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Another Villa star in training ground row with Houllier

Published 23:00 13/12/10 By James Nursey

Gerard Houllier's woes at Aston Villa are piling up after it emerged Habib Beye has also had a training ground bust-up.
New boss Houllier dropped Richard Dunne for Saturday's win over West Brom and stripped him of the captaincy.
He took action followed a furious exchange of words between Dunne and coach Gary McAllister during training last week.
But Beye has been left out of the Villa squad for the last two Premier League matches after a row as well.

The 33-year-old was sent in from training early while preparing for the Liverpool game last Monday and is unlikely to play for injury-hit Villa again.
A club insider revealed: "Houllier organised an eight-a-side game and told the lads he wanted no *tackling or moaning.
"But Beye did not believe that this was to apply *literally and was soon in dispute with the coaching staff.
"Habib gives his all in training and in every game. He was his usual *competitive self and this was soon a problem stemming from a couple of offside *decisions.
"There were some words exchanged and then *Houllier ordered him to leave training.
"McAllister tried to speak to Beye as he was leaving but he was very upset.
"Beye was complaining and asking what was the point of training if he couldn't tackle and he felt being competitive was being discouraged." *Houllier then axed the Senegal defender from the squad for the dismal 3-0 defeat at Liverpool and the victory over West Brom.
No one from Villa was available to comment on the incident last night, but it is a further headache for Houllier, who has also clashed with Dunne, Stephen Ireland and John Carew.
He angered Villa supporters by paying homage to his old club, Liverpool, after the trip to Anfield.
But Villa owner Randy Lerner is standing by the Frenchman after appointing him in September on a lucrative three-year contract.
Beye, signed from Newcastle for £2million in August 2009 by Martin O'Neill, is set to leave next month as Villa seek to cut their £70m wage bill.
His name has been *circulated to overseas clubs to drum up interest, along with those of Carew and Brad Friedel, who will both be out of contract next June.
But three points against West Brom has eased Villa's relegation worries ahead of Saturday's trip to struggling Wigan.
And keeper Friedel, 39, explained both Villa's management and staff have done plenty of soul-searching to stop the rot following four straight losses.
Friedel said: "We had a couple of meetings before the West Brom game, some with the staff, some without the staff.
"It is time for the players to go out on to the field and gets results.
"Thankfully we did that against West Brom and hopefully we can do that again against Wigan.
"One of the biggest *problems we have had is the injuries have come right in the middle of the park where games are won and lost.
"The young lads who have come in have done really well but to do it on a consistent basis for 10 or 12 games is a lot to ask.
"People are going to have to judge Gerard after he has had a couple of transfer windows and also once we have a full complement of players in the squad."

Gomes: We are better when we're losing

Published 23:00 13/12/10 By Martin Lipton

Heurelho Gomes last night admitted Spurs have to learn how to take control of games from the start if they are to realise their title dream.
Sunday's draw with Chelsea represented only the sixth time this season Harry Redknapp's men have scored the first goal in 17 Premier League games.
While they are unbeaten in those matches, only two have been won, and Tottenham have gone a goal down on 10 occasions, winning from behind five times already.
And after his last-gasp penalty save from Didier Drogba kept Spurs on the coat-tails of the top four in the most crowded title race for years, the Brazilian conceded that Redknapp's side will have to show they can win from the front if they are to still be in the shake-up when it matters in May.

