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Wednesday, January 6, 2016 FOOTBALL Rabia I 26, 1437 AH Zidane vows to GULF TIMES put ‘heart and soul’ into Real SPORT Page 3

TENNIS / QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN Nadal fi ghts back for fi rst win of the year; Berdych advances ‘I began well but then I think he played well in the closing stages of the first set... happy with the way I finished it’

By Sahan Bidappa Doha RESULTS

SINGLES (ROUND I) or a player, who plies his trade (2) Rafael Nadal (Spain) bt Pablo mostly in the ITF Futures and Carreno Busta (Spain) 6-7(5), 6-3, Challenger tournaments, eve- 6-1; Teymuraz Gabashvili (Rus- ry victory at the ATP Tour is a sia) bt (Italy) 4-6, matterF of rejoice. And if you haven’t 6-4, 6-1; Pablo Andujar (Spain) bt even won a set against a top-10 player, Paolo Lorenzi (Italy) 6-4, 0-6, 6-4; then the victory over the fancied oppo- (3) Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) nent is etched in your memory forever. bt () 7-5 World No. 94 Illya Marchenko ex- 6-4; Illya Marchenko (Ukraine) bt perienced just that when he knocked (4) (Spain) 6-7 (8), 6-3, out defending champion David Ferrer 6-2; (8) Leonardo Mayer (Argentina) from the Qatar ExxonMobil Open yes- bt (Q) (Spain) 6-1, terday at the Khalifa Complex. Need- 6-2; Paul-Henri Mathieu (France) less to say, it was the Ukrainian’s fi rst bt Albert Ramos-Vinolas (Spain) 6-3 victory over a top-10 opponent (1-4 4-6 7-6 (7). lifetime). Marchenko should have won DOUBLES (ROUND OF 16) in straight sets but he will take 6-7(8), Jean-Julien Rojer Spain) and Horia 6-3, 6-2 over the fourth seed Ferrer Tecau (Romania) bt Jonathan Erlich any day. (Israel) and (Great “I got a lot of texts from a lot of peo- Britain) 7-6(4), 6-3; Jamie Murray ple, from some people I didn’t even talk (Great Britain) and to for years. Of course it happens when (Brazil) bt Radu Albot (Moldova) you get a result like that. I’m used to it,” and Martin Klizan () 6-3, said Marchenko, clearly basking in the 6-3; Feliciano Lopez and Marc spotlight. Lopez (Spain) bt Wesley Koolhof Meanwhile, second seed Rafael and Matwe Middelkoop (The Nadal looked to go Ferrer’s way after he Netherlands) 7-6 (5), 6-4; Philipp lost the fi rst set to fellow Spaniard Pa- Petzschner (Germany) and Alexan- blo Carreno Busta, before he recovered der Peya (Austria) bt Mousa Shanan to win 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-1. Zayed and Mubarak Shannan Zayid Marchenko broke Ferrer in the very (Qatar) 6-1, 6-1; Simone Bolelli (Italy) fi rst game and should have wrapped up andSergiy Stakhovsky (Ukraine) bt the opening set while serving at 5-4. Julian Knowle (Austria) and Andre But Ferrer fought back to take the set, Sa (Brazil) 7-6 (6), 6-1. which lasted one hour and eight min- utes, in a keenly-fought tie-breaker, Today’s order of play which he won 10-8. Marchenko, having now got the be- Spain’s Rafael Nadal reaches out for a return during the Qatar ExxonMobil Open first round match against compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta at the Khalifa International CENTRE COURT (STARTS 3:30 lief of being able to stretch a player of and Squash Complex here yesterday. (Below) Last year’s finalist Tomas Berdych serves to Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil PM) Ferrer’s stature, grew in confi dence. It [7] J. Chardy (FRA) vs P. Mathieu did help him though, that the Span- “I began well but then I think he played (FRA) iard’s serving was mediocre, as he well in the closing stages of the fi rst Not Before 5:00 pm committed as many as nine double set. I came back strongly, went for the [1] N. Djokovic (SRB) vs F. Verdasco faults in the match. points more and closed out the match. (ESP) or [WC] M. Jaziri (TUN) In the second set, Marchenko broke I am happy with the way I fi nished it,” R. Haase (NED) vs [2] R. Nadal (ESP) Ferrer’s serve in the fi rst game itself the Mallorcan said. [3] T. Berdych (CZE) vs D. Dzumhur and never looked back thereafter as Earlier, last year’s fi nalist Tomas (BIH) the defending champion unusually lost Berdych of Czech Republic kept his confi dence and his movements. clean sheet against Ukrainian Sergiy COURT 1 (STARTS 3:30 PM) While the nerves crept in for March- Stakhovsky intact. Berdych, the third T. Gabashvili (RUS) vs I. Marchenko enko at the doorstep of victory, the seed, had never lost to the 62nd ranked (UKR) 28-year-old closed out the victory in Stakhovsky in the last six meetings and R. Berankis (LTU) vs A. Kuznetsov style. He forced a weak backhand from he made it 7-0 with a 7-5, 6-4 win in (RUS) Ferrer with a booming serve and shut 78 minutes. [Q] K. Edmund (GBR) vs D. Muñoz out the match with a ferocious fore- Despite continuing his domination de la Nava (ESP) hand coming to the net. over Stakhovsky, Berdych said it was “I feel great, obviously, beating a guy never easy to play the 29-year-old COURT 2 (STARTS 3:30 PM) ranked that high. And I have really huge Ukrainian. “It’s always tricky to play P. Andujar (ESP) vs [8] L. Mayer respect for David. I enjoy his matches, him,” said the Czech, who will face (ARG) how he fi ghts on court, and it’s a huge Damir Dzumhur in the second round S. Bolelli (ITA) / S. Stakhovsky (UKR) moment for me,” said Marchenko, who today. vs [3] F. Lopez (ESP) / M. Lopez (ESP) in the second round will face Russia’s “He’s one of the few who like to After Suitable Rest - [1] J. Rojer (NED) Teymuraz Gabashvili. come to the net a lot, playing a lot of / H. Tecau (ROU) or J. Erlich (ISR) / C. “The only problem in the fi rst set slice and a lot of variation in the game. Fleming (GBR) vs T. Gabashvili (RUS) was that I couldn’t believe that I can I just took my chances in the fi rst set / A. Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) make it, and I improved that side of my and... in the second. It was quite a solid game a lot last year. So I was just con- game today... It would be great to leave COURT 3 (STARTS 4PM) tinuing fi ghting for every point, and with the trophy in the end.” [4] P. Petzschner (GER) / A. Peya then when I got a break, it was early In the other matches, Spain’s Pablo (AUT) vs D. Marrero (ESP) / A. Seppi in the second set. I got my confi dence Andujar came through a two-hour test (ITA) back that I can actually fi ght and can the 67th ranked Busta, whom he had ful in the fi rst set. But overdid it for face Germany’s Robin Hasse today in against Italian Paolo Lorenzi 6-4, 0-6, After Suitable Rest - J. Chardy (FRA) actually turn it around still,” he added. beaten in their only previous meeting the rest of the game, and committed the second round. 6-4, while Gabashvili saved fi ve of sev- / P. Mathieu (FRA) vs [2] J. Murray Nadal, the 14-time last year. Busta looked to hit deep to far too many unforced errors allowing Nadal was pleased to have won the en break points in a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win (GBR) / B. Soares (BRA). champion, had early problems against Nadal’s backhand and was success- Nadal to settle down. Nadal will next match, despite conceding the fi rst set. over Simone Bolelli of Italy. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, January 6, 2016 TENNIS

QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN DIARY Djoko aims Off -colour Ferrer to emulate coach Becker heads to Australian By Sahan Bidappa on the ATP Tour. The Olympics Doha makes it even more taxing, as the ‘fi fth Grand Slam’ takes place once in four years. t’s Novak Djokovic’s second For the top names in the game, visit to Qatar ExxonMobil it’s not just in singles competi- Open, and there is some un- tion that they take shot at gold, Open with doubts fi nished business left for the but they are in the mix in doubles IWorld No. 1 in Doha. and mixed competition as well. At last year’s event, the Serbian Rafael Nadal seems to be al- Little-known Illya Marchenko of Ukraine downs defending champion in round one was knocked out in the quarter- ready making his plans for Rio. fi nals itself, losing to big serv- The 14-time Grand Slam cham- By Sahan Bidappa ing Croatian Ivo Karlovic. Since pion won a gold medal in singles Doha then, he has reached the fi nal of at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, every tournament he entered af- before skipping the competition ter January and ended 2015 with in London four years later due to avid Ferrer will turn 34 this his fourth consecutive season- health reasons. April, and is certainly at the ending championship triumph, Now the Spaniard has set his twilight of his career. But the to add to three Grand Slams he eyes on doubles glory. Nadal is no defending champion crashing won. The 28-year-old won 86 stranger to playing doubles at the outD in the very fi rst round of the Qatar matches during the whole year Qatar ExxonMobil Open; he has ExxonMobil Open yesterday did come as and lost just six matches, with won the title four times, includ- a surprise, especially as he lost to little- three of those coming against ing last year. While he said “Ol- known Illya Marchenko of Ukraine. . ympic year doesn’t change noth- The No. 7 ranked Ferrer had one of his Coming into this year’s Qa- ing”, indications are that Nadal best tours last season, when he fi nished tar Open, Djokovic has an extra will partner countryman Fern- 55-16. The Spaniard won fi ve titles — inspiration to win the event, or ando Verdasco at the Olympics. only once in his previous 15 years on tour maybe even prove a point. Djok- The duo lost in fi rst round on had he won more trophies. He did that ovic’s coach of two years Boris Monday at the Khalifa Complex, even though he was out of action for most Becker won the fi rst ATP Qa- but it looks like the partnership part of the summer, including the Wim- tar Open, when it took place in will go on till Rio. bledon, with an elbow injury. January 1993. Now after 23 years, Last year, Nadal failed to reach So, much was expected of the fourth Djokovic wants to emulate his a Grand Slam semifi nal in singles seed in Doha. But the manner in which he coach, with former World No. 1 for the fi rst time since 2004 and crumbled against Ukraine’s Marchenko, Becker present courtside. is ranked No. 5 in the world. He No. 94 in the world, will worry Ferrer as “I had a good performance hasn’t played a Grand Slam dou- he heads to Melbourne for the Austral- in the fi rst round here in Doha bles match since 2005 but did ian Open, the fi rst Grand Slam of the year where it’s a relatively new tour- play Olympic doubles in both of beginning on January 18. nament for me. It’s the second his appearances in Athens 2004 Coming off from an exhibition event time I’m playing it in my life. (with Carlos Moya) and Beijing in Abu Dhabi last week, where he played It’s a beautiful centre. People 2008 (with ), but well, Ferrer was out of sorts against are nice — and the tournament never reached the quarter-fi nals. Marchenko from the word go at the Kha- has a long tradition and history. Tennis at Rio will be played on lifa Complex’s centre court. He struggled I think ‘92 (was in 93) was the hard courts rather than Nadal’s with his serves, committing nine double fi rst time it was being held, and preferred clay surface. faults, but still managed to win the fi rst I believe my coach won it. So we When asked if doubles is one set in the tie-break before crumbling are hoping that I can repeat that of his priorities in 2016, Nadal re- against the Ukrainian meekly in the next success this year,” said Djokovic, fused to give away anything. “No. two, to go down 7-6 (8), 3-6, 2-6. after he made a fl ying start to the My priorities is singles, 100%. I Ferrer was at a loss of words after the season on Monday, winning his am going to do it my way, and my defeat. “He was better than me through- Spain’s David Ferrer in action against Ukraine’s Illya Marchenko (below) during their match yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil fi rst round match against Dustin way is the singles. For sure, when out the match. From the fi rst set, he de- Brown comfortably. I arrive at the Olympics, I will served to win. I didn’t obviously play my be ready to compete in as many game. I didn’t serve good. In the second MY MOTIVATION IS competitions possible. If I can and third set, he was more aggressive SINGLES: NADAL compete in mixed, in doubles, in than me. I didn’t fi nd a key to make a The Olympic year is always a singles, I am going to do it, but I comeback,” a despondent Ferrer ex- busy period for sportsmen, more am a singles player and I am not a plained. so for tennis players, who also doubles player. My motivation is Ferrer’s best days may have gone by, but have to play week after week the singles,” Nadal said. losing to a player who had not even won a set against a top-10 player till yesterday, shows how off -colour he was. The Span- iard, who has won 26 titles in his career, will go to knowing that he has to do better than he did in Doha. “Well, I just fi nished the match today, so I don’t know (what are the positives). I will talk with my team. Maybe tomor- row or after tomorrow we will go to Mel- bourne, and will prepare and practice,” Ferrer said. He added that not winning the fi rst round match was disappointing, rather than dwelling on his failure to defend the title. “Yes, of course I am disappointed because I lost in the fi rst round. Not be- cause last year I won. I know every year is diff erent and last year is in the past. Maybe I didn’t have the energy today,” he explained. Ferrer went just 3-11 against the top-10 players last season and failed to make it past the quarterfi nals of a major, but the Spaniard known for his determination to fi ght till the last point, will be eager to Novak Djokovic’s coach Boris Becker had won the first ever ATP Qatar bounce back from the Doha disaster. Open in 1993.

