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Friday, December 1, 2017 FOOTBALL Rabia I 13, 1439 AH Neymar magic GULF TIMES lifts PSG as Marseille go second SPORT Page 3 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP QNB STARS LEAGUE Wait is over as Umm Salal hold Rayyan teams set to know to 1-1 draw

By Sports Reporter as star striker Abderrazaq Hamdallah Doha had to pull out in the fi rst quarter with a pulled thigh muscle. He was replaced their opponents by Mohsine Moutaouli. mm Salal were rewarded for Tabata’s free-kick went out in the their confi dence as they held 24th after hitting the crossbar. He high-fl ying Al Rayyan to a 1-1 then came up with a long-range vol- Kremlin Palace in Moscow will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup draw today draw at the Al Gharafa Stadi- ley which Umm Salal goalkeeper Basel umU in Week 10 of the QNB Stars League Zeidan blocked. Play was largely con- yesterday. fi ned to The Orange Fortress’ area and Rodrigo Tabata put Al Rayyan ahead Sebastian Soria missed a sitter. in the 49th minute, an advantage nul- Not long after resumption, So- lifi ed by Umm Salal’s Mohamed Sayed ria’s power-packed angular shot was in the 61st. blocked by Umm Salal’s Adil Rhaili at Al Rayyan stood second in the stand- the goal-line and Tabata was on hand ings despite the draw on 25 points, to slam home the rebound. while Umm Salal now have 15 points. The equaliser came when Sayed Al Rayyan may have dominated pos- headed in Rami Fayez’s cross from the session and created more chances, but left. Amid fl aring tempers, substitute Umm Salal had their share of opportu- Ismail Mahmoud had a chance to give nities. They were a determined lot as if Umm Salal the lead, but he headed they were hell-bent on arresting their over. So did Tabata who sent his free- slump in the last three games, which kick wide on the stroke of fi nal whistle. saw them losing two and drawing one. Al Rayyan are away at Al Ahli, while Tabata led The Lions’ attack even Umm Salal face Al Markhiya next.

Draw assistants pose for a photo on stage after a rehearsal on the eve of the Final Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow, Russia, yesterday. (Reuters)

DPA of one of the draw assistant, Argentina Uruguay’s Diego Forlan and 91-year- start to work.” Moscow great Diego Maradona, who famously old Russian football great Nikita Si- Germany midfi elder Thomas Mu- Umm Salal’s Adel al-Yafi (left) and Al Rayyan’s Rodrigo Tabata in action during the punched the ball into the England net monyan are also helping out, while eller said: “I am looking forward to it. QNB Stars League match yesterday. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed at the 1986 fi nals. former Germany striker Miroslav Are we going to get a tough opponent he rehearsals are over, the leg- Maradona, however, was not at the Klose will carry the World Cup trophy or not? We don’t need Spain and Eng- ends are in town and the last fi nal rehearsals because of a shoulder onto the stage. land in the group.” SPOTLIGHT piece of the jigsaw has been injury which needed treatment. The draw will use the tried and Former Russian striker Yevgeny put in place with the confi r- The hands of Gordon Banks, who tested procedure of small plastic balls Savin, an ambassador for Samara, one mationT that President Vladimir Putin made a legendary save for England containing the team’s names drawn of the 11 venues, sees Germany among will be attending — the World Cup against Brazil’s Pele in 1970, could also from pots — four for the teams and the top favourites. draw is ready to begin. be called on to help Gareth Southgate’s eight for the eight groups. “They could come here with three Gulf Cup deadline Thirty of the 32 team coaches are England side as one of the other assist- Germany, who are seeking back-to- teams,” he told DPA, but says he also in Moscow to attend the cere- ants at the star-studded event just a back titles, France, Brazil and Argenti- wouldn’t mind seeing a team like Ice- mony at the State Kremlin Palace in a short walk from Putin’s Kremlin offi ce. na will be among the favourites for the land along with Brazil playing in the long-anticipated event being televised “It doesn’t make any diff erence to June 14-July 15 tournament but now city during the tournament — and also extended to Dec 4 in more than 200 territories around be honest because whoever we pick much will now depend on the luck of Russia reaching the knock-out stage. the world. out for them you still have to get the today’s draw. Today’s top players won’t be in AFP ‘withdrawn’ from the eight-team tour- Former England striker Gary Linek- results,” Banks said of England’s pos- Germany coach Joachim Loew says Moscow, but most will be glued to the Doha nament after failing to respond to a er spent Thursday celebrating his 57th sible opponents. he is relaxed about it all, but is eager television — Brazil star Neymar among written invitation to take part. birthday as he ran through the last re- Another meeting with Brazil might to fi nalise his planning which will also them. Saudi Arabia is the only nation in hearsals as draw co-host with Russian be just what England need. “When- mean choosing a team base. “Obviously you can’t wait to fi nd November 30 deadline to an- the region which has qualifi ed for next sports journalist Maria Komandnaya ever you play against a big side you to “The pulse is not higher because of out who you’re going to play against,” nounce if the Qatar-hosted year’s World Cup fi nals in Russia. for the hour-long ceremony. tend to raise your game and say ‘come it,” he said before leaving for Moscow. he told FIFA.com. Gulf Cup will take place amid The slim chance that the Gulf Cup England, for one, will be hoping on let’s show them what we can do’,” “But of course I’m going there with ex- “But I don’t think it matters too an ongoing regional political will go ahead rests with Kuwait. Lineker provides them with some good he said. citement — which opponents we’ll have, much. It’s one of those occasions where Acrisis has been pushed back, an offi cial Although Kuwait is not part of the fortune in the draw — but the Three World Cup winners Laurent Blanc which way we can get our of group. you put the popcorn in the microwave said yesterday. The fi nal decision will political dispute — it has acted as a Lions might have to hope too for the of France, Cafu of Brazil, Fabio Can- “Then we can concentrate spe- and call your family and friends together now be made early next week following regional mediator since the crisis be- helping “hand of God” — in the form navaro of Italy, Carles Puyol of Spain, cifi cally on other teams. Then we can to watch it on television.” a meeting on December 4 — just 18 days gan back in June — its football asso- before the tournament is scheduled to ciation has its own separate problems start — Jassim al-Rumaihi, Arab Gulf and remains suspended by FIFA, which How the draw works highest-ranked teams plus Russia, Pot 4: Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Ja- The positions of all the other teams Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) gen- means it is unclear if its team is eligible pot two has the next eight teams in pan, Morocco, Panama, South Korea, (from pots two, three and four) will eral secretary, told AFP. to play in the tournament. The 32 teams who have qualified will the rankings, and so on. Saudi Arabia be decided when they are drawn. “We wait until Monday for a fi nal The AGCFF, based in Doha, have be split into eight four-team groups, As is customary at final draws, a ball decision on this matter,” Rumaihi said. said they would go ahead with a fi ve- drawn from four pots. The groups Pot 1: Russia (hosts), Germany, Brazil, The four pots will be emptied by will be drawn from the team pots and Doubts have hung over the Gulf Cup team tournament. will contain one team from each pot. Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, drawing the eight teams they each then another from the group pots to because of a bitter political and diplo- If the Gulf Cup begins on December Teams have been placed in the pots France contain one by one and placing them determine the position in which the matic row triggered off by Saudi Ara- 22 it will be played between Qatar, Iraq, according to their position in the Pot 2: Spain, Peru, Switzerland, in the eight groups of four teams team in question will play. bia, UAE and Bahrain against Qatar. Oman, Kuwait and Yemen. FIFA world rankings for October. The England, Colombia, Uruguay, Mexico, (Groups A to H). Russia, as hosts, will There can be a maximum of two Monday’s expected fi nal decision Qatar are the current holders. exception to that are the hosts Rus- Croatia occupy the top position in Group A, European sides per group. No other will come almost six months to the day Usually played every two years, the sia, who are automatically in pot one. Pot 3: Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, while the seven other seeds will oc- football confederation can have that the row began. Gulf Cup was originally meant to be So Pot One contains the seven Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Iran cupy the top spots in Groups B to H. more than one team in a group. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia, hosted by Kuwait in 2016 but was moved United Arab Emirates and Bahrain were to Qatar because of the FIFA ban. Gulf Times 2 Friday, Decemebr 1, 2017 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT QNB STARS LEAGUE Gharafa ease past Neymar’s Brazil Al Arabi 3-1 confi dent ahead of W Cup draw The Selecao were the first team to qualify for next year’s showpiece

Al Gharafa players celebrate their win over Al Arabi yesterday.

By Sports Reporter At the other end, Al Gharafa’s Por- Doha tuguese forward Diego Amado cracked his shot against the horizontal a minute past the half-hour mark after defender Yasim Yaghoub made a mistake with osts Al Gharafa registered his pass. their second victory in the Al Gharafa playmaker Vladimir QNB Stars League when Weiss, who started the game for the Hthey overcame Al Arabi 3-1 fi rst time after recovering from an in- in the opening action of Week 10 yes- jury, was stretchered off at the fag end terday. of the fi rst half as he fell ill with acute The Cheetahs now have 10 points, pain on his right knee. The Slovak had while Al Arabi stayed on six. come off the bench after an hour in Ahmed Alaaeldin (61st minute), their loss to Al Duhail last week and Amro Seraj (73rd) and captain Luis scored their second goal. Al Arabi Jimenez (85th) scored for Al Gharafa, started the second session aggressively while Khalfan Ibrahim (58th) was on and were rewarded before long when target for Al Arabi in a match that came Khalfan Ibrahim found the back of the alive after the halfway mark. net after Yousuf Hassan, who kept the The absence of injured Syrian striker Al Gharafa goal in place of experienced Mardik Mardikian and suspended Ha- Qasim Burhan, fumbled with his shot. mad Ismail, an enterprising winger, Khalfan had missed their last two was felt in the Al Arabi ranks. matches de to an injury. Al Gharafa went on the off ensive The home team soon drew parity from the word go and created a couple through a header by Alaaeldin, who re- of chances in the fi rst 10 minutes. Amro placed Weiss and surged ahead through Seraj’s rising shot was tipped over the Amro Seraj, with Othman doing all the bar by Al Arabi goalkeeper Muhannad hard work for the goal. Naim, who blocked Othman al-Yahri’s Jimenez put the matter beyond the attempt soon afterwards. visitors’ control by converting a free- Al Arabi’s fi rst attempt came after 15 kick with a grounder of a shot that Brazil’s’ players pose before the start of their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Chile in October. The World Cup 2018 group stage draw for the June 14-July 15 minutes, but Yousef Ahmed failed to caught the rival defenders and goal- tournament is to take place on December 1, 2017 in Moscow. connect a cross in front of an open goal. keeper napping.

