Rugby Blackout

This is from the SAPA news wire today.....

RPT-ADVISORY-RUGBY

JOHANNESBURG Sept 7 Sapa

SUSPENSION OF COVERAGE - RUGBY WORLD CUP

(NEWS EDS/SUBS: NOT FOR BROADCAST/PUBLICATION. FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY)

Due to the suspension of coverage by the world's leading news agencies of the Rugby World Cup in France starting on September 7, Sapa regrets to inform subscribers no match reports, results or other reports regarding the event, will be issued by Sapa.

Once the suspension is lifted, normal service will commence.

Sapa


WOW!!!!

Camp Staaldraad, MATE???

By the time the Wallabies get to France for next month's Rugby World Cup, training and match days will look easy after their commando-style "boot camp".

On Stradbroke Island, the Wallabies are in the hands of a group of former Special Air Service commandos - Australia's top soldiers - in a camp where food and sleep deprivation and tough hikes and other outdoor activities play a bonding role over five days.

On their first night on Sunday, Australian Associated Press reported that the players were woken at 10 pm, forced to leave camp and taken on a three-kilometre march before swimming 300 metres across a lake while the air temperature was below zero degree Celsius.

The Wallabies rappelled down cliffs on Monday morning before another long hike scheduled in the afternoon.

All of the 30-man World Cup squad were taking part except for three players with injuries - Guy Shepherdson, Wycliff Palu and David Lyons.

Most of the Wallabies support staff were also taking part, but head coach John Connolly and team manager Phil Thomson were observers.

"In Australia's rugby history there has been great spirit in our sides and these four or five days will go a long way to building that," Connolly said on Monday.

The boot camp is not designed to be as tough as that experienced by the Australian cricket team last year, with rugby management concerned that with the start of the World Cup just over a month away, the squad did not want any additional injuries.

"We've tailored the programme to suit our needs with the World Cup close," said Connolly. "It's not the pre-season, but we haven't made it easy either."

WORLD CUP OVERSHADOWS ALL BLACKS, SPRINGBOKS TEST

In the history of two of rugby's fiercest rivals -- the All Blacks and Springboks -- it is hard to think of a Test that means so little as Saturday's Tri-Nations encounter.

Instead the championship, the jewel in the crown of southern hemisphere rugby has been totally upstaged by the World Cup in France later this year robbing this weekend's Test at Jade Stadium of its traditional prestige.

Springboks coach Jake White is resting his top 20 players, not willing to risk them two months out from the World cup, while All Blacks coach Gaham Henry is fielding a team with players selected because he says they need game time.

"The reality is that both nations have put huge premiums on the rugby World Cup this year," White said.

"One can look at this test in isolation and feel aggrieved ... but let me tell you, the World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand in France, people aren't going to worry about what happened in Christchurch.

"You'll see the best players playing each other in France and I guess that's where everyone wants to get to on October 20 (when the final is played)."

Despite the watered-down nature of Saturday's clash, and the fact the odds are stacked against South Africa who have not won in New Zealand for nine years, Springboks forwards coach Gert Smal has tried to talk up the passion.

"The game is not made for sissies," Smal declared when told many All Blacks believe their captain Richie McCaw was the target of cheap shots off the ball in their Tri-Nations opener last month.

The Wallabies were also unhappy with the way the Springboks targeted George Smith in Sydney last weekend.

"As far as I know our instructions will always be to the players to keep it as clean as possible and play the game as hard as possible as well," Smal said, adding that Test players should expect to be physically tested.

"I won't call it cheap shots. I think it is a physical game.

"You can't run away from the physical part of the game and you have to be able to deal with it."

McCaw said his side paid the ultimate price for focusing too much on their opening Tri-Nations 26-21 win over South Africa in Durban, and did not adjust well to the follow-up game when they lost 15-20 to Australia in Melbourne.

But he doubted that would be an issue this week.

"You've got to use it (loss) to your advantage," he said.

"It made us take a good look at what we got wrong. Perhaps the week before we glossed over a few things that we didn't get quite right in South Africa.

"I know a lot of the guys are hurting ... if we don't learn from this experience, then this team's in trouble."

Australia lead the series with two wins from three matches.

South Africa's sole chance of winning the series is to achieve a bonus point victory over the All Blacks to go to the top of the ladder while hoping the All Blacks beat Australia in their rematch next week.

Two wins, or one bonus point victory, to the All Blacks in their last two matches will see them retain the title.

Meanwhile, if either South Africa or New Zealand take heed of recent history, they will do well to fall off the pace in the first half on Saturday night.

All four Tri-Nations Tests so far this year have been won by the team trailing at halftime.

Teams (15-1)

All Blacks: Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett, Isaia Toeava, Luke McAlister, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Daniel Carter, Piri Weepu, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Reuben Thorne, Chris Jack, Keith Robinson, Carl Hayman, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Jerry Collins, Chris Masoe, Brendon Leonard, Conrad Smith, Nick Evans.

South Africa: JP Pietersen, Breyton Paulse, Waylon Murray, Wynand Olivier, Jaco Pretorius, Derick Hougaard, Ruan Pienaar, Jacques Cronje, Pedrie Wannenburg, Wikus van Heerden, Johann Muller (captain), Albert van den Berg, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, CJ van der Linde.

Reserves: Gary Botha, Eddie Andrews, Gerrie Britz, Hilton Lobberts, Michael Claassens, Peter Grant, Tonderai Chavhanga

F1 'SPYING' ROW COMES TO LONDON COURT

A bitter row between the Ferrari and McLaren Formula One teams over alleged espionage in Formula One came to London's High Court Tuesday.

Ferrari engineer Nigel Stepney was sacked after being accused of supplying McLaren's chief designer Mike Coughlan with over 500 pages of secret Ferrari technical information in April.

At Tuesday's preliminary hearing in a case relating to the intellectual property dimension of the row, Coughlan and his wife Trudy were ordered to pay costs following an early morning search of their home by officials last week.

Nigel Tozzi, the lawyer representing Ferrari, told Justice Michael Briggs that the Coughlans should not have had documents which were found during the search.

The defendants had "behaved disgracefully," he said, adding that Ferrari could have remained "blissfully ignorant" of what had happened had it not been for a tip-off.

For the Coughlans, Martin Palmer argued that the defendants had behaved responsibly and any decision should be delayed pending further interim hearings.

The judge noted that Coughlan, who was in court, behaved in an "entirely appropriate" manner when the search was conducted but ruled that payment should be made.

The case was adjourned until Wednesday amid a legal complication.

McLaren was not represented at the hearing.

Stepney, who denies any wrongdoing, is facing a criminal investigation under a separate process in Italy.

Gregan Wants Boks Out Too

Australia and New Zealand could ditch South Africa from the Tri Nations rugby competition and find a new partner, veteran Wallabies scrumhalf George Gregan said Thursday.

Gregan hit out at the Springboks, who have named an understrength team for Saturday's Tri Nations test against Australia, saying New Zealand and Australia could exclude South Africa from future Tri Nations play.

"If someone's not happy in a partnership, then obviously it's got to be dissolved and you've got to find a new way to move forward, and there's always been a really strong relationship between Australia and New Zealand," Gregan said.

"If that was to happen, you'd be able to find something which would work and it would give opportunities to a lot of the Pacific Islanders, other teams...Argentina, who knows.

"But they'd be able to come up with another concept if they (the South Africans) wanted to align themselves with the northern hemisphere."

Gregan was echoing comments from Australian rugby officials, angered by the Springbok's selection of second string teams in this year's Tri Nations, who have said South Africa's playing future might lie in Europe.

Those officials have suggested the Sanzar partnership of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa might be altered to exclude South Africa and include Argentina or a Pacific Islands combination.

SANZAR FOUNDER WANTS BOKS OUT

The South African Rugby Union is "an absolute disgrace" and the Springboks should be kicked out of the Tri-Nations, says David Moffett, one of the chief architects of SANZAR.

