WEDNESDAY, MArch 2, 2016 VOLUME XI ISSUE NO.4 Q r2.00 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com

P 6 | FOOTBALL P 22 | TENNIS FIVE-STAR RAYYAN SLOW AND STEADY QATAR’S FIRST Al Rayyan edge closer to the Qatar Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro beats ENGLISH Stars League title with a 5-0 drubbing Latvian teenager Jelena Ostapenko WEEKLY of reigning champions Lekhwiya. to win the Qatar Total Open.

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Gianni Infantino outscores Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa in crucial areas and wins the the right to lead a new-look FIFA. PAGES 10-13

DSP SPECIAL STORY

P 29 | P 25 | MOTORSPORT P 20 | POSTER Italian Piazza ANTOINE Qatar’s Abdulaziz takes charge as Qatar GRIEZMANN all set for Mexico Rally AFP/ Fabrice Coffrini AFP/ Fabrice UK £1, Europe €2 | 200 Baisas | Bahrain 200 Fils | Egypt LE 2 | Lebanon 3,000 Livre | Kuwait 250 Fils | Morocco Dh 6 | UAEDh 5 | Yemen 75 Riyals | Sudan 1 Pound | KSA 2 Riyals | Jordan 500 Fils | Iraq $1 | Palestine $1 | LS 20 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 3

EXCITEMENT NOW JUST A TOUCH AWAY

OutlookThe writer can be contacted at [email protected]

Infantino, Shaikh Salman can work closely to boost football

ĈĈThe way Shaikh Salman carried himself crucial second round, tilting the balance in the lat- needn’t be at loggerheads forever. African confed- after the election proved he’s a person ter’s favour. A section of the media said the Arab eration chief Issa Hayatou, under whose leadership who talks the talk and walks the walk world ‘betrayed’ the Bahraini official, but I don’t the election was held, had challenged Blatter in the buy that theory. 2002 presidential election, but they had since bur- Two instances of Qatar backing non-Arabs would ied the hatchet. ICTORY and defeat are two sides of the same substantiate it. We gave our mandate to South Korea’s Given his good equations with Infantino, Shaikh coin, still rivals often go all out in search of Chung Mong-Joon when he faced off with Prince Salman, who’s also a vice-president of FIFA, can play Vsuccess. The stakes will be higher if the battle Ali bin Al Hussein for the FIFA ExCom post in Doha a vital role in ensuring football’s brighter future. is a high-profile one. Yet, in a democratic set-up, the in 2011. Then, we supported Blatter against the Infantino faces a big task of steadying a ship that’s ultimate power rests with the electorate as they’ve Jordanian in last year’s election. Those decisions presently at sixes and sevens, but then he has proved the freedom of choice. were made based on our principle that the right his organisational ability as UEFA general secretary. The same happened when FIFA’s 207 member persons should’ve won and didn’t amount to acts The Swiss-Italian has age on his side and I hope he nations, except and Kuwait who were of betrayal. lives up to expectations at a new FIFA, which’ll see a banned, exercised their franchise to elect its new There’s no point in saying Shaikh Salman missed 36-member council replacing the ExCom and limit- president. And a majority of them opted for Gianni more or less one-fifth of Asian support. Infantino ing the spells of president as well as senior officials Infantino, ahead of Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al didn’t get the full backing of Europe either. As the to three terms of four years. Khalifa, for the simple reason that they found him Asian Football Confederation chief rightly said, it the right man to lead football’s world governing was a contest that upheld values of fair play. body into the post-Sepp Blatter era. The way Shaikh Salman carried himself post-elec- In fact, Shaikh Salman was the favourite to win. tion proved he’s a person who talks the talk and walks Though he and Infantino fought neck and neck in the walk. It also showed his broadminded approach Dr Ahmed Al Mohannadi the first round, Asian and Arab votes got split in the and proactive personality. Opposing candidates Editor-in-Chief

Al Rayyan are in a Mutaz again showed his class as league of their own he became the first athlete to win INBOX four consecutive gold medals in the Al Rayyan are in a different class championship. The likes of Mohamad altogether in the Qatar Stars League Al Garni, Abdellelah Haroun and

Editor-in-Chief Dr Ahmed Al Mohannadi P.O. Box: 24598, Doha, Qatar and their recent victory over Al Arabi Musaab Abdulrahman Balla were also Tel: +974 44138065, Fax: +974 44138597 (Doha Stadium Plus, February 24) in top form, but Mutaz was the star. Managing Editor Kumar Ravi WEDNESDAY, FEbruArY 24, 2016 VOLuME XI ISSuE NO.3 Qr2.00 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com P 6 | FOOTBALL P 22 | ATHLETICS BACK AMONG GOALS QATAR CHAMPS AGAIN was further proof of it. Mohammed Nissar, Doha. QATAR’S FIRST Congolese striker Alain Dioko scores Qatar top the table again with six gold, Senior Editor/Writer Aswin Abraham a brace as holders Lekhwiya blank one silver and three bronze at the ENGLISH SPORTS WEEKLY El Jaish in the Qatar Stars League. Seventh Asian Indoor Championships. Editorial: Tel: +974 44138522, Fax: +974 44138593 FOLLOW US Senior Sports Writer They’ve gone from strength to N Ganesh e-mail: [email protected] Sports Writers strength this season and it’s just a Sajith B Warrier Marketing & advertising: Tel: +974 44138566 Barca unstoppable matter of time before they sealed Mohammad Amin-ul Islam e-mail: [email protected] Shaikh-up? Asian Football Confederation President Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa looks set to create Sarath Pookkat Distribution: Tel: +974 44138535/36, Fax: +974 44138597 history as he bids to become the first FIFA chief from outside Europe or South America.PAGES 12-15 their eighth league title. Barcelona look unstoppable both in e-mail: [email protected] Photographers Mohan The team has been functioning and UEFA Champions League

Vinod Divakaran like a well-oiled machine right from (Doha Stadium Plus, February 24).

P 20 | POSTER BRENDON Fadi Al Assaad MCCULLUM the start. Rayyan look unstoppable. Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis

DSP EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Mohammed Dabboos P 27 | MOTORSPORT Ali Al Sheeb, Doha. Suarez are the three best players Busy time for new P 25 | TENNIS Halep believes she QMMF president can win Grands Slam AFP/ Sajjad Hussain Publishers: ASPIRE Printing, Publishing and Distribution A K BijuRaj UK £1, Europe €2 | Oman 200 Baisas | Bahrain 200 Fils | Egypt LE 2 | Lebanon 3,000 Livre | Kuwait 250 Fils | Morocco Dh 6 | UAEDh 5 | Yemen 75 Riyals | Sudan 1 Pound | KSA 2 Riyals | Jordan 500 Fils | Iraq $1 | Palestine $1 | Syria LS 20 in the world right now and when Publishers: ASPIRE Printing, Graphic Designers Abhilash Chacko they combine it’s impossible to stop P O Box: 24598, Doha, Qatar. Publishing and Distribution Mutaz the real star Marketing & advertising: Tel: +974 44138566 Gopakumar K Printed at ASPIRE Printing Press them. Importantly for Barca, they’re Joice Michael The performance of Qatari athletes, only happy to share the goal-scor- e-mail: [email protected] www.twitter.com/dohastadiumplus Technical support Shaheen Mohammed particularly high jumper Mutaz Essa ing burden. Distribution: Tel: +974 44138535/36, Fax: +974 44138597 www.facebook.com/dohastadiumplusqatar e-mail: [email protected] Abdul Naser M www.flickr.com/photos/dohastadiumplusqatar Barshim, at the recent Asian Indoor It’ll take a special effort to stop Athletics Championships was truly the Spanish and European cham- Doha Stadium Plus, www.facebook.com/dohastadium www.twitter.com/dohastadiumplus www.flickr.com/photos/dohastadiumplusqatar © Stories and photographs appearing in this publication may not be reproduced without the permission of astounding ( pions from repeating their treble. ASPIRE Printing, Publishing and Distribution. February 24). M Anand, Doha. Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 3

OutlookThe writer can be contacted at [email protected]

Infantino, Shaikh Salman can work closely to boost football

ĈĈThe way Shaikh Salman carried himself crucial second round, tilting the balance in the lat- needn’t be at loggerheads forever. African confed- after the election proved he’s a person ter’s favour. A section of the media said the Arab eration chief Issa Hayatou, under whose leadership who talks the talk and walks the walk world ‘betrayed’ the Bahraini official, but I don’t the election was held, had challenged Blatter in the buy that theory. 2002 presidential election, but they had since bur- Two instances of Qatar backing non-Arabs would ied the hatchet. ICTORY and defeat are two sides of the same substantiate it. We gave our mandate to South Korea’s Given his good equations with Infantino, Shaikh coin, still rivals often go all out in search of Chung Mong-Joon when he faced off with Prince Salman, who’s also a vice-president of FIFA, can play Vsuccess. The stakes will be higher if the battle Ali bin Al Hussein for the FIFA ExCom post in Doha a vital role in ensuring football’s brighter future. is a high-profile one. Yet, in a democratic set-up, the in 2011. Then, we supported Blatter against the Infantino faces a big task of steadying a ship that’s ultimate power rests with the electorate as they’ve Jordanian in last year’s election. Those decisions presently at sixes and sevens, but then he has proved the freedom of choice. were made based on our principle that the right his organisational ability as UEFA general secretary. The same happened when FIFA’s 207 member persons should’ve won and didn’t amount to acts The Swiss-Italian has age on his side and I hope he nations, except Indonesia and Kuwait who were of betrayal. lives up to expectations at a new FIFA, which’ll see a banned, exercised their franchise to elect its new There’s no point in saying Shaikh Salman missed 36-member council replacing the ExCom and limit- president. And a majority of them opted for Gianni more or less one-fifth of Asian support. Infantino ing the spells of president as well as senior officials Infantino, ahead of Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al didn’t get the full backing of Europe either. As the to three terms of four years. Khalifa, for the simple reason that they found him Asian Football Confederation chief rightly said, it the right man to lead football’s world governing was a contest that upheld values of fair play. body into the post-Sepp Blatter era. The way Shaikh Salman carried himself post-elec- In fact, Shaikh Salman was the favourite to win. tion proved he’s a person who talks the talk and walks Though he and Infantino fought neck and neck in the walk. It also showed his broadminded approach Dr Ahmed Al Mohannadi the first round, Asian and Arab votes got split in the and proactive personality. Opposing candidates Editor-in-Chief

Al Rayyan are in a Mutaz again showed his class as league of their own he became the first athlete to win INBOX four consecutive gold medals in the Al Rayyan are in a different class championship. The likes of Mohamad altogether in the Qatar Stars League Al Garni, Abdellelah Haroun and

Editor-in-Chief Dr Ahmed Al Mohannadi P.O. Box: 24598, Doha, Qatar and their recent victory over Al Arabi Musaab Abdulrahman Balla were also Tel: +974 44138065, Fax: +974 44138597 (Doha Stadium Plus, February 24) in top form, but Mutaz was the star. Managing Editor Kumar Ravi WEDNESDAY, FEbruArY 24, 2016 VOLuME XI ISSuE NO.3 Qr2.00 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com P 6 | FOOTBALL P 22 | ATHLETICS BACK AMONG GOALS QATAR CHAMPS AGAIN was further proof of it. Mohammed Nissar, Doha. QATAR’S FIRST Congolese striker Alain Dioko scores Qatar top the table again with six gold, Senior Editor/Writer Aswin Abraham a brace as holders Lekhwiya blank one silver and three bronze at the ENGLISH SPORTS WEEKLY El Jaish in the Qatar Stars League. Seventh Asian Indoor Championships. Editorial: Tel: +974 44138522, Fax: +974 44138593 FOLLOW US Senior Sports Writer They’ve gone from strength to N Ganesh e-mail: [email protected] Sports Writers strength this season and it’s just a Sajith B Warrier Marketing & advertising: Tel: +974 44138566 Barca unstoppable matter of time before they sealed Mohammad Amin-ul Islam e-mail: [email protected] Shaikh-up? Asian Football Confederation President Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa looks set to create Sarath Pookkat Distribution: Tel: +974 44138535/36, Fax: +974 44138597 history as he bids to become the first FIFA chief from outside Europe or South America.PAGES 12-15 their eighth league title. Barcelona look unstoppable both in e-mail: [email protected] Photographers Mohan The team has been functioning La Liga and UEFA Champions League

Vinod Divakaran like a well-oiled machine right from (Doha Stadium Plus, February 24).

P 20 | POSTER BRENDON Fadi Al Assaad MCCULLUM the start. Rayyan look unstoppable. Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis

DSP EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Mohammed Dabboos P 27 | MOTORSPORT Ali Al Sheeb, Doha. Suarez are the three best players Busy time for new P 25 | TENNIS Halep believes she QMMF president can win Grands Slam AFP/ Sajjad Hussain A K BijuRaj UK £1, Europe €2 | Oman 200 Baisas | Bahrain 200 Fils | Egypt LE 2 | Lebanon 3,000 Livre | Kuwait 250 Fils | Morocco Dh 6 | UAEDh 5 | Yemen 75 Riyals | Sudan 1 Pound | KSA 2 Riyals | Jordan 500 Fils | Iraq $1 | Palestine $1 | Syria LS 20 in the world right now and when Publishers: ASPIRE Printing, Graphic Designers Abhilash Chacko they combine it’s impossible to stop Publishing and Distribution Mutaz the real star Gopakumar K Printed at ASPIRE Printing Press them. Importantly for Barca, they’re Joice Michael The performance of Qatari athletes, only happy to share the goal-scor- www.twitter.com/dohastadiumplus Technical support Shaheen Mohammed www.facebook.com/dohastadiumplusqatar particularly high jumper Mutaz Essa ing burden. Abdul Naser M www.flickr.com/photos/dohastadiumplusqatar Barshim, at the recent Asian Indoor It’ll take a special effort to stop Athletics Championships was truly the Spanish and European cham- Doha Stadium Plus, © Stories and photographs appearing in this publication may not be reproduced without the permission of astounding ( pions from repeating their treble. ASPIRE Printing, Publishing and Distribution. February 24). M Anand, Doha. 4 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 5 Extra time

Lekhwiya hold People need not waste their energy on the streets. We’ve a world-class facility at the Losail International Iran’s Zobahan Circuit. We’ll try to attract more youngsters to motor EKHWIYA held Iran’s Zobahan sports with special focus on road safety. goalless in their Group B game in Abdulrahman Al Mannai, Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation President. LTehran to collect their first point in the 2016 AFC Champions League. JELENA OSTAPENKO The Qatar Stars League champions had lost 0-1 to Zobahan in their open- ing meeting in Doha. Qatar’s other representative El Jaish STAR OF THE WEEK began their campaign on a winning note earlier last week, putting it past Al Ain 2-1 in Group D. Jaish will host the UAE side in their return tie on Wednesday. DSP/Vinod Divakaran DSP/Vinod Meanwhile, China’s record signing Alex Teixeira scored his opening goal as big spenders Jiangsu Suning got off the mark with a tense 3-2 win over South

DSP/Vinod Divakaran DSP/Vinod Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in ššAl Rayyan players celebrate their triumph in the presence of Qatar Federation officials. Group E. Teixeira, a €50m signing from Shakhtar I’m happy most Donetsk, grabbed the opener in what was Jiangsu’s first win of the tourna- of the time! ment on Tuesday. Earlier, Brazilian goal machine Adriano ELENA Ostapenko has got the made it seven goals in just two games as image of a girl next door. The FC Seoul destroyed Sanfrecce Hiroshima J18-year-old Latvian defied the 4-1 in Group F. odds to reach the Qatar Total Open Adriano, who had smashed four in final last week. Though she lost to their 6-0 win against Buriram United, Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro in the scored another hat-trick as the Korean title clash, she won plenty of hearts, FA Cup holders roared back from a goal thanks to her cute looks, flamboyance down. DSP and modesty. The former Wimbledon Sweet 17! junior champion spoke about her life Rayyan beat Sadd to win their 17th Qatar Basketball League title. beyond the baseline.

ЂЂYou seem to be smiling a lot. 53-48 before going for the final push, Are you a happy person? / Jason Cairnduff Ѓ Mohammad Amin-ul Islam It was a tough game, which proved a bit too much for Sadd. ЂIt depends. My mood is changing all “It was a tough game, but I was the time, but I’m happy most of the time.

but I was happy we happy we prevailed over Sadd. They REUTERS prevailed over Sadd. really played well and put a lot of pres- ЂЂOther than tennis, what’re you HAMPIONS Al Rayyan annexed They really played well. sure on us,” said Rayyan’s Greek coach interested in? their 17th Qatar Basketball Koufos Stergios. ЃЂI used to do ballroom dancing. Seven CLeague title, beating Al Sadd James Dominic Davon and Njimbo years I was a professional dancer. I used 71-62 in the second of best-of-three which finished at 18-18. Tangui led Rayyan’s scoring with 25 and MARCUS RASHFORD to do it once or twice a week. finals at the Al Gharafa Indoor Hall Rayyan struggled to get their act 22 points respectively while Abdulla on Tuesday. together in the second quarter also Malek Salem chipped in with 15. ЂЂDid you perform in shows? The Lions had thrashed Sadd 78-48 as Sadd led 40-34 at half-time. Earlier, El Jaish defeated Al Gharafa LEDGLING forward Marcus Rashford League in midweek and the youngster helped him. ЃЂI went to competitions like the Latvian in the first match. But Sadd’s energy began to wane as 83-66 in the battle for third place, with is keen to continue his “crazy” start was blown away by his instant impact. “It was a shock playing midweek ... But National Championship. I did get some Rayyan endured a difficult start in the Rayyan regained confidence and out- the winners leading from the start. Fto life in the Manchester United first “It’s just crazy. This is my first game in that maybe benefited me because I third and second places! second match as Sadd matched them performed their opponents in the next Elhadj Doudou top-scored for the ššLekhwiya’s Youssef Msakini, left, vies with team after impressing with two more the so obviously it’s been wasn’t thinking about the game too Zobahan’s Ghasem Hadadifar. in all departments in the first quarter, two quarters. Rayyan closed the third Armymen with 18 points. DSP goals in last Sunday’s 3-2 win over title- amazing, and to score two has been a much, so it’s been good,” he said. ЂЂHave you ever used ballroom chasing Arsenal. bonus. So hopefully we can carry it on in Spanish midfielder Juan Mata heaped dances to celebrate a win? COLLATED RESULTS Rashford’s double against the Gunners the next game,” Rashford said. praise on his young team-mate. ЃЂNot on the court really! But once I WEDNESDAY Pakhtakor (UZB) drew Al Hilal (KSA) 2-2 came after he notched twice on his first The 18-year-old said his late inclusion “Marcus is on fire. He scored two goals danced for a cousin at a wedding. Tractor Sazi Tabriz (IRI) bt Al Jazira (UAE) 4-0 team debut in the 5-1 dismantling of against Midtjylland, after Anthony Martial against Midtjylland and now again Kohli guides India to final Al Ain (UAE) lost to El Jaish (QAT) 1-2 Danish side Midtjylland in the Europa was injured in warm-up, had probably against Arsenal,” said Mata. » [email protected] Al Ahli (KSA) drew Nasaf Qarshi (UZB) 1-1 Melbourne Victory (AUS) bt Shanghai SIPG 2-1 (CHN) Suwon Bluewings (KOR) drew Gamba Osaka N-FORM batsman Virat Kohli made Kulasekara removed both the openers 0-0 Inside an unbeaten half-century as India Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma for (JPN) Urawa Reds (JPN) bt Sydney FC (AUS) 2-0 Ieased to a five-wicket win over Sri just 16 runs. Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) drew Pohang 0-0 Lanka on Tuesday to qualify for the Kohli, who hit seven fours, added 54 Steelers (KOR) Asia Cup final in Dhaka. runs with Suresh Raina for the third TUESDAY FC Tokyo (JPN) bt Becamex Binh (VIE) 3-1 Kohli, who played a brilliant innings wicket to put India firmly in control. Jiangsu Suning (CHN) bt Jeonbuk Motors 3-2 of 49 under pressure in an earlier game Dasun Shanaka broke the partnership (KOR) against Pakistan, hit 56 off 47 balls to as Raina miscued a catch to Kulasekara FC Seoul (KOR) bt Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) 4-1 12 24 26 Shandong Luneng (CHN) bt Buriram United guide India to 142 for five after their at mid-off after making 25. 3-0 (THA) medium pacers restricted Sri Lanka Yuvraj Singh ensured it did not affect Zobahan (IRI) drew Lekhwiya (QAT) 0-0 to 138 for nine. India’s run-flow, hitting Rangana Herath FC Bunyodkar (UZB) lost to Al Nassr (KSA) 0-1

AFP/ Munir Uz Zaman Replying to the modest score, India for two sixes off successive balls in the Al Nasr (UAE) bt Sepahan (IRI) 1-0 š Al Ittihad (KSA) drew Lokomotiv (UZB) 1-1 šVirat Kohli were in danger early on when Nuwan next over to make 35 off 18 balls. Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 5

People need not waste their energy on the streets. We’ve a world-class facility at the Losail International Circuit. We’ll try to attract more youngsters to motor sports with special focus on road safety. Abdulrahman Al Mannai, Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation President. JELENA OSTAPENKO STAR OF THE WEEK DSP/Vinod Divakaran DSP/Vinod

I’m happy most of the time!

ELENA Ostapenko has got the image of a girl next door. The J18-year-old Latvian defied the odds to reach the Qatar Total Open final last week. Though she lost to Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro in the title clash, she won plenty of hearts, thanks to her cute looks, flamboyance and modesty. The former Wimbledon junior champion spoke about her life beyond the baseline.

ЂЂYou seem to be smiling a lot. Are you a happy person? / Jason Cairnduff ЃЂIt depends. My mood is changing all the time, but I’m happy most of the time. REUTERS REUTERS ЂЂOther than tennis, what’re you interested in? ЃЂI used to do ballroom dancing. Seven years I was a professional dancer. I used MARCUS RASHFORD to do it once or twice a week.

ЂЂDid you perform in shows? LEDGLING forward Marcus Rashford League in midweek and the youngster helped him. ЃЂI went to competitions like the Latvian is keen to continue his “crazy” start was blown away by his instant impact. “It was a shock playing midweek ... But National Championship. I did get some Fto life in the Manchester United first “It’s just crazy. This is my first game in that maybe benefited me because I third and second places! team after impressing with two more the Premier League so obviously it’s been wasn’t thinking about the game too goals in last Sunday’s 3-2 win over title- amazing, and to score two has been a much, so it’s been good,” he said. ЂЂHave you ever used ballroom chasing Arsenal. bonus. So hopefully we can carry it on in Spanish midfielder Juan Mata heaped dances to celebrate a win? Rashford’s double against the Gunners the next game,” Rashford said. praise on his young team-mate. ЃЂNot on the court really! But once I came after he notched twice on his first The 18-year-old said his late inclusion “Marcus is on fire. He scored two goals danced for a cousin at a wedding. team debut in the 5-1 dismantling of against Midtjylland, after Anthony Martial against Midtjylland and now again Danish side Midtjylland in the Europa was injured in warm-up, had probably against Arsenal,” said Mata. » [email protected]

Inside 12 24 26 6 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 7 Football

