Tuesday 6 May 2014

KO Footballer of the Season – Robert Ng'ambi

Posted: 6 May 2014 Time: 11:33 am

Over the past few days we have been profiling each candidate for the KICK OFF Footballer of the Season award. We now focus on Robert Ng'ambi.

Platinum Stars might have gone off the boil in the League but this season will still go down as a success owing to their Telkom Knockout and MTN8 cup triumphs.

And few have proven as productive to their cause as Malawian midfielder Ng'ambi.

The 28-year-old has netted 11 goals in all competitions - three shy of the club record, jointly held by ex-Stars men Hareaipha Marumo and Bradley Grobler.

Three of Ng'ambi's strikes came in the TKO, while he also netted in Dikwena's journey to MTN8 glory. In the Premiership he has struck seven times in 22 starts, with one match remaining against Ajax Cape Town on Saturday.

The ex-Black Leopards ace, who also bagged an impressive eight goals last term, is a menace with his late runs into the area, and it is unsurprising the League's big spenders are thought to be after his signature.

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Downs take Q4 awards

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Mosimane and midfielder Modise take Q4 awards

Posted: 5 May 2014 Time: 12:11 pm

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Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane and midfielder Teko Modise have been recognised as the best performers in Quarter Four.

'Jingles' and 'The Navigator' were voted as the Best Coach and Player respectively as their club closes in on a first League title since 2007.

Mosimane said on receiving his prize on Monday: "We are humbled to be here. I would like to thank the media for voting for me.

"On behalf of the technical team we appreciate the award.

"We worked very hard but for me the big fish is winning the Absa Premiership trophy."

The Brazilians, who can claim Premiership honours if they beat SuperSport United tomorrow, won all five of their matches in Quarter Four

PSL suspension list

PSL suspension list Matlaba Bhasera Bilankulu Mbekile September Mkhabela

Posted: 6 May 2014 Time: 09:46 am

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Thabo Matlaba, Onismor Bhasera and Musa Bilankulu are among the players suspended for tonight's penultimate round of Premiership fixtures.

The Premier Soccer League have confirmed the following men will be missing for their respective clubs:

AMAZULU
BONGINKOSI MACALA
CARLINGTON NYADOMBO

BIDVEST WITS
ONISMOR BHASERA

BLOEMFONTEIN CELTIC
MUSA JUNIOR BILANKULU
TUMELO AGREEMENT MOGAPI

MOROKA SWALLOWS
ASAVELA SHAKESPEARE MBEKILE

ORLANDO PIRATES
THABO MATLABA

POLOKWANE CITY FC
SANDILE STANLEY SIBANDE

SUPERSPORT UNITED
ENOCENT THULANI MKHABELA
THABO CHRISTOPHER SEPTEMBER

L. Suárez	Liverpool	31

L. Suárez

Liverpool

NOT GOING ANYWHERE: Wenger reaffirms commitment to club after securing Champions League spot

LONDON: ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has told fans they have not seen the last of him after he ensured another top four Premier League finish and a spot in the Champions League.

Wenger's contract expires at the end of the campaign and the 64-year-old Frenchman has yet to sign a new one amid growing complaints from the terraces that it might be time for a change after 18 years of his stewardship.

The last nine of those have not seen them win a trophy but Wenger was steadfast in his commitment after they were handed fourth spot following Everton’s 3-2 home loss to league leaders Manchester City on Saturday.

“Look at me,” he told reporters, arms outstretched when asked whether he would definitely be in charge for next season.

“You will see me again.

“Don't be impatient. My last time will come. You will get rid of me one day, don’t worry.”

Wenger’s comments came after a Sunday stroll in the sun as they despatched struggling West Bromwich Albion 1-0 at the Emirates in their final home game of the season.

But it was not an entirely cheerful mood in North London with some fans protesting outside of the ground at the growing costs of watching the team as they sung “Arsenal till I'm skint”.

They also unveiled banners that read “record commercial deals + greedy owners = poorer fans”.

Revenues have been a hot topic at Arsenal, with British media reports suggesting a renewal for Wenger would only come if Arsenal ensured another season in the Champions League.

“No no, its not linked to that at all,” Wenger said. “It was of course important to be in the Champions League, that is for sure, but I have told you many times it is not linked to my commitment, linked to the fact that I feel I am useful.

“I told you many times that my word is my word. I am from a period where you did not need a pen to commit.”

But questions have been raised whether it should be simply down to Wenger if he wants to stay.

He celebrated 1,000 games in a charge of the club this season but the milestone day ended in regrettable fashion with a 6-0 humiliation at London rivals Chelsea, ending their challenge for the league, which they led by seven points at one stage.

The club face a final league match at Norwich City next week before the FA Cup final against Hull City on May 17 where Wenger will try to claim the trophy for a fifth time.

Time will tell if a victory at Wembley will be enough to appease the frustrated sections of the crowd, but Wenger said he remained sure he was the man to return the 13-times English champions to the heights he had them at before.

Wenger hopes that fullback Bacary Sagna and backup goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski will show similar commitment with the duo’s contracts also about to expire.

The manager added that on-loan Swedish midfielder Kim Kallstrom will return to Spartak Moscow, while he downplayed the chances of striker Loic Remy arriving from Queens Park Rangers despite the French striker being seen in the stands on Sunday.

“Honestly, I have just been informed that Loic Remy was here, I didn’t know,” Wenger said.

“So don’t see any sign of us signing Loic Remy in that. I hope he has paid for his ticket.” Reuters

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazilian police said Monday they had arrested a man suspected of killing a man after a football match by hurling a toilet bowl at him.

Everton Felipe Santana, 23 was arrested on suspicion he threw the bowl which killed Paulo Ricardo Gomes da Silva, 26, outside the Arruda stadium Friday in the World Cup host city of Recife.

Da Silva died after fans clashed outside the stadium on the other side of town from the brand new Pernambuco Arena which will be used for World Cup action in Recife.

Da Silva was buried on Sunday after an incident of hooliganism that shocked Brazil, who will host the World Cup next month after a series of recent outbreaks of football-related violence.

Globo’s G1 web news portal quoted Santana’s lawyer as saying he “knew what he was doing” even if he had not planned on causing disorder when he went to see the game between local side Santa Cruz and Parana.

“He confessed to participating, but could not explain his motive,” Globo quoted the lawyer as saying, adding Santana had told him he was ashamed of what he had done, and had given police details of other fans involved.

Earlier, Brazilian Minister of Sport Aldo Rebelo condemned the incident.

“Imagine. Someone goes to a football stadium, proceeds to dismantle a toilet and throws it at another fan. What is that?” asked Rebelo incredulously.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff tweeted her sorrow and outrage at the killing Sunday, saying that “a country that loves football cannot tolerate violence in its stadiums.” Brazil’s Tribunal for Sporting Justice on Sunday imposed a two-match supporter ban for upcoming matches at Arruda stadium and said the venue would remain closed pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation.

Relatives of Da Silva say they are considering legal action against Santa Cruz.

But chairman Antonio Luiz Neto insists the club did what it could to keep fans apart, allowing a 15-minute interval for rival supporters to leave the venue.

On Sunday, Globo quoted Beraldo Neto, a professor of physics, as indicating Da Silva was hit by a force equivalent to an object weighing 350 kilograms (770 pounds).

He estimated its weight at 15 kilograms and the speed it was thrown at some 80 kilometres (50 miles) per hour.

Other recent soccer violence in Brazil saw fans of Atletico Paranaense engage in bloody clashes in December with visitors Vasco da Gama and fans of Sao Paulo-based Corinthians attack players in the club’s training complex. -- AFP