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Nasri epitomises Arsenal swagger




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By ALLAN BULUKU abuluku@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Sunday, December 12 2010 at 20:53



You are in your favourite sports pub watching the explosive showdown at Old Trafford. The Gunners are dominating proceedings as they, time and again, tiki-taka their way into the home defence.

Then, against the run of play, United break with a breathtaking counter on the right. Dimitar Berbatov swings in a lovely ball to Wayne Rooney, who's racing towards goal.




Rooney has just Laurent Koscielny to deal with. He cleverly rounds the defender but when he's just about to pull the trigger, lights out…. Seething United fans, some of whom are barely coherent, turn their rage on KPLC. Unbeknown to them, the power company has got nothing to do with it.




The DO has just stormed in and he orders all patrons home, colonial-style. It's Monday and, thanks to one John Mututho (This guy's piercing eyes suggest he doesn't always drink milk) all patrons must go home and build the nation – that is, eeeh, add to Oparanya's numbers.




Paying sin tax isn't the government's exact idea of nation building, is it? Good people, I pray this doesn't happen to you tonight. The planets in the footballing universe have aligned and the stars are about to collide in the most spectacular fashion imaginable.

At the magnificent Theatre of Dreams, two pedigree practitioners will do impossibly brilliant battle with each other under the enchanted gaze of 68,000 present and millions more across the globe.

With the Stamford Bridge pensioners wobbling in this notoriously volatile season, tonight's showdown will almost certainly give a bearing on the title race.




Mere spectators


Guy Maughflin aptly put it in his "Premier League Chat Room" column in the Saturday Nation:

"For a long time fixtures between United and Arsenal at Old Trafford held the key to the destiny of the Premiership title: if Arsenal didn't concede a goal there, they would be the winners in May; if they did, United would be top of the pile at season's end."

Truth be told, Arsenal is the most entertaining team in England. Their passing is monotonously fantastic. They are a team thoroughly adept at the game of football that they could comfortably do it blindfolded. Uuh la laaah!




But for the past five seasons, unfortunately, Arsenal were mere spectators as Chelsea and United shared all the glory. This has been Arsenal's script these last six seasons: Take the lead, miss a load of chances, gift the opposition a goal, then work hard to lose the match.




But with Samir Nasri in the form of his life, the Gunners' trophy drought might be set to come to an end. The Frenchman has been untouchably brilliant this season. Against Fulham, he steered the Gunners to the top with a stellar display.




Magical moment


His superb brace was evidence of the confidence and swagger his goal-scoring exploits have given him. He showed pace, power and poise to put Fulham to the sword.




In the first goal, he collected the ball from Andrey Arshavin in the area and used two feints to leave a diving-in Fulham defence flowed before crashing into the top right corner.




When Fulham threatened to overrun them as proceedings got worringly familiar at the Emirates, Nasri produced another moment of magic.



He collected Robin Van Persie's pass inside a congested penalty area, jinked past three defenders before pirouetting to keep the ball in play and then – with typical dexterity – scooped into the back of the net from a tight angle. It wasn't just a beauty; It was a goal made in heaven.




And this is the genius Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville and the other ageing United defenders will have to deal with tonight. Chances of the home defence succeeding are next to zero.

I also can't wait to see the ‘flying Dutchman' Van Persie and Marouane Chamakh demolishing the Devils. The ‘Terror Twins' is what they will be known as by defenders near and far.



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Nasri epitomises Arsenal swagger




Submit Cancel




By ALLAN BULUKU abuluku@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Sunday, December 12 2010 at 20:53



You are in your favourite sports pub watching the explosive showdown at Old Trafford. The Gunners are dominating proceedings as they, time and again, tiki-taka their way into the home defence.

Then, against the run of play, United break with a breathtaking counter on the right. Dimitar Berbatov swings in a lovely ball to Wayne Rooney, who’s racing towards goal.




Rooney has just Laurent Koscielny to deal with. He cleverly rounds the defender but when he’s just about to pull the trigger, lights out…. Seething United fans, some of whom are barely coherent, turn their rage on KPLC. Unbeknown to them, the power company has got nothing to do with it.




The DO has just stormed in and he orders all patrons home, colonial-style. It’s Monday and, thanks to one John Mututho (This guy’s piercing eyes suggest he doesn’t always drink milk) all patrons must go home and build the nation – that is, eeeh, add to Oparanya’s numbers.




Paying sin tax isn’t the government’s exact idea of nation building, is it? Good people, I pray this doesn’t happen to you tonight. The planets in the footballing universe have aligned and the stars are about to collide in the most spectacular fashion imaginable.

At the magnificent Theatre of Dreams, two pedigree practitioners will do impossibly brilliant battle with each other under the enchanted gaze of 68,000 present and millions more across the globe.

With the Stamford Bridge pensioners wobbling in this notoriously volatile season, tonight’s showdown will almost certainly give a bearing on the title race.




Mere spectators


Guy Maughflin aptly put it in his “Premier League Chat Room” column in the Saturday Nation:

“For a long time fixtures between United and Arsenal at Old Trafford held the key to the destiny of the Premiership title: if Arsenal didn’t concede a goal there, they would be the winners in May; if they did, United would be top of the pile at season’s end.”

