Vuvuzela South Africa

Confederation of African Football (CAF) and adidas has unveiled the Official Match Ball for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Like the 2010 World Cup Match Ball, the Afcon ball is called ‘Jabulani Angola’ and differs from the World Cup Jabulani only in colour.

Jabulani Angola

16 teams will use the Jabulani Angola ball as they battle to become champions of Africa from January 10th to 31st in Angola

Jabulani Angola is inspired by the yellow, red and black Angolan flag and also features the ground-breaking Grip’n’Grove profile, which will help provide Africa’s best players with a stable ball flight and perfect grip under all conditions.

“After the spectacular success of the first ever official ball for CAF, the “Wawa Aba” in Ghana 2008, we are proud to present to you the new official ball for African football for the next two years.”

“I have confidence that the Jabulani Angola will be the perfect icon for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations,” said Amr Shaheen, Marketing Director of CAF.

The word Jabulani – which means “to celebration” in isiZulu – reflects not only Africa’s but the entire World’s approach to the Orange Africa Cup of Nations.

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The African Nations Cup happens every second year in January and every time the English Premier League Managers pretend that they never saw it coming and start complaining about losing their best players.

Arsene Wenger, Arsenal Manager

Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager will see midfield duo Alex Song and Emmanuel Eboue depart for Angola in January for duty with Cameroon and Ivory Coast, respectively.

And while the competition will be completed at the end of January, Wenger feels that the after-effects could still be hampering players involved for the remainder of the Premier League campaign.

So far in this festive period, Wenger, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti and Portsmouth manager Avram Grant have hit out at the timing of the competition.

The African Nations Cup has become a bigger nuisance for Premier League bosses as more Didier Drogbas and Michael Essiens make the switch to England’s top clubs.

The fact that the competition is held in January, for around three weeks, which symbolises an important phase in a club’s title chase, or battle against the dreaded drop, is another cause for concern.

FIFA Wants AFCON held in July by 2016

Last year when this same unhappiness erupted amongst the European managers, FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced that he wanted the tournament to be held in either June or July by 2016, to fit in with the international calendar.

While this may benefit European clubs and several of the continent’s stars, many countries in central and west Africa will not get a chance to host the CAF event as it will coincide with their rain-soaked season. But to date, no official noise has been made with regard to any changes.

According to football365 Players missing by club:

4: Portsmouth (Nadir Belhadj, Hassan Yebda, Nwankwo Kanu, Aruna Dindane)
4: Chelsea (Michael Essien, Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, John Mikel Obi)
3: Man City (Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kelvin Etuhu)
3: Hull City (Kamel Ghilas, Daniel Cousin, Seyi Olofinjana)
2: Arsenal (Alex Song, Emmanuel Eboue)
2: Everton (Joseph Yobo, Ayegbeni Yakubu)
2: Fulham (John Pantsil, Dickson Etuhu)
1: Tottenham (Benoit Assou-Ekotto)
1: Aston Villa (Moustapha Salifou)
1: Sunderland (John Mensahtoke, Mamady Sidibe)
1: Bolton (Danny Shittu)
1: Burnley (Andre Bikey)
1: Wigan (Richard Kingson)
1: Wolves (George Elokobi)
0: Man Utd
0: Liverpool
0: West Ham
0: Birmingham
0: Blackburn

Photo: Arsene Wenger, Arsenal Manager – football365.com

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Lionel Messi became the first Argentine to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award on Monday. He was presented with the trophy at a glittering awards gala in Zurich.

European Footballer of the Year

The 22-year-old forward, who also landed the European Footballer of the Year prize earlier this month, picked up the accolade after collecting four major titles with Barcelona – the Champions League, the Club World Cup, La Liga and the King’s Cup

Champions League Final

Lionel Messi, who headed the clinching goal against Manchester United in the Champions League final, also scored on Saturday to secure the FIFA Club World Cup for Barcelona against Estudiantes.

The Argentine, who joined Barcelona as a 13-year-old in 2000, claimed 1,073 points in a poll of 147 national team coaches and captains.

Messi beat last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo, his two Barcelona clubmates Andres Iniesta and Xavi and Brazil midfielder Kaka.

FIFA/FIFPro World XI

Meanwhile, Messi’s team-mates Daniel Alves, Xavi and Iniesta were among those named in the FIFA/FIFPro World XI.
The XI, voted for by members of the international professional footballers’ union – FIFPro chosen by over 50,000 professional football players from all over the world, voting for the best player in each position, were: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), John Terry (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Patrice Evra (Man Utd), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Fernando Torres (Liverpool).

Ronaldo – Best Goal for 2008/2009 Season

Ronaldo won the FIFA Puskas award for the best goal of the 2008/09 season – Real Madrid’s Portuguese idol. Cristiano’s award-winning strike, which came when he was on duty for Manchester United in last season’s UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie against Porto, came out on top in a poll attracting the votes of over 100,000 FIFA.com users.

Fair Play Award – Sir Bobby

The FIFA Fair Play Award was given posthumously to Sir Bobby Robson for his “outstanding commitment to the values of fair play throughout his career.’’ The award was collected by his widow Elsie.

Marta – FIFA Women’s World Player 2009

Brazil’s Marta, who scooped up the awards for the best female player of the year for the fourth year running.

Source: fifa.com

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The Absa Premiership League is more competitive this year than it has ever been, with interesting developments every week. Football 365.co.za took a look at all this weekend’s matches.

