Shamal shock joint leaders Al Wakrah in QBF League page 14 THURSday, DECEMBER 26, 2019 Vardy dilemma for Leicester City as CWC champions Liverpool lie in wait AFP games in 10 days with a trip to Fourth-placed Chelsea, London Newcastle on New Year’s Day, fresh from a 2-0 win away to before hosting Wigan in the Tottenham Hotspur marred Leicester City face runaway FA Cup on January 4. by allegation of racist abuse, Premier League leaders Liver- This presents Rodgers are at home to Southampton pool on Boxing Day knowing with a problem about how of- while Spurs will be without the their own title hopes are very ten to field Jamie Vardy, the suspended Son Heung-min much in the balance. league’s leading scorer so far for the visit of Brighton after Thursday’s match will see this season, given the striker is the South Korean’s red card the second-placed Foxes, the now aged 32. against the Blues. shock 2015/16 champions, Mikel Arteta’s reign as kick off 10 points adrift of Arsenal manager starts away Liverpool, who will arrive in to Bournemouth, while new the East Midlands fresh from Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti is winning a maiden Club World in charge at home to Burnley. Cup title following a 1-0 vic- Newcastle, managed by tory over Brazilian side Fla- former Old Trafford favour- mengo in Qatar. ite Steve Bruce, will look to One of the more remark- complete a league double over able statistics in English Manchester United with both football is that it is nearly sides presently level on 25 30 years since Liverpool points and looking to break were last crowned domes- into the top six. tic champions in what was Sheffield United face Wat- then the First Division. ford, still bottom despite last But Premier League week’s win over Manchester silverware is now in sight United. following a successful “We’re halfway through 2019 that has also seen this season and we knew Liverpool take the Cham- this season was going to be pions League and UEFA a season of some ups and Super Cup trophies back Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino lifts the trophy following the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 final against Brazil’s Flamengo at downs,” said Manchester to Anfield as well as the the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on December 21. (AFP) United manager Ole Gunnar Club World Cup. Solskjaer. One of the enduring pecu- mier League experimenting injury against Flamengo as Ju- Meanwhile reigning cham- liarities of the English game Leicester City are faced with a with a ‘winter break’ that will rgen Klopp’s side, unbeaten in pions Manchester City are that has not changed, howev- see all teams get a weekend off the Premier League this season, away to Wolves on Friday. er, is the packed programme problem about how often to field in February. bid to go 13 points clear and all of matches that take place But that pales into insig- but end the title-race before by Fixtures (1500 GMT unless during the Christmas and New English striker Jamie Vardy, the nificance compared to the the halfway stage. stated): Year holiday period. Bundesliga’s long-established “If anyone wants to think Thursday: Aston Villa v Norwich, The congested schedule is league’s leading scorer so far winter break. things are over before they Bournemouth v Arsenal, Chel- again causing headaches for The German top-flight are over we cannot stop them sea v Southampton, Crystal managers, with Foxes boss this season, given the striker is closes down for several weeks doing that, though it is not im- Palace v West Ham, Everton v Brendan Rodgers saying the in December and January, portant to us,” said Liverpool Burnley, Leicester v Liverpool fixture list is a “nonsense”. now aged 32. with Rodgers saying the Eng- manager Klopp. (2000 GMT), Manchester United Leicester kick off against “The game is about money ed that Vardy, for all he has lish break was a “let’s pretend” “As a group we are pretty v Newcastle (1730 GMT), Shef- Liverpool at 2000 GMT on now. You can’t say it’s about scored 16 goals this term, had version. good at shutting the doors fieldU nited v Watford, Totten- Thursday before they play the welfare of players,” insist- “no chance” of being involved Liverpool will be without all around us to keep out the ham v Brighton (1230 GMT) West Ham on Saturday. ed Rodgers, himself a former throughout the festive period. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after noise from outside,” the Ger- Friday: Wolves v Manchester They then complete four Liverpool manager who add- This season sees the Pre- the midfielder suffered an ankle man added. City (1945 GMT). Chelsea want to keep Willian faith against Southampton

