No friendly: US football authorities said that America’s friendly match scheduled in Cairo for February 9 has been cancelled because of political unrest in Egypt. The match would have been the first ever in Egypt for a US side.
Uche: Real Zaragoza’s Nigerian international Ikechukwu Uche, who has undergone two operations on his right knee since 2009, has been given the green light by club doctors to play again. The 27-year-old striker picked up the injury on September 12, 2009.
Another Messi: Spanish second division side Girona said it had signed a cousin of Lionel Messi, Emmanuel Biancuchi, from Munich 1860. The 22-year-old midfielder had been at the German side since 2008. Like Messi, Biancuchi played for Newell’s in Argentina before moving to Europe.
Milan: Milan were left counting the cost of last night’s 0-0 draw with Lazio as two defenders ended up in hospital. Daniele Bonera was taken to hospital with a suspected head injury. Nicola Legrottaglie replaced him to make his debut for the club following his transfer deadline day move from Juventus. But he too was forced off after a gash was opened on his head following a challenge with Lazio’s Libor Kozak.
Miliband: Former Foreign Secretary David Miliband was named non-executive vice chairman of Premier League club Sunderland yesterday. Arsenal fan Miliband had talks over the role with Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn last month. Reports suggest he will be paid a 50,000-pound salary.
MFA Div. Three: Siġġiewi vs Gudja 1-4; Mdina vs Mtarfa 1-1.
Golf: The PGA Tour has announced a $150,000 donation on behalf of The Presidents Cup and international team captain Greg Norman to help victims of Australia’s devastating floods. Norman, who hails from flood-ravaged Queensland state, said: “I witnessed the floods of 1974, which at the time were devastating, but pale by comparison to the current tragedy in Queensland.”
Basket, NBA: LeBron James, who had led Cleveland to 40 victories by February 4 last season, helped Miami deal the Cavs their 40th defeat of the current NBA campaign on Monday. Dwyane Wade scored 26 of his 34 points in the first half and James finished with 24 points and eight assists as Miami trounced Cleveland 117-90. It was the Cavaliers’ 21st straight defeat – as many as they lost in the whole 2009-10 season when James was fashioning a Most Valuable Player season in Cleveland.
Formula One: Bruno Senna, who had an unimpressive first season in F1 with Hispania, will be a reserve driver for Lotus Renault GP this year. “It’s a great moment for me,” said the nephew of three-times Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna. “I’ve been trying to get into a good Formula One programme for a couple of years so it feels great to be joining such an established team.”
Winter Games: Russia plans to spend nearly $2bn to ensure security during the Winter Games in 2014 in Sochi located near its troubled North Caucasus region. The Games will be held at the Black Sea resort located close to violence-ridden region of North Caucasus where authorities are battling Islamist rebels. By comparison, $900 million was spent for security at the Vancouver 2010 Games, while at nearly $1.5 billion, the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens were among the most expensive summer games.