BERLIN, August 28 – German champions Bayern Munich on Thursday announced they had agreed terms with Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso for his move from Real Madrid.

Alonso was to have a medical in Munich on Thursday while Bayern finalise the deal with Real with whom Alonso is under contract until 2016, the German club said.

The move comes after Alonso on Wednesday announced his retirement from international football.

The 32-year-old was a key member of the Spanish sides that won European Championships in 2008 and 2012, as well as their first World Cup in 2010.

However, Alonso’s final international tournament ended in catastrophe as the holders crashed out of the World Cup in Brazil in the group stage following defeats to the Netherlands and Chile.

At Bayern he will link up with former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola who has endured a difficult start to the season with injuries to Javi Martinez, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Rafinha and Thiago Alcantara.

He also lost central midfielder Toni Kroos in the close season, the German international going to Real Madrid.

The injuries saw Bayern bolster their defensive options on Wednesday by signing Moroccan international full-back Mehdi Benatia on a five year deal from Italian Serie A side Roma.

Bayern began the new Bundesliga season with a 2-1 win against Wolfsburg. They travel to Schalke this Saturday.

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 28- Champions Gor Mahia began post Bobby Williamson life with an uninspiring barren stalemate against plucky KCB at Nyayo National Stadium on Thursday.

The Bankers who bid farewell to their talismanic forward and former K’Ogalo favourite, Paul Mungai Kiongera, were worth their point and left the field happier of the two after moving out of the drop zone tied on 19 points but boasting of superior goal difference to Nairobi City Stars a place below in 15th.

The league leaders inched to a two point lead over closest Sofapaka on 40 but with a game in hand over their title rivals at the top as they avoid defeat that would surely have brought out the obituaries to their ability to defend the crown without the wily Scot who quit last weekend in charge.

KCB head coach Rishadi Shedu believes the point will motivate his charges to fight in their remaining seven matches and avoid dropping from the prestigious league.

“It was a really tough match Gor gave everything, our strikers did not beat the offside trap and that made us lose chances. We could have beaten them on the counter attack.

“My aim was to at least get a draw from this match and I’m sure it will give us morale to seek a win from our next two opponents. I have said and I will repeat it again KCB will survive,” the confident Shedu said post match.

Gor interim head coach Frank Ouna on his part added, “We have dropped two points since we were the better side considering we had a number of chances but failed to utilize.

“We have to play and win our game at hand because it doesn’t count for now. Each team is scrapping for points so the boys have to be ready for it. I have to prepare them well and rectify on where we went wrong and focus on Ulinzi.”

The Bankers set the pace rolling with Raymond Murugi racing from the left to shoot from a cute angle but was denied by keeper Jerim Onyango.

Geoffrey Kizito responded in the 18th minute with an indirect free-kick that went over the bar before keeper Zachary Onyango rescued the Ugandan’s cracker from a set piece.

Midfielder Benjamin Chaka could have broke the deadlock 11 minutes later when he picked a long ball to turn defender Harun Shakava round before unleashing a shot that missed the target by inches.

K’Ogalo found an open chance on the stroke of half-time after Dan Sserunkuma fed Timothy Otieno, only for the Harambee Stars new call up to blaze wide in front of goal.

Ouna introduced Simon Mburu for George ‘Black Berry’ Odhiambo in the last period with the midfielder creating various chances but Otieno failed to convert them despite defender Mark Odhiambo’s poor clearance.

Mburu picked Sserunkuma in the 57th who brilliantly took a shot but Onyango did well to deny him before Paul Kiongera’s effort to exit the club on a high to his new Tanzanian side Simba went futile despite combining well with Murugi.

Gor dominated the last 20 minutes with substitute Patrick Oboya coming close in the 84th but miscommunication between him, Shakava and Daniel Onyango saw his header over the bar.

Sserunkuma missed the last chance in the dying embers after Mburu put him through only for the Cranes forward to squander the opportunity that could have seen them open the gap at the top to four points.

MONACO, August 28- Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo was on Thursday named European Footballer of the Year, the Portuguese striker topping the journalists’ poll ahead of Germany’s World Cup winner Manuel Neuer and Dutchman Arjen Robben.

Ronaldo is the fourth recipient of the award, succeeding Franck Ribery, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi. France’s Ribery won the award last time around ahead of Messi and Ronaldo.

This time Ronaldo prevailed in a vote by 54 European journalists which took place on the sidelines of the draw for the Champions League group stages in Monaco.

“I’ve worked hard for this award, I am very happy, I thank all my team, because without that kind of team individual awards couldn’t exist,” said the reigning Ballon d’Or titleholder, after receiving his award from UEFA chief Michel Platini.

Ronaldo failed to sparkle at the World Cup in Brazil where Portugal were eliminated in the first round, but inspired Real Madrid on the European stage.

The 29-year-old broke the record for goals, 17, by a player in a Champions League campaign last season as Madrid claimed their tenth European title.

“It was amazing, something that Madrid had looked to do for many years,” said the striker. “As Madrid players we feel as though you have to win the Champions League. It was a fantastic season – we won the Champions League, the Spanish Cup and the (UEFA) Super Cup.”

Attacking midfielder Nadine Kessler won the women’s award ahead of Wolfburg teammates Nilla Fischer of Sweden and fellow German Martina Muller.

Kessler, 26, topped the vote of a jury of 12 journalists to succeed Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, who claimed the inaugural award last year. pgr/nr/ea

MONACO, August 28 – Champions Real Madrid will play five-time former winners Liverpool while fellow Spanish giants Barcelona plucked big-spending Paris Saint-Germain as the Champions League group stage draw was made in Monaco on Thursday.

