Michezo magazetini leo...

Waandishi wa michezo wapewa changamoto

Imeandikwa na Mwandishi Maalumu, Seoul; Tarehe: 24th March 2011 @ 23:40 Imesomwa na watu: 26; Jumla ya maoni: 0








WAANDISHI wa habari za michezo duniani wametakiwa kujipanga kukabiliana na changamoto zitokanazo na maendeleo ya teknolojia ya habari kama blogu na kuenea kwa mitandao ya Intanet ili kuhakikisha misingi asili ya taaluma haikiukwi.

Rai hiyo imetolewa na Profesa Paul Pedersen wakati akiwasilisha mada ya uandishi wa kisasa katika kongamano la 74 la kimataifa la Vyama vya Waandishi wa Habari za Michezo Duniani (AIPS) linaloendelea hapa Seoul, Korea Kusini.

Alisema ni ukweli usiopingika kuwa kuibuka kwa teknolojia hizo kumesababisha kuzorota kwa uandishi wa kiasili (traditional media) kutokana na urahisi wa upatikanaji wake usiozingatia misingi ya taaluma na kujali walaji.

"Blogu zimesababisha habari kufika kwa jamii kwa uhuru mkubwa bila chujio tena bure jambo linalosababisha kampuni nyingi za habari kufilisika kutokana na mauzo ya habari hasa kupitia magazeti, kushuka kila kukicha," alisema.

Profesa Pedersen alisema ni vigumu kuzuia maendeleo ya habari kisasa lakini cha muhimu kwa wanataaluma ni kuendelea kusisitiza misingi ya taaluma ili uandishi wa michezo usiathirike kama zilivyo nyingine hivi sasa duniani.

Badala yake alisema ni vyema utandawazi na mabadiliko ya fani ya ueneaji wa habari, ukatumiwa na waandishi kwa ajili ya kutangaza michezo na wanamichezo duniani.

Awali, akiwasilisha mada katika kongamano hilo, Rais wa Chama cha Michezo ya Kubahatisha Michezoni, Risto Nieminen, alisema waandishi wa michezo ni wasimamizi wakubwa wa haki katika matokeo michezoni na kuwataka kutotumika kwa namna yoyote kupanga matokeo kwa lengo la kunufaisha kundi fulani la watu.

Alisema katika baadhi ya nchi zilizoendelea, waandishi wamekuwa wakitumiwa kwa kupanga matokeo au kutofichua mianya ya upangaji matokeo kwa misingi ya rushwa na kushauri kila mdau wa habari za michezo kujikosoa mwenyewe ili kuleta mabadiliko duniani.

"Ipo mifano katika baadhi ya nchi lakini cha muhimu ni kwetu sisi kuwa wapingaji zaidi... najua hili litakupunguzia marafiki wengi lakini litakuongezea heshima kubwa," alisema.

Kongamano hilo linalotarajiwa kumalizika Machi 25 mwaka juu, limeratibiwa na Chama cha Waandishi wa Habari za Michezo Duniani (AIPS) kwa kushirikiana na Chama cha Waandishi wa
Habari za Michezo Korea Kusini.

Young ones must step up if Wales are to mount a revival

The new generation are ready to reverse the recent trend of failure and apathy but 2014 is the goal, not 2012

• Comments (5)

