Tuesday, October 30, 2012 DAILY SUN
SUN SPORTS Tennis: Serena, Azarenka to open 2013 at Hu Hin
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op-ranked Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams will open their 2013 campaigns at the World Tennis Invitation Exhibition Tournament starting December 29 at the Thai resort town of Hua Hin. Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand’s President Suwat Lipatapanlop, said yesterday that he was “delighted” the pair have chosen to start their 2013 campaign in Thailand. Suwat said the tournament - used by many players as a warm up for the Australian Open would be a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Thai fans to watch Serena play.” Williams will enter the new year after a dominating 2012 that included winning the Wimbledon, US Open and Olympic singles titles. Azarenka is defending her Hua Hin title after beating Caroline Wozniacki in last year’s final, while Williams will play in Thailand for the first time. Meanwhile, Azarenka of Belarus did not win the WTA Championships, but her semifinal berth there assured her of topping the prestigious year-ending ranking for the first time. Azarenka has 10,595 points in Monday’s list to lead ahead of the Istanbul runner-up Maria Sharapova of Russia (10 045) and champion Serena Williams of the United States (9,400). Azarenka is the 11th different player to top the year-ending rankings since they were introduced in 1975. She got her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and won six tournaments overall in 2012. “It’s just been an incredible year I’ve had my two dreams come true. To finish No 1 shows I’ve been playing really well throughout the whole year,” said Azarenka, who lost in the Istanbul semis against Sharapova. “To be a part of this history is just an incredible thing. When I first started to play tennis as a little girl, becoming No 1 in the world seemed so far away, and now I’m standing here and holding that trophy.” Sharapova won the French Open, while Williams was the most successful player as far as big titles are concerned, winning Wimbledon, the US Open, Olympic gold and the WTA Championships.
Gullit: People jealous of Ronaldo
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uud Gullit says people criticise Real Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, because they are jealous of him. The Portugal international often gets a hostile reception at away games, while has has also been targeted by a number of opponents throughout his career. Gullit, however, has nothing but praise for the 27-year-old and compared his situation to another former Manchester United star. “I think Cristiano Ronaldo is a phenomenon. The same thing happens to him as it did to (David) Beckham; people criticise them because they are envious that they’re very good-looking,” Gullit said to ESPN. “For me, he’s the ideal player. He’s fast, tall, is good with his head, is technically good, shoots penalties, takes good free kicks and he’s a leader. “I think that Real Madrid loves having Cristiano Ronaldo as a player.” Ronaldo has netted 18 goals in 14 appearances for Real Madrid so far this term.
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NEWS
EPL
Mikel, Clattenburg in race row C
helsea Football Club has made an official complaint against referee, Mark
Clattenburg, and alleged he used inappropriate language against two of its players in Sunday’s 2-3 loss to Manchester United in the
Barclays English Premier League. One of the two Chelsea’s players is believed to be a Nigerian midfielder, John Mikel Obi. Part of the
•Mikel (left) and Clattenburg
...Mata keeps mum over allegations against ref
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uan Mata stayed silent over allegations that Mark Clattenburg used “inappropriate language” towards him after his blog on Chelsea’s acrimonious loss to Manchester United went online yesterday. Mata made no mention of claims that he and team-mate, John Obi Mikel, were the victims of comments made towards them by Clattenburg, which are understood to have been interpreted as racist. Clattenburg himself has promised to co-operate with any investigation into the events that took place in Sunday’s Barclays Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, which United won 3-2. The official also stood by his controversial decision to show Fernando Torres a second yellow card for diving, according to former referee, Dermot Gallagher, who claimed to have spoken to the 37year-old on Sunday night. Replays clearly showed Torres had been fouled by Jonny Evans and the sending-off reduced Chelsea to nine men, allowing United to score a winner which itself should have been disallowed for offside. Mata wrote on http://blogs.grada360.com/juanmata: “This time I’m writing to you from home, just arrived from Stamford Bridge, and obviously disappointed after our defeat. “It was a very important match for us, first vs second, and we were eager to win in order to open a gap at the top of the table. Yet we couldn’t make it. “The match started bad for us, conceding two goals in the early minutes (the first one very unlucky), but there was plenty of time to fight
back. And we did it. “Little by little, with the support of the crowd, we put more and more pressure on United and we managed to tie the game thanks to a very intense start in the second half. “But soon afterwards, when the team’s belief was higher, we had to
play with nine men after Torres being unfairly sent off. “Yet, I prefer to be positive, we were very competitive against a great rival and we fought back with 0-2. Also we keep at the top of the table. It’s still too early, but it’s important to be up there.
