p15_Layout 1 6/5/17 6:02 PM Page 1

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017 SPORTS

Berdych splits Scandal-hit BWF deputy FC Goa name Lobera with Ivanisevic president steps down as Zico replacement

PRAGUE: Tomas Berdych yesterday parted ways with coach Goran KUALA LUMPUR: The Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) deputy MUMBAI: Indian Super League side FC Goa announced yesterday that Ivanisevic, the former Wimbledon champion, in an effort to rescue his president has stepped down as he fights corruption allegations in his unheralded Spaniard Sergio Lobera would replace Brazilian legend Zico faltering career. Berdych, the Czech world number 14, only teamed up home country of Peru, a statement said yesterday. Gustavo Salazar as their new head coach. The ISL team said that 40-year-old Lobera, with Ivanisevic in August last year. However, a second round exit at the Delgado, the sport’s number two official behind president Poul-Erik who recently coached Moroccan side Moghreb Tetouan, had French Open prompted the 31-year-old to seek a new direction. “Goran Hoyer, asked to be “excused from his duties”, the BWF said. “In his com- signed a two-year deal and would take up his role in July. and I will not be working together anymore,” Berdych wrote on munication to BWF, Salazar indicated he would step aside for the time “I see FC Goa as the ideal step in my career and hope to Facebook. “I enjoyed the ride and we will remain great friends.” “Wish being so as not to cause any reputational or undue damage to the BWF achieve the best results for the club,” Lobera said in the him all the best in the future and I am committed to go after my goals while the investigation is in progress,” the Kuala Lumpur-based body club’s press release. In 2012 Lobera was briefly an with current team,” said Berdych, who bowed out of Roland said. The BWF said the accusations against Salazar related to “personal assistant to the late Tito Vilanova at Spanish giants Garros after a straight sets loss to Russian youngster Karen business matters” and are entirely unrelated to badminton and Salazar’s Barcelona before leaving to take charge of Las Palmas. Khachanov. Ivanisevic previously coached fellow Croat role as BWF deputy president”. Various reports said Salazar, 52, was Zico was head coach of Goa for the ISL’s first three sea- Marin Cilic, a partnership which yielded the US Open title under investigation over a bribery and money-laundering case linked to sons before leaving at the end of the last cam- in 2014. And Berdych, the 2010 Wimbledon finalist, hired Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht. Bribery scandals linked to paign. The ISL is a franchise-based tournament Ivanisevic in August 2016 with a view to a first-ever Grand Odebrecht have swept up scores of Brazilian politicians and span sever- whose club owners are largely Bollywood film Slam title. He won the Shenzhen Open under Ivanisevic’s al Latin American countries. In April, a federal court in New York fined stars and cricketers. The season takes place guidance in October, but soon slipped out of the top ten for Odebrecht $2.6 billion, part of what US authorities describe as a one of towards the end of the year and lasts around the first time in more than six years. — AFP the largest-ever corporate settlements for international bribery. —AFP three months. —AFP

