Lewis Hamilton hits the gym ahead of Malaysia Grand Prix

Posted on March 20, 2013 by adminsports

Hamilton hits the gym in Kuala Lumpur… then weighs in on McLaren's poor start

PUBLISHED:

12:32 GMT, 20 March 2013

UPDATED:

15:57 GMT, 20 March 2013

Lewis Hamilton hit the gym today after weighing into a potential war of words with former team McLaren.

Hamilton, who was mobbed by fans during a signing session in Kuala Lumpur ahead of this weekend’s race in Malaysia, admitted he was surprised by McLaren’s miserable start to the new Formula One season.

The British team are facing up to a mini crisis after just one race with Jenson Button and Sergio Perez managing only ninth and 11th respectively in last Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.

Iron man: Lewis Hamilton lifting weights ahead of the Malaysia Grand Prix

And speaking ahead of the next instalment of this year’s championship, Hamilton said of his old team: ‘I didn’t think they would struggle.

‘The car that I was working on with them was fantastic last year so I can only have assumed it would have been an evolution this year.’

In contrast to the troubles at his old team, Hamilton, who placed a credible fifth on his Mercedes debut, is hopeful his new outfit will soon be challenging for race victories.

Hit with the fans: Mercedes driver Hamilton meets the public in Kuala Lumpur

Making their mark: Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg gives an autograph alongside his team-mate Hamilton

‘I am really proud of my team now because we have done a great job with the new car and I feel really optimistic about the new upgrades and the developments,’ said Hamilton, who was speaking to Sky Sports News.

‘Coming here to Mercedes is a team that has really struggled over some time and I really hope we can get some results.

‘And I think because of the journey that we’ve been on if we do win any races than the satisfaction will be huge. ‘

Martin O"Neill tells Sunderland winger James McClean to forget about Twitter

Posted on March 2, 2013 by adminsports

Sunderland players given social media lesson after McClean's latest Twitter row

By
Colin Young

PUBLISHED:

16:31 GMT, 1 March 2013

UPDATED:

00:13 GMT, 2 March 2013

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill has called on a technology expert to teach his players the pitfalls of Twitter and other social networking sites.

The briefing follows James McClean’s latest Twitter row, which led to the Republic of Ireland winger deleting his account this week.

Last Friday, McClean professed his love for The Broad Black Brimmer by the Wolfe Tones. The song tells of a boy whose father is killed while fighting for the IRA, with the title referring to the wide-brimmed hat worn by many of the group’s members in the 1920s during the Irish War of Independence and Civil War.

Ill-advised: James McClean's controversial tweets have got him into trouble

One DUP MP called for McClean to be sacked but O’Neill, who has repeatedly warned his players about Twitter, is hoping the midfielder’s decision to stay off the site can help him concentrate on re-establishing himself in the Sunderland team after losing his place following Danny Graham’s arrival.

O’Neill said: ‘We have had someone in to talk to the younger boys about the social media thing and he’s going to have a chat with the senior boys for them to keep an eye on it.

‘He can tell you all the ills and woes and the possibility of what might happen if you were sending out a normal message to your friend, how people can log into these things, and it goes global. It will be a real eye-opener for me because I want to be in the meeting.

Unhappy: Martin O'Neill wants McClean to forget about Twitter and concentrate on his football

‘It’s just getting back to trying to be a bit more responsible for your own actions. I’d never have believed even five years ago that we’d be having this conversation.’

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will open talks on a new contract, just days after his agent claimed he would have to quit Sunderland to enhance his international career.

Captain Lee Cattermole has had an injection in his knee but still faces a lengthy lay-off.

Swansea to bid 7m for Thomas Ince

Posted on January 12, 2013 by adminsports

Swansea set to spark 7m bidding war with Liverpool for Blackpool star Ince

By
Paul Collins

PUBLISHED:

09:45 GMT, 12 January 2013

UPDATED:

09:46 GMT, 12 January 2013

Swansea are reportedly ready to hijack Liverpool's bid for Thomas Ince with a 7million offer for the Blackpool midfielder.

