Babbel: This is just the start

November 1, 2009


Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel insists there is still a lot of work to do even if his job seems a little safer after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Bayern Munich.

Babbel’s future charge of the Swabians has been in much doubt, not least since they crashed out of the DFB-Pokal in midweek to second-division opposition.

But holding Bayern to a draw is an achievement which should at least quell the rumours surrounding his position for a few days.

“Of course I am not so happy that I can say this was the turning point, but I must compliment my team for fighting against one of the best teams in Europe,” he said.

“But we have now got to pay particular attention and not make everything out to be so positive.”

Stuttgart now need to show a similar performance against another of Europe’s leading clubs, Sevilla, in the Champions League in midweek to revive their hopes of reaching the second round of that competition.

“We have got to take the positives from this game with us to Seville,” said midfielder Roberto Hilbert on the club’s official website.

Bayern Munich also have a crucial Champions League fixture on the horizon and a repeat of this result against Bordeaux on Tuesday would severely jeopardise their hopes of reaching the second round.

“We have got to win against Bordeaux, otherwise it is going to be hard to go through,” admitted general manager Uli Hoeness.

“We have high expectations in the Champions League, therefore I am a bit nervous.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

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Kenya behind in strategy for 2010 World Cup

August 25, 2009


Kenya should gain financially from teams planning to come to the country to acclimatise before proceeding to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup finals.

The country is strategically placed to attract teams who want to take advantage of the high altitude and visit world-famous tourist sites ahead of the tournament.

However, due to a lack of adequate international stadiums and never-ending political wrangles, there could be problems.

Football Kenya (FKL) technical director Patrick Naggi said Kenya, being a tourist hub in Africa had shot itself in the foot through its approach at marketing itself and the failure to upgrade its sports facilities to attract teams.

“We have not done enough as a nation. There is too much bickering among the politicians over petty issues,” said Naggi.

“Instead of working together to compliment their efforts, they are busy fighting each other. Our football has also taken the same route. We are all to blame.”

The Kenya government has pumped 30 million shillings (225,000 dollars) towards the maintenance of the national stadiums, of which there are two – both in Nairobi – which can be classed to international standards.

The Sports Minister Helen Sambili is due to name a high-level committee, composed of officials from her office and the ministry of tourism to look into exploring ways to exploit the World Cup to the country’s advantage.

But one top official in her ministry conceded that time was running out.

“The concerns are well-founded and understandable since the World Cup is just less than ten months away. We have to move very fast,” Benjamin Sogomo, the new chief executive of the Sports Stadia Management Board (SSMB) told AFP.

One of the main objectives the committee will be tasked is to convince some of the top teams to base themselves in Kenya prior to the tournament.

But although Nairobi is only four hours away from South Africa, the inadequate training facilities may put the whole process into jeopardy.

Due to the favourable climatic conditions, the national teams of Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria, have in the past opted to hold their training preparations in Kenya before travelling to play their away qualification matches.

But this appears highly unlikely before the 2010 World Cup as competition from the neighbouring countries such as Mozambique, Angola and Botswana, which have already embarked on massive construction in readiness for the big event, may sway their national federations to move away.

But Naggi believes Kenya could still have attracted national sides from South America and even Europe, especially the Italian and German teams because of the huge business investments in the Kenyan coastal region, owned and managed by nationals from the two countries.

“I am sure a team like Brazil would be very keen to come here. They show a lot about Kenya in Brazil,” said Naggi, who spent three months in the South American nation training as a football coach in 1999.

“Coming from sea level, they would have taken advantage of our high-altitude and by the time they move to South Africa, they will have gained in their performances over the other teams.

“The two countries also share the same multi-ethnic backgrounds and the diversity of the natural resources and heritage. But unlike them, we don’t have the numerous training grounds and stadiums they would require to set up their training camp here,” he added.

With the exception of the Nyayo National stadium, which is currently under suspension from FIFA for failing to meet its safety standards, the only other world class facility is the Moi International sports centre, on the northern outskirts of the Kenyan capital.

NAIROBI (AFP)

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Benitez in fresh salvo at “nervous” Ferguson

April 12, 2009

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) – Rafael Benitez has re-stoked his feud with Sir Alex Ferguson by suggesting the Manchester United manager has been made “nervous” by Liverpool’s late charge for the Premier League title.

