centre-forward. There would be no shortage of takers for Benzema, who would cost around £30m, although he has already been mentioned as a possible makeweight in De Gea’s move from United to Real. This is another slow burner.

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'Kane is no one-hit wonder'

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Gareth Southgate has backed Harry Kane to establish himself and prove he is more than a one-season wonder.

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London - Gareth Southgate has backed Harry Kane to establish himself as one of Europe’s top young strikers and prove he is more than a one-season wonder.

The past 12 months have gone better than Kane could have envisaged, as he scored 31 times for Tottenham, marked his England senior debut with a goal against Lithuania and was named PFA Young Player of the Year.

That, as Sportsmail revealed last month, has led Manchester United to put him on their list of possible targets this summer - there has not been any contact between the clubs - but for the moment his focus is on helping the Under 21s’ quest to win Euro 2015.

There will be a lot of focus on Kane during the next two weeks, as critics look to see whether he can replicate his club exploits in the Czech Republic but Southgate, the Under 21 head coach, has no concerns about his form tailing off.

Kane, who was given a week’s holiday in Dubai before he joined the Under 21 squad last Tuesday, has impressed Southgate with his attitude and that is why the coach expects him to keep progressing.

‘It is his mentality, really,’ said Southgate. ‘Will he score exactly as many goals (next year)? That is difficult to say, although the crowd that play in Spain seem to do that, don’t they? I don’t see him being distracted. He wants to keep improving and there are still more challenges ahead.

‘He is the type to think, “What’s next?” - so he will want to push his team into the Champions League. He wants the team to succeed. He’s been very big on that when we have been together.

‘He is also surrounded by really good people at Spurs. None of us have a crystal ball, but all the signs - the support at home, the close family unit - will play a part in the player remaining grounded.’

Kane played the last 30 minutes of Thursday’s 1-0 win over Belarus but is expected to start their opening Group B game against Portugal in Uherske Hradiste on Thursday.

Southgate feels the striker can be one of the stars of the tournament but points out that England can score from all over the pitch, as Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson showed in Barnsley.

‘We’ve been encouraging our midfielders to score,’ said Southgate, whose squad fly out to their base in Olomouc tomorrow. ‘The last thing we want to be is a team where if you stop a player like Harry, then you stop the team.’

Daily Mail



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Sexwale to lead Fifa Monitoring Committee

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Tokyo Sexwale was chosen to lead a monitoring committee to oversee issues affecting the development of football in Palestine.

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Cape Town - Fifa has appointed Tokyo Sexwale to lead a monitoring committee to oversee issues affecting the development of football in Palestine.

The committee was established based on the decision by the 65th Fifa Congress in May 2015 after the Palestine FA withdrew its proposal for suspension of the Israel Football Association.

Representatives from Israel and Palestine will work with Mr Sexwale to address issues relating to a good understanding between the football organisations of Israel and Palestine.

Fifa President Joseph S. Blatter said: “From his own experiences and expertise in community reconciliation and conflict resolution in South Africa, we believe Mr Sexwale is well placed to help improve access for football in the Palestinian territories.”

Tokyo Sexwale said: “This assignment regarding the tension between Palestine and Israel is no easy walk and shall have to be approached with sensitivity and circumspection. I therefore hope that an acceptable solution shall be arrived at.”

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Wenger closing in on Cech

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Arsenal will push to complete an £11million swoop for Petr Cech by the end of next week.

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London - Arsenal will push to complete an £11million swoop for Petr Cech by the end of next week.

And, in a further boost, Theo Walcott looks likely to commit his long-term future to the club following positive talks over a new deal. But it is the potential capture of goalkeeper Cech that will excite Gunners supporters.

Sportsmail understands that Arsene Wenger is growing increasingly confident of concluding a deal to sign the Czech Republic shot-stopper this summer. Arsenal have already made a formal enquiry to Chelsea about a move for Cech, but talks will accelerate next week.

Chelsea are demanding a minimum of £10m for the 33-year-old and if, as expected, that issue is resolved then the goalkeeper should complete a move to the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are also growing increasingly confident of tying England star Walcott down to a new deal this summer.

Talks over improved terms for the forward, whose contract expires at the end of next season, took place earlier this month and both parties are positive a deal for Walcott to stay will be reached.

Daily Mail



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Adebayor set to play for Togo

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Emmanuel Adebayor looks set to play for Togo against Liberia despite turning up late for pre-match preparations.

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Lome - Emmanuel Adebayor appeared set to play for Togo in Sunday's African Nations Cup qualifier against Liberia despite turning up late for pre-match preparations, officials said.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker was accused of a lack of discipline by new coach Tom Saintfiet when he failed to pitch at the start of pre-match preparations almost a fortnight ago.

