Michezo magazetini leo...

MWENYEKITI wa klabu ya Simba Alhaj Ismail Aden Rage juzi alitangaza klabu yake kusitisha mikataba ya wapangaji wote wa jengo lao la makao makuu lililo mtaa wa Msimbazi kwa kutoa notisi hadi Aprili 30.
Rage, alisema hatua hiyo inafuatia kuwepo kwa baadhi ya wajanja ambao waliingia mkataba kinyemela kwa kusaini mkataba mpya ambao ulikuwa unakwisha mwaka 2014 badala ya ule wa awali unaomalizika Aprili 30 mwaka huu.
Kupitia mikataba hiyo hewa baadhi ya wajanja wamekuwa wakivuna mamilioni kwa mgongo wa vitega uchumi hivyo huku klabu ikiendelea kuwa ombaomba na kujikusanyia kiasi cha shilingi bil.17.
Tanzania Daima tunachukua fursa hii kuwapongeza viongozi wa klabu ya Simba kwa kuvaa ujasiri huo kwani kwa muda mrefu wamekuwa wakitembeza bakuli kwa akili ya masuala mbalimbali ya kuendesha timu wakati fedha zinazopatikana katika vitega uchumi hivyo zingewawezesha kutatua shida zao.
Inasikitisha sana kwani wazee wa zamani wa klabu hiyo kwa uchungu waliokuwa nao walijikusanya na kujenga jengo hilo kwalo leo hii baadhi ya wajanja wananenepa matumbo na kuacha klabu ikiaibika.
Pamoja na hatua hiyo, tunapenda kuwashauri viongozi wa Simba wasiishie kuvunja mikataba bali wawasiliane na wanasheria wao kuona uwezekano wa kuwashtaki wale walioamua kuingia mikataba kinyemela na kuvuna mamilioni ya shilingi.
Sisi Tanzania Daima tunaamini huo ni wizi wa kuaminika ambao unapaswa kulaaniwa na kupigwa vita kwa nguvu zote katika medani ya michezo kwani unarudisha maendeleo ya klabu nyuma.
Ni vema uongozi wa Simba ukaanzisha utaratibu utakaokuwa wazi na ambao utajulikana na viongozi watakaoingia madarakani wakati wowote tofauti na hii siri iliyokuwepo kwenye mikataba hii ambayo ilisababisha viongozi waliopita wasibaini kuibiwa huko.
Sisi Tanzania Daima tumelazimika kutoa pongezi hizi kutokana na kuridhishwa kwetu na ushupavu uliofanywa na viongozi wa sasa wa Simba chini Al hajj Ismail Aden Rage ambaye amekuwa mstari wa mbele kupigania maslahi ya timu hiyo.
Hii ni kutokana na kwamba walioingia mikataba hii kinyemela ni wana Simba wenzao na huenda ndio maana viongozi waliopita walishindwa kuchukua hatua stahiki kwa sababu ya kulindana au kuoneana haya.
Kwa waliokuwa wapangaji kwenye klabu hiyo ni vema kutoa ushirikiano kwa viongozi wa Simba na wakubali kuingia nao mikataba mipya kama bado wanataka kuendelea kufanya kazi hapo ili kodi zao zisaidie kuijenga Simba.
Pia tuchukue fursa hii kuwakumbusha wanachama wa Simba kuwa jukumu la kulinda na kutetea mali za klabu hiyo liko mikononi mwao, hivyo kila wanapoona hujuma inafanyika ni vyema wakaufahamisha uongozi wao kungali na mapema kuliko kusubiri mambo yaharibike.
Kama alivyosema Rage ‘kuanzia sasa kuibiwa basi' Tanzania Daima tunaamini mapambano hayo na mafisadi wa mali za Simba yaliyoanzishwa na uongozi wake yataendelea kwa nguvu zote, huku tukiwashauri viongozi wa timu nyingine kuiga mfano huo kwa maendeleo ya michezo nchini.

