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Relegation-threatened champions dismiss manager, nine months after winning Premier League titleFriday, March 3, 2017

Even by the standards of modern soccer management mayhem, the vertiginous rise and equally stunning fall of Leicester City coach Claudio Ranieri takes the breath away.

The Italian was sacked by the Premier League club last Thursday, less than 24 hours after his team battled to a creditable 2-1 defeat in the first leg of a Champions League last 16 knockout game against European specialists Sevilla.

Leicester and the Champions League in the same sentence is not something fans of the Midlands club would ever have thought about before last year, let alone a brilliant group stage campaign they swept through as winners with a game to spare. The club are three points, three places and millions of pounds better off than they were at this stage of the Premier League campaign two years ago.

There is also the little matter of writing one of the most amazing stories in the history of world sport as they defied odds of 5,000-1 to win the title and enter the lexicon of the English language as people now talk of doing a Leicester.

So, of course, having had such amazing success after a century of mediocrity, at the first sign of trouble, the manager had to go.

After all that Claudio Ranieri has done for Leicester City, to sack him now is inexplicable, unforgivable and gut-wrenchingly sad, the clubs former striker-turned pundit Gary Lineker said in comments echoed across social media.

PERIPATETIC CAREER

Moving on is something Ranieri is used to, of course, having led and now left no fewer than 14 clubs and one country during his peripatetic 30-year coaching career. Not small clubs either as he has led Napoli, Roma, Atltico Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan, Monaco and, of course, Chelsea, where he was and still is universally loved by the fans.

He led the Londoners to a second-place finish in the league, their best for 49 years, and the Champions League semi-finals. New owner Roman Abramovich, however, decided he was not a big enough name and Jos Mourinho arrived to develop the team Ranieri built and reap the glorious returns.

More European wanderings, including a short spell as manager of Greece, brought him yet more friends, but little tangible success the theme of his career. Although his CV was glittering in terms of location, it was less so in terms of trophies, with a smattering of domestic cups and lower-tier titles to show for his efforts.

So, there was hardly dancing in the streets of the East Midlands when he was appointed as Leicester boss to succeed Nigel Pearson, who was sacked despite engineering one of the all-time great escapes in the last weeks of the 2014-15 season.

Most Leicester fans would have been happy with another season of survival, with the club having climbed out of the Championship two years earlier. Little did they know the lovable Italian was about to take them on the ride of their lives.

Strong start

Leicester started strongly last season and then defied the almost weekly predictions that they would fall away.

In much the same way Brian Clough turned second division Nottingham Forest into European champions almost 40 years ago, Ranieri fashioned a team of also-rans into a tight unit with unquenchable spirit who played incisive counter-attacking football.

Journeymen like Jamie Vardy and Danny Drinkwater suddenly became England internationals, while Riyad Mahrez and NGolo Kante, barely noticed as they plied their trade in the French lower leagues, were catapulted into the world- class bracket.

As early season promise developed into a top-of-the-table New Year, Ranieri was a picture of Kiplingesque calm, dealing with the impending, and rare, triumph in the same way that he had so often accepted its twin imposter of disaster. With every win came the question: Can you win it?, followed by a smile, and his answer: Why not?

But Leicester did not just win the Premier League, they cantered to the title, finishing an incredible 10 points clear in a fairytale success toasted in every corner of the soccer world. Nobody expected a repeat this season, and the fans were happy to continue enjoying more heady nights with a deeply impressive first Champions League campaign.

But Citys slide down the Premier League table spooked their Thai owners. Like so many before who have had a taste of the high life, the shadow of normality meant the man they described on Thursday as the clubs most successful manager had to go.

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Leicester City sack Ranieri, ending an unforgettable dream - Buenos Aires Herald

MONTEGO BAY, St James Newly crowned Jamaica Football Federation Western Confederation Charleys JB Rum Super League mid-season champions Reggae Youths will meet Montego Bay Boys Club at the UDC field on Saturday as the third round cross-zone gets underway with two St James derbies.

Reggae Youths, who came from two goals down to beat Sandals South Coast in the mid-season final 5-2 in extra time at Jarrett Park on Sunday, will be seeking to avenge a loss in the St James Football Associations Captains Bakery and Grill Knockout last week.

At Jarrett Park, defending champions Granville United and Faulkland SC, both seeking to make a run at the top four, will meet in another game.

