| Page 4 NNBABA | Page 6 Australia Golden State To Advertise here close in on Warriors hold Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 victory and off Hawks for top ranking 50th win

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 FOOTBALL Jumada I 15, 1437 AH Sheikh Salman’s GULF TIMES steely campaign for FIFA presidency SPORT Page 9

QATAR TOTAL OPEN Tuesday trouble: Kerber, Halep, Safarova out

AFP the world number four in the third ing a Grand Slam champion. was just happy to be playing tennis Doha for a memorable win. “I don’t know if it was the pres- again after several months out. Turkey’s Cagla Buyukakcay sure or not. I know, of course, “I can’t complain even if I play ended defending champion Lucie pressures from the last years, but terrible, I’m so happy to be back on ew Australian Open Safarova’s campaign with a 7-6 (6) maybe it was both,” she told re- tour,” she said. “I’m really grateful. champion Angelique 7-5 win. porters. I really realised how much I missed Kerber crashed out of the Earlier, in a lacklustre perform- “I mean, I was feeling this and loved tennis when I was forced Qatar Open yesterday, in ance, Kerber lost her serve six morning also not good when I was out because of my injury at the end herN fi rst singles tournament since times, hit 38 unforced errors—Sai- practising. This is actually what of 2015.” winning in Melbourne last month. sai hit only eight—and was beaten I can say, I don’t know how many Earlier yesterday, the tourna- An out-of-sorts Kerber lost her in just one hour and eighteen min- mistakes I did today. This is not my ment’s number three seed Ag- second round match—she received utes as her opponent dominated. game, to make so many mistakes. nieszka Radwanska won 6-4, 6-4 a fi rst round bye—in straight sets The second set took just 28 min- “I was trying to go for it. I think against Kateryna Bondarenko from 7-5, 6-1 to China’s Zheng Saisai, utes as the German’s game col- it was more like I was not feel- Ukraine. “Obviously it was hard who is ranked 71 places below the lapsed. ing my game and not fi nding my conditions, but I won,” said Rad- world number two. Kerber, who has not played any rhythm.” wanska. “That’s the most impor- Two hours 20 minutes later, the singles tournaments since beating A delighted Saisai plays Cana- tant thing. The fi rst matches are Premier 5 tournament was also Serena Williams in Melbourne on da’s Eugenie Bouchard in the third always very tricky, especially the left without the Romanian second January 30, grew increasingly ex- round. diff erent conditions everywhere, seed Simona Halep. asperated with her form on a blus- Bouchard beat the Czech Re- and here in Doha as well. We used The 2014 Qatar Total Open tery night in Doha and at one point public’s Denisa Allertova 7-6 (7- to it (being) always a bit windy and champion blew a 4-0 lead against could be heard telling her coach 0), 7-5 as she continues her recov- can be very tough.” Russian Elena Vesnina in the sec- Torben Beltz that she was tired and ery from a traumatic end to 2015. Also through is Petra Kvitova who ond set, after having won the fi rst, had no energy. Bouchard, who confi rmed she is won 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 against Czech to lose 7-6 (1), 4-6, 1-6. The Poland-based German said still pursuing legal action against compatriot Barbora Strycova. Vesnina, ranked 114 rungs be- she did not know if her poor per- the United States Tennis Asso- Romanian Monica Niculescu low Halep at 118, won six straight formance was down to a lack of ciation after she slipped and fell beat former world number one and games in the second set to level the match fi tness or not being able to down in a locker room during the Serbian 14th seed Jelena Jankovic German top seed Angelique Kerber reacts to a lost point during her Qatar Total Open second round match at 1-1, before breezing past respond to the new pressure of be- US Open last September, said she 3-6 6-4 7-5. match against China’s Zheng Saisai yesterday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, February 24, 2016 TENNIS

Qatar Total Open DUBAI TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS Rd 2 singles results Berdych celebrates Elena Vesnina (Russia) beat 2-Simona Halep (Romania) 6-7(1) 6-4 6-1; Monica Nicules- decade in Dubai cu (Romania) beat 14-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 3-6 6-4 7-5; CoCo Vandeweghe (US) beat with Sousa win 6-Belinda Bencic (Switzerland) 6-4 6-2; 11-Timea Bacsin- Agencies but overall my performance szky (Switzerland) beat Yulia Dubai was quite good. it’s good to go Putintseva (Kazakhstan) 6-2 through and not make things too 7-6(0); Zheng Saisai (China) complicated.” beat 1-Angelique Kerber (Ger- omas Berdych marked Second seed Stan Wawrinka many) 7-5 6-1; Jelena Ostap- his tenth appearance at survived a miserable start to turn enko (Latvia) beat 12-Svetlana the Dubai Tennis Cham- the tables on Ukrainian Sergiy Kuznetsova (Russia) 7-6(5) pionships with a 6-1, Stakhovsky 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 and T6-4 thumping of Joao Sousa to squeeze into the second round. 6-0; Timea Babos (Hungary) beat 16-Sara Errani (Italy) 6-4 reach the second round yester- The two-time Grand Slam 6-1; 9-Roberta Vinci (Italy) day. winner, after trailing a set and a beat Darya Kasatkina (Russia) The Czech seventh seed, who break, won fi ve straight games to 2-6 6-4 7-6(3); 5-Petra Kvitova arrived in the Gulf after a semi- level at a set each, He then moved (Czech Republic) beat Barbora fi nal last weekend in Marseille, into winning position in the third Strycova (Czech Republic) has twice fi nished a fi nalist at the with a break for 6-5; a game later, 7-6(2) 6-4; 8-Carla Suarez Aviation Club and has reached he fi nished it all off with an ace. Navarro (Spain) beat Donna the semis here at four of the last Spanish fourth seed Roberto Vekic (Croatia) 7-6(5) 6-4; An- fi ve editions. Bautista Agut kept up the win- drea Petkovic (Germany) beat The ATP number seven im- ning pace he has established this Margarita Gasparyan (Russia) proved to 21-9 at the event as he season as he claimed his 15th vic- 6-3 6-3; Eugenie Bouchard prepares to face 144th-ranked tory of 2016, defeating Italian Si- (Canada) beat Denisa Aller- Thomas Fabbiano after the Ital- mone Bolelli 6-2, 6-4. tova (Czech Republic) 7-6(0) ian defeated Argentine Leonardo Spain’s number three has 7-5; 3-Agnieszka Radwanska Mayer 6-3, 6-4. made his best career start and al- China’s Zheng Saisai celebrates her Qatar Total Open second round win German top seed Angelique Kerber at the Khalifa International (Poland) beat Kateryna Bond- Berdych won his opening set in ready owns trophies in Auckland Tennis and Squash Complex yesterday. Saisai won 7-5 6-1. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil arenko (Ukraine) 6-4 6-4 just 23 minutes but had to come and Sofi a. out on top in the second set after “It’s been the best start for me, an exchange of three consecutive so I have to be confi dent for sure,” breaks to deny Sousa any chance the Spaniard said. “I feel great on of beating a top 10 player for only the court, and I feel I have a lot of the second time in his career. rhythm. I played a lot of matches. Berdych double-faulted on a It’s good to win matches and to fi rst match point but fi red over have confi dence. an ace on the second to advance. German eighth seed Philipp “He was struggling in the fi rst Kohlschreiber beat Marsel Ilhan set, he could only get better,” the 6-1, 7-5 while Croatian young- winner said. ster Borna Coric defeated Czech “He started to play a little bit Jiri Vesely 6-4, 6-4. more solid, a little bit more ag- Marseille winner Nick Kyrgios gressive from his forehand side, was making his local debut as he his stronger one. played Martin Klizan, the sev- “He pushed me a bit more, enth seed.

Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova serves against compatriot Barbora Strycova (below, left) yesterday. Polish third seed Agnieszka Radwanska in action against Ukraine’s Kateryna Bondarenko (below, right) during Kvitova, seeded fifth, won 7-6(2) 6-4. their second round match yesterday. Radwanska won 6-4 6-4.

FOCUS Aspetar provides medical support at Qatar Total Open

By Sports Reporter cians, nurses, podiatrists, on- Doha site radiology services, as well as emergency medical technicians. The team will provide on-site spetar – the world’s fi rst aid, intervention and sup- leading orthopaedic port for serious injuries, as well and sports medicine as medical advice for those ten- hospital – is providing nis stars involved in the tourna- comprehensiveA medical services ment. and support throughout the 2016 The provision of medical serv- Qatar Total Open, which will ices and support at the Qatar To- conclude on Saturday, February tal Open builds on the long-term 27. partnership between Aspetar DAVIS CUP Aspetar’s role at the event is and the Qatar Tennis Federation the latest example of how it sup- (QTF). To date, Aspetar has pro- ports the success of every major, vided medical support at each of global sports championship that the tournaments hosted by the takes place in Qatar. Federation. Murray to lead British defence against Japan Aspetar will provide medical Aspetar provides its medical services and support for the du- and scientifi c capabilities to en- Agencies YOUNG GUNS TO LEAD AUSTRALIA ration of the championship. The able the world’s elite athletes, London Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios will lead hospital’s medical staff will be teams and clubs to train and Australia’s Davis Cup charge against the present on-site for each round of compete at the highest possible United States in the opening tie in Mel- the championship, which takes level. It has become a destina- ndy Murray is set to make his bourne next month, with doubles spe- place at the Khalifa International tion of choice for the provision fi rst competitive appearance cialist John Peers to debut in the team Tennis and Squash Complex. of medical services for interna- since becoming a father after tournament. The team from Aspetar com- tional sport events, athletes and being confi rmed yesterday in Australia number one Tomic and world prises sports medicine physi- clubs from around the world. theA team that will begin Great Britain’s number 33 Kyrgios, who won his maiden defence of their Davis Cup title against ATP title at the Marseille Open on Sunday, Japan. will lead off the singles on the temporary Murray has not played since losing to grass court at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club. Kerber fi nally tracks down Novak Djokovic in last month’s Austral- Peers, ranked ninth in the world in ian Open fi nal, opting instead to spend doubles, will team up with big-serving Australian Open trophy time with new daughter Sophia, born on Sam Groth in the doubles rubber, team February 7, and wife Kim Sears. Lleyton Hewitt said in Melbourne It took Angelique Kerber 13 years on the professional circuit to But having inspired Britain to their fi rst yestserday. win a Grand Slam, but it has taken her an extra month to be reu- Davis triumph in 79 years with victory Peers reached two grand slam fi nals nited with her Australian Open trophy, she revealed yesterday. over Belgium in Ghent in November, it brother Jamie, a doubles specialist. very strong team, progressed well in re- last year with Andy Murray’s older broth- After her shock win over Serena Williams in Melbourne on Janu- was no surprise that the 28-year-old was While Andy, a former US Open and cent years and with Kei Nishikori have an er Jamie Murray and had earned his spot, ary 30, the German star decided she did not want to carry the included in captain Leon Smith’s team for Wimbledon champion, endured heart- established top-10 player. twice grand slam champion Hewitt told Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, which weighs 10 kilogrammes next week’s fi rst-round tie against Japan ache when losing the Australian singles “It will be a test for us but I’m confi - reporters. (22lbs), in her hand luggage on the long flight home. in Birmingham, central England. fi nal to Djokovic in January, Melbourne dent in our team and I’m sure when the “I spoke to him at the Masters Cup in Instead, the world number two opted to have it sent back to “Andy Murray has once again demon- proved a happy hunting round for Jamie guys pull on their GB shirt they will give London at the end of last year and we talked Europe by recorded . strated his commitment to the team and who, together with Brazil’s Bruno Soares, their all. We are lucky to have another about what he wanted to do with Davis Cup However that plan backfired as the 28-year-old lost track of ex- his country in making himself available to won the Australian Open doubles title home tie and it’s exciting to be returning and the Olympics and he put his hand up actly where it was after it got “stuck” in Poland’s capital, Warsaw, play, especially so soon after becoming a last month. to Birmingham.” for an opportunity,” said Hewitt. en route to her home address. father,” Smith told the Lawn Tennis As- “Jamie Murray is arguably the most in Britain were languishing in the third Hewitt lavished praise on 20-year-old Finally though she has now located the cup and will soon be able sociation’s website. form doubles player in world tennis, cur- tier of the Davis Cup, the sport’s leading Kyrgios, who defeated world number sev- to get her hands on the silver trophy. “It’s stuck in Warsaw, but I “His outstanding performance at the rently at a career high ranking of number international men’s team event, before en Tomas Berdych and former US Open hope to get it soon and I’m really looking forward to it,” Kerber Australian Open is further evidence that two and continues to show signs of im- Smith took over as skipper in 2010 but, champion Marin Cilic on his way to win- explained to SID, an AFP subsidiary, in Doha. he is one of the world’s best players,” provement,” said Smith. “He made vi- thanks mainly to Andy Murray, have en- ning in Marseille. “We all knew he was The cup was named after Australia’s Daphne Akhurst, who won Smith added. tal contributions to our 2015 Davis Cup joyed a rapid rise in recent years. going to win a title, it was a matter of time the women’s singles title at the Australian championships five Also included in a fi ve-man squad, campaign and is playing the best tennis The winners of the Britain-Japan tie but the way he did it and the guys he beat, times between 1925 and 1930. which will eventually be trimmed to four of his life right now.” will face either Serbia or Kazakhstan in a especially from the quarter-fi nals on was She died in 1933, aged 29, from an ectopic pregnancy. for the tie proper, was Murray’s older However, Smith added: “Japan have a July 15-17 quarter-fi nal. very impressive,” Hewitt said. Gulf Times Wednesday, February 24, 2016 3 CRICKET ISLAMABAD ARE INAUGURAL PSL CHAMPS By Anil John test between nations, patriotic fervour reigned behind the stumps by Haddin with the team yet to Dubai supreme. Islamabad United may taken the open their account, Kevin Pietersen and Shehzad inaugural honours, but it was Pakistan that was steadied the ship with a 33-run stand. the ultimate winner. Pietersen appeared set for a long innings as he arly in the final The , who were asked to bat took his time, easing the ball into the gaps and last night, a fan commented on social first by Misbah, couldn’t capitalise on the 87-run taking singles. media that his feelings were not dissimi- stand for the third between Kumar San- A six over midwicket off Irfan showed he was lar to what he goes through during an gakkara and Ahmed Shehzad and were restricted finding his groove, but unfortunately for his team, India-PakistanE clash. Such has been the emotion- to 174 for 7. The total was some 20 runs short of he mistimed Andre Russel’s first ball of the match al impact the tournament has had on Pakistanis what appeared on the horizon when Sangakkara and holed out on 18 to Asif Ali who sprinted from that many were momentarily left deflated when and Shehzad were on song. deep square leg to take a great catch. the three-week carnival ended at the Dubai Inter- Islamabad, with four consecutive victories giving The arrival of Sri Lankan great Sangakkara national Cricket Stadium. them momentum, aced it by six with West changed the tempo of the innings as he and She- But unlike the emptiness with which you have Indian opener blasting 73 runs off 51 hzad started to score with ease. Imran Khalid and to cope sometimes when your national team is balls with the aid of seven fours and four sixes and Irfan suff ered at their hands. A cracking drive from beaten by an arch-rival, this was diff erent. This Brad Haddin notching up a belligerent unbeaten 61 Sangakkara off had Aleem Dar ducking particular feeling stemmed from the fact that that off 39 balls with two fours and five sixes. for cover. A few minutes back Khalid had dropped the tournament, which took a few years to see By the time Smith was out, caught by Kevin Shehzad off Irfan when the batsman was on 38. the light of the day, had ended so soon. Like Nelly Pietersen off Zulfiqar Babar, Islamabad were only Sangakkara really cut loose in the 14th over Furtado sang, many in the crowd would have won- 35 short of victory and despite some jitters after bowled by Dwayne Smith. He hit for two fours dered: Why do all good things come to an end? his and Andre Russel’s departure in quick succes- and then off the last ball raised his half-century Mercifully though, they would have brightened sion, a few lusty hits by Khalid Latif and Haddin with a six over long-off . However, Sangakkara up at the thought that this “end” was just the sealed the win with eight balls to spare. couldn’t go on much longer, dragging a ball from beginning, and carried the promise of a much Captain Misbah, for once, did not have to res- Russel from outside the off -stump to be caught at better and bigger tournament next year. cue his team from a precarious position. long-on by Khalid for 55 off 32 balls. Having held the cricketing world captive with When he took strike, Islamabad needed just Shehzad too soon reached his half-century some magical moments with the bat and ball, one run for victory and the captain flicked Anwar with a boundary off Russel and then dispatched the first edition of the PSL ended with Islamabad Ali for a single to ensure he was in the middle Mohamed Sami for a six over backward square captain Misbah-ul-Haq lifting the trophy. when it happened. Symbolically, it couldn’t have leg. But Sami bowled a slower one which the There were cheers galore as he held it aloft gotten any better. opener mistimed to Samuel Badree when on 58, for the photographers, not just because his team Islamabad had made a cracking start with the which came off 37 balls. However, their eff orts were champions but for the fact that it was in a tournament’s only centurion Sharjeel Khan and were in vain as Islamabad’s powerful line- way written in the stars. Looking back at what Smith putting on 54 runs for the first wicket in 5.4 up made light work of the target. Pakistani cricket had gone through in recent overs. But despite Sharjeel’s exit for just 13, Smith Brief scores times, there was none more deserving than and Haddin continued scoring at will to take the the gentlemanly but steely Misbah who was fight away from Quetta. Quetta Gladiators 174-7 [Ahmed Shehzad 64 instrumental in steering Pakistan cricket through Earlier, when Quetta batted, quick wickets late (39b, 4x9, 6x1), K Pietersen 18 (18b, 6x1), K San- troubled waters. in the innings let them down after Sangakkara and gakkara 55 (32b, 4x7, 6x2); Md Irfan 2/25, A Russell Chants of “Pakistan zindabad” echoed through Shehzad were on song. After dangerous opener 3/36] lost to Islamabad United 175-4 in 18.4 the stadium accompanied by some frantic flag Bismillah Khan fell to Mohamed Irfan off the third overs [D Smith 73 (51b, 4x7, 6x4), B Haddin 52 not Islamabad United opener Dwayne Smith sends one over the leg-side fence during his 51-ball 73 waving. Despite that fact that this was not a con- ball of the innings as he was squared up and taken out (33b, 4x2, 6x4)] by six wickets against Quetta Gladiators in the final of the Pakistan Super League in Dubai yesterday. (PCB)

