Madagascar win Cosafa Cup

Durban - Madagascar's Rajaonison Toljoniaina Edith Jean made the Lesotho line up turn green with envy, with his 70th minute strike earning the islanders their first Cosafa Under-20 title in Umlazi on Sunday.

Lesotho enjoyed the majority of possession during the final of southern Africa's premier Under-20 tournament, but it was the Madagascar "green machine" that came out tops with a 1-0 victory.

Madagascar's young stars, whose every touch of the ball was cheered on by a vocal group of travelling supporters, also made their way to the podium to collect individual awards, with Ramiadamanana Claudio collecting the Player of the Tournament award, while Rabefitia Pamphile scooped the Top Goalscorer of the Tournament honours, with eight goals scored.

Amajita goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was named the Goalkeeper of the Tournament, while the South African side were honoured with the Fair Play tournament award.

In the playoff for third and fourth places, Zambia saw off the Amajita challenge with goals by Robert Gondwe (33rd minute) and Ignatius Lwipa (89th minute), setting up the Zambians' 2-0 win.

Namibia U-20s out of Cosafa

NAMIBIA'S dream of reaching the knockout stages of the Vodacom Under-20 Youth Cup in South Africa were dashed after losing 2-0 to Angola in a crucial decider at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban yesterday.




Madascar and Angola made it to the knock-out stages and join South Africa and Zambia who were also succesfull in their respective groups.

Namibia trailed 1-0 at half-time.

South Africa beat Botswana 2-0 to make it to the semis, while Zambia buried Swaziland 6-3 in the end.

The Namibian team is expected to return home today.

The Namibian side was on track to at least land a place in the semi-finals of the competition after two consecutive wins against Seychelles (3-1) and Malawi (2-0).

In their opening match of the event, which features 13 countries from southern Africa, Namibia went down 8-0 to a strong team from Madagascar.

Madagascar repeated the same feat yesterday when they bundled Seychelles out of the tournament with a 7-0 score at the final whistle.

Madagascar have in total garnered nine points from their three wins, but lost a match against Angola on Tuesday.

In other matches yesterday, Mozambique lost 1-0 to Zimbabwe, while Lesotho went past Mauritius by netting four goals to none.

The match results of the tournament are as follows: Day One: Zambia 5-1 Lesotho, Namibia 0-8 Madagascar, Mauritius 2-1 Swaziland, Seychelles 3-2 Malawi, Mozambique 2-0 Botswana, South Africa 1-1 Zimbabwe.

Day Two: Malawi 2-3 Madagascar, Seychelles 1-5 Angola.

Day Three: Botswana 0-0 Zimbabwe, Swaziland 0-4 Lesotho, South Africa 1-0 Mozambique, Zambia 2-0 Mauritius, Malawi 4-1 Angola, Namibia 3-1 Seychelles.

Day Four: Angola 1-0 Madagascar, Malawi 1-2 Namibia.

Day Five: Mozambique 0-1 Zimbabwe, Mauritius 0-4 Lesotho, Seychelles 0-7 Madagascar.

Soccer: Angola`s Under-20 Team Get Second COSAFA Cup Win

Luanda, 12/07 - Angolan under-20 soccer team attained on Tuesday their second victory in the COSAFA Castle Lager Cup being played in South Africa, with a 1-0 win over Madagascar, in a third round match.

The Angolans, who thrashed Seychelles by 5-0 in the first round and lost in the second against Malawi (1-4), need only a draw in order to guarantee their presence in the next stage. Angola`s next match will be against Namibia.

Meanwhile, the referee who officiated on Monday the Angola-Malawi match was suspended due to irregularities against the national team.

Madagascar to make bow at Hong Kong Sevens

The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) today announced the 24 teams that will compete at the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2006, March 31-April 2.



England will return to Hong Kong with their eyes on an unprecedented fourth consecutive title, but standing in their way will be the elite of the Sevens world, including six-time IRB Sevens Series champions New Zealand, and Rugby World Cup Sevens champions Fiji.

19 teams from this year's RWC Sevens will return for the 2006 event, which will mark 30 years of the Hong Kong Sevens. The 19 teams will be joined by China, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Wales, and a nation that is currently enjoying a fascinating up-surge in rugby - Madagascar.

Madagascar, following on from their appearance in the final of this year's CAR (Confederation of African Rugby) Top Nine Championship, have been invited to Hong Kong for the first time, and will compete in their first IRB Sevens tournament - capping off a remarkable and memorable centenary year for rugby on the African Isle.

'A true love of rugby'

"We are very excited to welcome Madagascar to Hong Kong for the first time. They overcame the South Africa Amateur XV to reach the final of this year's CAR Top Nine final, and rugby is enjoying a fascinating up-surge in Madagascar.


"We have been told that there is a true love of rugby among the people of Madagascar, we would encourage all members of the local Malagasy community to get along to the Sevens and support their team" said HKRFU Executive Director, Allan Payne.

