S Africa team 'a bunch of losers'

'They are a bunch of losers' ... South Africa's sports minister Fikile Mbalula (right) has launched a stinging attack against the nation's football team after their loss to Nigeria on Sunday. Source: Gallo Images / Getty Images

SOUTH Africa's players are "a bunch of losers" and the former World Cup host's national team is in a state of crisis, according to the country's outspoken sports minister.

Fikile Mbalula, often a vocal supporter of South African sports teams, launched his stinging and surprising criticism of Bafana Bafana a day after they lost 3-1 to Nigeria and were eliminated at home in the group stage of the lower-level African Nations Championship.

"What I saw was not a problem of coaching, it was a bunch of losers," Mbalula said. "Their performance was not even lacklustre, it was useless. The mediocrity that was displayed yesterday ... we must never wake up to that again."

Mbalula said he felt like "just standing up and walking out" of Sunday's loss to Nigeria at Cape Town Stadium.

"We indeed have a crisis of monumental proportions," he said, describing the players as "unbearable, useless individuals."

Mbalula's assessment - sitting alongside South African Football Association President Danny Jordaan - came amid deepening gloom for South Africa's football followers, whose team appears to be regressing after being the first African host of a World Cup.

Playing at home again, South Africa only beat Mozambique in Group A at the African Nations Championship, the continental tournament for home-based players. It drew with Mali and was outplayed by Nigeria and only scored through a late penalty after Stephen Keshi's young Super Eagles team - missing all its Europe-based stars - had put the result beyond doubt.

The early exit from a tournament South Africa backed itself to win is a new low for Bafana Bafana, which hasn't qualified for a major competition it hasn't hosted since 2008. Africa's richest country and with the continent's best football facilities, South Africa missed the World Cup in 2006 and also failed to make the tournament in Brazil this year, and wasn't even among the final 10 teams in African qualifying.

South Africa also failed to qualify for the 2010 and 2012 African Cups, only appearing in last year's continental championship as host.

South Africa coach Gordon Igesund said the team wasn't good enough. Midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala also made a public apology.

"It is honestly hurting," said Tshabalala, the man who scored the opening goal at the 2010 World Cup. "We are hurting and we know the nation is also hurting, and we are not proud of not doing well."

Jordaan said there would be a major review of the national setup and SAFA would consider a new nickname and new colours for Bafana Bafana.

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Vidic concedes title, Moyes vows to fight

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MANCHESTER United captain Nemanja Vidic contradicted manager David Moyes by saying the reigning champions could no longer win the Premier League title this season following their defeat by Chelsea.

Sunday's 3-1 loss at Stamford Bridge left United a huge 14 points behind leaders Arsenal with just 16 games of the season remaining.

Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o scored a hat-trick to exposed United's defensive frailties and the defeat was compounded for the visitors when Vidic was sent off late on for a rash challenge on Eden Hazard.

Asked if United were now too far adrift of Arsenal to retain their title, centre-back Vidic told Sky Sports: "Yes, I think so now we are too far behind. We have to focus now to get in the top three, top four. We have to be positive."

Of more immediate concern for United is that they are six points adrift of the top four, with the once unthinkable prospect of failing to qualify for the Champions League now a possibility.

"It's not going to be easy but we have to now fight for different things," said Vidic.

"We have to focus on the (League) Cup and the Champions League. It's never easy but we have to stay positive, we have to stick together, we have to work hard to change the things around.

"Hopefully we can play better football and with a bit of luck I think we can achieve that."

By contrast, a defiant Moyes - in his first season as United manager since succeeding the retired Alex Ferguson - insisted after Sunday's match that he would not "throw the towel in".

"What we won't do is throw the towel in until we can't get there," said Moyes, whose side replied through Javier Hernandez.

"The job's to try and finish first and we'll keep trying to do that. There's no clever answers except, 'Try and win the next game.'

"I think before today (Sunday), we came into it and we'd lost one game in the league in six - not a bad run.

"And I didn't think there was a big difference in the teams today, I didn't at all. The difference was two set-pieces and nothing else."

United have now been beaten seven times in the league, having lost five games or fewer in each of the past three seasons, but Moyes said that he did not feel under any added pressure.

Asked how his confidence was holding up, the former Everton manager replied: "Fine. It's a difficult task, but perseverance, keep doing what's right - I thought we did a lot of good things today.

