Russia's Aeroflot Stops Sponsoring NBA's Brooklyn Nets

Russia's airline company Aeroflot said Thursday it will not continue sponsoring the U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA) club, Brooklyn Nets, which is own by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov. "The contract with Brooklyn (Nets) has expired ... We are not planning to sign a new agreement," Itar-Tass news agency quoted an Aeroflot spokesperson as saying, who did not elaborate the reason for the decision. The company said last year the sponsorship will strengthen the image of the airline, facilitate its penetration of the U.S. market as well as increase the number of potential customers among the basketball fans. Russia has enacted laws that ban government officials and lawmakers to have overseas bank accounts, in a move to combat corruption and capital outflow. Prokhorov, who is also the leader of Russia's Civil Platform Party and has run for the 2012 presidential elections as an independent candidate, said earlier he would like to transfer assets of Brooklyn Nets under the Russian jurisdiction. The 49-year-old billionaire said the transition of the basketball club would offer "an outstanding opportunity to use NBA technologies for the systematic development of basketball in Russia." He bought the then New Jersey Nets in 2010 for 200 million U.S. dollars and later relocated the club to Brooklyn. The club finished sixth in the 2013/2014 season in its Eastern Conference standings with 44 wins and 38 defeats. Local media said earlier Prokhorov pledged that the team would win the NBA championship by 2015 or he would punish himself by getting married.

Okonta Tasks Boxing Boss On Dvelopment

By Eddie Akalonu Former chairman of the Nigeria Amateur Boxing Federation, NABA, Chief Frank Okonta, commended the leadership style of current president of the federation, General Ken Minima who has ensured that the abandoned boxing. He has also told the federation to work for development of the sport through modernization of facilities at the boxing village in Lagos, as well as ensure year round training for all facets of personnel. The Hostel block in the National stadium, Lagos now completed comprises a gym, the hostel and an office block. The project was abandoned following the death of the man who began it. Group captain Brai Ayonote in 1991. Okonta, who took over as chairman of the board after the expiration of Ayonote’s in1994, said “This is good news and it is my hope too that National Sports Commission adds to this by equipping the gym with standard training equipments. It is my hope that the facilities would help restore boxing to its old glory. Once more I like to commend General Minima for doing more than in that facility because boxing now has it’s own home Let me task him however task him to ensure that boxers have competitions, good training at all times, coaching and knowledgeable technical crew. Remember that in those days boxing drew more crowd than football. So, General Minima should pay attention to development and not competitions aloneI is my hope that we will be there in no distant future,” he said.

Kigigha Expects End To NFF crises At Congress Election

By Eddie Akalonu The CAF and FIFA referees fitness Instructor, Assistant Comissioner of Police, Felix Kigigha is predict end to the crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation, very soon, stating that the warring factions would join forces using the Election Congress coming up ON eSeptember 2 in Abuja “It is my hope and prayer that that FA board-members are going to the forth coming congress to reconcile their differences and return to one body with one sole purpose of moving football forward in the country’s interest.. I for one believes that they will all go to that congress to contest whatever position individuals seek and that at the end of the day “win or lose, board- members and stakeholders will become one and give peace a chance,” he stated. The former FIFA top referee also expressed high hopes that Members, who acted within a time frame to avert a FIFA ban a few weeks back, would see the need to act in like manner for peace, saying “everyone must realize the issue is not about individuals but football that holds a lot of potentials for promising young boys and girls, communities, states and the country as a whole. They must find an amicable ground to agree on all issues in dispute because right now everyone is happy in Nigeria our young girls have qualified for the final of the FIFA Women U- 20 World Cup in Canada.” Meanwhile, ACP Kigigha has said that the Super Falconets can win the cup against Germany but must prosecute the game with a different attitude and approach. I’m happy with them because it can only take a team with lots of guts to beat such a team from Korea but at the same time, I am concerned about our defending style and that’s an area I hope our coach can work on against the Germans.”

Mahindra To Disband Racing Team; Focus On Supplying Bikes

India's homegrown auto major Mahindra group will disband its two-wheeler racing team from the 2015 Moto3 season to focus on supplying its bikes to other teams. The group's Mahindra Racing, the first Indian team to participate in the FIM MotoGP, decided to take the step following its success as a bike maker with an increase in the number of rivals using its bikes. The Moto3 races are part of the high-profile MotoGP series. Apart from its own team, Mahindra is supplying the 250cc bikes to San Carlo Team Italia, Team CIP and Ambrogio Racing. Next season, a new team Aspar owned by former world champion Jorge Martinez, will become the latest to use the company's racing bikes. "Three years back we started to show how good our product is with our own team. Now we have three other teams using our bike, which shows the progress we have made. So from the 2015 season, we will not field our own team," Mahindra Racing chairman SP Shukla told PTI. Explaining the rationale behind the move, he said: "It is a natural progression for us, like other bike makers do. We will make and supply our bikes to other teams and provide them technical support. We don't need our riders to showcase the strength of our bikes anymore." Shukla further said: "Although there is never a harm in having our own team, we thought it was better to focus on providing support to our customers than competing with them." He insisted the move was nothing to do with financial considerations of running a racing team and it would be an amicable parting of ways with Mahindra Racing's two riders - Miguel Oliveira and Arthur Sissis. Mahindra Racing first participated in the FIM MotoGP World Motorcycle Racing Championship series in 2011 and the Italian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (CIV) in 2012. In the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix, Oliveira had claimed the team's first-ever podium finish. The team also recorded top-five finishes in 10 of the 17 rounds last season. - See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/sports-news/othersports/mahindra-to-disband-racing-team-focus-on-supplying-bikes/article1-1257828.aspx#sthash.8PbmRF1D.dpuf

US Sikhs, Lawmakers Protest Basketball Turban Ban

Two US lawmakers, including the lone Indian-American Congressman, have joined Sikh community groups in protesting the world basketball body FIBA's delay in reviewing the discriminatory policy against Sikh basketball players who wear turbans. "Every day FIBA delays is another day that Sikhs can't play," Democrat House members Ami Bera and Joe Crowley, formerly chair of the India Caucus, said in a statement Thursday after the International Basketball Federation's (FIBA) announcement that its governing board would delay a review of its headgear policy. "Allowing Sikhs to play while wearing their turban is a no-brainer, and we're disappointed that FIBA has delayed their review of a policy that can only be described as outdated, discriminatory, and totally inconsistent with the ideals of team sports," they said urging the board "to stop delaying and let Sikhs play." The FIBA decision comes ahead of the Saturday start of FIBA Basketball World Cup hosted by Spain amid an outcry over an incident involving two Sikh players who were told by referees that they must remove their turbans if they were to play in FIBA's Asia Cup. The players, who have always played in turbans, were told that they were in violation of one of FIBA's official rules, which states, "Players shall not wear equipment (objects) that may cause injury to other players." However, other sports leagues, such as Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), allow athletes wearing turbans to participate. Last week, Crowley and Bera joined several members of Congress in wring a letter to FIBA president urging the board to update its policies to stop requiring Sikhs to remove their turbans during basketball games. "It is disappointing that FIBA has decided to let bureaucracy stand in the way of progress and religious freedom," two community organisations, Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF) and the Sikh Coalition said. "While FIBA presents itself as a representative of global sport this weekend, Sikh players will still be forced to choose between playing a game they love and following their religious beliefs," they said. - See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/sports-news/othersports/us-sikhs-lawmakers-protest-basketball-turban-ban/article1-1257733.aspx#sthash.u6gMzz0z.dpuf

Japan's 'Golden Bolt': 103-Year-Old Challenges World's Fastest Man

Closing in on his 104th birthday, a twinkle-toed Japanese sprinter has thrown down the challenge to the world's fastest man Usain Bolt, telling him: "let's rumble!" Hidekichi Miyazaki - who holds the 100 metres world record for centenarians at 29.83 seconds and is dubbed 'Golden Bolt' after the Jamaican flyer - plans to wait another five years for his dream race and was happy to reveal his secret weapon: his daughter's tangerine jam. "I'd love to race Bolt," the wispy-haired Miyazaki told AFP in an interview after tottering over the line with a joyful whoop at a recent Japan Masters Athletics competition in Kyoto. "I'm keeping the dream alive. I try to stay in top shape and stay disciplined and healthy. That's important for everyone -- even Usain Bolt." Born in 1910 -- the year Japan annexed Korea and when the Titanic was still under construction -- the pint-sized Miyazaki offered some dietary tips to Bolt, whose world record is 9.58 seconds. "My body is small so I take care of what I eat," said Miyazaki, who stands just 1.53 metres (five feet) tall and weighs in at 42 kilograms (92 pounds). "When I eat, I chew each mouthful 30 times before swallowing," he added, loosening his Usain Bolt running shoes. "That makes my tummy happy and helps my running. And I eat my tangerine jam every day." In a country with one of the world's highest life expectancies, Miyazaki is the poster boy for Japan's turbo-charged geriatrics. Some 6,000 pensioners are registered at the Masters federation which hosts more than 40 track and field meetings every year across the nation. Serenaded by buzzing cicadas in sweltering heat, Miyazaki fell into the arms of 73-year-old daughter Kiyono after clocking 38.35 -- more than 20 seconds behind race winner Yoshio Kita, a relative spring chicken at 82. "I'd give myself five out of 10 for that," he said after regaining his breath and copying Bolt's trademark 'lightning' pose. "Before I ran I curled up for a little nap -- big mistake! I felt stiff. "I'm still young so it's a learning process," joked Miyazaki, grinning from ear to ear as he put on a straw hat. "I can run for another five years."Late bloomer Miyazaki, who hails from tea-growing Shizuoka prefecture, about 200 kilometres southwest of Tokyo, was a late bloomer, only taking up running at the age of 92 after watching an old people's sports day broadcast on television. Having become the planet's fastest centenarian in 2010, he now has his sights on another milestone in the unlikely 105-109 age group category. "That's what I'm training for," said Miyazaki, who loses valuable seconds at the start of races because he can't hear the gun go off. "It's my birthday next month and that's my next goal." He need only cross the finish line to set the new world record as no official mark exists in that age class. As Miyazaki left the track, 85-year-old Mitsue Tsuji tossed a shot put 4.73 metres -- this after she had set a mark of 2.07 metres in the long jump. Not content, she set a meet record of 13.85 in the women's 60 metres sprint. "I started doing athletics when I was 81," she said. "My husband had passed away and I thought there was no point moping around at home alone." Tsuji will join Miyazaki at next month's Asia Masters championships in northeast Japan. "I had a bit of a fall last year and was going to skip it," said Tsuji, who credits power naps for her age-defying stamina. "But my son told me I might not live much longer so I'll do as I'm told. I'll keep going as long as I'm around." As the pair tore it up with the other high-fiving grannies and granddads in Kyoto, 78-year-old endurance runner Yoko Nakano pounded the streets in Tokyo, preparing for her latest world record tilt. Honolulu debut Nakano ran her first full marathon at 70 "for fun" while vacationing in Honolulu -- clocking four hours, four minutes, 44 seconds -- and now holds the world record for 75 to 79-year-olds, as well as those for the 3,000 and 5,000 metres. "We were on holiday so I thought we might as well run," she smiled, perched on a tree stump in a canary yellow T-shirt and polka dot scarf. Her world marathon mark now stands at 3:53.42. The bespectacled Nakano, whose has also run marathons in New York and Boston, bounced back from stomach surgery last year, building her post-op fitness by walking up and down the hospital corridors. "I walked about seven kilometres a day inside the hospital," she said. "I guess I'm too stubborn to quit." Miyazaki, who is also handy with a shot put, gave an insight into his need for speed. "I make sure not to use my brain," he said. "I always keep it empty and uncluttered. That's important." - See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/sports-news/othersports/-japan-s-golden-bolt-103-year-old-challenges-world-s-fastest-man/article1-1257412.aspx#sthash.gh5sEj47.dpuf

