Keeper Awat expects his New Year Sporting chance

Dudu Awat is expected to join Sporting Gijon after agreeing a six-month loan deal.

The 31-year-old Israeli international goalkeeper will leave Deportivo La Coruna although his agent, Ronen Katzav, said there is also a chance that the former Maccabi Haifa player could sign for Real Mallorca or Espanyol. Awat joined Deportivo in the summer of 2006 and was considered one of the Spanish league’s top goalkeepers.

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Lions make their point

A goal from Lee Cash helped London Lions draw 1-1 at Baldock Town in the Herts Senior County League Premier Division on Tuesday night.

The result keeps the Lions six points clear at the top of the table although nearest rivals Codicote and Met Police (Bushey) have games in hand.

Lions boss Tony Gold said: “We started brightly but tired as the game wore on. Baldock worked hard but we didn’t got going. They hit the woodwork twice and in the end, it was a good point.”

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Black cats eye Grant

Sunderland’s largest shareholder, Ellis Short, wants to appoint a top foreign manager and Avram Grant is one of his preferred candidates.

But following the resignation of Roy Keane earlier this month, the US financier is in conflict with chairman Niall Quinn and his Drumaville Consortium who want to appoint a British manager.

If Short gets his way and Grant is appointed, then the Israeli could find himself once again backed by a foreign billionaire but unloved by the fans, media and with many enemies in the club’s hierarchy.

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Game over as Danes beat Israel

Israel will not host the Uefa Euro 2011 Under 21 Championships finals after being pipped to the post by Denmark.

Israel had been favourites to host the tournament as part of Uefa’s policy of supporting emerging footballing nations. However, with Europe still expected to be in recession in 2011, the effects of the credit crunch persuaded the executive to select Denmark, which has larger stadiums, and being in the heart of Europe, will attract more fans, maximising revenue from ticket sales and advertising.

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Zidane ref booked for Maccabiah

The Referee who sent off Zinedine Zidane at the 2006 World Cup final in Germany and Wayne Rooney at the 2004 Euro Championships, has been confirmed as a referee for next year’s 18th Maccabiah Games.

Argentinian Horacio Elizondo, 45, dismissed Zidane for headbutting Italy’s Marco Materazzi and Rooney for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho.

Confirmation of the appointment came following a meeting in Buenos Aires with Asaf Stolarz, Maccabiah Sports Department Director. Elizondo has agreed not to officiate at any matches involving Argentina.

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Sport in brief

Shaftesbury Barnet Harrier Richard Goodman, 15, won the combined Under 17 and Under 20 North Thames Cross Country Championships in Kingsbury.

Competing against runners-up to four years his senior, Goodman of Stanmore finished 55 seconds clear of the rest of the field. “Before the race, former world record holder Dave Bedford told me that I could be the next Dave Bedford, and that I had the perfect physique for cross-country and middle-distance. That encouragement inspired me to run what I think is one of my best races.”

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Points make prizes as Foreman record win 27

Unbeaten light-middleweight Yuri Foreman took another step towards a world title fight with a convincing points victory over James Moore at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.

New York-based Foreman, ranked eighth by the WBC, cruised to his 27th successive victory over WBC No. 10 Moore by scores of 99-90, 99-91 and 100-90 on the cards of the three
judges.

Putting his North American Boxing Federation belt on the line, Foreman, an aspiring rabbi, consistently beat Moore, who had a big Irish-American following, to the punch for one of the most impressive victories of his career.

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Lions on top

London Maccabi Lions Under 15 thumped Enfield Rangers 9-2 in the Watford Friendly League Blue Division courtesy of goals from Harry Davis (2), Charlie Cohen (2), Nick Landsberg, David Nezri, Charlie Rubin and Max Wegoda.

Lions remain top of the White Division after winning 5-0 at Whetstone Wanderers Jaguars with goals from Yoav Kestenbaum (2), Sam Lewis, Samuel Marchant and Joel Greyson.

Jordan Nathan and Aaron Spalter earned Lions Under 11s a 2-1 win over Acorn in the West Herts League.

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Israeli duo double up

Harel Levy and Noam Okun will focus on their doubles partnership when the 2009 season starts next month.

The Israelis, both aged 30, have been unable to rediscover the singles form which saw Levy ranked 30 in 2001 and Okun reach 95 in 2002. Levy currently 248, and Okun, 430, will jettison their singles careers in favour of doubles success as they look to emulate their compatriots Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich, who won the Australian Open doubles title earlier this year and have each amassed more than $1.5 million in prize money.

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