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The Dossier: Where Arsenal - Manchester United will be won and lost

ANALYSIS
By Liam Twomey Louis van Gaal's Manchester United revolution is stumbling forward at a snail's pace and, despite having no small problems of their own, Arsenal are clear favourites to deal the Dutchman another blow when the two sides meet on Saturday. It is easy to see why.

The Emirates Stadium has proved a fruitful hunting ground for United in recent times – they have only lost once in the last five years and claimed victory twice – but every match exists within its own context. Van Gaal's men head into this weekend winless in six games in all competitions on the road, conceding 13 goals and keeping just one clean sheet against Burnley in the process.

The United manager is also faced with a ludicrous injury list off the back of the international break. Summer signings Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao are all definitely out while David De Gea, Rafael, Jonny Evans, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw, Michael Carrick and Angel Di Maria will be monitored right up until Saturday. Several will likely have to play whether they are 100 per cent ready or not.

Arsenal's situation is hardly worth shouting about either. Like United they have won just four of 11 Premier League games and they are yet to beat a team outside the bottom six. The fact that Arsene Wenger remains just a point off a coveted Champions League spot is less the work of his own team and more down to the failings of almost everyone below Chelsea and Southampton so far.

But the Gunners remain a formidable prospect at home, losing just one of nine in all competitions in north London (a League Cup defeat to Southampton in September). No other side in the Premier League averages more shots (20.4) or shots on target (7.8) per game, and no visiting team has yet kept a clean sheet at the Emirates this season.

There is nothing to suggest United will buck that trend. Regardless of whether the consistently impressive De Gea is deemed fit enough to start or Anders Lindegaard deputises, Arsenal will fancy their chances of carving open a depleted, makeshift and inexperienced away defence.

Of all the absentees, Blind is undoubtedly the biggest loss. Boasting a pass success rate of 90.2 per cent, the Dutchman averages 2.6 interceptions per game (best among United midfielders) and 2.9 tackles (second-best) in front of the back four, and his absence also makes it likely that Van Gaal will start without his two most effective midfield passers, with Juan Mata (91.9%) expected to remain on the bench and captain Wayne Rooney in his place.



It is reasonable to assume that Arsenal will spend most of the match on the front foot. No Premier League home team averages a bigger share of possession (59.3%), with just 19% of the action taking place in the Gunners' defensive third. In Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (34) and Alexis Sanchez (31), Wenger will also field two of the division's four most successful dribblers, both of whom will relish the chance to try and commit United's uncertain and possibly unfit defenders.

Sanchez is clearly the main dangerman, having scored eight goals in his first 10 Premier League appearances with a superb 36% shot conversion rate. Strike partner Danny Welbeck, if he is passed fit by Arsene Wenger, will also have a point to prove against the boyhood club that sold him for €20 million in the summer but must be more clinical if he is to make it – despite his Champions League and England heroics, he has netted just twice from 26 attempts in the league so far.

United's task looks highly difficult, but there are ways in which they can give themselves a chance. The first and most important is to defend deep, forcing Arsenal to play in front of them. The Gunners have shot from outside the penalty area more times (89) than anyone else in the Premier League this season, but are yet to find the net once from range.

Another is to attack down the flanks. Fortunately this is something United already do a lot (just 27% of their attacks have come through the middle of the pitch this season). Wenger likes his full-backs to push high up and both Di Maria and Adnan Januzaj are quick and skillful enough to exploit the space left behind, though the visitors must improve their speed and decision-making in the transition – they are yet to score a single goal from a counter-attack this term.

Van Gaal will surely have noticed with particular interest how easily and often Swansea City's Jefferson Montero embarrassed Calum Chambers in one-on-one situations on the left flank at the Liberty Stadium a fortnight ago and, if Marouane Fellaini is given time to lope into the penalty area, he may be able to exploit a huge aerial mismatch with reluctant centre-back Nacho Monreal on crosses.

Arsenal give up the fewest shots (seven) per game of any team in the Premier League, so United will have to be ruthless. The bad news is that Robin van Persie has been anything but so far this season, with three goals from 26 attempts giving him a conversion rate of just 11.5%. The Dutchman re-finding his finishing touch is just the last of several dominos Van Gaal needs to fall if his team are to harbour any hope of compounding Wenger's troubles on Saturday.

Al-Shabab claims Kenya bus passenger killings

 Somali group says 28 non-Muslim passengers shot on board bus in Mandera in revenge for police raids on Mombasa mosques

Al-Shabab fighters from Somalia hijacked a bus in Kenya's north and killed 28 non-Muslims on board after they had been singled out from the rest of the passengers, police officials said.
Two police officers said that the bus travelling to the capital Nairobi with 60 passengers was hijacked 50km from the town of Mandera near Kenya's border with Somalia.
The officers insisted on anonymity out of fear of reprisals because of an order from Kenya's police chief that officers should not speak to the media.
Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the dawn bus attack in a statement on Saturday, saying the attack was revenge for raids carried out by Kenyan security forces on mosques in the coastal city of Mombasa. Kenyan police said they found explosives and arrested more than 150 people in the mosque raids.
"The Mujahideen successfully carried out an operation near Mandera early this morning, which resulted in the perishing of 28 crusaders, as a revenge for the crimes committed by the Kenyan crusaders against our Muslim brethren in Mombasa," Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, a spokesman for the group, said in the statement.
The interior ministry confirmed Saturday's attack, saying via its official Twitter handle: "Security agencies are in pursuit of the criminal gang. We'll give a comprehensive update once preliminary reports are out."
Police said that the attackers, who were heavily-armed, fled towards the border between Kenya and Somalia, adding that a security team has been deployed to the area to capture the attackers.
A reporter for Kenya's Standard newspaper told Al Jazeera the attack happened at 5:45am local time.

Quoting Mandera County Commissioner, journalist Boniface Mungeri said the attack was carried out by "about 100 gunmen who commandeered" the bus and forced the passengers out.

Passengers separated

Mungeri said the passengers were separated into groups according to their religion. Non-Muslims, the reporter said, were executed and Muslims were freed. The assailants attempted to take the bus but it got stuck in mud on the unpaved road.

Among those killed were two security officers and teachers who were travelling to their home towns on holiday, said the reporter.
Mandera County Governor Ali Ibrahim Roba said on Twitter: "The inhumane butchering of innocent Kenyans by terrorist must get [a] very firm response from our national security team."
Kenyan authorities have blamed the Somali armed group al-Shabab for a wave of deadly attacks across the East African nation. Kenya sent troops to Somalia in 2011 after raids on its coastal towns blamed on al-Shabab and has since seen a surge in lethal attacks.

Al-Shabab has also been blamed for the September 2013 attack on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, which killed 77 people.
Somali government troops backed by AU forces are making progress in capturing the remaining al-Shabab strongholds, but the group has continued to carry out attacks in Somalia and the East Africa region.
Recently, they captured the port town of Barawe.
Al-Shabab was also dealt a heavy blow following the death of their leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, who was killed in early September in a US airstrike.
Godane has been replaced by Ahmed Omar, also known as Abu Ubeid.

