Australian Open 2011: Caroline Wozniacki recovers to reach semi-finals
• Top seed comes from set down to beat Francesca Schiavone
• Wozniacki will now play China's Li Na for place in final
Press Association
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 25 January 2011 09.42 GMT <li class="history">Article history
Caroline Wozniacki is through to the Australian Open semi-finals for the first time. Photograph: Barbara Walton/EPA The world No1, Caroline Wozniacki, hit back from a set down to finally break the resolve of Francesca Schiavone and move into the Australian Open semi-finals.
Schiavone, who needed four hours and 44 minutes to squeeze past Svetlana Kuznetsova in the longest women's of the Open era in the previous round, fought valiantly but ran out of gas after a fine start to go down 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 .
Credit to Wozniacki. A set and a break down, it would have been easy for her to start doubting herself and give in to those who have questioned her ability to win a major despite rising to the top of the world rankings. But she kept her composure and waited for Schiavone to tire, which she inevitably did.
The top seed goes on to a meeting with Li Na, who ended the run of Andrea Petkovic with a 6-2, 6-4 win, although Schiavone will take the majority of the plaudits. The 30-year-old French Open champion survived three early break points before making her move, claiming the Dane's serve for a 5-3 lead.
Wozniacki threatened an immediate response by racing to 15-40 but two big serves got the Italian out of trouble, as it did when the world No1 threatened again. A brilliant low volley saw Schiavone then move to set point and she closed it out by sneaking into the net behind a looping forehand and putting the ball into the opposite corner.
Wozniacki took a medical time-out at the end of the set for treatment on an upper leg injury and shortly after returning she was broken as Schiavone surged into a 3-1 lead. It appeared the match was drifting away from the top seed but she battled on and finally made the breakthrough, although she was assisted by her opponent, who made four horrible errors to concede her advantage.
And it proved a turning point as Wozniacki ran through the rest of the set to level it up.
The momentum was firmly with the Dane and, although she saw an early break wiped out, she struck again to go 2-1 up and as Schiavone finally started to fade, she took full advantage. A stunning lob gave her a 5-2 lead and although Schiavone saved three match points to make it 5-3, Wozniacki was not to be denied.
"Francesca is such a fighter," admitted a relieved Wozniacki afterwards. "She started really well and I didn't have my timing at the beginning but I fought back and I am so happy to have won the match. I didn't have too many chances in the first set and Francesca was very good at the key moments but I just tried to step into the court a bit more and dictate the points."
Australian Open 2011: Caroline Wozniacki recovers to reach semi-finals
Top seed comes from set down to beat Francesca Schiavone
Wozniacki will now play China's Li Na for place in final
Press Association
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 25 January 2011 09.42 GMT <li class="history">Article history
Caroline Wozniacki is through to the Australian Open semi-finals for the first time. Photograph: Barbara Walton/EPA The world No1, Caroline Wozniacki, hit back from a set down to finally break the resolve of Francesca Schiavone and move into the Australian Open semi-finals.
Schiavone, who needed four hours and 44 minutes to squeeze past Svetlana Kuznetsova in the longest women's of the Open era in the previous round, fought valiantly but ran out of gas after a fine start to go down 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 .
Credit to Wozniacki. A set and a break down, it would have been easy for her to start doubting herself and give in to those who have questioned her ability to win a major despite rising to the top of the world rankings. But she kept her composure and waited for Schiavone to tire, which she inevitably did.
The top seed goes on to a meeting with Li Na, who ended the run of Andrea Petkovic with a 6-2, 6-4 win, although Schiavone will take the majority of the plaudits. The 30-year-old French Open champion survived three early break points before making her move, claiming the Dane's serve for a 5-3 lead.
Wozniacki threatened an immediate response by racing to 15-40 but two big serves got the Italian out of trouble, as it did when the world No1 threatened again. A brilliant low volley saw Schiavone then move to set point and she closed it out by sneaking into the net behind a looping forehand and putting the ball into the opposite corner.
Wozniacki took a medical time-out at the end of the set for treatment on an upper leg injury and shortly after returning she was broken as Schiavone surged into a 3-1 lead. It appeared the match was drifting away from the top seed but she battled on and finally made the breakthrough, although she was assisted by her opponent, who made four horrible errors to concede her advantage.
