2015 Copa América: Brazil drawn in Group C alongside Colombia, Peru and Venezuela

Brazil have been drawn in Group C alongside Colombia, Peru and Venezuela for the 2015 Copa América, which is held in Chile in June and July. 

The Seleção, who have won the tournament eight times, start their campaign against Peru at Estadio Municipal Germán Becker in Temuco on 14th June.

They then face Colombia in Santiago’s Estadio Monumental three days later, before returning to Temuco to meet Venezuela on 21st June.

To be guaranteed a spot in the knock-out stages, Brazil need to finish in the top two, through the two best third placed teams will also progress.

For Dunga’s side, the Copa América offers a first chance for redemption after the disappointing end to this summer’s FIFA World Cup, while four years ago in Argentina, they also under performed with a quarter-final exit to eventual runners up Paraguay on penalties.

Despite their mixed recent form in competitive tournaments however, Dunga’s last spell in charge of Brazil yielded victory at the 2007 Copa América, where they beat Argentina 3-0 in the final.

To have a chance to avenge that defeat, the Albiceleste will have to overcome holders Uruguay, as well as Paraguay and Jamaica in Group B, while hosts Chile are up against Mexico, Ecuador and Bolivia in Group A.

2015 Copa América draw
Group A

Group B

Group C

NEWS: Pope Tells Europe To Accept Immigrants

POPE Francis has demanded that Europe craft a unified and fair immigration policy, saying the thousands of refugees coming ashore need acceptance and assistance, not self-interested policies that risk lives and fuel social conflict.
FRANCIS made the comments on Tuesday to the European Parliament during a brief visit meant to highlight his vision for Europe a quarter-century after St John Paul II travelled to Strasbourg to address a continent still divided by the Iron Curtain.
Greeted with a lengthy standing ovation at the start and finish of his speech, Francis said he wanted to bring a message of hope to Europeans distrustful of their institutions, burdened by economic crisis and spiritually adrift in a culture that he said no longer values the dignity of human beings. "A Europe which is no longer open to the transcendent dimension of life is a Europe which risks slowly losing its own soul," he said. He called for legislators to promote policies that create jobs and accept immigrants, saying: "We cannot allow the Mediterranean to become a vast cemetery!" The Argentine Jesuit has frequently spoken out about the plight of migrants seeking a better life in Europe, and travelled to the tiny island of Lampedusa in 2013 to show solidarity with the thousands of migrants who arrive and to honour those who have died trying. Italy, home of the Vatican, has borne the brunt of the burden of rescuing the migrants, though recently the European Union's border agency stepped in to help. On Tuesday, Francis warned that the absence of a coherent EU migration policy "contributes to slave labour and continuing social tensions." He said Europe will only be able to confront immigration-related conflict by "enacting adequate legislation to protect the rights of European citizens and to ensure the acceptance of immigrants."

Kellie Maloney’s Horrific Plastic Surgery Reaction

*After:Getty

*Before/GETTY

KELLIE Maloney, formerly known as boxing promoter Frank Maloney, is lucky to be alive after her facial reconstruction surgery went horribly wrong.
The 61-year-old, who is around 18 months into her transition period to change gender, revealed her mortifying injuries.
She said she feared her head was “going to explode” after the traumatic cosmetic surgery ordeal left her bleeding from the eyes and moments from death.
ot only did the complications land her in intensive care fighting for life she says they also made her look “like Frankenstein’s monster”.
Transsexual Maloney, who had gone under the knife to make her face look more feminine, said, “I was bleeding out of my eyes and I was inunimaginable pain”.
“Then I just felt my head inflating like a balloon. It was getting bigger and bigger by the second, I could hardly see. I feared it was going to explode.”
The heavy internal bleeding — from a shocking ­reaction to the surgery at a clinic in Belgium two weeks ago — caused her head to swell to twice its size and almost stopped her breathing.
Doctors then spent the next 10 hours fighting to save her life.
Maloney, who has three children, is living as a woman and has already undergone hormone therapy, electrolysis to remove excess body hair, counselling and voice coaching.
She had previously undergone surgery in Spain so had no concerns going into her latest surgery which was an operation on her nose, eyelids and cheeks, as well as a facelift.
Doctors have said the reason for her shock reaction is thought to be because of Asprin tablets she had taken to thin her blood after suffering a heart attack.
This is believed to have stopped her surgery wounds from healing properly, which sparked the complications and bleeding.
And while she has been warned that her blood is low on platelets, and must endure regular visits to doctors to ensure she is recovering properly she has been allowed to leave the Belgian hospital and is back home recovering in Maidstone, Kent, with her family.
The doctors are also confident that she will make a full recovery and will be pleased with the final results.
And despite the trauma she suffered, this has not put her off continuing her quest to fully transition into a woman, with Maloney saying she is still determined to have the final operation to become a woman, and is set to have a breast augmentation operation and gender reassignment surgery next at a private clinic.

Mascot of Rio 2016 Olympic Games unveiled in Brazil

 The mascot of Rio 2016 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games pose for a photo with young students in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Nov. 24, 2014. The unveiling ceremony of the mascots was held here on Monday. The mascot Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic was originated from the animals and plants in Brazil respectively. A poll to decide their names will be opened after the unveiling of the two mascots

SPORTS:New Pro Football League Tackles Cricket-Mad India

Cricket is practically synonymous with sports in India, but it is about to get some competition in the form of the country's first serious professional football league.
The Indian Super League, or ISL, has kicked off and is the talk of the nation. The live telecast of the opening match on Oct. 12 drew 74.7 million viewers, an order of magnitude larger than the typical sporting event. Over the first week, the total audience for the new league was reported to be 170 million. The media and fans are asking whether India could become an emerging football nation on a par with China and the U.S.

 

 

     An executive with FIFA, international soccer's governing body, visited India in mid-October. In an interview with local media, he pointed to India's huge population as proof the country could support two major professional sports. He believes ISL has a fair chance of grabbing the attention of some of the country's 1.2 billion people who are not devoted exclusively to cricket.
     Media company Star India and an affiliate of conglomerate Reliance Industries, were a co-founders of ISL. Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani, the country's richest man, has said there is new and widespread enthusiasm for football since the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, which points to the game's potential as a cash cow.
Star power
Match tickets at large stadiums in India sell for 100-3,500 rupees ($1.76-$61.57). This makes watching a live professional match much cheaper than in most of the rest of the world: 100 rupees buys five or six cups of coffee in a typical Indian cafe. "People under 20 are the most familiar with football, and ticket prices are set to be affordable for them," said an ISL spokesman. By contrast, tickets for Indian Premier League pro cricket matches are more expensive, costing up to 12,000 rupees, and venues are always packed.
     For the inaugural season, ISL is putting top priority on making the matches fun to watch, essentially requiring its clubs to hire foreign players. The money teams are splashing out has attracted many international stars of the pitch who are admired by fans worldwide but have passed their prime.
     Former Italian national team member Alessandro Del Piero, for instance, joined the Delhi Dynamos Football Club on a contract paying 110 million rupees ($1.64 million). Former French national star Robert Emmanuel Pires and Swedish peer Fredrik Ljungberg, who once played for the Shimizu S-Pulse in the Japan Professional Football League, or J.League, have laced up their cleats for Indian clubs.
     The same is true for coaches. Brazilian superstar and former head coach of the Japan national team Zico now skippers FC Goa. He said he did not come to India as a tourist, but to introduce the Japanese football model and help raise the technical skills of Indian football players.
     But the ISL has a long way to go if it is to foster serious Indian football talent. The country's FIFA ranking is currently 159th out of 209 members worldwide. It is reportedly bidding to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026. Just as J.League raised the quality of Japanese national squad, the ISL may do the same for India. Traditional football powers may not have much to fear yet, but that could change.

2015 Afcon aftermath:Uzokwe calls for grass-root base Home Eagles

By Eddie Akalonu
Following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the African cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea next year, Ex-international Evans Uzokwe has said that the country will have no option than a return to building a national team made up wholly of players based here in Nigeria, saying it is a means to ending the stigma of being held hostage by players based abroad. As a former player, my first observation of the Eagles was that five or six days are too short a time to mould a team and play. I had predicted we may not qualify for Afcon because it was devoid of sentiment and honest I saw a team that was in too much of a hurry in every game that we played and in the process were incoherent in defense, mid-field and attack “They lacked character, unity, there was no team cohesion and I saw that each player presented the attitude and style of the country in the club he plays. And if a coach lacks technical skill to mould an array of players into a unit, definitely there is problem,”Uzokwe, who rose to professional career high as Head of Service of Imo State Civil Service after stints at the defunct P and T Vasco da Gama of Enugu and Spartans of Owerri, warned football administrators this way “we had always depended on miracles to achieve certain things. Right now it is very obvious to us we can no longer live by miracles in football. We just must build, we must plan what we want to achieve. That is exactly what any country which has (football) as agent of youth development and empowerment carry on. We should do the same.  “my suggestion is, if we can go back to the past practice of building a team made up of players from grassroots and top clubs around the country, it would alleviate some problems we have, it would us fashion the Nigerian own football- character and pattern, so that when there is need to play we can easily invite some players from outside the country to team up with the home based and play. We will not depend 100 percent on players coming from abroad.

CAF/FIFA Instructor, Kigigha blames Eagles Nations Cup Ouster on NFF, Keshi players

By Eddie Akalonu

CAF/FIFA Referees Fitness Instructor, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Felix Kigigha has told the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, coach Stephen Keshi and his technical assistants to accept responsibility for Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2015 African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea next year. Speaking to Vanguard Sports, Kigigha, who described the Eagles performance in the qualifying series as unacceptable and lamentable, said despite warnings by concerned Nigerians as himself, Felix Owolabi and fans, NFF members rather agreed not to work for national interest but engaged in self aggrandizement. “Some of us voiced our observations about defects and problems of the national team. NFF failed to plan, that both NFF leadership and Stephen Keshi had approached the whole issue in a nonchalant manner and this flowed down to the players. In fact, our problem started soon after the World Cup in Brazil. There was no post- mortem of our participation in that competition which would have given us a direction, what to do and amount of resources to marshal out.”  

“But those in administration acted as if Nigeria was Brazil, Germany and Argentina and others fused into a team that is invincible in Africa which of course we are not. I am really blaming them because when they had enough time to put things right, they rather were more concerned in getting elected into office. The Stephen Keshi facto was there too. He did not act as a professional all the time. So I knew that given earlier results in the qualifiers, even if we had beaten South Africa, it was only due to respect for us not about superiority.”

Asked what needed to be done now to push the game up, ACP Kigigha said “that still boils down to NFF to give us a football road map and this must contain every aspect of developing ant promotion of the game. If they do that as a priority, then we can talk of qualifying for the next AFCON and may World Cup”

LATEST NEWS:Marathoner Begs For Cash To Fly South Sudan Flag At Olympics

NAIROBI: South Sudan marathon runner Guor Mading Maker has been forced to resort to crowdfunding to raise his civil war-torn nation's flag for the first time at the Olympics.
Maker ran under the Olympic colours at the 2012 London Games because his country had only just won its freedom from Khartoum after decades of war.
But there is little chance of securing funding from South Sudan for the Rio Games in 2016 after war broke out again there last December. Since then tens of thousands have been killed and aid agencies say the country is on the brink of famine.
Maker is seeking $25,000 to achieve his dream, with the money enabling him to train in neighbouring Kenya's high-altitude Rift valley and bring some fellow South Sudanese athletes with him.
"To achieve my goals I need to follow the right programme, in the right environment, and above all have financial assistance for the next two years," 30-year-old Maker said.
"A little donation can make big difference," he said in a message on the crowdfunding website gofundme.com. "I believe with your kind support, I could help bring a long lasting unity to the people of South Sudan through sport."
Currently based in the United States, Maker came 47th in the London 2012 marathon as an independent Olympian -- under the name Guor Marial -- with a time of 2:19:32, and has a personal best of 2:12:55.
At the time of the London Games, South Sudan had not yet been accepted as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
"I returned from the Olympic Games with great experience and determination to train hard for the World Championship in 2015 and the 2016 Olympic Games," he said.
"With enough funding, I can go to Kenya and focus on training until the Olympic Games. With more funding, I can bring along five to six South Sudanese runners to train with me."
Those who have donated so far include Meb Keflezighi, an Eritrean-born American and winner of the 2014 Boston marathon and Olympic silver marathon medallist in 2004.
Like thousands of others, Maker fled fighting during the 1983-2005 war that paved the way for South Sudan's independence, one of a generation dubbed the "Lost Boys". He was forced to flee his home village in 1993, and was granted residence in the United States in 2001.
Maker visited South Sudan for the first time since leaving last year, and -- despite fearing he was an orphan -- was reunited with his mother after two decades without contact.
Sporting stars who hail from South Sudan include the late Manute Bol, equal tallest ever player for the National Basketball Association (NBA) at seven foot seven inches tall (231 centimetres), as well as Luol Deng, who plays for Miami Heat.
Fellow South Sudanese "Lost Boy" and middle distance runner Lopez Lomong, now a US citizen, was the flag bearer for the US Olympic team in 2008.
The Rio Olympics take place from August 5-21, 2016.