"We are happy to see all the leading nations return, but the HKRFU are particularly pleased that we have been able to increase the number of teams from Asia in 2006. The Hong Kong Sevens has been instrumental in the development of rugby in Asia in the past 30 years, and we are delighted that we can continue to provide an international stage for Asian rugby playing countries to compete on." added Payne.

The Ticket Sale for the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2006 will be held this Saturday, 10 December, at the Hong Kong Stadium.

The public will have the exclusive opportunity on the day to buy tickets for the Sevens. The ticket price will be HK$880 per adult and HK$300 per child up to the age of 12 years old. Sales will be limited to 4 tickets per person. Children's tickets will be limited, and will be sold on a first come, first served basis. Tickets will go on sale at 12 noon local time.


Cathay Pacific / Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2006 - competing teams

New Zealand
Canada
Chinese Taipei
England
Scotland
China
Fiji
Kenya
Hong Kong
South Africa
Wales
Singapore
Australia
Portugal
Japan
Samoa
Russia
Sri Lanka
Argentina
Italy
Madagascar
France
Korea
USA

Released by the Hong Kong rugby Football Union
For more information, please contact

Rita Wong:
T: +852 2504 8344 / F: +852 2576 7237
E: rita.wong@hkrugby.com


CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF THE HONG KONG SEVENS

Madagascar showed just how serious their challenge

earlier matches played over the weekend, Safanet reports that Madagascar showed just how serious their challenge is in a bid to win their first Vodacom Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) Under 20 youth title, by outplaying Malawi 3-2 in an action-packed Group C fixture at the Chatsworth Stadium on Sunday.

This win follows their 7-0 thumping of Namibia on the opening day of southern Africa's annual premier Under 20 showpiece event on Saturday.

In another Group C fixture played at the Chatsworth Stadium on Sunday, Angola opened their account at this year's tournament by handing the Seychelles a 5-0 defeat. Results from Saturday's matches:

Zambia 5 Lesotho 1, Namibia 0 Madagascar 7, Mauritius 2 Swaziland 1, Seychelles 0 Malawi 2, Mozambique 2 Botswana 0, South Africa 1 Zimbab- we 1.

Ramiaramanana wins ITF final

Results
Boy’s final
Ramiaramanan bt Mensah
7-6, 7-6
Doubles
Mensah/Mesfin bt Hodorov/Michelevitz 6-1,6-4
Girl’s final
Studena bt N.Smith
6-3, 6-0
Doubles
Studena/Jagianhi beat Smith/Davin 6-4, 6-4

Madagascar's Lofo Ramiaramanana (right) and Veronika Studena of Czech Republic have bagged gold medals and 40 ITF ranking points each after winning the Kampala leg of the Group 4 ITF Junior Circuit that ended yesterday.

Ramiaramanana took the boys singles top accolade after shocking the tournament seed 1 Emmanuel Mensah of Ghana in two grueling sets that lasted 90 minutes.
Ramiaramanan deservedly won the match 7-6 and 7-6 to end Mensah's reign at the helm.

The biggest shock of the tournament however came in the girls' final when little-known seed 25 Veronika Studena proved a worthy force as she dismissed seed 2 Nicole Smith of South Africa in two quick sets 6-3, 6-0.

Studena combined with India's Anahita Jagitiani to overcome Nicole Smith (South Africa) and Suzelle Davin (Namibia) in the tense girls doubles finale 6-4, 6-4.

Mensah paired with Ethiopia's Gelawdiyos Mesfin to end on a high. The duo beat Israel's pair of Guy Michelevitz and Tomer Hodorov 6-1, 6-4 in the boys' doubles final.
All of Uganda's 12 players remarkably increased their individual rankings ahead of the last leg in Nairobi at Parklands Club scheduled for Dec. 9-13.

Innocent Ndawula
Lugogo

Malawi win again

The Malawi Under-20 side thrashed Angola 4-1 on Monday in its third game at the ongoing Under-20 Vodafone Cosafa tourney at Chatsworth ground in Durban, South Africa.
This followed after they gave away a comfortable 2-0 at some point in the first half against Madagascar on Sunday to slumped to a 3-2 defeat in the second match.
According to Fam president Walter Nyamilandu, Malawi, who were playing their second game having seen off Seychelles 2-0 in their opening Group C game, led 2-1 at half time, but Madagascar came from behind to win the game.
In Saturday’s game, Peter Wadabwa scored both goals for Malawi. Group C comprises Malawi, Angola, Seychelles, Madagascar and Namibia.

by Nation Reporter

National Team Play Madagascar In Cosafa Cup

Luanda, 12/06 - The Angolan national soccer team, under-20 side, will play this afternoon Madagascar in a game for the third round of Cosafa Cup, taking place in Durban, South Africa, Angop was informed.

In the second round, the national squad was defeated (1-4) by Malawi, on Monday.

In the opening round, Angola crushed Seychelles by 5-1.