LONDON, September 16- The design of a new flesh-coloured kit that makes a Colombian women’s cycling team look naked below the waist has been described as unacceptable by Brian Cookson, the president of the UCI.

Photographs of the Bogota Humana team were taken at the Tour of Tuscany, showing six women wearing red and yellow kit with flesh-coloured material immediately above and below the waist.

It is unclear if the team intend to wear a similar uniform next week while representing Colombia at the road world championships in Ponferrada, Spain.

After the pictures went viral on social media, Cookson tweeted: “To the many who have raised the issue of a certain women’s team kit, we are on the case. It is unacceptable by any standards of decency.”

Cycling’s governing body later confirmed that it was investigating the issue.

“The UCI will be sending a letter to the Colombian federation reminding them of their responsibility … in the control of regional and club team kits that compete in international events,” read a statement.

Among some of the leading riders criticising the outfits was the former Commonwealth, Olympic and world road race champion Nicole Cooke, who tweeted: “This has turned the sport into a joke. Girls stand up for yourselves – say no.”

-The Guardian

LONDON, England, September 16- Steven Gerrard is hopeful Mario Balotelli can fill the void left by the departure of Luis Suarez and told the Daily Mail: “If people want to write stories about him and say that he is crazy or he is a nutter, let them.”

Suarez, who arrived at Liverpool from Ajax in 2011, played a key role in firing the Reds back into the Champions League but made a big-money move to Barcelona during the summer.

Liverpool opted to bring in Balotelli from AC Milan, along with Southampton’s Rickie Lambert, to reinforce the attack and, despite the Italian’s reputation for causing trouble, Gerrard feels he could flourish with the support of his new club.

“There is no doubt Luis Suarez is going to be one of the big players in the Champions League this season,” he said. “I know how much he wants to play in the competition. I had many conversations with him about it. But we have got Mario now and we have got to move on.

“If we get the best out of him, we have got him. If people want to write stories about him and say that he is crazy or he is a nutter, let them, but he is one of us now.

“We have welcomed him into this club with open arms and we want to help him succeed. Everyone is hoping he is going to be a hit. He has got a great set of teammates who will work for him and back him. He has got to do the same for us.”

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said on Monday that he was confident Balotelli would play an important role for the club in the Champions League.

“He’s arguably one of the most experienced players here in terms of this level of competition and international calibre,” Rodgers said. “The best players enjoy that responsibility. I think it’s one he’s relishing. On the training field, he’s going to work hard to accept that responsibility.

“He knows that he’s been brought in here to do a job, which is to create and score goals — and work hard.”

-ESPN FC

SEPTEMBER 16- The International Paralympic Committee has said it will not bar Oscar Pistorius from competing again if he wishes to do so. This is something that may not sit comfortably with many, but does sport have the obligation to exclude the athlete? ANTOINETTE MULLER of DAILY MAVERICK looks at both sides of the argument.

While Oscar Pistorius was being told he was guilty of culpable homicide, the International Paralympic Committee said that it would not block the athlete from competing in future.

The body’s direction of media and commutations told BBC5 Live that “if he wishes to resume his athletics career, then we wouldn’t step in his way – we would allow him to compete again in the future”.

Pistorius is currently awaiting his sentencing, and then there can be an appeal. In other words, this saga could still drag on for some time. Sentencing is at the judge’s discretion and could be anything from a suspended sentence to a few years in jail.

Pistorius is now 27, turning 28 in November. He probably still has a good three to five years’ worth of competitive athletics left in him.

Of course, it’s all dependent on how the sentence turns out. But if he is able to, should he be allowed back?

It’s a question that is likely to be debated quite a lot, and it’s a tricky one, since it rests so heavily on moral grounds and our perception of what purpose sport serves in our society.

For example, a plumber in the same position would be allowed to return to work and some might not even know. Even if some knew, some might turn a blind eye as long as he was good at his job.

For Pistorius, athletics is his job and his livelihood. When assessed so basically, it would be hypocritical to insist that Pistorius be excluded and denied the right to earn an income.

Regardless of personal views on whether the ruling was right or not, in a court of law, Pistorius has been cleared of murder charges, but will still have a record for culpable homicide.

-Psychopath-

From a criminal psychology perspective, “rehabilitating” criminals back into society is a complex issue and there is a lot of debate about whether it is possible or not.

Pistorius is now a criminal, and there certainly will be an argument that he should be given the opportunity to be rehabilitated.

The only exemption is when somebody is found to be a psychopath, but in this case, Pistorius has already undergone psychiatric observation, with a report stating that he did not bear the hallmarks of psychopathy.

Successful re-integration into society rests on a number of factors and many criminal psychologists have come up with different theories.

In his book Crime, Shame and Reintegration, published in 1989, Australian criminologist John Braithwaite puts forth a theoretical model for dealing with crime at the individual and community levels.

According to Braithwaite, high rates of predatory crime in a society are indicative of the failure to shame those acts labelled as criminal.

Braithwaite argues that the breakdown of community ties in modern urban communities has meant that perpetrators of crime are not made to feel ashamed of their actions, and thus continue victimising others without remorse.

