Soccer Capsules: Cabanas conscious and could talk with police
MEXICO CITY — Paraguay striker Salvador Cabanas is conscious and could talk to police about being shot in the head while in the bathroom of a Mexico City bar.
Cabanas continued his strong recovery Monday, speaking to family members and taking food after doctors lowered his sedation level. A star of the Paraguay national team and Mexican side America, Cabanas watched his club earn a 1-0 victory over Indios on television Sunday.
Shortly after the shooting a week ago, surgeons attempted to remove the small-caliber bullet lodged in Cabanas' skull but decided surgery was too risky.
"He could give testimony if investigators come to speak with him, but he is not going to recall what happened," Dr. Ernesto Martinez told reporters at Angeles del Pedregal Hospital. "We're not going to interfere with the police."
Martinez said Cabanas recognizes his wife, his children and his parents, but he said the player is confused about why he is in the hospital.
"He's conscious and he recognizes family members, but he doesn't know what day it is, nor where he is," Martinez said. "He knows it's a hospital, but not which one nor why. ... Nor has he asked."
The main suspect in the case, Jose Jorge Balderas Garza, remains at large.
Surveillance cameras at the nightspot, Bar Bar, show Balderas Garza leaving the bathroom where Cabanas was shot in the head at point-blank range.
Widespread reports have suggested the shooting just before dawn followed an argument in which Balderas Garza told Cabanas he had not been scoring enough goals for America.
Balderas Garza has been described as a wealthy businessman from northern Mexico.
Cabanas has played in Mexico since 2003. He was expected to lead Paraguay at the World Cup in South Africa in June.
U.S. Soccer
Eddie Johnson scores 1st goal in Greece
ATHENS, Greece — American forward Eddie Johnson has scored his first goal in Greece for Aris — off a pass from teammate Freddy Adu.
Adu set up a long lob for Johnson, who dribbled past Xanthi goalkeeper Michael Gspurning to score one minute into overtime.
Xanthi won Sunday's game 2-1 despite a chance two minutes later by Adu, who shot wide off a pass in the penalty area. It was Johnson's second game with Aris, and Adu's first
The 25-year-old Johnson has been loaned to Aris through June from England's Fulham.
Johnson left Major League Soccer's Kansas City Wizards to sign with Fulham in January 2008, then was loaned to Cardiff City for the 2008-09 season.
U.S. to train in Pretoria at World Cup
CHICAGO — The United States will train for the World Cup in South Africa at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria, the same base it used during last year's successful run at the Confederations Cup.
The U.S. Soccer Federation made the announcement Monday after the governing body of Italian soccer announced the Azzurri will train at Southdowns College in Irene. The U.S. team will be staying nearby at the Irene Country Lodge and had also had considered Smithdowns College as its training site.
Steve Ralston signs with AC St. Louis
ST. LOUIS — Steve Ralston has signed with AC St. Louis of the new North American Soccer League after a 14-year career with Major League Soccer.
The 35-year-old St. Louis native signed Monday, becoming what the new league said was the first MLS player to join a non-MLS team. He will also serve as the club's assistant coach. Team spokesman Tony Hubert said Ralston was an unrestricted free agent after eight seasons with the New England Revolution. Ralston is first in MLS games played with 378.
Ralston went to Oakville High School and Forest Park Community College in St. Louis before going to Florida International University. The NASL was established in November with nine teams.
Jaime Moreno re-signs with DC United
WASHINGTON — Major League Soccer's career goal leader Jaime Moreno has re-signed with D.C. United.
Moreno broke the MLS goal mark in August 2007 and now has 131, along with 102 assists. He was the first player in league history with at least 100 goals and 100 assists.
Last season, the 36-year-old Bolivian had nine goals and three assists in 24 MLS games, including 11 starts.
Commentary
After deadly attack, injustice for African soccer
PARIS — Sports fans, grab a pen and paper or log into e-mail and send this message to the heartless bureaucrats who run African soccer: "Sirs, shame on you for totally mishandling the terrorist attack on Togo's team."
Their decision this weekend to ban Togo from the next two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, punishing the shell-shocked squad for pulling out of this year's competition, heaps injustice upon death.
