From the pitch to the field – Man Utd launches limited edition tractor

No this is not an early April Fool’s Day joke. Manchester United now has a tractor with its logo on it!
Man United has teamed up with tractor manufacturer Yanmar to create a limited edition of tractors bearing the logo of the soccer club.

The 51hp output EF514MU tractor models are available on the Thai market as of today, March 3 and were launched in Bangkok with the help of soccer player Dwight York.
The tractor line will be complete with Man United-logoed stickers, wheel caps and floor mats, which Yanmar says ‘confer a sense of style, distinguishing the limited edition from the mass produced models’.

Unique design elements include the use of the Yanmar premium red on the tractor body and the wheels featurepremium gold tones.
On the more technical side of things, the tractors are installed with Yanmar’s own direct injection diesel engines.
This allows the them to achieve high fuel efficiency and power output in a variety of operation conditions.
There’s nine different speed ranges for forward and reverse operation on the models. Furthermore, a variety of attachments can be utilised to meet the various requirements of field work.
Yanmar has made constant efforts to promote soccer and even established its own team in 1957. It has been an official global partner of Manchester United since 2012.
With a view to expanding its business in southeast Asia, Yanmar is working to raise brand awareness through sports communication and share the passion and spirit of challenge that football inspires with enthusiastic fans in the region.
Its ties also include sponsorship of the AFC Champions League and several other national teams and clubs while in Thailand the company is an official top partner of Bangkok Glass, a premier league team there.

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Borussia Dortmund close gap on Bayern Munich

Mainz added some excitement to the Bundesliga season by becoming the first team to win at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena this season. Jairo Samperio and Jhon Cordoba were both on target as Mainz picked up an eye-catching 2-1 win in Munich which boosts their own hopes of qualifying for Europe next season.

Fifth coming into the game, Mainz are now serious candidates for a Europa League berth while they are level on 
points with fourth-placed Borussia Monchengladbach, raising the prospect of Champions League football arriving for the first time at the Coface Arena next season.
Arjen Robben scored the consolation for Bayern, who were beaten for only the second time all season.

That results enabled second-placed Borussia Dortmund to narrow the gap on Bayern to just five points with a 2-0 win at Darmstadt.
Dortmund took full advantage of Mainz's victory as Adrian Ramos and Erik Durm struck for Thomas Tuchel's under-strength side.
Bayern travel to the Westfalenstadion on Saturday where victory for Dortmund would see them close the gap at the top of the Bundesliga to just two points with 10 games of the season left to play.
Elsewhere, Hertha Berlin kept up their bid for Champions League football next season with a 2-0 win over strugglingEintracht Frankfurt, thanks to goals from Mitchell Weiser and Salomon Kalou.
Borussia Monchengladbach, meanwhile, kept up the pressure with a 4-0 win over Stuttgart.
Thorgan Hazard, Raffael, Patrick Herrmann and a Kevin Grosskreutz own-goal helped Andre Schubert's men pick up all three points.
Schalke got back to winning ways with a 3-2 triumph over Hamburg enabling them to move three points clear ofBayer Leverkusen, who were beaten 4-1 at home by Werder Bremen.
Claudio Pizarro - the league's most prolific goalscorer in 2016 with Bayern's Robert Lewandowski - scored a hat-trick to help Bremen move out of the bottom three and dent Leverkusen's hopes of qualifying for Europe next season.
Hoffenheim also picked up a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Augsburg and are now breathing down the neck of Frankfurt in the relegation play-off position. 

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10 funny things Barack Obama said (including Auburn joke) when Alabama visited White House

The latest Alabama trip to the White House East Room ran a few minutes behind schedule. When it began Wednesday afternoon, President Barack Obama had a few one-liners prepared.
Being the fourth such trip made in his presidency, Obama made that a theme.

