Michezo magazetini leo...

[Rutashubanyuma]

Upcoming Games

Today's Games Week 1: 08/28/10 - 08/30/10 Week 2: 09/11/10 - 09/13/10 Week 3: 09/18/10 - 09/20/10 Week 4: 09/21/10 - 09/23/10 Week 5: 09/25/10 - 09/27/10 Week 6: 10/02/10 - 10/03/10 Week 7: 10/16/10 - 10/18/10 Week 8: 10/23/10 - 10/25/10 Week 9: 10/30/10 - 11/01/10 Week 10: 11/06/10 - 11/08/10 Week 11: 11/13/10 - 11/14/10 Week 12: 11/20/10 - 11/22/10 Week 13: 11/27/10 - 11/29/10 Week 14: 12/04/10 - 12/06/10 Week 15: 12/11/10 - 12/13/10 Week 16: 12/18/10 - 12/20/10 Week 17: 01/02/11 - 01/03/11 Week 18: 01/08/11 - 01/10/11 Week 19: 01/15/11 - 01/17/11 Week 20: 01/22/11 - 01/24/11 Week 21: 01/29/11 - 01/31/11 Week 22: 02/05/11 - 02/06/11 Week 23: 02/12/11 - 02/14/11 Week 24: 02/19/11 - 02/21/11 Week 25: 02/26/11 - 02/28/11 Week 26: 03/01/11 - 03/03/11 Week 27: 03/05/11 - 03/07/11 Week 28: 03/12/11 - 03/14/11 Week 29: 03/19/11 - 03/20/11 Week 30: 04/02/11 - 04/04/11 Week 31: 04/10/11 Week 32: 04/17/11 Week 33: 04/24/11 Week 34: 05/01/11 Week 35: 05/08/11 Week 36: 05/11/11 Week 37: 05/15/11 Week 38: 05/22/11​

Sunday, April 3, 2011​

Week 30​

Cornellá-El Prat

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Espanyol​

11:00 AM ET

Racing Santander​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Riazor

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Deportivo La Coruna​

11:00 AM ET

Mallorca​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Reyno de Navarra

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Osasuna​

11:00 AM ET

Atletico Madrid​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Santiago Bernabéu

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Real Madrid​

11:00 AM ET

Real Sporting​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Anoeta

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Real Sociedad​

11:00 AM ET

Hercules CF​

Goals Cards Substitutions
El Madrigal

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Villarreal​

11:00 AM ET

Barcelona​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Sánchez Pizjuán

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Sevilla​

11:00 AM ET

Real Zaragoza​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Coliseum Alfonso Pérez

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Getafe​

11:00 AM ET

Valencia​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Ciutat de Valencia

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Levante​

11:00 AM ET

Malaga​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Juegos Mediterráneos

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Almeria​

11:00 AM ET

Athletic Bilbao​

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Upcoming Games

Today's Games Week 1: 08/20/10 - 08/22/10 Week 2: 08/27/10 - 08/29/10 Week 3: 09/10/10 - 09/12/10 Week 4: 09/17/10 - 09/19/10 Week 5: 09/21/10 - 09/22/10 Week 6: 09/24/10 - 09/26/10 Week 7: 10/01/10 - 10/03/10 Week 8: 10/15/10 - 10/17/10 Week 9: 10/22/10 - 10/24/10 Week 10: 10/29/10 - 10/31/10 Week 11: 11/05/10 - 11/07/10 Week 12: 11/12/10 - 11/14/10 Week 13: 11/20/10 - 11/21/10 Week 14: 11/26/10 - 11/28/10 Week 15: 12/03/10 - 12/05/10 Week 16: 12/10/10 - 12/12/10 Week 17: 12/17/10 - 12/19/10 Week 18: 01/14/11 - 01/16/11 Week 19: 01/21/11 - 01/23/11 Week 20: 01/28/11 - 01/30/11 Week 21: 02/04/11 - 02/06/11 Week 22: 02/12/11 - 02/13/11 Week 23: 02/16/11 - 02/20/11 Week 24: 02/25/11 - 02/27/11 Week 25: 03/04/11 - 03/06/11 Week 26: 03/11/11 - 03/13/11 Week 27: 03/18/11 - 03/20/11 Week 28: 04/01/11 - 04/03/11 Week 29: 04/08/11 - 04/10/11 Week 30: 04/15/11 - 04/17/11 Week 31: 04/21/11 - 04/24/11 Week 32: 04/29/11 - 04/30/11 Week 33: 05/07/11 Week 34: 05/14/11​

Friday, April 1, 2011​

Week 28​

Millerntor-Stadion

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St. Pauli​

2:30 PM ET

Schalke 04​

Goals Cards Substitutions

Saturday, April 2, 2011​

Week 28​

Weserstadion

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Werder Bremen​

9:30 AM ET

VfB Stuttgart​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Signal Iduna Park

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Borussia Dortmund​

9:30 AM ET

Hannover 96​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Fritz-Walter Stadion

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Kaiserslautern​

9:30 AM ET

Bayer Leverkusen​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Allianz Arena

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Bayern Munich​

9:30 AM ET

Moenchengladbach​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Stadion am Bruchweg

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FSV Mainz 05​

9:30 AM ET

SC Freiburg​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Rhein-Neckar-Arena

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1899 Hoffenheim​

12:30 PM ET

Hamburg​

Goals Cards Substitutions

Sunday, April 3, 2011​

Week 28​

RheinEnergieStadion

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1. FC Koln​

9:30 AM ET

1. FC Nurnberg​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Volkswagen Arena

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VfL Wolfsburg​

11:30 AM ET

Eintracht Frankfurt​

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Upcoming Games

Today's Games Week 1: 08/06/10 - 08/08/10 Week 2: 08/14/10 - 08/15/10 Week 3: 08/20/10 - 08/22/10 Week 4: 08/27/10 - 08/29/10 Week 5: 09/11/10 - 09/12/10 Week 6: 09/17/10 - 09/19/10 Week 7: 09/25/10 - 09/26/10 Week 8: 10/01/10 - 10/03/10 Week 9: 10/16/10 - 10/17/10 Week 10: 10/22/10 - 10/24/10 Week 11: 10/26/10 - 10/27/10 Week 12: 10/30/10 - 10/31/10 Week 13: 11/05/10 - 11/07/10 Week 14: 11/12/10 - 11/24/10 Week 15: 11/20/10 - 11/21/10 Week 16: 11/26/10 - 11/28/10 Week 17: 12/03/10 - 12/05/10 Week 18: 12/06/10 - 12/14/10 Week 19: 12/17/10 - 01/19/11 Week 20: 01/21/11 - 01/23/11 Week 21: 01/28/11 - 02/01/11 Week 22: 02/04/11 - 02/06/11 Week 23: 02/12/11 - 02/13/11 Week 24: 02/18/11 - 02/20/11 Week 25: 02/25/11 - 02/27/11 Week 26: 03/04/11 - 03/06/11 Week 27: 03/11/11 - 03/13/11 Week 28: 03/18/11 - 03/20/11 Week 29: 04/02/11 - 04/03/11 Week 30: 04/08/11 - 04/10/11 Week 31: 04/15/11 - 04/17/11 Week 32: 04/22/11 - 04/24/11 Week 33: 05/01/11 Week 34: 05/15/11​

