Pope Ellis for the Stihl Non Stop Dusi for the first time

Entries for the 11th edition of the Stihl Non Stop Dusi continue with over 130 paddlers entered so far – rain was still falling this morning and the race office has been inundated with calls from paddlers to enter.

The Stihl Non Stop Dusi takes place on Saturday February 3 and follows the traditional Dusi course from Camps Drift in PMB to Blue Lagoon in Durban.

Lots of water is expected and Umgeni Water have promised a healthy water release from Henley and Inanda Dams – if the good rains continue water will be released from Nagle Dam as well making the level similar to what paddlers enjoyed on the recent Hansa Powerade Dusi.

An entry that has been welcomed with open arms by organisers is that of Dusi legend Graeme Pope-Ellis. “The Pope” enters this years’ Stihl Non Stop Dusi with Nibbs Taylor and should easily win the Masters category.

Pope-Ellis has won the traditional Dusi an astonishing 15 times, but has never before competed in the Stihl Non Stop Dusi.

“I was asked by Abbey Miedema to partner her, but after my disappointing Dusi performance last week, I said she should find a partner who would do her form justice. She is in the best shape of her life. Her paddling and her running are very good – she has really come into her own and matured” said Pope-Ellis.

The organisers of the Non Stop Dusi are ecstatic that “The Pope” has entered according to Ray de Vries, spokesman for the event.

“We are thrilled. It is an honour to have someone of “The Pope’s” stature enter the race for the first time. He is not only the Dusi King, he is a South African sporting icon. The race is richer for having him compete”.

Paddlers are required to go through two checkpoints between the two cities, but are totally reliant on their support teams for food, hydration and repairs.
Entry forms are available from Mary on ZA +27 333 94 9994.

6 Nations Preview

Jonny Wilkinson's return to the England team can't mask the fact that Ireland and France are likely to be the real contenders for the Six Nations title.

The championship begins on Saturday with England hosting Scotland, Wales hosting Ireland, and defending champion France is at Italy.

Ireland is the bookmakers' favorite for the title, and, after a dismal streak of eight losses in nine matches, England's revamped lineup is unlikely to thwart a France team building toward the Sept 7-Oct. 20 World Cup it is hosting.

France is missing first-choice flyhalf Frederic Michalak for the entire championship because of a knee injury, and coach Bernard Laporte will field a 28th halfback pairing against Italy, throwing in Stade Francais No. 10 David Skrela for his first appearance for six years.

Laporte shrugged off criticism that he changes his selections too much and said players needed to impress if they were to earn a place at the World Cup.

"If we said we had the 30 (players) for the World Cup, that would be great," Laporte said.

"There are actually 21 players who will go to the World Cup. There are a third of the places still to take."

France lost its opening game to Scotland last year and won the rest, but should start with a victory this time. Laporte sees the Feb. 11 game at Ireland as the key game to the tournament and World Cup preparation.

"It is important to win the first game against Italy and then, if we beat Ireland, I think it could mean we will win the tournament," he said.

France has won 26 of 27 meetings with Italy, with one loss in 1997.

Ireland will be relying on players who have been together for several seasons in its attempt for a first title since 1985. The last time Ireland was expected to win, two years ago, it lost at home to France and to Wales, which went on to win the Grand Slam.

"We have to deal with the expectation," coach Eddie O'Sullivan said. "People said the same thing in 2005 and it fell flat for us then. It's a strange animal, the Six Nations. It isn't going to happen if a lot of things don't fall into place."

Behind a hugely experienced halfback pairing of Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara come two of the most imaginative centers in the game - Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy.

Despite lock Paul O'Connell, Ireland's weakness is its pack and the Welsh forwards will challenge it on Saturday.

However, Ireland is helped by the fact it has its two toughest games -against France and England - at home. Those game will be staged at the 82,000 capacity Croke Park stadium because Lansdowne Road is being redeveloped.

England has a new coach and a new lineup this season.

Brian Ashton will be in charge for the first time since taking over from Andy Robinson, but he has introduced a couple of familiar faces.

Ashton was promoted from his position as attack coach under Robinson and his offensive lineup contrasts with the conservative approach of the man he replaced.

Wilkinson returns for the first time since he kicked the World Cup-winning drop goal against Australia in November 2003, and wing Jason Robinson is out of international retirement.

Former Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell will make his debut against Scotland.
However, the trio's presence could be a major gamble. Wilkinson has played just 50 minutes of club rugby since his latest injury.
"I expect to be at my best as soon as I play," the flyhalf said. "I've had time to prepare. "I'm not one to doubt myself. I'm not a brash individual but I would not be here if I did not believe I was ready."
Wales went from Grand Slam winner to next to last in the championship last year and coach Gareth Jenkins hopes to find some consistency as his team hosts both Ireland and England.
A lot could depend on the form of newcomer James Hook and center Gavin Henson. If both play well, Wales has an outside chance of challenging for the title.
Scotland scrumhalf Chris Cusiter and back row Simon Taylor have only just returned from long spells on the sidelines and much will depend on the kicking of Chris Paterson, who captains the team because Jason White tore a cruciate ligament in November's win over Romania and misses the championship.
Italy has improved under French coach Pierre Berbizier, and its game is still based heavily on a powerful, aggressive pack. Berbizier's problem is finding the creative players to turn that strength into tries.
He has recalled veteran scrumhalf Alessandro Troncon, Italy's most capped player with 90 appearances.

VERY Biased

I don't mind biased sports reporting. In fact, I think that one cannot be completly independant when doing sports reports and commentary. Tony Grieg, dispite being a South African for a long time, will ALWAYS say that Australia are the best cricket team ever, but let's face it, they are.

The rugby commentary is VASTLY different if you listen to Kobus Wiese on the Afrikaans channel and the English commentary from Sky.

But I thought that this article goes a little far....

Rucking, or the coarse art of dealing to an opponent lying in the way of the
ball on the ground, has long been almost definitive of New Zealand rugby but a
new directive to referees has outlawed the practice of stud-raking.

Sorry, what?? Dan Retief has been smoking his little socks again. When the Springboks have a reputation of the dirtiest players in the world, where do you think it happens? Has New Zealand "defined" rucking? Oh pleeeeez.

The rest of the article os fun to read as well as the scrum is offcially gay now. Crouch, touch, engage. How more gay can 16 men putting thier heads into another's butt become?

Super 14 in 1 DAY!!!! I can't wait.

Norman, Sergio, Wind

Former world number one Greg Norman is to team up with Sergio Garcia and leading designer Pete Dye to create Dubai's first links-style course.

The fourth course on the Jumeirah Golf Estates, known as the 'Wind', will take inspiration from the earliest forms of the game by featuring uneven fairways, thick rough, small greens and pot bunkers.

Norman and Dye have signature courses around the world but it will be one of the first such projects for the 27-year-old Garcia.

"I am really excited to be working with Pete Dye and Greg Norman," the Spaniard said in a news release on Monday. "I cannot think of a more experienced and successful pair of golf course designers in the world today.

"Pete Dye in particular is a legend in golf course design and it is a real honour to work with him on his first project in the region."

Norman helped to create the 'Fire' and Earth' courses while 'Water', the other layout on the Jumeirah development, was designed by world number seven Vijay Singh.

"I don't know of another project anywhere in the world that has brought together three internationally recognised figures to collaborate on one golf course," said Norman.

"Sergio Garcia brings enthusiasm and excitement to this project that is contagious and there is nobody in the world today that knows more about golf course design (than Dye), especially links golf."

Work on 'Wind' is expected to start soon, with completion planned for 2009.

This week's Dubai Desert Classic represents the third and final leg of the European Tour's 'Gulf Swing'.

South African Retief Goosen won in Qatar on Sunday while Paul Casey of Britain was triumphant in Abu Dhabi.

The Super 14, Fact and Figures

Fourteen regional teams from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia will compete in the 2007 Super 14 competition.

From 1996-2005, 12 teams played in the Super 12 competition, which began in 1996 after rugby turned professional following the 1995 World Cup.

Prior to that, there was a Super Six tournament involving six teams from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. This was expanded to 10 teams in 1993 when South Africa was readmitted to international sport.

For the Super 14 competition, New Zealand and South Africa each provide five teams while Australia has four.

Teams play each other once, earning four points for a win, two for a draw, plus a bonus point for scoring four tries in a match or losing by less than seven points.

The top four sides advance to the semi-finals, where the first-placed team plays the fourth and second plays third. The two winners advance to the final.

