WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015 SPORTS African champion Ivory Coast still in celebration mode

ABIDJAN: African Cup champion Ivory Coast will still Losing African Cup finalist Ghana has set up two on Saturday. Morocco was thrown out of the 2017 Indonesia and Thailand have led to more criticism of be celebrating when it returns to action this week, tough games for FIFA’s international window as its and 2019 African Cups after declining to host this the team and the national federation, which is still giving a final call-up to retired pair Boubacar Barry moves on from its loss. The team faces Senegal and year. The Moroccans have said they don’t agree with being controlled by a normalization committee set and Kolo Toure to allow them to go out in front of a Mali in France in four days. Those teams have both that punishment from the African confederation and up nearly two years ago in the absence of proper home crowd. Barry, the goalkeeper who became the reacted to poor African Cup campaigns by firing their indicated they will appeal. football elections. star of the penalty shootout victory in last month’s coaches. Former national team captain Aliou Cisse is Nigeria has a hastily-arranged game against Former great Roger Milla said lowly-ranked African Cup of Nations final, and Toure were both giv- now in charge of Senegal, while Alain Giresse left to Uganda on Wednesday after Bolivia pulled out, citing Indonesia and Thailand were not good enough en honorary places in a 28-man squad for friendlies return for another spell as Mali coach. Cisse’s biggest fears over an attack by Nigeria’s Boko Haram extrem- opposition and the national team would gain more against Angola on Thursday and Equatorial Guinea - decision in his first Senegal squad was to recall for- ist group. Nigeria said Bolivia “chickened out” and by playing a local Cameroonian club. “How can a the country where they won the African title - on mer Chelsea striker Demba Ba, who was left out for said it will take legal action against Bolivia through country like Cameroon pick such football nonentities Sunday. the African Cup by Giresse. FIFA for breach of contract. for international friendlies?” Milla said. Barry and Toure announced their retirement from For Ghana, the games give coach Avram Grant a Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has a chance to In other games, surprise African Cup semifinalist international soccer after the African Cup. They will chance to start planning for 2017 African Cup quali- make his 100th appearance for Nigeria if he plays Congo plays Iraq in the United Arab Emirates and 29- now get to say farewell at Felix Houphouet-Boigny fying - the next mission for the continent’s teams - against the Ugandans or against South Africa on year-old Johnny McKinstry, one of the youngest Stadium in Abidjan. after he had barely a month to prepare for this year’s Sunday. Nigeria coach has been in coaches in international soccer, takes charge of Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard picked all 23 tournament. Qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in negotiations over a new contract, but the Nigerian Rwanda for the first time against 2012 African cham- players from the African Cup as the federation Russia then starts in October. Football Federation has not made any announce- pion Zambia. Egypt, still wary of the threat of vio- announced it would use the games to honor its win- Top-ranked African team Algeria has games ment and Keshi has been applying for other jobs. lence at football games at home after a deadly stam- ning squad. That means Yaya Toure, Wilfried Bony against Qatar and Oman in Doha, while Tunisia trav- After another disappointing tournament, four- pede last month, meets Equatorial Guinea in neutral and Gervinho will also travel for the friendlies. els to China and Morocco will face Uruguay at home time African champion Cameroon’s matches away in Morocco on Thursday. — AP Blatter calls for unity VIENNA: FIFA president Sepp Blatter received should lead by example and retain its autonomy muted applause from UEFA delegates after he in a world of conflict. gave a low-key speech at the opening of their “Football is a symbol of unity. I am convinced congress yesterday which included a less-than- that more than ever the hope of mankind rests subtle call for unity ahead of May’s FIFA presi- not only on the slogans of FIFA but also on dential elections. peace and solidarity,” he said. Most European delegates, including presi- “Maybe we cannot change the world but at dent , are against Blatter winning a least we can help change the world and help in fifth term of office as the head of world soccer’s certain conflict situations. “I appeal to UEFA, but governing body, openly backing the men stand- not only to UEFA but all the confederations, to ing against him. The 79-year-old Swiss declined help bring this unity and solidarity together to an invitation from UEFA to address delegates as help build our respective organisations.” a presidential candidate along with his chal- “Speaking of Russia, football has