SPORTS DIGEST:FANS FROM Europe and the Americas have bought the bulk of tickets for the 2010 World Cup so far, with African countries trailing, the head of host South Africas organising committee said yesterday.
The month-long tournament will be hosted for the first time on the African continent and has been punted as a continental event.
Only five African countries, including hosts South Africa, are able to qualify. More Africans may purchase tickets if their countries qualify, said Danny Jordaan, chief executive of South Africas World Cup organising committee.
"We sold just over 800,000 (out of a total of 3.2 million), of which about 240,000 were sold inside South Africa, Jordaan told a media briefing in Cape Town, host venue for the final draw on December 4th.
"Very few of those tickets are on the African continent, the highest number is in Ghana, but most of the tickets have gone to Europe and the United States."
Tickets sales, accommodation and transport have emerged as areas of concern for Fifa, despite South Africa in June hosting a successful Confederations Cup tournament seen as a dry-run to next year's competition.
Heinze set to join Marseille
GABRIEL HEINZE is set to become French club Marseille's 10th signing of the summer.
Marseille said yesterday they had reached an "agreement in principle" with the defender and his club side Real Madrid over his transfer to the Stade Velodrome.
The 31-year-old former Manchester United player, who came on as a substitute at half-time for Madrid in the friendly against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght recently, is expected to sign a three-year deal.
On Tuesday, former Spain striker Fernando Morientes, who was a free agent after leaving Valencia at the end of last season, joined the Mediterranean side along with classy midfielder Fabrice Abriel, who moved from Lorientas as well as Stephane M’Bia.
United beaten in penalty shootout
MANCHESTER UNITED suffered a penalty shoot-out defeat (7-6) to hosts Bayern Munich after a goalless final of the Audi Cup in Munich last night. Bayern held their nerve in front of a sell-out crowd of 69,000 at their Allianz Arena after United strikers Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen missed great chances in the second half to win the match.
Bayern enjoyed the better of the first half, in which Mario Gomez and Dimitar Berbatov both hit the woodwork, but United then had the better opportunities after the interval.
Michael Rensing proved to be Bayern’s hero as he made saves from Patrice Evra and Jonny Evans in the shoot-out before Daniel van Buyten stroked in the winner.
Petrov may miss Premier opener
ASTON VILLA midfielder Stiliyan Petrov has undergone a scan on his dislocated shoulder to determine whether he will be fit for the start of the new season. But Villa manager Martin O’Neill conceded the Bulgaria international has to be “a doubt” for the opening Premier League game with Wigan on August 15th.
Petrov suffered the setback during the first half of the Peace Cup clash with Atlante in Spain on Wednesday night.
O’Neill will be desperate for the club’s player of the year to be fit, given the departure of Gareth Barry to Manchester City and his failure to bolster a small squad.
Toure wants to repay City with love
KOLO TOURE wants to repay Manchester City’s “love” by helping the club claim a place among the elite. The 28-year-old Ivorian defender claims he already feels at home after signing a four-year contract following his switch from Arsenal for a reported fee of around €17.5 million.
Toure said: “City showed they really wanted me. I always say when you love a woman and she gives back the love, you are really happy.
“That’s what Manchester City have done . . . given me the love. I am really delighted and I aim to give back the love as well.”
Meanwhile, manager Mark Hughes has explained the reason behind allowing Elano join Galatasaray for an undisclosed fee.
“It is a big year for him with the World Cup and he wants to stay in and around the Brazil squad,” said the City manager.
“The guarantee of playing week-in, week-out, wasn’t there and that was key to his decision to leave.
“It is a good deal for the club and a good deal for him.”
Elano joined City two seasons ago when Sven-Goran Eriksson was in charge but he struggled for consistency under Hughes.