ĈĈFive different scorers in Salem for his officiating in their match Sadd honour WEEK 20 | SHORT TAKES 5-0 victory against Al Sailiya. Lekhwiya, who were a class apart ex-star Felipe under Michael Laudrup last season, Al Sadd Sports Club N Ganesh are struggling to get their act together honoured their former this time. Brazilian midfielder Felipe Their latest defeat saw them drift 20 Jorge on the sidelines of points behind Rayyan. their match against Al EKHWIYA coach Their form is hardly encouraging and Arabi last week. Felipe, who Five-star would not have expected such a it remains to be seen how they finish played for Sadd from 2005 to 2010, helped Sadd win Lbig backlash when he challenged the domestic season and how far they several honours, notably an his Al Rayyan counterpart Jorge Fos- will progress in the AFC Champions unprecedented sweep of all

sati. Prior to their match last week, League. DSP/Mohan four domestic titles in the AL SAILIYA 2 AL KHARAITIYAT 1 the Algerian had said he wanted to In another high-profile encounter, Al ššFelipe Jorge receives a memento from Mohammed Ghanem Al A’ali as 2006-07 season. DSP Colombian striker Carlos Preciado found see how the high-flying Lions would Sadd defeated injury-plagued Al Arabi Mohammed Gholam applauds. the target in the 51st minute and Bahrain perform against them in the absence 3-1 to consolidate their fourth place. international Faouzi Ayesh added another from the spot nine minutes later as Sailiya of injured playmaker Rodrigo Tabata. defeated Kharaitiyat. Yahia Kebe pulled Belmadi was made to eat his words one back 10 minutes later for Kharaitiyat, QATAR SC 3 MESAIMEER 0 as Rayyan ran riot, hitting five past the who tried earnestly for the second in the South Korean midfielder Han Kook-Young Lekhwiya, who were keenly-fought last quarter hour. champions without reply. If that was Khalfan gets pride of place scored a brace (67th and 83rd) and set not enough, five different players had a class apart under up Ali Awad for the other (80th) as Qatar Michael Laudrup are Sports Club collected three valuable points their names on the score sheet. as they look to climb above the relegation Ahmed Alaaedin, who has grown struggling now. L SADD forward Khalfan Ibra- zone. Mesaimeer, who have just four points in confidence after topping the scor- him figures in the list of 500 to their credit, look certain to be relegated. ers’ chart in the recent AFC Under-23 Amost important players on the Championship in Doha, opened Rayyan’s Former champions Al Gharafa gave planet published by the World Soccer show account in the 13th while Victor Caceres hopes of returning to their best when football magazine last week. Rayyan thrash champions Lekhwiya to move closer headed home to make it 2-0 in the 42nd. they came from behind to hold Umm Khalfan, one of the most talented Arab Second-half goals from Sebastian Salal 4-4 while Al Sailiya warded off a late players of his generation, had won the to regaining the Qatar Stars League title. Soria (46th), who joined from Lekhwiya challenge to defeat Al Kharaitiyat 2-1. Asian Player of the Year award in 2006. at the start of the season, Mohammed Qatar Sports Club, who are trying to The list is not of the best 500 players Alaaedin (90th) and Sergio Garcia (92nd) steer clear of the relegation zone, added in the world, but a compilation of the AL KHOR 0 AL AHLI 2 made it a thumping win. three more valuable points by putting most talked-about players, the most Seasoned striker and captain Meshaal The victory helped Rayyan move it past bottom side Mesaimeer 3-0. newsworthy. Abdullah once again led from the front 18 points ahead of second-placed El Elsewhere, Al Ahli blanked Al Khor World Soccer began drawing up a list and scored a brace (26th and 59th) as Ahli defeated Khor. The victory saw Ahli catch DSP Jaish, who registered a 1-0 win against 2-0. of key players by league, starting with 50 up with Khor on 22 points and climb to Al Wakrah. Rayyan need just a point each for the leading leagues in Europe 10th position on goal difference. UMM SALAL 4 AL GHARAFA 4 against Wakrah on Saturday to regain TOP SCORERS (England, Germany and Spain), 40 for the title they last won in 1994-95 season. 17 Rodrigo Tabata Al Rayyan France and Italy, between 15 and 25 Moroccan forward Mounir El Hamdaoui Belmadi had one eye on their Tuesday’s 15 El Jaish for middle-ranking ones, and ending netted a hat-trick (42nd,50th and 82nd) away AFC Champions League fixture Yahia Kebe Al Kharitiyat with between five and 10 for smaller as Umm Salal played out a draw with an 14 improved Gharafa. Ismail Mahmoud (14th) Sebastian Saez Al Wakrah DSP ššKhalfan Ibrahim against Zobahan and fielded an under- leagues. had opened their account. Thamer Jamal strength first eleven. (44th), Masoud Shojaei (54th), Krisztian But as Rayyan maintained their total KICK-OFF Nemeth (71st) and Vladimir Weiss (78th) Saturday, March 5 found the target for Gharafa. domination, he brought on Youssef Al Wakrah vs Al Rayyan, Al Wakrah Stadium, 6pm. Qatar Sports Club, who are trying earnestly Msakni, Alain Dioko and Karim Boudiaf, Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Arabi, Al Khor Stadium, 6pm. Halliche to steer clear of the relegation zone, suffered though the impact they made was minis- Al Ahli vs Al Sailiya, Al Ahli Stadium, 8.15pm. a big jolt when Algerian defender Rafik Sunday, March 6 cule. injury Halliche was ruled out for three weeks after “Obviously, the defeat will have a Qatar SC vs Al Khor, Qatar SC Stadium, 6pm. Mesaimeer vs El Jaish, Al Arabi Stadium, 8.15pm. tearing his calf muscle during their match negative influence on our players,” Lekhwiya vs Umm Salal, Lekhwiya Stadium, blow to against Al Mesaimeer. said Lekhwiya’s assistant coach Bruno 8.15pm. Halliche, who had missed the first phase of AL RAYYAN 5 LEKHWIYA 0 Oliviera as Belmadi served suspension Monday, March 7 Qatar SC the league due to a cruciate knee-ligament Rayyan drubbed second-placed Lekhwiya for his outburst against referee Sultan Al Sadd vs Al Gharafa, Al Sadd Stadium, 7.30pm. tear, returned only in the January transfer to move closer to title. Goals from Ahmed window replacing Ismail Benlamaalem. DSP Alaaedin (13th), Victor Caceres (42nd), Sebastian Soria (46th), Mohammed Alaaedin (90th) and Sergio Garcia (92nd) gave the Lions their 19th win. Rayyan, who AL SADD 3 AL ARABI 1 Fossati praises meet Al Wakrah next on Saturday, need Sadd consolidated their fourth place by just one point to seal the title. defeating arch-rivals Arabi. Goals from ‘Our players were Musaab Khider (20th), Morteza Pouraliganji players’ attitude (30th) and Qatar international Hassan exhausted’ Haidous (75th) ensured the Wolves L RAYYAN coach Jorge Fossati full points. Former Iran captain Javad lauded his players’ mentality EKHWIYA’S assistant coach Bruno Nekounam (49th) struck Arabi’s lone goal. Aafter they drubbed champions Oliviera, who took suspended Lekhwiya 5-0 last week. LDjamel Balmadi’s position in the STANDINGS “We’re very happy with the result dugout, said the fatigue of their players Al Rayyan 20 19 0 1 58 14 57 because we played against a tough team. cost the team dear against run-away El Jaish 20 12 3 5 40 21 39 I think we had a good performance in leaders Al Rayyan. Lekhwiya 20 12 1 7 49 29 37 Al Sadd 20 10 5 5 42 29 35 attack and defence. I’m happy for my “It’s a pity that both teams weren’t at the Umm Salal 20 7 10 3 30 25 31 players, who’ve showed great mentality same level going into the match. Rayyan Al Arabi 20 9 3 8 28 30 30 not just in games, but also in training could fully focus on the match against Al Sailiya 20 9 1 10 31 34 28 EL JAISH 1 AL WAKRAH 0 throughout the season,” said Fossati. us while we had the AFC Champions Al Gharafa 20 7 5 8 24 30 26 The former Uruguay goalkeeper also League match against Zobahan in The Armymen were once again a pale Al Wakrah 20 7 2 11 28 34 23 Al Ahli 20 5 7 8 24 29 22 harped on the 19 wins. addition. The players were exhausted shadow of their usual selves and it took them a 72nd-minute penalty by Al Khor 20 6 4 10 17 25 22 “We won 19 of the 20 games. To and it showed in the match. Rayyan Abderrazzaq Hamdallah to seal the win Al Kharitiyat 20 6 3 11 30 40 21

DSP/Mohan achieve it is something really fantas- deserved to win. I congratulate them,” over Wakrah. The victory saw them climb to Qatar SC 20 5 5 10 24 44 20 šĈAl Rayyan players celebrate after scoring a goal against champions Lekhwiya. tic,” he said. DSP šĈJorge Fossati said Oliviera. DSP ššBruno Oliviera second with 39 points. Mesaimeer 20 1 1 18 12 53 4 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 7

Sadd honour WEEK 20 | SHORT TAKES ex-star Felipe

Al Sadd Sports Club honoured their former Brazilian midfielder Felipe Jorge on the sidelines of their match against Al Arabi last week. Felipe, who played for Sadd from 2005 to 2010, helped Sadd win several honours, notably an unprecedented sweep of all

DSP/Mohan four domestic titles in the AL SAILIYA 2 AL KHARAITIYAT 1 ššFelipe Jorge receives a memento from Mohammed Ghanem Al A’ali as 2006-07 season. DSP Colombian striker Carlos Preciado found Mohammed Gholam applauds. the target in the 51st minute and Bahrain international Faouzi Ayesh added another from the spot nine minutes later as Sailiya defeated Kharaitiyat. Yahia Kebe pulled one back 10 minutes later for Kharaitiyat, QATAR SC 3 MESAIMEER 0 who tried earnestly for the second in the South Korean midfielder Han Kook-Young Khalfan gets pride of place keenly-fought last quarter hour. scored a brace (67th and 83rd) and set up Ali Awad for the other (80th) as Qatar Sports Club collected three valuable points as they look to climb above the relegation L SADD forward Khalfan Ibra- zone. Mesaimeer, who have just four points him figures in the list of 500 to their credit, look certain to be relegated. Amost important players on the planet published by the World Soccer football magazine last week. Khalfan, one of the most talented Arab players of his generation, had won the Asian Player of the Year award in 2006. The list is not of the best 500 players in the world, but a compilation of the AL KHOR 0 AL AHLI 2 most talked-about players, the most Seasoned striker and captain Meshaal newsworthy. Abdullah once again led from the front World Soccer began drawing up a list and scored a brace (26th and 59th) as Ahli defeated Khor. The victory saw Ahli catch of key players by league, starting with 50 up with Khor on 22 points and climb to each for the leading leagues in Europe 10th position on goal difference. (England, Germany and Spain), 40 for UMM SALAL 4 AL GHARAFA 4 France and Italy, between 15 and 25 Moroccan forward Mounir El Hamdaoui for middle-ranking ones, and ending netted a hat-trick (42nd,50th and 82nd) with between five and 10 for smaller as Umm Salal played out a draw with an improved Gharafa. Ismail Mahmoud (14th) DSP ššKhalfan Ibrahim leagues. had opened their account. Thamer Jamal (44th), Masoud Shojaei (54th), Krisztian Nemeth (71st) and Vladimir Weiss (78th) found the target for Gharafa. Qatar Sports Club, who are trying earnestly Halliche to steer clear of the relegation zone, suffered a big jolt when Algerian defender Rafik injury Halliche was ruled out for three weeks after tearing his calf muscle during their match blow to against Al Mesaimeer. Halliche, who had missed the first phase of AL RAYYAN 5 LEKHWIYA 0 Qatar SC the league due to a cruciate knee-ligament Rayyan drubbed second-placed Lekhwiya tear, returned only in the January transfer to move closer to title. Goals from Ahmed window replacing Ismail Benlamaalem. DSP Alaaedin (13th), Victor Caceres (42nd), Sebastian Soria (46th), Mohammed Alaaedin (90th) and Sergio Garcia (92nd) gave the Lions their 19th win. Rayyan, who AL SADD 3 AL ARABI 1 meet Al Wakrah next on Saturday, need Sadd consolidated their fourth place by just one point to seal the title. defeating arch-rivals Arabi. Goals from ‘Our players were Musaab Khider (20th), Morteza Pouraliganji (30th) and Qatar international Hassan exhausted’ Haidous (75th) ensured the Wolves full points. Former Iran captain Javad EKHWIYA’S assistant coach Bruno Nekounam (49th) struck Arabi’s lone goal. Oliviera, who took suspended LDjamel Balmadi’s position in the STANDINGS dugout, said the fatigue of their players Al Rayyan 20 19 0 1 58 14 57 cost the team dear against run-away El Jaish 20 12 3 5 40 21 39 leaders Al Rayyan. Lekhwiya 20 12 1 7 49 29 37 Al Sadd 20 10 5 5 42 29 35 “It’s a pity that both teams weren’t at the Umm Salal 20 7 10 3 30 25 31 same level going into the match. Rayyan Al Arabi 20 9 3 8 28 30 30 could fully focus on the match against Al Sailiya 20 9 1 10 31 34 28 EL JAISH 1 AL WAKRAH 0 us while we had the AFC Champions Al Gharafa 20 7 5 8 24 30 26 League match against Zobahan in The Armymen were once again a pale Al Wakrah 20 7 2 11 28 34 23 Al Ahli 20 5 7 8 24 29 22 addition. The players were exhausted shadow of their usual selves and it took them a 72nd-minute penalty by Al Khor 20 6 4 10 17 25 22 and it showed in the match. Rayyan Abderrazzaq Hamdallah to seal the win Al Kharitiyat 20 6 3 11 30 40 21 deserved to win. I congratulate them,” over Wakrah. The victory saw them climb to Qatar SC 20 5 5 10 24 44 20 said Oliviera. DSP ššBruno Oliviera second with 39 points. Mesaimeer 20 1 1 18 12 53 4 8 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 9 Football Qatar University are champions again

ATAR University emerged as win- ners in the University League Qatar University got Qfor the third straight year. In the final played at the Qatar Founda- the better of Qatar tion (QF) Recreation Centre field, they Aeronautical College ššQatar’sWeiss, Nemeth Hassan Alshines Haidous for Ghar during training. defeated Qatar Aeronautical College 4-0. in the final. Hazem Samy and Abdulla Al Majed did the star turn for the winners, scor- ing a brace each. QFA’s School and University Qatar to take Texas A&M University at Qatar beat League Committee Chairman Hilal Al on Albania in Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar Mohannadi was the chief guest at 8-0 to finish third. the valedictory function attended by a friendly The winners, runners-up and third- host of officials from the QF and foot- place finishers were richer by QR40,000, ball fraternity. ATAR will play Albania in an QR30,000 and QR20,000. “Congratulations to Qatar University international friendly in Austria The tournament, which this year saw for winning the title for the third con- DSP/Mohammed Dabboos Qon May 29. nine teams in action, is a joint initia- secutive time. All teams showed great ššAl Gharafa’s Vladimir Weiss, right, celebrates with Abdulrahman Fayez after scoring against Umm Salal. The match is a part of Qatar’s prepa- tive by the Qatar Football Association sportsmanship and did their best,” said rations for the third and final round of (QFA) and QF. Al Mohannadi. DSP ššMembers of the victorious Qatar University team with Hilal Al Mohannadi, fourth left, and other officials. the 2018 World Cup Asian Zone qualifi- cation. Qatar became the first country to progress with two matches to spare in the second round. 30m-year-old rock Albania, currently ranked 36th in the world, will use the friendly to prepare found at stadium site for the 2016 Euro Championship. The rock samples recently uncovered at the During qualification, they had beaten freshfresh againagain withwith Qatar Foundation Stadium, a proposed venue former world champions France and for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, date back to powerhouses Portugal. At the conti- millions of years, it has been determined. nental event, they are drawn with with The excavation unearthed of 1.37 million France, Romania and Switzerland. DSP cubic metres of rock, the equivalent of approximately 550 full-sized Olympic swimming pools. The geotechnical samples of ‘Dukhan rock’ date back approximately 30 ššChristophe Payot, centre, with fellow delegation members at the Supreme Committee office. twotwo newcomersnewcomers million years. “As we dug down deeper on site, we came across interesting and distinct colour Qatar Museums Krisztian Nemeth and Vladimir Weiss help Al Gharafa make a turnaround. bandings on the rock formations. It was an interesting find, and we were intrigued to signs MoU Qatar World Cup will find out how old these rocks really were,” said Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy’s with Supreme Mohammad Amin-ul Islam Competition Venues Project Manager Eid Al The Cheetahs have bridge cultures, says Qahtani. Committee shown a lot of “We decided to conduct further research into the Dukhan rock,” he added. DSP HE Qatar Museums (QM), the improvement following Belgian ambassador body responsible for develop- L GHARAFA seemed to have a series of setbacks. Ting, promoting and sustaining benefited from the inclusion Qatar’s cultural sector, last week signed Aof their new signings Slovak ELGIUM’S Ambassador to Qatar an MoU with the Supreme Commit- šWeiss, Nemeth shines for Ghar Vladimir Weiss and Hungarian Krisztian his assistant Habib Sadeq took charge ššAction from the Under-19 friendly match Christophe Payot said the 2022 Qatar World Cup will tee for Delivery and Legacy (SCDL), Nemeth, who joined from Lekhwiya as caretaker coach, their performance between Qatar and Morocco. BFIFA World Cup — the first-ever which is tasked with delivering the and Sporting Kansas City respectively did not improve much. in the Middle East region — will “bridge best illustrate the power infrastructure required for the 2022 during the winter transfer period. But Gharafa found some rhythm after cultures like never before.” of to unite people FIFA World Cup. Gharafa played out an exciting 4-4 Caixinha joined in December. Their Payot, who headed a Belgian trade and cultures. The partnership is designed to build draw against Umm Salal last week in resilience was again to the fore against Qatari boys delegation on its visit to the Supreme and strengthen the collaboration that th 20th round of the Qatar Stars League Umm Salal last week. impress against Committee for Delivery and Legacy already exists between the two organ- and stayed eighth with 26 points. After trailing 1-2 at half-time, Gharafa (SCDL) office, also said the tournament, welfare. “We want to share our expertise isations. Both Nemeth (72nd, penalty) and played with a lot of purpose to take Morocco only the second ever in Asia, “will best and partner Qatar to make the World The MoU will see the two organisa- Weiss (78th) found the target while Tamer a 4-3 lead before Morrocan interna- illustrate the power of sport, especially Cup a great success,” he said. tions work more closely together with Jamal (45th) and Masoud Shojaei (55th) tional Mounir El Hamdaoui, who com- HE Qatar Under-19 team played football, to unite people and cultures”. Payot, who took over as ambassa- the joint aim of promoting Qatar as a were the other scorers. pleted his hat-trick in the 82nd min- out a goalless draw with Morocco “Belgium is a small country with peo- dor in September, 2014, said he had leading global art, cultural and sports Weiss’s stunning free-kick fetched ute, snatched a vital point for Umm Tin a friendly in Casablanca last ple open to ideas and cultures from all been witnessing from close quarters hub. It will mainly focus on sharing him his first goal for Gharafa. Salal. Ismail Mahmoud Mardanli had week. Qatar had won the first tie 2-1. parts of the world, not just Europe, and “the great enthusiasm” while prepar- knowledge and expertise between the “Both Weiss and Nemeth’s presence opened scoring for the men in orange The matches were part of Qatar’s therefore we see in the first Middle East ing for the tournament. two organisations. has really boosted the team’s attack. in the 15th. preparations for the Asian Under-19 World Cup a great social and economic “I’ve also been impressed by the pro- The QM will also instal a number of The club made the right choice to have However, Caixinha walked away with Championship, to be held in Bahrain opportunity,” said Payet. fessionalism involved in the prepara- artworks at all 2022 World Cup stadi- them in the squad during the trans- his heads high and credited his boys for from October 13 to 30. “We’re an open economy driven by tions. I’m pleased that the presentation ums as part of the collaboration. fer period,” said Gharafa coach Pedro showing the mental strength to chal- Qatar are the defending champions. exports and are ideally suited to embrace shed light on all aspects of it. The partnership will provide the SCDL Caixinha. lenge their opponents. The Oscar Cano-coached side will camp the spirit of global togetherness,” said “Belgium have many exciting young tal- access to the QM’s resources, facilities The Cheetahs have shown a lot of “We played really well. The perfor- in Malaga, Spain, later this month and Payot, whose delegation was briefed ents like Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard, and institutions, and allow for joint improvement following a series of mance showed the team has overcome play friendlies against Costa Rica and about all aspects of the ongoing World Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and promotional activities through vari- setbacks, which resulted in the exit of the bad patches in the previous matches,” Ivory Coast on March 23 and 25 respec- Cup preparations, including stadium Adnan Januzaj, who’re hopefully going ous channels, including social media Brazilian Pericles Chamusca. Though said the Portuguese. DSP ššKrisztian Nemeth has made an instant impact at Gharafa. tively. DSP construction progress and workers’ to be leaders by 2022,” said Payot. DSP ššQatar Foundation Stadium site. and newsletters. DSP 8 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 9 Football Qatar University are champions again

ATAR University emerged as win- ners in the University League Qatar University got Qfor the third straight year. In the final played at the Qatar Founda- the better of Qatar tion (QF) Recreation Centre field, they Aeronautical College ššQatar’sWeiss, Nemeth Hassan Alshines Haidous for Ghar during training. defeated Qatar Aeronautical College 4-0. in the final. Hazem Samy and Abdulla Al Majed did the star turn for the winners, scor- ing a brace each. QFA’s School and University Qatar to take Texas A&M University at Qatar beat League Committee Chairman Hilal Al on Albania in Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar Mohannadi was the chief guest at 8-0 to finish third. the valedictory function attended by a friendly The winners, runners-up and third- host of officials from the QF and foot- place finishers were richer by QR40,000, ball fraternity. ATAR will play Albania in an QR30,000 and QR20,000. “Congratulations to Qatar University international friendly in Austria The tournament, which this year saw for winning the title for the third con- DSP/Mohammed Dabboos Qon May 29. nine teams in action, is a joint initia- secutive time. All teams showed great ššAl Gharafa’s Vladimir Weiss, right, celebrates with Abdulrahman Fayez after scoring against Umm Salal. The match is a part of Qatar’s prepa- tive by the Qatar Football Association sportsmanship and did their best,” said rations for the third and final round of (QFA) and QF. Al Mohannadi. DSP ššMembers of the victorious Qatar University team with Hilal Al Mohannadi, fourth left, and other officials. the 2018 World Cup Asian Zone qualifi- cation. Qatar became the first country to progress with two matches to spare in the second round. 30m-year-old rock Albania, currently ranked 36th in the world, will use the friendly to prepare found at stadium site for the 2016 Euro Championship. The rock samples recently uncovered at the During qualification, they had beaten freshfresh againagain withwith Qatar Foundation Stadium, a proposed venue former world champions France and for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, date back to powerhouses Portugal. At the conti- millions of years, it has been determined. nental event, they are drawn with with The excavation unearthed of 1.37 million France, Romania and Switzerland. DSP cubic metres of rock, the equivalent of approximately 550 full-sized Olympic swimming pools. The geotechnical samples of ‘Dukhan rock’ date back approximately 30 ššChristophe Payot, centre, with fellow delegation members at the Supreme Committee office. twotwo newcomersnewcomers million years. “As we dug down deeper on site, we came across interesting and distinct colour Qatar Museums Krisztian Nemeth and Vladimir Weiss help Al Gharafa make a turnaround. bandings on the rock formations. It was an interesting find, and we were intrigued to signs MoU Qatar World Cup will find out how old these rocks really were,” said Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy’s with Supreme Mohammad Amin-ul Islam Competition Venues Project Manager Eid Al The Cheetahs have bridge cultures, says Qahtani. Committee shown a lot of “We decided to conduct further research into the Dukhan rock,” he added. DSP HE Qatar Museums (QM), the improvement following Belgian ambassador body responsible for develop- L GHARAFA seemed to have a series of setbacks. Ting, promoting and sustaining benefited from the inclusion Qatar’s cultural sector, last week signed Aof their new signings Slovak ELGIUM’S Ambassador to Qatar an MoU with the Supreme Commit- šWeiss, Nemeth shines for Ghar Vladimir Weiss and Hungarian Krisztian his assistant Habib Sadeq took charge ššAction from the Under-19 friendly match Christophe Payot said the 2022 Qatar World Cup will tee for Delivery and Legacy (SCDL), Nemeth, who joined from Lekhwiya as caretaker coach, their performance between Qatar and Morocco. BFIFA World Cup — the first-ever which is tasked with delivering the and Sporting Kansas City respectively did not improve much. in the Middle East region — will “bridge best illustrate the power infrastructure required for the 2022 during the winter transfer period. But Gharafa found some rhythm after cultures like never before.” of sport to unite people FIFA World Cup. Gharafa played out an exciting 4-4 Caixinha joined in December. Their Payot, who headed a Belgian trade and cultures. The partnership is designed to build draw against Umm Salal last week in resilience was again to the fore against Qatari boys delegation on its visit to the Supreme and strengthen the collaboration that th 20th round of the Qatar Stars League Umm Salal last week. impress against Committee for Delivery and Legacy already exists between the two organ- and stayed eighth with 26 points. After trailing 1-2 at half-time, Gharafa (SCDL) office, also said the tournament, welfare. “We want to share our expertise isations. Both Nemeth (72nd, penalty) and played with a lot of purpose to take Morocco only the second ever in Asia, “will best and partner Qatar to make the World The MoU will see the two organisa- Weiss (78th) found the target while Tamer a 4-3 lead before Morrocan interna- illustrate the power of sport, especially Cup a great success,” he said. tions work more closely together with Jamal (45th) and Masoud Shojaei (55th) tional Mounir El Hamdaoui, who com- HE Qatar Under-19 team played football, to unite people and cultures”. Payot, who took over as ambassa- the joint aim of promoting Qatar as a were the other scorers. pleted his hat-trick in the 82nd min- out a goalless draw with Morocco “Belgium is a small country with peo- dor in September, 2014, said he had leading global art, cultural and sports Weiss’s stunning free-kick fetched ute, snatched a vital point for Umm Tin a friendly in Casablanca last ple open to ideas and cultures from all been witnessing from close quarters hub. It will mainly focus on sharing him his first goal for Gharafa. Salal. Ismail Mahmoud Mardanli had week. Qatar had won the first tie 2-1. parts of the world, not just Europe, and “the great enthusiasm” while prepar- knowledge and expertise between the “Both Weiss and Nemeth’s presence opened scoring for the men in orange The matches were part of Qatar’s therefore we see in the first Middle East ing for the tournament. two organisations. has really boosted the team’s attack. in the 15th. preparations for the Asian Under-19 World Cup a great social and economic “I’ve also been impressed by the pro- The QM will also instal a number of The club made the right choice to have However, Caixinha walked away with Championship, to be held in Bahrain opportunity,” said Payet. fessionalism involved in the prepara- artworks at all 2022 World Cup stadi- them in the squad during the trans- his heads high and credited his boys for from October 13 to 30. “We’re an open economy driven by tions. I’m pleased that the presentation ums as part of the collaboration. fer period,” said Gharafa coach Pedro showing the mental strength to chal- Qatar are the defending champions. exports and are ideally suited to embrace shed light on all aspects of it. The partnership will provide the SCDL Caixinha. lenge their opponents. The Oscar Cano-coached side will camp the spirit of global togetherness,” said “Belgium have many exciting young tal- access to the QM’s resources, facilities The Cheetahs have shown a lot of “We played really well. The perfor- in Malaga, Spain, later this month and Payot, whose delegation was briefed ents like Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard, and institutions, and allow for joint improvement following a series of mance showed the team has overcome play friendlies against Costa Rica and about all aspects of the ongoing World Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and promotional activities through vari- setbacks, which resulted in the exit of the bad patches in the previous matches,” Ivory Coast on March 23 and 25 respec- Cup preparations, including stadium Adnan Januzaj, who’re hopefully going ous channels, including social media Brazilian Pericles Chamusca. Though said the Portuguese. DSP ššKrisztian Nemeth has made an instant impact at Gharafa. tively. DSP construction progress and workers’ to be leaders by 2022,” said Payot. DSP ššQatar Foundation Stadium site. and newsletters. DSP 10 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 11

