SOCCER
Postecoglou inks contract
Greek-born Ange Postecoglou was yesterday appointed the new Socceroos coach following the sacking of German Holger Osieck and will lead them to the World Cup finals in Brazil next year. Football Federation Australia (FFA) handed Postecoglou, 48, a five-year contract that will also see him take the team to the the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia and beyond. “It was always our plan that one day an Australian would be appointed coach and I said precisely that when we appointed the previous coach,” FFA chairman Frank Lowy said. “The fact that Ange is the best qualified, and an Australian, achieves our objective.”
SOCCER
Gallas signs for Perth Glory
French defender William Gallas yesterday joined Perth Glory in Australia’s A-League after being released by English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. The former Chelsea and Arsenal star said he was looking forward to the challenge, opting for Perth despite reported interest from Manchester City, Crystal Palace and clubs in the Middle East and the US. “I look forward to wearing with pride the jersey of Perth Glory for this season,” he said in a statement after agreeing to a one-year deal, subject to a medical. The 36-year-old spent more than a decade at top clubs Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, where he played 24 matches as vice captain last season. He was also capped 84 times by France and will be the first French player in Australia’s domestic competition, which features several other former greats, led by Italian superstar Alessandro del Piero.
CRICKET
Heal elected NZ chairman
Businessman Stuart Heal has been elected chairman of New Zealand Cricket to lead a new board helping steer preparations for the 2015 World Cup, which is being co-hosted by Australia. Heal was elected unanimously at the first meeting of the board in Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday. He immediately announced a new shared leadership model which would take advantage of the skills and experience of board members. Former chief executive Martin Snedden, who headed the New Zealand organization that ran the 2011 Rugby World Cup, will represent New Zealand on the International Cricket Council. Former Test players Richard Hadlee, Geoff Allott and Snedden were named on a new cricket advisory committee.
OLYMPICS
Athletes to get smartphones
Samsung Electronics Co is giving the Galaxy Note 3 smartphone to all athletes competing at the Sochi Games in Russia in February. The announcement yesterday was part of the South Korea company’s marketing campaign as a sponsor of the Olympic Winter Games. It reflects Samsung’s growing clout in the smartphone market, and willingness to shell out to promote its brand and products.
BASEBALL
Lincecum agrees new deal
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum has agreed to a reported US$35 million two-year deal to stay with the San Francisco Giants, according to local media on Tuesday. “We see the difference that your starting pitching can make in a make-or-break September or post-season,” Giants assistant general manager Bobby Evans told the San Francisco Chronicle. “The reality is that Tim is a big part of that.” The 29-year-old, who won the World Series in 2010 and last year, enjoyed a sparkling start to his career in San Francisco, but is struggling to recapture his best form.
SEESAW CONTEST: The Pistons remain top of the Eastern Conference after battling to a win over the Hawks in a game that saw the lead change 27 times The Phoenix Suns on Monday shrugged off an injury to Devin Booker to end the Los Angeles Lakers’ seven-game winning streak with an emphatic 125-108 victory on the road. Booker exited in the first quarter, but the loss of the star point guard did little to halt the flow of Phoenix points over the remainder of the game. Dillon Brooks led the Phoenix scoring with 33 points, while Collin Gillespie added 28 — including eight three-pointers — as the Suns romped to victory. The Lakers were left ruing a colossal 22 turnovers — at a cost of 32 Suns points — on a
Kylian Mbappe on Wednesday scored twice and had an assist as Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 to end a three-match winless streak in La Liga. Eduardo Camavinga also found the net for Madrid as they moved back within one point of Barcelona, who beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Tuesday. Both 19th-round matches were moved forward because Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid are to play in the Supercopa de Espana semi-finals in Saudi Arabia next month. Real Madrid were coming off league draws against Girona, Elche and Rayo Vallecano. It was their second win in their past six matches in
IN-HOUSE BUSINESS: LA Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said that the reason for the team’s poor form was not due to Paul, but the player was not a good fit for them Chris Paul’s return stint with the Los Angeles Clippers has come to an abrupt and stunning end, with the franchise parting ways with one of its greatest players in a late-night meeting on Wednesday that adds another layer of drama to the team’s terrible start this season. The news was delivered in a meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, that ended at about 2am, Clippers basketball operations president Lawrence Frank said. Frank said he made the decision to sever ties with Paul on Sunday then told the franchise’s career assist leader that he needed to see him on Tuesday in Atlanta. Frank did not confirm
New Zealand yesterday reached 231-9 at stumps on a first day of the first Test against the West Indies shortened by rain after Justin Greaves triggered a middle-order collapse with the wicket of Kane Williamson. New Zealand tumbled from 94-1 to 148-6 on a bowler-friendly wicket after Williamson was dismissed for 52, his 38th Test half-century. Michael Bracewell and Nathan Smith arrested the slide with a 52-run stand for the seventh wicket. Smith eventually fell for 23 and Bracewell for 47. After Matt Henry went for 8, Zak Foulkes and Jacob Duffy were both on 4 when bad light stopped play after 70
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