HEADLINES:
R/€ 
R/£ World at a glance - November 20, 2009
November 20, 2009 Edition 4
Pienaar is Bafana Player of the Year
Bafana Bafana and Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar has been named 2009 Bafana Bafana Player of the Year. The announcement was made at a glittering ceremony in Sandton last night. Pienaar beat Siboniso Gaxa of Mamelodi Sundowns and Macbeth Sibaya, who plays for Rubin Kazan in Russia, to the top award. The winner was determined by football supporters via sms through the SABC TV and radio stations. In the juniors section, Thulani Serero, who plays for Ajax Cape Town and the National Under-20 side, Amajita, was named Under-20 Player of the Year. He was competing with Philani Khwela of Feyenoord and Daylon Claasen of Ajax Amsterdam. Banyana Banyana's Nompulelo Nyandeni walked away with the Senior Women's National Team Player of the Year award. This is a great achievement for the midfielder considering the fact that she was vying for top honours against reigning Women's African Player of the Year Noko Matlou as well as Kylie-Ann Louw. Coach of the Year Award went to Gavin Hunt, mentor of Absa Premiership champions Supersport United. In this category, Hunt was pitted against Styles Phumo, Jomo Sono and Serame Letsoaka. SA Football Association president Kirsten Nematandani said: "The inception of the Safa Awards last year have gone a long way in encouraging players to play with passion and pride, our coaches to work harder at their game plans, match officials to officiate at the highest level, and our administrators to govern the game effectively and efficiently."
Boks in Baabaas side for Kiwi clash
World Cup winners Bryan Habana, Victor Matfield and Fourie du Preez will line up for the Barbarians in the invitational side's match against New Zealand next month. The South African trio will be joined in the December 5 match at Twickenham by Australia's Matt Giteau and Rocky Elsom, and Jamie Roberts and Andy Powell of Wales. All Blacks wing Joe Rokocoko will line up against his international teammates. The match is the last of New Zealand's European tour.
Crackdown on Euro match-fixing
German authorities and police elsewhere have arrested an undisclosed number of people suspected of fixing matches in major European leagues. The arrests came as part of an investigation into match-fixing supported by Uefa, according to a statement by the prosecutor's office in Bochum. The probe has been underway since the beginning of the year and has targeted an international gang suspected of wide-ranging match-fixing. The gang is suspected of bribing players, coaches, referees and officials in "high-ranking European leagues" to manipulate games in order to make money on betting, the statement said Thursday.
Irish want France game replayed
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) called on Fifa yesterday to order a replay of the controversial World Cup playoff against France. France booked their place in next year's finals in South Africa with a 1-1 second-leg draw in Paris on Wednesday night after striker Thierry Henry handled the ball in the build-up to their goal. "The blatantly incorrect decision by the referee to award the goal has damaged the integrity of the sport and we now call on Fifa, as the world governing body for our sport, to organise for this match to be replayed," read an FAI statement.
Egypt face Fifa investigation
Egypt could be in trouble over incidents ahead of last Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Algeria, Fifa said. Egypt won the game 2-0 in Cairo to set up a playoff with the same opponents, which Algeria won 1-0 in Khartoum on Wednesday night. "Disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the Egyptian Football Association," said Fifa yesterday. "According to the official reports received by Fifa, on November 12 there were incidents affecting the Algerian team on their way from the airport to the hotel."
Italians plan to sue doping cyclist
The Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) said it would sue Davide Rebellin for damages after the cyclist tested positive for the banned blood-booster Cera at the Beijing Olympics. Coni has also demanded Rebellin to return the silver medal he won in the cycling road race at the 2008 Games to the International Olympic Committee, a statement on its website said yesterday. Rebellin's lawyer told Italian media he would contest the decision. The 38-year-old should also give back the e75000 bonus he picked up for winning the silver, Coni said. - Sapa-AP/AFP/Reuters
© 1999 - 2010 Star & Independent Online (Pty) Ltd. All rights reserved.