Bagan sign Norde as fourth foreigner
NEW DELHI: Mohun Bagan have announced the signing of Haitian professional football player Sony Norde as their fourth foreign recruit for the forthcoming football season, a statement from the club has informed. The 24-year-old striker with his prolific and mesmerising performances caught the eye during his visit to Kolkata when he represented Sk. Jamal Dhanmondi Club in the 118th IFA Shield Tournament and won many hearts in Kolkata. After a trial match with Mexican side San Luis FC he was able to secure a spot at Argentine Club Boca Juniors in 2008. Sony has also represented the Haiti national football team at the youth and senior levels. He represented Haiti at the 2008 CONCACAF Olympic qualification tournament and also represented the national side in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. (Agencies)
Man United bury Galaxy 7-0
PASADENA (USA): Manchester United made an impressive debut under coach Louis van Gaal on Wednesday night, with Wayne Rooney scoring twice late in the first half of a 7-0 victory over the LA Galaxy. Ashley Young and unsung defender Reece James scored two second-half goals apiece as United opened its summer tour with a surprisingly polished win over MLS’ overmatched Galaxy in the Guinness International Champions Cup. Danny Welbeck scored the first goal for van Gaal, who has had limited work with his new club after leading the Netherlands to a third-place finish at the World Cup earlier this month. United still outclassed the Galaxy in the meeting of David Beckham’s two former clubs. Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera also made their United debuts at the historic Rose Bowl. Van Gaal’s tenure got off to a start reflecting the confidence of United’s veteran coach, who intends to return the 20-time English champions to immediate international prominence after David Moyes’ poor tenure. Van Gaal spoke out against lucrative preseason tours this week, saying the lengthy US stay hinders his preparations for the season. (AP)
Jayawardene ton takes Sri Lanka to 305/5
Colombo: Mahela Jayawardene smashed an unbeaten 140 as Sri Lanka regrouped after early strikes to post 305/5 on the first day of the series-deciding second Test against South Africa on Thursday. Jayawardene hit 16 fours and a six in his nearly six-hour stay at the wicket to pull up Sri Lanka from a shaky 16/2 after the hosts opted to bat on a docile track at the SSC ground. This was Jayawardene’s 11th century at the ground, the most by any batsman at a single venue. He also joined India’s Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara of the West Indies at tied fifth on the list of highest Test century makers. (AFP)
Rose Bowl to be sporting track
London: Ahead of the third Test between India and England at the Rose Bowl in Hampshire, head groundsman Nigel Gray today said it will be a “good pitch” with a covering of grass on it. “It’s firm, there is a covering of grass on it, so it is looking like it will be a good pitch to me,” Gray told BBC Radio of the Rose Bowl pitch that awaits India and England for the third Test starting on Sunday. Hampshire head groundsman Gray believes the Ageas Bowl pitch is in good shape for the match. “It won’t be as grassy as Lord’s was when that Test started, it will be much more like the Test we had against Sri Lanka three or four years ago, which was a good pitch. It went through, there was a bit in it for the bowlers and the batsman can play their shots, so I’m expecting very similar,” he said. “It’s the same 22 yards so it looks like it should be a good pitch again but you never can really tell until you start playing on it,” Gray said. (PTI)
World Kabaddi League announces teams
New Delhi: World Kabaddi League (WKL) announced the names and logos of its teams on Thursday. The international-level league, slated to kick off on August 9, will have eight international teams including those owned by Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha and star rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh. While Kumar has bought Speedy Singhs along with Fastway Sports Development Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Fastway Transmissions, Singh owns Yo Yo Tigers, named after his own name. Both the stars were present on the occasion. The other teams are Vancouver Lions owned by Gurjit Singh Purewal; Haryana Focus, owned by R and AAR Communication, an off-shoot of Focus Television; Punjab Thunders owned by Thind Properties. United Singhs, co-owned by Sonakshi Sinha and California Eagles, owned by the Tut Group are the other teams. (PTI)