Category: Sports

OLYMPIC athlete Oscar Pistorius is “numb with shock, as well as grief” after the shooting death of his model girlfriend at his home in South Africa, the runner’s uncle said Saturday, as his family “strongly refutes” charges that he planned to kill her.

Arnold Pistorius spoke with The Associated Press and two other South African journalists about his nephew’s arrest in the killing of Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot four times on the morning of Valentine’s Day. Arnold Pistorius spoke to reporters from his three-story home in the eastern suburbs of South Africa’s capital, Pretoria.

The statement, the first on camera and directly made in person by Pistorius’ family, also came out strongly against prosecutors seeking to upgrade the charge against Pistorius to one of premeditated murder, which carries a sentence of life in prison.

“After consulting with legal representatives, we deeply regret the allegation of premeditated murder,” Arnold Pistorius said. “We have no doubt there is no substance to the allegation and that the state’s own case, including its own forensic evidence, strongly refutes any possibility of a premeditated murder.”

Arnold Pistorius did not discuss the circumstances of the shooting, but said that his nephew and Steenkamp had become very close since they started dating in November.

“They had plans together and Oscar was happier in his private life than he had been for a long time,” the uncle said.

RANCHERS Bees’ technical adviser, James Peters, has quit his position with the management of the Kaduna-based side.

The former Nigerian assistant coach resigned after his side’s 0-1 defeat at Sokoto United on Match day 8 of the Nigeria National League (NNL) in Sokoto.

An official of Ranchers Bees, Vincent Akinbami, said the coach resigned for personal reasons and that the chief coach, Taiye Yusuf has been charged to lead the team against their match day 9 foes, Jigawa United, on Saturday in Kaduna.

Pressed further to comment on what would have led the technical adviser to quit his job, Akinbami said the coach may have not taken kindly to the spate of criticisms from the fans over some poor results the team have recorded in recent matches.

“Coach James Peters have resigned his job with Ranchers Bees on Wednesday after our Week 8 loss to Sokoto United and he said his resignation is due to personal reasons. The (club) management has accepted his resignation while wishing him well in his future endeavours.

“The chief coach, Taiye Yusuf has been asked to take charge of the team. Yusuf was a former Ranchers Bees’ player, former coach of Plateau United as well as DSS FC.

“Though coach Peters didn’t offer additional reasons for his action, I guess he is not comfortable with the team’s poor away records as well as series of criticisms from the fans or he may have secured a better offer elsewhere,” he said to supersport.com.

After Match day 8, Ranchers Bees have managed 10 points from a maximum of 24 and are placed 10th on the NNL Group A log.

Contacted, Peters admitted resigning his position with the Kaduna-based side on Wednesday strictly on personal grounds and declined further comments.

FATIH Terim insists that Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder can play together following the duo’s maiden appearance for Galatasaray.

The pair played together for the first time in Galatasaray’s 2-1 Super Lig win over Ahkisar Belediyespor.

The Ivorian striker, whose move to Istanbul was sanctioned by FIFA on Wednesday, made an instant impact on his debut with the club, coming off the bench to level the scores before assisting Burak Yilmaz’s winner just three minutes later.

Gala fans were only treated to 16 second-half minutes of their Champions League-winning pair featuring simultaneously, but their coach is in little doubt that both Drogba and Sneijder will soon strike an understanding.

“Drogba will have no problem playing with Sneijder. They are both experienced, technical players,” he said after the victory.

“Sneijder could’ve stayed on a little longer, maybe, but it’s better that we got all three points. They are important, talented players who help the others perform better.

“Drogba played the last half-hour but I spoke to him before he came on. He has not played in a while due to the Chinese league ending in November.”

BAYERN Munich coach Jupp Heynckes believes his side showed they are a great team in their 2-0 win over Wolfsburg on Friday.

The Bundesliga giants continued their march towards the title and extended their lead at the top to 18 points, with their nearest rivals to play on Saturday.

Goals from Mario Mandzukic and Arjen Robben helped Bayern to the win and Heynckes had nothing but praise for his players.

“We played against a team that has surely played the best they have played all season,” Heynckes told reporters.

“Wolfsburg gave it their everything so it was a tough game for us. They were aggressive, hard-running and gave us a lot of trouble early on.

“These are the games you need to win. We have again shown that we have a great team.”

Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was thrilled with the victory and pleased to have kept a clean sheet, their fourth straight.

“We’re enjoying it and we always set out to concede no goals, although there’ll come a point when we let one in again,” he said.

NIGERIAN champions Kano Pillars Saturday got their CAF Champions League campaign to a bright start as they cruised to a 5-1 win in their first round, first leg game against Olympique de Bangui of Central African Republic.

The game which took place inside the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano saw the Kano aristocrats starting like a house on fire and were ahead within the first 15 minutes as the highly experienced Bello Kofomata netted the opener.

Ali Nasiru was on song to double the lead for the Coach Baba Ganaru tutored side as he got the second goal for Pillars in the 38th minute.

The visitors who are not willing to lie low and be run over pulled a goal back just before the half time break.

Pillars who before going into the game had boasted that they will be gunning for a big win so as to make the return leg a mere formality stepped up their game in the second half and added three more goals to their tally.

Substitute Nofiru Ali scored a brace while Rabiu Aminu scored to ensure that the Nigerian representatives head to the second leg with comfortable a 5-1 advantage.

ARJEN Robben believes that Arsenal’s trophy drought is sure to continue if the Gunners continue to fail to hold onto their top players.

The North Londoners, who take on Robben’s Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League, have seen some of their top talents depart Emirates Stadium in recent seasons, including captains Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas.

Arsenal have not won a trophy since their FA Cup final triumph over Manchester United back in 2005 and Netherlands international Robben expects that drought to continue if Arsene Wenger’s side are not able to keep their top stars.

“I think you can see it,” Robben told the Sun. “It’s not my opinion, it’s also a fact. The last eight years no trophies. That says it all.

If you look around at the moment there are some teams in England that are maybe stronger than Arsenal. I cannot speak for Robin. He made his decision.”

THE manager of Real Betis, Pepe Mel, has encouraged Nosa Igiebor and the rest of the Betis squad, to continue playing as they have been, only to add some more goals into the equation.

Los Beticos have picked up just the two points from the last 12 available in La Liga and have not scored a goal for 358 minutes of play.

Even so, heading into Sunday’s trip to Espanyol, their Coach is adamant that little needs to be changed about the team.

“As far as we are concerned, I hope the team keeps believing, as they did last weekend at home to Real Valladolid,” Mel said in Saturday’s Press conference.“ Obviously, as in every game, we will go for the win. And so we must score goals, a fact that restricted us the other day. The rest of the things we are still doing well.”

Espanyol have taken a step forward in the League and have confirmed the good team that they are.

They come into this game having played well in Bilbao and having beaten Levante, and they have established themselves in the table.

They will be a tough opponent, as they were in the reverse fixture earlier this season. The important thing for us is to continue how we have been playing, and do things well.