Peter Msechu afunika Kasulu


na Mwandishi wetu


MSHINDI wa pili wa shindano la kusaka vipaji Tusker Project Fame, Peter Joram Msechu, juzi aliwapagawisha mashabiki wa muziki wa mji wa Kasulu mkoani Kigoma kupitia onyesho lake lililofanyika katika ukumbi wa FM ulioko katika mji huo.
Kupitia onyesho hilo la kusherehekea sikukukuu ya Pasaka, Msechu aliwapagawisha mashabiki waliojitokeza katika ukumbi huo kupitia nyimbo zake na zile za kunakili toka kwa wasanii wengine wa ndani na nje ya nchi.
Akizungumza kwa njia ya simu jana, mmoja ya mashabiki waliohudhuria onyesho hilo, Nuru Mihambo alisema walifarijika kupitia burudani ya msanii huyo ambaye walikuwa wakimshuhudia katika televisheni na kumsikia katika redio.
"Kiukweli yule ni msanii mzuri huchoki kumsikiliza wala kumtazama pindi anapokuwa jukwaani...tumefurahi kupata burudani yake katika kipindi hiki cha sikukuu hivyo kuifanya iwe ya furaha sana," alisema.
Kupitia onyesho hilo, Msechu ambaye pia ni mshindi wa pili wa shindano la Bongo Star Search (BSS) mwaka 2009 akitokea mkoa wa Kigoma, aliiimba nyimbo zake zikiwemo ‘Majaribu' na ‘Hasira Hasara' na zinginezo.
Kabla ya onyesho hilo, Msechu na washiriki wenzake waliowakilisha Tanzania mwaka jana katika shindano la Tusker Project Fame lililofanyika nchini Kenya, Anneth Kusha na Leah Muddy walifanya onyesho moja mjini Kigoma katika ukumbi wa Kizota, siku ya mkesha wa Sikukuu ya Pasaka.

H Mbizo aachia Loliondo


na Ruhazi Ruhazi


MSANII mahiri katika medani ya muziki wa kizazi kipya, Hamisi Juma Mbizo ‘H. Mbizo', ameachia wimbo mwingine mpya uitwao ‘Loliondo', ikiwa ni maandalizi ya kupika albamu mpya.
Akizungumza na mwandishi wa habari hizi jana H. Mbizo alisema kukamilika kwa wimbo huo wa ‘Loliondo' kunamfanya akaribie kukamilisha albamu hiyo itakayokuwa na nyimbo kumi.
Alisema wimbo huo na ule alioutoa awali uitwao ‘Mvute Mvute' ndizo alizozichagua ziitambulishe albamu yake hiyo na kwamba ndizo atakazozisambaza katika vituo vya redio na televisheni hapa nchini.
"Kaka nimeachia wimbo mwingine mpya unaitwa ‘Loliondo' ambao utakuwa kwenye albamu yangu mpya," alisema H. Mbizo.
Kutokana na sababu za kiusalama na kutomaliza uhondo kwa wapenzi wake nyingine hataziachia kwenye vituo vya redio wala televisheni.

Kanumba arekodi na Mnigeria


na Mwandishi wetu


NYOTA wa filamu nchini, Steven Kanumba, kupitia kampuni yake ya Kanumba the Great yuko mbioni kutoka na filamu mpya ambayo ndani yake amemshirikisha msanii nguli kutoka nchini Nigeria, Ramsey Noah.
Tayari Mnigeria huyo aliyekuwa nchini Uingereza kwa ziara ya kikazi yuko jijini Dar es Salaam kwa ajili ya kurekodi filamu hiyo, huku kazi ya utayarishaji wake kwa kiasi kikubwa ikiwa imeshafanyika.
Akizungumza hivi karibuni, Kanumba alisema filamu hiyo ambayo itakuwa ya aina yake kuanzia ubora, hadithi, maeneo ilipopigwa na hata washiriki wake kuwa na kiwango cha hali ya juu katika tasnia hiyo kuwa bado hajaamua itaitwa jina gani.
Alisema ameamua kumshirikisha mkali huyo ili kuleta mapinduzi katika tasnia hiyo kwa kutayarisha filamu zake kimataifa zaidi, kwani kwa muda mrefu tangu ajikite katika fani hiyo ameweza kujifunza mambo mbalimbali ambayo yamempa mwanga katika kutayarisha kazi chini ya kampuni yake binafsi.
"Unajua kwa muda mrefu nilikuwa kimya lakini mwaka huu nimeamua kuanza kutoka kivingine kabisa...tayari nimeachia sokoni movie zangu kadhaa na nyingine ikiwemo hii zinaendelea kupikwa, hivyo mashabiki wangu wakae mkao wa kula," alisema Kanumba.
Mbali ya Kanumba na Noah, wasanii wengine watakaokuwemo katika filamu hiyo ni pamoja na Patcho Mwamba, Kimlola A. Kimlola, Bakari Makuka ‘Beka' Stanley Msungu na wengine wengi huku kazi ya upigaji picha ikifanywa na Zakayo Magulu.