The remainder of the round of matches will be played on Sunday and will see Sandals South Coast seeking to rebound from their first loss of the season when they host Three Miles River. Clarks Town will host Holland United at Cedric Titus High; Hopewell meet Wadadah FC at Orchard; and Beaches Negril and Petersfield will play at Long Bay Beach Park.

In the third round teams from either zone will play each once, and the top four teams on points from all three rounds will advance to the semi-finals.

Sandals South Coast, the beaten finalists last year, lead the table with 28 points, nine more than Reggae Youths.Meanwhile, Montego Bay Boys Club and Faulkland SC and Clarks Town are tied on 16 points each.

On Saturday Reggae Youths will seek to maintain their momentum from Sundays game when they take on a Boys Club team that are winless in their last three Super League games.

Denardo Kerr put his hands up for a starting position with two goals in extra time on Sunday and could partner OCarey Spence, the competitions top scorer with nine goals, and Santino Grinnion.

Boys Club could move into second place if they can repeat their win from last week, but could face a tougher Reggae Youths team than the one they played in the parish knockout game last week.

Boys Club have the best defensive record of any team in the competition, conceding just five goals in 10 games, but has scored just nine goals.

At Jarrett Park, Faulkland FC will hope to continue their resurgence at the expense of the defending champions as they seek to press for a place in the top four.

Faulkland SC, who are facing their toughest test in four years of existence, are unbeaten in their last three games, creeping to fourth place, and within striking distance of second place.

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Reggae Youths to meet Boys Club in JFF Western Confed - Jamaica Observer

Karachi Kings bat first after Islamabad United opt to field. DawnNews

The Karachi Kings trounced Islamabad United by 45 runs, knocking the reds out of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Sharjah on Wednesday.

Wickets dropped like flies for United who were set a 127-run target by the Kings during the 22nd match of the PSL this season.

With this victory, Karachi has qualified for the last playoff.

The flurry of wickets courtesy leg spinner Imad Wasim, Muhammad Amir and Usama Mir who took three each left Islamabad at a disappointing 82 all out, 45 runs short of their target. Wasim was awarded Man of the Match.

The innings kicked off with a stunning upset as Dwayne Smith was caught out early by Kings captain and wicket keeper Kumar Sangakkara off a delivery by Amir, who went on to bowl BJ Haddin out and got Rumman Raees caught out by Pollard.

Sangakkara termed the beginning of the innings "a good start".

Speaking about the catch, he said, "I think I had my eyes closed and that helped. It was just one of those catches that stuck. Pretty lucky."

"I was just surprised that I caught it," he laughed while speaking to Ramiz Raja.

"A knock-out contest is draining. Every game is a do or die thing. The guys are starting to play like a team... I'm hoping we can get up again against Peshawar."

The Kings skipper also lauded Usama Mir for his "outstanding" bowling. "We have to bat longer," he conceded, "And stop our run outs."

Imad Wasim bowled Islamabad United skipper Misbah-ul-Haq at the beginning of the 9th over and Shane Watson at the end of the 11th over. He returned to take Nicholas Pooran's wicket.

Usama Mir got Shadab Khan, Asif Ali and Muhammad Sami out. Sohail Khan clean bowled Amad Butt.

Misbah, speaking to the media after the match said, "It's always hard to take this sort of defeat."

"We couldn't bat well on that pitch. One twenty seven was gettable. No pressure of a knockout game. They just bowled well and once we lost wickets, the pressure mounted. I think we batted badly," he admitted.

Islamabad United won the toss and opted to field.

The Karachi Kings racked up 126 runs, even as wickets fell like dominoes over the last five overs of the match.

Ravi Bopara, Shoaib Malik, Usman Khan, Sohail Khan, Imad Wasim were taken out by United in quick succession as the innings came to a close.

Babar Azam and Malik both scored 25 runs each, the highest scores this innings by Kings batsmen.

United bowlers ruled the innings with 18-year-old Shadab Khan taking Azam's wicket off his first ball.

Rumman Raees knocked Chris Gayle out early with just 17 runs. He went on to get Bopara, Pollard and Wasim caught out and took Usama Mir's catch off Muhammad Sami.