• • Stuart James
  • guardian.co.uk, Friday 25 March 2011 22.34 GMT <li class="history">Article history
  The Wales manager Gary Speed will encourage top players to make themselves available for both qualifiers and friendlies. Photograph: Mike Egerton/Empics Sport These are strange times for Welsh football. While Cardiff City and Swansea City are soaring in the Championship and hope to bring Premier League football to Wales for the first time, the national team languish in 116th place in Fifa's rankings &#8211; their lowest-ever position &#8211; and endure the ignominy of trying to make up lost ground on the likes of Syria, Kuwait and Gambia.
  Optimism at club level turns to pessimism whenever international football returns to the calendar after a depressing run of results that has chipped away at national pride. It is a measure of how far Wales have fallen that only 14,061 turned up in October to see them take on Bulgaria in the opening home match of their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign &#8211; the average attendance to watch Cardiff and Swansea this season is higher.
  The attendance, or lack of it, was a legacy of John Toshack's six-year reign which came to an end in September. Toshack departed after becoming as disillusioned with the job as the players were with his methods. The alarm bells should have been ringing last May when Toshack organised a friendly against Croatia as part of his preparation for the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, and 15 players withdrew from his squad. Three qualifying matches later Wales are bottom of Group G.
  Injuries have played their part in the demise over recent years, robbing Wales of key players such as Aaron Ramsey, Craig Bellamy, Jack Collison and Gareth Bale at various points. Others have failed to replicate club form in an international shirt. The biggest problem, though, has been the regularity with which many have turned their backs on their country at the drop of a hat, or cap, as the case may be. Gary Speed's appointment as manager, it is hoped, will herald a change.
  "I think at the moment as a nation we're a little bit depressed," said Chris Coleman, who was interviewed for the manager's job when Toshack moved on. "We've lost all our qualifying games so far so there's an uphill task for Gary Speed and the players. And Gary will only be as good as the players that turn up.
  "It's alright turning up for the big games &#8211; there's a full squad now because it's England. But let's see who turns up when we're playing Belarus away in a friendly. Yet those games are important to get wins, climb the rankings and get a bit of pride back.
  "I know football has progressed but that pride to wear the Wales jersey shouldn't be any different. In the last couple of years, there have been pull-outs en masse. People pointed the finger at John Toshack and said players didn't like his regime but I'm not swallowing that. It wouldn't matter to me if the fella who ran the local pub team was manager of Wales. I wouldn't have to like him but I'd still show up."
  Coleman and Speed know what it feels like to be part of a successful Wales team that sells out the Millennium Stadium for matches against Azerbaijan, not just England. Wales could have qualified for the 1994 World Cup finals if they had beaten Romania at home in their final qualifying game but Paul Bodin missed a penalty. A decade later Mark Hughes took Wales to the brink of Euro 2004 qualification only to suffer defeat to Russia in a play-off.
  With the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign almost over before it started, the challenge for Speed is to put together a team that can reach the 2014 World Cup finals. It would be easy to dismiss that as no more than a pipe dream but Wales have what is widely recognised as their most promising group of youngsters for as long as can be remembered.
  "We keep saying we've got a good young team," said Coleman. "Well, they're a couple of years older and have probably 15 more caps now, so they've got to start stepping up to the plate."
  Behind them plans are in place to bring through the next generation. The Welsh Football Trust is implementing a youth programme based on those in place in Spain and the Netherlands, where the emphasis is on honing technique and on matches with smaller teams.
  "We needed to take a step back and look what other nations are doing because, at the moment, we're competing to qualify once every 10 years when we want to do it every time &#8211; but that can only start at grass roots," said Bellamy.
  "We have the likes of Ramsey and Bale come through once every few years, but we need as many of those coming through at the same time."
  In the meantime, hopes will be have to be pinned on Swansea and Cardiff putting Welsh football back on the map. "It would be a massive step forward for Welsh football to get two clubs in the best league in the world," said Coleman. "But the international team have got to do their bit as well."
  
  

Mwadui, Majengo zasonga mbele Ligi ya Mkoa

Imeandikwa na Shangwe Thani, Shinyanga; Tarehe: 24th March 2011 @ 22:00 Imesomwa na watu: 23; Jumla ya maoni: 0








TIMU ya soka ya wachimba almasi wa Mwadui, Mwadui F.C. ya Mwadui imeadhirika baada ya kunyukwa mabao 4-2 na timu ya Majengo F.C. ya Manispaa ya Shinyanga katika mchezo mkali wa michuano ya Ligi ya Taifa ngazi ya Mkoa wa Shinyanga kwenye Uwanja wa Mwadui.

Katika mchezo huo hadi mapumziko timu hizo zilikuwa zimefungana mabao 2-2 na kipindi cha pili marekebisho yaliyofanywa na benchi la ufundi la timu ya Majengo yalielekea kuinufaisha zaidi timu hiyo kwani iliweza kuongeza kasi ya mashambulizi kwenye lango la wapinzani wao kama nyuki na hatimaye kuongeza mabao mawili ya haraka haraka na hivyo kuibuka na ushindi.

