LONDON, July 23- Louis van Gaal thinks Manchester United are putting his chances of success in jeopardy by dragging the first-team squad across the US on their preseason tour.

United start their build-up to the new Premier League campaign on Wednesday when they face Los Angeles Galaxy at the Pasadena Rose Bowl in California.

It will be the first game of a two-and-a-half-week-long tour that could see United travel almost 13,500 miles if they reach the final of the International Champions Cup — the preseason tournament which includes some of the best clubs in Europe — at Miami’s Sun Life Stadium.

After the game in LA, United travel to Denver, Washington DC, Detroit and they will then make the three-hour flight to Miami if they top their group, which contains Roma, Real Madrid and Inter Milan.

In between the matches, the players have to appear at sponsor events while they are also duty-bound to conduct interviews for the club’s in-house TV channel.

It all seems too much for Van Gaal, who made his annoyance perfectly clear at his first pre-match news conference in the U.S.

When asked whether United’s commercial commitments were impinging on football matters, Van Gaal said:

“More or less, yes because we have to prepare the season and when you have a lot of commercial activities also for the players, and you have to travel distances, you have to fly a lot, you have also jet lag, and that is not very positive for a good preparation.

“But the tour was already arranged so I have to adapt, I shall adapt.”

Van Gaal has only been in place for a week, but he has already made his disquiet about United’s commercial activities clear on two occasions.

As well as Tuesday night’s complaint, Van Gaal said at his unveiling: “Within two days I know already how important Manchester United is, but also how important the sponsors are and I have to work and prepare a team and I have to adapt to this big club. It will not be easy.”

Van Gaal’s blunt assessment flew in the face of comments made by his boss Ed Woodward less than 24 hours earlier.

Responding to the comments made by Van Gaal at his unveiling, United’s executive vice-chairman said on Monday: “It doesn’t disrupt the football club.”

Woodward said he was open to discussions with Van Gaal about where he thought the club should go on tour next year.

Keen to maximise their profits and broaden their fan-base, United have been on long-haul tours for the last 10 years. Last summer they clocked up 23,000 miles travelling between Australia, Thailand, China and Japan.

The club have been keen to tap in to the Asian market in the last few years and South Africa, as well as the U.S., has been a regular destination for the squad in preseason.

Van Gaal has made it clear he will not accept such a draining tour as the current one next summer.

“Manchester United shall do everything to adapt to my rules for good preparation,” the Dutchman said.

When asked if he would like a shorter tour next year with less travelling, Van Gaal said: “Yeah, I hope that. They have already said that to me. And I am very confident that it shall be.”

Around 2,500 paying customers sat in the stands at the 90,000-capacity Rose Bowl on Tuesday just to watch the squad train. A crowd of over 70,000 is expected for the match itself.

-ESPN FC

LONDON, July 23 – Stoke City have signed striker Bojan Krkic from Spanish giants Barcelona for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League side announced on Tuesday.

Bojan, 23, has penned a four-year contract at the Britannia and becomes Stoke’s fifth signing of the summer.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes told the club’s website: “Anyone who knows European football will be aware of him as a player and the fact that he sees his future at Stoke City is really exciting and an endorsement of the club itself.

“He’s desperate to prove himself in the Premier League and we’re pleased to be able to offer him that platform.”

Bojan was expected to fly out to Germany to join his new teammates, including former Barca defender Marc Muniesa, at Stoke’s pre-season training camp.

Bojan, capped once by Spain, came up through the Barca academy and scored 41 goals in 163 appearances for the first team before joining Roma in 2011.

After failing to leave a lasting impression in the Italian capital he was sent on loan to AC Milan prior to his return to the Nou Camp after the 2012/13 season.

He spent last year on loan at Dutch giants Ajax and helped the Amsterdam club secure a record 33rd Eredivisie title.

Bojan’s arrival at the Britannia adds to the signings of Mame Biram Diouf, Steve Sidwell, Phil Bardsley and Teixeira.

LONDON, July 23- A British lawmaker called on Tuesday for fans to boycott English Premier League football matches in protest at the high number of foreign players taking part in the competition,

The overseas presence was making it impossible for England to win the World Cup again, claimed David Amess, a member of the Conservative Party led by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Amess labelled the Premier League an “absolute disgrace” and called for a boycott of English football’s lucrative top-flight ahead of the new season, which starts on August 16.

However, Amess urged fans to attend matches played by teams in England’s Football League, which oversees the three divisions below the Premier League.

“I was unable to support either of the teams that played in the final but the thing that I’m very concerned about was the performance of the English football team.

“They badly let us down,” said Amess in a House of Commons debate held nine days after Germany’s 1-0 win over Argentina to claim the 2014 World Cup title.

He contrasted England’s first-round exit in Brazil with the performance of the 1966 side, who beat the then West Germany 4-2 after extra-time in the World Cup final at London’s Wembley Stadium — the only time England have won the World Cup.

“In 1966 it was my home team of West Ham who provided Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters, who led the team and scored all the four goals.

“All of these players were home-grown.

“Nowadays the Premier League is an absolute disgrace. Our footballers are paid far too much money and under perform.

“I’m advising everyone to boycott Premier League matches in the future.

“Not the other league(s), the rest of of the football teams are fantastic.

“But we will never win the World Cup again if we continue to have all these overseas players.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Greg Dyke, the chairman of England’s governing Football Association, reiterated his support for England manager Roy Hodgson despite the team failing to win a single one of its three group games in Brazil.

