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Home , Allister Coetzee, Austrian International, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Courtnall Skosan, Dan du Preez, Ehsan Hajsafi

| Page 2 FOOTBALL | Page 7 Time catches France face up with Dutch in Chinese World Cup legend Dan qualifi er

Wednesday, August 30, 2017 Dhul-Hijja 8, 1438 AH Warner and GULF TIMES Lyon put Australia back on track SPORT Page 3 TENNIS/US OPEN Sharapova wins on Slam return, ousts Halep AFP “I just thought this was another day, second-round matchup against Hun- Osaka stuns Kerber New York another opportunity, another match but garian Timea Babos, whom she has never this was so much more,” Sharapova said. played. Sharapova won only 5 of 22 break New York: Japanese teenager Nao- “You sometimes wonder why you put points in the match while Halep won 4 of mi Osaka sent defending champion ormer world number one Maria in all the work and this is exactly why.” 10 and produced only 15 winners against Angelique Kerber crashing out of Sharapova made a triumphant An emotional Sharapova punctuated her 14 unforced errors. the US Open first round yesterday, return to Grand Slam competi- shotmaking, at times erratic and other It was Sharapova’s fi rst Grand Slam bringing a rare bright spot to a rain- tion after a 15-month doping moments spectacular, with screams and match since a quarter-fi nal loss to Ser- lashed day at Flushing Meadows. Fban, outlasting second-ranked Simona fi st pumps. She was energetic even at ena Williams in last year’s Australian As players ran for cover off the out- Halep 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 at the US Open. rest, closing her eyes and bouncing her Open.Sharapova, ranked 146th, re- side courts, Osaka’s big-hitting game The 30-year-old Russian, who had legs as she sat between sets.After the turned in April but the French Open and love of the big occasion thrived only one hardcourt tuneup match due fi nal point, Sharapova dropped to her snubbed Sharapova for a wildcard entry under the roof of the Arthur Ashe to a nagging forearm injury, swatted 60 knees in tears as a replay appeal showed and she missed Wimbledon with a thigh Stadium court. winners with 64 unforced errors, setting what she already knew. injury. World number one Karolina Plisk- the tempo and baffl ing Halep at times in She later battled back tears as she blew Asked about her low points, Shara- ova, bidding to back up her lofty a tension-packed thriller at Arthur Ashe kisses to spectators, sobbed at times and pova, said, “There were defi nitely a few status with a maiden first Grand Stadium. mouthed “Thank you” to fans that were but I don’t think this is the time to talk Slam title, made a winning start at “This girl has a lot of grit,” Sharapova devoted throughout the two hour and 45 about that.” a soggy US Open yesterday a 6-2, said of herself. “And she’s not going any- minute drama. Sharapova walked onto the court at 6-1 win over ’s Magda Linette. where.” Sharapova, who tested positive “You never know what you’re going to Arthur Ashe Stadium to rousing ap- “I felt a little bit nervous walking on for meldonium at last year’s Australian feel until you win that match point,” she plause. She wore a black dress, visor, this court, especially after last year Open, improved to 7-0 in her all-time ri- said. “It was so worth it.” socks and shoes, the same style she and the memories I have here,” said valry with Halep, extending her mastery Maria Sharapova of celebrates her victory over Simona Halep of Romania Sharapova, whose major titles in- sported in taking the trophy nine years Pliskova. over the 25-year-old Romanian. in the first round of the US Open in New York. clude the 2006 US Open, advanced to a ago on the New York hardcourts.

CRICKET Hope and glory as Windies stun in 2nd Test

It was all the more impressive given that just over a week earlier they’d REACTION suff ered an and 209- defeat inside three days in the first Test

