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Friday, June 1, 2018 TENNIS Ramadan 16, 1439 AH Serena shows GULF TIMES plenty of fi ght to oust Barty SPORT Page 2

FOOTBALL ATHLETICS Real shock aft er ’s Samba sets Diamond Zidane quits as League record, Madrid coach Haroun 2nd ‘After three years the club needs another discourse, another method of working’

Qatar’s Abderrahaman Samba celebrates winning the men’s 400m hurdles at the Diamond League in Rome yesterday.

By Sports Reporter “I say thank you to my rivals for Rome pushing me – I told Karsten thank you especially. We are now giving the 400m hurdles the attention it de- atar’s Abderrahman Samba serves.” Karsten Warholm of Norway lived up to his billing as one clocked 47.82 seconds to fi nish sec- of the world’s most prom- ond, while Yasmani Copeland of Tur- Qising athletes by storming key was third in a time of 48.63. to victory in the 400m hurdles at the Samba, who also won the title at Rome Diamond League meeting yes- the Diamond League meeting in terday. early May, will head to Oslo next. The 22-year-old clocked a season’s “Next, I will race in Oslo. I take eve- best time of 47.48 seconds to set a new ry race very seriously and the big goal Diamond League record and also broke is always to run fast. I don’t know how the Asian and Arab records on the way. fast I can run but we will see in the near The previous Diamond League future,” he added. record of 47.73 stood in the name of Fe- Qatar won another medal yesterday lix Sanchez of the Dominican Repub- when with 400m fl at specialist Abdal- lic. “It’s a big feeling for me to break leleh Haroun narrowly fi nishing sec- not only my personal best but also the ond to the USA’s Fred Kerly. In this file photo taken on May 29, 2016, Real Madrid’s French coach Zinedine Zidane is lifted by his players after Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League final Asian record, the national record and Kerley clocked 44.33 seconds, just against Atletico Madrid at Stadium in Milan. Zidane said yesterday he is leaving the Spanish giants, just days after winning the Champions League for the the Diamond League record. I now beating Haroun who timed 44.37. The third year in a row. Picture below shows Zidane at his press conference in Madrid yesterday. hope every race will feel like this,” said USA’s Paul Dedewo completed the Samba, who celebrated in style after podium, clocking 44.58 seconds for AFP drid,” he added in a message. his victory. third. Madrid Zidane said his decision had noth- ing to do with Real icon Cristiano Ro- naldo hinting that he will also leave SPOTLIGHT eal Madrid coach Zinedine the club following the Champions Zidane dropped a bomb- League triumph on Saturday. shell yesterday, quitting the It had perhaps more to do with the Spanish giants just days after side’s mixed performance in , Mohamed Saadon Rwinning the Champions League for a where they fi nished a disappointing record third year in a row. third, and were left for dead by cham- The 45-year-old former interna- pions and bitter rivals Barcelona. al-Kuwari unveiled as tional decided to quit at the top saying “We say it, it was complicated this that it was time for a change for him- year in the league, these are moments self and the club and admitting he was that I don’t forget,” he said. offi cial SC ambassador unsure of his ability to maintain his The bombshell decision came 12 winning record at Real. years after another stunning blow But he said that no other club was from Zidane brought a controversial he Supreme Committee for De- involved in his decision to part ways close to the midfi elder’s international livery & Legacy (SC) – the body with Real and although experts have career. responsible for delivering the linked him to the French national He earned a red card in the 2006 Tinfrastructure required to host team coaching job, Zidane insisted World Cup fi nal, probably costing the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar – has un- he is eyeing no other position at this France the title, for his full-blooded veiled renowned sports broadcaster Mo- time. headbutt against Italian Marco Mat- hamed Saadon al-Kuwari as an offi cial “I have taken the decision to not erazzi. ambassador. continue next year as Real Madrid in on Saturday, making Zidane Your legacy will never be erased, one Considered one of the all-time Saadon – a former professional tennis coach,” the Frenchman told a hastily the fi rst coach in history to win three of the most successful chapters in the greats as a player, his career included player on the ATP Tour and Qatar Davis convened press conference. successive Champions League titles. history of our beloved realmadrid,” winning the 1998 World Cup with Cup representative – is a widely respect- Tower, in the presence of SC Secretary- “This club deserves to continue Zidane has now won nine trophies Ramos wrote. France and scoring the winning goal in ed senior sports presenter with Qatari General, Hassan al-Thawadi, Assistant to win and needs a change” he said, since replacing Rafael Benitez in the At the press conference Zidane the 2002 Champions League fi nal for network beIN SPORTS, known to mil- Secretary-General for Tournament Af- adding that he believed the “moment Santiago Bernabeu dugout in January was fl anked by Real Madrid president Real against Beyer Leverkusen. lions across the Mena region. In addition fairs, Nasser al-Khater, and Communica- has come.” 2016. Florentino Perez who said Zidane’s The next step for the former Real to his extensive journalism experience, tions Director, Fatma al-Nuaimi, Saadon “After three years the club needs When Benitez was sacked in Janu- announcement was “totally unex- Madrid player is unclear but he he has been a long-standing supporter was presented with an SC shirt to offi - another discourse, another method ary 2016, Barcelona daily Mundo De- pected”. has time on his side. of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the SC – cially welcome him into the ambassador of working,” he added. portivo dismissed Zidane as merely a “This is a sad day,” Perez said. Guy Lacombe, Zidane’s fi rst coach and has supported numerous initiatives programme. Zidane said he was unsure of his “sticking plaster”, who would be re- “This house will be his family for- when he joined AS Cannes, his fi rst in the past. As an offi cial ambassador, Saadon will ability to inspire the team to more placed quickly by a permanent coach. ever, he triumphed and won every- professional club, in 1988, said that He has been an ambassador for the represent the SC’s legacy programmes victories. But Zidane won the confi dence of thing, as you know. I thank him for there was little left to challenge the SC’s fl agship innovation award, Chal- – including but not limited to Genera- “I don’t see myself continuing players and the rest is history. his commitment, his passion. I have coach who had already won virtually lenge 22, volunteered for the internation- tion Amazing, Challenge 22, Community to win this year and I am a winner, I Real’s captain Sergio Ramos tweet- no doubt that he will return.” everything. al football for development programme Engagement and the Josoor Institute – in don’t like to lose,” added Zidane, who ed his reaction, in English and Span- Real captain Sergio Ramos thanked “But there is one thing...,” Lacombe Generation Amazing, and volunteered Qatar and across the region. In addition was under contract with Real until ish, above a photo of the two men Zidane for “two and a half incredible told AFP. “He would like one day to at the Accessibility Forum – the SC’s to his regional appearances, he will also 2020. with the Champions League trophy. years”. coach the French national team. He ground-breaking initiative to ensure the represent the SC at two global initiatives, “I have thought a lot about this de- “As a player and coach you decided “Your legacy will never be erased, has made no secret of that ambition. 2022 FIFA World Cup is the most acces- including the Generation Amazing acti- cision and I can’t go back on it.” to say goodbye at the top. Thank you one of the most successful chapters “It will happen at the right time. In sible in the tournament’s history. vation at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Rus- Real beat Liverpool 3-1 in the fi nal for two and a half incredible years. in the history of our beloved Real Ma- the right conditions. There is no rush.” Following a ceremony at Al Bidda sia. Gulf Times 2 Friday, June 1, 2018 TENNIS

ROUND-UP SPOTLIGHT Shapovalov keeps it in perspective as Williams fi ghts Paris run cut short back as Nadal, Sharapova cruise The three-time champion, dressed again in a black catsuit, is playing her first Grand Slam since winning the 2017 Australian Open while two months pregnant Canada’s Denis Shapovalov plays a backhand return to Germany’s Maximilian Marterer during their second round match at the French Open in Paris yesterday.

