Africa: The Road to Japan for Fifa U-20 Women's World Cup Enters Second Stage

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Nigeria's Falconets. (Photo Courtesy CAF Online)

The second round first legs of qualification for FIFA U- 20 Women's World Cup 2012 to be held in Japan get underway this weekend on continent with some explosive encounters on the cards.

Nigeria's Falconets will host Zimbabwe in Abeokuta. In South Africa, the home side entertains Ghana at Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton, while Kenya enters new territory as they take on visiting Tunisia in Nairobi.

The fixture between Mali and DR Congo scheduled for Bamako has been moved to next weekend with the return leg set for weekend of 20-22nd April in DR Congo.

South Africa's U-20 side (Basetsana) who have been in camp for some days played their senior counterparts, Banyana Banyana and held them to a goalless draw. Head coach of the Basetsana squad, Sheryl Botes was quoted on the country's Football Association official website (www.safa.net) saying "Our main focus is building the base for attacks, the more goals we score in the home leg, the better for us as it will help a great deal in the return leg in Ghana in a fortnight."

Meanwhile Zimbabwe's Young Mighty Warriors head to Nigeria eager to better the result from the last time the two sides met at the same stage of the same competition two years ago. The Zimbabweans failed to score over two legs and conceded at total of ten goals. Emmaculate Msipa played against the Falconets in 2010 and the midfielder believes times have changed and Zimbabwean women's football has come some way since the drabbing from Nigeria,

"It is different now because we have a running league and we have some experienced players in this current side and we are aware of what to expect and what is required at this stage of the competition. We are focused and want to make history by becoming the first Zimbabwean team to qualify for football World Cup finals,"said Msipa.

Kenya U-20 Women's team (Starlets) has been getting a helping hand from the men's national side coach Francis Kimanzi. Starlets head coach Florence Adhiambo spoke of how her girls have been motivated by Kimanzi and his assistance has been valuable to their preparations. Their opponents Tunisia have quietly gone about their preparations for the encounter to be played at Nairobi's Nyayo Stadium on Saturday. Coach Adhiambo went on to say" I hope my girls will replicate what they've trained in the match against the Tunisians. Everybody is focused and I believe we'll get positive result"

Nigeria's Weighlifting Team Shines at African Champs

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Wightlifter Mariam Usman. (Photo Courtesy LEADERSHIP)

Chief Coach of the Nigerian Weightlifting Federation, (NWF) Patrick Bassey has disclosed that the lifters in camp are well motivated for the Olympic qualifiers billed for Nairobi, Kenya

Speaking to Sunday Vanguard Sports at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Dan Anyiam Stadium, the Olympian said the training the lifters are undergoing will yield dividend when the qualifiers kick off in March 28 - April 2, 2012.

He appealed to the National Sports Commission, NSC to keep to its promise of ensuring the team jet out to Nairobi with a full squad.

"We have been taken the lifters through rigorous training bearing in mind the preparation of the other countries which we cannot monitor. The only fear is for them not to pick any injury. Nevertheless, we are training with caution so they can avoid being injured.

"I just have to say this that the spirit the lifters are displaying will be difficult for anybody to take them to the cleaners. My prayer is that the National Sports Commission keeps to their promise of us going to the championship with a full team," Coach Bassey said.

Eyong Enoh At The Helm Of His Game With Ajax

Cameroon's Lions vice captain and Cape Town Ajax FC 2008 most valuable player of the year Eyong Enoh as usual humble like personality but very hard working once on the pitch is elevating Ajax Amsterdam style of play and certainly the club re-emergence at the European football. His very determined defensive style of play has earn the midfielder popularity among Ajax fans who will be cheering when Ajax takes on FC Twente for the Dutch Super Cup. In an earlier interview with Awasum of the African Sports Network, he's very optimistic about the Ducth Super Cup Finals but more importantly gracious to his native Lions Cameroonians fans for their support.

Videon link >http://youtu.be/f7elbFBCI7Q

A FIFA SCANDAL ?

FIFA Executive Committee, Amos Adamu (Nigeria) and Reynald Temarii (Tahiti) suspended , on October 18 ! ... following a report last week in the Sunday Times that the two committee members were willing to accept bribes in exchange for their votes in the World Cup bidding process for 2018/2022.

The African Sports Network chief Executive Officer try to reach the Nigerian Football Association for comments but to no avail. FIFA is confirming the suspension on bases of ethical violation while further investigation is ongoing.

