MIAMI. – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admits he doesn’t know if unsettled forward Anthony Martial will return to the club before the start of the new season.

The Frenchman left the Red Devils’ pre-season tour to return to Paris for the birth of his second child but is yet to report back to the team and Mourinho is uncertain if he will come back.

Martial has been strongly linked with moves away from the club after struggling to establish himself as a regular starter under Mourinho last season. The 22-year-old started only 18 Premier League games in 2017/18.

Asked whether Martial would return to the team, Mourinho told the press: “Anthony Martial? Is better for [press officer] Karen [Shotbolt] to answer if she wants to answer.” Shotbolt responded: “We’re here to talk about the game.”

Pressed further on the Martial situation, Mourinho replied: “I don’t know.” Martial now faces being fined £180 000 fined by Manchester United after going AWOL from the club’s tour of America.

Martial has not trained for eight days since leaving United’s training base in LA to be at the birth of his baby boy in Paris.

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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
HARARE giants Dynamos have remained focused on their trip to Bulawayo for a high-profile league match against traditional rivals Highlanders despite the heavy shadow of the just ended harmonised elections that has threatened to eclipse this Premiership blockbuster fixture.

DeMbare need to reclaim the bragging rights after losing the first leg at home earlier this year. In fact, they have failed to register a win over Bosso in their previous two league meetings.

Dynamos’ last triumph was confirmed through the boardroom after violence caused a premature abandonment of their clash at Barbourfields in May 2017 with scores level at 1-1.

DeMbare are keen to turn around a season that has so far gone horribly wrong.
Team manager Richard Chihoro yesterday said the Harare giants have not lost sight of the task on their hands although the game has fallen in a week when the entire nation’s attention is more focussed on the post-election hangover.

The league matches were cancelled last week because of the polls. And Dynamos on Tuesday welcomed all their players including the mid-season signings Kingston Nkhata and Brett Amidu as they resumed preparations for the big game.

DeMbare, however, had been battling injuries in their dressing room following knocks to defenders Godfrey Mukambi, vice-captain Marshal Machazane and winger Cleopas Kapupurika.

“Generally, all the players are up for it. Morale is very high, everyone wants it and we look forward to collecting maximum points in Bulawayo.

“I am not quite sure about the injury situation, but we are glad that the bulk of the team is training. Even the new players are also training and it is up to the coach to pick which players he wants to use on Sunday,” said Chihoro.

The DeMbare technical team was boosted by the return of skipper Ocean Mushure who had missed action in the last month because of a payment dispute with his employers.
Dynamos needed the stability in their defence.

Veteran former Kaizer Chiefs man Nkhata is also expected to pep up the misfiring strike force while Amidu, who left the club two years ago in search of greener pastures at FC Platinum is back on loan to boost creativity in the midfield.

Dynamos added four players to their squad during the mid-season transfer window which closed on Tuesday with midfielder Denver Mukamba also marking his return.

However, the 25-year-old has been battling for acceptance from his coach Lloyd Mutasa who had kicked him out of the squad at the beginning of the year following a series of clashes.

Mukamba was loaned out to CAPS United, but was shipped back to his parent club barely four months into the one-year contract because of his erratic behaviour.
Mutasa said he was content with his squad.

“Every coach would envy to have a Ronaldo, a Messi or an Iniesta. Those are quality players if I may say. But it’s not every day that you get such players.

“But I would want to believe that as a professional coach you look at what you have, you look at the budget of the team, you look at how far you can go and it’s our duty as well to try and get the players available and enhance their level of performance.
“You need as much as you can to try and push them to the level that you want, but probably it takes time,” said Mutasa.

DeMbare are currently 13th on the log standings with 22 points from 20 starts. The Glamour Boys have a mission to overturn the 1-0 defeat they suffered in the reverse leg in Harare.

Their opponents Bosso have been doing fairly well under Madinda Ndlovu.
Highlanders are currently on a rebuilding exercise and are fourth on the log with 35 points from 20 games.
They have brought on board former How Mine forward Tinashe Makanda and have been working around the clock to get his documents in place ahead of the weekend game.

Fixtures
Saturday: Harare City v Mutare City Rovers (Rufaro), Chapungu v Bulawayo Chiefs (Ascot), Bulawayo City v FC Platinum (Barbourfields), Yadah v Herentals (NSS), ZPC Kariba v Triangle United (Nyamhunga), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Nichrut (Baobab)
Sunday: CAPS United v Black Rhinos (NSS), Highlanders v Dynamos (Barbourfields), Shabanie Mine v Chicken Inn (Maglas).

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Ellina Mhlanga in ASABA, Nigeria
ZIMBABWE sprinters Ngoni Makusha and Tatenda Tsumba got off to a good start at the African Senior Athletics Championships which finally got underway here yesterday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, securing semi-final places.
Makusha came first in 10.37seconds in Heat five. Earlier on Tsumba had finished second in Heat 4 with a time of 10.47seconds in the poorly-organised Championships.

They both had a good day on the track and Makusha said it was an encouraging performance as he shifts his focus to the next round.

“It was tough with all the chaos I didn’t get to have too much rest, but it was a pretty good performance.
“I didn’t start very well, but I managed to catch up which is a good thing, which means there is room for more improvement in the semi-finals.