Reuters the top 50 since Nadal in 2004. Paris He reached the Montreal Masters semi-fi nal in 2017 and while his game is best-suited to onsidering the spotlight hardcourts, he made the Madrid now beamed on teen- semi-fi nals this month, raising ager Denis Shapovalov his hopes for Garros. he could be excused the His inexperience on the clay Coccasional post-loss sulk, but his surface showed against Marter- mature reaction to defeat at the er, occasionally trying to pull the French Open yesterday augurs pin too early in rallies. well for his future. But he is determined to master The 19-year-old Canadian’s the dirt surface. meteoric rise meant he arrived “You run into guys that are for his Roland Garros debut playing well, playing hot. In seeded 24 and with a poten- Madrid it was me, today it was tial fourth-round clash with Max,” he said. 10-times champion Rafael Nad- “I feel like my game does suit al already being earmarked for this court. And I feel like in the prime time viewing. future I could get really good on But Germany’s 22-year-old it. Maximillian Marterer put paid “I’m pretty excited about that. to that with a well-earned 5-7 I’m pretty excited to come back 7-6(4) 7-5 6-4 second round next year and play all these clay victory on the Court 1 bullring tournaments again.” — the world number 70 display- The good news for those who ing a more clinical edge when his drool over his lavish ground- chances came along. strokes is that he will not look to The 82 unforced errors Shapo- tame his style. valov made during the contest “I think I have to keep my did not help his cause. character on the court, keep my On this occasion the fl ash- game style, you know, which ing winners, 52 of them in total, is being aggressive, dictating, could not quite tip the balance coming to the net a lot,” he said. his way. “Defi nitely a bit more patience Some of the most respected is going to be better for me, just Serena Williams of the U.S. in action during her second round match against ’s Ashleigh Barty in the French Open yesterday. voices in tennis predict Grand staying with these guys, opening Slam titles ahead for the strag- up the court more, stuff like this. AFP RESULTS CHECK Ten-time champion Rafael Nadal gly-haired, Israel-born Cana- But at the end of the day I still Paris breezed into the third round and a clash dian but patience and a sense of have to keep my identity, keep Men 2nd rd neteau (FRA) 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 Dominic Thiem (AUT against childhood friend Richard Gas- perspective will be required. my game style.” Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) bt Guido Pella (ARG) 6-2, x7) bt Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, quet. Shapovalov clearly has both. Shapovalov’s game began to 6-1, 6-1 Richard Gasquet (FRA x27) bt Malek 6-4 Lucas Pouille (FRA x15) bt Cameron Norrie Top seed and world number one fray in the middle of the second erena Williams battled back Jaziri (TUN) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 Maximilian Mar- (GBR) 6-2, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7/3) “I’m disappointed with the from a set and break down to de- terer (GER) bt Denis Shapovalov (CAN x24) 5-7, Nadal, chasing an 11th title, swept past loss, but like I said, I’m only 19, set when a double-fault at 3-3 feat Australia’s Ashleigh Barty 7-6 (7/4), 7-5, 6-4 Jurgen Zopp (EST) bt Ruben Women 2nd rd Argentinian Guido Pella 6-2, 6-1, 6-1, so not every week is going to be a gave Marterer the break. 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the French Bemelmans (BEL) 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 Diego Simona Halep (ROU x1) bt Taylor Townsend showing no signs of the brief struggles semi-fi nals,” Shapovalov, who is The German, also playing in SOpen third round yesterday Schwartzman (ARG x11) bt Adam Pavlásek (USA) 6-3, 6-1 Andrea Petkovic (GER) bt he faced in the fi rst round against lucky coached by his mother Tessa and the main draw for the fi rst time, The three-time champion and former (CZE) 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 Borna Coric (CRO) bt Thomas Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 6-0, 7-6 (7/5) Dar- loser Simone Bolelli. Canada Davis Cup captain Mar- faltered when serving for the Fabbiano (ITA) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 Mischa Zverev ia Gavrilova (AUS x24) bt Bernarda Pera (USA) world number one, dressed again in her (GER) bt Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) 6-3, 6-7 (0/7), 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 Elise Mertens (BEL x16) bt Heather The 31-year-old will next face home tin Laurendeau, told reporters. second set at 5-4 but he made no all-black catsuit, is playing her fi rst 7-6 (7/2), 6-1 Kevin Anderson (RSA x6) bt Pablo Watson (GBR) 6-3, 6-4 Angelique Kerber (GER favourite, and his old junior rival Gas- “It’s going to be ups and mistake in the tiebreak. Slam since winning the 2017 Australian Cuevas (URU) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 Marin Cilic x12) bt Ana Bogdan (ROM) 6-2, 6-3 Kiki Bertens quet, whom he has beaten 15 times from downs. I just have to keep enjoy- Another double-fault gave Open while two months pregnant. (CRO x3) bt Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 6-2, 6-2, 6-7 (NED x18) bt Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) 6-4, as many meetings in professional ten- ing it, keep enjoying the jour- Marterer a set point at 5-6 in The 36-year-old, seeking a 24th (2/7), 7-5 Steve Johnson (USA) bt Jan-Lennard 6-2 Irina Begu (ROM) bt Zhang Shuai (CHN nis. ney.” the third and while Shapovalov Struff (GER) 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 6-2 Fabio Fognini x27) 6-3, 6-4 Caroline Garcia (FRA x7) bt Peng Grand Slam title, will face Germany’s (ITA x18) bt Elias Ymer (SWE) 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 Kyle Shuai (CHN) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 Garbine Muguruza “Richard is a very good friend. We’ve Last year Shapovalov cracked found the line with a forehand to Julia Goerges for a place in the last 16. Edmund (GBR x16) bt Márton Fucsovics (HUN) (ESP x3) bt Fiona Ferro (FRA) 6-4, 6-3 Samantha known each other since we were 11 or 12 the top 200, top 100 and became stave it off Marterer converted a If she gets past the third round, Wil- 6-0, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 John Isner (USA x9) bt Horacio Stosur (AUS) bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova years old so it will be very special to play the youngest player to rise into second with a superb backhand. liams could face old rival Maria Shara- Zeballos (ARG) 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 (RUS x30) 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) Serena Williams (USA) again against him,” said the champion. pova for a place in the quarter-fi nals. Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) bt Jérémy Chardy bt Ashleigh Barty (AUS x17) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 Maria Top seed Simona Halep reached the (FRA) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7 Albert Ramos Vinolas Sharapova (RUS x28) bt Donna Vekic (CRO) 7-5, “It’s just incredible,” said Williams. (ESP x31) bt Casper Ruud (NOR) 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 6-4 Karolína Plísková (CZE x6) bt Lucie Safarova third round with a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 FOCUS “I am so happy to be back here. I Juan Martín Del Potro (ARG x5) bt Julien Ben- (CZE) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Taylor Townsend of the United lost the fi rst set and thought I must try States. harder, I must try harder and then Ser- Halep, twice a runner-up in Paris, ena came out. will face Germany’s Andrea Petkovic for Reality, and not “I will be back tomorrow to play dou- can netted a weary-looking forehand, on a second match point with a sweep- a place in the last 16. bles with Venus. I don’t mind playing the 12th unforced error of the set for the ing, running forehand. Spanish third seed Garbine Muguru- singles and doubles — I will fi ght my 23-time major winner. Sharapova, the champion in Paris in za, the 2016 champion, was too strong dreams, keep heart out.” Williams hit just three winners in the 2012 and 2014, saw off Donna Vekic 7-5, for France’s number 257 Fiona Ferro Williams, playing in her fi rst Slam opener while 22-year-old Barty could 6-4 in a tie which featured 10 breaks of 6-4, 6-3. since winning the 2017 Australian aff ord to bide her time, just two winners serve and secured on a fi fth match point. Title challengers Marin Cilic and Do- Halep grounded Open while two months pregnant, had and four unforced errors. Former world number one Sharapova, minic Thiem struggled into the last 32. cruised through her opening round She was a break down again after seeded 28 this year, will face Czech sixth Third seed Cilic reached the third match against Kristyna Pliskova in what dropping serve in the opening game of seed Karolina Pliskova for a place in the round for the eighth time with a 6-2, Reuters was a record 317th win at the Slams. the second set. fourth round. 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 7-5 win over Polish Paris But yesterday was a tougher proposi- But just as the half-full crowd enjoy- “She won a big title in Stuttgart, so I qualifi er and world number 188 Hubert tion for the 36-year-old American who ing the late evening sunshine in Court have to be ready for this match and I’ll Hurkacz. was playing just her sixth match of 2018. Philippe Chatrier anticipated a quick be ready,” said Sharapova of Pliskova, a Seventh seeded Thiem, a semi-fi nal- n the 10th anniversary Williams appeared once again in her kill, Williams came storming back, reel- player she defeated in their only previ- ist in 2016 and 2017, racked up his 31st of her triumph in the striking, all-black catsuit. ing off four straight games for 4-1. ous meeting in the 2015 Fed Cup fi nal. win of the year. Roland Garros girls’ However, her game failed to match A fi fth ace of the contest won her the The Russian star is playing in Paris The Austrian, the only man to beat competition, Simona her impressive outfi t in the fi rst set set. for the fi rst time since a quarter-fi nal Nadal on clay this year, saw off Greek OHalep is being tipped to hoist the fi nal, no one can blame Halep for where she was broken in the sixth game A break in the third game of the de- run in 2015. She served a doping ban in teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 2-6, more prestigious Suzanne Lenglen not wanting to think about a per- by the Australian. cider proved crucial and Williams, now 2016 and was refused a wild card last 6-4, 6-4 in a match which had been Cup and join an exclusive club of fect ending so early in the tourna- Barty wrapped it up when the Ameri- ranked 451 in the world, claimed victory year. suspended overnight after the third set. players to achieve the junior and ment. women’s title double. But how have things changed However, rather than allow- for the Romanian since she fi rst BOTTOMLINE ing herself to dream that she can captivated hearts in Paris as follow in the footsteps of Fran- 16-year-old junior? coise Durr, Mima Jausovec, Hana “Whoa. Many things changed Mandlikova, Jennifer Capriati and and also I have changed. I see Tennis elite inspired by Serena’s super-hero catsuit Justine Henin, the Romanian top things diff erently,” Halep, who seed was quick to play down her will next meet Germany’s Andrea DPA body suit in her fi rst round win thrilled to see her back at the tionship with her,” he said. “We ally something special,” said the chances. Petkovic, said with a smile. Paris over Kristyna Pliskova and she majors is Novak Djokovic. have texted a lot in the process. So 23-year-old Ukrainian. “I think “I would say the top 10 girls “In the past, I felt the pleasure, said it made her feel like a “su- “I love Serena,” said the Ser- she was very nice to share a lot of it’s nice to see her back, nice have the chance to win here. So but I couldn’t show it, so now I re- per-hero.” bian six-time Australian Open things that she was going through to see her winning again. And there are 10 girls, in my opinion, lax. I’m more positive. And maybe group of the world’s Her fellow players have re- champion. All the superlatives with me and my wife, and I really hopefully I can play with her, that can win this tournament,” that’s why everyone sees that I’m top tennis players have sponded to her comeback and and beautiful words that you can appreciated that. I felt really close because, for me, it’s something twice runner-up Halep said yes- happier on court. I was the same complimented Serena the positive message of body think of, you know, she deserves to her. All I can say is I love her, that I want to do. I want to play terday following her 6-3 6-1 sec- before but I couldn’t show it. Williams on her moti- image her choice of clothing is it. Especially after she gave birth and I wish her all the best.” against Serena, against such ond round win over American “Now I’m more open to peo- vatingA comeback to Grand Slam designed to promote. to Olympia. Williams highlighted that she great champions.” wildcard Taylor Townsend. ple, I’m also open to (playing) the action and have felt inspired by “I think it’s defi nitely diff er- And after all she has achieved in had post-partum complications Djokovic holds Williams in But given a reminder that she is tough matches. So even if I have her new athletic “catsuit” attire. ent,” said current world number sport, to see her back and putting with blood clots and also issues high regard, irrespective of what seeded to meet Australian Open trouble during the matches, I like The 36-year-old former world two Caroline Wozniacki. hours on the court, it’s impressive. getting back in shape ready for she achieves at Roland Garros champion Caroline Wozniacki to stay there, to fi ght,” added Ha- number one won her fi rst major “We always knew that Serena It’s inspiring. It really is.” her return to tennis after the this year and beyond. “She’s in the fi nal, the crowd favourite lep, who needs to reach at least tournament match in 16 months sometimes brings out something Djokovic shares a special bond pregnancy. One younger athlete the greatest female athlete of shook her head and said: “I don’t the semi-fi nals in Paris to have a at the French Open on Tuesday diff erent. I think it’s cool. For me off the court with Williams as inspired by Williams’ back sto- all times,” he said. “She keeps think about that at all. It’s really chance of holding on to her top as she aims for a 24th grand slam personally I think it would be a their daughters were born one ry is Elina Svitolina, the world on coming back and inspiring far away.” Considering she was ranking. title — and her fi rst as a mother. little hot. I’d probably choose a day apart and he says they were number four, who hopes to test everyone. She uses tennis as a nine points from winning the ti- “If I win it, I’m really, really Williams, who gave birth to short version of it. But I think if talking constantly while she was herself against the all-time great platform to do good things, and tle before blowing away a 6-4 3-0 thankful for what I have done. her daughter Alexis Olympia last anyone can pull it off , it’s her.” pregnant. veteran some day. that’s why she’s back, you can lead against surprise champion “So everything’s changed in these September, wore an all-black One person particularly “I do have a really nice rela- “Serena’s cat suit, it’s re- see how much she loves it.” Jelena Ostapenko in last year’s years. Gulf Times Friday, June 1, 2018 3 FOOTBALL

