Drogba delivers on promise

Cape Town - Former Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba has launched the first of the five hospitals he earlier promised to offer to the country as part of his charity activities.
Situated in the Attecoube district of the country’s commercial city Abidjan, the $1 million health complex will mainly cater for less privileged women and children, according to officials.

Built on a plot of 800 square meters, the hospital has many facilities including an ultrasound room, a maternal and child protection unit, an x-ray block, an ultra modern laboratory, a pharmacy and hospitalisation and isolation wards.

About 50 000 patients are expected to get treatment at the facility every year, according to Guy Roland Tanoh, secretary of Didier Drogba Foundation, which is handling the project.

The remaining four hospitals are under construction in the Ivorian cities of Yamoussoukro, San Pedro, Man and Korhogo and will be inaugurated in the coming months.

Drogba’s foundation will hold a gala event in London on April 18 to raise funds.

The Chelsea striker and the Elephants all-time top scorer remains an icon in his homeland despite retiring from the national team, which won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea in February.

Benteke magic rescues Villa

Cape Town - Christian Benteke has scored a potentially priceless hat-trick as Aston Villa avoided slipping into the Premier League relegation zone by drawing 3-3 at home to Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday.

After Matt Phillips put QPR ahead, a Benteke brace gave Villa control, only for second-half goals from Clint Hill and Charlie Austin to leave QPR on the brink of a win that would have taken them out of the bottom three at their opponents' expense.

But Benteke completed his treble with an inch-perfect 83rd-minute free-kick to take the Belgian striker's tally to seven goals in five games and leave Tim Sherwood's side three points above the bottom three.

"Christian Benteke was very good. The second goal especially was excellent," said Villa manager Sherwood.

"We need him between now and the end of the season, but it was disappointing to give away scruffy goals.

"It might be a very important point. Only time will tell, but we need to win games. It is a point in the right direction though."

Chris Ramsey's QPR moved above Burnley on goal difference, but they are now two points from safety having played a game more than fourth-bottom Hull City.

"The point was better for them," said Ramsey, who worked as Sherwood's assistant at Tottenham Hotspur last season.

"We would have loved to have won the game and been above the line. Based on the performance in the second half, we are disappointed we have not got three points."

Villa started brightly at Villa Park, but it was QPR who took a seventh-minute lead when Bobby Zamora's feathered cross was headed in by Phillips.

However, Villa quickly forced the visitors back and drew level just three minutes later when Benteke was allowed to drift infield from the left and curled a shot past QPR goalkeeper Rob Green.

Green saved twice from 19-year-old midfielder Jack Grealish, making his first league start for Villa, and Sandro blocked from Ron Vlaar before Benteke put the home side ahead in the 33rd minute.

Gabriel Agbonlahor beat Sandro to the ball and freed Benteke, who eluded Hill and scored with his right foot.

Agbonlahor headed just wide from Leandro Bacuna's cross shortly before half-time and with Villa continuing to dominate early in the second half, Ramsey took action by introducing Karl Henry and Armand Traore.

The changes had an immediate effect as within three minutes the visitors were level, with 36-year-old Hill claiming his first Premier League goal by heading in Phillips's corner.

Twelve minutes from time, Phillips turned creator again, wriggling past Kieran Richardson and crossing for Austin to slam home his 17th goal of the league campaign.

But Benteke had the final say by bending a free-kick over the QPR wall and in off the post past the despairing dive of Green.

Muniain out for six months

Athletic Bilbao winger Iker Muniain will miss the Basques' Copa del Rey final against Barcelona after suffering a cruciate ligament injury, the club confirmed on Tuesday.

Muniain had to be stretchered off in tears during Athletic's 2-0 defeat to Sevilla on Saturday and is set to be out for at least six months.

"A torn cruciate ligament has been detected in his left knee," said a statement on the club's website after the player underwent a scan.

"The estimated time out oscillates between six and seven months."

Muniain has only one senior Spanish cap to his name, but was part of the under-21 sides that won the European Championsips in 2011 and 2013.

