Sun, Dec 26, 2010 page18

• SPORTS BRIEFS

  • Agencies
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  SOCCER

  Afellay completes transfer

  Midfielder Ibrahim Afellay said he was prepared to fight for his place in the Barcelona team after completing his transfer from PSV Eindhoven on Friday. Speaking in perfect Spanish to the media, the 24-year-old said joining the Spanish giants was like a dream, adding “when I was a kid, I wanted to play for Barca.” Andoni Zubizarreta, Barcelona’s sporting director, said Afellay signed a four-and-a-half year contract and PSV were paid 3 million euros (US$4 million) for the player. The two clubs reached an agreement over the transfer on Nov. 15. “We have absolutely no plans to sign anybody else during this transfer window,” Zubizarreta said. Afellay is one of a long line of Netherlands players to have joined Barcelona, beginning with Johan Cruyff and including Johan Neeskens, Ronald Koeman, Patrick Kluivert and former coach Frank Rijkaard. “Players from Holland have always been welcome here,” Afellay said. “Players like Cruyff or Kluivert are very well known and they have told me this is the best club in the world.” Afellay acknowledged it will be tough to make his mark within the team. “That’s normal at a club like this where there are so many quality players, but I’ll fight for my place,” he said. Afellay was in the Netherlands squad which reached this year’s World Cup final, making three substitute appearances.

  CRICKET

  Smith has Test cap stolen

  South Africa captain Graeme Smith appealed for help on Twitter on Friday after discovering his much-loved match cap had been stolen ahead of the second Test against India. Smith said his green Proteas cap, which he was given for his first Test in 2002, had gone missing while he traveling from Cape Town to Durban for the match, which begins today. “Realise this is a long shot, but had my test cap that I’ve used since my 1st test for proteas stolen on travel up to durbs,” Smith tweeted. “Cap means a lot to me so if you know anything pls give me a shout......thx.” Many players attach sentimental value caps awarded on their Test debuts. Former Australia star Steve Waugh kept the same cap throughout his 168-Test career.

  SOCCER

  Besiktas snap up Almeida

  Besiktas have signed Portugual striker Hugo Almeida from Werder Bremen on a three-and-a-half-year contract. In a statement posted on their Web site on Friday, Besiktas said they will pay Werder Bremen 2 million euros (US$2.6 million). The 26-year-old Almeida joins compatriot Simao Sabrosa at the Turkish club after the winger signed from Atletico Madrid earlier on Friday.

  SOCCER

  Diego threatens legal action

  Diego Maradona threatened legal action against Argentine soccer association president Julio Grondona on Friday. “I am not going to go on about Grondona. I am going directly to see my lawyers to start an action after all he has said. He has lost control,” Maradona told the Clarin newspaper. Maradona and Grondona have been at loggerheads since the Argentine soccer legend was deposed as coach following the team’s defeat by Germany at the World Cup quarter-finals. On Thursday, the 79-year-old Grondona hit back at Maradona for describing him as “senile.” “I am not senile, I am not an informer and I never will be,” he said. “One day he [Maradona] loves you, the next he hates you. There are reasons for this, we all know what they are,” added Grondona, alluding to Maradona’s battle with drugs. Maradona insisted on Friday that he is free of drug and alcohol problems. “I haven’t taken anything for six years, not even a glass of wine.”

  BASEBALL

  Marlins lock up Nolasco

  The Florida Marlins finalized a three-year extension for starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco worth US$26.5 million, the Major League Baseball Web site reported on Friday. Nolasco, 28, was 14-9 with a 4.51 earned run average in 26 starts last season. He struck out 147 and walked just 33. The deal locks up Nolasco for what would have been two more arbitration-eligible seasons, along with the first season he would have been eligible for free agency.

  FOOTBALL

  NFL hands out fines for hits

  The NFL on Friday handed down fines to 16 players for illegal hits in last week’s games, including penalties of US$15,000 apiece to Atlanta’s Kroy Biermann and Cincinnati’s Dhani Jones. Falcons defensive end Biermann was docked for helmet-to-helmet contact on Seattle quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, Biermann’s third illegal hit this season. Jones was fined for the same infraction against Browns quarterback Colt McCoy. A total of seven players were fined for roughing the passer and three for flagrant fouls on defenseless receivers, both of which have been emphasized by the NFL this year as it cracks down on unnecessarily violent play. Baltimore free safety Ed Reed was fined US$10,000 for hitting New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees in the face. Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher was docked the same amount for striking defenseless Minnesota tight end Visanthe Shiancoe in the neck and head area. Another Bears defender, rookie Major Wright, also lost US$10,000 for hitting Vikings rookie quarterback Joe Webb in the head and neck area and leading with his helmet. Indianapolis defenders Robert Mathis and Antoine Bethea were both fined US$10,000, Mathis for hitting Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard in the head and neck area and Bethea for helmet-to-helmet contact with Jaguars receiver Mike Thomas. New England rookie cornerback Devin McCourty was fined US$10,000 for unnecessary roughness for hitting Packers tight end Andrew Quarless when he was defenseless. Another five players were fined US$7,500 each and three more were docked US$5,000 for tackles or actions such as grabbing a facemask that violated league rules.

  FOOTBALL

  Sanchez expected to start

  The New York Jets, who can secure an NFL playoff berth with a victory at Chicago today, expect quarterback Mark Sanchez to start despite a sore right shoulder. The second-year signal-caller was listed as probable on New York’s injury report on Friday and coach Rex Ryan said Sanchez looked better in practice than he had earlier in the week. “Today, I don’t think there was any question that he was out to say, ‘Hey look, I’m fine,’” Ryan said. “He threw it good. He never grimaced or anything else,” the coach added. “He really feels good right now.” Sanchez hurt his shoulder early in the Jets’ 22-17 victory at Pittsburgh last Sunday.

  HOCKEY

  Roy out for season

  The Buffalo Sabres’ leading scorer Derek Roy will miss the rest of the NHL season after tearing his left quadriceps tendon. General manager Darcy Regier announced on Friday the center is expected to miss between four to six months, and will have surgery to repair the injury within the next few days. Roy was hurt on Thursday in the first period of a 4-3 loss to Florida. Carrying the puck into the Panthers’ zone, Roy was driven into the boards by defenseman Dmitry Kulikov.
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