TOP OF THE LINE SELECTION Neuer will be fi rst choice if he makes WC: Bierhoff Nishino opts for

Reuters He will cut four players, including one experienced Eppan, Italy goalkeeper, on Monday for his fi nal 23. “Manuel is already full on track. He does not need to get back on it. All the World Cup squad ermany’s Manuel Neuer will players have left a big impression here be the fi rst choice keeper at and it is as very diffi cult decision,” Reuters next month’s World Cup if he Bierhoff said. makes the fi nal squad, team “On the evening before the team an- Gmanager Oliver Bierhoff said yesterday, nouncement there will be the fi nal thoughts even though the 2014 World Cup winner among the coaching staff . By noon the next apan head coach Akira has not played a competitive game since day the players will be informed.” Nishino named an experi- September. The Germans also expect Chancellor enced fi nal 23-man squad Neuer missed almost the entire season Angela Merkel to drop in on their camp for the 2018 World Cup in after breaking a bone in his foot and un- this week. RussiaJ yesterday. dergoing surgery. His comeback for Bay- “My information is that on Sunday she Coming off the back of a dis- ern Munich was repeatedly delayed and will drop by. Before our training camp we appointing 2-0 loss to Ghana on the 32-year-old has had no match prac- visited her and she had hinted that she Wednesday, Nishino’s sole game tice ahead of the tournament starting in wanted to say hello without too much in charge so far since taking over on June 14. fanfare,” Bierhoff said. in April, the former international He played in both recent training “It’s kind of a tradition. It is nice to midfi elder decided to stick with a matches against Germany’s Under-20 hear from her and how she sees the team’s travelling party fi lled with estab- team at their training base in Italy and is situation going into the tournament.” lished players. set to play in their friendly international The Germans, who also face Saudi Ara- The squad includes three against tomorrow. Italy. “If he makes the squad then Marc- Paris St Germain’s and Bayer bia in Leverkusen on June 8 in their fi nal players with more than 100 caps “Manuel will go to the World Cup as Andre (ter Stegen) will be number two.” Leverkusen’s Bernd Leno, for his 27-man warm-up match, are in World Cup Group — , Shinji Oka- Japan’s Yuto Nagatomo is part of our number one,” Bierhoff told reporters Coach Joachim Loew has picked four preliminary squad, preparing in the Ital- F with Sweden, and Mexico. zaki and captain Matoko Hasebe the squad. at their training camp in Eppan, northern keepers, including Barcelona’s ter Stegen, ian Alps. The tournament starts on June 14. — and only two outfi eld players with fewer than 10 international fi nals, Nishino said he was aim appearances. was to make the second round for FRIENDLIES Eleven of the selected players the third time in Japan’s history. Swiss tribunal featured at the last World Cup in “If we can achieve that result Brazil. then that means we have cor- clears banned The players cut from the origi- rectly expressed Japanese soc- Peru captain nal 27-man squad were forward cer,” the 63-year-old said. and midfi eld- First up in Russia will be Co- Guerrero for ers and Kento lombia, who Japan face on June Misao, while another midfi elder, 19 in Saransk. World Cup , had already “Now, I want to focus on de- Russia lose, AFP pulled out of the squad through feating Colombia. That would be Lausanne injury. a small miracle,” added Nishino, Ideguchi was the only one of who cast a glum fi gure through- the omitted players to take part out the news conference. eru captain Paolo in the loss to Ghana. As well as Colombia, Samurai Guerrero has won “The experienced players have Blue will face Senegal and Poland Pa last-ditch appeal been doing very well recently. So in a tough-to-call Group H. Japan suff er to play at the World Cup the idea is to have a mix of ex- Nishino will get two more despite being suspended perienced players and the young chances to run his eye over the after testing positive for players,” Nishino said at a news squad before Russia when Japan traces of cocaine, a Swiss conference in Tokyo, without face Switzerland and Paraguay federal tribunal announced specifying why the trio had been in their fi nal warm-up matches yesterday. omitted. early next month. Guerrero appealed to the Ideguchi and Asano’s non- tribunal following a recent selection means that the players SQUAD home defeat ruling by the Lausanne- who secured Japan’s World Cup Goalkeepers: based Court of Arbitration berth with goals against Austral- (Metz), Masaaki Higashiguchi Austria’s Schopf scored the only goal midway through first half for Sport (CAS) that saw ia will not feature in Russia, as (Gamba ), Kosuke Naka- him suspended for 14 well as former coach Vahid Halil- mura (). Reuters months. hodzic, who led them through Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo London The tribunal, Switzerland’s Asian qualifying. (Galatasaray), highest court, eff ectively Playmakers and (Urawa Reds), “suspended” the CAS ban have also been (Urawa Reds), orld Cup hosts Russia contin- and said: “Guerrero can included, with the former prov- (Southampton), ued their miserable run when now participate at the next ing his fi tness over 45 minutes (Marseille), Gotoku Sakai (Ham- they slipped to a 1-0 defeat in World Cup.” against Ghana following a trou- burg), (Kashima Ant- Austria on Wednesday and Ja- The decision was warmly blesome ankle injury. lers), (Kashima Wpan suff ered a blow when they lost 2-0 at Prior to that, Kagawa had only welcomed by the Peruvian Antlers). home Ghana in coach Akira Nishino’s fi rst football federation (FPF), played 15 minutes of football for : game in charge. which had given Guerrero Borussia Dortmund since Febru- (), Keisuke Defeat for the Russians came after a poor support in recent months ary. Honda (Pachuca), seven-month period in which they failed to in a bid to get him to Russia Leicester City’s Okazaki will (Eibar), Shinji Kagawa (Dort- win in six consecutive games, conceding 10 for their first World Cup ap- be relied on for goals, having mund), goals in their last four matches. pearance in 36 years. scored 50 for his country in 112 (), Alessandro Schopf scored the only goal “It’s a great joy, not only for appearances. (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Takashi midway through the fi rst half after good the federation but for the The other two forwards cho- Usami (Fortuna Dusseldorf), work by Marko Arnautovic and Stanislav whole of Peru,” the FPF said sen, Werder Bremen’s Yuya Osa- (Getafe), Ryota Cherchesov’s Russian team looked short of in a statement. ko and of Mainz, Oshima (). quality throughout. The FPF had launched have only scored nine interna- Forwards: Sergei Ignashevich returned to the start- Guerrero’s last-ditch appeal tional goals between them. (Leicester), (Werder ing side after a two-year absence but did Wednesday “with the hope Turning his attention to the Bremen), Yoshinori Muto (Mainz). little to improve their defensive woes. of seeing Paolo at the World Ignashevich became the oldest player to Cup, that reflects the feeling appear for Russia at 38 years and 320 days, of the FPF and the whole surpassing ex- keeper Lev country,” according to its ‘Mentally stronger’ Welbeck Yashin, who played his last international at president Edwin Oviedo in a 37 years and 267 days. statement released in Lima. ready to fi re for England Russia, who failed to get past the World Cup group stage in 1994, 2002 and 201, England striker Danny Welbeck lonely period when you’re not are in a relatively weak-looking Group says he has emerged mentally out on the pitch helping your A alongside Saudi Arabia, Uruguay and stronger after a knee injury team mates and doing what Egypt. ruled him out of the 2016 Euro- you love doing. New-look Japan suff ered a 2-0 home de- pean Championships and the “You can develop mentally feat by Ghana to leave new coach Nishino 27-year-old is keen to make an when you’re away from the with tough decisions to make less than three impact in next month’s World pitch. You can take all that weeks before their fi rst match in Russia. Cup in Russia. frustration, pain and hurt from The Blue Samurai will open their World Welbeck was sidelined for not playing and try and use Cup Group H campaign against Colom- Austria’s Alessandro Schopf (right) vies for the ball with Russia’s Mario Fernandes during eight months after undergoing that as a way of helping you bia on June 19. Poland and Senegal are the their international friendly in Innsbruck, Austria, on Wednesday. (Reuters) surgery for the knee problem and reminding you of what you other teams in their group. but the Arsenal forward has are missing out on.” Nishino deployed a new formation with half a year, we absolutely wanted a good There was good news for Egypt who are since forced his way back Welbeck has 15 international three central defenders, two wing-backs game just before the World Cup,” Nishino hopeful that forward Mohamed Salah will into England manager Gareth goals in 37 matches, the most and two inside forwards supporting a lone said. have recovered from his shoulder injury in Southgate’s plans. for any player in the squad striker. “We gave it a good try, but the result time to play in their fi nal World Cup group “Missing out on the last tourna- bound for Russia and three However, Ghana captain Thomas Partey is disappointing. We had chances but game. ment with injury was frustrat- more than first choice striker scored and debutant Emmanuel Boateng couldn’t capitalise.” “The (Egyptian) football association ing for me,” Welbeck told , and will look to converted a penalty to ensure a miserable Nishino will name his World Cup squad confi rms once again... Salah will be in the British media. add to his tally when England night for Japan in front of 64,520 fans at a on Thursday before warm-up games World Cup, God willing, and won’t be ab- “If you get a big injury, it is not take on Nigeria in a friendly on rain-soaked Nissan Stadium in . against Switzerland on June 8 and Para- sent for more than three weeks,” the Egyp- easy at all to deal with it. It’s a Saturday. “Having not played a game at home in guay four days later. tian FA said.

