De Kock, Nortje
Sevilla sack Sampaoli
SEVILLE – Sevilla have dismissed Coach Jorge Sampaoli following Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Getafe which left them just two points clear of the bottom three in LaLiga with 12 games to play. Former Eibar and Alaves coach Jose Luis Mendilibar was hired as Sampaoli’s replacement later on Tuesday. The decision comes just two weeks after they were beaten 6-1 by Atletico Madrid and with a two-week window until their next league game, away at fellow strugglers Cadiz. Sampaoli, 63, is the second manager Sevilla have fired this season. He only replaced Julen Lopetegui in October, who was sacked following a disappointing start to the campaign. He has won 13 out of his 31 matches in charge this season, helping Sevilla reach the Europa League quarterfinals, where they will meet Manchester United, but their league form has hardly improved.
Davids expects fine
PIETERMARITZBURG - Maritzburg United Coach Fadlu Davids admits he will probably face a fine after suggesting that Referee Xola Sitela might be a Kaizer Chiefs fan after the Team of Choice’s 3-2 DStv Premiership defeat on Saturday night. Davids again stressed the need for the introduction video assistant referee (VAR) technology by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) as he questioned Sitela’s decisions in the match at Harry Gwala Stadium, especially the penalty from which Yusuf Maart scored the 76th-minute winner. Sitela awarded the spot-kick after Ashley du Preez went down under the challenge of Rafiq De Goede. TV replays suggested the United defender may have clipped at the Chiefs forward’s heels, but were also inconclusive.
picked
TEXAS – Two current Proteas players were picked up in the inaugural Major League Cricket draft on Sunday. Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock will play for the Seattle Orcas in the inaugural edition of America’s T20 franchise tournament, while the Washington Freedom have signed fast bowler Anrich Nortje. Former Proteas spinner Dane Piedt will also represent the Freedom, with ex-Proteas bowling all-rounder Rusty Theron snapped up by Team Texas. The six-team league will be played in a single round-robin format from July 13 to 30 with Grand Prairie, Texas, set to be the main venue for the tournament in the first year.