Saintfiet said he would not tolerate players who did not adhere to the rules but on Wednesday, some 10 days after the squad first got together to begin preparations, Adebayor finally pitched for practice and was allowed to join up with the rest of the squad.

Adebayor has been the subject of much off-field intrigue over the last months, twice being given compassionate leave by his London club to attend to a family feud, which he has played out publicly on social media. Adebayor claimed it had left him suicidal.

His role as Togo's only major international star has long given Adebayor license to set his own agenda with the national team. He has often skipped preparations and matches but always been welcomed back.

Reuters



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Chikhaoui hat-trick sets up Tunisia win

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Yassine Chikhaoui scored a hat-trick as Tunisia made a winning start to the Afcon qualifying campaign.

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Cape Town - Tunisia's Yassine Chikhaoui scored a hat-trick in the first 25 minutes as they made a winning start to the African Nations Cup qualifying campaign with an 8-1 thumping of Djibouti.

There was also success for Morocco, who edged Libya 1-0, but tiny Swaziland stunned Guinea in Friday's other match with a 2-1 win away to this year's Nations Cup quarter-finalists.

Tunisia captain Chikhaoui converted a ninth-minute penalty and added two more goals in two minutes to put Tunisia 3-0 up after 23 minutes in a one-sided match against the small Red Sea state at the Rades stadium, just outside the capital.

Ferjani Sassi made it 4-0 by halftime with Saber Khalifa, Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, Maher Hannachi and Yoann Touzghar adding four more goals in the second half. Djibouti got their consolation from the penalty spot through Mohamed Liban.

Morocco's Omar El Kaddouri scored a 51st minute goal to give them a 1-0 home win over Libya in Agadir and a winning start to their bid to reach the 2017 finals in Gabon.

But in nearby Casablanca, Swaziland upset Guinea in a horror debut for former France World Cup great Luis Fernandez.

Diminutive attacker Tony Tsabedze scored both goals for the small southern African kingdom in a Group L clash, hosted in Morocco because Guinea are banned from staging international matches following the Ebola outbreak in the country.

Guinea's defeat capped a bad first week in charge for new coach Fernandez, who banned five players from internationals for failing to heed his call-up.

Friday's three games marked the opening salvoes in the 18-month preliminary campaign to determine 15 places at the next finals in Gabon.

Each of the 13 group winners qualify along with the two best placed runners-up.

Reuters



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Bafana to rekindle qualifying memories

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Bafana are trying to rekindle the memories of their successful 2015 Afcon qualifying campaign, when they take on Gambia.

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Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana are trying to rekindle the memories of their successful 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, when they take on Gambia at Moses Mabhida Stadium, in Durban, on Saturday.

For the 2015 edition, coach Shakes Mashaba’s troops qualified with a game to spare and the 2017 tournament presents an entirely new challenge.

“In the 2015 AFCON qualifiers everybody was willing to go because of the opposition (South Africa was drawn against Nigeria, Sudan and Congo), but now everyone thinks of Gambia and Mauritania and ask who are those?” said Mashaba on Friday.

“Those people (Gambia) have about ten overseas-based players in their squad. They are playing away, they might come here, park the bus and be happy with a point, so it’s a big task for us to dismantle that defence,” said Mashaba.

In the last qualifiers, two teams qualified from each group for the tournament but this time around it is different.

“This is going to be very tricky and perhaps more difficult. It is important that we win all our home games and ensure we even do well on the road. Crucially we need to score goals because in the end goal difference might see us through. If we find Gambia open at the back we need to score as much as possible - at the end of the qualifiers you might have two nations deadlocked on points and the goal difference could come in handy,” added Mashaba.

Goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo is a doubtful starter as he is still recovering from a bout of flu - he sat out the final training session.

Bafana will also face Gambia without the services of striker Tokelo Rantie who has asked to be withdrawn from the squad due wedding to celebrations - this leaves strikers Thamsanqa Gabuza (who replaces Rantie), Vuyisile Wana, Bonginkosi Ntuli, Gift Motupa and Sphelele Ntshangase as options upfront.

“We want to take the game to Gambia on Saturday and see their reaction, but if we’re going to run like headless chickens we will be punished. If a team scores a goal when playing away, it becomes a double task to even matters,” said Mashaba.

“If you look at our midfielders they are very pacy and quick on the ball which will make our lives easy, because we will be having players who will add numbers in attack and also when we defend. We can only hope that the strikers that we play there, because all of them are new in the team, will come to the party.”

Gambia landed in South African on Wednesday after playing to a 1-all draw against Uganda. This is Gambia’s first match in South Africa against Bafana.

The Scorpions, as the Gambia national football team is known, have just recently returned to the international arena. They played the qualifiers for the 2013 tournament in South Africa but lost to Algeria.

