29 September 2014 – The victorious South African Men’s U17 National Team (Amajimbos) are back in the country.

Amajimbos touched down to a heroes’ welcome on Monday, 29 September after holding Egypt to a 2-2 draw to qualify 4-3 on aggregate for the CAF African Youth Championships scheduled for Niger next year.

The Minister of Sport and Recreation South Africa, The Honourable Fikile Mbalula and the President of the South African Football Association (SAFA), Dr Danny Jordaan as well the Chief Executive of the Association Dennis Mumble, were on hand to welcome the youngsters at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

Minister Mbalula said he was going to reward the squad monetarily for a job well done.

“I reward people who do good things and you reached a historic stage and deserve to be rewarded. You did the country proud,” said Mbalula.

“For you to go to Egypt and conquer is a monumental achievement. We had become a laughing stock on the continent that we have good infrastructure and stadiums but have no talent but I am sure you have now demystified this myth,” said Minister Mbalula.

Encouraging the corporate to play their part and support Amajimbos financially, Minister Mbalula warned the new heroes to stay away from drugs and stay focused.

Trieste, Italy, September 27, 2014 - Bulgaria defeated Cameroon in straight sets (25-16, 25-20, 25-23) in the first match of the day in Pool B of the 2014 FIVB Women’s World Championship at PalaTrieste on Saturday and are nicely positioned in third place of the Pool B standings with six points from four matches.





Key facts

•                    This was the first meeting between Bulgaria and Cameroon at the World Championship as well as in a major tournament

•                    Today was Bulgaria's 90th match at the World Championship

•                    Cameroon will have to back their bags after Sunday’s last Pool B match in Trieste

Kremena Kamenova, in her first starting-six appearance at 2014 FIVB Women’s World Championship, was Bulgaria’s top scorer with 12 points followed by Strashimira Filipova and Dobriana Rabadzhieva with 10 points each.

Nana Tchoudjang was Cameroon’s top scorer with 14 points followed by an inspired Moma with 11 kills.

While the MLS regular season may be winding down, Landon Donovan continues on his hunt for more regular season records. With his three assists over the weekend, the California-native is one away from becoming the league’s all-time assist leader ahead of current Houston Dynamo assistant coach, Steve Ralston. Donovan holds the all-time MLS record for regular-season goals scored. The Galaxy will host Toronto FC on Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET (TSN, RDS2). Toronto FC rallied to secure a come from behind win over the Portland Timbers that put them right back in the thick of the playoff race. Michael Bradley and Co. will be looking to continue their upward trend following a skittish patch over the last several weeks.

The IOC is pleased to announce that the Commission to evaluate the candidatures for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games - Oslo (Norway), Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Beijing (China)* - will be composed of the following members:

Chair

Alexander ZHUKOV (RUS)
IOC Member
President, Russian Olympic Committee
Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Sochi Organising Committee for the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

IOC Members

Barry MAISTER (NZL)
Vice-President, Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC)
Olympic Champion, Hockey, Montreal 1976
Olympian, Mexico City 1968, Munich 1972, Hockey

Adam PENGILLY (GBR)
IOC Athletes’ Commission representative
Olympian, Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010, Skeleton
Board Member, London Organising Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games 

Tsunekazu TAKEDA (JPN)
President, Japanese Olympic Committee
Vice President, Tokyo Organising Committee for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Olympian, Munich 1972, Montreal 1976, Equestrian jumping

Experienced French coach Philippe Troussier quit as CS Sfaxien coach following the Tunisian club's defeat in the CAF Champions League.

Troussier, 59, a former coach of the Japan and Côte d'Ivoire national teams, will be succeeded by Ghazi Ghrairi who has coached the club in the past.

Sfaxien were defeated 2-1 by Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Saturday for a 4-2 loss on aggregate.

The South African sides in this year’s Champions League Twenty20 competition have a tough time on the sub continent with neither the Dolphins or Cape Cobras  able to pick up a win so far.

Midway through the group stages of the competition, both sides have lost two games apiece, which means the pressure is on the Cobras when they face the Barbadoes Tridents in Mohali today.

Skipper Justin Ontong and his side face a win or bust scenario with a loss here against the fourth placed Tridents spelling an end to their chances of advancing. They will also be reliant on results in other matches in Group B.

Ireland and Scotland have touched down in Australia for a five-week tour that will see them gain vital match experience across Australia and New Zealand as they count down to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, which will be played between 14 February and 29 March.

The two sides join Afghanistan and the UAE in the southern hemisphere, and will play a series of matches against local and state sides to fine-tune their preparations ahead of cricket’s pinnacle one-day event.

Becky Adlington joined more than three hundred swimming enthusiasts at London Fields Lido to take part in SwimBritain 2014.

