Former footballer and coach LUIS ALBERTO RUBIO has died of natural causes at age 84 in Bogotá, Colombia. Rubio, who played for Colombian side Santa Fe, played in 278 career games and later coached Santa Fe as well as Colombian clubs Millonarios and Once Caldas (AP, 8/7). ... ABDUL BASIT, 15, dreamt of becoming Pakistan's LIONEL MESSI, "but his ambitions died in a bomb attack that killed him and up to seven others at a four-a-side match" in Karachi, Pakistan. It was the latest assault on sport in a country that has hosted no top-level int'l matches "since militants attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in the eastern city of Lahore" in March '09 (AFP, 8/8). ... South Korean prosecutors on Thursday raided the office of Gwangju Mayor Kang Un-tae "as part of their investigation into a forgery scandal that has marred the country's first successful bid to host the 2019 world swimming championships" (YONHAP, 8/8). ... Former ManU and France striker LOUIS SAHA "has announced his retirement from football on his 35th birthday." He said on his official Twitter account, "Want to thank all managers, all staff, all team mates, all opponents, all fans, for all support and love towards me during my football career" (EUROSPORT, 8/8).