Real and Liverpool will be confident of progressing from Group B where debutants Ludogorets of Bulgaria, who were only formed in 2001 and whose stadium holds just 8,000 fans, and Swiss outfit Basel, who knocked out Manchester United at this stage three years ago, await.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers told his club’s website: “Hopefully it was great for the supporters to sit and watch the draw for the first time in five years.

“To be back in it again, no matter who we were going to play, it was always going to be exciting. But to have Real Madrid in your group, the champions last season, is going to be special.

“I’m already thinking of Anfield on that night.”

Real are relishing the trip to Merseyside.

“Liverpool are an historic club of this great competition,” Real director Emilio Butragueno said.

“They are a great club and they have a stadium which is one of the cathedrals of football, therefore at Anfield they are especially strong.

“The support of their fans is extraordinary and they will be a very dangerous opponent.”

Butragueno added: “It is an additional challenge for our players to be able to break this tradition of the holders not being able to retain the trophy.”

- familiar foe -

Group F sees four-time winners Barcelona come up against PSG, who recruited Brazilian centre-back David Luiz from Chelsea in the close season.

He will be meeting a familiar foe in new Barca signing Luis Suarez, the former Liverpool forward.

Four-time former winners Ajax, another of Suarez’s previous sides, are alongside the pair as well as Cypriots Apoel.

Another money draw saw 2013 champions Bayern Munich paired with Manchester City, Roma and CSKA Moscow in Group E.

It is the third time in four years that Bayern and City will have faced each other in the group stages.

For English Premier League winners City, who failed to progress from the group stages in two of the last three years, it continues a run of tough draws at this stage of Europe’s premier club competition.

In 2011/12 they were paired with Bayern and Napoli and missed out on the knock-out stages after failing to beat the Italians at home.

A year later they finished bottom of a group containing Real, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax as they failed to win a single game.

Only last year, when they were also thrown in with Bayern, did City manage to get through the group stages and this time their job will not be simple.

There was a kinder draw, on paper at least, for 2012 champions Chelsea, who poached Germans Schalke 04, Sporting Lisbon of Portugal and Slovenia’s Maribor in Group G.

Arsenal, bidding to reach the knock-out stages for the 12th year in a row, plucked Borussia Dortmund, the 2013 finalists, in a tough Group D with Galatasaray, who beat them in the 2000 UEFA Cup final, and Belgian giants Anderlecht.

Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta tweeted: “Dortmund again and two new and tough teams. I love playing Champions League. Come on Gunners.”

Last year’s runners-up Atletico Madrid, the Spanish champions, pulled Italian champions Juventus out of the hat in Group A, along with Greeks Olympiakos, who regularly struggle at this stage, and Swedes Malmo, the European Cup runners-up from 1979.

Portuguese pair Porto and Benfica were given manageable draws, the latter getting Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk, Athletic Bilbao of Spain and Belarus representatives BATE Borisov in Group H.

Benfica, the twice former winners, were drawn against Russians Zenit St Petersburg, coached by former Porto boss Andre Villas-Boas, Bayer Leverkusen of Germany and Russian-backed Monaco in Group C.

The fairytale appearance meanwhile of Bulgarian minnows Ludogorets in Group B is due in large part thanks to the heroics of defender Cosmin Moti.

He was forced into goal in the last minute of extra-time of their play-off second leg 1-1 draw with Romanians Steaua Bucharest after goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov was dismissed in the final minute.

The game went almost immediately into penalties where not only did Moti score his side’s first spot-kick but he saved two of the Romanians to send the Bulgarians into the lucrative group stages.

Group A: Atletico Madrid (ESP), Juventus (ITA), Olympiakos (GRE), Malmo (SWE)

Group B: Real Madrid (ESP), Basel (SUI), Liverpool (ENG), Ludogorets (BUL)

Group C: Benfica (POR), Zenit St Petersburg (RUS), Bayer Leverkusen (GER), Monaco (FRA)

Group D: Arsenal (ENG), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Galatasaray (TUR), Anderlecht (BEL)

Group E: Bayern Munich (GER), Manchester City (ENG), CSKA Moscow (RUS), Roma (ITA)

Group F: Barcelona (ESP), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Ajax (NED), Apoel (CYP)

Group G: Chelsea (ENG), Schalke 04 (GER), Sporting Lisbon (POR), Maribor (SLO)

Group H: Porto (POR), Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR), Athletic Bilbao (ESP), BATE Borisov (BLR)

MANCHESTER, August 28- Angel Di Maria has revealed he consulted with Cristiano Ronaldo before completing his record transfer to Manchester United and accepting the club’s iconic number seven shirt.

Di Maria has followed in the footsteps of United legends Ronaldo, George Best, Eric Cantona and David Beckham by taking the number seven after his week’s British record £59.7 million ($98 million, 75 million euros) transfer from Real Madrid this week.

The Argentina midfielder joins United with the club in their worst state for more than two decades, without a win in two league games and fresh from a humiliating 4-0 League Cup defeat at third tier minnows Milton Keynes Dons on Tuesday.

But Di Maria, 26, revealed that a brief chat with his former Real team-mate Ronaldo was sufficient to convince him that he should accept the challenge of wearing the coveted number seven jersey at Old Trafford.

“I was aware of the importance of the number seven shirt. Cristiano Ronaldo had spoken to me at Real Madrid and told me how important it was,” Di Maria said at his first press conference as a United player on Thursday.

“I wanted to wear this shirt and do as much for the club as Ronaldo and the others could do. The club also wanted me to wear it so I want to live up to it.

“Manchester United have already won many trophies and are a very, very big team.