New Zealand teams dominated the Super 12 competition, winning eight of the 10 finals.

The Canterbury Crusaders are the most successful team, winning the title six times, in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2006. They also finished runners-up in 2003 and 2004.

The Auckland Blues have won three titles, in 1996, 1997 and 2003. They were runners-up in 1998.

Australia's ACT Brumbies won the title in 2001 and 2004. They were the only team outside of New Zealand to win the competition. The Brumbies were also runners-up in 1997, 2000 and 2002.

The only South African team to reach the final was the Sharks, who were runners-up in 1996 under their previous guise of Natal, and again in 2001.

New Zealand's Otago Highlanders (1999), Australia's New South Wales Waratahs (2005) and New Zealand's Wellington Hurricanes (2006) have all made the final once each.

Queensland (Australia), Waikato, Wellington (both New Zealand), Stormers, Bulls and the Cats (all South Africa) - have made the semi-finals at least once each.

The Central Cheetahs from South Africa and Western Force from Australia were admitted to the competition for the first time last year when it was expanded from 12 to 14 teams. The Johannesburg Cats have changed their name to the Lions for 2007.

Materazzi head-butted again

Inter Milan maintained their 11-point lead at the top of Serie A and extended their record run of consecutive league wins to 14 matches with a 2-0 victory at 10-man Sampdoria on Sunday.
But the game was marred by Inter's Italian international defender Marco Materazzi once again being the victim of a head-butt.

Materazzi was the man infamously head-butted by French superstar Zinedine Zidane in the World Cup final last year.

On Sunday, it was Sampdoria's Gennaro Delvecchio who was the guilty party and he was sent off in the seventh minute for the assault.

Angered by a late challenge on Inter keeper Julio Cesar, Materazzi exchanged angry words with Delvecchio before the Sampdoria midfielder's head hit him squarely on the chin.

Sampdoria coach Walter Novellino slammed Delvecchio.

"A professional player cannot do such a thing and I won't try to defend it," he said.
"Even if there was provocation his actions cannot be justified."

Super 14 TIme Again

It seems just like the other day that I was writing about the 2006 Super 14 campaign. Actually, it was just the other day...

On Friday, the 2007 series begins and the adverts have already pissed me off. Graphity? Support your city's team? I know what is going on in my city? What are these creatives smoking because I want some.

The New Zealand sides are taking out thier big names to rest them and prtect them ahead of the Rugby World Cup in September. Are the Blues the same side without the big names? Are the Blues a side at all without thier big names?

Locally, we have a bunch of old men who want to play again to make a world cup squad that they stand no chance of making, but they will try and they will get hurt and we will all say, "Told you so..."

When I asked the editor of the rugby annual on Saturday who would win, Andy said that he hopes the Bulls will with the Sharks challenging for top SA side. The Oz teams will relax and they tour really badly. Will we have an SA champ this year? I hope so, but will an SA champ in 2007 mean anything? Who cares about the Super 14 when there is a World Cup to win?

MTN MICROSOFT’S LANGE HUNGRY FOR A HAT-TRICK AT ‘THE FAST ONE’

Malcolm Lange wants to show that despite his advancing years he’s still the country’s quickest sprinter as he aims for a hat-trick of wins at the Pick ‘n Pay Fast One on Sunday.

The 33-year old who rides for the MTN Microsoft team, upstaged all his younger rivals to claim an impressive 14 race wins last year, more than any other South African professional. Critics (and statistics) say that he’ll lose his snap as he approaches his mid-30s, but Lange’s not having any of it.

“Physically, I still feel like a 20-year old,” smiled Lange. “I don’t feel that I’ve got any slower over the years. But as you get older, motivation can become more of a challenge and sometimes it’s down to who is hungrier that determines who wins.”

Lange won The Fast One in 2005 and 2006 and wants to complete a rare hat-trick of wins at one of the country’s most prestigious races in what just might be his final year as a professional.

“The past two years I’ve won this race from small breakaway groups and haven’t had to contest a mass bunch sprint which is always more dangerous and unpredictable,” explained Lange. “Hopefully there will be wind on Sunday so my team can try and break the race up again which obviously seems to suit us.”

The Fast One is a 100km point-to-point race that starts in Germiston and finishes at Vanderbijlpark. The race is popular among cyclists because it lends itself to fast times which helps improve cyclists’ seeding for other major events like the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour and the Pick ‘n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge.

However, time and seeding are not what the pro’s race for, they’re just interested in one thing – position. Interestingly though, last year, Lange’s winning time was a super-quick 2hrs07min58sec giving him a rapid average speed of 46.89kph! His team captain, Nic White finished a close third in 2006 and the team is aiming for similar dominance in their new sponsor’s colours on Sunday.

Lange will be watched closely by the other sprinters on rival teams, but MTN Microsoft have more than one card to play and will look to the talented 22-year-old Daryl Impey or even Jamie Ball to play the back-up roll should Lange be neutralised, while the wiley White is always a good bet for a win if the race breaks up significantly.

Among a string of other riders that will be out to upset Lange’s hat-trick quest are Rupert Rheeder and Hanco Kachelhoffer (both Harmony) and Nolan Hofmann (Exel).

INCREASED MONEY FOR MASTERS

Nashua has further strengthened its six year partnership with the Sunshine Tour and Sun International with the announcement of increased prize money for the Nashua Masters and the addition of a new 'Winter Swing' event on the 2007 calendar.

The Nashua Masters is steeped in history, and, together with the South African Airways Open and the Telkom PGA Championships, remains one of the "Big Three" titles most coveted by professionals.

Increasing the prize fund to R1,2 million underlines the significance of the event and continues its legacy as one of the most prestigious events on Sunshine Tour's golf calendar.

The Sunshine Tour's leading lights will face the challenging par-70 layout from February 1 - 4at the Wild Coast Sun Country Club, a Robert Trent Jones Jnr design that ranked number eight in South Africa in 2006 and has been home to the Nashua Masters since 2001.

In addition to the increased prize fund is the news that Nashua will , in collaboration with Sun International, sponsor a new event on the 2007 calendar at Sun City, home to Africa's major, the Nedbank Golf Challenge and the Sunshine Tour's Dimension Data Pro-Am, which celebrates its 12th year on the Sunshine Tour's Summer Swing this season.

The newly announced R500 000 Nashua Challenge marks the first full Order of Merit event to be staged at the Lost City Golf Course on the 'Winter Swing'.

Non-Stop Duzi

Entries for the 11th edition of the Stihl Non Stop Dusi are “pouring in” according to chairman of the race organisers, Nigel Tatham.

“There is lots of water around which is boosting entries” said Tatham yesterday.

“You can imagine how welcome good water is when you are literally doing the whole 3 day Hansa Powerade Dusi in one day!. The water levels will be much the same as the Dusi held last weekend. Umgeni Water has agreed to release water from Henley, Nagle ad Inanda Dams for the event which will be welcomed by paddlers…

The good news for the top paddlers is that the sponsorship from Stihl means that the prize money has increased again. The first crew across the line will win R20 000.00 which makes it one of the richest canoe races in SA. The winner of the K1 will win R10 000.00 plus a bonus of R10 000.00 should he be the first boat home overall.

“This race is really becoming one of the top races in SA paddling. Media coverage has increased every year and this year TV coverage will be twice as much as we have ever had. With Stihl as our partners we are able to take the event to the next level” said Tatham.

The Stihl Non Stop Dusi takes place on Saturday February 3 and follows the traditional Dusi course from Camps Drift in PMB to Blue Lagoon in Durban.

The race is for K2 (doubles) as well as K1’s (singles) and is a race where minimal rules apply.

Paddlers are required to go through two checkpoints between the two cities, but are totally reliant on their support teams for food, hydration and repairs.

Entry forms are available from Mary on (033) 394-9994.

Raikkonen is a Prancing Horse, at last

Kimi Raikkonen made his long-awaited Ferrari debut on Tuesday with his first Formula One test for the Italian glamour team at a damp Vallelunga circuit.

Some 50 fans huddled in the stand at the track near Rome as the 27-year-old Finn, the heir apparent to retired seven times champion Michael Schumacher, got to grips with last year's 248 F1 car.

Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa was testing the new F2007 car at the same time under overcast skies and occasional showers.

A Ferrari spokesman said everything was proceeding as scheduled and Raikkonen, twice a championship runner-up at McLaren, had completed some 18 laps by 1100GMT.

The season starts in Australia on March 18.