 

From Man Utd favourite to Inter flop – If Mancini can't rescue Vidic, no one can

If Walter Mazzarri had his way, Nemanja Vidic would be his Inter captain right now. Instead, Mazzarri is out of a job and the Serbian could well be out of the team for Sunday’s Milan derby.
When the defender arrived from Manchester United on a free transfer in the summer, one of his new boss’ first acts was to offer him the chance to succeed Javier Zanetti as the Nerazzurri skipper. But Vidic declined the opportunity, with Mazzarri later explaining: "He refused out of respect for the group. He recognised that there are others that have been part of the team for a longer period of time."
Four months on, Vidic has had a fairly torrid time as part of an Inter side which has underperformed so markedly that Erick Thohir used the international break to relieve Mazzarri of his services and welcome Roberto Mancini back to the club for his second spell in charge at Pinetina.
The union between Mancini and Vidic has been a long time in coming.
Manchester City were linked with a move for their neighbours’ skipper in the English press during Mancini’s time in charge at Eastlands, and there was plenty of talk that the Italian wanted to take the defender to Galatasaray too. But now that the two have finally linked up, it seems fate is against them to some degree.

Mancini will make the immediate move to a back four after Mazzarri’s tried and tested three-man defence failed regularly in the face of less than convincing attacks from vastly inferior outfits.
A Fiorentina side struggling in front of goal netted three against the Nerazzurri, Cagliari scored four at San Siro, Parma’s 2-0 win hauled them off the bottom of the table and Verona’s two goals – even despite a missed penalty – put the final nail in Mazzarri’s coffin.
But the move to a flat back four means the exclusion of one of the centre-backs, and that is not good news for Vidic.
Of Inter’s regular back three under Mazzarri, the 33-year-old is the most out of form. Juan Jesus has largely displayed grace and style this term, leading to him being picked to start every one of the Nerazzuri’s 17 games in all competitions. Meanwhile, Andrea Ranocchia has been reasonably stable by his own fluctuating standards and is the current incumbent of the captain’s armband that Vidic rejected at the season’s start.
But the Serbian has struggled to reach the heights expected of him since donning the black and blue shirt. His season began with a trip to Torino which included a conceded penalty and a red card for the debutant, and when he returned to the side against Palermo he handed an early goal on a plate for Franco Vazquez when trying to be too clever instead of clearing the ball.
While his form has lifted from that lowest of ebbs in the opening weeks, Vidic continues to be off the pace and out of sync in Inter’s defensive line. And the result is that Mancini’s first significant act looks likely to leave his long-time target sitting on the bench on one of European football’s biggest nights.
Yet Mancio did not spend years tailing Vidic to simply cast him aside at the first sign of failure, and if anything the back four will suit his play more – as he conceded himself to AFP recently.
“It’s the formation I played in before so I’m used to it. A new coach always comes in with his own ideas and philosophy. Mancini has shown us what he wants and what he expects, which is great and also good fun,” said Vidic.

Former Inter star Marco Materazzi believes the uniting of the player and coach will see the player flourish.

"Mancini knows a lot about football," the former centre-back, who won five Serie A titles and the Champions League with the Nerazzurri, told Goal.

"He was in England and he knows Vidic. But when a player arrives in a new team, if the team is at the top – it is too easy to play and adapt. When Nemanja came to Inter, after the first two or three games Inter wasn’t good. Then he had a problem. I think it will be better for him now."
So the immediate future may not be so easy, with Mancini having to decide whether to drop his captain, his in-form defender or the centre-back he’s had his eye on for a number of years.
But there is no reason why the two shouldn’t find the answer to Vidic’s current ailments in the longer term, making nonsense of the spurious rumours lining him up for a potential January exit.
If Mancini can’t get Vidic back on form, no one can.

Bayern, Chelsea, PSG, Real Madrid - which clubs could afford to buy Messi?

Lionel Messi has created a storm. The Argentine attacker hinted earlier this week that his future may not be at Barcelona after all, alluding to severe criticism and "difficult times" at the Catalan club. And as news spread of the forward's frustrations at Camp Nou, Europe's top teams were placed on red alert.

Key figures such as Messi's father Jorge, Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu and team-mate Javier Mascherano have been quick to play down the possibility of the 27-year-old seeking a move elsewhere, but the player himself has given serious thought to a future away from Barca.

As things stand, it still looks likely Leo will smooth things over at the club where he has spent over half his life since joining as a tiny but talented 13-year-old in 2000.

Nevertheless, Europe's elite will be watching with interest to see how the player's situation develops. But how many clubs could afford to sign the Argentine anyway? Several sides in Asia, such as rich Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande, could probably meet Messi's massive €250m release clause, but the Argentine would want to remain in Europe at this point in his career. So here, Goal takes a look at the possible suitors if the four-time Ballon d'Or winner did decide to leave Camp Nou behind...

BAYERN MUNICH

Messi's perfect partnership with Pep Guardiola brought the best out of both men, with 14 out of a possible 19 titles for the Catalan club between 2008 and 2012, as well as a host of records for the Argentine attacker and four consecutive Ballons d'Or.

Bayern have just paid off the Allianz Arena more than 15 years ahead of schedule and chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told the club's magazine: "The revenues from the Allianz Arena can soon be invested in the team."

That's ominous news for everyone else, but Bayern's head of finances Jan-Christian Dreesen told Sport Bild 10 days ago: "We won't spend the amounts that clubs from southern Europe spend. We would rather invest in improving our collective strength than buying a megastar for €90 or €100 million."

Messi (who would probably cost more than that anyway, albeit much less than his current clause) is an Adidas athlete and a deal could potentially be struck with the sports manufacturer helping the German club to finance a transfer. However, spending such sums is against Bayern's principles in the transfer market and the Bundesliga champions would be unlikely to make a move - however much Guardiola would like to buy his former protege. 

CHELSEA

If you can't beat them, join them! Messi has traditionally found life tough against Chelsea and was famously called a diver by Jose Mourinho following the sides' Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge in early 2006.

The Argentine's style of football is also a million miles from the defensive tactics shown on occasions by the Blues on their visits to Camp Nou.

Nevertheless, this is a very different Chelsea team and Mourinho managed to convince Barcelona and Arsenal fan Cesc Fabregas to join the club last summer. So why not Messi?

Less of a big-spending side in recent years, Chelsea's income and the deep pockets of chairman Roman Abramovich mean a deal could be financed, while Messi's close friendship with Cesc (the players' partners are also very close and were together in London last week) could be another deciding factor. So perhaps the idea is less ludicrous than it first seems.

MANCHESTER CITY

One of the reasons Messi is less content at Camp Nou right now is the absence of a great friend in the dressing room following the summer departures of best Barca buddies Jose Pinto and Cesc Fabregas.

At City, he would link up with compatriots Sergio Aguero, Martin Demichelis and Pablo Zabaleta. The latter is one of Messi's best friends in football and the two have been close ever since they met at youth levels representing Argentina, while they also saw a lot of each other when the defender played in Barcelona for Espanyol.

City coach Manuel Pellegrini is a big admirer of Messi and the club would love to make a statement of intent by bringing in the four-time Ballon d'Or winner.

