Belgium golfer NICOLAS COLSAERTS has insisted that "the make-up of golf courses in the U.S. were more crucial to his decision than finance after becoming the latest European player to confirm he will join the PGA Tour next year." Colsaerts said, "The thing that attracts me the most is the courses. I think they probably fit my game a little better week in, week out than the ones we play in Europe" (London GUARDIAN, 11/19). ... Former Ukrainian striker ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO "has turned down an offer to take over as manager of the national team." Shevchenko said, "I consider that taking over the national squad will be a bit too hasty a move for me" (AFP, 11/19). ... There is a "big chance" that RIO FERDINAND will leave ManU in the summer when his current contract ends. The defender "has told his friends he has no intention of retiring and is weighing up his future" at ManU. One choice "could be a lucrative deal to play in China, though nothing is being ruled in or out" (London GUARDIAN, 11/18). ... Tennis' world No. 1 NOVAK DJOKOVIC "played a charity football match" alongside three-time French Open champion GUSTAVO KUERTEN in Rio de Janeiro before a Brazilian league fixture on the weekend. The charity game was organized by fellow Serbian DEJAN PETKOVIC. Djokovic also played alongside former Brazil players ZICO and BEBETO (London DAILY MAIL, 11/19). ... Five goalkeepers have been shortlisted for FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2012. They are Real Madrid's IKER CASILLAS, Juventus' GIANLUIGI BUFFON, Chelsea's PETR CECH, Manchester City's JOE HART and Bayern Munich's MANUEL NEUER (FIFA).
IN ASIA: Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan Manager JAIME PACHECO left Beijing Sunday morning for Portugal, after "having been released" by the club. More than 1,000 fans saw him off at the capital's airport, "some of them showing up five hours before" his flight (WILD EAST FOOTBALL, 11/19). ... Chinese national football team player ZHENG ZHI has been nominated for the 2012 Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year award. He is "competing for the top individual award" of Asian football against four other candidates: the '04 recipient ALI KARIMI, South Korean LEE KEUN-HO, Australian LUCAS NEILL and Iranian MOHSEN BENGAR (XINHUA, 11/18). ... One of South Korea's "most popular contemporary writers, LEE OI-SOO, has been named an honorary ambassador for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics (KOREA TIMES, 11/19).
