■ SOCCER
Simoes arrives in Jamaica
New Jamaica coach Rene Simoes arrived for his second stint as the Reggae Boyz's leader on Saturday, saying they could qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa only with a team mentality. "I believe in the potential of Jamaica, but we cannot achieve anything individually," Simoes said. He signed a three-year contract with the Jamaican federation last month. The 55-year-old Brazilian led Jamaica when they qualified for the 1998 World Cup in France, but he resigned in 2000 after six years as technical director and went on to coach several Brazilian clubs. Simoes succeeded Bora Milutinovic, who was fired in November for breach of contract.
■ SOCCER
Vogts casts doubt on future
Berti Vogts has cast doubt on his future as Nigeria coach. The former Germany and Scotland coach reportedly complained that late salary payments for himself and delayed team bonuses for players were part of a wider problem for the African team. "It's not really moving forward, not even in slow steps," Vogts was quoted as saying in an interview with the Augsburger Allgemeinen newspaper. "But either you love Africa or you don't, and I love Africa," Vogts said. "Still I can't tell how much longer I will take the blows." Vogts said he enjoyed working with the Nigerian players, adding that the Super Eagles would be formidable with better organization. "If Nigeria's football was led by the German Soccer Federation, the team would be unbeatable for years," said Vogts, who guided Germany to the 1996 European Championship.
■ BOXING
Malignaggi defends title
American Paul Malignaggi successfully defended his title with a unanimous decision over Herman Ngoudjo in an International Boxing Federation light welterweight fight on Saturday. The 28-year-old Ngoudjo, of Montreal, Canada, suffered just the second loss of his career, falling to 16-2 overall. Ngoudjo is a perfect 15-0 on home soil but is now 1-2 in three career bouts in the US. Making the first defense of his title he won by defeating Lovemore N'dou six months ago, Malignaggi (24-1, 5 KOs) began strong but was cut over his left eye in the fourth round of the fight in Atlantic City. The 27-year-old New Yorker was on the receiving end of some good punches by Ngoudjo in the seventh but outboxed the challenger down the stretch. Ngoudjo battled hard in the 12th and final round, but Malignaggi received scores of 115-113, 117-111 and 116-113 to retain his crown.
■ RUGBY UNION
Dominici calls it a day
Veteran French winger Christophe Dominici on Saturday announced his retirement from the international game after a career which yielded 23 tries from 65 games. "Playing for France is over," said the 35-year-old following his Stade Francais club's 33-6 win over Montpellier in the national Top 14 championship. "It has been a big part of my life but now it's time to turn the page. There are other players and it's a new story beginning for France with the objective of the 2011 World Cup. If I am being honest, I know I will not be at the next World Cup." Dominici made his French debut in February, 1998, in a 24-17 win over England and he won his last cap in the 34-10 defeat to Argentina in the third-place play-off for the 2007 World Cup last October. He played in four Six Nations-winning teams, with two Grand Slams, and also played in the 1999 World Cup final defeat to Australia.
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