Unhappy Allianz in Munich

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has slammed city rivals 1860 Munich for considering moving their home games away from the Allianz Arena.

The second division side this week set up a task force to examine the possibility of moving out of the 69,000-capacity arena and into a smaller home in the city.

However, Rummenigge claims that by doing so they would be breaching a contract with Bayern to act as tenants in the stadium until 2025.

By moving back to the Olympic Stadium, or even to the smaller Grunwalder Stadion in the city, Rummenigge believes they stand to gain very little and lose a lot.

"I have got to say, quite honestly and openly, that it is like in any rental agreement - if the tenant wants to move out of the flat, or in this case the stadium, then there are damages to pay," Rummenigge told the city's Tz newspaper.

"If 1860 Munich think they can simply move out without any consequences, then they are very naive."

Bayern have already bailed out their city rivals once by buying their joint share in the stadium venture last year.

As a result, the Lions have to pay rent to remain at the Arena and Rummenigge claims he will not be making any compromises.

"We have already accommodated them in a big way and our willingness to talk is exhausted," he added.

"We learned about all this from the newspaper, which is also typical 1860 style.

"We are used to it."

Unless 1860 can return to the top flight of German football in the near future, they are facing serious financial problems.

They were relegated to the second division in 2005 and have struggled to bounce back. They are currently 11 points adrift of the promotion berths with nine games of the season remaining.

Source:
http://www.sportinglife.com
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Enke Out to Prove He's No 1

Robert Enke will start Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein in Leipzig determined to prove he deserves to be Germany's number one.

The Hannover stopper's bid to be Jens Lehmann's permanent successor has been hampered by a broken hand, which has allowed the likes of Bayer Leverkusen's Rene Adler and Tim Wiese from Werder Bremen to stake their claims.

Adler, though, is himself missing this weekend with an elbow injury, and 31-year-old Enke is determined to show he is the best option for coach Joachim Low.

"I know that there will be a rush for the number one spot," he said. "I accept the competition and hope that I can continue the way I was going before my injury."

And he joked: "I am definitely the right man because as I have read I am the only national goalkeeper who up till now has not conceded a goal against Liechtenstein."

Enke played in Germany's 6-0 victory in Vaduz in September, one of only four caps he has won.

Germany certainly have nothing like the experience among their goalkeepers that they had when Oliver Kahn and Lehmann were competing, and goalkeeping coach Andreas Kopke insists Enke cannot yet call himself first choice.

"We are still not set on a number one," he said. "We will not wait for the World Cup to make the decision, but we will also not put ourselves under pressure."

Kopke explained Enke's club form had earned him the start tomorrow, saying: "Despite the difficult situation at his club, he has always performed."

Germany go into the match four points clear at the top of Group Four, although second-placed Russia have a game in hand.

Tomorrow's opponents are bottom of the table and Mario Gomez hopes the game will give him the chance to bag his first international goal in a year.

Injury to Miroslav Klose means the Stuttgart striker will play from the start, probably alongside Lukas Podolski, as he looks to add to his six international goals.

He said: "I hope I can justify the faith of the coach and want to deliver a good performance. I always have my chances in the national team, but have unfortunately not scored the goals. But I have enough self-belief to know that I will score my goals if I am fit."

Defender Per Mertesacker should be fit to play, but striker Stefan Kiessling (knee) is a doubt and midfielder Piotr Trochowski (knee) is definitely out.

Adler will also miss the qualifier against Wales in Cardiff next week.

Liechtenstein have improved since their thrashing at home to Germany, drawing away to Azerbaijan and frustrating Wales for long periods before eventually losing 2-0.

They have still to score in goal in the group, and are hampered by injury and suspension this weekend, but defender Marco Ritzberger insists morale is high.

He told the Liechtensteiner Vaterland newspaper: "It has long been known that we have to battle with some suspended and injured players.

"In spite of this we want to do our best, especially as we have a large squad and chances for other players can present themselves."

Source:
http://www.sportinglife.com

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Kahn: Schalke Came Too Eearly

Oliver Kahn has turned down the chance to become general manager at Schalke.

The former Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper had been tipped to become the successor to Andreas Muller, who left the club earlier this month.

He had held talks with Schalke chairman Clemens Tonnies, but has now revealed it was not the right time to take up the position.

He told Kicker magazine: "I would have loved to have done it, but the offer came six months too early."

Tonnies added in Bild: "At this time it is not happening. But it is not a big issue, it doesn't cause us problems."