"We've got players to come back and this is a project where I know I'm going to improve as it goes along. There will be changes as we go along on the journey and I'm looking forward to it.

"It's a massive challenge. I hoped I would be in a far better position than this, but I'm not, so the challenge is there for me. I think if you're a football person, it's a great one to have."

Moyes was once again without injured first-choice strike pair Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, and when asked if they would return to training on Monday, he would only reply: "I hope so."

United finished the game with 10 men after Vidic was sent off for chopping Hazard, while Rafael da Silva was booked for a wild foul on Gary Cahill.

Vidic, reflecting on his red card, said: "I think it was a bit harsh because I went for the ball. Hazard is a sharp player, he just pushed the ball."

Moyes added: "I think when players are frustrated, and it happens also to my players, things like this can happen."

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Nadal prevails in straight-sets slog

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RAFAEL Nadal has vowed to take less time between points after being irked by umpire Eva Asderaki's strict enforcement of the rules during a torrid fourth-round Australian Open win over Kei Nishikori at Melbourne Park yesterday.

Nadal was pushed to the limit by Nishikori in a 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 7-6 (7-3) arm wrestle, and annoyed by two separate warnings from Asderaki for taking longer than the allowed 20secs between points.

The reigning French and US Open champion also was warned for receiving coaching as he battled to subdue Nishikori in 3hrs,15mins.

The Spaniard spoke briefly with Asderaki at the end of a gruelling contest, clearly irritated by her interpretation of the timing issue.

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While peeved by the timing of Asderaki's second warning at 4-all (deuce) in the second set, Nadal admits he needs to take less time.

"I accept the rules, Sometimes I am wrong," he said.

"Sometimes I am too slow and I accept that.

"I respect the decision of the referee even if I am not happy for that, because (it) was not the right moment to do it, in my opinion, before an advise. But she did.

"I going to try to go quicker for the future.

"But is important to have people on the chair that really understand the game and people who manage this sport who understand the game, and that's it.

Rafael Nadal in action against Kei Nishikori. Source: Getty Images

"The negative thing in my opinion is not the warning. The negative thing is the moment - 4-all, deuce.

"You can choose another moment to do it (issue a warning), not that one.

"Another thing is she didn't advise me before the second warning that I was still going slow.

"The normal thing is (to) say 'Rafa, you are going too slow.'

"So I try to go quicker, before the second warning.

"But she didn't make it...in my opinion, that goes against the show."

Rafael Nadal celebrates after beating Kei Nishikori. Source: AFP

The dispute prompted coach and commentator Brad Gilbert to call for the installation of clocks on court to alert players to potential time violations.

Nadal is renowned as a player who takes the maximum allowed time between points, but generally responds well to pressure from umpires to speed up.

Nadal was relieved to earn a tilt at 22nd seed Grigor Dimitrov, the first Bulgarian male to reach a grand slam quarter-final after a dogged 6-3 3-6 6-2 6-4 triumph over Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut.

"It was a very difficult match," Nadal said, referring to Nishikori's challenge.

"I was close to lose (ok) very set. Kei played very well. He hits the ball very early, which is very difficult, and he does it very easy.

"The ball was coming back fast."

Rafael Nadal celebrates winning the second set against Kei Nishikori. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Limited

Chasing a second Australian Open crown, Nadal endured a rollercoaster afternoon.

Flamboyant Dimitrov follows the famed Maleeva sisters - Manuela, Katerina and Magdaleeva - and Sesil Karatantcheva and Tsvetana Pironkova - as Bulgarian members of the grand slam's last eight club.

Now coached by Australian Roger Rasheed, former prodigy Dimitrov is delivering on undisputed talent.

A Wimbledon and US Open junior champion, Dimitrov last year hooked up with Rasheed, a no-nonsense figure renowned for demanding physical and mental toughness from his charges.

Dimitrov, 22, was elated to reach the quarters, but has designs on going even deeper.

"First of all, I'm really happy to be out there in the quarter-final," he said. "(But) I'm not even close to satisfaction.

"I've been working really hard in the past year, especially in the off-season.

"Whether I like it or not, the patience is one of the main ingredients to become good."

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Radwanska to meet Azarenka

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THE consistency of Agnieszka Radwanska has extinguished the hot streak of rising Spanish star Garbine Muguruza.

