LISBON, July 26- Portuguese champions Benfica have signed striker Bebe from Manchester United on a four-year deal, the club announced on Friday.

The 24-year-old, whose full name is Tiago Manuel Dias Correia, signed with United in 2010 but spent much of his career with the English club on loan.

After spells with Turkish side Besiktas and Rio Ave, he spent last season at Pacos de Ferreira before finally agreeing terms with Benfica, ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Benfica were guided by coach Jorge Jesus to the Portuguese title, domestic Cup and domestic League Cup last season, while they narrowly lost the Europa League final against Sevilla on penalties.

Meanwhile, Liverpool suffered a major blow on Friday when England midfielder Adam Lallana was ruled out for up to six weeks after suffering a knee injury.

Lallana, who moved to Anfield from Southampton for £25 million ($42 million) earlier this month, sustained the knock to his lateral collateral ligament during a session at the Reds’ Harvard University training base in Boston.

The 26-year-old, a member of England’s World Cup squad in Brazil, has been assessed by Liverpool’s medical staff and does not require surgery, but he looks unlikely to recover in time for the start of the Premier League season on August 16.

“No specific timeframe has been placed on a return to fitness, but injuries of this nature can result in a spell of anywhere up to six weeks on the sidelines,” a statement on Liverpool’s website confirmed.

Lallana will undergo further assessment by Liverpool’s medical team in the United States and on his return to England.

His absence from the start of Liverpool’s season is a significant setback for Reds manager Brendan Rodgers, who had hoped to use the playmaker as a key figure in his revamp of the team following the sale of star striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona.

Lallana was taking part in only his fourth training session with Liverpool after he and the majority of the club’s other England World Cup players joined up with the Reds squad on their US tour on Monday.

The midfielder, whose outstanding form last season made him a target for several top clubs before Rodgers won the race for his signature, will be denied an opening day reunion with his former club Southampton.

Liverpool, who finished as Premier League runners-up last term, also face crucial matches against Manchester City and Tottenham in the early weeks of the season.

Lallana’s focus will be on reaching peak fitness in time for the start of Liverpool’s Champions League challenge in September.

GLASGOW, July 26- Australia became the first country to win 200 Commonwealth Games cycling medals on Saturday as Olympic and world sprint king Usain Bolt arrived to a predictable media scrum.

Australia’s Annette Edmondson won the women’s 10km scratch race gold before Kieran Modra and Jason Niblett grabbed silver in the men’s sprint tandem and compatriots Paul Kennedy and Thomas Clarke captured bronze to take their country to the 200-medal mark.

Edmondson’s gold came just a day after brother Alex had won the 4,000m individual pursuit.

“Finally I’ve matched Alex. I’ve never come home with the gold, it’s always been silver or bronze, so it really means a lot to me,” said Annette Edmondson.

The action on the third day of the Games was overshadowed in the afternoon by the arrival of Jamaican sprint superstar Bolt who will race in the 4x100m relay heats in what will be his first outing of an injury-hit season.

“Yes I’m here to run. I’ll be running, definitely,” said Bolt.

“I finally get the chance to compete in one (Commonwealth Games) so I’m very happy to be here.”

Bolt, world record holder in both the 100 and 200m as well as double Olympic and world champion, said he had not felt under pressure from sponsors to make an appearance in Scotland, and said he would run in the heats of the relay.

Should he not, and his teammates drop the baton, the Jamaican would face the prospect of not even making an appearance on the track at Hampden Park.
© AFP
Patricia Bezzoubenko competes in the ribbon discipline during the Individual All-Around Rhythmic Gymnastics event at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on July 25, 2014
© AFP Ben Stansall

“I’ll be running the heats,” Bolt stressed. “I think I need to run because it’s the first race of the season so I really need to get it going.”

Canada’s Patricia Bezzoubenko was crowned queen of the Commonwealth Games, completing a five gold medal haul in rhythmic gymnastics.

Bezzoubenko had already won two golds in the team and all-around events and she added three more on Saturday in the clubs, ball and hoop individual disciplines.

The one gold that escaped her grasp was in the ribbon which went to Francesca Jones giving Wales their first gold medal of the Games.

- Russian influence -

“I was expecting a good performance but that’s it, no medals, I didn’t think about it. It just worked. It is amazing it is my first Commonwealth Games. I am so proud of my country,” said 27-year-old Bezzoubenko who trains in Russia.

Australian shooter Daniel Repacholi won the men’s 10m air pistol but the toast of the town in that event was third-placed Mick Gault of England who at 60 won a record-equalling 18th Commonwealth Games medal.

“Job done, finished, don’t care anymore. I got the record and I can just relax now,” said Gault.

England swept the triathlon gold medals with victory in the team relay while four-time rugby sevens champion New Zealand crushed Canada 39-0 and then edged Scotland 17-14 to get their title defence under way.

In netball, the two title favourites, Australia and England, played out a group stage thriller which the Australians edged 49-48.

In the morning qualifying session in the swimming pool there was more success for Scotland as Cameron Broady went faster that Olympic champion Chad le Clos in the 100m butterfly after being inspired by fellow Scots Ross Murdoch and Dan Wallace.

Broady qualified fastest ahead of reigning Commonwealth champion Le Clos in a time of 1min 57:28sec.

There will be another Scotland against South Africa clash later on Saturday when Murdoch goes for a second gold in the 100m breaststroke against Olympic champion Cameron van der Burgh.

England’s Adam Peaty is also expected to have a say, though, as he broke the Commonwealth Games record in qualifying fastest for the final.