Simba yamuuza Banka mil.150/-


na Dina Ismail


KLABU ya soka ya Simba imesema haitamuuza mchezaji yeyote chini ya dola za Kimarekani 100,000 (sawa na shilingi mil. 150 za Kitanzania).
Kutokana na hilo, ina maana kuwa Yanga wanaomtaka kiungo wa Simba, Mohammed Banka watatakiwa kulipa kiasi hicho cha fedha ili wampate.
Hivi karibuni, Mwenyekiti wa Simba, Alhaj Ismail Aden Rage alisema kwamba kuanzia sasa hawatouza mchezaji wao yeyote kwa dau la chini ya dola 100,000, huku akiweka wazi kwamba wakati wa kusajili wachezaji kwa dola 10,000 umepita.
Pamoja na hilo, Rage alisema mpaka sasa klabu yake haijamtema mchezaji yeyote kutokana na kuwa bado wana mikataba, isipokuwa Mkenya George Owinio na Rashid Gumbo.
Yanga inadaiwa kuwa ipo katika mazungumzo na Banka, ambaye anaonekana kuchoshwa na Simba aliyoichezea tangu mwaka 2007.
Banka aliyejiunga Simba akitokea Yanga, hata hivyo bado ana mkataba wa mwaka mmoja.
Awali Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Usajili ya Yanga, Seif Ahmed, aliwahi kusema kuwa hawako tayari kumnunua Banka na wenzake Mussa Mgosi, Kelvin Yondan na Juma Kaseja ambao kulikuwa na taarifa kuwa wataachwa, bali watakuwa tayari kuwachukua kama wachezaji huru.
Banka na wenzake waliingia katika mgogoro na viongozi wao baada ya Simba kukosa ubingwa wa Ligi Kuu bara msimu wa 2010/2011 licha ya kuongoza kwa pointi sita zikiwa zimebaki mechi tatu.
Kufuatia msigano huo zilikuwepo fununu za wachezaji hao kutaka kutemwa na Simba kabla ya kuibuka taarifa kuwa, Banka, Mgosi na Kaseja wana mpango wa kujiunga na Yanga.

Dau la ‘Fabregas' lawatia homa Yanga


na Mwandishi wetu


YANGA imeonekana kuchanganywa na taarifa za dau la zaidi ya sh milioni 290 anazohitaji kiungo mshambuliaji wa APR ya Rwanda, Haruna Niyonzima ‘Fabregas wa Rwanda' ili iweze kumsajili kwa msimu ujao wa ligi pamoja na michuano ya kimataifa.
Habari kutoka Kamati ya Usajili ya Yanga zinasema kuwa wameshtushwa na taarifa za APR kuhitaji kiasi hicho cha fedha ingawa walikuwa katika mchakato wa kuanza usajili wake.
Chanzo cha habari kutoka ndani ya kamati hiyo kimesema kuwa, mazungumzo na mchezaji huyo yalikuwa katika hatua nzuri, lakini tatizo linakuja kwa uongozi wa timu hiyo inayomilikiwa na Jeshi la Rwanda kutaka kiasi kikubwa cha fedha.
"Hakuna tatizo na Haruna, mazungumzo yamefika pazuri tu, lakini tatizo linakuja kwenye kiasi cha fedha wanachotaka APR.
"Yanga wanataka kulipa kiasi cha chini ya shilingi mil.150, lakini APR wao wanataka zaidi ya milioni 200...sijui kama dili litafanikiwa," kilisema chanzo chetu.
Awali, Yanga ilikuwa kwenye harakati za kumsajili mshambuliaji kutoka Zambia, Felix Sunzu, lakini iliamua kuachana naye baada ya kutaka mamilioni ya fedha ili kumwaga wino, na kuamua kumgeukia Haruna.
Pamoja na Haruna, Yanga pia ipo katika mchakato wa kuwasajili kiungo kutoka Kenya na mshambulijiaji kutoka Uganda ambao hatima yao ipo mikononi mwa kocha mkuu, Sam Timbe ambaye aliahidi kuwatafuta wachezaji hao.
Mpaka sasa Yanga imebakiza wachezaji wawili wa kigeni katika kikosi chake - kipa Mghana Yaw Berko na mshambuliaji Mzambia Davies Mwape baada ya kuwatupia virago Mserbia Ivan Knezevic na Waghana Isaack na Ernest Boakye.
Katika kuongeza nguvu kikosi chake, Yanga inadaiwa kuwa tayari imewasajili kipa Said Mohamed kutoka Majimaji, beki Godfrey Taita wa Kagera Sugar na mshambuliaji wa JKT Ruvu, Pius Kisambale.

