Sport MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2021 Maxwell accepts Test career all but over I don't think I stand anywhere near it, to be honest. They've got their idea of what they want. They've got guys in there at the moment who are very, very good first-class players. Cameron Green we can see is going to be an absolute superstar, Puck (Will Pucovski), Travis Head's on the bench averaging 40 in Test. Glenn Maxwell Sport |09 QATAR BASKETBALL LEAGUE: FINAL: Al Gharafa beat Al Shamal 89-71; THIRD PLACE PLAY-OFF: Al Arabi beat Al Sadd 82-70 Amir Cup kicks off with three Round of 16 games on the opening day Al Duhail begin title hunt against Al Ahli FAWAD HUSSAIN Sadd 4-1 in a memorable final Al Duhail THE PENINSULA at Al Janoub Stadium. players in Al Sadd avenged the defeat action during a The 49th edition of the Amir with the same score-line by training session. Cup will begin today with beating Al Duhail in the semi- former champions Al Duhail final of previous edition before and Al Ahli squaring off in a eventually lifting the trophy marquee clash of the opening with a 2-1 win over Al Arabi in day of Qatar’s most popular the final at brand new Ahmad football tournament. Bin Ali Stadium last month. The Round of 16 matches on For Al Duhail, who will face the inaugural day of the African champions Al Ahly at the 16-team event will also see Al FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020 Wakrah clashing with Al on February 4, today’s game is of Kharaitiyat at Qatar SC Stadium, utmost important as a win will not and Qatar SC taking on Al just help them advance at the Shamal at the Suheim Bin Amir Cup, it will also give them Hamad Stadium. confidence ahead of clash against However, the spotlight will the Egyptians. be on Al Duhail’s battle against “It is a crucial game for us,” Al Ahli at the Grand Hamad Al Duhail coach Sabri Lamouchi Stadium as the ‘Red Knights’ said at a pre-match press con- begin campaign to regain the ference yesterday. prestigious title, which they “Amir Cup is a big tour- won in 2019 after defeating Al nament and every team wants Amir Cup: Round of 16 Fixtures Today 4:30pm: Qatar SC vs Al Shamal at Qatar SC Stadium 7:15pm: Al Wakrah vs Al Kharaitiyat at Qatar SC Stadium 7:15pm: Al Duhail vs Al Ahli at Grand Hamad Stadium Tomorrow to perform well and advance in Olunga, who has recently joined Al Ahli coach Nebojsa Jovovic between Qatar SC vs Al Shamal 4:30pm: Al Rayyan vs Al Markhiya at Jassim Bin Hamad the tournament. Yes, we have Al Duhail, said his team is ready hoped for a turnaround from his that will start at 4:30pm. Stadium an important match at the FIFA for the match. side. Defending champions Al Club World Cup but now we are “It is going to be a tough “Al Duhail are a strong side Sadd will be seen in action 7:15pm: Al Sadd vs Muaither at Jassim Bin Hamad focusing on our first Amir Cup match and we are ready. We and it is a difficult match for us tomorrow with a game against Stadium match,” the Frenchman added. realise the importance of the but we will play the match with Muaither at Jassim Bin Hamad 7:15pm: Al Gharafa vs Al Shahania at Hamad Bin Khalifa “Our first target is to reach competition and will try our a positive intent,” said Jovovic, Stadium. Stadium the Amir Cup quarter-finals best to qualify for the quarter- whose side was leading the QSL The Amir Cup has kicked off Wednesday after that we will shift our focus finals,” he said yesterday. standings in the first few weeks early this season with Qatar 4:30pm: Al Sailiya vs Al Khor at Grand Hamad Stadium on match against Al Ahly,” he In their QNB Stars League before falling to sixth spot. Football Association aiming to 7:15pm: Al Arabi vs Umm Salal at Qatar SC Stadium added. (QSL) match last month, Al The match will kick off at wrap up the football season Kenyan striker Michael Duhail defeated Al Ahli 5-3 but 7:15pm after the opening match before the end of April. Qatar SC target last-8 spot with win over Al Shamal CHINTHANA WASALA win and move forward in the division and have distinguished THE PENINSULA competition,” Ali said players,” Ali said. These matches are usually yesterday. Ali’s counterpart Heishan Qatar SC begin their 2021 Amir full of surprises. So we will “We will not be lenient or Shazwani admitted that Qatar Cup campaign today when they underestimate our opponents, SC will not be an easy side. take on Al Shamal in their compete with all and