Maria Sharapova has played only four Fed Cup ties, but her presence on the court could make all the difference as Russia take on holders the Czech Republic in the 2015 final at the weekend.

The 28-year-old world No 4 will likely face sixth-ranked Petra Kvitova and ninth-ranked Lucie Safarova, the left-handed duo who have led the Czechs to three Fed Cup titles from the last four editions.

"It's a great way to finish off the year playing with two of the best players," said Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam winner, who was sidelined with leg and arm problems from July to October.

The second round of the African qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup will serve many ‘David and Goliath’ affairs as the continent's supposed minnows have set up dates with the perceived big boys or giants.

Already, the qualifiers have claimed 13 teams who failed to make it past the first round, and the second round has also left others strategising on how to survive in this campaign.

In biblical times, little David conquered giant Goliath, but in football terms, that is usually not the case and most of the 'Davids' are already having the shivers as they come up against the Goliaths.

The 2015 National Goalball competition,  reserved for the visually impaired, came to a thrilling climax last Sunday at the Sekondi College in Takoradi with Volta Region emerging  the overall champions.

The three-day event, saw competitors from  all the 10 regions in Ghana competing for honours.

Volta Region that produced players who looked more composed and disciplined throughout the tournament emerged national champions` after finishing first and third in the male and female categories respectively.

Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) has pledged to work closely with the family of the late football icon, Nana Gyamfi Kumi to ensure his life is well celebrated during his funeral next month.

The Managing Director of GCGL, Mr Kenneth Ashigbey, gave the assurance when a high-powered delegation of traditional leaders and family members of the former Black Stars player and coach visited GCGL to formally inform the management about the funeral arrangements for the football legend, known in private life as Charles Kumi Gyamfi, who died two months ago at the age of 85.

The delegation was led by Osabarima Enyine Asiedu Akoo Ababio III, Benkumhene of the Akuapem Traditional Area and Lartehene, and included family members of the late coach. Other members of the delegation included Okyeame Ayesu Pentenprem, John Kumi, Kofi Asiedu and Francis Quartey-Gyamfi, a son of the late coach.

Liberia's Musa Bility has been ruled out as a candidate for the Fifa presidency following integrity checks.

Football's world governing body has approved five of the presidential candidates, with suspended Uefa boss Michel Platini also not included.

The Frenchman could be added should his ban end before February's election.

Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Jerome Champagne, Gianni Infantino, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa and Tokyo Sexwale have been approved.

After winning silver last Saturday in the Las Vegas International Taekwondo Championship, US-based Ghanaian taekwondo athlete, David Koney Adjetey, is confident of qualifying for next year’s Olympic Games, scheduled for Rio.

Emmanuel "Game Boy" Tagoe will mount the ring once again on Friday, November 20, 2015, for a mandatory defence of his World Boxing Authority (WBA) Inter-Continental title against Allan Kamote of Tanzania at the Sports Hall of Accra Sports Stadium.

Embattled FIFA president Sepp Blatter is recovering in hospital from "a body breakdown," his adviser has told CNN.

Blatter, 79 -- provisionally suspended from his post for 90 days last month amid the corruption scandal that has engulfed world soccer's governing body -- is expected to be released either Monday or sooner.

His adviser and friend Klaus Stoehlker, who spoke with him Wednesday, said Blatter was in a "good mental and physical state" despite his hospitalization in Switzerland, but did not reveal the name of the hospital in question.

Ethiopia has barred Eritrean footballers from playing in East Africa's premier football tournament this month because of political tensions between the neighbouring nations that fought a bloody war from 1998-2000.

Venus Williams' victory in the Zhuhai Masters in China over the weekend sees her climb from 11th to seventh in the latest WTA standings dominated by her sister Serena.

Black Stars Management Committee chairman, George Afriyie, came to the rescue of the Stars yesterday when he commandeered groundsmen from Liberty Professionals to the Accra stadium to avert a potential training boycott by the players.

Andy Murray gained some consolation for his straight sets defeat to Novak Djokovic in the Paris Masters final last Sunday by regaining the world No 2 spot.

The Scot was edged for second place by Roger Federer last week, but his run into the Paris final, coupled with Federer's early loss to John Isner, reversed the positions.

The Ghana Triathlon Federation (GTF) is set to launch the second edition of the Kempinski Race Series at the University of Ghana, Legon on Sunday.

The event, sponsored by Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City and considered as one of the fastest growing sports in the world, brings together some of the biggest names in the hospitality business worldwide.

Pressure on Franz Beckenbauer to explain payments and provide answers over a 2006 World Cup scandal grew yesterday, a day after the president of Germany's FA (DFB) resigned despite insisting he had done nothing wrong.

Wolfgang Niersbach, who was a vice president of Germany's World Cup organisers, said he was taking political responsibility for a controversial 6.7 million euro ($7.22 million) payment to FIFA allegedly used to bribe officials of the world football's governing body to vote for Germany's World Cup hosting bid.

A board member of Special Olympics, Nana Wereko-Ampim Opoku, last Sunday inaugurated a  third division football club at Jachie in the Bosomtwe district of Ashanti  with an assurance of offering meaningful  support to players and technical men of the club  in diverse ways.