Moffett, the former head of the NRL and New Zealand, Wales and NSW rugby unions, told an Australian newspaper, The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia and New Zealand had to cut South Africa from the next television deal, and instead play more trans-Tasman matches.

"It is imperative that Australia and New Zealand cast South Africa adrift," Moffett said. "The players are just getting killed by all the travel."

And rather than having a Super 14 with five South African provinces, Moffett said the tournament should be disbanded and replaced by a Super 10 competition with five New Zealand teams and five Australian teams, with the fifth Australian team being based in Melbourne.

He added that when expansion was required, national teams from the Pacific Islands, based in Australia and New Zealand, should be included.

In 1996, Moffett was heavily involved in the formation of SANZAR, the Super 12 and Tri-Nations, but is now a vocal opponent. Speaking from New Zealand, where he recently moved after leaving the Welsh Rugby Union, Moffett said this Saturday's Test at Telstra Stadium had been tarnished by South Africa leaving 20 of their best players behind.

Moffett has been particularly trenchant on the subject in his newspaper column with The Press newspaper in Christchurch. He wrote at the weekend that: "With friends like South Africa who needs enemies? The SARU are an absolute disgrace and should be told immediately by NZ and Australia that they will not be required when the next television rights deal is negotiated [in 2010].

"We are led to believe that all three SANZAR countries had agreed to field their strongest teams, and in fact NZ and Australia had sent their best available players [to South Africa] and filled the stadia and coffers of SARU.

"What was the response of our supposed partner? They waited until after the second Test and selected a B team. If I was a paranoid type I would be thinking conspiracy. Denying NZ and Australia hard match practice against one of the best teams in the world in the lead-up to the World Cup will obviously harm the preparation of the All Blacks and Wallabies.

"Of course, the other injured party in this sorry saga of selfishness by SARU is SANZAR's major financial partner, News Limited. Their response so far has been muted, but I can imagine their fury behind the scenes."

Moffett said there was a simple solution - "ditch South Africa from the next TV deal".

"They behave more and more like northern hemisphere unions and should make it official by playing in competitions in the north," he said.

"New Zealand and Australia can get a much better deal for fans, players, sponsors and broadcasters by playing three Bledisloes a year, and a home and away trans-Tasman Super 10 competition. Selfishness seems to be the order of the day in the professional rugby era and perhaps now is the time for Australia and NZ to play that game."

Moffett said as the South Africans had treated Australia and New Zealand with disdain, the two countries should consider organising important lead-up matches in the UK just before the World Cup, so that they hit the tournament with match fitness and form.

STORMERS COACH BACKS GRANT

Western Province and Stormers coach Kobus van der Merwe, believes Peter Grant could make the Springbok No10 shirt his own during South Africa's upcoming away leg of the 2007 Tri-Nations.

Most of this week's talk has surrounded Jake White's decision to rest his best players from SA's annual Australasian jaunt, with new additions Peter Grant (fly-half) and Jannie du Plessis (prop) slipping in under the radar.

Van der Merwe, however, was full of praise for Stormers and WP pivot Grant, who impressed at flyhalf for the Emerging Springboks team that won the International Rugby Board (IRB) Nations Cup earlier this month.

And with Butch James being rested, Grant - who missed most of last year's Currie Cup with a serious shoulder injury, having played the first three matches at inside centre - will slug it out with Derick Hougaard for the Bok fly-half position over the next few weeks.

Hougaard, who played fly-half for South Africa at the 2003 Rugby World Cup before falling out of favour at national level, started against Samoa last month, but White is not a massive fan of the Bulls kicking machine.

"Peter [Grant] won't disappoint, he is an excellent player in good form," said Van der Merwe to Gareth Green of rugby365.com.

Aside from Grant, Van der Merwe wished WP's other four Bok representatives the best of luck for the upcoming tour, in particular scrum-half Johannes 'Bolla' Conradie, who has not played much of late.

"Bolla just got back from injury though, so he'll be a little rusty," warned the WP coach.

Conradie has been out injured since the Super 14 competition, having undergone an elbow operation. But touring with the Boks is nothing new to the George Gregan lookalike, who made his Test debut against Wales in 2002. Conradie, who is 29 years old, has played 15 Tests between '02 and 2005.

Van der Merwe, meanwhile, backed Jake White's much-talked about rotation policy, which will see SA's top 21 players miss the trip Down Under, much to the astonishment of the powers that be in Australia and New Zealand.

Said Van der Merwe: "Jake has his plan and he knows what he wants."

MBEKI DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE OVER RUGBY: KOMPELA

Rumours that President Thabo Mbeki was involved in a conspiracy to take over rugby were untrue, the chairman of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Sports, Butana Kompela, said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the rugby unions' transformation briefing in Parliament, Kompela said while the rumours were not true, they were quite damaging.

"Transformation is national agenda of the constitution and not the agenda of an individual.

"I can assure you that there is no one in this country who would want to take over rugby, all that we want to achieve is transformation of this sport... " he said.

By not refuting Mbeki's conspiracy claims, the rugby sport leadership, Kompela said, was creating an impression that there was substance to the rumours.

"Despite the fact that these rumours are being published in newspapers, the rugby leadership has not distanced itself from them.

"We want the leadership to brief us on the issue and tell us what their position is," he said.

Wie not Wii

A row between the world's two best known women golfers is raising the temperature for this week's LPGA Championship, with Annika Sorenstam saying Michelle Wie lacked class in dealing with a wrist injury.

Former world number one Sorenstam took issue with a decision by teenager Wie to withdraw from a tournament last week when she was 14 over par, citing a wrist injury, only to practise two days later.

"I just feel there's a little bit of a lack of respect and class just to leave a tournament like that and then come out and practise here," Sorenstam told a news conference.

Wie was 16 holes into the opening round of last week's tournament in North Carolina week when she pulled out, complaining of a wrist injury that had kept her from playing since January.

Two days later, the 17-year-old, who recently graduated from high school, was practising at the Bulle Rock Golf Course in Maryland, the site of the LPGA Championship starting on Thursday.

Wie, who is not a member of the women's tour and has played courtesy of sponsors' exemptions, including in men's events, refused to back down.

"I don't think I need to apologise for anything," she said. "I just have to take care of my body and mover forward and only think of positive things."

Adding intrigue to her withdrawal was an LPGA rule that any non-member who shoots 88 or worse in a round is barred from the tour for the rest of the season. Wie was two bogeys away from that ignominious score.

"I don't think about [shooting] 88," she said. "I mean, that's just ridiculous."

Wie's troubles were compounded when her playing partners in a pro-am event on Monday at Bulle Rock lodged a complaint, prompting LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens to meet with Wie's father, B.J., and agent, Greg Nared.

Although the nature of the dispute was unclear, Wie was adamant she had been cooperative with her playing partners.

"I think it was very insulting because I tried my best," she said.

Wie, who earned close to $20 million in 2006 from endorsements, earnings and appearance money overseas, has struggled since tying for fifth place at last year's LPGA Championship.

CARIBBEANS DEPRESSED, NOT ENTHUSED BY CRICKET WORLD CUP

It should have put the calypso back in Caribbean cricket, celebrating the sport by bringing the game's biggest one-day tournament to countries that know how to throw a party.

Instead, they're despressed from Jamaica to Guyana and from Antigua to St. Kitts. They're fed up with everything from big business interests squashing the spontaneous fun to the lousy performances of the West Indies team and to the mysterious death of Pakistan's English coach Bob Woolmer hours after his team was eliminated in the qualifying round.

The Cricket World Cup, which still has more than three weeks to run, is playing out in grounds where the concrete is still drying, often three-quarters empty and in cities where the populations say they have been promised economic returns in return for sponsoring major building works for stadia and infrastructure.

Most critics have pointed the finger of blame at cricket's administrators.