It multiplies the suffering of Togolese soccer players still haunted by the machine-gunning of their bus on Jan. 8, as they were en route to their matches. The attack killed three people, wounded eight and rendered utterly meaningless and irrelevant everything that happened on the field in the tournament that ended this Sunday.
Nearly one month on, Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor says the memories give him nightmares every night. He found the perfect choice of words to condemn the banning of his team. "This decision is monstrous," he told French sports daily L'Equipe.
Like petty apparatchiks everywhere, the Confederation of African Football conjured up a rule to try to justify the unjustifiable.
Its statement said Togo was banned "in conformity with article 78" — as if that somehow makes it right.
It provided a Web link to the now infamous regulation. The rule says teams that withdraw at short notice from the biennial tournament can be suspended for two following editions and can also be fined.
It says nothing about the need for compassion and common sense.
Climbing on the highest but lamest horse it could find, CAF portrayed the punishment as an effort to preserve the independence of African soccer. It said the Togolese players themselves wanted to compete in the tournament despite the attack on their bus but that Togo's government forced them home. Such political interference in soccer matters breaks CAF rules, it argued.
Talk about picking the wrong moment to take a stand. Trying to prevent politicians from meddling in sports might be commendable — in other situations. Not this time. Not when people have been killed. Not when Abebayor notes that Togo assistant coach Abalo Amelete was being buried on the same day that CAF's executive committee made its decision.
"As we speak, his loved ones are at the cemetery," Adebayor said. "Can you imagine their reaction when they find out?"
No surprise then that the Manchester City forward reserves his bitterest words for CAF president Issa Hayatou. From the moment the gunmen opened fire on Togo's bus to now, the organization that Hayatou leads has acted poorly.
"He must clear off," Adebayor was quoted as saying. "The only thing Mr. Hayatou and his friends know how to do is to award the organization of the Africa Cup to countries that give them the most money."
Making this worse is that CAF, in its statement, recognized that Togo's dazed and confused players were in two minds about whether they should compete in the tournament following the attack by suspected separatists in the oil-producing Cabinda region of Angola, which hosted this cup.
Some players initially said that they no longer wanted to take the field. Who can blame them? Others later said that they wanted to play to honor the dead and wounded.
Togo President Faure Gnassingbe apparently tipped the balance by calling Adebayor and urging the team to come back.
"We have to mourn our dead. We go back home to do this," Adebayor said as he boarded the presidential plane sent by Togo's government.
Could the players have refused? Should they have played even while their goalkeeper Kodjovi "Dodji" Obilale lay with bullet fragments in his stomach in a South African hospital? Should Adebayor simply have ignored the "deep despair" he said he felt after the Togo team's media officer, Stanislas Ocloo, died in his arms and focused instead on the business — so inconsequential in comparison to life and death — of scoring goals?
Only a bully would punish Togo for not having done so. Instead of doing a service to African soccer, barring the players from the Africa Cup for the next four years seems mean, cold and grossly unfair.
John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jleicester@ap.org.
African Cup
Togo to fight suspension over Africa Cup pullout
LOME, Togo — Togo plans to fight its suspension from the next two editions of the African Cup of Nations after its national football team withdrew from last month's tournament following a deadly attack on its bus.
Government spokesman Pascal Bodjona described the Confederation of African Football ruling as "insulting" late Sunday, adding that "Togo will use all available legal means to fight the decision." He did not specify what steps Togolese officials would take.
Togo pulled out of the African Cup after its team bus was attacked by gunmen in Angola and an assistant coach and spokesman were killed on Jan. 8, two days before the start of the tournament. A separatist group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Togo team officials had at the time asked CAF to allow the players to return home for three days of mourning before entering the tournament at a later date. The request was denied.
CAF announced the ban Saturday, leading Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor to call for CAF president Issa Hayatou to quit.
"Mr. Hayatou has done much for Africa but now he must clear off. This decision is monstrous," Adebayor said. "They're laughing in everybody's face. (Togo President Faure Gnassingbe) sent us to the (African Cup) to defend the colors of our nation. He judged that the threat to our team had not been removed and called us back to the country. We are only ambassadors. We had to go back."
