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The arrival of promising Brendan Rodgers has opened new doors for Leicester City, waving away the doom and gloom of their previous employer.

It has been a sad old season for Leicester City fans who, week after week, watched their title-winning side amble, limp and collapse into absolute mediocrity under former boss Claude Puel.

The Frenchman’s painfully negative football was made even worse by the fact that he had one of the best sides on paper outside the top six – littered with quality young talent such as Ben Chilwell, Demarai Gray, Harvey Barnes, Hamza Choudhury, and James Maddison.

All complimented by the already established players in Jamie Vardy, Harry Maguire, Ricardo Pereira and co.

However, as good as this all is on paper – their extremely poor run of form in 2019 has made it increasingly obvious that they are in dire need of a booster.

A Moussa Marega shaped booster, according to Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha.

Porto’s star forward has been in scintillating form this season scoring 17 goals in 34 games in all competitions, including six in the Champions League.

As far as we are aware, Marega is an incredibly physical player gifted with pace, and though his technical game is a little questionable at times, he more than makes up for it with his ability in front of goal.

Of course, it is always going to be difficult to shake Jamie Vardy from the starting line-up, which is why Marega’s preferred role as a second striker is absolutely ideal.

The 27-year-old would make a far better alternative than current options Kelechi Iheanacho and Shinji Okazaki – that much we are sure of.

Leicester fans, do you think signing another striker should be your priority, and is Marega that man? Let us know in the comments below…

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Leeds United’s Under-23 outfit restored their four-point lead at the top of the PDL North with a 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers’ Under-23 side on Monday afternoon.

Jordan Stevens and Robbie Gotts scored the goals for the Whites, who used the likes of Gaetano Berardi and Stuart Dallas once again.

There were a number of impressive performers on the afternoon, but it would be fair to say that Alfie McCalmont caught the attention of the club’s supporters.

The 18-year-old put in a strong performance, aiding suggestions that he could one day make the step into the first team.

Leeds have a number of talented youngsters in their current crop and there is no question that McCalmont is one to be watched over the next couple of years.

A number of Leeds fans took to social media to lavish praise on the teenager.

And a selection of their Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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Everton announced on Wednesday that defender Tyias Browning had joined Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande for an undisclosed fee, and Toffees fans were quick to react to the surprising player update on Twitter.

The 24-year-old only made nine first-team appearances in all competitions for the club whose youth system he came through, with the majority of his other outings coming for the U23s – 116 according to Transfermarkt.

The versatile defender, who has played as a centre-back and right-back throughout his career to date, failed to make much of an impact on Marco Silva this term following his return from a loan spell with Sunderland last season, making the squad in the Premier League on just the one occasion – against Huddersfield Town back in September.

Everton supporters took to social media to have their say on Browning’s surprise switch, and while one said “fair play Marcel” – presumably in relation to Brands managing to get a fee for the Liverpool-born man’s services, another said “£30m I heard”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

In this era of ‘big 6’ dominance, has finishing 7th become as good as winning a trophy? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

League Two's highest-profile club have been ruffling a few feathers recently – and that's unlikely to stop any time soon

Wrexham were in scintillating form heading into their trip to the Wham Stadium to face Accrington Stanley on Saturday. Following their infamous 5-0 defeat to runaway League Two leaders Stockport County, Phil Parkinson's side reacted like champions, stitching together an 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

This period included a massive 2-0 victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Notts County, an occasion that Parkinson confessed was among the best days he's ever had as a manager. High praise indeed, considering he's been involved in the profession for two decades.

However, that incredible run of results came to a screeching halt in Lancashire this weekend, with Accrington securing a 2-0 victory. It wasn't just the result that was frustrating either. Both of the hosts' goals were the result of questionable refereeing decisions, while Paul Mullin also missed a penalty at the end after being psyched out by madcap goalkeeper Jon McCracken.

