Varna will host a round of the Swimming Marathon World Cup on August 8 and 9 2009, according to International Swimming Federation’s (FINA) open-water race calender published on May 5 2008. Participants will compete for the grand prize of $20 000. read more

The absence of Tottenham's Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov from the launch of the club's new kit left “little doubt that he will not be wearing it next season,” Daily Mail said on May 8. Although it was still unclear where the Bulgarian was headed, his move was likely to shape this summer's transfer market in England's top division. Berbatov’s move “[promised] to be one of the most significant deals of the transfer window. Rumours were rife yesterday that Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra was lining up a British record £32 million offer,” Daily Mail said. read more

Club legends Stanimir Stoilov and Nasko Sirakov were sacked from their jobs as head coach and executive director of Levski Sofia football club, respectively, on May 7 2008. The duo made the announcement after a meeting with club owner Todor Batkov. According to Sirakov, Batkov's decision was no drama. “I have fulfilled my mission at Levski. My agreement with Batkov from four years ago was that he would keep me as long as he thinks I'm useful to Levski. We part as friends and I will never say a bad word about the club as I expect the same in return,” he was quoted as saying by Bulgarian Focus news agency. read more

Bulgaria's newly-crowned football champions CSKA Sofia will end the season with a new owner, club president Alexander Tomov told private broadcaster Nova Televisia on May 7 2008. Negotiations have already been concluded, Tomov said, refusing to reveal the identity of the new owner before the deal was finalised. read more

Tottenham Hotpurs' Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov's absence from the club's presentation of its new kit for next season was the latest sign he was on his way out of the club, UK newspaper Daily Mail said on May 7. According to Daily Mail, Berbatov was “conspicuous by his absence”, the newspaper said. The club's decision to have vice-captain Robbie Keane, defender Jonathan Woodgate and midfielder Jermaine Jenas to present the new kit “[added] to the widely held belief that Berbatov's days at White Hart Lane are numbered given he is arguably Tottenham's most marketable player.” read more

Bulgarian international and Manchester City winger Martin Petrov was one of the most successful transfers in England in 2007, according to the British daily The Sun. The tabloid placed Petrov on eighth place in its Top 10 rankings. Petrov got used to the game in the Premiership very fast and become one of the most dangerous players on a revitalised Manchester City team, the newspaper said. read more

Bulgaria's national football team's friendly against Iran on May 25 2008 has been cancelled, national coach Plamen Markov was quoted as saying by Bulgarian media at the weekend. Iran was scheduled to host the game, but because Markov met no cooperation from the two leading Bulgarian football clubs CSKA and Levski, the game was not going to happen, he said. Both team were not willing to let their players fly to Iran and Markov saw no use of having the game. read more

The fourth international chess tournament M-Tel Masters starts on May 7 2008 in Sofia's Military Club and will last till May 18. Six of the world's best will take part in the tournament this year. Defending champion Vesselin Topalov and Ivan Cheparinov will represent Bulgaria. They will meet Armenia's Levon Aronian, Ukraine's Vassily Ivanchuk, Azerbaijan's Teimour Radjabov and China's Bu Xiangzhi. read more

English football club Blackburn is going to test the 16-year-old goalkeeper of Bulgarian outfit CSKA Sofia Georgi Sholevski. The teenager had already left for a three-day trial in the UK, Focus news agency said, where the British team was considering adding the Bulgarian. Sholevski would also take part in a match before his return to Sofia on May 9, Focus said. read more

Spain's most football club, Real Madrid, was ready to pay £25 million (nearly 32 million euro) for Tottenham Hotspurs’ Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov, Sunday Mirror said. In an attempt to keep its striker, Tottenham offered Berbatov a weekly wage of £90 000 (115 000 euro), estimated at double his current salary, and a new four-year contract. The team was waiting for Berbatov’s response in June. read more