“I thought Roy Hodgson did quite a good job (at the World Cup) — I’ve got a lot of time for him,” Dyke said, while giving evidence to a committee of lawmakers.

“One of the big problems English football has is the average Premier League manager lasts 12 months if you take (Arsenal’s) Arsene Wenger out.

“The ability to look long-term therefore is going to be quite limited. In England your first job as a manager is to sort out your contract when you go in and the second is to sort out your contract when you leave.

“Our view is Roy has a four-year contract and he will continue that contract,” Dyke also told the Commons’ Culture, Media and Sport committee.

“Some progress was made. But what we are going to look at is are there more fundamental changes we need to make? We’ll look at that in September.”

LONDON, July 23- Manchester United are prepared to break transfer records in order to give new manager Louis van Gaal the players he wants, according to executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

The English giants have already spent over £50 million ($85 million, 63 million euros) on England left-back Luke Shaw and Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera, and Woodward says that they are ready to spend even more.

Some of United’s European rivals have spent big recently. Real Madrid on Tuesday signed James Rodriguez from Monaco for a fee of around £63 million ($107.4m), while Barcelona paid Liverpool around £75 million ($127.8m) for Luis Suarez.

Asked if United were able to pay a similar amount for a player, Woodward said: “It is in our capabilities. The club are not afraid of doing that — spending significant amounts of money in the transfer market.”

United are rebuilding under Van Gaal after a dismal 2013-14 season and Woodward says that in the context, the club will have no qualms about sanctioning big-money signings.

“Whether it’s a record or not doesn’t really resonate with us,” he added, in comments reported by the British media on Wednesday.

“What resonates is a top, top elite player that the manager wants that is going to be a star for Manchester United. We are in a very strong financial position. We can make big signings.

“I get pointed in the direction of a target that the manager wants and there is an assessment of what that might cost and I’ll negotiate hard to do the best I can on the trade.”

United have been linked with a host of players in recent weeks, including Germany centre-back Mats Hummels, Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen, and the Dutch trio of Daley Blind, Stefan de Vrij and Kevin Strootman.

Woodward endured a trying first close-season last year, when United missed out on a succession of major targets, and he admits he still needs to prove his worth to the club’s supporters.

“You gain credibility through experience and through time,” said the former investment banker.

“You can’t expect credibility from day one and I wouldn’t ask that of the fans. You keep learning on the job and I’ll continue to learn for a long period of time.

“I don’t mind reading (criticism), because it’s extremely important for me to listen to the fans. Criticism can change into positive comments over a period of time.”

GLASGOW, July 24- Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the 20th Commonwealth Games at Celtic Park on Wednesday after a moving and colourful ceremony in front of a 40,000 capacity crowd.

The Games will feature 17 sports across 11 days of competition with more than 4,500 athletes from 71 nations competing, making the event the biggest Scotland has ever hosted.

The Queen called on those present to “unite” in difficult times as a minute’s silence was held for the victims of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 flight disaster.

Eighty-two of the 298 people who died last week when the plane came down over eastern Ukraine were from Commonwealth nations.

The Malaysian team also entered the stadium with their flag at half-mast and wore black armbands.

“To you, the Commonwealth athletes, I send my good wishes for success in your endeavours. Your accomplishments over the coming days will encourage us all to strengthen the bonds that unite us,” said the Queen.

“You remind us that young people, those under 25 years of age, make up half of our Commonwealth citizens; and it is to you that we entrust our values and our future.

“I offer my sincere thanks to the many organisations and volunteers who have worked diligently to bring these Games to fruition, and indeed to the spectators here in the stadium and to the millions watching on television.

“Together, you all play a part in strengthening our friendships in this modern and vibrant association of nations.

“It now gives me the greatest pleasure to declare the 20th Commonwealth Games open.”

A colourful, nearly three-hour long ceremony began with an exuberant sequence depicting the history of Scotland was followed by live performances from world-renowned Scottish singers Rod Stewart and Susan Boyle.

The Queen then made her entrance, accompanied by Prince Philip, whilst the RAF Red Arrows performed a colourful flyover past the stadium.

Teams from all 71 nations were then paraded, starting with 2010 hosts India and ending with Scotland.

Six-time Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy carried the Queen’s baton on the final leg of its 100,000 mile journey through all of the Commonwealth nations over the past nine months.

There was a brief moment of farce when the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation Prince Tunku Imran couldn’t remove the Queen’s message from the baton.

However, once the message was finally removed, the Queen hailed Glasgow’s suitability for a competition often known as the “friendly games.”

“Over the past 288 days the baton has visited all the nations and territories of the Commonwealth, crossing every continent in a journey of more than 100,000 miles.

“The baton relay represents a calling together of people from every part of the Commonwealth and serves as a reminder of our shared ideals and ambitions as a diverse, resourceful and cohesive family.

“And now, that baton has arrived here in Glasgow, a city renowned for its dynamic cultural and sporting achievements, for the warmth of its people, for this opening ceremony of the friendly games.”

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond also welcomed the team athletes and officials to what he described as “Scotland’s scene for 11 days of sport and culture.”

“Welcome to the Commonwealth of nations, welcome to Scotland,” he added.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 24- Two quick fire first half goals from winger Noah Wafula and Nigerian import Austin Ikenna was all that limping AFC Leopards needed to clinch a first victory in four after overcoming Nairobi City Stars 2-0 at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.