"The International Cricket Council is ... about making money, having rules, and siding with narrow commercial interests even at the expense of basic human decency, let alone local color. The game's bosses have wrecked their own party with their greed." respected cricket journalist and former Wisden Cricketers' Almanack editor Tim de Lisle wrote.

The ICC has not been willing to address the issues. Chief executive Malcolm Speed, touring media facilities at Guyana's new Providence Stadium, was asked about the problems, but replied: "let's concentrate on watching the cricket shall we?"

Ticket prices as high as US$100, in countries where that kind of money is far out of the reach of ordinary people, have caused outrage. Locals have also been annoyed by rules that mean they cannot walk to the cricket, instead having to take taxis and buses.

Once in the grounds, impromptu party stands that blare out dance music in between overs have been banned and replaced with organized and sanitized versions.

New grounds have been built in Jamaica, Antigua and Guyana to replace crumbling ones that may not have all mod cons but which have made West Indies cricket famous for years. The Bourda in central Georgetown is now a sad relic of its glorious past, while visitors to the gleaming new stadium face a long walk.

"Cricket was always an urban pastime in the West Indies, but the new stadia have changed all that," said former England captain Mike Atherton, a television commentator at the tournament.

Former pace bowler Curtley Ambrose said he felt the ICC had removed the local flavor from the tournament.

"To be hosting the World Cup should be something special. We are a small nation and we should feel proud. In terms of a West Indian flavor, we are used to the music and the cooking under the stands. The prices are ridiculous. In these hard times, it's crazy to ask people to pay 100 U.S. dollars."

In a region where cricket is under constant threat from other sports, fans have voted with their feet and stayed away in big numbers. The shock elimination of cricket giants India and Pakistan was a shock to organizers. Thousands of cricket lovers from the two countries had been expected to fill hotel rooms throughout the region.

Now, home owners who said they redecorated their houses to let them to cricket tourists are complaining they have thrown away the money.

The performance of the West Indies team has added to the general depression.

At their best, Caribbean cricketers set the world on fire, but those days seem to have gone. Now the team appears to be a squabbling travesty of its one-time greatness, split down national lines.

The public has sensed the mood and has not even packed stadia for West Indies matches. Just over half the tickets were sold for West Indies' match against the mighty Australians last week.

Captain Brian Lara was mystified.

"The crowd was very disappointing," said Lara, who top-scored with 77. "You sit back and think every game that West Indies play you expect a full house."

That was the case at the old Recreation Ground situated in the center of Antigua's capital St. John's. While a full crowd there watched Lara score his test record 400 not out against England in 2004, his efforts Wednesday were played out in front of three banks of totally empty temporary seating.

"I don't know what to put my finger upon as the problem," Lara said. "We just focus on the cricket and hope people do come out."

Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo leapt to the defense of the World Cup in a televised interview with veteran Caribbean cricket commentator Tony Cozier. "I think people have low expectations of us but we managed to confound all of those who did not expect us to be ready."

He said the ICC had asked Guyana to find 200 volunteers for the event and more than 1,000 had come forward.

Dome2Dome now on cycling's world map

In a big boost for South Africa cycling the PowerAde Dome2Dome Cycling Spectacular has become the first commercially owned single day cycle race in South Africa to attain sanctioning from world cycling's governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

The men's elite race now forms part of the UCI Africa Tour and it has elevated the status of the event immensely with more foreign participation and an international race referee being flown in to take care of proceedings on the day.

The men's race will also offer more prize money with almost R50 000 now on offer to meet the UCI's prize fund requirements.

The elite event takes place on 16 September and forms part of a weekend sports festival and Sports Expo at Northgate's Coca Cola Dome.

Until now the only single day road race in South Africa in which riders could earn UCI points has been the National Championships. The only other road event that carried UCI sanctioning was the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Giro del Capo stage race.

"This is really going to benefit South African cycling in a significant way," said former national team manager Tony Harding.

"It's very difficult to qualify our riders to ride at the World Championships and Olympic Games because they have to travel all over the world to earn enough UCI points.

"The Dome2Dome has taken the first step in this regard and hopefully the other major South African single day races will follow suit. This will open an avenue for riders to earn points on home soil and will ultimately go a long way in strengthening the country on the international cycling scene, which will show in our performances," he said.

Harding is involved very closely with the Dome2Dome and has been tasked to oversee the elite event to make sure it adheres to all the necessary UCI regulations. He will also work closely with the international race referee.

The elite race at the Dome has been shortened to 105km, which is the main distance presented for recreational riders on the day as well. The 174km route which they rode last year was simply too difficult to manage logistically and the organisers have decided to let it run on the main route
of the day.

The total bonanza which comprises the massive Powerade Dome2Dome offers a cycling overdose. Whether you're a road cyclist or a mountain-biker there's a race for you at the Dome2Dome.

Alongside the two road distances of 105km and 48km, there are no less than three mountain bike races over 15km, 30km, and 60km as well as some other interesting two-wheeled events which will be revealed in the next couple of months.

World Cup places up for grabs at Telkom Women’s Classic

As the Ladies African Tour winds down this week the focus for the South African players will be a place on the 2008 Women’s World Cup of Golf team.

Ashleigh Simon and Lee-Anne Pace are the frontrunners in this hotly contested chase. But a big performance in this week’s tour-ending Telkom Women’s Classic at Benoni Lakes Golf Club from either Stacy Bregman, Laurette Maritz or Kelli Shean could catapult them into serious contention.

Selection for the team is based largely on the players’ performances on the Ladies African Tour and their standing on international Order of Merits on the Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour.

Amateurs such as Simon compete for a place on the team via a points standing on the Ladies African Tour.

Simon leads the way on the points standings, lying second on 187.50, a point-and-a-half shy of Denmark’s Julie Tvede.

Bregman is next best in fourth on 166.67 points. Pace follows closely behind in fifth on 163 points, with Shean sixth on 151 points. Maritz is far off the pace in this category, placed 13^th on 92 points.

But the professionals will be focused on the money list. Pace has the edge here and is second on the money list with earnings of R56 104. She’s followed closely by Bregman on R53 938. Maritz is seventh with R33 012.

After capturing her second Acer Women’s SA Open title last week, Simon looks certain to claim her place in the Women’s world Cup of Golf team.

But her partner in 2008 is still debatable and will depend largely on this week’s event.

The Telkom Women’s Classic is the last of four events on the Ladies African Tour with a purse of R220 000.

Maritz, who is aiming to make the Women’s World Cup of Golf team for the fourth time, is the defending champion after winning last year at Zwartkop Country Club.

The veteran birdied her final two holes for a two-stroke victory over Sweden’s Antonella Cvitan, while South African Mandy Adamson and Spaniard Carmen Alonso shared third.

Tvede, who has finished second twice on the Tour at the Pam Golding Ladies International and the WPGA Masters, will be looking to win both the money list and the points standings when she tees it up on the par-72 East Rand layout.

A1GP Correction

On February 27, 2007, I wrote on this blog about a story I had heard from the Team USA at the A1Gp held in Durban. Since then, I received the letter below from Peter Burroughes from Team A1 South Africa......

"I have been asked to provide you with information that we hope will assure you that there was no safety breach at the A1GP in Durban concerning Team USA's Jonathan Summerton.

The Motorsport South Africa-appointed clerk of the course, George Portman (qualified as an 'A' grade COC by MSA, which met the FIA's requirement on the day), confirmed with me that Summerton was able to climb out of his car and exit the track via a gap in the safety wall, where he was immediately attended to by medical staff. Subsequently, he was taken to the track
hospital for further treatment.

This can clearly be seen on the video of the race, which shows a Netcare ambulance on the scene.

To my knowledge, no complaint has been received from A1 Team USA concerning the treatment (or supposed lack of treatment) received by Summerton and there was no reference to any safety breach on either Summerton's or A1 Team USA's website.

The red flag was shown in error as a result of a miscommunication."