Spain’s Duchess Of Alba Leaves $5 Billion Fortune To Her Children: Nothing To Husband Alfonso Diez

*The Dutchess and husband: AFP

HER kids were worried when Spain’s Duchess of Alba married a toyboy in 2011. Her will however shows all six will be looked after while he gets nothing.
The Spanish royal, who was the most titled in the world, has given each of her five sons and one daughter a palace each.
They will also share the rest of her three-million-pound ($5 billion) fortune, along with her eight grandchildren.
Friends, relatives and wellwishers paid their respects to the duchess, also known as ‘Cayetana’, after she died following a battle with pneumonia.
Her wealth includes a dozens of properties, 50,000 pieces of artwork and 18,000 rare books.
However her 64-year-old husband Alfonso Diez will not receive anything after signing away any rights before their October 2011 wedding.
The coupling caused a huge rift between the duchess and her children, who believed that Diez was just after her money.
“Alfonso doesn’t want anything. All he wants is me,” she said at the time.
Maria del Rosario Cayetana Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia FranciscaFitz-James Stuart y Silva, was known for her flamboyant lifestyle and her Guinness Book of Records’ honour as the world’s most titled person.
The duchess was arelative of Winston Churchill and shared toys with England’s future Queen Elizabeth while living in England as a girl.
She was 14 times a Spanish grandee, five times a duchess, once a countess-duchess, 18 times a marchioness, 18 times a countess and once a viscountess, according to the entry.

SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT:Aussie Bras A Smash Hit With No. 1 Serena Williams

THE world’s No. 1 ranked women’s tennis player, Serena Williams, has been signed as the new ambassador for Australian bra company Berlei.
Williams told Confidential she was a long-time fan of the brand after being initially introduced to the bras by her mother, tennis
coach Oracene Price, a decade ago, when Oracene bought a Berlei bra while visiting Australia.
“I’ve been a fan of Berlei long before I started working with the brand. My mom discovered the brand in Myer on a trip to Australia 10 years ago and I have been wearing their sports bras ever since,”
                                                                            she told Confidential while on location in Miami shooting a commercial for Berlei.
Williams — a favourite of celebrity mags thanks to her incredible figure — said stripping down to play the part of lingerie model was not an issue.
“I’m a normal woman — I can get selfconscious. But I think that is just natural for women to feel that way,” she said.
“In our society we’re often led to believe we have to look a certain way but I have learned to be proud of my curves and to embrace them.
“It’s important to love who you are and realise that you’re beautiful, no matter what society says and the pressure they put on you to look a certain way.”

Sports Life:

Sports Life

Apparently four-legged 100 metre running is a thing and Katsumi Tamakoshi is good at it

NEWS: China Hospital Gives Men Chance To Experience Pain Of Childbirth

A hospital in eastern China is offering fathers-to-be a chance to experience the pain of childbirth after several new moms complained they got little sympathy from their partners.

Free sessions are held twice a week at Aima maternity hospital in Shandong province and about 100 men have signed up to be tortured. Most are expectant dads but there are thrill seekers too among the volunteers for "taster sessions".

For the simulations, pads attached to a device are placed above the abdomen, giving electric shocks that induce pain. The test subjects writhe in agony for up to five minutes as a nurse gradually raises the intensity on a scale of one to ten.
Song Siling, who is trying for a baby with his girlfriend, shut his eyes and grimaced as the needle on the electrode monitor inched forward with a beep.

"It felt like my heart and lungs were being ripped apart," said Song, who made it to level seven before frantically waving to the nurse to turn off the system. Others dropped out within minutes when they couldn't take the pain.

Despite their obvious discomfort, the on-duty nurse said the simulations could never match the torment of actual childbirth.
"Still, if men can experience this pain, then they'll be more loving and caring to their wives," said Lou Dezhu.

Wu Jianlong, who braved the pain right up to level 10, says the experience radically altered his views on childbirth.
"Because all women have children and it usually takes quite a long time, I had thought of it as being something really natural, something
really normal that they can get through," he said.

Wu, whose wife is three months pregnant, yelled in pain and clenched his fists before giving in and begging the nurse to stop - he had reached the maximum limit by then.

Unlike in the West, Chinese men are often not in the room when their partners or wives give birth. Some state-run hospitals do not allow expectant dads to enter, even if they want to.

- See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/china-hospital-gives-men-chance-to-experience-pain-of-childbirth/article1-1288585.aspx#sthash.SHT4QDkh.dpuf

A hospital in eastern China is offering fathers-to-be a chance to experience the pain of childbirth after several new moms complained they got little sympathy from their partners.

Free sessions are held twice a week at Aima maternity hospital in Shandong province and about 100 men have signed up to be tortured. Most are expectant dads but there are thrill seekers too among the volunteers for "taster sessions".
For the simulations, pads attached to a device are placed above the abdomen, giving electric shocks that induce pain. The test subjects writhe in agony for up to five minutes as a nurse gradually raises the intensity on a scale of one to ten.
Song Siling, who is trying for a baby with his girlfriend, shut his eyes and grimaced as the needle on the electrode monitor inched forward with a beep.
"It felt like my heart and lungs were being ripped apart," said Song, who made it to level seven before frantically waving to the nurse to turn off the system. Others dropped out within minutes when they couldn't take the pain.
Despite their obvious discomfort, the on-duty nurse said the simulations could never match the torment of actual childbirth.
"Still, if men can experience this pain, then they'll be more loving and caring to their wives," said Lou Dezhu.
Wu Jianlong, who braved the pain right up to level 10, says the experience radically altered his views on childbirth.
"Because all women have children and it usually takes quite a long time, I had thought of it as being something really natural, something
really normal that they can get through," he said.
Wu, whose wife is three months pregnant, yelled in pain and clenched his fists before giving in and begging the nurse to stop - he had reached the maximum limit by then.
Unlike in the West, Chinese men are often not in the room when their partners or wives give birth. Some state-run hospitals do not allow expectant dads to enter, even if they want to. - See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/china-hospital-gives-men-chance-to-experience-pain-of-childbirth/article1-1288585.aspx#sthash.SHT4QDkh.dpuf

Tapeworm Lived In 50-Year-old UK Man’s Brain For Four Years

A rare 10cm-long tapeworm lived in a man’s brain for four years before being detected

SCIENTISTS in Britain have removed and studied a rare tapeworm that lived in a man’s brain for four years, researchers say.
The “10cm ribbon-shaped” parasite travelled five centimetres from the right side of the brain to the left.
The tapeworm causes sparganosis, an inflammation of body tissues that can cause seizures, memory loss and headaches when it occurs in the brain.
The 50-year-old man went to his doctor in 2008 complaining of headaches, seizures, memory loss and that his sense of smell had changed, The Telegraph reported. Over the next four year the man was tested for a number of diseases including HIV, lime disease and syphilis.
Surgeons removed it and the patient, of Chinese decent who lives in East Anglia, is now “systemically well”, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute said on Friday.
It was the first time the tapeworm, Spirometra erinaceieuropaei, was reported in Britain. Only 300 cases have been reported since 1953.
The tapeworm is thought to be caught by accidentally eating small infected crustaceans from lakes, eating raw amphibian or reptile meat, or by using a raw frog poultice which is a Chinese remedy for sore eyes.
“We did not expect to see an infection of this kind in the UK, but global travel means that unfamiliar parasites do sometimes appear,” said Effrossyni Gkrania-Klotsas of the department of Infectious Disease at Addenbrooke’s NHS Trust.
“Our work shows that, even with only tiny amounts of DNA from clinical samples, we can find out all we need to identify and characterise the parasite,” Gkrania-Klotsas added.
The doctor said the DNA study underlined the importance of a global database of worm genomes, to help identify and treat parasites.
“This worm is quite mysterious and we don’t know everything about what species it can infect or how. Humans are a rare and accidental host. for this particular worm. It remains as a larva throughout the infection. We know from the genome that the worm has fatty acid binding proteins that might help it scavenge fatty acids and energy from its environment, which may be one the mechanisms for how it gets its food,” Dr Hayley Bennett told The Guardian.
“This genome will act as a reference, so that when new treatments are developed for the more common tapeworms, scientists can cross-check whether they are also likely to be effective against this very rare infection.”

IOC member Gumel Returns as president Nigeria Olympic Committee

 Former Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) president and IOC member, Habu Gumel, has been returned back to office following elections into the committee held in Asaba, Delta State. Gumel, who had held the office of treasurer 1997 to 2001 when he became president and had office for eight years (Two terms of two years each) ,only defeated incumbent president, Sani Ndanusa. It will be recalled that it was Ndanusa who ousted him from office four years ago.. Gumel got 19 votes to Ndanusa’s 17 to become the new NOC president.

In other results, incumbent secretary general, Tunde Popoola polled 17 votes to Banji Oladapo’s 16 to retain his position, just as Johnny Hamakin beat Dans Adokie (3)and Gbenga Ashiru (8) to the deputy secretary general position.

Tony Ubani retained his position as the body’s public relations Officer by beating Mrs. Nwankwo by 31 votes to 5, while Bappa Aliyu Misau defeated Professor Makanjuola by 17 votes to 16 for deputy secretary general position..

. 'I'm Too Dark To Rent A Home, Says 'Briggs

*Skin colour a bar to renting in MoreeLike many people she knows, Kelly Briggs asked a white friend to rent the house she lives in after six months of applying as an Aboriginal woman and getting nowhere.

"I'm too dark," she said of the failed attempts to rent a home in Moree, a town in north-western NSW, with her two teenage children.The 34-year-old reformed drug addict, who has a diploma in business governance, previously had a steady job two years ago and has been trying to find a new one ever since.

"I'm just at the point where I'm applying for receptionist positions," she said.
Ms Briggs is not surprised by the findings of the landmark Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage report released on Wednesday.
The report found hospital admissions for intentional self-harm increased 48 per cent between 2004-05 and 2012-13.
She is among the statistics. Seven years ago she was admitted to hospital for self-harm when she returned from Brisbane to her home town of Moree and tried to find employment.
"It's just this really deep, deep feeling of you don't belong and no matter what you're doing, nothing's going to change. You feel like a non-person," Ms Briggs said of the experience.
"I just couldn't see any way out."
She has since been diagnosed with a mental health condition and, while she had a stable upbringing in which both parents worked, said she had experienced racism all her life.
"My first run-in with racism was preschool," Ms Briggs said. "Racism in Moree is so entrenched that people don't see it.
"People were calling me 'blackie', 'Abo' of course. A little girl told me I was dirty."
She puts the increasing rates of self-harm among Aboriginal people to entrenched disadvantage and a lack of jobs and money.
The people who work with the growing indigenous prison population are not shocked by the mammoth 57 per cent increase in the adult imprisonment rate between 2000 and 2013.
Changes to bail laws and parole and probation, as well as mandatory sentencing and a lack of legal resources, were increasingly bringing people already living in poverty and at a social and economic disadvantage into contact with the law, Shane Duffy, the chairman of the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, said.
"Tough on crime" policies were also lengthening court lists in remote areas and making it harder for alleged offenders to comply with bail conditions.
"Court lists are blowing out and it does tend to lend itself to a sausage factory," Mr Duffy said.
He said others with mental health problems were waiting in prison on remand for up to 18 months while a report about their condition was completed.
Debbie Kilroy, the chief executive of prisoner advocacy group Sisters Inside, said a growing number of indigenous women were being imprisoned for breaching domestic violence orders, particularly in northern Australia.
Some spoke English only as a second language and could not read or write, making it difficult to defend themselves or explain a history of violence towards them, she said.
"It's clear that Aboriginal women are being targeted with laws and policies," she said. "[And] they don't have the access to education to deal with the legal profession."