Former Germany coach Rudi Voller, currently director of sport at Bayer Leverkusen, has reportedly emerged as another possible candidate, although Leverkusen have denied this.

Schalke are not only looking for a new manager, but also a new coach following the sacking of Fred Rutten.

President Josef Schnusenberg said an interim coach was now likely to be installed for the remaining nine games of the season. The training staff of Mike Buskens, Youri Mulder and Oliver Reck are in temporary charge at the moment.

"We haven't made a definite decision about it yet," Schnusenberg told the club's official website, www.schalke04.de.

"An interim solution with a new coach for the remaining nine games is by all means a consideration.

"We now have the required time thanks to the international break. You need to give us that. But a possible interim coach will definitely work with Mike, Youri and Oliver."

Schnusenberg revealed the 2-1 home defeat by Hamburg last weekend had sealed Rutten's fate.

"The game against HSV was a critical match for us, but there should not have been a knee-jerk reaction." he said. "We wanted to take time over such an important question and that's what we did.

"You have to see that in this season we have largely missed all of our sporting goals. Then doubts of course arise as to whether a continued partnership makes sense and brings success. Fred Rutten lacked luck."

Dutchman Rutten has been linked with the PSV Eindhoven hotseat, but Schnusenberg insisted Schalke never received an approach from the Eredivisie outfit.

"No one contacted us," he said. "We were always honest and open with the coach and of course expect the same in return."

Source:
http://www.sportinglife.com
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Mechanical Engineer at ADNOC-Distribution

To provide mechanical engineering expertise to projects that are constructed in-house as well as to those projects that are tendered to consultants/contractors to ensure quality, safety and adherence to international and local standards of mechanical construction. To design and review air-conditioning drawings, plumbing drawings and pumps and basic process engineering for Adnoc Distribution projects.

Requirements:
University qualifications : Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering
Previous experience : Fresh Graduate

Specialist knowledge:

Determines work methods from several existing alternative methods according to established policies and professional standards

Works as part of a team of multidisciplinary Engineers and/or with Consultants / Contractors to provide the mechanical engineering part of the design for projects

Other Skills : Accuracy
• Punctuality
• Hard worker
• Can work under pressure
• Able to work for long hours

Ideal Age Range : 22 to 26
Gender Preference : Male
Nationality Preference : UAE National
Language Skills : Arabic and English
Current Residence : UAE

About ADNOC-Distribution
ADNOC Distribution (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) was established in 1973 as the first government-owned national company specializing in the marketing and distribution of refined petroleum products in the United Arab Emirates. Currently employing over 5000 employees, ADNOC Distribution has become one of the largest petroleum companies in the Arab Gulf region. Our activities and services includes: operating over 175 Service Stations, refueling aircrafts at several airports, manufacturing and marketing lubricants locally and internationally to mention a few only.

Source:
http://jobs.theemiratesnetwork.com
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Project Management Consultant - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Supporting coordination and performance of all activities related to implementation of processes, policies and systems to support a large project management office.

To provide consulting services which include:
o Creating strategies and action plans
o Facilitating and supporting work groups
o Identifying strategies for automating and implementing efficient work management processes
o Mapping complex business processes
o Communicating processes solutions to the Client and participating
agencies.

Organizing and conducting software training and demonstrations

Participating in program management working sessions

Supporting program managers in executing day-to-day project management
activities.

Requirements:
Familiarity in developing project management methodology (processes, best practices, tools, and templates).

Proven experience managing customer expectations during Network implementations.

Ability to understand technical vision and communicate it to both technical and non-technical parties.

Hands-on process and systems analysis experience in large, complex programs

Experience in creating and supporting program management offices.

Exposure to PMI and optionally SEI CMMI principles preferred.

Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent experience

Certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Experience building and managing work plans using:
o MS Project
o Primavera P3
o Similar project scheduling tools

About Sentinel
From its inception in 1997, Sentinel has focused on specific technology markets. Our vision was - and continues to be - for our recruitment consultants to completely immerse themselves in their chosen niches. They talk the language of their clients and completely understand their clients' specific needs. Through investing in relationships with clients and candidates, Sentinel has come to dominate recruitment in its technology markets.

Source:
http://jobs.theemiratesnetwork.com
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Wilson reflects on ‘brilliant’ Cyprus Rally

Briton Matthew Wilson secured fifth place on the Cyprus Rally, matching his best result of the 2008 season and rounding off the weekend with his first ever main stage victory.

