IN BRIEF (Page 24)

NFL

Saints lose cornerback McKenzie for final push

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana: The New Orleans Saints, trying to salvage a National Football League playoff spot, will have to do it without key defender Mike McKenzie.

McKenzie suffered a torn knee ligament in Sunday's 38-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season.

The cornerback was hurt in the first quarter on a play in which Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb scrambled for 40 yards before fumbling.

Eagles wide receiver Kevin Curtis recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.

McKenzie, a 10-year veteran, has returned two of his three interceptions for touchdowns, and was chosen as a Pro Bowl alternate.

Tennis

Czech Fed Cup skipper Kodat quits

PRAGUE: Ales Kodat, the step-father and coach of world No 12 Nicole Vaidisova, resigned as captain of the Czech Fed Cup team on Tuesday, according to a report by Czech TV station CT.

"He has taken this decision for personal reasons and you will have to respect that," said Czech Tennis Federation (CTS) chief Ivo Kaderka.

The Czech Republic will begin their 2008 Fed Cup campaign in February with a World Group II home tie against neighbors Slovakia.

Soccer

Boca defender close to Marseille switch

BUENOS AIRES: Boca Juniors defender Juan Angel Krupoviesa is close to sealing a move to French league giants Marseille, according to reports on Tuesday.

Boca president Pedro Pompilio said the club "will accept an offer" from Marseille, thought to be between 1-2 million euros, for the 28-year-old central defender.

Krupoviesa has won five trophies with the club including the South American Cup and Super Cup. He would be available to play for Marseille following the winter break.

Marseille, the 1993 European champions, are enduring another trying season having slipped to below mid-table and crashed out of the Champions League following a 4-0 loss at home to Liverpool.

Former Japan coach Osim out of intensive care

TOKYO: Japan's former national team coach Ivica Osim has left intensive care and started rehabilitation after suffering a serious stroke last month, local media reported.

The 66-year-old Bosnian collapsed in November while climbing the stairs at his home after watching soccer on television and was in a coma for some time.

"He's in higher spirits than I would have imagined," Japan Football Association General Secretary Kozo Tashima told reporters on Tuesday after visiting Osim.

Tajima was also forced to break the news that Osim had been replaced as coach by Takeshi Okada, 51, who previously served in the same job 10 years ago.

Cricket

How guides New Zealand to comfortable win

WELLINGTON, New Zealand: Opener Jamie How guided New Zealand to a comfortable six-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first match of their one-day international series in Auckland yesterday.

How, who scored 90 on New Zealand's recent tour of South Africa, was closing in on his maiden one-day international century but was caught by Aftab Ahmed off the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan for 88.

New Zealand eventually cruised to the target, finishing on 203 for four, after dismissing the visitors for a disappointing 201. Scott Styris was on 25 not out and Mathew Sinclair on one with 7.2 overs remaining.

(China Daily 12/27/2007 page24)