Sport Briefs

Ronaldo: Cristiano Ronaldo added his voice yesterday to the complaints about the wall of sound being made by the vuvuzela trumpets at the World Cup, protesting they disturb the players' concentration. "It is difficult for anyone on the pitch to concentrate," the Portugal winger told a press conference. "A lot of players don't like them, but they are going to have to get used to them."

Braga: Nigerian World Cup defender Uwa Echiejile has tied up a four-year deal with Portuguese league runners-up Sporting Braga, the club announced yesterday. The 22-year-old left-back, who formerly played for French club Rennes, signed the contract in South Africa where he was an unused substitute when the Nigerians lost 1-0 to Argentina in in their opening match on Saturday.

Waugh: Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh has put his support behind Australia's bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Football Federation Australia said yesterday. Waugh, 45, is in South Africa to cheer on the Socceroos while also supporting Australia's bid to host the 2022 World Cup. Australia will compete with Qatar, US, Japan and South Korea to host the 2022 edition with FIFA to make a decision on the hosts for both World Cups in December.

Serie B: Promotion play-off final - Brescia vs Torino 2-1 (Brescia promoted to Serie A after 2-1 aggregate win).

Prima Divisione: Promotion play-off finals - Varese vs Cremonese 2-0 (Varese win 2-1 on agg.); Pescara vs Verona 1-0 (Pescara win 3-2 on agg.).

Cycling: Spanish ace Alejandro Valverde has no chance of seeing a lengthy doping ban reduced by the International Cycling Union (UCI) if he admits to doping, cycling's world ruling body declared yesterday. Valverde was recently banned until the end of 2011 by the CAS following his role in the Operation Puerto scandal. He did not test positive but the CAS supported the UCI in its charge that DNA from a blood bag seized during the Puerto raid in 2006 belonged to Valverde.

Basketball: The Los Angeles Lakers are hopeful that Andrew Bynum's sore right knee can hold up enough for him to play substantial minutes in today's game five of the NBA finals. "I think we're still optimistic that he's going to give it a shot and see how he does," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

Baseball: Daniel Nava made a memorable Major League Baseball debut on Saturday, becoming just the second player to hit the first big league pitch he faced for a grand slam. The rookie's feat helped propel the Red Sox to a 10-2 rout of Philadelphia. Nava connected on a fastball from Joe Blanton in the second inning, shortly after he was called up from the Triple-A minor league team in Pawtucket.

Rugby Union: Ireland backrower Jamie Heaslip has been suspended for five weeks for kneeing All Blacks captain Richie McCaw in the head during Saturday's rugby Test. The suspension means Heaslip will miss the remainder of Ireland's tour, which includes a match against the New Zealand Maori next Friday and a Test against Australia on June 26.