Turkish state news channel TRT Haber said on Wednesday that Galatasaray coach FATIH TERIM has been "offered a four-year deal" by the Turkish Football Federation to replace ABDULLAH AVCI as national team coach. TFF Chair YILDIRIM DEMIRONEN has "proposed a plan which will allow the 59-year-old Terim to combine his coaching commitments with Galatasaray with that of the national side for the rest of the season." After that, Terim would be "expected to take charge of the national team on a full time basis" (REUTERS, 8/21). ... Rugby Canada on Tuesday announced that former NHL Toronto Maple Leafs GM BRIAN BURKE is joining its board of directors, "giving the former NHL executive a chance to get involved in what he calls his 'second favorite sport.'" Prior to his tenure with the Leafs, Burke served as a GM with the NHL's Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks, winning a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in '07 (CBC, 8/20). ... The Japan Judo Federation has appointed SHOJI MUNEOKA as chairman after HARUKI UEMURA resigned "following a series of scandals." Muneoka was given the role Wednesday, "a week after Uemura stepped down to take responsibility for revelations in January" that he used violence against athletes at a training camp before the London 2012 Olympics (AP, 8/21). ... Former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff DAN HALUTZ was named chair of the Israel Basketball Association on Tuesday. The position has not been "filled since AVNER KOPEL resigned four months ago after the State Comptroller of Israel and the IBA's internal comptroller criticized his actions as chairman." Maccabi Tel Aviv Chair SHIMON MIZRAHI "took his place on an interim basis and is believed to also be behind the surprise appointment of Halutz" (JERUSALEM POST, 8/21). ... The WTA named MELISSA PINE WTA Championships tournament director. She will oversee the WTA's strategic planning and execution of the Championships in Singapore. Pine for the last two years has worked out of the WTA's London office, where she led all aspects of the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships-Istanbul, coupled with the planning and operations of the annual WTA Pre-Wimbledon Party (WTA). ... Thai Premier League side Chainat Manager SURACHAI JATURAPATTARAPONG has been appointed as head coach of the Thailand national football team "with his first mission being the Asian Cup qualifying match against Iran on Oct 15." Surachai will succeed German coach WINFRIED SCHÄFER (BANGKOK POST, 8/21).
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