Kwa matokeo hayo sasa kituo cha Mwadui kimemaliza michezo yake kwa timu tatu za Majengo yenye pointi 12, Mwadui na Nguzo Nane zimefuzu kutinga katika duru la pili la ligi hiyo
linalotarajiwa kuanza kutimua vumbi mapema mwezi ujao litakalozishirikisha timu 12 ikiwa ni timu tatu kutoka kila kituo kati ya vituo vinne vya hatua ya awali ya ligi hiyo.

Kwenye kituo cha Usanda timu mbili za Timbaland na Shinyanga United tayari zilikuwa zimejihakikishia kutinga katika hatua ya pili ya ligi hiyo na kwenye kituo cha Masumbwe wilayani Bukombe timu mbili za Wilaya ya Kahama za Vijana Segese na Leopard zimefuzu kutinga katika hatua ya 12 bora.

Kwenye kituo cha Masumbwe mchezo kati ya Cobra ya Masumbwe na Ushirombo Stars uliotarajiwa kuchezwa juzi ungeamua timu ya tatu itakayoungana na timu hizo kushiriki katika
duru la pili la ligi hiyo na kwenye kituo cha Usanda mchezo kati ya Original ya Usanda Timbaland ya Kahama utaamua timu ya tatu itakayoungana na timu za Shinyanga United na Timbaland.

Kituo cha Bariadi kimemaliza michezo yake kwa timu tatu za Carfonia, Vijana na Lamadi FC kufuzu kutinga katika hatua ya pili ya ligi hiyo mwezi ujao.

Craig Levein relishes Scotland's chance to test Brazil

&#8226; Scotland have never beaten Brazil before
&#8226; Team will take confidence from match, says manager

• guardian.co.uk, Friday 25 March 2011 20.33 GMT <li class="history">Article history Rangers' Kenny Miller could be named Scotland captain for the friendly against Brazil. Photograph: Russell Cheyne/Reuters Perhaps it should be regarded as an indicator of progress that Craig Levein has urged his Scotland players to relish Sunday's meeting with Brazil. After a slow start to his international tenure, Levein has watched the Scots rattle Spain despite losing 3-2 at Hampden Park before comfortably defeating the Faroe Islands and Northern Ireland. This weekend's meeting at the Emirates, Levein has insisted, shouldn't worry the Scottish players.
  "I am looking for our guys to get confidence out of the game," Levein said. "It sounds a bit silly when playing the best team in the world but there's so many things that can happen in a football match that you can take confidence from. If you take on the best teams in the world you have to be in a good place mentally to do that and the players are in that place just now.
  "The encouraging thing for me is that they are all playing very well for their clubs so their confidence is high and I think we have found the system that suits the players we have got. That is important because as an international manager it sometimes takes a while to discover exactly which system is best for the players."
  Far from bowing to sceptics of this fixture &#8211; ticket sales for the London game are only just short of 50,000 in any case &#8211; Levein believes his squad have been captivated by an opportunity to face the South Americans. "Of course the players are excited," said Levein.
  "We had an excellent training session yesterday and it is amazing how playing a team like Brazil sharpens the players minds and gets them focused. I'm sure the guys who are missing out will regret the fact that they are not here."
  Absentees include Manchester United's Darren Fletcher, who is recovering from illness. Scotland have troubled the Brazilians in the past, without ever defeating them. It took an own goal from Tom Boyd to secure a Brazil victory over Scotland in the opening match of the 1998 World Cup, the last time a Scottish side competed in a major tournament.
  "You have to stretch yourself at times and see where you are and that's what this game is for, to see where we actually are," added the Scotland manager, who will name his team tomorrow and make a late call on whether Kenny Miller or Gary Caldwell will captain the side in place of Fletcher. "We played Spain last October and put on a fantastic show and arguably Brazil are of that standard. It is a fairly daunting task. I think we have played them nine times and haven't managed to get a victory yet so there is a challenge for us."Scotland possible 4-5-1: McGregor; Hutton, Caldwell, Berra, Whittaker; Brown, Morrison, Adam, Bannan, Commons; Miller.
  Brazil possible 4-2-3-1: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, David Luiz, Marcelo; Sandro, Ramires; Elano, Lucas, Renato Augusto; Nilmar.
  
