La Liga side Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday held its first practice at the team's new San Mames stadium, "the stadium that takes over from the legendary Cathedral." Before the practice, the team "posed for a photo for posterity." Former Bilbao player Julen Guerrero was present, and current striker Kike Sola said, "It is our first practice [here], with great excitement" (AS, 9/4). ... The South African Premier Soccer League on Wednesday named Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa as the "venue for the Sept. 28 MTN8" cup competition final, in an unusual move of announcing the venue before the semifinals have been completed (SAPA, 9/4). ... Scottish Premiership Celtic is "weighing up a shock plan to play next season's Champions League qualifiers" at Murrayfield, the "home of Scottish rugby." Celtic Park is to "host the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on July 23" and will be handed over to organizers starting in the middle of June. With Celtic "overwhelming favourites" to recapture its Scottish Premiership title, Celtic admitted on Monday that it "will be forced to find a temporary home" if it is crowned for a third successive year (London DAILY MAIL, 9/3).
