Premier People
Arsenal have named Patrick Vieira as the club's vice-captain for the new season, increasing the likelihood that the French midfielder will remain at Highbury. Vieira was quoted by British newspapers over the summer as saying he wanted to leave the club and criticising their new signings.
But the 25-year-old has since returned to pre-season training and wore the captain's armband in a 4-2 friendly victory over Norwich City on Tuesday in the absence of club captain Tony Adams.'Patrick Vieira has been appointed club vice-captain for this season,' Arsenal said in a statement. Vieira, a World Cup and European championship winner with France, joined Arsenal from AC Milan five years ago. Media reports have linked him with moves to Spanish club Real Madrid and English champions Manchester United.
Real Madrid defender Michel Sal-gado believes Zinedine Zidane should adapt his game to suit the needs of the club rather than the other way round. Zidane, the French midfielder signed for a world record fee of US$66 million last month, will be joining a side that won the Spanish title last season and reached the Champions' League semi-finals.
'We're hoping he will adapt to us,' said Salgado, a Spanish international. 'If that happens, with the quality we already have, Real Madrid will improve. The new arrival is the one who has to adapt to the needs of the club because Zidane isn't the only player here. All the players here are incredible and this year we're just looking for the same consistency as last season.'
South African captain Lucas Radebe is set to make only his third appearance in more than a year for his country after being named in the squad for next week's friendly international against Sweden in Stockholm. Radebe, who has played in just two of South Africa's last 25 matches, had been absent due to injury and club commitments with Leeds United.
South African coach Carlos Queiroz also recalled midfielder Eric Tinkler, who plays for English club Barnsley, to his 19-man squad, after 12 months plagued with injury. In total, 17 foreign-based players were named as Queiroz gave his clearest indication yet of the players earmarked for South Africa's trips to both the World Cup and African Nations Cup finals next year.