Wafula capitalized on City Stars midfield blunder to net the first after five minutes before skipper Martin Imbalambala set up Ikenna who powerfully headed home nine minutes later for the decisive cushion.

At the Ruaraka Grounds, Tusker trimmed champions Gor Mahia’s lead to three points following their 2-0 win over KCB who looked destined for the drop.

Jesse Were and Isamel Dunga were on target in the second-half to pile more miseries to the Bankers who are still rooted at the bottom with nine points after managing only two wins.

“The match was very positive especially coming from a loss. The players had psychological fear and that’s why we didn’t play well in the first half but the only way to believe it was over is when they scored,” Tusker FC head coach Francis Kimanzi stated after the win.

At the Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium, Ingwe coming from a 2-1 loss to Mathare United, had to collect maximum points to avoid dropping to the relegation zone.

They embarked on salvaging pride with a roaring start with Imbalambala leading fro m the front with fierce shot that went slightly above the bar.

At the half hour mark, midfielder Humphrey Mieno could have extended the lead after receiving Musa Mudde’s cross but the former Sofapaka player failed to net his third goal for Leopards after his feeble shot was rescued by keeper Fredrick Majani.

Ikenna and Wafula had further chances but Majani’s keeping denied the pair their braces as Mieno’s thunderbolt went inches wide with the Kawangware based side tightening the defence.

Keeper Martin Musalia who benched first choice Wycliffe Kasaya, was in form stopping Kevin Ochieng’s header and Nelson Marasowe’s efforts to ensure they pick maximum points.

In the early kick-off at the Ruaraka Grounds, forward Michael Olunga netted his sixth goal of the season to see Thika United beat visiting Western Stima 1-0.

Olunga coming from attending trials in South Africa found the back of the net in the 72nd after former Gor Mahia midfielder Moses Odhiambo set him to place the ball beyond keeper Gabriel Adika’s reach.

After having a dull first-half, Michael Luvutsi came close three minutes to the break after unleashing a long range shot that hit the cross bar but David King’atua’s introduction in the second-half strengthened the attacking that resulted to the goal.

The win saw Thika United beak break their 11-game winless run against Stima with head coach John Kamau applauding his charges for bouncing back from a 3-1 defeat against KCB.

Elsewhere in Machakos, Bonface Onyango and Eric Apul were on target as Ulinzi Stars overcame hosts Mathare 2-0 in the early kick-off to see the Slum boys succumb to their first defeat after in three.

Onyango scored Ulinzi’s opener four minutes after Noah Abich had missed a penalty for Mathare when Oliver Ruto brought down Daniel Mwaura in the box.

Apul doubled the lead in the 63rd after pouncing on Kevin Amwayi’s rebound to ensure they go back to Nakuru with maximum points and maintain their top-eight slot.

The final match at Kenyatta Stadium saw veteran striker John Baraza head home his seventh goal of the season to help Sofapaka salvage a point against visiting Chemelil Sugar.

Hamisi Mwinyi broke the deadlock for the Sugar Millers from a counter attack in the 84th, before Tony Ndolo picked Baraza with a pin point cross to restore parity four minutes later.

GLASGOW, July 24 – Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games were handed a heavy body blow early on Thursday’s opening day with the news that athletics legend Mo Farah had pulled out due to injury.

The 5,000 and 10,000 metres Olympic champion, 31, was recently laid low by illness and has decided to pull out of the Games in order to work on his fitness ahead of next month’s European Championships in Zurich.

“I have taken the tough decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games,” Farah said in a statement released by Team England.

“I really wanted to add the Commonwealth titles to my Olympic and World Championships, but the event is coming a few weeks too soon for me as my body is telling me it’s not ready to race yet. Best wishes to my fellow athletes in Glasgow.

Lawn Bowls action, meanwhile, got the Games underway on a day when Australia’s powerhouse swimmers were expected to dominate and there were high hopes of an early gold medal for hosts Scotland in the pool.

Australian swimmers won just one gold at the Olympics with their campaign plagued by accusations of bullying, wild partying and misuse of prescription drugs.

Over six days of competition at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Australia will be hopeful of retaining the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay, whilst the Aussie trio of Emma Mckeon, Bronte Barrat and Brittany Elmslie will battle for gold in the women’s 200m freestyle.

Michael Jamieson and Hannah Miley will try to get the Games off to a flying start for hosts Scotland as they go for gold in the men’s 200m breaststroke and women’s 400m individual medley respectively.

Glasgow-born Jamieson has become the face of the Games following his silver medal in the Olympics and has Japan’s Akihiro Yamaguchi’s world record in his sights as he looks to go one better in home water.

Miley was Commonwealth champion in Dehli four years ago and will be aiming to hold off competition from England’s Aimee Willmott to defend her title.

The first para-sport swimming gold of the Games will also be on offer in the men’s 100m freestyle S9 event.

In total, 21 golds will be won on Thursday.

As well as four in the pool, there are four up for grabs on the first day of track cycling at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

Bradley Wiggins is back on the track for the first time since 2008 and aiming to win his first ever Commonwealth gold in the 400m team pursuit for England.

Six-time Commonwealth Games medallist Anna Meares will begin her record-setting quest with the 500m time trial as the Australian bids to become the first competitor to win a track cycling medal at four Commonwealth Games.

