KKR shares look undervalued – Barron’s

July 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 25 (Reuters) – Some value-attuned hedge-fund managers are dissecting KKR’s business in a way that makes it look undervalued, Barron’s reported in its July 26 edition.

The long-anticipated U.S. stock debut of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR.N) had proved a disappointment in mid-July as investors shied away from the private equity firm that made its name with the leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco in 1988. [ID:nN15209250]

KKR debuted at $10.50, and has traded lower from there, in part due to some apparent technical selling by investors unable to exit the stock when it was listed in Europe, the paper said. It closed Friday at $9.50.

The newspaper also urged investors to try valuing potential future performance fees on the $27 billion of deals housed in the company’s private-equity funds and those of deals not yet done and funds not yet raised. (Reporting by Dhanya Skariachan; Editing by Diane Craft)

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Petacchi keeps Cavendish waiting for green jersey

July 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Green can wait for Mark Cavendish, who missed out on the best sprinter’s jersey at the Tour de France for the second year in succession to a more experienced rider, Italian Alessandro Petacchi.

The Briton won his fifth stage of the 2010 Tour on the Champs Elysees Sunday and became the first sprinter to triumph twice in succession on the famous Parisian avenue, which has hosted the race finale since 1975.

With 15 stage wins at the age of 25, Cavendish is certainly the most gifted sprinter of the last two decades but he finished 11 points behind a rider 11 years his senior who fully deserved the reward.

Even though he only won two stages, the 36-year-old Petacchi was more consistent and Cavendish, plagued by doubts in the first week of the race, lost vital points in the early stages.

“I had a poor start, I was wondering if I could make it but we kept trying. When you arrive in Paris for the most spectacular finish in the world, you have a feeling of accomplishment which by far exceeds the disappointment,” Cavendish said.

“Sorry I could not do more.”

While Cavendish has many seasons ahead of him to become the first Briton to win the green jersey, Petacchi crowned an exceptional career with cycling’s most coveted trophy for a sprinter.

The most successful active rider with 155 victories, Petacchi joined a select list of sprinters who have won the green jersey in the big three Tours. The last man to do so was France’s Laurent Jalabert in 1999.

The Lampre rider topped the points classification in the Giro d’Italia in 2004 and at the Spanish Vuelta in 2005.

With 46 stage wins in the three majors, Petacchi’s record is only surpassed by his compatriot Mario Cipollini, who won 57 stages. He also became the first Italian to take the green jersey since Franco Bitossi in 1968.

Yet the Italian might not be able to celebrate when he returns home. He was notified by government officials before the Tour that he is being formally investigated by Italian police for allegedly using illegal substances.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)

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FOREX-Dollar on defensive but euro gains limited

June 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

LONDON, June 24 (Reuters) – The dollar struggled on Thursday after the Federal Reserve reiterated its pledge to keep rates low, though its losses against the euro were limited by persistent doubts about the euro zone economy.

The dollar’s broad weakness helped sterling to extend gains to a six-week high and underpinned the euro, yet traders remained reluctant to chase those advances with more signs of fragile recovery tempering appetite for risky positions.

“There was a little disappointment in the market from the Fed statement but the euro has struggled to rally. The market remains sceptical about problems in Europe and that feeling won’t go away soon,” said Antje Praefcke, currency analyst at Commerzbank.

At 0720 GMT, the euro EUR= was broadly unchanged on the day at $1.2315 having stalled at $1.2351 in Asia.

Versus a basket of currencies .DXY, the dollar slipped to 85.595 in Asia, bringing it closer to a five-week low hit on Monday of 85.091. It later steadied to trade broadly unchanged at 85.829.

“If the market was hoping for re-assurance from the FOMC they would soon be disappointed as the Federal Reserve signalled that growth was likely to disappoint over the course of the next 12 months, due in no small part from the problems in Europe,” said Michael Hewson, currency analyst at CMC Markets.