Ferrari abandoned plans to test at Mugello, much closer to their Maranello factory, because of forecast bad weather in the next three days.

SPICE IT UP, GLAM QUEEN SHARAPOVA TELLS MALE PLAYERS

Tennis glamour girl Maria Sharapova criticised her male counterparts for their boring fashion sense Monday, urging them to "spice it up" when they take to the court.

The 19-year-old Russian, who set last year's Australian Open abuzz by wearing a powder-blue baby-doll nightie, made the call after advancing to the season-opening Grand Slam's quarter-final for the third consecutive year.

"I do think that men's fashion is a little boring on the tennis court," she said.

"I'd like to see them spice it up. You can't do white on white, that's just too boring."

But Sharapova, whose Aussie Open run has seen her re-installed as world number one, had a word of warning for the men -- don't try to revive the 1970s-style "short shorts" that predominated in the days of chunky medallions and big moustaches.

Sharapova admitted she liked neither the crotch-hugging super-short look or the slacker-style long shorts, some extending beyond the knee, worn by a handful of modern players such as Rafael Nadal.

"I don't have a preference," she said. "I don't know, that's a tough one. I don't like the long, I think we've got to keep some tradition in tennis, but the shorter they are the worse it is as well."

Sharapova has ditched the baby-doll at this year's tournament in favour of a high-waisted lemon and white chiffon number with an orchid embroidered on the thigh.

PINNACLE POINT IN SA VOTED TOP 10 BEST NEW COURSE IN THE WORLD

The recently launched Pinnacle Point Beach and Golf Resort, perched atop staggering cliffs along the dramatic coastline near Mossel Bay in the Western Cape, has been selected as one the World's Top 10 Best New Courses for 2006. This is the first time, in the history of golf, that a South African course has been selected.

The announcement was made during the official press briefing at the opening of the world's biggest golf trade show the Orlando Golf Show in Florida, over the weekend. Eight of the top 10 courses are in the US.

In addition, in November 2006 the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) voted the Garden Route in South Africa as the 'Best Golf Tourism Destination in Africa and the Middle East.'

Chairman of Pinnacle Point Holdings Ivor Stratford says "it is extremity exciting for us and not only for Pinnacle Point itself but for the tourism potential for South Africa.

“The Garden Route has become golf’s new Garden of Eden and Pinnacle Point Beach and Golf Resort, is a proud addition to the exclusive list of neighbouring golf courses.”

Whilst most golf courses can boast one signature hole, Pinnacle Point Beach and Golf Resort is unique in that it has an incredible seven. These remarkable holes, each one perched on the edge of the high winding cliffs, have the potential to make Pinnacle Point Beach & Golf Resort the most photographed golf course in the world. Four of the seven cliff-hanging holes play across the ocean offering never to be forgotten awe-inspiring and challenging tee shots.

Designed by South Africa’s renowned golf course architect Peter Matkovich, at the opening in November, Irish golfer Darren Clarke described the completed layout as the “best golf course on the planet.” This in itself seemed an inadequate description from the amiable Ryder Cup hero, and he emphasized his point by adding that “Pinnacle Point is Pebble Beach on steroids!”

Lee Westwood recently fitted in a fleeting visit to the new Pinnacle Point Beach and Golf Resort in between competing in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek and attending the SAA Open at Humewood. Westwood, accompanied by local SA professional Louis Oosthuizen, was to marvel at the majesty and quality of the Pinnacle Point layout.

"Darren (Clarke) told me it was a special place. And it is spectacular! It ranks as one of the best courses I have ever played and believe me when I say I have played the majority of the best in the world. It isn't a course for players who may suffer from a fear of heights as those seven holes along the cliffs are enough to make a grown man tremble, absolutely incredible!" exclaimed Westwood.

Following his round with Westwood, Oosthuizen said "Pinnacle Point makes me proud to be a South African golfer. This course is awesome and it is destined to become a must play destination for global players."

Mbanjwa first black man to win a Dusi stage

Michael Mbanjwa made history in the first stage of this years edition of the Hansa Powerade Dusi when he placed first. This makes history as he is the first black paddler to ever win the first stage of the three day event.

A delighted Mbanjwa said that he drew strength from Robert Lembethe when he passed his house.

“As you know Robert Lembethe was the one who helped me to start paddling. He passed away last year, but I was praying when I went passed his house. I said to him in my own way that he should come with me and give me strength. It was amazing because I fell out of my boat near the start and I must have been in 20th or 21st place – to win this stage was difficult, but I am very happy that I managed to do it” said Mbanjwa.

Mbanjwa’s incredible performance has been lauded by the canoeing fraternity.

“He was absolutely incredible and showed enormous guts to come back like he did” said Ray de Vries spokesman for the event.

“He raced in front of his home crowd – he comes from the Valley near KwaXimba. We haven’t seen anything like this before – the crowds were going mad as they egged him on.

Mbanjwa starts the second day 27 seconds ahead of Ant Stott who tried furiously to beat Mbanjwa, but couldn’t reel him in.

In the ladies race, Abbey Miedema beat Laura Thompson to win the first day stage.

A number of paddlers ended up in hospital with injuries.

“Netcare 911 took six people to St. Annes hospital in PMB. Four of them were for disclocated shoulders, a back injury and a German participant who hurt his ribs. Apart from those incidents it was a great day for the organizers” said de Vries

Women’s World Cup of Golf pairings announced

South Africa and defending champions Sweden have been paired together in Friday’s opening Singles round of the Women’s World Cup of Golf at the Gary Player Country Club course.

South Africa’s Laurette Maritz and Ashleigh Simon will take to the fairways alongside the Swedish duo of Helen Alfredsson, captain of Europe’s 2007 Solheim Cup team, and Carin Koch at 10:40.

England’s Laura Davies and Trish Johnson and the French team of Gwladys Nocera and Stephanie Arricau will tee off the 2007 event in the first match out at 8:40.

Kenya’s Rose Naliaka and Jane Njoroge make their debut in the 22-nation event as the third match out alongside Finland.

Japan, winners of the inaugural event, will take to the fairways alongside the strong Australian team of Nikki Garrett, the Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year in 2006, and LPGA Tour campaigner Lindsey Wright.

The vastly experienced American combination of World Golf Hall of Famer Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst – armed with 36 career victories between them – are paired alongside Scotland’s Janice Moodie and Mhairi McKay, who gained entry to the event at the last minute following the withdrawal of the Philippines.

Scotland are amongst the favourites based on their past form in this event, which includes finishes of fourth and second.

Paraguay make their debut in the tournament and will no doubt be led by the supremely talented Julieta Granada.

Granada tees it up in the Women’s World Cup of Golf shortly after the 20-year-old claimed the highest first place cheque in the women’s game when she won the LPGA Tour’s season-ending ADT Championship and the accompanying $1-million prize.

She claimed seven top-10 finishes in her rookie season on the LPGA Tour in 2006 and a rookie earnings record of $1.6-million last season.

TOP INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS FOR SAA TENNIS OPEN

Two of the world's most noted tennis officials have been selected to oversee the South African Airways Open that begins at Westridge Park Tennis Stadium in Durban on Monday.

Gerry Armstrong, who was the man in charge of last year's Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal has been appointed tournament supervisor for the R875 000 tournament while American Joan Vormbaum, who was honoured with the task of umpiring the 1984 US Open women’s final between Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, has been named as Chief of Umpires.

There is a bonus as well for South African Iain Smith, who will be the tournament referee. This is Smith's first ATP referee appointment. Smith, South Africa’s highest qualified tennis official has been working for the past thirteen years at numerous international tennis events including Wimbledon and the US Open as well as the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta.

Armstrong is no stranger to South Africa and was a chair umpire at the 1993 SA Open, also at Westridge Park. His last visit to the country was in 2003 when he was tournament referee for the Davis Cup tie between South Africa and Poland in Polokwane. On that occasion he brought his entire family to the country and enjoyed a short holiday over the Easter period.

The 51-year-old Briton is one of the world’s most popular umpires but his expertise does not end with tennis alone. In his teenage years he was, in fact, the England Under-18 goalkeeper and currently he plays off a golf handicap of five. Armstrong spent some 10 years on the tennis tour before taking up umpiring. His first Wimbledon as an official was in 1973 and in 1990, he was hired by the ATP Tour as a professional official.