AFP With Chelsea’s two- London Chelsea’s Brazilian window transfer ban hav- midfielder Willian ing been halved, leaving the Willian’s performance at during the EPL match club to bring in new recruits the Tottenham Hotspur Sta- against Tottenham next month, Giroud is likely dium last weekend highlight- Hotspur in London on to leave in a bid to find the ed just why Frank Lampard is Sunday. (AFP) regular football he believes keen to see the Brazilian’s fu- will boost his chances of being ture at Chelsea resolved. a member of hosts France’s While much of the focus squad for Euro 2020. this season has been trained Pedro has been reduced to on the outstanding contribu- a fringe player and is also ex- tion of the youngsters in Blues pected to move on at the end manager Lampard’s squad, of the season. Willian’s performances on the Willian, though, is a dif- New Zealand’s Ross Taylor wears a Christmas cap during training ahead of the second cricket Test against right of a front three have been ferent matter and while Chel- Australia in Melbourne on Wednesday. (AFP) consistently excellent. sea are notoriously reluctant The winger appeared to to offer extended deals to have lost his way in recent players over the age of 30, the seasons, particularly last term Brazilian could become an Kiwis make two changes when he struggled for consist- exception. ency under Maurizio Sarri and For his part, Lampard has appeared in danger of leaving made it clear he wants the for Boxing Day Test the London club. South American to stay. This campaign has been And while the manager different, though, and Lampard has no intention of shifting AFP Williamson also confirmed “Perth was tough and Aus- will hope the player can inspire his policy of promoting young Melbourne Blundell, usually a middle- tralia are very good and tactical- a return to home form when players, he knows the value of order batsman, would open ly sound,” he said after his team Southampton visit Stamford Premier League. Willian’s work ethic had experience. New Zealand made two alongside Tom Latham in were put through their paces in Bridge on Thursday following The task of bedding in a been questioned previously, “He’s a very important changes Wednesday for the place of the out-of-form Ravel. the nets on Christmas Day. Chelsea’s impressive 2-0 defeat number of graduates from the with his failure to track back member of the club and of Boxing Day Test against Aus- “He’s a positive player and “It’s important we learn of Jose Mourinho’s Spurs. club’s academy against the and support his full-back at course I want it to be done but tralia with fast bowler Trent a smart cricketer so it’s just from some bits of Perth but Willian was certainly the backdrop of the pre-season times highlighted last season. obviously both sides have to be Boult back from injury and trying to adapt to the condi- turn our focus to Melbourne stand-out performer in a dis- transfer embargo has inevita- This time around, there happy for that,” said Lampard Tom Blundell replacing Jeet tions. It’s important he goes and changing conditions and play Lampard admitted was bly presented challenges. can be no doubt about his when asked last month about Ravel at the top of the order. out and plays his natural perhaps not be too reactive to probably his side’s best of the Willian, though, has main- willingness to put in the hard Willian’s future. The dangerous Boult game,” Williamson told re- that performance.” season after a worrying run of tained impressively high lev- yards. Chelsea captain Cesar missed the first Test in Perth, porters of Blundell. Williamson was also keen form that had brought four de- els, appearing rejuvenated And he has strengthened Azpilicueta faces a late fitness where his team crashed by “He’s been a very good to ensure his players do not feats in the previous five Pre- under the club’s new manager. his hand in his contract ne- test following a hamstring 296 runs, with a rib injury that player for a long time and he’s get carried away with playing mier League games, included Certainly Lampard ap- gotiations with the club as he problem sustained at Spurs. also kept him out of their final a mature head ... it’s a really in front of such a big crowd. home losses to Bournemouth pears to have found the key seeks a new deal that will keep Meanwhile the Saints, clash against England. exciting opportunity for him.” “I guess there’s a sense of and West Ham. to drawing the best out of the him at Chelsea beyond the end flirting with the relegation But he has worked his way New Zealand have had