AFP Law proud as Leeds WI bounce back hai Hope led the West Indies to a remarkable fi ve- victory est Indies coach scored a hundred in any of his over England in the second Test Stuart Law praised previous 11 Test matches. yesterday as he became the fi rst his side for the way Yet his 118 yesterday, batsmanS to score two hundreds in a fi rst- Wthey responded to following his fi rst-innings 147, class match at Headingley. their humiliating fi rst Test de- saw the Barbados batsman be- The West Indies, set a seemingly im- feat by England to level the series come the fi rst man to score two posing 322 for victory, fi nished on 322 for with a stunning fi ve-wicket win hundreds in a fi rst-class match fi ve with 28 balls to spare. at Headingley yesterday. in 127 years of cricket at Headin- Hope, elegant through the off side and Shai Hope made hundreds in gley. “I said if he gets one (hun- assured off his legs, was 118 not out fol- both innings, with opener Kraigg dred), he’ll get plenty – well he lowing his fi rst-innings 147. Brathwaite falling just fi ve runs got one and he’s got another,” Having not scored a hundred in any shy of the same feat, as the West said Law of Hope. of his previous 11 Tests, the 23-year-old Indies completed a remarkable “He’s been going through Barbados batsman had two in the one victory yesterday to square the the form dip but he’s looked in game. three-Test series at 1-1. good nick.” Law also had words Victory saw West Indies level the “What a fi ve days,” Law told of praise for the 24-year-old three-match series at 1-1 as they recorded Sky Sports. Brathwaite, saying: “He’s not the their fi rst Test win in England since 2000. “After getting the kicking we most fashionable-looking crick- It was all the more impressive given did at Edgbaston, to get the boys eter but he gets the job done and that just over a week earlier they’d suf- back up to achieve what they’ve he’s one of my fi rst picks every fered an innings and 209-run defeat in- done these last fi ve days, it’s game. side three days in the fi rst Test at Edgbas- a great eff ort – not just by the “(He’s got) plenty of courage, ton. players themselves but all the plenty of character and plenty of This was also, excluding fi xtures support staff . determination.” against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, just “I’m very proud of them, and Meanwhile a delighted Hope the West Indies’ fourth Test win away of the two young guys who scored said: “We needed someone to from home in 88 matches spanning 20 the runs,” added the former Aus- stand up and bat and I was sure years. West Indies’ Shai Hope celebrates guiding his team to victory against England in the second Test at Headingley yesterday. tralia batsman after the West In- if I was there at the end, the cen- Together with opener Kraigg dies, set a seemingly stiff 322 to tury would come. Brathwaite (95), Hope put on 144 after But Broad did reduce the West Indies Headingley fl oodlights shining bright on ond with the new ball for a stun- win, fi nished on 322 for fi ve with “I’m elated, we’ve been work- the pair had shared a stand of 246 in the from 46 for none to 53 for two. a gloomy day, was to loft Anderson’s sec- ning straight six. 28 balls left. ing really hard as a team,” he fi rst innings, with Brathwaite making He had (23) fending to Hope pushed Broad for a single to com- The 23-year-old Hope had not added. 134. Ben Stokes at fourth slip and then ran out plete a superb off 175 balls, includ- The West Indies resumed on fi ve with- , Shai’s older brother, for the ing 13 fours, as he achieved something no out loss after England Joe Root unluckiest of ducks when he dropped a one else had managed in 127 years of fi rst- SCORECARD had declared late on Monday with Eng- return catch from a hard-hit Brathwaite class cricket at Headingley — a ground land 490 for eight in their second innings. drive only to defl ect the ball onto the that has been home to such Yorkshire and England 1st Innings: 258 (B Stokes R. Chase c sub (Crane) b Woakes ..30 Only Australia, with 404 for three back stumps at the bowler’s end as the non- England batting greats as Herbert Sut- 100, J Root 59; S Gabriel 4-51, K Roach J. Blackwood st Bairstow b Ali ...... 41 in 1948, had made more to win in the striker backed up. cliff e, Len Hutton and Geoff Boycott. 4-71) S. Dowrich not out ...... 0 fourth innings of a Headingley Test. But it was not until the stroke of tea He was also the fi rst West Indies bats- West Indies 1st Innings: 427 (S Extras (b4, lb9, w1, nb1) ...... 15 James Anderson started yesterday just that West Indies lost their third wick- man to score hundreds in both innings of Hope 147, K Brathwaite 134; J Anderson Total (5 wkts, 91.2 overs, 393 mins) 322 three away from becoming the fi rst Eng- et when Brathwaite edged off -spinner a Test in England since Gordon Greenidge 5-76) Fall of : 1-46 (Powell), 2-53 land bowler to take 500 Test wickets. Moeen Ali to Stokes at slip. at Old Traff ord in 1976. England 2nd Innings: 490-8 dec (K Hope), 3-197 (Brathwaite), 4-246 Yet on a day of astonishing statistics, Brathwaite’s 180-ball innings, includ- England’s plight was summed up when (M Ali 84, J Root 72, C Woakes 61 no, D (Chase), 5-320 (Blackwood) one of the more incredible was that An- ing 12 fours, meant the opener had batted Cook dropped Shai Hope on 106. Malan 61, B Stokes 58, M Stoneman 52; Bowling: Anderson 24-6-73-0; Broad derson went wicketless while conceding for more than 10 hours in the match. Blackwood, who uppercut Broad for six R Chase 3-86) 25-4-91-1; Ali 25-3-76-2 (1nb); Woakes 73 runs in 24 overs. After tea, (30) was bril- over third man, tried to win the match in West Indies 2nd Innings: (overnight 12.2-44-1 (1w); Stokes 5-0-25-0. In a match where dropped catches liantly caught by diving substitute fi elder the grand manner. But having removed 5-0, target 322) : West Indies won by five had cost the West Indies 238 runs, there Mason Crane at mid-on. his helmet, he was off Ali for 41, K. Brathwaite c Stokes b Ali ...... 95 wickets was further drama when normally re- England took the new ball with West having put on a vital 74 with Shai Hope. K. Powell c Stokes b Broad ...... 23 Man-of-the-match: Shai Hope (WIS) liable fi rst slip Alastair Cook fl oored Indies 266 for four off 80 overs and gave West Indies’ bats Appropriately, it was Shai Hope who K. Hope run out (Broad) ...... 0 Remaining Fixture: Sep 07-11: Third Brathwaite, yet to add to his overnight it to Anderson. yesterday. He was unlucky to miss his struck the winning runs with a legside S. Hope not out ...... 118 Test, Lord’s four, off Stuart Broad. But Blackwood’s response, with the century by five runs. fl ick for two off Chris Woakes. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, August 30, 2017 SPORT

