T.T.A update

Murray encouraged by progress after hip surgery

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Andy Murray insists he is encouraged by his recovery from career-saving hip surgery as the former world number one prepares to play next month’s Shanghai Masters.

Murray is aiming to rebuild his singles ranking following the operation in January.

The 32-year-old Scot made a tentative return to singles action in Cincinnati last month.

He was last seen on court at a Challenger event in Majorca — his first time playing at that lower level for 14 years — and his next tournament will be the Zhuhai Championships later in September.

Although Murray lost in the third round in Majorca against the unheralded Matteo Viola, the two-time Wimbledon champion was pleased he came through three matches in four days without any complications.

“The last tournament was at Challenger level which was good for me. We had good crowds there and it was different. I haven’t played at that level for 14 or 15 years but I enjoyed it,” Murray told reporters on Thursday.

“I am just happy to be healthy again. I would like to be playing at a higher level but it was fun for me out there.

“Recovering from matches because I don’t have pain, the preparation is fun. Hopefully, it keeps going that way.”

Murray has committed to playing for four weeks in a row as the China Open in Beijing is sandwiched in between his outings in Zhuhai and Shanghai before returning to Europe to compete in the European Open in Antwerp.

While he is now able to play pain-free, Murray is still short of speed around the court, something he is banking on returning over the next few months.

“Now I don’t have any limitations on what I can’t do,” Murray added at an event at Queen’s Club to promote a daily liquid supplement developed specifically for the Scot.

“I am certainly still a little bit slow in terms of where I would like to get to. I’m thinking that in the next four or five months that is going to get better.

“Each week I have felt better but performances haven’tnecessarily shown that, in terms of results. But I have been feeling physically better.”

Amuneke Reports Tanzania To FIFA Over Unpaid Salary

Former Super Eagles assistant coach Emmanuel Amuneke has dragged the Tanzania Football Federation to FIFA over their failure to pay his outstanding salary, The PUNCH reports.
Amuneke is currently being owed four months’ salary by the TFF, after he mutually agreed to terminate the remainder of his contract with the East African nation.

“The matter has been reported to FIFA,” Amuneke told The PUNCH.

“I tried to avoid this but it seems they are bent on depriving me of what is rightly due me.

“FIFA will decide if it is proper for one to be owed salaries after work.”

Amuneke guided Tanzania to their first AFCON tournament after 39 years, but failed to win a game at the group stage, prompting his exit.

What Mourinho said about Cristiano Ronaldo

Former Real Madrid and Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, has predicted Cristiano Ronaldo will still be scoring goals at 50 years, after his latest record-breaking exploits.

Ronaldo struck four times in Portugal’s 5-1 win over Lithuania on Tuesday night, to break Robbie Keane’s record for most goals in European Championship qualifiers.

The Juventus star who played under Mourinho at Real Madrid has now struck 94 times for his country and is showing no signs of slowing up.

“What Cristiano does not surprise me.

“At 34, he is a top player, who plays in a top team and has top ambitions.

“It does not surprise me because he is a case study in genetic terms, and mentality as well.

“He is a phenomenon, someone who only thinks about winning and doing it more and more and better. That is why I am not surprised at all what he does.

“When he is 50 years old he will be at home and FIFA will invite him to a game of legends. He will play the game and score a goal. I am sure it will be like that,” Mourinho told Portuguese TV channel 11.