BOTTOMLINE Rodchenkov expects ‘clean’ World Cup in Russia

AFP drug-taking. Asked about the likelihood of a compared to football. tive case and the entourage survived and then also to FIFA and FIFA sent me London Rodchenkov also said that as no Rus- “clean” World Cup in Russia, Rod- “Their most important substances and continued their bad work.” questions. sian offi cials would be involved in any chenkov replied: “That is not an easy were anabolic. You had to have to have FIFA, football’s global govern- “Some of the names were recognised anti-doping work during the World question to answer because I’m far special training camps out of competi- ing body, announced last week it had only by code names of their samples.” oping whistleblower Grigory Cup, which begins on June 14, as a re- from Russia and have information from tion and that could be hidden. ended a doping investigation into Rus- The suspensions of Russian athletes Rodchenkov has forecast the sult of recent scandals, there was far the internet and mass media. “In a football situation, it is com- sian footballers named in the country’s followed revelations based on Rod- upcoming football World less chance of foul play. “I know it will only be foreign doping pletely the opposite. They are exposed provisional World Cup squad due to chenkov’s evidence concerning a vast Cup fi nals in his native Russia The former Russian Anti-Doping control. to testing because they are coming to “insuffi cient evidence” of wrongdoing state-sponsored doping scheme. He willD be “clean” for the duration of the Agency chief provided key evidence “It should be clean in terms of this training camps in Spain and Turkey and — a decision it said had been backed by alleged that tainted urine samples were month-long tournament. leading to suspensions of Russian ath- one month of competition in Russia, Cyprus and the Canary Islands where WADA. switched with clean ones at the 2014 Rodchenkov said yesterday that letes from global sport, including a ban because there are controls and for such they are exposed to doping controls. Following the publication of the sec- Sochi Games. the vast sums of money on off er to from competing under the Russian fl ag a major event WADA has a special team “They have no chance for a sophisti- ond part of the McLaren Report in De- His evidence featured in a World An- top footballers meant they and those at February’s Pyeongchang Winter Ol- of independent observers. cated doping scheme. cember 2016, WADA informed FIFA 34 ti-Doping Agency report by Canadian around them such as their agents, had ympics. “During competitions all people are “And on top of that, high-level foot- samples from footballers required more lawyer Richard McLaren that revealed a huge fi nancial interest in not risking Rodchenkov now lives in hiding in the clean, most things are done out of com- ball players have agents... and I knew detailed examination for what football a “state-sponsored” doping system in their careers by being caught doping. United States, so he addressed the Sports, petition. that they try to keep them clean be- chiefs said were “possible anti-doping Russia that reached its peak at Sochi. He argued that this meant football Politics and Integrity conference in Lon- cause they are afraid any doping case, it rule violations”. Rodchenkov fl ed to the United States was at far less risk of drug scandals than don by videolink, wearing a balaclava and ‘NO SOPHISTICATED DOPING’ will ruin the career of the entourage of a Rodchenkov, asked about the list, in late 2015, saying that Russian President sports such as athletics and weightlift- a large pair of dark-framed spectacles to “There is a huge gap (between sports particular player. said: “I recognised one name out of Vladimir Putin wanted him dead for his ing which have long been tainted by conceal his identity. such as athletics and weightlifting) “In contrast to an athlete, any posi- 34 which were submitted by McLaren role in exposing the doping conspiracy. Gulf Times 4 Friday, June 1, 2018 FOOTBALL

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Chelsea shelve new stadium plans Danilo comes to AFP diffi cult time for the Blues, with Russian Sterling’s defence London owner Roman Abramovich still waiting on the extension of his British visa. The project was also beset by uncer- nglish giants tainty over the interim stadium to be used in gun tattoo row Chelsea announced yesterday for matches whilst construction was un- they had shelved plans for a new der way. 60,000-seater stadium in Lon- A temporary move to Wembley Sta- donE due to an “unfavourable investment dium was mooted. climate”. However, an off er from US tycoon “Chelsea Football Club announces to- Shahid Khan to buy the 90,000-seater day that it has put its new stadium project national stadium from the Football As- on hold,” the Blues said in a statement. sociation, the sport’s governing body in “No further pre-construction design England, cast doubt over that option. and planning work will occur.” A move to the 80,000-seater Twick- “The club does not have a time frame enham national rugby stadium was also set for reconsideration of its decision,” it dismissed. added. The present capacity of Stamford “The decision was made due to the Bridge (41,631) is far below that of Arse- current unfavourable investment cli- nal’s Emirates Stadium (59,867), current- mate.” ly the largest club stadium in the British The club was looking to build the new capital. stadium on the current Stamford Bridge Construction for a Tottenham Hot- site in west London, and planned to spur’s stadium of roughly the same ca- moved in by 2021. A young football fan plays outside Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge football stadium in pacity is also under way. Swiss architects Herzog and de Meu- London yesterday. (Reuters) West Ham are currently embroiled in a ron, who built the Allianz Arena in Mu- trial over the right to use all 66,000 seats AFP said was Sterling’s “honest and nich, the Bird’s Nest in Beijing and other Fulham local authority and compensa- ing a property next to the stadium site at London Stadium. They are presently London heartfelt account” of why he iconic stadiums, had won the tender to tion arrangements had been agreed with resulted in signifi cant delays, and pushed only authorised to fi ll 57,000. had the new tattoo and now City revamp Stamford Bridge. homeowners set to be aff ected by con- the cost up to around £1bn ($1.33bn, Chelsea fi nished the season fi fth in teammate Danilo has also come Their project had already been granted struction. 1.14bn euros). the Premier League table and won the FA anchester City de- to his defence. permission by the Hammersmith and But a confl ict with one family occupy- The latest announcement comes at a Cup. fender Danilo has “Many times in football we played down the row give too much attention to these surrounding team- details,” he said Wednesday at Mmate Raheem Sterling’s gun tat- the training ground of Totten- BEGINNING too. ham Hotspur in north London, A picture of Sterling’s tattooed where Brazil are holding a pre- leg appeared on the front page of Russia 2018 training camp of Britain’s popular Sun tabloid on their own. Tuesday and prompted criticism “It is something that is up to from anti-gun campaigners. him. It is something that he is But the 23-year-old England feeling and makes sense to him.” Lampard steps into forward insisted there was a Danilo, 26, saw his fi rst season deeper meaning behind the tat- in England end with the Premier too than was apparent from fi rst League title following his arrival glance. from Spanish giants Real Madrid. In an Instagram post from Although he had to share full- England’s pre-World Cup train- back duties with Kyle Walker, management at Derby ing camp at St George’s Park, Danilo was delighted by his time Sterling wrote: “When I was 2 my working with City manager Pep father died from being gunned Guardiola during the defender’s ‘Managing a team never is (easy)... but I’m really looking forward to the challenge’ down to death I made a promise inaugural campaign in English to myself I would never touch a football. AFP gun in my life time, I shoot with “It was an incredible experi- London my right foot so it has a deeper ence,” he added. “I’m a big fan of meaning N still unfi nished.” Guardiola and how he plans the England’s governing Foot- game. It was a great experience ormer England midfi elder Frank ball Association backed what it to work with him.” Lampard is taking his fi rst step into management by taking the reins at Derby County, the Cham- pionshipF club announced yesterday. Terry leaving Aston Villa aft er The 39-year-old, who won three Pre- mier League titles with Chelsea, has promotion failure signed a three-year contract at the sec- ond-tier English outfi t two years after retiring in 2016. Derby have been looking for a new manager since Gary Rowett was lured away by recently-relegated Stoke. Lampard told Derby’s offi cial website: “This is my fi rst job as a manager, but I’ve worked closely with some of the best coaches in the game and I’m confi dent in my own abilities and those of the team around me, including the board. “I know it won’t be easy — managing a football team never is — but I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead. “I’ve always wanted to manage a club with a big tradition and history like Former England captain John Terry said yesterday he was leav- Derby County, so this is a huge oppor- ing Aston Villa and admitted he was “still hurting” after failing tunity.” to help the Championship club reach the Premier League. The Rowett led Derby into the play-off s at former Chelsea defender came to the former European champi- the end of last season only for Fulham to ons on a one-year deal last July and made 35 league appearanc- overturn a fi rst leg defi cit in their semi- es, the last coming in Saturday’s play-off final defeat to Fulham fi nal clash before going on to beat Aston at Wembley. Terry, 37, wrote on his Instagram page: “Today I part Villa at Wembley. fi nish in the Championship last season, Lampard joined Chelsea and had 13 suc- League and the Europa League during a ways with Aston Villa Football Club. I’m very proud to have had Lampard said his aim was to take Derby while at the same time bringing through cessful years at Stamford Bridge. trophy-laden stay. the opportunity to play and captain this great and huge club. I back to the Premier League for the fi rst some of the excellent youth and academy He remains the club’s leading goal- His career came to a close at New York have given my everything this year both on and off the pitch and time since 2008, when the club fi nished talent we have at Pride Park,” added Lam- scorer with 211 goals and, as well as his City — but he did return to England brief- I’m still hurting today that we never managed to get back to the rock bottom. pard. hat-trick of Premier League medals, ly, scoring against Chelsea while on loan Premier League, where this club 100 percent belongs.” A club “We want to build on the club’s top six After starting his career at West Ham, also lifted four FA Cups, the Champions at Manchester City. statement thanked Terry for his “eff ort and professionalism” and added: “John is a true leader and was everything and more that we hoped.” Hughes deserves time to rebuild Southampton, says Keegan Everton appoint Marco Silva as new