British Gas SwimBritain is now in its second year and the event encourages more people to swim regularly. Thousands of members of the public signed up to take to the water with decorated stars of British Swimming including Becky Adlington and Ellie Simmonds, plus celebrities including David Walliams, at 11 locations nationwide between 30th August and 4th October.

In the early morning hours of Sunday September 28th 2014, Kenya again shone on the global stage in the Marathon race of Berlin as Dennis Kimetto shattered the Old world record to set a new one of 2hr 02min 57sec.

The Kenyan followed in the footsteps of his countrymen becoming the first human to run the distance under 2hr 03min obliterating Wilson Kipsang’s previous time of 2:03:23 ran in the same course in Berlin in 2013.

Democratic Republic of Congo club Vita created history when reaching the CAF Champions League final.

They are the first team in the 50-year history of the premier African club football competition to win a semi-final tie after taking a 2-1 first-leg lead. Vita also won the return game 2-1 against Tunisians CS Sfaxien in the Mediterranean city of Sfax to secure a 4-2 aggregate triumph.

28 September 2014 - South Africa’s national Under-17 coach Molefi Ntseki said he was now gunning for a place in the World Cup Youth tournament scheduled for Chile next year having achieved his initial goal of making it to Niger 2015.

Amajimbos drew 2-2 with Egypt on Saturday evening in Cairo’s Contractors Stadium, winning 4-3 on aggregate to book a berth in the finals in Niger next year.

“Yes, this is a good achievement and great for my CV but I am now looking beyond Niger; I want to take these boys to Chile for the World Cup. The reality of qualifying for Niger has now sunk in and I am gunning for more success,” said Ntseki at the exclusive five-star team hotel, the Tiba Rose Plaza.

ANKARA/ISTANBUL (2014 FIBA World Championship for Women) - The referees that will officiate the games at the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women have been announced.

The officials are 13 men and 11 women hailing from 24 countries across FIBA’s five continental zones. They rank in age from 30 to 49 (average age of 38.7) and have between two and 18 years of experience as FIBA referees (average of 8.5 years).

NEW YORK (September 26, 2014) – Toronto FC midfielder Jackson was issued a red card for violent conduct towards Chivas USA midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker in the 66th minute of their team’s game on September 21 and has been suspended for two games and fined an undisclosed amount by the MLS Disciplinary Committee (VIDEO). Reo-Coker was issued a red card in the same incident, however, the Committee has ruled that the player’s actions did not constitute violent conduct and he will serve a one-game suspension and has been fined an undisclosed amount. Reo-Coker was also found to be in violation of the League’s policy regarding hands to the face/head of an opponent and has been fined.

26 September 2014 – South Africa’s ambassador to Egypt, Ms Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya has promised Amajimbos huge support when the U17 take on their Egyptian counterparts at Contractors Stadium, Cairo on Saturday evening in the CAF Youth championships second leg qualifier.

The match kicks off at 19h00.

Ambassador Mayende-Sibiya, who addressed the players at the team hotel, said all staff members at the embassy would be at the stadium to give the boys support.

“I have also encouraged the staff at the embassy to mobilise all South Africans staying in Egypt to come to the game. So expect a good number of South Africans at the match. That is how we seriously we take this encounter,” said Ambassador Mayende-Sibiya.

She told the team which was accompanied by SAFA Head of Delegation Gladwin White, coach Molefi Ntseki and his technical support staff that playing for one’s country was an honor and a privilege reserved for the chosen few.

ANKARA/ISTANBUL (FIBA World Championship for Women) - The finalised rosters of the 16 participating teams at the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women have been verified and confirmed.

All squads have been trimmed to 12 players, as the action tips off on Saturday 27 September in Ankara and Istanbul for the Group Phase (27-30 September).

Click on the name of the team(s) below to see the full roster.

Group A (Ankara): Brazil; Czech Republic; Japan; Spain
Group B (Ankara): Canada; France; Mozambique; Turkey
Group C (Istanbul): Australia; Belarus; Cuba; Korea
Group D (Istanbul): Angola; China; Serbia; USA

Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and England-based forward Victor Moses have been recalled by Nigeria for next month's 2015 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Sudan.

Enyeama was excused from this month's qualifiers against Congo and South Africa to attend to pressing family problems, while Moses was left out as coach Stephen Keshi said he was off form. However, Ikechukwu Uche has again been overlooked by Keshi, who said the Villarreal striker insists on being begged to play for his country. The player has denied this.

Keshi has called up several new faces though, in China-based Aaron Samuel, Sunday Emmanuel, who plays in Austria, Hope Akpan of English side Reading and Anyora Ugonna, who plies his trade in Norway.