Excluding Pistorius, at least for a period of time, will almost certainly cause him shame and, one would hope, force some kind of introspection. Others might say that he has been shamed enough, considering his trial has been so highly publicised, and barring him from competing would be excessive.

NAIROBI, Kenya, September 16 – Sports Commissioner Gordon Oluoch says the Government will refund former national 7s team skipper Humphrey Kayange, funds he used for his ankle surgery in South Africa.

Speaking to Capital Sport on Tuesday, Oluoch said he is waiting for details from the insurance company that is supposed to cover the player before refunding him.

“I have asked for more details from the insurance company that was supposed to cater for him and know the nature before refunding him that’s if he used his money.

“It’s unfortunate if he used his own money. I can’t blame Nock before I know exactly what transpired,” Oluoch declared.

Kayange fractured his ankle during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last month against New Zealand and will not be available for selection until February next year.

The inspirational player will miss the opening three rounds of this season’s IRB World Sevens series.

His absence will be a major blow for Kenya, who are bidding to finish among the top four nations in the new season which gets underway at Gold Coast in Australia in October to qualify for 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where rugby sevens makes its debut.

Kenya has been drawn against familiar foes South Africa, Wales and newcomers American Samoa for the October 11-12 showdown in the Land Down Under.

Speaking after the dra, Avan Lee, IRB’s General Manager for Sevens said: “The 2014/15 HSBC Sevens World Series promises to be the most exciting season of Sevens to date. With Olympic qualification at stake, all teams will want to start well in the Gold Coast.

“Reigning Series champions New Zealand and Commonwealth Games winners South Africa might start as favourites but a number of teams like Fiji, England, Australia and Canada are also desperate to gain direct qualification into the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Gold Coast Sevens Pools

Pool A: New Zealand, Samoa, France, Japan. Pool B: South Africa, Kenya, Wales, American Samoa Pool C: Fiji, Australia, Scotland, Portugal Pool D: England, Canada, Argentina, USA

LONDON, September 16-Didier Drogba has returned to training with Chelsea ahead of a possible first European outing with the club since scoring the winning goal in the 2012 Champions League final.

Drogba’s first spell with the Blues ended with him scoring the decisive penalty which defeated Bayern Munich in the final at the Allianz Arena.

He has now given manager Jose Mourinho a big boost by returning from injury sooner than expected, showing no ill effects as he trained with the Chelsea squad at their Cobham base on Tuesday.

Drogba rejoined Chelsea this summer after a spell at Galatasaray but missed Saturday’s win over Swansea because of an ankle injury which was expected to keep him out of the Group G match against Schalke on Wednesday.

Mourinho is likely to start with in-form Diego Costa up front at Stamford Bridge but Drogba may well gain a place on the bench.

-Football365.com

NAIROBI, Kenya, September 16 – Gor Mahia head coach Frank Nuttall, has dismissed talk of divisions in the technical bench as the champions prepare for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title run in.

Print media reports alleged the Scotsman had fallen out with fitness trainer, Tom Ogweno but speaking to Capital Sport on Tuesday, Nuttall trashed the allegations saying the club is focusing on retaining the trophy.

“The reports going round in media are not true I did not expel nor suspend the fitness trainer on Sunday as reported. I’m happy with the staff and on what we are doing behind the scenes with regard of the technical bench.

“I’m happy with the decisions that are being made in the club and we have unity since everyone has his own role,” the 46-year-old told.

Captain and goalkeeper Jerim Onyango echoed his coach’s sentiments and urged the Green Army to be calm since there are is no trouble in the club.

“I don’t think if there is any problem because there is good collaboration within the technical bench. The coach has assigned everyone his role and everyone is happy. I’m calling upon our fans to be calm since everything is okay,” the Harambee Stars custodian stated.

Reports published by a local daily alleged that assistant coach Frank Ouna misled Nuttall on team selection following their 1-1 draw against Tusker, but the Bobby Williamson successor says the match was tough and he expects every game in KPL to be difficult.

K’Ogalo who have won once and drawn twice have a chance of re-taking the lead when they host Ulinzi Stars on Wednesday at Nairobi’s City Stadium and displace Sofapaka who have played two more games than them.

Gor will be without dependable defender David ‘Calabar’ Owino who has accumulated five yellow cards in an encounter the hosts will be looking for a repeat of first leg when they won 2-1.
“Ulinzi will be a tough game. I have watched them play last week against KCB and we have gone through the DVD’s of their previous games to get more familiar with them.

“Players are ready and willing to go and like every coach I want to win the remaining matches and hopefully retain the title. Ulinzi is a strong team and we are not going to relax because we beat them in the first leg, a lot has changed in that period including the squad,” Nuttall said.

The military side on the other hand, will be seeking to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat to KCB and leapfrog Thika United to fifth on the log.

However, head coach Robert Matano, is aware on what awaits his charges who last beat Gor a year ago, calling upon them to show a fighting spirit.

“I was disappointed with the result against KCB and how we played. We never gave 100 percent and did not work hard.

“Players must wake up and play as a team not as individuals. We have to improve because we want to fight well until the last day of the league,” Matano told the club’s official website.

With Owino ruled out, Ugandan Israel Emuge is available for selection to join Kevin Oluoch, Harun Shakava and Musa Mohammed at the back while Onyango who was outstanding during Tusker game standing in between the sticks.

