Gabon will not renew Giresse contract

February 13, 2010

The contract of Gabon coach Alain Giresse will not be renewed, national football federation president Placide Engadzas said Friday.

There was widespread disappointment in the small central African state when the national team was eliminated after the first round of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola last month.

A rare win over neighbours Cameroon and a draw with Tunisia set the ‘Panthers’ up to reach the quarter-finals only for those hopes to be dashed by a loss against Zambia in the last mini-league game.

Gabon finished level on points and goal difference with Zambia and Cameroon, but paid the price for scoring only two goals in three games during their fourth appearance at the tournament.

Giresse, a 54-year-old former France midfield star, moved to Gabon four years ago and leaves a much stronger national squad than he inherited from another ex-international star, Brazilian Jairzinho.

As co-hosts with Equatorial Guinea, Gabon automatically qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup and the qualifying draw is scheduled for February 20 in the Democratic Republic of Congo city of Lubumbashi.

LIBREVILLE (AFP)

Tags: afp gabon, Africa, africa cup of nations, alain giresse, Angola, cameroon, central African, Congo, congo city, Democratic Republic, democratic republic of congo, Equatorial Guinea, federation president, France, Gabon, goal difference, international star, jairzinho, league game, libreville, lubumbashi, midfield star, national football federation, nations cup, neighbours, quarter finals, republic of congo, Tunisia, Zambia

Real set to relaunch pursuit of Ribery – report

August 13, 2009

Real Madrid could relaunch their bid to sign Bayern Munich’s French midfielder Franck Ribery by offering two of their Dutch internationals plus 30 million euros to the Bundesliga giants, reports said Thursday.

The Spanish giants said earlier this month their mega pre-season spending spree had ended with the capture of Xabi Alonso from Liverpool.

However sports dailies Marca and AS claim the Spanish giants are desperate to loosen Bayern’s grip on Ribery.

Real failed to sign the French midfield star this summer in the face of stiff opposition from Bayern but Real president Florentino Perez “is still not ruling out Ribery” ahead of the close season transfer deadline on August 31, Marca said Thursday.

Marca and AS said the midfielder, who is keen to join Real, issued a “new challenge” to Bayern by playing for France on Wednesday in a World Cup qualifying match against the Faroe Islands even though he has not played for his club this summer due to injury.

Marca said “the key” to capturing Ribery may be for Real to offer two of their Dutch internationals plus cash to Bayern coach Louis Van Gaal, a Dutchman. Real “would be ready to offer two of its Dutchmen and more than 30 million euros for Ribery,” it said.

Real would thus be able to make “an appetising offer to the German team as the amount would surpass 60 million euros — 30 in cash and a bit more than 30 more for the players released, a figure approaching the 80 million that Bayern was demanding at the start of the summer for Franck Ribery”.

Perez has splashed out over 250 million euros on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema as he seeks to make the nine-times European champions a formidable force again.

Real are still looking to offload Dutchmen Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Royston Drenthe and Rafael Van der Vaart.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: arjen robben, Bayern, bayern munich, cristiano ronaldo, Drenthe, Dutchmen, european champions, faroe islands, France, german team, internationals, Karim Benzema, louis van gaal, MADRID, midfield star, Rafael van der, rafael van der vaart, real madrid, ronaldo, royston drenthe, spending spree, stiff opposition, transfer deadline, van der vaart, Wesley Sneijder, xabi alonso

Hoeness insists Ribery “bazaar” is over

July 14, 2009

Bayern Munich manager Uli Hoeness is insisting that haggling over the possible sale of the club’s midfield star Franck Ribery is over and the Frenchman will stay at the German club, TZ newspaper reported Tuesday.

Ribery is not for sale, Hoeness said: This is not a bazaar, he is going to stay and that’s it. We are not in the market for bargaining even for 70 million euros or more.”

The 26-year-old, a member of the Bayern squad for the past two years, is known to have been attracted by the lure of Real Madrid, but the high-spending Spanish club baulked at the 80 million euro price tag set for the France international.

Last week, Real Madrid resigned themselves to the fact that they would not be able to recruit him. Real’s director general Jorge Valdano said: “We have the feeling that Ribery will not quit Bayern this season,

“Bayern finds many ways to say no, sometimes saying it categorically, sometimes by talking of a transfer fee of 80 million euros, which is another way of saying no.”

In recent days the former Olympique Marseille star, who is contracted to Bayern until 2011, has been trying to rediscover the favour he enjoyed with fans, telling German media he is committed to the ex-Bundesliga champions.

Meanwhile, Ribery is having treatment to a knee injury which forced him to pull out of training on Monday.

Some German sports commentators have interpreted the ailment as a sign by the player he wants to leave.

But Hoeness dismissed the idea, saying: “If he’s hurt, he’s hurt- just like any other player.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: ailment, Bayern, bayern munich, berlin, Bundesliga, director general, favour, France, france international, franck ribery, frenchman, german club, german media, german sports, Jorge Valdano, knee injury, LA Liga, MADRID, Marseille, midfield star, Olympique, olympique marseille, real madrid, spanish club, sports commentators, treatment, uli hoeness

Karimi keeps Iran´s World Cup dream alive

June 10, 2009

TEHRAN (AFP) – Midfield star Ali Karimi scored the only goal as Iran defeated the United Arab Emirates 1-0 on Wednesday to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Iran remain in fourth place in Asian qualifying Group B with 10 points from seven matches, one behind North Korea and Saudi Arabia.

South Korea, with 15 points, have already made sure of their place in the finals in South Africa next year.

The second automatic qualifying spot will be decided next Wednesday when Iran travel to South Korea while the Saudis welcome North Korea to Riyadh.

The team who finishes third will have to face the third-placed team in Group A, either Bahrain or Uzbekistan, with the eventual winner going on to face New Zealand for a spot in the 2010 finals.

