Leicester Breakthrough Keeps Fairytale Alive
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ZZZGLVVFRPTD 6$)(7<75$,1,1* 2BUBScT-BSHFTU4BGFUZ 5SBJOJOH$FOUFS 2YHU6DIHW\&RXUVHV 4XDOLILFDWLRQLQMXVWGD\V &ODVVURRP (/HDUQLQJ 'D\VD:HHN THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017 ',66 LQIR#GLVVFRPTD Special Tiara sparkles DRS talk heats up Ind-Aus Test Jockey Noel Fehily rides Special Tiara Steve Smith raps Virat Kohli over DRS on EUROPA LEAGUE to glory at Cheltenham Festival PAGE 29 eve of their third Test match in Ranchi PAGE 27 MAN UTD VS FC ROSTOV Emir awards winners of Camel Race Festival Will Infantino’s call have a bearing on CAF election? dismissed talks of a rift with FIFA President the CAF boss. says he supports “I am very comfortable with the president as long democratic as CAF members in a dem- ocratic process elect him. process It happened in UEFA last year there was an election IKOLI VICTOR for president involving two DOHA contestants and in CON- CACAF. WITH the Confederation “The decision is up to of African Football (CAF) the CAF members to elect presidential election sched- their own president because uled on Thursday, specu- FIFA has no influence on lation has been rife on the it,” said Infantino. influence of FIFA president “Whatever the CAF Gianni Infantino on the members decide will be bearing of the polls. the right decision and I will Despite the world foot- support whatever decision ball governing body head's is taken.” recent visit to Ghana as part The 70-year-old CAF of African tour, which has President Issa Hayatou is also seen him make stops seeking an eighth term in in South Africa, Zimbabwe office that would extend The Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani on Wednesday awarded winners of the annual festival of Arabian Thoroughbred Camel Race for the Sword of HH the Emir, and Uganda, it is being his 29-year reign. While his which took place at Al Shahania camel racetrack. The Emir awarded the winners of the four main races with golden trophies. Al Shahania camels won three of the four races speculated that Infantino challenger is Madagascar’s with ‘Khoud’ winning the golden sword. The other two camels Mesyan and Tashar won golden daggers. The winner of the fourth race was Al Wathba from UAE. is supporting Madagascar football federation boss Ah- He also awarded the silver sword to Nasser Abdullah Nasser al Misnad, owner of Shahalel, for winning the race in the Al Hail category. The Emir then honoured the companies FA president Ahmad Ah- mad, who has the support of that sponsored this year’s event. Crown Prince of Dubai HE Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum took part in the awarding ceremony. Also present were mad, after he met the can- some members associations Personal Representative of the Emir HH Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani, President of Qatar Olympic Committee HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani, Advisor to the UAE didate’s campaign leader like COSAFA, southern Afri- President and President of the Emirates Camel Racing Federation HE Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan al Nahyan, along with a number of sheikhs and ranking officials. Phillip Chiyangwa (head of can soccer union head Phil- COSAFA, southern African lip Chiyangwa, an outspoken soccer union. critic of Hayatou who recent- Leicester breakthrough keeps fairytale alive AFP LEICESTER (UK) IN progressing to the Cham- pions League quarter-finals A combination shows Malagasy Football Federation president for the first time, Leicester Ahmad Ahmad (left) and Confederation of African Football (CAF) City preserved a golden thread president Issa Hayatou. Madagascar’s football boss Ahmad will stretching back all the way to challenge the long-serving Hayatou during the CAF presidential last season’s miraculous Pre- election in Addis Ababa on Thursday. First elected in 1988, Cam- mier League title success. eroonian Hayatou, 70, is seeking an eighth consecutive term as The thread has worn close head of the body that governs African football. (AFP) to breaking in recent weeks, with Leicester’s perilous slide ly criticised the organisation’s towards the relegation zone I’m the only executive members as “cow- costing popular manager ards and “cronies” for not Claudio Ranieri his job. option for standing up to the veteran But after overcoming a 2-1 change: Ahmad CAF president. deficit to beat Sevilla in the On Wednesday, CAF Champions League last 16, the ANTANANARIVO: After Executive Committee unan- sense of fearlessness that be- a discreet playing and imously recommended came their hallmark a year ago coaching career Ahmad the case to the disciplinary has returned. Ahmad took the reins of board on the COSAFA Pres- “They looked so fluid and the Madagascar football ident for action. had such amazing passion federation in 2003 and The election is the first and