As if this wasn't enough, Wrexham also attracted controversy away from the field, with Accrington chairman Andy Holt unleashing a flurry of fury towards the club's Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Getty ImagesAccrington spring nasty surprise

The seed of the dispute was Accrington's decision to raise ticket prices for the visiting Wrexham fans. Typically, the club had charged £20 ($25) for an adult ticket this season. But for the Red Dragons' trip, both sets of supporters were asked to fork out £25 ($31).

Variable pricing models are nothing new in football. Most clubs operate this way, with Wrexham supporters experiencing a £2 increase on Stockport County's typical rates when they visited Edgeley Park back in September.

It may be the norm, but that does not make it any less frustrating for Red Dragons fans who travel to watch their team every other week. And, after a slow build-up of annoyance over the situation, the club finally issued a response of sorts.

AdvertisementWrexham issue defiant response

Four hours before kick off at the Wham Stadium, the club released the following statement: "In response to Accrington Stanley's decision to increase the matchday price by £5 from that previously charged at Wham Stadium for league games this season, we have decided to reduce the price of matchday tickets by £5 for the return game at the STōK Cae Ras on 02/03/2024."

The response from many quarters was predictably positive. At the time of writing, the post has attracted just under 20,000 likes on X, with plenty of praise being sent Reynolds and McElhenney's way for the gesture.

"Classy response instead of charging their fans more," one user wrote. "Class. Something that would never EVER happen in American sports," another said.

A string of messages were also sent to Accrington chairman Andy Holt, the public face of the decision to raise prices on Saturday. "Classy this from Wrexham and really showing up @AndyhHolt for his ridiculous decision to charge the Wrexham Tax," one supporter said.

Holt explodes on social media

Holt is not someone to take criticism quietly, though. Over the years the Accrington chairman has used his X account to comment on all manner of issues, including football governance, the Conservative Party's response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the EFL's poor management of its clubs. He also recently announced the club was up for sale through social media – a refreshingly open if slightly odd move.

X (AndyhHolt)

Now, Wrexham were in his crosshairs. His fightback began politely enough, with Holt writing: "If there was only a couple of hundred of you today I’d be happy to do the same. Unfortunately costs are very high for this game. Big policing bills and stewarding big stewarding costs [sic]. I appreciate what @Wrexham_AFC are doing for our fans though."

As more criticism flooded in, Holt clearly lost patience, sarcastically replying to one supporter and then asking why Wrexham had opted to announce their ticket-price reduction so close to kick-off time.

Just before things got going, he posted: "When costs are already high @Wrexham_AFC the last thing football needs is stupid mistimed statements. It’s surprising how stupid given a former CEO of @EFL is employed by you. Let’s have a great day for all fans safely, whatever the outcome on the pitch. Welcome to @ASFCofficial."

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Getty/GOALWrexham fans prove Holt right?

One of Holt's main justifications for hiking prices was the increased stewarding and policing costs incurred by having almost 2,500 Wrexham fans taking over the Wham Stadium.

And it could be argued that his fears were realised during a fractious encounter. Wrexham's travelling contingent made up just under half of the entire crowd and, according to reports, not all of them were well-behaved.

During the second half, after home goalkeeper McCracken collided with Mullin, a small section of supporters reacted angrily, apparently throwing vapes and small bottles of alcohol onto the pitch. There was then a delay while the surface was cleared of projectiles, with police even claiming that one of the objects struck the Accrington No.1.

Although the vast majority of those who travelled were well behaved, this incident did seem to justify Holt's claims that the additional supporters incurred costs that had to be covered by the increase in ticket price.

The pervading opinion is that Manchester City will cruise to victory in Istanbul, but their Italian opponents lack neither quality nor character

According to , Inter have "no chance" in the Champions League final against Manchester City, and while one should never really pay much attention to some of the English tabloids, it's noteworthy that even the is calling Saturday's showdown in Istanbul "Mission almost impossible" for the Italian team.