Muguruza has been one of the finds of the Australian summer after winning the title in Hobart as as qualifier but the experience of Poland's No.5 seed was too much, with Radwanska progressing 6-1 6-3.

She now plays defending champion Victoria Azarenka in the quarter-finals.

HOTTEST PICTURES: DAY 8 AT THE OPEN

Radwanska, a semi-finalist in Wimbledon in 2012, took a long time to break down Muguruza in the opening set with the first five games taking almost half-an-hour.

But once she gained the crucial break, the inexperience of Muguruza, who has risen to No.38 in the world, was exposed and she meekly surrended the set with a spate of unforced errors.

Radwanska, who will be making her fifth appearance in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park, quickly got an early break in the second set and then comfortably held the advantage.

SEE HOW OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF DAY 8 UNFOLDED BELOW

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Ali helps Pakistan to series-leveller

Pakistani batsman Azhar Ali (left) celebrates after scoring a century (100 runs) as Pakistan's cricket team captain Misbah-ul-Haq looks on during the final day of their third and final cricket Test match against Sri Lanka. Source: Ishara S.KODIKARA / AFP

AZHAR Ali hit a brilliant hundred as Pakistan pulled off a thrilling win in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Monday, levelling the series 1-1.

Set a daunting 302 to win in a possible 59 overs, Pakistan owed their successful chase to Ali's fifth Test century (103) as he and Misbah-ul-Haq shared a 109-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Misbah, who finished with 68 not out, hit the winning single with nine balls to spare in fading light.

Ali, ironically dropped for the first two Tests, hit paceman Suranga Lakmal for a boundary, then twice took two to reach his hundred off 133 balls.

He hit six boundaries before falling caught behind with just seven still needed to win.

Pakistan's chances seemed to have faded away at 107-3 at tea, as they needed 195 in the last 35 overs. But Ali upped the tempo during a rapid 89-run partnership in 14.5 overs with Sarfraz Ahmed (48) which left Sri Lanka on the defensive.

Even when Sarfraz was out, caught behind off paceman Shaminda Eranga, Pakistan needed 116. Sarfraz hit four boundaries and a six off 46 balls.

But Misbah supported Ali as Pakistan achieved their second best chase in all Test cricket, behind the 314 they chased against Australia in Karachi in 1994.

Sri Lanka had won the second Test in Dubai by nine wickets while the first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan had lost Ahmed Shehzad (21), Khurram Manzoor (21) and Younis Khan (29) as they were derailed in their chase.

Needing to score at a rate of more than five an over to win, Pakistan were given a rapid 35-run start by the sixth over but paceman Suranga Lakmal (3-79) halted that progress by dismissing openers Shehzad and Manzoor within 13 runs.

Younis Khan tried to increase the pace before being caught off Angelo Mathews two overs before tea, but the scenario changed in the last session.

With the series tied, Pakistan also remained unbeaten in five series in the United Arab Emirates, which has become their home since security fears - sparked in the wake of attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009 - forced them to play at neutral venues.

They twice drew series with South Africa (2010 and 2013) and beat Sri Lanka (2011) and England (2012).

Misbah said Pakistan desperately wanted the win.

"That was really a much wanted win. We wanted the win it for our coach Dav Whatmore and wanted to give him a winning farewell,'' said Misbah of the team coach who ends his two-year tenure with this match.

Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews regretted batting failure.

"We dominated for three-and-a-half days but unfortunately could not score big in the second innings and lost,'' said Mathews, declared man-of-the-series for his 412 runs in three Tests.

Earlier, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 214 in their second innings, with left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman finishing with 4-56 and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal taking 3-53, but not before their batsmen had kept Pakistan at bay on the morning of the fifth and final day.

On an exciting day when both teams had a chance of victory, Mathews (31) and Prasanna Jayawardene (49) shared a 62-run stand for the sixth wicket and batted positively to add 56 in the first hour after the tourists resumed at 133-5.

But Mohammad Talha gave Pakistan their much-needed breakthrough when he had Mathews caught off a miscued hook.

Rehman then grabbed two quick wickets to put the brakes on Sri Lanka, having Dilruwan Perera caught at short-leg for eight before removing Rangana Herath for a first-ball duck.

Herath recorded a golden pair in the match as he was also dismissed first ball in the first innings.

Prasanna hit six boundaries in his 88-ball knock before he was dismissed by Ajmal, who also removed Shaminda Eranga to wrap up the innings.

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