Godfrey Walusimbi is expected to continue with his new role playing more on attacking in the left wing partnering with Geoffrey Kizito, Collins Okoth and Kevin Ochieng in the center while talisman Dan Sserunkuma and youngster Timothy Otieno will hunt for goals.

Ulinzi are expected to parade a strong squad since all players are available for selection led by James Saruni in goal. Oliver Rutto, Cyrus Shitote, Geoffrey Kokoyo and Hassan Mohammed in defence.

Skipper Stephen Ocholla will control the midfield alongside John Nairuka, Boniface Onyango and Evans Amwoka as Stephen Waruru and Kevin Amwayi are available for selection upfront.

PARIS, September 17 – Steven Gerrard was Liverpool’s hero with a stoppage-time penalty as the Reds marked their return to the Champions League with a win on Tuesday, while Arsenal endured a torrid evening against Borussia Dortmund.

Gerrard struck from the spot right at the death to hand Liverpool a 2-1 win in their Group B opener against an awkward Ludogorets Razgrad at Anfield.

Meanwhile, goals just either side of half-time by Ciro Immobile and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave 2013 runners-up Dortmund a 2-0 win against Arsenal in Germany in Group D, and the hosts were unlucky not to win by more.

The evening’s big winners were the reigning champions Real Madrid, who crushed Swiss title-holders Basel 5-1 in Group B, while last season’s beaten finalists Atletico Madrid suffered a 3-2 defeat against Olympiakos in Greece in Group A.

Liverpool were making their first appearance in the Champions League since 2009 and were widely expected to start with a victory against Bulgarian debutants Ludogorets.

Brendan Rodgers’s side laboured for long spells but when Mario Balotelli put them in front in the 82nd minute to open his Anfield account, they appeared to have the job done.

Spanish substitute Dani Abalo stunned the hosts when he equalised in the first minute of stoppage time, but there was to be another twist as Javi Manquillo was fouled inside the box, allowing Gerrard, so often a scorer of crucial late goals in the past, to convert a 93rd-minute spot-kick.

“To get the result was excellent. They showed great character to keep going,” said Rodgers.

“We had signs of anxiety. We are not at the level we were at last year yet, but that will come with time.”

Arsenal were torn apart by a typically high-octane Dortmund performance at the Westfalenstadion. The hosts had 15 attempts on goal in the opening half but had to wait until the 45th minute to get the breakthrough when Immobile ran 60 yards before slotting past Wojciech Szczesny.

Aubameyang then exchanged passes with Kevin Grosskreutz before rounding the goalkeeper and making it 2-0 in the 48th minute, and the Gabon striker hit the bar soon after as Arsenal lost their opening Champions League game for the first time in 11 years.

“We were not at the requested level tonight,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports. “They deserved their win. We conceded a goal just before half-time and just after, and after that the game was difficult of course.

“Despite an average performance we had plenty of chances. That was the paradox of the night.”

Arsenal will look to bounce back in two weeks when they entertain Galatasaray, who came from behind to draw 1-1 at home to Anderlecht in Istanbul, Burak Yilmaz’s stoppage-time strike rescuing a point after Dennis Praet put the away side ahead.

- Basel brushed aside -

In Liverpool’s group, Real Madrid bounced back from successive La Liga defeats to outclass Basel in the Spanish capital with Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, James Rodriguez and Karim Benzema all on target after Marek Suchy put through his own net.

Derlis Gonzalez got a consolation for the Swiss side, who host Liverpool in a fortnight.

“The reaction of the team today was good,” said Real boss Carlo Ancelotti.

“We pressed very well in the first-half and created a lot of chances. Not everything is resolved just yet, but I liked the reaction of the team.”

Fresh from winning the Madrid derby at the weekend, Atletico came up against an Olympiakos side coached by former Real star Michel and started their bid to reach a second successive final with a defeat.

Arthur Masuaku, Ibrahim Afellay and Kostas Mitroglou all found the net for the Greek champions, with summer signings Mario Mandzukic and Antoine Griezmann replying in vain.

Elsewhere in Group A, Juventus eased to a 2-0 victory over Malmo in Turin thanks to a brace by Carlos Tevez, who ended a five-year wait for a Champions League goal.

In Group C, Benfica were undone by their old nemesis Andre Villas-Boas, the former Porto coach taking his Zenit St Petersburg side to Lisbon and coming away with a 2-0 win.

Former Porto star Hulk and ex-Benfica midfielder Axel Witsel got their goals either side of a red card for home goalkeeper Artur.

Monaco also started with a win, Joao Moutinho’s second-half strike securing a 1-0 victory at home to Bayer Leverkusen.

The pick of the ties on Wednesday sees Bayern Munich host Manchester City in Group E.

LONDON, England, September 17-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted his side were “very average” against Borussia Dortmund as they opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 defeat on Tuesday.

Ciro Immobile fired the Bundesliga giants ahead on the stroke of half-time before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang doubled their tally shortly after the restart at the Westfalenstadion.

The Gunners weren’t without their threats, though, but proved extremely wasteful on the night, and in the end the manager admitted his side were second best.

“I think we were not at the requested level tonight. They deserved their win,” Wenger told Sky Sports.