HOPMAN CUP Brisbane Shock exit for International Kvitova in thrown wide open Shenzhen round 1 Williams insists she will make Aussie Open Defending champion Maria Double Wimbledon winner Sharapova and top seed Petra Kvitova went out of the both withdrew WTA Shenzhen Open in the AFP However, the 21-times Grand Slam tralia,” she said. “I only think positive and with injuries before their open- first round on Tuesday, retiring Perth singles champion was confi dent it was I know I’ll be okay.” ing matches in the Brisbane hurt in a shock exit for the only a minor problem and even refused Earlier in the day, Alexandr Dolgopolov International. Sharapova’s first world number six. to rule herself out of Thursday’s Hopman put Ukraine within reach of their second round opponent, Ekaterina The second seed was broken he Australian Open preparations Cup tie against the Czech Republic. Hopman Cup fi nal. Makarova, took full advantage twice as she lost the first set of (pictured) “I just have some infl ammation that’s In Ukraine’s fi rst appearance at the of the third seed’s absence, 6-2 against China’s Zheng Sai- suff ered a potentially signifi cant been going away very slowly,” she ex- event since being runners-up in 1995, beating lucky loser Margarita sai—ranked 72 in the world—in blow when she was forced to re- plained. world number 36 Dolgopolov gave his Gasparyan 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. 41 minutes, and dropped out tireT with a knee injury during the United “It’s still there, it’s going away, but just country two wins from as many ties with Halep was due to play former before a point was played in States’ 3-0 Hopman Cup loss to Australia needs a little more time. A little rest, a lit- his victory over the Czech Republic’s Jiri world number one Victoria the second set. Gold yesterday evening. tle treatment. Vesely. Azarenka in the second round. It was Kvitova’s second The world number one retired due to “I’ve been training really hard during After the 19th-ranked Azarenka will now play Belgian consecutive first-round exit in soreness in her left knee during her sin- the off -season and really pushing myself upset world number 11 Karolina Plisko- Ysaline Bonaventure. China, after she went out at the gles match against (nee beyond the limits, I just think a day off or va in straight sets in the women’s sin- Eighth seed first hurdle at the Gajdosova) when trailing 7-5, 2-1. two will make a world of diff erence.” gles, Dolgopolov clinched the tie when cruised into the quarter-finals in October—when she played Veteran then secured Williams said her 2015 campaign, he beat Vesely in similar fashion 7-5, beating Slovakia’s Dominika on painkillers while suff ering the tie for Australia Gold with a 7-5, 6-4 which saw the 34-year-old on target 7-6 (7/3). Cibulkova 6-1, 6-1. Sixth seed the ongoing eff ects of glandu- win over Jack Sock, and it became a clean for a calendar Grand Slam until she was In the dead mixed doubles rubber, the Carla Suarez Navarro ad- lar fever. sweep for the home side when the mixed beaten by Italian Roberta Vinci in the US Czechs kept their fi nal hopes alive with a vanced when she beat Saman- Another unseeded home doubles was a walkover due to Williams’ Open fi nal in early September, had taken a 6-3, 6-1 win. tha Stosur 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-4. player also dumped out a absence. heavy physical toll. Having already beaten the USA on In the men’s draw, sixth seed higher-ranked player at the The result meant the US bowed out of She barely played after the US Open, Monday, the result puts Ukraine in pole David Goff in was impressive in $500,000 WTA Shenzhen contention in the tournament. But of more although she returned in the Interna- position to reach Saturday’s fi nal. his 6-4, 6-4 win over Brazilian tournament on Tuesday, with concern to their camp was the fi tness of the tional Premier Tennis League in Manila As the only unbeaten team in their Thomaz Bellucci, while Serb Britain’s losing defending Australian Open champion. last month. group, Dolgopolov and Svitolina simply Viktor Troicki downed Steve to Wang Qiang. Williams had already missed the Unit- The ailment appeared to cast signifi - Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou need to beat Australia Gold in their last Johnson of the US 7-6 (3), 6-1. The number five seed took the ed States’ opening Hopman Cup tie on cant doubt over her title defence in Mel- conceded Williams’ knees were troubling round-robin match Thursday to reach Eighth seed Dominic Thiem first set but eventually lost 6-3, Monday due to infl ammation of her left bourne, where she will aim for a seventh her in November. the fi nal. beat wildcard James Duck- 3-6, 3-6 to the world number knee and was keen to gain some valuable singles title later this month. However, Williams said she remained In Ukraine’s last appearance at the worth 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, and Czech 110. Polish top seed Agnieszka match practice against Wolfe. Williams admitted she retired because confi dent of another successful Austral- Hopman Cup, siblings Andrei Medvedev veteran Radek Stepanek Radwanska, however, brushed However, she appeared extremely re- she was being hampered by the knee and ian Open campaign. and Natalia Medvedeva were beaten in thumped young Serb Dusan aside ’s Aleksandra stricted in her movements, particularly could not move around the court as she “Speed is my strength so I defi nitely the fi nal by Germany’s Boris Becker and Lajovic 6-0, 6-3. Krunic 6-4, 6-3. on her left side. wanted. think I will be able to get it right for Aus- Anke Huber. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 6, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT HOPE Madrid fans allow themselves to dream Zidane vows to put as Zidane takes charge ‘heart and soul’ into Real Madrid ‘We have the best club in the world, the best fans and what we have to do now, and Real Madrid’s new coach (left) walks past forward what I will try my best to do, is ensure the team wins at the end of the season’ Cristiano Ronaldo during his first training session.

AFP for the fi nal of the Champions Madrid League,” he added. All of a sudden, the kingmaker himself appeared—sporting a epressed by a disap- grey tracksuit and fl uorescent pointing 2015, smiles boots, Zidane walked onto the had returned to the fac- pitch to warm applause. es of Real Madrid fans Deeply concentrated, the yesterdayD as they cheered their Frenchman chatted with David idol Zinedine Zidane during his Bettoni, who was his deputy fi rst training session as coach. when he coached Madrid’s feed- On the eve of Epiphany, an er team Castilla and now joins important holiday in Spain him on his new adventure. where people dressed up as the He gave players instructions, three kings parade in the streets applauded good moves and drew and children receive their long- cries of “hurray” from support- awaited gifts, the atmosphere ers when he kicked the ball to was easy-going and festive at the start a training exercise. Alfredo Di Stefano stadium at the club’s training ground in Madrid. CHALLENGES AHEAD Babies in their push-chairs, “Zidane will need an iron children, teenagers, young and fi st,” warned Loreto Coppel, a not so young... 25-year-old. It is normal practice for Span- With players like Cristiano ish clubs to open up their training Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim sessions to the public at this time Benzema, James Rodriguez and of year and thousands fl ocked to Isco, Zidane is going to have to see the French footballing legend juggle strong egos. take training for the fi rst time. But she added that she wanted “Zidane rhymes with dreams,” her idol to come back. “He man- said Pablo Alonso, a 37-year-old aged ok with Castilla but this is the supporter who came with his fi rst team, and that’s big. He may son, also called Pablo. have needed a little more practice “Football is dreams, magic, (as coach),” said Coppel. “But the and players like Zidane have that. team needed change and the ar- “I have high hopes. Maybe not rival of Zidane will be very posi- for , but at least to qualify tive, he has huge passion.”

Spanish media doubt Zidane future Real Madrid’s new French coach Zinedine Zidane uses a whistle during his first training session as coach of Real Madrid at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium. Spanish media expressed that Zidane was “a legend AFP The length of Zidane’s contract was not with an infamous headbutt in the 2006 own fans, but he is believed to have fi nally scepticism yesterday about without coaching experience.” Madrid announced. He becomes the 11th coach World Cup fi nal. bowed to the will of the players and sup- the prospects for football Newspapers were neverthe- to be appointed under Madrid president But he is respected by Madrid’s players porters. hero Zinedine Zidane as Real less awed by his superstar sta- Florentino Perez, whose two spells in and adored by their fans for his feats on Right from the start of his reign in June, Madrid coach after his sensa- tus. “La Soluzzion” headlined eal Madrid legend Zinedine Zi- charge stretch to just over 12 years. the fi eld, highlighted by his brilliant win- Benitez struggled to gain the respect of tional appointment. . “Florentino discovers dane promised to put his “heart Perez said it was a “diffi cult decision” ner in the 2002 Champions League fi nal. Madrid’s star-studded squad with many All said that Real president that Benitez was the problem and soul” into managing the to part ways with Benitez, whose seven- “As president it is an honour to have you senior players voicing their displeasure at Florentino Perez was taking a and all of a sudden finds the Spanish giants after he was sen- month reign came to an end after Sun- at my side because I know for you the word the sacking of his predecessor Ancelotti. risk naming the ‘legend’ who solution: Zinedine Zidane,” sationallyR named as coach following Ra- day’s 2-2 draw with Valencia. impossible doesn’t exist,” gushed Perez. A run of three league defeats in five has no experience running a wrote As sports daily. fael Benitez’s unceremonious sacking. Benitez struggled to win over both Ma- Zidane failed to get Castilla promoted games in November and December, team of superstars. Many dailies were critical of Pe- The three-time world player of the drid’s fans and their superstars including from the third tier of Spanish football including a 4-0 thrashing at home to “The problem of coaches is rez, dubbing him the “shredder year takes over at the globe’s richest club Cristiano Ronaldo and , in last season, but they currently lie second Barcelona, wiped away the early credit like that of melons: until you of coaches.” Zidane is the 11th despite a limited coaching CV which in- a stint that was also marked by off -fi eld in the regional Segunda Division B having Benitez had gained with an unbeaten open them you don’t know if coach in Perez’s reign. cludes his stewardship of Real’s feeder controversies. lost just two of 19 games this season. 14-game start. they are sweet or inedible,” And some gave Zidane the team, Castilla. Zidane inherits a team which is four The Frenchman was also part of Carlo Further embarrassment was to fol- wrote the Marca sports daily— benefit of the doubt, pointing But Zidane, 43, said he would do his points adrift of city rivals Atletico Madrid Ancelotti’s coaching staff when they won low when Madrid were thrown out of the most read in Spain. to the precedent of Pep Guar- utmost to make sure Real, currently third at the top of La Liga, and two behind nem- the Champions League and Copa del Rey the Copa del Rey for fi elding an ineligible “A risky operation albeit with diola, a legend as a player who in La Liga after an unhappy spell under esis Barcelona, who have a game in hand. in 2014. player last month. possibilities,” it added in a graduated from a season in Benitez, land silverware this year. However, Real also qualifi ed with “The best person for the job,” trum- Benitez’s relationship with the dress- separate article. charge of Barcelona’s B team “We have the best club in the world, room to spare for the Champions League peted David Beckham, a former team- ing room has also failed to improve with “The Frenchman is a football to become the most success- the best fans and what we have to do now, knock-out stages, where they have been mate of Zidane at Real, on Instagram. key players such as Karim Benzema and legend and a great figure of ful coach in the club’s history. and what I will try my best to do, is en- drawn against Roma in the last 16. “Someone with drive, passion and also James Rodriguez often showing their dis- Madrid,” added Marca “But his “El Guardiola de Florentino,” sure the team wins at the end of the sea- All eyes will now be on whether the doesn’t accept failure on any level... tak- gust at being substituted. coaching experience is inverse- wrote the Sport daily. son,” said the Frenchman. untested Zidane has the temperament ing on a position that he will relish,” add- Off -fi eld distractions also took their ly proportional to his excellent “Finding a ‘Guardiola’ had “I’m more excited now than I was and tactical ability to gel Madrid’s Galac- ed the ex-England captain. toll with Benzema facing blackmail footballer’s experience—limited been the obsession of Floren- when I signed as a player. I am going to ticos into a trophy-winning unit. Perez had publicly backed Benitez de- charges over a sex-tape, and Rodriguez ... and controversial.” tino Perez for a while, even if it put my heart and soul into this job so that Zidane is not known for his communi- spite growing pressure in recent weeks accused of speeding at up to 200kph El Pais daily also emphasised was a risky option.” everything works out well,” he added. cation skills, and his playing career ended which saw him routinely jeered by his (124mph) before the Valencia game.

BOTTOMLINE Zidane brings more hope than expectation

The replacement of Rafa Benitez Benitez was condemned not only by “For him (Zidane), the word “impos- dane will surely fi nd it diffi cult to please with Zinedine Zidane has his poor results - Sunday’s 2-2 draw at sible” does not exist,” Perez said. a man (Perez) who has sacked 10 other brought badly needed hope to Valencia followed defeats against Vil- “He is one of the great fi gures in the coaches in 12 years,” commented Radio troubled Real Madrid - but will it larreal, Barcelona and Sevilla - but also history of football ... He has faced im- Marca. also bring success? by his dour image and his patchy rela- portant challenges throughout his life, On the other hand, Cadena COPE tionship with the players. with dedication and talent. He has our expressed the hope that Zidane will DPA Several senior players reportedly total confi dence and support.” turn out to be Real Madrid’s answer to Madrid asked Perez at Christmas to bring in Zidane, who helped France to win the , who was only 37 and Zidane for Benitez. These players lined World Cup in 1998, is the fi rst French- with hardly any coaching experience up excitedly to shake hands with Zi- man to coach Real. when promoted by Barcelona in 2008 - palpable, evident sense of dane Tuesday, at the start of the well- “Thank you for this important op- with astonishing results. hope fl oated in the crisp win- attended training session. portunity,” he replied to Perez. Zidane’s assistant will be former Real ter air over the training ground Zidane was one of Perez’s much- “Now we have to do our best with the team-mate Santiago Solari, who at 39 of Real Madrid yesterday. vaunted ‘Galactico’ stars from 2001 to team until the end of the season. I think is four years younger than the French- AAround 6,000 fans - mostly ex- 2006 - along with Luis Figo, Ronaldo everything will turn out well. man. cited schoolchildren still on holiday - and David Beckham - and earned the “The important thing is to start work Zidane’s fi rst game in charge will be queued up to watch Cristiano Ronaldo adulation of the fans with a spectacu- with the squad tomorrow. I am very ex- at home to Deportivo La Coruna Sat- and company train. lar winning goal in the 2002 Cham- cited, even more than when I fi rst came urday. What was the reason for all this en- pions League final against Bayer here as a player. I am going to put my Real are four points behind leaders thusiasm and turmoil? The appoint- Leverkusen. whole heart into this job.” Atletico Madrid and two behind Barca, ment of former Real idol Zinedine Perez persuaded Zidane to return However, not everyone is convinced who have a game in hand. Zidane as fi rst team coach, as replace- to the club in 2011, and since then has of Zidane’s capacity to turn around However, Zidane has a relatively be- ment for the unpopular Rafa Benitez. Real Madrid’s new coach Zinedine Zidane leaves after a press conference. fulfi lled various roles at the club: spe- the situation of a team that has badly nign calendar ahead of him. In addi- Rarely in Spanish football has a cial adviser, sporting director, assistant fl opped in most important matches this tion, he can focus exclusively on La Liga change of coach brought such a loud journalists - was fed up with Benitez. Monday’s sacking of the embattled coach and, most recently, coach of the season. - until February’s Champions League sigh of collective relief. He simply didn’t transmit charisma Benitez was clearly a chronicle of a death Castilla nursery side, though without An online poll taken by Marca round of 16 against Roma - because “Real Madrid needed some kind of and hope. foretold. His appointment, seven months much success. showed yesterday that only 43 per cent the Whites have been thrown out of the change. The club needed new hope and “Whether Zidane turns out to be ago, was a controversial, unpopular move Perez said Monday he had “total of readers believe Zidane “to have the Spanish Cup for fi elding the ineligible direction,” commented radio station the solution for all the club’s problems by club president Florentino Perez, as confi dence” in Zidane, despite the 43 capacity” to occupy what has become a Denis Cheryshev in December, some- Cadena SER. remains to be seen. But at least he has most players and fans wanted Carlo An- year-old’s lack of top-fl ight coaching very diffi cult bench in recent years. thing that might turn out to be a bless- “Everyone at the club - players, fans, brought back a bit of excitement.” celotti to stay at the helm. experience. “After the honeymoon is over, Zi- ing in disguise. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, January 6, 2016 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT PUNISHMENT Ethics watchdog recommends 9-year Bale has no plans ban for FIFA’s Valcke