The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Supreme Committee congratulated Gianni Infantino on becoming the FIFA president. It wished him well in his new role congratulates new and looked forward to working closely with him in Football FIFA president preparations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Chief gets down to work

secretary-general — the precise title the perks of the job. Keir Radnedge has yet to be defined — will be the top Infantino will be paid a flat salary earner. though the new CEO will receive both This reflects the governance changes salary and bonuses. which remove executive functions from For the time being German Markus IANNI Infantino played a football the president and enthrones the new Kattner will continue as interim sec- match on the pitch outside his retary-general as well as being finance Gnew presidential office at FIFA director. headquarters in Zurich. He’ll mean Infantino will be paid a He may remain in both functions for business soon. some time. Infantino could, in theory, Infantino will soon discover he is to flat sum though the new force through his own personal choice be paid significantly less than prede- CEO will receive both for CEO within the next 60 days, before cessor Sepp Blatter. salary and bonuses. the reform changes take effect. But that Blatter was thought to be paid around would put him on collision course with $6m. Infantino’s new salary may be the lawyers and corporate advisers play- closer to the €3m he was thought to CEO as the most powerful man or woman ing a key role in pushing FIFA down a be receiving as UEFA general secretary. in the world game. new structural role. He will not be the highest-paid indi- Blatter, who was both president A standard corporate procedure of vidual at ‘new FIFA’ after a wide-rang- and chief executive, was paid a salary drawing up a target profile and then ing package of reforms was endorsed and bonuses, as was secretary general commissioning head-hunters to find by the member associations. Jerome Valcke before his sacking last the new CEO is then expected to be The new chief executive or month for playing fast and loose with undertaken. ššGianni Infantino

SHORT TAKES From stop-gap ššShaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa congratulates Gianni Infantino on his victory. Key developments when FIFA elected VOTE SHARE Gianni Infantino as new president to topmost and voted in a series of reforms at its With Kuwait and Indonesia being suspended, 207 of FIFA’s 209 members voted in congress last week. secret. Tokyo Sexwale pulled out just before election. COVER STORY Infantino succeeds fellow Swiss Sepp Brian Homewood Blatter. He is the ninth president in ROUND 1 ROUND 2 FIFA’s 112-year history. A second round of voting was needed after none of the four candidates won IX months ago, Gianni Infantino a required two-thirds majority in the 85 first round. Infantino polled 88 votes, 88 was a low-profile right-hand Sheikh Salman 85, Prince Ali 27 and Sman to European football boss Champagne 7. 27 Michel Platini. He was the striking, Infantino, a Swiss-Italian lawyer and 115 shaven-headed character who pulled UEFA general secretary best known 88 balls out of glass pots during televised to football fans for presiding over 7 UEFA competition draws. Champions League draws, won a 4 Barely-known by the general public, majority in the second round of DAWN OF AN ERA Gianni Infantino Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa he was also the man behind a com- voting by polling 115 of the available plex attempt to force Europe’s clubs Gianni Infantino outscores Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa in crucial areas. 207 votes. Prince Ali bin Al Hussein Jerome Champagne to rein in their spending, but which That was 27 more votes than the 88 ended up leaving fans and even club picked up by his closest rival, Shaikh were persistently irritating, distract- Hussein’s western Asian alliance. Such We’ve to build bridges, not Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa of GRACIOUS IN DEFEAT! directors confused. Keir Radnedge ingly wearing. But Shaikh Salman was as a handful of recalcitrant, anti-Issa- walls. Football can certainly Bahrain who had been favourite to Last week, Infantino was chosen as the always firm in cutting off debate. Hayatou Africans. But he would sweep succeed Blatter. new president of FIFA, a position which do that. I want to focus This is a democracy But what appears to have happened is almost all of Asia, pick up ‘neighbour- Prince Ali bin Al Hussein polled made his predecessor Sepp Blatter as on football. We’ve had an and it’s what the this: Shaikh Salman was narrow favourite ing’ Oceania as an afterthought, most of election, but not a war. It was four votes in the second round and instantly recognisable as some of the HAIKH Salman bin Ibrahim Al as the five candidates flew to Zurich at Africa secured by the AFC-CAF develop- Jerome Champagne none as they Congress wants world’s leading statesman. a competition, but not a fight. Khalifa was working at the hall the start of the week. He believed that, in ment deal, maybe half of the Caribbean finished third and fourth respectively. and we wish all the It was a remarkable leap for the affa- It was a sporting contest. An Sbright and early before the FIFA preaching financial caution, he was paint- and even a thin slice of Europe after Tokyo Sexwale, the fifth candidate, best for the new ble Swiss-Italian. election you win, you lose Congress had even begun at the Zurich ing himself as the responsible next pres- the Russia-Bahrain political liaison. caused a surprise by withdrawing president. The polyglot lawyer only entered the and then life goes on. Now from the race just before the election. Hallenstadion last week. Smiling, suave, But, in two crucial areas, Shaikh Salman Prince Ali bin Al Hussein FIFA race in late October, one day before apparently confident of a presidential and his team missed a fatal trick. we turn the page, we start Congress passes a series of far- the deadline, as a stop-gap candidate triumph to come, he bequeathed em- Firstly, in his confidence, he over- to work, and I can show reaching reforms designed to make As far as I’m concerned, after Platini had been placed under Shaikh Salman had a FIFA more transparent, professional braces, kisses, hugs and handshakes, looked the fact that this was an election the whole world I’m not a I knew there would investigation for ethics violations. shaken and fractured and accountable. leaving a wave of adulatory smiles in run on western democratic lines — and candidate of Europe be a very strong When Platini failed to clear his name his apparently all-conquering wake. FIFA at his mercy, but in such contests the contenders have or wherever. I’m Reforms include publication of the and was banned from football for six president’s salary, a limitation on his continental discipline, So what went wrong? things did not work. to bring headline offers to the table; no a candidate of years, Infantino was left carrying the spell in office to three terms of four It was between two I knew I wouldn’t Why, when aides had been predict- matter if, on opening the books, they football and years and a curbing of his influence friends and Gianni won. get a lot of votes. I hopes of European football. ing a potentially decisive 117 votes in have to break their campaign promises. football is on day-to-day management of FIFA’s I congratulate him. He’ll spoke about football. In the intervening time, he visited the first round, when he had the cus- ident; that in painting Gianni Infantino Secondly, he committed the awful own universal. affairs. have all our support I think I was the only several dozen countries, clocking up tomary string-pulling support of Sheikh as the irresponsible European he was goal of deriding Infantino’s promise to by his own calculations enough air Gianni Infantino An elected FIFA council will replace for the future. What one speaking about Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, when he scoring heavily on two counts (the rest expand FIFA’s development spending. miles to have flown around the world the executive committee and, to matters is in the future. football. had a shaken and fractured FIFA at his of the world likes UEFA’s money but not promote the role of women in three times. mercy, did it all implode so dramati- its self-centred arrogance). » The writer is Football Commission football, each confederation will elect Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Jerome Champagne “It was destiny which brought me to cally for Shaikh Salman? OK, there would be odd small pockets Chairman of international sports press at least one female representative to Al Khalifa start the journey, an exciting journey, the council. Certainly the human rights allegations of resistance. Such as Prince Ali bin Al association. a fantastic journey,” he said. Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 11

The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Supreme Committee congratulated Gianni Infantino on becoming the FIFA president. It wished him well in his new role congratulates new and looked forward to working closely with him in FIFA president preparations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Chief gets down to work

secretary-general — the precise title the perks of the job. Keir Radnedge has yet to be defined — will be the top Infantino will be paid a flat salary earner. though the new CEO will receive both This reflects the governance changes salary and bonuses. which remove executive functions from For the time being German Markus IANNI Infantino played a football the president and enthrones the new Kattner will continue as interim sec- match on the pitch outside his retary-general as well as being finance Gnew presidential office at FIFA director. headquarters in Zurich. He’ll mean Infantino will be paid a He may remain in both functions for business soon. some time. Infantino could, in theory, Infantino will soon discover he is to flat sum though the new force through his own personal choice be paid significantly less than prede- CEO will receive both for CEO within the next 60 days, before cessor Sepp Blatter. salary and bonuses. the reform changes take effect. But that Blatter was thought to be paid around would put him on collision course with $6m. Infantino’s new salary may be the lawyers and corporate advisers play- closer to the €3m he was thought to CEO as the most powerful man or woman ing a key role in pushing FIFA down a be receiving as UEFA general secretary. in the world game. new structural role. He will not be the highest-paid indi- Blatter, who was both president A standard corporate procedure of vidual at ‘new FIFA’ after a wide-rang- and chief executive, was paid a salary drawing up a target profile and then ing package of reforms was endorsed and bonuses, as was secretary general commissioning head-hunters to find by the member associations. Jerome Valcke before his sacking last the new CEO is then expected to be The new chief executive or month for playing fast and loose with undertaken. ššGianni Infantino

SHORT TAKES From stop-gap Key developments when FIFA elected VOTE SHARE Gianni Infantino as new president to topmost and voted in a series of reforms at its With Kuwait and Indonesia being suspended, 207 of FIFA’s 209 members voted in congress last week. secret. Tokyo Sexwale pulled out just before election. Infantino succeeds fellow Swiss Sepp Brian Homewood Blatter. He is the ninth president in ROUND 1 ROUND 2 FIFA’s 112-year history. A second round of voting was needed after none of the four candidates won IX months ago, Gianni Infantino a required two-thirds majority in the 85 first round. Infantino polled 88 votes, 88 was a low-profile right-hand Sheikh Salman 85, Prince Ali 27 and Sman to European football boss Champagne 7. 27 Michel Platini. He was the striking, Infantino, a Swiss-Italian lawyer and 115 shaven-headed character who pulled UEFA general secretary best known 88 balls out of glass pots during televised to football fans for presiding over 7 UEFA competition draws. Champions League draws, won a 4 Barely-known by the general public, majority in the second round of Gianni Infantino Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa he was also the man behind a com- voting by polling 115 of the available plex attempt to force Europe’s clubs 207 votes. Prince Ali bin Al Hussein Jerome Champagne to rein in their spending, but which That was 27 more votes than the 88 ended up leaving fans and even club picked up by his closest rival, Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa of GRACIOUS IN DEFEAT! directors confused. Bahrain who had been favourite to Last week, Infantino was chosen as the succeed Blatter. new president of FIFA, a position which This is a democracy Prince Ali bin Al Hussein polled made his predecessor Sepp Blatter as four votes in the second round and and it’s what the instantly recognisable as some of the Jerome Champagne none as they Congress wants world’s leading statesman. finished third and fourth respectively. and we wish all the It was a remarkable leap for the affa- Tokyo Sexwale, the fifth candidate, best for the new ble Swiss-Italian. caused a surprise by withdrawing president. The polyglot lawyer only entered the from the race just before the election. Prince Ali bin Al Hussein FIFA race in late October, one day before Congress passes a series of far- the deadline, as a stop-gap candidate reaching reforms designed to make As far as I’m concerned, after Platini had been placed under FIFA more transparent, professional investigation for ethics violations. and accountable. I knew there would be a very strong When Platini failed to clear his name Reforms include publication of the and was banned from football for six president’s salary, a limitation on his continental discipline, years, Infantino was left carrying the spell in office to three terms of four It was between two I knew I wouldn’t years and a curbing of his influence friends and Gianni won. get a lot of votes. I hopes of European football. on day-to-day management of FIFA’s I congratulate him. He’ll spoke about football. In the intervening time, he visited affairs. have all our support I think I was the only several dozen countries, clocking up An elected FIFA council will replace for the future. What one speaking about by his own calculations enough air miles to have flown around the world the executive committee and, to matters is in the future. football. promote the role of women in three times. football, each confederation will elect Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Jerome Champagne “It was destiny which brought me to at least one female representative to Al Khalifa start the journey, an exciting journey, the council. a fantastic journey,” he said. 12 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 13 Football

‘I congratulate Sepp Blatter congratulated said Blatter. Gianni Infantino on being elected “Prepare yourself well, but Gianni from his successor as FIFA president be vigilant. While everyone following a campaign focused on supports you and tells you nice the bottom of the need to condemn his scandal- words, know that once you’re the plagued 18-year era to the past. president, friends become rare,” my heart’ “I congratulate Gianni sincerely he said. and from the bottom of my heart Meanwhile, Blatter was also told for his election,” said Blatter in a he must leave his FIFA apartment statement. or start paying rent. “With the adoption of the “From the election of his Mission clean-up reform programme, expectations successor, Sepp Blatter’s contract š on him will be even higher. is terminated,” said a FIFA source. šDiego Maradona VOTE ON REFORMS But I’m fully convinced that my “This means that he has to leave successor will put them in place,” his official apartment or pay rent.” Maradona wants 179 life terms for for Asia looks forward to working Blatter, Platini ORMER Argentina captain Diego Maradona said ex-FIFA president FSepp Blatter and suspended Eu- 22 6 with new FIFA chief Infantino ropean football chief Michel Platini should have been given life imprison- against abstained ment rather than six-year bans from the game for ethics violations. Peter Rutherford The pair were suspended for eight years — reduced to six last week — for a payment of $2.03m made to the Frenchman in 2011 by FIFA with Blatter’s SIAN football officials said they approval for work done a decade ear- were looking forward to work- lier. Both men denied any wrongdoing. Aing with new FIFA President “It seems like the FIFA ethics com- Gianni Infantino, despite the region’s mittee was wrong,” said Maradona, The reforms have been two candidates losing out to the Swiss 55. “Having so much evidence against approved. As of now and for in the election, and called for unity to these people and having seen how they the future, there’ll help push the reform process forward. were robbing for so many years, they be no issues Infantino beat Asian candidates should’ve given both life imprison- anymore. And Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa ment.” as for the (Bahrain) and Prince Ali bin Al Hussein past, we’ve (Jordan) as well as Frenchman Jerome to make sure Champagne to succeed Sepp Blatter. AFP/ Fabrice Coffrini AFP/ Fabrice The election marked an opportunity we co-operate ššFrancois Carrard to begin the long road back to restor- fully with all ing the reputation of crisis-hit FIFA, the authorities to said Football Federation Australia chief make sure that everything Steven Lowy. FIFA approves new reforms as the world governing body looks comes out if something has to transform itself into a trusted, modern sporting organisation. happened. There’s more joy for FIFA to come. The Arab region rued yet š Gianni Infantino, FIFA President. š Michel Platini Both bodies will be overseen by a fully the foundation for the new president another wasted chance Mike Collett independent Audit and Compliance and the new leadership on which to to help elect its first FIFA Committee. build for the future. president. Francois Carrard, the independent Only one delegate spoke against the chairman of the Reform Committee, proposals. Chilean-born Gonzalo Boye, The FIFA Congress’ UEFA to name IFA approved the deepest re- presented the 62-page document to representing Palestine, said the reforms overwhelming approval While Australia, which joined the new secretary forms in its 112-year history last delegates, saying FIFA had a once-in- would not bring transparency. of the wide-ranging Asian Football Confederation (AFC) a Fweek in an attempt to put years a-generation opportunity. “There’ll be no balance or counter- reforms proposed by the decade ago, had come out in support on Friday? of scandal and crisis behind it, and balance in the new Council,” he said. FIFA Reform Committee of Prince Ali ahead of the vote, Lowy transform itself into a trusted, modern Drawn up over the last eight months, demonstrated the described the election as “the best day EFA may name a temporary sporting organisation. This reform package will the reforms are designed to end the shared belief FIFA has had in many years”. general secretary on Friday to FIFA delegates voted by 179 votes to scandals that have for decades dogged that change “The mood for change was in the air Utake over from former European provide the foundation 22 to accept the reforms, which include the organisation supposed to lead the is needed. As and the Congress voted overwhelm- football No.2 Gianni Infantino, the new replacing the Executive Committee for the new president world’s most popular sport. a member ingly to move forward,” he said. FIFA president. with a 36-member FIFA Council, and and the new leadership. Criminal investigations in the US of the While the Arab region rued yet another Greece’s Theodore Theodoridis appears limiting the president and other senior and Switzerland since the current crisis committee, I wasted chance to help elect their first to be favourite for the job Infantino officials to three terms of four years. began last May have already resulted in was proud to be FIFA president after their two candi- quit to take up his new role with FIFA. A new professional general secre- “The reforms are necessary to bring the indictment of several dozen football able to contribute to dates failed to co-operate, AFC presi- UEFA’s executive committee will meet tariat, akin to a company’s executive a profound culture change to FIFA. officials and other entities for corrup- dent Shaikh Salman called for unity. on Friday morning in Nyon to decide the proposals, but I know board, will handle the business side of There’ll be more democracy, there’ll tion, many of them serving or former “The AFC looks forward to working on the matter. that we still’ve a long way to FIFA, leaving the 36-member Council, be better governance through a sepa- presidents of national or continental with the new-look FIFA and its new The role is an important one as UEFA elected by national member associa- ration of powers in the council, there’ll associations. go — reform can’t happen President in order to reform the world president Michel Platini is banned tions and including at least six women, be more transparency, and more places The proposals also place onus on con- overnight. football governing body and to rein- from all football activities for six years, to focus on broad matters of policy and for women. tinental confederations and national Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, state football’s credibility globally,” he although he is engaged in legal pro- strategy. “This reform package will provide associations to police themselves. Olympic Council of Asia President. said on the AFC’s website. ššFIFA President Gianni Infantino, left, with AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa in Zurich. ceedings to have that ban overturned. Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 13

‘I congratulate Sepp Blatter congratulated said Blatter. Gianni Infantino on being elected “Prepare yourself well, but Gianni from his successor as FIFA president be vigilant. While everyone following a campaign focused on supports you and tells you nice the bottom of the need to condemn his scandal- words, know that once you’re the plagued 18-year era to the past. president, friends become rare,” my heart’ “I congratulate Gianni sincerely he said. and from the bottom of my heart Meanwhile, Blatter was also told for his election,” said Blatter in a he must leave his FIFA apartment statement. or start paying rent. “With the adoption of the “From the election of his reform programme, expectations successor, Sepp Blatter’s contract š on him will be even higher. is terminated,” said a FIFA source. šDiego Maradona But I’m fully convinced that my “This means that he has to leave successor will put them in place,” his official apartment or pay rent.” Maradona wants life terms for Asia looks forward to working Blatter, Platini ORMER Argentina captain Diego Maradona said ex-FIFA president FSepp Blatter and suspended Eu- with new FIFA chief Infantino ropean football chief Michel Platini should have been given life imprison- ment rather than six-year bans from the game for ethics violations. Peter Rutherford The pair were suspended for eight years — reduced to six last week — for a payment of $2.03m made to the Frenchman in 2011 by FIFA with Blatter’s SIAN football officials said they approval for work done a decade ear- were looking forward to work- lier. Both men denied any wrongdoing. Aing with new FIFA President “It seems like the FIFA ethics com- Gianni Infantino, despite the region’s mittee was wrong,” said Maradona, two candidates losing out to the Swiss 55. “Having so much evidence against in the election, and called for unity to these people and having seen how they help push the reform process forward. were robbing for so many years, they Infantino beat Asian candidates should’ve given both life imprison- Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa ment.” (Bahrain) and Prince Ali bin Al Hussein (Jordan) as well as Frenchman Jerome Champagne to succeed Sepp Blatter. The election marked an opportunity to begin the long road back to restor- ing the reputation of crisis-hit FIFA, said Football Federation Australia chief Steven Lowy.

The Arab region rued yet šš Michel Platini another wasted chance to help elect its first FIFA president. UEFA to name While Australia, which joined the new secretary Asian Football Confederation (AFC) a decade ago, had come out in support on Friday? of Prince Ali ahead of the vote, Lowy described the election as “the best day EFA may name a temporary FIFA has had in many years”. general secretary on Friday to “The mood for change was in the air Utake over from former European and the Congress voted overwhelm- football No.2 Gianni Infantino, the new ingly to move forward,” he said. FIFA president. While the Arab region rued yet another Greece’s Theodore Theodoridis appears wasted chance to help elect their first to be favourite for the job Infantino FIFA president after their two candi- quit to take up his new role with FIFA. dates failed to co-operate, AFC presi- UEFA’s executive committee will meet dent Shaikh Salman called for unity. on Friday morning in Nyon to decide “The AFC looks forward to working on the matter. with the new-look FIFA and its new The role is an important one as UEFA President in order to reform the world president Michel Platini is banned football governing body and to rein- from all football activities for six years, state football’s credibility globally,” he although he is engaged in legal pro- said on the AFC’s website. ššFIFA President Gianni Infantino, left, with AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa in Zurich. ceedings to have that ban overturned. 14 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 15 Football

Zidane receives MEDIA SCAN Ronaldo support Ronaldo backtracks despite defeat on his comments RISTIANO Ronaldo gave Zinedine Zidane a ringing endorsement Cas Real Madrid coach after their HREE-time World Player of the 0-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid. Year Cristiano Ronaldo has back- Ronaldo had in “He’s doing a phenomenal job. He’s Ttracked on critical comments of a very calm person, optimistic and he’s his Real Madrid team-mates following particular questioned improving us. We must give him time,” their 0-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid. the role of Madrid said Ronaldo. Ronaldo lambasted his team-mates players. Simeone ends “Zidane has given us confidence by suggesting Real would be top if eve- ‘Zidane effect’ although it’s hard losing at home. We ryone was as good as him. played better than them, but they were “If everyone was at my level, we would the role of Madrid’s squad players in Atletico won the derby the Atleti way. lucky to get a chance and score,” he be top,” said Ronaldo. the absence of the injured Gareth Bale, Rocky football, rope-a-dope, rough added. However, he issued a subsequent Marcelo and Pepe. and unpolished, amassing players at “The fans are unhappy and we too,” statement to Madrid sports daily Marca “I don’t want to undervalue any of my the back, avoiding mistakes (although he added, after shouts from the fans claiming he was referring to his fitness team-mates, but when the best aren’t there were one or two), and trying to capitalize on the errors of the demanding club president Florentino levels having not missed a minute of there it’s difficult to win. I like to play with opposition. They won in their own Perez’s resignation. La Liga action this season. Pepe, Karim Benzema, Bale, Marcelo. I inimical style, 0-1 with Griezmann Former Real playmaker Zidane was “When I said this I was referring to my don’t want to say that Jese Rodriguez, grabbing the goal.

appointed to his first senior coaching job REUTERS/ Juan Medina level of fitness, not play. I’m not better Lucas Vazquez, Mateo Kovavic aren’t If two roads diverge in a rojiblanco early in the year by Perez, who sacked ššReal Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo looks dejected after the than any of my team-mates,” he said. good players, but to win a competi- wood, then Simeone took the one Rafa Benitez following a run of disap- match against Atletico Madrid. Ronaldo had in particular questioned tion you need the best,” said Ronaldo. well-travelled-by; Real crashed and fell pointing results. asunder against the same tactics, the same intensity, the same gameplan. “We always want to win, but you can’t always. If we win the Champions League at the end of the season the fans will Enrique insists change their minds,” said Ronaldo. Barca want title AFP/ Curto De La Torre AFP/ Curto ššAtletico Madrid’s Jose Maria Gimenez, left, challenges Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez. ARCELONA boss Luis Enrique insists he will only be satisfied Bonce his side have delivered another La Liga title after equalling a Spanish record by stretching their unbeaten run to 34 games. “The record tells me nothing. If we win titles then fine, but if not it doesn’t tell me a thing,” said Enrique. Atletico outran virtual reality “We’ve wanted to retain the title since Real by 11km the first day of the season. That’s the Antoine Griezmann nets the all-important goal in the Madrid derby. primary objective and we’re in a better According to La Liga’s own stats app, ššZinedine Zidane position. We need to win the points to Atletico Madrid ran 119km during be champions.” the derby, 11 more than Real Madrid who clocked up 108km.The statistics TLETICO Madrid extended their then Karim Benzema was narrowly wide Barca have been far from their bril- REUTERS/Albert Gea RESULTS showed that Saul Niguez ran the dominance over Real Madrid with a shot across the face of goal after liant best in many of their recent league ššBarcelona’s Gerard Pique scores past Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico. Diego Simeone’s Deportivo Coruna lost to Granada 0-1 most with 13.08km, Gabi Fernandez Awith a 1-0 derby win last week the ball had come back into the box. Barcelona bt Sevilla 2-1 games with fatigue starting to set in next with 12.26 and Koke third on that leaves the Bernabeu team virtually Atletico have lost only Griezmann had his first chance in Valencia lost to Athletic Bilbao 0-3 from an already grueling campaign. 12.25, whilst Toni Kroos was the Real out of the La Liga title race. once in 10 meetings with the 41st with a shot from outside the Villarreal bt Levante 3-0 However, Pique highlighted their Madrid player that covered the most Getafe lost to Celta Vigo 0-1 France striker Antoine Griezmann Real in all competitions. box that was set to dip under the bar resolve to put themselves on the brink Pique scores rare winner ground with 11.05 km. drew 2-2 scored the only goal in the 53rd min- before Navas leapt to tip it over. Real Madrid lost to Atletico Madrid 0-1 of a sixth league title in eight years. ute to put Atletico within five points A minute later, the Costa Rica goal- Real Sociedad drew Malaga 1-1 “We’ve suffered against Las Palmas, of leaders Barcelona in second place It was Atletico’s first goal in three keeper went down at the foot of his Sporting Gijon lost to Espanyol 2-4 Malaga and other matches, but we’ve EFENDER Gerard Pique grabbed ‘This is how league Eibar lost to Las Palmas 0-1 in the standings. matches after two 0-0 draws and their near post to turn a shot from mid- managed to win the games,” he said. a rare winner and Lionel Messi Messi equalised just titles are won’ Third-placed Real, who were unbeaten renowned steely defence held firm to fielder Koke away for a corner. Dscored yet another beauty as STANDINGS past the half hour with in 11 matches and on a run of seven allow Real only the odd sighting of their Navas also saved well from right- Barcelona 26 21 3 2 69 21 66 Barcelona came from behind to beat Gerard Pique was pleased with home wins going into the match, remain net and just three clear chances for back Juanfran in the second half Atletico Madrid 26 18 4 4 36 11 58 Sevilla 2-1 at the Nou Camp last Sunday a sublime free-kick that Barcelona’s victory against Sevilla 12 points behind Barcelona. Cristiano Ronaldo. while the Real onslaught in the Real Madrid 26 16 6 4 71 25 54 and reclaim an eight-point lead at the dipped over the wall. whilst admitting: “Every match is Diego Simeone’s Atletico have lost “This match defines us as a team final quarter produced only Villarreal 26 15 7 4 33 18 52 top of La Liga. tough now. We’ve had to work Celta Vigo 26 12 5 9 39 44 41 only once in 10 meetings with Real in and we’ll continue to try and improve,” two headers on target Sevilla, who meet Barca in the King’s hard in many, like against Sevilla 26 11 8 7 37 28 41 Málaga and Las Palmas, all competitions while Zinedine Zidane added Simeone. for Ronaldo, neither Athletic Bilbao 26 11 5 10 38 35 38 Cup final on May 22, went in front fol- Luis Suarez and his cross was converted but that’s how league titles Eibar 26 10 6 10 40 35 36 tasted defeat as Real’s coach for the Just past the half hour, Ronaldo had of much trouble to lowing a break down the left as full back from close range by centre half Pique. are won.” Real Sociedad 26 9 7 10 36 35 34 first time in nine matches in charge. a free-kick punched away by Jan Oblak Oblak. Benoit Tremoulinas crossed to the far Luis Enrique’s men have now drawn The Catalan defender Deportivo Coruna 26 6 14 6 33 32 32 “The league is over. To lose at home Malaga 26 8 8 10 23 23 32 post and Vitolo volleyed the ball past level with Real Madrid’s record unde- highlighted how Leo Messi to Atletico is a hard blow,” said Zidane. Valencia 26 7 10 9 30 29 31 keeper Claudio Bravo after 20 minutes. feated sequence set in 1988-89 under once more turned a game in Griezmann exchanged a one-two with Real Betis 26 6 10 10 21 36 28 Messi equalised just past the half hour Dutchman Leo Beenhakker. Barca’s favour: “Having him in left back Filipe Luis as he headed into Espanyol 26 8 4 14 26 50 28 with a sublime free-kick that dipped over “Sevilla are a team that defend and the team is a privilege. He has We take it as natural to be able Getafe 26 7 5 14 26 40 26 such incredible quality and he’s a the box and steered a sweet, low shot the wall and nestled in the top corner. counter-attack well. They had two clear Rayo Vallecano 26 6 8 12 36 53 26 to win here at the Bernabeu. This O’Brien / Tony very intelligent player. We know he inside the near post past goalkeeper match defines us as a team and Las Palmas 26 6 6 14 25 40 24 Barca’s winner, which extended their chances and scored,” said Pique. “To makes such a difference. Would I be Keylor Navas for his 13th league goal. Sporting Gijon 26 6 6 14 30 46 24 unbeaten run to 34 matches in all com- get back from a goal down is always able to stop him? No one is capable we’ll continue to try and improve. Granada 26 6 5 15 27 51 23 “We take it as natural to be able to win REUTERS petitions, came three minutes into the hard and everything is hard work,” of stopping him one-on-one. That can here at the Bernabeu,” said Simeone. Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid coach. Levante 26 5 5 16 24 48 20 ššLuis Enrique second half as Messi cut the ball back to he added. only be done with support.” Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 15

