KCC draw giant slayers

KCC are next in giant killers, Kyambogo’s, firing line after the reigning league champions were drawn against the university side in the quarterfinals of the Uganda Cup on Wednesday.

Kyambogo have already claimed two Uganda Premier League (UPL) sides in Sadolin Paints and topflight log leaders Vipers in the preceding rounds.

KCC and Kyambogo were drawn along with six others in the exercise conducted at Fufa House in Mengo.

The Kampala Regional League outfit, Kyambogo, will host last year’s finalists at their university playground where the other two UPL sides fell.

“Although it’s a game like any other, we will approach like it’s our last,” said Kyambogo captain Charles Ssemanda after knowing the draw's outcome.

“We have had a good run up to here and everyone is eager to know how far this fairytale can go.”

The other quarterfinal ties include 2013 Uganda Cup winners SCVU at home to SC Villa while Lweza entertain Police in Kajjansi. Bright Stars host Bul in Matugga. Dates for the quarterfinal matches are yet to be communicated by Fufa.

Uganda Cup quarterfinal draw:

Lweza vs Police

SCVU vs SC Villa

Bright Stars vs BUL

Kyambgogo vs KCC

Ghana FA Cup ticket sharing settled

The FA Cup Committee have announced the disbursement ratio of gate proceeds to all stakeholders of the competition.

The competition organisers' vice president, Kurt Okraku, gave the announcement.

"The qualified clubs are entitled to incentives and 500 Ghana cedis worth of MTN talk time," he said.

Okraku was speaking to the press at the Round of 32 draw and then he made the ratio announcement.

"Gate proceeds will be shared as it has always been. The home and away teams both take 25 per cent each. The stadium owner takes 10 per cent while the GFA receives 40 per cent," Okraku said.

He did promise, however, that the teams will get some amount of cash before the match days.

25 per cent of already guaranteed poor attendances is not enough, according to club officials speaking on the sidelines of the event.

"Maybe 35 per cent will be better. Because seriously, we need money and the FA Cup can cushion some of us smaller teams," said a second tier bankroller.

Another Premier League club general secretary also lamented that their "hands are tied because to be honest, MTN are doing quite well with how prompt they are with payment so it is hard to complain. But 25 per cent isn't plenty".

Officials of the Ghana League Clubs Association declined comment when approached.

The next round of games will take place this weekend - 4 and 5 April.

The MTN FA Cup round of 32 has some interesting pairings such as Medeama playing a Western regional tie against Bibiani Gold Stars as BA United also face Division Two's Kenyasi FC in a Brong derby.

Kotoko and Hearts have home games with Birim DC United and Bolga Man City respectively.

Pepe sidelined by thigh injury

Real Madrid centre back Pepe has returned from international duty with Portugal with a thigh injury, the European champions said on Wednesday.

Real did not say how long the 32-year-old would be out of action but local media reported he was likely to be sidelined for around 10 days.

He will probably miss the La Liga games at home to Granada on Sunday and at Rayo Vallecano three days later but should be available for the match at home to Eibar on April 11.

"Following medical tests carried out on Pepe by the Real Madrid doctors in the Sanitas La Moraleja Hospital, he has been diagnosed with an injury in the vastus internus muscle in his right thigh," Real said on their website (www.realmadrid.es).

"His progress will be monitored," they added.

Real are second in La Liga with 10 games left, four points behind leaders Barcelona.

France defender Raphael Varane is likely to partner Spain's Sergio Ramos in central defence in Pepe's absence.

Man City chance thrills Yaw Yeboah

There is a new Ghanaian walking around the glitzy new Etihad campus these days.

The 18-year old Yaw Yeboah is happy to have the opportunity to be a player of English giants, Manchester City.

Highly rated and proving it, the lad is being watched as Ghana's bet for the future. And rightly so, after he did so well at the recently concluded African Under-20 Championships in Senegal.

“I am really happy to join them because it is not easy for an African player to go straight to Europe and join a big club like Man City,” he said.