However, Bodjona said Sunday that it was the players who had asked to return to Togo.
"It was a case of an armed attack and our players requested to be sent home," he said. "The Togo government therefore obliged."
Hans Mastro, a sports journalist on Togo national radio and TV, said the ban was an inexplicable further assault on the team.
"The CAF decision is like opening fire on an ambulance," Mastro said. "First they hang a sword on Togo like an albatross, now they decapitate or behead our football with a four-year ban."
Egypt beat Ghana 1-0 in the African Cup final on Sunday.
-- Ebow Godwin
League News
Stoke and Sunderland draw 0-0 in Premier League
LONDON — Stoke drew 0-0 at Sunderland on Monday for a result that left the teams side by side mid-table in the Premier League.
Stoke had two good chances at the start of the second half but Mamady Sidibe missed from a chipped free kick by Glenn Whelan and former Sunderland midfielder Dean Whitehead had a firm shot deflected over the bar by John Mensah.
Sunderland substitute Fraizer Campbell could then have won it for the home side with his first touch but missed Boudewijn Zenden's cross in front of goal and the ball was cleared following a scramble.
Stoke stayed 12th in the Premier League with 26 points, two more than 13th-place Sunderland.
Chelsea leads with 54 points following its 2-1 weekend win over Burnley, while defending champion Manchester United is in second place after Sunday's 3-1 win at title challenger Arsenal.
Elsewhere
Loans dominate business on final day of window
LONDON — European soccer's winter transfer window appeared to close Monday, with none of the big-money moves that have dominated recent seasons.
The Premier League's usually high-spending clubs mostly were involved with loan transfers as the window closed in England. Fulham one of the most active, acquiring AS Roma forward Stefano Okaka and Aston Villa defender Nicky Shorey until the end of the season.
The west London club, controlled by Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, also signed teenage midfielder Christopher Buchtmann from Liverpool and let Senegal forward Diomansy Kamara leave on loan for Scottish's Glasgow Celtic.
Celtic took Bayern Munich defender Edson Braafheid for the rest of the season and also sealed a deal to take Ireland captain Robbie Keane from Tottenham on loan until the end of the season.
Keane rejoined Spurs from Liverpool a year ago but failed to recapture the form that previously made him a fan favorite. He has nine goals in 25 appearances this season.
Auditing firm KPMG said the drop in the Premier League's January transfer expenditure from 190.5 million pounds ($303.9 million) in the 2008-09 season to about 41.5 million pounds ($66.2 million) showed the financial problems facing the clubs.
"Whilst the UK has just recently exited recession, it appears that football may just be entering it," said Geoff Mesher, head of KPMG's forensic sports industry team. "Financial uncertainty still exists for a number of English football clubs and many football club chairmen will look at the current plight of Portsmouth."
The highest-profile permanent transfer in England — and arguably Europe — was South African forward Benni McCarthy's switch from Blackburn to West Ham.
"Although I could have gone to other clubs, this was the only one I wanted," McCarthy said. "They wanted me before. It didn't happen but now the opportunity arises again and this time I am going to prove myself."
Mido's agent said the Egyptian forward joined McCarthy in east London on loan until the end of the season.
Manchester City spent a little its huge wealth buying winger Adam Johnson from Middlesbrough on a 4½-year contract. Johnson will wear the No. 11 shirt vacated by Robinho when the Brazil forward went on loan to Brazil's Santos last week.
Wigan signed Victor Moses from Crystal Palace on a 3½-year contract for an undisclosed transfer fee after the England under-19 forward scored six goals in his last nine matches in the second-tier League Championship.
Elsewhere, Ivory Coast striker Arouna Kone joined struggling German club Hannover on loan from Sevilla, Turkish side Ankaragucu signed Cameroon midfielder Geremi from Newcastle, and Greek club Larissa took Gabon forward Daniel Cousin on loan from Hull. Inter Milan appeared set to loan Brazilian midfielder Amantino Mancini to rival AC Milan, with the option of a permanent move at the end of the season.
-- Stuart Condie
Capello alone to make decision on Terry's future
LONDON — England coach Fabio Capello alone will decide on whether John Terry keeps his job as captain of the national team.
