WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016 SPORTS Italy coach Conte to quit, opening up Chelsea move

ROME: Italy coach , who has been linked to Chelsea, will give up his post after Euro 2016, the Italian Football Federation said yester- day. The 46-year-old former Juventus coach took over the national team in August 2014 and secured their qualification for the European Championship. Federation president Carlo Tavecchio told Italian media: “Antonio Conte has told me that at the end of the European champi- onship, his job will end. He feels the need for the pitch, the everyday training, and this is some- thing you can understand.” The news fueled speculation that Conte, who won three titles with Juventus, will be appointed manager of English Premier League side Chelsea following the tournament in France from June 10 to July 10. British and Italian media reports say that Chelsea have an accord with Conte, even adding that he will take his long term assistants Angelo Alessio and with him to London. Chelsea are having France’s forward Karim Benzema the worst season of Roman Abramovich’s 13-year ownership. They sacked Jose Mourinho in December and interim boss Guus Hiddink has French PM opposes Benzema’s had to take the team from just above the relega- return to the national team tion zone to 10th place. Conte took over a BAKU: In this file photo, Italy’s head coach Antonio Conte shouts instructions during the Euro demoralized Azzurri side following their humili- 2016 soccer qualifying group H match between the Azerbaijan and Italy at the Olympic stadi- PARIS: French Prime Minister Manuel Valls Zidane for nothing. All the countries envy ating first round exit from the World Cup in Brazil. um in Baku, Azerbaijan. Antonio Conte will leave his post as Italy coach after this summer’s yesterday said Real Madrid star Karim us,” Deschamps told French daily L’Equipe He confidently succeeded in his first task of European Championship. — AP Benzema should not be allowed to return recently. qualifying for the European Championships. to the France team while he remains at the Italy advanced to the finals with ease by domi- before the tournament gets underway, the team had hoped to organize a training camp in centre of a sex-tape bribery inquiry. “I think ‘A great player’ nating their group which included Bulgaria, remains a work in progress. February and wanted the Italian Cup final that the conditions have not yet been met Former France winger Franck Ribery Norway, Croatia, Azerbaidjan and Malta, with In France, the Italians have been drawn in brought forward to allow international players for Karim Benzema to come into the France backed Benzema’s bid to return to play in seven wins and three draws. Conte’s Italy Group E along with Belgium, Sweden and the involved to take holidays. Both requests were team. He is still under investigation,” Valls the blue shirt. “Karim is a great player, he defense, with a Juventus core of Gianluigi Republic of Ireland. Italy were beaten by world turned down to Conte’s fury. Former Italy coach- told French broadcaster RMC. Benzema, 28, showed that at Real Madrid and with the Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci and , number one ranked team Belgium in a friendly es Roberto Donadoni and have is France’s leading goalscorer, but has been France team,” said Ribery during a Bayern proved solid, the coach has come under fire for last November, demonstrating the gap between both been named as possible replacements for excluded from national duty since he was Munich press conference. “I read that Didier his lacklustre forward line that managed just 16 Conte’s side and the top European teams. Conte Conte along with , manager of placed under investigation over an attempt Deschamps wants to take the best to the goals in 10 qualifying games. Three months has also clashed with Italian football chiefs. He surprise Premier League leaders Leicester. —AFP to bribe France teammate Mathieu Euro and Karim certainly belongs to that Valbuena for a sex-tape. Benzema has been group.” On Friday, an appeals court upheld accused of complicity in the attempt. an investigating magistrate’s decision to lift “For young people, a great sportsman restrictions placed on Benzema that pre- must be exemplary,” the Prime Minister vented him from coming into contract with said, adding “(football) is our heritage, it’s Lyon Valbuena, who was the tar- not something that just interests amateur get of the blackmail attempt. sports fans, so we have to be careful, all The FFF said the decision to lift the legal acts and decisions have their importance”. restrictions was “a first step”, but added that Valls, whose words echoed those of it would wait to see how the investigation France’s Sports Minister Patrick Kanner on unfolded before deciding whether to recall Monday, added: “At the same time it is a Benzema. A final