“So now I am just looking forward to do well in the semi-finals and progress to the final,” said Makusha.
The semi-finals are on this morning and the finals will take place later in the day.
Tsumba was also impressed by his performance as he had a good run.

“It feels great to be going to the next stage. I feel great about my body, about my performance and I feel like I really executed the race as I wanted to.

“I wasn’t really expecting much, just trying to make sure I am in the top three. So I wasn’t really trying to race anyone or looking at the time. It’s going through rounds, so just making sure that I get to the next round,” said Tsumba.

The men’s 100m race was one of the three events that took place yesterday with most of the events that were set for day one moved to fit in the remaining four days due to organisational problems.
Most teams could not connect from Lagos to Asaba in time.

Zimbabwe were also set to compete in the 400m men and women races, but the events were moved to today.
They will be represented by Rodwell Ndlovu, Leon Tafirenyika and Blessing Nyandoro in the men’s race while Faith Dube will compete in the women’s section.

The quartet will also be hoping to make it to the semi-finals.
Ndlovu, who is just coming from an ankle injury said despite the setback he will be out to do his best.
“I always have a European season so I didn’t have an international season due to my injury. I broke my ankle end of April during the student championships in South Africa and I have been trying to recover from that.

“So I would say the last time I raced was end of April, so I haven’t had a race building up to here.
“My personal goal is just to make a final and of course for Zimbabwe is just to push for that medal, be it bronze, silver or gold.
“But personally I will be very glad if I go through to the final because based on what I have just explained, the injury that I had just to come back now. But I am feeling good,” said Ndlovu.

Despite his event moved to this morning, Ndlovu remained focused.
“So again you psyche yourself up and then you have to let it go. But I think this will be a character testing competition for most athletes all the same,” said Ndlovu.
The South Africa-based athlete also expressed his excitement of representing the country.

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Mukudzei Chingwere Sports Reporter
RETURNING Dynamos son, Brett Amidu, says he made a mistake to leave the Harare giants at the end of the 2016 season and joining champions FC Platinum. Amidu endured a frustrating stay in Zvishavane where he has been made a bit-part player by coach Norman Mapeza.

He arrived in Zvishavane with expectations high, but he failed to leave up to the potential he had shown and was consequently shipped back to DeMbare on loan by the platinum miners at the end of last month.

The 22-year-old said he is happy to be back at the Harare giants, a place he calls home and is ready to resuscitate a career that has never really taken off.

Amidu said he had been pained by DeMbare’s fall from grace and is hopeful that his return will help bring back the competitive edge at the club.

Dynamos are currently in 13th place with a meagre 22 points from 20 league matches and are just a three points above the relegation zone.

It is in stark contrast to last year when they took their title chase to the wire and only lost out on the last day of the season to FC Platinum.

“I am very happy that I am back, Dynamos is my home and I have returned here to correct my mistakes.
“Leaving Dynamos proved to be a mistake it did not go according to expectations, I was looking forward to continue playing very well at FC Platinum.

“Such is football at times you make wrong moves, but it is wise to quickly correct your mistakes and move on, the time is here for me to regain my form back and start dreaming of achieving big things in football,” said Amidu.

“I know Dynamos has been struggling, it pains me a lot to see DeMbare in such a situation, but I want to tell our supporters not to worry, that is the reason why we came back to help them out of this situation.

“There are some good players who joined the team and there are also very good players and have always been with the team, now the important thing is for us to work as a team and help DeMbare rise again.

“I want to see Dynamos winning games again and we will work very hard to achieve that starting with our next game against Highlanders,” said Amidu.

Dynamos travel to Bulawayo for a date against Highlanders on Sunday, but with Mutasa’s men blowing hot and cold Bosso will start as favourites to win.

A victory for Dynamos against its greatest rival is sure to give Mutasa and his boys a massive lift for the remainder of the season.

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Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa headlines a five-man crew of sports leaders who wrote their own piece of history yesterday when joining the elite cast of administrators to become members of the Parliament of Zimbabwe after winning in their respective constituencies in the just-ended harmonised elections.

Chiyangwa, his ZIFA deputy Omega Sibanda, Zimbabwe Cricket board chairman Tawanda Mukuhlani, former ZC managing director Ozias Bvute and ex-FC Platinum chairman Winston Chitando will now be Members of Parliament for the next five years.

The quintet powered their way into the House of Assembly on zanu-pf tickets in their respective constituencies and resoundingly won in the July 30 harmonised elections.

Chiyangwa garnered 11 819 votes to claim the Zvimba South constituency, his deputy Sibanda had 11 350 for the Vungu seat and Mukuhlani will represent Mhondoro-Ngezi area after garnering 12 708.

Bvute powered to a 17 277 win in Goromonzi North, and Chitando had 11 496 votes when winning the Gutu Central.
More important is the fact that it is sport that is now likely to benefit from having a bigger voice in the National Assembly where legislation is formulated.

There have always been calls for this country to turn on a new leaf and treat sport as the billion-dollar industry that it is around the globe.

The arrivals of the likes of Chiyangwa, Sibanda, Mukuhlani, Chitando and Bvute has added more representatives for sport to the August House, which could translate into more prominence being given to debate on issues related to various sporting disciplines in the country.

In parliament they will also join Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister Kazembe Kazembe (18 349), an ex-Dynamos secretary-general and fitness guru Temba Mliswa (15 857) who have retained their seats after winning through from Mazowe West and Norton respectively.

