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Timbe agawa majukumu mazito Yanga Send to a friend Saturday, 05 March 2011 09:56

Jackson Odoyo, Bagamoyo
KOCHA wa Yanga, Sam Timbe amesema amekabidhi majukumu maalum kwa wachezaji wake ya kuhakikisha timu hiyo inaibuka na ushindi leo katika mchezo wa Ligi Kuu dhidi ya Simba.

Akigawa majukumu hayo jana wakati wa mazoezi ya mwisho kambini Bagamoyo, huku akimtaja kila mchezaji kwa jina akitumia lugha za Kiswahili na Kingereza, Timbe, alisema, ìMimi nimemaliza kazi yangu, iliyobaki ni ya kwenu, unasikia Mwape (Davies).î

ìHapa kila mtu anahitaji ushindi na ili ushindi huo upatikane ni lazima mcheze kitimu, sitaki habari za kila mtu kucheza mpira wake hapa hakuna, Tegete (Jerry) umenisikia,îaliongeza kocha huyo.

ìSitaki kuona mpira wa anao anao hapa ninahitaji kuona mpira wa mahesabu na pasi zifike kwa mlengwa, umesikia Nsa Job ?î

"Ninahitaji kuona mkicheza mpira niliowafundishwa badala ya kucheza ule mnaojua wenyewe na ili kuhakikisha kwamba hilo linafanyika ipasavyo mabeki muwe makini wakati wote na kuondoa hatari langoni kwa mahesabu badala ya kubutua.

ìCannavaro (Nadir) na Mwasika (Stephano), ninyi sitaki mpira wa kubutua butua ni lazima mcheze kwa umakini zaidi kwa sababu mnacheza na timu nzuri.

ìNafahamu kwamba Simba ni timu nzuri na ni mechi ngumu, lakini hatuwaogopi bali tunawaheshimu tu jinsi ambavyo hata wao wanatuheshimu na bila ya hivyo hatuwezi kupata ushindi."

Baada ya mazoezi ya mwisho jana, Timbe aliongeza, ìKila mmoja wenu awe makini kumkaba adui yake na msimwachie mtu nafasi ya kupita kwa sababu kosa moja huzaa goli.

ìKazi yangu mimi nimemaliza, sitakuwa na nafasi ya mazoezi tena kwa ajili ya mechi hii, bali kazi mmebaki nayo ninyi kwa sababu mnakwenda kucheza, hivyo kila mtu akitoka hapa akapumzike na kulala kwa sababu siku zote tulikuwa na kazi ya kufanya mazoezi magumu, lakini leo hii ni mna muda wa kupumzika, îalisema.

Hata hivyo, kocha huyo alionekana kuwa na wasiwasi na safu yake ya ulinzi na kiungo kiasi kwamba maelekezo yake zaidi yalielekezwa kwao, hususan Isaack Boakye huku akikiri kwamba safu yake ya kiungo itamkosa Ernest Boakye ambaye aliye majeruhi.
 
Phiri: Mshindi wa leo ndiye bingwa Send to a friend Saturday, 05 March 2011 09:50

Michael Momburi ,Zanzibar

KOCHA wa Simba inayocheza na Yanga leo, Patrick Phiri amesema kuwa timu itakayoshinda mchezo huo ndiyo itakuwa bingwa mpya.

Lakini, alisisitiza kuwa kikosi chake kina kila sababu ya kushinda na wala hawataki sare katika mchezo huo kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa.

Aliongeza kuwa timu yake iko tayari kisaikolojia na kipa yoyote kati ya Juma Kaseja na Ally Mustapha 'Barthez' anaweza kusimama langoni, ila itategemea mtu ataamkaje asubuhi.

Timu hiyo ambayo ilikuwa ikifanya mazoezi kwenye Uwanja wa Fuoni, Mbweni ,Unguja iliondoka jana asubuhi kwa boti kurejea Dar es Salaam ambako ilitazamiwa kufanya mazoezi ya mwisho kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa jana jioni.

Phiri alisema; "Hakuna chochote tunachoweza kuwaambia mashabiki zaidi ya ushindi haswa kuangalia rekodi ya hizi timu mbili kwenye ligi msimu huu, tusiposhinda hakuna anayeweza kutuelewa wala hatuna kisingizio chochote."

Phiri katika mechi ya mwisho ya ligi hiyo mjini Mwanza, Yanga ilishinda kwa bao 1-0.

"Mimi nitawakosa wachezaji wangu wawili muhimu, Echessa (Hillary) na Joseph Owino ambao ni majeruhi, lakini ukiiangalia Yanga nayo haiko vizuri ingawa ni timu nzuri, naweza kusema Yanga huu si msimu wao na inabidi wakubaliane na hilo liko wazi," alisema.

Yanga inaongoza msimamo wa ligi kwa pointi 38 ikiwa ni tofauti ya pointi moja na Simba yenye 37.

"Waliwahi kuchukua ubingwa mara mbili mfululizo na sasa Simba inataka kufanya hivyo, ukiangalia mfumo wa timu yao kwenye ulinzi siyo nzuri sana haina rekodi nzuri kwenye mechi za siku za karibuni, uwezekano wa sisi kuwafunga ni mkubwa.

"Sisi tuko vizuri sana na tuna kila sababu ya kuchukua ubingwa, tumefanya kazi sana tangu ligi ianze tofauti na timu nyingine yoyote ile na ukiangalia timu yangu iko fiti sana na ina fowadi ambayo ni ngumu kuzuilika hata Yanga hawawezi kufanya hivyo.

"Nawasihi Yanga wapiganie nafasi ya pili, ubingwa hawauwezi na ukiangalia wana mechi ngumu bado na Azam na JKT, huu ni msimu wa Simba.

Mechi ya leo itakuwa ya kiufundi sana pengine kuliko mecho yoyote ile ya Simba na Yanga miaka ya nyuma, uwepo wa kocha mpya wa Yanga Sam Timbe unaweza ukabadilisha staili na kuongeza morali ya wachezaji wake, lakini hakuna jinsi wanavyoweza kutufunga."

Kikosi cha Simba kinaweza kuwa : Ally Mustapha 'Barthez', Haruna Shamte,Amir Maftah/Juma Jabu,Meshack Abel, Juma Nyosso,Jerry Santo, Nico Nyagawa/Rashid Gumbo, Patrick Ochan, Mbwana Samatta, Mussa Hassan Mgosi na Amri Kiemba.

Yanga: Yaw Berko, Shadrack Nsajigwa,Stephano Mwasika, Chacha Marwa, Nadir Haroub 'Cannavaro', Juma Seif 'Kijiko' /Godfrey Bonny, Nsa Job, Athuman Iddi, Davies Mwape, Jerry Tegete na Kiggi Makassi.
 
Phiri: Mshindi wa leo ndiye bingwa Send to a friend Saturday, 05 March 2011 09:50

Michael Momburi ,Zanzibar

KOCHA wa Simba inayocheza na Yanga leo, Patrick Phiri amesema kuwa timu itakayoshinda mchezo huo ndiyo itakuwa bingwa mpya.

Lakini, alisisitiza kuwa kikosi chake kina kila sababu ya kushinda na wala hawataki sare katika mchezo huo kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa.

Aliongeza kuwa timu yake iko tayari kisaikolojia na kipa yoyote kati ya Juma Kaseja na Ally Mustapha 'Barthez' anaweza kusimama langoni, ila itategemea mtu ataamkaje asubuhi.

