Soccer boosts sex tourism in Cape Town

Published>Wed, Jul 07 10 02:37 PM

Cape Town, July 7 (IANS) With a million football fans splurging thousands of dollars during the World Cup, sex tourism in South Africa's number one tourist destination, Cape Town, is at an all time high.

Be it the famous Long Street, the exotic Sea Point or the breathtaking Waterfront, sex workers are having a heyday at the popular spots of this beautiful port city, famous for the Table Top Mountain.

As the sun sets in this Mother City - that's what South Africans prefer to call it - party fever rises and soccer fans venture out to glitzy bars to have their flings.

'Long Street is the most happening street in this city as the bars stay open till late in the night. So you can have all sorts of entertainment. Flings are common and fans are not afraid of taking a risk,' said Peter Andre, a British fan.

The lodges and the backpackers' inns in the city centre are overflowing with Dutch and Uruguayan supporters and that's where business is booming.

'In this part of the world you have to be very careful. The best thing is that there are no fixed rates and you can bargain,' Rafel de Villiers, a Dutch fan, who stays in a backpackers lodge on Long Street, told IANS.

Long Street was once famous for sex workers and drug dealers. While the local authorities have come down hard on the latter, they have been able to do little to rein in prostitution.

From the streets, sex workers have made their way into the bars. They bribe the bouncers and get easy entry into bars for potential clients.

But sex workers now fear business will not be as good as it was for the last one month.

'Business was good. And several sex workers from nearby countries also made their way into Cape Town. But we fear it won't be as good after the World Cup. During the World Cup we used to get three to four clients everyday,' said Aneqaah who runs an escort agency.

'We had a huge demand for white and coloured girls because all the fans who came here were from European countries. We got the best deals from British fans,' she added.

The authorities have run a campaign during World Cup to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS in the city, with South Africa having the highest incidence of the disease in the world.

'We talk about responsibility, but not much of this is about tangible action. The tourism industry has the opportunity to spread a huge amount of awareness about responsible tourism,' said Cape Town Tourism CEO Mariette du Troit-Helmbold.

'We want locals and visitors to have fun during the World Cup, but to remain responsible while having fun by practicing safe and responsible sex.'

A total number of 160,000 condoms were distributed in 30 Cape Town accommodation establishments during the period of the World Cup by Cape Town Tourism.

One of these was the famous Daddy Long Legs Boutique Backpackers, which is now brimming with European soccer fans. The hotel authorities were the first to engage with the project and have boldly distributed condoms.

'Our philosophy at the Grand Daddy Group is to have fun, but we are aware of the fact that having fun creates risk. This is why it is very important for us to help create awareness about the very serious issue of HIV/AIDS that we face globally,' said Sergio Dreyer, general manager of the Grand Daddy Group.

While sex and soccer went hand in hand during the World Cup, the controversial subject has sparked heated debate over legalising the profession throughout the country.

Many non-profit groups have complained that South Africa should use this global event to step up its fight against HIV/AIDS. But many say they are being blocked along the way.

South African AIDS organisations have accused football's governing body FIFA of blocking access to condoms and HIV education materials at World Cup stadiums and fan parks.

'To date FIFA has not permitted any civil society organization to distribute HIV or health-related information,' claimed the AIDS Consortium, the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society and several other organisations in a statement.

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Salve Challenger Series in Indore

Published Wed, Jul 07 10 02:27 PM

Mumbai, Jul 7 (PTI) The N K P Salve Challenger Trophy was today allotted to Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association and will be conducted in Indore from October 8-11. The cricket season would commence with the BCCI Corporate Cup tournament involving 16 teams from September 1-8 while the Irani Cup match between last year''s Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai and the Rest of India would be held from October 2-5, according to the domestic calendar released by BCCI. The Ranji Trophy Elite leagues would be held from November 1-December 18, the quarterfinals from December 24-27, semifinals from January 3-6, 2011 and the final from January 11-15. The Duleep Trophy will be held from January 19 to February 6, while the Prof D B Deodhar Trophy would be gone through from March 6-9 in north zone centres. Calendar: Sep 1-8: BCCI Corporate Cup (venues to be decided). Oct 1-5: Irani Cup (venue to be decided) Oct 8-11: NKP Salve Challenger Trophy, Indore Oct 20-25: Twenty 20 Interstate Zonal League Sep 25-30 and Oct 25-30: Twenty 20 Interstate Zonal League.

