Sydney, Dec 19 : Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie has been told that he cannot complete a two-week coaching stint with budding pacers because he plays in the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League.

Gillespie was invited by the Australian team's bowling coach Troy Cooley to work with young pacemen at the Centre of Excellence, but the move has been blocked by Cricket Australia, which sides with the influential Indian board in banishing so-called "rebel" ICL players from domestic and international cricket.

"I just found out that because of my involvement in the ICL that doesn't allow me to go and do any coaching there, which I think is quite unusual," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Gillespie, as saying.

Boston  - Evander Holyfield steps into the ring for one more time on Saturday when the 46-year-old former heavyweight world champion takes on giant Russian Nikolai Valuev in Zurich.

The American's attempt at gaining the WBA title has divided boxing fans with many thinking it is time for the veteran to hang up his gloves and spend time with his 11 children in his 17-bedroom mansion in Atlanta rather than risk injury against the 2.13-metre Valuev, who has lost just once in 50 bouts.

Washington  - US football fans, media and officials named US men's national team goalkeeper Tim Howard and US women's national team midfielder Carli Lloyd as the 2008 athletes of the year, according to a statement released Thursday.

The awards were the first ever for the two athletes, US Soccer said.

Howard is goalkeeper for English Premier League club Everton FC and the US national team.

Lloyd started all six games at the Beijing Olympics in August.

Yokohama, Japan - Wayne Rooney came off the bench to score twice as Manchester United beat Gamba Osaka 5-3 Thursday in a highly entertaining semi-final of the World Club Championship in Yokohama.

Headed efforts from Nemanja Vidic and Cristiano Ronaldo gave United a comfortable two-goal cushion at the break before Masato Yamazaki pulled one back for Osaka.

However, the two strikes from Rooney, with an effort from Darren Fletcher sandwiched in-between, countered by a late penalty from Yashuhito Endo and a strike in added time from Hideo Hashimoto, ensured a comfortable win for Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

Barcelona - Albert Costa was on Thursday named as the new captain of Spain's Davis Cup team, replacing Emilo Sanchez Vicario who resigned after leading his country to the 2008 title 3-1 over Argentina last month in Mar del Plata.

Costa was favourite to take over the post and receives a one-year contract. Spain begin the defence of their Davis Cup title next year March 6-8 against Serbia in Benidorm.

"For me the nomination is a recognition of my total career," said the 33-year-old, who was part of Spain's Davis Cup winning team in 2000 and is believed to have beaten off competition from former player Alex Corretja.

London - Former Brazil defender Cafu has agreed to play for non-league side Garforth Town in 2009, resports said on Thursday.

The 38-year-old left AC Milan in the summer and is currently without a club.

"He's likely to be coming in April and just playing a few games for us," Garforth owner Simon Clifford, who runs the Brazilian Soccer Schools coaching organisation, was quoted as saying by the Guardian daily.

"It's an absolute honour to have someone like him lining up in our shirt. I think he'll also add something on the field."