Gomes said: "It was the right result. We played better in the first half and they played better in the second. We had chances at the end but they played better in the second half.
"I think we need to push a little bit more when we do get the first goal, the way we do when we go behind.
"Sometimes when you score first you drop and I think we need to squeeze a bit more and still press the opposition. That maybe why sometimes we drop points like Sunday.
"But if you look at us and the way we play, then of course we can challenge for the title.
"We concede goals because we attack as well. Last season we defended more than we attacked and this season we have Luka Modric in central midfield. It is difficult but we are still up there and can keep going. We can finish up there.
"All of us know we have come a long way but it is not easy to play against a team like Chelsea.
"We are in a great moment but they are a very experienced side and they made it a difficult game for us. When people say we can win a game like this it shows the players and everyone how good we are. We have to keep going and try to pick up points.
"But of course the other thing is that we need to start getting clean sheets again. I think a team like Manchester United or Chelsea keep a lot of clean sheets but I think we just changed the way we play now.
"We need to time to adapt it and sometimes we need to be more compact as defenders to keep more clean sheets. I think we are in the right way."
Spurs have not kept a clean sheet in the league since the opening day of the season, although they were on course to change that before Gomes allowed Drogba's thumping strike to elude his hands and trickle into the net.
The Brazilian, nicknamed "The Octopus" during his spell in Holland with Feyenoord, could have done with an extra pair of hands at White Hart Lane and admitted he was unsure how he had been beaten.
"I still don't know how the ball went over me," added Gomes. "I thought it was a great save. He put a lot of power on his shot and I tried to put the ball back - but it span over me. At the end I could help a bit with my penalty save."
Gomes redeemed himself with the dive to repel Drogba's penalty in stoppage time and extend Spurs unbeaten run to six games.
The Brazilian saved three penalties from former team-mate Darren Bent in two games against Sunderland last season and famously denied Jermaine Jenas in a UEFA Cup penalty shoot-out against Spurs three years ago but Sunday could prove his most vital stop.
"I sometimes watch DVDs of penalty takers but I didn't this time," said the South American. "I don't like watching the penalty takers because it stays in your head and you think he is going one way all the time. I try to wait as much as I can and try to go the right way.
"Frank Lampard was just coming back, maybe Didier had the confidence to take it. He scored the first one and maybe he was confident to take one. Frank Lampard normally takes them but I don't know how they decide."
This week will be decision time for Spurs with skipper Ledley King and Redknapp to decide if the centre-half needs groin surgery.
King has not played since limping off at Fulham on October 16 and Redknapp revealed: "We have a date for Ledley to have an operation. The surgeon is available until December 23 but is then away for four weeks so we have to make a decision by then.
"He's coming on well. If he feels okay we will not operate. If he has to have it, it will be five weeks. But he's feeling good."
In King's continued absence, Redknapp was down to his last pair of experienced central defenders against Chelsea with Michael Dawson returning after more than three months out to partner Sebastian Bassong.
William Gallas sustained a hamstring strain on training in Friday while Younes Kaboul is recovering from the hip injury he picked up in the win over Liverpool two weeks ago.
Gomes, though, said Dawson's return after damaging knee ligaments on England duty against Bulgaria three months ago was a major boost.
The keeper said: "Michael is a great player and we kept a lot of clean sheets last season when he was great for us.
"He is amazing in front of me. He can start now and just needs time to get playing. He is a great guy and friend to everyone, pushing everyone. We need players like him."

Kop owners fail to shield Hodgson from fans fury

Published 23:00 13/12/10 By Mike Walters

Liverpool owner John W Henry rattled Roy Hodgson with a warning shot about "unacceptable" results last night.
As Anfield militants peppered the club's new American power brokers with calls to axe Hodgson, Henry provided his under-fire manager little shelter from the crossfire.
In a live phone-in on *Liverpool's in-house TV channel, Henry and chairman Tom Werner were left in little doubt about the grievances stacking up against their manager after Saturday's derisory 3-1 defeat at Newcastle.
Hodgson had earlier acknowledged the *chatroom rage by staging a long inquest into the shambles on Tyneside, which left the Reds with a pathetic five points from a possible 27 away from home this season.