Truth be told, Arsenal is the most entertaining team in England. Their passing is monotonously fantastic. They are a team thoroughly adept at the game of football that they could comfortably do it blindfolded. Uuh la laaah!




But for the past five seasons, unfortunately, Arsenal were mere spectators as Chelsea and United shared all the glory. This has been Arsenal’s script these last six seasons: Take the lead, miss a load of chances, gift the opposition a goal, then work hard to lose the match.




But with Samir Nasri in the form of his life, the Gunners’ trophy drought might be set to come to an end. The Frenchman has been untouchably brilliant this season. Against Fulham, he steered the Gunners to the top with a stellar display.




Magical moment


His superb brace was evidence of the confidence and swagger his goal-scoring exploits have given him. He showed pace, power and poise to put Fulham to the sword.




In the first goal, he collected the ball from Andrey Arshavin in the area and used two feints to leave a diving-in Fulham defence flowed before crashing into the top right corner.




When Fulham threatened to overrun them as proceedings got worringly familiar at the Emirates, Nasri produced another moment of magic.



He collected Robin Van Persie’s pass inside a congested penalty area, jinked past three defenders before pirouetting to keep the ball in play and then – with typical dexterity – scooped into the back of the net from a tight angle. It wasn’t just a beauty; It was a goal made in heaven.




And this is the genius Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville and the other ageing United defenders will have to deal with tonight. Chances of the home defence succeeding are next to zero.

I also can’t wait to see the ‘flying Dutchman’ Van Persie and Marouane Chamakh demolishing the Devils. The ‘Terror Twins’ is what they will be known as by defenders near and far.



1 | 2 Next Page »

Tanzania's Nurdin Bakari (in blue) is sandwiched by Rwanda players during the Cecafa semi-final match. Photo: Stafford Ondego/Standard


Tanzania are Cecafa champs


Updated 10 hr(s) 38 min(s) ago


By James Waindi in Dar es Salaam


Tanzania are the champions of the 37th edition of the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup.
The hosts stunned guest side and tournament favourites Ivory Coast 1-0 in a physical encounter at a packed National Stadium here, yesterday afternoon.


Tanzania skipper Shadrack Nsajigwa scored the all-important goal from the spot in the 41st minute and Kilimanjaro Stars held on for a famous victory.



This is the third time Tanzania has won the regional event. They previously won it in 1974 and 1994.
Tanzania entered the match without influential striker Mrisho Ngasa, who was suspended for the final, and they seemed to lack ideas in front of goal until Ivorian defender N'goran Kouassi handled the ball in the box as he attempted to clear Salum Machaku's cross and Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessama immediately pointed to the spot.

Tanzania's Nurdin Bakari (in blue) is sandwiched by Rwanda players during the Cecafa semi-final match. Photo: Stafford Ondego/Standard

Nsajigwa stepped up and made no mistake as he sent Ivory Coast's custodian Sangare Ali the wrong way.


The sight of tournament's revelation Kipre Tchetche warming up at the touchline as the second half began send shivers into the Tanzanian technical bench and Tanzania coach Jan Poulsen was forced to bring in two defenders at the expense of his strikers to be able to contain the striker and the gamble worked well.


Georges Bile's 48th minute goal was ruled out for offside and Tchetche forced Tanzania custodian Juma Kasejja to single handed save five minutes later as they pushed for an equaliser with a number of attacks, but Tanzania's rock-solid defence could not be breached.


Meanwhile, eleven times champions Uganda came from behind to pip Ethiopia 4-3 in a thrilling third place play off played early yesterday and earn a consolation in the tournament they had twice won in a row. The win saw Uganda earn Sh800, 000 (10, 000 dollars).


Both sides had equal chances, but Uganda's experience gave them an edge over their opponents as they came back three times before Sula Matova scored the winner in the 72nd minute.


Ethiopia's striker Omod Okwury opened the goal rush with a second minute strike after beating an offside trap, to leave the former champions shell shocked. Cranes who started with midfielder Musa Mudde in an unfamiliar fullback right position picked themselves up and almost equalised in the fourth minute when Dan Wagaluka's strike came off the cross bar.



They finally equalised a minute later when Cranes striker Henry Kisseka poked in the ball from a goal-mouth melee after Ethiopia's custodian Binyam Habtamu fumbled with the ball. Kisseka almost made it 2-1 for Uganda in the eighth minute, but failed to find target with only the goalkeeper to beat.


Ethiopia restored their lead in the 33rd minute with another Okwury's goal after he finished a move started by Shemeles Godo in midfield.



Ethiopia's keeper Habtamu fumbled again in the 39th minute, but Uganda's Saddam Juma shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

Surgery D-Day looming for crocked King

Published 10:00 13/12/10 By Martin Lipton

Ledley King will discover this week if he is fit to return to action for Spurs - or undergo surgery that will rule him out until the end of January.
The Spurs skipper missed yesterday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea as he continues his recovery from the groin injury that has kept him out for 13 matches.
King has not played for Harry Redknapp's side since limping off at Fulham on October 16.
And the Spurs boss revealed D-Day on whether to put King under the knife again is likely to be reached by the end of the week and certainly by next Thursday.

