Briefs

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El-Gohari honoured

FORMER Egyptian football coach Mahmoud El-Gohari has been honoured by King Abdullah of Jordan for his "remarkable contributions and achievements with Jordanian football."

El-Gohari, who was coach of the Jordanian football team from 2002-2007, received the Al-Hussein merit of order during a ceremony at the royal palace which was attended by Queen Rania.

Under El-Gohari Jordan qualified for the first time for the Asian Cup in 2004. However, in June he unexpectedly resigned. No reason was given. The best FIFA ranking ever for Jordan was 37th, in August 2004.

El-Gohari started his playing career in 1954 at Ahli and quickly held down a first-team place at one of Egypt's leading clubs. But injury forced him to call time on his playing career and move on to coaching.

He is currently football technical manager at the Egyptian association.

He trained Egyptian clubs Ahli and Zamalek and Ittihad of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. He took Egypt to the World Cup in 1990 after a 56-year absence and with the Pharaohs also won the African Nations title in 1998 in Burkina Faso, thus becoming the only footballer in history to win the ANC crown title as a player and a coach. He also led Egypt to the gold medal in the 1992 Arab Nations Cup.

Drogba recovering

CHELSEA coach Avram Grant expects Didier Drogba to be back in action inside three weeks after a knee operation. The 29-year-old went under the knife on Saturday to cure the long-standing problem, and it was expected that it would keep him out until the New Year. However, "The operation went well. It looks like it will be three weeks or something like this," said Avram.

It means the Ivory Coast international should be fit to take part in the African Nations Cup in January. However, he missed game against Valencia in the Champions League, in which Chelsea have already qualified for the knockout stages, and also the crunch Premier League match against Arsenal on 16 December.

Drogba has scored nine goals in 15 appearances for Chelsea this season, despite the fact he "has not been 100 per cent in the last few games" according to Grant.

Andriy Shevchenko and Claudio Pizarro must now deputise, and the Blues boss admitted Drogba's absence would be a blow, saying: "I have confidence in these players but I would feel more confident if he (Drogba) would come back.

"We know his quality. I don't need to say it again. He is a very important striker for us. I would prefer him to be fit and play.

"But he is not here. That is a fact. We cannot fight it but we want him back as soon as possible." Drogba underwent the operation after breaking down last Friday.

Club doctor Bryan English said at the time: "Didier's knee locked on Friday afternoon and the decision was taken to have the operation immediately in the medical interests of the player.

"The procedure went well and he will begin his rehabilitation as soon as possible."

Murray the best

ANDY MURRAY was named the British male player of the year, while Anna Fitzpatrick is the female junior player of 2007. Murray won the men's category in the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) awards, voted for by members of the public. Katie O'Brien took the women's award after finishing the year as British number one.

Fitzpatrick became the first Briton for six years to reach the semi-finals of the girls' singles at Wimbledon.

The 18-year-old from Sheffield received more than 50 per cent of the online votes on the LTA website, with Laura Robson, Jessica Ren and Jennifer Ren her fellow nominees.

"It's really nice to win an award like this, especially as the public were able to vote for it on the LTA website," said Fitzpatrick.

"It's been a decent year for me, and reaching the Wimbledon junior semi-finals was a good result and a great experience."

Fitzpatrick, a member of the Monte Carlo Tennis Academy, is the British number eight and has spent the majority of the year breaking through on the ITF senior circuit.

The other awards went to Peter Norfolk (Disabled Player of the Year), Great Britain's Davis Cup team (Team of the Year), and Dan Cox (Male Junior Player of the Year).

LTA chief executive Roger Draper will present the awards at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton on 18 December.

Stay the course

LEWIS HAMILTON urged his McLaren team not be distracted by the ongoing spying row in Formula One. McLaren have to wait until February to hear if their 2008 car has been cleared as officials check whether it has elements based on leaked Ferrari data.

"The only concern I have is that the concentration and determination of the team is not affected -- and I know it won't be," said Hamilton. "I just hope the team keep in mind that we still are the best."

McLaren were fined £49.2m and lost their points in the Constructors' Championship in September after being found guilty of receiving information from a Ferrari spy. And they could be punished further if their new car is not cleared by governing body the FIA on 14 February, just over a month before the opening race of the season.

At that meeting of the FIA's world council, McLaren and their rivals will discuss the report from the FIA technical department.

But, "For me, from now until the first Grand Prix," Hamilton said, "I've got to be working 100 per cent, the same as the team."

"Formula One has been an amazing roller coaster and I am very happy and proud to have been part of it but in terms of all the politics, it has been frustrating in that sense. I am just a racer. I love to go to the tracks and drive. I don't like to get involved in all the politics but unfortunately you are dragged into it.

"That comes with the whole game and you just have to deal with it in the best way you can. Hopefully next year we will have a much smoother year and can have fun."

Hamilton finished runner-up to Joe Calzaghe for the 2007 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award after a stunning rookie season which saw him pipped by Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen to the drivers' championship.

But despite the accolades he has received this term, Hamilton insists he is still as determined to challenge again in 2008. "I need to continue working hard. I am still in the very early stages of my career and I feel very confident and optimistic," he said.

"I can't say I will win it next year but I believe I have the ability to win and I believe being in the right place at the right time and, with hard work and dedication, it is possible. "I hope I can give Britain some sporting success in 2008. I am very proud of my family and their background and where they come from and I am very proud of being British and the support I have had has been fantastic. I don't feel I let them down. It was my first year but I just hope they continue to support me and I hope I can deliver."