Fergie's assistant writes off Chelsea

Manchester United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen has written off title rivals Chelsea as too old to provide a sustained challenge for the Premier League this season.
The Blues have nine players aged over 30 and Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant is convinced that will count against them as they try to keep pace with a United squad infused with young blood this season.
While Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has to rely on ageing stars like Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and John Terry, Meulensteen expects United starlets Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones, Tom Cleverley and Chris Smalling to sweep their rivals aside on a wave of enthusiasm.

South Africa lose out in Niger

Bafana Bafana were beaten 2-1 by Niger in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier Niamey on Sunday.

Niger's goals came from Dankwa E Kofi and Moussa Maazou, before Andile Jali brought one back for Bafana.

Mourinho believes in me - Kaka

Real Madrid's Brazil playmaker Kaka believes he retains the full confidence of club coach Jose Mourinho despite a spate of injuries and loss of form since his move to La Liga.
Real paid AC Milan around €70 million for Kaka, now 29, in 2009, a year before Portuguese Mourinho joined from Inter, but he has failed to reproduce the form that earned him the World Player of the Year award in 2007.

Manchester United announce record profits as Glazer family reduces Premier League club's debt

The reigning Premier League champions saw turnover increase by £45m to £331.4m in the year to the end of June, a record for an English club, exceeding the £313m recorded by Arsenal for the same period.

United’s gross debt stands at £458.9m and the club paid £51.2m in interest payments to bond holders in 2010-11, equivalent to 46 per cent of annual profits.

Overweight Tevez Stranded & Axed

Sitting in the stands in a strop has not been good for the career of Carlos Tevez.

It has also not been good for his body.

Apparently the unhappy Manchester City striker has placated his sadness with food. And his excess weight has led to his axing from the Argentina squad for their upcoming tour of Asia.

Turkey and Russia connection for Shabba

The Siya crew can reveal that there is interest in Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala from undisclosed clubs in Turkey and Russia.

Shabba’s business manager Jazzman Mahlakgane told the Siya crew that clubs in Turkey and Russia have enquired about the South African international and although the transfer window in western Europe is closing tonight at 24h00, the deadline in Turkey and Russia will only close next month, in September.

'Shabba' deal an "insult"

Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers have failed in their late bid to sign Siphiwe Tshabalala from Kaizer Chiefs. 

KickOff.com caught wind this late afternoon of a deal that could have been done in the background of what is the last day of the transfer window and kept tags on the matter and we can now reveal that Rangers put in an offer that has best been described as an "insult".

Tshabalala's business manager Jazzman Mahlakgane received a message from Rangers late on Wednesday afternoon that the deal was off.