SPORTS UPDATE WITH EMMAH ATAI: Barcelona defender Carles Puyol says he gave everything for the Spanish champions as he prepares to leave the club after 15 seasons. Puyol departs the Catalan club having won 21 trophies since 1998/99, with nagging knee injuries forcing him out. Meanwhile, Barcelona skipper, Xavi believes his team deserve to win the Spanish title following a testing season for the Catalan club off the pitch. Barcelona host leaders Atletico Madrid on Saturday needing victory to pip their opponents to the title. Atletico lead La Liga by three points but second-placed Barca will retain their title with a home win at the Nou Camp because of their superior head-to-head record in La Liga. Atletico Madrid top scorer Diego Costa was back in training with his team mates on Thursday and looks likely to be fit for Saturdays La Liga showdown. Newcastle officials have confirmed that Alan Pardew will remain the clubs manager. Minutes of the latest fans forum meeting include the confirmation after the 52-year-old came under intense pressure from disgruntled supporters as a difficult Premier League season - or at least the second half of it - drew to a close. Thiago Alcantara is out of Spains World Cup as well as this weeks German Cup final after tearing a ligament in his knee. Spain, winners of the 2010 World Cup, have been drawn in Group B along with Netherlands, Chile and Australia. Samuel Etoo has reportedly rubbished claims that he is nearing the end of his career after labelling Jose Mourinho a fool for questioning his age. The 33-year-old was rumoured to have fallen out with Mourinho after the Chelsea boss was filmed by a French television channel saying, Eto’o is 32 years old, maybe 35, who knows?. Liverpool have expressed an interest in Valencia midfielder Daniel Parejo. The 25-year-old had a loan spell at Queens Park Rangers in 2008 but has put himself on the map this season at Valencia with some notable performances and goals - including one against former club Real Madrid in their recent 2-2 draw at the Bernabeu. Manchester Uniteds absence from the Champions League next season will cost the club £30m, revealed the clubs executive vice chairman Ed Woodward. However, Woodward insisted it would not affect Uniteds transfer business. Ray Parlour believes Arsenal will be better equipped to mount a Premier League title challenge next season if they finish this campaign by winning the FA Cup. The former England midfielder insists the players will benefit psychologically from ending the club’s nine-year wait for a trophy. Nobody in the squad has lifted silverware in England before. Parlour won three League titles, four FA Cups, and one League Cup during his 12-year career at Arsenal and knows how success breeds success. FUFA Super League top scorer of the just concluded season, Francis Olaki, may soon join his brother Emmanuel Okwi in the Tanzania Vodacom Premier League. Probably, next season, Olaki will own one of Kagera sugar’s jerseys after denying his club (Soana FC)’s contract renewal negotiations. Jackson Mayanja, the Kagera Sugar head coach, is eagerly waiting for the 20 year-old striker to commence negotiations. However, when contacted, Olaki who is now with the national team preparing for the AFCON 2015 match qualifier said he would talk about it after national team duty. World and Olympic champion, Stephen Kiprotich is expected to be part of the marathoners that will be running tomorrow to fundraise for Compassion International. Kiprotich is the ambassador of the marathon. The Musketeers Marathon is set to begin from Mbale to Kapchorwa and Kiprotich will be joined by a number of local runners and more than 80 runners from the Netherlands. The volunteers are looking at raising €1.5m (about sh4.5bn) to help over 500 needy children in both Bukwo and Kapchorwa district to get education until university level. This is the second time the Musketeers are holding a marathon in Uganda, with the first seeing them raise sh3bn for orphans in Northern Uganda. The marathon will see a number of volunteers ride, walk or run the course.
Posted on: Thu, 15 May 2014 16:53:54 +0000
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