City releases Hargreaves

Injury-plagued midfielder Owen Hargreaves was released by Manchester City on Tuesday after making just four appearances during his only season at the Premier League champions.
City unexpectedly gave the former England international a short-term deal last August after he was released by Manchester United, where he failed to complete a game in three years.
A Champions League winner with Bayern Munich and United, Hargreaves joined City after resorting to posting videos on YouTube showing himself working in a gym and running to prove his fitness.
The 31-year-old Canadian-born player has played 42 times for England, but has been dogged by knee, hamstring and shoulder injuries.
His last appearance was in City's 3-2 loss to United in the FA Cup on January 8 when he played the last eight minutes. Sport24

Santos beat Thanda

A first-half goal from Eleazar Rodgers gave Santos a 1-0 win over Thanda Royal Zulu in the opening promotion/relegation play-off match at the Richards Bay Sports Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
The National First Division side enjoyed a lively start to the game but were unable to make the most of their chances before Santos came into the game.
The vital moment arrived when Salmaan King scuffed a shot into the penalty area and Rodgers got a vital touch to divert the ball into the bottom corner.
The People's Team were creating the better chances and King flashed a shot just wide of the post before Rodgers nodded wide of the mark.
Nasief Morris would go even closer moments later when he got up to meet a corner and powered a header against the woodwork at the far post.
Thanda Royal Zulu tried to get back into the game in the final five minutes of the half, but besides a low cross across the face of goal which Dembo Touray had to palm away, the Santos goal was hardly troubled.
The hosts also suffered a blow with defender Sipho Made and winger Khumbulani Mdluli coming off injured.
The second-half saw Thanda Royal Zulu continue to play some lively and entertaining football but their inability to find a killer pass or cross meant that Santos were easily able to clear in defence.
The first real chance came from Tefo Xowana rifled a low shot at goal from outside the area which was stopped by Touray before Morris made a vital block after a goalmouth scramble in the 61st minute. The hosts tried to follow it up but it was blasted over the crossbar.
Thanda Royal Zulu were storming forward for most of the half and with around four minutes to go a diagonal pass was almost latched onto but Touray stood firm and it bounced of his legs and up into his gloves.
Dominic Isaacs enjoyed a rare chance for the Cape Town side with two minutes to go but it was well saved before Touray ensured that Santos claimed the spoils when a sublime stop to tip a fierce drive from Lehumo Itshegetseng around the post. Soccer-Laduma

Cosmos lose players

Cosmos were recently relegated out of South Africa’s elite league and, as expected, they will have to sell some of their better players who will not want to take the step down to the second tier of domestic football.

According to Soccer-Laduma sources close to the club revealed that the club is looking to market some of their players, including the likes of Ousmane Berthe, Gladwin Shitolo and Siyabonga Nhlapo, to overseas-based clubs.

Malian defender Berthe has long been linked with a move abroad and Shitolo’s future remains unknown, however German club Hoffenheim has been touted as a possible destination for Nhlapo.

Cosmos boss, Jomo Sono, would not confirm nor deny that they are looking to send the players abroad, although said that he would shed some light on the situation in the future. Sono explained, “We will give information later when we have concluded some talks with interested clubs.”

In line with the club’s past strategies, Cosmos are likely to loan some of their players out to local clubs, although Sono admitted that he would prefer retaining the bulk of his squad.

Meanwhile, Sono refuted reports that the club’s striker, Siyabonga Nontshinga, had signed for either Mamelodi Sundowns or Maritzburg United. Soccer Laduma

Chiefs sign young keeper

Former Amazulu keeper joins Kaizer Chiefs.

According to Soccer Laduma, Kaizer Chiefs have penned a deal with AmaZulu goalkeeper Nhlanhla ‘Casillas’ Khuzwayo. It was reported in January, in Soccer-Laduma’s issue 755, that the Soweto giants were keeping a close eye on the 22-year-old, with the club having now secured their target.

Khuzwayo spent a successful season on loan with National First Division outfit Thanda Royal Zulu and seems to have convinced the Chiefs technical team that he can add value to their star-studded squad.

In a statement released by Usuthu, the club’s general manager, Peter O’Connor, confirmed that the Under-23 international will be joining the Naturena-based side in the new season.

“Seeing that Kapini has another three years with us, it was agreed that we would release Casillas because he wouldn’t be playing as the first choice goal keeper. So to enable him to get more game time we have decided to allow him to join Chiefs after they had approached us for his services,” said O’Connor. 

Following the disappointing season Chiefs had, the club is expected to part ways with some of the players that did not add value to the team, including goalkeepers Kabelo Metsimetsi and Thela Ngobeni.

With Metsimetsi and Ngobeni set to leave the Amakhosi, the club will see Khuzwayo as an understudy to Itumeleng Khune and Arthur Bartman, and a talent for the future.

The Durban-based club went on to confirm that left-back Moses Chavula and striker Stanton Lewis have had their contracts terminated after mutual consent. Soccer Laduma

Maurinho stays at Madrid

Jose Mourinho has signed a contract extension with Real Madrid.