PREVIEW Coach Gatland urges Lions to get creative

WELLINGTON: Coach has starter in Whangarei-on the bench. given the British and Irish Lions free rein to “We have a few work-ons from last express themselves under new captain Ken weekend and we know we need to be Owens as he seeks a much improved per- more clinical,” Gatland said. formance against the Auckland “We created some good opportunities tomorrow. against the Barbarians but didn’t see them Gatland was not impressed by what he through and that is something we want to saw during the Lions’ first fixture, a 13-7 improve on.” Owens was unavailable for win over a team of relatively unknown New the tour opener because of the ankle injury Zealanders lumped together under a which also kept him out of the Scarlets’ Provincial Barbarians banner. Pro12 final win against Munster last month. The Blues, with eight All Blacks in their But Gatland said he was fit to take over ranks, may be the weakest New Zealand from tour captain for what side but they will be a more will be the Lions’ first test against a Super formidable opposition than the Barbarians. Rugby team. Gatland, when he named his all-new “We have stated from the off that we line-up to play the Blues, said he was look- want to give every player a start in the first ing for players with “ X-factor and that three games, and Wednesday is an oppor- means an offload or something that is a lit- tunity for this set of players to show what tle bit outside the box”. they can do in a Lions jersey,” Gatland said. He has totally overhauled the starting “We have made 15 changes to the start- XV from the Barbarians game, including ing XV and we are excited to see what this giving the captaincy to a fit-again Wales team is able to do against the Blues.” hooker Owens. , a late scratching from the While he said the Lions “need to be Barbarians because of a thigh injury, will more clinical”, Gatland rejected suggestions also start, partnering Ireland team-mate they will play to a set formula. in the centres. “What do you mean by one type of Lions (15-1): (Wales); game?” he responded when asked if he had (England), Jared Payne only one coaching style-the familiar Wales (Ireland), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Elliot physical direct play. Daly (England); (Wales), Rhys “The message to the players is that we Webb (Wales); CJ Stander (Ireland), Justin want to play positive rugby and move the Tipuric (Wales), (England); ball and create chances,” he said. (England), “The players have to back their ability. (England); (England), We don’t want to be prescribed and play by (captain, Wales), Jack McGrath (Ireland) numbers. They have been encouraged to Replacements: (Ireland), demonstrate their level of skill and hope- (England), fully we can do that on Wednesday.” (England), (Ireland), Peter PARIS: Toulon’s Daniel Johannes Vermeulen is tackled by Clermont’s during the finalrugby match between Clermont Wales pair Dan Biggar and O’Mahony (Ireland), Ferrand against Toulon at the stadium in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, Sunday. — AP will fill the crucial halves roles, with Ireland (Scotland), Johnny Sexton (Ireland), Liam fly-half Johnny Sexton-an unimpressive Williams (Wales). —AFP RUGBY Toulon flop Goromaru Clermont win Top 14 to set to return to Japan TOKYO: Japan’s Rugby World Cup star Goromaru enjoys a cult following back put chokers tag to bed Ayumu Goromaru will return to Japanese in Japan, where life-size statues of the play- side Yamaha Jubilo after a frus- er are sculpted, zoo animals are named trating spell at French Top 14 club Toulon, after him and he has even been made a PARIS: Clermont finally held firm when it Clermont were playing with a zest and to within three points but a Parra penalty the full-back said yesterday. “ninja master”. mattered most, beating Toulon 22-16 in Paris intensity that Toulon simply couldn’t manage made it 16-10 at the break. Clermont had The 31-year-old, who played just a Despite his celebrity status, however, on Sunday to win the French Top 14 final. but New Zealand great Nonu managed to scored a combined 59 points to 15 in the handful of games in France since making Goromaru struggled in Super Rugby and Having lost 11 of 12 previous finals, Clermont stem the yellow tide with a crucial intercep- last two meetings between these sides but his Toulon debut last November, also subsequently in France, departing with had earned the unwanted monicker of peren- tion off Parra inside the Toulon 22. Barring an Toulon were a different proposition this announced on his official website that his club president Mourad Boudjellal’s com- nial “chokers”. But kicked 17 Anthony Belleau penalty, all the team in red time. It was a brutal game with Clermont contract would begin on July 1. ments ringing in his ears. points as the favourites delivered for once could manage in attacking terms were some locks and Arthur Iturria both “Unfortunately I wasn’t able to achieve “We don’t want him either,” the outspo- after so many disappointments, including los- testing up-and-unders for full-back forced off following head knocks, leaving the results I wanted in France,” said ken businessman told RMC Sport. “We ing European Champions Cup finals to Toulon Abendanon. That was until a reckless high Fijian back rower to come on in Goromaru. “After a year and a half challeng- won’t be keeping him, he doesn’t want to in 2013 and 2015, and Saracens earlier last tackle from Clermont No.8 knocked an unfamiliar position. ing myself overseas I will return home and stay.” Current Japan coach Jamie Joseph month. Two years ago, they were also beaten go into the season with refreshed spirits has expressed his frustration at not having Australian full-back James O’Connor uncon- Belleau and Parra traded penalties and the and a new attitude.” the likes of Goromaru playing in Japan. Top 14 finalists by Stade Francais. “I’m proud, scious. Samoan Lee was perhaps a touch former could have levelled the scores