Liverpool's next four games – at home to his old club Fulham, away at Blackpool and an Anfield double header with Wolves and Bolton – will give Hodgson a chance to avert a full-blown crisis.
But Henry, the Boston Red Sox magnate who ousted hated cowboys Tom Hicks and George Gillett in a £300million takeover two months ago, offered only qualified support for Hodgson – and ominously spoke of handing Kop legend Kenny Dalglish a "more substantive role" at the club.
Henry said: "There's no doubt about it that this season and the second half of last season was unacceptable for *Liverpool, and we are in sync with the fans for what it's going to take going forward.
"It doesn't take a lot of time for the club to go downhill but it takes time to rebuild, and over the last two years there have been some short-term decisions which have really hurt the club.
"It's up to us to turn the tide, but we are in it for the long term.
"We see this as an *opportunity to return the club to where it was 20 years ago.
"Where we are at this point is not acceptable, but when I say rebuilding I mean building for the top of the table. That's going to be really difficult to do this year and a real *challenge next year as well."
Of Dalglish, the club *ambassador who enjoyed widespread support for a second spell in charge until Hodgson was appointed in the summer, Henry added: "We actually met a couple of times to talk about things.
"He needs to have a more substantive role within the club and that's something we are working on with (director of football strategy) Damien Comolli."
Werner said: "We had a lovely dinner with Kenny, his wife Marina and his son Paul – I understood about half of what he said, and I just nodded when I couldn't understand.
"But we know what he means to this club, and we would be well-served with his spirit and tradition. We believe in what Roy is doing, and we certainly feel the performances have to improve."

Stoke ID Brum winger as Pennant replacement

Published 23:00 13/12/10 By Football Spy

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is arrowing in on Birmingham winger Sebastian Larsson after refusing to pay £6million to land Jermaine Pennant.
Pennant will return to Spanish side Real Zaragoza when his loan spell ends next month – unless they drop their asking price.
Pulis now plans a raid on Larsson instead. The Swede's deal at St Andrew's runs out in June and talks have stalled over his £25,000-a-week wage demands.
Stoke also fancy Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia, but the £9m asking price for the Frenchman is too rich for the Potters.

Malouda reveals the "strain" of Wilkins sacking at Blues

Published 23:00 13/12/10 By Martin Lipton

Florent Malouda last night admitted the Chelsea dressing room was destabilised by the sacking of Ray Wilkins.
Despite the comeback draw at Spurs on Sunday, Carlo Ancelotti's men have dropped 15 points out of 21 and have not won in the league since the shock dismissal of the Stamford Bridge No 2.
And Malouda conceded the out of the blue sacking of the popular former Chelsea and England skipper had been a factor in the winter wobble that could cost Chelsea their crown.
Malouda said: "Ray was close to the players and in training he was involved in the animation of the sessions.

"It was a big strain to see him leave like this and we were not prepared for that.
"I first heard what had happened in the afternoon when it was announced. It was a shock.
"What we need is stability and obviously the players cannot react to this decision. We can't use it as an excuse and the fans do not want us excuses for why we have not been winning but good performances to turn it around.
"That is the way you have to be in life and sport. What we need is good performance to turn things around and say 'that happened, maybe that was a poor run,' but afterwards we have to react and carry on."
Malouda said that Ancelotti has been "trying to keep everyone calm" amid the shocking run that has seen Chelsea tumble from a dominant position at the top of the table to fourth after the White Hart Lane draw.
"He is trying to bring back serenity at the club because we are not used to those kind of results," added the France captain. "In the past year and half we were successful and suddenly we are on a poor run.
"When it is like that you still have to carry on and and work and believe in what you do. So that's what he is trying to do, to speak to the players and try to find out the solutions.
"At Spurs we conceded an early goal again but I was really happy with the way we reacted. We were close to winning and that hasn't happened for a long time so it is a good sign with big games coming up.
"The way we played gives us hope for Manchester United and Arsenal because we know we can match them with that spirit coming back."
Malouda's renewed faith was matched by goalkeeper Petr Cech and the returning Frank Lampard, back as a late substitute at Sours after more than three months out with hernia and groin problems.
Cech said: "We knew we had a massive four games, starting at Tottenham. I said before the game that it could be a turning point in the whole league and we know we have the chance to change the table again in these next matches.
"We really searched for this result. We had better composure, we didn't allow them to make a bigger effort than ourselves. I think tactically we were well placed, in control, and we managed to open them up.
"You know even in difficult times that you have to go through, you have to work hard. We have been doing so all this period when we didn't get results and on Sunday we got an important one."
Chelsea's run is the worst the club have experienced since 1999 but Cech insisted the mood was never as black as in the dark days that brought the end of Luiz Felipe Scolari's reign two years ago, when the Brazilian fell out with several senior stars.
"It is the worst run of results since I came to the club but not the worst in terms of performances," he added. "There were games when we deserved to win, like Newcastle and Birmingham. We were unlucky there.
"I think that there was a period before Scolari left that it was much worse, it wasn't just the results that were bad but the performances as well.
"Our motivation is to defend the title and to stay top. This year, though, there are seven or eight teams up there fighting. One result can make a difference of two or three places.
"Look at what has happened with Manchester City. They were in a bad moment and then are level on points with the leaders The team that has the most consistency will win it."
Chelsea's hopes of that consistency were boosted by the sight of Lampard back in harness and the England star added: "Of course we can still win the league.
"If we play with the spirit we showed at Spurs I have no doubt we will win the league. We have got the quality in our team.
"Injuries have been tough on us and some months tough on us but the spirit and ability we have got in our team means if we play like that I have all the confidence we can do it.
"We will have to fight on a few front. City are there now, Arsenal, United, as we know and teams like Tottenham are pushing from behind. So we have to be at our best. But if we are at our best I think we can win it."