It was a more comfortable morning for the favourites in the men’s 100m freestyle as world champion James Magnussen eased into the semi-finals with the fastest time ahead of teammate Cameron McEvoy.

England’s Fran Halsall continued her fine start to the meet with another Commonwealth Games record of 25:64 sec as the defending champion cruised into the semi-finals of the 50m butterfly.

In weightlifting, England’s Zoe Smith beat Nigeria’s Ndidi Winifred and Welsh veteran Michaela Breeze to claim gold in the women’s 58kg.

LONDON, England, July 26- Santi Cazorla says Arsenal fans can expect a title challenge this season after the Gunners ended their nine-year trophy drought by lifting the FA Cup in May.

Arsene Wenger has strengthened his starting line-up with the signings of World Cup stars Mathieu Debuchy and Alexis Sanchez, while Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina and Southampton full-back Calum Chambers could also arrive.

Cazorla has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid this summer and, while he admits that the Diego Simeone’s side are an inspiration, the Spain international says he is committed to helping Arsenal win their first league title in 11 years.

“I have high hopes. The signing of Alexis Sanchez and Mathieu Debuchy shows that the club is building a team to challenge. Hopefully we can lift at least another trophy this campaign,” he told Marca.

“Winning the FA Cup altered the type of pressure we’ll be under this season. It unshackled us in a manner of speaking. After so many trophyless years, the tension was getting to the team.

“Last year maybe we didn’t quite have enough strength in depth to win the league. We had to deal with injuries to important players, including Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Lukas Podolski, and I had niggling ankle problems. That meant that when push came to shove, we were unable to keep pace with Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool.

“I’m expecting a very open title race. City are the reigning champions; United are going to strengthen in a big way and, since they aren’t in Europe, will be able to focus on the league; Chelsea have made great signings like Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Thibaut Courtois and Didier Drogba; while Liverpool have proven they are contenders.

“Atletico are a good example to follow. They had an incredible season last time out. A lot of people don’t appreciate how hard it is to win the league when you’re up against Barca and Real Madrid.”

-ESPN FC

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 23 – Relegation threatened KCB pulled 2008 champions, Mathare United closer to the trapdoor with a resounding 4-0 thrashing whilst veteran winger, Stephen Waruru, notched his seventh goal of the season as Ulinzi were held 1-1 by Nairobi City Stars in the highlight of Saturday’s Kenyan Premier League exchanges.

Waruru, the league top scorer in 2010 when Ulinzi ruled the roost, was again on target after a couple of underwhelming season at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru but his team once again failed to make capital as they surrendered two points.

At Nairobi’s City Stadium, Paul Kiongera, who also top scored for KCB the season before last, rediscovered his mojo with a brace as the Bankers who prop the table registered their third win of the campaign over Mathare at Nairobi’s City Stadium.

Muhoroni Youth continued with their indifferent run after settling to a 1-1 draw with hosts Top Fry Nakuru All Stars in the second game of the Afraha televised double header.

In the early match, City Stars were under stress to collect maximum points to pull away from the danger zone and they went ahead on the 24th minute through Dennis Okoth who finished off a Nelson Marasowe pass.

Waruru pegged them back in the 37th after pouncing on catastrophic defending between keeper Fredrick Majani and defender David Otieno who failed to communicate to each other to punish them.

Stars are five points above the drop zone on 18 as the sides shared the second stalemate of the season after their barren draw in the first leg.

In the earlier kick-off, Teddy Siwa netted a second half goal to help All Stars pick a point from visiting Muhoroni who took the lead in the 22nd through Enos Ochieng who slotted home Daniel Waweru’s free-kick.

At the City Stadium, coach Rishadi Shedu registered his second win of the season as the Bankers bounced back from midweek loss to ruthlessly thrash Mathare to record their highest score line of the campaign.

Ronald Musana broke the deadlock in the 12th after connecting Kiongera’s cross from the midfield to send the ball to the far right corner for his debut goal since joining the Bankers.

KCB scored three goals in the last period, with Kiongera doubling the lead one minute after restart when he picked Benjamin Chaka’s pass from a counter attack before setting up substitute Samuel Mwangi who extended the lead to 3-0.

The Harambee Stars midfielder crowned his man of the match performance a minute later with his brace, looping the ball over Mathare keeper John Wawu.

Derby fever climaxes Sunday

Five fixtures are lined up for Sunday with the mother being the Mashemeji Derby where AFC Leopards welcome archrivals champions Gor Mahia at Nyayo Stadium.

The hype for the return leg is still on as both sides eagerly wait for the big day to see carries the day after Leopards boast of first leg bragging rights courtesy of a 3-1 win.

The social media was a bee hive of activities for the better part of this week as both sides took to their official Facebook walls to taunt each other and predict the score line.

The first leg belonged to Ingwe who outclassed K’Ogalo but for the last five years no team has won both legs and heading to Sunday’s crunch, both sides come from wins but that does not matter when the two titans of Kenyan football step to the pitch.

Ingwe would relish derailing Gor’s title charge and opening it up after Tusker moved to within three points at the summit while K’Ogalo would delight at pushing their ‘in-laws’ closer to the drop zone.

Tusker are in Bandari hoping to pick the scraps and muscle to the lead should they win and Gor lose while the ‘sugar’ derby between Chemelil and Sony takes place in Awendo.