Ince, 20, had been expected to complete a move back to Anfield when the transfer window opened but Brendan Rodgers has been frustrated in his atttempts to complete the deal.

Blackpool rejected an opening offer of 5m and Liverpool are yet to return with an improved bid.

Wanted: Thomas Ince has attracted interest from Liverpool and Swansea

And that could leave the door open for Swansea to swoop, according to The Times.

Ince was originally released by Liverpool just 18 months ago and joined Blackpool for 250,000.

He has impressed at Bloomfield Road, scoring 13 goals this season and recently insisted he is happy to remain with the Championship club.

In the market: Ince has long been a target for Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers

'My future right now is here,' he said. 'I’m a Blackpool player, I’m contracted to Blackpool and I’ll continue to give 100 per cent for this team.

'I don’t only do it for myself and for the fans but I do it for my team-mates.

'These lads are a great bunch of lads. The team spirit in this team is fantastic.'

Wales 19 Samoa 26: Sam Warburton gamble backfires

Posted on November 17, 2012 by adminsports

Wales 19 Samoa 26: Warburton gamble backfires as hosts suffer fifth defeat on the bounce

UPDATED:

22:04 GMT, 16 November 2012

Nobody said it was going to be easy. The mighty islanders brought all the power of the Pacific Ocean to Cardiff and drowned any Welsh dreams of a glorious autumn.

This was an inspired performance from Samoa and Wales simply failed to find an answer for their ferocity. A last-minute leap from Johnny Leota sealed another historic win and the mad soap opera of this dramatic fixture continues.

It leaves Wales two defeats down with New Zealand and Australia yet to play and staring down the barrel of seven consecutive losses. Hardly the end to the year the Grand Slam champions had in mind. Worrying times indeed.

Try time: Northampton George Pisi goes over

MATCH FACTS

WALES: Halfpenny; Cuthbert, Beck, Roberts, North; Biggar (Priestland, 38min), Phillips; James (Jenkins 61), Hibbard (Owens 18), Jarvis (Andrews 78), Davies, Evans (Charteris 41), Jones (capt, Warburton 71), Faletau, Tipuric. Subs not used: Knoyle, Williams.

SAMOA: Autagavaia; Perez, G Pisi, Williams (Leota 55), Lemi (capt); T Pisi (Su’a 78), Fotuali’i; Taulafo, Avei (T Paulo 58), C Johnston (J Johnston 49), Leo, F Paulo (Tekori 60), Treviranus (Fomai 70), Tui’fua, Fa’asavalu. Subs not used: Afatia, Lilomaiava.

Man of the match: Taiasina Tui’fua.

Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France).

Samoa set the tone for the evening with
their traditional war dance, the Siva Tau. The Welsh disappeared to a
distant corner of the pitch for some last-minute tackle practice with
defensive coach Shaun Edwards, but it didn’t help.

After only 90 seconds, marauding No 8 Taiasina Tui’fua bulldozed through
four red shirts and set up the opening try for full back Fa’atoina
Autagavaia. Fly-half Tusiata Pisi kicked the conversion and it was a
nightmare start for the home team.

They had promised all week that despite having only six days to turn
things around from their meltdown against Argentina, they would match
the Pacific Islanders’ physicality.

Yet, once again they found themselves on the back foot.

The last time captain Ryan Jones led his team out against Samoa he was
unceremoniously sacked in public by head coach Warren Gatland within 30
minutes of the final whistle. This time he did everything he could to
help his team recover from shellshock. Slowly they did. Fly-half Dan
Biggar tried to exploit Samoa’s narrow defence by flinging the ball
wide, but too often Welsh backs ran into trouble.

