Ivanovic confirmed for Sydney International

Grand Slam champion Ana Ivanovic will play in next January's Sydney International, organisers said on Wednesday.

The former world number one joins US Open champion Kim Clijsters and Australia's world No 6 Samantha Stosur in the women's draw for the January 9 to 15 tournament.

The former French Open champion, 23, is ranked 17th on the WTA Tour after impressive late-season performances, winning titles in Linz and the season-ending Tournament of Champions in Bali.

Defending champion Marcos Baghdatis and former US Open winner Juan Martin del Potro are confirmed for the men's tournament at the Sydney International.

Tsonga pulls out of Davis Cup final

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has pulled out of next month's Davis Cup final against Serbia with a knee injury, the French number one said on Wednesday.

"My tendon snapped once again in Montpellier," Tsonga told a press conference.

Tsonga said he will miss the rest of the season, hence has ruled himself out of the December 3-5 Davis Cup final in Belgrade.

Tsonga had also not taken part in France's quarter and semifinal wins over Spain and Argentina.

Captain Guy Forget is likely to rely on Gael Monfils, who won the Montpellier title last weekend, and pick his second singles player from Gilles Simon, Michael Llodra and Richard Gasquet.

Tsonga, the 2008 Australian Open runner-up whose career has been blighted by injuries, was also sidelined for three months after Wimbledon with a knee problem.

"I am dejected because the Davis Cup is a kid's dream. It's the biggest setback in my career along with having to pull out of the Olympic Games," said Tsonga.

"The injury is less serious than last summer but the doctors told me to end my season.

"I could have taken anti-inflammatories but I don't know how I would have endured the pain. It would have been dishonest to my teammates."

Tsonga, however, is hoping Forget will still take to Belgrade so that he can support his teammates.

Moodie qualifies for ATP doubles finals

The draw for the world's biggest indoor tennis tournament, the ATP World Tour Finals took place at the La Galleria Pall Mall in London on Tuesday.

The tournament is made up of the top eight singles players and doubles pairings in the world.

South African's number one doubles player Wesley Moodie, along with doubles partner Dick Norman (Belgium), qualified in seventh position.

"It's exciting to make it in, it's a fantastic tournament with the world's best players," said Moodie.

The tournament starts off with a round-robin stage, made up of two groups each with four doubles teams. Each pairing will match up against the other three in their group and the top two pairings go through to the semifinals stage.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge and I think it's difficult to look past the round robin stage as every match is tough and important," said Moodie.

Moodie and Norman will take on second seeds Daniel Nestor (Canada) and Nenad Zimonjic (Serbia) in the first round-robin match on Monday 22 November.

The ATP World Tour finals runs from the November 21-28.

Ferrer, Lopez could be at SA Open

Spaniards David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez might attend the R3.5-million South African Open tennis tournament at Montecasino early next year.

Lopez is the defending SA Open champion. Ferrer, who is ranked seventh in the world, will compete in the ATP's World Tour Finals in London next week.

"Although negotiations have yet to be finalised, Lopez has told us he wants to defend his title and Ferrer has made it clear that he would like to play in the South African Open for a third successive year," SA Tennis Association CEO and tournament director Ian Smith said on Tuesday.

Ferrer and Lopez are not only world-class players, but charismatic personalities who made a major impact during the two previous tournaments at Montecasino, Smith said.

"We are hoping to formalise their entries shortly, as well as those of a number of other notable world-class players with whom I have been negotiating."

Smith said that in the past, players had been reluctant to take part in the SA Open because it was immediately after the Australian Open grand slam tournament.

However, the two previous events had made such a favourable impression on players, that interest was growing in leaps and bounds.

The SA Open will take place from January 31 to February 6 and is an ATP event which offers 250 valuable world-ranking points to the winner.

Smith said schoolchildren would be bused to the tournament this year as part of a development programme.

Nadal can beat Federer title record - Murray

Spain's world number one Rafael Nadal has what it takes to surpass Roger Federer's record win of 16 major singles titles, Britain's Andy Murray said on Wednesday in an interview published in Spain.

"This season he has made a big step forward and can break any existing record. I think it depends more on his physique than on his tennis. If he remains healthy, as he was during the second half of 2010, he is on track to catch up to Roger Federer or anyone," he told sports daily Marca.

"It is difficult to say that Nadal is the best player of all time, but he is without a doubt amongst the two or three best players in history. He has won the four majors, the Davis Cup, the Olympic gold medal. And he is only 24."

Nadal has so far won nine major titles, seven fewer than Switzerland's Federer, who is five years older than the Spaniard.