The Football Association said Monday that Capello had spoken with the body's chairman and chief executive and been given free reign to decide whether to stick with Terry in the wake of allegations about his private life.
"Fabio is fully up to speed with developments regarding John Terry," the FA said in a statement. "He spoke with our chairman Lord (David) Triesman and chief executive Ian Watmore today, who both backed him to make the best decision for England on footballing grounds.
"Fabio is dealing with the matter in his own way using his extensive experience as a football manager."
Terry's future has been under scrutiny since last week when allegations surfaced of an affair between the married Chelsea defender and the partner of England teammate Wayne Bridge.
The allegations may be about to get even more lurid after publicist Max Clifford said the woman at the center of the furor was considering speaking publicly.
Clifford is now representing Bridge's ex-partner. He said the woman, Vanessa Perroncel, had been offered 250,000 pounds ($398,400) by a media outlet for exclusive rights to her story.
Clifford did not say who had offered the money.
"The 250,000-pound offer is just the latest bid," Clifford told Sky News. "I am in negotiations on her behalf.
"It's a story that everyone's talking about and it's a story that obviously all the papers and the television networks are very, very keen to get to the bottom of and find out what the truth is."
But Capello's decision is most likely to hinge on whether Terry's England teammates are happy for him to continue as the team's leader, particularly since Bridge could still make the World Cup squad.
Capello, an Italian, is known as a strict disciplinarian.
Bridge has been backup to Ashley Cole at left back for the past few seasons, but British media reported over the weekend that he may retire from international football because of the situation.
Bridge released a statement saying his only concern is for the welfare of the child he had with his ex-partner, but several of his Manchester City teammates offered support Sunday when they wore T-shirts under their team shirts bearing the phrase "Team Bridge."
Capello is likely to be questioned on the subject at Sunday's draw in Warsaw for the 2012 European Championship.
-- Stuart Condie
Inter loans Amantino Mancini to AC Milan
MILAN — Inter Milan loaned Brazilian midfielder Amantino Mancini to rival AC Milan on the final day of the transfer window.
Milan said on its Web site Monday that the deal gives it the option to acquire Mancini's full rights at the end of the season.
After moving from AS Roma in 2008, Mancini played in only seven games with Inter this season between Serie A and the Champions League.
Inter then acquired Mariga Wanyama from Parma, signing the Kenyan midfielder to a contract through June 2014.
Genoa loaned defender Giuseppe Biava to Lazio, giving the Roman club the right to acquire his full rights at the end of the season.
In a goalkeeper swap, Rubinho joined Livorno and Francesco Benussi went to Palermo.
Kaka's brother, defender Rodrigo Digao, was loaned by Milan to Serie B side Crotone, the ANSA news agency reported.
The Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Fiorentina midfielder Martin Jorgensen flew home to Denmark to rejoin Aarhus, the club he left in 1997 to begin his career in Italy with Udinese.
On Sunday, Antonio Cassano announced that he had rejected a loan offer from Fiorentina and will remain at Sampdoria — prompting the Tuscan club to sign Brazilian forward Keirrison de Souza Carneiro, who had been on loan with Benfica from Barcelona.
The biggest move of the transfer period turned out to be one of the first: Luca Toni's loan from Bayern Munich to AS Roma, which was first announced in late December. Toni scored two goals in his third game for Roma, but is now out for a month with a knee injury.
In a prearranged deal, David Beckham was again loaned to AC Milan from the Los Angeles Galaxy.
West Ham signs Benni McCarthy from Blackburn
LONDON — West Ham signed South Africa striker Benni McCarthy from Premier League rival Blackburn on Monday as part of a drive to boost its forward line.
The Hammers paid an undisclosed fee for McCarthy, who is keen for regular football in an effort to win a place in his country's squad for this year's World Cup.
McCarthy signed a 2½-year contract, while Mido's agent said the Egyptian striker has joined McCarthy in east London on loan until the end of the season.
McCarthy, who struggled to win a regular first-team place at Blackburn since Sam Allardyce became manager in December 2009, said he almost joined West Ham five years ago when he was at Portuguese club FC Porto.