TRUE GRIT TENNIS Tomic admits he’s ‘not the smartest’ ‘This girl’s not aft er US Open opfl going anywhere,’ says Sharapova The 30-year-old Russian star marked her return to Grand Slam tennis after serving a 15-month doping ban with a thrilling 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Halep

Bernard Tomic of Australia reacts during his first round match against Gilles Muller of Luxembourg on Monday.

Reuters break but still felt “trapped” in New York the sport he has played fulltime since he was a child, given his lack of other options to fund his ustralian Bernard Tom- lifestyle. ic admitted he is “not “I mean, it’s tough. Everyone the smartest person in has their own work, their own job Athe world” after exiting and it’s not like I can go and start the US Open in the fi rst round on real estate or something, res- Monday with a 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 taurants. I’ve got no idea about defeat to Gilles Muller that could that,” he told the Australian As- send him tumbling out of the top sociated Press. 150. “Yes, I can aff ord to do those Tomic was returning to tour- things, but I’ve got no idea. My nament play for the fi rst time job’s only to play tennis and it’s since his fi rst round loss at Wim- all I know. I’m not going to fi n- bledon in July, after which he said ish a doctor’s degree. I’m not the he was bored with tennis and had smartest person in the world.” played at 50% for much of his Tomic’s failure to fulfi l his career. huge potential has been a matter The 24-year-old started of great frustration to his com- brightly by taking the fi rst set patriots, and his US Open ap- off the 19th seed on Monday but pearances have featured almost his lack of match fi tness told as, as many controversies as memo- despite frequent treatment from rable victories. the trainer, he lost the next three He bowed out in fi rst round to bow out at the fi rst hurdle in a last year after a foul-mouthed third straight grand slam. rant at a heckler in the crowd, Having already plummeted and was given the unfl attering from 39 to 146 in the rankings nickname of “Tomic the Tank Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates winning her first round match against Simona Halep of Romania on Monday. since Wimbledon, Tomic now Engine” after his second round faces the very real prospect of capitulation against Andy Rod- AFP paid to her hopes of playing Wimbledon was still a giggly 17-year-old, launched who missed last year’s US Open due to being forced to request a wild dick in 2012. New York qualifying. her into superstardom. her suspension and the 2015 event to in- card from Tennis Australia for his Tennis Australia head of per- With her ranking down at 146, she However, she is aware that having jury. home grand slam in Melbourne formance Wally Masur warned needed another wildcard to get into the passed 30 in April, there is a danger of “I was upset about it because I really in January. him pre-tournament to be pre- t was a performance as dazzling as main draw of the US Open but she was in shrinking opportunities. wanted that fi rst practice. Those little In typically candid comments pared for the grind of the minor the crystal-encrusted black dress danger of missing New York after picking “When me and my coach fi rst sched- things you kind of take for granted. From afterwards, Tomic said he had tours if he fails to win a match at she was wearing as Maria Sharapova up an arm injury at Stanford, where she uled my practice on centre court, actu- the moment that I’ve been here, I’ve re- his motivation back after his the US Open. warned her US Open rivals that be- played her only hardcourt match of the ally it got moved because they had some ally understood what this means to me, to Ihind the glamour, there’s tons of grit. year. maintenance issues,” said Sharapova, be back and to be playing.” The 30-year-old Russian star marked “You try and think it’s another day, SPOTLIGHT her return to Grand Slam tennis after another opportunity but it was so much serving a 15-month doping ban with a more,” said Sharapova, who fell to her Wozniacki rolls through fi rst round of US Open thrilling 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over sec- knees in tears after securing a thrilling ond seed Simona Halep on Monday. triumph on Monday. New York: Fifth seed Caroline Wozni- Injured Murray It was her 50th appearance at a major “You never know how you are going to acki capitalised on 41 unforced errors but fi rst since the quarter-fi nals of the feel until match point but you fi gure it’s by Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu 2016 Australian Open and her fi rst at the all worth it.” to cruise to a 6-1 7-5 win in their first ponders hip surgery US Open for three years. The eye-catching crystals sewn into round meeting at the US Open on But it was like she had never been away her black and lace number were a perfect Monday. as she took her night-time record on the teaser for TV cameras for the night ses- The 29-year-old Buzarnescu, who was Arthur Ashe Stadium to 18 wins in 18 sion on Ashe. playing in her first-grand slam match, matches. “It’s prime time baby!” she said with a was overwhelmed by the Dane’s pow- Fittingly, Sharapova played in a black smile. “When I fi rst came to New York I erful baseline game in the first set. dress, just as she had done in 2006 when was intimidated by the noise, the traffi c, She came out with more energy in the interview. Wozniacki, who calls New she was crowned champion, one of her the people. But now I love it.” second and the two exchanged service York home, said being able to sleep in fi ve Grand Slam titles. “Sometimes you wonder why you put breaks to get to 4-4. her own bed was an advantage for her “Behind this little black dress and the in all the hard work — this is exactly why.” However, the Romanian became at a tournament where she is a two- Swarovski crystals, there is a girl with a Sharapova ended with 60 winners and frustrated as she struggled with ac- time finalist. lot of grit and she’s not going anywhere,” 64 unforced errors and converting just curacy and the lefty sent a two-handed “It’s awesome because we stay in ho- Sharapova said after seeing off Halep for fi ve of her 22 break opportunities. backhand long to hand Wozniacki a tels every week,” she added. “My mom the seventh time in seven meetings. It was the type of all-or-nothing as- trip to the second round. is here and she cooks so that’s nice. It Sharapova only returned to tennis sault that has served her well since she “The first round is always diff icult, you makes it very comfortable.” in April after her ban had run its course fi rst burst on the scene with a 2004 just want to get into the tournament,” The win was the former world number but she was refused a wildcard into the Wimbledon title. Wozniacki said in an on-court one’s 100th grand slam match victory. French Open while a thigh injury put That victory, which came when she