- India eye weightlifting gold -

New Zealand will be the team to beat in the men’s team sprint event.

The Kiwis riders, including Eddie Dawkins and Ethan Mitchell, go into the event as favourites after their triumph in the world championships in Colombia and will want to go one better than the silver they claimed in Dehli in 2010.

They will face competition from traditional powers Australia and England that contains sprint king Jason Kenny.

The women’s para-sport sprint B tandem event will mark the first time Commonwealth Games athletes have competed in a para-sport track cycling competition.

The Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonathan, are betting on an intense sibling rivalry in their drive for a top-of-the-podium finish in the triathlon.

Alistair Brownlee will be out to add Commonwealth gold to his Olympic gold won in London in 2012, with triumphs in the World Triathlon Series in 2011 and 2013 sandwiching that victory.

The women’s individual race promises to have several contenders vying for gold.

New Zealand’s Andrea Hewitt claimed bronze the last time the triathlon took place at the Games and she also holds a silver from the 2011 World Triathlon Series and bronzes from the 2009 and 2012 editions.

She will likely be up against England’s Jodie Stimpson, a silver medal winner in the World Triathlon Series in 2013.

Indian lifters are expected to be at the forefront on the first day’s action in the weightlifting.

There are also five titles to be decided in judo and one in rhythmic gymnastics while preliminaries begin in field hockey, lawn bowls, netball, squash, table tennis and badminton.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 24- Agnes Tirop failed in her bid to emulate her close pal Faith Chepng’etich as a World Junior Championships gold medallist when she collected her second successive bronze during the women 5000m finals in Eugene, Oregon.

Tirop bowed to the Ethiopian might of the unrelated Alemitus- Haroye and Hawi- who took gold and silver as Day 2 of riveting action at the Hayward Field concluded with Kenya yet to hear their national anthem played at the historic stadium.

The medallists returned 15:10.08, 15:10.46 and 15:43.12 as the Kenyan was reduced to the role of leading the challengers’ home once the Ethiopian pair dislodged from the competition with five laps to go before deciding the top two medals in an internal contest.

Tirop, who also won the third medal in Barcelona two years ago, said post race her progress was checked by injury as she prepares to graduate to senior running next season without realised her dream to rule the world as a junior.

“I feel good about the race. I had a leg injury, coming into the Championships, so I’m happy with the bronze. There is a lot of training ahead, because now I will start to compete as a senior athlete,” she told the IAAF.

There was no indication of the injury before she departed for Oregon, stating her desire to follow in the golden footsteps of Chepng’etich, who reigned supreme over 1500m in Barcelona, after they met in the run-up to Spain and struck a close bond.

“We met at the Barcelona World Juniors in 2012 and ran together at the Poland World Cross again the following year and this year, we were in Kampala (Africa Cross). She has motivated me a lot. We are both small and we became close and she would tell me I will win like her.

“She talks to me a lot and she has asked me to graduate to the seniors with the World Junior gold. That is what I want to do and God willing, it will happen in Eugene,” the Form 1 student at Kosirai High School in Uasin Gishu County said before the Kenyan contingent left for Oregon.

Haroye over Hawi

Haroye and Hawi who share the given name Alemitu, upped the pace in the third kilometre, covered in 2:52.88, the fastest 1000m in the race, to build an insurmountable lead over Tirop before the went on to moonlight their illustrious senior compatriots, Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar after the bell.

The duel for glory which lasted over the final three laps was only decided a few metres from the line.

The fastest junior in the world this year, Haroye ran the third fastest time in the history of the championships to claim her first global title; her best international performance before her arrival in Eugene being when she finished one place behind Tirop in Bydgoszcz.

“This race was a good contest. The conditions in the beginning weren’t that good, but it got better towards the end. I’m really happy. After this, God only knows what will come next, but the door is open,” the champion, who won Ethiopia’s seventh women 5000m gold in ten editions of this event, said.

“It was a good race. There was a bit of wind but the last lap was wonderful. I’m happy to be a silver medal winner and just happy overall,” the silver winner added.

Elsewhere, Overall team captain, Alex Sampao, ran 46.21 to make the final of the men 400m as the third fastest behind Machel Cedenio of Trinidad and Tobago and home runner, Tyler Brown who clocked 45.90 and 45.97.

Sampao, who trailed all finalists home at last year’s World Youth championships, was second behind Brown in the first heat.

Margaret Wambui ran her personal best as compatriot Maximila Imali qualified for the women 800m final as a fastest loser in the semis of their event.

Wambui ran 2 minutes, 3.72 seconds to emerge the second fastest qualifier for the finals after finishing second to Cuban Sahily Diago in the first semi as Imali held on for fourth in the other to qualify as one of the two fastest losers in 2 minutes, 5.37 seconds.

Nafuna Nalyanya’s competition in the women 400m heats ended in disqualification as Stephen Kipkoech also saw his dreams in the 400m Hurdles crushed by sixth finish in the eighth heat.

Medal rush expected

Kenya, who lie eighth in the overall standings with a silver and a bronze, look forward to landing her first honours in early Friday’s action.

Sampao will be out first at 5:45am Kenyan time in the 400m final with Wambui and Imali following soon after at 6:00am.

World Youth champion, Lilian Kasait, will hope to climb the next step and win the World Juniors gold when she and compatriot Valentina Chepkwemoi take to the track for the women 3000m final.