"I had a disappointing experience when I thought I was going to be a West Ham player until Porto pulled out and I had to go back," McCarthy said. "I would have loved this to be my first Premier League club.
"I went to Blackburn instead but West Ham kept on pursuing me and eventually I am here."
McCarthy is South Africa's record scorer with 32 goals in 77 matches.
He scored 37 goals in 109 Premier League matches for Blackburn.
West Ham failed with moves for Ruud van Nistelrooy and Eidur Gudjohnsen over the past week, but Sky Sports News said Monday the club was also close to signing Brazil forward Ilan from French club Saint-Etienne.
Robinho presented as a Santos player
SAO PAULO — Robinho was presented as a Santos player Monday, stepping out of a helicopter with Pele to be greeted by thousands of fans.
Robinho's arrival followed an announcement last week by Manchester City that it was sending the 26-year-old Brazilian on a six-month loan deal to Santos, where he made his breakthrough and where he hopes to revive his form after being used sparingly in England.
Robinho has been a regular for the Brazil national team, but he's worried his lack of playing time may jeopardize his chances of making the team for the World Cup later this year in South Africa.
"I'm very happy all of you are here," Robinho said after landing with Pele in the center of the pitch at Vila Belmiro stadium. "I have a great love for Santos. I'll try in every match to make you happy with a Santos victory."
Pele, who also gained fame at Santos, cheered Robinho's arrival.
"Robinho's experience will be a key thing," Pele said. "A player like Robinho will be a great example for the younger players at Santos."
Robinho moved from Real Madrid to Manchester City in 2008 for a British-record fee of 32.5 million pounds, becoming the first signing following Sheikh Mansour's takeover of the club.
He scored 12 goals in his first 19 games but he had scored only once this season, at Scunthorpe in an FA Cup victory.
Robinho, who will wear No. 7 at Santos, acknowledged he returned to secure his World Cup spot.
"One of my objectives is to go to the World Cup and play well," the forward said. "Playing well at Santos will prepare me for the national team and having a good World Cup."
Robinho is scheduled to return to Man City on Aug. 4. Until then, the Premier League club has said that Santos "will assume all of the player's contract terms, including wages and bonuses."
Benitez denies reaching agreement to join Juventus
LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has denied having agreed to join Juventus next season.
Several British and Italian newspapers reported over the weekend that Juventus was set to hire Benitez, with Liverpool happy to let him go following poor showings this season in the Premier League and Champions League.
Alberto Zaccheroni is in charge of the Juventus team but is only contracted until the end of the season after replacing the fired Ciro Ferrara last week.
Benitez says he has "no agreement with Juventus and have not and will not be meeting Juventus or their representatives or any other club."
Celtic in talks to sign Keane on loan from Spurs
GLASGOW, Scotland — Celtic is negotiating to sign Ireland striker Robbie Keane on loan from Tottenham until the end of the season.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp says Keane wants to join the club he supported as a boy in an effort to play regular football.
Redknapp says "he's not a happy man when he's not playing regularly and I've not been able to guarantee him a place."
Keane has started 15 Premier League matches this season but some of those have been in midfield.
Redknapp has preferred to partner Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch in attack, and also has Roman Pavlyuchenko and loan-signing Eidur Gudjohnsen available up front.
Manchester City signs Adam Johnson from Boro
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City has signed former England under-21 winger Adam Johnson from Middlesbrough on a 4 1/2-year contract.
Johnson has joined for an undisclosed fee and will wear the No. 11 shirt vacated by Robinho when the Brazil forward went on loan to Santos last week.
The 22-year-old Johnson stayed at Middlesbrough following its relegation at the end of last season but had still been linked with several Premier League clubs.
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini says "he is a very good player with fantastic potential."
Johnson is City's second signing of the winter transfer window after France midfielder Patrick Vieira joined from Inter Milan.
West Ham signs Brazilian striker Ilan
LONDON — West Ham has signed Brazilian striker Ilan from French side Saint-Etienne on a six-month contract.
The 29-year-old Ilan has a proven scoring record in France, netting over 50 goals in spells with Sochaux and Saint-Etienne. He played three times for Brazil at the 2003 Confederations Cup.
West Ham announced the signing on its Web site, and Ilan said that he is "very happy to have signed and to play here".