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/skin-colour-a-bar-to-renting-in-moree-20141119-11pwnn.html#ixzz3JXRBKRkt

 

Japan Arrests Widow With Seven Dead Partners

A 67-year-old millionairess has been arrested on suspicion of poisoning her husband with cyanide as it emerged six former partners had already died, in Japan's latest apparent "black widow" case.
Chisako Kakehi has been the beneficiary of a combined Y800 million ($A8.44 million) over the past two decades, Jiji Press said - insurance money and other assets she received after the seven men's deaths.
Husband number four Isao Kakehi fell sick suddenly at home and was confirmed dead at a hospital in December last year, less than two months after the couple married.
An autopsy found highly toxic cyanide compounds in his blood.
That came after the September death of a 75-year-old boyfriend, who fell suddenly ill after the couple ate together at a restaurant, Jiji said.
Kakehi's dalliance with death began in 1994 when her first husband passed away at the age of 54.
In 2006, her second husband, whom she had met through a dating agency, died of a stroke aged 69, while the third marriage ended in 2008 with the death of her 75-year-old partner, Jiji reported.
A boyfriend, believed to have been suffering from some form of cancer, died a year later, and in 2012 her then-fiance met his fate after collapsing while riding a motorbike.
Traces of cyanide were detected in his body, media reports said.
Kakehi was arrested on Wednesday by police in Kyoto on suspicion of murdering her latest husband. She has denied any involvement in his death.
"We suspect she did it for money," a police investigator on the latest death said without giving details of the amount involved.
Police are now working on the theory that she could have been behind the deaths of at least some of the other six.
"We can't say how many now.... Given their advanced age, we have to proceed carefully to judge whether their deaths were actually the result of foul play or not," the investigator said.
If she is found to have been involved in the deaths of numerous partners, Kakehi will become the latest example in Japan of a "black widow", named for the female spider that devours its mate after coupling.
In 2012, Kanae Kijima was sentenced to hang for the murders of three men, aged 41, 53 and 80, she met through internet dating sites.
Kijima, who was at one time a paid-for mistress, poisoned her victims with carbon monoxide by burning charcoal briquettes after drugging them with sleeping tablets.
She is in jail awaiting the outcome of an appeal to the supreme court.
Another woman, former bar hostess Miyuki Ueta, is also waiting on the outcome of a supreme court appeal against a death sentence for killing two men.
AFP

Pistorius didn't love Reeva: Steenkamp

THE mother of the model shot dead by Oscar Pistorius has revealed she suffers from nightmares about her final moments.
IN an emotional interview on Wednesday, June Steenkamp spoke of her anguish at seeing images in court of the athlete covered in her daughter Reeva's blood after he killed her.
She said she did not believe Pistorius loved Miss Steenkamp, 29, claiming he saw her as a "trophy". Pistorius, 27, was found guilty of culpable homicide last month and jailed for five years but he could be out of prison in 10 months. Mrs Steenkamp told BBC Radio 5 Live the thought of her daughter's last moments in a toilet cubicle in Pistorius's luxury home on Valentine's Day last year is "still there". She said: "We have nightmares about it all the time. That has been the hardest part to get through - that she would have been expecting God to come and save her and where are we? "We couldn't do anything to help her and now he comes along and does this dreadful, dreadful, horrible crime. It's just too much for us to even think about what she was going through in that bathroom. "She had no escape." She recalled the moment she learned of her daughter's death from a detective. "He said 'there has been an accident, she's been shot'. I said 'you better tell me if she's dead or alive' and he said 'I'm very sorry, she's passed away'. "I was shocked. I couldn't believe it." She said the couple had been arguing "all the time" which she thought was unusual for a new relationship. "That was a slight warning but I didn't know. She kind of hid it from us in the beginning." She said they shared a "very close" relationship and the death had left her and husband Barry "devastated". "Nothing except her being here will help," Mrs Steenkamp said. "I feel very angry when I think what he did to her - a wonderful person - and just shot her like that. "Something went wrong - we will never know unless he (Pistorius) decides to talk about it." She said she had forgiven Pistorius, but added: "He has taken everything from us. She will never have our grandchildren. She will never have a wedding. She will never have a career. "Why her? Why didn't he just let her go?" She expressed doubt that the couple, who began dating in around November 2012, had been physically intimate. "I just felt that I don't think so...I don't know. I don't understand their relationship at all." Asked if she thought Pistorius loved her daughter, she said: "No I think she was just a trophy." Mrs Steenkamp has written a book about her ordeal, titled Reeva: A Mother's Story.

Nigeria Olympic Committee Elections: Gumel Poised To Re-Invent Moribund Committee

The bid by Habu Ahmed Gumel to return to the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) as its president is now seen as the tonic to revamp the once vibrant committee.
According to followers of the Olympic movement in the country, his bid to reclaim the headship of the committee at its elective congress in Asaba on Thursday is a clarion call to duty -- to steer back a ship that had gone adrift.
In the last four years, there has been a seeming lack of coordination in the leadership of the committee.
The committee had largely been seen as a divided house, torn apart by internal squabbles that pitched the president against the secretary-general.
``The squabble, which polarised the entire committee, turned out a deviation from the norm because the in-fighting marred most of the executive committee sessions,’’ noted the chairman of a sports association who pleaded anonymity.
``Even the workers in the committee’s secretariat are poorly motivated as they are owed salaries for months.’’
A look at the secretariat complex shows that all has not been well. Even the 100 KVA generator installed during Gumel’s era has gone dysfunctional and the secretariat that used to be the envy of visitors to the National Stadium, Lagos, has lost the glory.
Perhaps, the way the leadership muzzled its way into the executive committee paved the way for the current situation. It was largely seen that the leadership circumvented all known legal means to come into office.
For instance, a provision in the NOC Constitution that an aspirant to the NOC presidency must belong to the International Federation (IF) in executive capacity for four years was not followed.
Nigeria’s failure at the London 2012 Olympic Games was traced to poor coordination by the NOC which muddled up the accreditation process.
``The joint NOC/sports ministry ad hoc secretariat during the Games failed to function and that was where the NOC was expected to provide leadership,’’ said a secretary in one of the sports associations.
The trend continued at the last Commonwealth Games in Scotland where the failure to pay allowances to sports federation chairmen left many of them stranded.
Another stigma trailing the incumbent executive is the failed bid to lease a landed property in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, but for the caveat on it.
An insider said the Lagos State Government, the donor of the land, put the caveat, insisting that it must not be resold or leased as it was donated toward promoting Olympism and its ideals in the country.
With the pedigree of Gumel as an IOC member, a vice president of the International Volleyball Federation and a council member of the Association of Olympic Committees, Nigeria stands to benefit from his wealth of experience.
As a close ally of the current IOC President, Germany's Thomas Bach, his return to the position will rekindle hopes while restoring the integrity of the NOC.
Born on April 1, 1949, Gumel has been a member of the IOC since 2009.
A statement released on Nov. 16 said no fewer than 16 persons had been cleared for the eight executive positions to be contested on Thursday.
It is expected that the election will be peaceful as there are no indications that the rancour that attended the last election will be witnessed in Asaba.

LIFE

This guy has been fired 300 times
THIS man has been hired and fired from 300 jobs over the past decade. You could almost say he’s made a career out of it.
Mike Rowe, host of the popular Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs and the upcoming CNN show Somebody’s Gotta Do It, took to Reddit earlier this week to dish the dirt on what went on behind the scenes.
From mafia-controlled factories to how he kept in shape during filming, here are some of the best questions and responses.
THE MAFIA
Q: What dirty jobs did you always want to do but the network or producers wouldn’t let you do?
“The segments I was most interested in doing but found the most resistance around was that of a rendering facility. Aside from the fact that ‘rendering facilities’ are by their very definition optically horrific, there was another concern that I had not considered.
“That concern can be spelled out with the following letters. M-O-B. That’s right — the mob is still involved in a surprising number of rendering facilities. Why the mob has such a rich history in garbage-related industries and rendering-related industries is a conversation beyond my pay grade.
“I only know how relieved I was to finally find a rendering outfit that was not owned or operated by the Cosa Nostra. That facility was in Northern California. And they were called North State Rendering.
“To this day, I’m impressed with how brave they were in their decision to let us provide our viewers with an unvarnished look at what it takes to turn a dead cow into several hundred pounds of chicken feed.”
SHOCKING JOB
Q: What job shocked you the most by finding out how awful it really was?
“Many jobs appear bad at a glance, only to get much worse at a second glance. And some jobs simply get worse and worse with every subsequent glance, which is why (of course) many people watch the program with their eyes closed.
“I was never in a position to close my eyes, and consequently, I enjoyed a front-row seat to a great variety of pits, and holes, that most people simply don’t know exist. One brief example might be the interior of an ocean buoy.
“In the Coast Guard, buoy tenders are responsible for hoisting these giant steel contraptions out of the ocean, and refurbishing them.
“In this case, ‘refurbishment’ means crawling into a woefully inadequate tube not much larger than the space taken up by your shoulders, and wiggling your way like a worm into the shadowy depths whereupon you begin to remove the barnacles and various other forms of nautical life with a stick or some other improvised tool.”
KEEPING FIT
Q: Do you follow an exercise/weightlifting routine?
“For a while, when I agonised over maintaining the illusion of fitness, I committed myself to a routine that centred around burpees.
“Also known as the Prison Workout, burpees require one to drop from a standing position into a squat. Then you kick your legs backward, and do a push-up. Then, you return to the squatting position. Then, you leap into the air as high as you can. Then you do it again.
“And again. And again. Until you are either a) No longer fat, or b) Vomiting uncontrollably. The end.”

 

Want To Live To Be 80: This Is How
For Nick Iliopolous, the key to longevity is salad, sea, sex and sun.
The 83-year-old has been sunning himself in the same spot on the Bronte foreshore for the past 20 years.
The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) suggests many more octogenarians will soon be able to join him.

For the first time in history, Australian men can expect to live past 80.
The breakthrough, revealed on Thursday, means that Australia has joined an elite group of countries.
Among them are Switzerland, Japan and Iceland, where both men and women can expect to live past their 80th birthday.

Illustration: Cathy Wilcox

It comes as no surprise to Mr Iliopolous, formerly of Mount Olympus.
His routine has prepared him for what he believes will be his penultimate decade.
"The secret is salad. Only tomatoes and lettuce," he said. "Walk for one hour a day and then back to the beach."
Mr Iliopolous said he was well-regarded among beachgoers for his healthy octogenarian physique.
"People always want to photograph me, they say 'look at my hair, look at my colour'."
He believes the other secret is getting married.
"A wife will keep you around longer," he said.
But men took their time to catch up to women, ABS's director of demography, Denise Carlton, said.
"Australian women pushed past the 80-year mark back in 1990, so it's taken men nearly a quarter of a century," Dr Carlton said.
"But having crossed the elusive 80-year threshold in the 1990s, improvements in expected lifespan for women has since slowed down, increasing by around four years over the period; it's 84.3 now."

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/life-expectancy-for-australian-males-surges-past-80-for-first-time-20141106-11hsvb.html#ixzz3IIlgBvN2

G20 Brisbane 2014Putin Did ThingsDid Things Different-Reports

SCIENTISTS testing food before it’s eaten, undercover agents lingering on street corners, snipers on rooftops and five security guards within arm’s reach at any given time.
Welcome to a day in the life of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Staff members at the Hilton hotel where the President stayed during the G20 summit have told news.com.au about the extreme security measures and “intense” preparation that goes into every move the President makes.
RUSSIAN HOME: Putin leaves the G20 Summit
Speaking after an exhausting weekend, one staff member who didn’t want to be named said “it was pretty intense but extremely exciting” and took security measures to a “whole new level”.
Speaking after an exhausting weekend, one staff member who didn’t want to be named said “it was pretty intense but extremely exciting” and took security measures to a “whole new level”.
“We put a lot of effort in for all of our guests but when you have someone high profile, a singer or a racing car driver, a lot more work goes into those types of people because they have a lot more requirements. To look after people of this calibre you have to step your game up a heck of a lot,” the staff member said.
The Hilton played host to delegates from Mexico and Mauritania as well but it was the Russian delegation that demanded the most attention, taking up three quarters of the available rooms with some staff having to bunk together due to the sheer number of them.
“It was more just the size of it really, to move 319 people into a hotel in a matter of hours and then one day you have to move 319 back out, that’s really what it comes down to,” he said.
“With the roads shut down as they were it didn’t make things easier for anyone. It was more just the logistics of the whole situation.”
The hotel had all stations manned 24 hours a day, with staff on hand to prepare food for the ex-KGB Russian strongman and his entourage.
“We prepared it in our kitchen and it was taken up to him in the restaurant or wherever he was dining and it was tasted by someone first to ensure that it wasn’t poisoned or anything along those lines and then it was plated up and served,” the staff member said.
Those hoping for a glimpse in the hotel restaurant were disappointed as all of the leaders in the hotel opted to dine in their rooms or out at the official events.
 Each of the countries also brought their own security detail, with police staying in the hotel and “undercovers hanging around out the front”.
“When it comes to it, all these countries have their security and they don’t want us getting involved with it,” the staffer said.
“Putin would have had probably four or five people with him at most times, otherwise he’s always got a main guy that stays with him all the time. It wasn’t that excessive.”
Despite much-speculation he left the event early due to international pressure, staff members said the mid-afternoon departure had been on the agenda the entire time.
“We were never told times but we were always told it was mid-afternoon.”
During the stay workers were warned not to disclose any details to family or friends.
“Our policy is not to talk about any guests, with them it was exactly the same. No social media, no telling family, no telling friends. It was hotel policy but it was also to know who was staying where. None of the Presidents wanted any information out there as to where they were staying,” the staffer said.
But despite the massive headache the operation involved, the worker said he would take the world leaders any day, with the only other unusual request the large make-up mirror bought by the Mexican First Lady Angelica Rivera.
“They were easy maintenance. We have more trouble with sporting teams than they did with these guests,” the staff member said.

