5-on-5 soccer tournament launched

JAKARTA: Organizers of a new 5-on-5 soccer tournament for senior high school students say they want to promote excitement and togetherness among the thousands of participants.

The aim is also to offer an exciting experience for players and supporters, Weitarsa Hendarto, senior brand manager of PT Coca-Cola Indonesia, said during a press conference on Friday.

The six-week competition, scheduled to start Aug. 20, will have qualifying matches in five areas: Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi. The draw will be held at the Senayan Basketball Hall on Sunday.

About 10,000 students from 160 high schools are expected to take part for the Rp 26 million in cash prizes. The top three teams and best fourth-placed team from the areas qualify for the grand final on Sept. 25 in Jakarta.

Matches will be played on an area half the size of a normal field with five-player teams, with two 10-minute halves. The offside rule does not apply. -- JP

Fiji rugby player fails drug test

WELLINGTON: Fiji international Vilimoni Delasau was fined NZ$500 (US$350), reprimanded and warned by a New Zealand Rugby Union judicial committee Friday after failing a drug test.

The New Zealand Sports Drug Agency found a cannabis metabolite in a sample provided by Delasau after the June 10 test match between Fiji and New Zealand at Auckland, the union said in a statement.

Cannabis metabolites are included on the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of prohibited substances.

The New Zealand Rugby Union was advised of the positive test on Aug. 3 and suspended Delasau until Friday's hearing at which he was found guilty of violating the union's antidoping regulations. -- AP

Teen phenom Sahin out with injury

DORTMUND, Germany: Nuri Sahin, the youngest Bundesliga player of all time, will miss Borussia Dortmund's match against Schalke on Saturday with a thigh injury.

Sahin made a celebrated debut last Saturday against Wolfsburg at the age of 16 years, 11 months and 1 day to break the record.

Sahin would have started against Schalke because regular defensive midfielder Sebastian Kehl is still injured.

Dortmund has slapped a media ban on the German-born Turk to stop what club spokesman Josef Schneck called a media "hysteria" about the teenager.

Sahin was voted best player while leading Turkey to the under- 17 European Championship title in May. Kicker magazine reports that Dortmund rejected a 2 million euro bid (US$2.5 million) from Arsenal for him. -- AP