Serikali yakunwa na TADA


na Samia Mussa


SERIKALI imeelezea kukunwa na kujitolea kwa chama cha vishale nchini (TADA), kiasi cha kuthubutu kuandaa mashindano ya Afrika Mashariki, licha ya kutokuwa na fedha.
Akizungumza wakati wa kufunga mashindano hayo juzi, mkurugenzi wa michezo nchini, Leonard Thadeo, alisema tofauti na vyama vingi ambavyo hubaki kuililia serikali pamoja na wadhamini badala ya kusaka ufumbuzi wa kufanikisha mashindano au chaguzi tofauti na TADA walivyojitosa.
Alisema kutokana na hilo, serikali imeridhishwa na moyo wao wa kujitolea na kuthubutu na kwamba pia inawapongeza kwa dhati TBL kwa uamuzi wao wa kuwaunga mkono TADA na kufanikisha mashindano hayo.
"Tunapenda kuchukua fursa hii kuwapongeza TADA kwa kuandaa mashindano haya na tunawahakikishia kuwa serikali ipo nanyi bega kwa began a tutajitahidi kuwasaidia ili kuleta ufanisi," alisema Thadeo.
Aidha aliwapongeza TBL waliojitolea kudhamini mashindano hayo kwa sh mil. 25 pamoja na zawadi kwa washindi mbali mbali kwani hiyo imeyafanya mashindano hayo kuwa na thamani na heshima.
Katika mashindano hayo yaliyofanyika kwenye ukumbi wa Moshi Hotel, Manzese jijini Dar es Salaam, Kenya waliibuka washindi wakifuatiwa na Uganda na wakakabidhiwa kombe na fedha taslimu, huku Tanzania ikishika mkia na kuambulia cheti cha ushiriki.

Mbwana kuzidunda Panandi Panandi leo


na Dina Ismail


KATIKA kujiandaa na pambano lake la kuwania ubingwa unaotambuliwa na UBO dhidi ya Mkenya Gabriel Ochieng, bondia Mbwana Matumla leo anatarajiwa kupanda katika ulingo wa Panandi Pandandi ulioko Ilala, Dar es Salaam, kuzidunda na mabodia wawili tofauti.
Mratibu wa tamasha hilo kupitia taasisi ya Kinyogoli Foundation, Habibu Kinyogoli, alisema mapambano yote yatakuwa katika raundi nne huku pambano la Mbwana likiwa katika uzito wa kilo 55 likiwa ni sehemu ya maandalizi ya pambano lake hilo kwa kuchuana na Yohana Robert na Issa Sewa.
Alisema mbali na pambano hilo pia kutakuwa na mapambano mengine kadhaa yatakayowahusisha mabondia mbalimbali kutoka jijini Dar es Salaam ambapo watazidunda katika tamasha hilo litakalokuwa likitimua vumbi kila wiki ili kuweza kujipima nguvu katika kuinua mchezo huo katika mkoa huo.
Kinyogoli aliongeza kuwa mkakati huo wa kuanzisha tamasha akishirikiana na kocha msaidizi wa timu ya mkoa huo Rajabu Mhamila 'Super D' utasaidia kuinua vipaji vipya vya mchezo huo kwa kiasi kikubwa kwani kutawajenga wachezaji kujikita katika mchezo na kuufanya kama ndio ajira yao.
Alisema, katika kulifanikisha hilo anawaomba wadau mbalimbali kuwasaidia kuwadhamini ili waweze kufikia malengo yao katika kuinua vipaji hivyo, huku likiambatana na mada mbalimbali zinahusu mchezo wa ngumi Tanzania ambapo leo kutakuwa na wageni waalikwa Innocente Melleck na Benedictor Hulilo ambao watatoa mada.

