RAFAEL NADAL will in the summer of '16 open an int'l tennis school in his hometown of Manacor, Mallorca that will "host 140 boys and girls every year with the purpose of educating them from the athletic and human points of view." Nadal on Monday placed the first stone at the site of the "Rafa Nadal Academy," which will include 17 tennis courts, a school and a residence for students (EFE, 11/24). ...Top 14 rugby side Stade Français announced Monday the contract signing of South African rugby player JONO ROSS for two and a half years (SPORT 24, 11/24). ... Swiss Super League side Basel announced the contract extensions of striker MARCO STRELLER and forward BREEL DONALD EMBOLO. Streller, the captain of the Swiss club, is now tied to Basel until ’16. Embolo was extended until Dec. ’17 (L’EQUIPE, 11/24). ... CRISTIAN MONTANO, the winger sacked by League One side Oldham "following allegations of spot-fixing, is to sue the club." Montano, 22, was dismissed last December "following a newspaper sting which saw him and five other players arrested." However, the U.K.'s National Crime Agency has "since released all six from bail -- although it says the investigation is ongoing" (BBC, 11/24). ... Former Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Wrexham Manager JOHN NEAL died at the age of 82. Neal, who served on Chelsea's board of directors, "played professionally for Hull City, Swindon Town, Aston Villa and Southend United" (BBC, 11/24). ... Chinese swimmer SUN YANG's national 1,500m freestyle title was "stripped as the star swimmer had failed a doping
test during the national championships this May, announced the Zhejiang
Swimming Association Monday." The multi-time Olympic and world champion "tested positive for stimulant
trimetazidine" on May 17 during the national swimming championships and "had been banned for three months" until Aug. 16 (XINHUA, 11/24). ... FIFPro and FIFA on Monday announced the five goalkeepers shortlisted for the FIFPro World X1 2014. The nominees are Bayern Munich's MANUEL NEUER of Germany; Barcelona's CLAUDIO BRAVO of Chile; Chelsea's THIBAUT COURTOIS of Belgium; Real Madrid's IKER CASILLAS of Spain; and Juventus keeper GIANLUIGI BUFFON of Italy (FIFA).