Saturday, April 2, 2011​

Week 29​

De Grolsch Veste

Expand

Twente Enschede​

12:45 PM ET

PSV Eindhoven​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Abe Lenstra

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Heerenveen​

1:45 PM ET

Excelsior​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Stadion Willem II

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Willem II​

1:45 PM ET

Roda JC​

Goals Cards Substitutions
De Vijverberg

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De Graafschap​

1:45 PM ET

NAC Breda​

Goals Cards Substitutions
De Kuip

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Feyenoord​

2:45 PM ET

AZ Alkmaar​

Goals Cards Substitutions

Sunday, April 3, 2011​

Week 29​

Nieuw Galgenwaard

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Utrecht​

6:30 AM ET

ADO Den Haag​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Gelredome

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Vitesse Arnhem​

6:30 AM ET

NEC Nijmegen​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Amsterdam ArenA

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Ajax​

8:30 AM ET

Heracles Almelo​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Euroborg

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Groningen​

8:30 AM ET

VVV-Venlo​

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Yanga FC yaitia kiwewe Simba


*Yaichapa Azam mabao 2-1

Na Elizabeth Mayemba

TIMU ya Yanga, imezidi kuipa presha Simba katika kinyang'anyiro cha kuwania ubingwa wa Ligi Kuu bara, baada ya kuichapa Azam FC mabao 2-1, katika mchezo uliopigwa
Uwanja wa Uhuru, Dar es Salaam.

Kwa ushindi huo, Yanga sasa imefikisha pointi 43 huku vinara wa ligi hiyo, Simba wakiwa na pointi 45 na Azam ikibaki katika nafasi ya tatu kwa pointi 37.

Kufungwa kwa Azam kumeiweka katika matumaini finyu ya kushika nafasi ya pili na kucheza michuano ya kimataifa inayoandaliwa na Shirikisho la Mpira wa Miguu Afrika (CAF) kwani imeendelea kubaki nafasi ya tatu ikiwa na pointi 37 huku ikiwa imebakiwa na michezo miwili mkononi ambayo kama ikishinda yote itafikisha pointi 43 ambazo tayari Yanga inazo huku Simba ikiwa imezipita.

Katika mechi hiyo Azam FC ndiyo iliyoanza kupata bao dakika ya tatu lililowekwa kimiani na John Boko aliyeunganisha krosi ya Suleiman Kassim, baada ya uzembe wa mabeki wa Yanga walioufanya wakati wakiwa katika harakati za kuokoa.

Yanga ndiyo ilianza kubisha hodi langoni mwa Azam ambapo dakika ya pili ilifanya shambulizi la nguvu lakini hata hivyo mshambuliaji raia wa Zambia, Davies Mwape alishindwa kutikisa nyavu.

Dakika ya 12, Tegete nusura aisawazishie timu yake baada ya shuti lake kugonga mwamba wa juu na mpira kurudi kati na kuokolewa na mabeki.

Yanga iliendelea kuibana Azam ambayo ilionekana kumuacha Boko peke yake mbele na katika dakika ya 41, Tegete aliisawazishia timu yake baada ya mabeki kujichanganya na kipa Vladimir Niyonkuru akishindwa la kufanya.

Kipindi cha pili kilianza kwa Yanga kuingia kwa nguvu na kutafuta mabao, ambapo dakika ya 56 nusura Yanga wapate bao baada ya kona iliyochongwa na Nurdin Bakari kugonga mwamba wa juu na kumkuta Tegete ambaye alifumua shuti kubwa lililotoka nje ya uwanja.

Juhudi za Yanga zilizaa bao la ushindi dakika ya 60 baada ya Tegete kuipatia timu bao baada ya kukutana na mpira uliotemwa na Niyonkuru ambaye alishindwa kuzuia shuti la Mwape.

Mwamuzi Said Ndege alilazimika kumtoa dokta wa Yanga kwa kadi nyekundu kutokana na kuingia uwanjani na kuanza kuzozana na wachezaji wa Azam FC.

Dakika ya 82 Azam ilikosa bao la wazi baada ya mshambuliaji, Kalimangonga Ongala aliyeingia badala Suleiman Kassim kushinda kuitumia nafasi nzuri ya kufunga.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Mroso atamba 'kumtemea sumu' Maneno Osward


Na Addolph Bruno

BONDIA wa ngumi za kulipwa nchini, Robert Mroso 'Cobra' wa Arusha ametamba kumchapa mpinzani wake, Maneno Osward 'Mtambo wa Gongo' katika pambano
litakalochezwa Jumamosi katika Ukumbi wa Amana Jijini Dar es Salaam.

Pambano hilo lisilo la ubingwa, litakuwa ni la raundi 10 uzito wa kati (middle) ambalo limeandaliwa na Rajab Mbogo.

Akizungumza Dar es Salaam juzi, Mroso alisema anatarajia kuchukua ushindi dhidi ya Mtambo wa Gongo kutokana na kufanya maandalizi ya kutosha, akiwa kambini jijini Arusha kwa ajili ya kuweka rekodi yake sawa.

"Nimefanya maandalizi ya kutosha mno na anatarajia nitakuwa mshindi ingawa chochote kinaweza kutokea, nataka kuiweka vizuri rekodi yangu na ninamfahamu vizuri Maneno asitarajie kushinda kwangu," alisema Mrosso.

Kwa Upande wake Mratibu wa pambano hilo, Mbogo alisema lengo la pambano hilo ni kuendeleza viwango vya mabondia hao kwa kuwapatia mapambano ya mara kwa mara na kwamba maandalizi yote yamekamilika.