"I guess for a lot of folks," he said, "it's welcome back."
The traditional welcomes included Alabama governor Robert Bentley and other dignitaries packed into the room. Obama praised the Crimson Tide's work ethic and mentioned a previous meeting with Derrick Henry at the National Prayer Breakfast. Obama was touched by the Heisman Trophy winner saying his prayer for all the people who could not eat breakfast that day.

Obama also noted the 16th Habitat for Humanity house that'll be built in Tuscaloosa to honor the latest championship.
In the middle of a politically charged week, Obama made the room laugh a few times during his nearly seven-minute speech. Here are a few of the highlights with a tag-team joke with Nick Saban at the end.
-- "My first question is, coach, what took you so long? It's been three whole years since I last saw you."
-- "Of course, a lot of recognition goes to somebody who's in the running to be the greatest college football coach of all time, Coach Nick Saban." (Not exactly funny, but notable)
-- "This is the fourth time I've hosted Alabama here at the White House. So clearly, I brought you some good luck."
-- "You can call me 'O-bama," the president said as the room laughed. "You like that?"
-- "The last time a team went on this kind of run was in the 1940s. Back then, folks were still wearing leather helmets. I don't feel like anybody in a leather helmet would do too well to trying to tackle Derrick Henry. Even with regular helmets, they didn't do too well."
-- "... Linebacker Reggie Ragland, who returned for his senior year to make good on a pledge he made to his momma that he'd get a degree. Just because he's big does not mean he's not scared of his momma."
-- "... a surprise fourth-quarter onside kick. That was one of the few times you saw Coach Saban smile on the sidelines."
-- "I know the people of Alabama are extraordinarily proud of this team, maybe the Auburn fans don't want to admit it, but everyone recognizes excellence when they see it and nobody's had more sustained excellence as a program at the collegiate level than the Alabama Crimson Tide."
-- "I'd like to say I'll see you next year, but we have this thing called term limits. So you can keep on going."
-- Saban: "Our captains would like to present you again." Obama: "I have a lot of these jerseys." 

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Malinzi congratulates new FIFA president

THE Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), president Jamal Malinzi, has formally written to Gianni Infantino to congratulate him after being voted in as the new president of football’s world governing body FIFA

In his congratulatory letter, Malinzi said the TFF and the entire football in Tanzania is

excited following Infantino’s election as the head custodian of global football. “We are full of trust in your promise of taking football forward and ensuring that FIFA wins back the trust of the football community, while serving the needs of its members.

He further said, “On behalf of the TFF, I promise you all the support you need while serving in your new position and wish you a successful tenure. Head of Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou, also wrote to Infantino to congratulate him. Infantino succeeds fellow Swiss Sepp Blatter, after polling 115 votes, 27 more than closest rival Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, at Friday’s election.

Infantino was not the favoured candidate of CAF, who had given its backing to Sheikh Salman. Despite that, Cameroon’s Hayatou - who had been FIFA’s acting president in the lead-up to the election - sent Infantino a letter, dated 27 February 2016, congratulating him on behalf of the CAF Executive committee and ‘the African football family’:

“Be assured of the continued support of CAF, African members of the new FIFA Council, as well as our commitment to strengthening the excellent relationship between CAF and FIFA,” Hayatou wrote. After his victory, Infantino promised to restore the image of FIFA, and Hayatou backed him to fulfil his pledge.

“We are confident that you will restore FIFA’s image backed by your career, skills, passion for football, understanding of the issues related to the future of football, and your desire to develop our sport around the four corners of the world,” said the CAF President.

With 54 member African confederations able to vote in the presidential election - more than any other FIFA region - CAF’s support for Sheikh Salman installed the Bahranian as a favourite to win.

But in the lead-up to the election, some African federations confirmed they would not be following CAF’s directive, including Liberia, whose FA Chairman Musa Bility claimed that 26 African FA presidents had told him they would not be voting for Sheikh Salman.

Meanwhile, the Arab region squandered the chance to help elect their first FIFA president because their two candidates failed to cooperate, leaving the door open for Swiss Gianni Infantino to triumph on Friday, Arab football chiefs and pundits said.