However, given their recent fine for infringing Financial Fair Play regulations, City would need to sell several star players or raise significant income in terms of sponsorship before a move for Messi would be possible.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Messi may have lost out to Cristiano Ronaldo in the popularity contest this week at Old Trafford, but that's because the Portuguese is a former Manchester United favourite and the Argentine is remembered for denying the club the Champions League title in 2009 and 2011.

Those fans would quickly change their tune if the possibility of signing Messi arose, but right now United are not even in the Champions League and a loss of revenue from Europe's premier club competition could hit them hard if they miss out on a top-four finish again this term under Louis van Gaal.

Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward believes the club - still one of the Europe's richest despite escalating debts - are still in good shape. "There is the feeling at the club that we have the start of something special," he said earlier this week.

However, United would need Champions League football to tempt Messi and also to pay for him. And with the club currently down in seventh place in the Premier League, there is no guarantee that will happen this season.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

Paris Saint-Germain missed out on the summer signing of Angel Di Maria due to the Financial Fair Play regulations which saw the club fined €60 million by Uefa earlier this year.

Nevertheless, PSG officials did make contact with Messi's camp earlier in 2014 to discuss an extraordinary move from Barcelona to Paris and the Argentine attacker contemplated a deal before deciding to stay with the Catalan club following a visit to his former coach Tito Vilanova.

Although it is unclear how PSG could fund a deal for Messi, the capital club could be tempted to part company with several of their star names if it meant they could bring in the Barcelona forward.

The club's current icon, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, may look to leave if PSG move for Messi. The two men enjoyed a positive relationship at Camp Nou, but Messi's move to a central role ultimately spelt the end for the Swedish striker at Camp Nou.

REAL MADRID

Asked if he would consider signing Messi from fierce rivals Barcelona, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday: "There is always space for quality players in my team."

Madrid could certainly afford to buy the Argentine in a deal which would eclipse in controversy even the move for Barca winger Luis Figo back in 2000.

President Florentino Perez would love to produce a repeat of that transfer and poach Barca's biggest star, but knows that current club icon Cristiano Ronaldo would not take well to a possible move for Messi.

And in any case, the Argentine would not contemplate turning out for another team in Spain after spending the last 14 years of his life at the Catalan club - least of all the side's eternal enemy.

Chelsea - West Brom Preview: Leaders out to maintain perfect home record

 
Jose Mourinho's side sit four points clear at the top of the Premier League season but failed to beat the Baggies in either of their two meetings last season West Brom came agonisingly close to winning at Chelsea last season, but it would be a surprise if they were to take even a point on Saturday.

Eden Hazard's controversial last-gasp penalty - won by Ramires - ensured Jose Mourinho's side salvaged a 2-2 Premier League draw against Albion at Stamford Bridge just over a year ago.

Referee Andre Marriner pointed to the spot in stoppage time after the Brazilian midfielder had gone down following a collision with Steven Reid, a decision which then Baggies head coach Steve Clarke described as "galling".

	CHELSEA LATEST
7/1	Chelsea are 7/1 with Paddy Power to beat West Brom 3-0

The West Midlands club also secured a 1-1 home draw with Chelsea in the 2013-14 campaign, but Mourinho's side are a different proposition this season as they have surged into a four-point lead at the top of the table.

Chelsea have dropped only for points in an ominous start to Mourinho's second season back at the helm and with closest challengers Southampton not in action until Monday, they will be seven points clear of the Saints with a victory on Saturday.

Mourinho will be hoping his dig at Chelsea fans following the London derby victory over QPR will prompt them to raise the decibels when Alan Irvine's men head to the capital.

The Portuguese said it was like playing in an "empty stadium" due to the lack of atmosphere from the home fans against Harry Redknapp's side.

Chelsea have won all five home matches in the Premier League this season, conceding just three goals in the process and, with champions Manchester City faltering, they are strong favourites to win the title even at such an early stage.

Striker Diego Costa should be firing on all cylinders having been omitted from international duty with Spain after being troubled by a hamstring problem since arriving at Stamford Bridge.

Cesc Fabregas also pulled out of the Spain squad due to a hamstring injury, so Mourinho will check on the midfielder's fitness ahead of the clash with Albion and the same applies to Ramires (groin).

Andre Schurrle stayed in London during the international break in order to recover from an infection and it remains to be seen if the Germany forward plays any part.

West Brom slumped to a first defeat in four Premier League games when they were beaten 2-0 by resurgent Newcastle United at The Hawthorns last time out and have had two weeks to lick their wounds.

Irvine is under no illusions as to the task his side face on Saturday, but stressed that his side will not just be there to make up the numbers.

He said: "I would probably argue that Chelsea have strengthened a very good squad from last year by adding some exceptionally good players.

"They are stronger but it doesn't mean we can't get something from there. We have a chance - there is absolutely no question of that - but we will need to play extremely well."

The visitors welcome Craig Gardner back from suspension, but Jonas Olsson (Achilles) is ruled out and Sebastian Pocognoli (hamstring) faces a battle to prove his fitness.

Everton - West Ham Preview: Martinez faced with injury concerns

Roberto Martinez has several injury concerns to contend with ahead of Everton's Premier League clash with West Ham at Goodison Park.

Midfield duo Gareth Barry and James McCarthy sustained ankle and hamstring problems respectively in the Merseyside club's 1-1 draw at Sunderland last time out.

Leighton Baines then pulled out of the England squad after suffering a hamstring injury in training during the two-week international break, while Darron Gibson complained of pain in his knee after playing for the Republic of Ireland against Scotland last Friday.

Steven Pienaar (knee) and Kevin Mirallas (hamstring) will also be assessed along with Seamus Coleman (Achilles wound), while Bryan Oviedo, Arouna Kone (both knee), Antolin Alcaraz (dislocated shoulder) and John Stones (ankle) remain sidelined.

	EVERTON LATEST
9/2	Romelu Lukaku is 9/2 with Paddy Power to open the scoring vs West Ham

Martinez is hopeful that his squad will not be significantly depleted when Everton attempt to stretch their unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions on Saturday.

"We're checking Leighton on a daily basis," said the Everton manager. "He's someone that heals really quickly.

"He had a grade one injury on Friday, that was with England. At the moment, it's difficult to know whether he's going to be involved on Saturday or not. It's touch and go.

"Normally it takes between 10 and 14 days - with Leighton you can't really rule him out. I've seen him recover from a grade one hamstring problem in eight days."

Martinez added: "James McCarthy picked up a grade one hamstring problem against Sunderland and we're assessing him. We'll see how he recovers.

"Darron Gibson hasn't been able to train yet. His knee suffered a little bit in the game against Scotland.

"Plus Seamus Coleman played with five stitches against Scotland, so we need to check the wound.

"Then you've got Steven Pienaar and Kevin Mirallas, they've been joining the group, and Gareth. I'm not too sure if Gareth will make the game, I'd be very, very surprised if he did."

Everton have slipped to 10th spot after drawing their last two top-flight matches and face a West Ham side revelling in occupying the heady heights of fourth place.

The London club have also drawn their last two games following a run of three consecutive wins and manager Sam Allardyce has played down talk of European qualification.

