Bosso finally fire coach

PREMIERSHIP side, Highlanders have fired coach, Mkhuphali Masuku with ex- Bosso favourite and Warriors hot-shot, Peter Ndlovu said to be in the frame to take over.

Masuku was allegedly fired on Monday night in absentia as he was with the Warriors developmental side in Tanzania for the Cecafa Championships.

The executive, chaired by Themba Ndlela, said they decided not to renew the contract of the coach who took the club to a fourth place finish in 2010.

He then won the Independence Trophy on April 18 this year after beating Dynamos, but finished seventh on the log on 43 points, 15 behind winners league winners Dynamos.

Ndlela is fighting to remain in office in the New Year against businessman Mandla Moyo- the same man he beat to the top post three years ago.

“The elections don’t worry me because whether I am in office or not I am always dedicated towards working for Highlanders. Bosso is my home and I will not have any other home besides Highlanders.

“Even when I left being treasurer in 2005, I continued working for the team and I have no intention of stopping working for the club at any time,” he was quoted saying at the weekend.

It remains unclear whether other candidates will join the fray.
Still, Jabu Mangwana Tshuma-son to former chairman, James, has indicated he will run for the committee member’s post while Jerry Sibanda, the current team manager wants to take on secretary general Andrew Tapela.

Meanwhile, former players, led by Zenzo Moyo, have regrouped and are understood to be pushing for Peter Ndlovu to succeed Masuku.

They have since formed a club-chaired by Moyo, with Rahman Gumbo deputizing while Netsai Moyo is the secretary general

Fulham 1 Liverpool FC 0 – Ian Doyle’s verdict

THERE was drama in the Press room shortly before kick-off when a consignment of cottage pie destined for the gathered hacks was clumsily dropped on to the floor.

Kenny Dalglish, though, would probably wish it had instead landed on referee Kevin Friend’s head.

Liverpool’s attempts to secure a record-equalling seventh successive away win were ultimately undone thanks in part to the official on a chilly night at Craven Cottage.

Chief grievance was the 72nd-minute red card shown to Jay Spearing, handed the unenviable task of filling the sizeable boots of the absent Lucas Leiva.

It wasn’t even a foul; rather a strong, fair challenge on Mousa Dembele that, while catching the Fulham man on the follow-through, clearly won the ball.

Liverpool, of course, had benefited from a similarly outrageously pathetic red card two months ago when winning the Merseyside derby.

And this time they were on the receiving end with Clint Dempsey netting a soft goal five minutes from time after Pepe Reina had fumbled a Danny Murphy shot.

Liverpool – and in particular Reina, who made a string of fine saves – deserved better.

Referee Friend had earlier infuriated Liverpool by deciding a foul on Charlie Adam by Philippe Senderos was outside the box, when replays suggest the visitors were right to claim the offence was inside.

So ends Liverpool’s 11-match unbeaten run. And with their main rivals for Champions League qualification all winning, Dalglish’s men can ill-afford dropped points such as these – although, as ever, the woodwork came to the rescue of the opposition.

Despite scoring five goals in his last three visits to south west London, including a memorable hat-trick here in May, Maxi Rodriguez was again unfortunate to see himself begin the game on the bench.

Of the players rotated into the team for last Tuesday’s Carling Cup win at Chelsea, three retained their place with Craig Bellamy, Andy Carroll and Spearing all starting.

Spearing’s inclusion as replacement for the stricken Lucas was reward for the diminutive midfielder’s fine performances during the tail-end of last season, and his efforts when called upon this campaign

And he was required to do plenty of covering during the first half as Fulham, despite a difficult Europa League game in Holland last Thursday, showed no signs of a physical hangover and were quickest out of the blocks.

Having been three goals up inside 17 minutes on their last visit to Craven Cottage in May, Liverpool were this time grateful to Reina not to be a couple of goals behind.

After only six minutes, the Spanish goalkeeper saved with his feet to deny Mousa Dembele after the Fulham midfielder had been sent clear by Bryan Ruiz’s slide-rule pass.