During yesterday's match, the Quetta Gladiators snatched a dramatic one-run victory against Peshawar Zalmi yesterday at Sharjah to enter the the PSL final scheduled for March 5 at Lahore's Qadhafi Stadium.

After 20 matches, the PSL 2017 has now entered the decisive stage where Lahore Qalandars will be missing for the second successive season.

In an exact replica of inaugural season, the playoff line-ups are same as they were last year.

Explore: Crunch time in PSL as playoffs start today

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PSL 2017: Karachi Kings knock Islamabad United out of tournament - DAWN.com

Shocking footage of schoolgirls fighting in a busy playground has sparked fears among parents that a so-called 'one punch kills' trend will end in tragedy.

A two-minute video, featuring three separate fights , has been viewed more than 40,000 times since being posted on social media by North Coast Crime in New Zealand.

Some parents said the 'one punch' trend has escalated from the 'knockout game' or 'happy slapping' as it is more commonly referred to in the UK.

In the footage, scrapping teenagers appear to be encouraged to direct punches at a classmate's face or head.

In the most-viewed clip, two female students are seen throwing punches in front of a classroom at Kyogle High School, in New Zealand. A teacher shouts 'hey' at least six times before pulling the fight apart.

The person filming the incident can be heard laughing during the brawl.

Parents took to social media to slam the attitude that fighting is 'funny' or 'entertaining'.

"Children should be made aware that swinging punches in attempt to knock a classmate to the floor is dangerous," Lindsay Robinson wrote. "Knocking someone out with one punch is all it takes to end a life and ruin countless others."

Another user, Graham Brent, wrote: "I'm seeing too many of these videos. It's shocking that stuff like this ends up being filmed for entertainment or 'likes' on social media."

Principal Gae Masters posted an open letter to parents and guardians on Facebook this morning regarding the fights filmed at Kyogle High School in New Zealand.

He said: "You may be aware that footage of Kyogle High School students fighting has been put on Facebook.

"I would like to assure you that whenever the school becomes aware of violence or inappropriate behaviour on school grounds it takes disciplinary action, as has been the case with the incidents filmed.

"The school has a strict mobile device policy, including disciplinary action for any student found to have been filming inappropriately."

Local newspaper the Northern Star reports that police are investigating the incidents.

North Coast Crime wrote "ONE PUNCH CAN KILL!" in response to the worrying trend.

Other parents shared tragic stories of schoolyard deaths.

In 2009, 15-year-old Jai Morcom died when he was just hit once while at a party with schoolfriends. His death triggered an education campaign.

Last year, footage emerged of two teens fighting outside of a school gym in the USA. Police investigated the incident after a video of the brawl was uploaded with the headline 'fight club'.

Facebook videos also revealed a real-life 'fight club' was taking place at one of New York's most prestigious schools in 2016.

In clips that emerged from the Bronx High School of Science, students were caught wrestling each other as dozens of classmates looked on.

More here:
Fears over 'one punch kills' trend fuelled by shocking footage of schoolgirls brawling in 'playground fight club' - Mirror.co.uk

TUCKER, St James Kashief Brown scored a hat trick to lead Premier League club and defending champions Montego Bay United (MBU) on a 9-0 romp over struggling Division One club Paradise FC in their second-round St James Football Association Captains Bakery and Grill Knockout game at Wespow Park on Thursday.

Johann Weatherly also got a second-half double for MBU, who rested a number of their top players in the first game for new coach Rod Underwood.

MBU now join Heights FC, Somerton FC, Club Stars FC and Montego Bay Boys Club in the quarter-finals.

A spirited start by the young Paradise FC team, comprised of school boy players, kept the powerful MBU team at bay for 16 minutes until Brown converted from close range to give the Premier League team the lead.

Central defender Pagiel Brown, making his first start for MBU, made it 2-0 in the 24th minute with a skilful finish, again from close range, using his heel to deflect the ball past goalkeeper Jermaine McCalla. Brown made it 3-0 in the 32nd minute for a 3-0 half-time lead.

The Premier League team was more ruthless in the second half as they pumped in six more goals, including an own goal in the 58th minute.

Weatherly scored in the 54th and 67th minutes, Allan Ottey in the 68th, Brown completed his hat trick in the 79th minute, before Donovan Carey scored in the 85th.

Paul Reid

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Paradise lost - Sport - JamaicaObserver.com - Jamaica Observer