In a statement at the end of a two-day meeting, the Fed scaled back its assessment of the pace of recovery, taking note of pockets of weakness, and also issued a cautionary note about volatile markets in light of Europe’s debt woes. [nN22150078]

The dollar was also undermined by data showing sales of new U.S. single-family homes tumbling more than expected in May.

NEW AUSTRALIAN PM

The Aussie dollar AUD=D4 rose as high as $0.8771 after Australia’s ruling Labor Party elected a new prime minister in Julia Gillard, in a bid to avoid election defeat later this year. [ID:nSGE65M0LY]

Gillard immediately offered to end a bitter dispute over a controversial “super profits” mining tax, saying she would throw open the door for fresh negotiations. But she stressed miners should pay more tax. [ID:nSGE65M0LY]

The Aussie later trimmed gains to stand at $0.8725, steady from late U.S. trading on Wednesday.

“We expect new PM Gillard to announce a watered down version of the Resource Super Profits Tax in the coming weeks,” said RBC analysts in a note to clients.

“The Australian dollar, resources, and equities will be the likely beneficiaries and should find immediate and longer term support from today’s change of PM,” they said.

Sterling rose to $1.5001 GBP=D4, the highest since May 12, extending gains made the previous day after a hint of an early rise in interest rates in the Bank of England’s minutes. The pound subsequently eased to trade with slight losses at $1.4940.

Against the yen JPY=, the dollar stood at 89.87 yen, stuck near a one-month low of 89.73 yen hit on Wednesday on trading platform EBS.

“Price action in dollar/yen remains poor and my order board suggests some more weakness to come, with an initial target of 89.10. Option related offers above 90.30 should see us capped,” said a London-based spot trader from a U.S. bank. (Additional reporting by Satomi Noguchi, editing by Mike Peacock)

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James has sympathy for Green but wants place back

June 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

South Africa (Reuters) – England’s most experienced and formerly established number one goalkeeper David James has sympathy for his widely-ridiculed friend Robert Green — but wants his place back in the team at his expense.

Sports

James, 39, who has won 50 caps to Green’s 11, only discovered he was not being selected for Saturday’s opening Group C clash with the United States five minutes before the players boarded their bus to go to the stadium before the game.

But after digesting his disappointment, James sat on the bench and saw Green, 29, make a shocking schoolboy blunder when he failed to save Clint Dempsey’s tame shot as the United States leveled to claim a 1-1 draw.

England skipper Steven Gerrard had opening the scoring.

“I didn’t speak to Robert straight after the game because he had to go for a drugs test,” said James. “But I know that as a goalkeeper — and we all make a mistake like that sometime — you just have to put it behind you straight away and get on with the game.

COUNTER ATTACKED

“These things happen and he has to get over it. There is no time to dwell. It was one of those things and it changed the game because after that I thought the U.S. team shut up shop and only counter-attacked in the second half.”

James declined to say he expected to play, but showed clear disappointment even if he accepted manager Fabio Capello’s customary late decision to pick Green ahead of him and 23-year-old Joe Hart, widely regarded as England’s most talented goalkeeper for the future.

“When the manager announced the team, I would not say it was a surprise, but there were people hoping to play who were not picked,” said James, with a deliberation that hid his disappointment.

“Everyone wants to play and this environment — the way the manager likes to have things now — encourages an anticipation to play.

“It means that you don’t know who is playing or not, of course, so that means you don’t have two of the three goalkeepers knowing they are not going to play, as it was in the past.”

James confirmed he was fit to play and that rumors of a knee injury last week, when he trained in the gym, were not accurate. “I was fit, we all were,” he said. “All 23 of us.

“I am ready to play and, of course, I want to play. I have been around a while and this is not my first World Cup. But I know what it is like and I know what to expect.

“You come to the World Cup and you are disappointed to have the numbers 23 and then 12 on your back, but you have to work hard to play. As a professional, now, I have number one and I am still the man with number one even if I was not picked.

