12 Friday, January 10, 2020 Sports Al Duhail wary of ‘technically stable’ Al Sailiya in semis clash The Red Knights take on Sami Trabelsi’s side in the Qatar Cup today and Ayeni Olusegun bump chests in their ATP Cup Doha men’s doubles match against and Al Duhail coach Rui Faria says in Sydney on Thursday. (AFP) only winning will validate the club’s lofty ambitions as the Australia, Russia Red Knights prepare for the Qatar Cup semi-final against Al Al Duhail players (left) and Al Sailiya players during a training session ahead of their Friday’s Qatar Cup semi-final match to be held at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium (Al Sadd). storm into ATP Sailiya at the Al Sadd Stadium on Friday. However, against an with all the facilities, our target “We know the value of contrast in stars, Al Sailiya to sixth with 17 points -- 13 be- Cup semi-finals The Portuguese was also Al Sailiya side whom they is to compete for all titles. Some Mandzukic, but we focus on will not be distracted from the hind their league-leading op- quick to praise in his words thrashed on the way to lifting coaches believe good work with the team as a whole. Our new task at hand. ponents. ‘technical stability’ being en- the Amir Cup last year, Faria the team is success, but in Al player Han Kwang-Song is “We are focusing complete- “We are much better than AFP joyed by their modest oppo- said Sami Trabelsi’s side will Duhail, the philosophy is to training with the team, which ly on the Qatar Cup. This is a last season. Our results may Sydney nent. pose a strong challenge for win trophies,” the Portuguese is an additional option for us,” tournament we are honoured have been better last season The Qatar Cup features the them. added. Faria said. to compete in. Al Duhail are but we could not start the sea- A dynamic Nick Kyrgios and top four teams from the previ- “We’re facing a team that The current league leaders For Al Sailiya, a leap into looking to reach the final, they son in a good way because there dogged Alex de Minaur pow- ous QNB Stars League season. we know well. They have tech- recently added North Korea’s the elite four has seen them have a team full of stars, with are players who joined us late,” ered Australia into the ATP The second semi-final will see nical stability as their coach has Han Kwang-Song in addition qualify for the AFC Champi- great experience in European the Tunisian said, adding that Cup semi-finals Thursday with Al Sadd take on rivals Al Rayy- been with them for long. We to the marquee striker Mario ons League playoffs and now and Arab leagues. all games will prepare them for an epic 2-1 win against the Tim an in the ‘Qatar Clasico’. know their philosophy and we Mandzukic. the Qatar Cup. All down to the “In the last game against their debut AFC Champions Henman-led Britain, and they Al Duhail, defending cham- will be ready for them,” Faria With a host of attacking club’s stability, the Peregrines them, we made some mistakes League campaign. were joined by Russia who pions from the treble-winning said. options including Almoez Ali, have been a model to follow for which hopefully won’t be re- “All matches we currently overpowered Argentina. run under then coach Djamel “When I came here (to Al Yousef Msekni and Moham- other teams. peated as we target the final,” play are part of our prepara- The home team clinched the Belmadi, head into the match Duhail), I knew the history of med Muntari, the former Jose Tunisian coach Sami Tra- Trabelsi said. tions for the AFC Champions tie after an 18-16 third-set tie- on the back of a stalemate at the our club and its ambitions. The mourinho assistant insists Al belsi – already seven years An inconsistent start to the League. We will focus on get- breaker in the doubles to set up hands of Qatar SC in the QSL. administration has provided us Duhail remains a collective. at the helm, said despite the season has seen Al Sailiya drop ting a positive result.” a potential blockbuster last-four clash against ’s Da- vis Cup-winning Spain who face Belgium on Friday. Russia, spearheaded by Serena drops set before world number five Daniil Med- Qatar held to 2-2 draw by Syria in AFC vedev won both their singles to sweep past Argentina. Their reaching last 8 in Auckland reward is a semi-final against U23 opener, to play Saudi Arabia next either ’s Serbia, AFP mined to equal the record of 24 or Canada. AFC Kamel Koaeh’s pinpoint set- Auckland held by