AFP Russia vows ‘no white elephants’ rent Brazilian coach,” said Pereira at ESPN Brazil Rio de Janeiro Mauro Cezar Pereira, a com- warns that questions over PREVIEW Moscow: Russia’s World Nations have begun to shy mentator for the cable chan- Neymar’s mental toughness Cup organising commit- away from staging major nel ESPN Brazil. could haunt the team in Rus- razil are full of con- tee chief vowed to AFP sport tournaments such “Unlike the former selec- sia. fi dence ahead of to- yesterday that next year’s as the Olympic Games be- tors, he’s in touch with mod- “I think he’s still too im- Sadd coach Ferreira not day’s World Cup draw addition of the showpiece cause of the costs involved ern football and knew how to mature. He needs to watch out Bin Russia — and it’s football competition will and the risk of much of the rapidly reorganise the team. because at the World Cup all not all just about Neymar. leave behind no abandoned infrastructure falling into It’s not the best generation of his opponents will be trying to taking Al Khor lightly Coming back after the “white elephant” stadiums disuse, angering the public players we’ve ever had, but get under his skin,” he said. mother of all humiliations in or hotels. about wasted resources. there are good players.” In defence, Tite has Mi- By Sports Reporter this year has been hit by the loss of their that 7-1 defeat to Germany Speaking on the eve of Sorokin said this was At the heart of the 11 are the randa (Inter) and Marquinhos Doha ace striker Baghdad Bounedjah who has while hosting the tournament today’s group stage draw not the case with Russia explosive trio of Gabriel Jesus (PSG), Marcelo (Real Madrid) been ruled out for several weeks after in 2014, Brazil are once more for the June 14-July 15 because many of the 11 host (Manchester City) as centre and Dani Alves (PSG), and suff ering an injury, but Ferreira said his among the top contenders. tournament, Alexei Sorokin cities required overdue up- forward, fl anked by Neymar even the luxury of Thiago Sil- l Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira team still packed a punch. The Selecao were the said in an interview inside grades such as new airports (PSG) and Philippe Coutinho va (PSG) on the bench. said his team will not take Al “We played several matches with- fi rst team to qualify for next the State Kremlin Palace and hotels — not to mention (Liverpool), although the In midfi eld, Paulinho, who Khor lightly when they square out Baghdad Bounedjah, so his absence year’s showpiece, wrapping that Western sanctions on football-specific stadiums three are encouraged to roam. has silenced his critics at Bar- Aoff in the QNB Stars League through an injury he suff ered during up South American qualify- Russia did not impact its that could improve fan Jesus stormed through the celona, and Real Madrid stal- today. our loss to Al Duhail last week won’t af- ing as runaway leaders with preparations in any way. interest and attendance. qualifi ers as Brazil’s top scorer wart Casemiro look sure to The Portuguese is particularly en- fect the side much. On those occasions, 10 points more than second- And he admitted that “Needless to say, it is infra- with seven goals and fi ve as- start. thused at the prospect of playing at the we relied on Qatar international Has- place Uruguay. the national squad faced structure that would have sists. Neymar is an even bigger However, Renato Augusto, Khalifa International Stadium where Al san al-Haidous and Algerian attacking They have a fi ery attack, strong pressure to do well been built anyway — noth- star, coming off the euphoria who plays in China, is going Sadd had won the Emir Cup earlier this midfi elder Jugurtha Hamroun. Against a solid defence and in Tite a at home, but stressed that ing was built specifically of his record-breaking 222mn to have to battle for his place year. Al Khor, Baghdad’s replacement will be coach who in a short time has Russia liked to play up to for the World Cup,” said euros ($264mn) transfer from against Fernandinho, a fa- “We’ve wonderful and beautiful there in attack,” he added. managed to lift the team from the level of its competition Sorokin. Barcelona to PSG. vourite of Guardiola at Man memories that we can’t forget at the Last week, Al Sadd lost 4-2 to Duhail its meltdown and restore the and did not fear giants such “No white elephants, noth- But he continues to struggle City. Khalifa International Stadium when we to slip to third in the standings, but Fer- faith of desperate fans. as defending champions ing unneeded, nothing with discipline, racking up six In goal, Roma’s Alisson has faced Al Rayyan in last season’s Emir’s reira said the defeat didn’t refl ect the When he took over in June Germany or other big superfluous, everything yellow cards in 14 qualifi ca- moved up from the bench but Cup fi nal. We won that match and hope team’s true abilities. 2016, Tite inherited a team teams. will be put to use for Rus- tion matches, with his habit has Manchester City’s Eder- we win again, this time against Al Khor,” “We had made many mistakes against that may have a history of fi ve ‘Nothing unneeded, nothing sian citizens in the coming for irritability growing over son breathing down his neck. said Ferreira Al Duhail, but we didn’t deserve a 2-4 world championships, but un- superfluous’ years,” he said in English. the most recent games. Tite likes keeping his play- “The match with Al Khor is diffi cult defeat as the margin didn’t indicate in- der his predecessor Dunga had Dogged by his image as ers keen. and we’re expecting the return from in- tensity of the battle on the fi eld,” said slipped to sixth in the regional football’s spoiled child, a “Every time we meet, he juries of a couple of key players. I don’t Ferreira. Meanwhile, Al Khor coach qualifi cation. Brazil risked not the collective. Of the 12 re- many changes to the team tearful Neymar attended a says it was a real headache to like to talk about the absence of key Nassif al-Bayawi admitted his side had going to Russia at all. maining qualifi cation match- sheet to achieve this remark- November 10 press confer- choose the team and that we players through injuries and national a tough task on hand. But under Tite’s guidance, es, Brazil won 10 and drew able revival. ence alongside Tite, after a all have to keep giving every- team commitments even though we’ve “Al Sadd are a strong side and title the team turned around, re- two, scoring 30 goals and con- “Tite isn’t a coach like (Pep) friendly against Japan, to deny thing at our clubs,” Neymar suff ered the most because of these contenders, so we’ve a tough task on discovering its beautiful game ceding just three. Guardiola who comes in with rumours of tensions between said after Brazil’s most recent reasons. I hope it’ll be an entertaining hand. No doubt about it. Nevertheless, and getting the individual The former Corinthians big new innovations, but he is him and PSG coach Unai Em- game, a 0-0 draw with Eng- game,” he added we’ll put up a stiff resistance and try to stars to work more as part of coach didn’t have to make without doubt the best cur- ery. land at Wembley. Al Sadd’s chances of winning the title achieve a positive result,” he said.

BOTTOMLINE Sterling rescues City, Rooney lift s Everton Results AFP gust, although Wolverhampton Wan- time,” explained Conte. London derers took them to penalties in the “But I have apologised because I did Arsenal 5 (Lacazette 3, Giroud 68, Manchester City’s Raheem League Cup. the wrong thing.” 87, Sanchez 69, Ozil 72) Hudders- Sterling celebrates scoring the City went ahead in the 47th minute Mesut Ozil shone on his return to field 0 aheem Sterling scored a stun- winner against Southampton against Southampton when Virgil van Arsenal’s starting XI after illness as Bournemouth 1 (King 79) Burnley ning 96th-minute winner as on Wednesday night. Dijk, under pressure from Nicolas Ota- Arsene Wenger’s men thrashed Hud- 2 (Wood 37, Brady 65) Manchester City dramati- mendi, diverted De Bruyne’s free-kick dersfi eld Town 5-0 to tighten their grip Chelsea 1 (Rudiger 55) Swansea 0 cally edged Southampton 2-1 into his own net, with the Belgian mid- on fourth place. Everton 4 (Rooney 18, 28, 66, Wil- onR Wednesday night to preserve their fi elder awarded the goal. Alexandre Lacazette set Arsenal liams 78) West Ham 0 eight-point lead at the Premier League Romeu levelled with 15 minutes to on their way to a 12th straight home Manchester City 2 (De Bruyne summit. play when Sofi ane Boufal helped the league win by fi nishing from Aaron 47, Sterling 90+6) Southampton 1 Pep Guardiola’s side looked set to ball into his path and the Southampton Ramsey’s fl ick in the third minute. (Romeu 75) drop points after Oriol Romeu can- midfi elder hammered a shot in off the Ozil put the game to bed in a daz- Stoke 0 Liverpool 3 (Mane 17, Salah celled out Kevin De Bruyne’s opener, crossbar. zling four-minute spell mid-way 77, 83) only for Sterling to give City a 19th But with time almost up, Sterling through the second half, setting up straight win in all competitions and a exchanged passes with De Bruyne and goals for substitute Olivier Giroud and Played Tuesday club-record 12th successive win in the curled a glorious shot past Fraser For- Alexis Sanchez before fi nding the net Brighton 0 Crystal Palace 0 league. ster to send Guardiola into raptures on himself. Giroud completed the scoring. Leicester 2 (Vardy 13, Mahrez 45) It was Sterling’s third late winner in the touchline. Liverpool leapfrogged Tottenham Tottenham 1 (Kane 79) as many games and will have sickened Third-place Chelsea belied the fi rst- Hotspur into fi fth place courtesy of a Watford 2 (Deeney 77-pen, Dou- second-place Manchester United, who “What happened in the locker room scored a hat-trick as Everton beat half dismissal of manager Antonio 3-0 victory at Stoke City. coure 84) Manchester United 4 had closed to within fi ve points of the was amazing. We want to win the West Ham United 4-0 in front of Sam Conte for dissent to win 1-0 at home Jurgen Klopp’s side took the lead (Young 19, 25, Martial 32, Lingard leaders by winning 4-2 at Watford on league, but you have to celebrate when Allardyce, who is set to become their to Swansea City courtesy of a 55th- through Sadio Mane’s neat dink in the 86) Tuesday. you score in the last breath like that.” new manager. minute header by defender Antonio 17th minute and substitute Mohamed West Brom 2 (Robson-Kanu 45+1, “It was an astonishing end to the Elsewhere there were wins for Chel- Everton remain the last team to have Rudiger. Salah added a late brace, the fi rst of Field 56) Newcastle 2 (Clark 59, game. It means a lot,” City manager sea, Arsenal, Liverpool and upwardly avoided defeat against City, having “The problem is I was frustrated which was a stunning volley, to take his Evans 83-og) Guardiola told the BBC. mobile Burnley, while Wayne Rooney drawn 1-1 at the Etihad Stadium in Au- because the opponents were wasting goal tally for the campaign to 12. Gulf Times Friday, December 1, 2017 3 FOOTBALL

LIGUE 1 SPOTLIGHT Australia fails to agree on reforms, Neymar magic FIFA takeover looms