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Mallya believes podium possible in Spa and Monza

Published Wed, Jul 07 10 02:21 PM

Silverstone (UK), Jun 7 (PTI) Force India Chairman Vijay Mallya is expecting both Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi to be among points in Sunday''s British Grand Prix and reckons a podium finish is possible in Spa and Monza. Dwelling on Sunday''s race at the Silverstone Circuit, just metres away from the team''s factory, Mallya said Force India has some updates and he was looking for a fruitful outing for both the cars. "It''s a very big weekend, and obviously Silverstone is where we really want to perform well. It''s the home race for us now and there''s a lot of involvement from the guys in the factory, and the whole team enjoys the race weekend," Mallya said. "We''ve got a little update coming, over and above what we had in Valencia, and hopefully we can bring both cars home well into the points. Clearly this car is better than anything we''ve had at Silverstone in many years," said Mallya, also the team principal. Sunday''s race will mark the halfway point of 2010 Championship and Mallya is optimistic that Force India has realistic chances of podium finishes in the Belgian and Italian Grands Prix. "I''ve said before that the objective of 2010 was to regularly score points and I think we''re meeting that objective," Mallya said. "Spa and Monza are tracks that will suit the car better, and if we can get a podium, that would be the icing on the cake. But if not, at least we''re demonstrating that we''re scoring points. We''re up to 43 now, and this team hasn''t done as well in a long while," he added. Mallya''s sentiments found echo in Sutil who said in tracks more conducive to his car, he can do even better than his sixth place finish in Valencia. "Sixth position in the end was very good for us and really a reflection of where we are in the field now. There are some tracks where we might even be a bit higher up but we are right there close to the front and anything from third to sixth is always a possibility," Sutil said. Talking about Sunday''s race, Sutil said, "We have some new developments, I would say a very similar step to Valencia, around the front wing and floor. As we saw last year, every update we put on - whether large or small - does move us forward so I think it will put us in a similar position to Valencia, top 10, higher if we can. "We''ve also got the SRW working really well now too so the combination of the new parts and the extra top speed makes me feel quite confident going into this race," he added. PTI AY PM

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Caffeine pills could hinder football players performance, not boost it: WADA

Published>Wed, Jul 07 10 02:17 PM

Sydney, July 7 (ANI): Footballers doping up on caffeine pills could be hindering their performance - not boosting it.

According to a World Anti-Doping Agency research, caffeine can be counterproductive on the field.

The Herald Sun quotes sports doctor Peter Larkins as saying that the threshold identified could be equal to as few as four No-Doz tablets or several cups of coffee, depending on the player's size and metabolism.

AFL players, including St Kilda's Lenny Hayes, have admitted taking up to six No-Doz in a game.

Until 2005, elevated caffeine readings were a breach of the WADA code, which the AFL follows.

WADA changed its mind after discovering "caffeine is performance-decreasing above the 12 microgram/ml threshold (in urine) that was historically used in sport".

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority yesterday said caffeine remained on a WADA "monitoring program" to detect patterns of misuse. (ANI)

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Mallya believes podium possible in Spa and Monza

Published Wed, Jul 07 10 02:07 PM

Silverstone (UK), Jun 7 (PTI) Force India Chairman Vijay Mallya is expecting both Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi to be among points in Sunday''s British Grand Prix and reckons a podium finish is possible in Spa and Monza. Dwelling on Sunday''s race at the Silverstone Circuit, just metres away from the team''s factory, Mallya said Force India has some updates and he was looking for a fruitful outing for both the cars. "It''s a very big weekend, and obviously Silverstone is where we really want to perform well. It''s the home race for us now and there''s a lot of involvement from the guys in the factory, and the whole team enjoys the race weekend," Mallya said. "We''ve got a little update coming, over and above what we had in Valencia, and hopefully we can bring both cars home well into the points. Clearly this car is better than anything we''ve had at Silverstone in many years," said Mallya, also the team principal. Sunday''s race will mark the halfway point of 2010 Championship and Mallya is optimistic that Force India has realistic chances of podium finishes in the Belgian and Italian Grands Prix. "I''ve said before that the objective of 2010 was to regularly score points and I think we''re meeting that objective," Mallya said. "Spa and Monza are tracks that will suit the car better, and if we can get a podium, that would be the icing on the cake. But if not, at least we''re demonstrating that we''re scoring points. We''re up to 43 now, and this team hasn''t done as well in a long while," he added. Mallya''s sentiments found echo in Sutil who said in tracks more conducive to his car, he can do even better than his sixth place finish in Valencia. "Sixth position in the end was very good for us and really a reflection of where we are in the field now. There are some tracks where we might even be a bit higher up but we are right there close to the front and anything from third to sixth is always a possibility," Sutil said. Talking about Sunday''s race, Sutil said, "We have some new developments, I would say a very similar step to Valencia, around the front wing and floor. As we saw last year, every update we put on - whether large or small - does move us forward so I think it will put us in a similar position to Valencia, top 10, higher if we can. "We''ve also got the SRW working really well now too so the combination of the new parts and the extra top speed makes me feel quite confident going into this race," he added. PTI AY PM

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Ronaldo 'paid ?10 mn to his baby's mum'

Published>Wed, Jul 07 10 02:01 PM

Soccer ace Cristiano Ronaldo has paid a whopping 10 million pounds to the mother of his baby in order to buy her silence, according to pals.