Three years ago, Ilan scored the goal of the season in France with a superb bicycle kick while playing against Paris Saint-Germain.
Fulham takes Okaka on loan from AS Roma
LONDON — Fulham took Italy under-21 striker Stefano Okaka on loan from AS Roma on Monday until the end of the season.
Okaka played against Fulham in the Europa League this season and left Serie A after scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Siena on Sunday.
The 20-year-old Okaka has already played on loan for Modena and Brescia.
Fulham has scored 26 goals in 23 Premier League games this season.
The London club also signed left back Nicky Shorey on loan from Aston Villa on Monday for the same period, with the two-time England international having struggled to win a regular first-team place at Villa Park.
Middlesbrough signs strikers McDonald and Miller
MIDDLESBROUGH, England — Middlesbrough has signed Australia striker Scott McDonald from Celtic and Scotland international Lee Miller from Aberdeen.
Boro manager Gordon Strachan turned to his native Scotland in an effort to boost his team's efforts to gain promotion back to England's Premier League.
McDonald scored 50 goals in 88 games for Celtic and was leading scorer for the club this season.
The club did not give details of the transfers.
Wigan signs Bolivia striker Marcelo Moreno on loan
WIGAN, England — Wigan has signed Bolivia striker Marcelo Moreno on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk until the end of the season.
The Premier League club says the move will be completed provided Moreno gets a work permit to play in Britain.
Moreno has already played on loan at German club Werder Bremen this season.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez says "Shakhtar paid €9 million for him 18 months ago, which shows you how highly he is regarded."
Moreno has scored seven goals in 17 matches for Bolivia, traditionally one of the weakest football sides in South America.
Wigan signs Victor Moses from Crystal Palace
WIGAN, England — Wigan has completed the signing of England under-19 forward Victor Moses from Crystal Palace on a 3½-year contract.
Moses was linked with several clubs after scoring six goals in his last nine matches in the second-tier League Championship and signed for an undisclosed transfer fee after passing a medical examination.
Palace was under pressure to sell the 19-year-old Moses to raise funds. The club was deducted 10 points last week after its deteriorating finances broke League Championship rules.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez says Moses "can make a terrific impact at Wigan Athletic over the coming months and years."
Braafheid goes on loan to Celtic from Bayern
MUNICH — Bayern Munich has sent Netherlands defender Edson Braafheid on loan to Celtic of Scotland for the rest of the season.
The 26-year-old Braafheid arrived at Bayern from FC Twente in the offseason but struggled to establish himself in the team.
Captain Mark van Bommel said Monday that Braafheid "had bad luck" at Bayern and "wasn't able to show what he can do."
Braafheid was the fifth player to leave Bayern during the January transfer window.
Italy striker Luca Toni was loaned to AS Roma and midfielder Alexander Baumjohann went to Schalke, while Brazilian defender Breno and defensive midfielder Andreas Ottl were sent on loan to Nuremberg.
Celtic signs Diomansy Kamara on loan from Fulham
GLASGOW, Scotland — Celtic has signed Diomansy Kamara on loan from Fulham until the end of the season.
Celtic moved to boost its attack after falling 10 points behind fierce rival Rangers in the Scottish Premier League.
The Senegal international has already played for Celtic manager Tony Mowbray, at English club West Bromwich Albion during the 2006-07 season.
Kamara says he is "very much looking forward to joining up with the manager."
Celtic has also signed 18-year-old forward Paul Slane from Motherwell on a four-year contract.
German newspaper Sport Bild reported Monday that Bayern Munich defender Edson Braafheid was also joining Celtic for the rest of the season.
Defenders Zabavnik, Fathi join Mainz
MAINZ, Germany — Bundesliga club Mainz has signed Slovakia defender Radoslav Zabavnik from Russian club Terek Grozny and brought in German defender Malik Fathi on loan from Spartak Moscow.
Mainz said Monday that it will give the 29-year-old Zabavnik a contract until the end of the season, with an option to extend it through June 2012.
Zabavnik, whose previous clubs include Sparta Prague and CSKA Sofia, was out of contract at Grozny following the end of the Russian season. He has played 41 games for Slovakia.