Australian great Mar- Kyrgios crushed Cameron Bangkok piece courtesy of a powering garet Court. Norrie in the opening singles header that gave Qatar goal- Serena Williams rallied from “Tournament time is su- 6-2, 6-2 before Dan Evans came Substitute Alaa Aldin Dali keeper Mohammed al Bakri a set down to beat journey- per-important, match time through a memorable show- struck late on to salvage a little or no chance. woman Christina McHale at is good. After losing that first down against De Minaur 7-6 point for Syria as they came Clearly buoyed by their the WTA Auckland Classic on set I’m just glad to be still in (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (7/2) to set up from two goals down to draw goal, Syria started the second Thursday, but said it was just the event.” the decisive, winner-takes-all 2-2 with Qatar in Group B of half brightly, with first sub- the workout she needed. It was the reverse from doubles. the AFC U23 Championship stitute Abdul Kader Adi fizz- With her focus on winning Gauff, seen as one of the ris- Australian captain Lleyton Thailand 2020 campaign on ing a drive narrowly wide on a 24th at the Aus- ing stars of , who started Hewitt took a huge gamble by Thursday. 56 minutes and then Barakat tralian Open, Williams said she strongly against Siegemund but dropping regular doubles pair Dali converted Mohammad thumping an effort into the needs all the court time she can faded as the match wore on. John Peers and Chris Guc- Alhallak’s cross at the far post side netting shortly after. get after a long off-season since The 31-year-old Siege- cione in favour of Kyrgios and to earn a share of the spoils for As the game wore on and losing September’s US Open mund, who played her first de Minaur, and it looked a poor Syria on a night when Yusuf with defences dominating, final. WTA qualifier in 2003 before decision when they lost the first Abdurisag’s early effort and an Qatar forward Khalid Mazeed It took the top seed two Gauff was born, was up 5-4 set 6-3. own goal from defender Yosief forced Ghannam into a smart hours to put away the 27-year- and serving when the Ameri- But, spurred by Kyrgios’ Mohammad had threatened to stop, before the Al Wathba old McHale and advance to a can teen broke twice to take the booming serve, they took the be their undoing. custodian produced a fine dou- quarter-final with Germany’s first set. next 6-3 before a nailbiting tie- In what ultimately proved ble save to deny Hashim Ali Laura Siegemund, who ousted But from there, she used breaker that lasted more than to be a sign of the drama to and Abdurisag. teen prodigy Coco Gauff in the her considerable experience to half-an-hour. come, Qatar were ahead within Qatar U23 players celebrate scoring against Syria during their AFC However, in a dramatic second round. ruffle the 15-year-old, forcing “That was incredible ten- 60 seconds. Syria goalkeeper U-23 Thailand 2020 Group B match on Thursday. late twist, Dali was on hand to Williams was broken three her behind the baseline and nis. All three matches today William Ghannam fumbled draw Syria level and crown a times before losing the first set then drawing her forward with everyone gave 100 percent and Amro Surag’s deep cross leav- away Hashim Ali’s fierce drive his own net when trying to sensational fight back. 3-6 but recovered to take the deft drop shots. left it all out on the court,” said ing Yusuf Abdurisag the sim- following a neatly worked free- deal with Homam Ahmed’s Qatar will next be in action next two sets 6-2, 6-3 in the all- “In the first set I had my Hewitt. plest of finishes from close kick. whipped cross. when they face Saudi Arabia, American affair. chances but let it go. So I just “Really proud of the boys, range. After weathering a brief Syria were, though, to with Syria scheduled to meet “I really need to play tried to keep my level and she the way they were able to turn To his credit, Ghannam Syrian flurry, Qatar stretched throw themselves a lifeline as Japan. Both games will take matches like that to get to my started to miss a little bit more, it around... it could have gone made amends for his error mo- their advantage in the 22nd half-time approached, Abdul place at the Thammasat Sta- goals,” said the 23-times Grand and I guess I just got better and either way.” ments later, this time palming minute as Yosief put through Rahman Barakat converting dium on Sunday. Slam winner, who is deter- better,” Siegemund said.