Reuters failed to agree to a more democratic Melbourne model for its Congress. That would eff ectively mean sack- ing the FFA board and installing its own lift s PSG to 2-0 ustralia’s football association executive to take over administration failed to pass a vote to secure of the game. The dispute centres on the reforms demanded by FIFA membership of the Congress, which Aat an annual general meeting has representatives of the country’s yesterday, paving the way for the glo- nine states and territories but currently bal body to take over the governance of just one vote for all 10 clubs in the top- soccer in the country. fl ight A-League and none for the play- Football Federation Australia (FFA) ers. win over Troyes said it had fallen short of the votes re- The clubs, who say they generate quired to pass a resolution to expand its 80% of the sport’s revenues in Austral- ‘Neymar is one of the best players in the world and can do something Congress, which elects members to the ia, want at least fi ve seats but the FFA executive board, by a Nov. 30 deadline off ered only four. good for the team at any moment. He scored a very important goal’ set by FIFA. The FFA’s proposal was defeated by “FFA will now formally communi- a single vote at the AGM, with seven of AFP cate the outcome to football’s world the 10 current Congress members vot- Paris governing body FIFA, which had in- ing in favour, falling short of the 75% structed Australian football’s stake- approval required. holders to agree on expansion of the Clubs representative Greg Griffi n eymar conjured up a mo- Congress by today’s date,” FFA chair- said Lowy, the son of former FFA chair- ment of magic as French man Steven Lowy said in a statement. man and billionaire shopping centre league leaders Paris Saint- “We will now talk to FIFA about tycoon Frank Lowy, had “lost the locker Germain beat Troyes 2-0 on what steps can now be taken to resolve room”. NWednesday to pull 10 points clear of this issue so that we have a larger, more “The professional game voted Marseille at the summit. representative Congress.” against it, the two major states voted PSG thrashed Troyes 9-0 the last The FFA had called the AGM three against it,” the Adelaide United chair- time the sides met in March 2016, weeks ago to try to ram through its man told local media. but Edinson Cavani saw his fi rst-half preferred model for the Congress and “Once you lose the locker room in penalty saved by Mamadou Samassa end a long-running deadlock with sport, it’s very diffi cult to get it back. at the Parc des Princes. club owners. FIFA said it would install “I think it has to go to FIFA. It’s re- Unai Emery’s side appeared to be a ‘normalisation committee’ if the FFA grettable but that’s what it is.” running out of ideas and heading towards their fi rst dropped points at home this term before Neymar crashed in a terrifi c left-footed strike SERIE A to break the deadlock on 73 minutes. Cavani then atoned for his missed spot-kick by wrapping up victory in the fi nal minute as he netted for a Napoli, Juventus league-best 17th time this season, the Uruguayan scoring for the seventh game in a row. coaches play down “’Edi’ (Cavani) and Neymar didn’t Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian have their best day and they managed forward Neymar celebrates to score goals like that, they are great after scoring a goal against importance of clash players and we’re lucky to have them Troyes at the Parc des Princes here,” PSG midfi elder Marco Verratti stadium in Paris on Wednesday Reuters “If we win we’d have an important told Canal+. night. Milan advantage over Juventus in the stand- “Neymar is one of the best players ings, but it won’t be a decisive game in the world and can do something because there are a lot of games to go,” good for the team at any moment. He apoli and Juventus share one said Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri. scored a very important goal.” of the fi ercest rivalries in Eu- “Juve won’t be out of it, they’ll play Earlier, Florian Thauvin starred as ropean football although it right to the end of the season because Marseille moved second after cruising hardly seems that way with they’re a great team.” to a 3-0 victory at lowly Metz, while Nboth coaches playing down the impor- He added: “I don’t think the ta- Lyon lost to managerless Lille and tance of today’s Serie A clash at the San ble means too much at the moment. Monaco were beaten at Nantes. Paolo. I view this as a prestigious match Rudi Garcia’s Marseille are now un- Napoli have made a fl ying start to which has a special meaning for our beaten in 10 league games, while Lyon the campaign and lead Serie A with 38 fans but I don’t see it as that impor- and Monaco sit two points further be- winger Lucas Ocampos rounded off 12-match unbeaten run under threat, goal at his mercy, but Lille held on for a points from a possible 42, suggesting tant for the table.” hind with Bruno Genesio’s men third, a comfortable win with 19 minutes to as he jinked into space and bent a left- much-needed win that dragged them that they can fi nally end Juve’s run of Sarri’s opposite number Massimil- above the champions on goal diff er- play. footed strike into the top corner. out of the bottom two and into the rel- six successive titles. iano Allegri echoed his sentiments af- ence. Lille claimed a shock 2-1 away vic- But the hosts didn’t waste much egation playoff spot. Juve have looked vulnerable by their ter his side beat Crotone 3-0 on Sun- Thauvin opened the scoring in the tory over in-form Lyon in their second time in drawing level, as Mariano Diaz Reigning champions Monaco suf- own standards but even so are still day. 18th minute at bottom club Metz, who game since suspending head coach beat Lille goalkeeper Mike Maignan to fered a third straight defeat in all com- only four points behind Napoli in third “The target is to get to March, still be still only have four points this season. Marcelo Bielsa, as home skipper Nabil Tanguy Ndombele’s cross and headed petitions as Claudio Ranieri’s Nantes place, waiting to pounce at the fi rst in touch with the leading group and be The 24-year-old persevered to cut Fekir missed a second-half penalty on in his 10th Ligue 1 goal since joining grabbed a 1-0 win with an injury-time sign of weakness by their rivals. ready for the fi nal sprint,” he said. inside his marker, before curling an his return from illness. Lyon from Real Madrid. winner. Inter Milan, who host Chievo on “We have played some excellent excellent fi nish into the far corner for “It was an off day I think. There are Lyon were given a chance to equal- Looking to bounce back from their Sunday and like Napoli are still un- football, and Napoli have been ex- his seventh league goal of the season. no accidents in football. We didn’t ise again shortly after the break, but 2-1 loss to PSG at the weekend, Mona- beaten, are sandwiched in between on traordinary, but it’s a long season and Brazilian international midfi elder play a good match,” Fekir said. captain Fekir’s weak penalty was co were hit by a sucker-punch as full- 36 points. it doesn’t really matter at this point Luiz Gustavo took advantage of some Lille winger Thiago Mendes pro- saved by Maignan. back Lima drilled in from the edge of Napoli, alongside AS Roma, have whether you are a couple of points woeful Metz defending to make it two duced a wonderful individual goal Mendes should have put the game the area in the third minute of added been the only real threat to Juve’s dom- ahead or behind.” before half-time, and Argentinian in the 21st minute to put Lyon’s to bed when he volleyed wide with the time. inance in the last few years but the Tu- Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain rin side have made a habit of winning underwent surgery on his left hand the key duals between the pair. on Monday and it is not clear whether Last season, Juventus won 2-1 at he will be fit to face the club he left in BOTTOMLINE home, drew 1-1 in Naples and also beat acrimonious circumstances last year. Napoli over two legs in the Coppa Italia It will also be an intriguing week- semi-fi nal. end for AC Milan where their former With only seven points separating midfielder Gennaro Gattuso makes the top four teams, there has been an his debut as their new coach after re- unusually friendly build-up with both placing Vincenzo Montella. coaches agreeing that, whoever wins Milan are away on Sunday to pro- Guardiola hails ‘fantastic’ today, there will be time for their rivals moted Benevento who have lost all 14 to recover. games so far.

Sterling’s self-belief DEVELOPMENT

AFP their celebrations, with injured French full-back Manchester Benjamin Mendy, sidelined with a cruciate knee liga- Allardyce named as ment injury, even hobbling half the length of the fi eld from the bench to join in. anchester City manager Pep Guardiola “Mendy’s crazy! He has a six-month injury and Everton manager highlighted Raheem Sterling’s grow- he’s running. Disaster!,” joked Guardiola. ing self-belief after his remarkable run The celebrations also continued in the home Mof late goals continued with a superb dressing room afterwards, with players posting im- Reuters Everton have lost seven of their 14 stoppage-time winner in the 2-1 victory over South- ages of the scenes on social media. London league games this season and cannot ampton. With the Manchester derby at Old Traff ord loom- qualify for the knockout stages of the City’s quest for a 12th successive league victory ing a week on Sunday, restoring their lead over Unit- Europa League after earning one point seemed to be over when Oriel Romeu’s 75th-minute ed to eight points was hugely important to Guardi- verton have named former Eng- from their fi ve Group E matches. equaliser for the Saints cancelled out Kevin De Bru- ola’s men. land boss Sam Allardyce as their Their poor form has come despite yne’s goal early in the second half at the Etihad Sta- “You have to enjoy these situations, you never manager on an 18-month con- spending more than 140mn pounds dium on Wednesday. know what will happen in the future,” the City man- Etract, the Premier League club ($189mn) on players in the last transfer But in sixth minute of added time Sterling curled a ager explained. said yesterday. window, including record signing Gylfi brilliant shot into the top right-hand corner, spark- “We want to win the league but you have to cel- Allardyce replaces Dutchman Ronald Sigurdsson, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, ing delirious scenes among City’s fans, with Guar- ebrate when you score in the last breath like that. Koeman, who was sacked last month af- defender Michael Keane and Dutch in- diola running onto the pitch in celebration. “What impresses the most is the heart with which ter the Merseyside club dropped into the ternational midfi elder Davy Klaassen. City’s last three victories have all been courtesy they play. What happened in the locker room was relegation zone. Allardyce’s task will be to restore stabil- of late strikes from 22-year-old, who scored in the amazing.” Meanwhile Guardiola made light of an “I’ve always thought Everton was a ity and return the club to being the regu- 88th minute against Feyenoord last week, the 84th angry verbal exchange with Southampton winger great club. Obviously, the club has gone lar top-seven fi nishers they were under against Huddersfi eld Town before his winner in the Nathan Redmond immediately after the fi nal whistle through a diffi cult spell and hopefully I David Moyes from 2004-2013, Roberto dying seconds against Southampton. which the City boss attributed to the visitors “time- can put that behind us as quickly as pos- Martinez in 2014 and Koeman last sea- “Before, he didn’t believe. Now, he can do that, wasting”. sible and start looking upwards again,” son. said Guardiola. “In the end, he had the personality to “I was telling him how good a player he is,” Guar- Allardyce said in statement. Everton’s new boss will bring experi- make the action, to put the ball there in the angle. It diola insisted. “Last season he destroyed us here and “Ultimately, it’s the ambition of the ence of managing a record six Premier was a real fantastic goal.” I didn’t know him. Today, he could not attack be- club, the ambition of the owner and the League clubs — Bolton Wanderers, Guardiola may land in trouble with the Football cause they defended all the time. Board, allied to the fact that it’s Everton Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, Association if referee Paul Tierney reports his dash Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola “Southampton have some super-talented play- and all the fantastic history, which have West Ham United, Sunderland and Pal- onto the fi eld following Sterling’s winner. celebrates after Raheem Sterling scored against ers, Redmond is so good one-against-one. But they proved to be key for me.” ace — during which he developed a rep- “I apologised to the referee,” Guardiola told re- Southampton at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester didn’t want to play, they were time-wasting from the Allardyce has been out of work since utation of building direct, defensively porters. on Wednesday night. ninth minute.” leaving Crystal Palace in May, his fi rst solid and hard-to-beat teams. “He said ‘you can’t go there’ and I said ‘I know!’. Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino, who role since stepping down as England David Unsworth, who took caretaker “I said ‘I apologise’, I couldn’t control it. I was so added. The scenes that greeted Sterling’s third con- once played in the same Barcelona side as Guardiola, manager by mutual consent in 2016 af- charge after Koeman was sacked, will happy, like all the fans, all the players. I wanted to run secutive winning goal seemed excessive for a routine was unimpressed by the amount of time added at the ter two months in the job following al- resume his role as manager of Everton’s behind ‘Rash’ (Sterling) but I’m not fast enough!”, Premier League fi xture. end of the match, although he was restrained in his legations he off ered advice on how to Under 23-side and academy director of the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager City players sprinted to the far corner to continue complaint. bypass rules on player transfers. coaching. Gulf Times 4 Friday, December 1, 2017 SPORT

