6 JANUARY 13, 2016 Messi, Lloyd, Luis Enrique and Ellis Triumph at FIFA Ballon D’Or 2015 International players’ union media representatives submitted FIFPro received votes from their votes for the FIFA Ballon 26,478 professional players d’Or award. won the from around the world for the title with 41.33% of all votes ahead FIFA FIFPro World XI, the of (27.76%) best team of 2015, with the and (7.86%). following result: Manuel Neuer • 136 national team coaches, 135 (Germany/FC Bayern Munich) national team captains and 106 in goal; Dani Alves (Brazil/FC media representatives voted for Barcelona), Marcelo (Brazil/Real the FIFA Women’s World Player Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Spain/ of the Year award. Carli Lloyd Real Madrid) and Thiago Silva came out on top with 35.28% of (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain) in all votes, ahead of German Célia defence; Andrés Iniesta (Spain/FC Šašić (12.60%) and Japan’s Aya Barcelona), Luka Modrić (Croatia/ Miyama (9.88%). Real Madrid) and Paul Pogba • 167 national team coaches, 161 (France/Juventus) in midfield; and national team captains and 171 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real media representatives voted for Madrid), Lionel Messi (Argentina/ the FIFA World Coach of the Year FC Barcelona) and Neymar for Men’s Football award. Luis (Brazil/FC Barcelona) in attack. Enrique Martínez won the award The FIFA Puskás Award for with 31.08% of all votes after the best goal of the year was leading FC Barcelona to four titles also presented after 1.6 million (La Liga, Copa del Rey, UEFA football fans cast their votes on Champions League and FIFA Club FIFA.com, FIFA on YouTube World Cup) in 2015. Second and and francefootball.fr. This award, third place were claimed by Pep which is a tribute to Ferenc Guardiola (FC Bayern Munich, Lionel Messi Puskás, the captain and star of the 22.97%) and Jorge Sampaoli ZURICH (FIFA) - Lionel Messi international media representatives countries and territories around Lucas Radebe on behalf of all the 1950s Hungary team, was won (Chilean national team, 9.47%) has won the FIFA Ballon d’Or for invited by FIFA and France Football. the world was provided by British awardees. This year, the world has by Brazilian Wendell Lira from respectively. the best player in the world for the The entire electoral procedure pop star Leona Lewis and young witnessed a refugee crisis in the Goianésia, who topped the poll • 137 national team coaches, 137 fifth time, while US midfielder Carli was overseen and monitored Croatian cellists Luka Šulić Middle East and Europe because with 46.7 % of the votes ahead national team captains and 106 Lloyd has claimed her first-ever by PricewaterhouseCoopers and Stjepan Hauser, known as of conflict in Syria. Many innocent of Lionel Messi (33.3 %) and media representatives voted for FIFA Women’s World Player of the Switzerland (PwC). 2CELLOS. people have fled their homes in Alessandro Florenzi (7.1%). the FIFA World Coach of the Year Year award. FC Barcelona coach The awards were presented on This year’s FIFA Fair Play Award desperate conditions to find safety The awards at a glance for Women’s Football award. Jill Luis Enrique Martínez and US Monday evening (11 January was presented to all the football for themselves and their loved The FIFA Ballon d’Or was Ellis won this prize after leading national team coach Jill Ellis have 2016) during a 90-minute show organisations and clubs around ones. Society has responded and presented for the sixth time since the US women’s national team to also been named for the first time at Zurich’s Kongresshaus that the world that are working to the world of football has also the merging of the FIFA World glory at the FIFA Women’s World as FIFA World Coaches of the Year was hosted by Northern Irish support refugees. Former German contributed to the cause. Clubs and Player of the Year award and Cup™ in Canada. She secured for Men’s and Women’s Football actor James Nesbitt and British international Gerald Asamoah, football organisations all over the France Football’s Ballon d’Or 42.98% of all votes, ahead of Japan respectively. The winners were journalist Kate Abdo. The musical who campaigns for the welfare world have acted to help welcome award in 2010. coach Norio Sasaki (17.79%) and chosen by the coaches and captains entertainment for the 1,100 guests of refugees, received the award and support refugees as they • 165 national team coaches, 162 England women’s national team of the national teams as well as by and TV viewers in over 190 from former South African icon integrate into local communities. national team captains and 171 coach Mark Sampson (10.68%). ‘Cricket is Now the Biggest Sport in Afghanistan’ Iran Captain Teymourian starting cricket as a way to make some,” Jannat said. Departs Qatari Umm Salal, The younger brother of former Afghanistan captain Navroz Mangal Now on Esteghlal Radar is