“I come to Manchester United in order to help the team raise their game and become an important team again and win many trophies with them.”

United’s current problems clearly extend beyond the addition of an attacking midfield player such as Di Maria, albeit one who was the man of the match in Real’s Champions League Final success last season.

Yet Di Maria insists the hefty price United paid for him won’t be a burden and that he has no preference where manager Louis van Gaal chooses to play him in a team that already has Juan Mata in the advanced central midfield role.

“No, it does not bother me that £60 million has been paid for me, that is something the club chairmen have to discuss between them,” he said.

“It depends on the manager where he wants to play me. I come here to work for the team and I am prepared to play in any position he wants. I just want to help the club become successful again.”

Given United’s dismal form over the last year, supporters are becoming increasingly concerned and, while van Gaal has no doubt Di Maria will make a huge impact he has warned those fans not to expect miracles.

“Maybe not in his first matches because he is now only two days with us,” said van Gaal when asked if Di Maria could have the same impact as previous number sevens have had at Old Trafford.

“He has to adapt to the qualities of the team and the team has to adapt to his qualities, but I am thinking he will indeed be a player the fans can enjoy.

“For me also it is important that he is a team player and that is what I am liking in Di Maria, not only class, he can accelerate the game for us and can also play in the interests of the team and that is why we have chosen this player.

“I hope he shall give us good results but we cannot expect after two days training that he is the miracle that I have already read about.

“No, you have to work for the miracle and he knows that.

“That is also a reason we have chosen him. When you see his answers, he is a very modest guy and he wants to work.

“He showed that also last year. He played 52 matches and gave 22 assists. How many players can say that?”

LONDON, August 28- Former Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has announced his retirement after a heart condition was detected at a routine medical.

The Spaniard, 37, was set to join Serie A side Cagliari on a free transfer after two seasons at Watford.

Tests revealed Almunia, who played 175 times for Arsenal, has a potentially fatal genetic heart disorder.

“I can confirm that Manuel Almunia failed a medical due to a heart condition,” said a Cagliari spokesman.

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart tissue that causes it to thicken and can lead to sudden death.

Almunia began his playing career at home club Osasuna in 1999 before joining Arsenal in 2004 from Celta Vigo, leaving eight years later for Watford.

He replaced first-choice keeper Jens Lehmann in the 2006 Champions League final against Barcelona when the German was sent off in the first half. Arsenal lost the game 2-1.

-By BBC

There is a real possibility that Fernando Torres will join AC Milan on loan from Chelsea, according to the striker’s representatives.

The Spain international has emerged as a target for the Rossoneri after they sold Mario Balotelli to Liverpool for £16 million earlier this week.

Torres finds himself behind off-season signings Diego Costa and Didier Drogba in the pecking order up front at Stamford bridge this season and would welcome the chance of more regular first-team action with Filippo Inzaghi’s side.

And despite the news that Costa is set to be sidelined for the next month with a hamstring injury, Torres seems to be closing in on a switch to the San Siro.

The Spaniard’s agents were locked in talks with Milan CEO Adriano Galliani for more than an hour, with Margarita Garay telling La Gazzetta dello Sport afterwards: “I’m still positive.”

Another of the player’s representatives, Antonio Sanz, told Milan News: “The meeting went well. Torres to Milan is a real possibility. We will take some time to reflect before giving an answer. I cannot add anything more. Milan are a great club.”

NEW YORK, August 29 – Five-time champion Serena Williams swept into the third round of the US Open on Thursday, but she’s taking nothing for granted as she bids for a first Grand Slam of the season.

Seemingly unperturbed by the wind swirling in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Williams thrashed fellow American Vania King 6-1, 6-0.

But the world number one, who is trying to join Chris Evert as the only women to win at least three straight US championship titles in the Open era, said it was tougher than it looked.

“It’s so hard to play in the wind,” said Williams, who nevertheless came up with 25 winners against 15 unforced errors in the 56-minute contest.

Three of her five double faults came in her first service game of the match as she adjusted to the conditions.

“I really had to adjust my toss today. It was just flying so far. I just should have stopped it instead of hitting it.”

Although Williams has won five WTA titles this year, 2014 has been a substandard season in terms of Grand Slam results.

She has not only failed to add to her 17 Grand Slam titles, she has failed to get past the fourth round at any of the year’s three prior majors.

She’ll try to take another step toward filling that gap on her season record when she faces her third straight American opponent, Varvara Lepchenko, for a place in the last 16.

And in the meantime, she wasn’t getting sucked into watching the rest of the women’s field too closely.

- Can’t get too far ahead -

“You always hear about who is winning, who is losing. You hear about upsets,” she said when asked to comment on the second-round exits of fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska and eighth-seeded Ana Ivanovic, who were among 10 seeded women who failed to make it into the third round.

“For me, especially lately, I have to worry about my first round, my second round and my third round,” Williams said. “I can’t get too far ahead of myself.”

But Williams’ desire to add to her cache of Grand Slam singles titles won’t stop her from playing doubles with her sister Venus.

The two were in action later Thursday, posting a 7-6 (7/0), 6-7 (4-7), 6-1 win over seventh-seeded Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic on the more intimate Grandstand court.

The sisters’ last doubles outing, at Wimbledon, ended in bizarre fashion, with Venus leading a disoriented Serena off the court after three games of a match against Kristina Barrois and Stephanie Voegele.

Serena later said she had been suffering from a virus.

On Thursday, she and Venus enjoyed their usual camaraderie, and the chance to play on the smaller court closer to their fans.

