‘I shifted my wedding for Champions League Final’- Osaze

April 24th, 2012 07:44 AM   

West Brom striker Osaze Odemwingie has fixed his wedding for June 2, two weeks after the UEFA Champions League.

Odemwingie and his fiancée, Sarah, had initially fixed the wedding for May 19, the date of the Champions League final and one week after the close of the Premier League, but his would-be father-in-law insisted he would not attend if Manchester City survived to the end of the competition.

“We wanted to get married the week after the season ends but when we fixed the date, Manchester City were still in the Champions League and Sarah’s dad, Mike, who is a big fan, said he’s never coming if they’re in the final, which is on that Saturday,” Odemwingie told guardian.co.uk.

“When he was saying it, we were laughing at the table. And then Sarah looked at me and said: ‘He’s not joking.’ I was still laughing and she said: ‘I’m serious.’ So because of him we had to have it two weeks later. It was too late to change when Manchester City went out of the Champions League. And Sarah has something in her head that once a date is fixed, it has to be done then. So we left it.”

Odemwingie finds the whole episode hilarious and breaks into more laughter when he recalls Albion’s meeting with City at The Hawthorns on Boxing Day. “Sarah’s family are all Man City fans and they had to sit with the West Brom supporters but her dad couldn’t help but sing the City songs. His wife was hitting him, saying: ‘Will you stop that!’ They were looking forward to winning the game but it was a 0-0 draw so I changed my shirt with Vincent Kompany and gave it to Mike as a consolation. I said, ‘Here you are, don’t cry (about the result)’.”

He was the fifth highest Premier League scorer last term with 15 goals and although he is frustrated that ankle, knee and hamstring injuries disrupted a second season that he describes as “a little strange”, he has still managed to score nine times in the top flight at a rate of one every three appearances. Five of those goals came in February, including a hat-trick in the 5-1 victory over Wolves that has left an indelible mark on one fan.

“There was a guy who came to the training ground, he looked so bright and it was maybe two months after the game,” says Odemwingie. “He showed me a tattoo on his leg with my face and me holding up three fingers. I couldn’t say anything. I was shocked, positively shocked that it meant so much that he could go and do that. I said to Youssouf Mulumbu: ‘Youss, do you know what I just saw? I saw a tattoo of my face on someone’s leg because of that Wolves game!’”

Relegation Battle for Bolton

Premier League - Coyle backs Bolton for survival

Wed, 25 Apr 01:17:00 2012

Owen Coyle hailed his players' character after Bolton Wanderers fought back from a goal down to beat Aston Villa 2-1 and boost their chances of Premier League survival.

Hosts Villa took the lead through Stephen Warnock after 61 minutes but Bolton hit back immediately with a penalty by Martin Petrov and David N'Gog grabbed the winner a minute later.
Bolton climbed above Blackburn Rovers into 18th place, a point behind Wigan Athletic and Queens Park Rangers with a game in hand.
Villa remained in serious danger of going down on 36 points, just two ahead of Wigan and QPR with three matches left.
"Coming into the game we had been in good form and the win tonight gives us 13 points from 21 that have been available," he told the club's website.
"All credit to the players because, to a man, they stood up and were counted tonight. Our character and belief on and off the pitch is going to be so important for us, home and away in our last four games."
Bolton travel to face Sunderland on Saturday while Villa, who have taken just three points from their last seven games, make the short journey to West Brom.
Despite the defeat - and calls for his head from the home crowd - Alex McLeish vowed to fight on as Villa boss.
"I can understand the fans' reaction. They are frustrated, just as I was. To see the game turn around like that after we took a deserved lead was horrible.
"It was incredible the way the game turned but I do understand the fans' reaction. They know the team is in a bit of trouble in a position Aston Villa fans don't expect the team to be in."

Premier League - Van Persie named PFA Player of the Year

Sun, 22 Apr 22:59:00 2012

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie was named PFA Player of the Year, while Tottenham Hotspur defender Kyle Walker was the surprise recipient of the Young Player of the Year award.

