SA appoint Parreira

JOHANNESBURG: World Cup hosts South Africa appointed Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira as coach for a second time on Friday, national football association president Kirsten Nematandani said. Parreira returns to a post he relinquished in April last year when his wife became seriously ill in Rio de Janeiro, and he was succeeded by compatriot Joel Santana. International novice Santana, 60, lost his first match in charge away to Nigeria, struggled to improve the team, and was fired after suffering eight losses in nine matches. Parreira, 66, guided Brazil to the 1994 World Cup title. — AFP

Atletico hire Flores

MADRID: Struggling Spanish league side Atletico Madrid on Friday named Enrico Sanchez Flores as their new coach, taking over from Abel Resino who was sacked earlier in the day. Former Spanish international “Quique” Flores, 44, has previously been in charge of Getafe and Valencia as well as Benfica where he coached for a season before leaving this year. Flores has signed a deal with Atletico which will see him through until the end of the season and will be officially unveiled on Monday. Resino, 49, had been at Atletico since February when he replaced Mexican Javier Aguirre. — AFP

Brazil to play Oman

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil will face Oman on November 17 in Muscat, three days after playing England

in another friendly in Qatar, local

media reported here on Friday. The game with Oman, ranked a lowly 79 in the world, will be Brazil’s last international of 2009, a year in which they qualified for the 2010 World Cup finals as the South American group champions and claimed the Confederations Cup. — AFP

Fowler, Owen on top

SCOTTSDALE: Rickie Fowler, in his second US PGA event since turning pro, shared the lead with Englishman Greg Owen halfway through the Frys.com Open. Both shot 6-under 64s in the second round in ideal conditions on the Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club to reach 11-under 129. Justin Leonard also shot a 64 and was one behind at 10 under. First-round leader Nick O’Hern (68) and Ryan Moore (65) were 9 under in the third stop of the U.S. PGA Tour’s Fall Series. Heath Slocum was in a group of five at 8 under. — AP