He goes on to say that I should have contacted him and not tried the A1gp staff in the UK. Seems as if a can of worms has been opened here, or should that be a "Pandora's Box"? I am getting information from both sides of the saga now and I am digesting it before I do anything more.

It seems that there is indeed an investigation around the USA accident and communication issues that the marshals on the day were experiencing. There are also stories that the USA crash period has been taken out of the streaming video which is available on the A1gp website.

There are a few agendas at work here and I am not sure who is right and who is wrong. I will keep looking into the issue though.

This has made me very curious.

I am also asking questions about Adrian Zaugg, the 'South African' driver for Team South Africa. More to follow......

Blogging from the Cricket World World

The BBC have a blog from the Cricket World Cup in Carribean. Seems that tickets are not as cheap as they said they would be.

Check it out here....

Latest odds from William Hill can be found here....

The official site is here....

Don't forget to have some fun while you watch the cricket too.....

New Big Cycle Race in South Africa

South Africa will be the focus of the cycling world when it stages the first ever African Premier Professional Cycle Road Race – The Tour of South Africa, later this year and will join the ranks of other great national tours such as Le Tour de France and The Tour of Britain. The eight day event will start on 27 January 2008 and will consist of a peloton of 120 elite professional riders - 20 teams with six riders each, contesting a seven stage race through the dramatic yet scenic landscapes of South Africa.

An official announcement and ceremony will be made on Thursday, 8 March at the British High Commissioner’s Residence during a two hour reception and photo session.

The race will form part of the elite professional UCI African calendar in 2008 and will attract leading cycling teams from across the world as warm and sunny start to the cycle racing season. There is no qualification with teams invited to take part. Among those participating who have already confirmed their presence will include teams from the UK, Germany, Japan, China, USA and South Africa. The route is yet to be finalised, but proposed options could include stages in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and Kwazulu-Natal.

The Tour of South Africa organisers, Sweetspot Group Limited and South African commercial partner Navitute (Pty) Ltd, are working with a number of partners including, Cycling South Africa, South African Tourism, and the South African International Marketing Council to finalise the route and to maximise the impact of the race on the country’s economy. A foundation will be established to ensure surplus income is re-invested into community projects across the country.

Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive of Sweetspot said:

“The Tour of South Africa will become a landmark event in the professional cycling calendar. Its uniqueness comes from the fact that it will be Africa's premier cycle race encouraging the best teams and riders to take part on the African continent. With its sports orientated culture we believe it is an obvious location for an elite cycling race.”

The race will follow a similar model to other leading cycle races, such as the Tour of Britain and Le Tour de France. There is no single title sponsor, instead funding comes from a combination of both the public and private sector, with a host of commercial opportunities available to businesses wishing to target the South African market and international tourism markets.

Morne added:

“The race will provide South Africa with an opportunity to showcase many areas of our country to the rest of the world. It will also benefit local economies directly. In addition, it will be used to promote cycling and health related activities to the people of South Africa.”

Netball has no idea

In August last year, there was chaos in Netball South Africa. The coach left and two members of the executive left as well.

Yesterday I spoke with Nini Mthetwa, the president of Netball South Africa. The issue was the scrapping of the quota system in Netball in South Africa. I started the interview in a positive mood as I thought that, at last, the great country that we live in was being sorted out. No longer would players of colour be degraged to a "quota" player. THey would know that if they are in the national side then they would be the best player in that position in the country. Celebrations were in order.

My first question was if Netball South Africa were confident that thier development was done. The first answer I got was suprising. Instead of celebrating that there was no need for putting poor players in because of thier skin colour, the president of Netball South Africa said that the quota system had NOT been scrapped. Huh? But the press release.....

No, she said, that is only in certain places, and she went on to explain. I will try and tell you what I understood from what she said, but the three people I work with in the Afternoon Sport Show on SAfm had no idea, so what follows is the best I can do....

Netaball South Africa have a South African championships. At these champs, the best players from around the country compete to be national champions. Up to now, Netball SA has demanded that a quota system be implimented in choosing these teams. So, for example, Gauteng North had select thier squads to ensure that there was correct representaion of colour. This, in netball, is a ratio of 5:7. Five white players and seven black player OR seven white players and five black players. Either is fine as long as the rartio is correct.

That has been scrapped. The regions and teams are to now send thier best players, irrespective of colour, to the national championships. You with me so far?

From these ladies, the national squad will be selected, a group of 30 or so girls to represent the country in competition. World Champs, tests, friendlies, etc. Again, there will be no quota system here. The best girls will be selected for the squad.

But here comes the confusion.

According to Nini Mthethwa, that is where the dropping of the quota system ends. When it comes to choosing the final team, the team that takes to the court, the 5:7 ratio will again be applied. Five white and seven black OR five black and seven white......

Is it just me or are you as confused?

Why would Netball South Africa do something like this? Nini says its because the Governement says they have to.

Surely there is a point when a sport must tell the government to get stuffed? Cricket did it, there was a little bit of an uproar but it seems as if they have gotten away with it. I thnk it's high time netball did the same thing.

WARNE SAYS KIWIS, SRI LANKA MAIN THREATS

Shane Warne Friday rated New Zealand and Sri Lanka as Australia's biggest threats at this month's World Cup but gave recently-crowned world number one South Africa no chance of claiming the title.

Warne said he expected Australia to overcome their recent slump of five straight one-day international losses to win a third consecutive World Cup in the Caribbean.

"I think New Zealand and Sri Lanka are two of the danger sides," the world's leading Test cricket wicket-taker said.

"I just like the way they play. I reckon they're a chance with the small grounds and the way the wickets will play. I'm sure they'll be a very good chance," he said.

"But I don't have any doubts whatsoever about the Australian side. They'll be fine," said Warne, speaking in Adelaide.

"They've still been making 350, so if they keep making those sort of scores I'm sure they'll be okay.

"If they can sort a few little issues out and get their team right -- the one they want in terms of selections -- get their bowling right in the middle periods and in the end I'm sure they'll be fine."

Warne predicted the West Indies will rise to the occasion, while rubbishing the chances of the Proteas.

"The West Indies always seem to do well in these sorts of tournaments and the ICC Champions Trophy, so they're a bit of an outside hope. It's their home country too, so they'll play better there.

"But I don't think South Africa are a chance.

"They don't have much flair. They're very regimented. I know they're rated the number one side in the world at the moment, but I don't think they're the best side in the world."

Warne retired in January having taken a world record 708 wickets in 145 Test matches.

Sports Finance

I ran a story here a couple of days ago about how the Sports Trust is giving money away to different sporting codes that dearly need the money. Well done to them, I say, and long may it continue. The Sports Trust raises money from people like you and me. People who love sport, events and the faces around the sport. Golf days, quiz evenings and talks all go together to create a very succesful fund raising opperation.

Then there is the Lotto, who also do great things for the cinderalla sports. Some people aren't happy that money from the Lotto goes to sport, but sport does good things, sometimes. Cricket to get children off the streets in Cape Town, lifesaving to help people from not dieing comes to mind.

Weekly, on my radio show, I hear some of these smaller sports asking, no, begging for sponsorship. They keep telling me that the big money goes to the big sports. Who are these big sports? Soccer, sure, cricket, of course and then the big one, RUGBY! The traditional game played by white Afrikaans people who are racist, that according to some people in the South African Government. But that's for another day and another time.

If these three sports are sucking all of the sponsorship money from around the country, where is it going?

Today on the Supersport Zone, Dan Retief writes that the Lions and the Western Province are in financial trouble. He also mentions Boland which is a laughing stock in the world of rugby, by no fault of thier own. If these Unions are in tourble then where is the money that keeps being thrown at rugby?

Cricket seems well off. Players are off in the Carribean now playing a world cup and the team is made up of the right amount of "players of colour".

Football should have the biggest winfall. 2010 is only a few years away, new stadia are being built and houses are being rented out as we speak, but is it as well as we think it is? The answer is NO. Some players can barely make ends meet every month and most teams, even in the PSL, the top league in the richest league in Africa, are saying that they can't get sponsors. WHY??

