Coming soon

FIFA's World Cup inspectors will visit Libya and Egypt this month to complete their assessment of the five African candidates seeking to host the 2010 finals. The five-man FIFA team, headed by Jan Peeters of Belgium, will visit Libya from 7-14 January and Egypt from 23-30 January. The three other candidates -- Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia -- were scrutinised last year.

The inspection team, which also includes representatives from Chile, Finland and France, has to produce a report on each of the countries seeking to host the World Cup in 2010, the first time the tournament will be staged in Africa. The reports must be finished by March and will be handed to the 24-man executive committee, which, by 15 May, will decide in Zurich on the 2010 host.

The inspectors check stadiums, training grounds, hospitals, hotels and other essential infrastructure as well as meet local political and sporting leaders.

Rivaldo Saudi move unlikely

THE AGENT of Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo has dismissed reports that the 31-year-old forward has joined Saudi Arabia club Al-Ittihad. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had reported that Rivaldo had signed a six-month contract, but his agent Carlos Arini denied reports of a move. He told the Estado news agency that Rivaldo wanted to stay in Brazil and was likely to sign for either Brazilian champions Cruzeiro or newly-promoted Botafogo in the next few days.

"The soap opera is close to a finish. But Rivaldo will be playing in Brazil at the start of 2004. He's not changing his plans because of more money," Arini said.

According to the AFC's website, Al-Ittihad president Mansour Al-Balawi announced the signing of Rivaldo, freed from his contract with European champions AC Milan last month, at a news conference on Saturday.

The AFC quoted Al-Balawi as saying Rivaldo, who helped Brazil win the World Cup for the fifth time in 2002, would arrive in Saudi Arabia on 12 January.

Arini said that Rivaldo, who has kept his place in the Brazil team, would most likely join Cruzeiro. "After a number of conversations with the directors of Cruzeiro and Botafogo, he's more likely to play in the (South American) Libertadores Cup for the team coached by Vanderlei Luxemburgo (Cruzeiro)," he said.

Cruzeiro have decided not to renew the contract of 36-year-old midfielder Zinho, who played in Brazil's 1994 World Cup team, and this decision is being interpreted as another indication they are close to signing Rivaldo.

Gullit set for Feyenoord

FORMER Dutch international Ruud Gullit will take over as head coach of Feyenoord from 1 July, the Rotterdam club has announced. The Dutch first division club, currently fourth in the league, also appointed Willem II Tilburg coach Mark Wotte as technical manager. Wotte will start his new assignment immediately.

Gullit, who captained The Netherlands to the European Championship title in 1988, still needs to get official approval from the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) to end his contract as coach of the national under-19 squad. But the former Newcastle United and Chelsea coach does not think the KNVB will stand in his way. "I always wanted to work as coach of Feyenoord," said the 41-year-old Gullit, who won his first title as a player with the team in 1984.

"The club still means something special for me. The KNVB knows that as well, so I don't expect that they will deprive me of that chance."

The former Chelsea and Newcastle United coach is expected to assist national coach Dick Advocaat during the European Championship finals in Portugal this year before he takes over his new charges at Feyenoord.

Feyenoord released technical director Rob Baan last week and also announced that coach Bert van Marwijk would leave the club after this season. Feyenoord are fourth in the Dutch league, nine points behind leaders Ajax Amsterdam.

McRae: It was like the WRC

COLIN MCRAE was in his element amongst the pine trees of northern Morocco on stage 4 of the Dakar. The former world rally champion set the 4th best time on a technical 75km test that reminded him of the old WRC.

The Scot was just 41 seconds behind stage winner and team-mate Ari Vatanen, elevating him to sixth position overall. For his first special stage on African soil, McRae was able to get the balance right. "I was not too lost on the special stage, which reminded me of some sections of the WRC," McRae said. "I am very satisfied with our time. The car behaved very well, even if we still have a few small things to improve. It's really great for Ari."

It was the second consecutive success for Nissan in the 26th Dakar. After Castellon, where Giniel de Villiers claimed his first Dakar stage win, it was the turn of Ari Vatanen, who claimed a highly symbolic victory, his 50th career stage win in the event.

Claiming his 50th special stage win on the Dakar, the Finn has entered the record books of this legendary rally. Jacky Ickx, in second place, has claimed 29 wins, a record that will not be broken in the near future.

At Sharm El-Sheikh, the end point of the 2003 Dakar, Ari was upset that he had not managed to claim his 50th win. Remaining on 49, he had promised to return the following year to claim it. Mission accomplished -- an exceptional record for an exceptional champion.

Kim defends Athens snub

WORLD No.2 tennis player Kim Clijsters has defended her decision to snub this year's Olympic Games, saying the sport does not deserve to be there. The 20-year-old announced last month that she would not represent Belgium in Athens in August after a wrangle over sponsored clothing. This week, she questioned the validity of the sport in the Games, underlining her decision to stay away. "Tennis does not feel like an Olympic sport," Clijsters said at the Hopman Cup in Perth. "I don't think they get the publicity or the crowds they get at Grand Slams. I mean, yeah, great, it is in the Olympics, but for me I don't think it feels like an Olympic sport."

Clijsters, whose Australian fiancé Lleyton Hewitt has also decided not to compete in Athens, came under fire last month for her decision to snub the Belgian team. But having spent the last couple of months in Australia with Hewitt, Clijsters said the criticism had gone over her head. "I don't think it reached this far," she smiled, "so I am glad I was here and missed that."

Clijsters said in December that she wanted to "remain fair" to her sponsors -- Italian clothing manufacturer Fila -- after they had shown faith in her two years ago. She had repeatedly said she will not wear tennis clothing from Belgium's Olympic sponsor Adidas.

"As long as my clothing remains an issue, it is impossible for me to go to the Olympics," Clijsters said last month. "I want to remain fair to the people I made a contract with. They were the only ones who wanted me two years ago."

The International Olympic Committee's Belgian president, Jacques Rogge, said he felt it was a decision Clijsters would come to regret. "I feel sad to hear that Clijsters will not be in Athens," he said, "but she is still young and I am sure that as time passes, she will reflect on that decision. "She will realise she missed a real opportunity to win a medal, but I respect her decision."

Clijsters wished her compatriot and world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne -- already sponsored by Adidas -- luck at the Olympics. "I really hope Justine takes the gold in Athens and hopefully the other Belgians take plenty of medals as well," she said. "I'll be their No.1 supporter."