15 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2020

15DAYS TO BAHRAIN sports GRAND PRIX 2020

Hamyrez Oliveira BFA confirms Riffa, Manama fights Eduardo Mora at AFC Cup matches postponed BRAVE CF 35, in Brazil TDT | Manama

pair of football matches scheduled for next week Ain the 2020 AFC Cup have been postponed amidst ongoing coronavirus concerns. This was confirmed last night by a Bahrain Football Associa- tion (BFA) spokesperson, who said that the BFA had received an official letter from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) regarding the postponement. Bahrain clubs Riffa and Ma- nama were both set to take to TDT | Manama CF 26 in Bogotá. In the occa- the pitch at separate locations sion, Mora made his promo- on Monday next week in their Bantamweight bout be- tional debut with a TKO win respective groups. Atween Brazil’s Hamyrez over his fellow countryman Riffa were to take on Oma - Oliveira and Colombia’s Edu- Juan Erazo. ni outfit Dhofar at the Khalifa ardo Mora was the latest ad- BRAVE CF 35 takes place on Sports City stadium in Isa Town, dition to the packed BRAVE CF March 28th, 2020 in Balneário while Manama were to face off 35 fight card. The show will Camboriú, marking the fifth with Palestinian club Hilal Al mark the return of the fast - time the fastest-growing MMA Quds at Al Husseini Interna- est-growing MMA promotion organization in the world hosts tional Stadium in Al Ram. in the world to Brazil, country an event in Brazil. The South The new dates of the two Riffa players celebrate during their previous AFC Cup game (file photo) that’s considered the organiza- American country will become matches are to be determined. tion’s “second home”. the number one home of BRAVE Riffa are third in Group C with their World Cup and Asian Cup from New Zealand in a friendly With nine wins and three Combat Federation alongside three points from two matches. joint-qualifying match, along on March 30. losses under his belt, Hamyrez the Kingdom of Bahrain. Al Qadsia of Kuwait and Dhofar with a pair of friendlies, later BETTER Bahrain have three games re- Oliveira made waves in the lo- The show, the first pro - are first and second with three this month will be going ahead maining in Group C of the joint- cal scene before drawing the moted by the Bahrain-based points apiece, whereas Al Ja- as planned. World Cup and Asian Cup qual- attention of BRAVE Combat promotion outside of Curitiba zeera of Jordan complete the According to a national team KNOW ifiers. After Cambodia, then play Federation. The Brazilian is and Belo Horizonte in Bra - table with zero points. official, there is still no final Iran in Tehran on June 4, before currently on a two-win streak, zil, is headlined by Cleiton Manama, on the other hand, decision on whether Bahrain closing out this stage against both via submission, and looks “Predator” making the first are currently second in Group will be going on with its tune- Hong Kong at home on June 9. to add the first international defense of his Lightweight ti- A after two matches with four up game against on Bahrain’s national team Iraq are currently atop the win to his record. tle against Sweden’s Guram points, tied with Syrian club Al March 21, in preparation for are yet to learn if their group standings with 11 points. Colombia’s Eduardo Mora Kutateladze. The card will Jaish while Al Ahed of Lebanon their FIFA World Cup 2022 and World Cup and Asian Cup They have a two-point lead over holds a pro record of six wins also host the Group A fights of are third with three points and AFC Asian Cup 2023 qualifier joint-qualifying match Bahrain. Iran are third with six and only two losses. Mora was BRAVE CF Flyweight World Ti- Hilal Al Quds fourth on zero against Cambodia on March later this month will be points and have a game in hand, one of the Colombian fight- tle Tournament: Marcel Adur points from two games. 26. going ahead as planned while Hong Kong were fourth ers awarded an internation- vs Malcom Gordon and Jose Meanwhile, Bahrain’s nation- The Bahrainis are also sched- on five points and Cambodia al BRAVE Combat Federation “Shorty” Torres vs Matheus al football team are yet to learn if uled to play their counterparts fifth with one. contract after last year’s BRAVE Nicolau.