High hopes: Kahn Fotuali'i hurdles a team-mate

Most tellingly, it took them 23 minutes for their first visit into the Samoan 22. Then they suddenly burst into life.

Northampton centre George Pisi, still waking up after trying to tackle
George North moments earlier, threw a wayward pass and Ashley Beck
pounced.

The centre, making his debut at the Millennium Stadium, pinned his ears
back from 70 metres out and made it to the line with half of Samoa
taking up the chase. The game had its ugly moments, too. Teofilo Paulo
can expect a phone call from the citing officer after a late clear-out
on Dan Biggar — with suspicions of a leading shoulder — bloodily cut
short the fly-half’s audition for the No 10 shirt against the All Blacks
next week.

Interception: Ashley Beck scored in the first half for Wales

Rhys Priestland suddenly found himself back in the firing
line and calling the shots. He tried to change the momentum in the
second half by answering Samoa’s grit with guile but mistakes from those
around prevented any immediate change in fortunes. As Wales grew
frustrated, indiscipline crept into their game.

If George Pisi ever considers retirement from rugby, he could always
turn his mind to acrobatics. The flying centre scored a try in the
corner with a gravity-defying forward flip. If there was suspicion of a
foot in touch the TV match official would not deny him his moment.

But when you have the right boot of Leigh Halfpenny in your team there
is always a way back. His 50-metre penalty once again put Wales back in
front, before the lead was exchanged two more times.

Ouch: Dan Biggar feels the pain after being flattened

Replacement hooker Ken Owens was welcomed to the party late on with a
‘Samoan hello’, but the high tackles that occasionally blight the
visitors’ game were rare.

A side pieced together with players from eight different countries
matched the cohesion and togetherness of a team who have spent a
relative lifetime together.

Even when their lungs and legs were burning in the final moments they
kept coming back for more. They seem to be inspired whenever they face
Wales and might have won even more convincingly.

Two bad: Wales looked stunned at the end of the match

It is not often you see Gethin Jenkins penalised at the scrum but the
loosehead gave away the penalty that put Samoa in the lead with only 10
minutes left. Then came the climax.

New Zealand will offer all Samoa’s ferocity next weekend and then a
skill set other sides can only dream of. But a small consolation for
Wales is that they can at least play their joker card — Warren Gatland
is coming to town.

Shock: Samoa celebrate scoring their third try right at the death

Alessandro Del Piero looking forward to the challenge at Sydney FC

Posted on September 17, 2012 by adminsports

No fear! Del Piero looking forward to the challenge in Australia with Sydney

UPDATED:

08:42 GMT, 17 September 2012

Alessandro Del Piero says he has no fear about what is expected of him in Australia and the hope that his star power will revitalise the A-League.

Del Piero spoke at his first press conference in Australia on Monday, saying he welcomes the pressure that will go with being the A-League's biggest name.

He said: 'I know there will be a lot of expectation and I love that. I played 19 years with Juventus and in Juventus you have to win every game, every year.’

Up for the challenge: Alessandro Del Piero says he is not put off by the expectation

The 37-year-old joined Sydney FC for a reported 1.2 million a year as the biggest signing in the history of the A-League.

He turned down offers from Southampton, among other clubs, to play in Australia and said he hoped to make a difference to Sydney FC and to the A-League.

'It was (an easy decision) because the project here is interesting,’ Del Piero said. 'I said 'yes', but I choose the best place I can choose for this moment and I think this now, and I'm sure I will think this at the end of the season.

‘Sometimes I decide with my feelings, but this decision was not only with my feelings, it was with the head and with the feeling, and I'm sure that's OK.'

Del Piero said he was determined to contribute to Sydney FC.

Mobbed: Del Piero is one of the biggest names to play in Australia

'All my life I play for winning. I'm here for winning … I'm here because I trust in the win,’ he said.

'First of all I am here for Sydney FC. Competing for Sydney FC. Then we hope, about the A-League growing up day by day … and this is hard work.'

