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Home , 1996 Super 12 season, Cheetahs (rugby union), Juan Arza, SANZAAR, Southern Kings, Sunwolves

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017 SPORTS

Spanish winger Navas Greenland denies Eritrean Neymar in Dubai, but returns to Sevilla coach firing was racism where next is a mystery

MADRID: Spanish international winger Jesus Navas returned to Sevilla yester- STOCKHOLM: The Football Federation of Greenland (GBU) has PARIS: Brazil’s Neymar triggered a guessing game on his return from China day, the club announced on their website. Navas had been a free agent denied firing its national coach of Eritrean origin because of racism, yesterday, posting a video on social media apparently from Dubai but leav- since being released by Manchester City at the end of last season. “Sevilla FC according to local media. GBU President John Thorsen told the daily ing his final destination-Paris or Barcelona-a mystery. As speculation have reached an agreement with Jesus Navas, with the player signing a deal Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq late on Monday that Tekle mounts of an imminent record-busting transfer from Barcelona to Paris yesterday keeping him at the club for the next four seasons,” Ghebrelul was fired because a majority of the board ruled that he Saint-Germain, Neymar’s video appeared to be from the first class lounge at Sevilla said in a statement. The 31-year-old moves back to did not conduct an “exemplary sporting performance”, in line with Dubai airport. The 25-year-old forward, who was in Shanghai after four seasons with City, during which he won the the federation’s guidelines. But Ghebrelul, who served as coach for on Monday fulfilling a sponsor’s engagement, also posted a 2013/14 Premier League title and two English League Cups. four years, has slammed his dismissal as “unjustified” and having photo with the caption in Portuguese: “Lunch at half-way”. In Navas, who played 395 times for Sevilla after his first-team “racist motives”. The GBU announced that Ghebrelul was fired last another video posted from an aeroplane, Neymar jokes debut in 2003, has 35 international caps but hasn’t played around with an image messaging app that superimposed a Thursday. Accused of assaulting a minor, Ghebrelul told Sermitsiaq for Spain since being left out of the 2014 World Cup squad. Spanish flag and a small plane on his tee-shirt. Intrigue sur- on Friday that the allegations were “a pretext” to fire him in order to “Navas comes home with the firm intention of becoming rounds his final destination amid initial reports that he was Sevilla FC’s all-time (record) appearance holder,” the club silence his criticism against the “hostility” he experienced in the headed from China to Doha, to meet PSG’s Qatari owners and added. Navas is only 19 short of the current record of 414 North Atlantic autonomous Danish territory, which he moved to 14 pass a medical before his reported 222-million-euro ($260 appearances held by club legend Juan Arza. —AFP years ago. —AFP million) move from Barca.—AFP

VIVA Real Madrid soccer academy training camp kicks off

KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing and shops and activities educating the players on young players in other fields, such as tactical pleased with the enthusiasm the players have them closer to their dreams.” He added: “We most developed telecom operator, announced the best maneuvers, attacks, different scenar- understanding, and mental, physical and displayed since the beginning of the trip. The scheduled different activities to the players to the kick-off of VIVA Real Madrid Soccer ios and conditioned games. Moreover, it focus- social growth. players could not wait until they show their ensure the maximum of experience during Academy’s training camp at Valdebebas sport es on different technical areas, such as drib- Commenting on this occasion, Abdulrazzaq talents to the coaches since they arrived to this camp. Abdulaziz Diab from VIVA’s PR team city in Madrid. bling, short passing, turning and finishing. Bader Al-Essa, Corporate Communications Madrid. We are very pleased to have been able and Ali Al-Adwani from VIVA’s Marketing team The training program features several work- The program was also designed to develop Director at VIVA said: “We are extremely to support these young athletes in bringing accompanied the players during the camp. Peyper gets Super nod despite ‘neutral’ call

WELLINGTON: ’s Jaco Robertson among those calling for the Peyper was yesterday named as referee “best neutral ref”. for the final as officials “I’d love a neutral referee,” he told shrugged off calls for a neutral whistle- ’s Radio Sport. “Look it’s blower and a yellow-card controversy in not my decision, but in my opinion it’s the semis. more around what’s best for the game. Governing body SANZAAR said “Let’s get the best neutral ref, I just Peyper’s appointment was purely “merit- think it’s fair.” based” after putting him in charge of Peyper was also at the centre of con- Saturday’s final between South Africa’s troversy last week when he sin-binned and New Zealand’s fly-half at a Canterbury in . key stage of their semi-final against the “The selection criteria for all match Lions in Johannesburg. Replays suggest- official appointments for the last two ed the punishment was harsh but the years follows a clear tournament policy... Lions took full advantage, scoring 17 that such appointments be merit-based,” points to seize the lead while Barrett was SANZAAR CEO Andy Marinos said in a off the field in the second half. statement. “It was a pretty tough decision against He added that New Zealand’s Glen Beauden,” former Springboks coach Nick Jackson refereed last year’s final between Mallett said on SuperSport TV at the the Lions and the Hurricanes in time. On Saturday, Peyper will have fel- , when the home team lifted low South African Marius van der the trophy. Some experts have ques- Westhuizen and New Zealander Glen tioned the wisdom of using referees from Jackson as his assistants, while South the same country as one of the teams Africa’s is the television involved, with Crusaders coach Scott match official. — AFP Tycoon ‘Twiggy’ vows to save