ASIA CUP FOCUS Pakistan keen to India take on hosts build on Super League success Reuters men and a van driver while Islamabad some players and a local um- pire were wounded. Many see PSL as a turning Bangladesh in the akistan’s inaugural na- point, not just for the country’s tional cricket league cash-strapped cricket board has been an unex- but also for young cricketers pected success, even who have missed out on op- thoughP all the matches have portunities to interact with been played in the United Arab and learn from leading inter- Emirates due to security risks. national players. Since the Pakistan Super Among those who have opening game today League (PSL) was announced bought the franchise are Habib last September, the country’s Bank Limited, the country’s big- cricket board has sold fi ve gest bank, Haier Group, a major All eyes will be on Saturday’s glamour clash when arch-rivals India and Pakistan take franchises for $93 million and electronics and home appliances attracted players from 11 dif- company, and Qatar Oil. to the field together for the first time since last year’s World Cup match in Australia ferent countries. If all goes according to plan, They include big names like PSL will generate revenues of West Indies batsman Chris approximately $50 million, ac- Gayle and former internation- cording to cricket board esti- A file photo of India captain als Kumar Sangakkara of Sri mates. A 10-year forecast sees MS Dhoni (right) and Virat Lanka and England’s Kevin Pi- the board making profi ts of Kohli during their 2015 World etersen. The biggest surprise, $50-60 million. Cup match against Pakistan at however, has been the response Given the size of Pakistan’s Adelaide Oval in Australia. India from Pakistan’s public. potential market of 180 million won the match by 76 runs. Since matches began in the people, cricket experts say it UAE on February 4, national tel- is possible to imagine the PSL evision viewing fi gures have been becoming one of the world’s higher than for the 2015 World biggest cricket leagues. Cup, with 55 percent of Pakistan’s “It would not be outlandish TV-watching public tuning into to say that PSL could soon be the tournament at peak times. the world’s third largest league,” Yesterday’s championship Osman Samiuddin, author of match between Islamabad The Unquiet Ones: A History of United and Quetta Gladiators Pakistan Cricket, said, compar- attracted similar fi gures. The ing PSL to the Indian and Aus- match was sold out. tralian domestic leagues. “Big businesses have bought “Looking at how success- the franchises, millions of peo- ful this season has been, how ple have tuned in even though much the public has enjoyed it, the matches aren’t in Pakistan, and the fact that it has gener- and our own young cricketers are ated a real revenue stream for getting a chance to rub shoulders the cricket board, I would say with giants,” PSL chairman Na- it’s possible,” he added. jam Sethi says. “This is the most Despite the success of PSL’s extraordinary moment for Paki- fi rst season, the real test for the stani cricket since we were exiled cricket board will be if it can from the international game.” permanently bring the game It is still unclear when the back home. PSL will be able to stage its fi rst Pakistan Cricket Board offi - match on home soil. cials said before the season that Pakistan has been forced to the ruling body approached play designated ‘home’ match- over a hundred cricketers to es primarily in the United Arab ask them if they would be will- Emirates since 2009 when ing to play on Pakistani soil. the Sri Lankan team was am- Not one of them agreed. AFP making it the biggest box offi ce attraction tri told reporters in Dhaka. retired since the 2014 triumph. bushed by Taliban militants “Next year, we hope to have Dhaka in the sport. But diplomatic tensions have India’s star batsman Virat Kohli also Pakistan, who will become the fi rst side while travelling from their ho- at least the opening and closing meant that the two teams have not played quashed any suggestion that the team to play 100 internationals dur- tel to Lahore’s Gaddafi stadium PSL matches on Pakistani soil,” any bilateral series for more than three would be holding back with only weeks to ing the tournament on February 29, will for a Test match. PSL chairman Sethi said. “That ndia and Pakistan will renew cricket’s years and their rivalry is therefore restrict- go before the World T20 begins. arrive late in Dhaka because of the inau- The attack killed six police- is the dream.” most bitter rivalry this week after a ed to multi-national tournaments. “When I enter the fi eld I go to play crick- gural edition of the Pakistan Super League, one-year gap when they face off in the Pakistan, furious that India has rebuff ed et with bat and ball, and playing with Pa- which concluded in Dubai yesterday. Asia Cup, a contest for regional su- repeated pleas to play a bilateral series at a kistan is not diff erent. It’s competitive and Bangladesh will hope home advantage Sami back as injury forces Ipremacy which is also a fi nal rehearsal for neutral venue, will be desperate to cause an Pakistan is a strong team,” Kohli said. will help them build confi dence before the World Twenty20. upset against their giant neighbour. India are set to be without Dhoni for the heading to India for the World T20 qualify- changes in Pak T20 squad The biennial 12-day tournament, which With the reigning champions Sri Lanka Bangladesh opener after the skipper suf- ing round from March 8-13. The Tigers had is being held in Bangladesh for the sec- going through a rebuilding phase, most fered a back spasm during a practice ses- a dream run in 2015 in one-day internation- ast bowler Mohamed Sami and batsman Sharjeel Khan were ond time in a row, begins tonight when pundits expect India to cement their posi- sion on Monday. But former Bangladesh als, but when it comes to 20-over cricket Fadded to the Pakistan squad yesterday for next month’s the hosts take on India at Dhaka’s Sher-e- tion at the top of the T20 world rankings captain Habibul Bashar acknowledged In- they are still ranked among the minnows. World Twenty20 in India following injuries to Babar Azam and Bangla stadium—venue for all the matches. ahead of their staging of the format’s pre- dia would nevertheless start as tournament Rumman Raes. The Pakistan Cricket Board also decided to Local supporters will be looking to see mier tournament. favourites after their recent successes. Asia Cup Schedule reward Khalid Latif for his power-hitting in the Pakistan Super if Bangladesh’s sharp improvement in 50- Confi dence is high among Mahendra “In the T20 format any team can beat February 24: Bangladesh vs India League, sacrificing Iftikhar Ahmed from the squad. over cricket will translate into an upturn in Singh Dhoni’s men after recent convinc- anyone on a given day. Still, if we have to February 25: Sri Lanka vs UAE Azam fractured his arm in practice during the PSL and Raees their performances in the shortest form of ing T20 series victories over Australia and single out a team as favourites, I would say February 26: Bangladesh vs UAE has a hamstring strain. Sami, who turns 35 today, returned to the game, with the World T20 in India only Sri Lanka. Although India are likely to give it is India,” he said. “They are an in-form February 27: India vs Pakistan international cricket against Zimbabwe in May 2015 after a three- weeks away. most of their players a work-out in the team. Also they now play Twenty20 cricket February 28: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka year gap, while Latif last represented Pakistan in a Twenty20 But most eyes will be on Saturday’s build-up to the World T20, team director more than anyone else.” February 29: Pakistan vs UAE match against Sri Lanka in June 2012. glamour tie when India and Pakistan take Ravi Shastri made it clear they would not Two crushing Indian victories over Sri March 1: India vs Sri Lanka Former champions Pakistan are waiting for a go-ahead from to the fi eld together for the fi rst time since be taking their foot off the gas. Lanka in their recent three-match series March 2: Bangladesh vs Pakistan their government to travel to India where they are scheduled last year’s World Cup match in Australia. “Whether we play Bangladesh, Pakistan underlined how much the islanders are March 3: India vs UAE to begin their World Twenyt20 campaign with a super 10 stage India-Pakistan showdowns usually draw or Sri Lanka and wherever we are playing, missing batting greats Kumar Sangakkara March 4: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match against a qualifier in Kolkata on March 16. hundreds of millions of television viewers, we have to continue our good form,” Shas- and Mahela Jayawardene, who have both March 6: Final Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, February 24, 2016 CRICKET

2ND TEST/ NZ vs AUSTRALIA IN BRIEF Kohli welcomes Amir’s return

India’s star batsman Virat Kohli welcomed Swearing row erupts the return of tainted Pakistani player Mohamed Amir to international cricket yes- terday, heaping praise on his and wishing him all the best ahead of their Asia Cup contest in Dhaka. Pakistan’s chances in the tournament will partly depend on the 23-year-old left-armer, who served three months in jail for spot-fixing in a Test match as Australia close in against England at Lord’s in 2010. “He is a very skillful bowler and I wish him all the best. He worked hard to come this far and it takes a lot of courage,” Kohli said in Dhaka. Amir was regarded as the hottest property in international cricket before the spot-fixing scandal, which also involved then Pakistani captain Salman Butt and fellow pace bowler on series win, top spot Mohamed Asif. He made his comeback with the recent series against New Zealand, less than four months after completing his and combine to end the New Zealand second innings at 335, five-year ban. “I am quite happy seeing that he realised his fault and rectified it, as well as giving Australia a 201-run target. The visitors go into the final day at 70-1, needing a further 131 runs went to New Zealand to represent his coun- try,” said Kohli. “He had always been a world to win the second and final Test and take the series 2-0, and go top in the world Test rankings class cricketer and I have no doubt if he had played for the last five years he would have been among the top three bowlers in the world, considering his talent.” India and Pa- Australian players celebrate the fall of Kane kistan will renew cricket’s most bitter rivalry Williamson (not in pic) during Day 4 of the this week when they face off in the Asia Cup, 2nd Test yesterday. The New Zealand bats- a contest for regional supremacy which is man was bowled by Jackson Bird for 97. (AFP) also a final rehearsal for next month's World T20 in India. The 12-day biennial tourna- ment begins in Dhaka today with India and Pakistan scheduled to meet this Saturday at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla stadium. No contract for paceman Rubel

Bangladesh has dropped paceman Rubel Hossain from its list of contracted players after accusing him of failing to follow instructions to help him recover from injury. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has asked the 26-year-old to explain why he failed to follow the guidelines drawn up by the team physio to hasten his recovery from a calf injury. “We’ve told Rubel we will reconsider reinstating him in the national contract only after he gives a satisfactory answer to our notice,” board spokesman Jalal Yunus said yesterday. Rubel, a key member of Bangla- desh’s attack at last year’s World Cup, has been sidelined since November after he aggravated a calf injury. After sustaining the injury during the Bangladesh A team’s tour of India in September, he played six matches in the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 tournament. The cricket board late on Monday announced that 14 players would be given contracts for this year, which makes them part of the national squad and entitles them to a regular salary. The contract list includes three newcom- ers—Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman and Mustafizur Rahman—who were rewarded for good performances in 2015. The board also announced a 25 per cent pay rise for the contracted players. NZ bat Latham to play for Kent