Del Piero said he was aware that Australia's football culture has been based on post-war immigration from Europe.

'In everybody there is soccer blood and we hope to wake up that,’ he said.

Del Piero, a member of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning team and who scored a club-record 286 goals for Juventus, is expected to help bring greater exposure -and spectators – to the struggling A-League, which has suffered from declining crowds and the folding of two teams in the past two seasons.

His impact was immediate and hundreds of fans turned out at Sydney Airport on Sunday, some waiting for hours, to welcome him on his arrival.

Here to win: Del Piero says he is aiming to win the A League title

Del Piero's decision to play in Australia is being compared with David Beckham's impact on the game in the United States when he signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Sydney chief executive Tony Pignata, who traveled to Turin nearly two weeks ago to get Del Piero's signature on the contract, said he was pleased with the response of fans – more than 2,000 club memberships have been sold since Del Piero's contract was signed.

Welcome to Sydney: Del Piero is mobbed by fans at Sydney airport after touching down over the weekend

Pignata also said 15,000 Sydney FC jerseys with Del Piero's No. 10 and name on the back had been manufactured and were selling fast, with orders from around the world.

Del Piero is due to train with his Sydney teammates for the first time on Tuesday and his first official public appearance in Sydney is expected next Sunday – September 23.

His first game for Sydney could be against Newcastle next Saturday, a preseason match scheduled to be played in the Central Coast town of Budgewoi north of Sydney.

However, if Del Piero plays, it is expected to be moved to a larger stadium at nearby Gosford.

Sydney play their first-round match of the new A-League season at Wellington, New Zealand on October 6.

Manchester City in for Scott Sinclair again with 6.2m bid

Posted on August 30, 2012 by adminsports

Manchester City crank up the pressure in 6.2m pursuit of Swansea winger Sinclair

UPDATED:

07:16 GMT, 30 August 2012

Manchester City are awaiting a response
from Swansea City after
making a formal 6.2million
bid for winger Scott Sinclair.

City believe the offer is
reasonable for a player in the
last year of his contract, although Swansea have previously ignored the club's advances at a similar price.

Offer: Scott Sinclair

'I would have thought if they really wanted to sign Scott Sinclair they would have dealt with it a little bit better than they have,' said Swans chairman Huw Jenkins prior to the new bid.

'It has dragged on too long and I hope one way or another it will be concluded in the next couple of days. What has been put out about Scott Sinclair is not true.

'I don't want to get into a war of words with Manchester City, but I find it quite unprofessional, really.

'I don't know who is putting these stories out, but there's nothing at all agreed with Manchester City. No deal has been agreed as yet.'

Chelsea will net a 500,000 bonus if the move does go through because of a clause in the deal when Sinclair left for Swansea from Stamford Bridge.

He cost the Swans 1.5m in 2010 and Roman Abramovich's club are believed to be entitled to 10 percent of any profit from the player's next move.

Tom Maynard tributes fill family with pride

Posted on August 23, 2012 by adminsports

Tributes to Tom fill us all with pride, says emotional father Matthew

UPDATED:

21:39 GMT, 22 August 2012

St Fagans lies on the western rim of Cardiff, an ancient village renowned for its English Civil War battlefield, the Welsh National History Museum and its cricket club.

They went to Lord’s three times for finals of the old village cup against English opponents and won all three.

St Fagans was basking in the glory of successive victories in the early Eighties when an 18-year-old batsman pitched up for a season on loan from Glamorgan. Matthew Maynard blew through a multitude of club bowlers that summer then upped the tempo on his county debut the following year.

Emotional: Matthew Maynard completes the Tom Maynard Trust Bike Ride to Surrey's Clydesdale Bank 40 game against Glamorgan and sports a tattoo in his son's memory

Against Yorkshire at Swansea in August 1985, he hit a century, going from 82 to 100 by lifting the wily slow left-arm spinner, the late Phil Carrick, for three successive sixes. Three years later, Maynard was playing for England against the West Indies, the definitive baptism of fire provided by Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh.

