|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AFC Warns Saudis
|
|
File photo shows Mahmud Karimi (c) of Sepahan celebrate the first goal against Al-Ittihad at Azadi Stadium in Tehran.
|
Asian Football Confederation has warned Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad club to facilitate visa issuance procedures for Iran’s Sepahan football team.
Al-Ittihad will take on Iran’s Sepahan on April 23 in an AFC Champions League Match at Jeddah’s Al Faisal Stadium, IRNA reported.
AFC Secretary General Dato’ Paul Mony, in a letter to Al-Ittihad officials, warned that the return match would be cancelled unless the club issues the visas soon.
The Iranian team had earlier called on AFC officials to facilitate visa issuance for the team.
Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia gave the boot to coach Estevam Soares on Tuesday and replaced the Brazilian with Argentine veteran Gabriel Calderon on Tuesday, AFC reported.
The announcement was made by Al-Ittihad President Mohammad Jamal Abu Amarah just two days after the Saudi giants were pipped to the Saudi League title by archrivals Al Hilal 1-0 in the final round in front of home fans.
Soares, 52, took over the reins in mid-December 2007 from Halilhodýi¾, who had filled the void when Brazilian Candinho stepped down in September 2007 citing personal reasons.
This was only the second time Soares had coached an Asian side after a spell with Olympic Beirut in 2002.
However, Soares’ 48-year-old Argentine successor is no stranger to the demanding Saudi scene, having guided the ’sons of the desert’ to the finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup though he was sacked inexplicably after the successful run.
Calderon took over the controls of Oman in April 2007 but failed to repeat his magic and was dismissed after a poor performance at the AFC Asian Cup last year.
The Argentine’s first test in charge of the Jeddah powerhouse comes on April 23 when they take on Iran’s Sepahan in an AFC Champions League Match Day 4 encounter.
|
|
|
|
Messi Hopes Ronaldinho Will Stay
|
|
Lionel Messi
|
Barcelona’s Argentine striker Lionel Messi said Thursday he hopes Ronaldinho, who is being courted by AC Milan, will remain at the club next year.
“At Barca, we want everyone to remain at the club. If he goes, I will be sad,“ he said, according to AFP.
“He has helped me a lot to integrate into the team. Any team would like to have him. I still hope that he will stay.“
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said on Sunday that the reigning European champions have come to an agreement with Ronaldinho over a possible summer transfer.
Former twice world player of the year, Ronaldinho has fallen out with Barcelona this season as a dip in form and frequent off-field indiscretions have seen the love affair between club and player come to a bitter end after five years.
He is currently sidelined with a leg injury that could keep him out of Barcelona’s run-in, where they are chasing La Liga and Champions League glory.
Messi had been sidelined since tearing a muscle in his left leg on March 5 but returned to action on Saturday in a 2-2 draw with Recreativo Huelva, coming on as substitute on 64 minutes.
|
|
|
|
Rio Not Ready for New Deal
|
|
Rio Ferdinand
|
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand revealed Friday there were still one or two issues to sort out before he signs a new contract with the Premier League leaders.
His representative, Pini Zahavi, claimed this week the 29-year-old had agreed a five-year deal thought to be worth 130,000 pounds ($259,000) a week.
Ferdinand told MUTV: “It’s nearly signed, nearly.
“We are still talking over a couple of things but I’m sure it will be sorted out before the end of the season.
“It will be a proud day for me, definitely, when I do sign a new contract.“
Ferdinand insists he has no desire to play anywhere other than Old Trafford.
“I’m enjoying my time at United, I love being here and that’s not changed,“ he declared.
“Being part of a successful team is great and to be part of the tradition that goes along with that is an honor in itself.
“To have the opportunity to stay here for another four or five years would be fantastic,“ said Ferdinand.
|
|
|
|
Talks Start on Nedved’s Return
|
|
Pavel Nedved
|
A top Czech football association official said Thursday that he believed national manager Karel Bruckner had begun talks to bring back Juventus midfield star Pavel Nedved into the national squad for the Euro 2008 championships.
“I believe that some communication is going on there. But the situation is not so advanced that I could say that Nedved is returning to the national squad,“ first deputy president of the Czech and Moravian Football Federation Vlastimil Kostal said in an interview with radio station Frekvence 1.