GOLF RUGBY Lesser-known Australia’s Smith seeks Australians steal perfection

Reuters a pain-killing injection for a long- Sydney standing shoulder injury. England, however, have already lost hooker Josh Hodgson with a torn aptain Cameron Smith’s per- knee ligament while captain Sean fect year is likely to end with O’Loughlin was named at lock but is Garcia’s limelight Australia’s 11th rugby league struggling with a shoulder injury and CWorld Cup title on Saturday likely to be a last-minute decision on with his side virtually unbackable fa- his availability. ‘I wouldn’t say that it was amazing but it was good’ vourites for the fi nal against England. History is also counting against Eng- Smith won the State of Origin se- land. ries with Queensland and the National The last time a team from the Home AFP Atwal leads Rugby League title with the Melbourne Nations won the title was in 1972 as the Gold Coast, Australia Storm this year along with Kangaroos Britain side, with England only making in Mauritius with teammates Billy Slater and Cooper two previous fi nals in 1975 and 1995. first-round 62 Cronk, in what could potentially be They have also lost their last 12 pair of lesser-known Aus- their last game together after a decade matches against the Kangaroos and tralians stole the limelight of success at club and representative were considered lucky to make Satur- from headline act Sergio Gar- Mauritius: Arjun Atwal of India level. day’s decider after Tonga stormed back cia in the fi rst round of the fired a superb nine-under-par 62 He was also awarded the Golden from a 20-point defi cit in the last eight AustralianA PGA on Queensland’s Gold Boot as rugby league’s best player in minutes to get to 20-18 and then had a without playing a practice round to Coast yesterday. lead by four shots on the first day the world earlier this week and victory try controversially disallowed in their Jordan Zunic and Adam Bland both at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open over Wayne Bennett’s England at Lang semi-fi nal. shot six-under-par 66s on the par 72 yesterday. Park tomorrow (0800 GMT) would cap The match in front of fanatical Ton- Royal Pines Resort on a day marred by The former Asian Tour number one a phenomenal year for the 34-year-old. gan fans in Auckland, however, high- heavy rain that caused a number of de- posted a flawless round highlighted “This year things aligned quite well lighted the depth of talent amongst lays. by seven birdies and one eagle for me and I enjoyed the season thor- players of Pacifi c Island heritage, which The pair fi nished one shot clear of to hold a commanding lead over oughly,” he told the National Rugby could now produce the legacy offi cials reigning US Masters champion Garcia Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines, League website (www.nrl.com) after have long craved for the sport as it bat- and recent BMW Championship win- Sebastian Heisele of Germany, Louis being awarded the Golden Boot. tles credibility issues and struggles to ner Marc Leishman. de Jager of South Africa and Adil- “That is an important component in expand its footprint. Veteran Australian Peter Senior and son Da Silva of Brazil at the Heritage why I have been able to play some pret- The Tongans were boosted by several his fellow Queenslanders Daniel Nis- Golf Club. ty good football throughout the entire National Rugby League fi rst team regu- bet and Michael Wright also fi nished Major champion Louis Oosthuizen year.” lars, including Jason Taumalolo, who fi ve under the card. and George Coetzee of South Smith’s side have also played some snubbed New Zealand, and Andrew Garcia, who teed off at the early time Africa, who won this event in 2015, ‘pretty good football’, starting with an Fifi ta, who withdrew from the Austral- of 6.10, had fi ve birdies and no bogies were bunched up in tied sixth place 18-4 win over England in the open- ian squad, and are likely to stay aligned in his round of 67. on matching 67s at the €1million ing pool game and then racking up 186 with the island nation. Playing alongside fellow US Masters (approximately US$1.07 million) points in their four following matches Fiji made their third successive winner Adam Scott and last week’s event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, while only conceding 12. semi-fi nal, while they are on the brink Hong Kong Open champion Wade Sunshine Tour and European Tour. Australia winger Valentine Hol- of establishing a permanent team in Ormsby (who both shot 71), Garcia’s Atwal, who is the Captain for Team mes has been the benefi ciary of his the second-tier New South Wales Cup round was interrupted by heavy rain Asia at the 2018 EurAsia Cup, ar- side’s punishing form, scoring fi ve with former Kangaroos prop Petero sweeping across southeast Queens- rived late Wednesday evening after tries against Samoa in the quarter- Civoniceva leading the push for a pro- land. traveling 16 hours via Dubai from fi nal before he ran in six against Fiji in fessional side in the islands. The 37-year-old Spaniard said he Kuala Lumpur where he attended the semi-fi nal. Both were World Cup Both developments will be closely was pleased with his score on a course a press conference to announce records. The world champions are also watched by the existing powerhouses he had not seen before Wednesday’s his team for the match-play event relatively settled, with prop Aaron ahead of the next tournament in Eng- practice round. against Europe next year. Woods the only concern as he will need land in 2021. “Obviously a couple of rain delays File photo of Sergio Garcia. on the course is not what you hope for, but other than that I felt like I played in the past. DEBUT pretty solid,” Garcia said. ably the earliest I’ve teed off was 6:50, birdies and an eagle to soar up the lea- “So I know the holes where I can at- “I wouldn’t say that it was amazing maybe 7:00,” he added. derboard, his only blemish on the back tack and the holes where I have to back but it was good. “It was interesting. I think it was nine was a bogey on the par 3, 14th. off a little bit.” “The most positive thing for me probably the closest I’ve had a dinner Unlike Garcia, Leishman has played Senior, 58, now plays on the Euro- Kiwi Parkes to make would be to go a bogey-free round, and a breakfast ever.” the course many times before and said pean Senior Tour but lives on nearby which I didn’t realise until we got Leishman took out the biggest title that had helped him. Hope Island and showed his local done. of his career in September when he “The experience around a course knowledge with his opening 67. Wales bow against ’Boks “I’m obviously extremely proud won the BMW Championship on the like this when the greens are as severe The veteran Queenslander won the of the way I scored, being the second US PGA Tour, the third leg of the lu- as they are (is helpful),” he said. fi rst of his three Australian PGA titles AFP Aside from Parkes, Aled Davies takes time I played the course.” crative Fed-Ex Cup play-off tourna- “There’s a few runoff s and it’s nice in 1989 but showed with his 2015 Aus- Cardiff over at scrum-half in the other change “In practice rounds I’ve done it be- ments. He was one-over after seven to know where they run off from, and tralian Masters victory that he cannot in the back-line. fore, but in a tournament I think prob- holes on Thursday before fi ring fi ve I’ve missed a few greens around here be discounted. Parkes will partner regional team- adleigh Parkes will become the mate Scott Williams in midfi eld, with latest New Zealander to play Davies lining up alongside Dan Biggar for Wales after he was named at half-back. Leigh Halfpenny, Steff at centre for the one-of Test Evans and Hallam Amos feature in an Heavyweight champion Charr admits he’s not German, yet Hmatch against South Africa tomorrow. unchanged back-three. Parkes has shone for Scarlets since There are three changes in the pack Berlin: Manuel Charr had been touted does not hold a German passport. “I hope that I will then be able to The Koelner Express reported that signing for the Welsh region and quali- with Kristian Dacey and Scott Andrews as the man who ended Germany’s “I want to apologise to the German defend my title as a German citizen,” Charr last applied for German citizen- fi es for Wales after serving the three- coming into the front row alongside 85-year wait for a world heavyweight people,” he told the Koelner Express, added the champion, who faces his ship in 2015, but was rejected. year residency rule, which handily Rob Evans. Second row Cory Hill packs champion, but as it turned out, he is blaming his lawyers for the delay in first title challenge from Puerto Rico’s Since then, he has not filed a new comes up on Saturday. down alongside captain Alun Wyn Jones not a German citizen. obtaining German nationality. Fres Oquendo by end-March. application. The 30-year-old benefi ts from the and it is an unchanged back row of Aar- After the 33-year-old’s triumph “I have been relying on the work Charr, who arrived in Germany as a But Charr insisted that he feels Ger- absence of Owen Williams and Jamie on Shingler, Josh Navidi and Taulupe against Alexander Ustinov landed and advice of my lawyers, who five-year-old, had previously been man through and through. Roberts, who have both returned to Faletau. him the vacant WBA world title on were working on the process,” he evasive about his nationality. “For a long time I’ve felt in my heart their English clubs as the fi xture falls Faletau’s selection will be sure to raise Saturday, questions have been raised explained. He once said that he only has to drop that I’m German, and I want to fulfil outside the international window. the ire of the English Premiership. about his nationality. In a statement on Thursday, Charr by at the authorities to pick up his all the government requirements Wales coach Warren Gatland, him- The No 8 is understood to have a con- The Beirut-born son of a Syrian said: “This time, I will deal with the German passport, while on another in order to finally have this piece of self a New Zealander, has made four tract with his English club Bath that sees finally ended the speculation himself, passport application myself and not occasion, said his naturalisation paper in my hands,” said the heavy- other changes to the team that lost 33- him available for Tests, but the club will admitting late Wednesday that he leave it to other people.” process had been put on ice. weight champion. 18 to world champions New Zealand last now likely be hit with a fi ne for releas- week. ing him.

TENNIS Venus sets sights on 2020 Olympic Games

Reuters Wednesday. The tournament is one of Noah stays on as France Miami nine elite Masters 1000 events on the Davis Cup skipper ATP tour and one of four Premier Man- datory tournaments for WTA players. vergreen American Venus Wil- But since a 2015 court decision Paris: France’s Davis Cup cap- liams has dismissed any notion blocked upgrades to the aging facilities tain Yannick Noah will oversee his of announcing her retirement at Crandon Park on Key Biscayne there team’s defence of the title they anytime soon, saying she is ea- has been a suggestion the event could won last weekend with success Eger to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Ol- leave Miami altogether. over Belgium in the final. ympics. According to the Miami Herald, the “@NoahYannick has confirmed The 37-year-old had a successful tournament’s parent company has al- his wish to defend the Silver Salad year in the absence of her sister Serena ready signed paperwork with the ad- Bowl (trophy) and will be captain through pregnancy, climbing to number ministration of Miami Mayor Carlos of #TeamFranceTennis @Davis fi ve in the singles rankings after fi nish- Gimenez that will see scenic Key Bis- Cup in 2018. RDV in Albertville ing runner-up at the Australian Open, cayne, a palm-tree studded island near on February 2 against the Wimbledon and the WTA Finals. downtown Miami, host for the last time Netherlands,” the French Tennis The seven-time grand slam winner next year. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross Federation announced on Twitter has competed in fi ve previous Olympics proposes building a $53mn facility to yesterday. tournaments, starting in 2000, and has File photo of Venus Williams. host tournament events in parking lots Noah, 57, guided France to a tenth won three golds in the women’s doubles outside the stadium, while the marquee title but first since 2001 with a 3-2 event with Serena and one gold in the tennis matches would be held in Hard triumph over Belgium in Lille. singles competition. Rock Stadium itself. “It will be good if he stays,” said “I have no plans of stopping soon,” In a memo, Gimenez said the county Lucas Pouille, who claimed the Williams told American magazine En- has agreed to let the tournament leave decisive point in the closing trepreneur. “It seems somehow that Crandon Park before its lease expires singles against Steve Darcis on 2020 Tokyo is on the horizon. Isn’t that nance at the top of the sport with Serena derer fi nished second after winning the birth of her daughter in September. in 2023, in exchange for a payment of Sunday. wild? I’m trying to stick around for winning her 23rd grand slam title aged seven titles. The pair split the season’s QThe prestigious Miami Open $1.3mn and an agreement not to leave “You don’t change a winning that.” 35 at the 2017 Australian Open. four grand slams between them. hardcourt tennis tournament is poised Miami-Dade County for 20 years. team,” added Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, The Williams sisters along with ATP Spaniard Nadal, 31, reclaimed the The sisters will resume their rivalry to leave its Key Biscayne site in 2019 The deal must still be approved by the who picked up one point from Tour veterans Roger Federer and Rafa men’s number one spot with six tro- next season as Serena is expected to for the Miami Dolphins’ stadium, ac- Miami-Dade commissioners who are two over the three-day final. Nadal have re-established their domi- phies this year, while 36-year-old Fe- make a long-awaited return following cording to documents made public on expected to vote on it next Tuesday. Gulf Times Friday, December 1, 2017 5 SPORT

