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Nduka Ugbade,
former Nigerian international and coach of the MFM Ikeja team of the
ongoing Mountain of Fire Ministries (MFM) Cup, is sure his players have
the ability to emerge champions at the end of the tournament.

Ugbade’s team
booked a semi-final ticket yesterday after defeating MFM Ojo 6-5 via
penalties after the game had ended 0-0 at full time.

“It was a tough
encounter but thank God we won in the end. I am happy with the
performance of my players and I believe that they are capable of
winning the tournament barring any unfortunate development,” Ugbade
said.

He praised Daniel
Olukoya, pastor in charge of MFM and sponsor of the tournament for
bankrolling the event, noting that it is good way of using football to
reposition African youth for God.

Other quarter-final
matches were played yesterday with defending champions, MFM
headquarters joining Ugbade’s team in the last four. They beat MFM Kano
3-0.

Fidelis Ilechukwu, coach of the team said the ability of his boys to listen to instructions gave them victory.

The other two
quarter- final, which involved MFM Kwara and MFM Ijaiye as well as the
one involving MFM Benin and MFM Ejigbo were still on as at the time of
writing. The Olukayo is in its fifth edition.

Japan’s new coach
Alberto Zaccheroni swept into Tokyo on Tuesday, asking to be called
‘Zac’ and promising a lasting legacy from his reign.

“First we have to
finish in the top three at (next year’s) Asian Cup,” the 57-year-old
Italian told reporters after being unveiled as Japan’s sixth foreign
manager.

“When my Japan
adventure comes to an end I want the fans to have great memories of
Zaccheroni’s samurai.” The former AC Milan and Juventus coach brought a
breathe of fresh air to his first news conference after taking over the
Blue Samurai from World Cup coach Takeshi Okada.

“You can call me
Zac,” said Zaccheroni. “But I am okay with any nicknames the Japanese
fans have for me.” Japan Football Association (JFA) president Junji
Ogura predicted the Italian would lead Japan to the quarter-finals of
the next World Cup in Brazil.

“I expect him to get the Blue Samurai to the last eight in 2014,” Ogura said in a statement.

“He has vast experience and is a real tactician of the game. I expect him to get Japan to play an attacking style of soccer.”

Zaccheroni’s Samurai

The JFA did not
reveal details of Zaccheroni’s contract but it is understood he has
signed a two-year deal with an option for another two years.

Zaccheroni, who led
AC Milan to the Serie A title in 1999, said: “I jumped at the
opportunity when the JFA came with their offer.” He praised the work of
predecessor Okada, who led Japan to the last 16 of the World Cup in
South Africa.

“Okada-san did a
fantastic job,” said Zaccheroni. “He left a great foundation in place.”
Zaccheroni will watch Saturday’s home friendly against Paraguay in
Yokohama from the stands as he is still waiting for a work permit.

“Coaching a
national team was the only challenge left for me,” said Zaccheroni,
whose first game in charge is expected to be the October 8 friendly
with Argentina in Saitama.

“Now I have the
opportunity.” JFA technical director Hiromi Hara said Zaccheroni’s lack
of experience outside of Japan would not be a factor.

“His motivation and passion will make up for that,” said Hara. “It’s a life’s ambition for him to coach a national team.”

The chances of the
Nigeria U-19 cricket team getting one of the two available tickets to
the U-19 World Cup grew slimmer yesterday as they were beaten by Zambia
with three wickets. Zambia scored 178 for nine in 50 overs and the
Nigerian reply was a mere 115 for 10 also in 50 overs. The Zambian team
had lost its two earlier matches.

The weakest link in
the Nigerian team was bowler Melvin Bwalya, who bowled out Rotimi
Adesanya and Oluwaseun Adeboro in successive innings for a total of 16
runs. James Chukwu came on to try and lift the team but his partnership
was again cut short by Bwalya who caught out Behani for just 10 runs.
At this point it was 81 for 6 with 15 overs left. Mumba Chanda caught
Olusola Anyia for nine balls and the Nigerian batsmen were falling like
ninepins. Chukwu was also caught by the deadly Chanda for 23 runs from
33 balls. With the top batsmen out of the crease at 99 for 8 with 10
overs remaining, Nigeria’s chances were gone.

The team will play Sierra Leone today, and only a win can keep it in the top division.

Uganda riding high

The Ugandan U-19
team, winners of the 2009 ICC Africa U19 CWCQ, continued winning in
this year’s qualifier with another assured victory over Sierra Leone,
who they restricted to a paltry 72 for 10.

The Uganda bowling
attack for the third day bowled their opposition out for under a
hundred. The prize bowler for Uganda was Faruk Ochimi with four Sierra
Leonean wickets for 17 runs.

The Sierra Leonean attack hardly troubled the Ugandans, who knocked their opponents off in 30 overs.

Monday matches

At the Wanderers Oval in Windhoek, the Namibian U-19 team had comprehensively beat neighbours Zambia.

Stephan Baard was
the pick of the Namibian bowlers with 4 for 35 in six overs as Zambia
made 158 all out. The run chase began in earnest with Namibia breaking
at lunch with 80 for 1. They passed the target score in the 32nd over
with seven wickets in hand, with Justin Baard making 45.

Cricket powerhouse, Kenya was given a run for their money but they
eventually overcame Sierra Leone by 20 runs and remain unbeaten in the
three matches played.

Seven-times major
winner Venus Williams is choosing to accentuate the positives in her
return to competition at the U.S. Open after sitting out two months
with a left knee injury.

Thrilled to be back
on centre stage inside Arthur Ashe Stadium for her first test since the
Wimbledon quarter-finals, Williams dispatched Italy’s Roberta Vinci 6-4
6-1 as the curtain went up on night action at the Open.

“This is the event
to come to, you know, New York, the opening night of the U.S. Open,”
the 30-year-old Williams told reporters. “It’s really an honour. I love
doing it. I’ve had the opportunity on a lot of occasions. Everyone’s
watching.” Williams treated the opening night crowd to some of her
trademark power, belting 10 aces, and a lacy black party dress with
fringe on the bottom that befit the occasion.

Rustiness

While her look was picture-perfect, Williams was not sure her preparation would prove first rate.

“Not having played
any matches wasn’t ideal,” she admitted. “Obviously, practice is so
much different from a match. I felt like I was hitting well in
practice, but to translate into a match is something completely
different.

“But I think I
handled it well and I’m just looking to build momentum going to the
next matches.” Williams tried to focus on the positives.

“I guess my only
advantage would be that I’m hopefully mentally a lot fresher and
physically, hopefully, a lot fresher than maybe my opponents who played
all summer,” she said.

“You know, I’ve got
to try to look at it in a positive way and bank on my experience. That
helps a lot because I’ve had a lot of winning experience,” the twice
U.S. champion said.

Williams said she
regretted the absence of her sister and doubles partner, world number
one Serena Williams, who had to skip the Open because of a foot injury.

She said she loves
to play doubles with her sister and would have been sorely tempted to
join forces with her in Flushing Meadows, especially after they came up
short together at Wimbledon, even though it would have been hard on her
knee.

Even that disappointment was turned into a positive. Asked if it
would be better for her knee that she is not playing doubles at the
Open, Williams replied with a smile: “Absolutely.”