“I still believe that on top of that, we were a bit unlucky as it was a throw-in to us 10 seconds before half time. We conceded the goal just after that.

“Despite our very average performance, we had plenty of chances. That’s a little bit of a paradox,” he added.

“We could’ve been leading the game, but they had plenty of chances too.”

MOSCOW, September 17- Coaches from some of the world’s top teams have played down chances of a sporting boycott of Vladimir Putin’s showpiece 2018 football World Cup as a penalty for stoking the crisis in Ukraine.

Leaders of the 28-nation European Union earlier this month asked the European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, to draw up new sanctions in response to claims that Russia has sent troops into neighbouring Ukraine.

A European source told AFP that the World Cup boycott idea was in a “working document discussed by the member states” detailing options for the economic sanctions, “but as a possibility for later on, not now”.

But Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, speaking at a post-2014 World Cup technical conference at Saint Petersburg poured cold water on the chances of sanctions.

“The idea of a boycott of the 2018 World Cup in Russia will never garner support from the family of football coaches,” Del Bosque said.

“We’re trying to unite people, not to separate them. We’re athletes. We’re not going in for politics. We support all those who play football.”
Francois Blaquart, technical director of the French Football Federation, told AFP he does not believe in the possibility of a World Cup boycott.
“I don’t believe it for a moment,” he said.

Germany coach Joachim Loew, who guided his team to World Cup victory in Brazil in July, refused to be drawn on the question of sanctions, adding that Russia coach Fabio Capello would prepare a competitive squad for their home tournament.

“I have no intention of commenting on any of the politicians’ calls and statements,” Loew told the press.

“Russia has a great desire and every possibility to hold the World Cup at a very high level.

“I have no doubts that Capello will prepare a very strong team for the next World Cup.”

Under long-term plans circulated among European diplomats alongside proposals for immediate economic sanctions, Moscow could also face suspension from Formula One races and other sporting events.

Sochi, the recent host city of the Winter Olympics, is set to host a Formula 1 GP on October 12, the race one of the centrepiece of Putin’s plan to make Russia a globally-respected host of international sporting events.

LONDON, September 17-Newcastle fan favourite Jonas Gutierrez is undergoing treatment in his native Argentina after being diagnosed with testicular cancer.

The 33-year-old winger has endeared himself to Toon fans since arriving from Real Mallorca in July 2008, helping the club win promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt following their relegation in his first season on Tyneside.

However, he hardly featured for Magpies manager Alan Pardew last term, making just two league appearances before linking up with the club’s former mentor Chris Hughton at Norwich on loan for the second half of the campaign.

Gutierrez has now revealed that a tumour was discovered last year and he’s since undergone surgery and chemotherapy back in his homeland.

He told Argentine TV show ‘Indirecto’ on TyC Sports: “When I was told I had cancer, I went home in tears. In May 2013, I felt very tough pains on my testicle. After some wrong diagnosis, an ultrasound detected the tumour.

“I came here and I assumed the costs despite having a contract with Newcastle. Money is not important. What is important is my health. I had to start chemotherapy.”

The Argentine international said close friend and Toon team-mate Fabricio Coloccini and other members of the national team have lent their support during his tribulation.

He added: “This is the most difficult match I’ve ever played. You start thinking about important things when you have problems like this one. Some guys like [Gabriel] Heinze gave me strength.

“After surgery, I told [Ezequiel] Lavezzi, [Martin] Demichelis and Coloccini, who is very close to me. We’ve played together at Newcastle for six years and he calls me. He is almost a member of my family.

“I decided to reveal all this because I think this is a difficult moment, but there is nothing wrong with this. These things may help other people.”

LONDON, September 17- The Football Association has drawn up a proposal which would see the number of non-EU players within English football reduced by as much as 50 per cent.

The governing body have drawn up a list of proposed changes to the current system in a bid to increase the size and quality of the pool of talent in England.

The list has been sent to the Premier League, the Football League and the players’ and managers’ unions, with a view to implementing the changes in time for the 2015-16 season.

The FA believe the changes will greatly increase the country’s chances of success at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The Football Association’s suggested changes:

Restricting GBE visa applications to Premier League clubs only. Currently Football League clubs can also apply and, in the past four years, 23 applications from Football League clubs have been successful.

Preventing players brought to Britain through the GBE visa system from being loaned out to other clubs.

Reducing the list of countries from which players can apply for GBE visas based on international playing record, from the current 70 top Fifa-ranked countries to the top 50.

Easing – from 75% to 30% – the percentage of competitive international matches that players from countries with FIFA ranking in the top 30 must have played in the past two years.

Introducing a transfer fee exemption to deliver GBE for elite players from any country, irrespective of Fifa ranking, if the transfer fee exceeds a minimum indexed figure, initially proposed to be £10m or £15m.

Scaling back the appeals system so that clubs may only appeal on the basis of incorrect process.

In the past appeal tribunals have been required to make subjective judgments on ability, which, it has been claimed, has resulted in nearly 80% of all appeals being successful after failing to meet the initial criteria.

NAIROBI, Kenya, September 17 – The national 7s team is facing unrest with players protesting against plans by Kenyan Rugby Union (KRU) to replace their existing central contracts with performance based deals besides looming changes in the technical bench and playing unit.