NHL MacKinnon scores in OT to give Avalanche win Agencies But replay showed that Colo- Bryan Little and Josh Morris- October 26. The Jets came into Denver rado’s Tyson Barrie was off side. sey scored for the Jets, and Con- the game 11-1-2 this season when Thirty seconds later, he hit the nor Hellebuyck made 23 saves. scoring fi rst. back of the net again — and this Winnipeg is 7-2-1 in its last The Avalanche tied it on Ker- athan MacKinnon one counted. “We kept our com- 10 games. Little put Winnipeg foot’s power-play goal with 6:37 scored a power-play posure well,” MacKinnon said. ahead 2-1 at 4:08 of the third. left in the opening period. Dur- goal 59 seconds into “We didn’t want to panic. Stuff Nikolaj Ehlers beat the Colorado ing a strange sequence, MacKin- overtime and the Colo- happens.” defense during 4-on-4 play and non put a shot on Hellebuyck Nrado Avalanche beat the Winni- Alexander Kerfoot had a goal put the initial shot on Varlamov from inside the circle and J.T. peg Jets 3-2 on Wednesday. and an assist and Nikita Zadorov before Little tipped a rebound Compher tipped the rebound in MacKinnon also had an assist, also scored for the Avalanche, chance under the goalie’s glove. front to Kerfoot. Alexander Kerfoot produced a who improved to 8-2-1 at home Zadorov tied it for the Ava- Kerfoot’s backhander hit the goal and an assist, and Nikita Za- this season. MacKinnon also had lanche with 8:03 remaining, back of the net just as Hellebuy- dorov scored for the Avalanche. an assist and fi nished November setting up MacKinnon’s winner ck shook off his mask and helmet Goaltender Semyon Varlamov with 20 points — fi ve goals and 15 in OT. “I think, 2-1, you’d like after a strap came loose. had 31 saves in his return to the assists — in 12 games. to be able to close it out,” Jets Hellebuyck quickly plead- lineup after missing four games Semyon Varlamov stopped 31 coach Paul Maurice said. “It was ed his case to offi cials but the because of illness. Bryan Little shots in his fi rst game since Nov. a hard, grinding game. It just goal stood. The rule states play and Josh Morrissey scored and 18 because of an illness. wasn’t a sharp game.” should be stopped immediately Connor Hellebuyck had 23 saves “We know this is one of the Winnipeg opened the scor- if a goalie has lost his mask and/ for the Jets. best teams in the league at this ing 8:43 into the fi rst period on or helmet unless the opposing MacKinnon reveled with his point,” Avalanche coach Jared Morrissey’s third goal of the sea- team has an impending scoring teammates when his shot hit a Bednar said of Winnipeg. “We son. The defender let loose just opportunity. “I have a helmet on Jets player and went into the net needed to rise to the occasion in front of the blue line to beat my forehead and it was about to Colorado Avalanche players celebrate their overtime NHL win against the Winnipeg Jets at the Pepsi 29 seconds into the extra period. and I thought our guys did that.” Varlamov for his fi rst goal since fall off ,” Hellebuyck said. Centre. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports

NBA SPOTLIGHT Players debate NFL’s proposed Warriors outlast $100mn donation

The Sports Xchange Philadelphia Eagles safety Washington Malcolm Jenkins and former NFL wide receiver Anquan Boldin are viewed as the he NFL proposed join- leaders of the Players Lakers in overtime, ing with its players in a Coalition. bid to spur social jus- San Francisco safety Eric tice change, although Reid and Miami Dolphins notT all players are on board safety Michael Thomas said with the proposal. they are withdrawing by re- The league submitted the leasing the same statement on fi nal draft of the proposal to Wednesday. players on Monday that would “With much thought and Rockets beat Pacers contribute nearly $100 mil- consideration, I’ve decided lion to causes considered im- to offi cially withdraw my in- ‘Our guys are competitive, so when we lose we tend to get a little angry’ portant to African-American volvement in The Players Co- communities. alition founded by Malcolm The NFL is seeking an Jenkins and Anquan Boldin,” agreement that players will the statement read. stand for the anthem in return “The Players Coalition was and put an end to the contro- supposed to be formed as a versial movement that former group that represents NFL San Francisco 49ers quarter- athletes who have been silent- back Colin Kaepernick began ly protesting social injustices last season. and racism. Players are expected to However, Malcolm and discuss the proposal during Anquan can no longer speak a scheduled conference call on our behalf as we don’t be- Wednesday night. lieve the coalition’s beliefs If they accept the league’s are in our best interests as a proposal, then the own- whole. ers would vote to complete “We will continue to have the deal at the annual league dialogue with the league to meetings in March, according fi nd equitable solutions but to ESPN. without Malcolm and Anquan National funding as part as our representative.” of the league’s current plan Reid was the fi rst player would off er 25 percent to the to kneel beside Kaepernick United Negro College Fund last season during the latter’s and another 25 percent to demonstration to shine a light Dream Corps. on police brutality and social The Players Coalition, injustice. which has fi led for paperwork Kaepernick opted out of for nonprofi t status, would get his deal with the 49ers in the the remaining 50 percent. spring and has remained un- Two players already have signed with some believing he expressed displeasure with is being blackballed from the the NFL’s proposal and plan league. to part from the Players Coali- Kaepernick fi led a grievance tion, a group of approximately against the NFL in October ac- 40 players. cusing teams of collusion.

FOCUS Grizzlies star Gasol denies engineering coach fi ring

AFP than just the relationship be- Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (centre) and guard Stephen Curry (left) compete for rebound against Los Angeles Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope during Los Angeles tween the two of them,” Wal- their NBA game at Staples Centre. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports lace said. “It just hasn’t been going AFP successive trips to the NBA Fi- 10 assists for the Rockets despite 104-95. Enes Kanter scored 22 points emphis Grizzlies well for us after a good start. Los Angeles nals the Warriors aren’t always struggling early with his long- Aldridge notched his fourth for the Knicks, who got a scare star Marc Gasol And there was no indication showing their “killer instinct”. range shot. game with 30-plus points this when Latvian forward Kristaps said Tuesday he that it was going to change “Our guys are competitive, Harden missed his fi rst six season, coming up just three Porzingis exited in the opening had nothing to magically any time soon.” tephen Curry scored 13 of so when we lose we tend to get a three-point attempts before fi - points shy of his regular-season minutes with what was diag- Mdo with the struggling NBA Memphis started the season his 28 points in overtime little angry,” he said. “It’s more nally converting from beyond career high of 44 points. nosed as a sprained right ankle. team’s decision to sack coach 7-4 before the string of losses as the NBA champion challenging this year than it has the arc in the third quarter. “It feels good - I’m taking my In Philadelphia, 76ers rookie David Fizdale. began. Golden State Warriors been the last few years. They Two more three-pointers time and fi nding my shots and Ben Simmons scored 31 points Fizdale was let go on Mon- The Grizzlies haven’t won edgedS the Lakers 127-123 in Los haven’t been getting quite as an- quickly followed as the Rockets trying to make the other guys and grabbed 18 rebounds in a day, a day after a furious Gasol since losing point guard Mike Angeles on Wednesday. gry this year as they have in the pulled away. better,” said Aldridge, who con- 118-113 victory over the Wash- was benched for the fourth Conley to an Achilles tendon Curry struggled from three- last few years.” Houston fi nished November nected on 17 of 24 from the fi eld. ington Wizards. quarter of the team’s eighth injury seven games ago. point range for much of the The score was knotted at 84- with a 12-1 record, with two six- In Orlando, Aaron Gordon He connected on 15 of a whop- straight defeat. But the Span- Gasol, who is averaging 19.1 night, going one-of-seven from 84 to start the fourth quarter, game winning streaks bracketing scored 40 points to help the ping 29 free throw attempts, 24 ish big man said he was sur- points and 9.1 rebounds, ad- beyond the arc before starting and the lead changed hands fi ve a lone home defeat to the Toron- Magic snap a nine-game los- of those coming in the fourth prised by the timing of the mitted he and Fizdale “didn’t overtime with back-to-back times in the period. to Raptors on November 14. ing streak with a 121-108 victory quarter alone as Washington move. see eye to eye all of the time”. three-pointers. Durant, who led the Warriors Harden said they don’t intend over the Oklahoma City Thun- tried to exploit his weakness “Nobody likes to see a coach “But we both had the same That put the Warriors up 115- with 29 points, pulled Golden to let up. der. from the foul line. change during the season be- intentions of making the team 109, and two days after their State level with a three-pointer “We’re never satisfi ed,” Hard- Gordon’s second career cause you don’t have enough a collective thing,” he said. shock defeat by the Sacramento with 46 seconds left in regu- en said. “Right now we’re play- 40-point game included six RESULTS time to work on stuff ,” Gasol “We couldn’t fi nd the formula Kings, they held on for the win. lation and both teams missed ing pretty well. We’re going to go three-pointers. He also pulled Warriors 127 Lakers 123 told reporters on Tuesday. to do that.” The Warriors, who were with- shots as it went to overtime. on the road and continue what down 15 rebounds. Rockets 118 Pacers 97 “I was a little bit shocked by J.B. Bickerstaff was named out Curry and Kevin Durant in As the reigning champions we’ve been doing.” “We were tired of the losing Spurs 104 Grizzlies 95 it.” interim coach and Wallace the loss to Sacramento, haven’t clawed out their victory, the cur- that kills your spirit,” Gordon Magic 121 Thunder 108 Memphis general manager said he will keep the position lost back-to-back games this rent Western Conference leaders Aldridge leads Spurs said. “So we went out and played 76ers 118 Wizards 113 Chris Wallace said the fi ring for the rest of the season. season – but they were less than Houston rolled to a sixth straight The San Antonio Spurs, third like we wanted this one.” Pistons 131 Suns 107 of the second-year coach was Bickerstaff went 37-34 as impressive in maintaining that win, a 118-97 home victory over in the West, were fuelled by 41 In the East, the New York Timberwolves 120 Pelicans 102 due to the team being undera- interim coach of the Houston record. the Indiana Pacers. points from LaMarcus Aldridge Knicks snapped a three-game Knicks 115 Heat 86 chievers and not related to any Rockets in 2015-16 after Kevin Head coach Steve Kerr admit- James Harden scored 29 as they handed the Memphis losing streak with a 115-86 win Raptors 126 Hornets 113 rift between Fizdale and Gasol. McHale was fi red nine games ted that after two titles in three points with eight rebounds and Grizzlies a ninth straight defeat, over the Miami Heat. Nets 109 Mavericks 104 “There were bigger trends into the campaign. Gulf Times 6 Friday, December 1, 2017 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT Stokes signs for Canterbury in new Ashes twist Reuters “After the approach from Cricket. New Zealand-born domestic cricket scene. Wellington Ben’s representatives everything Stokes arrived at Christchurch However, former test cricketer has happened very quickly for us airport on Wednesday and said and Canterbury stalwart Peter to the extent that we are now de- he was back to catch up with Fulton said he was uncomfort- en Stokes is set to re- lighted to welcome Ben into the family but declined to comment able with it, comparing Stokes’s turn to competitive team,” Stead said in a statement on his cricket plans. situation with Ken McClure, cricket as early as Sun- yesterday. The ECB distanced itself from a local player who voluntar- day after signing with “While Ben awaits the out- Stokes’s visit Down Under, de- ily stood down last week after NewB Zealand province Canter- come of an investigation un- scribing it as a “private” trip in a pleading guilty to an assault bury in a move certain to fan derway in the UK, he wants to statement on Tuesday. charge during a pre-season trip. speculation that the suspended maintain his fi tness and his con- That did little to alleviate sus- “While it would be easy to all-rounder is in line for a recall nection with the game.” picions in neighbouring Austral- draw direct comparisons be- to England’s Ashes squad. The confi rmation came a day ia of a plot to parachute Stokes tween the position taken recent- Stokes was omitted from the after police said they had passed back into the England team mid- ly with another player, we have England touring party to Aus- a case fi le to Britain’s Crown way through the Ashes. to reiterate that in that situation tralia and remains suspended Prosecution Service and were Pundits in Australia have ac- the player was free to play until pending the outcome of a police seeking advice over whether to cused the ECB of a cover-up and such time as he pleaded guilty to investigation into an incident bring charges against Stokes fol- a media throng greeted Stokes at the charges,” Canterbury CEO outside a Bristol nightclub in lowing his arrest on suspicion of the airport along with his par- Jez Curwin said. September. causing actual bodily harm. ents. The Stokes sideshow has “We are very comfortable However, Canterbury Cricket The police said that a 27-year- overshadowed England’s Ashes that he wants to come to play for Association (CCA) Director of old man had “suff ered a frac- tour and they lost the fi rst test in Canterbury for all the right rea- Cricket Gary Stead confi rmed tured eye socket” in the incident Brisbane by 10 wickets without sons and get back on the park. the 26-year-old had signed as involving Stokes. their star all-rounder. The second “The Ashes series is an obvi- an overseas player and would be The CCA said Stokes’s signing starts in Adelaide on Saturday. ous connection however that has available for a one-day match had been agreed by the England New Zealand coach Mike Hes- not been a consideration for us against Otago on Sunday in Ran- and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) son welcomed the prospect of or Ben at this time, he is just keen giora, near Christchurch. and sanctioned by New Zealand Stokes playing as a boon for the to be able to work again.”