"We've made a good start in that direction but there is a long, long way still to go. I think it's a huge ask which is probably just ahead of us at the moment." said the 60-year-old.

Allardyce has concerns over key duo Stewart Downing (knee) and Diafra Sakho (back) ahead of the trip to Merseyside, but revealed that Andy Carroll is ready to start if needed despite not being fully fit.

West Ham have failed to win in their last 13 encounters with Everton - losing the last four - and their last victory came back in 2007 when Bobby Zamora scored the only goal of the game.

Manchester City - Swansea City Preview: Monk showing no sympathy for Pellegrin

Garry Monk says Manchester City have the depth to cope with their significant list of absentees ahead of Saturday's clash with Swansea City .

The defending Premier League champions could be without four first-team regulars as they look to reverse a poor run of form at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.

Manuel Pellegrini's men have won just one of their last six matches in all competitions and were held to a 2-2 draw at lowly QPR prior to the international break.

The hosts - who face Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday - are likely to be without the injured Aleksandar Kolarov (ankle), David Silva (knee) and Edin Dzeko (calf) are also doubtful.

However, Swansea boss Monk insists City have the squad to deal with such problems.

"The players they have to come in would get in most sides," he said. "They probably look at this as a chance to get three points, but hopefully we can put on a performance to try and get points.

"They're a good side. It's a tough place to go, they are an extremely good squad, defending champions. It's a tough proposition for us but one we look forward to.

"The players relish playing them to see how far they've come as individuals and a group and we can see how far we have come."

Swansea have not had much luck at the site of their first Premier League fixture back in 2011.

That encounter set the tone for the two that have followed in Manchester, with Swansea losing all three meetings at the Etihad - conceding eight goals and scoring none.

But the Welsh outfit have given an excellent account of themselves in the top flight this season and would pull level on points with City should they pick up an unexpected win.

However, Monk says he has not altered his expectations for the campaign, despite a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Arsenal last time out.

"We just focus on the next game," he added. "If you look too far ahead, you lose track of what you're doing. We're just looking at Man City and giving that 100 per cent commitment.

"You obviously look at the table, but my focus is on attacking every game as best we can and getting the best performance that will hopefully get us enough points to stay in the top half.

"But we're realistic. Teams below us are very powerful financially, but we're competing so far."

While Manchester City struggle with injuries, Federico Fernandez (calf) looks set to be the only absentee for the visitors.

Mourinho: Chelsea WILL lose but it won't halt our title charge

 
The Portuguese coach doubts his side's chances of remaining unbeaten for the duration of the season but is confident they will bounce back immediately from any such setback Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is resigned to the prospect of losing this season but insists defeat will not lead to crisis at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues can extend their unbeaten run to 18 games when they face West Brom on Saturday and victory would extend their lead over Southampton to seven points.

	CHELSEA LATEST
1/6	Chelsea are 1/6 with bet365 to win the Premier League this season

But Mourinho does not fear the prospect of picking up a first loss of the campaign and is confident his side are strong enough mentally to bounce back from any such setback and avoid falling into a rut.

"The thing that gives us confidence is the results we are getting are not occasional. They're because we're playing well," he told reporters.

"We believe that, when we lose points, the next game we are going to play well again.

"Against Maribor in the Champions League [earlier in November], we lost two points but in the next game we were not in crisis. We were at Liverpool to play well again.

"I don't believe there'll be a Chelsea crisis in the season. I believe Chelsea will lose points and matches, but not in a crisis of results. I truly believe in our ability.

"We don't have pressure to lead. The pressure is for the ones who are coming behind. I always felt the pressure when I was behind, not when I was on the top and I've always been competing for titles.

"To be first is easier than to be second. If you're first, you think just about yourself."

Chelsea’s form saw bookmakers Paddy Power pay out early to customers who backed the Blues for the title this season, but Mourinho dismissed suggestions his side were guaranteed to be champions.

He said: "I know we are playing very well. I know that clearly. But it's pure, simple mathematics. We have played 11 matches. We have 27 to play. We're not even halfway through the season, so it's too early."

Van Gaal: January signings very difficult for Manchester United

Louis van Gaal has backed Ed Woodward's insistence that Manchester United are unlikely to make significant signings in January.

United, beset by injuries since the start of the season, have won just four of their first 11 Premier League games under the Dutchman, while the summer departures of Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra have also left the squad short of experience and quality in defence.

But earlier this week Woodward told investors during a conference call to discuss United's latest financial results that the club will not go looking for "short-term fixes" in January, and Van Gaal agrees with his executive vice chairman.

“I don’t think that he has said he should not buy. I think he has said that in January it’s very difficult to buy players who are good enough for the quality of Manchester United and because of that we are not buying and I agree with that,” the Dutchman told reporters.

“When you buy it has to be a player better than you have in your squad and it shall be very difficult to find such a player in January. So that is what he wanted to say I believe and believe we are speaking the same language.”

One man repeatedly linked with a move to Old Trafford in the New Year is Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman, but Van Gaal refused to be drawn on whether United will try to tempt the Serie A title contenders into a sale.

“I cannot discuss with the media about players that we want to buy," he added. "I cannot answer this question and not only about Strootman but all the players in this world."

The Dossier: Where Arsenal - Manchester United will be won and lost

ANALYSIS
By Liam Twomey

Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United revolution is stumbling forward at a snail’s pace and, despite having no small problems of their own, Arsenal are clear favourites to deal the Dutchman another blow when the two sides meet on Saturday. It is easy to see why.

The Emirates Stadium has proved a fruitful hunting ground for United in recent times – they have only lost once in the last five years and claimed victory twice – but every match exists within its own context. Van Gaal’s men head into this weekend winless in six games in all competitions on the road, conceding 13 goals and keeping just one clean sheet against Burnley in the process.

The United manager is also faced with a ludicrous injury list off the back of the international break. Summer signings Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao are all definitely out while David De Gea, Rafael, Jonny Evans, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw, Michael Carrick and Angel Di Maria will be monitored right up until Saturday. Several will likely have to play whether they are 100 per cent ready or not.

Arsenal’s situation is hardly worth shouting about either. Like United they have won just four of 11 Premier League games and they are yet to beat a team outside the bottom six. The fact that Arsene Wenger remains just a point off a coveted Champions League spot is less the work of his own team and more down to the failings of almost everyone below Chelsea and Southampton so far.

But the Gunners remain a formidable prospect at home, losing just one of nine in all competitions in north London (a League Cup defeat to Southampton in September). No other side in the Premier League averages more shots (20.4) or shots on target (7.8) per game, and no visiting team has yet kept a clean sheet at the Emirates this season.

There is nothing to suggest United will buck that trend. Regardless of whether the consistently impressive De Gea is deemed fit enough to start or Anders Lindegaard deputises, Arsenal will fancy their chances of carving open a depleted, makeshift and inexperienced away defence.

Of all the absentees, Blind is undoubtedly the biggest loss. Boasting a pass success rate of 90.2 per cent, the Dutchman averages 2.6 interceptions per game (best among United midfielders) and 2.9 tackles (second-best) in front of the back four, and his absence also makes it likely that Van Gaal will start without his two most effective midfield passers, with Juan Mata (91.9%) expected to remain on the bench and captain Wayne Rooney in his place.



