From Reuters: Despite Bulgarian media hyping the return of Hristo Stoichkov, the former Barcelona player did not appear for his new club CSKA Sofia at the weekend. Stoichkov is likely to take the field for CSKA's game with Metalurg Pernik on Saturday. Even without Stoichkov, CSKA were impressive at the weekend as they destroyed Lokomotiv Plovdiv 4-1, Boncho Genchev helping himself to a hat-trick. Leaders Litex Lovech slipped up with a disappointing performance and result in a 1-1 draw with Spartak Varna. The result allowed Levski Sofia to make up some ground. Levski defeated struggling Botev Plovdiv 1-0 at home. Although the win moves them just three points behind the leaders, Levski's fans called for the removal of coach Stefan Grozdanov after another below-par performance.

(i) After signing Bulgaria's captain Trifon Ivanov and after Litex lost some ground in Varna after drawing to Spartak, CSKA (Sofia) have the chance of regaining the title. Although the odds for the championship title are for Litex (Lovetch) and Levski (Sofia). (ii) FIFA have suspended Jordan Letchkov from the national team. Letchkov will not play on Wednesday against Macedonia. The kick-off is at 7 PM local time.

Reuters: Bulgarian striker Hristo Stoichkov said that he was returning home to CSKA Sofia to prepare for the World Cup finals this summer. Bulgarian striker Hristo Stoichkov said on Thursday that he was returning home to CSKA Sofia to prepare for the World Cup finals this summer. Stoichkov, 32, made the announcement after a farewell lunch with his former Barcelona team mates. The 1994 European Footballer of the Year agreed to end his contract with the Spanish side last week after failing to secure a regular place under the club's Dutch disciplinarian coach Louis van Gaal. ``There have been a lot of offers,'' said Stoichkov, who spent seven years in total at Barcelona, interrupted by a season in Italy with Parma in 1995-96. There are just over two months until the big date in France... I am lacking rhythm,'' he said. Stoichkov had initially favoured an approach from struggling Compostela, where fellow Bulgarian Lyuboslav Penev leads the attack. However Spanish league rules prohibit players switching clubs after the transfer market closes in January. With the fiery Stoichkov at the helm, Bulgaria proved the big surprise of the last World Cup in the United States in 1994, knocking out Germany to reach the semifinals.

CNN: In Stuttgart, Balakov scored on a free kick from 20 meters (yards) as he curled a left-footed shot over the Slavia wall. The ball looped inside the left post, past the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Radek Cerny. Balakov's second came in the closing minute of the game, from a similar distance. But this time, the ball curled into the upper right corner, sending 15,000 fans into jubilation.

From Reuters: Bulgaria names squad for Macedonia friendly: Sofia, March 17 - Bulgaria's coach Hristo Bonev, gearing up for the World Cup finals in July, chose a mix of experience and new talent on Tuesday when he named his squad for a friendly against the Balkan neighbour of Macedonia. The game is scheduled to take place on March 25 in Skopje. Half of the 27-men team are the players who formed the backbone of the side which reached the 1994 World Cup semifinals and qualified for this summer's finals. But it also includes some newcomers such as Stoicho Stoilov, captain of the provincial team Litex Lovech who has attracted Bonev's attention by good performance in Bulgaria's first division championship. Bonev agreed on Tuesday to drop midfielder Zlatko Yankov from the squad after his team Besiktas insisted on having him for Turkey's Cup final against Galatasaray on March 25. Squad: Goalkeepers: Zdravko Zdravkov (Istanbulspor), Borislav Mihailov (Slavia Sofia), Radostin Stanev (CSKA Sofia) Defenders: Radostin Kishishev (Bursaspor), Milen Petkov (CSKA Sofia), Ivailo Petkov (Litex Lovech), Trifon Ivanov (CSKA), Georgi Antonov (Lokomotiv Sofia), Svetoslav Todorov (Litex Lovech, 17 years old, the picture on the right - in green), Adalbert Zafirov (Arminia Bielefeld), Gosho Gintchev (Antalyaspor) Midfielders: Ivailo Yordanov (Sporting Lisbon), Yordan Lechkov (Besiktas), Krassimir Balakov (VfB Stuttgart), Ilia Gruev (Neftochimik Bourgas), Anatoli Nankov (Lokomotiv Sofia), Georgi Bachev (Slavia Sofia), Stoicho Stoilov (Litex Lovech) Forwards: Hristo Stoichkov, Luboslav Penev (Compostela), Georgi Ivanov (Levski Sofia), Marian Hristov (Kaiserslautern), Emil Kostadinov (CSKA), Hristo Yovov (TSV 1860 Munich), Daniel Borimirov (TSV 1860 Munich), Ilian Iliev (Bursaspor), Georgi Donkov (VfL Bochum).

FC Levski Sofia have signed ex CSKA defender Martin Goranov (the picture on the right). Goranov did not play last Saturday against Olympic, his debute for Levski will be today (March 17) against Dobrudzha (Dobritch).

Hristo Stoichkov after having a cup of coffee with the Olympic champion Stefka Kostadinova. The two stars have been spotted by the journalits at the bar in front of "Vassil Levski" stadium.

Some more pictures from Argentina - Bulgaria 2:0. For more pictures from the game check the other March news.

March news and older March news.

January & February news.

November and December news.

Old news: October news and yet more October (A), October (B) and October (C) news.

Older news: [May 1997], [June-July 1997], [August 1997], [September 1997].

Bulgarian Football News from Meridian Match.

Acknowledgement: Most of the infomation (along with the pictures) is from the Bulgarian Press (Meridian Match, 24 hours, etc.)