14 Monday 11th February, 2008 Kosovo's top Singer-MCA League and boxers dream of statehood, Olympic K/O from Feb. 12 glory in Beijing by Reemus Fernando Samaraweera. Premier League are club players. The ter finals). The 15th Singer-MCA Premier (6) Unichela ‘A’ led by Malinda MCA, heeding the request made by the After the quarter finals, the tourna- PRISTINA, Serbia (AP) - League and Knock-out tournament gets Warnapura players, not to schedule matches during ment will take a breather and restart Kosovo's top boxers just want a underway on February 12, with the par- (7) John Keells Group ‘A’ led by weekend’s, has fixed their matches on April 20, with the semi-finals and fighting chance. ticipation of nine teams. Dilshan Witharana mostly on week days, except for one free final scheduled for April 26. The only Five ethnic Albanians want to The history making Wasanthalal (8) Janashakthi Group ‘A’ led by weekend (29th and 30th March) special award offered will be for the represent their homeland at the Fernando’s Tournament Committee Lanka de Silva Match Dates : February : Man-of-the Final. Beijing Olympics. They may not gives this prestigious tournament a top (9) Nawaloka Group led by 12/19/20 (Poya) and 26 ; March : All 43 matches in the Premier get a shot if Kosovo doesn't declare shine by introducing the white ball, Duminda Perera 04/11/18/25/29 and 30 ; April 1 League (36) and the Knock-out (7) will independence soon. coloured clothing and all the other para- The single Group league consist- (total 11 days) be officiated by an MCA appointed Although it has been adminis- phernalia used for a one day interna- ing 36 matches will be spread around Due to this head to head clash, the Match Referee and by the top panel of tered by the United Nations since tional. The Parabola system, which was seven venues, namely: R. Premadasa MCA had to negotiate another problem umpires from the ACU. 1999, Kosovo is legally still a used in the past for delayed or inter- International Cricket Stadium (7 of hiring turf wickets in Colombo. It was indeed a historic moment for province of Serbia. Since it's not a rupted matches target calculation will matches); FTZ grounds, Katunayake (11 Hence, 21 matches out of 36 in the MCA and Singer when the official spon- country, the territory can't partici- be replaced with the Duckworth/Lewis matches), Negombo CC grounds, League are played at Katunayake and sorship presentation took place at the pate in international sports. Method. Kadirana (10 matches), St. Benedict’s Negombo. MCA boardroom. Associated with the That could change if Kosovo's (1) Sampath Bank ‘A’ – last year’s College Grounds, Kotahena (2 match- At the completion of the round robin red letter day event were Mahesh ethnic Albanian leadership League and Knock-out winners es), D. S. Senanayake College Grounds, matches on April 1, the team finishing Wijewardena, Commercial Director, declares statehood this month as once again led by Jeewan Mendis (2 matches), Moors SC (2 matches), P. on top of the points table will be Singer Sri Lanka and Vice President, expected. (2) East West Marketing ‘A’ – last Sara Stadium (1 match) and Bloomfield declared as the League winner. MCA, Asantha Karunaratne, Snr. The declaration would open year’s Knock out runners – up, C & AC (1 match) Thethree special awards on offer will Merchandizing and Promotions the way for Mehmet Haxhani, the led by Kaushal Lokuarachchi The tournament, clashing with Sri be for the Best Batsman, Best Bowler Manager, Singer, K. D. S Kanishka , coach of Kosovo's would-be boxing (3) Ceylinco Sports Club ‘A’ led Lanka Cricket’s four-day club tourna- and the Man of the Series. Promotions Manager, Singer, Neil team, to seek membership in inter- by Indika de Saram ment was certainly a drawback. Seventy Immediately after the League, the Perera, Acting President, MCA, Ashley national organizations in time for (4) HNB ‘A’ led by Nimesh Perera five percent or more of the players who second segment of the tournament, the Ratnayake, General Secretary, MCA and his boxers to compete in Olympic (5) Seylan Bank ‘A’ led by Tilan represent their firms in the MCA Knock-out will commence April 5 (quar- Ramesh Schaffter, Vice President, MCA. qualifying tournaments. "We are getting close and hope- fully a solution will be reached. Then we will be the youngest Russia beats state," said Haxhani, thrilled at the Bravo proud of prospect of international fights. Until then, Haxhani's priority Serbia in is to keep his team focused on training. captaincy role "I try and convince them that Davis Cup soon the day will come. ... I need to motivate them so their dream West Indian stand-in skipper ers and this really hampered us MOSCOW (AP) - An ailing Novak comes