Ronaldo backtracks MEDIA SCAN on his comments

HREE-time World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo has back- Ronaldo had in Ttracked on critical comments of his Real Madrid team-mates following particular questioned their 0-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid. the role of Madrid Ronaldo lambasted his team-mates players. Simeone ends by suggesting Real would be top if eve- ‘Zidane effect’ ryone was as good as him. “If everyone was at my level, we would the role of Madrid’s squad players in Atletico won the derby the Atleti way. be top,” said Ronaldo. the absence of the injured Gareth Bale, Rocky football, rope-a-dope, rough However, he issued a subsequent Marcelo and Pepe. and unpolished, amassing players at statement to Madrid sports daily Marca “I don’t want to undervalue any of my the back, avoiding mistakes (although claiming he was referring to his fitness team-mates, but when the best aren’t there were one or two), and trying to capitalize on the errors of the levels having not missed a minute of there it’s difficult to win. I like to play with opposition. They won in their own La Liga action this season. Pepe, Karim Benzema, Bale, Marcelo. I inimical style, 0-1 with Griezmann “When I said this I was referring to my don’t want to say that Jese Rodriguez, grabbing the goal.

REUTERS/ Juan Medina level of fitness, not play. I’m not better Lucas Vazquez, Mateo Kovavic aren’t If two roads diverge in a rojiblanco ššReal Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo looks dejected after the than any of my team-mates,” he said. good players, but to win a competi- wood, then Simeone took the one match against Atletico Madrid. Ronaldo had in particular questioned tion you need the best,” said Ronaldo. well-travelled-by; Real crashed and fell asunder against the same tactics, the same intensity, the same gameplan. Enrique insists Barca want title

ARCELONA boss Luis Enrique insists he will only be satisfied Bonce his side have delivered another La Liga title after equalling a Spanish record by stretching their unbeaten run to 34 games. “The record tells me nothing. If we win titles then fine, but if not it doesn’t tell me a thing,” said Enrique. Atletico outran “We’ve wanted to retain the title since Real by 11km the first day of the season. That’s the primary objective and we’re in a better According to La Liga’s own stats app, position. We need to win the points to Atletico Madrid ran 119km during be champions.” the derby, 11 more than Real Madrid who clocked up 108km.The statistics Barca have been far from their bril- REUTERS/Albert Gea showed that Saul Niguez ran the ššBarcelona’s Gerard Pique scores past Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico. liant best in many of their recent league most with 13.08km, Gabi Fernandez games with fatigue starting to set in next with 12.26 and Koke third on from an already grueling campaign. 12.25, whilst Toni Kroos was the Real However, Pique highlighted their Madrid player that covered the most resolve to put themselves on the brink Pique scores rare winner ground with 11.05 km. of a sixth league title in eight years. “We’ve suffered against Las Palmas, Malaga and other matches, but we’ve EFENDER Gerard Pique grabbed ‘This is how league managed to win the games,” he said. a rare winner and Lionel Messi Messi equalised just titles are won’ Dscored yet another beauty as past the half hour with Barcelona came from behind to beat Gerard Pique was pleased with Sevilla 2-1 at the Nou Camp last Sunday a sublime free-kick that Barcelona’s victory against Sevilla and reclaim an eight-point lead at the dipped over the wall. whilst admitting: “Every match is top of La Liga. tough now. We’ve had to work Sevilla, who meet Barca in the King’s hard in many, like against Málaga and Las Palmas, Cup final on May 22, went in front fol- Luis Suarez and his cross was converted but that’s how league titles lowing a break down the left as full back from close range by centre half Pique. are won.” Benoit Tremoulinas crossed to the far Luis Enrique’s men have now drawn The Catalan defender post and Vitolo volleyed the ball past level with Real Madrid’s record unde- highlighted how Leo Messi keeper Claudio Bravo after 20 minutes. feated sequence set in 1988-89 under once more turned a game in Messi equalised just past the half hour Dutchman Leo Beenhakker. Barca’s favour: “Having him in with a sublime free-kick that dipped over “Sevilla are a team that defend and the team is a privilege. He has such incredible quality and he’s a the wall and nestled in the top corner. counter-attack well. They had two clear

/ Tony O’Brien / Tony very intelligent player. We know he Barca’s winner, which extended their chances and scored,” said Pique. “To makes such a difference. Would I be unbeaten run to 34 matches in all com- get back from a goal down is always able to stop him? No one is capable

REUTERS petitions, came three minutes into the hard and everything is hard work,” of stopping him one-on-one. That can ššLuis Enrique second half as Messi cut the ball back to he added. only be done with support.” 16 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 17 Football 708 Boys turn men to MEDIA SCAN Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster set new club top-flight record of 708 delight King Louis šClaudio Ranieri minutes without conceding š ‘There is so much to before being beaten twice dislike about Arsenal’ HERE have not been many days in 1-2 loss to Chelsea Ranieri enjoys Marc of Man! in another season of massive Graeme Souness savaged Arsenal’s My emotion was a Tunder-achievement when Man- taking risks! lack of heart after their title hopes little bit too high. So I were dented by Marcus Rashford- EPL RESULTS chester United supporters roared their inspired Manchester United at Old Manchester United bt Arsenal 3-2 appreciation for manager . apologised to the ref EICESTER City manager Claudio Trafford. Tottenham bt Swansea 2-1 But he had them laughing out loud and linesman. Ranieri said it was his job to take Leicester City bt Norwich 1-0 pundit and former last Sunday and cheering a team selec- Lrisks and chase victories if they are Liverpool hardman Souness could Southampton lost to Chelsea 1-2 Stoke City bt Aston Villa 2-1 tion in the best traditions of the squads to land the most unlikeliest of Premier not believe how timid Arsenal were Watford drew Bournemouth 0-0 of yesteryear known as the Busby Babes fourth official.” League titles. in a 2-3 defeat as they lost ground on West Brom bt Crystal Palace 3-2 and Fergie’s Fledglings. One of the many criticisms of the vet- The Italian took a chance by bringing Leicester and Tottenham in the title West Ham bt Sunderland 1-0 The normally austere Dutchman’s eran coach has been that he has failed on striker Leonardo Ulloa for defender race. comic moment came as he attempted to understand treasured United tradi- Daniel Amartey against Norwich City “Arsenal bordered on being a joke,” said the 62-year-old Scot. “Wenger STANDINGS to demonstrate how Ander Herrera had tions, including adventurous attacking last week and it paid off, with the Leicester City 27 16 8 3 49 29 56 must be tearing his hair out.” Tottenham Hotspur 27 15 9 3 49 21 54 been fouled by throwing himself to the football and the promotion of home- Argentinian grabbing the only goal in Arsenal 27 15 6 6 43 26 51 ground in front of an astonished fourth grown players. the 89th minute. Man City 26 14 5 7 48 28 47 official. It has been the lack of excitement, as The victory over relegation-threatened Man United 27 12 8 7 36 26 44 Van Gaal felt obliged to apologise. much as underwhelming results, that Norwich maintained Leicester’s sur- West Ham 27 11 10 6 41 31 43 “My emotion was a little bit too high,” have caused speculation that Van Gaal prise two-point lead over second-place Southampton 27 11 7 9 35 26 40 Stoke City 27 11 6 10 29 33 39 Van Gaal told Sky Sports, “So I apol- will lose his job at the end of the season, Tottenham Hotspur with 11 games left. Liverpool 26 10 8 8 38 36 38 ogised to the ref and linesman and despite having a contract until 2017. “You can lose, but it’s only one point Watford 27 10 7 10 29 28 37 less than a draw. Yes, we took the risk Chelsea 27 9 9 9 40 37 36 but the manager is hired for this rea- Everton 26 8 11 7 46 35 35 West Brom 27 9 8 10 27 34 35 son, to take a risk,” Ranieri said. Crystal Palace 27 9 5 13 29 35 32 Bournemouth 27 7 8 12 30 44 29 Swansea 27 6 9 12 25 36 27 Tottenham Hotspur Norwich 27 6 6 15 30 51 24 March is Newcastle 26 6 6 14 27 49 24 manager Mauricio Guardiola wants said there Sunderland 27 6 5 16 32 51 23 on, but no Pochettino Aston Villa 27 3 7 17 21 48 16 was no talk of taking the Bilbao’s Laporte Premier League in his team’s Pep Guardiola is hoping to make title talk dressing room despite Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric

/ Jason Cairnduff a sixth straight win last his first Manchester City Sunday. Laporte signing. The Frenchman, 21, would Spurs came from behind set the Etihad side back a whopping REUTERS to beat Swansea City 2-1, a £80m on transfer fees and contract šĈManchester United’s Marcus Rashford escapes the close attention of Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin, left, and Gabriel Paulista. result which, combined with perks. the 2-3 defeat of Arsenal Laporte has a release clause in his at Manchester United, had contract of around £40m, but City the White Hart Lane faithful We’ve a small squad, so you would also offer the France Under-21 dreaming. Yet with a pivotal Teenager Marcus Rashford continues to dazzle as United beat Arsenal. / Phil Noble can give youngsters a chance. international a good perks package, week ahead for Spurs, including £8m per year — after tax. A big squad means featuring derbies at West Ĉ ĈGunners stay third, five Gaal gave a first league appearance to season and he added a goal of his own they don’t get REUTERS Ham United on Wednesday points behind leaders Rashford, who responded brilliantly at in the second half after Rashford had a chance. The ššLouis van Gaal takes a fall as he expresses his point to fourth official Mike Dean, centre. and Arsenal on Saturday, Leicester City. Old Trafford. held up the ball intelligently before experience After 29 minutes, he was in the right passing to Herrera whose 20M shot of mine is place to capitalise as Arsenal defender was deflected in off Arsenal defender youngsters always Steve Tongue Gabriel could only half clear Guillermo Laurent Koscielny. play well in the first Varela’s right-wing cross. Van Gaal — who delighted the home match. The second is different. Caballero turns the hero for Manchester City Three minutes later, he headed United’s crowd by throwing himself to the ground Marcus played well in both second goal after Jesse Lingard was to illustrate a foul on Herrera — sent on matches, so he’s a special EENAGER Marcus Rashford two more young debutants in defender talent. ANUEL Pellegrini will head to Leiva, Philippe Coutinho and Adam followed up two goals on his Tim Fosu-Mensah and midfielder James pastures new with at least one Lallana. Louis van Gaal, Man United manager. TManchester United debut with Arsenal wasted a big Weir. Mshiny memento of his final It was a triumph for the 34-year-old another double as Louis van Gaal’s United’s third win in seven days after season as Manchester City manager Argentinian keeper, whose selection Sakho frustrated team dented Arsenal’s Premier League chance to turn over beating Shrewsbury Town 3-0 in the FA after keeper Willy Caballero’s penalty ahead of first-choice Joe Hart had been title hopes with a 3-2 win last Sunday. the depleted hosts and Cup and Denmark’s Midtjylland 5-1 in I can’t fault the commitment shoot-out heroics sealed a League Cup much debated by City fans. Yaya Toure after being forced off Arsenal wasted a big chance to turn stayed third in the table. the Europa League had the Old Trafford and desire, but unfortunately final win against Liverpool last Sunday. supplied the final touch, stroking home we conceded Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho over the depleted hosts and stayed third fans roaring their approval in a diffi- The Chilean will be replaced by Pep the deciding kick to give City their sec- cut a frustrated figure after being in the table, five points behind leaders cult season. two easy goals. Guardiola at the end of the campaign ond League Cup in three years under forced off early in the Capital One Cup Leicester City as United climbed to fifth. given too much space to cross from We had an but, whatever happens between now and Pellegrini. final against Manchester City. Rashford, 18, struck twice in three the same area. EPL TOP SCORERS unbelievable May, he will be guaranteed an appreci- Fernandinho had given City the lead The 26-year-old clashed heads first-half minutes before former United Arsenal, needing a win to keep pace 19 Jamie Vardy Leicester City chance in the ative send-off after City triumphed 3-1 after 49 minutes, but Coutinho lev- with team-mate Emre Can after a striker Danny Welbeck pulled one goal with London rivals Tottenham in pur- Romelu Lukaku Everton on penalties after the Wembley Stadium elled late on. quarter of an hour and, although both 16 first half and the Harry Kane Tottenham players rose to their feet, the France back for Arsenal. Rashford then set up suit of Leicester, were given hope before way we finished showpiece finished 1-1. For Pellegrini, his much-criticised / Paul Childs Leicester City international looked shaky from then Ander Herrera for United’s third before halftime when Welbeck — who once City were stretched to the limit by decision in fielding a second-string 14 Sergio Aguero Man City our chances is a problem. on. Sakho played on for another ten Mesut Ozil reduced the deficit. played for the same Manchester boys Odion Ighalo Watford Technically, we aren’t precise Liverpool, but Juergen Klopp’s hopes team in last week’s FA Cup hammering minutes until Liverpool’s physios REUTERS With a dozen senior players includ- club that produced Rashford — nod- 12 Olivier Giroud Arsenal of winning a trophy 143 days into his at Chelsea looks fully justified after a 3-1 insisted that he had to removed enough. ššFrom left, Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Diego Costa Chelsea ing captain Wayne Rooney unavaila- ded in Ozil’s free-kick. 10 Anfield reign died when Caballero win at Dynamo Kiev in the Champions Demichelis, Sergio Aguero, Nicolas Otamendi and Wilfredo from the field as a precaution against ble through injury, under-pressure Van It was the German’s 18th assist of the Jermain Defoe Sunderland Arsene Wenger, Arsenal manager. expertly saved spot kicks from Lucas League. Caballero celebrate their English League Cup triumph. concussion. Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 17

Boys turn men to MEDIA SCAN delight King Louis ššClaudio Ranieri ‘There is so much to dislike about Arsenal’ HERE have not been many days Ranieri enjoys in another season of massive My emotion was a Graeme Souness savaged Arsenal’s Tunder-achievement when Man- taking risks! lack of heart after their title hopes chester United supporters roared their little bit too high. So I were dented by Marcus Rashford- appreciation for manager Louis van Gaal. apologised to the ref EICESTER City manager Claudio inspired Manchester United at Old Trafford. But he had them laughing out loud and linesman. Ranieri said it was his job to take Sky Sports pundit and former last Sunday and cheering a team selec- Lrisks and chase victories if they are Liverpool hardman Souness could tion in the best traditions of the squads to land the most unlikeliest of Premier not believe how timid Arsenal were of yesteryear known as the Busby Babes fourth official.” League titles. in a 2-3 defeat as they lost ground on and Fergie’s Fledglings. One of the many criticisms of the vet- The Italian took a chance by bringing Leicester and Tottenham in the title The normally austere Dutchman’s eran coach has been that he has failed on striker Leonardo Ulloa for defender race. comic moment came as he attempted to understand treasured United tradi- Daniel Amartey against Norwich City “Arsenal bordered on being a joke,” said the 62-year-old Scot. “Wenger to demonstrate how Ander Herrera had tions, including adventurous attacking last week and it paid off, with the must be tearing his hair out.” been fouled by throwing himself to the football and the promotion of home- Argentinian grabbing the only goal in ground in front of an astonished fourth grown players. the 89th minute. official. It has been the lack of excitement, as The victory over relegation-threatened Van Gaal felt obliged to apologise. much as underwhelming results, that Norwich maintained Leicester’s sur- “My emotion was a little bit too high,” have caused speculation that Van Gaal prise two-point lead over second-place Van Gaal told Sky Sports, “So I apol- will lose his job at the end of the season, Tottenham Hotspur with 11 games left. ogised to the ref and linesman and despite having a contract until 2017. “You can lose, but it’s only one point less than a draw. Yes, we took the risk but the manager is hired for this rea- son, to take a risk,” Ranieri said.

March is Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Guardiola wants Pochettino said there on, but no was no talk of taking the Bilbao’s Laporte Premier League in his team’s Pep Guardiola is hoping to make title talk dressing room despite Athletic Bilbao defender a sixth straight win last Aymeric his first Manchester City Sunday. Laporte signing. The Frenchman, 21, would Spurs came from behind set the Etihad side back a whopping to beat Swansea City 2-1, a £80m on transfer fees and contract result which, combined with perks. the 2-3 defeat of Arsenal Laporte has a release clause in his at Manchester United, had contract of around £40m, but City the White Hart Lane faithful would also offer the France Under-21 dreaming. Yet with a pivotal / Phil Noble international a good perks package, week ahead for Spurs, including £8m per year — after tax. featuring derbies at West

REUTERS Ham United on Wednesday ššLouis van Gaal takes a fall as he expresses his point to fourth official Mike Dean, centre. and Arsenal on Saturday,

Caballero turns the hero for Manchester City

ANUEL Pellegrini will head to Leiva, Philippe Coutinho and Adam pastures new with at least one Lallana. Mshiny memento of his final It was a triumph for the 34-year-old season as Manchester City manager Argentinian keeper, whose selection Sakho frustrated after keeper Willy Caballero’s penalty ahead of first-choice Joe Hart had been shoot-out heroics sealed a League Cup much debated by City fans. Yaya Toure after being forced off final win against Liverpool last Sunday. supplied the final touch, stroking home Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho The Chilean will be replaced by Pep the deciding kick to give City their sec- cut a frustrated figure after being Guardiola at the end of the campaign ond League Cup in three years under forced off early in the Capital One Cup but, whatever happens between now and Pellegrini. final against Manchester City. May, he will be guaranteed an appreci- Fernandinho had given City the lead The 26-year-old clashed heads ative send-off after City triumphed 3-1 after 49 minutes, but Coutinho lev- with team-mate Emre Can after a on penalties after the Wembley Stadium elled late on. quarter of an hour and, although both players rose to their feet, the France

showpiece finished 1-1. For Pellegrini, his much-criticised / Paul Childs international looked shaky from then City were stretched to the limit by decision in fielding a second-string on. Sakho played on for another ten Liverpool, but Juergen Klopp’s hopes team in last week’s FA Cup hammering minutes until Liverpool’s physios REUTERS of winning a trophy 143 days into his at Chelsea looks fully justified after a 3-1 insisted that he had to removed ššFrom left, Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Anfield reign died when Caballero win at Dynamo Kiev in the Champions Demichelis, Sergio Aguero, Nicolas Otamendi and Wilfredo from the field as a precaution against expertly saved spot kicks from Lucas League. Caballero celebrate their English League Cup triumph. concussion. 18 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 19 Football

RESULTS Olympiakos Carpi drew Atalanta Bergamo 1-1 Chievo Verona bt Genoa 1-0 run away with Juventus bt Inter Milan 2-0 Palermo drew Bologna 0-0 Greek title Sampdoria bt Frosinone 2-0 Udinese bt Verona 2-0 AC Milan bt Torino 1-0 LYMPIAKOS Piraeus clinched DERBY of Empoli lost to AS Roma 1-3 a record-extending 43rd Greek BUNDESLIGA OSuper League title with a 3-0 Mainz bt Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 victory over Veria. Borussia Dortmund bt Hoffenheim 3-1 Eintracht drew Schalke 04 0-0 Spanish midfielder David Fuster, the Augsburg drew Borussia M’bach 2-2 club captain, scored in each half before drew Ingolstadt 1-1 his blocked shot rebounded for Mexico VfB Stuttgart lost to Hanover 96 1-2 striker Alan Pulido to add a late third Wolfsburg lost to Bayern Munich 0-2 goal and seal a straightforward win at italy JOY Werder Bremen drew Darmstadt 98 2-2 Cologne lost to Hertha Berlin 0-1 a sun-drenched Georgios Karaiskakis LIGUE 1 stadium. Nantes drew Monaco 0 - 0 Olympiakos retained the title with Lyon bt PSG 2 - 1 six matches to spare. St Etienne lost to Caen 1 - 2 Guingamp drew Angers 2 - 2 Olympiakos’s 43rd league title, and Troyes lost to Lorient 0 - 1 their 18th in the last 20 seasons, was Montpellier bt Lille 3 - 0 also their fastest. They had never before FOR JUVE Stade de Reims bt Bordeaux 4 - 1 sewn up the title as early as February. Toulouse lost to Stade Rennes 1 - 2 Nice lost to Bastia 0 - 2 The win was the perfect tonic for Champions stay on course for a fifth and his players who suf- STANDINGS fered a disappointing Europa League straight title with a 2-0 win against Inter. As of Sunday exit at the last-32 stage recently after SERIE A AFP/ Patrik Stollarz losing to Belgian side Anderlecht. Juventus 27 19 4 4 48 15 61 ššHoffenheim’s Nadiem Amiri, left, and Borussia Dortmund’s Sven Bender vie for the ball. Napoli 26 17 6 3 54 21 57 “We’re simply delighted,” Silva said. ĈĈRoberto Mancini’s men slip AS Roma 27 15 8 4 55 28 53 Silva’s team remain on course for a further down. Two consecutive draws Fiorentina 26 16 4 6 47 26 52 domestic double and face a cup semifi- Inter Milan 27 14 6 7 34 25 48 nal, first-leg tie against PAOK Salonica AC Milan 27 13 8 6 39 28 47 EONARDO Bonucci and Alvaro would’ve been too on Wednesday. many. We had to win to Sassuolo 26 9 11 6 32 31 38 Morata were on target as Juventus Lazio 26 10 7 9 34 34 37 Dortmund keep Ldefeated Inter Milan 2-0 in the send out a message. Bologna 27 10 5 12 29 31 35 ‘derby of Italy’ to consolidate their posi- Chievo 27 9 7 11 32 36 34 tion at the top of Serie A last Sunday. Empoli 27 9 7 11 33 40 34 Torino 27 8 8 11 33 34 32 chasing Bayern Bonucci scored from close range in have 48 points. After defeating title rivals Atalanta 27 7 9 11 26 31 30 the 47th minute after Inter’s Danilo Napoli 1-0 on February 13, Juve’s club Udinese 27 8 6 13 24 40 30 D’Ambrosio made a horrid mistake by record 15-game winning streak was Genoa 27 7 7 13 27 32 28 ORUSSIA Dortmund scored three heading Paulo Dybala’s free kick across halted by the recent draw with Bologna. Sampdoria 27 7 7 13 39 46 28 times in the last ten minutes Palermo 27 7 6 14 27 47 27 Dortmund went behind his own goal. Massimiliano Allegri’s men dominated Frosinone 27 6 5 16 26 53 23 Bto rally from a goal down and when Rudy pounced on Substitute Morata added the sec- the opening stages, with Dybala, Mario Carpi 27 4 9 14 24 44 21 beat 10-man Hoffenheim 3-1, allowing ond goal from the penalty spot after Mandzukic and midfielder Hernanes Verona 27 2 12 13 24 45 18 them to maintain their lone pursuit a weak save from keeper being tripped by Joao Miranda with going close in the first 45 minutes. BUNDESLIGA of runaway leaders Bayern Munich. Roman Buerki. Bayern Munich 23 20 2 1 58 11 62 / John Sibley six minutes to go. The visitors adopted a defensive Goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Borussia Dortmund 23 17 3 3 57 25 54 Juve now have 61 points from 27 approach and fell behind after Bonucci’s Hertha Berlin 23 11 6 6 31 24 39 Adrian Ramos and Pierre-Emerick

