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.

Johannesburg  - Coaches and officials of the teams that were drawn into Group A of the Confederations Cup on Saturday agreed that they were drawn into a good group.

The hosts South Africa 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 game on the same day.

The other group sees world champions Italy take on the defending June 14-28, 2009 Confederations Cup champions Brazil, as well as Egypt and US in the competition that will be played in four venues.

Spanish coach Vicente Del Bosque dismissed any speculation that the group would be an easy one. "We have a mixture of styles in our group and I hope that in the end our style will win.