BADMINTON

Time catches up with Chinese legend ‘Super Dan’ DPA a decision I’ll need to take now.” New York Murray’s former coach Leon Smith, the British Davis Cup AFP on. Lin proved his enduring qual- honoured and respected. You will captain, believes that his long- Shanghai ity in by beating South always be Super Dan,” said one. S Open absentee Andy time pupil can make a full re- Korea’s world number one Son But many were more concerned Murray is debating a covery from any surgery if he Wan-Ho in the semi-fi nals, be- with Lin’s love life which has career-shaping deci- chooses an operation over weeks in Dan’s defeat in the fore going down to the 23-year- made more headlines than his sion on whether to un- of rest to try and cure the hip. World Championship old Axelsen in what felt like a badminton in the past year. Udergo surgery on the dodgy hip The 30-year-old took nearly 12 fi nal has prompted fresh changing of the guard. The once sky-high popular- which has kept him off court months in 2013-2014 to come Lconjecture that the Chi- “It is unbelievable to beat Lin ity of the tattooed shuttler — it is since an early Wimbledon loss around from back surgery, but nese super star could soon call Dan, I have been watching him rare for Chinese athletes to have two months ago. won his second Wimbledon title time on his brilliant career. for years,” said the Dane. tattoos — has never recovered The former number one, dis- almost a year after that interven- The 33-year-old “Super Dan” As he nears the end of his ca- fully despite Lin apologising in placed this month atop the ATP tion. said after losing Sunday’s show- reer, Lin has been cherry-picking November last year for an aff air rankings by Rafael Nadal, is said “Every injury has its compli- down to ’s Viktor Ax- his tournament appearances to with a model while his wife and to be weighing his medical op- cations and you can go and see elsen in Glasgow that he would help extend his time at the top, former badminton starlet Xie tions after training in pain onsite a number of diff erent specialists immediately return for ’s like 36-year-old Roger Federer Xingfang was pregnant. at the Open before fi nally pulling and you might get quite varying National Games and then play at who has enjoyed a resurgence Observers said Lin showed his the plug on his participation last responses in terms of next steps, next month’s Open. this year to win two tennis grand advancing years had slowed him weekend. best steps,” Smith said. “After that I have no plans,” slams. in the defeat to world number “I have never had to take any “He’s a very intelligent guy said Lin, indicating he might Lin has fallen to seventh in the three Axelsen. time off because of my hip be- and it’s his career. I’m sure he’ll soon call it a day. “It will be dif- world rankings and fans on Chi- “We all hoped to see Super Dan fore,” the Scot said. “Obviously I take on board all the pieces of ad- fi cult to play in the World Cham- na’s Twitter-like Weibo, where continue his legacy, but objec- spoke to a number of specialists vice he’s had and make a decision pionships at 34.” File picture of China’s Lin Dan. he has 3.75mn followers, said he tively speaking there’s a 10-year about the injury to get the best that’s best for him, but surgery is But the two-time Olympic and lost the fi nal to Old Father Time age gap between the two players, advice possible. a diffi cult decision. “It is always fi ve-time world champion, re- the fi nal against a player 10 years sport in his younger days, with a rather than his Danish opponent. think about the extra eff ort that “When you speak to a lot, (the option) you wait on to make garded widely as the greatest sin- younger “showed that I am still rap sheet that included hitting a “The best players will always has to be put in,” commentator there are diff erent views and sure you’ve got enough evidence gles player of all time, mixed his strong enough physically”. coach. And he has hinted at re- lose to time/age in the end. Even Tong Kexin said on state televi- opinions on what the best thing that it’s going to make a positive message by adding that reaching Lin was the bad boy of Chinese tirement before, only to plough in defeat Lin Dan deserves to be sion after the defeat. to do is moving forward. That’s diff erence.” Gulf Times Wednesday, August 30, 2017 3 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT UPDATE Injured Hazlewood Warner and Lyon to miss Chittagong Test and tour

