KAKUTA'S PATIENCE PAYS OFF .......

Gael Kakuta's long-awaited first team debut arrived on Saturday, and the young Frenchman was delighted to have grasped the opportunity with both hands.

Long lauded as one to watch at Stamford Bridge, the 18-year-old replaced Nicolas Anelka just before the hour, and quickly left his mark with a series of tricks and flicks, twice going close to adding a goal.

After the game, the Frenchman spoke exclusively to Chelsea TV, and explained how he was feeling.

'I have been waiting so long for it and I am really happy, I enjoyed playing the game,' he said.

'I wanted to score so much but I lost focus when I shot. It was good, I enjoyed playing the game and all the players were behind me, helping me and talking to me, so that was good for me.'

With a four-goal lead already established, it was the perfect opportunity for Carlo Ancelotti to blood some youth, and so Kakuta was joined on the field by Fabio Borini and fellow debutant Nemanja Matic.

For Kakuta, it signalled the end of a frustrating period in which he had been banned from playing. After a serious injury in February had kept him out until pre-season, it was a relief to be out on the pitch in Chelsea blue.

'My fitness is good, because of the ban I have been out for months, but I have worked double sessions every day and I feel good,' he explained.

'It has been a little bit like pre-season, because when the boys finished I was still in, working in the afternoons.

'[In the Premier League] the game is much quicker, you have more choice when you play, you can play one touch, two touch, so it is much better.'

Now he has one game under his belt, Kakuta will be hoping for more eye-catching action in the coming weeks as we look to cement our place at the top of the table.

Raikkonen to sit out F1 next season

HELSINKI; Kimi Raikkonen will sit out of Formula One next season after failing to secure a move back to McLaren, Finnish media reported Wednesday.

“The options in F1 were with McLaren next season or nothing,” the Turun Sanomat daily quoted Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson as saying late Tuesday. “Kimi and McLaren were unable to reach an agreement, so he will not drive at the F1 level - at least not next year.”

The Finn, who won the world championship with Ferrari in 2007, has left that team to make way for the arrival of Fernando Alonso. He received interest from several other teams but was intent on a return to his former team McLaren.

“Kimi is still bursting with enthusiasm to drive. A gap year here means nothing,” Robertson said. “He is more interested in fighting for wins and the world championship. F1 will miss Kimi.”

Raikkonen’s decision to take a sabbatical will increase speculation of world champion Jenson Button moving to McLaren next season.

However Mercedes - having taken over the Brawn GP team that won the 2009 title - still had hopes of convincing Button to remain with the team in 2010.

“Negotiations are continuing and the reports that he has already agreed terms with McLaren are not helpful. I would be amazed if that were the case,” Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn was quoted to say in The Independent newspaper.

“His best future is with our team, where he has a good group around him, and there’s a lot to be said for that. The logical thing would be for him to stay with us, but of course logic doesn’t always prevail.”

Nico Rosberg, who has left the Williams team, was also considered a contender for the McLaren seat alongside Lewis Hamilton, as was experienced German Nick Heidfeld, formerly of BMW Sauber. However both had been more closely linked with Mercedes for next season.

Raikkonen had previously said he would consider switching to rally driving in 2010 if an F1 deal did not eventuate.

Wen tells Obama that China seeks balanced trade..

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told U.S. President Barack Obama in a meeting on Wednesday that China wants to balance its trade relationship with the United States and does not seek a surplus.

The comments published on China's foreign ministry website made no reference to Wen mentioning China's yuan policy to Obama, but did indicate that Obama had brought up currency reform as one step that China should take to mitigate trade imbalances.

Stun gun for just RM 45 in KL.

You can buy a stun gun for just RM45 reports a local tabliod. The China made stun guns are sold openly in Kuala Lumpur from between RM45 to RM350. The expensive model costing RM350 can apparently kill an animal as large as a cow.

According to the retailer, customers buy stun guns to protect themselves and not usually to commit crimes. Of course, in the wrong hands, anything can be misused.

Stun guns work by administering an electric shock by direct contact. It merely stuns a person and does not cause serious bodily harm. Despite this, it is illegal to possess a stun gun in Malaysia under the Firearms Act.

In the US, you can purchase a handphone with stun gun capabilities for as little as US$50.

Myspace Casanova Targets Chubby Girls....

A Malay tabloid reported that a 19 year old Casanova called "Shafiq" is at large sweet talking teenage chubby girls into giving him money and then leaving them stranded.

Shafiq, unemployed, apparently uses social networking website Myspace to seek out his victims. He is known to target only chubby or plump girls between the ages of 18 to early 20s. It is believed that upon persuading the girls to meet him offline, he charms them by giving them a jade necklace charged with black magic spells, to wear.

According to the news report, once the girl wears the jade necklace, she is powerless to resist Shafiq's requests.

Popular websites for "casual encounter"

A local daily has recently reported that there is a Singapore based website which is popular for "partner swapping" leading to casual sex. The website, called [website link deleted], has apparently been operational since march this year. The website is more or less a general classifieds which also has a personals section called "casual encounters".

Apparently, it is also common in Malaysia these days for people to seek casual sex partners or fuck buddies. Men or women pick up the opposite sex in clubs and, if they are in the mood, they have sex with each other. They later keep in touch by a phone call or SMS and have sex whenever they have the mood without any relationship commitments.

Captain Terry expects to make the most of the January transfer window.

The Blues have had a transfer ban suspended pending appeal so will be free to bring players in when the window opens again.

And Terry expects manager Carlo Ancelotti and owner Roman Abramovich to discuss some moves.

"It's good news about the transfer ban being suspended but we lose four good players to the African Nations Cup in January anyway," he told The Sun.

"I'm sure the club and the manager are looking into that and having good talks with Roman.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we do go out and buy because we don't know what's going to happen in the summer - or the following summer."

