Victoria Kimani - Mtoto ( www.millardayo.com )

LATEST FOOTBALL NEWS

1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been cleared by UEFA to play for PSG against Barcelona in the first leg of their CL quarter-final on 2 April. 2. Tom Ince will only make a Premier League move when he feels ready amid reports Liverpool will renew their interest. 3. Cazorla: "I really enjoy watching and playing with Nacho. I spent last season with him at Malaga. I'm very happy because he's a great mate." Arsenal fans, you like Nacho? 4. Wenger asked on French TV " would Fabregas start for you if you were Spain manager". Arsene- "Always". 5. Spain are now unbeaten in 50 World Cup qualifiers – last losing in March 1993 (7,301 days ago). Great record. 6. Kevin Davies is heading for the exit at Bolton after 10 years at the club - but he will be offered a testimonial. (Mirror) 7. Norwich have seen off Liverpool to land Lazio's Modibo Diakite. 8. Karim Benzema has not scored for France since the victory over Estonia on 5 June 2012. That's a long time! 9. Manchester United captain and centre-back Nemanja Vidic, 31, is expected to be a summer target for AC Milan. (Metro) 10. Liverpool are keen to sign Barcelona's 16-year-old winger Sergi Canos. (Mirror) 11. Mexican forward Carlos Vela says he would like to stay at Real Sociedad next season, and has not thought about a possible return to Arsenal. 12. The agent for Aston Villa's 22-year-old striker Christian Benteke says it would be a "dream move" for the Belgian to join Inter Milan. 13. Monaco want to make Roberto Mancini their new manager next season and will give him a transfer fund of €200m. [Gazetta] 14. Arsenal and Manchester City are set to compete for the signature of Fiorentina's Montenegrin striker Stevan Jovetić. Bad news Arsenal fans. Not so easy to compete with Man City. 15. Sir Alex Ferguson: "I thought title race would be tougher". 16. Ezequiel Garay has refused to comment on speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United or Barcelona. 17. Luca Toni has advised Stevan Jovetic to ignore Arsenal’s calls, for “they are not better than Fiorentina. make it for a real top club.” Brace yourselves, insults on Luca Toni on the way :) 18. Christian Karembeu (ex-Sampdoria -Real Madrid): "For me, the best player of the Spanish national team is David Villa." 19. Happy birthday to Gaizka Mendieta. Who remembers his goal for Valencia vs Barcelona in 1999? What a volley that was! 20. Branislav Ivanovic says it would be 'a pleasure' to work with Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho.

Michael Owen: Stoke City striker open to management role in future

Michael Owen says he is open to moving into management or coaching when he retires from football.

The 33-year-old Stoke striker revealed on Tuesday that he will quit playing at the end of the current campaign.

Owen, who has played for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Manchester United, plans to continue with punditry work and will launch his own management company, but is still open to offers.

"I have not closed the door on management," Owen told"I find it hard to say no to people. If someone offers you a good job, I'd think, 'I would love to do that'."

Owen says being unable to command a regular place at Stoke prompted his decision to retire at the end of the season. He has scored once in seven appearances for the Potters this term.

The former England international has been blighted by injury problems during his career, which began at the age of 17 with Liverpool.

Owen made 297 appearances during his time at Liverpool and was a regular starter for the Reds from 1997.

"I did not have a break for years and years," Owen said. "That is something I would advise young players now to guard against."

The ex-Manchester United forward believes he may have played too many games during his formative years as a professional and hinted he could have been able to prolong his career had he begun it at Old Trafford, where he might have played less frequently early on.

However, he insists he has no regrets about his choice of joining Liverpool, where he won the Uefa Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups.

Asked whether he might have had a longer career had he started at Manchester United, Owen said: "If you want an honest answer, then it is probably a yes.

"I had the choice to join Manchester United when I was a kid but I chose Liverpool. Yes, I could be playing a bit longer, might have had a few more medals in a pocket but who knows? I would not swap my time at Liverpool - they were my best years."

In the BBC One interview, Owen discussed his disappointment at being viewed negatively by some Newcastle supporters over his injury problems at the club, and he subsequently took to Twitter to say he was never offered a new contract by the Magpies who released a statement in 2008 saying he was offered a new deal before the 2008-09 season.

Owen joined the club in 2005 for £17m from Real Madrid but left on a free in 2009 when the club was relegated from the Premier League,joining Manchester United for the following season.

He wrote:  "Newcastle fans, following my Football Focus interview, plenty of you tweeting me saying you don't blame me for getting injured but for leaving when we got relegated.

"Despite the club saying they did, they didn't ever offer me a new contract despite them putting it in the press that they did.