Reports Wednesday said the players had gone on strike and although captain Andrew Amonde denied they had downed their tools, KRU boss, Mwangi Muthee, confirmed to Capital Sport changes to the team’s set-up had caused considerable disquiet in the unit.

“Going on strike is a lame excuse and unacceptable. We are revisiting our contractual engagements not only with the players but also the technical bench to enter into a performance agreement.

“We have to be responsible and answerable to the Kenyans as well as our sponsors so if a player form goes down or does not meet the targets, he will not be paid same case applies to the technical bench,” Muthee declared.

The development comes less than a month before they open their HSBC Sevens World Series campaign in Gold Coast aiming for a top-four slot that will qualify them for the 2016 Rio-De-Janeiro Olympics.

The KRU chief said the team will have new faces in the squad as they leave nothing to chance to improve from last season’s outing where they finished seventh on 84 points and achieve their mission of qualifying for the Summer Games.

“Their August salary is in the bank and they have never gone a month without being paid because it is channelled directly to their accounts by our sponsor.

“This is the first time we are paying them a good salary so there is no short cut, they should give extra ordinary performance in turn which they have failed to execute. We must clean up our house,” Muthee continued.

He added, “There are very many young talents we scouted from the local series so Kenyans will see new faces this season because we want to use all the available resources to ensure we qualify for Olympics. Players should know that Change is inevitable.”

Efforts to reach Team Manager Steve Sewe, were futile but Amonde dismissed the reports saying they are carrying on with their usual training.

“Those are rumours we have just come from training. Maybe you can call the team manager he is in a good position to explain,” the Skipper told Capital Sport.

This is not the first time the players are downing their tools having done so last year just a day after the appointment of head coach Paul Treu, demanding to sign pending commitment contracts with the Union.

MUNICH, September 17- Former Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld thinks there could be a player backlash when the Bundesliga champions return to full strength, he explained in an interview with Bild on Wednesday.

“Each player currently accepts spending some time on the bench,” said Hitzfeld, who led the club to Champions League glory over Valencia in 2001 at the San Siro.

“But it could get more dangerous later in the season when some of the returning players are not injured and might start complaining about being a substitute,” added the 65-year-old, who recently retired after guiding Switzerland at the World Cup in Brazil.

“There is the risk of an implosion,” he warned about coach Pep Guardiola’s talent-laden squad.

The German champions, who repeated their Champions League victory in 2013 by defeating domestic rivals Borussia Dortmund, bolstered their squad in the off-season with several big name signings.

The 24-time Bundesliga winners added Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso from Real Madrid as well as the talented Moroccan international defender Medhi Benatia from Roma.

“When all the players are fit and operational, there will be problems and the unhappy ones will express themselves. I’ve known this problem myself,” continued Hitzfeld.

Bayern Munich open their 2014-15 Champions League campaign on Wednesday at home to English champions Manchester City, while Roma and CSKA Moscow complete Group E.

NAIROBI, Kenya, September 18 – Champions Gor Mahia reclaimed the Kenya Premier League top spot despite being held to a barren draw by 10 man Ulinzi Stars in a nervous encounter played at Nairobi’s City Stadium on Wednesday.

K’Ogalo who were seeking maximum points to open a three point gap, failed to hit the target to pick their third successive draw and lead the standings on 44 points, one ahead of Sofapaka as Tusker and Chemelil Sugar follow on 41 points each.

The highly tensed match turned dramatic in the second-half when center referee Amos Ichingwa sent off skipper Stephen Ocholla for a second bookable offense which did not go well with the military side.

Ocholla received the second yellow card for kicking the ball after Ichingwa had ruled him offside only three minutes after picking the first for a hard tackle on Cameroonian Simeone Pierre.

This led the match to be stopped for five minutes with Ulinzi players protesting for the call and it had to take the intervention of head coach Robert Matano to calm his charges and escort the weeping Ocholla out of the field.

The visitors who were seeking to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat against KCB showed intent after six minutes of play when Kevin Amwayi raced from the left to swing in a cross that beat keeper Jerim Onyago but Evans Amwoka failed to tap home in front of goal as Harun Shakava cleared the danger.

The Soldiers could have opened the scoring in the 14th through Stephen Waruru but Onyango was in good position to deny him minutes after Ichingwa ignored his penalty plea.

Gor piled pressure in the 23rd with Dan Sserunkuma chasing Musa Mohammed’s long ball but defender Cylus Shitote did well to rescue the Military side, heading the ball to his keeper James Saruni who dived to cool down the pressure.

The best chance for the champions came in the 35th when Dan Onyango set Timothy Otieno with a through pass for a one on one with Saruni but the youngster failed to net his third goal of the season as the keeper cleared.

Both sides entered the last period energized but it was Ulinzi who attempted first in the 55th after Ocholla interchanged passes with Oliver Rutto but Onyango raised to the occasion to save the latter’s effort.

On the other end substitute Patrick Oboya could send the Green Army into frenzy when Otieno found him, only to see his left foot shot stopped by Saruni.

After Ulinzi were reduced to 10 men, they opted to sit back but it was Amwoka who could have given the visitors a win in the dying minutes when he landed an open chance but he was too slow for Kevin Oluoch to intercept in what was the final touch of the game.

