18 Tuesday, May 21, 2019 Sports Football legends Cafu, Djorkaeff and Zabaleta visit Aspire Academy

Tribune News Network solutely amazing, and it pro- emy is the ideal place for ath- “Being here at Aspire Doha vides an athlete everything to letes to develop. Academy, you can see first- become better and I am sure “I think there should be hand that there was a clear In course of the 2019 Amir Qatar’s athletes are benefitting more academies in the world vision and they put every- Cup Final that saw the inau- a lot from it”, said Zabaleta. like this. It’s a way to reveal thing in place that a sports- guration of the newly built The 34-year-old Argen- great talents and to give them man needs. This clearly shows FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2022 tinian right back is currently the best conditions to flourish. the determination of Qatar venue, Al Wakra Stadium, playing for West Ham United Something that we could see towards the journey to excel- the Supreme Committee for after spending almost a dec- first-hand in the Amir Cup -fi lence in sports.” Delivery and Legacy invited ade playing for Manchester nal,” said the 2006-07 UEFA The 51-year-old, who Brazil’s ex-star player Cafu, City, in which spell he won two Champions League winner played in Italy, Germany, former French international titles. To him with AC Milan. England and the USA, is also footballer Youri Djorkaeff and it was the second visit to Qatar “Qatar is getting better quite optimistic about the ex- Argentinian player Pablo Za- after facing Brazil in a friendly each year in terms of player pectations for the French na- baleta to Doha. with the Argentina national development; infrastructure tional team. During this stay, they were team in 2010. and the 2022 World Cup is “I saw one of the World welcome at Aspire Academy “Being at the Amir Cup was going to open doors to get to Cup stadiums yesterday on Friday, May 7 where they an amazing experience, the or- know a new culture.” and I am impressed by the had the opportunity to find ganization was fantastic, and Former French preparations. And I am look- more about its involvement I am looking forward when Djorkaeff, who won the 1998 ing forward to the upcoming in developing Qatar’s most the World Cup gets underway FIFA World Cup and Euro World Cup, especially since promising young athletes and here in three years’ time.” 2000, is convinced that the France will go there with a Former Brazil captain Cafu, former French international footballer Youri Djorkaeff and Argentinian player football players. To two-times FIFA World 2022 FIFA World Cup is going very strong team that will be Pablo Zabaleta visited Aspire on the sidelines of the 2019 Amir Cup final. “These facilities are ab- Cup winner Cafu, Aspire Acad- to be an extraordinary event. able to win.” Mbappe ‘bombshell’ places pressure on PSG as Real lurk

Neymar out injured for much The 20-year-old of the campaign, but his de- fuelled transfer mand for further authority could place him on a collision speculation after course with the Brazilian. saying that he wants “This request for account- ability poses questions because ‘responsibilities, it comes two weeks after the maybe at PSG, same statements from Ney- mar. There must not be a spat maybe elsewhere’ at PSG between leaders or Juventus soccer team celebrate at the end of the Italian match groups with the Brazilian side against Atalanta BC at the Allianz Stadium in on Sunday. (EPA-EFE) afp of the dressing room and the others,” warned Alonzo. Mbappe backed up his ex- France star Kylian Mbappe cellent 2018 World Cup, where Atalanta draw at has cast doubt on his Paris he scored four times as France Saint-Germain future, crank- won the trophy, by netting 38 ing up the pressure on the times for PSG this season, al- Juve to leapfrog club’s hierarchy as Real Madrid though he needs to score five reportedly attempt to lure him in the last league game of the to Spain. season against Reims next Inter in Champions The 20-year-old Mbappe weekend to snatch the Euro- fuelled transfer speculation pean Golden Shoe from Lionel at Sunday’s French league Messi. League zone awards ceremony after say- “I tell myself that even if I ing that he wants “responsi- lose, I lose to Messi, one of the DPA ahead of Roma. bilities, maybe at PSG, maybe greatest players in history,” he “Let’s not waste time talking elsewhere”. told AFP. about fourth or fifth place,” Mi- It appeared a calculated Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe delivers a speech after receiving the Best Hope Player “To think that maybe I kept Atalanta drew 1-1 at Serie lan boss Gennaro Gattuso said. move by Mbappe, who suc- Award during the 28th edition of the UNFP (French National Professional Football players Union) trophy up with him until the last game, A champions Juventus Sunday “On a professional level, ceeded teammate Neymar as ceremony in Paris on Sunday. (AFP) that’s a source of pride too, but and went third past , playing the Champions League the player of the year, 20 million euros per season? it’s not over.” who lost 4-1 at Napoli. would be a dream. But if we fin- after he again brought it up in Mbappe to stay at PSG, says club Former PSG goalkeeper Mbappe became only the Josip Ilicic tapped in a ish fifth the evaluation of the front of reporters moments Jerome Alonzo, who played second teenager in history last bouncing corner kick in the season won’t change.” later. French champions Paris Saint-Germain on Monday insisted for the club between 2001 and year, after Brazil legend Pele, to 33rd minute and Juve substi- Milan stumbled in the first “I said what I had to say. that star striker Kylian Mbappe would stay at the club next sea- 2008, believes Mbappe is an- score in a World Cup final dur- tute Mario Mandzukic flicked half, and goalkeeper Gianluigi When you’re on stage you can son, despite the World Cup-winner hinting that he could leave. gling for a greater say in the ing France’s 4-2 triumph over under the legs of Pierluigi Gol- Donnarumma had to save a send messages, I think I got The 20-year-old said on Sunday that he wanted more club’s planning, after a disap- Croatia. lini from a tight angle with 10 penalty taken from Camillo mine across. If I keep talk- “responsibilities, maybe at psg, maybe elsewhere” after pointing season which saw His global stardom -- sure- minutes left. Ciano in the 50th, but the Devils ing it would be too much and winning the Ligue 1 player of the season award. Thomas Tuchel’s side again fail ly eye-catching for the likes of Juve’s other sub Federico took the lead seven minutes lat- that’s not the message I want But PSG said in a statement on Twitter: “Strong ties have in the Champions League. Real -- was shown when he Bernardeschi was red-carded er thanks to a close-range flick to send,” Mbappe explained. united psg and Kylian Mbappe for two years and that story will “I have more of an impres- became only the fourth foot- for a harsh foul in stoppage by Krzysztof Piatek. He has been regularly continue next season.” sion that he’s someone impor- baller to feature on the cover time. The Pole scored his 22nd linked with a potential move to tant at the club who says, ‘Guys, of Time magazine in October, Atalanta sit ahead of Inter goal, moving level with Atal- Madrid since breaking through I want to vouch for the project after Messi, Neymar and Mario on head-to-head encounters, anta’s Duvan Zapata as Samp- with Monaco’s 2017 Ligue 1 Frenchman at the Santiago was the first time the striker but it needs to move along a Balotelli. as the Milanese occupy the last doria’s Fabio Quagliarella tops title-winning team, but instead Bernabeu have intensified. has hinted he could leave Paris. little. I want to stay for a long An Mbappe exit would be available Champions League the chart on 26 and Ronaldo made the switch to PSG, ini- French sports daily Under contract with PSG time but give me the means to a blow for PSG, although in- slot with one game remaining. trails on 21. tially on loan, and then for 180 L’Equipe led with the headline until 2023, Mbappe is said become European champion. creased transfer funds may not Juve, who had already se- Spaniard Suso curled in a million euros. “trophy for the shock sentence” to be in discussions with If the project doesn’t move be- be all bad for the French cham- cured a record eighth straight majestic free-kick to clinch vic- But since ’s following Mbappe’s ambiguous the club over an extension, yond that, I’m leaving,’” Alonzo pions as they look to strength- triumph, held a Scudetto party tory in the 66th. return to the Real dugout ear- remarks, while Spanish media but was his message a play told AFP. en their squad ahead of their at the Allianz Stadium, where Earlier on Sunday, troubled lier this year, rumours about described it as a “bombshell” to strike an improved deal, This term, Mbappe has next bid for a first Champions their striker Cristiano Ronaldo Empoli pummelled Europa Mbappe joining his fellow after picking up on the fact it which reportedly pays him stepped up another gear with League title. received the Best Serie A player League hopefuls Torino 4-1 to award. exit the drop-zone. Coach Massimiliano Allegri, Afriyie Acquah, his substi- who will part ways with the Bi- tute Matteo Brighi, Giovanni Di Prosecutors want anconeri, and retiring veteran Lorenzo and Francesco Caputo Kawhi stars as Raptors claw back with win over Bucks