Gunners´ momentum born of mental strength: Wenger

January 5, 2010

Arsene Wenger has urged his on-form Arsenal squad to maintain the mental discipline that has lifted them back into the Premier League title battle when they take on struggling Bolton on Wednesday.

Having seemed out of contention following a 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea at the end of November, the Gunners have since revived their challenge with five wins from six league matches.

Another win at the Emirates on Wednesday would move Wenger’s men to within a point of leaders Chelsea and the Frenchman believes his young squad has proved its resilience.

“We have a good opportunity to come back very close to Chelsea, and we want to take it, to make it more interesting for everybody,” Wenger said. “One month ago we were far from the top teams, and since have created momentum.

“We refused to give up and continued to fight and believe in our strengths.

“The biggest test in our camp was the mental strengths of the players and the solidarity of the players. That has been tested.

“What we have realised in one month gives us a good springboard to go even further. Why should we stop here?

“The next two months will determine how ambitious and how hungry we are.”

Wenger added: “It does not mean Chelsea or Manchester United do not have hunger – but what I know is that within our team we have a great hunger for success. We have great solidarity and team spirit.

“We are a team who has grown up together and wants to achieve things. We have not won anything yet together and that makes us hungry for success.”

Wenger has admitted he would like to bring one or more new players into his squad during the January transfer window – notably a striker – but believes his faith in his policy of developing the club’s own youngsters is finally paying off.

“In the modern game, there is a lack of patience and one response when you lose a game – people say to you ‘buy, buy, buy’,” he said. “I believe sometimes when you have players who are 21, 22, that they can only become better.

“When they are 33, they can only be worse at 34 and that is why we are in a position where we need to have the needed strengths to be patient because we have the quality.

“Hopefully we can show until the end of the season that we can be successful.”

Arsenal will be without injured skipper Cesc Fabregas on Tuesday while midfielder Alex Song is away with Cameroon at the African Nations Cup.

Offsetting those losses is the fact that Denilson is fit again following a back problem and Wenger is confident the Brazilian can fill Song’s boots.

“Denilson is an all-rounder, but he can play in this position and will come in for Song,” Wenger said. “He is very strong in reading the game and winning the ball back.

“Denilson has 150 games in the Premier League. People do not notice how important he is for us and he can play in every single position in midfield.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: African, Alex Song, arsenal, arsenal squad, Bolton, cameroon, CHELSEA, contention, emirates, frenchman, great hunger, gunners, london, Manchester, manchester united, mental discipline, mental strengths, momentum, patience, premier league, resilience, solidarity, springboard, striker, team spirit, Wenger, youngsters

Benitez admits talks with Liverpool stars over slump

December 24, 2009

Rafa Benitez admits he has held talks with Liverpool’s stars in a bid to end his team’s dismal run.

The Reds, already knocked out of the Champions League, have won just four of their last 17 games and face an uphill battle to secure a top four finish in the Premier League.

They are currently eight points behind fourth placed Aston Villa and Benitez has come under fire for failing to build a squad capable of challenging for the title, while Spain striker Fernando Torres has conceded Liverpool will continue to struggle unless they sign several top players in January.

In response to the slump, Benitez has spoken with several key players to assess the team’s morale and discuss exactly how they can get back on track.

“I have spoken to several players, not just Gerrard and Torres. They are all determined to do well, but when we concede a goal now we lose any confidence that we have acquired,” Benitez said.

“That is my responsibility, to improve confidence. To do that I have to be positive, it is the only way. The message is very clear, we have quality in our squad and we must show that.

“We can win a run of games in a row, we have done that with these same players. That is the positive thought we must retain.

“We have talked about just why we are in this position. There were many ideas, but the main one was that Torres and Gerrard were not fit.

“They still have some problems, so we must manage them carefully over a period of so many games in such a short space of time. We virtually have to decide on them before every game.”

Benitez, who will be without the suspended Javier Mascherano against Wolves on Boxing Day, is hoping the hard work carried out on the training ground in the last week will reap its reward against Mick McCarthy’s men.

“The only way to change things is to keep working,” he said. “We have tried to relax the lads. On Tuesday we had a Christmas meal for all the staff and players, that was a very positive occasion.