Earlier this year Nadal became only the seventh man in history to complete a coveted career Grand Slam, winning the world's four main tennis tournaments – the US, French and Australian Opens and Wimbledon.

The Spaniard cannot be passed in the standings for year-end world number one status, despite Federer making a mighty end-of-season run after winning his last two events in Stockholm and his home tournament in Basle.

Former No 1 Moya bids tearful farewell

Former world No 1 Carlos Moya fought back tears on Wednesday as he formally announced his retirement from tennis at the age of 34 due to a recurring foot injury.

At a news conference in Madrid attended by family, friends and former players, including Manolo Santana and Albert Costa, the 1998 French Open champion said he would play one more event, in Seville in December, before ending his 15-year career.

Clad in a dark blazer, a white and blue-striped shirt open at the neck and blue jeans, the Spaniard welled up and had to make frequent pauses to compose himself as he announced his decision and thanked friends, family, his coaching and support staff, sponsors and fans.

The foot injury had plagued him for several years and he had been unable to shake it off despite consulting a host of different doctors, he explained.

"I wanted to say goodbye at some of the big tournaments, the grand slams, but that dream wasn't to be," said Moya, who was runner-up to Pete Sampras at the 1997 Australian Open.

"I am still young for life but for sport I am already knocking on a bit," he said, adding that his immediate plans were to rest and spend time at home with his partner and baby daughter Carla, who was born in August.

He will also make an appearance at the ATP World Tour finals in London next week. "But not to play," he joked.

Moya, a right-hander unlike his friend and current number one Rafa Nadal, who is also from Majorca, won the first of 20 career titles on his favoured clay in Buenos Aires in 1995.

DAVIS CUP TRIUMPH

In March 1999 he became the first Spaniard to rise to number one since the ATP rankings were introduced in 1973 and held the spot for two weeks.

One of his finest moments came in Seville in 2004 when he beat Andy Roddick to clinch the Davis Cup for Spain against the United States.

He slipped out of the top 10 in May 2005 and has suffered a string of injuries in recent years, including to ankle, shoulder and hip.

He last played on the ATP Tour at the Madrid Masters in May, when he lost to German Benjamin Becker in the first round. He ends his career with an ATP World Tour and grand slam record of 575 wins and 319 defeats.

"Thanks to everyone for all these years," he said. "We'll see each other soon, I don't know where but I hope it's soon."

Ukaigwe tasks FA over women coaches

The female football interest group (FFIG) president Henrietta Ukaigwe has commended Super Falcons for winning the African Women’s Championship (AWC) title in record six times.

Super Falcons handled by Eucharia Uche, first ever women to handle a national team, overcame title holder Equatorial Guinea 4-2 in the final of the 7th AWC in South Africa thereby reclaimed the title they lost to the Central African state in 2008.

Both teams however qualified to represent Africa at the 2011 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Germany.

An elated Ukaigwe who spoke to SuperSport.com in Lagos on Tuesday said the victory of the Falcons under coach Uche Eucharia, an ex-international and lethal finisher in her active days, has proved the case that women have arrived in the round leather game and deserved more look in.

“I must congratulate Uche Eucharia for doing what most men could not do and equally proving her skeptics wrong who never believed in her competence and who challenged her in the inclusion of some veterans like Perpetua Nkwocha, Stellla Mbachu, among others in the AWC squad.

Guess what the two players emerged the highest goal scorer and most valuable player respectively of the championship. Her changes in the course of the game unsettled her opponents and Falcons did not drop a point till they won the trophy.

“This is enough proof that women coaches have arrived, there are many ex-internationals who are coaches, trained and certified, I think these coaches should be considered for appointment to handle other women national teams.”

The seasoned journalist who is upbeat that Falcons will be the team to beat in Germany however asked the government not to hide under the euphoria of the AWC victory to believe that all is well with the team, she insisted that the team needs adequate preparations before the global football fiesta.

“People should not be carried away by Falcons success, we knew that they did not have good preparations for AWC, thank God they won.

“World Cup is another cup of tea; they must be given all the tools they need to succeed in Germany.

Friendly matches and training tours must be arranged immediately not the ones that will end up on pages of papers. I am sure if we do our part very well the team will excel in Germany,” she said.

Babawo still on Coventry City’s rada

Captain of Juth, Babawo Mohammed, is yet to play for his club this term due to interest from English Championship side, Coventry City.

Media Officer of the club, Olusola Alao, has revealed to SuperSport.com.

“Babawo has been at Coventry City for trials. He got his visa late and reached Coventry after the transfer window closed. Despite his late arrival, he excelled during trials at the club.

