Ulinzi Stars coach eyes better KPL performance .

Fresh from winning the East Africa Millitary games, Ulinzi Stars coach Robert Matano has said the team is motivated enough to do well in the KPL.

Fresh from winning the East Africa Millitary games, Ulinzi Stars coach Robert Matano has said the team is motivated enough to do well in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL).
It was Matano’s first trophy with the soldiers since he joined the team three months ago taking over from Salim Ali who resigned.
“We deserved to win this tournament. The boys really gave it their best shot and hope we can replicate the same performance in the KPL,” he told Goal.
Matano further said he hopes top striker Stephen Waruru will continue to do well. The Ulinzi man was named best player in the competition apart from emerging top scorer.
“He gave a good account of himself and we hope to see the same form in the KPL.”

Harambee Stars set for Tuesday touchdown.

Harambee Stars' are expected to arrive in Nairobi from Egypt in the wee hours of Tuesday morning following Saturday's defeat to hosts in a friendly contest.

Harambee Stars' are expected to arrive in Nairobi from Egypt in wee hours of Tuesday following Saturday's defeat to the hosts in a friendly played at Aswan Stadium.

Stars, who lost 1-0, will arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport via Egypt Air at 3.45am.

Head of Delegation Michael Esakwa has confirmed to Goal travel arrangements with the team set to connect to Nairobi via Cairo.

"We have finalised arrangements to return home after Saturday's friendly. The team will travel in two batches from Aswan City to Cairo but from Cairo to Nairobi...they will board same flight. We had issues when we travelled here on Friday because we received tickets in batches but that will not be the case when we return.

"It was a good experience for our players, playing against Egypt and we want to have more of this friendly matches to keep our team busy so as to have continuity. We are talking to our friends in Morocco for another friendly against their national team in next Fifa calender day and that will be confirmed in due course.

"We want to thank Egypt Football Federation for the kind hospitality they have accorded us since we arrived here and promise to reciprocate the same in future...when we invite them for a similar friendly."

Pharaohs v Stars' friendly was played in a sold out Aswan Stadium but no Kenyan representatives based in Egypt attended. Egypt Sports Minister was in attendance.

Briton Frank Nattal is new Gor Mahia coach.

Briton Frank Nuttal will on Wednesday be unveiled as the new Gor Mahia coach taking over from Bobby Williamson who joined Harambee Stars.

Briton Frank Nuttal will on Wednesday be unveiled as the new Gor Mahia coach Goal can reveal.

The coach was recommend by former coach Bobby Williamson and held successful talks with the club management on
Tuesday culminating in his appointment.

Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier confirmed the appointment on Tuesday night hours after successful talks.

"I can confirm that Nuttal will be unveiled as the new Harambee Stars coach on Wednesday afternoon," he told Goal.
The Briton has an impressive background and holds a UEFA Pro coaching licence, the highest qualification in Europe.

He has been working as a FIFA coaching instructor for the last two years. He has also worked at various clubs among them Newcastle, Middlesbourg the England under-20, under-17 and under-18 national teams. He has also worked in Asia for a number of clubs.

He takes over the hot seat with the aim of helping Gor Mahia retain the KPL title which the club won last year.

Mary to fight at Asian Games.

Five-time world champion Mary Kom will return to the ring at the Asian Games next month.
But whether she will compete under the Indian flag remains in doubt, a top official said in New Delhi on Thursday.

Kom, 31, qualified for her first international competition since winning an Olympic Games bronze medal in London in 2012 by winning the 51kg division in the national trials in Patiala on Wednesday.
"It is good to be back and prove those people wrong who thought my career was over," said Kom, who had been promoting a Bollywood movie on her life, starring popular actress Priyanka Chopra.
"I think I can win a medal; hopefully a gold medal," said Kom, who won a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Guangzhou in 2010.
But with India's boxing association not recognised by the International Amateur Boxing Association since December 2012 because of election malpractices, it remains uncertain if the 13-strong Indian squad will be allowed to compete under the national flag.
Fresh elections to appoint members of a provisional body, Boxing India, are scheduled to be held on September 11, only eight days before the Asian Games open in the South Korean city of Incheon on September 19.
But it remains unclear if the elections, already put off once, will be held on time because a dispute continues over administrative matters between the Indian Olympic Association and the AIBA.
"If the elections are not held on September 11, our boxers may not be allowed to compete under the Indian flag," said Jiji Thomson, who heads the Sports Authority of India.
Indian boxers were allowed to take part in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July only on the condition that elections would be held in the near future.
Even without an elected body, Indian boxers could still go to Incheon as independent athletes if the Olympic Council of Asia accepts their entries.
The row echoes this year's Winter Olympics in Sochi when India’s representatives marched at the opening ceremony without their national flag.
The International Olympic Committee lifted its ban on the Indian Olympic Association after it held fresh elections. The Indian flag was used at the closing ceremony.

