London - Joe Kinnear is to stay on as Newcastle United manager until the end of the year.

The former Wimbledon manager was due to end his term as interim manager after Saturday's match with Chelsea.

But with owner Mike Ashley yet to find a buyer, the 61-year-old will now stay on for an extra month.

"The deal was to be in charge until the club was sold and nothing has changed since then to be honest," Kinnear said.

London  - Chelsea and Liverpool were both held to goalless draws at home on Saturday to remain locked together at the top of the English Premier League table.

Johannesburg  - There were smiles all around on Saturday as South Africa took another step towards hosting the 2010 football World Cup.

A short, but colourful, draw ceremony for the 2009 Confederations Cup at the Sandton Convention Centre went off without a hitch, the hosts were given a very favourable draw and coaches and officials of the other seven competing teams were also satisfied.

Bafana Bafana will play Iraq in the opening game in Ellis Park on June 14, 2009, while New Zealand face Euro 2008 champions Spain in the other Group A game on the same day.

Johannesburg  - World champions Italy could use next year's Confederations Cup to give young players a chance to gain experience, their assistant coach said Saturday.

Narciso Pezzotti, who was addressing the press conference in place of Marcello Lippi who had not travelled to South Africa for the draw, said that they held the Confederations Cup in high esteem.

"However, we are looking towards the 2010 World Cup and the Confederations Cup will be an ideal opportunity to use some of the younger players and give them exposure ahead of the World Cup," he said.

Johannesburg  - Crimson sunsets, a lion lounging in long savannah grasses, smiling construction workers in hard hats tapping out a gumboot dance - South Africa's charms were on display during the Confederations Cup draw in Johannesburg on Saturday.

There was plenty to smile about, both for the organizers FIFA and the spectators.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke could barely contain his excitement at being assisted in the draw by a bevvy of Misses in sumptuous evening dresses.

London - Chelsea and Liverpool were both held to goalless draws at home on Saturday to remain locked together at the top of the English Premier League table.

Chelsea, top on goal difference, could not find a way past Newcastle United while Liverpool were frustrated by a stubborn Fulham team at Anfield.

The two sides now have 33 points, nine clear of champions Manchester United, who can cut the gap if they win at fifth-placed Aston Villa later on Saturday.