“We understand that the former English Premier League club has expressed interest in his services. Babawo is happy with the way he was received at the club,” he said to SuperSport.com.

Alao stated that the club will be happy to see Babawo excel at Coventry as he was at his best in the colours of Juth.

Babawo is likely to become the second Nigerian-born player after Dele Adebola to play for the ‘Sky Blues.’

The newly promoted Juth has already adjusted to life without their influential captain.

Juth has shared the points in two matches against Sharks and Gombe United this term.

Four KFA youngsters to watch in NPL

The Kwara football academy, which was modeled after Dutch football academies has successfully produced several youngsters.

Four products of the academy; namely Kelvin Kpakor, Barnabas Imenger, Gbenga Arokoyo and Chinedu Ajanah have since graduated to the Nigeria Premier League side, Kwara United.

In this report, SuperSport.com profiles the rookies who secured their first professional contracts in the NPL.

Kelvin Kpakor – Midfield/Attack

This youngster is following the footsteps of his father, Moses Kpakor, who came to prominence in the domestic league.

He is only 17 years old, but Kelvin has convinced everyone that he has learnt the trade the right way under the legendary Clemens Westerhof, a former Super Eagles coach. Interestingly, his father, Moses, was tutored by the same Dutch at the Super Eagles.

Kelvin proved that Kwara United manager, Kadiri Ikhana, made no mistake when he gave him his debut during the Super 4 League, in August.

The youngster is actually the first product of the KFA to score a goal for Kwara United.

However, it was during the Super 4 League, which was organised after the regular 2009/2010 NPL season.

On August 8, the teenager beat one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the league, Afeso Attah, when he chipped from 35 yards to score against Sunshine Stars during the Super Four in Ijebu-Ode. Overall, he worked well with his teammates.

He is known for his strength, pace and ability to shoot with both feet though he is left-footed player.

Barnabas Imenger - Forward

Imenger is also from a football family. His father, Barnabas, equally played under Clemens Westerhof in the Super Eagles.

The youngster is the first product of the KFA to score a league goal for Kwara United.

He entered the history books with a goal against Kaduna United on match day two in the NPL. However, the visitors came back into the game and secured an equalizer.

Imenger has grown in confidence and there is no doubt that he has more goals to score as the season progresses.

In fact, assistant coach of Kaduna United, Abdullahi Heyman applauded his performance on match day.

“He’s a natural striker who will go far. His final touch was perfect,” Heyman told SuperSport.com

Gbenga Arokoyo - Goalkeeper

Arokoyo is a goalkeeper who excelled at the Academy.

He got a chance during the Super 4 with Kelvin and grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

Arokoyo didn’t show any sign of a rookie when he was in goal. In fact, his team conceded a goal after he was substituted due to injury during the four-team competition.

The young goalkeeper has been out of action due to injury but returned to training on Monday.

Chinedu Ajanah - Defender

Chinedu Ajanah is a brilliant defender, who can play anywhere amongst the back-four.

Assistant coach of Kwara United, Tunde Sanni told SuperSport.com that Ajanah was drafted to the team after the Super 4.

Ajanah was an unused substitute during the first match at Warri Wolves.

Kwara United coach, Kadiri Ikhana will certainly have no problems at his defence-line with a player like Ajanah who can fill it properly.

Bafana seek first win against USA

South Africa will go in search of a first ever win against the United States of America when they take on Bob Bradley’s team in a friendly international at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday evening. Kick-off is at 9:30pm.

This match will serve as the 16th edition of the Nelson Mandela Challenge and is the 12th game that USA has played on South African soil in the past three years.

The Americans, who reached the final of the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup and the last 16 of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, first played in South Africa in the 2007 edition of the Nelson Mandela Challenge, winning 1-0 in Johannesburg thanks to a first half goal from defender Steven Cherundolo.

That match was the second encounter between Bafana Bafana and their American counterparts: the teams first met in a Gold Cup group match in June 2000 in Washington where the ‘Stars and Stripes’ claimed an emphatic 4-0 win.

Both sides are using this match as an opportunity to blood youngsters and untested players ahead of important fixtures next year. South Africa will continue in their quest to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, while the Americans will participate in the 2011 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane admits that it will be difficult striking a balance between introducing new faces into the team while also trying to keep up the winning habit that his side have created in recent times.

“This is a friendly match so I will be trying to have a look at other players and for that to happen I had to leave out some of the regulars in the team. But most of them have been with us before, so it’s all about continuity and staying on track with our Vision 2014,” said Mosimane.