Redknapp said: "Ledley is improving and he might be back soon.
"We have a date for Ledley to have an operation. The surgeon is available until December 23 but is then away for four weeks so we have to make a decision by then.
"He's coming on well. If he feels okay we will not operate. If he has to have it, it will be five weeks. But he's feeling good."
In King's continued absence, Redknapp was down to his last pair of experienced central defenders against Chelsea with Michael Dawson returning after more than three months out to partner Sebastian Bassong.
Redknapp lost William Gallas when he sustained a hamstring strain on training in Friday, while Jonathan Woodgate is still fighting to save his career and Younes Kaboul is recovering from the hip injury he picked up in the win over Liverpool two weeks ago.
While Dawson was out-muscled by Didier Drogba in the build-up to Chelsea's leveller, Redknapp said: "Michael did well. It's his first week back and I had to play him.
"I was hoping Kaboul would be fit, Gallas did his hamstring on Friday, so we had to throw Michael in. I was worried he wouldn't last the game and you have to be careful. He's done great, a fantastic competitor and an amazing fellow.
"Kaboul could be back next week. I don't know when Gallas will be back. He stretched for the ball and felt it tear.
"We've coped okay whoever has come in. Luckily we've got plenty of centre-halves who've done well."
Spurs were also without Jermaine Jenas, Tom Huddlestone and Rafael Van Der Vaart and Redknapp added there was another casualty.
"We're running out of midfield players," he said. "We've lost Tom and Jenas and now Wilson Palacios has done his ankle badly so we're down to Sandro and Luka Modric.
"But whoever comes in does the job and we're playing well. We're strong aren't we. We're lucky as we've got good players."

Dunne facing Villa axe after training ground bust-up

Published 23:00 12/12/10 By James Nursey

Gerard Houllier has given his Aston Villa squad two days off to clear their heads after Richard Dunne's stormy training ground bust-up.
The Irish defender, 31, was dropped and stripped of the captaincy for *Saturday's 2-1 win over West Brom at Villa Park.
And his clash last week with coach Gary *McAllister during an eight-a-side practice match has exposed simmering tensions towards Villa's new boss.
Houllier has been working his players extremely hard at their Bodymoor Heath HQ after taking over in September.

The squad's usual days off were scrapped as he introduced a tough new regime under French fitness coach Robert Duverne.
Villa's players have also been grumbling about several of Houllier's other methods.
Mobile phones are now banned at the training ground and the squad have even been asked to reduce non-football related chat at practice.
Houllier is also looking into where players live amid concerns many of his squad are travelling too far to play and train.
Stars such as Stephen Warnock still reside in the north-west near Liverpool while Ashley Young has moved back to *Hertfordshire.
But it is Dunne's *behaviour and form which are Houllier's biggest concern.
The defender clashed with McAllister last week during an eight-a-side game, resulting in the Irishman launching a massive tirade against Houllier's regime.
Villa are unlikely to be able to ship out Dunne in January as he has *two-and-a-half years remaining on a £52,000-a-week salary.
Houllier is considering leaving Young as captain in Stiliyan Petrov's absence after he was skipper against West Brom.

Bolton winning the race for Swans midfielder

Published 23:00 12/12/10 By Alan Nixon

Bolton boss Owen Coyle is ready to win the race for Swansea's Darren Pratley - but he is also happy to wait until he can sign him on a free in the summer.
Midfield powerhouse Pratley is quitting the Swans when his contract runs out at the end of the campaign and Wanderers have moved ahead of Newcastle and Wigan in the chase.
But Coyle is prepared to let Pratley join his club for nothing ahead of next season - rather than paying over the top to the promotion-chasing Welshmen.
Pratley is also content to see out the Championship push with Brendan Rodgers's team. They would price him out of a sale in the January market as they focus on that goal.

Kikwete: Tudhamirie kucheza fainali za Afrika 2012
Monday, 13 December 2010 21:28

Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete (kulia) akipokea kombe la mashindano ya CECAFA kutoka kwa nahodha wa timu ya Kilimanjaro Stars Shadrack Nsajigwa jijini Dar es Salaam jana,kwenye ukumbi wa Ikulu walipoenda kumkabidhi.

Ibrahim Bakari
RAIS Jakaya Kikwete amepokea kombe la ubingwa wa Chalenji kwa nchi za Afrika Mashariki na Kati huku akisema Tanzania ijipange sawa sawa kwa Fainali za Afrika 2012, lakini si kwa Kombe la Dunia mwaka 2014 nchini Brazil.

Kikwete aliyasema hayo jana Ikulu jijini Dar es Salaam alipokuwa akizungumza na wachezaji wa Kilimanjaro Stars, viongozi na kamati ya ufundi iliyokuwa ikisimamia timu hiyo iliyotwaa ubingwa baada ya miaka 16. Mara ya mwisho ilifanya hivyo mwaka 1994 nchini Kenya. Kilimanjaro Stars juzi iliifunga bao 1-0 Ivory Coast iliyokuwa timu mwalikwa katika mchezo wa fainali uliofanyika kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa.