Di María balances Bernabéu books

Ángel di María's move to Manchester United is one of several summer exits from the Champions League winners and will go a long way towards keeping the Bernabéu beancounters happy. Though the official fee being quoted is €84m, only €75m of this is guaranteed to come Real Madrid's way: another €5m is in add-ons, while the remaining €4m will go to the Argentine's former clubs as training compensation. Together with the sale of Álvaro Morata and Nuri Şahin, Di María's departure has more or less balanced the books at 'Los Blancos'. You have to sell to buy and Real are no exception. Having forked out €110m on James Rodríguez (€75m), Toni Kroos (€25m) and Keylor Navas (€10m), the club had to recoup funds and has done exactly that, bringing in almost as much as it has spent. Şahin moved back to Borussia Dortmund permanently for €7m following his loan deal, while Juventus paid €22m for young striker Morata. What's more, Real also pocketed half of the €15m that Zenit Saint Petersburg stumped up for Ezequiel Garay, thanks to the sell-on clause inserted in the Argentinian defender's contract when he joined Benfica. The other players to depart the Bernabéu have done so free of charge. Three goalkeepers have headed to pastures new, with Diego López, Jesús Fernández and Tomás Mejías released by the club so they could join AC Milan, Levante and Middlesbrough for nothing. Casemiro and Denis Cheryshev, meanwhile, will be hoping to get more regular football on loan at Porto and Villarreal respectively. Read more: Di María balances Bernabéu books - MARCA.com (English version)

Oh brother! Family hopes for a girl, gets 12th boy

Source: Agencies | August 10, 2013, Saturday | Print Edition A FAMILY in Michigan in the United States welcomed their 12th child. And, shocker, it’s a boy — just like the other 11. Jay and Kateri Schwandt believed the latest baby might break the gender streak, especially after Kateri, known as Teri, was nine days past her due date. That was unusual for her pregnancies. But it was hardly a game-changer as a nurse at a Grand Rapids hospital announced delivery of another boy. Tucker weighed in at 3.52 kilograms. “Of course. There was a chuckle in the whole room,” Teri, 38, said on Thursday. “I looked at my husband, and we exchanged a knowing smile. When they say it’s a boy, I think, OK, no problem. I’ve got this. We know what we’re doing.” Tyler is the oldest son at 21. When the school year starts, three Schwandt boys will be in high school, while five brothers are in lower grades. That leaves three more at home with Teri. The Schwandts, who live north of Grand Rapids, consider themselves devout Roman Catholics who don’t believe in using birth control and put the size of their family in God’s hands. Teri comes from a family of 14 kids. But she’s not the only member of her own family committed to the cause. She has a sister in the Detroit area, Kate Osberger, who has 10 children of her own. Yep, all sons.

Chinese Parents Call For More ‘Baby Time’

A LOCAL family support group is appealing to the government to review the law on maternity leave in response to calls from parents. Chen Caiyu, director of the Shanghai Scientific Child Rearing Center, affiliated to the Shanghai Women’s Federation, said an increasing number of parents are choosing to raise their children themselves, the Shanghai Morning Post reported. Young moms and dads know the importance of their children’s early education and want to play a key part in it, rather than leaving it to grandparents or preschools, Chen said. The government should look at how the law on parental leave can be adjusted, she said. In a survey by the child rearing center of 800 families with children under 3 in Hongkou District, more than 95 percent of respondents said they wished they could be full-time parents. In a similar study conducted in 2002, the figure was just 26 percent. There’s been a shift in the way people think, and people with a good education are particularly supportive of full-time parenting, Chen said. Many mothers said they gave up their white-collar jobs to raise their children, but plan to return to work after about two years. And they want more government support, in the form of welfare benefits and job security, the report said. Under the law, new mothers are entitled to three to four months’ maternity leave, which they can take before or after their baby is born. Kincee Li, who works for a magazine and is the mother of a 9-month-old boy, said: “I wish I could have taken more time off without having to give up my job altogether.” Now that she’s back at work, Li’s parents look after her son. Zhang Minghong, an associate professor in preschool education at East China Normal University, said it is vital for parents to develop close relationships with their children in their first three years of life. “It helps the children to build trust and a sense of safety,” Zhang said. Zhang Letian, a sociologist at Fudan University, said modern parents have a different approach to raising their children than the previous generation. “In the past, parents and grandparents had much the same views, but in recent years there has been a lot of new thinking,” he said. But the laws on parental leave make it hard for parents to care for young children in the way they want to, he said.

Odds Slashed On Van Gaal Leaving United

BRITISH bookmakers reacted to Manchester United's humiliating 4-0 defeat by MK Dons in the Capital One Cup by slashing the odds on manager Louis van Gaalleaving the club. William Hill, who had been offering 66-1 against the Dutchman becoming the next Premier Leaguemanager to go, cut those odds to 12-1 on Wednesday. Corals, meanwhile, are offering 6-1 against him leaving by the end of his first season in England after United lost for the second time in three matches since he took over with the other match ending in a draw. "The odds suggest that Manchester United will win nothing and the owners might just cut their losses and rebuild again," said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams. Meanwhile, former Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock was installed as odds-on favourite to return to the club, which he left in 2010. 

Shooting Instructor Shot Dead By Girl, 9

Dolan Springs, Arizona: An instructor at a shooting range in Arizona has died after a nine-year-old girl accidentally shot him in the head with an Uzi sub-machinegun he was showing her how to use, the Mohave County Sheriff's Office said. Charles Vacca, 39, was shot on Monday morning, flown to a medical centre in Las Vegas and pronounced dead shortly before 9pm, the sheriff's office said. Mr Vacca was working at the Bullets and Burgers outdoor range in White Hills, about 100 kilometres south-east of Las Vegas, when the accident occurred. The girl and her parents were at the range while on holiday, a sheriff's spokeswoman told the Los Angeles Times. He was standing next to the girl, instructing her how to use the Uzi, when she pulled the gun's trigger and the recoil sent the weapon over her head, causing him to be shot, the sheriff's office said. "This is a rarity for something like this to happen," the spokeswoman said. A video released by the sheriff's office on Tuesday afternoon shows nearly half a minute of the shooting lesson. Mr Vacca, dressed in a dark shirt and camouflage pants, speaks to a slim girl with earmuffs, braided hair and bright pink shorts. "We have to keep that held in," he says, showing her the Uzi in his hands. "Otherwise the gun won't fire, OK?" He gives her the weapon and helps her adjust her arms and her stance - "just like that" - and, at his instruction, the girl shoots once at a target. Her shot lands slightly to its left. "All right!" Mr Vacca cheers. As he gives further directions, a quick sequence of shots can be heard, and the gun begins tilting up. The video clip ends before he is struck. In 2008, eight-year-old Christopher Bizilj died in a similar accident at a gun expo in Massachusetts. The boy was firing an Uzi at a pumpkin when the recoil caused him to lose control of the weapon, and he fatally shot himself in the head. Ronald Scott, a firearms safety expert, said most shooting ranges had an age limit and strict safety rules when children were being taught to shoot. He said instructors usually had their hands on guns when children were firing high-powered weapons. "You can't give a nine-year-old an Uzi and expect her to control it," he said. MCT, AP Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/shooting-instructor-shot-dead-by-girl-9-20140827-108wed.html#ixzz3BafGTEVt

IMF Boss Lagarde Put Under Investigation In French Fraud Case

Paris: IMF chief Christine Lagarde, one of the world's most powerful women, announced Wednesday she had been charged with "negligence" over a multi-million-euro graft case relating to her time as French finance minister. The shock announcement came a day after she was grilled by a special court in Paris that investigates cases of ministerial misconduct, the fourth time she has faced such questioning in a case that has weighed upon her powerful position as managing director of the International Monetary Fund. "The investigating commission of the court of justice of the French Republic has decided to place me under formal investigation," she said in exclusive comments to the French news agency, Agence France-Presse. In France, being placed under formal investigation is the nearest equivalent to being charged, and happens when an examining magistrate has decided there is a case to be answered. It does not, however, always lead to a trial. "I have instructed my lawyer to appeal this decision which I consider totally without merit. "I return back to Washington where I will indeed brief my board." Asked whether she intended to resign from the IMF, she responded: "No." The case relates to her handling of a 400-million-euro ($527-million) state payout to disgraced French tycoon Bernard Tapie in 2008. The payout was connected to a dispute between the businessman and partly state-owned bank Credit Lyonnais over his 1993 sale of sportswear group Adidas. Tapie claimed Credit Lyonnais had defrauded him by intentionally undervaluing Adidas at the time of the sale and that the state, as the bank's principal shareholder, should compensate him. Lagarde referred the dispute to a three-member arbitration panel that ruled in favour of Tapie, who is suspected of receiving favourable treatment in return for supporting ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2007 election. "After three years of procedure the only surviving allegation is that through inattention I may have failed to block the arbitration that put an end to the long standing Tapie litigation," she told AFP. The IMF chief has always denied any wrongdoing. After a third grilling in March, she had said she "always acted in the interest of the country and in accordance with the law". She had until now avoided formal charges that could have forced her to quit as head of the IMF, and had instead been placed under a special witness status that forced her to come back for questioning when asked by the court. Five people have been charged in the case, including Stephane Richard, then Lagarde's chief of staff, now boss of telecoms giant Orange. AFP Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/imf-boss-christine-lagarde-put-under-investigation-in-french-fraud-case-20140827-1098ep.html#ixzz3BaecnxDp

City’s Fernandinho Names Six Teams As Top Favourites To Win Premiership

Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho believes up to six teams can contest the battle for the Premier League title this season. The Brazilian won the Premier League in his first season in England last year and he admits the experience of that campaign will help his side this time around. The 29-year-old labeled the triumph last season as “amazing” and hopes they can achieve similar glory this campaign too. Fernandinho was speaking to the Daily Star, he said: “I think five or six teams can fight for the title again. “The fight for the title in the last month of the Premier League was amazing, especially for us because we won our last five games to win the title. “It was good experience for me in my first season in the Premier League to fight to the very end with a big team like Liverpool and I hope we can do the same again this season.” Manchester City have made the perfect start to the Premier League season, achieving two victories from two. However, Fernandinho has only made two appearances off the bench thus far, therefore he will be hoping to earn his first start next weekend against Stoke City.