“We have a good team spirit, the players know we must improve and they know the only way is to stick together.

“I must manage and control the anxiety of the players, and the anxiety of the fans.

“We know we have to change the situation, sooner rather than later. That is clear.”

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: boxing day, champions league, christmas meal, dismal run, Fernando Torres, gerrard, Javier Mascherano, lads, liverpool england, mick mccarthy, positive thought, premier league, rafa benitez, reds, short space, slump, striker, team spirit, uphill battle, wolves

Ronaldo says will be ready for Portuguese call

October 6, 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo said Monday he was ready to answer the call for Portugal in Saturday’s crucial World Cup qualifier at home to Hungary after missing Real Madrid’s first Liga loss of the season at Seville with an ankle injury.

“I have recovered well. We’ll see how things go but I think I’ll be fine come Saturday,” Ronaldo said on arriving at Obidos, where the squad are preparing for a match which will go some way to deciding if they can snatch a playoff place after a poor showing in Group One.

The Portuguese currently stand third – five points behind leaders Denmark and two adrift of Sweden, while Hungary are level on points with Carlos Queiroz’s side, rendering a win imperative ahead of an expected three easy points in their final game against Malta.

The Swedes have a tough encounter away to the Danes on Saturday.

“These are decisive matches which we must win,” observed Ronaldo, who said that team spirit was “fantastic” despite his country’s irregular showing to date.

But he warned: “If we don’t believe we can do it (qualify) then it’s not worth showing up for the national side.”

Ronaldo insisted that the Hungarians were there for the taking.

“They are a physically strong team, but if Portugal play normally they will – and must – win.”

LISBON (AFP)

Tags: AFP, ankle injury, Carlos Queiroz, denmark, encounter, final game, five points, hungarians, Hungary, Lisbon, MADRID, Malta, match, obidos, portugal, portuguese, ronaldo, seville, Sweden, swedes, team spirit, world cup qualifier

Magath aims to bring his magic to Schalke

August 7, 2009

Having won the Bundesliga title with Wolfsburg last season, Felix Magath will now try to work the same magic on Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga when the season begins on Friday.

The 56-year-old, who won two league titles with Bayern Munich before he was sacked in February 2007, hardly put a foot wrong last season as the side he built swept the league.

While Bayern Munich faltered and eventually sacked ex-Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann in April, Wolfsburg picked up their first league crown in May, only for Magath to then quit to become coach and team manager at Schalke.

The Royal Blues spent most of last season in disarray and Magath’s first job has to be to build some team spirit and plug gaps in their defence before their first league game against newly-promoted Nuremburg on Saturday.

His replacement at Wolfsburg, Armin Veh, won the league title with Stuttgart in 2007, and his first game in charge is against his former club in the season’s opening game.

Veh is fortunate Wolfsburg have managed to keep hold of key strikers Edwin Dzeko and Brazilian Grafite despite interest from some of Europe’s top clubs while on Wednesday they were boosted as Bosnian international midfielder Zvjezdan Misimovic extended his contract until 2013.

Between them Dzeko and Grafite netted 54 league goals, but it remains to be seen if the team can repeat their surprise success or handle the step up to the Champions League where they will make their debut.

“The team is very motivated. My initial impressions from the first training camp have absolutely been confirmed,” said Veh whose attacking options have been further boosted by the arrival of Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins from Newcastle.

“We are looking forward to the season and showing what we can do.”

The man with the highest-profile job in German league football is Dutchman Louis van Gaal who arrives as Bayern Munich coach to try to succeed where Klinsmann failed.

Previous achievements count for nothing at success-greedy Bayern where domestic honours are demanded and Champions League success is expected.

The 57-year-old van Gaal has inherited an embarrassment of riches in attack with Bayern’s squad containing Germany strikers Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose, as well as Italian World Cup winner Luca Toni and Croatia’s Ivica Olic.

Promising youngster Thomas Mueller makes it five forwards pushing for two places in van Gaal’s starting line-up and the straight-taking ex-Holland coach is expected to stamp his mark on the side.