Reuters “I think they would have gone number of players to their domes- manager: club London down without ,” tic rivals in the past few seasons Keegan, who scored 37 goals in 68 and Keegan believes they are not Everton yesterday appointed Marco Silva as the new manager, league games for Southampton yet ready to compete for a place in the Premier League club announced on their website. The outhampton owe manager between 1980-82, told the South- the top six. 40-year-old Portuguese coach, who replaces Sam Allardyce at Mark Hughes plenty of time ern Daily Echo. “Look at how many Southampton , has Premier League experience, with Watford Sto rebuild the team after the “It’s nothing against the other guys players are now playing at Liver- and Hull City. Before that, Silva enjoyed trophy-winning spells Welshman kept the struggling club but they were not going anywhere pool, Manchester United, Spurs... with Sporting Lisbon and Olympiakos having also helped Estoril in the Premier League last season, and someone needed to come in everywhere,” he added. climb through the ranks in his native Portugal. Everton had tried former striker Kevin Keegan said. with a fresh approach and drasti- “Now Mark can rebuild and I think to lure him last season before taking on Allardyce, causing Silva’s Hughes, 54, arrived at his former cally change things. he’ll look forward to the challenge. departure from Watford, who complained of an “unwarranted team in March on a deal until the “That’s what Mark did and he This is a big challenge for him but approach by a Premier League rival”. Known as a manager end of the campaign and suc- deserves three years to try and not one he’s capable of doing well who wants his teams to play attractive, attacking football, Silva cessfully managed to avoid the only keep them up but build them with. believes Everton fans will be proud of what they see on the pitch drop. Southampton finished 17th back up to a mid-table to top half “If he builds something there, he next season. “I’m really proud to be the new Everton manager,” and Hughes was rewarded with a of the table side.” could stay a long time because Silva told Evertontv. “I’m excited and I’m really happy to take this three-year extension last week. Southampton have lost a large he’s that sort of manager who will.” big challenge for us as a club and for me as a manager.” Roma sign Spanish defender MLS Marcano from Porto Spanish veteran defender Ivan Marcano has signed for giants Roma, the Italian side confirmed yesterday. Marcano has Ibrahimovic scores twice but Galaxy fall to FC Dallas agreed a three-year contract until June 2021, that includes an option for a fourth year. The 30-year-old arrives on a free transfer AFP card for slapping Montreal’s Michael Pet- After Ibrahimovic had a goal waved and the hosts gained an edge when Col- from Portuguese champions FC Porto where he has played for Los Angeles rasso on May 21. off for off side just after the hour mark, man was sent off in the 80th. the past four seasons, winning the league title last season. “I But FC Dallas, solidifying their status as the Galaxy saw two chances off of corner Ibrahimovic took advantage with a goal am very happy to be here, because Roma is a great club that is Major League Soccer Western Conference kicks go begging. in second-half stoppage time, but the moving in the right direction, following a clear sporting project,” latan Ibrahimovic returned from contenders, had the game well in hand by Dallas seized a 3-0 lead in the 66th rally would go no further. Marcano said. “I also believe the footballing philosophy of the a one-game suspension to score the time Ibrahimovic broke through. minute after Michael Barrios’ shot forced It was another disappointing home de- team will fit well with my strengths and characteristics.” The two goals Wednesday, but it was Ryan Hollingshead scored his fi rst goal a one-handed save from Galaxy goal- feat for the Galaxy, who have lost more former Spanish Under-21 international made more than 150 ap- too little too late as his Los Ange- of the season in the 33rd minute as he fi n- keeper David Bingham and Carlos Gruezo matches at StubHub Center than they pearances for Porto, having previously played for Villarreal, Rubin Zles Galaxy fell 3-2 at home to FC Dallas. ished off a crisp sequence by FC Dallas. to headed home the rebound. have won. Kazan, Racing Santander and Olympiakos, with whom he won the The Galaxy had won two games in a Hollingshead then set up the visitors’ Ibrahimovic, the former Manchester Dallas, meanwhile, extended their un- Greek title twice. “The signing of Ivan Marcano is the addition of row and hoped to continue the trend second goal, his cross from the left head- United and Sweden striker who made a beaten run to fi ve games and on 23 points a player who will bring his quality, his physical strength and his when they welcomed back Ibrahimovic, ed in by Cristian Colman shortly before dramatic arrival in MLS in March, pro- are two points behind Western Confer- vast experience to the club,” Roma sporting director Monchi said. who sat out a match after receiving a red halftime. duced the Galaxy’s fi rst goal in the 69th, ence leaders Kansas City. Gulf Times Friday, June 1, 2018 5 FOOTBALL

Qatar U21 team prepares for England at Toulon Tournament

Action from Qatar’s training session on the eve of their Toulon Tournament match against England yesterday.

FOCUS SELECTION QFA approves new season Bolt continues to fuel his calendar, gives dates football dreams in Norway of all tourneys QNA ‘If I can get a couple of minutes, that would be good... The standard is very good here’ Doha

AFP cool and welcoming.” atar Football Asso- Drammen, Norway According to reports, Bolt has been ciation (QFA) has ap- given the shirt number 9.58 — his world proved the calendar record time for the 100 metres set in of the 2018-19 season sain Bolt hopes to play in a Berlin in 2009 — to wear during his stay. andQ the competitions’ commit- friendly against the Norway Stromsgodset are struggling — 12th tee announced it after meeting Under-19 team next week of the 16 teams in Norway’s with clubs to discuss the pro- as part of his ongoing bid to top league — and he has some advice. posals regarding the new cal- Ubecome a professional footballer and “Just play better, I guess,” he said endar. prepare for his Old Traff ord debut in a with a laugh. The new season will kick off on charity match. “It’s all about the work and some- August 1 with the Super Cup be- The 31-year-old eight-time Olym- times about a bit of luck, as the seasons tween QNB Stars League and HH pic gold medallist took part in training goes, on you always improve, so hope- the Amir Cup winners Al Duhail, yesterday with Norwegian top-tier club fully they’ll get better and fi tter.” and HH the Amir Cup runners-up Stromsgodset at Drammen, 40km (25 Stromsgodset’s sports director Al Rayyan, while the new league miles) south-west of Oslo, as part of his Jostein Flo has said he wants to give Bolt season will start on August 3. week-long stay. a chance in the forthcoming friendly Qatar Stars League manage- It is the latest part of Bolt’s on-going and the squad was surprised to fi nd the ment will prepare the fi xtures bid to become a professional footballer world’s fastest man in their dressing and announce them on July 3, after the Manchester United fan also room. one month before the start of the trained with club Borussia championship. The same stand- Dortmund in March. ‘A BIT RUSTY’ ards and rules from last season’s He is set to play at United’s iconic Old “We had no idea before he walked calendar will be implemented in Traff ord stadium in a Soccer Aid char- through the door, that was awesome,” the new season in terms of di- ity match on June 10 when he captains goalkeeper Espen Bugge Pettersen told viding teams into three levels to a World XI against an England celebrity Norwegian daily Dagbladet. play matches alternatively be- team led by singer Robbie Williams. “He is a bit rusty, in his current form tween the three levels. The fi rst Before that, the retired sprint king he won’t add value, but we will have to four rounds will be played at hopes to get on the pitch in Stromsgod- give him some time.” Khalifa International Stadium set’s friendly against the Norwegian Forward Marcus Pedersen said the Ja- and Al Sadd Club’s Jassim bin Under-19 side on Tuesday. maican’s pace was obvious. Hamad Stadium due to the high “If I can get a couple of minutes, that “We haven’t seen so much of his temperature in August. would be good,” Bolt told reporters, footballing skills yet, but he obviously sweating heavily after the training ses- outpaces anyone around here,” said the sion. Norway international. “I’m here to try to get fi t for the char- While Bolt’s dalliance with football ity game in Manchester next weekend. has yet to lead to a contract, the head “Getting a few minutes on a full pitch of Stromsgodset’s supporters club was would be good for me. delighted to see the world’s fastest man “They are very good at passing. The at training. standard is very good here, the game is “It brings joy to the fans and that high tempo. is a relief after a few bad rounds in the “The more comfortable I get here, the league,” said Stromsgodset supporter Jaimaica’s former sprinter Usain Bolt takes part in a football training session with the Norwegian football club Stromsgodset at more I will relax, but everyone has been Thor Arne Hanssen. Marienlyst Stadium in Drammen, Norway, yesterday. (AFP)

SPOTLIGHT The teams mentioned fi rst will host matches in the fi rst phase of the league, with the second phase matches played at the ground of the teams mentioned Far from Russia, rival world cup kicks off in London second. Teams will keep their home AFP ernments, perhaps somebody wanted ter if anyone could help get the players grounds of their choice as they London to take their territories. So there is a re- from London Heathrow Airport to their were in the last season but newly spect and understanding.” hotel. One fan organised a fried chicken promoted Al Shahaniya might At least 30 players taking part had takeaway delivery to their lodgings. opt to name Grand Hamad Sta- ar from the showpiece razzma- played in one of Europe’s top divisions, Former Liverpool and Zimbabwe dium as their home ground. tazz of this year’s offi cial World according to the Times newspaper. Some goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar is coach- Qatar Stars League manage- Cup in Russia, 16 teams are set have played in the Champions League. ing their ‘keepers. ment took into consideration to do battle at an alternative “We are excited to be able to host our This is CONIFA’s third biennial world that Al Duhail and Al Sadd are WorldF Cup for those outside the system. largest ever tournament in Greater Lon- cup. The County of Nice, from France, taking part in the quarter-fi nals The CONIFA World Football Cup don, the historic home of the beautiful won the 2014 cup in Oestersund, Swe- of the AFC Champions League 2018, being contested at non-league game,” added Blind. den, while Abkhazia hosted and won the and they are set to have some of grounds around London, will see the “With some teams based in the United 2016 competition. their league fi xtures postponed likes of Tibet and Northern Cyprus Kingdom, some having large diaspora Qualifi cation for the 2018 tour- if one or both of them qualify mix it with Matabeleland, the Punjabi communities here and plenty of neutral nament relied more on competitive for the semi-fi nal and the same diaspora and the Russian-backed Abk- favourites, we are confi dent of support.” matches than in previous years, mean- again in case one or both of them hazia breakaway region of Georgia. The 10-day tournament was sched- ing some better-known CONIFA mem- reach the fi nal. CONIFA, the Confederation of Inde- uled to kick off yesterday with an bers missed out, including Greenland, The dates of tournaments will pendent Football Associations, is the opening ceremony at Hayes Lane, the Monaco and Iraqi Kurdistan. remain the same with Qatar Cup federation for teams outside FIFA, the 5,000-capacity home of English fi fth- Former English Premier League ref- semi-fi nal scheduled for April 4 sport’s world governing body. tier side Bromley. Abkhazia head coach Beslan Ajinjal (centre) congratulates his team after they eree Mark Clattenburg will take charge and 5, 2019, while the fi nal is set With a wider interpretation of inter- The subsequent match is nominal scored a goal during the Confederation of Independent Football Association’s 2018 of the fi nal. to be staged on April 18. national identity, its 47 members include tournament hosts Barawa versus Tamil World Football Cup match against Tibet in Enfield, London, yesterday. (AFP) Besides red and yellow cards, offi cials Meanwhile, the fi rst stage sovereign states, nations, minorities, iso- Eelam, two diaspora sides representing will issue a green card for dissent and of HH the Amir Cup will start lated dependencies and cultural regions. southern Somalia and Sri Lankan Tamils. who starred for Lithuania, Lazio, Seville cheating, whereby they are replaced by on April 1 and the fi nal will be The 16 world cup teams represent an Barawa manager Abdikarim Farah told and Valencia. BIG NAMES MISS OUT a substitute. played on May 11. QSL Cup kicks estimated 334mn people worldwide. a press conference: “It’s Ramadan for us An Yong Hak, 39, is coaching and But besides the better-known faces and All match tickets cost £11 ($14.60, off on May 7. “Many of our members have a history so most of the players will be fasting, so playing for United Koreans in Japan. big backing, participation alone took a 12.60 euros) and some teams’ games are Five breaks are planned dur- that is quite tragic,” CONIFA president that’s an additional challenge for us.” Eight years ago, the former J-League huge eff ort for some teams. being deliberately hosted close to their ing the season; four of which Per-Anders Blind told AFP. Padania, representing northern Italy, midfi elder was playing for North Korea The Zimbabwean region of Matabe- ethnic heartlands around London. as part of FIFA calendar for the “Even if they never met before, they are the pre-tournament favourites, fol- against Brazil in the 2010 World Cup in leland relies entirely on online crowd- Carshalton, Bromley and Gander months of September, October, come on the same pitch and share simi- lowed by Abkhazia, then Panjab and front of 54,000 people in Johannesburg. funding, largely through replica shirt Green Lane, home of serial south Lon- November and March, while the lar stories. Barawa. His side will be taking on Western sales. Beforehand, resources stretched don FA Cup giant-killers Sutton United, remaining break is designed to “Many of these teams have been bul- Possibly the tournament’s top player Armenia at Carshalton’s War Memorial to two footballs. are the ‘glamour’ venues, with a 5,000 accommodate the 2019 Asian lied, abused and neglected from gov- is Padania’s Marius Stankevicius, 36, Sports Ground. Their manager even asked on Twit- capacity. Cup in the UAE. Gulf Times 6 Friday, June 1, 2018 SPORT