Other than that 1984 US Open final, Vormbaum has also officiated in the 1992 Wimbledon women’s singles semifinal, the 1992 US Open men’s doubles semifinal and the 1998 US Open women’s doubles final. In 1992 Vormbaum was appointed consultant to the ATP Tour for their Officiating Program and in 1995 the task Line Umpire Program Coordinator, that is assigning line umpires, was added to her tasks.

Fuel Crisis in Zim is a good thing

The fuel crisis in Zimbabwe seems to have had at least one positive, and that is to have helped in South Africa’s preparations for this week’s Women’s World Cup of Golf at the Gary Player Country Club.

Laurette Maritz and Ashleigh Simon will team up for the third consecutive year in the 22-nation event, which tees off with the Singles matches on Friday followed by the Foursomes on Saturday and the Fourballs on Sunday.

Maritz, the experienced campaigner of the two, prepared for this year’s event by playing the Chapman Golf Course in Harare, which has the same kikuyu grass as the Gary Player Country Club course.

But the fuel shortage in Zimbabwe has meant that the course staff at Chapman have done the minimum amount of mowing on the course.

This has resulted in very tight fairways and long rough, placing an even greater premium on accuracy off the tee.

“It’s been the perfect preparation,” Maritz said on Tuesday.

Maritz and Simon will be seeking to improve on their 12^th place finish in the inaugural event and tied seventh last year.

Short of Talent in SA Football

Can you believe it? FFFIIIIIIISSSSSSHHHHH is back. How old is this geezer? Can we not find a better football player? How sad has SA football become that we need to re-hire a man who can't find a job anywhere else in the world? He says that he has been speaking with his wife about playing again. MARK, TALK TO THE RETIEMENT VILLAGE!!!! Will they let you out after visiting hours?

Anyway, here is the story from Kick-Off

In the latest issue of Kick Off, on sale from today, Mark Fish told editor of Kick Off, Neil Greig in a worldwide web exclusive last week that he wanted to come out of retirement to play for the club closest to his heart - Orlando Pirates.

Fish tells kick off why he wants to return and admits "I've been talking about this with my wife for a while. She's been nagging me about getting back into soccer and playing." Kick Off reports that Fish and his manager Glyn Binkin are in talks with Khoza and say that he would consider playing for another side should a move to Pirates not materialise. But can he still do it in top flight football? "Yes. Soccer is in my blood. I've been keeping fit."

For the full story please see the 29 January 2006 issue of Kick Off, on sale today or visit www.kickoff.com.

Double joy for faultless Canete at Joburg Open

Argentina's Ariel Canete closed with three birdies in the final four holes at the East Course of the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf to become the inaugural winner of the Joburg Open and the first Argentine to win in South Africa on Sunday.

The 31-year old former Challenge Tour graduate closed with a round of 67 over the East Course at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club for a total of 19-under-par 266, two strokes clear of South African Andrew McLardy in second place.

On lifting the winner's trophy Canete became the first Argentinean to win on the Sunshine Tour and completed another success story for both the Sunshine and European Tours, underlining their policies giving the up-and-coming players as many playing opportunities as possible.

Having finished 146th on the European Tour Order of Merit in 2006 and then failing to regain his full playing privileges when he finished 53rd at the Qualifying School in San Roque in November, Canete started the new season with two appearances on the Challenge Tour.

Along came the Joburg Open and its 204 strong field, which gave many of the less established European Tour players a valuable start.

Opportunity knocked and the Argentine, encouraged by his friend and manager at home, answered the call in commanding fashion.

Canete, who led by one stroke going into the fourth round, bogeyed the par-3 second hole, but then picked up two birdies on the front nine and two more coming down the homestretch.

He sealed his victory with a brilliant up-and-down from a greenside bunker for birdie on the 18th, which earned him a three year exemption to The European Tour International Schedule and five years on the Sunshine Tour.

"I was in Argentina and it was the holidays. My category has not been so good and I was sitting there doing nothing. I thought to myself let's go to South Africa and give it a try, you never know. Now I am very, very happy," said Canete.

"I putted really well all week. The lines always seemed very clear in my mind while my South African caddie, Joseph, helped a lot with club selection, as the ball travels farther here than it does at home in Argentina."

McLardy, who equalled his best performance on The European Tour International Schedule following his runner-up spot in Madeira in 2005, shot to fourth on the current Order of Merit and has every chance of catching Charl Schwartzel, who still leads the way behind Ernie Els and Alvaro Quiros.

Another South African, Hennie Otto, was alone in third place on 16 under par after shooting a 67. Compatriot Alex Haindl briefly threatened the leaders, before bogeys on the 14th and 17th saw him finish on 13 under, along with countryman Mark Murless.

Earlier in the day Haindl had been one of the biggest movers when 36 players returned to complete their third rounds after Saturday's play was terminated in the early afternoon by lightning and thunderstorms.

The 23 year old South African, who is 19th on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit, put himself into contention with a 66 while Canete and McLardy both completed 65s to go into the final round first and second on the leaderboard, which was exactly where they would finish.

The Sunshine Tour will host the International Final Qualifier at the same venue, but being played on the West Course, on Tuesday, 16th and Wednesday, 17th January, where after the professionals will take to the fairways of the Gary Player Country Club and Lost City Golf Course for the 12th edition of the Dimension Data Pro-Am from 25 to 28 January 2007.

I'm not giving up, says Schwartzel

Charl Schwartzel has the small matter of 170 metres to play before he completes his third round in the Joburg Open, but, whether he gets birdie, par or bogey on the 18th hole, he is not overly concerned, having already achieved what he set out to do on Saturday.

Schwartzel moved threateningly up the leaderboard into a tie for 10th position, four strokes behind leader Ariel Canete, with a two-under-par score through 17 holes before play was stopped just after 2pm by lightning.

With a succession of thunderstorms rolling over Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club all afternoon, play for the day was eventually called off at 5.45 pm, with the golfers returning at 6.45 am on Sunday to complete their rounds.

Schwartzel pushed his drive on the par-five 18th hole into the rough and had to chip out sideways, leaving him with a lengthy third shot to the green.

"I might be able to squeeze out a birdie, but I'm very happy with where I am at the moment," Schwartzel said. "If I can make a five or six-under-par score tomorrow I will be very close to winning, even if I finish the third round on eight-under."

Schwartzel, the highest-ranked player in the field, flirted with missing the cut, made at three-under-par, as he went through the first nine holes of his second round in two-over 38, leaving him on one-under-par overall, but a dramatic back nine of 30 saw him roar back into contention for the title.

"I was starting to see what else I could do over the weekend!" he joked. "But I was also quite cross and there is a bit of fight in me and I knew that if I picked up two or three shots I would make the cut. To be five-under through the back nine on the East course was really quite nice."
Saturday's round had "too many bogeys" (four) in it for Schwartzel's liking, but he is hopeful the fact everyone is now playing on the East course will be in his favour.

"I don't think the leaders are going to go too far ahead, but I still need to make a 66 or 65 tomorrow."

That is entirely plausible for a golfer who many feel is just waiting to join the likes of Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelmann and Tim Clark as a South African that is amongst the world's leading golfers.

TACKLE CRIME OR 2010 WILL FLOP, WARNS IFP LEADER

The 2010 Soccer World Cup will be a "monumental flop" if South Africa does nothing to counter international perceptions that the country is a criminal haven, Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi warned on Friday.

"South Africa, unfortunately, is perceived in many parts of the world as a criminal haven. A walk down London's Regent Street or Sydney's Oxford Street will, sadly, provide ample anecdotal evidence to support this perception," he said in his weekly message.

Once a perception was cast, it could prove almost impossible to shift.

The 2010 World Cup was expected to attract 450,000 visitors to South Africa.

"But if prospective international visitors judge our country not safe enough to travel to, the event could turn out to be a monumental flop, and any economic gains hoped for will vanish into thin air."

Buthelezi said it was totally unacceptable that tens of thousands of rapists, murderers, paedophiles, vehicle hijackers, drug dealers and thieves, as well as national and international criminal syndicates, "strike every hour and everyday in South Africa -- usually with impunity".

The country's criminal justice system was on the verge of collapse.

"The government's inability to identify, combat, isolate and successfully prosecute and incarcerate criminals is a national disgrace."

However, the reason for this was not because government was soft on crime, despite perceptions to that effect.

"The problem is... that in many ways the South African state is weak and ineffective. The fight against crime is another reason why we must win the political argument that the decentralised state is more effective than the unitary state in delivering essential services.

"Policing in South Africa, for example, remains highly centralised, while countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and Germany, have a multiplicity of policing agencies at the national, state and local levels.

