Thapa to go to Germany

KATHMANDU: All Nepal Football Association president Ganesh Thapa is leaving for Berlin on Monday. Thapa is a member of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee for the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006. The 20-member committee is headed by Marcel Mathier of Switzerland. This is the second consecutive World Cup that Thapa was nominated in the disciplinary committee. “It is an honour to have entrusted for the responsibility again,” Thapa said. Meanwhile, ANFA vice-president Lalit Krishna Shrestha, general secretary Narendra Shrestha and treasurer Birat Jung Shahi will on Tuesday leave for Munich to attend the FIFA congress.

Kezman injured

BELGRADE: Serbia-Montenegro striker Mateja Kezman was injured on Saturday during preparations for the World Cup. The Serbs’ main striker suffered a knee injury and will miss their last warmup match, team doctor Ilija Asanin said. “It is evident that Kezman will have to rest for a few days,” Asanin said. Kezman, who was Serbia-Montenegro’s top striker with five goals during World Cup qualifications, plays for Atletico Madrid after two seasons with Chelsea.

Farewell to Brazil

WEGGIS: About 7,000 fans gathered to bid farewell to Brazil’s stars on Saturday, with life in the small Swiss town that hosted the team’s preparation gradually getting back to normal. People dressed in yellow-and-green packed the 5,000-seat arena — and nearby hills — to watch Brazil’s last training session in the lakeside resort town of Weggis. Brazilian fans and local residents danced and chanted as the players practiced ahead of their warmup against New Zealand.