The Vodacom Red 4×4 Experience from 2-4 November is for all those who take the road less travelled, who see dirt roads as opportunities for adventure and who believe a muddy pool is nature’s car wash.

This is the chance to get behind the wheel of some of the best 4x4s in South Africa and join a few of the most powerful Vodacom Bulls rugby players on a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will test skills and teach new ones, all supercharged with a touch of Vodacom Red.

Vodacom Red clients need to simply register at vodacom.co.za/redrewards to stand a chance to win a place on the ultimate offroad adventure with their favourite Vodacom Bulls players.

The Vodacom Red 4×4 Experience wraps up what has been a record year of rewards for Vodacom Red clients in 2018.

From an exclusive Father and Son Sleepout on the main field at Loftus Versfeld where they spent time with former Vodacom Bulls and Springbok star Pierre Spies as well as celebrities Bobby van Jaarsveld and Thapelo Mokoena to a spot on the Vodacom Bulls Red tour to Christchurch to first watch the Vodacom Bulls play the Crusaders, and then enjoy a spectacular sightseeing tour of Sydney.

There was a Vodacom Red experience for every taste in 2018, with nature lovers being treated to a rare encounter with the African Wild Dogs. They joined Vodacom Bulls players Trevor Nyakane and Lood de Jager in the Kruger National Park where they helped track and collar these endangered animals.

Fishing fans were treated to the tiger fishing experience of a lifetime where they joined Vodacom Bulls captain Burger Odendaal and Jaco Visagie on a memorable trip to the Zambezi to catch one of Africa’s most legendary fish.

And the Vodacom Red Family Day at Loftus Versfeld was an exclusive opportunity to spend a day with the #BullsFamily as well as the families of players and various celebrities.

These once-in-a-lifetime bucket list experiences have proved Vodacom Red to be truly for those who expect more and if you think 2019 can’t get any better, Challenge Accepted.

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Last term’s run to the Champions League final demonstrated a devastating, high-octane attacking team ready to go toe-to-toe with the best and win.
An impressive close season in the transfer market, with Brazil internationals Alisson and Fabinho arriving alongside Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri, has added quality and depth to Klopp’s squad in key positions.

The two-time Bundesliga champion is yet to win a trophy in England, while Liverpool’s wait for their 19th top-flight crown dates back to 1990-91.

We will have a much clearer indication of whether all that is about to change after the Reds negotiate a daunting run of fixtures at home and abroad between the September and October international breaks.

September 15 – Tottenham (A)

One ⚽ Two ⚽ Three ⚽ Four ⚽#COYS pic.twitter.com/uQqIa4PXGe

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 22, 2017

Despite a considerably quieter close-season on the transfer front, Spurs served notice of their own title ambitions with an emphatic 3-0 win at Manchester United at the end of last month. Like Klopp’s Liverpool, Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham are a side carrying out their coach’s defined blueprint to the letter and normally to fine effect. A 2-1 defeat at Watford last time out knocked them off their stride but Liverpool must be wary of a backlash, especially given they were savaged 4-1 at Wembley last October.

September 18 – Paris Saint-Germain (H)

“Allez, allez, allez” is sure to ring around Anfield once again on the launch of their latest European campaign and their opponents from the French capital will certainly need no translation. In Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe, PSG have the most formidable attack in Europe on paper. Those plans are now sketched out by Thomas Tuchel, who impressed as a successor to Klopp at both Mainz and Borussia Dortmund. An intriguing tactical battle between the dugouts is in prospect and Liverpool will learn how their newfound defensive solidity holds up under heavy fire.

📉 A scintillating start to the season for these four 📈
(⚽ goals/🦶 assists)@neymarjr
⚽⚽⚽⚽
🦶🦶@KMbappe
⚽⚽⚽⚽
🦶@ECavaniOfficial
⚽⚽

Di Maria
⚽⚽⚽
🦶🦶🦶

📷 @Flo_Pernet pic.twitter.com/iQdxR5pz79

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) September 3, 2018

September 29 – Chelsea (A)

The PSG game is followed by a trip to Southampton and an EFL Cup rehearsal at Anfield for this Stamford Bridge clash. Like Liverpool, Chelsea boast a perfect record of four wins from their opening Premier League fixtures. There are still plenty of rough edges to the Blues under Maurizio Sarri, but the Italian’s high-pressing and high-tempo style should mesh pleasingly with the Reds’ approach. Klopp would be right to bank on a team further down the road than Sarri’s Chelsea in terms of development being able to impose themselves decisively on the match, with disrupting midfield kingpin Jorginho probably the key.