PREVIEW FOCUS Clarke says he should have retired England need to get aft er Hughes died

AFP back out onto the fi eld.” Sydney Clarke, who was a pall- bearer at Hughes’ funeral and delivered an emotional eulogy ormer Australia cap- to his “little brother”, said that into the swing in tain Michael Clarke after he died, he felt fear for says he should have re- the fi rst time while playing tired a year earlier than cricket. heF did, admitting he struggled Clarke toured the West In- badly after the death of his dies in June 2015, which he friend and teammate Phillip said was a mistake. Hughes. “Going to the West Indies Clarke quit in 2015 after his was probably the worst tour of Ashes day-nighter 115th and fi nal Test of the Ash- my life in regards to how emo- es series against England and tional I was,” he said. ‘He was the diff erence between the two teams. That first-innings lead would’ve been huge said he didn’t allow himself to “I was there on my own. grieve at the time. Unfortunately Kyly (his wife) for us. So, getting him out here will be crucial. Hopefully more pace in the wicket might help Hughes, who played 26 couldn’t come because she Tests, died from bleeding on was pregnant and we weren’t us, but we’ve just got to be as relentless as we possibly can to someone like that’ the brain in November 2014 comfortable with her fl ying. after being hit on the neck by “I had six weeks in the West a rising ball while batting in a Indies... whatever we had domestic match at the Sydney on as a team during the day Cricket Ground. I would go back to my room “I shouldn’t have played an- every night and just cry myself other game. My career should to sleep.” have stopped then. It was too He said there were days hard for me,” Clarke told The when the pain of missing Weekly Review yesterday. Hughes was still raw. “It took me a lot longer to “I still have days regularly grieve his loss than it should where it’s heart-breaking. It’s have, or that I would have still raw... the emotion and liked. pain is still there.” “I didn’t allow myself to Since his retirement, Clarke grieve at the time because I has commentated on cricket had responsibility to his fam- for Australia’s Nine Network. ily, fi rstly, but then also as He also runs his own cricket Australia’s cricket captain to academy among other busi- my teammates and getting us ness interests.

WELLINGTON TEST West Indies morale high at start of New Zealand series

AFP ed the morale of the eighth- Wellington ranked side. “It’s done a lot. It was sig- nifi cant,” Holder said. he West Indies are not “But for me, that’s gone. dwelling on their Au- That’s buried in the past for gust win over England me. We can obviously call as they enter a two- on it at times when we’re TTest series against New Zea- down if need be but I just A groundsman sprays water on the pitch as England players and coaching staff stand in a circle during a training session at the Adelaide Oval yesterday. (AAP) land, but captain Jason Holder tell the guys that’s gone and uters marked out as the most likely for Australia’s Test venues after a Australia skipper Steve Smith. here will be crucial. Hopefully will use it for motivation if we need to create our future Adelaide an England win. Two statistics sympathetic modernisation, the However, much it was laughed more pace in the wicket might necessary. and pretty much live in the would suggest that a victory in Adelaide Oval has shed its repu- off afterwards, the Jonny help us, but we’ve just got to be Holder described his side as present.” Adelaide is all but essential if the tation as a batsman’s paradise Bairstow “headbutt” saga will as relentless as we possibly can being “in a pretty good place” Holder does not have good ngland must sweep aside tourists are to retain the Ashes since drop-in wickets were in- also have illustrated to the fi rst to someone like that.” as they go into the fi rst Test at memories of his last visit to the distraction of the they won with a 3-2 series tri- troduced in 2013. time tourists in Joe Root’s party Anderson, who has 508 wick- the Basin Reserve in Welling- Wellington when the West Ben Stokes saga and get umph on home soil in 2015. The grass will be left a little that the Australians will use any ets in 130 Tests, is expected to be ton today looking for their fi rst Indies were beaten by an in- the ball swinging if they None of the six previous day- longer than usual to avoid wear means to unsettle them. suited by the swing and move- away win over New Zealand nings and 73 runs four years areE to move back on level terms night Tests played anywhere and tear on the pink ball and If they can put their hosts un- ment with the pink ball off the since 1995. ago. with Australia when day-night in the world have fi nished in a Australia coach Darren Lehmann der sustained pressure in the Ad- Adelaide pitch in the twilight While New Zealand have On a typical green Basin Re- cricket makes its Ashes debut in draw, and only once has a team is of the view the wicket gets elaide twilight, however, it could conditions along with his new- been starved of Test cricket serve wicket, Holder won the Adelaide this weekend. come from 2-0 down to win an even more pace-friendly un- be ‘game on’ for the series when ball partner Stuart Broad. since hosting South Africa in toss and elected to bowl only Speculation over the reasons Ashes series – when Don Brad- der lights. “There’s a lot of talk England head to the third Test in Anderson said England have March, the Calypso cricketers to see New Zealand post 441 behind Stokes’s trip to New Zea- man’s Australia achieved the feat about it’ll seam and it’ll swing,” Perth, with Stokes or without. their plans to dismiss the Aus- are riding high after a 1-0 win and then roll the West Indies land have reached fever pitch in in 1936-37. While Anderson and Lehmann said this week. tralian captain, who is the against Zimbabwe following a for 193 and 175. Australia but would no doubt be Broad shared 10 wickets when “The ball stays pretty good, Smith’s wicket crucial for world’s top-rated Test batsman, dramatic victory at Heading- With the pitch again its cus- less intense had the tourists not England won their maiden day- but you can make runs if you play England’s chances: Anderson and will continue to execute ley during a 2-1 Test series loss tomary green colour, Holder is crumbled to a 10-wicket defeat night Test against West Indies well. And it does quicken up at England’s all-time leading them in Adelaide. to England. still prepared to bowl fi rst if he in the series opener in Brisbane. earlier this year, Australia’s pace- night – probably the fastest wick- wicket-taker James Ander- “Obviously, the plans to him, “We’re in a pretty good wins the toss. Whether or not it was a ruse to men have used the Kookaburra et around Australia at night – so son says getting Steve Smith’s I wouldn’t say they didn’t work, place at this point in time. “I could defi nitely see the get Stokes ready to play in a part pink ball to win all three of theirs that’s going to be interesting.” wicket cheaply is crucial to the but we didn’t get him out, so We’ve built up quite nicely this reason why people come here in the series while a decision is - two of them at Adelaide Oval. Australia are likely to stick tourists’ chances of squaring the they worked to an extent,” An- past year. We’re still not the and want to bowl fi rst,” he said awaited over a potential assault “It is a unique ball,” said Eng- with the pace trio of Mitchell Ashes series in Adelaide. derson said. “We dried his runs fi nished product, but we’re after surveying the wicket. charge, it is certain that England land’s Chris Woakes. “We have Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Smith was the diff erence with up and made him work really heading in the right direction,” “I don’t think there would will not be able to call on his con- not bowled a huge amount with it. Cummins, ably aided by Nathan his defi ant unbeaten 141 in Aus- hard for his hundred but obvi- Holder said yesterday. be too many batsmen in world siderable talents at Adelaide Oval. We had the warm up game here so Lyon’s off -spin, after bouncing tralia’s 10-wicket win over Eng- ously we want to get him out.” The West Indies’ fi ve-wick- cricket who would turn up and They will have James Ander- we can draw on that experience of England out in the second in- land in the fi rst Brisbane Test. Smith was made to grind out et upset win over third-ranked see that much grass on a pitch son and Stuart Broad on board, winning that game and hopefully nings to win at the Gabba. “He was the diff erence be- his runs. It took 261 deliveries for England in August – when ris- and be really into it. however, and it is the prospect that can stand us in good stead.” England know they need im- tween the two teams. That fi rst- Smith to reach triple fi gures in ing star Shai Hope became the “But we can be asked to bat of the experienced pace duo get- provement in all parts of their innings lead would’ve been huge Brisbane in what was the slowest fi rst player to score a century tomorrow if I happen to lose ting the ball moving that has had FASTEST WICKET game to get back into the series, for us,” Anderson told reporters of his 21st Test centuries in terms in each innings of a Test at the the toss so we’ve got to have an the second of the fi ve Tests long Still the most picturesque of not least fi nding a way to dismiss yesterday.“So, getting him out of balls faced. famous Leeds ground – boost- open mind towards it.” Gulf Times Friday, December 1, 2017 7 SPORT