MUNICH, September 18-A superb strike by Jerome Boateng with a minute remaining earned Bayern Munich a dramatic 1-0 victory against Manchester City in their opening Champions League game of the season on Wednesday.

An inspired performance by City goalkeeper Joe Hart looked to have secured his team a point in the meeting of the English and German champions at Munich’s Allianz Arena.

But former City defender Boateng hammered a volley into the net in the dying seconds, although his venomous strike appeared to take a deflection off Bayern’s Mario Goetze on its way in.

Hart had pulled off a string of fine saves from Thomas Mueller, David Alaba, Goetze and Boateng but the England
international was finally beaten as Bayern earned a deserved win in their opening Group E fixture.

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola said his team had trouble coping with Manchester City midfielders Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas early on.

But he was happy to see his side’s aggression and positioning improve as the game wore on.
“We played well,” he said.

“The first 20 minutes Manchester City were better than we were and in the last 15 minutes of the second half we dominated.

“We created a lot of goal chances. It’s not easy against Manchester City. We played with a lot of heart and we really deserved the victory.”

With Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini serving a touchline ban, assistant coach Ruben Cousillas insisted City could recover against Roma and CSKA Moscow in their bid to qualify for the knockout stages.

“I think we played a really good game and it was also good entertainment for the public because there were two teams that tried to score goals,” Cousillas said.

“Conceding such a goal in the last minute, that’s what makes it really frustrating.

“It’s not good to start with a defeat but there are five games left so that means it depends on us.” 

Manchester City had come back from two goals down to beat Bayern 3-2 at the same venue in last season’s group stages and they started with Edin Dzeko, who has yet to score this season, leading the attack instead of Sergio Aguero.

Franck Ribery missed out through injury for the home team, who gave new signing Mehdi Benatia his first start on the right side of a three-man defence.

Bayern were looking to banish memories of last season’s 4-0 semi-final defeat to Real Madrid in their last Champions League match in Munich and they almost made a sensational start to the new campaign.

Goetze and Robert Lewandowksi released Mueller but after rounding Hart, the German attacker shot into the side netting inside 40 seconds.

Dzeko tested Manuel Neuer after a good spell of possession for the visitors but soon the home team started to make an impression at the other end.

After 19 minutes Juan Bernat crossed for Mueller, whose bullet header was brilliantly turned over the bar by Hart.

Dzeko curled a left-foot shot just to the right of Neuer’s goal and Boateng then cut out a dangerous  Navas cross as Guardiola became increasingly animated on the sideline.

Guardiola pushed David Alaba from defence into midfield and the move almost brought an immediate reward when the Austrian shot wide from distance on the half hour.

A minute later, the 22-year-old came closer still. He connected on the volley from Mueller’s touch down but the strike was once again beaten away by Hart.

With 19 minutes left Hart fumbled Rafinha’s shot but the City keeper recovered superbly to deny Mueller on the rebound.

A Champions League game involving Manchester City looked to be set to finish scoreless for the first time when Hart turned a ferocious long-strike from Boateng behind for a corner with three minutes left.

But City were struggling to clear their lines and in the final minute Boateng caught the ball sweetly on the volley to beat Hart from the left edge of the penalty area.   

Sergio Aguero almost snatched a late equaliser for City but Bayern got their revenge for last season’s defeat in Munich.

LONDON, September 18- Chelsea made a spluttering start to their Champions League campaign as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar’s second-half equaliser earned Schalke a surprise 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Jose Mourinho’s side had been in dominant mood in the early weeks of the season and they looked well in control of their Group G opener after an early strike from Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

But Fabregas’s first goal for Chelsea since his £27 million ($44 million) pre-season move from Barcelona was the prelude to a frustrating evening for the Blues, who wasted a string of chances to finish off Schalke and were made to pay when Huntelaar fired home to give the Germans the point their perseverance deserved.

The Premier League leaders will still expect to qualify from a group also including Sporting Lisbon and Maribor, but this was hardly the kind of ruthless performance required to go one step further than last season’s semi-final appearance.

“I’m frustrated because we had very good chances to make it 2-0 and after the 1-1 we had a fantastic reaction and had more chances to win the game,” Mourinho said.

“Schalke fought hard and congratulations to them. It’s a good point for them and a point for us, but not a fantastic point

Schalke manager Jens Keller by contrast was ecstatic with his side’s performance.

“I’m very proud of what we did against such a top team. Our plan went perfectly.It’s possible they underestimated us, but my team produced a really good tactical performance.”

Fuelled by the predatory finishing of Spain striker Diego Costa, who has scored seven times in four matches since arriving from Atletico Madrid, Mourinho’s men had reeled off four successive victories.

But despite Costa’s impressive form, Mourinho opted to rest the Brazil-born star and handed Didier Drogba his first start since his return to the Bridge.

Chelsea defeated Schalke both home and away in the Champions League group stage last season and it wasn’t long before Keller’s men were in trouble again as the Blues took the lead in controversial fashion in the 11th minute.

Stretching to win possession, Fabregas lunged in on Max Meyer, missing the ball and leaving the Schalke midfielder writhing in agony.