Netherlands international and hot favourite Van Persie beat fellow nominees Sergio Aguero, Joe Hart, Scott Parker, Wayne Rooney and David Silva to the prestigious prize, won last year by Tottenham's Gareth Bale.
The Arsenal captain has had arguably the best season of his career, scoring 33 goals in all competitions. His 27 in the Premier League have fired the Gunners up to third place with three games of the season remaining.
"If other people are saying it, it is special, but it is even more special if your opponents are saying it," he told Press Association Sport.
"It is very special because you are playing against them week in week out and every single player does everything to win and in the end if they make up their minds that I'm the best player it is a big honour."
Van Persie may have picked up the top individual honour but he was quick to point out it would not have been possible without his Arsenal team-mates.
"Without them I could not have achieved it," he said. "For example Theo Walcott, he has given me more than 12 assists and I do really appreciate that."
Van Persie is also favourite to follow up this award, which is voted for by all professional footballers in England and Wales, with the Football Writers' Association's prize.
Spurs and England right-back Walker won the young player award ahead of Manchester City striker Aguero, despite the Argentina forward scoring 29 goals for the club so far in his first season in English football.
Walker also beat Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck to the award, which was won last year by Arsenal's Jack Wilshere, and the former Sheffield United man admitted that the recognition came as quite a surprise.
"I was a bit surprised because defenders don't normally get these awards and get the limelight as much as the centre-forwards," he said.
"If you look at the people I was in with then it is a great honour to get the award and hopefully there is more to come.
"It is always an honour to be selected by the people you play against and, like I say, hopefully I can get a few more of these and some medals with Tottenham along the way."
PFA Team of the Year
GK: Joe Hart (Manchester City)
DF: Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle United), Leighton Baines (Everton)
MF: Yaya Toure, David Silva (both Manchester City), Gareth Bale, Scott Parker (both Tottenham Hotspur)
FW: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Robin van Persie (Arsenal)

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

The English premier league move to an end as week 35 matches resume this weekend, the title race still remain between Mancherster Clubs and the Forth position still remain between tothenham, Newcastle and chelsea. Here are the fixtures below......

Saturday April 21

Time	Match
12:45	ArsenalvChelsea
15:00	Newcastle UnitedvStoke City
15:00	FulhamvWigan Athletic
15:00	Bolton WanderersvSwansea City
15:00	Blackburn RoversvNorwich City
15:00	Aston VillavSunderland
17:30	Queens Park RangersvTottenham Hotspur

Sunday April 22

Time	Match
12:30	Manchester UnitedvEverton
16:00	LiverpoolvWest Bromwich Albion
16:00	Wolverhampton WanderersvManchester City

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

There may not be a Superclasico in Munich after all

April 19, 2012

Barcelona | Bayern Munich | Champions League | Chelsea | Real Madrid

A mouth-watering clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona in this season’s Champions League final in Munich appeared to be on the cards when the two Spanish giants were kept apart in the draw, but the prospect of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi watching the showpiece on television instead of taking centre stage on May 19 now looks just as likely.
While Barcelona missed a hatful of chances in their 1-0 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in a pulsating first leg of their semi, Real were maybe fortunate to escape with only a 2-1 defeat at Bayern after they were undone by a stoppage-time winner from Mario Gomez.
Second-best for long spells with Ronaldo also subdued for much of the game, Real were lucky to be on level terms before Gomez struck to give Bayern a slender lead ahead of the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
One could argue the away goal still puts Real in the driving seat to reach the final, but the nine-time winners of Europe’s elite club competition face a stern test of their credentials against a fit, cultured and determined Bayern outfit who showed the ability to match them in every department.
Although Barcelona seemingly have more to do than Real after failing to score against Chelsea, the holders should in fact have a slightly easier task than their traditional rivals, whom they entertain in an eagerly awaited Spanish league clasico on Saturday.
The woodwork, a string of superb saves by Petr Cech and some poor finishing by Barcelona, along with the outstanding job  John Terry and Gary Cahill did to keep Messi at bay, secured a memorable night for Chelsea fans which they will cherish at least until the return leg.

TENNIS

Berdych upsets Murray to make Monte Carlo semis 

• Emotional Djokovic fights back to win in Monte Carlo
  Thu, Apr 19 2012
• Murray through in Monte Carlo after Benneteau retires
  Thu, Apr 19 2012
• Djokovic, Nadal make Monte Carlo third round
  Wed, Apr 18 2012
• Murray eases through in Monte Carlo
  Tue, Apr 17 2012
  

  

  

  1 of 5. Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic reacts after defeating Andy Murray of Britain during the quarter-final of the Monte Carlo Masters in Monaco April 20, 2012.