October 3 – Napoli (A)

Napoli are in the early stages of a transition away from “Sarriball” under the esteemed Carlo Ancelotti. The early results have been mixed – conceding first in three Serie A games to date is far from ideal. However, Napoli won two of those against Lazio and AC Milan, demonstrating both the attacking firepower and resilience that helped them to go blow-for-blow with Juventus in the title race last season. Attacking talisman Dries Mertens is yet to return to a potent starting line-up following his World Cup exertions with Belgium and Liverpool will undoubtedly have their hands full in the cauldron-like atmosphere of the Stadio San Paolo.

October 7 – Manchester City (H)

Liverpool were the only side to decisively get the better of runaway Premier League champions City last season, winning three of the four encounters in all competitions. An eventual deficit of 25 points in the top-flight last season showed the gap still to bridged and City have an seemingly smoother run of fixtures during the forthcoming busy period. The always highly motivated Pep Guardiola will return to Merseyside with renewed determination to disprove the notion old Bundesliga sparring partner Klopp has his number.

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Ronaldo, who joined Juve in July after scoring 15 goals as Real Madrid claimed the Champions League crown for the fourth time in five years, finished second in the voting behind his former Santiago Bernabeu teammate Luka Modric.

ALSO READ: Get behind Mourinho – Man Utd legend Giggs

Modric had a fine season, capped by helping Croatia to the World Cup final, but it was nevertheless a surprise that Ronaldo was not chosen by a panel comprised of the 80 coaches in the Champions League and Europa League group stages as well as 55 journalists.

And Allegri conceded his new signing was unimpressed.

‘Cristiano is fine and he has trained well,’ he said.

ALSO READ: Mane targets Liverpool Champions League final return

‘On Thursday, he was angry because he won the Champions League and scored 15 goals. This shows that he always wants to be the best.’

As for his decision not to attend the award ceremony in Monaco, Allegri said: ‘It was a personal decision and it must be respected.’

🎙 @OfficialAllegri: “@Cristiano‘s decision not to attend the #UCLdraw was a personal one and it must be respected. He had an incredible 2017/18 season. Now for us, he is training very well and is in top shape.”#ParmaJuve #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/sLWplwrQmu

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) August 31, 2018

Ronaldo will get the chance to take his anger out on Parma on Saturday after Allegri confirmed that the Portuguese forward will start at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.

‘Ronaldo and [Mario] Mandzukic will play. I still need to decide who will partner them in attack,’ he added.

Newly promoted Parma have made a slow start to life back in Serie A, taking one point from their opening two fixtures, but Allegri is not expecting an easy game.

He said: ‘Saturday will be difficult. Historically in Parma, Juve have struggled.

READ: CL draw serves up mouth-watering clashes

‘Games on the eve of international breaks are always a danger.’

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Speculation over the Croatia star’s future has dominated much of the sports media agenda in Spain in the past week, with the midfielder said to be interested in the prospect of joining the Ligue 1 champions.

However, Rakitic broke his silence following Barca’s 1-0 win over Real Valladolid on Saturday, insisting he has never had any doubts over his future and sees no reason to leave Camp Nou.

READ: CL draw serves up mouth-watering clashes

‘There has been a lot of talk, but it’s done. I’m going to stay here, with a huge amount of excitement,’ he told Barca TV.

‘Honestly, there is nothing better than defending this crest. I’ll give my best and that’s that.

‘It’s been a few days of pressure but I’ve realised that the most beautiful thing is being in Barcelona and to keep going for everything. I’m happy and proud.’