NHL MLB Martinez’s two-run HR helps Red Sox Washington Capitals sweep Blue Jays

Reuters on fi rst and third against Red Boston Sox reliever Brian Johnson with nobody out in the ninth, closer Craig Kimbrel came .D. Martinez blasted on and promptly walked the edge Knights to level a go-ahead, two-run bases loaded before Morales’ home run in the sixth double made it 6-4. inning to help the host Devon Travis grounded out, BostonJ Red Sox complete a 5-3, for the inning’s fi rst out. three-game sweep of the To- Curtis Granderson struck out ronto Blue Jays with a 6-4 vic- on a foul tip and Luke Maile tory on Wednesday afternoon. grounded out 4-3 to lock up Martinez’s estimated 434- Kimbrel’s 18th save. Stanley Cup fi nal foot shot over the Green Mon- ster in left-center fi eld pulled Rays’ Eovaldi dazzles in ‘I think every time we’ve faced adversity, everybody just steps up a bit’ him into a tie with Mike Trout return of the Los Angeles Angels for Nathan Eovaldi threw six the major-league lead with his no-hit innings in his fi rst start 18th homer of the year. since 2016, and Rob Refsnyder Martinez had been tied with belted a three-run home run teammate Mookie Betts, who Wednesday, lifting the visiting missed his fourth straight Tampa Bay Rays to a third win game with left side tightness. in three days over the Oak- Betts is expected to return as land Athletics, 6-0. Making soon as Thursday when the his Rays debut, Eovaldi (1-0) Red Sox open a three-game was pitching for the fi rst time series in Houston. since undergoing elbow sur- Eduardo Nunez also gery, which cost him the en- knocked a solo home run tire 2017 season, and a follow- (fourth of season) and had an up procedure that stalled the RBI double with while both start of his 2018 season. Jackie Bradley Jr. and Brock The 28-year-old walked Holt had one RBI for the Red the second batter he faced, Sox, who have won nine of Matt Chapman, before retir- their last 11 games. ing 17 in a row to carry a no- Teoscar Hernandez hit a hitter and a 4-0 lead through two-run homer (his eighth) six innings. Having thrown 70 and Kendrys Morales had a pitches, he was pulled after two-run double for Toronto, getting 18 outs, four of which which lost for the 13th time in were strikeouts. The no-hit 17 games. The Blue Jays are 2-7 bid ended two batters into the against AL East rival Boston seventh when Jed Lowrie sin- this season. gled to right-center fi eld off Red Sox starter Eduardo reliever Wilmer Font, whom Rodriguez (6-1) allowed two the Rays had acquired last runs on three hits with one week from Oakland. walk and seven strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings to earn the win. RESULTS Toronto starter Sam Gav- Rays ...... 6 Athletics...... 0 iglio (2-1) suff ered his first loss Red Sox ....6 Blue Jays ...... 4 after surrendering four runs Nationals .2 Orioles ...... 0 on seven hits while striking Indians .....9 White Sox ...... 1 out seven in six innings. Brewers....3 Cardinals ...... 2 Bradley’s third-inning dou- Reds ...... 7 Diamondbacks ...4 ble opened the scoring and Yankees ...5 Astros ...... 3 Nunez went deep in the fi fth Pirates ...... 2 Cubs ...... 1 to make it 2-0. Hernandez tied Mets ...... 4 Braves ...... 1 it with his homer in the top of Tigers ...... 6 Angels ...... 1 the sixth. Royals ...... 11 Twins ...... 8 Nunez’s RBI double and Giants...... 7 Rockies ...... 4 Holt’s RBI single came in the Padres ...... 3 Marlins...... 2 Washington Capitals celebrate their win over the Vegas Golden Knights in game two of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Getty Images/AFP) eighth. Dodgers ...8 Phillies ...... 2 After Toronto put runners Rangers ...7 Mariners ...... 6 AFP this post-season. The Knights Holtby, who reached back to save the next three goals. having reached the fi nal for just Las Vegas had opened the scoring through Tuch’s shot with his stick. the second time, 20 years after James Neal less than eight min- “It was the hockey gods,” said Facing adversity they were swept by Detroit in Embiid, DeRozan to headline NBA Africa exhibition utes into the contest. Caps coach Barry Trotz. “A great Eller tied it 1-1 at 17:27 of the 1998. he Washington Capitals Washington answered with save with 1:59 left and you could fi rst, fi ring in a shot from the Eller was on the fi rst power- All-Stars DeMar DeRozan and Joel Embiid headline the rosters held on to beat the Las a goal from Lars Eller late in see the emotion on our bench. I bottom of the right circle off a play unit in place of Kuznetsov, for this year’s NBA exhibition in the South African capital of Vegas Golden Knights the fi rst, and seized the lead knew we were going to win the pass from Michal Kempny. who departed clutching one arm Pretoria on Aug. 4, the league announced yesterday. The NBA 3-2 on Wednesday, with second-period goals from game after that.” Eller set up Ovechkin for a at 14:42 of the fi rst after a hit by played in Africa last season for the second time, first holding Thanding the upstart expansion Ovechkin and Brooks Orpik. Shea Earlier in the third, the Capi- power-play goal from the bot- Knights defenseman Brayden the event in 2015. Both previous instances took place Johannes- club a rare home defeat to level Theodore scored on a power- tals penalty killers thwarted a tom of the left circle to give McNabb. “I think every time burg, South Africa, while this year’s contest will be played at the the NHL Stanley Cup fi nal at one play late in the second to pull the 5-on-3 power-play opportunity Washington a 2-1 lead at 5:38 of we’ve faced adversity whether 8,500-seat Sun Arena in Time Square. game apiece. Golden Knights within one, but for 68 seconds, and Holtby said the second. Eller one-touched it’s we’re down in games or we DeRozan, of the Toronto Raptors, will lead a Team World roster Washington captain Alex the Capitals – who lost leading that was a key to the contest. a pass from the goal line on the lose guys, everybody just steps that includes Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes and Ovechkin scored the go-ahead scorer Evgeny Kuznetsov to in- “We have a really proud group right side to Ovechkin and the up a bit,” Eller said. San Antonio Spurs forward Rudy Gay. Embiid, of the Phila- goal in the second period as the jury in the fi rst period – held on. of penalty killers,” he said. “They Russian star one-timed the puck “The more I’m out there, the delphia 76ers and a native of Cameroon, will play alongside Capitals knotted the best-of- Goalie Braden Holtby’s 37 live and die by that. They did an for his 13th goal of the playoff s. better I feel on the puck.” Portland Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu and Orlando seven championship series as it saves included a sprawling stop amazing job. That was the turn- While the Golden Knights are Orpik made it 3-1 with a goal Magic center Bismack Biyombo on Team Africa. The 2015 Africa heads to Washington for games against Alex Tuch with 1:59 re- ing point of the game.” trying to become the fi rst debut from the right circle off a pass exhibition drew a crowd of about 5,000 while last year’s event three and four on Saturday and maining to preserve the win. After Neal beat Holtby with a team in major US sports history from Eller at 9:41 of the second. brought in just over 7,000 fans. Team World won the 2017 con- Monday. Vegas, who surged back “Obviously, these boards have shot from the left face-off circle to win the title in their fi rst year, It was Orpik’s fi rst goal in 220 test 108-97, with the Indiana Pacers’ Victor Oladipo taking home to win game one on Monday, lost been really true all the time and to put Vegas up 1-0 at 7:58 of the the Capitals are vying for a fi rst games, his fi rst playoff goal since MVP honors for Team Africa. at home for just the second time somehow it bounced out,” said fi rst period, Washington scored title in their 43-season history – April 21, 2014.

NBA Jordan-LeBron debate returns as James seeks 4th title AFP time NBA career scoring leader Kareem a career fi rst, and during his fi nals streak Oakland, United States Abdul-Jabbar with 10. has played 164 playoff games – the equal “When you talk about just a basket- of two full extra seasons. James has pro- ball player, a complete basketball player, duced impressive points, rebounds, as- s LeBron James adds to his LeBron James is a much better basket- sists, steals and blocks totals over a sus- amazing legacy with an eighth ball player than Michael Jordan,” former tained period like few other playmakers. consecutive NBA Finals ap- Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas told “I don’t really have a ceiling,” James pearance, the debate resumes ESPN. said. “I want to just try to maximize as overA whether he or Michael Jordan is the The long-time “Air” Jordan rival has much as I can and be as good as I can.” NBA’s all-time greatest player. keenly eyed “King” James, comparing Cleveland Cavaliers star James seeks him with iconic big men Russell, an 11- ‘Once in a generation’ his fourth title in his ninth overall trip to time NBA champion, and Abdul-Jabbar, Warriors coach Steve Kerr, a former the best-of-seven championship series. a six-time title winner who took fi ve in championship teammate of Jordan, says Retired icon Jordan won in all six of the 1980s with the Lakers. James has gotten better with age, like his NBA Finals appearances with the “What I’m witnessing is LeBron the fi ne wines “King” James enjoys. Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. James... dominating this period of time. “It’s pretty remarkable when you’ve Like Jordan, James was a high-leap- I haven’t seen anyone else do that in our got a guy who is already considered one ing, acrobatic, amazing playmaker in league, with the exception of two peo- of the top few players ever to play the his younger days who has adjusted his ple and that’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and game can make that much improvement game to remain dangerous and raise the Bill Russell.” late in his career,” Kerr said. level of his teammates. For former Los “It’s a testament to his work ethic and Angeles Lakers star Bryant, the Michael won six. So what? to his work on his skillset. The shooting notion of each dominating his time is Nine-time NBA All-Star guard Gary is what has really gotten better in the enough. Payton picked iconic center Wilt Cham- last few years.” “We can enjoy one without tearing berlain, who averaged a record 50.4 James is the only player in NBA Finals down one,” the retired fi ve-time NBA points in a season, over James or Jordan. history to average a triple-double and to champion tweeted. “Wilt Chamberlain, by far, is my best lead both fi nals teams in points, assists, “I love what he’s doing. Don’t debate basketball player. Best athlete ever,” rebounds, steals and blocks. what can’t be defi nitively won by any- Payton told the San Jose Mercury News. “It’s pretty amazing,” Warriors guard one #enjoymy5 #enjoymj6 #enjoylb- “I don’t compare them. You’ve got Klay Thompson said. jquest.” two players who dominated their eras. “I don’t care who he’s faced. Eight James has matched Jordan by play- LeBron is making a case for himself to straight times. The fact he’s doing that ing 15 NBA seasons with no breaks. And be one of the greatest players to ever in the modern era is pretty remarkable. James is 33, the same age Jordan was play. So you’ve got to give him a lot of respect. when he won his fourth title in 1996. “People are going to say he only won “A triple-double threat every night. Only three players have more trips to three championships. Michael won six. Doing it in crunch time, doing it for the fi nal than James -Boston legend Bill So what? Eight straight fi nals is really 48 minutes. It’s an honor to face LeB- Russell with a record 12, his 1960s dy- good.” ron. He’s a once-in-a-generation type LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers speaks to the media during the 2018 NBA Finals media day at ORACLE Arena in nasty teammate Sam Jones at 11 and all- James played all 82 games this season, player.” Oakland, California. (Getty Images/AFP) Gulf Times Friday, June 1, 2018 7 SPORT