HORSE RACING Bentley rides My Sharona to sprint feature victory Trainer-jockey combine of Ibrahim al-Malki and Saleem Golam post a double, so did Jassim Ghazali and Bentley

By Sports Reporter Cannon did well to step up in Doha distance, topping the 1700m Local Thoroughbred Handicap event yesterday, having fi nished njaaz Stud’s My Sharona fourth over six furlongs a fort- sprinted to a thrilling Umm night ago. Al Houl Cup victory at the Yesterday, Darren Williams Qatar Racing and Equestri- helmed the four-year-old colt Ian Club yesterday, as the com- to a fi ne win over Mubarak al- bine of trainer Jassim Mohamed Khayarin-trained Al Jamaaheer, Ghazali and jockey Harry Bent- while trainer Mohamed Hussain ley posted a double. managed his third top three re- In the Thoroughbreds condi- sult of the day when Jakom made tions race, yesterday’s 1200m it to third under Jean Baptiste feature, Bentley had the eight- Hamel. year-old mare go on the outside In the Class 5 Thoroughbred on the home straight even as Handicap event for horses rated Mubarak al-Khayarin-saddled 75 and below, JP Guillambert Astley Hall tried holding on to guided Sea Here to a pillar to his advantage under JP Guillam- post victory over six furlongs. bert. Saddled by Mohamed Riyaz, Sea At the post, My Sharona had Here stayed on the rails and into picked up a thrilling victory by a narrow advantage over the rest a head, while Ibrahim al-Malki’s of the fi eld before increasing the Victory Laurel completed the top gap in the fi nal two furlongs for a three. comfortable fi nish. Earlier, Bentley guided Ghaz- Golam-helmed Disco In- ali-trained Hydroxide to his fi rst ferno beat Avranche and his career win in the Class 6 Thor- ride Shaqran, who had done a oughbred Maiden Plate event. good job tracking Sea Here early The other trainer-jockey on, by half a length in the fi nal combine to post double was 50m. Ibrahim al-Malki and Saleem Earlier in the day, Marc Lerner Golam. rode Alanoud to victory in the Shaka Zulu led a one-two for Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate al-Malki in the Class 4 Thor- event for three-year-olds. oughbred Handicap event for Hussain-trained Risk Ad- horses rated 75-95. justed registered his fi rst victory Golam had the four-year-old in Qatar when Avranche rode gelding move into the lead off the four-year-old colt to a com- Jockey Harry Bentley (foreground) rides Injaaz Stud’s My Sharona to victory in the Umm Al Houl at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim Gate 2 early in the 1100m run. fortable win in the Class 6 Thor- At the business end of the race, oughbred Novice Plate event for do Pedroza). Won by: 2 3/4, 1 1/4, Seifeddine. another al-Malki ward, Api- maidens and one-time winners. 2. Owner: Dhafi Rashid al-Marri. Race 7: 1. Shaka Zulu (Saleem cus, came close under Eduardo Trainer: Mohamed Hussain. Golam), 2. Apicus (Eduardo Pedroza, but only managed a RESULTS Race 4: 1. Sea Here (JP Guillam- Pedroza), 3. Hope Cove (Pier runner-up fi nish, staying nar- Race 1: 1. Alanoud (Marc Lerner), bert), 2. Disco Inferno (Saleem Convertino), 4. Receding Waves rowly ahead of Jassim Ghazali’s 2. Bint Alfahal (Almotasem Golam), 3. Shaqran (Gerald (Almotasem al-Balushi). Won by: Hope Cove. al-Balushi), 3. Razad (Stephan Avranche), 4. Dancing Zafeen Hd, Hd, Hd. Owner: Ibrahim al- Khataaf logged his second Ladjadj), 4. Di Na Py (Faleh (Pier Convertino). Won by: 4 1/2, Malki. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki. straight win for al-Malki, stay- Bughanaim). Won by: 3 1/2, 2 1/2, 1/2, Hd. Owner: Al Ghazali Stud. Race 8: 1. My Sharona (Harry ing unbeaten in Qatar, top- 1 1/2. Owner: Ahmed Hassan al- Trainer: Mohamed Riyaz. Bentley), 2. Astley Hall (JP ping the Class 4 Thoroughbred Malki al-Jehani. Trainer: Hamad Race 5: 1. Khataaf (Saleem Guillambert), 3. Victory Laurel Handicap event for horses rated Ahmed al-Malki al-Jehani. Golam), 2. Succeed and Excel (Eduardo Pedroza), 4. Lupie 80 and below. Race 2: 1. Hydroxide (Harry (Gerald Avranche), 3. Yaarmen (Pier Convertino). Won by: Hd, 4, Golam had the gelding stay Bentley), 2. Enthar (Saleem (Harry Bentley), 4. Technicolour 1 1/4. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: close to early leader Succeed and Golam), 3. Off He Goes (Carlo (Faleh Bughanaim). Won by: 4, Jassim Mohamed Ghazali. Excel, before surging forward Fiocchi), 4. Alhathrah (Jean Nk, Hd. Owner: Ibrahim al-Malki. on the fi nal straight for a four- Baptiste Hamel). Won by: 2 Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki. length victory. 1/4, 5, 3 1/2. Owner: Khalifa bin Race 6: 1. Cannon (Darren Wil- Injaaz Stud representative Harry Bentley was astride Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim liams), 2. Al Jamaaheer (Harry Mubarak al-Khayarin (left) Yaarmen, who managed a third, Mohamed Ghazali. Bentley), 3. Jakom (Jean Baptiste receives the owner’s trophy from fi nishing narrowly behind Ger- Race 3: 1. Risk Adjusted (Gerald Hamel), 4. Hadeer (Stephan QREC deputy chief steward ald Avranche’s mount Succeed Avranche), 2. Top Face (Carlo Ladjadj). Won by: 1 1/4, Shd, 4. Abdullah Rashid al-Kubaisi after and Excel. Fiocchi), 3. China Club (Marc Owner: Mubarak bin Saeed My Sharona won the Umm Al Majed Seifeddine-saddled Lerner), 4. Beach Samba (Eduar- al-Jafali al-Naimi. Trainer: Majed Houl Cup yesterday.

CRICKET SPOTLGIHT Pakistan board seeks India look to record books in Delhi $70 million from BCCI AFP Rohit Sharma, who will lead In- New Delhi dia in the three one-day matches Players, CoA on same page against Sri Lanka when Kohli is for unplayed series rested. “They have come of age,” on pay hike and FTP irat Kohli’s India have added the senior batsman. Indian skipper Virat Kohli and his predecessor MS Dhoni yesterday AFP Mumbai attacks, which India Sri Lanka in the fi ring Lanka came to India dream- met with the Supreme Court appointed-Committee of Administra- Karachi blamed on militants based in line again as they seek a ing of a fi rst ever Test win on tors (CoA) to discuss a number of issues, including the salaries of Pakistan. Those attacks, which record equalling ninth Indian territory. Instead the tour cricketers and the Future Tours and Programme (FTP). killed more than 160 people, Vstraight series win when the has turned into a major reality akistan has kicked off nearly brought nuclear-armed Besides Kohli and Dhoni, head coach Ravi Shastri also attended third Test starts tomorrow. Indian captain Virat Kohli check – Nagpur was Sri Lanka’s the meeting with CoA chairman Vinod Rai, CoA member Diana a legal battle against arch-enemies India and Paki- Already leading 1-0 in the biggest Test defeat. Their bat- Edulji and BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, where issues like the player re- India for not honour- stan to the brink of war. three-match challenge, victory fast bowlers. “There’s not enough ting has fl oundered against the tainership policy and annual retainership fee were also discussed. ing a bilateral cricket The two planned series be- in the New Delhi Test would cap a time in between to prepare so we Indian spinners led by Ashwin Pseries agreement, the sport’s tween India and Pakistan were Rai said the meeting was extensive and fruitful without divulging dominant year and equal Austral- have to use the time we have now who bagged eight wickets in the the nature of the discussions. No decisions have yet been taken. governing body confi rming due to take place at a neutral ia’s record of nine successive se- for a big tour coming up.” last Test. On what should have “It was a productive meeting. The team management was very yesterday it received a notice venue. The Board of Control ries victories from 2005 to 2008. India’s pace power has grown been a good wicket for runs, sen- forthcoming with their recommendations and their thoughts on of dispute. for Cricket in India (BCCI) As they build up the strength of with the successful return of ior batsman Angelo Mathews fell various issues,” Rai told reporters after the meeting, which lasted The Pakistan Cricket Board was forced to sign the MoU as their pace attack, India could Ishant Sharma, who took fi ve to the guile of left-arm spinner more than two hours. “This was a path-breaking initiative. We feel (PCB) is seeking $70 million in it needed support from Paki- break the record in South Africa wickets in the second Test that Ravindra Jadeja in each innings. we’ve found common ground and aligned our thoughts for the compensation from the Board stan on an ICC revamp in 2014, where they arrive in January. was otherwise dominated by In- Coach Nic Pothas has warned betterment of the game – be it the policies under which the player of Control for Cricket in In- which gave major powers and It was a 2015 tour of Sri Lanka dia’s spinners. that the bad results will lead to remuneration and FTP will be worked upon,” he said. dia after the country failed to revenues to India, Australia that started India’s victory march The 1.95 metre (6ft 5in) Shar- “repercussions” for the team, Ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Nagpur, Kohli had attend two series in 2014 and and India. that moved to eight series when ma replaced Bhuvneshwar Ku- and the visitors are struggling to complained about the cramped schedule and lack of preparation 2015 as part of a memorandum Under the ICC Dispute Res- they whitewashed the Sri Lankans mar who in turn destroyed the keep up their spirits. time for the challenging tour of South Africa next month. of understanding (MoU) signed olution Committee terms of on home territory in August. In- Sri Lankan batting in the open- “We need to score more runs Rai had also backed the skipper, saying that the players were right between the two boards. references, committee’s head dia crushed Sri Lanka by an in- ing Test on a green Eden Gardens in the fi rst innings and that’s in their demand, and they needed rest. Commenting on the issue The International Cricket Michael Beloff QC will appoint nings and 239 runs in the second pitch in Kolkata. Umesh Sharma what we need to do in Delhi,” of FTP for 2019-23, which will be discussed at the ICC workshop on Council confi rmed receiv- a three-member panel to hear Test in Nagpur on Monday. seems the only weak link in the skipper Dinesh Chandimal said. December 7 and 8, Rai said: “On FTP, we agree with them and will ing the notice. “The ICC has the case, with Pakistan and In- They have laid out fast-paced pace attack and Mohamed Sha- “Angelo is the one who is the look into it so that they get enough rest. All the inputs they have received a Notice of Dispute dia having the right to pick one pitches to prepare for their next mi, who sat out the second Test most senior guys in the line-up. to give us were taken and we are going to factor those in. The FTP, from the PCB’s lawyers, which lawyer each of their choice. tour. Kohli said his team need to match, is expected to make his And if he is not scoring, our team we bounced it off them. will be forwarded to the Chair- The PCB last month said it be ready for a tougher challenge way back into the team. goes down. As senior players you “Presentations have been made, they are in agreement with the man of the Dispute Resolu- seeks 24 matches from India in in South Africa. “That’s why we “I think they (fast bowlers) need to stand up and perform so FTP so that they get enough rest etc, ” he added. tions Committee next week,” 2019, 2020 and 2022 - venues asked for pitches with help for the have evolved immensely,” said the youngsters can follow,” he said. a spokesman for the ICC said. to be decided once approved. The ICC Dispute Resolu- Pakistan did tour India for tion Committee is headed by two Twenty20 and three one- South African hits fastest fi rst class triple century Michael Beloff QC who will day internationals in Decem- appoint independent adjudi- ber 2012-January 2013 but that Marco Marais slammed the fast- cial competition, the country’s Transvaal in 181 minutes in in trouble at 82 for four. stroom recently, Marais is hoping cators to hear the case. failed to revive the full series est triple century in first-class second tier of first-class cricket. 1948/49 but the number of balls He and Bradley Williams (113 not his feat will provide a step up to The PCB sent a legal notice as relations between the two cricket to become the second The previous fastest recorded faced was not recorded. out) added an unbeaten 428 franchise cricket, the top tier of to their counterparts earlier countries went from bad to South African in just over a week triple century in terms of balls The England batsman went in runs before Border declared. South African domestic cricket. this year but Indian offi cials worse. Both countries, howev- to claim a world record. faced was off 221 deliveries at 61 for two and the total in- Rain interfered with the match, “I didn’t go overseas to play club rejected the memorandum as er, continued to play each other Marais, 24, went on a hitting by Charlie Macartney for the nings lasted for 71 eight-ball which ended in a draw. cricket this year,” he said. “a piece of paper”. in multi-national ICC events. spree to smash 300 not out off touring Australians against Not- overs. Like Shane Dadswell, who set a “I sacrificed and I worked the The arch-rivals have not Pakistan beat India in the fi - 191 balls for Border against East- tinghamshire in 1921. The previously unheralded ‘minor’ cricket world record by whole off -season on spe- played a full bilateral series nal of the Champions trophy in ern Province in East London in Denis Compton made 300 for Marais hit 35 fours and 13 sixes smashing 490 not out in a lim- cific things and areas I thought I since 2007. New Delhi halted London in June this year after South Africa’s three-day provin- MCC against North-Eastern after arriving to bat with his side ited overs club match in Potchef- could improve on.” all bilateral sports with Pa- losing the group match in Bir- kistan in the wake of 2008 mingham.