-News Limited

SPORTS:

 Bernstein Urges European World Cup boycott
Former Football Association chairman David Bernstein has urged European nations to boycott the 2018 World Cup unless world governing body FIFA undergoes serious reform.
FIFA is firmly under the spotlight again following the release of a report on Thursday by the chairman of the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA's ethics committee which cleared Russia and Qatar to host the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, having found no serious breaches of bidding rules by either nation.
Michael Garcia, who conducted the investigation on which Thursday's report was based but whose full report has not been made public, has appealed against the version released by FIFA.
Allegations of corruption - strenuously denied - continue to be levelled against the Qatar 2022 and Russia 2018 bid teams.
According to Bernstein, who retired from his post with the FA last year, boycotting football's biggest tournament should be a real possibility but only if other countries support England in doing so.
"England on its own cannot influence this - one country can't do it," he told BBC Sport.
"If we tried to do something like that we'd be laughed at. I think England within UEFA undoubtedly have the power to influence FIFA, but to do so they would have to consider withdrawing from the World Cup, the next World Cup, unless proper reform - including (FIFA president Sepp) Blatter not standing (for a fifth term) - is carried out at FIFA.
"If I was at the FA now, I would do everything I could to encourage other nations within UEFA - and there are some who would definitely be on side, others maybe not - to take this line. At some stage you have to walk the talk, stop talking and do something.
"It sounds drastic but frankly this has gone on for years now, it's not improving, it's going from bad to worse to worse. There are 54 countries within UEFA. There's Germany, Spain, Italy, France and Holland - all powerful. You can't hold a serious World Cup without them. They have the power to influence if they have the will."
Bernstein, who gave way to Greg Dyke as the head of the FA, says the events surrounding the report into 2018 and 2022 bidding went "beyond ridicule" and said he had stepped down from his role on FIFA's anti-discrimination task force as a consequence.
He added: "FIFA is sort of a totalitarian set-up. Bits of it remind me of the old Soviet empire. People don't speak out and if they do they get quashed.
"The choosing of Qatar was clearly one of the most ludicrous decisions in the history of sport. You might as well have chosen Iceland in the winter. It was like an Alice in Wonderland sort of decision.
"I've resigned for two reasons - firstly, the body has been pretty ineffectual. I've been on it for more than a year and we only had one meeting; secondly because frankly I don't wish to be personally associated with FIFA any further."
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 Cafu: "2014 Has Opened The Eyes Of Youth Coaches"
Cafu, Brazil's World XCup winning captain in Korea/ Japan  believes that coaches working in Brazil will have opened their eyes and change their ways after the 7-1 inflicted by Germany in the semi-final of the World Cup.
The former AC Milan right side believes it is vital to train new talents and empower coaches for this:"The youth competitions are important. This type of event gives value to education and empowers young people. I am positive about the future development of our training. Everybody must be mobilized to improve our training. We need competent, professionals who want to improve things," Cafu said during the final of the Danone Cup in Sao Paulo.
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 La Liga:Simeone Staying Put At Atletico
 It is almost three years since Diego Simeone was named as the coach of Atletico Madrid to replace the unpopular Gregorio Manzano.
Manzano's second term at the Vicente Calderon had stagnated in the face of poor results and hostility from the fans and the naming of Simeone, who had been a hero as a player, was the best way for the club to get the fans back on board again.
Nobody could have expected three years packed with success, however, as Simeone led Atletico to the Europa League and the European Supercup before following that up with a triumph in the King's Cup over local rivals Real Madrid in Real's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and topping those achievements off last season by guiding Atletico to an unlikely BBVA Primera Liga title and an appearance in the final of the Champions League.
That success has made Simeone the focus of attention for other clubs in Europe and it is not surprising that the Argentinean has begun to be linked with almost every big job that comes available.
Speaking in Spanish sports paper, Diario Marca, Simeone assured Atletico fans he had no immediate plans to move.
"I am very happy at Atletico Madrid," he assured. "I want to continue growing and I am not satisfied with anything. I don't know what the ceiling is for this club, but I am going to keep on looking for it."
The coach has long insisted the need to take matters game by game and true to that philosophy, he was unwilling to look for aims beyond Saturday's league game against in-form Malaga.
"I am pleased to have reached three years at the club and it is extra special to do so at one which I love so much. I always think that one day I may get the sack so for the moment, all I look ahead to is the Malaga match," concluded Simeone.
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UEFA may leave FIFA,SaysGerman football boss Reinhard
The head of the German football league (DFL) said the crisis at FIFA over the 2022 and 2018 World Cup bid process could raise questions about its credibility and thoughts of Europe breaking away from the world governing body.
World soccer's governing body was plunged into chaos this week when FIFA ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert said there were no grounds to reopen the controversial process which led to Russia being given the 2018 finals and Qatar the 2022 tournament.
Allegations of corruption and bribery surrounding the process have accompanied FIFA and the host nations ever since.
Three hours after Eckert's statement, former US prosecutor Michael J. Garcia, who led the investigation over an 18-month period, said Eckert's 42-page statement had misrepresented his report and that he would take the case to the FIFA appeals committee.
"It was a serious attempt to process the issues regarding the 2018 World Cup and 2022 World Cup," DFL President Reinhard Rauball told Kicker magazine on Saturday.
"The result is the communication nuclear meltdown which rocks the foundations of FIFA as I have never experienced it," said Rauball, who is not a member of FIFA.
The DFL is in charge of Germany's top two professional divisions.
Rauball, who is also chairman of Borussia Dortmund, said FIFA should make the report public in order to see "what was accused and how it was evaluated."
"Two things must happen," he said. "Not only publishing the ethics commission decision but also the appeal by Mr Garcia so it is clear what is being accused and how it was evaluated."
"Also what was not taken into account and if it was correct to leave those things out," he said.
Rauball, who has been critical in the past of FIFA's decision to award the World Cup to Qatar, said if that did not happen then questions would be asked about whether FIFA was the right body to lead football.
"If that does not happen and this crisis is not solved credibly then one has to think about the question whether one is still in good hands at FIFA," he said.
"One option that would be seriously considered is for UEFA (European nations) to break away from FIFA."
Reuters
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 Ex-German Goalkeeper Tim Wiese Set For Pro-wrestling Career

BERLIN: Beefed up ex-Germany international goalkeeper Tim Wiese is set for a career in professional wrestling after making an appearance in the ring at a WWE event on Saturday in Frankfurt.
The 1.90m Wiese, who made the last of his six appearances for Germany in 2012, has completely
transformed his body and now tips the scales at around 120kgs after taking up weightlifting.
The muscular former shot-stopper is considering a career in the razzmatazz world of wrestling having walked away from professional football in September following a lengthy dispute with ex-club Hoffenheim.
The 32-year-old was the star attraction on the WWE event's red carpet, fielding numerous questions from journalists and giving countless interviews before taking his place ringside for the bouts as honorary timekeeper.
He briefly climbed into the ring when provoked by wrestling duo 'Goldust' and 'Stardust', but only ended up posing, dancing and flexing his bulging tattooed biceps to the delight of the 10,000-strong crowd.
"It was nice to have been invited, it was great fun," said Wiese, who now lifts weights five times a week.
"It was pretty warm under the many lights.
"It's very different to football, in wrestling you fight on your own and the wrestlers were quite oily."
Wiese was in the Germany squad for the 2010 World Cup and made more than 300 Bundesliga appearances.
But after leaving Werder Bremen in 2012 to play for Hoffenheim, a disagreement with his new club's bosses meant he played just 10 league matches before walking away earlier this year with two years still left on his contract.
Whether or not he will actually take part in a WWE bout, Wiese did not want to comment, although his profile would significantly help to boost the sport's profile in Germany.
"I still have a contract with Hoffenheim," he insisted.
Wiese says he took up weightlifting as "a reaction" to his frustrations at Hoffenheim where he was part of a group banned from training with the first team last year.
"It's great to see what you can really achieve through hard training," said Wiese.
"We haven't reached the end of the story yet."

AFP
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2014 ACCW: Ochuko vows Dolphin ‘ll be one of Africa’s Best 

Coach of Dolphin female basketball club of Lagos, Ochuko Okworogun, has said her team will be no push overs in the African club champions Cup for women competition in Tunisia November 28 through December 7.Speaking in Lagos as her team finalizes preparations for the event, she expressed delight at players response to training, saying that they will  with a mind to fight to enter the top ranks, not minding that opposing clubs  are some of the best in the continent We will definitely be fighters, not mere participants, she said. , Dolphin emerged champions of Zone-3 Burkina Faso, relegating First Bank to second place and both clinched the FIBA AFRICA Zonal tickets in the for continental finals against teams including champions Inter Clube of  Angola, USIU Flames and KPA of Kenya (Zone 5), INJS of Cameroon, and INSS of Democratic Republic of Congo (Zone 4), US Beau Bassin of Mauritius (zone 7) and CS Sfaxien of Tunisia, the host club. Senegal and others. Dolphin, who took a week of rest on return from the zonal test, Coach Ochuko, who said her side would go as the same squad that played the zonal, explained. “We are aware it is a competition that has traditional teams and former winners who are parked with experience, we will not let that worry us because we proved ourselves against some of the best in the zonal play-offs.. Though Dolphin players lack the kind of experience and exposure other teams have, we are more than determined to play knowing it is going to be tougher. However, we will give our best out there. One thing I am promising is that Dolphin will play not as outsiders but real contenders. We are preparing ourselves to be fit mentally and psychologically for it. We are not going to be any form of disgrace for Nigeria. Rather we are going to lift our game high in a ways that will earn us some respect in the continent and  come back home with our heads high as good ambassadors of Nigeria, she said.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s other team First Bank has set a target to win the title for a third time, according to Coach Aderemi Adewunmi. The Bank won the crown in 2003 and 2009.  According to Aderemi, “our aim is to lift our game and make our management and country proud. Our target is to gun for the African title once more.”

================================ 
World ATP Tour Finals: Federer Defeats
Roger Federer has destroyed Andy Murray to march into the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals semi-finals with a chilling O2 performance.
Federer, 33, handed Murray the Scot’s heaviest professional defeat with a 6-0 6-1 mauling in only 56 minutes, claiming the first 11 games.
Murray’s woeful display contrasted with Federer’s excellence as his roller-coaster 2014 season fizzled to a bizarre finish.
“Everything he tried tonight came off. He has the ability to do that.” Murray said.
The Scot had won 11 of 22 previous matches with Federer and needed to down the Swiss in straight sets to reach the semi-finals.
Instead, he was totally outclassed by Federer, leaving Japan’s Kei Nishikori to finish second in Group B and qualify for tomorrow’s semi-finals.
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 Courtois not surprised by Cech quit rumour Thibaut Courtois insists he is not surprised fellow Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is considering an exit from Stamford Bridge in January.
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 China, New Zealand  Draw1-1 in Soccer Friendly
Captain Zheng Zhi scored an sensational goal as China drew with New Zealand 1-1 at an international soccer friendly here on Friday.
The veteran blasted a thunderbolt half-volley into the upper corner of the far post from 25 meters with his left foot to beat a helpless keeper Jake Gleeson in the 42nd minute.
Zheng Zhi could have made a brace before the end of the interval with another magic goal, but a focused Gleeson denied his wicked lob shot from the edge of the penalty area with a nice back-diving tipover.
Leicester City striker Chris Wood made a late equaliser in the 86th mintue with a bullet header following a pinpoint left wing center.
China took some advantage over their rival for most part of the game. A living left back Jiang Zhipeng and in-form Hao Junmin produced a series of threatening crosses, but Wu Lei and Sun Ke squandered them with some shots not far away from the target.
The Kiwis fought hard on the pitch and created several good opportunities, but keeper Wang Dalei made some nice diving saves to hold the scoreboard.
Besides the goal, the visitors had a clear chance on 32 minutes with a header inside the box to rattle the far post, but Wang Dalei held the rebound tightly with good luck.
China used this match as a warmup for next year's AFC Asian Cup Australia, and will play Honduras four days later in Xi'an. In December, China will play three friendlies with Kyrgyzstan and Palestine, and the will last entertain Oman on Jan. 5 before their first Group B game against Saudi Arabia at the Asian football showpiece event in Australia.
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Zidane: Ronaldo Was The Best Player I Played With

France and Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has claimed that Ronaldo was the greatest player he ever played with.
The duo played alongside each other in the Spanish capital for four years before the World Cup winning Frenchman hung up his boots in 2006.
Speaking after Ronaldo's induction to the Goal.com Hall of Fame, Zidane said that the 38-year-old was the finest teammate he ever lined up alongside.
'I've always seen Ronaldo as the best because I played and trained with him,' Zidane said.
'He's probably the best player I ever played with. He did what he wanted with the ball and didn't have any weaknesses.
'When he decided to express himself with the ball, he did whatever he wanted. Technically, no player has impressed me more than Ronaldo. On a good day, it was impossible to stop him.'
-SAMBAFOOT.COM
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Armero slams Inzaghi for lack of game-time

Colombian international Pablo Armero has launched a scathing attack on Filippo Inzaghi as the AC Milan head coach failed to fulfil his promise.