matches and remain on course for a far-post finish. Morata then made it Borussia M’gladbach 23 11 3 9 45 40 36 Aubameyang completed the hosts’ Striker Kevin Volland almost doubled REUTERS record fifth consecutive ‘Scudetto’. 2-0, two minutes after coming on to Mainz 23 11 3 9 32 29 36 dramatic late comeback, lifting them the visitors’ lead three minutes later ššLiverpool manager Juergen Klopp. “We absolutely had to win. Two con- the field. Bayer Leverkusen 23 10 5 8 32 26 35 to 54 points, eight points behind cham- but this time Buerki stood his ground Schalke 04 23 10 5 8 31 29 35 secutive draws would’ve been too many. “We now have one less obstacle on VfL Wolfsburg 23 8 7 8 32 31 31 pions Bayern who moved to 62 with a to save his powerful shot. We had to win to send out a message,” our road to the title. The more games FC Ingolstadt 04 23 8 6 9 17 24 30 2-0 win at VfL Wolfsburg. Dortmund had to wait until the 80th United vs Reds REUTERS/ Giorgio Perottino said Bonucci. we win, the less we’ll still have to do,” Cologne 23 7 8 8 24 29 29 Yet Dortmund only fashioned their minute to equalise with Ilkay Guendogan šĈJuventus’ Alvaro Morata celebrates after scoring their second goal against Inter Milan. Hamburg SV 23 7 7 9 26 31 28 Roberto Mancini’s inconsistent Inter said Allegri. VfB Stuttgart 23 8 4 11 35 44 28 victory after Hoffenheim’s Sebastian sending Armenian Mkhitaryan through in Europa last 16 FC Augsburg 23 6 7 10 26 33 25 Rudy had turned from hero, with his to slam the ball home. SV Darmstadt 98 23 6 7 10 25 36 25 25th minute goal, to villain, with his Colombian Ramos, who had come ANCHESTER United and Liv- Eintracht 23 5 8 10 27 37 23 sending off 12 minutes after half time. on in the 74th minute, made it 2-1 erpool, England’s two most Werder Bremen 23 5 6 12 27 46 21 Hoffenheim 23 3 9 11 23 36 18 Dortmund went behind when Rudy five minutes from time, heading in a Mdecorated clubs, were drawn Hanover 96 23 5 2 16 21 38 17 pounced on a weak save from keeper superb Lukasz Piszczek cross before together in the last 16 of the Europa LIGUE 1 Roman Buerki to drill in from close Aubameyang grabbed his 22nd goal of the League. PSG tamed at Lyon’s den! PSG 28 23 4 1 68 15 73 range. campaign with a stoppage-time tap-in. The arch-rivals have won 38 league Monaco 28 13 11 4 40 30 50 Lyon 28 12 6 10 40 30 42 titles between them as well as eight ARIS Saint-Germain’s league league season, set by Nantes in 1994- Caen 28 13 3 12 30 36 42 European Cups, yet both are strug- record 36-game unbeaten streak 95, were ended despite a Lucas Moura Nice 28 11 8 9 39 32 41 gling in the Premier League this sea- Laurent Blanc’s men are Stade Rennes 28 10 11 7 36 33 41 came to an abrupt halt when goal after the break. Hoeness released from prison son and are unlikely to relish being pit- P St Etienne 28 12 5 11 33 32 41 still 23 points clear at they lost 1-2 at Lyon last Sunday. Lyon have flattered to deceive this sea- Nantes 27 10 10 7 26 24 40 Disgraced ex-Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness was released ted against each other at this stage of Maxwell Cornet and Sergi Darder, with the top of the table after son, but started strongly and took the lead Angers SCO 28 10 8 10 29 29 38 from prison after serving 21 months for tax evasion, Germany’s the competition. an audacious piece of skill, scored the 28 matches. in the 13th minute when Cornet brought FC Lorient 28 9 10 9 40 41 37 national news agency quoted a regional official as saying. Bastia 27 11 4 12 27 29 37 The 64-year-old served half of his three-and-a-half year sentence first-half goals that handed PSG their the ball down inside the box, evaded Bordeaux 28 9 10 9 37 43 37 EUROPA LEAGUE DRAW first Ligue 1 defeat since a 2-3 reverse Gregory van der Wiel and slammed the Marseille 27 8 12 7 37 28 36 after being convicted in March, 2014, of having evaded paying at Shakhtar Donetsk vs Anderlecht at Bordeaux in March, 2015. deserved it. We didn’t play well and ball past keeper Kevin Trapp. Montpellier 28 10 5 13 36 33 35 least $31.5m in taxes. Basel vs Sevilla Bavaria’s justice minister announced his release, which had been Laurent Blanc’s men are still 23 points the manager told us to wake up a bit Darder doubled the advantage in first- Lille 28 7 13 8 21 23 34 Villarreal vs Bayer Leverkusen Guingamp 28 8 8 12 33 40 32 expected, to DPA news agency, but gave no further details. Athletic Bilbao vs Valencia clear at the top of the table, after 28 at half-time but it was too late,” said half injury time when he received a Stade de Reims 28 8 8 12 32 39 32 Hoeness, the son of a German butcher, rose to fame as the driving Liverpool vs Man United matches, as they sail towards a fourth PSG defender David Luiz. cross from Rafael, flicked the ball over GFC Ajaccio 27 6 10 11 28 38 28 Sparta Prague vs Lazio REUTERS/ Robert Pratta force behind Bayern’s rise before his fall from grace. consecutive title. PSG’s chances of beating the record the head of PSG captain Thiago Silva šĈParis Saint-Germain’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, left, controls the ball Toulouse 28 4 10 14 27 47 22 He was granted day release in January, 2015, and immediately Borussia Dortmund vs Tottenham “Congratulations to Lyon. They unbeaten run of 32 games in a single and finished emphatically. as Olympique Lyon’s Henri Bedimo looks on. ES Troyes AC 28 2 8 18 20 57 14 started working in the club’s youth academy. Fenerbahce vs Braga Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 19

RESULTS SERIE A Olympiakos Carpi drew Atalanta Bergamo 1-1 Chievo Verona bt Genoa 1-0 run away with Juventus bt Inter Milan 2-0 Palermo drew Bologna 0-0 Greek title Sampdoria bt Frosinone 2-0 Udinese bt Verona 2-0 AC Milan bt Torino 1-0 LYMPIAKOS Piraeus clinched Empoli lost to AS Roma 1-3 a record-extending 43rd Greek BUNDESLIGA OSuper League title with a 3-0 Mainz bt Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 victory over Veria. Borussia Dortmund bt Hoffenheim 3-1 Eintracht drew Schalke 04 0-0 Spanish midfielder David Fuster, the Augsburg drew Borussia M’bach 2-2 club captain, scored in each half before Hamburg drew Ingolstadt 1-1 his blocked shot rebounded for Mexico VfB Stuttgart lost to Hanover 96 1-2 striker Alan Pulido to add a late third Wolfsburg lost to Bayern Munich 0-2 goal and seal a straightforward win at Werder Bremen drew Darmstadt 98 2-2 Cologne lost to Hertha Berlin 0-1 a sun-drenched Georgios Karaiskakis LIGUE 1 stadium. Nantes drew Monaco 0 - 0 Olympiakos retained the title with Lyon bt PSG 2 - 1 six matches to spare. St Etienne lost to Caen 1 - 2 Guingamp drew Angers 2 - 2 Olympiakos’s 43rd league title, and Troyes lost to Lorient 0 - 1 their 18th in the last 20 seasons, was Montpellier bt Lille 3 - 0 also their fastest. They had never before Stade de Reims bt Bordeaux 4 - 1 sewn up the title as early as February. Toulouse lost to Stade Rennes 1 - 2 Nice lost to Bastia 0 - 2 The win was the perfect tonic for Marco Silva and his players who suf- STANDINGS fered a disappointing Europa League As of Sunday exit at the last-32 stage recently after SERIE A AFP/ Patrik Stollarz losing to Belgian side Anderlecht. Juventus 27 19 4 4 48 15 61 ššHoffenheim’s Nadiem Amiri, left, and Borussia Dortmund’s Sven Bender vie for the ball. Napoli 26 17 6 3 54 21 57 “We’re simply delighted,” Silva said. AS Roma 27 15 8 4 55 28 53 Silva’s team remain on course for a Fiorentina 26 16 4 6 47 26 52 domestic double and face a cup semifi- Inter Milan 27 14 6 7 34 25 48 nal, first-leg tie against PAOK Salonica AC Milan 27 13 8 6 39 28 47 on Wednesday. Sassuolo 26 9 11 6 32 31 38 Lazio 26 10 7 9 34 34 37 Dortmund keep Bologna 27 10 5 12 29 31 35 Chievo 27 9 7 11 32 36 34 Empoli 27 9 7 11 33 40 34 Torino 27 8 8 11 33 34 32 chasing Bayern Atalanta 27 7 9 11 26 31 30 Udinese 27 8 6 13 24 40 30 Genoa 27 7 7 13 27 32 28 ORUSSIA Dortmund scored three Sampdoria 27 7 7 13 39 46 28 times in the last ten minutes Palermo 27 7 6 14 27 47 27 Dortmund went behind Frosinone 27 6 5 16 26 53 23 Bto rally from a goal down and when Rudy pounced on Carpi 27 4 9 14 24 44 21 beat 10-man Hoffenheim 3-1, allowing Verona 27 2 12 13 24 45 18 them to maintain their lone pursuit a weak save from keeper BUNDESLIGA of runaway leaders Bayern Munich. Roman Buerki. Bayern Munich 23 20 2 1 58 11 62 / John Sibley Goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Borussia Dortmund 23 17 3 3 57 25 54 Hertha Berlin 23 11 6 6 31 24 39 Adrian Ramos and Pierre-Emerick

Borussia M’gladbach 23 11 3 9 45 40 36 Aubameyang completed the hosts’ Striker Kevin Volland almost doubled REUTERS Mainz 23 11 3 9 32 29 36 dramatic late comeback, lifting them the visitors’ lead three minutes later ššLiverpool manager Juergen Klopp. Bayer Leverkusen 23 10 5 8 32 26 35 to 54 points, eight points behind cham- but this time Buerki stood his ground Schalke 04 23 10 5 8 31 29 35 VfL Wolfsburg 23 8 7 8 32 31 31 pions Bayern who moved to 62 with a to save his powerful shot. FC Ingolstadt 04 23 8 6 9 17 24 30 2-0 win at VfL Wolfsburg. Dortmund had to wait until the 80th United vs Reds Cologne 23 7 8 8 24 29 29 Yet Dortmund only fashioned their minute to equalise with Ilkay Guendogan Hamburg SV 23 7 7 9 26 31 28 VfB Stuttgart 23 8 4 11 35 44 28 victory after Hoffenheim’s Sebastian sending Armenian Mkhitaryan through in Europa last 16 FC Augsburg 23 6 7 10 26 33 25 Rudy had turned from hero, with his to slam the ball home. SV Darmstadt 98 23 6 7 10 25 36 25 25th minute goal, to villain, with his Colombian Ramos, who had come ANCHESTER United and Liv- Eintracht 23 5 8 10 27 37 23 sending off 12 minutes after half time. on in the 74th minute, made it 2-1 erpool, England’s two most Werder Bremen 23 5 6 12 27 46 21 Hoffenheim 23 3 9 11 23 36 18 Dortmund went behind when Rudy five minutes from time, heading in a Mdecorated clubs, were drawn Hanover 96 23 5 2 16 21 38 17 pounced on a weak save from keeper superb Lukasz Piszczek cross before together in the last 16 of the Europa LIGUE 1 Roman Buerki to drill in from close Aubameyang grabbed his 22nd goal of the League. PSG 28 23 4 1 68 15 73 range. campaign with a stoppage-time tap-in. The arch-rivals have won 38 league Monaco 28 13 11 4 40 30 50 Lyon 28 12 6 10 40 30 42 titles between them as well as eight Caen 28 13 3 12 30 36 42 European Cups, yet both are strug- Nice 28 11 8 9 39 32 41 gling in the Premier League this sea- Stade Rennes 28 10 11 7 36 33 41 son and are unlikely to relish being pit- St Etienne 28 12 5 11 33 32 41 Hoeness released from prison Nantes 27 10 10 7 26 24 40 Disgraced ex-Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness was released ted against each other at this stage of Angers SCO 28 10 8 10 29 29 38 from prison after serving 21 months for tax evasion, Germany’s the competition. FC Lorient 28 9 10 9 40 41 37 national news agency quoted a regional official as saying. Bastia 27 11 4 12 27 29 37 The 64-year-old served half of his three-and-a-half year sentence Bordeaux 28 9 10 9 37 43 37 EUROPA LEAGUE DRAW Marseille 27 8 12 7 37 28 36 after being convicted in March, 2014, of having evaded paying at Shakhtar Donetsk vs Anderlecht Montpellier 28 10 5 13 36 33 35 least $31.5m in taxes. Basel vs Sevilla Lille 28 7 13 8 21 23 34 Bavaria’s justice minister announced his release, which had been Villarreal vs Bayer Leverkusen Guingamp 28 8 8 12 33 40 32 expected, to DPA news agency, but gave no further details. Athletic Bilbao vs Valencia Stade de Reims 28 8 8 12 32 39 32 Hoeness, the son of a German butcher, rose to fame as the driving Liverpool vs Man United GFC Ajaccio 27 6 10 11 28 38 28 force behind Bayern’s rise before his fall from grace. Sparta Prague vs Lazio Toulouse 28 4 10 14 27 47 22 He was granted day release in January, 2015, and immediately Borussia Dortmund vs Tottenham ES Troyes AC 28 2 8 18 20 57 14 started working in the club’s youth academy. Fenerbahce vs Braga ANTOINE GRIEZMANN

Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com AFP/ Pierre-Philippe Marcou AFP/ Pierre-Philippe Marcou 22 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 23 Tennis

‘SanTina’ run ends in last eight

ORLD No.1 doubles pair of Martina Hingis and Sania WMirza saw their 41-match winning streak coming to an end at the Qatar Total Open when they lost 6-2, 4-6, 5-10 to Russian pair Elena Vesnina and Daria Kasatkina in the quarterfinal. Slow & steady Their previous reversal was at the Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro beats Latvian teenager Jelena Ostapenko to win the Qatar Total Open. Cincinatti Masters in August, 2015. The all-conquering Swiss-Indo pair have been in blistering form this sea- ĈĈ Second career victory for from the Spaniard, who only hit 25. Divakaran DSP/ Vinod son, winning four titles. The pair, known the Spaniard “These wins give me a lot of confi- ššThe Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar Tennis Federation President Nasser Ghanem Al as ‘SanTina’, have won three doubles Kholaifi, right, and Total E&P Qatar Managing Director and Group Representative Guillaume Chalmin watch the final. ĈĈOstapenko commits 47 dence; I’ve lost a lot of finals. So the expe- Grands Slam in a row (Wimbledon, US unforced errors totally rience that I take from this is enormous,” Open and Australian Open) and will said Suarez Navarro, who jumped five be eyeing calendar Slam at the French places to No.6 in the rankings. Open this year. “It’s amazing — a dream come true. I The Russian pair lost to eventual Sajith B Warrier was in top 10 last year, but never been Suarez Navarro denied champions, Chinese Taipei’s sibling No.6, so it’s a special number,” added pair of Chan Yung-Jan and Chan Hao- Suarez Navarro, after receiving the big- Ching, in the semifinal. DSP gest trophy of her career from Qatar double by Chan sisters HERE is no substitute for experi- Olympic Committee President HE Sheikh ence and Carla Suarez Navarro’s Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani. Ttriumph at the Qatar Total Open Known for her characteristic one- ARLA Suarez Navarro’s bid for a proved just that. handed backhand, the Spaniard second title was foiled by Chan It was their second win Playing in her 10th career final, eighth described her triumph as ‘magical’. Csisters Yung-Jan and Hao-Ching seed Suarez Navarro rode on her wealth “It means a lot. Winning my second in the doubles final. in 2016 following the of experience to grind down Latvian title after losing three finals last year is Almost an hour after her singles tri- home triumph at the teenager Jelena Ostapenko, who was even more special and magical!” DSP umph, Suarez Navarro returned to the recent Taiwan Open. competing in her first Premier 5 title court to pair with Italian Sara Errani clash, for a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory. It was for the doubles final. her second title and the first since the RESULTS But the Chinese Taipei sisters had their opponents, whose correspond- Estoril Open in Portugal in May, 2014. SINGLES other ideas and prevailed 6-3, 6-3 for ing figures were 19 and 22 respectively. FINAL Ostapenko had stunned Suarez Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) 1-6, 6-4, their second win in 2016 following their “The match wasn’t easy, despite what Navarro 6-2, 6-0 in their only previ- bt Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 6-4 home triumph at the recent Taiwan the score says. They’re for sure very ous meeting, in the first round of last SEMIFINALS Open. tough opponents who’ve been play- Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) bt Andrea 7-5, 1-0 year’s Wimbledon. Petkovic (GER) (retired) They hit 21 winners and committed ing really well in recent times. We’re š š But in Doha, it was a different ball Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) šChan Hao-Ching, left, and Chan Yung-Jan. only 10 errors — a far better stat than very happy to win,” the duo said. DSP šSania Mirza, left, and Martina Hingis. 6-2, 6-0 game as the 27-year-old exacted revenge bt Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) with a clinical display in the contest QUARTERFINALS Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 6-4, 6-3 which lasted one hour and 51 minutes. bt Zheng Saisai (CHN) The match statistics is a true reflec- Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 3-6, 6-2, tion of the difference between the two. bt Roberta Vinci (ITA) 6-3 Andrea Petkovic (GER) bt Garbine 6-1, 5-7, $2.5m $518,500 $148,300 $259,300 $75,010 Ostapenko hit 35 winners to only nine Muguruza (ESP) 6-2 from Suarez Navarro, five aces to none, Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) 6-3, 7-6 Total prize money Singles champion Doubles champions Singles runner-up Doubles runners-up but 47 unforced errors separated her bt Elena Vesnina (RUS) (7-3) Teen Ostapenko shines Technology to the aid of coaches

SALIENT FEATURES OF SAP “The software is an advancement OR ballroom dancing fan Jelena Mohammad Amin-ul Islam TENNIS ANALYTICS in technology for women’s tennis and Ostapenko, it has been a virtual Side-by-side comparisons of the part of an entire business transforma- full list of match stats for both Fwaltz at the Qatar Total Open. tion the WTA is embracing. The online players, updated every 15 seconds. Though she lost in her maiden Premier Scoring data that analyses player’s digital portal is also available as and 5 final, the 18-year-old can take plenty HE SAP Tennis Analytics for serve, success rate in closing out a when it’s needed,” she added. of positives from her Doha outing. Coaches, powered by SAP HANA, game while serving and number of The WTA hosts 54 competitions each Languishing at 88th in the world Twas used during the Qatar Total break points saved. year worldwide. Each match produces rankings, the major incentive for her Open where the players and coaches Tracking data which shows player’s a trove of stats including aces, faults would be the big leap to the top 50 for accessed real-time performance data. serve direction, return contact and backhands, which are then ana- point and rally shot placement. the first time in her fledgling career. The software is available for the WTA lysed using SAP’s HANA platform. In a stellar week, the 2014 Wimbledon and on WTA-authorised tablets. The Earlier, the coaches used the tool for junior champion from Latvia confirmed tablets, launched last year at the Bank point-by-point information after a match her potential on the senior Tour by beat- of the West Classic in Stanford, is given performance and optimise strategy. is complete. But with the introduction ing two Grand Slam champions — Petra for free to all players and coaches. More That could mean the difference between of the tablet, it became an easier task. Kvitova and Svetlana Kuznetzova. than 30 coaches have used it. winning or losing the next point, set, “The technology takes data from the “I was trying to play my best. It’s great “That’s really a transition story at the match or even championship,” SAP SE score sheet and sends it to the SAP HANA

DSP/ Vinod Divakaran DSP/ Vinod to be in the top 50, but my goal is to WTA as the software provides insights Technology Lead for Global Sponsorships cloud, Information is refreshed every šĈCarlo Suarez Navarro is all joy after winning the title. be even higher,” said Ostapenko. DSP šĈJelena Ostapenko to help players and coaches analyse Jenni Lewis told Doha Stadium Plus. 10 seconds,” said Lewis. DSP ššJenni Lewis Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 23

‘SanTina’ run ends in last eight

ORLD No.1 doubles pair of Martina Hingis and Sania WMirza saw their 41-match winning streak coming to an end at the Qatar Total Open when they lost 6-2, 4-6, 5-10 to Russian pair Elena Vesnina and Daria Kasatkina in the quarterfinal. Their previous reversal was at the Cincinatti Masters in August, 2015. The all-conquering Swiss-Indo pair have been in blistering form this sea-

DSP/ Vinod Divakaran DSP/ Vinod son, winning four titles. The pair, known ššThe Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar Tennis Federation President Nasser Ghanem Al as ‘SanTina’, have won three doubles Kholaifi, right, and Total E&P Qatar Managing Director and Group Representative Guillaume Chalmin watch the final. Grands Slam in a row (Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open) and will be eyeing calendar Slam at the French Open this year. The Russian pair lost to eventual Suarez Navarro denied champions, Chinese Taipei’s sibling pair of Chan Yung-Jan and Chan Hao- double by Chan sisters Ching, in the semifinal. DSP

ARLA Suarez Navarro’s bid for a second title was foiled by Chan It was their second win Csisters Yung-Jan and Hao-Ching in the doubles final. in 2016 following the Almost an hour after her singles tri- home triumph at the umph, Suarez Navarro returned to the recent Taiwan Open. court to pair with Italian Sara Errani for the doubles final. But the Chinese Taipei sisters had their opponents, whose correspond- other ideas and prevailed 6-3, 6-3 for ing figures were 19 and 22 respectively. their second win in 2016 following their “The match wasn’t easy, despite what home triumph at the recent Taiwan the score says. They’re for sure very Open. tough opponents who’ve been play- They hit 21 winners and committed ing really well in recent times. We’re ššChan Hao-Ching, left, and Chan Yung-Jan. only 10 errors — a far better stat than very happy to win,” the duo said. DSP ššSania Mirza, left, and Martina Hingis.