"The recent appalling crime statistics illustrate that the highly centralised system of policing much favoured by the ANC alliance is an abject failure.

"Policing must be decentralised as a matter of urgency with a new and competent leadership," he said.

Buthelezi noted it would be necessary to identify and remove "unhealthy, unfit, semi-literate police officers untrained in detective work and forensics" from the SA Police Service.

He said crime was sometimes "glamorised" in the country's townships.

"This culture must be condemned and citizens must accept the truth of the saying that 'he who profits from crime, commits it'. The purchase of stolen goods, for instance, must be seen for what it is: a crime."

Buthelezi also called for tax rebates for the many South Africans who had been forced to pay private security firms to safeguard their homes and families.

BECKHAM LOOKS LIKE A PERFECT FIT FOR LOS ANGELES

Bend this, TomKat and Brangelina: Becks 'n' Posh are coming to Hollywood.

David Beckham, the most recognized soccer player on the planet - fashion icon, tabloid fixture, marketing giant - announced a deal on Thursday to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.

"David Beckham is a global sports icon who will transcend the sport of soccer in America," gushed MLS commissioner Don Garber.

Bringing free kicks, glitz and his Spice Girl wife, Beckham is leading another British invasion, hoping to do for American soccer what the Beatles once did for pop music - make it rock.

"There are so many great sports in America," the 31-year-old former England captain said. "There are so many kids that play baseball, American football, basketball. But soccer is huge all around the world apart from America, so that's where I want to make a difference with the kids."

Beckham turned down a two-year contract extension from Real Madrid, where his fading skills have left him on the bench for most of this season.

The Galaxy didn't say exactly what they'll pay him, but floated a figure of $250 million (ñ193 million) in salary and commercial endorsements over the five years of his contract. In other words, his move could be worth $1 million (ñ770,000) a week.

The MLS season opens in April but Beckham is not expected to join the team until August. His four-year contract with Madrid expires at the end of this season.

He'll start for the Galaxy and could enter a whole new universe: His deal was negotiated over 10 days by major entertainment industry players Simon Fuller, creator of "American Idol," and Creative Artists Agency, home to some of Hollywood's biggest actors.

Fuller manages both Beckham and his pop star wife, Victoria - whose pal Katie Holmes (and her husband Tom Cruise) are represented by CAA.

Victoria Beckham hasn't hidden her desire to launch a Hollywood career.

"It's not lost on them that it's the entertainment capital of the world and they know many people in the entertainment industry here," said Tim Leiweke, president and chief executive officer of Galaxy owner AEG and a personal friend of the couple.

The Beckhams should fit in just fine in LA. He opened a soccer academy at the Galaxy's stadium complex last year, and she was photographed house-hunting in the area. Their young sons carry headline friendly monikers: Brooklyn and Romeo.

Drawing paparazzi like movie stars, Beckham and his wife regularly find their way onto tabloid and magazine covers. With trendy clothes and rotating hair colors and styles, he's the epitome of the modern celebrity-athlete.

Beckham's soccer skills are only part of the equation. He's David Beckham Inc., a multinational corporation with links to Pepsi, Gillette, Motorola and Adidas.

The United States is the last - and biggest - market where Beckham's cult of personality has few converts. A superstar whose movements have convulsed Asian capitals and helped sell millions of European tabloids has been able to walk American streets in relative anonymity.

In Los Angeles, Beckham's mandate calls for raising the profile of an average team in a soccer league that has little respect overseas.

"I'm going out there to hopefully build a club and team that's got a lot of potential," Beckham said. "I think that's what excites me."

The Beckham effect was felt immediately: The Galaxy sold 1,000 new season tickets on Thursday.

The team averages about 22,000-24,000 fans in its 27,000-seat stadium in suburban Carson, although attendance was down last season when the Galaxy missed the playoffs.

The team is anticipating changes in its fan base, especially among women.

"He appeals to so many different people," Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas said. "There is going to be a curiosity factor. There are going to be many people who are going to come to their first MLS and first Galaxy game to watch David Beckham."

Already in the works is a 2008 Galaxy tour of Asia, where Beckham is wildly popular. A new team logo will be unveiled this summer, and the Galaxy's owner is nearing a deal to slap a prime sponsor's name on its jerseys.

"We will absolutely market the Galaxy as a global brand," said Leiweke of AEG, the sports and entertainment company whose holdings include Staples Center - where the city's resident superstar, Kobe Bryant, plays for the NBA Lakers.

MLS changed its rules on salary caps, clearing the way for Beckham to sign the lucrative deal. The league pays the first $400,000 (ñ308,000) of player contracts. Individual teams pick up the rest of the tab for anyone, such as Beckham, who makes more than that.

Beckham, who has failed to win any major titles in 3+ seasons in Madrid, said the time was right for a change.

"I've played now for two of the biggest clubs in the world and played at the highest level for 15 years, and now I think that I need another challenge," he said.

Beckham will become the biggest star to play in U.S. professional soccer since Pele and Franz Beckenbauer in the now-defunct North American Soccer League in the 1970s.

Beckham has not found much success since he moved to Madrid in 2003 from Manchester United, where he won six league titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League title. He has no major trophies with the nine-time European Cup champion.

Back in London, not everyone was impressed by Beckham's move.

"He's rubbish," said Steve Didcott, a consultant mulling the deal from a pub. "And if you're rubbish, you go to the States."

---

AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum in New York and AP Writers Raphael Satter in London, Erin Carlson in New York and Peter Prengaman in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Stadia difficulties to continue'

Premier Soccer League (PSL) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Trevor Phillips says that the stadium unavailability difficulties experienced in the first round of the 2006/07 Castle Premiership season are set to continue in the second round.

Phillips mentioned this during a Castle Premiership press conference held at the league's offices on Thursday.

"The second round is expected to be difficult in as far as stadium availability is concerned, we need greater coordination of activities between the local municipalities, the League and other vital stakeholders."

Many of the stadiums that have been used as venues for professional soccer matches are now under renovation in preparation for the next FIFA World Cup, which South Africa hosts in 2010.

Below is a summary of circumstances pertaining to the different stadia in - Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal provinces - and also of the other matters he addressed during the press conference.

Gauteng
- Super Stadium will only be available until end of January 2007, undergoing rehabilitation. This means that Sundowns and SuperSport United are forced to look for new home venues.
- Tshwane Metro has confirmed that Pilditch Stadium is available. The Metro is putting a fence around the pitch.
- Consequently the situation has arisen whereby Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Supersport United share the usage of - Loftus Versfeld as their home venue.
- However, Loftus will not be available between 04 March to 04 April 2007, which forces the three teams to again relocate their home games.
- Because of the relocation, the teams have been allowed to choose proper venues to play the home matches.
- Huntersfield Stadium is not available from 01 February 2007, which means Jomo Cosmos must now look for a venue for its home games.

Western Cape
- Greenpoint Stadium is to be demolished, meaning that Ajax Cape Town and Santos must revert back to Athlone Stadium - which is also still undergoing rehabilitation.
- For the whole second round, both Ajax and Santos will play their matches at the Athlone Stadium.
- Because of the sharing of the facilities with other sporting stakeholders, agreements were entered into in relation to the dates soccer will use the stadium. That has been factored into the fixture list distributed today.

KwaZulu Natal
- King Zwelithini Stadium is unavailable due to installation of floodlights which has been completed.
- The pitch is being rehabilitated because it was destroyed by heavy duty vehicles during the implementation of the project. It will be available as from the 16th February 2007.
- Golden Arrows will be playing their matches at Chatsworth Stadium.

Beckham 'to leave Real in summer'

David Beckham will leave Real Madrid in the summer, according to the club's sporting director Predrag Mijatovic.

"Beckham will leave us, we will not renew his contract with the club," he told Sky Italia television.

The 31-year-old, whose current deal expires in June, has been linked with a host of clubs from England, Italy, Spain, France and the United States.

Beckham has found his opportunities limited at Real this season under coach Fabio Capello.

Australia eye Twenty/20 World Cup

The lure of winning another World Cup has convinced Australia captain Ricky Ponting to start taking Twenty/20 a bit more serious.

Ponting has always regarded the abbreviated form of the game as little more than a hit-and-giggle but is starting to think more seriously about it with the inaugural Twenty/20 World Cup scheduled for South Africa this year.

Australia have only played five Twenty/20 internationals but are looming as the early favourites to win the title after racking up a record total of 221 for five in their 77-win over England on Tuesday.