Armero, who joined the Rossoneri on loan from Udinese in the summer, said he was convinced by Inzaghi to join the Milan side, but has played just 13 minutes of Serie A soccer this season.
The Colombian international said he never wanted to join Milan, but Inzaghi said he 'needed' him.
"I didn't ask to go to Milan, I asked to go to a team where I could be a leader. It was Inzaghi who called and asked me to go to Milan, because he said he was depending on me," he said.
"But so far I haven't found room in the Italian League, where I thought I'd play regularly after a good World Cup in Brazil this summer," he said.
"He said 'Come here, I need you' and I thought that he really meant it, but I never play," Armero added.
=========================================================
 Chelsea's Willian: My place in Brazil side is not guaranteed

Chelsea playmaker Willian has said that he is taking nothing for granted after playing a starring role in Brazil's 4-0 win over Turkey on Thursday.
The attacking midfielder helped himself to a goal in Istanbul and dovetailed with Neymar throughout, but the former Shakhtar Donetsk star said that he needs to maintain his performance levels if he is to stay in the national side.
He told SporTV: 'I am guaranteed nothing in the team here. I need to keep working for my position and my place in the team.
'I think we scored some good goals and took advantage of the situation. I have been growing with each game with the team and I am aware that I can evolve further and this is important.'
==========================================================

 Brazil Have Matured Since The World Cup, Says Luis

Paris Saint-Germain defender David Luiz believes that Brazil have matured since their humiliating exit at the World Cup.
Brazil were dumped out of the tournament at the semi-final stage after an embarrassing 7-1 hammering by Germany in Belo Horizonte, before they later succumbed to a 3-0 reverse to the Netherlands in the third-place playoff.
However, since Dunga replaced Luiz Felipe Scolari as coach, the Selecao have won five games on the spin and are yet to concede a goal.
Speaking after their 4-0 win over Turkey on Thursday, the PSG defender said: 'We knew we needed to reflect on what happened at the World Cup. We are maturing and learning a new philosophy [under Dunga].
'Dunga has the leadership qualities and personality and he has shown us the way to victory. It was a very good feeling [to be cheered by the Turkish fans]. We faced an adverse situation and we are very happy [with the win].'
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2015 AFCON: Equatorial Guinea Is Cup Host
 The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announcEquatorial Guinea isthe new  host the Africa Cup of Nations tournament scheduled from January 17 to February 8, 2015.
Morocco had asked for the tournament to be postponed due to concerns over the Ebola crisis but CAF's executive committee decided to move the tournament instead, and have banned Morocco from taking part.
CAF said in a statement: "Following fraternal and fruitful discussions, the head of state of Equatorial Guinea has agreed to host the tournament from January 17 to February 8, 2015 .
"The national team of Equatorial Guinea qualify for the final tournament as host country."
Equatorial Guinea, co-hosts in 2010 with Gabon, had been suspended in July for fielding an ineligible player but now will be allowed to compete in the tournament.
The matches will take place in four venues and the draw for the finals will take place on December 3 in the country's capital, Malabo.
Equatorial Guinea has a poor human rights record, with Human Rights Watch reporting arbitrary detentions and unlawful killings. Oil-rich Spanish-speaking Equatorial Guinea hosted the 2012 finals with neighbours Gabon.
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2015 Afcon: Uzokwe Endorses Mfon Udoh For Eagles

Nigerian Premier league highest goal scorer, Mfon Udoh of Enyimba has been singled out as one player good enough to be called up to the national team because his striking skills would help solve the Super Eagles scoring problem especially in the current 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers. According to Ex-international Evans Uzokwe, coach Stephen Keshi should look towards the Enyimba striker for possible call up to the national team because Mfon, who has set a new season record of 21 goals would make an impact if given the chance, “he is a player with wonders on his legs, he will go places if given a chance.” he stated. It will be recalled that Mfom recently broke the record of the most goals scored in a league season held by Jude Aneke when he found the net in Enyimba’s 1-1 draw against Dolphins of Port Harcourt. The feat earned him praise from team mates and club officials though the score-line ran short of the clubs target of an outright win in the bid to catch up with leaders Pillars.

Uzokwe who played for Niger Tornadoes and defunct Spartans of Owerri said though he would love to see Mfon join the Super Eagles attack, he has however expressed doubts that the Eagles can qualify for the  2015 AFCON. “Eagles have an outside chance of qualifying for the Cup of Nations final because Congo, not South Africa will  try to present the stiffest obstacle when we take them on at home in their place,” he said.

 In another development, Uzokwe, who rose to the position of Head of Service Imo State after a successful football career, has congratulated Kano Pillars FC for winning the Nigerian Premier League back to back.

He praised coach Okey Emordi, ,  for steering Pillars to yet another successful season. Pillars, who won the title in 2013, have only recently been confirmed champions for 2014 after finishing the season with 65 points ahead of Enyimba of Aba who finished with 61 points while Warri Wolves placed third with 60points.The league has just a game to conclude the season.

He heaped praise on the former CAF Champions League winner with Enyimba not for fun but as one he knew from close range. Uzokwe and Emordi’ were team mates at the defunct P and T Vasco Da Ga Ma FC Enugu. So, posited that Pillars could only have achieved the feat as the side was more organized than others and had a coach with experience and vision. “I believe they won the title again because Emordi knew the tricks of the game and club management was focused. “More than that, I am also calling on the club management to ensure they constitute a strong side able to carry the nation’s flag well in the CAF Champions League come next year. I believe that if they can get on it the same they did with the league, the sky will be their limit.”

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   Tennis Player Daniele Bracciali Admits To Fixing
ROME: A judicial prosecutor says Italian tennis player Daniele Bracciali has partially admitted to match-fixing.
Investigator Roberto Di Martino told AP on Wednesday that Bracciali had "admitted a few things and denied a few things" during a hearing last week with authorities.
Bracciali and occasional doubles partner Potito Starace face corruption accusations after intercepted internet conversations, claiming they had 'sold' matches, were printed three weeks ago in Italian media.
The conversations are part of data that investigators, led by Di Martino in Cremona, have been sorting through in a soccer match-fixing inquiry.
Di Martino said the tennis inquiry had "reached a level where it's all over the world".
He would not confirm or deny reports that former Swedish player Tomas Nydahl was also under investigation for recruiting players to fix matches.
AP
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I Will Trade Goal Record For League Title, Says Mfom Udoh

Enyimba's Mfon Udoh on Sunday broke the record of most goals scored in a league season previously held by Jude Aneke when he scored in his sides one all draw against Dolphins in Port Harcourt.
Udoh went into the game last Sunday as joint top scorer on 20 goals with Dolphins Emem Eduok in one of the games of the Niogerian Premier league.
While Emem failed to score, Udoh did with a header which beat goalkeeper Rotimi Sunday in goal for the home side.That drew his side level after Chidiebere Okolie had earlier given theDolphin the lead.
Udoh though happy he had broken Aneke's record was disappointed Enyimba had failed to win the league.
"If truth must be told I am happy to break the record but that was not the only essence of the game," he said on his club's website. "I would prefer we won the league than me getting the golden boot. But well, God has a way of working for us maybe that's the way he wants it."
Jude Aneke had in November 2011 set a league record of most goals scored in a season when he broke Ahmed Musa's record of 18 goals by scoring 20. As it stands now his drewm is well over as Kano Pillars have been crwned champions of 2014 season.
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 Feature:If You Think Chess Is All About Brains, You Couldn't Be More Wrong

The debate whether Chess is a sport has been going on since times of yore. Many detractors say that there is no physical effort invovled in Chess.

Chess, unlike popular notion, is not only brains. There is a fair bit of brawn. It is a non-contact sport, but players fight it out tooth and nail. Tigran Petrosian lost 30 pounds in his match with Mikhail Botvinnik. Anatoly Karpov was thoroughly exhausted after his first match with Gary Kasparov in 1984.

Over the years, the Chess World Championships have produced some truly unforgettable battles.

Here’s taking a look at three of the fiercest and the most dramatic of those duels:

This match is referred to as the 'Match of the Century'. The Cold War is at its peak when eccentric American Bobby Fischer takes on defending champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. Soviets had dominated the sport for 24 years and Spassky was the clear favourite even though Fischer had a much higher Elo rating.

Both went all guns blazing and justified the immense hype media had created around the match. - See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/sports-news/othersports/so-you-think-chess-is-all-about-brains-you-couldn-t-be-more-wrong/article1-1282660.aspx#sthash.MwDgzL4B.dpuf

This match is referred to as the 'Match of the Century'. The Cold War is at its peak when eccentric American Bobby Fischer takes on defending champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. Soviets had dominated the sport for 24 years and Spassky was the clear favourite even though Fischer had a much higher Elo rating.
Both went all guns blazing and justified the immense hype media had created around the match.

The start was a little dramatic with Fischer declining to take part unless he was offered 30% of the television and broadcasting rights along with the prize money. He missed the opening ceremony, and only made an appearance 10 minutes after Spassky had made his first move in the opening game. Spassky went on to win the match with ease.
Fischer put forth another demand asking for cameras to be removed from the game area. He seemed so preoccupied with these whims that the scoreline soon read 2-0 in Spassky's favour.
Fischer needed 12.5 points from 24 games, while defending champion Spassky would have retained the crown with a 12-12 draw.
The American was temperamental, but a genius, which he displayed amply in the games that followed. He won the third and fifth game to level the scores at 2.5-2.5.
Fischer won the 21st game after 7 draws to clinch the championship with 3 games to spare.
The 'Match of the Century' had all the ingredients of a box office thriller — suspense, drama, action, heartbreak.   

  GARRY KASPAROV vs VISHWANATHAN ANAND, 1995, NEW YORK

Kasparov had been stripped of his title by World Chess Federation (FIDE) for his match with Nigel Short in 1993, which was held outside the chess body's auspices. Nevertheless, he was widely considered the legitimate world champion.
Kasparov created the Profession Chess Association (PCA) and held a series of candidates matches to choose an opponent for himself. Anand came out as the top contender.
The match was played on the Observation Deck on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center in New York, and it was to last 20 games instead of the traditional 24.

 - See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/sports-news/othersports/so-you-think-chess-is-all-about-brains-you-couldn-t-be-more-wrong/article1-1282660.aspx#sthash.MwDgzL4B.dpuf

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AFCON2015: South Africa's Permutations For Qualifying
South Africa still have their destiny in their own hands going into the final two 2015 African Nations Cup qualification matches at home to Sudan and away in Nigeria next month.

READ: Bafana vs Sudan at Mbombela Stadium?
Bafana Bafana head Group A with eight points, one ahead of the Congolese with Nigeria on four and Sudan likely out the running on three.
They would have already sealed their ticket to Morocco with a win over Congo on Wednesday night, but now face a number of permutations in their pool ahead of their home clash with Sudan on the weekend of November 15/16.
A win there would seal their place at the continental showpiece, though even a draw could be enough if Congo are held by Nigeria in Pointe Noire.
That would leave Bafana four points ahead of the Super Eagles in third with one game to come and with the top two sides in each pool advancing to the finals, ensure qualification.
A draw and a Congolese win would also seal their place at the continental finals, but should South Africa be held, or lose, it would set up a doomsday scenario in the final round of matches when they must travel to Nigeria on November 19.
Should they be held by the Sudanese and Nigeria win, it would give them a two-point lead over both the Super Eagles and Congo. Defeat in Nigeria and a Congo win in Sudan and Bafana would be out the running.
There is also a scenario where they could lose both their next two games and still qualify.
If Nigeria beat Congo away and the Congolese then only draw in Sudan, both they and South Africa would be level on eight points in second place in the pool, but Bafana would be better placed due to their head-to-head record in the pool.
UCL: Arsenal tactically clueless, SaysMerson
Paul Merson slammed Arsenal as "tactically clueless" after they blew a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Anderlecht at the Emirates.
The Gunners looked to be on track to qualify for the last 16 along with Borussia Dortmund as they opened up a 3-0 advantage against the Belgian's. But the game changed dramatically in the final 30 minutes, when the visitors staged a stirring comeback to snatch a draw and leave Sky Sports pundit Merson fuming at the display.
"I think they are tactically clueless, that's an honest opinion," said the former Arsenal man.
"This is not the first time it's happened, it's happened a lot. It's absolutely clueless. For me the manager has to get a message on, but these are international footballers, they are not little kids.
"They play for their countries, in World Cups, in the Premier League, and they are all bombing forward. Surely something in your head, if you know football, you say let's stop here, let's have two banks of four, leave two up front and let them us break us down. It's clueless as football knowledge."
While Arsenal still only need a point to qualify from Group D they are now five points behind Dortmund with just two games left to play.
And former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann agreed with Merson that the Gunners should have closed out the victory against the Belgians.
"The naivety is staggering, they were still attacking at 3-1 and 3-2 with five or six men," said Hamman. "Collectively it comes back to the manager to make the changes. At 3-0 or 3-1 he could have brought Walcott on to maybe get another on the counter.
"The players never thought about the team success, they wanted to get on the scoresheet and they got the ultimate punishment tonight. As Mikel Arteta said it's not acceptable for a team that wants to win and challenge for trophies at the highest level to be 3-0 up against that team and let them come back to get a draw."
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UCL:We'll Show Our Quality , Says Mourinho
Jose Mourinho feels a responsibility for Chelsea to perform at their ruthless best in Wednesday night's Champions League Group G clash at Maribor in an ominous warning to his hosts.
The Blues beat the Slovenian champions 6-0 two weeks ago and know victory could seal their place in the last 16 with two games to spare, depending on the result between Sporting Lisbon and Schalke.
"I like this concept of going with a big club, full of big players to a country, a stadium, a city where normally they don't come," Mourinho said.
"To come here, to play here, I think we have responsibility to play for us and also to play for the people.
"I know they want to win - they don't want us to win - but to play for the people is to play well, and to show what we can do, to show the quality players we have, to show the quality team we have."
Mourinho insists he would never select a weakened team in anticipation of defeat, in a slight made towards Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.
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Manchester United players shun free cars  

 It has been revealed that Manchester United stars are not playing along with a $600 million deal between the club and General Motors.Chevrolet sponsors the club to the tune of a rumoured £47 million per season, having its logo on the famous red jerseys of the most famous team in football.The carmaker delivered a truckload of Corvette and Camaro sports cars for the players to drive, but Britain's Daily Mail reports that players are ignoring the machines in favour of their preferred wheels.Star striker Wayne Rooney has been commuting in a modified Range Rover, while Robin Van Persie drives a Porsche Panamera and Marouane Fellaini gets to training in a Mercedes-Benz ML-Class.

