Pele undergoing physiotherapy
SAO PAULO: A Brazilian hospital says Pele is undergoing physiotherapy following surgery on his right hip. The Albert Einstein hospital said Wednesday that Pele remains in good condition and is already walking around his room. The hospital said the Brazilian soccer great underwent ”total arthroplasty,” a procedure aimed at restoring proper function on his hip. The surgery was Saturday. The former player, who turned 72 in October, is expected to leave the hospital this week. It isn’t clear if he will be able to attend the Confederations Cup draw December 1. Pele won three World Cup titles with Brazil and scored nearly 1,300 career goals, most of them with Brazilian club Santos. (AP)
Cantona would like to coach United
PARIS: The ever-surprising Eric Cantona would like to coach Manchester United at some point, although the Frenchman does not expect that day to come any time soon because of Alex Ferguson’s stamina and dedication to the job. Former United great Cantona, 46, whose only coaching experience was four years with the France beach soccer team, said in an interview with ESPN to be broadcast later on Thursday, in his own way, that he would be interested in the United job. “I would say, ‘United is special, of course I would do it’. Today I’m with the New York Cosmos,” Cantona, currently director of soccer at the New York Cosmos, was quoted as saying by a British newspaper. “But if one day there is an opportunity, why not? Like diving from here to the sea, watching, speaking to the fish, octopus, crabs, journalists.” But the time has not come yet. “I love to watch United winning things and I want Ferguson to be manager for ever,” he said. Ferguson, who will be 71 in December, has been United’s coach for 26 years. Cantona, who played 45 times for France scoring 20 goals, won four Premier League titles in five years with United after joining from Leeds United in 1992. After his sudden retirement in 1997, he began a career in cinema, notably starring in Ken Loach’s ‘Looking for Eric’ in 2009. (Reuters)
Randhawa tied 17th in Hong Kong
HONG KONG: Indian golfer Jyoti Randhawa opened strongly with a two-under 68 to be placed at tied 17th after the first round of UBS Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf club here on Thursday. Randhawa dropped just one bogey against three birdies to emerge as the best Indian and was four shots behind Asian Tour rookie, Javi Colomo of Spain, who outshone more illustrious names with a flawless six-under 64 to take the first round clubhouse lead. Three players, including India’s Himmat Rai were yet to complete their round. They will resume play on Friday. Shiv Kapur was tied 27th at one-under 69 which included a bogey on the par-4 17th. Himmat was even par with one more hole to play, while the in-form Gaganjeet Bhullar was off to a modest start with a one-over 71 in tied 54th place. He had three birdies and four bogeys. Things did not work out too well for SSP Chowrasia (76), Digvijay Singh and Chiragh Kumar, both of whom shot 80 each and were tied 139th. While Colomo led the field, ltaly’s Matteo Manassero, winner in Singapore last week carded 67 and World No. 1 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland shot a 73. (PTI)