In the preliminary rounds of the 2015 qualifiers, they were drawn against the Seychelles but Gambia were kicked out before the match was played due to age cheating in their under-20 side at the African Youth Championship.

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Man United complete Depay signing

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Manchester United have completed the signing of PSV Eindhoven forward Memphis Depay on a four-year contract.

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London - Manchester United have completed the signing of PSV Eindhoven forward Memphis Depay on a four-year contract, the Premier League club said on Friday.

United announced last month they had reached a deal to sign the 21-year-old Netherlands international for a fee reported to be around 30 million euros.

Depay, who has spent his entire career with PSV, making 124 senior appearances, finished as the Dutch league's top scorer last season with 22 goals in 30 games as Phillip Cocu's side wrapped up their first title in seven seasons.

“This is a dream come true for me; to play for the biggest club in the world and also to have the chance to work with someone who I believe is the best manager in the world, Louis van Gaal,” Depay told the club's website (www.manutd.com).

“I have great belief in my ability and I work hard to strive to achieve my dreams.”

Depay, who can play on the left of a front three or as a central striker, scored two goals at last year's World Cup as the Netherlands finished third under the guidance of United manager Louis van Gaal.

“I know Memphis well from our time working together in the Netherlands national team,” Van Gaal said.

“He is a young versatile player who has the ability to play in a number of different positions.

“It will take time for Memphis to get used to the rhythm of the Premier League but I have no doubt that he has the potential to become a great footballer for this club and he is at the right club to continue the good work he has done so far.”

Reuters



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Interpol suspends Fifa partnership

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Interpol has pulled out of a multi-million-euro deal with Fifa to promote “integrity” in sport.

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Interpol on Friday pulled out of a multi-million-euro deal with Fifa to promote “integrity” in sport, as the corruption scandal engulfing the world's football governing body left it increasingly isolated.

The international police organisation announced it was suspending a 10-year partnership deal with Fifa worth 20 million euros ($22 million) for its “Integrity in Sport programme.”

Interpol boss Juergen Stock noted that partners in the programme “must share the fundamental values and principles of the organisation.”

Fifa has been in crisis since May after 14 people connected to Fifa were charged as part of a US investigation into alleged corruption.

The scandal spectacularly brought down Fifa boss Sepp Blatter and has also cast doubt on the fairness of the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, to be staged in Russia and Qatar respectively.

Fifa hit back at Interpol, voicing disappointment at the decision to suspend the partnership agreement, which it called a “success”.

“Our cooperation over the past four years has been a key part of addressing the transnational problem of match fixing,” stressed Fifa.

The programme itself was “unrelated” to the current crisis surrounding the football body, Fifa added, calling for it to resume as soon as possible and adding it was in contact with Interpol to resolve the issue.

The “Integrity in Sport” drive has coordinated global efforts to prevent match fixing and illegal gambling by criminal groups.

Interpol's decision came a day after an educational charity launched by football fan Pope Francis said it would no longer accept money from South American football confederation CONMEBOL.

Scholas Occurrentes had been due to receive a $10,000 donation from CONMEBOL for every goal and penalty kick scored during the Copa America, the South American championship which kicked off Thursday in Chile.

Those indicted in the US investigation include CONMEBOL executive committee members Rafael Esquivel of Venezuela and Jose Maria Marin of Brazil, as well as former federation presidents Eugenio Figueredo of Uruguay and Nicolas Leoz of Paraguay.

In another potential blow for CONMEBOL, Paraguay's Congress voted on Thursday to lift the immunity of its headquarters.

Under a special law, the confederation's building on the outskirts of Asuncion had enjoyed the same immunity as foreign diplomatic missions since it opened in 1997.

And the scandal continues to end careers, with the latest person to fall on his sword being Fifa's director of communications and public affairs Walter De Gregorio, who resigned on Thursday.

De Gregorio reportedly stepped down after making a joke about the crisis on Swiss TV.

Meanwhile, Blatter dismissed a European Parliament demand for him to quit immediately, with a Fifa spokesman saying he intended to continue in office until a successor was appointed, probably by the end of the year.

European lawmakers overwhelmingly called for his immediate resignation - a call Fifa said left it “perplexed”.

The net is closing in on the remaining suspects indicted by the United States after Italian-Argentine businessman Alejandro Burzaco handed himself in to police in Italy on Tuesday.

Brazilian businessman Jose Margulies remains at large, along with father-and-son marketing executives Hugo and Mariano Jinkis.

The Jinkises, owners of sports marketing company Full Play, have asked a federal court to allow them to remain free and said they will not hand themselves in until they have exhausted all legal options, their lawyers said.

AFP



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Midfield key for Bafana

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With an inexperienced forward line, Bafana’s men in the middle of the park will have to find a way to get around Gambia’s ‘bus’.