  Blantyre, September 26: Malawi’s Youth and Sports Minister Grace Chiumia has disclosed that the country’s oldest soccer cathedral, Kamuzu Stadium which is in the commercial capital Blantyre will be razed down and a totally new structure will be erected.

Chiumia was quoted by Malawi’s online media mid this week confirming talks that will facilitate the demolition and the construction of the new facility have already commenced.

Initially, Malawi authorities were planned to refurbish the facility by renovating the dilapidated stands but this idea was abandoned.

This followed recommendation from Confederation of African Football (CAF) security officer, Nicholas Musonye who stated that the renovation of some of the facility’s damaged stands would not provide a permanent solution.

TP Mazembe and CS Sfaxien must win the return legs of their CAF Champions League semi-final ties if they want to stay in the hunt for Africa's biggest prize in club football. Both will fancy their chances at home having scored important away goals in 2-1 first leg losses. History is also on their side as never before in the competition, which was first played in 1964, has a club won a semi-final 2-1 at home in the first leg and qualified for the final. The winner of the two-legged final, which will be played late in October, will represent the continent in December's FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco.

Michael Essien seems to have been in the footballing consciousness for an eternity. The Ghana legend will, however, only turn 32 later this year. The concluding chapter of his glittering career will seemingly come in Italy, with Essien swapping Chelsea for AC Milan in January. 

He made the move to the San Siro ahead of the FIFA World Cup™, with a view to gaining full level of fitness to take into Brazil 2014. It was not to be, though, with Essien playing just 19 minutes as he struggled to recover from injury. The tournament proved a different kind of heartbreak for 'The Bison' compared to four years ago, when he missed the entirety of Ghana's run to the South Africa 2010 quarter-finals. In South America, the Black Stars crashed out after three games, finishing bottom of an admittedly tough Group G.

27 September 2014 - South Africa Under-17 side Amajimbos completed a fairy tale of national teams qualifying for major tournaments after overcoming Egypt 4-3 on aggregate at Contractors Stadium in Cairo on Saturday evening.

The second leg ended in a 2-2 draw but having won 2-1 a fortnight ago, Molefi Ntseki’s side booked their place.

Coming into the game having won the first leg 2-1, Khanyisa Mayo’s first half brace silenced the vocal Egyptians as Amajimbos completed qualification to Niger for the CAF African Youth Championships.

TUCSON, ARIZONA and NEW YORK, NEW YORK (Friday, September 26, 2014) — FC Tucson and Major League Soccer have announced the six teams slated to take part in the 2015 FC Tucson MLS preseason tournament, better known as the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup. The Colorado Rapids, Montreal Impact, New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders FC and Sporting Kansas City round out the group which will take the field from Wednesday, February 18 through Saturday, February 28.  All matches will be hosted at the brand new North Kino Sports Complex and promoted through partnerships with Pima County and VisitTucson.

Now in its fourth year, the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup has become a highly anticipated event for soccer fans throughout the region and a popular travel destination for MLS supporters nationwide.  Soccer fans will have the opportunity to see stars from the U.S. Men’s National Team coming off a memorable run at this year’s World Cup in Brazil, including Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), and Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake).

25 September 2014 – Amajimbos touched down at Cairo International Airport just around 05h30 on Thursday morning after a 7-hour flight from OR Tambo Airport looking very relaxed but focused on Saturday’s crucial encounter.

“Everyone looks in good condition and the focus now is Saturday’s game. That is what will shape our future. Personally, I can’t wait to have this match done and dusted,” said coach Molefi Ntseki.

Senegalese International, Issa Sarr is enjoying his spell in the South African Premier Soccer league were he turns out for Soweto giants Orlando Pirates. Pirates are one of the most supported clubs in football history with a rich history that dates back decades ago.

The anchorman has adapted well to the South African league having started his career turning out for 2013 cup kings Platinum Stars. He was called into the Pirates system to replace the departed Andile Jali, who found greener pastures in Belgium.

NEW YORK (September 25, 2014) – The MLS Disciplinary Committee has suspended Chicago Fire midfielder Bakary Soumare one game and fined him an undisclosed amount for serious foul play that endangered the safety of an opponent in the 9th minute of the game against D.C. United on September 20 (VIDEO).

The MLS Disciplinary Committee has also fined Chivas USA midfielder Leandro Barrera an undisclosed amount for simulation in the 80th minute of the game against Toronto FC on September 21 (VIDEO).

25 September 2014 – Bafana Bafana head coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba has announced a squad of 26 players for the upcoming ORANGE Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2015 qualifiers against Congo (Brazzaville), retaining the bulk of the team that successfully did duty against Sudan and Nigeria recently.

South Africa travel to Pointe Noire where they will play against Congo on Saturday, 11 October 2014, and again meet the same team on Wednesday, 15 October at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane (20h05 kick off).