It is reasonable to assume that Arsenal will spend most of the match on the front foot. No Premier League home team averages a bigger share of possession (59.3%), with just 19% of the action taking place in the Gunners’ defensive third. In Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (34) and Alexis Sanchez (31), Wenger will also field two of the division’s four most successful dribblers, both of whom will relish the chance to try and commit United’s uncertain and possibly unfit defenders.

Sanchez is clearly the main dangerman, having scored eight goals in his first 10 Premier League appearances with a superb 36% shot conversion rate. Strike partner Danny Welbeck will also have a point to prove against the boyhood club that sold him for £16 million in the summer but must be more clinical if he is to make it – despite his Champions League and England heroics, he has netted just twice from 26 attempts in the league so far.

United’s task looks highly difficult, but there are ways in which they can give themselves a chance. The first and most important is to defend deep, forcing Arsenal to play in front of them. The Gunners have shot from outside the penalty area more times (89) than anyone else in the Premier League this season, but are yet to find the net once from range.

Another is to attack down the flanks. Fortunately this is something United already do a lot (just 27% of their attacks have come through the middle of the pitch this season). Wenger likes his full-backs to push high up and both Di Maria and Adnan Januzaj are quick and skillful enough to exploit the space left behind, though the visitors must improve their speed and decision-making in the transition – they are yet to score a single goal from a counter-attack this term.

Van Gaal will surely have noticed with particular interest how easily and often Swansea City’s Jefferson Montero embarrassed Calum Chambers in one-on-one situations on the left flank at the Liberty Stadium a fortnight ago and, if Marouane Fellaini is given time to lope into the penalty area, he may be able to exploit a huge aerial mismatch with reluctant centre-back Nacho Monreal on crosses.

Arsenal give up the fewest shots (seven) per game of any team in the Premier League, so United will have to be ruthless. The bad news is that Robin van Persie has been anything but so far this season, with three goals from 26 attempts giving him a conversion rate of just 11.5%. The Dutchman re-finding his finishing touch is just the last of several dominos Van Gaal needs to fall if his team are to harbour any hope of compounding Wenger’s troubles on Saturday.

Rooney: Welbeck was right to leave… but seeing him play for Arsenal is weird

Danny Welbeck made the right decision by leaving Manchester United to join Arsenal this summer, according to former team-mate Wayne Rooney.

The 23-year-old striker left Old Trafford after 15 years to move to the Emirates Stadium in a £16 million deal on transfer deadline day and will take on his old team for the first time on Saturday afternoon.

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5/1	Danny Welbeck is 5/1 with bet365 to open the scoring against Manchester United on Saturday

Welbeck has made a strong start to his career in north London, scoring five times in 12 appearances, and Rooney believes the decision to leave United is already paying off – even though he is still not used to seeing his old strike partner in an Arsenal shirt.

“For Danny, and his own career, it was probably the best move for him,” the United skipper told MUTV.

“He's done great and scored a few goals. Danny gives you what he always gives you - a good shift.

“Of course [it will be strange playing against Welbeck], Danny has been here all of his life. He is a Manchester lad so it is weird seeing him there.

“At times, as I said to him, he works a bit too hard but he's scoring goals and he's doing well.”

Rooney is expecting a tough test at the Emirates but is very familiar with Arsenal’s side due to the growing presence of England internationals amongst the club’s ranks.

“Arsenal have got a good squad, an exciting squad with a lot of young players and a lot of English players which is great for England,” continued Rooney.

“We know they play with a lot of energy and we'll have to be at our best to beat them. It's always a tight game and whoever gets the first goal normally wins or gets a result.”

US said to broaden combat role in Afghanistan

New York Times says Obama has given hushed green light for Pentagon to continue Afghanistan mission for at least a year.

Almost 10,000 US troops were already ordered to stay in Afghanistan after the initial drawdown [AP]

US President Barrack Obama has quietly expanded the Pentagon's role in Afghanistan from previously-set guidelines that were to limit US troop involvement in the war-wrecked country starting this year, the New York Times reported. According to the newspaper, Obama signed classified orders for US forces to continue targeting Taliban in Afghanistan for at least another year. The broadened plan also allows the use of American jets, bombers and drones to back Afghan troops on combat missions, the New York Times' report said, citing several unnamed administration, military and congressional officials with knowledge of the decision. The report, which Al Jazeera was unable to immediately verify, did not identify how this would affect the number of US troops deployed on the ground. The new guidelines go against Obama's comments in May, in which he said US military would have no combat role in Afghanistan next year, and that the task of 9,800 remaining in the country would only be training local forces and hunting the "remnants of al-Qaeda”. Obama's new set of orders followed what the newspaper described as a "lengthy and heated debate" between "two often-competing imperatives," one being Obama's previous promise to end the war in Afghanistan, the other the Pentagon's demand to fulfill their remaining missions there. The changes were made against the backdrop of Iraqi troops' failure earlier this year to stand against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the newspaper said. The Times reported that the decision was met with objection from some of Obama's top civilian aides who argued for a "narrow counter-terrorism mission against al-Qaeda," to avoid more American lives be put at risk next year in any operations against the Taliban. US Military role While the nature of US involvement in Afghanistan after this year has been under debate for years, two key factors, including Iraqi forces’ weak performance against ISIL, have tilted the balance in recent months in favour of what seems to be an extension. The other factor was the arrival of Ashraf Ghani to Afghanistan's helm. The new president has been more accepting of an expansive American military expansion in his country than his predecessor, Hamid Karazai. Reuters news agency said a senior administration official said the US combat mission in Afghanistan would be over by year-end, as Obama had announced in May. "Safety of our personnel is the president's first priority and our armed forces will continue to engage in operations in self-defence and in support of Afghan security forces," the official said, according to Reuters. "While we will no longer target belligerents solely because they are members of the Taliban, to the extent that Taliban members directly threaten the United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan or provide direct support to al-Qaeda, we will take appropriate measures to keep Americans safe," he added.

Source: Al Jazeera

Dozens killed in Kenya bus attack

At least 28 passengers executed by suspected al-Shabab fighters after bus travelling to capital Nairobi is ambushed.