Thika United hope to tax points from KRA at home while Sofapaka, the 2009 champions who are trailing the top two are away to Western Stima.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 27 – Kenya rugby 7s will face defending champions New Zealand in the Main Cup quarter-finals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games Sunday after securing two wins in Group B despite losing 20-0 in their final preliminary match against South Africa.

Earlier, Paul Treu charges, got off to a solid start after stewing Cook Islands 28-0 in their opener before seeing off Trinidad and Tobago 35-5 in their second match.

The last encounter saw Treu once again fail to beat his former employers as the record advanced to 6-1 this year following five loses at last season’s HSBC World Series to a single victory.

Shujaa found the going tough from the start with Springboks dominating the African derby as Cecil Afrika opened the lead after piling pressure to ground down for a 5-0 lead before Braco du Preez doubled the lead.

Afrika was instrumental for the third try, setting Saebolo Senalta while team effort saw Kwoggo Smith seal the win as the bronze medalist booked a date with hosts Scotland.

In the second match, Winger Dennis Ombachi scored a hat-trick of tries to send Kenya to Cup quarters after registering a resounding 35-5 win over Trinidad and Tobago in their second Group B match.

Shujaa had earlier on beat Cook Islands 28-0 in their opener as they dominated the contest with Ombachi, the Mwamba RFC player opening the scoring in the third minute after receiving a pass from fly-half Biko Adema who picked the ball from the scrum as he went on to convert for a 7-0 lead.

Ombachi then touched down his brace when he sprinted on the right after Kenya’s record try scorer Collins Injera fed him as Adema did well to convert from a tight angle for a 14-0.

Trinidad pulled one back after utilizing Kenya’s defensive lapse for Joseph Quashie to ground down from a kick as they missed the conversion.

Veteran Humphrey Kayange used his experience to score his first try of the tournament after breaking through from a solo effort as Adema’s kick went through for a 21-5 lead.

Ombachi completed his hat-trick three minutes later as Injera once again set him through to touch the white wash before Felix Ayange hammered the final nail on the coffin after powering through from the midfield.

In the opener, Injera scored a brace of tries to see Shujaa start on a winning note over Cook Island.

Injera opened the scoring midway through the first-half after splitting the defence to touch down with Adema converting for a 7-0 lead.

Shujaa built on their 7-0 lead upon resumption, with Treu bringing on Michael Agevi for Michael Wanjala who increased the pace of the game.

Injera completed his brace minutes later as Adema made no mistake to convert for a 14-0 lead.

Two minutes to the hooter, Billy Odhiambo dispossessed the Islanders to ground down for the third try before Agevi sealed the win.

Duford floored again

Kenyan top swimmer Jason Dunford, once again missed out the chance to medal in the 100m freestyle where he bowed out at the semi-finals after finishing last in a time of 50.78.

Dunford who was stripped off his 50m butterfly title on Friday by England’s Benjamin Proud will compete in his last event Sunday in 100m backstroke for his last stab at Commonwealth glory.

Meanwhile, Sylvia Tanya and Ger Jamie qualified to the semi-finals of women’s 50m Butterfly while Anita Zahra bid goodbye the competition after finishing seventh in heat 2.

Boxers punch their way up

Kenyan boxers continued to post good results, with Nicholas Okong’o progressing to round 16 of the lightweight after flooring Mauritius’ John Colin.

The three judges awarded Okong’o 29 points in each round to bag 89 points while Nickson Otieno punched Samoa’s Patelo Magagi in middleweight to storm round 16.

Simon Mulinge also sailed to round 16 after beating Namibian Immanuel Shapaka in flyweight to book a date with Lesotho’s Moroke Mokhotho.

Kenya Police Elly Ajowi knocked out Botswana’s Thabang Motsewabeng in light heavyweight to collect 83 points while Alumasa Matayo meet hosts Aquel Ahmen in light fly round 16.

Women performed better in Judo but could not reach the medal bracket as with Esther Akinyi come close but was bundled out by Scotland’s Sarah Adlington in the 78 kg in the semis.

Alice Chebet reached the quarters while Levy Kiplagat and Evans Ouko failed to go past the preliminary round in 90 kg and 100 kg respectively.

In Lawn bowls Mirriam Nyokabi was beaten by Jersey’s Lindsey Greechan in round 5, with same case applying in shooting where Shaminderpal Signh and Shitul Shah finished 24th and 25th.

Kenya also lost in the Queen’s Prize pairs final, finishing 13th as England won gold.

In Squash, Safina Madhani was eliminated in women’s consolation plate quarters by Kimbarley Borg of Malta 3-1with her male counterpart Hartaj Bains beaten by Zambia’s Mwinga Legwe by similar score line.

Kenya will seek her first medal Sunday, when track and field events kick-off with the Marathon as the country looks to defend the men’s title and eye for the women’s too.

Oregon, July 27- Bahrain’s Ruth Jebet, that’s right, Ruth Jebet, denied her country of birth Kenya the gold medal in the women’s 3000m steeplechase when she took the honours in 9:36.74 on the penultimate day of the World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Jebet simply ran away from the field over the last kilometre of the race to win Bahrain’s first ever World Juniors gold medal, and their first women’s medal of any hue.

After early pace making by Peru’s Zulema Arenas brought the pack through the first 1000m in a quick 3:12.16, Kenya’s world youth champion Rosefline Chepngetich took over and began surging in an attempt to break up the pack.

Jebet moved up before the second kilometre, reached in 6:26.18, and towed Chepgnetich and her team-mate Daisy Jepkemei, the defending world junior champion away from the pack.