Reuters told reporters after the third day’s play. put Australia “He said it is going to be pretty hard sitting at home watching. He hasn’t done that for three or four years. So he’s a big ustralia paceman Josh Hazle- member around the group. I am going to wood will miss the second and miss having dinner with him every night, fi nal Test against Bangladesh but we have got Jackson Bird waiting in after picking up a side strain the wings, which is great.” yesterdayA which also rules him out of With Australia needing 156 more back on track the subsequent limited-overs tour of runs to win with eight wickets in hand, India. Hazlewood will be available to bat, and Australia need another 156 for victory over Bangladesh in Dhaka Test The 26-year-old went wicketless Cricket Australia is likely to name a re- in the current fi rst Test at the Sher-e- placement today. AFP Bangla National Stadium and was into Chittagong hosts the second Test Dhaka his second over on Tuesday when he from September 4, while Australia play sustained the injury and walked off of fi ve one-dayers and three the ground. Internationals in India, starting on avid Warner scored an un- Hazlewood’s injury leaves Australia September 17. beaten half-century to with three of their pacemen sidelined Hazlewood’s injury is a fresh concern steady Australia as they less than three months before the Ash- for Australia who are also waiting for chased a challenging victory es series against England. quicks Mitchell Starc (foot) and James targetD in the fi rst Test against Bangla- “He’s going to be really hard to re- Pattinson (back) to recover ahead of the desh in Dhaka yesterday. place. He’s played all but one of the last Ashes series, which begins on Novem- Warner, who remained unbeaten on 30 Tests,” pace colleague Pat Cummins ber 23. 75, scored the bulk of the runs as the visitors advanced to 109-2 at stumps on the third day, still needing another 156 for victory. Nathan Lyon earlier claimed 6-82 to dismiss Bangladesh for a modest 221 in their second innings and give Australia a scent of victory. Bangladesh looked confi dent when spinner Mehedi Hasan trapped Matt Renshaw leg-before for fi ve and Us- man Khawaja hoisted a catch to at square leg off in the next over. Australia, teetering on 28-2, nearly lost another wicket when skipper Steve Smith appeared to have been stumped off Mehedi and walked. But he was called back after replays showed his feet had dragged slightly behind the crease as wicketkeeper Mushfi qur Rahim broke the stumps. Smith was dropped again by off Mehedi on three. He went on to score 25 not out and put on an un- defeated 81 with Warner for the third wicket. Warner, who faced 96 balls and hit 11 fours and a six, also had his share of Australia’s (left) plays a shot as Bangladesh’s (right) looks on during third day’s play in the luck when he was dropped by Soumya first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka yesterday. (AFP) Sarkar on 14 off Shakib. Paceman Pat Cummins said Warn- brushed Tamim’s gloves, ending a fi ne is only the fi fth Test meeting between (T. Islam), 3-67 (Kayes), 4-135 (Iqbal), er’s strong showing would inspire the innings which included eight fours to the two teams. 5-143( Shakib), 6-186 (Rahim), 7-186 remaining batsmen. follow his 71 in the fi rst innings. (Hossain), 8-186 (S. Rahman), 9-214 (S. “He was so focused,” said Cum- Shakib was next out for fi ve, hoist- SCORECARD Islam), 10-221 (Hasan) mins. “He got his 50 rapidly and I ing a catch to Cummins at extra cover BANGLADESH 1st inn 260 Bowling: Hazlewood 4.1-2-3-0, Cum- think it just changes the whole mo- off Lyon. But Mushfi qur Rahim stayed AUSTRALIA 1st inn 217 mins 14-3-38-1 (w1), Lyon 34.3-10-82-6, mentum, but also the mindset for the calm until an unfortunate run out for BANGLADESH 2nd inn (o/n 45-1) Maxwell 5-0-24-0, Agar 20.5-1-55-2, other batsmen who are to come in.” 41 at the non-striker’s end. T. Iqbal c Wade b Cummins 78 Khawaja 1-0-1-0 Australia’s Josh Hazlewood picked up a side strain yesterday. (AFP) Earlier, Lyon took full advantage of Lyon removed Nasir Hossain (0) and S. Sarkar c Khawaja b Agar 15 a spinning track at the Sher-e-Bangla Ashton Agar sent back T. Islam lbw b Lyon 4 AUSTRALIA 2nd inn National Stadium to halt Bangladesh’s (22), dragging the hosts down further. I. Kayes c Warner b Lyon 2 D. Warner not out 75 SETBACK progress. But Tamim was still confi dent the M. Rahim run out 41 M. Renshaw lbw b Hasan 5 Tamim led the charge with his 155- hosts could secure victory. Shakib Al Hasan c Cummins b Lyon 5 U. Khawaja c T. Islam b Shakib 1 ball innings but his dismissal off Cum- “The wicket is unpredictable, any- S. Rahman c Handscomb b Lyon 22 S. Smith not out 25 mins for 78 triggered a collapse. thing can happen. We have to be pa- N. Hossain c Wade b Agar 0 Extras (b3) 3 Sri Lanka skipper The left-hander fell to a short ball tient because one wicket has brought M. Hasan c Khawaja b Lyon 26 Total (two wickets; 30 overs) 109 that whistled past him. Umpire Al- two or three in a cluster. We can bowl S. Islam c Handscomb b Lyon 9 Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Renshaw), 2-28 eem Dar turned down a muted appeal better than we did today,” he said. M. Rahman not out 0 (Khawaja) Kapugedera doubtful from the bowler but Smith decided to Bangladesh, ranked a lowly ninth in Extras (b15, lb 3, w1) 19 Bowling (to date): Hasan 14-2-51-1, review. Tests, are seeking their fi rst-ever win Total (all out; 79.3 overs) 221 Hossain 3-2-2-0, Shakib 8-2-28-1, T. Replays suggested the ball had over fourth-placed Australia in what Fall of wickets: 1-43 (Sarkar), 2-61 Islam 4-0-17-0, M. Rahman 1-0-8-0 for fourth ODI

