t of a World Cup race in Edmonton. She finally race

PARIS - Bordeaux coach Willy Sagnol has apologized for making disparaging comments about African players in football, although he still maintains they were misinterpreted against a backlash of widespread criticism.Sagnol, capped 58 times by France and a member of the team which lost the 2006 World Cup final, gave a question and answer session Tuesday to readers of Sud Ouest regional newspaper when the subject of African players was raised.The advantage of what I would call the typical African player is that he isnt expensive when you sign him, (he is) a player who is ready for combat, but football isnt just about that, Sagnol said.Explaining himself, he continued: Football is also (about) technique, intelligence. You need a bit of everything. You need Nordics too, Nordics are good.Speaking Thursday at a pre-match news conference ahead of Saturdays game with Lens, Sagnol tried to explain his comments.If by my lack of clarity, or my imperfect semantics, I may have shocked, humiliated or hurt people then I am sorry, Sagnol said. The interpretation that these people may have made does not reflect my way of thinking in any way or my humanist convictions.However, he said the comments made sense in a sporting context.When I spoke about the African (player) who is cheaper and ready for combat, I simply meant to talk about the young African player arriving in Europe with all of his will to win and often to escape from a precarious situation, Sagnol continued as he read from pre-prepared notes. Then, since we were in a debate about football, the intelligence I spoke of was obviously related to tactical intelligence. The forming of young players in Africa, probably because of a lack of financial means, or (lack) of infrastructure, isnt always as complete as whats available in Europe.Sagnol distanced himself from accusations that his viewpoint was offensive.In no way did I mean to talk about an individuals intelligence in the proper sense of the term. Regarding certain accusations of racism, Im 37 (and) Ive spent 32 of them in a football dressing room. Ive never had a problem with anyone, the former Bayern Munich player said.But Lens coach Antoine Kombouare, who was born in New Caledonia, is among those who felt offended by Sagnol.Lets make things clear: this is not a case of him being clumsy. Hes really messed up, Kombouare said. What he said is serious. Its unacceptable. Explaining that an African player is cheaper ... I felt humiliated and hurt.The International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA) strongly condemned Sagnol, as did former Marseille president Pape Diouf, who called for African players to boycott one round of French league games in protest.French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet, who formerly employed Sagnol as coach of Frances Under-21 side, defended him, while former teammate Lilian Thuram — an active anti-racism campaigner — was more measured.I played alongside Willy, hes somebody I respect. I know him very well, Thuram told Sud Ouest. I dont think you should put Willy Sagnol on trial, but you should put prejudice on trial. Each one of us harbours some prejudice, which is why people working in football, who have a certain exposure to the media, should be educated on this subject.Sagnols captain at Bordeaux is Senegal international Lamine Sane, who called Sagnols comments clumsy before defending him, as did club president Jean-Louis Triaud.He doesnt have any twisted ideas. He believes in all the black players in the team, Sane told French radio. We believe in him and we hope to go very far with him.Bordeaux forward Henri Saivet, who is black, told RMC radio that Sagnol apologized.We all now pertinently well that the coach is not a racist, Saivet said. Its true that, at first, we asked ourselves a few questions. But he explained how it happened. He apologized to the players. That was very important. 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In his first game with Boston University, the 17-year-old Eichel picked up five assists as his Boston University Terriers thumped St. Discount Detroit Lions Jerseys . -- The Vancouver Whitecaps remained unbeaten with a scoreless draw at the New England Revolution on Saturday.EDMONTON - A breakthrough result in her comeback from injuries has given triathlete Paula Findlay another chance to race in her hometown. The 25-year-old from Edmonton was a late addition to the Canadian team for the World Triathlon Grand Final in that city. Triathlon Canada announced Monday that Findlay will be added to the start list for the elite womens race Aug. 30. Once ranked No. 1 in the world in womens triathlon, Findlay has faced an assortment of injuries dating back to 2011 when she pulled out of a World Cup race in Edmonton. She finally raced pain-free and finished second at the Patco Premium Cup in Kelowna, B.C., on Sunday to gain consideration for the final. "Ive watched the World Cup race in Edmonton twice from the sidelines," Findlay said in a statement released by Triathlon Canada. "It is hard to watch because I have never had that experience to race at home so it means a lot to me, and will be special for sure. I have a family connection to the event with my mom who has been so involved in the planning of this race. Ive seen how much work it takes to put on an event like this. "Personally, I am starting a new chapter of my career now and to do that in my hometown will be cool." The TransCanada Corp. World Triathlon Grand Final is the last event in an eight-race series that determines the years mens and womens world triathlon champions. The competition includes world junior, under-23 and paratriathlon champions as well. Findlay joins Victorias Kirsten Sweetland, a silver medallist at this months Commonwealth Games, and Sarah-Anne Brault of Quebec City in the elite womens field. Kyle Jones of Oakville, Ont., and Andrew Yorke of Caledon, Ont., race the elite mens event Aug. 31. Findlays star shone bright prior to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She won six world championship series races over 2010 and 2011, including one on Londons Olympic course. But a hip injury suffered while preparing for a World Cup in Edmonton in July, 2011, was the beginning of a downward spiral. She split with her coach the following spring. With only six weeks of quality trraining prior to the Olympics, Findlay crossed the finish line last in London and sobbed out an apology to Canada.dddddddddddd Olympic gold and silver medallist Simon Whitfield criticized her support team the following day for their handling of Findlays situation. Its been a series of health issues for Findlay since then which limited her races. The latest was a stress fracture in her pelvis diagnosed in March. Unable to run until recently, most of her training has been on the bike and in the pool. Findlay also has another new coach in Siri Lindley after parting ways with Joel Filiol in May. "It is not ideal to go into a world championships without a big season of races under your belt, but I got a new coach in June and it has been the best three months of my life following three very difficult years," Findlay said. "This spring I was really quite down. I lost hope and even considered giving up. But I am in such a good place right now mentally and physically. "And to be able to go back now and race in Edmonton is an extra spark of motivation for me." Triathlon Canada high-performance director Libby Burrell says Findlay deserves the chance to race in a "quality field without the weight of expectations on her shoulders." "Paula has a long road back to the top," Burrell continued. "She took a big step forward last weekend in Kelowna by finishing healthy and happy. This will be another small step in her journey to returning to being an elite athlete. Every decision we make regarding her now is with her long term health as our primary focus." Sweetland is a former world junior champion who also ran a gauntlet of injuries in her career. The 25-year-old won bronze in a World Triathlon Series race in Hamburg, Germany, this summer in addition to her Commonwealth silver in Glasgow, Scotland. "I have always looked up to Kirsten. Shes obviously been through a rough patch and similar journey to me and made her way back to the top," Findlay said. "Kirsten has shown it is possible. It is not easy, but it is possible." 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