AC Milan Vs Inter Milan, Who Takes Barcelona Star Ronaldinho?

AC Milan 'have an advantage' over their city rivals Inter in the negotiations to sign Barcelona star Ronaldinho, according to the player's agent and brother, Roberto de Assis.

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AC Milan made their interest in the Brazilian known at the beginning of April when both coach Carlo Ancelotti and club president Silvio Berlusconi announced their intention to bring him to the San Siro at the end of the season.

More recently neighbours Inter have joined the hunt, with their president Massimo Moratti warning on Sunday 'if the market is open to Milan, it is open to us too'.

Speaking to French TV station Canal+ yesterday, De Assis reiterated no deal had yet been done between Milan and Barcelona, but said the Rossoneri remain in the driving seat for any possible deal.

'Milan are enthusiastic about the signing of Ronaldinho,' he said.

'People are a lot more together on where we stand for next season, but that's not to say the deal is done.

'At the moment we (Ronaldinho and De Assis) have a contract with Barca and we can't say the move is definite. But Milan have an advantage.'

Whichever Milan club he choices, it now seems highly likely Ronaldinho he will leave the Nou Camp at the end of the season.

When asked by Canal+ if his brother was happy at Barca, De Assis replied: 'There's respect. I'm not saying there's happiness, but there's respect.

'It is not only a bad season for Ronaldinho, but for all the team. It isn't a nice situation, but that's how it is.'

Sir Alex Ferguson Plans To Spend Strengthen His Squad

United may be embroiled in a fascinating climax to the current campaign, but Sir Alex Ferguson is already planning to strengthen his squad for next season.

The United manager has assembled a squad of sufficient strength in depth to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League this term, but he has earmarked areas which need further reinforcements.

"I don't need to spend, but I will," Sir Alex is quoted as saying in the News of the World. "I think there is an area where we are short and we can stock up on that a bit.

"It is not easy getting the best players here. But we have to because when you have a lot of quality in your squad you have to be absolutely correct on who you bring in.

"A player has a chance to come to a club like United and he would say 'that's my challenge to be in the team.' That's what good players do."

Sir Alex brought in Owen Hargreaves, Carlos Tevez, Anderson and Nani last summer and, after the quartet's unquestionable success this season, the Scot admits he will have one eye on the future when he re-enters the transfer market.

"I don't think I will bring in as many as last season and if we buy players it will probably be young ones," he said. "This year Tevez, Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson have been really fantastic for us. Those four players have made a big contribution to our season."

Tanzanian Simba SC player, Haruna Moshi Not For Sale

Majuto Omary
Haruna Moshi is simply not for sale, so says the chairman of the Simba SC players registration committee, Evans Aveva.

Aveva has refuted media reports that Moshi is to join a club in Oman, insisting that the club is not aware of the transfer plans."If Moshi is to join any club overseas the necessary communication has not yet been brought to our knowledge," said Aveva.

Simba officials have at various instances questioned Moshi as to media reports saying he would seek such transfer but the player had denied the story, he said.

Moshi has assured club officials that he will remain with the club and feature for the team during the forthcoming domestic premier league and the Confederations of African Football champions league matches.

"Moshi is not for sale and is not joining any team in the Arab world soon," reacted Aveva. If there is a transfer move for Moshi or any other Simba player there must be official communication before any contract is made, he said.

"Whoever is in need of Moshi should meet officials of the club especially chairman Hassan Dalali, not going through the back door," he further stated.

He said the present situation at the club does not require the club to sell a player as major championships are just around the corner.

Champions Simba are scheduled to clash against Ethiopian club Awasa in the first leg first round match of the CAF Champions League mid next month.

Reports that Moshi was on his way to play professional soccer with an Oman club spread in the newspapers recently. Simba have been practising for the two assignments and play trial matches.

In their last trial match Simba defeated visiting Mtibwa Sugar by a lone goal at the National Stadium on Tuesday.Former Simba striker Athuman Machupa, along with Henry Joseph and Eric Majaliwa are on their way to Spain for trials.

They are hopeful they may eventually win a contract with league sides in the UEFA zone f they succeed.The trio leave on January 20 with FIFA approved agent Mehd Rhemtullah.

CAN 2008 Match Venues Testing Begins This Weekend

Two more CAN 2008 match venues would be tested beginning this weekend by premiership sides as the Local Organising Committee rounds up on preparations for the tournament.