The seven-year sponsorship deal is believed to be the richest arrangement in English football, and reportedly twice what previous sponsor AON paid to be on the club's jerseys.
It is controversial in that Chevrolet has announced it will stop selling cars in Europe at the end of 2015. General Motors fired marketing boss Joel Ewanick in 2012, after the deal was announced.
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Knee injury likely to sideline City star David Silva for a month 

 MANCHESTER City midfielder David Silva will miss Sunday’s derby against Manchester United and could be out of action for up to a month with a knee injury, manager Manuel Pellegrini said.

Silva was injured during the early stages of holders City’s 2-0 League Cup defeat at home to Newcastle United on Wednesday after a clash with the Magpies’ Ryan Taylor.
“Manuel Pellegrini confirms that @21LVA will miss Sunday’s game. Will be out for 3-4 weeks,” City said on Twitter on Friday.
Silva is now also out of City’s potentially decisive Champions League group match against CSKA Moscow and the Premier League fixture away to Queens Park Rangers.
He is also doubtful for Spain’s upcoming Euro 2016 qualifier against Belarus and a friendly with Germany.

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Constantin: From Janitor To F-1 Owner

 The history of Formula 1 is littered with unlikely characters who were thrust into positions of prominence, but the tale of Ioan Constantin Cojocaru takes the cake.

The 52-year-old Romanian has found himself at the centre of the sorry mess that has become the Caterham team.

A star footballer in the 1980s, Cojocaru represented his country at Under-21 level. His career on the pitch reached its peak in a pair of seasons playing for FC Steaua Bucharest, subbing on late in their Champions League semi-final loss to Benefica in 1988.
So how has he ended up as the sole director and owner of Caterham Sports Limited, the entity behind the F1 team?
Simple. He became their janitor.
Cojocaru had hit hard times since retiring from professional football, and decided on a move to England in the hope of finding work as a “cleaner or warehouse keeping,” putting his CV online.
“I left Romania because I had financial difficulties,” he explained to Romanian site Prosport.
“I had to pay my mortgage and as my job as a chief of a bus depot in Brasov I was paid only 1000 Lei (less than 200 pounds) a month.”
The Caterham team offered him a job as their general cleaner for 1000 pounds per month. From there, the plot takes a very strange twist.
“When I came I worked as a cleaner until an Italian — a kind of owner here at Caterham — recognised me as a former football player. He told me: ‘It’s absurd for you to clean the floors, you are a known footballer. From now on you are a director here!’
“And I was appointed as executive director at Caterham Sports Limited.”
While he was one of a group of directors initially, he is now the sole chief of the company after all his colleagues jumped ship.
Caterham Sports Limited, the entity that owned the assets and paid the staff of Caterham F1, has racked up millions of dollars in debts. Baillfs seized several of their assets ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, but the cash-strapped team struggled on through Suzuka and Sochi before it was put into administration.
It was the latest development in a saga which started when the team sold to a group of investors by Malaysian airline magnate Tony Fernandes mid-season. However even that is a matter of dispute between Fernandes and the investors: the latter say that Fernandes never transferred legal ownership of the team to them; Fernandes says they never paid up.
Either way, the installing of the janitor as the team’s boss is just the latest farcical twist in a tale where the livelihood of hundreds of highly-skilled staff are a stake.
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EPL: Manchester Derby Takes Centre Stage Chelsea Poised ToBreak Away 

SCARRED by a run of three games without victory, misfiring Premier League champions Manchester City will attempt to reassert their authority when they host derby rivals Manchester United this weekend.
Having blown a two-goal lead to draw at CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, City fell six points behind league leaders Chelsea after losing at West Ham United and were then knocked out of the League Cup by Newcastle United.
Wednesday’s 2-0 loss at home to Newcastle came despite City manager Manuel Pellegrini fielding a strong team, and goalkeeper Joe Hart has called on his teammates to raise their game against United.
“Not everyone’s exactly at their peak at the moment, but we just need a few players, myself included, to step up,” the England goalkeeper, who was rested against Newcastle, told Sky Sports News.
“It will come back. It’s just one of those difficult patches that we’ve gone through many a time. Last season, we had less points and were in a worse position (at this stage of the season), and we won the league.
“We’ve got to look to things like that, but the main thing is to get it right on Sunday.” David Silva is a doubt for City after going off against Newcastle with a knee injury, but Yaya Toure is expected to feature despite being substituted in the second half as a precaution over a groin complaint.
Wayne Rooney, the leading scorer in Manchester derbies with 11 goals, has completed a three-match suspension and is set to return to the United attack despite reports he has sustained a foot injury.
“We have a chance to get the right result and hopefully sit back and enjoy Sunday (the Manchester derby), but it’s never easy. You have to prepare right, rest up and make sure we’re ready,” said the England defender.
“Last season we struggled at times against teams people thought we were going to beat. It’s never as easy as that.”
Second-place Southampton, four points below Chelsea, visit Hull City on Saturday, having won 3-2 at Stoke City in the League Cup on Wednesday.
Southampton have belied expectations after losing a glut of key players during the close season and manager Ronald Koeman says he is not concerned about fatigue ahead of the trip to the KC Stadium.
“If you’re a real football player, you’d like to play every three days,” the Dutchman told a press conference on Thursday. “We need this schedule to develop ourselves.”
Fourth-place West Ham could be without leading scorer Diafra Sakho for their trip to Stoke on Saturday, after he injured his shoulder in last weekend’s 2-1 win over City.
Saturday’s early game sees Newcastle host Liverpool, who remain without the injured Daniel Sturridge.

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  2014 ACCW: First Bank aim high, target third African title

The 2014 Africa Champions Cup for Women has been fixed for November 28 through December 7 in Tunisia with two Nigerian clubs (First Bank and Dolphins basketball clubs) among the twelve that will slug it out for the coveted trophy.

Nigerian champion and FIBA Africa Zone-3 runner-up First Bank basketball club is aiming to repeat its 2003 and 2009 run-up to the title in Mozambique and Benin Republic.

In a chat with our correspondent shortly after the final game in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso between the Elephant Girls and Dolphins basketball club which the former won by 70-56 points but lost the opportunity to win the Zone-3 title because of an earlier 65-50 points lose to the latter in the two-leg zonal qualifier, Coach Adewumi Aderemi says the goal of the Nigerian champion is to gun for the African title.

“We picked one of the two tickets for the final round as against some situations in the past where FIBA Africagranted us wild-card because of our pedigree, but having secured a direct ticket this time our aim is to lift our game and make our make our management and country proud.

“We want to be good ambassador of Nigeria and FIBA Africa Zone-3 as we hope to be a good representative and our simple goal is to win our third title because we believe we are due for it having won the title twice in the past (2003 and 2009) and if you remember these two victories came on away soul.

“After a grueling qualifier in Burkina Faso especially against our fellow Nigerian side (Dolphins) which we are proud that they also qualify for the final round, the only thing that can be good for us as a team is to win the title and we need to remain focus and be in the right frame of mind both mentally and psychologically for the final battle in Tunisia and the first step taken to achieve is to allow the players some days break and reconvene where we will move into close camping.First Bank basketball club won the Nigerian league title for ten unbroken years before it was punctured by First Deepwater basketball club in 2010 before reclaiming it in 2014 after seeing off Dolphins basketball club in a thrilling final earlier this year in Lagos.

The club the biggest women club side in Nigeria was responsible in the past as having the largest number players in the nation’s women national team between 2003 and 2013 where Nigeria won its first All Africa Games gold (2003, Abuja) and two Afrobasket titles (2003, Mozambique and 2005 in Abuja).

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 On Rusia 2018 FIFA Stand, Says Blatter 

Russia's preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2018 have been going ahead of the schedule, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Tuesday.
"Concerning the report I have received...Russia is far in advance," Blatter said when comparing Russia to Brazil on level of preparation of the tournament's infrastructure four years before the event.
He stressed the FIFA "unconditionally" supports Russia's hosting of the World Cup 2018 and the football association "still stands strong for" the games as it "trusts the country's people and its government."
Football could not only unite Russia but show the entire world that football is stronger than any protest movement, RIA Novosti news agency quoted Blatter as saying.
Blatter is participating in the meeting of the World Cup 2018 steering committee here supervised by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
As the emblem for the World Cup 2018 is to be unveiled late Tuesday night during a live television show, Blatter said he likes the emblem that represents "Russian heart and soul".
Putin in late August vowed not to let Russia's hosting of the games be threatened by western attempts to isolate Moscow.
The preparations for the event require the implementation of about 300 infrastructure projects in 11 host cities, as well as in 20 more cities included in the visitors' accommodation service program.
The overall cost of the World Cup 2018 is estimated at 20 billion U.S. dollars.
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Neymar attitude 'very annoying', Says Capello

Russia manager Fabio Capello has criticised Neymar for diving.

The 68 year old former Real Madrid head coach hit out at Neymar's penchant for going to ground easily after his former club defeated Barcelona 3-1 in the El Clasico on Saturday, despite Neymar opening the scoring after just three minutes.

Capello, who managed Los Blancos to La Liga titles in 1997 and 2007 did however praise the Brazilian forward's ability during the outburst.
"Neymar is a great striker, but i hate that a player of his level has to fall to the ground every time you touch him." Capello told Fox Sports Italy.
"He has a very annoying attitude."
Neymar has started his second season with the Catalan giants in magnificent form, netting nine goals in just eight appearances, to go alongside his thirteen strikes for the national side in this calendar year.

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Dante Voted Best Defender In Germany For The Third Time

Brazilian centre-back Dante has been voted the best defender in the Bundesliga for the third successive season.
The 31 year-old has been a mainstay of the Bayern Munich defence ever since his move from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2012, and his stellar performances have once again been recognised by his fellow players and Bundesliga coaches alike as he took the crown with 59% of the vote.

The defender was understandably delighted by the award but was quick to ensure his team-mates shared some of the acclaim. As reported by Lancenet, he said:
"I am very happy to have won this award for the third time in a row. Even as an individual achievement this is the result of a job well done collectively.
The award was voted on by the league coaches and players and serves as motivation for me to work and win more titles."
Despite this fine form at club level Dante remains to struggle to secure a place in the Brazilian national side, having only amassed 13 caps to date.

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Claims I left Manchester United with ageing squad "insulting" Says Sir Alex
  Alex Ferguson has described suggestions he bequeathed an "ageing" Manchester United squad to hapless Old Trafford successor David Moyes as "insulting".

Moyes took over from his fellow Scot following the retirement of Ferguson -- British football's most successful manager -- after the end of the 2012/13 season.
Some pundits said former Everton manager Moyes's already difficult task had been made harder by a lack of succession planning on the part of his illustrious predecessor.

Advertisement

But Ferguson said Moyes, who was sacked less than a season into his time at Old Trafford after United failed to qualify for the lucrative European Champions League, had made a mistake in not retaining former assistant manager Mike Phelan in his backroom staff.
"It is an insult to say that I left an ageing squad," said Ferguson during an interview with actor and United fan James Nesbitt at London's Drury Lane Theatre on Sunday to publicise his updated autobiography.
"Chelsea have seven players over 30 but nobody talks about them being an old team. It is easy to defend myself against all of that because all the statistics are there.
"I think he should have kept Mike Phelan, he was a United man; loyal, hard-working and a good judge of the players.
"My advice to David was that he should maybe keep Mike Phelan. I was always supportive of David, whenever he called I gave him the advice I would have wanted when I was manager. But David will do well in the future: life doesn't end when you leave United."
Meanwhile Ferguson reiterated his support for new United manager Louis van Gaal, who on Sunday oversaw the club's creditable 1-1 draw with Premier League leaders Chelsea at Old Trafford.
"He has that philosophy, stubbornness and determination to succeed, I've got every faith he will be a success," said Ferguson of the veteran Dutch boss. I have absolute faith that he's the right man for the job."
AFP




Boxer attacks referee after losing fight at European youth championships
  CROATIAN boxer Vido Loncar has been suspended for life by the national boxing federation after he attacked a referee at the European youth championship in Zagreb after losing the match.
Loncar was “suspended from boxing for life” over the “brutal attack on an official,” a federation statement said after an emergency session of its executive committee over the incident.
The savage attack against the referee occurred when Loncar, apparently unhappy with the referee’s decision to halt the match before proclaiming the victory of his rival, brutally attacked him.
Loncar knocked down Polish referee Magej Dziurgot and hit him several times before he was dragged by his ankles out from the ring.
He was boxing against Lithuanian Algirdas Baniulis who fled the ring when Loncar attacked the referee.
The Croatian federation apologised to both World Boxing Organisation, the European Boxing Organisation and all other relevant boxing bodies for the “damage Loncar caused by his act”. It also deeply apologised to the family of the referee who was hospitalised.
Loncar was detained after the attack.
“This is the worst thing which could have happened, a big shame for Zagreb and Croatia,” the federation’s secretary-general Marko Marovic said quoted by the state-run HRT television.
“All the efforts that we have put into organisation of this championship and boosting of the image of Croatia’s boxing was destroyed in a few seconds.”
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Basketball:We will be back, says First Bank BC coach Aderemi

*Africa Champions Cup Zone-3 Qualifiers

Head Coach of First Bank basketball club of Nigeria Adewumi Aderemi has reiterated his team readiness to pick one of the two tickets for the final round of the 2014 Africa Champions Cup for Women as the women zone-3 qualifiers enter it second round Friday in Burkina Faso.

