Deisler Returns to Club
Sebastian Deisler, one of Germany’s top young players, returned Monday to his club, Bayern Munich, after undergoing treatment for depression.
Deisler, 24, spent nine weeks in a psychiatric hospital. He was at the team’s training grounds working out on his own to regain his fitness. Team officials have not set a date for the midfielder’s return to practices or games.
“I have the desire for soccer 100% again,” said Deisler, who could be a key component for Germany at Euro 2004 this summer in Portugal. “It’s been a long time. I missed the game. I feel very good.”
Said Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld: “There will be no pressure. It’s very important that he’s back in his normal daily routine. We are going to take it slowly.”
Transfers
Ricardinho, who played for Brazil’s winning team at the 2002 World Cup, has transferred to Middlesbrough of the English Premier League.
The midfielder, who had been playing for Sao Paulo, joins countryman Juninho on the roster as the club hopes to improve on its 12th-place standing in the 20-team league.
Another transfer of note had Jermain Defoe, one of the top young players in English soccer, moving to Tottenham from West Ham.
Defoe, 21, scored 15 goals this season for first division West Ham. His transfer was worth $12.6 million.
African Nations Cup
Senegal, which reached the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, again struggled at the African Nations Cup, but it still did enough to advance to the quarterfinals.
A goal just before halftime off a free kick by Senegal’s Henri Camara earned a 1-1 tie against Mali in a Group B match at El Menzah, Tunisia.
Habib Beye lunged at the ball to put it past goalkeeper Mahamadou Sidibe.
Mali, which took the lead in the 33rd minute on a header by Dramane Traore, won the group with seven points and forced Senegal into a tough quarterfinal against host Tunisia. Mali will play Guinea in another quarterfinal.
In another Group B match, Kenya won for the first time ever in this tournament, a 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso at Bizerte, Tunisia. Dennis Oliech, who turned 19 on Monday, had a goal and two assists.
Best in Trouble
George Best, a former Manchester United and Los Angeles Aztec star, was banned from driving for 20 months after pleading guilty to drunk driving over the weekend in London.
Best, 57, is a confessed alcoholic and underwent liver transplant surgery in 2002 to repair damage caused by years of heavy drinking.
At the time, Best said he would never drink again. He broke that vow last year and his wife, Alex, left him.
Best’s lawyers said he was upset after having an argument with his son, Callum, at a restaurant.
They said he was driving himself to a rehabilitation center when he was stopped by police.
Quick Passes
The San Jose Earthquakes have re-signed midfielders Ronnie Ekelund and Brian Mullan.... AEK Athens of the Greek league has hired former Romanian international Ilie Dumitrescu as coach. Dumitrescu led his country to the quarterfinals at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.... Ally McLeod, who coached Scotland in the 1978 World Cup, died Sunday at 72. McLeod, who had Alzheimer’s disease for a number of years, died in his home at Ayrshire, Scotland, his family said.... Former Sunderland coach Bob Stokoe died Sunday, according to the team’s website. He was 73.
Times wire services contributed to this report.