“It’s a great experience for us because we get to play together and we get to be together. We just get to talk and spend some time together because we don’t get to spend as much time together as we want,” she said.

The two have won 13 Grand Slam doubles titles, and Serena said the competition has enhanced her singles game.

“To be honest, doubles helps me in my singles game,” she said. “It really helps me make better returns, know what to do better.”

LONDON, August 29 – Bacary Sagna believes Manchester City can complete a clean sweep of trophies this season as the French defender prepares to make his debut in the champions’ Premier League clash against Stoke on Saturday.

Sagna moved to Eastlands on a free transfer from Arsenal in the close-season and the right-back is confident he will win far more silverware with City than he did in north London.

City landed the Premier League title and the League Cup last season, convincing Sagna that his new club could win a historic quadruple over the next nine months.

“We want to win everything but we know how difficult it will be,” Sagna said.

“I can promise the City fans I will work hard and never give less than 100 per cent when I play.

“We are the Premier League champions and we know everyone will want to beat us, but we will be ready.”

City manager Manuel Pellegrini is poised to hand Sagna, who has been building up his fitness since the World Cup, his first start against Stoke and allow current first choice Pablo Zabaleta to take a break.

But Sagna knows it will be a tough ask for him to claim the City right-back spot on a permanent basis ahead of the superb Argentine.

“I know it will be very difficult to get into the team, but I am looking forward to the challenge,” Sagna said.

“I’m not here to fight with Pablo. I am here to be part of the team and to contribute whenever I am called upon.

“Pablo is one of the best right-backs in the Premier League and he can defend and attack very well. He is very decisive when he goes forward and, as I say, is a great player.

“The fact is we want to win all competitions we are playing in and that could mean one game every three or four days.

“Your body needs time to recover and if there are two players for every position, it is easier to alternate as and when needed to keep the team fresh.

“I can’t wait to get going. When you come into a team like this it’s not hard to motivate yourself.”

- fitness check -

Pellegrini will check on the fitness of Edin Dzeko who limped out of City’s 3-1 win over Liverpool with a thigh injury, while fellow striker Alvaro Negredo is still some way of returning from a broken foot.

Stoke look set to be able to call upon Spanish striker Bojan Krkic, who returned to training on Thursday following a rib injury.

However right back Phil Bardsley (knee) is doubtful while Geoff Cameron (side strain) is out as the Potters look to score a goal at Eastlands for the first time.

“Phil has not trained today (Thursday), he was with the physios and we will hope he will train tomorrow,” Stoke boss Mark Hughes said.

“Bojan trained and we hope he will be available. Geoff Cameron should be out for a couple of weeks.”

The trip to Manchester sees Hughes come face to face with the club he managed from 2008 to 2009 and former City boss is impressed by his old team’s start to the season.

“City are an outstanding team,” he added. “I saw them against Liverpool and they were very impressive.

“It’s easy to look at their squad and see how strong they are.

“I enjoy taking my teams there. It’s always a challenge, you see all the changes and it is a very vibrant place.

“The owners have come in and made a huge difference. I always enjoy going back.

“It’s important to be in a confident mood and our performance in the 3-0 win against Portsmouth in the League Cup will give us more confidence.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 29- The impressive narrative of Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku continued in the first 2014 IAAF Diamond League final in Zurich as Olympic champion and record holder, David Rudisha, abandoned his front running strategy but fell short of overhauling Botswana’s Nijel Amos in the two-lap showdown.

Despite being clean shaven on this occasion Ndiku, 21, wrapped an effervescent season in fine style when he trumped a loaded field in the men 5000m showdown to add the Diamond Trophy to his Commonwealth Games crown at the famous Weltklasse Meet in Zurich, the only Kenyan to bag the honours from the 16 on offer on the night.

In an immensely entertaining race although slightly slower than anticipated on the basis of the expected pace, Ndiku prevailed in 13:07.01 after shifting through the gears to hold off all opponents upon taking the lead just ahead of the bell.

His maiden series victory earned him the USD 40,000 (Ksh3.538) Diamond Trophy jackpot besides the winning pursue and other bonuses as the Glasgow winner returned in fine tune after running his 12:59.17 career best in Stockholm a week earlier.

He was chased home by Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris, who set a world-leading time in Stockholm, but didn’t quite have an answer to Ndiku’s sustained acceleration and was just 0.31 behind the winner.

USA’s Galen Rupp again was caught just slightly short of speed on the last lap and was third in 13:07.82 as less than three seconds the first six men home.

Ethiopia’s Yenew Alamirew, the Diamond Race leader ahead of Zurich by seven points, he wasn’t one of them since he was reportedly ill and trailed home in 12th.

Four Rudisha, the silver lining is he managed to uncorked a 1:43.96 run for third in a shortened season that he just returned from serious injury for third in a race where he needed victory to be crowned the Diamond Race winner in the men 800m event.

Coming into the race as the leader, Rudisha slumped to 0-4 against Amos, the Botswana star who beat him to Commonwealth gold in Glasgow, this season in their head-to-head count as another favourite, World champion, Mohammed Aman (1:45.01), from Ethiopia trailed down further in a stacked line-up to eighth.

Sammy Tangui, who paced Rudisha to two of his three world records, returned for the rabbiting duties and took the field through the first lap in 49.69 with Pierre-Ambroise Bosse three metres back.

The Frenchman then took over in pole position for the next 250 metres, passing 600m in 1:17.34, before the phalanx of African runners closed around him as the field entered the home straight.

With 60 metres to go, Amos burst to the front and he stayed there all the way to the line, which he crossed in 1:43.77, and it was enough to clinch the Diamond Race.