true," he said. Dwayne Bravo is pleased with the way down there. We have no control Djokovic retired despite leading in Competing as individuals, he led his side on their tour of South of this, so we just had to do what the first reverse singles match Kosovo's boxers have won regional Africa, despite losing both the Test and we could have in the situation. I Sunday, giving Russia an insurmount- competitions and gained respect, ODI series, cricket365.com reported think the players who competed able 3-1 lead over Serbia and a spot in and that makes boxing the Sunday. there did well and one must the Davis Cup quarterfinals. province's best shot at Olympic Bravo took over the leadership after recognise this," Bravo remarked. Djokovic, who was playing a sin- glory. Chris Gayle was sidelined with a bro- gles match since winning the But the athletes face a tight ken thumb following the second Test. Bravo warning to Australian open, was leading Nikolay deadline. The Caribbean islanders lost the sec- Sri Lanka and Davydenko 6-4, 6-3, 4-6 when he quit. The final weeklong qualifying ond and the third Test and went on to Australia Djokovic withdrew from the open- tournaments where boxers can suffer a 5-0 whitewash in the one-days. The all-rounder was confi- ing singles Friday because of flu earn a berth in the Beijing games "I thought that I did well with the dent that the ‘Calypso Kids’ Dwayne symptoms but paired with Nenad are scheduled to begin on Feb. 24 captaincy. What was really pleasing to could bounce back in the upcom- Bravo Zimonjic on Saturday give Serbia a in Pescara, Italy, and on April 7 in me was the fact that the senior players ing series against Sri Lanka point by beating Mikhail Youzhny and Athens, Greece. all supported me during the tour. and Australia. Dmitry Tursunov in straight sets. In addition, only national Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon "Currently, there is a lot of Youzhny was drawn to play Viktor Olympic committees - bodies set Samuels and Denesh Ramdin came to cricket being played in the Troicki in the meaningless second up in places the International me over and over with advice and this West Indies and the players reverse singles, but team captains can Olympic Committee considers was really good," Bravo was quoted as have no excuses, as far as not change their nominations 15 minutes "independent states recognized by having told CMC. having ideal preparations is before the match. the international community" - The 24-year-old admitted Gayle's concerned. Sri Lanka and The best-of-five series at the can select and send competitors to absence and other injuries to Shiv Australia are obviously up Luzhniki Indoor Arena is being the Olympics. Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards and there at the top of the rank- played on an indoor hard court. Kosovo is not a member of the Jerome Taylor hurt the Windies' ings but once we play to our Russia is unbeaten in 14 home series governing International Amateur chances. potential, we can give them a since 1995. Boxing Association, and its "We were unfortunate in that there real fight," he enthused. The winner will play the Czech Olympic committee is not recog- were injuries to many of our key play- (Russ) Republic in the quarterfinals in April. nized by the IOC. However, offi- cials hope recognition by the U.S. and key European powers will be enough for the IOC to consider it a nation. Clerc hat-trick helps France edge Ireland Boxing association spokesman Richard Baker said the next meet- ing at which the organization will consider applications is scheduled Wales beats Scotland for Busan, South Korea, on Feb. 17 LONDON (AP) - Clerc and eight minutes into the second score his second try in the left - by which time diplomats here in the clock kept France on track half. corner until the referee asked Kosovo may have declared inde- for a third straight Six Nations But prop Lionel Faure and for confirmation from TV pendence. title on Saturday. hooker Dimitri Szarzewski replays. Those appeared to "Everything will fall into its Wales, the last winner were replaced and France's show Scotland's Hugo Southwell place after February," Haxhani before France, stayed with the scrum folded, offering Ireland just managing to force Williams' said, adding that documents for defending champion by earning new hope. left foot into touch before he membership in international insti- its second win from two games. Ireland voided an easy scored, but the TV official tutions have been filled out and A first-half hat trick by penalty kick for a scrum, and allowed the score. will be filed once a declaration is winger Vincent Clerc helped when France kept collapsing "It was very disappointing made.