World Cup Trophy reaches Kenya

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki Thursday officially received the Coca-cola and FIFA World Cup Trophy after it arrived in the country.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, sponsored by Coca-Cola, is an epic journey that commenced in Egypt about two months ago.

Speaking after unveiling and receiving the trophy at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, Kibaki said the arrival of the trophy was a historic moment and heralded great things to come in the promotion and development of sports in the country.

The President urged young and upcoming football stars and the national team, Harambee Stars, to dream big so that Kenya could take its rightful place as a great soccer nation.

Kibaki disclosed that his government had formed a committee to work on the modalities of inviting teams which have qualified for the FIFA World Cup to train in Kenya, before going to South Africa.

The President pointed out that Kenya, which had an excellent communication network, was easy to access from any part of the world and was only a few hours away from South Africa by air. "I encourage teams qualifying for the World Cup to take advantage of Kenya's strategic location, excellent climate, sports facilities of international standards, hospitality as well as great tourism sites, and train in the country on their way to the World Cup," President Kibaki said.

He said the 2010 World Cup tournament, being held for the first time in Africa, provided Kenya with an opportunity to benefit from the large number of teams and fans taking part in the competition.

Kibaki said the Trophy Tour, which will cover 53 African countries during a 70-day trip, would allow thousands of fans to enjoy a rare close-up view of the FIFA World Cup trophy.

"In particular, I note that the Trophy will spend three days in our beautiful country. This is a clear demonstration of the confidence that Coca-Cola and FIFA have in the Government and the people of Kenya, given the fact that the trophy has only spent one or two days in other countries," the President said.

Speaking during the same occasion, Prime Minister Raila Odinga thanked Coca Cola for sponsoring the trophy tour to Kenya, a gesture which enabled sports fraternity the rare opportunity to view and interact with the symbol of world football supremacy.

Raila appealed to the soft drinks company to consider extending sponsorship to local soccer clubs to enable them advance the standard of football in the country. He congratulated South Africa for qualifying to host the 2010 World Cup and wished success to African representatives.

The trophy, on a 70-day tour of 52 African nations, will end in South Africa on 3 December where next year, 32 countries will compete for the FIFA World Cup. Football fans will also have a chance to see the trophy at the Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi, on Saturday and take a souvenir photo.

Advanced driving training for SA Police

The Gauteng South African Police Service (SAPS) wants to see 3000 of its members graduate in advanced driving courses by March, in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Around 940 operational members have already received training, with a pass rate of 65%. Members who fail may attend the course a second time.

Yokohama Driving Dynamics is responsible for the training, which is conducted at the Gerotek facility, near Pretoria, using vehicles supplied by General Motors South Africa (GMSA).

SAPS provincial supply chain management senior superintendent Tinus Swart says the training aims to improve police members’ reaction time in reaching incidents, while also reducing the cost of civil claims filed against the police, as well as general 
accident bills.

The goal is for another 6 000 police members to receive training following the global sports event.

Swart says the training started in March this year, but that a drop in fuel consumption in the Gauteng police fleet is already apparent.

However, he notes that it is still too early to do a true 
assessment of the benefits 
garnered from the training.

Yokohama Driving Dynamics owner Grant McCleery says the SAPS course includes several 
modules, such as skidpan driving, theory, high-speed driving, defensive driving, as well as how to pull over and search a vehicle.

West Rand flying squad superintendent Cornell de Lange tells Engineering News, while out on the skidpan testing the effects of ABS braking in wet conditions, that the “training should have been implemented a long time ago”. 
“My observation is better – [as well as] my awareness. It feels as if I can handle an emergency situation much better while out in my vehicle”.

GMSA sold around 3 000 vehicles to the SAPS last year, mostly Chevrolet Optras and Isuzu KB pick-ups.

The Yokohama Driving Dynamics academy won the training contract in an open tender

Morocco fails to get WC Q-result overturned

Morocco, held 0-0 at home by Togo in a World Cup qualifier in June, have failed to get the result of the match overturned.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Thursday it had rejected Morocco's appeal to be awarded a 3-0 victory on the grounds that Togo fielded an ineligible player.

CAS also confirmed that FIFA, soccer's world governing body, was right to award a 3-0 forfeit win to Gabon over Togo in an earlier match in African region Group A.

Although Morocco have no chance of making next year's World Cup, the decision has damaged their chances of reaching the African Nations Cup finals. The same qualifying competition is used for both tournaments.