we must make every effort “They offer very good Round of 16 fixture which seriousness and to achieve victory and move levels of football in the First kicks off at the Suhaim Bin determination in order to forward in the competition in Division. In today’s match our Hamad Stadium at 4:30pm. win and move forward in a tournament that is very team will have to provide the The Kings will be looking important to us," he added. best level of football in order to better their recent record at the competition. Qatar SC, who have won to match their strength,” said Qatar’s most followed football the Amir Cup title back in 1974 Shazwani. tournament when they Younis Ali and 76, have reached the finals “Our first goal is to rise to welcome the Second Division Qatar SC Coach on four occasions. They are one the ranks of first-class clubs. team. of only two teams to snatch The Amir Cup draw has Qatar SC failed to make it points from high-flying Al Sadd brought us into a strong con- past the Round of 16 in last sea- this season in the QSL. frontation against a very strong son’s Amir Cup after going standings. However, Ali, who “The results presented by team, and we must be strong, down to Al Ahli. took over the Qatar SC reins at the team are distinguished, and we will do our best The Kings, coached by the beginning of the 2020-21 even during drawn games because the tournament is of Qatar SC former Qatari star Younis Ali, season, warned against under- against Al Gharafa, Al Sadd and great importance, especially to players in have shown great promise this estimating the Second Division Al Duhail," the former Al out fans,” Shazwani said. action during season. They are having a good club. Markhiya star who was a key He added: “Qatar Club a training run in the QNB Stars League “These matches are usually figure behind their runner-up remains a favourite in tomor- session (QSL), having been able to con- full of surprises. So we will position two years ago, said. row’s match. But we, in turn, yesterday. stantly maintain their place compete with all seriousness “Al Shamal is a good team, will do everything we can to among the top five in the and determination in order to and I follow them in the second defend our fortunes.” World Championship: Qatar to take on Argentina in crucial game today THE PENINSULA — DOHA Argentina, and also hope “We are prepared well managing 11 saves with defending champions for the coming game against second keeper Urban Lesjak Asian champions Qatar will Denmark beat Croatia in Argentina and I expect it will coming on to save a 7m face Argentina in a crucial today’s other match. be a difficult game,” said throw. IHF Men’s World Champi- In case of a draw between Qatar left back Rafael The second period saw onships match today, hoping Croatia and Denmark, Qatar Capote. Egypt up the ante to catch for a win in their final Group must beat Argentina by 3 or Meanwhile, hosts Egypt up with their opponents 10 II tie in Cairo. more goals. mounted a superb minutes into the half. The Al Annabi, coached by The Asian champions, comeback to claim a pre- two sides engaged in a tug Valero Rivera, are facing a who defeated Bahrain in cious 25-25 draw against of war where the lead tricky situation in a possible their previous match, are Slovenia, in the final Group exchanged hands a number route to the quarter-finals 4th in Group II with 4 points IV game, yesterday. of times with the two teams as only a win will not be behind Argentina (6 points) The first period ended levelling the score at the enough for Qatar to take and Croatia (5 points). with Slovenia leading 12:8, end. Egypt have qualified to them to the next stage. Denmark have already largely due to keeper the quarter-final stage as a Qatar’s Allaedine Berrached in action with Bahrain’s Mahdi Saad during their Qatar, to qualify for the sealed their last-8 spot with Klemen Ferlin’s extraor- result while Slovenia crash match in Cairo on Saturday. last 8, must win against 8 points. dinary display in goal, out. MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2021 SPORT 11 Al Gharafa down Al Shamal to win QBF League title Third Triathlon Tournament Al Gharafa players and officials concludes celebrating after winning the Qatar QNA – DOHA Basketball Federation Men's League title after defeating The third Triathlon tournament Al Shamal 89-71 within the Qatar National Tria- at Al Gharafa Hall thlon Federation series for the yesterday.