Reuters Zurich to leave Real aft er IFA’s ethics watchdog has recommended a nine- year ban for secretary- general Jerome Valcke overF accusations of corruption over the sale of World Cup tick- ets, one of dozens of allegations involving offi cials at soccer’s cri- Benitez sacking sis-plagued governing body. Cornel Borbely, chief inves- tigator for FIFA’s independent ‘I understand he can been annoyed with the departure of Benítez because he was an ethics committee, requested that Valcke be fi ned 100,000 Swiss corruption, fraud and money important coach for him but he is going to have the same aff ection [from me]’ francs after completing an in- laundering. vestigation into the Frenchman’s He had been placed on leave by conduct, the watchdog said in a FIFA less than a month earlier. statement. Borbely completed his inves- tigation on the day that Valcke’s Valcke joined FIFA in 2003 suspension was due to expire and as marketing director but requested that it be extended for was fi red in December a further 45 days pending a fi nal 2006 for his part in botched decision in the case, the commit- sponsorship negotiations tee statement said. with credit card fi rms His report, which alleged that MasterCard and Visa Valcke had violated seven arti- cles of the FIFA code of ethics, The allegations against Valcke including ones on loyalty and stem from former Israeli soc- confl icts of interest, has been cer player Benny Alon telling a handed to FIFA’s chief ethics news conference in September judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, who in Zurich that he agreed in 2013 will decide on sanctions. to pay cash to Valcke to secure Valcke has already implied plum World Cup tickets in Brazil that he would stand down fol- in 2014. lowing February’s election for He said the plan was to then Blatter’s replacement. sell the tickets to fans at a Valcke joined FIFA in 2003 as markup and split the proceeds marketing director but was fi red with Valcke. Alon said the deal in December 2006 for his part fell through and he never paid the in botched sponsorship negotia- soccer offi cial. tions with credit card fi rms Mas- Valcke, FIFA’s second-ranking terCard Inc and Visa Inc. offi cial after banned president Eight months later, he was Sepp Blatter, has called the alle- re-hired as secretary general gations against him “fabricated and oversaw the preparations and outrageous”. for both the 2010 World Cup in Valcke had been suspended South Africa and the 2014 tour- for 90 days on Oct. 8 - a move nament in Brazil. almost overlooked amid the then Blatter and UEFA boss Michel suspension of Blatter and the Platini, the two most power- charging of 41 people, including ful men in world soccer, were top FIFA offi cials, by U.S. pros- banned for eight years in Decem- ecutors for off ences including ber for ethics violations.

NEW SHORES

File picture of Real Madrid’s Welsh Gareth Bale playing during the International Champions Cup football match between and Real Madrid. Guardiola to seek

The Guardian past seven appearances, wants to be used Although it remains to be seen how Zi- paths have rarely crossed, holds a lot of Madrid in a position where he can have the great- dane will set up the team, the manager’s cards in that respect. new challenge in est infl uence on the game and any sig- message of support to Bale is understood There is certainly no sense that anyone nifi cant change to that approach under to have followed assurances from the in Bale’s camp is overly anxious about the areth Bale has no plans to leave Zidane would have major ramifi cations Madrid hierarchy since Benítez’s depar- situation, and coming back to the Pre- England aft er Bayern Real Madrid in the wake of Ra- for the world’s most expensive footballer. ture that the Welshman remains key to mier League is certainly not part of their fael Benítez’s sacking on Mon- Zidane gave strong backing to Bale the club’s plans. Pérez, in short, has no thinking right now. At the age of 26, Bale day but his future at the club on Tuesday. “I understand he can been desire to sell the player. is approaching his peak years, playing for Gwill hinge largely on how Zinedine Zidane annoyed with the departure of Benítez As for Bale, he is desperate to win La Madrid is seen as being as good as gets deploys him between now and the end of because he [Benítez] was an important Liga – just about the only piece of silver- and the messages from those that matter the season, and specifi cally whether he coach for him but he is going to have the ware missing from his collection since inside the Bernabéu are always positive. remains in a central role. same aff ection [from me] as with Rafa. He joining Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur Equally, there would be a frenzy of in- Benítez’s dismissal came as a major is important for the squad, fundamental in 2013 – loves playing for the club and terest, including from Manchester City disappointment to Bale, who enjoyed for the team. He’s phenomenal and what believes he could not be in a better place and Chelsea, if things unravelled under playing under the former Liverpool man- he has been doing recently is fantastic. I when it comes to trying to fulfi l his ambi- Zidane and Bale sought a fresh start come ager and respected the fact the Spaniard, am going to give him all my aff ection and tion to one day win the Ballon d’Or. the summer. Manchester United have backed by Florentino Pérez, the Madrid support so that he plays well for us.” Yet there is no getting away from the monitored Bale’s situation closely for president, stayed true to his promise to Zidane was emphatic that he intends importance he attaches to where he plays some time and would have the fi nancial play him through the middle rather than to play Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ka- on the pitch, and Zidane, with whom Bale wherewithal but they are highly unlikely out wide. rim Benzema. “Yes, I will play with the has never had much chance to build a re- to be at the top of the list given the state Bale, who has scored seven times in his three. Yes. The idea is that. Clearly.” lationship for no reason other than their of aff airs at Old Traff ord.

BOTTOMLINE File picture of Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola.

DPA he said. “Three years at a club is Munich enough. I’m not a coach who stays at a club for 30 years.” And he insisted that the play- ayern Munich coach ers currently at Bayern would Benitez was not the solution for Pep Guardiola is to seek not become transfer targets at his next challenge in his new club. England with a Premier Guardiola said he had not LeagueB job after his contract yet spoken with all of his squad with the champions about the situation but that he Real Madrid – he never had been expires at the end of the season. remained confi dent in their abil- “I want to coach in England in ity to win games. By Sid Lowe, The Guardian break from the Ancelotti model, tarily Benítez hoped it might have the , that is the “I have no doubts that they Madrid but there were contradictions in strengthened his hand. After- only reason why I do not extend will give their best for the club the vision. Pérez was convinced wards the president said publicly (my contract),” he told a news in this period,” he said. “Thomas that Ancelotti did not work the that “of course” the coach had conference Tuesday. Mueller was right - it is irrel- eal Madrid’s president, players hard enough, that they complete freedom to choose the “I have several off ers from evant who the coach is. What’s Florentino Pérez, did needed a leader not a friend. With players he wanted. As it turned England but I haven’t signed important is that the club wins.” not accept questions a dressing room like this one that out, the “so long as they’re the anything yet. Bayern have an eight-point when he appeared at was always likely to meet with right ones” went without saying – “If I were 60 or 65 I would’ve lead over Borussia Dortmund in theR Santiago Bernabéu to an- some resistance, not least as one publicly, at least. stayed, but I think I am too the Bundesliga and face second nounce the sacking of Rafa of Benítez’s other tasks was to tilt Against Valencia neither young. I need a new challenge.” division Bochum in the quarter- Benítez and the appointment the team’s axis towards Gareth James Rodríguez nor Isco played Guardiola was appointed Bay- fi nals of the German Cup. of Zinedine Zidane on Mon- Bale, part of the president’s long- a single minute and that may ern coach in 2013 and has won Italian champions Juventus day night. Perhaps he thought er-term strategy. have been as signifi cant as the two Bundesliga titles and a Ger- are likely to pose the next serious there was nothing new to say. It Players saw the manager’s 2-2 draw. man Cup but his Bayern team test for Guardiola’s team in the is, after all, only six weeks since weakness, an authoritarian with The message had changed: the have twice been eliminated in last 16 of the Champions League. he called a press conference to no authority. The compromise week before he had parroted the the semi-fi nals of the Champi- “Of course I want to win this denounce a “campaign” against was not comfortable and ulti- president’s conspiratorial line to ons League. title with Bayern,” Guardiola the club and deny reports that mately it did not help. The re- insist that there was a campaign “It was a dream, it is a dream. said. He added that his spell in he was contemplating mak- File picture of Rafael Benitez. sults were poor and perform- against him, Pérez and the club; I am very grateful to Bayern for Munich would not be truly com- ing Benítez the 10th manager to ances worse. Madrid have not now the analysis focused on this huge opportunity,” he said of plete without adding to the two leave during his presidency. Or ager who demands control; at one, always likely to end in fail- produced 90 minutes of good the fl aws sought on the inside. his time in Munich. Champions Leagues he won as maybe he just did not want to be the Bernabéu he did not have it, ure. Benítez inherited a squad in football against a decent team all Benítez said he was looking for Reports have strongly linked Barcelona coach in 2009 and asked any awkward questions, until it was too late. Compromise which the heavyweights were so year; Benítez was defensive about “balance,” just as Ancelotti had Manchester City with the 2011. like: ‘Why?’ did not save him and adopting furious at the departure of An- accusations that he was defensive before him. In other words, this 44-year-old Spanish coach but Bayern have already named The frustration for Benítez his master’s voice was no pro- celotti as to say so publicly. They but in truth the charge was sim- was an old problem: the presi- Chelsea are without a permanent Italian coach as may be that, if he was going to tection. He had been brought in loved him whereas Benítez was pler than that: his team was just dent and the players. They were manager and Manchester United Guardiola’s replacement. get sacked one day, he should to carry out a restructuring not the step-mother – a wicked one not very good. They were not even the problem, Benítez said. In do- boss Louis van Gaal is under “I wish him the best of luck at least have been sacked doing entirely of his own design and, at that. His manner is to impose, good at the things his teams are ing so he became an even greater pressure after a run of poor per- and want to leave him a great something he truly believed in. when that proved problematic, to work and lay down rules, not supposed to be good at. problem than he already was. He formances. team,” Guardiola said. “It is good Instead he died with somebody it was he who paid for it. to seek aff ection. Short-term survival could not was no longer the solution. He “I want to get to know new that a successor is decided al- else’s boots on. Benítez is a man- The task set was a diffi cult Benítez had been brought in to last long term, although momen- never had been. stadiums, cities and restaurants,” ready.” Gulf Times Wednesday, January 6, 2016 5 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT AFC U-23 CHAMPIONSHIP, DOHA Tickets for AFC U-23 available at Inter under threat Landmark Mall & Villagio Mall as Juve eye eighth Tickets are now available for Games in Rio de Janeiro. the AFC U-23 Championship, The opening match of the Qatar at Landmark and Villa- Championship on January gio Mall, as preparations ramp 12 will see Syria take on I.R. up for Asia’s second biggest Iran at the Jassim Bin Hamad men’s national team champi- stadium (Al Sadd stadium) onship starting on January 12. and hosts Qatar kick off their straight win The launch of the event was campaign against China PR attended by members of the on the same day, at 19.30 local organising committee, local time, at the Abdullah Bin ‘We’ll have to play aggressively but we’ll be limited to what Juve allow us to do. It will be along with Najim the desert Khalifa Stadium (Lekhwiya fox, who was recently an- stadium) in Doha. The final them who dictate play and we’ll have to be smart to pounce on any mistakes they make’ nounced as the off icial mascot will be played on the January for the tournament. 30 2016, also at Abdullah Bin Speaking at the launch of the Khalifa Stadium. ticket booth Khalifa al-Haroon, The affordable ticketing Marketing and Communica- structure has been designed tions director of the LOC to make the tournament ac- said. “Launching at Land- cessible to the local football mark Mall is a big step in the fans and to attract families in preparations for the AFC U-23 order to ensure a lively and Championship. The booth will festive atmosphere in the ensure that fans have the best stadia. opportunity to get tickets to Tickets for all the matches watch some of the best foot- are available online from the balling talent in Asia.” Qatar Football Association The tournament will be played website: www.qfa.qa Whilst in Doha and it will feature the you can also buy tickets from 16 top U-23 sides from Asia, both Landmark & Villaggio including hosts Qatar and malls from 4pm to 10pm defending champions Iraq. daily, furthermore fans will “Mancini changes The top three teams from the be able to buy tickets on tournament will secure quali- match days at the tourna- things around a lot, his fication for the 2016 Olympic ment stadiums. team formations and his players, so we have Ticket categories and prices: to be on our game even Category Opener Group Stage QFs SFs Final more than usual.” VIP 100 50 50 50 100 CAT 1 50 30 30 30 50 CAT 2 30 10 10 10 30 Children Free Free Free Free Free Disabled Free Free Free Free Free * All prices in Qatari riyals.