“On the other hand, friendly matches are a big challenge because as much as you try to make changes, it means you have to tamper with your winning combinations. But then again these are the challenges that exist in this game, we have to strike a balance but also not to lose focus of our vision of slowly bringing in young players.”

The most notable newcomer to the Bafana squad is English-based striker Davide Somma, who has caught the eye with his goal-scoring exploits for Leeds United in the Championship.

The United States have several first-time call-ups, including teenagers Juan Agudelo and Gale Agbossoumonde, who are the first products of the country’s new development academy to get the nod for the senior team.

“This game is a good opportunity to look at some different players and assess their place in the pool as we continue to build for the next cycle,” said coach Bob Bradley upon naming his squad.

“With our immediate focus on the Gold Cup next summer, this game in many ways is just as much the start of 2011 as it is the end of a great year,” he added.

SuperSport on team building excercise

Following a disastrous start to the season by their own high standards, defending Absa Premiership champions SuperSport United are going on a team building exercise to revive spirit within a team that had won the championship a record equaling three times.

- Great cash prizes in the score-prediction game

Although most experts have written them off as far as the championship is concerned, with many tipping one of either leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and challengers Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, the team is not giving up that easily and intends to fight to the bitter end.

Assistant coach Thomas Madigage strongly believes they have the strength, the ability and determination to retain the championship. He strongly believes that bringing a few new recruits they have identified in key positions could see them bouncing back into contention.

This team building exercise has been standard practise at United for a number of years. But this time they are taking along several new recruits and some young talented players that have featured prominently at the club the previous season in order for them to get the feel of big time soccer.

“We depart for this venue somewhere near Brits towards the end of the week and we hope to return by Monday afternoon,” said Madigage.

“We hope getting away to a secluded place will be ideal for the team, particular in building spirit and bring confidence back in the team.”

Following indifferent performances that were followed by 3-0 beatings at the hands of Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits in addition to a 2-0 loss to Kaizer Chiefs, United bounced back to defeat Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium last week.

“We will need a different approach and try to collect as many points as possible if from now onwards,” said Madigage.

“We know what to do and what is expected of us. But first we have to strengthen the team in crucial positions.”

Madigage was not in a position to reveal who they intend signing, but the imminent loss of star central defender Bongani Khumalo who has signed a contract with Tottenham Hotspur means they have to find a suitable replacement as soon as possible.

In addition, the injury prone Emile Baron has not made things any easier for the defending champions who find themselves leaking goals like they have never done before in the past, even though English born Wayne Brown cannot be faulted.

“I believe a fit-again Baron would be fine to get us stable in that position,” said Madigage. Rumours doing the rounds are that Unit could be interested in Sundowns third choice goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands who is also their former player.

But a possible move for Sandilands was ruled out by the team as they fear that should they approach their rivals, Sundowns could propose a swap deal that would include striker Anthony Laffor going to Chloorkop and that is a prospect they do not want to entertain.

However, a confident head coach Gavin Hunt believes that once all their injured players recover from their different ailments, it would strengthen the team and they could make a whole lot of a difference to their approach.

There is Baron, defenders Thabo September and Bongani Khumalo as well as striker Glen Salmon who are all sidelined by an assortment of injuries.

No plan to drop Uche from World Cup

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has doused reports stating that the future of Super Falcons’ head coach, Eucharia Uche, with African champions is in doubt ahead of next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup billed for Germany.

Technical committee chairman of the federation, Chris Green, said it will amount to disrupting the structure that the coaches and backroom staff of the Nigerian women’s national team has built in the past months leading up to winning the 2010 Caf African Women’s Championship.

“I think people are not being fair to the coach.

As the head of the federation’s technical committee I must say that there are no plans to remove Uche from her post as coach of the Super Falcons before the World Cup.

At this point bringing in a new coach will only disrupt the team and it will mean rebuilding a successful structure, which is not our plan for this team.

“If she could qualify the Super Falcons to the World Cup by winning the African Women’s Championship, it only shows that she is sound and ahead in the game. So rather than boot her out like I have read or heard in the press, the NFF will make sure that we do everything to help her and the team before the World Cup next year,” Green told SuperSport.com.

Green explained further that the Nigerian FA will organise top grade friendly matches for the Super Falcons ahead of next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup.

“All we will do for the team is to give them as much exposure as we can through top friendly matches. The friendly matches are going to be against countries outside of Africa since it will make no sense playing African countries since they have conquered the continent.

So we will be looking at countries from Europe, the American continents and Asia to give the team exposure before the World Cup next year,” said Green.

The Super Falcons are billed to face Germany on November 25 in an international friendly.