Now a member of City's youth set-up, he boosted his reputation by winning the Most Valuable Player at the Senegal tournament. Next stop for the teenager is getting a place in Ghana's World Cup squad.

“I really appreciate the fact that they have given me the opportunity and it makes me happy. It is a big platform for me since it is every footballer's dream to play in the Premier League because it is good so I’m really looking forward to that and if the opportunity comes I will take it,” he said

The Fifa Under-20 World Cup will take place later this year in New Zealand.

Enyimba won’t lose in Egypt - Anyansi

Enyimba FC chairman, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu has declared that his charges will still be in the running for this year’s Caf Champions League after Sunday’s second leg, first round tie against Egyptian club, Smouha Sporting Club.

The Peoples Elephant won the first leg 1-0 on March 15 at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba on thanks to a second half strike by Rafael Boumsoung.

Enyimba, two-time African champions, now walk a tight rope ahead of Sunday’s second leg in Egypt but Anyansi-Agwu who masterminded the club’s two previous successes in 2003 and 2004, has no doubts his charges will pull the chestnut out of the fire.

“Winning 1-0 in Aba is not a bad result. I still recall (English club) Chelsea’s round of 16 tie against (French side) PSG (in the Uefa Champions League.

“Chelsea went to Paris and drew 1-1 but the French side went to London and got the job done. That’s how dynamic football is.

“The Egyptians came (to Aba) to defend. Their tactics were clear - reduce the number of goals they would concede in Aba and they succeeded,” Anyansi-Agwu exclusively told supersport.com.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s second leg clash at the 13,660 capacity Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria, Anyansi-Agwu predicted that the Egyptians would be more adventurous in their approach, adding that Enyimba “will fully capitalize on that.”

“In their own place, they will want to come out to score and we will fully capitalize on that because we will also want to score.

“I don’t see us not qualifying. I don’t see us losing in Alexandria,” he said.

Bullish talk from Smouha

The Smouha camp is however not treating Sunday’s big game against Enyimba with kids’ gloves.

Head coach of the Egyptian club, Mehdi Toulan claims he prosecuted the first leg in Aba with a weakened side and has warned that things will be completely different on Sunday.

“I am satisfied (with the slim loss in Aba) because I did not play (that first leg) game with ten of my first team players. I am talking about extremely outstanding players who we left behind in Cairo.

“That game against Enyimba was prosecuted (with) reserve team players. Some of the players in question are injured. The others have to serve in the military in Egypt,” Toulan told supersport.com.

The trainer did not deny Anyansi-Agwu’s accusations that Smouha employed “negative” tactics in the first leg claiming that “it is normal to play that way away from home”.

“Of course, it is normal to play that way away from home and the fact that most of our first team players were not here made it even harder.

“However, we could have beaten Enyimba in Aba because we had one good chance in the first half and two good chances in the second half.

“I hope to win in the second leg, Insha Allah (by God’s grace),” he said.

Smouha have never previously competed in Caf club competitions.

Stoke move for permanent Moses deal

Stoke City chairman Peter Coates says the club will be looking to sign Nigeria international winger Victor Moses on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window.

Moses has been in impressive form in his second straight season on loan from Barclays English Premier League leaders Chelsea.

The Nigerian has scored three goals and created three assists for the Potters who currently sit 10th place in the Premier League and closing in on a second straight top-half finish under Mark Hughes.

Coates has now declared that Stoke are interested in signing the Chelsea man on a long-term deal beyond the end of the campaign.

"There are some obvious things we want to do. Victor Moses is an interesting situation for us and we would like to see how the land lies with that one. If we can, we would like to do a deal," Coates told SkySports News.

Moses has not played for Chelsea since May 2013 having spent the 2013/14 season on loan at Liverpool, prior to his switch to the Britannia Stadium where he has enjoyed a timely return to form.

Though Moses' days at Chelsea look increasingly numbered after the January signing of Juan Cuadrado, reports in the January transfer window suggested manager Jose Mourinho was keen on recalling the 24-year-old to bolster his squad further.

