Sport
Lions forced into one change
Date: 09 September 2010
Xerox Lions coach John Mitchell, has made only one change to the side that beat Western Province at Coca-Cola park last weekend for the vital Absa Currie Cup rugby match against Griquas at the same venue on Saturday.
Lock George Earle has slight concussion and has been replaced by Johan Snyman who was so outstanding against the Platinum Leopards two weeks ago.
Griquas are a single log point behind the Lions and a win for either team is extremely important with five teams bunched within four points on the log.
The Lions team is: Jaco Taute, Jannie Boshoff, Waylon Murray, Doppies la Grange, Michael Killian, Elton Jantjies, Jano Vermaak, Warren Whiteley, Joshua Strauss, Derick Minnie, Franco van der Merwe (capt.), Johan Snyman, Ross Geldenhuys, Martin Bezuidenhout, JC Janse van Rensburg. Replacemens: Edgar Marutlulle, Wayne Swart, David Bulbring, Renaldo Bothma, JP Joubert, Burton Francis, Marius Delport.
Ferdinand expects Capello to hand back captaincy
Date: 09 September 2010LONDON, - Rio Ferdinand believes Fabio Capello will allow him to reclaim the England captaincy despite calls for Steven Gerrard to keep the role.
In the absence of Ferdinand due to a knee problem, Gerrard has impressed as skipper for England's opening two Euro 2012 qualifying wins over Bulgaria and Switzerland.
Some pundits even believe Liverpool midfielder Gerrard, who also filled in as skipper during the World Cup, should now retain the captaincy.
However Ferdinand, who is close to returning to action, is confident he will win back the armband for the next qualifier against Montenegro next month.
Asked if he was concerned about the captaincy being returned, Ferdinand told The Sun on Thursday: "I think Capello said that a while ago.
"I think he answered it the last time the squad were together."
Capello has added to the uncertainty by revealing he is not bothered who leads the side.
"For me the performance of the player is important, not the armband," said Capello. "It is not a priority for me. The armband is not important."
After England's 2-1 friendly win over Hungary at Wembley - in which Gerrard scored both goals - Capello said: "Rio is the captain, Gerrard is the vice- captain. Rio will be fit, we hope shortly, and he will be captain."
Ferdinand was appointed England skipper when Capello stripped John Terry of the armband, but the Manchester United defender has been unable to take up the position due to his injury.
Unheralded Karmis sets pace at Singapore Classic
Date: 09 September 2010SINGAPORE, - Little known Peter Karmis of South Africa produced his best round this season with a superb nine-under-par 63 to seize the opening lead at the inaugural Handa Singapore Classic on Thursday.
Karmis, who earned his Asian Tour card at qualifying school in Thailand this year, holed two huge putts from 30 feet on the 10th and 12th holes to open up a one-stroke-lead at the Orchid Country Club.
Evergreen Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, an 11-time Asian Tour champion, posted a 64 to stay in touch with the leader at the 400,000 USD full field Asian Tour event.
Local hope Mardan Mamat, Taiwan's Chan Yih-shin, Australian Kim Felton, Japanese duo Kenichi Kuboya and Hirotaro Naito and Asian Tour rookies David Johnson of the United States and Oscar Fraustro of Mexico took a share of third position on 65.
Karmis, who has won two titles in South Africa, produced a flawless round highlighted by nine birdies. He endured a mixed season earlier in the year but was delighted to bounce back with some acute iron play.
"I missed a few fairways but my iron play helped pull my game up. I didn't hit the ball well earlier in the season but my short game has been improving a lot. I have been working on my game in recent months and it clicked today," said the 29-year-old, who is aiming for a first Asian Tour victory.
"Honestly, I'm here to win. I played well and that's a good a good start. I hope to carry my confidence over to the remaining rounds," said Karmis.
Thaworn was disappointed to bogey the last hole but admitted he was lucky to return with a low score as he only found four fairways.
"It has been a long time since I shot such a low score. My putting wasn't that good or I could have gone lower. I was very lucky because I hit many shots in the rough but still managed to get myself out of trouble," said the 43-year-old.
Mardan, a two-time Asian Tour winner, was the best local performer when he returned with eight birdies against one bogey. The Singaporean, who is fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, credited his knowledge of the course and good ball striking where he found 16 greens.
"I know the golf course well but I still need to hit good shots and hole good putts. Today is the last day of fasting and it is difficult to fast and play but I have to do what I have to do," said Mardan.
Asian Tour rookie Fraustro got off to a brilliant start when he birdied the first two holes before adding birdies on six, 12, 13, 15 and 18 in his blemish-free round.
"It is a very good start. I hit it very close on the first two holes and from there I got comfortable with my swing and putting and it felt like an easy day," said the 28-year-old.
Spurs striker Defoe out for at least six weeks
Date: 09 September 2010LONDON, - Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has been ruled out for six weeks with an ankle injury, the club's manager Harry Redknapp revealed on Thursday.
Defoe suffered the injury in the second half of England's 3-1 victory over Switzerland in a Euro 2012 qualifier in Basel on Tuesday.
The former West Ham star was seen using crutches and wearing a protective boot on his right foot at Spurs' training ground after returning from Switzerland and Redknapp has confirmed the problem is serious enough to sideline his leading forward until well into October.
"Even if it's a bad sprain, you're still talking about six weeks or so, because it's a nasty one," Redknapp said.
Defoe had looked in fine form after scoring a hat-trick in England's 4-0 victory over Bulgaria last week, but he will now miss several league games and the club's Champions League ties against Werder Bremen and FC Twente.
His problem comes just days after Tottenham defender Michael Dawson suffered a knee injury, on England duty against Bulgaria, that has ruled him out for eight weeks.