Timu hiyo ambayo ilikuwa ikifanya mazoezi kwenye Uwanja wa Fuoni, Mbweni ,Unguja iliondoka jana asubuhi kwa boti kurejea Dar es Salaam ambako ilitazamiwa kufanya mazoezi ya mwisho kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa jana jioni.

Phiri alisema; "Hakuna chochote tunachoweza kuwaambia mashabiki zaidi ya ushindi haswa kuangalia rekodi ya hizi timu mbili kwenye ligi msimu huu, tusiposhinda hakuna anayeweza kutuelewa wala hatuna kisingizio chochote."

Phiri katika mechi ya mwisho ya ligi hiyo mjini Mwanza, Yanga ilishinda kwa bao 1-0.

"Mimi nitawakosa wachezaji wangu wawili muhimu, Echessa (Hillary) na Joseph Owino ambao ni majeruhi, lakini ukiiangalia Yanga nayo haiko vizuri ingawa ni timu nzuri, naweza kusema Yanga huu si msimu wao na inabidi wakubaliane na hilo liko wazi," alisema.

Yanga inaongoza msimamo wa ligi kwa pointi 38 ikiwa ni tofauti ya pointi moja na Simba yenye 37.

"Waliwahi kuchukua ubingwa mara mbili mfululizo na sasa Simba inataka kufanya hivyo, ukiangalia mfumo wa timu yao kwenye ulinzi siyo nzuri sana haina rekodi nzuri kwenye mechi za siku za karibuni, uwezekano wa sisi kuwafunga ni mkubwa.

"Sisi tuko vizuri sana na tuna kila sababu ya kuchukua ubingwa, tumefanya kazi sana tangu ligi ianze tofauti na timu nyingine yoyote ile na ukiangalia timu yangu iko fiti sana na ina fowadi ambayo ni ngumu kuzuilika hata Yanga hawawezi kufanya hivyo.

"Nawasihi Yanga wapiganie nafasi ya pili, ubingwa hawauwezi na ukiangalia wana mechi ngumu bado na Azam na JKT, huu ni msimu wa Simba.

Mechi ya leo itakuwa ya kiufundi sana pengine kuliko mecho yoyote ile ya Simba na Yanga miaka ya nyuma, uwepo wa kocha mpya wa Yanga Sam Timbe unaweza ukabadilisha staili na kuongeza morali ya wachezaji wake, lakini hakuna jinsi wanavyoweza kutufunga."

Kikosi cha Simba kinaweza kuwa : Ally Mustapha 'Barthez', Haruna Shamte,Amir Maftah/Juma Jabu,Meshack Abel, Juma Nyosso,Jerry Santo, Nico Nyagawa/Rashid Gumbo, Patrick Ochan, Mbwana Samatta, Mussa Hassan Mgosi na Amri Kiemba.

Yanga: Yaw Berko, Shadrack Nsajigwa,Stephano Mwasika, Chacha Marwa, Nadir Haroub 'Cannavaro', Juma Seif 'Kijiko' /Godfrey Bonny, Nsa Job, Athuman Iddi, Davies Mwape, Jerry Tegete na Kiggi Makassi.
 
Kama Mazembe, nasi tunawachunguza kwao- Rage Send to a friend Saturday, 05 March 2011 09:49

Clara Alphonce

BAADA ya TP Mazembe kutoka Jamhur ya Kidemokrasia ya Kongo (DRC) kudaiwa kutuma wapelelezi kwa ajili ya kuitazama Simba katika mchezo wao wa leo dhidi ya Yanga, uongozi wa klabu hiyo nao imetuma watu watatu kwenda Congo.

Simba wanatarajia kukutana na mabingwa hao namba mbili wa dunia katika Machi 20 katika mchezo wao wa awali wa raundi ya kwanza ya michuano ya Ligi ya Mabingwa Afrika.

Mwenyekiti wa Simba, Aden Rage alisema jana kuwa wao kwa taarifa za kuwasili kwa wapinzani wao wamezisikia na kusisitiza kuwa wao hawaogopi kitu hicho.

Pamoja na hayo, Rage alisema kuwa nao kwa upande wao tayari wamewaagiza wawakilishi wao watatu kwa ajili ya kuichunguza timu hiyo (Mazembe) na baadaye kumletea taarifa kocha Patrick Phiri kwa ajili ya kuyafanyia kazi .

Alisema nia ya klabu yake ni kuhakikisha wanaivua ubingwa Mazembe na kuzidi kusonga mbele yatika michuano hiyo na kufikisha azma yao waliojiwekea ya kufanya vizuri barani Afrika.

Simba imepanga kuweka kambi kwa ajili ya michuano hiyo nchini Kenya kutokana na hali ya hewa katika nchi hiyo kuwa kufanana na ile ya Congo.

Timu hiyo iliingia hatua hiyo baada ya kuitoa Elan ya Comoro kwa mabao 4-2 katika mchezo wa marudiano uliochezwa Uwanja wa Uhuru, Dar es Salaam mwezi uliopita baada ya awali kutoka suluhu ya bila kufungana.
 
Walalamikia ulanguzi tiketi mechi ya leo Send to a friend Saturday, 05 March 2011 09:50

Jessca Nangawe

WADAU mbalimbali wa soka nchini wamelalamikia kitendo cha wauzaji wa tiketi kupandisha bei za mchezo wa Simba na Yanga kila zinapokutana na kulitaka Shirikisho la Soka Tanzania (TFF) kudhibiti hali hiyo mapema.

Hatua hiyo imekuja baada ya jana tiketi za pambano la watani wa jadi zilizokuwa zikiuzwa Sh3000 kupandishwa na kuuzwa Sh4000 baada ya kumalizika mapema na kufanya wadau hao kufika katika ofisi za TFF na kutoa malalamiko.

Mwananchi ilifika katika eneo la Shule ya Sekondari Benjamin Mkapa na kukuta baadhi ya wadau hao wakiwa wanalalamikia hali hiyo huku wakitaka TFF kuliangalia suala hilo kwa umakini zaidi.

Wakizungumza kwa nyakati tofauti, wadau hao walisema imekuwa kawaida wakati wa pambano hilo tiketi kupandishwa bei hali inayowafanya baadhi ya mashabiki kulalama.

"Haiwezekani hali kama hii imekua ikijitokeza kila wakati timu hizi zinapokutana,kikubwa sisi kama wadau na wapenda soka tunaomba TFF waliangalie swala hili kwa undani ili kuepusha matatizo kama haya"alisema Omary, mmoja wa mashabiki.

Naye Doto Hussein alisema TFF ndio wenye jukumu la kudhibiti hali hii kwa wauzaji kwani limekua kesho na halileti taswira nzuri katika maendeleo ya soka hivyo wanaomba liangaliwe upya na kufanyiwa uchinguzi.

Alipoulizwa ofisa habari wa shirikisho hilo, Boniface Wambura kuhusu tuhuma hizo alisema tiketi hizo zinauzwa kufuatana na bei iliyopo katika tiketi hivyo ni makosa kwa mashabiki kununua tiketi tofauti na bei na badala yake amewataka kununua tiketi mapema ili kukwepa usumbufu.

Aidha, Wambura alisema zoezi la uuzwaji wa tiketi lilikwenda vizuri na litakamilika leo saa 6:00 mchana kabla ya pambano hilo litakaloanza saa 10:00 jioni.

Timu hizo zinakutana leo katika mchezo wao wa pili wa kumaliza mzunguko wa lala salama wa ligi hiyo ambayo inafikia tamati hivi karibuni.
 
