Football - First goalscorer in
the Bundesliga dies
Timo Konietzka, who in 1963 scored the first goal in the Bundesliga, has died. He was 73. Konietzka had been suffering from cancer when he died on Monday at his home in Brunnen, Switzerland. In a death notice published by Zurich daily Blick yesterday, Konietzka thanked the Swiss assisted suicide group Exit for helping him end his own life. Konietzka was playing for Borussia Dortmund when he scored the first Bundesliga goal in the first minute of a match against Werder Bremen on 24 August, 1963. He won the Bundesliga with Dortmund that year and again three years later with 1860 Muenchen. Konietzka moved to Switzerland in 1967, and as a trainer he won the Swiss league from 1974-76 with FC Zurich and in 1982 with Grasshoppers Zurich.
Al Wasl goalkeeper
banned for 17 matches
A goalkeeper for Diego Maradona’s Al Wasl club has been banned for 17 matches after attacking an opposition coach following a 1-0 loss to Al Alhi in the Etisalat Cup semifinals. The United Arab Emirates Football Association imposed the lengthy ban after Majed Naser slapped Al Alhi coach Quique Sanches Flores on the back of the head following Sunday’s defeat. Al Wasl had already suspended Naser indefinitely. The UAE FA’s disciplinary committee subsequently imposed the ban and fined Naser €6,216, $8,167. Al Wasl declined comment on the ban but issued a statement condemning the attack, saying “this type of behaviour not only damages the reputation of the individual but is also detrimental to the image of the club.”
Villarreal extend miserable season
Getafe ensured Villarreal remains in a relegation battle in the Spanish league by winning 2-1 away on Monday night after goals from Diego Costa and Abdel Barrada. A Villarreal defensive lapse allowed Getafe to score the opening goal in the sixth minute. Barrada was given space and time to find Miku inside the area, and the Venezuela striker centered for Costa to score from a tap-in. Getafe goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya was busy after that, denying striker Nilmar before stopping Borja Valero’s 18th-minute penalty after Miguel Marcos had bundled Jaume Costa to the ground. Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna hit the crossbar in the 38th before his team finally broke through just before halftime, Nilmar scoring from the spot after the Brazil striker had been taken down by defender Cata Diaz. Getafe dominated play after the restart and Barrada gave his team a deserved victory in the 72nd minute at the Madrigal by finishing off a move started by Castro and involving Pedro Leon. Getafe moved eight points clear of the drop zone, while Villarreal is only three above 18th-place Racing Santander.
FIFA concludes visit to
World Cup host cities
FIFA has concluded a visit to six of the 12 host cities of the 2014 World Cup. A group of about 40 people from FIFA and the local organising committee traveled to the northeastern city of Natal, the last stop in a seven-day trip across Brazil. They also visited Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Cuiaba and the jungle city of Manaus. The other six host cities had been inspected last year. The inspection group scrutinised local plans for dealing with traffic, security, fan management, commercial partners, marketing, hospitality and media. Ricardo Trade, an executive director at the local organising committee, said the visits were important to help organisers “evaluate several aspects” and improve planning for the World Cup.
Gambia set to install new
FA despite FIFA warnings
Gambia appears determined to defy FIFA and install a new national football association despite warnings from world football’s governing body about government interference. The tiny West African country faces a showdown with FIFA after its Sports Ministry dissolved the Gambia Football Association this month in the wake of a 2-1 home loss to Algeria in an African Cup of Nations qualifier. The ministry set up a temporary committee and will send a delegation to Switzerland next week to present its case for a newly elected GFA executive to FIFA. FIFA says “no governmental instituted interim committee would be recognized and/or dealt with.” FIFA will meet this week to discuss Gambia’s situation and warns of possible “severe sanctions.”
Olympics - US first lady will lead
US delegation to London Games
The White House says Michelle Obama will lead the official US delegation to the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. It has become somewhat of a tradition for first ladies to lead the US delegation. Laura Bush headed the delegation to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, and Hillary Rodham Clinton headed up the delegation at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. Mrs. Obama yesterday hosted a mini-Olympic competition with physical activities for D.C.-area children at American University. The competition is part of her Let’s Move! initiative promoting fitness and healthy eating. She will be joined by Britain’s first lady, Samantha Cameron, who is accompanying her husband, British Prime Minister David Cameron, on a two-day visit to the US.
Golf - Woods says he hopes
to play next week at Bay Hill
Tiger Woods says his left Achilles tendon is mildly strained and he is hopeful he can still play next week at Bay Hill. Woods withdrew from the Cadillac Championship at Doral on Sunday after hitting his tee shot on the 12th hole. Woods is scheduled to play the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, which starts on 22 March, his final tournament before the Masters. He has played Augusta National every year since 1995. It was the second time in 10 months that Woods had to withdraw from a tournament because of his Achilles. He also left after shooting a 42 on the front nine of The Players Championship last May, causing him to sit out three months until it was completely healed.