romance about being involved There were always going 31-year-old whose work on the of this season. zone, could be without Shane back to fitness, desperate to 10 days to recover from their in the Boxing Day Test ... at the to be frustrating periods for right has contributed to strik- Willian’s existing deal runs Long for the whole of the play in the Black Caps first Perth day-night Test thrash- same time it’s about removing Lampard and his players in er Tammy Abraham making out at the end of the current busy Christmas programme Boxing Day Test at the Mel- ing, which saw their batsmen a little bit of that and bringing what is a season of transition such a significant impact in his campaign, along with those of because of a knee injury the bourne Cricket Ground since skittled for 166 and 171. the focus back to the cricket for for Chelsea, who are nev- breakthrough season at west fellow thirty-somethings Pe- striker suffered during last 1987, with a crowd of more Williamson said they had and making those improve- ertheless now fourth in the London club Chelsea. dro and Olivier Giroud. week’s win at Aston Villa. 75,000 expected on day one. learned from their mistakes. ments we need to.” Sports Thursday, December 26, 2019 13

FLASHBACK 2019 Top offbeat sport stories of the year Quotable quotes for 2019

atches held up by wild- RUGBY UNION up his thoughts after his Tiger life, chickens in danger in “We have so many prob- Roll put his name alongside the Croatian football and off- lems in our country but a team legendary Red Rum by winning side armpits. AFP Sport like this, we come from different back-to-back Grand Nationals Mlooks back at 10 of the best offbeat mo- backgrounds, different races “He is a little like myself. ments in sport in 2019: but we came together with one He likes the good things in life Oh deer! goal and we wanted to achieve -- eating drinking and sleeping, The kick-off in a Scottish foot- it.” -- Siya Kolisi, the Spring- though he is a little more ath- 1.ball match was delayed after a boks’ first black Test captain letic than me!” herd of wild deer left excrement all -- Tiger Roll’s trainer Gor- over the pitch. FOOTBALL don Elliott comparing himself “Kick off suspended due to the ref be- “I think I’m particularly, to his Aintree hero ing delayed, the pitch currently water- uniquely and very deeply Ameri- logged – and covered in deer faeces,” can”-- Megan Rapinoe, USA’s TENNIS Nairn County, who play in the High- World Cup winning superstar, “These kind of matches, lands League, tweeted ahead of the a warrior on the pitch and off you work for, you live for, they game at Fort William. it where her unflinching advo- give sense and they give value The match in April eventually ended in Standing room only: Sebastian Rodriguez of Veracruz No arm done: Roberto Firmino’s armpit was adjudged to be offside in cacy for social justice brought to every minute you spend on a 6-2 defeat for hapless Fort William, watches Guido Rodriguez of Tigres. Liverpool’s game against Aston Villa. her into conflict with US Presi- the court training and working to their 29th loss in 31 games. dent Donald Trump. get yourself in this position and Rapinoe “should WIN first play the match with one of your Sue are you? before she TALKS! Finish the greatest rivals of all time” When Sue Barker won the Ro- job!”-- Trump on Twitter -- Novak Djokovic, after 2.land Garros women’s title in “This is only the start” defeating Roger Federer for 1976 she became Britain’s most recent -- Liverpool manager Jur- his fifth Wimbledon title in champion in Paris -- or did she? gen Klopp after the Champi- the longest final in the tourna- An eagle-eyed photographer spotted ons League final win over Tot- ment’s history. that Barker is listed as Australian and tenham. “I’m the loser both times, not British on the list of champions “Humble” so that’s the only similarity I whose names are engraved on the Su- -- After the acrimony that see.” zanne Lenglen trophy presented each defined his final days at Man- -- Federer on what were the June to the French Open women’s chester United Jose Mourinho similarities between losing to champion. arrived as Tottenham’s new Djokovic and to Rafael Nadal in “Last time I checked, Sue Barker was manager saying he had learnt 2008’s equally classic Wimble- British – are my eyes deceiving me?” from his mistakes and wanted don final. tweeted Ella Ling who snapped a pho- to bring happiness to Spurs. “Congratulations @Ban- to of the cup which has classed Barker dreescu_! You’ve made history as ‘AUST’ rather than ‘GBR’ for the BEE ATTACK: The ICC World Cup match CYCLING and made a whole country