In a tense, must-win game for Iran, the 100,000-seater Azadi Stadium was two-thirds empty with heavy rain making passing difficult.

Karimi struck the crucial goal on 52 minutes after drifting past two UAE defenders before unleashing a fierce drive.

Iran have now beaten UAE 10 times in 13 matches with three games drawn.

The Iranians are trying to reach a fourth World Cup having qualified for the 1978, 1998 and 2006 finals.

Tags: ali karimi, azadi stadium, bahrain, heavy rain, Iran, iran travel, iranians, midfield star, New Zealand, North Korea, qualifying group, Riyadh, saudi arabia, saudis, South Africa, south korea, Tehran, tense, three games, two thirds, united arab emirates, uzbekistan, World Cup, world cup dream

Bayern say Ribery not for sale at any price

May 30, 2009

BERLIN (AFP) – Bayern Munich have indicated they will not sell French international and midfield star Franck Ribery for any price amid interest from top English and Spanish clubs, German media reports said Saturday.

“No matter how many millions are on the table, at the end of the day it is Bayern who decide and we do not want to sell Franck,” chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told newspaper tz.

General manager Uli Hoeness told Bild that Bayern would be hanging onto their man.

“When I hear there is a 125 million euro offer for Brazil’s Kaka then I say that Franck’s market value is at least 100 million euros,” Hoeness said.

“But I do not want to set a price as we want to keep Franck,” he added.

British media reports say Chelsea would shell out 50 million euros for the former Marseille star amid earlier reports Manchester United would go up to 70 million.

Real Madrid and European champions Barcelona have also been reported as showing serious interest in Ribery, whose Bayern deal runs to 2011.

Tags: 100 million, 50 million, Barcelona, Bayern, bayern munich, berlin, brazil, Bundesliga, CHELSEA, european champions, franck ribery, french international, german media, karl heinz, karl heinz rummenigge, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, Marseille, midfield star, ribery, s market, spanish clubs, uli hoeness

Celtic, Rangers boosted by returning players

May 2, 2009

GLASGOW (AFP) – Just one point separates Celtic and Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League as they head into their first games following the league split.

With five games left, the Hoops hold the advantage as they bid to win their fourth league title in a row.

The Parkhead side have the perfect opportunity to heap pressure on their city neighbours when they take on Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday, a day before Rangers run out at Ibrox for their match against Hearts.

A win would allow Celtic to go into next week’s final Old Firm clash of the season ahead of their ancient rivals.

And Gordon Strachan has been handed a timely boost with the news influential midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura is willing to play on through a hip injury to play his part in helping Celtic extend their lead in the SPL title race.

The Japanese midfield star has been struggling to shake off various knocks since his side’s last game on April 18.

“I’ve been in some discomfort and my right adductor is pretty sore,” Nakamura said.

“We have a very important game coming up against Aberdeen, so I hope I’ll be OK to play.

“We know they are a difficult opponent. But it’s a game we really need to win.”

Captain Stephen McManus, Barry Robson, Darren O’Dea and Georgios Samaras are also making good progress while Shaun Maloney is ready to start his first game since suffering a recurrence of his hamstring injury in February.

Rangers have been given a huge boost ahead of their clash with Hearts on Sunday with the news several players are expected to return from injury.

Walter Smith should be able to include Lee McCulloch, Sasa Papac, DaMarcus Beasley and Kyle Lafferty in the squad for Sunday’s clash.

Midfielder Pedro Mendes may also make the game after recovering well from a knee injury which saw him stretchered off in last week’s Scottish Cup semi-final triumph over St Mirren.

However, the Ibrox boss will be without Algerian defender Madjid Bougherra due to suspension.

Rangers are looking to win their sixth straight game for the first time this season and Smith insists points on the board are more important than how his squad plays.

“I don’t think I’ll be bothered that much about how the team has played if we get the results we’re looking for,” Smith said.

“We have to keep building a winning run. The crux of the whole championship is that you have to hit form at the right time.

“We’ve been behind Celtic for a lot of this year’s championship and they’re in front at the moment but whoever wins it is going to have to do really well in the last five games.”

Csaba Lazlo will be without Lithuanian midfielders Saulius Mikoliunas and Deividas Cesnauskis who have been released by the Jambos.

The Hearts manager can call on Young Player of the Month Calum Elliot in their bid to claim a European spot.

In Saturday’s other games, bottom club Falkirk go back to reality with a game against Motherwell following their Scottish Cup semi-final win last weekend.

Hamilton take on Kilmarnock at New Douglas Park and St Mirren host Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the other bottom six fixtures.

Elsewhere, Dundee United travel to Easter Road to take on Hibernian in their quest to catch Hearts for the European place.

Fixtures (1400GMT unless otherwise stated)

Saturday

Aberdeen v Celtic (1130GMT)

Falkirk v Motherwell

Hamilton v Kilmarnock

Hibernian v Dundee United

St Mirren v Inverness CT

Sunday

Rangers v Hearts (1430GMT)

Tags: Aberdeen, Calum Elliot, captain stephen, captain Stephen McManus, damarcus beasley, Darren O'Dea, Douglas Park, Easter Road, first game, five games, georgios samaras, Glasgow, gordon strachan, Hamilton, knee injury, kyle lafferty, last game, Lee McCulloch, midfield star, pedro mendes, pittodrie, right adductor, sasa papac, Scottish, scottish cup, Scottish Premier League, Shaun Maloney, St, st mirren, stra, walter smith

Old Firm bolstered by returning players

May 2, 2009

GLASGOW (AFP) – Just one point separates Celtic and Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League as they head into their first games following the league split.

With five games left the Hoops hold the advantage as they bid to win their fourth league title in a row.