Crucially for Chiyangwa, Mukuhlani and Sibanda, they are the first sitting leaders of sporting associations to be elected into parliament, whose hands on approach in their games has brought a bright ray of hope for sport.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Chitando and Bvute had prior to pursuing parliamentary offices also served football and cricket with the former being the boss at Premiership champions FC Platinum and the latter the managing director of ZC.

Mukuhlani and Bvute’s several years of interaction with such bodies like the International Cricket Council and the manner in which they fought for Zimbabwe’s cause in the political atmosphere that often clouds global cricket, should also stand the pair in good stead when legislative matters pertaining to sport are discussed in parliament.

On the international stage, Chiyangwa and Sibanda have scaled the same heights as Confederation of African Football president Ahmad and South African Football Association president Danny Jordan who held political office while running their associations.

Ahmad was a senator in Madagascar while being a CAF executive member while Jordan was already the SAFA president when he became mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan on the African National Congress ticket.

Chiyangwa whose resume of sporting links also include many years in boxing promotion, leads a COSAFA bloc which is the biggest zone under CAF.

The Harare businessman is also the vice-president of the CAF organising committee for the African Cup of Nations while his interaction with FIFA is also set to come in handy when he adds his voice on behalf of sport in the National Assembly.

ZIFA, naturally excited about the achievements of their leadership immediately congratulated Chiyangwa and Sibanda with the association’s communications and competitions manager Xolisani Gwesela issuing a statement on behalf of the football mother body.

“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) Executive Committee, the Council, and the Secretariat would like to congratulate its president, Hon. Dr Phillip Chiyangwa and his deputy Hon. Omega Sibanda, for their resounding victories in the harmonised elections to become Members of Parliament representing Zvimba South and Vungu Constituency respectively.

“We were always confident of their victories because we believe in their leadership qualities.
“There is no doubt that both are men of vision, endowed with a spirit of national development and servant leadership.

“They know and understand the concerns of the people they will serve and they have the capacity to deliver on those in the next five years.

“We wish them the best in their new endeavours, and hopefully it will translate to more meaningful and robust debate and support for the development of sport and football in Zimbabwe,’’ Gwesela said.

Expectations will also be high that the incoming legislators will also use their vast knowledge of sports to argue for the amendment of the Sports Act to suit the prevailing sporting and macro-economic environment and review the manner in which the Sport and Recreation Commission is structured.

There have been genuine concerns about the way the Sports Commission is serving the needs and interests of sport in the country and whether it is line with the best practices.

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FORMER Ngezi Platinum striker Terrence Dzvukamanja was yesterday unveiled as one of the 11 new recruits by South African Premiership soccer side Bidvest Wits for the 2018/19 season. The Clever Boys have been busy in the market after a difficult campaign last time out, bringing in players from Europe and Africa as they look to get back to winning ways and challenge for the Absa Premiership title again this time around.

And yesterday, ahead of their first league game this weekend, the Clever Boys unveiled their new recruits, namely Haashim Domingo, Bantu Mzwakali, Simon Murray, Dzvukamanja, Mxolisi Macuphu, Vuyo Mere, Lehlohonolo Nonyane, Robyn Johannes, Brighton Mhlongo, Gift Motupa and Deon Hotto.

Dzvukamanja was part of the Warriors team that won the COSAFA Cup for a record sixth time in Polokwane, South Africa, in June where they beat old enemies Zambia after extra-time in the final.

And after his exploits on the pitch with Zimbabwe during the COSAFA Cup in June, Dzvukamanja caught the eye of the Clever Boys who have now added him in their books for the 2018/19 South African Premiership season which explodes into life tomorrow.

Wits open their campaign in the new season at home against Free State Stars tomorrow (6pm) and on Tuesday they will lock horns against South African soccer giants Kaizer Chiefs in a match in which Dzvukamanja is likely to face his Warriors teammate Khama Billiat.

Billiat has also just moved to Kaizer Chiefs after the expiry of his contract with South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

In fact, Wits have got two tough away fixtures in their opening three matches of the new season as they are also scheduled to take on the mighty Orlando Pirates on August 15 after facing Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday.

Pirates, like Chiefs, have also been on a shopping spree during the off-season period which saw them bringing in Zimbabwean winger Kudakwashe Mahachi, among a number of new recruits.

Meanwhile, Dzvukamanja’s purchase will come just days after Wits announced the arrival of Scottish striker Simon Murray from Hibernian.

Wits coach Gavin Hunt is looking to put an end to a poor return in front of goal. Last season‚ the club scored only 27 times in 30 league matches in what was a dismal defence of their title. They finished in a lowly 14th spot.

The club have since let James Keane and Eleazar Rodgers move on and have Dzvukamanja and Murray lined up as their replacements.

Dzvukamanja‚ who turned 24 in May‚ moves from Ngezi Platinum after making his debut for Zimbabwe in the COSAFA Cup in Polokwane in May‚ where they won the title for a second successive year.
He had done enough on trial to impress Hunt.

At club level‚ Dzvukamanja has scored eight goals for his club this season as they sit second in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League standings.

The post Dzvukamanja unveiled at Bidvest Wits appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
THE inaugural Tsimba Rugby Festival which was scheduled to take place at the Glamis Arena in Harare this month has been postponed to next year. The invitational tournament, which has attracted youth teams from Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, is the brainchild of Zimbabwe rugby international Kennedy Tsimba, who is currently the head coach of St Albans College.