“So, like all the other players, when you know you are not playing you have to push to do everything right and not only help everyone else but push hard to get a game. That’s the same for me as anyone else.”

(Editing by Jon Bramley)

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Singapore football fans stage protest over World Cup TV fees

June 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Singapore, June 6 (DPA) Disgruntled Singapore football enthusiasts staged a protest against high TV fees for watching the upcoming World Cup, participants said, in a rare public demonstration in the tightly controlled city-state.

In statements posted on the organiser’s website on social network Facebook, protesters said about 200 fans of the game gathered Saturday at Speaker’s Corner in Hong Lim Park, a venue for public protest, created in response to criticism that Singapore’s strict laws were not giving enough space to public debate.

The protest organisers had earlier started a campaign on Facebook calling for a boycott of Singapore’s two TV broadcasters after the companies announced that the price for watching the 2010 World Cup would increase seven-fold since the most recent tournament 2006.

Singapore Telecommunications Ltd and StarHub charge a minimum of 70.62 Singapore dollars (50.22 US dollars) TV fees.

The companies justified their price policy, saying they were not profiteering from the World Cup, but just hoping to break even.

At the rally, protesters showed red cards reading, ‘You’re Off! SingTel, Starhub,’ imitating the cards referees use for sending players off the pitch.

Some participants expressed disappointment ‘that there were not more people,’ but said it was important that ‘we made our point.’

Currently, the boycott group counts more than 27,500 members, according to its website.

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Indian officials should respect Pakistan’s courts: Malik

May 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Pakistan government honours the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the release from house arrest of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed and Indian authorities should accord “similar respect to the verdicts of Pakistani courts,” Interior Minister Rehman Malik said today.

Malik made the remarks while talking to reporters a day after the apex court upheld the Lahore High Court’s decision to free Saeed from house arrest and dismissed appeals filed by the federal and Punjab governments challenging his release.

The Interior Minister said Indian authorities should show the same respect for verdicts of Pakistani courts as that shown by the Pakistan government.

“We had also honoured the Indian court’s decision against Ajmal Kasab,” Malik said, referring to the death sentence recently awarded by an Indian court to the Pakistani national for his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

India yesterday expressed disappointment over Pakistan Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the release of Saeed, whom New Delhi has blamed for masterminding the Mumbai attacks.

Indian officials have said they have provided sufficient evidence against Saeed to Pakistani authorities.

Malik also called for a joint struggle against terrorism by Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.

He said Faisal Shahzad, the Pakistani-American arrested by the US for a botched car bomb attack in New York, had links in the restive South Waziristan tribal region.

An investigation into these links is underway though no one has so far been arrested, he said.

“Faisal Shahzad had links in South Waziristan and his accounts are the focus of our investigation,” Malik said.

Media reports, however, said Pakistani authorities had detained 11 suspects, including an army major, for alleged links with Shahzad.

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Out in the cold, Irfan vows to come back

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

It took one Australian tour in 2003-04 to make a curly-haired teenager a household name. Once he began swinging the ball both ways, comparisons with Wasim Akram followed. A few impressive knocks later, he was destined to be the next Kapil Dev. The fall for Irfan Pathan though, has been as quick as his climb was.

Having lost his swing and a considerable amount of pace, Pathan is no longer the blue-eyed boy of the selection committee. Despite scoring 397 runs at an average of 49.62 and scalping 22 wickets in the 2009-10 Ranji season, followed by a five-wicket haul in the Duleep Trophy final, Pathan didn’t make the cut for the Zimbabwean tour or the India A side — touring England — as a pool of fresh faces was preferred by the selectors.

Working on errors

The disappointment is clear, but Pathan does his best to conceal it. “I really don’t know what to say. I was hopeful. Every cricketer thinks of where he is going wrong and tries to work on his errors. I’m playing well but need to do better. I’m still hoping to make a comeback,” Pathan says, while speaking to The Indian Express.