very last 43 years. between South Africa and Sri Lanka was “It’s team, team, team, get proud. #SheTheNorth” “I mean seriously....how has no one Name game: The French Open trophy being held up by Jelena Ostapenko in 2017. On the interrupted due to a bee invasion. (Photo: up, see the doctor, have break- -- Canadian Prime Minister noticed!” honours list, 1976 winner Sue Barker is classed as Australian rather than British. Twitter/Cricket World Cup) fast, ride the race, get a mas- Justin Trudeau tweets his sup- sage, physio and sleep. Then port for Bianca Andreescu who Standing room only Pope and glory repeat” defeated Serena Williams in Players of Mexican football club Eddie’s not having a ball the last Villa defender”. The decision The New Orleans Saints got a -- Egan Bernal painting a the US Open final to become 3.Veracruz went on strike in the British golfer Eddie Pepperell’s looked like it would lead to Liverpool 8.surprise shout-out from Pope mundane picture of life as Co- Canada’s first Grand Slam opening minutes of a league game, al- 5.T urkish Open bid came to an losing their first league match of the Francis, with fans and at least one lombia’s first Tour de France singles champion lowing grateful opponents Tigres to abrupt and early end when he ran out season, before Andy Robertson headed player taking the inadvertent tag as a champion “Inexcusable” walk in two goals unchallenged. of golf balls. home an equaliser in the 87th minutes good omen for the NFL team. -- Serena williams berates Veracruz decided on the radical ac- Pepperell put five balls into the water and Mane snatched the points deep in Francis created five new saints in Octo- ATHLETICS herself for her performance tion of standing – instead of running at the fourth hole before telling playing stoppage time. ber in a canonisation ceremony at the “The message that no hu- against Andreescu – about the pitch to protest over un- partners that was quitting the course. “It’s not right that we laugh about it. Vatican. man is limited is now in every- “I’m not a big fan of sub- paid wages. Managers get sacked over it,” Klopp “Today we give thanks to the Lord for body’s mind” ways. We have also in Czech, As a result, Eduardo Vargas and An- Offside – by an ‘armpit’ said after the game. our new #Saints,” he posted on Twit- -- Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge but I never really use. There can dre-Pierre Gignac put Tigres 2-0 ahead Liverpool maintained their lead ter – with the combination of a hashtag after making history, smashing be strange people.” inside three minutes on their way to a 6.at the top of the Premier League Fowl play and the capital letter of Saints appar- the mythical two hour barrier -- At the US Open, Karolina 3-1 win. At the end of the games, Ver- with a last-gasp win over Aston Villa A Croatian footballer kicked a ently adding the New Orleans team’s for the marathon on a crisp au- Pliskova admits the New York acruz sarcastically applauded their op- but came perilously close to being de- 7.chicken to death during a semi- fleur-de-lis logo. tumnal morning in Vienna City subway is not her pre- ponents who they claim reneged on a nied a result -- by an offside armpit! pro match. The incident took place Saints linebacker Alex Anzalone put a “If Karsten is Gordon Gekko ferred mode of transport promise to respect their strike. Jurgen Klopp’s side, who took when a brood of chickens ran onto a screenshot of Francis’ tweet on his own then I am the IRS” “They knew that we were going to stay all three points at Villa Park pitch in the eastern part of Twitter feed. -- American Rai Benjamin GOLF still for three minutes,” said Veracruz thanks to Sadio Mane’s the country. “Wow, are we blessed or what?!??” An- compares himself to the US “It’s overwhelming just defender Carlos Salcido. 94th minute Ivan Gazdek from the zalone wrote. Internal Revenue Service after because of what has tran- home team NK Jelen- Karsten Warholm expressed spired. I could barely walk. Cut! Hamilton too grad, ran after the birds, Bees stop play admiration for fictional im- Couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t busy for ‘Top Gun’ winner, were trail- kicked one with his foot A swarm of bees sent players moral financier Gordon Gekko walk. Couldn’t do anything. 4.L ewis Hamilton had ing to Trezeguet’s opener and then chucked it 9.taking cover on the pitch during from the Wall Street films. To have the opportunity to to put his ambitions to be a when Roberto Firmino over the fence in a Cricket World Cup game between Warholm beat Benjamin to come back, it’s one of the Hollywood movie star on hold because thought he had tapped a flurry of feath- South Africa and Sri Lanka in Durham. 