Ronaldo apiga tatu aumia, Madrid yaiadhiri Malaga Send to a friend Saturday, 05 March 2011 09:46

MADRID, Hispania
MABAO matatu (hat-rtick) ya Cristiano Ronaldo yameiwezesha Real Madrid kuiadhiri Malaga kwa mabao 7-0 na kupunguza pengo la pointi na Barcelona kubakia saba.
Kocha wa Malaga, Manuel Pellegrini alirejea kwa mara ya kwanza Santiago Bernabeu tangu alipoacha kibarua hicho kwa Jose Mourinho na kushuhudia kipigo cha aibu ambacho kilikamilishwa kwa mabao mengine ya Karim Benzema, dakika ya 27, Angel Di Maria na Marcelo wakifanya matokeo kuwa 3-0 hadi mapumziko.

Ronaldo alifungua kitabu chake cha mabao dakika ya 51, kisha Benzema kufanya matokeo kuwa 5-0. Ronaldo alifunga jingine la penalti kabla ya kumfikia Lionel Messi kileleni mwa ligi kwa mabao 27, dakika ya 77 kwa bao lake la tatu, kisha kuumia na kutolewa nje.

Timu zote mbili zilimaliza mchezo zikiwa na wachezaji 10, ingawa Real Madrid walilazimika kubakia pungufu kwa kutoka Ronaldo huku Mourinho akiwa tayari amefanya mabadiliko ya wachezaji watatu.

Ronaldo alimaliza ukame wake wa mechi tatu bila bao kwa kufikisha mabao 37 msimu huu.

Baada ya mchezo, Mourinho alisema maumivu ya Ronaldo yanaweza kuwa makubwa.

ìWakati wa mapumziko niliwaeleza wachezaji wangu kwamba walikuwa wameshinda mchezo huo, lakini waendelee kusaka mabao,î alisema Mourinho. ì Wapinzani wetu walikuwa wamechoka, kama tungeongeza juhudi tungepata mabao zaidi.î

Katika mchezo mwingine, Barcelona walishinda kwa bao 1-0 dhidi ya Valencia wanaoshika nafasi ya tatu katika mchezo wa Jumatano na kufikisha pointi 10 zaidi ya Madrid, ambao walijibu mapigo kesho yake kwa ushindi mkubwa kwenye Uwanja wa Bernabeu .

Pellegrini alimsalimia Mourinho kabla ya mchezo huo, akiweka kando dhihaka za Mreno huyo dhidi ya raia huyo wa Chile kuongoza klabu ndogo baada ya kuanzia Madrid.

ìSihitaji kujibizana na mtu,î alisema Pellegrini. ìLisingekuwa jambo la maana kuanza kujiingiza katika mizozo.î

Kwa muda mrefu wa mchezo, Malaga walicheza zaidi wakijihami na kuwaacha Real wakishambulia na kuwatumia Mesut Oezil na Ronaldo ambao walikaribia kufunga kabla ya Benzema kufanya hivyo kwa pasi ya Xabi Alonso.

Mshambuliaji raia wa Argentina , Di Maria alikimbia peke yake na kumvaa kipa Willy Caballero dakika ya 36 na kufunga bao kwa pasi ya Marcelo.

Kisha, Di Maria alilipa fadhila kwa kumlisha Marcelo ambaye alifunga bao la tatu muda mfupi kabla ya mapumziko.

Lakini, kipa Caballero alimzuia Ronaldo baada ya pasi ya Oezil , ingawa hakufanya hivyo dakika ya 51 na kumtungua kipa huyo raia wa Argentina.

Baada ya mechi 26 , Barcelona inaongoza ligi ikiwa na pointi 71, Madrid inazo 64 na Valencia 51. Villarreal, ambayo iliilaza Hercules 1-0 Jumatano ina pointi 50.

Mapema juzi, Almeria ilitoka sare ya 1-1 dhidi ya Racing Santander iliyokuwa na wachezaji 10. Matokeo mengine,
Espanyol 1-2 Mallorca; Sevilla 3-0 Sporting Gijon; Zaragoza 2-1 Athletic Bilbao ; Getafe 1-1 Atletico Madrid ; Osasuna 0-0 Deportivo La Coruna na Real Sociedad 1-1 Levante 1.
 
Uncertain future for Van Gaal


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Updated Mar 4, 2011 11:32 AM ET
Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal is considering the prospect of losing his job this weekend in the event of a defeat at Hannover.
The Dutchman is under pressure after Wednesday's defeat to Schalke in the DFB-Pokal saw them fall out of the running for a second title this season after last weekend's 3-1 defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund practically ended all hope they had of winning the Bundesliga.
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And a defeat or even a draw in Hannover on Saturday would see their minimum expectations of playing in the Champions League next season compromised, which is why it could well be Van Gaal's last in charge.
"I know how things work at a top club," he said. "Sackings happen.
"I have not been sacked often. I have stayed with my clubs for a long time and I am proud and happy to be able to work with Bayern Munich.
"If we win, then we will be third and we can still reach our goals and the world would look different again.
"Otherwise, I would be sorry for my colleagues here because I am near the end of my career anyway."
Van Gaal therefore does not seem too worried about the prospect of losing his job since he is "receiving phone calls from other clubs all the time" anyway.
His only fear is what would happen to the club he led to a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double last season, as well as to the final of the Champions League.
"Yes, that is a difficult question," he added. "Who should succeed Van Gaal?"
Hannover coach Mirko Slomka would be a worthy candidate based on the job he has performed with the Lower Saxony side this season.
After losing to third-division opponents in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, he was installed as the favourite to be the first coach to lose his job this season, yet his side now sit two points above Bayern Munich in the table and on course for a place in the Champions League next season.
"If we win, that would be a five-point gap," he said. "That does not necessarily mean we would stay above them all season, but it would certainly be a large gap for them to catch up.
"It would really hurt them not to be in the Champions League next season."
Nevertheless, he has mixed feelings about whether now is a good time to meet Bayern.
"Very rarely is there a chance to meet Bayern Munich in a phase when, after two defeats, they are a bit unsettled," he said.
"But then again, the statistics show that Bayern very rarely lose three in a row."
Hannover are still without their top goalscorer Didier Ya Konan, so former Bayern forward Jan Schlaudraff will lead their attack at the Niedersachsen Stadion.
Van Gaal will be pondering changes after Wednesday's cup defeat and Miroslav Klose could be given a surprise recall.