There has even been some debate over whether this is, on paper at least, the biggest mismatch we've ever seen at this stage of the competition. In Italy, everyone from Fabio Capello to Antonio Cassano acknowledges that City are the best team in the world right now, the clear favourites to take home the trophy. In England, Jamie Carragher has claimed that Inter are "levels below" their treble-chasing opponents, while Michael Owen is adamant that not a single member of Simone Inzaghi's squad would get in Pep Guardiola's starting line-up.

Fair to say, then, that Inter are under no pressure, but are they feeling any fear? After all, Inter are not only going up against Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish and Ilkay Gundogan, they must also somehow stop the most terrifying forward in football right now – Erling Haaland.

"I'm scared of murderers and thieves," centre-back Alessandro Bastoni told reporters on Monday, "not guys my own age! We need to go out on the pitch and play football, with a clear mind."

GettyQuietly confident

Which, in fairness, is exactly what they've done nearly all season long in the Champions League, most notably in the semi-finals against AC Milan. In 'the derby of derbies', Inter rose to the occasion; their city rivals appeared overwhelmed by it.

There is, then, a quiet confidence about Inter right now. They have defied the odds before; they understandably see no reason why they cannot do so again. Remember, nobody expected them to even get out of their group. Having been bracketed with Bayern Munich and Barcelona, it was thought that Inter's most realistic goal was qualification for the Europa League. However, despite losing their tournament-opener, at home to Bayern, they qualified with a game to spare after taking four points off Barca alone.

And several players have stated this week that the 1-0 win over the Blaugrana at San Siro on October 4 was the key moment in their European campaign. Barca had all the ball that night, but Inter held firm, producing an impressively disciplined defensive display to keep Robert Lewandowski & Co. quiet. Something similar may well be required on Saturday night…

AdvertisementGettyUnderestimated attacking threat

Inter can play, though. It's obviously very easy to bill this as the irresistible force against the immovable object, given City are the tournament's top scorers (31 goals), while Inter boast the best defence, with eight clean sheets. But it's a little more nuanced than that.

Inter certainly do not lack attacking quality, as they proved in the group stage. Barcelona's Liga title triumph was founded upon their excellent defensive work, yet Xavi's side was repeatedly ripped to shreds in a 3-3 draw at Camp Nou that effectively sealed Inter's place in the last 16. Indeed, they dominated the majority of that game, which they also should have won right at the death to completely kill off Barca's faint hopes of qualifying for the next round.

City should, therefore, be wary of not only star striker Lautaro Martinez, Inter's big-game player who has hit a career-high 28 goals in all competitions this season, but also a resurgent Romelu Lukaku and an evergreen Edin Dzeko.

Elsewhere, dead-ball specialist Hakan Calhanoglu is a dangerous long-range shooter, while the brilliant box-to-box midfielder Nicolo Barella is always capable of making something happen with his surges into the area (even if he should score more than he does).

And then there is the threat out wide.

Getty'How are City going to open up that back five?'

After the second-leg win over Milan, former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard highlighted the problem posed by Federico Dimarco to opposition defences. The Italian has arguably been the revelation of Inter's entire season, with five assists in the Champions League, and fellow wing-back Denzel Dumfries can also do damage. The Dutchman may be maddeningly inconsistent, but he is capable of getting in behind defences, as he illustrated to impressive effect at the World Cup in Qatar.

Indeed, while discussing the final immediately after Manchester City had routed Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium, Thierry Henry said the aspect of the final he was most looking forward to was seeing how Guardiola tackles Inter's 3-5-2 formation.

"Dumfries and Dimarco will be quicker to arrive on his wingers than usual, because they will already be there, out wide, in more advanced positions," Henry told . "So, now, how are [City] going to create that overload? How are [they] going to open up that back five? Because it will become a five-man defence in the final because City will have all the ball and Inter will be low. It's easier to kill a back four with how City plays, so Pep might come up with something. I don't know what but I want to see that tactical battle."

Former Italy international Cassano is just as intrigued, pointing out that Brentford, the one side to do the double over City in the Premier League this season, "play with the same formation as Inter".