to stay unit- lengers, Jordanian Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, ed. “In the past Boycotts have never brought any Dutchman Michael van Praag and Luis Figo of results. “We have to pay attention to our Portugal who were present in the auditorium statutes, and the Olympic charter, and even in when he spoke. Instead Blatter addressed dele- the resolutions of the United Nations, it is writ- gates in his role as FIFA president, calling on ten: the autonomy of sport must be guaranteed. them to show unity and solidarity, which he “UEFA has the best football and the best claimed were the foundation stones of soccer’s footballers, they are the example. We ask Europe popularity around the world. to be the promoter of the popularity of our He also referred to a recent call from the game. Football can only be strong if the govern- president of Ukraine for countries to boycott the ing bodies are strong and united. It is solidarity World Cup in Russia in 2018 because of the and unity. “That is the message today and for ongoing conflict between the two nations, say- tomorrow, and the message for the future, for ing boycotts never achieved anything and sport the world and for UEFA.” — Reuters Ramos urges Real to focus on the positives

MADRID: Real Madrid should focus on ers learned to accept it and used it as a the positives from Sunday’s 2-1 La Liga motivation to work harder. FRANCE: Brazilian national football team forward Neymar (second left), defender Thiago Silva (fourth left), Souza (center) and defender defeat at Barcelona and remember there Real said on Monday they had sus- Filipe Luis (top right) attend a training session of Brazil’s national football team ahead of a friendly football match against France. — AFP is still a long way to go until the end of pended a club member and banned him the campaign, according to centre back from their installations pending an Sergio Ramos. Real’s defeat in the ‘Clasico’ inquiry after three men insulted players at the Nou Camp, their third reverse in and struck at least one of their vehicles as UEFA needs more help to their last four outings in all competitions, they were leaving the training ground on left them four points behind leaders Sunday. Players including Wales winger Barca in second place with 10 games left. Gareth Bale and forward Jese were tar- fight violence, racism: Platini Ramos noted that Real had dominat- geted along with Ancelotti after they ed their arch rivals for much of the match arrived back in Madrid from Barcelona. before Luis Suarez settled the contest in “The fans have always been critical VIENNA: UEFA has been left to fend for itself in Barca’s favour with a superb effort 11 when we haven’t been performing as we the battle against racism, violence and match- minutes into the second half. should,” Ramos said. “There are some fixing and needs more help from government “A defeat is always negative but you players who have complained because authorities, its president Michel Platini said yes- can also draw some positive conclusions,” they haven’t had the support of the fans terday. Ramos, one of Real’s club captains, said in but when your public demands more it is The Frenchman said that a rise in nationalism an interview with Spanish radio. because you can give more. “You have to and extremism in Europe was being reflected in “We lost with our heads held high ... live with it. You have respect it whether stadiums and that, after several recent incidents because Madrid played some good foot- you like it or not.” of fan violence, European soccer was risking a ball,” added the Spain international. After the international break, Real return to the dark days of the 1980s. “From my point of view the first half was have La Liga games against Granada, “There are battles that never end, where we extraordinary. We weren’t able to kill off Rayo Vallecano and Eibar before they cannot ever lower our guard,” Platini said in his the game and they punished us at the play at city rivals Atletico Madrid on April opening speech to the UEFA Congress. end.” Ramos addressed criticism of the 14 in the first leg of their Champions “I am thinking here of... our efforts to stamp team and said it was important the play- League quarter-final. — Reuters out match-fixing, doping, violence, racism and other forms of discrimination. “In recent months, we have all been struck by certain images that I thought were a thing of the past. Chinese game “Some of us experienced that past at first hand. In my case, it was exactly 30 years ago,” said Platini, referring to the 1985 Heysel stadium adding Latin flavor disaster at the European Cup final in Brussels where 39 people were killed when a wall col- AUSTRIA: Newly re-elected UEFA president Michel Platini (second right) receives congratula- SAO PAULO: Chinese President Xi Jinping friendlies this week against France and lapsed after Liverpool fans charged Juventus tions from Peter Gillireon (left), Michael van Praag (seconf left) and Frantisek Laurinec (right) has never hidden his passion for football Chile. “Today, Asia is signing up players supporters. at