Allardyce to pocket £1.5m after Rovers shove

Published 23:00 13/12/10 By Alan Nixon

Sam Allardyce will be in for a hefty £1.5 million pay-off after being sacked as Blackburn boss.
Allardyce is expecting to get the rest of his contract at Rovers paid up, which works out at around £1million for the rest of the season at Ewood Park.
And Allardyce could also pick up a windfall if Rovers survive at the end of the season as he has a bonus written into his deal, with around £500,000 heading his way.
Allardyce made a financial killing out of being axed by Newcastle United, pocketing around £4.5m from Mike Ashley - money he plunged into a palatial home in Spain.

The Rovers cash will be sorted out with Allardyce's agents and the League Managers Association also in his corner. And in the meantime his availability will alert other clubs.
West Ham could be looking for a 'fireman' to get them out of relegation trouble and Allardyce did a similar job when he was appointed at Blackburn two years ago at a time when they were in dire straits.

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Sunday's papers

Published 12:06 12/12/10 By Football Spy

Transfer stories from other newspapers and websites
Manchester United will go for Ashley Young in January as opposition grows to new boss Gerard Houllier (The People)
Sir Alex Ferguson is also going for Fulham's promising centre back Matthew Briggs (The People)
Manchester City will bid for France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, less than four months after he moved from Bordeaux to Lyon for £20m (The People)
Spurs and Chelsea are interested in City's Joleon Lescott (Sunday Express)
And City will go for Wolfsburg's £30m Edin Dzeko if Carlos Tevez goes in January (Mail On Sunday)
Harry Redknapp will offer Everton Niko Kranjcar and £1m in return for Steven Pienaar (News Of The World)
But Redknapp is ready to give up on Scott Parker and go for Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila instead (People)
The Hammers WILL sell Parker - but only if they land Newcastle bad boy Joey Barton first (Sunday Express)
Aston Villa will refuse to sell Brad Friedel in January after going cold on a move for Rangers' Allan McGregor (News Of The World)
Stoke are keen on Tottenham's David Bentley if their bid to make Jermaine Pennant's loan permanent breaks down (People)
Liverpool are going for £4.5m Basel winger Valentin Stocker (People)
Bayern Munich will bid £10m for Everton's Leighton Baines after sending two scouts to check on him against Wigan yesterday (People)
And Bayer Leverkusen want Toffees midfielder Marouane Fellaini (Sunday Express)
West Brom and Birmingham are battling for West Ham's Danny Gabbidon (News Of The World)
Sam Allardyce will bid £7m to bring Charles N'Zogbia to Blackburn (People)
Fulham want Lyon midfielder Jean Makoum but are baulking at the £7m fee (News Of The World)