Behind him, Djibouti’s world indoor 1500m champion Ayanleh Souleiman was second in 1:43.93 ahead of Rudisha.

“I am so exited and enthusiastic looking forward for the coming season 2015!!! @Diamond_League @rudishafilm @Lagat1500 @adidasrunning.

“Wau (wow) for sure i have nothing complain it have been fairly a good season despite coming back from the injury year!!! and missing 4months train,” Rudisha tweeted after the race.

Viola Kibiwot placed third in the women 1500m final in a seasonal best of 4:00.46 but the Diamond Race honours went to US runner, Jennifer Simpson (3:59.92) in a dramatic finish that saw her emerge victorius in a tussle against compatriot Shannon Rowbury.

Simpson and Rowbury both ended up prostrate on the track after the latter had tried to squeeze through the merest of gaps on the inside in the final 10 metres, with the pair desperate to take get the full eight points in the Diamond Race.

Commonwealth and Africa men Javelin champion, Julius Yego, who was in contention for the Diamond honours finished fourth with a best throw of 84.71m to sign off what has been another storming season for the ‘You Tube Man’.

-Material from iaaf.org used in this report

LONDON, August 29-Louis van Gaal believes Angel Di Maria can do big things with Manchester United, but has warned the club’s fans not to expect any instant success.

The Red Devils shattered the British transfer fee record this month after forking out £59.7 million for the Argentina international, who arrived from European champions Real Madrid.

Big things are now expected of the midfielder, with United having failed to win any of their first three games this season, and while Van Gaal is all too aware of his new signing’s quality, he believes he will still need a bedding-in period at Old Trafford.

“I’m very pleased that we have such a class player in our squad and it’s important he is a team player – that’s what I like about Di Maria,” van Gaal told reporters.

“He can accelerate our play but he can also play in the interests of the team and that’s why we’ve chosen him.

“I hope he shall give us good results but we can’t expect, that after two days’ training, he is the miracle I’ve read about.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 29- There is now way back for Adel Amrouche as coach of Harambee Stars with the team that left for Cairo in the early hours of Friday morning for their friendly against Egypt now under the firm control of Scotman, Bobby Williamson.

Speaking to Capital Sport, Football Kenya Federation boss, Sam Nyamweya, moved to clear the air on two claimants to the Stars head coach role, the Belgian who maintains his five-year contract is still in force and Williamson who departed with the team.

“I don’t discuss contracts with the media and in Africa, we don’t keep coaches who are not working. Amrouche was suspended by CAF for misconducted and he missed some games and we lost some of them.

“Did you want me to keep him? The position is don’t have him as a coach and we suffered as a result and we had to take a decision. He’s out and Harambee Stars who left for Cairo have a coach, Williamson,” the federation boss declared.

When pressed on the fate of Amrouche, whose one year ban was slashed to six games on appeal, having served half of the new sanction, Nyamweya disclosed the matter was now in the hands of lawyers from both parties.

“As an employer, we have contractual obligations to our employees and to avoid being sued, we cannot discuss them in public. We did not fire Adel, we had no problem with him, he was suspended by CAF making him incapable of discharging his duties.

“If he has any issues with us, he should send our lawyers to us and we are ready,” he charged.

Namweya denied he had met the Belgian to discuss his contract saying, “It is not true I met Adel, he should not come to the media, he should come to us,” despite allegations the pair met on Tuesday where the Belgian, who was hired in February last year, was assured “Williamson is in an acting capacity,” claims Capital Sport cannot independently verify.

Williamson who excused Gor Mahia trio, Jerim Onyango, defender David ‘Calabar’ Owino and forward Timothy Otieno from the tie due to club commitments, will be using the friendly to assess his charges in his first assignment.

The five-time African champions on the other hand will be using the build-up tie as preparation for their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations group qualifier against Senegal in Dakar next weekend.

“We have not done much just giving them a touch with the ball because the match is not that important to us but we don’t want to go there and get hammered which is a possible result because Egypt is a very good team especially while playing at home,” Williamson said before departing for Cairo.

The Scotsman, who has faced the Pharaohs when at the helm of Uganda Cranes, said the friendly will expose his locally based players to international platform.

“Local based players are capable even though we have a tough match against Egypt who are good in retaining the ball. We have to monitor and see what we need to improve on.

“The new players will find it difficult especially in Egypt’s friendly but it’s good since it will give them experience because they have the ability and the talent so it’s up to me to give them the confidence that I will certainly do that.”

Kenya has only beaten Egypt once in 18 encounters at the 1979 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a 3-1 margin.

LIVERPOOL, August 29- John Terry has warned his team-mates that two former Chelsea stars will be determined to get revenge on Jose Mourinho at Everton on Saturday.

Blues boss Mourinho sold Romelu Lukaku to Everton for £28 million ($46 million) in the close-season rather than give the powerful Belgian forward a chance to compete for a place in the Chelsea team.

Lukaku had already spent last season on loan at Everton and Mourinho off-loaded the 21-year-old with a few choice words about his lack of motivation.

That brought a barbed response from Lukaku about not feeling wanted at Chelsea, setting the stage for a potentially explosive first reunion at Goodison Park if the striker can recover from a toe injury in time to start.

And, even if Lukaku doesn’t feature, Chelsea are likely to come up against Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o, who joined the Toffees this week after being released by Mourinho at the end of last season.

Eto’o has insisted he has no ill feeling towards Mourinho despite an awkward relationship in the second half of last season culminating from a joke about his ‘real’ age that was caught on camera and broadcast, but he would clearly love to mark his Everton debut by showing he can still cut it at the highest level.

Terry is aware of the potential danger lying in wait and he said: “We’ve struggled away to Everton in the last couple of years.