With furious Schalke players appealing for the foul, Croatian referee Ivan Bebek instead waved play on and Fabregas sprinted to receive a clever back-flicked pass from Eden Hazard in the area before guiding a cool finish past Ralf Faehrmann.
 
- Made to pay -
 
Fabregas should have doubled Chelsea’s lead before half-time when he lofted a pass to Branislav Ivanovic and surged onto the return ball, only to miscue his left-footed shot over the bar.

Schalke gradually came into the match and Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng lashed in a fierce long-range effort that brought a fine save from Thibaut Courtois.

The visitors came even closer to equalising on the stroke of half-time when Julian Draxler’s impressive acceleration took him past Ivanovic and Gary Cahill and into the area where he drilled a low shot just past the far post with only Courtois to beat.

Ivanovic was denied by Faehrmann from an acute angle as the hosts pressed for the killer second goal after the interval.

There was more frustration for Chelsea when Drogba muscled his way into a dangerous position from Hazard’s pass, but then clipped his shot wide.

And Schalke made Mourinho’s side pay for their profligacy in the 62nd minute.

In a reversal of Chelsea’s goal, Fabregas was dispossessed after a possible foul from Huntelaar, whose pass released Draxler to launch a rapid counter-attack that ended with Dutch striker Huntelaar planting a clinical low strike past Courtois to stun the Bridge into silence.

Mourinho called for the cavalry, sending on Costa and Loic Remy for the final 18 minutes.

Remy went close to bagging the winner, but the France striker’s shot was headed off the line by Roman Neustaedter.

That set the stage for a tense finale as Chelsea poured forward, but Hazard shot over and then saw his poked effort blocked by Faehrmann.

BARCELONA, September 18-A goal by Gerard Pique gave Barcelona a winning start to their Champions League campaign, but they were far from convincing 1-0 victors at home to Cypriots APOEL Nicosia on Wednesday.

Pique headed home the only goal of the game from Lionel Messi’s free-kick midway through the first-half, but APOEL managed to subdue a much changed Barca side despite the presence of Messi and Neymar up front.

And Luis Enrique’s men had debutant Marc-Andre ter Stegen to thank for a fourth consecutive victory to start the season as the German ‘keeper made a flying save in stoppage time to deny Gustavo Manduca.

Barca do though go to the top of Group F as Ajax held French champions Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 in Amsterdam with Barca set to travel to Paris on matchday two.

“We struggled. We tried to move the ball quickly and we didn’t manage to do it,” Barca midfielder Xavi Hernandez told Canal Plus.

“It is true we dominated. We tried through the middle and wide, but they defended very well.

“In the end it was a tiring game, but we have won and we have to treat it like it is. It is always good to start the group stage with three points,” added Xavi, who equalled compatriot Raul’s all-time record of Champions League appearances with 142.

Luis Enrique made nine changes from the side that started Saturday’s 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao with Messi and Munir El Haddadi the only players to retain their place.

The former Celta Vigo boss defended that decision, but admitted his side had struggled to breakdown the mass ranks of the APOEL defence.

“I have to manage the squad. I am convinced that if it works we will be successful and we need the help of all the players,” he said.

“It worked today because we won and the opponent created very little.We had problems in attack and we will evaluate and analyse them.”

The number of changes appeared to affect Barca’s rhythm in the first half as they dominated without creating many clear-cut chances from open play.

Messi was first to threaten with a curling free-kick that Urko Pardo in the APOEL goal did well to turn to safety.
Barca then went in front from another Messi free-kick as this time the Argentine’s in-swinging delivery was headed home at the near post by Pique.

Messi and Neymar were continuing to link-up well after the former provided the Brazilian with two assists at the weekend and the roles were reversed five minutes before the break as Messi fired Neymar’s cutback towards goal and Pardo made another impressive save.

A similar pattern ensued after the break, but the visitors also provided more of a threat and wasted two half chances as Tomas De Vincenti saw a goalbound effort deflected wide by Marc Bartra before Mario Sergio’s cross was cut out by Dani Alves with two unmarked team-mates waiting for a better delivery.

Barca should have put the game to bed when Alves picked out Neymar at the back post, but his header was heading off target before Munir turned the ball home and was rightly flagged for offside.

Neymar and Messi were foiled again as the game entered stoppage time — Neymar’s deflected shot was well saved by Pardo and Messi’s follow up brilliantly blocked by Sergio.

And the hosts could have been made to pay for a lacklustre display when ter Stegen was forced into the first serious save of his Barca career when he tipped Manduca’s well-struck effort behind for a corner.

BARCELONA, September 18- Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez insisted he hasn’t been frustrated by his lack of opportunities under new boss Luis Enrique after starting for the first time this season in a much-changed side in a 1-0 victory over APOEL Nicosia on Wednesday.

Gerard Pique’s first-half header was enough to hand the Catalans an unconvincing winning start to their Champions League campaign against the Cypriot champions.

Xavi started alongside youngsters Sergi Samper and Sergi Roberto in midfield as Enrique made nine changes in all from the side that started Saturday’s 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.

“I am happy. When my turn to play comes I will try to be useful,” said the 34-year-old, who moved level with Real Madrid legend Raul for the all-time record of Champions League appearances with 142.

