Ronaldo backs Kaka

Madrid: Real Madrid’s Brazilian midfielder Kaka, sidelined since the end of November with a hernia, is “indispensable” for the success of the Spanish giants, his teammate Cristiano Ronaldo said in an interview published on Wednesday. Real have won all four of their matches in Kaka’s absence, leading some in the Spanish media to suggest that Real play better without the 65-miilion-euro summer signing from AC Milan. “One can say whatever one wants, but for me Kaka is a phenomenon, I hope he will return quickly, he is indispensable for Real’s success,” Ronaldo told Spanish sports daily Marca. Kaka, the winner in 2007 of the Golden Ball, awarded to the European Footballer of the Year by France Football magazine, returned to training earlier this week. The 27-year-old could be called up to the squad to face Osasuna in the league on Sunday in Pamplona.

Susic named manager

SARAJEVO: Safet Susic was named on Tuesday as coach of the Bosnian national side replacing Miroslav Blazevic who resigned after they failed to make it through the 2012 World Cup play-offs. The 54-year-old Susic’s target will be to guide Bosnia to their first ever major finals, the Euro 2012 tournament. Susic, who has never coached at national level though he has had spells in charge of Turkish sides and French outfit Cannes, had a successful career as a player representing the then Yugoslavia over 50 times — appearing at two World Cup finals — and played mainly for Sarajevo and Paris Saint Germain. — AFP