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SPORTS
GOA, Friday, 16 April, 2010
Govt awards Rs 5 lakh to ex-Olympian Franco
Lee likely to miss T20 WC UNI SYDNEY, APRIL 15
With Brett Lee struggling to regain fitness following a spate of injuries, his agent Neil Maxwell has indicated that the pacer might give the upcoming World Twenty20 championships a miss in the long term interest of his career. Lee is yet to recover from a broken thumb on his bowling hand, which he suffered while representing the Kings XI Punjab in the IPL. The 33-year-old had struggled to make an impact in the IPL after being forced to sit out for six months due to an elbow surgery and the latest injury has come as another severe blow. But Maxwell suggested that Lee would not rush to be ready for the ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean, which starts later this month. ''The poor bloke has had a run of bad luck trying to get back in the swing of things, and this is a small setback,'' Maxwell was quoted as saying by the 'Sydney Morning Herald'.
lU-21 footballers also to get SAG cash awards HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 15
The Government ultimately kept up its promise and Goan, former Olympian Fortunato Franco will receive the special award of Rs 5 lakh on April 17, at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, at 4.45 p.m. Sports Minister, Babu Azgaonakr will hand over the cash award in the presence of SAG’s Executive Director, V M Prabhudesai. Fortunato, on being informed by Prabhudesai on Thursday afternoon, that he will receive the award on Saturday, telephoned the Sports Journalists Association of Goa (SJAG) President Jovito Lopes, to express his gratitude as the proposal was mooted by Jovito five years ago and the SAG under the chairmanship of the then Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane and the then Sports Minister Pandurang Madkaikar had accepted it promptly. Fortunato was ecstatic when he said: “But for you and the SAG and the Government I would have never got the award. My deep gratitude to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat for agreeing to release the amount in the last SAG meeting. I am also indebted to Sports Minister, Babu Azgaonkar and all the SAG members and Prabhudesai, for the wonder ful gesture, which should motivate all our youngsters and make them realise that the Government does recognise excellence.” “I am also thankful to GFA’s Secretary, Savio Messias, first
for consistently backing Jovito at the SAG meetings and also for pursuing it subsequently and especially at the last SAG meeting when he brought up the topic as the accepted proposal was not being realised,” Fortunato remarked and added that the GFA had also helped him a lot. “My hats off to SJAG, GFA, SAG, Government and all those who shaped my career and inspired me to get into football right from my childhood,” expressed Fortunato and added he always knew the power of the Press and that he had abundant faith in the Almighty.
n 74-year-old, Fortunato, hailing from Colvale (Bardez) and now residing at Colva (Salcete), donned National colours for India from 1959-65, without a break, having been the member of India team at Rome Olympics in 1960. Seventy-four-year-old, Fortunato, hailing from Colvale (Bardez) and now residing at Colva (Salcete), donned National colours for India from 1959-65, without a break, having been the member of India team at
Rooney, Fabregas, Tevez, Drogba for PFA award
AgENCIES LONDON, APRIL 15
Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney is among the nominations for the Professional Footballers' Association player of the year award. Rooney is joined on the fourman shortlist by Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Manchester City ace Carlos Tevez. Rooney and Fabregas are also nominees for the young player of the year award. Aston Villa midfielder James Milner and Birmingham City's on-loan goalkeeper Joe Hart complete that particular list. Hart, 22, has spent the season on loan at St Andrew's from Manchester City. Rooney, who has already scored 34 goals for his club this term, is favourite to capture the PFA prize and make it the fourth successive year it has gone to a United player. Cristiano Ronaldo recorded back-to-back wins in 2007 and 2008, while Ryan Giggs was handed the honours last season. Rooney, 24, and Fabregas, 22, will compete to join a select band of players to have won the young player award in the same season as the main honour.