SHOOTING/NISHAN CHAMPIONSHIP RUGBY Coach Jones keen to improve England’s Khalifa al-Attiyah, attacking fl air

Reuters England’s training camp at London Brighton this month, taking the number of players from the Premiership club injured dur- ngland will change ing Jones’s tenure to fi ve. Ali al-Adba emerge their gameplan and British media quoted Craig put more empha- quoted as describing the situa- sis on attacking play tion as “totally unacceptable”. ‘Last time, I won the amateur title and againstE South Africa, coach “I haven’t seen any fi gures Eddie Jones said ahead of next to suggest they are,” Jones this time, I was determined to do well month’s three-Test tour. added. “No one in our staff has England head into the se- suggested they are but Bruce is among the professionals’ ries on the back of a poor Six obviously an expert on train- champions Nations campaign during ing-ground injuries, so I’ll which they lost their last three have to be subservient to his By Sports Reporter matches to fi nish fi fth. They greater knowledge.” Doha were also beaten 63-45 by the Centre Ben Te’o was also Barbarians at Twickenham on ruled out of the South Africa Sunday. tour after sustaining a thigh halifa al-Attiyah “We are investing more time muscle injury this week. emerged as champion into attack now, which we al- Jones said there were still in the professional ways were going to do, which concerns over Billy Vunipola’s category of the second was part of the plan,” Jones fi tness despite the number KNishan Championship at the told British media. eight playing in Saracens’ Pre- Losail Shooting Range. “We’ve got a reasonable base miership fi nal win over Exeter Al-Attiyah defeated Kha- in defence and set-piece... now last weekend. lid al-Muhannadi to pocket it’s time to put more eff ort into England face South Africa the QR60,000 winner’s prize attack... that’ll manifest itself in Johannesburg (June 9), Blo- money. Al-Muhannadi, who into possibly more tries. We emfontein (June 16) and Cape was beaten by Rashid Saleh Ha- are looking to play the game Town (June 23). mad last year, had to be satisfi ed slightly diff erently, which we with the runner-up spot and saw parts of on Sunday.” Ireland captain Best out QR50,000. Jones said his focus was also of Australia tour Female participant Reem al- on next year’s World Cup in Ireland captain Rory Best Sharshani walked away with the Japan. has been ruled out of the tour third place and QR40,000 in a “We want to win in South of Australia with a hamstring thrilling fi nale. Saeed Abusharib Africa but we want to win the injury, the Irish Rugby Football was fourth and Abdulaziz al- World Cup and the big thing Union announced Thursday. Attiyah rounded out the top fi ve. is that you keep on changing, Munster’s Niall Scannell Qatar Shooting and Archery that you understand what you will replace the Grand Slam Association president Ali Mo- are good at but you keep on winning skipper in the squad hamed al-Kuwari and secretary- adapting.” for the three-Test series general Majid al-Naimi hon- Jones responded to Bath against the Wallabies in June. oured the winners of the event, owner Bruce Craig’s criti- Johnny Sexton and Peter which saw more than 150 par- cism of his training methods O’Mahony are set to share ticipants, including women. by saying that a high-inten- captaincy duties in the absence The fi ve-day event was held sity regime is required to pre- of the British and Irish Lions across fi ve events in archery, ri- pare players for international front row. That the 35-year- fl e, pistol and shotgun shooting The winners of the second Nishan Championship pose on the podiums at the Losail Shooting Range. matches. Bath prop Beno old Best, capped 111 times, in the championship. Obano suff ered ligament and would not tour was confi rmed “The second edition of the hamstring tendon damage in by the IRFU on Twitter. Nishan Championship was very exciting. Last time, I won in the amateur category and this time, I was determined to do No more gold for Bolt as CAS reject well among the professionals. I’m very delighted with my tri- Carter’s doping appeal umph in the class. I was confi - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) yesterday rejected dent of getting a good position an appeal by sprinter Nesta Carter, whose positive test for but I never thought about win- a stimulant saw Jamaican teammate Usain Bolt lose an ning this class as it is tough with Olympic gold medal. so many strong participants Carter, a member of Jamaica’s triumphant 4x100m relay around,” al-Attiyah said. team in Beijing alongside Bolt, Michael Frater and Asafa “I want to thank all the par- Powell, had claimed negligence after testing positive for ticipants for lifting the stand- methylhexanamine, a stimulant, when the International ard of the championship. Also Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to retroactively test I thank the Qatar Shooting and samples from the 2008 Games in Beijing. Archery Association for hosting In 2017 Carter sought to have the IOC’s decision overturned, it so smoothly and effi ciently. I launching an appeal with CAS which, if successful, would will try to defend the title next have seen Bolt, recently retired from the sport, retroactively year,” he said. awarded a 10th Olympic gold medal. Ali al-Adba won the amateur Bolt finished his career with nine Olympic gold medals. class. He was also rewarded with But the Lausanne-based sports court flatly jejected Carter’s QR60,000. appeal. He got the better of the Salem “The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the al-Adba, who earned QR50,000. appeal filed by the Jamaican sprinter Nesta Carter against The podium was completed by the decision issued on 25 January 2017 by the International Masoud al-Adbi, who received Olympic Committee Disciplinary Panel (IOC DP) in which QR40,000. he was found to have committed an antidoping rule viola- Other winners in the amateur tion during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (the Beijing category were: Bader al-Marri Games). (fourth), Abdulhadi al-Shahwan “Accordingly, the IOC DP decision to disqualify Nesta Carter (fi fth), Taleb al-Badi (sixth), Manakhas (10th). al-Kuwari. Newcomers Yasmin turnout in the second edition. try to encourage the newcomers and the Jamaican Men’s 4x100m relay team from the race Mustafa Yousef (seventh), Ab- The QSAA also awarded the al-Sharshani and Jamila al- Another heartening factor was so that they can be trained for held at the Beijing Games in which they achieved the gold dulhadi al-Hajri (eighth), Jaber oldest participant, Salem al- Dosari also received gifts. the presence of young shooters the future,” QSAA president al- medal is confirmed.” al-Athba (ninth) and Taleb al- Kuwari, and the youngest Nasser “We’re happy with the large that we’re looking for. We will Kuwari said.

GOLF Woods recovers aft er shaky start at Memorial AFP able to make some good swings on the back Dublin, United States nine, well, my back nine, and turned the whole thing around so at least I’ve now got a fi ghting chance.” iger Woods shrugged off early round Woods is a fi ve-time Memorial winner back pain and a horror start to bird- and is teeing-up in the event for a fi rst time ie three of his closing fi ve holes in since 2015. However in nine rounds here a level par eff ort on day one of the since he won a fi fth Memorial title in 2012, TMemorial Tournament yesterday. he has failed to crack 70. “It is what it is,” Woods had struggled to be four-over par Woods said. “Just got to make the adjust- through just seven holes ahead of recording ments. I’m able to make them now. a level par 72 in ideal conditions at the Jack “At the beginning of the year, I wasn’t Nicklaus-hosted event. able to make them, because I didn’t really It left world number 83 Woods trailing know what to do yet. But now you see me seven strokes behind the leading clubhouse making these adjustments on the fl y.” duo of Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and Mexi- can Abraham Ancer who recorded seven- Rock and Canter hit eight under to under-par 65s. lead Italian Open Woods, who started on the 10th, strug- English pair Robert Rock and Laurie Can- gled from the outset in missing his opening ter both hit rounds of eight under par to lead three fairways and taking a second hole bo- after the fi rst round at the Italian Open at gey before sending his drive at his sixth way the GardaGolf course yesterday. right into a hazard from where he was forced They led by two strokes from a pack of to take a penalty drop on route to a double- six players including 2016 Masters cham- bogey seven. pion Danny Willett and Ryder Cup duo Ross He then dropped to four-over-par in bo- Fisher and Thomas Pieters. geying the next before arresting his slide Rock won the fi rst of his two European with a birdie at his eighth hole. Tour titles at the same event in 2011 and he Woods made the turn in three-over and recovered from a bogey on the second with then played his inward half in three-under birdies on the fourth and sixth, an eagle on par thanks to three birdies in succession the seventh and a hat-trick of birdies from from his 15th hole and ending with two pars the ninth. Tiger Woods of the United States hits his including a six-footer for par on his last. Local favourite Francesco Molinari, twice second shot on the 11th hole during the “I wasn’t rotating very well today, back Italian Open champion who won the PGA fi rst round of The Memorial Tournament was tight, and just it is what it is some days,” Championship at Wentworth on Sunday, at Muirfi eld Village Golf Club in Dublin, Woods said. “I made a few tweaks in my was one of several players a further shot Ohio, yesterday. (Getty Images/AFP) swing, my setup, and lo and behold I was back on fi ve under.

