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SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2016 Forget PSG, Qatar keeps eye on Belgium’s Eupen DOHA: With the resumption of 2018 World Cup qualifiers on September 1 and a possible La Liga debut for the coun- try’s brightest young star, it’s a big few weeks for Qatar. But just as important for the Gulf state’s football development is what happens at tiny Belgian Pro League club, KAS Eupen. It is the first time ‘The Pandas’ have been in Belgium’s top tier-pitting themselves against heavyweight clubs such as champions FC Bruges and Anderlecht-since being taken over by Qatar’s Aspire Academy in June 2012. On Saturday, Eupen, from Belgium’s small German-speak- ing community, play their first home game of the season at the 8,363-capacity Kehrwegstadion against a grand old name of Belgian football and former winners of the old European Cup Winners’ Cup, Mechelen. The season began badly with a 3-0 defeat at Zulte Waregem, compounded by the sending-off of Ghanaian winger, Eric Ocansey. But Belgian football watchers believe Eupen have a good chance of survival. “Only one team goes down this year and the sporting director said they will be taking things step-by-step,” says Mark Rodden, who commentates television coverage of the Belgian Pro League. “They would be happy to stay up this season, giving them the platform to consolidate their place in the top flight on a more long-term basis.” Club officials, though, claim that staying up is just one aim for the season. Asked what the target is for the campaign, Aspire Academy’s Andreas Bleicher responded: “Further individual develop- ment of the young talents... besides the team consolidat- GALLE: Sri Lankan cricketer Rangana Herath (L) celebrates with teammates after he dismissed unseen ing in the Belgian top flight.” Australian batsman Peter Nevill as Mitchell Marsh (R) looks on during the second day of the second Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia at The Galle International Cricket Stadium. —AFP More interesting than PSG? Despite the high-profile ownership of Paris Saint- Germain by Qatar Sports Investments, Qatar Airways’ shirt sponsorship deal with Barcelona and the purchase of Sri Lanka near series win Malaga by a member of Qatar’s ruling Al-Thani family, Eupen is arguably the most interesting footballing acquisi- tion by the energy-rich Emirate which will host the 2022 after Herath hat-trick World Cup finals. The renowned Aspire Academy, based in Doha, has spent millions trying to develop young Qatari and international sports stars over the past 12 years. GALLEL: Sri Lanka took three late against both Herath and his fellow arm paceman took six for 50 but the Several of Qatar’s Olympic team about to compete in Rio, wickets as they tightened the screws spin bowler Perera, the duo sharing Sri Lankans were still able to set what including the country’s best hope for its first ever gold, on Australia in the second Test in Galle eight wickets between them. Off-spin- should be a match-winning target. high jumper Mutaz Barshim, are Aspire graduates. But it yesterday after setting the tourists a ner Perera bowled overnight batsman has been most prominent in football. daunting target of 413 to save the Usman Khawaja in his second over of ‘Big achievement’ And Eupen has been the showcase for a significant num- series. At the end of an action-packed the day before Herath took his first “After 17 years we are on the verge ber of those who have passed through Aspire. “So far, in second day, which saw 21 wickets wicket by clean bowling the of winning the series. I am lost for total, 13 Qatar Aspire talents and 25 scholarships from the tumble and a hat-trick from Sri Lanka’s Australian skipper Steven Smith. But it words... winning against the number Aspire Football Dreams project are and have been with KAS Rangana Herath, Australia were 25 for was Herath’s seventh over of the one team is a big achievement,” said Eupen since 2012,” says Bleicher, Aspire’s Chief Advisor of three in their second innings-still 388 innings which proved decisive as he Herath. Dilruwan Perera top-scored International Football Affairs. Aspire Dreams is a scouting project, identifying talented 13-year-olds across 18 coun- runs short of their target. David dismissed Adam Voges, Peter Nevill for Sri Lanka with 64 and he received tries, mostly in Africa, including Senegal, Mali and Gambia. Warner was unbeaten on 22 while and Starc off consecutive deliveries to good support from his skipper Angelo Bleicher adds that 44 Aspire graduates have represented 10 skipper Steve Smith will resume on put Australia on the mat. Mathews who followed up his half- different countries at full national level. Saturday on one as the tourists face an “It was a good achievement. I have century in the first innings with 47. This season four Qataris are expected to be in Eupen’s uphill struggle to avoid an embarrass- only taken a hat-trick only playing for Australia’s response got off to a dread- squad, including Fahad Al-Abdulrahman, a defender who ing loss within three days at the Galle school and not anywhere else. So, ful start when Joe Burns became has represented his country at Under-23 level. Bleicher International Stadium. very pleasing to do that against the Herath’s fifth victim of the day in the insists it is not Aspire or Eupen’s aim to produce players for Although Mitchell Starc took six number one-ranked team,” a smiling opening over of the Australian second Qatar’s national side. Even so, it may be a significant by- wickets as Australia restricted Sri Herath told reporters. Herath, the only innings. product. Last season, Aspire graduate Akram Afif scored Lanka to 237 in their second innings, member from Sri Lanka’s 1-0 series And the decision to send in Nathan eight goals for Eupen during their promotion push and the the tourists were effectively undone in win against Australia in 1999, said Lyon as a night-watchman backfired 19-year-old has been rewarded with a transfer to Spain’s the first session of the day when they winning the rubber with the current when he was bowled for a duck Villareal, who subsequently loaned him for the season to La were skittled out for 106. It was their side would be more relishing. “First before Usman Khawaja followed him Liga rivals Sporting Gijon. If he plays at any point in La Liga, lowest total in 28 Tests against Sri Test is always special. At that time, we back to the pavilion one ball later. he will be the first Qatari ever to do so. Lanka who are on a high after winning had some big stars. Arjuna “Disappointing. Full stop. Not up to Afif has also just been drafted into Qatar’s national last week’s first Test in Pallekele. (Ranatunga), Aravinda (de Silva) and international standars that perform- squad as the country chases its first ever qualification for Victory in Galle would ensure the Sri Sanath (Jayasuriya). “But we have not ance today,” Australian coach Darren the World Cup in Russia in 2018. Players from Belgium, Venezuela, Nigeria and Ivory Coast and Spanish manager Lankans win the three-match series much experience here and I am really Lehmann said yesterday. “Obviously Jordi Condom contribute to the international flavour at with a game to play. The 38-year-old pleased with what I have done,” he still a long way to go, hopefully. But Eupen, which may not be a coincidence, says Rodden. Herath was the star performer after added. certainly we haven’t played as we “There are not as many restrictions on non-EU players in picking up only the second Test hat- Only Mitchell Marsh, who was the would have liked. Sri Lanka have Belgium. “There’s a good tradition of young foreign trick by a Sri Lankan. last man out for 27, offered much played well and we haven’t.” Australia, imports starting off in Belgium before moving on to bigger resistance for the Australians during the world number one team, had only and better things-think Yaya Toure at Beveren-and I think Decisive spell the morning’s play. The visitors also ever lost one Test against Sri Lanka that’s probably the owners’ goal. “They’ll want to develop Australia, who resumed at their struck early in the Sri Lanka second before the current series. The final some of these players over a couple of years and then sell overnight score of 54 for two, strug- innings as the paceman Starc bowled match is due to be held in Colombo them on for big money.” —AFP gled throughout the morning session his heart out on a flat pitch. The left- from August 13. —AFP.

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