$2.5m $518,500 $148,300 $259,300 $75,010 Total prize money Singles champion Doubles champions Singles runner-up Doubles runners-up Technology to the aid of coaches

SALIENT FEATURES OF SAP “The software is an advancement Mohammad Amin-ul Islam TENNIS ANALYTICS in technology for women’s tennis and Side-by-side comparisons of the part of an entire business transforma- full list of match stats for both tion the WTA is embracing. The online players, updated every 15 seconds. Scoring data that analyses player’s digital portal is also available as and HE SAP Tennis Analytics for serve, success rate in closing out a when it’s needed,” she added. Coaches, powered by SAP HANA, game while serving and number of The WTA hosts 54 competitions each Twas used during the Qatar Total break points saved. year worldwide. Each match produces Open where the players and coaches Tracking data which shows player’s a trove of stats including aces, faults accessed real-time performance data. serve direction, return contact and backhands, which are then ana- point and rally shot placement. The software is available for the WTA lysed using SAP’s HANA platform. and on WTA-authorised tablets. The Earlier, the coaches used the tool for tablets, launched last year at the Bank point-by-point information after a match of the West Classic in Stanford, is given performance and optimise strategy. is complete. But with the introduction for free to all players and coaches. More That could mean the difference between of the tablet, it became an easier task. than 30 coaches have used it. winning or losing the next point, set, “The technology takes data from the “That’s really a transition story at the match or even championship,” SAP SE score sheet and sends it to the SAP HANA WTA as the software provides insights Technology Lead for Global Sponsorships cloud, Information is refreshed every to help players and coaches analyse Jenni Lewis told Doha Stadium Plus. 10 seconds,” said Lewis. DSP ššJenni Lewis 24 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 25

After completing tests at Valencia in Spain, Sepang in Malaysia and Phillip Island in MotoGP final Australia, MotoGP riders and teams will be back on track on Wednesday for their final pre- season testing at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. The first winter test took place testing at Losail on immediately after the Valencia Grand Prix in November where Jorge Lorenzo won his third world title. The first pre-season test was held at Sepang from February 1 to 3 and the Motorsport Wednesday second at Phillip Island from February 17 to 19. QMMF Racing riders

It makes sense to come to regain their rhythm Qatar every year. The night race here syncs well with the European time zone. HE Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Giuseppe Luongo, Youthstream Federation (QMMF) riders Ju- The Moto2 riders will President. Tlian Simon and Xavier Simeon, who compete in the Moto2 category, reassemble in Jerez completed a successful private testing on Wednesday for the session at Jerez, Spain, last week. official testing. On the iconic track in Southern Spain, both riders used the tests to regain their rhythm after a three-month-long win- the Speed Up bike having represented Man ter break. another brand previously. Simon’s task was a little easier, since the The most positive result for Simon 28-year-old Spaniard had already com- and Simeon was getting the right feel pleted one season with QMMF Racing of the bike, which established the per- on a mission Team. Pushing the bike to the limit and fect base to build upon at the next test- finding the best riding style was slightly ing session. more difficult for his 26-year-old Belgian The Moto2 riders will reassemble in New QMMF President Abdulrahman Al Mannai team-mate, as Simeon joined QMMF Jerez on Wednesday for the official test- ‘Qatar leg Racing only after last year’s final race ing before coming to Losail for the final aims to produce more champions in the sport. at Valencia and still needs to adapt to round from March 11 to 13. DSP guarantees Mannai spoke about the need to edu- success’ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW cate more about such events in Qatar. “I’m a big fan of Motocross and have IUSEPPE Luongo, who heads competed in the national champion- Youthstream which holds the ĈĈTie-up with Motocross ship. It’s a big challenge to bring more Gcommercial rights of World promoter Youthstream people into it as it’s relatively new to Motocross Championship, was all praise to continue Qatar. We, at the QMMF, are quite pas- for the 1,595M Losail Motocross Track sionate about this sport and are so which has been hosting the FIM series thrilled and looking forward to con- opener since 2013. Sajith B Warrier tinue the tie-up with event promoter The MX Grand Prix of Qatar is the Youthstream. Here in Qatar our main only night race on the 20-leg calendar.

objective is to promote motorsport, so DSP/ Mohan “It makes sense to come to Qatar we feel really lucky to have one round šĈTim Gajser en route to victory. because it guarantees great weather EW Qatar Motor and Motorcycle of the Motocross Worlds every year at and organisation, which combine well to ššJulian Simon rides at the Jerez circuit. Federation (QMMF) President Losail,” he added. make it a great race to open the season RESULTS Abdulrahman Al Mannai is The QMMF chief said he would be with. There has been a steady increase N MX GP a man on a mission. Just days after working closely with the Losail Circuit Gajser announces 1. Tim Gajser (SLO) Honda 33:56.5 in television audience for the sport and succeeding Nasser bin Khalifa Al At- Sports Club (LCSC) for the sport’s devel- RACE 1 2. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS) Honda at 7.5 the night race in Qatar syncs well with Abdulaziz hopes to tiyah at its helm, the new chief has set opment. 3. Romain Febvre (FRA) Yamaha 19.6 the European time zone,” said Luongo. 1. Tim Gajser (SLO) Honda 34:07.6 his priorities clear, with developing a “Operationally, it’s better, that’s why The burly Italian, himself a former his arrival in style RACE 2 2. Romain Febvre (FRA) Honda at 8.2 strategy for involving more youth in we’ve a separate team at LCSC. We work 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS) Yamaha 9.9 motocross rider, also spoke about meas- do well with Skoda the sport being on top of his agenda. out the roadmap for future at QMMF MX2 ures taken to make the sport safer. An avid motorsport buff with a craze and the field is open at LCSC to imple- ONDA Gariboldi rider Tim Gajser 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED) KTM 34:36.4 “One of the major changes this season for cars and bikes, Al Mannai said the ment it,” he added. DSP announced his arrival on the big RACE 1 2. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA) Kawasaki at 2.1 is to make body armour compulsory. ATAR’S Abdulaziz Al Kuwari will I had a good preparation 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT) KTM 36.08 onus was on him to carry Qatar’s strong Hstage by winning both races in 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED) KTM 34:39.2 If you’re a rider this should be music begin his World Rally Cham- during the winter. But involvement in the sport forward. the opening round of MX category of RACE 2 2. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA) Kawasaki at 17.2 to your ears that the FIM is being pro- Qpionship support category “From the days of Saeed Al Hajri to the Motocross World Championship. it’s a new class and I just 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT) KTM 33.7 active in making our sport safer.” DSP (WRC 2) campaign in Mexico on Friday. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah, we’ve had many The 19-year-old, who won MX2 title gave my best. The 36-year-old has fond memo- role models to look at in this sport. My last year, took a huge gamble by opt- ries of the Rally of Mexico, where he goal would be to educate the youth ing to take the big plunge into MXGP, registered his maiden WRC 2 victory more about it and create a new gen- the premier class. Throughout the weekend, I was feel- in 2013, a year in which he finished eration of champions. Measurement And in a phenomenal performance ing really good on my bike. I managed as the championship runner-up to of my success in the next few years which vindicated his decision, the to get two solid starts and rode smart. Poland’s former Formula One driver should be based on how many more Slovenian made a dream start at the I’ve never got a double victory so I’m Robert Kubica. champions we can create,” Al Mannai Losail Motocross Track. very happy about that,” said Gasjer. After pulling out midway through ššAbdulaziz Al Kuwari told Doha Stadium Plus on the sidelines “I’m really happy with this result. “I was relaxed while coming to Qatar. the opening round of Middle East of the opening round of Motocross I didn’t have any pressure at all. I didn’t Rally Championship at home due to World Championship at Losail. know what to expect. I had a good prep- a mechanical problem, Abdulaziz hopes with Skoda and I hope to do well,” said A Motocross rider himself, Al aration during the winter. But it’s a new to bounce back as he begins his fourth Abdulaziz before flying to Dallas, US, to class and I just came here to give my WRC 2 campaign in as many years. get himself acclimatised to the change best,” Gasjer added. The main challenge for him would in time zone in Mexico. The Netherland’s Jeffrey Herlings be that of driving a Skoda Fabia instead Abdulaziz’s compatriot and WRC 2 reigned supreme in both races of the of his regular Ford Fiesta. defending champion Nasser Saleh Al MX2 category while in the women’s sec- “I drove a Ford in the past three years Attiyah, who had initially planned to tion, it was the turn of New Zealand’s and it was quite a reliable car. Now my compete in Mexico, pulled out at the rookie rider Courtney Duncan to do performance will depend a lot on the last moment due to his shooting com- a double. DSP ššAbdulrahman Al Mannai presents the trophy to Tim Gajser. reliability of Skoda. It’s my first season mitments. DSP Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 25

After completing tests at Valencia in Spain, Sepang in Malaysia and Phillip Island in MotoGP final Australia, MotoGP riders and teams will be back on track on Wednesday for their final pre- season testing at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. The first winter test took place testing at Losail on immediately after the Valencia Grand Prix in November where Jorge Lorenzo won his third world title. The first pre-season test was held at Sepang from February 1 to 3 and the Wednesday second at Phillip Island from February 17 to 19.

QMMF Racing riders

It makes sense to come to regain their rhythm Qatar every year. The night race here syncs well with the European time zone. HE Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Giuseppe Luongo, Youthstream Federation (QMMF) riders Ju- The Moto2 riders will President. Tlian Simon and Xavier Simeon, who compete in the Moto2 category, reassemble in Jerez completed a successful private testing on Wednesday for the session at Jerez, Spain, last week. official testing. On the iconic track in Southern Spain, both riders used the tests to regain their rhythm after a three-month-long win- the Speed Up bike having represented ter break. another brand previously. Simon’s task was a little easier, since the The most positive result for Simon 28-year-old Spaniard had already com- and Simeon was getting the right feel pleted one season with QMMF Racing of the bike, which established the per- Team. Pushing the bike to the limit and fect base to build upon at the next test- finding the best riding style was slightly ing session. more difficult for his 26-year-old Belgian The Moto2 riders will reassemble in team-mate, as Simeon joined QMMF Jerez on Wednesday for the official test- Racing only after last year’s final race ing before coming to Losail for the final ‘Qatar leg at Valencia and still needs to adapt to round from March 11 to 13. DSP guarantees success’

IUSEPPE Luongo, who heads Youthstream which holds the Gcommercial rights of World Motocross Championship, was all praise for the 1,595M Losail Motocross Track which has been hosting the FIM series opener since 2013. The MX Grand Prix of Qatar is the only night race on the 20-leg calendar. “It makes sense to come to Qatar because it guarantees great weather and organisation, which combine well to ššJulian Simon rides at the Jerez circuit. make it a great race to open the season RESULTS MX GP with. There has been a steady increase 1. Tim Gajser (SLO) Honda 33:56.5 in television audience for the sport and RACE 1 2. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS) Honda at 7.5 the night race in Qatar syncs well with Abdulaziz hopes to 3. Romain Febvre (FRA) Yamaha 19.6 the European time zone,” said Luongo. 1. Tim Gajser (SLO) Honda 34:07.6 RACE 2 2. Romain Febvre (FRA) Honda at 8.2 The burly Italian, himself a former 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS) Yamaha 9.9 motocross rider, also spoke about meas- do well with Skoda MX2 ures taken to make the sport safer. 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED) KTM 34:36.4 “One of the major changes this season RACE 1 2. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA) Kawasaki at 2.1 is to make body armour compulsory. ATAR’S Abdulaziz Al Kuwari will 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT) KTM 36.08 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED) KTM 34:39.2 If you’re a rider this should be music begin his World Rally Cham- RACE 2 2. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA) Kawasaki at 17.2 to your ears that the FIM is being pro- Qpionship support category 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT) KTM 33.7 active in making our sport safer.” DSP (WRC 2) campaign in Mexico on Friday. The 36-year-old has fond memo- ries of the Rally of Mexico, where he registered his maiden WRC 2 victory in 2013, a year in which he finished as the championship runner-up to Poland’s former Formula One driver Robert Kubica. After pulling out midway through ššAbdulaziz Al Kuwari the opening round of Middle East Rally Championship at home due to a mechanical problem, Abdulaziz hopes with Skoda and I hope to do well,” said to bounce back as he begins his fourth Abdulaziz before flying to Dallas, US, to WRC 2 campaign in as many years. get himself acclimatised to the change The main challenge for him would in time zone in Mexico. be that of driving a Skoda Fabia instead Abdulaziz’s compatriot and WRC 2 of his regular Ford Fiesta. defending champion Nasser Saleh Al “I drove a Ford in the past three years Attiyah, who had initially planned to and it was quite a reliable car. Now my compete in Mexico, pulled out at the performance will depend a lot on the last moment due to his shooting com- ššAbdulrahman Al Mannai presents the trophy to Tim Gajser. reliability of Skoda. It’s my first season mitments. DSP 26 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 27 At a glance

Top riders again RUGBY for CHI Al Shaqab Qatar register OME of the top riders in the world three victories have confirmed their entries for Sthe 2016 CHI Al Shaqab, which ATAR won three matches, but is set to take place from Wednesday lost as many to finish ninth in to Friday. Qthe Asia Rugby Development The competition’s fourth edition Sevens Tournament in Al Ain last week. will see more than 130 riders from 20 As many as 13 teams vied for hon- countries competing in show jump- ours in the event. ing CSI 5* and CSI 3*, dressage CDI 5* ššUAE proved too good for Jordan in the final. Qatar lost to India (7-38) and Chinese and para-dressage disciplines. Taipei (20-28) in the group stage while Confirmed entries for the show jump- in the second round they went down ing category include the world’s high- FOCUS ON ASPIRE 17-20 to Iran though managed to beat ššSaif Saaeed Shaheen est-ranked rider Scott Brash, Abdullah Pakistan 28-5. Alsharbatly, Edwina Tops-Alexander, But in the bowl division for the third- and Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani. UAE triumph at Aspire placed sides, Qatar defeated Pakistan ATHLETICS Photo/Juhaim Babu Photo/Juhaim Brash said, “I’m very excited to once 26-5 and 24-7. šĈHH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani holds The Emir’s Sword after receiving it from the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. again participate in CHI Al Shaqab Chinese Taipei overcame the UAE 24-22 Steeplechaser in Qatar, particularly the same year Embassies Futsal to claim the title and book their berth in the Asia Rugby Sevens Series. DSP Shaheen retires EQUESTRIANISM The competition’s fourth HE UAE emerged as winners such a tournament is to enhance ties ATAR’S steeplechase cham- in the Aspire Embassies Futsal between members of the community pion Saif Saaeed Shaheen edition will see more TTournament last week. In the working in different sectors. The Aspire Qannounced his retirement than 130 riders from 20 final, they defeated Jordan 6-3. Embassies Futsal Tournament and the after failing to recover from a recur- countries. Sixteen other teams — Saudi Arabia, Aspire Banks League are great exam- ring Achilles tendon injury. Kuwait, Syria, France, Portugal, Sri Lanka, ples of this. We’re happy The 33-year-old athlete of Kenyan Somalia, Russia, Spain, Mexico, USA, “At the AZF, we’re keen to encourage with the origin has been out of favour with the that the Olympics are taking place. It’s Algeria, Tunisia, India, Ethiopia and all members of the community to adopt team’s overall Qatar Athletics Federation for a while Gazwan wins always thrilling to compete with rid- — also vied for honours in the healthy lifestyles through the different since it focused on giving more chance performance ers of the highest calibre. I look for- tournament, which began last November. programmes of activity we organise to youngsters. since we were ward to competing in one of the best Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) round the year. I would like to thank “It’s time to call it a day. Running playing for the equestrian facilities in the world.” President Hilal Al Kuwari handed over everyone who has contributed to the isn’t the only thing that can occupy first time in a Hayley Watson Graves, Jessica von the trophy to the winners. success of this tournament, especially one’s life. There’re other things to do,” Bredow-Werndl and Patrik Kittel are Commenting on the tournament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, partic- sevens event. said Shaheen, who holds the steeple- among the top riders in the Dressage AZF Events Manager Abdullah Al ipating embassies and Qatar Football Yousef Al Kuwari, Qatar Rugby chase world record of 7:53.63 which he category. Khater said, “The aim of organising Association.” DSP Federation President. achieved at the International Association emir’s Sword Top riders confirmed for Para- of Athletics Federation’s Golden League Dressage include Pep Puch, Nicole meeting in Brussels in September, 2004. The Blue Eye reigns supreme in HH The Emir’s Trophy. Den Dulk and Rixt van der Horst. The two-time World Championship CHI Al Shaqab, the only one of its Save the Dream! winner (2003 Paris, 2005 Helsinki) had kind in the Middle East and Asia, is been undergoing treatment in Germany ĈĈGazwan is ridden by 16 years ago, he was the first one to (Amer-Redjila) simply outclassed among only four international annual Qatar Olympic Committee for his long-standing injury, but finally Richard Mullen and give me a ride. I’ve a long association his rivals while romping home to equestrian competitions that show- (QOC) Secretary General Dr gave up hope. Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari trained by Julian Smart with him and I’m glad to be part of this an emphatic victory in the Al Faisal case more than three equestrian dis- “I tried to start training again recently with delegates after opening all-important victory,” added Mullen. Holding-sponsored Qatar International ciplines in one event. DSP after taking a full year to recuperate, ĈĈAl Shaqab Racing’s the Save the Dream workshop Aba’ath romps home in Trainer Smart, who went winless Cup, a Group 1 race four-year-old and in Doha for national Olympic but the leg started swelling. There’s no until HH The Emir’s Sword race, was older Purebred Arabians. DSP committees in the Gulf region. point in making a comeback,” added Qatar International Cup relieved to have had another success Save the Dream, a joint initiative Shaheen. in the mega event. by the QOC and Doha-based Talking about his long-standing RESULTS H SHEIKH Mohammed bin “I was going to say nobody was say- International Centre for Sport record, Shaheen said, “It might take Moaddie (Yanis Aouabed) 1, Footprintinthesand 2, Security, aims to promote and Khalifa Al Thani-owned Ga- ing this the last couple of days. It’s a Mutawassal 3, Al Hareth 4. Won by: 1 ¾, 2, Nk. Time: some time before the record is broken Race 1 protect the core values of sport 2:01.76. Trained by: Hamad Ahmed Al Jehani. Owned Hzwan won the prestigious HH for the benefit of young people again. Several runners, including Kenya’s by: Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani. The Emir’s Sword, a Group 1 Local Aba’ath (Julien Auge) 1, Thakif 2, Gidwa 3, Rasi 4. Won around the world. Ezekiel Kemboi, had made attempts Bred Pure Arabian race, at the Qatar Race 2 by: Time: 1:39.10. Trained by: Thomas Fourcy. Owned by: to break it recently, but it might take Gazwan has been very Al Shaqab Racing. Racing and Equestrian Club last week. Moidin Photo/Shahjahan a while.” DSP consistent this year Izzthatright (Richard Mullen) 1, Roi De Vitesse 2, Golden Ridden by Richard Mullen, Julian Steps 3, Sandbetweenourtoes 4. Won by: 1 ¼, 2, Shd. Race 3 Smart-trained Gazwan (Amer-Arc De and he rightly deserves Time: 1:07.82. Trained by: Jassim Ghazali. Owned by: Injaaz Stud. Ciel) put up a commendable perfor- this victory. Go Dan Go (Harry Bentley) 1, Magnolia Beach 2, Jumaira Tower 3, Glossy Posse 4. Won by: Shd, ¾, 1. mance to score his second victory in Race 4 FOCUS ON QOC Time: 1:59.97. Trained by: Jassim Ghazali. Owned by: Dr as many starts and thus establish his Fahad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah & Son. credentials as a horse of high quality. funny game you know. Every time we Opera Baron (JP Guillambert) 1, Flying Empress 2, French Encore 3, Tony Curtis 4. Won by: 1/2, 1 1/4, 1. Time: Jockey Mullen was elated with the win HH The Emir’s Sword, we’ve had Race 5 Al Dhakiara emerge champions 1:33.50. Trained by: Jassim Ghazali. Owned by: Khalifa success of Gazwan in the main event. an awful weekend,” he said. bin Sheail Al Kuwari. “Gazwan has been very consistent Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari-owned Spaghetti (Harry Bentley) 1, Civaldi de Montegut 2, Djelamer 3, Carab 4. Won by: 1 ¾, ¾, 6. Time: 2:00.92. Race 6 this year and he rightly deserves this The Blue Eye (Dubawi-Soneva) dis- Trained by: Jassim Ghazali. Owned by: Khalifa bin L DHAKIARA emerged as win- were richer by QR400,000 and QR300,000 Ali Al Thani awarded the winners at a victory,” said Mullen. played fine rhythm as he galloped Sheail Al Kuwari. ners in the 2016 Al Shawaheef respectively. ceremony, attended by Sport Affairs He had a word of praise for trainer fluently to dismiss the opposi - The Blue Eye (Harry Bentley) 1, Billabong 2, Fort Moville AChampionship (traditional boat The event was organised by the Qatar Department Director Khaleel Al Jabir, and 3, Agent Murphy 4. Won by: 4, Shd, 1 1/2. Time: 2:25.85. Race 7 Smart. tion with minimum fuss in the HH Trained by: Jassim Ghazali. Owned by: Khalifa bin race) at the Katara beach last week. Olympic Committee (QOC), in associa- Public Relations and Media Department “I got to tell you about Julian Smart. The Emir’s Trophy, a Group 1 race Sheail Al Kuwari. Al Zubara and Umm Al Hawol finished tion with the Qatar Sailing and Marine Director Mohammad Essa Al Fadalah. I know he trains Arabians, but he’s a for Thoroughbreds, sponsored by Gazwan (Richard Mullen) 1, Assy 2, Al Mourtajez 3, second and third respectively. Sports Federation. Ten teams vied for The QOC organises Al Shawaheef annu- Raddad 4. Won by: 2, 3/4, 5. Time: 2:36.45. Trained by: š Race 8 šThe Qatar Olympic Committee organises Al Shawaheef first-class trainer. We go back a long Longines. Julian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin While the winners bagged QR600,000, honours. ally with an aim to revive and popular- annually with an aim to revive and popularise traditional rowing way. When I first went to the isle about Al Shaqab Racing’s Aba’ath Khalifa Al Thani. šĈScott Brash the runners-up and third-placed finishers QOC Vice-President Sheikh Saud bin ise traditional rowing sport. DSP sport. Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 27

RUGBY Qatar register three victories

ATAR won three matches, but lost as many to finish ninth in Qthe Asia Rugby Development Sevens Tournament in Al Ain last week. As many as 13 teams vied for hon- ours in the event. ššUAE proved too good for Jordan in the final. Qatar lost to India (7-38) and Chinese Taipei (20-28) in the group stage while in the second round they went down FOCUS ON ASPIRE 17-20 to Iran though managed to beat ššSaif Saaeed Shaheen Pakistan 28-5. But in the bowl division for the third- UAE triumph at Aspire placed sides, Qatar defeated Pakistan ATHLETICS 26-5 and 24-7. Chinese Taipei overcame the UAE 24-22 Steeplechaser Embassies Futsal to claim the title and book their berth in the Asia Rugby Sevens Series. DSP Shaheen retires

HE UAE emerged as winners such a tournament is to enhance ties ATAR’S steeplechase cham- in the Aspire Embassies Futsal between members of the community pion Saif Saaeed Shaheen TTournament last week. In the working in different sectors. The Aspire Qannounced his retirement final, they defeated Jordan 6-3. Embassies Futsal Tournament and the after failing to recover from a recur- Sixteen other teams — Saudi Arabia, Aspire Banks League are great exam- ring Achilles tendon injury. Kuwait, Syria, France, Portugal, Sri Lanka, ples of this. We’re happy The 33-year-old athlete of Kenyan Somalia, Russia, Spain, Mexico, USA, “At the AZF, we’re keen to encourage with the origin has been out of favour with the Algeria, Tunisia, India, Ethiopia and all members of the community to adopt team’s overall Qatar Athletics Federation for a while Kenya — also vied for honours in the healthy lifestyles through the different performance since it focused on giving more chance tournament, which began last November. programmes of activity we organise to youngsters. since we were Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) round the year. I would like to thank “It’s time to call it a day. Running playing for the President Hilal Al Kuwari handed over everyone who has contributed to the isn’t the only thing that can occupy first time in a the trophy to the winners. success of this tournament, especially one’s life. There’re other things to do,” Commenting on the tournament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, partic- sevens event. said Shaheen, who holds the steeple- AZF Events Manager Abdullah Al ipating embassies and Qatar Football Yousef Al Kuwari, Qatar Rugby chase world record of 7:53.63 which he Khater said, “The aim of organising Association.” DSP Federation President. achieved at the International Association of Athletics Federation’s Golden League meeting in Brussels in September, 2004. The two-time World Championship Save the Dream! winner (2003 Paris, 2005 Helsinki) had been undergoing treatment in Germany Qatar Olympic Committee for his long-standing injury, but finally (QOC) Secretary General Dr gave up hope. Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari “I tried to start training again recently with delegates after opening the Save the Dream workshop after taking a full year to recuperate, in Doha for national Olympic but the leg started swelling. There’s no committees in the Gulf region. point in making a comeback,” added Save the Dream, a joint initiative Shaheen. by the QOC and Doha-based Talking about his long-standing International Centre for Sport record, Shaheen said, “It might take Security, aims to promote and some time before the record is broken protect the core values of sport for the benefit of young people again. Several runners, including Kenya’s around the world. Ezekiel Kemboi, had made attempts to break it recently, but it might take

Photo/Shahjahan Moidin Photo/Shahjahan a while.” DSP

FOCUS ON QOC Al Dhakiara emerge champions

L DHAKIARA emerged as win- were richer by QR400,000 and QR300,000 Ali Al Thani awarded the winners at a ners in the 2016 Al Shawaheef respectively. ceremony, attended by Sport Affairs AChampionship (traditional boat The event was organised by the Qatar Department Director Khaleel Al Jabir, and race) at the Katara beach last week. Olympic Committee (QOC), in associa- Public Relations and Media Department Al Zubara and Umm Al Hawol finished tion with the Qatar Sailing and Marine Director Mohammad Essa Al Fadalah. second and third respectively. Sports Federation. Ten teams vied for The QOC organises Al Shawaheef annu- ššThe Qatar Olympic Committee organises Al Shawaheef While the winners bagged QR600,000, honours. ally with an aim to revive and popular- annually with an aim to revive and popularise traditional rowing the runners-up and third-placed finishers QOC Vice-President Sheikh Saud bin ise traditional rowing sport. DSP sport. 28 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 29 At a glance