The 26-year-old Fathi, who has played twice for Germany, is returning home on loan for the rest of this season. He previously played in the Bundesliga for Hertha Berlin.
Kone, Elson join struggling Hannover on loan
HANNOVER, Germany — Struggling Hannover is bringing in Ivory Coast striker Arouna Kone and Brazilian midfielder Elson on loan in an effort to bolster its fight against relegation from the Bundesliga.
Hannover said Monday that the 26-year-old Kone is joining from Sevilla until the end of the season. He will join fellow Ivorians Didier Ya Konan and Constant Djakpa at the club.
The 28-year-old Elson arrives from Stuttgart, also until the end of the season. Coach Mirko Slomka said that Elson "will help us with our creativity and passing accuracy."
Hannover is in the relegation zone after a poor run that resulted in coach Andreas Bergmann being dismissed and replaced by Slomka. The club is 16th in the 18-team top division, with 17 points from 20 games.
Schalke signs Hao, Gavranovic
GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany — Schalke has completed the signings of China winger Hao Junmin and Switzerland under-21 striker Mario Gavranovic.
Schalke said Monday that the 22-year-old Hao is joining the Bundesliga club from Tianjin Teda on a 1 1/2-year contract with immediate effect. Hao has scored five goals in 26 games for China.
Schalke also said 20-year-old striker Gavranovic is joining Felix Magath's team from Neuchatel Xamax of Switzerland on a 3 1/2-year contract.
Lille striker Vittek joins Ankaragucu on loan
LILLE, France — Lille striker Robert Vittek has joined Turkish side Ankaragucu on loan until the end of the season.
The French club reported the move on its Web site.
The 27-year-old Slovakia striker scored five goals in 22 games in all competitions for Lille this season.
Ankaragucu's former France coach Roger Lemerre has already signed Cameroon midfielder Geremi from Newcastle and winger Jerome Rothen after an unhappy spell at Scottish side Rangers.
Ankaragucu is 13th in Turkey's top flight and has not scored in its last three games.
Bastia signs Mahoto from cash-strapped Portsmouth
BASTIA, France — French second-division side Bastia has signed defensive midfielder Gauthier Mahoto from cash-strapped Portsmouth.
Bastia said on its Web site Monday that the 17-year-old Mahoto has joined on a 2½-year contract. No financial details were given.
Mahoto was a highly rated prospect when Portsmouth signed him from Le Havre two years ago. He came through the same Clairefontaine academy that produced stars like Barcelona striker Thierry Henry, Chelsea forward Nicolas Anelka and Arsenal defender William Gallas.
Portsmouth recently had a transfer embargo lifted, allowing it to sign players on loan. The ban was imposed because Portsmouth owed clubs money from previous transfers.
NZ's McGlinchey to join Motherwell
SYDNEY, Australia — New Zealand midfielder Michael McGlinchey will play for Scottish Premier League side Motherwell on a three-month loan, his Australian A-League football club Central Coast said Tuesday.
Scottish-born McGlinchey, 22, returns to the Scottish league after previously playing for Celtic.
He was a member of the New Zealand team which beat Bahrain 1-0 in September to qualify for this year's World Cup and will be part of the All Whites squad in South Africa.
McGlinchey will fly to Scotland in the next few days and could make his debut for Motherwell against Rangers next week. His release was made possible by the fact that Central Coast no longer have a chance of qualifying for the A-League playoffs.
"Michael has a great chance to represent his country at the World Cup and this gives him a chance to be playing regular football until May," Central Coast executive chairman Lyall Gorman said.
"We wish Michael all the best for the time he spends in Scotland, before welcoming him back to the Mariners after the World Cup."
Le Mans signs striker Olivier Thomert
LE MANS, France — Le Mans has signed striker Olivier Thomert from first division rival Rennes on a short-term deal as it bids to avoid relegation.
Le Mans said on its Web site that The 29-year-old Thomert rescinded the remaining five months of his Rennes contract and has joined Le Mans until the end of the season.
Thomert, who can play either through the middle or on either wing, started only one league game for Rennes this season.
Le Mans is in 18th place and four points away from safety. The club desperately needs another striker to support Anthony Le Tallec and Thorstein Helstad in attack.