Alisema mabondia hao watapimwa uzito na afya zao siku moja kabla ya pambano hilo kupigwa ambalo linatarajia kuwa na mvuto wa aina yake kutokana na mabondia hao kukamiana tangu muda mrefu.

Mbogo alisema mchezo huo utatanguliwa na mambano mengine ya raundi nne ya uzito tofauti ambapo bondia saleh Mkalekwa atacheza na Aogwa Mwita, Hamisi Juma dhidi ya Maulid Bakari, wakati Maneno Jokoro atapambana na Omari Bomba.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Kata ya Soga wamlilia Dewji akarabati uwanja


Na Omary Mngindo, Kibaha

OFISA Mtendaji wa Kata ya Soga Wilaya ya Kibaha Vijijini Mkoa wa Pwani, Betraham Mfaramagoha amemuomba Mkurugenzi wa Kampuni ya
Mohamed Enterprises Limited (METL), Mohamed Dewji kuukarabati Uwanja wa Alave uliopo ndani ya Kata hiyo.

Akizungumza mjini hapa juzi, Mfaramagoha alisema kuwa katika kata hiyo kuna uwanja wa kisasa ambao unamilikiwa na Dewji, ambao ulikuwa ukitumika kwa michezo mbalimbali ya ligi ngazi ya Wilaya ya Kibaha, kabla ya kutelekezwa baada ya kupoteza ubora
wake.

Alisema kutokana na Kata ya Soga kuwa na vipaji vya wacheza soka na timu imara, uongozi huo umeona ni vyema kumuomba Mkurugenzi huyo aelekeze nguvu zake katika ukarabati wu uwanja huo kwa ya kuchezewa mechi za Ligi ngazi za Wilaya, Mkoa na hata Daraja la Kwanza.

"Uwanja wa Alave una kila sababu ya kuwa kiwanja bora ndani ya Halmashauri ya Kibaha Vijijini na pengine na hata nje ya Halmashauri hii, kwani una vipimo vinavyokubalika kimataifa, hivyo tuna mpango wa kuwasiliana na Dewji kuangalia ni namna gani ataweza kutusaidia katika kuukarabati uwanja huo," alisema Mfaramagoha.

Alisema kwamba awali Kampuni hiyo ilivyokuwa ikiendeleza mashamba ya mkonge, uwanja huo ulikuwa katika mazingira mazuri na kuufanya uwe unatumika katika ligi mbalimbali ngazi za Wilaya na Mkoa.

"Imani ya uongozi wa Kata ya Soga na Halmashauri nzima ya Kibaha Vijijini kuwa Dewji atakaposoma taarifa yetu kupitia vyombo vya habari atakuwa tayari kutusaidia na kutuondoa kwenye kilio hiki, lakini wakati waandishi mkifanya kazi zenu nasi tunatarajia kumuandikia barua ya kumuomba," alisema Mfaramagoha.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Upcoming Games

Today's Games Qualifier: 07/01/10 Qualifier: 07/08/10 Qualifier: 07/15/10 Qualifier: 07/22/10 - 07/23/10 Qualifier: 07/27/10 - 07/29/10 Qualifier: 08/03/10 - 08/05/10 First Round: 08/17/10 - 08/19/10 First Round: 08/24/10 - 08/26/10 Group Stage 9: 09/16/10 Group Stage 10: 09/30/10 Group Stage 11: 10/21/10 Group Stage 12: 11/04/10 Group Stage 13: 12/01/10 - 12/02/10 Group Stage 14: 12/15/10 - 12/16/10 Round of 32: 02/15/11 - 02/17/11 Round of 32: 02/22/11 - 02/24/11 Round of 16: 03/10/11 Round of 16: 03/17/11 Quarterfinal: 04/07/11 Quarterfinal: 04/14/11​

Thursday, April 7, 2011​

Quarterfinal​

Dragao

Expand

FC Porto​

3:05 PM ET

Spartak Moscow​

Goals Cards Substitutions
da Luz

Expand

Benfica​

3:05 PM ET

PSV Eindhoven​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Braga Municipal

Expand

Dynamo Kiev​

3:05 PM ET

Sporting Braga​

Goals Cards Substitutions
El Madrigal

Expand

Villarreal​

3:05 PM ET

FC Twente​

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Upcoming Games

Today's Games Qualifier: 06/29/10 - 06/30/10 Qualifier: 07/06/10 - 07/07/10 Qualifier: 07/13/10 - 07/14/10 Qualifier: 07/20/10 - 07/27/10 Qualifier: 07/27/10 - 07/28/10 Qualifier: 08/03/10 - 08/04/10 Playoff Round 1: 08/17/10 - 08/18/10 Playoff Round 1: 08/24/10 - 08/25/10 Super Cup: 08/27/10 Group Stage 1: 09/14/10 - 09/15/10 Group Stage 2: 09/28/10 - 09/29/10 Group Stage 3: 10/19/10 - 10/20/10 Group Stage 4: 11/02/10 - 11/03/10 Group Stage 5: 11/23/10 - 11/24/10 Group Stage 6: 12/07/10 - 12/08/10 Round of 16: 02/15/11 - 02/23/11 Round of 16: 03/08/11 - 03/16/11 Quarterfinal: 04/05/11 - 04/06/11 Quarterfinal: 04/12/11 - 04/13/11​

Tuesday, April 5, 2011​

Quarterfinal​

Giuseppe Meazza

Expand

Inter Milan​

2:45 PM ET

FC Schalke 04​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Santiago Bernabéu

Expand

Real Madrid​

2:45 PM ET

Tottenham Hotspur​

Goals Cards Substitutions

Wednesday, April 6, 2011​

Quarterfinal​

Stamford Bridge

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Chelsea​

2:45 PM ET

Manchester United​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Camp Nou

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Barcelona​

2:45 PM ET

Shakhtar Donetsk​

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Upcoming Games

Today's Games Week 1: 03/15/11 - 03/20/11 Week 2: 03/25/11 - 03/26/11 Week 3: 04/01/11 - 04/03/11 Week 4: 04/06/11 - 04/10/11 Week 5: 04/13/11 - 04/17/11 Week 6: 04/21/11 - 04/23/11 Week 7: 04/29/11 - 05/01/11 Week 8: 05/04/11 - 05/07/11 Week 9: 05/11/11 - 05/15/11 Week 10: 05/21/11 - 05/22/11 Week 11: 05/25/11 - 05/29/11 Week 12: 06/01/11 - 06/04/11 Week 13: 06/08/11 - 06/12/11 Week 14: 06/15/11 - 06/19/11 Week 15: 06/22/11 - 06/25/11 Week 16: 06/26/11 - 07/04/11 Week 17: 07/06/11 - 07/10/11 Week 18: 07/16/11 - 07/17/11 Week 19: 07/20/11 - 07/23/11 Week 20: 07/29/11 - 07/31/11 Week 21: 08/03/11 - 08/07/11 Week 22: 08/13/11 - 08/14/11 Week 23: 08/17/11 - 08/21/11 Week 24: 08/24/11 - 08/28/11 Week 25: 09/09/11 - 09/10/11 Week 26: 09/14/11 - 09/17/11 Week 27: 09/21/11 - 09/25/11 Week 28: 09/28/11 - 10/02/11 Week 29: 10/12/11 - 10/16/11 Week 30: 10/20/11 - 10/23/11​