Former SA champ dies at 56.

Former SA featherweight champion Norman Bromfield has died at the age of 56.
Bromfield, who suffered a heart attack and passed away in Pretoria last Saturday, won the SA featherweight title when he beat Israel Khonkhobe at the Badminton Hall in Pretoria in 1984.
He was also an SA amateur champion, winning the featherweight title in 1975 and the lightweight championship in 1977. As a professional he had 27 fights, winning 21 – 13 inside the distance – and losing six.
Norman Cyril Bromfield was born in Pietermaritzburg on February 2 1958 and spent most of his adult life in Pretoria.
A southpaw, he made his professional debut at the West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium in Durban on February 27 1978, knocking out Hennie Meyer in the third round.
He won two more fights that year and impressed in 1979 when he beat Charles Borais, Alex Sibiya, Vuyisile Nthunzi and Alex “Stompie” Venter, a former SA featherweight champion.
His first defeat was on December 1 1979 when Thomas Sithebe, the SA "black" featherweight champion, beat him in a bout for the Transvaal featherweight title. However, Sithebe came in overweight and forfeited the title.
In 1980, Bromfield won four fights and lost two. He remained unbeaten in his next seven, including a seventh-round stoppage win over Lehlohonolo Nkatlo in a bout for the vacant Transvaal title.
He lost his next two fights, included a points defeat over eight rounds against former SA champion Bashew Sibaca, a 97-fight veteran.
Bromfield then retained the Transvaal title against Gerald Isaacs and became SA champion when he stopped Khonkhobe in the eleventh round on February 1 1984.
After a successful defence against Paul Ramokgoa, who was disqualified in the first round for head-butting, Bromfield lost the title to Gerald Isaacs in a return match. Isaacs won on a split decision over twelve rounds at the Eldorado Park Stadium on April 19 1986 and Bromfield never fought again.

Huck wins 13th title defence.

Marco Huck beat Mirko Larghetti on points to retain his WBO cruiserweight title on Saturday night.

The German won his 13th title defence 116-112 on two cards and 118-110 on the third as he outclassed the Italian in Nordrhein-Westfalen, improving his professional record to 38-2, with one draw and 26 wins inside the distance.
The champion was troubled only in the seventh and eighth rounds but the previously undefeated Larghetti was in danger of being knocked out in the eleventh.
Huck went for the knockout in the final round, which ended with a flurry of punches as the bell rang while the challenger was on the canvas.
The Serbia-born Huck equalled Johnny Nelson’s record of 13 successful title defences in the cruiserweight division. Larghetti’s record dropped to 21-1, including 13 knockouts.
The 31-year-old Larghetti was twelfth on the WBO’s rankings list when he was given the opportunity to challenge a man who has been among the leading boxers in the division for the past eight years.
Huck won the belt in August 2009 when he beat Victor Emilio Ramirez on a split decision. He has retained it against, among others, Firat Arslan, whom he beat twice, Denis Lebedev and Ola Afolabi, who tried three times to dethrone him.
His only defeats were against Steve Cunningham, in a challenge for the IBF cruiserweight belt, and against WBA “regular” heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin when he moved up a division and lost on a majority decision.
BOYTSOV BACK ON COURSE
IN HALLE, Germany, Denis Boytsov beat Timur Musafarov on points in a heavyweight bout.
Bouncing back from his defeat to Alex Lepai, Boytsov won the ten-rounder 95-94, 98-91 and 97-93 to take his professional record to 34-1, including 26 shortcut wins. Musafarov’s dropped to 6-2; 5.

In a super-middleweight bout on the same card, Vincent Feigenbutz stopped Slavisa Simeunovic in the first round to move his record to 15-1, with 14 knockouts. Simeunovic now stands at 14-9; 12.
Enrico Koelling won his light-heavyweight bout when Giuseppe Brischetto failed to come out for the eighth round. Koelling improved to 15-0; 5 and Brischetto now stands at 12-2; 6.

USA, Spain get second wins.

