Gerrard in talks for Poland job
WARSAW, Jan 18: Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is in talks with the Polish Football Association (PZPN) as the former Aston Villa manager is believed to be the main candidate to replace Czeslaw Michniewicz as the Poland football team coach.The president of PZPN, Cezary Kulesza is in advanced talks with former Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard.“To be fair I don’t know when we will announce the name of the new coach. Things should be clear by the end of the month. Some things are out of my control. I’m waiting for a response from the other side,” Kulesza was quoted as saying by Polish media on Tuesday. Poland qualified for the knock-out stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1986, losing 3-1 to France in Qatar. (IANS)
Wolves sign Sarabia from PSG
LONDON, Jan 18: Spain winger Pablo Sarabia joined Wolverhampton from Paris Saint-Germain as the relegation-threatened English club added another attacker to its squad for its bid to stay in the Premier League.The 30-year-old Sarabia, who represented Spain at the World Cup late last year, is reunited with Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui. Sarabia was captain of Spain’s under-19 team under Lopetegui and the pair were briefly together at Sevilla.Wolves is 16th in the 20-team Premier League, two points above the relegation zone having scored a league-low 12 goals in 19 games. (PTI)
Shakhtar owner pledges $25M to Ukrainian soldiers, families
KYIV, Jan 18: Shakhtar Donetsk owner Rinat Akhmetov pledged Monday to give $25 million to help the families of soldiers who defended the city of Mariupol when it was attacked by the Russian militaryAkhmetov announced the donation one day after Shakhtar completed a deal worth up to 100 million euros ($108 million) to sell winger Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea, although the Ukrainian club said the money pledged by Akhmetov did not come from the soccer transfer. (AP)
Indian women thrash SA
CAPETOWN, Jan 18:Indian women’s hockey team registered another big win on the tour of South Africa, crushing the hosts 7-0 in the second match, with stalwart Rani, returning after a long injury lay-off, scoring her second goal in the series.Following their 5-1 win in the tour opener, the FIH Women’s Nations Cup champions showed the same intensity on Tuesday with Udita opening the account in the ninth minute. The team led by goalkeeper Savita put more pressure on the hosts in the second quarter with Vaishnavi Vithal Phalke, who made her senior international debut in the opening match on Monday, scoring the second goal in the 22nd minute.This was followed by a field goal by experienced forward and former captain Rani, who last played nearly six months back. India doubled their 3-0 lead by the end of the second quarter with Sangita Kumari, Navneet Kaur and Vandana Katariya scoring in the 25th, 26th and 27th minutes.Though the third quarter did not see any goals being scored, India ended the proceedings with Vandana completing her brace in the 58th minute.India will play their third match against South Africa on Thursday.Thursday. (PTI)