First Bank will engage BAC basketball club of Burkina Faso Friday morning in the reverse fixtures of the qualifiers and the team coach Aderemi has promised to make necessary correction after a shocking 65-50 points to city rival Dolphins on Thursday.

“We were a little complacent in the game against Dolphins and I want to accept responsibility for the painful lose good enough we still have a chance to remedy that situation as we will both file out again on Sunday and this time I can confidently say that we shall bounce back and make a 1-1 situation.

“It is good we will be meeting the two teams we have beaten before (BAC and AS BIA) on Friday and Saturday before the crucial one against Dolphins on Sunday and this time it won’t be easy for them.

“They took their chances and this time it is our turn to turn the table against them and match on to the final round wherever it will hold, the soft spoken basketball tactician concluded

First Bank had defeated BAC of Burkina Faso on match day-one on Tuesday by 60-41 points and must be at their very best when they confront the home side in the reverse fixtures on Friday morning before taking on AS BIA of Niger Republic on Saturday.

Ivan Rakitic appeared on GolT to talk about his first months at Barcelona and everything related to his first 'Clásico' in the Catalans' colours.
Regarding this weekend's Real Madrid vs. Barcelona game, the Croatian midfielder said: "I dreamed of this as a boy, but now I don't want to dream about it, I want to live it. The best thing for me now is being able to live it from the inside. It's a huge responsibility and I want to pay back the club and the fans for all their faith in me".

 

JAB Nigeria to honour Gibson Nwosu in Awka

By Eddie Akalonu

Joint Association of Boxers, JAB, in Niogeria has concluded arrangement for the conferment of Boxing Transformation Icon of our time award on Obi Gibson Nwosu in Awka Anambra State.

According to JAB Nigeria charman, Raphael Ikediobi, whose also doubles as chairman for Africa, an investiture Obii Nwosu will take place in Awka on 31, October,saying :it is being done in recognition of his contribution to boxing.” The event which organisers say has Govenor Willy Obiano as Special Guest of Honour, has a limited number of exhibition fights in both men and women and children. It will be recalled that Obi Gibson Nwosu is a WBC sanctioned fight promoter who is plying his trade in Est Africa. JAB is a body which not only sanctions professional boxing fights in the world, but also engages in policies that enhance boxer's welfare, regulates contracts terms between boxers and promoters. 

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Kosovo Granted Provisional Olympic Recognition

Lausanne, Switzerland (SportsNetwork.com) - The executive board of the International Olympic Committee granted provisional recognition to the Kosovo Olympic Committee on Wednesday.
The IOC also proposed that the country be granted full recognition at the next IOC session in December in Monaco.
The decision would allow Kosovo to take part in qualifications for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio as well as future competition.
The executive board acknowledged that Kosovo has "met the requirements for recognition as outlined in the Olympic Charter", which include the technical requirements of Kosovo being recognized as a country.
Kosovo currently has 13 affiliated national federations for Olympic sports that include table tennis, archery, judo, sailing, weightlifting, modern pentathlon, wrestling, boxing, curling, taekwondo, gymnastics, skiing and handball.

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Kevin among top 10 players with most Red Cards

 Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng is among the top 10 players who have been sent off the most since 2010.

The Schalke ace is ranked 10th on the table with five red cards in the last four years.
The 27-year-old was dropped from Ghana’s World Cup squad after he criticized his manager and will need to work on his disciplinary problems.
Real Madrid defender Sergo Ramos is joint- ranked with Chilean Gary Alexis Medel Soto who have picked up 9 red cards each.
10. Kevin-Prince Boateng - 5
9. Lee Cattermole - 5
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic -5
7. Mario Balotelli- 5
6. Alejandro Arribas Garrido - 6
5. Martín Gastón Demichelis - 6
4. Mathieu Debuchy-6
3. Dejan Lovren - 7
2. Gary Alexis Medel Soto - 9
1. Sergio Ramos - 9

=============================================================== 

Schumacher May Recover In time, Says Doctor
A FRENCH physician who treated Michael Schumacher for nearly six months after the Formula One champion struck his head in a ski accident says he is no longer in a coma and predicted a possible recovery within three years.
JEAN-FRANCOIS Payen, a doctor at the Grenoble hospital that treated Schumacher after his injury in December 2013, said he has visited the Schumacher family at home in Switzerland to track his patient's progress.
"Life after a head injury is punctuated by stages," Payen told RTL radio on Thursday. He predicted a convalescence of one to three years. "We hope, but we have to give him time." Schumacher was with his 14-year-old son in the French Alps when he fell, hitting the side of his head on a rock, cracking his helmet.=======================================================================
Christiano's Anfield Curse

*Ronaldo has not scored there in five visits

Cristiano Ronaldo will arrive at Anfield on an amazing run of form in front of goal. His goalscoring stats this season are simply unbelievable.

However, the Real Madrid man has never scored at Anfield, despite playing there five times during his time at Manchester United.

In United colours, Ronaldo's record at Anfield stands at three wins, one draw and just one defeat, in the 2005-2006 FA Cup.

His first appearance came during the 2004/05 campaign and saw him set up Rooney for United's winner (1-0). The following year, in the Premier League, Liverpool and United played out a goalless draw. During the 2006/07 campaign, the Red Devils again won 1-0, with Ronaldo this time setting up O'Shea for their winner. He played his last game there during the 2007/08 season, and again it ended in a 1-0 away win, courtesy of Carlos Tevez. Cristiano was injured when United visited Anfield during the 2008/09 season, his last before moving to Real Madrid.

However, it isn't just Cristiano who cannot find the net at Anfield. Real Madrid also failed to score during their 4-0 defeat there during the 2008/09 Champions League campaign. In fact, they failed to score in their other two games against the Reds: the 1981 European Cup final (1-0) and the first leg of the 2008/09 tie (1-0).

Read more: CR7's Anfield curse - MARCA.com

Bangalore Marathon Runners Take Wrong Turn, Take Bus To Finish Line

A marathon ended in farce in Bangalore after the pilot car overshot a turn, forcing the top three runners to take a long detour before abandoning the race -- and taking a bus to the finish line.

The leaders, who missed the U-turn at the 16km-mark, ran four extra kilometres before officials finally stopped them and told them they had taken the wrong route, a newspaper reported on Monday.

Realising they had no chance of recovering ground, the three abandoned the 42-km race in the southern city of Bangalore on Sunday and  borrowed money from spectators to take a bus to the finishing line.

"There were no officials on the road where we were supposed to take the U-turn," one of the runners, Inderjit Patel, told the Times of India. "We were just following the pilot car."

"It was too late when we were told what had happened. There was no point continuing the race. I am not bothered about missing the prize money, but disappointed that we had to suffer this humiliation."

Race organisers admitted the mistake and apologised. But there were other screw-ups in the race, which was flagged off by Olympic gold medallist and multiple world champion distance runner Haile Gebrselassie of Ethopia.

Runners had to line up at the start behind a row of heavy-set security guards who were slow to get out of the way when the flag went down, causing many competitors to trip over them.

- See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/sports-news/othersports/bangalore-marathon-lead-runners-take-wrong-turn-take-bus-to-finish-line/article1-1277382.aspx#sthash.mNEJ9f7N.dpuf

New NFF Board Will Be Goal Oriented, Says Anyansi Agwu

  Nigeria Football Federation board-member and Chairman of it's  Technical Committee, Felix Anyansi-Agwu has spoken  about  the challenges that lie ahead as the new NFF administration charts a new road-map for football in the country.
He spoke on the  Enyimba F.C. website followin Nigeria's African Cup of Nations qualifier 3-1 win over Sudan in Abuja..
How do you react to your appointment as Chairman of the NFF Technical Committee?
Anyansi Agwu: Thank you. I must say that I feel honoured. This is a very important position so I'm honoured and humbled at the same time because it means that there is confidence in me to take on bigger challenges. This is a time when our football has undergone some challenges so it is an important time to be given such a responsibility. The tasks we are faced with are quite tough, Nigerian football was in total crisis and we as a board have come in the midst of it, so we have to work very hard for the football itself and make sure the Super Eagles rise again. So again I feel honoured and optimistic about the future of our football.
What do you see as major challenges facing football?
Anyansi Agwu: I admit that a lot is expected from us but I won't say it is daunting because we came in well aware of the challenges. Remember that I was a member of the previous Technical Committee, so it is a case of stepping up what had been done in the past. I have been called to serve in this position and I will do everything I can within my capacity to make sure that I live up to the challenges.
But I will do it with all humility because when you humble yourself in office, it brings the best out of the people you work with. All of us are challenged and we must act quickly to start giving hope to Nigerians. You know the buck stops on my committee to see what can be done positively to sustain the achievements of the last board. The last board achieved a lot through the technical committee so we want to just carry on with that commitment.
How would you blot the graph for action in the  weeks ahead? We know getting the Super Eagles to the 2015 AFCON is top on your agenda right now, what else is your priority?
Anyansi Agwu: Stabilizing the crisis and producing results. We have a new president that is enterprising, what he expects from the rest of us is to equally rise up to the occasion. We don't expect it to be easy, but I'm confident that we all can bring out our very best and that God too will guide us. Right now there are two lines of actions, short term and long term.
Short term, we have two qualifying matches to go, we have to make sure we get good results and get the chance to defend our title. Nigerians are very passionate about their football and we will try not to let them down. We have to do all we can to qualify for the AFCON
Long term, we must develop and reposition our football for greater successes. We have to build from where the last administration stopped and make sure we become even more successful. This new board has very strong principles that will guide it to great things and I'm optimistic a lot of good will come.
 As Chairman of Enyimba FC, a Nigeria Premier League side, how do you intend balancing both roles and do you think your experience with Enyimba over the years will play an important role as Chairman of the Technical Committee?
Anyansi Agwu: Obviously there are expectations that as Chairman of Enyimba, with all of what the club has achieved over the years that this Technical Committee, will achieve a lot too. People expect success, they want the glory days of the Super Eagles. I know how much it means to Nigerians, I know what it is like and I'm going to devote my time to taking up these challenges so we can achieve a whole lot. I believe that my experience as Chairman of Enyimba will be of great help to me and how I work with the rest of the new board.
Like I stated, I have been here before, this is not new so I will not need time to adjust. The most important thing for me is that the Nigerian Football Federation is beyond the success of one man. It is team work that would be required to help us produce success in Africa and on the world stage so we all would work together, hand in hand, to make Nigerians happy and proud again. This new administration will offer renewed hope and confidence.

=================================================================
 Indian footballer  dies following goal celebration accident

A 23-year-old Indian footballer has died from severe spinal cord damage after attempting to celebrate a goal with a somersault, an official told Reuters on Monday.

Bethlehem Vengthlang FC midfielder Peter Biaksangzuala died on Sunday at a hospital in the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram after the incident in Tuesday's match in the third tier Mizoram Premier League (MPL).
"We are shocked by the case. We at the Mizoram Football Association did all we could but could not save him," MFA secretary Lalnghinglova Hmar told Reuters by telephone.
After scoring the equaliser against Chanmari West FC, a flipping Biaksangzuala landed awkwardly and was lying unconscious as his team mates surrounded him and gestured for help.
"The association president also being the state health minister, he did all that was possible even though he was out of station.
"We considered the option to fly him to Delhi but his condition was pretty bad. He was mostly unconscious, occasionally spelling out a few words," Hmar said.
Bethlehem has decided to retire the number 21 jersey as a tribute to Biaksangzuala while Hmar said MFA would organise a match in his memory.
Reuters 
========================================== 

"It's an honour to be linked with Real Madrid", Says Luca 

The front page of MARCA, which revealed Real Madrid's interest in signing Lucas Silva, caused a stir in Brazil.

The player attended training as normal, after which he awaited a phone call from MARCA.

Q. Have you seen the front page of MARCA?

A. Yes, of course I've seen it. It's good news for me, it's always a joy to hear people speak about you like that.

Q. Real Madrid have been tracking you since last summer...

A. When a club like Real Madrid want you, it always makes you feel proud and happy. I know that I have to be focused here at Cruzeiro, that's my club, but interest from Real Madrid inspires me to keep working hard.

Q. Would you like to play for Real Madrid?

A. [Laughing] Of course I'd like to play for Real Madrid, it would be an honour. But for that to happen, an agreement between the clubs would need to be put in place first. I'm a Cruzeiro player and have so much respect for my club. If a club like Real Madrid came along, I wouldn't turn them down.

Q. Define yourself as a player.

A. I'm a modern attacking midfielder, I'm good on the ball, get from box to box and work hard for the team. I think I have good vision which helps me provide assists for my teammates...

