Chelsea Suffer Injury Blow Ahead of PSG Clash

Photo credit: sport.bt.com


According to clean sheets all round online news, Chelsea have been handed a blow ahead of the second leg of their UEFA Champions League second round tie with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday as John Terry is set to miss out once again, according to the Mirror.

The club captain has already missed the Blues’ last five matches with a hamstring injury picked up in the 5-1 thrashing of Newcastle last month.

John Terry has been back on the training pitch and it had been hoped over the weekend that he would be ready to face the champions of France in the crucial second leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. He has been on an individual training programme over the past couple of days in hope to get him in shape to face PSG.

However, it appears the game will come too soon for the former-England international as manager Guus Hiddink has confirmed that John Terry is highly unlikely to pass his fitness test for the match as he is still unable to run freely.

The Premier League champions trail 2-1 from the first leg in Paris three weeks ago.

After Chelsea's weekend draw against Stoke City, coach Guus Hiddink was quoted saying:

“I don’t think John will make it on Wednesday. For the time being, there has not been enough development to put him on the list.

“It’s not worse – he trained and had treatment on Saturday morning, and he can run, but he cannot go into a longer stretch where you have to accelerate. There he has to be careful.

“When he is ready to do so, maybe on Tuesday, he will play in a practice match, but I don’t think he will make it. Hopefully, let’s see what can be done for next weekend.”

Assuming John Terry will miss out again, Chelsea’s interim manager is expected to stick with Branislav Ivanović and Gary Cahill in the centre of his defence. César Azpilicueta and Baba Rahman should make up the rest of the back four.

Chelsea to unveil Antonio Conte as manager on July 14

Photo credit: www.skysports.com


According to Offthepost info online, Chelsea will officially present Italy coach Antonio Conte as their new manager on July 14, according to Italian broadcaster Mediaset.

The 46-year-old is the overwhelming favourite to become Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor this summer and the latest report even s

July 14 is four days after the final of Euro 2016, which will be held on July 10. That is the longest Conte could possibly be in his role as Italy coach.

If Conte’s side were to win the tournament, there will be presumably be some official celebrations to attend back in Italy, so July 14 is probably the earliest possible risk-free date.

The article notes that Conte’s appointment at Stamford Bridge is set to be confirmed on Bastille Day. Italy fans will hope that taking France by storm turns out to be his final duty with the national team.

Conte is due to meet Blues owner Roman Abramovich this week to finalise the terms of his contract and shake hands on the deak.

Tottenham man headed to London rivals?

Photo credit: theworldgame.sbs.com.au


According to futnsoccer online, Chelsea have indicated that they have added Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino to their shortlist of possible replacements for interim manager Guus Hiddink.

The Tottenham manager has done amazing things at White Hart Lane this season. Pochettino has his newly reconstructed Spurs team in second place, and are currently serious contenders for the Premier League Title.

According to the Sunday Times, Chelsea officials approached the Argentine’s representatives towards the end of last month and seem to be encouraged at the end of the talks.

Pochettino however is building something great at Tottenham. He just finished clearing out players that didn’t fit his system like Aaron Lennon and Etienne Capoue and bringing in players that do. I don’t believe he wants to go to a new club and do that all over again. Also with Chelsea’s poor form this season, Chelsea officials and fans will be expecting immediate results from Pochettino.

Book 'Written By Serial Killer Removed on Amazon

Robert Pickton was convicted of six counts of murder in 2007 over the disappearance of dozens of sex workers in Vancouver.

A book apparently written by a serial killer has been removed from Amazon's website after protests by British Columbia authorities.

Outskirts Press, which published the book, issued a statement saying it had asked Amazon to remove the book.

It said: "Outskirts Press apologises to the families of the victims for any additional heartache this may have caused."

Robert Pickton, 66, was convicted in 2007 of six counts of second-degree murder and jailed for life.

He killed the women, who were sex workers, at his pig farm and fed some of their remains to his pigs.

On Monday, his 144-page memoir titled Pickton: In His Own Words, was no longer available from the retailer's website in Canada.

In the book, Pickton claimed he was innocent and had been framed by the police over the killings, according to the Toronto Sun.

More than 50,000 people signed a petition calling for the book to be withdrawn to respect "the families who were affected by the horrible crimes of this predator... and who are still going through their healing processes".

Ralph Goodale, Canadian Public Safety Minister, told Parliament that the Correctional Service of Canada is investigating how the manuscript was smuggled out of Kent Institution maximum security prison near Agassiz, British Columbia.