Their club president German football legend Franz Beckenbauer is in no doubt of the quality of the present squad.

“This is the best ever Bayern side,” ‘The Kaiser’ proudly declared, though, his words may come back to haunt him.

“We want to become German champions and at the very least reach the Champions League quarter-finals if not the semis.”

German national coach Joachim Loew does not share Beckenbauer’s optimism.

“It (the league title) will not be a formality,” said Loew.

“There are several sides who have made progress in the past few years in terms of consistency and quality.

“Maybe there will be another surprise winner such as Stuttgart and Wolfsburg.”

Bayern captain Mark van Bommel said the players are responding to van Gaal’s direct approach.

“He clearly tells us what he wants to see. He’s a straight talker, he corrects you and urges you on.”

Raised voices on the practice ground from time to time are not a problem, says van Bommel.

“It’s criticism to help you improve. It’s well-intentioned, to stop it happening again.”

The Dutchman’s first league game in charge is against last season’s dark horses Hoffenheim who led the league on their debut Bundesliga season at Christmas before falling off the pace.

The loss of striker Vedad Ibisevic with a cruciate ligament injury in the winter break was a devastating blow, but coach Ralf Rangnick can ill-afford another collapse which saw his side slump to mid-table.

Of the three sides coming up – Nuremberg, Freiburg and Mainz – Nuremberg can be expected to handle the move up after only two seasons out of German’s top flight.

Mainz by contrast hardly enter the season in a good state, though, they have already made Bundesliga history before a ball has been kicked after they became the first ever side to sack their coach prior to the start of the season when they removed Norwegian Jorn Andersen on Monday.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: bayern munich, felix magath, grafite, initial impressions, jurgen klinsmann, league crown, league game, league goals, league titles, louis van gaal, nuremburg, obafemi martins, plug gaps, schalke 04, surprise success, team spirit, top clubs, zvjezdan misimovic

Fergie backs Foster despite pre-season howler

July 20, 2009

Sir Alex Ferguson has reiterated his belief that young goalkeeper Ben Foster will one day be England’s number one despite his schoolboy error in the opening match of their Asian tour.

Foster came on as a second-half substitute in their win over a Malaysian XI on Saturday but got off to the worst possible start when he failed to control a Darron Gibson backpass and Amri Yahyah pounced to score an equaliser.

Ferguson though had sympathy for the 26-year-old.

“That was Ben’s first game for three or four months, he dislocated a finger ligament at the end of last season and we had to operate,” he said.

“I’ve said it before but, in the long-run, I think he’ll be England?s goalkeeper. I?m absolutely certain of that.”

Before that happens he needs a decent run as first choice keeper and with Dutch great Edwin van der Sar, 38, still commanding that position, Foster knows he needs to make the most of any opportunity that comes along.

“Ben has a challenge to take the position of Edwin van der Sar, who, as everybody accepts, is one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time,” added Ferguson.

Foster, who has been capped twice by England, signed a new four-year contract with the Premier League champions earlier this month and said he was delighted to be at the club long-term.

“The team spirit here is fantastic and working alongside Edwin and Tomasz (Kuszczak) has been a great influence on my career,” he said.

Foster had surgery on his thumb in May which ruled him out for the final month of last season, meaning he missed the Champions League final against Barcelona and England’s World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra.

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP)

Tags: amri yahyah, Andorra, asian tour, Barcelona, ben foster, darron, darron gibson, Edwin, Edwin van der, edwin van der sar, equaliser, Ferguson, first choice, first game, Foster, Goalkeeper, goalkeepers, kazakhstan, kuala lumpur, kuszczak, league champions, ligament, premier league, schoolboy, score, sir alex ferguson, team spirit, Tomasz, tomasz kuszczak, world cup qualifiers

League Cup hero Foster signs new contract with United

July 8, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Ben Foster was rewarded for his goalkeeping heroics in Manchester United’s League Cup penalty shootout victory last season when he signed a new four year contract with the Premier League champions on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old is seen by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as the natural successor to present incumbent Edwin van der Sar, despite having a season where he battled against a succession of injuries.

“We are delighted that Ben has signed a new four-year deal,” commented Ferguson.