“With that in mind we know it’s going to be tough. Obviously big Rom (Lukaku) will be up front as well, with a point to prove, him being sold from the club.

“And they are going to be up for it; they always believe they can turn us over at home.

“It’s a big test for us, but we go there with a one-game-at-a-time mentality, and try and move on from there.”

Everton manager Roberto Martinez is not worried about Eto’o’s physical fitness despite his lack of match action since last season.

“I would have loved Samuel to have 10 or 11 sessions before we put him in a competitive environment but I learned quite quickly I was wasting my time,” Martinez said.

“He wants to be helpful to the team straight away, he wants to be involved.

“And Romelu has a very strong inner motivation and he isn’t motivated by who he is facing and who is in front of him, it’s more about his role and status at Everton.

“He’s vital for us, he’s enjoying that and I’m excited about his performances.”

While Blues defender Terry ponders the challenge he will face this weekend, an injury to Diego Costa has been shown not to be as serious as first feared as Chelsea look to maintain a 100 percent start to their Premier League campaign.

Costa suffered a muscle injury in a training session on Wednesday but tests although confirmed it was a minor one the man who struggled with a hamstring problem at the end of last season may require time to recover.

Mourinho will have to decide whether the Spain striker can play any part against Everton.

A first start in his second stint at the club for Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba appears likely therefore, especially as the future of Fernando Torres is uncertain as the Spain striker is understood to be keen to complete a move to AC Milan in the next few days.

Everton’s on-loan Chelsea midfielder Christian Atsu can not face his parent club, while South African winger Steven Pienaar is definitely out with a groin injury and Ross Barkley, Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone are also absent.

LONDON, September 3- Former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham told the BBC on Tuesday that he was “sad” to see home-grown striker Danny Welbeck leave the club for their Premier League rivals Arsenal.

Welbeck, 23, was allowed to join Arsenal in a deal reportedly worth £16 million ($26.6 million, 20.2 million euros) on Monday after United agreed to sign Colombia striker Radamel Falcao on a season-long loan from Monaco.

“He (Welbeck) has been there since he was eight. His heart was in Manchester,” said Beckham, who graduated from the United youth team in the mid-1990s before establishing himself at Old Trafford.

“I am sure he is obviously sad to leave Manchester United. Arsenal have a very good, young, talented English player, but to see him leave Manchester United, as a Manchester United fan, is obviously sad.”

However, England manager Roy Hodgson welcomed the move.

“The biggest bonus is for Danny Welbeck,” Hodgson told a press conference ahead of England’s friendly game with Norway on Wednesday.

“When you are a player of his calibre and find yourself at United with competition for places, you don’t always get the starts you would like.

“He is going to a club where he will hopefully get more starts and playing time. So I am pleased for Danny and I think Arsenal have signed a good player.

“My job is with England and the players I choose. I don’t wish to make any suggestions about what clubs do with their players.

“But I cannot deny the more players play and the more experience they get, especially at Champions League level, the better it is for me at international level.”

Welbeck’s England team-mate Jack Wilshere welcomed the striker to Arsenal with a picture of the pair on Twitter.

“Big welcome to my boy Welbz,” the Arsenal midfielder wrote. “Great player for a great club. Another English lad!”

PARIS, September 3- After their abject failure at the World Cup, Spain have a new look as they begin preparations for the defence of the European Championship with a friendly against France on Thursday.

Just over two months on from their group-stage elimination as World Cup holders in Brazil, coach Vicente del Bosque takes a squad that is a mixture of familiar faces and potential stars of the future for the match at the Stade de France, the venue for the Euro 2016 final.

Xavi Hernandez and Xabi Alonso, veterans of the side that won Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, have retired from international football, following in the footsteps of David Villa.

Pepe Reina, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata were all omitted, while fitness problems of varying degrees have ruled out Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta and Javi Martinez.

Of the new faces, five are uncapped and four are aged 23 or under, including Valencia striker Paco Alcacer. Others, like 28-year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder Raul Garcia, have had to wait a little longer for their opportunity.

They all join 22-year-old Atletico midfielder Koke, who went to the World Cup but is now expected to take on extra responsibility.

“It’s a team for now with a view to two years down the line,” explained del Bosque after unveiling his squad, with the aim of Thursday’s match being to prepare for their opening Euro 2016 qualifying Group C fixture against Macedonia in Valencia on Monday.

“We have come up with a squad that is a consequence of our bad performance, (but) the World Cup has not left any effects nor do I think we need to change our way of acting in the future.”

Defender Sergio Ramos, another survivor from Euro 2008, called for La Roja to get back to basics.

“We are going to try to get back to what we were and forget about the success we have had because we can’t always live off that,” said the Real Madrid defender, a veteran of over 100 caps, as he arrived for the squad get-together this week.

- France reputation enhanced -

In contrast to Spain, France came out of the World Cup with their reputation greatly enhanced, a narrow quarter-final defeat to eventual winners Germany coming after some impressive performances in the group stage.

Coach Didier Deschamps is now embarking on a two-year run of friendlies before France hosts Euro 2016, where they will be expected to feature prominently with a squad that is a healthy mix of youth and experience.

Indeed, Deschamps only made three changes to his World Cup squad for the game and Sunday’s friendly against Serbia in Belgrade, with one the return of fit-again Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda in place of the retired Mickael Landreau.

Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette and Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu have also been recalled with Arsenal duo Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny injured.

But Deschamps has admitted that his starting line-up against the reigning European champions may be the same as that which took to the field against Germany at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on July 4.

