Wdowczyk to lead Legia
Friday, November 19, 2004
Article summary
News round-up: Legia Warszawa have named former defender Dariusz Wdowczyk as their new coach.
Article body
Legia Warszawa
FC Groningen have signed forward Kiran Bechan from AFC Ajax on a contract until 2008. The 22-year-old was surplus to requirements in Amsterdam, and Groningen managing director Arie van Eijden said: "It looked like Bechan would not get many chances at Ajax and we are happy to give him this opportunity." Bechan, whose Ajax deal was due to expire in June 2005, played once for the capital club before spending the last two seasons on loan at Sparta Rotterdam.
English second division club West Ham United FC have signed Argentinian defender Mauricio Taricco from Premiership side Tottenham Hotspur FC on a free transfer. The 31-year-old has played in England since 1994 when he joined Ipswich from AA Argentinos Juniors, and moved to Tottenham for €2.5m in 1998. However, he missed the start of the season through injury and suspension and had not regained his place.
Belgian First Division team KAA Gent have sacked midfield player Mustapha Oussalah and striker Abdelmakek Cherrad for fighting during training on Wednesday. Cherrad, who signed this summer from OGC Nice, left training with a bleeding face after a first fight, but returned later with a baseball bat with which he attacked Oussalah, signed from R. Standard de Liège during last season. Both their contracts were due to run until the end of the 2004/05 campaign.
R. Charleroi SC's leading scorer Abdelmajid Oulmers is out for the rest of 2004 after suffering an injury on his international debut with Morocco. The 26-year-old midfielder came on as a substitute against Burkina Faso on Wednesday and scored in a 4-0 win before injuring his ankle in a challenge with another Belgian-based player, RSC Anderlecht defender Lamine Traoré. Examination in a Moroccan hospital confirmed ligament damage.
Elsewhere on the international scene, Arie Haan, who reached the final of the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups as a Netherlands player, has left his job as China coach following their elimination from the 2006 edition. A 7-0 win against Hong Kong on Wednesday was not enough to salvage their campaign as Kuwait defeated Malaysia 6-1 to top the 2006 qualifiers on goal difference. Haan, who will return to his home in Germany, said: "It is very sad for the development of Chinese football; on the other hand, I think it was even a good year."