The newly built 20,000 capacity all-sitter Tamale Stadium would host one the eight premiership games on match-day-9 when home team, Real Tamale United host Kessben FC on Sunday.

The testing of the Essipon Stadium in Sekondi, would be done a week later, on January 13, when Hasaacas play Real Sportive on match-day-10. The new ground is also a 20,000 capacity all-sitter stadium.

A statement by Kwaku Ampim-Darko, Deputy General Secretary in charge of Technical Duties at the Ghana Football Association (GFA), explains that the decision to relocate the matches from the Kaladan Park and Gyandu Stadium to the newly built grounds is to afford the National Sports Council authorities the opportunity to test the facilities at the new stadium in readiness for the African Cup of Nations.

In Sekondi, the Essipong Stadium would host the group matches of teams in Group B: Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali and Benin for the African Cup of Nations.

Meanwhile, Ghana coach, Claude Le Roy has whittled down his 40-man squad to 27 as he embarks on the final phase of preparations for the African Cup of Nations.

Claude Le Roy has included Black Stars captain, Stephen Appiah in his list to raise the playing numbers to 28 for a pre-African Cup of Nations training camp of the United Arab Emirates this week.

Also to be included in the squad is Laryea Kingston, another player just like Appiah who is recuperating from injury, though the Fenerbahce player would be there in a different capacity.

Stephen Appiah has struggled with injury after suffering from complications to his knee but Claude Le Roy says he still has a role for his captain.

The team would begin preparations for the African Cup of Nations on Thursday at their training camp.

Fifteen of the players would be fighting for their first African Cup of Nations appearance as Claude Le Roy prepares to submit his final squad of 23 for the tournament by the January 10 deadline.

Ghana would kick off the tournament on January 20 at the Ohene Djan Stadium with an opening Group A game against Guinea.

25 Tanzanian Talented Boys Granted Scholarship To Soccer Academy

Majuto Omary
The first batch of 25 budding soccer talented boys who are expected to join the newly introduced soccer academy on Tanzania mainland, will also get an opportunity to pursue academic studies abroad.

Secretary general of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Fredrick Mwakalebela said the under-18 players are expected to arrive in Dar es Salaam today ready for joint training session set for tomorrow.

Mwakalebela said M/s Kili Wood Investment Company will cover all costs for studies of the young players. Mwakalebela would not say the players will be in camped for how long.

The TFF boss said the players would be trained in soccer techniques and offered scholarships to pursue academic studies abroad.

The number of provisional team is estimated at 100 players with each region sending two. About 44 players will be recruited from Marcos Tinoco's Copa Coca Cola tournament previously selected squad.

UK's Bolton Wonderers coaches will join Brazilian youth trainer Tinoco in carrying out training before the players are trimmed down to 25.

TFF technical director, Sunday Kayuni will supervise the entire training programme and additional local coaches may be added to the list to improve the mission if need be.

Mwakalebela said by February, a team of 25 players would have been selected for an impending trip to Europe presumably England for further training.

Tanzania has embarked on grassroots soccer promotion after an endless failure in regional international meets especially African Nations and World cup qualifiers.

Stakeholders and the soccer federation have concluded that an investment in grassroots soccer might yield the needed breakthrough.

A similar strategy is also underway in Zanzibar where an academy is just about to be established to groom talented players and do away with improper team selection.

Tanzania has managed to qualify in the African Nations Cup only once in 1980 when Nigeria hosted the event but never made any progress in World Cup qualifiers.

Nigerians Expect Nothing Less Than Lifting Of The Nations Cup

Ishola Bashir
Ogun State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Bukola Olopade has said that only the lifting of the Nations Cup by the Super Eagles will be acceptable to Nigerians.

Olopade, who hailed the team list called for the Malaga camp by technical adviser, Berti Vogts, said that since the team has won the bronze medal for three consecutive times in a row, it is only the lifting of the trophy that would be acceptable this time around.

"We have the players that can lift the trophy for the country if the coaches know what they are doing.

Berti Vogts has been given all the necessary assistance and support by the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and it is now left for him and his players to transcend that into victory for the country at the competition.

Most of the players called to the Malaga camp are presently doing very well in their clubs and it is expected that they carry those good outings to the camp and the competition proper in Ghana.

