Ribery ruled fit, Martinez return likely

Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has been passed fit for Wednesday's Champions League match with Viktoria Plzen while Javi Martinez could also make his long-awaited comeback, coach Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday.

Ribery missed the 4-1 win over Mainz 05 on Saturday after sustaining a minor ankle injury in final training and was rested as a precaution.

"Franck is fine and he trained very well today," Guardiola told reporters. "We are also very satisfied with Javi, he also trained well today. I will decide tomorrow if he will get some playing time."

The Spain international has not played since undergoing groin surgery in early September.

Bayern top Group D with two wins out of two, three ahead of second-placed Manchester City who take on CSKA Moscow.

Guardiola will also have a fully fit Mario Goetze at his disposal with the new signing having fully recovered from an injury sustained in late August.

"Mario is very special, especially in tight spaces and he needs little time for decisions. He is improving by the day," said Guardiola, who is in his first season at treble winners Bayern.

The Spaniard said he was eyeing two wins against the Czech opponents to secure a spot in the knockout stage.

"Normally we should be in a position to advance to the round of 16 after four games," he said.

Ronaldo calls for Bale patience

Cristiano Ronaldo knows a thing or two about high expectations and the Portuguese forward has urged people not to put excessive pressure on his new Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bale and allow him time to settle in.

Bale succeeded Ronaldo as the world's most expensive player when he joined Real from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of €100 million in the close season but he has barely featured after being sidelined with a thigh strain.

The Wales winger was a second-half substitute in Saturday's 2-0 La Liga win at home to Malaga, winning a late penalty converted by Ronaldo, and could play in Wednesday's Champions League Group B clash against Juventus at the Bernabeu.

Lining up against the Italian champions would be the first genuine test as a Real player for the 24-year-old Bale, who scored on his debut in a 2-2 La Liga draw at Villarreal.

"People are putting a lot of pressure on him because of what he cost and all that but I don't think it's good for him," Ronaldo said at a news conference on Tuesday.

"If you want to try to help him don't put too much pressure on him... leave him alone," added the 28-year-old, top scorer in Europe's elite club competition this term with five goals in two appearances.

"He hasn't had it easy as his pre-season was disrupted and then he got the injury.

"If you talk to him you can tell he is very excited about playing and being part of the team.

"I am 100 percent sure he will be great for the team because he is a fantastic player and a wonderful person. He always wants to learn, which is the most important thing."

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed all his players, including Bale, were available for the Juve game with the exception of Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso, who is recovering from a broken foot.

Victory for the nine-time continental champions would give Real a maximum nine points from three matches and put them on the brink of qualification for the last 16 with three group games remaining.

Ancelotti dismissed a reporter's suggestion Ronaldo and Bale would struggle to fit into the same team.

The right-footed Ronaldo typically operates on the left wing and sets up many of his goals by dashing into the middle, while the left-sided Bale is normally deployed on the right.

"I think that the good players have to play together and it's good for the team that they play together," Ancelotti said.

"This debate is not within Real Madrid it is external," added the Italian, a former Juve coach.

"They have zero problem playing together. One is used to playing on the left, the other on the right so there is absolutely no problem.

Beckham surrendered part of career

David Beckham thought he was too big for Manchester United and later surrendered part of his career by moving to the United States to play for LA Galaxy, former United manager Alex Ferguson said in his autobiography published on Tuesday.

In "My Autobiography", published by Hodder and Stoughton, Ferguson chronicles the years from Manchester United's treble-winning season in 1999 to the time he ended 27 years in charge of one of the world's biggest football clubs.

Those waiting with bated breath for its contents to be revealed would not have been disappointed either with Ferguson's dejection at Beckham's obsession with celebrity or Roy Keane's "frightening" rages which are covered in candid detail.

Ferguson's 27 years at Old Trafford, before retiring at the end of last season after a 13th Premier League title, were the most successful of any British manager.

During a time of huge change in the football landscape the one constant to emerge was Ferguson's total authority, however big the egos or the salaries of those under his command.