Organisers, the Tsimba Rugby Trust, yesterday said in a statement that they were worried by the violent events which erupted in Harare in the wake of the national elections.
The tournament was supposed to take place from August 13-17.

“We, the Tsimba Rugby Trust, regret to inform you that due to conditions beyond our control, the Tsimba Rugby Festival will be postponed until next year.

“Due to the current unrest in the country, we do not want to risk the safety of our participants. We cannot guarantee that the situation would have diffused in a weeks’ time and therefore cannot take the risk. In addition three teams have already withdrawn themselves for safety reasons.

“Thus the TRF would just not be viable at the present moment. We are extremely regretful about this reality we are facing and therefore we wish to sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused,” said the statement.

The Tsimba Under-18 international festival is an invitational tournament in honour of the late Richard Tsimba’s legacy.
The late “Black Diamond” was the first and only black player to participate in the inaugural Rugby World Cup staged in New Zealand in 1987.

Richard scored one of the tournament’s best tries in Zimbabwe’s 20-21 loss to Romania. He was later posthumously inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.

The upcoming youth festival was initiated by his younger brother Kennedy, also an iconic rugby player who represented the Free State Cheetahs in the Vodacom Currie Cup and Super Rugby Championships.

The participating teams in the tournament include Zimbabwe Under-18, Namibia Under-18, Kenya Under-18, Botswana Under-18, Zambia Under-18, Zimbabwe development XV, USA Schools select XV, South Africa Under-18 XV, and the SA-Zim XV which is made up of Zimbabwe-born players living in South Africa.

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LONDON. – The Football Association is considering putting England forward as a potential host for the 2030 Soccer World Cup, confirming on Wednesday it has approved a feasibility study into becoming Europe’s only bid. England, the home of the globally dominant English Premier League, won the only World Cup the nation has ever hosted in 1966 but lost out in the race to host the 2006 and 2018 tournaments.

“Last month the English FA board agreed to conduct feasibility work into the possibility of putting itself forward to be UEFA’s potential candidate to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup,” FA chairman Greg Clarke said in a statement.

“This work will take place during the new season and no decision will be made until 2019.” England went out in the first round of voting for the 2018 World Cup but the FA has made little secret of its interest in trying again, particularly as it now has more faith in the selection process of world governing body FIFA. With the World Cup growing from 32 to 48 teams in 2026, when the 80-game tournament will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States, FIFA has hinted it believes the event may be too big for one country.

This has led to speculation that any bid from the United Kingdom will actually be an English-led joint bid. – AFP.

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LONDON. – England’s Football Association wants Gareth Southgate to stay on as manager beyond Euro 2020, but knows it cannot compete on wages if a Premier League club makes an approach. Southgate took England to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia, boosting his stock within the game and ending a run of miserable failures at major tournaments for the national side.

“Gareth has been excellent – we’d like him to stay beyond 2020,” FA chief executive Martin Glenn told reporters at Wembley.
“I think we’d both like that but if we talked about it at any length it would then be a contract conversation and he’s on holiday now, so we’ll talk when he comes back.

“Benchmarks are always the question and we can never compete with the Premier League in terms of pay – everyone knows that.

“Gareth is on a journey. He loved the World Cup and he’s built his own belief that we can go further and that motivates him and (assistant manager) Steve Holland. One of the most powerful things he said after our defeat to Croatia was we haven’t done the job.”

Southgate’s current salary is understood to be £1.8 million a year, with bonuses taking it closer to the £2.5 million his predecessors Sam Allardyce and Roy Hodgson are believed to have earned.

The figures, however, are still much less than the £4 million Fabio Capello received when at the helm and a fraction of the salaries of around £15 million earned by the likes of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola in the Premier League. Now 47, Southgate has not hidden the fact he would like to return to club management one day, having been sacked by Middlesbrough in 2009. – AFP.

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DUBLIN. – Petr Cech saved penalties in normal time and in a shoot-out as Arsenal beat his old club Chelsea in the International Champions Cup in Dublin on Wednesday night. The Gunners’ keeper denied Alvaro Morata from the spot in the first half as the Blues dominated, with Antonio Rudiger heading them in front.

Arsenal improved after the break and Alexandre Lacazette equalised with 17 seconds left to earn a shootout.
Both sides scored their first five, but Cech saved from Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea side face English Premier League champions Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday in the Community Shield, while Arsenal boss Unai Emery has injury worries before the new season after losing both Aaron Ramsey and Sead Kolasinac. Ramsey, who was listed on the teamsheet to start, suffered a muscle injury in the warm-up and was replaced by 18-year-old Emile Smith Rowe in the starting XI.

Kolasinac appeared to hurt his knee in a challenge with Victor Moses and will have a scan. “We will wait for the medical analysis but we think it’s not a big one,” said Emery. “For Kolasinac it might be different. We will wait for a scan to know better.” Chelsea were far brighter in an open and lively first half at the Aviva Stadium, with teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi at the heart of all of their good work.