Football
Gor kid Akumu on the verge of European move

George 'Blackberry'Odhiambo of Gor Mahia (center) celebrates with teammates after scoring during a past KPL match. BlackBerry and Anthony Akumu are set to join Danish side Randers FC. Photo/FILE
By Odindo Ayieko oayieko@yahoo.com and John Ashihundu jashihundu@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Monday, December 13 2010 at 22:00
In Summary

• Coach ‘Zico' lavishes praise on teenager and BlackBerry, who will also join the same club

Gor Mahia's teen star Anthony Akumu could soon join the professional circles after he impressed during his trials with Randers FC in Denmark.

Akumu returned to the country last week and was optimistic of signing for the Danish club.

"It was a great experience for me. They liked me and I'm looking forward to join them. I did my best in the trials," said Akumu.

Gor coach Zedekiah Otieno lavished Akumu with praise, saying the youngster has a great future.

"He is young, talented and disciplined. He will go places. He is one of the best players in Kenya and I wish him well," said Otieno.

Club's merchandise

Gor playmaker, George "BlackBerry" Odhiambo, is also set to sign for the same club in January.

Gor are now targeting Kenya Commercial Bank's Ezekiel Odera to replace BlackBerry. Odera, who scored 11 goals last season for the bankers, has openly stated his desire to join Gor.

At the same time, Gor has set up measures to curb piracy of the club's merchandise.

Club secretary Nick Arum said the club lost a lot of money to ‘backstreet businessmen' who have been selling the club's jerseys without a contract.

"There are many ‘backstreet businessmen' capitalising on the club's popularity to sell our merchandise. We are now going to follow up on the matter and take necessary action. It won't be business as usual next season," he said.

Poor management

Meanwhile, Nationwide League clubs have accused Football Kenya Limited (FKL) of favouring Bandari and Congo United.

In a consultative forum with a view to finding solutions to problems that dogged this year's league, the clubs said FKL lacked efficient management.
Mathare Youth, one of the relegated teams, complained of mismanagement.

The former Premier League side took issue with the fixtures, saying they were forced to play two matches on the last weekend, and in different towns, Nairobi and Nakuru.

They claimed some fixtures were changed often on short notice without consultation with the affected clubs in violation of FKL rules 9 (a) which states "Fixtures for the whole season shall be released prior to the start of the season."

Athletics champion David Rudisha when he was awarded the Sportsman of the Year Award in Nairobi last Friday. [PHOTO: MARTIN MUKANGU/STANDARD]

FKL cede control of Stars to government


Updated 12 hr(s) 13 min(s) ago


By GILBERT WANDERA


Football Kenya has accepted to cede the management of the national team Harambee Stars to the state.
Last week, Sports Minister Paul Otuoma announced he would form a management board to run the team in the wake of poor performance in the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup tournament held in Tanzania.


Otuoma said they are doing this following the failure of Football Kenya to properly manage the team.
Football Kenya chairman Mohammed Hatimy said they fully support the idea and will co-operate with the Government.
He said: "We have no problem with the Ministry forming a management board to run the team. We support the idea and will co-operate fully with them."


Hatimy said this is the right thing to do considering FKL are over-stretched with other activities. He said it is the trend in other successful countries for governments to take over management of national teams.


It will be the third time the Government is coming in to form a board to manage the national team. The first time it happened Stars made it to the Africa Cup of Nations when it was held in Tunisia in 2004. Prominent Nairobi lawyer Mohammed Nyaoga then chaired the board.


Just recently, another board chaired by Hussein Mohammed, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Extreme Sports was in charge of the 2010 campaign to qualify for the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations.
Formation of a board to run the team comes at a time when the team's performance has hit an all time low with players and members of the technical bench complaining of lack of allowances.


The board's activities will be to raise funds to manage the team's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Their immediate task will be to identify a coach and raise funds for the March Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola in Nairobi. Elsewhere, former Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi has been tipped to come back to the team next year.
Kimanzi is in the Netherlands for a coaching course. He was removed from Stars a year ago following differences with top FKL officials.

