11.6.10

Eriksson optimistic over Drogba recovery

Côte d'Ivoire skipper Didier Drogba could be fit to play in his team's opening FIFA World Cup™ clash against Portugal, coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said Friday.

The Chelsea striker, who underwent surgery on his broken right arm six days ago, trained with his teammates but with a sling on his damaged arm. "He's doing well. If the match with Portugal was today or Saturday, he wouldn't be able to play. But as the game is in a few days' time (Tuesday), he could be in the team and play," said Eriksson. "He is feeling better and better each day."

In training, Drogba practised on his own to avoid aggravating the injury. He broke his arm in a friendly match against Japan in Switzerland on June 4.

France, Uruguay draw a blank

An opportunity to seize the initiative in Group A was missed at Cape Town’s Green Point Stadium as France and ten-man Uruguay served up a drab goalless draw.


The earlier stalemate between South Africa and Mexico had presented their section rivals with the chance to claim top spot, but neither did enough to secure three points in a scrappy encounter in which Nicolas Lodeiro picked up the tournament’s first red card.

France’s difficulties at UEFA EURO 2008 and during FIFA World Cup™ qualifying has enabled them to sneak almost unnoticed into this competition, yet they reminded everyone of their considerable potential with some slick early play. Predictably, Frank Ribery was at the heart of the best of their attacking forays, and only Sidney Govou will know how he failed to convert the Bayern Munich winger’s inviting low cross after eight minutes. Ribery looked to have laid on a certain goal, with Govou inside the six-yard box when the ball arrived, but the Lyon player’s right-foot attempt lacked conviction and the ball trickled wide of the far post.

Les Bleus remained in the ascendancy, and Nicolas Anelka – who endured a frustrating evening – might have done better than head over from an intelligently weighted Yoann Gourcuff cross. The presence of Diego Forlan ensured that Raymond Domenech’s side were never able to rest easy, though, and the Atletico Madrid striker underlined his capabilities on 16 minutes with an effort out of nothing. Stepping inside from the left beyond William Gallas, Forlan unleashed a powerful right-foot drive that was heading for the net before Hugo Lloris got across to make a fine save.

Nonetheless, this was an isolated moment of concern for a French side who remained firmly in control, with Abou Diaby dictating the midfield pace. Gourcuff was also impressing, and with 18 minutes played he forced an alert save from Fernando Muslera with an audacious free-kick attempt on goal, inches from the left touchline.

The game fell into something of a lull as half-time approached, but the tempo picked up again after the break, with Forlan blasting over after sneaking in between Gallas and Bacary Sagna. There was precious little penetration, however, and the growing frustration was summed up 12 minutes after the restart when Jeremy Toulalan tried his luck from all of 35 yards, bringing a comfortable save out of Muslera.

France introduced Thierry Henry in an attempt to re-establish their early superiority, but it was Uruguay who should have snatched victory, with Forlan wasting the best chance of the half, blasting wide from an unmarked position 12 yards from goal. Ultimately, however, La Celeste were happy to hold out for a point after second-half substitute Lodeiro earned a second yellow card for an ugly lunge on Sagna.

Organising Committee expresses its condolences to the Mandela Family

Johannesburg, 11 June 2010 - The 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) is saddened to learn of the death of Zenani Mandela, who was killed in a car accident last night.
Zenani Mandela (13 years old) is the great-grand-daughter of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratic President.

“On behalf of everyone at the Organising Committee, I would like to express my condolences to the Mandela family. Please know that you will all be in our thoughts today,” said OC Chairman Dr Irvin Khoza.

“Last year Zenani did us the honour of bringing the FIFA Confederations Cup trophy out onto the podium at the final at Ellis Park on 28 June. We are saddened to hear of her tragic passing and will remember her fondly,” said OC CEO Dr Danny Jordaan.

ENDS

Court bars CHRAJ from hearing M&J bribery scandal

An Accra Human Rights Court has restrained the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) from continuing with its investigation into the Mabey and Johnson bribery scandal.


The court upheld arguments by lawyers of the six persons who were the subject of the investigations that comments by the Commissioner of CHRAJ on Metro TV on the matter were prejudicial.Justice Emile Short granted the television station an interview on the issue days after opening public hearings - bedeviled by persistent objections - into the allegations that the six persons received


bribes from the UK construction firm to influence the award of contracts to the company.Lawyers of the accused - Dr Sipa Yankey, Messrs Kwame Peprah, Alhaji Baba Kamara, Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Alhaji Amadu Seidu, Brigadier-General Lord Attivor and Dr Ato Quarshie - went to court arguing that the CHRAJ Commissioner had made conclusive pronouncements that amounted to prejudging their clients.They contended Mr Short and the Commission had lost the moral authority to conduct the investigations as they could not be trusted to be fair and impartial in the matter.



The court agreed with the lawyers and ruled that the Commission should excuse itself of the case because the Commissioner’s comments put him in a prejudiced situation.It said other institutions can conduct investigations into the M&J bribery scandal.After the ruling, Nana Ato Dadzie, lawyer for Dr Ato Quarshie, told Joy News’ Sammy Darko that today “is a great day for the law.”



He said his clients’ belief that the Commission was unfair to them had been confirmed by the court in its ruling.Nana Ato Dadzie stated that his clients were willing to submit themselves to any other state agency that chose to conduct further investigations into the allegations.Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Ghana is back on track with investment opportunities - Veep woos foreign investors

Accra, June 6, GNA-Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia says Ghana's economic opportunities for private sector investors are back on track as...