Eventually Jebet opened a sizeable gap the Kenyan duo was unable to close. Chepgnetich set out in pursuit but was unable to approach Jebet until the final lap, and by then it was too late and she took silver in 9:40.28.

Jepkemei duelled with Ethiopia’s Buzuayehu Mohamed for the bronze medal through the last lap, ultimately pulling away to give Kenya two women on the podium with a 9:47.65. Mohamed was fourth in 9:48.66.

World Youth champion, Alfred Kipketer and teammate Joshua Masikonde made the finals of men 800m after winning their semis.

Kipketer carried the first semi in 1:48.67 before Masikonde clocked 1:48.09, to win the second to ensure Kenya will have two athletes from eight finalists vying for the medals.

Besides the pair, the country will duel for medals and possible honours in the men 3000m steeplechase where Titus Kipruto and Barnabas Kipyego are in action in the first track final of the closing day of the biennial showpiece.

Sheila Chepng’etich and Winfred Mbithe will then take the stage to battle for the medals in the women 1500m before the men 800 duo wrap up the charge.

Kenya dropped from first on Day 3 to fourth with 2 gold, 3 silver and 6 bronze.

LONDON, July 27- English Premier League side Arsenal said on Sunday they have signed Colombia’s World Cup goalkeeper David Ospina from French club Nice.

Ospina, 25, was one of the stars of the World Cup with spectacular performances as his country reached the quarter-finals for the first time. He will compete for an Arsenal starting place with Polish international Wojciech Szczesny.

Arsenal said he would sign a “long-term contract”, but did not give the fee. French reports this week said Arsenal would pay about four million euros ($5.4 million). Ospina has been at Nice for six seasons.

“David Ospina is an excellent goalkeeper, with good experience and a proven record of performing with Nice and Colombia,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

“He will add strength to our squad and we are very pleased that he will be joining us.”

Ospina is expected to make his first appearance at the Emirates Cup friendly tournament, which takes place at Arsenal next weekend.

Ospina joined Nice in 2008 from Colombian side Atletico Nacional, for whom he made his professional debut at the age of only 17.

He made his international debut in 2007 and was handed his first start in a 2010 World Cup qualifying match against Bolivia.

His arrival at Arsenal follows the departure of second-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, who has joined Swansea City.

Nice coach Claude Puel had confirmed the transfer late on Saturday, after his side lost to London club Brentford in a friendly.

“It’s confirmed, yes,” Puel told Sky Sports News.

“It’s a good affair for Arsenal because he’s a very good player. You will see next season the quality of this player.

“It’s fantastic for him. It’s important for him to try another league, another club, and Arsenal is a fantastic club for him.

“You saw in the World Cup how important a goalkeeper he is,” said Puel.

LONDON, July 27- Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has expressed regret after pictures of him smoking during a holiday in Las Vegas appeared in the British media.

“The smoking? Of course I regret it,” Wilshere was quoted as saying by the Sunday editions of several British newspapers.

Wilshere was photographed smoking a cigarette outside a nightclub last year and vowed it would never happen again. The recent images showed him smoking amongst friends in a Las Vegas swimming pool.

“I’ve been seen before doing it. I said then I made a mistake and I have made a mistake again. People make mistakes,” the 22-year-old added.

“I’m young and I’ll learn from it. I realise the consequences it has and the effect on kids growing up.

“I have kids myself and I don’t want them growing up to think their dad smokes and it’s OK for a footballer to smoke, because it’s not. It’s unacceptable and I will accept the consequences and I will move on,” Wilshere said.

LONDON, July 28- Wayne Rooney is keen to be named Manchester United’s new captain and is confident the team can challenge for the Premier League title this season.

The departure of Nemanja Vidic to Inter Milan this summer has left United needing to appoint a new skipper and manager Louis van Gaal is taking his time before making a decision.

Robin van Persie, who was van Gaal’s captain for the Netherlands, is a contender for the job, while long-serving midfielder Darren Fletcher wore the armband in the midweek win over Los Angeles Galaxy.

Rooney, who scored twice in the 7-0 romp, has captained United in the past and he is hoping to be given the role on a more permanent basis.

“Of course I would like the captaincy but it’s the manager’s decision who he chooses,” said Rooney.

“I think he wants to work with the players and then choose a captain from there.

“I don’t think he was ever going to just walk in and choose a player from the off. I’m sure he will look at the players now and make his decision in a couple of weeks.”

United finished last season in seventh as David Moyes failed to see out the season and van Gaal has been charged with the task of turning the ship around.

And Rooney said: “We can win the title. Last season was a bad one, we know that, but we are confident we can put it right. We have to believe we can win the title.”

Rooney has been impressed by the initial impact of van Gaal and was also happy with the 3-5-2 formation which United played against LA Galaxy.

“In Brazil I watched the way Holland were playing and I carried on doing that when I came home,” said the England striker.

“However you can watch as much as you want but it’s when you hear him getting his point across in training that you start to learn.

“Louis van Gaal has been great. I’ve only had a few days but he’s a strong guy who has been good in training and it’s been enjoyable.

“He is bringing in a new style of play and wants us all to adapt to that and that’s been enjoyable.

“He’s very honest in training. If you are not doing well in training he will tell you but if you do well he will praise you. If you aren’t doing things right in training you need to know so that you can put them right.

“It’s great to hear him say he wants to play two strikers as we have a few. It’s a good formation and it’s good to work on it in training for a few days.”

-Football365.com

BUDAPEST, July 28- Lewis Hamilton said he was “very, very shocked” to be asked by his Mercedes team to move over and allow team-mate and title rival Nico Rosberg to pass him during Sunday’s tumultuous Hungarian Grand Prix.

