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Tennis Shocker: 35 year-old Haas Stuns Djokovic in Miami.

 

World number one Novak Djokovic Crashed out of the Miami Masters in the fourth round on Tuesday, losing in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 to German 15th seed Tommy Haas.

 

Defending champ Djokovic lost for first second time this season, never getting to grips with Haas, who kept the Serb off his game with a solid mixture of shots on a cool Southern Florida evening.

 

“There are days when you don’t feel good on the court and this is one of those clays.

 

I just didn’t final a solution to come back into the match. I made so many enforced errors on the fore-hand side” said Djokovic.

Haas, who turns 35 next week, advanced to the quarter-final where he will face Frenchman Gilles Simon who outlasted Djokovic’s countryman Janko Tipsarevic 5-7, 6-2, 6-2,

 

Haas easily won the first-set then clinched the victory on his second match point with a forehand winner to the open court, ending the one hour, 20 minute match on centre court.

 

The German has won three of seven Career meetings with Djokovic but this was his first win on the hard-courts with his other two coming on grass.

 

Djokovic,  who had won this event three times (2007, 2011, and 2012), had one double fault and won just 54 percent of his serves.

 

 

 

Flying Eagles to Face Portugal, Mexico or Paraguay after being dethroned as AYC Champion.

 

Contrary to the reports that was earlier given by some locally based Newspapers and Radio stations, dethroned African Champions, Flying Eagles will know their group opponents for the U-20 world cup after the AYC in Algeria.

 

According to the group stage draw made by FIFA for the U-20 World Cup 2013 which took place on Monday at the Grand Tarabya Hotel in Istanbul, Nigeria will have to wait till the end of the ongoing African Youth Championships to know where they exactly stand.

 

In an event they had won the AYC in Algeria, they would have automatically found themselves in group E where they will play with  England, Iraq and Chile.

 

But as they didn’t, they may be zoned into group B or D of the tournament to be decided in a special draw according to how they finish.

 

Host nation, Turkey have been drawn into group C with ElSalvador, Colombia and Australia while Spain is in group A with France, USA and the runners up of CAF Tourney.

 

Meanwhile, the flying Eagles failed to reach the final of the 2013 AYC after they lost 2-0 to Egypt on Tuesday in Ain Temouchant.

 

Nigeria will now take on Mali in a group B rematch on Friday by 5:30 pm in Oran to determine the third placed team: while Egypt who have not lost any game in the tournament will meet Ghana their group A opponents to decide the 2013 champion of the AYC on Saturday March 30.

 

FIFA U-20 world cup 2013 group stage draws: Group A (Istanbul, Kayseri): France, CAF Runners up USA and Spain.

Group B (Kayeri, Istanbul): Cuba, Korea Rep, CAF 2nd Runners up and Portugal

Group C (Trabzon, Rize, Gaziantep): Turkey, ElSalvador, Colombia and Australia.

 

Group D (Gaziantep, Trabzon): Mexico, Greece, Paraguay and CAF 4th team.

 

Group E (Antalya, Bursa): Chile, CAF Champions, England and Iraq.

 

Group F (Bursa, Antalya): OFC Champions, Uzbekistan, Urnaguay and Croatia.

Ti would noted here that two of the most successful teams in the competition, Brazil and Argentina will be missing in this years tournament hat will be played from 21 June to 13 July in the seven host cities.

 

 

ASEF honors Heartland Duo

 

The duo of Fan Ndubuoke, Heartland’s General Manager and Promise Nwachukwu, Team manager were on Saturday March 23 honoured by the Association of Ex-footballers, Owerri (ASEF), for their role’s in the amount  development archived by Heartland Fc.

 

During the occasion which took place at the Basketball Court of Dan Anyiam stadium, Owerri to mark the one year Anniversary of ASEF’S existence, Mr. Promise received the double honor on behalf of himself and his GM Mr. Fan.

 

In his statement during the presentation, the president of ASEF, Mr. Nevile Okere commended the efforts of the two recipients in transforming the fortunes of Imo State’s darling Club, Heartland football club in a space of two years.

 

He urged them not to rest in their Oars, charging them to always stay focused in their duties irrespective of their short comings and critics.

 

It would be recalled that Heartland Fc under the leadership of Fan and Promise has won the federation cup back-to-back (2011 and 2012), the charity cup (2012 and 2013) before recently wining the NPFL organized Super Four Tournament in January against teams like Kano Pillars (NPL Champions), Rangers Int. and Lobi Stars.

 

When Imo Trumpeta connered the ‘Team Manager Fantastic’ for comments’ Mr. promise expressed satisfaction over the recognition given to him and his GM by ASEF which is made up of ex-footballers and prominent citizens of Imo State and Nigeria.

 

He continued by saying that with this kind of commendations, it shows that the world is seeing and at the same time appreciating all the efforts of Heartland in general.

 

He however praising Mr. Fan (GM) whom he described as a visionary leader thanking him for bring out the besting  him on the job.

 

Nwachukwu also promised that the team will not and cannot rest on the achievements recorded so far insisting that the management is making every thing possible to ensure that more trophies are won.