Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane promised to put his "heart and soul" into managing the Spanish giants after he was sensationally named as coach following Rafael Benitez's unceremonious sacking.

The three-time world player of the year takes over at the globe's richest club despite a limited coaching CV which includes his stewardship of Real's feeder team, Castilla.

But Zidane, 43, said he would do his utmost to make sure Real, currently third in La Liga after an unhappy spell under Benitez, land silverware this year.

The International Handball Federation (IHF) has selected Ghana to organise a Level II handball coaching course for teachers in first and second cycle institutions.

The course, which starts from January 15-17, will be held in three different course centres across all 10 regions of the country.

The IHF has designated a course expert to handle the nine-day programme which climaxes on January 24 in Bolgatanga.

According to Nortey Dowuona, vice-chairman of the Handball Association of Ghana (HAG) and the Greater Accra Regional Handball chairman, the workshop is to upgrade the technical capabilities of physical instructors and teachers in schools.

Twenty-six Senior High Schools (SHS) begin their quest to win the nation's biggest basketball tournament when the Sprite Ball tips-off today at the El-Wak Stadium in Accra.

Real Madrid has sacked manager Rafael Benitez, and club legend Zinedine Zidane will assume the role, reports Spanish publication, Marca.

The team currently sits third in the La Liga table, four points adrift of leaders Atletico. They were held 2-2 on Sunday by Valencia at the Mestalla in Benitez's last match in charge of the side.

Twenty-six Senior High Schools (SHS) begin their quest to win the nation's biggest basketball tournament when the Sprite Ball tips off today at the El-Wak Stadium in Accra.

The draw for the two-day tournament which was conducted on TV3's "FastBreak" basketball show threw up some scintillating and familiar pairings that are expected to keep fans who throng the venue on the edge of their seats.

In Group A of the boys division, Volta Region champions, Mawuli SHS will square off against Koforidua Secondary Technical School, both schools met in Group B of the 2014 edition of Sprite Ball which was ultimately won by Keta Senior High School.

Ghana's former finance minister, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, has hailed the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for establishing an endowment fund to cater for former national team footballers.

Dr Duffuor praised the GFA last Wednesday when a high-powered delegation from the federation, led by President Kwesi Nyantakyi, paid a courtesy call on him to thank him for the support he had offered the federation over the past few years.

The GFA last month unveiled a plan to support retired national team players at all levels - both male and female - through the endowment fund which will be officially launched this year.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not be leaving Paris Saint-Germain in January, but his agent Mino Raiola insists the striker would be perfect for the Premier League.

Ibrahimovic, 34, has been linked with a move away due to the fact his contract expires at the end of the season. The Swede has attracted attention from MLS and Qatar, while it has also been reported that he could return to Serie A with AC Milan.

Yet, while Raiola made it clear his client was not leaving Ligue 1 just yet, the Premier League remains an option.

A body found in the Rhine river on New Year's Eve was identified last Saturday as that of former Cote d’Ivoire footballer Steve Gohouri.

Duesseldorf police spokesman Marcel Fiebig told The Associated Press there were no indications that a third party was involved in Gohouri's death. The body was found in the city of Krefeld, to the northwest of Duesseldorf. The 34-year-old Gohouri had been reported missing on December 12.

Gohouri, a defender who played for the Cote d’Ivoire between 2006 and 2009, scored two goals in 42 games for Borussia Moenchengladbach between 2007 and 2009, helping the side to Bundesliga promotion in 2008. He also played for Wigan in England and Young Boys in Switzerland.

Australian Nick Kyrgios warmed up for a meeting with Andy Murray by recording an opening-day win in the Hopman Cup.

Kyrgios, fined £16,200 for remarks about Stan Wawrinka's girlfriend in August, beat German Alexander Zverev in the mixed teams event in Perth.

The 20-year-old faces world number two Murray when Australia Green, one of two teams representing the host nation, play Great Britain on Wednesday.

Last Saturday's 2-1 win over Swansea could be a "fantastic starting point" for Manchester United to build on in 2016, according to manager, Louis van Gaal.

United had not won in their previous eight matches, their worst run since January 1990, prompting speculation over the Dutchman's future.

Last Saturday's Premier League win takes United to two points off the top four.

Lleyton Hewitt lost just weeks away from his retirement as Czech Republic beat the Australia Gold team at the Hopman Cup mixed teams event yesterday.

Jiri Vesely defeated Hewitt, who will retire after the Australian Open, 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-4 before Karolina Pliskova came from 3-1 down in the second set to beat Jarmila Wolfe Gajdosova 7-5, 6-3 at Perth, Western Australia.

Chelsea secured their first victory in Guus Hiddink's second spell as boss to move six points clear of relegation with a deserved win at Crystal Palace.

Oscar put the Blues ahead against the run of play, tapping home after being put through by Diego Costa.

Once they scored Chelsea dominated, deservedly doubling their advantage with a spectacular Willian strike.

Barcelona dropped points for the third time in four league games as they were held 0-0 by local rivals Espanyol in a heated Catalan derby last Saturday.

Atletico Madrid moved two points clear of Barca at the top of the table, having played a game more, thanks to substitute Thomas Partey's late winner to edge past Levante 1-0.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez hit the woodwork for Barcelona either side of half-time, but Espanyol's physical approach was rewarded with a first point against Barca in eight matches.

For the first time in the history of the Championship of African Nations (CHAN), the local Black Stars would conspicuously be missing in the 2016 edition to be hosted by Rwanda after a disappointing campaign saw a more prepared Ivorian side snatch the slot from the claws of Ghana.

Indeed, 2015 should be a year Coach Maxwell Konadu and his charges must quickly consign to history, having previously established themselves among the superpowers of the CHAN competition.

Ghana’s record in the competition remains enviable to many nations following their sterling performance that earned them silver in the maiden edition hosted by Cote d’Ivoire and bronze two years ago in South Africa.

The president of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi, has eulogised the outgoing General Secretary of the association, Emmanuel Gyimah, for his immense contribution to the success of the FA.

Gyimah is taking a bow after over two decades of service at the GFA.

At a colourful send-off ceremony in honour of the outgoing head of secretariat of the GFA, Nyantakyi lauded his key qualities as a successful football administrator.