Australia's batsmen smacked 15 fours and 14 sixes in a devastating display of power hitting that left their opponents looking on in bemusement and spectators ducking for cover.

"I enjoy playing the game but I think it's best played when it is just a fun sort of game and there is not too much riding on it," Ponting told a news conference.

"We know that there's a world championship coming up and I guess if we keep playing like that, then bring it on."

Twenty/20 was invented in England but English skipper Michael Vaughan said his team were no longer setting the pace in the high-speed form of the game.

"We're the guys who started Twenty20 cricket and we should really be putting up a good fight when we get to that World Cup next September," Vaughan said.

"I love the whole aspect that it's over in three hours, you cram the crowd in and you have the music and it's very razzmatazz, I think it's good for the game."

S.Africa hopeful of reaching racial targets at World Cup

By Ken Borland

Convenor of selectors Haroon Lorgat said South Africa were confident of reaching racial targets after naming 14 coloured players on Tuesday in their provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has imposed a target of seven coloured players in the final 15-man squad which needs to be announced by Feb. 13.

"That's the target we have been aspiring to achieve and the last two years have been part of that process," Lorgat told reporters. "I can't see why we won't achieve that and I will be over the moon if we can select seven or more players of colour.

"We are already pretty close to the final 15. Twelve or 13 players are pencilled in and we will have to see what unfolds during the Pakistan series."

South Africa start a three-test series against Pakistan here on Thursday which will be followed by five one-dayers between Feb. 4-14.

Fourteen of the provisional squad not involved in the test series will play three limited-overs matches in Zimbabwe later this month for a World Cup Possibles side captained by Robin Peterson.

UPBEAT SMITH

Skipper Graeme Smith was upbeat on South Africa's World Cup chances despite going out in the first round on home soil in 2003.

"We've been a pretty settled one-day team with two years of good results around the world and we're confident we can shake off the problems we've had in previous World Cups," Smith said.

"The team has been running like a machine and this squad includes players of character."

Preliminary World Cup squad - Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Boeta Dippenaar, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Garnett Kruger, Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Justin Ontong, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Roger Telemachus, Alfonso Thomas, Thandi Tshabalala, Johan van der Wath, Morne van Wyk.

World Cup Possibles (v Zimbabwe) - Loots Bosman, Boeta Dippenaar, JP Duminy, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Roger Telemachus, Alfonso Thomas, Thandi Tshabalala, Johan van der Wath, Morne van Wyk.

RONALDO TO PAY FOR POOR REAL FORM - REPORT

Crisis club Real Madrid are set to cut their losses during the transfer window and ditch their two remaining galacticos Ronaldo and David Beckham, according to Spanish newspaper AS on Tuesday.

Real began 2007 as they finished 2006 - with a defeat - and already the knives are out for two of the Bernabeu's biggest, and best-paid, stars.

Coach Fabio Capello met with sporting director Pedrag Mijatovic and president Ramon Calderon on Monday and AS claims he demanded the two stars be sold during the January transfer window.

While Beckham, whose contract runs out at the end of the season, continues to stall over signing an extension, Ronaldo's is a case of time having finally caught up with the three-times world player of the year.

"If you can, sell him during the transfer window," Capello told his bosses, according to AS. "In these conditions, he's not part of my plans."

Ronaldo's career has hit the skids over the past two seasons.

Once regarded as the most dangerous and prolific striker in world football, he is now much derided for his expanded waistline and reduced influence on the pitch.

Last season he was frequently jeered by Real's fans and before a Champions League match against Arsenal he made a public plea for patience, while also suggesting he would leave in the close season.

But the new season brought a new coach and Capello decided to give him one last chance, only now his patience has worn thin.

French newspaper L'Equipe has also claimed that Ronaldo, who has played in just seven league games this season, more than half of those as a substitute, and scored a solitary goal, is a bad influence on other players, notably young Brazilians Robinho and Marcelo.

Rumours abound that Ronaldo leads his impressionable team-mates on inappropriate nights out, while he often turns up to train, according to Capello, "in an unacceptable condition for a professional footballer at Real Madrid."

But to blame Ronaldo for Real's malaise this season would be unfair. In all competitions he has taken to the field just 13 times, including six times as a substitute.

His return of four goals and no assists is not what the Bernabeu has come to expect of the once star striker, but given he missed the start of the season with injury and has started only seven of Real's 24 matches in league, cup and Champions League, he cannot be solely blamed for their demise.

Yet Ronaldo's performance in Real's recent slump, which included three defeats in their last four league matches, was not worth his reported 10 million euros a year salary.

A 3-0 defeat at home to newly-promoted Recreativo Huelva saw Ronaldo play 67 minutes and manage only one shot on goal - which missed the target.

He got only 37 minutes as a substitute at Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday, a team that had not won in 10 league games, and he managed just two shots this time.

The Brazilian superstar's status at the club has greatly changed.

His former president Florentino Perez, whose galacticos policy at the club initially yielded such great success, once said of him: "I would sooner sell the Santiago Bernabeu than let Ronaldo leave."

But Perez's successor Calderon apparently does not feel the same way.

It is not just Ronaldo under pressure, though. Capello has been criticised for his signings and their lack of success.

Of his summer recruits, only Ruud van Nistelrooy has been a success. Fifteen goals in 21 games in all competitions has seen to that.

But even Italian World Cup winning captain and new world and European player of the year Fabio Cannavaro has not overly impressed and defensive midfielders Emerson and Mahamadou Diarra have become deeply unpopular with Real's attack-hungry support.

Capello's signing of three South American youngsters (Marcelo, Fernando Gago and Gonzalo Higuain) for a combined 35 million euros in the transfer window does not seem likely to solve their issues either.

But the question is, are Real really in crisis. Capello insisted after the Deportivo defeat that they were still enjoying a good season and Mijatovic said after Monday's meeting that the club had faith in Capello and knew how to solve it's problems.

They are third in the league, only five points off top spot despite their recent troubles, and still in both the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.

Some might be glad to suffer such a crisis, but tellingly Capello decided Tuesday to bar the press and public from Real's training sessions.

Real, it seems, have their backs to the wall.

SOUTH AFRICAN MOTORCYCLIST KILLED IN DAKAR RALLY

South African motorcyclist Elmer Symons was killed in an accident during the fourth stage of the Dakar Rally on Tuesday, race organisers announced.

He was the first competitor to die during this year's race.

The 679 kilometers fourth stage over rugged Moroccan desert terrain was from Er Rachidia to Ouarzazate as the motorcycles and cars taking part in the gruelling annual race headed south for the Senegalese capital Dakar.

Organisers were informed during the morning that there had been an accident at kilometre 142 and a helicopter was despatched to the scene.

Doctors pronounced Symons dead when they arrived at the scene of the accident, organisers said in a communique.

Symons, a 29-year-old US-based company chief, was taking part in the race for the first time as a competitor having twice completed the course as part of the backup teams. He had been in 18th place overall at the time of the accident.

"We do not know the exact details of what caused the accident or how the motorcyclist died," rally director Etienne Lavigne told AFP.

"The accident occurred on a sector that had been labelled dangerous with rippling sand formations.

"The rally's nerve centre in Paris received an automatic satellite alert which indicated that the motorbike had come to an abrubt halt. The pilot was no doubt killed outright."

Symons body had been taken to a morgue in Er Rachidia, Lavigne added.

CHELSEA DISMISS MOURINHO QUIT RUMOURS

Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon has dismissed reports that coach Jose Mourinho is set to quit the English Premier League champions at the end of the season.

On a trip to China this week Kenyon told reporters there was "absolutely no truth" to reports of Mourinho's impending departure to make way for Dutchman Guus Hiddink to replace him.

"This is an old story that is being re-run at the moment. I think that is probably because we are six points behind Manchester United," Kenyon told Tuesday's China Daily.

"Such is the intensity in England for news. But there is absolutely no truth (in the report)."

Kenyon also dismissed speculation about a crisis at the club, who trail leaders Manchester United by six points in the league after a dip in form in recent weeks.

"You've got to look where we are. We're second in the league and behind by six points with arguably the toughest part of the season still to come," he said.

"We qualified top of the group in the Champions League, which, again, was arguably one of the toughest groups. We're in the semi-final of the Carling (League) Cup and through to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Reports have emerged of a rift between Portuguese coach Mourinho and top officials at the club, including Kenyon and Chelsea's billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

Abramovich is reportedly on good terms with Hiddink, the highly rated Russian national coach, whose name has cropped up as a potential replacement for Mourinho.