In a chapter devoted to Beckham, Ferguson says the former England captain "surrendered" part of his career when opting to join LA Galaxy in 2007 from Real Madrid, after being sold to the Spanish powerhouse by Ferguson in 2003.

"There was no footballing reason for him to go to America," Ferguson said. "He was giving up top level football as well as the international game. You should never surrender what you're good at."

Ferguson also questioned Beckham's lifestyle.

"David was the only player I managed who chose to be famous, who made it his mission to be known outside the game."

Ferguson, who famously kicked a boot at Beckham's head during a halftime row, said the midfielder eventually thought he was bigger than the club.

"David thought he was bigger than Alex Ferguson...the name of the manager is irrelevant. Authority is what counts."

Ferguson's fallout with former skipper Keane also led to the Irishman departing.

Keane left Ferguson fuming after criticising his teammates on the club's TV channel in 2005.

"What you did in that video was a disgrace," Ferguson recalls of his reaction to Keane.

Ferguson said the breaking point was when Keane accused him of bringing his private life into the club.

"The hardest part of Roy's body is his tongue," Ferguson wrote. "What I noticed that day as I was arguing with him was his eyes narrowed to black beads. It was frightening to watch. And I'm from Glasgow."

Ferguson's relationship with Wayne Rooney became strained in 2010 when the striker said he would not sign a new contract because the club did not share his ambition.

"Wayne said we should have pursued Mesut Ozil who had joined Real Madrid from Werder Bremen. My reply was that it was none of his business. I told him it was his job to play and perform.

"It was a sorry episode for Wayne because it portrayed him as a money man. With the fans, it left a residue of mistrust."

Ferguson said he was offered the England manager's job before Sven-Goran Ericsson was appointed in 2001 and before that in 1999 when the job went to Kevin Keegan.

"There was no way I could contemplate taking the England job, can you imagine me doing that?," the Scot said.

"No, it wasn't a bed of nails I was ever tempted to lie on.

Cape affair dominate NFD clashes

The National First Division will take Cape Town by storm on Wednesday with three fixtures, which were postponed earlier due to unfavourable weather conditions, scheduled to take place in different parts of the city.

Log leaders Milano United will look to extend their winning streak to six matches when they host Baroka FC at the Wynberg Military Base at 3:30pm.

United are currently at the top of the table with a perfect haul of 15 points from five matches and another victory would see them pulling further ahead of the chasing pack.

Baroka have also enjoyed a decent start in their debut season in the NFD, winning two and drawing two of their opening five fixtures to sit in 7th place and will be no pushovers.

The other afternoon kick-off will be an anticipated Cape derby between Vasco Da Gama and Chippa United at Parow Park .

The Chilli Boys are unbeaten this season, winning three out of their five clashes and will go into the game as favourites against a Vasco side that has failed to win in their last four outings.

Chippa are currently in third place with 11 points, five more than Vasco who are currently stuck in the bottom half of the table in 11th place.

The last fixture of the day between Santos and Sivutsa Stars will kick-off at 7:30pm at the Coetzenburg Stadium.

Santos came back from two goals down to hold United FC to a 2-2 draw on Sunday, their fourth in a row, but coach David Notoane says he was happy with the fighting spirit they showed away from home.

"I was pleased with the character from the boys; we never gave up and we kept plugging away,” he told the club’s website.

"A draw is not the desired result because we were really pushing to get three points out of this game but to go to Rustenburg and play the way we did and end the game the way we did has really lifted the team ahead of the match with Sivutsa Stars tomorrow."

Sivutsa edged Thanda Royal Zulu 1-0 in their last encounter and will be looking to register their first away win of the season.

Bucs, Arrows vying for TKO semi

Orlando Pirates will look to book their place in the semifinals of the Telkom Knockout when they meet Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening, kick-off at 7:30pm.

The Buccaneers defeated Mpumalanga Black Aces 3-1 in the previous round with Lennox Bacela scoring a brace before Oupa Manyisa added a third.