Chelsea: Oscar Is Enjoying Working With Fàbregas, Diego Costa

Chelsea midfielder Oscar is enjoying linking up with new team mates Cesc Fàbregas and Diego Costa and believes both are already vital players for the Blues. The two summer signings from Spain have already left a positive impression, despite appearing in just two competitive games for the Stamford Bridge club. The Brazil international told the official club website about how he and Fàbregas are already becoming familiar with each other. Oscar said: “I like to play with both of them. I play more with Cesc Fàbregas because we are in the midfield together. “Sometimes he plays number 10 and I play number eight, sometimes the other way round – we can change. “Diego Costa always scores goals, like he did on Saturday and against Burnley. They’re both very important for us.” When Fàbregas joined Chelsea man predicted it could spell the end for Oscar but it appears the Brazilian is thriving alongside the Spain international and the pair will hope to cause more havoc when they face Everton this weekend.

Madrid are short-term winners in 'operation Di María'

The writing has been on the wall for Di María for weeks. His destiny depended on which side had the greatest financial muscle to push through a deal. The 'Red Devils' have now cooled their interest in Colombian Juan Cuadrado, whose agent travelled to Manchester in an attempt to facilitate a move earlier in the summer, after discovering that PSG had ruled themselves out of the bidding for the Argentine winger. The deal will be worth €75m plus bonuses and the player will pocket a net salary of €8m a year. Real Madrid are the only short-term winners. It will be a record amount spent by an English club following a tricky negotiation process where the tempting move would have been to give in much earlier. United will get their hands on a player whose childhood dream was to represent the red half of Manchester. Di María is a class act and can turn any game provided he remains fit. The 26-year-old will acquire the status and salary which he has been crying out for . The Argentine, who will sport the iconic number seven shirt, will be Manchester United's marquee signing of the summer after current stars Van Persie, Rooney and Mata gave their approval. The final assessment of the amount United have splashed out will depend on the player's performances. It could equally turn into a bargain or a disaster. With no Champions League football this season, the World Cup star will have to wait for at least one year until he graces Europe's premier club competition again. It is no secret that the footballing idols who receive the most media attention are those who perform well during the week in European competition. Read more: Real Madrid are short-term winners in 'operation Di María' - MARCA.com

The keys to Messi's Blistering Start

Everybody associated with Barcelona has been filled with hope by Leo Messi's sterling performances in the Gamper Trophy and his side's opening league match against Elche. There are various reasons behind the Argentine's excellent start to the campaign. 1. A relaxing summer The Argentine was criticised for letting his 2013 summer become chaotic and frantic by organising charity matches in various corners of the globe. This summer has been different. 2. A pre-season without an Asian tour Pre-season 2013, under recent arrival Tata Martino, began with a tour of Asia which prioritised commercial activities over training. This year, on the other hand, Luis Enrique has been able to prepare the players. 3. Injury problems left behind Messi has had an array of injuries. Under the pressure of not being able to relax, injuries arrived one after another. He needed a break in late-2013 and the injuries disappeared in the new year. 4. Luis Enrique's demands The new coach does not let anyone relax. Such demands did not exist in previous years and yielded negative results for Leo who struggled to have his usual impact on games. 5. A weight off his shoulders post-World Cup After recovering from defeat in the final, Messi had a good World Cup. Argentina's main idol was named player of the tournament. 6. Tax problems are behind him Last season began with tax evasion allegations reaching boiling point. The 27-year old has now paid the Spanish tax authorities plenty of money so that no more inquiries are opened and he has accepted the blame. Read more: The keys to Messi's blistering start - MARCA.com

"It Was Never My Wish To Leave Madrid," Says Di Maria

Ángel di María has written a letter bidding farewell to the Real Madrid faithful after four years in the ranks of the 'Los Blancos' club. The Argentine, who, having fetched a record-breaking transfer fee, is now a Manchester United player, explains the reasons for his departure and thanks the fans for the affection they have shown him. In a MARCA exclusive, here are Di María's reflections on his time in white: An open Letter from Angel di María to all the Real Madrid fans, My time at Real Madrid has come to an end. It's impossible, in just a few lines, to put all I have gained here, but this letter is my way of explaining how I'm feeling now that I'm bidding the club farewell. Over the four years I have had the honour of wearing this shirt, I have felt nothing but pride about everything that has happened and all I have achieved together with my teammates. Sadly, now I have to go, but I want to make it clear that this was never my wish. I've always wanted to progress, as anyone else does in their job. I went to the World Cup after winning the 'Decima' with the hope of getting some signal from the Club Management, but it never came. Many things were said and many lies circulated. They always wanted to pin the idea of leaving the club on me, but that's not how it was. Unfortunately, my football isn't to someone's taste. The only thing I asked for was a fair deal. There are many things that I value and a lot of them have nothing to do with my salary. I hope to find them at Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world, with which I'm hoping to make history. I've been lucky enough to share a dressing room with some fantastic players, who have been even better teammates. I think that was the key to winning the Tenth Champions League. I want to apologise for the times I made mistakes, on or off the field. It was never my intention to do wrong by anyone. I sweated for this shirt every game as if it were the last. There were times when things went well, and times when they didn't, but what I can say is that I always gave it everything. I want to thank Spain for everything it's given me and especially for being the country where my daughter was born. And I would like to send a very special thank you to the people at the Montepríncipe hospital, who will always be in my heart. My wife, daughter and I will be forever grateful. Also to my teammates, who always supported me, in good times and bad, to the various coaching teams I've worked with and also to all the people who work at the club on a daily basis, who I have a great relationship with. I hope that Real Madrid have a great season and achieve the ambitions the club is always keen to push for. That moment at the Bernabéu in the 'Supercopa' when I came onto the pitch and was greeted with such great affection from the crowd will stay with me forever. Thank you so much. It still gives me goosebumps. I could not think of a better farewell for what turned out to, unfortunately, be my last game. Hala Madrid! Always and forever! Angel Di Maria Read more: Di María: "It was never my wish to leave" - MARCA.com

Kevin Durant, LeBron James, David Beckham, Maria Sharapova Top Sport’s Highest Endorsement Deals

REIGNING NBA most valuable player Kevin Durant has been offered one of the biggest sporting contracts ever. Under Armour reportedly tabled a monstrous $265-$285 million, 10-year shoe deal to the Oklahoma City star — an estimated 10 per cent of the sporting apparel company’s annual marketing budget. An expert in the basketball shoe market, SportsOneSource analyst Matt Powell, described the offer as unprecedented. "We haven’t seen an athlete get that kind of money in a long time for a shoe contract," Powell told USA Today. "It’s a significant amount of an investment for Under Armour. I estimate it to be about 10 per cent of their annual marketing budget. It’s substantial in terms of that as well." If you don’t follow the NBA that closely, you may remember Durant as the man who delivered one of the all-time great acceptance speeches when he was named as the league’s MVP earlier this year. *MARIA SHARAPOVA, Tennis $70 million over eight years, Nike *Damian Lillard, NBA $100 million over 10 years, Adidas *Dwyane Wade, NBA $100 million over 10 years, Li-Ning *Rory McIlroy, Golf $100 million over 10 years, Nike *David Beckham, Football $160 million over lifetime, Adidas *George Foreman, Boxing $200 million over lifetime, Salton Inc *Kobe Bryant, NBA $15 million a season, Nike *LeBron James, NBA $30 million a season, Nike *Michael Jordan, NBA $100 million in 2013, Nike Yes, you read that right. Michael Jordan earned more money than every athlete on the planet — past or present — last year, except for one: Floyd Mayweather Jr, according to Forbes.

US Open : Boris Becker’s Elbow Lump Raises Eye-brow

BORIS Becker has the worst case of tennis elbow we’ve ever seen. Actually, it might not be tennis elbow. We’ve bypassed an accurate medical diagnosis there for the sake of a cheap pun. But the fact remains — tennis legend Boris Becker has a massive lump on his elbow, and nobody seems to know why. Becker is a former world number one who claimed six grand slam titles during the 1980s and 90s. These days, he’s coaching the current world number one, Novak Djokovic. During Djokovic’s opening match of the tournament, Becker was photographed with the strange lump protruding from his arm. Adding to the intrigue, the lump, or UFO (unidentified freaky object), was on Becker’s left arm. The 46-year-old German plays right-handed, so it probably isn’t a tennis injury. But wait — there’s more. We quickly scanned the photographic archives and uncovered a shocking new twist in the tale. Earlier this year, Becker appeared to have a similar-but-slightly-less-monstrous lump on his right elbow as well. What does that mean? Is Becker’s elbow lump contagious? Is the tennis community about to be wracked by a protrusion epidemic of epic proportions? It’s difficult to say. One thing is certain, however. When he was in his prime, Boris Becker had perfectly normal elbows, and now he doesn’t. The truth is out there.

Uganda To Camp In Niger Ahead of Nations Cup Tie Versus Ghana

Uganda will camp in Niger ahead of their opening 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ghana on September 5. The Cranes will begin camping this weekend ahead of the tough duel against the Black Stars at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi. Coach Milutin Sredojevic wants to ensure his team gets adequate preparations before facing the might of the four-time African champions. The team will be in Niamey for four days before arriving in the Ghanaian capital a day before lining up against the Black Stars. Spokesperson for the Ugandan FA Fred Malibu says the team is confident of causing a major upset against Ghana. “We know we are the underdogs but we believe we can beat Ghana,” he told Kumasi-based Metro FM. “We will camp in Niger from this weekend and arrive in Accra on Thursday ready for the match. “We believe they [Ghana] are a good team, we respect them but we don’t fear them.” Uganda held Ghana to a 1-1 draw the last time they battled the Black Stars back in 2005 during the qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup.