Moses has been out of action since mid-March and though he has returned to training during the international break he is ineligible for the resumption of Stoke's Premier League campaign against parent club Chelsea on 4 April.

Dedebit primed to tame Wolves

Ethiopian club Dedebit FC have set their sights on overturning a 2-0 first leg, first round deficit against Nigerian club Warri Wolves in the Caf Confederation Cup on Sunday.

Wolves won easily in the first leg decided at the Warri City Stadium on March 14 thanks to goals from Oghenekaro Etebo and Gbolahan Salami.

Tsuanu is certain Dedebit will be in the draw for the second round of the competition and predicts a big win for his side on Sunday.

“I will not lie, Wolves were better than us in the first leg but I am sure we will win big in the second leg.

“The strengths of the Wolves team are their midfield and attack. They are extremely strong in the air but we will be well-prepared in the second leg,” Tsuanu told supersport.com.

Tsuanu almost turned out for six-time Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Enyimba.

The Nigerian striker explained that he had no regrets failing to make the grade in Aba but revealed his pride at turning out for Dedebit against a Nigerian club in Nigeria.

“To have played against a Nigerian club in Nigeria was a thing of pride. This (Nigeria) is my home and I felt very emotional playing here.

“I once had trials for Enyimba but it did not end successfully but I have no regrets.

“I then tried to play for (another Nigerian side) OUK but it did not work out. I also had trials for the Nigeria under-17 and under-20 teams but when I failed, I knew it was time to move.

“I am very happy in Ethiopia with Dedebit FC,” he said.

Dedebit have never gone beyond the first round of the Caf Confederation Cup in their previous two attempts, in 2011 and 2013.

Al Ahly striker doubtful for APR clash

Al Ahly medical staff have revealed that their Nigerian attacker, Peter Ebimobowei, could miss their Caf Champions League tie against APR FC of Rwanda due to injury.

The Cairo-based team will host APR of Rwanda on April 4 in Cairo in the second leg of the round of 32 stage in the Caf Champions League.

"Peter picked up a muscle injury in the team's match against Ragaa in the Egyptian league on Tuesday. He needs some days to recover," Al Ahly doctor Khaled Mahmoud said.

Ebimobowei scored the first goal against Ragaa in a game that ended 2-1 for the Red Devils.

"I am so sad because I want to play in the African Champions League. I am doing good in the domestic league and I wanted to use this to push in the Champions League but that will not happen. I will try to recover fast and return back to the team as soon as possible," the former Bayelsa United striker said on Wednesday.

Al Ahly will not only miss their in-form Nigerian attacker, they will also miss the services of their centre-back Mohamed Nagieb who picked up an injury while on international duty with the Pharaohs.

"Nagieb's injury is serious and he needs at least six weeks to recover," the Al Ahly doctor revealed.

The eight-time Caf Champions League winners defeated APR 2-0 in the first leg in Kigali.

Eymael claims TP Mazembe interest

The head coach of JS Kairouan, Luc Eymael, has revealed that he has received an offer from Congolese powerhouse, TP Mazembe.

Eymael said he has spoken to the TP Mazembe supremo, Moise Katumbi, already.

"I received a call from TP Mazembe chairman Moïse Katumbi and he talked to me about my future with the team. I would be happy to return back again to DR Congo. They asked me about the terms of my contract with the club," Eymael said.

The other Tunisian side, Club Sportif Sfaxien, are in advanced talks with TP Mazembe current head coach, Patrice Carteron, to lead their team this season.

Eymael, 55, has previously managed Rayon Sport, AFC Leopards, MC Oran and Congolese side, AS Vita Club.

England have edge over Italy - Rooney

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney believes a new-look England proved they have the edge over Italy based on the evidence of their 1-1 draw in Turin on Tuesday.

After a largely unproductive first-half display in the friendly at Juventus Stadium, where Graziano Pelle hit a 29th minute opener for the hosts, it took a superb leveller from Spurs winger Andros Townsend for England to complete their turnaround in what was a far more promising second half.