"Hongereni sana, tumesubiri kwa miaka 16, wenzetu wamekuwa wakipokea kombe, lakini sasa ni zamu yetu. Mara zote tumekuwa tukiumizwa na hili, nashukuru kila mmoja wenu ametimiza wajibu wake, mmejituma, na kila Mtanzania amefurahi…siku zote Watanzania walikuwa wanataka kufurahi, lakini zikija mechi aaaa…lakini leo wote wamefurahi.

"Nilipohutubia Bunge Desemba 2005 kule Dodoma, nilisema tutawekeza katika michezo na kwa kuanzia ni soka, sasa naona mambo yanakwenda, tumebadilika sana na hata tunaufuta usemi wa Mzee Mwinyi (Ali Hassan kuwa Tanzania ni kichwa cha mwendawazimu kuwa kila mtu anajifunza kunyoa.

"Lakini yote ni mafanikio ya uongozi bora wa sasa wa TFF, chini ya Leodegar (Tenga) mmefanya kazi nzuri, hakuna ushabiki na nadhani kama mngekuwa mnaweza ushabiki basi migogoro ingekuwa kila kukicha…Tenga alikuwa Yanga na baadaye Pan African na Pan haipo tena, Yanga ipo, lakini Tenga anasimamia kwenye sheria, kama ungeingiza usimba na uyanga, mambo yangekuwa mabaya zaidi, umeleta utulivu na muendelee kuijenga TFF," alisema Kikwete.

Rais Kikwete aliwapongeza wachezaji na kusema kuwa anaamini chachu kubwa ilikuwa ni kauli yake alipozungumza nao siku moja kabla ya mechi.

Niliongea na nahodha (Shadrack Nsajigwa) nikamwambia chukieni kushindwa, mfungwe lakini watu waone kweli mmefungwa, lakini si kufungwa kila mmoja akaona mlistahiki naamini kila mchezaji ana moyo, ari na nguvu. Nsajigwa ndiye aliyemkabidhi Kikwete kombe la ubingwa.

"Ushindi ni mwanga wa mafanikio unaoanza kuonekana, lakini safari bado ndefu . Mimi nadhani tusifikirie Kombe la Dunia 2014 kwa sasa, tumetwaa Chalenji na kinachofuata ni kuhakikisha tunacheza Fainali za Afrika 2012 na labda tuangalie fainali za 2018 za Russia au 2022 kule Qatar," alisema Kikwete.

Fainali za Afrika 2012 zitafanyika Gabon/Guinea ya Ikweta.

Alisema pia kuwa kinachotakiwa ni kuhakikisha mwakani kombe hatunyang'anywi na hiyo itaonyesha kuwa hatukubahatisha. "Tulibakishe tena kombe, cha pili ni kwenda Fainali za Afrika 2012, timu iende CAN na Rais wa TFF, kwa kuwa umecheza fainali za Afrika 1980, sasa tunataka uhakikishe timu inacheza CAN 2012," alisema Kikwete.

Awali, Tenga akiwasilisha taarifa kwa Rais Kikwete, alisema kuwa Cecafa (Baraza la Vyama vya Soka Afrika Mashariki na Kati) mwaka huu imeandaa mashindano yaliyokuwa mfano na hayajawahi kutokea katika historia ya mashindano hayo.

Aliwapongeza mashabiki kwa kuwatia moyo wachezaji pamoja na wadhamini wa michuano hiyo, Kampuni ya Bia ya Serengeti ( SBL) kupitia bia ya Tusker.

Hata hivyo, Tenga alisema TFF imepata hasara ya mashindano hayo, licha ya kuwa alisema haifanani na walivyoitarajia.

Akizungumza na Mwananchi, Katibu Mkuu wa Cecafa , Nicholaus Musonye alisema mashindano yajayo ya Chalenji pia yatafanyika Tanzania kwani mashabiki wameonyesha mwamko mkubwa wa kuhudhuria licha ya kuwa awali walikuwa wakiingia bure.

Musonye alisema kuwa mashindano ya Tanzania yalikuwa ya mfano na haijawahi kutokea na kidogo yanafanana na mashindano ya vijana ya Afrika Mashariki na Kati yaliyokuwa yakifanyika nchini Eritrea.

Naye Teddy Mapunda, Mkurugenzi wa Mahusiano wa SBL ambao ndiyo wadhamini, alisema kuwa kampuni yake imeomba Cecafa kuandaa mashindano matatu kuanzia mwaka huu.

"Tumeomba kuwa wenyeji mara tatu, sasa ni uamuzi wa Cecafa ," alisema Mapunda ambaye SBL kwa kushirikiana na Kampuni ya EABL zilitumia Sh675milioni kudhamini mashindano hayo kwa timu zote 12.

Katika hafla hiyo ya chakula cha mchana iliyohudhuriwa pia na Waziri wa Habari, Vijana, Utamaduni na Michezo, Emmanuel Nchimbi, wachezaji wote 22 walihudhuria na Chama cha Waandishi wa Habari za Michezo Tanzania, Taswa walimpa tuzo maalum Rais Kikwete kwa kuthamini na kuendeleza michezo nchini.

Wakati huohuo, Hussein Kauli anaripoti Jeshi la Polisi Kanda Maalumu ya Dar es Salaam limewanasa watu 20 kwa tuhuma za kuuza tiketi 139 zenye thamani ya Sh 208,000 za mechi ya fainali ya Kombe la Chalenji.