ALSO READ: Get behind Mourinho – Man Utd legend Giggs

🆙💪 #ForçaBarça 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/766CJEdeQo

— Ivan Rakitic (@ivanrakitic) August 21, 2018

The 30-year-old added to Spanish radio: ‘My family and I are very happy in Barcelona. I haven’t had doubts about my future. The most important thing is that I want to stay.

‘For me, it’s a privilege to defend this crest. To be able to defend the shirt of this club is the greatest thing there is.

‘No club could offer me what I have at Barcelona.’

ALSO READ: Mane targets Liverpool Champions League final return

With their chances of bringing in Rakitic apparently over, PSG have reportedly turned their attention to trying to sign Tottenham star Christian Eriksen before the transfer deadline on 31 August.

The post Rakitic confirms Barcelona stay appeared first on SportsClub.

ALSO READ: Mourinho fears ‘difficult season’ for Man United

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PSG smashed the world’s transfer record last August after completing a €222million move for Neymar from Barcelona, while the Ligue 1 champions also paid €180m to buy Monaco prodigy Kylian Mbappe.

City, meanwhile, invested in the region of £200m in their squad ahead of the 2017-18 season, with Pep Guardiola’s side then romping to a record-breaking title triumph.

The Premier League champions have since broken their transfer record to sign Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City despite Guardiola saying in January the club could not spend ‘£100m on one player, or £90m or £80m’.

Bayern, meanwhile, have a comparatively modest transfer record and Rummenigge lays the blame for rapidly rising fees directly at the door of City and PSG.

‘He [Guardiola] said they originally planned to buy a few more players but decided against it because they no longer want to be part of the madness,’ Rummenigge said to Merkur.

‘I was a bit surprised to hear this at first, but then I thought it would indeed be wonderful if this statement were to be true until the English window closes.

‘City, PSG – they’ve always been the global inflaters. Not Real [Madrid], who have spent next to nothing in the past years, which is proof you don’t have to join the madness to win the Champions League.

‘That’s also our path. It’s our goal to again lift the Champions League trophy, rather sooner than later.’

Rummenigge previously insisted Bayern would not sell star striker Robert Lewandowski, who has been linked with Real Madrid, even if a club was to bid €150m.

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Ligue 1 champions PSG are reportedly interested in luring Kante to the French capital after he helped France to World Cup glory.

READ: Bale can be Ronaldo’s replacement – Lopetegui

PSG sensation Kylian Mbappe revealed he spent the World Cup encouraging Kante to join him in Paris.

However, Tuchel refused to be drawn on the speculation regarding Kante – who is entering his third season at Chelsea.

Watch: Shaqiri’s stunning overhead kick against United

‘It is not fair and I do not like [this], and I do not like it if other coaches talk about situations of players who are playing for other clubs,’ Tuchel said.

‘So there is no comment on Kante, of course, not for the transfer window,’ he concluded.

ALSO READ: Mourinho laments United’s transfer business

After helping Leicester City to a remarkable Premier League triumph in 2016, Kante moved to Chelsea the following season and the 27-year-old has added another league title to his collection as well as the FA Cup.

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Bale hinted at a move away from Madrid after his two-goal display in the Champions League final victory over Liverpool in May – the Welsh star frustrated with his lack of starts under Zinedine Zidane.

READ: Silva pondering international retirement

The 29-year-old’s frustrations sparked rumours of a move to Manchester United but Zidane has since departed the Santiago Bernabeu and replaced by Lopetegui ― while Ronaldo completed a sensational €112million transfer to Juventus.

And former Spain boss Lopetegui – who spent time at Madrid as a player – is planning to build his team around Bale.

Watch: Shaqiri’s stunning overhead kick against United

‘When I signed, Cristiano still belonged to Real Madrid but soon he expressed his desire to leave,’ Lopetegui told reporters in Miami.

‘As a coach, it is an exciting challenge to make a competitive team without Cristiano.

‘[I have] recognition for one of the most important players in the history of Real Madrid, the club appreciated his legacy by facilitating his departure.

‘We are convinced that Bale is going to have a great year and we expect a lot from him. We will work together for him to reach top form.”