England dropped the new boy all too quickly, making him vulnerable to the rebel team being recruited for the 1990 tour of apartheid South Africa.

If there were times when he might have been too gung-ho for his own good, that was one of them. He knew he would be banned from Test cricket but shrugged it off, thinking he would be young enough to come back, as he did after three years.

Leading the way: Matthew Maynard leads the cyclists onto the field prior to the Clydesdale Bank Pro40 match between Surrey and Glamorgan at The Kia Oval

His Test ban began in 1991, the last time St Fagans lorded it at HQ./08/22/article-2192181-14A43A56000005DC-560_468x286.jpg” width=”468″ height=”286″ alt=”In memory: Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff took part in the cycle ride” class=”blkBorder” />

In memory: Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff took part in the cycle ride

The events of the early hours of June 18 robbed cricket of an England batsman in the making and his parents of a beloved son. How would Matthew like his son to be remembered

‘The number of letters we’ve had show that Tom was a great bloke. There is nothing more rewarding as a parent, I guess, than knowing your lad has turned out as you’d hope. The thoughtfulness he had for others was not as apparent as it has become from the letters we have received and that fills us with pride.

‘Obviously his cricket was going in the right direction. We were so proud of how he turned out as a player and a person and always will be.

‘He seemed to have an ability to touch people he had just met. He was just a lovely character. He never got above his station.

Tributes: Tom Maynard died in June after being hit by a train

‘When he scored the century against Glamorgan last year, the whole family were at the Swalec Stadium to see it. It had been a traumatic time for us all.

‘He just quietly acknowledged the applause. He didn’t do anything to upset the Glamorgan members, committee or management. It was probably one of his coolest celebrations because he didn’t want to offend people.

‘He had that wonderful way about him. If I had been in his shoes, I might have gone a bit crazy but he had his mother’s cooler nature.’

Maynard saw Tom make a career-best 143 for Surrey at Worcester in May and last saw him bat during a one-dayer in Cardiff 16 days before his death shocked the cricket world and beyond. How tough had it been

He paused, then said: ‘I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. It’s not only these two months. It’s always going to be with us. How we react in the future, no-one knows.’

Doing their bit: Matthew Maynard embraces Flintoff after the cycle ride

Maynard is contracted to a second season as coach of the Nashua Titans in Pretoria.

‘As a family we are due to go out to South Africa. How I am going to work and coach, I have no idea. There’s very much an empty feeling in the family… we are trying to be as supportive of each other as we can, a day at a time.

‘I want to thank everyone who has supported us and say how proud we are of our lovely lad.’

Another ambition perished with Tom: that of him returning to his roots. ‘I’d love to come down for a game before I’m old and creaky,’ he had said before the season began.

‘But don’t tell Uncle Charlie…’

If fate hadn’t been so cruel, those sitting by the long-on boundary — where the Tom Maynard memorial bench is now located — would have been diving for cover…

Donations to the Tom Maynard Trust for aspiring cricketers can be made via www.tommaynardtrust.com

USPGA Championship: Luke Donald struggles as Tiger Woods near leader

Posted on August 11, 2012 by adminsports

Tiger roars but Donald suffers as gusty wind makes it a war of attrition at Kiawah

UPDATED:

00:04 GMT, 11 August 2012

Twenty-one years ago, the Ocean Course played host to the 'War on the Shore.' Here, it was the war of attrition as a gusty wind wreaked havoc on a brutal second day at the USPGA Championship.

The victims ranged from world number one Luke Donald all the way down to American club pro Doug Wade, who must have been thrilled to qualify for his first PGA, only to find it an utterly debilitating experience.

He had seven bogeys, four doubles and two triple bogeys in a 93 that came within a stroke of the worst score in the entire history of the event.