England had travelled to Turin without injured forwards Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck, forcing manager Roy Hodgson to reshuffle his side and deploy several players in unfamiliar positions.

Rooney, who was partnered up front by Harry Kane making his first start in an England shirt having come on as a substitute and scored on his debut against Lithuania last Friday, admitted there was disappointment in the England dressing room at halftime.

But he believes the second-half display has shown their potential, as well as underlining their superiority over an Italy side which like them has been heavily overhauled since they both went out at the group stage of the World Cup finals last year – Italy failing to build on their opening 2-1 win over the English.

"We were all disappointed with our performances as a team and as individuals, that's why we are so pleased with the result in the end - we came out in the second half and showed we are a better footballing team, I feel, than Italy are," said Rooney.

"Even though we had a lot of changes we know we are better than that. Our preparations weren't (reflected in) what we showed in the first 45 minutes.

"I think we showed good character second half, we came out and I thought we dominated the game, created the best chances and were unlucky in the end not to win it."

Rooney's belief was based on how much sharper England were than their opponents once they found their stride in the second-half.

Their pressure finally paid off with Townsend creating space on the edge of the area to beat Buffon with a precise shot at the keeper's far post.

Italy coach Antonio Conte – who replaced Cesare Prandelli after the World Cup flop – said England played like a side that was used to winning.

"There's not a lot friendly about these games," said Conte.

"But you can't forget that England have won their past seven games since the World Cup, and they've shown their desire to remain unbeaten."

Rooney said that it was no mean feat to get back into a game against a side that historically are past masters at guarding a lead jealously.

"It is important not to lose games," said Rooney.

"Don't get me wrong, this is a good result against Italy away, when they have gone in front and they are really good at trying to kill the game.

"We didn't let them do that, we tried – we knew we had to be patient at times – but I really felt we could hurt them on the break and in the channels, certainly with their three defenders and we got more joy with that.

"I don't think they coped well physically, I think they tired in the last 10 or 15 minutes and that's when we should punish them. I think probably it was a fair result over all," added the 29-year-old.

Kanu says Eagles still not super

Former Arsenal star, Kanu Nwankwo insists the current Nigeria national team is “not yet super” but predicts the side will turn the corner sooner rather than later.

The Super Eagles have largely underwhelmed since winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) trophy in South Africa.

Failure to qualify for the 2015 Afcon in Equatorial Guinea represented a nadir but “Papillo” says slowly but surely, the Super Eagles will regain its position as a fearsome force in world football.

“There is a rebuilding process currently underway and I am a big part of it,” Kanu who was in Nelspruit to watch Nigeria’s recent friendly international with South Africa, told supersport.com.

The former Super Eagles striker who also previously played for Ajax and Inter Milan added that “things must be put right” for the Eagles to hit the heights again.

“During my days as a footballer, the whole world took notice of Nigeria as a very strong footballing country.

“We must return our national team to those days. To be honest, we are not there yet but we want to put things right so we will attain such heights again.

“I am sure we will achieve this,” he said.

Kanu earned 87 international caps for Nigeria in a career that spanned 12 years between 1994 and 2011.

Arsenal, Liverpool focus on points

The Premier League bursts back into life after the international break this weekend with Arsenal and Liverpool clashing in a potential FA Cup final dress rehearsal in the early kick-off at the Emirates on Saturday.

Although the two teams are the favourites to meet in the Cup final at Wembley at the end of May, of more immediate concern to both will be the three points at stake on Saturday.

Victory for Arsenal would maintain their unlikely late challenge for the title, while a Liverpool win would rekindle their hopes of a top-four finish after their last match before the break ended in a 2-1 home defeat by Manchester United.

Arsenal have won their last six league matches and halved the gap on leaders Chelsea from 14 points on February 10 to seven now and a win for the Gunners would lift them into second place, at least until Manchester City play at Crystal Palace on Monday.

Chelsea, leaders since late August, host Stoke City, managed by the London club's ex-striker Mark Hughes, in Saturday's late match and anything other than a home win would be a major upset.