Rodgers says Leicester will not Liverpool will not play weakened team in FA Cup: Klopp Reuters | London risk Vardy against Birmingham due to a fixture crunch while the unbeaten Premier League run Reuters | London senior side won the Club World and many criticised centre back reporters. iverpool’s regulars are set to Cup in Qatar and Klopp said he Dejan Lovren for giving their Vardy was in blistering form Lreturn to the starting line-up would take no chances as they strikers opportunities to score eicester City striker Jamie at the start of the season with for Tuesday’s FA Cup clash at looked to progress. but Klopp was quick to jump to LVardy is stepping up his 17 goals in 18 league matches Chelsea after the Anfield club “It’s a different situation to the centre back’s defence. recovery from a calf injury but has not scored in his last fielded their Under-23 players the last round. The team that “If anyone blames Dejan but Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth nine games in all competitions. in the previous round, manager played at Shrewsbury was a Lovren for our defeat, I can’t round meeting with Birming- Leicester have managed Juergen Klopp said on Monday. team that made sense for us at help these people,” Klopp said. ham City will come too ear- only three wins in 10 league Liverpool’s under-23 side, that moment. We didn’t get the “It was a massive challenge ly for him, manager Brendan matches since Vardy’s last led by their former coach Neil result we wanted, so we had for Dejan to play against Troy Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp Rodgers said. goal, which came in a 3-1 loss Critchley, beat third-tier side to play a different team in the Deeney. Joe Gomez has had sim- reacts during a match The 33-year- at champions Manchester City Shrewsbury Town in a fourth replay,” Klopp told reporters. ilar problems. old, Leices- on Dec. 21. round replay after Klopp refused “It won’t be the team that “If Chelsea make changes, I “Both Dejan and Joe have ter’s top Rodgers backed his team to to field senior players since the played Aston Villa and Shrews- don’t know if they will, it will played sensational games for scorer this Jamie respond against Champion- match was played during the bury, for sure. There will be boys still be a very experienced us in this position. Fitness and season with Vardy ship side (second tier) Bir- Premier League’s winter break. in the squad, but if they start we team... It’s the last-16 of the FA rhythm is the most difficult 17 goals, mingham in Liverpool also fielded a young will see. The team that played at Cup and we want to go through.” to get in professional football. missed the the FA Cup. side in the League Cup against Shrewsbury was an FA Cup team A 3-0 loss at Watford over Dejan is an outstanding cen - 1-0 Premier “The re - Aston Villa -- a game they lost -- at that moment. the weekend ended Liverpool’s tre-half. League defeat at sponsibility Norwich City on is with every- Friday with a low- one to score... grade calf strain. there’s no doubt “He won’t be avail- we have to Tokyo could lose Olympics if not held in 2020, minister says able. He’s making play better. AFP | Tokyo good progress but This is an ing rights if they’re not held in cel the Games by deactivating COVID-19 has been detected our target will opportunity 2020, Olympics Minister Seiko the contract if... the Games are in 76 countries, killing 3,116 and be Aston Villa to reach the okyo risks losing the Olym- Hashimoto told parliament. not held in 2020,” Hashimoto causing chaos as governments (in the league) quarter-fi- Tpics if they’re postponed Japan’s government, Tokyo said. clamp down on travel. A long on Mon - nals,” he later than this year over the new organisers and the IOC have all “At this moment, the Tokyo list of sports events have been day and he said. coronavirus, a government min- pledged to hold the Games on 2020 committee, the IOC and cancelled or postponed to avoid should be Leices- ister said on Tuesday, adding schedule from July 24, but the Tokyo (city government) are spreading the virus. fine for ter are third in the that May looks like the deadline fast-spreading virus continues doing their best to make sure the Hashimoto added that that,” league table with 50 points for the decision. to raise concerns. Games will be held from July May looked like an “impor - Rodg- from 28 games, seven points The contract for the Games “Looking at the contract once 24,” she added. tant benchmark” for deciding ers behind second-placed says the International Olympic again, it says in Article 66 that “The government will fully whether the Games go ahead as told City. Committee can withdraw host- the IOC holds the right to can- support that.” scheduled.