SHOOTING VOLLEYBALL Italian Piazza takes charge as Qatar coach

TALIAN Roberto Piazza, who was Rayyan finish named Qatar national team coach Iin January, formally took over last fifth at Arab Fernandez traps gold Monday on a one-year deal. š šAli Ahmed Al Hitmi The 48-year-old, whose current ten- Championship ure with Greek club Olympiacos runs till The 32-year-old holds his nerve when it matters the most in shoot-off. Qatar League champions Al May, will start training the team in June. Rayyan finished fifth in the GYMNASTICS He succeeded Argentinian Juan Manuel 16th Arab Championship in gold medal,” said Fernandez, who has Cichello, who returned to Iran as their Amman, Jordan, last week. Sajith B Warrier been to the Beijing and London Games. assistant coach. After maintaining a clean Fernandez needed two shoot-offs ‘We’re ready to Piazza’s first assignment will be sheet in the group stage, to reach the final. host Artistic the FIVB World League, to be held in Rayyan met their match in “The conditions were tough, espe- Slovenia in June. Egypt’s Smouha Sporting Club in the quarterfinal, losing WO-TIME Olympian Alberto cially the strong winds. The targets Challenge Cup’ “Every coach takes up a new chal- 22-25, 19-25, 23-25. Fernandez of Spain brought a were moving lenge with lot of aspirations and I’m Later in the fifth-place play- Tbefitting end to the Qatar Open OMPETITORS from 32 nations no different. Qatar have had good off, Rayyan beat Bahrain’s Al Shotgun Championship by winning the are expected to be in action at results in Asia over the past two years Muharraq 22-25, 25-19, 17-25, trap title, edging Germany’s Waldemar Cthe Ninth FIG Artistic Gymnas- and my aim would be to extend that 25-17, 15-13. Schanz in a shoot-off. tics Challenge Cup, to be held at the to the international level,” said Piazza, Divakaran DSP/ Vinod Meanwhile, the Qatar It was a fairytale end for š The 32-year-old, who had already ASPIRE Academy from March 24 to 26. who has mostly coached in his home šRoberto Piazza shakes hands with Qatar Volleyball Association League action resumed last Fernandez, who decided President Khalid Ali Al Mawlawi after signing the contract. Monday. DSP booked his Rio Olympics berth, held The organising committee, under the country. DSP his nerve after both competitors missed to compete in the event chairmanship of the Qatar Gymnastics a target each in the final. at the last hour. Federation (QGF) President Ali Ahmed In the shoot-off, both Fernandez and Al Hitmi, held a meeting with its work- Schanz knocked down targets with ease ing committees to discuss the tour- HANDBALL in the windy conditions at Losail. all over the place in all directions — nament’s arrangements last Sunday. But Schanz missed the target on his some used to go high and some low. “We’re ready to host the event. Like 16th attempt, thereby handing Fernandez You don’t know where to aim at,” added every edition, Qatar is geared up to host his first win of the season. the Espanyol native, after collecting the world’s best gymnasts. We’re proud Easy win for El Jaish It was a fairytale end for Fernandez, the winner’s cheque for $7,000 from to be a part of FIG event,” Al Hitmi, who decided to compete at the last hour. Qatar Shooting and Association who last week led a delegation to the “I came to train at Losail for a week General Secretary Abdullah Ali Al Mutawa FIG Executive Committee in Lausanne, L JAISH maintained their clean ahead of the new season. I had no idea Al Hammadi. Switzerland told Doha Stadium Plus. sheet in the Qatar League with Jaish, the only that the Shotgun Championship was Italy’s Jessica Rossi won the wom- “The meeting focused on the upcom- Ean easy 41-23 win against Qa- unbeaten team in the going to happen. I decided to com- en’s title, beating Russian Ekaterina DSP/ Mohan ing events and also thanked the QGF tar SC. pete and I’m happy to sign off with a Rabaya 14-12. DSP ššAlberto Fernandez eyes a target at the Losail Range. for making the Challenge Cup a suc- In a lop-sided game at the Qatar league, have 45 points cessful one over the last eight years,” Handball Association Hall at Duhail, from 15 games. he said. Jaish pummeled the opposition into The QGF president said the increase submission with their all-round display. TABLE TENNIS in the number of participating coun- The winners led 23-12 at halftime. With some key players injured, Jaish tries indicated the trust the federations Jaish, for whom their players fea- tried out their bench strength and it had in Qatar. ture in the national team, are the only proved more than enough. Stage set for World Tour Qatar Open “We’ve successfully organised the pre- unbeaten team in the league, having Pivot Haithem Abbasi led the attacks vious editions and that has helped us 45 points from 15 games. with gusto while left-back Juan del win the right to host the 2018 FIG Artistic Champions Al Gharafa, who edged El Arco excelled. had come a long way since it started Gymnastics World Championships,” Quiyada 26-25 in a nail-biting encoun- Meanwhile, Jaish pulled out of the Mohammad Amin-ul Islam Though Chinese players more than two decades ago. he added. ter earlier, are second with 41 points, Arab Championship beginning on “We’ve seen the top players here. Their The 48th World Championships will but have played a game more. March 20 in Amman, Jordan, to give have dominated the presence adds value to the event. Though be held in Doha from October 17 to Divakaran DSP/ Vinod Lekhwiya, who lost to Al Wakrah more time for their injured players event, others have also Chinese players have dominated the 27, 2018. DSP ššEl Jaish’s Haithem Abbasi, left, tries to score against Qatar SC. 23-24, are third. to recover. DSP HE Qatar Table Tennis Associa- gained experience. event, others have also gained valuable tion (QTTA) is all geared up to experience by playing here,” he said. Thost the World Tour Qatar Open Earlier, it was a men-only event. Thanks at the Women’s Sport Committee Hall a part of it. We hope it becomes more to the vision of the QTTA, women were GOLF from March 23 to 27. popular in the years to come,” QTTA allowed to play from 1998. In fact, table There will be a strong presence of President Khaleel Ahmed Al Mohannadi tennis is the first sport in the region to Chinese players this time. They did told Doha Stadium Plus. “We want to allow both men and women to play Ali, Al Kaabi to lead Qatar’s challenge not compete last year as the tourna- thank all those who’ve contributed to side by side. ment dates clashed with their New Year. the growth of this event.” “The total prize money of $500,000 is “The World Tour Qatar Open has Players from 36 countries are expected the biggest in the history of ITTF World LI Al Shahrani and Saleh Al and Arnav Jain will represent the hosts Naimi told a Press conference at the become one of the prime sports events to participate. Tour. I think the is the next Kaabi, who competed in the in junior category (Under-18). DGC. in the country and we’re happy to be Al Mohannadi said the tournament best,” said Al Mohannadi. DSP AEuropean Tour’s Commercial The 18-hole event will see seniors The GCC technical committee meet- Bank Qatar Masters, will lead Qatar’s and juniors play four and three rounds ing will also be held on the event’s challenge in the GCC Championship, respectively. sidelines. The World Tour Qatar Open has become one of the prime to be held at the Doha Golf Club (DGC) “All six GCC nations have confirmed “All the top golfers from GCC will sports events in the country and we’re just happy to be a part from Wednesday to Saturday. their participation. We believe events be figuring in it and it’s a great hon- Ali’s brother Abdulrahman and like this will definitely help unearth our for us to host it. We’re expect- of it. We hope it becomes more popular in the years to come. Ghanim Al Kuwari complete the Qatar the next generation of golfers in the ing some keen contests,” said QGA

DSP/ Vinod Divakaran DSP/ Vinod Khaleel Ahmed Al Mohannadi, Qatar Table Tennis Association President. senior squad. region,” Qatar Golf Association (QGA) Executive Director Mohammed Faisal ššVladimir Samsonov of Belarus won last year’s singles title. ššMohammed Faisal Al Naimi, left, and Fahad Nasser Al Naimi. Saoud Al Mohannadi, Sami Hussam General Secretary Fahad Nasser Al Al Naimi. DSP Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 29

VOLLEYBALL Italian Piazza takes charge as Qatar coach

TALIAN Roberto Piazza, who was Rayyan finish named Qatar national team coach Iin January, formally took over last fifth at Arab Monday on a one-year deal. š šAli Ahmed Al Hitmi The 48-year-old, whose current ten- Championship ure with Greek club Olympiacos runs till The 32-year-old holds his nerve when it matters the most in shoot-off. Qatar League champions Al May, will start training the team in June. Rayyan finished fifth in the GYMNASTICS He succeeded Argentinian Juan Manuel 16th Arab Championship in Cichello, who returned to Iran as their Amman, Jordan, last week. assistant coach. After maintaining a clean ‘We’re ready to Piazza’s first assignment will be sheet in the group stage, host Artistic the FIVB World League, to be held in Rayyan met their match in Slovenia in June. Egypt’s Smouha Sporting Club in the quarterfinal, losing Challenge Cup’ “Every coach takes up a new chal- 22-25, 19-25, 23-25. lenge with lot of aspirations and I’m Later in the fifth-place play- OMPETITORS from 32 nations no different. Qatar have had good off, Rayyan beat Bahrain’s Al are expected to be in action at results in Asia over the past two years Muharraq 22-25, 25-19, 17-25, Cthe Ninth FIG Artistic Gymnas- and my aim would be to extend that 25-17, 15-13. tics Challenge Cup, to be held at the to the international level,” said Piazza, Divakaran DSP/ Vinod Meanwhile, the Qatar š ASPIRE Academy from March 24 to 26. who has mostly coached in his home šRoberto Piazza shakes hands with Qatar Volleyball Association League action resumed last President Khalid Ali Al Mawlawi after signing the contract. Monday. DSP The organising committee, under the country. DSP chairmanship of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) President Ali Ahmed Al Hitmi, held a meeting with its work- ing committees to discuss the tour- HANDBALL nament’s arrangements last Sunday. “We’re ready to host the event. Like every edition, Qatar is geared up to host the world’s best gymnasts. We’re proud Easy win for El Jaish to be a part of FIG event,” Al Hitmi, who last week led a delegation to the FIG Executive Committee in Lausanne, L JAISH maintained their clean Switzerland told Doha Stadium Plus. sheet in the Qatar League with Jaish, the only “The meeting focused on the upcom- Ean easy 41-23 win against Qa- ing events and also thanked the QGF tar SC. unbeaten team in the for making the Challenge Cup a suc- In a lop-sided game at the Qatar league, have 45 points cessful one over the last eight years,” Handball Association Hall at Duhail, from 15 games. he said. Jaish pummeled the opposition into The QGF president said the increase submission with their all-round display. in the number of participating coun- The winners led 23-12 at halftime. With some key players injured, Jaish tries indicated the trust the federations Jaish, for whom their players fea- tried out their bench strength and it had in Qatar. ture in the national team, are the only proved more than enough. “We’ve successfully organised the pre- unbeaten team in the league, having Pivot Haithem Abbasi led the attacks vious editions and that has helped us 45 points from 15 games. with gusto while left-back Juan del win the right to host the 2018 FIG Artistic Champions Al Gharafa, who edged El Arco excelled. Gymnastics World Championships,” Quiyada 26-25 in a nail-biting encoun- Meanwhile, Jaish pulled out of the he added. ter earlier, are second with 41 points, Arab Championship beginning on The 48th World Championships will but have played a game more. March 20 in Amman, Jordan, to give

be held in Doha from October 17 to Divakaran DSP/ Vinod Lekhwiya, who lost to Al Wakrah more time for their injured players 27, 2018. DSP ššEl Jaish’s Haithem Abbasi, left, tries to score against Qatar SC. 23-24, are third. to recover. DSP

GOLF Ali, Al Kaabi to lead Qatar’s challenge

LI Al Shahrani and Saleh Al and Arnav Jain will represent the hosts Naimi told a Press conference at the Kaabi, who competed in the in junior category (Under-18). DGC. AEuropean Tour’s Commercial The 18-hole event will see seniors The GCC technical committee meet- Bank Qatar Masters, will lead Qatar’s and juniors play four and three rounds ing will also be held on the event’s challenge in the GCC Championship, respectively. sidelines. to be held at the Doha Golf Club (DGC) “All six GCC nations have confirmed “All the top golfers from GCC will from Wednesday to Saturday. their participation. We believe events be figuring in it and it’s a great hon- Ali’s brother Abdulrahman and like this will definitely help unearth our for us to host it. We’re expect- Ghanim Al Kuwari complete the Qatar the next generation of golfers in the ing some keen contests,” said QGA senior squad. region,” Qatar Golf Association (QGA) Executive Director Mohammed Faisal ššMohammed Faisal Al Naimi, left, and Fahad Nasser Al Naimi. Saoud Al Mohannadi, Sami Hussam General Secretary Fahad Nasser Al Al Naimi. DSP 30 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 31 At a glance

CRICKET GOLF It’s tough to beat India: Smith Scott back to where he belongs!

USTRALIA skipper Steven Smith USTRALIA’S Adam Scott main- is determined to secure the one tained ice-cool composure over TOP RANKINGS major international trophy the tough closing stretch at the A A 1. Jordan Spieth (USA) his country has never won but thinks Honda Classic to end a title drought 2. Jason Day (AUS) India are going to be tough to beat of nearly two years, clinching his 12th 3. Rory McIlroy (NIR) when they host the World Twenty20. PGA Tour victory by one shot at Palm 4. Bubba Watson (USA) ššFeyisa Lilesa The Australia squad, world champi- Beach Gardens in Florida that saw 5. Rickie Fowler (USA) ons in 50-overs cricket and No.1 in the him leap back into the top 10 in latest 6. Henrik Stenson (SWE) 7. Justin Rose (ENG) Test world rankings after the 2-0 series world rankings. ATHLETICS 8. Dustin Johnson (USA) win over New Zealand, flew to South The 35-year-old outdueled his com- 9. Adam Scott (AUS) Africa for three T20 matches as part of petitor Sergio Garcia as he carded a 10. Patrick Reed (USA) Lilesa, Kiprop their preparations for the March 8 to level-par 70 in the final round in blus- April 3 World Cup. tery conditions at the challenging PGA shine in Tokyo Their best result in the five previous National layout. versions came when they reached the Tied for the lead with Garcia with THIOPIA’S Feyisa Lilesa stormed 2010 final, however, a 3-0 drubbing by ššStan Wawrinka returns during the final against Marcos Baghdatis. eight holes to play, the former world to victory in the India in a recent Twenty20 series has No.1 played steadier down the stretch Eafter a devastating late burst of given them plenty of food for thought. pace left Kenyan rival Dickson Chumba “On any given day in T20 cricket any TENNIS for dead. side can be dangerous, an individual It was his first win since Lilesa, a former world bronze medal- can take a game away from you,” said list, kicked for home with around 2km Smith. the PGA Tour’s Crowne to go and clocked 2 hours, 6min and “It’s going to be a tough tour in India, Plaza Invitational at 56sec under sunny skies to claim his in conditions that’re foreign to us. But Colonial in May, 2014. first major marathon title. it’s really exciting and I think we’ve got Two years ago Chumba won the the squad to give that tournament a Tokyo race, one of the six majors on real shake,” he added. STAN GUN FIRES! to post a nine-under total of 271 as the the marathon circuit, but he had no Spaniard’s game unravelled. answer to Lilesa’s late surge and even- It was Wawrinka’s 13th career title and second of the season. “I got off to a good start, made one tually took third after being caught by birdie on the first and that definitely fellow Kenyan Kiprop Kipyego with the relaxed me,” said Scott after winning his finish line in sight. ORLD No.4 Stan Wawrinka champion saved five set points before first tournament since the PGA Tour’s Kenyan Helah Kiprop won the wom- edged out Cypriot Marcos I’ve had a great run at a Baghdatis backhand drifted long to Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial en’s race in a time of 2:21:27 ahead of WBaghdatis in a nerve-jan- give the Swiss his victory. in May, 2014. Ethiopia’s , the defend- gling, near-30 minute tie-break to secure finals. When I get to “I had to fight until the end — it was Scott’s 12th PGA Tour victory put him ing Tokyo champion. More than 36,000 the Dubai Duty Free Championship them I really want a quite crazy tiebreaker. I’ve had a great one ahead of Rory McIlroy at the top of took part in the 10th edition of the race. with a 6-4, 7-6 (15-13) triumph. to win. run at finals. When I get to them I really the list of most wins recorded by cur- ššAdam Scott celebrates his win. The French Open champion from want to win,” said Wawrinka, who col- rent tour players aged under 40. Switzerland claimed the second title lected his 13th career title. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Louis of the season after Chennai, improv- for a sixth successive time. Meanwhile, Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas Oosthuizen overcame a nervous start lead, but quickly saw his advantage on the seventh and eighth. CAS takes up ing to 13-2 in 2016. Wawrinka was gifted the first set by won the Open in Sao Paulo, retain- to eke out a one-stroke victory at the reduced to one after a bogey on the Oosthuizen’s final round one-under- Wawrinka’s path to victory had been a Baghdatis double fault — his third ing the title he won last year by beat- Perth International securing his eighth second hole. par 71 for a four-day total of 16-under Russia’s case eased by the retirements of world No.1 of that game alone — and a tepid sec- ing Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6 European Tour title on his first ever Local favourite Jason Scrivener tied 272 was eventually enough to keep him Novak Djokovic and Australian pros- ond set was notable for not featuring (7-4), 6-3. visit to Australia. the 33-year-old for the lead briefly, but ahead of Frenchman Alexander Levy, HE fate of Russian athletes ac- pect Nick Kyrgios in the earlier rounds, a single break point. It was a second straight tournament The 2010 British Open winner went Oosthuizen regained his sole posses- while Scrivener finished a stroke fur- cused of doping now lies solely but the Swiss often toiled against sur- But then followed an extraordinary victory in Brazil for Cuevas, after the- into the final round with a three-stroke sion of top spot after consecutive birdies ther adrift in third. Twith the Court of Arbitration for š šSteven Smith prise finalist Baghdatis, whom he beat tiebreak in which the twice Grand Slam Rio de Janeiro event recently. Sport (CAS) in place of the suspended All-Russian Athletic Federation. The cases concerned include Russian racewalkers Vera Sokolova, Elmira Thompson scales new Alembekova, Ivan Noskov, Mikhail Ryzhov and Denis Strelkov, who all tested positive for blood boosting endurance Huck set sights on Glowacki heights in Pattaya enhancer EPO in June, 2015. CAS would handle athletes hearings in the absence of the Russian author- ERMANY’S has the title he only won last November. in four bouts against Afolabi and was MERICA’S Lexi Thompson ity, in accordance with World Anti- set his sights on regaining the The 31-year-old wants a rematch pleased with his preparations, despite overcame an early scare before Doping Agency’s code and International GWorld Boxing Organisation against Poland’s Krzysztof Glowacki, splitting with two coaches recently. Aeasing to a six-stroke victory The six-stroke victory Association and Athletics Federation’s (WBO) title after a technical knock-out who took his WBO belt Having won the IBO world belt, the at the Honda LPGA Thailand event lifted the American to (IAAF) rules. win over Britain’s Ola Afolabi gave him off him with an 11th-round knock-out smallest of the world organisations, with a win that lifted her to No.3 in No.3 in the latest world The court said it would render a deci- the International Boxing Organisation in New Jersey, USA, last August. Huck is now targeting a belt from one the world rankings. rankings. sion for each athlete within a reason- (IBO) cruiserweight belt. That was Huck’s first defeat in six of the four big bodies: the WBO, World Thompson, who started the final round able timeframe. Huck became a world champion years and after 13 defences. Boxing Council, World Boxing Association with a four-stroke advantage, carded a The CAS will also handle the case for the second time when Afolabi, 35, “I really wanted to fight him straight and International Boxing Federation. four-under-par 68 for a 20-under total birdies on the first three holes that cut of middle distance runner Ekaterina retired after failing to come out for the away, but now more than ever. We offered “The training paid off. I’ve been very to register a seventh LPGA Tour win Thompson’s lead to one shot. Sharmina, who has been charged with 11th round in Halle, West Germany. him a bag of money, but he didn’t want diligent and now you’ve the result. I’m of her career and third title since July. The South Korean bogeyed the fourth, use by an athlete of a prohibited sub- Afolabi’s left eye was swollen shut by it,” said Huck as he chases Glowacki back again and it’s an indescribable If the 21-year-old was hoping for a however, to double the American’s advan- stance or prohibited method by the the seventh round as the London-born for a rematch. feeling. When I’ve trained well, no one stroll in Pattaya she was in for a shock tage at the top and Chun was unable IAAF following analysis of her Biological fighter now based in Los Angeles lost It was the 31-year-old’s third victory can beat me in the ring,” he added. ššMarco Huck when playing partner Chun In-Gee had to get any closer. ššLexi Thompson Passport. Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 31

GOLF Scott back to where he belongs!

USTRALIA’S Adam Scott main- tained ice-cool composure over TOP RANKINGS the tough closing stretch at the A 1. Jordan Spieth (USA) Honda Classic to end a title drought 2. Jason Day (AUS) of nearly two years, clinching his 12th 3. Rory McIlroy (NIR) PGA Tour victory by one shot at Palm 4. Bubba Watson (USA) ššFeyisa Lilesa Beach Gardens in Florida that saw 5. Rickie Fowler (USA) him leap back into the top 10 in latest 6. Henrik Stenson (SWE) 7. Justin Rose (ENG) world rankings. ATHLETICS 8. Dustin Johnson (USA) The 35-year-old outdueled his com- 9. Adam Scott (AUS) petitor Sergio Garcia as he carded a 10. Patrick Reed (USA) Lilesa, Kiprop level-par 70 in the final round in blus- tery conditions at the challenging PGA shine in Tokyo National layout. Tied for the lead with Garcia with THIOPIA’S Feyisa Lilesa stormed eight holes to play, the former world to victory in the Tokyo Marathon No.1 played steadier down the stretch Eafter a devastating late burst of pace left Kenyan rival Dickson Chumba for dead. It was his first win since Lilesa, a former world bronze medal- list, kicked for home with around 2km the PGA Tour’s Crowne to go and clocked 2 hours, 6min and Plaza Invitational at 56sec under sunny skies to claim his Colonial in May, 2014. first major marathon title. Two years ago Chumba won the Tokyo race, one of the six majors on to post a nine-under total of 271 as the the marathon circuit, but he had no Spaniard’s game unravelled. answer to Lilesa’s late surge and even- It was Wawrinka’s 13th career title and second of the season. “I got off to a good start, made one tually took third after being caught by birdie on the first and that definitely fellow Kenyan Kiprop Kipyego with the relaxed me,” said Scott after winning his finish line in sight. first tournament since the PGA Tour’s Kenyan Helah Kiprop won the wom- Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial en’s race in a time of 2:21:27 ahead of in May, 2014. Ethiopia’s Birhane Dibaba, the defend- Scott’s 12th PGA Tour victory put him ing Tokyo champion. More than 36,000 one ahead of Rory McIlroy at the top of took part in the 10th edition of the race. the list of most wins recorded by cur- ššAdam Scott celebrates his win. rent tour players aged under 40. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen overcame a nervous start lead, but quickly saw his advantage on the seventh and eighth. CAS takes up to eke out a one-stroke victory at the reduced to one after a bogey on the Oosthuizen’s final round one-under- Perth International securing his eighth second hole. par 71 for a four-day total of 16-under Russia’s case European Tour title on his first ever Local favourite Jason Scrivener tied 272 was eventually enough to keep him visit to Australia. the 33-year-old for the lead briefly, but ahead of Frenchman Alexander Levy, HE fate of Russian athletes ac- The 2010 British Open winner went Oosthuizen regained his sole posses- while Scrivener finished a stroke fur- cused of doping now lies solely into the final round with a three-stroke sion of top spot after consecutive birdies ther adrift in third. Twith the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in place of the suspended All-Russian Athletic Federation. The cases concerned include Russian racewalkers Vera Sokolova, Elmira Thompson scales new Alembekova, Ivan Noskov, Mikhail Ryzhov and Denis Strelkov, who all tested positive for blood boosting endurance heights in Pattaya enhancer EPO in June, 2015. CAS would handle athletes hearings in the absence of the Russian author- MERICA’S Lexi Thompson ity, in accordance with World Anti- overcame an early scare before Doping Agency’s code and International Aeasing to a six-stroke victory The six-stroke victory Association and Athletics Federation’s at the Honda LPGA Thailand event lifted the American to (IAAF) rules. with a win that lifted her to No.3 in No.3 in the latest world The court said it would render a deci- the world rankings. rankings. sion for each athlete within a reason- Thompson, who started the final round able timeframe. with a four-stroke advantage, carded a The CAS will also handle the case four-under-par 68 for a 20-under total birdies on the first three holes that cut of middle distance runner Ekaterina to register a seventh LPGA Tour win Thompson’s lead to one shot. Sharmina, who has been charged with of her career and third title since July. The South Korean bogeyed the fourth, use by an athlete of a prohibited sub- If the 21-year-old was hoping for a however, to double the American’s advan- stance or prohibited method by the stroll in Pattaya she was in for a shock tage at the top and Chun was unable IAAF following analysis of her Biological when playing partner Chun In-Gee had to get any closer. ššLexi Thompson Passport. 32 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 33 Movers&Shakers Kaleidoscope

All Black star Barcelona up Pires calls it quits Messam aims UNICEF deal Spanish football club Barcelona, gold at Rio TAG HEUER whose shirt sponsor is Qatar Airways, ORMER Arsenal and France mid- have enhanced their financial com- fielder Robert Pires, a member of LL Blacks loose forward Liam mitment to United FFrance’s 1998 World Cup-winning Messam, who helped drive New Nations Children’s squad, announced his retirement from AZealand to Commonwealth Emergency Fund by GOES SMART agreeing a four-year football at the age of 42. Games gold in Delhi in 2010, is back Pires started his career with Metz in in the nation’s rugby sevens squad extension of their partnership. The new France, before spells at Marseille and after nearly six years, with an eye on ĈĈIntel engineered the watch is lighter and more resistant deal will run at least till 2020 and intelligence inside to impacts than a traditional mate- Arsenal, where he won two Premier a medal at the Rio Olympics. will see Barcelona increasing their League titles and three FA Cups between Messam, capped 45 times for New the watch to optimise rial such as steel or gold. The watch annual donation to charity from 2000 and 2006. He is the last member of Zealand in the 15-man game, joins fellow performance features an Intel Atom processor €1.5m to €2m. the 1998 winning France squad to retire. All Black Sonny Bill Williams in Gordon Z34XX and runs the Android Wear “I’m 42 years old.... We must say stop Tietjens’s 14-man training squad for platform. ššRoger Federer and above all must give way to young,” the Las Vegas and Vancouver legs of HE Tag Heuer Connected Intel engineered the intelligence Pires said on beIN Sports last week. the sevens World Series. Watch was unveiled at the inside the watch to optimise per- Pires won the European Championship The squad to play in the United States TDoha Jewellery and Watches formance and enable a multitude Federer plans with France in 2000 and also had spells from March 4 to 6 will be trimmed to 12 Exhibition last week. The world’s of connectivity options includ- April comeback at Villarreal and Aston Villa. He played next week, and Tietjens said Messam first luxury smart timepiece, engi- ing audio streaming, Bluetooth for FC Goa in the Indian Super League was would not be considered for game- neered with Intel technology, ben- and Wi-Fi as well as allow users to McLaren partner until he was released in March. ššRobert Pires time until Vancouver the following week. efits from over 150 years of Swiss harness the full range of features ORLD No.3 Roger Federer “I think spending another week with expertise, savoir-faire and heritage offered by the Android Wear oper- Richard Mille has delayed his ATP Tour us in Vegas with a plan to playing him in as cultivated by the Swiss maker. ating system. Leading Formula 1 team McLaren- Wreturn by a month and plans Vancouver will be really good for him,” At 46mm in diameter, the design With 4 GB of memory, and all Honda announced a new 10-year of the TAG Heuer Connected Watch day battery life, the TAG Heuer to make his comeback from a knee the coach told local media. partnership with luxury Swiss watch surgery at the Monte Carlo Masters Jol takes over Egyptian side Ahly Messam tweeted, “A lot of rust to get is primarily that of a true chrono- Connected is equipped with a brand Richard Mille. The deal will in April. out of the system but grateful to be graph, with a case, back and lugs small microphone to communicate see Richard Mille watches on the The 17-time Grand Slam champion back with the @nz7s brothers.” made from Grade 2 titanium, a con- via Google voice control and a sap- wrists of the team’s world champion had initially intended to return at the ARTIN Jol has become the second New Zealand will be favourites to win temporary material ensuring the phire crystal touchscreen. drivers Fernando Alonso and Jenson Indian Wells Masters in in former English Premier League gold when sevens makes its Olympic Button while distinctive branding will also appear on the new MP4-31 March. Mmanager to take charge of a Cairo debut at Rio. car. In a Facebook post, Federer said, “I’ve club this week after being appointed now had a lot of great practices on the coach of Al Ahly. Little Murtaza will court and in the gym. As it is a long Jol replaces Portuguese Jose Peseiro Be at home in stadiums! year I don’t want to push it too hard who left last month to join Porto, the now wear real and come back too soon. Egyptian club said. “I’ll unfortunately not be able to make The 60-year-old Dutchman follows in Messi shirts UAWEI, which has made the fans inside the stadium and enable it back in time for the event in Indian the footsteps of former Aston Villa man- most of the progress of the them to enjoy a modern and dynamic Wells, but I do plan on playing in the ager Alex McLeish who took the reins at RGENTINIAN football star HInternet of Things — which experience akin to the at-home envi- desert next year. Ahly’s bitter rivals Zamalek last week. Lionel Messi has sent not connects devices and vehicles using ronment. “After consultation with my team I’ve Jol spent three years at Tottenham Aone, but two jerseys to electronic sensors and the Internet — With smart stadiums, fans can keep Dodgers fly decided to enter the Monte Carlo Rolex between 2004 and 2007, and has also the five-year-old Afghan boy who is eager to give Qatar an opportunity in touch with the statistics of the Masters. Thanks for the support and I’ll previously coached Ajax , recently became an Internet sensa- to benefit from it while building stadi- game and communicate with people with Emirates ššMartin Jol ššLiam Messam tion when he was pictured wearing ums for hosting the 2022 World Cup. from the outside using voice, text and see you back soon,” the Swiss added. Hamburg SV and Fulham. UAE airline Emirates recently a plastic bag with “Messi” scrawled The Chinese telecommunications video messaging platforms despite announced a new sponsorship on it in marker pen. and service major promises to deliver being part of a 60,000-80,000 strong with Los Angeles Dodgers. The deal Murtaza Ahmadi travelled with a unique way to engage thousands of crowd. expands Emirates’ international foot- his family from eastern Ghazni print as a supporter of sports and province to Kabul to receive the culture, marking the airline’s entry A French court last week upheld Fast bowler Liam Plunkett Inter Milan midfielder gifts sent by Messi through UNICEF, into the world of baseball, which a ban against a kiss-and-tell book replaced Steven Finn in Geoffrey Kondogbia had a where he is a goodwill ambassa- has deep roots in American history written by a former mistress of England’s 15-man squad for the two-match ban, imposed and culture. Meanwhile, Emirates dor. Cameroon star Samuel Eto’o. World Twenty20 tournament for sarcastically applauding extended its sponsorship of Durham The Paris High Court originally in India from March 8 to April a referee’s performance, Messi autographed the jer- County cricket club for another banned publication of the book, 3. Finn was ruled out due to a reduced to one on appeal, his seys, writing “With much love” in seven years taking it through to the titled ‘Revenge Porn — Football, calf strain. Eoin Morgan’s team club said. The official sent the Spanish on them and added a end of the 2022 season. sex, money: the testimony of will face Sri Lanka, South Africa, French international off “for football to the treasure trove. Samuel Eto’o’s ex’, last week, West Indies and a qualifier in disrespectful conduct” at the leading to lawyers for Nathalie the group stage. end of a Serie A game against Koah to appeal. Fiorentina on February 14, Hilton Worldwide which Inter lost 1-2. backs Asian Tour

