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."

New Delhi - India's cricket tour to Pakistan was called off on Thursday in the wake of last month's terrorist attacks in Mumbai that have strained ties between the neighbours, officials said.

India's cricket squad led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni were to tour Pakistan in January and February next year but the Indian government refused permission to the team to travel to Pakistan.

The government's decision, based on "diplomatic reasons as well as security concerns" was conveyed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Shashank Manohar, officials in the External Affairs Ministry said.