Andy Gray, the former Aston Villa and Scotland striker, and Ronaldo achieved the feat in 1977 and 2007 respectively. Both Rooney and Fabregas have already won the young player prize in the past. Rooney triumphed in 2005 and 2006, while Fabregas collected it in 2008. Fabregas is currently injured and will miss the rest of the season after cracking his right fibula during the first leg of the Gunners' Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona. But the Spaniard remains a key player for the Gunners, whose Premier League title aspirations were seemingly ended by their defeat by Tottenham on Wednesday. BBC African Footballer of the Year Drogba, 32, has hit 32 goals to leave Chelsea on the brink of the first double in the club's history, while Tevez, 26, has also enjoyed a prolific campaign; netting 28 goals since joining City from neighbours United last summer. The 24-year-old Milner, who looks like being a key player for England at this year's World Cup, is trying to emulate Aston Villa team-mate Ashley Young, who won the young player accolade last season.
OL Rosary triumph
The winners, Our Lady of Rosary Altar Servers, Fatorda team, alongwith the runners-up St Alex Alter Servers Association, Curtorim, in the presence of Fr Freddy Lobo and Fr Milagres Dias, Margao Deanery, at Don Bosco Oratory, Fatorda.
PANJIM (HSD) -- Our Lady of Rosary Altar Servers, Fatorda scored a fluent 2-0 win over St Alex Altar Servers Association Curtorim to emerge champions in inter-Margao Deanery Altar Servers Tournament organised by Margao Deanery at Don Bosco
Oratory ground, Fatorda. Both goals were scored by Alison in the second half. OL Rosary have now qualified for the All-Goa State Deanerywise Altar Servers Soccer Tournament to be held on April 18, at Saligao seminary ground.
Rome Olympics in 1960. Having represented India at Asia Cup in Ernakulam in 1959, right midfielder Fortunato caught the eye of the selectors and he was next in India team for Olympics. He was the member of India squad which won the Asian Games gold in Jakarta in 1962 and played in preOlympic matches against Sri Lanka (Ceylon then) and Iran in 1963. In 1961, 1964, 1965 he was a regular member of the India team at Merdeka football championship. Fortunato always played for Tata Sports Club in Mumbai and belonged to the old school of thought of serving loyally just one master no matter what. He was the vice-captain of the Maharashtra team which won the Santosh Trophy National football championship in 1963 in then Madras and that too without conceding a single goal in the entire event. Fortunato was in a jubilant mood and was looking to celebrate his birthday on May 2, perhaps with champagne being popped off. Meanwhile, the Goa State team which won the National Under-21 crown will be also be presented with cash awards of Rs 15,000 to each member also on April 17. Savio Messias highlighted the role played by Prabhudesai in getting the proposal okayed by the Government. “In fact, the cheques were kept ready long back,” he added.
Porto in Portuguese Cup final REUTERS LISBON, APRIL 15
Porto thrashed Rio Ave 4-0 at home in the second leg of the Portuguese Cup semi-final to book a place in the final against second division side Desportivo Chaves. Argentine midfielder Fernando Belluschi opened the scoring on 20 minutes with Fredy Guarin, Ruben Micael and Radamel Falcao netting in the second half to give holders Porto a 7-1 aggregate victory yesterday. Chaves, who are struggling near the bottom of the second division, reached the final for the first time on Tuesday by scoring two goals in extra time to beat top-tier team Naval 2-1 away and post a 3-1 aggregate win. The final will be played in Lisbon on May 16.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Danny Rose fires in a wonderful volley from outside the area.
Spurs crush Arsenal’s title hopes AgENCIES LONDON, APRIL 15
Tottenham Hotspur dealt a potentially fatal blow to north London rivals Arsenal's Premier League title hopes with a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane on Wednesday. A superb Danny Rose volley and a second from Gareth Bale edged Nicklas Bendtner's second half effort to hand Spurs a first league win over Arsene Wenger's side in 11 years. The defeat leaves third-placed Arsenal six points behind leaders Chelsea with four games remaining. Spurs stay fifth on 61 points, one behind Manchester City after 33 matches.