The incident, one of at least two in which Mercedes tried to persuade Hamilton to help Rosberg, came after 47 laps of a 70-laps race won by Australian Daniel Ricciardo for Red Bull.

The two Mercedes drivers, who finished third and fourth, were on different strategies and Rosberg, on a three-stop plan, was using faster soft tyres at the time and had a further pit stop to make.

“Obviously I am aware that I was in the same race as him, just because he had one more stop than me doesn’t mean I am not in same race,” said Hamilton afterwards.

“If I let him pass, then he could pull away and come back at me later.

“I was very, very shocked that the team would ask me to do that. He didn’t get close enough to overtake, I was not going to lift off and lose ground to Fernando (Alonso) or Daniel (Ricciardo), so it was a bit strange.”

Hamilton had started from the pit lane and, after brushing the barriers at Turn Two of the opening lap made full use of his pure pace and two Safety Car interventions on a drying track to fight his way through the field.

The Briton finished third behind two-time champion Spaniard Alonso of Ferrari. Rosberg came fourth.

Asked “not to hold him up” on lap 47, and reminded of the message on lap 52, Hamilton replied: “I’ll let him through if he gets closer…. I’m not slowing down for Nico.”

In turn, Rosberg asked via radio: “Why is he not letting me through?” In response he was told: “He’s had the message.”

This situation persisted for eight laps before Rosberg pitted for new soft tyres and a final charge.

Hamilton, who trimmed Rosberg’s championship lead from 14 to 11 points, said: “This is damage limitation. I was just pushing as hard as I could to get as high as I could.

“I cannot explain the pain you feel when you have issues such as I have had in last couple of races. It is difficult to swallow, and to come back next day and attack.

“You are pushing way beyond what you would do if you were on pole position. It feels satisfying coming through (and) to be ahead and still in the fight is still encouraging.”

Hamilton was seeking to complete a hat-trick of Hungaroring wins with a record fifth at the circuit and had dominated all three free practice sessions before his car burst into flames, caused by a fuel leak, in the opening minutes of Saturday’s qualifying session.

A week earlier in Germany, he crashed in qualifying after suffering a brakes failure at high speed.

Rosberg, who started on pole and led the opening nine laps, kept his composure afterwards, but was clearly irritated and said he could have passed Hamilton on the final lap when he had a clear tyres advantage.

“I had a chance on the last lap,” he said. “I’m very annoyed that I wasn’t able to make it happen. Lewis made a mistake, I tried around the outside but it didn’t work out.”

GLASGOW, July 28 – South Africa ended four-time Commonwealth Games rugby sevens champions New Zealand’s unbeaten 30-match run to take gold Sunday while Kenya’s run ended with a Plate Semi final loss to Wales.

The Springboks clinched a nail-biting 17-12 final victory at a packed Ibrox Stadium thanks to tries from Seabelo Senatla (2) and Cecil Afrika and a conversion by Branco du Preez.

However, it was disappointing for the national 7s team whose dream of winning their first Commonwealth medal went up in smoke after once again crashing out in the Main Cup quarters 19-7 to the All Blacks before losing the Plate semis 28-5 to Wales.

Ben Lam grounded a brace as Tim Mekkelson added the third as New Zealand scored three tries against Kenya.

Skipper Andrew Amonde scored the consolation try for after powering through from the centre for fly-half Biko Adema to convert before Lam got his second after weaving through the Kenyan defence.

Against Wales, Lee Williams touched down twice after Jevon Groves opened the scoring before Luke Treharne sealed the victory after sliding underneath the post when Oscar Ouma gifted him a pass.

Ouma grounded Kenya’s reply with the team looking deflated after their medal hopes fell short against All Blacks.

Shujaa now turn attention to the 2014-15 HSBC Sevens World Series that will see the top four teams qualify to 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics Games.

As Kenya went home empty handed, their African rivals Blitzbokke ended an era for the All Blacks in the Main Cup final that stretched back to a Jonah Lomu-inspired side that won gold in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

New Zealand did not relinquish their title without a fight scoring two tries through Sherwin Stowers and Joe Webber, Gillies Kaka nailing one conversion.

“This feeling is the greatest,” said Afrika. “We as South Africans are so proud. Rugby is our national sport; we always strive to be the best in the world.

“The Commonwealth Games is a one-off tournament. As a squad we want to take this forward to the Rio Olympics.”

Australia took bronze with a 24-0 win over Samoa.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 28- Alfred Kipketer and Bernard Kipyego lifted their proud nation to finish second overall by breezing to men 800m and 3000m steeplechase gold as the thrilling World Junior Championships wrapped up in Eugene, Oregon early Monday.

Kipketer added the World Junior crown to the World Youth gold he won last year by clinching victory in a staggering 1:43.95 win, the second fastest ever at the World Juniors and sixth quickest of all time at the historic Hayward Field track.

He led countryman Joshua Tiampati Masikonde to the third Kenyan 1-2 in the men’s 800m in the history of the competition as the country’s dominance of the two-lap race was restored.

Earlier, Kipyego led home his team-mate Titus Kipruto in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. Kipyego was clocked in 8:25.57; Kibiego crossed the line in 8:26.15.

Sheila Chepeng’etich scooped bronze in the women 1500m in 4:11.12 as Kenya closed the final day with five medals to move from fourth to second with 4 gold, 5 silver and 7 bronze behind hosts USA who bagged 10 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze to top the charts.

