Ivory Coast And Burkina Faso Wins Their First Play-offs

The first two of the five World Cup play-offs for this weekend were played today Saturday, the 12th of October. The Stallions of Burkina Faso triumphed 3 - 2 against the visiting Algerian team in Ouagadougou, while the Elephants of Ivory Coast won 3 - 1 at home in Abidjan.

At the last minutes of the encounter between Burkina Faso and Algeria, the home team was awarded a controversial penalty by the Zambian referee, Janny Sikazwe, which was taken after a strong protest from the Algerian players.

The referee thought that the ball touched, Essaid Belkalem, even though he had his hands behind him, when the ball was strucked. Anyway, the Burkinabe striker, Aristide Bance, stepped up and took the penalty and scored the time that it mattered most for his team.

Didier Drogba

 He had earlier in the first half missed a penalty, so it was brave of him to have decided to take another one, that was at that juncture of the encounter worth millions of dollers. Luckily for him and the country, he did not miss this time around.

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After the match the Algeria's assistant coach, Nourredine Kourichi, said that, ''If we win the second leg 1 - 0, it will be enough. The second leg will be difficult for Burkina and for us as well but we are hopeful. We are optimistic.''

In the other match between the Elephants of Ivory Coast and the Terenge Lions of Senegal, the Ivorians scored an early goal through a penalty, by their experienced captain Didier Drogba.

 Their second goal was scored by the former Arsenal striker, who now plays for AS Roma, while Salomon Kalou, put the cherry on the cake when he added the third goal. Demba Cisse scored the Senegalese consolation goal.

After the match the Ivorian striker, Salomon kalou, said to BBC, ''We showed today that we can be a team. We scored early, which gave us the confidence to go forward and score more.

''I think it's a good victory. We can be positive about the next round because there is one more game to go, but we did one step and we have to fight to get the second one,'' he added.

The Elephants, are in a good position for the second leg, of the play-offs next month, but you never know with football, anything can happen. The aggregate winner of the two matches will go to the World Cup in Brazil.

Lindsey Vonn Puts ''Sammy de Squirrel'' On Tiger Woods

The number one (Nr 1) golfer in the world, Tiger Woods, was playing in the 2013 President Cup, which he helped USA to eventually win, while his skiing champion girl friend, Lindsey Vonn, was busy having fun by putting a live squirrel on his shoulder as he was seriously watching the game.

 

Lindsey decided to lighten the atmosphere at the golf course, she borrowed the squirrel from the golfer David Love (111), and placed it on Tiger while everyone around was laughing, Tiger was focused on the game he was watching.

He did not look at what Lindsey was putting on his shoulder, but he did try to push it off without looking at all to see what it was. It was a real funny stuff though, Tiger did not find it so funny initially. But he later laughed about the joke. The name of the squirrel was Sammy. 

 

 

 

Herve Renard Leaves Zambia By Agreement

Herve Renard (45), the national football coach of Zambia has reached an agreement with the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) for an early released from his contract which is due to expire in 2014, so that he can take up the coaching job of the French ligue 1 club FC Sochaux.

A statement in the Zambia's football association's site read, ''The Football Association of Zambia, hereby announces the release of Herve Renard, from the job of national coach of the Zambia national football team.''

''FAZ and Herve have consulted and it has been agreed not to stand in his way. It is a compliment for a coach working in Africa to be head-hunted, by a top European club. It makes us proud to be able to take ownership, of Herve's rise as a successful international coach.''

Herve Renard

 

''FAZ wishes to thank Renard for his dedication to duty, hard work, proficiency and wish him well, as he takes up his new coaching job,'' the statement added.

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The assistant coach Patrice Beaumelle, will now be incharge of the national team (The Chipolopolo), with immediate effect. His first assignment is the
friendly match, next week on Tuesday (Oct. 15), in Beijing   against Brazil.                                         

Mr Renard, led Zambia to win their first ever African Cup of Nations trophy last year (2012). He also won a personal award of African coach of the year.

After the agreement to let him go and take up the FC Sochaux job, he expressed his appreciation for the opportunity given to him, by the president of the Football Association of Zambia, Mr Kalusha Bwalya, (who is a football legend in the country).

''I would like to thank Kalusha for this opportunity and for allowing me to further my career. I enjoyed working with him and together we did the best to further the development and rise of the Chipolopolo. I wish the team well,'' the coach said.

Mr Renard, began his coaching career in 1999 with SC Dragnignan and left in 2001. From 2002 to 2003 he was the assistant coach to the Chief coach of the Chinese club Shanghai Cosco, Mr Claude le Roy. His fellow country man. In 2004, he became the coach of the English club Cambridge United.

 A year later, he became the coach of AS Cherbourg, 2005 to 2007. Herve joined his former boss, Mr Le Roy, again as his assist to the Ghanian national team.

In 2008, he was appointed the coach of Zambia national team. Two years later in 2010, he left and became the coach of Angola national team. The next year, 2011, he became the coach of Zambia for a second time.

Then in 2012, he won the African Cup of Nations trophy with the team, beating along the way, the favourites - Senegal in the group phase, Ghana in the semi-final and Ivory Coast in the final.

