The New Nation - Internet Edition

Barca must capitalise on flying start : Messi

Reuters, Madrid

Barcelona continue to set the standard in the Primera Liga with their best start to a league campaign but it will only count with a title win, according to Argentina forward Lionel Messi.

The Catalans lost their opening game at Numancia at the end of August and drew their second against Racing Santander at the Nou Camp, but then went on a nine-match winning run and have amassed 28 points, three more than unbeaten Villarreal in second.

"We are playing at a very high level," Messi said on the club's website (www.fcbarcelona.com) ahead of Sunday's home tie against mid-table Getafe (1800 GMT).

"But the most important thing is what happens at the end and we have to try to maintain this level through to the last day of the season," he added.

"We have to carry on playing the same way, continue to develop and collect points so that both we and the fans can enjoy ourselves."

Barca were able to extend their lead last weekend when none of their rivals in the top four won.

Villarreal conceded a late equaliser to draw 2-2 at Malaga, third-placed Valencia lost 3-2 at home to Sporting Gijon and Real Madrid's poor spell of form continued with a 1-0 defeat at Real Valladolid to leave them in fourth.

PUBLIC BACKING

Injury-plagued Real have had the added distraction this week of having to give public backing to beleaguered coach Bernd Schuster amid speculation his days at the Bernabeu are numbered.

But there was also some good news when central defender Pepe and midfielder Mahamadou Diarra both recovered sufficiently from recent knocks to go on midweek international duty for their respective countries, Portugal and Mali.

Villarreal could be boosted by the return of Nihat Kahveci for Saturday's game against Real Valladolid (1900) after he grabbed a couple of goals in a training match on Wednesday, the club said on their website (www.villarrealcf.es).

The Turkish striker, who has been out with a leg injury, was the club's top scorer last season and his goals played a key part in Turkey's progress to the semi-finals of the European Championship in Switzerland and Austria in the summer.

Valencia striker Fernando Morientes said the club are in good shape ahead of Saturday's clash at fifth-placed Sevilla (2100) despite last week's setback.

"There is not much we need to change and we need to get back to the positive dynamic we had at the start of the season," he said on the club's website (www.valenciacf.es).

"We are fairly reliable away from home and let's see if against a team like Sevilla, which likes to play the ball around, we can create opportunities and get the three points."

Tokai Kabaddi Stadium Tokai team in final

Sports Reporter

Stadium Tokai Kabaddi team moved into the final of the Orient Bread Second Tokai Kabaddi Competition when they beat Matuail Tokai Kabaddi team by 59-47 points with three lonas in their 'Super Three' match at the Dhaka Kabaddi Stadium on Friday.

Today Matuail Tokai Kabaddi team will face Dholpur Tokai Kabaddi team at the same venue.

Results of Div I Badminton

Sports Reporter

Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Neet Concern Badminton Club, Ahoban Badminton Club, Gulshan Sporting Club won their respective matches of the men's team event of the Fahami Group First Division Badminton League at the Dhaka Wooden Floor Gymnasium on Friday.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines blanked Tejkunipara Krira Sangha 5-0 sets, Neet Concern Badminton Club defeated Dewan Textile Badminton Club by 4-1 sets, Ahoban Badminton Club beat Maha Sporting Club by 3-2 sets and Gulshan Sporting Club outplayed Surjotarun Club by 5-0 sets.

Div I Hockey: Police emerge as champions

Sports reporter

Bangladsh Police AC emerged as the champions of the Green Delta Insurance First Division Hockey League when they defeated Farashganj SC by 5-1 goals in their Super League match at the Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Friday.

Police AC secured 30 points from 10 matches while Farashganj remained with 17 points from as many matches.

Police completed the first session with a 2-0 goal's lead.

Hasan of Police AC scored two goals and his teammates Rana, Babu, Shiplu successfully struck one time each on the board.

On the other hand, Rubel scored the consolation for the losers.

Jawaherlal Nehru Hockey: Bangladsh lose to South Central Railway

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh President XI lost to South Central Railway team by 5-3 goals in their second match of the 45th Jawaherlal Nehru Hockey Tournament at the Nehru Stadium in Haryana on Friday.

Bangladsh trailled the first half by 1-2 goals.

Nannu and Rimon of Bangladesh scored one goal each.

Earlier, Bangladesh President XI were defeated by Indian Petroleum Corporation by 5-1 goals in their first match on November 20.

Bangladesh President Xi played in the two matches without their seven key players.

Div II Football

BG Press beat Kadamtala

Sports Reporter

BG Press S&RC beat Kadamtala Sangsad by a solitary goal in the day's lone match of the Second Division Football League at the Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium on Friday.

