FOOTBALL | Page 2 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 10 Young stars Pakistan To Advertise here Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 arrive in Doha launches high for Al Kass octane T20 International league in UAE Thursday, February 4, 2016 LADIES TOUR OF QATAR Rabia II 25, 1437 AH Garfoot takes GULF TIMES second stage; Wild crashes SPORT Page 11 FOCUS Federer out for month aft er knee surgery AFP four-set defeat by eventual winner Novak Basel Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-fi - nals, going down 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, in his eighth loss to the Serb in their last 10 Grand eventeen-time Grand Slam winner Slam meetings. Roger Federer underwent “success- Federer hasn’t beaten the runaway world ful” surgery on his knee yesterday number one at a major since the Wimble- and will be ruled out of action for don semi-fi nals in 2012, when he last won a Sone month, his agent said. Grand Slam title. Federer underwent the surgery to repair Unlike great rival Rafael Nadal, Federer has a torn meniscus sustained the day after his enjoyed a relatively injury-free career, the ex- semi-fi nal match at the Australian Open, ception being bouts of recurring back pain. according to Tony Godsick. The last time that happened was at the As a result of the surgery, Federer will 2014 ATP World Tour Finals in London now miss the ATP tournaments in Rotter- when he withdrew at the last minute from dam and Dubai this month. the fi nal against Djokovic. “I am so disappointed to have to miss The following week, however, he re- Rotterdam and Dubai as they are two of my turned to action and helped Switzerland favourite tournaments on the ATP World win the Davis Cup for the fi rst time, defeat- Tour,” Federer said. ing France in the fi nal. “While this is an unfortunate setback, Federer will now aim at being fi t in time I feel grateful that up until now I have re- for the fi rst two Masters Series tourna- mained mostly healthy throughout my ca- ments of the year at Indian Wells and Mi- reer. My doctors have assured me that the ami in March. surgery was a success and with proper re- After that the season switches to clay and habilitation, I will be able to return to the the build-up for the French Open, the sec- Tour soon.” ond of the year’s Grand Slam tournaments. The 34-year-old Swiss great suff ered a Federer’s only title in Paris came in 2009. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, February 4, 2016 FOOTBALL QATAR STARS LEAGUE Sadd confi dent against Ahli By Sports Reporter Today’s Fixtures 17 clash against Al Kharaitiyat today. “Looking at our results on paper Doha “We have forgot about the Khor they look poor, but that doesn’t El Jaish vs Al Kharaitiyat 4:30pm match, it is time to focus on Kharatiyat show how well our performances Al Sadd vs Al Ahli 7:15pm I am expecting a positive performance have been. Despite this we have l Sadd’s Portuguese head and a strong result.” remarked the plenty of positives, the players coach Jesualdo Ferreira is French tactician. deserve better results and this confi dent his side can return U23 players will be slowly eased backed Lamouchi also had news on some will eventually come” to winning ways when they into the squad after a busy three week- key returning players for Jaish. “Lu- Aface Al Ahli in their round 17 Qatar period for them. cas Mendez and Abdurahman Waleed Al Khor and will be looking to avenge Stars League match today. Ferreira concluded the conference should be fi t for this tie. That will make this. However from what I seen from Al Sadd lie fourth in the QSL stand- by saying. “I have full confi dence that a big diff erence to the side in the next their recent matches, there are ways I ings with 28 points from 16 matches things will be fi ne and the results of the few games.” think we can beat El Jaish,” the Bosnian and are aiming to get their campaign team will improve starting from Al Ahli said. back on track after losing the prestig- match.” LAMOUCHI HAS FAITH IN TEAM Osim also revealed that Kharaitiyat ious Sheikh Jassim Cup to Lekhwiya New Al Ahli head coach Youssef “Al Kharaitiyat play good football and will be without talismanic striker Has- last month. Adam said that he is ready to lead the I expect them to be well organised for san Abdel Fattah, but did note that the “Al Ahli will be a challenge for us; I side against Al Sadd, insisting that