Chelsea have played 29 matches, one fewer than all of the chasing pack, and are on 67 points, with second-placed City on 61, Arsenal with 60 and Manchester United on 59.

IMPROVING VILLA

On Saturday, United host Aston Villa, who have looked a better side since Tim Sherwood took over as manager from Paul Lambert six weeks ago but are still involved in the relegation fight. United should chalk up a fifth successive league win.

While Liverpool, who are fifth on 54 points, will be hoping to stay in touch with the leading quartet, both Southampton and Totttenham will look to overtake them if they should slip up.

Saints and Spurs are both a point behind Liverpool with the former travelling to erratic Everton and the latter visiting relegation-threatened Burnley.

Spurs had four players – Harry Kane, Ryan Mason, Kyle Walker and goalscorer Andros Townsend – in the England team that drew 1-1 with Italy on Tuesday.

They will be hoping for a third win in four over Burnley this season after beating them in an FA Cup third round replay in January.

Kane, meanwhile, who has scored 29 goals for Tottenham this season including a hat-trick against Leicester City last time out, needs one more goal to become the first Spurs player since Gary Lineker in 1991-92 to hit 30 goals in a season.

Enrique riding high on Celta return

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique returns to Celta Vigo's Balaidos stadium on Sunday looking to consolidate a four-point advantage at the top of La Liga against the team he led successfully last season before taking over at the Nou Camp.

Following a three-year stint in charge of Barca's B team, Luis Enrique's management career stumbled at AS Roma in 2011-12 before he won plaudits for inspiring modest Celta to a ninth-placed finish in Spain's top flight last term.

A former Barca and Spain midfielder, Luis Enrique is a confirmed disciple of the Catalan club's possession-based, attack-minded playing style.

Celta's continued success despite a limited budget suggests his positive influence on the club has lingered long after his departure. Celta are 10th with 10 games left and have claimed some impressive wins this season, including a 1-0 upset of Barca at the Nou Camp in November.

They also drew 2-2 at Atletico Madrid in September and followed that up by surprising the champions 2-0 in Galicia in February.

After leaving Celta and taking over from Gerardo Martino at the end of last season, Luis Enrique has guided Barca to the top of La Liga, where they hold a four-point advantage over second-placed Real Madrid.

They are through to the last eight of the Champions League and the final of the King's Cup and have a chance of repeating 2009's unprecedented treble of European and Spanish league and Cup crowns.

Barca centre back Gerard Pique said on Wednesday the team had remained true to its playing style but had also become more direct, exploiting the talents of their fearsome attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.

"I think the team still has the same philosophy but we have a lot of options," Pique told reporters.

"With the three great players we have up front, we haven't had to change the way we play but we do deliver a lot of balls to them because we know they will create scoring chances.

"We still dominate games. The style and philosophy remain the same. Barca always has to be the team that takes the initiative."

Real host struggling Granada and third-placed Valencia are at home to Villarreal on Sunday, while Atletico, in fourth, play at bottom side Cordoba on Saturday.

'Reform vital to England's WCup hopes'

England's prospects of ever winning another World Cup will suffer unless reforms are introduced to give home-grown players more chances to shine, five former England managers have warned.

Glenn Hoddle, Kevin Keegan, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Graham Taylor and Steve McClaren signed a joint letter to FA chairman Greg Dyke backing his proposals for change, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on Thursday.

In the letter, they called for swift implementation of measures to ensure English players are given more match exposure at top clubs to boost England's chances of repeating the country's lone 1966 World Cup success.

"Failure to do so risks England falling further behind the leading football nations and will only make it harder to end the long wait to win the World Cup," they said.

The letter, which the newspaper said was sent to Dyke on Wednesday, said English players accounted for a mere 32 percent of playing time in the Premier League last year compared with almost 70 percent two decades previously.

"The trend cannot continue," they said.

"There are many reasons why England has failed to win any major honours since 1966 and each of us bears a portion of that responsibility.