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  • Report Abuse rotwiessessen222
    • 3/4/2011 11:46:39 PM
    And number two Van Gaal has a very bad habit of playing players out of position which you simply can not do over longer periods of time without paying a price. This has bit him in the as s last season with Alaba in the Bundesliga and Badstuber in the CL and now he is repeating it again this season with Tymo, Pranjic, Gustavo, Schweinsteiger and so on. Now once in a while if injuries mandate it then there is no other choice, but with Van Gaal it becomes much more than that it becomes a carousel where he can put his pegs wherever he wants them and he expects them to perform the same way they would in their natural spot which isn't possible and it hurts the team in the long run. It is a bad habit and one he needs to break very soon in my book. Not all pieces of the puzzle are interchangable !
  • Report Abuse rotwiessessen222
    • 3/4/2011 11:37:37 PM
    deedat, I also don't want a manager carousel and don't want a situation like Real Madrid. However there are a few things that really have me puzzled about Van Gaal and they are things that I believe have hurt Bayern this season and to a degree last season too. Number one is why didn't Van Gaal make sure that the ddefense was reinforced last summer??? No manager that can evaluate talent to any decent degree should have known that the central defender spot was a mess and needed definate improvement to be a very strong club at the back four and yet not one soul was brought in. Why? The money was there, what would it have hurt to pick up a decent CB when Breno was a super big question mark and Van Buyten was slowing down to a crawl and Demichelis was accident prone?
  • Report Abuse SpidermanItalia
    • 3/4/2011 10:33:17 PM
    Agreed deed....decisions made on raw emotion generally don't work out. If things go south next season perhaps then there should be some discussion but at this juncture I don't think its wise to make a rash decision. They still are one of the Top-4 sides in the CL competition when healthy.
  • Report Abuse deedatnejad
    • 3/4/2011 10:21:16 PM
    Spider i hope your advice is heeded in VAN GAAL case ,i am really uncomfortable right now,i feel it is a replay of trappatoni saga even though i didnt like his defensive tactics ,i very muck liked the fact he was courageous in giving young players a chance to shine ,van Gaal is doing that coupled with the fact he plays always to win
  • Report Abuse SpidermanItalia
    • 3/4/2011 10:10:15 PM
    There is and always well be someone somewhere that is better. I do agree that teams should be more patient with coaches. I would not grade someone based solely on their first year good or bad. It takes time to implement a system. Sometimes it is clear a coach just isn't a fit culturally at a club. Roy Hodgson at Liverpool comes to mind. A first year coach is generally working with many holdover as well as a few new comers it takes time to get it gelling. Sometimes things just work right away but it could be a fluke and not a sign of good things to come. Just like a science experiment one doesn't draw conclusions based on the first try. That is why patience is needed. One generally shouldn't jump to conclusions based on one or two years worth of results
  • Report Abuse deedatnejad
    • 3/4/2011 10:06:13 PM
    just name another coach that does not always rely on spending and has good results beside him,how is he overrated with the track record he has in winning lot of titles with every team he has coached ,and more importantly how many top class players he has helped?i am really getting depressed as the idea of seeing him sacked , i understand that in a top club if the manager fails he must give way to somebody else ,but he is not failing ,he has already won trophies ,and can win also the biggest prize yet which is the champions league, i dont want a florentino perez style of running a club,with no homegrown players ,and endless sacking of coaches
  • Report Abuse Dex
    • 3/4/2011 9:36:53 PM
    No coach out there like LvG? Are you kidding me? Please LvG is good but some of you people over rate him. He is not the best out there. Im not saying I want his scalp... not yet but he is no where near the best. If you think so please point out where in his bio. I just dont see it at all.
    As far as SAF and Manu, that was way back when. I would be money that if SAF retired and his replacement had Manu sitting 5th toward the end of the season, got knocked out of the FA cup and struggling to maintain a CL qualification, he'd be gone too. This would AND DOES happen to top European clubs. No one is immune. Thats just the way today's football is like it or not.
  • Report Abuse deedatnejad
    • 3/4/2011 7:44:59 PM
    since 2001 we were struggling in the european stage to make any impact but since van Gaal at the helm we have become a force to be reckoned with again ,but that is not enough ,all i am hearing now is just fire him and take our chance with somebody else and hope it will work ,i am not saying just give him a blank check regardless of results ,but to say he has failed is really disingenuous an d ungrateful,do the bayern board copycatting florentino perez?I strongly believe common sense will prevail because there is no coach out there like van Gaal ,and if we fail this year we will be better next year
  • Report Abuse deedatnejad
    • 3/4/2011 7:34:32 PM
    to those calling for VAN GAAL sacking are you then saying it is our God given right to win trophy every year?all big clubs have bad years sometime,isnt it insane to fire Van Gaal in his second season after he won us a double and took us to the champions league final?i have loved Bayern and Real Madrid all my life but both clubs are taking a dangerous turn by maintaining a very untenable coaching environment.alex ferguson is successful at manchester because he was and still is given time ,anytime manchester fails to win a trophy no one is getting to fire him ,because he will rebound why deny Van Gaal the same chance.i doubt some calling for his sacking understand much about the game or just being guided by their emotions ,if van gaal leave i am certain robben will follow him too
  • Report Abuse rotwiessessen222
    • 3/4/2011 7:02:08 PM
    Just go out and play some motivated fussball for 90 minutes and things will take care of themselves. The talent is there, just bring the motivation and a never say die attutude.
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Kolo Toure afungiwa kwa kuwa 'teja' Send to a friend Saturday, 05 March 2011 09:45

LONDON, Uingereza

ALIYEKUWA nahodha wa Manchester City, Kolo Toure amefungiwa baada ya kugundulika kutumia dawa ambazo haziruhusiwi michezoni.

Ingawa, haijaelezwa ni dawa aina gani, lakini beki huyo wa Ivory Coast aliyetokea Arsenal miaka miwili iliyopita anakabiliwa na hatari ya kufungiwa miaka miwili.

Klabu yake, Man City imethitibitisha kumfungia beki huyo kwa muda ambao haujawekwa wazi.

Kolo Toure, aligundulika kupitia vipimo vilivyfdanya na Chama cha Soka cha hapa (FA).

Kwa sababu hiyo, Kolo, 29 haruhusiwi kujihusisha na masuala yote ya soka katika kikosi cha kwanza au kile cha akiba baada ya suala hilo la kisheria kupata ufumbuzi.

Beki huyo wa kati ataikosa mechi ya leo ya Ligi Kuu dhidi ya Wigan.

"Ni kweli kwamba Man City imemfungia baada ya uchunguzi wa FA kwamba Kolo Toure amegundulika kutumia dawa ambazo haziruhusisi, sampuli ya vipimo imeonyesha kuwa alitumia vitu hivyo," ilisema taarifa ya klabu hiyo.

"Kwa sababu ya matokeo hayo, amefungiwa na haruhusiwi kushiriki mazoezi ya kikosi cha kwanza, kile cha akiba hadi hapo suala hilo litakapomalizwa kisheria.

"Hadi hapo, klabu yetu haina kitu zaidi cha kuzungumzia kuhusu suala hili."



Comments




0 #1 Hassan 2011-03-05 09:53 Hilo ni somo kwa wale wachezaji wenye ufahamu. Kwa nini utumie dawa michezoni? Iwapo una matatizo ya kiafya kwa nini usiende kwa daktari ukapimwa na kupewa tiba? Yawezekana siyo Toure pekee bali wapo wengine wengi ambao 40 zao bado hazijatimia.
 