Beyonce Wows Video Music Awards With Epic Closing Number

“MTV... welcome to my world!” shouted a fired-up Beyonce as she launched into an epic 20-minute closing number that wowed the audience at the Video Music Awards in Los Angeles today. Beyonce was joined onstage by her daughter Blue Ivy and husband Jay Z, who proudly declared her “the greatest living entertainer”. The family was onstage together as Beyonce accepted the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award. A teary-eyed Beyonce thanked her fans and told her husband and daughter she loved them. Miley Cyrus won Video of the Year with her global hit Wrecking Ball. But unlike last year’s VMAs, when Cyrus copped a chorus of criticism for her overtly sexual performance on stage, this time she took a back seat by sending her guest, who said he was homeless, onstage to collect her award. Hopes were high for all the Aussies nominated. Rapper Iggy Azalea was up for seven awards - most equal with Beyonce. 5 Seconds of Summer were hot favourites in the Artist to Watch category, and Sia’s popular video Chandelier seemed like a shoo-in for Video of the Year. But none of them managed to take home a Moonman in these categories, and there were only a few “almost” and “sort-of” awards to keep the Aussie fans happy. Full list of winners — Video of the year: “Wrecking Ball,” Miley Cyrus — Female video: “Dark Horse,” Katy Perry — Male video: “Sing,” Ed Sheeran — Pop video: “Problem,” Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea — Hip-hop video: “Hold On, We’re Going Home,” Drake feat. Majid Jordan — Rock video: “Royals,” Lorde — Collaboration: “Drunk in Love,” Beyonce feat. Jay Z — Artist to watch: “Miss Movin On,” Fifth Harmony — Video with a social message: “Pretty Hurts,” Beyonce — MTV Clubland award: “Stay the Night”: Zedd feat. Hayley Williams — Cinematography: “Pretty Hurts,” Beyonce — Choreography: “Chandelier,” Sia — Art direction: “Reflektor,” Arcade Fire — Editing: “Rap God,” Eminem — Visual effects: “The Writing’s On the Wall,” OK Go — Direction: “Turn Down for What,” DJ Snake & Lil Jon — Lyric video: “Don’t Stop,” 5 Seconds of Summer — Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award: Beyonce

Bride To Be Netballer Dies On Court

Spectators in shock as soon-to-be wed netball player Beth Leske dies on court A YOUNG family is in tatters after the shock death of a 27-year-old woman who collapsed and died during a netball game on Saturday. Beth Leske, from Wollongong, Leske was playing in the final game of the season before the semi-finals when she fell to the ground around 2.20pm. Paramedics were called to the scene following reports that the popular young mother had suffered a cardiac arrest. They rushed her to Wollongong hospital in a critical condition but she later died. Ms Leske tragically leaves behind fiancee Chris Hendry and young son Tarne. President of the Illawarra District Netball Association Dianne Elvy expressed her deep sadness in a statement provided to The Daily Telegraph. "Illawarra netball is very saddened with the passing of Beth," she said. "IDNA offers their condolences to the family." The Facebook accounts of Beth and her soon-to-be husband reveal a family that was, until the weekend, united in love and happiness. The couple was due to be married later this year. "Deeply sad and so sorry for your loss chris, I love Beth, she is so easy to love, she will always be in my heart, thinking of u bro and my lil mate tarne," wrote friend Lee Karayiannis "Take care of yourselves, love you xoxo" Beth and Chris were both basketball lovers and shared happy snaps of their young son in Wollongong Hawks singlets.

Enyimba Can Remain Unbeaten Till The Season Ends, Says Ikhana

Enyimba head coach, Kadiri Ikhana has said there is a possibility that his said would keep an unbeaten run till the end of the season. Ikhana decleared his optimism on the club's website after won an emphatic 3-0 against Taraba Ubited in a week 25 tie in Aba, South Est Nigeria."I believe we can sustain this form till the end of the season," Ikhana told EnyimbaFC.net. "It is still a long way to go and anything can happen but I know that the boys have what it takes to remain unbeaten till the end of the season." "It's a matter of will. They have been very good so far and if they decide they want to finish the season without a defeat they can do it, the quality is there." Enyimba have been on a great run since the start of August, winning three at home and drawing two away and Ikhana is confident the good run can carry on. "There are a lot of quality players in the team, players who can win anywhere so I'm not worried about our form. They have shown today, like they showed in Umuahia (against Abia Warriors) that they can score goals so I believe the future is bright for the team. "We can go all the way, we just have to maintain the right attitude and believe in ourselves," he said. Kadiri Ikhana guided Enyimba to the first of their two CAF Champions League triumphs in 2003 before departing and making a return a decade later to mastermind the team's resurgence in the 2013/2014 league season.

Player dies after hit by rock at Algerian game

Source: AP | August 24, 2014 A player died of a head injury after being hit by a rock apparently thrown by his own fans at a top-flight league game in Algeria and a police investigation will be opened into his death, the Confederation of African Football and the player's club said Sunday. Albert Ebosse, a striker from Cameroon, died in the hospital Saturday night after being hit as players left the field following a 2-1 loss for his club, JS Kabylie. Ebosse had scored his side's equalizer from a penalty in Saturday's game before they went on to lose 2-1 at home to USM Alger in the northern city of Tizi Ouzou. The 24-year-old Ebosse, the leading goal-scorer in the Algerian league last season, was apparently hit by the rock hurled from a section of JS Kabylie supporters angry at their team's loss. Ebosse was struck as players walked off after the game and fans began throwing rocks at them. He was taken to the hospital around 500 meters away from the stadium, where he died. "We expect exemplary sanctions to be taken against this grave act of violence," Issa Hayatou, the president of the African confederation, said in a statement on Sunday. Algeria's interior ministry ordered that a police investigation be opened into Ebosse's death, JS Kabylie said in a statement on the club's website. Ebosse "succumbed to a head injury," JS Kabylie said. There were no immediate reports of any other players being hurt. The president of Algeria's professional league said he was present at the game but left minutes before the incident. "I am still finding this tragic death hard to grasp because I was at the stadium just minutes before this tragic incident and Albert Ebosse was still running in all senses of the word before my eyes," Mahfoud Kerbadj said. The Algeria Football Federation and the professional league both ordered emergency meetings over Ebosse's death. Officials from JS Kabylie and the match officials were summoned to a special meeting on Monday, league president Kerbadj said, and the stadium where the incident took place was closed until further notice. Algeria Football Federation President Mohamed Raouraoua said he hoped that "the perpetrators of this unspeakable act are severely punished."

Zambia will not bid for 2017 Africa Cup Of Nations

Zambia has said it plans to bid for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and not the 2017 which was earlier awarded to Libya, by the Confideration of African Football,the Zambia Daily Mirror reported. Libya has withdrawn from hosting the 2017 African soccer finals citing delays in its plans to build new stadia, and security problems in the country. Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya said the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations will not be ideal for the country, adding that it was important that the country concentrates on the 2019 bid. "It's not only for FAZ to decide whether to submit a bid or not. We have major stakeholders like government and in this case we were given a mandate to bid for the 2019 Africa Cup and I think let's concentrate on that one," he was quoted as saying by the paper. The 1988 African footballer of the year has since expressed optimism that Zambia will be selected to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations because the country submitted a good bid. Zambia faces stiff competition from Algeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire to win the bid for the 2019 African show piece. The southern African nation's last attempt to host the event was in 2004 when it failed to do so due to lack of infrastructure. However, with the assistance of the Chinese government, the country boasts of two ultra-modern stadia while a third one will be constructed in the southern part of the country.

News Analysis: Softball world hoping for Fresh Olympic Chance

With the World Championship Softball finished on Sunday the focus of the softball world is now on bringing the sport back on the Olympic agenda, with positive thoughts being expressed to Xinhua in Haarlem on Sunday. Baseball and softball were taken out of the Olympics after the 2008 Games and in September last year the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided not to reinstate the sports to the 2020 Summer Olympics. Wrestling won the vote to return to the games before baseball/softball and squash. Also in September last year the 2020 were awarded to Tokyo, Japan and that prompted calls for baseball and softball to be included again. Baseball and softball are very popular in Japan and there are many existing facilities in the Tokyo area that could be used for the event. However, the Olympic Charter states that a sport's inclusion in the program must be decided not later than the session electing the host city (seven years in advance). Hope is still alive for the softball and baseball world as an Extraordinary Session of the IOC will be held in Monaco on December 6 and 7 this year to discuss potentially radical changes proposed by new President Thomas Bach. Will the inclusion of baseball and softball for the 2020 Olympics be on the agenda in Monaco is the question. "Nobody knows the agenda unfortunately, but we will continue to campaign" , Low Beng Choo, Secretary-General of the International Softball Federation (ISF) and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), told Xinhua. "But we understand Bach is looking for some changes and that' s why we keep showcasing our sports." "We will continue to work, because we think softball and baseball add value to the Olympics," Low added. "We have combined two great sports with the best of both men and women. Both the men and women section are very strong. Our joint federation WBSC (formed in 2013) is good for us combining both sports and developing both sports." "In addition, it' s the only bat and ball game at the Olympics, which makes the sports unique on the games compared to other sports," the Secretary-General continued. "Also we are developing the sports in many areas. Not just for the Olympics, but also in the Muslim world, in Africa." The World Championship in Haarlem was won by Japan, with the United States and Australia capturing a silver and a bronze medal respectively. Low Beng Choo thinks the event, in which sixteen teams competed, was a good showcase for the IOC. "This was a premium event, with teams from three different continents in the top three," Low said. "That shows we have a worldwide sport, not only concentrated on one continent. We know people in Japan are crazy about baseball and softball, so our hopes are high." Tournament director Marloes Fellinger was satisfied with the tournament and hopes it will do good for the sport. "Too bad the weather was not that good, but despite that fact lots of people just stayed to wait for the next matches," she told Xinhua. "We had over 25,000 spectators. The whole tournament was great, we all did a good job." "I spoke to a lot of people this week and I often heard that the tournament was a fantastic showcase for Tokyo 2020," she added. "This was our moment for the sport so let' s hope we can get back at the 2020 Olympics." "I am hundred percent sure that baseball and softball will be back to the Olympics," Fellinger added. "I know Japan want the sports back. They are the hosts, so that will help. It was good to see here we are one big family." Fellinger knows about the Olympics from a personal experience. She was there on behalf of the Dutch team in Beijing in 2008. "It was the best experience I have ever had" , she concluded. "I hope the new generation gets that chance as well."

