Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists he does not want to win the title just yet, despite his side moving to within one result of the Premiership crown following Staurday’s 3-1 win against Fulham. Everton earned a 1-1 draw at home to Birmingham, while city rivals Liverpool slumped to a dismal 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
The battle for a place in the semifinals of the Vodacom Cup saw the leading contenders dish out and suffer a few heavy psychological blows on Saturday. The Wildeklawer Griquas consolidated their bid for a place in the final four with an emphatic 30-26 victory over the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Securicor Loftus.
Unfancied Capetonians Santos upset the apple cart when they beat hot favourites and Premier Soccer League leaders Orlando Pirates 2-1 at the Johannesburg Stadium on Saturday night. Pirates, the hosts of the poorly attended match, scored first when Perry Mutapa converted a corner kick taken by Joseph Makhanya in the 57th minute.
Top-seeded Andy Roddick was broken twice in the first six games on Saturday before charging back to dominate Jurgen Melzer of Austria 6-4, 6-2 and reach his fifth straight final at the US Men’s Clay Court Championships. In Sunday’s title match, Roddick will face France’s Sebastien Grosjean.
South Africa lost their way on Friday but batted themselves into an impregnable position on the third day of the third Test against the West Indies in Bridgetown on Saturday. Four wickets left South Africa on 521 for eight, replying to the West Indies’ first-innings total of 296, when stumps were drawn.
Thailand’s first pet resort was launched this weekend at Cha-am, a beach destination popular among wealthy Thais and foreigners who can now check in with their beloved furry friends, news reports said on Sunday. The Regent Cha-am Beach Resort hotel on Saturday officially opened its pets-only wing.
In a ceremony replete with solemnity and joy, Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday accepted the Fisherman’s Ring and woollen pallium symbolising his leadership of the Roman Catholic Church. ”I am not alone,” he said. ”I do not have to carry alone what, in truth, I could never carry alone.”
A pair of Colombian military helicopter gunships struck at guerrilla positions at the rebel-held town of Tacueyo on Saturday as the government tried to wrest control of the region away from the Marxist fighters. The engagement indicates the insurgents feel confident enough to stand their ground and confront government forces.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions says the alliance between itself, the African National Congress and the South African Communist Party is stronger than ever, and that differences on how to handle political instability in Zimbabwe will cease to be an issue. The alliance held a two-day summit in Johannesburg this week.
It is the priority of people to make sure that South African children can read fluently by the third grade, Minister of Education Naledi Pandor said on Saturday. She was speaking at the launch of the Readathon Campaign 2005 at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. The launch coincided with World Book Day, which was celebrated worldwide.