“We have two matches very close together but the team which starts on Thursday will be close to that which started against Germany,” said Deschamps, who added that his priority is to make sure his team are “as competitive as possible in two years.”

There will of course be no Franck Ribery, the Bayern Munich winger who missed the World Cup with a back injury and has now retired from international football to the surprise of many.

France lost 2-0 to Spain at the Euro 2012 quarter-finals and finished second behind La Roja in qualifying for the World Cup, drawing 1-1 in Madrid and then losing 1-0 at home in Paris in March last year.

However, full-back Bacary Sagna insists France are a different proposition now.

“We are more respected than a few years ago,” he said. “We have shown that we are ready to fight, to give everything for the shirt. We have more confidence in ourselves. Other countries fear France more and more.

NAIROBI, Kenya, September 3 – Briton Frank Nutall has three months to prove he can fill the large shoes of Harambee Stars boss Booby Williamson after he was confirmed Gor Mahia head coach on Tuesday.

Speaking to Capital Sport, club Secretary General Chris Omondi, declared the immediate mandate of the 46-year-old Scotsman is to retain the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title that was won for the first time in 18-years by his predecessor who recommended him to the hot seat.

“We received a lot of applications but we did not want to waste time with the tedious process because he was recommended by Williamson whom we trust. We have put him on three month probation and given him the target of retaining the league.

“We have not yet settled on the Team Manager but we will announce his appointement once we finalize as we look forward to unveiling the coach later in the day,” Omondi declared.

The UEFA PRO Licence holader arrived Wednesday morning in the country and will be assisted by Bobby Ogolla and Frank Ouna who was elevated to the position from his previous role of Team Manager.

Former Harambee Stars and Ulinzi forward Tom Ogweno, makes a come back to the team as physical fitness trainer while another former international, Mathews Ottamax Owino, replaces Salim Iddi as a goalkeeper trainer
Nuttall brings in a wealthy of experience after previously having served as a coach instructor at FIFA, and Asian Football Confederation.

He has had stints with former English Premier League side Middlesbrough FC and Scottish Championship side Rangers FC as Fitness coach while managed Dubai based side Al Nasr FC as an assistant coach in 2006.

The Briton’s first assignment will be on Saturday when Gor who are leading the KPL log on 42 points will play Tanzania giants Simba SC in a friendly in Dar es Salaam.

The 26-man squad will depart on Friday and will use the tie as a build up for their KPL game at hand against Ulinzi Stars in a fortnight.

Nuttall who played professional football for Celtic Football Club from 1985 to 1987, becomes the fourth foreign coach to manage K’Ogalo under the reign of chairman Ambrose Rachier, after Cameroonian Anaba Awono (2011), Croatian Zdravko Logarucic (2012) and Williamson (2013).

WATFORD, September 3- As he prepares to lead England as captain against Norway on Wednesday, Wayne Rooney says he will not consider his tenure a success unless it sees him lift a trophy.

The 28-year-old Manchester United striker was last week appointed as Steven Gerrard’s successor as skipper after the Liverpool midfielder retired from international football following the World Cup.

With 95 caps to his name, Rooney has at least twice as much experience as any other member of Roy Hodgson’s current squad.

He has known nothing but disappointment at the five major tournaments he has played in, but despite England’s dismal group-stage exit at the World Cup, he still believes he can inspire the team to glory.

“I’ve always wanted to win a trophy with England, and if I can lead us to do that, that’ll be the pinnacle of my career,” he told journalists at an eve-of-match briefing on Tuesday.

“That will be very difficult, but I really do think it’s achievable. Look at the players we’ve got. They’re exciting players.

“They have to do what they do for their clubs with England, and we have to bring that together. Of course it’s very difficult. It is for any country, but that has to be our aim.

“It’s pointless not having that as your aim or your desire.”

While Rooney cited his former Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville and ex-England colleague David Beckham as two captains whose methods he would seek to emulate, he was particularly effusive in his praise of Gerrard.

“I’m close with Steven and probably watched him closer than any of them, the way he handled himself and the team,” said Rooney, who is also United’s new captain.

“Gary knows the game very well. That’s where you see him going straight into the job he’s doing at Sky (as a television pundit).

“Becks was obviously a great ambassador for English football, and Steven had both qualities. A lot of qualities.

“He’s the one who demanded the most on the pitch, which is what I feel is my strongest quality. Obviously, the stuff off the pitch, I’ll learn. I demand a lot from myself, and I’ll demand a lot from my team-mates.”

- Midfield move -

A dearth of competition at international level means that Rooney is practically guaranteed a starting berth, but he faces increased competition for a place with his club.

United further bolstered their attacking ranks by signing Radamel Falcao on loan on transfer deadline day and with Robin van Persie also at manager Louis van Gaal’s disposal, there has been speculation that Rooney will be asked to play at number 10.

The former Everton player has previously spoken about one day playing even further back, in midfield, and he thinks it would be a natural progression.

“I certainly feel I’m capable of dropping back (into midfield),” said Rooney, who will partner Daniel Sturridge up front against Norway.

“I’m sure one day I will. That’s down to my two managers now and me speaking to them. I know what you’re getting at, obviously.

“That’s more a question about United, and that’s down to what Louis van Gaal wants. We need to speak to him about that and see what happens.

“I think on the back end of my career, I’ll probably definitely play there (in midfield). But in terms of now, I’m not sure.”

A crowd of only 40,000 is expected for Wednesday’s game, but Rooney says he is desperate to give the fans reason for optimism ahead of England’s first Euro 2016 qualifier away to Switzerland on Monday.

“We’re always grateful to the fans. Their support is second to none,” he said.