Friday, April 1, 2011​

Week 3​

Columbus Crew Stadium

Expand

Columbus Crew​

7:30 PM ET

FC Dallas​

Goals Cards Substitutions

Saturday, April 2, 2011​

Week 3​

BMO Field

Expand

Toronto FC​

1:00 PM ET

Chivas USA​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Empire Fields

Expand

Vancouver Whitecaps​

7:00 PM ET

Sporting Kansas City​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Home Depot Center

Expand

Los Angeles Galaxy​

10:30 PM ET

Philadelphia Union​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Gillette Stadium

Expand

NE Revolution​

7:30 PM ET

Portland Timbers​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Red Bull Arena

Expand

New York Red Bulls​

7:30 PM ET

Houston Dynamo​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Buck Shaw Stadium

Expand

San Jose Earthquakes​

10:30 PM ET

Seattle Sounders​

Goals Cards Substitutions

Sunday, April 3, 2011​

Week 3​

Dick's Sporting Goods Park

Expand

Colorado Rapids​

7:00 PM ET

DC United​

Goals Cards Substitutions

Wednesday, April 6, 2011​

Week 4​

Empire Fields

Expand

Vancouver Whitecaps​

10:00 PM ET

NE Revolution​

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Mahendra Singh Dhoni says India's 'team unity' got them past Pakistan

• Captain admits pressure to win World Cup semi-final
• Shahid Afridi admits India deserved to win

• Andy Bull in Mohali
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 30 March 2011 22.00 BST <li class="history">Article history
  
  Sachin Tendulkar, left, hugs his captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, after India beat Pakistan in the Cricket World Cup semi-final. Photograph: Vivek Prakash/Reuters For the first time this week Mahendra Singh Dhoni was grinning in public. The pressure on his team in this semi-final was, he says, as intense as it can get. They survived it, and will draw strength from that against Sri Lanka in Mumbai on Saturday.
  "I think of the pressure like I do fast bowling," Dhoni said."Once it goes past 150kph you don't notice whether he is bowling 155 or 160. Before the finals the pressure won't grow now, it will be static and hopefully that will really help us."
  If his team have any kind of edge over Sri Lanka, Dhoni feels it may just be that they have had so many tough matches in the tournament, this win over Pakistan among them. "The format has really helped us because we have had quite a few games where we have really been tested, and now we are getting into a groove" he said. "Sri Lanka are a very good side, they have done really well, but we have been tested more often than not in the games that we have played."
  It was, Dhoni said, "the team unity" that had got them through. Asked what the highlight of the World Cup had been so far he explained that it was "the way we are backing each other, not criticising any players". He might want to ask Sreesanth about that, who was lambasted in public by Virender Sehwag after the team's opening match against Bangladesh, but that was a few weeks back and Sreesanth has not played since.
  "We have also had individuals who have stepped up and said 'I will be the person in this particular game', but overall everybody has contributed in bits and pieces. And if somebody is having a bad time on the field we make sure that he still feels wanted. Everybody is helping each other and that's what really counts in team sport, you want everyone to be at their best, you want all 15 guys to be in a very good space mentally." Dhoni certainly seemed to be. All those dropped catches, he said, laughing, were just because "the ball was hit so hard".
  He admitted that India had misjudged the wicket, but felt their safety-first strategy meant they had got away with it. "The wicket got slower as the game progressed, that's why the new-ball game was very different. After losing two wickets, what was important was to bat 50 overs. In big games you shouldn't always look to score 300 runs. You see the wicket is behaving in a different way and readjust your target."
  The score of 260 was good, but not safe. That judgment was made by Sachin Tendulkar during the stand of 46 with his captain, and Dhoni felt that was at least as important a contribution as those 85 runs. "When he [Tendulkar] is there he makes it easy for the others to score with him, because he guides them really well," said Dhoni. "When you are batting with him you know this is a wicket where 260, 270 runs can be enough, because he judges things so well. He really guides the young guys."
  Tendulkar was delighted to be returning to his home town for the final. "Going back to Mumbai for this event is a wonderful occasion. I just hope we can get the job done," he said. "It was like a final, because if India and Pakistan are playing the pressure is double," said the off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. "We bowled really well and fielded really well, and deserved to win."
  As for the Pakistan captain, Shahid Afridi, his first words were: "I would like to congratulate the Indian team and the whole nation, they deserved to win."
  Perhaps he was not joking before the match when he said he thought of himself as a diplomat. Afridi was rightly proud of what his side have achieved, just as he was right to be angry about some aspects of their performance in this match. "With our fielding we made some bad mistakes, and in our batting our shot selection was terrible. But I am proud of my team, they have done a great job. We played as a unit, and no one was expecting us to play like this."
  Was he worried about the reaction he might face back in Pakistan after losing to India? "If some people say bad things about us, so what?" he said. "What's the big deal?"
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Richards wants Rooney revenge


RivalsDM



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11

Updated Mar 14, 2011 10:56 AM ET
Micah Richards admits revenge is a motivation for Manchester City as they prepare to face derby rivals United in the FA Cup semi-final.
Richards' second-half header against Reading on Sunday saw City through to a last-four showdown with United at Wembley next month.


City were beaten in the Carling Cup semi-finals by United last season and were also denied a point in last month's Premier League meeting at Old Trafford courtesy of Wayne Rooney's stunning overhead kick.
Full-back Richards acknowledged City did not play well against Reading, but is already looking forward to tackling United at Wembley.
"We're looking to gain revenge for Wayne Rooney's overhead kick," said Richards.
"It's going to be a great game and we'll all be looking forward to it.
"We didn't play well and we struggled to break them down.
"But we showed great resilience to get through and that's all that matters."
The build-up to Sunday's quarter-final had been marred by reports of a bust-up between Richards and manager Roberto Mancini following the Europa League defeat away to Dynamo Kiev.
Richards revealed tempers flared after the match in the Ukraine, but was pleased to see City bounce back by knocking out Reading.
He added: "Certain things were said after the game and tempers were raised.
"But we had just lost 2-0, so nobody was going to be happy. The main thing was we put it right today."