And then Reina denied the same player again, this time springing low to his left to turn behind Dembele’s arrowed 25-yard drive.

Reina was similarly agile to first clasp an improvised Clint Dempsey volley after Liverpool’s defence failed to properly clear, and then beat out a swerving shot from close range by the United States international.

While at times struggling for cohesion, the visitors were not without their chances in the first half. Moments after Charlie Adam saw a fierce shot blocked, Andy Carroll solicited a solid parry from Mark Schwarzer after good build-up play by Luis Suarez.

Either side of the Fulham keeper and Liverpool would have been ahead. But that is the way for Carroll right now, the striker later completely miscuing his attempted shot following another incisive Suarez raid down the inside-left channel.

But the nearest anyone came to scoring was in the 28th minute. Jordan Henderson, operating his preferred central midfield role and a prominent performer throughout, seized on possession near the left-hand corner of the area after Fulham only partially cleared, dashed between Dempsey and Danny Murphy and curled a right-footed shot against the inside of Schwarzer’s post.

Shortly after the interval, Dempsey was fortunate not to be dismissed after a flare-up with Bellamy in which he shoved his forehead into the face of his opponent, both players ultimately cautioned.

Liverpool, no doubt after a few choice words from Dalglish, were far brighter after the break and, after forcing a succession of corners, one fell invitingly for Jose Enrique.

But his shot was parried by Schwarzer before being hacked clear by John Arne Riise, making his first appearance against the Anfield outfit since his departure.

Liverpool, and Suarez in particular, had received little joy from referee Friend, a fact underlined in the 59th minute when Adam led a counter-attack by running 40 yards with the ball before being up-ended by Philippe Senderos.

The visitors had decent claims that the foul had occurred just inside the box, but the official thought otherwise and Bellamy’s free-kick was deflected wide.

The Welshman should then have done better when dragging his shot across the face of goal after being found in the area by Johnson and a borderline offside call favoured Fulham when Suarez latched on to Enrique’s lofted pass and finished ‘a la Messi’ beyond Schwarzer.

Spearing’s red card changed the complexion of the game, allowing Fulham to regain a foothold with Dempsey striking the crossbar and Reina once again denying Dembele with another fine save.

Schwarzer produced a great save to turn substitute Stewart Downing’s venomous shot on to the post, and Liverpool’s luck was out five minutes from time when the previously impeccable Reina spilled Murphy’s shot and Dempsey was on hand to tuck home the rebound to seal the points.

Beckham rules out coaching

Former England captain David Beckham has ruled out moving into coaching, saying it holds no interest for him.

The footballing superstar, in Australia for what may be his last match as a Los Angeles Galaxy player, missed the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ through injury but went to South Africa as part of England's back-room staff.

Asked by the Herald Sun if he had ambitions to manage one day, he replied: "None whatsoever. I didn't like it at all," he added of his time on the sidelines at the FIFA World Cup, where he acted as a mediator between management and the players.

"I don't know how managers and coaches do it. I love working with kids and coaching kids, but being a manager is one of those things that has never interested me. I enjoyed being part of that whole experience, but being on the sidelines was difficult."

I love working with kids and coaching kids, but being a manager is one of those things that has never interested me.
David Beckham
Beckham, 36, is about to come out of contract with LA Galaxy and is believed to be weighing up a huge offer to play for French club Paris Saint-Germain, or stay in the United States.

He said other offers were also on the table, although he has previously ruled out a return to England, saying he could not envisage playing for any side other than Manchester United.

"I've had other offers, which is nice, especially when you're 36, some people would say towards the end of my career," he said. "I've got options and offers but I'm still a Galaxy player right now and that might not change."

He said a decision would be made in the next few weeks. "I said I wanted to wait until the end of the season and it is the end of the season now, so I need to take some down time and decide what I need to do next."