“Ben is seen as one of the best young goalkeepers in England and we genuinely see him as a successor to Edwin van der Sar.”

Foster conceded that with Dutch great van der Sar still at the club that it may compromise his chances of making England’s World Cup squad if they qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals but was still happy to commit himself to the club.

“I’m really happy to commit my future to the club,” said the former Stoke and Watford goalkeeper.

“The team spirit here is fantastic and working alongside Edwin and Tomasz (Kusczak) has been a great influence on my career.”

Foster, who is considered a potential England number one, had surgery on a ruptured thumb ligament in May which ruled him out for the final month of last season.

That meant the twice-capped England international missed the Champions League final against Barcelona and the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra in June.

Foster, who missed most of the 2007/08 season following cruciate ligament surgery, has been unfortunate with injuries having also suffered an ankle ligament injury just a few weeks into last season.

Tags: alex ferguson, Andorra, ankle ligament injury, Barcelona, Ben, ben foster, Edwin, Edwin van der, edwin van der sar, England, england international, england number, English Premier League, goalkeepers, goalkeeping heroics, kazakhstan, league champions, ligament surgery, london, Manchester, manchester united, natural successor, penalty shootout, shootout victory, sir alex ferguson, team spirit, Tomasz, van der sar, world cup finals, world cup qualifiers, world cup squad

Drogba wants to win the Cup for Ivory Coast fans

May 28, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Didier Drogba admits he is determined to win the FA Cup for Chelsea on Saturday to reward the legions of Ivorians who will watch the clash against Everton.

Ivory Coast striker Drogba, expects Saturday’s showpiece match at Wembley to draw a massive television audience in his home country and he has no intention of letting down his loyal fans.

“The FA Cup is a big thing there. The whole of the Ivory Coast will be watching because there’s millions and millions of Chelsea fans there. That can help us to win the cup,” Drogba said.

After the agony of crashing out of the Champions League semi-finals to a late goal against Barcelona, Drogba knows the FA Cup offers Chelsea a chance to end their season on a high note.

Since that controversial exit to Barca, which sent Drogba on a frustrated rant at referee Tom Hennin Ovrebo, Chelsea have won all three of their league matches.

Drogba credits Chelsea’s resiliance to their rock solid team-spirit and he is confident that will make the difference at Wembley this weekend.

“It’s a different competition. The good thing is that even though we are out of the Champions League, the spirit is always good here,” Drogba said.

“We are together and that is really important. We’re going to do our best, more than our best.”

Defeat against Everton would leave Chelsea without a trophy for the second successive season and Drogba’s team-mate John Obi Mikel admits that kind of failure can’t be contemplated at such an ambitious club.

The Nigerian said: “It will be a failure if we don’t win on Saturday. Last season we didn’t win anything and this season we have to make sure we do.

“We are the favourites, but Everton are a very good side. So we have to make sure we play well, keep passing and then we will create chances.”

Mikel believes the pain of losing to Barcelona will provide all the incentive neccessary to brush aside Everton.

“We have tried very hard and come very close in Europe in the last few seasons but we haven’t won it,” he said.

“That will definitely help us want to win on Saturday because we haven’t done so well in the last two seasons.”

Saturday’s match will be the last for Blues interim manager Guus Hiddink, who resumes his role as Russia coach on a full-time basis after the final.

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti is favourite to take over but like many of his Chelsea colleagues, Mikel just wants a manager who stays long enough to give the club some stability.

“Guus has come in and done fantastically well but now he has to leave. I don’t know who is coming in,” Mikel said.

“We’ve had a few managers in the last few years and haven’t been able to find the right one.

“Guus is a really good guy and a good manager. He knows how to get the best out of the side. Sometimes he has to kick you and say wake up.

“Players might not like that but they admire him. If you don’t play well you sit on the bench.

“He taught the team to do the dirty work. Not just to play but to defend as well when we don’t have the ball.”

