On-loan Norwich City striker Dieumerci Mbokani says he no longer wants to play for Congo after unfair treatment following the Brussels terror attacks. The 30-year-old escaped unhurt from Zaventem Airport on March 22 and said he was too traumatised to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo for two African Nations Cup qualifiers.He missed the home and away legs against Angola but team-mate Cedric Bakambu, who plays for Spanish club Villarreal, was booked on the same plane and arrived in Kinshasa the next day after taking an alternative flight. Congolese Football Federation (CFF) president Constant Omari, who is also a FIFA executive committee member, told a French radio station that Mbokani faces a possible sanction because he did not arrive for the games.But Mbokani told Sky Sports News HQ: There wasnt an agreement with me and Congo like there was with me and Norwich. Norwich knew where I was coming from and with Congo it was a misunderstanding.I was caught up in current events which led to this current situation and I think it might be the best time to stop playing international football, thats my stance on it.In normal circumstances of course I want to play for them but in exceptional circumstances I was disappointed they couldnt see where I was coming from. Villarreals Cedric Bakambu travelled to Congo despite being at Brussels airport And he added on Congolese radio: I was at Brussels airport at the time of the attacks. Immediately after, I called the vice-president Theo Binamungu and he promised to call me but, since that day, no one called me, not even a message of support and encouragement from what happened to me.I stayed in Brussels with my family, which I almost lost in the attacks. I asked my team to give me a few days of rest; time for me to recover from the trauma. Someone from the Congolese tried to make me travel to Kinshasa.But CFF president Omari told Sky Sports News HQ: He hasnt been in touch directly with the CFF to say hes quitting international football. Ive only read the reports in the press like everyone else.Its not for Mbokani to quit international football. You cant just get up in the morning and decide youre not playing for your country anymore. Its up to the national selectors if they want to pick him.No door has been closed but if he wants to play international football again then hed have to apologise and explain his actions. Mbokani has shown disrespect for the national side over the situation.Mbokani shouldnt have been caught up in the terror attacks since the ticket the FA had bought for him was to fly 24 hours before. But he decided to change the ticket, without explaining why. If he had respected the ticket the national team had sent, he would have arrived.The national coordinator did call back, Mbokani picked up, heard the voice, then hung up and hasnt been in touch again since. Also See: Norwich video Norwich fixtures Norwich stats Get a ￡10 free bet .J. -- Tom Coughlin doesnt have many options at halfback for the winless New York Giants. . -- Colin Kaepernick insists he just happened to pull on a pair of socks with dollar bill prints all over them Wednesday morning -- before he learned he had struck a new fortune with the San Francisco 49ers.
http://www.officialredsoxfanstore.com/a ... ox-jersey/. This week they discuss Russias mens hockey team, the ineptitude of the IOC handling the Nicklas Backstrom situation, John Tortorellas many apologies, and Canadas strong showing in curling. . The Durban-based Sharks withstood a furious second-half fightback to beat the Queensland Reds 35-20 for a fourth straight win which gave them a five-point lead atop the championship table. The Hamilton-based Chiefs scored two late tries to beat the Cape Town-based Stormers 36-20 for their third win, after the Stormers rallied from 24-6 down to 24-20 with six minutes remaining. . Leaning forward with both hands on his knees, Buffon appeared to be resting or somehow trying to withstand the rain. Or perhaps the 36-year-old goalkeeper and Italy captain was reflecting on this: He is only the third player in history to be part of five World Cup squads, along with Germany great Lothar Matthaus and former Mexico goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal. ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Vancouver Canucks are at the point in the season where every loss could end their playoff hopes. Those hopes are still alive after a big road win over Minnesota. David Booth scored two unassisted goals and Eddie Lack made 29 saves to lead Vancouver over the Wild 5-2 on Wednesday. Zack Kassian, Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler also scored for Vancouver as the Canucks try to make a late push to overtake Phoenix and Dallas for the Western Conferences final wild-card playoff spot. "Its huge, were in a do-or-die position," Alexandre Burrow said. "If we would have lost this game we probably would have been out of the race." Minnesota outshot Vancouver 31-19 and got goals from Charlie Coyle and Nino Niederreiter, but lost its third straight at home. Booth scored for the second consecutive game after going scoreless in his previous 32. On his first goal, Booth took the puck the length of the ice after a faceoff and fired it past Darcy Kuemper. Booths second goal broke a 1-1 tie in the second period and came after Jared Spurgeon whiffed on a pass in the Wild zone, leading to a bad turnover and a point-blank look for Booth. "We didnt generate a ton of shots, but we were able to capitalize on the ones we did," Booth said. Minnesota, currently holding the first wild-card spot in the West, controlled play for most of the first two periods, but failed to capitalize on four power plays and fell behind 3-1. Even though his team was generating chances early, Wild coach Mike Yeo was nervous. "Especially in that first period, were out chancing them, were outshooting them, but still. Just didnt quite have the right feel," he said. Ilya Bryzgalov took over for the slumping Kuemper after two periods. Kuemper allowed three goals in 12 shots, the fifth time in his last seven start hes allowed at least three goals. "Dont feel good about that one," Kuemper said. "Obviously we were controlling the play and to finnd ourselves down 3-1, yeah Ive got to help the guys out a little bit better.ddddddddddddquot; The switch didnt get Minnesota going. Vancouver killed an early third period power play, and then put the game away on Sedins goal at 11:12 to make it 4-1. "I didnt think we played great, but we stuck with it and at the end we came out with a big win," Sedin said. "For sure, its something to build." The goal was Sedins first in his last 23 games and his first point in his last 13. Coyles goal was his third in three games. The centre had scored only once in his previous 24 games. Lack got a little help in the second period from Alexander Edler. Zach Parise stuffed the puck between Lacks pads, but just before it crossed the goal line, Edler swept it away. "We know its do-or-die now and we got to come up with the same kind of effort tomorrow," Lack said. Vancouver has won six of its last nine after losing 11 of 12. Both Phoenix and Dallas were idle on Wednesday. The Canucks now have 78 points, Dallas 79 and Phoenix 82. Henrik Sedin missed the game with a leg injury and didnt make the trip. As Minnesota tries to hang on to its playoff position, Yeo has to answer questions about his goaltending situation. "I want to be careful on that one. Im not saying that we cant be any better between the pipes, but at the same time theres some quality chances that were giving up," he said. "Obviously, we have to do our part to make sure those guys are in the right frame of mind." NOTES: Wild G Niklas Backstrom and F Jason Zucker each underwent successful surgeries yesterday and should be ready for the start of the 2014-15 season. Backstrom had core muscle surgery and Zucker had a tendon in his left quadriceps repaired. ... F Alexandre Burrows played for Vancouver after missing Sundays game with a hand injury. ... The Sedins have only played in two games together in March. ... The Wild beings a four-game road trip in St. Louis on Thursday. ' ' '