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Getty Images'We have what it takes to beat City'

Inter are, of course, acutely aware of the size of the task facing them. Earlier this week, Bastoni dismissed the idea that they will need a miracle to win in Istanbul, but conceded that victory would require a "perfect game from everyone that sets foot on the field".

However, the ball-playing centre-back – who, contrary to what Owen might think, would slot seamlessly into City's defence – promptly added, "We know our value." And they do.

Every single player who faced the press on Monday was at pains to point out that while they hold City in the highest esteem, they are no mugs themselves. They may have been somewhat fortunate to find themselves on the right side of the draw, but they have not made it to Istanbul by chance. They deserve to be in the final.

"We earned this opportunity on the pitch," Robin Gosens declared in an interview with . "We're going there to win. We know it'll be a struggle, but we have what it takes to beat Manchester City."

The Daily Mail may disagree, of course, but as Dimarco argued, "Inter's history speaks for itself." A childhood fan of the club, he has been rewatching the 2010 final win over Bayern Munich for the past decade. He knows that such historic triumphs have as much to do with character as quality.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em decisão publicada nesta sexta-feira, a juíza Mabel Christina Castrioto Meira de Vasconcellos, da 18ª Vara Cível do Tribunal de Justiça do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (TJRJ), condenou o Vasco a pagar R$ 112.620,00, valor a ser corrigido monetariamente, e acrescido de juros, ao técnico Cristovão Borges. Audiências de conciliação chegaram a ser realizadas durante a tramitação em primeira instância, mas sem composições sendo firmadas. Cabe recurso.

A ação corre desde 17 de julho de 2018. Cristovão Borges requereu judicialmente a condenação do Vasco ao pagamento das quatro últimas parcelas do acordo assinado em 9 de agosto de 2017, cada uma no valor R$ 28.155,00, referentes aos débitos pendentes do “Instrumento Particular de Licenciamento de Uso de Nome, Apelido Desportivo, Voz e Imagem e Outras Avenças”. A dívida é originária do contrato entre as partes assinado no dia 1 de janeiro de 2012.

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O LANCE! teve acesso a detalhes do caso. O Vasco se defendeu afirmando, nos autos, que o acordo não era legal, “uma vez que o Estatuto do clube determina que compete ao vice-presidente do departamento de finanças assinar, em conjunto com o presidente, “os títulos de obrigação do clube, especialmente cheques, letras de câmbio, promissórias e duplicatas””.

Também foi usado pelo Vasco como defesa o fato de que “não foi juntado aos autos qualquer documento que demonstre a prévia autorização de tal despesa, bem como sua aprovação pelo Conselho Deliberativo, embora conste do estatuto a necessidade de aprovação prévia de orçamento e receitas”.

A magistrada negou os argumentos do Vasco, acolhendo os de Cristovão Borges. “Eventuais irregularidades de competências internas para realização de negócios, não poderá ser usada como subterfúgio para que os contratantes não cumpram a obrigação contraída. (…) sentindo-se, a ré prejudicada com o ato praticado por seus diretores ou presidentes, tendo em vista a alegada infringência de cláusula contratual, deverá, buscar, por vias ordinárias, o ressarcimento pelos danos que lhe tenha sido causado”, apontou a juíza ao longo de sua decisão.

Cristovão Borges teve duas passagens como técnico do Vasco, entre 2011 e 2012 e entre 2016 e 2017.

Alastair Cook rose to meet his particular challenge of recent days by scoring a second Championship hundred in as many matches, this time wearing the new-style helmet that has unexpectedly become the source of some bother