His fine run in behind set up Cesc Fabregas for a shot which Cech tipped over, before the Arsenal defence left Rudiger completely free from the following corner to head home from 12 yards. Hudson-Odoi then tricked Hector Bellerin into conceding a penalty with a clumsy challenge, but Morata’s tame effort was easily saved. – BBCSport

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CAPE TOWN. – Former wing Bryan Habana says overseas Springboks played a pivotal role in helping the Springboks beat England in a recent home rugby series. English-based scrumhalf Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks), fullback Willie le Roux (Wasps) and No 8 Duane Vermeulen (a new recruit at Japanese club Kubota Spears) were instrumental for the Boks in their 2-1 series triumph.

In an interview with Omnisport, Habana said the England series was a “real positive” for the Boks after two disappointing campaigns under Allister Coetzee as head coach. “The positive (change) out of the June series is the way the overseas-based players have stepped up to the plate, which hasn’t quite been there in the previous two years,” Habana said.

“The way the players went about coming from behind in that series, especially in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein, was really good to see.” The Boks won the first Test in Johannesburg 42-39, before sealing the series in Bloemfontein with a 23-12 victory. England won the final Test in Cape Town 25-10.

Habana, who retired from professional rugby in April, said he was confident that the Boks would be a force at next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan under the guidance of new coach Rassie Erasmus.
The 35-year-old Habana is South Africa’s all-time leading try scorer with 67 tries from his 124 Tests. – Sport24.

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MEXICO CITY. – Takanyi Garanganga from Zimbabwe battled through qualifying to reach the main draw of the Los Cabos Open tennis tournament in Mexico on Wednesday. His run ended after Thomas Fabbiano won in three sets. Meanwhile, Elias Ymer from Sweden inches closer to the top 100 with his win over ageing giant Ivo Karlovic.

A member of the Zimbabwe Davis Cup team, Garanganga, who is currently ranked 451 in the world, played his 9th ATP main draw match since his career began in 2009.

Primarily playing futures and challengers in the African circuit, Garanganga played admirably to reach the main draw, defeating 4th seed Evan King on his way.

Clinching the first set in the match, Garanganga faced a lull in the second set as Fabbiano raced to the lead, clinching the set at 6-2. A tight third set ensued, with the Zimbabwean playing some great tennis throughout the set. The Italian, however, managed to clinch the match at 7-5 in the third, ending Garanganga’s run at Los Cabos.

Elias Ymer is one of the young prospects who’s been slowly moving upwards in the world rankings. Currently just outside the top 100, Ymer needs a semi-final run at Los Cabos to seal his entry into the top 100, something that’ll definitely boost his career prospects after gaining direct entry into grand slams.

Breaking the Karlovic serve twice (a feat of its own), Ymer won in two comfortable sets, setting up a clash with 4th seed Adrian Mannarino from France. Ymer recently split with Swedish coach Robin Soderling, so it’ll be interesting to see how far he can go in this tournament.

In the doubles first round, Thomas Fabbiano and Michael Mmoh were three-set winners against Garanganga and Ernesto Escobedo.

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LONDON. – Liverpool have spent big in the transfer window in an attempt to close the gap on English Premier League soccer champions Manchester City but it has been a summer of intense frustration for Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho.

Elsewhere, Pep Guardiola finally landed Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez for a club-record fee in an otherwise quiet window so far for City while Arsenal have signed a clutch of players but no marquee names to whet the appetite.

English Premier League clubs spent a record £1.4 billion on players in a summer splurge last year, according to football analysts Deloitte.

But there is nothing so far to match the arrival of Paul Pogba at Manchester United two years ago in a then world-record deal or Alexis Sanchez’s move from the Emirates to Old Trafford in January.

The transfer window closes at 6pm on August 9, a day before the first game of the season, which sees Manchester United take on Leicester City.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp did his business early, bringing in Brazil’s World Cup goalkeeper Alisson just weeks after two shocking errors by Loris Karius in the Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid.

He also picked up midfielders Fabinho from Monaco and Naby Keita from RB Leipzig and added Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri to an already formidable array of attacking talent that includes Mohamed Salah.

But the German manager is warning Liverpool not to get carried away with celebrating their success in the transfer market after splurging more than £170 million.

“We need to be ready for the big challenges, the big goals,” he said. “We have to be this angry, aggressive, greedy team full of desire that wants to win each game.

“All the other teams have quality as well so we need to be ready for fights, not celebrating signings and stuff.”
Mourinho, unable to resist an early dig at his rival, said Liverpool’s transfer activity ought to increase expectations of a first top-flight title since 1990.

“With the investments you are making last season and you make now, that will probably be the record of the Premier League this season, a team that was a finalist in the Champions League – you have to say you are a big candidate, you have to win,” Mourinho said during United’s pre-season tour of the United States, during which they were thumped 4-1 by Liverpool.

The United boss himself has cut an increasingly frustrated figure in the build-up to the season, lamenting his failure to land his top targets.

The Portuguese is desperate to close the gap to Guardiola’s side but so far has just picked up Brazil midfielder Fred, who did not play a single minute at the World Cup in Russia, young defender Diogo Dalot from Porto, and veteran goalkeeper Lee Grant.

City, who finished 19 points clear of United last season, have been relatively quiet this time around but they finally snared Mahrez for 60 million, further enhancing their dazzling forward options.

The City boss said he was unfazed by Liverpool’s lavish spending, remaining happy with the nucleus of the squad that romped to the Premier League title.

“Every club does what they believe, I understand completely,” he said.
“They are contenders to win the title, Liverpool are always a contender because of the history they have.”