MONTE CARLO | Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:04am EDT

Czech Tomas Berdych overpowered world number four Andy Murray in their Monte Carlo Masters quarter-final on Friday to reach the last four for the second time in the season's first big claycourt event.Berdych, the sixth seed, made the Briton dizzy as he relied on his powerful forehand to prevail 6-7 6-2 6-3 in two hours and 48 minutes.
The Czech, who already reached the semi-final of the Mediterranean glamour tournament in 2007, will face either world number one Novak Djokovic or Dutchman Robin Haase in the next round.
On a chilly morning, Murray had the luck to grab the opening set as Berdych wasted four set-point chances in the 12th game before faltering in the tie-break.
As the sun eventually shone and the sea glittered, the world number seven tightened his grip and hit numerous winners to unsettle a frustrated Murray, who now has a 2-4 win-loss record against Berdych.
"He played extremely well today. He dictated a lot of the points. He went for his shots. He served very well, I think, too," Murray told reporters.
The Scot - who spent most of the match far behind his baseline - struggled with his footwork and made unusual errors, including a backhand smash which went wide to grant Berdych a decisive break in the third set's third game.
"There are a lot of things I would have liked to have done better," added Murray, who was playing his first clay event this season.
"It takes a lot of time for me to do it on this surface. It doesn't come straightaway. It takes time for me to understand the way I'm needing to play."

onte Carlo Masters - Nadal irrepressible on Monaco clay

Wed, 18 Apr 14:41:00 2012

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Seven-time champion Rafael Nadal moved into the last 16 at the Monte Carlo Masters with a 6-4 6-3 win over Jarkko Nieminen in the second round.

 

Nadal was given a stern test in the opening set by the doughty Nieminen with a solitary break separating the pair, before the world number two brushed aside his battling opponent in the second to get his clay-court season underway in confident fashion.

The Spaniard has completely dominated this tournament, winning it the last seven years since losing in the third round in 2003 as a 16-year-old to Guillermo Coria. Then after missing the event in 2004, he has won every year since 2005.

Nadal now has an amazing 40-1 record at the tournament, winning 38 matches in a row, while he extended his head-to-head record against Nieminen to 7-0 – which includes a 69-minute, 6-2 6-2 rout at the same stage of last year’s tournament.

Nadal imposed himself in typically belligerent fashion as he broke Nieminen in the very first game of the match with a clinical assault on his opponent’s serve.

But the world number two did not run away with proceedings as Nieminen showed real tenacity and resolve in persistently reducing the deficit with some tireless running and gutsy play around the court.

Indeed, Nadal was given a real scare in successive service games as Nieminen forced each into deuce with a dogged resistance, but the Spaniard came through both unscathed.

Europa League - Semi Final

Europa League

• News 
• Photos 
• Live 
• Fixtures / Results 
• Top Scorers

• Preliminary Rounds: 1 - 2 - 3 - Play-off round
 
• Group: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L
 
• Last 32
 
• 1/8 F
 
• 1/4 F
• 1/2 F

EUROPA LEAGUE 2011-2012 - FIXTURES

PreviousNext

Thursday April 19
19 Apr, 20:05	Atlético MadridvValencia CF	Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid
19 Apr, 20:05	Sporting LisbonvAthletic Bilbao	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon

Thursday April 26
26 Apr, 20:05	Valencia CFvAtlético Madrid	Mestalla, Valencia
26 Apr, 20:05	Athletic BilbaovSporting Lisbon	San Mamés, Bilbao

Europa League - Match facts: Atletico Madrid v Valencia

Tue, 17 Apr 15:31:00 2012

Facts, stats and a preview video ahead of the all-Spanish Europa League semi-final between Atletico Madrid and Valencia.

 

Atletico are on a run of nine straight wins in the Europa League.

In this match, the Rojiblancos can become the first-ever side to win 10 straight games in the UEFA Cup/Europa League.

These two sides were drawn together in the 2009-10 Quarter-finals of this competition. Atletico went through following a 2-2 draw at Valencia and a 0-0 at home.

Atletico are unbeaten at home in all-Spain ties in European competitions (exc.Qualifiers): W2 D1.

Valencia have never won away to another Spanish side in a European competition (D3 L1).

Los Che have only managed one win from their last nine away games in Europe (exc. Qualifiers), and have failed to score more than once in any of these matches.

Falcao has scored 25 goals in 26 matches in the Europa League.

The Colombian striker has scored in each of his last three appearances in the competition.

Valencia central defender Adil Rami has scored three goals and picked up one red card in Valencia’s last three Europa League games.

Suarez - Adversity makes Reds stronger

Wed, 18 Apr 11:36:56 2012

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez believes the Reds will emerge a stronger team for all their recent difficulties.