400m hurdles gold at the world biggest wins I’ve ever had for he was too busy winning Formula One home the leveller seven ers. “I ran towards “It’s very funny. Looks like someone’s championships in Doha sure.” world titles. minutes later. the chickens to chase just had a machine-gun through all -- Tiger Woods after epic The six-time world champion revealed However, the linesman them away, swung my the players on the field and everyone is HORSE RACING comeback from career-threat- he had to turn down a role in “Top raised his flag and a VAR foot and accidentally killed down on the ground,” said South Africa “He is a once in a lifetime ening injury and scandal by Gun: Maverick” due to lack of time. check confirmed the deci- one,” said Gazdek. skipper Faf du Plessis. horse who has given us a twice winning the 83rd Masters, his The 34-year-old’s role in the film was sion to the rule the goal out, “You are not brave enough when there in a lifetime experience.” 15th major title to end an 11- expected to be bigger than in his previ- with the Premier League re- Water torture: England’s is a swarm of bees flying. I’m brave, but -- Ryanair boss Michael year major drought. ous movie appearances in “Zoolander vealing that Firmino’s arm- Eddie Pepperell. not that brave.” (AFP) O’Leary succinctly summing (AFP) 2” and “Cars”. pit “was marginally ahead of Australia mull five specialist Stokes rejoins England team bowlers for Melbourne Test as ill father does better AFP AFP Centurion Melbourne All-rounder Ben Stokes Australia could play five practised with the England specialist bowlers against team on Wednesday ahead New Zealand during the sec- of the firstT est against South ond Test, captain Tim Paine Africa, starting at SuperSport said on Wednesday, with the Park on Thursday. decision being left until the A statement from the Eng- last moment. land and Wales Cricket Board The Melbourne Cricket said that Stokes’ father, Ged, re- Ground track has been life- mained in intensive care in a Jo- less during the past two Box- hannesburg hospital but had re- ing Day Tests, making it hard Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) head curator Matt Page rolls the wicket ahead of the second sponded positively to treatment to take 20 wickets, although a cricket Test between Australia and New Zealand in Melbourne on Wednesday. (AFP) and was in a stable condition. South Africa’s head coach Mark Boucher (left) with bowler Vernon Sheffield Shield match there Ged Stokes, who had trav- Philander during a team training session at the Supersport Park this month was abandoned elled to South Africa to watch Cricket Stadium in Centurion, ahead of a four match Test series due to a dangerous pitch. According to Cricket Aus- “The bowlers we would has managed only 43 and 16 the cricket, was admitted to against England starting December 26. (AFP) With this in mind, Paine tralia, they have only fielded be bringing in can all bat so in his last two innings, out hospital on Monday with what said a decision would only be five once before in the past while we’re taking a batter twice to short balls from Neil was described as a serious ill- Philander, a key member of golden generation made after a late inspection. decade – at the 2013 Sydney out, we’re probably lengthen- Wagner. ness. Ben Stokes missed prac- But one scenario could be Test against Sri Lanka. ing our line-up.” It followed a quiet series tice on Tuesday to be at his Johannesburg: Vernon Phi- Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, a five-pronged attack, in which If they go down this route Australia head into the against Pakistan and he is father’s bedside. lander may not always have Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn and Queensland seamer Michael on Thursday, Neser is set to Melbourne clash on the back keen to pile on some runs in The statement said the attracted the headlines of Morne Morkel and will leave Neser likely makes his debut. line up alongside Mitchell of three wins at home this Melbourne. Stokes family thanked people some of his more heralded captain Faf du Plessis and “We’ll find out tomorrow. Starc, Pat Cummins and Na- summer -- two against Pa- “I’ve been facing a fair bit for their support of the family team-mates but he was a key Dean Elgar as the longest-serv- The wicket is a bit unknown... than Lyon, with James Pattin- kistan before their 296-run of short stuff in the nets be- and in particular the medical member of what has been de- ing members of the Test side. but we’ve got a plan in place son replacing the