While cricket pundits attempt to deconstruct where the downfall began, Pathan isn’t sure himself. Could it have been because of the drop in pace? “But I have never been a 140-plus bowler,” he says.

“I don’t know what people are expecting from me. Do they want to see me to bowl at 140-plus and take no wickets? Or do they want to see me swing my way to wickets and give away fewer runs?” he asks, adding, “I was a bowler who could take wickets and perform whenever the team required.”

The long season has finally come to an end after the IPL, and Pathan has planned his next three months in advance.

“At the moment I’m working on my body, hitting the gym. These three months will be crucial as I will work on my pace. It all depends on how I maintain my body,” he says.

The 25-year-old has more plans in place but is reluctant to reveal them, though he is tugging at the leash to return into the senior side as it’s been a year since he was last part of the Indian team. Pathan is aware of his statistics this season, and rattles them off like a student giving his oral exams.

“It all depends on how my next season goes, I’m ready to do well again. Ready for more hard work, ready to learn everyday, ready to come back.”

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Pensioner completes 5,000 piece jigsaw after maker sends missing piece

May 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 19 (ANI): A pensioner, who found that the 5,000 piece jigsaw puzzle he had been working on for 7-years could not be completed because of one missing, was elated when the maker decided to provide the part.

Jack Harris, 86, was able to fit the final piece into the huge puzzle after its manufacturer Falcon Games LTD, the puzzle”s manufacturer, decided to come to his rescue by having a replacement piece sent to his home.

The puzzle is no longer made but the firm agreed to find the original design and make the one missing piece.

“I was delighted to be able to finish the puzzle at last after all. It was such a disappointment that there was one piece missing,” the Telegraph quoted Harris as saying after the piece was delivered to his home in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, by courier.

“The manufacturer has been very kind in supplying the final piece and it was a joyous moment for all of us,” he said.

Eve, who is married to Jack”s son Trevor, said it was a “joyous” moment for the family to finally see the monster jigsaw completed.

“Jack is very proud of the finished jigsaw. He is now either going to have it framed or we”ll varnish it for him and put it on the side of the house,” she said.

Gray Richmond, managing director at Jumbo Games, which manufactures the Falcon range, said they had also sent Jack some new jigsaws.

“It is a real challenge to complete a 5,000 piece puzzle. It requires a great deal of dedication and is a fantastic achievement that Mr Harris has finished the jigsaw after seven years,” he said.

“When we heard that one piece was missing we wanted to do all we could to help put in place the final piece of the puzzle.

“As this jigsaw is no longer produced, we had the piece individually made by our expert puzzle designers.

“We are also sending Mr Harris a load of new puzzles from the range – although at 1,000 pieces some of these are slightly smaller,” he added. (ANI)

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Hawke denies calling for Rudd’s removal

May 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Former prime minister Bob Hawke has denied he told a Labor MP that Kevin Rudd should be dumped as leader.

A Liberal Party staffer says he overheard Mr Hawke tell Daryl Melham that he was heartbroken by Mr Rudd’s performance and wanted him replaced with Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Mr Hawke has confirmed he had a conversation with Mr Melham but denies he criticised Mr Rudd.

Mr Hawke has released a statement saying he told Mr Melham he was disappointed with Labor’s performance in the latest opinion polls.

But he says he affirmed his support for Mr Rudd and it is sad that someone has “twisted” his words.

“As you normally do in Canberra, Daryl and I chatted about the latest media speculation in the press gallery,” he said.

“I expressed my disappointment about the polls and my support for Kevin and for the Government.

“It’s pretty sad that someone, who would hardly be an objective observer, twisted my words and misrepresented them.”

Mr Hawke says he “can’t wait” to campaign for Mr Rudd at the next election.

Mr Melham blamed a Liberal Party staffer for the reports.

“Bob and myself were doing nothing more than discussing the usual Canberra press gallery rumour mill,” he said in a statement.