Kipketer storms to glory

In the men 800m final, the Kenyan duo set a blistering pace from the start, covering the first 200m in 23.59 and the first lap in 49.42, about five meters ahead of the rest of the field.

After the 600m mark, covered in 1:16.51, Kipketer started to move away from Masikonde and went on to win in 1:43.95, close to the championship record of 1:43.79, set by Botswana’s Nigel Amos in 2012.

Kipketer’s time moved him to the ninth on the world junior all-time list.

Masikonde held on to secure silver in a personal best of 1:45.14 ahead of fast-finishing Andreas Almgren, who set a Swedish junior record of 1:45.65 to take bronze.

Seventeen-year-old Kipketer added his gold in Eugene to the world youth title from last year. He was part of the winning 4x800m Kenyan squad at the IAAF World Relays in Nassau and became the ninth Kenyan man to win the global junior gold in the distance.

Only five other athletes have run faster than him at Hayward Field.

Kipyego retains Kenya’ race

Kipyego made the pace for much of the race, keeping the tempo from dawdling and leading the surges which trimmed the lead group down.

He led through the initial kilometre split of 2:53.56; it was Kibiego’s turn to lead at the second split of 5:42.81.

The pack narrowed to the two Kenyans, world youth champion Meresa Kahsay of Ethiopia, and Bahrain’s Evans Rutto Chematot, but with two laps remaining Kahsay began to get left behind.

“With three laps to go I saw I was no longer with the Kenyans,” Chematot explained later, although he remained close up to the bell when Kibiego passed him for good.

It was Kipyego who took off on the last lap, with Kibiego shadowing him but unable to get ahead.

Kipyego stepped smoothly over the last water jump, which Kibiego hurdled a little ineptly, slowing him down a bit. Kipyego got over the final barrier more smoothly, giving him a slight advantage he held to the finish.

“Leading from the start to the end is what we had planned,” Kipyego explained. “This event is for Kenyans.”

Ethiopian pair, Dawit Seyaum (4:09.86) and Gudaf Tsegay (4:10.83) proved a class above Chepng’etich who held on for the third medal in the women 1500m as teammate, Wilfred Mbithe (4:13.80) ran a career best for seveth.

Margaret Nyairera (women 800m) and Jonathan Sawe (men 3000m) are the other gold winners from Oregon.

-Material from IAAF used in this report

EUGENE MEDALLISTS

Gold

Margaret Nyairera Wambui W 800 Metres
Jonathan Kiplimo Sawe M 1500 Metres
Barnabas Kipyego M 3000 Metres Steeplechase
Alfred Kipketer M 800 Metres

Silver

Elvis Kipchoge Cheboi M 10,000 Metres
Lilian Kasait Rengeruk W 3000 Metres
Rosefline Chepngetich W 3000 Metres Steeplechase
Titus Kipruto Kibiego M 3000 Metres Steeplechase
Joshua Tiampati Masikonde M 800 Metres

Bronze

Nicholas Mboroto Kosimbei M 10,000 Metres
Agnes Jebet Tirop W 5000 Metres
Valentina Chepkwemoi W 3000 Metres
Hillary Cheruiyot Ngetich M 1500 Metres
Moses Letoyie M 5000 Metres
Daisy Jepkemei W 3000 Metres Steeplechase
Sheila Chepngetich Keter W 1500 Metres

PITTSBURGH, July 28- English Premier League champions Manchester City cruised to a 5-1 triumph over Italy’s AC Milan on Sunday in a weather-hit friendly at Heinz Field, home of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men stormed into an early 2-0 lead thanks to strikes from Stevan Jovetic in the 11th minute and Scott Sinclair in the 14th, the two making the most of a Milan defense that struggled with Manchester City’s pace down the right flank.

City continued to dominate and added a third as Jesus Navas’s acrobatic effort from outside the area was deflected past helpless Milan goalkeeper Michael Agazzi in the 23rd minute.

City added a fourth after 26 minutes when Nigerian teenager Kelechi Iheanacho, who has been training with the club for several weeks, picked the ball up on the edge of the box, turned and slotted it home.

Sulley Muntari pulled one back for Milan shortly before halftime, making it 4-1 going into the break which was extended as fans were cleared from the stands because of a heavy thunderstorm that brought lightning and a tornado warning.

The sides eventually emerged for the second half and the English outfit picked up where they had left off — Montenegro international Jovetic making it 5-1 in the 58th.

Former City striker Mario Balotelli, who sat out Milan’s 3-0 loss to Olympiakos in Toronto on Thursday, came on for the second half and had a goal ruled out for offside.

The match was part of the International Champions Cup, a collection of pre-season matches featuring eight European clubs all preparing for the start of their domestic campaigns.

At Soldier Field in Chicago, home of the NFL’s Bears, England international Raheem Sterling scored the only goal in Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Olympiakos of Greece.

The winger struck after just five minutes, seizing upon a deflected strike by Daniel Sturridge and finishing.

Olympiakos came close to equalizing, but Gevorg Ghazaryan was denied by the crossbar early in the second half.

A crowd of 36,170 turned out for the contest, in which Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers selected a starting side that included proven players such as Steven Gerrard, Sterling and Sturridge and also handed a maiden appearance for the club to recent recruit Lazar Markovic.

The result gave Liverpool a winning start to their International Champions Cup campaign, after they had fallen 1-0 to Roma in a friendly in Boston to start their North American tour.

Spanish champions Atletico Madrid were also Stateside on Sunday for some pre-season action, taking a 4-3 win on penalties after playing to a 0-0 draw against Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes in San Francisco.