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Today's Games Week 1: 08/14/10 - 08/16/10 Week 2: 08/21/10 - 08/23/10 Week 3: 08/28/10 - 08/29/10 Week 4: 09/11/10 - 09/13/10 Week 5: 09/18/10 - 09/19/10 Week 6: 09/25/10 - 09/26/10 Week 7: 10/02/10 - 10/03/10 Week 8: 10/16/10 - 10/18/10 Week 9: 10/23/10 - 10/24/10 Week 10: 10/30/10 - 11/01/10 Week 11: 11/06/10 - 11/07/10 Week 12: 11/09/10 - 11/10/10 Week 13: 11/13/10 - 11/14/10 Week 14: 11/20/10 - 11/22/10 Week 15: 11/27/10 - 11/28/10 Week 16: 12/04/10 - 12/06/10 Week 17: 12/11/10 - 12/13/10 Week 18: 12/18/10 - 12/20/10 Week 19: 12/26/10 - 12/27/10 Week 20: 12/28/10 - 12/29/10 Week 21: 01/01/11 - 01/02/11 Week 22: 01/04/11 - 01/05/11 Week 23: 01/12/11 - 01/16/11 Week 24: 01/22/11 - 01/26/11 Week 25: 02/01/11 - 02/02/11 Week 26: 02/05/11 - 02/06/11 Week 27: 02/12/11 - 02/14/11 Week 28: 02/15/11 - 02/28/11 Week 29: 03/01/11 - 03/09/11 Week 30: 03/19/11 - 03/20/11 Week 31: 04/02/11 Week 32: 04/09/11 - 04/10/11 Week 33: 04/16/11 Week 34: 04/20/11 - 04/23/11 Week 35: 04/30/11 - 05/01/11 Week 36: 05/07/11 Week 37: 05/14/11 - 05/15/11 Week 38: 05/22/11​

Saturday, March 5, 2011​
Week 29​

St. Andrews
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Emirates Stadium
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Upton Park
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Reebok Stadium
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Craven Cottage
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City Of Manchester
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Sunday, March 6, 2011​
Week 29​

Anfield
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Molineux
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11:00 AM ET



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Monday, March 7, 2011​
Week 29​

Bloomfield Road
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Wednesday, March 9, 2011​
Week 29​

Goodison Park
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Tunatarajia kuona ustaarabu mkubwa uwanjani leo Send to a friend Saturday, 05 March 2011 09:58

Kocha wa Simba,Patrick Phiri

LEO ni leo. Ni siku ambayo pambano la watani wa jadi Simba na Yanga ambalo limesubiriwa kwa muda mrefu litafanyika kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa, Dar es Salaam.

Kama kawaida ya mechi hiyo, tunatarajia pambano hilo litakuwa la ushindani mkubwa kwa kuwa kila timu kati ya hizo mbili inataka pointi tatu muhimu ili kujiweka katika mazingira mazuri ya kutwaa mafasi ya juuya ubingwa wa Tanzania Bara.

Pambano hilo ambalo linatarajiwa kuhudhuria na mashabiki 57,558 kulingana na makisio ya Shirikisho la Soka Tanzania (TFF) wakati wa kutangaza viingilio vya mchezo huo, linatarajiwa pia kipimo cha ubora wa soka katika nchi yetu.

Viingilio hivyo kama vilivyowekwa na TFF kwa ajili ya kushuhudia pambano hilo vinaonyesha kuwa watu wa rika, hali zote za kimaisha wataweza kujitokeza ili kuona na kuzishangilia timu zao.

Tunaamini kuwa viingilio hivyo vya aina sita, yaani Sh 3,000, 5,000, 7,000, 10,000, 20,000 na 30,000 vitawawezesha mashabiki wengi kujitokeza na kuona mchezo huo.

Tumeambiwa kwamba kuelekea pambano hilo, timu za Simba amao ni wageni na Yanga , wenyeji ziliweka kambi zao maalum kule Zanzibar na Bagamoyo.

Tunaamini kuwa kutokana na maandalizi hayo makubwa yaliyofanywa na timu zote mbili wadau wa mchezo huo wategemee kuona mchezo mzuri kiufundi na ule wa haki kutoka kwa waamuzi ambao wamekabidhiwa jukumu la kusimamia mchezo huo.

Pamoja na mategemeo ya kuona soka ya kiwango cha juu kutoka kwa timu hizo mbili chini ya Sam Timbe (Yanga) na Patrick Phiri wa Simba, hatutaona mchezo wa kukamiana na ambao unaondoa ladha ya soka ambayo inatarajiwa na mashabiki wengi.

Tunamshauri mwamuzi achezesha bila upendeleo, azingatie sheria na kanuni 17 zinazosimamia mchezo huo ili kuepuka kuharibu pambano na kutupiwa lawama.

Kwa upande wa mashabiki, tunatarajia mashabiki wengi wa soka watajitokeza kushuhudia pambano hilo watatimiza wajibu wao ipasavyo, lakini hatutarajii kushuhudia kuona vitendo vyovyote vya kihuni.

Tunasema hivyo kwa sababu matukio ya nyuma ya mechi baina ya timu hizo yamekuwa ya vurugu, uhuni, uharibifu wa mali katika viwanja kiasi cha kuharibu sifa nzuri ya umaarufu wa mchezo huo.

Tunatambua kwamba zinapocheza Simba na Yanga mashabiki wao huonyesha hisia zao za juu za kuzipenda timu zao, lakini vitendo viovu hatuvikubali hata kidogo.

Tunashauri vyombo vya dola, hasa polisi kuwa makini na kazi zao, waache kuwa mashabiki, walinde amani, utulivu katika mchezo na kuwachukulia hatua wale wote wanaobainika kuvuruga mchezo huo kwa njia moja au nyingine.

Tunawasihi mashabiki wote kwamba hatutarajii kuona kutoka kwao lugha za matusi na wavunjifu wowote wa amani na kuwaonya wale wote ambao hupenda kushiriki vitendo hivyo kwa kuwarushia waamuzi chupa za maji au vitu vingine vingine wadhibitiwe, wachukuliwe hatua.

Tunatarajia mashabiki wote watakaojitokeza uwanjani kuwa makini na kujiepusha na uharibifu wa viti au kwenda vyooni na kujisaidia ovyo, kuharibu masinki ya kunawia wakitambua kwamba huo sio ustaarabu wala uungwana.

Tunawashauri mashabiki wanapoingia uwanjani waheshimu taratibu zote kwenye uwanja huo siyo mzuri wa kisasa na kuheshimu kanuni kama zilivyowekwa na TFF na kuachana na mazoea.

Tunawakumbusha TFF katika pambano la leo kuwe na ulinzi mkali nje na ndani ya uwanja ili kuhakikisha usalama wa mashabiki, mali zao na kupunguza vitendo viovu vikiwamo vya wizi na udokozi.

Kwa upande wa wachezaji wa Simba na Yanga, wawe kioo na mfano kwa nidhamu, watoe burudani kwa mashabiki na wakitambua kwamba wanajiuza kwa kuonekana katika televisheni ikiwamo ya Supersport ya Afrika Kusini na Star TV.

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0 #1 hassan 2011-03-05 10:16 Watanzania wengine huwa hawaendi mpirani hadi kwanza wabugie unga au wavute bangi. Kwa mtu mwenye akili zake timamu ni vigumu kung`oa viti vya kukalia au kuingia na chupa za mikojo uwanjani.
Quote
 
Today's Games
Today's Games Week 1: 08/28/10 - 08/30/10 Week 2: 09/11/10 - 09/12/10 Week 3: 09/18/10 - 09/19/10 Week 4: 09/22/10 - 09/23/10 Week 5: 09/25/10 - 09/26/10 Week 6: 10/02/10 - 10/03/10 Week 7: 10/16/10 - 10/17/10 Week 8: 10/23/10 - 10/25/10 Week 9: 10/29/10 - 10/31/10 Week 10: 11/06/10 - 11/07/10 Week 11: 11/10/10 - 11/11/10 Week 12: 11/13/10 - 11/14/10 Week 13: 11/20/10 - 11/21/10 Week 14: 11/27/10 - 11/28/10 Week 15: 12/03/10 - 12/08/10 Week 16: 12/11/10 - 12/12/10 Week 17: 12/18/10 - 12/19/10 Week 18: 01/06/11 Week 19: 01/09/11 Week 20: 01/15/11 - 01/16/11 Week 21: 01/19/11 - 02/16/11 Week 22: 01/29/11 - 02/16/11 Week 27: 01/30/11 - 02/28/11 Week 23: 02/01/11 - 02/03/11 Week 24: 02/05/11 - 02/06/11 Week 25: 02/12/11 - 02/13/11 Week 26: 02/19/11 - 02/20/11 Week 28: 03/04/11 - 03/06/11 Week 29: 03/11/11 - 03/13/11 Week 30: 03/19/11 - 03/20/11 Week 31: 04/03/11 Week 32: 04/10/11 Week 33: 04/17/11 Week 34: 04/23/11 Week 35: 05/01/11 Week 36: 05/08/11 Week 37: 05/15/11 Week 38: 05/22/11​