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard looked like he could be at the centre of one of the biggest transfer stories of the summer when he hinted at the World Cup he might want a fresh challenge.

His comments sparked speculation he could be off to Real Madrid to replace the departed Cristiano Ronaldo.
The European champions have also been linked with Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Brazil forward Willian.

Britain’s Sun newspaper reported on Wednesday that Courtois has told Chelsea he will quit the club next year on a free transfer unless they sell him this summer.

The only major signing for the 2016/17 Premier League champions is Brazil midfielder Jorginho from Napoli, with new boss Maurizio Sarri professing himself bored with the transfer market.

Arsenal, preparing for a season under a new manager for the first time for more than two decades, have signed a clutch of players including Switzerland defender Stephan Lichtsteiner but Unai Emery has not yet landed a marquee name.
Tottenham, about to move into a new stadium, are the only one of the top sides not to have signed a single player.

There is still time but the clock is ticking.

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LONDON. – Anthony Martial has hit back at Manchester United amid reports he is set to be fined by the club for going AWOL following the birth of his son in Paris last week.

The Frenchman tweeted on Wednesday that complications with the birth meant that he had remained in Paris to be with his wife

“Thanks for all your posts,” wrote Martial. “My little Swan is fine but for the mother it is harder. Thanks to God she is better now. Sorry but my family will always come first, back tomorrow in Manchester.”

Martial’s update comes after reports suggested that United are about to fine the 22-year old for missing a week of training during the crucial pre-season period, an episode that looks set to do more damage to his already strained relationship with manager Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho told reporters in Miami on Tuesday that he had no idea when the striker would return to training, while club officials were unable to say why the player had not returned to the USA following the birth.

Martial spent most of last season on the bench at United, and is reportedly keen to leave Old Trafford.
And as if to highlight the breakdown in his relationship with Martial, Mourinho took a dig at the French forward with his comments in the wake of United’s 2-1 win over European champions Real Madrid in Miami.

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DAMBULLA. – You can’t accuse Quinton de Kock of not setting his sights high enough in the afterglow of South Africa winning the first two games in their one-day cricket series in Sri Lanka. “It was the mission to go 2-0 up and hopefully we’ll go to 3-0 and win the series in a great way‚” De Kock said after the Proteas won by four wickets in Dambulla on Wednesday.

“And then hopefully we’ll win the last two after that; that’s what we’re pushing for.”
Forrest Gump couldn’t have said it better himself: we’ll take 5-0‚ thank you.
There’s a lot of cricket to be played before that becomes a serious possibility‚ starting with the next game of the rubber in Kandy on Sunday.

But to be 2-0 up after they were comprehensively beaten in both Tests represent an impressive recovery by the visitors.
Thirty-seven of the 40 wickets South Africa lost in the Tests fell to spin‚ along with seven of the 11 that have gone down during the ODIs.

But the South Africans have learnt their lesson well enough not to lose those other nine wickets — even though the second ODI was played on the same pitch as the first game on Sunday‚ and which had thus had three days to become more like the turning surfaces that helped undo South Africa in the Tests.

“It was quite difficult to play spin [in the Test series] especially when the wickets have been given the chance to deteriorate over the last couple of days‚” De Kock said.

“We practiced hard during the Test series to deal with the spin so it’s just nice for me and the team to finally play spin properly.”

Opener De Kock scored 87 on Wednesday to snap at seven his streak of Test and one-day innings in which he hadn’t reached 50.

Hashim Amla has been De Kock’s partner most often‚ batting with him in 82 of his 92 ODIs.
They shared 91 for the first wicket on Wednesday‚ the first time in the four ODIs in which they have batted together this year that they have put 50 or more on the board.

In the three other games their stand has been ended after 7.3‚ 9.4 and 4.3 overs. On Wednesday they were together for 14 overs.

All four times the first man out has been Amla‚ who has scored 54 Test and one-day centuries but none in his last 28 innings in those formats.

Still‚ Amla’s 43 on Wednesday was his highest score in 11 trips to the crease and his most assured performance in months.
“It’s just nice to finally bat a game with ‘Hash’‚” De Kock said.
“I can’t remember the last time we batted together [for a significant period].

“It’s just nice to score some runs together.”
Amla and De Kock have shared 10 century partnerships‚ two of them double-hundreds stands — including an unbroken 282 against Bangladesh in Kimberley in October‚ South Africa’s record for any wicket — and they average 49.31 as a pair.

In all the 4 027 ODIs yet played only four opening pairs have amassed more runs than the 3 733 that Amla and De Kock have put on the board: Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly‚ Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist‚ Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes‚ and Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag.

All had more innings than Amla and De Kock have had‚ in the case of Tendulkar and Ganguly 54 more for their world record of 6 344 runs.

Wednesday’s effort took South Africa’s openers past another illustrious first-wicket pair: Mark Waugh and Gilchrist‚ who own 3 660 runs.

Another dozen runs for Amla and De Kock and they will knock Tendulkar and Sehwag out of fourth place.
But let’s not complicate things: they’re focused on 5-0‚ remember.

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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter

THE National First Division One Soccer Leagues which were set to resume this weekend with several matches lined up across the country have been postponed forthwith.

All the four Division One leagues had taken a sabbatical to pave way for the harmonised elections held on Monday and wanted the games to go ahead, but have since shelved the programme.

