Sandstorm in Qatar!

Home , Al Sailiya, Daryl Janmaat, Davide Ballardini, Masoud Shojaei, Meshal Abdullah, Moritz Leitner

WEDNESDAY, April 13, 2016 VOlUME Xi iSSUE NO.10 Qr2.00 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com

P 6 | FOOTBALL P 24 | RUGBY QATAR IN EASY GROUP GAME GAINING GROUND QATAR’S FIRST Qatar will start their final-round World The big response to the Qatar Sevens ENGLISH SPORTS Cup qualification with much hope League suggests the sport can become WEEKLY after being drawn into an easy group. popular in the country in near future.

REFIEW! Referees find themselves under scrutiny right through this season’s league championship even as Qatar plans to bring in more technology to assist them amid ongoing debates on its pros and cons. PAGES 8-11

EXCITEMENT NOW JUST A TOUCH AWAY

OutlookThe writer can be contacted at [email protected]

Battle for survival adds thrill to otherwise lopsided contest

ĈĈIt would’ve been great had we had on the other side of spectrum. the champions being decided in the last one or a situation where the title race True, with high stakes associated with some two rounds, like how the relegation battle is poised also lasted the distance of the last-round matches, there’s some excite- now. Having said that, we can’t undo what had ment in the air, but having the eventual cham- happened, but we can certainly take steps to make WO surprise results — Al Kharaitiyat de- pions identified almost at the halfway mark itself our league more competitive by supporting clubs feating Al Wakrah and Qatar Sports Club exposes our league’s lack of competitiveness, cov- to form stronger teams next season. Tgetting the better of Al Gharafa — in the ered under the veneer of Rayyan’s all-conquering And the teams which’ll be relegated can always penultimate round have pushed the Qatar Stars performance. take a leaf out of Rayyan’s book and come back League relegation battle down to the wire. This Was it Rayyan’s strengths or other teams’ weak- strongly, with more mental toughness, next season. week’s final set of matches will decide which of nesses that led to such a scenario? This is what It’s a question of survival for Wakrah, Qatar and the three teams (Wakrah, Kharaitiyat and Qatar we should analyse retrospectively. Kharaitiyat. I’m sure the teams would’ve by now SC), will accompany Mesaimeer to the Second With Lekhwiya, Al Sadd and El Jaish failing to realised that a hard battle lies ahead. The very Division. come up with consistently good performances, thought about relegation should inspire them to With simultaneous kick-off scheduled for both Rayyan, who returned from the Second Division come up with their best. decisive matches, Wakrah vs Qatar and Kharaitiyat somewhat recharged, enjoyed a dream run. Even vs Umm Salal, the suspense will be maintained till before their challengers could gather their wits the final whistle. This, in a manner of speaking, and figure out what could be done to stop them, reflects the highly competitive and unpredictable the Lions reached an unassailable position. nature of our league, but Rayyan’s title win with It would’ve been great had we had a situation Dr Ahmed Al Mohannadi five rounds to go indicates the huge imbalance where the title race also went the distance, with Editor-in-Chief

Gharafa need to get title is theirs for the taking (Doha the best out of Weiss Stadium Plus, April 6). INBOX The most striking aspect of their Valdimir Weiss is one of the most game is the level of intensity they talented players in Qatar right now maintain throughout. No team Doha Stadium Plus Editor-in-Chief Dr Ahmed Al Mohannadi P.O. Box: 24598, Doha, Qatar ( , April 6) and it’s has come anywhere close to that Tel: +974 44138065, Fax: +974 44138597 unfortunate that his former club and they truly deserve the title. Go Managing Editor Kumar Ravi WEDNESDAY, April 6, 2016 VOlUME Xi iSSUE NO.9 Qr2.00 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com

www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com P 8 | FOOTBALL P 24 | HANDBALL COMEBACK KINGS QATAR READY FOR RIO QATAR’S FIRST Former champions Al Sadd come Qatar begin their preparations for Rio Lekhwiya and present employers Leicester, go! Senior Editor/Writer ENGLISH SPORTS back from two goals down to beat Olympics with a good show in the Aswin Abraham Al Sailiya in the Qatar Stars League. four-team friendly tournament. WEEKLY Editorial: Tel: +974 44138522, Fax: +974 44138593 FOLLOW US Senior Sports Writer Al Gharafa have miserably failed to Pablo Martinez, Doha. N Ganesh e-mail: [email protected] Sports Writers extract the best out of him. Sajith B Warrier Marketing & advertising: Tel: +974 44138566 Mohammad Amin-ul Islam e-mail: [email protected] The Slovakian winger has scorching Brathwaite blitzkrieg Sarath Pookkat Distribution: Tel: +974 44138535/36, Fax: +974 44138597 pace, amazing dribbling skills and a e-mail: [email protected] Photographers Mohan powerful shot. Instead of being the Carlos Brathwaite’s performance in

Vinod Divakaran most potent weapon in the most the World Twenty20 final was truly

Fadi Al Assaad powerful team, here he’s, increas- breathtaking (Doha Stadium Plus,

PAGES 6-7 Mohammed Dabboos DSP EXCLUSIVE P 10 | FOOTBALL P 20 | POSTER P 22 | GOLF ingly looking like biding his time April 6). The West Indian turned out INTERVIEW Weiss wants to win VICTORIA Olazabal, the league with Gharafa AZARENKA elder statesman! Publishers: ASPIRE Printing, Publishing and Distribution A K BijuRaj UK £1, Europe €2 | Oman 200 Baisas | Bahrain 200 Fils | Egypt LE 2 | Lebanon 3,000 Livre | Kuwait 250 Fils | Morocco Dh 6 | UAEDh 5 | Yemen 75 Riyals | Sudan 1 Pound | KSA 2 Riyals | Jordan 500 Fils | Iraq $1 | Palestine $1 | Syria LS 20 in a side that looks disinterested. to be an unlikely hero as he smashed Publishers: ASPIRE Printing, Graphic Designers Abhilash Chacko Bonacic Vidic, Doha. four sixes off the first four balls in Ben P O Box: 24598, Doha, Qatar. Publishing and Distribution Marketing & advertising: Tel: +974 44138566 Gopakumar K Printed at ASPIRE Printing Press Stokes’s last over to help his team to Joice Michael a four-wicket victory over England. e-mail: [email protected] www.twitter.com/dohastadiumplus Leicester’s title to lose Technical support Shaheen Mohammed There’s something about the way Distribution: Tel: +974 44138535/36, Fax: +974 44138597 www.facebook.com/dohastadiumplusqatar e-mail: [email protected] Abdul Naser M www.flickr.com/photos/dohastadiumplusqatar Leicester City are defying the odds the West Indies play their cricket week after week and the victory against and, no wonder, they’re always the www.facebook.com/dohastadium www.twitter.com/dohastadiumplus www.flickr.com/photos/dohastadiumplusqatar © Stories and photographs appearing in this publication may not be reproduced without the permission of Southampton would surely give them favourites of neutral fans. ASPIRE Printing, Publishing and Distribution. belief that the English Premier League Vinod Philip, Doha. Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 3

OutlookThe writer can be contacted at [email protected]

Battle for survival adds thrill to otherwise lopsided contest

Vinod Divakaran most potent weapon in the most the World Twenty20 final was truly

Fadi Al Assaad powerful team, here he’s, increas- breathtaking (Doha Stadium Plus,

PAGES 6-7 Mohammed Dabboos DSP EXCLUSIVE P 10 | FOOTBALL P 20 | POSTER P 22 | GOLF ingly looking like biding his time April 6). The West Indian turned out INTERVIEW Weiss wants to win VICTORIA Olazabal, the league with Gharafa AZARENKA elder statesman! A K BijuRaj UK £1, Europe €2 | Oman 200 Baisas | Bahrain 200 Fils | Egypt LE 2 | Lebanon 3,000 Livre | Kuwait 250 Fils | Morocco Dh 6 | UAEDh 5 | Yemen 75 Riyals | Sudan 1 Pound | KSA 2 Riyals | Jordan 500 Fils | Iraq $1 | Palestine $1 | Syria LS 20 in a side that looks disinterested. to be an unlikely hero as he smashed Publishers: ASPIRE Printing, Graphic Designers Abhilash Chacko Bonacic Vidic, Doha. four sixes off the first four balls in Ben Publishing and Distribution Gopakumar K Printed at ASPIRE Printing Press Stokes’s last over to help his team to Joice Michael a four-wicket victory over England. www.twitter.com/dohastadiumplus Leicester’s title to lose Technical support Shaheen Mohammed www.facebook.com/dohastadiumplusqatar There’s something about the way Abdul Naser M www.flickr.com/photos/dohastadiumplusqatar Leicester City are defying the odds the West Indies play their cricket week after week and the victory against and, no wonder, they’re always the

© Stories and photographs appearing in this publication may not be reproduced without the permission of Southampton would surely give them favourites of neutral fans. ASPIRE Printing, Publishing and Distribution. belief that the English Premier League Vinod Philip, Doha. 4 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 5 Extra time

Madrid, Man City No one should tell you when to stop, it’s such an intimate and in Champions personal decision. If he (AS Roma footballer Francesco Totti) wants to keep going, I’m right behind him. Francesco and I League last four incarnate our respective sports. What he has done for football is unrivalled. He’s an example, a contemporary icon. EAL Madrid and Manchester City are through to the Cham- Roger Federer, Swiss tennis star. GIANFRANCO ZOLA Rpions League semifinals after ššSinisa Mihajlovic winning their quarterfinal second legs on Tuesday. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brilliant Milan manager hat-trick as Madrid beat Wolfsburg 3-0 STAR OF THE WEEK at the Santiago Bernabeu to overturn Mihajlovic fired a 0-2 first-leg deficit and reach the last

four for the sixth year running. DSP Photo C MILAN dismissed coach Sinisa Top scorer this season in La Liga and Mihajlovic on Tuesday after Champions League, the 32-year-old was Aless than a season in charge, in the mood for another big European making him the Serie A club’s fourth Divakaran DSP/Vinod occasion and he sent the Bernabeu managerial casualty in just over two ššAl Arabi players celebrate their win against Al Rayyan. crowd wild with delight. years. It is the sixth successive season that The seven-time European cham- Real have reached the last four. pions, almost certain to miss out on Real coach Zinedine Zidane’s only All sweet about the Champions League for a third suc- change from the first leg was to replace cessive season, said youth team coach the much-criticised Danilo at right- ice-cream shop! Cristian Brocchi would take over for the back with Dani Carvajal. remainder of the campaign. City made it through to the last four ORMER Chelsea player and cur- The decision, announced three days We are the for the first time by beating Paris Saint- rent Al Arabi coach Gianfranco after Milan lost 1-2 at home to Juventus Germain 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium to FZola has always had a special to extend their winless run to five games, advance 3-2 on aggregate. liking for ice creams. followed a meeting between club pres- Sergio Aguero missed a first-half pen- Knowing it, three Chelsea old boys ident Silvio Berlusconi, chief executive alty for City before Kevin De Bruyne got — Roberto Di Matteo, Dennis Wise Adriano Galliani and Brocchi. the decisive goal in the 76th minute. and Andriy Shevchenko — decided Former Sampdoria, Lazio, Inter Milan The remaining quarterfinal second to help their former team-mate open and Yugoslavia player Mihajlovic was champions! legs will be played on Wednesday, with an ice-cream parlour in England late in charge for 38 matches, with 19 wins, champions Barcelona defending a 2-1 last year. The swanky UNICO cafe is 10 draws and nine defeats. Arabi regain the Qatar Volleyball League title first-leg lead as they go to Atletico Madrid located in Bromley, London. and Bayern Munich taking a 1-0 advan- Zola, who took charge of Arabi at after beating Al Rayyan in the penultimate tage to Benfica. the start of this season, said UNICO was born from their desire to bring Italian tradition of gelato-making to

round to open up an unassailable lead. Wermuth / Stefan the UK. The concept of UNICO origi- Referee flashes nated from the Italian city of Bologna, L ARABI beat Al Rayyan to regain ROLL OF HONOUR REUTERS famous for its distinctive medieval the Qatar Volleyball League Last 10 champions. seven red cards! structures. Atitle last Monday and, in the 2015-16 Al Arabi UNICO seeks to provide traditional process, ended the domestic supremacy 2014-15 Al Rayyan REFEREE had his hands full ingredients, with no conservatives or 2013-14 Al Rayyan of their arch-rivals. 2012-13 Al Rayyan as he brandished seven red artificial flavourings, that’re consist- The Reds came from a set down to win 2011-12 Al Arabi A cards during a fiery Oceania ANDY CARROLL ently prepared fresh throughout the day. ššWalter Novellino 21-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-22 in a thriller 2010-11 Al Arabi Champions League match that ended at the Arabi Indoor Hall to seal their 2009-10 Al Arabi 4-3 and saw nine minutes of stop- ЂЂHow’s your ice cream store in 2008-09 Al Arabi 25th league title. page time. EST Ham United striker Andy squad with his performance. before a succession of injuries disrupted London? 2007-08 Al Arabi Carroll scored an eight- Carroll was unstoppable, netting twice his career. ЃЂ Palermo sack Rayyan, who had triumphed in the 2006-07 Al Rayyan The world record in a single game It’s good. It’s doing very well. The peo- last three seasons, had looked good is reportedly 36, when the official dis- Wminute hat-trick in his team’s just before half-time and again early in But he proved last week that, when fit ple who go there write about the store memorable 3-3 draw against Arsenal in the the second half, as West Ham recovered and firing, he is a real handful for defences, eighth coach to extend their run. But Arabi deliv- RESULTS missed all players, substitutes and in the book we’ve kept. It’s all fantastic. Al Arabi bt Al Ahli 25-14, 25-16, 25-19 coaches in an Argentinian fifth-tier English Premier League last week. from 0-2 down to draw 3-3 in a revetting particularly with his aerial ability. ALERMO President Maurizio Zam- Al Rayyan bt El Jaish 25-18, 31-29, 25-23 game in 2011. West Ham manager Slaven Bilic London derby at Upton Park. “Andy Carroll has everything. It’s ЂЂHow about the ice-cream parini announced a remarkable Qatar SC bt Al Gharafa 25-15, 25-15, 25-22 The match between Samoa’s Kiwi described Carroll as the best header of the The former Newcastle United and impossible to stop him,” said Bilic. stores in Doha? Al Shamal bt Al Wakrah 25-16, 25-17, 25-21 We aimed nothing less ball in the world after the striker fuelled Liverpool forward made the last of his nine “Heading, he’s maybe the best in the world. ЃЂ Peighth coaching change of the Al Ahli bt Police 25-21, 25-18, 25-17 FC and Nadi FA of Fiji last Monday I tried and keep trying one with due than a victory. We’re season last Monday as Walter Novellino Al Arabi bt Al Rayyan 21-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-22 followed a match earlier in the day talk of a place in England’s Euro 2016 England appearances in November, 2012, He has to stay away from those injuries.” respect. I don’t like the rest. was given marching orders after four really delighted with between Magenta of New Caledonia matches in charge. our performance. and Tefana from Tahiti in which three “People say I’ve gone mad, but it isn’t We aimed nothing less than a victory players were sent off. Inside true,” said the 75-year-old, who has over- against Rayyan. We’re really delighted Anish Khem scored all four goals seen around 35 coaching changes since ered when it mattered the most. The with our performance.” for the Fijian side. he took over at the club in 2002. “I’m the win, Arabi’s 18th in 19 rounds, helped Police, who beat Al Ahli 3-0 earlier, It was a routine game until the 44th victim of certain situations.” them increase their tally to 52 points and Al Rayyan are tied on 44 points, minute when a player from each side Novellino, 62, took one point from his and take an unassailable lead. but the cops are in second place having was given marching orders by referee four outings, leaving the Sicilians in the Arabi coach Maaouia Lajnef said, “It more number of wins (15 against 14). George Time from the Solomon Islands Serie A relegation zone with six matches was a crucial match for us. It’s always Rayyan coach Igor Arbutina said their for their part in a fracas, with Kiwi FC 28 30 to play. A 0-3 home defeat by Lazio last difficult to play Rayyan. In the begin- aim was to finish second. leading 3-1. Sunday was clearly the last straw. ning, we didn’t show our level, but “For us, the league isn’t over yet. We’ll There was little further drama until an Italian media said Davide Ballardini, one slowly we struck a rhythm and won play Ahli in the last match and we’ll 81st-minute melee resulted in another of the coaches already fired by Palermo as we made less number of mistakes. try to pull it off,” said Arbutina. DSP double sending-off. 12 this season, could return for a second spell. And three more dismissals followed. Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 5

No one should tell you when to stop, it’s such an intimate and personal decision. If he (AS Roma footballer Francesco Totti) wants to keep going, I’m right behind him. Francesco and I incarnate our respective sports. What he has done for football is unrivalled. He’s an example, a contemporary icon. Roger Federer, Swiss tennis star. GIANFRANCO ZOLA

STAR OF THE WEEK DSP Photo

All sweet about ice-cream shop!

ORMER Chelsea player and current Al Arabi coach Gianfranco FZola has always had a special liking for ice creams. Knowing it, three Chelsea old boys — Roberto Di Matteo, Dennis Wise and Andriy Shevchenko — decided to help their former team-mate open an ice-cream parlour in England late last year. The swanky UNICO cafe is located in Bromley, London. Zola, who took charge of Arabi at the start of this season, said UNICO was born from their desire to bring Italian tradition of gelato-making to / Stefan Wermuth / Stefan the UK. The concept of UNICO origi- nated from the Italian city of Bologna,

REUTERS famous for its distinctive medieval structures. UNICO seeks to provide traditional ingredients, with no conservatives or artificial flavourings, that’re consist- ANDY CARROLL ently prepared fresh throughout the day.

ЂЂHow’s your ice cream store in EST Ham United striker Andy squad with his performance. before a succession of injuries disrupted London? Carroll scored an eight- Carroll was unstoppable, netting twice his career. ЃЂIt’s good. It’s doing very well. The peo- Wminute hat-trick in his team’s just before half-time and again early in But he proved last week that, when fit ple who go there write about the store memorable 3-3 draw against Arsenal in the the second half, as West Ham recovered and firing, he is a real handful for defences, in the book we’ve kept. It’s all fantastic. English Premier League last week. from 0-2 down to draw 3-3 in a revetting particularly with his aerial ability. West Ham manager Slaven Bilic London derby at Upton Park. “Andy Carroll has everything. It’s ЂЂHow about the ice-cream described Carroll as the best header of the The former Newcastle United and impossible to stop him,” said Bilic. stores in Doha? ball in the world after the striker fuelled Liverpool forward made the last of his nine “Heading, he’s maybe the best in the world. ЃЂI tried and keep trying one with due talk of a place in England’s Euro 2016 England appearances in November, 2012, He has to stay away from those injuries.” respect. I don’t like the rest. Inside 28 30 12 6 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 7 Football

We’ve our plans already in place, says Carreno ‘2015 was real standout year’

DSP/Mohan going back, we’ll have more delibera- exclusively to www.fifa.com before the far as I could and was there for the qual- šŢQatar team... raring to go. tions about camps. draw for the final round of Asian qual- šЂUli Stielike ification tournament in Qatar. “To me, Iran and South Korea are the ification in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, favourites to progress from our group on Tuesday. ЂЂWhy has the national team not and seal automatic berths. Others will yet achieved much at the youth be fighting for a berth via play-offs. We’ll ЂЂKorea swept into the third We’re up there at the top level? try our best,” he said. round with eight wins from as with Japan and can be ЃЂWe’re not as physically strong as our many matches, scoring 27 goals Making it to the Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said Qatar mentioned in the same South American and African counter- could do a magic. and conceding none. Are you sur- parts. That makes it difficult to be among World Cup in breath as them. “South Korea have very good players prised by your own strength? the best in the world. Russia is our and technique. Qatar too have a strong ЃЂWe didn’t expect things to turn out top priority at team and big resources. They can do as they have. For example, we hadn’t ЂЂAs Korea’s coach, have you ЂЂHow to improve this situation? the moment magic! Yes, we’re the No.1 in Asia as won in Lebanon for over 20 years, then achieved all your goals? ЃЂWe’re trying to use the national team’s HIGH HOPES and we want Ѓ per FIFA ranking, but it’s not going to went there and beat them 3-0. Kuwait ЂFor us, 2015 was a real standout year. attractive playing style to spark people’s Qatar will start their final-round World Cup qualification with plenty everyone in Qatar be easy to beat all other teams in the have traditionally been another bogey The only low point was losing the Asian interest in football, but we still have a to rally behind Al Annabi. We’ll group. We’ll have to work hard to win a team for us. Although we expected to Cup final to Australia in extra time, but huge amount of work to do. The players of hope after being drawn into a relatively easy group. make sure that our national direct qualifying berth,” said Queiroz. be among the front-runners, we cer- there aren’t many negative things you can are scattered across the globe, in coun- team gets the best support South Korea coach Uli Stielike, who tainly didn’t think things would go quite say about that performance. To come to tries as diverse as Germany, England, throughout their journey had managed Al Arabi and Al Sailiya, so smoothly. that competition on the back of a poor China, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. with seven points, two ahead of Lebanon. also the Asian qualification for the forward. said Qatar had been improving. World Cup ,without any major ambitions, Special Correspondent ЂЂWill Korea qualify? ЂЂHave you had any offers from Iran and South Korea once again look quadrennial event) only to run out of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed “Qatar are strong opponents. They’ve and end up in the final was a surprise. Ѓ the favourites to progress. However, steam towards the end and narrowly Al Thani, QFA President. been improving a lot, especially in the last ЂWe played exceptionally well in 2015, Germany? this time, Qatar have a stronger team miss out by finishing fourth. two-three years. It’ll be a tough match. so we’re full of confidence and heading ЂЂWhere do you think Korea ЃЂMy current contract runs until 2018, with the addition of naturalised players The expectation will definitely be They did very well in the last round. And into the next group stage with our heads stands in Asia? by which point I’ll be 64. I’ve always said ATAR will enter the final round like Karim Boudiaf, Boualem Khoukhi, high this time after Qatar qualified for We’re going we know how tough the match against held high. Our recent performances sug- ЃЂWe’ve clearly demonstrated we’re up that I don’t want to be sitting on the bench of 2018 World Cup Asian Zone Rodrigo Tabata and Pedro Miguel. Young the final round with two matches to ŢŢAsian Football according them was during the last World Cup gest that qualification is what I should there at the top with Japan and can be once I reach 70. While I haven’t thought Qqualification with a lot of hope Qataris like Ali Asad, Ahmed Yasser and spare, winning their first seven games Confederation to a precise qualifiers,” said Stielike. DSP be demanding from our players. I’m very mentioned in the same breath as them. beyond 2018, I don’t see myself coach- after they were drawn into a relatively Akram Afif also have gained enough on the trot. General Secretary plan. We’re optimistic we’ll make it to Russia. Almost all of the Japanese players also ing in Europe again. Windsor John easy group on Tuesday. experience on the big stage. But the real test for Qatar coach Daniel picks Qatar confident of The draw in Kuala Lumpur saw them But they are sure to feel the pres- Carreno starts now. He seems to be at the draw. implementing it being pooled alongside Asia’s top team aware of it. Becoming one of the whether we’re Iran, World Cup regulars South Korea, top four teams will be tough, but playing against Iran in Tehran plucky Uzbekistan, far Eastern rivals Iran and Korea look the if Qatar can pull it off, it could or any other side at any venue. China and Arab side Syria. be the biggest moment in the favourites in Group A. Our target is to reach the Chinese dragon set to spread its arms Continental champions Australia country’s football history. DSP Russia finals. found themselves in Group B, in the However, Qatar have a company of Japan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, stronger team this time. Mansoor Al Ansari, QFA General HINA aims to turn its national schoolchildren regularly playing foot- Secretary. Thailand and the UAE. team into one of the world’s ball by 2020 and by 2030 China hopes The final round will be played from THE DRAW Cbest by 2050, state media said its men’s team will be one of Asia’s top GROUP A September 1, 2016, to September 5, 2017. sure as Qatar have not qualified for a Iran It’s important for on Tuesday, as the country contin- sides. The top two teams from each group will World Cup so far. Ever since the country South Korea us to prepare ues to map out ways of revitalising a In the third phase to 2050, China will book their berths at the Russia finals won the 2022 bid, it has only become Uzbekistan in the best way sport damaged by match-fixing scan- “go all out to realise the goals of being with the third-placed sides going into bigger. The Russia finals offers Qatar China for each game. dals and poor performances on the the top class soccer nation and all-round continental play-off. The winners will a final chance to earn a berth before Qatar pitch. development of Chinese football”. Syria We know then advance to another double-leg- they automatically qualify four years GROUP B that our fans China has worked since 2009 to pro- President Xi Jinping is an avid foot- play-off with a CONCACAF qualifier later as hosts. Australia want the team to mote grass-roots football and crush ille- ball fan and has spoken in the past of Japan for a place at the finals. It is even more important after Qatar reach the World Cup. It’s very gal gambling syndicates, but admitted “three wishes” for China; to qualify for In the final round of Brazil qualifica- raised hopes of winning a ticket to Saudi Arabia last year its efforts were still lagging. another World Cup since their first and UAE demanding for sure, but we’ll tion four years ago, Qatar had finished the Rio Olympics with a series of fine The latest plan splits China’s football only appearance at the 2002 finals, to Iraq be ready. fourth behind Iran, South Korea and performances at the AFC Under-23 Thailand ambitions into three phases. host a World Cup, and to eventually šЂMembers of the China team celebrate their win against Uzbekistan in the five-team Group A Championship at home (which was Farid Mahboub, Qatar team manager. šЂDaniel Carreno The first phase aims to get 30 million win one. Qatar, which confirmed their progress to the final round. Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 7

We’ve our plans already in place, says Carreno ‘2015 was real standout year’

OACH Daniel Carreno said Qatar ply their trade abroad, and that benefits would try to achieve success in INTERVIEW national teams, particularly when you Cthe World Cup qualification, think of the pressure that comes with with the best support of the national playing in large stadiums. That’s some- team management. FTER taking over the South thing our homegrown players really aren’t “All departments of our national team Korea national team in Sep- used to. Over the past year we’ve used 45 management, be it technical, medi- Atember, 2014, the first thing players in the tournaments we’ve com- cal or others, are working as a team to German Uli Stielike did was restoring peted in, as well as the fact we couldn’t achieve success,” said Carreno, who was his side’s confidence following their use any Europe-based players in the East present at the draw in Kuala Lumpur. group-stage exit at the 2014 FIFA World Asian Cup. That experience has given us Asked about the draw, the Uruguayan Cup in Brazil a few months earlier. a good overview of our squad. Our trial said, “I’m not happy, I’m not sad either. Having made a surprise run to the period is over. Before the draw, we did think about a 2015 Asian Cup final only to lose to situation where we could’ve faced either Australia in extra time, the Taeguk ЂЂHow important is Korea’s par- Australia or Iran away in our first match. Warriors are once again brimming with ticipation in Rio 2016? Now that we’ve drawn Iran, we’ve our self-belief on the road to Russia 2018. ЃЂIt’s extremely important and something plans already in place. The national The 61-year-old, who has coached we worked extremely hard to achieve. team management has already dis- Qatari clubs Al Arabi (2008-10, 2013- We sent players who were already part cussed our training programme. After 14) and Al Sailiya (2010-12), spoke of our set-up. I followed the matches as going back, we’ll have more delibera- exclusively to www.fifa.com before the far as I could and was there for the qual- tions about camps. draw for the final round of Asian qual- šЂUli Stielike ification tournament in Qatar. “To me, Iran and South Korea are the ification in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, favourites to progress from our group on Tuesday. ЂЂWhy has the national team not and seal automatic berths. Others will yet achieved much at the youth be fighting for a berth via play-offs. We’ll ЂЂKorea swept into the third We’re up there at the top level? try our best,” he said. round with eight wins from as with Japan and can be ЃЂWe’re not as physically strong as our Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said Qatar many matches, scoring 27 goals mentioned in the same South American and African counter- could do a magic. and conceding none. Are you sur- breath as them. parts. That makes it difficult to be among “South Korea have very good players prised by your own strength? the best in the world. and technique. Qatar too have a strong ЃЂWe didn’t expect things to turn out team and big resources. They can do as they have. For example, we hadn’t ЂЂAs Korea’s coach, have you ЂЂHow to improve this situation? magic! Yes, we’re the No.1 in Asia as won in Lebanon for over 20 years, then achieved all your goals? ЃЂWe’re trying to use the national team’s per FIFA ranking, but it’s not going to went there and beat them 3-0. Kuwait ЃЂFor us, 2015 was a real standout year. attractive playing style to spark people’s be easy to beat all other teams in the have traditionally been another bogey The only low point was losing the Asian interest in football, but we still have a group. We’ll have to work hard to win a team for us. Although we expected to Cup final to Australia in extra time, but huge amount of work to do. The players direct qualifying berth,” said Queiroz. be among the front-runners, we cer- there aren’t many negative things you can are scattered across the globe, in coun- South Korea coach Uli Stielike, who tainly didn’t think things would go quite say about that performance. To come to tries as diverse as Germany, England, had managed Al Arabi and Al Sailiya, so smoothly. that competition on the back of a poor China, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. said Qatar had been improving. World Cup ,without any major ambitions, “Qatar are strong opponents. They’ve ЂЂWill Korea qualify? and end up in the final was a surprise. ЂЂHave you had any offers from been improving a lot, especially in the last ЃЂWe played exceptionally well in 2015, Germany? two-three years. It’ll be a tough match. so we’re full of confidence and heading ЂЂWhere do you think Korea ЃЂMy current contract runs until 2018, They did very well in the last round. And into the next group stage with our heads stands in Asia? by which point I’ll be 64. I’ve always said we know how tough the match against held high. Our recent performances sug- ЃЂWe’ve clearly demonstrated we’re up that I don’t want to be sitting on the bench them was during the last World Cup gest that qualification is what I should there at the top with Japan and can be once I reach 70. While I haven’t thought qualifiers,” said Stielike. DSP be demanding from our players. I’m very mentioned in the same breath as them. beyond 2018, I don’t see myself coach- optimistic we’ll make it to Russia. Almost all of the Japanese players also ing in Europe again.