United States and Spain both collected their second straight win at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup on Sunday while Croatia fought off tough Argentina and Senegal picked up a historic victory.
Kenneth Faried led five Americans in double figures with 22 points and Anthony Davis scored 19 as the reigning champions had a fight against Turkey before prevailing 98-77 in a rematch of the 2010 final.
James Harden chipped in 14 points and seven assists for the mighty Americans in Group C.
The rest of the Bilbao group is a mess as the next four teams are all 1-1 after two games, including Turkey, who got 12 points from Cenk Akyol in the loss.
A day after getting beaten down by the Americans, Finland fended off Ukraine 81-76 as Shawn Huff had 23 points and eight rebounds. Both teams are 1-1 as well as Dominican Republic, who beat winless New Zealand 76-63 thanks to 29 points from Francisco Garcia.

Hosts Spain had an easier time in blasting past Egypt 91-54 as Serge Ibaka led the way with 18 points in Group A.
While Spain moved to 2-0, France and Serbia are both 1-1 after the 2013 European champions won their clash 74-73 with Joffrey Lauvergne picking up 19 points and the game winning free throws in the waning seconds.
Brazil are 2-0 after beating winless Iran 79-50 as Alex Garcia paced Brazil with 12 points.
Group B saw history as Senegal upset Puerto Rico 77-67 for their first win at a worlds since they beat South Korea 75-72 at the 1998 World Championship. Gorgui Dieng had 18 points and 13 rebounds for Senegal, who since then had dropped all five games at the 2006 World Championship in Japan. The Africans' only other win at a World Championship came against China in 1978.
"We've been chasing this for a long time. In Japan, we almost had it," said Senegal captain Maleye Ndoye, a member of the 2006 team.
Puerto Rico star Carlos Arroyo missed the final three quarters with an ankle injury and the team could not compensate in dropping to 0-2 with Senegal moving to 1-1.
Both Croatia and Greece top the group with 2-0 records.
Croatia got a balanced effort in grabbing a 90-85 win over Argentina as Krunoslav Simon's 18 points led five players in double figures.
"We are playing as a team. That's the most important thing for us. On defense we are helping each other and on offense we are sharing the ball. And when we play like that, it's tough to play against us," said Simon.
Argentina dropped to 1-1 despite 30 points and nine rebounds from Luis Scola.
Greece were never really able to put away Philippines but still won solidly, 82-70 with Georgios Printezis scoring 25 points against the winless Philippines.
Group D also has two undefeated teams as both Slovenia and Lithuania cruised to wins in Gran Canaria.
The Dragic brothers Goran and Zoran combined for 40 points in Slovenia's 89-68 win over winless Mexico while Donatas Motiejunas scored 12 points and Jonas Valanciunas collected 11 points and 13 rebounds in Lithuania's 75-62 win over Angola.
Australia picked up their first win, knocking off South Korea 89-55 as Joe Ingles finished with 17 points.

Wlodarczyk's WR provides ISTAF highlight.

Robert Harting delighted home fans by winning the discus at the ISTAF athletics meet in Belin, Germany, on Sunday, only to be overshadowed by Anita Wlodarczyk's world record in the women's hammer throw.
Wlodarczyk of Poland threw 79.58 metres on her second attempt to knock 16 centimetres off Betty Heidler's previous mark from 2011.
The European champion and Olympic silver medalist continued threatening the 80-metre mark with her next efforts at the IAAF Word Challenge meet.
"I was aiming for 80 metres and I know I am able to throw it," said the 29-year-old Wlodarczyk, who set a world record when winning the 2009 world title at the same Olympic stadium.
Germany's Heidler finished second with 75.20.

Harting claimed the discus with a throw of 68.21 metres, 18 days after he claimed his second European title in Zurich. It was his 12th win of the season.
"Wins are never boring," Harting said.
Lithuania's Virgilijus Alekna ended his impressive career with a throw of 61.84.
"It feels a bit sad but I was competing for a very long time," said the 42-year-old Alekna. "Berlin was the right place to close up my long career because it is the place where I started so many times and it is a nice venue."
On the track, world champion Mohammed Aman of Ethiopia provided another highlight by winning the men's 800 in 1 minute, 43.52 seconds.
Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago won the men's 100 metres in a modest time of 10.15 seconds, while Jamaica's Kerron Stewart claimed the women's sprint in 11.25.
In other men's events, Cuba's Orlando Ortega defeated compatriot Daylon Robles to win the 110 hurdles in 13.08, while Ethiopia's Mekonnen Gebremedhin set a personal best of 3:33.24 to win the 1 500.
Brunei's Ruth Jebet won the women's 3000 steeplechase in 9:26.94, Ethiopia's Tigist Assefa claimed the 800 in 2:00.16 and Tiffany Porter of Britain won the 100 hurdles in 12.64.
Germans claimed the women's and men's shot put, with European champions Christina Schwanitz and David Storl both winning.
RESULTS
Men's 100m
1. Richard Thompson (Trinidad and Tobago) 10.15
2. Dentarius Locke (U.S.) 10.16
3. Keston Bledman (Trinidad and Tobago) 10.23