UEFA’s Infantino got 88 votes in the first round, three more than Asian Football Confederation (AFC) chief Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain, while Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan managed 27 and Frenchman Jerome Champagne won seven.

“Some countries gave promises but didn’t fulfil them. We are all Arabs but unfortunately some support the other party (candidate) and we hope this change in the future,” Bahrain FA president Ali Al Khalifa said in a television interview.

“We as Arabs should unite our efforts and be clear with each other.” “It appears from the first round that some countries have joined the other party (candidate). We have now to look forward and help FIFA’s new president get (the world governing body) out of the current crisis”, he added.

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Is Barcelona Preparing for an 'Intense Summer' Exciting, Frightening or Both?

Barcelona are prepared to compete during "an intense summer."

Economic vice-president Susana Monje, via the Daily Mail's Kieran Gill,

told Spanish outlet Movistar+ her club are keeping their plans concealed and "can't make public things [they] are working on," but the tenor of her quotes makes for supremely interesting reading, that Barcelona do not appear content as presently constituted.

It is a scary thought, especially considering the current La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League holders are already understood as Europe's best club. The report suggests "Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and Juventus superstar Paul Pogba" are potential targets for the Catalan giants—either or both would tilt the balance of European football further in Barca's already lopsided direction.

Since their 2015 transfer ban, Luis Enrique's side have a net spend of £11 million. Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal's arrivals were cushioned by the sales of Adama Traore and Pedro. It means—given their brand, sponsorships, prize winnings and televisions earnings—UEFA's financial fair play cannot restrict a massive Barcelona spending spree.

Barca have the monetary wherewithal to capture any target and the footballing stature to entice any world-class name (generally barring those at Real Madrid) into exchanging whatever colours for red, yellow and blue.

The notion of placing Pogba and/or Gundogan behind Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi is almost unfair. It is how football works, but if the thought is frightening, the application would be jarring.

An argument exists that Barcelona would be hard-pressed to find areas of improvement, but there are potential weaknesses at centre-back, full-back and central midfield as Andres Iniesta ages; Enrique's goalkeeping situation cannot be described as world class, but the possession-oriented and ostentatious attacking talent he boasts makes up for defensive frailties.

One thinks about La Masia in times like these.

Barca's "farmhouse" has been relatively barren of late. Talents like Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol, Pedro and plenty of others have either left, are finishing their careers or retired. Falling into the modern system of buying more than developing, it seems an interesting development at the Camp Nou.

Sergi Roberto looks the next solid talent to come from the venerable academy, but is he on the level of the world-class, superstar names from 10 to 15 years prior? Not really is the unfortunate answer in that regard.

Perhaps that's the largest problem. Once a club begins to outsource proven, established talent, the primary avenue to improving on those footballers is buying more proven, established talent.

If defenders are what Barcelona need in the upcoming window—despite the links with Pogba and Gundogan—they are more likely to search outside than inside. It is a shame, but shows if Barcelona are slowing down on playing youngsters, little hope remains for other massive footballing brands across Europe.

For the 2015/16 La Liga favourites to improve their squad this summer, the first thing is finding players who should leave and allow them to find greener pastures. Next is securing a top centre-back and full-back, then moving on to the more high-profile midfielders, wingers and forwards.

Barcelona have the money, means and motivation to tighten their grip on European football's neck.

If you are a Barcelonista, it is a wonderful time; everyone else needs to draw their blueprints—and quickly, lest this situation (that being Spanish and Champions League football) gets out of hand.

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Violent Clashes As Tottenham Take On Arsenal

Two people are held over public order offences as ugly scenes erupt before a tense North London derby.

Two people were arrested after violent clashes involving Arsenal and Tottenham supporters broke out ahead of the North London derby.

One fan could be seen with blood streaming down his face, while mobile phone footage shows mounted police surrounded by rowdy fans throwing cans.

The Metropolitan Police told Sky News two arrests were made for public order offences during separate altercations near White Hart Lane.