Bloemfontein Celtic 4  Ajax Cape Town 2

A princely 86th minute goal from Nigerian striker Prince Olomu paved the way for Bloemfontein Celtic’s rousing 4-2 Premier League win over Ajax Cape Town at a sun-scorched Seisa Ramabodu Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

AmaZulu 0  Jomo Cosmos 0

The Premiership relegation battle between struggling AmaZulu and bottom-of-the-log Jomo Cosmos fizzled into a damp squib at a wet Moses Mabhida Stadium with neither side managing to score in a dull 90 minutes.

Bidvest Wits 2  Golden Arrows 1

Goals by Sifiso Myeni and Mark Haskins sunk Golden Arrows and bought Wits their first win in 15 games on Saturday night.  Wits won 2-1 with Myeni netting the opener from the spot in the 25th minute thanks largely to new signing Sifiso Vilakazi. The former Ajax Cape Town hitman earned the penalty following an adjudged foul by Msekeli Mvalo.

SuperSport United 3  Mpumalanga Black Aces 0

SuperSport United maintained their six-point lead at the top of the PSL standings with 3-0 win against Mpumalanga Black Aces at Loftus on Saturday evening.

Sundowns 2 Kaizer Chiefs 1

A late goal from Siyanda Xulu was enough to give Mamelodi Sundowns three crucial points as they beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Santos 0  Orlando Pirates 0

Orlando Pirates were once again held to a goalless draw, this time against Santos, who also slipped further away from the title race at Athlone Stadium on Friday night.

Absa Premier Soccer League Standings

Supersport still tops the table after this weekend with 47 points followed by Sundowns at 41 and Santos at 39 (Sundowns and Santos have only played 22 games – one less than the log leaders).  Kaizer Chiefs is next with 38 points from 23 games with Orlando Pirates on their heels with 37 from 24. Right up behind the leaders are Bloemfontein Celtic and Ajax Cape town – both on 34 points from 24 games.

See the Premier Soccer League Standings

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Action is heating up in the PSL and the matches being played around South Africa this weekend will certainly make a difference for some of the teams who are on the brink of either moving up to become contenders, or who are losing the plot and dropping way down in the standings.

Kaizer Chiefs v Bloemfontein Celtic

Kaizer Chiefs will be sporting their 40th Anniversary kit when they tackle Bloemfontein Celtic at the Super Stadium on Saturday night.

After a poor start to the Season Amakhosi have consistently been picking up speed and hope to make this encounter with Bloemfontein Celtic four on the trot which could see the team move up to second in the PSL standings.

Santos v Lamontville Golden Arrows

Santos have the chance to close the gap on SuperSport United when they entertain Golden Arrows at the Coetzenburg Stadium on Saturday night.

The People’s Team are seven points behind Matsatsantsa and will be looking to their home matches as a source for the points to catch them.

Abafana Bes’thende head have struggled of late and will look to put their slump behind them when they travel to the Western Cape.

Arrows currently find themselves ninth in the standings, and they head into the match against title-hopefuls Santos on the back of a defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Free State Stars.

SuperSport United v Jomo Cosmos

SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt is refusing to underestimate Jomo Cosmos when they entertain them at Loftus Versfeld Saturday night.

United currently sit seven points clear at the top, and the team will be looking to Anthony Laffor to continue his fine form following the midfielder’s second brace of the season in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Moroka Swallows.

Jomo Sono’s charges are currently rock bottom of the PSL standings with the defending champions sitting pretty seven points clear at the top of the standings.

Hunt will have a fully fit squad to choose from and will welcome back midfielder Jabu Maluleke, who returns from suspension.

Free State Stars v Mpumalanga Black Aces

Mpumalanga Black Aces will be hoping that the addition of new striker Darrel Smith will inspire them to victory over Free State Stars at Goble Park at the weekend.

The Mpumalanga outfit are currently second-from-bottom in the PSL standings, but a win on Saturday will see them leapfrog Stars in the table.

AmaZulu v Mamelodi Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns will be looking to keep the pressure on SuperSport United with a win over AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The Brazilians are currently in fifth position after their 1-0 win against Bidvest Wits, nine points behind log leaders SuperSport United.

Maritzburg United v Ajax Cape Town

Ajax Cape Town will be looking to affirm their place in the top four of the league when they take on a confident Maritzburg United side at Woodburn Stadium.

The Urban Warriors go into the match on the back of a 0-0 draw against AmaZulu but they will be buoyed by the possibility that a win might move them from fourth to second of the league.

Bidvest Wits v Moroka Swallows

BidVest Wits’ run of 12 matches without a win can no longer be descried as a slump. Roger de Sa’s men face a crisis and must attain a result against Moroka Swallows on Saturday.

The Clever Boys’ atrocious form has seen them free fall down the table and they now lie 14th, just two points clear of second-from-bottom Mpumalanga Black Aces.

Both sides find themselves in the bottom-half of the standings.

Platinum Stars v Orlando Pirates

Platinum Stars coach Steve Komphela is hoping his side will be on the right end of some well-deserved luck on Saturday when Orlando Pirates are the visitors to the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

The former Bafana Bafana captain is gaining a reputation for his outbursts against referees. It was his great misfortune therefore when, he was forced to watch as his side went down 3-1 to Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday due in large part to a dubious penalty decision. Wednesday night’s result was the second time this season against Amakhosi that Komphela could rightly feel aggrieved.

The Buccaneers will be looking for their first away win in over three months when they travel to Platinum Stars for Saturday’s PSL clash in Rustenburg.

Sources and pics: www.football365.co.za and www.soccerladuma.co.za

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