Childhood Friends Reunited As Olympic Athletes After 12 Years

Twelve years after last seeing each other during play dates in Singapore, two girls have been reunited as athletes at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. Ava Lorein Verdeflor of the Philippines and Martina Lindsay Veloso of Singapore grew up as neighbours in Singapore, but when Verdeflor was three years old her family moved. The 15-year-old artistic gymnast now lives in a suburb of Dallas, Texas in the United States. Meanwhile, 14-year-old Veloso still lives in Singapore where she qualified for the Games in shooting. And while their meeting in Nanjing was not completely serendipitous, as the families had kept in touch and knew both girls had qualified for the Games, it was not entirely expected when they did see one another again. "I think I saw her [one day] but I wasn't really sure it was her and I would feel embarrassed if I approached the wrong person," Veloso said. "At the same time, Ava and her mum came to my apartment twice to see whether I was around but I wasn't at the times they visited. "Until one day we met in the dining hall, by coincidence." Verdeflor said she had been excited to reconnect with a girl who had once been a play mate of hers, but at the same time, it was like meeting a whole new person. After all, there is a huge difference between toddlers and teenagers. "I was really excited to see her but obviously I didn't know what to expect," Verdeflor said. "I mean, we were three years old when I last saw her, so I don't remember much." But the talk was not a nervous one, Verdeflor said. She described it as "awesome" to be reunited with an old friend. The girls' conversation was predominantly about current events rather than their Singapore days. Verdeflor congratulated Veloso on the silver medal she won in the women's 10m air rifle competition and Veloso wished Verdeflor luck in her events. "We were just talking about the last time [we were together] and whether either of us could remember anything," Veloso said. "But unfortunately we couldn't." The two girls did, however, remember a photo that Verdeflor's mother had taken of them when they were young, which they recreated here in Nanjing. Veloso even recreated the same big smile she had in the original. "This isn't something you see every day and it's really cool," Veloso said. "Furthermore, one of the Olympic values is friendship and this is what friendship really means."

Atletico Madrid Beat Real To Lift Spanish Super Cup

Atletico Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup 2-1 on aggregate following a 1-0 win over Real Madrid in the second leg of the competition in the Vicente Calderon Stadium on Friday night. Following a 1-1 draw in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday night, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti made several changes to his side, most notably with James Rodriguez in the starting 11 along with Fabio Coentrao and Rafael Varene with Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench after suffering a muscle injury in midweek. Meanwhile Angel Di Maria, who Ancelotti confirmed on Thursday had asked for a transfer over the summer, was dropped from the squad, despite a game-changing substitute display three days earlier. Atletico Madrid meanwhile kept faith in the side which had stifled their neighbors so effectively on Tuesday night with two exceptions as Tiago Cardoso replaced Mario Suarez and Antoine Griezmann also forcing his way into the side. The only goal of the game came in the second minute when recent arrival Mario Mandzukic latched onto a header from Griezmann after a long clearance from Atletico keeper, Miguel Angel Moya. Atletico controlled the first 20 minutes, but saw coach Diego Simeone sent off for protesting after 25 minutes after an action which saw him give the 4th official a slight slap around the neck.

US Open 2014: Players To Watch

THE US Open begins tomorrow night (AEST). Here are some players to watch heading into tennis’ final Grand Slam event of the season: MEN-Novak Djokovic Best U.S. Open result: champion, 2011 The No. 1 player in the world is the favourite to win. He already has made the past two Grand Slam finals of 2014, and has been in the U.S. Open final each of the past five years, but has just one title. Djokovic won’t have to worry about facing Rafael Nadal, the man who has beaten him in four Slam finals, including twice in Flushing. Over the past four years, no ones been more consistent than Djokovic, who has made 12 of the past 16 Slam finals (with a 6-6 record). Andy Murray- Best U.S. Open result: champion, 2012 Murray doesn’t look like the player who won Wimbledon last year and the Open title in 2012, although he has made the quarterfinals in each of the first three majors this year. He hasn’t won a title of any kind in 2014 — the last time he was shut-out was 2007. He split with his coach and tennis legend Ivan Lendl in March, under whom Murray won two Grand Slams. Roger Federer-Best U.S. Open result: champion, 2004-08 His last major title came at Wimbledon in 2012, but the Swiss Maestro could be back. He made the Wimbledon final in July, losing to Djokovic in five sets, and the five-time champ has a favourable draw. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he meets Djokovic in the final. Federer comes in strong, having made the Rogers Cup final and winning the Cincinnati Masters earlier this month. David Ferrer- Probably would have a few Slams already if not for the big four. Has made the quarters in 10 of the past 11 Slams and is a two-time U.S. Open semi-finalist WOMEN TO WATCH Serena Williams-Best U.S. Open result: champion, 1999, 2002, 2008, 2012-13 Williams comes in having won back-to-back U.S. Opens, but hasn’t done much in the majors this year — making the fourth round in Australia, the second round at the French Open and the third round at Wimbledon. She has won five titles, and two recent ones in August — the Bank of the West Classic and the Cincinnati Masters. After a virus at Wimbledon which forced her to withdraw from her doubles match in July, Williams missed some time but has come back strong. Eugenie Bouchard-Best U.S. Open result: second round, 2013 Bouchard is having a breakout year. She already has made the semi-finals in all three Slams — including the Wimbledon final, where she was overwhelmed in straight sets by Petra Kvitova. Bouchard is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam, and if seeds hold, would face Kvitova in the quarters and Serena in the semis. Bouchard is known for her aggressiveness on the court, forcing her opponents to react quick. Maria Sharapova-Best U.S. Open result: champion, 2006 Sharapova missed the Open last year because of a shoulder injury but has one title in Flushing (2006) and made the semi-finals in 2012. Typically, this is her worst of the majors, but she is always one of the non-American crowd favourites. She has three calendar titles in 2014 including the French Open, and wouldn’t face Williams until the final. Sloane Stephens-Best U.S. Open result: fourth round, 2013 One of the big stories of last year’s Open was Stephens, who lost in the fourth round to Williams. If 2013 was Stephens’ breakout year, she has regressed in 2014. She started off making the fourth round in the first two Slams but lost in the first round in Wimbledon and hasn’t been consistent. Still, Stephens is one of the top U.S. women not named Serena. Victoria Azarenka-Foot and knee injuries have hampered her performance this year, causing her to plummet in the rankings, but she has made the Open final the past two years and always is a threat. Caroline Wozniacki-The former No. 1 player and Rory McIlroy’s ex-fiance hasn’t been relevant on the court in a few years but did win a tournament in July. But she isn’t the same player who made three great runs in Flushing from 2009-11. This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was republished here with permission. Originally published as Players to watch at US Open

Germany won the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup for a record-equalling third time after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Nigeria at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. The Germans endured courtesy of a Lena Petermann goal scored eight minutes into extra time after both sides made goalless after 90 minutes. Though they lost, the Nigerian girls proved their mettle having given no room for the more experienced Germans to operate. Meanwhile, Nigerians have lauded the team in defeat.

Motorsport: Latest win will keep Me Smiling, Says Daniel Ricciardo

He wasn't supposed to be this good in his first season alongside Sebastian Vettel, but Australian formula one ace Daniel Ricciardo finds himself firmly in the championship hunt after winning the Belgian Grand Prix. On a day when the feud between Mercedes teammates and title rivals Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton reached flashpoint after a second-lap incident between the pair, Red Bull's Ricciardo secured his second straight win and third in just six races, leaving him within 64 points of Rosberg, the championship leader, with seven races remaining. "I see good things, obviously - good things ahead. If we can collect maximum points around here, it gives us a bit more hope for the circuits that are going to come later in the season: Singapore, Suzuka, just a couple to mention," Ricciardo said on Sunday. "Obviously, it's great. We're really motivated right now. It's been a really good day for us on a track we didn't expect to get maximum points from, so yeah, it'll keep us smiling for a while. "At the same time we'll stay grounded. Monza we know will be tricky again but, obviously, the package we brought here was pretty racy, so, try and take something from here to Monza and then I think, as I said, Singapore and Suzuka will be pretty good for us." Ricciardo is the first Australian to win in Belgium since Jack Brabham in 1960. He said he will keep pushing for an unexpected championship title, particularly as double points will be on offer in the final round in Abu Dhabi in November. "If I'm within fifty coming into Abu Dhabi then yeah, but there's still a few races to go. While it's still mathematically possible, yeah, we'll keep fighting," he said. "Today was a big day for that. To come and steal some points on a circuit where, let's say we weren't supposed to, is nice but I think what's important, looking ahead, is to capitalise on the circuits that we should be strong on and if we can take maximum points, let's say, at a couple of those, then it's never over." Ricciardo benefited from an incident involving the Mercedes teammates when Rosberg, having lost his lead and attempting to overtake Hamilton, shredded Hamilton's rear tyre and damaged his own front wing. "Nico hit me," Hamilton exclaimed via the team radio as he struggled into the pits for new tyres. He would rejoin in 19th place but eventually retired. Ricciardo dashed from fifth at the start into second at the time when Rosberg pitted, and took control once all drivers had made their first tyre change. "I think there have been a lot of good things from the win today. The last two [wins] came from a more, let's say, aggressive kind of race but today was more calculated," Ricciardo said. "I don't mean to talk myself up — if it sounds like that I'm sorry — but it was nice to win under different circumstances." The West Australian, who has impressed with his composure, technical skills and toughness despite an ever-smiling public persona, is the only driver to have upset the Mercedes pair this season. "It couldn't have gone better, considering everything, particularly (the troubles of) pre-season. It's been awesome — I've enjoyed every moment of it. I'm happy to keep it up like this and let it continue," Ricciardo said. "Monza will be challenging but then we've got Singapore and Suzuka which should be fun for us. We'll just keep going and if they [Mercedes] slip up then we'll be there to capitalise." After a post-race meeting between the Mercedes pair - they were once friends having grown up racing karts against each other - Hamilton claimed Rosberg had acknowledged that he had deliberately crashed into him. "We just had a meeting about it and he basically said he did it on purpose," an angry Hamilton said. "He said he did it on purpose. He said he could have avoided it. He said: 'I did it to prove a point'." Rosberg said the "stewards judged it's a racing incident. That's the best way to describe that". "I didn't see any risk in trying to overtake so why should I not try? Inside was not possible so I tried round the outside. The opportunity was there." But the German would not disclose what was said at the team meeting. The championship resumes at the Italian track of Monza in a fortnight. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/motorsport/latest-win-will-keep-me-smiling-says-daniel-ricciardo-20140825-1082ao.html#ixzz3BP7mAvDJ