The Europa League Results (03/10/13)

Didier Zokora

Anzhi                       0  -  2   Tottenham
Kuban Krasnoda      0  -  2   Valencia
Legia Warsaw          0  -  1   Apollon Limassol
Trabzonspor             3  -  3   Lazio
Tromso                     1  -  1   Sheriff Tiraspol
Shakhter Karagandy 2  -  2   Maccabi Haifa
AZ Alkmaar             1  -  1   Paok Salonika
Chornomor Odesa    0  -  2   PSV
Ludogorets Razgrad 3  -  0   Dinamo Zagreb
Elfsborg                    1  -  1   Standard Liege
Swansea City            1  -  0   St Gallen


Fiorentina                 2  -  1   Dnipro
Rapid Vienna           2  -  2   Dynamo Kiev
Genk                        2  -  1   Thun
Salsburg                   2  -  1   Esbjerg
E. Frankfurt             3  -   0   Apoel Nicosia
Bordeaux                 1  -  2    Maccabi Tel Aviv
Seville                     2  -  0    Freiburg
Lyon                        1  -  1   Guimaraes

Cape Verde's Play-Offs Disqualification Upheld

The appeal of Cape Verde to FIFA over their disqualification from the 2014 World Cup play-offs due to fielding an ineligible player in a match has been upheld by the football governing body in Zurich, Switzerland.

In the last World Cup, African zone qualification match, between Cape Verde and Tunisia, Cape Verde won the match 2 - 0 and finshed on top of the table. But were disqualified from participating in the play-offs, because a player, Fernando Varela, was given a four match ban in March this year and did not complete it before playing in the duel with Tunisia.

Fernando Varela

FIFA ordered the forfeiture of the match and awarded Tunisia 3 - 0 and three points which put them on top of the table instead of the Cape Verdeans. The Play-offs has been drawn, Tunisia will be playing Cameroon in a two leg encounter in October and November, the winner of both matches will qualify for the World Cup.

It was strenge, Cape Verde themselves had earlier on benefited in such FIFA punishment of Equatorial Guinea in a World Cup qualification match, in which they lost 4 - 3, but were awarded the forfeiture of the match with the same 3 - 0 and three points, because Equatorial Guinea used an ineligible player, Emilio Nsue, even though he scored a hat-trick in the match.

Cape Verde can still take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), if they choose to, but the out come of that may not be known on time, as the play-offs is beginning next week, unless CAS will give the case priority attention and hear it immediately, which is doubtful due to many cases before them.

Kalu Uche Joins Qatari Club El Jaish

Kalu Uche (30), the kasimpasa top scorer last season and the Nigerian international, has signed a two year contract deal with the Qatari club El Jaish.

Though both the player and the club, refused to disclose the amount of the deal, the Turkish media reported that his former club, Kasimpasa, will receive an estimated amount between $4m to $5m. But the amount the player will be earning per annum was not mentioned.

According to media report, the dispute over wages with Kasimpasa prompted his departure. It was reported a couple of months ago, that Uche Kalu, who scored 19 goals in the Turkey Super Lig, last season and was the second highest scorer in the league, demanded for increase in his salary. Ineffect, a new improved contract, but both sides could not agree.

Kalu Uche for  FC Almeria

After signing with EL Jaish, Uche said, ''I have been in Europe for 12 years now and this was a great chance for me to play in another continent with such a big club.''

''I am delighted to have joined EL Jaish, because I am still hungry for success and hopeful I can make a big contribution to the club,'' he told BBC.

''I had a fantastic one season in Istanbul and Turkey. The fans and team-mates were extremely nice to me and my family.''

''I can only wish the team all the best this season and for the future.''

''Everyday is a new beginning and what you've done elsewhere is in the past.''
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''I am happy that we could sort everything out, before the end of the Qatar transfer window (which was midnight local time 30th September),'' the rejuvenated striker added.

Kalu has played in many countries in Europe - Poland, France, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey. He scored two goals for Nigeria in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The goals were against South Korea and Greece.

Injury kept him out of the last African Cup of Nations, but his junior brother, Ikechukwu, who plays for the Spanish club Villarreal, was part of the squad that won the trophy.

Danny Jordaan Is The New SAFA President

The former chief executive officer (CEO) of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, local organising committee, Mr Danny Jordaan (62), has been elected with a two third majority, as the new president of the South African Football Association (SAFA).

The very experienced sports administartor and former vice-president of SAFA, Jordaan, won the election by beating his opponent, Mr Mandla Mazibuko, with 162 votes to 88 votes. The out-going president, Mr Kirsten Nematandani did not contest in the election.

This election was conducted by the Independent Electoral Commission which was observed by FIFA and CAF, the African football governing body.

Mr Danny Jordaan

Also elected to govern football in South Africa with Danny Jordaan are, three vice - presidents namely - Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana (197 votes),

Lucas Nhlapo (173 votes), Elvis Shishana (167 votes. The fourth vice - president for the football association is the premier soccer league chairman, Dr Irvin Khoza.

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There were also 10 national list members of the National Executive Committee. They are as follows: Mr Gladwin White, Mr Kwenzakwakhe Ngwenya, Ms Nomsa Mahlangu, Mr Poobalan Govindasamy, Mr xolile Nkompela, Mr Truman Prince, Ms Rita Ledwaba, Mr Aubrey Baartman,
Advocate Norman Arendse, and Ms Anastasia Tsichlas.

Danny Jordaan, who was newly appointed the advisor to the President of CAF,
after many attempts to be elected into the executive committee of the organisation failed, has his work cut out for him.

Mr Jordaan ran his campaign for the top job, promising to improve the over-all performance of the national team - Bafana Bafana, youth development, improve women football and the finance of the association. So now that he has got the job, the work begins. All eyes are now on him to deliver.