Kenny Dalglish's men emerged from a dismal run of six defeats in seven Barclays Premier League games with a last-gasp win at Blackburn last week.

They then followed that up by claiming a place in the FA Cup final with victory over arch-rivals Everton at Wembley.Uruguay forward Suarez told LFC Weekly: "All clubs, teams and players go through good runs and bad runs. That is football.

"No team has success after success. Even the very best of all time have bad periods, but it is how they react that defines them.

"You are bound to enjoy picking up trophies and medals, of course you are. But you learn most about one another during a bad patch, you learn how to stick together even more.

"If you react in the right way and support each other, adversity can be a good thing in the long run because you become stronger."

Familiar foes set for fascinating tie

   

John Terry tussles with Lionel Messi in their 2009 semi-finalChelsea against Barcelona is a very interesting tie between two teams that know each other very well.

They have faced each other several times over the last few years. In the four champions League ties they have played against each other since 2005, both clubs have won two.

Chelsea is coming back at the level they have so consistently operated at over the last decade or so. They know that the Champions League is now their priority.

Barcelona play the game with a fluidity that everyone enjoys. It will be a very interesting game with a physically strong team like Chelsea against a team of the quality and pace Barcelona.

It seems that Barcelona are favourites because they have an abundance of quality, and a player in Lionel Messi who can make the difference against anyone at any time. So, logically, everyone bets more on Barcelona.

But Chelsea are doing well at the moment. They have regained their confidence, and they can have such a hunger and will to win in their squad that they could make things difficult for Barcelona. They have a collection of several high-calibre players.

Fernando Torres is beginning to reach his real level once more and Barca will be well aware of the threat Didier Drogba poses. So I think it will also be a tough game for Barcelona.

Obviously, it's a semi-final with two teams that know each other very well and that faced each other a lot of times. I think it will be fascinating to watch, especially because there is no questioning that Barcelona will try to win the first leg at Stamford Bridge.

FA Cup - Dowd to referee final

Tue, 17 Apr 12:04:00 2012

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Phil Dowd has been appointed referee for this season's FA Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool.

 

The 49-year-old will take charge of the Wembley showpiece for the first time in his career on Saturday, May 5 (kick-off 5.15pm). The former miner from Staffordshire was also the man in the middle for this season's Community Shield, as well as the 2010 Carling Cup final.

Dowd, who has been refereeing for 28 years, said: "I was honoured and privileged when I found out. You obviously hope as a referee that you might one day be considered for the FA Cup final, so it will certainly be the highlight of my career so far.

"I would never have thought in my wildest dreams that when I first started refereeing that one day I'd be refereeing the FA Cup final. Watching the final as a boy was something I always loved to do."

The married father of four will also spare a thought on cup final day for his own father, who passed away three years ago. He said: "It was always an ambition of his to see me referee the FA Cup final, so I'll have a special thought for him on the day."

Dowd will be assisted by Stuart Burt and Andrew Garratt, along with fourth official Michael Jones and reserve assistant referee Simon Long.

17 April 2012 Last updated at 16:55GMT

Mario Balotelli has 'no intention of leaving' Manchester City

Mario Balotelli says he has "no intention of leaving" Manchester City this summer.

Manager Roberto Mancini admitted he could be ready to sell the controversial Italian striker after his sending-off against Arsenal.
Mancini has since backtracked but warned Balotelli he must change his ways if he is to remain at the club.
"My future? I'm under contract at City and I have no intention of changing shirt," the 21-year-old striker said.

Continue reading the main story

“I have the fortune to be working with [Roberto] Mancini, one of the best managers in the world, if not the best”

Mario Balotelli

While City have no intention of actively pursuing a sale of the player, BBC Sport understands the club would be prepared to listen to serious offers for Balotelli this summer.

The Italy international has been linked with a return to his homeland, with both Inter and AC Milan known to be monitoring the striker.
However, Balotelli believes his experience in England is helping him to mature. He has scored 17 goals in 31 club appearances this season, but has been sent off twice.
"I am only thinking about winning the title at the moment," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Why do you always talk of Inter and Milan for me?"
"I don't have nostalgia for Italy. The Premier League is an experience that is serving me very well. When I was at Inter Milan I called my mother to solve every little problem. Now I have to go it alone. "
Mancini's relationship with Balotelli has been a source of tension this season

 

Caf announces seeding system for final 2013 qualifiers

The Confederation of African Football has announced the seeding system for the final round of qualifying for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

A total of 30 teams play in a final knockout round to decide the 15 nations who will join hosts South Africa at the tournament next year.
Caf will use performances at the last three Nations Cup to decide the top 15 seeds, who will drawn to face a team from the bottom ranked 15 countries.
The 16 finalists from the 2012 Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon have all been given byes to the final round.
Joining them there will be the 14 winners of the second round ties.