Mechi hiyo pia ilihusisha ile ya mshindi wa mshindi wa tatu kati ya Uganda na Ethiopia.

Kamanda wa Polisi wa kanda hiyo, DCP Suleiman Kova alisema jana kuwa watu hao walikutwa na tiketi hizo bila idhini ya Shirikisho la Soka Tanzania (TFF).

Kamanda Kova alisema watu hao walikamatwa kutokana na msako mkali uliofanywa siku ya fainali ya michuano hiyo .

Aliongeza kuwa jeshi hio linaendelea na upelelezi kabla ya kuwafikisha mahakamani watuhumiwa hao aliowataja kuwa ni Omari Juma (22) aliyekutwa na tiketi 20 zenye namba kati ya 013746 hadi 013765.

Watuhumiwa wengine ni Shariff Athuman (24) aliyekamatwa na tiketi 13, Mikidadi Bakari (19) aliyekutwa na tiketi saba na Hassan Mussa (32) aliyekutwa na tiketi 6.

Wengine ni Abas Mandwaga (18) aliyepatikana na tiketi tano (5), Juma Kassim (22) na Fadhili Ali (27) waliokamatwa na tiketi nne.

"Adam Chiligali (22) alikutwa na tiketi tatu zenye namba 012517 hadi 10, Amri Rashid (35) alipatikana na tiketi mbili zenye namba 002989 na 002990 na wenzake 10 tunawasaka," alisema DCP Kova.

Alisema watuhumiwa hao mbali na kuuza tiketi hizo bila idhini kutoka chombo hicho msimamizi wa michuano hiyo, lakini pia walikuwa wakiziuza tiketi hizo kwa kuwalangua mashabiki waliofurika kutaka kuangalia mechi hizo.

Alisema kati ya tiketi hizo, tiketi 70 zilikuwa za Sh 1,000 ambazo watuhumiwa hao walikuwa wakiziuza kwa Sh 1,500 kila moja na tiketi 69 za Sh 2,000 ambazo walikuwa wakizilangua kwa kwa Sh 2,500 kila moja.

Kikwete: Tudhamirie kucheza fainali za Afrika 2012 Monday, 13 December 2010 21:28

Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete (kulia) akipokea kombe la mashindano ya CECAFA kutoka kwa nahodha wa timu ya Kilimanjaro Stars Shadrack Nsajigwa jijini Dar es Salaam jana,kwenye ukumbi wa Ikulu walipoenda kumkabidhi.

Ibrahim Bakari
RAIS Jakaya Kikwete amepokea kombe la ubingwa wa Chalenji kwa nchi za Afrika Mashariki na Kati huku akisema Tanzania ijipange sawa sawa kwa Fainali za Afrika 2012, lakini si kwa Kombe la Dunia mwaka 2014 nchini Brazil.

Kikwete aliyasema hayo jana Ikulu jijini Dar es Salaam alipokuwa akizungumza na wachezaji wa Kilimanjaro Stars, viongozi na kamati ya ufundi iliyokuwa ikisimamia timu hiyo iliyotwaa ubingwa baada ya miaka 16. Mara ya mwisho ilifanya hivyo mwaka 1994 nchini Kenya. Kilimanjaro Stars juzi iliifunga bao 1-0 Ivory Coast iliyokuwa timu mwalikwa katika mchezo wa fainali uliofanyika kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa.

"Hongereni sana, tumesubiri kwa miaka 16, wenzetu wamekuwa wakipokea kombe, lakini sasa ni zamu yetu. Mara zote tumekuwa tukiumizwa na hili, nashukuru kila mmoja wenu ametimiza wajibu wake, mmejituma, na kila Mtanzania amefurahi…siku zote Watanzania walikuwa wanataka kufurahi, lakini zikija mechi aaaa…lakini leo wote wamefurahi.

"Nilipohutubia Bunge Desemba 2005 kule Dodoma, nilisema tutawekeza katika michezo na kwa kuanzia ni soka, sasa naona mambo yanakwenda, tumebadilika sana na hata tunaufuta usemi wa Mzee Mwinyi (Ali Hassan kuwa Tanzania ni kichwa cha mwendawazimu kuwa kila mtu anajifunza kunyoa.

"Lakini yote ni mafanikio ya uongozi bora wa sasa wa TFF, chini ya Leodegar (Tenga) mmefanya kazi nzuri, hakuna ushabiki na nadhani kama mngekuwa mnaweza ushabiki basi migogoro ingekuwa kila kukicha…Tenga alikuwa Yanga na baadaye Pan African na Pan haipo tena, Yanga ipo, lakini Tenga anasimamia kwenye sheria, kama ungeingiza usimba na uyanga, mambo yangekuwa mabaya zaidi, umeleta utulivu na muendelee kuijenga TFF," alisema Kikwete.

Rais Kikwete aliwapongeza wachezaji na kusema kuwa anaamini chachu kubwa ilikuwa ni kauli yake alipozungumza nao siku moja kabla ya mechi.

Niliongea na nahodha (Shadrack Nsajigwa) nikamwambia chukieni kushindwa, mfungwe lakini watu waone kweli mmefungwa, lakini si kufungwa kila mmoja akaona mlistahiki naamini kila mchezaji ana moyo, ari na nguvu. Nsajigwa ndiye aliyemkabidhi Kikwete kombe la ubingwa.