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Sachin Tendulkar helps India past Pakistan and into World Cup final

&#8226; India 260-9; Pakistan 231
&#8226; India win by 29 runs and face Sri Lanka on Saturday
&#8226; Read Rob Smyth's over-by-over report
&#8226; In pictures: The best images from Mohali

• Vic Marks in Mohali
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 30 March 2011 21.10 BST <li class="history">Article history
  
  Sachin Tendulkar on his way to 85 against Pakistan in Mohali. Photograph: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images Remarkably, after all the hype and all the politicking, the second World Cup semi-final turned out to be an excellent game of cricket. India beat Pakistan by 29 runs and the victory was celebrated without inhibition by a euphoric crowd.
  Now the India team have two days to recover, before they face Sri Lanka in the final in Mumbai. The Indian dream has nearly come true. There is a scenario that has Sachin Tendulkar hitting his 100th international century in his home town and winning the World Cup for the first time in the process. But even in the home of Bollywood fairytales can never be guaranteed on a cricket field; and in any case Sri Lanka have their own dream scenario. It involves a certain Muttiah Muralitharan.
  This was a pragmatic victory by the India team. Unusually it was their discipline rather than their flair that saw them over the line. Only when Virender Sehwag was at the crease, in the first 40 minutes of the game, was there enchantment in the air. He pulverised the new ball for 38 from 25 balls. Thereafter even Tendulkar, who hit a flawed 85, was struggling to time the ball with his usual panache.
  However, it was Tendulkar, the man of the match for one of his less convincing innings, who enabled India to post 260. Then, in the field, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side were tenacious and controlled. They have never been the best fielding side but young and old threw themselves left and right in a match they just had to win. India probably do not have the best bowling side in the tournament either but not one of the five men used by Dhoni let his captain down.
  Here Dhoni played an extra seamer, Ashish Nehra, rather than Ravi Ashwin, the off-spinner. The left-armer bowled well, even though the playing surface demanded the extra spinner. Munaf Patel, who has been vulnerable throughout the tournament, varied his pace cleverly. Zaheer Khan was as reliable as ever and the Singhs, Yuvraj and Harbhajan, both from the Punjab and therefore adored here, found significant turn.
  Pakistan fought hard but none of their batsmen could produce the major innings. Mohammad Hafeez looked the likeliest until he opted to defy orthodoxy by trying to flick a delivery from Patel over his left shoulder. Umar Akmal was the most belligerent until he lost his concentration, immediately after the second drinks interval. Misbah-ul-Haq was the most becalmed until nearly all of the overs had trickled away. It was bewildering that Pakistan declined to take their batting powerplay before their position was hopeless and their hitters had departed the crease.
  When Misbah was caught on the boundary in the final over, to conclude the innings on 231, the flags unfurled, the drums were beaten and no one left the ground for a long time. There was too much to celebrate &#8211; even for the International Cricket Council. The two best teams have reached the final.
  India's 260 for nine had proved just enough, such was their excellence in the field. When Sehwag was batting a total beyond 300 seemed on the cards. He tormented Umar Gul to such an extent that the lanky seamer, the stalwart of the Pakistan attack, lost the plot. Nerves can invade seemingly the most reliable of cricketers. Gul would go on to have a nightmare. Fortunately for Shahid Afridi, his other bowlers did not let him down.
  Sehwag cracked five boundaries from Gul's second over, which also included a no-ball. They were all beautifully executed attacking shots but they were played to dreadful deliveries: leg-stump half-volleys when bowling to a 7-2 off-side field are never a good idea. In fact a 7-2 field is seldom a good idea. It was a surprise that Afridi should keep Gul on for four overs, which would cost 41 runs. By contrast Wahab Riaz, preferred to Shoaib Akhtar, was very near his combative best, finishing with five for 46 from his 10 overs.
  Sehwag was eventually struck on the pad and stuck on the crease against Wahab. Simon Taufel raised his finger, Sehwag reviewed and the ball was deemed to be hitting the middle of middle stump. It is rare to encounter a great batsman who ever thinks he is out lbw. Thus began a steady revival from Pakistan &#8211; apart from Gul, who yielded 69 runs from eight overs. Tendulkar showed signs of nerves as he compiled one of the scratchiest 80s of his career. He began fluently but deteriorated once Afridi had introduced his spinners. He was dropped four times and survived two reviews.
  On 23, when facing Saeed Ajmal, Tendulkar was given out lbw by Ian Gould. Tendulkar reviewed and the television replay had the ball missing leg stump by a whisker. Next ball Kamran Akmal was confident about a stumping appeal as Tendulkar played and missed outside off. He was in by a frame.
  Tendulkar was then dropped on 27, 45, 70 and 81. Some of the chances were very difficult. At least one of them should have been caught. So he seemed destined for that 100th century until Afridi, as desperate captains do, hung on to a sharp chance at extra cover.
  India were grateful for Tendulkar's unusually ugly runs since, Sehwag aside, none of their other batsmen threatened fluency. Yuvraj was bowled first ball by the exuberant Wahab; Dhoni, conscious of a long tail, blocked dutifully while Suresh Raina, a latecomer to India's best XI, was the only man to bat with much freedom in the final overs.
  Pakistan fielded with great zest, even if their catching was fallible, and their spinners bowled shrewdly. For once Afridi was wicketless but he could return home proud of the spirit displayed by his side in the tournament. For Dhoni, the cool cat of Indian cricket, one little hurdle remains.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Sachin Tendulkar helps India past Pakistan and into World Cup final

• India 260-9; Pakistan 231
• India win by 29 runs and face Sri Lanka on Saturday
• Read Rob Smyth's over-by-over report
• In pictures: The best images from Mohali

• Vic Marks in Mohali
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 30 March 2011 21.10 BST <li class="history">Article history
  