JK awapongeza wachezaji Stars
Imeandikwa na Zena Chande; Tarehe: 13th December 2010 @ 23:59 Imesomwa na watu: 217; Jumla ya maoni: 0

Rais Jakaya Kikwete na Mkewe Mama Salima,katika picha ya pamoja na wachezaji wa Kilimanjaro Stars wakiwa na Kikombe cha Ubingwa wa Chalenji baada ya kukabidhiwa na nahodha wa timu ya Kilimanjaro Stars, Shadrack Nsajigwa Ikulu Dar es salaam. (Picha na Yusuf Badi)





RAIS Jakaya Kikwete amekipongeza kikosi cha timu ya soka ya taifa ya Tanzania Bara ‘Kilimanjaro Stars' kwa kutwaa Kombe la Chalenji juzi na kuahidi kukipatia zawadi.

Mbali na pongezi hizo, Rais Kikwete pia ametoa changamoto kwa timu hiyo kuhakikisha inabakisha Kombe hilo mwakani ili isionekane kama ilibahatisha.

Kilimanjaro Stars ilitwaa ubingwa wa Kombe la Chalenji baada ya kuifunga Ivory Coast bao 1-0 katika mechi ya fainali iliyochezwa kwenye uwanja wa Taifa juzi ikiwa ni kwa mara ya kwanza kufanya hivyo baada ya miaka 16.

Kikwete aliyasema hayo jana alipokutana na wachezaji wa Kilimanjaro Stars kwa ajili ya chakula cha mchana Ikulu Dar es Salaam.

"Hongereni sana, nilikuwa nikiisubiri kwa hamu siku ya jana (juzi), mimi nimefurahi sana kwasababu miaka yote 16 wenzetu walikuwa wanapokea hili Kombe, sisi tunajitahidi lakini wapi, sasa hatimaye nasisi tumefurahi…nitawapa zawadi, lakini sitasema nini muungwana huwa hatangazi zawadi, sasa kama nyie mkiamua kuitangaza sawa,".

"Katika hotuba yangu ya Desemba 30 mwaka 2005 nilisema kwamba tutawekeza kwenye mechezo na kwa vile kuna gharama TFF peke yao hawawezi serikali ikawasaidia kuleta kocha na sasa tumeanza kushinda si kichwa cha mwendawazimu tena kama alivyosema mzee Mwinyi (Ali Hassan, Rais wa Awamu ya Pili),"alisema.

Kuhusu Changamoto aliyotoa, Kikwete alisema: "Tukumbuke ushindi huu ni mwanga tu wa mafanikio unaanza kuchomoza, lakini safari bado ni ndefu, mtu mmoja alinitumia ujumbe baada ya mechi akiniambia bwana hongera sasa bado Kombe la Dunia 2014, nikamwambia wazi kwamba hizo ni ndoto za kitoto…

"Sasa nawaambia tukubaliane kwamba kazi yetu kubwa ni kuhakikisha kombe linabaki mwakani sio raundi ya kwanza tu tumetolewa, tukiishia raundi ya kwanza tutaonekana mwaka huu tulibahatisha…mwakani tuhakikishe kombe hatunyang'anywi, kisha baada ya hapo tushiriki fainali za Mataifa Afrika, sio Chan (Fainali za Mataifa Afrika kwa Wachezaji wa ndani).

"Hata tusipotwaa ubingwa, lakini tutoe mkosi wa kushiriki tangu mwaka 1980…baada ya hapo tuangalie kwenda fainali za Kombe la Dunia mwaka 2018 au 2022,"alisema.

"Sisemi kama tujitoe katika mechi za kuwania kufuzu fainali za Kombe la dunia mwaka 2014, hapana tushiriki maana huko ndiko tunakopata mazoezi zaidi,"alisema.

Aidha Rais Kikwete aliupongeza uongozi wa TFF kwa uamuzi wake wa kuingiza mashabiki bure uwanjani na kuahidi kuwasaidia kufidia hasara waliyopata.