"Ushindi ni mwanga wa mafanikio unaoanza kuonekana, lakini safari bado ndefu . Mimi nadhani tusifikirie Kombe la Dunia 2014 kwa sasa, tumetwaa Chalenji na kinachofuata ni kuhakikisha tunacheza Fainali za Afrika 2012 na labda tuangalie fainali za 2018 za Russia au 2022 kule Qatar," alisema Kikwete.

Fainali za Afrika 2012 zitafanyika Gabon/Guinea ya Ikweta.

Alisema pia kuwa kinachotakiwa ni kuhakikisha mwakani kombe hatunyang'anywi na hiyo itaonyesha kuwa hatukubahatisha. "Tulibakishe tena kombe, cha pili ni kwenda Fainali za Afrika 2012, timu iende CAN na Rais wa TFF, kwa kuwa umecheza fainali za Afrika 1980, sasa tunataka uhakikishe timu inacheza CAN 2012," alisema Kikwete.

Awali, Tenga akiwasilisha taarifa kwa Rais Kikwete, alisema kuwa Cecafa (Baraza la Vyama vya Soka Afrika Mashariki na Kati) mwaka huu imeandaa mashindano yaliyokuwa mfano na hayajawahi kutokea katika historia ya mashindano hayo.

Aliwapongeza mashabiki kwa kuwatia moyo wachezaji pamoja na wadhamini wa michuano hiyo, Kampuni ya Bia ya Serengeti ( SBL) kupitia bia ya Tusker.

Hata hivyo, Tenga alisema TFF imepata hasara ya mashindano hayo, licha ya kuwa alisema haifanani na walivyoitarajia.

Akizungumza na Mwananchi, Katibu Mkuu wa Cecafa , Nicholaus Musonye alisema mashindano yajayo ya Chalenji pia yatafanyika Tanzania kwani mashabiki wameonyesha mwamko mkubwa wa kuhudhuria licha ya kuwa awali walikuwa wakiingia bure.

Musonye alisema kuwa mashindano ya Tanzania yalikuwa ya mfano na haijawahi kutokea na kidogo yanafanana na mashindano ya vijana ya Afrika Mashariki na Kati yaliyokuwa yakifanyika nchini Eritrea.

Naye Teddy Mapunda, Mkurugenzi wa Mahusiano wa SBL ambao ndiyo wadhamini, alisema kuwa kampuni yake imeomba Cecafa kuandaa mashindano matatu kuanzia mwaka huu.

"Tumeomba kuwa wenyeji mara tatu, sasa ni uamuzi wa Cecafa ," alisema Mapunda ambaye SBL kwa kushirikiana na Kampuni ya EABL zilitumia Sh675milioni kudhamini mashindano hayo kwa timu zote 12.

Katika hafla hiyo ya chakula cha mchana iliyohudhuriwa pia na Waziri wa Habari, Vijana, Utamaduni na Michezo, Emmanuel Nchimbi, wachezaji wote 22 walihudhuria na Chama cha Waandishi wa Habari za Michezo Tanzania, Taswa walimpa tuzo maalum Rais Kikwete kwa kuthamini na kuendeleza michezo nchini.

Wakati huohuo, Hussein Kauli anaripoti Jeshi la Polisi Kanda Maalumu ya Dar es Salaam limewanasa watu 20 kwa tuhuma za kuuza tiketi 139 zenye thamani ya Sh 208,000 za mechi ya fainali ya Kombe la Chalenji.

Mechi hiyo pia ilihusisha ile ya mshindi wa mshindi wa tatu kati ya Uganda na Ethiopia.

Kamanda wa Polisi wa kanda hiyo, DCP Suleiman Kova alisema jana kuwa watu hao walikutwa na tiketi hizo bila idhini ya Shirikisho la Soka Tanzania (TFF).

Kamanda Kova alisema watu hao walikamatwa kutokana na msako mkali uliofanywa siku ya fainali ya michuano hiyo .

Aliongeza kuwa jeshi hio linaendelea na upelelezi kabla ya kuwafikisha mahakamani watuhumiwa hao aliowataja kuwa ni Omari Juma (22) aliyekutwa na tiketi 20 zenye namba kati ya 013746 hadi 013765.

Watuhumiwa wengine ni Shariff Athuman (24) aliyekamatwa na tiketi 13, Mikidadi Bakari (19) aliyekutwa na tiketi saba na Hassan Mussa (32) aliyekutwa na tiketi 6.

Wengine ni Abas Mandwaga (18) aliyepatikana na tiketi tano (5), Juma Kassim (22) na Fadhili Ali (27) waliokamatwa na tiketi nne.

"Adam Chiligali (22) alikutwa na tiketi tatu zenye namba 012517 hadi 10, Amri Rashid (35) alipatikana na tiketi mbili zenye namba 002989 na 002990 na wenzake 10 tunawasaka," alisema DCP Kova.

Alisema watuhumiwa hao mbali na kuuza tiketi hizo bila idhini kutoka chombo hicho msimamizi wa michuano hiyo, lakini pia walikuwa wakiziuza tiketi hizo kwa kuwalangua mashabiki waliofurika kutaka kuangalia mechi hizo.