Cricket:Girlfriends A Big No-No For Indian Team Manager

The debate of Wives and Girlfriends (WAGs) accompanying cricketers on foreign tours has taken a different twist after India's team manager Sunil Dev questioned actress Anushka Sharma's stay with boyfriend Virat Kohli during the Test series in England. Once termed as the most eligible bachelor of Team India, under-performing Kohli has now come under severe criticism for his Test failure - 134 runs in 5 matches. Many fans and some quarters of BCCI have blamed Anushka's presence behind the vice-captain's poor form with the bat in a series, which India lost 1-3. BCCI's decision to allow the Bollywood actress to stay with the cricketer has snowballed into a controversy after Dev just stopped short of saying that wife's are ok but girlfriends on tours was against the culture of the country. "I didn't know who gave this permission and from where it was supposed to be taken. Whether this was been done before or not I am not aware of it. But I will definitely speak to the BCCI about what I feel and submit my report," Dev told 'Times Now'. Asked whether girlfriends travelling with the players on tour was against Indian culture, Dev said: "As you said, yes I agree with you. But I won't make any comment until I meet Board members. I am bound with a contract with the Board." Kohli and Anushka have been grabbing headlines ever since they were first spotted together during the tour of New Zealand. During the England series, the couple were back in the news when it was reported that the actress was staying in the same hotel as Kohli with permission from the BCCI. - PTI

EPL: Why Manchester City should have too much for Liverpool

Title holders and reinforcements appear to have clicked immediately into gear for new season Manchester City were one of the few teams that clicked quickly into gear on the opening weekend of the English Premier League season and their readiness for another campaign gives them a big advantage for Monday's early showdown with title rivals Liverpool. Having won the title by two points from Liverpool, City had little business to do this summer but they did it early and they have a settled squad that looks even stronger than last season. Holding midfielder Fernando made an impressive debut in an efficient 2-0 win at Newcastle and waiting in the wings are defenders Eliaquim Mangala and Bacary Sagna as well as on-loan midfielder Frank Lampard. By contrast, Liverpool have had a busy off-season after losing their best player, Luis Suarez, and reinvesting the income in almost enough players to make a team by themselves. That is reminiscent of Tottenham's situation last summer after the departure of Gareth Bale and, even if Brendan Rodgers has done a better job in revamping his squad, the new-look side will need time to settle. That was evident at home to Southampton last week, even though the Reds managed a 2-1 win. The visitors carved holes in the Liverpool defence at times, which suggests City will be able to do the same on Monday night with the clever interplay of David Silva and Edin Dzeko that was seen at Newcastle. With Sergio Aguero coming on to score at Newcastle and Fernando's arrival giving Yaya Toure licence to push forward, City could be an even more potent attacking force now. City certainly will be expected to score on Monday, as they have been shut out only once in their last 69 home league games and that was by the superior Chelsea rearguard in a 1-0 defeat last February. That was one of only four losses in those 69 games and City have won 59 (86 per cent). With that strike rate, City are good value to win on Monday and it is also significant that Liverpool won only one out of six last season when conceding on the road to top-half teams. Narrowing down those teams to just the top seven, Liverpool's record when conceding was won none, drawn one, lost three. Rodgers has attempted to address defensive weakness with the signing of Dejan Lovren from Southampton but Liverpool's capacity to fight fire with fire has been diminished by Suarez's departure. The pace of Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling - Liverpool's scorers last week - will be a threat to City but this looks a difficult game at the wrong time for Rodgers' team. Over 2.5 goals is worth considering, as these two sides led the way in that department last season. City were joint-top for home games with over 2.5 goals - 14 out of 19, with an average of four goals per game - and Liverpool led the away league, with 16 out of 19 over 2.5 goals and an average of 4.21 goals per game. The other big game of the weekend is Everton v Arsenal tonight, which is an early opportunity to gauge whether the Gunners can make the vital improvement they need in away games against the top teams. Last season Arsenal lost 3-0 at Everton, as well as 6-3 at Manchester City, 5-1 at Liverpool and 6-0 at Chelsea. If they had drawn those four matches - a big ask, given the way they were hammered - they would have finished second in the table, only a point behind City. Taking something from Goodison Park would be a good start, but it will not be easy as Everton's home form was strong last season. Roberto Martinez's side won six and lost only one (against Manchester City) of their nine home games against top-half opponents and they look the solid choice on the handicap. Chelsea, like Manchester City, appear close to the finished article and they look a banker to steamroller another promoted side, Leicester, after Monday's 3-1 win at Burnley. As with Arsenal, though, Chelsea must address a weakness this weekend, as their home form was surprisingly patchy last season. They won just six out of 10 at home to bottom-half teams, ranking them only ninth in that respect and lagging seven points behind both Manchester City and Liverpool. Chelsea conceded in half of those 10 games, which was a big part of the problem, and Leicester are dangerous enough to make over 2.5 goals worth backing. Early results can be misleading and it might be worth backing Newcastle and Stoke to bounce back from defeats against opening-day winners Aston Villa and Hull. Southampton, Everton, Stoke, Nottingham Forest, Hoffenheim This article appeared in the South China Morning Post

OPINION:Like all Refs, Howard Webb Will Be Remembered For His Mistakes

Great as he was with the whistle, the retiring official was perceived as biased towards United and failed to show red when it mattered most Loathed a lot more than he was liked, the surprise retirement of England's most successful referee, Howard Webb, has thrown up some interesting social commentary about the perceived state of officiating among fans. Despite refereeing with distinction for a quarter of a century, being a professional full-time referee in the English Premier League for 11 years and still at the top of his game, twitter was awash with sarcastic comments and sardonic photos of the 43-year-old Yorkshireman. If the tweets are anything to go by, the majority of EPL players, coaches, commentators and fans have the perception Webb has always been biased toward Manchester United and Alex Ferguson. Webb also set precedents on the international scene. In 2010, he became the first-ever official to referee the Uefa Champions League final and the Fifa World Cup final in the same year. Along with his trusted assistant referees, Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey, no other World Cup final referee has ever returned to officiate a consecutive World Cup, which the trio did this year in Brazil. Despite these impressive international achievements, most people remember Webb for failing to send off Nigel de Jong for his "kung fu kick" on Xabi Alonso in the 2010 World Cup final. This kind of negative reaction demonstrates just what sticks in people's highly selective memories. Nevertheless, Webb has achieved what 99.9 per cent of referees can only dream about. Webb's experience and standing has inspired others and there are millions of men and women around the world who are passionate about being match officials. Because of his integrity, commitment and high profile, Webb will instinctively know other referees have and will benefit from his work. Webb is expected to have more of a PR role as he takes up a post as technical director of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the company that manages the EPL's select group of 17 professional referees. This enhanced media role should help PGMOL educate players, coaches, commentators and fans about the rules of the game as well as explain how referees interpret and deal with incidents on the pitch. Webb's first task was to respond to specific personal allegations, namely that he is a Manchester United supporter, by saying: "There's no element of truth in it. It's not something that affected me or played on my mind at all. It wasn't hurtful." Webb's humour, as well as his integrity and honesty, comes through. "What does play on my mind is when I've made a mistake, particularly an influential one that has affected the outcome of a game. I'd be dishonest if I said it didn't bother me," he said. These mistakes are inevitable and Webb has admitted the use of video technology to help referees may not be too far away and believes many top-level referees would embrace it. "Anything that will make the job easier and make us more accurate is worth being looked at," said Webb. "But we really need to be careful not to change the high intensity and fast flow that makes football such a good spectacle. I'm not anti anything that would make the life of a referee more easy and more credible. Practically, it is going to be really difficult to implement." With hindsight, Webb acknowledged he would have sent off De Jong if he - or a colleague - had access to a video monitor to assess the full brutality of the challenge. Mike Riley, general manager of PGMOL, is also open to referees using video technology. "Technology evolves all the time and there will be ways we can help referees." At 43, Webb could have carried on as a Fifa referee for another couple of years - the official retirement age is 45 - possibly ending with a shot at the 2016 European championship. CULLED FROM SCMP.COM

Laloko Wants Eagles Job For Free

Following the inability of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and coach Stephen Keshi to agree on new contract terms, former FA Technical Controller,ch Kashimawo Laloko has advised the federation to ignore Stephen Keshi's demand for a salary of N15 million a month.Instead Laloko has offered to coach the Super Eagles for free. Laloko, " who accused Keshi and his agent of engaging ingrand design to rip-off Nigeria. "Where in Africa does a coach earn N15 million, if he cannot take N5 million, he should vacate the position for others to take t"Coaches like Betrus Bewarang and others can handle Eagles on the interim bases until normalcy is restored. The players are already there and would need some technical guidance to get results. I don’t think it’s something the NFF would beg anybody to do." He stressed that the Nations Cup qualifiers against Congo and South Africa next month should not make anyone lose sleep, pointing out any coach is capable of producing result out of the 23 man list NFF had already released.he job," .

Balotelli Must Sign Behaviour Clauses To Join Liverpool

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has sought assurances from Mario Balotelli he will abide by the club's code of conduct before pressing ahead with a £16 million ($28.5 million) deal for the Italian striker. Having agreed a fee with AC Milan, the Merseyside club held talks with Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola in Liverpool on Thursday, during which strict criteria for concluding the deal were stipulated. It is understood Rodgers and the Anfield hierarchy requested a series of clauses to reflect the professional conduct demanded of all Liverpool players. Balotelli faces disciplinary measures if he falls out of line. Liverpool felt this was necessary given the 24-year-old's track record at previous clubs, where his on-field success was too often overshadowed by his on-field and training ground indiscretions. Although Milan earlier announced the departure of the player, Liverpool said the acceptance of these personal terms would be a key condition of the move. Should the deal go ahead, Rodgers will offer an explanation for an uncharacteristic but swift about-turn when he faces the media at Liverpool's training ground on Friday, having earlier stated "categorically" he would not sign the former Manchester City striker. Balotelli said goodbye to his AC Milan teammates after training. In a brief statement on the AC Milan website, the Italian club said: "Mario Balotelli drove out of Milanello at 1330 after saying goodbye to his teammates and the club's press staff." Balotelli's likely move signals a return to the Premier League where he shone, glowered, delighted and dismayed in equal measure during his time with City from 2011-13. The 24-year-old is seen as a natural successor to another colourful and controversial player, disgraced Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, who was sold to Barcelona in July. Balotelli signalled the move when he said Thursday was his last day in Italy. "Today is my last day in Milan and I am going to Liverpool," Sky Italia reported him as saying. Raiola was reported to be in England to complete the deal. Rodgers could not have been more emphatic during Liverpool's recent pre-season tour of the US, but in the three weeks since, few alternatives have presented themselves. Liverpool lost confidence that Monaco's Radamal Falcao would ever move to Anfield as he waited on an offer from Real Madrid, while Samuel Eto'o was seen as a back-up. Rodgers' main motivation for changing his stance is the attractiveness of the financial package and what he perceives to be reduced risk in recruiting Balotelli for significantly less than proposed earlier in the summer. The Liverpool manager thought the initial valuation to be in the region of £40 million. At £16 million, Liverpool believe they are signing a potential bargain and feel they are taking a calculated gamble in the hope they will benefit from a more mature striker. Rodgers is also backing himself to succeed where others have failed in man-managing Balotelli. Rather than upset the Liverpool dressing room, he feels his squad is close-knit enough to have a positive influence on the Italian. There will be no attempt to change Balotelli's character, but the intention is to ensure while he is on Liverpool duty, he adheres to club rules. Liverpool will point to the cases of Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, who arrived at Anfield with reputations as being difficult to manage, as examples of how this kind of deal can work. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/mario-balotelli-must-sign-behaviour-clauses-to-join-liverpool-20140822-1071dh.html#ixzz3B7ZTTCxT

Mad Fan Changes His Name To Man U

IT TOOK 15 years, but the Bulgarian man formerly known as Zdravkov Levidzhov has finally won. Sort of. The mad football fan has legally changed his name Mr Manchester United. United (that’s what we should call him, right?) celebrated the “victory” by getting the Red Devils emblem tattooed on his forehead. It was a gift for the UK tabloids, who cashed in one of the great headlines from The Sun.

