Mumbai City FC rope in Peter Reid as head coach
Mumbai: Mumbai City Football Club Thursday announced that eminent English football manager Peter Reid will be the head coach and former footballer Steve Darby his assistant for the inaugural edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) Oct 12-Dec 20. During his highly successful career as a manager, Reid has been at the helm of affairs at top football teams that include England Under-21, Manchester City, Sunderland, Leeds United, Coventry City, Thailand and Plymouth Argyle. “It is a great opportunity to coach in the Indian Super League. I enjoyed working overseas with Thailand and am very much looking forward to this new challenge! We have a very competitive side, Friedrich is a great signing, you don’t win Germany caps by luck or play over 300 Bundesliga games!” said Reid. Darby is recognised throughout Asia as a pundit for ESPN Star Sports and was head coach of football club Kelantan in the Malaysia Super League most recently. He has also coached in India, Bahrain, Australia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam in the past. In 2011, he was appointed manager of India giants Mohun Bagan. “It’s always good to be part of something new. A great combination of youth and experience is what every team aims for!” he said. Darby hoped the ISL will help raise the quality of football in the country in the coming years. “I have seen the effect the IPL has had on cricket and hopefully this will happen with football in India. India has great players. I hope this leads to further opportunities for them,” Darby added. (IANS)
Cesar sets year’s fastest 50m freestyle time
Sao Paulo: Olympic champion Cesar Cielo of Brazil has set the world’s fastest 50-metre freestyle time of the year at a short course swimming event in Brazil. The 27-year-old clocked 20.68 seconds in the semi-final before winning gold later Wednesday with a time of 20.72 seconds, reports Xinhua. The result guaranteed Cielo a berth at the world short course championships in Doha in December. “They were two very similar races,” Cielo said after the event in Guaratingueta, near Sao Paulo. “Now my focus is on getting my fastest possible time at the world championships.” Italo Duarte took silver in Wednesday’s 50m final and Bruno Fratus bronze. Cesar became Brazil’s only swimmer to clinch Olympic gold when he won the 50m freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. (IANS)
Gremio excluded from Copa do Brasil
Rio de Janeiro: Brazilian football club Gremio have been excluded from the Copa do Brasil after their fans racially abused a rival player. Gremio are expected to appeal the ruling, which was handed down by Brazil’s Superior Court of Sporting Justice Wednesday, reports Xinhua. The court’s disciplinary commission also fined Gremio $22,000. It is the first time a Brazilian club has been excluded from an official competition for a racism offence. The decision came six days after Santos goalkeeper Aranha was the target of racist taunts during their quarterfinal first leg against Gremio in Porto Alegre. Gremio, who lost the match 0-2, later banned five fans amid an investigation by police and public prosecutors. The case is the latest in a growing list of racism episodes involving South American football fans. In February, former Brazil international midfielder Tinga was the target of monkey chants during a Copa Libertadores match between Cruzeiro and Real Garcilaso in Peru. A month later, Santos midfielder Arouca was the victim of racial abuse during his team’s Sao Paulo state league match against Mogi Mirim. (IANS)
‘Ribery’s retirement is not my fault’
Paris: Rising star Antoine Griezmann denied claims that he was the cause of Franck Ribery’s decision to retire from the French national football team. “The announcement of Franck’s retirement was a surprise, as it was for everyone. It made me a bit sad as he’s a great player for us. But we have to respect his choice,” said Wednesday the 23-year-old, who has taken Ribery’s shoes after the Bayern Munich star pulled out of the World Cup earlier last June with a back injury, reports Xinhua. Ribery subsequently announced his withdrawal from the national side to focus playing for the Bundesliga side. “Whether Franck is there or not, everyone has their responsibilities. I don’t pay too much attention to that. I simply play my game and try to do everything to feel good, on and off the pitch.” “Each player is important. That was our strength in Brazil. It’s his choice, it has to be respected. It’s not my fault that he retired,” said the Atletico Madrid player, who joined the La Liga champions from Real Sociedad this summer. Griezmann’s performance in Brazil in France’s left-side attacking role has ensured him a place in Didier Deschamps’ newest 23-strong for Thursday’s friendly in Paris and Sunday’s away match to Serbia while Les Bleus build up to Euro 2016 on home soil. (IANS)