Despite the presence of Lionel Messi and Neymar in attack, Barca struggled to create clear-cut chances against the mass ranks of the APOEL defence and Xavi admitted the lack of fluidity in the final third.

“We struggled. We tried to move the ball quickly and we didn’t manage to do it,” he added.

“It is true we dominated. We tried through the middle and wide, but they defended very well.

“In the end it was a tiring game, but we have won and we have to treat it like it is. It is always good to start the group stage with three points,” 

The narrow victory was enough to take Barca to the top of Group F as French champions Paris Saint-Germain were held 1-1 in Amsterdam by Ajax.

Next up for Barca in Europe is a trip to Paris on September 30 and Enrique admitted that a run of six games in 18 days had been part of his reasoning for making so many changes.

“I have to manage the squad. I am convinced that if it works we will be successful and we need the help of all the players.

“It worked today because we won and the opponent created very little. We had problems in attack and we will evaluate and analyse them.

“The players aren’t machines. They need to be precise, fresh, be able to find solutions and it is also difficult against a team that sits back in its own box.”

Samper became the latest academy product to be handed his debut in Enrique’s short time in charge, following in the footsteps of Munir El Haddadi and Sandro Ramirez.

And Enrique praised the 19-year-old’s performance, as well as German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen who was also making his debut after a 12 million euro transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer and made a crucial save to prevent Gustavo Manduca snatching a point for the visitors in stoppage time.

“To debut in the Camp Nou in the Champions League is never easy. Samper has a lot of quality and I think he played well.

“Ter Stegen didn’t have much to do, but he was there when we needed him and he did his job.

“I don’t have a goalkeeper for each competition. We have three very good goalkeepers and they will play depending on what the team needs.”

SINGAPORE, September 18- Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have welcomed the sound of radio silence for the final six races of their dramatic duel for the drivers’ world championship.

The Mercedes team-mates, who have fought an intense and sometimes acrimonious battle this year, will no longer have unrestricted radio contact with their engineering teams, following a ban on ‘performance-related’ radio communications by the sport’s ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA).

“All the fans are cheering so it looks like the right way to go,” said German Rosberg, who leads Hamilton by 22 points ahead of Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix.

“In my opinion it’s definitely a good thing, because it’s just more pure racing. Until now we did so much based on what they (engineers) told us to do on the radio. Now it’s up to us.”

Hamilton agreed.

“I quite like the idea, but in some ways it makes it harder, like engine strategy – how are we to know what strategy to use?”

He added that the clampdown could affect the intense title battle between himself and Rosberg.

“It’s going to be really important that we’re on the same strategy. Always.

“There’s been a couple of times when Nico has been on a different strategy to me that gives either more or less power and those things disadvantage you.

“So as long as you don’t have any problems there, the rest of it we’ll manage.”

He said the ban would also mean purer racing.

“I hope it’s a plus for me. I remember way back in karts, we didn’t have any data, so nobody could ever see where I was quick, anything I did, any trick I had.

“So maybe it’s a bit of a step back in that direction — I quite like it that we’re left to do it ourselves.”

MANILA, September 18- Philippine boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao threw down a fresh challenge to Floyd Mayweather Jnr on Thursday, daring the American world champion to “fight me” instead of setting terms that could torpedo the dream bout.

“He’s all talk. Until now he has not yet agreed to fight me. Instead of blabbing, he should face me atop the ring,” Pacquiao told AFP in an interview.

Ring fans the world over have been baying for a mega-fight between two of the world’s greatest boxers of their generation, but previous talks have always broken down before a deal could be signed.

Pacquiao, 35, has held world titles in eight separate weight divisions.
He is training to defend his World Boxing Organization welterweight title against another undefeated American, Chris Algieri, in Macau in November.

Mayweather, who scored a lopsided victory over Marcos Maidana in a rematch in Las Vegas on Saturday, pushing his record to 47-0, later denied he was trying to safeguard his unblemished record by avoiding Pacquiao.

However, he said a Pacquiao bout would have to be on the American’s terms.
Pacquiao retorted Thursday that great fighters did not duck facing the best and did not let any challenge pass by.

“I’m tired of his alibis. If he really wants to fight me, he knows how to reach me. We can fight anytime, anywhere,” Pacquiao added.

The Filipino, who has won 56, lost five and drawn two fights, also dismissed the manner of Mayweather’s second Maidana win, in which the American retained his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association welterweight titles.

“To me, Maidana won that fight. Mayweather’s face and lips were swelling compared to Maidana’s unblemished face,” Pacquiao said.

Ahead of his bout in Macau, Pacquiao said he would not underestimate Algieri, 30.

“I’m not taking Algieri lightly. He’s taller than me and moves around the ring with savvy. That’s why I started my training early,” Pacquiao said.

His assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez said they would focus on developing a game plan, as well as honing Pacquiao’s technique and footwork.

“Algieri uses the ring well and he loves to lean on the ropes. We must devise a strategy to counter this,” Fernandez added, warning Pacquiao to beware of the American’s left uppercut.

“He’s fast, but not as fast as Timothy Bradley. So he can be an easy target for our boxer,” Fernandez said.

American Bradley beat Pacquiao in a controversial split decision in 2012, but lost the rematch by unanimous decision last April.