14 Wednesday, July 8, 2020 Sports Qatar is the best place Clubs continue with for football, says Umm their preparations Salal’s Enes Sipovic NES Sipovic from Bosnia and Herzego- vina has already made an impact with QNB When I compare QSL TO RESUME EStars League side Umm Salal (Romanian, Belgian FROM JULY 24 ever since he joined them in this year’s January transfer and Bosnian) leagues window from his native club with the QNB Stars Zeljeznicar Sarajevo. Enes, League, none of them a strong presence in Umm has the infrastructure Salal’s defence, speaks to qsl. like that in Qatar. This qa in an exclusive Interview, is the best place for as The Orange Fortress are trying hard to keep their po- football. Organisation sition in the top flight with in Qatar is at the top only five matches remaining level. I’m looking in the 2019-20 league that is forward to extend set to resume on July 24 fol- my career here. lowing a long break forced by the coronavirus (COVID-19) Enes Sipovic, Umm pandemic. Salal player Excerpts: Al Rayyan players during a practice session on Tuesday. Al Rayyan will play a friendly with Umm Salal on July 17 as part of their preparations prior to the resumption Qatar Stars League on July 24 after a forced break since March due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. How do you rate Umm Even players with big names How do you look forward Salal’s performance so far must work hard to stay afloat. to the times ahead? QNA safety of all, as all the clubs were cal teams. The kick-off timings Al Markhiya on July 17. in the QNB Stars League? We avoid close contacts in DOHA subjected to the necessary med- and venues of matches in the Al Sadd announced that I’ve been following the How’s your training going all sorts of training, especially ical tests in the midst of strict last two weeks (21 and 22) will Mexican player Marco Fabian QNB Stars League even before on now in the wake of the while stretching. We don’t stay QATARI clubs have contin- health procedures by the QSL, be finalised later based on the will leave the club as his con- I arrived here and I think this coronavirus? in the gym together either. At ued their ongoing prepara- the Qatar Football Associa- results and standings of teams tract expired on June 30. isn’t the position (11th with Coronavirus has disturbed a time, it’ll be a maximum of tions with the start of the tion and the Ministry of Public in the table, as the QSL is keen Also, Spanish midfielder 14 points) in the table, where us a little bit. This is the first only four or five players in the countdown for the return of Health. With all the clubs com- to provide all clubs with equal Gabi left the team following the Umm Salal should be. experience with online train- gym. We come for training ful- the Qatar Stars League (QSL) pleting their quarantine period, opportunities. end of his contract. Gabi played ing sessions and devices, and ly equipped from home. How- competitions on July 24, after more preparations began for In the meantime, Umm two seasons with Al Sadd, Don’t you think that Umm it’s not easy especially for ever, I hope we’ll soon come a long period of interruption the return of the league and its Salal will play a friendly match where he won the league, Super Salal have performed be- coaches, but we’ve no choice. back to normal life. that lasted for more than three remaining five rounds, as com- against Al Rayyan on July 17 Cup, and Qatar cup titles. low expectations? We’re now moving forward months due to the novel coro- petitions will be tough for all ahead of resumption of the Al Duhail Club recently I arrived here in Decem- with our restricted training. You have experience play- navirus (COVID-19) crisis. who are seeking to win points league. Al Rayyan is preparing announced that it had reached ber and I can’t review the work ing in the Romanian, Bel- The Qatari league compe- and make more gains. to face Qatar club on July 24 in an agreement with the Croa- people had done before. From What’s your training gian and Bosnian leagues. titions have been suspended The QSL had made an round 18 at Jassim bin Hamad tian star Mario Mandzukic to the moment coach Aziz Ben schedule like? How do you How do you view it? since last March due to the amendment to the schedule of Stadium, while Umm Salal are end a contract by mutual con- Askar and the club adminis- stay fit and get ready for All of those leagues are Coronavirus, which led to the matches in Weeks 18, 19 and scheduled to meet Al Duhail on sent, while Moroccan Mbark tration started rebuilding the the action? special in their own ways. I suspension of sporting activities 20 of 2019-20 season QNB July 25. Qatar Club decided to Boussoufa refused to renew side, we’ve been putting up nice After the vacation and came to professional football in all countries of the world and Stars League after reviewing cancel the friendly scheduled with Al Sailiya. performances. In a short period Covid-19 test, we stayed for at a very young age. When I canceled many major global the latest developments and against Al Shamal on July 10 as Al Arabi Club announced of time, we regained the club’s two weeks in the team hotel. compare all those leagues with competitions, especially in light recommendations, and in co- part of its preparations to play the renewal of the contract of reputation to some extent. During that time, we trained the QNB Stars League, none of the high number of infections ordination with the authori- against Al Rayyan. the team player Fahad Khalfan individually and focused on of them has the infrastruc- and the high number of deaths ties concerned. Al Wakrah Club announced for two seasons, to continue You’re new to Qatar. What improving our physique. Now, ture like that in Qatar. This as well, a matter which forced It had been decided to that the team will play two with the club until the end of the do you think of the level of the training is more about is the best place for football. most countries to announce the hold matches in each round friendly matches during the season (2021-2022). QNB Stars League? technique even though we ad- Organisation at the federation suspension of all sports activi- over three days and reduce the current camp period with the Al Arabi had previously re- The QNB Stars League is here to precautions. We hope and clubs in Qatar is at the top ties to uphold the safety of all. number of stadiums to be used teams of Al Shahaniya and Al newed contracts of a number of tough and whoever thinks it’s to be match-ready after play- level. I’m looking forward to The clubs’ preparations be- to two (Al Janoub and Al Sadd) Markhiya. Its first match will be players, including Jasser Yahya, easy to play here, he’s wrong. ing some friendly games. extend my career here. gan a long time ago and in many in order to minimise the pres- against Al Shahaniya on July 10, Khalifa Al Maliki, Jassim Jaber, phases in order to preserve the sure on operations and medi- while the second will be against and Mohamed Saad Al Badr. We have obligation to re-sign Son-Lloris clash as Spurs beat Everton tunnel at half-time, France Son and Lloris looked to Messi: Barcelona president goalkeeper Lloris confronted have buried the hatchet when the South Korea forward, they hugged at the final whistle AFP League second leg against shouting at him and shoving in north London after Totten- BARCELONA Napoli played at the Camp Nou his shoulder. ham secured their second win instead of at a neutral venue. The usually placid Son re- since the coronavirus hiatus. BARCELONA president Josep sponded angrily and the pair “It just belongs to the chang- Maria Bartomeu responded to ‘Setien will stay’ had to be kept apart by team- ing room. Outside you can say a storm of speculation by say- “Setien will continue, of mates Harry Winks and Mous- whatever you want. What hap- ing on Tuesday that the club course,” said Bartomeu. “I am sa Sissoko as the altercation pened is just part of football had “an obligation to re-sign” quite happy with the develop- threatened to boil over. sometimes,” Lloris said. Lionel Messi, calling him “the ment we are showing in the Lloris was irked by Son’s “Let’s be honest, we are in best player in history”. games despite the draws. failure to close down a loose a situation we are not happy “Normally we do not ex- “I do not regret the change ball in midfield moments with so we have to fight, to plain the discussions with of Valverde. The team needed a before Everton threatened make sure we all go in the players but it is evident that we Barcelona president Josep Maria boost. Setien knows our DNA, through Richarlison. same direction. have the obligation to re-sign Bartomeu with Lionel Messi. the model and he has brought “I think to concede a chance “Most important is to stay him”, Bartomeu told Catalan fresh air and new ideas and is Tottenham Hotspur’s French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Tottenham Hot- a few seconds before half-time focused on the team.