Blow for Iran as Nourollahi ruled out of the tournament IR Iran’s bid for glory at the upcoming AFC U-23 Champi- onship has been dented after File picture of Inter Mian Ahmad Nourollahi was con- coach Roberto Mancini firmed as their latest absentee from the tournament. With Iran’s campaign in Qatar set to kick off on January 12, AFP up to fourth at just three points behind Fixtures weather conditions to watch the Viola’s there were already doubts Milan Inter and the champions aim to make it fi rst training session of 2016 in midweek. over Nourollahi’s participa- eight against Verona in Turin, says mid- Udinese v Atalanta (1130), Chievo v Coach Paulo Sousa has welcomed tion given his recent injury fi elder Juan Cuadrado. Roma, Juventus v Verona, Lazio v Jakub Blaszczykowski back to the fray problems. nter Milan will be looking over their “It will be our most diffi cult game be- Carpi, AC Milan v Bologna, Palermo v following the Polish midfi elder’s three- And at the end of last week, it shoulders at resurgent champions cause it comes right after the holidays, Fiorentina, Sassuolo v Frosinone (all month spell on the sidelines, while Niko- was confirmed that the Perse- Juventus when they travel to Empoli but I’m sure we’ll start off on the right 1400), Empoli v Inter Milan (1700), la Kalinic and Josip Ilicic, who between polis man will not be part of today. foot,” said the Colombian, who has be- Napoli v Torino (1945) them have hit 17 goals in as many games, Mohammad Khakpour’s final the tournament, which was IRoberto Mancini’s leaders come one of Juve’s most valuable players are expected to start up front alongside 23-man squad having failed to also the same case for winger spurned the chance to put daylight be- since joining earlier this season on loan Spaniard Borja Valero. recover suff iciently. Alireza Jahanbaksh, currently tween themselves and the chasing pack from Chelsea. Empoli coach Marco Giampaolo and Palermo midfi elder Mato Jajalo, how- “(The) MRI revealed the plying his trade in Netherlands when they suff ered a shock 2-1 defeat at As a fi rst fi xture of the year, it could Inter handler Mancini may be at opposite ever, has thrown down the gauntlet. extent of his injury,” said Iran with AZ Alkmaar. home to Lazio prior to the festive break, not get any better for Juventus. Verona ends of the pay scale in Serie A, but the “Fiorentina play the best football in Olympic team manager Habib Despite being without this leaving them just one point ahead of sit rock bottom with eight points from 17 former’s tactical nous, combined with Italy, but we’ve been working hard this Kashani, according to Tasnim quartet of influential figures, Fiorentina and Napoli. games, meaning Gigi Delneri’s men are the impressive seven-goal haul of veteran week and we want to start the year off News. “Nourollahi needs more Khakpour still has a fairly Fiorentina are away to Palermo and thinking more about how to stave off rel- striker Massimo Maccarone has helped with a win,” said Jajalo, who hit his fi rst rest to make a full recovery.” experienced side that could Napoli host Torino. egation and less about upsetting Italy’s lift Empoli up to eighth place. Serie A goal at Fiorentina last May. The absence of the defensive potentially make an impact in But it is Juve, aiming for a record- most successful side of recent years. Yet Giampaolo, who earns the lowest With Gonzalo Higuain on a league- midfielder comes as another Qatar. equalling fi fth consecutive league crown, “We’ll have to play aggressively, but salary in Italy’s top fl ight, admits that leading tally of 16 goals amid Napoli’s ti- blow to Team Melli’s hopes Without Azmoun, much of the who could pose the biggest threat. we’ll be limited to what Juve allow us to planning a strategy to beat Inter is prob- tle charge, Naples had plenty to celebrate of going far at the AFC U-23 goalscoring burden is likely to Juve’s disastrous start to the campaign do,” admitted Delneri. lematic. “Mancini changes things around during the festive break and Torino visit Championship, given they are fall on the shoulders of Naft is now fi rmly behind them and the Tu- “It will be them who dictate play and a lot, his team formations and his players, the San Paolo with the task of handing already missing a trio of key Tehran striker Amir Arsalan rin giants were the only side among the we’ll have to be smart enough to pounce so we have to be on our game even more Maurizio Sarri’s men their fi rst home de- players. Motahari. frontrunners to win their last two games on any mistakes they make.” than usual,” he told Sky Sport. feat of the season. Rising star Sardar Azmoun, Nonetheless, he will receive before the festive break. Given Juve’s chances of victory, Inter Fiorentina’s title push shows no signs Fifth-placed Roma travel to Chievo along with club teammate plenty of support from the Indeed, a seven-game winning streak will be especially wary ahead of meeting an of abating and over 7,000 fans showed with experienced midfi elder Daniele De Saeid Ezatolahi, had already likes of Ehsan Palavan, Alireza has hoisted Massimiliano Allegri’s men Empoli side brimming with confi dence. their appreciation by braving rainy Rossi a doubt because of injury. been ruled out after Rus- Naghizadeh and Ali Karimi, sian club FC Rostov decided who have all featured regu- against releasing them for larly for Iran at U-23 level. QATAR STARS LEAGUE Thais arrive in Qatar boosted by Tanaboon, Do return There was plenty for Thailand “Our only problem is that to smile about as they arrived we haven’t had enough Issiar Dia to join Al Kharaitiyat in Qatar in preparation for the warm-up matches to test upcoming AFC U-23 Champi- our team. Hopefully we By Sports Reporter U23 championships being held El Jaish ready injured trio onship, after it was confirmed can arrange some games Doha in Qatar. during QSL break that Tanaboon Kesarat and before the Saudi opener” Second placed El Jaish has con- Tristan Do have both returned Umm Salal to resume training fi rmed their training plans dur- to full fitness. is also in charge of. l Kharaitiyat team on January 11 ing the three week stoppage of After completing their final Speaking ahead of their de- manager Turky Aman Umm Salal have confi rmed they QSL action. The soldiers are training session on home parture from Bangkok on Sun- has confi rmed that will commence their training on currently hoping that the in- soil at the Rajamangala day night, the War Elephants striker Issair Dia will the 11th of January, 2016 after a jured trio of Wesam Rizik, Ab- National Stadium in Bangkok coach assured that the duo returnA to Al Kharaitiyat replac- break to their squad due to the durahman Abubakar and Brazil- on Sunday morning, the Thais will both be 100 per cent ing midfi elder Anwar Diba. Dia upcoming AFC U-23 tourna- ian defender Lucas Mendes can flew out that same evening ready for the tournament, and is no stranger to Al Kharaitiyat, ment being held in Qatar from regain fi tness during the break. for Qatar, where the AFC U-23 also provided insight into their having played for them on loan the 12 to 30 January, 2016. The team medical staff will be Championship will be held final preparations ahead of during the 2014/2015 season. The resumption of training ses- working on completing the re- from January 12 to 30. their opening game against Speaking to the QSL web- File picture of Issair Dia (left). sions will be preceded by medical habilitation and recovery of the Last week, Thailand coach Saudi Arabia on January 13. site, the former defender said: examinations for the players at injured trio players in order for Kiatisuk Senamuang had “We had our last training ses- “We are waiting on the relevant adding that the team is in need prove in the second part of the Aspetar on January 10, 2016. Pro- them to join the team training finalised his 23-man squad sion today (Sunday) to review transfer documents from his for three more local players. season, I am sure of this. fessional players Yannick Sagbo sessions starting on the 11th of for the tournament, although all the tactics for one last time previous club to sign Dia. We Commenting on the recent re- Turky praised the work of and the Brazilian defender Welin- January, 2016. there were lingering doubts before heading off to Doha,” will be looking for an instant im- sults, he said: “We were not satis- Bosnian head coach Ammar ton will join the team training ses- Jaish head coach Sabri Lam- over the availability of centre- said Kiatisuk, according to pact from him when the league fi ed with the results at the begin- Osim, stressing the break as sions on the 12th of January, 2016 ouchi granted his players a six back Tanaboon Kesarat and Bangkok Post. returns.” Aman also praised ning of the season, nevertheless important for the side: “We after getting permission for two day rest following their 2-1 vic- full-back Tristan Do. “Our only problem now is that the other professional players, the performance has changed as consider the current break as a days extra leave from team man- tory over a spirited Al Sailiya Tanaboon (pictured, centre), we haven’t had enough warm- namely the fi erce striker Yahya well as the results, and we are sat- huge opportunity to work with agement. side in round 15 of the QSL. who can also play in midfield, up matches to test our team. Kebe, Hassan Abdel Fattah and isfi ed with the current perform- the team on all aspects and en- The medical staff will be also El Jaish head coach Sabri and Do, who is usually de- “So, hopefully we can arrange the tough defender Domingos. ances of the team.” hance the positive sides.” Al working on the rehabilitation Lamouchi did shelve plans to ployed on the right side of de- some games before the Saudi Aman also made clear that Speaking about whether he Kharitiyat are currently in 11th and recovery of injured players convene an external training fence, both play for Thai Pre- Arabia opener.” Issiar Dia will be the only pro- is worried about the team dur- position in the QSL table. They Nasser Khalfan and Adel Alawi. camp for his team in Abu Dhabi. mier League outfit BEC Tero After their game against the fessional player to join the team ing the coming period, he said: will face current QSL champions Umm Salal are currently in fi fth Citing that the squad would Sasana and have emerged Saudis, Thailand face Japan during the winter transfer win- “I have huge confi dence in the Lekhwiya once the QSL resumes place in the QSL standings, and benefi t more from having more as key players for the senior before finishing their Group dow and none of the remaining players and I am aware of their on the 28th of January, following will face leaders Al Rayyan when friendly clashes at a training national team, which Kiatisuk campaign against DPR Korea. professionals will be replaced, potential. The results will im- the three week break for the AFC the QSL resumes in round 16. camp based in Doha. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, January 6, 2016 SPORT

NBA SPOTLIGHT

Curry scored Smooth Irving Curry helps 30 points in 31 shines for Cavs in minutes of big win over Raptors

playing time The Sports Xchange after having his Toronto get Warriors yrie Irving has talked for weeks about shak- previous outing ing off the rust since his return from a long cut short due to injuryK layoff but the Cavaliers guard moved like a well-oiled machine in Cleveland’s 122-100 a calf injury victory over the Toronto Raptors back on track on Monday. Irving scored a season-high 25 points while adding eight assists and six rebounds, and forward LeBron James had 20 points and seven assists while sitting out the fourth quarter on a night when They also tied the game at 69-69 all fi ve Cavs starters scored in in the third on a three-pointer double fi gures. from James Johnson, who was Guard Kyle Lowry had 23 starting at forward in place of points and 10 assists, and guard DeMarre Carroll (knee). DeMar DeRozan had 19 points However, James’ three-point- for the Raptors, who twice ral- er to close the third pushed the lied from big defi cits before the lead back to 90-78 and the Cavs Cavs (23-9) pulled away for good were never threatened again. in the last quarter to register a Guard J.R. Smith made a sea- fourth consecutive victory. son-high eight three-pointers “They play as hard and as to- to score 24, while forward Kevin gether as anyone in the league, Love had 14 points and nine except for San Antonio,” Raptors rebounds, and center Tristan coach Dwane Casey told report- Thompson had 14 points and 11 ers of the Cavs. “If you don’t rebounds for the Cavs, who im- bring your ‘A’ game against them, proved to 15-1 at home. you’re going to be embarrassed.” The Raptors beat the Cavs at The Raptors (21-15) were far Toronto in late November when from being embarrassed but they Cleveland was missing half of could not keep pace in the fourth its rotation. Things changed quarter. They went scoreless for dramatically on Monday in large more than four minutes, allow- part to Irving, who continues to ing Cleveland to turn a seven- work his way back from off sea- point game into a blowout. son knee surgery. A jumper from backup center Irving shot just 29 percent in Timofey Mozgov extended the his fi rst three games back from Cavs’ lead to 108-87 with 6:13 a fractured kneecap but has shot left, the fi rst 20-point lead of the 48 percent in his past three. He game. scored at least 20 points in two The Raptors rallied from 13 of his past three games and his down in the fi rst half to take a eight assists were also a season brief lead in the second quarter. high.

Lakers torn on which Bryant number to retire

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors dribbles past Brian Roberts of the Charlotte Hornets during their NBA game in Oakland on Monday.

AFP RESULTS er surprised he’s going to score 30 points.” quarter after an 11-4 run to begin the sec- Washington The Warriors used an explosive third ond half. Golden State ...... 111 Charlotte ...... 101 quarter to pull away from the Hornets Thompson answered with 16- and Brooklyn ...... 94 Boston ...... 103 with the help of Klay Thompson who 28-footers, the latter a three-pointer. tephen Curry secured his domi- Detroit ...... 115 Orlando ...... 89 nailed two clutch baskets to spark an 18-4 He fi nished with 30 points, a majority of Los Angeles: Kobe Bryant three championships and deliv- nance over his hometown team Miami ...... 103 Indiana ...... 100 (OT) surge that put them in command for good. which came on six-of-11 shooting from has enjoyed an illustrious ered an unforgettable 81-point Monday as the Golden State War- Portland ...... 78 Memphis ...... 91 Draymond Green posted his seventh beyond the arc as the game turned into career while wearing two sepa- performances while wearing it. riors stretched their home-win- Utah ...... 91 Houston ...... 93 triple-double of the season with 13 points, a long-distance shooting contest which rate jersey numbers and with He changed to number 24 prior ningS streak to 35 straight with a 111-101 15 rebounds and 10 assists for the Warri- played into the Warriors’ hands. Milwaukee ...... 98 San Antonio ...... 123 his final chapter approaching it to the 2006-07 season, won win over the Charlotte Hornets. Oklahoma City..104 Sacramento ...... 116 ors, who have struggled to close out games Centre Marreese Speights recorded a has left the Los Angeles Lakers two more championships and Curry scored 30 points in 31 minutes Cleveland ...... 122 Toronto ...... 100 recently. season-high with 15 points and forward with a decision about which is wearing it in his 20th, and of playing time after having his previous Philadelphia ...... 109 Minnesota ...... 99 Golden State’s home win streak now Harrison Barnes, playing for the fi rst time one to retire. final, season in the NBA which outing cut short because of a recurring stands at 35, including 17 this season as since suff ering an ankle injury on Novem- “Obviously it’s going to be 8, has been on something of an left calf injury. they moved a step closer to Chicago’s ber 27, tallied eight points in 18 minutes. 24 or it could be both,” Lak- extended farewell tour. “I was just trying to go as hard as I could record 44-game win streak from 1995- Point guard Kemba Walker and backup ers General Manager Mitch “This is a year that’s dedicated and not feel pain on any of the moves that Reigning league MVP Curry, who ap- 96. They have the fi fth longest home win guard Jeremy Lamb had 22 points apiece Kupchak said. “I don’t know the to Kobe and his farewell,” Kup- I made,” Curry said. peared unlikely to play earlier in the day, streak in NBA history. for the Hornets, who were playing with- answer.” chak said. And next year the Curry went to Charlotte Christian high sank 12-of-21 from the fi eld. Seeking to avoid getting swept in the out starting centre Al Jeff erson (knee in- Bryant wore number eight from Lakers will lift one of Bryant’s school and his father Dell Curry works as “Nothing surprises me with him,” War- two-game season series for the second jury) and shooting guard Nicolas Batum the time he broke into the team numbers into the arena rafters. a colour commentator on the Hornets’ riors interim coach Luke Walton said of year in a row, the Hornets clung within (toe). in the 1996-97 campaign, won Or, two of them. broadcasts. Curry. “If he’s going to play, then I’m nev- 66-65 in the fourth minute of the third

NHL Colorado’s Iginla reaches 600-goal milestone

The Sports Xchange ting his 599th against the Arizona Coyo- Senators 3, Blues 2 (OT) New York tes on Dec. 27. After his team fell behind 2-0, right Oilers 1, Hurricanes 0 (OT) winger Bobby Ryan assisted on Ot- Oilers defenseman Andrej Sekera scored tawa’s fi rst tally late in the second ith a fl ick of the wrist and a the overtime winner on a rebound from his period, then scored successive goals, fortunate bounce off a skatE, own scoring chance, giving Edmonton the including the overtime winner. Ot- Jarome Iginla joined an ex- win. Sekera took a wrist shot on Hurricanes tawa snapped a three-game losing clusive NHL club of scorers goalie Cam Ward, then streaked in to tuck streak and improved their road record onW Monday. the second chance between the netminder’s to 9-10-2. The Senators (19-15-6) are The Colorado Avalanche right winger pads. Goalie Cam Talbot made 29 saves for among seven teams in the hunt for the scored his 600th career goal to become his first shutout as an Oiler. last four playoff spots in the Eastern the 19th player to reach the milestone as Coyotes 3, Canucks 2 Conference. Colorado beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-1. Right winger Shane Doan scored two Red Wings 1, Devils 0 Iginla got the milestone at 13:02 of the goals to lead Arizona to victory over Goaltender Petr Mrazek stopped 22 third period when his shot to the front of Vancouver. Center Laurent Dauphin shots as the Detroit Red Wings blanked the net bounced off Kings defenseman also scored for Arizona (19-16-4). Right the New Jersey Devils 1-0 at Prudential Jake Muzzin and past goaltender Jhonas winger Tobias Rieder had two assists. The Center on Monday. Enroth to give Colorado a three-goal lead. Coyotes are 6-2-3 in their past 11 games. The 23-year-old had to be at his best He was mobbed by his team mates in Center Bo Horvat, on the power play, in the fi rst period as the Devils poured the corner and got a standing ovation and left winger Daniel Sedin scored for 12 shots on net. His best save came eight from the Pepsi Center crowd. Vancouver (15-16-9). The Canucks have minutes into the third period when he de- Iginla, who has 11 goals this season, had scored two goals or fewer in nine of their nied right winger Kyle Palmieri at the last gone scoreless in three games since get- past 11 games. moment with a poke check. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 6, 2016 7 SPORT