"However... the pool of English talent playing at the very top level is shrinking and it's an undeniable fact that this is a clear disadvantage for any England manager," added the managers.

Dyke has proposed changes to the home grown player rule in English football to help more "top quality" English players break through.

He wants a reduction in the maximum number of non-home grown players permitted in a club's first team squad of 25 to be reduced from 17 to 13, phased over four years from 2016.

"In 2014, just 23 English players were playing Champions League football. That compares with 78 Spanish players, 55 from Germany and even 51 from Brazil – and the numbers will only get worse," he said in an FA statement last month.

"If we want to maintain a national side capable of competing against the world's best, we need change."

Dyke set up the England Commission in 2013 to look at ways of improving the chances of young English talent succeeding at the highest levels of the game.

The Commission specifically identified a lack of quality coaching and opportunities for home grown players to play competitive first team football between the ages of 18 and 21.

Bayern, Dortmund braced for showdown

Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich will be without winger Franck Ribery for their league match against Borussia Dortmund as the injuries pile up.

Frenchman Ribery was ruled out with a nagging ankle injury, joining Arjen Robben and David Alaba, out for seven weeks with a ligament tear, on the sidelines but club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge believes the squad is big enough to compensate for the absences.

"Alaba's injury is obviously very painful for us," Rummenigge told the club website, following theAustrian fullback's injury while on international duty on Tuesday.

"But we cannot change it and it would be a mistake if Bayern started to lament now," he said adding the Bavarians had enough depth in their squad to compensate for the absences.

"No need to complain about Ribery either. If he does not feel well, if he is in pain then he cannot play."

Bayern have had to deal with injuries to key players this season but have been extremely consistent, losing just twice in the league to open up a 10-point gap at the top as they cruise towards their 25th German league title.

Last season's runners-up Dortmund never got their season off the ground, languishing in last place right after the winter break before a seven-game unbeaten run saw them bounce back and chase a European spot with eight matches left in the campaign.

"One does not have to be a big prophet to know that Borussia Dortmund are not happy with their current position in the table," Rummenigge said.

"But they still have a chance for a Europa League spot. We have to prepare for that and the fact that it will be hard. It will be a difficult game and we have a lot of respect for our opponents."

There is no love lost between the two clubs as Bayern have snapped up Dortmund's Mario Goetze and Robert Lewandowski in the past seasons, both crowd favourites at the Ruhr valley club.

Dortmund's good run in the past two months has raised hopes among fans of winning the one game that could prove decisive for their season.

Defeat at home would not just be a further prestige blow after their loss in Munich earlier in the season but would also see them lose ground in their bid for a top-six finish with Dortmund in 10th spot on 33 points.

"We have to do a lot of things right, play like we did against Schalke 04 (in a 3-0 win). We want to win if we want to keep an eye on the Europa League," Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang told reporters.

Billionaire denies plans to buy Milan

The billionaire chairman of Chinese drinks maker Hangzhou Wahaha Group Co has knocked back reports he is planning a bid for struggling Italian soccer giants AC Milan, currently controlled by Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Zong Qinghou, worth an estimated $19 billion according to the latest annual Hurun rich list, said reports in Italian media that he was planning to purchase up to 75 percent of the Italian team were "sheer fiction".

"We have no intention of getting into the soccer sphere, and have not made any contact with AC Milan," Zong said on his official Sina Weibo microblog account on Thursday.

Reuters could not reach Wahaha for further comment.

Speculation has swirled around the Italian club, one of the country's most prestigious teams, but which has struggled since last winning a league title in 2011.

Thai businessman Bee Taechaubol said in February he had held "cordial and private" discussions with the club, prompting Berlusconi to respond that he was not interested in selling his controlling stake.

China's billionaires have been starting to snap up sporting assets outside the country's borders.

In January, property conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group bought 20 percent of Spanish soccer champions Atletico Madrid for 45 million euros ($48.45 million), becoming the first Mainland company to invest in a top European club.

