AFC chief offers condolences on death of Lebanese players

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Reuters) Asian soccer chief Mohamed Bin Hammam has offered his condolences to the families of two Lebanese players who were killed in a bomb blast in Beirut today.

Defender Hussein Dokmak, 25, and midfielder Hussein Neim, 20, both with Lebanese side Al Nejmeh, were driving home through downtown Beirut after a friendly match when the bomb went off. Both died immediately.

''I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the families of both the players, club and the Lebanon Football Association,'' Hammam, president of the Asian Football Confederation, said on the AFC Web site today.

''The loss of these two talented players is irreparable but I am confident these activities won't deter football activities in Lebanon.'' Dokmak played in Al Nejmeh's AFC Cup victory over Muscat on May 8 while Neim, who was recently promoted to the first team, was on the bench. Al Nejmeh are due to play India's Mahindra United in the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup in September.

Reuters SAM DB1222