Former Togo boss 'sorry' over fraudulent friendly

LOME (AFP) - Former Togo coach Bana Tchanile has apologised for taking a team of imposters masquerading as Togo internationals to play in a friendly against Bahrain, an act that saw him hit with a three-year ban.
Former national coach Tchanile was the man behind one of nfl jerseys
the most embarrassing episodes in the west African country's sporting history when he pitched up in the Bahraini capital of Manama for the September 7 match.
Bahrain won the game, a warm-up for the West Asian Football Federation Championship, 3-0, only for it to later emerge that they had beaten a bunch of fraudsters.
An inquiry was launched last Thursday into the affair by the Togolese football authorities who promptly banned Tchanile from all activities relating to football for a period of three years.
"I'm aware of the mistakes I've made," Tchanile said Tuesday. "I present my sincere apologies to the president of the republic, all the Togolese people and the president of the Bahrain Football Association.
"I've received a three-year ban. I'm obliged to accept it in a gesture of sportsmanship."
Tchanile added that his motives were driven by the frustration of Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
a group of young players who were finding it impossible to break into any of the national set-ups.
"I wanted to help youngsters in Togo who chose to play football, but who have problems making it because of a lack of competition at a national level," he said.
"I don't want to stir up a big fuss, I want the buck to stop at me," he added after acknowledging that members of Togo's caretaker committee had been involved in the scam.
MADRID (AP)—Athletic Bilbao continued its good start to the Spanish league season with a 3-0 victory over Mallorca on Tuesday, while Osasuna picked up its first victory in a 3-1 win over Real Sociedad.
David Lopez curled in a shot from the right side in the 44th minute at the San Mames stadium.
Jose Carlos Nunes handled inside the area and Mikel San Jose stepped up to score the penalty in the 62nd before Inigo Perez buried the third in injury time.
At Pamplona, Real Sociedad blew an early lead after Raul Tamudo Minnesota Vikings jersey
put the visitors ahead in the 17th.
But Walter Pandiani headed home in the 38th before Javier Camunas scored five minutes later. Carlos Arranda headed in the third in the 75th.