AFRICAN SPORTS NETWORK,INC.
WWW.AFRICANSPORTSNETWORK.ORG
WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/AFRICANSPORTSNETWORK

2010 MLB ALL-STAR GAME FINAL FINALIST VOTE ANNOUNCE !

Online balloting for final player on each All-Star Team continues through July 8
NEW YORK, July 4, 2010 – American and National League All-Star Team managers Joe Girardi
and Charlie Manuel, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, have announced the candidates
for the 2010 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint to be held exclusively on MLB.com,
the official Web site of Major League Baseball, and the individual Club Web sites. This year’s
ballots include six players on teams currently in first place in their respective divisions and four on
teams contending for postseason berths over the season’s second half, setting the stage for spirited
campaigning for each of the 10 candidates.
The five candidates for the final roster spot on the National League All-Star Team are: Heath Bell
of the San Diego Padres; Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies; Joey Votto of the Cincinnati
Reds; Billy Wagner of the Atlanta Braves; and Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals.
On the American League side, the five players on the ballot are: Paul Konerko of the Chicago
White Sox; Nick Swisher of the New York Yankees; Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox;
Delmon Young of the Minnesota Twins; and Michael Young of the Texas Rangers.
Fans began casting votes for the 2010 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint immediately
following today's Major League Baseball All-Star Selection Show presented by Taco Bell on TBS
and can continue until balloting concludes at 4 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, July 8. The winners, as
chosen exclusively by online fan voting totals, will be announced on MLB.com shortly thereafter.
Mobile voting is available exclusively on Sprint, Nextel and Boost capable mobile phones and fans
can send the word "Vote" to 1122 to receive the 2010 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by
Sprint ballot. Message and data rates may apply. In Canada, fans can text "Vote" to 88555.
Standard text rates apply.
Originally introduced during this year’s online balloting for the elected starters, fans can campaign
for their favorite player on the Final Vote ballot through MLB.com’s All-Star Campaign Manager
program, tallying points by getting their friends, family and co-workers to vote through social
networking, and competing to be recognized as an “official” Final Vote Campaign Manager for any
player they helped support.
The All-Star Game Final Vote program has seen nearly 200 million votes cast since its inception in
2002, including last year's record-setting total (68.6 million) when fans chose Brandon Inge of the
Detroit Tigers and Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Phillies. Previous winners of the All-Star
Game Final Vote are: Evan Longoria (AL, 2008); Corey Hart (NL, 2008); Hideki Okajima (AL,
2007); Chris Young (NL, 2007); A.J. Pierzynski (AL, 2006); Nomar Garciaparra (NL, 2006); Scott
Podsednik (AL, 2005); Roy Oswalt (NL, 2005); Hideki Matsui (AL, 2004); Bobby Abreu (NL,
2004); Jason Varitek (AL, 2003); Geoff Jenkins (NL, 2003); Johnny Damon (AL, 2002); and
Andruw Jones (NL, 2002).

South African World Cup Singer Dies At 34.

A South African opera singer chosen by Nelson Mandela to perform at the World Cup opening ceremony has died from meningitis, his record label has said.

Siphiwo Ntshebe, 34, was admitted to hospital in Port Elizabeth last week and died on Tuesday, Epic Records said.

He was due to perform his new track Hope at the opening ceremony in Johannesburg on June 11.

Epic boss Nick Raphael said Ntshebe's death was "a tragedy for all those who believe in the power of music".

"He had a truly wondrous voice and his music was unique in its melodies and its messages of hope and compassion," he added.

Epic said Hope was "a soaring track", featuring "a special message of hope and compassion" written and spoken by Mr Mandela.

The track, and an album of the same name, were due to be released to coincide with the World Cup.

Epic said no final decision had been taken on whether the releases would go ahead but that Ntshebe's family wanted his music "to be heard by as wide an audience as possible".

Opening ceremony producer Lebo M said Ntshebe was "a true South Africa World Cup legacy, gone too soon".

"May his spirit lead us to 11 June 2010. May his soul rest in peace and may Siphiwo's spirit of hope centre us all," he added.

The BBC's Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg says Ntshebe was relatively unknown in South Africa - his appearance at the World Cup opening ceremony would have introduced him to a much wider audience in his home country.

Ntshebe, who studied at London's Royal College of Music between 2004 and 2007, had performed throughout Europe.

Mr Mandela had previously praised the tenor as "a young South African with so much talent that has, despite challenges of the past, chosen to work hard at a better future".

BBC

Cameroonian native Samuel Eto & Inter Of Milan Win UEFA Cup !

The African Sports Network is celebrating Cameroonian native and Inter OF Milan forward Samuel Eto'o & his back to back win of the European Champions League. We won't say Messi and Barca could do that. With this victory Samuel Eto'o reigns as the best forward in the World or should we add in the foot steps of the legendary Cameroonian native Roger Milla.

Eto'o reaffirms legendary accomplishment with back to back win of the European Championship with Barcelona in 09 then today with Inter of Milan is truly a reflection of heart felt African Soccer players in the Diaspora and the leagues in Europe. Hopefully, with his continuous hard work; he could have many fans re - live what Roger Milla did in 1990 at the upcoming World Cup South Africa.

Our Countdown to the World Cup starts next week with an inside look of all the African teams with our staff members who are already in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Awasum 'AJ' Junior