  

Mukubwa kutumbuiza Tamasha la Pasaka

Imeandikwa na Mwandishi Wetu; Tarehe: 24th March 2011 @ 20:30 Imesomwa na watu: 24; Jumla ya maoni: 0








MWIMBAJI wa muziki wa Injili kutoka nchini Kenya, Solomon Mukubwa naye amethibitisha kushiriki Tamasha la Pasaka litakalofanyika siku ya sikukuu ya Pasaka Aprili 24 mwaka huu ukumbi wa Diamond Jubilee jijini Dar es Salaam.

Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Maandalizi ya tamasha hilo, Alex Msama, alisema Mukubwa amekubali kushiriki na kwamba kwa sasa yupo katika mazoezi makali.

Msama alisema Mukubwa ameahidi kwamba atawapa mashabiki wake vitu vipya siku hiyo, ambapo pia ataimba baadhi ya vitu vya zamani vilivyompa umaarufu.

"Tumejipanga vizuri, tunashukuru wasanii wengi wanakubali kushiriki kwenye tamasha letu," alisema Mukubwa.

Tamasha la Pasaka la mwaka huu lina malengo ya kuchangisha fedha kwa ajili ya waathirika wa
mabomu yaliyotokea kwenye kambi ya Jeshi Gongo la Mboto jijini Dar es Salaam.

Pia fedha nyingine ni kwa ajili ya kuwasomesha watoto yatima na kuwasaidia mitaji ya biashara wanawake wajane.

Nizar azuiwa kujiunga Stars

Imeandikwa na Mwandishi Wetu; Tarehe: 23rd March 2011 @ 23:59 Imesomwa na watu: 622; Jumla ya maoni: 1








ZIKIWA zimesalia siku mbili kabla ya timu ya soka ya Taifa, Taifa Stars kumenyana na wenzao wa Jamhuri ya Kati, kiungo tegemeo wa Stars, Nizar Khalfani amezuia kujiunga na timu hiyo.

Khalfani anayecheza Vancouver Whitecaps ya Canada alitumiwa tiketi ya ndege Machi 22 ikionesha kuwa alitakiwa kuwasili nchini Machi 23 tayari kwa mechi hiyo ya awali kuwania kufuzu fainali za Kombe la Mataifa Afrika mwakani.

Habari za uhakika zilizopatikana kutoka katika Shirikisho la Soka nchini (TFF) zilisema kuwa uongozi wa Vancouver umekataa kumruhusu Khalfani kujiunga Stars, kwa vile Shirikisho hilo halikufuata utaratibu unaostahili.

"TFF ilishatuma tiketi kwa Nizar kwamba aje leo (jana) lakini uongozi wa timu yake anayochezea umesema unafahamu kama mchezaji huyo anatakiwa kucheza mechi hiyo na mara kwa mara humruhusu lakini safari hii hawatafanya hivyo kwani taratibu hazijafuatwa," alisema mmoja wa maofisa wa TFF.

Akifafanua, Ofisa huyo alisema, tatizo lililojitokeza ni kwamba TFF iliwasiliana moja kwa moja na mchezaji mwenyewe baada ya kuwasiliana na uongozi wa klabu yake.

Hata hivyo, uongozi wa Vancouver haujafunga milango kwa TFF kutuma maombi ya kumtaka mchezaji huyo. Mechi kati ya Stars na Jamhuri ya Kati imepangwa kuchezwa keshokutwa.

"Wamesema kama TFF inamhitaji Nizar iombe, lakini sijui kama itawezekana maana muda wenyewe umeshakwenda, sidhani kama itawezekana," alisema ofisa huyo.

"Utaratibu huwa klabu inaandikiwa barua ya kumuomba mchezaji, ikishajibiwa ndio inatuma tiketi, sasa hilo halikufanyika, Shirikisho limetuma tiketi kwa Nizar tu moja kwa moja na kutuma nakala kwa uongozi wake ndio maana tumekataliwa," alisema ofisa huyo.

Aidha akiwasiliana kwa facebook na gazeti hili, Khalfani alikiri kupata tiketi na kusema kuwa atashindwa kujiunga na Stars kwa vile uongozi wake haukuombwa.

"Kweli tiketi niliipata, na viongozi waliniita na kuniambia kuwa hawataweza kunipa ruhusa kwa vile hawakuandikiwa barua yoyote kutoka TFF, ndio inabidi nisubiri kuona watalitatua vipi suala hilo," alisema.