Santos in injury crisis for Chiefs clash

Santos have an injury crisis as they head into their crunch Telkom Knockout semifinal against Kaizer Chiefs at Polokwane's Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night. Kick-off is at 8:15pm and the match will be broadcast live on SuperSport 4 from 7:30pm.

Despite coach Boebie Solomons's major injury worries, the People's Team believe they can upset favourites Amakhosi twice in 10 days, and feel they will take a psychological advantage into this tough cup-tie, having won a league match played at the Rand Stadium last Wednesday.

“The injuries are a big worry, but the fact we beat Chiefs 1-0 at their home ground last week has given the players added confidence and a belief they can beat them twice in a row," stressed Solomons.

"While Amakhosi coach Vladimir Vermezovic has seven players on international duty, Solomons has three in Botswana – internationals Mogogi Gabonamong, Boitumelo Mafoko and Malawi's Peter Mpondo, who will all arrive back in camp on Thursday. The mounting injury list, however, worries the People's Team coach more.

Key strikers Erwin Isaacs and Eleazer Rodgers are non-starters through injury. Midfielders Shafreeq Arendse, Salmaan King, Jurie Basie and defender Musa Otieno are all in the treatment room nursing an assortment of injuries.

“The injuries worry me more than the players on international duty. I am keeping fingers crossed most will pass late fitness tests. It is a case of wait and see,” admitted Solomons.

HAPPY MEMORIES

The coach has happy memories of Polokwane from his days as coach of First Division side Winners Park. “Those were happy ones and I reckon playing at the Peter Mokaba Stadium will be good for Santos and for me – it is like playing at home. I know the conditions well.”

Three of his players, striker Phikolethu Spelman, midfielder Musa Nkondo and defender Thabiso Ntloana, were part of Solomons' squad at Winners Park.

Solomons is not concerned by the fact that Chiefs have seven players on international duty.

“Chiefs are one of the best sides in Africa. They have 15 more players who could play internationally and I do not believe having players away on national duty will affect them much.”

Solomons has done wonders with a limited squad and he is aiming for a record fourth cup final.

In his various spells with Santos, he lifted the Bob Save Super Bowl in 2001, won the BP Top Eight Cup in 2002 and the following year he succeeded in winning the Absa Cup.

“I have a good record with Santos when it comes to winning cup finals. I honestly believe if we beat Chiefs we would be heading for a fourth trophy.

"But a lot will depend on which players recover from injuries.”

Chiefs, fresh from their 3-1 thumping of archrivals Orlando Pirates in last weekend's league Soweto Derby at the FNB Stadium, will have their confidence restored but know that in Santos they face a much more stubborn opponent who make up for their lack of skill with discipline, sheer hard work and never-say-die attitude.

Solomons will miss Wednesday night's Nelson Mandela Challenge between Bafana Bafana and the United States at the Cape Town Stadium as he was not invited to the game by Safa which is sad because PSL coaches seem to be forgotten when a big international game comes to Cape Town.

Heartland furious with NFF over Siasia

Nigeria Premier League (NPL) side, Heartland, are livid with the way the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has handled the hiring of Samson Siasia as Super Eagles’ head coach.

General manager of Heartland, Fan Ndubuoke, told Lagos-based radio station, Brila FM, on Wednesday evening that Siasia still has a contract with the Naze Millionaires and must honour it.

He believes that the FA should respect the binding terms of transfer rules involving players and coaches.

“He is still our coach,” said the Heartland chief.

Ndubuoke pointed out that if Siasia fails to honour his own bargain of the deal, then the club will be forced to issue him a query.

“It doesn’t matter where he sits (during matches). The issue is that he should do his job as our coach.

We have seen coaches like Alex Ferguson sit in the crowd and still do their jobs. But if he doesn’t, I will have no other choice than to query him,” said Ndubuoke.

But Ndubuoke clearly stated that the Owerri-based side are yet to hear from Siasia’s new employer, the Nigerian FA.

“Let us hope that before December 1 that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) reaches us. It is just about two weeks away as we talk.

“The NFF know the rule because they made the rule and shouldn’t break it. They (the NFF) know that when a player wants to disengage, they know what that player and his new employers should do.

“I believe if a coach also wants to disengage his contract before it expires, they know what to do. So we don’t expect that they will be the ones to break the rule,” he said.

On the issue of demanding for compensation in the event that Siasia does not see out his contract at Heartland, Ndubuoke was cagey with his response.

“When we reach the bridge we will cross. I cannot predict what action we will take (on the outcome of such meeting with the NFF),” said the Heartland boss.