Chinese dragon set to spread its arms

HINA aims to turn its national schoolchildren regularly playing foot- team into one of the world’s ball by 2020 and by 2030 China hopes Cbest by 2050, state media said its men’s team will be one of Asia’s top on Tuesday, as the country contin- sides. ues to map out ways of revitalising a In the third phase to 2050, China will sport damaged by match-fixing scan- “go all out to realise the goals of being dals and poor performances on the the top class soccer nation and all-round pitch. development of Chinese football”. China has worked since 2009 to pro- President Xi Jinping is an avid foot- mote grass-roots football and crush ille- ball fan and has spoken in the past of gal gambling syndicates, but admitted “three wishes” for China; to qualify for last year its efforts were still lagging. another World Cup since their first and The latest plan splits China’s football only appearance at the 2002 finals, to ambitions into three phases. host a World Cup, and to eventually šЂMembers of the China team celebrate their win against šЂDaniel Carreno The first phase aims to get 30 million win one. Qatar, which confirmed their progress to the final round. 8 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 9

Football Ĉ COVER STORY

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Qatar has strong pool of officials

Qatar has a rich pool of Elite and assistant referees. More and more ‘More technology will young officials are emerging, thanks to the intitative by Qatar Football Association’s Referees Committee, fully change the sport’ headed by Neji Jouini.

ELITE REFEREES LL those aspiring referees who ЂЂA lot of money is involved in Abdulrahman Abdou want to learn how not to get the game. How can you afford to Fahad Jaber Al Marri have costly mistakes? Khamis Al Marri Aintimidated on the biggest stage Khamis Al Kuwari can look up to Massimo Busacca. As ЃЂThose who’ve put so much money REFIEW! Abdulrahman Al Jassim a world-class referee, he was always in football must take the responsibil- Referees find themselves under scrutiny right through this season’s league even as Saoud Al Athba fearless on the pitch and never had an ity. You know that football isn’t without ELITE ASSISTANT REFEREES iota of doubt in his decisions or getting errors. It’s up to you to decide whether Qatar plans to bring in more technology amid ongoing debates on its pros and cons. Taleb Al Marri šЂNeji Jouini Saoud Al Shammari his messages across. to put millions or not. Yousef Al Shammari Addressing a seminar in Doha, organ- If you want something perfect, then Ramzan Al Naimi ised for select 48 referees from the Asian, programme a machine and ask to go ĈĈVisible decline in standard to project as the host nation of 2022 additional assistant referee Mohamed Juma Abu Sheikh African and Oceania regions in view to the field because you’ve invested a of officiating this season World Cup. Medath Elnouri intervened. QFA to introduce of the 2018 World Cup in Russia and lot. If everybody wants it, then we can Qatari referees officiated in bulk “The standard of refereeing in Qatar 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, do it. But then we’ll be changing foot- ĈĈSome referees need to be video assistant more competitive of the matches this season and they five years ago was at the third level in Busacca, now Head of Refereeing at ball completely and the approach to it. were criticised mainly by coaches, with Asia. Now we’re at level one, on par with referees in FIFA, emphasised on building a strong As of now, we’ve human presence on Lekhwiya’s Djamel Belmadi verbally countries like Australia and Japan,” personality to be successful as an elite the pitch. It’s life. Those who under- attacking Sultan Salem for “plotting said Jouini. domestic games referee. stand it know that there’ll be mistakes. N Ganesh against his team”. The Algerian had “Referee isn’t a robot and real foot- In an exclusive interview with Doha to subsequently serve a three-match ball isn’t played on PlayStation. Human HE Qatar Football Association Stadium Plus on the sidelines of the sem- touchline ban and pay QR50,000 as fine. beings make mistake and minor errors (QFA) is gearing up to introduce inar, Busacca spoke about modern-day One decision can change Open and veiled attacks were made by are pardonable. I don’t think any ref- Tvideo assistant referees (VARs) referees and on the role of technology. IVALS complain that Al Rayyan many other coaches and officials over eree will deliberately commit a mistake in its domestic competitions. a lot of things. Referees got several favourable refereeing the last 25 rounds. because it can lead to suspensions for a QFA Referees Committee Chairman ЂЂWe’ve seen some big mis- know that there’s a lot of Rdecisions en route to winning While the QFARC is lauded for its good match or more. A local referee officiat- Neji Jouini told Doha Stadium Plus that takes in the recent El Clasico and money involved. the first four matches and believe they work in creating a pool of young refer- ing in a QSL match gets $1,200, so why it was planning to conduct experiments, Champions League quarterfinal built their successful Qatar Stars League should he want to lose that money?” most likely at the Qatargas League (sec- between Barcelona and Atletico (QSL) campaign on that early lead. In he asked. ond division) matches before going for Madrid at Camp Nou. Are the ref- Money can’t be the biggest talking erees feeling too much pressure? turn, as the Lions grieve their failure to The QFA has always The QFA has always protected its the VARs’ full-fledged service across all point in the discussion. It should be win a single match since their triumph, referees, yet it plans to bring in more Divakaran DSP/Vinod games in Qatar. ЃЂHonestly, I didn’t see any big mistake the human part. But I’m afraid we’re they too attribute it to poor officiating. protected its referees, technology. “Six years ago, the QFA went for addi- in those two games. They were situations forgetting it nowadays. People should As curtains come down on another yet it plans to bring in It has expressed its interest to the tional assistant referees. Now it’s look- with interpretations. respect fellow human beings, includ- league season marked with several more technology. International Football Association ing to have video assistant referees,” There’s no pressure. Referees will con- ing referees. memorable moments, referees might Board to have video assistant refer- said Jouini. tinue like before. Everybody commits feel they are the most scrutinised lot. ees at games and is keen to start exper- In view of it, the committee last week mistakes. Players make them. A player ЂЂIs it difficult to introduce tech- Last Sunday, Rayyan and arch-rivals ees such as Abdulrahman Al Jassim, the imenting it next season. sent FIFA Elite Referee Abdulrahman who earns millions may not score from nology in football due to its char- Al Sadd played out a thrilling draw, but general consensus is that there was a It might be of some help to match Abdou as its representative to a meeting the easiest position. So what do you want acter? questions still linger about how ref- visible decline in the standard of offi- officials, but all are not without their of the International Football Association to do with him? You want to kill him? ЃЂSure, because we’ve got interpreta- eree Salman Falahi carried out his job. ciating this season. concerns. FIFA’s Head of Refereeing Board (IFAB) and FIFA officials in London. His team won’t look at his salary, but tions. In tennis, it’s like Hawk-Eye tech- Salman, who has always seemed reluc- “I trust the honesty of Qatari ref- Massimo Busacca believes too much The leagues and associations that had continue to play him. nology, in or out. In football, there’s big tant to book players in earlier matches, erees and I’ll be the first one to sup- technology will badly affect the sport. expressed interests in running experi- I feel there’s real quality in most of the responsibility. One decision can change flashed eight yellow cards and a red port them because grooming them is He also thinks football’s character- ments attended the meeting. The IFAB games now. Sometimes, some things a lot of things. Referees know that there’s during the big tie. Things still went out important. But some of them need to istics do not allow room for too at its Annual General Meeting last month might happen. But referees are human a lot of money involved. But a strong of control at the final whistle and the be more competitive,” Rayyan coach much technology. had agreed for such experiments to be beings, so naturally you can’t have eve- referee with a great personality has to players almost came to blows. Jorge Fossati told Doha Stadium Plus. But the big money involved in run over a minimum of two years in rything perfect. live with the pressure. And we’re ready The Qatar Football Association Turkish Cuneyt Cakir, who offici- the game, especially in European order to find out whether the imple- Technology will help in certain situ- to accept our mistakes. Others should Referees Committee (QFARC) Head ated last year’s Champions League final football, will have its say. It can mentation of VARs would improve the ations, but interpretations will always also do it. DSP Neji Jouini has promised more punish- between Barcelona and Juventus, was only get bigger. It is the duty of all game. remain. It can’t be changed by any ments for players and some coaching in charge of the QSL match between stakeholders to retain as much human “To implement it successfully, we’ve reviews. » e-mail: [email protected] staff from either team. He believed the Qatar Sports Club and Al Sailiya. He presence as possible in the game and already reached a verbal agreement scenes at the Al Sadd Stadium did not disallowed Dragos Grigore’s goal for keep it simple. After all, simplicity has with the Al Dawri and Al Kass Channel. exactly reflect the image Qatar wanted handball, only to revert his decision after made the game truly universal. DSP The video referees will take their position inside its Outdoor Broadcasting ŠĈ Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim officiates the QSL match between Umm Salal and El Jaish. vans,” said Jouini, who officiated at the 1990 Italy and 1994 USA World Cups. There will be a pre-testing phase with One refereeing error can hinder a team’s Since a referee will depend on the an experiment done in a non-live envi- progress in a match. Football, judgements of some people ronment as well as referee trainings, being such a big business, sitting in front of a TV workshops and onsite preparation. needs to be operated screen, it’ll make the game Jouini said the additional assistant smoothly. As the sport has slow. Teams may feel referees would be retained at the league become bigger and richer, dejected at any wrong matches in Qatar. “We want to retain the additional there’s no harm in using decision against them, but assistant referees. They’ve added more technology. I think that’s ok. credibility to our refereeing,” said DSP/Mohan Djamel Belmadi, Lekhwiya coach. Yousuf Adam, Al Ahli coach. Jouini. DSP šЂMassimo Busacca 8 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 9

Football Ĉ COVER STORY

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Qatar has strong pool of officials

ELITE REFEREES LL those aspiring referees who ЂЂA lot of money is involved in Abdulrahman Abdou want to learn how not to get the game. How can you afford to Fahad Jaber Al Marri have costly mistakes? Khamis Al Marri Aintimidated on the biggest stage Khamis Al Kuwari can look up to Massimo Busacca. As ЃЂThose who’ve put so much money REFIEW! Abdulrahman Al Jassim a world-class referee, he was always in football must take the responsibil- Referees find themselves under scrutiny right through this season’s league even as Saoud Al Athba fearless on the pitch and never had an ity. You know that football isn’t without ELITE ASSISTANT REFEREES iota of doubt in his decisions or getting errors. It’s up to you to decide whether Qatar plans to bring in more technology amid ongoing debates on its pros and cons. Taleb Al Marri šЂNeji Jouini Saoud Al Shammari his messages across. to put millions or not. Yousef Al Shammari Addressing a seminar in Doha, organ- If you want something perfect, then Ramzan Al Naimi ised for select 48 referees from the Asian, programme a machine and ask to go ĈĈVisible decline in standard to project as the host nation of 2022 additional assistant referee Mohamed Juma Abu Sheikh African and Oceania regions in view to the field because you’ve invested a of officiating this season World Cup. Medath Elnouri intervened. QFA to introduce of the 2018 World Cup in Russia and lot. If everybody wants it, then we can Qatari referees officiated in bulk “The standard of refereeing in Qatar 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, do it. But then we’ll be changing foot- ĈĈSome referees need to be video assistant more competitive of the matches this season and they five years ago was at the third level in Busacca, now Head of Refereeing at ball completely and the approach to it. were criticised mainly by coaches, with Asia. Now we’re at level one, on par with referees in FIFA, emphasised on building a strong As of now, we’ve human presence on Lekhwiya’s Djamel Belmadi verbally countries like Australia and Japan,” personality to be successful as an elite the pitch. It’s life. Those who under- attacking Sultan Salem for “plotting said Jouini. domestic games referee. stand it know that there’ll be mistakes. N Ganesh against his team”. The Algerian had “Referee isn’t a robot and real foot- In an exclusive interview with Doha to subsequently serve a three-match ball isn’t played on PlayStation. Human HE Qatar Football Association Stadium Plus on the sidelines of the sem- touchline ban and pay QR50,000 as fine. beings make mistake and minor errors (QFA) is gearing up to introduce inar, Busacca spoke about modern-day One decision can change Open and veiled attacks were made by are pardonable. I don’t think any ref- Tvideo assistant referees (VARs) referees and on the role of technology. IVALS complain that Al Rayyan many other coaches and officials over eree will deliberately commit a mistake in its domestic competitions. a lot of things. Referees got several favourable refereeing the last 25 rounds. because it can lead to suspensions for a QFA Referees Committee Chairman ЂЂWe’ve seen some big mis- know that there’s a lot of Rdecisions en route to winning While the QFARC is lauded for its good match or more. A local referee officiat- Neji Jouini told Doha Stadium Plus that takes in the recent El Clasico and money involved. the first four matches and believe they work in creating a pool of young refer- ing in a QSL match gets $1,200, so why it was planning to conduct experiments, Champions League quarterfinal built their successful Qatar Stars League should he want to lose that money?” most likely at the Qatargas League (sec- between Barcelona and Atletico (QSL) campaign on that early lead. In he asked. ond division) matches before going for Madrid at Camp Nou. Are the ref- Money can’t be the biggest talking erees feeling too much pressure? turn, as the Lions grieve their failure to The QFA has always The QFA has always protected its the VARs’ full-fledged service across all point in the discussion. It should be win a single match since their triumph, referees, yet it plans to bring in more Divakaran DSP/Vinod games in Qatar. ЃЂHonestly, I didn’t see any big mistake the human part. But I’m afraid we’re they too attribute it to poor officiating. protected its referees, technology. “Six years ago, the QFA went for addi- in those two games. They were situations forgetting it nowadays. People should As curtains come down on another yet it plans to bring in It has expressed its interest to the tional assistant referees. Now it’s look- with interpretations. respect fellow human beings, includ- league season marked with several more technology. International Football Association ing to have video assistant referees,” There’s no pressure. Referees will con- ing referees. memorable moments, referees might Board to have video assistant refer- said Jouini. tinue like before. Everybody commits feel they are the most scrutinised lot. ees at games and is keen to start exper- In view of it, the committee last week mistakes. Players make them. A player ЂЂIs it difficult to introduce tech- Last Sunday, Rayyan and arch-rivals ees such as Abdulrahman Al Jassim, the imenting it next season. sent FIFA Elite Referee Abdulrahman who earns millions may not score from nology in football due to its char- Al Sadd played out a thrilling draw, but general consensus is that there was a It might be of some help to match Abdou as its representative to a meeting the easiest position. So what do you want acter? questions still linger about how ref- visible decline in the standard of offi- officials, but all are not without their of the International Football Association to do with him? You want to kill him? ЃЂSure, because we’ve got interpreta- eree Salman Falahi carried out his job. ciating this season. concerns. FIFA’s Head of Refereeing Board (IFAB) and FIFA officials in London. His team won’t look at his salary, but tions. In tennis, it’s like Hawk-Eye tech- Salman, who has always seemed reluc- “I trust the honesty of Qatari ref- Massimo Busacca believes too much The leagues and associations that had continue to play him. nology, in or out. In football, there’s big tant to book players in earlier matches, erees and I’ll be the first one to sup- technology will badly affect the sport. expressed interests in running experi- I feel there’s real quality in most of the responsibility. One decision can change flashed eight yellow cards and a red port them because grooming them is He also thinks football’s character- ments attended the meeting. The IFAB games now. Sometimes, some things a lot of things. Referees know that there’s during the big tie. Things still went out important. But some of them need to istics do not allow room for too at its Annual General Meeting last month might happen. But referees are human a lot of money involved. But a strong of control at the final whistle and the be more competitive,” Rayyan coach much technology. had agreed for such experiments to be beings, so naturally you can’t have eve- referee with a great personality has to players almost came to blows. Jorge Fossati told Doha Stadium Plus. But the big money involved in run over a minimum of two years in rything perfect. live with the pressure. And we’re ready The Qatar Football Association Turkish Cuneyt Cakir, who offici- the game, especially in European order to find out whether the imple- Technology will help in certain situ- to accept our mistakes. Others should Referees Committee (QFARC) Head ated last year’s Champions League final football, will have its say. It can mentation of VARs would improve the ations, but interpretations will always also do it. DSP Neji Jouini has promised more punish- between Barcelona and Juventus, was only get bigger. It is the duty of all game. remain. It can’t be changed by any ments for players and some coaching in charge of the QSL match between stakeholders to retain as much human “To implement it successfully, we’ve reviews. » e-mail: [email protected] staff from either team. He believed the Qatar Sports Club and Al Sailiya. He presence as possible in the game and already reached a verbal agreement scenes at the Al Sadd Stadium did not disallowed Dragos Grigore’s goal for keep it simple. After all, simplicity has with the Al Dawri and Al Kass Channel. exactly reflect the image Qatar wanted handball, only to revert his decision after made the game truly universal. DSP The video referees will take their position inside its Outdoor Broadcasting ŠĈ Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim officiates the QSL match between Umm Salal and El Jaish. vans,” said Jouini, who officiated at the 1990 Italy and 1994 USA World Cups. There will be a pre-testing phase with One refereeing error can hinder a team’s Since a referee will depend on the an experiment done in a non-live envi- progress in a match. Football, judgements of some people ronment as well as referee trainings, being such a big business, sitting in front of a TV workshops and onsite preparation. needs to be operated screen, it’ll make the game Jouini said the additional assistant smoothly. As the sport has slow. Teams may feel referees would be retained at the league become bigger and richer, dejected at any wrong matches in Qatar. “We want to retain the additional there’s no harm in using decision against them, but assistant referees. They’ve added more technology. I think that’s ok. credibility to our refereeing,” said DSP/Mohan Djamel Belmadi, Lekhwiya coach. Yousuf Adam, Al Ahli coach. Jouini. DSP šЂMassimo Busacca 10 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 11

Football Ĉ COVER STORY

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW PLAYERS SPEAK

A few decisions have influenced some of the results in this season’s Qatar Stars League. But I’m sure that there’re responsible people out there monitoring the referees’ Fahad backs performances. They’ll take necessary steps to correct them in the future. goal-line Welinton, Umm Salal defender. In some games, Qatari referees are doing a good job and in other matches, they commit mistakes as every human being does. They’re gaining experience game by game and that’s the most important thing. Mistakes happen. technology My opinion is that local referees should be given more chances.

earlier. We belonged to the third tier in Mohammed Methnani, El Jaish midfielder.

Aswin Abraham Asia seven or eight years ago, but now DSP/Mohan we’re at the top level, on par with those ššBadr Bilal FANS SPEAK from Japan or Australia or South Korea. We now have six FIFA Elite referees and ATAR’S FIFA Elite referee five FIFA Elite assistant referees. Who’re we to comment extensively on officiating? We Fahad Jaber Al Marri insists “Young Abdulrahman Al Jassim and his Qatari officials have need them (referees) to retain football in its current form. Qthe entire football fraternity Qatari assistants officiated two matches, They’re people who’ve passed several tests and gained should embrace goal-line technology including the opener, at last year’s FIFA experience. We must allow them to do their job. We because it will definitely make the job Under-17 World Cup in Chile. In this come a long way: Badr should ignore their mistakes as long as they aren’t costly. of referees easier. year’s AFC Champions League group “There’s nothing more painful than a stage, Abdulrahman Abdou has four Abdullah Salem bad decision adversely affecting a team. games, and Abdulrahman Al Jassim and ORMER Qatar international Badr cared and their voice must be heard,” Goal-line technology will only enhance myself have three each. And we hope Bilal is someone who observes said Badr, who thanked Qatar Football officiating. It’s the coming thing, so to be a part of this year’s Rio Olympics FQatari referees from close quar- Association (QFA) chief Sheikh Hamad If you look at Qatari referees, you can be sure that their we must welcome it with both hands. as well. You don’t get such assignments ters and holds them in high esteem. So bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani and Al standard has gone up. A few years ago, one could easily Minimising refereeing errors is vital when he gives his takes on officiating, Kass General Manager Essa Al Hitmi notice that there was a huge difference in their level for the good of the game,” said Fahad. you got to sit up and take notice. for supporting the programme, being compared to foreign officials. I want the Qatar Football “In football, the most important In football, the most Now an expert analyst, Badr presents aired since 2008, even as FIFA is keen Association to keep believing in our referees. thing is the goal. I’m sure everybody a long-running and popular show on on promoting promising referees and Adel Brman will support goal-line technology. UEFA important thing is the referees named Barnamaj Al Hakam giving them more opportunities. has made a big step forward by decid- goal. I’m sure everybody on the Al Dawri and Al Kass channel. “You must see the intensity of prac- ing to introduce it in the forthcoming will support technology. He feels Qatari officials are doing an tical sessions Qatari referees regularly European Championship. excellent job of late even though there undergo. The QFA’s Referees Committee “Last January, I had attended a semi- may be some occasional slip-ups. does reviews two or three times every nar where the Hawk-Eye goal-line tech- if you’re error-prone,” he said. Badr, who belongs to the golden gen- month and also ensure those in the nology, so far used only limitedly, was Fahd stressed the need to further eration of Qatari footballers in the 1980s panel stay updated,” he said. DRS can slow down game demonstrated. It’s easy to use and won’t improve the quality of refereeing as and 1990s, said the country’s referees Badr has his reservations on tech- affect the flow of the game. The referee Qatar will host the World Cup in six have come a long way and are a work nology aiding refereeing. wears the device on his wrist just like a years’ time. in progress. He supported either goal- “Deciding whether a goal is valid or deliberately diving or alleging foul play watch. If the ball crosses the line, it pro- “Our referees should get more matches, line technology or additional officials Vedam Jaishankar to try and earn a free-kick or penalty duces a vibrating sound. Furthermore, big ones. We should prove our mettle. I to decide a goal, but was totally against for their team. if the green light flashes, it’s a goal. And admit there’s no margin for error. There other technical assistance for the Men You must see the Experts believe that since there red means no goal,” he said. were some mistakes in this season’s in Black as it spoils the very essence is already two-way communication Fahad, an officer with Internal Security Qatar Stars League (QSL), but overall of the game. intensity of practical IDESPREAD usage of Deci- between assistant referees, the fourth Force (Lekhwiya), dismissed criticism it was up to the mark. None of them “People often tend to think refer- sessions Qatari referees sion Review System (DRS) official and main referee, another TV from some quarters that the level of had a strong bearing on the match. ees are machines. Only God is per- regularly undergo. Win football seems farfetched referee could instantly access the action Qatari referees was going down, insist- “It has been possible mainly because fect and, as they say, to err is human. solely because the game differs on key in control rooms and convey situation ing it was on the rise. of the excellent work being done by I’ve even heard people saying referees issues from, say, cricket and tennis. to the on-field referee. This new dimen- “Qatari referees getting more and Neji Jouini (Qatar Football Association’s take money. To me, if the match offi- not is important, so goal-line technol- To start with, football authorities sion would not alter anything, includ- more international assignments is proof Referees Committee Chairman) as well as cial gets three things — reading, antic- ogy is fine. But it should end there. They abhor any scheme that interferes with ing the flow of the game.

DSP Photo that their standard has increased by AFC Referees Committee Vice-Chairman ipation and positioning — right, then can even think of additional referees the flow of the game. The second vital Following England’s controversial ššFahad Jaber Al Marri leaps and bounds. We rarely got them and QSL CEO Hani Taleb Ballan. DSP you’ll see zero mistake committed by for that purpose. But I must say a strict differentiator is that football is a con- 1966 World Cup win, goal-line calls him,” Badr told Doha Stadium Plus. no to other advancements. Football tact sport. have been hotly debated until foot- “Qatari referees have come a long is such a game that human element From a young age, footballers are ball authorities permitted the use of way. We’ve travelled together to many should rule its rights and wrongs, par- taught to use their shoulder to push TV replays to settle similar disputes. Big decision paves way for live experiments HOW DO VIDEO REFS WORK? camps, seminars and orientation ses- ticularly offside decisions,” he said. away an opponent. If DRS was brought The belief is that since advances in sions in connection with our programme, The 53-year-old put forward the sug- in, other issues like moment of con- TV coverage forced the usage of tech- A landmark decision by the International “game-changing” situations — goals, Natural flow potential offside in the enough cover to make aimed mainly at helping them develop, gestion of introducing professionalism tact, timing of contact, amount of force nology in cricket and tennis, the same Football Association Board (IFAB), at penalty decisions, direct red card incidents The IFAB is keen to build-up to a goal, this key decisions. changing misconceptions about their in refereeing. used, etc would be contested via super- could be done in football too. But the its 130th Annual General Meeting in and mistaken identity. The IFAB agreed to ensure the natural flow of can be checked. job and raising awareness of their rel- “We can think of gradually making slow-motion cameras and this would debatable point is would football be Cardiff, Wales, will pave the way for the allow one type of experiment, which will Reaction... the game is not affected. evance not only in our country, but in referees fully professional as it’ll help wreck the flow of the game. willing to sacrifice its USP, the thrilling introduction of live experiments with involve a video assistant referee having Where will it be used? Generally speaking, those video assistant referees in football. access to video replays during the match About offside Not all grounds in all involved in the game the entire Gulf region. them stay all focused which, in turn, In cricket and tennis, any contact speed and flow which make it one of The expectation is not to achieve 100 and either reviewing an incident on Refs will not stop the countries have access to are willing to embrace “In the West, referees get a lot of positively affects their decision-making is severely penalised and thus DRS the most enjoyable sports in the world? per cent accuracy in decisions for every request by the referee, or communicating game to review an offside the number of cameras anything that ensures respect. Some of them are even celeb- abilities,” Badr signed off. DSP involves mostly line decisions. single incident, but to avoid clearly with the referee proactively about an decision. But if there is a needed to provide more correct decisions. rities. When it comes to our region, Two other contentious issues in » The writer is a senior cricket correspondent incorrect decisions that are pre-defined incident that he/she may have missed. they’re treated shabbily. They’ve to be » e-mail: [email protected] football are ‘hand ball’ and players based in Bengaluru, India. Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 11

PLAYERS SPEAK

A few decisions have influenced some of the results in this season’s Qatar Stars League. But I’m sure that there’re responsible people out there monitoring the referees’ performances. They’ll take necessary steps to correct them in the future. Welinton, Umm Salal defender.

