Football: Troussier finally takes over

PHILIPPE TROUSSIER finally took over as the coach of South Africa yesterday when the caretaker, Jomo Sono, resigned.

Sono was scheduled to step aside following the African Nations' Cup in Burkina Faso last month, but the unexpected success of South Africa in reaching the final made him reconsider. The team captain, Lucas Radebe of Leeds, led appeals for Sono to stay but he decided it would be unethical for South Africa to ditch Troussier.

The Frenchman was named national coach in January but his contract with the Nations' Cup hosts, Burkina Faso, who finished fourth in the tournament, prevented him moving to South Africa before March.