Republic of Ireland v Macedonia, Euro 2012 Group B qualifier, Aviva Stadium, Saturday 26 March 7.45pm

Giovanni Trapattoni takes necessary risks in Ireland team

&#8226; Three players to make competitive international debut
&#8226; Macedonia have history of upsetting Ireland qualification

• David Hytner in Dublin
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 25 March 2011 20.31 GMT <li class="history">Article history Wolves' Kevin Foley, left, who has played only in friendlies for Ireland, will start against Macedonia. Photograph: Henry Browne/Action Images Giovanni Trapattoni likes defensive experience and solidity. He does not like to gamble, particularly in matches when so much is at stake. The Republic of Ireland manager could, therefore, be forgiven for feeling a little queasy when he sends out his team to face Macedonia at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday in what must be considered as a must-win Euro 2012 qualifier.
  In his back five will be three unheralded figures who have never played in a competitive international. The Coventry City goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, the Wolverhampton Wanderers right-back Kevin Foley and the on-loan Ipswich Town centre-half Darren O'Dea have 12 caps among them. All of them came in friendlies.
  Ireland have painful memories of Macedonia from two ties against them in the late 1990s, which damaged qualifying campaigns that had promised much. "Having a Macedonia" entered the vernacular. The fear is that the headline writers might dust down the phrase.
  Trapattoni's hand has been forced by the injuries to Shay Given, John O'Shea and, most cruelly, Sean St Ledger, who hurt his knee in training on Tuesday. Trapattoni has preferred O'Dea to Aston Villa's Ciaran Clark, who is even less experienced with one cap from the friendly win over Wales last month. Richard Dunne and Kevin Kilbane, who complete the backline, will need to show all of their know-how. Incredibly, it will be Kilbane's 65th consecutive start in a competitive tie.
  Trapattoni, though, said all the right things about the rookies, how they had his trust and confidence and he might have also pointed to the example of St Ledger, to whom he handed a competitive debut in the vital World Cup qualifier away to Bulgaria in June 2009, on only his second cap. The Preston North End player excelled and he has made the position in central defence his own.
  "I am optimistic," Trapattoni said. "I've seen again that the team's mentality is very fresh, full of enthusiasm. We must believe. We need all of our performers. We have to be confident about the work we've done and I'm happy that the team has understood. In football, there are two situations. There is the friendly or the show and there is the result. We look for the result."
  Trapattoni will demand that his experienced players, chiefly Dunne, Kilbane, Damien Duff and the captain, Robbie Keane, exert control, set the tempo and create space. Keane, however, made the point that "people like Westwood, Foley and O'Dea have played the game for a while. It's not like they are young kids."
  Keane admitted that he was "certainly not match fit", having been on the pitch for only 22 minutes in a West Ham United first-team shirt since he injured his calf on 6 February. His rehabilitation sounds unconventional, although it did help him to return slightly ahead of schedule. Together with his injured clubmate, Jack Collison of Wales, he spent time inside an ice chamber (temperature -140 degrees) and there was an unexpected third party in with them.
  "Frank Bruno was there," Keane said. "It was bizarre. He was singing Danny Boy. I don't know what he was doing there. I went in the chamber for a few weeks where you do two sessions a day for nine minutes. You don't want to be in there for any longer, trust me."
  It seems unlikely that Keane will last the 90 minutes and Trapattoni might replace him with James McCarthy, who he said would definitely make his competitive debut as a substitute. Trapattoni was unconcerned by Keane's fitness &#8211; he would be happy with 60 productive minutes from him &#8211; and he admitted that his principal worry was Macedonia's aerial threat on set-pieces.
  The visitors have, Trapattoni said, at least five tall players and the concern might explain, in part, why he has picked Darron Gibson in central midfield, instead of Paul Green. Gibson's greater offensive threat was also a factor.
  Trapattoni's other worry is that his team commit too many players forward against opponents who will be compact and look to strike at pace on the counter. It will be a night for balance, precision and ruthlessness in the final third. And, of course, for nerves of steel.
  
