Turkey will test him

JAMES Troisi suspects if Tony Popovic can make it in Turkey, he can make it anywhere. And the Socceroos playmaker would know, having spent four years of his career in the country’s unforgiving top tier. If spells at Genclerberligi and Kayserispor taught Troisi anything about the fate of Western Sydney’s suddenly departed coach, it’s that Popovic’s transition from ALeague heavyweights to Super Lig battlers Karabukspor promises to be a baptism of fire. “I don’t know what his thoughts are, but I know Turkey ... and it is a very difficult, tough league,” Troisi said from Socceroos camp in Malacca yesterday. “If you can coach and play in Turkey, you can probably coach and play in most other countries in the world.”

Scott’s plea for Cup

ADAM Scott has urged tournament organisers in Australia not to miss an opportunity to land golf’s biggest stars when the 2019 Presidents Cup heads to Melbourne. The PGA Tour last week announced the 2019 biennial teams event at Royal Melbourne Golf Club will be held in December, bringing it in line with the Australian summer of golf events. Scott says targeting stars such as three-time major winner Jordan Spieth, who has played each Australian Open since winning in 2014, is a no-brainer. With last week’s Presidents Cup in New Jersey featuring 18 of the world’s top 30 across the US and Internationals teams, a starstudded lineup is sure to descend on the famed Royal Melbourne. “You can’t ask for a better opportunity than having a Presidents Cup come down under,” he said.

Hawks CEO sacked