Dramapur Sports Club prevailed over Macazana Welfare Club 52 via the tie-breaker to march into the quarter-finals of Cayman Cup inter-village football tournament organised by Curtorim Gymkhana at Curtorim ground, on Thursday. The teams shared two goals each at the end of the regulation period. Macazana were the first to settle down and took the lead in the 12th minute when Vicky Cardozo unleashed a snap shot which beat the Dramapur goalkeeper. However, their joy was shortlived as Dayberon Noronha neutralized the lead with a swift shot off a pass from Nickson Rebello in the 17th minute. In the second half, Dramapur
Wenger conceded his team's title prospects were now remote but refused to give up the fight. Elsewhere, seventh-placed Aston Villa salvaged a late 2-2 draw against Everton, who are in eighth spot. Tim Cahill headed in both Everton's goals either side of Gabriel Agbonlahor's second-half header before Phil Jagielka's injury-time own goal levelled it. At the bottom of the table, relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic were held 0-0 at home by already condemned Portsmouth to leave them five points clear of the drop zone in 16th place. Wenger sent his side into the London derby with a must-win message if they were to secure a first league title since 2004
but their strong start was halted by a stunning Rose strike. The 19-year-old midfielder made sure his first Premier League start was one to remember when he met Arsenal goalkeeper's Manuel Almunia’s punched clearance with a crashing 30 metre volley which rocketed in on 10 minutes. It got worse for Arsenal soon after when key defender Thomas Vermaelen limped off injured and despite dominating possession Wenger's side had no answer to Tottenham's resilience. Immediately after the restart, Gareth Bale was left unmarked and onside to calmly slot a second for the hosts. Boosted by the late introduction of Theo Walcott and Dutchman Robin van
Persie, back after a five-month injury absence, Arsenal began to rally. Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner slid home on 85 minutes and defender Sol Campbell, who had an effort cleared off the line in the first half, had a late header tipped onto the bar against his old club. Spurs, with Ledley King back in defence after seven weeks out injured, nullified Arsenal for long periods with a strong defensive display and are now firmly in the race for the fourth Champions League qualifying place. Aston Villa's push for that very same position continued to falter with their draw against a resurgent Everton side now unbeaten in seven league matches.
Dope tainted pacer Mohammad Asif has landed in hot water once again after allegedly threatening his ex-girlfriend Veena Malik. According to reports, Veena has been receiving threatening emails and text messages from Asif, which the actress was planning to use as evidence in court. The actress also alleged that the pacer is still doing drugs and may even ask the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to conduct another dope test on Asif, which she believes, may be positive. ''Veena has told people close to her that Asif still spends a lot of his earnings on drugs and that he would fail a dope test again,'' a source was quoted as saying by 'The News'.
At a jubilant Nou Camp stadium, mid-table Depor became the latest of Barca's opponents to spend long periods chasing the ball as the peerless Xavi again ran the show in midfield. With striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and midfielder Andres Iniesta injured, Guardiola fielded an unfamiliar 4-2-3-1 starting lineup, with Bojan leading the line in front of Lionel Messi, Pedro and Jeffren. Spain midfielder Xavi cracked open the visitors' defence to release Bojan to score from close range in the 16th minute before a spectacular overhead kick from
the energetic Daniel Alves came back off the crossbar. Messi and Rafael Marquez also had efforts cleared off the line by defenders. Pedro's goal in the 69th minute was easily the pick of the three. An attempted clearance from Daniel Aranzubia went straight to the 22-year-old and he lifted a spectacular first-time effort over the Depor goalkeeper and into the empty net from just inside the visitors' half. Aranzubia had earlier kept Depor in the match with saves from Messi, Xavi and Jeffren but was beaten again three minutes
later when Toure's powerful strike crashed in off a defender. Barca have 83 points with six matches remaining. Real are on 77 with a game in hand and Valencia, who host Athletic Bilbao later today trail on 56 in third. Real Mallorca climbed above Sevilla into Spain's fourth Champions League qualification berth earlier on Wednesday when they drew 1-1 at struggling Real Zaragoza. The Balearic Islanders have 52 points to Sevilla's 51 after the Andalucians' 2-1 defeat at relegation threatened Real Valladolid on Tuesday. Atletico Madrid, who play the
first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Liverpool on April 22, suffered a shock 2-1 loss to bottom side Xerez. A sixth win of the campaign for tiny Xerez, who are making their La Liga debut and have a budget about a 10th the size of Atletico's, puts them on 26 points with six matches left, still six from safety. Racing Santander pulled away from the relegation places with a 3-1 comeback win at home to Espanyol, who had goalkeeper Carlos Kameni sent off in the 46th minute, and Osasuna twice surrendered the lead to draw 22 with visiting Malaga.