Tensions were higher than usual ahead of the game - which ended 2-2 - as both sides are involved in the Premier League title race.

It comes after 10 fans were arrested when the sides met in the Capital One Cup in September after Arsenal fans ripped off hoardings and smashed seats in the away end.

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Barcelona Football Club to Open Academy in Nigeria

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday welcomed the decision of Barcelona FC of Spain to establish its first football academy in Africa in the state.

Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House, Alausa while receiving the senior management staff of the football club, said he was delighted with the development.
He said it was in synchronised with his administration's philosophy for sports development.
Ambode also pledged maximum support of the government in ensuring the successful take off of the project.
He described the development as a historic moment for the state, saying it was indeed a thing of joy coming at a time when the government was still basking in the euphoria of the successful hosting of an international marathon.
Ambode said the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon was a major pointer to how Lagos could actualise its dream of improving the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state using sports as a major instrument.
"This visit by FC Barcelona is coming at a point where I believe strongly that we have nothing else to say than to say we are committed to this partnership because we know it will give us the first FCBEscola in Africa.
"I was made to understand that this is the first of its kind in Africa and so, Lagos is priding itself as a major receptor of the next academy to be established in Africa," he said.
The governor, who restated the importance of sports to integration and development, said that sports were the future of service to create a platform for youth employment and youth engagement in Lagos.
Ambode also pledged the full support of the government to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in hosting the first ever Beach Soccer African Nations Cup in Lagos between Dec. 10 and 23, 2016.
Earlier, Pau Vilanovai Vila-Abadal, Director of Business and Member of FC Barcelona Management Board, who led the team, thanked Ambode for the support given to them so far in actualising the project.
He said FC Barcelona decided to establish its Academy in Lagos due to the impressive population of the state, and the opportunity to share the philosophy of the team with the state.
On his part, Oscar Grau, Worldwide Director of Barcelona Academy, said it was indeed a big honour for the club to establish its academy in Lagos as many of the big names in the team started from such academy.
He said players like Messi, Iniesta, Sergio Busquet, Pique, among others, all started from such an academy.
The club has a unique methodology of instilling great virtues in footballers apart from football skills and education.
He added that through the academy the club also aimed to raise excellent players for Nigeria and that the core values of the club included efforts, team work, humility and respect. Also speaking, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick congratulated Ambode over the hosting of the Lagos International Marathon, saying it was one of the most successful tournaments in the world.

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Uefa agrees to move Man Utd v Liverpool kick-off

efa has agreed to Trafford Council's request to move the kick-off time of Manchester United's Europa League last-16 second-leg tie against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Thursday, 17 March.
The game was due to start at 18:00 GMT but the council expressed safety concerns about an early kick-off on St Patrick's Day and asked for the move.

United also reportedly favoured moving the kick-off.
European football's governing body has now agreed to a 20:05 GMT kick-off.
The first leg at Anfield is on Thursday, 10 March, at 20:05 GMT.

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10 funny things Barack Obama said (including Auburn joke) when Alabama visited White House

The latest Alabama trip to the White House East Room ran a few minutes behind schedule. When it began Wednesday afternoon, President Barack Obama had a few one-liners prepared.

 

Being the fourth such trip made in his presidency, Obama made that a theme.

"I guess for a lot of folks," he said, "it's welcome back."
The traditional welcomes included Alabama governor Robert Bentley and other dignitaries packed into the room. Obama praised the Crimson Tide's work ethic and mentioned a previous meeting with Derrick Henry at the National Prayer Breakfast. Obama was touched by the Heisman Trophy winner saying his prayer for all the people who could not eat breakfast that day.