The games will only be held next weekend with Runyararo Service Stations Northern Region Division One administrator Vivian Tshuma confirming the developments.

“We have decided like any other leagues like the Premier Soccer League shelved all the games which were scheduled for this weekend. We are taking a short break as there are some programmes which are underway throughout the country,” he said.

The delay in the resumption of the second leg encounters are not worrying the leagues with Runyararo Service Stations Northern Region Division One chairman Willard Manyengavana saying they are on the right path and all the fixtures are supposed to be fulfilled within the stipulated period.

“We are still in the right track and I am convinced that we will manage to end the season at the right time. We are grateful that the teams managed to fulfil all their fixtures in the first round.

“We had a good first round and I believe we will also notice the same in the second leg where we anticipate a few incidences of violence. We managed not to have matches abandoned which is very good.

“There is now good rapport between teams after we had a team building exercise with club representatives and I am very happy.

“We are definitely going to end the league in November,” said Manyengavana.

There is concern that the league, which has managed to lure partners, may find another sponsor who will come on board with a knock-out tournament.

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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter

LUC RICHARD Mbah a Moute, the Cameroonian, National Basketball Association star, will make his second visit to the country on August 15.

The Los Angeles Clippers forward was also in the country last year, where he held a high-profile three-day training camp.

The forward is set to host the second Luc Mbah a Moute Top 50 Basketball Camp for the best young male basketball players at Eaglesvale Senior School.

Mbah a Moute of the NBA’s LA Clippers, will be returning to Zimbabwe on August 15 and will be joined by his colleague, Phoenix Suns’ Trevor Ariza on August 16. The tour has been facilitated by iBelieve Sports Academy and Fundamentally Astute Athletics.

“We hope we will be able to select one or two players. I think there is talent and some young kids just need to be given a chance like I was given to get a scholarship on basketball,” said Moute.

There will be an all-star game as well as visits to various children’s homes, schools and underprivileged communities.

The 31-year-old is the starting small forward for the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers.

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Petros Kausiyo in Bulawayo

ZIMBABWE’S Sables have vowed to turn on the magic on Namibia and salvage their pride that has been battered by a winless Rugby Africa Gold Cup campaign.

The Sables host favourites Namibia in their penultimate 2018 Gold Cup assignment at Hartsfield today, with the spotlight falling on the way they will apply themselves.

This blockbuster showdown between the old rivals starts at 3.30pm.

But after opening their bid for a place at the 2019 World Cup with a 23-23 home draw against Morocco in Harare on June 16, it has not been a rosy story for the Sables who followed that draw with back-to-back defeats away to Kenya and Tunisia.

Despite the massive support they have been receiving from the Sables Trust, who have tirelessly worked to ensure that their welfare and preparations took a more professional approach, the senior team have terribly fallen short on delivery and deflated the spirits of a domestic rugby family that had pinned a lot of hopes on them.

As they prepare to face a Namibia side that is still to taste defeat and well on their way to next year’s World Cup showpiece in Japan on an African ticket, the Sables yesterday said they were eager to salvage their lost pride.

Coach Peter de Villiers has also finally seen reason to rejuvenate his faltering side and made a few changes he hopes could help the Sables turn the corner.

Among the changes that de Villiers made was the inclusion of the experienced pair of Tafadzwa Chitokwindo and Shayne Makombe, who have been starring for the Cheetahs and led the side that were part of the Sevens World Cup in San Francisco last month.

Chitokwindo, who flew in from his German base on Monday night, said although they were aware that they would be underdogs, they were ready to give the Namibians a good run. The talented and experienced wing missed the three games against Morocco, Kenya and Tunisia, but said he had been following the Sables’ performances, arguing that they were unlucky not to finish off their opponents in those assignments.

“We are not in a situation that we would have wanted and we have to work our way out. We know what it means if we lose these remaining two games.

“I think the guys were playing well, but we needed luck and we also just need to perfect our finishing which was lacking in the last three games.

“Personally, I know that pressure lies on me because I am coming into the team taking over from someone who has been doing well, but I have to offer something and I just have to use experience to contain the nerves, but butterflies are always there,’’ Chitokwindo said.

Chitokwindo feels the lessons they learnt from their flirtation  with the World Cup in San Francisco would also come in handy for the Sables.

“In San Francisco we lost against teams that had adequate preparations and adequate facilities, but I have seen that training with PDV here has some of that professionalism we saw and if we as players can implement what he has been trying to teach us we can get something from this game. The fitness and conditioning that we bring from the World Cup should also come in handy and obviously the tries I scored in San Francisco will be a big boost to my form,’’ Chitokwindo said.

Chitokwindo also revealed that the coaches had placed a lot of emphasis on the Sables defence which has been their Achilles Heel in this campaign.

“We have been working on our defence and I also believe that as players when we say we are going to put our bodies on the line then we have to show that on the field and not just in words. We should be prepared to be bruised out there,’’ Chitokwindo said.

Eighthman Tapfuma Parirenyatwa also weighed in and felt the Sables would be without a lot of pressure when they go into this afternoon’s battle.

Hartsfield has also been traditionally a happy ground for the Sables and Parirenyatwa believes that if the players can get their approach right, they could upstage Namibia.

“The biggest challenge is that we are coming from the back of two defeats so the biggest challenge is psychology.

“But our coach is a very good motivator and he has really worked on psyching the team.