FERRARI TO ALLOW INTERNAL RAIKKONEN-MASSA DUEL

Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa will be trying to beat each other this Formula One season.

"It will be a healthy competition between two drivers that could create great results," Ferrari team director Jean Todt said in Monday's edition of Corriere Della Sera.

"We will be very careful to make sure that this internal rivalry does not become counterproductive. The interests of Ferrari are what is most important, and Raikkonen and Massa knw this law very well."

Raikkonen is replacing the retired seven-time champion Michael Schumacher at Ferrari this season. Massa is entering his second season with the team.

During Schumacher's 11 years with Ferrari, the team's second driver was often relegated to a support role. At the Austrian Grand Prix in 2002, Rubens Barrichello was ordered by the team to move aside on the final straight and let Schumacher win.

Schumacher remains with the team as a special adviser.

"We intend to take advantage of his knowledge and experience, which I maintain that only he has in the world," Todt said of Schumacher.

Ferrari is holding its annual winter retreat in Madonna di Campigliothis week . The team's 2007 car will be presented Sunday and tested for the first time by Massa on Jan. 15 at the team's track in Fiorano.

Raikkonen will get his first drive behind the wheel of a Ferrari on Jan. 21. at Mugello.

See the Toyota F1 Launch, LIVE!!!

Motor sport enthusiasts around the world will be able to watch the unveiling of a new Toyota Formula 1 car live on their computers this week. This launch of the new TF107 takes place at the Expo XXI site in Cologne, Germany, home of the Panasonic Toyota Racing F1 team, from 12:00 noon to 12:45 on Friday, January 12.
The webcast will be carried on Toyota's public website, www.toyota-f1.com.

WARNE SAYS HE'S HAPPY TO HELP POMS AFTER ASHES DRUBBING

Shane Warne said Monday he would not be averse to helping England recover from their Ashes drubbing, after coach Duncan Fletcher said he would like to enlist the skills of the legendary spinner.

Writing in The Times newspaper, the champion leg-spinner said he had no specific plans on his future career after retiring from Test cricket at the end of Australia's 5-0 whitewash of England last week.

He admitted that the lure of the commentary box was "very attractive" but would love to stay in the game, preferably helping the Aussies remain at the top of the world game.

"Beyond that, I also want to make sure that cricket stays healthy worldwide. So I would not have a problem helping in England, New Zealand, South Africa or anywhere else," he added. "We live on a small planet these days."

But Warne, who admitted it was "strange" to refer to himself as "Shane Warne, the former Test cricketer", said he had received no specific request from Fletcher or the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Warne, who bowed out having taken 708 Test wickets -- 195 of them against England -- said he retained a great affection for England, having played in the English league for Hampshire.

During his time there, he said he had helped a number of England bowlers informally, while England spinner Monty Panesar had sought his advice after the Fifth Test in Sydney last Friday.

"Of course, there is a big difference between an informal chat, where you wouldn't dream of asking for a cent, and actually being employed," he wrote.

"I am not sure what Duncan has in mind, whether it is for me to go around the counties or for bowlers to come to see me at Hampshire.

"As a general comment, if I could help the cause of spin bowling, if I have the time and if it fits in with my family, then I would give it a lot of thought... Whatever I do, I want to do it properly."

Fletcher, who is under fire in the aftermath of England's under-par performance in the Ashes, raised the prospect of Warne crossing cricket's great divide on Friday.

"I'd be happy with him to speak to anyone, there's no doubt about it," he told reporters in Sydney.

Charity Trust Golf Round, The Day After

The day after the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City, the Sport Trust hold a charity event to raise funds and it seems as if it is very successful, so successful that the Trust was given a check for R2 000 000 at the awards dinner after the round.

But what is it like to play the Gary Player Country Club, the day after twelve of the best gofers in the world have done the very same thing? In a word, tough. In two words, very very very very tough.

In four rounds at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, winner, Jim Furyk shot a total of 276 shots, walked 24km, braved 38 degree centigrade heat and won $1.4 Million for the effort.

I am by no means a great golfer; in fact, I can’t even claim to be a good or average golfer. I am a true beginner. My handicap has just jumped to 23, which is a huge effort I might add. Walking the Gary Player Country Club with my team-mates on the Monday afternoon has got to be one of the greatest golfing days of my life. But let’s start at the start.

I won the media prize after playing in the ‘final round’ on the same course, three weeks before the Challenge. Thanks to a Scramble system and some great playing partners, the four of us won the prize to return to Sun City and play the course at its toughest. Always willing to accept a challenge, I stayed for the extra day after the Challenge and warmed up for the round of my life.

Tee off was at Midday. Who said that only mad dogs and Englishmen went out then? They were right, those two and lucky golfers. Little to no wind and a sun that beats down on you like a troop of drummers with no ears was the order of the day. A good breakfast from the club house and we were off. Standing on the 1^st tee, where Jim and Ernie and Charl had stood not twenty four hours ago was an honour. Hitting my 1^st drive right onto the 9^th fairway wasn’t.

From the 1^st shot of the day, my caddie, Ronald, knew he should have chosen another player. Ronald was one of the most patient men I have ever walked with. Always handing me the club I needed, opening a new box of balls when my new Srixon flew short on the 11th hole into the ditch. Always, very kindly, showing me exactly which way my drive was headed, and strangely, he hardly ever pointed in a straight line.

All weekend people were telling me about the 17th hole at the Gary Player Country Club. On a regular day, it's not too tough. A slight right to left dog-leg with a little water at the start, then a long second shot onto a green with water at the front, left and slightly behind. That would be on a regular day. The day after the Nedbank is not a regular day. Not this Monday. This Monday saw a drive having to carry 200m just to make the other side of the dam, 220m to make the fairway. My whole round at the Gary Player that day was leading up to the 17th. Forget about the 550m par 5, 14th hole. That was a breeze, drive down the right, 3 wood to the left, 7 iron short of the waste bunker, wedge into the waste bunker, wedge again into the waste bunker, wedge over the green, chip onto the green, 3 putt. Please, I have seen the best in the world do that.

No worries standing on the tee at 11. The stroke 10 hole used to be the toughest hole on the course. Thanks to my modern ball and great driver, I can easily clear the ravine, unless I slice it the way I did. There went Ronald, risking snakes and ticks to find my ball to the right in those trees.

The par 5 ninth is also a hole that should put dread in any poor golfer, such as myself, but not really. I love it. In fact, I have birdied the 9th, unlike most golfer at the Nedbank, I might add.

The 17th, water water everywhere. The sun was setting straight behind the Lost City. The wind had been picking up all afternoon and was now blowing straight into us. Not only do we have to carry 200m but we also have to drive straight into the wind. We patiently waited as the Sport Trust guys in front, who are carrying their own bags, remember, walk around the water and play their second. We hid behind the advertising boards to get out of the sun, then I am up. Grip, stance, head behind the ball, slow back-swing and RIP!!!! Massive slice, the ball is sailing off to the right but IT CLEARS THE WATER! I am so excited I jump as if I have sunk a birdie on the 18th to win. My playing partner asks if I had intentionally aimed it off right to avoid the water and I admit to having stuffed the shot up. Golf is an honest sport.

After that the 17th got bad. Rough up to my calves, a green that was made of concrete with slopes like you can't believe, but ti didn't matter, I cleared the water.

Six hours after starting the round, my 4-ball sat drinking out Pilsners at the club house, looking out as the workmen were clearing the grandstands that make the Nedbank Gold Challenge. Six hours of lost balls, long drives and short chips. Six hours of sun, wind, sand and laughs. Six hours of walking the very same course that Jim did the day before. Six hours of shooting the same score he did in four days.

Here is to the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Proving that they really are the 12 best gofers in the world.

CLARK COULD BE BIG WINNER OUT OF ASHES SUCCESS

Stuart Clark is set to be a major financial winner out of Australia's thumping Ashes series win as Cricket Australia prepares for its biggest contractual shake-up in a decade.

Clark took the most wickets in the series with 26 at 17.04, pushing his career tally to 47 wickets in nine Test matches.

Press reports Sunday said that as many as seven Cricket Australia (CA) contracts are up for grabs this year following the retirements of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn.

The Sunday Telegraph said former international stars Jason Gillespie, Simon Katich and Michael Kasprowicz are also in danger of slipping off the 25-man contract list.

They were axed from the Test and one-day sides in the past year.

