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Real Madrid has sacked coach Rafael Benitez after just seven months in charge and replaced the Spaniard with soccer club legend Zinedine Zidane. Fan hero Zidane, who was Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant in 2014 when Real Madrid won the Champions League, was promoted on Monday from his job as coach of Real Madrid’s B team in the third division.

The former World Cup winner was at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium of Real Madrid with his wife and four kids for the announcement. “I’m more emotional now than when I signed as a player,” said the 43-year-old French, who finished his career at Real Madrid in 2006.

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Ngwa Bertrand

05.Jan.2016

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Los Angeles Clippers small forward Luc Mbah a Moute may not be putting up big numbers this season, but his defensive game continues to make waves.

And it comes as no surprise that the Cameroonian is this week’s supersport.com African Player of the Week for games played from 28 December to 3 January.

Even though Bismack Biyombo continues to win hearts in Canada helping the Toronto Raptors claim a 2-2 mark this past week - thanks to his rebounds and rim protection ability - and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka made a tremendous difference in OKC's 3-0 mark, Mbah a Moute played a major role in the Clippers' four wins in as many games.

As of Sunday, 3 December the 29-year-old forward averaged a career-low 2.4 points and 2.1 rebounds, but looking thoroughly to his defensive acumen, and it becomes clear why he has started the last 19 games, helping the Clippers to a 14-5 dating back to 27 November.

This past week was business as usual for Mbah a Moute as the Cameroonian did what he does best, guarding the opponents' best players.

Just watch the Clippers' past few games, and most likely you will see the Cameroonian defend the best players, regardless of their size.

When he’s on the court, the Clippers allow just 97.9 points per 100 possessions. When he’s off it, they allow 102.5.

And Clippers head coach Doc Rivers has taken notice.

“He’s just really good at what he does, he’s one of those guys that accepts what he does,” Rivers said.

“He’s good being a defender. A lot of guys in the league think that’s, like, ‘Don’t call me a defensive player.’ He’s all good with it. He likes it.”

Not bad for Mbah who had little playing time to start the season.

“He literally can guard all five positions,” Rivers explained. “There’s not a lot of guys in the league that can do that.”

Even last season's Defensive Player of the Year candidate DeAndre Jordan sees something special in Mbah a Moute’s game.

“I love Luc on both ends of the floor. He’s a tough guy, he’s a really good defender, he’s going to make the right cuts and screens and do all the dirty work. When you have a guy like that on your team who is really going to do anything you ask in order to help the team, it’s great,” Jordan said.

And what does Mbah a Moute has to say about this moment?

“You appreciate being on a team like this,” he said.

“No offense to Philly, or my time there, every time we played hard. We were young, played hard, competed, but we weren’t as talented. You definitely appreciate the value of having a good team and playing on a good team.”

The Clippers visit Portland on Wednesday night (Thursday morning SA time).

(Supersports)

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Ngwa Bertrand

05.Jan.2016

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The Ivorian footballer missing since December 12, 2015, has been found dead in the river Rhine on the outskirts of Düsseldorf, the chief city in the Nordrhein Westphalia province in Germany. The remains of Steve Gohouri was discovered on Saturday, January 2, 2016. Still under contract with Steinbach a 4th division club, he reportedly told his manager that he was travelling to France to visit his mother and no word was heard from him. German Police investigation had so far given nothing until Saturday when his body was found.

Steve Gohouri was selected 13 times with the Elephants of Ivory Coast. He participated in the African Nations Cup in 2008 and World Cup 2010. He was raised at the Paris Saint Germain football academy from (1998-1999),and had among other clubs played for Young Boys of Bern (2005 -2007), Borussia Mönchengladbach (2007-2009), Wigan in England. At 34, he was under contract with Steinbach, a German fourth division side.

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Ngwa Bertrand

04.Jan.2016

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Real Madrid has sacked Benitez with the club third in the league, behind both city rivals Atletico Madrid and national rivals Barcelona. Legendary French midfielder Zinedine Zidane is taking up the post.

Real Madrid club chairman Florentino Perez hosted Monday's press conference in the capital, at which questions were not permitted.

Real drew 2-2 with Valencia in their most recent league fixture, but had notched several big wins prior to that.

French star midfielder Zinedine Zidane, the world's most expensive player when he signed for Real, will succeed Benitez as manager. He has spent recent months being groomed for the role, coaching Madrid's third-division "B" team.

"I would like to thank the club that has given me this opportunity. We have the best club in the world, the best fans across the globe," Zidane said at the evening press conference in Madrid, saying he was more excited than when he signed up as a player at the Bernabeu. "I will do my very best with all the players and I believe that everything is going to turn out well."

Less than two months ago, with rumors already flying, Perez had told assembled journalists that Real would continue to back its veteran manager, formerly of clubs including Valencia, Liverpool, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Napoli.

In Perez's two stints as club chairman (2000-2006, 2009-present), Real Madrid have now gone through a total of 11 different managers.

(DW)

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Ngwa Bertrand

04.Jan.2016

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