Basketball star Lamar Odom, arrested

Basketball star Lamar Odom was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence early Friday after a California Highway Patrol officer saw his white Mercedes-Benz traveling erratically on a San Fernando Valley Freeway.



The husband of reality TV star Khloe Kardashian was stopped shortly before 4 a.m. and was arrested after a field sobriety test.The CHP said Odom's car was observed traveling in a "serpentine manner" before he pulled off the freeway.

"Mr. Odom showed objective signs of intoxication and was unable to perform field sobriety tests," the CHP said in a report. Authorities said he later declined to take a chemical test.Odom, 33, was booked for investigation of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and jailed on $15,000 bail.He was released Friday morning after posting bail.

A message for his agent, Jeff Schwartz, wasn't immediately returned.The 6-foot-10-inch forward has played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks.Odom broke into the NBA with the Clippers in 1999, playing for them for four seasons before spending the 2003-04 season with the Heat.He had his best years during his six seasons with the Lakers, beginning in 2004-05.

The team won NBA championships in 2010 and 2011 and Odom won the NBA's sixth man award in 2011.After spending the 2012 season with the Dallas Mavericks, he returned to the Clippers last year. He became a free agent at the end of the season.

NBA


Twitter @aderonkew

Read More

24 FIFA-Badged Referees Pass 2013 Fitness Test

All 24 FIFA-badged referees who participated in the 2013 FIFA fitness test for vario
us cadres of referees in Abuja retained their badges after passing the programme.

The test was for Centre Referees, Assistant Referees, Beach Soccer Referees and Futsal Referees.Emmanuel Imiera, FIFA Physical Instructor, confirmed the results to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

NAN reports that FIFA, through the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) carries out the test yearly to test the fitness level of the badged referees and to prepare them for the 2013/2014 season.

The test, which had both medical and physical exercise, was held from Aug. 27 to Aug. 29 with the medical tests taking two days before the physical test.The test included five male Centre and Assistant Referees each, three female Centre Referees, four Assistant Referees, three Futsal Referees and four Beach Soccer Referees.

Imiera said the test was the third quarter fitness programme to be carried out by the NRA.''Also, 14 male and five national referees participated in the fitness test to serve as replacements in case any of the FIFA badged referees failed.''He said 13 out of the male referees passed at the national level while only two of the females made the list.He noted that the success of the test would herald the FIFA Member Association (MA) course which external FIFA instructors would handle.

''The MA course will hold in the last week in September to keep the referees abreast of the amendments in the laws of the game.''We will also invite 20 of our elite referees so as to widen their knowledge and expand their horizon.''They will become more exposed as to what the FIFA amended laws of the game are.Reacting to the test, NRA President, Ahmed Maude, said the test was a success compared to the last edition.

''The 2013 fitness test was a success compared to last year that we had a casualty.''Now, those that were left out opted out themselves even before the test started,'' Maude said.He added that the success was a good omen that Nigerian referees would do better.''It is a good thing for our football that our FIFA badged referees are fit and up to the task.''And it is a good omen which means we have younger referees who are ready to work harder and the sky will be their limit.''Now, we are on course and we are maintaining our standard,'' the NRA president said.

Speaking about the national referees, Maude said since no FIFA-badged referee failed, none of the national referees would be called for the yearly test meant for their category.''It means they have done their yearly test, they will not be called for promotion to the Premier League.''They will not have to wait till October when some of their colleagues will be tested, their results will be carried over.''It is only those that failed in this test that will be recalled in October.


Twitter @aderonkew


NAN

Read More

Mourinho and Guardiola renew rivalry

Coaches Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola will renew their rivalry on Friday as Europa League champions Chelsea face Champions League winners Bayern Munich in the Uefa Super Cup in Prague.

Guardiola's Barcelona and Mourinho's Real Madrid competed in some heated encounters for two seasons, but the new Bayern coach played down the rivalry.

"We're here for the players, not the coaches," said Guardiola.

"Millions of people around the world will watch the game, not the coaches."

The Spaniard, who took a year-long sabbatical after leaving Barca at the end of the 2011-12 season, added: "I have a great respect for him, but on Friday I will try to win and so will he too.

"He is always very, very good with quick counter attacks. He is a master at that and everybody knows he is an excellent, excellent trainer."

Guardiola got the better of his counterpart during the 2010-11 La Liga campaign, but Mourinho's side defeated the Catalan giants in the Copa del Rey that season before winning the league title and domestic Super Cup the following year.

However, in Thursday's Uefa Super Cup pre-match news conference, the Portuguese manager was reminded that his record against Guardiola in Spain was only three wins in 15 meetings.

"Your statistics are very wrong," replied Mourinho. "Go and see what happened when I was with Inter in the Champions League semi-final, the King's Cup final with Real in Spain, the Super Cup in Spain [2012].

"Maybe you are right and I am wrong but I don't care. This is not about us, it's about Chelsea and Bayern."

Mourinho, 50, has never won the European Super Cup.

He led Porto and Inter Milan to Champions League success, but left the clubs following the victories. In 2003, his Uefa Cup-winning Porto team lost the 2003 edition to Valencia.

Chelsea's new signings Willian and Samuel Eto'o have not travelled to Prague with the 26-man squad that includes David Luiz (hamstring) and Tomas Kalas (leg), who have not played this season.

Bayern midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and defensive players Javi Martinez and Jan Kirchhoff face late fitness tests.

Chelsea squad: Cech, Schwarzer, Hilario, Blackman, Ivanovic, Cole, Luiz, Essien, Ramires, Lampard, Torres, Mata, Oscar, Mikel, Moses, Schurrle, De Bruyne, Van Ginkel, Hazard, Lukaku, Ba, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Kalas, Bertrand.

BBC SPORT

Read More

Al Ahly, Leopards in crucial battle

Either Al Ahly or AC Leopards could take a major step towards qualification for the semifinals of the CAF Champions League with victory in their group A encounter in Gouna on Saturday evening.

Both sides have gathered four points from three fixtures and sit three points behind group leaders Orlando Pirates who face Zamelek at the same stadium a day later.

A win for either side would open a three point gap between themselves and their opposition with only two rounds of fixtures remaining.

Ahly coach Mohamed Youssef expects a tough match against the Congolese outfit, in an encounter which he has described as being decisive.

“The return leg against the Leopards will be a decisive match as it will reorder the group teams and determine who will be close to book a place in the semifinal,” said Ahly coach Mohamed Youssef.

“The match will not be easy because our opponents consider the game their last chance and will be tough in comparison to the first leg.”

Egypt giants Al Ahly have received some good and bad news ahead of the fixture against the Congolese outfit as want-away Mauritania forward Dominique da Silva has asked not to be selected for the match as he looks to force a move away from the Egyptian outfit, consequently weakening the side’s frontline.

However, they key trio of Ahmed Fathi, Hossam Ashour and Ahmed Abdul-Zaher are all back for the match against Leopards on the weekend.

Fathi and Ashour have returned from injury while Zaher is back after serving a one-match suspension.

Another concern for the Red Devils is whether veteran midfielder Mohamed Aboutreika will take part in the crucial clash. 

Aboutreika asked not to be selected for a friendly match on Sunday, despite being fully fit and it is unclear whether the 34-year old sees a future with the club.

Leopards assistant coach Cyril Ndonga explained that his side are tactically superior to the Egyptians and that they have learnt their lessons ahead of the return leg this weekend.

“Tactically and technically we were superior to the Egyptians. We have learnt our lessons so as to rectify a number of things that did not work out,” said Ndonga.

Ahly won the reverse fixture in Dolisie 10 days ago 1-0, and will be heavy favourites against a Leopards side who are not as potent away from their home crowd.

twitter @AderonkeW

backpage

Read More

UEFA keen to avoid UCL confusion

MICHAEL PLATINI

Clubs banned from European competition over match-fixing may have their suspension deferred for a season in the future to avoid the confusion which has marked this year's Champions League qualifying competition.

Uefa president Michel Platini said the uncertainty surrounding Fenerbahce and Metalist Kharkiv's presence in the competition over the last month, and the knock-on effects for other teams, had not been good for Uefa's credibility.

"We could suspend a team for the following year instead of keeping them from starting in the current season," Platini told a news conference.

"It is a political question. I have my views, (Uefa secretary general) Gianni Infantino has his view and the disciplinary commission people have their dissenting views."

"It is bothersome... and this is bad for Uefa's image as well," he added, referring to the uncertainty over whether some teams would be able to continue in the competition or not.

"The legal department did not spend much time on the beach this summer, rather more in the courtroom," Platini said.

"Clubs were playing, not playing, then playing again."

Turkish club Fenerbahce were kicked out of the Champions League in June, shortly before the qualifying competition started, over a domestic match-fixing case two years ago.

