BRIEFS

Trophy tour

CAPE TOWN (AP):

The World Cup trophy went on display in Cape Town yesterday ahead of their countrywide tour of South Africa.

The solid-gold trophy was unveiled in the Khayelitsha township following an unexpected visit a day earlier to Johannesburg and South Africa's former President Nelson Mandela.

Football's biggest prize made a 80,000-mile journey across the world, where it visited 86 nations, before arriving in the 2010 host country earlier this week.

"When you come to the arrival of the trophy and the teams, then you know that the game is on," local organising committee chief executive Danny Jordaan said in Khayelitsha.

The World Cup will visit 38 towns and cities in South Africa ahead of the tournament's June 11 kick-off. Trophy tour organisers said the cup would travel between venues in a special helicopter.

Penalty fee

JOHANNESBURG (AP):

The Nigerian Football Federation will pay a 'penalty fee' for changing their World Cup hotel.

FIFA said in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday that Nigeria dumped the Hampshire Hotel north of Durban in favour of the Protea Hotel Waterfront in Richards Bay, further up South Africa's east coast.

"We can now confirm that Nigeria will stay at the Protea Hotel Waterfront in Richards Bay with the Umhlathuzi Sports Complex as a training venue," FIFA said in the brief statement. "Indeed, they will pay a penalty fee to the hotel for the change of contract."

FIFA did not say how much the fine would be, but reports in Nigeria say the government has agreed to pay $125,000 to cancel the contract.

Nigeria last week sent to Durban a delegation led by sports minister Ibrahim Isah Bio. It apparently complained the three-star Hampshire Hotel was noisy, mosquito-infested and unsafe.

Skrtel ready

BRATISLAVA (AP):

Slovakia's key defender Martin Skrtel has fully recovered from a broken foot and hopes to be ready for the World Cup.

The Liverpool centre back said in a statement on his website he "will be back to full training with my teammates on Wednesday."

Skrtel was carried from the field in the 3-1 Europa League win at Unirea Urziceni on February 25 and scans showed he broke a metatarsal bone in his right foot.

Skrtel said on Tuesday he hoped to be back in decent form for the tournament in South Africa, where Slovakia open on June 15 against New Zealand before facing Paraguay and defending champion Italy in Group F.

Slovakia won their European qualifying group to secure qualification for the World Cup for the first time.

Lippi happy

ROME (AP):

Coach Marcello Lippi is pleased that most analysts don't expect Italy to win the World Cup again.

Speaking at the start of a two-day training camp on Tuesday, Lippi said his team was 'lucky' that Brazil, England and Spain were being hailed as the pre-tournament favourites.

"Italy are never the favourites for the World Cup and that helps," Lippi said. "But look at our history. We've won four times and lost once to Brazil on penalties. If we had won that shoot-out, we would have five World Cups now and Brazil would have four."

Lippi also pointed to England's single title, and how Spain are yet to win.

"They say a lot of things in the rest of the world, but Italy has always been a protagonist at the World Cup and I'm extremely confident that this group is going to do great as well."

Lippi guided Italy to the title in Germany four years ago, then departed only to come back and replace Roberto Donadoni after the Azzurri lost to Spain in the quarter-finals of the 2008 European Championship.

Lippi has stuck with his core group from 2006, with the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluca Zambrotta and Gennaro Gattuso still on the team.

Kick-off concert

JOHANNESBURG (AP):

FIFA has included renowned South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela in its new line-up for the World Cup's Kick-off concert after initial plans were criticised for ignoring local artists.

FIFA and US-based concert producers Control Room said on Tuesday that Masekela, Freshlyground and the Soweto Gospel Choir would join international stars like Shakira and Black Eyed Peas in the June 10 event at Soweto's Orlando Stadium.

Masekela told The Associated Press he would also appear at the opening ceremony on June 11 at nearby Soccer City stadium, but said he regarded the Kick-off concert and the World Cup as 'a passing show.'

Masekela said he was more concerned with life in South Africa after the month-long football tournament.