The Galaxy are on the last leg of an Asian tour that has taken them to Indonesia, Philippines and Australia. Beckham's five-year contract with LA Galaxy expires on 31 December.

Injury woes has Welbeck in United frame

Manchester United could turn to Danny Welbeck to solve their injury problems in attack as they tackle Basel on Wednesday needing a draw to reach the UEFA Champions League last 16.

United lost Javier Hernandez to an ankle injury at the weekend and with concerns about Dimitar Berbatov's ankle, Welbeck may start despite only just returning from a muscle strain sustained on England duty on 12 November.

"We think with Hernandez that it's torn ankle ligaments unfortunately," said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson after Saturday's 1-0 win at Aston Villa. "That will keep him out for a month. We're having a torrid time with injuries at the moment.

"But Danny Welbeck came back at Villa, got some time on the pitch, and he gives us an option for Wednesday. He's not had a lot of football recently so it's something I'll have to consider.

"But I thought Nani did all right down the middle and Antonio Valencia also did very well when he came on so we've got some options up front. Maybe Berbatov will be fit also."

Victory at Villa Park represented United's fourth 1-0 win in five league games since their 6-1 humiliation at home to Manchester City, but they continue to stutter in cup competitions. Ferguson's side were knocked out of the League Cup by second-tier Crystal Palace last week and last season's beaten finalists have picked up only two wins from their five Champions League group games to date.

The 2-2 draw at home to Benfica in their last game gifted the Portuguese giants a place in the knockout phase and means United must not lose at Basel to avoid what would be only the third group-stage exit in their history.

United last went out at this stage in 2005/06 and Wednesday's game will take place exactly five years to the day since the 2-1 loss at Benfica that abruptly curtailed their involvement in that season's tournament. Back then, United needed a win to go through, but at Basel's St Jakob-Park stadium, a draw will suffice.

The hosts, though, will be gunning for a famous upset and, despite having only once reached the knockout rounds before, they will be buoyed by the 3-3 draw they took from Old Trafford in the reverse fixture on 17 September.

A quick-fire Welbeck brace put United 2-0 up inside 17 minutes but Basel hit back through Fabian Frei before an Alexander Frei double took them to the verge of a shock result, only for Ashley Young to head home a last-minute equaliser.

Basel belief
Alexander Frei - no relation to his younger team-mate - believes Basel's performance in Manchester gave Heiko Vogel's side belief that they could compete with Europe's elite. "The guys are really proud we got a 3-3 draw and it is something that will stay with them for the rest of their careers," the Swiss international striker told the UEFA website.

"But the way I see it, it was more important for the future in general - when it happens, it's absolutely amazing and something we may never experience again at Basel, but it shows that we have a future in UEFA competition."

Young's late goal preserved an unbeaten home record in European competition stretching back to 2005, and United are equally formidable on the road, having avoided defeat in their last eight away fixtures.

In the absence of the suspended Michael Carrick, Ferguson could ask Phil Jones to continue in the central midfield role he occupied against Villa. "Jones is a natural centre-back but he's so versatile he can play in midfield," said Ferguson.

"We played him there because we don't have Michael Carrick for Wednesday because he's suspended and we have to look at options. We've also got Darren Fletcher available and we didn't want to use Ryan Giggs against Villa because of the importance of Wednesday."

Rnk Team MP W D L GF GA +/- Pts
1
Manchester City 14 12 2 0 48 13 35 38
2
Manchester United 14 10 3 1 31 13 18 33
3
Tottenham Hotspur 13 10 1 2 29 16 13 31
4
Chelsea 14 9 1 4 31 17 14 28
5
Arsenal 14 8 2 4 30 23 7 26
6
Newcastle United 14 7 5 2 19 15 4 26
7
Liverpool 14 6 5 3 17 13 4 23
8
Stoke City 14 5 3 6 14 23 -9 18
9
Aston Villa 14 3 7 4 16 18 -2 16
10
Everton 13 5 1 7 15 17 -2 16
11
Norwich City 14 4 4 6 20 26 -6 16
12
Q/Park Rangers 14 4 4 6 15 25 -10 16
13
Fulham 14 3 6 5 16 16 0 15
14
W/Brom Albion 14 4 3 7 13 21 -8 15
15
Swansea City 14 3 5 6 14 20 -6 14
16
Wolverhampton Wanderers 14 4 2 8 15 24 -9 14
17
Sunderland 14 2 5 7 16 17 -1 11
18
Blackburn Rovers 14 2 4 8 21 32 -11 10
19
Bolton Wanderers 14 3 0 11 19 34 -15 9
20
Wigan Athletic 14 2 3 9 12 28 -16 9

