INQUIRER Sports

COLOGNE - Germany captain Michael Ballack insisted on Friday that he had no hard feelings about national teammate Lukas Podolski, who slapped him during a 2010 World Cup qualifier last April.

The pair trained together on Friday for the first time since the incident, ahead of this weekend's friendly against South Africa.

"It was the first time that we were together again, because I didn't participate in the tour of Asia (in June) and he wasn't there against Azerbaijan (in August)," said Ballack.

"We're two professional players, we both want to win trophies, we look ahead, there is no problem between us."

Podolski, voted the best young player of the 2006 World Cup, slapped the captain during a match against Wales in Cariff on April 1 after disagreeing over tactics.

He later apologized and the German football federation announced that the striker would contribute 5,000 euros towards a fair play initiative organized by the federation.

Germany play a World Cup Group Four qualifier against Azerbaijan on Wednesday.