Bochum keeper signs on

Rein Van Duijnhoven has agreed a one-year extension to his Bochum contract.

The 37-year-old custodian, who will now stay with the Bundesliga strugglers until June 2006, hopes that his decision to stay will play a role in helping the club avoid relegation from the top flight this season.

"I've built up something for myself in Bochum over the years and am very fond of the club," the Dutchman said.

"Now we'll manage to avoid the drop and will enjoy another season in the Bundesliga next year."

Van Duijnhoven joined Bochum in June 1999 and has made a total of 156 league appearances for the Ruhr Valley club.

In other news coach Peter Neururer has declared Fatih Akyel to be one of his worst ever signings.

The Turkish international defender joined from Fenerbahce in the January transfer window, although poor form and injuries have restricted him to just one appearance so far.

Lacklustre performances in training and his inability to integrate mean that the 27-year-old has failed to settle in Germany, and Neururer (pictured) has been left cursing his decision to bring the player in.

"It was a major mistake and I will never sign a player again who doesn't speak the same languages I do," Neururer told Kicker.

"He has shown his class in training once or twice, but apart from that he walks around the training pitch thinking that he is a superstar."