Global Sport — McGrath might play in Test against South Africa

Australian seamer Paul Reiffel has been battling to overcome chronic hamstring problems, but Alcott said he should be fit to play for Victoria in a Shield match next week.

Paes goes down to Todd Martin

CAPE TOWN: American Todd Martin handily beat India’s Leander Paes 6-2, 6-4 Friday in the first day’s play of the Nelson Mandela Tribute Tennis tournament.

Paes started off well, breaking Martin to love in the first game and then holding serve for a 2-0 lead. But in the fourth game, Paes twisted his ankle while reaching for a shot at the baseline. From that point on, it was all martin. The American ran through the next nine games before Paes finally held serve.

Top stars competing in the three-day tournament, a fund raiser for children, include Andre Agassi and Boris Becker.

Connors versus Lloyd in seniors final

SYDNEY: Former world number one Jimmy Connors fought back from 5-2 down in the first set against fellow-American Tim Wilkison to win a place in tomorrow’s final of the Champions Tennis Tournament. Connors, 45, will face England’s John Lloyd, who downed second seed Johan Kriek 7-6 (7-3), 6-1. Lloyd will be playing only his second seniors final and lost his previous attempt last year.

Connors put on a hit and giggle performance in the low-key exhibition event. Giving the crowd exactly what they paid for, Connors was at his humorous best. He made one man in a court-side corporate box laugh so loud and long that play was held up for several minutes. Lloyd has played Connors eight times with his solitary win coming when the American was forced to withdraw with an injury during a match.

Nigerian coach awaits military "yes"

ABUJA: Nigerian soccer authorities say they have delayed naming a new coach for the national team until the military government approved their choice.

"The decision to appoint a new coach for our national team is beyond us,"

Nigeria Football Association (NFA) secretary Sani Toro said on Thursday night after a board meeting. "We have chosen somebody and recommended him to the military government for approval," he added.

Local newspapers reported the NFA had picked on from three names, Australian manager Terry Venables of Britain, former Nigerian coach Jo Bonfrere of the Netherlands and the sacked Mexican trainer, Yogoslav Bora Milutinovic for government approval.

Tobacco advertisement hinders race

MONACO: Formula One’s ruling body gave organisers of the Belgian Grand Prix until the end of December to find a way of working around a strict ban on tobacco advertising or see the race removed from the motor racing calendar.

A calendar released after a meeting in Monaco yesterday of the International Automobile Federation also did not include a French Grand Prix. This year the race took place on June 29 at Magny-Cours. A French court ruled this year that all national television channels were entitled to broadcast a race on French soil which went against the FIA’s exclusive rights deal arranged with individual broadcasters.

Goalkeepers get suspended ban

LONDON: Former goalkeepers Bruce Grobbelaar of Zimbabwe and Dutchman Hans Segers have been both fined $15,000 and banned for six months by the Football Association here yesterday – but the punishment is suspended for two years.

The duo had been charged with misconduct relating to the FA rules on betting. But FA spokesman Steve Double said Grobbelaar and Segers’ punishment of a six-month ban and a $15,000 each would be suspended for two years, considering the "severe financial hardship and three-year blight on their careers" that they had already suffered.

Aussies ease World Cup blues

RIYADH: Terry Venables’ Australia eased their World Cup blues with a 3-1 victory over Mexico in the Confederations Cup here. Mark Viduka, John Aloisi and Damien Mori were on target.

Aussies ran out comfortable winners against an experimental Mexico side playing their first match under new coach Manuel Lapuente. Mexico hit back when Australian goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac clumsily brought down Luis Hernandez with 10 minutes left.

Appeal date fixed for Liverpool hooligans

STRASBOURG: The three Liverpool hooligans jailed for four months for assault on October 22 will have their appeal against the sentence heard on December 22, their lawyer said on Friday.

The three were arrested for assaulting a passerby, prior to the UEFA Cup tie with Strasbourg, with an umbrella and kicked the man while he was on the ground leaving him with two black eyes.

According to Gerard Dupuis, one of the supporter’s lawyers, they had drunk over 3.5 litres of beer and felt threatened by the man.

Two Brazilian players test positive

RIO DE JANEIRO: Two leading Brazilian water polo players have tested for the Anabolic Steroid Nandrolone, the Brazilian Swimming Federation confirmed.

The pair were named as Eric Borges and Alexandra Lopes, who together have formed one of the most lethal Brazilian water polo attacks of recent times. The Federation said that it would await the outcome of follow up tests on Monday before deciding what action to take. If the results are confirmed Borges and Lopes seem certain to miss the World Swimming Championships in Perth, Australia next January.

Landmine victim honoured with torch

NAGANO: A British landmine victim, three Japanese Olympic Skiing Champions and two distance runners will be the final torch runners at the opening ceremonies of February’s Winter Games, the top organising offical said today.

They will pass the flame to former Olympic figure skating medallist Midori Ito who will light the cauldron at the Olympic Stadium on February 7, Nagano organising committee director-general Makoto Kobayashi said.

The landmine victim is Chris Moon, the skiers are Takanori Knon, Masashi Abe and Reiichi Mikata, gold medal winners in the nordic combined team event, and the runners are world women’s marathon champion Hiromi Suzuki and Masako Chiba, bronze medallist in the women’s 10,000 metres at the World Championships in Athens in August.