However, they appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) who provisionally reinstated them and they were readmitted at the last minute.

They then beat Austrian club Salzburg in the third qualifying round and faced Arsenal over two legs in a playoff with a final decision still hanging over them.

In the end, Fenerbahce lost the Arsenal tie and their appeal, which meant they missed out on the Europa League for which they had qualified, allowing Apoel Nicosia to replace them in Friday's draw.

Salzburg also lodged a protest with Uefa, which was rejected, before they appealed to CAS which has yet to issue its final ruling.

TOUGH SUMMER

Ukrainian club Metalist Kharkiv also went to CAS after being banned for match-fixing although, unlike Fenerbahce, they failed to gain provisional reinstatement and eventually lost their appeal.

Their absence again forced Uefa to make a last-minute switch, replacing them with Greek side PAOK Salonika as Schalke 04's opponents in the Champions League playoffs.

"It was a tough summer, a bit complicated between disciplinary committee appeal procedures, CAS and all sorts of things," Platini said.

Infantino explained that Uefa could act retrospectively on any proven incidents of match-fixing dating back to April 2007, when the disciplinary statutes were altered.

It would only take action, however, once a team had qualified for European competition.

The policy could potentially affect Italian clubs Torino, Sampdoria and Atalanta, who have all had points deducted since 2007 over match-fixing cases.

"One of the tasks of our integrity officers is to feed Uefa with information so we are informed about what is happening in every country and then, depending on what happens in the future, Uefa will have to take decisions," Infantino said.

"In the Fenerbahce case, there were thousands of pages in Turkish which had to be translated before the disciplinary committee decided to exclude them."

twitter @AderonkeW

reuters

Read More

Keshi lists Enyeama, 22 others for Malawi

The Technical and Development Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has accepted a list of 23 players submitted by Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, for next week’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Malawi in Calabar.


Top of the list is France-based goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who has largely captained the team this year, with goalkeeper Austin Ejide, defenders Godfrey Oboabona and Efe Ambrose, midfielders John Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Ogenyi Onazi and forwards Emmanuel Emenike, Ahmed Musa and Uche Nwofor also called.

“We have accepted the list of 23 players and they will resume camping for the match in Calabar as from Monday,” Barrister Chris Green, Chairman of the Technical and Development Committee, said.

The Super Eagles need only a draw in week’s clash at the U. J. Esuene Stadium to progress into the 10-team final elimination round, where two-leg, knock out fixtures will determine Africa’s five flag-bearers at the global showpiece in Brazil next year summer.

The Flames of Malawi, who must win at a venue where the Super Eagles have never lost, to qualify for that final elimination round, are expected to arrive in Nigeria from Accra on Thursday.

THE FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille FC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Braga, Portugal); Benjamin Francis (Heartland FC, Nigeria); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria); James Okwuosa (Chippa United, South Africa); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC, Turkey); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria)

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); John Ogu (Academica de Coimbra, Portugal); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Nnamdi Oduamadi (AC Milan, Italy); Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain); Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine); Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United, England); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Uche Nwofor (SC Heerenveen, Netherlands); Obinna Nsofor (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia)

Read More

Schalke complete Kevin-Prince signing

Champions League competitors Schalke 04 have signed AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng on a four-year deal after the Ghana international passed his medical at the German club on Friday.

"I am delighted to be back home in Germany," Germany-born Boateng told reporters. "It is one of the best leagues in the world."

"The first contact was made a year ago but sometimes you have to wait a bit longer for the good things and opportunities."

The 26-year-old, who has also played for Hertha Berlin, Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur and is the half brother of Bayern Munich's Jerome Boateng, joined Milan in 2010.

Prior to that he caused considerable controversy with a foul on Chelsea's Michael Ballack in the 2010 FA Cup final, that forced the now retired Germany captain to miss the World Cup and triggered angry reactions among the country's hardcore fans.

"He has collected a lot of international experience and will help us a lot," Schalke coach Jens Keller told reporters. "He can play as early as tomorrow. I have already an idea of how to deploy him."

On Wednesday Boateng scored twice in AC Milan's 3-0 win over PSV Eindhoven to help the Italian side reach the Champions League group stage.

Schalke, who signed defender Dennis Aogo on loan from Hamburg SV on Wednesday, stamped their group stage ticket this week, beating Greece's PAOK 4-3 on aggregate. They will face Chelsea, Basle and Steaua Bucharest.

@AderonkeW

Reuters

Read More