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Ballack back under the knife for more ankle surgery
LONDON: Germany captain Michael Ballack will undergo more surgery on his problem ankle on Tuesday, his club Chelsea said on Monday.
The 30-year-old midfielder missed Chelsea's victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup final and two German Euro 2008 qualifiers in June, following a major operation on the ankle at the beginning of May.
Chelsea said on their websitethat the operation would take place in Germany, adding: "The operation is related only to a complication in the healing of the wound from previous surgery in May."
Ballack injured the ankle against Newcastle United in a Premier League match on April 22.
Pele among players lining up for Mandela match
BERNE, Switzerland:Pele will be among a host of former and current international players turning out for an all-star charity match to honour Nelson Mandela in Cape Town this month.
World soccer's governing body FIFA on Monday named the first batch of players taking part in the game to celebrate the 89th birthday of South Africa's first black president.
Cameroon's three-time African player of the year Samuel Eto'o, French 1998 World Cup winner Christian Karembeu and former European player of the year Ruud Gullit are among the other participants.
"It is a great honour and pleasure for me to have been invited to participate in this tribute to Nelson Mandela, a living symbol of the fight against all forms of racism and discrimination," said Eto'o in a FIFA media release.
The July 18 match, in which an Africa XI will take on a Rest of the World XI, is the second all-star game to be organised by FIFA in Mandela's honor.
A similar event was staged in 1999 to mark the end of his presidency.
Capitals sign free agent Nylander to four-year deal
WASHINGTON: The Washington Capitals upgraded their offensive firepower by signing free agent center Michael Nylander to a four-year contract, the club said on Monday.
Nylander posted career highs in goals (26) and assists (57) in 79 games for the New York Rangers last season.
A third-round draft choice of the Hartford Whalers in 1991, Nylander has played for seven NHL teams, including a 74-game stint with the Capitals in 2002-03 and '03-04.
The 34-year-old Nylander has represented Sweden in 13 international tournaments, including two Winter Olympics in 1998 and 2002, and the World Cup of Hockey in 1996.
Washington has been active during the first two days of the free agent signing period, landing center Viktor Kozlov and defenseman Tom Poti, in addition to Nylander.
Despite the presence of high-scoring left wing Alex Ovechkin, the Capitals were 28-40-14 last season, the second-worst mark in the Eastern Conference.
(China Daily 07/04/2007 page23)