The 22-year-old Stobart VK M-Sport team driver is enjoying his best start yet to a WRC season and following the seventh places he scored in Ireland and Norway, now lies sixth in the drivers’ championship - two points ahead of factory Ford driver Jari-Matti Latvala.

Wilson and his co-driver Scott Martin initially struggled on Friday, when the rally was based on the island’s asphalt roads, but upped their game on Saturday when the competition switched to gravel, moving up three places in three stages and into a close battle for fifth with Citroen Junior Team driver Sebastien Ogier.

Ogier snatched fifth place after an engine stall set Wilson back several seconds on the rally’s 40 kilometre penultimate stage, but Wilson took the fight to Ogier on the short final one, posting the joint fastest time (with Latvala) and taking fifth when the Frenchman crashed 200 metres from the end.

“It has been a brilliant weekend,” said Wilson. “I had a slow start on Friday but the next two days more than made up for it. We put ourselves under pressure stalling on the long stage on Sunday and losing ten seconds, but that meant we went into the last stage with the pressure back on Ogier. We were three seconds up with a few kilometres to go and I think the pressure got to him and he ended up sliding off just before the end. This signifies a big step forward for me; we pushed hard during the weekend but we were always well within our limits and that’s really encouraging.”

After crashing his Ford Focus on the road section before the first stage, Wilson’s team-mate Henning Solberg did all he could on Saturday and Sunday to salvage something positive from Cyprus. Top six finishes on all three of the final day’s stages meant he managed to grab a manufacturer’s point for finishing 18th.

“It was a very disappointing start to the rally but things obviously got better,” said the Norwegian. “It was difficult with all the mud on the stages and sometimes it was hard to keep the car on the road. The most important thing was to score points for the team and maintain my fourth place in the drivers’ standings.”

Team principal Malcolm Wilson said: “What a great drive from Matthew, he has shown true grit and put in a really determined performance. He has demonstrated maturity, especially when the fight was on with Ogier, and this is definitely a product of the long term plan we have. It goes to show that finishing rallies and gaining experience of the stages is really working for him. With Henning backing him up, it’s been another strong team performance for Stobart; the hard work by the mechanics in getting Henning’s car back in the rally has paid off.”

Source:
http://www.wrc.com
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Marcus Gronholm makes WRC comeback

Double World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm has decided to come out of retirement to contest April’s Rally Portugal in a Subaru Impreza WRC.

The Finn, 41, will drive a latest specification Impreza run by Prodrive, with backing from Rally Portugal and its sponsor Vodafone. He will be co-driven by his navigator since 1995, Timo Rautiainen.

The appearance - which for now is being billed as a one-off - will be Gronholm’s first entry in a WRC rally since his retirement after Wales Rally GB in 2007.

“I made the decision a few days ago,” Gronholm told wrc.com. “It’s okay to come back again. Everybody is looking at me, and maybe I’m stupid, but to have fun and drive again, why not?”

Gronholm, who has won 30 WRC rallies, has taken part in the last two editions of Rally Portugal, driving a Ford Focus WRC on both occasions: in 2007 as a Ford factory team driver - when he finished fourth - and in 2008 driving the event safety car.

The Finn is quite clear about his expectations: “I will not start aiming for the win, as I want to compare my speed with the regular WRC boys over the first few stages. The important thing is to feel confidence and pleasure, coming back to an event that I enjoy very much and know the stages quite well.”

Gronholm wanted to spend more time in the car before making any results predictions. “We have to test the car first, we have to do changes, and find the right feeling and then I can say more,” he said. “I drove the car a little bit last weekend in Norway and we have another test planned in March, but for the moment I don’t really know where we are. But I hope we can do some little bit good times - that’s the aim.”

Prodrive director Richard Taylor revealed that discussion with Gronholm had been going on for many months. “It’s no secret that we were talking with Marcus at the end of last year,” said Taylor. “He had some interest in coming back so we kept the discussions going and we’ve reached an agreement to go to Portugal. It’s a one-off at this time but we’ll see if he likes it.”

Gronholm’s car will be an evolution of the 2008 model used by Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson on Wales Rally GB and will be fitted with Ohlins dampers. “We have to allow for the fact that we’re not able to homologate the 2009 car fully, but we’ll put together the best spec of car that we possibly can,” added Taylor.

Source:
http://www.wrc.com
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