Roger De Sa’s side have also just returned from Tunisia where they drew 1-1 against Esperance to book their place in the CAF Champions League.

However, defender Happy Jele says they now need to shift their attention to domestic affairs and try to progress to the next round.

“For us, it’s time to put or heads down because we’re coming from a crucial game on Saturday and now we have another game on Wednesday so we need to focus,” said Jele.

“It’s difficult because we travel a lot and we play many games but we are adjusting.

“We respect Arrows and they need to respect us as well, but we want to go out there to enjoy the game and also work hard to get through to the next stage.

“I believe they will come wanting to beat us and we don’t have to relax thinking we’re just going to beat them.”

Arrows, on the other hand, booked their place in the last eight when they came back twice to beat Bidvest Wits 3-2 with Bongi Ntuli scoring a brace before Rudolf Bester netted a late winner.

Former Chippa United coach Mark Harrison then took over the reins at Abafana Bes’thende after Manqoba Mngqithi had tendered his resignation and this match will be his first test.

However, captain Thanduyise Khuboni is confident that his side will put up a good fight as they look to end Pirates’ recent dominance over them.

“Playing against Pirates is never easy, especially playing them away from home, but it’s up to us as experienced players to lead by example,” said Khuboni.

“It’s going to be a difficult game, they have a lot of top players and they are doing well at the moment but we are prepared for the game and we’ll go into it with a positive mentality.

“We have a new coach but we’ve been working hard at training and we’ll do our best on Wednesday.”

The two sides have met twice in the Telkom Knockout with both encounters ending in favour of the Soweto giants.

Pirates defeated Arrows 1-0 in the first round in 2010, before registering a 3-1 win in the semifinals in 2011 en route to winning the cup.

Bucs defender Siya Sangweni is out injured and will not be able to face his former club, while Arrows will be without brace-hero Ntuli, who is suspended for this clash.

Sinclair rubbishes NPFL

Former Super Eagles coach, Monday Sinclair watched a good number of matches in the just-concluded 2012/13 Nigeria Professional Football League season (NPFL) and he has passed a damning verdict on the quality of football on display in the Nigerian top flight.

Sinclair is shocked at the “poor standard of football displayed by Premier League clubs” and believes footballers on the books of the 20 top flight clubs need to “be educated.”

“I watched many games this season. I was shocked at poor standard of football displayed by Premier League clubs. You see a player with the ball and his teammates failing to spread out for a pass. They instead run towards the opponents. It’s shocking. Our players need education,” Sinclair told supersport.com.

The veteran trainer also discussed the issue of coaching insisting that the country’s new generation coaches must step up their game and “acquire keen observational skills, diagnostic abilities and judgmental capacities.”

“The coaches must acquire keen observational skills, diagnostic abilities and judgmental capacities.

“I have discussed with fellow veteran coaches and we are willing to assist the coaches in this regard.

“We are ready to tour the country, visit clubs and impart our ideas to them,” he said.

A talented professional footballer in his time, Sinclair was feared across the land as one of the most potent strikers in the country.

He played for the Nigeria Tobacco Company, Ibadan Lions, Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) and the Nigerian national team.

He was discovered by the Late Ayo Adeniji (former coach of the legendary Ibadan Lions), Sinclair, now 75 years old, is still going strong as he has returned to his first love of discovering young talents.

He is credited to have discovered players like Richard Owubokiri, Benjy Nziakor, Peter Rufai, Finidi George, Taribo West, Emmanuel “waist-breaker” Ebiede (Inikior), Davidson Owumi, Idah Peterside, Binebi Numa, Imama Amapakabo and many others.

Sinclair played for Nigeria’s senior national football team, the Green Eagles, between 1963 and 1964.

His finest moments in the green and white were recorded when Nigeria played against Swedish club, Malmo and the Kwame Nkrumah Gold Cup that involved teams in the West Africa zone.

Strangely, Sinclair’s role was altered by Nigeria’s coach at the time, Dan Anyiam and the feared striker metamorphosed to became the no-nonsense defender.