determination,” the club’s on Thursday challenges real challenge for Hayatou former manager David Pleat long-serving Issa Hayatou since his assumption in of- told BBC Radio 5 Live after for the African Football fice in 1988. Leicester's 2-0 win over Sevilla Confederation (CAF) presi- Infantino, who’s trying on Tuesday. dency. Favourite Hayatou, to reinvigorate the soccer “I don’t think they would who has been in charge world body with the in- want either Real Madrid or for 29 years, and Ahmad troduction of the Football Barcelona in the quarter-final. go head to head in Addis Summit, says FIFA wants But who would have thought Ababa seeking a four-year to improve governance. He they would win the title last term as African football also stressed on the need for year? So whoever they face, boss. With Eritrea disquali- more co-operation between who knows?” fied for not entering any FIFA member associations As well as Barcelona and recent CAF competitions, through such regional foot- Real Madrid, Juventus, Bay- the other 53 CAF member ball summits. ern Munich and Borussia states are entitled to vote “The reason and purpose Dortmund also lie in wait in and a simple majority is of the summit is to include Friday’s last-eight draw. needed to win. Hayatou, the member associations into Atletico Madrid and Man- who is also the senior vice- the life of FIFA. They needed chester City are in pole posi- Leicester players celebrate their victory over Sevilla after winning the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match 2-0 at the King president of global football a forum, a voice, an agenda. tion to join them ahead of the Power Stadium in Leicester, England, on Tuesday. (AFP) body FIFA, offers continu- And here at the Summit, at final two last 16 second legs ity and experience while least we did get some good Guardian later on Wednesday. said victory over Se- Eliminated from the FA Cup and fighting to keep “There had to be some- Ahmad favours change. feedback,” he said. Asked who he hoped to villa had seen Leicester “write thing wrong there,” observed "If people want change, “Now we have 211 avoid in the quarter-finals, a new fairytale”. themselves above the Premier League bottom three, former England right-back there is no other choice. It presidents of associations, Juve’s emblematic captain The Times said Leicester the Champions League represents Leicester’s only hope Danny Mills, a Champions is only me who dares to run general secretaries of asso- Gianluigi Buffon replied: were “back in fantasy land”. of prolonging last season’s fairytale. League semi-finalist with against Hayatou,” Ahmad ciations, who are running “Leicester.” The great irony of Leices- Leeds United in 2001. told AFP in the Malagasy football in their countries The prospect of a genuine ter’s resurgence is that it has “All those fans who capital Antananarivo. “My and it is important to listen European superpower arriv- taken the dismissal of Ranieri, prove his last game. in the performance (against Se- thought it was a disgrace that program is the reform of to them and it is important ing at the King Power Stadium architect of the title win, for But the instant impact en- villa), in terms of desire, but we Ranieri was sacked, they have the administration of CAF that they speak to each will further help to restore the players to start playing like joyed by his successor Craig can play a bit as well. got to eat some humble pie.” to prevent politics interfer- other as well. Such sum- some of the magic dust that they had last season. Shakespeare suggests Leices- “(Beating Sevilla) epito- With Leicester still only ing with the organisation of mits definitely help in that had been rubbed off amid They had already found ter's players are both happier mises what we're about.” three points above the Pre- the confederation,” said the exchange, the learning, and Leicester’s domestic toils. the Champions League to be and more effective with the sim- Tactical factors only go so mier League relegation zone, 57-year-old father of two. being able to build bridges.” Eliminated from both cup well-suited to their preferred ple 4-4-2 formula used to such far in explaining the Leices- their players cannot afford to Ahmad officially has the sup- Whatever the outcome competitions and fighting to contain-and-counter strat- devastating effect last season. ter turnaround under Shake- be distracted by dreams of Eu- port of 14 member coun- of the election, African keep themselves above the egy, however, having recorded “I think we have to play to our speare, which started with ropean glory for too long. tries of the southern African football will not be the Premier League bottom three, four wins and kept four clean strengths,” said Shakespeare, successive 3-1 wins over Liver- But with the Champions confederation (COSAFA), of same with the campaign the Champions League repre- sheets during the group phase.