Friday, December 1, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP Rivals Bjork, Michelisz calm ahead of title showdown ‘If we were really crazy and took out each other on the first lap, then I think we’d be handing the championship to others’

REPORT Ibrahim al-Abdulghani grabs QTCC pole

By Sports Reporter Losail International Circuit. Doha Polestar Cyan Racing’s Thed Bjork, 6.5 points in front of Michelisz in the title chase, was 0.320s behind in third. brahim al-Abdulghani claimed pole Nicky Catsburg was fourth with four- position for today’s Qatar Touring time champion Yvan Muller fi fth and Car Championship after register- 0.771s slower than Michelisz on his re- ing the fastest time in the qualify- turn to the WTCC in a factory Volvo. Iing yesterday at the Losail International “It’s a decent start but I was strug- Circuit. gling with overall grip,” said Hungarian The second season of QTCC is organ- Michelisz. “I expected the circuit to be ised by the Losail Circuit Sports Club ‘green’ but it was a bit less grip than I and Qatar Motor Motorcycle Federation expected to be honest. In the end it’s the and is being held together with the FIA same as always, everybody has the same World Touring Car Championship’s issues with grip but it’s always nice to Race of Qatar. end up in the front. But I don’t think we Al-Abdulghani, in Honda S2000, should read too much into this because lapped a best time of 2:25.703 seconds we still need to improve the set-up. It’s under lights, edging out Abdulla Ali nice to be P1 and I hope we can continue al-Khelafi , who timed a fastest lap of like this through the event,” he added. 2:25.997 in Toyota GT86. In third was Britain’s Tom Chilton lost signifi - Saadon al-Kuwari, who timed 2:26.040 cant track time after a brush with a tyre also in Toyota GT86. barrier left his Citroen with front-end Al-Abdulghani, who is making his damage and a lengthy repair job for maiden appearance in QTCC, surprised his Sebastien Loeb Racing team, while the fi eld with impressive run around Esteban Guerrieri’s session was cur- 5.38km circuit. tailed by an oil leak in his Honda. The The opening round of QTCC was Argentine nevertheless ended up as the expected to witness a strong competi- best Losail International Circuit rookie (From left) Rob Huff of Munnich Motorsport, Sebastien Loeb Racing teammates Mehdi Bennani and Tom Chilton, Polestar Cyan Racing’s Thed Bjork and Norbert tion with addition of new driver like al- in sixth position for the factory Honda Michelisz of Honda pose ahead of the Qatar round of the World Touring Car Championship title at the Losail International Circuit yesterday. Abdulghani, Nasser al-Kuwari and Mo- team. hammed al-Buainan. Today, the Race 1 Daniel Nagy limped into the pits with a By Sahan Bidappa yesterday, as the other drivers – Ben- so there’s not really much at stake While the drivers remained cordial will be held at 4:35pm, while the QTCC technical issue. Kris Richard stopped on Doha nani, Chilton and Rob Huff – joined right now. I’m really just focussed on and respected each other, Bjork’s team Race 2 is set to commence at 7:30pm. track when his Campos Racing Chevro- in the fun too. As the two title con- the job of being well prepared for to- Polestar Cyan Racing have pulled out let ground to a halt and had to be pushed tenders praised each other, Munnich morrow. Right now, I feel strong and a card by bringing in Yvan Muller, the MICHELISZ TOPS WTCC FREE PRAC- into the pits by trackside marshals dur- here was such nice camara- Motorsport driver Huff chipped in: confi dent; I feel like there’s nothing to most successful driver in WTCC his- TICE ing a red fl ag period. Free Practice 2 gets derie between Thed Bjork and “It would be much more fun if you lose in the championship really, I’ve tory, to race in Qatar. Norbert Michelisz made a perfect start underway at 21h15 local time. Norbert Michelisz yester- hated each other. Why are you both always been trying to catch up. Just Four-time champion Muller is to his bid to win the FIA World Tour- day that it was easy to forget so nice?” three races ago in Japan I was more coming out of retirement to support ing Car Championship with the fastest TODAY’S SCHEDULE Tthat the two will go all out against When Bjork and Michelisz were than 30 points behind, now it’s 6.5, so Bjork’s title bids, as the team decided time in Free Practice 1 at WTCC Race of 1:30pm: QTCC warm-up each other tonight for the 2017 World asked if they would like to send a spe- I’ll just try to carry this momentum to bench Argentine driver Nestor Gi- Qatar. 2:30pm: WTCC qualifying 1 Touring Car Championship title. cial message to each other like the through the weekend,” the 33-year- rolami. Muller has spent 2017 testing The Castrol Honda World Touring 4:35pm: QTCC Race 1 (10 laps) The WTCC title race has come boxers do before a big fi ght, Chilton old, who drives Honda Civic, added. for Volvo’s factory team in the WTCC Car Team driver outgunned Rob Huff by 7:30pm: QTCC Race 2 (10 laps) right down to wire, with the tensions remarked: “Don’t stall on the start Michelisz reckons playing catch- and performing an advisory role for 0.211s with a fi nal-lap charge to boost 9:20pm: WTCC opening race (10 laps) brewing in both the Polestar Cyan line!” up puts him in a better position than the squad. But he’s back on track af- his earlier advantage of 0.089s, at the 10:35pm: WTCC main race (12 laps) Racing and Honda team camps, ahead Bjork did try to join the banter, Bjork. “My target is not to look at ter almost a year out of competition, of the Qatar round of WTCC at the when he said: “I would like to have a what others are doing,” he said. “I’m and could yet play a pivotal role in the Losail International Circuit tonight. nice fi ght with him. He’s a bit angry not approaching the race weekend championship outcome. But the drivers seemed to be quite on the track so I hope he can keep it with the thought of winning the “He (Muller) brought so much to chilled out, refusing to play the mind under control!” But Michelisz would championship; I just want to do my the team with the winter testing, games and are expecting a fair fi ght. have none of it and said: “I would say best regardless of the points gap to setting up the car,” said Bjork. “He Going into the fi nal round of the sea- it’s not a shame to come second in the the others behind. We’ve seen many knows the car, the team decided we son, Bjork leads Michelisz by just 6.5 end!” To which Bjork responded: “It’s times before in motorsport that any- have that card to play and we’ll play points. What adds spice to the contest not so bad, I agree.” thing can happen, so I’m not counting it and see what happens, simple as is that there are still six drivers who It was remarkable how Bjork and them out, but I’m not focussed on the that. I am just very proud he decided can win the championship, math- Michelisz handled themselves before people behind,” he noted. to come and work with us – we’re in ematically at least. the biggest night of their careers. On While Bjork said that he was ‘re- a world championship fi ght together With 60 points available in Qa- a serious note, both the drivers said laxed’ ahead of the showdown, it with him, he’s so successful, so ex- tar, Sebastian Loeb Racing’s Mehdi they would approach tonight’s race in would be a major disappointment for perienced, he’s a really great guy also. Bennani and Tom Chilton are also in the same way they have done all sea- Swede if he were to lose the title after Without him it would have taken us the running, 39.5 and 45 points be- son. leading the championship. longer to get to where we are, longer hind the leader respectively. While For Michelisz the strategy has “I’m not really thinking about to get to where I am. Maybe now he’s Michelisz and Bjork’s teammates Es- worked wonderfully well so far, with that,” Bjork said. “It feels like this is in the car maybe we can learn one step teban Guerrieri and Nicky Catsburg the Hungarian counting himself out the showdown and the fi ght (between more,” added Bjork. are also in hypothetical contention. of contention after his home race back myself and Norbert). If we were really Michelisz insisted Muller’s late But the spotlight has been on Bjork in May. But wins in Portugal, Argen- crazy and took out each other on the addition won’t alter his approach. and Michelisz quite naturally. The tina and Japan has turned his season fi rst lap, then I think we’d be handing “It’s not changing my approach or two are in the best possible scenario around. the championship to the others, but I my position,” said the Hungarian. to win the title and are determined to “Of course, there is a bit of extra don’t think we will do that. We would “I’m sorry for Nestor, he did a good fi ght it fair till the last corner. excitement, but so far, it’s like a usual like to have a good fi ght and see what job. I don’t know what’s really in the Ibrahim al-Abdulghani, in Honda S2000, lapped a best time of 2:25.703 seconds There was quite a bit of banter be- race weekend,” said Michelisz. “We happens through both races,” the background but, for me, it doesn’t’ under lights to grab pole for Qatar Touring Car Championships race. tween the two at the press conference just have free practice sessions today, 36-year-old said. really matter.”

Nasser al-Kuwari presented with MERC 2 Co-Drivers trophy

Nasser al-Kuwari (centre, also right) is presented with a trophy for winning the FIA Middle East Rally Championship 2 for Co-Drivers by QMMF president Abdulrahman al-Mannai (left) and Losail Circuit Sports Club Vice-Chairman and Secretary-General Khalid al-Remaihi at the Losail International Circuit yesterday.