The 25-year-old is said to have transferred the amount to her in return for her giving up any rights to see the child and swearing her to total secrecy.

"He paid nearly a year's wages but it's more than worth it. He's called it the most expensive day of his life, but at least he has sole custody," the Sun quoted a source as saying.

Even Ronaldo's son will not know the identity of his mother until he is old enough to understand.

A source described the mum as 'a party girl' and not someone the footballer would 'settle down' with.

But rumours are abuzz that she is an American surrogate mum - and the pregnancy was deliberate.

The baby boy - born on June 17 - is staying with Ronaldo's family in Portugal's Algarve.

He wants his mum Dolores and sister to help raise his son.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo has dismissed rumours that his lingerie model girlfriend Irina Shayk, 24, is upset over the child.

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Clarke, Waqar salute 'amazing' Murali

Published>Wed, Jul 07 10 01:53 PM

Praise has started coming in from across the world for Muttiah Muralitharan after he set a date for his retirement, even Australia, where he has been uncompromisingly criticised and reviled for years.

Australia's Michael Clarke paid tribute to Muttiah Muralitharan after the prolific bowler announced his intention to retire from Test cricket, saying the Sri Lanka off-spinner was an "amazing player".

A Sri Lanka Cricket statement issued yesterday said the 38-year-old had decided to quit Tests after the home series opener against India in Galle starting on July 18.

Muralitharan is the most successful bowler in international cricket history with record hauls in both Tests (792 wickets) and one-day formats (515).

Clarke, speaking after Australia's 2-0 series losing 11-run defeat by Pakistan in the second Twenty20 international here at Edgbaston yesterday, joked Muralitharan's decision was a reflection of the bowler's belief in his ability to take the eight Tests wickets he needed for 800 in a single match.

"How many wickets has he got? 792. He's confident then, one more Test. I think he is an amazing player," Australia's Twenty20 captain added.

"Over a long period of time, statistics don't lie," the top-order batsman insisted. "I think a lot of batters around the world will be very happy they don't have to face him anymore.

"I guess on behalf of all Australia cricketers, and all Australian fans who've had the opportunity to watch him, congratulations are well and truly deserved. He's been an amazing ambassador for Sri Lankan cricket and what a talent, what a career. I really hope he gets those eight wickets."

Murali has had an uneasy relationship with Australian cricket.

His unorthodox action has been a repeated source of controversy, especially in Australia where former prime minister John Howard once agreed Murali was a "chucker" when asked about the spinner's bowling style.

It was a comment many believe played a part in Howard's rejection last week by the International Cricket Council (ICC) board for the vice-presidency of the global governing body.

Murali's action first came under the microscope when Australian umpire Darrell Hair called him for throwing during Sri Lanka's tour Down Under in 1995-96.

But it was bio-mechanical analysis at the University of Western Australia, requested by the ICC, which concluded Murali's action created the "optical illusion of throwing".

However, former England captain Michael Atherton, who played alongside Murali at Lancashire, told Sky Sports: "It's a controversy that will always be linked with him.

"But, regardless of whether you think the arm straightened or not, it's still an incredibly skilful thing to do what he did - which is turn it the amount he did, bowl it with the accuracy he did, have the stamina he did."

Former opener Atherton added: "It's certainly an unorthodox action.

"He bowled from wide of the crease, chest-on, kind of flicked it with his wrist and obviously the elbow as well.

"He caused the ICC to rewrite their regulations really so that now bowlers are allowed to straighten the angle of their arm by 15 degrees at delivery which is strictly against the laws of the game, but the regulations allow for it and that is really down to one man.

"Given those regulations it's impossible to say what is a throw and what is not," Atherton insisted.

Australian attitudes towards Muralitharan appear to have softened recently and Clarke said: "I think a lot of people have the utmost respect for him."

He added the only bowler to compare with Murali, in his experience, was now retired Australia leg-spin great Shane Warne.

"His performances are as good as anybody, apart in my eyes from Warnie, who I think is the greatest bowler of my time."

Warne and Murali are the only bowlers to have taken more than 700 Test wickets. "Who was better? I think for myself Warne was better," Atherton said. "I felt he had a better cricketing brain.

"But that's not to take anything away from Murali, who had a kind of freakish brilliance."

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis, who played against Murali, said: "The world is going to miss him. I really congratulate him for his superb career."

Murali though could still be playing one-dayers at next year's World Cup, where Sri Lanka are one of three Asian co-hosts.

But Clarke said: "As long as I don't have to face him again in Test cricket again, that's a good start."

As for anyone breaking Murali's Test record, Atherton said: "I think it was Fred Trueman who said when he'd taken 300 Test wickets (the late England quick was the first man to that landmark) that whoever beat him would be bloody tired. I think you can probably say the same about Murali."

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