“The fact that some Liberal staffer has deliberately eavesdropped on this conversation and misrepresented it to the media just shows how desperate the Liberal Party has become.”

Leadership speculation has been reignited after a series of poor polls for Mr Rudd and the continued popularity of his deputy.

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New Zealand crush West Indies by 56 runs to enter ICC Women’s T20 WC final

May 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Gros Islet, May 15 (ANI): Riding on Sara McGlashan’s superb 55 ball 84 run innings, New Zealand crushed West Indies by 56 runs to enter the final of the ICC Women’s World T20 Championship here.

The White Ferns’ would now clash with archrivals Australia, the side they”ve beaten six times in a row, in the final on Sunday (May 16) at the Kensington Oval, Barbados.

Batting first, New Zealand scored 180 for the loss of five wickets. The mainstay of the New Zealand innings was McGlashan’s exciting knock, which included six boundaries and two mammoth sixes.

McGlashan had two good partnerships with skipper Aimee Watkins (20) and Sophie Devine (27), which helped her steady the ship after a wobbly start.

New Zealand were 49 for two but a stand of 93 at nearly 11 an over between McGlashan and Devine took the game away from the home side.

In reply, West Indies never looked like they would overcome the highest total of the tournament and could only manage 124 runs.

Barring opener S.Taylor (40) none of the batswomen were able to stay on the wicket and followed each other to the pavilion at regular intervals.

Watkins also shone with the ball taking three wickets for 26 in her quota of four overs.

Speaking during the post match ceremony, an elated Watkins said she was delighted to have another chance at World Twenty20 glory so soon after last year”s disappointment.

“We”ve got to take each game as it comes. What we”ve done in the past doesn”t matter too much but we will take a lot of confidence into the game. We are lucky we”ve got two bites of the cherry, to have another crack at the Twenty20 World Cup. It”s not often you”ll have another one within 12 months of the last one,” Watkins said. (ANI)

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`You can’t go on making excuses,’ says Smith after Proteas” World 20-20 exit

May 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Johannesburg, May 11 (ANI): South Africa captain Graeme Smith has said there are no excuses for his team’s early exit from the World Twenty20 cup tournament.

“You can’t go on making excuses,” Sports24.com quoted Smith, as saying.

He seemed to suggest that changes in the national squad were needed to make a mark in the shorter forms of the game.

Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola said: “The early exit yet again by the Proteas from an ICC world tournament is a huge disappointment to say the least. Going into the ICC World Twenty20, the Proteas believed they had all the bases covered to get to the top regarding preparation, skills and support.”

“The hardest pill to swallow now is that the squad was not marginally beaten on any of the finish lines, but faltered well short of their targets in the early stages. We now await an explanation for this from the team and management,” he added. (ANI)

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Manchester United will be back, says Ferguson

May 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Manchester United will bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on an unprecedented fourth successive league title, manager Akex Ferguson said on Sunday.

United eased to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Stoke City on the final day of the Premier League campaign but missed out on the title by a point following Chelsea’s 8-0 drubbing of Wigan AtHletic.

“Of course we’ll come back next year,” Ferguson told reporters. “It is what Manchester United do.

“We’re going to try and bring the title back to the best place in the world.”

Ferguson was full of praise for Chelsea’s efforts under coach Carlo Ancelotti.

“The title winners deserve it,” added Ferguson, who has won the Premier League 11 times in 18 seasons.

“It’s the hardest league in the world. To Carlo, I congratulate him.”

Ferguson said he was not concerned by the situation at Old Trafford.

“It is a good structure we have in place here,” he said. “We have worked very hard over the course of the season and we will assess everything over the summer.”

Ferguson thanked the United fans for their magnificent support.

“It has been something of a roller coaster but then it usually is and while we can look back with regret at the outcome of certain games — losing twice to Chelsea certainly ranks as a huge disappointment — there have also been some outstanding achievements and thrilling matches,” he said.