International Hotel chain Hilton Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger Bayer Leverkusen coach Roger Australia fast bowler Peter Worldwide extended its sponsorship had confirmed that midfielder Schmidt was banned for three Siddle faces a “significant” stint of golf’s Asian Tour Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Bundesliga matches and fined on the sidelines after being to cover the full had been sidelined for weeks €20,000 for refusing to leave diagnosed with a stress fracture 2016 season. Hilton after suffering a knee injury when he was sent off in the in his back, the country’s will enjoy signifi- in the recent 0-2 Champions Bundesliga, forcing a match cricket board said last week. Helping Organisers of the Seventh healthy diet. cant brand pres- League defeat by Barcelona. interruption, the German The 31-year-old played in the Qatar International Food Representatives from the ence at Asian Tour Chamberlain limped off after FA (DFB) said. Schmidt had first Test against New Zealand students eat Festival, to be held from March Qatar Tourism Authority, events, including in colliding with Javier Mascherano shown “continued unsporting in Wellington, but was ruled 22 to 28, will conduct a healthy Ministry of Education, Your the public village for golf fans. and Wenger was optimistic that behaviour” in Leverkusen’s 0-1 out of the second match in better food and nutrition awareness Health First and Qatar Culinary it would not rule him out of the defeat to Borussia Dortmund Christchurch due to back programme at 30 schools in Professionals will visit primary European Championship. last week. problems. the country to educate chil- and middle schools in Doha, » Courtesy CSM Sport & Entertainment, dren about the benefits of Al Wakrah and Al Khor. www.csm.com, @FastTrack_ME Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 33 Kaleidoscope

Barcelona up UNICEF deal

Spanish football club Barcelona, TAG HEUER whose shirt sponsor is Qatar Airways, have enhanced their financial com- mitment to United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund by GOES SMART agreeing a four-year extension of their ĈĈIntel engineered the watch is lighter and more resistant partnership. The new deal will run at least till 2020 and intelligence inside to impacts than a traditional mate- will see Barcelona increasing their the watch to optimise rial such as steel or gold. The watch annual donation to charity from performance features an Intel Atom processor €1.5m to €2m. Z34XX and runs the Android Wear platform. HE Tag Heuer Connected Intel engineered the intelligence Watch was unveiled at the inside the watch to optimise per- TDoha Jewellery and Watches formance and enable a multitude Exhibition last week. The world’s of connectivity options includ- first luxury smart timepiece, engi- ing audio streaming, Bluetooth neered with Intel technology, ben- and Wi-Fi as well as allow users to McLaren partner efits from over 150 years of Swiss harness the full range of features expertise, savoir-faire and heritage offered by the Android Wear oper- Richard Mille as cultivated by the Swiss maker. ating system. At 46mm in diameter, the design With 4 GB of memory, and all Leading Formula 1 team McLaren- Honda announced a new 10-year of the TAG Heuer Connected Watch day battery life, the TAG Heuer partnership with luxury Swiss watch is primarily that of a true chrono- Connected is equipped with a brand Richard Mille. The deal will graph, with a case, back and lugs small microphone to communicate see Richard Mille watches on the made from Grade 2 titanium, a con- via Google voice control and a sap- wrists of the team’s world champion temporary material ensuring the phire crystal touchscreen. drivers Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button while distinctive branding will also appear on the new MP4-31 car. Little Murtaza will Be at home in stadiums! now wear real Messi shirts UAWEI, which has made the fans inside the stadium and enable most of the progress of the them to enjoy a modern and dynamic RGENTINIAN football star HInternet of Things — which experience akin to the at-home envi- Lionel Messi has sent not connects devices and vehicles using ronment. Aone, but two jerseys to electronic sensors and the Internet — With smart stadiums, fans can keep Dodgers fly the five-year-old Afghan boy who is eager to give Qatar an opportunity in touch with the statistics of the recently became an Internet sensa- to benefit from it while building stadi- game and communicate with people with Emirates tion when he was pictured wearing ums for hosting the 2022 World Cup. from the outside using voice, text and UAE airline Emirates recently a plastic bag with “Messi” scrawled The Chinese telecommunications video messaging platforms despite announced a new sponsorship on it in marker pen. and service major promises to deliver being part of a 60,000-80,000 strong with Los Angeles Dodgers. The deal Murtaza Ahmadi travelled with a unique way to engage thousands of crowd. expands Emirates’ international foot- his family from eastern Ghazni print as a supporter of sports and province to Kabul to receive the culture, marking the airline’s entry gifts sent by Messi through UNICEF, into the world of baseball, which where he is a goodwill ambassa- has deep roots in American history and culture. Meanwhile, Emirates dor. extended its sponsorship of Durham Messi autographed the jer- County cricket club for another seys, writing “With much love” in seven years taking it through to the Spanish on them and added a end of the 2022 season. football to the treasure trove. Hilton Worldwide backs Asian Tour

International Hotel chain Hilton Worldwide extended its sponsorship of golf’s Asian Tour to cover the full 2016 season. Hilton will enjoy signifi- Helping Organisers of the Seventh healthy diet. cant brand pres- Qatar International Food Representatives from the ence at Asian Tour students eat Festival, to be held from March Qatar Tourism Authority, events, including in 22 to 28, will conduct a healthy Ministry of Education, Your the public village for golf fans. food and nutrition awareness Health First and Qatar Culinary better programme at 30 schools in Professionals will visit primary the country to educate chil- and middle schools in Doha, » Courtesy CSM Sport & Entertainment, dren about the benefits of Al Wakrah and Al Khor. www.csm.com, @FastTrack_ME 34 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 35 Spot shots

Arabi football coach Zola inspires children at Olive school’s sports day

The Olive International School (OIS) celebrated Olivian Grand Slam 2016, its second annual sports day for pre-primary and primary students, in a grand manner at the Al Arabi Sports Club last week. Children, divided into four houses — Gandhi (Red), Mandela (Green), Helen Keller (Yellow) and Mother Teresa (Blue) — competed in a variety of sports and games with great enthusiasm. Mother Teresa emerged as the overall winners. Former Italy and Chelsea footballer Gianfranco Zola, who currently manages Qatar’s Al Arabi, gave away the prizes. OIS Principal A J George honoured Zola with a ceremonial plaque. Zola urged young students to give their best whichever sport they may choose and play with sincerity and dedication. DSP DSP/ Vinod Divakaran DSP/ Vinod Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 35 DSP/ Vinod Divakaran DSP/ Vinod 36 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 37

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American Chamber of Commerce SPORT THIS WEEK TOP TWEETS BLAST FROM THE PAST INSTAGLOW

Ĉ in Qatar organises family day QATAR BEN JOHNSON The American Chamber of Commerce 1993 Banned from athletics for life in Qatar celebrated the family day, with WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 more than 500 participants enjoying their time out. GOLF Children were introduced to the GCC Championship, 7am basics of traditional American games onwards at Doha Golf Club (till Saturday). like baseball. Volunteers from the Qatar Little League, Jar Selah and American HANDBALL School of Doha joined the celebrations Qatar League, Al Gharafa vs while a live American band added spice Qatar SC, 5.30pm and Al Arabi to the occasion. vs Al Shamal, 7pm at Qatar Handball Association Hall. Kholoud Elderwy sent the details and photograph. MOTORSPORT MotoGP testing, 4pm to 11pm at Losail International Circuit (till Friday). While Barcelona as usual are turning VOLLEYBALL most of the heads for their fantasy Qatar League, Police vs Qatar football, Atletico showed the world, SC, 6.15pm at Al Arabi Sports Thumping victory in particular Real, what hard work Club. THURSDAY, MARCH 3 and dedication can bring you by for Al Feroz SUNDAY, MARCH 6 beating their affluent neighbours HANDBALL in a fiercely-fought Madrid derby. It FOOTBALL was Zinedine Zidane’s first defeat as Riding on Mohammad Faisal’s 134, Al Feroz Youngsters Qatar League, Al Wakrah vs Club crushed Desert Warriors by 101 runs in a Qatar Al Khor, 5.30pm and El Jaish Qatar Stars League, Qatar Real coach and Twitter was quick to SC vs Al Khor, 6pm at Qatar Airways Division ‘A’ cricket league match. vs Lekhwiya, 7pm at Qatar react. Handball Association Hall. SC Stadium; Mesaimeer vs Batting first, Al Feroz piled up 348 for five in the El Jaish, 8.15pm at Al Arabi stipulated 50 overs. In reply, Warriors were bowled HORSERACING Stadium; Lekhwiya vs Umm out for 247. Nadeem Khan was the pick of Al Feroz Weekly races, 4pm at Qatar Salal, 8.15pm at Lekhwiya Stadium. bowlers with figures of four for 33. Racing and Equestrian Club. sakrs Ooredoo beat Bangla Tigers by five wickets in FRIDAY, MARCH 4 HANDBALL @sakhiltunen another match. Qatar League, Lekhwiya vs Zidane’s honeymoon is now The league is jointly organised by the Qatar Cricket VOLLEYBALL El Quiyada, 4pm at Qatar officially over. Association and Qatar Airways. Qatar League, Al Gharafa vs Al Handball Association Hall. Jamshaid Ahmad sent the details and photograph. Ahli, 4.15pm and Al Shamal MONDAY, MARCH 7 Sid Lowe vs Al Khor, 6.15pm at Al Arabi @sidlowe N MARCH 5, 1993, the world governing body of athletics banned Sports Club. FOOTBALL Doha Motors Under Simeone, Atletico have disgraced Olympic sprinter Ben Johnson from the sport for life SATURDAY, MARCH 5 Qatar Stars League, Al Sadd vs gone to the Bernabeu and beaten Al Gharafa, 7.30pm at Al Sadd Oafter failing a drugs test for the second time. Mourinho, Ancelotti and Zidane win IBQ title FOOTBALL Stadium. The announcement was made by then secretary, the late Istvan Gyulai, Qatar Stars League, Al Wakrah VOLLEYBALL NotAManCantona in Paris, France. Doha Motors beat Engineering Supplies by nine vs Al Rayyan, 6pm at Al Wakrah Stadium; Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Qatar League, El Jaish vs Qatar @NotAManCantona “As per the rules, an athlete will be ineligible for life for a second dop- wickets in a low-scoring match to clinch the Arabi, 6pm at Al Khor Stadium; SC, 4.15pm and Al Rayyan vs What Simeone has done at Atletico ing offence, pending a hearing before the respective national athletic 11th IBQ Masters Cricket title. Al Shamal, 6.15pm at Al Arabi Al Ahli vs Al Sailiya, 8.15pm at in such a short space of time has to Engineering Supplies, who took first use of Al Ahli Stadium. Sports Club. federation,” Gyulai had said. be the best accomplishment by a the wicket, were all out for 88 in 19.5 overs, with 7 Johnson4 had tested positive for a banned substance in Canada in coach in recent football history. Munib claiming three for 12. 2 8 3 February 9 that year. Shameem led the run chase with an The Canadian won 100M at the Seoul Olympics in 1988, but was Addy unbeaten 21 as Doha Motors won with five overs 7 3 1 2 @Addyylaide subsequently stripped of his medal after testing positive for perfor- to spare. Ĉ INTERNATIONAL What IS unusual is how Atletico 7 sell mance-enhancing5 6 drugs. A minute’s silence was observed before the their best player every year, and just He returned after a two-year ban, but failed to regain his form. At start of the match as a mark of respect for Qatar get better. 8 6 7 the Barcelona3 Olympics in 1992, he did not even reach the 100M final. Cricket Association’s Head of Umpiring Panel LPGA at HSBC Women’s Mohammed Nawas, who passed away in Sri Champions, Singapore (till 2 6 3 8 Sunday). Lanka recently. 4 9 Naveed Munir sent the details and FRIDAY, MARCH 4 photograph. 1 9 2 5 4 CRICKET Asia Cup in Dhaka, Pakistan 2 1 vs Sri Lanka; South Africa vs Australia 1st T20I at Durban. SUDOKU-514 MOTORSPORT 7 4 Rally of Mexico (till Sunday). SUNDAY, MARCH 6 Sudoku is a number- 2 8 3 9 Ђ placing puzzle Solution-513 ЂWho is the 2016 Qatar Total Open WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 CRICKET tennis champion? based on a 9x9 7 3 1 2 South Africa vs Australia, 2nd CRICKET grid with several T20I in Johannesburg. 8 5 2 4 9 6 3 1 7 Asia Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh given numbers. 7 5 6 vs Pakistan. MONDAY, MARCH 7 The object is to 6 9 4 1 3 7 8 5 2 place the numbers TENNIS TENNIS Name 1 to 9 in the empty 1 3 7 2 8 5 9 6 4 8 6 7 3 WTA at Monterray and Kuala ATP and WTA at Indian Wells squares so that each SEND YOUR ANSWER TO Lumpur (till Sunday). Masters (till March 20). 3 2 8 7 1 9 5 4 6 row, each column 2 6 3 8 [email protected] Phone No THURSDAY, MARCH 3 TUESDAY, MARCH 8 and each 3x3 box 7 4 6 3 5 8 1 2 9 contains the same CRICKET CRICKET 4 9 and be the lucky winner to get number only once. 5 1 9 6 4 2 7 3 8 e-mail Asia Cup in Dhaka, India vs three months’ subscription of World Twenty20, India (till UAE. April 3). 2 8 1 9 6 3 4 7 5 1 9 2 5 4 DSP magazine for free. GOLF FOOTBALL 9 6 3 5 7 4 2 8 1 EPGA and USPGA at WGC- Champions League, round of 2 1 Cadillac Championship, Doral; 16 second-leg matches. 4 7 5 8 2 1 6 9 3

8 5 2 4 9 6 3 1 7 6 9 4 1 3 7 8 5 2 1 3 7 2 8 5 9 6 4 3 2 8 7 1 9 5 4 6 7 4 6 3 5 8 1 2 9 5 1 9 6 4 2 7 3 8 2 8 1 9 6 3 4 7 5 9 6 3 5 7 4 2 8 1 4 7 5 8 2 1 6 9 3 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 37

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SPORT THIS WEEK TOP TWEETS BLAST FROM THE PAST INSTAGLOW

BEN JOHNSON 1993 Banned from athletics for life

While Barcelona as usual are turning most of the heads for their fantasy football, Atletico showed the world, in particular Real, what hard work and dedication can bring you by beating their affluent neighbours in a fiercely-fought Madrid derby. It was Zinedine Zidane’s first defeat as Real coach and Twitter was quick to react.

sakrs @sakhiltunen Zidane’s honeymoon is now officially over.

Sid Lowe @sidlowe N MARCH 5, 1993, the world governing body of athletics banned Under Simeone, Atletico have disgraced Olympic sprinter Ben Johnson from the sport for life gone to the Bernabeu and beaten Oafter failing a drugs test for the second time. Mourinho, Ancelotti and Zidane The announcement was made by then secretary, the late Istvan Gyulai, NotAManCantona in Paris, France. @NotAManCantona “As per the rules, an athlete will be ineligible for life for a second dop- What Simeone has done at Atletico ing offence, pending a hearing before the respective national athletic in such a short space of time has to federation,” Gyulai had said. be the best accomplishment by a 7 Johnson4 had tested positive for a banned substance in Canada in coach in recent football history. 2 8 3 February 9 that year. The Canadian won 100M at the Seoul Olympics in 1988, but was Addy 7 3 1 2 @Addyylaide subsequently stripped of his medal after testing positive for perfor- What IS unusual is how Atletico 7 sell mance-enhancing5 6 drugs. their best player every year, and just He returned after a two-year ban, but failed to regain his form. At get better. 8 6 7 the Barcelona3 Olympics in 1992, he did not even reach the 100M final. 2 6 3 8 4 9 1 9 2 5 4 SUDOKU-514 2 1 7 4

Sudoku is a number- 2 8 3 9 placing puzzle Solution-513 based on a 9x9 7 3 1 2 grid with several 8 5 2 4 9 6 3 1 7 given numbers. 7 5 6 The object is to 6 9 4 1 3 7 8 5 2 place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty 1 3 7 2 8 5 9 6 4 8 6 7 3 squares so that each 3 2 8 7 1 9 5 4 6 row, each column 2 6 3 8 and each 3x3 box 7 4 6 3 5 8 1 2 9 contains the same 4 9 number only once. 5 1 9 6 4 2 7 3 8 2 8 1 9 6 3 4 7 5 1 9 2 5 4 9 6 3 5 7 4 2 8 1 4 7 5 8 2 1 6 9 3 2 1

8 5 2 4 9 6 3 1 7 6 9 4 1 3 7 8 5 2 1 3 7 2 8 5 9 6 4 3 2 8 7 1 9 5 4 6 7 4 6 3 5 8 1 2 9 5 1 9 6 4 2 7 3 8 2 8 1 9 6 3 4 7 5 9 6 3 5 7 4 2 8 1 4 7 5 8 2 1 6 9 3 38 Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Hearsay WE WON’T LET YOU GET AWAY FROM THE GAME Nightmare for Sheikh Ahmad

UWAIT’S Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Council of Asia and is a FIFA ExCom Al Sabah had sleepless nights member, was a staunch supporter of yxyxyxyxyx yxy Kcloser to the FIFA presidential Shaikh Salman. xy xy xyxyxxyy election in Zurich. Despite being a major powerbroker, He stayed at four hotels and fre- the ponytailed and outspoken official yxyxyxy yxyxy quently changed his location as he was seen visibly upset over the issue. was apprehensive about the alleged “This is only the beginning. This isn’t human rights issue directed at him as the end,” Sheikh Ahmad was heard say- well as presidential candidate Shaikh ing after Swiss-Italian Gianni Infantino Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who won the election. was the front-runner. He might have had the next FIFA Sheikh Ahmad, who heads the Olympic election in mind. Msakni bound for Shanghai Rodriguez, Isco Shenhua on their way out ALENTED Tunisian footballer of Real Madrid Youssef Msakni, who plies his Ttrade with Qatar’s Lekhwiya, is AMES Rodriguez and Isco’s days set to join club at Real Madrid may well be num- Shanghai Shenhua on a three-year deal. Jbered, according to Spanish sports Msakni, who joined Lekhwiya in Marca daily . 2014 on a four-and-a-half year deal Publishers: ASPIRE Printing, Publishing and Distribution Both players are under pressure after reportedly worth €11.5m, is expected P O Box: 24598, Doha, Qatar. their recent poor performances. While to take home a much bigger amount Marketing & advertising: Tel: +974 44138566 there is no doubt about their abilities, at Shanghai. They are ready to pay his e-mail: [email protected] the same cannot be said of their com- buyout sum of €4m and offer him a mitment. three-year contract. Distribution: Tel: +974 44138535/36, Fax: +974 44138597 The Colombia and Spain interna- www.twitter.com/dohastadiumplus www.facebook.com/dohastadiumplusqatar www.flickr.com/photos/dohastadiumplusqatar e-mail: [email protected] tionals, considered two of the most technically-gifted members of the ‘Los Blancos’ squad, will be playing for their future for the rest of the season. The last three months of the campaign will decide on the fate of Rodriguez and Isco. Fingers have been pointed at both TO OUR PUBLICATION of them after the club’s recent plight Embarrassment at FIFA’s and their names have been circled in red on the list of possible exits in what Subscribe Yes, send Doha Stadium Plus to me would be a summer overhaul. Extraordinary Congress

Name: ...... ORDAN’S Princess Haya was The coach is actively involved in her brother Company: ...... JPrince Ali bin Al Hussein’s FIFA Jayasuriya and to blame, say presidential election campaign. She was Address: ...... sitting right beside him throughout the Afridi to feature players voting process at Zurich’s Hallenstadion. Telephone: ...... The 41-year-old, who has represented in Doha tourney OME senior players of a lead- Jordan in show jumping competitions, Fax: ...... ing Qatari club, who were headed the international federation HOST of cricket stars includ- e-mail: ...... Samong the best teams last for equestrian sports for two terms. ing Pakistan Twenty20 captain season but have been a pale shadow But she made some embarrassing AShahid Afridi and ex-Sri Lanka of themselves this time, have told scenes by complaining to FIFA officials international Sanath Jayasuriya are ex- Payment can be made by cash, cheque or DD payable to Estad Al Doha. their management that their young through her connections about the pres- pected to play three exhibition matches coach was responsible for their cur- ence of Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad in Doha during the first week of April. rent plight. Al Sabah, a firm supporter of Prince Afridi and Jayasuriya will feature in a The players complained that the Ali’s rival candidate Shaikh Salman bin star-studded World XI which will take SIX MONTHS ONE YEAR QR 50 (26 ISSUES) QR 100 (52 ISSUES) coach was putting his personal inter- Ibrahim Al Khalifa, at football’s world on Qatar XI at the 13,000-seater Asian ests above team’s cause. They also governing body’s Extraordinary Congress! Town Stadium in Doha’s Industrial Area. SEND THIS TO pointed out that the coach was too Even the officials were left wonder- More big names are expected to confirm whimsical while shunting out two ing whether she was unaware that their participation in the coming days. The Distribution Manager, Doha Stadium Plus talented forwards, who joined rival Sheikh Ahmad attended the congress The matches will be played immedi- P O Box: 24598, Tel: +974 44138527/44138567, Fax:+974 44138592/44138597, e-mail: [email protected] clubs in Qatar and straightaway started in his capacity of being an Executive ately after the conclusion of Twenty20 delivering. Committee member of FIFA. World Cup in India on April 3. WE WON’T LET YOU GET AWAY FROM THE GAME

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P 6 | FOOTBALL P 22 | TENNIS FIVE-STAR RAYYAN SLOW AND STEADY QATAR’S FIRST Al Rayyan edge closer to the Qatar Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro beats ENGLISH SPORTS Stars League title with a 5-0 drubbing Latvian teenager Jelena Ostapenko WEEKLY of reigning champions Lekhwiya. to win the Qatar Total Open.

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Gianni Infantino outscores Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa in crucial areas and wins the the right to lead a new-look FIFA. PAGES 10-13 GAME!

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Publishers: ASPIRE Printing, Publishing and Distribution P 29 | VOLLEYBALL P 25 | MOTORSPORT P O Box: 24598, Doha, Qatar. P 20 | POSTER Marketing & advertising: Tel: +974 44138566 Italian Piazza e-mail: [email protected] ANTOINE Qatar’s Abdulaziz Distribution: Tel: +974 44138535/36, Fax: +974 44138597 takes charge as e-mail: [email protected] Qatar coach GRIEZMANN all set for Mexico Rally www.facebook.com/dohastadium www.twitter.com/dohastadiumplus www.flickr.com/photos/dohastadiumplusqatar AFP/ Fabrice Coffrini AFP/ Fabrice UK £1, Europe €2 | Oman 200 Baisas | Bahrain 200 Fils | Egypt LE 2 | Lebanon 3,000 Livre | Kuwait 250 Fils | Morocco Dh 6 | UAEDh 5 | Yemen 75 Riyals | Sudan 1 Pound | KSA 2 Riyals | Jordan 500 Fils | Iraq $1 | Palestine $1 | Syria LS 20