Men's 400m
1. Isaac Makwala (Botswana) 45.11
2. Martyn Rooney (Britain) 45.14
3. Kevin Borlee (Belgium) 45.36

Men's 800m
1. Mohammed Aman (Ethiopia) 1:43.52
2. Taoufik Makhloufi (Algeria) 1:43.53
3. Adam Kszczot (Poland) 1:44.02
Men's 1500m
1. Mekonnen Gebremedhin (Ethiopia) 3:33.24
2. Aman Wote (Ethiopia) 3:33.32
3. Vincent Kibet (Kenya) 3:33.58
Men's 5000m
1. Augustine Kiprono Choge (Kenya) 13:06.12
2. Bernard Lagat (U.S.) 13:06.68
3. John Kipkoech (Kenya) 13:07.60
Men's 110m Hurdles
1. Orlando Ortega (Cuba) 13.08
2. Dayron Robles (Cuba) 13.30
3. Ronnie Ash (U.S.) 13.34

Men's Pole Vault
1. Pawel Wojciechowski (Poland) 5.80
2. Konstadinos Filippidis (Greece) 5.70
3. Robert Sobera (Poland) 5.70
Men's Long Jump
1. Ignisious Gaisah (Netherlands) 8.13
2. Godfrey Khotso Mokoena (South Africa) 8.01
3. Christopher Tomlinson (Britain) 7.78
Men's Shot Put
1. David Storl (Germany) 21.41
2. Ryan Whiting (U.S.) 21.06
3. Tomas Walsh (New Zealand) 20.77
Men's Discus Throw
1. Robert Harting (Germany) 68.21
2. Martin Wierig (Germany) 66.13
3. Piotr Malachowski (Poland) 64.87
Women's 100m
1. Kerron Stewart (Jamaica) 11.25
2. Joanna Atkins (U.S.) 11.26
3. Jessica Young (U.S.) 11.32

Women's 800m
1. Tigist Assefa (Ethiopia) 2:00.16
2. Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei (Kenya) 2:00.28
3. Maryna Arzamasova (Belarus) 2:00.40
Women's 3000m Steeplechase
1. Ruth Chebet (Bahrain) 9:26.94
2. Sviatlana Kudzelich (Belarus) 9:27.95
3. Tigist Getnet (Ethiopia) 9:31.16
Women's 100m Hurdles
1. Tiffany Porter (Britain) 12.64
2. Brianna Rollins (U.S.) 12.71
3. Cindy Roleder (Germany) 12.86
Women's Shot Put
1. Christina Schwanitz (Germany) 19.53
2. Evgeniia Kolodko (Russia) 19.43
3. Cleopatra Borel (Trinidad and Tobago) 18.53

Women's Hammer Throw
1. Anita Wlodarczyk (Poland) 79.58 WR
2. Betty Heidler (Germany) 75.20
3. Kathrin Klaas (Germany) 73.42

Zardes gives Galaxy win over Chivas

Gyasi Zardes scored twice to lead the LA Galaxy to a 3-0 over Chivas USA in Major League Soccer on Sunday.
At Washington, DC United extended their lead to four points over second-place Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference with a 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls.
Landon Donovan made a run through midfield in the 41st minute and found Zardes on the left wing, who fired a shot from the top corner of the box past Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy for the lead.
Robbie Keane beat Jhon Kennedy Hurtado at the top of the box and lobbed the ball over Kennedy, who was caught in no-man's land, for a 2-0 lead at the 68th minute and Zardes made it 3-0 in the 71st after a set of deft passes and misdirection between Donovan and Keane.
The Galaxy are two points off the lead in the Western Conference behind Seattle.
Luis Silva's goal in the 57th minute proved the difference and Eddie Johnson sealed the win in stoppage time for DC United's victory over New York.
United 'keeper Bill Hamid sent a long ball across midfield and Fabian Espindola flicked a header forward to Silva. Silva then beat Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles to the ball and punched it forward to set up an open-net finish.
Johnson looped the ball over Robles in the first minute of added time after he got behind the defense on a ball sent in from near midfield from Perry Kitchen.
New York remain two points behind in the race for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Wenger flies to Rome on deadline day to referee charity match.

The Frenchman is flying to Rome to spend Monday evening taking part in a 'Match For Peace' boasting the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Gianluigi Buffon.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will spend the final few hours of the transfer window in Rome - refereeing a charity match.