The seven contracts are worth an estimated 2.3 million Australian dollars (1.8 million US) in total earnings, the newspaper said.

Clark's CA contract is set to be improved substantially. He was named man-of-the-match in Australia's 10-wicket win in Friday's final Test, which clinched a 5-0 Ashes clean sweep over England for the first time in 86 years.

A year ago he was on a contract with New South Wales worth around 70,000 dollars, but is likely to rocket into Australia's top-five earners if he can play in the World Cup, starting in March, the newspaper said.

The Sunday Telegraph said the 31-year-old paceman is likely to receive a base CA contract of 500,000 dollars. With match payments, endorsements and bonuses factored in, Clark could pocket as much as 800,000 dollars.

Should Clark play a role in Australia winning the World Cup, he stands to earn an individual bonus of at least 250,000 dollars, taking his earnings potential to one million dollars and beyond.

Australian Cricketers Association chief executive Paul Marsh said Clark was headed for a significant pay rise.

"It depends on how the selectors rank him but he has gone from a fringe player to one of our best bowlers in the past year," said Marsh, whose organisation plays a role in negotiating the wage structure of Australia's top cricketers.

"If he makes the World Cup team, his ranking could improve considerably. The way the system is set up, he's set for a big increase in his contract."

Batsman Michael Hussey is another set for a contract windfall and is expected to become the third highest earner behind Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist, along with all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who reclaimed his Test spot during the Ashes series.

Cricket Australia assesses its top 25 contracted players annually and is expected to issue new contracts in early May, following the World Cup in the Caribbean.

Rising West Australian duo Adam Voges and Chris Rogers, Tasmanian fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus and Victoria's leg-spinning captain Cameron White are in the frame to win CA contracts.

CRICKET: ENGLAND KEEN TO USE WARNE AS SPIN DOCTOR

England coach Duncan Fletcher said Saturday he would like Shane Warne to cross the great cricket divide and work as a spin doctor for Australia's old Ashes enemy.

The champion leg-spinner played his 145th and final Test in Australia's 10-wicket victory over England in the fifth Sydney Test Friday to claim an 86-year-old 5-0 Ashes clean sweep.

Fletcher, who faces fall-out over England's performance in the series, is keen for Test cricket's leading wicket-taker to impart his skill, knowledge and experience to England spin bowlers.

"I'd be happy with him to speak to anyone, there's no doubt about it," Fletcher told reporters here Saturday.

"Someone of that calibre would be very useful for England to use his experience, at any stage during the (northern) summer or at any stage of a player's career.

"Not only of a young spinner. Imagine the help he could give to a very, very experienced spinner in the side."

Although finished with Test cricket, Warne is committed to playing out the remaining two years of his contract with English county Hampshire, providing England potential access to his wealth of cricket knowledge.

Fletcher said it would not only be spinners who would benefit from Warne's insight.

"Not only a spinner. He's got the capabilities of helping anyone in international cricket on how to play the game," he said.

In a sign England had already begun tapping into Warne's thinking, he and opposing spinner Monty Panesar were seen chatting at length after the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG.

Of Warne's 708 Test wickets, 195 were against England.

Australian Troy Cooley, who was instrumental as bowling coach under Fletcher in England's 2005 Ashes victory, was coaxed back home to help Ricky Ponting's team regain the urn.

Cooley was said to be influential in turning around the bowling fortunes of speedster Brett Lee in the Ashes series.

England awakes to final Ashes humiliation

England cricket fans awoke on Friday to the news they had dreaded.

The Ashes were lost and in the most humiliating way possible -- a 5-0 hammering by Australia in a whitewash not seen between the two countries for more than 80 years.

The euphoria that surrounded the England triumph in 2005 began to fade early in the series with a 277-run thrashing in the first test in Brisbane.

The first ball bowled by England paceman Steve Harmison, wide, wayward and ugly, remains etched in the memory.

But open any England supporter's heart and you may well find the word Adelaide engraved.

In hindsight, they could have batted the Australians out of the match there instead of declaring the first innings at 551 for six and gone to the third test at least only one down knowing the Australians would have to win two of the last three matches to regain the Ashes.

Instead, the home side fought back brilliantly and then blew the opposition away for just 129 in their second innings. It was a textbook example by England of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Psychologically, the damage was done and from then on in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney it was downhill all the way. Painful defeat upon painful defeat, collapse upon collapse.

So why did it all go wrong?

NO DOUBT

Former England batsman Geoff Boycott was in no doubt, putting it down to lack of "bottle" (mental strength under pressure).

He told BBC Radio: "Quite frankly, they were totally outplayed. Whenever the questions were being asked of England, they have faltered and they have not been mentally strong enough or technically good enough to hold the Australians at bay."

Other critics point to lack of preparation with only seven days cricket on Australian soil before the first test.

True, England were without injured skipper Michael Vaughan and paceman Simon Jones and the loss of opener Marcus Trescothick with a stress-related illness nine days before the Brisbane game was a big blow.

With neither wicketkeeper Geraint Jones and Chris Read contributing much-needed runs, the England tail was long and fluffy. Friday's capitulation in the final test in Sydney was typical of the genre.

Arguably, the knowledge the tail would not bail them out put extra pressure on the top and middle order.

They were already having to cope with a fired-up Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath and the admirable Stuart Clark who topped the wicket-takers on 26.

BIG SCORES

Eight of the Australian players averaged more than 40 with the bat, against two by England. Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting were often a joy to watch and big scores flowed all round.

For England, only Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood and Alastair Cook made centuries.

Australia's four front-line bowlers all averaged under 34 a wicket. England's best was just over 37 by Matthew Hoggard with the errant Harmison coming in at a very costly 61.4.

Many critics felt the talismanic Monty Panesar should have played long before he was finally called on in Perth in preference to fellow spinner and useful bat Ashley Giles.

Panesar responded with 10 wickets at just under 38 but despite some entertainment lengthened the tail with just 35 runs in six innings.

England captain Andrew Flintoff thinks his young side may benefit from the thrashing endured over the last few weeks and the experience will help them in the next series in 2009.

Happily for him, Australia will be without Warne and McGrath who retired after Friday's victory along with openers Justin Langer and Damien Martyn.

But Ponting warned: "I've got a good feeling about the next crop of players. I'm excited about that.

"When you get young players in the squad there's excitement around. With the nucleus of this group it will still be together and I can see us being a very dominant team."

Bookmakers William Hill took note, quoting Australia at a conservative 14-1 to repeat the whitewash in 2009 but also offering 500-1 against the Australians holding the Ashes until the next century.

Loveday good for Duzi

The paddling world was shocked in December when one of South Africa’s top paddlers, tipped to be on the podium again in the 2007 edition of the Hansa Powerade Dusi, was assaulted in his home in the Valley of a Thousand Hills in KZN.

Loveday Zondi was assaulted by a man who threw a rock at him resulting in a dislocated shoulder. Doctors at the time were of the opinion that the injury would put paid to his chances of competing, let alone winning, the Dusi which takes place on January 18, 19 and 20.

All doubts were allayed when Zondi put in a record performance at the weekly Umzinyathi time trial at Shongweni dam yesterday.

Canoeing pundits who watched the amazing performance were stunned that anyone could break world canoe marathon champion, and multiple winner of the Dusi, Hank McGregors best time.

“My sponsors, Kayak Centre, delivered my new boat and wanted to see me test it. I didn’t know the way and followed Kevin White on the first lap. It was only on the second lap that I really went for it – the boat and I clicked immediately” said a visibly excited Zondi.

Zondi took over a minute off McGregors time and no-one was more surprised than Zondi himself.

“It was only 5 weeks ago that I thought that I wouldn’t be taking part in the Dusi, now I am feeling confident especially after beating Hank’s time” said the top black Dusi finisher of all time when he placed 3^rd 2 years ago.

The question that canoeists were asking this morning was – can this be the year that a black paddler wins the Dusi for the first time. Hansa Powerade Dusi chairman, Cameron Mackenzie certainly believes that it could well be that 2007 sees the end of white domination of the Dusi

“I have watched in amazement over the last few years how well the development initiatives are going. Seven years ago there was not a black paddler in the top 50 and 2 years ago we witnessed and unbelievable 3^rd place finish by Zondi. I really think he has got it and there is huge support for him to do in a little over two weeks time”.

Due to lots of rain in the past few weeks, late entries are flooding in at www.dusi.co.za as paddlers revel in the full rivers during training sessions.

The Hansa Powerade Dusi takes place on January 18, 19 and 20 from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.