The medal hunt will be completed by the men 1500m duo of Hillary Cheruiyot, who won silver in Barcelona two years and in form Jonathan Sawe, who beat him to the line at the Trials for Oregon besides running the fastest time at the semis of 3:38.61.

That race will start at 6:40am.

-Material from iaaf.org used in this report

THE HAGUE, July 24- The Dutch football federation (KNVB) said on Wednesday that “during these black days” it was too early to discuss the country’s participation at the 2018 World Cup in Russia in the wake of the Malaysian Airlines flight crash.

The issue of Holland’s appearance at the finals in four years time is likely to prove contentious after 193 Dutch nationals were killed when MH17 was shot down over rebel-held eastern Ukraine last Thursday killing all 298 people on board.

Western governments say the evidence points to it having been shot down with a missile by pro-Russian separatists.

As the Netherlands awaited Wednesday the much-delayed return of the first bodies from the stricken flight, declaring an exceptional day of mourning, the KNVB acknowledged the subject of Russia 2018 would prove “very emotive”.

“Different people have asked the KNVB questions about (taking part in) the 2018 World Cup in Russia,” a federation statement read.

“We realise that a future World Cup in Russia will be very emotive for all football lovers and relatives of the dead in the Netherlands.

“During these black days the KNVB is with the families, friends and football clubs of the victims.

“Silence over this immense loss is the current priority.

“The KNVB thinks that it is more appropriate for discussion about the future World Cup in Russia to be held at a later date, when the investigation of the disaster is completed.”

MADRID, July 24- Barcelona striker Luis Suarez, who is currently serving a four-month suspension for biting, is poised to potentially make his club debut against bitter rivals Real Madrid in late October.

Suarez, who joined Barca from Premier League side Liverpool earlier this month for £75 million ($128 million, 95 million euros), should be available in time for the Catalan giants’ trip to the Santiago Bernabeu over the weekend of October 25-26.

Suarez, 27, was banned for nine international matches matches and barred from all football activities for four months on June 26, two days after biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.

The Spanish Football League (LFP) announced the fixtures for the 2014/15 La Liga season on Thursday with title-holders Atletico Madrid set to kick off the defence of their crown away to city rivals Rayo Vallecano over the weekend of August 23-24.

European champions Real Madrid, bolstered by the off-season acquisitions of James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos, begin their campaign at home to newly-promoted Cordoba, who are back in the Spanish top flight after a 42-year absence, while Barcelona host Elche.

La Liga newcomers Eibar face fellow Basque side Real Sociedad on the opening weekend of the season as Deportivo La Coruna, who returned to the top tier at the first attempt, travel to Granada.

The second El Clasico of the season is scheduled for the weekend of March 21-22 at the Camp Nou with the season set to conclude on May 24.

Before the league campaign gets underway, though, Atletico will meet Copa del Rey winners Real in the two-legged Spanish Super Cup.

The first leg takes place on August 19 at the Bernabeu with the return fixture set for the Vicente Calderon three days later.

ABUJA, July 24- The executive board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Thursday dismissed president Aminu Maigari after he was impeached for misuse of funds.

Vice-president Mike Umeh will now step up to serve as acting president.

A statement from the executive committee meeting said that “after thorough and exhaustive deliberations” on the secretive nature of the federation’s financial dealings and a “failure to call a meeting of the executive committee for the past eight months” during which time many important decision were made, the board had passed a vote of no-confidence on Maigari.

It therefore approved his immediate dismissal from the NFF executive committee on grounds of financial misappropriation, misapplication and maladministration.

Umeh will preside over the affairs of the federation pending the composition of the new NFF executive committee after the elections on August 26.

It is believed that eight of 13 executive committee members signed the impeachment motion.

NEW YORK, July 24-Chelsea’s all-time top scorer and England international midfielder Frank Lampard has signed to play for Major League Soccer 2015 expansion side New York City FC, the club announced Thursday.

Lampard spent his first six seasons at West Ham United with only a brief loan to Swansea in his debut season. He joined Chelsea in 2001 and bagged 211 goals for the Blues as well as 29 in 106 caps for England.

During Lampard’s tenure, Chelsea won Premier League titles in 2005, 2006 and 2010, the FA Cup in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012 as well as the 2012 Champions League crown.

Lampard, 36, joins a team that signed Spanish star David Villa to a three-year deal last month and is guided by sporting director Claudio Reyna, a retired US star, and coached by Jason Kreis.

The club, a joint effort between Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees and English Premier League side Manchester City, will launch its inaugural season next year, playing out of Yankee Stadium until a planned new park is completed.

Villa helped Spain capture the 2010 World Cup and helped Atletico Madrid win this year’s La Liga crown. In his stint with Barcelona, the Spanish side won La Liga crowns in 2011 and 2013 and a 2011 Champions League title.

Villa, who retired from international play after the World Cup, will play on loan at Australia’s Melbourne City ahead of joining New York next year.

LONDON, July 25- Manchester United were left red-faced on Thursday when their new home kit was mistakenly sold online for more than half price.

Online shoppers looking to buy a United shirt were treated to a bargain after they were accidentally sold at £22 ($37) each.

The club’s official shop, operated by Kitbag.com, listed the new United shirts as part of their half-price sale by mistake.