Barcelona took another step towards retaining their La Liga title when goals from Bojan Krkic, Pedro and Yaya Toure fired them to a 3-0 home win over Deportivo Coruna. Saturday's 2-0 victory over arch rivals Real Madrid had put Pep Guardiola's side three points clear at the top and their latest crushing triumph yesterday extended their advantage to six ahead of Real's match at Almeria today.
were the first to settle down and were rewarded when Dickson Costa slotted past the rival goalkeeper after picking up a pass from Piedade Rebello in the 45th minute. W ith time running out, Macazana mounted pressure and found the equalizer in the 58th minute, when Jameson Noronha sent a floater into the danger zone where Franky D’Costa bulged the net giving no chance to the rival goalkeeper. In the tie-breaker, Dramapur scored through Dickson Costa, Nickson Rebello and U. Soares while Macazana failed to convert any spot kick. Antonio Rebello, former Salgaocar footballer was the chief guest and was introduced to the teams.
KSEB spikers ahead HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 15
KSEB overcame ICF 25-15, 2515, 15-25, 25-20 in All-India Wilred Leisure Volleyball tournament at St Alex church court, Curtorim.
Nerul up
PANJIM (HSD) -- United Club Nerul scored a fluent 2-0 win over Sodiem Sports Club to move into the quarter-finals of 3rd Colormax Imperial Rolling Trophy soccer tournament sponsored by Jaysingh L Rane at Dr. Gustavo Monteiro stadium, Candolim, on Thursday. A f t e r t h e l e m o n b re a k , Charles Pereira opened the account for Nerul with a power packed shot in the 45th minute. Minutes later, Xavier Clemente made it 2-0 through a header off Sydney Monteiro’s cross.
Carmona sail into quarters HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, APRIL 15
Carmona Sports Club edged past Curtorim Gymkhana 5-3 via the tie-breaker to cruise into the quarter-finals of All-Goa Eslinda Alemao memorial intervillage football tournament organized by Sporting Club of Davorlim at Davorlim ground, on Thursday . Curtorim led 1-0 at the breather.
Nuvem advance
Sporting breeze past Dempo
CALANGUTE (HC) -- Parish Youth Nuvem scored a narrow 2-1 win over Saligao Sporting Club in Salgaocar trophy inter-village football tournament at Saligao sporting ground, on Thursday. Nuvem shot into lead in the 15th minute through Xavier Colaco. Joe Colaco doubled the lead for Nuvem in the 25th minute. Saligao reduced the margin through Joseph Monteiro.
in the 7th minute through Flody D’Souza who guided the ball into the top corner of the net after receiving a pass from Cliff Barretto. Three minutes later, Sporting captain Mackroy Piexoto was trying to clear a corner and the ball hit Dempo’s Velzino Cruz on the back and deflected over Sporting custodian Oswin Rodrigues to give Dempo their equaliser. Sporting’s Mackroy came
PANJIM ( HSD) -- Britona Boys scored a 35-run win over Ideal Advalpal in a T20 cricket organised by Badem SC.Britona were 116 for 4. Vishant 32, followed by Sanjay 22 and Prasad 28 for Britona. For Ideal, Dilip claimed 2 for 11, while Chetan took 1 for 23.Ideal were bowled out for 81. Ashok 14, Rupesh 14 and Viyayanand 10. Prasad claimed 4 for 19.
HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, APRIL 15
Sporting Clube de Goa edged past Dempo Sports Club 2-1 in Taca Goa U-20 League at Duler stadium, Mapusa on Thursday. The score was 1-1 at the breather. In the 60th minute Sporting were reduced to ten men after Pritam Ningthougam was rightly sent off by referee Sunil Nanodkar for his second yellow. Sporting opened the scoring
close to scoring in the 33rd minute through a free kick which narrowly missed the target. In the 80th minute, Sporting scored the match-winner through Mackroy who neatly headed the ball from a corner taken by Valzino Fernandes. Dempo defender Prathamesh Mauligkar did his best to clear the ball on the goalline but the ball rolled back off the crossbar.
Britona Boys win
15 Calangute football players to be felicitated PANJIM (HSD) -- Fifteen star footballers of yesteryears from Calangute will be honoured by Football Legends at a felicitation function on April 24 at Poriat ground, Calangute at 4 p.m. Bonny Sieiro of Football Legends disclosed that the awards will be presented to former stars of Calangute for their splendid
UNI LAHORE, APRIL 15
Barca extend lead over Real to six
REUTERS MADRID, APRIL 15
Dramapur prove better shooters HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, APRIL 15
Asif lands in fresh row
contribution for football, the beautiful game. Among the 15 is the lone women footballer, exinternational Yolanda de Sousa. Bonny said that those who will be felicitated are – Alex Miranda, Anthony D’Sousa, Peter Carvalho, Bruno Coutinho, Peter S Gomes, Alex J Coutinho, Anthony F D’Sousa, Bhasker
Gadekar, Digambar Haldankar, Zacharias S Fernandes, Namshed B Kundaikar, Sebastiao N Silveira, Luis T Gonsalves, Romeo C Mascarenhas and Yolanda. The function will be followed by an exhibition match between Calangute Association and Siolim Sodiem. The awards will be presented
every year and players from other areas or villages will be selected hereafter, Bonny divulged. Peter Carvalho, technical director and Cyriaco Dias, adviser were also present. Presently, Football Legends are engaged in imparting coaching to children at Calangute.
Curtorim controlled the game well with Savio Fernandes excelling in the midfield and repeatedly spraying accurate passes. Curtorim broke the deadlock midway in the opening session when John Fernandes unleashed a volley which crashed into the net. In the second half, Carmona put up a better display and found the equaliser in the dying minutes when Charles Ro drigues found the net with a swift grounder. In the tie-breaker, Yuri Ferrao, Eloy Pereira, Neil D’Cruz and Alex Rodrigues were on target for Carmona while John Fernandes and Savio Fernandes converted for Curtorim.
Nadal in last eight REUTERS MONTE CARLO, APRIL 15
World number three Rafa Nadal continued his destruction business at the Monte Carlo Masters with a 6-0 6-1 demolition of German Michael Berrer to reach the quarter-finals today. D a v i d Fe r re r r u t h l e s s l y brought Ivan Ljubicic down to earth with a 6-0 7-6 victory and his compatriots Albert Montanes and Fernando Verdasco also reached the quarter-finals. Ferrer will face Germany's Philipp Petzschner or Philipp Kohlschreiber for a place in the last four, with a possible match up against claycourt machine Nadal looming. Montanes beat Croatian fourth seed Marin Cilic 6-4 6-4 while Verdasco, seeded sixth, recovered from a shaky start to see off Czech Tomas Berdych 57 6-3 6-2.