The Juventus midfielder, with 18 goals from 91 caps to his name, called time on his international career after the 2006 World Cup.
But pressure has mounted for the 2003 European Footballer of the Year to return to the national fold especially in the light of doubts whether Arsenal midfield star Tomas Rosicky will recover in time for the championships from a long term injury.
“Of course there is a chance that both of them could play in the European Championships,“ Kostal added.
Chelsea keeper Petr Cech added to growing calls for Nedved’s return on Thursday. He told the Dnes newspaper:
|
|
|
|
|
Blake Advances
Top-seeded James Blake beat 15-year-old Ryan Harrison 6-3, 6-2 on Thursday to move into the quarterfinals in the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston Texas.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Esteqlal Defeated
In the 28th week of Iranian Premier League, Esteqlal was defeated 2-0 by Abu Moslem in Mashahd on Friday. According to Fars News Agency, Abu Moslem’s first goal was scored by Mohammad Hosseini in 47(45+2) minute of the first half from penalty kick and Erfan Olerom in 58 minute scored the second goal.
The result of other games:
Sepahan 1 Ð Mes 1
Paykan 2 - Zob-e-Ahan 0
Saba Battery 2 - Shirin Faraz 2
Rah Ahan 0 Ð Pas 0
Pegah 1 - Esteqlal Ahvaz 1
Futsal Team Due in Uzbekistan
Iranian futsalists will fly to the Uzbek capital of Tashkent on April 20 to participate in a futsal tournament.
Four teams include Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan and Iran will take part in the competitions.
According to MNA, Iran is preparing for the 10th edition of the Asian Futsal Championship, which is being held in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 11-18.
Iran, vying for the ninth title, has been placed in Group D with Tajikistan, China and Kuwait.
16 teams are scheduled to play in four groups.
Hamilton Upbeat About Spanish GP
Lewis Hamilton is optimistic about getting his season back on track by challenging for victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona on April 27.
Hamilton’s error-strewn weekend in Bahrain saw the 23-year-old lose his lead in the drivers’ standings to reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen.
“Looking into the next race I feel very confident we can do a better job,“ the McLaren driver told BBC. “The car is feeling better and I feel a little bit more comfortable in it.“
Following his triumph in Australia on the opening weekend of the season and a fifth place finish in Malaysia, Hamilton endured a forgettable time in Bahrain in early April.
The Englishman crashed in practice, stalled on the grid at the start of the race, ploughed into the back of former team-mate Fernando Alonso and then finished 13th, the lowest position of his Grand Prix career.
But the Circuit de Catalunya, where Hamilton was racially abused by spectators during pre-season testing, offers the first opportunity to compete on European soil this season.
“It’s great to be back in Europe,“ he said. “This is when it really starts getting busy, and you are closer to home so it’s a great feeling.
“You are also closer to the team, so I think we can be a bit more productive when we are back here.“
Essien Keeps Chelsea in Title Race
Chelsea manager Avram Grant produced a bewildering performance in his post-match press conference after his side had recorded an uninspiring 1-0 victory at Everton on Thursday to keep alive their outside chances of winning the Premier League title.
Michael Essien’s second goal in as many games ensured the London club moved to within two points of leaders Manchester United with three games to play, AFP wrote.
Yet Grant’s behavior in a press conference lasting five minutes 39 seconds after the game at Goodison Park left many who witnessed it to wonder whether he might be cracking under the strain of the title race.
Grant answered questions with a string of one word answers before telling journalists to ’write whatever you want’.
“Are we back in the title race? I don’t know,“ was one of his longest answers.
“I don’t know what to say,“ he added. “You can write whatever you want. Sometimes I have nothing to say. I’m pleased.“
Later, Grant told radio journalists: “I’m still alive. You cannot kill me.“
Fortunately Grant’s players did the talking for the Chelsea manager, whose long-term future at Stamford Bridge remains in doubt.
Speculation is growing that Grant, who only took over from Jose Mourinho in September and has guided them to the Champions League semifinals, will be relieved of his duties in the summer.
Chelsea just about did enough to deserve victory with Essien providing the decisive moment four minutes before half time after capping off a fine move involving Shaun Wright-Phillips.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