“We’re very grateful and hopefully we can repay them with some good performances over the next two years, and exciting, attractive football to qualify for Euro 2016. That’s the aim, and that starts from tomorrow.”

MADRID, September 3- Real Madrid fans believe that their team is in a weaker position to challenge for the La Liga title this season, despite spending an estimated 117.5 million euros on new players this summer, according to the results of a poll in Spanish sports daily AS.

The Los Blancos board brought in James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos and Keylor Navas following their impressive performances at the World Cup, while they also negotiated a deadline day loan move for Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez.

However, the departures of Angel Di Maria to Manchester United and Xabi Alonso to Bayern Munich, players who were influential to the Spanish club’s “Decima” [10th] Champions League triumph last season, have left fans puzzled and disconcerted.

An emphatic 79 percent of respondents voted “no” when asked by AS on Monday: “Does Real Madrid have a better or worse template than last season?”

Cristiano Ronaldo has suggested that he does not completely agree with the transfer business done by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez this summer and that sentiment seems to have rubbed off on the club’s supporters, who have been disappointed by the start to the new season.

Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his concerns over the club’s decision to allow Di Maria and Alonso to depart.

Real Madrid lost the Spanish supercopa to city rivals Atletico, while they surrendered a two-goal lead at the weekend to suffer their first league loss of the season at the hands of Real Sociedad.

The reaction of the club’s fanbase represents a huge contrast to last summer when fans applauded the arrival of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti and the subsequent signings of eight players, including Gareth Bale and European under-21 champions Asier Illarramendi, Isco and Daniel Carvajal.

Ancelotti has admitted that he is under pressure to turn things around quickly at the Santiago Bernabeu, especially with the impending visit of Atletico after the international break.

“Something must change and will change,” he said. “It’s my responsibility.”

-ESPN FC

LONDON, September 3- Robin van Persie has said he welcomes competition from Manchester United’s new striker Radamel Falcao, and has dismissed claims that he needs surgery to solve an ongoing knee problem, The Guardian reported.

Falcao’s move to United on a £6m loan deal prompted renewed suggestions that Van Persie’s knee trouble could involve an extended lay-off, but the Dutchman said the claims were “total nonsense”.

“I am impressed that people have the imagination to invent something like that,” Van Persie told Foxsports.nl. “I don’t know where it comes from and I can promise that I’m not going to hospital to have an operation.”

Van Persie said he was looking forward to working with Falcao. “I welcome his arrival, he makes us better. At a top club you should always go for the best, which also fits my philosophy.

“It is up to Falcao to fight for his place, as I have to as well. The two of us, plus Wayne Rooney and James Wilson, we must all fight it out to see who plays.”

Meanwhile, the former United defender, Paul Parker, has told Eurosport that Falcao’s arrival would be a “huge relief” for United because they have been “very, very, very poor” in attack – and called for the “awful” Wayne Rooney to be dropped.

Parker said: “Robin van Persie clearly just isn’t right – there’s a lot of talk about him maybe needing an operation, and it sure seems like there’s something big that’s holding him back.

“As for Wayne Rooney, he’s been awful. There he was at Burnley this weekend, supposedly captaining the team – but I saw a player interested only in himself, doing nothing to try and lift his game or inspire his team-mates. The only thing in any way remarkable about his performance is that he collects £300,000 a week to play that badly.

“Once Van Persie is fully-fit again, Rooney must be the person to be dropped from United’s new attacking line-up: for me, it’ll be RVP and Falcao every time.”
-The Guardian

LONDON, September 3- Louis van Gaal says he has no regrets about becoming Manchester United manager and claims that if he had wanted an easy life, he would have gone to Tottenham Hotspur.

Van Gaal rejected an offer from Spurs to succeed David Moyes at United, but he has had a difficult start at Old Trafford. United are without a win after three league games and were humiliated 4-0 by third-tier Milton Keynes Dons in the League Cup.

But with the club having lavished around £150 million ($249 million, 190 million euros) on new players, including Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao, the Dutchman says that he is ready for the challenges ahead.

“No, I don’t regret taking this job,” he told Wednesday’s edition of the Daily Mirror newspaper.

“Yes, it is a massive job I have taken on at Manchester United. I realise that. And the situation is not worse than I thought — I knew what I would find on my plate.

“I could have opted for an easier job. If I had gone to Tottenham, the job would not have been as enormous as here at United.

“I could have easily gone to Spurs. But I chose the biggest challenge of all the jobs in football. And I really wanted to join the number one club in the country, not Tottenham.

“Financially, Tottenham was kind of as attractive as Man United. But, in my eyes, Man United is still the number one club in England. Tottenham really is not.”

Van Gaal has been quick to assert his authority at United, introducing a new 3-4-1-2 playing system and allowing players such as Danny Welbeck, Shinji Kagawa, Nani, Javier Hernandez and Tom Cleverley to leave.

Early indications suggest it will take time for his new-look side to gel, but having endured a similarly slow start to his ultimately successful spell at Bayern Munich, he is confident the club will stand by him.

“My start at Bayern was just as bad as my start with Manchester United,” he said.

“But the big difference was that at Bayern I had already been called in for a major showdown with (general manager) Uli Hoeness, who wanted an explanation.

“And what have United done? They have just bought more players for me. They kept buying players. They are supporting me. That is a sign of trust in the manager. I feel that. I feel their trust and belief in my ability.

“It is not just a matter of believing in my football philosophy, but in me as a person, too. Do I get worried when I look at the league table now? Come off it, that means nothing. We have only just started.

“And the facts are that I have never let any clubs down. I have won things. I have given those clubs success. And that is exactly what I will do here at United.”