Friday, June 1, 2018 GULF TIMES SPORT

CRICKET Sarfraz believes Pakistan can be even better

AFP er Sarfraz has urged them not Pakistan are set to include Us- London to rest their laurels. “We need man Salahuddin, rather than fel- to keep improving all the time,” low uncapped batsman Fakhar Sarfraz said Wednesday. “As well Zaman, as a replacement for the akistan captain Sarfraz as we played at Lord’s, we can injured Babar Azam. Ahmed believes his still play better than that. It was a surprising decision side can hit even greater “We made four 50s at Lord’s in some eyes, given Fakhar hit a heights against England – and if one of them had gone on brilliant match-winning hun- inP the second Test at Headingley to the big hundred that would’ve dred against arch-rivals India in despite a nine-wicket win in the been even better. (Same with the last year’s Champions Trophy series opener at Lord’s. bowlers) if they take three or four his players to consign their fi nal at The Oval. Victory, completed inside four wickets, make it fi ve or six.” Lord’s success to the history But Sarfraz said: “It wasn’t days at the ‘home of Cricket,’ put Sarfraz is well aware of what books. close...we’ve seen Usman as a Pakistan 1-0 up with one to play it would mean to emulate Paki- “We have to forget Lord’s and better option. and on the verge of a fi rst series stan’s series win in England 22 move on to this now,” he said. “If “Usman has been with us for win in England since fast bowl- years ago. “If we do win this, it we want to move ahead as a team the last three tours. ing greats Wasim Akram and will be a series we’ll never for- we have to forget our wins. “He’s worked very hard and Waqar Younis starred in a 1996 get,” he added. “We did well, we enjoyed it for he’s been doing well. success. Pakistan were widely “The last time we won a series two days, but now we’re here,” “He played well in the two- acknowledged to have outplayed in England was in 1996, when Sarfraz added. “If we are to move day game against Leicestershire. England in all departments at Wasim and Waqar were around, up in the rankings we need to That’s why we recommended Lord’s in the fi rst Test of the cur- and we drew at Leeds then,” he forget our wins and keep mov- him, and that’s why he’s playing rent campaign but wicket-keep- added. Sarfraz, however, urged ing on.” tomorrow.”

MOTORSPORT SPOTLIGHT Pakistan’s Amir aims for win of a lifetime Qatar’s Adel fastest against England

AFP said on Wednesday. London “If we win the series I think it will be the best memory of my life,” the swing bowler added. ohamed Amir has in T2 section of had some of the ‘Block out the noise’ greatest and un- Pakistan will be forced into a doubtedly the worst change, with Fakhar Zaman set Mdays of his career in England to replace Babar Azam after his – sometimes during the very fellow batsman suff ered a bro- same match. ken arm facing all-rounder Ben But fresh from helping bowl Stokes at Lord’s. England have Pakistan to a crushing nine- recalled opener Keaton Jen- Rally Kazakhstan wicket win over England in the nings in place of the dropped fi rst Test at Lord’s, the left-arm Mark Stoneman, who managed Al-Rajhi doubles his advantage with another fastest time on the fourth day paceman hopes he can enjoy the just 13 runs in total at Lord’s. “best memory” with a series “You will only get judged on win in the second and fi nal Test the amount of runs you score,” at Headingley, starting today. said Jennings, one of Alastair Amir, who burst on the world Cook’s 12 opening partners scene as a teenager, got his in the six years since Andrew name on the Lord’s honours Strauss’s retirement. board with a six-wicket haul England made a late addition against England in 2010. to their squad, with uncapped But in the same game at the left-arm seamer Sam Cur- ‘home of cricket’, Amir was ran called up Wednesday after caught up in a spot-fi xing scan- Stokes suff ered a hamstring dal at the which led to a jail sen- strain. Regardless of Stokes’s tence and a fi ve-year ban. fi tness, England may recall all- That same season, Amir took rounder Chris Woakes, if only to three wickets for 20 runs in 11 bolster their fallible batting, in overs at Headingley during a place of fast bowler Mark Wood. sensational bowling display Despite their lamentable as an Australia side featuring Lord’s showing, James An- Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, derson insisted England could Michael Hussey and Steven bounce back by squaring the Smith were dismissed for just series at the home 88 in the fi rst innings of the sec- ground of captain Joe Root. ond ‘neutral’ Test. The team received a barrage The match, which Pakistan of criticism after Lord’s but eventually won by three wick- Anderson, England’s all-time ets, saw Amir stake a claim to leading Test wicket-taker, said: ‘The Ball of the 21st Century’ “The outside noise is always when an all-but-unplayable there, and it’s a bit louder when delivery that pitched on the you perform badly. middle-and-leg stump of “We’ll try to block out the Mitchell Johnson seamed away noise – from whoever is shout- late to clip the top of the left- ing out,” he added, suggesting a hander’s off -stump. “bit of a luck” may be all England Amir, who helped Essex win need to improve on a run of six the English County Champion- defeats in their last eight Tests. If ship last season when he also England are seeking inspiration, starred in Pakistan’s outstand- they could look to the Headingley ing one-day Champions Tro- example of the West Indies. phy fi nal victory over arch-ri- Last year, the tourists suf- vals India at The Oval, has rarely fered a humiliating innings and hit those Headingley heights in 209-run defeat by England in Test cricket since his return the fi rst Test at Edgbaston, only to the international stage two to enjoy a fi ve-wicket victory in years ago. Amir, however, took the second Test as Shai Hope fi ve wickets – including four for became the fi rst batsman to 36 in the second innings – as score hundreds in both innings Pakistan outclassed England in of a fi rst-class match at Head- all areas to win inside four days ingley. at Lord’s on Sunday. England, though, might set- Qatar’s Adel Abdulla (also inset) in his Toyota Land Cruiser during the fourth day of the Rally Kazakhstan’s T2 category yesterday. “It’s a big achievement win- tle for one century by any mem- ning in Test cricket in England ber of their faltering top order, Agencies out of the podium positions. “It was a very nice stage and and his son Dan moved above got stuck and felt we could not against England at home,” Amir let alone two, right now. Aktau City, Kazakhstan FIA World Cup leader Jakub we were leading most of the Yerden Shagirov and Denis Kro- fi nish the stage. Przygonski and Belgian naviga- way until we made some small tov and back into 10th position “Somehow, we managed to tor Tom Colsoul slipped back to mistake in the dunes and we in their South Racing Nissan get out of the troubles and win third fastest time in third in the second X-raid MINI lost some time. We had to let Navara. Spanish team-mate the second stage in a row. We’re four days in Rally Ka- John Cooper Works Rally and Yazeed go. But I was happy with Fernando Alvarez had suff ered happy with it. Now there are two zakhstan enabled Saudi now trail the Russian the speed today. I had to wait clutch issues and heavy time days left and it is diffi cult to get Arabia’s Yazeed al- duo of Vladimir Vasilyev for the dust then. Vasilyev was penalties the previous day and the victory. However, we’ll keep RajhiA to double his outright lead and Konstantin Zhiltsov (MINI also close to me. We are all at recovered well to set the 12th trying to improve our position to over eight minutes as teams Cooper Countryman) by 33 the same speed so I could not do quickest time. and see where we end on Satur- tackled a fourth selective section seconds. anything. I guess I am sorry for Shagirov lost well over an day,” Abdulla said. of 398.57km between Kenderly The Russian complained that him because we were all stuck in hour on the stage with technical Frenchman Patrice Garrouste and Aktau City yesterday. he lost time in the dust of other the dust of Yazeed.” issues and slipped behind Kro- was again the man to beat in the Qatar’s Adel Abdulla also re- vehicles on a stage where several Luc Alphand said: “Three bad tov as well to hold 12th overall. T3 category and the Polaris RZR corded his second successive of the leading cars were running days and it is continuing. We Qatar’s Adel Abdulla re- 1000 driver recorded another stage win in the T2 category on close together for long periods. stopped to do the tyre pressures, corded his second successive stage win in a time of 5hrs 50min the fourth day of the event. Zhiltsov commented: “It manually, before the dunes. We stage win in the T2 category in 48sec. Al-Rajhi said: “Today we had was a really interesting special did a little too much and, in the a rented Toyota Land Cruiser, Overnight leader Santiago Na- our fi rst puncture after 16km. stage, dust, fesh-fesh and dif- second part of the dunes, we got but there were large delays for varro completed the special 7min We changed it very fast and fi cult dunes. I don’t remember stuck in a really bad position and Kazakhstan’s Kirill Chernenk- 57sec behind the Frenchman and then we had a second punc- the dunes like that. There were a we were there almost one hour. ov – who began the day with a extended his advantage over fel- ture after 200km and we had to lot of drops and sharp dunes and It was a nightmare.” lead of 10min 12sec over Rus- low Spaniard José Pena Campo drive around 180 (km) with no vegetation in the sand. Every- G-Force driver Andrey Rud- sia’s Konstantin Ivanov – and to 20min 01sec. Kazakh Dmitry spare. I started fourth but we thing okay except for an incident skoy maintained sixth place and OFF-ROAD Kazakhstan’s Marat Pitulov was third quickest on the attacked like hell. You need to with the Sentinel. We will see.” his team-mate Boris Gadasin Abykayev. They were still out day to stay above Garrouste in fi nd good places to overtake. It Czech driver Martin Prokop managed to pass Viktor Khoro- in the desert as the leaders re- the rankings. was not easy to overtake (Mar- beat Przygonski to the third shavtsev (MINI John Cooper turned to service in Aktau City. Sergey Kupriyanov won the tin) Prokop. Luckily we were in quickest time by 11 seconds to Works Rally) in the overall rank- “By God’s grace, we won an- National Rally stage in the fi rst a chott and we managed to get consolidate fourth overall in his ings and climbed to seventh. other stage today, which is good of the Team Kamaz Masters through.” Ford F-150 Evo and, despite los- The fi fth quickest time on the for us. The stage was tough and trucks in a time of 5hrs 12min With the rally returning to ing nearly an hour on the day’s day’s stage enabled England’s tricky from the point of naviga- 00sec. Tomorrow (Friday), the Aktau City for the remain- timed section stuck in a tricky Harry Hunt to strengthen his tion and terrains. We were af- penultimate stage of the event ing two overnight halts, a mere sand dune, Frenchman Luc Al- grip on ninth overall in the PH fected by two fl at tyres as well. runs for 298.04km to the north 8min 38sec separates fi rst from phand clung on to fi fth overall in Sport Peugeot 3008 DKR. We decided to make some cuts of Aktau City sections of which Pakistan’s Mohamed Amir during a net session at Headingley in third position in a MINI lock- X-raid’s MINI Buggy. Germany’s Jurgen Schröder to avoid diffi cult places. But we were also used in 2017. Leeds, Britain, yesterday. (Reuters)