Al-Shabab fighters from Somalia hijacked a bus in Kenya's north and killed 28 non-Muslims on board after they had been singled out from the rest of the passengers, police officials said. Two police officers said that the bus travelling to the capital Nairobi with 60 passengers was hijacked 50km from the town of Mandera near Kenya's border with Somalia. The officers insisted on anonymity out of fear of reprisals because of an order from Kenya's police chief that officers should not speak to the media. The interior ministry confirmed Saturday's attack, saying via its official Twitter handle: "Bandits ambushed a bus from Mandera that was heading to Nairobi at dawn and killed 28 passengers of the 60 that were in the bus." "Security agencies are in pursuit of the criminal gang. We'll give a comprehensive update once preliminary reports are out." A reporter for Kenya's Standard newspaper told Al Jazeera the attack happened at 5:45am local time. Quoting Mandera County Commissioner, journalist Boniface Mungeri said the attack was carried out by "about 100 gunmen who commandeered" the bus and forced the passengers out. Passengers separated Mungeri said the passengers were separated into groups according to their religion. Non-Muslims, the reporter said, were executed and Muslims were freed. The assailants attempted to take the bus but it got stuck in mud on the unpaved road. Among those killed were two security officers and teachers who were travelling to their home towns on holiday, said the reporter. Mandera Country Governor Ali Ibrahim Roba said on Twitter: "The inhumane butchering of innocent Kenyans by terrorist must get [a] very firm response from our national security team." Kenyan authorities have blamed the Somali armed group al-Shabab for a wave of deadly attacks across the East African nation. Kenya sent troops to Somalia in 2011 after raids on its coastal towns blamed on al-Shabab and has since seen a surge in lethal attacks. Al-Shabab has also been blamed for the September 2013 attack on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, which killed 77 people. Somali government troops backed by AU forces are making progress in capturing the remaining al-Shabab strongholds, but the group has continued to carry out attacks in Somalia and the East Africa region. Recently, they captured the port town of Barawe. Al-Shabab was also dealt a heavy blow following the death of their leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, who was killed in early September in a US airstrike. Godane has been replaced by Ahmed Omar, also known as Abu Ubeid.

Source: Al Jazeera

Overspeeding: Electronic monitoring now underway

Road accidents cost govt Sh 3trillion

TRA told: Harmonise tax rates, cut levies

ITV tops in media sector tax compliance
The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has been advised to harmonize tax rates and reduce the number of levies charged by tax administrators, in a bid to enhance tax compliance among the business community.

Speaking at the Eighth Taxpayers’ Day activities yesterdat, the former Zanzibar Chief Minister, Shamsi Vuai Nahodha said that this goes in tandem with improving tax collection by taking into consideration specific recommendations by the business community for greater harmony to be cultivated with TRA.

 Several important recommendations have been given by the business community that will enable the harmonization to be done efficiently, he said, pointing at four key issues which were important for TRA to take into consideration.

These he said include the need to improve the tax collection system, to stop bureaucracy that complicated complaints and hinders many taxpayers to pay tax promptly, and improving service rendering via the internet.

Other issues that hinder compliance are high tax rates and presumed benefits of compliance, which is reflected in improved infrastructures such as roads, hospital services and schools, he said.

Despite various challenges in collecting taxes, administrators should also administer the law which pinches the taxpayers to do so, he said.

During the meeting, the deputy minister of finance Adam Malima said despite the success that TRA has managed to register, the authority still faces challenge especially in service delivery which he said hinders efforts to boost  the national income.

He said among issues that need to be tackled is Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFD) challenges, as this will ensure each taxpayer and general public is contributing directly or indirectly to government coffers on the basis of the business they conduct.

“Taxpayers and the general public play a superlative role in the process of contributing to the government by tax law so as to empower the government to provide social services,” he said.

He applauded companies shortlisted as most compliant taxpayers of the year where 234 firms and stakeholders were awarded with trophies, shields and certificates in recognition of their role in building the nation through payment of tax.

The TRA Commissioner General Rished Bade said that on the basis of efforts to improve tax collection the government plans to collect Sh11.9 trillion in revenue during financial year 2014/2015 , an increase of 21 percent compared with 2013/2014 collections.

“This target is set by focusing on the growth of the economy as TRA is in the second year of implementation of the five-year strategic plan which was established to simplify tax collection and introduce new sources of revenue,” he said.

  TRA is in a plan to increase revenue to GDP ratio to 19.9 percent by the year 2018 through the implementation of the fourth corporate plan, he declared.
“We are committed to creating a workable partnership with the private sector in revenue administration and your inputs towards achieving this commitment together are most welcome and valued,” he told the gathering.

For his part, TRA board chairman Bernard Mchomvu said that Taxpayers’ Day is a special day demonstrating the partnership between taxpayers as customers and tax administrators as service providers.

“It is a day which the authority recognizes, appreciates and reward taxpayers and other stakeholders for their contributions toward collections of government revenue,” he said.

He said that the process of selecting winners for the awards during Taxpayers’ day involves members of the TRA senior management.

“All selected winners for awards during the day must fulfill certain conditions in order to qualify for the award,” he explained.

During the event, Independent Television Limited (ITV), a service institution with the IPP Media Group featured among 17 award winners in the national compliant taxpayers by sector, as the winner in the media category.

ITV/Radio One managing director Joyce Mhavile said being among national compliant taxpayers suggests that despite being a media house involved in mobilizing people for tax compliance, it shows how the company is at the forefront in ensuring they walk the talk as to compliance.

 Apart from providing services as a media house, the broadcaster has been able to feature among the business community contributing the most in raising national income.

“We must keep in mind that our development will not be made by foreigners. We as Tanzanians can contribute directly to national income so that we can improve development level as a nation,” she said.

TACAIDS reels from govt debt, says NACOPHA

As reports of medicine consignments delivery to public hospitals have started to emerge across the country, the National Council of People living with HIV (NACOPHA) said claims that TACAIDS was not affected by Sh99billion government debt to Medical Store Department was a blatant lie.

The National Council’s Chairperson Vitalis Makayula said it was true that people living with HIV/Aids (PLHIV) are freely treated against all other opportunistic diseases but there was nowhere else the government can have access to such medicine apart from MSD.

Makayula said it is on that angle where people living with HIV become victims of the government’s debt to MSD.

He said it was true that TACAIDS’ is donor funded to the larger extent, but benefactors do offer only ARV drugs, to maximally suppress HIV virus, and not other medicine for other diseases accessible by HIV victims.

“There are other major diseases that weakens HIV/AIDS patient apart from the virus and delays in treating them might cause instant death. MSD strike meant untimely provision of such drugs to victims” he said.

He said besides medicine for opportunistic diseases, NACOPHA also lacks ARVs, mostly the second line of the drug, which are used to treat victims whose bodies fail to withstand first doses, specially known as first line.

He said normally victims starts using ARVs if their cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4), range between 200 and 350 saying medical professionals need to ensure that they find out the real cause of  some patients bodies ignoring the first line dose before shifting them to a second line dose.

According to him, balanced diet, ignorance, untimely daily dose, stopping taking the dose were among the reasons for the first line dose to act differently to victims bodies

However, the TACAIDS Director of Policy, Planning and Research, Dr Raphael Kalinga insisted yesterday that such fears by NACOPHA over ARVs shortages should be ignored.  Dr Kalinga said there was no problem with the availability of the said drugs. “Some patients not yet qualified to ARV’s were forcing medical attendants to provide such drugs to them.

Not everyone with the virus is entitled to ARVs. There are specific tests of patients’ body immunity that determines one access to drugs” he said.

He said the commission hasn’t faced with any drug shortages since 2004 when it first launched free drug provisions to patients, saying the only challenge it face is lack of health workers capacity to cope up with the rapid developments of the program being rolled throughout the country.

Last week, TACAIDS said it had enough funds and medical stocks to cater for the whole country this financial year amid fears of HIV/AIDS victims’ government’ Sh99bn debt to MSD.

The Commissioner Executive Chairperson, Dr Fatma Mrisho cleared the air saying her commission was not MSD dependent on medicines and funds but rather a donor reliability.