Kikosi cha Mazengo Worriors chaanikwa


na Fatma Gaffus


CHAMA cha soka cha mkoa wa Dodoma (DOREFA) kimetangaza kikosi cha wachezaji 22 watakaounda timu ya soka ya mkoa wa Dodoma ‘Mazengo Warriors' ambacho kitashiriki michuano ya kombe la taifa ‘Kili Taifa Cup' itakayoanza kutimua vumbi Mei 7.
Katibu Mkuu wa Chama cha Soka cha Mkoa wa Dodoma Aboubakar Ibrahim, aliwataja wachezaji hao kuwa ni pamoja na makipa Saidi Mohamed Ndude (Majimaji),Agathon Anthony (Polisi U-20) na Aaron Salambo (Mji Mpwapwa).
Ibrahimu aliwataja mabeki waliochaguliwa kuwa ni pamoja na Ally Mzamiru (City Center Kondoa), Hassan Mwema (Mji Mpwapwa),Renatus Patrick (Polisi U-20), Ninda Wilson (Vijana Chamwino) na Joseph Mussa (Kongwa Star), huku mabeki wa kati ni Livingstone Salum (Mji Mpwapwa), Noel Msakwa (Polisi Tanzania) na Ismail Nkullo (Polisi Tanzania).
Mabeki wa nyumna ni Michael Magoti (Kasi Mpya, Bahi) na Ramadhani Juma (Polisi U-20), huku viungo wachezeshaji ni Ismail Mkana (U- 20 Yanga) na Algenes Sifaeli (U-20 Polisi) na washambuliaji wa pembeni ni Mwinyi Khamis (Kasi Mpya, Bahi), Juma Lusewa (Mji Mpwapwa), Ally Abdul (K.F.C, Dodoma Mjini) na Bantu Admini (Polisi Tanzania).
Aidha, washambuliaji wa kati ni Nassoro Idd (K.F,C , Dodoma Mjini),Weston Wanjala (Majengo F.C ) Juma Semsue (Polisi Tanzania), huku Katibu huyo aliwataka wadau wa soka kuendelea kuisaidia timu hiyo kwa mahitaji muhimu ili iweze kushiriki kikamilifu katika michuano hiyo.

Bondia Abdallah Mohammed atwaa taji la PST


na Dina Ismail


BONDIA Abdallah Mohammed juzi alifanikiwa kutwaa ubingwa unaotambuliwa na Shirikisho la masumbwi ya kulipwa nchini (PST) baada ya kumshinda kwa pointi Fabian Lyimo katika uzito wa Welter.
Pambano hilo la raundi kumi ambalo lilifanyika katika ukumbi wa Heineken Club uliopo Temeke, jijini Dar es Salaam ambapo baada ya kumalizika kwa raundi hizo mwamuzi Anthony Ruta alimtangaza Abdallah kushinda kwa pointi 98 – 94.
Pambano jingine la raundi nne liliwakutanisha Hassan Mangushi dhidi ya Dickson Kiwiani katika uzito wa Super Bantamweight ambapo Mangushi alishinda kwa pointi, huku Shabani Mtengela na Hassan Kidebe waliozidunda katika uzani wa Light, walotoka suluhu.
Naye bondia Rashid Ally alimshinda Edward Luanda katika pambano la raundi nne uzito wa Feather, huku Hassan Kokwa akimshinda kwa pointi Ibrahim Amadeus katika pambano la raundi nne uzito wa Light.
Aidha, Mohammed Mkoti aliibuka mshindi katika raundi ya kwanza kati ya nne dhidi ya Jumanne Mninga katika uzito wa Welter, huku Bashir Salumu naye akitangazwa mshindi katika raundi ya kwanza kati ya nne ya pambano lake la uzito wa Super Fly dhidi ya Nassoro Abdi, wakati Simon Milanzi alimshinda Novatus Kityega katika uzito wa Light welter.