“Namibia are obviously the favourites not just for this game, but for the World Cup qualification, but we are going to give them a run for their money. The changes that have come in have brought experienced guys like Makombe and Chitokwindo. They were at the World Cup and these are our secret weapons.

“Given the position we are in now, we have to take it on a game by game basis and fight to preserve our status and we are sure going to give it our best. There is nothing to lose so the pressure is off our shoulders and more on the Namibians than us,’’ Parirenytawa said.

England-based teenage wing Mathew McNab, who has been relegated to the bench after starting the last three games was also equally upbeat about the Sables chances of upstaging Namibia.

“Our approach to this game has been a lot different and we have been looking at ways to attack Namibia and to defend our lines and a lot of positives have been coming out of our training.

“A lot of people have written us off, but I think we are ready to make it count and we want to ensure we won’t take the feet off the pedal, we should have the same momentum from start to finish.

“It’s been an awesome two weeks of preparations and I hope we can win this one and then also go on and win in Uganda, but both games will be tough,’’ McNab said.

There was also a boost for the Sables preparations with key flyhalf Lenience Tambwera being available for selection although he is now set to be used as an impact player coming off the bench.

Sables team:

1. Denford Mutamangira; 2. David Mukanda; 3. Farai Mudariki; 4. Brian Nyaude; 5. Fortunate Chipendo; 6. Takudzwa Mandiwanza; 7. Connor Pritchard; 8. Tapfuma Parirenyatwa; 9. Hilton Mudariki; 10. Brendon Mandivenga; 11. Tafadzwa Chitokwindo; 12. Tafadzwa Mhende; 13. Kudzai Mashawi; 14. Shayne Makombe; 15. Shingirai Katsvere; 16. Mathew Mandioma; 17. Irvine Nduwa; 18. Lawrence Cleminson; 19. Antipas Kamkwindo; 20. Lucky Sithole; 21. Ernest Mudzengerere; 22. Lenience Tambwera; 23. Mathew McNab

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Ellina Mhlang in ASABA, Nigeria

THE African Senior Athletics Championships enter day four today with Zimbabwe still hoping to make an impression after their torch-bearer Ngoni Makusha missed the podium in the 100m final dash on Thursday.

Zimbabwe have struggled in individual events and so far the team’s best performance was from Makusha who, however, finished sixth in the men’s 100m final with a time of 10.45seconds on Thursday.

Today, Makusha — together with Tatenda Tsumba and Dickson Kapandura — will be back on the track for the men’s 200m event while Faith Dube is up for the same event in the women’s section at Stephen Keshi Stadium this morning.

After reaching the final in the 100m event, where he competed with the likes of South Africa’s Akani Simbine, who was the eventual winner in 10.25seconds, Makusha said he is looking forward to the 200m race.

“I am not that disappointed. I am happy (that) I reached the final which is a good result for me. I know that I will keep improving in the future. So I am happy.

“After all the heats, semi-final and final, now I just have to recover from all this fatigue. I just have to stretch, drink water, rest fully and hopefully do well in the 200m,” said Makusha. Tsumba, after making the semi-finals in 100m, will also be out to give his best with the focus also on him as one of the top athletes in the Zimbabwean team.

Kapandura, still to graduate from the juniors, will have a feel of competing with Africa’s best talent at this level.

Maryjoy Mudyiravanji competes in 800m later in the day and could compete against Olympian Caster Semenya if they are pitted in the same heats. But for her it’s more about pushing for her personal best time which stands at 2 minutes 10 seconds at the moment.

“Tomorrow (today) I am going to try my best although I am going to run with top athletes, some from Kenya. I just want to improve my personal best and do my best.

“I was nervous before the competition started, but after watching some of the races and my fellow teammates competing it eased the pressure and I feel better. I think I am ready now,” said Mudyiravanji. Zimbabwe missed out in the 400m and 800m events with Rodwell Ndlovu being the only Zimbabwean that pulled through to the semi-finals and he finished sixth in 47.94seconds, which could not see him through to the final.

The pair of Blessing Nyandoro and Tafirenyika, who were roped into the team as part of the national association’s development plan for juniors, still have some work to do as they prepare to graduate to the senior level.

They both managed position six in their respective heats with Nyandoro clocking 48.98seconds and Tafirenyika ran 48.13seconds.

One of the coaches with the team here, David Tinago, said there is room for the upcoming athletes to improve as they prepare to graduate to the next level.

“Our junior development it has really amazed me in a way because some of these boys they haven’t really started training professionally. So coming to such a meet and competing with these guys and producing such results that means Zimbabwe has a future in sprints,” said Tinago.

Nyasha Mutsetse settled for position 10 in the 800m event with a time of 1minute 53.20seconds.

In the women’s 400m, Dube, who is making her first appearance at the championships, was fifth in 56.54seconds and said there is a lot to learn from the competition.

“Being here showed me that I have the potential to do better. It showed me that my training was all good, but at the same time it showed me that I need to also up my standard. It was good competing with professional athletes, it was quite a good experience. I really like it.

“I have learnt a few running techniques . . . I just need to also prepare myself for bigger competitions mentally,” said Dube.

The 4x100m relay team consisting of Ndlovu, Tsumba, Kapandura and Tafirenyika qualified for the final that were set for last night as one of the best runners-up with a time of 40.37seconds.

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