Sporting Digest: Football

Hidetoshi Nakata, the Japan midfielder, has been named Asian Player of the Year. Nakata, who plays for the Italian club Perugia, scored 10 Serie A goals this season.

Middlesbrough are to play five away friendlies in preparation for the new season. The games will be against Hartlepool Utd and Whitby Town on 17 July, Hibernian on 24 July, Dundee United on 26 July and Huddersfield Town on 31 July.

TRANSFERS: Sagi Burton (centre-half) Crystal Palace to Colchester Utd (nominal fee); Joe Keith (full-back) West Ham to Colchester Utd (free).

CZECH CUP Final: Slavia Prague 1 (Horvath 97) Slovan Liberec 0.

ESTONIAN CUP Final: FC Levadia 3 (O'Konnel-Bronin 19, Krolov 75, Gussev 51) Tulevik Viljandi 2 (Ustritski 15, Allas 68).