No Ballack against the Ivory Coast.

Michael Ballack will miss Germany's clash with Ivory Coast on Wednesday due to a slight infection in his knee. The German captain will miss the friendly following his failure to recover from the knee injury explained his nation's coach Joachim Loew today (Monday).

'We can definitely say that Michael Ballack will not play on Wednesday,' said Loew.

'He has an infection in the back of the knee and there has been a reaction.

'After consultation with the doctors I have decided that he will not play. He needs maybe two or three days of rest.'

As the 33-year-old midfielder has not trained since last week according to Loew, he will not be on the bench for the game, although he will continue to stay with the squad.

'It makes no sense to take risks, also in terms of Chelsea as they have quite a few games leading up to Christmas and afterwards,' added Loew.

Essien's Foundation up and running

It was a busy weekend for Michael Essien as he launched the Michael Essien Foundation.

On Saturday evening in the Banquet Hall in the capital city Accra, the Chelsea midfielder held an event to mark the start of his new fundraising Foundation, attended by his national team-mates, the Ghana Minister for Sports and former African football star George Weah, who spent a spell at Chelsea in 2000. Many other dignitaries were also present.

Essien has explained the inspiration behind and targets for the Foundation in a blog on the official Chelsea website.

The main aims are to give the underprivileged of the area of his home town access to basic amenities like healthcare equipment, libraries, public toilets and clean drinking water. It will raise funds to support local projects in the Awutu Breku area and will encourage youth to take part in sports day activities.

Magnificent Zhirkov

Yury Zhirkov signed from CSKA Moscow on a three-year contract in the summer of 2009, and the 25-year-old has been magnificent during the latest match.


He was first the closest to score went he drove through from defence to attact in a solo effort. This shows what a great player his turning out to be under the guidance of Guus Hiddink whom is coaching the Russians fantastically well.

The 39 scores in de 72nd minute....

Nicolas Anelka's goal was the difference that placed France in a healthy position to make the World Cup Finals after Saturday's play-off first leg.

The Chelsea striker's 72^nd minute shot from just outside the area deflected in off Republic of Ireland defender Sean St. Ledger and the post for a 1-0 win in Dublin.

Cech believes that Cudicini is doing well.

Petr Cech visited his good friend and former team-mate Carlo Cudicini in hospital yesterday (Thursday).

Cudicini was involved in a road accident yesterday, sustaining broken wrists and an injury to his pelvis.

Speaking on the first live video interview hosted on the official Chelsea website today, Cech said:

'It is very sad but sometimes life brings unfortunate situations.

'I went and saw Carlo yesterday in the hospital. He has always been a great character and you can see he is coping well with it. He is doing well and he will undergo some operations today to help him to be as fit as possible.

'I think that everybody should keep fingers crossed for him to get well soon.'

England return for the Special One?

Ex Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has alerted his potential suitors in England by admitting he would welcome a return to the Premier League with a club where he can found a lasting legacy.

Mourinho, currently managing Italian club Inter Milan, has been sorely missed in England since he departed Stamford Bridge in September 2007 having won back-to-back Premier League titles as well as the FA Cup and two Carling Cups.

His charisma and wit won him many admirers during his three-and-a-half years in the country and in Italy he has only built on his reputation by winning Serie A at the first attempt last season.

Reports continue to link Mourinho with a possible role at Manchester United when Sir Alex Ferguson finally retires and the Portuguese has made it very clear that he feels England is the best environment for him to try and emulate the Scot by achieving sustained excellence over an extended period at one club.

Drogba joins Chelsea's injury list

Drogba was thought to be suffering from minor bruising from intial scans. Drogba was injured in an aerial clash with Manchester United defender Jonny Evans last weekend.

Now, a new X-ray report has indicated otherwise and Drogba could now be out for three weeks.

The Ivory Coast international reported for international duty but will return on Monday for treatment.

His injury will add to Carlo Ancelotti's woes as he has already lost three other first team regulars Ashley Cole, Jose Bosingwa and Frank Lampard to long-term injuries.

Essien: Blues will cope without stars

The Blues will lose Essien, strikers Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou as well as Nigerian John Mikel Obi to the African Nations Cup in Angola during that month.

But although Chelsea can now buy players in the January after the suspension of their FIFA transfer ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Essien is adamant the current squad can overcome their absence.

"As you can see we've got a very big squad so they can cope without us and hopefully they will keep winning while we are away," said Essien.

"I love to represent my country and we can't change anything about that, we have to accept it and go over with our countries and once we are finished we will come back to our clubs do the job.

"I'm looking forward to it. I've never been to Angola so it's a new thing to me and I'm excited and looking forward to it and hopefully we can have a good tournament in Angola and win it.

"We've got some good players in the squad but we have to keep working hard and we will see what happens in Angola.

"We are in the two big tournaments and we did qualify easily for the World Cup. For Ghana it's never been easy but we made it good and we will see what will happen."

LAMPARD flies backwhile TERRY continues to play.

Posted on: Thu 12 Nov 2009

Frank Lampard will not take part in England's friendly international against Brazil in Qatar this weekend.

An FA spokesman said: 'We can confirm that Frank Lampard picked up an injury to his left thigh whilst training today and will be returning home this evening. There will be no further call-ups to the squad.'

John Terry is now the only Chelsea player on England duty.

LAMPARD 3 week lay off .............

Posted on: Fri 13 Nov 2009

It has been confirmed that Frank Lampard suffered a muscle tear in his left thigh while away with the England national team.

The midfielder reported back at Cobham this morning (Friday) having flown back from the Middle East. The Chelsea medical department's initial impression is that he may take approximately three weeks to recover. This means most probabally he would not be taking part in the next 3 matches.