GERMANY goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has been awarded the Golden Ball for the best player of the 2002 World Cup, FIFA announced yesterday.The 33-year-old finished ahead of Brazil' Ronaldo who twice shot past the German stopper in the World Cup final.
Kahn's number one
Kahn, among 10 candidates chosen by journalists, was the first goalkeeper to win the prize and succeeded Ronaldo who claimed the 1998 award.
GOLDEN BALL: 1 Kahn (Ger), 2 Ronaldo (Bra), 3 Hong Myung Bo (Kor), 4 Rivaldo (Bra), 5 Ronaldinho (Bra), 6 Sas (Tkm), 7 El Hadji Diouf (Sen), 8 Carlos (Bra), 9 Ballack (Ger), 10 Hierro (Spa). Previous winners - 1982: Rossi (Ita), 1986: Maradona (Arg), 1990: Schillaci (Ita), 1994: Romario (Bra), 1998: Ronaldo (Bra).
Camacho pays the price
Spain coach Jose Antonio Camacho has stepped down following his team's failure to go beyond the World Cup quarter-finals. Camacho offered his resignation to the Spanish FA in Madrid and it was accepted.
"Even though I had an option to renew my contract, I am 47 years old and I don't want to wait two years for the European Championships and another four years for the World Cup," Camacho said.
Gunning for Davids
Arsenal are set to pip Roma to the signing of Holland international Edgar Davids, according to reports in Italy.
Davids, out of favour at Juventus, was expected to move to Roma, but the transfer stalled when the two clubs failed to agree a fee for the 29-year-old.
Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport also speculated that any transfer fee received for Davids would be used to fund a move for Leeds United's unsettled midfielder Olivier Dacourt.
Meanwhile, Robert Pires is keen to sign a new deal with double winners Arsenal.The France international told the London Evening Standard: "I will be seeing the manager this week and I cannot see any problem."
Ince's no to playing away
Middlesbrough skipper Paul Ince has left the club after turning down the offer of a new two-year contract. The 34-year-old former international decided not to sign a new deal because of the travel involved from his family home in the North-West.
Ince's decision will come as a disappointment to manager Steve McClaren.
Linke hangs up his boots
Germany defender Thomas Linke has decided to quit international football.
The 32-year-old will play on for Bayern Munich, but does not want the pressures and demands of national team football.
Portugal's midfielder Paulo Sousa has also announced his international retirement.
Villa Park view
Aston Villa will host the opening pay-per-view game in the FA Barclaycard Premiership on August 18th. They entertain Liverpool, who will be anxious to get off to a flying start ahead of their Champions League campaign.
The Premier League yesterday announced the first 13 of the 40 matches to be screened through BSkyB, NTL and Telewest pay television services.
SKY SPORTS PAY-PER-VIEW GAMES - Aug 18th: Aston Villa v Liverpool (2.00); Aug 24th: West Brom v Leeds (5.30). Aug 27th: Arsenal v West Brom (8.00); Sep 1st: Bolton v Aston Villa (2.00); Sep 3rd: Man Utd v Middlesbrough (8.00); Sep 11th: Newcastle v Leeds (8.00); Sep 15th: Man City v Blackburn (2.00); Sep 22nd: Aston Villa v Everton (2.00); Sep 28th: Birmingham v Newcastle (5.30); Oct 6th: Arsenal v Sunderland (2.00); Oct 19th: Leeds v Liverpool (12.00); Oct 27th: Southampton v Fulham (2.00); Nov 3rd: Tottenham v Chelsea (2.00).
Family eviction
Scottish Premier League club Dundee have sacked their manager Ivano Bonetti and his assistant and brother Dario.
"After talks with the Bonettis and the management team, it has been mutually decided to terminate their contract," Dundee's chief executive Peter Marr was quoted as saying following a meeting at the club.
Someone wants Ginola
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp wants to bring David Ginola to the first division club.
"I have spoken to David and he is very interested in joining us," Redknapp said. "He would be a tremendous signing, but it all depends on the finances. I regard him as an outstanding player. "We are looking for someone a bit special who is a crowd pleaser."
Ginola (35) is without a club after his contract with Premiership Everton expired in May.
Birmingham's Polish link
Polish star striker Emmanuel Olisadebe is the subject of a £4 million bid from newly-promoted Premiership club Birmingham City, according to reports in Poland.
The 23-year-old - who plays his football with Panathinaikos - had a disappointing World Cup. But a report in Polish newspaper Przeglad Sportowy claims the Blues have tabled an offer of €6 million for the Nigerian-born forward.
A party of one
Only one member of Costa Rica's World Cup squad attended a dinner organised by the country's president Abel Pachecoto to thank for them for their efforts in Japan and Korea.
Defender Jervis Drummond, who turned up 15 minutes late said: "We were together for 40 days at the World Cup and each player has personal things to do."
Newspaper La Nacionmean reported that some of the players said they never received an official invitation.
Real in the money
Spanish giants Real Madrid coined in a staggering €37 million from UEFA for last season's Champions League success. Real topped the money-making list released by UEFA yesterday.
Leverkusen, also runners-up in the German title and the German cup, were given a financial boost of €33.8 million. Manchester United were third on the list with €32.3 million with Bayern Munich just behind on €31.9 million.
UEFA distributed a total of €523 million to the 32 Champions League participants, basing the shares on a cash-for-win basis.
Galway relaunched
Galway United yesterday relaunched the club with a strengthening of its ties with local schoolboy/Junior club Salthill Devon.
Having survived the threat of going out of business just nine months ago, the new board which then salvaged the club has introduced its vision for the future of senior soccer in the west.