"Mashabiki walikuwa wanajaa uwanjani nawashukuru sana wadhamini pamoja na TFF kwa hilo naamini TFF haijapata hasara,"alisema na kuahidi kusaidia kufidia gharama kama kuna hasara iliyotokea.

Awali akizungumza katika hafla hiyo, Rais wa TFF, Leodegar Tenga alisema mashindano hayo yalivunja rekodi kuliko mashindano mengine ya CECAFA.

"Mashindano yalifana sana na inasemekana kwamba ni mashindano yaliyovunja rekodi kwa uzuri na nidhamu kuliko yote, mashabiki wanetupa heshima kubwa kwa kujaa uwanjani,"alisema Tenga.

Kwa mara ya mwisho Kilimanjaro Stars kutwaa ubingwa wa michuano hiyo ilikuwa mwaka 1994 chini ya kocha Syllersaid Mziray

(marehemu) akisaidiwa na Sunday Kayuni ambaye kwa sasa ni Mkurugenzi wa Ufundi wa TFF.

Kwa ushindi ilioupata, Stars imezawadiwa dola za Marekani 30,000 (Karibu sh milioni 42 za Tanzania) huku Ivyory Coast iliyoshika nafasi ya pili ikipata Dola za Markeni 20,000 na Uganda Dola za Marekani 10,000 kwa kushika nafasi ya tatu.

JK awapongeza wachezaji Stars
Imeandikwa na Zena Chande; Tarehe: 13th December 2010 @ 23:59 Imesomwa na watu: 217; Jumla ya maoni: 0

Rais Jakaya Kikwete na Mkewe Mama Salima,katika picha ya pamoja na wachezaji wa Kilimanjaro Stars wakiwa na Kikombe cha Ubingwa wa Chalenji baada ya kukabidhiwa na nahodha wa timu ya Kilimanjaro Stars, Shadrack Nsajigwa Ikulu Dar es salaam. (Picha na Yusuf Badi)





RAIS Jakaya Kikwete amekipongeza kikosi cha timu ya soka ya taifa ya Tanzania Bara ‘Kilimanjaro Stars’ kwa kutwaa Kombe la Chalenji juzi na kuahidi kukipatia zawadi.

Mbali na pongezi hizo, Rais Kikwete pia ametoa changamoto kwa timu hiyo kuhakikisha inabakisha Kombe hilo mwakani ili isionekane kama ilibahatisha.

Kilimanjaro Stars ilitwaa ubingwa wa Kombe la Chalenji baada ya kuifunga Ivory Coast bao 1-0 katika mechi ya fainali iliyochezwa kwenye uwanja wa Taifa juzi ikiwa ni kwa mara ya kwanza kufanya hivyo baada ya miaka 16.

Kikwete aliyasema hayo jana alipokutana na wachezaji wa Kilimanjaro Stars kwa ajili ya chakula cha mchana Ikulu Dar es Salaam.

“Hongereni sana, nilikuwa nikiisubiri kwa hamu siku ya jana (juzi), mimi nimefurahi sana kwasababu miaka yote 16 wenzetu walikuwa wanapokea hili Kombe, sisi tunajitahidi lakini wapi, sasa hatimaye nasisi tumefurahi…nitawapa zawadi, lakini sitasema nini muungwana huwa hatangazi zawadi, sasa kama nyie mkiamua kuitangaza sawa,”.

“Katika hotuba yangu ya Desemba 30 mwaka 2005 nilisema kwamba tutawekeza kwenye mechezo na kwa vile kuna gharama TFF peke yao hawawezi serikali ikawasaidia kuleta kocha na sasa tumeanza kushinda si kichwa cha mwendawazimu tena kama alivyosema mzee Mwinyi (Ali Hassan, Rais wa Awamu ya Pili),”alisema.