IANS the third One-Day International (ODI) BOTTOMLINE Colombo where he was nursing a stiff back but had batted and fi elded in that game. The fi nal call on his involvement will ri Lanka stand-in captain Cha- be taken in 24 hours, it has been learnt. mara Kapugedera’s partici- “I think when he went into bat, it got pation has been thrown into worse, we’ll just have to wait further for doubt after he aggravated a the physio to tell us what’s going on.” Sri Lanka selectors resign backS injury during the previous cricket Gurusinha said. match against India on Sunday. Kapugedara will become the fi fth Sri “I was talking to the physio and he Lanka batsman to become unavailable (Kapugedera) hasn’t been ruled out if he cannot make the fi nal XI. quite yet,” cricket manager Asanka Gu- Earlier, Dinesh Chandimal was out aft er India debacle: reports rusinha was quoted as saying by espn- with a fractured fi nger while wicket- cricinfo yesterday. keeper-batsman Kusal Perera and bat- Reuters “He’s being treated. Only fi ve or six ting all-rounder Asela Gunaratne had Colombo guys are training tonight, so anyway been ruled out of the series with injury. we gave him a break. We’ll most prob- Danushka Gunathilaka is also nurs- ably look at it tomorrow (Wednesday) ing a shoulder strain (though there re- ri Lanka’s selection panel, led at training tomorrow afternoon. If he mains a small possibility he could re- by former captain Sanath Ja- doesn’t train tomorrow then defi nitely cover in time for the next match), and yasuriya, will step down after he is out,” he added. Upul Tharanga has been suspended due the current limited overs se- Kapugedera has not trained since to a slow over rate. riesS against India following the team’s slump in form, according to reports yesterday. The pressure on the panel to resign had intensifi ed after Sri Lanka were beaten 3-0 in the home test series against India, who have also taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the ongoing fi ve-match ODI series. The fi ve-member panel will stay on only for the next two ODIs and the sole Twenty20 against India, ESPNcricin- fo reported citing a sports ministry statement. “A combined letter bearing the names of the above committee has conveyed this decision to sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara. According to the letter, their tenure will end on September 7,” the ministry was quoted as saying. Angelo Mathews stepped down as Sri Lanka captain from all formats last In this August 11, 2017, picture, Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal (right) and chairman of selection committee Sanath Jayasuri- month after they succumbed to their ya (second from right) inspect the pitch ahead of their final Test against India Pallekele, India. According to reports, the Sri fi rst ever ODI series defeat against Lankan selection committee, led by Jayasuriya, will step down after the current limited overs series against India. (Reuters) Zimbabwe. Dinesh Chandimal was put in ODIs against the neighbours. play in Sunday’s ODI against India at changes to the squad but Jayasuriya charge of the test team who were Irate fans have staged protests over Pallekele. has blamed it on a spate of injuries that whitewashed in the test series by India the team’s poor form and some of The selectors have been accused of have plagued the side over the last 12 and now face a similar humiliation in them hurled water bottles to hold up lacking vision and making frequent months. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, August 30, 2017 SPORT