In some games, Qatari referees are doing a good job and in other matches, they commit mistakes as every human being does. They’re gaining experience game by game and that’s the most important thing. Mistakes happen. My opinion is that local referees should be given more chances. Mohammed Methnani, El Jaish midfielder. DSP/Mohan ššBadr Bilal FANS SPEAK

Who’re we to comment extensively on officiating? We Qatari officials have need them (referees) to retain football in its current form. They’re people who’ve passed several tests and gained experience. We must allow them to do their job. We come a long way: Badr should ignore their mistakes as long as they aren’t costly. Abdullah Salem ORMER Qatar international Badr cared and their voice must be heard,” Bilal is someone who observes said Badr, who thanked Qatar Football FQatari referees from close quar- Association (QFA) chief Sheikh Hamad If you look at Qatari referees, you can be sure that their ters and holds them in high esteem. So bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani and Al standard has gone up. A few years ago, one could easily when he gives his takes on officiating, Kass General Manager Essa Al Hitmi notice that there was a huge difference in their level you got to sit up and take notice. for supporting the programme, being compared to foreign officials. I want the Qatar Football Now an expert analyst, Badr presents aired since 2008, even as FIFA is keen Association to keep believing in our referees. a long-running and popular show on on promoting promising referees and Adel Brman referees named Barnamaj Al Hakam giving them more opportunities. on the Al Dawri and Al Kass channel. “You must see the intensity of prac- He feels Qatari officials are doing an tical sessions Qatari referees regularly excellent job of late even though there undergo. The QFA’s Referees Committee may be some occasional slip-ups. does reviews two or three times every Badr, who belongs to the golden gen- month and also ensure those in the eration of Qatari footballers in the 1980s panel stay updated,” he said. DRS can slow down game and 1990s, said the country’s referees Badr has his reservations on tech- have come a long way and are a work nology aiding refereeing. in progress. He supported either goal- “Deciding whether a goal is valid or deliberately diving or alleging foul play line technology or additional officials Vedam Jaishankar to try and earn a free-kick or penalty to decide a goal, but was totally against for their team. other technical assistance for the Men You must see the Experts believe that since there in Black as it spoils the very essence is already two-way communication of the game. intensity of practical IDESPREAD usage of Deci- between assistant referees, the fourth “People often tend to think refer- sessions Qatari referees sion Review System (DRS) official and main referee, another TV ees are machines. Only God is per- regularly undergo. Win football seems farfetched referee could instantly access the action fect and, as they say, to err is human. solely because the game differs on key in control rooms and convey situation I’ve even heard people saying referees issues from, say, cricket and tennis. to the on-field referee. This new dimen- take money. To me, if the match offi- not is important, so goal-line technol- To start with, football authorities sion would not alter anything, includ- cial gets three things — reading, antic- ogy is fine. But it should end there. They abhor any scheme that interferes with ing the flow of the game. ipation and positioning — right, then can even think of additional referees the flow of the game. The second vital Following England’s controversial you’ll see zero mistake committed by for that purpose. But I must say a strict differentiator is that football is a con- 1966 World Cup win, goal-line calls him,” Badr told Doha Stadium Plus. no to other advancements. Football tact sport. have been hotly debated until foot- “Qatari referees have come a long is such a game that human element From a young age, footballers are ball authorities permitted the use of way. We’ve travelled together to many should rule its rights and wrongs, par- taught to use their shoulder to push TV replays to settle similar disputes. camps, seminars and orientation ses- ticularly offside decisions,” he said. away an opponent. If DRS was brought The belief is that since advances in sions in connection with our programme, The 53-year-old put forward the sug- in, other issues like moment of con- TV coverage forced the usage of tech- aimed mainly at helping them develop, gestion of introducing professionalism tact, timing of contact, amount of force nology in cricket and tennis, the same changing misconceptions about their in refereeing. used, etc would be contested via super- could be done in football too. But the job and raising awareness of their rel- “We can think of gradually making slow-motion cameras and this would debatable point is would football be evance not only in our country, but in referees fully professional as it’ll help wreck the flow of the game. willing to sacrifice its USP, the thrilling the entire Gulf region. them stay all focused which, in turn, In cricket and tennis, any contact speed and flow which make it one of “In the West, referees get a lot of positively affects their decision-making is severely penalised and thus DRS the most enjoyable sports in the world? respect. Some of them are even celeb- abilities,” Badr signed off. DSP involves mostly line decisions. rities. When it comes to our region, Two other contentious issues in » The writer is a senior cricket correspondent they’re treated shabbily. They’ve to be » e-mail: [email protected] football are ‘hand ball’ and players based in Bengaluru, India. 12 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 13 Football

WEEK 25| SHORT TAKES ‘It’s a good feeling FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL to play for Arabi’ short-term deal. The level of professional- The relegation battle between Qatar Sports Club and Al Kharaitiyat goes down to the wire. Mohammad Amin-ul Islam ism is no less than in any European leagues. I can vouch for it following my one-year stint at Osasuna in La Liga in 2014. AL KHARAITIYAT 3 AL WAKRAH 0 Ĉ ĈHigh-profile clash between the game, off their first move. The young Kharaitiyat, fighting to stay in the top flight, Sadd and Rayyan drawn forward tapped home after Ezequeil L ARABI midfielder Javad Ne- ЂЂHow do you see the presence of struggled to find the target until the hour LEKHWIYA 4 AL AHLI 5 mark, but struck thrice later to register an Carando picked him out at the far post kounam, who retired as Iran’s Iranian players in the tournament? Former champions Lekhwiya were made ĈĈAl Ahli shock former important victory over Wakrah. Jordanian ЃЂ to wait to seal their place in the top four with a sharp pass from the left. Anational team captain last year, There’re a lot of top Iranians in the com- forward Hassan Abdelfattah (63rd, 71st) champions Lekhwiya when Ahli shocked them. Mouhcine Iajour As Qatar SC attacked relentlessly, has made a big impact in the Qatar Stars petition. All of them are quality players who and Mohammed Abdulrab (78th) were the did the star turn for the winners with a hat- scorers. The victory helped Kharaitiyat stay Caixinha surprisingly brought on front League (QSL). He is the top name in a have proven credentials. They’ve really trick (14th, 81st, 92nd) while Firmin Mubele 12th with 27 points, one above Qatar SC players Masoud Shojaei and Mohammed long list of Iranians — Ashkan Dejagah made the event competitive. I’m happy (63rd) and Mohsin Yazidi (86th) were the while Wakra (29) are 11th. N Ganesh Razzaq at the expense of defensive mid- (Arabi), Pejman Montazeri and Mojtaba for the success of my fellow-countrymen other scorers. For Lekhwiya, Mohammed fielders Hussain Shihab and Abdulghani Jabbari (both Al Ahli), Morteza Pouraliganji in the league. I hope there’ll be more in Muntari (30th, 73rd) netted a brace after Nam Tae-Hee put them ahead as early as Muneer. That made them more vul- (Al Sadd), Masoud Shojaei (Al Gharafa) the future. the fifth minute. nerable. and Mohammad Nouri (Mesaimeer) HE league champions were de- Sebastiao Lazaroni’s men doubled — who are plying their trade in Qatar. ЂЂYour thoughts on Arabi fans? cided quite a while ago and top the lead in the 33rd through Carando, Nekounam, who signed a four-month ЃЂArabi have the most passionate fan Tfour too are almost known, but but their keeper Mohammed Mubarak deal in January, spoke to Doha Stadium base after Al Rayyan. They’ve been very the relegation battle has gone down to blundered while going for a Shojaei Plus about his future plan and QSL expe- supportive during the competition. I thor- the wire as the penultimate round got lob and allowed Razzaq to make it 2-1. rience. oughly enjoyed every moment. DSP over last Sunday. Qatar SC survived some tense moments With Mesaimeer already relegated, ЂЂYour deal with the club will end the fight to avoid becoming the second on Saturday. What’s your future plan? AL KHOR 2 AL SAILIYA 2 team to go down is primarily between While Qatar SC next take

DSP/Vinod Divakaran DSP/Vinod Ѓ Qatar Sports Club and Al Kharaitiyat, ЂI want to focus on our last game against Khor twice came from behind to hold š even though Al Wakrah also are not on Wakrah, Kharaitiyat ĈAl Sadd’s Ezequiel Carando, left, celebrates with Ali Awad after scoring against Al Rayyan. Al Sailiya on Saturday. I’m not thinking Sailiya. Young forward Abdulrahman Harazi mathematically out of danger. will entertain a much right now whether I’ll extend my contract put Sailiya ahead in the fourth minute while Naif Mubarak equalised in the 37th. UMM SALAL 1 EL JAISH 2 Qatar SC are now 13th in the 14-team stronger Umm Salal. or move. I’ll take a call after the compe- Though Faouzi Ayesh restored Sailiya’s lead table with 26 points while Kharaitiyat Brazilian. tition. But I also want to say that Arabi in the 40th, Khor drew parity yet again Abderrazzaq Hamdallah struck on either are 12th with 27. Caixinha said the early goal let his are a great club to be with and, having a through South Korean striker Park Hee-Do side of the break (18th, 75th) as Jaish Last week, Qatar SC stunned Al in the second half, but they virtually team down. coach like Gianfranco Zola, it’s always a in the 58th. defeated 10-man Umm Salal to return to second place. Moroccan forward Mounir Gharafa 3-1 and Kharaitiyat blanked killed the game in the 88th, thanks to “We conceded a goal seconds after good feeling to play for them. El Hamdaoui (62nd) scored the lone goal Wakrah 3-0 to take things to the final an Ali Said strike. the start and you know how difficult for the losers. Umm Salal thus stayed fifth, match day. While Qatar SC take on Lazaroni described it as an impor- it’s to come back from such a situa- We needed an early goal ЂЂHow do you look at Arabi’s three points adrift of Lekhwiya. Wakrah, Kharaitiyat will entertain a tant win. tion. We lacked focus and we weren’t to take control of the future? much stronger Umm Salal. “We’re pleased with this win. We at our best level,” said Caixinha. game. I told my players ЃЂArabi have a group of proven and expe- Gharafa, who had looked a trans- played with the right mentality from Meanwhile, Al Ahli also sprang an at half-time to keep rienced players. We played much better formed lot under Portuguese coach the very start. We had prepared the upset when they handed former cham- showing their true spirit. than the team did in the previous sea- Pedro Caixinha, however, failed to repeat team to play with full force through- pions Lekhwiya a 5-4 defeat. And they responded sons. If Arabi can manage to stick with their good work against a determined out,” said Lazaroni. The high-voltage clash between Al well. We’ll continue the same bunch including the coach, I Qatar SC. “We needed an early goal to take Rayyan and Al Sadd ended in a thrill- to fight until the final think they’ve a good future. They’ll come AL GHARAFA 1 QATAR SC 3 If defenders were error-prone through- control of the game. I told my playing 2-2 draw while El Jaish climbed whistle against Wakrah back with more confidence next season. out, the sight of forwards, including tal- ers at half-time to keep showing their to second position after defeating to ensure our stay in the Qatar SC kept their hopes of staying in ЂЂHow do you evaluate your QSL the top flight alive with an easy win over ented Vladimir Weiss, missing sitters true spirit. And they responded well. Umm Salal 2-1. premier division. in the second half was disappointing. We’ll continue to fight until the final Bottom-placed Mesaimeer held experience? Gharafa. Talented forward Ali Awad put AL SADD 2 AL RAYYAN 2 Qatar SC ahead 12 seconds into the game Sebastiao Lazaroni, ЃЂ Qatar SC got to a dream start when Ali whistle against Wakrah to ensure our Al Arabi goalless while Al Khor and It’s a new experience, though I signed a while Ezequiel Carando increased the lead Sadd rallied from two goals down to hold Qatar SC coach. Awad put them ahead 12 seconds into stay in the premier division,” said the Al Sailiya played out a 2-2 draw. DSP in the 33rd. Though Mohammed Razzaq recently-crowned champions Rayyan. reduced it six minutes later, Ali Said sealed Goals in the final two minutes, from Gharafa’s fate in the 88th. Despite the win, Baghdad Bounedjgah (89th) and Qatar Qatar SC stayed 13th with 26 points. international defender Mohammed Kassola (90th), ensured Jesualdo Ferriera’s TOP SCORERS side a point. Sergio Garcia had netted Abderrazak Hamdallah El Jaish twice (55th, 71st) to give Rayyan a two-goal Muaither 20 Rodrigo Tabata Al Rayyan Wolves insurmountable for Lions! cushion. Sadd thus slipped to third in the 17 Meshal Abdullah standings. crowned Al Ahli Mouhcine Iajour L RAYYAN may have won the Spanish forward Sergio Garcia scoring trying to calm things down. He had to 16 Sebastian Saez Al Wakrah Muaither were crowned title with five rounds to spare a brace. As Sadd fought tooth and nail be pacified by his assistants and play- STANDINGS Qatargas League champions Yahia Kebe Al Kharaitiyat but, looking back, they should to work their way back into the game, ers after he engaged into some heated Al Rayyan 25 20 2 3 67 20 62 Sergio Garcia Al Rayyan A at the Al Ahli Stadium last 15 be feeling a bit disappointed as arch- the match often turned rough and ref- arguments with Sadd player Ali Asad, El Jaish 25 14 5 6 46 27 47 Monday. Muaither finished with rivals Al Sadd remained insurmountable. eree Salman Falahi flashed eight yellow who apparently asked the Uruguayan Al Sadd 25 13 7 5 52 36 46 44 points while Al Shahaniya Lekhwiya 25 13 2 10 58 40 41 Jorge Fossati knows Sadd in and out, cards and a red in all. to mind his players’ business. (38) came second. Both are KICK-OFF Umm Salal 25 9 11 5 36 32 38 promoted to next season’s Friday, April 15 having twice coached them, but it did Marching orders to Paraguayan mid- Rayyan have not won a game since Al Arabi 25 10 5 10 32 35 35 Qatar Stars League. Qatargas Al Kharaitiyat vs Umm Salal, Al Khor Stadium, 6.15pm. not count much as they came from fielder Victor Caceres changed the course clinching the league title. Fossati had to MESAIMEER 0 AL ARABI 0 Al Ahli 25 9 7 9 39 38 34 Lekhwiya vs Mesaimeer, Lekhwiya Stadium, 6.15pm. Al Gharafa 25 9 7 9 33 36 34 Engineering and Ventures COO two goals down to hold Rayyan 2-2 in of the game. But Sadd had to wait until the go extra bit after his players refused to Mesaimeer, having already been relegated, Al Sadd vs El Jaish, Qatar SC Stadium, Al Sailiya 25 10 3 12 38 45 33 Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah 6.15pm. a thriller. Their first-phase clash had dying minutes when Baghdad Bounedjgah train in the lead-up to Sadd game due had something to cheer about when they Al Wakrah vs Qatar SC, Al Wakrah Stadium, 6.15pm. Al Khor 25 8 6 11 24 31 30 Al Thani and Qatar Football ended 2-1 in Sadd’s favour. and Mohammed Kassola struck in quick to non-payment of salary. He now has held Gianfranco Zola’s Arabi goalless. Rock- Association Board member Al Gharafa vs Al Khor, Al Ahli Stadium, 6.15pm. bottom side Mesaimeer, who have lost 22 Al Wakrah 25 9 2 14 33 44 29 Ahmed Abdulaziz Al Boenain Saturday, April 16 Sadd had more at stake than Rayyan as succession to draw parity. one final match against Al Ahli to turn of the 25 games so far, thus increased their Al Kharaitiyat 25 7 6 12 36 44 27 Al Arabi vs Al Sailiya, Al Ahli Stadium, 6.15pm. Qatar SC 25 6 8 11 30 50 26 were present at the ceremony. a victory would have kept them in sec- There was hardly any warmth at the things around and prepare for the Qatar total to six points while Arabi moved up to Al Ahli vs Al Rayyan, Al Gharafa Stadium, 8.30pm. ond place. But they fell behind 0-2, with final whistle while Fossati was seen Cup matches. DSP sixth. Mesaimeer 25 1 3 21 14 60 6 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 13

WEEK 25| SHORT TAKES ‘It’s a good feeling to play for Arabi’

short-term deal. The level of professional- Mohammad Amin-ul Islam ism is no less than in any European leagues. I can vouch for it following my one-year stint at Osasuna in La Liga in 2014. AL KHARAITIYAT 3 AL WAKRAH 0 Kharaitiyat, fighting to stay in the top flight, L ARABI midfielder Javad Ne- ЂЂHow do you see the presence of struggled to find the target until the hour LEKHWIYA 4 AL AHLI 5 mark, but struck thrice later to register an kounam, who retired as Iran’s Iranian players in the tournament? Former champions Lekhwiya were made important victory over Wakrah. Jordanian ЃЂ to wait to seal their place in the top four Anational team captain last year, There’re a lot of top Iranians in the com- forward Hassan Abdelfattah (63rd, 71st) when Ahli shocked them. Mouhcine Iajour has made a big impact in the Qatar Stars petition. All of them are quality players who and Mohammed Abdulrab (78th) were the did the star turn for the winners with a hat- scorers. The victory helped Kharaitiyat stay League (QSL). He is the top name in a have proven credentials. They’ve really trick (14th, 81st, 92nd) while Firmin Mubele 12th with 27 points, one above Qatar SC long list of Iranians — Ashkan Dejagah made the event competitive. I’m happy (63rd) and Mohsin Yazidi (86th) were the while Wakra (29) are 11th. (Arabi), Pejman Montazeri and Mojtaba for the success of my fellow-countrymen other scorers. For Lekhwiya, Mohammed Jabbari (both Al Ahli), Morteza Pouraliganji in the league. I hope there’ll be more in Muntari (30th, 73rd) netted a brace after Nam Tae-Hee put them ahead as early as (Al Sadd), Masoud Shojaei (Al Gharafa) the future. the fifth minute. and Mohammad Nouri (Mesaimeer) — who are plying their trade in Qatar. ЂЂYour thoughts on Arabi fans? Nekounam, who signed a four-month ЃЂArabi have the most passionate fan deal in January, spoke to Doha Stadium base after Al Rayyan. They’ve been very Plus about his future plan and QSL expe- supportive during the competition. I thor- rience. oughly enjoyed every moment. DSP

ЂЂYour deal with the club will end on Saturday. What’s your future plan? AL KHOR 2 AL SAILIYA 2 Ѓ ЂI want to focus on our last game against Khor twice came from behind to hold Al Sailiya on Saturday. I’m not thinking Sailiya. Young forward Abdulrahman Harazi right now whether I’ll extend my contract put Sailiya ahead in the fourth minute while Naif Mubarak equalised in the 37th. UMM SALAL 1 EL JAISH 2 or move. I’ll take a call after the compe- Though Faouzi Ayesh restored Sailiya’s lead tition. But I also want to say that Arabi in the 40th, Khor drew parity yet again Abderrazzaq Hamdallah struck on either are a great club to be with and, having a through South Korean striker Park Hee-Do side of the break (18th, 75th) as Jaish coach like Gianfranco Zola, it’s always a in the 58th. defeated 10-man Umm Salal to return to second place. Moroccan forward Mounir good feeling to play for them. El Hamdaoui (62nd) scored the lone goal for the losers. Umm Salal thus stayed fifth, ЂЂHow do you look at Arabi’s three points adrift of Lekhwiya. future? ЃЂArabi have a group of proven and experienced players. We played much better than the team did in the previous seasons. If Arabi can manage to stick with the same bunch including the coach, I think they’ve a good future. They’ll come back with more confidence next season. AL GHARAFA 1 QATAR SC 3 Qatar SC kept their hopes of staying in ЂЂHow do you evaluate your QSL the top flight alive with an easy win over experience? Gharafa. Talented forward Ali Awad put AL SADD 2 AL RAYYAN 2 Qatar SC ahead 12 seconds into the game ЃЂ It’s a new experience, though I signed a while Ezequiel Carando increased the lead Sadd rallied from two goals down to hold in the 33rd. Though Mohammed Razzaq recently-crowned champions Rayyan. reduced it six minutes later, Ali Said sealed Goals in the final two minutes, from Gharafa’s fate in the 88th. Despite the win, Baghdad Bounedjgah (89th) and Qatar Qatar SC stayed 13th with 26 points. international defender Mohammed Kassola (90th), ensured Jesualdo Ferriera’s side a point. Sergio Garcia had netted twice (55th, 71st) to give Rayyan a two-goal Wolves insurmountable for Lions! cushion. Sadd thus slipped to third in the standings. Spanish forward Sergio Garcia scoring trying to calm things down. He had to a brace. As Sadd fought tooth and nail be pacified by his assistants and play- STANDINGS to work their way back into the game, ers after he engaged into some heated Al Rayyan 25 20 2 3 67 20 62 the match often turned rough and ref- arguments with Sadd player Ali Asad, El Jaish 25 14 5 6 46 27 47 eree Salman Falahi flashed eight yellow who apparently asked the Uruguayan Al Sadd 25 13 7 5 52 36 46 Lekhwiya 25 13 2 10 58 40 41 cards and a red in all. to mind his players’ business. Umm Salal 25 9 11 5 36 32 38 Marching orders to Paraguayan mid- Rayyan have not won a game since Al Arabi 25 10 5 10 32 35 35 fielder Victor Caceres changed the course clinching the league title. Fossati had to MESAIMEER 0 AL ARABI 0 Al Ahli 25 9 7 9 39 38 34 Al Gharafa 25 9 7 9 33 36 34 of the game. But Sadd had to wait until the go extra bit after his players refused to Mesaimeer, having already been relegated, Al Sailiya 25 10 3 12 38 45 33 dying minutes when Baghdad Bounedjgah train in the lead-up to Sadd game due had something to cheer about when they Al Khor 25 8 6 11 24 31 30 and Mohammed Kassola struck in quick to non-payment of salary. He now has held Gianfranco Zola’s Arabi goalless. Rock- bottom side Mesaimeer, who have lost 22 Al Wakrah 25 9 2 14 33 44 29 succession to draw parity. one final match against Al Ahli to turn of the 25 games so far, thus increased their Al Kharaitiyat 25 7 6 12 36 44 27 There was hardly any warmth at the things around and prepare for the Qatar total to six points while Arabi moved up to Qatar SC 25 6 8 11 30 50 26 final whistle while Fossati was seen Cup matches. DSP sixth. Mesaimeer 25 1 3 21 14 60 6 14 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 15 Football

RESULTS Liverpool bt Stoke 4-1 MEDIA SCAN Tottenham blitzkrieg Sunderland lost to Leicester 0-2 Tottenham bt Man United 3-0 Aston Villa lost to Bournemouth 1-2 blows away United Crystal Palace bt Norwich 1-0 Man City bt West Brom 2-1 Southampton bt Newcastle 3-1 Swansea bt Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal interested ššClaudio Ranieri OTTENHAM Hotspur destroyed Watford drew Everton 1-1 West Ham drew Arsenal 3-3 in Xhaka a lacklustre Manchester United It was north London Twith a three-goal salvo in six Arsenal have stepped up their club’s first home league STANDINGS attempts to sign Borussia Ranieri sheds second-half minutes to keep alive their Leicester 33 21 9 3 57 31 72 Monchengladbach midfielderGranit title quest. win over Manchester Tottenham 33 18 11 4 60 25 65 Xhaka and the club have already Arsenal 32 17 8 7 55 33 59 tears of joy Starting the match 10 points adrift United since 2001. opened talks with the German side. of leaders Leicester City, Tottenham Man City 32 17 6 9 58 33 57 Leicester City manager Claudio Man United 32 15 8 9 39 30 53 Monchengladbach Ranieri was in tears after his team shaved the gap to seven with Dele Alli, West Ham 32 13 13 6 52 40 52 are holding out for moved closer to their first-ever English Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela on “The manager always wants a per- Southampton 33 14 8 11 44 34 50 £32m, but Arsenal top flight title. target to earn the north London club formance from us and playing the right Liverpool 31 13 9 9 50 42 48 are understood to be confident of “It’s difficult to say how I feel inside, a first home league win over United way and we did that,” said Tottenham’s Stoke 33 13 8 12 37 43 47 reaching an agreement with the Chelsea 32 11 11 10 49 42 44 Bundesliga side and are keen on but I’m not complaining,” said Ranieri, since 2001. England midfielder Eric Dier. who was in tears applauding at the Bournemouth 33 11 8 14 40 55 41 splashing £24m on the Swiss With five games remaining, second- The match kicked off half-an-hour Swansea 33 10 10 13 34 42 40 final whistle. midfielder. West Brom 32 10 10 12 31 39 40 The emotional Italian also thanked placed Tottenham, chasing a first title late after United’s team coach was stuck Arsenal’s early move is a sign Everton 31 9 12 10 52 43 39 Leicester supporters for cheering the since 1961, have 65 points to Leicester’s in traffic and the atmosphere was flat in of their determination to Watford 32 10 8 14 31 37 38 try to get a deal for team on to victory which left them 72 while fifth-placed United’s hopes of a first half in which Lamela wasted the Crystal Palace 32 10 7 15 35 42 37 Xhaka tied up as soon three wins from the title. Leicester’s ending a disappointing season in the best chance when he headed Christian Norwich 33 8 7 18 35 57 31 as possible and, the previous best top flight finish was Champions League places are receding. Eriksen’s pass wastefully wide. Sunderland 32 6 9 17 36 57 27 second in the 1928-29 campaign Newcastle 32 6 7 19 32 61 25 fee would also be a “It’s fantastic when you see before Aston Villa 33 3 7 23 23 64 16 statement of intent. the match, an old lady with a Leicester shirt outside the stadium. I say, ‘‘Unbelievable. They come from Leicester to support us’,” he added. ‘We can still “This is my emotion. It’s fantastic. I was on the bus. I saw them, unbelievable,