NFL SPOTLIGHT Chargers, Raiders 49ers’ York wants a coach and Rams apply who can win Super Bowls to relocate to LA By Cam Inman will include other team offi cials. San Jose Mercury News Potential candidates linked to the 49ers are Chip Kelly, Sean ‘In accordance with the relocation policies, the Raiders submitted a relocation package’ Payton, Hue Jackson, Mike day after fi ring Jim Shanahan, Mike Holmgren and Tomsula as coach, David Shaw. By Sam Farmer and Nathan 49ers CEO Jed York “There’s not a specifi c time Fenno Los Angeles has had several sites proposed for said they have a “short frame,” York said. “We want to list”A of candidates they’ll con- identify our candidates and go Los Angeles Times an NFL stadium over the years, yet the nation’s second-largest city is still without a team. sider in what he calls a “very after them.” competitive” market. Tomsula served eight seasons n an aggressive move Mon- “We’re in need of somebody as their defensive line coach be- day to end the NFL’s two- that can win Super Bowls,” York fore getting promoted after a 17- decade absence from Los said in closing his 30-minute day search. Angeles, three franchises - news conference. “We haven’t Tomsula followed Jim Har- Ithe Oakland Raiders, San Diego won a Super Bowl since 1994.” baugh’s four-year tenure that Chargers and St. Louis Rams The 49ers are going on their included trips to three straight - submitted relocation applica- seventh coach in 15 years. They NFC Championship games and tions to the league on the fi rst fi nished this season with a 5-11 Super Bowl XLVII. day they were eligible to do so. record, their worst mark since Other coaches the 49ers have The development was un- 2007, and in last place in the gone through since 2002 are precedented since the Raid- NFC West for the fi rst time since Steve Mariucci, Dennis Erickson, ers and Rams left the country’s 2005. Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary. second-largest market after the “We want a leader, somebody York struck a conciliatory tone 1994 season. Dozens of stadium that has a clear, strategic vision,” throughout his press conference, proposals and renderings have York said. “We have a short list. repeatedly apologising to his come and gone, but this is the This is going to be a very com- team’s irate fan base. fi rst time any teams have for- petitive off season.” “I hear the criticism, loudly, mally requested to fi ll the L.A. Unlike last season following whether that’s talking to fans di- vacancy. “We are sad to have Jim Harbaugh’s “mutual part- rectly or social media or planes reached this point,” the Charg- ing,” York stood alone at the fl ying over my head,” York said. ers said in a statement. podium, but quickly noted that York shot down speculation A year ago Tuesday, Rams Trent Baalke remains his general that his family is interested in owner Stan Kroenke unveiled manager; Baalke and York shared selling the franchise, valued re- plans for a $1.86 billion stadium the stage at last year’s presser. cently at $2.7 billion by Forbes. in Inglewood that would serve “I’ve seen Trent build a cham- “My family has owned this as the centrepiece of a 298-acre pionship-caliber roster,” York team since before I was born, and entertainment, retail and hous- said. “I believe in Trent’s ability.” they’ll own this team after I am ing development at the site of Baalke will lead the search that gone,” York said. the former Hollywood Park racetrack. Six weeks later, the Chargers and Raiders, AFC West rivals, announced they were team- ing on a competing project in Carson. The $1.7billion venue owners that leaving teams in in the playoff s, and the sixth, a $1.1. billion riverfront stadium is now in the hands of the NFL’s would be built on a 157-acre limbo is damaging to the league New York Giants co-owner John that would be paid for, in part, owners.” parcel located on an old landfi ll and that the matter needs to be Mara, accepted the resignation by public money. Meanwhile, schematics are adjacent to the 405 Freeway. resolved in time for the 2016 Monday of longtime head coach “We’ve anticipated this fi ling complete for the Inglewood In an interview with the season. That would require a Tom Coughlin. from the Rams for more than a proposal which could be ready Chargers’ website, owner Dean decision by March, at the latest, The high-stakes emotional, year,” the St. Louis stadium task in time for the 2018 season, Spanos blamed the Rams for after years of false starts and fi nancial and political nature of force said in a written state- with developers grading the site forcing his team to take action dashed hopes for L.A. the L.A. conundrum is uncom- ment. while fi nishing the permitting on L.A. “I think that is really In order for one of the projects fortable for the NFL, which typ- “It’s why we started working process. That includes ongo- what really was the catalyst that to move forward, three-quar- ically takes pains to avoid pit- in November 2014 to produce ing negotiations with the Fed- really got this whole thing go- ters of owners must vote for it. ting owner against owner. The a viable St. Louis stadium pro- eral Aviation Administration to ing,” he said, “because when Only one stadium will be ap- league has made it clear that it posal for consideration by the resolve the agency’s concerns the Rams decided to make their proved. Each proposal currently does want not a game of musical Rams and the National Football that the stadium might interfere move there, this was a move to has at least nine votes to block chairs in which one or two teams League. ... (We) feel extremely with radar at nearby Los Ange- protect our business more than the other. Both sides have been are left out and forced to return confi dent that it will be well re- les International Airport. anything. So we fi nd ourselves lobbying fellow owners for more empty-handed to markets they ceived as the league weighs its The Carson project, which where we do right now.” support. tried to leave. Monday’s devel- options in the weeks ahead.” was signifi cantly reworked ear- The Rams issued a two-sen- Disney Chairman and CEO opment brings the league one San Diego is proposing a new lier in the year to overhaul the tence statement on their web- Robert Iger, who is backing the step closer to that possibility. $1.1 billion venue on the Mis- stadium design and add extras site confi rming their desire to Carson proposal and would As it stands, there is not even sion Valley site of the current such as a farmers market, isn’t relocate for the 2016 season. oversee the eff ort if it is ap- the broad outline of a compro- Qualcomm Stadium, though as far along in the design proc- The applications Monday proved, has made calls to NFL mise -- or grand bargain - to the public contribution to the ess. The landfi ll remediation, were the most predictable step owners on behalf of that project. satisfy all three teams. project would hinge on a June overseen by the state’s Depart- in a process rife with uncertain- In advance of the Houston Last week, the three markets vote. Oakland has not submit- ment of Toxic Substances Con- ty. But there isn’t a consensus meetings, members of the sta- responded to the NFL’s request ted a plan, but sent the league trol, can’t be completed until among NFL owners on which dium, fi nance and L.A. commit- for their best and fi nal stadium a letter expressing its desire to plans for the site are fi nal. plan to approve. tees will meet at league head- solutions. None was compel- keep the Raiders. The Chargers, Raiders and The 32 owners are convening quarters in New York for two ling enough for any of the teams “In accordance with the re- Rams all played in L.A. at one in Houston for a special meeting days this week to discuss a path - and the league cannot force location policies, the Oakland point, and Carson and Ingle- next week, in hopes of taking a forward. It’s a particularly busy an owner to accept a deal they Raiders submitted a relocation wood were two of the original San Francisco 49ers Chief Executive Off icer Jed York addresses the vote to resolve the competition. time, as fi ve of the six owners on don’t want. St. Louis has the package to the NFL,” the team sites for stadium proposals in media at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, one day after the There’s a growing sense among the L.A. committee have teams most advanced plan, calling for said on its website. “The matter the mid-1990s. firing of head coach Jim Tomsula. PICTURE: Bay Area News Group/TNS)

FOCUS Gruden should be coach of the decade

By David Whitley Arena football legend, Florida ter Griffi n in the 2012 draft. The tually play, even if it cost him his Orlando Sentinel Tuskers coach, Cincinnati of- RG3 rocket took off for one glori- job. fensive coordinator and, most ous year, then everything disin- That seemed likely when the notably, Jon Gruden’s little tegrated. Redskins started 2-4 and fell s well as he’s done this brother. That list started with Griffi n’s behind the Bucs 24-0 in Game season, Jay Gruden People around here knew little knee, which led to all sorts of 7. Then Cousins rallied the Red- should not be NFC brother probably had the coach- soap-operatic twists and turns. skins to a 31-30 victory, after coach of the year. He ing goods. The worry was that he He essentially was exposed as a which he famously yelled to the shouldA be coach of the decade. was committing career suicide prima donna who couldn’t pass media and the world, “You like Gruden’s club didn’t go 15-1 going to work for Snyder’s foot- from the pocket. that!?” like Ron Rivera’s Panthers did. ball circus. There was much palace in- It turned into a heaping help- Gruden did the truly impos- Gruden was smart, self-as- trigue between the pro- and ing. Cousins threw 23 touch- sible. He ended Dan Snyder’s sured and easy to like. When he anti-Griffi n camps. King Snyder downs and only three intercep- man crush on Robert Griffi n III came out of retirement at age had given up a ransom to draft tions in the fi nal 10 weeks and and lived to tell about it. Almost 34 to quarterback the Predators RG3 and was not keen on being the Redskins fi nished 9-7. Cent- as amazing, Gruden turned Kirk in 2002, he was asked to rate his told he’d blown it yet again. er Kory Lichtensteiger told the Cousins into a touchdown ma- mental and physical abilities on a Gruden’s Job One was to turn Washington Post the turnaround chine. scale of 1-100. Griffi n into Steve Young. The started with Gruden’s decision Now the bumbling franchise He gave himself a 100 on the coach quickly concluded that to start Cousins. with the forbidden nickname is mental side of football. His ter- was impossible. More impor- “It was good to see that there’s in the playoff s. As hard as it may minally puff y physique rated a tantly, Gruden detected that the repercussions and rewards,” he be for you to cheer for Snyder or 32. “That’s because I’ve never locker room resented how RG3 said. “Repercussions for not the Native Americans, you have been higher than a 32,” Gruden had been coddled. Gruden an- playing well and rewards for do- to admire the ex-Orlando Preda- said. nounced in this preseason that ing the right thing: preparing, tors coach who somehow resur- That from a guy whom the Griffi n was headed to the bench. performing in practice and the rected football in Washington, AFL named the fourth-best The starter would be Cousins, preseason.” D.C. player in league history. Gruden who hadn’t done much besides It’s still hard to envision the The Beltway crowd suspected never got a sniff from the NFL, work hard, keep quiet and throw Redskins making the Super Gruden might be merely a Sny- which may help explain why he’s interceptions. Bowl, if for no other reason than der puppet when he was hired related so well to Cousins. Snyder was not pleased, but the NFL doesn’t want its 50th last season. Gruden’s resume The Michigan State quarter- Gruden was more concerned anniversary party marred by fans revealed he was a player/coach back was taken three rounds af- about pleasing the guys who ac- wearing headdresses. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, January 6, 2016 FEATURES

SPOTLIGHT Sussex mourns Hobden, talented young cricketer and ‘lovely person’ ‘Everything about him said he was going to be something special’

By Paul Weaver Sadly, older hands at Hove are well The Guardian apprenticed to such tragedy. In April 2002 the all-rounder Umer Rashid drowned on a preseason tour of Grenada he county cricket ground at . A few days later the players of Sussex Hove, scene of so many sunlit and Surrey came together to remember celebrations, was as still as a Rashid and Ben Hollioake, the England mausoleum on Monday as Sus- all-rounder who had died in a car crash sexT mourned their lost cricketer, Matt the previous month . Hobden. Davis, 44, who was a player then, Through the winter rain and beneath added: “With Umer’s death, there the gunmetal clouds, the electronic wasn’t much time before we started the scoreboard shone like a lighthouse on a season. This time we have a couple of gloomy, hazardous coastline: months. We’ve just got to get back on “Matthew Edward Hobden,” it read, the horse but right now it’s important to “27 Mar 1993 - 2 Jan 2016. RIP Mat- take a little time out, and grieve.” thew.” “First of all, he was a lovely per- Beside the club’s reception area a Sus- son,” said Davis. “He was a gentle, nice, sex cap hung, like a bowed head, over his well-mannered young lad who was very No19 shirt. And there was a picture of much the heart and soul of the dressing the gentle giant coming into bowl; you room. He had a lovely sense of humour could almost hear the pound of his big and was great fun to be around. But eve- feet and relive that frisson of expecta- ryone knew he had great potential as a tion. Things happened around “Hobbo”. cricketer. He had all the attributes to be He was 22 when he died, suddenly, a top-class fast bowler. in Scotland on Saturday . Police in the “He was a fantastic athlete, very Forres region 25 miles east of Inverness strong, very powerful. He had a hell of are still investigating but there are no an arm. He was a fantastic fi elder. He suspicious circumstances surrounding moved particularly well. And he could his death. bowl quick. You can’t really coach any- Sussex is the oldest of all the county one to bowl quick. He was potentially a cricket clubs but now it looked older very fi ne cricketer. still in its haggard grief and bewildered “At Christmas we were very excited to desolation. Workmen, usually as busy extend his contract with the club to cov- as sailors before a storm at this time of er the next three years. And I know that year, stood still, little huddles of mourn- Kevin Shine [the ECB’s lead fast bowling ers, each man inhabiting a personal rev- coach] was very impressed with him.” erie of poignant loss. Davis was the second-team coach The players should have reported at Sussex when Hobden broke through back for work, full of the usual jokes and from the club’s youth and academy sys- japes of preseason. Instead they were tems. “He was a raw young lad learning told to stay away for a further week as his trade but he bowled some spells that the club moved into bereavement man- would not have been out of place on any agement mode. Mark Davis, who took cricket fi eld. over as the head coach two months ago, “Then he broke into the fi rst team in told me: a Yorkshire Bank 40 match against Not- “I’ve given the boys a week away tinghamshire at Trent Bridge in 2013. He to make sure they can gather their opened the bowling against two inter- thoughts and be around their loved national one-day batsmen [Alex Hales ones, process what’s happened and re- and Michael Lumb] and really looked fl ect a little bit as well. the part as he hit the bat hard.” “We all met on Sunday morning, after Davis’s predecessor at Hove, Mark we got the awful news, just to get eve- Robinson, was at the ground to pay his ryone together. Everyone will grieve in respects. “Hobbo was a young lad full diff erent ways but it was good to sup- of energy and mischief,” he said. “His port each other. We need to stay strong locker is sat there, empty, for all the to get through this tough time. wrong reasons. “We’ll get together again this week, “Everything about him said he was not necessarily to train but to have cof- going to be something special, and a fee, or lunch. We might play football. I potential England player. He was like just think it’s important for everyone to an ox. He was an athlete, unbelievably be around each other. powerful in the gym, could bowl a heavy “It’s not so easy for a young person ball and make it go out. At 22 this is so to handle this sort of thing. But fi rst sad.” and foremost our prayers and thoughts As he spoke, in late afternoon, Hob- are with Matt’s family. I’d hate to know Hobden: Career cut den’s face on the scoreboard was grow- what they’re going through. Words short by death at 22 ing in luminosity in the approaching can’t explain how diffi cult it must be.” darkness.

