Not sure I agree, but they do know their stuff....

Serge Damseaux, 10 times South African rally champion, has been named as the 2007 South African Guild of Motoring Journalists Motor Sportsman of the Year. Damseaux retired from national championship rallying at the end of the 2007 season after a 24-year rally career that saw him accumulate a record 74 national championship victories, 8 more than the 66 scored by Sarel van der Merwe, and more than twice as many as Jan Hettema (36 wins). The last three of these came in the 2007 eight-round championship – more than any other competitor during the year.

Damseaux was one of six South African motor sportsmen nominated for the prestigious award sponsored by Bridgestone. Other nominees were Wesleigh Orr, A1 Team South Africa’s rookie driver in the 2007/08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport; Giniel de Villiers, South Africa’s foremost international cross-country rally competitor who led the 2007 Dakar Rally until an engine failure at the halfway mark; Arushen Moodley, the first South African of colour to win the national Superbike title; Hennie Groenewald, last year’s Wesbank V8 Supercars champion; and Hudson Kennaugh, the 2006 Superbike champion, who successfully competed in the British Superbike and Superstock championships in 2007.
This ultimate recognition by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists comes as Serge Damseaux moves on into retirement to end a winning streak in South African rallying that started in 1985 and spanned 23 years through to 2007 during which time Serge won 40% of all national championship rallies staged. Although primarily a rally competitor, Serge’s career included many highlights in circuit racing as well.

It is in recognition of this exceptional career performance that Serge Damseaux was named as the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists Motor Sportsman of the Year for 2007.

Hunter Wins again

Day 5 of the Intaka Tech World’s View Challenge ended with Team Barloworld captain Robbie Hunter winning another big sprint finish, with the rest of the team not far behind.

Team Barloworld looked strong from the beginning with Points Jersey winner, Christian Pfannberger taking an early break which he held until the final 10km’s of the race. The team worked hard to control the chasing peloton and maintain Pfannberger’s notable lead, knowing that with the final section of the race being flat, they could set Hunter up for another strong sprint finish.

Robbie Hunter, Team Barloworld captain comments, “Racing in South Africa is very special as, being based overseas, I don’t get to do it very often. It is great to be able to win here again on home soil.”

Race results:

1. Hunter (Team Barloworld)
2. Van Heerden (Konica Minolta)
3. Van Heerden (MTN)

Here we go again, SA Rugby go at it again, who is surprised?

The president of the South African Rugby Union (Saru), Regan Hoskins, has - inadvertently, it seems - been drawn into a row about the signing of a R700 million broadcast deal with SuperSport.

And now, in another case of public infighting, Saru has been 'reported' to the Minister of Sport, Rev Makhenkesi Stofile, by the Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) who accuses Hoskins, together with CEO of SA Rugby Jonathan Stones and the chairman of SA Rugby's board of directors Mpumelelo Tshume, of signing the agreement without consulting the president's council.

However, Stones maintains he had teleconferences with the unions' presidents as well as meeting with some of them before signing the deal. It is based on this that Hoskins signed the contract, which had gone through three redrafts, according to the Business Day who quotes Stones in this regard.

Hoskins, meanwhile, is in a battle for survival with the brother of the Minister of Sport, who is the deputy president of Saru and will challenge Hoskins for South African rugby's top position at next month's election.

Although Mike Stofile is not mentioned in the present row, it is generally perceived as part of the on-going spat between Stofile and Hoskins and also a reflection of the mood of the unsettled EPRU, who are vying for a Super 14 berth through renewed efforts of Anthony McKeever.

Hoskins has countered that the present issue was not mentioned when he chaired their board at a meeting last week.

Claudio Corti: “No negotiations being held with Ivan Basso”

There have been numerous rumours and suggestions circulating in the last few days regarding Team Barloworld and Ivan Basso. The Italian intends to race again in 2009 after serving his long ban but Team Barloworld team manager Claudio Corti wishes to make the following clarification:

“According to reports around the world, people seem to think I am keen to sign Ivan Basso. It’s true that I had some contact with Basso approximately a year and half ago when he was initially cleared but I want to clarify that Team Barloworld and Ivan Basso are not holding negotiations,” Corti said.

“We are still defining our plans for 2009 and beyond with the main sponsor and so it’s unthinkable that we could be holding talks at this moment with any rider.”

vory Coast flex their muscles in Guinea stroll

By Julien Pretot

Ivory Coast's crushing victory over Guinea was a clear warning to rivals that they intend to make up for their African Nations Cup final defeat in 2006.