The match was notable as the last sports event scheduled at Candlestick Park, the stadium that was the home of baseball’s San Francisco Giants from 1960 until 2000 and has been the home of the NFL’s 49ers since 1971.

The 49ers are moving to their new Levi’s Stadium in nearby Santa Clara in the upcoming season.

LONDON, July 28- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits that signing teenager Calum Chambers for a reported fee of £16million is a risk, but it is one he is prepared to take.

The Gunners are expected to announce the 19-year-old’s transfer from Southampton on Monday, with the defender believed to have already undergone a medical and agreed personal terms.

The fee commanded by the England Under-21 international has raised many eyebrows, but Wenger believes that Chambers’ potential justifies it.

“He can play at centre-back, right-back and central midfield. I hope he will give us competition for the players in these three positions,” Wenger has been quoted as saying.

“He hasn’t played many games, no, but the English players on the market in England are very expensive and at the end of the day I was ready to take a gamble because he is a player for the future.”

Chambers is expected to play back-up to new signing Mathieu Debuchy at right-back, leaving Carl Jenkinson’s future at the club in doubt.

LIVERPOOL, July 28- Croatian international defender Dejan Lovren has signed a long-term deal with Premier League side Liverpool from Southampton, his new club confirmed on Sunday.

The 25-year-old becomes Brendan Rodgers’ fifth signing of the summer and the third from Southampton, following striker Rickie Lambert and midfielder Adam Lallana.

The deal is reported to be worth an estimated £20 million ($33.9m).

A Liverpool statement read: “Liverpool Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of defender Dejan Lovren from Southampton.

“The 25-year-old Croatian international today put pen to paper on a long-term deal with the Reds after completing his medical.”

Lovren told the club’s website: “It’s a dream come true.

“I’m happy and glad to be here. I’m proud and can’t wait to start. I know we have millions and millions of supporters – Liverpool is more than a club.

“After I played at Anfield last season, I said to myself: ‘One day I hope I’ll be able to play here for Liverpool’. The fans will know from the first minute that I’m a player that will give 100 per cent on the pitch.”

Lovren, who joined Southampton from Lyon for £8.5m last summer, leaves St Mary’s 12 months into a four-year contract.

MUNICH, July 28- Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has apologised after a video of him singing a derogatory song about Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund was published on the internet.

Bayern and BVB have gone toe-to-toe in the German top flight in recent seasons, sharing the last four titles between them — and that has fostered a fierce rivalry among both fans and officials.

Although he won the World Cup alongside Dortmund stars such as Mats Hummels and Kevin Grosskreutz, Schweinsteiger, 29, was captured on film joining in with a fans’ chant that refers to Bayern’s rivals as “sons of bitches.”

“I have broken off my holiday because it has come to my attention that a video with me in it has been spread around the internet,” the Bayern midfielder wrote on Facebook. “I would like to apologise to the fans, officials and players of Borussia Dortmund.
“I don’t want to gloss over anything. It is a well-known supporters’ chant, but I didn’t want to offend anyone with that swear word.”

Schweinsteiger stressed that he got on well with all the Dortmund players, particularly Grosskreutz, who lent his international teammate his support on his Instagram account.

Grosskreutz wrote: “Hey Schweini! That wasn’t cool, but I understand your explanation with regard to this and I will never forget everything that you have done for me! Everyone makes mistakes, and that should be the end of this!”

- ESPN FC

LONDON, July 28- Calum Chambers has joined Arsenal from Southampton on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.

The 19-year-old made his Premier League debut for the Saints on the opening day of the 2013/14 campaign, going on to feature 22 times in the competition last term.

Chambers joined the Southampton academy aged seven, breaking into the club’s first team squad at the beginning of 2012/13.

Tall and athletic, the versatile youngster started his career in midfield, but established himself at right back last season and can also play in the centre of defence. He is currently captain of England Under-19s.

Arsène Wenger said: “We are very pleased that Calum has agreed to join us. The way he adapted to the Premier League last season with Southampton at a young age shows that he has tremendous quality. He has a lot of the attributes that we look for in a young player and I am sure that he will do well with us.”

Chambers said: “I am so happy to be signing for Arsenal. They are a team I have much admired for their playing style, and a team who have been one of the top sides in Europe for many years. I’m looking forward to joining up with my new team-mates today and beginning preparation for the season ahead.

“I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone at Southampton FC for everything they have done for me and for making this move possible.”

It is expected that Chambers will make his first Arsenal appearance at the Emirates Cup 2014, which takes place at Emirates Stadium on August 2 and 3.

Chambers’ Arsenal squad number will be revealed soon through Arsenal’s official Instagram account.

-Story and picture from Arsenal.com

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 30 – Comoros head coach, Amir Abdou, has trashed charges levelled against his suspended Kenyan counterpart, Adel Amrouche, that he spat at an official during their 2015 Afcon qualifier on May 30.

The spitting allegations were the reason given by the Disciplinary Committee of continental body CAF to slap a one-year football ban that has been appealled by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) on the Belgian coach.

The continental body initially handed Amrouche a two-match touchline ban before announcing the suspension from the game Monday last week.

During the match that ended 1-1 at the Saïd Mohamed Cheikh International Stadium in Comoros that saw Kenya progress to the second round 2-1 on aggregate, Amrouche fell foul with the Fourth Official whom it was alleged he spat at in anger.

“In my capacity as the coach of the national team of Comoros, I wish to present to you my version of the events following the suspension decision taken against Mr. Adel Amrouche.