Q. You play with Julio Baptista, have you spoken to him about Real Madrid?

A. Yes, he had a good experience there. He's always told me that it's a huge club, one of the biggest in the world.

- MARCA.com 

====================================================================== 
AFCON2015: Morocco Denies Withdrawal
Rabat - Morocco has denied reports it has withdrawn as host of next year's African Cup of Nations, although it wants the tournament postponed.
Morocco wants Africa's premier football event postponed because Moroccans could be threatened by the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, information minister and government spokesman Mustapha Khalfi said on Thursday.
The Confederation of African Football insisted the tournament should carry on as planned in January and February 2015.
CAF has cancelled all football in the three worst affected Ebola countries — Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone — until further notice, but says it is following the advice of the World Health Organization that travel bans will not help curtail the outbreak.
CAF President Issa Hayatou will travel to Morocco next month to meet officials over their concerns, but the African football body said there can be no postponement.
"CAF has registered the request and wishes to state that there are no changes of the schedules of its competitions and events," CAF said.
CAF has apparently reached out to at least two other countries to ask if they would step in at short-notice if Morocco refuses to host on the original dates of January 17 - February 8.
Ghana's sports minister said on his official Facebook page that his country was approached to possibly host, and CAF also asked South Africa if it could be on standby, according to a CAF letter to the South African Football Association.
Morocco feels large groups of football supporters and other travellers from West Africa — where Ebola has killed more than 4 500 people in its worst outbreak ever — would put it at risk.
"There is no way we can be lenient with the health and safety of the Moroccan citizens," Khalfi said at a government media briefing on Thursday, repeating Morocco's request for the cup to be postponed.
He didn't say when Morocco wanted it postponed to.
Khalfi was repeating concerns expressed by Morocco's health ministry, which originally advised Moroccan authorities to request a postponement from CAF.
"Football is just a game and we can't play with the health of Moroccans," health minister Houssaine Louardi said this week.
"There is no zero risk when it comes to Ebola."

  ======================================

Ex-France defender Gallas retires at 37

October 17, 2014, Friday

FORMER France defender William Gallas has announced his retirement, bringing to an end a decorated 19-year professional career, he said.
“You tell yourself you can always continue but I think that today I can’t,” the center back told TV channel L’Equipe 21.
The 37-year-old Gallas started at French club Caen in 1995 before moving to Chelsea in 2001, and went on to have stints at both Arsenal and its north London rival Tottenham Hotspur.
Gallas won 84 caps for France and scored five goals, including the controversial strike in Les Bleus’s 2-1 playoff win over Ireland that earned the side a 2010 World Cup berth. Gallas poked the home from close range after being set up by Thiery Henry, who had clearly handled the ball to prevent it from going out of play. He also played the 2006 World Cup final which France lost on penalties to Italy.
===================================================================

2014 Shanghai Marathon: Bus, Ferry Services To Be Affected

Chinese officials have given details of bus and ferry services facing disruptions during the 2014 Shanghai International Marathon on November 2.

Reports said a total of 165 bus routes going through Huangpu, Jing’an and Xuhui districts will be affected on the day.
These include 25 bus routes — such as the No. 55 and No. 167 services — that pass along the Bund, the event’s start line. They will suspend operations from 5:30am until all runners leave the area.
The race begins at 7am and Metro services will not be affected.
Full details of suspended ferry services on the Huangpu River will be announced by police later this month.
Organizers have shifted the date of the annual event from December to November this year in the hope of better air quality.
The city’s meteorological and environmental protection departments will provide a text message service to runners with weather and air quality forecasts.
Last year’s event took place on December 1, when the city Air Quality Index rose to heavily polluted by 1pm.
According to the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau, a cold front and wet weather may accompany this year’s race.
The 2014 marathon features 8,000 runners in the 42.2 kilometer race; 10,000 in the half marathon; 5,000 in the 10km race, and 12,000 runners in the 5km run. The full and half marathon end at the Shanghai Stadium.

==================================================================South Africa reluctant to host 2015 Africa Cup 

SOUTH Africa is reluctant to step in as a replacement host for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations because the sport ministry fears Ebola and unplanned staging costs.

“There are just too many factors to consider for South Africa,” the department of sport and recreation said in a statement on Friday.
Morocco, the original host for the football tournament scheduled for January and February, wants it postponed because of Ebola and may give up the event completely.
The Confederation of African Football approached South Africa, Ghana and other countries to be on standby if Morocco withdraws.
But it’s possible that no one else wants it because of the limited preparation time and the threat of the deadly disease spreading through tens of thousands of travellers heading to the three-week, 16-team event.
South Africa’s sports ministry stressed it had not yet been officially asked by the South African Football Association to consider hosting the tournament, but referred to the “Ebola challenge engulfing the continent.”
More than 4500 people have died in West Africa in the worst recorded outbreak of the virus. The outbreak is still not contained in the three countries worst affected: Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Ebola has no known cure or vaccination.
=========================================================================
 Ghana wins Nigeria Independence Day PoloAccra Polo Club of Ghana defeated Lagos Polo Club of Nigeria by six and-a-half goals to three to win this year’s Nigeria Independence Day Polo Championship played at the Accra Polo Grounds at the weekend.

Ghana who were given a half goal due to their weak Handicap, opened the scoring two minutes inside the First Chukka through dependable George Agyemang.
Ghana was on hands again a minute later when Awudu Mensah scored another goal two minutes later to end the First Chukka.
Nigeria who won the trophy last year, rallied up and scored a goal, a minute inside the Second Chukka through Ahmed Umar but Ghanaian Pablo Billa scored two quick goals to end the Second Chukka.
When the Third Chukka resumed, Damani Duncan scored for Ghana while Ademolo Alakua netted for his side.
The last Chukka saw Ghana scoring two goals through Agyemang and Duncan while Seyi Oyikula scored for Nigeria.
Kwakye Dopuah-Dei, Captain of Accra Polo Club praised his team for winning the trophy this year and expressed the hope that his team would win the trophy again next year.
Mr Ademola Oluseyi Omafowakan, Nigeria High Commissioner to Ghana in an address read for him, said the bond between the two countries continued to be strengthened year after year through the sport and congratulated Ghana for winning the trophy.

========================================================================== Messi: 10 Years Of Brilliance 

*Four times World Player Of  The Year
The Argentine star played his first game for the club at the age of 17, and he has since established himself as one of the best soccer players of all time.
Since his debut, Messi has won the World Player of the Year award a record four times. The Argentina captain has scored 361 goals since he played his first Barcelona match exactly 10 years ago. He has helped the Catalan club win 21 trophies during the past decade, including three Champions League trophies and six La Liga titles.
Messi came on as a substitute 10 years ago for his debut at Barcelona. Within three years, he had become a crucial player for the club, and he won his first World Player of the Year award in 2009. The Argentine forward reached his peak in the 2012/13 season, and he broke Gerd Muller's record of scoring the most goals in a calendar year with 91 goals.
In Barca’s match against Eibar on Saturday, Messi will have another chance to surpass Telmo Zarra's six-decade-old La Liga scoring record of 251 goals. Messi has scored 249 times in the Spanish top division.
===================================================================== Kenya's Kirui, Chenet Ready To Battle For Amsterdam Marathon Honors
Olympic marathon silver medallist Abel Kirui of Kenya is happy to have put behind his injury worries as he prepares to compete at Sunday's Amsterdam Marathon.
Kirui, who failed to defend his World Marathon title in Moscow last year because of the injury, has not competed for almost two years and Amsterdam performance will be a major test of his ability to continue running.
"I got this tendon injury that spoilt the whole of last year. It was a very big disappointment especially for my fans. Losing the World Championships in Moscow and not running at the London city marathon where I was at the peak of my shape hurt in 2013 was a great loss," Kirui said in Nairobi late on Wednesday.
"But that is over. I am now ready to prove that I have not spent all my energies and can still compete at the global level," he added.
Kirui, who departed for the Dutch capital, however, will have to contend with compatriot Wilson Chebet for the honors. Chebet is returning to Amsterdam with big ambitions.
"I have set myself a goal. During my fifth race in Amsterdam I want to show that this is a 2:04 marathon course. I have taken small risks in my training to achieve this, and I want the wonderful audience and outstanding organisers to see it," he said.
"I have prepared well. It will be no easy race, because as you can see, we have here my friend Kirui, who has said he is keen to run faster on the course and lower its mark. I will be there to keep him in check. I will give my best shot," said Chebet, who also jetted out for Amsterdam.
The duo will also face off with former World cross-country bronze medallist Lucas Rotich, former Tokyo Marathon winner Bernard Kipyego, Philemon Rono, John Mwangangi and Gideon Kipketer.
Chebet, 29, holds the course record. "I feel at home and at ease in Amsterdam," he said.
=====================================================================

 

On 17th November 2005, Ronaldinho left the Bernabéu to a standing ovation after scoring a brace against Real Madrid.
That is possibly one of the few things left for Messi to accomplish. He set up Eto'o for his goal in that game. That day saw both the master and the student out on the pitch, and nobody could have imagined that the Argentine would take over from the Brazilian barely three years later.
Ronaldinho 'adopted' Messi when the Argentine managed to beat him at futnet, a game that requires heaps of skill, technique and precision. The duo were joined by Deco and Motta, who even used to pick him up in their car and take him home when Leo did not yet have a driving licence.
He was the only player allowed to sit at the Brazilians' table and used to spend hours sharing stories with Sylvinho, who also helped him when he came up from Barça B.
Ronaldinho was his big brother until Guardiola arrived and decided to rebuild the team around Messi. Until then he had lived in the Brazilians' shadow but had already showed much of his future potential.
Ronaldinho's time at Barcelona was exciting and productive, but short-lived. Messi challenges himself every season. He just keeps getting better and looks set to enjoy many more years at the club. His feet are firmly on the ground.

Read more: The new Messi-ah - MARCA.com (English version)

On 17th November 2005, Ronaldinho left the Bernabéu to a standing ovation after scoring a brace against Real Madrid.
That is possibly one of the few things left for Messi to accomplish. He set up Eto'o for his goal in that game. That day saw both the master and the student out on the pitch, and nobody could have imagined that the Argentine would take over from the Brazilian barely three years later.
Ronaldinho 'adopted' Messi when the Argentine managed to beat him at futnet, a game that requires heaps of skill, technique and precision. The duo were joined by Deco and Motta, who even used to pick him up in their car and take him home when Leo did not yet have a driving licence.
He was the only player allowed to sit at the Brazilians' table and used to spend hours sharing stories with Sylvinho, who also helped him when he came up from Barça B.
Ronaldinho was his big brother until Guardiola arrived and decided to rebuild the team around Messi. Until then he had lived in the Brazilians' shadow but had already showed much of his future potential.
Ronaldinho's time at Barcelona was exciting and productive, but short-lived. Messi challenges himself every season. He just keeps getting better and looks set to enjoy many more years at the club. His feet are firmly on the ground.

Read more: The new Messi-ah - MARCA.com (English version)

On 17th November 2005, Ronaldinho left the Bernabéu to a standing ovation after scoring a brace against Real Madrid.
That is possibly one of the few things left for Messi to accomplish. He set up Eto'o for his goal in that game. That day saw both the master and the student out on the pitch, and nobody could have imagined that the Argentine would take over from the Brazilian barely three years later.
Ronaldinho 'adopted' Messi when the Argentine managed to beat him at futnet, a game that requires heaps of skill, technique and precision. The duo were joined by Deco and Motta, who even used to pick him up in their car and take him home when Leo did not yet have a driving licence.
He was the only player allowed to sit at the Brazilians' table and used to spend hours sharing stories with Sylvinho, who also helped him when he came up from Barça B.
Ronaldinho was his big brother until Guardiola arrived and decided to rebuild the team around Messi. Until then he had lived in the Brazilians' shadow but had already showed much of his future potential.
Ronaldinho's time at Barcelona was exciting and productive, but short-lived. Messi challenges himself every season. He just keeps getting better and looks set to enjoy many more years at the club. His feet are firmly on the ground.

Read more: The new Messi-ah - MARCA.com (English version)

On 17th November 2005, Ronaldinho left the Bernabéu to a standing ovation after scoring a brace against Real Madrid.
That is possibly one of the few things left for Messi to accomplish. He set up Eto'o for his goal in that game. That day saw both the master and the student out on the pitch, and nobody could have imagined that the Argentine would take over from the Brazilian barely three years later.
Ronaldinho 'adopted' Messi when the Argentine managed to beat him at futnet, a game that requires heaps of skill, technique and precision. The duo were joined by Deco and Motta, who even used to pick him up in their car and take him home when Leo did not yet have a driving licence.
He was the only player allowed to sit at the Brazilians' table and used to spend hours sharing stories with Sylvinho, who also helped him when he came up from Barça B.
Ronaldinho was his big brother until Guardiola arrived and decided to rebuild the team around Messi. Until then he had lived in the Brazilians' shadow but had already showed much of his future potential.
Ronaldinho's time at Barcelona was exciting and productive, but short-lived. Messi challenges himself every season. He just keeps getting better and looks set to enjoy many more years at the club. His feet are firmly on the ground.

Read more: The new Messi-ah - MARCA.com (English version)