MLB FOCUS Durant dives Pirates fall eight deep on athletes with social games back of justice causes

By Daniel Mano Mercury News (TNS)

evin Durant backed Co- Cubs aft er 6-1 loss lin Kaepernick last year for protesting the national an- them, and the Warriors star Montgomery pitches seven strong innings during at Wrigley Field Kspoke at length about such social just stances during a recent appearance By Bill Brink on The Bill Simmons Podcast. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS) “If LeBron (James) says some- thing, or the Bennett brothers or Co- lin Kaepernick — somebody is going he Pirates were already one to listen, because they’ve got a lot of of the worst off ensive teams views on them. So they’re using their against left-handed pitchers platform for good — they should be this season. Their performance praised for it,” Durant told Simmons. Tagainst Mike Montgomery on Monday “We (are) always on TV. It’s about ac- won’t help their cause. cess, it about views, so why not? If Montgomery pitched seven strong we have a platform, talk about some- innings during the Pirates’ 6-1 loss thing that’s really, really important... to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. “When you get that platform it’s The diff erential between the two teams a perfect time to use to give off some in these standings increased to eight awareness to some people in some games. Pirates starter Trevor Williams areas that they probably wouldn’t limited the damage in an outing full of listen to from somebody else.” Former San Francisco 49ers baserunners, but the way the Pirates NBA players have a better platform quarterback Colin Kaepernick is hit, it didn’t matter. for speaking up than NFL players, but without a team this season. (USA Montgomery pitched six scoreless that doesn’t prevent some from being TODAY Sports) innings in start last Wednesday, which outspoken — as shown by Michael came more than a month after his pre- and Martellus Bennett (of the Sea- sults. But we can kind of just lay that vious start. In between he made eight hawks and Packers, respectively). foundation down. I think a lot of appearances out of the bullpen, but re- “I understand what goes on with guys are doing that, on the low too. mained stretched out enough to throw that, as far as being reluctant. You You should go in those communities 89 pitches. have a family to care of and that and see what they’re doing. They’re Through seven innings Monday it might aff ect your job,” Durant said. changing them and they’re giving a was more of the same. He permit- “Once it gets real like that, you’ve lot of hope to kids. ... ted fi ve singles and nothing else. Jordy got to make some decision, and I un- “I’ve seen so many players who Mercer’s solo home run, one of his derstand that. But if you feel like you give so much hope to people — not three hits against Montgomery, to lead need to speak out, be confi dent in just athletes, but to people. ... off the eighth drove Montgomery from it — a lot of people are going to have “The community that you play in, the game. He struck out four, walked your back. And it’s cool to have a grab that community and bring them none. conversation about how we can help together. The community you went Montgomery shut down a lineup this thing get better. So if we disa- to college in, grab them and bring featuring Sean Rodriguez at leadoff gree, let’s try to come together and... them together. That’s the power we and Jose Osuna hitting second. Rod- Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Mike Montgomery pitches during the second inning of the MLB game against the Pittsburgh come to an agreement at some point have as athletes.” riguez popped out on the fi rst pitch of Pirates at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Monday. (USA TODAY Sports) somewhere. So it’s good that these Durant praised Warriors teammate the game, struck out on three pitches in players are talking out.” Draymond Green for contributing to the third, bunted into an out in the sixth forward to the opportunity. We’re still dle said. “They can beat you a bunch Williams allowed two runs in fi ve Speaking up is one element on Michigan State. and struck out in the eighth. scratching and clawing and trying to of diff erent ways, but they like to swing innings. The Cubs’ next three runs social justice change and Durant “That’s why so many players are Through the seasons’ fi rst half, the hang around and make some noise.” it. They’ll take their walks, they’ll see scored on a head-scratching sequence touched on another: taking action. going back to their communities — 2016 World Series champions were The Cubs off ense, specifi cally Kris some pitches, but they like to swing it.” in the seventh. Alex Avila hit a two-out, “A lot of guys do so much in their just like, ‘Man I need to feel some love having trouble maintaining any kind Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, spurred the Rizzo led off the bottom of the sec- bases-loaded grounder to Rodriguez in communities,” Durant began. “It’s again,’” Durant said. “Because there’s of traction. They entered the All-Star streak. Rizzo was 9 for 22 in the past ond inning with a double. Ian Happ the hole. He threw wide of fi rst. Chris going to take us a long time to see so much separation going on in our break two games worse than.500. The week and hit.344/.427/.583 with six drove him in. Rizzo came to the plate Stewart threw high of second. All three some change. But if you’re putting country. But along with going back, 2016 Cubs began to re-emerge after the homers in August entering the series. again in the third with men on fi rst and runs scored. in the work every single day you can we still need to grab as many in our break. They won their fi rst six games, Bryant hit.330 with a.435 on-base per- second and one out, but he and Happ kind of feel as though you did you community as we can and bring them and 14 of the fi rst 17. Entering this centage and.568 slugging percentage in struck out. RESULTS part. We probably won’t see the re- all together.” week’s series they had won nine of the the month. In their past 10 games, they A second walk to Bryant in the fi fth San Francisco 3 San Diego 0 past 14 games to reach a 69-60 record scored 7.2 runs per game and scored 10, put Williams on a tightrope. With LA Angels 3 Oakland 1 and a slim two-game lead on the Mil- 13, nine and 17 runs in individual games. the bases loaded and one out, Rizzo Detroit 4 Colorado 3 SPOTLIGHT waukee Brewers. No team had scored more than the launched a fl y ball to centre. He thought Tampa Bay 12 Kansas City 0 “All the games are big, but as you start 243 runs the Cubs put on the board in he hit it out and jogged out of the box. Chicago Cubs 6 Pittsburgh 1 running out of games they become a lit- the second half, and their.843 on-base Andrew McCutchen sprinted straight Boston 6 Toronto 5 tle more critical,” Hurdle said. “You do plus slugging percentage led Major back to the wall, jumped and caught the Philadelphia 6 Atlanta 1 Kaepernick shares the math. And you get to play the team League Baseball. ball against the ivy. A run scored, but Cleveland 6 NY Yankees 2 that’s in fi rst place, seven out of 10 times. “If you don’t execute pitches, it’s a only one, before Williams struck out Washington 11 Miami 2 It starts (Monday) and we’re looking club that can do some damage,” Hur- Happ looking. Baltimore 7 Seattle 6 appreciation for Reid

