Torino Snatch Last Minute Equaliser

Torino snatched a late equaliser against 10 man Inter Milan to share the spoils in the 3-3 draw at the Stadio Olimpico Di Torino. This game came to life within a minute of the first whistle as Torino striker Alessio Cerci's left-footed shot crashed against the post with just two minutes on the clock. Inter then had the worst possible start when goalkeeper Samir Handanovic brought down Cerci in the penalty area conceding a spot-kick and getting sent off in the process with just five minutes played. Cerci who was this season's top goal-scorer so far this season until Guiseppe Rossi's earlier hat-trick, stepped up to take the penalty but he could not beat substitute keeper Juan Pablo Carrizo. The hosts grabbed the lead through Alexander Farnerud's left-footed shot which flew into the bottom corner with 21 minutes on the clock. The home side pushed forward in search of a second goal to kill off the tie and make their one man advantage count, but Inter had other ideas and levelled matters through a Guarín shot which fizzed into the bottom left hand corner on the stroke of half-time. Torino substitute Ciro Immobile who had come off the bench five minutes earlier then put the home side ahead once more in the 53rd minute, after the striker found the top left corner with his right-footed shot. The 10 men of Inter responded almost immediately when they equalised for the second time in the game through a Rodrigo Palacio header two minutes later. The visitors grabbed the lead for the first time in the game in the 71st minute after a wonderful cross by Ishak Belfodil was met by a sliding Palacio to tap home. Inter Milan looked to have pulled off a miraculous come from behind victory after playing 85 minutes with a man down, but Torino pulled off a last minute equaliser to cap a dramatic game of football. Nicola Bellomo who had just replaced Matteo Brighi 10 minutes earlier, struck a cross-cum-shot free-kick from the left and the ball evaded everyone including keeper Carrizo and landed up in the top corner with 90 minutes on the clock. Torino will rue Cerci's penalty miss as well as their sloppy defending, but they will be relieved to at least walk away with a point from this dramatic game.

Moyes Drops Vital Points Again:

Manchester United has already dropped seven points in 4 home games despite loosing only 9 points at home last season! Since this EPL season began, Moyes and his boys have struggled to find their rhythm. Probably Moyes is haunted by the big club syndrome where several managers have failed to deliver at big clubs despite doing wonders at relatively small clubs. But all that said, David Moyes has to find a quick solution to this problem if he is to last longer at Old Trafford. Man U fans are not used to seeing Manchester City lying above the devils on the EPL log, and therefore,they won't allow their manager drop such vital points. In London, Arsenal showed again that may be they're serious title contenders this time round after wining 4-1 at the Emirates.They beat Nowich City.Their city rivals, Chelsea won by the same margin over Cardif. Elsewhere, Steven Gerald scored his 100th EPL goal as Liverpool

Does Magogo Have The Power To Head Ugandan Socer?

Call it FUFA or FUFA Ltd,but one thing is clear,atleast for now eng. Moses Magogo is the known top head of football in Uganda. But many wonder if the self proclaimed engeer has the stamina to hold on to the office. About three weeks ago, the fufa president initiated peace talks with USL(Uganda Super League) to have one top flight league in the country. Sources say,the talks went on smoothly only to be halted by some of his surbordinents who opposed the move. They went on with the help of Charles Bakkabulindi,state minister for sports to apply for FSL sponsorship from one of the beer companies in Uganda!The group vowed never to allow Kabenge and company into any fufa related activities again! They have openly critised him on different media fora on various issues including the S. Africa trip he made with Micho.In a way many see as a sign of retreat,the president withdrew without communicating and he went into hiding and the talks have since been prematurely aborted. SO, IS MAGOGO ACTING ON REMOTE CONTROL?

Can Safa survive latest crisis?

Bumpy ride ahead after the suspension of vice-president and withdrawal of key sponsors

Just 22 days into office, the newly elected SA Football Association (Safa) national executive committee (NEC) is in crisis.

» On Friday, it took a decision to immediately suspend vice-president Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana;

» Earlier in the week, giant banking institution Absa - one of Bafana Bafana's main sponsors - announced that it would not extend its contract when it expires in December; and

» Puma, which had terminated its agreement as Bafana's technical sponsor in January, sent out a statement confirming this.

There could be further knocks as all this happens at a time when government is deliberating a regulation that will ban alcohol advertising.

Should this happen, it will be a further blow to Safa as the other major Bafana backer is SABMiller, through its Castle Lager brand.

Absa and SAB had reduced their sponsorship from R100 million per year to R20 million each and this was read to be in relation to the degrading of the Bafana brand.

The national team had failed to qualify for the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations, except when hosting the events in 2010 and this year, respectively.

Safa reported a R46 million loss at the end of its financial year in June.

Nonkonyana, whose suspension includes his removal as chairperson of the African Nations Championship (Chan) Organising Committee, issued a lengthy press statement on Friday indicating that he was fighting his suspension.

"I have written a letter to Safa acknowledging receipt of the letter of suspension and advising Safa that I am challenging my summarily suspension on the following grounds …," the statement reads and lists six points on which he is challenging the decision.

One of them is "the decision of the Emco (emergency committee) to consider the matter in my absence as (sic) violated my constitutional right to be heard before such a decision was taken".

Safa CEO Dennis Mumble yesterday told City Press that former president Molefi Oliphant had been appointed to take over as the Chan Local Organising Committee chairperson.

Safa CEO Dennis Mumble says this is one of the toughest weeks in the association. Picture: Themba Makofane

The decision to suspend Nonkonyana was taken by the emergency committee and ratified by all NEC members.

It followed remarks where he urged Bafana coach Gordon Igesund to resign or face expulsion in the unlikely event of failing to reach the final or win the Chan that runs from January 11 to February 1.

On return from Morocco, where his side played to a 1-1 draw against the host team, a peeved Igesund responded to Nonkonyana's mandate as "absolute rubbish".

Mumble said this was one of the toughest weeks in the association. He claimed there was a well-orchestrated move to portray

Safa in a bad light, but could not say who the purported shoddy characters behind the move were.

"We will afford Chief the opportunity to defend himself at a disciplinary hearing," said Mumble.

He also revealed they were seeking legal advice on whether they could claim compensation from Puma.

"We were surprised by the statement released by Puma this week as it might compromise us in our negotiations for a new partner."

Statement: Safa suspends Mwelo Nonkonyana

Statement: Mwelo Nonkonyana responds to suspension

The post Can Safa survive latest crisis? appeared first on City Press.

New Deal For Januzaj

Manchester United have announced that Adnan Januzaj has signed a new five-deal that will see him at the club till June 2018 and manager David Moyes is happy to have the 18-year-old in their ranks. "I'm delighted that Adnan has committed his future to United. He is an outstanding talent and has impressed me consistently since I came to United in July," said Moyes "His balance, poise and ability to beat players is truly exceptional for a boy of his age. It's great that he recognises that this club, with its tradition for developing young players and giving them a chance on the biggest stage, is the best place for him to be." The player himself, who only made his debut in the Community Shield against Wigan in August and scored a brace in his first start for United, expressed his joy in signing his new contract. "It's a great thrill to be able to sign for Manchester United. Since arriving here I have always felt like this was the right club for me," said Januzaj. "It's like a dream. I want to work hard now and establish myself as a Manchester United player."