The story began when Togo fielded Abdul Mamah against Gabon, despite his being suspended for picking up two yellow cards in earlier matches.

FIFA awarded Gabon a 3-0 win although, coincidentally, this was the same as the result on the pitch.

Mamah then played in the subsequent game against Morocco, who argued he should have been serving the suspension against them after failing to do so against Togo.

However, CAS said: "The FIFA rules do not mention that a player who fails to serve a one-match suspension is automatically suspended from the following match."

Morocco, who host Cameroon in their final group game on Saturday, are bottom of the group with three points from five games, two behind Togo.

Maradona to face disciplinary committee on 15-Nov

Argentina coach Diego Maradona faces a FIFA disciplinary hearing on Sunday as a result of his furious outburst after last month's victory over Uruguay.

The 1-0 win ensured Argentina qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Maradona, under pressure in the run-up to the match, directed an expletive-laden tirade, broadcast on live TV, at reporters and critics after the game. FIFA could hit him with a stadium ban, which would run into the World Cup, when they meet in Zurich on Sunday.

"The Fifa disciplinary committee, chaired by Marcel Mathier, will grant the head coach of Argentina a hearing, which will take place the day after the international friendly match between Spain and Argentina in Madrid," said a Fifa statement.

Following Maradona's outburst, Fifa president Sepp Blatter said there was "no alternative" but to ask Fifa's disciplinary committee to open a case.

However, the head of the Argentine Football Federation, Julio Grondona, claimed: "If it were another coach or player, the matter would not have had such importance. Everybody knows he's a temperamental person and he's already said he won't speak like that again."

Maradona has refused to apologise to the press for his actions in interviews on Argentine radio and television.

FIFA is investigating whether Maradona's comments breach Article 58 of the organisation's disciplinary code. The relevant passage reads: "Anyone who offends the dignity of a person or group of persons through contemptuous, discriminatory or denigratory words or actions concerning race, colour, language, religion or origin shall be suspended for at least five matches.

Maradona is a football icon in Argentina following his success as a player, but his time as the national team's coach has been hugely controversial, with Argentina having struggled to reach the 2010 finals in South Africa.As a player, he produced a series of stellar displays to guide them to victory in the 1986 World Cup and then helped them reach the final, which they lost to Germany, four years later.But his time as coach has included a 6-1 defeat in Bolivia and a 3-1 home loss to Brazil.Going into the final two qualifying matches, a poll showed that the majority of Argentina fans thought Maradona was unfit to coach the national team.But Argentina won both games to book their ticket to South Africa

Qualifier preview: Nigeria vs Kenya

Kenya last featured at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, and victory for them over a much favoured Nigerian team on Saturday could well seal their qualification for the 2010 event in Angola.

They have so far recorded three points from five matches and lie a point behind third-placed Mozambique. They will therefore need to win and hope Mozambique do not do same in Maputo if they are to earn a berth in Angola.
However, the Kenyans' build-up to this all-important tie has been anything but plain sailing. There has been a much-publicised fallout between Football Kenya and coach Antoine Hey.
Hey has stayed away from training after two players, Dennis Oliech and Edgar Ochieng, were imposed on him by the local football authorities. In Hey's place, a set of local coaches have been training the team. It now appears that Hey is in his last days as Kenya coach.
"The coach has had his way in the last five matches and we have seen the results. The fans have been calling for the changes. It is time to bring in everybody in a last ditch effort to qualify for Angola."
Overlooked for last month’s World Cup qualifier against Tunisia, Oliech has been a significant influence at Auxerre, who are in the top bracket of the French league this season.
He remains Kenya’s top scorer in the qualifiers. Last year he netted four times as Stars cruised past the second round of qualifiers, securing famous victories against, amongst others, Guinea. He has scored only once in the second round of the qualifiers, but it is worth noting that no one else in the team has scored more than one goal.
By his own standards, Oliech’s form has not been impressive, but an apparent fall out with coach Hey is thought to have contributed to his poor performances.
Oliech at one time criticised Hey’s appointment and threatened not to honour call-ups if former coach Francis Kimanzi was not reinstated.
Denmark-based midfielder Emmanuel Ake has also been recalled by Kenya, while the Harambee Stars will be without MacDonald Mariga and Robert Mambo due to injury. However, a 5-0 spanking by Kuwait in a friendly earlier this month has certainly not done their confidence a world of good.