injured Josh thrashing of New Zealand in cause I’m expecting a bit (in practitioners who had treated scribed as a golden generation There is nothing particu- for both scenarios (with five Hazlewood. the firstT est at Perth, a day- Melbourne),” Smith said. Ged Stokes. of South African cricketers. larly glamorous about the way bowlers or without),” Paine Travis Head is expected night affair. “It’s going to be completely Although fast bowlers Stu- Philander, 34, announced Philander plays his cricket. told reporters on Wednesday. to be the fall guy, with wick- Marnus Labuschagne different with the red ball as art Broad and Jofra Archer ap- that he will retire from inter- A sequence of small steps “We’ve probably got two etkeeper Paine moving up the has been their star batsman, opposed to the pink ball, par- peared to have recovered from national cricket after the four- leads into a workmanlike different teams (in mind), to batting order to six. smashing his third century in ticularly (compared) to the illness, which caused them to match World Test Champion- run-up which culminates be honest, so we’ll make the “Our batting team has been a row at Perth before a second- second innings in Perth when miss England’s two warm-up ship series against England. in a delivery which by Test final call tomorrow.” scoring a lot of runs so if we innings 50. it was a bit up and down with matches, three players – Jack Philander’s impending standards could be described Australia traditionally play were to go one more bowler, In contrast Steve Smith, cracks and stuff. Leach, Ollie Pope and Chris retirement follows those in as nothing more than brisk only four frontline bowlers – we would be comfortable they their hero during the Ashes “It’s going to be different, Woakes – missed the team’s fi- recent years of South African medium pace, at around the three quicks and spinner. could do the job,” said Paine. against England this year, but I’m looking forward to it.” nal practice because of illness. legends like Graeme Smith, 130kmh mark. (AFP) 14 Thursday, December 26, 2019 Sports Seahawks turn to Lynch to offset raft of injuries

afp “He knew he wasn’t done. Los Angeles NFL He got in a situation where he was injured, and he had to re- Marshawn Lynch, the new- Francisco 49ers next Sunday. hab and all that. est member of the Seattle Sea- The retired Lynch last suit- “It just didn’t fit together hawks, said on Tuesday it was ed up for six games with the right away. He’s not done great to be back after agreeing Oakland Raiders during the playing and he wants to go. to come out of retirement and 2018 NFL season. This is his entrée and he’s go- finish the season with his for- His final game in the NFL ing to go for it.” mer team. was in October of that season Seattle are frantic for help Seattle, who are desper- when the Raiders lost 27-3 to at the running back position ate for help on the running Seattle. after losing C.J. Prosise with a back position because of in- Lynch spent six seasons in broken arm, and Chris Carson juries, are gambling that the Seattle from 2010 to 2015 af- to a hip injury. 33-year-old can still produce ter being traded by the Buffalo Second-year running back touchdowns – even though he Bills. Rashaad Penny had already hasn’t played in the league in Only six players on the been lost for the year with a over a year. Seahawks’ 53-man roster torn ACL, and Travis Homer is Asked what brought him were teammates with Lynch the only other running back on back to Seattle, Lynch, who during his first stint with the the roster. has shown disdain for the team, comprising quarter- This is the second time American media in the past, back Russell Wilson, line- Lynch has retired and then Guard Aaron Mitchell of Al Shamal drives the ball against Al Wakrah during a QBF League match at the Al Gharafa Club’s Indoor Hall on declined to explain his return. backers Bobby Wagner and had a change of heart -- first in Wednesday. Al Shamal upset the rivals 85-75. “Happy holidays,” he said K.J. Wright, wide receiver February 2016 when he came instead. “Merry New Year. Y’all Tyler Lockett, Canadian tight out of retirement to join the have a great day. It’s a great end Luke Willson and run- Raiders. feeling to be back. Thank you.” ning back Robert Turbin. He lasted two seasons The Seahawks, who have “He’s highly motivated to with Oakland, accumulating already booked a playoff spot, do everything you can do in 1,267 yards, ten touchdowns, Shamal shock joint have just one game left in the this game. He really is,” said and had 35 receptions for regular season against the San Seattle coach Pete Carroll. 235 yards.

