Things are starting to fall into place for Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert.

It’s understood Herbert has signed Argentinian playmaker Oscar Roberto Cornejo – an official announcement is expected today or tomorrow.

Also, Australian striker Mirjan Pavlovic did his chances of winning a contract no harm with a hat-trick in a Phoenix XI’s 5-1 pre-season win against Wairarapa United in Masterton yesterday.

Things are starting to fall into place for Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert.

It’s understood Herbert has signed Argentinian playmaker Oscar Roberto Cornejo – an official announcement is expected today or tomorrow.

Also, Australian striker Mirjan Pavlovic did his chances of winning a contract no harm with a hat-trick in a Phoenix XI’s 5-1 pre-season win against Wairarapa United in Masterton yesterday.

They sound more like cartoon characters than footballers, but there’s a good chance Bam Bam and Toto will be lining up for the Phoenix this season.

Football’s global status was highlighted by Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert yesterday when he revealed English trialist Chris Shuker was going home for personal reasons and would be replaced by Indonesian goal-scoring machine Bambang Pamungkas.

Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert has two priorities in the next three weeks, the first of which is to sign at least another three players by Sunday.

He’ll get a chance to watch triallists during a training match against a Select XI in Masterton on Wednesday, then must make a call on three players or the club will be sanctioned by Football Federation Australia for not having at least 20 players on their roster by August 1.

Every time a customer buys some of the large fabric tote bags from the Dollar Store at 43rd Avenue and Thomas Road, Najmuddin Katchi sees another piece of his business vanish.

The purchase of the briefcase-sized shoulder bags means that another one of Katchi’s customers, mostly Latino immigrants, is packing to leave the state before what is touted as the nation’s toughest law against illegal immigrants takes effect July 29.

All Whites star Simon Elliott is mulling over several club offers but says he is open to the idea of returning to his hometown to play for the Wellington Phoenix.

The 36-year-old, one of New Zealand’s leading players at the Fifa World Cup alongside Ryan Nelsen and Mark Paston, returned home from the United States this week to catch up with family and take part in yesterday’s parade by the All Whites in Wellington.

Boca Juniors were welcomed to Wellington with a haka yesterday and the famous Argentinian club is expecting Friday’s pre-season clash with the Phoenix to be equally spirited.

The match has been billed as a festival of football but Boca’s first match Down Under, a 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory last Friday, was anything but friendly.

Promising midfielder Marcelo Canete, who scored a superb solo goal, suffered a bleeding nose after colliding with the referee’s elbow, and tempers frayed in a spiteful match that featured six yellow cards.

After days of speculation and rumors, Josh Childress is officially a Phoenix Sun.

The deal is a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks, who receive Phoenix’s 2012 second-round draft pick.

Childress, who played four seasons with the Hawks from 2004-08, has spent the previous two seasons with Greek club Olympiacos.

A one-year-old girl kidnapped in California six years ago has been rescued by authorities in Phoenix, The Arizona Republic reports.

The Los Angeles Times, quoting the L.A. sheriff’s department, reports that the girl was living with a foster family in Norwalk, Calif., in 2003 when she was allegedly taken by three aunts, while on an authorized visit to a Chuck E. Cheese.

Detectives, aided by Phoenix police and the FBI, found the 7-year-old child at a home, the Times reports. She was identified by the footprint on her birth certificate.

Phoenix police say a home invasion robbery went awry when one of the suspects startled another and was shot by his partner in crime.

The robbery unfolded Wednesday when three armed men forced their way into a home occupied by a couple and a 2-year-old girl.

The men demanded money, ordered the victims to the floor and began searching the home.