Alisema kati ya tiketi hizo, tiketi 70 zilikuwa za Sh 1,000 ambazo watuhumiwa hao walikuwa wakiziuza kwa Sh 1,500 kila moja na tiketi 69 za Sh 2,000 ambazo walikuwa wakizilangua kwa kwa Sh 2,500 kila moja.

Mwakalebela amfunda mrithi wake Monday, 13 December 2010 21:19

Sosthenes Nyoni

KATIBU Mkuu wa Shirikisho la Soka Tanzania(TFF) aliyemaliza muda wake, Frederick Mwakalebela amempongeza Angetile Osiah kwa kuteuliwa kushifa wadhifa huo .

Osiah ambaye alikuwa msanifu kurasa mkuu wa gazeti la Mwananchi alitangazwa rasmi juzi na Rais wa TFF, Leodegar Tenga kushika wadhifa huo sambamba na wanahabari wengine wawili, Boniface Wambura ambaye anakuwa ofisa habari na Jimmy Kabwe akiwa mkurugenzi wa masoko.
Akizungumza jijini Dar es Salaam jana, Mwakalebela alisema kuwa ana imani Osiah ataimudu vyema kazi hiyo kutokana na kuwa karibu na masuala ya soka kwa muda mrefu.

"Kwanza nampongeza Osiah kwa kuteuliwa kushika wadhifa mkubwa kama huo,nina imani ataimudu kazi hii nimefanya naye kazi vizuri yeye akiwa mhariri mimi nikiwa katibu mkuu ambapo aliweza kutoa maoni mbalimbali ambayo yalitusaidia sana.

"Lakini, pia aliweza kuwa karibu sana na Maximo (Marcio, aliyekuwa kocha wa Taifa Stars), hivyo ni dhahiri atakuwa anafahamu mambo mbalimbali katika soka letu,"alisema Mwakalebela.

Aidha, Mwakalebela hakusita kutoa nasaha zake kwa katibu hiyo mpya akisema kuwa anapaswa kukubaliana na changamoto zitakazomkabili mbele yake ikiwemo kukubali kukosolewa pamoja na kutambua mipaka ya kazi yake, yeye ni mtawala na si mtu wa ufundi.

"Jambo zuri zaidi ni kwamba anaingia wakati mzuri kipindi ambacho temefanikiwa kutwaa ubingwa natapenda kumsihi kwamba hakubali kukosolewa na wadau ambao wengi wao wana nia njema tu ya kuona maendeleo ya soka letu, lakini pia ajue yeye ni mtawala na si mtu wa ufundi,"alisema Mwakalebela.

Ivory Coast waliihenyesha Kili Stars fainali Chalenji
Monday, 13 December 2010 21:18

Calvin Kiwia

PAMOJA na Kili Stars kuifunga Ivory Coast bao 1-0 kwenye mchezo wa fainali wa Chalenji uliofanyika juzi kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa jijini Dar es Salaam na kutwaa ubingwa huo, timu ya Ivory Coast ilitawala mchezo huo kwa asilimia 63 dhidi ya 37.

Sababu za timu hiyo kutawala mchezo kwa wageni hao ni sehemu ya kiungo na ushambuliaji ya Kili Stars iliyopwaya, kupoteza mipira kizembe na kuiachia Ivory Coast ikimiliki mpira kwa kipindi kirefu.

Kukosekana kwa Mrisho Ngasa ambaye alionekana kuwa ndiye mpishi wa mabao kuliwashtua wachezaji wa Kili Stars na kusababisha timu hiyo kucheza mchezo wa kujihami zaidi hasa katika kipindi cha pili na kuwafanya Ivory Coast kulifikia lango lao mara kwa mara.

Zikiwa zimesalia dakika 15 kabla ya mpira kumalizika, Ivory Coast ilitawala mchezo huo kwa asilimia 75 kwa 25 za Kili Stars, lakini mashambulizi yao yote yalikutana na ukuta imara.

Kutokana na kushambuliwa huko, Kili Stars ilitoa mpira nje mara 41 dhidi ya 29 za wapinzani wao, Ivory Coast huku beki Kelvin Yondani akiongoza kwa kutoa mipira hiyo.

Kili Stars ilipata kona sita dhidi ya 13 huku mwamuzi wa mchezo huo kutoka Ethiopia, Bemlak Tessema akitoa kadi nyekundu kwa Kone Zoumana baada ya kumpiga kiwiko Yondani.

Pia, mwamuzi huyo alitoa kadi za njano kwa Kaseja kwa kuchelewesha muda, beki Juma Nyoso kwa kumchezea rafu mshambuliaji wa Ivory Coast, Dion Marc, kiungo Koume Magloire wa Ivory Coast kwa kumkanyaga kwa makusudi Nurdin Bakari.

Yametimia
Sunday, 12 December 2010 21:03

Wachezaji wa timu ya kilimanjaro stars wakishangilia ushindi baada ya mchezo kumalizika.

Sosthenes Nyoni
BAADA ya miaka 16 ya kushubili hatimaye Tanzania jana ilitangazwa mabingwa wapya wa michuano ya Tusker Chalenji kwa bao la penalti la nahodha Shadrack Nsajigwa lilitosha kumaliza ukame huo kwa kuichapa Ivory Coast 1-0 kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa jijini Dar es Salaam.