decision will be taken by decision for the French football federation FFF president Noel Le Graet. Meanwhile, and the coach.” Benzema, whose hopes of publishing company Panini confirmed they playing at Euro 2016 had received a huge have included Valbuena and not Benzema boost after his bail conditions were eased among the 20 France players present in last week, later took to Twitter to express their traditional sticker album for Euro 2016. his frustration at Valls’ comments. “At the time we made our choice, Karim “12 seasons that I’m professionnal: 541 Benzema was not selected,” explained matches played 0 red card 11 yellow cards Panini France marketing manager Isabelle !!! And some talk about me being exempla- Fillon at Tuesday’s launch. But Panini France ry???” Benzema tweeted. France coach president Alain Guerrini said the door Didier Deschamps has made no secret of remained open for his inclusion. “When we his desire to see Benzema return to the had to give up on including Benzema’s pic- national team set-up, after the striker was ture that was a problem because he’s a indefinitely suspended by the French major player,” Guerrini admitted. “If by Football Federation (FFF) in December. “On chance Benzema is called up for France, it a sporting plan, I want to have the best suits us perfectly. He’s popular with young players. You’re not a striker at Real Madrid people and that would give us a marketing for five years with (Jose) Mourinho, (Carlo) coup since there would be an update ‘set’, Ancelotti, (Rafael) Benitez and (Zinedine) with the possibility for advertising.”—AFP Young Afghan boxer packs a punch against patriarchy

KABUL: Nineteen-year-old Afghan boxer home to cook and raise children. At all of Sadaf Rahimi slams her punching bag deep 19 years of age-seven of which she has in the bowels of Kabul’s Ghazi stadium, spent in the ring-Sadaf sees a moral obliga- dealing blows to gender stereotyping and tion “to prove that men and women can be doing her part to to exorcise history: it was equal. Girls are not forced to stay at home”. on these very grounds that the Taleban car- ried out public executions. Sadaf, whose Going back in time shy gaze seems at odds with her muscular Born to a middle-class family from the 60kg (130lb) frame, pulls on her gloves. A Tajik ethnic group, Sadaf had to first make liberating spasm accompanies each blow the case for boxing-which she discovered NANJING: Elkeson (right) of Shanghai SIPG fights for the ball with a Gamba Osaka player during their AFC Champions League group stage foot- that crushes the leather mitts of Agha Gul by watching Mike Tyson and Laila Ali on TV- ball match in Shanghai yesterday. — AFP Alamyar, one of her trainers. Sadaf is a bril- to those closest to her. “At first my family liant boxer. But she is also an exception in was opposed to me boxing. They were say- this conservative Muslim country where ing: ‘Why is a girl boxing? She should stay women participating in sport remains a home, do the chores and cook.’ My aunt is Elkeson double fires Shanghai top taboo. still against it,” recalls the young woman, Her black pirate bandana serves not just who is also pursuing a degree in econom- SHANGHAI: Brazilian forward Elkeson’s dou- in their three games so far. Chances were at a are difficult to break down but we did create to hold her hair in place, but to cover it. “I ics. She is taking a stand on misogyny and ble strike fired Shanghai SIPG to the top of premium with Kwak Hee-Ju man-marking some decent chances, particularly in the first also wear a scarf in my everyday life against the darkest hours of Afghan history, their AFC Champions League group with a 2-1 leading Victory scorer Besart Berisha so close- half.” Victory veteran Archie Thompson had because we live in a conservative country,” by training inside Ghazi stadium which the win over Gamba Osaka yesterday. Elkeson, ly that he didn’t have any shots at goal in the the ball in the back of the net in the 53rd she says. The Taleban’s regime, known for Taleban used for their public executions off-loaded by reigning Asian champions 90 minutes. “They are a very difficult team to minute after heading in from a corner, but its brutal treatment of women, was toppled during their 1996 to 2001 regime. Guangzhou Evergrande in January, looked an break down, they’re so disciplined,” Victory was ruled offside. Singapore referee in 2001 by a US-led military alliance. Since One of these executions was filmed in increasingly important signing as he sealed coach Kevin Muscat said. Muhammad Taqi brandished the yellow card then, women’s rights have improved, but a secret in 1999. The images show a woman, SIPG’s second win in Group G. It was enough “When you’re that disciplined and you’ve six times in a physical contest but also let the bitter patriarchal aftertaste remains for Zarmina, being executed by Kalashnikov for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side to leapfrog got a work ethic like Suwon have then they game flow.