but saw Goromaru shot to fame at the 2015 The Brave Blossoms missed a step after we’ve had some years of struggle but I’m lucky to be shown only a yellow card but two penalties hit the uprights. World Cup when Japan, then coached by their swashbuckling World Cup campaign, proud of everyone-the players, the fans, no- Clermont were soon made to pay. Toulon’s rugged, relentless power play was current England boss Eddie Jones, won their momentum stalling because of delays one ever gave up,” Parra told France South African prop Marcel van der Merwe starting to wear down Clermont and a Francis three matches, including an astonishing in bringing in a successor to Jones. Televisions. Coach Franck Azema added: “This made ground up the middle and quick ball Trinh-Duc penalty nine minutes from time had 34-32 shock over two-time champions When Joseph eventually took over, he team deserves it. On that last (Toulon) line- spread wide allowed the bulldozing Tuisova them back to within three points. But these South Africa in their opening game. complained that the team’s blueprints for out, honestly, we thought we’d lose out again. to take revenge on Raka, flattening his coun- were not the Clermont chokers of old and Japan’s talisman moved to Australia to their dazzling run at the England tourna- “It was really tough but so good and intense tryman in contact and then holding off a Parra responded immediately with a kick of his play Super Rugby for the ment were lost and that he was forced to that you quickly forget it.” Having played scin- double tackle from Penaud and Abendanon own before the yellow shirted warriors held after impressing at the World Cup, but his start from scratch. tillating first half rugby, without getting the to touch down in the corner. Belleau’s con- out close to their own line as Toulon launched season was prematurely cut short by a Japan host the next World Cup in 2019, reward their dominance deserved, Clermont version from the flank brought Toulon back one last-ditch attack, but in vain. —AFP shoulder injury. the first to take place in Asia. —AFP doggedly held firm in the second period as Toulon, beaten finalists last year by , came storming back. “Two years in a row where we come up short at the same stage- Wallabies ‘ready for the fight’ European Cup quarter-finals and league final, it’s tough to swallow. We’re going to have to to restore morale: Cheika pick ourselves up,” admitted Toulon captain . After an immaculately- SYDNEY: Coach Michael Cheika has vowed we’ve got to enjoy the challenge as well... and respected minute’s silence in memory of the the Wallabies will lift the spirits of the get stuck into it. “I’m a strong and passionate Australian game amid a demoralising Super believer in rugby in this country. Yeah, there’s victims of Saturday’s London attack, Clermont Rugby campaign in this week’s start to the some tough times on and off the field but it’s made a blistering start and only a knock-on international Test season. what you get from those and how you by captain a yard from the Australian rugby is in the doldrums with respond.” Cheika added that Australian rugby line prevented them from opening their its five franchises struggling and one, as yet fans were looking to the Wallabies to put account early doors. unnamed, facing the axe when Super Rugby things right on the field. reverts to 15 teams next season form the cur- “We’ve got to play with a certain attitude ZEST AND INTENSITY rent 18. New Zealand teams are currently that says we’re here for the fight,” he said. Toulon were restricted to some desperate, unbeaten in their 23 Super Rugby matches “The Australian team will be playing with last-ditch-and at times barely legal-defending against Australian opposition this year. no fear and having been well prepared to go with one Ma’a Nonu tackle resembling a Cheika said Sunday the Wallabies’ first five out there and have that positive mindset.” shoulder charge. Under pressure, Toulon col- Tests of 2017 were going to be “like Everest While Cheika believed that Australia had lapsed a scrum and Parra kicked a sixth for us”, but added that the players were ready “punched above our weight so far... even to minute penalty to give Clermont the lead. for the fight. be where we are now-third in the world”, he On 10 minutes, Clermont held firm against Super Rugby takes a back seat for the next wanted to set the team’s sights even higher a wave of battering Toulon attacks before three weeks as the Wallabies take on , ahead of the 2019 World Cup in Japan. Nick Abendanon ripped the ball from Romain Scotland and Italy at home. Also ahead in “But maybe we’ve been satisfied at that Taofifenua’s grasp and the Jaunards launched August is the Bledisloe Cup, which Australia level instead of going to the next step. You a counter from deep inside their own 22. has not been able to win back from the All got to start believing and dreaming that. “For did brilliantly with a mazy Blacks since 2002. the next generation of players, that’s the run to scamper 50 metres upfield before “These first five games of our season, the mindset we want to put in their head.” three June Tests and the two Bledisloe Cup The Wallabies kick off their 2017 interna- passing to Fijian wing , who matches, are going to be like an Everest for tional campaign against Fiji in Melbourne on PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron, left, shakes hand with Clermont’s Peceli hitch-kicked and side-stepped inside compa- us,” Cheika said on the Australian Saturday, followed by Tests against Scotland Yato as he kneels before him the Top 14 final rugby match between Clermont triot Josua Tuisova before strolling under the Broadcasting Corporation’s Offsiders pro- in Sydney on June 17 and Italy in Brisbane on Ferrand against Toulon at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, posts. Parra converted and added a second gramme. “We’ve got to be fully prepared and June 24. — AFP Sunday. — AP penalty to give the Vulcans a 13-0 lead.