AFP Earlier, Jackson Bird, with his fi rst manding position, New Zealand all- Anderson, having pocketed his M Guptill c Nevill b Pattinson ...... 0 New Zealand batsman Tom Latham is Christchurch fi ve-wicket Test haul, and James Pat- rounder Anderson said his side lived usual attacking instincts, occupied the K Williamson b Bird ...... 97 to play for Kent in all formats during the tinson combined to end the New Zea- in hope. “Hopefully we can go ‘bang crease for three hours before shelving H Nicholls c Smith b Pattinson ...... 2 upcoming English domestic season, the land second innings at 335, giving Aus- bang’ and then potentially run through caution and driving at a wide delivery B McCullum c Warner b Hazlewood ..25 county club announced yesterday. The ast bowler Josh Hazlewood tralia a 201-run target. them,” he said. which he edged on to the stumps. C Anderson b Bird ...... 40 23-year-old left-hander has scored three pleaded guilty to dissent over But it was a frustating day in the Burns off ered chances but luck was When Bird took the new ball in his B Watling c Burns b Pattinson ...... 46 Test hundreds and can also keep wickets. a profanity-laced confronta- fi eld for Australia as Williamson and on his side. On 19, he pulled Matt next over he bagged the wicket Aus- T Southee c Smith b Bird ...... 0 “I’m delighted to have joined Kent for the tion with the umpires as Aus- Corey Anderson batted through the Henry through square leg where Neil tralia had fought for all morning, M Henry b Bird ...... 66 season. Playing county cricket has always Ftralia yesterday closed in on a series morning session and the possibility of Wagner was unable to hold a diffi cult bowling Williamson three runs short N Wagner () ...... 3 been a goal of mine,” said Latham. “I’ve sweep over New Zealand and the top an unlikely draw started to appear. chance. On 23, an inside edge off Hen- of what would have been a 14th Test T Boult c Pattinson b Bird ...... 0 heard great things about the playing group Test ranking. Tempers flared after a Hazlewood ry sailed close to off stump. century, and two balls later he re- Extras (b-2, lb-14, nb-1) ...... 17 and coaching staff , so I can’t wait to get Hazlewood’s anger and obsceni- lbw appeal for the wicket of William- “We managed to run through the tail moved Southee for a duck. Total (all out, 111.1 overs) ...... 335 started and help the boys push for some ties were picked up by the stumps son was rejected, with the Austral- pretty quickly in the fi rst innings after Where Williamson and Ander- Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Guptill), 2-66 silverware.” Latham scored 63 in the first microphone as he challenged the um- ians converging on umpires Richard they’d put on about 400 for the fi rst son had been the epitome of caution, (Latham), 3-72 (Nicholls), 4-105 Test against Australia earlier this month and pires after an appeal for the wicket of Kettleborough and Ranmore Marti- six wickets,” Anderson said. “If we can Watling and Henry took a more ag- (McCullum), 5-207 (Anderson), 6-210 is due to join the Kent squad before the first- New Zealand’s Kane Williamson was nesz. get in a similar situation then we’ve gressive route to disrupt the line of (Williamson), 7-210 (Southee), 8-328 class County Championship season starts turned down. Bird said the angry reaction was due just got to back ourselves.” the bowlers who were fi nding some (Watling), 9-335 (Henry), 10-335 on April 10. Kent hope Latham can boost An Australian team spokesman to frustration at not being able to take Although Australia have been dom- reverse swing. (Boult) their push for promotion from the Second confi rmed that Hazlewood had plead- a wicket in the morning session. inant for much of the Test, New Zea- Henry, in his fourth Test, had 12 Bowling: Hazlewood 34-11-92-1; Pat- Division of the Championship, with coach ed guilty to an International Cricket “We bowled pretty well in the fi rst land put up a valiant fi ght with two fours in his 66, easily surpassing his tinson 26-8-77-4; Bird 17.1-5-59-5; Lyon Jimmy Adams, a former West Indies bats- Council (ICC) charge of dissent. The session and we probably thought it century partnerships as they battled to previous best of 27. 17-3-42-0; Marsh 17-4-49-0 (nb1) man, saying: “We’re delighted to have Tom fi ne will be determined later. There was out, but those 50-50 calls either save the contest. For Australia, Pattinson removed Australia (2nd innings) playing with us this season. He brings valu- was no action against Australia cap- go your way or they don’t,” he said. Williamson made 97 when adding New Zealand’s top order in his four for J Burns (batting) ...... 27 able experience gained from playing at the tain Steve Smith, whose voice was also “It was probably the frustration of 102 for the fi fth wicket with Anderson. 77 and Bird fi nished with fi ve for 59. D Warner c Watling b Wagner ...... 22 international level across all formats. We are heard in the confrontation. the whole session. We’d bowled pretty The loss of Anderson for 40 was the U Khawaja (batting) ...... 19 confident that he will play a big role as the Australia go into the fi nal day at 70- well and hadn’t got a wicket and we’d start of a triple Bird strike that claimed Extras (nb-2) ...... 2 club pushes for promotion in the County 1, needing a further 131 runs to win the been pretty close a couple of times. three wickets in six balls. Scoreboard Total (1 wicket, 20 overs) ...... 70 Championship and white-ball success.” Last second and fi nal Test and take the series “ is a hard game and Williamson and Tim Southee also New Zealand (1st innings) ...... 370 Fall of wicket: 1-49 (Warner) week Kent confirmed that South Africa’s 2-0, and go top in the world rankings. Joe sometimes tempers can boil over and fell before BJ Watling and Henry Australia (1st innings) ...... 505 Bowling: Boult 7-0-30-0, Southee 2-1-9- Kagiso Rabada would join them for a spell in Burns is on 27 with Usman Khawaja bat- people can get frustrated.” mounted rearguard resistance, adding New Zealand (2nd innings) 0, Henry 4-1-17-0 (nb1), Wagner 6-0-13-1 June and July, in between the fast bowler’s ting on 19. David Warner was out for 22. Although Australia are in a com- 118 for the eighth wicket. T Latham c Nevill b Pattinson ...... 39 (nb1), Anderson 1-0-1-0 expected international commitments. AUSTRALIAN QUICK HAZLEWOOD CHARGED AFTER OUTBURST

ustralian pace bowler exploded, with stump microphones cap- field umpires and the ICC are there to prompted an angry reaction from the Josh Hazlewood pleaded turing his tirade. Smith then confronted adjudicate that,” Bird added. Australians. guilty to a dissent charge after Martinesz mid-pitch. Yesterday’s incident was the latest In the first Test in Wellington, Doug launching an expletive-laden Williamson, who had an earlier lbw where technology has created an issue Bracewell bowled Adam Voges for seven tiradeA when a decision went against him verdict overturned, fell for 97 after lunch on the field between the two teams. only to be called for a no-ball by umpire in the second Test versus New Zealand as the hosts posted a total of 335, giving During the inaugural day-night Test . Replays showed the yesterday. the visitors a 201-victory target. Australia in Adelaide last November, delivery was legal. With New Zealand battling to build a reached 70 for one at the close of play. Nigel Llong failed to give Voges went on to score 239 that set up second innings lead in the first session on The outburst from Hazlewood, and out despite hot-spot technology showing their massive innings and 52-run victory. the fourth day, Hazlewood was convinced ‘teapot’ impersonation by Smith domi- he had clearly hit the ball before a catch New Zealand all-rounder Corey Ander- he had trapped Kane Williamson lbw only nated social media afterwards. The fast was taken. son, who was batting with Williamson at for umpire Ranmore Martinesz to deny bowler pleaded guilty later to showing In the final one-day match in Hamilton the time of the latest incident, said the the appeal. dissent, a team spokesperson said. earlier this month, all-rounder Mitchell big screen replays had not been that Captain Steve Smith asked for a review, “We probably thought it was out, but Marsh was dismissed after the crowd saw clear for the players. though ‘hot-spot’ technology showed those 50-50 calls either go your way or a replay on the big screen that showed he “I know from the big screen there’s a Williamson, the key wicket the Australians they don’t,” said Australia bowler Jackson had been caught and bowled by Matt Henry few bits and pieces (that) are harder to needed in their push for victory, had got Bird, who took career-best figures of 5-59. and promptly issued a chorus of boos. tell,” he said. “I know we’ve been on the a thin inside-edge onto his pad, so ball “Test cricket is a hard game and Umpires and Derek Walker end of those where you want a wicket so tracking was not examined. tempers can rise and people can get heard the crowd reaction then asked badly and you want something to hap- The big screen did not show a clear frustrated sometimes. If we did overstep third umpire Sundaram Ravi for a review, pen...and it doesn’t quite go your way. It’s picture of the hot-spot and Hazlewood the line, the match referee and the on which confirmed the dismissal and happened before and it’ll happen again.” Gulf Times Wednesday, February 24, 2016 5 SPORT

GOLF Woods’ agent slams setback reports as ‘false’ AFP and it’s treated like a real story. ber, had microdiscectomy surgery on New York “Tiger continues to work on his re- March 31 of 2014 to treat a herniated IRISHMAN HARRINGTON TO LEAD INDIAN OPEN FIELD habilitation and we will have an accu- disk. He underwent a second proce- rate update at the appropriate time.” dure on September 16, 2015 to deal hree-time Major champion pore) and Arjun Atwal (India). weets indicating Tiger Woods According to the Twitter handle with a disk fragment that was pinching Padraig Harrington will But the spotlight will be on Har- has suff ered a serious setback Secret Tour Pro, Woods was eyeing a nerve, and six weeks later underwent Tlead a competitive field at rington, a two-time British Open in his return from a third back a return to golf in May at the Players another procedure to address continu- the Indian Open which starts next and former US PGA winner, who surgery are “absolutely false”, Championship in Florida but that plan ing discomfort. month with boosted prize money has not played in India since his am- theT 14-time major golf champion’s has been scrapped due to the lack of He said during the World Challenge of $1.66 million. ateur days almost two decades ago. agent Mark Steinberg said on Monday. progress with his health. tournament he hosted in December that The Irishman said he was look- “Looking forward to coming Twitter posts from two diff erent Lusetich posted in a tweet: “I’m told there was no timetable for his return, ing forward to playing in his first and playing the Hero Indian Open handles—one of them longtime golf #TigerWoods condition worsened. He telling reporters: “Where is the light at Open at the Delhi Golf Club, an at the Delhi Golf Club. Actually it writer Robert Lusetich—suggest that can’t move well; painful to sit. Sits in the end of the tunnel? I don’t know.” event sanctioned by the Asian and starts on March 17—St. Patrick’s the 40-year-old superstar’s rehabili- car with seat fully reclined. No forsee- Woods’s 14 major titles—the last European Tours and running from Day,” the 44-year-old said in a tation was not going well and that his able return. Sad.” won in 2008—are four shy of Jack March 17-20. video message yesterday at the condition had deteriorated. As recently as last Friday, Steinberg Nicklaus’s record of 18. The field includes defending launch of this year’s tournament. “The tweets that appeared this told ESPN there was no update on He owns 79 PGA Tour victories, champion Anirban Lahiri of India “And I haven’t played in India for weekend about Tiger’s health are ri- Woods’ status. three off the career best held by Sam and a host of other past winners a long time. It’s the early 1990s that diculous, and absolutely false,” Stein- Woods hasn’t played competitively Snead, the most recent coming at the including Siddikur Rahman (Bang- I played here in the Indian Amateur berg said in a statement. since August of 2015, when he tied for World Golf Championships Bridge- ladesh), Thaworn Wiratchant Open, so making it to the Indian “It’s reprehensible that every few 10th at the Wyndham Championship. stone Invitational in 2013—one of fi ve (Thailand), Mardan Mamat (Singa- Open as pro might be diff erent.” months someone makes something up Woods, who turned 40 in Decem- wins for him that season.

FORMULA ONE Honda replace F1 head Arai aft er troubled season Reuters Vettel shows speed, Barcelona mbattled Honda surprised partners McLaren yesterday by an- Enouncing a change of leadership in their Formula One engine programme less than a month before the season starts in Australia. Mercedes pile miles The Japanese company said Yasuhisa Arai, the boss who managed to keep smiling through the team’s worst season ‘The car is a step forward, so that is positive, and the power unit has improved. last year, will step down at the end of the month and be replaced by Yusuke We know there are areas we still need to improve, but overall I am happy’ Hasegawa. Honda press off icers said the team had been informed only after a state- AFP ment detailing a wider management Barcelona Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian Vettel drives at the Circuit de Catalunya, on the restructuring of Japan’s third-largest outskirts of Barcelona, during the second carmaker was issued by company errari’s Sebastian Vettel took day of Formula One testing yesterday. (AFP) headquarters yesterday. The move was advantage of a new ultrasoft aimed at bringing youth and diversity to tyre to propel himself to the the management team. top of the timesheets for the Hasegawa has previous experience in secondF consecutive day of pre-sea- Formula One from Honda’s time with the son testing in Barcelona. BAR and Jordan teams in the 1990s and Vettel’s speed has heightened ex- 2000s. “I need to catch up with what is pectations that Ferrari can challenge going on,” Hasegawa said during testing Mercedes’ dominance of the sport at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. for the past two years. “There are a lot of good people work- “The car is a step forward, so that ing very closely with McLaren so I don’t is positive, and the power unit has think it will be a big problem. Compared improved,” said the German. “We to Arai-san, I think I am a very conserva- know there are areas we still need to tive person.” improve, but overall I am happy.” Arai’s optimism seemed at odds The four-time world champion with the reality at times last season as was also one of eight drivers to break McLaren endured record grid penalties the 100-lap mark as a lack of off - because of repeated engine failures. season technical changes resulted in Media reports suggested that the much better reliability than normal- former champions wanted him replaced. ly expected so early in the season. Last season was the first of Honda’s Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo also new partnership with McLaren, who used tyre manufacturer Pirelli’s fast- have not won a race since 2012 and est tyre to get second fastest, but was seven tenths down on Vettel’s fl ying finished ninth of 10 teams. lap of 1min 22:810sec. Arai, who will retire next year, said he Sergio Perez in the Force India was as Fernando Alonso clocked up more was only down in seventh fastest. Grosjean, now with the new US- awarding points for qualifying and would help Hasegawa settle in for as just a further tenth of a second back laps in one day than he managed in the owned Haas F1 team, experienced a recent fan survey had reinforced long as he deemed necessary before in third fastest. whole of testing last season with 119. the reversed format on his way to that. stepping aside completely. “I will do my Reverse grids would spell best to support him,” he said. “He has However, once again Mercedes However, the MP4-31 was still ‘disaster’, says Grosjean winning the GP2 feeder series. “The fans are happy with the (ex- were arguably the most impressive well short on speed as the two-time “Disaster,” he told Reuters when isting) format, they are happy to see a diff erent personality, the approach is performers as Nico Rosberg com- world champion was only ninth Reversed starting grids, one of sev- asked about the idea during pre- qualifying and a race,” he said. a little bit diff erent. This year we know pleted a marathon 172 laps to outdo fastest ahead of just Renault rookie eral proposals under discussion yes- season testing. “I think the format is good. We how big the gap is to the top teams... teammate and defending world Jolyon Palmer and Max Verstappen’s terday by Formula One team bosses “I’ve been doing it in GP2 and it’s just want to make sure that...we have so we don’t say such optimistic words. champion Lewis Hamilton’s 156-lap Toro Rosso. in meetings about the sport’s future probably why you win the title but cars which take physically some re- More realism.” run on Monday. Renault have returned as a con- look and direction, would spell “dis- it’s not why you win races.” ally strong energy so then you can In a joking reference to a photograph Rosberg was also nearly half a sec- structor this season having taken aster”, according to French driver Grosjean said making cars harder see mistakes at the end of the race.” of McLaren driver Fernando Alonso that ond faster than Hamilton and went over the fi nancially stricken Lotus, Romain Grosjean. and more physical to drive, and driv- Red Bull principal Christian went viral on social media last season, within 0.2 seconds of his qualifying but have struggled most early on as The concept of setting the grid ers more susceptible to fatigue and Horner said on Monday that the the departing boss said he looked for- lap to land pole position at the same the only team to have failed to run a by reversing the order of the top 10 mistakes, would have the same end sport’s commercial supremo Bernie ward to sunning himself on a beach in a circuit for last season’s Spanish century of laps combined over the drivers from qualifying, so that the result in terms of adding to the ex- Ecclestone was keen on reversing the deckchair when retired. Grand Prix with the quickest time on opening two days. fastest starts 10th, has been dis- citement without being artifi cial. top 10 qualifi ers. When Alonso’s Honda engine failed in the slower medium tyres. There was more good progress for cussed previously to make races less “Formula One people want to see “I’m sure it will get discussed. Brazilian Grand Prix practice last year, The McLaren-Honda partnership F1 newbies Haas as Esteban Gutier- predictable. qualifying, they want to see a race, Whether that will get agreed or not I the Spaniard found a foldable chair and had another busy morning off the rez was sixth fastest. The usual front-runners would they want to see gladiators fi ghting really don’t know,” he told reporters. lay back trackside sunning himself with track with the news Honda chief mo- Williams were clearly the best of then have to fi ght through the fi eld with the best cars in the world, be- “Let’s see what happens. He (Ec- his feet resting on his helmet. torsport offi cer Yasuhisa Arai will be the rest behind Mercedes and Fer- rather than pulling clear at the front ing the best drivers, fi nishing tired clestone) wants to shake things up a The picture swiftly spread around replaced by Yusuke Hasegawa before rari last season, but their potential without being challenged. Champi- and exhausted and having given 100 bit. He’s a promoter, he’s got to sell Twitter with fans imagining other places the fi rst race of the season next month. for the upcoming campaign remains onship points would be awarded for percent,” he said. Formula One around the world and Alonso would rather be. On the track, there was more sig- hard to judge as Valtteri Bottas com- qualifying to give drivers every in- The French driver, who raced for he wants it to be the most exciting nifi cant progress in their reliability pleted a trouble-free 134 laps, but centive to chase pole position. Lotus last season, said he did not like and spectacular it can possibly be.”

