Qatar Clasico SPORT Page 2 Barshim Second in Slovakia FOOTBALL
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NNBABA | Page 5 OOLYMPICSLYMPICS | Page 7 Wizards 32 Russians top Pacers, in late bid for Pistons beat Pyeongchang Trail Blazers Winter Games Wednesday, February 7, 2018 FOOTBALL Jumada I 21, 1439 AH Al Rayyan’s Laudrup GULF TIMES ready for Al Sadd in must win Qatar Clasico SPORT Page 2 Barshim second in Slovakia FOOTBALL Qatar’s high jump world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim finished Qatar can compensate for second at the Bansko Bystrica High Jump meet in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, yesterday Russia absence: Sanchez with a leap of 2.31m. Reuters but we couldn’t make it. The country won the Asian The 26-year-old Hong Kong “To play in Russia would have Under-19 Championship in tied with China’s Yu been a good experience ahead of 2014 and reached the semi- Wang, who jumped the next one, but I’m pretty sure fi nals of the Asian Under-23 a personal best, atar will take a huge they will have enough knowl- Championship in both 2016 but had to settle for stride into the un- edge and experience to face this and 2018, underlining that the the second spot on known when they with the right mood to play in development work was bearing countback, having host the World Cup in this competition.” fruit even though the senior side Q2022 but coach Felix Sanchez Before the successful hosting were struggling. fouled his first attempt at 2.20m. is confi dent the players will gain bid, Qatar, with help from the “In our country we have Donald Thomas enough experience in the lead- Aspire Academy, had the infra- a very good plan and a good of Bahamas too up to the showpiece event to not structure to produce a team ca- league, but it’s good to send jumped 2.31m for get overawed at their fi rst fi nals pable of challenging at the top these young players to Eu- his third spot. After appearance. levels in Asia. rope, to feel what is the level in a spectacular 2017, They missed out on quali- Just two years after Aspire’s the fi rst division in Belgium or Barshim is gear- fying for Russia this summer, inauguration, Qatar won the the second division in Spain. ing up for the IAAF but with a multifaceted plan in gold medal at the 2006 Asian They’re both very good levels. World Indoor place to prepare their players Games under-23 football tour- “It gives them the oppor- Championships in between now and when the fi - World Cup,” said Sanchez, who nament on home soil in Doha, tunity to grow as players and Birmingham in nals kick off in November 2022, serves as head coach of the showing signs of a bright future. so far we are trying diff erent March this year. the Spaniard believes the play- country’s senior national team But while that early prom- players there and all the expe- (File photo) ers will be ready. and under-23 side. ise has gone unfulfi lled, Qatar’s riences have been very positive “We know from history that “We faced the last stage with up-and-coming generation and that’s the most important it’s diffi cult to qualify for the all the motivation to go there, have tasted some success. thing.” Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, February 7, 2018 FOOTBALL QNB STARS LEAGUE Al Rayyan’s Laudrup ready for must win Qatar Clasico ‘There’s no need to talk about motivation when we are playing a huge game like this. We are well prepared’ By Anil John signed for Al Sadd could make the Doha starting XI of any team in Qatar, sug- gesting that many of the other U-23 players were lagging behind in talent very football league reaches a and it would be a “challenge” accom- stage when players, coaches modating them just for the sake of the and managers grapple a bout abiding by the rule. “It’s not a problem of the heebie jeebies. Even if you have an Almoez or an Akram Afi f. EMichael Laudrup, for all his experience, They would walk into any team wheth- is not immune to this syndrome. er it is U-23 or over-23, but for other The Denmark, Real Madrid and Bar- teams it would be a challenge.” celona legend made no secret of his He suggested that teams could easily anxiety at a press conference yesterday get around the rule by starting a young ahead of his side Al Rayyan’s crucial player and then substituting him after match against Al Sadd in the QNB Stars just fi ve minutes. League. “That would, however, be unfair to The Qatar Clasico is unlike another the players,” said Laudrup. “I am not match in Qatar. It is promoted with comfortable with the