We are tired of the bronze medals and need the gold this time around. Skipper Kanu Nwankwo, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Obafemi Martins, John Utaka among others are doing very well in their clubs and should be ready to deliver the trophy to us", he said.

The former football player however called on the German tactician to work on the midfield because the exit of former captain and play maker, Austin Okocha has created a vacuum in the department.

"I think we need to work on the midfield very well. That is one vital department on the pitch that can make or break any team" he cautioned.

National County Meet Scheduled For Tommorow Friday, January 4, 2008

The opening date of the 2007/2008 National County Meet, previously scheduled for Saturday, January 5, 2008, has been brought forward to Friday, January 4, 2008.

This followed a technical adjustment by the Ministry of Youth & Sports to allow for commencement of the annual President's Cup Competition, which falls on the original date.

With the preliminary phase scheduled to be played on a round robin basis at various venues around the country, the tournament will feature football and kickball.

Montserrado and Rivercess Counties will open the competition at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia at 2:00 P.M., with each promising to undo the other in both games.

The games resume on Sunday, January 6, with Grand Kru going against River Gee in Zwedru; Nimba versus Bong in Saniquille; and Sinoe against Maryland in Greenville.

The remaining fixture is as follows: January 13, Grand Bassa Vs. Margibi in Buchanan; Grand Gedeh Vs. Lofa in Zwedru; Maryland Vs. Grand Kru in Harper; and Sinoe Vs. River Gee in Greenville.

January 19, Grand Cape Mount Vs. Bomi in Robertsport; Montserrado Vs. Bassa in Monrovia; Bong Vs. Lofa in Gbarnga; and Grand Kru Vs. Sinoe in Zwedru.

January 27, Bassa Vs. Rivercess in Buchanan; Margibi Vs. Montserrado in Unification Town; Gbarpolu Vs. Grand Cape Mount in Bopolu; Grand Gedeh Vs. Nimba in Zwedru; and River Gee Vs. Maryland in Fish Town.

February 3, Lofa Vs. Nimba in Voijamah; Bong Vs. Grand Gedeh in Gbarnga; Rivercess Vs. Margibi in Cestos; and Bomi Vs. Gbarpolu in Tubmanburg. The quarter final, semi final, third place and final games of the tournament will be played at the Samuel K. Doe Complex in Monrovia.

The tournament groups the 15 counties into four regions, with Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, and Gbarpolu Counties constituting region one.

In region two are Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Margibi and Rivercess Counties. Lofa, Bong, Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties represent region three, while region four comprises Sinoe, Maryland, Grand Kru and River Gee.

Berti Vogts Plan Nigeria's Super Eagles Matches For Abuja

Super Eagles may end up playing an international friendly at the Abuja National Stadium later this month, according to plans set in motion by the team's head coach, Berti Vogts.

Vogts is contemplating lining the Eagles out against an African team in Abuja on the last lap of his preparations for the Nations Cup in Ghana, while also using the game as a special send forth from Nigerian soccer fans for the squad.

Details of Vogts' programme revealed that the Abuja encounter would follow on the friendly against Sudan, which has been confirmed to hold in Malaga, Spain on January 9.

Should the German tactician's plans materialise, the Eagles will leave their camp in Malaga on the 13 of this month, in order to play the friendly before heading to Ghana a few days earlier than originally planned.

Initially, the Eagles were billed to leave Malaga on the 19 to attend a short farewell party in Abuja before heading to Ghana, but an adjustment is now likely to be made to that schedule.

Nigerian Jigawa Golden Stars Football Club Opt For Zaria For Home Matches

Salihu Othman Isah
As the management of Jigawa state based Globacom Premier League clubside, the Jigawa Golden Stars Football Club concludes arrangement to relocate to Zaria, Kaduna state for its remaining home matches this season, reasons have emerged as to why it took the decision even though some fans view it as counter-productive.

Speaking to Leadership Sports exclusively in Kano under anonymity, a top member of the team's management disclosed that Golden Stars leadership took the hard decision with a view to achieving the best results possible for the clubside.

According to him, "though the club had a wonderful time playing in the ancient city of Kano as its home ground being the big brother state to Jigawa, it would have wanted to maintain it for that purpose, but the truth is that there is time to stay and go".

He regrets that the club will equally miss its numerous fans in the state but was confident that they would understand that the decision to relocate was taken in good faith.