Saturday, March 5, 2011​
Week 28​

Olimpico di Torino
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Sunday, March 6, 2011​
Week 28​

Luigi Ferraris
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Renato Dall'Ara
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Artemio Franchi
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Giuseppe Meazza
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San Paolo
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Friuli
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Bari


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M. Bentegodi
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Olimpico
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2:45 PM ET

 
Arsène Wenger tells how diet pills led to Kolo Touré's failed test

• 'He is a boy who has a clean life, a very honest living'
• 'He wanted to control his weight a little bit'




  • David Hytner
  • The Guardian, Saturday 5 March 2011 <li class="history">Article history The Arsenal manager said he would happily be a character witness for Kolo Touré. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Kolo Touré made an emotional telephone call to his mentor Arsène Wenger on Thursday night to reveal his anguish at the error of judgment that led to him failing a drugs test and facing a lengthy suspension.
    Wenger, the Arsenal manager, who had Touré in north London with him for seven years before he sold him to Manchester City in the summer of 2009, said that the defender had told him he had taken a dietary pill to combat a weight issue but he was unaware that it contained a specified substance.
    Touré must now await the result of tests on a B sample before he discovers his fate, with the authorities empowered to ban him for up to two years. Typical penalties for the 29-year-old's offence range between four and nine months. Wenger, who has emerged as a pillar of support, said he would remain in touch with Touré, whom he described as "devastated".
    "Kolo called me and, of course, he is shocked by the situation because you know Kolo," Wenger said. "He is a guy who never prepared himself to be in this kind of situation and so it is a big shock for him. He wanted to lose weight a little bit and his wife was on a diet and that's where he took this product.
    "He is devastated because you can be suspended once you are positive and people don't consider too much why you did it. They just punish you. It is a blow for City as well. But nothing has been decided yet."
    It was put to Wenger that Touré, who returned the positive A sample after the derby defeat at Manchester United on 12 February, in which he was an unused substitute, could consider himself unlucky as he had merely erred unwittingly.
    "It is true but, legally, what is forbidden is forbidden," Wenger said. "The mistake he made is not to have asked the doctor of Man City, 'Can I take that or not?' You must say as well that he was unlucky because he was done in the doping control after Man United and he didn't play. That means he has one chance out of nine to be picked."
    Wenger said he would happily provide a character witness for Touré if required. Wenger took Touré as a young player from ASEC Mimosas in the Ivory Coast and the defender enjoyed a successful career at Arsenal. Touré will be remembered as one of the Premier League Invincibles of 2003-04.
    "Kolo is genuine, honest, highly motivated, good at work every day," Wenger said. "The problem was to get him off the pitch, it was not to put him on. He is open. You have seen him here, so you know, but you do not need to see him here to know how he lives.
    "He is a boy who has a clean life, a very honest living, he is always at home. He is a family man and I do not suspect him at all to have taken drugs to enhance his performance. I just think it is a mistake, him forgetting 'Can I take that?' He wants to control his weight a little bit because that's where he has some problems and he took the product of his wife. Never trust your wife!
    "It was completely the kind of stupid thing that can happen to you where you are punished in life. You cross the road, don't look right, left, boom. People don't ask if you deserve or not deserve."
    Touré was omitted from the City squad that beat Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Wednesday when the result of his A sample became known and he will not be able to play again until his B sampleis tested and the Football Association disciplinary process is completed. It would be incumbent on him to prove "no fault or negligence" in allowing the substance to enter his body. Wenger said he did not know which specific substance had seen Touré fall foul of the regulations.
    City issued a statement on Thursday in which they confirmed Touré's positive sample and that, as a result, "he has been suspended from participating in all first-team matches pending the outcome of the legal process". They did not add to their statement on Friday.

 
Arsène Wenger tells how diet pills led to Kolo Touré's failed test

• 'He is a boy who has a clean life, a very honest living'
• 'He wanted to control his weight a little bit'



  • David Hytner
  • The Guardian, Saturday 5 March 2011 <li class="history">Article history The Arsenal manager said he would happily be a character witness for Kolo Touré. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Kolo Touré made an emotional telephone call to his mentor Arsène Wenger on Thursday night to reveal his anguish at the error of judgment that led to him failing a drugs test and facing a lengthy suspension.
    Wenger, the Arsenal manager, who had Touré in north London with him for seven years before he sold him to Manchester City in the summer of 2009, said that the defender had told him he had taken a dietary pill to combat a weight issue but he was unaware that it contained a specified substance.
    Touré must now await the result of tests on a B sample before he discovers his fate, with the authorities empowered to ban him for up to two years. Typical penalties for the 29-year-old's offence range between four and nine months. Wenger, who has emerged as a pillar of support, said he would remain in touch with Touré, whom he described as "devastated".
    "Kolo called me and, of course, he is shocked by the situation because you know Kolo," Wenger said. "He is a guy who never prepared himself to be in this kind of situation and so it is a big shock for him. He wanted to lose weight a little bit and his wife was on a diet and that's where he took this product.
    "He is devastated because you can be suspended once you are positive and people don't consider too much why you did it. They just punish you. It is a blow for City as well. But nothing has been decided yet."
    It was put to Wenger that Touré, who returned the positive A sample after the derby defeat at Manchester United on 12 February, in which he was an unused substitute, could consider himself unlucky as he had merely erred unwittingly.
    "It is true but, legally, what is forbidden is forbidden," Wenger said. "The mistake he made is not to have asked the doctor of Man City, 'Can I take that or not?' You must say as well that he was unlucky because he was done in the doping control after Man United and he didn't play. That means he has one chance out of nine to be picked."
    Wenger said he would happily provide a character witness for Touré if required. Wenger took Touré as a young player from ASEC Mimosas in the Ivory Coast and the defender enjoyed a successful career at Arsenal. Touré will be remembered as one of the Premier League Invincibles of 2003-04.
    "Kolo is genuine, honest, highly motivated, good at work every day," Wenger said. "The problem was to get him off the pitch, it was not to put him on. He is open. You have seen him here, so you know, but you do not need to see him here to know how he lives.
    "He is a boy who has a clean life, a very honest living, he is always at home. He is a family man and I do not suspect him at all to have taken drugs to enhance his performance. I just think it is a mistake, him forgetting 'Can I take that?' He wants to control his weight a little bit because that's where he has some problems and he took the product of his wife. Never trust your wife!
    "It was completely the kind of stupid thing that can happen to you where you are punished in life. You cross the road, don't look right, left, boom. People don't ask if you deserve or not deserve."
    Touré was omitted from the City squad that beat Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Wednesday when the result of his A sample became known and he will not be able to play again until his B sampleis tested and the Football Association disciplinary process is completed. It would be incumbent on him to prove "no fault or negligence" in allowing the substance to enter his body. Wenger said he did not know which specific substance had seen Touré fall foul of the regulations.
    City issued a statement on Thursday in which they confirmed Touré's positive sample and that, as a result, "he has been suspended from participating in all first-team matches pending the outcome of the legal process". They did not add to their statement on Friday.
 

