Fabregas not ready to give up on Barca dream

Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas slammed the door Thursday on a potential move to Manchester United, insisting the Catalan giants remain his dream club.

The English Premier League champions have so far failed with two bids for Fabregas, who has emerged as their main summer transfer target as new manager David Moyes seeks to inject creativity into his midfield.

The Spanish international told a press conference in Malaysia that "since I was a kid my dream was to play for Barcelona".

"This dream hasn't changed," he said ahead of Saturday's friendly against the Malaysian national side.

His comments echo those of teammate Gerard Pique and Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, who both insisted earlier this week the 26-year-old will stay at the Nou Camp.

Fabregas has failed to nail down a spot in Barca's star-studded midfield, with international teammates Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets ahead of him in the pecking order.

But Barca are reluctant to sell the pint-sized playmaker, especially since the loss of Thiago Alcantara to Bayern Munich.

Barca enticed Fabregas back from Arsenal with a long-term view to him replacing the 33-year-old Xavi, who is expected to play fewer games in the coming season.

Barcelona return to Asia three years after their last visit to the football-mad continent -- home to a massive fan base and potential revenue.

The tour is a final chance for new manager Gerardo Martino to assess his players in official friendly action before the start of the La Liga season on August 18.

Fabregas also said he was ready to show Martino that he can be a key player for arguably the world's most successful side in recent years.

"I need to work hard and do what he asks of me and I'm ready for the challenge," he said.

The Barcelona team demolished Thailand 7-1 on the first leg of their whistlestop Asian tour on Wednesday.

source:AFP

CHELSEA CLINTON VISITS TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

 

Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former US president, Bill Clinton is visiting Tarangire National Park this weekend.

While in the Park, Chelsea will explore the beauty of the Park which is famous for a large collection of baobab trees, spectacular large mammal’s population and variety of bird species.

For bird- lovers this Park is their heaven as bird like yellow–collared lovebird, lilac breasted roller, superb starling, African Fish Eagle, bateleur, orange- bellied parrot and many more are easily spotted.

PRIME MINISTER OF THAILAND, H.E YINGLUCK SHINAWATRA VISITS SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

 Hon. Ambassador, Khamisi S. Kagasheki, the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism welcomes H.E Prime Minister of Thailand into Serengeti National Park
Hon. Khamisi S. Kagasheki, the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism and H.E Prime Minister of Yingluck Shinawatra soon after she arrives at Seronera Airstrip in Serengeti National Park

Prime Minister of Thailand, H.E Yingluck Shinawatra is in Serengeti National Park where by they have signed Memorandum of Understanding on National Parks and Wildlife Management and later in the afternoon game drive to witness the beauty of the park which is one of the seven wonders of the world.

Memorandum of Understanding on National Parks and Wildlife Management was signed between Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism on behalf of Tanzanian Government Hon. Ambassador, Khamisi S. Kagasheki and Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Hon. Plodprasop Suraswadi.

TANAPA FEES COLLECTIONS AT KATAVI, GOMBE, MAHALE, RUBONDO, SAANANE, SAADANI, MKOMAZI AND KITULO NATIONAL PARKS

As part of its endeavor to improve customer service by modernization of means of revenue collections, TANAPA introduced payment of fees by electronic systems using VISA, Master Cards and proprietary cards issued by both local and international banks since 2007 at Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Lake Manyara, Serengeti,Tarangire, Mikumi, Udzungwa and Ruaha National Parks.

Following introduction of this mode of payment we have witnessed great convenience in cash handling, more secure and much controls in revenue collection, and thus we wish to rollout the service to other parks namely; Katavi, Gombe, Mahale, Rubondo, Saadani, Mkomazi, Kitulo and SaananeNational Parks.

In that regard, TANAPA wishes to inform tour operators, Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO) individual tourists and the general public that with effect from July 1st, 2013 TANAPA will start accepting electronic cards as means of payment of park fees at Katavi, Gombe, Mahale, Rubondo, Saadani, Mkomazi, Kitulo and Saanane National Parks.

Tour Operators are hereby advised to collect TANAPA branded cards at the following CRDB Bank branches i.e Nyanza, Bagamoyo, Mpanda, Kigoma, Geita, Mbeya and Mwanjelwa.

For tourists going to Gombe and Mahale National Parks can use POS machine at TANAPA Visitor Information Centre which is in Kigoma town and those going to Rubondo Island National Park can use the one which is at Saanane National Park.

Private tourists with either local or international VISA/MasterCard cards can use their cards for payment of park fees, using Point Of Sale Machines already deployed at respective entry points.