Former Pakistani Test batsman MOHAMMAD YOUSAF on Monday "denied he was offered the post of head coach by Afghanistan Cricket Board (AFC)." The head coach position "has been vacant" after former Test captain INZAMAMUL HAQ joined the Pakistan Cricket Board as chief selector of the national team on April 18. Yousaf applied for the post "but did not receive any reply" (PAKISTAN TODAY, 5/9). ... British World No. 3 ANDY MURRAY split from coach AMELIE MAURESMO "after two years." Murray, 28, said he had "learnt a lot" from Mauresmo but they had "mutually agreed" to end their partnership. Mauresmo said, "Dedicating enough time along with the travel has been a challenge" (BBC, 5/9).
GIVING BACK: Leicester City striker JAMIE VARDY "officially launched his V9 Academy to unearth the next non-League star." Vardy will "provide mentoring at the Etihad Campus between May 14-19, 2017, with 42 players split into three teams over a five-day residential course, which will feature professional coaching." Each player "will be assessed technically, tactically, physically, mentally and given a portfolio to help with further progress, while a host of professional clubs will be present to scout those who could compete higher." Along with backers, Vardy himself will help finance the Academy, while his fiancee BECKY NICHOLSON, a co-founder, "is involved in the marketing and sponsorship" (London DAILY MAIL, 5/9).
ANOTHER TERM: World Sailing President CARLO CROCE confirmed "he intends to seek re-election in November for a second and final term as president." He said that better governance, Olympic and Paralympic Development, and the Sailing World Cup "would be his core priorities" if he served another term (SAILING WORLD, 5/7).
RANIERI RECOGNIZED: Leicester City Manager CLAUDIO RANIERI "has been voted coach of the season -- in Italy." Ranieri "picked up the Enzo Bearzot award after leading the 5,000/1 outsiders to the EPL title." Ranieri: "I still haven't realized what we've done. We started off trying to avoid relegation and you saw what happened" (BBC, 5/9).
NOTABLE DEATHS: Former England cricketer and Marylebone Cricket Club President JJ WARR has died aged 88. Warr, a Cambridge Blue from '49-52, "took 703 wickets for Middlesex in 260 first-class matches before his retirement" in '60 (PA, 5/9). ... Former A-League side Newcastle Jets player BERNARDO RIBEIRO "has died, aged 26, after falling ill during a match in Brazil." Brazilian Ribeiro "was playing for Friburguense in his homeland on Saturday when he took ill and had to be replaced." He "was taken to hospital but later suffered a suspected fatal heart attack." There "has been no official confirmation of his cause of death" (London GUARDIAN, 5/8). ... Cameroonian goalkeeper JEANINE CHRISTELLE DJOMNANG, 26, "passed away after collapsing during her warm-up before a Femina Stars Ebolowa match on Sunday." The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) "confirmed that she died after being rushed to a hospital in southern Cameroon." FECAFOOT said that initial reports suggested "she died of a heart attack but they are now waiting for the formal medical report." Djomnang's death occured less than 48 hours after fellow Cameroonian footballer PATRICK EKENG died (London DAILY MIRROR, 5/9).