Kuhusu Changamoto aliyotoa, Kikwete alisema: “Tukumbuke ushindi huu ni mwanga tu wa mafanikio unaanza kuchomoza, lakini safari bado ni ndefu, mtu mmoja alinitumia ujumbe baada ya mechi akiniambia bwana hongera sasa bado Kombe la Dunia 2014, nikamwambia wazi kwamba hizo ni ndoto za kitoto…

“Sasa nawaambia tukubaliane kwamba kazi yetu kubwa ni kuhakikisha kombe linabaki mwakani sio raundi ya kwanza tu tumetolewa, tukiishia raundi ya kwanza tutaonekana mwaka huu tulibahatisha…mwakani tuhakikishe kombe hatunyang’anywi, kisha baada ya hapo tushiriki fainali za Mataifa Afrika, sio Chan (Fainali za Mataifa Afrika kwa Wachezaji wa ndani).

“Hata tusipotwaa ubingwa, lakini tutoe mkosi wa kushiriki tangu mwaka 1980…baada ya hapo tuangalie kwenda fainali za Kombe la Dunia mwaka 2018 au 2022,”alisema.

“Sisemi kama tujitoe katika mechi za kuwania kufuzu fainali za Kombe la dunia mwaka 2014, hapana tushiriki maana huko ndiko tunakopata mazoezi zaidi,”alisema.

Aidha Rais Kikwete aliupongeza uongozi wa TFF kwa uamuzi wake wa kuingiza mashabiki bure uwanjani na kuahidi kuwasaidia kufidia hasara waliyopata.

“Mashabiki walikuwa wanajaa uwanjani nawashukuru sana wadhamini pamoja na TFF kwa hilo naamini TFF haijapata hasara,”alisema na kuahidi kusaidia kufidia gharama kama kuna hasara iliyotokea.

Awali akizungumza katika hafla hiyo, Rais wa TFF, Leodegar Tenga alisema mashindano hayo yalivunja rekodi kuliko mashindano mengine ya CECAFA.

“Mashindano yalifana sana na inasemekana kwamba ni mashindano yaliyovunja rekodi kwa uzuri na nidhamu kuliko yote, mashabiki wanetupa heshima kubwa kwa kujaa uwanjani,”alisema Tenga.

Kwa mara ya mwisho Kilimanjaro Stars kutwaa ubingwa wa michuano hiyo ilikuwa mwaka 1994 chini ya kocha Syllersaid Mziray

(marehemu) akisaidiwa na Sunday Kayuni ambaye kwa sasa ni Mkurugenzi wa Ufundi wa TFF.

Kwa ushindi ilioupata, Stars imezawadiwa dola za Marekani 30,000 (Karibu sh milioni 42 za Tanzania) huku Ivyory Coast iliyoshika nafasi ya pili ikipata Dola za Markeni 20,000 na Uganda Dola za Marekani 10,000 kwa kushika nafasi ya tatu.

Yanga, Azam, Simba kuvaana Kombe la Mapinduzi

Imeandikwa na Mwandishi Wetu; Tarehe: 13th December 2010 @ 23:40

TIMU za Simba, Yanga, Mtibwa Sugar na Azam FC zinatarajiwa kushiriki michuano ya Kombe la Mapinduzi itakayoanza mapema Januari.

Kwa mujibu wa Mratibu wa michuano hiyo Osman Kazi, timu nyingine zitakazoshiriki ni Zanzibar Ocean View, KMKM, Jamhuri na Chuoni za Zanzibar.

"Kwa kawaida mashindano haya huanza mapema na kufikia kilele siku ya Mapinduzi, Januari 12, yatafanyika Zanzibar,"alisema.

Alisema siku moja kabla ya fainali za michuano hiyo ambayo Mtibwa ndio bingwa mtetezi kutakuwa na mechi kati ya wacheza soka Maveterani wa Bara na wale wa Zanzibar.

"Na katika fainali kutakuwa na mechi ya utangulizi ambapo timu ya soka ya Chama cha Waandishi wa Habari za Michezo (TASWA) itacheza na timu ya Baraza la wawakilishi," alisema.