Athletic face Barca in the Cup final for the third time in seven years on May 30

Atletico hard on Real's heels, Sevilla win

Atletico Madrid made a typically aggressive start to lay the foundations for a 2-0 victory at home to mid-table Real Sociedad on Tuesday that lifted the champions to within two points of second-placed Real Madrid.

Diego Simeone's men came roaring out of the blocks at the Calderon and, after Arda Turan had thumped a volley against the post in the second minute, Koke's inswinging delivery from a corner moments later was headed into his own net by Sociedad defender Mikel Gonzalez.

Antoine Griezmann made it 2-0 in the 10th minute when he followed up Koke's saved effort and clipped the ball into the roof of the net for his 16th La Liga goal of the campaign.

The France forward's lack of celebration was a reminder that he played for Sociedad for five years before joining Atletico in the close season
Sociedad, who have improved since former Manchester United manager David Moyes took over as coach in November and are 10th, never looked like getting back into the game, substitute Esteban Granero coming closest for the Basque club with a curling free kick two minutes from time.
"It was important to win here and stay strong at home so we could get the three points and stay in the battle for a Champions League place," Griezmann told Spanish television.

Atletico, whose 15 clean sheets this season are only bettered by leaders Barcelona's 16, have 65 points in third with eight games left, with Real on 67 ahead of their match at another Madrid club, Rayo Vallecano, on Wednesday.

Real, who crushed Granada 9-1 on Sunday, are four adrift of Barca, who host Almeria earlier on Wednesday.

Sevilla, in fifth, drew level on 61 points with fourth-placed Valencia thanks to a 2-1 win at Levante on Tuesday, Kevin Gameiro and Jose Antonio Reyes putting the Europa League champions 2-0 up and Kalu Uche replying for the home side.

Valencia hold on to fourth, which carries a place in Champions League qualifying, thanks to a better head-to-head record, which is used to separate teams with the same points rather than goal difference.


Malaga, in seventh, suffered a setback in their quest for a Europa League berth when they were beaten 1-0 at lowly Eibar.

James: Real return was a dream come true

The Colombia international was touched by the fact that the Santiago Bernabeu faithful chanted his name on his first appearance in 60 days due to injury

James Rodriguez is targeting Champions League glory with Real Madrid after making a "dream" return to action in Sunday's Liga demolition of Granada.

The Colombia international had been sidelined since February with a broken metatarsal but he was passed fit to start the 9-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu.

James played just 61 minutes but managed two assists during that time to take his tally for the season to nine.

The attacking midfielder is now hoping to help Madrid overhaul Barcelona at the summit of La Liga and play a key role in this month's Champions League quarter-final tie with city rivals Atletico.

"It's been 60 days out but my foot didn't prevent me from doing physical work, and that was noticeable," he told reporters.

"Being at the Bernabeu and everyone chanting my name is a dream come true.

"It's something really nice and I hope I can keep on helping and working so that the team can get positive results.

"I'm happy to have helped, and what's important is that we won. We have to carry on in this vein.

"We can't think about other teams; we can only focus on ourselves and stay focused for what's ahead, which is going to be really tough.

“We are all fit now and that’s good news if we want to achieve things, regardless of who plays.

“We’ve got what it takes to win the lot between now and the end of the season.

“Every match is important and the game against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League is going to be special as we want to beat them and win the competition."

Madrid enjoyed a 22-game winning streak in all competitions earlier this season before their form nosedived after the winter break.

However, James felt that they looked back to their best against Granada, with Cristiano Ronaldo, who netted five times, particularly impressive.

"It was a big scoreline, but I think it was fair," the former Monaco man added. "Everyone played well today and we know that Cristiano always scores goals. We're happy for him, too."

"If we're all in good shape, that's good news in terms of all being able to help out, no matter who plays. You have to help the team at all times."