leaders Al Wakrah Volleyball: Al Khor beat Al Shamal 3-1 in QBF League Guard Mitchell shines with 30 points; Al Ahli down Qatar Sports Club

Tribune News Network their biggest lead of 20 points DOHA in the third quarter as they jumped to 58-38. Guard Aaron Mitchell col- There was an engaging lected 30 points and steered battle between Al Ahli team- Al Shamal to a shock 85-75 mates and guards Louis victory against joint leaders Munks and Jeffery Newberry. Al Wakrah Club in the QBF With a few seconds left in the League at the Al Gharafa Club game, Newberry was ahead by Indoor Hall on Wednesday. a point with 26. It was how- In an earlier match, Al Ahli ever the player with dread- Club ended the winning run locks hair who came up with of table toppers Qatar Sports the final shot of the match and Club when they outclassed Louis Munks of Al Ahli Club with the ball against Qatar SC during their he scored with a driving layup them by 85-71. QBF League match on Wednesday. to finish with a match-high 27 The third quarter proved points and 14 rebounds for a decisive for Al Shamal, who who mustered 23 points. Cen- pulling 16 points clear (60-44) fine double-double. outscored the opponents 26- tre before cruising home without Aaron Rountree also sa- 13 to grab a 71-58 lead after Tevin Glass bagged 22 much ado. voured a double-double when both were locked at 45-45 at points and 11 rebounds. For- Prior to the match, Qatar he posted 12 points and 13 the interval. Al Wakrah at- ward Erfan Ali Saeed recorded Sports Club shared the top rebounds. Hamza Kurtovic tempted to narrow down the 14. spot of the QBF League ta- was the fourth double-digit gap but Al Shamal held their Al Shamal have now eight ble with Al Arabi Club and Al scorer for Al Ahli, getting 10 game together and came points from three wins in five Wakrah with nine points each points. This win helped Al through easily. matches, Al Wakrah, Al Ahli from four wins in five games. Ahli bounce back from the de- Mitchell, who 30 points and Qatar Sports Club are at After both teams missed some feat in the last match against included four three-pointers, the top with 10 points from scoring chances, Al Ahli led Al Wakrah. had eight rebounds. Small for- four wins and two losses. 7-4 in the first five minutes. For Qatar Sports Club, ward Mikheil Berishvili netted Al Ahli started with a However before the end of the Jonathon Michael Lee had the 16 points, while forward Faris flourish and opened a healthy quarter, they raced to an en- best figures of 24 points and Avdic added 15 points and 11-point lead at the end of couraging 11-point edge. 11 rebounds, besides seven Al Khor Club beat Al Shamal 25-20, 25-20, 20-25, 25-17 in their QVA League first phase match at the point guard George Tsintasdze the first quarter (21-10). They An eight-point run in the assists. He was followed by QVA Indoor Hall in Doha on Wednesday. This was the penultimate match of the first phase. Both Al Khor contributed 11. maintained their upper hand second quarter enabled them Kevin Bracy, who tallied 18 and Al Shamal are just above the bottom-placed Al Sadd in the nine-team table. Turin Eugenie led the Al Wakrah’s top scorer was and consolidated themselves to forge ahead 40-30 at the in- points. Ahmed Mahmood Ab- winners with 28 points, while Henrique Costa (30 points) and Cairo added 19. Cesar Vilan (22 points) shooting guard Julius Coles, further in the third quarter, terval and it also handed them dalla added 11 points. played well for Al Shamal. The sports deaths that cast dark shadows on 2019

AFP against Alzheimer’s disease, as “one Kelly Catlin, 23 – The Ameri- Paris of the all-time greats”. can three-time world champion cy- Tyler Skaggs, 27 – The Los An- clist took her own life on March 7 From the tragic death of Argen- geles Angels pitcher was found dead after a battle with depression. Cat- tine footballer Emiliano Sala to mo- July 1 in his hotel room ahead of a lin was part of the US team pursuit tor racing legend Niki Lauda and game against the Texas Rangers. A squads that captured world titles South Africa’s 1995 Rugby World toxicology report showed Skaggs had in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and also Cup champion Chester Williams, ingested a lethal mix of alcohol, fen- won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio AFP Sport looks at some of the no- tanyl and oxycodone. Olympics. table sporting figures who passed Raymond Poulidor, 83-- The uni- Pernell Whitaker, 55 – The away in 2019: versally loved Poulidor died Novem- former Olympic boxing gold med- Emiliano Sala, 28 – The Ar- ber 13 but will forever be remembered allist and four-weight world