Ebola Survivor Dr Kent Brantly Credits God For His Survival In Bizarre Press Conference

“TODAY is a miraculous day. I am thrilled to be alive, to be well and to be reunited with my family.” Dr Kent Brantly’s first public statement since contracting Ebola in Liberia almost a month ago kicked off all well and good, but it wasn’t long before the 33-year-old’s speech took a bizarre turn. Mr Brantly’s speech was an important milestone in the Ebola movement. He and his colleague, Nancy Writebol, are the first individuals to have received an experimental treatment, and the first Western survivors to speak out after contracting the virus. But instead of mentioning the science behind the treatment that most likely saved his life, he took a spiritual turn. His speech soon sounded like a sermon. After an earlier statement from his isolation room, where he thanked “God for His mercy” and believed “God often leads us to unexpected places”, it should have come as no surprise. Brantly began by sharing how he and his family came to be in Liberia; medical missionaries who moved to West Africa because “God called us to serve the people of Liberia”.

Why Biting Your Nails Is More Than Just A Bad Habit

I’VE always been told that I should stop biting my nails because it’s “bad for me.” But why is it bad? Sure, biting and picking at your nails is kinda gross. It also is a sure-fire way to make your manicure that was supposed to last all week last only a day. And while it’s a nervous habit that’s certainly on the more innocuous side of the spectrum, it can still affect your health. For starters, biting your nails can raise the risk of catching a cold or other illness because you’re putting your unwashed hands in your mouth. It can also raise the risk of paronychia, or infection of the skin surrounding the nail, says Rochelle Torgerson, a dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic. You can “end up with redness and swelling and pain and discomfort — that’s a sign of infection,” says Torgerson, and while most instances of paronychia are bacterial, they can also be fungal. In addition, if you have a wart, biting your fingernails is a way to raise your risk of spreading warts to other parts of your hands. That’s because warts are caused by one of the many kinds of human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that spreads as an infection. “The more open skin you have, the more you’re going to spread” the virus, she says. Biting or picking your nails could also lead to temporary or permanent effects to your actual nail. Torgerson explains that the majority of the fingernail is produced in the area of the nail bed where there is a “white hill,” also called the lunula. The fingernail is made there, as well as the area beneath the lunula that extends down underneath the skin. “If you end up with a lot of inflammation or an infection of that skin ... where the fingernail is made, you can start making a funny fingernail,” she explains. “You may end up with a fingernail that’s bumpy or ridge-y.” Sometimes these effects are temporary. An infection that lasts a week or two might lead to a funny-looking nail for a short period of time, she says. But “you can also do permanent damage to the area, so you forever make a funny nail.” Aside from nail biting or picking, some people also have the nervous habit of using one hand to push down the cuticles of fingers on their other hand (most commonly the thumbs). People who do this “push back the cuticle so often and so aggressively that [they] end up making a fingernail that has horizontal ridges in it” -- called a habit-tic deformity, Torgerson explains. This is “repeat trauma to that area,” which can also result in a funny-looking fingernail. Nail biting can also have effects on your teeth: As Everyday Health points out, it can lead to teeth shifting out of place, as well as potential breaks in teeth or tooth enamel. So what can you do to kick the habit? Torgerson notes that most people bite or pick at their fingernails as a way of relieving, or channelling, stress. Finding another way to release that stress — that doesn’t involve picking at or gnawing on a part of your body — could be useful. Try twirling a ring instead, or playing with a hair tie on your wrist. “Basically, instead of telling someone [to] just stop, maybe you can come up with another way of relieving the stress that’s driving you to do it that doesn’t end up causing damage,” she says. This article was written by Amanda L. Chan from Huffington Post and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.

Chinese firms continue operations in Africa Despite Ebola

With Guinean President Alpha Conde declaring a state of health emergency in the country, the four West African countries hit by the Ebola outbreak have called emergency in a war-like battle against the deadly epidemic. However, Chinese companies that have projects in West Africa are not scared away by the Ebola outbreak but hold on to their commitment and win-win cooperation with African countries. HOLDING GROUND WITH PREVENTIONS TAKEN FIRST The 24th contingent of Chinese medics and the second team of Chinese public health experts have arrived in Conakry, the capital city of Guinea. The experts will give advises to the Chinese companies on how to take preventions against Ebola. According to Counsellor Gao Tiefeng at the Chinese embassy, all Chinese companies in Guinea have upgraded prevention to ensure the health of their staffers. They have arranged shifts and vacation for their workers. Zhang Jun, a project manager of China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE) that was working on the largest water and electric project in Guinea so far, told Xinhua that the company wasted no time in setting up an emergency and aid center after the Ebola outbreak. Even though CWE's project is located in a populated area in the capital, none of its several hundred Chinese workers and 1,500 local employees were infected, thanks to a quick response to the virus. China Harbor Engineering Company also took preventive measures, such as sterilizing all offices and dorm rooms every week and control the flow of all personnel and vehicles in and out of the company's compound. The branch of China's Huawei in Guinea guaranteed the normal operation of its service and technical support to its local contractors as Ebola killed more than 380 people in the country. In Sierra Leone, which is in its rain season, many Chinese projects have been suspended and the Chinese companies cut off direct contact with outsiders as a precautious measure. The Ebola outbreak in Liberia has affected the operation and business of Chinese companies in the country, but Chinese workers remain safe and the risk is still controllable, said a Chinese diplomat. There are some 1,500 workers with Chinese companies in Liberia and the impact of the epidemic on Chinese companies has gradually surfaced, Chinese commercial counsellor Xiao Mingxiang told Xinhua on Friday. Due to the withdrawal of the medical staff of international organizations and the heavy loss of local medics, the Liberian medical institutes have come to a crunch, Xiao said. Thanks to the strict protective measures the Chinese companies have put in place, their employees face little threat from the Ebola virus, but such tropical diseases as malaria and typhoid pose potential risks, he said. In Kenya, East Africa, dozens of projects were running as usual, without being affected by the Ebola fears.

‘My Fiance Faked his Own death To Avoid Marrying Me’

ALEX Lanchester would have been on her honeymoon today ... if her fiance hadn’t faked his own death to break off their engagement that is. Ms Lanchester, 23, from the United Kingdom met her ex-fiance Tucker Blandford in August 2012 at a college in Connecticut, USA. The pair hit it off straight away and became quickly besotted with each other. “He was such a gentleman. He showered me with jewellery,” Ms Lanchester told The Mirror. “We would go out for a posh dinner on the tenth of every month to celebrate the day we got together." But Ms Lanchester was studying abroad on a student visa and when her time in America came to an end, she and Mr Blandford said a tearful goodbye at the airport. Her tears soon became smiles though, when he went down on one knee and proposed. “I said yes straight away,” she said. “I was super happy and smiling like an idiot.” She still had to return to England, but Mr Blandford promised to visit in a few months and the couple began planning their wedding. Or so she thought. While Ms Lanchester booked venues, spent over $1000 on invitations and shopped for her dream gown, Mr Blandford cancelled plane tickets and called to apologise. To placate his fiancee, he set the wedding date for August 15, 2014. As the wedding date neared, an excited Ms Lanchester received a gut-wrenching call from her fiance’s ‘dad’. “Alex, this is Tucker’s dad. There’s no easy way to say this ... I am sorry to say that Tucker is dead.” He went on to tell the bride-to-be that his son had depression and had “thrown himself in front of a car” to end his life. Understandably devastated, Ms Lanchester got off the phone in tears, but later called Tucker’s mum to make sense of what she’d heard. That’s when she discovered the lie. His mum had no idea that her son was dead, and Ms Lanchester soon realised that the ‘dad’ she’d spoken to was in fact her gutless fiance, too scared to ring her and break up himself. To add insult to injury, Mr Blandford’s parents didn’t even know the couple were engaged. “All I ever did was love him,” said heartbroken Alex. “After this I’m not sure I can trust a man ever again.” Eventually she called Tucker, who initially wouldn’t answer her calls, but finally sent her a text admitting his shocking deceit. She is in the United States this week on what would have been her honeymoon, refusing to waste yet another plane ticket. “It may be our wedding day but I’m going to spend it making my own awesome memories — without him.”

Bolt: I Need More Races

Usain Bolt admitted he lacked sharpness after taking gold in a 100-meter race in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. The six-time Olympic champion clocked 10.06 seconds to beat Britain's Mark Lewis Francis (10.42) and Jefferson Liberato of Brazil (10.44) on the Copacabana beach track. "I had a poor start but I regained some of my poise later in the race," said Bolt, who was competing in his first individual 100-meter race of the year. "I felt a bit heavy. I need to compete in more races. I will be in better shape after that." The 27-year-old thanked the support of thousands of locals who willed the Jamaican on to victory. "The energy here is great. Thank you everybody, it was fantastic." Brazilian Rosangela Santos won the women's event in 11.33 seconds ahead of Jamaica's Schillonie Calvert and Carmelita Jeter of the United States.