defender Andrea Barzagli were sealed a win that pushed Empo- ex-athletics boss honoured by the fans. li one point above Genoa, who afp bly the biggest key of the game.” Diack to stand Napoli were already certain now fill the third relegation slot Los Angeles “Not only did he just play to finish in second place as Pi- after a 1-1 home draw against good, but he made some huge trial: Sources otr Zielinski’s smashing drive, Cagliari on Saturday. Torino Leonard scored eight of his plays with some steals and a header from the diminutive are two points off the Europa 36 points in the second over- rip-aways and break aways,” afp Dries Mertens and a Fabian League slots. time period Sunday to lead the Nurse said. Paris Ruiz’ brace downed Inter, who Parma won 1-0 at home Toronto Raptors to a gritty 118- “Offense was hard to come sit now a single point clear of against Fiorentina and achieved 112 victory over the Milwaukee by there for both teams for a French prosecutors have city rivals AC Milan. safety thanks to an own goal Bucks in the NBA Eastern Con- while and any time you can get recommended that the former The Devils beat relegated from Brazilian Gerson. Fioren- ference finals. a steal and a break out it’s a head of athletics’ governing Frosinone 2-0 earlier Sunday tina are three points above The Raptors, who dropped huge momentum play.” body IAAF, Lamine Diack, and fill the first of two -Eu Genoa and will host them in the the first two games of the best- Toronto had a chance to and his son stand trial for al- ropa League places, sitting closing weekend. of-seven series in Milwaukee, win it in regulation, but they legedly delaying doping sanc- clawed their way back in front let a 96-91 lead slip away in the tions against Russia in return of home fans and will try to lev- final 1:13 of the fourth quarter. for payment, sources told AFP el the set when they host game Milwaukee guard Khris on Monday. four on Tuesday. Middleton’s putback basket Prosecutors have recom- Quick read Pascal Siakam scored 25 from his own miss with 2.2 sec- mended that Diack, who was points and Spanish center onds left in regulation forced president of the IAAF from ‘Next year will be my last’ – Veteran Pizarro Marc Gasol added 16 for the overtime. The Raptors led 103- 1999 to 2015, be tried for cor- to retire in 2020 Raptors, who got off to a quick 99 with 1:29 remaining in the ruption and money laundering. start and led much of the night Toronto Raptors Kawhi Leonard drives to the basket against Milwaukee first extra session. The prosecutors want five Berlin: Veteran Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro says that he will end but had to battle to put the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo in game three of the NBA Eastern But Malcolm Brogdon other people, including Diack’s his playing career in 2020 at the age of 41. Pizarro, 40, announced Bucks away. Conference Finals at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Sunday. (AFP) floated in a shot and George son Papa Massata Diack, a for- a one-year contract extension at Werder Bremen on Saturday, but Milwaukee’s Most Valuable Hill drained two free throws mer marketing consultant to admitted a day later that next season would be the final act of a two- Player finalist Giannis Ante- Bucks stay in touch. put Toronto ahead 112-109 and to tie it before Leonard’s jump the IAAF, to stand trial. decades long career in European football. tokounmpo struggled to just 12 Antetokounmpo fouled out his driving bank shot gave To- shot fell short. Papa Massata Diack has “Next season will be my last. I want to end my career in good points on five-of-16 shooting. in the first minute of the second ronto a 114-110 lead with 32.4 The Raptors overcame a refused to cooperate with condition,” he said at a friendly match against lower league side Pap- Antetokounmpo didn’t overtime period. Moments lat- seconds remaining. slow night from Kyle Lowry, French prosecutors. The enburg. Fan favourite Pizarro is currently in his fourth spell at Bremen, reach double figures in er the Bucks managed to edge Leonard played a key role who scored 11 points and French investigation began in whom he first joined in 1999. He has scored 197 goals in 472 Bun- points until the middle of ahead 105-103, but Leonard in limiting Antetokounmpo and played in foul trouble much 2015 when Britain’s Sebastian desliga appearances for Bremen, Bayern Munich and Cologne. (AFP) the fourth quarter, although and the Raptors roared back. Toronto coach Nick Nurse said of the night before fouling out Coe took over from Diack as his 23 rebounds helped the Leonard’s steal and dunk his defensive play was “proba- with 6:12 left in the fourth. IAAF president.