FOOTBALL | Page 3 NBA | Page 5 Qatar drawn Simmons hits with hosts triple double China for Asian in Sixers win U-23 event over Pistons Wednesday, October 25, 2017 CRICKET Safar 5, 1439 AH Bishoo spins West GULF TIMES Indies to victory over Zimbabwe SPORT Page 2 Ronaldo wants seven FIFA best player awards AFP “Thanks a lot for voting for me,” said Ronaldo London after receiving his trophy from Argentina great Diego Maradona and Brazil’s Ronaldo at the London Palladium theatre. ristiano Ronaldo has set his sights “I mention Leo and Neymar, great to be here. on a “lucky seventh” piece of FIFA Real Madrid supporters, my teammates, my silverware after collecting his fi fth coach, they all support me all year. CMen’s Player of the Year award on “We are in England for the first time and I win Monday. consecutive awards,” he added. “This is a great Ronaldo’s Real Madrid side, who won both La moment for me. I have fans all over the world.” Liga and the Champions League last season, Zidane won out ahead of Chelsea’s Antonio dominated the 2017 Best FIFA football awards Conte and Juventus’s Massimiliano Allegri at a star-studded ceremony in London on to be crowned men’s coach of the year after Monday. becoming the first man to oversee a successful The Portuguese ace has scored 44 goals in defence of the European Cup in the Champions just 48 games for club and country so far this League era. calendar year, including two in a 4-1 Champions “I’d like to thank all of the players for mak- League final win over Juventus in Cardiff on ing this possible,” said Zidane. “This is a very June 3. special prize.” Ronaldo saw off competition from longstand- Real’s superb campaign was recognised in a ing Barcelona rival Lionel Messi and Paris Saint- FIFPro team that featured Ronaldo and club- Germain’s Neymar, the world’s most expensive mates Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Marcelo and player. Sergio Ramos. But, typical of a footballer who has enjoyed The XI also included FIFA’s goalkeeper of the huge success at both Manchester United and year, Gianluigi Buff on. Real, Ronaldo was not satisfied. AC Milan’s Leonardo Bonucci and PSG’s Dani “I want seven. Five is good but seven is my Alves were in the defence, with Barcelona play- lucky number so seven would be great.” maker Andres Iniesta in a side also featuring Real boss Zinedine Zidane took the corre- Messi and Neymar. sponding manager of the year award, with the Juventus and Italy shot-stopper Buff on topped Spanish giants providing five players in the a three-strong shortlist for the goalkeeper FIFPro team of the year. award ahead of Real’s Keylor Navas and Bayern Ronaldo won the inaugural Best FIFA men’s Munich’s Manuel Neuer. player of the year award last year following Monday also saw the Puskas Award for the best the end of a six-year merger between the FIFA goal of 2017 go to Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud. honour and France Football’s Ballon D’Or. The France striker received the award named The 32-year-old previously won the FIFA World in honour of Hungary great Ferenc Puskas for Player of the Year award, the precursor to the a spectacular ‘scorpion-kick’ against Crystal Best FIFA award, in 2008. Palace in January. He has now won the last two FIFA men’s The Frenchman’s flicked volley with his left trophies as well as three of the last four Ballon foot that went in off the crossbar won ahead of D’Or awards. goals from Venezuela’s Deyna Castellanos. FOOTBALL/QNB STARS LEAGUE Duhail-Gharafa clash promises exciting fare lthough the ‘Qatar Clasico’ match between Al Slovak Vladimir Weiss, Portuguese Diogo Amado and Sadd and Al Rayyan on Friday will steal the Chilean Luis Jimenez mainly carry Al Gharafa’s hopes. QNB Stars League spotlight this week, the They will have to tighten their defence that has conced- Q&A clash between Al Duhail and Al Gharafa also ed more goals (seven) than they scored (six). Seasoned Apromises exciting fare. goalkeeper Qasim Burham is sure to face stern tests from To be played on Saturday, Al Gharafa will look to cause the rival attackers. a fl utter or two by giving unbeaten Al Duhail a run for Al Gharafa had beaten Al Duhail in the second round Hamdallah: We are aiming for their money. of QSL Cup, but then the latter’s professional players Al Duhail are on a high following their big-margin were away on international duty. Yet, just like the ‘Qatar victory over fourth-placed Umm Salal, while Al Ghara- Clasico’ between Al Sadd