6 December 26, 2017 ‘I Promised My Dad Iran’s Shojaei Reaches Agreement I’d Win World Cup’ With AEK Athens FC Smyrnis, commonly known as Pan- the United Arab Emirates, Span- ionios GSS FC, and Spanish man- ish football teams CA Osasuna and ager of AEK Athens FC, Manolo Unión Deportiva Las Palmas, plus Jiménez, has expressed an interest Qatari sports clubs al-Shahania and in him as a replacement for captain al-Gharafa. Petros Mantalos. Shojaei captained the Iran men’s Mantalos missed out on the rest of national football team, domesti- the 2017-2018 season after he faced cally known as Team Melli, in 2018 a cruciate ligament rupture during FIFA World Cup qualification home the Super League match against matches against China and Uzbeki- Panionios on October 29. stan. He jumped to provide an overhead On August 10, 2017, he was Brazilian legend Pele pass that eventually opened up the banned from Team Melli for partici- MOSCOW (TR) - Brazilian legend Pele spoke to RT about his remarkable life, enemy defense and ended up in the pating in a match against an Israeli including the moment when, as a young boy, he vowed to his father that he would game-winning goal, but he fell hard side. Masoud Shojaei win the World Cup. on his left knee, causing the rupture. Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Pan- Pele’s career spanned more than 20 years, during which he scored more TEHRAN (Dispatches) - Irani- known in European competitions as Shojaei started his playing career ionios GSS FC 1-0 in the Union than 1,000 goals, including a record 77 in 92 games for the Brazilian an professional footballer, Masoud AEK Athens FC. with Sanate Naft Abadan Football of European Football Associations national team. His long list of honors includes three World Cup titles -- Shojaei, has reached an agreement The 33-year-old defending mid- Club, which currently plays in the (UEFA) Europa League match at Sweden in 1958, Chile in 1962, and Mexico in 1970. to join Greek football club Athlitikί fielder will soon be released from Persian Gulf Pro League, in 2002. the Stadio Néas Smírnis stadium in Now 77, arguably the best footballer in history recalled how he vowed Énosis Konstantinoupόleos (Athletic the Greek association football club He has also played in Iranian the Greek capital city of Athens on to his father that he would win football’s most coveted prize in the wake Union of Constantinople), commonly Panionios Gymnastikos Syllogos football club Saipa, al-Sharjah of August 3. of the national team’s stunning loss to Uruguay in the last game of their home 1950 World Cup. “My father was a professional football player in Bauru, the city where I Aghaei Wins Silver at used to live,” Pele began. “And then the World Cup [took place] in Brazil. I was just 10 years old, and I said, ‘Oh my God, Brazil is the best football Nepal International Badminton team, we are going to win the World Cup, we are going to be champions’. And then Brazil lost. Championships “For the first time [in my life] I saw my father crying. He was with other players in my house to listen to the game, as at that time we didn’t have TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Sorayya Thi Trang of Vietnam 21-18, 21-19 TV. I didn’t understand why he was crying, because I was always told that Aghaei from Iran has claimed a sil- to enter the women’s singles final. men don’t cry. I said ‘Father, don’t cry. I’m going to win the World Cup ver medal at the Yonex Sunrise Ne- Yonex Sunrise Nepal Interna- for you, don’t cry.’” pal International Series 2017. tional Series 2017 sanctioned by Pele made good on that promise eight years later, when the teenager he In the women’s singles final, Badminton World Federation and electrified the world at the 1958 tournament in Sweden -- scoring a hat- Aghaei lost to Deng Joy Xuan of Badminton Asia with prize money trick in the final to ensure that he kept his word. Hong Kong 2-0. of U.S. $8,000. “When we won the World Cup I had to go outside to call my father and Aghaei had defeated Thet Htar The event was held from Decem- say, ‘did you see? We won!’” Tuzar of Myanmar 20-22, 21-18, ber 21 to 24 at Dashath National Asked about his thoughts on Brazil’s chances next year, Pele said: “I 25-23 and Joy Xuan outplayed Stadium, Kathmandu, Nepal. Sorayya Aghaei think [Russia] will be very important for [Brazil]. I was talking a lot about what happened in my life. I wish to stay healthy to watch that World Cup. Federer, Nadal Shine as