Someone, sort this out.....

If the big three are getting ALL of the sponsor money, what is going to happen to the smaller sports in South Africa?

World Cup Cricket makes it's Rules

Format and regulations of the cricket World Cup starting in the West Indies on March 13.

1st round. The ninth edition of the World Cup will be contested by 16 teams, the most ever. In the first round they are divided into four groups of four teams and play each other once. The top two from each group qualify for the super eight.

Super eight. The winners and runners-up from the four groups will play each of the other teams except the team which advanced from their own group. The top four qualify for the semi-finals.

Semi-finals and final. The second and third place finishers will contest the first semi-final while the teams placed first and fourth will meet in the second. The winners meet in the final in Barbados on April 28.

Points: Two for a win, one for a tie or a game without result in the preliminary and super eight stages. Teams qualifying for the super eight carry forward only the points gained in the group stage against the other qualifier.

Key rules:

If the scores are equal, the match is tied regardless of the number of wickets which have fallen.

Each match comprises two sessions of 3-1/2 hours each with a 45-minute interval. First session 0930 - 1300, interval 1300 - 1345, second session 1345 - 1715

If the start is delayed or play is suspended, the match can be extended by a maximum 30 minutes.

Key innovations:

Powerplay - Fielding restrictions when only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-metre circle surrounding the wicket with at least two in catching positions will be applied in three blocks totalling 20 overs.

The first powerplay of 10 overs automatically comes into force at the start of an innings. The fielding captain must then nominate two five-over spells when restrictions will apply.

Bowl-out - Cricket's equivalent of soccer's penalty shootout if the semi-finals or final end in a tie. Bowlers from opposing teams take turns to bowl at a set of three stumps. The team with the most hits after five deliveries each is the winner.

For a full list of rules click on this link...

SAB SPORTS JOURNALISTS OF THE YEAR AWARDS - CALL FOR ENTRIES

Submission of entries for the prestigious SAB Sports Journalists of the Year Awards opens on March 1.

Dubbed “the Oscars of sports journalism”, the SAB Sports Journalists of the Year Awards have over the past 27 years established itself as the most prestigious awards for journalists covering developments in the world of sport.

The 2006 awards are for work produced between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2006. The various categories make it possible for journalists from a variety of media to enter. Categories include Print and Internet, Radio and Television (comprising 10 sub-categories) as well as overall Newcomer of the Year and Most Media-Friendly Sports Personality of the Year which is nominated by the sports media. Category winners receive R15 000 each and sub category winners R3 000 each.

All individuals are invited to submit their work or nominate others’ work, including editors, managers, colleagues and the panel of judges themselves. For the first time, a number of scouts have been appointed to submit work they think worthy.

Explains SAB communications manager Michael Farr: “We introduced this new scheme as some of the regions felt that they were at a disadvantage to the major media houses. We feel that this will go a long way to addressing these concerns. We are looking forward to a record number of entries this year with the support of the regional scouts”.

Convened by Joe Latakgomo, the judging panel for this year's print and internet awards include Paula Fray, Bokkie Gerber (Rapport), Guy Hawthorne (The Daily Sun), Gert Kotze and Bronwyn Wilkinson. Jan Snyman will convene the panel for broadcast media, with a line-up of judges including Joe Visagie (SABC Sport), Dan Retief (Supersport Zone), Arthur Molisiwa (The Star), Robin Kempthorne and Dan Setshedi.

“The judges are guided in their judging by three main criteria: integrity, overall quality and impact, as well as tailoring the writing or broadcasting for a particular target audience and balance,” says Farr. “In addition to this, elements like style, factual accuracy, originality, fairness and regular exposure will have a significant impact on determining the final winners.”

The awards dinner will take place in Johannesburg on Thursday May 10, 2007.

For more information about the awards and to download an entry form and go to www.sablimited.co.za

Entries close on March 30, 2007.

Massive boost for Gauteng sport

The Sport Trust delivered another significant boost to the development of sport in South Africa with the donation of R882 000 for various projects in Gauteng.

The donation took place at the Johannesburg Gymnastics Centre on Wednesday, which proved an appropriate venue considering The Sports Trust provided funding in 2001 for the repair of the ceiling and sponsored a vaulting horse, fat mat and 3 landing mats. The investment bore fruits when four gymnasts were selected as part of the Commonwealth Games in 2006, with two of them winning medals.

A total of 11 projects in Gauteng stand to benefit from the donation, including gymnastics, soccer, volleyball, karate, dancing, aerobics and golf.

The specific projects that have received funding are:

• Itireleng Skills Development Programme (R23 000,00).
• African House College (R16 000,00).
• Soshanguve Volleyball (R13 000,00).
• Karate Org SA Matsushima (R30 000,00).
• Masakane Primary (R15 000,00).
• JHB Gymnastics Centre (R70 000,00).
• Tshimo School of Dancing (R20 000,00).
• Twelopelo Group of Aerobics (R65 000,00).
• SA Golf Development Board (R50 000,00).
• SuperSports Let’s Play (R200 000,00).
• Soccer Kits and Balls as part of the 2010 drive (R250 000,00).

“Our donation to various projects across Gauteng will ensure that young sportsmen and women are given the opportunity to realise their dreams of one day representing their country on the world stage,” said Greg Garden, Chairman of The Sports Trust.

“The Sports Trust tries to help wherever it can. But we would not be able to deliver to these projects if it weren’t for the help that we receive from our partners the National Lottery Board, the Department of Sport and Recreation, Coca Cola, Impala Platinum, Harmony, Nedbank, Super Sport, Sun International and SA Breweries.

“We are heavily indebted to them for allowing us to act on the various requests that we receive for funding around the country.”

Poor A1gp Medical

Sunday night, as I was going back to my room after a tough day atthe OB Van for SAfm, I saw a couple of Team USA. I asked them how thier driver was. Earlier in the day, Jonathon Summeton, the driver for the USA had had a major accident. After going through the the flat-out left corner towards the end of the track, Johanthon had hit the right hand wall, lost control and hit the barriers further down the road, head-on. At the time, nothing much was thought of the incident and the race went on. The Team USA man told me the rest of the story....

Straight after the accident, Jonathon was on the team radio crying and saying that he was injured. He was saying that his hand was sore. The team told him to sit still and the medical crew would get there soon. Guess what? The team never arrived. Jonathon had to get out of the car himself and make his way to the pits.

This after a MASSIVE shunt, head-first into a concrete barrier. Surely somone should have sent an ambulance just as a precaution?

When I tried to contact A1gp yesterday, they were all in transit from Durban back to the UK and I will try to get answers once they arrive in the UK later today or tomorrow.

Find out more about this young American here....

Ullrich quits after decade of Tour frustration

When the 23-year-old Jan Ullrich stormed to victory in the 1997 Tour de France it looked like the start of a long period of dominance by the German.

Fitness problems, Lance Armstrong and finally a doping investigation combined to thwart him, however, and his retirement at the age of 33 comes after a decade of Tour disappointments.

There were certainly successes along the way. In 1999 he won the Tour of Spain and in 2000 he won a gold and silver medal at the Sydney Olympics.

But greatness in cycling is measured by the Tour de France and while Ullrich was a regular on the podium, with a total of five second-places to his name, the second victory he dreamed of remained beyond his grasp.

His retirement announcement on Monday came eight months after he was withdrawn from the T-Mobile team for the Tour de France over suspicions of a link to the massive anti-doping investigation being conducted by police in Spain.

With Armstrong by then retired, after winning the Tour for seven straight years, Ullrich was denied his last, best shot at a second title and he still sounded bitter on Monday.

"My exclusion from the Tour in 2006 was like a bad dream," said Ullrich, who has always denied having any involvement in doping. "It was a huge shock, one which I still haven't been able to come to terms with.

"I've never deceived anyone and I'm not to be blamed."

