FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020 13

Football’s return ‘good for everyone’ - Mourinho ‘I miss competing’ Reigning women’s 400m World champion Salwa Eid Naser is targeting Olympic gold

TDT Manama World record currently held by beat the World mark, Salwa Marita Koch, who registered said: “I don’t want to think too uperstar Bahraini sprint- BETTER that time in October 1985; and much about it; I would just be er and reigning women’s the 47.99s Championship re- putting pressure on myself. Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho looks on during training (file photo) 400 metres World cham- cord of Jarmila Kratochvilova, “When I ran the 48.14s it AFP | London S pion Salwa Eid Naser has her KNOW set in August of 1983. came natural – that’s the way eyes set on one day winning an When asked I’m going to keep it. I’m ottenham manager Jose Olympic gold medal and was if it is one going to try my best, TMourinho believes bring- hoping to get that opportunity of her and if it comes, it ing football back, even be - With cameras, it this summer until the corona- Salwa is the third- goals comes.” hind closed doors, would be a means that millions virus (COVID-19) derailed her fastest woman ever t o Salwa says much-needed morale boost for and millions are and many other athletes’ plans. to run the 400m. that she is fans starved of action during watching. So if one Salwa had already begun her Her personal best itching to the coronavirus crisis. day we walk into this rigorous training programme is 48.14 seconds, get back No Premier League games earlier this year until the global competing have been played since March empty stadium, it pandemic forced the postpone- which is also the and return 9 due to the pandemic, which will not be empty, ment of the Tokyo Games to Asian record that to train- has claimed more than 26,000 not at all 2021. she set when she ing with British lives. JOSE MOURINHO But Salwa isn’t letting that captured her World her fel- Dutch football chiefs have get her down and she remains title last year low elite called an end to the Eredivisie “If we play the remaining focused and upbeat amidst the athletes. season while French sports nine matches this season it will current stoppage of all global old, who celebrates her birth- “We are minister Roxana Maracine- be good for every one of us,” he sport at the highest level. day next month. “I had so much not able anu yesterday called for the said. “It will be good for foot- “I want to go for the Olym- hopes and my training was re- to have French league to end the Ligue ball, for the Premier League. pic gold; it is what I really ally good, but then I thought more than 1 season. “If we play football behind want and I’m working hard that it would be selfish; some five people England’s top-flight clubs closed doors I’d like to think towards that,” said Salwa on people were not able to get in a group are due to meet on Friday with that football is never behind Wednesday night as she ap - ready for the Olympics. so that has “Project Restart” at the top of closed doors. peared on a live Instagram “It is God’s plan and we have affected their agenda. They will discuss “With cameras, it means show entitled “Quarantined to go through it.” our training be- how they can complete the that millions and millions are Track Side”, hosted by former Salwa is the third-fastest cause we usually season despite the logistical watching. So if one day we American athletics star Sanya woman ever to run the 400m. train in a group,” difficulties. walk into this empty stadium, Richards-Ross, who is also a Her personal best is 48.14 sec- she explained, “I miss football,” Mourin- it will not be empty, not at all.” former 400m World champion onds, which is also the Asian adding, “I miss ho told Sky Sports from the Prior to the shutdown, and Olympic gold-medallist. record that she set when she competing.” Tottenham Hotspur stadium, Mourinho said he could not Salwa admits that she was captured her World title last which has been transformed to wait for the season to end due disappointed at first when this year. The only times quick- house a testing centre, outpa- to a debilitating list of injuries. year’s Tokyo Olympics were er than that are the 47.60s tient services for a local hospi- Yet Spurs could make a late put off due to the coronavirus, tal and a food distribution hub. run to finish in the top four especially as she was already “But I prefer to say I miss should the campaign get back getting in good shape with our world, like I think we all under way, with Harry Kane, her training. It would do. Football is just part of my Moussa Sissoko, Steven Berg- have been her second world. But we have to be pa- wijn and Son Heung-min -- Olympics running tient, this is a fight that we all who is completing a short pe- for Bahrain, but her have to fight.” riod of national service -- now feelings changed Even if matches can return, recovered from injury. eventually. they will be played behind “They are recovered from “I felt bad at closed doors for the foreseea- their injuries, so Harry Kane is first because ble future to minimise the risk not injured, Moussa Sissoko is we were really of spreading the virus. not injured, Steven Bergwijn is getting there, Mourinho, though, believes not injured, but it is one thing training very players will still be putting on not to be injured, it’s another hard,” ex- a show for millions watching thing to be ready to play foot- plained the around the world. ball,” Mourinho added. 21-year- Pochettino ‘wants to manage Spurs’ again Felix Auger-Aliassime ‘hopes’ AFP | London tennis season can restart soon

ormer Tottenham manager suspended until at least July FMauricio Pochettino says he 13, while Wimbledon was can- wants to return to the Premier Maybe in five years celled this year for the first League club one day to finish maybe in 10 years.. time since World War II. the job he started. before I die I want to “It’s hard to say (if the sea- The Argentine left Spurs in manage Tottenham son will be scrapped),” Au - November, six months after again and try to ger-Aliassime, who at 19 is the leading them to the Champi- youngest player in the world’s ons League final, and has been win one trophy top 20, said in a video call. linked with Newcastle in recent because I want to “We hear rumours and as- days. feel what it means sumptions every day, but they Reports claim he is the main to win one trophy Felix Auger-Aliassime makes a serve are just rumours and assump- target of the Magpies’ prospec- with Tottenham, during a match (file photo) tions. Obviously I hope we can tive new Saudi Arabian owners that would be a good AFP | Paris play. should they complete a takeo- opportunity to pay “But it’s hard for anyone ver, but Pochettino could not Mauricio Pochettino reacts during a match (file photo) right now, whatever their po- disguise his desire to return to back all the love they anadian Felix Auger-Ali- sition or status, to have a clear north London at some stage in “But deep in my heart I am Pochettino said he felt moti- showed us Cassime said yesterday that and concrete opinion on the his career. sure our paths will cross again. vated for his next job but still MAURICIO POCHETTINO he hopes the tennis season can future of the season.” The ex-Southampton boss, From the day I left the club, felt the pull of Tottenham. restart this year despite the Auger-Aliassime has been who spent more than five years my dream is to be back one day The 48-year-old transformed coronavirus pandemic, but spending the lockdown with at Spurs, told BT Sport: “It was and to try to finish the work we Spurs’ fortunes after arriving because the fans are so special. admitted that it is “hard” to his family in Montreal, but an amazing journey that fin- didn’t finish. We were so close from Southampton in 2014 but Maybe in five years, maybe in have an opinion on what will hopes to be able to travel to ished the way no one wanted it to winning the Premier League failed to win a trophy. 10 years, but before I die I want happen next. Monaco next month to resume to finish. and Champions League.” “Deep inside I want to go back to manage Tottenham,” he said. The ATP and WTA tours are training.

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