  

Republic of Ireland v Macedonia, Euro 2012 Group B qualifier, Aviva Stadium, Saturday 26 March 7.45pm

Giovanni Trapattoni takes necessary risks in Ireland team

• Three players to make competitive international debut
• Macedonia have history of upsetting Ireland qualification

• David Hytner in Dublin
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 25 March 2011 20.31 GMT <li class="history">Article history Wolves' Kevin Foley, left, who has played only in friendlies for Ireland, will start against Macedonia. Photograph: Henry Browne/Action Images Giovanni Trapattoni likes defensive experience and solidity. He does not like to gamble, particularly in matches when so much is at stake. The Republic of Ireland manager could, therefore, be forgiven for feeling a little queasy when he sends out his team to face Macedonia at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday in what must be considered as a must-win Euro 2012 qualifier.
  In his back five will be three unheralded figures who have never played in a competitive international. The Coventry City goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, the Wolverhampton Wanderers right-back Kevin Foley and the on-loan Ipswich Town centre-half Darren O'Dea have 12 caps among them. All of them came in friendlies.
  Ireland have painful memories of Macedonia from two ties against them in the late 1990s, which damaged qualifying campaigns that had promised much. "Having a Macedonia" entered the vernacular. The fear is that the headline writers might dust down the phrase.
  Trapattoni's hand has been forced by the injuries to Shay Given, John O'Shea and, most cruelly, Sean St Ledger, who hurt his knee in training on Tuesday. Trapattoni has preferred O'Dea to Aston Villa's Ciaran Clark, who is even less experienced with one cap from the friendly win over Wales last month. Richard Dunne and Kevin Kilbane, who complete the backline, will need to show all of their know-how. Incredibly, it will be Kilbane's 65th consecutive start in a competitive tie.
  Trapattoni, though, said all the right things about the rookies, how they had his trust and confidence and he might have also pointed to the example of St Ledger, to whom he handed a competitive debut in the vital World Cup qualifier away to Bulgaria in June 2009, on only his second cap. The Preston North End player excelled and he has made the position in central defence his own.
  "I am optimistic," Trapattoni said. "I've seen again that the team's mentality is very fresh, full of enthusiasm. We must believe. We need all of our performers. We have to be confident about the work we've done and I'm happy that the team has understood. In football, there are two situations. There is the friendly or the show and there is the result. We look for the result."
  Trapattoni will demand that his experienced players, chiefly Dunne, Kilbane, Damien Duff and the captain, Robbie Keane, exert control, set the tempo and create space. Keane, however, made the point that "people like Westwood, Foley and O'Dea have played the game for a while. It's not like they are young kids."
  Keane admitted that he was "certainly not match fit", having been on the pitch for only 22 minutes in a West Ham United first-team shirt since he injured his calf on 6 February. His rehabilitation sounds unconventional, although it did help him to return slightly ahead of schedule. Together with his injured clubmate, Jack Collison of Wales, he spent time inside an ice chamber (temperature -140 degrees) and there was an unexpected third party in with them.
  "Frank Bruno was there," Keane said. "It was bizarre. He was singing Danny Boy. I don't know what he was doing there. I went in the chamber for a few weeks where you do two sessions a day for nine minutes. You don't want to be in there for any longer, trust me."
  It seems unlikely that Keane will last the 90 minutes and Trapattoni might replace him with James McCarthy, who he said would definitely make his competitive debut as a substitute. Trapattoni was unconcerned by Keane's fitness – he would be happy with 60 productive minutes from him – and he admitted that his principal worry was Macedonia's aerial threat on set-pieces.
  The visitors have, Trapattoni said, at least five tall players and the concern might explain, in part, why he has picked Darron Gibson in central midfield, instead of Paul Green. Gibson's greater offensive threat was also a factor.
  Trapattoni's other worry is that his team commit too many players forward against opponents who will be compact and look to strike at pace on the counter. It will be a night for balance, precision and ruthlessness in the final third. And, of course, for nerves of steel.