Lorient signs defender Gregory Bourillon
LORIENT, France — Lorient has signed defender Gregory Bourillon from first division rival Paris Saint-Germain.
Lorient said on its Web site that the 25-year-old Bourillon has joined Lorient on a 4½-year contract. No financial details were given.
Bourillon moved to PSG from Rennes three years ago, but has started only six league games over the last two seasons.
Lorient is in eighth place in the French league, while struggling PSG is 14th.
Palermo signs Czech defender Celustka
PRAGUE — Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Celustka is moving to Palermo in Italy's Serie A.
Slavia said Monday the 20-year-old was moving to Palermo on loan until the end of the season and the Italian side will then have an option to sign him on a permanent deal.
Slavia director general Petr Dolezal said Palermo's final offer was "very good" but financial details were not given. Czech media reported Slavia received 13 million koruna ($707,500) and would get another 60 million koruna ($3.2 million) if Palermo signs Celustka after the loan expires.
Markevych to become Ukraine national team coach
KIEV, Ukraine — Myron Markevych is set to take over as coach of Ukraine's national team.
The former Metalist Kharkiv manager will replace Oleksiy Mikhailichenko, who narrowly missed leading Ukraine to the World Cup later this year after the team was beaten 1-0 by Greece in a playoff.
Mikhailichenko's contract ran out in December and was not renewed.
Markevych, who turned 59 Monday, currently coaches Metalist Kharkiv, which is third in the Ukrainian league.
Brazil's Denilson signs for Greek club
ATHENS, Greece — Greek club Kavala says it has signed Brazilian forward Denilson on an 18-month contract.
Officials at the newly promoted club on Monday gave no other details of the transfer, but said the agreement was signed late Friday.
The 32-year-old Denilson was part of the winning Brazil team at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
Kavala — coached by Dutch veteran Aad de Mos — is currently in 10th place on 24 points in the 16-team Greek first division. Panathinaikos leads with 49 points.
Italy gets familiar training site for World Cup
ROME — Defending champion Italy will train for the World Cup in South Africa at the same site it used for last year's Confederations Cup.
The governing body of Italian soccer announced Monday that FIFA has confirmed it can train at Southdowns College in Irene, between Johannesburg and Pretoria. Italy's hotel is the Leriba Lodge, near Southdowns.
The United States, based at the Irene Country Lodge, also had requested to train at Southdowns.
Valladolid fires Mendilibar after poor run
VALLADOLID, Spain — Valladolid has fired coach Jose Luis Mendilibar after the team picked up just three victories in its last 31 games.
Valladolid is 17th in the Spanish league standings — one point above the drop zone — following Sunday's 1-1 draw against Almeria, a result that led to Mendilibar's dismissal, according to a statement on the team's Web site Monday.
Reserve-team coach Onesimo Sanchez Gonzalez replaces Mendilibar.
The 48-year-old Mendilibar arrived at Valladolid in 2006 when it was in the second division, and led the club into the top flight in his first season in charge.
Porto fails bid to sign Kleber
LISBON, Portugal — FC Porto says it has failed in its attempt to sign Kleber from Brazilian side Cruzeiro.
The defending Portuguese champion said in a statement Monday that it failed to agree on terms with the 26-year-old striker.
The stumbling blocks were the length of the contract and the player's wages, the statement said without elaborating.
It said the transfer deal with Cruzeiro, announced last Friday, is null and void.
Porto had agreed to pay €5.5 million ($7.8 million) and transfer Argentine striker Ernesto Farias to Cruzeiro as part of the deal.
Kleber, whose full name is Kleber Giocomazzi de Sousa Freitas, has previously played for Dynamo Kiev and Sao Paulo.
Defender Rajnoch moves to Turkey's Ankaragucu
PRAGUE — Czech international Jan Rajnoch has completed a transfer from Czech club Mlada Boleslav to Turkish side Ankaragucu.
Rajnoch's agent Pavel Zika said Monday the 28-year-old defender signed a 3½-year contract. Details were not given.
Rajnoch, who spent the previous season on loan at Energie Cottbus in Germany, has played four matches for the Czech national team.