Schalke 04 v Manchester United, Champions League semi-final first leg, Tuesday 26 April 7.45pm

Sir Alex Ferguson warns his players not to underestimate Schalke

• Schalke are a danger, says Manchester United manager
• Wayne Rooney praised ahead of semi-final first leg

• Daniel Taylor at Gelsenkirchen
• The Guardian, Tuesday 26 April 2011 <li class="history">Article history Sir Alex Ferguson admits apprehension ahead of Manchester United's Champions League semi-final against underdog German team Schalke 04 Link to this video Sir Alex Ferguson has warned his Manchester United side there could be serious repercussions if they allow themselves to underestimate Schalke 04 in the first leg of their Champions League semi&#8209;final on Tuesday.
  Ferguson has galling memories of playing German clubs at this stage of Europe's premier club competition, losing to Borussia Dortmund in 1997 and Bayer Leverkusen in 2002, and the United manager, describing himself as "apprehensive", has instructed his players to guard against thinking they have been fortunate to avoid Real Madrid and Barcelona in the last four and are certainties for the final at Wembley next month.
  Schalke have not won the Bundesliga title since 1958 and are in 10th position, having spent parts of the season hovering close to the relegation zone, but their domestic troubles have been eclipsed by their form in the Champions League, beating the holders Internazionale 7-3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
  "They [Schalke] have beaten every team they have played in the Champions League at home this season, including Valencia and Inter Milan," Ferguson said.
  "Taken in isolation, that's fantastic form and there is no way Manchester United are going to be led into believing that this is easy. This is a difficult game for us and we have no choice but to treat it that way."
  Ferguson has shown his players the video of Schalke's remarkable 5-2 win against Inter at San Siro as well as one of their second-leg 2-1 victory at the Veltins- Arena. The United manager had travelled to Germany for that match and he spoke of Schalke playing with a "self&#8209;determination" that makes them the surprise package of this season's competition.
  "They never looked like losing the game and that's quite a credit to them in terms of playing a side like Inter Milan," the Scot said.
  "They always looked in complete control and, even in the good spells that Inter had, they [Schalke] never looked like losing. It's a semi-final now and, any semi&#8209;final you go into, you know it is going to be difficult."
  Ferguson, nonetheless, can be encouraged by the momentum that has taken United to the verge of a record 19th league title, six points clear of second-placed Chelsea with only four games remaining.
  Dimitar Berbatov, nursing a groin strain, was the only unexpected absentee on their flight to Germany and, though Ferguson talked of being disappointed with United's away record in the Premier League, they have won 10 of their past 12 excursions in Europe.
  They also have what he believes could be a considerable advantage of the second leg being at Old Trafford, where they have not lost for over a year. "We are disappointed with a lot of our games away from home but no one can point a finger at our home form because it has been absolutely sensational," Ferguson said.
  "If you talk about our away form then, yes, I can see it some of the time but you can't criticise our home form. And what you are seeing, as you did again on Saturday [in the 1-0 Premier League victory against Everton], is that this team will not give in. There's absolutely no chance this team will ever give in and that's a great quality."
  United's fourth semi-final in five seasons will take Rooney back to the stadium where he was sent off for England in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final against Portugal. Ferguson claimed he was not aware of that fact and also made the surprising admission that he had never seen the incident. The United manager was asked whether it would be on Rooney's mind and shook his head. "You have to put bad moments like that behind you," he said. "That's normal for any footballer."
  Rooney's form, he said, had been "absolutely fantastic for the last two months" and it speaks volumes about the way Berbatov has been marginalised that the absence of the Premier League's leading scorer did not merit a single mention.
  "Wayne, more than anyone, realises that performances are the thing that he will always be judged on because there is an expectation of the boy," Ferguson said. "You can see that he has stepped up to the mark and proved himself entirely.
  "But the most important thing has been the freshness that's come into the team with players like Antonio Valencia, Rio Ferdinand, Anderson and Park Ji-sung coming back [from injury]. It lifts you when the big competitions come along and all your best players are fit. It can cause a selection problem but we are glad to have them."
  