Saturday interview

I'm happy but I won't swear eternal love to anyone, says Pepe Reina

The last high-profile survivor of Liverpool's Spanish era says he has had offers to leave but opted to stay at Anfield




  • Sid Lowe
  • The Guardian, Saturday 5 March 2011 <li class="history">Article history Pepe Reina says offers for Fernando Torres came back again. The offer for him did not. Photograph: Tom Jenkins And then there was one. The question now is: how much longer will he stay? It is a question that the last high-profile survivor of Anfield's Spanish era, Pepe Reina, knows is coming as he strolls across the grass at the national team's Las Rozas HQ, northwest of Madrid, and eases into a seat on the bench by the training pitch.
    He does not hide from the question but nor does he know the answer yet. Under different circumstances he might have left Anfield already, perhaps last summer. Since then his best friend has left the club.
    When Fernando Torres defected to Chelsea in January Liverpool lost a forward but Reina lost his friend and neighbour (Luis Suárez has since moved into the former Torres residence). It is not just Torres who has moved on, though. Xabi Alonso has gone too. And Alvaro Arbeloa, Antonio Nuñez, Albert Riera, Mikel San José and Fernando Morientes. So too Rafael Benítez and his staff. Dani Pacheco is still around but the 20-year old has played only seven minutes in the league. Reina, Liverpool's third longest-serving current player after Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard, is the last man standing.
    "Well," he smiles, face lit by the lamps lining the path to the Spain team's residence where those former club-mates Arbeloa, Alonso and Torres await him, "not exactly: I have got 24 Liverpool team-mates, you know.
    "But," he adds &#8211; and "but" is a word he uses often, "this is a sad time. I'm very good friends with Fernando and seeing him play against us in blue was strange. It made me feel a little nostalgic, sorry. When I got to Liverpool, there were five of us Spaniards plus the coaching staff and some of the physios. Now I'm the only one. I would have liked a lot of them to stay but it wasn't to be and I'm not panicking. That's the way football is.
    "Liverpool is still Liverpool and always will be bigger than any player. The club belongs to its fans and the fans' loyalty is to the club &#8211; not a player or a passport. Kenny Dalglish was absolutely right: anyone that doesn't want to be at Liverpool can leave. Players will come and go."
    First, the good news: "I am not," Reina says, "announcing my departure &#8211; far from it. I've said lots of times I'm very happy in England and comfortable at Liverpool. But &#8230;" But?
    "But I'm not prepared to swear eternal love to anyone. That's impossible. Any player who says that is lying. I can't say much because I have a contract with Liverpool. But eternal love doesn't exist. No one is master of his own destiny. When a player is at club he has to give everything &#8211; that is all you can ask of him."
    And that, Reina says, is exactly what Torres did. "Anyone who plays for Liverpool is proud to have done so &#8211; and Fernando certainly is. It was a hard decision, maybe the hardest Fernando has ever had. Those calling him a mercenary are wrong. They should remember great afternoons of football he gave us and the goals. Besides, he cost £23m and left for £50m. Football is about opportunities. It's understandable that Fernando wanted to improve and compete for titles. He aspired to get better as a player. The reality is Chelsea offered him something that, right now, Liverpool couldn't."
    That something is Champions League football. For Liverpool the European situation could get even worse. There is a danger they will even miss out on the Europa League next season after Birmingham City's Carling Cup victory left one fewer European spot available to the Premier League. Last Sunday's dismal 3-1 defeat at relegation-threatened West Ham United showed how far Liverpool have to go.
    Torres talked about being in a "dark place"; Chelsea offered him a shaft of light. Liverpool fans accused him of not giving Dalglish a chance; Reina has been impressed by the caretaker-manager's impact but he remains cautious.
    "It's too soon to say everything has changed," he says. "Dalglish has proven a very important bridge, uniting fans and club. Basically, because he's Kenny Dalglish. As well as being a good coach he is a legend: fans are far more patient with him than with [Roy] Hodgson or even Benítez.
    "He's a referencia [icon] who understands the club perfectly, what it feels and represents. He knows the fans and I think he is a very important appointment. Just like [the first-team coach] Steve Clarke: people aren't talking about him but he's proving very important. He takes the training sessions, comes up with ideas, proposes solutions, analyses the opposition. I really want to highlight him because he is doing a fantastic job; his work has been very productive."
    But asked if players will be more patient under Dalglish, Reina's response is simple: "I honestly don't know. When I talk about patience, I'm talking about fans." Another but. "But it's too early to say that [we have stepped into the light]. We've got good results and it's easy to be optimistic but we have to look at the big picture and the reality is there are other teams above Liverpool. We have to accept that as natural. What a footballer wants above all else is to win, regardless of who the coach is.
    "We used to fight to be among the top teams and to be in the Champions League but sadly that's not the case. I want to aspire to titles. Liverpool will always be a big club but we are not at the level of Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea or Arsenal. That's the truth. Torres, Mascherano, Xabi Alonso &#8230; they were the foundation stone of a competitive Liverpool team. And now they're not here."
    So could Reina find himself in a situation in which he, like Torres, felt "obliged" to depart? "I hope not. But I would never say: 'I'm never going,' because even I don't know that. It depends on how this season finishes, on how competitive we can be, on &#8230;" There is a pause as he searches for the right word. "The ambition. It depends, above all, on the ambition of the owners in building a better team; hopefully, they will be generous in their efforts but we know the economic reality." Again, he pauses and shifts in the blue plastic seat. "I can't say very much more to you because I have a contract for five years."
    If, as Reina says, it was ambition that forced Torres towards the door, why has he not gone too. Is he not ambitious? "I'm ambitious, I'm ambitious," he says, quickly, interrupting.
    So why is he still there? "That's the question. I imagine the fans will recognise my commitment, they will appreciate that. But those who say that Fernando is a mercenary or a money-grabber for going are wrong. Fernando gave them the opportunity in the summer by staying at the club and things haven't changed much.
    "I've shown my commitment over the last six years. I renewed my contract at a very delicate, very difficult, time for the club; maybe the fans didn't see that, but I wanted to make that gesture. I gave them a chance, renewing my contract and not leaving this summer when I could have done so."
    There were serious offers? "Yes," he says. "I stayed because I wanted to keep believing in Liverpool."
    In fact, Reina, Torres and Gerrard &#8211; the club's three greatest assets &#8211; were told they could not leave at a time when the club were looking for a new buyer. Reina will not admit it and nor will he deny it. "The clauses in my contract are between me and the club," he says simply &#8211; but he secured a buy-out clause understood to be in the region of £20m. In the meantime, little changed to encourage him to stay. In fact, the handling of Torres's departure did the opposite. Loyalty cuts both ways.
    "The offer for Torres came back again," Reina says simply. The offer for him did not. But it will. And then? Reina puffs out his cheeks. "I can't &#8230; I don't want to guess what the future holds."
    Reina has already ruled out a move back to Spain, telling Onda Cero radio: "My place is in England." Arsenal's goalkeeping crisis has not gone unnoticed; nor has Edwin van der Sar's imminent retirement at Manchester United. For Liverpool fans the nightmare scenario emerges: lose to Manchester United tomorrow on Sunday and their rivals will step closer to taking their record of league titles off them and they could yet take their goalkeeper too.
    If much of what Reina says about Torres applies to himself, there is one thing that does not. Torres ruled out United. Asked whether he would do the same, Reina replies: "No player can ever say no to anything."
    "Romance, eternal love," he muses, "exists in very few cases. And that's a reality you just have to accept."