idea.” much greater fanfare. Special invites The Dane otherwise had no com- are sent out to important people, the plaints. “I am very satisfi ed with our public relations machinery goes into performance so far. We also have the overdrive and appeals are made to the Champions League coming up next public to turn out in large numbers at week and we will be playing a lot of the stadium. matches. We will see in March where All this contributes to the build-up, we stand.” and of course, the tension, especially Al Rayyan captain Rodrigo Tabata when you are reminded that a loss at who also attended the press confer- this stage of the tournament could well ence, appealed to the team’s fans to mean the end of your chances of win- show up for the match at Jassim bin ning the title. Al Duhail, coached by Hamad Stadium tomorrow. Djamel Belmadi, are leading the stand- “It’s the most important match for ings with 39 points from 15 matches, us as far as this season is concerned. It while Al Sadd have 37 and Al Rayyan 35. would be great to see a packed stadium “Yeah, of course, I am aware of that. and I urge fans to come and watch us We lose today (against Al Sadd) and Al play,” he said. Duhail beat Al Gharafa we would be He dismissed suggestions that he has down by seven points. Al Rayyan need gone off the boil after a great start to the to win to be able to dream of winning season. “I will listen to your viewpoint. the title,” Laudrup said at a press con- I am a hard-working professional who ference yesterday. From left: Al Sadd midfielder Jugurtha Hamroun, Al Rayyan captain Rodrigo Tabata, coach Michael Laudrup and his Al Sadd counterpart Jesualdo Ferreira pose after a gives 100% to the team’s cause. I am He expressed bemusement at his press conference ahead of the Qatar Clasico yesterday. happy to help them in any way possible. side’s position in the standings, in the “However, I don’t agree with you. In process paying leaders Al Duhail a com- Laudrup added that despite the four- “There’s no need to talk about moti- However, he expressed serious reser- happy with this although I understand a recent survey it was clear that I am pliment. “It is strange that we are third point gap, his team only need to look at vation when we are playing a huge game vations about the Qatar Football Asso- that the idea is to give young players the best player among all those who despite winning 11 of our 15 matches so the result of the fi rst leg of the Qatar like this. We are well prepared. We ciation rule that every team must give experience.” wear the number 10 jersey in Qatar. But far. It means that Duhail are having an Clasico in October last when Al Rayyan know that we need to win three points a start to at least one under-23 player He said that only Almoez Ali of Al I will surely work even harder and hope incredible season, with no losses so far.” beat Al Sadd 2-1. to stay in the competition.” in every match. “Frankly I am not very Duhail and Akram Afi f who recently to live up to everyone’s expectations.” SPOTLIGHT FOCUS I’ve become a better Collina praises Qatar’s support for defender aft er joining World Cup Referees’ Workshop By Sports Reporter the World Cup in Russia kicks Doha off , this period is everything,” he said. The referees will practice Al Sadd, says Morteza using the Video Assistant Referee he 2002 World Cup fi nal (VAR) system during their stay in orteza Mohamed has been the referee Pierluigi Collina, Doha, said Massimo Busacca, backbone of Al Sadd defence for two now president of the FIFA’s head of refereeing, ahead years now. The 25-year-old, a regular FIFA referees’ commit- of its expected use in Russia. with the Iranian national team since Ttee, has hailed the outstanding There are 48 referees, 35 of ref- M2015, has already won three tournaments (Qatar capabilities of Qatar to host the erees and 13 video assistant refe- Cup and Emir’s Cup last season and Sheikh Jas- FIFA World Cup 2018 Referees rees (VAR). The opening ceremo- sim Cup this time) and is hungry for more. Workshop, which is currently ny of the seminar was attended In an Interview ahead of Al Sadd’s Qatar Cla- being held in Doha. by Collina, Busaccas, Hani Bal- sico against Al Rayyan tomorrow, Morteza, who An almost week-long event, lan, Vice Chairman of FIFA and joined The Wolves in January, 2016, spoke about attended by 48 referees, will help AFC Referees’ Committees and his stint in Qatar, the feeling of representing Sadd, football’s governing body decide Chairman of QFA Referees Com- his game and the high importance of Clasico.