Even before the Phakisa racetrack in Welkom was built, the government was officially warned that it could incur massive losses to the taxpayer, it emerged on Friday. The Free State government has spent R424-million on Phakisa in five years. During this time the racetrack earned an operational income of a mere R7,7-million.

With a lack of fuss and fanfare evident in his neat, tidy and unhurriedly sublime skills, on Saturday Dennis Bergkamp overtook Peter Schmeichel’s record for a foreign player of 252 Premiership games for one club. Surprisingly, Southampton’s Claus Lundekvam, on 245, will probably overhaul him.

As if Arsenal did not have enough to enjoy from their perch at the top of the Premiership, they were given three further reasons to celebrate this week. No sooner had the club confirmed that the funding is in place to enable their new stadium to be built than Arsène Wenger announced he will extend his contract.

Manchester United must hope Old Trafford is still capable of afflicting Porto with stagefright. Sir Alex Ferguson’s team did not suffer irreparable damage on Wednesday but, after another flawed performance and the 11th red card of Roy Keane’s career, they will need an exhilarating display to reclaim the European Cup.