Benitez has been involved in a series of verbal spats with Ferguson this season and the Spaniard could not resist another dig after two goals by Fernando Torres inspired Liverpool to an emphatic 4-0 victory over struggling Blackburn Rovers at Anfield on Saturday.

Although United returned to the top of the table by winning at Sunderland later in the day, Liverpool signalled that they will push them to the wire with a performance that was the perfect response to last week’s 3-1 home defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League.

Benitez insisted his side’s result had left United and Ferguson under pressure.

“Clearly you can see that they are under pressure,” said the Liverpool manager. “Ferguson is always talking so that means that they are under pressure.”

Benitez appeared to be referring to Ferguson’s comments prior to the weekend’s fixtures, in which he had questioned why Benitez had chosen to talk about him ahead of his side’s meeting with Chelsea.

“He’s got a European tie (against Chelsea) and he’s talking about Alex Ferguson,” the Scot had said. “Fantastic! I didn’t know I was that important!”

Benitez duly responded in kind. “Do I take it as a compliment that he’s talking about me?” he asked. “I don’t care but I know he is nervous so it’s good.”

Liverpool’s fifth successive Premier League win, which also featured goals by Denmark defender Daniel Agger and young striker David Ngog, left them in good spirits ahead of their trip next Tuesday to Stamford Bridge, where they must score three times against Chelsea if they are to reach the Champions League semi-final.

Steven Gerrard spent the Blackburn game on the substitutes bench after his recent groin injury although Benitez revealed he could be fit to start against Chelsea.

“He will have more of a chance now of playing against Chelsea,” added Benitez who was delighted with the way his side bounced back after a chastening defeat at the hands of the Londoners.

“To play a good game, score some goals and not concede was the perfect response from my players.

“I’m really pleased because it was a really good game from our point of view. It could have been more because we had some clear chances.

“I thought Torres was really important because his first goal opened the game and it made it easier for us to create more chances.

“We had confidence in ourselves so we knew that if we didn’t play well, it would still be difficult for them.

“You could see that we were in control so it was just a case of us not making mistakes.”

Blackburn remain in trouble near the foot of the table with six games remaining.

Manager Sam Allardyce admitted that Liverpool were worthy winners and he believes the Merseyside club have an excellent chance of winning their first domestic title since 1990.

“They are very, very close and they are capable of winning the league,” he said. “There will be twists and turns in the title race depending on injuries and the decisions that happen between now and the end of the season.

“I have no complaints about the outcome. We didn’t compete well enough. We didn’t do enough and I’m very disappointed with our performance.

“There was no complacency on our part, it was more fear than anything else.”

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Tough-guy Capello makes no Beckham guarantees

February 8, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Tough-minded Fabio Capello insists he will not be swayed by sentimentality when it comes to handing David Beckham a record-equalling 108th England cap.

The 33-year-old former skipper, currently thriving in his loan spell at Italian giants AC Milan, will pull level with Bobby Moore’s record of 108 caps for an outfield player if he features in Wednesday’s friendly against Spain in Seville.

"I never think about this when I choose a player or make a substitution," said Capello who has been impressed with Beckham’s form in Serie A.

"I never spoke to him about Italy. I don’t talk about whether it is better in Los Angeles or Milan, that is not my job. David is very fit now and this is important."

Beckham’s club future was thrown into doubt on Saturday when his club Los Angeles Galaxy rejected a reported 10-million-dollar offer by Milan to make his move to Italy permanent.

He has already scored twice for Milan and knows that his dream of playing in the 2010 World Cup finals will stand or fall on his club form.

"Beckham is a very important player," added Capello. "The form of David is OK now, I’ve watched him in one game in Milan.

"He is fit now. Every player in the squad has to play, not just train. This is important for David and for us. He is better than he was six months ago."

Capello views the friendly against European champions Spain as a test of how far England have progressed after a year in charge.

Beckham should get a chance as Capello is planning to use his full compliment of substitutes, as a favour to Premier League managers who have congested schedules at this time of the season.

"I will try something different, a lot of substitutions because when we play on Wednesday I try to help the clubs because some players play too much," Capello said. "There will be six substitutions.

"It’s not a fantastic time, this game, because a lot of teams play the FA Cup and the Premier League. This is one time when it is possible some players will be tired."

Written by: AFP

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