SC.QA Football stars look Doha n December, Qatar played host to the FIFA Club World Cup 2019. The Itournament, used as a key preparation event for the FIFA World Cup 2022 was considered a great success, as FC of England were ahead to Qatar 2022 crowned world champions for the first time in their illustrious history. The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy invited many of the game’s most well-known names to attend the event as guests, and during an action-packed three-day itinerary, took the opportunity to showcase with excitement the country and its offering to its guests. From John BArnes, TIm Cahill and Mauricio Pochettino, the stars had a lot to say about the 2022 FIFA Wolrd Cup.

Football legends during a recent visit to the Supreme Committee’s Mauricio Pochettino Tim Cahill Honey Thaljieh Ronald de Boer Legacy Pavilion. “First of all I was very pleas- “It’s been amazing. I’m very fortunate “There’s an opportunity now to use “I first came in 2004, they were already at antly surprised with the in that I’ve been travelling to Qatar the World Cup to boost the region that time very ambitious. They already had the Christian Karembeu weather. We heard lots of since 2008 and I have a really strong at all levels with empowerment, 2030 National Vision, but we know now that John Barnes things about how it will be too relationship with the country’s football legacy and sustainability, bringing was just the beginning. I remember coming “It’s not my first time here, but “One aspect of this World hot, but the weather is amaz- entities throughout these years; from people together, changing mindsets here with very few buildings, there was no my most recent experience Cup that particularly excites ing – around 24 or 25 degrees the FA to the academies and grass- and perceptions, and showing a West Bay. So I was here in the very early days in Qatar has been wonderful. me is that I genuinely feel during the day, and 17 or 18 roots – and also being an AFC player different image to the Arab world. of what we see now. It’s impressive what they Many things change every time it will open the world’s eyes in the night; this is perfect playing in this region. There’s a lot of prejudice and ste- have achieved in that period of time. Whenev- I come back here and there is to an area that is often weather to play football. You “We’ve done so much in our time reotypes in general and football will er I come back I see incredible progress – the so much progress everywhere misunderstood. It will open can feel it is the right time to here, but it’s not just about coming help change that. It’s important as roads, the infrastructure, the entertainment you look. This trip has been people’s eyes to see how host a World Cup here. here, having a good time and then human beings to be open minded. and cultural offerings; everything is changing even more special as we had similar we all are, and how “We’re having an unbeliev- sharing it with the world. It’s also We grew up with stereotypes and it for the good of Qatar. the opportunity to really see the we all share one common able experience here in Qatar, about making sure we learn and takes open minds to change that. “The compact World Cup will also be an country and to travel outside passion. alongside great names like Iker understand what it takes to host this “Football can make a differ- incredible thing. It will feel like a village at- of the city, to the desert, the “Regardless of back- Casillas, Ronald Karembeu, World Cup and what this region is ence that and the world should mosphere – everyone here will have a foot- beaches, the boats. It’s been grounds – once you get Ronald de Boer – it’s been doing. I’ve been really impressed, but understand that you need to experi- ball heart, a shared interest and I am 100% a tremendous and beautiful here you’ll find that football wonderful to share this time also been very keen to take notes ence things and then share your sure this festival feeling will be special. You experience. is the common ground with them and I hope I can be and understand everything so I can experiences rather than just make will feel that there is a tournament going on, “I’m certain people com- and a universal language. back many times over the next form my view holistically on what I feel judgements and assumptions which with no disrespect to previous tourna- ing here in 2022 will be very That’s the beauty of the few years. I have absolutely no about a World Cup coming to Qatar. without knowing what it’s all about. ments hasn’t always been the case because pleasantly surprised with what World Cup, and I’ll always doubt that Qatar’s World Cup I leave here certain that it will be a Of course FIFA must do more but the venues are so spread out. But here, in the country has to offer – for support it being taken to will be a successful one.” resounding success.” everyone must do more.” 2022, it will be everywhere you look.” players and fans.” new parts of the world.”