he this match. I watched them against Le- rest of his squad will be fi t for the chal- think we should do well despite us not is not a stranger to the squad. khwiya, I think they were unlucky not lenge of El Jaish. having the best results recently,” said “Al Sadd are one of the leading sides get a point. However we have prepared Talking of changes in the transfer Ferreira at his side’s pre-match press in the QSL, but the match will be set- well and I have faith my team can get a window for Kharaitiyat, he said “We conference yesterday. tled in the fi eld and the better team will positive result” Lamouchi said. have only made one change in the “Looking at our results on paper win the game. Ahli have been unlucky In contrast, Kharaitiyat coach Amir transfer window. We are satisfi ed with they look poor, but that doesn’t show in recent games.” Adam said. Osim predicted a tough test for his our professional players at this club; I how well our performances have been. The former El Jaish coach Adam side. “Our last two matches have been think that minimal changes in the win- Despite this we have plenty of posi- praised the new signing the Moroccan against Lekhwiya and Al Rayyan, de- ter window are for the best of the club. tives, the players deserve better results striker Mouchine Iajour. “He has set- spite playing well we have zero points We don’t want to make lots of changes and this will eventually come.” tled well with the club and will give us from these matches. We will need to which could aff ect the harmony of the Ferreria also noted that new signing an extra edged in the fi nal third.” work hard if we are to achieve a posi- side. Playing with the same group will Bagdad Bounedjah will be still recover- Meanwhile, El Jaish coach Sabri tive result against a team who is doing stabilize us in the long term; I only see ing from an injury and unavailable for Lamouchi is calling for a big perform- well in the league. that as a good thing for Al Kharaitiyat.” selection whilst the returning Qatar Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira (left) & Al Ahli’s new coach Youssef Adam. ance from his side ahead of their round “Jaish lost in their last match against Over to the pitch now. Aspire Academy to host final round of Aspire Football League on National Sport Day SPOTLIGHT Aspire Academy yesterday con- Following the draw, the 2004 Group help develop the boys and create a ducted a draw that determined the A will consist of Al Sadd SC, Al higher-level football culture. groups taking part in the final round Rayyan SC and Al Arabi SC, while Referees from the QFA and coaches of the Aspire Football League, which the 2004 Group B will consist of Al from Aspire Academy will be on- will take place on 9 February 2016, Gharafa SC, Al Wakrah SC and Al Ahli site during the final matches. The Young stars arrive in coinciding with National Sport Day. SC. The 2005 Group A will consist of winning teams will receive a trip to The Aspire Football League is Al Sadd SC, Al Khor SC and Al Wakrah the Sealine resort at the end of the designed to help develop young SC, while the 2005 Group B will con- season for members of the team and footballers who were born in 2004 sist of Al Ahli SC, Lekhwiya SC and Al staff . Matches will kick off at 9:15 at and 2005, including those from the Gharafa SC. pitch 4. Doha ahead of fi ft h Academy and the clubs within the While the final matches will be played Aspire Academy first opened its Qatar Football Association (QFA). It between the participating QFA doors in 2004 and is considered to off ers coaches the chance to help de- clubs only, the ongoing league will be one of the leading sports insti- velop the players’ techniques during still off er the boys from the Aspire tutes in the Middle East. The Acad- smaller matches, creating a learning Academy exposure to a variety of emy off ers an integrated educational Al Kass International environment that enables players to techniques, styles and playing strate- program of sports development, develop and master their dribbling, gies that will enrich their develop- sports science and academic learn- passing, shooting and other skills. ment. The increased exposure will ing to boys aged 12 to 18. Cup kick-off on Friday By Sports Reporter Doha ome of the world’s choice young footballers have ar- rived in Qatar this week for the launch of the fi fth annual Al KassS International Cup set to kick off on Friday.