Tanzania sees surge in girls reporting rape, kidnapping

A surge in reports of rape, torture and kidnapping of girls in Tanzania shows that the introduction of specialist units in police stations is giving survivors confidence to report these crimes, a senior official has said.

However, critics said police need to do more to secure prosecutions in the country where nearly one in three girls experiences sexual abuse before the age of 18, according to the United Nations children's fund.

They also stressed that the number of crimes reported represents only the tip of the iceberg as most victims of sexual violence do not speak up   for   fear   of   stigmatisation.

In Tanzania's main city, Dar es Salaam, there were 519 reports of violence against girls in the first nine months of this year - 67 percent higher than for the whole of 2013.

"These figures suggest that our desks have had a huge impact since abuse victims are now more willing to come forward and tell their stories without fear," Christine Onyango, the police officer in charge of gender and children's affairs, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

It is the first time Tanzania's government has released such data since it introduced 200 so-called Gender and Children's Desks last year, making it easier for survivors to report abuse to specially trained female officers.

Rape was the most common form of violence against girls, according to statistics published last week, with sharp increases in reports of all types of crimes.

Stepmothers were most frequently cited for torturing girls while kidnappings were carried out by unknown assailants for witchcraft or ransom.

The Tanzania Media Women's Association (TAMWA), which advocates for women's rights, called on the government to do more to secure prosecutions.

"If security organs and responsible ministries take action against perpetrators of such inhuman acts against children, the country will be a peaceful place to live," it said in a statement.

Happiness Bagambi, a programme officer with TAMWA, also called for members of the public to be educated on the preservation of evidence after sexual assaults.

"Very few people have the courage to take their raped children to police or hospital without (them) being bathed," she said. "The evidence is lost and, if the case proceeds, ends up nowhere."
 

Overall country HIV rate falls despite Njombe ‘s 14.8 percent

Executive Chairman of Tanzania Aids Commission, (TACAIDS), Dr Fatma Mrisho (R), at news conference in her office in Dar es Salaam yesterday. December 1 World AIDS Day at national level will be held in Njombe. On her
Njombe Region now leads in terms of HIV prevalence with 14.8 percent, according to the Tanzania Commission for Aids (TACAIDS).

This is according to Third Tanzania HIV and Malaria Indicator Survey (THMIS III) 2011 –2012, TACAIDS Executive Director Dr Fatma Mrisho told media personnel in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

Njombe is followed by Iringa Region 9.1 with per cent and Mbeya Region 9.0 per cent while the lowest prevalence is recorded in Manyara Region at 1.5 percent.

She warned HIV victims to stop using alternative medicines for treatment, urging them to continue using the prescribed ARV and other counseling measures.
Her warning comes ahead of Tanzania joining other nations to mark Aids Day on December 1.

Mrisho noted however that that regardless of Njombe having 14.8 per cent HIV prevalence, the country is doing well as the overall rate declined from 5.7 in 2007/08 to 5.1 per cent in 2012.

“But the prevalence is higher among individuals with regular income than those without. This is according to “Third Tanzania HIV and Malaria Indicator Survey (THMIS III) 2011 – 2012,” she said.

The percentage rate of HIV prevalence in various Tanzanian locations is as follows, according to the survey:

Shinyanga 7.4 per cent, Ruvuma 7.0 per cent , Dar es Salaam 6.9 per cent , Rukwa 6.2 per cent , Katavi5.9 percent ,Coast 5.9 per cent, Tabora 5.1, Kagera 4.8, Geita 4.7, Mara 4.5, Mwanza 4.2, Mtwara 4.1,Kilimanjaro 3.8 percent, Morogoro 3.8 per cent , Simiyu 3.6 per cent , Kigoma 3.4 per cent, Singida 3.3 per cent , Arusha 3.2 per cent , Dodoma 2.9 per cent , Lindi 2.9per cent , Tanga 2.4 per cent , Manyara 1.5 per cent, Unguja 1.2 per cent  and Pemba 0.3 per cent.

Mrisho said they are aware of patients who, due to little understanding of the impact of disease, stop using medical treatment and shift to alternative treatment which is not good for their health,” she said.

The chairman added that 99.8 per cent of Tanzanians are aware of HIV though some do not trust medical treatment, noting that much expectation is in health education on how to stay free from HIV and how to use medicines for those who are affected.

Dar customers unhappy with weight machines

Customers at different city markets in the city have raised their concerns over Weights and Measure machines (WMA) being used by retailers and vendors of food products saying such machines do not depict the true weight of their purchased products.

A week long survey by The Guardian in Dar es Salaam discovered that buyers weighing their products in kilograms were claiming that most of such machines have been tampered to the benefits of vendors.

The survey discovered that a number of shopkeepers, butcher men and regular vendors at the major markets in the city were among those tampering with weight and measure machines to cheat customers of their products.

Hamisi Habibu, a regular customer of food items at Kipunguni market in the city told The Guardian that butchers were among few places where such weight deception is being observed.

Farmers have for long raised their concerns over the issue saying such a trend was weakening their efforts in the field, denying their income and also impoverishing their lives at the interest of few deceptive business men.

However, WMA’s Public Relations Officer, Rehema Rashid said they are still conducting their routine survey to nab deceitful traders in the city.

She said during the first quarter of 2014/15 financial year, at least 160 traders were arrested and fined in different parts of Dar es Salaam for tampering with weight and measures machines for self benefits.

Three months ago, the WMA Chief Executive Officer, Magdalena Chuwa was quoted in the local media admitting the agency’s facing serious shortage of staff to conduct such a supervision operation upcountry on timely basis to nab deceitful traders.

WMA is an agency working under the umbrella of the Ministry of Trade and Industry charged with consumer protection through measuring systems in order to ensure fair trade transactions by protecting consumers.
 

Govt fails to release budget reports

Failure by the government to release budget reports to its citizens has limited access of information to the majority citizens in making follow-ups about the country’s development projects.

THE Open Budget Survey  (OBS) tracker being managed by International Budget Partnership (IBP) in collaboration with HakiElimu has revealed that such failures of releasing such reports has left a critical gap in the public’s ability on how their funds are being managed.

The move has also denied the public to ultimately assess how well the essential services such as health, education are being delivered.
The OBS tracker is a tool that provides regular monthly updates on whether the central government in respective countries publishes each of the key budget documents on time as per international standards.

HakiElimu Acting Executive Director Godfrey Boniventura who is also managing the OBS Tracker in Tanzania said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the government was mandated to releasing eight budget reports every fiscal year as per international standards.

Boniventura said so far only five reports have been released failing short of three reports from 2012/13 and 2013/14 financial years.

“Failure of the citizens to ask on how their funds are being used denies them access to question on how such funds are being used on different development projects which have failed to be implemented.

He said such remaining budget reports have not yet been released since 2012 to 2014 financial year, yet still some were untimely published, making the Tanzania among five countries that failed to publish such reports including Nigeria, Niger, Iran and Timor Leste.

The OBS tracker requires that the first quarter of such reports be issued by September 30, with the second quarter being issued by December 30, the third quarter should be issued by March 30, while the last quarter by June 30.

