Bolton try to get back on track after Muamba drama
CRICKET
MCA ‘F’ Division Avi Trophy (30-over tournament)
At MCA: HSBC ‘B’ vs Pizza Hut, Eagle Logistics vs Emerchemie
At Thurstan ground: SLT ‘A’ vs Hotel Galadari, MAS Active ‘B’ vs Unilever At St. John’s Panadura: Ceylinco Insurance vs Virtusa, Dialog ‘B’ vs U-15 Invitational tournament at DS Senanayake Indoor Stadium TENNIS:
ATP and WTA at Miami Masters (ends April 1) GOLF: Oneasia at Indonesian Open EPGA at Trophee Hassan, Morocco USPGA at Orlando, Florida USLPGA at Kia Classic, Carlsbad, California (end) CRICKET: New Zealand v South Africa at Wellington, 3rd Test (ends March 27) RUGBY UNION: Super 15 -- week 5 (ends); World Sevens Series in Hong Kong (ends) CYCLING:
Tour of Catalonia, Spain (ends)
INTERNATIONAL
BOLTON, United Kingdom, March 24, 2012 (AFP) - Bolton Wanderers face local rivals Blackburn Rovers on Saturday in their first match since Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest, with Owen Coyle claiming all his squad want to play.
Bolton's FA Cup quarter-final at Tottenham was abandoned last Saturday after midfielder Muamba, 23, collapsed on the pitch.
Doctors have revealed the former Arsenal player was “in effect dead” for 78 minutes after the incident at White Hart Lane.
Although Muamba remains in intensive care in hospital in London, his condition has improved steadily throughout the week.
Bolton's Premier League match at Aston Villa, scheduled for Tuesday, was quickly postponed but as Muamba started to show positive signs, the club decided the Rovers fixture at the Reebok Stadium should go ahead.
The Trotters dropped into the relegation zone following QPR'S 3-2 victory over Liverpool in midweek and they also face a re-arranged FA Cup quarter-final at Tottenham on Tuesday.
Bolton manager Coyle acknowledged his players must have been affected by the events of the past week but insisted his team must battle hard going into this crucial relegation match to honour Muamba.
“I spoke to the group on Wednesday because what we have to understand is that we all have different personalities and different natures,” he said.
“Some people are affected in different ways than others.
“I told them that, with regards to Saturday's game, if there was anyone who wasn't up to going out and playing 90 minutes on a football pitch, they wouldn't play. I wouldn't ask anyone to play in these circumstances if they weren't in a position to do so.
“It will be a difficult game of football because all of our thoughts will remain with Fabrice.