Carl Recine finish fourth’ and I want to say thank you for the support. They’re dreaming and we Frustrated Janmaat OUIS van Gaal had Manchester want to continue to dream.” breaks his hand REUTERS/ United fans scratching their heads ššFull-backs Danny Simpson and Christian Fuchs have been in outstanding form for Leicester City. Lwith a baffling halftime substitu- Newcastle defender Daryl Janmaat tion then suggested his lacklustre side has injured his hand while punching a dressing room wall at LEICESTER’S REMAINING are still “ahead” of Tottenham Hotspur. Southampton. The right-back was MATCHES The Dutchman, who has been under April 17 West Ham United (H) forced off with incessant pressure this season, took April 24 Swansea City (H) a groin problem May 1 Manchester United (A) off young striker Marcus Rashford and during the first- May 7 Everton (H) played winger Ashley Young as a cen- half of last week’s May 15 Chelsea (A) tre forward in the second half at White 1-3 defeat against Hart Lane. Southampton. And an angry EPL TOP SCORERS United had restricted Tottenham before Janmaat is 22 Harry Kane Tottenham the break without offering much goal understood to Jamie Vardy Leicester / Eddie Keogh 21 threat, but rather than switch the lively Rearguard! Romelu Lukaku Everton have then taken his frustration out on 18 Sergio Aguero Man City Anthony Martial to a central role, he the changing room. Title-chasing Leicester bank on solid defence to blank Sunderland. 16 Riyad Mahrez Leicester REUTERS left the Frenchman wide and played The Dutchman left St Mary’s in a 14 Odion Ighalo Watford ššTottenham’s Erik Lamela, right, is challenged by Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo. Young out of position. sling and, is now having scans on two Olivier Giroud Arsenal suspected broken fingers. 12 “It was more or less equal before the ĈšLeicester in Champions Jermain Defoe Sunderland men were conceding regularly, includ- West Ham United, in sixth place and Diego Costa Chelsea goal,” said Van Gaal on the substitu- 11 League play-off round ing five in a home defeat by Arsenal, on a good run, are the next team to Gylfi Sigurdsson Swansea City tion. “I want more runnings in behind Graziano Pelle Southampton but since the experienced Italian intro- attempt to find a chink when they visit 10 because I think we’ve chances to do duced Danny Simpson and Austrian the King Power Stadium next Sunday. Marko Arnautovic Stoke City Arsenal squander lead that because they’re like us, an attack- Steve Tongue Christian Fuchs at full back, there have Swansea City, who are 12th, follow ing side. Young has done that very good been 13 clean sheets in 22 games. them, by which time Leicester could be in the second team and Marcus didn’t Terry to pay £1,600 Thanks to that pair and central defend- in a position to sew up the title. RSENAL manager Arsene have his best match and that’s why I for fan’s funeral Their remaining fixtures after Wenger said his players must changed it,” he added. Chelsea captain has TRIKER Jamie Vardy may have that are away to Manchester Anow look over their shoulders “We’ve 18 points available so we still John Terry offered to pay for the funeral of returned to the headlines as United and Ranieri’s former after conceding their title hopes are have a chance to finish in the top four,” an eight-year-old fan, who lost SLeicester City closed in on the Vardy became the club’s club Chelsea, either side of virtually over when they squandered a said Van Gaal. his battle with leukaemia. Tommi English Premier League title last Sun- first player to reach 20 a home game with Everton. It was a great game, it was 2-0 lead at West Ham United to draw 3-3. Miller died after day, but the contribution by the team’s top-flight league goals Following Manchester tough, but we knew it would The result left the Gunners 13 points an unsuccessful defenders cannot be overlooked. United’s defeat at Tottenham be. We wanted to win and behind leaders Leicester City, who have attempt to In the 2-0 victory at Sunderland, Vardy since Gary Lineker’s 24. Hotspur, Leicester have also that’s what we’ve done. It’s a played a game more. ššArsene Wenger carry out a bone marrow became the club’s first player to reach qualified for at least the pre- step closer. You never know “We’re third on 59 points. That’s not transplant. 20 top-flight league goals since Gary liminary playoff round of the what’ll happen in the last few where we want to be, but we’ve made it The youngster Lineker’s 24 in 1984-85. ers Robert Huth and Wes Morgan, Champions League. It will be games, but it’s a step in much more difficult for ourselves now Upton Park, a third consecutive league from Cambridge Just as significant, however, was the Schmeichel’s fine save from Fabio the first time they are play- the right direction. to have a chance to win the title,” said win looked on the cards which would met Terry and a clean sheet kept by goalkeeper Kasper Borini in the first half at Sunderland ing in Europe’s top club com- the Frenchman. “We’ve to keep going have at least given Arsenal hope that clutch of his Stamford Bridge team- Jamie Vardy, mates in June last year, with the Schmeichel and those in front of him. was the only time he was tested. petition. Leicester City no matter what and hope. You never they could reel in Leicester. / John Sibley It was their fifth in succession, the pre- It is now 490 minutes since West They have only ever played in know what can happen. We’ve to look But an Andy Carroll hat-trick left centre-back among his favourite striker. players. Terry is prepared to pay the vious four all having earned vital points Bromwich Albion pierced the armour European competition three times, behind us as people are chasing us.” Arsenal scrambling before they secured £1,600 after being contacted by REUTERS in 1-0 wins. in a surprise 2-2 draw at Leicester on the last of them in the 2000-2001 When Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez the draw thanks to Laurent Koscielny’s friends of the family on social media. Earlier in the season, Claudio Ranieri’s March 1. UEFA Cup. both scored inside the first 35 minutes at 70th minute strike. ššLouis van Gaal Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 15

RESULTS Liverpool bt Stoke 4-1 MEDIA SCAN Tottenham blitzkrieg Sunderland lost to Leicester 0-2 Tottenham bt Man United 3-0 Aston Villa lost to Bournemouth 1-2 blows away United Crystal Palace bt Norwich 1-0 Man City bt West Brom 2-1 Southampton bt Newcastle 3-1 Swansea bt Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal interested OTTENHAM Hotspur destroyed Watford drew Everton 1-1 West Ham drew Arsenal 3-3 in Xhaka a lacklustre Manchester United It was north London Twith a three-goal salvo in six Arsenal have stepped up their club’s first home league STANDINGS attempts to sign Borussia second-half minutes to keep alive their Leicester 33 21 9 3 57 31 72 Monchengladbach midfielderGranit title quest. win over Manchester Tottenham 33 18 11 4 60 25 65 Xhaka and the club have already Arsenal 32 17 8 7 55 33 59 Starting the match 10 points adrift United since 2001. opened talks with the German side. of leaders Leicester City, Tottenham Man City 32 17 6 9 58 33 57 Man United 32 15 8 9 39 30 53 Monchengladbach shaved the gap to seven with Dele Alli, West Ham 32 13 13 6 52 40 52 are holding out for Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela on “The manager always wants a per- Southampton 33 14 8 11 44 34 50 £32m, but Arsenal target to earn the north London club formance from us and playing the right Liverpool 31 13 9 9 50 42 48 are understood to be confident of a first home league win over United way and we did that,” said Tottenham’s Stoke 33 13 8 12 37 43 47 reaching an agreement with the Chelsea 32 11 11 10 49 42 44 Bundesliga side and are keen on since 2001. England midfielder Eric Dier. Bournemouth 33 11 8 14 40 55 41 splashing £24m on the Swiss With five games remaining, second- The match kicked off half-an-hour Swansea 33 10 10 13 34 42 40 midfielder. placed Tottenham, chasing a first title late after United’s team coach was stuck West Brom 32 10 10 12 31 39 40 Arsenal’s early move is a sign since 1961, have 65 points to Leicester’s in traffic and the atmosphere was flat in Everton 31 9 12 10 52 43 39 of their determination to Watford 32 10 8 14 31 37 38 try to get a deal for 72 while fifth-placed United’s hopes of a first half in which Lamela wasted the Crystal Palace 32 10 7 15 35 42 37 Xhaka tied up as soon ending a disappointing season in the best chance when he headed Christian Norwich 33 8 7 18 35 57 31 as possible and, the Champions League places are receding. Eriksen’s pass wastefully wide. Sunderland 32 6 9 17 36 57 27 Newcastle 32 6 7 19 32 61 25 fee would also be a Aston Villa 33 3 7 23 23 64 16 statement of intent.

‘We can still finish fourth’ Frustrated Janmaat OUIS van Gaal had Manchester breaks his hand United fans scratching their heads Lwith a baffling halftime substitu- Newcastle defender Daryl Janmaat tion then suggested his lacklustre side has injured his hand while punching a dressing room wall at are still “ahead” of Tottenham Hotspur. Southampton. The right-back was The Dutchman, who has been under forced off with incessant pressure this season, took a groin problem off young striker Marcus Rashford and during the first- played winger Ashley Young as a cen- half of last week’s tre forward in the second half at White 1-3 defeat against Hart Lane. Southampton. And an angry United had restricted Tottenham before Janmaat is the break without offering much goal understood to / Eddie Keogh threat, but rather than switch the lively have then taken his frustration out on Anthony Martial to a central role, he the changing room.

REUTERS left the Frenchman wide and played The Dutchman left St Mary’s in a ššTottenham’s Erik Lamela, right, is challenged by Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo. Young out of position. sling and, is now having scans on two “It was more or less equal before the suspected broken fingers. goal,” said Van Gaal on the substitu- tion. “I want more runnings in behind because I think we’ve chances to do Arsenal squander lead that because they’re like us, an attacking side. Young has done that very good in the second team and Marcus didn’t Terry to pay £1,600 RSENAL manager Arsene have his best match and that’s why I for fan’s funeral Wenger said his players must changed it,” he added. Chelsea captain has Anow look over their shoulders “We’ve 18 points available so we still John Terry offered to pay for the funeral of after conceding their title hopes are have a chance to finish in the top four,” an eight-year-old fan, who lost virtually over when they squandered a said Van Gaal. his battle with leukaemia. Tommi 2-0 lead at West Ham United to draw 3-3. Miller died after The result left the Gunners 13 points an unsuccessful behind leaders Leicester City, who have attempt to played a game more. ššArsene Wenger carry out a bone marrow “We’re third on 59 points. That’s not transplant. where we want to be, but we’ve made it The youngster much more difficult for ourselves now Upton Park, a third consecutive league from Cambridge to have a chance to win the title,” said win looked on the cards which would met Terry and a the Frenchman. “We’ve to keep going have at least given Arsenal hope that clutch of his Stamford Bridge team- mates in June last year, with the

no matter what and hope. You never they could reel in Leicester. / John Sibley know what can happen. We’ve to look But an Andy Carroll hat-trick left centre-back among his favourite players. Terry is prepared to pay the behind us as people are chasing us.” Arsenal scrambling before they secured £1,600 after being contacted by REUTERS When Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez the draw thanks to Laurent Koscielny’s friends of the family on social media. both scored inside the first 35 minutes at 70th minute strike. ššLouis van Gaal 16 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 17 Football

RESULTS Athletic Bilbao bt Rayo Vallecano 1-0 MEDIA SCAN Sporting Gijon lost to Celta Vigo 0-1 Valencia bt Sevilla 2-1 Villarreal bt Getafe 2-0 Espanyol lost to Atletico Madrid 1-3 Real Betis bt Levante 1-0 Real Madrid bt Eibar 4-0 Real Sociedad bt Barcelona 1-0 Granada drew Malaga 0-0

STANDINGS Barcelona 32 24 4 4 87 27 76 Atletico Madrid 32 23 4 5 54 16 73 Real blow! Real Madrid 32 22 6 4 93 29 72 Villarreal 32 17 9 6 41 26 60 Celta Vigo 32 15 7 10 45 52 52 Athletic Bilbao 32 15 6 11 50 40 51 ššFernando Torres and Koke. Sevilla 32 13 9 10 45 39 48 Malaga 32 10 11 11 30 29 41 Real Sociedad 32 11 8 13 40 42 41 Eibar 32 10 8 14 43 48 38 Koke and Torres, Deportivo 31 7 16 8 40 44 37 Real Betis 32 9 10 13 29 45 37 always connected Valencia 32 9 10 13 36 39 37 Koke assisted Fernando Torres for a Las Palmas 31 10 6 15 34 43 36 third consecutive game, with both Espanyol 32 10 6 16 33 60 36 players getting on the scoresheet Rayo Vallecano 32 7 10 15 43 64 31 Granada 32 7 9 16 33 57 30 ššReal Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo scores against Eibar. against Espanyol. The pair have had Sporting Gijon 32 7 7 18 32 53 28 a good understanding recently, with Getafe 32 7 7 18 28 56 28 assists coming between them against Levante 32 6 7 19 28 55 25 against Real Betis, Barcelona and now Espanyol. Diego Simeone said Ronaldo enjoying his life in 30s! in his pre-game press conference that El Nino was “doing a good job” and his words bore fruit as his striker RISTIANO Ronaldo became 76 and Atletico Madrid (73). international lifted the crowd by scor- scored his third goal in just eight days Enrique urges the first player to hit 30 La Liga Coach Zinedine Zidane made eight ing early on, his first goal in just under — two in the league and one in the Champions League.Atletico Madrid Cgoals in six consecutive seasons changes to the team that suffered a two months. Barcelona to went 1-0 down to the Periquitos as he inspired Real Madrid to a 4-0 shock 0-2 defeat at VfL Wolfsburg in A fine piece of skill from Ronaldo shortly before half-time before goals repeat treble thrashing of Eibar last week. the Champions League in midweek allowed Vazquez to pass the ball from Torres, Antoine Griezmann and The Portugal forward netted in the with only Ronaldo, Pepe and Casemiro into an empty net in the 18th minute Koke rescued his side in a 3-1 victory. ARCELONA coach Luis Enrique 19th minute and also provided passes keeping their places. before the record-breaker finished off Koke assisted Torres’ equaliser, has challenged his stuttering side for Lucas Vazquez and Jese to score Brazilian right back Danilo was booed a cut-back from the lively Jese a min- while Torres returned the favour late Bto respond to last week’s 0-1 La as the hosts stormed into a 4-0 half- by the home fans for his disappointing ute later. on as the midfielder scored the third goal for Atletico. Liga defeat at Real Sociedad by repeat- time lead. display at Wolfsburg when he came on Ronaldo returned the favour for the ing last season’s treble of Champions James Rodriguez had opened Real’s in the second half, but it was an other- 23-year-old in the 39th minute as Real League, domestic title and King’s Cup. account with a curling free kick in the wise positive afternoon for Real. made it 4-0. Barca saw their lead at the top over fifth minute. Rodriguez was criticised for being Eibar’s top scorer Borja Baston hit the nearest challengers Atletico Madrid cut Real are third in the league on 72 caught laughing on the sidelines in crossbar in a rare attack for the visitors to only three points with six games left, points, behind leaders Barcelona on Germany in midweek but the Colombia who are 10th in the table. having held a nine-point advantage less than a fortnight ago, and are now just four points ahead of Real Madrid. “It’s an opportunity for us to dem- ššBarcelona’s Lionel Messi, second right, is challenged by Real Sociedad players. onstrate we’re the best in the world Arbeloa-Pique war like our shirt says,” Enrique said as ROW AT THE REAR they look to defend a 2-1 lead in their Leaders and champions Barcelona lose to Real Sociedad, their Champions league quarterfinal, second of words continues leg at Atletico on Wednesday. second straight defeat, as the title race becomes wide open. “Everything is to play for and to win. Look how difficult No one’s going to leave here crying. At EAL Madrid defender Alvaro Ar- Champions League quarterfinal first leg it’s to win against this stage last year we were only two beloa reignited his long-running with Atletico Madrid, but secured a 2-1 11 men. My friend Neymar can play Barca, without top scorer Luis Suarez Madrid with another slip-up. points above second place with a worse Rwar of words with Barcelona’s win after Atletico goal scorer Fernando (Gerard Pique) is in Rio, not Copa Richard Martin through suspension, fielded a much- The European champions are with- head-to-head difference,” he said. Gerard Pique by suggesting that the Torres was dismissed in the 35th minute. obsessed with Real changed side and managed just five out a victory in three league outings, Spanish League leaders manage to Pique responded by belittling the Madrid. Brazilian forward Neymar was last week given the go-ahead to play at shots on target all game. their longest stretch since Luis Enrique win only if opposing teams have had 33-year-old’s irregular run in the Madrid Alvaro Arbeloa, the Olympics by Barcelona, but was took charge in 2014. players sent off. team, with Arbeloa starting just two Real Madrid defender. EADERS Barcelona’s Anoeta The coach made four changes to the La Liga leaders Barca surprisingly suc- league games this season. ordered not to take part in the Copa America. Stadium jinx struck again when team that lost to Real Madrid, bring- cumbed 1-0 to mid-table Real Sociedad “A player who has only started once Winger Oiarzabal Brazil coach Dunga had been Lthey lost 0-1 at Real Sociedad last ing back midfielder Rafinha after a six- last week, a result that not only con- (sic) in 32 games doesn’t deserve a hoping to have the influential striker headed the only goal A player who has only week, their second successive defeat month injury absence and starting with- demned the Catalans to their second response,” he said. “I’ll say to him at both tournaments — the Copa in for Sociedad in the fifth started once (sic) in in La Liga. out Andres Iniesta, Jordi Alba and Ivan successive league defeat but also blew what my friends say to me which is 32 games doesn’t the United States from June 3 to 26 minute against Barca. and the Rio Olympics, which runs Winger Mikel Oiarzabal headed the Rakitic. the title race wide open. They now lead that when you’re not a protagonist on deserve a response. I only goal for Sociedad in the fifth minute. Barca were handed their fifth defeat second-placed Atletico Madrid by three the pitch you shouldn’t try to be one from August 4 to 20. want to make it clear “The game began in the worst way in six visits to Sociedad after 18-year- points and third-placed Real by four. off it either.” But in a letter sent to the Brazilian that Arbeloa isn’t my Football Confederation (CBF), and possible,” said Barca coach Luis Enrique. Luis Enrique’s team have 76 points with old Oiarzabal nodded in a cross from “Look how difficult it’s to win against After Madrid were disqualified from seen by Globoesporte and Mundo “We played really badly in the first half. six games to go, three ahead of Atletico Xabi Prieto. 11 men,” Arbeloa mocked on Twitter, the King’s Cup in December for field- friend, he’s just an acquaintance. Deportivo, European champions “We didn’t deserve to lose but we’re still and four in front of Real Madrid. The visitors struggled to get back in the referring to the fact that Barcelona have ing the suspended Denis Cheryshev in Barcelona insist that Neymar needs to the leaders. Now we’ve to pick ourselves After going unbeaten in all compe- game and home goalkeeper Geronimo often benefited from opposing players a game against third-tier Cadiz, Spain Gerard Pique, have adequate rest over the summer up after leaving this great stadium where tition for six months, Barca have fol- Rulli did well to save from Lionel Messi being sent off. international Pique expressed his glee Barcelona defender. before the start of the next domestic we never do well.” lowed the 1-2 El Classico defeat to Real twice, substitute Iniesta and Arda Turan. ššLuis Enrique Barca were trailing 1-0 in the recent in a Twitter post. season. Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 17

MEDIA SCAN

ššFernando Torres and Koke.

Koke and Torres, always connected

Koke assisted Fernando Torres for a third consecutive game, with both players getting on the scoresheet ššReal Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo scores against Eibar. against Espanyol. The pair have had a good understanding recently, with assists coming between them against against Real Betis, Barcelona and now Espanyol. Diego Simeone said Ronaldo enjoying his life in 30s! in his pre-game press conference that El Nino was “doing a good job” and his words bore fruit as his striker RISTIANO Ronaldo became 76 and Atletico Madrid (73). international lifted the crowd by scor- scored his third goal in just eight days the first player to hit 30 La Liga Coach Zinedine Zidane made eight ing early on, his first goal in just under — two in the league and one in the Champions League.Atletico Madrid Cgoals in six consecutive seasons changes to the team that suffered a two months. went 1-0 down to the Periquitos as he inspired Real Madrid to a 4-0 shock 0-2 defeat at VfL Wolfsburg in A fine piece of skill from Ronaldo shortly before half-time before goals thrashing of Eibar last week. the Champions League in midweek allowed Vazquez to pass the ball from Torres, Antoine Griezmann and The Portugal forward netted in the with only Ronaldo, Pepe and Casemiro into an empty net in the 18th minute Koke rescued his side in a 3-1 victory. 19th minute and also provided passes keeping their places. before the record-breaker finished off Koke assisted Torres’ equaliser, for Lucas Vazquez and Jese to score Brazilian right back Danilo was booed a cut-back from the lively Jese a min- while Torres returned the favour late as the hosts stormed into a 4-0 half- by the home fans for his disappointing ute later. on as the midfielder scored the third goal for Atletico. time lead. display at Wolfsburg when he came on Ronaldo returned the favour for the James Rodriguez had opened Real’s in the second half, but it was an other- 23-year-old in the 39th minute as Real account with a curling free kick in the wise positive afternoon for Real. made it 4-0. fifth minute. Rodriguez was criticised for being Eibar’s top scorer Borja Baston hit the Real are third in the league on 72 caught laughing on the sidelines in crossbar in a rare attack for the visitors points, behind leaders Barcelona on Germany in midweek but the Colombia who are 10th in the table. Arbeloa-Pique war of words continues ROW AT THE REAR Look how difficult EAL Madrid defender Alvaro Ar- Champions League quarterfinal first leg it’s to win against beloa reignited his long-running with Atletico Madrid, but secured a 2-1 11 men. My friend Neymar can play Rwar of words with Barcelona’s win after Atletico goal scorer Fernando (Gerard Pique) is in Rio, not Copa Gerard Pique by suggesting that the Torres was dismissed in the 35th minute. obsessed with Real Spanish League leaders manage to Pique responded by belittling the Madrid. Brazilian forward Neymar was last week given the go-ahead to play at win only if opposing teams have had 33-year-old’s irregular run in the Madrid Alvaro Arbeloa, the Olympics by Barcelona, but was players sent off. team, with Arbeloa starting just two Real Madrid defender. La Liga leaders Barca surprisingly suc- league games this season. ordered not to take part in the Copa America. cumbed 1-0 to mid-table Real Sociedad “A player who has only started once Brazil coach Dunga had been last week, a result that not only con- (sic) in 32 games doesn’t deserve a A player who has only hoping to have the influential striker demned the Catalans to their second response,” he said. “I’ll say to him started once (sic) in at both tournaments — the Copa in successive league defeat but also blew what my friends say to me which is 32 games doesn’t the United States from June 3 to 26 and the Rio Olympics, which runs the title race wide open. They now lead that when you’re not a protagonist on deserve a response. I second-placed Atletico Madrid by three the pitch you shouldn’t try to be one from August 4 to 20. want to make it clear points and third-placed Real by four. off it either.” But in a letter sent to the Brazilian that Arbeloa isn’t my Football Confederation (CBF), and “Look how difficult it’s to win against After Madrid were disqualified from seen by Globoesporte and Mundo 11 men,” Arbeloa mocked on Twitter, the King’s Cup in December for field- friend, he’s just an acquaintance. Deportivo, European champions referring to the fact that Barcelona have ing the suspended Denis Cheryshev in Barcelona insist that Neymar needs to often benefited from opposing players a game against third-tier Cadiz, Spain Gerard Pique, have adequate rest over the summer being sent off. international Pique expressed his glee Barcelona defender. before the start of the next domestic ššLuis Enrique Barca were trailing 1-0 in the recent in a Twitter post. season. 18 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 19 Football

RESULTS SERIE A Empoli bt Fiorentina 2-0 Napoli bt Verona 3-0 Dortmund drop point, Palermo lost to Lazio 0-3 Sampdoria bt Udinese 2-0 Torino bt Atalanta 2-1 AC Milan lost to Juventus 1-2 Verona bt Carpi 1-0 Frosinone lost to Inter 0-1 title hopes suffer jolt Sassuolo lost to Genoa 0-1 ššGianni Infantino BUNDESLIGA Cologne lost to Leverkusen 0-2 ORUSSIA Dortmund coach Schalke drew Dortmund 2-2 Thomas Tuchel appeared to Frankfurt lost to Hoffenheim 0-2 Infantino says he Bthrow in the towel in the Bun- Ingolstadt 04 bt B Moenchengladbach 1-0 desliga title race after his side drew Hamburg lost to Darmstadt 1-2 is innocent over Stuttgart lost to Bayern Munich 1-3 2-2 at Schalke 04 in the Ruhr derby Wolfsburg drew Mainz 1-1 last Sunday, leaving leaders Bayern Panama Papers Werder Bremen lost to Augsburg 1-2 Munich seven points clear. Hertha Berlin drew Hanover 2-2 LIGUE 1 A gem from Shinji Kagawa and an IFA’S under-fire president Gianni Lille bt Monaco 4-1 unusual goal from Matthias Ginter put Infantino insisted he had done Nice bt Stade Rennes 3-0 Dortmund ahead twice, but the hosts hit Fnothing wrong despite being Oly Marseille drew Bordeaux 0-0 back through Leroy Sane and a Klaas- linked to the Panama Papers leaks. Angers drew Ajaccio 0-0 Caen lost to FC Lorient 1-2 Jan Huntelaar penalty. In an exclusive interview to German En Avant lost to PSG 0-2 With only five matches to play, Bayern magazine Kicker, the 46-year-old, who St Etienne bt Troyes 1-0 are closing in on a fourth successive was voted as FIFA’s new president in Stade de Reims bt Nantes 2-1 Toulouse bt Bastia 4-0 title after their 3-1 win at VfB Stuttgart February, is adamant he acted correctly Montpellier lost to Oly Lyon 0-2 last week. in a previous role as UEFA’s legal chief. Swiss police searched UEFA head- STANDINGS quarters in Nyon last week as part of As of Sunday a “criminal mismanagement” probe SERIE A Bayern Munich are Juventus 32 24 4 4 58 17 76 into a Champions League TV rights Napoli 32 21 7 4 66 27 70 closing in on a fourth deal co-signed by Infantino in 2006. AS Roma 31 18 9 4 66 32 63 successive title after The deal was revealed last week in Inter Milan 32 17 7 8 42 30 58 their 3-1 win at Stuttgart. AFP/ Patrik Stollarz Fiorentina 32 16 8 8 51 35 56 the Panama Papers, a leaked set of š AC Milan 32 13 10 9 42 35 49 šDortmund’s Matthias Ginter, centre, celebrates with team-mates after scoring against Schalke. 11.5 million documents that provide Sassuolo 32 12 12 8 40 35 48 detailed information about more than Lazio 32 12 9 11 42 42 45 Schalke are seventh with 45 points, 214,000 offshore companies listed by Chievo Verona 32 12 8 12 38 40 44 REUTERS/ Ciro De Luca Genoa 32 11 7 14 37 37 40 behind Borussia Moenchengladbach Sane levelled two minutes later, fir- and Ginter, in between two defenders, the Panamanian corporate service pro- ššNapoli’s Lorenzo Insigne converts a penalty against Verona. Torino 32 10 9 13 41 44 39 and Mainz 05 on goal difference. ing home the rebound after Roman was left unchallenged to head in the ball. vider Mossack Fonseca. Empoli 32 10 9 13 36 43 39 However, their chances of qualify- Buerki parried the ball invitingly into Huntelaar levelled again when the Bologna 31 10 6 15 30 36 36 ing for the Champions League were his path, but the game quickly took Dutchman won and converted a penalty Atalanta Bergamo 32 9 9 14 31 38 36 Sampdoria 32 9 9 14 46 49 36 dented when Bayer Leverkusen won another twist. in the 65th after he was shoved over by Udinese 32 9 7 16 29 48 34 2-0 at Cologne to go three points ahead Henrik Mkhitaryan’s free-kick hit a Sokratis Papastathopoulos. Both teams Argentina top Carpi 32 6 10 16 29 50 28 of them in fourth, which earns a place Schalke defender and looped into the then had chances to win the game in Palermo 32 7 7 18 29 57 28 in the playoff rounds. area, the home defence was wrong-footed a frantic finale. Frosinone 32 7 6 19 29 60 27 world rankings Determined effort Verona 32 3 13 16 27 54 22 There was little excitement in the BUNDESLIGA first half but the game sprang into life RGENTINA moved top as Bayern Munich 29 24 3 2 69 14 75 after the break. South America dominated Dortmund 29 21 5 3 69 30 68 It’s a very realistic scenario that Bayern will Dortmund struck first in the 49th the monthly FIFA rankings, Napoli make up for Gonzalo Higuain’s absence in their win over Verona. Hertha Berlin 29 14 7 8 39 34 49 A become champions. I don’t know if the big Leverkusen 29 14 6 9 44 33 48 minute when Moritz Leitner backheeled comeback is really still on. We were playing with five teams, half of the continent’s B Moenchengladbach 29 14 3 12 59 45 45 the ball into the path of Kagawa and our 48th competitive match of the season total, in the top 10. to smaller Tuscan neighbours Empoli club say will continue until their appeal Mainz 29 13 6 10 40 36 45 the Japanese midfielder dinked the ball Argentina’s World Cup qualifying wins Brian Homewood Schalke 29 13 6 10 41 40 45 and we’re close to our physical limit. for the first time since 1997, leaving against Higuain’s ban has been heard. Wolfsburg 29 10 9 10 40 38 39 over Ralf Faehrmann from the edge away at Chile and home to Bolivia dis- them fifth. Palermo have endured a chaotic sea- Ingolstadt 29 10 9 10 27 31 39 of the area. Thomas Tuchel, Borussia Dortmund coach. lodged Belgium, who had been lead- Second-placed Napoli stayed six son featuring six different coaches, one Hamburg 29 9 7 13 35 40 34 ing for the previous five months and points behind leaders Juventus who of them twice, and there was no let-up Cologne 29 8 10 11 29 37 34 dropped them into second. Stuttgart 29 9 6 14 46 59 33 APOLI overcame the absence won 2-1 at AC Milan to keep up their last Sunday. Darmstadt 29 7 11 11 32 44 32 Despite the defeat, of suspended top scorer Gon- unstoppable run, with six matches to Lazio, who have endured a mini- Hoffenheim 29 7 10 12 33 44 31 Chile climbed to third, Nzalo Higuain to brush aside play and remain outsiders to land their crisis during which Stefano Pioli was Augsburg 29 7 9 13 37 48 30 Lucas strikes a brace in PSG’s victory an all-time high, with Werder Bremen 29 7 7 15 39 59 28 rock bottom Verona 3-0 in Serie A last first title since 1990. sacked as coach last week and replaced Colombia one place Frankfurt 29 6 9 14 29 46 27 TOP 10 Sunday while Palermo’s poor season by Simone Inzaghi, raced into a 2-0 Hanover 29 5 3 21 24 54 18 behind them in fourth, Argentina LIGUE 1 continued with a shambolic 0-3 home lead after 15 minutes with both goals UCAS Moura struck twice after victory over Troyes on March 13. Belgium Brazil seventh and PSG 33 26 5 2 83 18 83 defeat by Lazio. scored by 37-year-old former Germany the interval for a second-string Guingamp troubled the visitors Chile Uruguay ninth. Second-placed Napoli Oly Lyon 33 16 7 10 54 34 55 Colombia Higuain’s replacement, Manolo forward Miroslav Klose. Monaco 33 14 13 6 48 40 55 LParis Saint-Germain team as the during the first half and had the ball The rankings did not stayed six points behind Germany Gabbiadini, opened the scoring in Palermo fans reacted with predict- Nice 33 15 8 10 50 37 53 Ligue 1 champions triumphed 2-0 at in the net in the ninth minute only for make such happy read- Spain the 33rd minute, and Lorenzo Insigne leaders Juventus who able fury and the match was stopped Stade Rennes 33 13 12 8 50 42 51 lowly Guingamp last week. Jimmy Briand’s effort to be ruled offside. ing for Asia, who had Brazil doubled the lead from the spot after won 2-1 at AC Milan. for one minute midway through the St Etienne 33 15 6 12 39 34 51 Lucas opened the scoring from the PSG’s victory was marred by a first- only two teams in the Lille 33 12 13 8 33 25 49 Portugal Samuel Souprayen was sent off in first- first half and again early in the second Angers 33 12 10 11 35 32 46 penalty spot after young Christopher half thigh injury suffered by goalkeeper Uruguay top 50, Iran in 42nd and half stoppage time while Jose Callejon period as firecrackers were thrown, one Caen 33 14 4 15 35 44 46 Nkunku was brought down by Jeremy Kevin Trapp who was replaced at the England regional champions sealed the win in the 70th. Higuain, who has led Napoli’s chal- landing near Lazio’s Antonio Candreva. Nantes 33 11 11 11 30 35 44 Sorbon in the 56th minute as he burst break and may be doubtful for the Australia in 50th. The Sicilians stayed in the relegation lenge with 30 league goals, will also miss Another goal by Felipe Anderson piled Bastia 33 12 7 14 31 37 43 into the box. The Brazil forward added Champions League return leg against Algeria were African’s highest-placed Girondins Bordeaux 33 10 13 10 41 50 43 zone after a game that was twice inter- the next three games as he completes on the agony for the hosts and fuelled FC Lorient 33 10 12 11 45 51 42 a second goal in the 71st when he fin- Manchester City. team in 33rd, one ahead of Ivory Coast, rupted as Palermo fans, furious at their a four-match ban for his sending-off suggestions their latest coach Walter Oly Marseille 33 8 16 9 43 38 40 ished calmly from inside the area fol- Elsewhere, Monaco slipped down to while 16th-ranked Mexico led the way team’s performance, threw firecrack- and furious reaction in the recent 1-3 Novellino could also be fired. En Avant Guingamp 33 10 9 14 39 49 39 lowing Layvin Kurzawa’s cut-back. third after losing 1-4 at Lille. The prin- for CONCACAF. Montpellier HSC 33 10 7 16 38 42 37 ers on to the pitch and tore up plas- defeat at Udinese. Palermo remained in the bottom three, Stade de Reims 33 9 9 15 37 48 36 Lucas’s double masked an uncon- cipality side, who had held a 10-point Three-time continental champions tic seats much to the disappoinment Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri and his behind Carpi on goal difference as the GFC Ajaccio 33 7 13 13 31 45 34 vincing PSG performance, indicative lead over Olympique Lyon six weeks Nigeria dropped to 67th after failing to