Madrid, meanwhile, have been linked with a host of stars as they attempt to replace five-time Ballon d’Or winner and all-time leading scorer Ronaldo.

ALSO READ: Mourinho laments United’s transfer business

Neymar, Eden Hazard and Kylian Mbappe have emerged as potential targets, while Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois continues to be linked.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s International Champions Cup opener against United at the Hard Rock Stadium, Lopetegui said: ‘We are delighted with the squad we have and are convinced that we will fight for all our objectives, and it cannot be any other way at Real Madrid.

‘We want to be a great team on the pitch. If a player doesn’t come or go, I will be a happy coach. We are not going to talk about hypotheticals. With the squad we have, we will be able to face the demands of Real Madrid,’ he concluded.

The post Lopetegui: Bale can replace Ronaldo appeared first on SportsClub.

Ozil, who captained the Gunners, has had a difficult couple of months that culminated in him retiring from international football last week after growing tired of perceived mistreatment from the German Football Federation (DFB).

That saga stemmed from a pre-World Cup meeting with controversial Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but he returned to Arsenal action in successful fashion on Saturday after his country’s shock group-stage exit in Russia.

Arsenal were dominant for much of the first period, a spell which essentially began with Ozil’s 13th-minute opener at the end of a fine move.

A host of chances went begging thereafter, as Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan squandered the best opportunities, and PSG briefly made them pay for their profligacy.

Timothy Weah was the inspiration, winning a penalty from Sead Kolasinac, and Christopher Nkunku converted in the 60th minute.

But the Gunners stepped things up again towards the end – Lacazette, who was brought on for Iwobi at the break, scoring twice in quick succession from close range, before Rob Holding and Eddie Nketiah wrapped up an impressive win over coach Unai Emery’s former team.

Although PSG’s starting XI was packed with young players, they enjoyed a far greater start and almost made the most of their early pressure – Azzeddine Toufiqui sending a curling left-footed effort just wide from 20 yards after a brilliant marauding run from Adrien Rabiot.

Arsenal soon woke up, however, and took PSG’s inexperienced defence apart, as Aubameyang latched on to a pass into the right side of the area on the break and squared to Ozil for an easy finish past Gianluigi Buffon.

That ushered in a period of control and they almost got a second in the 23rd minute, but Iwobi was denied when one-on-one with Buffon at the end of a slick passing move.

Buffon was again alert just before the break, saving from Mkhitaryan, who probably should have done better.

PSG improved after the break and deservedly pulled level with an hour played – Nkunku coolly slotting home a penalty after Weah had been clumsily tripped by Kolasinac.

But they were not level for long, as Emile Smith Rowe – the scorer of a stunner against Atletico Madrid – provided a gorgeous right-wing cross a few moments later on his 18th birthday and Lacazette impressively flicked the ball in off the crossbar.

And Lacazette was decisive again 19 minutes from time, nodding in off the post from the middle of the box following a Holding flick-on.

Holding got in on the act in the 87th minute, meeting a corner about 16 yards out and sending a looping header into the top-left corner, before Nketiah rounded off the crushing victory in stoppage time, finishing off a swift break in clinical fashion.

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Real Madrid and Barcelona have been linked with moves for the trio, who were absent from Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Perth Glory in Sarri’s first game in charge of the Blues on Monday.

All three remain on holiday after their exploits at the World Cup, but that has not stopped the rumour mill kicking into gear with reports of a mass exodus at Stamford Bridge.

Madrid are reportedly keen to acquire Golden Glove winner Courtois and his Belgium teammate Hazard, while Barca are said to be interested in adding Willian to their attacking riches.

Losing all three players would be a huge blow at the start of Sarri’s reign, but he believes they will be part of his squad going forward.

‘It doesn’t depend only on me,’ he told a media conference. ‘[But] I am confident [they will stay].’

When asked if he had spoken to any of them since replacing Antonio Conte, he added: ‘I like to talk to a person face-to-face.’

Courtois, Hazard and Willian are due to report back for club duty at the end of the month ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, with the transfer window closing on 9 August.

-This story originally appeared on FourFourTwo.co.za

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