Kili Stars ikicheza mbele ya mashabiki wake zaidi ya elfu 60000 waliofurika uwanjani hapo walionyesha ukomavu mkubwa kwenye safu ya ulinzi na kiungo iliyotibua mipango yote ya Tembo hao.

Watanzania walibidi wasubili hadi dakika ya 40 wakati shuti la winga chipukizi Salum Machaku lililomgonga mkononi beki wa Ivory Coast, N'goran Kouassi na mwamuzi kutoka Ethiopia, Bamlak Tessama kuamuru penalti iliyotumbukizwa kimyani na Nsajigwa.

Kwa ushindi huo Kilimanjaro Stars ilikabidiwa Kombe pamoja na fedha taslimu dola elfu 30, huku wachezaji wake Juma Kaseja na Nsajigwa wakitwaa tuzo za kipa na beki bora wa michuano.

Uganda walipata zawadi ya dola 10,000 kama washindi wa pili huku Somalia wakitwaa tuzo ya fairplay kwa michuano hiyo ya Tusker Chalenji.

Katika mchezo wa awali wa kutafuta mshindi wa tatu Uganda ilibwaga Ethiopia kwa mabao 4-3 kwenye mchezo ulikuwa na upinzani wa aina yake.

Macho na mawazo ya Watanzania wote yalikuwa kwenye mchezo wa fainali wakati kikosi chao kiliposhuka kuikabili Ivory Coast iliyojaa chipukizi wengi wenye kasi.

Pongezi nyingi zitabaki kwenye ngome ya Kili Stars pamoja kipa Kaseja waliokuwa makini kuzuia hatari zote zilizofanywa na washambuliaji wa Ivory Coast.

Kipindi cha pili kilikuwa kigumu zaidi kwa Kilimanjaro Stars baada ya Ivory Coast kufanya mashambulizi mengi kwenye mchezo huo uliojaa ubabe na ufundi mwingi.

Dakika ya 64, Machaku alifanya shambulizi la kushitukiza kwa kukimbia na mpira pembeni mwa uwanja na kupiga krosi nzuri lakini Henry Joseph alikosa umakini kwenye umaliziaji.

Mpira ulianza kwa taratibu huku dakika ya 7, mshambuliaji Ivory Coast, Dion Sede aliipangua ngome ya Kili Stars na kupiga shuti kali lakini Kaseja alikuwa makini na kupangua hatari hiyo.

Dakika ya 13, Jan Poulsen alilazimika kufanya mabadiliko kwa kumwingiza Kigi Makasi kuchukua nafasi ya Idrisa Rajabu aliiyeumia na kukimbizwa hospitali.

Jabil Aziz nusu aipatie Kili Stars bao dakika 17 kwa shuti lake la umbali wa mita 25 kupanguliwa na kipa na kuwa kona ambayo hakuzaa matunda.

Mwamuzi kutoka Ethiopia, Tessama alilazimika kusimamisha mpira dakika 27 na 33 baada ya kuumia kwa Kaseja aliyegongana winga Kone Zoumana wa Ivory Coast.

Nsajigwa anaifungia Stars bao la kuongoza dakika ya 40 kwa mkwaju wa penalti baada ya beki N'goran Kouassi kuunawa mpira wa mpira uliopigwa na Salum Machaku na mwamuzi Tessama kuamuru penalti.

Kilimanjaro Stars ilitwaa ubingwa wake wa mwisho mwaka 1994 jijini Nairobi kwa mikwaju ya penalti 4-3 dhidi ya Uganda kilikuwa na baadhi ya nyota hawa:
Steven Nemes, Juma Shango, Alphonce Modesti, Mustaph Hoza, Geogre Masatu, Hussen Masha, Juma Amir, Salvatory Edward (nahodha), Said Mwamba, Nteze John na Edibily Lunyamila, Nico Bambaga.

Awali mabingwa hao mara 11, Uganda walilazimika kutumia nguvu ya ziada kupata ushindi wa mabao 4-3 dhidi ya Ethiopia walionekana kucheza kwa kasi ya ajabu.

Ethiopia ilikuwa ya kwanza kupata bao katika dakika kwanza kupitia kwa Omod Okwury kabla ya Emmanuel Okwi kuisawazishi Uganda dakika mbili baadaye.

Okwury alipachika bao lake la pili kwa kumalizia kazi nzuri ya Shemeles Godo aliyewazidi mbio mabio mabeki na kupitisha krosi safi kwa mfungaji aliyeunganisha moja kwa moja wavuni.

Kipindi cha pili kilianza kwa kasi na Okwi aliisawazishia Cranes kwa kuunganisha vizuri krosi ya Danny Wagaruka, muda mfupi baadaye Tonny Maweje aliifungia Uganda bao la tatu kabla ya Tesfaye Alebachew kuisawazishia Ethiopia kufanya matokeo kuwa 3-3.

Uganda walijifariki kwa kuchukua nafasi ya tatu kwa bao la Matovu Sula aliyefunga bao la nne na ushindi zikiwa zimebakia dakika chache kabla ya filimbi ya mwisho.