The Frenchman is flying to the Italian capital to take part in a 'Match For Peace' being held at Stadio Olympico and featuring current stars Andrea Pirlo, Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Gianluigi Buffon as well as legends Diego Maradona, Paolo Maldini and Andriy Shevchenko.

Club sources at the Emirates Stadium insist Wenger's absence will not affect their ability to close any deadline day deals, though they do not anticipate a busy day in terms of arrivals.

Goal understands, however, that Arsenal have made enquiries for Matija Nastasic, Winston Reid and Ron Vlaar as Wenger looks to secure a replacement for Thomas Vermaelen in the wake of Kostas Manolas' decision to join Roma.

The Gunners are also on the lookout for a striker and were monitoring Falcao's situation having lost out on Loic Remy to Chelsea, but the Colombian is now set to join Manchester United on a lucrative one-year loan.

Wenger, however, will be monitoring developments from afar for part of the day at least - and if his mind is elsewhere and he misses a foul, he can always whip out his usual "I did not see the incident" excuse...

Messi out of Argentina's World Cup final rematch.

The Barcelona star picked up a muscular injury this weekend and is one of a number of withdrawals from Wednesday's friendly with Germany.

Lionel Messi will not feature in Argentina's World Cup 2014 final friendly rematch with Germany, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has confirmed.

The forward, who starred for the Albiceleste this summer in Brazil, featured throughout Barcelona's 1-0 win at Villarreal on Sunday but the club confirmed afterwards that he had picked up a knock at El Madrigal.

Barca's report to the AFA claimed: "The player suffered a muscle strain in his right hamstring and needs rest as a precaution."

Messi is not the only late withdrawal from Gerardo Martino's first match as Argentina boss for the clash with newly crowned world champions Germany on Wednesday in Dusseldorf.

Albiceleste veteran Maxi Rodriguez suffered tightness in his hamstring, Inter striker Rodrigo Palacio's left ankle is bruised and Zenit defender Ezequiel Garay's left leg has been causing him muscular pain ahead of the international break, and all three players will miss out on the match.

Paris Saint-Germain attacker Ezequiel Lavezzi is still to be evaluated by Argentina's medical team after complaining of backache following his club's 5-0 victory over Saint-Etienne on Sunday.

GOtv shield: West Sugar, Agro Chemicals triumph.

West Kenya Sugar and Agrochemicals have made it to the quarter-finals of the GOtv shield tournament after winning their matches played on Sunday.

West Kenya Sugar and Agrochemicals have made it to the quarter-finals of the GOtv shield tournament after winning their matches on Sunday.
At Ruaraka Stadium, West Sugar  edged out  University of Nairobi, Wazito 6-5 on post-match penalties.
The match had ended 1-1 in full time forcing it to be decided on post-match penalties and here the nationwide league side prevailed.
West Sugar scored first  in the 41st  minute when Allan Onyango scored but Wazito equalised in the 60th minute sending the match to penalties.
West Sugar  were the hungrier side as the match kicked off and wasted an opportunity to go ahead in the 10th minute when Michael Shavanga missed to convert. At the quarter hour mark, Johnson Mukhwahan wasted another opportunity.
In Nakuru, Shabana suffered a 3-1 loss to Agrochemicals and bowed out of this year’s GOtv shield tournament in a match played at Afraha Stadium.
It was the third time that Shabana were losing to their opponents with whom they feature in the Nationwide league. Shabana will now have to focus their attention on the league front as they hope to bounce back to next year’s Kenyan Premier League (KPL).

Manchester United striker Chicharito set for Real Madrid loan.

The Mexico international striker has failed to impress new manager Louis van Gaal and will look to prove himself at the Santiago Bernabeu, with only personal terms left to confirm.

Real Madrid are on the verge of completing a season-long loan deal for Manchester United striker Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez, Goal understands.

Los Blancos had considered moving for both Radamel Falcao of Monaco and Manchester City’s Alvaro Negredo but have decided that the Mexican - who has been told that he is free to leave Old Trafford - represents the best option.

Chicharito is seen as a player who can add an extra goal threat but one who will not compromise the standing of the club's biggest stars, with Karim Benzema currently first-choice centre forward.

The 26-year-old has never been able to nail down a consistent starting role with the Red Devils since his move from Guadalajara in the summer of 2010 and was keen to seek first-team football elsewhere.

He sees Madrid as the ideal opportunity to prove himself, feeling that he was not given sufficient chances to impress at Old Trafford.

A season's loan has been agreed between the two clubs, with only personal terms left to finalise before the move is officially announced.