of match officials. Fiorentina’s recent players refused to speak to reporters, two sides have an identical head-to- Toulouse 33 7 11 15 38 49 32 of most of their league showings since ago, now trail Bruno Genesio’s side on Mahe REUTERS/ Stephane qualify for next year’s African Nations dismal run continued when they lost maintaining the media blackout the head record. ES Troyes AC 33 2 8 23 22 72 14 they won the title with a thumping 9-0 goal difference. ššLucas Moura... two-goal effort. Cup. Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 19

Dortmund drop point, title hopes suffer jolt ššGianni Infantino ORUSSIA Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel appeared to Infantino says he Bthrow in the towel in the Bun- desliga title race after his side drew is innocent over 2-2 at Schalke 04 in the Ruhr derby last Sunday, leaving leaders Bayern Panama Papers Munich seven points clear. A gem from Shinji Kagawa and an IFA’S under-fire president Gianni unusual goal from Matthias Ginter put Infantino insisted he had done Dortmund ahead twice, but the hosts hit Fnothing wrong despite being back through Leroy Sane and a Klaas- linked to the Panama Papers leaks. Jan Huntelaar penalty. In an exclusive interview to German With only five matches to play, Bayern magazine Kicker, the 46-year-old, who are closing in on a fourth successive was voted as FIFA’s new president in title after their 3-1 win at VfB Stuttgart February, is adamant he acted correctly last week. in a previous role as UEFA’s legal chief. Swiss police searched UEFA head- quarters in Nyon last week as part of Bayern Munich are a “criminal mismanagement” probe into a Champions League TV rights closing in on a fourth deal co-signed by Infantino in 2006. successive title after The deal was revealed last week in

their 3-1 win at Stuttgart. AFP/ Patrik Stollarz the Panama Papers, a leaked set of ššDortmund’s Matthias Ginter, centre, celebrates with team-mates after scoring against Schalke. 11.5 million documents that provide detailed information about more than Schalke are seventh with 45 points, 214,000 offshore companies listed by behind Borussia Moenchengladbach Sane levelled two minutes later, fir- and Ginter, in between two defenders, the Panamanian corporate service pro- and Mainz 05 on goal difference. ing home the rebound after Roman was left unchallenged to head in the ball. vider Mossack Fonseca. However, their chances of qualify- Buerki parried the ball invitingly into Huntelaar levelled again when the ing for the Champions League were his path, but the game quickly took Dutchman won and converted a penalty dented when Bayer Leverkusen won another twist. in the 65th after he was shoved over by 2-0 at Cologne to go three points ahead Henrik Mkhitaryan’s free-kick hit a Sokratis Papastathopoulos. Both teams Argentina top of them in fourth, which earns a place Schalke defender and looped into the then had chances to win the game in in the playoff rounds. area, the home defence was wrong-footed a frantic finale. world rankings There was little excitement in the first half but the game sprang into life RGENTINA moved top as after the break. It’s a very realistic scenario that Bayern will South America dominated Dortmund struck first in the 49th Athe monthly FIFA rankings, become champions. I don’t know if the big minute when Moritz Leitner backheeled comeback is really still on. We were playing with five teams, half of the continent’s the ball into the path of Kagawa and our 48th competitive match of the season total, in the top 10. the Japanese midfielder dinked the ball Argentina’s World Cup qualifying wins and we’re close to our physical limit. over Ralf Faehrmann from the edge away at Chile and home to Bolivia dis- of the area. Thomas Tuchel, Borussia Dortmund coach. lodged Belgium, who had been leading for the previous five months and dropped them into second. Despite the defeat, Chile climbed to third, Lucas strikes a brace in PSG’s victory an all-time high, with Colombia one place TOP 10 behind them in fourth, Argentina UCAS Moura struck twice after victory over Troyes on March 13. Belgium Brazil seventh and the interval for a second-string Guingamp troubled the visitors Chile Uruguay ninth. LParis Saint-Germain team as the during the first half and had the ball Colombia The rankings did not Ligue 1 champions triumphed 2-0 at in the net in the ninth minute only for Germany make such happy read- lowly Guingamp last week. Jimmy Briand’s effort to be ruled offside. Spain ing for Asia, who had Brazil Lucas opened the scoring from the PSG’s victory was marred by a first- Portugal only two teams in the penalty spot after young Christopher half thigh injury suffered by goalkeeper Uruguay top 50, Iran in 42nd and Nkunku was brought down by Jeremy Kevin Trapp who was replaced at the England regional champions Sorbon in the 56th minute as he burst break and may be doubtful for the Australia in 50th. into the box. The Brazil forward added Champions League return leg against Algeria were African’s highest-placed a second goal in the 71st when he fin- Manchester City. team in 33rd, one ahead of Ivory Coast, ished calmly from inside the area fol- Elsewhere, Monaco slipped down to while 16th-ranked Mexico led the way lowing Layvin Kurzawa’s cut-back. third after losing 1-4 at Lille. The prin- for CONCACAF. Lucas’s double masked an uncon- cipality side, who had held a 10-point Three-time continental champions vincing PSG performance, indicative lead over Olympique Lyon six weeks Nigeria dropped to 67th after failing to

of most of their league showings since ago, now trail Bruno Genesio’s side on Mahe REUTERS/ Stephane qualify for next year’s African Nations they won the title with a thumping 9-0 goal difference. ššLucas Moura... two-goal effort. Cup. MANNY PACQUIAO

Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com

REUTERS/ Mark J. Rebilas REUTERS/ Mark J. Rebilas 22 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 23

This year’s Qatar Open had plenty of thrills in store as it formed part of the Olympic qualification process. In the coming months, all eyes will be on beach volleyball as it takes centre stage in its spiritual home on Copacabana Beach at the Rio Olympics. Beach volleyball Ary S Graca, FIVB President. Qatar making right progress

ATAR Volleyball Association about its development, there’s no doubt (QVA) General Secretary Mo- Qatar would soon start producing good Qhammed Ali Al Mohannadi results,” said Al Mohannadi, who is feels the country is making right pro- also chairman of the QVBA. ššRoberto Reggiani gress in the sport despite a late start. The QVBA’s permanent facility at sandstorm! Though beach volleyball was seriously Gharafa includes a 4,000-seat stadium, introduced into the country during the one main court and many adjacent FIVB Technical Supervisor Joep van Iersel feels the sport, though Good results will 2006 Doha Asian Games, it was still in ones in addition to the training venue, its infancy for many more years after offices and meeting rooms. come Qatar’s way that. It got a fillip only after the setting “With the QOC’s support, we not as popular as the indoor version, will become a way of life. ššMohammed Ali Al Mohannadi up of Qatar Beach Volleyball Academy revamped the venue for Arab Games. HE Qatar Volleyball Association (QBVA) at Al Gharafa under the aus- From then on, we’ve been growing ĈĈDutchman all praise activities happen on the sidelines and potential for the sport to grow in the has roped in seasoned Roberto pices of the Qatar Olympic Committee “We started beach volleyball a bit from strength to strength. We hosted for the Qatar Volleyball this is something which the families, Middle East. TReggiani as its beach volleyball (QOC) in 2011. late, compared to other strong coun- the Arab Championship two times and Association especially kids, relish a lot. I’m hope- “The awesome Al Gharafa courts are co-ordinator. Having served at the same The venue was refurbished for the tries whose players have been play- FIVB World Tour Open thrice. We may ful that this sport will become a way similar to four venues in the Netherlands level with his national team, the Italian Arab Games in December, 2011, and the ing together for years. But we’re pro- explore the possibility of hosting a Grand of life in the coming years,” said Iersel. which hosted the World Championships. brings along a sea of experience. He sport has since seen a steady progress. gressing fast and the way we’re going Slam event,’’ he added. DSP Sajith B Warrier The Dutchman, who is also a member If the QVA organises more tournaments, said Qatar had everything to succeed of FIVB’s Rules of the Games Commission, it’ll certainly help the players grow and at the top level. feels national sports federations have the standard will also rise in the region. “The QVA is aiming to prepare a new a big role to play in taking the game to “The level of beach volleyball is going generation of players for the top level. HOUGH beach volleyball is not the masses. up all over the world. Earlier, the players And my mission is to help them in that,” viewed with the same serious- used to play volleyball and then they said Reggiani. Tness as the indoor version, there were getting involved in beach volley- Qatari players have been doing well are signs that things may change soon. The Al Gharafa courts are ball. Now, a new generation of profes- at the international level as was evident The entertainment quotient that sionals is coming up and this when the top pair of Jefferson Pereira comes along with beach volleyball is similar to four venues in augurs well for the sport,” and Cherif Younousse won the Kish a sure recipe for success and, being the Netherlands which he concluded. DSP Island Open in Iran a month ago. That an Olympic sport, it will soon become hosted the Worlds. was the first medal won by a Qatari out- a way of life, says a top official of the fit in an FIVB World Tour Open event. game’s governing body. ŠĈJoep van Iersel Even though a beginning has been FIVB Technical Supervisor Joep van “As beach volleyball grows in popu- made, Reggiani said it would take a Iersel, who was in Doha last week for the larity, it’s important that national fed- while for good results to come. DSP Qatar Open, feels the country is ready erations have a talented workforce to to embrace it after hosting three suc- deliver. The Qatar Volleyball Association cessful editions of the World Tour event. (QVA) has been taking a lead role in pro- “Beach volleyball, though not as pop- moting the game by hosting big events Looking to reach ular as the indoor version, has a charm one after the other. I hope other fed- of its own. It’s a heady mix of sports erations follow suit,” he said. Rio via Sydney and entertainment. Between serves, Iersel, who was the Tournament music is played, often accompanied by Director at last year’s World ATAR coach Pedro Paulo Costa loud cheers from the crowd. Lots of fun Championship at home, feels there is expressed hope that the coun- Qtry’s top pair of Cherif Younousse and Jefferson Pereira would book Rio Olympic berth at the Continental Cup, Mahmoud takes a to be held in Australia in June. Italian job at Qatar Open Younousse and Pereira, eyeing an break from the sport Olympic berth, gained maximum points as part of the Road to Rio by competing Qatar’s Mahmoud Essam, who partnered TALY’S Adrian Carambula and Alex in 12 FIVB World Tour events, includ- Jefferson Pereira in the past, has decided ššCherif Younousse of Qatar receives the ball. Ranghieri beat Austria’s Alexander Qatar’s Jefferson Pereira ing last week’s Qatar Open, but Costa to take a break from beach volleyball to IHuber and Robin Seidl 21-17, 21- believed the Continental Cup was the concentrate more on the indoor version. 19 in the Qatar Open final at the Al and Cherif Younousse best bet for them. Mahmoud, who plays for Al Ahli in the failed to get past the Qatar League, and Pereira had won two Gharafa courts last week for their first In January, hosts Qatar defeated Oman GCC titles. World Tour title of the year. preliminary stage. at the Asian Volleyball Confederation Extra motivation for Pereira “It’s unfortunate. He was teaming up “We were just having fun,” said (AVC) Continental Cup Western Zonal well with Pereira first. Then we paired him Ranghieri. “We had some hard moments Championship to qualify for the with Ahmed Tijan for our second team to resolve. We did our best in every game Meanwhile, Qatar’s Jefferson Pereira finals, to be held in Sydney from ATAR’S top-ranked player Cherif, who is six years younger than him. and they were producing good results. and we’re really happy.” and Cherif Younousse failed to get past June 20 to 26. Jefferson Pereira, who is of “The quarterfinal appearance at the He had to leave Tiago Santos was Carambula and Ranghieri looked the preliminary stage after losing two The winners of the eight-team QBrazilian origin, is relishing the World Championship, which was our beach volleyball to partnering Pereira concentrate on the a bit shaky at start, but once they of their three matches in Pool H. The event will directly qualify for prospect of featuring in the Olympics first tournament together was a big indoor version for his hit their stride, there was no stop- host nation’s second team of Julio Cesar Olympics while the second in his country of birth. before he quit after a thing for us. It added to our self-belief,” club. But Mahmoud ping them. Jr and Ahmed Tijan too faltered at the and third-placed sides will Pereira has struck a fine understand- serious leg injury. said Cherif. is still welcome Carambula caused a number of first hurdle. go to a play-off round. ing with Cherif Younousse, his partner Tiago Santos was partnering Pereira and may join us problems with his serve while Ranghieri The $75,000 prize money Qatar Open “The Continental Cup since the middle of last year. The duo before he quit after a career-threaten- in helping the dominated the net. was a part of the Road to Rio Olympic is the best option for reached the final of World Championships feeling to make the qualification since ing leg injury. But Cherif has proved to team prepare for future Poland’s Piotr Kantor and Bartosz qualification. The World Tour will con- Jefferson (Pereira) and in the Netherlands last June. They won the Games is happening in my home- be an apt replacement. assignments,” Losiak finished third after last year’s tinue until June 13, with points count- Cherif (Younousse) to their maiden FIVB World Tour Open town of Rio and all my family and friends “We’ve had some great results against said Qatar champions Markus Bockermann and ing towards the Olympic ranking in make it to Rio. The level title in Iran last month. could come to watch my matches,” strong opponents. It’s a big year for us coach Pedro Lars Fluggen of Germany withdrew order to determine 15 remaining Rio is very high at World Tour “I’m really looking forward to the said Pereira. and we hope to make the Olympic cut,” Paulo Costa.DSP šĈAlex Ranghieri, left, and Adrian Carambula celebrate the win. due to injury. berths of the total 24. DSP events. DSP Olympics in Brazil. It would be a huge The 26-year-old has been guiding Pereira said. DSP Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 23

This year’s Qatar Open had plenty of thrills in store as it formed part of the Olympic qualification process. In the coming months, all eyes will be on beach volleyball as it takes centre stage in its spiritual home on Copacabana Beach at the Rio Olympics. Ary S Graca, FIVB President. Qatar making right progress

Looking to reach Rio via Sydney

ATAR coach Pedro Paulo Costa expressed hope that the coun- Qtry’s top pair of Cherif Younousse and Jefferson Pereira would book Rio Olympic berth at the Continental Cup, to be held in Australia in June. Younousse and Pereira, eyeing an Olympic berth, gained maximum points as part of the Road to Rio by competing in 12 FIVB World Tour events, including last week’s Qatar Open, but Costa ššCherif Younousse of Qatar receives the ball. believed the Continental Cup was the best bet for them. In January, hosts Qatar defeated Oman at the Asian Volleyball Confederation Extra motivation for Pereira (AVC) Continental Cup Western Zonal Championship to qualify for the finals, to be held in Sydney from ATAR’S top-ranked player Cherif, who is six years younger than him. June 20 to 26. Jefferson Pereira, who is of Tiago Santos was “The quarterfinal appearance at the The winners of the eight-team QBrazilian origin, is relishing the World Championship, which was our event will directly qualify for prospect of featuring in the Olympics partnering Pereira first tournament together was a big Olympics while the second in his country of birth. before he quit after a thing for us. It added to our self-belief,” and third-placed sides will Pereira has struck a fine understand- serious leg injury. said Cherif. go to a play-off round. ing with Cherif Younousse, his partner Tiago Santos was partnering Pereira “The Continental Cup since the middle of last year. The duo before he quit after a career-threaten- is the best option for reached the final of World Championships feeling to make the qualification since ing leg injury. But Cherif has proved to Jefferson (Pereira) and in the Netherlands last June. They won the Games is happening in my home- be an apt replacement. Cherif (Younousse) to their maiden FIVB World Tour Open town of Rio and all my family and friends “We’ve had some great results against make it to Rio. The level title in Iran last month. could come to watch my matches,” strong opponents. It’s a big year for us is very high at World Tour “I’m really looking forward to the said Pereira. and we hope to make the Olympic cut,” events. DSP Olympics in Brazil. It would be a huge The 26-year-old has been guiding Pereira said. DSP 24 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 25 Rugby

‘Sevens can make the game popular in Qatar’ This sort of fan following is crucial to the sport’s AMELS 1 captain Lliese Rakabu popularity. We said the sport could gain more Cpopularity if more sevens tour- were thrilled naments were organised in the region. to see the “The sevens was a wonderful compe- Gaining presence tition and to play in the weekends was of a large a different experience. By hosting such crowd. Rugby events, the sport can be developed in is a new sport Qatar as well as region,” Rakabu told and the support Doha Stadium Plus. from different communities “I thank the Qatar Rugby Federation at the venue gave us a lot of for organising a great sevens series. It confidence. showed the sport can become popular Yousef Al Kuwari, Qatar Rugby if more such tournaments are organ- ground Federation President. ised twice or thrice a year,” he said. “When I came here in December, The overwhelming response to the Qatar I never thought rugby is also played

This was a wonderful chance Divakaran DSP/Vinod in the Gulf. It’s just a great feeling to Sevens League suggests the sport can become for rugby to make inroads ššYousef Al Kuwari presents a rugby ball to HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada. lead Camels 1. I look forward to play- into Qatar, where football is ing in next year’s competition,” said popular in the country in near future. the No.1 sport. Rakabu, who formerly had stints with Personally, it Manawatu Club in New Zealand and was a great Cobra Club in Malaysia. ĈĈ Presence of Sri Lankan Mutawaa told Doha Stadium Plus. opportunity Camels 1 champions Though his Camels 1 side won the players in the Lions team “We’ve had an amazing league and to play in title without much of a trouble, the a welcome sign it’ll only get better from here.” the Sevens 25-year-old expects a tougher com- Mutawaa, whose mother hails from AMELS 1 beat Hurricanes 38-12 confidence touched my heart. Hurricanes petition next time. DSP ĈĈ Qatar can become one tournament. of the popular pockets Chicago, said rugby was his favourite We’ve had an in the final to win the inaugu- played really well and they were difficult sport along with American football. amazing league and it’s only Cral Qatar Sevens League at the to beat. They never stopped coming at “I started playing the sport in Doha. going to get better. Aspire Zone last week. us with the ball and they knew how to It was an easy transition for me as both Camels 1 (56 points) won all 14 make us run,” Rakabu said. Mohammad Amin-ul Islam are contact sports,” said the 24-year- Rakan Mutawaa, Camels 2 player. Hurricanes defeated Lions 22-12 in old, who will represent Qatar at the the semifinal before blanking Al Khor Asian Rugby Tri-Nation Division III 29-0 in the quarterfinal. Championship on Saturday. Qatar is moving in the right Some of the boys were Camels 2, who were third in the league OST sports lovers Minister of Energy and Industry HE direction. With beginners, but their with 42 points, overcame Khor 33-10 in the Arab world, Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, the Qatar Olympic amazing confidence in the Plates finals. Mwhere football is the Committee’s touched my heart. The Bowls final pitted sixth and sev- No.1 game, may dismiss support, the enth-placed teams College of North ššLliese Rakabu sport will rugby as a sport that Fans turned up in Atlantic Qatar and Blue Falcons, with involves a group of grow. I hope matches to become the first side to the former taking the honours with a oversized men run- numbers on a cool Qatar will soon remain unbeaten in a season. 24-10 win. DSP ning wildly throwing evening to catch the become one of “I’m happy to win the title. We really Qatar to face Iran an ostrich egg-shaped action at the final. the major forces in the region. worked hard for it,” Camels 1 captain RESULTS ball around. Lliese Rakabu told Doha Stadium Plus. FINAL Camels 1 bt Hurricanes 38-12 in opening game Aaron Stockdale, But surprisingly, fans turned “We played as a team. Some of the BOWLS FINAL CNAQ bt Blue Falcons 24-10 Asia Rugby Competition Consultant. PLATES FINAL Camels 2 bt Al Khor 33-10 up in numbers on a cool evening to chief guest at the final, was delighted boys were beginners, but their amazing ATAR will face Iran in the Asian catch the action between Camels 1 with the crowd’s enthusiasm. Tri-Nation Division III Cham- and Hurricanes in the Qatar Sevens “Congratulations to Camels 1 and Qpionship at the Aspire Zone League final at the Aspire Zone last the Qatar Rugby Federation (QRF) on on Saturday. week. developing and promoting the con- Iran will take on Lebabon on April 19 Most fans were Europeans, but there cept of health through sports,” said while Qatar play Lebanon on April 22. were some from Asian nations, where Al Sada. The competition, which was known the sport has just begun to grow. The Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) as the Asian Five Nations till 2015, is presence of some Sri Lankan players President Hilal Al Kuwari, AZF Events a part of Qatar Rugby Federation’s in the Lions team was also a welcome Manager Abdullah Al Khater as well efforts to further boost and promote sign for the game’s bright future. as Qatar Chamber of Commerce and the sport. DSP US-born Qatari Rakan Mutawaa, Industry Vice-Chairman Mohammed who switched from American foot- bin Ahmed bin Towar Al Kuwari were QATAR SQUAD ball to rugby just eight months ago, also present. Thomas Nolan Rakan Mutawaa believes Qatar can become one of the “This sort of fan following is cru- Jamie Frost Timothy Newnham Aaron Salmon Talal Mujalli popular pockets. cial to the sport’s popularity. We were Aaron Palmer Joseph Goonetilleke “This was a wonderful chance for thrilled to see it. Rugby is a new sport Huw Kinsella Malcolm Reid rugby to make inroads into the coun- and the presence of fans from differ- Mark O’Donnell Abdulaziz Al Dosari try, where football is the top sport. ent communities gave us a lot of con- Tom Featherstone (cap) Shane Watson Personally, it was a great opportunity fidence,” said QRF President Yousef Neil Thomas Asad Ali Robbie Gaule Grant Finn DSP to play in the Sevens tournament,” Al Kuwari. Paul Beard Oliver Scudamore Mubarak Al Malik Matthew Uffindall şĈCamels 1’s Orisi Sareki in action against Hurricanes in the final. David Saxon Abdul Karem Al Jonathan Davis Mohannadi DSP/Vinod Divakaran DSP/Vinod ššThe triumphant Camels 1 team members with Qatar Rugby Federation officials. Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 25

‘Sevens can make the game popular in Qatar’ This sort of fan following is crucial to the sport’s AMELS 1 captain Lliese Rakabu popularity. We said the sport could gain more Cpopularity if more sevens tour- were thrilled naments were organised in the region. to see the “The sevens was a wonderful compe- presence tition and to play in the weekends was of a large a different experience. By hosting such crowd. Rugby events, the sport can be developed in is a new sport Qatar as well as region,” Rakabu told and the support Doha Stadium Plus. from different communities “I thank the Qatar Rugby Federation at the venue gave us a lot of for organising a great sevens series. It confidence. showed the sport can become popular Yousef Al Kuwari, Qatar Rugby if more such tournaments are organ- Federation President. ised twice or thrice a year,” he said. “When I came here in December, I never thought rugby is also played

This was a wonderful chance Divakaran DSP/Vinod in the Gulf. It’s just a great feeling to for rugby to make inroads ššYousef Al Kuwari presents a rugby ball to HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada. lead Camels 1. I look forward to play- into Qatar, where football is ing in next year’s competition,” said the No.1 sport. Rakabu, who formerly had stints with Personally, it Manawatu Club in New Zealand and was a great Cobra Club in Malaysia. opportunity Camels 1 champions Though his Camels 1 side won the to play in title without much of a trouble, the the Sevens 25-year-old expects a tougher com- tournament. AMELS 1 beat Hurricanes 38-12 confidence touched my heart. Hurricanes petition next time. DSP We’ve had an in the final to win the inaugu- played really well and they were difficult amazing league and it’s only Cral Qatar Sevens League at the to beat. They never stopped coming at going to get better. Aspire Zone last week. us with the ball and they knew how to Camels 1 (56 points) won all 14 make us run,” Rakabu said. Rakan Mutawaa, Camels 2 player. Hurricanes defeated Lions 22-12 in the semifinal before blanking Al Khor 29-0 in the quarterfinal. Qatar is moving in the right Some of the boys were Camels 2, who were third in the league direction. With beginners, but their with 42 points, overcame Khor 33-10 Qatar Olympic amazing confidence in the Plates finals. Committee’s touched my heart. The Bowls final pitted sixth and sev- support, the enth-placed teams College of North ššLliese Rakabu sport will Atlantic Qatar and Blue Falcons, with grow. I hope matches to become the first side to the former taking the honours with a Qatar will soon remain unbeaten in a season. 24-10 win. DSP become one of “I’m happy to win the title. We really Qatar to face Iran the major forces in the region. worked hard for it,” Camels 1 captain RESULTS Lliese Rakabu told Doha Stadium Plus. FINAL Camels 1 bt Hurricanes 38-12 in opening game Aaron Stockdale, “We played as a team. Some of the BOWLS FINAL CNAQ bt Blue Falcons 24-10 Asia Rugby Competition Consultant. PLATES FINAL Camels 2 bt Al Khor 33-10 boys were beginners, but their amazing ATAR will face Iran in the Asian Tri-Nation Division III Cham- Qpionship at the Aspire Zone on Saturday. Iran will take on Lebabon on April 19 while Qatar play Lebanon on April 22. The competition, which was known as the Asian Five Nations till 2015, is a part of Qatar Rugby Federation’s efforts to further boost and promote the sport. DSP

QATAR SQUAD Thomas Nolan Rakan Mutawaa Jamie Frost Timothy Newnham Aaron Salmon Talal Mujalli Aaron Palmer Joseph Goonetilleke Huw Kinsella Malcolm Reid Mark O’Donnell Abdulaziz Al Dosari Tom Featherstone (cap) Shane Watson Neil Thomas Asad Ali Robbie Gaule Grant Finn Paul Beard Oliver Scudamore Mubarak Al Malik Matthew Uffindall David Saxon Abdul Karem Al ššThe triumphant Camels 1 team members with Qatar Rugby Federation officials. Jonathan Davis Mohannadi 26 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 27

Qatar’s Al Sadd are clubbed in with Al Manama (Bahrain), Sadd, Wasl Al Wasl (UAE) and Ohud (KSA) at the 36th GCC Club Championship after the draw was held in Dubai last week. drawn into The championship, to be held from May 13 to 22, will feature same group eight clubs. Qatar’s Al Rayyan, Al Ahli (UAE), Al Ahli (Bahrain) At a glance and Nazwa (Oman) are in Group B.

