Ghana to train in Spain for afcon
Accra: The head coach of Ghana's senior national football side, Black Stars, Avram Grant has picked Spanish city of Seville as venue for the team's pre-Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) camp. The decision comes after days of intense discussions with the Football Association, who preferred Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) instead of Spain, as the base for the team to limber-up ahead of the 2015 tournament in Equatorial Guinea, reports Xinhua. Twenty-six players are expected to open camp in Spain from Jan 3 and would spend 10 days in Seville before flying out to Mongomo, which will be the base for the three-week championship. Ghana will play in Group C of next year's tournament alongside Senegal, South Africa and Africa-best ranked side and tournament favourites Algeria. The tournament kicks off January 17 and ends February 8.
Chhetri’s double sinks Salgaocar Vasco: Bengaluru FC rode on Sunil Chhetri’s double strike as they beat Salgaocar FC 3-2 in their Group B league match as the 36th Federation Cup football tournament kicked off here on Sunday. Both the teams played attacking football and the visitors drew first blood from a penalty scored by Chhetri after a Sean Rooney shot from inside the box hit defender Pawan Kumar's hand in the 25th minute at Tilak Stadium. Salgaocar fought back and restored parity in the 32nd minute when Gurjinder's dipping free kick from almost 35 yards bounced awkwardly and beat keeper lalthuammanwia Ralte to find the net. Chhetri, who was named the AIFF Player of the Year for the third consecutive year, then put his team up in the 40th minute from an assist by Beikhokhei Beingaichho.
Pune vs Shillong lajong in Fed Cup
Vasco: Pune FC is all set to start their campaign in the Federation Cup on a positive note as they brace up against Shillong lajong FC in a Group B encounter at the Tilak Maidan here on Monday. With a successful run in their build up, which includes finishing runners-up in the Durand Cup in Goa and King's Cup in Thimphu, Pune are keen to continue their impressive run. While defender Munmun lugun will be in line to make his debut, midfielder Anthony D'Souza returns to the squad after recovering from an injury he suffered during the Durand Cup. Pune will however be missing services of defender and captain Anas Edathodika who suffered an ankle injury during the King's Cup final and is recovering in Pune.
Ex-Chile goalie Rojas hospitalized
Sao Paulo: Former Chile goalkeeper Roberto Rojas has been hospitalized in Brazil because of a urinary infection and chest pain. The Albert Einstein hospital said in a statement Saturday that the 57-year-old Rojas is "stable, conscious and alert." It said the former goalkeeper is undergoing intravenous antibiotic treatment. Brazilian media said Rojas was admitted on Thursday and initially stayed in an intensive care unit to treat a pulmonary edema. Rojas played for Chile in the 1980s and made worldwide headlines for self-inflicting a cut in his forehead in a World Cup qualifier against Brazil in 1989. He was banned by FIFA and Chile was left out of the 1994 World Cup because of his actions. Rojas also was a player and a coach for popular Brazilian club Sao Paulo.
Korea to help B’Desh football
Dhaka: South Korea Football Association (KFA) president Chung Mong Gyu, who is visiting Bangladesh, hoped to extend his support to football in the country. The KFA president discussed quite a few possibilities with Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin here, reports thedailystar.net. "We want to continue the football friendship between the two countries by sending coaches and inviting Sheikh Jamal (sports club) to Korea to train with us," Mong Gyu said. Salahuddin said that Bangladesh are seeking technical assistance from the Koreans.
Machida announces retirement
Tokyo: Japan's figure skater Tatsuki Machida said on Sunday he will retire from competition. The 24-year-old Machida is the silver medallist at the 2014 World Championships and finished fifth at Sochi Winter Olympic Games, reports Xinhua. He has been included in Japan's squad for the 2015 World Championships in Shanghai in March but has given up the chance to compete.
2014 had high points for me: tiger
New Delhi: left to nurse injuries for better part of the year going by, celebrated American golfer Tiger Woods said his close friend Arjun Atwal's Asian Tour triumph and a sponsorship deal with the Hero Group counted among the high points of 2014 for him. In his year-end blog, Woods said, "As a golfer, 2014 was one of my most frustrating years because I've been hurt pretty much all year. I'm finally healthy enough to practice and dedicate myself to the game of golf again, and that's going to be fun for next year. But, in so many other ways, it was a great year and I have a lot to be thankful for. Woods said signing up with the Hero Group was also a high point of year.