If anyone could have broken Armstrong's reign it was Ullrich.

His victory in the Tour in 1997 left the cycling world open-mouthed, as the big, freckled German won by more than nine minutes.

"We have witnessed the birth of a champion," Tour director Jean-Marie Leblanc said as Ullrich became the first German to win the French classic.

Many wondered whether anyone would be able to match his all-round strength in time trials and in the mountains but the following season he had injury problems and in the end had to settle for second place in the Tour behind Marco Pantani.

Finishing second was something he would have to get used to as Armstrong set about writing his name in cycling history.

Most years Ullrich seemed to come into the event less than fully prepared and he was runner-up to the American in 2000, 2001 and 2003.

In 2002 Ullrich was found guilty of drink-driving after crashing his Porsche and two months later his team announced he had tested positive for a recreational drug, a result Ullrich blamed on "two little pills" he had taken at a nightclub because he was feeling depressed.

Ullrich left Telekom and raced for the Bianchi team in the 2003 Tour. That was the year he came closest to beating Armstrong, with a fall in the decisive time trial on the penultimate day finally costing him victory.

After returning to Telkom, now named T-Mobile, he was on the podium at the Tour again in 2005, finishing third behind Armstrong in what turned out to be the last Tour appearances for both great rivals.

It's still Hot

Hey motor fans.

Qualifying has just begun at the A1gp here in Durban. Team South Africa is having some brake problems. Team leader, Mike Carol, says that they are not sure what the problem is but they are working hard on fixing it.

Adrian Zaugg is not making it available for interviews. He has a HUGE bodygaurd that is making sure nobody gets close. The alternate driver is around but do we care? I want to know what it's REALLY like on the track.

Anyway, Germany are leading after the 1st qualifying session with the USA and Singapore in 2nd and 3rd.

It's Hot!!

Day 1 of the Durban A1gp is a thing of the past. As the heading will tell you, I am hot. I used to live in Durban but I keep forgetting just how hot it gets in Durban in February. No idea what the actual temperature was but it was hot. Standing in the shade outside would get you sweating, forget about going out in the sun!

As for the racing, the cars did their thing in the rookie testing and official testing. Team South Africa's driver, Adrian Zaugg arrived at the track at 10:30am with practice already 30 minutes underway. He walked straight to the garage, put on his gloves and helmet, jumped in the car and had an accident. Not a big one, just enough to take the car out of the session.

Practice 1 came along and he did quite well. He placed 10th out of 20-odd countries.

The noise from the cars is loud but not as loud as you would imagine. I used my trusty sound level meter at the track and got readings of around 108dB. My music in the car is louder than that. I was about 30 metres away from the track but I still imagined it to be a little louder.

Tomorrow's weather should be good. There were clear skies after a cloudy start today, so we hope to see some fun on the track.

Germans to Challenge at Drak

Four top German canoeists have entered the weekend’s Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge in Underberg, adding new spice to the intrigue and excitement around the event, which is hosting the SA K1 River Championships.

The four include Max Hoff, who is no strangers to river racing, and in September came within a whisker of winning the Hansa Powerade Fish Marathon in Cradock with his K2 partner Stefan Stiefenhoefer, pushing eventual champs Hank McGregor and Len Jenkins all the way to the finish.

The other Germans are wild water international star Florian Wohlers, Julian Lohn and Lars Walter.

The four jetted into South Africa with a large contingent of internationals for a training camp during the cold European winter. They will be joining the South African sprint squad, and a big group of top Hungarian paddlers at a Port Edward training camp next month.

They are all are accomplished wild water and flatwater racing internationals, and eagerly jumped at the chance of racing the unique race in Underberg at the start of their stay.

Their technical abilities will be tested to the full, as the Umzimkulu river that flows through Underberg is running low, leaving the section that hosts the race a demanding technical paddle strewn with rocks.

The Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge will host the SA K1 River Championships in Underberg on 24 and 25 February. Entries closed on 17 February, but late entries are still being processed. The race website is at www.canoesa.org.za/DrakChallenge

Favourites Chelsea paired with Spurs in FA Cup

Favourites Chelsea will play Tottenham Hotspur in what is likely to be an extremely lively FA Cup quarter-final tie at Stamford Bridge next month following the draw made on Monday.

Manchester United will play at either Middlesbrough or second division West Bromwich Albion if they beat Reading in their fifth round replay.

Arsenal will be at home against Manchester City if they beat Blackburn Rovers in their fifth round replay at Ewood Park while Plymouth Argyle, of the second division, will play Premier League strugglers Watford in a repeat of their famous 1984 semi-final which Watford won 1-0.

That was Plymouth's only semi-final appearance while Watford went on to the final for the only time where they lost 2-0 to Everton.

Chelsea lost to Spurs in the league for the first time in 16 years in their last meeting at White Hart Lane in November and will be desperate to avenge that defeat in the all-London derby on either March 10 or March 11.

Chelsea reached the last eight with a 4-0 win over Norwich City on Saturday -- their third successive home victory in this season's competition -- while Spurs beat Chelsea's west London neighbours Fulham by the same score on Sunday.

The sides have only met eight times in the Cup in the last 97 years, with Spurs beating Chelsea 2-1 in the 1967 Cup final.

Chelsea beat Spurs 4-0 in their last FA Cup meeting in a quarter-final tie in 2002.

Coral bookmakers have Chelsea as the 7/4 favourites to win the Cup followed by Manchester United (10/3) and Arsenal (4/1). Spurs are listed at 12/1 with West Brom the 80/1 outsiders.

A1gp Driver Preperation

Team South Africa's driver for the A1Gp in Durban is Adrian Zaugg. He is the 20 year old on the right hand side here. He is a South African with some Swiss thrown in to make him an interesting mix. Another person with the same type of mix is Roger Federer, the best tennis player that has ever lived....

I spoke with Adrian yesterday and asked him about his preparation for the Durban race next weekend and he told me quite a scary tale.

Adrian told me that he had GP2 testing on Wednesday and Thursday in Switzerland and that he would leave the mountainous country on Thursday evening, arriving in Durban on Friday morning. He will then drive out to the circuit at the beach-front, hop in an A1Gp car and take part in the Rookie Testing session.

Asked if he knows anything about the track in Durban, Adrian answered that he knows nothing. He has seen some of the electronic data from last year but that is all. He says that if someone told him, it wouldn't make sense, so he is waiting for the testing session early on Friday.

Adrian, I am sure, is a very good driver, but he has not been in a race car since before Xmas last year. He has some tight muscles and he had to have an operation on his forearms to fix it. Can this young man take Team South Africa to a victory come Sunday, i doubt it, but we live in hope.

A1gp

Next weekend, I am off to the A1gp in Durban. As with the Nedbank Golf Challenge, I will be writing up what is happening, how things are going and bringing you all the news and happenings from around the race track. Not just what is going on on the track but also behind the scenes with pictures as well on my picture site.

I hope to bring a few updates per day, starting off on Thursday and finishing on Monday morning.

I hope that you stop by and let me know about your A1 experience as well.

Proteas go No.1 as Australia Sand Bag ahead of World Cup

Australia have lost their ranking as the world's leading one-day international side after a five-wicket defeat to New Zealand in a thrilling match in Auckland on Sunday.

Read the scorecard of the match here from Cricinfo.com

New Zealand successfully chased down Australia's record Eden Park total of 336 for four with eight balls to spare to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in their Chappell-Hadlee series and condemn the Australians to a fourth straight defeat.
South Africa, who beat Pakistan 3-1 in a recent home series, have become the first team to replace Australia at the top of the rankings since they were introduced in October 2002.
The Australians looked to have rebounded from their humiliating 10-wicket loss in Wellington on Friday after posting a massive total with stand-in captain Mike Hussey blasting 105 and Brad Hodge 97 not out.
But New Zealand reached their victory target in the 49th over after Ross Taylor made 117 and Peter Fulton 76 not out.
The third and final match of the series will be played at Hamilton on Tuesday.