Struggle: World number one Luke Donald was unable to get a foothold

At the other end of the status spectrum lies Donald, who awoke knowing he had work to do following a first round 74 and was flattened instantly on his opening hole, the 10th, where a poor tee shot led to an ugly double bogey.

He also finished with three successive bogeys for a bitterly disappointing 76 for a six over total that left him in grave danger of missing the halfway cut for the second successive American major.

'Keep getting better' is the hashtag Donald uses on twitter but sadly there's little evidence to suggest he is improving in majors.

With regard to the most important prizes of all, it is looking like another distinctly underwhelming year.

The windy morning weather represented bad luck on the likes of Justin Rose, Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington, who had battled manfully through the worst of the elements on day one to post good scores of 68,69 and 70 respectively, and had hoped for their share of tranquillity when it came to their turn to play early.

On the prowl: Tiger Woods was was one of the few golfers who seemed relatively unaffected by the winds

Instead, they woke to find sharply contrasting conditions to Thursday morning, when the flags lay undisturbed. Now they were filled thanks to the lusty breeze as the course labelled the toughest in America had the protection to justify such billing.

McDowell admitted afterwards the longest course in major championship history was just too long for him in the wind. He finished with a 76 to stand at level par for the tournament. He is two ahead of Harrington, who shot the same score while Rose ballooned to a 78 to be on three over.

The average score among these players in this half of the draw was 77.21 strokes – four shots more than the previous day, and a clear indication of the difficulty of the test.

Mornings such as this are made for in-form shotmakers, and the mentally unbreakable. Men like the remarkable 49 year old Fijian and three-time major champion, Vijay Singh.

Has he been inspired by his great mate Ernie Els moving one ahead of him in the major stakes following his victory in The Open Here he delivered a prodigious display against the odds to post a second round 69 and a brilliant halfway target of 140, four under par.

Even Singh had his share of breaks, mind, for no-one could prosper on such a difficult day without them. One came at the 16th, where he looked like he might drop a shot, only to walk off with an unlikely birdie. Twice a winner of this event, he will have his chance for another triumph this weekend, in which case he would become the oldest major winner in history.

Rory McIlroy went the first 13 holes without a birdie

Just two behind Singh is the Welshman Jamie Donaldson, who recently won his first event in nearly 300 attempts in bad weather at the Irish Open. Three bogeys and a double were offset by four birdies as the 36 year old finished with a 73 that leaves him nicely placed in this, just his second appearance in the tournament.

The blessed morning starters on the first day found themselves tackling a completely different proposition yesterday. Tiger Woods, looking to build on his first round 69 and seeking his first major win for four years, made an ominous move with a front nine played in 35 strokes.

After taking just 22 putts in the opening round, he started with five more single putts in a row and briefly led at one point on five over, before dropping a shot at the 8th.

After 30 holes of this event, would you believe, he had had just 37 putts – and it would have been one less than that but for a chip stopping on the edge of the hole at the 9th.

A birdie at the 12th took him to five under, and two behind the leader, Swede Carl Pettersson, who had also played 12 holes.

Rory McIlroy, bogey-free on day one, was birdie-free for 13 holes of his second round before notching a two at the par three 14th to stand on two under. Moving in the right direction was Ian Poulter, on three under and in joint fourth Rory McIlroy, bogey-free on day one, was birdie-free for 13 holes of his second round before notching a two at the par three 14th to stand on two under.

Moving in the right direction was Ian Poulter, on three under and in joint fourth place after 13 holes of his round.

Carl Pettersson of Sweden held the lead at the at 12th hole

London 2012 Olympics: Manteo Mitchell ran 4x400m with broken leg

Posted on August 9, 2012 by adminsports

That's relay got to hurt… American Mitchell ran 4x400m with a broken leg!

