Former football players ZINEDINE ZIDANE and RONALDO led "a star-studded team in a friendly match on Monday aimed at raising money to help Ebola-hit Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone." The 12th annual "Match Against Poverty," organized by the United Nations Development Programme, was "contested in France" between Ligue 1 side St. Étienne and a team of past and present int'l players. Zidane and Ronaldo were joined by Ivorian Chelsea striker DIDIER DROGBA, retired Dutch midfielder CLARENCE SEEDORF and ex-Brazilian captain CAFU (REUTERS, 4/19). ... Brazilian sports commentator ANTÔNIO VIEIRA passed away on Monday. Vieira was an employee for radio station AM 740 Salvador “for more than 20 years.” Vieira “passed away in his sleep” (BAHIA NOTÍCIAS, 4/20). ... Promising Bengal cricketer ANKIT KESHRI on Monday “passed away owing to an injury sustained during a Cricket Association of Bengal's senior one-day knock-out match” on April 17. Keshri was in hospital for the past three days and was “showing signs of recovery” until Sunday. Bengal A coach Jaideep Mukherjee said, "Fielding at sweeper cover, Keshri rushed to take the high catch as left-arm pacer Sourav Mondal too ran on his follow through. It was as freak an accident as possible" (PTI, 4/20). Indian cricketers SACHIN TENDULKAR and ANIL KUMBLE "condoled the death of former captain" Keshri. Tendulkar wrote on his Twitter page, "Saddened by the demise of Ankit Keshri. A promising career aborted by an unfortunate incident on field. May God give strength to Ankit's family and friends to cope with this loss #RIP." Kumble also "tweeted his grief at the death," saying, "Sad news of a young promising cricketer Ankit losing his life on field of play. May God give strength to loved ones to bear this loss!" (IANS, 4/20).
PERSONAL PRICE: Actor
RUSSELL CROWE may have dragged the South Sydney Rabbitohs "from the depths of oblivion" to a National Rugby League Premiership, but the club's ascension "has come at a personal price." In an interview on America's CBS
Sunday Morning, he said that "the effort he put into restoring the club's fortunes was done at the expense of his relationship with wife
DANIELLE SPENCER. Crowe: "It's not a bad business decision at all. But it's taken a lot of work, and it's probably cost me a marriage. ... It took a lot of work, man, you know? It took a lot of work, and I already had an extremely busy schedule" (
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 4/20).
STAYING AWAKE: Ferrari is holding off signing a new contract with driver KIMI RAIKKONEN and said that "the reason is to ensure the Finnish driver stays motivated this season." His deal "runs out this year" and Ferrari has an option to retain the 35-year-old alongside SEBASTIAN VETTEL in '16. Team boss MAURIZIO ARRIVABENE said, "He has demonstrated he's a great driver so if you're asking now if he deserves to renew the option, I'm going to say yes. But if I'm going to say yes, I don't want a driver to fall asleep" (BBC, 4/20).