Christy Clark, British Columbia Premier, told a news conference: "I am at a loss for words. To think about the pain that he's prepared to willingly cause all of the families of those people who he murdered.

"I have trouble understanding it and I think people will want to know that their government is doing everything it can to want to stop him from profiting from this at the very least."

There is no confirmation that Pickton actually wrote the book, but a statement from British Columbia Solicitor General Mike Morris said the province would explore every means to prevent him from profiting.

Twenty other charges of first-degree murder were stayed against Pickton at his trial.

He picked up his victims from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and lured them to his muddy rubbish-strewn farm with promises of money, alcohol and drugs, before killing them.

Source: http://news.sky.com/story/1647093/amazon-removes-book-written-by-serial-killer

Cristiano Ronaldo first athlete to pass 200 million social media followers

Photo credit: cr7-ebi.tumblr.com


According to Espn online, Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first athlete to surpass 200 million followers on social media.

Ronaldo has 109.7 million followers on Facebook, 49.6 million on Instagram and 40.7 million on Twitter.

The Portugal international crossed the 200 million threshold on Tuesday, when his combined total reached 200,058,494, according to social media tracking database Hookit.com.

Ronaldo might trail rival Lionel Messi in Ballon d'Or trophies, but he's easily winning the social battle. Messi has 120.8 million followers, though he doesn't have a Twitter account.

Ronaldo's numbers put him past the combined total of basketball stars LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry, who combine to garner 187 million.

In 2015, Ronaldo garnered 41.8 million new followers, with nearly three-quarters of those coming on Instagram. He averages 135,000 new followers a day, according to Hookit.

Aces look to break Downs curse

Photo credit: www.diskifans.com


According to SuperSport news online, Mpumalanga Black Aces will need to break a 22 year curse away to Mamelodi Sundowns at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Wednesday evening, if they are to keep their Absa Premiership title chances alive.

Kick-off is at 7:30 pm.

The Brazilians have not lost a home league match to their title rivals since 1994 and having yet to taste defeat on home soil this season, 'Downs will be confident of extending their streak.

Pitso Mosimane's men saw their six game winning run come to an end with a goalless draw against Golden Arrows this past weekend, but a 16-game unbeaten run still see's them top the standings by eight points - 10 points better off than Aces with 10 rounds remaining.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane was quoted saying:

"It’s a big game because Aces are close to us,” said Mosimane who is eager for his side to enhance their gap atop the standings.

"If we win the game, it gives us a little bit of space, a breather if you know what I am trying to say.”

"The Aces game is very important - as long as they don’t get more points than us, it’s okay. Sometimes you mustn't worry that you need win, we have won enough not to complain ... we have won enough, we have done very well.”

Despite their 3-1 loss to Orlando Pirates last time out ,Muhsin Ertugral, remains upbeat and believes a win in midweek will keep their hopes of a first Absa Premiership title alive.

Muhsin Ertugral was quoted saying:

"If Sundowns lose against us the race will be open,” the AmaZayoni boss said.

“Kaizer Chiefs are playing fantastic football: the way they played against SuperSport United was great. We are all playing each other in the top five so anything can still happen.

“I don’t see a one-horse race. Sundowns have to play Chicken Inn FC and SuperSport and they play us in between, so it’s a tough challenge.

Ertugral admits the loss to Pirates was their worst display of the season: "We did very well until now, but the game against Pirates was the worst game we had."

In head-to-head stats, Aces and Sundowns have met in 34 league matches since 1985.

The Brazilians have 23 wins compared to six for AmaZayoni, while five matches have been drawn.

Sundowns have won 14 of their 17 home matches against Aces, suffering two defeats in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season, AmaZayoni claimed a 1-0 home win thanks to a goal from Eddie Ngalo; who is suspended for the upcoming clash.

Unfulfilled Football Dreams by Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has won almost everything there is to win in the game, but he has now revealed football dreams of his that remain unfulfilled.

The Portuguese has lifted 16 club trophies with Manchester United (nine) and Real Madrid (seven), but is yet to win silverware with his country.

"I still have a lot of aims to achieve," he told Sacoor Brothers.

"To win more and more titles, to continue a career that is as successful as possible, to win a trophy for Portugal, as I've said a few times.

"In fact, that would make me really happy.

"These are normal dreams for a young man who still dreams of playing football for a few more years."

Ronaldo is facing another possible trophyless season with Los Blancos as they are now nine points behind leaders FC Barcelona in the race for the LaLiga title.

With the club already being disqualified from the Copa del Rey, the UEFA Champions League is the only trophy the Spanish giants can realistically aim for this campaign.

Source: http://www.soccerladuma.co.za/