South African footballer dies in car crash

A statement from his club reveals that he was travelling with four other passengers but was the only one who lost his life from the car crash

Just four months after losing his younger brother, former Bafana Bafana international Richard Henyekane has died in a car crash in the early hours of today, Tuesday, April 7.
The Free State Stars striker was said to be travelling with four other passengers when they were involved in a tragic motor vehicle accident but unfortunately the player was the only one to lose his life.
A statement from Free State Stars, where Richard Henyekane played until his death  confirmed the death of the striker and reveal their sympathies for striker's family.
"Free State Stars hereby expresses its heartfelt condolences on the passing away of star striker Richard Henyekane in the early hours of this morning," the club said on their official website.
"We wish to say to the Henyekane family that they must know that we are with them at all times, and trust that they will put all their sorrows in the hands of God the Almighty in this hard period.
"To the Stars family of fans, sponsors, supporters and others we believe that this is a period in which you will remain steadfast in praying for Henyekane’s teammates as they come to terms with this sad moment."
The former Bafana Bafana international earned nine caps, and also represented Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows.
His brother Joseph Henyekane passed away in December last year at the age of 30, having also played for Arrows, Mpumalanga Black Aces and Bidvest Wits.
This is the latest in the series of recent tragedy that has befallen South African football.
In October last year, the national team’s goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was killed after armed men broke into the house where he was staying.

Tevez barely missed as Juventus machine clicks into gear

Even when they are beaten, Juventus are seemingly unbeatable.

The Bianconeri’s only loss in their last 30 fixtures since an injury-time reverse at Genoa in October came in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final clash with Fiorentina. But Tuesday’s systematic dismantling of the Viola in the return at the Artemio Franchi excised the 2-1 loss at Juventus Stadium from the record books and reinvigorated treble talk in Turin.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side were shorn of Gianluigi Buffon, Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba even before losing Stephan Lichtsteiner to injury in the warm-up, yet they took apart one of the country’s most dangerous sides with a superbly opportunistic display. By the end, the home side were thanking goalkeeper Neto for keeping the score down to 3-0.

It was just a shame that Juve’s copybook was blotted late on when Alvaro Morata was ridiculously sent off for a non-event of a foul on Alessandro Diamanti. Just as they’re winning everything else right now, Juventus are odds-on to triumph in their inevitable appeal.

 “To turn the tables we need to win by a two-goal margin. We need a good performance and calm heads,” Allegri warned before the match. “We need to be extremely patient and make the most of the chances that fall our way.”

They did all that and more. This was a clear reminder of what Juve are capable of, and a timely one at that with Monaco in town next Tuesday for the Champions League quarter-finals. The Bianconeri should have the measure of Leonardo Jardim’s side, and on this form they could be a challenge for bigger and better outfits to follow.
It is true that Fiorentina are prone to the odd blowout, with their recent 4-0 loss at Lazio bringing a shuddering halt to their slim hopes of qualification for the Champions League, but this was a Juve side missing half of their first XI. They should have been there for the taking but instead they were inspirational.

Most impressively, they were dangerous in the final third despite the loss of Tevez. Their Argentine hitman has been in immaculate form for much of this season, and his absence with a thigh injury was expected to be one setback too many in the quest to overcome their first-leg loss.

But Alessandro Matri was patient, Morata lively and Roberto Pereyra irresistible as Vincenzo Montella watched his back line throw up their hands and admit defeat in their bid to supress what Allegri has largely perceived to be his second-string strike force. With players of the calibre of Morata and Pereyra backing up Fernando Llorente and Tevez in the Bianconeri’s Champions League squad, there is plenty of depth to call upon.

Perhaps crucially, Allegri switched back to a 4-3-1-2 for this fixture after sending a back three out for the victories over Genoa and Empoli in Serie A. Since originally realigning from Antonio Conte’s favoured formation, Juve have won four of five Champions League fixtures, drawing the other against Atletico Madrid to secure passage from the group stage. They’ve also stepped up to another level domestically.

Juventus are now Coppa Italia finalists, Serie A champions-elect and Champions League quarter-finalists, but the good news doesn’t end there. They are finally playing in the right shape, have the correct attitude, excellent depth, have game-changing players to come back and are playing with confidence.


Treble talk may well still be a little premature but the Bianconeri have reason to believe - and that’s bad news for everyone else.