 

Saturday interview

I'm happy but I won't swear eternal love to anyone, says Pepe Reina

The last high-profile survivor of Liverpool's Spanish era says he has had offers to leave but opted to stay at Anfield




  • Sid Lowe
  • The Guardian, Saturday 5 March 2011 <li class="history">Article history Pepe Reina says offers for Fernando Torres came back again. The offer for him did not. Photograph: Tom Jenkins And then there was one. The question now is: how much longer will he stay? It is a question that the last high-profile survivor of Anfield's Spanish era, Pepe Reina, knows is coming as he strolls across the grass at the national team's Las Rozas HQ, northwest of Madrid, and eases into a seat on the bench by the training pitch.
    He does not hide from the question but nor does he know the answer yet. Under different circumstances he might have left Anfield already, perhaps last summer. Since then his best friend has left the club.
    When Fernando Torres defected to Chelsea in January Liverpool lost a forward but Reina lost his friend and neighbour (Luis Suárez has since moved into the former Torres residence). It is not just Torres who has moved on, though. Xabi Alonso has gone too. And Alvaro Arbeloa, Antonio Nuñez, Albert Riera, Mikel San José and Fernando Morientes. So too Rafael Benítez and his staff. Dani Pacheco is still around but the 20-year old has played only seven minutes in the league. Reina, Liverpool's third longest-serving current player after Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard, is the last man standing.
    "Well," he smiles, face lit by the lamps lining the path to the Spain team's residence where those former club-mates Arbeloa, Alonso and Torres await him, "not exactly: I have got 24 Liverpool team-mates, you know.
    "But," he adds – and "but" is a word he uses often, "this is a sad time. I'm very good friends with Fernando and seeing him play against us in blue was strange. It made me feel a little nostalgic, sorry. When I got to Liverpool, there were five of us Spaniards plus the coaching staff and some of the physios. Now I'm the only one. I would have liked a lot of them to stay but it wasn't to be and I'm not panicking. That's the way football is.
    "Liverpool is still Liverpool and always will be bigger than any player. The club belongs to its fans and the fans' loyalty is to the club – not a player or a passport. Kenny Dalglish was absolutely right: anyone that doesn't want to be at Liverpool can leave. Players will come and go."
    First, the good news: "I am not," Reina says, "announcing my departure – far from it. I've said lots of times I'm very happy in England and comfortable at Liverpool. But …" But?
    "But I'm not prepared to swear eternal love to anyone. That's impossible. Any player who says that is lying. I can't say much because I have a contract with Liverpool. But eternal love doesn't exist. No one is master of his own destiny. When a player is at club he has to give everything – that is all you can ask of him."
    And that, Reina says, is exactly what Torres did. "Anyone who plays for Liverpool is proud to have done so – and Fernando certainly is. It was a hard decision, maybe the hardest Fernando has ever had. Those calling him a mercenary are wrong. They should remember great afternoons of football he gave us and the goals. Besides, he cost £23m and left for £50m. Football is about opportunities. It's understandable that Fernando wanted to improve and compete for titles. He aspired to get better as a player. The reality is Chelsea offered him something that, right now, Liverpool couldn't."
    That something is Champions League football. For Liverpool the European situation could get even worse. There is a danger they will even miss out on the Europa League next season after Birmingham City's Carling Cup victory left one fewer European spot available to the Premier League. Last Sunday's dismal 3-1 defeat at relegation-threatened West Ham United showed how far Liverpool have to go.
    Torres talked about being in a "dark place"; Chelsea offered him a shaft of light. Liverpool fans accused him of not giving Dalglish a chance; Reina has been impressed by the caretaker-manager's impact but he remains cautious.
    "It's too soon to say everything has changed," he says. "Dalglish has proven a very important bridge, uniting fans and club. Basically, because he's Kenny Dalglish. As well as being a good coach he is a legend: fans are far more patient with him than with [Roy] Hodgson or even Benítez.
    "He's a referencia [icon] who understands the club perfectly, what it feels and represents. He knows the fans and I think he is a very important appointment. Just like [the first-team coach] Steve Clarke: people aren't talking about him but he's proving very important. He takes the training sessions, comes up with ideas, proposes solutions, analyses the opposition. I really want to highlight him because he is doing a fantastic job; his work has been very productive."
    But asked if players will be more patient under Dalglish, Reina's response is simple: "I honestly don't know. When I talk about patience, I'm talking about fans." Another but. "But it's too early to say that [we have stepped into the light]. We've got good results and it's easy to be optimistic but we have to look at the big picture and the reality is there are other teams above Liverpool. We have to accept that as natural. What a footballer wants above all else is to win, regardless of who the coach is.
    "We used to fight to be among the top teams and to be in the Champions League but sadly that's not the case. I want to aspire to titles. Liverpool will always be a big club but we are not at the level of Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea or Arsenal. That's the truth. Torres, Mascherano, Xabi Alonso … they were the foundation stone of a competitive Liverpool team. And now they're not here."
    So could Reina find himself in a situation in which he, like Torres, felt "obliged" to depart? "I hope not. But I would never say: 'I'm never going,' because even I don't know that. It depends on how this season finishes, on how competitive we can be, on …" There is a pause as he searches for the right word. "The ambition. It depends, above all, on the ambition of the owners in building a better team; hopefully, they will be generous in their efforts but we know the economic reality." Again, he pauses and shifts in the blue plastic seat. "I can't say very much more to you because I have a contract for five years."
    If, as Reina says, it was ambition that forced Torres towards the door, why has he not gone too. Is he not ambitious? "I'm ambitious, I'm ambitious," he says, quickly, interrupting.
    So why is he still there? "That's the question. I imagine the fans will recognise my commitment, they will appreciate that. But those who say that Fernando is a mercenary or a money-grabber for going are wrong. Fernando gave them the opportunity in the summer by staying at the club and things haven't changed much.
    "I've shown my commitment over the last six years. I renewed my contract at a very delicate, very difficult, time for the club; maybe the fans didn't see that, but I wanted to make that gesture. I gave them a chance, renewing my contract and not leaving this summer when I could have done so."
    There were serious offers? "Yes," he says. "I stayed because I wanted to keep believing in Liverpool."
    In fact, Reina, Torres and Gerrard – the club's three greatest assets – were told they could not leave at a time when the club were looking for a new buyer. Reina will not admit it and nor will he deny it. "The clauses in my contract are between me and the club," he says simply – but he secured a buy-out clause understood to be in the region of £20m. In the meantime, little changed to encourage him to stay. In fact, the handling of Torres's departure did the opposite. Loyalty cuts both ways.
    "The offer for Torres came back again," Reina says simply. The offer for him did not. But it will. And then? Reina puffs out his cheeks. "I can't … I don't want to guess what the future holds."
    Reina has already ruled out a move back to Spain, telling Onda Cero radio: "My place is in England." Arsenal's goalkeeping crisis has not gone unnoticed; nor has Edwin van der Sar's imminent retirement at Manchester United. For Liverpool fans the nightmare scenario emerges: lose to Manchester United tomorrow on Sunday and their rivals will step closer to taking their record of league titles off them and they could yet take their goalkeeper too.
    If much of what Reina says about Torres applies to himself, there is one thing that does not. Torres ruled out United. Asked whether he would do the same, Reina replies: "No player can ever say no to anything."
    "Romance, eternal love," he muses, "exists in very few cases. And that's a reality you just have to accept."
 
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