Rivals Hobble Into 2018 And if God listens to what I say, Brazil will be at least in the final.” Evergreen Federer, who will missed the last six months of the turn 37 in 2018, took his majors 2016 season through injury. Spurs Bounce Back tally to 19 with a fifth Australian Nadal added two Masters titles Open title, which was secured by at Monte Carlo and Madrid to his Behind Aldridge, Beat a five-set triumph over Nadal, triumphs at Roland Garros and and a record eighth Wimbledon Flushing Meadows, finishing the with a stroll past a tearful Marin campaign with six trophies. Kings 108-99 Cilic. The 16-time Grand Sam cham- SACRAMENTO, Calif. (NY Times) — San Antonio point guard Tony Nadal, 32 in June next year, pion also secured the year-ending Parker didn’t hesitate when he sped around Sacramento center Kosta Kou- was not to be outdone, claiming top ranking for a fourth time. fos for an easy basket in the fourth quarter. Manu Ginobili did pretty much a 10th French Open, a third U.S. Nadal will go into the new sea- the same thing in the third with a pair of uncontested layups. Open crown and the year-ending son without his uncle Toni who And then there was 37-year-old center Pau Gasol, who had his first world number one spot. has been his coach since child- triple-double in two years. Federer finished the year at hood. These Spurs may have a few more gray hairs than before, but they re- number two in the world, having But one thing will be familiar -- main a force in the West. LaMarcus Aldridge had 29 points and 10 rebounds, and San Antonio In 2017 Rafael Nadal, 32 in June next year, claimed a 10th French started at 16, and a season-lead- his career-long battle with knee ing seven titles -- including three injuries. bounced back from a disappointing loss to beat the slumping Kings 108- Open, a third US Open crown, two Masters titles at Monte Carlo and 99. Masters at Indian Wells, Miami He was forced to withdraw after Madrid and the year-ending world number one spot Gasol had 14 points, 11 rebounds and a season-high 10 assists for San and Shanghai -- despite having just one round at the World Tour Antonio, which won without star forward Kawhi Leonard. It was the 10th PARIS (AFP) - Written off as in 2017 while the injury curse skipped the entire clay court sea- Finals and has already pulled out career triple-double for the 7-footer, who was questionable with a groin dead men walking, Roger Fe- which dogged their rivals looks son. of an exhibition tournament in injury but wound up getting extended minutes because Sacramento had derer and Rafael Nadal defied set to be the new year’s early sto- “It’s been an amazing year the United Arab Emirates from two big men on the court most of the night. time to sweep the Grand Slams ryline. for me,” said Federer who had December 28-30. Three days earlier Gasol put up 20 points and 17 rebounds against Port- land before sitting out against Utah on Thursday. As Organizers Ban Qatari Flags Parker had 10 points and six assists, and Ginobili scored 15 as the Spurs extended their winning streak over the Kings to 11 games. Aldridge did most of his scoring in the first half, but San Antonio didn’t Qatar Not to Compete in Chess Tournament in Saudi Arabia pull away until the third quarter when the five-time All-Star had eight points. Ginobili added six points in the period, including a pair of uncon- DOHA (Dispatches) - Qatar will not compete in the World Rapid tested layups. and Blitz Chess Championships hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh from Former Kings player Rudy Gay scored seven of the Spurs’ first nine December 26-30. points in the fourth quarter when San Antonio went up by 14. According to the Qatar Chess Federation, their top national team Buddy Hield had 24 points to pace Sacramento. Willie Cauley-Stein added 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 15 for will not compete in the tournament, because the championship’s or- the Kings, who were coming off back-to-back road wins over Brooklyn ganizers demanded that “the players not display the Qatari flag at and Philadelphia. any stage during the competition”, Anadolu Agency reported. It was a much-needed lift for the Spurs, who had a fourth-quarter melt- The statement said the move was “clearly unfair to the players” and down while losing to Utah 100-89. “violation of international law”, and that legal procedures would be Aldridge spent much of the night going against Zach Randolph, his for- applied.