Morning Sports Wrap - 23 December 2016
Sundowns are up to seventh in the Absa Premiership standings. This follows a 1-0 victory over Baroka FC last night. Hlompho Kekana scored the Sundowns winner in Polokwane.
Sundowns are six points behind leaders Supersport United.
Sundowns have played five games less than Supersport.
Bafana Bafana are at 60 in the latest FIFA rankings.
They share this spot with Mali.
Argentina top the rankings, while Brazil are ranked second and Germany third.
Senegal is the top African country at 33 in the rankings.
Sam Allardyce is favourite to fill the managerial vacancy at Crystal Palace.
The Eagles yesterday sacked Alan Pardew with Palace 17th in the English Premiership standings.
Club chairman, Steve Parish, says the expansive game used by Pardew did not work and that a move in the opposite direction is required.
Allardyce, who is 62, has been unemployed since leaving the England post earlier this year.
Allardyce has never been relegated as a manager.
Manchester United have asked fans if they would want standing back at Old Trafford.
This if standing at games was made legal.
Premiership and Championship stadiums have had to be all-seater venues since terraces were outlawed in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster.
Premier League clubs recently held talks on the possibility of introducing so-called safe standing at grounds.
Standing areas featuring retractable seats are currently used at Glasgow Celtic and at some stadiums in Germany.
An improved atmosphere is considered one of the benefits of standing areas.
The Hillsborough Support Group is not in favour of the re-introduction of standing areas saying it would be a backward step.
Newcastle United midfielder, Jonjo Shelvey, has decided not to contest his five-match ban for using racially abusive language.
Shelvey was charged over an incident involving Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Romain Saiss back in September.
Shelvey, a former Liverpool player, claims he is innocent, but also says that he does not expect an appeal to change anything.
Proteas head coach, Russell Domingo, says they enjoy playing in Port Elizabeth.
Domingo feels the abrasive wicket there tends to suit his seam bowlers.
He also believes that the wicket is one on which batsmen have to grind out runs.
Domingo explains that the wicket is slow and requires patient batting.
He says patience is one of the strengths of his current crop of players.
Sundowns have played five games less than Supersport.
Bafana Bafana are at 60 in the latest FIFA rankings.
They share this spot with Mali.
Argentina top the rankings, while Brazil are ranked second and Germany third.
Senegal is the top African country at 33 in the rankings.
Sam Allardyce is favourite to fill the managerial vacancy at Crystal Palace.
The Eagles yesterday sacked Alan Pardew with Palace 17th in the English Premiership standings.
Club chairman, Steve Parish, says the expansive game used by Pardew did not work and that a move in the opposite direction is required.
Allardyce, who is 62, has been unemployed since leaving the England post earlier this year.
Allardyce has never been relegated as a manager.
Manchester United have asked fans if they would want standing back at Old Trafford.
This if standing at games was made legal.
Premiership and Championship stadiums have had to be all-seater venues since terraces were outlawed in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster.
Premier League clubs recently held talks on the possibility of introducing so-called safe standing at grounds.
Standing areas featuring retractable seats are currently used at Glasgow Celtic and at some stadiums in Germany.
An improved atmosphere is considered one of the benefits of standing areas.
The Hillsborough Support Group is not in favour of the re-introduction of standing areas saying it would be a backward step.
Newcastle United midfielder, Jonjo Shelvey, has decided not to contest his five-match ban for using racially abusive language.
Shelvey was charged over an incident involving Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Romain Saiss back in September.
Shelvey, a former Liverpool player, claims he is innocent, but also says that he does not expect an appeal to change anything.
Proteas head coach, Russell Domingo, says they enjoy playing in Port Elizabeth.
Domingo feels the abrasive wicket there tends to suit his seam bowlers.
He also believes that the wicket is one on which batsmen have to grind out runs.
Domingo explains that the wicket is slow and requires patient batting.
He says patience is one of the strengths of his current crop of players.
The first of three Tests between the Proteas and Sri Lanka will start in Port Elizabeth on Monday.
(File Photo: Gallo Images)
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre