Fr Watrin basketball

KATHMANDU: Godavari Alumni Association (GAA) is organising the fifht Fr Watrin Men’s Open Basketball Tournament here from Sunday. In all, 12 teams will vie for the championship played under league-cum-knockout basis. The participating teams are Public Youth, South Siders, GAA, Golden Gate, Himalayan White House, Kirtipur Team, EECC, Super Sonics, Times International, White Field, JCI Patan and KTM Dudes. Golden Gate will take on White House and EECC are up against Super Sonics in the opening day matches on Sunday. — HNS

Barca sign Guardiola

BARCELONA: Barcelona signed new coach Pep Guardiola to a two-year contract. Guardiola, who previously coached Barcelona’s reserve team, replaces departed coach Frank Rijkaard who is leaving after five seasons at the Camp Nou. Rijkaard led the Catalans to back-to-back Spanish league titles and the Champions League trophy in 2006. Though it was already known that Guardiola would replace the Dutchman, the former Barcelona player wanted to wait until his current coaching duties finished before being unveiled. Barcelona finished in third place in the Spanish league, 18 points behind champion Real Madrid. — AP

Ireland beat Colombia

LONDON: Robbie Keane scored three minutes after the opening kickoff and gave Ireland a 1-0 win over Colombia in a friendly international at Craven Cottage on Thursday. Keane scored his 33rd goal for Ireland after taking a cross from Liam Miller. His shot hit Elvis Gonzalez and deflected past goalkeeper Robinson Zapata, despite attempts by Colombia defender Cristian Zapata to clear it from the line. It was the first win for new Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni, who was forced to make a late change for the match after Damien Duff was sidelined with sinusitis. — AP