Nigeria have thus far recorded nine points from five matches, two fewer than Group 2 leaders Tunisia, meaning they have to beat Kenya in Nairobi on Saturday to stand any chance of qualification. Of course, they also need Mozambique to do them a turn against Tunisia to make their dreams come true.
Coach Shuaibu Amodu has come under fire as Nigeria find themselves in a tight corner. The Super Eagles were previously perceived to have a relatively easy pathway to South Africa.
Amodu has been blamed for poor tactics and team selection, even when his side recorded a perfect record in the previous qualifying round.
The Eagles will again be without striker Ikechukwu Uche, who is suffering from a long-term knee injury, while Danny Shittu, Sani Kaita, Yusuf Mohammed and Adefemi Olubayo are also sidelined.
Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel is fit again after an ankle injury sidelined him for several weeks. He is expected to start against the Harambee Stars.
Lokomotiv Moscow striker Peter Odemwingie has been the outstanding player for Nigeria in their last two games, and he has also expressed confidence of victory in Kenya.
“We cannot take the Kenyans for granted because they have not beaten us for a long time now," he stated. "We must therefore play as a group to win the match. Don’t forget that despite the fact that we beat them 3-0 in Abuja, they were not an easy side. Besides, they want to be part of the African Nations Cup next year and I believe that will be their biggest motivation.
"We also want to go to the World Cup, but we must show more determined than they will if we want to win. With a win, and God help us, we might just find ourselves at the top of the group ahead of Tunisia."

Ronaldo to miss Portugal play-offs

Ace striker Cristiano Ronaldo will miss both of Portugal’s World Cup play-off games against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Nov 14 and Nov 18, due to an ankle injury.

Ronaldo has travelled to his homeland to have his ankle injury assessed, despite Spanish club Real Madrid claiming their player would not be fit enough to play.

Portuguese Football Federation doctors checked the winger’s fitness after he flew into Lisbon on Tuesday and agreed with Real Madrid’s diagnosis.

Madrid had initially balked at allowing their 80 million pound man to travel ahead of Portugal’s first-leg clash on Saturday. The Portuguese Football Association said they wished Ronaldo a good and rapid recovery from an injury he picked up while playing for Real Madrid in a Champions League game against Marseille on 30 September.

He has not played in seven games for the Spanish club since, but did figure in Portugal’s World Cup qualifier against Hungary on 10 October where he aggravated his ankle problem.

German keeper commits suicide

Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke was killed after being hit by a train at a level crossing, speculated as a suicide by police. His death was announced on Tuesday by the president of his Bundesliga club Hanover 96.

Enke's advisor Joerg Neblung confirmed on Tuesday night that Enke, who died early Tuesday evening after being hit by a train at a railway crossing near his home, had committed suicide.

Hanover 96 president described the death of the 32-year-old as a tragedy. "You expect many things, but not something like that. I do not know how and why it happened, but I do not think that it had anything to do with football," he said.

"He was unstable, but he did not show that to the outside world and he managed to mask it."

Germany coach Joachim Loew and manager Oliver Bierhoff informed the German players of Enke's death at their training camp in Bonn, where they are preparing for two friendly internationals against Chile and Ivory Coast on Saturday and Nov 18.

Enke, who had become Germany's number one goalkeeper after Jens Lehmann retired at the end of last year's Euro championships, had to miss Germany's last four internationals with a bacterial bowel infection, but had just returned to the game and had played in Hanover's 2-2 draw against SV Hamburg on the weekend.

He had not been selected for the games against Chile and Ivory Coast, but Loew had indicated that Enke was still one of the favourites to be Germany's first choice goalkeeper at the World Cup finals in South Africa next year.

It was not immediately known if Germany's international matches would go ahead as planned. Enke played his first game for Germany on March 28, 2007 during their 1-0 defeat against Denmark. It was to be his only defeat in the national dress as the team won five and drew two of the seven subsequent matches in which he played.

He last played for his country Aug 12 in the 2-0 victory against Azerbaijan.

Enke was first called into the Germany squad for the 1999 Confederations Cup, but was not fielded in a match by then coach Erich Ribbeck.He was next nominated by Loew seven years later, sitting on the bench in Germany's 2-0 victory against Georgia.

Enke's two-year-old daughter Lara died two years ago from a heart defect. He leaves his wife and an eight-month-old daughter whom the couple adopted earlier this year.