And it proved a turning point as Wozniacki ran through the rest of the set to level it up.
The momentum was firmly with the Dane and, although she saw an early break wiped out, she struck again to go 2-1 up and as Schiavone finally started to fade, she took full advantage. A stunning lob gave her a 5-2 lead and although Schiavone saved three match points to make it 5-3, Wozniacki was not to be denied.
"Francesca is such a fighter," admitted a relieved Wozniacki afterwards. "She started really well and I didn't have my timing at the beginning but I fought back and I am so happy to have won the match. I didn't have too many chances in the first set and Francesca was very good at the key moments but I just tried to step into the court a bit more and dictate the points."
Papic awaliza wachezaji Yanga Wednesday, 26 January 2011 20:46
Kostadin Papic
Vicky Kimaro na Clara Alphonce
"NAWASHUKURU tumefanya kazi pamoja, mimi naondoka tusameheane kwa yote, yanayoendelea ndani ya Yanga, najua mnayafahamu nami nimekuja kuwaaga rasmi ninaondoka."alisema Papic huku wachezaji wa Yanga wakibaki wameduwaa wasiamini masikio yao na baadhi yao wakishindwa kuvumilia na kuangua kilio.
"Hakuna haja ya kusikitika, Yanga ilikuwepo kabla ya mimi na itaendelea kuwepo kuondoka kwangu isiwe mwisho wa ninyi kucheza mpira, jitahidini mshinde mechi zenu na ndicho kitu cha msingi zaidi kuliko kunifikiria mimi.
"Mimi ni mwanaume, nipo kwenye soka zaidi ya miaka 20, ni mtu mzima nina upeo wangu wa kufikiri, Yanga hawanihitaji, na haya ni maisha yangu sina budi kuondoka...." Mke wangu mtoto wangu wamenishawishi sana nibaki nimalizie sehemu ya mkataba wangu uliobaki lakini nimeshindwa kuvumilia ni bora niondoke," alisema huku baadhi ya wachezaji wakimsikiliza kwa makini na wengine wakiweka mikono shavuni.
Vuguvugu la kuondolewa kocha huyo lilikolezwa na mkutano wa Kamati ya Utendaji baada ya kuelezwa kuteuliwa watu wawili Mohamed Seif na Davis Mosha kuanza mchakato wa kusaka kocha mwingine.
Kuondoka kwa Papic ni pigo kwa Yanga ambayo ina mashindano makubwa ya Kombe la CAF keshokutwa dhidi ya Dedebit ya Ethiopia, licha ya kuwa tayari mikoba yote amekabidhiwa kocha huyo wa zamani wa timu hiyo, kabla ya kutimuliwa, Fred Felix Minziro.
Baada ya kuaga, miongoni mwa wachezaji walioonyesha hisia za uchungu ni kipa raia wa Serbia, Ivan Knezevic ambaye alishindwa kujizuia na kujikuta akimwaga chozi sambamba na Nsa Job, huku Yaw Beko akijishika tamaa huku sura yake ikiwa imegubikwa na uzuni hata kushindwa kufanya mazoezi.
Hata hivyo baada ya Papic kuzungumza na wachezaji hao, alimkabidhi timu, Minziro pamoja na bahasha ambayo ina programu zake alizoziandaa ili zimsaidie katika mazoezi.
Papic aliiambia Mwananchi kuwa amefikia uamuzi wa kuondoka Yanga baada ya uongozi wa klabu hiyo kuwa na misimamo yao isiyokuwa na msingi huku wakimpuuza na hawamshirikishi katika maamuzi yanayohusu timu.
Alisema alimpendekeza Salvatory Edward msaidizi wake lakini cha kushangaza akaletewa Minziro, na kitendo cha kuondolewa kwa Meneja Emmanuel Mpangala hakukubaliana nacho kwa kuwa ni mtu ambaye alifanya nae kazi vizuri haelewi ni kwa nini uongozi umetimua.
"Nimekuwa nikipuuzwa pale ninapohitaji vitu kwa ajili ya maendeleo ya klabu ikiwa ni pamoja na kutaka wachezaji walipwe mishahara yao kwa tarehe husika badala ya kuwalimbikizia.