MOTORSPORT ATHLETICS Felix to face Schippers in Doha

ORLD champions Allyson Felix and Dafne Schippers Ware expected for a scintil- lating 100M clash in what promises to Desert master! ššAl Rayyan’s Tanguy Ngombo, left, in action. be the most anticipated head-to-head battle at the first of 14-leg IAAF Dia- Ace Qatari driver Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah wins again at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. mond League series in Doha on May 6. BASKETBALL Few athletes are as familiar with the Doha conditions as Felix, who will be CE Qatari driver Nasser Saleh Rayyan in Emir’s chasing her 12th victory at the Qatar Al Attiyah cruised to his sec- Sports Club and her fourth over 100M. Aond victory at the Abu Dhabi Cup semifinals “It’s always great to be back in Doha Desert Challenge last week. and start my international season there,” Nasser, partnering French co-driver ATAR League and Qatar Cup said Felix, whose 11 victories in the Mathieu Baumel in a Toyota Hilux, was champions Al Rayyan thrashed Qatari capital also include three in 200M fastest on the 34km Abu Dhabi Aviation QAl Ahli 104-71 to book a place in and five straight in 400M from 2007 to ššAllyson Felix Stage and reached the finish at the Yas the Emir’s Cup best-of-three semifinals 2011. In 2012, she won the short dash Marina Circuit holding an emphatic win- at the Al Gharafa Indoor Hall last week. in 10.92, still the meet record, as a prel- ning margin of 32min, 13sec over Saudi Rayyan, who are in excellent form ude to her Olympic 200M triumph in “It’ll be a great early-season test three 10.81. Her transformation to interna- Arabia’s Yazeed Al Rajhi and German this season, will meet last year’s run- London. months before the Olympic Games. tional sprint star has been nearly as Timo Gotschalk in a Mini All4Racing. ners-up Al Sadd in the last four. Last year, the 30-year-old added The conditions in Doha are always just swift, coming just two years after she Tanguy Ngombo, with 30 points, was the world 400M title to her long list of about ideal and the competition is very won bronze in heptathlon at the 2013 ššNasser Saleh Al Attiyah, right, with the top scorer for Rayyan while Joseph achievements, an important stepping strong,” said Felix. Worlds. We never made a Mathieu Baumel, left, on the podium. Raffa and Hassan Mohamed chipped stone to her Olympic 200-400M dou- The test will indeed be a tough one Schippers was victorious in the in with 20 and 19 respectively. ble aspirations in Rio. for the three-time 200M world cham- pair’s last meeting, beating Felix in the mistake, never got stuck. Ngombo produced six three-point- pion, 2012 IAAF Athlete of the Year and Diamond League final in Brussels last It was a great team display which saw him win four of the ers and tormented the rival defence September. effort to win this rally. five desert stages. with some key plays as Rayyan opened The field will also include reigning “I’m so happy to win the event again. up a 57-36 lead at the end of second I’ve heard so many great US champion and 2015 world bronze I really enjoyed driving the Toyota. We quarter. Hassan helped accelerate the medallist Tori Bowie over the distance; Six minutes further away in another never made a mistake, never got stuck. score with five three-pointers while things about Doha, Murielle Ahoure of Cote D’Ivoire, who Mini, Finn Mikko Hirvonen marked his It was a great team effort to win this Raffa had two. about the competition raced to 100 and 200M silver at the 2013 Desert Challenge debut with third place rally,” said Nasser. ššNasser Saleh Al Attiyah on his way to victory. For Ahli, Ibou Sarr top-scored with 28 and about the fast track. World Championships; and Jamaican alongside French co-driver Michel Perin Four-time WRC runner-up Hirvonen while Lavalle Joyner and Elhadj Seydou Veronica Campbell-Brown, whose long in the second round of this year’s FIA said, “It has been a good rally. I learned contributed 21 and 18 respectively. list of accolades include back-to-back World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies. a lot and that was the aim. We got better RESULTS Earlier, Hassino Ndoye produced a three-time Diamond Race winner who’ll Olympic 200M titles in 2004 and 2008, American Bryce Menzies, on his first and better during the rally. Still there’re CARS BIKES match-high 25 as Al Gharafa mauled take on Schippers, the rising sprint star and a bronze medal at the 2015 Worlds. 1. Nasser Al Attiyah/Mathieu Toyota Hilux 17:14.49 1. Toby Price (AUS) KTM 450 Rally Factory 1 18:18.24 appearance in the event, Poland’s Jakub things to learn, like following Nasser’s Baumel (QAT/FRA) Qatar Sports Club 79-57. who won the world 200M title last sum- The Doha Diamond League also Przygonski and Frenchman Mathieu speed through the dunes. 2. Yazeed Al-Rajhi/Timo 2. Sam Sunderland Gharafa was in command right from mer in Beijing with a sterling 21.63 run. announced a stellar field in men’s 110M Mini All4 Racing 17:47.02 KTM 450 Rally Factory 1 18:20.35 Serradori, who climbed past the UAE’s “Stage 4 was definitely the tough- Gotschalk (KSA/DEU) (GBR) the outset and completed a compre- “I’ve heard so many great things about hurdles, which includes Jamaican Omar 3. Mikko Hirvonen/ 3. Pablo Quintanilla Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi in an Abu Dhabi est. I was pushing all through it and Mini All4 Racing 17:53.02 Husqvarna 450 Rally Factory 1 18:21.47 hensive win that would stand them in Doha, about the competition and about McLeod who’ll be looking to extend Michel Perin (FIN/FRA) (CHL) Racing Mini, completed the top six. I knew I was fast. I felt dehydrated a 4. Bryce Menzies/Andreas 4. Mohammed Al good stead when it comes to play-offs. the fast track,” said Schippers, who the momentum that propelled him Mini All4 Racing 17:59.04 KTM 450 Rally Replica 18:56.38 Nasser, who secured his first Desert bit, but wanted to bring it home. But Schulz (USA/DEU) Balooshi (ARE) Hassino Ndoye played for the entire also raced to World Championships to world indoor gold in Portland last 5. Jakub Przygonski/Tom 5. Pierre Alexandre DSP Challenge title in 2008, wore a broad those five days — that was proper ral- Mini All4 Racing 18:06.33 Husqvarna 450 Rally Factory 1 18:57.02 duration, scoring 22 including two three- silver last year in 100M clocking month to his 2016 outdoor debut. smile at the finish after a dominant lying. It was a great experience.” DSP Colsoul (POL/BEL) Renet (FRA) pointers. DSP

FOCUS ON ASPIRE Injuries, lifestyle in focus Another mark of outstanding quality HOW THEY REACTED SPETAR participated in the During the conference, Aspetar’s physi- I would like to thank all The process of obtaining the accreditation fourth annual Arabian Gulf otherapists and sports medicine experts HE ASPIRE Academy celebrated Mohammed Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Aspire our staff, teachers and directly supports our efforts to provide the AUniversity Sports Medicine shared insights drawn from their exten- receiving official accreditation Logistics Director General Abdullah students who’ve been best possible education to our students. This Conference in Bahrain last week. sive experience with the participants Tfrom the Council of International Al Naimi, ASPIRE Academy Director part of this five-year is a crucial part of the academy’s appeal in The involvement of Qatar’s ortho- from the GCC region and students of Schools (CIS) at a ceremony last week. General Ivan Bravo, Advisory Council journey to obtain the CIS attracting talents. paedic and sports medicine hospital medicine in Bahrain. The recognition followed a five-year Chairman Dr Ahmed Al Emadi, heads accreditation. Through Jassim Al Jabir, ASPIRE Academy School Principal. in the conference reflected its com- In its fourth year, the Aspetar- application process. of various departments, teachers, staff, their continual efforts, mitment to enhancing co-operation sponsored event also shed light on the The Council of International Schools students and their families attended we’ve achieved a clear regionally and internationally in the role of sports medicine in preventing (CIS) is a global non-profit organisa- the event. The accreditation further standard of international Aspire has done an excellent job in fields of sports medicine, clinical train- and managing sports-related injuries tion committed to promoting high- strengthens the academy’s position excellence and we should developing the quality of education and ing and scientific research. and chronic diseases. quality international education around as an institution that can provide the It also underlined Aspetar’s leading The importance of building healthy all be proud of this focusing on meeting the needs of its the world. It includes more than 660 very best education to student-athletes. position in enhancing the role of edu- and active societies was also touched achievement. student-athletes. It has also demonstrated schools, 475 colleges and universities For such students, the accreditation cation in sports medicine and ortho- upon. , ASPIRE Academy commitment to continuous improvement. representing 110 countries. will help support their applications to Ivan Bravo paedic surgery based on its position as Aspetar is considered as one of the Director General. ššFrom left, CIS’ Christine Bayliss, Jassim Al Jabir and Aspire Zone Foundation Vice-President some of the world’s most prestigious ššTariq Abdulaziz Al Naama, left, and Christine Bayliss, a Reference Collaborator Centre (RCC) leading sports medicine institutes in Ivan Bravo at the ceremony. Tariq Abdulaziz Al Naama, Acting CEO universities. DSP Mohammed Khalifa Al Suwaidi. CIS School Support and Evaluation Officer. in the GCC region. the world. DSP Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 27

Qatar’s Al Sadd are clubbed in with Al Manama (Bahrain), Sadd, Wasl Al Wasl (UAE) and Ohud (KSA) at the 36th GCC Club Championship after the draw was held in Dubai last week. drawn into The championship, to be held from May 13 to 22, will feature eight clubs. Qatar’s Al Rayyan, Al Ahli (UAE), Al Ahli (Bahrain) same group and Nazwa (Oman) are in Group B.

ATHLETICS Felix to face Schippers in Doha

ORLD champions Allyson Felix and Dafne Schippers Ware expected for a scintil- lating 100M clash in what promises to ššAl Rayyan’s Tanguy Ngombo, left, in action. be the most anticipated head-to-head battle at the first of 14-leg IAAF Dia- mond League series in Doha on May 6. BASKETBALL Few athletes are as familiar with the Doha conditions as Felix, who will be Rayyan in Emir’s chasing her 12th victory at the Qatar Sports Club and her fourth over 100M. Cup semifinals “It’s always great to be back in Doha and start my international season there,” ATAR League and Qatar Cup said Felix, whose 11 victories in the champions Al Rayyan thrashed Qatari capital also include three in 200M QAl Ahli 104-71 to book a place in and five straight in 400M from 2007 to ššAllyson Felix the Emir’s Cup best-of-three semifinals 2011. In 2012, she won the short dash at the Al Gharafa Indoor Hall last week. in 10.92, still the meet record, as a prel- Rayyan, who are in excellent form ude to her Olympic 200M triumph in “It’ll be a great early-season test three 10.81. Her transformation to interna- this season, will meet last year’s run- London. months before the Olympic Games. tional sprint star has been nearly as ners-up Al Sadd in the last four. Last year, the 30-year-old added The conditions in Doha are always just swift, coming just two years after she Tanguy Ngombo, with 30 points, was the world 400M title to her long list of about ideal and the competition is very won bronze in heptathlon at the 2013 the top scorer for Rayyan while Joseph achievements, an important stepping strong,” said Felix. Worlds. Raffa and Hassan Mohamed chipped stone to her Olympic 200-400M dou- The test will indeed be a tough one Schippers was victorious in the in with 20 and 19 respectively. ble aspirations in Rio. for the three-time 200M world cham- pair’s last meeting, beating Felix in the Ngombo produced six three-point- pion, 2012 IAAF Athlete of the Year and Diamond League final in Brussels last ers and tormented the rival defence September. with some key plays as Rayyan opened The field will also include reigning up a 57-36 lead at the end of second I’ve heard so many great US champion and 2015 world bronze quarter. Hassan helped accelerate the medallist Tori Bowie over the distance; score with five three-pointers while things about Doha, Murielle Ahoure of Cote D’Ivoire, who Raffa had two. about the competition raced to 100 and 200M silver at the 2013 For Ahli, Ibou Sarr top-scored with 28 and about the fast track. World Championships; and Jamaican while Lavalle Joyner and Elhadj Seydou Veronica Campbell-Brown, whose long contributed 21 and 18 respectively. list of accolades include back-to-back Earlier, Hassino Ndoye produced a three-time Diamond Race winner who’ll Olympic 200M titles in 2004 and 2008, match-high 25 as Al Gharafa mauled take on Schippers, the rising sprint star and a bronze medal at the 2015 Worlds. Qatar Sports Club 79-57. who won the world 200M title last sum- The Doha Diamond League also Gharafa was in command right from mer in Beijing with a sterling 21.63 run. announced a stellar field in men’s 110M the outset and completed a compre- “I’ve heard so many great things about hurdles, which includes Jamaican Omar hensive win that would stand them in Doha, about the competition and about McLeod who’ll be looking to extend good stead when it comes to play-offs. the fast track,” said Schippers, who the momentum that propelled him Hassino Ndoye played for the entire also raced to World Championships to world indoor gold in Portland last duration, scoring 22 including two three- silver last year in 100M clocking month to his 2016 outdoor debut. DSP pointers. DSP

HOW THEY REACTED Injuries, lifestyle in focus

SPETAR participated in the During the conference, Aspetar’s physi- I would like to thank all The process of obtaining the accreditation fourth annual Arabian Gulf otherapists and sports medicine experts our staff, teachers and directly supports our efforts to provide the AUniversity Sports Medicine shared insights drawn from their exten- students who’ve been best possible education to our students. This Conference in Bahrain last week. sive experience with the participants part of this five-year is a crucial part of the academy’s appeal in The involvement of Qatar’s ortho- from the GCC region and students of journey to obtain the CIS attracting talents. paedic and sports medicine hospital medicine in Bahrain. accreditation. Through Jassim Al Jabir, ASPIRE Academy School Principal. in the conference reflected its com- In its fourth year, the Aspetar- their continual efforts, mitment to enhancing co-operation sponsored event also shed light on the we’ve achieved a clear regionally and internationally in the role of sports medicine in preventing standard of international Aspire has done an excellent job in fields of sports medicine, clinical train- and managing sports-related injuries excellence and we should developing the quality of education and ing and scientific research. and chronic diseases. It also underlined Aspetar’s leading The importance of building healthy all be proud of this focusing on meeting the needs of its position in enhancing the role of edu- and active societies was also touched achievement. student-athletes. It has also demonstrated cation in sports medicine and ortho- upon. , ASPIRE Academy commitment to continuous improvement. Ivan Bravo paedic surgery based on its position as Aspetar is considered as one of the Director General. Christine Bayliss, a Reference Collaborator Centre (RCC) leading sports medicine institutes in CIS School Support and Evaluation Officer. in the GCC region. the world. DSP 28 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 29 At a glance

HANDBALL GYMNASTICS Qatar women’s coach šŢZhu Chen happy with progress Warning signals CHESS Learn the game Mohammad Amin-ul Islam We’re making every effort through WeChat to make gymnastics for Rio rivals ATAR Grandmaster Zhu Chen popular since it’s an is doing her bit to promote the ATAR rhythmic gymnastics Olympic sport. Qsport by using social network- assistant coach Samia Hassan Qatar make their intentions clear by winning the International ing site WeChat. QAli expressed satisfaction at “I’ve made some beginners’ lessons for the progress and development made Buainain, who is also competition man- Tournament for Men at home with an all-win record. those who don’t get a chance to enroll by her young wards. ager for all girls’ and women’s events at training centres. I thought it was a Samia felt the girls were now hooked at schools, expressed happiness at the brilliant idea to connect because a lot on to the sport. development. RESULTS resumption with some fine all-round of youngsters are interested in learning “There’re more girls now than in the “We’re happy with the progress made N Ganesh Qatar bt Brazil 30-28 game. However, Qatar levelled at 21-all chess,” Zhu told Doha Stadium Plus. initial years when it was difficult for us so far. We want to continue with our Argentina bt El Jaish 23-21 and took a 24-23 lead, with wing player “The kids can also participate in online to convince the parents to send their good work. There’re a lot of promising ššSamia Hassan Ali, right, with her wards at a training session. Qatar bt Argentina 33-19 Eldar Memisevic grabbing the atten- competitions as well. Since the younger kids to our training centre,” Samia told girls and we want to encourage them El Jaish bt Brazil 28-26 Brazil bt Argentina 24-20 tion with his aggression. generations are hooked on to smart- Doha Stadium Plus. “We met with little to pursue the sport as a career,” said ATAR sent warning signals to Qatar bt El Jaish 34-24 Valero Rivera’s men held firm and phones, they can be encouraged.” success initially, but once the message Al Buainain. We’re happy with the progress made so far. their rivals at the Rio Olympic made it 27-24 before winning the game Zhu, wife of Grandmaster and Qatar spread, a lot of young girls are turn- “We also encourage expatriates to We want to continue with our good work. QGames by winning the 10th by two points. Chess Association Secretary Mohammed ing up.” join the classes, but our priority is There’re a lot of promising girls and we want Qatar International Tournament for Brazil raced to a 21-18 “Our players were a bit tired. It was Al Medaikhi, also stressed the need to The Qatar Gymnastics Federation’s Qatari girls. to encourage them to pursue the sport as a Men at home last week with an all- expected as many of them were back have chess clubs in the country. (QGF) training centre at the Khawla “We want to spread the sport in schools career. We also encourage expatriates to join win record. lead after resumption from a month-long break. There’ll be “We’ve training centres for boys and bint Al Azwar Primary School is open as well. We’re putting in every effort the classes, but our priority is Qatari girls. South American sides Brazil, Argentina with some fine all-round another similar rest for some of them. girls, but we also need to have clubs,” from Saturday to Thursday. to make it popular since gymnastics and Qatari club El Jaish were the other game against Qatar. They’ll be back after a month and attend said Zhu, who became China’s second QGF Assistant Secretary Abeer Al is an Olympic sport,” she added. DSP Abeer Al Buainain, QGF Assistant Secretary. teams in the competition. Egypt were a series of camps in Europe, including at world champion, after Xie Jun, and 13th expected to take part, but pulled out at Barcelona, leading up to the Rio Games,” Grandmaster. the last minute, with the Qatar Handball 30-28 and reign supreme. said Qatar team manager Yousef Al Hail. Asked if she would be participating Association replacing them with newly- It was never easy for Qatar in the The official said they were eyeing a in any future tournament, Zhu said, HORSERACING RESULTS WEDNESDAY crowned league champions Jaish. final match. With Rafael Capote (six) medal at Rio. “I’ve no energy to play since I spend AJS Buraq (Pier Convertino) 1, Abeah 2, TM Majid Texas 3, Secret Qatar began with a 34-24 win against and Zarko Markovic (three) leading the “We’re the runners-up at the World most my time for the game’s develop- Race 1 Angel 4. Won by: 5, 4, 3. Time: 1:18.44. Trained by: MHK Al Attiyah. Jaish and followed it up with a con- attack, they took a 15-14 lead at half- Championships so definitely everyone ment.” DSP Owned by: Al Jeryan Stud. Raj To Riches (Stephan Ladjadj) 1, King of Doha 2, Rock Heroine vincing 33-19 victory over Argentina. time. But Qatar had to thank lanky goal- will be keen to beat us. The expecta- TM Thunder Struck wins a thriller Race 2 3, Izghawa 4. Won by: 4, 1/2, 3 1/2. Time: 1:56.11. Trained by: Zuhair In the final tie, Brazil put up a strong keeper Danijel Saric, who produced tions are also high. We want to work » e-mail: [email protected] Mohsen. Owned by: Abdulaziz Jassim Al Boenain. Tautira (Alberto Sanna) 1, Atori 2, Qatar Breeze 3, Habob 4. Won by: performance and made Qatar sweat, some stunning saves. hard at the camps and return with a Race 3 2 1/2, 1, Hd. Time: 1:56.54. Trained by: O Al Dhafea. Owned by: Osama but the hosts held their nerve to win Brazil raced to a 21-18 lead after medal from Rio,” said Al Hail. DSP MM Qarn’s TM Thunder Struck Omar Al Dhafea. (Majd Al Srab-Bonnett) staved Al Marboush (Harry Bentley) 1, Bahia Du Barthas 2, Shmoos 3, Ali Race 4 Baba 4. Won by: 5, 3 1/2, 3. Time: 1:19.31. Trained by: Jassim Al Ghazali. ŢQatar’s Eldar Memisevic, left, tries to get past Brazil’s Santos. Uoff a late challenge from Owned by: Injaaz Stud. Ţ Gazwan to win the Qatar Gold Sword, Cueca (Faleh Bughanaim) 1, Arguia 2, Dubai Star 3, Autumn Sunrise Lekhwiya Race 5 4. Won by: Shd, 3/4, 3/4. Time: 1:11.53. Trained by: M Al Ramzani. the feature event at the Qatar Racing Owned by: Khalifa Al Suwaidi. scrape past and Equestrian Club last week. Al Qatari (Cedric Segeon) 1, Mowhoubat Al Zaidy 2, Derzkiy 3, Lina After finishing a notable second in Race 6 Al Mels 4. Won by: Shd, 9, 3. Time: 2:04.77. Trained by: Ibrahim Al Malki. Owned by: Hassan Ali Abdulmalik. Gharafa the Kahayla Classic in Dubai, Alban de Third Dimenson (Harry Bentley) 1, Zman Awal 2, Tarrafal 3, Glossy Race 7 Posse 4. Won by: 1 1/2, 5, 1 1/4. Time: 1:46.72. Trained by: Jassim Al šŢAbdullah Al Tamimi Mieulle-trained TM Thunder Struck was Lekhwiya registered a definitely a strong contender and he Ghazali. Owned by: Sheail bin Khalifa Al Kuwari. hard-fought 25-24 victory THURSDAY Sobheya (Adrie de Vries) 1, Saqr 2, Musaiter Bu Thaila 3, Athena 4. over Al Gharafa to move SQUASH Race 1 Won by: 2, ½, 19. Time: 1:27.24. Trained by: Khalid Al Ahmed. Owned up to second in the by: Noor Khalid Al Ahmed. Qatar League last week. Khalifa bin Sheail Al Jalwa Al Jazeer (Tadgh O’Shea) 1, AJS Gannas 2, Seif Al Arab Al The winners led 14-11 at Al Tamimi Juhaim Babu Photo/ Race 2 Sulaimi 3, Manna Al Naif 4. Won by: 1 ½, 2 ½, 15. Time: 1:34.02. Trained Kuwari-owned The Blue š by: Hassan Al Matwi. Owned by: Hassan Ali Hassan Al Matwi. half-time. šHE Sheikh Thani bin Hamad Al Thani applauds after presenting the Qatar Gold Sword Eye reigned supreme in to a representative of the Umm Qarn farm. Roi de Vitesse (Adrie de Vries) 1, Aqdaar 2, Qatar Light 3, Bronze The cops, who recently strikes gold Race 3 Maquette 4. Won by: 3, Shd, Nk. Time: 1:08.79. Trained by: Ali Jan. won the Asian Club the Qatar Gold Trophy. Owned by: Mohamed Mahran Jamsheer. League Championship, ATAR’S Abdullah Al Tamimi Racing’s Abaath for third place. hand by his jockey Harry Bentley. Ard San Aer (Brett Doyle) 1, Gerrard’s Quest 2, French Encore 3, Flying Empress 4. Won by: Hd, 1 3/4, Shd. Time: 1:33.23. Trained by: thus increased their tally Race 4 bagged gold at the 22nd GCC Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari-owned The Blue Eye displayed a blinding MHK Al Attiyah. Owned by: Mohammed bin Hamad Khalifa Al to 46 points. They thus QChampionship in Manama justified the faith with a thrilling win. The Blue Eye (Dubawi-Soneva) trounced turn of foot as he galloped on reso- Attiyah. caught up with Gharafa Sraab (Seb Sanders) 1, Moaddie 2, Aseer 3, Al Dabor 4. Won by: on points, but climbed last week. Stable-mate Majeed set the pace and the opposition en route to an emphatic lutely and asserted his class over the Race 5 3/4, 3/4, 2 1/2. Time: 1:54.25. Trained by: Ahmed Kubaisi. Owned by: above them on goal In the final, 21-year-old Al Tamimi, who had stolen a march in the final furlong victory in the Qatar Gold Trophy, a others with a four-length victory. Mohamed Kazim Al Ansari and Sons. difference. turned pro in 2011, defeated Kuwait’s while jockey Adrie de Vries brought Group I Thoroughbreds race for three- Injaaz Stud’s Extremis came from Muhjah (Adrie de Vries) 1, Raedah 2, Taraf 3, Istibdad 4. Won by: Nk, Race 6 ½, ¾. Time: 1:42.00. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. Owned by: Umm In other action, Qatar Amar Al Tamimi 3-0. TM Thunder Struck along the rails to year-olds and above. way behind to take second place ahead Qarn. Sports Club and Al Sadd The ASPIRE Academy product has stake his claim. Meanwhile, jockey The HH The Emir’s Trophy winner of Fort Moville. Spaghetti (Harry Bentley) 1, Djelamer 2, Majdan 3, Civaldi de played out a 27-all draw. been in good form of late, winning the Harry Bentley brought Gazwan with The Blue Eye was campaigned in the Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari-owned Race 7 Montegut 4. Won by: 2, ¾, Nk. Time: 1:59.07. Trained by: Jassim Al Interestingly, the teams Ghazali. Owned by: Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari. were locked 14-all at Qatar Circuit III tournament and Atlanta a fluent run on the outside. Sheema Classic at Meydan last month Spaghetti (Snoopi-Nouillaugratin) The Blue Eye (Harry Bentley) 1, Extremis 2, Fort Moville 3, Ningara 4. Open last month. A fierce contest ensued between the and the exposure seems to have worked asserted his supremacy with an author- Race 8 Won by: 4, ½, ¾. Time: 2:11.68. Trained by: Jassim Al Ghazali. Owned half-time. by: Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari. Qatar SC are ninth with Meanwhile, Qatar’s Hamad Al Amri trio, but it was TM Thunder Struck who wonders. Jassim Mohammed Al Ghazali- itative manner while annexing the TM Thunder Struck (Adrie de Vries) 1, Gazwan 2, Majeed 3, Aba’ath 34 points while Sadd (30) clinched gold in the Under-17 cate- provided De Vries with his fourth win saddled Dubawi progeny raced fifth Qatar Silver Sword, a Purebred Arabian Race 9 4. Won by: Shd, Shd, ½. Time: 2:10.03. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. are 10th. DSP gory. DSP for the day. Majeed held off Al Shaqab before being alerted to the task on race for four-year-olds. DSP Owned by: Umm Qarn. Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 29

GYMNASTICS Qatar women’s coach happy with progress

Mohammad Amin-ul Islam We’re making every effort to make gymnastics popular since it’s an ATAR rhythmic gymnastics Olympic sport. assistant coach Samia Hassan QAli expressed satisfaction at the progress and development made Buainain, who is also competition man- by her young wards. ager for all girls’ and women’s events Samia felt the girls were now hooked at schools, expressed happiness at the on to the sport. development. “There’re more girls now than in the “We’re happy with the progress made initial years when it was difficult for us so far. We want to continue with our to convince the parents to send their good work. There’re a lot of promising ššSamia Hassan Ali, right, with her wards at a training session. kids to our training centre,” Samia told girls and we want to encourage them Doha Stadium Plus. “We met with little to pursue the sport as a career,” said success initially, but once the message Al Buainain. We’re happy with the progress made so far. spread, a lot of young girls are turn- “We also encourage expatriates to We want to continue with our good work. ing up.” join the classes, but our priority is There’re a lot of promising girls and we want The Qatar Gymnastics Federation’s Qatari girls. to encourage them to pursue the sport as a (QGF) training centre at the Khawla “We want to spread the sport in schools career. We also encourage expatriates to join bint Al Azwar Primary School is open as well. We’re putting in every effort the classes, but our priority is Qatari girls. from Saturday to Thursday. to make it popular since gymnastics QGF Assistant Secretary Abeer Al is an Olympic sport,” she added. DSP Abeer Al Buainain, QGF Assistant Secretary.