Tags: ambitious club, barca, Barcelona, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, chelsea fans, didier drogba, Europe, everton, FA Cup, hennin, high note, Ivory Coast, John Obi, john obi mikel, legions, london, loyal fans, mate john, Mikel, Milan, resiliance, russia, semi finals, showpiece, team mate, team spirit, television audience, Wembley

Chelsea will stop Liverpool: Hiddink

April 14, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Guus Hiddink believes Chelsea’s unbreakable team spirit will stop Liverpool staging a famous revival in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg.

Although Hiddink’s side have one foot in the semi-finals after last week’s stunning 3-1 victory at Anfield, Liverpool have developed a habit of upsetting the form book in Europe under Rafael Benitez.

Liverpool’s fightback from 3-0 down to win the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan proved how dangerous they can be, but it would take a spectacular meltdown to deny Chelsea a probable last four showdown against Barcelona, 4-0 winners over Bayern Munich in their first leg.

While a less resolute team could crack under the pressure of an early Liverpool goal on Tuesday, Blues boss Hiddink is convinced the squad’s togetherness will play a key role in finishing the job at Stamford Bridge.

“There is a fantastic spirit around this club, everyone believes in what we can achieve this season and it is exciting to be a part of that,” he said.

“But we must not lose our focus for one game or one minute and that means each game is as important as the next one. We have the same aim, which is to try and win all of them.

“It is important that we take the momentum gained from winning at Anfield into this game and keep our level of performance up.”

When Hiddink arrived at Chelsea in February the club’s season was in danger of fizzling out, but he quickly won the respect of players who were unconvinced by Scolari’s laidback regime.

Now Chelsea look back to their intimidating best and they could still finish the season with a treble. Saturday’s 4-3 win over Bolton kept them within four points of Manchester United in the Premier League, while Tuesday’s Liverpool showdown is followed by an FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal at Wembley.

Ashley Cole, Chelsea’s England left-back, admits the rejuvenating effect provided by Hiddink’s no-nonsense style has come at the perfect time.

“It is always nice to go to Anfield and get a good result and it is going to be tough for them to come to the Bridge and score three goals,” Cole said.

“Of course it could happen but we have got the players in our team to score goals. We have scored in every game apart from one since the new manager came in so we are very confident we can push on now and go through.”

Hiddink’s only concern going into Tuesday’s tie is the careless way his side allowed Bolton to come back from 4-0 down to set up a tense finale, with Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech looking especially vulnerable.

After the ruthless way Hiddink targeted and exploited Liverpool’s zonal marking system in the first leg, Benitez will be desperate to find a tactical retort. He could do worse than tell his players to test Cech early on.

If Liverpool do claim a famous victory, it is safe to say Fernando Torres will have played a key role.

Torres scored a stunning half-volley as he took his tally for the season to 14 with two goals in Saturday’s 4-0 rout of Blackburn and the Spain striker believes the result proved Liverpool have the goal-power to mount a remarkable fightback.

“The way we played is good for our build-up and preparation for Tuesday,” Torres said.

“This win gives us confidence after the 3-1 defeat. But I believe the team can score three goals at Stamford Bridge. We won away to Manchester United, they scored but we still won 4-1.

“Chelsea could just defend, but I doubt that. They will want to score themselves and that will give us a chance ourselves.”

Benitez was able to leave captain Steven Gerrard on the bench against Blackburn as he struggles with a groin injury, but the England midfielder will surely be risked on Tuesday.

Chelsea will have to do without their skipper as John Terry serves a one-match ban after his booking for a foul on Liverpool keeper Jose Reina in the first leg.

Tags: ac milan, anfield liverpool, ashley cole, Barcelona, Bayern, bayern munich, benitez liverpool, blackburn, captain Steven Gerrard, CHELSEA, Cole, England, Europe, FA Cup, Fernando Torres, fightback, four points, guus hiddink, john terry, Jose, laidback, Liverpool, london, Manchester, manchester united, Milan, nonsense style, perfect time, Petr Cech, premier league, rafael benitez, semi finals, Spain, stamford bridge, team spirit, togetherness, tuesday blues, UEFA Champions League, Wembley

Coach says Zambia can upset Egypt

March 20, 2009

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Coach Herve Renard believes Zambia have the same chance as group favourites Egypt of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Zambia are away to Egypt next weekend when the six-round final phase begins of an elimination competition that will determine which five African countries join automatic qualifiers South Africa.

