Fuente : UEFA (English)
http://www.uefa.com/

Football Europe: Kalla makes Sivasspor switch

/noticias.info/ Former Cameroon defender Raymond Kalla has joined Turkish Superleague newcomers Sivasspor from VfL Bochum 1848 on a two-year contract. Sivasspor become the 30-year-old's fourth European club following spells at Greek side Panahaiki GC and CF Extremadura in Spain before joining Bochum in 2002. He was a regular at all three teams and, a veteran of three FIFA World Cups with 82 international caps, he will provide German coach Werner Lorant with a wealth of experience.

Elsewhere in Turkey, Trabzonspor's Guinean forward Ibrahima Yattara has signed a two-year extension to his contract which was due to expire in 2007. The 25-year-old, who joined the Turkish club from R. Antwerp FC in summer 2003, has scored 14 goals in 57 appearances and is enormously popular with supporters at the Black Sea club.

Sergei Balakhnin has taken charge of Russian side FC Rostov for a fourth time after Valeri Petrakov was dismissed after just three games in charge. Balakhnin had been succeeded by Gennadi Stepushkin before the start of the season. Ater a poor start, Stepushkin was briefly replaced by Englishman Paul Ashworth before returning to the hot seat, only to be dismissed after 16 matches of the campaign. Petrakov, who had surprisingly left wealthy FC Moskva, then took the helm but was dismissed after three defeats in three games.

Belarussian strugglers FC Slavia Mozyr have appointed Moldovan Ilie Carp as their new coach. The 45-year-old faces a tough task as Slavia are nine points adrift of safety in the relegation zone. However, he has taken a positive approach, saying: "I am an optimist and will do all I can. One doesn't fall before one is shot."

ACF Fiorentina have signed defender Marco Di Loreto and Brazilian midfielder Guilherme Do Prado on free transfers from AC Perugia. Di Loreto, 30, made 125 Serie A appearances for Perugia, now in Italy's second flight. Do Prado, 23, scored four goals in 17 Serie B matches with the Umbrian team last term.

RC Celta de Vigo have landed Brazilian midfielder Iriney Santos da Silva on a five-year deal from Rayo Vallecano, but are expected to loan the 24-year-old to a Segunda División side as they have already reached their quota of European Union players.

Defender Miso Brecko has joined 2. Bundesliga club FC Hansa Rostock on a one-season loan from UEFA Intertoto Cup finalists Hamburger SV. "Miso will get the match practice he needs in Rostock," said coach Thomas Doll. The Slovenian Under-21 international added: "I am sure this is the right step to take." Brecko joined Hamburg from NK Šmartno last year but failed to make an impact, playing only seven games for the club.

Midfielder Ivo Ulich is also leaving the Bundesliga on a 12-month loan, switching to J-League outfit Vissel Kobe from VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach. Kobe also have an option to make the deal permanent should the 30-year-old impress. "I have had four great years with Mönchengladbach but the offer from Kobe was too interesting to refuse," said Ulich.

Newly-promoted 1. FC Köln's defensive worries have deepened after Björn Schlicke joined Turkish international Alpay Özalan on the sidelines. The 24-year-old, the goalscorer in Köln's 1-0 win against 1. FSV Mainz 05 last Saturday, has torn a muscle in his right hip and will be out for four weeks. Summer signing Alpay is already absent for two weeks because of a foot injury.

Málaga CF have secured the services of Peruvian prospect Juan Diego Gonzales-Vigil Bentín for the next two seasons. The 20-year-old striker will start his spell in Spain with Málaga's reserves but will also be available to first-team coach Antonio Tapia. Juan Diego started out with local side Club Alianza de Lima and spent last term on loan at Deportivo Wanka and FC Lokomotiv Tbilisi.

Newcastle United FC's preparations for the new Premiership season have taken another knock with striker Michael Chopra damaging medial knee ligaments in a reserve match. The English Under-21 international will have a scan on Thursday to examine the extent of the problem. Newcastle, who were eliminated from the Intertoto Cup by RC Deportivo La Coruña last week, are already without the suspended Shola Ameobi for Sunday's opener against Arsenal FC.

Meanwhile, promoted Wigan Athletic FC have re-signed Arjan De Zeuw from Portsmouth FC. The 35-year-old central defender spent three seasons with Wigan before leaving for Portsmouth in 2002, and has now returned on an initial one-year contract with the option for a further season.

Dutch team RKC Waalwijk have signed veteran left-back Ramon van Haaren on a free transfer from Feyenoord. The 32-year-old made just 14 appearances after joining the Rotterdam club from Roda JC in 2001, spending last season on loan at city rivals Sparta Rotterdam.

Heart of Midlothian FC and Scotland midfielder Paul Hartley has penned a new three-year contract at Tynecastle. The 28-year-old was entering the final year of his deal and had reportedly been the subject of interest from Scottish Premier League rivals Celtic FC, but has now committed himself to Hearts until 2008. notas_de_prensa_archivo