ARSENAL CONFIDENT OF BEATING BLACKBURN AFTER EVENTFUL WEEK

Arsenal scored two goals in the last nine minutes to beat Wigan in the Premier League and survived an extra-time cup game against Bolton.

The Gunners should be confident heading into a fifth-round FA Cup match against Blackburn on Saturday, especially after beating Blackburn 6-2 and 2-0 in league action this season.

Coach Arsene Wenger's team, which is also in the Feb. 25 League Cup final against Chelsea and next Tuesday visits PSV Eindhoven in the last 16 of the Champions League, is going through a busy spell of games.

Meeting Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Thursday at least was on a break day after Wednesday's grueling 3-1 victory over Bolton.

"There is not much time for Saturday. That is a problem we have at the moment," Wenger said. "The fatigue factor is important. We didn't wish to play extra time (against Bolton) but, as long as you win, you hope you can recover. I will change a few players on Saturday, that is for sure."

Wenger rested Thierry Henry, Jens Lehmann and Cesc Fabregas for the game at Bolton, which the Gunners won despite missing two penalties. Although he often uses his young backup players in cup games, Wenger may recall his big names for Saturday's game against Rovers at the Emirates Stadium.

Entering the Bolton game as a substitute, Fredrik Ljungberg made his first appearance after a long injury layoff and scored. Wenger may reward Jeremie Aliadiere, who set up that goal, with another start.

"Aliadiere is a good player," Wenger said. "He has made a huge improvement this year. But he was always injured in the seasons before. This is the first year when he has been completely clear, and sometimes you need patience with young players."

Blackburn comes off a 3-2 UEFA Cup loss at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday and will be without South Africa striker Benni McCarthy, who picked up an Achilles tendon injury against the Bundesliga side.

Morten Gamst Pedersen is sidelined with a hamstring problem, and manager Mark Hughes is also without Robbie Savage, Andre Ooijer and Steven Reid. He plans to rest talented Turkish midfielder Tugay Kerimoglu.

"Tugay has been a big player this season and played a lot of games," Hughes said. "I have to protect him because he is an influential player for us. We have big games coming up two or three times a week until the end of May ... at times he will have to be rested."

Bruno Berner and Christopher Samba were unavailable for the UEFA Cup game but can face Arsenal while forward Matt Derbyshire should return after a thigh injury.

Also Saturday in the FA Cup, Premier League leader Manchester United hosts Reading, which has climbed to sixth in its first ever season in the top flight, while Chelsea hosts Norwich from the League Championship.

Middlesbrough, which needed a penalty shootout to beat League One club Bristol City after a 2-2 extra-time draw, hosts West Bromwich Albion, which is second in the League Championship and pushing hard for a return to the top flight.

Watford hosts another League Championship club, Ipswich, while the lower division is guaranteed a team in the quarterfinal because Plymouth meets Derby.

On Sunday, eight-time FA Cup winner Tottenham visits Fulham, which lost to West Ham in its only appearance in the final 31 years ago, while Manchester City visits Preston, another strong League Championship side which is chasing promotion to the top flight for the first time since 1961.

VIOLENT CRIME WILL NOT COMPROMISE 2010 CUP: MBEKI

President Thabo Mbeki on Thursday rejected suggestions violent crime could result in South Africa losing the right to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Responding to debate in the National Assembly on his state-of-the-nation address, he told MPs he was alarmed at African Christian Democratic Party leader Kenneth Meshoe's warning that "if violent crime is not drastically reduced" the country would lose the event.

Mbeki said Fifa president Sepp Blatter "is indeed a friend, admirer and supporter of South Africa, and a principled fighter for the restoration of the dignity of the African people universally".

"Regarding the incidence of violent crime in our country and its relevance to the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, President Sepp Blatter would say that he knows that the people of South Africa would host the world of football in conditions of safety.

"He would say that having considered the report of its Technical Committee which assessed the various bids to host the 2010 Tournament, and which drew attention to the challenge of safety and security in our country, the Executive Committee of FIFA decided, deliberately and consciously, that our country should host the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup," said Mbeki.

He said Blatter would say, as he had told others, "that the decision has been made -- the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup will not slip through the fingers of the people of South Africa. It will take place in South Africa. It will be a resounding success".

Abbey Miedema aims for rare hat-trick at Hansa Powerade Drak Challenge

Pint sized Cape racer Abbey Miedema has set her sights on victory in the Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge canoe marathon on 24 and 25 February, and in the process a rare hat-trick of victories in the SA K1 River Championships.

Miedema won the last two women’s K1 river titles on the Fish and Highlands Challenge marathons, and with the privilege of the SA K1 champs falling to the Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge this year, Miedema is enthusiastic about her chances, as she has rates this race as one of her favourites.

“It is so beautiful that it is a fantastic race, whether you do well or have a nightmare on the river,” said Miedema.

Miedema hit the headlines in January when she won her third consecutive Hansa Powerade Dusi women’s K1 title, and now wants to add a hat-trick of SA K1 river titles to her CV to go with her Dusi triple.

However she will have to erase her disastrous second stage during last year’s race that robbed her of what looked like a certain victory.

She broke her paddle and capsized shooting the notorious Glenhaven rapid halfway through the final stage when she was leading the women’s race. Carol Joyce took full advantage of the situation to win the race.

Miedema’s nightmare continued as her seconds thought they had missed her at Glenhaven, and raced downriver, leaving her without a replacement paddle. She finished seventh.

“I am out to redeem myself, after last years mishap at Glenhaven,” said a determined Miedema, who will be arriving in Underberg a fortnight before the race, to recce the river and enjoy the relaxed surroundings of the Southern Drakensberg.

The Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge will host the SA K1 River Championships in Underberg on 24 and 25 February. Entries close on 17 February. The race website is at www.canoesa.org.za/DrakChallenge

Parreira can now Work, 6 months too late

The Department of Home Affairs has fast-tracked the process but the South African Football Association but still has egg on its face. Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Parreira received his work permit today, almost six months after his appointment as national football coach. Spokesperson Mantshele Tau said the Department of Home Affairs committed itself to resolve the issue as speedily as possible, because it was in the interest of 2010. Parreira who conducted a training camp for invited players last week and attended Premier League matches this weekend, was warned to stop working immediately or face arrest. The Brazilian who earns almost R60-thousand rand a day, will now be allowed to move into his office and continue to prepare for South Africa's African Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad next month.

SA CAN TOPPLE AUSTRALIA AT TOP OF ICC ODI CHAMPIONSHIP

South Africa can go top of the ICC ODI Championship if it beats Pakistan in the fifth and final ODI in Johannesburg on Wednesday and New Zealand has a series win over Australia in the three-match Chappell-Hadlee series which starts in Wellington on Friday.

The Proteas currently lie just three ratings points behind Ricky Ponting's team and can now arrest the ICC ODI Championship shield from the Australians' grasp for the first time since the current format of the rankings was introduced in 2002.

Should South Africa beat Pakistan at the Wanderers it will move up to 128 points and if the Black Caps can win their series 3-0 or 2-1, Australia will drop to second in the ICC ODI Championship for the first time.

It has been a steady move upwards by South Africa in the past 12 months or so. Since it failed to reach the final of the tri-series in Australia in the 2005-6 season, it has enjoyed a remarkable turn around. Early last year, it beat Australia 3-2 in a thrilling home ODI series, with that amazing run chase of 438 coming in the final match in Johannesburg.

It also made the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy in India and since being outplayed by Australia and Sri Lanka in that 2005-6 tri-series it has won 14 ODIs and lost just five, including a 4-0 series win over India.

In a tightly packed table, there could be plenty of other movements in the ICC ODI Championship in the build up to the ICC Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.

New Zealand could move up to third with a good showing in the Chappell-Hadlee series while India could drop as low as sixth if it loses its two remaining ODIs in the current series with Sri Lanka.