—AFP many Afghan women pressured to stay at fire for having killed her violent husband. Melbourne Victory, who were held 0-0 by “It’s a pleasure to train her,” says Agha Gul South Korea’s Suwon Samsung Bluewings in a Alamyar, Sadaf’s trainer. Like other young combative contest earlier. women, Sadaf has to contend with poor Elkeson put SIPG ahead with a finish from Palestinian child survivor equipment and basic infrastructure. The close range on 41 minutes as the home side mats are threadbare and the gloves and dominated. And after his Brazilian opposite to meet Real Madrid stars punching bags are old and worn out. “We number Patric nodded Gamba level on the lack everything, gloves, boots. There is no hour-mark, Elkeson popped up again with the RAMALLAH: A Palestinian boy who sur- the attack with severe burns, was the sole encouragement for the girls,” he says. The match-winning strike just two minutes later. vived a firebombing by Jewish extremists survivor from the immediate family. “He has federation currently counts only 20 women The decisive goal may have made uncomfort- that killed his parents and brother will trael just spent eight months in hospital,” his in its ranks. able viewing for Evergrande fans as it came to meet Real Madrid stars including his grandfather said. “He is doing better, but a idol Cristiano Ronaldo. Five-year-old lot of time and care is still needed for him to Thirst for gold from a cross by Dario Conca, Elkeson’s former Ahmed Dawabsha, his uncle and his truly recover.” The attack drew renewed In an effort to boost the sport among team-mate at the Asian and Chinese title- women, Sadaf wants to set up her own holders. grandparents were to fly from the attention to Jewish extremism and accusa- club and become a trainer. But first she Meanwhile big-spending Chinese team Jordanian capital Amman to Spain, his tions Israel had not done enough to prevent must mount the podium in international Jiangsu Suning’s unconvincing campaign grandfather said. such violence. It also sparked international competitions, a distant dream. She has remained stuck in second gear with a 0-0 “We have been invited by Real Madrid, condemnation and worsened tensions already brought home three bronze draw away to FC Tokyo. Asia’s record signing but we don’t know yet which day we will between Israelis and Palestinians. medals in regional competitions, but isn’t Alex Teixeira failed to inspire the visitors, who be able to meet the players,” Hussein Palestinians moved by images of the band- yet up to Olympic standard-the sport’s were missing ex-Chelsea midfielder Ramires Dawabsha said. Palestinian Football aged boy wearing a Real Madrid jersey Holy Grail. In 2012, Sadaf lied in order to following a red card in their previous outing. Association head Jibril Rajoub welcomed campaigned for months on social media to accept an invitation by the Olympics Instead it was FC Tokyo who looked likelier to the “superb humanitarian gesture by Real convince the team to meet Ahmed. The organizer. But the International Boxing win, with goalkeeper Zhang Sipeng forced Madrid, its administration and Cristiano team signaled in January that it would be Ronaldo, who are restoring hope for a child able to organize such a meeting. Ronaldo’s Association eventually did not allow her to into a reaction save in the second half and who lost his entire family.” “There is an rival Lionel Messi was similarly moved by leave for London, fearing her better Hiroki Kawano seeing a deflected header drop unknown soldier in this initiative and that the plight of another five-year-old boy. The trained opponents could seriously injure just wide. her. And this year, she won’t be going to is Zinedine Zidane, who we warmly thank,” Afghan boy won the Internet’s heart when The draw left Jiangsu second in Group E Rio. This time around the reasons are more he said of the Real Madrid coach. he was pictured wearing a plastic bag as an behind 2006 champions Jeonbuk Hyundai prosaic-her defeat in the South Asian The July 31 attack on the Dawabsha fam- improvised Messi jersey. Murtaza Ahmadi Motors, who beat bottom-placed Vietnamese Games in India in mid February means she ily home in the village of Duma in the occu- later travelled with his family to Kabul to outfit Binh Duong 2-0.In Melbourne, A- won’t be Olympics bound. “I am disap- pied West Bank killed 18-month-old Ali receive two jerseys autographed by the League champions Victory were frustrated by pointed,” she said. “In India I was com- Saad Dawabsha and fatally wounded his Barcelona star and presented to the young a disciplined Suwon defense, although the pletely alone. No trainer came with me, I parents. Ahmed, who was hospitalized after fan by UNICEF.—AFP had no support at all. — AFP goalless draw meant they remained unbeaten