The Special One made good on his task at the Bernabeu this season, beating Barcelona to the league title.

But all season long speculation suggested Mourinho would leave Real before his contact expired.

It has been suggested that had he led Los Blancos to the Champions League title, he would indeed have quit the club.

Mourinho has made no secret of his desire to return to the English Premier League in the future, and Chelsea had hoped to lure him back to Stamford Bridge.

But Mourinho, who was given unprecedented power at Real in order to usurp Barca as Spanish champions, has now nipped the speculation in the bud.

He has put pen to paper on a contract extension which will keep him at the Bernabeu for two more years at least.

48-year-old Mourinho will now strive to retain Real’s league crown, as well as add a third Champions League title to his glittering trophy collection. Soccer-Laduma

Chelsea beat Bayern on Penalties

Drogba celebrates after scoring the winning penalty.

Chelsea won the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history after beating Bayern Munich in dramatic fashion on penalties in Munich on Saturday night.
The suggestion that it was ‘written in the stars’ certainly looked to be true as the Germans were almost rampant throughout but missed a string of glorious chances, including a penalty in extra-time, as the Blues secured victory at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern dominated that opening stages of the game and Bastian Schweinsteiger saw an early effort blocked by Gary Cahill before Toni Kroos saw his strike spin wide.
The Blues were stuck in their own half but Bayern's shooting was wayward. Mario Gomez had half a chance in the 19th minute but he lost control on the turn before Arjen Robben was denied the opener by the feet of Petr Cech.
Thomas Mueller followed up with a fantastic volley which flew just wide in the 36th minute. Chelsea would finally enjoy their first chance two minutes later when Salomon Kalou tested Manuel Neuer with a powerful drive to the near post.
The Blues looked nervous at the back though and Gomez should have fired Bayern ahead with three minutes left in the half as he did brilliantly to turn Cahill but blazed his shot miles over.
A mistake from David Luiz let Robben through on goal two minutes after the break but the brilliant Ashley Cole came flying to stop the danger.
Cole would then block a shot from Robben in the 54th minute and Ribery tucked away the rebound, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
The England left-back would then make yet another telling block in the 60th minute to frustrate Robben was again before Philipp Lahnm went down under pressure from Didier Drogba but the referee rightfully waved play on.
The seemingly unbeatable Cole was in the way once more in the 70th minute to keep Kroos' effort from nestling in the back of the net before Kalou had a header blocked after a superb cross from Jose Bosingwa.
Drogba almost created a moment of brilliance when he left Anatoliy Tymoschuk for dead but his low drive across the area found nobody.
Cech had to tip a cross over the bar in the 76th minute before Mueller was guilty of another miss when he was found in the area and scuffed the shot wide.
The forward would make amends with seven minutes to go when he nodded the ball down with his face and it bounced over the head of Cech and in at the near post.
Chelsea responded perfectly though and six minutes later as Mata swung in a perfect corner and Drogba powerful header found the top corner via the hand of Neuer.
The Ivoirian had a chance to score the winner with the last kick of the game in regulation time but his free-kick flew high into the stands as it went into extra-time.
The drama continued at the start of extra-time with Fernando Torres making a superb run to the area and it led to shot from Mata being blocked.
Drogba then went from hero to villain at the other end with a silly challenge from behind on Ribery which resulted in a penalty. Bayern were not able to make the most of it though as Cech saved Robben's effort from the spot.
Ivica Olic should have won it in the 108th minute when he was picked out free at the far post but he decided to cross instead of shoot and it dribbled wide.
Luiz had to hack another chance clear with eight minutes to go and no more chances came as the game would be decided by penalties.
Bayern again took the early advantage in the shootout when Mata saw his effort saved but Cech made a spectacular save to deny Olic and Schweinsteiger would go on to hit the post with their fifth and final spot-kick. Again all eyes were on Drogba and he calmly sent Neuer the wrong way to secure the trophy for Chelsea. Soccer-Laduma

Josephs and Rodgers pull out of Bafana

Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs and Santos striker, Eleazar Rodgers, have requested to be withdrawn from the 30-man Bafana Bafana squad currently holding camp in Phokeng.

Although the two players have requested to be withdrawn, they have for very different reasons.

Josephs’ representatives have sent a letter to the South African Football Association (SAFA) stating that the 32-year-old will not be able to honour his national team call up or any in future. The statement cited personal reasons behind his decision.

The letter did, however, request a meeting with head coach Pitso Mosimane and the team manager to explain the decision. The coach subsequently asked the player to personally submit his request.

Rodgers on the other hand, is wanted by his club, Santos, as they prepare for the PSL/NFD promotional playoffs. The Cape-based side will be in action on May 23, May 30, June 17 and June 23, as they look to maintain their PSL status.

19 players have already reported to the Bafana camp, including overseas-based Anele Ngcongca, Bongani Khumalo. Soccer-Laduma