  Sachin Tendulkar on his way to 85 against Pakistan in Mohali. Photograph: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images Remarkably, after all the hype and all the politicking, the second World Cup semi-final turned out to be an excellent game of cricket. India beat Pakistan by 29 runs and the victory was celebrated without inhibition by a euphoric crowd.
  Now the India team have two days to recover, before they face Sri Lanka in the final in Mumbai. The Indian dream has nearly come true. There is a scenario that has Sachin Tendulkar hitting his 100th international century in his home town and winning the World Cup for the first time in the process. But even in the home of Bollywood fairytales can never be guaranteed on a cricket field; and in any case Sri Lanka have their own dream scenario. It involves a certain Muttiah Muralitharan.
  This was a pragmatic victory by the India team. Unusually it was their discipline rather than their flair that saw them over the line. Only when Virender Sehwag was at the crease, in the first 40 minutes of the game, was there enchantment in the air. He pulverised the new ball for 38 from 25 balls. Thereafter even Tendulkar, who hit a flawed 85, was struggling to time the ball with his usual panache.
  However, it was Tendulkar, the man of the match for one of his less convincing innings, who enabled India to post 260. Then, in the field, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side were tenacious and controlled. They have never been the best fielding side but young and old threw themselves left and right in a match they just had to win. India probably do not have the best bowling side in the tournament either but not one of the five men used by Dhoni let his captain down.
  Here Dhoni played an extra seamer, Ashish Nehra, rather than Ravi Ashwin, the off-spinner. The left-armer bowled well, even though the playing surface demanded the extra spinner. Munaf Patel, who has been vulnerable throughout the tournament, varied his pace cleverly. Zaheer Khan was as reliable as ever and the Singhs, Yuvraj and Harbhajan, both from the Punjab and therefore adored here, found significant turn.
  Pakistan fought hard but none of their batsmen could produce the major innings. Mohammad Hafeez looked the likeliest until he opted to defy orthodoxy by trying to flick a delivery from Patel over his left shoulder. Umar Akmal was the most belligerent until he lost his concentration, immediately after the second drinks interval. Misbah-ul-Haq was the most becalmed until nearly all of the overs had trickled away. It was bewildering that Pakistan declined to take their batting powerplay before their position was hopeless and their hitters had departed the crease.
  When Misbah was caught on the boundary in the final over, to conclude the innings on 231, the flags unfurled, the drums were beaten and no one left the ground for a long time. There was too much to celebrate – even for the International Cricket Council. The two best teams have reached the final.
  India's 260 for nine had proved just enough, such was their excellence in the field. When Sehwag was batting a total beyond 300 seemed on the cards. He tormented Umar Gul to such an extent that the lanky seamer, the stalwart of the Pakistan attack, lost the plot. Nerves can invade seemingly the most reliable of cricketers. Gul would go on to have a nightmare. Fortunately for Shahid Afridi, his other bowlers did not let him down.
  Sehwag cracked five boundaries from Gul's second over, which also included a no-ball. They were all beautifully executed attacking shots but they were played to dreadful deliveries: leg-stump half-volleys when bowling to a 7-2 off-side field are never a good idea. In fact a 7-2 field is seldom a good idea. It was a surprise that Afridi should keep Gul on for four overs, which would cost 41 runs. By contrast Wahab Riaz, preferred to Shoaib Akhtar, was very near his combative best, finishing with five for 46 from his 10 overs.
  Sehwag was eventually struck on the pad and stuck on the crease against Wahab. Simon Taufel raised his finger, Sehwag reviewed and the ball was deemed to be hitting the middle of middle stump. It is rare to encounter a great batsman who ever thinks he is out lbw. Thus began a steady revival from Pakistan – apart from Gul, who yielded 69 runs from eight overs. Tendulkar showed signs of nerves as he compiled one of the scratchiest 80s of his career. He began fluently but deteriorated once Afridi had introduced his spinners. He was dropped four times and survived two reviews.
  On 23, when facing Saeed Ajmal, Tendulkar was given out lbw by Ian Gould. Tendulkar reviewed and the television replay had the ball missing leg stump by a whisker. Next ball Kamran Akmal was confident about a stumping appeal as Tendulkar played and missed outside off. He was in by a frame.
  Tendulkar was then dropped on 27, 45, 70 and 81. Some of the chances were very difficult. At least one of them should have been caught. So he seemed destined for that 100th century until Afridi, as desperate captains do, hung on to a sharp chance at extra cover.
  India were grateful for Tendulkar's unusually ugly runs since, Sehwag aside, none of their other batsmen threatened fluency. Yuvraj was bowled first ball by the exuberant Wahab; Dhoni, conscious of a long tail, blocked dutifully while Suresh Raina, a latecomer to India's best XI, was the only man to bat with much freedom in the final overs.
  Pakistan fielded with great zest, even if their catching was fallible, and their spinners bowled shrewdly. For once Afridi was wicketless but he could return home proud of the spirit displayed by his side in the tournament. For Dhoni, the cool cat of Indian cricket, one little hurdle remains.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Massive semi excites City pair


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Updated Mar 13, 2011 6:44 PM ET
Manchester City's Micah Richards and Vincent Kompany are relishing facing neighbours United in the FA Cup semi-finals after beating Reading.
Richards netted the second-half header which separated the sides at Eastlands on Sunday and set up a semi-final with United at Wembley on the weekend of April 16-17.


Richards said: "We're looking forward to it, it's going to be a great game."
Belgian defender Kompany said: "I will let you guess how much the next opponent will mean to us.
"There's no easy way to the final. We're looking forward to it."
Kompany also paid tribute to Championship side Reading.
"Credit to them. They gave us a hard time. We had a lot of chances so I think it's fair," he added.
Richards added: "It was very difficult. As the game went on it got harder and harder. Reading defended very well."
Reading manager Brian McDermott was disappointed his side had lost to a set-piece goal after Richards headed in from a corner.
He said: "You look at all the talent they've got, all the brilliant players they've got and we get done at a set-piece.
"This is where you want to come and play every week."
Reading chairman Sir John Madejski backed his players to build on their cup run and make the Championship play-offs.
"I think a draw would have been a much fairer result," he said.
"It puts them (the Reading players) very well placed in the Championship to move on to the Premier League.
"Reading should be proud, they should hold their heads up high and be proud of what they've achieved this afternoon."

