IN BRIEF (Page 23)
Soccer
Bielsa admits to mixed feelings over facing Argentina
SANTIAGO: Chile's new coach Marcelo Bielsa has admitted to mixed feelings over the prospect of facing his native Argentina in his first competitive match in charge.
Chile are due to face Argentina in Buenos Aires on October 13 or 14 when they kick off their campaign in the South American qualifying competition for the 2010 World Cup.
"In this profession, one always tries to immunise oneself against emotions," Bielsa told reporters late on Monday. "But of course, when this moment arrives, there will be a very strong ambivalence.
"On the one hand, there's the commitment which the profession demands, on the other the sense of belonging which establishes conditions that are definitive for any human being."
Bielsa has replaced Nelson Acosta, who resigned after Chile's 6-1 Copa America quarterfinal defeat to Brazil.
The famously introverted and enigmatic coach said he would invite AS Roma midfielder David Pizarro and Universidad de Chile striker Marcelo Salas to reconsider their decisions to quit the national side.
Advocaat agrees to coach Socceroos: report
Sydney: Dutchman Dick Advocaat has agreed to become Australia's new football coach but the deal is being kept under wraps until the end of the Russian championship season in November, local media said yesterday.
Advocaat has made it clear he wants to do the right thing by his club, Zenit St Petersburg, as they chase the Russian title and doesn't want to publicly agree to a new job until his current one is complete, the Daily Telegraph reported.
But Advocaat, who managed the Netherlands in two spells and took the Dutch to the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup, is expected to be unveiled as Graham Arnold's successor with the Socceroos before the end of the year.
Arnold has come under fire after the Socceroos, full of their leading European stars, struggled at the Asian Cup last month.
He is likely to be asked to lead Australia in friendlies against Argentina next month and China in October before handing over the reins, the Telegraph said.
Kanoute extends deal with Sevilla to 2010
MADRID: Mali striker Frederic Kanoute has extended his contract with Sevilla for an extra year until 2010, the Primera Liga side said on Monday.
The 29-year-old, who joined Sevilla from Tottenham Hotspur in 2005, has played a key role in the Andalucians' success in the past two seasons.
He scored in Sevilla's triumphs in successive UEFA Cup finals in 2006 and 2007 and grabbed the winner in their victory against Getafe in the King's Cup in June.
He was the club's top scorer with 21 goals in the league last season, helping them to a third-place finish and a berth in the Champions League third qualifying round.
Valencia want Hamburg captain for 14 million euros
BERLIN: Valencia have offered Hamburg SV 14 million euros ($19.17 million) for their captain Rafael van der Vaart and the Dutch player says he wants to join the Spanish club.
"I absolutely want to leave, Valencia is my dream," midfielder Van der Vaart said in an interview with the Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper released on Monday ahead of its appearance in Tuesday's edition.
"If I had to stay in Hamburg it would be painful."
Van der Vaart is contracted to Hamburg SV until 2010 and has said his contract has no escape clause that would allow him to change clubs without a transfer fee.
A spokesman for Hamburg SV said that as of Monday morning the club had not received an official offer from Valencia.
Athletics
Wariner and Gay spearhead strong US team for Osaka
RALEIGH, North Carolina: Olympic and world 400m champion Jeremy Wariner and American sprint king Tyson Gay spearhead a strong US team named on Monday for this month's athletics world championships.
Ten world champions, also including Olympic and world long jump gold medallist Dwight Phillips, will make the US one of the most powerful teams in the August 25-September 2 championships in Osaka, Japan.
Overall, 14 Olympic and 22 world outdoor championship medallists will represent the US.
The sprints again will be the Americans' forte with Gay seeking double gold in the men's 100 and 200m and Wariner going for a repeat in the 400.
(China Daily 08/15/2007 page23)