the Ordinary UEFA Congress in Vienna. — AFP and the Super League has duly risen to with experience and China has trans- “In these battles that we are fighting, we feel prominence since he took office in 2013, formed itself into a new El Dorado,” Dunga as if we have been left to fend for ourselves all manner of fanatics called the shots in certain the “top table”. “It is time to invite some or all of becoming an ever increasing attraction for observed. “This is the way things are today somewhat,” said Platini who played for Juventus European stadiums. those branches of the family to join us at the top South American players in particular. with football and we must adapt. that day. “And yet, these are battles that can only “We need tougher stadium bans at European table-the balance in terms of representation Of 84 foreign players now plying their The Chinese had a close-up early view be won with the help of the public authorities. level and-I will say it again-the creation of a being yet to be decided,” he said. He added: “I trade in China, 32 are South Americans — of Tardelli prior to his move when he net- We are not legislators, judges or police officers. European sports police force.” regard myself as a simple team-mate-at most 22 of them Brazilians-as China looks to ted a brace in last October’s win over “I therefore renew my call for greater aware- Platini, who was standing unopposed for a your captain. But not the captain of a ship that is hoist itself up the rankings by investing Argentina in a Superclasico international ness of this issue among the public authorities, third term as president later in the day, promised being battered by a storm, clinging to the helm heavily in the Brazilian, data from played in Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium. so that we can avoid reliving the dark days of a to make UEFA more democratic and allow repre- for dear life. “I am simply the captain of a win- Transfermarkt specialist website confirms. In heading for Shandong Luneng he not-so-distant past-a past where hooligans and sentatives of players, clubs and leagues to sit at ning team.” — Reuters Striker Ricardo Goulart, aged just 23 teamed up again with Brazilian coach and not seeking a final lucrative move in Cuca, who led Mineiro to the Copa the twilight of his career, was voted best Libertadores in 2013. Shandong boast fur- player in the Brazilian league last season ther Brazilians in Junior Urso and Aloisio by Placar magazine. and an Argentine in the shape of Walter His 15 goals for Cruzeiro earned him a Montillo. debut for the national team-and also a Motta, who helped to draw up Conca’s close on $18 million move to Guangzhou contract, told AFP: “The name Brazil res- Evergrande. Brazilian clubs are taking the onates in China and this makes the sign- money, around $34 million to date from ing of any Brazilian player, or someone Chinese buyers, as they try to extricate who has played there such as Conca more themselves from a collated debt burden of popular.” Conca, who played for around four billion reais ($1.216 billion), Guangzhou Evergrande between 2011 according to Transfermarkt. and 2013, was an early South American “Chinese football has moved into a new pioneer in the Chinese league and has phase with the injection of capital from earned himself a top drawer salary of large enterprises and even local govern- some $7 million a season. ment in clubs. It is difficult for a Brazilian Another South American making his team to compete with an offer from name in China is Colombiano Giovanni China,” says Marcos Motta, a lawyer with Moreno, who joined Shanghai Shenhua in experience of involvement in major trans- 2012 from Racing de Avellaneda. fers including that of Neymar and also of For Erich Beting, director of the the Asian market. Three of the top five Maquina do Esporte web portal, the exo- scorers in Brazil last season have now dus to Asia is a result of the South joined the exodus to China. Bolivian American clubs not having the structures Marcelo Moreno has joined Changchun in place to keep a hold of their talents. Yatai after netting 15 times for Cruzeiro “Sometimes the club will only think of last year while Argentine Hernan Barcos the on-field situation and forget about has left Gremio for Tianjin Teda as they fol- creating a project whereby the player will low the trail first blazed by Goulart. not want to move on. “Take the case of Argentine star DarÌo Conca has also Jadson, the Corinthians midfielder, who made the move, leaving Fluminense for had an offer from China and finally decid- Shanghai SIPG, while Brazilian internation- ed to stay put as his family insisted on it,” al striker Diego Tardelli joined Shandong Beting said. More often, however, the play- Luneng in January from Atletico Mineiro. ers are opting to take up the offer of a Though he had to cry off with injury, lucrative move on contracts beyond the the move did not stop Tardelli earning a financial scope of their South American call up from coach Dunga for Brazil’s team.—AFP MOGADISHU: Somalis play football as the sun sets in Mogadishu yesterday. — AFP