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Sri Lanka call up cover for 'injured' Muralitharan before World Cup final

&#8226; Injury concerns over Muttiah Muralitharan and Angelo Mathews
&#8226; Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv join squad for India game

• Agencies
• guardian.co.uk, Thursday 31 March 2011 10.39 BST <li class="history">Article history
  
  The Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan celebrates victory over New Zealand in the World Cup semi-finals. Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images Sri Lanka have called up Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv ahead of Saturday's World Cup final against India, to act as cover for Muttiah Muralitharan and Angelo Mathews.
  Muralitharan, who turns 39 next month and for whom the game would be a 350th one-day international and a final international fixture of any sort, has suffered from a series of minor injuries throughout the tournament but has nevertheless played in all eight of Sri Lanka's games, taking 15 wickets.
  The all-rounder Mathews has bowled 36 overs in his eight matches, but suffered a minor thigh injury in the field during the semi-final against New Zealand, and later batted with a runner.
  Vaas, a left-arm seamer and team-mate of Muralitharan in the 1996 World Cup-winning team, has not played a one-day international for two and a half years. Having retired from Test cricket last July and, after being left out of the World Cup squad in January, he announced that he was considering retirement from all international cricket. "I haven't finally decided, but I will make up my mind after the World Cup."
  Randiv, an all-rounder, has played 21 one-day internationals, the last in Australia in November. Both players will fly out later today to join the squad in India. "Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv will be included in the Sri Lankan squad for the World Cup final as cover for the injured [Muttiah] Muralitharan and [Angelo] Mathews," Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Sir Alex Ferguson claims criticism of referee was 'fair comment'

&#8226; Manchester United victims of 'terrible' decisions, says manager
&#8226; 'You've got to be careful you don't have paranoia about it'

• Daniel Taylor
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 30 March 2011 18.48 BST <li class="history">Article history
  
  Sir Alex Ferguson received a five-match touchline ban after his outburst about Martin Atkinson's handling of Manchester United's defeat at Chelsea. Photograph: John Peters/Getty Images Sir Alex Ferguson has maintained that the Football Association was unjust in punishing him for his criticism of referees, saying he was guilty of nothing more than "fair comment" and reiterating his belief that Manchester United have been the victim of "terrible" decisions.
  "You've just got to be careful that you don't have paranoia about it," said a manager who continues to show no sign of remorse for incurring five disciplinary charges from the FA in as many years because of his hostility towards referees.
  Ferguson's outburst about Martin Atkinson's handling of United's defeat at Chelsea this month has led to a five-match touchline ban, a record punishment for a manager criticising a referee in the media.
  Part of that comes from having a two-match ban hanging over him as a suspended sentence from a previous FA charge, when he described another referee, Alan Wiley, as physically unfit to officiate at the top level in October 2009.
  The FA hearing into his latest case noted how Ferguson had not shown any regret for stating that Atkinson should not have been appointed for the Chelsea game because the occasion demanded "a fair referee". Ferguson's legal adviser, Graham Bean, has since described the governing body as "like a communist state".
  "If you speak your mind, it's a problem in the game," Ferguson said. "The FA is very strong in supporting the referees and, in a way, I agree with that but there has to be fair comment also. I try to do that."
  Ferguson remains aggrieved by Atkinson's refereeing at Stamford Bridge, noting that the same official also made a series of decisions allegedly in Chelsea's favour in the corresponding fixture last season.
  The two sides meet again at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League next week. Before that Ferguson will serve the second game of his ban, when the league leaders resume their challenge for a record 19th title at West Ham United on Saturday, and he will subsequently have to suffer the ignominy of being the first manager to be banned from Wembley's dug-out when he takes his side back to London for the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on 16 April.
  That match will see Carlos Tevez facing the club he left in acrimonious circumstances and Ferguson could not resist taking a swipe at the Argentinian's representatives as he reflected on the circumstances that led to the player asking for a transfer from City earlier this season.
  Almost certainly referring to Kia Joorabchian, Ferguson said: "Knowing the background, the people representing him, I'm not surprised."
  Tevez's future in Manchester has been shrouded in doubt since the affair blew up but Ferguson, who also reiterated his belief that "retirement was for young people," was impressed by the way City dealt with a difficult situation.
  "I don't think that Manchester City would want to let him go," he added in an interview with ESPN. "He's had a great time there, he's been their top scorer, their best player for the last two years, so why would they want to sell him?
  "I think City addressed that situation a few months ago and it seems to have calmed down, as far as I know. You don't know everything at every club, but it seems to have settled down and, in [Roberto] Mancini, they have a strong manager who can deal with that."
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Super Dan hails Stoke 'belief'


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Updated Mar 13, 2011 6:42 PM ET
Danny Higginbotham hailed the "great belief" in Stoke's squad after they reached the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win over West Ham.
Potters defender Higginbotham blasted in a powerful second-half free-kick at the Britannia Stadium to settle Sunday's quarter-final and take the Potters into the last four of the FA Cup - where they will face Owen Coyle's Bolton - for the first time in 39 years.


He told ITV Sport: "It's a great feeling to have got to Wembley, we're delighted and we're just going to enjoy today, with a tough semi-final against Bolton ahead.
"West Ham are a great team, they showed that last week against us (when they beat Stoke 3-0 in the Premier League) but we thoroughly deserved it - we got stuck in. We got the lead and the second time we got it we were able to stay ahead.
"We've got great belief within the squad. We've had a disappointing run of games recently but we know we've got the character in there to come out of it.
"It's a great club and it's come on in leaps and bounds in the last few years."
Robert Huth gave Stoke the lead but the Hammers equalised through Frederic Piquionne, although referee Mike Jones missed a handball in the build-up.
Matthew Etherington then missed a penalty - controversially awarded by Jones for a foul by Scott Parker on Etherington - early in the second half, before Higginbotham blasted home the decisive goal.



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[Rutashubanyuma]

• Sport
• England rugby union team

Martin Johnson's England have three World Cup games moved to Dunedin

&#8226; Switch caused by Christchurch earthquake damage
&#8226; Scotland will play Argentina in Wellington

• Robert Kitson
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 30 March 2011 19.07 BST <li class="history">Article history
  