  

Schalke 04 v Manchester United, Champions League semi-final first leg, Tuesday 26 April 7.45pm

Sir Alex Ferguson warns his players not to underestimate Schalke

• Schalke are a danger, says Manchester United manager
• Wayne Rooney praised ahead of semi-final first leg

• Daniel Taylor at Gelsenkirchen
• The Guardian, Tuesday 26 April 2011 <li class="history">Article history Sir Alex Ferguson admits apprehension ahead of Manchester United's Champions League semi-final against underdog German team Schalke 04 Link to this video Sir Alex Ferguson has warned his Manchester United side there could be serious repercussions if they allow themselves to underestimate Schalke 04 in the first leg of their Champions League semi&#8209;final on Tuesday.
  Ferguson has galling memories of playing German clubs at this stage of Europe's premier club competition, losing to Borussia Dortmund in 1997 and Bayer Leverkusen in 2002, and the United manager, describing himself as "apprehensive", has instructed his players to guard against thinking they have been fortunate to avoid Real Madrid and Barcelona in the last four and are certainties for the final at Wembley next month.
  Schalke have not won the Bundesliga title since 1958 and are in 10th position, having spent parts of the season hovering close to the relegation zone, but their domestic troubles have been eclipsed by their form in the Champions League, beating the holders Internazionale 7-3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
  "They [Schalke] have beaten every team they have played in the Champions League at home this season, including Valencia and Inter Milan," Ferguson said.
  "Taken in isolation, that's fantastic form and there is no way Manchester United are going to be led into believing that this is easy. This is a difficult game for us and we have no choice but to treat it that way."
  Ferguson has shown his players the video of Schalke's remarkable 5-2 win against Inter at San Siro as well as one of their second-leg 2-1 victory at the Veltins- Arena. The United manager had travelled to Germany for that match and he spoke of Schalke playing with a "self&#8209;determination" that makes them the surprise package of this season's competition.
  "They never looked like losing the game and that's quite a credit to them in terms of playing a side like Inter Milan," the Scot said.
  "They always looked in complete control and, even in the good spells that Inter had, they [Schalke] never looked like losing. It's a semi-final now and, any semi&#8209;final you go into, you know it is going to be difficult."
  Ferguson, nonetheless, can be encouraged by the momentum that has taken United to the verge of a record 19th league title, six points clear of second-placed Chelsea with only four games remaining.
  Dimitar Berbatov, nursing a groin strain, was the only unexpected absentee on their flight to Germany and, though Ferguson talked of being disappointed with United's away record in the Premier League, they have won 10 of their past 12 excursions in Europe.
  They also have what he believes could be a considerable advantage of the second leg being at Old Trafford, where they have not lost for over a year. "We are disappointed with a lot of our games away from home but no one can point a finger at our home form because it has been absolutely sensational," Ferguson said.
  "If you talk about our away form then, yes, I can see it some of the time but you can't criticise our home form. And what you are seeing, as you did again on Saturday [in the 1-0 Premier League victory against Everton], is that this team will not give in. There's absolutely no chance this team will ever give in and that's a great quality."
  United's fourth semi-final in five seasons will take Rooney back to the stadium where he was sent off for England in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final against Portugal. Ferguson claimed he was not aware of that fact and also made the surprising admission that he had never seen the incident. The United manager was asked whether it would be on Rooney's mind and shook his head. "You have to put bad moments like that behind you," he said. "That's normal for any footballer."
  Rooney's form, he said, had been "absolutely fantastic for the last two months" and it speaks volumes about the way Berbatov has been marginalised that the absence of the Premier League's leading scorer did not merit a single mention.
  "Wayne, more than anyone, realises that performances are the thing that he will always be judged on because there is an expectation of the boy," Ferguson said. "You can see that he has stepped up to the mark and proved himself entirely.
  "But the most important thing has been the freshness that's come into the team with players like Antonio Valencia, Rio Ferdinand, Anderson and Park Ji-sung coming back [from injury]. It lifts you when the big competitions come along and all your best players are fit. It can cause a selection problem but we are glad to have them."