BOTTOMLINE Allardyce critical of ‘diabolical’ midweek Premier League schedule

By Louise Taylor get Premier League points,” he said. “With hav- dismiss our appeal was totally and utterly wrong The Guardian ing three away games in succession we’ve got by Mr Scudamore [the Premier League’s chief around 2,000 miles of travel and the lunchtime executive]. Richard Scudamore has my number kick-off means we’ve less than three days re- and he can ring me up any time he wants to tell covery for Tottenham.” me why he agreed the change. But he won’t call.” Swansea had the game switched on the Allardyce is also cynical about an off er from ‘We’re fl ogging the grounds they needed more than 48 hours to re- Swansea to compensate around 300 Sunderland lads. There are more cover from their Cup trip. “Swansea probably fans who had booked trips to Wales before the won’t play their best team at Oxford, they’re date change. “The Premier League told the fans and more injuries likely to make changes,” Allardyce countered. they’ll get their expenses back,” said Allardyce. “But I’m not annoyed with Swansea, I’m an- “But what a load of bollocks. I’m concerned every year’ noyed with the Premier League.” with the fans who have booked their travel up There is a suspicion that a round of midweek and spent their money; will they get all of that am Allardyce has accused the Premier games at a time when the rest of Europe is on a back or won’t they?” League of putting players’ health at risk winter break suits Premier League executives Anxious not to become embroiled in a slang- and devaluing the FA Cup by staging a nicely because of its particular appeal to over- ing match with Sunderland’s manager, the Pre- full programme of fi xtures next Tuesday seas broadcasters off ering lucrative television mier League declined to respond to Allardyce’s andS Wednesday. In a fi erce attack Sunderland’s rights packages. comments but it has confi rmed Swansea have manager described the scheduling as “diaboli- “It would be very sad if the Premier League guaranteed to cover non-refundable travel and cal” and said the league was “destroying” the had put in midweek fi xtures next week for that accommodation costs incurred by away sup- game. He is convinced many top-tier clubs reason, because we get enough money as it is,” porters who booked in advance of the game be- will fi eld weakened teams in this weekend’s Allardyce said. “How much more money do we ing put back. Ticket outlay will also be covered third-round ties to preserve fatigued players for need, for God’s sake? It’s a game to be enjoyed, for anyone no longer able to attend. matches a few days later. not a game to be destroyed and we destroy the If it is not uncommon for midweek league “Of course I’m going to make changes for our game by asking the players to do too much in games to be rearranged in instances when one Cup tie at Arsenal on Saturday,” said Allardyce, this period. The Premier League have the facts, club has had a Sunday Cup tie, it remains rela- who believes the glut of matches in late Decem- unbelievable. If you want us to respect the FA Whereas this off ers Swansea an extra day to they’ve had them for years. The game gets ever tively rare for there to be a top-fl ight Tuesday/ ber and early January makes footballers more Cup, don’t put Premier League fi xtures in the recover from a Cup tie at Oxford on Sunday it quicker, you get more and more injuries in this Wednesday programme immediately after the vulnerable to potentially serious injury. “If the midweek just after new year. Don’t give me stick reduces Sunderland’s rest period before another period and everybody at that level just ignores FA Cup’s third round - the last time this hap- Premier League decides to put a stupid fi xture when I change the side at Arsenal. Give the Pre- league game at Tottenham on Saturday lunch- it.” pened was in 2004. midweek when they don’t bloody need to, then mier League stick, not the managers.” time. Sunderland have complained to the Premier This season the pressures of a congested do- I haven’t got much choice. He is further aggrieved by the league having Allardyce believes the decision could jeop- League about the Swansea game’s rescheduling mestic and European programme before Euro “It’s diabolical. We’re fl ogging the lads. There agreed to a request from Swansea to move their ardise his side’s survival chances. “Making me but the protest fell on deaf ears. “They’ve de- 2016 are understood to have made its presence are more and more injuries every year but it’s game against Sunderland at the Liberty Stadium play Wednesday and Saturday rather than Tues- scribed our complaint as frivolous,” Allardyce unavoidable by fi xture compilers. completely ignored by the Premier League. It’s from next Tuesday, 12 January, to the following day. day and Saturday is making it harder for me to said. “They don’t look at the facts properly. To Gulf Times Wednesday, January 6, 2016 9 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT Australia T20s chance to test combination: Dhoni

Reuters also in the team so we have two Mumbai spinning all-rounders who are Fit-again Shami keen to hit stride aft er long wait on sidelines competing for a slot which will be very good for the team.” A fit-again Mohammed Shami is relieved to find the bathroom,” Shami said with his voice choking aptain Mahendra With batsman Suresh Raina he has not lost his sharpness and the India fast with emotion. “The second thing was I couldn’t Singh Dhoni is glad dropped from the ODI side after bowler prays he never suff ers another setback like play. I had not seen the dining room even for those India will play three an inconsistent run, Dhoni has the knee injury which kept him out of action for two months. “I started feeling good again when I Twenty20 matches to decide who to use at the cru- eight months. started light running and my cricket. I felt like I was inC Australia and hopes it will cial number six slot in the bat- The 25-year-old played through pain the last time back to my world.” help the team identify the right ting order. India toured Australia and finished as the team’s The few matches he played before the Australia combination before the World Batsman Gurkeerat Singh second-highest wicket-taker at the World Cup, tour has given Shami back his confidence and the Twenty20 at home in March. Mann and all-rounder Rishi taking 17 scalps. He underwent surgery after re- fast bowler felt he could hit the ground running in A lone T20 match is mostly Dhawan, who are yet to play for turning from Australia in March and was sidelined Australia. the norm for an Indian team in a India, and greenhorn Manish till he returned to action in domestic cricket last “I had not played for a long time and the entire bilateral series but this time they Pandey are contenders for the month. “Injuries are very irritating, for me and any team was playing so I was missing it a lot,” Shami will have more opportunities the same time it is at least good and T20 series at home against spot but Dhoni was yet to decide other cricketer,” he told reporters on the eve of the added. It was very important for me to get back to hone their skills after play- to have three T20s together,” South Africa recently and Dhoni whether he should demote him- Indian team’s departure for Australia for a limited- my rhythm and get some matches. ing fi ve one-day internationals Dhoni, who now leads India only said the team still needed to ad- self to take on the responsibility. overs series. “I wanted to start from where I had left before my Down Under. in limited-overs matches, told dress a few problems in their “Number six-seven is the “It’s very diff icult to mentally come out of an injury. injury. I was feeling comfortable as I was able to Though conditions in Aus- reporters. line-up. Spinner all-rounder most diffi cult place for any bat- I just hope it never happens to me again in my life.” bowl with the same pace and hit the same line and tralia will be starkly diff erent to “Now... we have ample op- Ravindra Jadeja made a come- ter to come if you are making The fast bowler was on crutches for a long time length.” what they will get at home dur- portunity to try diff erent peo- back to the limited-overs format your debut,” Dhoni added. “It is and was not allowed by the doctor to get out of Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni pointed at Shami’s ing the March 8-April 3 tourna- ple at diff erent slots, diff erent in the Indian team riding on his one place where not many have the bed for two months. importance in the often-inconsistent Indian pace ment, Dhoni felt India will have bowler combinations so we will strong show against South Africa been successful. The right-arm paceman completed his rehabilita- attack and said he will manage his workload with ample opportunities to test bat- be in a better position by the in the test series and will have to “The tricky part is whether tion at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore the World Twenty20 starting in March. ting and bowling combinations start of the World Cup as to what fi ght with Axar Patel for a spot. to push that individual to bat at before being selected for limited-overs matches “He has worked really hard during his rehab. It will during the series. our playing eleven will look like “I think Jadeja is bowling re- six or give that individual the for his state side. be interesting to see how he shapes up,” Dhoni “I agree the conditions will be and what will be the best suited ally well,” Dhoni said ahead of chance to bat at fi ve and I take “I was not allowed to keep my feet on the ground. I said. “I will try to manage him well because the very diff erent to where we will strategy for the team.” the team’s departure for Aus- that extra pressure of batting at was only allowed to get up from my bed and go to World Cup is just round the corner.” play the T20 World Cup but at India lost both their 50-over tralia. “At the same time Axar is six.”

REPORT FOCUS Australia pulls out from U-19 World N Zealand seal series Cup in Bangladesh

Reuters and security of ICC events extremely seriously... and re- mains of the view it is appro- priate for event planning to win over Sri Lanka ustralia have with- continue as scheduled.” drawn from the Un- Bangladesh Cricket Board der-19 World Cup in President Nazmul Hassan told ‘It was just great to get across the line and take the series win’ Bangladesh later this Reuters Australia’s withdrawal monthA because of concerns was “unfortunate”. over the safety and security of “We are ensuring high- their squad, Cricket Australia est security,” he said. “We said yesterday. don’t see any security issues Cricket Australia postponed in Bangladesh. You just can’t a test tour of Bangladesh in stop games considering one or October for similar reasons two incidents. Terror attacks and chief executive James are happening everywhere in Sutherland said the situation the world. But games are tak- had not improved. ing place.” “Regrettably, the advice Sutherland said Cricket from our government sug- Australia had monitored the gests that the security threat security situation in Bangla- to Australians travelling to desh closely since pulling out Bangladesh remains as high of the test tour and their head now,” Sutherland said in the of security had travelled to statement. Dhaka last week. “Included in that is reliable Australia’s soccer team information suggesting there played a World Cup qualifi er is a high threat to Australian in Dhaka without incident late interests in Bangladesh. last year after the cricket side “In the end, with all of the withdrew from their tour. information and advice we Sutherland said in Novem- have received, we feel we had ber, however, that a one-off no alternative other than to match was quite diff erent from make this diffi cult decision.” a three-week tour. Muslim-majority Bangla- The ICC is no stranger to desh faces what appears to be dealing with security concerns a growing threat of militant in South Asia. violence and has seen a string Pakistan have hosted all of incidents last year including their international matches in the shooting of three foreign- the United Arab Emirates since ers, two of whom died. a bus containing the Sri Lanka The International Cricket team was attacked by 12 gun- Council said preparations for men in Lahore in 2009. the Jan. 22 to Feb. 14 tourna- “The ICC’s own security ment were continuing and team, supported by an inde- Ireland had been invited to re- pendent security agency, will place Australia. continue to monitor closely “Whilst the ICC notes and the situation in Bangladesh,” respects the position of Crick- Richardson added. et Australia... we are obviously “Security plans associated disappointed with the deci- with an event of this size and sion,” chief executive David stature are always subject to Richardson said in a state- continual review to ensure New Zealand celebrate winning the series 3-1 after the fifth one day international against Sri Lanka at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui yesterday. (AFP) ment. that they remain appropriate “The ICC takes its respon- and fi t for purpose, and this event is no diff erent.” AFP dition of only 35 runs. The last lished New Zealand’s dominance SCOREBOARD sibilities around the safety Mount Maunganui three wickets fell for six runs in with 122 for the second wicket. the space of 10 deliveries. Any loose ball was despatched NEW ZEALAND Along with Mathews, Di- towards the boundary with a M. Guptill c T. Perera b N. Kulasekara ...... 102 ew Zealand sealed the nesh Chandimal and Milinda Guptill four bringing up their T. Latham c Chandimal b Pradeep ...... 0 Sussex players given time one-day series against Siriwardana played their part century partnership in 115 balls. K. Williamson c Chandimal b Dilshan ...... 61 Sri Lanka yesterday in keeping Sri Lanka in with a But a lapse in timing by Wil- R. Taylor c Siriwardana b N. Kulasekara ...... 61 off aft er Hobden death with Martin Guptill’s chance for most of the their in- liamson on 61 led to his undoing H. Nicholls c Dilshan b N. Kulasekara ...... 2 Ncentury spearheading a 36-run nings. Mathews and Chandimal when he gloved an attempt to L. Ronchi not out ...... 37 Players from English county Sussex have been given the week victory in the fi fth and fi nal one- produced a 93-run stand for sweep a leg-side delivery from M. Santner not out ...... 21 off following the death of team-mate Matt Hobden, coach Mark dayer at Mount Maunganui. the fourth wicket before Trent Tillakaratne Dilshan and wick- Extras (lb-5 w-5) ...... 10 Davis revealed in a British newspaper interview published Matt Henry’s fi ve-wicket bag Boult, making his fi rst appear- etkeeper Dinesh Chandimal Total (for 5 wickets, 50 overs) ...... 294 yesterday. helped ensure the hosts took a ance in the series, dismissed snared the catch. Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-125, 3-206, 4-215, 5-262. Fast bowler Hobden was found dead in Scotland on Saturday at 3-1 series win to go with their Chandimal for 50. Ross Taylor put on 81 for the Bowling: N. Pradeep 10-1-69-1(w-2), D. Chameera 9-0-41-0(w-1), T. the age of 22. Police are investigating his death, which has not 2-0 Test domination last month. After Thisara Perera (15) third wicket with Guptill who Perera 6-0-45-0, N. Kulasekara 10-0-53-3(w-2), T. Dilshan 10-0-49-1, yet been explained, but say the circumstances are not suspi- “It was a hard fought match,” made a brief appearance at the was caught by Thisara Perera off M. Siriwardana 5-0-32-0 cious. New Zealand captain Kane Wil- crease Siriwardana and Math- Nuwan Kulasekara. SRI LANKA “I’ve given the boys a week away to make sure they can gather liamson said in a televised inter- ews cracked 62 off 40 to have Sri Taylor brought up his half- D. Gunathilaka c Sodhi b Henry ...... 15 their thoughts and be around their loved ones, process what’s view. “Credit to Sri Lanka and it Lanka at 223 for 5 with nine overs century with a six to mid-wicket T. Dilshan c Ronchi b Boult ...... 5 happened and reflect a little bit as well,” Davis told The Guard- shows how even the two teams and fi ve wickets to get the re- before also falling to Kulasekara. L. Thirimanne b Henry ...... 2 ian. are when they’re playing good maining 72 runs. But when Siri- Sri Lanka in reply were on the D. Chandimal c Williamson b Boult ...... 50 “We all met on Sunday morning, after we got the awful news, cricket. wardana fell to Mitchell Santner back foot in the third over when A. Mathews c Nicholls b Henry ...... 95 just to get everyone together. Everyone will grieve in diff erent “It was just great to get across for 39, New Zealand rammed Dilshan, marking his 300th ODI, T. Perera c Taylor b Milne ...... 15 ways, but it was good to support each other. the line and take the series win.” home their advantage. was removed by Boult for fi ve. M. Siriwardana c Nicholls b Santner ...... 39 “We need to stay strong to get through this tough time.” New Zealand posted 294 for At the start of the day Guptill Henry bowled Lahiru Thir- C. Kapugedera c Milne b Henry ...... 10 Hobden was tipped to become an England international and 5 batting fi rst at the popular capped a remarkable home sea- imanne for two and had Da- N. Kulasekara c Santner b Boult ...... 15 had been due to take part in the Potential England Performance beachside resort venue with son with his 10th ODI century, nushka Gunathilaka caught for D. Chameera b Henry ...... 0 Programme (PEPP) in South Africa later this month. Guptill making 102, before Sri reaching 102 in 109 deliveries to 15 as Sri Lanka slumped to 33 for N. Pradeep not out ...... 0 England’s players have worn black armbands in Hobden’s Lanka were all out for 258 with 17 go with his 79, 93 not out, 30 and 3 after nine overs before Math- Extras (lb-1 w-11) ...... 12 memory during the ongoing second Test against South Africa in balls remaining. 27 earlier in the series. ews put some respectability into Total (all out, 47.1 overs) ...... 258 Cape Town. Sri Lanka captain Angelo When Mathews won the toss their innings. Henry, who was Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-15, 3-33, 4-126, 5-161, 6-223, 7-237, 8-252, 9-253, “First of all, he was a lovely person,” Davis added. “He was a Mathews, with a brave knock of and put New Zealand into bat only required by New Zealand 10-258. gentle, nice, well-mannered young lad who was very much the 95, had set the scene for a cliff - he had an immediate result with for three of the fi ve matches, fi n- Bowling: T. Boult 8.1-0-43-3(w-2), M. Henry 10-1-40-5(w-4), A. Milne heart and soul of the dressing room. hanger fi nish when he led his Tom Latham out in the fi rst over ished with fi ve for 50 to give him 9-0-54-1(w-5), M. Santner 9-1-54-1, I. Sodhi 9-0-55-0, K. Williamson “He had a lovely sense of humour and was great fun to be side to 223 for 5 before the tail without scoring. But Guptill and 13 wickets in the series, while 2-0-11-0. around. But everyone knew he had great potential as a cricketer. folded in six overs for the ad- Kane Williamson then estab- Boult took three for 43. He had all the attributes to be a top-class fast bowler.” Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, January 6, 2016 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT Mumbai boy slams 1,000 runs in an innings