Rabiul of BG Press S&RC scored the all-important goal in the 13th minute of the game.

BG Press S&RC collected 16 points from 14 matches while Kadamtala Sangsad earned four points from as many matches.

Today Karwan Bazar Progoti Sangha will meet Little Friends Club while Uttar Baridhara Club will face Euro Famous Club at the same venue.

BKSP Green emerges champions in 3rd division qualifying cricket

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Krira Sikkha Protishthan (BKSP) emerged champions in the qualifying round of the Metropolis 3rd Division Cricket League beating Mohammedan Cricket Academy by one wicket at the Dhaka University ground Friday.

In the day's another match, Tasin Hasin Cricket Academy defeated Little Friend Cricket Academy by huge 116 runs at Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium (DCS).

After the match, BKSP secured six points and Tasin Hasin CA bagged four points from three "super four" matches to qualify for the 3rd division league as the champions and runners-up of the qualifying round.

Batting first at the Dhaka University ground, Mohammedan CA were all out for 149 in 44.1 overs with Mehdi and Sadaf scoring 28 and 27 runs respectively.

Salehin grabbed three wickets for 31 runs while Mobarrat took two for 20.

In reply, BKSP Green reached their target scoring match-winner 152 for 9 in 44.1 overs with Tariqul making 39 runs. Sohag claimed four wickets for 32 runs.

In the day's other match at DCS, Tasin Hasin scored 243 for all in 45 overs with Tariqul contributing 80 and Tazin 40 runs. Reaz picked up five wickets for 40 runs.

In reply, Little Friends were dismissed for 127 runs in 29.2 ovewrs with Sakib making 36 runs.

Saju bagged five wickets for 30 runs while Apu took three for 14 runs.

Bangladesh batsmen, weather hold up South Africa

AFP, South Africa

Stubborn Bangladesh batting and an approaching storm threatened South

Africa's chances of an early win on the third day of the first Test at Springbok Park Friday.

Bangladesh were 67 for three in their second innings when the umpires took the players off the field 26 minutes before the scheduled lunch break because of a rapidly approaching electrical storm. Heavy rain started falling soon afterwards.

The tourists were still 221 short of avoiding an innings defeat but they showed far more resolve than in the first innings when their top order crumbled against the South African pace attack.

Only two wickets fell during the morning after Bangladesh resumed at 20 for one. It took South Africa 50 minutes to make the first breakthrough of the day when Tamim Iqbal flashed at a wide, lifting delivery from Makhaya Ntini and was caught behind

for 20.

Junaid Siddique fell for 27 shortly before play was halted when he was forced onto the back foot by Jacques Kallis and was also caught behind.

South Africa were without left-arm spinner Paul Harris, who was flown to Cape Town to see a specialist after suffering a fracture to the base of his left thumb before play Wednesday.

He is expected to be out of action for three to four weeks and will miss the second and final Test against Bangladesh starting in Centurion Wednesday.

He will also miss the inaugural Champions League tournament in India next month but is expected to be fit for the three-match series against Australia which starts in Perth on December 17.

Bangladesh wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim received a reprimand from International Cricket Council match referee Alan Hurst for showing dissent when he was dismissed in the first innings.

Miss World to spice up Confederations Cup draw

AFP, Johannesburg

Miss World contestants will bring charm and glamour as they assist during Saturday's draw for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in Johannesburg, organisers said in a statement Friday.

"The eight Miss World candidates from the respective participating countries and continents-Brazil, Egypt, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, United States and reigning Miss World-will lend a helping hand during the draw to determine the two groups for the eight-team competition," it said.

Miss World Zilin Zhang, who is from China, will represent Asian Champions Iraq at the draw, the statement said.

The eight beauty queens will assist FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke during the draw, also to be witnessed by the body's vice president Jack Warner and CAF president Issa Hayatou, it said.

The 58th Miss World pageant will be held in Johannesburg on December 13.

"Hosting as prestigious as event as the Miss World competition again underlines South Africa's ability to stage major global events. And as for the beautiful contestants

assisting me on Saturday, it is certainly a draw I will be looking forward to more than most," Valcke said in the statement.

The Confederations Cup has traditionally been used to test a host country's state of preparedness for the World Cup.

The World Cup, which will be played in Africa for the first time, will be staged from June 11 to July 11, 2010. Its final draw will be held on December 4 in Cape Town.

The June 14 to 28 Confederations Cup, to be staged in four South African stadia, is expected to bring together continental football champions ahead of the 2010 World Cup.