Celustka: Czech U-21 international defender Ondrej Celustka has been loaned for the rest of the season by Slavia Prague to Palermo with an option to buy. Celustka, 20, has been capped five times for the U-21 side, scoring once.
Sunderland: Zimbabwe striker Benjani Mwaruwari joined Sunderland from Manchester City on loan until the end of the season after the Premier League club rubber-stamp-ed the deal yesterday. Benjani arrived in English football at Portsmouth in 2006 before being signed by former City manager Sven Goran Eriksson for around £7.5 million.
Diawara: The trial of Marseille's Senegalese international defender Souleymane Diawara for driving while banned was yesterday postponed until June 8 by the Marseille correctional court. The postponement occurred due to the unavailability of a defence lawyer.
Bordeaux: Brazilian midfielders Fernando Menegazzo and Jussie have extended their current deals with Bordeaux. Fernando had been courted by several Italian clubs, including Genoa, during the close season, but he has negotiated a three-year extension.
Italy base: Defending champions Italy have chosen Southdowns College, situated between Pretoria and Johannesburg, for their World Cup base. Italy, who will stay at the Leriba Lodge luxury hotel near Pretoria used Southdowns as their base during their Confederations Cup in 2009.
Porto: Up-and-coming Ghana international defender David Addy has completed a dream move to FC Porto from Danish side Randers FC. Addy was part of the Ghana U-20 team that won the World Cup last year, and he has also made a few appearances for the senior side.
Boxing: Seventeen years after losing their first fight, Bernard Hopkins is to finally get his chance for revenge on fellow American Roy Jones. The non-title fight, at an as yet unspecified weight, will take place in Las Vegas on April 3. Hopkins and Jones have not met since a May 22, 1993 IBF middleweight title bout in Washington.
Basket, NBA: The Memphis Grizzlies overcame a record-breaking performance by Kobe Bryant to beat Los Angeles Lakers 95-93. With a 44-point haul, Bryant surpassed Jerry West to become the Lakers' all-time leading scorer.
Badminton: Badminton's Olympic and world champion Lin "Super" Dan will make his first appearance of the season at next month's All-England Championships. The Chinese player took a prolonged break after complaining of exhaustion and skipped this season's first two tournaments in South Korea and Malaysia.
Tennis: Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro will top the bill at the €512,750 ATP Marseille event on February 15-21. France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, last year's champion, will compete alongside countrymen Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon, the 2007 winner.
Cycling: Australian Jack Bobridge claimed his second individual pursuit title yesterday, setting the third fastest time ever for the 4km event. Bobridge posted a stunning 4:14.427 on his way to qualifying for the gold medal ride-off. The world record for the 16-lap event is held by Britain's Chris Boardman, 4:11.114.
Rugby Union: Mathew Tait was recalled by England yesterday as manager Martin Johnson looked to sharpen the team's attacking edge for Saturday's Six Nations opener against Wales at Twickenham. Tait was one of six changes made by 2003 World Cup winning captain Johnson to the team beaten 19-6 by New Zealand at Twickenham last time out in November.