We've no fear of Real Madrid, says Fabregas

Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas insisted on Sunday that his team will not fear Real Madrid when the first El Clasico meeting of the season takes place at the Bernabeu next weekend. Spanish and European champions Barcelona trail their bitter rivals by three points at the top of La Liga and have played a game more. But ex-Arsenal skipper Fabregas believes a victory will be the perfect send-off before they head to Japan for the Club World Cup.

Leal: We were brilliant

Orlando Pirates coach Julio Leal has praised his players following their 3-0 victory over log leaders SuperSport United last night. Goals from Benni McCarthy, Isaac Chansa and Ndumiso Mabena were enough to give the Buccaneers all three points and to hand United their first defeat of the season. This was also the first time that the Buccaneers had scored three goals in a League match, but what pleased Leal more was the fact that his side has now cut the gap between them and United to seven points.

Vladimir Vermezovic backs Bernard Parker to deliver

Kaizer Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic continues to back Bernard Parker, despite the striker struggling with his form. Parker, who was touted as the ideal replacement after Knowledge Musona left for Germany this season, has only managed to score one goal in the League.

Vlad V clashes with the media… again

Kaizer Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic has clashed with the media after a discussion over football tactics got out of hand.  

Vermezovic was speaking at a press conference ahead of the Chiefs versus Mamelodi Sundowns match on Sunday.
 
The media posed a question, asking whether Chiefs’ failure to win a match in the last three League matches could be perhaps that his players are not responding well to his tactics or he doesn’t have a quality team at his disposal to challenge for the League title.
 
His response infuriated the media…
 
Here is how it went down.
 
Bareng-Batho Korjaas (better known as ‘BBK’) of the Sunday Times: Earlier on, did I hear you correctly saying that you can only discuss tactics with people who understand tactics?
 
Vermezovic: Yes!
 
BBK: Am I correct in saying that you think that we (the media) do not understand tactics?
 
Vermezovic: No. I did not say you don’t understand tactics, but I said I discuss (tactics) with people who understand.
 
BBK: But you are discussing with us right now…
 
Vermezovic: It is not a discussion. It is a press conference and I will answer you or not.
 
BBK: It is for clarity’s sake, coach, because I don’t think a driving instructor can say he cannot discuss driving with people who cannot drive, because his job is also to teach those people to drive. So I’m just looking for clarity…
 
Vermezovic: What is your question?
 
BBK: I don’t have a question. I was looking for clarity, thank you.
 
Vermezovic: Okay.
 
In October last year, Vermezovic apologised to the media for claiming he had been misquoted, specifically by the Daily Sun over comments he made that he had better strikers than Kaizer Motaung Junior, which he later denied.

Hunt: ‘We respect Pirates’

SuperSport United remain the only team unbeaten in the Absa Premiership team this season, but in Orlando Pirates they face a team with an unblemished home record. It is all to play for on Saturday night! ‘Ezimnyama Ngenkani’, in sixth place, host ‘Matsatsantsa a Pitoli’, who are top of the log, at the Orlando Stadium with both teams looking to protect their records.

Vladimir Vermezovic says he will not resign from Kaizer Chiefs

Despite having lost three League matches this season, Kaizer Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic says has not lost hope of winning the title, and has no intention of resigning. 

Vermezovic is in the last year of his contract at Amakhosi, but is yet to deliver the championship trophy to Naturena.

'VV' and his team have not been enjoying the best of form in recent times, and their 2-0 loss to SuperSport United in Polokwane yesterday put a dent in their chances of winning the League.

But the Serbian warns people not to write off his team.

"We are still in the middle of the season and can't give up now," Vermezovic says. "We can't surrender now and we will fight until the end of the season."

VV also refutes reports going around that he will resign if Chiefs lose to Sundowns in Pretoria on Sunday.

"I am not going to resign," he says, emphatically. 

Nengomasha blames off-the-field problems

Nengomasha says that playing the Brazilians will be a big test at the Loftus Stadium this weekend.
 
"This will be a good stage for us to bounce back to our winning ways especially after losing to SuperSport," he says.
 
"It is not going to be easy though as Sundowns are also a big team and the character of both teams will be tested. We will go there to compete and hopefully get maximum points."
 
Amakhosi have gone three games without a win and without scoring a goal, but Nengomasha blames the off-the-field problems that engulfed at Naturena in the past few months.
 
"We started the season well but other factors crept in that contributed to us losing focus. The argument between the supporters and management didn't do things any good as we lost concentration of what we wanted to achieve as a team at the end of the season," he adds, without expanding on his comments.
 
"I believe we have players with the experience to bounce back and I am confident that we will soon take Chiefs back to the level where they belong," he adds.