Some fans were able to buy the shirt for less than half price at just £22, with children’s shirts on offer for just £16.50.

The sale was first spotted during United’s pre-season win over LA Galaxy before it was closed down at approximately 0700GMT.

Aware that refusing to allow the sales would be a major PR embarrassment, United confirmed they will honour discounts on all merchandise sold.

“United Direct, the Club’s Official Online Megastore, which is run by our e-commerce partner Kitbag, sent out communications which contained details of an erroneous discount code to our fans around the globe – this offer has now ended,” a statement said.

“United Direct will honour all consumer orders placed using this discount code, an approach which is fully endorsed by the Club.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 25- Kenya finally opened her gold account at the World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon as Mary Wambui and Jonathan Sawe stormed to glory in the women 800m and men 1500m finals on Friday morning.

It could have been three in three had bulldozing American, Mary Cain, not powered past Lilian Kasait and Valentina Chepkwemoi to motor to the top medal over the last 200m in the women 3000m event in between Wambui’s and Sawe’s triumphs.

Having seen Ugandan and archrivals Ethiopian athletes beat them to the middle step of the podium on Days 1 and 2, the Kenyan distance running empire struck back emphatically in the space of 45 minutes at the Hayward Field track as the country rose to the top of the overall standings with 2 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals ahead of hosts USA.

Wambui opens account

Wambui ran the race of her life, three seconds faster than her previous lifetime best which she set in Wednesday’s semi final, as she won over two laps of the track in 2:00.49 in a monumental upset at Hayward Field to land Kenya’s first gold.

In her first season of high level competition, the 17-year old sprinted away from Cuba’s pre-race favourite Sahily Diago, attacking from 70 metres out, to claim Kenya’s fourth junior title in the women’s 800m but the first one in 12 years.

Diago came home for second in 2:02.11, ahead of Australia’s Georgia Wassall, who came out on top of a duel with her compatriot Georgia Griffith for the bronze medal, stopping the clock in 2:02.71

Iceland’s World Youth and European junior champion, Aníta Hinriksdóttir went out astonishingly hard and broke the group into two as she hit the first 200 metres in 27.24 and covered the first lap in a blistering 56.33 as Kenya’s Maximila Imali bowed out of the fight for the medals after appealing to pull her hamstring 150 metres into the race.

Sawe delivers number eight

A closing lap of 53.97 was enough for Sawe to ascend to the World Junior title in the men 1500m as the powerfully built athlete motored to a 3:40.02 season’s best triumph.

Sawe became the eighth Kenyan man to win the world junior Metric Mile title when he kicked away from his team-mate Hillary Cheruiyot Ngetich on the homestretch to reach the finish in 3:40.02.

Ngetich, the silver medallist in 2012, was overhauled by Djibouti’s Abdi Waiss Mouhyadin for silver in 3:41.38; Ngetich finished in 3:41.61.

Ngetich took off fast from the gun but settled once he reached the front, going through 400m in 58.23 but 800m in a more pedestrian 2:01.31 with the whole field packed up behind him.

At the bell, Sawe came to the front and pulled Ngetich, Mouhyadin and Brazil’s Thiago Andre clear of the pack. Sawe reached full flight on the backstretch, and despite Ngetich’s best efforts to close the gap, he wouldn’t be challenged for the remainder of the race.

Of the 15 world junior 1500m finals, Kenyans have now won nine. Mouhyadin won Djibouti’s first medal of any kind at the World Junior Championships.

“I tried to finish as best I could. I expected myself to win. I liked the pace and I felt ready for it,” Sawe said after the race.

The one that went away

World Youth champion, Lilian Kasait and team-mate Valentina Chepkwemoi took silver and bronze respectively in the women 3000m having chased American revelation, Mary Cain home in 9:00.53 and 9:00.79.

After early pace-making by Japan’s Nozomi Takamatsu, Kasait took control of the race as they approached the first kilometre mark, throwing in repeated surges around the second bend to thin the pack.

Joined by Mateiko, Ethiopia’s Etagegen Woldu, Weini Kelati of Eritrea, and Cain, they reached 1000m in 3:03.84.

Chepkwemoi was credited with the second kilometre split of 6:07.39, then Rengeruk took over again. With a few more surges, the pack was narrowed to Rengeruk, Mateiko, Cain and Woldu as they approached the bell.

On the backstretch Cain was clearly itching to go, passing Mateiko on the inside and creeping up on Rengeruk’s heels. Finally with 150m remaining she burst to the front and simply ran away, increasing her lead all the way down the homestretch.

Cain, a finalist at the Moscow Worlds, won gold in 8:58.48 after a final lap of 62.93 to become the first US woman to win a world junior title in an event longer than 800m.

“The pace of the race wasn’t bad. I missed the moment to get Mary Cain. I still won the silver. It’s ok, but I didn’t win,” Kasait said with her compatriot, Chepkwemoi adding, “I am very proud of it. This is my first time and I got a bronze, so I am very proud. The race was not bad and I tried my best.”

Kenya’s medal prospects on Day 4 will come in the last event of the programme when Moses Mukono, a finalist in Barcelona, and Fredrick Kipkosgei take to the track.

-Material from IAAF used in this report

TOKYO, July 25- Brazilian superstar Neymar’s brain activity while dancing past opponents is less than 10 percent the level of amateur players, suggesting he plays as if on auto-pilot, according to Japanese neurologists.

