NHAU DZEMITAMBO

Alvaro Quiros wins Dubai Desert Classic

Sunday, 13 February 2011 19:07

DUBAI.
Spain’s Alvaro Quiros rode a roller-coaster of a round to win the Dubai Desert Classic golf title yesterday.
The 28-year-old bomber from Cadiz clinched the biggest win of his career after an eagle-two at the second, a triple-bogey seven at the eighth, and, above all else, a hole-in-one at the 11th.
He came in with a four-under 68 and an 11-under total of 277 which gave him a one-stroke win over Dane Anders Hansen (70) and James Kingston of South Africa (67).
The win followed his second place finish behind Thomas Bjorn in Qatar last week and hoists Quiros into the lead in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai. He will also move up to 21st in the world rankings, the highest of his career.
“The start was perfect with the eagle on two, but I was shaken after the eighth,” he said.
“I was lucky with some putts around the turn and then a three-quarters wedge on the 11th — it was a perfect shot — once a year it happens.”
Quiros started the day alongside Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia in a seven-way tie for fourth place one stroke behind joint leaders Rory McIlroy, Thomas Aiken and Hansen.
But on the back of the eagle at the second, he grabbed the lead and was three strokes clear of the field after five holes.
Disaster struck, however, at the eighth.
He hit a wild drive and had to take a drop in sand, which, unfortunately for him, plugged. His next shot ended stuck up a palm tree and he eventually staggered off with a triple bogey seven. The lead had vanished.
Anyone of around 20 golfers were in with a shout at that stage, but the risk-taking Quiros made the break with a magnificent hole-in-one at the 11th where he hit a wedge from 161 yards.
Quiet-man Hansen drew level after grabbing an eagle at the 12th and when Quiros dropped a shot at the 14th, the Dane was briefly ahead.
But a birdie for Quiros at the 16th and a bogey for Hansen, playing on the hole behind him, switched their positions and there it remained as both parred their way home.
A subdued Woods never really got going as he sought his first win in 15 months.
Bogeys at two and three gave him a dismal start and although birdies at the sixth and 11th offered a glimmer of hope, he dropped shots at the 12th and 14th to end his challenge with a disappointing 75 and a tie for 20th.
“Very frustrating,” was how he described his round.
“I got off to such a poor start — I was 2-over through three early and just couldn’t make it up from there.
“But there were quite a few positives this week. Also a couple of glaring examples of what I need to work on, which is good. I’ll go to work next week.”
McIlroy, seeking to repeat his breakthrough tour win here in 2009, also gave himself too much to do with bogeys at one and four. He played steadily enough after that, but was always playing catch up on the leaders.
World number one Lee Westwood briefly flirted with the top of the leaderboard as he came around the turn, but a 6-6 finish ruined his chances as he carded a closing 68 to tie for 15th.
Still, with Martin Kaymer well out of the picture, the Englishman was assured of retaining the top spot he has held since unseating Woods on October 31.
Fourth place was shared by France's Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (70), Scott Strange (68) of Australia and Alvaro Velasco of Spain (70).
Dubai ends the European Tour's four-week Gulf swing which also brought wins for Kaymer in Abu Dhabi, Paul Casey in Bahrain and Bjorn in Qatar. — AFP.