SYDNEY: Australian mining billion- does not have the financial aire Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest prom- capability or player depth to support : In this March 4, 2017 file photo South Africa’s Christopher Anthony Cloete of the holds on to the ball during their ised Monday to dig into his own five Super teams. Super Rugby match against ’s , in Singapore. Europe’s Pro12 has confirmed it will add the two South African teamsdropped pockets to save Super Rugby club “I’m not going to speculate on the from Super Rugby to expand to a 14-team, two-continent competition from this season. Celtic Rugby, which runs the Pro12, says the Western Force as arbitration to decide arbitration, I’m not even going to talk and Southern Kings will join straight away for the 2017-18 season starting later this year. — AP its fate got underway. The hearing fol- about the arbitration other than to lows the ARU announcing in April say it starts on Monday,” he said then. RUGBY that either the Force or Melbourne The Force are currently owned by the Rebels would be cut from the ARU under a financial bailout deal unwieldy southern hemisphere com- they signed last year, but they have petition from next year, along with launched an ‘Own the Force’ cam- S African teams confirmed in two South African teams. paign to buy back their licence. This was supposed to happen It has been selling shares to fans at within “48 to 72 hours” of the Aus$1,000 (US$800) each to raise announcement, but has become enough revenue to do this. Forrest, expanded Pro14 for in 2017-18 bogged down in legal wrangling. who has previously promised to “keep South African franchises Central this team thriving”, Monday Cheetahs and Southern Kings have announced he will now offer interest- LONDON: South African teams Cheetahs and forefront of the game’s growth around the zons.” Conference A will feature the , already been ditched. free loans to purchase shares, with Southern Kings will join an expanded Pro14 world.” The Cheetahs, from , and Cardiff , Munster, Connacht, Glasgow, If the ARU win the arbitration hearing, any money lent paid back to in time for the 2017-18 season, competition the -based Kings will play their and Cheetahs. Reigning champions which could run for a week or more, they RugbyWA. organisers confirmed yesterday. The move home games in South Africa. They will only will line up alongside , are set to dump the Force, although This effectively means the Force increases the number of teams in the league, play on Saturdays and there will be five trav- Leinster, Ulster, Edinburgh, Treviso and the News Corp. newspapers said Forrest will receive double for each share which grew out of the Celtic League and was el-free days before matches. Southern Kings in Conference B. could pursue further legal action. sold, leaving enough to buy the previously known as the Pro12, from 12 to 14. The Cheetahs and Kings will not be able to Each team will play every other team in But if it goes in favour of Western licence and build for the future, said The championship will be split into two qualify for European competition. The pair their own group home and away, in addition Australia’s RugbyWA, the national RugbyWA chairman Tony Howarth. seven-team conferences, each containing lost their places in the southern-hemisphere to one-off matches against all the teams in body will have to try to cut the Rebels “Andrew’s idea of promoting com- two Welsh teams, two Irish teams and one Super Rugby, which is being cut from 18 the other group. Two additional rounds will or negotiate a merger between two munity participation by doubling the club from each of Scotland, Italy and South teams to 15, at the end of the current season, guarantee the Welsh and Irish teams retain Australian franchises. Local reports benefit for the cause will have a won- Africa. “The arrival of the Toyota Cheetahs which ends on Saturday with the final six derbies each, while the Scottish, Italian said RugbyWA would argue that derful impact on both the profession- and the Southern Kings marks a bold and between South Africa’s Lions and New and South African teams will play each other Western Force are guaranteed partici- al game but more importantly provide exciting new chapter for the Guinness Zealanders Crusaders. three times. pation in Super Rugby until the end funds for RugbyWA to support the PRO14 as a global rugby championship,” said “This development is as exciting as the Six teams will qualify for the end of season of 2020 as part of the current broad- growth of grassroots rugby,” he said. Pro14 chief executive Martin Anayi. “South launch of Super Rugby itself back in 1996,” knock-out phase culminating in the Pro14 casting deal. Forrest said instead of scrapping Africa is a rugby powerhouse of over 55 mil- said South Africa Rugby CEO Jurie Roux in a final. The top three non-South African teams But the ARU will counter that that Western Force, the ARU should merge lion people. These teams already operate to statement on the Pro14 website. “It will not in each conference and the team with the guarantee is void after regional body the Rebels with the ACT the high standards demanded by Super be without its challenges in aligning with a next best points tally across both conferences SANZAAR moved to reduce Super and ensure Super Rugby is played Rugby and they will add to the quality of our competition in a different part of the calen- will qualify for the Champions Cup. Rugby from 18 to 15 teams. ARU chief nationwide, and not just in Australia’s tournament. dar and in very different playing conditions. The first round of the season is due to be Bill Pulver last week reiterated that eastern states. — AFP “The appeal of professional club rugby has “But it is also a fantastic opportunity for played on the weekend of September 1-3. The never been greater and we aim to be at the South African rugby to widen our rugby hori- fixtures have not yet been announced. — AFP