Results of brain scans conducted on Neymar in February this year indicated minimal cerebral function when he rotated his ankle and point to the Barcelona striker’s wizardry being uncannily natural.

“From MRI images we discovered Neymar’s brain activity to be less than 10 percent of an amateur player,” researcher Eiichi Naito told AFP on Friday.

“It is possible genetics is a factor, aided by the type of training he does.”

The findings were published in the Swiss journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience following a series of motor skills tests carried out on the 22-year-old Neymar and several other athletes in Barcelona in February this year.

Three Spanish second-division footballers and two top-level swimmers were also subjected to the same tests, added Naito of Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology.

Naito concluded in his paper that the test results “provide valuable evidence that the football brain of Neymar recruits very limited neural resources in the motor-cortical foot regions during foot movements”.

Asked whether Neymar’s Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi or Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo might display similar test results, Naito said: “It is fair to assume they would show similar levels given their footwork and technique.”

Naito told Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun newspaper: “Reduced brain activity means less burden which allows (the player) to perform many complex movements at once. We believe this gives him the ability to execute his various shimmies.”

Neymar carried the hopes of host nation Brazil on his shoulders at the recently ended World Cup but his involvement ended in tears as he fractured a vertebra in the 2-1 quarter-final victory over Colombia.

Without their talisman, who had scored four goals in the tournament, Brazil suffered their most humiliating defeat ever when they were pulverised 7-1 by eventual champions Germany in the semi-final.

LONDON, July 25- Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho revealed on Friday that he is considering a move to bring former striker Didier Drogba back to the club after he was released by Galatasaray.

“We think about it,” Mourinho told the Friday editions of several British newspapers.

“We want to win matches and win titles and Didier is one of the best strikers in Europe. He is still very adapted to the needs of the Premier League and we are thinking about it in a non-emotional way.”

Drogba, 36, registered 157 goals during an eight-year spell at Stamford Bridge that culminated in him scoring the equaliser and then the winning penalty against Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final.

After a brief spell with Chinese club Shanghai Shenua, he joined Galatasaray in January 2013, but left the club when his contract expired at the end of last season.

British media reports suggest Drogba could be offered a coaching role at Chelsea, but Mourinho says that if the Ivory Coast star does return to the club, it would be to play.

“If you bring him back, it is not because he is Didier or scored the most important goal in the history of Chelsea, or because I read I need an assistant, no,” the Portuguese added.

“If I bring him back, and the decision has to be made soon, it is because as a player he has qualities to make the team stronger.

“The team is not about the 11. It is about the different options and with Didier’s profile, being a squad player, I think he could be important for any team.

“And because we know his heart is pushing him to where he feels he belongs, we are thinking about the possibility.

“(Chelsea owner Roman) Abramovich is very intelligent and he feels that people belong to the club. We feel that Didier belongs to us. Is he coming back as a player, one more year or a couple more years? Let’s see.”

With Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba having left, Chelsea currently have three senior strikers on their books in Fernando Torres, Romelu Lukaku, who has returned from a season-long loan at Everton, and new signing Diego Costa.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 25- Kenya will have to wait longer for their first medal of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games (CWG) after defending men 50m butterfly champion, Jason Dunford, surrendered his title in the semi finals as boxers made a strong start to their quest for honours on Friday.

Flyweight silver medallist, Benson Gicharu and Sri Lanka King Lion International Boxing welterweight champion Rayton Okwiri progressed to round of 16 in their preliminary bouts.

Gicharu, the Kenya Police boxer, out-boxed Guyana’s Imran Khan in the Bantam 56kg category to collect 89 points after dominating all rounds.

Okwiri, the Kenya Prisons pugilist, who was competing in the welterweight category, also earned a unanimous victory from the three judges against Merven Clair from Mauritius.

The disappointment of the day for Kenya was Dunford’s meek surrender of his crown as he swum 24.03 to finish fifth and although he was ranked the tenth fastest of the round, he could not nail one of the eight slots for the final.

He went faster in Thursday’s heats where he clocked 23.76 to qualify for the semis after finishing second in his race.

The US based swimmer still has the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly events to contest Saturday but speaking to local website, Sports News Arena, the man who made history at the Delhi Games when he became the first non athlete and boxer to be crowned CWG champion hinted at retirement after the Glasgow showpiece.

According to the website, Dunford, 27, cited age as a factor that could see him follow in the footsteps of his younger sibling, David, who hang his swimming cap after an unconvincing London 2012 Olympics outing.

Elsewhere, Kenya’s dream of winning a medal in men’s Judo dissipated after James Mashombo was eliminated in the quarters.

Mashombo beat Papua New Guinea’s Nelson Ashaan in the 73kg category round of 16 to raise hopes but in the subsequent bout he convincingly lost to Australia’s Jake Bensted.

The tale of woe continued in the 81kg division with Joshua Omondi and John Muthee both bundled out in the preliminary round.

In Badminton, Kenya failed to go past the Group stage after losing all their Group B matches, going down 2-3 to Uganda in their opener before a 3-1 defeat to Ghana and 5-0 to India in the mixed event.

There was no luck either in shooting as Guy Douglas could not make the cut; finishing 17th on 57 points in skeet same as Linet Awour also crashed out in the women’s air pistol event.

Anita Zahra swam 1:11.08 to qualify to the women’s 100m backstroke after touching the wall second although she missed out in the 50m freestyle earlier on.

