Sporting Digest: Football

MANCHESTER UNITED are to play the Konica League of Wales champions, Cwmbran Town, at Cwmbran Stadium on 16 August in a memorial match for the referee, Frank Martin, who committed suicide last year prior to facing FA charges of 'insulting and improper behaviour'.

NEIL McDONALD, the 27-year-old Oldham Athletic full-back who cost pounds 500,000 from Everton in October 1991, has been given a free transfer.

ASTON VILLA have agreed to extend Guy Whittingham's period on loan to Wolves by a second month.

TORQUAY UNITED have signed the 25-year-old Nigerian forward, Chima Okorie, after his release by Grimsby.

SOUTH AFRICA is to host the 1998 African Nations Cup finals. The Republic beat Burkina Faso 28-13 in a vote at the African football confederation's general assembly in Tunis yesterday.

ENGLAND UNDER-16 SQUAD (Tour to Oman, 30 March-1 April): R Moore, G McCann (both Everton), A Futcher (Wimbledon), D Hilton, P Teather, R Wallwork (all Manchester United), M Broomes (Blackburn Rovers), S Clemence (Tottenham Hotspur), L Crooks (Manchester City), A Ducros (Coventry City), J Carragher, J Cassidy (both Liverpool), L Darnbrough, L Richardson (both Oldham Athletic), P Bruce (Queen's Park Rangers), J Shore (Norwich City).

J LEAGUE: Kashima Antlers 3 Shimizu S-Pulse 2; Verdy Kawasaki 1 Yokohama Marinos 2; Yokohama Flugels 1 Nagoya Grampus Eight 0; Urawa Red Diamonds 0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1; Bellmare Hiratsuka 2 JEF United Ichihara 3; Jubilo Iwata 0 Gamba Osaka 2.

LIBERTADORES CUP First round (Group five): Bolivar (Bol) 4 Minerven (Ven) 0.

TUESDAY'S LATE RESULTS: Friendly match (Cordoba, Sp): Real Madrid 3 (Dubovsky 21, Ramis 57, Dani 58) Sheffield Wednesday 1 (Sheridan 30).