UPDATED:

18:23 GMT, 9 August 2012

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LIVE RESULTS |
EVENT SCHEDULE |
MEDALS TABLE

Any athlete complaining of a minor injury during the London Olympics had their troubles put firmly in perspective after it was confirmed that American Manteo Mitchell ran on a broken leg.

Mitchell ran the first leg of the men's 4x400m relay and helped the United States finish joint fastest qualifiers for the final as they and the Bahamas were given identical times of two minutes 58.87 seconds.

But the 25-year-old will not contest the final after an X-ray confirmed he had broken his left fibula bone during his run.

Ouch: Manteo Mitchell receives the baton from US team-mate Tony McQuay on Thursday

Mitchell said: 'Three days ago I was going up the stairs (in the Olympic village) and I kind of missed one and landed awkwardly. I got treatment and I was fine.

'I did workouts and when I warmed up today I felt really well. I felt I could go 44 (seconds)-low. I got out pretty slow, but I picked it up and when I got to the 100m mark it felt weird. I was thinking I just didn't feel right.

'As soon as I took the first step past the 200m mark I felt it break. I heard it. I even put out a little war cry, but the crowd was so loud you couldn't hear it. I wanted to just lie down. It felt like somebody literally just snapped my leg in half.

Pain game: Manteo Mitchell runs during the 4x400m relay at the Olympic Stadium

'I knew if I finished strong we could still get it (the baton) around. I saw Josh Mance motioning me in for me to hand it off to him, which lifted me. I didn't want to let those three guys down, or the team down, so I just ran on it. It hurt so bad. I'm pretty amazed that I still split 45 seconds on a broken leg.'

USA Track and Field chief executive officer Max Siegel said: 'Manteo has become an inspiration and a hero for his team-mates.

'Without his courage and determination to finish, Team USA would not be at the starting line in the final. The team has rallied around him and we are all looking forward to the final days of competition.'

Sepp Blatter shocked after Somali sport chiefs die in suicide bombing

Posted on April 4, 2012 by adminsports

Blatter shocked after Somalia's sport chiefs killed in suicide bomb blast

UPDATED:

14:08 GMT, 4 April 2012

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has expressed his shock after the heads of Somalia's football federation and Olympic committee were both killed in a suicide bombing attack.

Somali FA president Said Mohamed Nur and Somali Olympic Committee president Aden Yabarow Wiish died after the blast on Wednesday in the national theatre in Mogadishu.

Blatter said in a statement: 'I am shocked to hear about the attack that has today taken the lives of several people in Mogadishu, including the president of the Somali Football Federation Said Mohamed Nur and Somali Olympic Committee president Aden Yabarow Wiish.

Scene: An ambluance outside the National Theatre

Aid: Soldiers secure the building after the blast

'I knew both men personally and can only say good things about their endless efforts to promote sport and football in their country. They will be sorely missed.

Sad: Sepp Blatter says both men will sorely be missed

national theatre

'At this very sad time, my thoughts and those of FIFA and the worldwide football community are with the families and loved ones of all the victims of this attack, and especially to the football and sport family of Somalia.'

The two officials had only recently inspected the reconstruction of the national stadium in Mogadishu after years of civil war in Somalia.

Sports Bound Guide

Sports Bound Guide. Fresh Sports News

Tag Archives: war

Lewis Hamilton hits the gym ahead of Malaysia Grand Prix

Martin O"Neill tells Sunderland winger James McClean to forget about Twitter

Swansea to bid 7m for Thomas Ince

Wales 19 Samoa 26: Sam Warburton gamble backfires

Alessandro Del Piero looking forward to the challenge at Sydney FC

Manchester City in for Scott Sinclair again with 6.2m bid

Tom Maynard tributes fill family with pride

USPGA Championship: Luke Donald struggles as Tiger Woods near leader

London 2012 Olympics: Manteo Mitchell ran 4x400m with broken leg

Sepp Blatter shocked after Somali sport chiefs die in suicide bombing