Tory Michael was the only male to sail through in the 100m breastroke semis after posting a time of 1:0926 for third.

Saturday will see the national 7s team begin their quest to become the first team sport to win a medal, when they take on Cook Island, South Africa as well as Trinidad and Tobago in Group B.

If they progress from the Pool, they will play either four-time champion New Zealand, hosts Scotland, Canada or Barbados in the Main Cup on Sunday.

Boxers Nicholas Okong’o and Nickson Otieno will be looking to emulate their team-mates when they step in the ring, with Okong’o taking on John Colin from Mauritius in lightweight round 32.

Otieno will be up against Samoa’s Petelo Matangi in middleweight.

Dunford will be looking to redeem himself in 100m freestyle alongside Steven Kimani while Sylvia Tanya, Zahra and Jamie Ogot will compete in the women’s 50m butterfly.

LONDON, July 25- Arsene Wenger has added his voice to the growing criticism surrounding lengthy pre-season tours, but admits there are some commercial responsibilities clubs have to honour.

The Gunners are currently in New York for the first phase of their pre-season preparations, before leaving for a training camp in Austria and then returning to London for the Emirates Cup.

And while Wenger understands the need for traveling across the globe as a club, he remains concerned by its effect on player fitness and focus.

“These training camps in the modern game are decided for commercial reasons and because of the extent of popularity of the club,” he told a press-conference in New York.

“We’ve never been to the States before and I was very happy to come to New York – a city I love.

“But for purely football reasons, the best thing to do is stay and not travel too much because of the time you waste and the jet-lag you suffer is not ideal.

-TEAMtalk Media

“This season is a post-World Cup year and very difficult because the time is very short between the final, which was on July 13, and the start of the new season on August 16.

“And compulsory, from FIFA, you are obliged to give four weeks’ holiday to the players, so I don’t know how all that works together. It looks, to me, impossible.”

NEW YORK, July 25- Cristiano Ronaldo is about to become a Young Money Cash Money billionaire.

Sources told American entertainment website TMZ Sports YMCMB boss, Lil Wayne, is starting his own sports management company and the Real Madrid and Portugal star will become the first client.

“Our sources tell us Weezy has wanted to get into the sports management game for a while and has had his sights set on the Team Portugal stud not just because he’s a huge sports star, but because they’re friends.

“We’re told Weezy’s company will be working with PolarisSports — which is affiliated with the CAA agency and GestiFute — through which Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes operates.”

According to TMZ Wayne’s company will handle Ronaldo’s sports management affairs in the United States — everything from branding to marketing and endorsement deals and even modelling.

Ronaldo posted a photo with the Prime Minister of Japan along with other Japanese politicians and they were all throwing up the YMCMB sign.

LONDON, July 26- Premier League giants Chelsea announced on Friday that their former striker Didier Drogba has returned to the club on a one-year contract.

Citing the influence of manager Jose Mourinho, Drogba told the club website: “It was an easy decision. I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to work with Jose again.

“Everyone knows the special relationship I have with this club and it has always felt like home to me. My desire to win is still the same and I look forward to the opportunity to help this team.

“I am excited for this next chapter of my career,” added Drogba, who was pictured on the club website posing with Chelsea’s new home shirt.

Drogba, 36, was a free agent after leaving Turkish side Galatasaray at the end of last season.

The Ivory Coast star scored 157 goals for Chelsea over an eight-year period and left the club in 2012 shortly after scoring the winning penalty against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

“He’s coming because he’s one of the best strikers in Europe,” Mourinho said.

“I know his personality very well and I know if he comes back he’s not protected by history or what he’s done for this club previously. He is coming with the mentality to make more history.”

Mourinho brought Drogba to Stamford Bridge from Marseille in a £24 million ($40.7 million, 30.3 million euros) transfer in 2004 during his first stint as manager.

The burly, powerful centre-forward went on to become one of the greatest players ever to have played for the west London club.

- ‘Didier belongs to us’ -

He was instrumental in three Premier League title successes and also won four FA Cups and two League Cups, in addition to the Champions League triumph at Bayern’s Allianz Arena.

In total he has made 341 appearances for the club, scoring nine cup-final goals, and was voted Chelsea’s greatest ever player in a 2012 fan poll.

After leaving in 2012, he played for Chinese club Shanghai Shenua before joining Galatasaray on an 18-month deal in January 2013.

An Ivory Coast great, he played in all three of his country’s matches at the World Cup in Brazil, leaving him with 104 caps and 64 international goals to his name.

Drogba is likely to provide cover for new Chelsea signing Diego Costa, who completed a £32 million move from Atletico Madrid earlier this month.

Mourinho can also call upon Fernando Torres and Romelu Lukaku, who has returned from a season-long loan at Everton, but Demba Ba and Samuel Eto’o have both left the club.

British media reports suggested Drogba could be offered a coaching role at Chelsea, but Mourinho said that he was returning to the club to play.

“If you bring him back, it is not because he is Didier or scored the most important goal in the history of Chelsea, or because I read I need an assistant, no,” the Portuguese told the Friday editions of several British newspapers, before Drogba’s return had been confirmed.

Mourinho said that Drogba was returning because “as a player he has qualities to make the team stronger”.

He added: “(Chelsea owner Roman) Abramovich is very intelligent and he feels that people belong to the club. We feel that Didier belongs to us.”