BOTTOMLINE Gene Haas wants to bring American dream to F1 AFP motor racing sport and we’d be humbled to “American people love sports, they like Barcelona have more Americans support us in this en- that competitive edge. They want to have “I think the problem with deavour to bring Formula One back to the some association with it, so if there is an Formula One in the past United States.” American team out there and doing some- is that they never really ene Haas, the man to bring back Haas, 63, admitted he needs to create at thing no one else has done before, Americans had any association with a an American team to Formula One least a competitive product before bringing will be very interested. bunch of Europeans. As an for the fi rst time in 30 years, wants other sponsors on board, but admitted ex- “I think the problem with Formula One in American in an European Haas F1 to be a launching pad for the pectations for their debut season would be the past is that they never really had any as- sport people are going to Gsport in the United States. limited to “fi ghting at the back of the gird” sociation with a bunch of Europeans. As an want to see two things: how Haas, a machine tool magnate, already and trying to fi nish as many races as possible. American in an European sport people are badly you do, or, if you can has motorsport experience as part-owner of Yet, he believes further American invest- going to want to see two things: how badly beat these guys” NASCAR team Stewart-Haas racing. ment in the future could see a revolution of you do, or, if you can beat these guys.” However, despite international appeal, the sport’s image and popularity in the States Yet, Haas has resisted the temptation Formula One has struggled to oust NAS- in what has traditionally been a European to bring an American driver on board with CAR’s domination of motorsport in the US, dominated fi eld. the experienced duo of Frenchman Romain something Haas is hoping to change. “Having the car branded under our name Grosjean and Mexico’s Esteban Gutierrez to “I know there are a lot of fans in the USA,” is good for our product line, but if the right take the wheel this season. he said at the second day of pre-season test- sponsor comes along we’re defi nitely going “An American driver would be the ultimate ing in Barcelona ahead of Haas F1’s maiden to listen. aim, but at the moment we want to put the campaign. “I think we could do a good job of market- best pieces we can obtain and right now hav- “We’re hopeful Americans will stand be- ing especially an American product all over ing an experienced driver like Grosjean was hind us. We’d like to get more Americans the world because there is a huge audience the best nut to put on the steering wheel. We involved in Formula One because it is a great for Formula One in the rest of the world. want the best possible people.” Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, February 24, 2016 SPORT

NBA NHL Warriors hold off Sharks jump out to early Hawks for 50th win lead to beat ‘Fifty wins is great but we need to keep plugging away and stay hungry’ Blues 6-3

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is defended by Atlanta By Curtis Pashelka RESULTS Hawks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (No 10) and forward Thabo Sefolosha San Jose Mercury News (No 25) during the fi rst half at Philips Arena. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Montréal 1 Nashville 2 (SO) St. Louis 3 San Jose 6 oe Thornton had two Boston 4 Columbus 6 goals and two assists and Washington 3 Arizona 2 Tomas Hertl and Lo- gan Couture both scored twiceJ as the Sharks used a strong sixth straight after Brenden Dil- fi rst period to help get past the lon suff ered an upper body in- St. Louis Blues, 6-3, on Monday jury Feb. 9 against Chicago. night at Scottrade Center. Already ahead 1-0 on an even Hertl scored two of the strength goal by Hertl 4:44 into Sharks’ three goals in the fi rst the game, the Sharks scored 13 minutes and Couture added twice with Reaves in the box. an even strength goal midway Hertl scored around the net with through the second period as the 9:42 to go in the fi rst right after Sharks won their third game on shots on goal by Vlasic and Joo- their fi ve-game trip. nas Donskoi. Thornton had two assists in Couture then scored on an- the fi rst period and scored his other play around the net, as 13th and 14th goals of the sea- his shot from in close slid un- son. His fi rst came 7:26 into the der Blues goalie Brian Elliott third period and gave the Sharks and over the goal line to give a 5-2 lead. With the Blues at- the Sharks a 3-0 lead with 7:01 tempting to break out of their left in the fi rst. Elliott suff ered own zone, Thornton stripped a lower body injury on the play Joel Edmundson of the puck and left the game. then backhanded a shot through The Sharks recorded 16 of the goalie Jake Allen’s legs. games’ fi rst 18 shots, but St. Lou- Thornton added an empty- is got back into the game with net goal with 1:25 to go, and now consecutive power play goals has 55 points on the season and by David Backes and Vladimir a league-leading 28 points since Tarasenko, with Tarasenko’s he had two assists in the Sharks’ goal coming with 8:35 left in 7-0 win over Toronto on Jan. 9. the second period. But Couture His surge mirrors the success of scored 20 second later to give the the Sharks, who, including that Sharks another two goal lead. game, are 14-3-3 in the last sev- en-plus weeks. Capitals 3, Coyotes 2 Marc-Edouard Vlasic also Alex Ovechkin and Mike Ri- had two assists as the Sharks chards scored third-period goals improved their Western Confer- 26 seconds apart, and the Wash- ence-best road record to 21-9-2, ington Capitals defeated the matching their road win total of Arizona Coyotes 3-2 Monday for a season ago. their fourth straight win. Sharks defenseman Matt Ten- Ovechkin broke a 1-1 tie at nyson was injured early in Mon- 8:17 of the third when his wrister day’s game after he was checked from the left circle beat Arizona hard into the boards by Blues goalie Louis Domingue to the forward Ryan Reaves behind short side. It was the 39th of the the San Jose net. The hit from season and 10th in the past eight Reaves caused Tennyson’s head games for the NHL goal-scoring to bounce off the glass. Tenny- leader, who added an assist. son’s head then slammed against Richards scored his fi rst goal the ice as he fell down. as a member of the Capitals in Tennyson remained on the ice his 15th game at 8:43. Evgeny for several seconds, and Reaves Kuznetsov also had a goal and an received a fi ve minute major for assist for Washington, which has boarding and a game misconduct won nine of 10 overall and is 17- with 11:23 left in the fi rst period. 1-1 in its last 19 home games. Tennyson was playing in his Kevin Connauton and Connor 28th game of the season, and his Murphy scored for Arizona. DPA Anderson Varejao after being RESULTS just 12 points on 5-18 shooting (30-26), who were outscored Los Angeles waived by Portland following a and six turnovers. 13-5 in the extra session. trade from Cleveland. Atlanta 92 Golden State 102 Hours earlier, Detroit re- zToronto Raptors 122, New The Warriors appeared head- LA Clippers 124 Phoenix 84 scinded Thursday’s three-team York Knicks 95: Kyle Lowry had he Golden State Warri- ed for a blowout after open- Miami 101 Indiana 93 (OT) trade with Houston and Phila- 22 points, 11 rebounds and 111 as- ors hit 50 but it wasn’t ing up a 70-47 cushion mid- New York 95 Toronto 122 delphia because Rockets cen- sists for his fi rst triple of the sea- easy. way through the third quarter. Milwaukee 108 LA Lakers 101 tre Donatas Motiejunas (back) son, DeMar DeRozan also scored Sharpshoot- But the Hawks took fl ight and Minnesota 124 Boston 122 failed his physical. The Pistons 22, and the visiting Raptors (37- Ters Stephen Curry fi red in 36 closed on a 28-6 surge. Cleveland 88 Detroit 96 agreed to acquire Motiejunas 18) routed the sliding Knicks. points, Klay Thompson had 27 “Our defence was a little and guard Marcus Thornton Carmelo Anthony had 23 points and the reigning NBA Champs lax, they took advantage of it from Houston for forward Joel and 11 rebounds for the Knicks survived a furious second half and were smoking,” Warriors coach Mike Budenholzer said. Anthony and a protected fi rst- (24-34) who suff ered their eighth rally to clip the host Atlanta coach Steve Kerr explained. “The third quarter is something round draft pick. loss in the last nine games. Hawks 102-92 on Monday. After a Dennis Schroder layup we can hopefully build off of.” The Rockets were set to ac- zMilwaukee Bucks 108, “They gave us a strong punch gave Atlanta an 82-79 lead with Elsewhere: quire the draft rights of forward LA Lakers 101: Giannis An- but the way we responded was 10:09 remaining, the Warriors zDetroit Pistons 96, Chukwudiebere Maduabum tetokounmpo collected his fi rst championship calibre,” Curry regained control behind Curry Cleveland Cavaliers 88: from Philadelphia. career triple-double with 27 said. The league-best Warriors and Thompson and a lock- Reggie Jackson tossed in 23 zLA Clippers 124, Phoenix points, 12 rebounds and 10 as- (50-5) recovered after blowing a down defence. points, Kentavious Caldwell- Suns 84: J.J. Redick scored 22 sists, leading the Bucks (24-33) 23-point cushion to become the “The Splash Brothers” split Pope added 19, including the points, DeAndre Jordan had 17 over the Lakers in Kobe Bryant’s fastest team in NBA history to 14 points to spark a 16-2 run and game-sealing layup off a steal with 11 rebounds, and the Clip- fi nal game in Milwaukee. Bry- record 50 wins in a season. the Warriors held the Hawks to from LeBron James with 1:26 pers sent the downward-spiral- ant, who announced his plans to They eclipsed the mark set by 1-of-10 shooting to pull away. left, and the visiting Pistons ing Suns to their 12th consecu- retire at the end of this season, the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, who “I like the response,” Kerr held off the Cavs to snap a fi ve- tive loss overall and 15th in a row scored 15 points for the Lakers needed one more game to hit the said. “We gave up the lead in game losing. on the road. Chris Paul collected (11-47), who have dropped six half century mark en route to the third (quarter), they were Andre Drummond added 16 16 points and 14 assists for the in a row. their all-time league-best 72- on fi re in their home build- points and 15 rebounds for the Clippers (37-19), who posted zMinnesota Timber- 10 record. ing and everything was going Pistons (28-29), who watched their most lopsided win of the wolves 124, Boston Celtics “Fifty wins is great but we against us. But we maintained an 18-point, fourth-quarter season. 122: Karl-Anthony Towns had need to keep plugging away and our poise and pulled away lead cut to six before putting zMiami Heat 101, Indiana 28 points and 13 rebounds, and stay hungry,” said Curry. “We’re down the stretch for a very away the Eastern Conference Pacers 93 (OT): Slovenian the T-Wolves (18-39) escaped on the right track and we’re good win.” leaders for the second time in Goran Dragic scored 24 points, the visiting Celtics, when Mar- staying in the moment.” Al Horford topped the Hawks three meetings. Hassan Whiteside had 19 with cus Smart’s potential game- Harrison Barnes netted 14 (31-27) with 23 points and 16 re- Kyrie Irving scored 30 points 18 rebounds, and the Heat (32- winning 3-pointer bounced points while Draymond Green bounds, while Schroder scored and Kevin Love 24 for Cleve- 24) beat the visiting Pacers to off the rim at the buzzer. Jae Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (No 8) celebrates with had six with 14 rebounds and 18. “The eff ort we gave, we com- land (40-16), which had its fi ve- move to 3-0 since the All-Star Crowder had 27 points to pace Capitals center Mike Richards (No 10) after their game against the nine assists for the Warriors, peted, we made it as diffi cult as game winning streak stopped. break. Paul George had 31 points the Celtics (33-25), while Smart Arizona Coyotes at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 3-2. who signed free agent centre we can in situations,” Hawks James had an off -night, with and 11 rebounds for the Pacers fi nished with 17. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports

When Blackhawks are off this season, it can look really bad

By Chris Hine when the Hawks looked like they would It’s a trend that has raised some off, especially against a team that’s in the regular season -- they have now only to have those stretches vanish rather be anywhere else in the world. concern. buzzing, that’s playing really well, we lost four of six. from memory come April and May. There have been times this season The 6-1 loss to the Wild was about “Getting behind by a big margin is need to do a better job of manag- “What we’ve shown really well over the But when the Hawks have gone bad when the Blackhawks looked like as bad as the Hawks have played all something that we’re unaccustomed ing the puck and managing chances last bunch of regular seasons,” Toews this season, it seems as if they can’t get front-runners to win their fourth season. to for the last three years,” coach Joel against,” Toews said. said, “is that when the games have much worse. Stanley Cup in seven seasons. Take There are bound to be days like that Quenneville said. “Even if we’re not absolutely flying and added up, whatever the situation might “We need to learn a lesson from (Sun- their game February 6 against the throughout the course of an 82-game “It’s crept in a little bit in our game. It’s playing with the most energy we possibly be, where things aren’t exactly clicking day) and realise that there aren’t going Stars. season. You forget it and move on. something that can’t happen at that can, we’ve got to find ways to be smart in our favour, we can get on top of to be any easy games going forward,” In an opponent’s building with a fired- But too many games like Sunday’s regularity or happen at all.” and to limit the off ense we give up.” what’s going wrong, what we need to goaltender Corey Crawford said. up crowd and a bloodthirsty team have been piling up in the Hawks’ Captain Jonathan Toews said he’s not By comparison, the Hawks had 11 losses address and be better at it.” “If we don’t bring everything we have, that wants to prove itself a worthy memory bank for them to delete. It sure why the Hawks look so good in last season by three or more goals. This is what the Hawks do during it’s going to end up like this.” adversary, the Hawks dominated in a was the ninth time they lost by three some games and make fans want to While the tendency has roused their the regular season. They will have It has ended up like that a little too 5-1 victory. or more goals, accounting for almost shield their eyes in others. attention after Sunday, they are never stretches in January or February that often for the Hawks’ liking. But then there are days like Sunday, half of their regulation losses. “In some of these games where we’re a team that will overreact to a swoon might leave fans shaking their heads, Chicago Tribune Gulf Times Wednesday, February 24, 2016 7 SPORT

BASEBALL Conor grateful for 2nd chance with San Francisco Giants ‘Improving the image for myself was the No. 1 thing and probably the best thing, because I needed that’

By Andrew Baggarly tion in 2008, feeling he hadn’t earned his way. San Jose Mercury News It didn’t help when the kid told reporters that CONOR GILLASPIE he didn’t expect the big leagues to be such a dif- fi cult transition because he’d hit everywhere he he San Francisco Giants might never had played. When one veteran saw those com- enjoy a bigger draft haul than the 2008 ments, he gave Gillaspie a very public dressing class, which included Buster Posey and down on the team bus. Brandon Crawford. Gillaspie isn’t the only player who had matu- TIt’s easy to forget that Conor Gillaspie beat rity issues as a 21-year-old so early into his pro them all to the major leagues. career, and he would have handled himself dif- But Gillaspie also had the roughest tran- ferently. But he doesn’t regret being called up sition. His signing bonus as a supplemental when he was. fi rst-round pick included a cherry on top — a “The reality is I think it was good for me be- verbal agreement for September call-up in ‘08 cause I had the chance to learn quickly -- and — and the left-handed hitting third baseman I learned how far off I was on certain things,” acknowledges now that he wasn’t physically, said Gillaspie, whose personality then might mentally or socially ready to conduct himself best be described as introverted and perhaps a around established major leaguers. bit standoffi sh, but not impolite. “I was thrown Now 28, and back with the Giants for the fi rst into a room of older guys and had to learn my time in three seasons, Gillaspie off ered a candid boundaries quick.” assessment: He might have zoomed through the Gillaspie didn’t reach the big leagues again player development system, but his personal until 2011 and played in just 29 games as a Giant development was just as important. but had his moments, including an inside-the- “A lot of clubs that have their bad apples and park home run. A brief six-game appearance in their guys you can’t approach and you can’t talk 2012 ensured he would receive a World Series to, and I was one of those guys at one point,” ring. said Gillaspie, who returned to the Giants on The trade to the White Sox turned out to be a minor league contract and has a viable shot a blessing, too, since he received the opportu- to make the club in a bench role. “I’m looking nity to be their everyday third baseman for two forward to turning that around and being a guy seasons. And it off ered a fresh chance to make a who’s here for everybody.” fi rst impression. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he in- “(When) my fi rst stint here was up, I made a tends to give Gillaspie tons of playing time this decision right when I left this clubhouse that I spring. The club needs depth behind Matt Duff y was going to be diff erent and I was going to be _ something it didn’t have last season when the approachable and a guy who’s there for guys,” rookie started the fi nal 118 games. (Amazingly, Gillaspie said. “I want players to want to talk after beginning last season as a utility play- to me. You want to build every relationship you er, Duff y ended it with the longest consecu- can and you never know, that could help you tive games played streak among all active big down the road. Improving the image for myself leaguers.) was the No. 1 thing and probably the best thing, Gillaspie will provide a veteran alternative; because I needed that.” Ehire Adrianza and Kelby Tomlinson also will It helped that the White Sox had players such get time at third base. And Gillaspie’s sim- as Paul Konerko and current Giant Jake Peavy to ple, left-handed swing could fi ll a need off the provide an example and encouragement. Get- bench. “I use the term, ‘in the mix,’ but with ting married and having a son -- Mason is 2 { his experience and a left-handed bat, he gives -- will change a person, too. us two things we need,” Bochy said. “He’ll get Gillaspie isn’t coming off his best season. He plenty of playing time. He’ll have a good oppor- hit .228 in 75 games split between the White Sox tunity to make this club.” and Angels. He said he had interest from four Gillaspie has an even more important goal or fi ve teams and chose the Giants partially be- in mind: to refl ect his true self and be an ap- cause he knew he’d get a fair shot to make the proachable teammate, something he said he club _ and partially to show that people can wasn’t equipped to do from the time the Giants change. The Giants would love for Gillaspie to drafted him out of Wichita State to the day they have a successful second act, just as Ryan Vo- shipped him to the Chicago White Sox in the gelsong and Travis Ishikawa did. “I didn’t leave spring of 2013. the best impact when I was here,” Gillaspie said. “Baseballwise, I had a lot of learning to do, “I’m just happy they were respectful and kind too,” Gillaspie said. “But from a personality enough to say, ‘You know what, this guy can standpoint, a social standpoint, going some- possibly help us.’ Given my history and some where else and giving myself a chance to work of the rough times I had as a young player, just on talking to people, working on being a team- to be given the opportunity to come here really mate and a guy people want to be around and does mean a lot to me, and obviously weighed call in the off season, that’s what I wanted to take into the decision. pride in when I left here.” “I’ve got no problem with being a bench play- It wasn’t a well-guarded secret that some er. I’ve got no problem being at Triple A. I really veterans didn’t approve of Gillaspie’s promo- don’t have a problem with anything anymore.”

SPOTLIGHT Ravens need to get draft right this year

By Mike Preston gotiate Flacco’s contract. That cut ties after June 1 if they decide The Baltimore Sun statement could be interpreted to release either. in a number of ways. Maybe af- Usually in the off season a team ter watching average perform- might need to plug two or three o make up ground in the ances by Flacco two of the past holes to get back into serious AFC North as well as the three years, the Ravens don’t contention, but the Ravens have conference, the Ravens want to re-invest more money many. They need a pass rusher, need to have a quality in Flacco. a cornerback, a left off ensive Tdraft because they might not have Maybe they want him to play tackle, a tight end and a speedy enough salary cap room to bring in two more years, and then get wide receiver. high-profi le free agents. him to re-sign a new contract They have some weapons on The team’s draft record has before it expires in 2018. At that off ense with Flacco and receiver been disappointing since the late time, Flacco would be 33 and Steve Smith, but there’s not a lot 2000s when the Ravens selected the Ravens would have better for an opposing team to be con- players who made an immediate leverage. cerned about. impact, like guards Ben Grubbs Or maybe Newsome’s state- It’s even worse on defense. and Marshal Yanda in 2007 and ment was simply posturing and What one player does an oppos- quarterback Joe Flacco and run- the two sides will begin negotia- ing team have to game plan for? ning back Ray Rice in 2008. tions this week out in Indianap- Who are the playmakers? Where But in 2016, the Ravens need olis, where the NFL combine will are the intimidators? to fi nd these players on the de- take place. Regardless of the Flacco situ- fensive side of the ball. If Ohio Either way, Newsome and Joe ation or free agency, the Ravens State defensive end Joey Bosa Linta, Flacco’s agent, do not like can make up some ground with a is available when the Ravens each other. good draft. have the No. 6 overall pick, they These negotiations will get They’ve done it before with should select him. If he isn’t quite heated, especially when selections like linebackers Peter and Florida State defensive back Flacco demands a lot of guar- Boulware, Ray Lewis and Jamie Jalen Ramsey is, they should anteed money like Seattle quar- Sharper, cornerbacks Chris turn in the card for Ramsey. terback Russell Wilson who got McAlister and Duane Starks and There doesn’t appear to be any nearly $62 million of his $88 mil- safety Ed Reed. other route for the Ravens to im- lion contract guaranteed. They haven’t done well in re- prove so quickly. Even if Flacco accepts a new cent drafts, although the 2014 As of Monday, the Ravens had deal, the Ravens still won’t have class could end up being a good the second-least amount of sal- a lot of cap room. one. The Ravens could turn their ary cap room to sign players, be- They are going to have to make fortunes around in 2016 because hind only the Buff alo Bills. some decisions on possibly re- they could have as many 10 picks. Some experts predict the cap Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (R) stands in disbelief after throwing a second crucial interception to the Jacksonville Jaguars during leasing veterans like linebacker So, this isn’t the time to miss could increase by nearly $12 the third quarter in Baltimore. Daryl Smith, defensive end Chris on players as they did with safety million for next season up to Canty and cornerback Kyle Ar- Matt Elam, linebackers Arthur $155 million, but that’s still not York Jets outside linebacker Mu- ally catches up with a team. And shaw, as well as restricted free- At the end of the regular sea- rington. Brown, Sergio Kindle and John enough for the Ravens to re- hammad Wilkerson or Cincin- the Ravens also would like to re- agent receiver Kamar Aiken. son, Ravens general manager They are going to have to make Simon, and defensive tackle Ter- sign some of their own players nati Bengals receivers Marvin sign their own unrestricted free And then there’s quarterback Ozzie Newsome said the organi- similar decisions on off ensive rence Cody. and possibly add high-price free Jones or Mohamed Sanu. agents, like guard Kelechi Ose- Joe Flacco, who has the third- zation would like to be strategic tackle Eugene Monroe and tight A lot of jobs could depend on agents like Denver Broncos out- There are always ways to cir- mele, kicker Justin Tucker and biggest cap number ($28.55 mil- enough in building its 2016 ros- end Dennis Pitta, even though it this draft. The Ravens need to side linebacker Von Miller, New cumvent the cap, but it eventu- outside linebacker Courtney Up- lion) of any NFL player for 2016. ter that it won’t have to rene- will be to the club’s advantage to get it right. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, February 24, 2016 RUGBY

SPOTLIGHT Wales’ lock Charteris to miss France clash

AFP But Charteris, who also plays his club rug- pions Ireland in their opening fi xture of this London by in France, has not recovered in time after season’s Six Nations, face a France side bid- being sidelined from duty with Paris-based ding to make it three wins out of three under Racing 92 last Saturday. new coach Guy Noves after victories over ales lock has Cuthbert has been given his fi rst start of Italy and Ireland. been ruled out of the Six Na- this Six Nations in place of Cardiff team- However, Wales have not lost to France tions international against mate Tom James, who is now no longer even since an agonising 2011 World Cup semi-fi - France in Cardiff on Friday with in the matchday 23. nal defeat in Auckland—a match where War- Wa knee injury, the Welsh said “We have made a couple of changes, one burton was sent off —and have won their last yesterday. injury enforced with Luke missing out with four Six Nations clashes against ‘Les Bleus’. His place in coach ’s start- a knee injury, but Bradley deserves a start- “France come to Cardiff unbeaten in the ing XV has been taken by . ing spot as well, so it’s a good opportunity campaign so far, and impressing under Guy Gatland has made two other changes to for him,” said Gatland in a WRU statement. (Noves),” said Gatland. the side that beat Scotland 27-23 at the Mil- “We have made two other personnel “We are looking to continue our unbeaten lennium Stadium 10 days ago, with wing changes, with Alex and Dan coming into the run and will be looking for another step up and fl anker starting team. They have trained well and after the victory over Scotland,” he added. drafted into the New Zealander’s run-on will suit the game France will potentially Wales team to play France (15-1) team. bring as well.” Liam Williams; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Meanwhile, in a positional switch, Wales Wales were not due to reveal their team Davies, , ; Dan captain moves to openside until Wednesday but Gatland, explaining Biggar, Gareth Davies; , Sam fl anker from blindside, with the change, said: “We initially thought we Warburton (capt), Dan Lydiate; Alun Wyn dropped to the bench. would have to wait until later in the week to Jones, Bradley Davies; , Scott Behind the scrum, centre Jonathan Dav- have a fi nal update on injuries, but we know Baldwin, Rob Evans ies has been given the all-clear after missing where we are earlier than expected and have Replacements: , , French club side Clermont’s Top 14 match told the squad, hence announcing (the team) , , Justin Tipuric, against Castres last weekend because of a today (Tuesday) as well.” Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, Gareth groin problem. Wales, who drew against defending cham- Anscombe.

SIX NATIONS FOCUS NZ still the superpower Jones tells England to in Super Rugby’s revel in rivals’ hatred new world Reuters ‘Maybe Clive Woodward summed it up best when he said everyone hates England—that’s true’ Sydney uper Rugby enters a brave new world when it embarks on its 21st season on Friday but de- spite expansion into new mar- ketsS in South America and Asia, it is a fair bet the trophy will be heading back to New Zealand for the 14th time in early August. The competition’s 18 teams, up from 15 last year, are now spread over four conti- nents with 18,000km separating Tokyo, home of the new Sunwolves outfi t, and Buenos Aires, where Argentina’s debu- tant Jaguares are based. South Africa’s complement rises to six teams with the return of Port Elizabeth- based Kings, and the resultant rejig of the competition’s structure, with Africa and Australasian groups and four conferenc- es, will take some getting used to. What fans can still expect, however, is plenty of fast-paced rugby and a torrent of tries, more so now that the try-scoring bonus point requires teams to outscore their opponents by three fi ve-pointers. The southern hemisphere’s domi- nance of international rugby was illus- trated when New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina occupied the four semi-fi nal spots at last year’s World Cup. Europe still dominates in the money stakes, however, and it remains to be seen if the cash from broadcast deals negotiated around the new Super Rug- by structure can help stem the drain of playing talent northwards.