Fergie wants more from derby hero Rooney

Sunday, 13 February 2011 19:04

MANCHESTER.
Sir Alex Ferguson described Wayne Rooney’s winning goal in the Manchester derby as the best he had ever seen, but the United manager still wants more from his star striker.
Rooney, so disappointing for much of this season, scored for just the fifth time in the league as his stunning overhead kick from Nani’s cross secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday.
“I haven’t seen anything like it, that’s for sure,” Ferguson said. “It reminded me of Denis Law although whether Denis ever put them in with such ferocity, I’m not so sure.
“I can’t ever remember a better goal at Old Trafford. There was a Rooney volley against Newcastle I remember a few years ago with that kind of ferocity and we have had some fantastic goals here.”
However, Ferguson, whose side are four points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, still believes he should be getting more from Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, currently the English Premier League’s leading goalscorer but left out of the starting line-up for the derby.
“I hope that is Wayne back to his best,” said Ferguson. “I have to say, what I need to get out of Wayne and Berbatov are performances away from home that are as good as they are at home.
“That is the quandary. With the quality those two have, we should be dictating games away from home. When they do that, it will make a hell of a difference.”
Nani had given United the lead, against the run of play, late in the first half with a very well-taken effort of his own - although it was nothing in comparison to Rooney’s 78th minute winner.
“The thing is Nani’s goal will be completely forgotten!” added Ferguson.
“That was a fantastic goal — an unbelievable touch, he took it round the defender, but nobody in their right mind would even talk about that. All the talk will be about that winning goal. Unbelievable.”
City enjoyed control of large periods of the game and, after a lucky second half equaliser when Edin Dzeko’s shot deflected off the back of David Silva, looked potential winners. Defeat, in contrast, leaves City eight points behind United, who have a game in hand, and Rooney had no doubts as to where the winning goal belonged in the context of his career.
“Yes, I think that’s the best goal of my life. I scored an overhead kick at school but that’s my first since I started playing professionally,” he said.
“I think it’s pure instinct. You don’t have time to think about what you’re going to do. Nine times out of ten it hits the bar or goes wide but thankfully this one hit the top corner.
“To score that goal, and see the joy on the faces of the crowd, the manager, the players . . . it’s fantastic.
“To be honest, I was disappointed with my overall performance but I spoke with a few lads and they told me to stay up in the area and I’d get my chance.
“I’ve played in derbies before so I know it’s a massive game for the whole city, especially with City being so close.
“And after dropping three points last week it was vital we won and kept the gap between us and City.”
City manager Roberto Mancini sounded resigned to handing United the title although he paid tribute to the performance of his losing team.
“We were beaten by a moment of pure genius,” he said. “Only a fantastic goal could decide this game. A fair result would have been a draw.
“We played well, we played as a team and we played strong here which is not easy. But United have a strong mentality and even when they don’t deserve to win a game they believe they do. “Our mentality will change when we win a title. But eight points is too much at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger hopes Samir Nasri can make an unexpected return for Arsenal in Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Barcelona. — AFP.

Mighty Warriors’ tricky test

Friday, 11 February 2011 20:48
By Grace Chingoma MIGHTY WARRIORS’ coach Rose Mugadza wants her team to win convincingly in tomorrow’s Battle of Zambezi
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Handball federation elections postponed

Friday, 11 February 2011 20:47
By Ellina Mhlanga SQUABBLES continue to haunt the Zimbabwe Handball Federation, as they have postponed elections that were scheduled for this coming weekend in Gweru.
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Phiri quits as Shabanie Mine head coach

Friday, 11 February 2011 20:47

From Paul Mundandi
in Zvishavane
SHABANIE Mine Football club coach John Phiri has resigned with immediate effect
Phiri is understood to have approached the Shabanie executive on Thursday last week and advised them of his decision.
The executive is said to have given him a week to reconsider his decision, and on Thursday he finally threw in the towel
His resignation comes after the club chiefs engaged Saul Chaminuka as technical manager — in a style similar to Motor Action where Joey Antipas is manager with David George as head coach.
The decision did not go down well with fans who advised Phiri to resign as they rallied behind him accusing Chaminuka of having dragged FC Victoria into Division One.
Shabanie chairman Wilfred Makazhe confirmed that Phiri had left the club.
“He tendered his resignation yesterday(Thursday).
“He had hinted that he wanted to resign, but I asked him to reconsider his position as I wanted him in the set up.
“We really wanted him to take advantage of the arrival of Chaminuka and tap from him.”
“Coaches come and go but every town or locality has got its own sons. Coaches like John Phiri are Zvishavane’s sons.
“Who knows, a season or so down the line, he could bounce back to coach the Chinda Boys or any other neighboring team. I respect but regret his decision to quit,” said Makazhe.
The chairman also dismissed allegations that they were not paying players and fans last season.
“We may have had challenges with funds, but, it should be noted that from the beginning of the 2010 season when we joined the PSL, we were paying our players and technical staff very competitive winning bonuses.
“We even increased the winning bonuses in the second half of the season.
“In terms of winning bonuses we don’t owe them even a single cent so it would be wrong for anyone to say players were playing for nothing or coaches were coaching for nothing”.
Phiri won the Southern Region Division One championship with Shabanie in 2009.
He then fine-tuned his team and challenged for the championship in the first half of the season when his side was in the top four only to falter in the second half.
Shabanie only lost one match at Maglas last season to former champions Gunners with goals from Willard “Bute” Katsande and Norman Maroto.
The miners drew with Dynamos, Hwange and Shooting Stars.
On the road they only lost to champions Motor Action and Black Mambas before beating Bantu Rovers and FC Victoria.
It was the team’s lacklustre performance, during the second half of the season, which prompted the leadership to appoint a technical manager to assist Phiri.
The fans are, however, divided with some welcoming the move while others have questioned the decision to bring Chaminuka on board.

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