Alan Gardner at Hove20-Apr-2016
ScorecardAfter his first-innings failure, Alastair Cook was grateful for an early drop catch before easing to a hundred•Getty ImagesAlastair Cook rose to meet his particular challenge of recent days by scoring a second Championship hundred in as many matches, this time wearing the new-style helmet that has unexpectedly become the source of some bother, but it was not quite enough for Essex to overcome theirs on an enthralling final day in Hove.Cook was dropped on 1 but went on to score an unbeaten 127, anchoring his team’s attempted pursuit of 329 in 91 overs while at the same time quelling some of the concern that has sprung up over his enforced switch to an ECB-approved helmet. He was required to keep his eye on the ball right to end, seeing out the last ten overs in the company of Graham Napier, as Sussex sought the last three wickets that would have given them a memorable victory in a captivating contest.Speaking for the first time on the subject, Cook said he was still getting used to his new helmet. “It’s not my preference, I would rather bat in my other one but I totally understand the position everyone is in with the regulations, so you just have to get on with it,” he said. “I just think I pick the ball up better in the other one but it wasn’t too bad today.”It was nice to score a few, you’re always judged by runs. I got a bit of luck early on but you kind of need that. With the break I’ve had and just playing one form of the game internationally, you get chunks of time off, so I’ve come to Essex to try and score runs and hope we get off to a good start.”The ECB have insisted on a safety-first approach to player protection, and Essex ought not to be criticised for taking the safety-first approach in their chase. Sussex are expected to be rivals for the Division Two title, after all. Cook set the tone, prioritising his desire to spend a significant amount of time in the middle, and that eventually provided Essex with a platform from which to launch an attack during the evening session.However, the dismissals of Jesse Ryder, Ryan ten Doeschate and James Foster in a seven-over period just as the second new ball beckoned meant that Sussex, who had begun to look increasingly flat in the field, suddenly became the only team likely to win. Ben Brown, standing in as captain for Luke Wright, described it afterwards as a “great game of cricket”, living up to the Division One standards both sides aspire to.Cook was batting for the second time wearing his new helmet, the most talked-about grille in sporting circles since George Foreman moved into kitchen appliances. There were nervy moments early on – such is the life of an opening batsmen – and England’s Test captain was grateful for Danny Briggs, standing in the injured Ed Joyce at first slip, shelling a straightforward outside edge off the bowling of Ollie Robinson in the fourth over and saving him from replicating his first-innings score.There had been a suggestion from the Hove groundsman that the pitch would turn on the final day, potentially casting Briggs in a pivotal role. This was an important contribution of the unwanted variety, although Cook might well remember it fondly if Briggs bowls himself back into contention for an England spot at some stage in the future.He had moved on to 2 when Steve Magoffin and the Sussex cordon made a prolonged, impassioned and ultimately unsuccessful appeal for lbw but gradually Cook’s movements became smoother, the judgement more assured, his sense of high dudgeon at being forced into an equipment change by those panjandrums at the ECB dissipating with every delivery faced.After 38 balls of reconnaissance, he leaned into a fuss-free cover drive for four off Magoffin. A few overs later an overpitched delivery from the pacy 19-year-old George Garton was timed back down the ground, before the favoured square cut came out to dispatch Robinson to the boundary. Ajmal Shahzad, in particular, began to feed Cook’s pet shot and he must have felt everything falling back into place as he swatted through the off side.His half-century arrived courtesy of one such cut, from the 112th delivery he had faced, his hundred via a dab for three off Briggs, from 189 balls. But while Cook played his part to perfection, only Ravi Bopara and Ryder looked capable of taking the chase on; the latter’s dismissal, playing on against the legspin of Luke Wells the ball after bringing up a century stand with Cook, finally curtailed Essex’s ambitions.Having lost Nick Browne and Tom Westley to the new ball – both lbw from the Cromwell Road End – Essex looked to be oiling the gears for an assault during a partnership of 48 for the third wicket. Bopara took Briggs down the ground and through the covers, passing 10,000 first-class runs in the process, but a wristy flick off Shahzad was his undoing, the ball carrying all the way to deep square leg where Matt Machan held a fine low catch diving forward. Machan’s excellent running take at deep cover to remove ten Doeschate was another key moment.Ultimately, the stand between Sussex’s last-wicket pair of Shahzad and Magoffin, which they extended to 46 on the final morning, helped extinguish the possibility of a result, although there were various moments in the match that could have tipped the balance either way – not least the fact that 13 overs were lost to bad light on the second evening.Sussex could reflect on twice having let intimidating positions slip, going from 188 for 0 to 289 for 6 late on the first day, then collapsing from 165 for 2 – with a lead of 205 – on the third, while Essex showed impressive character to fight back. It was hard to argue with Brown’s conclusion that this was a contest “between two teams who will probably be the top two teams in the division towards the end of the season”.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMitchell Starc took 3 for 34 in the second innings•Getty Images