He went on to enunciate the reasons behind their leaving the commercial and soccer loving city of Kano for Zaria in Kaduna state to include the fact that, the clubside has to avoid the unholy antics of sabotuers within the Kano football circles who are being teleguided by disgruntled elements within Jiagawa Golden Stars management team to frustrate its home games.

He disclosed that part of the actions they employed is to hire soccer hooligans to fill the stands to disrupt the team's Premier League matches played in Kano, citing the pettering of Centre Referee, Sani Salihu who handled its match against visiting Bayelsa United in its Week 13 encounter as an example of how far they can go to sabotage the genuine effort of the management.

He further opined that what they intended to achieve with the attack on the Centre Referee was to attract the wrath of Nigeria Football Association (NFA), but for the hand of God who ensured that they failed in their evil machinations. He assured that the real supporters of Golden Stars are not unruly, but organized and understanding.

"Besides, their nefarious actions also explains why most times, centre referees assigned to officiate our home matches oftentimes take questionable decisions against us and in favour of visiting teams. Unknown to many, this is the handiwork of the black sheeps within the management who are unhappy that they have lost out in the control mechanism of Jigawa Golden Stars", he affirmed.

"I must tell you this. If we mean well for the Jigawa state darling clubside, the time has come to leave Kano and look elsewhere for succor. You see, all these while we played here, unknown to many, we had actually engaged three opponents in our home matches. First is a section of the management team that have lost out of control in the club having misappropriated the N10 million Globacom sponsorship money unaccounted for.

The second are the hooligans who masquerade as fans, but are actually a contraption of this same group in question. They always cause trouble during our home games. And the third opponent is the visiting teams. We discovered that these accounted for why no matter how good we play, our results at home matches are something else. And we say, enough is enough; though we will miss Kano", he lamented.

Liberian Peace and Reconciliation Football Tournament Hits In Grand Style

The long awaited Peace and Reconciliation Football Tournament organized by Liberia's Soccer Ambassador George Weah ended in a grand style with series of activities at the Samuel Kayon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the leader of the opposition, Congress for Democratic Change, Ambassador George Weah have lit a torch as a symbol for peace and reconciliation in the country. At a New Year Day ceremony Tuesday at the Samuel Kanyon Doe sports complex, both President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Ambassador Weah spoke of the need for Liberians to reconcile their differences to ensure national development.

President Johnson Sirleaf, urged Liberians to unite as a people under one destiny, where each and every Liberian can feel that they have a stake in the development of the nation. The President thanked organizers of the peace festival for the initiative and pledged her government's support toward such programs aimed at uniting the country and its people.

For his part, the CDC leader, Ambassador Weah thanked the Liberian President for honoring the invitation to attend the Peace festival and urged Liberians to work toward the achievement of lasting peace and national reconciliation. Mr. Weah said without peace, national development efforts would be undermined. Ambassador Weah said it was time that Liberians work together to move Liberia forward by placing the interest of the country above self interest.

The National Peace Festival which brought together former players of the Liberian National Team, as well as local artists, was organized by a local phone company, Lone Star.

At Tuesday's event, Ambassador Weah led a team of former Invincible Eleven (IE) players in a football match against arch-rivals, Mighty Barrolle. The match ended eight goals to one, in favor of I.E.

It appears that the aims and objectives of the organized Peace and Reconciliation tournament generated its truthfulness as many Liberians regardless of ethnicity and political affiliation turned out in their numbers to witness the occasion.

A play-by-play description from the match revealed Invincible Eleven led by soccer Ambassador Weah took full control of the game during the first half of the match thereby exhibiting fabulous soccer artistry to the amazement of jubilating fans.

IE goal feast started when Barrolle Mid-field was completely broken down due to intense pressure from IE fast attacking forward. The First half ended four goals to zero in favor of IE.

Scorer for the Invincible during the first half included Musa Shannon, George Weah and Champ Weah, son of Ambassador Weah who was future for the Former IE squad.

Following the resumption of the second and final half, the Invincible Eleven (IE) increased the margin to seven due to several deceptive moods that kept the defense of Barrolle flat-footed.