Schalke 04 v Manchester United, Champions League semi-final first leg, Tuesday 26 April 7.45pm

Alex Ferguson retains burning ambition for Manchester United success

Manager emphasises that his desire to extend the club's European Cup-winning record is undimmed

• • Daniel Taylor in Gelsenkirchen
  • guardian.co.uk, Monday 25 April 2011 22.43 BST <li class="history">Article history
  Manchester United's manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, before his side's Champions League match against Schalke. Photograph: Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images
  
  These are the moments when you realise why Sir Alex Ferguson seems to regard the idea of retirement almost like a personal affront. Sir Matt Busby closed his reign at Old Trafford when he was 62. Bill Shankly left Anfield at the age of 60. Bob Paisley was 64 and Brian Clough was 58. Yet here is Ferguson contemplating his fourth Champions League semi-final in five seasons and a rare form of job satisfaction at the age at which he once told the Manchester Evening News he would need "pushing up the hill for a game of darts at the British Legion".
  The coming weeks will almost certainly see the coronation of a record 19th league title for Manchester United, one more than Liverpool, when 20 years ago it was 18&#8209;7 in favour of the Anfield club. After that, there is the prospect of emulating Busby by winning the European Cup at Wembley.
  Yet Ferguson, at the age of 69, still gives the impression that he is greedy for more. He laces his press conferences before these big European nights with the odd joke, tries out his languages &#8211; "ich kenne nicht" he replied when a German journalist asked if Schalke's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer might be heading to Old Trafford &#8211; and generally has the demeanour of someone arriving for a family barbecue rather than contemplating one of the major moments of his professional life.
  There is, however, always a serious message there too, and on this occasion there was the sense of a man who still regards his work as far from done when it comes to history-making and the position in which he wants to leave United when the day finally arrives for him to walk away. He was "envious", he admitted, when he considered Real Madrid's record of nine European Cups and the way that other clubs, Liverpool included, had such a headstart on United in terms of creating a European dynasty.
  "We really need to progress quickly to get to that level," Ferguson said, and there was noticeable impatience in his voice. "The expectation from my point of view has always been very high in Europe because you do get envious of the other great teams &#8211; Real Madrid, Milan, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Ajax. We are looking to get parity with those clubs. It is where we should be."
  His team are trying to draw level with Bayern and Ajax by winning the trophy he cherishes most of all for a fourth time. Milan have managed it seven times and Liverpool five. Simultaneously, Ferguson is aiming to stand shoulder to shoulder alongside the late Bob Paisley (1977, 1978 and 1981) as the only men on the planet who have won the European Cup three times.
  Ferguson has already got rid of the banner the Liverpool supporters used to hold up on the Kop: "Paisley 3, Ferguson 1". There was a time, the Scot will admit, when he felt he could not be considered a great manager until he had won the European Cup.
  His first success in Barcelona in 1999 &#8211; "football, bloody hell" and all that &#8211; put that to bed, however, and it feels like a long time now since Clough used to chide him with a wicked mix of schadenfreude and mischief. "For all his horses, knighthoods and championships, Alex hasn't got two of what I've got," Clough once said. "And I don't mean balls."
  That comment got to Ferguson far more than he will ever be ready to admit. Yet the most successful manager in the business now combines a fierce ambition for a third European Cup with giving the impression that he is totally comfortable within his skin about his achievements to date in Europe.
  His press conferences in Manchester can be tense, joyless affairs. Yet when he appeared before the cameras in Gelsenkirchen there was only one moment when his face hardened a little.
  The question was whether he had watched the BBC television drama United &#8211; about the Munich air disaster &#8211; and whether he felt it had offered an accurate insight into the club's history.
  Ferguson is aware that Busby's family are unhappy about the portrayal of the manager who inspired the first of United's three European Cups. "I didn't watch it," he said. "I don't think we need any TV programme to portray the history of our club."
  Ferguson cherishes all that history &#8211; and yet he finds it difficult to be satisfied with it.