HORSERACING RESULTS WEDNESDAY AJS Buraq (Pier Convertino) 1, Abeah 2, TM Majid Texas 3, Secret Race 1 Angel 4. Won by: 5, 4, 3. Time: 1:18.44. Trained by: MHK Al Attiyah. Owned by: Al Jeryan Stud. Raj To Riches (Stephan Ladjadj) 1, King of Doha 2, Rock Heroine TM Thunder Struck wins a thriller Race 2 3, Izghawa 4. Won by: 4, 1/2, 3 1/2. Time: 1:56.11. Trained by: Zuhair Mohsen. Owned by: Abdulaziz Jassim Al Boenain. Tautira (Alberto Sanna) 1, Atori 2, Qatar Breeze 3, Habob 4. Won by: Race 3 2 1/2, 1, Hd. Time: 1:56.54. Trained by: O Al Dhafea. Owned by: Osama MM Qarn’s TM Thunder Struck Omar Al Dhafea. (Majd Al Srab-Bonnett) staved Al Marboush (Harry Bentley) 1, Bahia Du Barthas 2, Shmoos 3, Ali Race 4 Baba 4. Won by: 5, 3 1/2, 3. Time: 1:19.31. Trained by: Jassim Al Ghazali. Uoff a late challenge from Owned by: Injaaz Stud. Gazwan to win the Qatar Gold Sword, Cueca (Faleh Bughanaim) 1, Arguia 2, Dubai Star 3, Autumn Sunrise Race 5 4. Won by: Shd, 3/4, 3/4. Time: 1:11.53. Trained by: M Al Ramzani. the feature event at the Qatar Racing Owned by: Khalifa Al Suwaidi. and Equestrian Club last week. Al Qatari (Cedric Segeon) 1, Mowhoubat Al Zaidy 2, Derzkiy 3, Lina After finishing a notable second in Race 6 Al Mels 4. Won by: Shd, 9, 3. Time: 2:04.77. Trained by: Ibrahim Al Malki. Owned by: Hassan Ali Abdulmalik. the Kahayla Classic in Dubai, Alban de Third Dimenson (Harry Bentley) 1, Zman Awal 2, Tarrafal 3, Glossy Mieulle-trained TM Thunder Struck was Race 7 Posse 4. Won by: 1 1/2, 5, 1 1/4. Time: 1:46.72. Trained by: Jassim Al definitely a strong contender and he Ghazali. Owned by: Sheail bin Khalifa Al Kuwari. THURSDAY Sobheya (Adrie de Vries) 1, Saqr 2, Musaiter Bu Thaila 3, Athena 4. Race 1 Won by: 2, ½, 19. Time: 1:27.24. Trained by: Khalid Al Ahmed. Owned by: Noor Khalid Al Ahmed. Khalifa bin Sheail Al Jalwa Al Jazeer (Tadgh O’Shea) 1, AJS Gannas 2, Seif Al Arab Al Photo/ Juhaim Babu Photo/ Race 2 Sulaimi 3, Manna Al Naif 4. Won by: 1 ½, 2 ½, 15. Time: 1:34.02. Trained Kuwari-owned The Blue ššHE Sheikh Thani bin Hamad Al Thani applauds after presenting the Qatar Gold Sword by: Hassan Al Matwi. Owned by: Hassan Ali Hassan Al Matwi. Eye reigned supreme in to a representative of the Umm Qarn farm. Roi de Vitesse (Adrie de Vries) 1, Aqdaar 2, Qatar Light 3, Bronze Race 3 Maquette 4. Won by: 3, Shd, Nk. Time: 1:08.79. Trained by: Ali Jan. the Qatar Gold Trophy. Owned by: Mohamed Mahran Jamsheer. Racing’s Abaath for third place. hand by his jockey Harry Bentley. Ard San Aer (Brett Doyle) 1, Gerrard’s Quest 2, French Encore 3, Flying Empress 4. Won by: Hd, 1 3/4, Shd. Time: 1:33.23. Trained by: Race 4 Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari-owned The Blue Eye displayed a blinding MHK Al Attiyah. Owned by: Mohammed bin Hamad Khalifa Al justified the faith with a thrilling win. The Blue Eye (Dubawi-Soneva) trounced turn of foot as he galloped on reso- Attiyah. Sraab (Seb Sanders) 1, Moaddie 2, Aseer 3, Al Dabor 4. Won by: Stable-mate Majeed set the pace and the opposition en route to an emphatic lutely and asserted his class over the Race 5 3/4, 3/4, 2 1/2. Time: 1:54.25. Trained by: Ahmed Kubaisi. Owned by: had stolen a march in the final furlong victory in the Qatar Gold Trophy, a others with a four-length victory. Mohamed Kazim Al Ansari and Sons. while jockey Adrie de Vries brought Group I Thoroughbreds race for three- Injaaz Stud’s Extremis came from Muhjah (Adrie de Vries) 1, Raedah 2, Taraf 3, Istibdad 4. Won by: Nk, Race 6 ½, ¾. Time: 1:42.00. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. Owned by: Umm TM Thunder Struck along the rails to year-olds and above. way behind to take second place ahead Qarn. stake his claim. Meanwhile, jockey The HH The Emir’s Trophy winner of Fort Moville. Spaghetti (Harry Bentley) 1, Djelamer 2, Majdan 3, Civaldi de Race 7 Montegut 4. Won by: 2, ¾, Nk. Time: 1:59.07. Trained by: Jassim Al Harry Bentley brought Gazwan with The Blue Eye was campaigned in the Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari-owned Ghazali. Owned by: Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari. a fluent run on the outside. Sheema Classic at Meydan last month Spaghetti (Snoopi-Nouillaugratin) The Blue Eye (Harry Bentley) 1, Extremis 2, Fort Moville 3, Ningara 4. A fierce contest ensued between the and the exposure seems to have worked asserted his supremacy with an author- Race 8 Won by: 4, ½, ¾. Time: 2:11.68. Trained by: Jassim Al Ghazali. Owned by: Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari. trio, but it was TM Thunder Struck who wonders. Jassim Mohammed Al Ghazali- itative manner while annexing the TM Thunder Struck (Adrie de Vries) 1, Gazwan 2, Majeed 3, Aba’ath provided De Vries with his fourth win saddled Dubawi progeny raced fifth Qatar Silver Sword, a Purebred Arabian Race 9 4. Won by: Shd, Shd, ½. Time: 2:10.03. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. for the day. Majeed held off Al Shaqab before being alerted to the task on race for four-year-olds. DSP Owned by: Umm Qarn. 30 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 31

Weightlifting took a significant step last week towards becoming Weightlifting the first sport to hand over control of its governing federation’s anti- doping programme to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), to hand doping after enduring six months of relentless bad publicity. The congress of the European Weightlifting Federation (EWF), meeting in Forde, control to WADA Norway, voted unanimously in favour of a proposal to transfer the At a glance sport’s worldwide doping control system to the WADA.

MOTORSPORT TENNIS Stephens emerges Marquez wins in champion Delbonis triumphs American seventh seed Sloane Texas for fourth Stephens captured her third title of 2016 by defeating Russian qualifier year in a row on Marrakech clay Elena Vesnina 7-6(7-4), 6-2 in the final of the Volvo Car Open clay court event ONDA’S MotoGP leader Marc in South Carolina, US, last Sunday. Marquez won the Grand Prix ROATIA’S Borna Coric failed won the ATP clay court title in Houston, The 23-year-old Hof the Americas for the fourth in his bid to become the first cementing his return from injury with American raced out to a 5-2 year in a row last Sunday while bitter Cteenage champion on the ATP a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over defending lead before rival Valentino Rossi was one of several Tour for eight years when he lost the champion Jack Sock. Vesnina won riders who crashed. Marrakech final to in-form Federico “I didn’t expect this so fast,” said four consecutive Spain’s Marquez was again in a race Delbonis last Sunday. Monaco, who had surgery on his right games to move of his own at the Circuit of the Americas The fourth-seeded Argentinian, who wrist in August and was sidelined for within one point track in Texas, starting on pole position had stunned world No.2 Andy Murray six months. of winning the ššAustralia’s Mathew Hayman, right, en route to victory at the Paris-Roubaix race. for the fourth successive year and pull- at Indian Wells last month, eased to a opening set. Stephens, however, held her nerve ššDanny Willett celebrates in his green jacket after winning the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. ing away after a brief tussle on the open- 6-2, 6-4 victory over third-seeded Coric producing some of her best tennis in ing lap with Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo. on the Marrakech clay. the tiebreak before cruising through CYCLING World champion Lorenzo finished The 19-year-old Coric, appearing in the second set. second, 6.107 seconds behind his com- GOLF just his second final, was bidding to Meanwhile, Slovakia’s Dominika patriot, and Italian Andrea Iannone become the first teenage champion Cibulkova won her first title since 2014 Paris-Roubaix was third on a Ducati. since compatriot Marin Cilic at New when she swept past Italy’s Camila Giorgi, 6-4, 6-0 in the title in Hayman’s The win was Marquez’s second in a Haven in 2008. Katowice WTA final. row, and 26th in MotoGP, and left the For Delbonis, 25, it was a second Eighth-seeded Cibulkova, the 2014 safe custody double world champion on 66 points career title to add to his 2014 victory Australian Open runner-up, captured after three races. Lorenzo moved up in Sao Paulo. the last seven games of the match USTRALIAN veteran Mathew to second overall on 45, with Rossi Meanwhile, Argentina’s Juan Monaco ššFederico Delbonis against her fifth-seeded opponent. Hayman deprived Tom Boonen remaining on 33. Master is jack Aof a record-breaking fifth Paris- Marquez was challenged only at the Roubaix title when he won the Queen start, with Lorenzo leading into the of the Classics last Sunday after the first corner before running wide and BOXING favourites got trapped behind a big doing the same at turn 11. crash. The Honda rider then had a controlled The Orica-GreenEDGE rider, 37, out- run to his 10th successive victory on US Pacquiao quits in style sprinted Belgian Boonen on the final soil, which includes eight of all trades! bend of the Roubaix velodrome as British MotoGP races and two in rider Ian Stannard took third place at Moto2, before raising four fin- ANNY Willett’s Masters victory Matthew Fitzpatrick. TOP FIVE SCORES ANNY Pacquiao defeated years later, delivered the final blow in the end of a crash-ridden 257.5km ride gers in the air in triumph. was built on the back of a steady And once he reached the green, Willett 283 Daniel Willett (ENG) 70 74 72 67 Timothy Bradley by unani- their welterweight clash in Las Vegas featuring 52.8km of cobbled sectors. Jordan Spieth (US) 66 74 73 73 286 Ddisplay in every facet of the displayed a steady touch with the putter, Lee Westwood (ENG) 71 75 71 69 Mmous decision in the rubber as all three judges scored it 116-110 Pre-race favourites Peter Sagan, the game, rather than outright brilliance taking just 114 strokes on the greens, Dustin Johnson (US) 73 71 72 71 match between the fighters last week, in his favour. world champion, and Fabian Cancellara, RESULTS 287 Paul Casey (ENG) 69 77 74 67 in any one area. four more than leader Anirban Lahiri. prevailing in what the Filipino has said With fans chanting ‘Manny’ at the who was gunning for a fourth title, effec- 1. Marc Marquez (ESP) Honda 43:57.945 JB Holmes (US) 72 73 74 68 2. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP) Yamaha at 6.107 Willett has a very repeatable swing He had just one three-putt as he ran Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 69 74 74 71 would be the final fight of his career. conclusion, Pacquiao (58-6-2) main- tively lost the race when they found 3. Andrea Iannone (ITA) Ducati 10.947 that more often than not stands 288 Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 71 72 72 73 Pacquiao, who bounced back from tained that he was heading into retire- themselves on the wrong end of a bunch 4. Maverick Vinales (ESP) Suzuki 18.422 Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 71 76 74 67 up under the heat of being in Daniel Berger (US) 73 71 74 71 ššManny Pacquiao lands a punch to knock Timothy Bradley a controversial split-decision defeat to ment and continuing his political career split after a massive pile-up some 115km 5. Aleix Espargaro (ESP) Suzuki 20.711 down at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. contention. Once he reached the Rory McIlroy (NIR) 70 71 77 71 Bradley in 2012 with a decisive win two in the Philippines. from the line. STANDINGS Willett is no slouch off the tee, 289 Justin Rose (ENG) 69 77 73 70 1. Marc Marquez (ESP) Honda 66 green, Briton Willett Brandt Snedeker (US) 71 72 74 72 2. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP) Yamaha 45 but his driving distance average of 279 Jason Day (AUS) 72 73 71 73 3. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Yamaha 33 yards at the Masters was 20 yards less displayed a steady touch 4. Pol Espargaro (ESP) Yamaha 28 than category leader Dustin Johnson. with the putter. ROLL OF HONOUR CRICKET HORSERACING Last 10 champions 5. Dani Pedrosa (ESP) Honda 27 He also found 38 of 56 fairways, eight 2016 Danny Willett (GBR) less than category leaders Matt Kuchar 2015 Jordan Spieth (US) When tradition Teenager Mullins and Kevin Streelman, so he was cer- up 13 birdies, to go along with eight 2014 Bubba Watson (US) 2013 Adam Scott (AUS) tainly not the most accurate player off bogeys. Bubba Watson (US) Formula One’s governing body 2012 went for a toss Rules The World! the tee. Joint runner-up Jordan Spieth, by con- 2011 Charl Schwartzel (RSA) F1 returns formally approved last Monday 2010 Phil Mickelson (US) a decision to ditch its new He hit 48 out of 72 greens in regu- trast, had 22 birdies, 10 bogeys, three 2009 Angel Cabrera (ARG) NE of the enduring rituals of ULE The World won the 169th to its old qualifying format and revert lation, perhaps the most relevant of doubles and a quad. Spieth three-putted 2008 Trevor Immelman (RSA) any cricket match was delib- running of the Grand National, to last year’s version from this Masters statistics, six behind leader four times. 2007 Zach Johnson (US) Oerately done away with on the Rthe world’s greatest steeplechase, qualifying week’s Chinese Grand Prix in opening day of the new English County at Aintree, England, last week under Shanghai. Championship season last Sunday. an inspired ride from David Mullins, format Governing body FIA said its The toss of a coin to decide which a 19-year-old jockey making his ššSweden’s Kim Andersson in action against Spain. World Motor Sport Council had voted in favour of the side bats or bowls first has been a sta- debut in the race. change, which will apply Spieth’s meltdown shocks Day ple of Championship cricket for more The 33-1 outsider, trained by for the remainder of the than a hundred years. Mouse Morris, who is the son of HANDBALL championship. But in a bid to guard against home former International Olympic “The format, where the ORLD No.1 Jason Day was Though he covered the last six holes teams preparing ‘result’ pitches to favour Committee president the slowest six cars are eliminated “absolutely shocked” after in one-under, he had effectively handed otherwise modest medium-pace seam- late Lord Killanin, won Spain miss Rio bus at the end of the first two WJordan Spieth’s astonishing the Green Jacket to Englishman Danny ers, the England and Wales Cricket Board by six lengths from 8-1 qualifying sessions before a final 10-car shoot-out for collapse in last Sunday’s final round. Willett as he finished three shots back in a have introduced a rule, on a one-year joint favourite The Last pole in Q3, will return for the American Spieth, seeking a second tie for second place, leaving the fans and trial for the time being, that allows vis- Samuri. PAIN will miss the men’s Olympic champions, finished behind Slovenia Chinese Grand Prix,” FIA said in consecutive victory at Augusta National his fellow players in stunned disbelief. iting captains to field first if they want The horse is owned handball event for the first time and Sweden due to an inferior head- a statement. and a third major title, was five strokes “I was on (hole) 15 and I was abso- to in first-class Championship cricket. by Michael O’Leary, Ssince the 1976 Games in Montreal to-head record. Teams and fans had declared ahead before he imploded with a bogey- lutely shocked when I saw Jordan go from As a result, no toss was needed in the chief executive of despite beating hosts Sweden 25-23 in Slovenia, who earlier stunned Spain the live elimination format used bogey start to the back nine followed by five (under) to one (under),” Australian four of the five matches that got under- Europe’s largest budget a qualifying tournament last Sunday. 24-21, sealed qualification along with in the first two races as a failure. a quadruple-bogey seven at the 12th. Day said. ššJordan Spieth way last Sunday. airline Ryanair. The Spaniards, twice former world Sweden with a 33-17 rout of Iran. Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 31

Weightlifting took a significant step last week towards becoming Weightlifting the first sport to hand over control of its governing federation’s anti- doping programme to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), to hand doping after enduring six months of relentless bad publicity. The congress of the European Weightlifting Federation (EWF), meeting in Forde, control to WADA Norway, voted unanimously in favour of a proposal to transfer the sport’s worldwide doping control system to the WADA.

TENNIS Stephens emerges champion Delbonis triumphs American seventh seed Sloane Stephens captured her third title of 2016 by defeating Russian qualifier on Marrakech clay Elena Vesnina 7-6(7-4), 6-2 in the final of the Volvo Car Open clay court event in South Carolina, US, last Sunday. ROATIA’S Borna Coric failed won the ATP clay court title in Houston, The 23-year-old in his bid to become the first cementing his return from injury with American raced out to a 5-2 Cteenage champion on the ATP a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over defending lead before Tour for eight years when he lost the champion Jack Sock. Vesnina won Marrakech final to in-form Federico “I didn’t expect this so fast,” said four consecutive Delbonis last Sunday. Monaco, who had surgery on his right games to move The fourth-seeded Argentinian, who wrist in August and was sidelined for within one point had stunned world No.2 Andy Murray six months. of winning the ššAustralia’s Mathew Hayman, right, en route to victory at the Paris-Roubaix race. at Indian Wells last month, eased to a opening set. Stephens, however, held her nerve 6-2, 6-4 victory over third-seeded Coric producing some of her best tennis in on the Marrakech clay. the tiebreak before cruising through CYCLING The 19-year-old Coric, appearing in the second set. just his second final, was bidding to Meanwhile, Slovakia’s Dominika become the first teenage champion Cibulkova won her first title since 2014 Paris-Roubaix since compatriot Marin Cilic at New when she swept past Italy’s Camila Giorgi, 6-4, 6-0 in the title in Hayman’s Haven in 2008. Katowice WTA final. For Delbonis, 25, it was a second Eighth-seeded Cibulkova, the 2014 safe custody career title to add to his 2014 victory Australian Open runner-up, captured in Sao Paulo. the last seven games of the match USTRALIAN veteran Mathew Meanwhile, Argentina’s Juan Monaco ššFederico Delbonis against her fifth-seeded opponent. Hayman deprived Tom Boonen Master is jack Aof a record-breaking fifth Paris- Roubaix title when he won the Queen of the Classics last Sunday after the BOXING favourites got trapped behind a big crash. The Orica-GreenEDGE rider, 37, out- Pacquiao quits in style sprinted Belgian Boonen on the final of all trades! bend of the Roubaix velodrome as British rider Ian Stannard took third place at ANNY Pacquiao defeated years later, delivered the final blow in the end of a crash-ridden 257.5km ride Timothy Bradley by unani- their welterweight clash in Las Vegas featuring 52.8km of cobbled sectors. Mmous decision in the rubber as all three judges scored it 116-110 Pre-race favourites Peter Sagan, the match between the fighters last week, in his favour. world champion, and Fabian Cancellara, prevailing in what the Filipino has said With fans chanting ‘Manny’ at the who was gunning for a fourth title, effec- would be the final fight of his career. conclusion, Pacquiao (58-6-2) main- tively lost the race when they found Pacquiao, who bounced back from tained that he was heading into retire- themselves on the wrong end of a bunch ššManny Pacquiao lands a punch to knock Timothy Bradley a controversial split-decision defeat to ment and continuing his political career split after a massive pile-up some 115km down at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Bradley in 2012 with a decisive win two in the Philippines. from the line.

CRICKET HORSERACING When tradition Teenager Mullins went for a toss Rules The World!

NE of the enduring rituals of ULE The World won the 169th any cricket match was delib- running of the Grand National, Oerately done away with on the Rthe world’s greatest steeplechase, opening day of the new English County at Aintree, England, last week under Championship season last Sunday. an inspired ride from David Mullins, The toss of a coin to decide which a 19-year-old jockey making his ššSweden’s Kim Andersson in action against Spain. side bats or bowls first has been a sta- debut in the race. ple of Championship cricket for more The 33-1 outsider, trained by than a hundred years. Mouse Morris, who is the son of HANDBALL But in a bid to guard against home former International Olympic teams preparing ‘result’ pitches to favour Committee president the otherwise modest medium-pace seam- late Lord Killanin, won Spain miss Rio bus ers, the England and Wales Cricket Board by six lengths from 8-1 have introduced a rule, on a one-year joint favourite The Last trial for the time being, that allows vis- Samuri. PAIN will miss the men’s Olympic champions, finished behind Slovenia iting captains to field first if they want The horse is owned handball event for the first time and Sweden due to an inferior head- to in first-class Championship cricket. by Michael O’Leary, Ssince the 1976 Games in Montreal to-head record. As a result, no toss was needed in the chief executive of despite beating hosts Sweden 25-23 in Slovenia, who earlier stunned Spain four of the five matches that got under- Europe’s largest budget a qualifying tournament last Sunday. 24-21, sealed qualification along with way last Sunday. airline Ryanair. The Spaniards, twice former world Sweden with a 33-17 rout of Iran. 32 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 33 Movers&Shakers Kaleidoscope