cham- gentine footballer was killed on as the greatest French rider never to pion died after a traffic accident in January 21 when the plane he was in win the Tour de France. From 1964 to Virginia on July 14. Whitaker was crashed into the English Channel. He 1976 Poulidor finished second in the regarded as one of the most gifted was on his way to join Cardiff after Tour de France on three occasions fighters of his generation, a skilful they agreed a club record 17 million- Formula One legend Niki Lauda Emiliano Sala had a tragic end during a plane crash on January 21. and third five times in an era domi- technician who enjoyed a successful euro transfer fee with Nantes. nated by Eddy Merckx. professional career after winning Niki Lauda, 70 – Austria’s later had spells at Real Madrid and tiring in 1984 and taking up a career historic moment for the country just Anthoine Hubert, 22 – The gold as a lightweight at the 1984 three-time Formula One world Atletico Madrid. in broadcasting. a year after the end of white-minority French driver was killed in a hor- Olympics. champion died on May 20, eight Marieke Vervoort, 40 – Bel- Chester Williams, 49 – The apartheid rule. rific high-speed race just minutes Andres Gimeno, 82 – The old- months after a lung transplant. Lau- gian Paralympic champion Marieke left winger in South Africa’s side that Gordon Banks, 81 – England’s into the Formula Two race at the est male French Open champion in da suffered severe burns on his face Vervoort, suffering from a degen- won the 1995 Rugby World Cup died goalkeeper during their triumphant Belgian Grand Prix on August 31. the Open era passed away October and hands, and inhaled toxic fumes erative muscle disease, ended her life of a heart attack on September 6 after 1966 World Cup campaign, Banks Hubert, who was considered a se- 9. Gimeno’s biggest achievement was which damaged his lungs when his on October 22 through euthanasia. returning home from a gym session. passed away on February 12. A leg- rious talent by Renault’s F1 set up, winning Roland Garros aged 34 in vehicle burst into flames at the Nur- Vervoort announced her intentions Williams was the only black player endary save he made from Pele at the died following a three-car pile-up 1972 but he also reached the Austral- burgring in 1976. Despite being given after the 2016 Rio Games after detail- in the triumphant 1995 side and has 1970 World Cup came to define his also involving Juan Manuel Correa ian Open final in 1969 and the semi- the last rites in hospital he made an ing her struggle with constant pain, been credited by many with breaking career. “The save was one of the best I and Giuliano Alesi. finals at Wimbledon in 1970. almost miraculous recovery to race paralysis in her legs and a condition barriers in a team reserved for whites have ever seen,” Pele recalled. Matti Nykanen, 55 – The Peter Snell, 80 – The New again just six weeks later still band- which left her barely able to sleep. for many decades. Martin Peters, 76 – The for- Finnish ski jumping ace died sud- Zealand running great, the most aged and in intense pain. Bob Willis, 70 – The former James Small, 50 – The former ward was part of the West Ham trio denly on February 4. Nykanen dom- dominant middle-distance runner Jose Antonio Reyes, 35 – England paceman, who famously South African winger, a member of of captain Bobby Moore and Geoff inated the sport in the 1980s when of his era, died December 12. Snell, The former Spain international bowled his country to a dramatic the celebrated 1995 Rugby World Hurst, who scored a hat-trick in the he won four Olympic gold medals, who had suffered heart problems was killed in a car crash on June Test win against Australia in 1981, Cup winning squad, died of a heart 4-2 victory over West Germany at six world titles and the World Cup for a few years, won gold in the only 1 on the main road from Sevilla to died December 4. Willis played in 90 attack on July 10. Small was famed Wembley, for England’s only World four times. He made headlines after three Olympic events he contested -- Utrera. Reyes was part of Arsenal’s Tests, taking 325 wickets with his ag- for keeping rampant Jonah Lomu at Cup triumph in 1996. his sporting career as a pop singer the 800 metres at Rome in 1960 and unbeaten ‘Invincibles’ who won the gressive pace bowling and also cap- bay when the Springboks won the Hurst described Peters, who died and stripper and did repeated stints the 800m and 1500m in Tokyo four 2003-04 Premier League title. He tained England for a spell before re- World Cup final in Johannesburg, a December 21 following a long battle in prison for assault. years later.