ZIFA circus: Banda, Hokonya up for suspension

An explosive Zifa board emergency meeting takes place tomorrow with the centre of focus on president Cuthbert Dube and his two fellow board members Gift Banda and Patrick Hokonya.
There is one item on the agenda: Corruption in Zimbabwean football.

Banda is the Southern Region chairman while Hokonya heads the Central Region. Both have been implicated by suspended “Asiagate” referee Cosmas Nyoni in match-fixing scandals in the Central Region that involves two clubs Hardbody and Tripple B.

Dube attempted to suspend Banda and Hokonya at the last board meeting to facilitate investigations into the allegations without success.

The Southern Region chairman then asked the president to step aside to facilitate an inquiry into how he (Dube) was elected into office last year.

Dube fought back via a statement yesterday, which did not address the issue of whether he would step aside while investigations go on.

Previously, Dube has been successful in suspending fellow board members without a fight. Second vice-president Kenny Marange, board member (development) Methembe Ndlovu and Northern Region chairman Solomon Mugavazi were suspended because of their alleged involvement in Asiagate.

Lindile Dube dies

Football personalities in the Southern Region have described the death of veteran coach Lindile Dube as a great loss to the fraternity.

Dube (51), who had coached several teams from the top-flight league and Division One passed away on Sunday night at Nyamandlovu Clinic.

At the time of his death Dube was in charge of Zifa Buscod Southern Region Division One side ZPC Hwange.

By yesterday, the cause of the death was still to be ascertained as post-mortem results were yet to be released.

ZPC Hwange secretary-general Gaylord Madhunguza was at a loss of words.

“I am really shocked because he left Hwange last week and was well. It is a very big loss to the club because when he arrived during the mid-season, our team was at number eight, but we finished the season at position three. He won all the matches and only lost to Quelaton,” he said.

The league’s secretary-general, Brian Moyo, described Dube’s death as a shock.

“On a personal note, I am really shocked because I last saw Dube last Thursday and he was well. He spent close to three decades as a coach after he started off in his early 20s.

“From a Zifa point of view, it is a sad loss as he was a good coach. He guided Zimbabwe Saints and Underhill to the Premiership,” he said.

Former Highlanders striker Amini Soma Phiri said the death of Dube had left a big void in the football fratenity.

“It is a very sad loss. He was like a brother to me. I am at a loss for words,” he said.

A distraught aunt to the late coach, Beatrice Mhlanga, said the death of Dube was a major loss to the family.,

“He left on Friday for Nyamandlovu. He slept there and spent the day with his brother in the fields. On Sunday he started vomiting and then told his wife he was not feeling well. He was taken to the clinic and was given a drip and said he felt better,” she said.

“While still at the hospital, he said he was feeling better, but he started vomiting again and it got serious. He then passed away at around 8pm. It is a shock to the whole family,” she said.

Dube’s coaching career dates back to when he coached Rufaro Rovers. He also coached Zesa Munyati and assisted Ashton Nyazika at Masvingo United in 2001.

He also coached Zimbabwe Saints and Underhill and guided them to the top-flight league in two consecutive seasons. Dube also coached Railstars and Motor Action.

Dube is survived by his wife and four children. Mourners are gathered at number 1152 in Old Luveve. He will be buried this morning at Luveve cemetery.