Sports43 FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015 El Hadji Diouf aims to score political goal KUALA LUMPUR: El Hadji Diouf’s reputation for sublime footwork and turbulent tantrums is known around the globe, but after glory at the World Cup and in England’s Premier League the veteran striker now wants political success in his native Senegal. The 34-year-old, who made his name in the Senegal side that beat World Cup holders France in the open- ing game of the 2002 tournament in South Korea, is now close to the end of his career with Sabah FC in Malaysia’s sec- ond division. Diouf’s globetrotting saw him play with Sochaux, Rennes and Lens in France, before a roller-coaster decade in England and Scotland with Liverpool, Bolton, Sunderland, Blackburn, Glasgow Rangers, Doncaster Rovers and Leeds United. No one in football disputes that he is a passionate and fre- quently kind player, always happy to talk to fans and journal- ists. But Diouf-who picked up the nickname “Serial Killer”-has also been a divisive figure. A number of incidents of spitting at opposing players and fans clouded his achievements on the ball. Diouf told AFP in an interview in Kuala Lumpur that he considered reaching the quarter finals of the 2002 World Cup as the high point of his football life. “All good Muslims dream of going to Mecca and any good footballer dreams of the World Cup,” he said. “Ryan Giggs and Eric Cantona were greats but that is missing from their records.” OHIO: Jordan Spieth of the United States plays a shot during a practice round for the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course in Akron, Ohio. —AFP Father figures His temper outbursts may be among the regrets. “That is also what got me known,” he admitted. “If people liked me it is because I was a fighter on the pitch. “And as my ‘father’ Bruno Metsu always said ‘Anyone can play football, but in Spieth eyes world football it is men who win matches’.” Metsu is one of many ‘fathers’ in Diouf’s life. The much-travelled French coach-who guided Senegal as well as Guinea, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and a host of clubs-tragically died of cancer in 2013. His real father is Boubacar Diallo, an attacker who went from number 1 ranking Senegal to France and then played with Benfica in Portugal. “My only regret is that I never saw him play,” said Diouf. “Bruno was my real father, he was the most important,” said the player. “There has not been a more emotional moment AKRON: Masters and US Open champi- Rickie Fowler, of the US. Spieth, 22, get rid of, and it will come back when- in my life than Bruno’s funeral,” said Diouf before a long on Jordan Spieth is seeking to unseat leads the PGA Tour with four victories ever it wants to. So I’m just trying to pause. Rory McIlroy as world number one as this season. In his last outing he was in manage it the best I can,” Day said. Metsu had converted to Islam and wanted to be buried in he tees off in the WGC-Bridgestone contention to claim his third straight Johnson is hoping to add to a strong Senegal. “With his son, I followed the coffin to the plane which Invitational. Spieth, still smarting from major before finishing in a tie for fourth season that includes seven top-10 fin- took him to Senegal. Now he is at home.” Diouf also pays trib- his agonizing failure to win the British at the Open Championship at St. ishes and his last two victories came in ute to Rolland Courbis the coach who brought him to Lens in Open at St Andrews last month, head- Andrews. World Golf Championships-the 2013 France, a club which had earlier told him he was not good lines the small-field, no-cut tournament He ended up one shot shy of getting HSBC Champions in China and the enough for their academy. After a 2001-2002 season in which which includes 48 of the top 50 players in a playoff with winner Zach Johnson Cadillac Championship at Doral in he scored 10 goals as Lens finished second in the French in the world. “It would be a dream so he comes into the Bridgestone with a March. He will try to become the third league and then he starred at the World Cup, Diouf became a come true,” Spieth said Wednesday of chip on his shoulder. “I’m hoping to player to claim two WGC titles in one major draw. “Every club wanted me: Manchester United, the number-one ranking. “At the begin- prove that I’ve kind of got a little bit of season. —AFP Barcelona, Real Madrid,” he said. He chose Liverpool because ning of the year I wanted to work my revenge that I need to get out from hav- their coach Gerard Houllier was French. “That counted for me way up the world rankings. I didn’t ing control of the Open Championship and I do not regret my choice,” he said. But at Liverpool as the think I could be in this position or have with two holes to go and not closing it Kuwait set to other clubs there were highs and lows. this opportunity. out,” Spieth said. “That leaves a bad “I feel blessed at the way this year taste in my mouth, not because of the host Gulf cup Political future has gone .... Obviously we all want Rory third in a row, but strictly because you Two goals on his debut against Southampton promised KUWAIT: Chairman of the Board back ASAP. It would be really incredible don’t get many opportunities to con- and Director General of the Public a lot, but spitting incidents and driving offences grated with if at the end of the week I was holding tend in a major, in an Open at St the Liverpool management. In 2005, Diouf started four sea- Authority for Youth and Sports the trophy and having that position Andrews, in your life. “It was a tough Sheikh Ahmad Al-Mansour Al-Sabah sons at Bolton Wanderers under Sam Allardyce where he moving forward.” The two most recent feeling on that flight home, especially really made his name in English football. “I loved playing yesterday stressed that Kuwait WGC-Bridgestone winners, defending with Zach and the [Claret] Jug there. I with great players like Jay-Jay Okocha, Fernando Hierro, would be ready to host the 23rd champion McIlroy and Tiger Woods, are wish that it was in my possession and Vincent Candela, Nicholas Anelka. “Big Sam gave us orders, Gulf soccer cup on time. All required but Jay-Jay told us ‘play as you want to’. We played the noticeably absent but there will still be not his.” Spieth finished 49th and failed stadiums and facilities will be fully most beautiful football in England and finished sixth two plenty of firepower at the event, the to break par in any of his rounds in his prepared in time to organize the years running.” After that Diouf became a traveller, amazing final tune-up before the PGA Bridgestone debut last year. tournament, said Sheikh Ahmad Al- fans and then annoying them with his football and his tem- Championship at Whistling Straits. Mansour in a press statement. The per. In Kuala Lumpur, Diouf attended celebrations for McIlroy, who held off Sergio Garcia ‘Big, meaty course’ Public Authority’s departments are Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, a former head of the Senegal to win last year, suffered a torn ankle “It’s a big, meaty course,” he said. “I all cooperating to prepare for the football federation who joined the International Olympic ligament in July and eight-time struggled with it last year. It’s going to prominent Gulf soccer event, said Committee on Monday. He sees a future for himself in Bridgestone winner Woods wasn’t take some really strong driving of the the official, adding that the facilities sports politics. “I want to become a businessman after foot- invited. Woods won in 1999, 2000, golf ball.” Day, who is coming off his will be ready ahead of the tourna- ball and I think politician as well. I don’t want others to take 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2013. second win this season at the Canadian ment’s time which is next January. charge of my life.” Diouf is already a goodwill ambassador Spieth will have a host of challengers Open, returns to the Bridgestone where Kuwait’s Cabinet had requested to for the Senegalese government, with his own charitable standing in his way at the Firestone he withdrew two holes into the third host the 23rd edition of the Gulf cup foundation, and is close to several Senegalese politicians. “I Country Club, including red-hot round last year with dizziness. He since as Iraq had apologized to organize want to change things in African sport, why not become a Australian Jason Day, fellow American was diagnosed with vertigo which the event due to security reasons. Kuwait had set a budget of KD five sports minister.” —AFP Dustin Johnson, Adam Scott of flared up again at this year’s US Open in million for the soccer event.—KUNA Australia, England’s Justin Rose and June. “It’s tough because vertigo, I can’t.