MaltaToday previous editions

maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 2014 20 Sport FOOTBALL BASKETBALL CRICKET Vieira blasts new Italian FA president Tavecchio Patrick Vieira has condemned Carlo Tavecchio's election as the president of the Italian Football Federation S E V E N T Y O N E Y E A R O L D Tavecchio was put in office on Monday, winning 63.63 per cent of votes cast in the hunt for Giancarlo Abete's replacement. His name has been marred by al- legations of racism, though, relat- ing to supposed comments made about African players eating ba- nanas. Tavecchio has denied any wrong- doing but Vieira - born in Senegal and who played for three Italian clubs during an illustrious career - thinks his election sends out the wrong message. Writing on Twitter he said: "I'm finding it really hard to believe that Carlo Tavecchio has been elected as president of the Italian FA after the comments that he made. For me, that shows how far away the Italian football authorities are from dealing with discrimination." The Manchester City director of elite development added: "I played in Italy for years so I know the is- sues, I saw the issues. "If he was an English man making this kind of comment, politically, he would be completely out. "This decision was made in foot- ball, but I think it is bigger than football. It should make the whole country of Italy look at the message they want to send about what they think about racism. "I can't believe he will represent the Italian Football Authorities. What a shame." Patrick Vieira Floriana basketball nursery in Priolo THE Floriana Basketball nursery has just returned from Priolo Sic- ily were they participated in the 1st "SANTINO COPPA BASKET CAMP" 2014. This was the first time that the Floriana nursery participated in an International Camp since incep- tion two years ago. Experienced Coach Santino Cop- pa, who led the Malta women's na- tional team winning 7 medals out of which 4 gold between 2002 and 2012 also winning 2 Italian Cham- pionships and a European Cup for Women's Champion Clubs in 1990, was the person behind this Camp together with Slovenian junior Na- tional coach Tedi Devetak. The camp was structured differ- ently from other camps were the focus was mostly on the learning the fundamentals in a correct way. One of the guest Stars at the camp was Susanna Bonfiglio who played all of her professional career with Trogylos Priolo and also one sea- son in the WMBA with Phoenix Mercury. The Maltese children faired very well with the Italian participants and one of the girls Amy Camilleri also won the three point competi- tion for her category. Together with the Maltese children the rest of the group came from Patti, Augusta, Siracusa and home town of Priolo. The Maltese group was also accom- panied by a number of parents. All those who participated are al- ready thinking for the next experi- ence in July 2015. The Floriana Bas- ketball Nursery would like to thank Santino Coppa and the Floriana nursery officials the work they did and making this event possible. Marauders earn great win ON Saturday the CRIC HQ MCA Summer league continued with the Marsa C.C taking on the Maraud- ers C.C. It was a low scoring tense game. Marsa batted first and had a huge fright with great bowling from Paul Bradley and Ed Manning who took a couple wickets each and had Marsa four wickets down for seven runs. This opening spell of bowling most likely helped in the final result of the game. Mark G.Sacco (seventeen runs ) and Andrew Naudi (twenty six runs) re built the innings for the Marsa team and both retired after facing thirty balls. Mathew White blasted twenty five runs from nineteen balls which included two bounda- ries. Strangely enough there were only three boundaries in the whole innings the other was hit by Naudi. The Marsa team totalled 102 runs from their overs, a very gettable score. For the Marauders, Brad- ley ended with three wickets while Mike Caruana was another wicket taker with three. The run chase did not start as well as the Marauders would of liked, having Phil Gibbs run out on the second ball of the innings. Aled Griffiths and Owen Jones short- ly followed and the Marauders were on the back foot. Sean Byrne (twenty four runs , and one six) and Garrett Kampff ( sixteen runs, two fours) brought back stability to the batting and both managed to re- tire. Dean Arnold managed to find the boundary on two occasions on his way to thirteen runs. Ed Man- ning was run out by a good piece of fielding from the bowler Derek Ali who ran picked up the ball turned round and direct hit the stumps which left Manning stranded. This brought together Mike Caruana (sixteen runs) and Paul Bradley (eleven runs) together, needing twenty four runs from five overs. It took them till the end of the nine- teenth over for Bradley to square cut the ball to the boundary which gave the Marauders their first win of the season. Marauders earned thirteen points for the victory while Marsa earned one point. Next Saturday the CRIC HQ MCA Summer league continues with the Marsa C.C playing Krishna C.C

• Cover