WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014 SPORTS Murphy quip backfires South Africa recall Parker Inter’s interest ‘a joke’ LONDON: Jacob Murphy, a winger with struggling English Championship JOHANNESBURG: South Africa have recalled experienced striker Bernard Parker for the African Nations Cup as coach Ephraim Mashaba named his 23- LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger yesterday described Inter Milan’s (second tier) club Blackpool, has apologised to the club after making a joke man selection yesterday. Parker, who plays for Kaizer Chiefs but previously had reported interest in Lukas Podolski as “a joke” and said he wants the out-of-favour on social media mocking his own team. spells with Red Star Belgrade and FC Twente, has not featured for the national Germany international to stay at the club. Podolski has expressed unhappiness at Murphy, on loan from Norwich City, posted a picture of himself and team side since a 5-0 loss to Brazil in March. His 23 goals in 68 internationals put him his lack of playing time this season and Inter coach Roberto Mancini recently told mate Donervon Daniels on the photo messaging site, accompanied by the third on the countryís all-time scoring list behind Benni McCarthy and Shaun the Italian media that he is monitoring the 29-year-old’s situation. But Wenger dis- caption “We are going to lose...Again.” Bartlett. Mashaba named five overseas-based players in his squad, including missed the reports and said he had no intention of allowing his squad to be weak- With Blackpool adrift at the bottom of the table and the joke posted Bournemouth striker Tokelo Rantie and Doncaster Rovers midfielder Dean ened during the January transfer window. before Murphy played in their 1-0 defeat on Boxing Day at Sheffield Furman. South Africa have been drawn in a difficult Group C along with “That is a joke. Inter Milan is not serious,” the Frenchman told his weekly press Wednesday, the quip may not have been appreciated by fans. Algeria, Ghana and Senegal for the Jan. 17-Feb. 8 tournament in Equatorial conference. “It is nothing serious. They talk, there is only talk.” Yet it evidently tickled many more people beyond Blackpool as it went Guinea. With Olivier Giroud serving a three-game ban and Danny Welbeck having viral on social media. The furore prompted the 19-year-old to release a state- Squad: Goalkeeper: Darren Keet (KV Kortrijk), Brilliant Khuzwayo (Kaizer Chiefs), injured his thigh during Sunday’s 2-1 win at West Ham United, Podolski ment on Blackpool’s website. “I’d like to offer my sincerest apologies could have more opportunities to play in the weeks ahead. to the manager, my team mates, the fans and everybody at Jackson Mabokgwane (Mpumalanga Black Aces) Defenders: Siyabonga Nhlapo (BidVest Wits), Patrick Phungwayo (Orlando Pirates), Anele Ngcongca (KRC “Podolski is a player of Arsenal Football Club and I want him to Blackpool Football Club for the hurt and embarrassment that a Genk), Thulani Hlatshwayo (BidVest Wits), Erick Mathoho (Kaizer Chiefs), stay,” added Wenger, whose side visit Southampton in the Premier recent photo message I sent has caused,” he said. Rivaldo Coetzee (Ajax Cape Town), Thabo Matlaba (Orlando Pirates) League on Thursday. “It was totally unprofessional of me and a foolish thing to do,” Midfielders: Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Andile Jali (KV Oostende), “Apart from that, what it is to be professional is that as long as added Murphy, before making it clear that Daniels had no part in Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Bongani Zungu (Mamelodi you are somewhere, you give your best to justify your wages and the joke. “I apologise for implicating him.” Blackpool boss Lee Sundowns), Thami Sangweni (Chippa United), Dean Furman (Doncaster your love for the club.” Clark noted his disappointment and said the club would be inves- Rovers), Thuso Phala (SuperSport United), Mandla Masango (Kaizer Chiefs), Asked if Podolski, who won the World Cup with Germany earli- tigating the matter. — Reuters Oupa Manyisa (Orlando Pirates) Forwards: Bernard Parker (Kaizer Chiefs), er this year, would still be at the club at the end of January, Tokelo Rantie (AFC Bournemouth), Bongani Ndulula (AmaZulu), Sibusiso Wenger replied: “I hope so, yes.” —AFP Vilakazi (BidVest Wits). — Reuters Davis wins AP Female Athlete of the Year PHILADELPHIA: No one in the sports world had heard of the 2014 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year until August. That’s when 13-year-old Mo’ne Davis became an instant celebrity as she took the pitching mound in baseball’s Little League World Series and mowed down batter after batter, giving “throw like a girl” a whole new meaning. She was the first girl to win a Little