SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016 VIVA briefs Real Madrid training players

KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing and Players were selected from over 400 par- VIVA said: “RMSS is one of the initiatives that and talent, physical fitness, discipline, their most developed telecom operator, held a ticipants who joined the RMSS tryouts, held VIVA aims to support the youth through it, communication skills amongst each other as briefing session, for 16 players who will par- in last May, and will get the opportunity to enhance their skills and grant them the players and their general conduct on and off ticipate in Real Madrid Soccer School’s train- travel to Madrid to join a training camp to opportunity to learn and communicate with the field. The training program focused on ing program organized by VIVA in coopera- get trained by famous soccer team coaches. international and professional coaches to different technical areas, such as dribbling, tion with Real Madrid Soccer School “RMSS” A team from VIVA in addition to profession- earn the needed experience that lead them short passing, turning and finishing. The in Spain, to brief them about the academy’s als and coaches will accompany the players to fulfill their dreams.” programs were also designed to develop rules and regulations before travelling to to ensure their safety. Commenting on this A judging committee from RMSS chose young players in other fields, such as tactical Madrid between 31 August and 7 occasion, Abdulrazzaq Bader Al-Essa, the top 16 players. Each of them were understanding, and mental, physical and September 2016. Director of Corporate Communications at judged based on their foot-balling capability social growth.

Bayern and Dortmund renew rivalry in German Super cup

BERLIN: Few fans place too much importance on the German Super Cup but the participation of old rivals Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund is giving the traditional season curtain-raiser an extra edge. Tomorrow’s game at Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion provides an opportunity to measure their readiness for the season, which starts in full with German Cup ties the following weekend and the first round of the Bundesliga the weekend after that. New Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti has over- seen a quiet summer by the club’s usual stan- dards, but the Italian has the luxury of inheriting a side that is hard to improve after four consecutive league titles. Exciting Portugal youngster Renato Sanches and former Dortmund captain Mats Hummels are the only additions, with the club allowing Mario Goetze to return to Dortmund, accompanied by Sebastian Rode, with defenders Medhi Benatia and Serdar Tasci also leaving. Young forward Patrick Weihrauch has joined sec- CARSON: This file photo taken on July 29, 2016, shows Leicester City’s Italian coach Claudio Ranieri (3rd L) with his play- ond-division Wuerzburger Kickers. ers during a training session at StubHub Center. — AFP Ancelotti’s tenure will not be judged on suc- cess in the Super Cup, but on finishing the job predecessor Pep Guardiola was brought in to do - Champions Leicester City fire winning the Champions League. The Italian tacti- cian has managed that feat three times already, Premier League starting gun twice with Milan and once with Real Madrid. As for domestic football, continued domination of the Bundesliga is almost a prerequisite at Bayern. LONDON: Three months and six days Shield. Leicester’s odds of retaining the replace the Manchester City-bound John Dortmund counterpart Thomas Tuchel is under after their glittering coronation as title are 33-1 and with United, Stones. no such pressure in his second season, despite Premier League champions, Claudio Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Stones could make his debut against overseeing a commendable upturn in fortune in Ranieri’s Leicester City launch the new Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool all Sunderland today, when Pep Guardiola his first by restoring the club’s status as Bayern’s season with a trip to promoted Hull City strengthening, they are tipped to fall out leads City in a competitive fixture for the chief rival. Dortmund pushed Bayern nearly to the today. The novelty of their 5,000-1 tri- of the Champions League places. In any first time. The former Barcelona and end in the Bundesliga last season, while umph is still to wear off, but Leicester are case, they could scarcely have asked for Bayern Munich coach has sanctioned Guardiola’s side needed penalties to beat Tuchel’s already looking to the future. Midfield better opening day opposition than cri- around 150 million pounds in transfer team in the German Cup final. lynchpin N’Golo Kante and transfer mas- sis club Hull. spending, but Stones and Spanish Tuchel has to rebuild the side this season fol- termind Steve Walsh have both left, but Steve Bruce resigned as manager winger Nolito are likely to be the only lowing the summer departures of key players the club have signed several new three weeks ago, reportedly in frustra- new recruits at his disposal this week- Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan and Henrikh recruits and Ranieri is determined to tion over the club’s lack of transfer activi- end. There is an expectation that the sea- Mkhitaryan. Midfielder Moritz Leitner became the ensure they do not fall off the map. ty, and Hull approach the campaign with son will be defined by the resumption of latest to leave Friday, switching to Lazio on a four- “We’re building and slowly getting a threadbare squad that does not feature the rivalry between Guardiola and his year deal. Goetze’s return and fellow German better. It’s important to forget last sea- one senior signing. Tottenham, who fell former Real Madrid nemesis Jose international Andre Schuerrle’s switch from son and build our squad,” said the Italian, away to finish third after threatening to Mourinho, who takes Manchester United who has signed a new four-year con- pip Leicester to the title, open their cam- to Bournemouth on Sunday. Wolfsburg have grabbed the headlines, though tract. “I am very curious. All the world is paign at Everton. The Spurs team that Ibrahimovic, Eric Bailly and Henrikh exciting attacking midfielder Ousmane Dembele curious (about) what will happen with starts the new season will be very similar Mkhitaryan could get their first taste of has also raised expectations of another high-scor- Leicester. I am very curious to see where to the one that finished the last one, with English league football at the Vitality ing campaign. Dortmund scored more goals (82) we finish. “Last season we made some- Mauricio Pochettino at the helm and the Stadium. But the game is likely to come than any other side in the Bundesliga last season. thing unbelievable. But now the big first-choice XI largely unchanged. too soon for Paul Pogba, who completed The additions of Rode from Bayern, Marc Bartra teams will come back, I am sure.” Ranieri his world-record 89 million pounds from Barcelona, fellow defender Raphael could hand league debuts to several ‘World championship of managers’ return to United from Juventus earlier Guerreiro of Portugal, and midfielders Emre Mor players today. Nampalys Mendy, Kante’s “When you spend a lot of money it’s this week. The first heavyweight clash of and Mikel Merino have eased worries over the replacement, and 16.6 million pounds because you are worried about your the season arrives on Sunday, when departures’ impact. The Super Cup is Ancelotti’s ($21.5 million, 19.3 million euros) record squad and desperate to improve it,” Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who crushed first competitive game in charge of Bayern and signing Ahmed Musa are among those in Pochettino said. “I’m very happy with my Barcelona 4-0 in a recent friendly, visit the first meeting between the sides since the contention. players and because of that I’m very qui- Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal. With Klopp, German Cup final. There will be more important Ranieri’s men had a mixed pre-sea- et and relaxed. I trust my squad 100 per- Guardiola, Mourinho, Ranieri, Pochettino matches later in the season but neither will want son, losing heavily to Paris Saint-Germain cent.” It has been all change at Everton, and Chelsea’s Antonio Conte all jostling to lose face in the first. — AP and Barcelona, but Manchester United where Ronald Koeman has succeeded for position on the start line, Wenger has needed a late Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal to Roberto Martinez as manager and Wales dubbed this season “the world champi- beat them in last Sunday’s Community captain Ashley William has come in to onship of managers”.—AFP