"Vitu vingi vimekuwa vinafanyika mimi navumilia, mtu anakwambia anamleta kocha Mjerumani na hakwambii cha zaidi, sasa wewe hapo unafikiri ni nini, si kwamba hakuhitaji, bora niondoke, kwanza nimepata ofa ya timu mbali mbali, Saudi Arabia, Ghana na Afrika Kusini.
Wakati Papic akisema hayo, mwenyekiti wa Yang Lloyd Nchunga alisema: "Tumembembeleza sana asitishe uamuzi wake lakini amekuwa mgumu hatuna jinsi, tunasubiri atupe barua rasmi tuanze mchakato wa kutafuta kocha mwingine, ninavyoongea na wewe nimeshapokea CV za kocha wa Uganda na Kongo....:"
"Tunamshangaa Papic anavyosema hajashirikishwa hakuna kitu ambacho tumefanya bila kumshirikisha kama 'issue' ya Salvatory alimpendekeza kweli lakini hajakidhi vigezo vya TFF kwa kuwa hana cheti hata kimoja, na tulimwambia Papic yeye akawa anang'ang'ania lazima msaidizi wake asiwe amefundisha Ligi Kuu, lakini wenye maamuzi ya mwisho ya kuajiri ni sisi, tumeajiri hakuna mwenye haki ya kukataa," alisema.
Nahodha wa timu hiyo, Nadir Haroub 'Cannavaro' alisema: "Nimesikitika sana, sio tu mimi wachezaji wote, tulimzoea lakini yaliyotokea yapo nje ya uwezo wetu, sisi tutacheza mpira lakini kitendo hiki kitatuathiri,"alisema Cannavaro huku akiungwa mkono na na kipa Ivan Knezevic ambaye alishindwa kujizuia na kuanza kutoa machozi.
Sijui nisemeje: "Nilikuwa namuheshimu kama baba yangu, yeye ndiyo aliyenileta hapa, kanisajili imekuwa mshtuko sio tu mimi na wachezaji wote sielewi mpaka sasa kitu gani kinachoendelea Yanga, sielewi," alisema kipa huyo.
Naye Fred Mbuna alisema: "Tumepigwa na bumbuwazi, hatuamini kilichotokea, siku Minziro alipokuja uongozi ulitujulisha Minziro ni msaidizi wa Papic sasa tunashangaa leo ametuambia anaondoka, hatufahamu inakuwaje uongozi haujatuambia rasmi hatuelewi hali hii," alisema Mbuna
Katika hatua nyingine, hali katika klabu ya Yanga imeendelea kuwa tete baada ya mmoja wa viongozi mashuhuri wa klabu hiyo kubwaga manyanga.
Habari zilizopatikana jana jioni, zilidai kuwa Mwenyekiti wa Mashindano wa Yanga, Mohamed Self, amejiuzulu nafasi yake tangu jana mchana.
Chanzo cha habari kiliipasha Mwananchi jana jioni kuwa kiongozi huyo aliiandikia barua na kuiwasilisha katika Kamati ya Utendaji ya kuelezea azma yake ya kubwaga manyanga
Hata hivyo, Mwananchi iliwasiliana na Self kuhusu suala hilo lakini hakukataa wala kukanusha na kusema tuwasiliane na kamati ya utendaji ya Yanga lakini yeye hajafanya maamuzi hayo.
Seif anakuwa atakuwa mtu wa nne katika Yanga ndani ya wiki moja kujiuzuru wadhifa mbali mbali katika klabu hiyo baada na juzi Kocha Mkuu wa klabu hiyo kutangaza kujiudhuru kuinoa timu hiyo.
KOCHA Mkuu wa Yanga, Mserbia Kostadin Papic jana waliwaaga wachezaji wake, na kutoa sababu zilizomfanya aachie ngazi kuinoa timu
hiyo.Akizungumza na wachezaji hao jana katika mazoezi ya asubuhi Uwanja wa Uhuru, Dar es Salaam Papic alisema hana budi kuwaaga wachezaji wake kwa kuwa alikuwa nao vizuri tangu alipojiunga na timu hiyo mwaka 2009, ambapo alirithi mikoba ya Dusan Kondic.