England is another team on the move up the ICC ODI Championship.

Winning the recent ODI tri-series with New Zealand and Australia has given the English a timely boost ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup and although it still languishes in seventh place on the table, there are signs that it is experiencing something of a resurgence.

Bangladesh will also be carrying some confidence into the next month or so as it just yesterday completed a 3-1 series win over Zimbabwe in Harare.

Just six points separate England in seventh with Pakistan in third so it is very much all to play for as teams make their final preparations for the ICC Cricket World Cup, which opens in Jamaica on March 11.

The Permit Free Bafana Bafan Coach

August 2006. That is when it was announced to the world that South Africa would be getting a new national football coach. August 2006.

Today, news is coming in that Carlos still has no work pernit.

Strange. I thought that he was already buying a house. How can you buy a house without proper papers? Is he earning a salary? If so, who is doing it illegally?

Why has it taken so long? If I knew that I was getting a new staff member and I was paying that person a lot of money to do a very important job and I have some very high-powered friends in the govern,ent, I would have mades sure that that person got the work permit.

How poor are our soccer administrators at thier job?

ATHLETES' BLOGS COME UNDER OLYMPIC SCRUTINY

The IOC is examining what to do about blogs posted by athletes during the Olympic Games, amid fears that it could lead to scurrilous rumours being broadcast on the Internet, officials said Wednesday.

The issue of blogging was discussed by the International Olympic Commission's Athletes's Commission in a process that will feed up to Olympic chiefs.

"In principle, the commission is not against, but it's quite a delicate issue and we decided to investigate a little bit more," said Athletes commission chairman and former Olympic pole vaulter Sergei Bubka.

"It's a modern way for people who want to express their opinion, but we believe there should be certain rules respected by every athlete who participates in the Games and who is living in the (Olympic) village."

Under the Olympic charter, competing athletes are not allowed to double up as journalists during the Games, IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said.

But blogs -- effectively a personal web-based diary that can easily be augmented by pictures and video -- fall into a grey area that does not appear to be covered by the current rulebook, Davies explained.

Bubka said blogs raised questions of privacy and potential conflicts with media or television rights, which could be governed by a code of conduct for Olympic athletes.

No Rooney for England

Striker Wayne Rooney has been ruled out of a re-shuffled England side to face Spain in Wednesday's friendly. England manager Steve McClaren said Rooney, who picked up a back injury in Manchester United's 4-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, had not recovered in time and would be replaced by Peter Crouch.

McClaren will try again with a 4-3-3 formation used in last November's 1-1 friendly draw in the Netherlands, with Crouch flanked up front by Shaun Wright-Phillips and Kieron Dyer.

Wright-Phillips gets his chance at Old Trafford after McClaren said Aaron Lennon had been ruled out by a stomach bug that had dogged the winger for several days.

Holding player Michael Carrick will anchor a more familiar three-man field, with Frank Lampard to his left and Steven Gerrard on the right.

Bigger changes are in store at the back, largely due to injury absences, with Phil Neville stepping in after England lost both their left-backs, Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge.

Captain John Terry's long-term injury absence means he will be rested and his place alongside Rio Ferdinand handed to Jonathan Woodgate, with Gary Neville at right back.

McClaren dropped first-choice goalkeeper Paul Robinson in order to give Ben Foster his England debut and a taste of international football.

IMPEY SHOWS IMMENSE PROMISE WITH TWO PODIUMS IN MALAYSIA

Rising South African star Daryl Impey took another big step up the ladder of sprinting success when he claimed two podium positions in three stages at the 2007 Tour de Langkawi currently taking place in Malaysia.

Impey, the 22-year-old speedster on the MTN Microsoft team, but riding for the South African national team in Malaysia, claimed second place on Stage 2 and third place on Stage 4 of the prestigious international event that has attracted some of the world’s best professional teams.

You have to see a Tour de Langkawi bunch sprint to believe it. It’s mass chaos at over 60kph as riders jostle for the best positions from which to launch their final dash to the line. The peloton is a collection of talented riders from around the world that are eager to show their potential to the bigger teams in the hope of some recognition and a potential future contract. It’s also a relatively young bunch where experience levels don’t often match energy levels, making for some of the most hair-raising moments!

Impey, who attained an impressive 17 podiums in 2006 (eight of those victories), has been widely regarded as the next big South African sprinting talent and is currently being groomed by MTN Microsoft teammate Malcolm Lange in the art of race winning.

“Those sprints suit Daryl because they wind up from far out and it’s the power sprinters that tend to dominate in Malaysia,” explained Lange. “Daryl is also young and fearless and that is crucial because those are some of the most chaotic sprints I’ve ever been involved in. It takes a special kind of rider to get two podium places at the Tour de Langkawi.”

Lange, one of the South Africa’s most prolific race winners ever, also pointed out that while Impey’s results were impressive, some credit must go to his teammates, especially Rupert Rheeder. “Sprinting success is all about being in the right place. Because those seasoned sprinters there won’t know Daryl, they won’t give him an inch which means that Rupert, his leadout rider, must be doing a great job of getting Daryl to the front at crunch time!”

With Stages 5, 6, 7 and 10 all being relatively flat and fast, Impey still has time to claim that stage win that’s just eluded him. He’s currently lying fourth in the Points classification but is likely to be expected to sacrifice that competition in favour of riding as back-up to teammate David George, the defending Tour de Langkawi champion and one of the favourites to challenge for the overall win again this year.

NEW CLASSES FOR GROWING DRAG RACING FIELD

Yet another national category has been added to accommodate the growing field of national drag racers who will give spectators an adrenaline fix of note at the first round of the 2007 series at WesBank Raceway on Sunday 4 February 2007.

The new Super Competition Eliminator category will accommodate cars and dragsters that run a quarter mile in the 8.2 – 11.2 second bracket, and will fall between the Competition Eliminator category (9 – 13.5 seconds) and the faster Gatorback Senior Eliminator category (7 – 9.6 seconds). The quickest category is the Top Eliminators which run in the seven seconds or faster, with top speeds in the 300 k/ph mark. “Drag racing entries have doubled in the past three years since the nationals started, and the new category will spread the field better”, explained Jan Johnson of WesBank Raceway and a Senior Eliminator competitor in her Bosal B Dragster.

In addition to the four national categories, the street classes have had a revamp: the Factory Street class starts at 11 seconds with no limit for virtually bog standard ex factory cars, with the Modified Street class running between 11 – 16.5 seconds while the Pro Street will encompass the much quicker Competition and Super Competition Eliminator categories.

The three national bike categories for the ex factory, under 1,000cc S category, the SuperBike or SB category for 1,000cc plus bikes, and the ultra-quick Streetbike Shootout or PST category in which the big names like Brad Anassis (Suzuki), ‘Boksburg Bomber’ Fransie Engelbrecht (Suzuki), the one-handed JP Labuschagne (Kawasaki) and Pastor Fanie Coetzee (Suzuki Hyabusa) will wage war with some 7 second runs anticipated. Brad Anassis smashed the speed record in this category on 296 k/ph, and ET (elapsed time for quarter mile) record on 7,947 seconds at the final round at WesBank Raceway last year.

Spectators are in for a treat as the big guns in the awesome Top Eliminator Category go all out to stamp their authority early in the season. The newly crowned champion Phillip Palmer, who made his debut to drag racing last year in his Alcohol run Dragster, has made the big names like Nico van Rensburg and Pieter de Wit, both former national champions, less than confident. Other likely contenders include Michael van Rensburg (TA Dragster), Mike Sargeant (Alcohol Funny Car), Koos Hailey (Alcohol Funny Car) who returns after a year’s absence following an accident, and Lionel Kruger (Alcohol Funny Car).

Entertainment will include spinning demonstrations by the King of Spin, Magesh, the WesBank skydivers and kiddies entertainment. Gates open on Sunday at 8am to the pubic with the racing starting from 9am, with admission R60 per adult and R30 per child.