Australia completed a 277-run demolition of West Indies inside four days at Sabina Park to win the Frank Worrell Trophy 2-0. West Indies began the day with eight wickets in hand, but their resistance was feeble. The contest was all but over after they lost 5 for 56 in the first session, and they crumbled for 114 shortly after lunch.

Smart Stats

0.65 West Indies’ win-loss ratio at home over the last 10 years, the worst for any top-eight team. West Indies have played 41 home Test during this period, winning 11 and losing 17.
9 Number of times three out of West Indies’ top six batsmen have been dismissed for ducks in a Test innings. Five of those instances have come since 2000.
31 Runs scored by West Indies’ top six batsmen in the second innings, the second-fewest in a Test innings at home. The fewest runs scored is 24, also at Sabina Park, against England in 2004.
49 The eighth-wicket partnership between Veerasammy Permaul and Denesh Ramdin in the second innings, the highest in 24 years for West Indies against Australia in a home Test.
611 Balls faced (or 101.5 overs) by West Indies’ batsmen in this Test, the third-fewest against Australia when they have been bowled out twice. The fewest balls faced is 457 (or 76.1 overs) in Port of Spain in 1999.

Mitchell Starc had accounted for Kraigg Brathwaite and Rajendra Chandrika in the first over of the innings late on the third day, and he struck in the fifth over this morning. A full ball curled into Shane Dowrich after angling across him from over the wicket and brushed his front pad. Starc whipped around to appeal for lbw, not realising the ball had gone on to hit off stump. He had figures of 6-4-2-3.There was seam movement on offer in the morning and Josh Hazlewood bowled an impeccable length around off stump, moving the ball just enough to constantly trouble the batsmen. Darren Bravo eventually pushed forward with hard hands, and the deviation off the pitch caused the outside edge to carry to gully, where Shaun Marsh stooped to take a low catch. Shortly after, Hazlewood induced Jermaine Blackwood to play on to a delivery that nipped into the right-hander from a good length, and West Indies were 33 for 5.The partnership between 21-year old Shai Hope and Denesh Ramdin lasted nine overs before Mitchell Johnson let one rip from round the wicket. Hope pushed forward with a gap between bat and pad and the ball cut in to hit off stump. There was no resistance from Jason Holder this time; he fell clipping Shane Watson tamely to short midwicket.West Indies were 72 for 7 at lunch but Ramdin and Veerasammy Permaul kept Australia waiting after the break. Their partnership extended to 49 at 4.5 runs at over before Johnson broke through. He squared Ramdin up and Michael Clarke dived to his right at second slip to take a low catch.The offspinner Nathan Lyon had not been used much in the innings but in his seventh over he ended the match off consecutive deliveries. Kemar Roach popped a catch to short leg, before Jerome Taylor was bowled slogging across the line to bag a pair. West Indies had lost 20 wickets in 101.5 overs in the Test.

وقع أشرف صبحي، وزير الشباب والرياضة، خلال تواجده في فرنسا، على اتفاقية مع فرانسوا كابولو، وزير الشباب والرياضة الكونغولي، ومصطفى براف رئيس اتحاد اللجان الأوليمبية الإفريقية،.

وكان ذلك في حضور السفير علاء يوسف، سفير مصر في فرنسا، بشأن انسحاب دولة الكونغو من سباق الحصول على استضافة منافسات دورة الألعاب الإفريقية 2027، ومساندة الملف المصري، والتقدم بلمف جديد لاستضافة دورة الألعاب الإفريقية 2031.