Vodafone extends Bryant leaves an BEAT WEIGHT deal with IPL International mobile network operator Vodafone announced an extension to ššKevin Pietersen its long- running ššPatrice Evra indelible mark sponsorship of the Pietersen may play WITH LEGUMES! Indian Premier ITH breathtaking skill League (IPL) that Evergreen Evra began in 2008. The and a ruthless will to win, for South Africa Ĉ ĈPulses are an important IPL’s ninth edition to keep it rolling WKobe Bryant stamped his sustainable protein source, started on April 9 authority on the NBA, leaving a mark ORMER England batsman Kevin plus they are high in fibre and will end on May 29. The other IERY Juventus and France defender that will linger long after the Los An- Pietersen said he was consider- supporters include title sponsor Patrice Evra is determined to play geles Lakers guard plays the last game Fing playing international cricket ATING one serving of beans, Vivo, official digital streaming Fto the age of 40 and scoffs at the of his 20-year career on Wednesday. for his native South Africa after he was peas, lentils or chickpeas every partner Hotstar, official partners Yes idea of international retirement after Bryant, 37, will walk away with five sacked from England side two years ago. Eday may help dieters lose a Bank, Freecharge as well as Maruti Suzuki and official strategic timeout Euro 2016. NBA titles, having secured his place The 35-year-old flamboyant bats- little extra weight, according to a partner CEAT. “I’ll leave ‘Les Bleus’ when they’ve no not only among such Lakers icons as man, born in Pietermaritzburg but new analysis of existing research. more need of me,” the 34-year-old for- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson left for England more than a decade Researchers examined data from mer Manchester United left-back vowed and Jerry West, but also in the pan- ago, would be eligible to play for South nearly two dozen trials and found in an interview published in L’Equipe. theon of NBA greats still presided Africa in 2018. that participants who ate about Emirates stays The tireless defender has played 71 over by Michael Jordan. Meanwhile, South African Rugby three quarters of a cup of pulses times for France, notably as captain in Bryant has produced some of the World Cup winner Francois Pienaar every day lost about three quarters with Cosmos the 2010 World Cup and also at Brazil NBA’s most dazzling scoring per- has been included in a four-person of a pound more than those who The Emirates Airline agreed to in 2014, and a succession of national formances, topped by his 81-point panel to probe consistently poor perfor- did not eat legumes, regardless of continue its multi-year global handlers have banked on his massive outburst against Toronto Raptors in mances by the national cricket teams. whether the diets were geared to sponsorship of American Soccer League reigning champions New commitment. 2006, and stands third on the league’s weight loss. York Cosmos. The Lead author Dr Russell de Souza Although out of contract with Juventus all-time scoring list behind only Abdul- extension will be in June, Evra will be a first choice left- Jabbar and Karl Malone, and ahead said pulses were an important for a minimum back for France at Euro 2016. of Jordan. ššKobe Bryant Contador will sustainable protein source, plus of three years. they are high in fibre. In addition continue racing “Legumes also have a low to enjoying ‘glycemic index,’ which means the prominent branding on PAIN’S twice Tour de France carbohydrates in them do not raise playing kits, Emirates will also have Schumi’s son dazzles on F4 debut blood sugars as rapidly as things protein and low in the glycemic series of papers we’re working on champion Alberto Contador the rights to be the presenting Shas vowed to continue compet- like white bread or white flour,” said index promote weight loss, but the to assess the effects of pulses on sponsor of next three editions of the ICK Schumacher,17-year-old The young driver headed back to his ing for at least another year after De Souza, a researcher with the Li specific role of pulses has not been blood pressure, blood cholesterol, Cosmos Copa, the largest amateur son of stricken Formula One native Germany to race in the German claiming the Tour of the Basque Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St clear, De Souza and his co-authors body weight and appetite control football tournament in the US. Mlegend Michael Schumacher, F4 tournament starting on Friday. Country title last week. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. wrote in The American Journal of to help guidelines committees won two races on his Italian Formula Last season, Schumacher finished 10th Contador declared last year Previous studies have found Clinical Nutrition. better formulate dietary advice,” he 4 debut at Misano last week. overall in the German championship. he would retire at the end of that eating foods high in fibre and “We did this study as one in a said by e-mail. Racing for the Prema Powerteam, the Former seven-time world champion 2016 season, but after his teenager won the first event from sec- Michael Schumacher suffered head inju- Basque triumph with vic- ond on the grid and then swept to vic- ries in a skiing accident in the French tory in the time trial, he tory in the second round despite tor- Alps in December, 2013, and spent six said he would shelve plans Sport Integrity Global ššMick Schumacher rential rain. months in an induced coma. to stop racing. Wanda Group Alliance launched Vardy Vale, Ranieri Road! backs Atletico ORE than 50 leading EICESTER’S mayor wants to Chinese conglomerate Wanda representatives from sports, rename the city’s streets after Group agreed a new sponsorship Mgovernment, academia, Lthe players of the English deal with Spanish league foot- Anthony Joshua became World champion Mitch Larkin West Indies off-spinner Sunil sponsors as well as other international Premier League leaders if they ball club Atletico Madrid. It will see Britain’s second reigning world was under world record pace Narine was cleared to resume and corporate organisations met succeed in winning the title, he told Wanda Group securing naming heavyweight champion when before qualifying for the Rio his career after a suspension in Madrid to launch the first Sport The Times last week. rights to the club’s training ground, he knocked out Charles Martin Olympics in 100M backstroke for a suspect bowling action which will now be known as the Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA). Supporters have pushed for top in the second round at the O2 at the Australian Swimming ruled him out of his team’s Ciudad Deportiva Wanda Atletico de Arena last week. Joshua, the Championships in Adelaide last World Twenty20 title-winning The SIGA, an independent and scorer Jamie Vardy to be honoured Madrid. Wanda Group is owned by 2012 Olympic gold medallist, week. The FINA Male Swimmer campaign. The 27-year-old neutral coalition involving international by the local authorities, but mayor Wang Jianlin, who bought a 20 per captured his first world title in of the Year was on track to go Trinidadian was suspended in stakeholders such as Doha-based Peter Soulsby wants to see every cent stake in Atletico in 2015. only his 16th professional fight under American Aaron Peirsol’s November last year after being International Centre for Sport Security member of manager Claudio by flattening American Martin world record (51.94) before easing cited during a one-day match from multiple industry sectors, is Ranieri’s team included. to lift the International Boxing off to win in 52.54sec. in Sri Lanka. Federation belt. vested with the authority to protect “It has been a real team effort, Total supports the integrity of sport and will work to so as well as Vardy Vale we would drive forward key reforms across good need to have (Peter) Schmeichel Asian Le Mans governance and financial transparency Street, (Danny) Drinkwater Drive Four-time Olympic breaststroke Olympic medal hope Former world No.1 The Asian Le Mans Kento Caroline in sports. and Ranieri Road,” said Soulsby. champion Kosuke Kitajima is Momota has been kicked Wozniacki will miss this Series signed a The development of SIGA follows “Leicester have honoured their set for retirement after missing off Japan’s badminton month’s Istanbul Cup sponsorship deal with out on qualifying for a fifth team for the Olympics this tournament after suffering an increasing calls from stakeholders sports stars in the past. There’s French petro brand Olympics at the Japanese summer for gambling at an ankle injury. “Rolled my ankle across all corners for the establishment an area named after golfers and Total. The partnership swimming trials. The 33-year- illegal casino. The Nippon during practice today, very sad of a global, independent and neutral there’s also a (Gary) Lineker Road.” will include both old, who won 100 and 200M Badminton Association threw to miss Fed Cup and Istanbul, sport integrity body. The launch Unheralded Leicester are Asian Le Mans Series and newly-created Asian Le Mans breaststroke gold at the 2004 the book at the 21-year-old but I’ll be back soon,” the builds on the momentum resulting currently seven points clear at the Athens as well as 2008 Beijing world No.2, banning him from 25-year-old Dane, now down Sprint Cup. from informal meetings held in New top of the Premier League table Games, could only finish fifth in competition indefinitely, after at 24th in the rankings, said on the 200M. an emergency meeting. Twitter. York, Geneva, Brussels, Madrid and and need nine points from their London between November, 2015, and last five games to guarantee a » Courtesy CSM Sport & Entertainment, February, 2016. fairytale success. www.csm.com, @FastTrack_ME Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 33 Kaleidoscope

Vodafone extends BEAT WEIGHT deal with IPL International mobile network operator Vodafone announced an extension to its long- running sponsorship of the WITH LEGUMES! Indian Premier League (IPL) that began in 2008. The Ĉ ĈPulses are an important IPL’s ninth edition sustainable protein source, started on April 9 plus they are high in fibre and will end on May 29. The other supporters include title sponsor ATING one serving of beans, Vivo, official digital streaming peas, lentils or chickpeas every partner Hotstar, official partners Yes Eday may help dieters lose a Bank, Freecharge as well as Maruti little extra weight, according to a Suzuki and official strategic timeout partner CEAT. new analysis of existing research. Researchers examined data from nearly two dozen trials and found that participants who ate about Emirates stays three quarters of a cup of pulses every day lost about three quarters with Cosmos of a pound more than those who The Emirates Airline agreed to did not eat legumes, regardless of continue its multi-year global whether the diets were geared to sponsorship of American Soccer weight loss. League reigning champions New York Cosmos. The Lead author Dr Russell de Souza extension will be said pulses were an important for a minimum sustainable protein source, plus of three years. they are high in fibre. In addition “Legumes also have a low to enjoying ‘glycemic index,’ which means the prominent carbohydrates in them do not raise branding on playing kits, Emirates will also have blood sugars as rapidly as things protein and low in the glycemic series of papers we’re working on the rights to be the presenting like white bread or white flour,” said index promote weight loss, but the to assess the effects of pulses on sponsor of next three editions of the De Souza, a researcher with the Li specific role of pulses has not been blood pressure, blood cholesterol, Cosmos Copa, the largest amateur Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St clear, De Souza and his co-authors body weight and appetite control football tournament in the US. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. wrote in The American Journal of to help guidelines committees Previous studies have found Clinical Nutrition. better formulate dietary advice,” he that eating foods high in fibre and “We did this study as one in a said by e-mail.

Sport Integrity Global Wanda Group Alliance launched Vardy Vale, Ranieri Road! backs Atletico ORE than 50 leading EICESTER’S mayor wants to Chinese conglomerate Wanda representatives from sports, rename the city’s streets after Group agreed a new sponsorship Mgovernment, academia, Lthe players of the English deal with Spanish league foot- sponsors as well as other international Premier League leaders if they ball club Atletico Madrid. It will see and corporate organisations met succeed in winning the title, he told Wanda Group securing naming in Madrid to launch the first Sport The Times last week. rights to the club’s training ground, which will now be known as the Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA). Supporters have pushed for top Ciudad Deportiva Wanda Atletico de The SIGA, an independent and scorer Jamie Vardy to be honoured Madrid. Wanda Group is owned by neutral coalition involving international by the local authorities, but mayor Wang Jianlin, who bought a 20 per stakeholders such as Doha-based Peter Soulsby wants to see every cent stake in Atletico in 2015. International Centre for Sport Security member of manager Claudio from multiple industry sectors, is Ranieri’s team included. vested with the authority to protect “It has been a real team effort, Total supports the integrity of sport and will work to so as well as Vardy Vale we would drive forward key reforms across good need to have (Peter) Schmeichel Asian Le Mans governance and financial transparency Street, (Danny) Drinkwater Drive The Asian Le Mans in sports. and Ranieri Road,” said Soulsby. Series signed a The development of SIGA follows “Leicester have honoured their sponsorship deal with increasing calls from stakeholders sports stars in the past. There’s French petro brand across all corners for the establishment an area named after golfers and Total. The partnership of a global, independent and neutral there’s also a (Gary) Lineker Road.” will include both sport integrity body. The launch Unheralded Leicester are Asian Le Mans Series and newly-created Asian Le Mans builds on the momentum resulting currently seven points clear at the Sprint Cup. from informal meetings held in New top of the Premier League table York, Geneva, Brussels, Madrid and and need nine points from their London between November, 2015, and last five games to guarantee a » Courtesy CSM Sport & Entertainment, February, 2016. fairytale success. www.csm.com, @FastTrack_ME 34 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 35

Spot shots Ĉ AL SADD VS AL RAYYAN DSP/ Vinod Divakaran DSP/ Vinod Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 35 DSP/ Vinod Divakaran DSP/ Vinod 36 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 37

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SPORT THIS WEEK TOP TWEETS BLAST FROM THE PAST INSTAGLOW

Ĉ QATAR BRIAN LARA Becomes highest scorer in Test cricket WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13 2004

HANDBALL Qatar League, Al Gharafa vs Al Rayyan, 4pm, Al Ahli vs Al Khor, 5.30pm and Lekhwiya vs Shamal, 7pm at Qatar Handball Association Hall Complex Hall. VOLLEYBALL Qatar League, El Jaish vs Al Wakrah, 4.15pm and Al Sadd vs Qatar SC, 6.15pm at Al Arabi Sports Club. FOOTBALL Barcelona were cruising in the Spanish League not so long ago, but THURSDAY, APRIL 14 Qatar Stars League, Al Arabi vs Al Sailiya, 6.15pm, Al Ahli suddenly after two straight defeats, HANDBALL Stadium; Al Ahli vs Al Rayyan, against Real Madrid and then Real ‘Women on Wheels’ gets Qatar League, Al Arabi vs Al 8.30pm, Al Gharafa Stadium. Sociedad last week, and with just Wakrah, 4pm, Al Sadd vs El SUNDAY, APRIL 17 one point out of the possible nine in Jaish, 5.30pm and El Quiyada the last three matches, the Spanish vs Qatar SC, 7pm at Qatar HANDBALL Handball Association Hall champions have started feeling the overwhelming response Qatar League, Al Sadd vs heat. They have the team to make it Complex Hall. Lekhwiya, 5.30pm and Al Sadd FRIDAY, APRIL 15 still look like a cakewalk, but at the More than 300 women and children joined the The event was supported by the Qatar vs El Quiyada, 7pm at Qatar moment the pressure is on them. Handball Association Hall first ‘ladies only’ cycling day ‘Women on Wheels’ Olympic Committee, which provided 20 FOOTBALL Complex Hall. held at the Losail International Circuit last week. additional bikes for testing, Al Rayyan water Qatar Stars League, Al MOTORSPORT Organised by the Qatar Cyclists Centre, company, Tawaf Cycling Academy, Al Shaqab Kharaitiyat vs Umm Salal, Champions League the event also featured walking and running Volunteer Programme and Carbon Wheels Bike 6.15pm, Al Khor Club; Lekhwiya Sealine Cross-Country Rally, 9.30am (till April 22). @ChampionsLeague activities with a special attention to promote Shop. vs Mesaimeer, 6.15pm, Lekhwiya Club; Al Sadd vs El Barcelona’s lead in Spain reduced to cycling among women and children. Neus Ramos sent the details and photographs. Jaish, 6.15pm, Qatar Sports TUESDAY, APRIL 19 three points after title holders suffer Club; Al Wakrah vs Qatar SC, second straight Liga defeat. #UCL 6.15pm, Al Wakrah Stadium; Al BASKETBALL Gharafa vs Al Khor, 6.15pm, Al Emir’s Cup, El Jaish vs Al Ahli Stadium. Rayyan 5pm, and Al Sadd vs Arsenal FC Al Gharafa, 7pm at Al Gharafa @OlaAyobami VOLLEYBALL Indoor Hall. wonder if Barcelona are afraid of any Qatar League, Al Rayyan vs team that has real as name, if yes N APRIL 12, 2004, exactly 10 years after West Indian cricketer Al Ahli, 4.15pm and Police vs FOOTBALL next season arsenal will be named Al Arabi, 6.15pm at Al Arabi AFC Champions League, El Brian Lara first broke the record for the highest score in Tests, Sports Club. Jaish vs Al Ahli, 7pm, Lekhwiya real arsenal. Ohe did it again. Stadium. SATURDAY, APRIL 16 The left-hander, hailed as one of the world’s greatest batsmen, piled 400 barcastuff HANDBALL in the fourth Test against England at St John’s, Antigua, in the Caribbean, BASKETBALL @barcastuff Qatar League, Lekhwiya vs Al to become the first player to reclaim the record. Emir’s Cup, Al Gharafa vs Al Rayyan, 5.30pm and El Jaish Last time Barcelona won away Sadd, 5pm and Al Rayyan vs vs Al Gharafa, 7pm at Qatar against Real Sociedad was in Australian Matthew Hayden, who had topped Lara’s 375 with a 380 El Jaish, 7pm at Al Gharafa Handball Association Hall 2006/2007 #fcblive Since then in against Zimbabwe in Perth, had held the record for just six months. Indoor Hall. Complex Hall. Liga: 0W 1D 5L West Indies were staring at a whitewash at the start of the match and 7 2 4 even 1 a century may not have been enough to save Lara’s captaincy. But Sid Lowe the innings, on a featherbed of a pitch, restored the dignity of both Ĉ @sidlowe 7 2 6 Diamond League tickets go online INTERNATIONAL Lara and his beleaguered side even though the match ended in a draw. FT Real Sociedad 1-0 Barcelona. 7 The league is alive. 3 point lead Lara is the only batsman to have ever scored a hundred, a double, Tickets for the IAAF Doha Diamond League athletics meet, to be held at over Atletico, 4 over RM. Barca 7 have 5 triple,9 2 quadruple and a quintuple century in first-class games during the Qatar Sports Club Stadium on May 6, are now available online. Fans WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13 dropped 8 points in 3 games. can book them by visiting the Virgin Megastore website https://tickets. 3 6 1 his career,8 which lasted from 1990 to 2006. virginmegastore.me. FOOTBALL General seats and family tribune cost QR50 and those at the finish line Champions League 4 6 7 3 QR100. VIP tickets are priced at QR200 and will include snacks, soft drinks quarterfinals second legs: Benfica vs Bayern Munich and 6 7 5 and parking access. Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona. Athina Kartalou sent the details and photograph. 2 7 9 TENNIS ATP at Monte Carlo; WTA at 9 3 7 8 Bogota (till Sunday). SUDOKU-520 THURSDAY, APRIL 14 7 2 4 1

FOOTBALL Sudoku is a number- 7 2 6 ЂЂName the 2016 Augusta Masters golf Europa League quarterfinals second legs. placing puzzle Solution-519 champion? based on a 9x9 GOLF 7 grid with several EPGA at Spanish Open; USPGA given numbers. 1 3 9 7 8 6 4 5 2 at RBC Heritage, Hilton head; 7 5 9 2 LPGA at LOTTE Championship, The object is to 7 8 6 5 4 2 9 1 3 Oahu, Hawaii (till Sunday). place the numbers 3 6 1 8 Name SATURDAY, APRIL 16 SUNDAY, APRIL 17 1 to 9 in the empty 5 2 4 1 3 9 8 6 7 squares so that each SEND YOUR ANSWER TO 8 5 2 3 1 4 6 7 9 BASKETBALL MOTORSPORT row, each column 4 6 7 3 [email protected] Phone No Start of NBA play-offs. Chinese Formula One Grand and each 3x3 box 6 4 7 9 2 5 1 3 8 Prix, Shanghai. contains the same and be the lucky winner to get RUGBY 9 1 3 8 6 7 2 4 5 6 7 5 e-mail MONDAY, APRIL 18 number only once. three months’ subscription of World Sevens Series in Singapore (till Sunday). 2 7 1 4 5 8 3 9 6 TENNIS 2 7 9 DSP magazine for free. SNOOKER ATP at Barcelona and 3 9 8 6 7 1 5 2 4 World Championship in Bucharest; WTA at Stuttgart 9 3 7 8 Sheffield (till May 2). and Istanbul (till April 24). 4 6 5 2 9 3 7 8 1

1 3 9 7 8 6 4 5 2 7 8 6 5 4 2 9 1 3 5 2 4 1 3 9 8 6 7 8 5 2 3 1 4 6 7 9 6 4 7 9 2 5 1 3 8 9 1 3 8 6 7 2 4 5 2 7 1 4 5 8 3 9 6 3 9 8 6 7 1 5 2 4 4 6 5 2 9 3 7 8 1 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 37

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SPORT THIS WEEK TOP TWEETS BLAST FROM THE PAST INSTAGLOW

BRIAN LARA 2004 Becomes highest scorer in Test cricket

Barcelona were cruising in the Spanish League not so long ago, but suddenly after two straight defeats, against Real Madrid and then Real Sociedad last week, and with just one point out of the possible nine in the last three matches, the Spanish champions have started feeling the heat. They have the team to make it still look like a cakewalk, but at the moment the pressure is on them.

Champions League @ChampionsLeague Barcelona’s lead in Spain reduced to three points after title holders suffer second straight Liga defeat. #UCL

Arsenal FC @OlaAyobami wonder if Barcelona are afraid of any team that has real as name, if yes N APRIL 12, 2004, exactly 10 years after West Indian cricketer next season arsenal will be named Brian Lara first broke the record for the highest score in Tests, real arsenal. Ohe did it again. The left-hander, hailed as one of the world’s greatest batsmen, piled 400 barcastuff @barcastuff in the fourth Test against England at St John’s, Antigua, in the Caribbean, Last time Barcelona won away to become the first player to reclaim the record. against Real Sociedad was in Australian Matthew Hayden, who had topped Lara’s 375 with a 380 2006/2007 #fcblive Since then in against Zimbabwe in Perth, had held the record for just six months. Liga: 0W 1D 5L West Indies were staring at a whitewash at the start of the match and 7 2 4 even 1 a century may not have been enough to save Lara’s captaincy. But Sid Lowe @sidlowe 7 the2 6innings, on a featherbed of a pitch, restored the dignity of both Lara and his beleaguered side even though the match ended in a draw. FT Real Sociedad 1-0 Barcelona. 7 The league is alive. 3 point lead Lara is the only batsman to have ever scored a hundred, a double, over Atletico, 4 over RM. Barca 7 have 5 triple,9 2 quadruple and a quintuple century in first-class games during dropped 8 points in 3 games. 3 6 1 his career,8 which lasted from 1990 to 2006. 4 6 7 3 6 7 5 2 7 9 SUDOKU-520 9 3 7 8 7 2 4 1

Sudoku is a number- 7 2 6 placing puzzle Solution-519 based on a 9x9 7 grid with several given numbers. 1 3 9 7 8 6 4 5 2 7 5 9 2 The object is to 7 8 6 5 4 2 9 1 3 place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty 5 2 4 1 3 9 8 6 7 3 6 1 8 squares so that each 8 5 2 3 1 4 6 7 9 row, each column 4 6 7 3 and each 3x3 box 6 4 7 9 2 5 1 3 8 contains the same 6 7 5 number only once. 9 1 3 8 6 7 2 4 5 2 7 1 4 5 8 3 9 6 2 7 9 3 9 8 6 7 1 5 2 4 4 6 5 2 9 3 7 8 1 9 3 7 8

1 3 9 7 8 6 4 5 2 7 8 6 5 4 2 9 1 3 5 2 4 1 3 9 8 6 7 8 5 2 3 1 4 6 7 9 6 4 7 9 2 5 1 3 8 9 1 3 8 6 7 2 4 5 2 7 1 4 5 8 3 9 6 3 9 8 6 7 1 5 2 4 4 6 5 2 9 3 7 8 1 38 Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Hearsay ALL SPORTS, ONE STADIUM

Harmison gets 12-match ban EPL to be a step down ORMER England fast bowler and Ashes winner Steve Harmi- Fson has been banned for 12 for Zlatan, says Silva matches after a furious row with a football referee. Harmison, who starred in the 2005 ARIS Saint-Germain captain Thiago cricket series against Australia, was Silva warned Zlatan Ibrahimovic yxyxyxyxyx yxy named manager of hometown team Phe would be taking a step down if Ashington last February. he moves to the English Premier League. xy xy xyxyxxyy The club play in the ninth-tier PSG superstar Ibrahimovic is set to Northern League, with the alterca- be out of contract this summer and is a yxyxyxy yxyxy tion occurring after a 0-1 defeat to big-money target for Manchester United Bishop Auckland last month. while he also has offers from Arsenal Harmison, who was subsequently and Chelsea. handed a 12-game ban, was reported to PSG captain Silva said of the Swede, Northumberland’s Football Association “He’s my good friend, but also at 34 he’s after raging at officials following his playing the best football of his career. striker’s dismissal. He’s one of the best in the world, he’s ‘Sharapova is The Northumberland FA website unique, there’s not another player like arrogant, cold reveals a member of Ashington, by him. Of course, I want him to stay at the name of “Steve” has been handed PSG, I can’t imagine us without him. and conceited’ a 12-game ban. “I know he has offers from England It came into effect last Monday, but — and it’s a big league — but I don’t LOVAKIAN tennis star Dominika Harmison has not been seen on the think there’s a team in England Cibulkova, who last week won touchline for the last two weeks. that’s at the level of PSG at Sthe BNP Paribas Katowice Open The club has declined to comment, the moment. For me it would in Poland, is not in friendly terms with but a spokesman for Harmison said be a step down in quality dope-tainted Maria Sharapova and the former fast bowler was away on for him.” is not ashamed of admitting it either. holiday. While most players in the Women’s Publishers: ASPIRE Printing, Publishing and Distribution Tennis Association have offered no P O Box: 24598, Doha, Qatar. comment about Sharapova, Dominika Marketing & advertising: Tel: +974 44138566 Cibulkova had no problem criticising e-mail: [email protected] her. In a recent interview in her home Ramos bound for Chelsea country, Cibulkova called Sharapova Distribution: Tel: +974 44138535/36, Fax: +974 44138597 an “unlikeable person.” www.twitter.com/dohastadiumplus www.facebook.com/dohastadiumplusqatar www.flickr.com/photos/dohastadiumplusqatar e-mail: [email protected] “I didn’t make any statement, as I HELSEA’S next manager Anto- didn’t want to be the only person to nio Conte wants to bring Real openly say what they think about this CMadrid defender Sergio Ramos case. I will only say that I don’t feel sorry to Stamford Bridge next season and at all for Sharapova and I don’t miss her is willing to let Branislav Ivanovic, on the tour,” Cibulkova said, accord- one of the club’s most experienced ing to a translation. players, join Roma. “She’s a totally unlikeable person. TO OUR PUBLICATION Reports said the Blues held talks Arrogant, conceited and cold. When I with Roma last week to discuss a num- sit beside her in the locker room, she ber of transfer-related issues, includ- won’t even say hello.” Subscribe Yes, send Doha Stadium Plus to me Arsenal scout ing the sale of Ivanovic to the Serie A Cibulkova is almost certainly not the outfit this summer. only player who feels that way. Women’s Boca teenager Conte is happy to let the Serbia tennis legend Chris Evert recently said Name: ...... international leave if he can secure that Sharapova has “isolated herself” RSENAL are tracking Boca a deal for Ramos as he looks to bring from others in the sport and does not Company: ...... Juniors teenager Rodrigo in a versatile defender for the 2016- seem to have any close relationships ABentancur, regarded as one 17 campaign. with other players. Address: ...... of the brightest young talents in South America after bursting onto the scene Telephone: ...... at Boca last season. The 18-year-old, who came through Fax: ...... the ranks at the Buenos Aires club, is Spurs in talks with Dembele tipped to become a top midfielder e-mail: ...... in the world, with European clubs including Real Madrid and Juventus NGLISH Premier League title- Paris Saint-Germain. Payment can be made by cash, cheque or DD payable to Estad Al Doha. reported to be interested. chasers Tottenham have held However, Tottenham have now opened Arsenal scouts attended Boca’s last Etalks with French teenage star preliminary talks with Dembele, who week’s 3-1 win over Bolivar. Ousmane Dembele. is a quick, skilful forward capable of Boca are reluctant to lose the hold- The Rennes forward, with 12 goals operating on either flank. SIX MONTHS ONE YEAR QR 50 (26 ISSUES) QR 100 (52 ISSUES) ing midfielder, but are braced for offers in 22 games this season, is among the The player’s agent reportedly met during the summer. hottest properties in world football at with officials from Spurs in London SEND THIS TO Bentancur’s father had said in the moment and is linked with a num- last week to discuss a potential move January that he was happy at Boca ber of top European sides. this summer. Rennes are resigned to The Distribution Manager, Doha Stadium Plus and appreciated the chance his boys The 18-year-old has been scouted by the fact they will lose him, but are still P O Box: 24598, Tel: +974 44138527/44138567, Fax:+974 44138592/44138597, e-mail: [email protected] had been given to establish himself the likes of Arsenal, Barcelona and Bayern likely to hold out for a transfer fee in at the famous club. Munich as well as French champions excess of £30m. ALL SPORTS, ONE STADIUM

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Publishers: ASPIRE Printing, Publishing and Distribution P O Box: 24598, Doha, Qatar. Marketing & advertising: Tel: +974 44138566 e-mail: [email protected] Distribution: Tel: +974 44138535/36, Fax: +974 44138597 www.twitter.com/dohastadiumplus www.facebook.com/dohastadiumplusqatar www.flickr.com/photos/dohastadiumplusqatar e-mail: [email protected]

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SIX MONTHS ONE YEAR QR 50 (26 ISSUES) QR 100 (52 ISSUES) SEND THIS TO The Distribution Manager, Doha Stadium Plus P O Box: 24598, Tel: +974 44138527/44138567, Fax:+974 44138592/44138597, e-mail: [email protected] WEDNESDAY, April 13, 2016 VOlUME Xi iSSUE NO.10 Qr2.00 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com

WE WON’T LET YOU P 6 | FOOTBALL P 24 | RUGBY QATAR IN EASY GROUP GAME GAINING GROUND Qatar will start their final-round World The big response to the Qatar Sevens QATAR’S FIRST Cup qualification with much hope League suggests the sport can become GET AWAY FROM ENGLISH SPORTS after being drawn into an easy group. popular in the country in near future. WEEKLY THE GAME FOLLOW US

Catch every pulse of action... Stay tuned www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com REFIEW! Referees find themselves under scrutiny right through this season’s league championship even as Qatar plans to bring in more technology to assist them amid ongoing debates on its pros and cons. PAGES 8-11

Publishers: ASPIRE Printing, Publishing and Distribution P O Box: 24598, Doha, Qatar. P 20 | POSTER P 26 | MOTORSPORT Marketing & advertising: Tel: +974 44138566 P 22 | BEACH VOLLEYBALL e-mail: [email protected] DSP EXCLUSIVE MANNY Nasser wins Distribution: Tel: +974 44138535/36, Fax: +974 44138597 INTERVIEW PACQUIAO Abu Dhabi e-mail: [email protected] Sandstorm in Qatar! Desert Challenge