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South Africa will sport a new attack when they face Gambia in the opening round of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban tomorrow.

Following first choice striker Tokelo Rantie’s no-show at the squad’s Durban base this week, Orlando Pirates striker Thamsanqa Gabuza arrived yesterday as a late replacement. The lanky forward has one international game under his belt, which places him at a similar level to the other attackers, Bonginkosi Ntuli, Vuyisile Wana, Gift Motupa and Siphelele Ntshangase. And with him having his first training session with the squad today, it’s unlikely Gabuza would be thrust into the starting XI.

Then again coach Ephraim Mashaba has shown in the past that he is not afraid to place his trust in untested players. He promoted teenage defender Rivaldo Coetzee from the junior national teams, and raised a few eyebrows when Bongani Ndulula was enlisted for the last qualifying competition.

The coach, meanwhile, has cleared up the air over Rantie’s absence and explained Gabuza’s call-up. “Rantie was still busy with his family and wedding things, so we brought in Gabuza. It was a difficult task because other players we called were on holiday in London and Paris,” said Mashaba.

That could be a reference to the other Pirates star, Kermit Erasmus, who is reportedly holidaying in Europe. Erasmus has been on form for Bucs in the league as well as in the CAF Confederations Cup. Gabuza bagged three goals in two matches to help Pirates advance to the Confederations Cup group stage and that earned him this call-up, said Mashaba.

“We tried to get other strikers, but they were on holiday, so we got Gabuza. The good thing is that he’s fit. Current form is one of the main criteria for selection and he’s playing very well.”

The former Golden Arrows forward will be in familiar territory in Durban, however he’ll likely play second fiddle to Ntuli. The Mamelodi Sundowns man showed his potential while on loan at AmaZulu and is the most natural striker among all the attackers. While Mashaba has preferred fielding twin strikers, he suggested one forward could be deployed, supported by an attacking midfield.

Only the group winners qualify for the tournament in Gabon, so it’s crucial to be successful at home.

Mashaba expects Gambia to “park the bus”, and that’s where the Bafana “ball players” are expected to come to the fore and support whoever fronts the attack. “People are talking about Gambia as an easy draw. They will come here and park the bus. It will be difficult to break them down, so regaining possession when we lose it will be important, as well as how to organise and have more bodies behind the ball. Gambia won’t come as sheep to the slaughter. We’ll take the game to them and see their reaction, but if we run like headless chickens we’ll be punished,” warned Mashaba.

The experienced midfield of Thulani Serero, May Mahlangu, Ayanda Patosi, Andile Jali and Oupa Manyisa should make a difference. “We have good midfield players who are fast, skilful and they give us numbers when we are attacking and defending. We won’t make big changes and the strikers will fit into the plan,” said Mashaba.

Mahlangu won’t be short of passion as he returns to the fold after a fall-out with Mashaba late last year when he failed to honour a call-up. The player said “everything was resolved with the coach and Safa” and that he looked forward to winning his place in the side.

Senior goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, who returned to the squad following injury, is likely to lead the side. Like Mahlangu, he too becomes a free agent at the end of the month when he leaves Kaizer Chiefs. Jackson Mabokgwane is set to be the reserve goalkeeper after Brilliant Khuzwayo was laid low by the flu yesterday.

South Africa’s final training session will be at the match venue this morning. - The Star



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Liverpool reject City’s Sterling bid

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Manchester City will increase their bid for Raheem Sterling closer to Liverpool’s £50m-plus asking price, after an initial £30m offer was rejected.

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Manchester City will go back to Liverpool with a second, increased bid for Raheem Sterling closer to their £50m-plus asking price, after an initial £30m offer was rejected this week.

The Anfield club are not as trenchantly opposed to a sale as two summers ago when Luis Suarez agitated to leave, but the indication from Merseyside last night was that Sterling is valued at more than £50m. City, whose first bid was £25m plus add-ons, are waiting to discover how much freedom to spend Uefa's relaxed financial fair play rules will allow.

They may not find competition as fierce as has been feared. Real Madrid, who have been touted as potential buyers, feel that the drop in Sterling's form since he was engulfed by contractual controversy calls into question Liverpool's £50m valuation. There is uncertainty at the Bernabeu as to whether Sterling has the mental strength to make a success of a career with Real at this moment, though the Spaniards reason that buying him would not constitute a severe financial risk with a potential high resale value to the Premier League.

Manchester United may enter the fray, though there has been no sense from Old Trafford that Sterling is at the front of their minds either. But it is an open secret that City, who have lost James Milner to Liverpool, are in desperate need of homegrown players and that will be a negotiating factor for Liverpool. The Anfield club have not entirely given up hope of keeping Sterling, but that is starting to look slim. – The Independent



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