SOUTH AFRICA LEAGUE

 

Timing change can help South African clubs

 

South Africa's football season is set to change to a calendar-year season from 2014 in a bid to make local clubs more competitive in Caf tournaments.

Since 1994, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs are the only South African teams to have won continental competitions.
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) says local teams are disadvantaged by the timing of the August-to-May season.
"I hope that we would have reached a formal decision by the start of next season," said PSL CEO Stanley Matthews.
"That will give us enough time to plan for whatever logistics or adaptations need to be made."
Matthews says that South Africans teams are weakened by having to register players for Caf competitions in mid-January, which is in the middle of the season.
"Our clubs are seriously disadvantaged because by the time they get to the group stages of the continental competitions, there are two (transfer) window periods that would have passed where some players have left.
"Players became free agents or had been transferred to other clubs so the continuity of those teams playing in the latter stages of the competition isn't good," 
"Sometimes the situation has been so bad that we've previously had clubs who've been down to the bare bones with only 13 players available for a match."
Matthews opined that North African clubs, who have been the most successful in African competition and also have a season that coincides with Europe, do not suffer as much since they do not have as high a turnover of players.
"I'm not saying the moving of the calendar will be the key to success on the continent. There are other reasons like technical, youth and physical development but it is a factor," said Matthews.

Champion League Match Preview: Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

16 April 2012 Last updated at 19:36 GMT

Bayern Munich hoping their name is on the cup

By Raphael Honigstein German football expert

"A terrible week," was how Bayern Munich defender Holger Badstuber described the past few days on Saturday.

For a club which regards winning trophies as the be-all and end-all, losing out on the German championship at the beginning of April for a second year running was a traumatic event - the record title winners (22) have been accustomed to dominating the Bundesliga at least every other year since 1997.
They engage in a 2 leg battle semi final matchs with Madrid in  Allianz Arena to night, what a cracker it would be. 

Bayern Munich hope their incredible home record keeps as they host Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final

Date: Tuesday 17^th April 2012

Venue: Allianz Arena

Capacity: 69,000

Kick Off: 17.45

Probable Line Ups:

Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, Badstuber, Boateng, Gustavo; Robben, Muller, Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Ribery; Gomez.

Real Madrid: Casillas; Arbeola, Ramos, Pepe, Coentrao; Alonso, Khedira; Ozil, Ronaldo, Kaka; Benzema

Match Preview

Bayern Munich will welcome back Phillip Lahm, Franck Ribery and Mario Gomez after the trio were rested in the league. Daniel Van Buyten and Breno are both sidelined although Bastian Schweinstegier is available are serving his one match suspension. Real Madrid also rested players in their last game so Karim Benzema, Kaka and Angel Di Maria are likely to start.

Real Madrid enter the game as favourites but their record at the Allianz Arena is not a strong one. They have never won there (losing 8, drawing 1) and have only beaten Bayern Munich 6 times in 18 meetings. Infact their record in Germany reads poor with 1 win in 22 games.

Not only are Madrid bad in Germany but Bayern Munich are nothing short of excellent there. They have won all home games in the Champions League this season and have sealed 12 wins from their last 13 home European games.

They also boast the competition’s second top goal scorer, Mario Gomez, who has netted 12 times in 11 matches. Cristiano Ronaldo is Real Madrid’s highest European scorer with a tally of 8 while Benzema has 7.

Madrid will have one eye on the ‘El Clasico’ that could define their title challenge in La Liga although manager Jose Mourinho insists focus is purely on Bayern Munich. Victory for Madrid would ensure a mouth-watering final regardless of the opposition as Mourinho could be reunited in a game with former club Chelsea or participate in the biggest of all ‘El Clasico’s ‘.

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes will want to prove a point after being shown the door when manager of Real Madrid while star player Arjen Robben was also seemed surplus to requirements while a Madrid player and will want to show his former employers why their were wrong to think that.

Madrid and Munich have both cruised through the knockout stages (despite the latter losing against Basel in the first leg) but neither can expect an easy game here.