allegation is that Clattenburg used racial language, supersport.com has been made to understand. A Chelsea’s spokesman said an official complaint had been lodged with the English FA.”We have lodged a complaint to the Premier League match delegate. The match delegate will pass the complaint to the Football Association,” the spokesman said. Referees’ Organisation, Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) later issued a statement which also revealed that it was aware of the allegations against Clattenburg. “PGMO is aware of the allegations and it is being treated with the utmost seriousness. Mark will cooperate fully and welcomes the opportunity for the facts to be established.” All four officials - the referee, his two assistants and the fourth official - wear microphones and ear pieces that allow them to hear what each other was saying throughout the match, although what is said between them is not recorded. Clattenburg, 37, is viewed by the PGMO as one of the country’s leading officials. He regularly referees games in European competitions and was put in charge of the League Cup final in February and the Olympic final between Brazil and Mexico in August.In 2009, he was suspended over allegations about his business dealings but Clattenburg appealed and returned to officiating having served an eight-month ban.
Jossy Lad praises sponsors of Ibadan fiesta tourney
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uper Falcons’ former coach, Joseph Ladipo, popularly called Jossy Lad has showered praises on the 11 local government councils areas within Ibadan metropolis participating in the on-going football competitions designed as part of activities marking the 2012 Ibadan Week Festival. The 3SC board’s former chairman, who is also a member of the organising committee of the tour-
ney described the positive gesture of all the caretaker chairmen stirring the affairs of the councils as a good omen for development of grassroots football in the state. Coach Jossy disclosed this while speaking with newsmen at Olubadan Stadium, Ibadan the venue of the tourney, saying the passionate attitude shown by the chairmen who raised and financed teams to participate in the tourney at a short notice was an indication of a better future for grassroots football.
The head of planning committee for the annual Ibadan Week Festival, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga, speaking in the same vein, also lauded the efforts of Lanre Alabi of Kingzise Sports and Yomi Ojo of Capitech, who were cultivated to market the event. The Ibadan Prince said involvement of marketers had greatly helped the event this year by creating more awareness and attracting sponsors for the cultural fiesta designed to celebrate heritage.
Schools gear up for GTBank Heritage Cup Season 2
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he stage is now set for the second edition of the GTBank Heritage Cup as defending champion, Anwar-ul-Islam College, Agege begins the race for the defence of the championship title which it won at the first edition of the championship which commenced earlier in the year. GTBank, in a bid to re-ignite the passion and sentiment that once upon a time greeted the Lagos State Principals’ Cup tournament, initiated the Heritage Cup to revamp the past of schools that dominated the Principals Cup tournament decades ago since its inception in 1954. The Heritage Cup being sponsored by Guaranty Trust Bank has
…As Anwar-ul-Islam begins title defence attracted more Heritage and private schools in Lagos and will begin in November with the semi-final and final billed for February and March 2013 respectively. The draws for the second edition of the championship held recently in Lagos has in the boys category students from St. Gregory College, Ikoyi; Ansar-ud-deen Isolo; Atlantic Hall and Whitesand College, Lagos battle in Group A, while Group B have the defending champion, Anwar-ul-Islam, Agege; Grace High School; Dowen College, Lekki and Corona School, Agbara. Lagos Principal’s Cup most successful team, St. Finbars College, Akoka leads Group C alongside
Ansar-ud-deen, Randle; Eko Boys High School and Western College, Yaba, while in Group D Kings College; CMS Grammar School, Bariga; Adrao Int’l School, V/ Island and Methodist Boys, Lagos will slogging it out. In the girls category, Methodist Girls, Yaba; Grace High School; Dowen College, Lekki and Corona School, Agbara are to slug it out in Group A with Queens College, Yaba; Anwar-ul-Islam Girls, Ansar-un-deen Girls, Itire and Adrao Int’l School, V/ Island competing in Group B, while Holy Child College, Ansar-un-deen Girls, Isolo and Reagan Memorial Girls are to do battle in Group C.