League World Series game, and her performance dazzled fans young and old. Her steely gaze and demeanor on the mound were intimidating, while off- the-field, she shined in interviews. She told admirers that if they thought she was good at baseball, they should see her play bas- ketball. Only in eighth grade, Davis already plays for her school’s high school varsity basketball team. Davis appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, has her jer- sey displayed in baseball’s Hall of Fame and was named Sports Kid of the Year by Sports Illustrated Kids. She met the Obamas at the White House, starred in a Spike Lee-directed car commercial (the NCAA said it wouldn’t hurt her eligibility), marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade along with her Taney Dragons teammates and presented Pharrell Williams with Soul Train’s “Song of the Year” award. The talented three-sport star - she also plays soccer - and hon- or student from South Philadelphia handled all the attention with poise, modesty and maturity. “A lot of adults around me help out, taught me to be respect- ful, to be calm during everything and not let anything get to you,” Davis said after learning of her latest honor. A vote by US editors and news directors selected Davis as The Associated Press 2014 Female Athlete of the Year. The youngest winner in history, Davis beat out Mt. St. Joseph freshman Lauren Hill - who played her first college basketball game while battling terminal brain cancer - and three-time winner Serena Williams. The selection was announced Monday. Davis tossed a two-hitter to help Philadelphia beat Nashville 4-0 in the Little League World Series opener for both teams. Davis, the first girl to appear for a U.S. team in South Williamsport since 2004, had eight strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter. Her team was eventually eliminated after losing to teams from Las DALLAS: Kari Lehtonen No. 32 of the Dallas Stars covers the puck against Martin St. Louis No. 26 of the New York Rangers in the second period at American Airlines Vegas and Chicago. Davis gave up three runs in the Las Vegas Center. — AFP game, and could not take the mound against Chicago because of pitch limits. After the tournament, Davis was everywhere. She threw whif- Stars shine as Blues advance fle balls to Jimmy Fallon on NBC’s Tonight Show, threw out the first pitch at Game 4 of the World Series and signed a book deal. “It’s been really fun, got to do a lot of things, meet a lot of cool DALLAS: Antoine Roussel scored the go-ahead goal 54 scored for the Devils, who won for only the second time Jimmy Howard kept the Red Wings in it, finishing people,” Davis said. “My favorite thing to do was playing in seconds into the second period, and the Dallas Stars in 10 games (2-5-3). with 40 saves. Justin Abdelkader and Tomas Tatar scored Williamsport or going to the White House. (The Obamas) just broke the New York Rangers’ eight-game winning streak It was also New Jersey’s first win in two games since for Detroit, which had won two straight. seemed like a regular couple, no different from anyone else.” with a 3-2 victory on Monday night. general manager Lou Lamoriello fired coach Pete While others are still talking about her Little League perform- John Klingberg and Ales Hemsky also scored for the DeBoer on Friday and joined new coaches Scott Stevens BLACKHAWKS 5, PREDATORS 4 ance, Davis, a point guard, is concentrating on basketball. “It’s Stars, who have won six of seven. The Rangers’ streak and Adam Oates behind the bench as part of a three- Jonathan Toews scored the only goal in the shootout, making me a lot better, helping me make decisions,” Davis said of tied the NHL’s longest this season but fell two games man committee. Sidney Crosby scored for the Penguins, after Chicago’s Bryan Bickell netted the tying goal with playing varsity. “In middle school, I can get away with small short of matching the team record set during the 1939- who have lost four straight. Marc-Andre Fleury made 24 1:13 left in regulation, and the Blackhawks topped the things. The girls now are a lot taller so I’m working on my jump 40 season and equaled in 1972-73. saves. Predators. Toews provided the winning margin when he shot and ball handling a lot.” J.T. Miller and Kevin Hayes scored for the Rangers. beat Pekka Rinne on the Blackhawks’ first shootout Davis aspires to play for the University of Connecticut and Kari Lehtonen stopped 28 shots and earned his 15th vic- WILD 3, JETS 2 attempt. Brad Richards, Andrew Shaw and Marian Hossa reach the WNBA. She plays midfielder on her soccer team and tory of the season. New York’s Henrik Lundqvist lost for Marco Scandella scored the tiebreaking goal with 12 scored in a 7:10 span late in the second period to tie it.