EXPANSION STRUGGLES Argentina will have their fi rst chance to shine on the regional provincial stage when the Jaguares take on the Cheetahs England head coach Eddie Jones speaks with in Bloemfontein on Friday, while the Sam Hill, Danny Care and Semesa Rokoduguni Sunwolves make their debut on Saturday during a training session. (Reuters) in Tokyo against South Africa’s Lions. Expansion teams have always strug- gled and that looks likely to be the case again this year given the Sunwolves only appointed coach Mark Hammitt in De- cember and were unable to secure some AFP that. And if we think it is appropriate we of the key Japan national team players. London will.” The Kings faced a player strike and had Jones will oversee his fi rst match at to be bailed out by South African Rugby Twickenham as England coach when Union to ensure their return after their ddie Jones has told his England the champions visit in the third round one previous season of Super Rugby in stars to use the hatred from of the Six Nations. 2013. If you are looking for potential title their rivals as fuel to power their When asked about the previous re- winners you could do worse than take in bid for the Six Nations title. gime’s decision to fi ll changing rooms Friday’s Australasian double header when EJones knows England have long been with historical signposts in the hope of Auckland Blues host the Wellington Hur- the Championship’s most highly- generating team culture by tapping into ricanes before the ACT Brumbies take on prized scalp, with the Celtic nations the past, Jones instead chose to focus on the reigning champion Otago Highland- and France desperate to topple a histor- what happens on the pitch. ers. The Highlanders and Hurricanes ical foe after centuries of shared enmity. “The whole week we spend trying to were the standout teams of last season Jones has no qualms about embracing get it right on the fi eld. The dressing and the fi nal was a brilliant contest fi lled the bitterness and the Australian called room is 40 minutes before the game,” with top quality rugby played at a scorch- on his team to revel in the animosity Jones said. ing pace. After frontrunning for much of ahead of Ireland’s visit to Twickenham “To me it’s not insignifi cant, it’s im- the season, the Hurricanes faltered in the on Saturday. portant, but it’s not something I’ll be fi nal couple of steps but should be among “Maybe Clive Woodward summed staying up at night worrying about. the contenders from the off . it up best when he said everyone hates “You go back to the (former New The Highlanders triumphed last year England—that’s true,” the England boss Zealand coach) Graham Henry situa- but might fi nd it more diffi cult with a said. tion when Tana Umaga was All Blacks target on their back from day one. The “Because of the history that is in- captain. twice champion Brumbies have retained volved with the social and historical “After fi ve games Tana went up to a strong squad and, along with 2014 ti- context, there is that long-seated ri- him and said ‘Graham, do you think tle winning New South Wales Waratahs, valry and hatred of England. You can your speeches are really having a good look to be Australia’s best hopes. feel it. eff ect?’ South Africa got what it wanted “I’m not going to use it, but within “And Graham said to Tana ‘yes I do, from the new format with a sixth team the side they can use it. As I said when I what do you think?’. Umaga said no. and shortened tours of Australasia but took over, I’m not English, I’m Austral- And then Graham never made a pre- Springboks continue to head north, ian, but I will be absolutely committed game speech after. weakening their franchises. The Lions to them. “To me, it’s not a signifi cant part of have had more stability than most and “I’m not going to talk to the players our preparation. It’s what we do out appear to have the best chance of be- about things I don’t understand. I only here on the fi eld during the week that coming the fi rst South African champi- talk to them about things I do under- will count. That’s what counts on the ons since the Bulls won their third title stand. But we have got staff that can do inside.” England forwards coach Steve Borthwick talks to players during a training session. (Reuters) in 2010. Gulf Times Wednesday, February 24, 2016 9 FOOTBALL

FIFA ELECTIONS FOCUS Sports court to rule on FIFA vote delay Sheikh Salman’s by tomorrow

AFP one of the lawyers, told AFP. Lausanne FIFA responded by saying that mobile phones and cameras would be banned in the voting he Court of Arbitration booths so that no photos could steely campaign for Sport (CAS) said it be taken. will decide by tomor- With the election campaign row whether to suspend reaching a tense peak, the prince TFIFA’s presidential vote after and Champagne have led com- candidate Prince Ali bin al-Hus- plaints about the arrangements. sein fi led a case seeking a delay. The fi fth contender is Tokyo Sex- The Jordanian prince, one of wale, a South African tycoon and fi ve hopefuls, wants transpar- politician. for presidency ent voting booths used at Friday’s Champagne called on FIFA to congress to fi nd a replacement for cancel the accreditation of UEFA Sepp Blatter. This call was rejected and AFC observers and indicated Born in London and a Manchester United fan, Sheikh Salman , with his steely grey by FIFA’s election commission. he could also go to CAS. Prince Ali then took the case to Champagne accused Sheikh hair, has been a discrete but determined football politician as head of AFC since 2013 the Lausanne-based CAS, which Salman, the AFC president, and said Tuesday that it had asked for Infantino, UEFA general secre- AFP a written response from FIFA be- tary, of seeking to “swamp” Fri- Dubai fore deciding whether to invoke day’s vote with supporters. “provisional measures” and sus- Champagne said the observers pend the poll. would give an unfair advantage to heikh Salman bin Ebrahim al- “The request for provisional Sheikh Salman and Infantino. Khalifah is a blue-blooded con- measures will be decided by The former FIFA deputy sec- tender in the FIFA leadership race CAS no later than the morning retary general said he had dis- who emerged from nowhere to of Thursday 25 February 2016,” a covered with “stupefaction” becomeS a frontrunner to lead world foot- court statement said. that AFC and UEFA observers ball. An unlikely win by the prince had been accredited “at the very The 50-year-old senior member of the would upend months of build- moment when these two confed- Bahrain royal family, whose sister is the up to the election which many erations are in their fi nal push in wife of the Gulf state’s king, has built up believe is crucial to salvaging the favour of their respective candi- heavyweight support despite human rights world body’s scandal-tainted dates.” questions shadowing his campaign. reputation. He added that those accred- Sheikh Salman has vowed to make FIFA faces mounting pressure ited were mainly members of FIFA rise like a “phoenix” if successful over arrangements for the vote Sheikh Salman and Infantino’s in Friday’s vote, when he takes on UEFA’s in which Asian and European campaign teams. Gianni Infantino and three other candi- contenders Sheikh Salman bin “It is clear that this reveals the dates. Ebrahim al-Khalifah and Gianni objective to swamp the Congress Born in London and a Manchester Infantino are the favourites. hall with confederation employ- United fan, the sheikh, with his steely Jerome Champagne, a former ees able to access the voting FAs grey hair, has been a discrete but deter- FIFA offi cial from France, has and their delegates,” he said in an mined football politician as head of the demanded that the world body offi cial complaint to FIFA’s elec- Asian Football Confederation since 2013. cancel accreditations for the toral committee. He had publicly backed UEFA leader Asian Football Confederation He called on the committee to Michel Platini to take over FIFA. The and UEFA saying they will be cancel “these unfair and undue sheikh entered the contest after Platini used to lobby for Sheikh Salman privileges” and warned of other was suspended over a suspect payment and Infantino. action if there was no response from FIFA and only registered on the fi nal Prince Ali’s Paris lawyers— by Tuesday. day for candidates. from the fi rm Szpiner, Toby, FIFA’s 209 member associa- Sheikh Salman told AFP in a recent in- Ayela and Semerdjian—said they tions are to vote for a new leader terview he “had never thought before of fi rst sought FIFA’s agreement for as the world body seeks to re- running for the post of FIFA president”. CAS to decide the voting booth cover from multiple scandals The Bahraini royal did not seem des- issue, but were rejected. that has seen 39 football offi cials tined for a career in football, though he They then asked CAS to sus- and business executives charged played to youth team level with top Bah- pend the election. with corruption by US authori- raini club Riff a. ties. Two companies also face Sheikh Salman lived and studied ac- PICTURES OF BALLOTS? charges. countancy in London until the mid- The prince has paid for transpar- Swiss prosecutors are inves- 1980s. ent voting booths to be sent to tigating FIFA’s management and In 1992, he obtained an English litera- Zurich for the congress. the attribution of the 2018 and ture and history degree from the Univer- “Only a transparent booth can 2022 World Cups to Russia and sity of Bahrain and then moved into the File picture of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) head Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifah on his arrival for a meeting with the prove that each voter is following Qatar. family construction, real estate and im- FIFA task force in Doha. his heart and conscience and that Blatter and UEFA president port-export business. there are no forced votes, by pre- Michel Platini were suspended The sheikh is wealthy enough that he “Nothing short of a complete The sheikh has the public support of head of the Bahrain association during venting voters taking photos of for eight years by FIFA over a two said he will not take a salary if he be- organisational overhaul and the the Asian and African confederations 2011 civil protests. their voting paper to prove that million dollar payment that Blat- comes FIFA’s president. introduction of stringent control which could between them provide 100 Rights groups say he helped identify they have followed voting in- ter approved for the French foot- In 1998 he became the Bahrain Foot- mechanisms will allow us to of FIFA’s 209 votes. players involved in the protests and did structions,” Renaud Semerdjian, ball legend. ball Association vice president and then re-launch FIFA in its entirety,” he His team believe he will also get votes nothing to protect them. president in 2002. said in his manifesto from the Caribbean and South America. “These are false, nasty lies that have He made a fi rst unsuccessful bid for a Sheikh Salman is also close to Kuwaiti been repeated again and again,” Sheikh ACTION place on the FIFA executive committee in ball fi ghts to improve its sullied name. powerbroker Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad Salman told the BBC. This month he 2009, losing out to Qatar’s Mohammed “Nothing short of a complete organi- al-Sabah, a member of the International signed a pledge to end rights abuses and bin Hammam, who was later banned for sational overhaul and the introduction of Olympic Committee and the FIFA execu- corruption in sport. life from FIFA. stringent control mechanisms will allow tive. The Sheikh is up against Infantino, Under-pressure FIFA The sheikh has said he would separate us to re-launch FIFA in its entirety,” he But his campaign has come under fi re Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, Jer- FIFA’s football and business activities said in his manifesto. from human rights groups, which ac- ome Champagne, a former FIFA deputy and bring in outside experts and act as a “From my point of view, everything cused him of involvement in the arrest secretary general from France and South set to approve the non-executive president as world foot- will be better than good,” he told AFP. and torture of footballers when he was African tycoon Tokyo Sexwale. reform package BOTTOMLINE

DPA Reform within FIFA had long Zurich been urged by critics, and for some the changes are not wide- ranging enough. ogged down by crimi- It took pre-dawn arrests of of- Platini prodigy Infantino takes nal investigations, and fi cials in Zurich in May and De- under pressure from cember in connection with a US sponsors, member fed- corruption probe, and the huge Berations, clubs and other sports controversy around the award- organizations, FIFA is set to ing of the 2018 and 2022 World centre stage in FIFA battle adopt a reform package at its ex- Cups (target of a separate Swiss traordinary congress on Friday. criminal probe which has now AFP he told the Swiss newspaper “I am not looking for Sweeping changes in gov- identifi ed 152 possibly suspicious Nyon Le Matin at the weekend. “A power. But football is going ernance - including a new role fi nancial transactions) to get the few months ago, I was not even through a diffi cult period for the president, term limits, ball rolling for good. thinking about launching into and some people now have greater transparency and the in- A reform commission headed ianni Infantino made this adventure. to take their responsibility” clusion of stakeholders - are to by former International Olympic his name as UEFA’s “But football is going through restore credibility of the ruling Committee (IOC) offi cial Fran- master of ceremonies a diffi cult period and some peo- nental confederations. football body, and to be trans- cois Carrard worked out propos- until scandal forced his ple now have to take their re- “He was named as a manager, ported down to the confedera- als which have been approved Gboss Michel Platini out of the sponsibility.” but he knows how to do politics,” tion and association level. by the executive committee race for the FIFA presidency. Infantino is multilingual, said one member of Platini’s en- “I do not want to wake up on and now go before the 209 FIFA The shaven-headed Swiss- speaking English, German, tourage. the 27th without these reforms members at the congress. Italian lawyer is in a close fi ght French, Spanish and Italian. He Infantino has Swiss and Ital- in place,” FIFA executive Moya If passed with a 75 per cent with Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim is also a workaholic trusted by ian nationality and is an Inter Dodd told reporters on Tuesday. majority, required to change al-Khalifah and three other can- the big clubs who were Platini’s Milan supporter. “The reforms simply have to the FIFA statutes, Friday they didates for the leadership of world major backers. Former secretary general of the pass. The world is watching and are to be implemented within football to be decided on Friday. Infantino is “someone that International Centre for Sports the opportunity is directly before 60 days. Since becoming UEFA general Platini could trust to reform and Studies at the University of Neu- the member associations to send The IOC itself wants to serve secretary in 2009, the 45-year- improve UEFA’s administration”, chatel, Infantino joined UEFA in a loud and clear message that FIFA as a role model as it underwent old Infantino has become best said a representative of a major 2000 to take charge of its legal and ‘gets it’ and is truly changing.” its own reform in the wake of the known to the football public as club, speaking on condition of commercial aff airs and gradually Another visible sign is the bribes-for-votes scandal around the man who takes out the lot- anonymity. rose through the ranks. election of a new FIFA president Salt Lake City’s bid for the 2002 tery balls when the draw is made The Platini camp is now an- According to his UEFA CV, in succession to Joseph Blatter Winter Games. for the Champions League. noyed by the ambitions of the Infantino handled contacts with who will not be present at the “Fighting corruption also Behind the scenes he has also Frenchman’s former right-hand the European Union and govern- congress in Zurich at the end of means that good governance for played a key role in giving the man who has come out of the ments as well as clubs. his reign since 1998 because he sporting organizations is essen- European confederation the fi - File picture of then UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino (L) and shadows with an ambitious plan He helped create UEFA’s fi - has been banned for eight years tial. The IOC has put the neces- nancial power to rival FIFA. UEFA president Michel Platini (R) during a press conference. for FIFA. nancial fair play rules that have by FIFA’s own ethics committee. sary measures in place since a He is very much a behind- Infantino has proposed in- aimed to rein in profl igate clubs Acting president Issa Haya- long time ... We have called on the-scenes fi gure much valued now wants to replace at FIFA. pealing against an eight year ban creasing the 32-team World Cup by stopping them spending tou says the election will “open and we expect all sports organi- by Europe’s leading clubs who But his rise would not have imposed by FIFA. to 40 countries. FIFA should con- more than they earn. a new era for FIFA and for the sations to follow this route,” IOC battle for Champions League come without Platini’s down- Infantino had said he would sider allowing two or more coun- Prince Ali bin al Hussein of future of football” while the re- president Thomas Bach said in honours and riches each season. fall over a suspect 2 million stand aside if his boss won an tries to host the event, he said. Jordan, Jerome Champagne, a forms “will start the process of December. Infantino was born in Brigue, Swiss francs (1.8 million euros, appeal. But now he is the the Infantino also wants to give $5 former FIFA deputy secretary rebuilding confi dence and re- Others calling for changes in- less than 10 kilometers (six $2 million) payment that Blat- main rival to Sheikh Salman for million every four years to each general from France and South establishing FIFA as a modern clude politicians, the European miles) from Viege the home vil- ter approved to the Frenchman the FIFA top post. member association and $40 African tycoon Tokyo Sexwale and trusted professional sports Club Association and major FIFA lage of Sepp Blatter, the man he in 2011. Platini is currently ap- “I am not looking for power,” million to each of the six conti- are also in the election. organisation.” sponsors. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, February 24, 2016 FOOTBALL

SERIE A FOCUS Barca worried about Premier League Milan draw dents wealth: president

Reuters referring to a set-up where Barca London and Real Madrid take nearly half of the TV cash between them. He is worried more of Spain’s arcelona are concerned best talent could be lured to Eng- Napoli title hopes about the fi nancial clout land by the new riches on off er of the Premier League but said Barca’s players were at- when the new English tracted by more than just money. Giacomo Bonaventura hit a first-half leveller as AC Milan boosted their hopes of Btelevision deal kicks in for top- “Our rivals are the Premier fl ight clubs next season, said League, they are the big adver- European football next season in a 1-1 draw that dented Napoli’s title hopes president Josep Maria Bartomeu. saries. We have to do our best to The 20 Premier League teams increase our revenues and our will share most of the 5.1 billion fi nancial situation to make the pounds ($7.21 billion) for live do- talent of our teams stay with us,” mestic TV coverage in a three- he said. year deal starting next term and “That is why I am so worried Bartomeu said they were Barca’s and we are working on this. We main rivals in the battle for play- want to keep the talent at home. ers. “I know our players are in “Premier League teams will touch with other clubs, it’s nor- have an incredible fi nancial situ- mal. None of our players said ation ... and we are worried,” he they want to leave,” added Bar- was quoted as telling the BBC on tomeu. Monday. “Most get better economic La Liga leaders Barcelona visit off ers but our players are not in Londoners Arsenal in a Champi- Barcelona for the money, they are ons League last 16 fi rst-leg tie on there because of the football and Tuesday. the fans’ commitment.” “The Premier League is the Barca trail Real in the soccer best football competition. It has rich list but Bartomeu said his the most interest for fans and goal was to reach one billion eu- most revenues,” said Bartomeu. ros ($1.10 billion) in annual rev- “They are doing things good enue to “develop our club and and keeping teams in the com- make it bigger”. petition where everyone being Real topped Deloitte’s Foot- equal is of interest for everybody. ball Money League of the high- “We have diff erent budgets in est earning clubs for 2015 on 577 Spain and it would be diffi cult for million euros, ahead of Barca someone like Leicester to be top (560) and Manchester United of the league,” Bartomeu added, (520) in third.