In the dying minutes of the game, Barrolle brought in substitute George Kailondo and Euegine Nagbe who later change the red boys style of playing and begin to pressure the defense of IE thereby leading to a consolation goal scored by Elijah Dee. Few minutes to end of the match IE sealed the doom by concluding the match 8-1

As for IE, they paraded stars like Soccer Ambassador George Weah, Joe Nagbe, Papie Sumo, Mussa Shannon and Jerry Weagbe.

Others were Edwin Morgan, Sylvester Williams, Dogo Wesseh (guest player-USA) and Janjay Jacobs among others.

The former Mighty Barrolle paraded most of its former stars with the anticipation of defeating the Yellow Boys and capture the trophy.

Mighty Barrolle line up included; Joseph Seyon alias (Kofi Bruce), Washington Blay, Francis Davis alias (Wala), Federick Cole, Eugene Nagbe, George Kailondo and little Alfred Harmon.

Congo's Withdrawal Aids Nigerian Falconets Qualifiers Into 2008 FIFA U-20 World Cup

Nigeria's Under-20 female national team has booked a place in the group stage of the African qualifiers for Chile 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup following the withdrawal of their opponents, Congo from the race.

Nigeria Football Association (NFA) was informed of Congo's withdrawal by Confederation of African Football (CAF) last Monday and the message has also been communicated to the players.

The Nigerian side tutored by Coach Daniel Evumena, who were earlier scheduled to play the first leg of their preliminary round on January 12 at the Abuja National Stadium will now wait for the winner between Cameroon and Benin Republic for the group stage, which begins in April.

Sequel to this, Sports Champion gathered that the NFA are contemplating a move to end the camp exercise, to enable the girls return home after being denied the chance of a holiday for the Salah, Christmas and New Year festivities.

Meanwhile, the first leg of the U-17 African qualifiers between the Flamingoes and their Guinean counterparts will still hold this weekend at Abuja National Stadium, after an unsuccessful attempt to stage it at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

The Nigerian female team has been moved to a posh hotel in Abuja ahead of the arrival of the Guinean delegation of 25 players and some accompanying officials.

Nigerian Nasarawa United Football Club Management To Be Restructured

Ishaku Kigbu
With the coming of former deputy governor of Nasarawa State, Onje Gye-Wado to restructure Lafia based Nasarawa United, the club has not had it smoothly interms of management which has also translated into the boys finding themselves at the bottom of the league table.

Last season the club was able to play at the continent, but this season it appears it is only battling to escape relegation and remain on the premier league.

As several fans of the club continue to ponder as to why the team is experiencing this poor runs, a supporter of the Lafia based side who is not happy with the situation is calling for the sacking of the entire technical crew.

The passionate supporter of the club who simply called himself Ado Makama told Leadership Sports that trouble started when Onje Gye-Wado was given the go ahead to reposition the technical team. "I strongly believe the former deputy governor has failed in repositioning the team. He has rather toed the way favouriteism than embrace professionalism. If not, what would you say of him bringing back someone like Coach Ben Duamlong, a friend of his who was earlier sacked in 2005 for poor performance?" he querried.

Decrying Gye-Wado's move to favour his own using the restructuring opportunity, he said the former Nasarawa State number two man employed three coaches from Wamba his home town in the club. "We were shocked to realise that three of the team's coaches are actually from his town. Adams Usman, El-Shamah Nagogo and Micheal Jatau are all Nungus from Wamba his home town. Worse of it all is that these coaches including Ben Dwamlong are all against Anthony Yamusa, our long standing team manager who has helped tinkered the club to success and a strong member of the Nigeria Football League" he stressed.

To further buttress his point as to the reason why he is of the belief that the former university don got it all wrong in the reorganisation move, Makama said most of them who are supporters of the club are not happy because there is actually duplication of roles and so much ill feelings within the management team. "He brought one Solomon Babanjah as team coordinator also from Wamba even though the chap has no history or pedigree in football administration, while Othman Ibrahim is there to serve as deputy chairman of the club.

Till date, there is clash of responsibilities between, the team's coordinator, deputy chairman and the team manager" he cried.

According to him, his worry is that the team is no longer Nasarawa United and at the moment disunited. "From all I can see there is nothing united about Nasarawa United. The management is dis-united and fast metamophosing into Wamba United.

There is no unity within the management which is affecting the club's fortunes. All of them including the deputy chairman, Othman Ibrahim, a highly controversial figure are all against Anthony Yamusa who has done his best for the club" he concluded.