considered among the most exciting talents back home, but admits he never had big dreams of playing for the country. The general impression of Afghanistan is one of unforgiving moonscape and the Taliban. But, according to the players and the board, there has not been a single instance so far of the Taliban harming, threatening or preventing cricketers from playing. Zafarzai narrated an anecdote. “Last season, three of our domestic players lost their way and drove deep into Taliban- controlled area. They were taken hostage but on being told that they were cricketers on their way to Kabul, were released and escorted to safety. That is the kind of respect cricketers enjoy,” he said. Andranik Teymourian of Iran celebrates qualifying for the 2014 FIFA Ihsanullah Jannat It may just be a fable but it does World Cup following the 2014 World Cup Qualifier match between KABUL(The Hindu ) - When the Afghan Cup last year and now these two series highlight the relative security enjoyed South Korea and Iran at Munsu Cup Stadium in Ulsan, South Korea. cricket team returned after a historic series at home and away against Zimbabwe by the players in a strife-ridden country. win in Zimbabwe last October, it took four have ensured that, irrespective of age There are even reports of the Taliban TEHRAN(Press TV) - Iranian Esteghlal. hours to complete the 15-minute drive to or gender, everyone in Afghanistan announcing prize money for the entire footballer Andranik Teymourian “Esteghlal welcomes the Kabul National Cricket Stadium. follows every performance of the team,” team after it beat Pakistan in the 2014 has put an end to his appearance at Teymourian back to his home. On Sunday, the entire stretch was once said Tawab Zafarzai, cricket operations Asian Games, and USA during the World the Qatari professional association We are seeking to build up our again packed with celebrating Afghans manager of Afghanistan Cricket Board. Cup qualifiers. football team Umm Salal, which team, and Ando can assist our after the feat was repeated, this time at At the World Cup in Australia & New Most of the players in the under-19 plays at the first level Qatar Stars team until the end of the season,” ‘home’ in Sharjah. Zealand last year, Afghanistan repeatedly side belong to the border provinces of League. Esteghlal coach Parviz Mazloomi The country’s under-19 side thrashed its came close to causing upsets in the group Afghanistan that continue to be under The 32-year-old, who captains said. Nepal counterpart by 83 runs in practice stages. The victories against Zimbabwe Taliban control. Iran men’s national football team, Teymourian played for three ahead of the upcoming World Cup, pushed the team to ninth in World T20 “Cricket has come up real fast, parted company with the Doha- English clubs, including Bolton watched by a dozen supporters at the St. rankings and 10th in ODIs. with wins against full-member teams based sport club only six months and Fulham in the Premier Stephen’s College ground here. “When there was no cricket, people including Pakistan and Zimbabwe. It is after he signed with Umm Salal League as well as Barnsley in the For a country where the game arrived played football; it was the biggest No.1 now, there is a lot of public support, on July 7, 2015. Football League Championship less than two decades ago, Afghanistan’s game. The 2012 Olympic medals made infrastructure is improving and many There are reports that relations from 2006 to the end of 2010. craze for cricket is astonishing. The taekwondo popular. But cricket is now more grounds are being built,” Jannat between Teymourian and the Teymourian signed a contract poster boys for associate members have undoubtedly the biggest sport,” Zafarzai said. club head coach Bulent Uygun with Esteghlal in mid-July 2011, progressed rapidly along the pecking said. The first big target is the World Cup, and soured over the time, and this led and made his debut for club order, enough to earn respect and draw Under-19 captain Ihsanullah Jannat, the team is confident of going one better to Ando’s departure. The Iranian against Isfahan-based Foolad popular support back home. who started playing more to develop a than its previous quarterfinal finish. had 14 appearances in the Qatari Mobarakeh Sepahan football “The craze began after the 2010 T20 social circle than anything else, agrees. “We have eight all-rounders, we are side, but scored no goals. club. World Cup in the West Indies when the “We left Afghanistan very early, and capable of beating any team,” coach Meanwhile, Teymourian On July 18, 2013, Teymourian team and the game exploded in the media I studied in Peshawar. When we came Dawlat Khan Ahmadzai said. “The dream has been linked with a move returned to Esteghlal after signing and on television screens. Then the World back, I had no friends and thought of is to win the final,” Jannat added. to Tehran-based soccer club a three-year contract.