AFP western Indian city. “Congrats recognised by the Mumbai ous highest national individual lenge for the teenager, he said. Mumbai #PranavDhanawade on being Cricket Association. total of 546. The omens are good, how- the fi rst ever to score 1,000 The teenager, who also plays ever—Tendulkar, Dhanawade’s runs in an innings. Well done as wicket-keeper, surpassed ‘Another Tendulkar?’ batting hero, fi rst burst onto Mumbai schoolboy and work hard. You need to Collins’ score on Monday, fi n- Dhanawade’s monumental the scene in 1988 aged 14 when made history yester- scale new peaks!” Indian bat- ishing the day on 652, before achievement sent Twitter into he scored 326 not out in a day when he became ting great Tendulkar posted on crossing the 1,000 mark after a frenzy. His name trended in Mumbai school match. the fi rst batsman in Twitter. lunch yesterday. India, with excited but also He went on to become the anyA class of cricket to score Dhanawade’s epic knock “I have always been a big- nervous cricket fans posting highest scorer in the history of 1,000 runs in a single innings, included 129 fours and 59 hitter. When I started I never regular score updates as he Test cricket as well as the fi rst with Indian legend Sachin sixes and came at a phenom- thought about breaking the neared the 1,000 mark. player to score 100 interna- Tendulkar leading the plaudits. enal strike rate of 312.38. It record,” Dhanawade told the Ayaz Memon, a cricket ex- tional centuries. Fifteen-year-old Pranav ended when his KC Gandhi Hindustan Times after his pert, said it would be a phe- “...(The) numbers are just Dhanawade smashed his way High School team declared on opening-day knock. nomenal feat for a cricketer to unbelievable. Another @ to 1,009 not out off 323 balls 1,465 at the ground at Thane in “The focus was never that. score four digits at any level of sachin_rt in the making?” as he obliterated a 117-year-old northern Mumbai. I just played my natural game, the game. tweeted Indian international record for the highest number Their opponents, Arya Gu- which is to attack from the “It’s just incredible. Scor- spin bowler Harbhajan Singh of runs scored in one innings. rukul, had been bowled out word go. ing 1,000 runs in less than two on Tuesday. Dhanawade, the son of an earlier for just 31, according to “After reaching 300, my days at this speed is a great Collins, who himself was auto-rickshaw driver, soared the Press Trust of India. coach Harish Sharma told me achievement,” Memon told born in India, was aged just past Arthur Collins’ previous Dhanawade’s innings lasted to play on. I did not know of AFP. 13 when he entered the record record total of 628 in Eng- 395 minutes and occurred dur- the world record, but we had But translating this accom- books for his score at Clifton land in 1899, during an inter- ing the Bhandari Cup school the Indian record in mind,” he plishment from club to inter- College in Bristol, where a Pranav Dhanawade gestures as he poses next to the scoreboard showing his school tournament in the tournament, which is offi cially added, referring to the previ- national level will be a big chal- plaque honours his exploits. score during an inter-school tournament in Mumbai yesterday. (Reuters)

REPORT FOCUS Wash-out douses hopes of Australia Amla, Bavuma bat clean-sweep

AFP Aussies wickets,” he said. Sydney “There is a lot of light (at the end of the tunnel) with the players and I think you can ain appears to have mention (Kraigg and Carlos S Africa to safety scuttled Australia’s Brathwaite) because they have hopes of sweeping got runs. their series 3-0 over “The way how (Darren) The hosts score 627 for seven before declaring two runs short of England’s first-innings total theR West Indies after a third- Bravo has batted in all the Test day wash-out in the third and matches. The way (Rajendra) fi nal Test yesterday. Chandrika has looked. He AFP The entire day was lost hasn’t gone on to a big score Cape Town through rain, with the tour- but the way he looked early on. ists on 248 for seven in their “Even the captain (Holder) fi rst innings and a total of 86.2 when he batted in the second ashim Amla hit a dou- overs bowled in the fi rst three Test on the last day you can ble century and Temba days at the Sydney Cricket see there’s a lot there to work Bavuma made a maid- Ground. with.” en hundred as South The only chance of a result But Simmons, who has had HAfrica batted their way to safety seems to be some creative dec- his brushes with the West In- on the fourth day of the second larations from rival captains dies cricket board, believes Test against England at New- Steve Smith and Jason Holder, for the Caribbean team to lands yesterday. but Windies coach Phil Sim- progress in Tests it will need all South Africa made 627 for mons said the weather would its best players from the three seven before declaring two runs have the fi nal say. formats of the game. short of England’s fi rst-innings “I think we need to see how While the Test team strug- total of 629 for six declared. much play we get tomorrow gles, Chris Gayle, Dwayne England openers Alastair fi rst,” Simmons told reporters. Bravo, Darren Sammy and Cook and Alex Hales negotiated “One side is telling me there Andre Russell are in Australia a tricky six overs, reaching 16 for is showers again in the morn- but playing in the Twenty20 no wicket at the close. They will ing and now I’ve just heard Big Bash League. “I still have go into the last day with an over- there may be showers in the the feeling that it will always all lead of 18 runs. Amla made afternoon too so we’ve just got be good to get the best players 201 and Bavuma 102 not out in to see what happens tomorrow from the West Indies playing a South African innings which then we go from there.” all formats of the game,” he lasted for 211 overs and more With no action to speak said. “If we can get that, then than two days. about on the fi eld, Simmons we will have an organisation The innings featured three was asked if there was a light that is moving forward. partnerships of more than 150. at the end of the tunnel for his “That is my hope now, at the Amla was involved in the fi rst beleaguered team after two end of the day we might have two big stands, 183 for the third heavy Test defeats in Hobart a solution but we still might wicket with AB de Villiers (88) and Melbourne. have players that might not and 171 for the fourth with Faf “I think we have seen in think they can play Test crick- du Plessis (86). But there was the last three days of cricket et, or might not really want to still some alarm for South Africa (including Melbourne) we’ve play Test cricket anymore. when three wickets, including had, we’ve improved and our “So when we get to that so- those of Amla and Du Plessis, batting seems to be thinking lution between the parties that fell to the third new ball soon af- about it more and fi ghting a are involved then we can see ter lunch. Bavuma and new cap little bit harder to not give the where that takes us.” Chris Morris came together with their side still 180 runs behind with fi ve wickets remaining and Creating Test competition priority for ICC England still hoping to secure a good fi rst innings lead. The International Cricket Council (ICC) will be seeking to move But the pair played fearless South Africa’s Amla celebrates scoring a double century during the South Africa’s Temba Bavuma celebrates after scoring a century during closer to the establishment of a formal competition for Test cricket and added 167 runs, a second Test against England in Cape Town yesterday. (Reuters) the second Test against England in Cape Town yesterday. (AFP) cricket as one of its priorities for the year, chief executive off icer South African seventh wicket David Richardson said yesterday. partnership record against Eng- nings. Amla benefi ted from four Discussions with full members about a possible competition and land. Bavuma, the fi rst black dropped or missed catches, while SCOREBOARD its format had already begun and will continue over the next African batsman to play Test De Villiers, Du Plessis, Bavuma ENGLAND (first innings, 629-6 dec) Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Van Zyl), 2-85 (Elgar), 3-268 (De months before a concrete proposal is placed in the organisa- cricket for South Africa, struck and Morris all gave chances. Stu- SOUTH AFRICA (first innings) Villiers), 4-439 (Amla), 5-439 (Du Plessis), 6-449 (De tion’s annual general meeting in June. the ball cleanly as he raced to 50 art Broad and Anderson struck (overnight 353-3) Kock), 7-616 (Morris) “We want to make a huge eff ort this year to put something in off 52 balls with 11 fours. three times with the third new D. Elgar c Compton b Stokes ...... 44 Bowling: Anderson 35-12-77-1, Broad 34-8-94-2 place that will help us sustain the value of bilateral cricket and, He was made to work harder ball in a rare period of ascendancy S. van Zyl run out (Compton) ...... 4 (2w), Ali 52-14-155-0, Finn 39-5-132-2 (2w), Root 20- in particular, the profile of test cricket,” Richardson told report- for his second fi fty, which he for the bowlers. Amla was bowled H. Amla b Broad ...... 201 4-54-0 (3w), Stokes 28-4-100-1 (4w), Hales 3-1-2-0 ers. “The Ashes are still extremely successful and generate lots reached off 140 deliveries with a off bat and pad and Du Plessis A. de Villiers c Anderson b Finn ...... 88 of money and generally test series against India will generate thick edge off Steven Finn which followed four balls later, caught F. du Plessis c Stokes b Anderson ...... 86 ENGLAND (second innings) money, but there are a lot of series that happen that do not make went to the boundary for his 16th in the gully off Anderson. Quin- T. Bavuma not out ...... 102 A. Cook not out ...... 8 much more than just to cover the costs. four. England’s bowlers toiled ton de Kock made only fi ve before Q. de Kock c Anderson b Broad ...... 5 A. Hales not out ...... 5 “We are consulting with all our members to see what we can do with minimal reward on a pitch pulling a short ball from Broad C. Morris c Root b Finn ...... 69 Extras (nb3) ...... 3 to give more context and meaning to bilateral cricket, whether which off ered no assistance. to backward square leg. Amla, K. Rabada not out ...... 2 Total (0 wkts, 6 overs) ...... 16 that is introducing a Test league or Test championship or Their cause was not helped by a who made his fourth Test double Extras (b4, lb9, w13) ...... 26 Bowling: Morkel 3-2-4-0 (1nb), Rabada 3-0-12-0 whether it’s introducing proper qualification leagues, like they do rash of missed chances, with nine century, batted for 707 minutes, Total (7 wkts dec, 211 overs) ...... 627 (2nb) in football, for ICC events.” catches going down in the in- faced 477 balls and hit 27 fours. “If something does come of it, existing television deals means it would only be able to be implemented after 2019,” he added.