Robbie Keane: I have no intention of retiring from Ireland duty

&#8226; 30-year-old denies he would be prepared to stand aside
&#8226; Keane will win 105th cap against Macedonia in Dublin

• Press Association
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 25 March 2011 17.16 GMT <li class="history">Article history Robbie Keane will captain Republic of Ireland for the 40th time in Saturday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA The Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane has denied that he has any intention of quitting international football. The striker, currently on loan at West Ham United from Tottenham Hotspur, appeared to suggest in January that he would happily move aside if a younger, fitter striker came through the ranks to take his position in the Irish side.
  However, he was quick to clarify his comments as he prepared to win his 105th senior international cap in Saturday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia. "I will make it clear: I have no intention to retire at all. I want to play as long as I can," he said.
  The 30-year-old will lead his side out for the 40th time against Macedonia, equalling Andy Townsend's record in the process.
  "I think you have seen over years, I have always been committed and always wanted to play for my country, and that will never change," Keane said. "I don't like to predict what is going to happen in three or four years' time with injuries and what have you. I will just take each campaign as it comes, look forward to this campaign and hope we can qualify.
  "I was just asked the question that if someone came in and the manager felt it was time for me to be pushed aside, I would be fairly happy. If someone young and fit came in and did a better job than me, I would be happy enough."
  Keane has missed most of the last six weeks with a calf injury which has restricted him to 22 minutes of senior football for West Ham and a little more than an hour for the reserves but, he is confident he is fit enough to play after returning to action a fortnight earlier than expected with the help of ice chamber treatments which proved more eventful than he might have thought.
  "It's an ice chamber that myself and one of the lads went to, and Frank Bruno was there as well," Keane said. "He was in there singing Danny Boy, which was a bit bizarre.
  "You do two sessions a day of nine minutes. You go in for four minutes, come back out, go on the bike for a few minutes and go back in again. You don't want to be in any longer than that, trust me. But it was good, it's probably healed me a lot better."
  But if Keane is fighting fit once again after a frustrating spell on the sidelines, the news of his defensive colleagues is not as good. Richard Dunne will start after shaking off the shoulder injury which has kept him out of action for the last few weeks, but his usual central defensive partner, Sean St Ledger, has been ruled out with a knee problem sustained in a training ground collision with Ciaran Clark on Tuesday.
  With Shay Given and John O'Shea already missing, Trapattoni's defence will have an unfamiliar and inexperienced look about it with the goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, Darren O'Dea and Kevin Foley having just 12 caps between them, and none of them in competitive games.
  Ireland starting line-up: Westwood; Foley, Dunne, O'Dea, Kilbane; McGeady, Gibson, Whelan, Duff, Keane, Doyle
  
  

Owen Hargreaves' hopes of a comeback derailed by shoulder injury

&#8226; The midfielder could be out for four weeks, according to reports
&#8226; Hargreaves now unlikely to play for Manchester United again

• Agencies
• guardian.co.uk, Saturday 26 March 2011 00.51 GMT <li class="history">Article history The Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves injured his shoulder during training, according to reports. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Archive/Press Association Ima Owen Hargreaves' hopes of playing for Manchester United again have significantly receded after he damaged his shoulder in training on Friday.
  The England midfielder has suffered a succession of knee and hamstring injuries since signing for £17m from Bayern Munich in May 2007 but he appeared to be almost ready for a return before his shoulder popped out as he challenged for a header.
  According to reports, it is feared the 30-year-old &#8211; whose contract runs out in June &#8211; has ligament damage and could be out for at least four weeks.
  He has played just six minutes of first-team football since September 2008 because of two rounds of knee surgery. His latest first-team comeback was thwarted when he tore a hamstring on his return against Wolves last November.
  
  

Nani: Sir Alex Ferguson does not allow me freedom at Manchester United

&#8226; Manchester United winger says he can't show off tricks
&#8226; 'I have responsibility to the team' Nani tells magazine

• Agencies
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 25 March 2011 01.05 GMT <li class="history">Article history Nani has said he is not able to express himself fully because he has a responsibility to the team at Old Trafford. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images The Portuguese winger Nani has said he is not able to express himself at Manchester United.
  The 24-year-old, who learned his tricks as a child playing with his friends on the streets of Lisbon, says he has had his wings clipped by Sir Alex Ferguson.
  "I try to enjoy playing now, but it is not always possible because I have a responsibility to the team," Nani told the Spanish weekly sports magazine Don Balón.
  "But something of the street remains in me. It is not easy to show at United because Sir Alex does not allow very much freedom and I cannot do the tricks and things I did with my friends.
  "But when the game is under control I take a risk and it makes me very happy if things work out."
  