(Editing by Ed Osmond; to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Ancelotti to face Abramovich inquest even if Chelsea wins doubleLondon, May 5 (ANI): Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich will want to know from coach Carlo Ancelotti why his side fared so badly in the Champions League, even if the Blues win the double title this season.

May 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 5 (ANI): Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich will want to know from coach Carlo Ancelotti why his side fared so badly in the Champions League, even if the Blues win the double title this season.

Director Mike Forde said: “The day after we win the title, we will ask ourselves why we didn’t win the Champions League.”

“In football, it is about getting better every day, that’s what we are aiming for,” The Sun quoted Forde, as saying.

Chelsea will lift the Premier League crown if they beat Wigan on Sunday, and then, have an FA Cup final with Portsmouth on May 15.

Even if Chelsea wins both, the disappointment of their exit to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan in the Champions League last 16 remains, as it dealt a big blow to Abramovich’s dream of making the club biggest on the planet.

“Mourinho started with this vision years ago and he passed the torch successfully to other big managers like Guus Hiddink and Ancelotti. That the best coaches in the world think we are doing a good job is clear,” Forde said.

“Carlo Ancelotti brought only one assistant with him and that tells us we have a good staff of our own – and that”s what it is all about in the end,” he said.

“So, the way we are working, that’s not a secret – every club in the world can have a copy of that. The real secret, if you can call it that, is the people who work for us,” Forde added. (ANI)

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Benitez switches focus to Chelsea after European exit

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Surveying the remains of a season littered with failed domestic and European challenges, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has a clear image of what lies ahead of him.

“The future is (Sunday’s league match against) Chelsea,” Benitez told reporters on Thursday after being asked if he was confident he would still be at the Anfield club next season.

When asked what came after that: “Er, Hull,” he added after watching his side fall to an away goals defeat against Atletico Madrid in their Europa League semi-final.

Liverpool’s season had promised so much after they finished runners-up to Manchester United last year but despite winning 2-1 on Thursday, the 2-2 aggregate defeat extinguished the side’s final chance of winning any silverware this campaign.

Benitez’s pre-match programme notes implored the Anfield faithful to sing their side into the Europa League final and as a plane circled the stadium bearing the message, ‘Come on Liverpool’, an increased sense of importance saddled the game.

But the Spanish manager, who has been linked in the media with Italian outfit Juventus, remained philosophical after his side’s latest disappointment.

“At least there you could see the players worked so hard. You have to be proud of them,” he said. “We have to try and do our best for next season and be ready because we have had too many problems this year.”

CRIPPLED AMBITIONS

Victory and another against Fulham in the May 12 final in Hamburg could have added some much-needed gloss to a dismal season, which has also seen top striker Fernando Torres struggle with injuries and talisman Steven Gerrard out of form.

Instead, Liverpool fans are left clinging to Benitez’s ‘guarantee’ earlier this season, following hastily rearranged priorities, that the club will finish fourth in the league and secure the final Champions League qualifying spot.

Seventh-placed Liverpool have just two fixtures remaining and trail fourth-placed Tottenham by two points with the London side having played one match fewer.

“We are realistic and we know that it is not easy but we will try and we will see,” Benitez said on his side’s chances of usurping Spurs.

A desperate lack of fire power has crippled their ambitions this season and Benitez is confident that the club, currently up for sale, can attract the right pedigree of player to improve the squad despite a possible absence of European soccer next season.

“We will be in the same situation. Liverpool is a massive club, we will try to do our best. I think the name of the club is enough,” Benitez said.

“In the past, players have said we need maybe three, four or five new players. I agree with them.”

(Editing by John O’Brien; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Ronaldo hints at Real Madrid exit

April 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Madrid, Apr 29(ANI): Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that he is planning a future away from the Bernabeu.

Ronaldo, who moved to Madrid from Manchester United for a world-record transfer fee of 80 million pounds last summer, insists he will not spend the rest of his career with the club.

