China Fires Ex-Stars Coach

Former Black Stars coach, Ratomir Dujkovic,has been sacked as head coach of China's Men Olympics football team just three weeks before the start of the Beijing Games.

The Olympic Games hosts have replaced the Serbian with Yin Tiesheng, the former coach of Chinese Super League team Qingdao Zhongneng.

The 62-year-old was named China's Olympics team coach in October 2006 after quitting the Ghana job in July the same year,citing health problems.

Dujkovic grabbed the headlines when he guided the Black Stars to their maiden world cup appearance in Germany in 2006.

"Given the gradually widening rift between Dujkovic and the Chinese side, the news is hardly earth-shattering," state media portal Sina.com reported.

"But to remove the head coach before a huge competition could be a first in Chinese football history."

The report said Dujkovic would officially remain head coach of the squad for the time being but would occupy a consulting role.

The news came just after Dujkovic announced his final squad for the Games, with Charlton star Zheng Zhi and Manchester United's Dong Fangzhou spearheading China's quest for a medal in the Men's Olympic Football Tournament.

China are grouped with Brazil, Belgium and New Zealand.