Media reports in China had suggested Wanda may also be interested in taking a stake in AC Milan as part of plans to deepen its push into sports and entertainment.

Zong, however, said Wahaha would prefer to look within China's borders rather than overseas.

"Even if we wanted to buy a soccer club, we would only consider a domestic team," he said.

Stars ready to fight against Usuthu

Free State Stars striker Moeketsi Sekola says that they will be going all out when they visit AmaZulu in their Absa Premiership relegation thriller on Saturday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Kick off is at 3pm.

When the teams met earlier this season in the Free State they played to a goalless stalemate and this time Sekola says they need to get the three points.

“We are going for a win and nothing else. AmaZulu are also in need of the three points so this should be an interesting match. We are all hungry and in need of points. Our coach has told us to work hard, believe ad pray,” he said.

AmaZulu extended their unbeaten run to four league matches when the claimed a 1-1 draw away to Chippa United last month.

Despite this Sekola said it will depend on who wants the points more and they are not concerned about the fact that they are playing away from home.

“To us, it is all the same whether at home or away but we put the same determination and hard work. We need to make sure that we use our opportunities wisely otherwise we will be punished. AmaZulu have good players and we respect that,” he said.

Usuthu are placed 16th on the Absa Premiership log with 17 points from 23 matches and coming to this match they will be hoping to increase their points.

Namibian international and AmaZulu defender Willem Mwedihanga said the spirit in the camp has been good and they are determined to hit the ground running when they are playing at home.

“Honestly speaking we have no reason but to win this match. We have been in good form of late and we must continue from there. The break has been good, most of us were away but the rest of the guys continued to work hard,” he said.

Stars suffered a second successive league defeat when they were beaten 2-1 at Moroka Swallows in their last outing.

The Free State side has claimed six points from 12 away matches this season and is placed 14th on the Absa Premiership log with 22 points from 23 matches.

Mwedihanga said playing them will not come easy and they must be prepared to fight hard as Stars are almost in a similar situation as them.

“We must be prepared to fight, Stars also need the three points just like us so we must just work hard and support one another in the field of play. If we work as team nothing is impossible,” he said.

Spartak Moscow mull over Emenike

Russian club, Spartak Moscow are set to make a €10 million bid for Nigeria international striker, Emmanuel Emenike.

Eurosport TR claims that the Russians are looking to bring Emenike back to the club following three successful seasons that saw him net 24 times in all competitions for the Narodnaya Komanda between 2011 and 2013.

Emenike, the reports say, would however prefer a move to the Premier League over one to Russia.

Meanwhile, the striker, currently in the books of Turkish club, Fenerbahçe is expected to be dropped to the bench for Fenerbahce’s Süper Lig game against Caykur Rizespor this weekend.

The Fenerbahçe manager Ismail Kartal is expected to start the game with the experienced Cameroon striker, Pierre Webo, upfront with Emenike dropping back to the bench following the much publicized incident of his last league appearance on March 22.

Drama, denials and abuse

Meanwhile, Fenerbahçe have rejected suggestions that Emenike was racially abused during the club’s last league game-the Istanbul derby-against Besiktas.

Emenike has been in poor form recently and missed a glorious opportunity to open the scoring against Besiktas at Sükrü Saracoglu Stadyumu on March 22.

A section of the Fenerbahçe support did not take kindly to the miss and subsequently went on to boo the striker’s every touch.

In a swift reaction, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has revealed that it will be lodging a “strongly worded letter of complaint” to the Turkish Football Federation over the incident.

'Disgust at a filthy action'

The NFF says Emenike was racially abused and will now dispatch correspondence to that effect to the Turkish FA.

NFF President, Amaju Pinnick said the incidents were “shameful” and called on Fenerbahçe Football Club to open an investigation as he “express his disgust at the filthy action against the Super Eagles’ star.”

“We (NFF) condemn in its entirety the shameful conduct of the Fenerbahce FC fan and we demand that the club investigate this incident to fish out the fellow who taunted our international player.