“Football is all about cycles. I believe that you are in teams for cycles. I spent several years wanting to play in Madrid, but I don’t see myself here at 40,” The Daily Express quoted Ronaldo, as saying.

His comment surprisingly comes weeks after Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said that Ronaldo could make a sensational return to Old Trafford.

Talking about his decision to leave United, Ronaldo said: “Alex Ferguson understood my decision. I continue to talk to him.”

The 25-year-old also expressed disappointment over the prospect of ending the season without any silverware.

“It would be a bad year if we don’t win the league because a club like this has to always win something every year,” Ronaldo said.

“Not winning this year wouldn’t be a failure, but it would be a lost year. But I am confident we can win the league,” he added. (ANI)

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Black Caps say they are in the hunt for World T20 title

April 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Guyana (West Indies), Apr.28 (ANI): The Daniel Vettori-led New Zealand squad has said that they must not be underestimated and are definitely in the hunt for this year’s World Twenty20 title.

“If we can play as well as we can, we should be in the hunt,” stuff.co.nz quoted all-rounder Scot Styris, as saying.

“We are going in with the view that we are a chance to win it and, if we don”t, then it is a disappointment,” he added.

New Zealand is settling into Guyana, where they have a couple of warm-up matches before facing Sri Lanka on Friday and Zimbabwe next Tuesday.

“We”re very confident. I think spin bowling is going to play a big part, particularly on the slower grounds in the Caribbean. We”re expecting myself and Nathan McCullum to play a big role,” Vettori said.

New Zealand”s strength is their explosive batting. Taylor, Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder are among the most lethal hitters in the game and then there is the streetwise Scott Styris, who enjoyed the slow tracks the Caribbean produced in the 2007 50-over World Cup.

New Zealand failed to make the semifinals of last year”s World Twenty20 in England, but left a mark by raising more than their eyebrows at the reverse swing Pakistan paceman Umar Gul was able to achieve at The Oval.

All rounder Jacob Oram also hopes to chime in with runs down the order.

“Our batting lineup to me is very, very strong and right down to No 8, 9 and even 10 sometimes, we”ve got guys who can come in and hit the ball a long way. I think that”s our main strength,” Oram said. (ANI)

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Terry lost control after getting two yellow cards: Ancelotti

April 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Apr 19 (ANI): Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has said that skipper John Terry lost control when he was sent off against the Spurs after receiving two yellow cards in the 2-1 defeat in which he also conceded a penalty for the first goal.

Terry was the subject of abuse from Spurs fans throughout the game and Ancelotti conceded his captain did not play well.

The Blues boss backed Terry to come back from the disappointment, and insisted he has had an outstanding season, The Sun reports.

“I was a player and you know sometimes you are not always rational, you sometimes lose your control. He has had a fantastic season. Maybe sometimes he had some problems and didn’t play so well, maybe against Spurs he didn’t play too well,” Ancelotti said.

The destiny of the title is still in Chelsea’s hands and Ancelotti admitted Spurs were the better team at the weekend, but is still confident of his team’s chances.

“Now we have to win the next game and if possible the next three games – then we are the champions. Tottenham played better than us, it can happen, but it’s a time to stay calm,” he said. (ANI)

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Terry lost control after getting two yellow cards: Ancelotti

April 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Apr 19 (ANI): Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has said that skipper John Terry lost control when he was sent off against the Spurs after receiving two yellow cards in the 2-1 defeat in which he also conceded a penalty for the first goal.

Terry was the subject of abuse from Spurs fans throughout the game and Ancelotti conceded his captain did not play well.

The Blues boss backed Terry to come back from the disappointment, and insisted he has had an outstanding season, The Sun reports.

“I was a player and you know sometimes you are not always rational, you sometimes lose your control. He has had a fantastic season. Maybe sometimes he had some problems and didn’t play so well, maybe against Spurs he didn’t play too well,” Ancelotti said.