"Wito wangu mkubwa kwenu nawaombeni jitumeni katika ligi, ili mtwae ubingwa wa Bara ikiwa na kufanya vizuri katika michuano ya Kombe la Shirikisho na wapeni ushirikiano makocha ambao mtakuwa nao," alisema Papic.
Alisema sababu kubwa iliyomfanya ajiondoe katika timu hiyo ni kuona viongozi hawamuhitaji kwa kuwa wamekuwa wakifanya mambo bila kumshirikisha.
"Wamekuwa wakifanya maamuzi ya benchi la ufundi bila ya kunishirikisha, hiyo ni wazi kwamba walikuwa hawanihitaji, mimi ni kocha mzoefu kama miaka 20 ninaimani nitapata klabu nyingine, ambayo watanipa heshima yangu kama kocha," alisema.
Alisema hana sababu nyingine yoyote zaidi ya kutengwa kwa kila maamuzi na pia ameiombea kila la kheri timu hiyo katika kibarua chake cha kwanza katika michuano ya Kombe la Shirikisho, dhidi ya Dedebit ya Ethiopia Jumamosi.
Awali kabla ya kuachia ngazi Papic, tayari Makamu Mwenyekiti wa klabu hiyo Davis Mosha na Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Mashindano Ahmed Seif, walipewa jukumu la kumtafuta mbadala wa Mserbia huyo.
2 Maoni:
STARTIMES said... kwakweli uongozi wa juu wa yanga LYOD NA MOSHA mnatualibia timu yetu toka mmeingia full migogoro tumechoka sasa ...........tafadhari hebu achieni ngazi January 26, 2011 8:01 PM Anonymous said... Mkoba Said; inaonyesha viongozi wa yanaga mna ummelo, wachachezaji bado wanampenda sana kocha wao Parpic lakini ninyi ndio mnafanyia mtima nyongo, wachezaji wakigoma na kucheza chini ya kiwango mtafanyaje? ilikuwaje muanze kutafuta kocha mwingine? January 26, 2011 9:06 PM
HATIMAE Chama cha Mpira wa Miguu Zanzibar (ZFA), kimepitisha rasmi azimio la kubadilisha mfumo wake wa Ligi Kuu ambayo sasa itaanza Agosti na
kumalizika Mei mwakani.
Kamati ya Utendaji ya chama hicho iliyokutana mjini hapa juzi kujadilii ombi hilo, imekubali kubadilisha mfumo wa zamani wa ligi hiyo baada ya kulikubali ombi la umoja wa klabu za soka kutaka mfumo huo ubadilike ili ligi hiyo ilete msisimko.
Hata hivyo ZFA imesema, utaratibu huo mpya kwa mwaka huu utatumika kwa timu 12 za Ligi Kuu ya Zanzibar, huku ligi za daraja nyingine yaliyosalia zitaendelea na utaratibu wa zamani wa kuanza michuano ya ligi kuanzia Januari hadi Agosti.
Akizungumza mjini hapa jana Katibu Msaidizi wa ZFA, Masoud Attai alisema kuwa pamoja na chama chake kuukubali mfumo huo mpya, kwanza itachezwa ligi ndogo ya mkondo mmoja kwa ajili ya kumpata bingwa mpya wa mwaka 2012.
Alisema ligi hiyo ndogo itaanza Mei na kumalizika mwishoni mwa Juni, ndipo baadaye itachezwa Ligi Kuu nyingine ya mikondo miwili Agosti kwa ajili ya kutafuta bingwa mwingine wa Zanzibar wa mwaka 2013.
Attai alisema, ZFA imefikia hatua hiyo baada ya kuzingatia kwamba hivi sasa timu zote zimekwishakamilisha taratibu zote muhimu za usajili ikiwa ni pamoja na kufanya uhamisho wa wachezaji, hiyvo isingekuwa vyema ligi ichezwe Agosti moja kwa moja kwa sababu zingekaa muda mrefu.
Alisema kwaba awali ombi hilo lilipowasilishwa katika ofisi yake, halikupata baraka za Kamati ya Utendaji kutokana na kuutilia mashaka mfumo huo kuwa ukikubalika utavuruga kalenda ya chama chake, ambayo inakwenda sambamba zile za Shirikisho la Mpira wa Miguu ya Afrika (CAF) na Baraza la Vyama vya Soka Afrika Mashariki na Kati (CECAFA).