"How could they when they had just been relegated? It would have been financial suicide. I've seen it a million times, a club will blatantly lie to their fans to take the moral high ground, leaving the player with no leg to stand on.

"I've taken the stick for years which is fine but you really don't know half of it. All will be revealed one day."

Newcastle were not willing to comment on the matter.

Mshichana Pakistan aliyejifanya kuwa mvulana

Maria Toorpakai Wazir

Maria Toorpakai Wazir, mshichana kutoka Waziristan, Pakistan, ambaye kwa miaka kadhaa ilibidi acheze mchezo wa squash akiwa anajidai kuwa mvulana, sasa amekuwa mchezaji shupavu.

Eneo la Waziristan ni eneo ambapo itikadi za Kiisilamu zinafuatwa sana. Kwa hivyo kwa Maria kucheza squash ni jambo la ajabu katika eneo ambalo wasichana hawakubaliwi hata kwenda shule.
Lakini Maria anasema, "Mimi ni jasiri. Nilizaliwa jasiri na nitakufa jasiri."
Babake amemuunga kwa dhati Maria kwa kumpa nafasi ingawaje anasema: "Huku kwetu wasichana hawakubaliwi hata kutoka nje wanamoishi."
Kaptula
Squash ni mchezo unaopendwa sana nchini Pakistan. Wanawake pia huucheza, ingawaje siyo eneoni Waziristan au kwenye maeneo mengine yenye itijadi kali.
Toorpakai anasema alipoanza kucheza squash akiwa kavaa kama mtoto wa kiume, si wengi waliogundua kuwa ni msichana. Lakini walipofanya hivyo walianza kumkejeli na kumtukana, lakini hakufa moyo.
Asema babake: "Wakati watu walipomuona Maria na kugundua kwamba alikuwa havai hijab, na kwamba alicheza squash akiwa amevaa kaptula, walishangaa sana na kunilaumu vikali."
Onyo
Barua ilibandikwa kwenye gari lake baba huyo lililomwambia amwachishe mwanae kucheza squash kwa sababu "ilikuwa ni kinyume na itikadi za Kiisilamu na za kabila".
Walimwambia “angeona cha mtema kuni” iwapo asingefanya hivyo.
Lakini alisisitiza kwamba kama watoto wake wa kike walikuwa na shauku la kucheza mchezo wowote ule basi yeye angewaunga mkono.
Baadaye Maria alijitahidi kutafuta mdhamini na akalekea mafunzoni Canada. Kwa sasa ndiye mchezaji wa juu zaidi wa kike nchini Pakistan, na namba 49 duniani.

Harambee Stars yaongoza 1 Super Eagles 0

 

Kipindi cha pili kimeanza Mjini Calabar, Nigeria, Harambee Stars yaongoza 1-0

Bao la Kenya lemefungwa na Mshambulizi Francis Kahata dakika ya .
Wachezaji Harambee Stars: Arnold Origi, David Owino, Mulinge Munandi, David Ochieng, Brian Mandela, Victor Wanyama, David Gateri, Johanna Omollo, Jamal Mohammed, Dennis Oliech and Francis Kahata. Coach Adel Amrouche
Wachezaji wa Super Eagles: Vincent Enyeama, Solomon Kwambe, Godfrey Oboabona, Kenneth Omeruo, Elderson Echejile, Sunday Mba, Mikel Obi, Eddy Onazi, Obafemi Martins, Victor Moses and Brown Ideye

Diego flattered by Atletico Madrid rumours

 

The Brazilian spent the whole of last season on loan at the Vicente Calderon and has welcomed any potential link with the club

Wolfsburg midfielder Diego says he is flattered by reported interest from Atletico Madrid.

The 28-year-old enjoyed a successful season-long loan spell with los Rojiblancos last season and the Brazilian is more than happy to be linked with the La Liga outfit.
He told reporters: “If the rumors are true, that Atletico Madrid have an interest in me, it is always a pleasure to have a club like that looking at you.”
However, the midfielder insists he is fully-focused on the fortunes of his current club, who sit 13th in the Bundesliga table.
“We're halfway through the tournament and I just want to think of my team, who continue to treat me very well,” he added.
Diego has a contract at the Volkswagen Arena until June 2014.
                                                                                                           

Bryant, Gasol back for Lakers

Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are returning to the lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Coach Mike D'Antoni says both will start against the Washington Wizards on Friday night at Staples Center.
Bryant has missed two games with a severely sprained left ankle. Gasol has been out since Feb. 5 with a right foot injury. They'll join Dwight Howard, Steve Nash and Metta World Peace in the lineup. When the big five have all started this season, the Lakers are 0-5.
The Lakers bring a seven-game home winning streak into the game against John Wall and the Wizards.