  

Stuart Pearce on collision course with managers over England overload

&#8226; Wilshere, Carroll and Walker needed for Euro Under-21s
&#8226; FA will back Pearce if he insists in selecting senior talent

• Jamie Jackson
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 25 March 2011 23.01 GMT <li class="history">Article history The selection of Jack Wilshere, right, and Andy Carroll for England Under-21 duty would not be welcomed by Arsenal and Liverpool. Photograph: Reuters The Football Association will back Stuart Pearce if he selects Arsenal's Jack Wilshere, Liverpool's Andy Carroll and Tottenham Hotspur's Kyle Walker &#8211; who are in the senior England squad &#8211; for this summer's European Under-21 Championship, despite disquiet from their clubs who believe they should play for only one of the representative sides.
  Although Pearce has yet to speak to Liverpool, Arsenal or Spurs, Fabio Capello, the England manager, said it was down to him to strike up a relationship with the clubs. "I think the decision will be between Stuart and the club managers.
  "The Under-21s Euros are really important. The players who are here are really good players, playing with us. But it depends on the relationship between Stuart and the managers. I think these three players are really good and can make a difference if they play with the Under&#8209;21s."
  Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, the Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish, or the Spurs manager, Harry Redknapp, have not yet reacted to Pearce's insistence that he will pick the best players available. Yet it is thought that all would have reservations and they will hope Pearce is willing to engage in a productive dialogue.
  England play a Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland on 4 June before the Under-21 side travel to Denmark eight days later to open their European Championship campaign against Spain.
  Last month Wenger spoke of his fear that Wilshere could be overloaded if he was asked to play for both international sides following a club season in which he has become a first&#8209;team regular.
  "You know my position," said Wenger. "I always think that you cannot use a player in two different national teams. Once he's moved up, if you move him down you don't help him at all, so I believe that would be a bad move.
  "We had that situation before for [Theo] Walcott [who was also included in the Under-21 squad for the 2009 European Championship] to play. Once a player has moved up and you move him down again it never works. Psychologically you feel you go down.
  "If you have a good player who's talented, then when you come out of a long season it's important you do not overload him."
  Pearce insists he can choose any player he wants. "It's down to me to make sure the best players compete for England this summer," he said. "I don't have to be a diplomat &#8211; I'm a football manager."
  
  

Stuart Pearce on collision course with managers over England overload

• Wilshere, Carroll and Walker needed for Euro Under-21s
• FA will back Pearce if he insists in selecting senior talent

• Jamie Jackson
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 25 March 2011 23.01 GMT <li class="history">Article history The selection of Jack Wilshere, right, and Andy Carroll for England Under-21 duty would not be welcomed by Arsenal and Liverpool. Photograph: Reuters The Football Association will back Stuart Pearce if he selects Arsenal's Jack Wilshere, Liverpool's Andy Carroll and Tottenham Hotspur's Kyle Walker – who are in the senior England squad – for this summer's European Under-21 Championship, despite disquiet from their clubs who believe they should play for only one of the representative sides.
  Although Pearce has yet to speak to Liverpool, Arsenal or Spurs, Fabio Capello, the England manager, said it was down to him to strike up a relationship with the clubs. "I think the decision will be between Stuart and the club managers.
  "The Under-21s Euros are really important. The players who are here are really good players, playing with us. But it depends on the relationship between Stuart and the managers. I think these three players are really good and can make a difference if they play with the Under&#8209;21s."
  Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, the Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish, or the Spurs manager, Harry Redknapp, have not yet reacted to Pearce's insistence that he will pick the best players available. Yet it is thought that all would have reservations and they will hope Pearce is willing to engage in a productive dialogue.
  England play a Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland on 4 June before the Under-21 side travel to Denmark eight days later to open their European Championship campaign against Spain.
  Last month Wenger spoke of his fear that Wilshere could be overloaded if he was asked to play for both international sides following a club season in which he has become a first&#8209;team regular.
  "You know my position," said Wenger. "I always think that you cannot use a player in two different national teams. Once he's moved up, if you move him down you don't help him at all, so I believe that would be a bad move.
  "We had that situation before for [Theo] Walcott [who was also included in the Under-21 squad for the 2009 European Championship] to play. Once a player has moved up and you move him down again it never works. Psychologically you feel you go down.
  "If you have a good player who's talented, then when you come out of a long season it's important you do not overload him."
  Pearce insists he can choose any player he wants. "It's down to me to make sure the best players compete for England this summer," he said. "I don't have to be a diplomat – I'm a football manager."