62 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015
Mashaba hails Majoro’s impact against Eagles S
OUTH Africa coach Shakes Mashaba admits he was impressed by Lehlohonolo Majoro’s form after the striker ’s introduction against Nigeria led to the hosts’ equaliser on Sunday. The Orlando Pirates forward had come under criticism following a below-par performance during the 3-1 win over Swaziland last week and found himself amongst the substitutes in Nelspruit at the weekend. Speaking after the game, Mashaba said: “If you look at the kind of goals he (Majoro) scores for his team, classy goals, he finishes very well. “When we brought him on (against Nigeria) we saw that our two strikers (Rantie and Sibusiso Vilakazi) didn’t have even one shot at goal. “He made good runs, peeled off nicely from the defenders and also pulled them away from their positions. But I think at that time fatigue was starting to tell on
our players and they couldn’t be sharper in supporting him.”
Zidane: I want to coach France
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INEDINE Zidane has signalled his ambition to manage the French national team in the future. Zidane, who won World Cup and E u r o p e a n Championship winners medals with France during his playing days, is currently coaching Real Madrids reserve side Castilla. However, Zidane is eyeing other possibilities, with the French national team post in his sights. Speaking to Canal+Francia, he said: I will say it clearly, my objective and my ambition is to be the coach of the French national team. When? Someday, I have time ahead.”
TUSSLE.....Oupa Manyisa of South Africa and Efe Ambrose of Nigeria compete for the ball during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
Sterling puts Liverpool's future on hold
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AHEEM Sterling will not discuss his future at Liverpool until the end of the season, according to sources. A source close to the England forward says any talks over a new deal are on hold until the summer but insists the 20-year-old remains ‘100 per cent committed to the club’. Sterling’s contract runs out at the end of next season and earlier this month managerBrendan Rodgerssaid Anfield would be the best place for the Jamaica-born winger to further his career. It is something we can’t worry ourselves on, he said. The boy is happy here and I repeat if you have the interest of the kid and his football development at this stage of his career, this is the best place to be.”
Cameroon battle past Thailand
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•Sterling
AMEROON came from two goals down to beat Thailand 32 in an international friendly played at SCG Stadium, Nonthaburi yesterday. Thailand opened the scoring in the 15th minute through midfielder Prakit Deeprom and then went further ahead when Cameroon defender Aurelien Chedjou scored an own-goal in the 31st minute to make the score 2-0 to the hosts. The visitors’ fight back started just before halftime when Benjamin Moukandjo pulled a goal back. The scores were level in the 77th minute when forward Clinton N’Jie scored with a penalty kick to make it 2-2. The winner came in the 88th minute when Ngweni Ndasi scored after an assist by Moukandjo.
•Zidane
Mata wants Spain return
•Mata
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ANCHESTER United midfielder Juan Mata has not given up hope of playing for Spain again. “Many of you are asking me these days about the Spanish national team.
“As I always say, I have been very lucky to play and to win a World Cup and a European Championship, to participate in the most important competitions, but I’m still excited as the first day. I am convinced that I’m in a perfect age in my football career and I look forward to keep contributing and achieving more success with my national team. “That’s what I work for every day, training and playing to the maximum, trying to do the best I can. “After that, obviously, the manager is the one who picks the players for every game. “So now I take these quiet days to keep working, as I said, but I also switch off and rest a bit.”