“As one of the people present at the scene of the incident that informed the sanction imposed by the Confederation of African Football, I would like to give my testimony. Mr Adel Amrouche did not “spit” on the referee during the return match, a qualifier for the AFCON 2015, between Kenya and Comoros,” Abdou said in a translated statement.

“He did in fact very vehemently and with agitation express his displeasure but he did not at any point behave in any such manner as alleged,” the Comoros tactician added.

“Through this testimony, the FCF (Football Comoros Federation), which I represent, wishes to support the FKF (Football Kenya Federation), which has appealed against this sanction.

“The very punitive sanction seems to be disproportionate to the infringements associated with Mr. Adel Amrouche’s behaviour during the match, which were characterized by agitation and verbal attacks on various match officials,” the declaration further read.

The Comoros boss and his federation presented themselves to be quizzed for further clarification on the matter.

Amrouche went on with his duties with the Kenyan team on Wednesday despite the uncertainty over his future as the country seeks to overturn a first leg 1-0 deficit when they welcome to Lesotho in the return leg of their second round qualifier.

Speaking after the CAF ban news broke, FKF president, Sam Nyamweya, stated they would ‘vehemently appeal’ the decision that would mean letting the Belgian who was hired in February last year although ‘options are in place’ should the continental body uphold their ban.

Kenya has only lost once with Amrouche in the dugout, a friendly reverse against Malawi last November having fell to Nigeria in the return leg of their 2014 World Cup qualifier last June and Lesotho in Maseru when he was banned from the technical area.

BUENOS AIRES, July 30- Julio Grondona, the veteran president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and FIFA vice-president, died on Wednesday at the age of 82 in a Buenos Aires clinic, AFA sources reported.

The all-powerful figure, who had been in charge of Argentine football since 1979, had been taken to hospital suffering from heart problems and died while undergoing emergency surgery.

Earlier this week he had held meetings with Alejandro Sabella, who decided not to continue as Argentina coach after leading the team to the World Cup final in Brazil recently.

Grondona had been a FIFA Executive member since 1988, heading its finance committee, and was appointed to the head of AFA nine years earlier by the country’s military government.

He had been successfully re-elected to continue governing football in the South American nation every four years since 1979, enjoying the unconditional support of the country’s 22,000 clubs.

His time in charge saw Argentina win the World Cup in Mexico in 1986, the Copa America in 1991 and 1993 and Olympic gold in 2004 and 2008, while in his earlier years he founded Arsenal, a club from the Buenos Aires suburb of Sarandi who emerged recently as a force at the top level.

But his FIFA links have brought regular accusations of scandal.

He was recently accused by opponents of President Cristina Kirchner of diverting millions of dollars of government finance to the AFA in return for television rights.

Before the last AFA election in 2011, Carlos Avila, a former associate of Grondona and owner of the TyC Sports television channel, alleged that the association president had 12 undeclared bank accounts in Europe and the United States.

“You want to know what I think of Grondona? OK, Grondona is the ‘puntero’ (informal military chief) for FIFA,” Avila said at the time calling for an investigation.

“It is public knowledge that Julio has an absolute power over the management of football. He has always based it on the poverty of (Argentinian) clubs,” he added.

During the recent World Cup, the AFA was allegedly involved in an international scandal over the illegal sale of VIP hospitality tickets which was investigated by Brazilian police.

One ticket found to be illegally sold was in the name of Humberto Grondona, son of the AFA president. The son denied involvement in illegal activities though he admits selling the ticket to a friend. The ticket is not part of the Brazilian investigation.

NAIROBI, July 30- Kenya has launched investigations on how its younger athletes are switching allegiance to oil-rich Arab country of Bahrain.

The country was incensed when Kenya-turned Bahraini Ruth Jebet turned up at the World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon in the U.S. and ran away with the 3,000m steeplechase gold leaving Kenyans in the dust of her sprint.

Jebet won the women 3,000m steeplechase event in 9:36.74 with Kenyans Rosefline Chepg’entich taking silver ahead of compatriot Daisy Jepkemei.

“We were shocked to find our athlete carrying another countries’ flag. As far as we are concerned, she was training here with our athletes and competing in our championships with a Kenyan passport.

“But she surprised us all lining up in the race with a Bahraini Passport. We are commencing the investigation, to know the circumstance under which those athletes who represented Bahrain and who are behind it,” said Jack Tuwei, Athletics Kenya Vice-President in-charge of Youth Development.

“She is in our school and training with our people. We will team up with the Ministry of Sports and Ministry of Education to see how this happened and who sanctioned her switch.”

Many Kenyans have ditched the red, white and black colours of the national flag in exchange for millions of dollars from Arab countries.

Ordinarily, it is easy to understand because most struggle from a chocking field and only a few get the chance to get a call to national team.

Jebet took the opportunity to run for Bahrain at the tender age of 16, transferring her eligibility in February 2013. In April she won the 3,000 metres and the 5,000 metres at the Kenyan high school championships.

The teenager excelled on her debut for Bahrain, coming second in the 3,000 metres steeplechase to Moroccan Olympian Salima El Ouali Alami at the 2013 Arab Athletics Championships.
Her time of 9:52.47 minutes was a Bahraini national record for the event. She improved upon her own mark that July at the 2013 Asian Athletics Championships, where she seized the lead from the start and never relinquished her position

“Athletics Kenya and sports ministry were never involve in the transfer of allegiance of Jebet. That is why we launched a formal complain to International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF),” said Tuwei.