PREDICTION China can challenge for World Cup glory by 2026: Eriksson

Reuters “Ten years ahead, 15 years Melbourne ahead, I am quite sure that the China national team Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuain (R) fights for the ball with AC Milan defender Cristian Zapata during the Italian Serie A match at the San Paolo stadium in Naples. will compete to win the hanghai SIPG boss Sven- World Cup” AFP were forced to settle for a sixth draw of Cristian Zapata, the Colombian’s acro- 17th birthday on Thursday, did well to Goran Eriksson believes Milan the season that has left them in second, batic overhead kick stopping him from intercept Faouzi Ghoulam’s cross for Hi- China, buoyed by the tugal with Benfi ca and Lazio in It- one point behind Juventus. going clear and a defl ection sending Hi- guain as the Argentine ran in for goal. power and infl uence of aly before taking over as England Milan remain sixth, eight points be- guain’s angled shot wide. Callejon was replaced by Dries Mertens PresidentS Xi Jinping, can put coach and later Manchester City. iacomo Bonaventura hit a hind third-placed Fiorentina in the last Brazilian defender Alex then blocked a just after the hour and only minutes af- aside years of failure at interna- Eriksson moved to China with fi rst-half leveller as AC Milan possible Champions League qualifying Higuain shot on the turn and Jose Calle- ter his arrival the Belgian international tional level and push for World Guangzhou R&F in 2013 before boosted their hopes of Europe- place. jon should have done better when he fi red spurned a great chance when he struck Cup glory in a decade. taking over at Shanghai a year an football next season in a 1-1 Milan were given a special welcome by wide from only six yards while under Elseid Hysaj’s daisycutter off the far post. The Swede’s club has, like later and led them to a runner-up Gdraw that dented Napoli’s title hopes on supporters of Napoli, who according to pressure. Mihajlovic replaced a tiring Bacca with many Chinese Super League Super League fi nish last term af- Monday. reports hit the Rossoneri team bus with Milan were under the cosh but it took a French forward Jeremy Menez. sides, invested heavily of late in ter signing Argentina Dario Conca Napoli welcomed Milan to the San stones on their way to the San Paolo. defl ection from a jumping Ignazio Abate Minutes later Higuain beat Zapata to new players and facilities after and Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan. Paolo looking to capitalise on Juventus’s But the incident failed to cow Sinisa for Insigne’s angled shot from just out- a cross from the left to fi re his defl ected football fan Xi demanded soc- He said his move to the bur- stalemate at Bologna on Friday—victory Mihajlovic’s men, who, with 14 points side the box to bobble past a scrambling shot just wide of the upright. cer offi cials improve on just one geoning football market of Chi- would have put them back on top. from their opening six games of 2016, Donnarumma and into the net. When left-back Luca Antonelli disappointing group stage exit at na had been another fortunate But despite seeing Lorenzo Insigne have only been bettered by Juventus (18) To their credit, Milan restored parity blocked Mertens’s cross for Higuain, Mi- the 2002 World Cup. step in his career. provide a 39th minute lead with a de- and Napoli (15). almost immediately. Callejon had failed lan launched a counter that saw Menez China are in danger of an early “I think I am at the right place fl ected shot that just crept past teen- Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly to track back to pick up Bonaventura set up Niang but the Frenchman’s angled exit from 2018 World Cup quali- at the right time,” said the Swede, aged goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, made two timely interceptions on Car- and when Koulibaly inadvertently nod- strike curled wide of the far post. fying in Asia but Eriksson, who who also managed Mexico, Bonaventura pulled Milan level only fi ve los Bacca and M’Baye Niang before Bon- ded Keisuke Honda’s cross towards the Mihajlovic replaced Niang with on- managed the Ivory Coast at the Sampdoria and Leicester City and minutes later. aventura saw a defl ected eff ort fl y past back post, Bonaventura sent a volley past loan Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli for 2010 tournament in South Afri- held technical positions at clubs Napoli had the lion’s share of the best Pepe Reina’s near post. Reina. the last fi ve minutes but it was Honda ca, said the Asians would quick- in Dubai and Thailand. chances in the second half but Donnarum- At the other end, Jorginho and Insigne In a balanced second half, Donnarum- who tested Reina with a curling shot that ly see the returns on their multi- “I’ve been lucky. I was in It- ma was decisive in the dying minutes. both curled shots over, while Gonzalo ma was the busier of the goalkeepers. forced the Spanish keeper to save low at million dollar investment. aly during the 90s when every But Maurizio Sarri’s title challengers Higuain saw two chances thwarted by Donnarumma, who will celebrate his his near post. “Ten years ahead, 15 years football player wanted to come ahead, I am quite sure that the to Italy because there was more China national team will compete money and the football was very, BOTTOMLINE to win the World Cup,” he told re- very good. porters yesterday ahead of their “Then the 2000s, the English AFC Champions League opener Premier League, all the players away to Melbourne Victory today. wanted to go there. The future for China is great.” “Now 2016, it seems like every The much-travelled 68-year- football player wants to come to old coach made his managerial China. For Chinese football it’s Milan can battle for Champions name after winning titles in Por- very, very good.”

League, says coach Mihajlovic German football image not harmed by World Cup probe: ex-DFB chief

AFP leave teenaged goalkeeper Gian- Elseid Hysaj’s daisycutter off the Former German football Germany’s World Cup organis- Milan luigi Donnarumma scrambling far post. federation (DFB) president ers have denied allegations of at his far post. Mihajlovic replaced a tiring Wolfgang Niersbach believes a slush fund around the bid. Donnarumma has been solid Bacca with French forward Jer- the country’ football’s reputa- Niersbach, former DFB C Milan coach Sinisa for Milan since pushing Diego emy Menez. tion has not been harmed by president Theo Zwanziger and Mihajlovic insists the Lopez down the pecking order, Minutes later Higuain beat investigations into the award- former DFB secretary general fallen Serie A giants and Mihajlovic said he could not Zapata to a cross from the left to ing of the 2006 World Cup to Horst R Schmidt are also the can fi ght for a place fault the 16-year-old. fi re a defl ected shot just wide of Germany. subjects of a tax investigation inA next season’s Champions “I didn’t see the goal, but I the upright. Niersbach, who resigned in by German prosecutors linked League after a battling 1-1 draw think if Gigi didn’t manage to get When left-back Luca An- November amid allegations of to the payment made in 2005. with Napoli that dented their it, no one would have,” he added. tonelli blocked Mertens’s cross a slush fund surrounding the Niersbach meanwhile under- opponents’ title hopes. To their credit, Milan restored for Higuain, Milan launched a 2006 World Cup bid, said in lined his support in Friday’s Napoli welcomed Milan to the parity almost immediately. counter that saw Menez set up many meetings of the last few FIFA election for UEFA secre- San Paolo on Monday looking to Jose Callejon had failed to Niang, but the Frenchman’s an- months the 2006 World Cup tary general Gianni Infantino, capitalise on Juventus’s stale- track back to pick up Giacomo gled strike curled wide of the far bid was only “a fringe issue.” one of five candidates. mate at Bologna on Friday with a Bonaventura and when Kalidou post. “The international reputa- He also called on FIFA presi- win that would have sent them a Koulibaly inadvertently nodded Mihajlovic replaced Niang tion of the DFB remains good dential candidate Sheikh Sal- point clear of Juve at the top. Keisuke Honda’s cross towards with on-loan Liverpool striker in my view,” he told dpa in man bin Ebrahim al-Khalifah But despite a dominant per- the back post, Bonaventura sent Mario Balotelli for the last fi ve Zurich. of Bahrain to make a clear formance, Maurizio Sarri’s title a volley past Pepe Reina. minutes but it was Honda who Niersbach remains a member statement on his position on challengers had to settle for a Napoli had the lion’s share of tested Reina with a curling shot of the executive committee the subject of human rights. sixth draw of the campaign that AC Milan’s Serbian coach Sinisa Mihajlovic looks on before the the best chances in the second that forced the Spanish keeper to of world governing body Sheikh Salman, who has the left them in second place at a Italian Serie A football match against Napoli. half but Donnarumma was deci- save low at his near post. FIFA which on Friday elects a backing of the Asian and Afri- point behind the champions. sive in the dying minutes. Sarri, who was sent off a quar- new president to succeed the can confederations, has been Adding to the hosts’ woes in the last possible Champions this year we’ve picked up a lot Donnarumma, who will cel- ter-hour from the end for dis- banned Joseph Blatter. criticised by human rights ahead of what should be a League qualifying place. of points. If we keep on playing ebrate his 17th birthday tomor- sent, praised his players despite Niersbach resigned as DFB groups for alleged involve- mouthwatering race for the ti- Mihajlovic, whose side remain with this kind of intensity and row, did well to intercept Faouzi the disappointment. president on November 9, ment in arrests and possible tle, Argentine striker Gonzalo unbeaten after seven league concentration, we can fi ght for Ghoulam’s cross for Higuain as “I can’t fault the lads’ per- saying he took responsibility torture of player in connection Higuain, who has 24 goals on his games in 2016, told Sky Sport: third place.” the Argentine ran in on goal. formance, we didn’t give a lot to in the aff air surrounding a with pro-democracy protests league account, failed to score in “They dominated the game but Milan started brightly but Callejon was replaced by Dries Milan and we created several real payment made by Germany’s in Bahrain in 2011. He has back-to-back Serie A games for we had planned for that, other- it was Napoli who broke the Mertens just after the hour and chances,” said the Italian. 2006 World Cup organizing denied the allegations. Now to the fi rst time this season. wise it would have been impos- deadlock, on 39 minutes, when only minutes after his arrival the “But it came to a certain point committee of 6.7 million euros see what happens in the FIFA Milan remain sixth, eight points sible for us. Lorenzo Insigne’s shot defl ected Belgian international spurned in the game where we were just (7.4 million dollars) to FIFA. elections. behind third-placed Fiorentina “After seven games so far off the legs of Ignazio Abate to a great chance when he struck lacking that extra ingredient.” Gulf Times Wednesday, February 24, 2016 11 FOOTBALL

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW ABSENT PSV will miss banned De Jong Man City look to against Atletico