TECHNOLOGY Gayle fined for ‘out of line’ television chat-up The ICC’s other priorities for this year were the standardising of the Umpire Decision Review System (DRS), to ensure a success- The Melbourne Renegades eyes for the first time”. should have to face such com- who died of breast cancer. anything meant to be disrespect- ful Twenty20 World Cup in India and to develop the game in the fined star opener Chris Gayle “Nice, so hopefully we can win ments which were “completely Coventry off ered a formal apol- ful or off ensive to Mel,” Gayle told U.S, he added. US$7,000 yesterday after an this game and we can have a out of line” and “inappropriate ogy “for the off ence caused” to reporters. “If she felt that way, I’m “We have engaged MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) attempt to flirt with a female drink after,” he said. for the workplace”. He said Gayle McLaughlin and fans. really sorry for that. to do research on all the DRS technologies and, in particular, the presenter on live TV which “Don’t blush baby,” the Jamaican was not in a “nightclub” and his “We think this is a one-off “There wasn’t any harm meant edge-detection and ball-tracking so that we’ve got a institute cricket authorities condemned added, prompting the unim- behaviour was “not cool”. scenario,” he said, describing the in that particular way... It was a with credibility to pronounce on that. as “completely out of line”. pressed McLaughlin to shake “I think that anyone who sees hu- exchange as “a cultural indiff er- simple joke. The game was going “Once we have those results, we can the review all the principles Ten Network reporter Mel her head and reply, “I’m not mour in that is misunderstanding ence... done in jest”. on. Entertainment, things get out and policies around how the technology is used with the aim to McLaughlin found herself being blushing.” and somewhat delusional about “He’s accepted it (the fine) in of proportion, but these things produce a uniform DRS system that we can provide wherever asked out for a drink during an “Sorry,” added Gayle, breaking the situation,” Sutherland added. good faith and he’s looking happen... We have to move on. international cricket is played. interview with the burly West into a big laugh. With the governing body leaving forward to playing what’s hope- Simple.” “I can’t promise that every one will accept it as yet; that’s an Indian after he blasted 41 runs Cricket Australia and Big Bash open a threat of sanctions, the fully a sell-out derby game on The cringe-worthy incident lit up unknown, but once the MIT results are known hopefully that will off 15 balls in Australia’s Big Bash League off icials did not see the Renegades quickly announced Saturday,” Coventry added. social media, with former Eng- make it easier to achieve.” League (BBL) late Monday. funny side of what Gayle later a fine. Club CEO Stuart Coven- The opener was apologetic land captain and Ten commenta- Richardson said cricket in the U.S. had potentials with more Live on air, Gayle—who later said was meant as a joke. try said the money would be on Tuesday morning, but also tor Andrew Flintoff tweeting, “Big active players than test playing nations like New Zealand and insisted he was just joking—said Cricket Australia chief James donated to the Jane McGrath tried to brush off the incident fan of @henrygayle but he made Zimbabwe. “There are 18 leagues around the U.S. but they are he was happy to be interviewed Sutherland off ered support for foundation, named after legen- and said it had been blown up himself look like a bit of a chop very fragmented and for that reason the country has made no by McLaughlin “just to see your McLaughlin, saying that no one dary fast bowler Glenn’s late wife out of proportion. “There wasn’t there.” progress. We have gone in to try and united everyone.” Gulf Times Wednesday, January 6, 2016 11 SPORT

SHOOTING Aisha and Hanadi clinch gold medal s

By Sports Reporter Doha

atar’s Aisha al-Suwaidi clinched the gold medal of women’s 10m Rifl e event in Qatar Shooting andQ Archery Cup 2016 at Lusail In- ternational Shooting Complex. Bahiya al-Hamad fi nished sec- ond, while Mahbouba Akhlaqi claimed the third place. In women’s 10m pistol event, Hanadi Salem took the gold medal. Nasra Mohamed and Mozah al- Suwaidi occupied the second and third places respectively. To conclude on January 18, 2016, the event comes in light of the preparations for the Asian Shooting Championship to be staged in New Delhi from January 25 to February 6, 2016 which will serve as a quali- fi cation event for the Rio Olympic Games. Shooters from Qatar and some other Asian countries are taking part in the tournament.

BOXING SPOTLIGHT Aspetar provides comprehensive Pacquiao ‘to retire’ medical services for ExxonMobil Open

By Sports Reporter consultancy and medical care. aft er Bradley fi ght Doha Aspetar will also provide on-call services for acute and chronic injuries throughout the ‘I am retiring from boxing to concentrate on my political career’ spetar, the world’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open. leading specialised or- Maximising support to the thopaedic and sports athletes, Aspetar will also pro- AFP in poverty. Pacquiao is ranked medicine hospital, is vide medical services to of- seventh in the race for 12 seats providingA comprehensive medi- fi cials, VIPs, spectators and Manila MANNY PACQUIAO in the nationally-elected sen- cal support and services for the championship staff . Agree- ate. He currently represents the 2016 Qatar ExxonMobil Open. ments have been signed with ilipino boxing champi- southern province of Sarangani Taking place in Doha from other partners to provide unique on Manny Pacquiao said in parliament. January 4th to 9th, the cham- medical services throughout the he would end his legen- The senate is a traditional pionship features many of the championship. dary career after fi ght- springboard for future presen- world’s best-known tennis Aspetar will provide medical Fing Timothy Bradley in April tial campaigns. Three of the stars. services for the 2016 Qatar Exx- to concentrate on his political last Philippines presidents, in- As a preferred destination for onMobil Open throughout all career, dousing hopes for a re- cluding the incumbent Benigno many international events and the stages of the competition. match with Floyd Mayweather. Aquino, were senators before elite stars, Aspetar is providing The hospital’s staff have already The winner of an unprec- they were elected to the coun- comprehensive medical serv- provided support during the edented eight world titles, who try’s highest offi ce. ices during the championship training and warm up stages, has fl irted with the idea of run- “My survey rankings have to enable players to compete at and will continue to do so to the ning for president, said he was been consistent and I expect it their maximum potential. fi nals. confi dent of winning a senate to improve once the campaign Highly qualifi ed Aspetar Many of the biggest names seat in the May elections. starts,” he said. medical staff will be appointed in sport are taking part in the Pacquiao is facing American The former fi sh vendor is on site throughout the tourna- 2016 Qatar ExxonMobil Open welterweight Bradley for the adored by the Filipino masses ment. including current World No 1 third time on April 9, after los- who are inspired by his rags-to- These include three sports Novak Djokovic, World No 5 Ra- ing to his biggest rival May- riches life story. medicine experts, physiothera- fael Nadal, World No 6 Tomas weather in the sport’s richest Aside from politics, Pacquiao pists, massage therapists and Berdych, titleholder David Fer- fi ght in May last year. has parlayed his ring legend podiatrists, as well as a special- rer and Fernando Verdasco. “I am retiring from boxing status to a career in movies, tel- ist support team and a number Aspetar has been the offi cial to concentrate on my political evision and product endorse- of ambulances. and exclusive medical provider career. My fi ght with Timothy ments. In addition to providing med- for the Qatar ExxonMobil Open Bradley will be my last,” Pac- He is also a pastor in a born- ical staff , Aspetar has also set up since 2011 as part of a long term quiao said in an interview in his again Christian group and mobile clinics in three locations partnership agreement signed mansion late Monday. credits his renewed faith for at the event to provide integrat- with the Qatar Tennis Federa- The 37-year-old member transforming him to a devoted ed medical services including tion. of parliament dismissed re- family man from a hard-party- ports that he would not step ing womaniser. away from the sport without a In a recent television inter- rematch with American May- view, Pacquiao said he “prayed QCA to hold camp for fresh under-19 players weather, who himself retired to God for guidance” before de- The Qatar Cricket Association (QCA), headed by MA Shahid, has after beating Pacquiao. ciding to concentrate on poli- planned to organise a coaching camp for under-19 boys. “I did not say anything like tics. The primary purpose of the camp is to unearth fresh talent and that. Nobody interviewed me Pacquiao, however, has been groom them for the future. about that. I will retire after my criticised for putting his box- QCA general secretary Manzoor Ahmad, while talking about the April 9 fi ght,” he said. ing training before his duties camp, said the association wishes to look for new faces, train them, Pacquiao lost by unanimous in parliament. Last year, he at- provide playing opportunities to them and have a bigger talent pool decision to his brash arch-rival tended just four of the 70 legis- for national teams. Mayweather, whom he fought lative sessions. Those players who are not studying in any school and are born on with a torn rotator cuff that lat- In one of the rare times he and after September 1, 1996 will be eligible for the selection trials. er required surgery. took the fl oor in parliament in Student of those schools are aslo eligible where their schools have He has won 57 fi ghts, in- 2011, he argued against a bill not participated in QCA organised tournament. cluding 38 knockouts, lost six that would provide free con- Interested players may contact the QCA off ice at 44651514 for more and had two draws in a profes- doms for the poor, citing his details or register themselves through e-mails at cricqatar@gmail. sional career spanning more Christian beliefs. The bill was com or [email protected] than 20 years after being raised eventually signed into law.

FOCUS Alfardan Automobiles offi cal transporter for the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2016

By Sports Reporter Open for the second year running as relationship with prestigious sport- Doha well as the return of Spanish cham- ing sponsorships, and we are proud to pion Rafael Nadal – both stars will have continued our partnership with experience the sheer driving pleas- the Qatar ExxonMobil Open for the or the ninth consecutive ure of the brand’s BMW 7 Series and ninth consecutive year, as we con- year, Alfardan Automobiles BMW 5 Series models throughout the tinue supporting Qatar in its goal to has partnered with the Qatar tournament. become a major hub in the region for Tennis Federation to sponsor The on-going partnership between global sporting events.” theF fi rst ATP World Tour tournament Alfardan Automobiles and the Qatar Tennis enthusiasts can watch for 2016 – the Qatar ExxonMobil Tennis Federation was confi rmed in their favourite players compete on Open. The six-day tournament start- the presence of Ihab Allam, General the court while enjoying a display of ed on Monday, with the offi cial BMW Manager at Alfardan Automobiles BMW cars off court, including the re- Group importer in Qatar providing a and Karim Alami, Board Member and cently launched all-new BMW 7 Se- fl eet of 50 luxurious BMW vehicles Tournament Director. “Consistently, ries, the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, including the BMW 7 Series and the we anticipate being a piece of the and the popular BMW X5. BMW 5 Series to cater for the trans- Qatar ExxonMobil Open competi- Under the direction of the Qa- portation needs of all players and of- tion as it showcases the absolute best tar Olympic Committee, the Qatar fi cials in its role as the tournament’s in quality, accuracy and execution, ExxonMobil Open has become one Offi cial Car. values that the BMW brand relates to of the most exciting and prestigious Tennis fans have been fl ocking to superbly” tournaments on the ATP Tour circuit. the Khalifa International Tennis and Commenting on the partnership Now in its 24th edition, the star stud- Squash Complex to see the current Ihab Allam, General Manager at Al- ded event is expected to have 32 play- World Number One, Novak Djoko- fardan Automobiles said: “We have ers in the singles competition and 16 vic, playing at the Qatar ExxonMobil dependably prided ourselves on our doubles teams.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

QATAR BASKETBALL LEAGUE RALLYING Loeb fi res Al Sadd down broadside with second Qatar SC, Rayyan stage win brush aside Ahli

Sebastien Loeb steers his Peugeot on second stage of Dakar Rally 2016 on Monday. Loeb followed up his win in the second stage, with a third stage victory yesterday.

AFP the World Touring Car Champi- San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina onship since eff ectively retiring from WRC rallying after the last of his nine consecutive world ti- ebastien Loeb’s sensa- tles in 2012, added: “For the mo- tional Dakar Rally de- ment, for sure, I’m enjoying it. It but continued yesterday has been two good days for me. when he topped the po- “The car is going very well. I diumS for the second time in two have a good feeling with the car. days with victory in the third It’s performing well so at the stage of the gruelling two-week moment I’m enjoying it,” said the rally-raid. Frenchman, who spent his illus- France’s nine-time world rally trious WRC career at the wheel champion, driving a Peugeot, of a Citroen. clocked 2hr 9min 39sec over “At the moment we are on 190km between the Argentinian tracks... so I’ve got a good feeling towns of Termas de Rio Hondo on this type of road. But when and San Salvador de Jujuy to we go to the desert it will be dif- consolidate his place atop the ferent, with long and hot stages. overall standings. That is something that I don’t Mini-driving defending know very well, so we will see. champion Nasser al-Attiyah of “We will continue for the mo- Qatar sits in fi fth place overall, ment and I’ll try to do my best 6min 50sec adrift of Loeb, and and we’ll see where we are in a just behind the Mini of Finland’s few days,” said Loeb, accompa- Mikko Hirvonen, Loeb’s former nied by long-time co-driver and WRC rival who is also making his fellow rally-raid novice Daniel race debut. Elena. “It seems that the times will be Spain’s Joan Barreda Bort, on very close between the drivers,” a Honda, won the motorcycle Action from the Qatar Basketball League match between Al Sadd (in black) and Qatar Sports Club at Al Gharafa Sports Club yesterday. PICTURES: Othman Iraqi said the 41-year-old Loeb, add- section of the stage, shortened ing that the desert stages would because of bad weather. Argen- By Sports Reporter and 14 respectively. be a real test. tina’s Kevin Benavides and Por- Doha In the second match of the day, a “I pushed hard and I had a tugal’s Paulo Goncalves fi nished team eff ort helped Al Rayyan brush good stage with no mistakes. in second and third respectively aside Al Ahli 110-53. Everything is ok at the moment.” to make it a Honda sweep of the bdulrahman Saad, Suliman With as many as seven players in Loeb, who has been racing in stage. Abdi and Anthony Raff a double fi gures, Rayyan never let go topped the 20 mark as Al off the lead in the 40 minutes, even- Sadd recorded a convinc- tually winning by a 57-point margin. ingA 96-72 win over Qatar Sports Rayyan’s free-fl owing game, Club in the Qatar Basketball League which took them off the mark to 15-0 yesterday. within the fi rst couple of minutes, Saad top-scored for the winners was too much for Ahli to handle. with 24, including 18 from three- James Dominic Davon led the pointers, while Abdi and Raff a post- Rayyan scoresheet on points with ed 21 each in yet another one-side 22 of those, while Alexander Quintin game in the competition. Immanuel adding 20, besides notch- Al Sadd were off to an 8-4 lead ing up 14 rebounds. in the fi rst fi ve minutes and kept on Malek Salem Abdulla (15 points), increasing their advantage with the Yasseen Ismail Musa (14), Mohamed result that by the time the teams Hassan Mohamed (14), Abdelrah- entered the fi nal quarter at the Qa- man Abdelhaleem (11) and Tanguy tar Sports Club were trailing by Alban Ngombo (10) were the others 23 points (46-69) with very little in double fi gures. chance of catching up. For Ahli, Roberson Lamar De- Al Sadd scored 15 fast break points mond and Jimmy D Williams scored and also recorded 21 points from 16 points each, while Ndoye Elhadj turnovers while Qatar Sports Club Seydou pitched in with 13 points. were way behind. Today, Al Gharafa face Al Arabi in For Qatar Sports Club, Anthony the fi rst match of the day at 5:30pm White scored 25, while Jeff erson and Al Khor take on Al Wakrah in the Constevous and Faraj Aman had 18 second match. Al Rayyan (in white) and Al Ahli players in action during their match yesterday. Spain’s Joan Barreda Bort won the motorcycle section of stage three.

FOCUS Qatar Open golf to start from tomorrow

mateur golfers will have plenty to play for when the 30th edi- tion of the Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship is held at the DohaA Golf Club from tomorrow, organisers said yesterday. The three-day event will see about 126 golfers taking part, of which 11 are Qatari. The winner of the event and the two best Qatari players will get to play the prestig- ious Qatar Masters later this month. About 33 countries are represented in the tournament, which will be played on stroke play basis with the top 60 players advancing to the third and fi nal round on Saturday, Qatar Golf Association Secre- tary General Fahad Nasser al-Naimi told journalists. Last year, Jakub Hrinda of Slovakia be- came one of the youngest players in Euro- pean Tour history when the 14-year-old featured in the Qatar Masters following his victory in the Qatar Open amateur tourna- Qatar Golf Association Secretary General Fahad Nasser al-Naimi speaks at the press conference at the Doha Golf Club yesterday. Among those seen are InterContinental Hotel executive assistant manager Cyril ment. Mouawad, QGA assistant secretary general Mohamed al-Mohannadi, Executive Director Mohamed Faisal al-Naimi and InterContinental Hotel regional general manager Andreas Pfister.