ونجح أشرف صبحي في إنهاء كافة الاجراءات والمتطلبات الرسمية الخاصة بالاستضافة؛ وذلك من خلال الحصول على الموافقة النهائية من الاتحاد الإفريقي بعد انسحاب الكونغو.

طالع أيضًا | هشام حطب يكشف كواليس استضافة مصر دورة الألعاب الإفريقية 2027

وفي السياق ذاته، قام وزير الشباب والرياضة بالتنسيق مع المؤسسات الرياضية المعنية بالجانب الفني للاستضافة، وهي اتحاد اللجان الأوليمبية الإفريقية (الأنوكا)، وكذلك اتحاد الكونفيدراليات الرياضية الأفريقية (الأوكسا).

ويأتي ذلك في ضوء تلقي وزير الشباب والرياضة خطابًا رسميًا من مصطفى براف، رئيس (الأنوكا) للتأكيد على استضافة مصر لمنافسات الدورة.

وقال أشرف صبحي خلال توقيع الاتفاقية: “نعمل وفق توجيهات الرئيس عبدالفتاح السيسي، ودعمه ومتابعته المتواصلة لملف العمل بمنظومة الشباب والرياضة، والتي وضعت مصر فى مكانة عالمية غير مسبوقة سواء من حيث استضافة البطولات والمحافل الرياضية العالمية أو من خلال النتائج التى يحققها أبطالنا فى مختلف المنافسات”.

واختتم: “وذلك بفضل توافر البنية الإنشائية الرياضية ذات المواصفات العالمية التى أصبحت تتمتع بها مصر حالياً، الأمر الذى جعلنا جاهزين دائما وبشكل مستمر لاستضافة البطولات الدولية والقارية”.

Quinton de Kock has been ruled out of the rest of the series against against West Indies with an ankle ligament tear

Firdose Moonda in Centurion20-Dec-2014

Quinton de Kock has been ruled out of the rest of the series against against West Indies with an ankle ligament tear. The wicket-keeper will miss the remaining two Tests, and all of the limited-overs matches which includes three T20s and five ODIs, with an eye on making a recovery in time for the World Cup.He requires between six and 12 weeks of rehabilitation but South Africa’s first match of the tournament is in eight weeks’ time, which team manager Mohammed Moosajee said will “hopefully afford a sufficient recovery period.”De Kock rolled over his ankle during the warm-ups on the morning of the third day of the Centurion Test and was unable to keep wickets for the rest of the match. AB de Villiers, who did the job before de Kock debuted in Sri Lanka, was handed the gloves and will keep them for the rest of the series. Cricket South Africa said a player “to act as cover will be announced in due course.”That would likely mean a Test debut for the only reserve batsman in the squad, Temba Bavuma. The Lions No.3 has played 68 first-class matches and an average of 35.95 and would likely bat in de Kock’s position in the lower middle-order. If he plays, he will be the first black African batsman to ever represent South Africa and the first black African player to turn out for the team in almost four years, after Lonwabo Tsostobe was part of the New Year’s Test in 2011.Alternatively, South Africa could search outside the squad but that would against their policy of promoting players who have been non-playing members of the squad before casting the net wider. A batsman who may come into contention would be Farhaan Behardien, who is currently second on the this season’s first-class competition run-charts. Rilee Rossouw, the Knight’s batsman. is injured, while Colin Ingram, who is the third on the run-scorers’ list, has accepted a Kolpak deal at Glamorgan.More worryingly for South Africa will be whether de Kock will return to full fitness before the World Cup. Since November last year, he has been both the first-choice opener and wicketkeeper and has formed a successful partnership with Hashim Amla at the top, while also relieving AB de Villiers of the workload. Although de Villiers could find himself back behind the stumps, if de Kock is not available for the World Cup, South Africa will have to look for another opener. Morne van Wyk, who played at the 2011 World Cup and currently captains the Dolphins, would be one option but South Africa will hope de Kock is fit in time.