Theo Walcott ruled out for up to 10 days with pelvic muscle injury

England and Arsenal winger Theo Walcott is set to be sidelined for up to 10 days through injury.
The 24-year-old suffered a pelvic muscle tear in England training on Thursday and missed Friday's 8-0 win against San Marino.
Walcott will not play in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier in Montenegro and is a doubt for Arsenal's Premier League home fixture with Reading on 30 March.

"Theo overstretched slightly crossing a ball in training," said Hodgson.

"He immediately felt a slight problem in the pelvic area, went straight off the pitch and had a scan on Friday morning. It showed a slight tear in the pelvic muscle."


Walcott will fly back to England on Saturday to be assessed by Arsenal's medical staff.
Hodgson started with Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe in attack against San Marino, with Ashley Young and Walcott's Arsenal teammate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the wings. All four scored in the comprehensive victory.
England are second in Group H with 11 points, two behind unbeaten leaders Montenegro, who defeated Moldova 1-0 on Friday.

Hodgson kufikiria kumuita tena Ferdnand

kocha Mkuu wa timu ya taifa ya England,Roy Hodgson amesema atasubiri kuona kama ataweza kumuita kwa mara nyingine beki wa Manchster United Rio Ferdinand.
Kocha huyo amesema alijisikia vibaya kuona Ferdinand akijiondoa kwenye timu ya taifa ya England baada ya kumuita kwaajili ya michezo ya kusaka tiketi ya kushiriki kombe la dunia dhidi ya visiwa vya San Marino na Mentengro.
Ferdinand ambaye alijiondoa kwenye kikosi hicho cha Uingereza kwa sababu za kuwa alikwishajipangia ratiba maalumu kwaajili ya kuuguza majeraha yake katika kipindi hiki ambacho klabu yake itakuwa haina mechi zozote kwa zaidi ya wiki moja.
Nyota huyo wa Manchester United mwenye umri wa miaka 34,amekwishaicheza Uingereza michezo 81 na tayari yupo nchini Qatar tayari kwaajili ya kuwa mchambuzi kwenye mechi kati ya Uingereza na San Marino Ijumaa hii.
Hata hivyo kocha Hodgson akijibu swali kuhusiana na Ferdinand kusafiri hadi Qatar kuchambua mechi ambayo angekuwa uwanjani akicheza,alisema hakuwa na wazo lolote,lakini amejisikia vibaya kuona beki huyo hajajiunga na timu yake na kusafiri kwake kwenda Qatar ni matakwa yake binafsi na klabu yake.
Mechi ya mwisho Ferdinand kuichezea England ilikuwa dhidi ya Uswis mwezi Juni mwaka 2011,Alikosa fainal za mataifa barani Ulaya mwaka 2012 ambapo kocha Roy Hodgson alisema ameacha kumuita nyota huyo kwa sababu za Kimpira.
Hivi sasa Hodgson itamlazimu kumchagua beki wa Manchester City Jeleon Lescott, Chris Smalling wa Manchester United ama Steven Caulker wa Tottenham au Steven Taylor wa Newcastle United kwenye safu ya ulinzi itakayocheza na visiwa vya San Marino Ijumaa hii katika mchezo wa kundi H kusaka tiketi ya kushiriki kombe la dunia mwakani nchini Brazil.

David Villa calls for Spain reaction against France

Barcelona striker disappointed after being held by Finland.

Spain striker David Villa has called on his teammates to secure all three points on their trip to Paris on Tuesday, following a disappointing result against Finland.
The Spaniards were held to a surprise 1-1 draw on Friday night, leaving the reigning European and World champions trailing France by two points ahead of their meeting next week.
However, Villa is confident that the team can bounce back and seal an important win in their bid to top the group and qualify for next year’s World Cup.
“This is a very bad result for us and we did not expect to spill points here,” Villa told the media as reported by Goal.com.
“However, this does not change our approach for the match in Paris. Regardless of the result of Friday’s game, we had set out sights on three points against France.”
Despite the disappointment of dropping valuable points in what will likely be a close race to ensure automatic qualification, Villa wants to put it right against Les Blues.
“It is hard to grasp that we lost two points. We all realise that we have to bounce back right away and want to react against France.”
Didier Deschamps’ men are currently on 10 points in pole position in the group, while the Spaniards sit in second place with eight points.
The two played out a 1-1 draw last time they met, but Vicente del Bosque’s side will be heading to Paris with victory in mind.