The destiny of the title is still in Chelsea’s hands and Ancelotti admitted Spurs were the better team at the weekend, but is still confident of his team’s chances.

“Now we have to win the next game and if possible the next three games – then we are the champions. Tottenham played better than us, it can happen, but it’s a time to stay calm,” he said. (ANI)

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Stuart accuses Sharks of giving in

April 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart accused some of his players of “throwing the towel in” as Manly ran away with a comprehensive 40-12 NRL win at Brookvale Oval.

Although the Sharks have won just one match from their past 15 starts, Stuart has always previously praised his team for their work ethic and commitment.

Cronulla held the upper hand for the first quarter of the match before crumbling to concede five first half tries – much to Stuart’s disappointment – as the Sea Eagles cruised to an easy win.

Stuart was keen to stress that Manly’s individual class was what won out in the end but he also criticised the attitude of some players when the going got tough.

“We had inexperience, Manly at Manly is very, very tough and we spoke about that,” Stuart said.

“The only negative for my side is that… I think some parts of our playing team threw the white towel in at the 20-minute mark and that’s the main disappointing part for me as a coach.

“There were parts of the game where we threw the towel in, and it got too hard for us… it’s uncharacteristic for this team.

“[We were] outclassed, outplayed. I haven’t got much more of an excuse than that. [Manly] showed some brilliant pieces of footy.”

Foran in Test frame

Sea Eagles five-eighth Kieran Foran put his hand up for selection for New Zealand against Australia next month with a masterful display, while centre Jamie Lyon further enhanced his New South Wales Origin prospects with two tries in a personal 20-point haul.

Winger Michael Robertson also nabbed a double for Manly, which has stabilised its season nicely after losing its opening two matches.

Foran and half-back Trent Hodkinson have adjusted well to the playmaking duties left vacant by departed skipper Matt Orford, and the Auckland-born emerging star appears certain to partner Benji Marshall in the halves for the Kiwis after getting a taste of international football in last year’s Four Nations series.

“I was pretty happy with my performance today, I’m more confident each week as a ball player and leading this team out,” Foran said.

“Nothing explains pulling on that black and white jersey in front of your family and for your country, but to be honest I haven’t really thought too much about it, I’ve just been trying to get things right here week to week.”

With the game evenly poised at 12-6 to Manly with seven minutes to go in the first half, Foran took control setting up two of the Sea Eagles’ three quick-fire tries before the break.

Opposite number Trent Barrett was more willing to predict Foran’s future as a Test footballer.

“He’s a good player, a good ball runner and a strong kid. He’ll be an international for the New Zealand side I think for a long time, very soon,” Barrett said.

A satisfied Manly coach Des Hasler also heaped praise on his leading man.

“He was taken away on the tour last year just to experience it… so you’d think he’d certainly come under Test selection,” Hasler said.

Manly has one worry ahead of next week’s big clash against Melbourne, with Brent Kite put on report for a high tackle on Blake Ferguson in the second half.

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Funding snub for cancer care centre

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Central western New South Wales has been unsuccessful in its bid to for a cancer care centre of excellence.

The Federal Government has told the consortium, which is behind the proposal, that it has missed out on $40 million to develop and enhance cancer care services in the western region.

The Commonwealth has announced a regional cancer centre will be established at Tamworth.

Local surgeon Bill Mackie, who helped prepare the submission, says there are still alternative funding sources available.

“It doesn’t mean that there’s no further funding coming to our area. I think what it does mean though that we need to build on the services we have, as we’ve always done in the past, without necessarily having to rely on government support,” he said.

Dr Mackie says it is disappointing the submission, which was vying for a share of $560 million, involved setting up cancer care services in Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo, was rejected.

“It’s a disappointment rather than a blow. We will still have very good services,” he said.

“I think we had the opportunity to develop something which was really exceptional. We haven’t closed the door on that opportunity, we still have a relationship with the centres in Sydney but we need to be looking at ways we can facilitate that without having to rely on government funding.”

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