Obama also noted the 16th Habitat for Humanity house that'll be built in Tuscaloosa to honor the latest championship.
In the middle of a politically charged week, Obama made the room laugh a few times during his nearly seven-minute speech. Here are a few of the highlights with a tag-team joke with Nick Saban at the end.
-- "My first question is, coach, what took you so long? It's been three whole years since I last saw you."
-- "Of course, a lot of recognition goes to somebody who's in the running to be the greatest college football coach of all time, Coach Nick Saban." (Not exactly funny, but notable)
-- "This is the fourth time I've hosted Alabama here at the White House. So clearly, I brought you some good luck."
-- "You can call me 'O-bama," the president said as the room laughed. "You like that?"
-- "The last time a team went on this kind of run was in the 1940s. Back then, folks were still wearing leather helmets. I don't feel like anybody in a leather helmet would do too well to trying to tackle Derrick Henry. Even with regular helmets, they didn't do too well."
-- "... Linebacker Reggie Ragland, who returned for his senior year to make good on a pledge he made to his momma that he'd get a degree. Just because he's big does not mean he's not scared of his momma."
-- "... a surprise fourth-quarter onside kick. That was one of the few times you saw Coach Saban smile on the sidelines."
-- "I know the people of Alabama are extraordinarily proud of this team, maybe the Auburn fans don't want to admit it, but everyone recognizes excellence when they see it and nobody's had more sustained excellence as a program at the collegiate level than the Alabama Crimson Tide."
-- "I'd like to say I'll see you next year, but we have this thing called term limits. So you can keep on going."
-- Saban: "Our captains would like to present you again." Obama: "I have a lot of these jerseys."

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Malinzi congratulates new FIFA president

THE Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), president Jamal Malinzi, has formally written to Gianni Infantino to congratulate him after being voted in as the new president of football’s world governing body FIFA

In his congratulatory letter, Malinzi said the TFF and the entire football in Tanzania is
excited following Infantino’s election as the head custodian of global football. “We are full of trust in your promise of taking football forward and ensuring that FIFA wins back the trust of the football community, while serving the needs of its members.

He further said, “On behalf of the TFF, I promise you all the support you need while serving in your new position and wish you a successful tenure. Head of Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou, also wrote to Infantino to congratulate him. Infantino succeeds fellow Swiss Sepp Blatter, after polling 115 votes, 27 more than closest rival Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, at Friday’s election.
Infantino was not the favoured candidate of CAF, who had given its backing to Sheikh Salman. Despite that, Cameroon’s Hayatou - who had been FIFA’s acting president in the lead-up to the election - sent Infantino a letter, dated 27 February 2016, congratulating him on behalf of the CAF Executive committee and ‘the African football family’:
“Be assured of the continued support of CAF, African members of the new FIFA Council, as well as our commitment to strengthening the excellent relationship between CAF and FIFA,” Hayatou wrote. After his victory, Infantino promised to restore the image of FIFA, and Hayatou backed him to fulfil his pledge.
“We are confident that you will restore FIFA’s image backed by your career, skills, passion for football, understanding of the issues related to the future of football, and your desire to develop our sport around the four corners of the world,” said the CAF President.
With 54 member African confederations able to vote in the presidential election - more than any other FIFA region - CAF’s support for Sheikh Salman installed the Bahranian as a favourite to win.
But in the lead-up to the election, some African federations confirmed they would not be following CAF’s directive, including Liberia, whose FA Chairman Musa Bility claimed that 26 African FA presidents had told him they would not be voting for Sheikh Salman.
Meanwhile, the Arab region squandered the chance to help elect their first FIFA president because their two candidates failed to cooperate, leaving the door open for Swiss Gianni Infantino to triumph on Friday, Arab football chiefs and pundits said.
UEFA’s Infantino got 88 votes in the first round, three more than Asian Football Confederation (AFC) chief Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain, while Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan managed 27 and Frenchman Jerome Champagne won seven.
“Some countries gave promises but didn’t fulfil them. We are all Arabs but unfortunately some support the other party (candidate) and we hope this change in the future,” Bahrain FA president Ali Al Khalifa said in a television interview.
“We as Arabs should unite our efforts and be clear with each other.” “It appears from the first round that some countries have joined the other party (candidate). We have now to look forward and help FIFA’s new president get (the world governing body) out of the current crisis”, he added.

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