Reuters sity. We gave Heracles too much Amsterdam space in the second half and made the fi eld too big. “We can’t do that on Wednes- revive season with SV Eindhoven will day because Atletico are deadly miss striker Luuk de on the counter attack,” said Jong when they enter- Cocu. tain Atletico Madrid in Second-placed Atletico Pthe fi rst leg of the Champions slipped eight points adrift of League last 16 today. Barcelona after Sunday’s 0-0 Philip Cocu’s side won all their draw at home to Villarreal but home games in the group stage will also take heart from a con- visit to Kiev but must take on 2014 runners- sistent rearguard that has con- up Atletico without the sus- ceded 11 goals in 25 La Liga games pended De Jong who has scored this season. Manchester City, losers of three straight matches, look to save their sagging 17 goals this season to help lift Coach Diego Simeone said PSV to the top of the Dutch his team were still on course to season when they face Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League tonight championship. achieve their targets. Cocu, though, will be encour- “If you look at the objec- DPA aged by the return of infl uential tives we set at the beginning of London Mexican midfi elder Andres Guar- the season we are on the right dado following a hamstring injury. track and, apart from Barcelona PSV have kept clean sheets in who are diff erent to all the rest, he knockout stages of the Cham- their last three domestic league it’s hard for all of us,” explained pions League is the last place to games to edge one point ahead of Simeone. try and save a sagging season, second-placed Ajax Amsterdam. Atletico won 13 points out of 18 but that’s the position Manches- “I thought we were defensively in the Champions League group Tter City have put themselves into. a lot stronger,” Cocu told report- stage and will hope to repeat the Back-to-back home defeats to Leices- ers after Saturday’s 2-0 home 3-0 win they recorded in Eind- ter and Tottenham in the Premier League win over Heracles Almelo. “The hoven in the 2008-09 Champi- followed by a 5-1 thrashing from Chel- last line and the midfi eld worked ons League when the two clubs sea in the FA Cup have resulted in City’s well together and the players put were in the same fi rst-round longest losing streak since 2010. in a lot of work. section. They now visit Dynamo Kiev on “On Wednesday we’ll need to The return match in Madrid is Wednesday for the fi rst leg of their bring the same work and inten- on March 15. round-of-16 tie looking to kick-start a campaign that once held dreams of four trophies. IN SUPPORT But after slipping to fourth in the Pre- mier League and being bounced out of the FA Cup, the Champions League takes on even greater importance. Beckham pleads for Goalkeeper Joe Hart is confi dent they’ll respond. “We’ve got to believe that (City can Van Gaal patience win the Champions League),” he told the club’s website. “Or else there is no point in turning up on Wednesday. “We’ve got to believe that we’ve got what it takes. “You know, it’s the best of the best, and if you’re not at your best you will lose, simple as that, in this competition. “So it’s all about peaking for the game and being in the right place at the right time.” Controversy has swirled around man- ager Manuel Pellegrini’s decision to give fi ve teenagers their fi rst-team debuts in the loss at Chelsea. The Chilean defended the move saying he had to prioritize his side’s competi- tions because of injuries and a fi xture File picture of Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini during a training session. backlog. He’s taken a full squad to Ukraine that “Everyone wanted to play us because “The coaching staff will give us a de- “We’ve got to believe that (City can includes captain Vincent Kompany, play they thought it would be easy, but we tailed analysis of their game and will tell win the Champions League),” he Former Manchester United player David Beckham. maker David Silva and leading scorer beat some good teams.” us what we need to do to play well. told the club’s website. “Or else Sergio Aguero, who all were held out at “The performance and the result is “The rest is down to each of us and there is no point in turning up on AFP Beckham, while wanting Van Stamford Bridge. the important thing, not the team we are how well we put that into practice on the Wednesday. We’ve got to believe London Gaal to be given more time at And though Dynamo haven’t played a playing. We must play a very good game pitch. that we’ve got what it takes United, said he hoped Mourinho competitive match since early December, if we want to qualify.” “My feeling is that we can stand up to would get another chance to Pellegrini isn’t underestimating them. Olexandr Shovkovskiy, Dynamo’s City and advance further.” game run for City that began with the FA avid Beckham has manage a Premier League club. He only has to look back to when he 41-year-old goalkeeper, knows his team The match is the second in a three- Cup and ends with the League Cup fi nal come to the defence of “Jose leaving Chelsea, who managed little-known Malaga on an still face a stern test even if City are against Liverpool on Sunday. under-pressure Man- would have expected that after improbable run to the 2013 Champions struggling. Fixtures “We’re very lucky that we’re involved chester United man- the season they had last year? It League quarter-fi nals to see what can “We are up against a strong side in in a lot of competitions,” Hart said. Dager Louis van Gaal, saying the doesn’t make him a bad manager,” happen if City do. Manchester City, a team of world stars,” Both matches at 10:45pm “The majority of time when it comes to Dutchman needs time to turn the said Beckham, who left United for “If we think that it will be easy then, he said on UEFA’s website. “But they the Champions League we’re still fi ght- club’s fortunes around. Real Madrid in 2003, before spells for sure, we will be eliminated,” he said. have their own diffi culties and problems, Dynamo Kyiv vs Manchester City ing on all fronts. United’s 3-0 FA Cup win over with Los Angeles Galaxy, AC Mi- “I will always put up the example of Ma- and they have their own approach to the PSV Eindhoven vs Atletico Madrid “This is a good time to be a Manchester third-tier Shrewsbury on Mon- lan and Paris St Germain ahead of laga. game. City player and good time to be fi ghting.” day gave Van Gaal some breath- retiring in 2013. ing space but United still need to “He is still one of the best overturn a 2-1 defi cit at home to managers and I hope he comes BOTTOMLINE FC Midtjylland on Thursday if back to the Premier League as they are to overcome a shock loss soon as possible. to the Danish minnows in the fi rst “The Premier League is the leg of their Europa League tie. Premier League for the great United are only fi fth in the players we bring in, the great Premier League after seven de- teams, the money, the fans and feats this season, with Van Gaal the great characters that we have Relieved Van Gaal ready for under fi re for a ‘dull’ style of as managers. You want to see football seen as contrary to the managers like that in the game.” club’s traditional attacking ap- The 40-year-old Beckham proach in the eyes of many fans. won six Premier League ti- Recently the local Manches- tles and the 1999 Champions Europa League redemption ter Evening News took the unu- League—part of a treble-win- sual step of calling for Van Gaal, ning season, during his time at AFP And the Dutchman expects “So I think we have done it who replaced David Moyes—the United under Ferguson. Manchester more injured players to return to fantastically, I have congratulat- short-lived successor to hugely Moyes lasted less than a year action in the next few weeks. ed my players, I was very pleased successful United manager Alex at United after Ferguson retired He has captain Wayne Rooney but now we have to beat Midtjyl- Ferguson—to be sacked. and Beckham said some sort of ouis van Gaal insists sidelined for around six weeks land because it is also possible to But former United midfi elder a downturn was all but assured. Manchester United still with a knee problem while Mat- beat them. Beckham, a key member of many “As a Man United fan, I always have “a lot of chances” teo Darmian, Marouane Fellaini, “But it is not easy because of Ferguson’s victorious teams, hoped we wouldn’t go through for success this season as Adnan Januzaj, Phil Jones, Ash- Midtjylland are very well organ- told Britain’s Talksport radio on a slump, but it was inevitable,” Lthey prepare to face FC Midtjyl- ley Young, Marcos Rojo, Antonio ised, we have seen that in the Tuesday: “He (Van Gaal) is an ex- Beckham said. land in a make-or-break Europa Valencia and Bastian Schwein- away game.” perienced manager with a great “When the manager (Fergu- League tie. steiger are also missing. Shrewsbury off ered little re- reputation in the game. Some- son) left that was always go- United extended their FA Cup “I think in March a lot of play- sistance to a United side who times it takes time. It is not easy ing to be a massive thing, but run with a comfortable 3-0 win ers are coming back and then we’ll dominated throughout a one- being manager of Man United. you also lost players like Keaney over Shrewsbury on Monday to have a full selection, and with our sided contest and boss Micky “We have to look at results, (Roy Keane), like Scholesy (Paul secure a tie against West Ham full selection we were fi rst in the Mellon said: “You’ve got to con- we have to look at the way we Scholes) -- and Giggsy (Ryan United in the quarter-fi nals. Premier League,” he said. gratulate Manchester United on play, we have to listen to fans - Giggs) has stopped playing. And Van Gaal has now begun a superb display. the people that really matter at “You have lost such great preparing his side for Thurs- COMMITTED “You see players of that qual- the club—and I only hear great characters through the team, and day’s crucial home game with Van Gaal was pleased with his ity getting free kicks around the things about him as a person, as a (former chief executive) David Midtjylland as they try to over- team’s display at Shrewsbury area you always know you’re go- manager, as a coach,” the former Gill stepped away from Man- turn an embarrassing 2-1 defi- after the dismal defeats against ing to be in trouble. England captain added. chester United. They are all inte- cit from the away leg in Den- Sunderland and Midtjylland. “What we’re disappointed “I have met him once before gral parts of the club. mark. “Everybody shall say it is about is that we never gave the and he treated me unbelievably “We have had so much suc- The United manager’s future against Shrewsbury Town and fans a goal to cheer. well. He is manager of Manchester cess over the last 20 years that if remains uncertain despite the Manchester United has to win “We’ll be disappointed when United so there is always going to we don’t win something for one routine win against League One Man United manager Louis van Gaal (R) addresses journalists but we have seen very diffi cult we have seen the opportunities be criticism, but at the end of the season or two seasons people talk Shrewsbury, and Van Gaal ad- following the English FA Cup match against Shrewsbury Town. results in the FA Cup,” he added. back that we haven’t scored. season let’s see what happens.” about it being a crisis. mits Thursday’s fi xture at Old “The top team is not always “I’m determined I’m not go- “Man United is Man United. It Traff ord is a signifi cant occa- “But we have to win a lot of so we have to fi ght for a lot of winning. I think the performance ing to be any way critical of the MOURINHO RETURN doesn’t matter if you love them sion. matches of course. chances I think.” was very good, I said that already players because we came up Jose Mourinho, sacked by Eng- or hate them, they are one of the “It is in my opinion a big game “It’s easily spoken about but Van Gaal could have fi rst- at half-time to my players. against some fantastic quality. lish champions Chelsea after the biggest, if not the biggest, club in because it’s a chance to qualify doing it is diff erent. But it is pos- choice goalkeeper David De “They were very committed, “The players can walk away Blues’ woeful start to this sea- the world and you have to keep for the Champions League next sible and then we’ll see. Gea fi t to face Midtjylland after they performed our game-plan with their heads held high be- son, has been touted as a possible that reputation. The only way season (by winning the Europa “Still everything is possible, he suff ered a knee injury in the very well and the consequence was cause they gave us everything replacement for Van Gaal at Old you can keep that reputation is League),” he said. we’re still in three competitions, warm-up for the fi rst leg. we were ahead 2-0 at half-time. they had.” Traff ord. by winning trophies.”

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW / AL AIN vs EL JAISH 6pm Jaish to take on Rajabzadeh strike Al Ain in opener, gives Zob Ahan 1-0 hope to match exploits of 2013 victory at Lekhwiya Djamel Belmadi’s side will next travel to the Iranian club on March 1

AFC Doha

ahdi Rajabzadeh’s rapid fi re strike in the opening minute of the second half was enough to ensure Zob Ahan started their 2016 AFC Champions MLeague campaign with a 1-0 win over Qatar Stars League champions Lekhwiya yesterday. Rajabzadeh scored with less than a minute on the second-half clock to give Yahya Golmoham- In this February 9, 2016, picture, El Jaish’s Mohamed Methnani (left) madi’s side all three points in the teams’ opening is in action against Naft Tehran in the AFC Champions League playoff Group B clash at Abdulla bin Khalifa Stadium. match in Tehran. Lekhwiya had started brightly and, within the opening three minutes, Djamal Belmadi’s side AFC has set Al Ain a minimum haul could have taken the lead, only for Zob Ahan Al Ain of 10 points in order to progress goalkeeper Mohamed Rashid Mazaheri to drop from Group D. quickly to the left to push Alain Dioko’s low shot The Arabian Gulf League away from goal before Walid Ismail hacked the l Jaish are returning to the champions go into the game at ball to safety. AFC Champions League Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium on the At the other end, Morteza Tabrezi threatened Group Stage today for the back of a 2-1 defeat to Al Shabab when he burst down the right before sending fi rst time since 2014 after in their domestic campaign but in a low cross that forced Lekhwiya goalkeeper failingE to make it last time out looking to advance from the Amine Lecomte to drop low to collect, but it was following a 1-0 play-off defeat to group stage for the third succes- the Qataris who looked the more likely to score in Iran’s Naft Tehran. sive season. the opening 45 minutes. But after gaining play-off re- The Emiratis, though, have With 32 minutes on the clock, Ismail Moham- venge against the Iranians in a been drawn in a tough looking ed produced the most spectacular eff ort of the 2-0 win earlier this month, the group alongside Saudi Arabia’s half when he sent his right foot shot just over the Qataris will go into the Group D Al Ahli, Nasaf of Uzbekistan and bar from well outside the penalty area, and just opener against Al Ain full of hope El Jaish, so will be looking to get minutes later he went close again, this time fi nd- that they can making a winning off to a strong start in front of ing the side netting with a scissor kick six yards start in their quest to at least their home fans ahead of the re- out. match their tournament best turn fi xture next week. But, after a disappointing opening 45 min- Round of 16 performance in 2013. “Our target is to get past utes, Zob Ahan came out firing on all cylinders “Our task is very hard because the group stage and in order to at the start of the second half and with little we are playing against one of the achieve this we must get at least more than 30 seconds on the clock the Iranians best teams in the region, which 10 points,” said Croatian Dalic had taken the lead. means we must double our ef- (pictured), who will be unable to The goal-scoring move from Golmoham- forts and concentration if we call on injured duo Danilo As- madi’s side started on the edge of their own pen- want to get a positive result,” said prilla and Ahmed Barman. alty area after the Qataris gave away possession coach Sabri Lamouchi, whose “The fi rst match is always im- cheaply and within seconds Tabrezi was slotting team lost 3-0 to fellow AFC portant and what makes it hard the ball into the path of Rajabzadeh, who scored Champions League side Lekhwi- for us is that we will be playing from an acute angle. ya in their latest league match on against a strong team. Zob Ahan could have gone two goals up on the Thursday. “The two sides will go into the hour mark, only for Mahdi Mahdipour’s shot “We suff ered a big defeat in the match on the back of recent de- from outside the penalty area to sear just wide of local league but this is a diff erent feats but we have good, experi- Lecomte’s right post as the Iranians continued to tournament and it will be a new enced players who are able to get maintain the pressure. challenge for the players. past such setbacks. Five minutes later they went closer still, only “We will try to play with our “We want to win the match this time Kaveh Rezaei’s well-struck free kick own style and produce a good and hopefully we can get three from 25 yards out clipped the top of the crossbar performance in the match.” points which will give us a big after beating Lecomte for pace. Meanwhile, coach Zlatko Dalic push in the competition.” Lekhwiya grew increasingly desperate as the game wore on, but Zob Ahan held on to deserv- Lekhwiya’s Youssef Msakni (right) vies for the ball with Zob Ahan’s Ali Hamam during their AFC Champions League group edly take all three points. stage match at Abdulla Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha yesterday. (AFP) Megabucks Jiangsu fl op in Asian opener

egabucks Chinese side Jiangsu from Christian Amougou’s dismissal in spot near the half-hour. scoring boots at home, their compatriot Suning were expensive flops in the 67th minute for diving, his second After half-time Teixeira, a 50 million Adriano hammered four past Buriram Mtheir AFC Champions League bookable off ence, but still failed to euros signing from Shakhtar Donetsk, United as FC Seoul began their cam- opener when their newly assembled, break the defiant home side. showed his trickery and vision as paign in emphatic style. star-studded line-up was held by 1-1 by Elsewhere on the first night of competi- he set up Zhang Xinlin and Jo for Adriano’s quadruple either side of half- 10-man Vietnamese outfit Binh Duong tion, China’s Shandong Luneng, led by gilt-edged chances which were both time left him alone on the scoresheet yesterday. ex-Brazil coach Mano Menezes, beat smothered by goalkeeper Bui Tan until Dejan Damjanovic and Lee Seok- Brazilians Ramires and Alex Teixeira, Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1 away and FC Truong. Hyun weighed in to complete the rout who consecutively smashed the Chi- Seoul thumped Thailand’s Buriram Ex-Chelsea midfielder Ramires also in Buriram. nese transfer record this month, and United 6-0. swept a long-range free kick wide Meanwhile, evergreen South Korean ex-Manchester City striker Jo all failed to In Vietnam’s Thu Dau Mot city, Jiangu’s in what was a frustrating night for striker Lee Dong-Gook got the vital sec- find the net in an inauspicious competi- night started encouragingly when Xiang Petrescu, another former player for the ond goal for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors tive debut. Ji put them 1-0 up on 13 minutes, only London club. as the 2006 winners started with a 2-1 Dan Petrescu’s new-look team benefited for Anh Duc to level from the penalty While Jiangsu’s Brazilians left their victory over FC Tokyo. El Jaish coach Sabri Lamouchi

Qatar Open Shotgun Championship

Beijing Olympics trap event gold medallist and defending champion Satu Makela-Nummela of Finland will be in action in the Qatar Open Shotgun Championship at Lusail Shooting Range today. Yesterday, it was a training day for shooters participating in the trap event.