The Elephants, who lost to Egypt in the final after a penalty shootout two years ago, have won their four matches in the tournament, scoring 13 goals and conceding only one.

Sunday's 5-0 quarter-final demolition of Guinea served further notice that Ivory Coast have evolved into a team capable of claiming the trophy.

"We do not doubt. We have the team to go all the way," coach Gerard Gili told reporters.

"To win the Cup, you need a 23-man squad, not just only 11 players and everybody needs to be at his best.

"And we have an homogenous squad, with a very competitive bench," the Frenchman added. "The players starting on the bench have a very good spirit."

Ivory Coast have not lifted the coveted trophy since their only victory in 1992 but believe their time has come, their optimism increased by a solid World Cup showing in 2006 when they beat Serbia & Montenegro and lost by the odd goal to Argentina and the Netherlands in group games.

"The squad have long been preparing for this," said Gili.

"From this World Cup, Ivory coast have learnt how to deal with big events. They know how to handle big games, on and off the field."

Ivory Coast should be at full strength for Thursday's semi-final in Kumasi against Egypt or Angola after centre back Kolo Toure recovered from a groin injury.

PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS FLEX FINANCIAL MUSCLE IN JANUARY BY OUTSPENDING REST OF EUROPE

By STUART CONDIE

Clubs in the English Premier League showed again during soccer's January transfer window the benefit of playing in Europe's richest national competition.

The 20 teams spent a record total of about 150 million pounds (US$298 million; Ç200 million) on players to boost their chances of success or aid their attempt to avoid relegation.

That is more than the top leagues in Italy, Spain, Germany and France put together.

Buoyed by a 300 million-pound increase in television revenue this season and expected total income of 1.8 billion pounds, the Premier League clubs spent about three times as much as they did in the last January trading window.

But the biggest spending club owed little of its outlay to the changing revenue streams.

Backed by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Chelsea paid more than 27 million pounds (US$53.8 million; Ç36.1 million) for France striker Nicolas Anelka, Serbia defender Branislav Ivanovic and Argentina under-20 forward Franco di Santo.

In third place and seeking to regain the title they last won in 2006, the Blues were the only team of the so-called "Big Four" rounded out by Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool to go into the red in January.

Much of that went on Anelka, whose 15 million-pound (US$29.9 million; Ç20.1 million) transfer from Bolton made him the Premier League's most expensive January signing ever.

That pushed Chelsea into spending almost as much as the total 30 million pounds (US$59.7 million; Ç40.2 million) by the 24 teams in the second-tier League Championship.

With such riches on offer to those in the elite, it is little surprise that Fulham, Wigan, Birmingham, Bolton and Sunderland all spent a lot to bolster their squads as they fight relegation.

Fulham spent almost 10 million pounds (US$19.9 million; Ç13.4 million), although its most important arrival could prove to be free signing Jari Litmanen, the veteran Finland forward who won the Champions League with Ajax and also played for FC Barcelona and Liverpool.

"I have no doubt that he will have a big part to play over the coming months and that we shall benefit as a team from his skill and experience," Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said.

Fulham has struggled to protect a lead this season and is in 19th place, but Litmanen's ability to hold the ball up and score crucial goals should relieve some of the pressure on a defense strengthened by Denmark's Leon Andreasen and another Finland international, Toni Kallio.

Last-place Derby was one of the busiest clubs, bringing in eight players despite looking certain to be relegated. But the Rams only spent 3.5 million pounds (US$6.9 million; Ç4.7 million) and brought in the experienced Laurent Robert, Alan Stubbs, Roy Carroll and Danny Mills for free or on loan.

That reluctance to spend suggests the club is thinking about preparing for next season and an attempt at promotion back to the Premier League.

But at the other end of the table, United and Arsenal, which are tied atop the standings with four points more than Chelsea, made no major acquisitions. They only jettisoned fringe players and sent youngsters out on loan.

And while a record amount was spent, more than 73 million pounds (US$145 million; Ç97.6 million), or about half, was recouped in sales.

And Tottenham was the perfect example.

Spurs were the second biggest spenders with 21.5 million pounds (US$42.8 million; Ç28.7 million) on Jonathan Woodgate, Alan Hutton, Gilberto and Chris Gunter signed to shore up a defense that has conceded more goals from free kicks and corners than any other.

But it clawed back more than 11 million pounds (US$21.9 million; Ç14.7 million) offloading eight players, including England striker Jermain Defoe to Portsmouth.