  Martin Johnson's England team will train at the Carisbrook University Oval while they are based in Dunedin. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images Martin Johnson's England team will be based in Dunedin and Queenstown during the early stages of this autumn's World Cup in New Zealand, after the confirmation of changes to the itinerary caused by the Christchurch earthquake.
  England's first three pool games, against Argentina, Georgia and Romania, will be played at the new Otago Stadium in Dunedin between 10 and 24 September. Scotland's schedule has also been amended. Andy Robinson's side are now due to play their vital pool game against Argentina in Wellington on 25 September.
  An England spokesman said that team officials had yet to inspect the proposed new training base, at the Carisbrook University Oval, but alternatives appear to be thin on the ground. Political pressure to keep games in the South Island and to boost the local economy has scuppered any prospect of England being based in Auckland, where they will complete Pool B against Scotland on 1 October.
  England will find themselves as far from London as it is possible to be, Dunedin being even further removed as the crow flies than Invercargill. Dunedin's history has a strong Scottish influence and the weather in September is several degrees cooler than in the North Island. England, who will finalise their squad on 22 August and fly out a week later, will effectively be heading for the southern hemisphere equivalent of Aberdeen in April.
  Scotland's fixture against Georgia has moved from Dunedin to Invercargill but New Zealand's Rugby World Cup minister, Murray McCully, still fears that the South Island is missing out. He said: "I went on public record, as I think the prime minister did, saying we hoped all the games being reallocated from pool matches would be hosted in the South Island. Two of them have gone to the North Island and that's disappointing, frankly."
  Logistical difficulties have resulted in Australia's games against Italy and Russia being moved to Auckland and Nelson. The tournament chief executive, Martin Sneddon, said: "Although it was considered, we came to the view that Dunedin could not have reasonably hosted the Australia v Italy match the day after hosting its first major match, England v Argentina.
  "We were concerned about the pressure that back-to-back matches would impose on what will be a largely untested venue and a new playing surface. In addition, accommodation facilities in the city would also have been under severe pressure from the expected influx of 20,000 fans from outside the region that a double-header would bring."
  Organisers said that ticket purchasers for all Christchurch matches and Scotland's game against Georgia will receive a refund and the opportunity to secure replacement tickets to the rescheduled matches in a priority purchase period.
  Scotland's head coach, Andy Robinson, has withdrawn his captain, Alastair Kellock, and Richie Gray, John Barclay, Ross Ford and Allan Jacobsen from club rugby for the rest of the season, in order to assist his World Cup preparations. Kellock, Gray and Barclay will be unavailable for Glasgow's remaining Magner's League matches and Edinburgh will be without Ford and Jacobsen.
  "This is a decision that has not been taken lightly," said Robinson. "It's a reflection on the season and the previous seasons they've had and it's been done on an individual basis."
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

• Sport
• England rugby union team

Martin Johnson's England have three World Cup games moved to Dunedin

• Switch caused by Christchurch earthquake damage
• Scotland will play Argentina in Wellington

• Robert Kitson
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 30 March 2011 19.07 BST <li class="history">Article history
  
  Martin Johnson's England team will train at the Carisbrook University Oval while they are based in Dunedin. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images Martin Johnson's England team will be based in Dunedin and Queenstown during the early stages of this autumn's World Cup in New Zealand, after the confirmation of changes to the itinerary caused by the Christchurch earthquake.
  England's first three pool games, against Argentina, Georgia and Romania, will be played at the new Otago Stadium in Dunedin between 10 and 24 September. Scotland's schedule has also been amended. Andy Robinson's side are now due to play their vital pool game against Argentina in Wellington on 25 September.
  An England spokesman said that team officials had yet to inspect the proposed new training base, at the Carisbrook University Oval, but alternatives appear to be thin on the ground. Political pressure to keep games in the South Island and to boost the local economy has scuppered any prospect of England being based in Auckland, where they will complete Pool B against Scotland on 1 October.
  England will find themselves as far from London as it is possible to be, Dunedin being even further removed as the crow flies than Invercargill. Dunedin's history has a strong Scottish influence and the weather in September is several degrees cooler than in the North Island. England, who will finalise their squad on 22 August and fly out a week later, will effectively be heading for the southern hemisphere equivalent of Aberdeen in April.
  Scotland's fixture against Georgia has moved from Dunedin to Invercargill but New Zealand's Rugby World Cup minister, Murray McCully, still fears that the South Island is missing out. He said: "I went on public record, as I think the prime minister did, saying we hoped all the games being reallocated from pool matches would be hosted in the South Island. Two of them have gone to the North Island and that's disappointing, frankly."
  Logistical difficulties have resulted in Australia's games against Italy and Russia being moved to Auckland and Nelson. The tournament chief executive, Martin Sneddon, said: "Although it was considered, we came to the view that Dunedin could not have reasonably hosted the Australia v Italy match the day after hosting its first major match, England v Argentina.
  "We were concerned about the pressure that back-to-back matches would impose on what will be a largely untested venue and a new playing surface. In addition, accommodation facilities in the city would also have been under severe pressure from the expected influx of 20,000 fans from outside the region that a double-header would bring."
  Organisers said that ticket purchasers for all Christchurch matches and Scotland's game against Georgia will receive a refund and the opportunity to secure replacement tickets to the rescheduled matches in a priority purchase period.
  Scotland's head coach, Andy Robinson, has withdrawn his captain, Alastair Kellock, and Richie Gray, John Barclay, Ross Ford and Allan Jacobsen from club rugby for the rest of the season, in order to assist his World Cup preparations. Kellock, Gray and Barclay will be unavailable for Glasgow's remaining Magner's League matches and Edinburgh will be without Ford and Jacobsen.
  "This is a decision that has not been taken lightly," said Robinson. "It's a reflection on the season and the previous seasons they've had and it's been done on an individual basis."

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Gerrard: Strike duo are feared


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Updated Mar 31, 2011 5:55 AM ET
Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool have the most feared strikeforce in the country in Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez.
The Reds splashed out over £55million to bring in the pair after offloading Fernando Torres to Chelsea.

BARCLAY'S PREMIER LEAGUE ​

Sat., Apr. 2​

West Ham vs. Man Utd
Birmingham vs. Bolton
Everton vs. Aston Villa
Newcastle vs. Wolves
Stoke City vs. Chelsea
West Brom vs. Liverpool
Wigan vs. Tottenham
Arsenal vs. Blackburn

Sun., Apr. 3​

Fulham vs. Blackpool
Man City vs. Sunderland

BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures​

Suarez has scored two goals in four games, while Carroll has caught the eye after recently returning from a lengthy lay-off because of a thigh problem.
Gerrard is relishing playing with the duo and he believes their contrasting styles gives the side a whole new dimension.
"Andy's a big targetman but one important thing to remember is that he's superb on the floor as well," Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo.
"We have to be careful as a team we don't go too long too early. We have to keep passing the ball. Then if we are chasing the game we can be more direct.
"The reason we are so happy to have him is that we can mix it up. We can play in behind teams or play it long with Luis Suarez running off him.
"He gives us a whole new dimension. We believe now we've got the most feared strikeforce in the league."