and Al Rayyan on Friday, much three points against Al Sadd fa, sixth in the table with fi ve points, will look to com- focus will be on Al Duhail and Al Gharafa. pensate for their surprise loss to Al Kharaitiyat in the Meanwhile, as part of preparations for the ‘Qatar Cla- Al Rayyan fans are eagerly awaiting their Q: Which Al Sadd player worries you the previous round. sico’ between Al Sadd and Al Rayyan on Friday, the Qatar QNB Stars League Round 6 match against most? Things will not be easy for The Cheetahs. They have to Stars League Management (QSLM) held a co-ordination Al Sadd, dubbed ‘Qatar Clasico’, on Friday. A: Al Sadd are a strong opponent with fi re on all cylinders if they are to stop a marauding Al Du- meeting at its headquarters in Al Bidda Tower yesterday. The clash between the two teams always reputed names, but I’m not particularly hail on their tracks. Frenchman Jean Fernandez’s wards QSLM’s Acting Executive Director of Marketing and evoke a keen interest among all stakehold- worried about anyone. should also hope luck is on their side when they take on Communications Hassan al-Kuwari, Competitions De- ers. Both sides have stand-out players in Q: What’re the challenges you foresee Algerian Djamel Belmadi-coached The Red Knights. partment Director Ahmed al-Adsani and representa- all departments to make the game really this season? Al Duhail have been in superb form with an all-win tives from the Stadium Security Department as well as electrifying on the pitch. Al Rayyan’s Mo- A: The competition is very diff icult record. They are ahead of 13-time league champions Al Al Sadd and Al Rayyan clubs were among those who at- roccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah this season. I just hope to stay free of Sadd on better goal diff erence as both are on 15 points. tended the meeting. spoke to the QSL Online about the game injuries. Moroccan striker Youssef El Arabi, who is enjoying A number of important issues, like the need for teams and season in general. Q: What’re Al Rayyan’s ambitions this the form of his life, leads Al Duhail’s charge, ably sup- and organisers to reach the stadium well in time, inviting season? ported by South Korean professional Nam Tae-Hee, Luis the public to come early to avoid crowding, opening of Q: What’s your take on the forthcoming A: Al Rayyan are a big name, so we ex- Martin and Karim Boudiaf. Going by the current form, gates to fans, dressing rooms, match list and early pres- ‘Qatar Clasico’ against Al Sadd? three matches in a row, having beaten Al pect to win titles this season as well. El Arabi is all set to surpass his last season’s top-scorer ence of club representatives at the gates, were discussed. A: It’s like any other game, but needs Markhiya and Al Sailiya in the previous Q: Have you been able to gel well with record of 24 goals. His current tally stands at 10 goals af- It was also decided that spectators should keep the extra work and concentration. The most rounds. your new team-mates at Al Rayyan? ter fi ve rounds. match tickets with them while inside the venue and co- important thing for us will be to gain Q: Al Rayyan haven’t won against Al A: There’s good harmony among the Qatar international forward Ali Afi f and Tunisian operate fully with the security personnel. three points. Sadd in the league for a while… Will this players. I’m sure it’ll be further devel- Youssef Msakni are also capable of putting up winning Gates 1 and 2 have been designated for families and Q: This is your first Clasico. How do you match see The Lions break the jinx? oped as the season progresses. performances. Then, they have reliable Khalifa Abu- school students, Gate 3 for VIPs and Gate 4 for media- look at it? A: Each match is diff erent and I believe Q: What’s your message to Al Rayyan bacar to guard the goal. All these factors contributed to persons. Gates 4 and 5 are for Al Sadd fans while their Al A: Yes. This is my first Clasico. I look Al Rayyan can win this game. fans? Al Duhail’s excellent run this time as well. Rayyan counterparts can use Gates 6, 7 and 8. mainly at my team earning three points. Q: Are Al Rayyan strikers capable of A: I would like to thank them for the Thus, Al Gharafa face a tough task. They have paid Al Sadd, being the host team, will be responsible for Q: What’s your expectation of the penetrating the Al Sadd defence? huge support they’re giving us, on and dearly for their inconsistent performances so far this ticketing and distribution.