According to OBS, such reports need to have a comprehensive update on the implementation of the budget including a review of economic assumptions underlying the budget. OBS is an independent, regular, and comparative assessment of budget transparency and participation worldwide conducted every two years.

It measures the amount of budget information a country's central government makes publicly available, whether it engages citizens in budget processes, and the strength of formal oversight institutions.

New road stretch for Coast Region

The Tanzania Roads Agency (TANROADS) management in Coast Region said yesterday it will construct a one-kilometre road between Mpuyani and Kazimzumbwi in Kisarawe District to tarmac level as soon as a contractor is found.

TANROADS Regional Manager Tumaini Sarakikya said already a tender has been announced to get the contractor for the project.

Feasibility study and designs of the road project are  complete but Sarakikya
added that the cost would be known after getting the contractor.

The project is an extension  of more than ten kilometres  of the regional roads that had been constructed at tarmac level few years ago between Pugu Kajiungeni and Mpuyani area via Kisarawe town along Dar es Salaam/ Vikumburu  road in the district.

 “Feasibility study and designs are also being undertaken to establish the cost of construction of other roads and know if the projects would be useful and significantly able to pay the cost,” he said.

The regional roads in the district include Mlandizi/ Maneromango via Mzenga, Mpuyani /Kiluvya and Pugu Kajiungeni/ Vikumburu via Maneromango,  Msanga and Chole  most of which are muddy except the Pugu Kajiungeni/ Mpuyani via Kisarawe town stretch.

Experts afraid of WHO ARV`s directives

Despite the directives from the World Health Organization (WHO) requiring all HIV/AIDS victims whose cluster of differentiation 4, (CD4s) counts rates at 500 to be put on antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, experts have cautioned that such an exercise is costly for the country.

The Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS), Director Policy, Planning and Research, Dr Raphael Kalinga warned that the country is not prepared to allow such an increased access of patients to access ARV’s considering that each victim spends at least $60
0 annually for the exercise.

Dr Kalinga was speaking mid this week, during the HIV and AIDS policy review meeting organised by TACAIDS, in collaboration with local and foreign health experts in Dar es Salaam.

He said such a directive from the WHO was good at ensuring that HIV and AIDS victims’ lives are saved at an early stage of their infection.

“It is too early to adopt that in Tanzania because of financial constraints. Victims are required to use ARVs throughout their lives which is costly, he said adding that without other health related projects to be implemented on specific time frame, such an initiative would be possible”

The doubts on WHO’s directives came after the representative from a key donor, the Global Fund’s Dr Michelle Roland confirmed that Tanzania will be unable to acquire the whole fund it requested for HIV/AIDS activities in the coming three years, starting from 2015.

She said the country will only get $286million out of the $485million it requested from the Global Fund causing a deficit of $199million saying the limited access to such a support will be caused by requests from other countries.

She however advised the country to direct such funds on helping special groups such as children, women and disabled.

Commenting on how the government struggles to fill the $199million shortfalls in order to reach more HIV/AIDS victims, the Director of Finance and Administration with TACAIDS, Beng’i Issa said the government was looking forward to introducing AIDS Trust Fund next year.

He urged stakeholders to come forth and help governments’ initiatives in ensuring that such services reach the majority victims because the scheme is not for the government alone.

For his side, the Chairperson of the National Council for People Living with HIV and AIDS (NACOPHA), Vitalis Makayula, said the $199miilion deficit was insignificant to reach patients with 500 CD4s count, because it will involve over 1.6 million Tanzanians living with the virus.

“At no point in time has HIV/AIDS victims been ever smoothly reached. If a certain group experiences shortage of ARVs, the other suffers from ARVs side effects while there is no substitute for their doses” he said.  

He said previously, ARVs were for HIV/AIDS victims whose CD4s counts stood at 200, and at that point the government failed to reach half of the 600,000 patients living with the virus.

“Three year back, we announced that victims with 350 CD4s count should also use ARVs, this worsened the situation in term of service delivery considering that all ARVs services are donor funded. Now, how will the state be once there is an expansion to cover patients with 500 CD4s count?” he queried.

He cautioned that the directive if implemented will likely deteriorate the health status of the majority victims even those previously on ARV’s, thus leading to loss of lives caused by scramble for the few available tablets.

“While administering victims with CD4 200count, patients were told to eat a balanced diet, this principle should be maintained and be promoted to those patients with CD4 350 and 500 instead of rushing them into using ARV’s” he insisted.

The Civil Society Organization National Steering Committee on HIV and AIDS Response (CSONSC), Agnes Junga said the government needs first to improve its internal sources of incomes such as in gas, tourism, ports and others and use such funds in supporting HIV/AIDS victims.

“We need financial stability and not donor dependency if we are to ensure that all the victims are entitled to ARV’s. Experts argue that if the drug is used by the victims for three consecutive years, it is capable of suppressing the virus, stop the disease progress and could also lead to incapability of the infected victims to spread new infections.

Paul Ince: Man Utd made a mistake by selling Danny Welbeck

Welbeck, 23, who had been at Old Trafford since the age of eight, joined Arsenal for £16m in September.
The England international is in line to face his former side when they visit the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
"When he left Manchester United it was a shock. He has got pace to get behind teams and create gaps for others to exploit," Ince told BBC Radio 5 live.
"I think it was a bad, bad decision to let him go. He offers something different to what Manchester United have got.
"They haven't got pace - (Wayne) Rooney is not the quickest, neither is (Robin) van Persie and (Radamel) Falcao is injured.
"Since he has gone to Arsenal his performances have been fantastic. I don't think he has got anything to prove to Manchester United."
Welbeck scored 29 times in 142 United appearances, but since his move he has found the net five times for the Londoners in 12 appearances.
Rooney believes his former club-mate did the right thing by leaving United to join Arsenal.
"For Danny, and his own career, it was probably the best move for him," United captain Rooney told MUTV  ahead of Saturday's trip to the Emirates.
"He's done great and scored a few goals. Danny gives you what he always gives you - a good shift."
Rooney, who played alongside Welbeck for England against Slovenia and Scotland in the recent international break, admits it will be strange playing against his former team-mate.
"Of course, Danny has been here all of his life," Rooney added. "He is a Manchester lad so it is weird seeing him there.
"At times, as I said to him, he works a bit too hard but he's scoring goals and he's doing well."
United have yet to win an away game in the Premier League this season and are seventh in the Premier League, one place and one point below Arsenal.
"Arsenal have got a good squad, an exciting squad with a lot of young players and a lot of English players which is great for England," he said. "We know they play with a lot of energy and we'll have to be at our best to beat them.
"It's always a tight game and whoever gets the first goal normally wins or gets a result."
Fixtures between Manchester United and Arsenal have proved highly competitive affairs down the years, with both teams often competing for the Premier League title.
However, Ince believes the encounters have lost a bit of their sparkle in recent years.
"Arsenal v Manchester United is always a massive game - history shows they have been fiery occasions. But when I look at the two sides now they don't carry the same calibre of players as they used to," added the 47-year-old.
"We always wanted to see the likes of (Roy) Keane, (Patrick) Vieira and (Tony) Adams, and look at what kind of battles would go ahead in that game. Now it doesn't carry as much substance."