“It is unacceptable to be racially abused on the field of play or anywhere for that matter, but for that abuse to come from your own club’s fan is the height of it,” Pinnick was quoted as saying on the NFF’s official website, www.thenff.com.

But Fenerbahçe have released an official statement on stating that Emenike was not racially abused.

The club also confirmed that a Twitter account posing as Emmanuel Emenike and claiming to be a victim of racist abuse is indeed fake.

The Twitter account in question has since been suspended for impersonating the Nigerian international.

“Due to some news that have been caused by unreal posts from some fake accounts on the name of Emmanuel Emenike on Twitter, it has been considered necessary to make this statement.

“Our player Emmanuel Emenike’s official twitter account is @E29EMENIKE. Please do not consider other fake accounts,” the statement read.

Unanswered prayers, hopes and tears

Emenike has been in wretched form in front of goal this season, netting just four times in the league for the Yellow Canaries.

The Fenerbahçe manager Ismail Kartal has now revealed that he prayed for Emenike to score and break his poor run of form in the derby against Besiktas on Sunday.

Emenike’s poor run coincided with his rather testy relationship with the fans with things reaching a nadir on Sunday.

Kartal said he hoped the striker would score to take the monkey off his back.

“I prayed for Emenike to score and win over the fans again,” Kartal told Lig Tv.

It is still unclear what the reaction of the fans will be when next Emenike pulls on the yellow strip but Kartal urging for calm.

“The fans need to be more patient and understanding, he cannot change around his fortunes with everyone getting on his back,” he added.

Grant advises local players

Black Stars coach, Avram Grant, has offered some words of advice to local-based players over their career choices.

Over the past decade, footballers in the Ghana Premier League and lower divisions have developed the strong penchant for seeking greener pastures just after probably one breakthrough season instead of probably playing a bit longer to mature before moving on to the bigger leagues in Europe and other continents.

The trend over the years, has been largely attributed to low salary levels and the lack of chance to break through to the senior national team squad. It has almost looked like players get called up to the Black Stars mostly when they make the step out of the country.

The 60-year-old ex-Chelsea manager has recommended that players in the domestic league stay a bit longer to mature before moving out.

“If I can give them advice, sometimes it’s better to stay in the league in Ghana for one or two more years to develop before going to Europe.”

“Because in football if you are good it doesn’t matter where you play everything will go on well with you.” Grant said.

Grant himself, has recently come for some bashing for calling only one local goalkeeper Fatau Dauda in the Black Stars squad for last month’s friendlies with Senegal and Mali.

Duncan wants champs stuff from Kotoko

Kotoko head coach David Duncan has urged his players to begin ‘thinking and exhibiting traits’ of champions.

Having secured a 0-0 first leg result in the round of 32 of the 2015 Caf Champions League, the 23-time Ghanaian League champions will host Algerian side MC El Eulma in the reverse leg in Kumasi on Sunday.

Addressing the press in an official pre-match briefing on Wednesday, Duncan believes his players must always display the highest level of output as the club’s status makes them a standard for others to follow.

“If you are playing for Kotoko then you have to consider yourself to be amongst the best. Kotoko, if not the best in Africa, then certainly is the best in Ghana and therefore if you are a player of this club, you should have the mindset of being the best," the 51-year-old said.

"A player for Kotoko should think of himself as being the standard for many players to measure themselves with and therefore they should start thinking and exhibiting such traits.”

On Sunday’s game, Duncan who has just played three official games and won all believes his team has the trump card to advance.

“I expect Kotoko to progress because we have the pedigree and the players to progress. The boys have that trump card,” he said.

“We are cautiously optimistic that we will prevail on Sunday. I don't know how we will shape up now but we will put out a formidable team.”

“We're doing everything possible to ensure that we progress, including working on our stamina and penalty kicks. We're considering all options. Our primary objective is to keep a clean sheet and attack as much as we can to score and also not concede,” Duncan ended.

The porcupine warriors need just any winning scoreline on Sunday to advance to the 1/18th stage to face one of Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien or Semasi Club of Togo.