Albert Onyewuna, Paul “Wonder Boy” Hamilton, Asuquo Ekpe, John Egbuonu, Emmanuel Ezekwe, Victor Iyamu, Sebastian Brodericks Imaseun and many others were Sinclair’s teammates at the national team.

The soft-spoken Sinclair is one of the few men to have played for and coached Nigeria.

His reign as Super Eagles Coach lasted three years (1997 to 1999).

During that period, the exciting young striker, Kenneth Zeigbo shot to prominence in the Super Eagles.

Sinclair's coaching philosophy especially at Sharks meant he was light years ahead of his time as Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola would have been pleased to watch his teams keep possession.

He also coached Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland), Niger Tornadoes and Bayelsa United.

Deja vu as Milan face Barcelona

AC Milan's story the last two years has been one of inconsistent form, a perennial injury crisis and losing to old rivals Barcelona.

So far this season, their form has been erratic as ever with only three wins in eight Serie A matches, and the injuries have continued to pile up. On Tuesday, they will be hoping to vary the routine by beating the Catalans.

The two sides have met six times in the last two seasons with Barcelona predictably dominating. They have knocked seven-time champions Milan out of the Champions League twice in a row, in the quarterfinals two seasons ago and in the round of 16 last term, and enjoyed a win and a draw in two group stage meetings in 2011/12.

Milan's only win in those six matches was in the first leg of last season's round of 16 clash, but they were overwhelmed 4-0 in the return.

With Barcelona yet to concede a goal or drop a point in Group H, Milan clearly have a tall order although, whatever happens on Tuesday, both sides should comfortably progress, Ajax Amsterdam and Celtic having so far managed only one point between them.

For the second season in a row, Milan, who seem to be stuck in an interminable transitional phase, have made a slow start. They have taken 11 points from eight games in Serie A and have already dropped 13 points behind leaders AS Roma, suggesting that once again they will have to focus on next season's Champions League rather than challenging for the title..

Most of their points have been won through sheer grit and determination rather well-polished performances.

Remarkably, nine of Milan's last 13 goals have come in the last 10 minutes of their games, including all three they have scored in the Champions League.

Allegri's side scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Celtic in the dying minutes and needed a stoppage time penalty to draw at Ajax.

In the league, they scored twice in the last five minutes to draw 2-2 at Torino and repeated the trick in a 3-3 draw at Bologna, where they trailed 3-1 until the 89th minute.

Most frustrating of all has been the continued injury crisis with goalkeeper Christian Abbiati, defender Daniele Bonera and Mattia De Sciglio and forwards Stephan El Shaarawy, Mario Balotelli and Giampaolo Pazzini all in the treatment room.

El Shaarawy has not played since September 1 after suffering first a thigh injury and then a microfracture of his foot, Pazzini has been out since May with a knee injury and Bonera since July.

Balotelli missed Saturday's 1-0 win over Udinese with a thigh muscle injury he suffered during Italy's World Cup qualifier against Armenia and is doubtful for Tuesday.

Last month, former Milan forward Alexandre Pato, who suffered an astonishing sequence of muscular injuries at the club, questioned the treatment at Milan.

"During one-and-a-half years there, I played, I got injured, I was out for one month, I got injured again... Since I came back to Brazil, I haven't had any more injuries," said Pato, who joined Corinthians in January

"The treatment there is different," he said in a programme on the Brazilian cable channel Sportv. "While are you out of action, you do some work in the swimming pool and a little bit of physiotherapy. Then in one week they make you put in a lot of effort.

"I think it all shows that what happened to me at Milan had nothing to do with me, as other players are still getting injured. I was not to blame."

Allegri replied at the time that Pato should have a sense of self-criticism instead of making "gratuitous accusations."

Barcelona dropped their first league points of the season in a 0-0 draw at Osasuna on Saturday, when Lionel Messi came on in the second half for his first appearance since suffering a thigh injury at the end of last month.