Calabar Plays Host To NDDC/South South Athletic Meet

The fourth edition of the Cross River state/NDDC/South South all comers athletics championships will hold from Thursday August 21 to Saturday August 23 at the U.J Esuene stadium in Calabar, Bruce Ijirigho,the consultant on sports to Cross River state government has revealed. The organisers have provided for athletes to contest for honours in three categories namely- the primary school,secondary school and elite levels.While the age-grade categories (primary and secondary) are open only to athletes from the six states that make up the south south geo-political zone of Nigeria- Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Edo),the elite category is open to athletes from the all over the federation who are registered with the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN). ‘Events schedule will be available as from August 20. All events will be run on a timely basis with the heats starting at 9:30 am prompt on August 21, 2014,’’said Ijirigho who added that junior athletes will be screened into appropriate age categories before the start of competition. "All athletes competing in the age-grade categories are required to bring along evidence that they are truly within the age bracket for their categories,’further said Iirigho who also announced the prize monies for each category of the championships. "Prize money will be paid to the top three finishers in every event with athletes competing under the primary school category (10 to 12 years old) going home with N5,000,N3,000 and N2,000 for first,second and third placed finishers respectively.Athletes under the junior secondary school ( 12+ to 15 years) and senior secondary school ( 15+ to 17 Years) will get the same amount in prize money while it is totally different for the elite athletes.The prize money for the top three finishers in this category is N20,000,N15,000 and N10,000 respectively," he added. Events listed by Ijirigho, to be competed for are the 100,200m,400m,800m,1500m,30000m,50000m(for senior secondary school and elite),long jump,triple jump and high jump as well as the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. as well as the shot put,javelin throw and pole vault.

EPL: Chelsea Blot Out Burnley

Chelsea started the season with a bang as they mercilessly swept Burnley aside with a 3-1 win Burnley fans started dreaming of a shock win when Scott Arfield fired past Thibaut Courtois in the 14th minute, but Chelsea quickly put a dampener on the Premier League newcomers' party. But Diego Costa marked his debut with a poacher's strike to equalise and Andre Schurrle then finished off a sublime 25-pass move to put his side ahead. Cesc Fabregas, who was overlooked by Arsenal and Manchester United this summer, fitted perfectly into the Chelsea midfield while Eden Hazard and Schurrle mesmerised the Burnley defence with ease.

Adamu Plans Youth Tennis Classic In Nigeria

Nigeria’s highest leading tennis player, Sanni Adamu, has signified his intention to start up a tennis clinic to discover new players. Adamu, who is Nigeria's highest ranked ATP player at no. 1600 in the world, noted that since the top players have begun to age and with tournaments becoming scarce, he decided to on this course of action ensure that his passion for the game is transferred to the younger generation. "it is an opportunity for us to impact on these young ones with the things we have been able to learn while playing the game of tennis.Our leaders have shown us that they are only after their selfish interests and the glaring fact that most of our top players are aging there is the need for the younger ones to learn the ropes and take the place of some of us," he said. "When I was in China, I learnt a lot about tennis. I have a prototype of the company’s design already, I also learn't a few things about the tricks of setting up an Academy or having a tennis clinic,” the vastly traveled Adamu said.

Young Athletes Inspired By Olympic Champions

"By taking part in 'Chat with Champions,' athletes can have close contact with these world champions and appreciate their valuable qualities, Olympic spirit and perseverance," an organizer of the forum said. The forum invites several world champions and coaches of gold medalists to the lecture hall at the Youth Olympic Village to have face-to-face conversations with audience members. Attendees can directly ask athletes about their career plans and their lives after retirement. The forum focuses on the Olympic spirit, skills development, happy and healthy lifestyles, social responsibility, and self expression. "It's very interesting to be here to listen to their opinions and talk about their career. It’s very helpful,“ said Tereza Pribanova, an athlete from the Czech Republic who attended the event

Ex-IOC chief Rogge a wushu wizard?

Former International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge has been a regular tai chi disicple after falling in love with the traditional Chinese martial art, said a Chinese martial arts official. People in Nanjing's should not be surprised if they see Rogge practicing tai chi in local neighborhoods during the Youth Olympic Games as the former IOC head has started to study regularly with a Chinese teacher. "The president is actually quite fond of the martial art form. He wrote to us last year that he wished he could have a chance to learn it from a Chinese master," Wang Xiaolin, special representative of International Wushu Federation and former president of Chinese Wushu Association (CWA), told a press conference during the Nanjing Youth Olympics on Monday. The CWA appointed Wang Fang, a renowned tai chi master from Guangdong province, to teach Rogge, who stepped down from the IOC presidency in September 2013 and became the honorable president of the IOC. The Belgian has taken three classes on tai chi training during his stay at the Nanjing YOG and he shows some progress, said Wang. During his tenure as IOC president, Rogge made his interests in wushu, which is the Chinese name for martial arts, clear when he observed the training of Chinese martial arts national teams and paid a special visit to the famous Shaolin Temple to watch monks practicing. An international martial arts competition was approved by the IOC to be held for the first time together with Olympic Games in 2008 as a demonstration event. Wnag said this is evidence of Rogge's interests in wushu, said Wang. Rogge will also attend the Nanjing YOG's wushu competition as a guest. He will present medals to victorious athletes on Aug 24 after reigning IOC President Thomas Bach awards the first wushu gold medal in Nanjing on Aug 22. The martial arts competition of the Nanjing YOG will take place between Aug 22-24 in the city's Gaochun district with 100 athletes from 35 countries and regions competing in two major categories that include 15 events.

Olympic Traces At Youth Games

For many Olympians who don't have a chance to compete in the Youth Olympic Games, there are ways to associate themselves with the fledgling event. Xu Haifeng, who won China's first ever Olympic gold medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Games, is the venue manager for triathlon and pentathlon at the Youth Olympics. In men's 3-for-3 basketball, Chinese team's coach Zhang Yunsong is a two-time Olympian who played guard and helped China to reach the quarterfinals at the Beijing Olympics. Greco-Roman wrestling legend, Maik Bullmann, who won a gold medal at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games and bronze four years later in Atlanta, is also a coach of the German team. "Wrestling, and sport in general, has always defined my life," said the 47-year-old German. "I was and I still am in the lucky position of making a profession out of my hobby. I was able to step from the mat to the side of the mat smoothly." In pentathlon, Australia has a combination of dad and son. Dad Daniel Esposito, who is his son Max's coach, competed at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games and would have been at Seoul four years later if he hadn't snapped his Achilles tendon. Daniel's eldest daughter Chloe came seventh in the London 2012 Games and now 17-year-old Max is chasing gold at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games having won the 2013 Oceania Championships. He is the second member of the family to compete at a Youth Olympic Games, following in the footsteps of another sister, Emily, who competed in the pistol at the Singapore 2010 Games. This sustained family success does not come easy, indeed. "Leading up to London (for the 2012 Olympic Games) we trained in Australia and we got a certain result. My thinking on how to achieve a better result, and looking at what was lacking in the lead up to 2012, was to take the same training to a different country where we could access much more competition," said Daniel of the recent family move from Sydney to Italy.

Tennis:Federer, Serena Williams win at Cincinnati

By now, everyone knows Roger Federer's itinerary for Cincinnati: Get his game in order, raise the winner's trophy, leave town with a lot of confidence for the US Open. Federer won his unprecedented sixth title in Cincinnati on Sunday, beating David Ferrer 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 at the Western & Southern Open. He's reached the finals six times and won all six. How does this keep happening? "I don't know," he said. "I just really enjoy myself here." Serena Williams couldn't say that until Sunday, when she got her first Cincinnati championship on her sixth try. Williams needed only 62 minutes to beat Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-1 and earn a title that had always slipped away. "I love this moment," she said. "I love holding up the trophy." The tournament's brackets opened up when defending champions Rafael Nadal and Victoria Azarenka withdrew because of injuries. Top-seeded Novak Djokovic had a rough week and got knocked out in his second match. There was one constant: Federer playing well on Cincinnati's fast courts. "I'm really pleased with the week. Overall, it went from good to great," the Swiss star said. "My game's exactly where I want it to be." His latest title came against an opponent he has dominated throughout his career. Federer improved to 16-0 against Ferrer, who has won only five sets off him overall. Ferrer took advantage of Federer's lull in the second set, but couldn't keep up. "The third set, he served unbelievable," Ferrer said. "He played really good and I was a little bit tired. But anyway, with Roger it's difficult, no?" Title No 6 ended a bit of a slump for Federer, who had lost his last four Masters finals matches. He was the runner-up to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Toronto a week earlier. "I've been bringing home some smaller ones," Federer said after raising the large winner's trophy. "I'm happy to get the big one." Williams opened the day by winning her elusive title so convincingly that she's thinking another one could be on its way soon. "Definitely my best performance of the summer," she said. "Hopefully not the last. "This is definitely a level that can take me to the (US Open) title. I still have a lot of work to do. It's definitely a better level than I've played all year, to be honest."

Directory Of World's Longest Bans In Football

*URUGUAY'S's LUIS Suarez after clashing with Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Dunas arena in Natal in this June 24, 2014 file photograph. Uruguay striker Suarez was banned for nine matches by FIFA on June 26, 2014 after being found guilty of biting Italian defender Chiellini on June 24, 2014. Suarez was also banned from any football-related activity for four months and fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($111,000). *MARADONA: In this June 30, 1994 file photo, Argentina World Cup soccer player Diego Maradona is the center of media attention at a hotel in Dallas, Texas. The Argentina Football Association dropped the 33-year-old forward from their World Cup soccer squad just hours before the team's final first rund game against Bulgaria, after it was revealed that he had tested positive for the use of banned drugs. A star that was addicted to drugs, sentenced to jail for shooting at reporters and punched the ball into the net in a World Cup quarterfinal doesn't seem like the ideal candidate to coach a national football team. But this is Diego Maradona, one of football's all-time greats who can do no wrong in the eyes of Argentina's fans. Maradona, who turns 48 on Thursday, and Carlos Bilardo have been asked to lead the national team by Julio Grondona, head of the Argentine Football Association. *MAURO TASSOTTI played in one FIFA World Cup, the 1994 edition in the United States. In the 2–1 quarter-final win against Spain he elbowed Luis Enrique in the face in the second half's injury time, breaking his nose. The action was so severe that Enrique reportedly lost a pint of blood from his face as a result; the referee did not award Spain a penalty and Italy won the match but, after reviewing the game, FIFA officials banned Tassotti for eight matches, effectively ending his international career *JOSIP SIMUNIC:In this Nov. 19, 2013 file picture Croatia's defender Josip Simunic, plays the ball during a World Cup qualifying playoff second leg soccer match against Iceland, in Zagreb, Croatia. Simunic was banned for 10 games by FIFA for leading fans in a pro-Nazi chant after the Iceland match in Zagreb. *ERIC CANTONA is affectionately nicknamed by Manchester United fans as "King Eric", and was voted as Manchester United's greatest ever player by Inside United magazine.[1] Set against his footballing achievements was a poor disciplinary record for much of his career, including a conviction for assault on a fan in 1995, although his disciplinary record was much improved after he returned from his eight-month suspension right up to his retirement as a player two year