Algeria and Rwanda complete Group C with the winners securing a place at the first World Cup staged by Africa while the top three finishers go to the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola earlier that year.

Egypt, victors at the last two editions of the Nations Cup, are the team to beat as they boast the strongest squad, an outstanding coach, a formidable home record and the highest ranking among the quartet.

But fresh from a third-place finish in the African Nations Championship, a new tournament restricted to local-based footballers, Renard says Zambians are entitled to dream of a first World Cup appearance.

"Powerful teams like Cameroon and Nigeria cannot defeat Egypt in Cairo so what chance a smaller team like ours winning there?" the 39-year-old Frenchman asked reporters.

"However, we will always have the confidence that can cause an upset. Nothing is impossible in football. We have the same chance of reaching the World Cup as Algeria, Rwanda and even Egypt.

"We are not naive and know Egypt will be considered group favourites because they are African champions but we have to believe. I wanted to avoid Cameroon and Ivory Coast and my wish has been granted.

"Zambia have a good squad and great team spirit and I also know that we can improve as the qualifying competition progresses," said the Frenchman who came to Lusaka after assisting compatriot Claude Le Roy in Ghana.

If a match against the African kings at their 70,000-capacity Cairo Stadium fortress is a daunting start, Renard draws comfort from home fixtures against Rwanda and Algeria during June.

"Of course it is a tough first game for us on the road in Egypt but if Zambia manage to get a result we can take that momentum back home and really begin to promote our push to the top.

"While our supporters are dreaming of South Africa they must realise it will be difficult because there are no easy games, but we can succeed with adequate preparations," insisted Renard.

The steady improvement of a national team nicknamed Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) under the Frenchman since he took over last year has won approval from west Africa with Senegal and Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas showing interest.

"I have received contacts from Senegal and ASEC, but it is important to understand that these are not contracts. For now I coach Zambia because that is where I have a contract."

Speculation that Renard might quit Zambia heightened after sponsors Konkola Copper Mines stopped paying his reported 240,000-dollar annual salary owing to falling mineral demand triggered by the global economic downturn.

President Rupiah Banda moved quickly to back Renard: "Like a jealous husband we shall defend our coach with all means at our disposal. We are going to do everything to keep you (Renard) here to complete your work."

Written by: AFP

Tags: Africa, african champions, african countries, african kings, african nations cup, algeria, Angola, ASEC, cairo stadium, cameroon, Claude Le, claude le roy, compatriot, complete group, Egypt, final phase, first game, footballers, fortress, frenchman, ghana, herve renard, Ivory Coast, johannesburg, lusaka, nigeria, Roy, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, team spirit, victors, west Africa, World Cup, world cup appearance, Zambia

Schumi helps to buy Poldi back from Bayern

February 24, 2009

COLOGNE, Germany (AFP) – Seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher has paid 875 euros towards the 10 million euros (12.7 million US dollars) transfer deal to bring Germany striker Lukas Podolski from Bayern Munich back to Cologne.

Podolski, 23, will return to Cologne from defending Bundesliga champions Bayern this summer and football-fan Schumacher was just one of the hundreds of fans who have dipped into their own pocket to help the club finance the deal.

Schumacher, who retired from Formula One in 2006, paid nearly 900 euros to help his friend fulfill his dream of returning to Bundesliga side Cologne after three unhappy years in Munich.

On the club’s internet site, www.pixel.fc-koeln.de, fans can pay 25 euros for a pixel of a picture of Podolski and if all 40,000 pixels are sold, the club will make a million euros.

So far the website has raised 96,000 euros towards the transfer, including the money from Schumacher.

"Well, boy, you have followed your heart and that is always good," wrote Schumacher to Podolski on the website.

"Genuine team spirit can be replaced by nothing and I am speaking from experience.

"My team has always been the most important to me.

"Now you can show all the fans what the club means to you.

"I keep my fingers crossed for you."

The club’s marketing manager Lars Nierfeld told German tabloid Bild Schumacher had wanted to help the cause earlier, but his recent motorcycle accident in Spain meant he has only acted now.

Written by: AFP