BOTTOMLINE and his protest Lions making Staff ord the NFL’s highest-paid player

By Nick O’Malley better around him. MassLive.com (TNS) (Fort Worth Part of the reason he can do that is Star-Telegram/TNS) because Brady isn’t even the top earner in his household. In 2016, Gisele Bun- he Detroit Lions handed out dchen reportedly brought in $30.5mn. the biggest contract extension Brady’s track record is the NFL’s in NFL history Monday night, best. While he doesn’t have the clear inking quarterback Matthew fi ve-year outlook that younger play- TStaff ord to a fi ve-year, $135mn con- ers have, he certainly has the leverage tract that will kick in next season. His to push the Patriots for more. Instead, $60.5mn in guaranteed money is also a he’s given the Patriots fl exibility to re- record. tain and acquire more talent year-in, It’s the latest fi nancial precedent set year-out by remaining one of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers defensive back Eric Reid knees during the national by an NFL team looking to lock down a best bargains (comparatively). anthem before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium in franchise quarterback on a long-term The QB money train isn’t stopping in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sunday. (USA TODAY Sports) deal. the NFL any time soon. As long as the Still, as the mantle of “Highest Paid game remains centred around quar- By Daniel Mano ing why he resumed the protest. of All-Time” goes around the NFL, it’s terbacks, they’ll remain in the strato- Mercury News (TNS) “I feel I needed to regain control of stayed away from the shoulders of the sphere in terms of earnings. that narrative and not let people say guy who’s been dubbed the “Greatest of The real issue for the Patriots isn’t that what we’re doing is un-Ameri- All Time”. Brady’s outlook. It’s that of Jimmy Ga- olin Kaepernick spent some can, because it’s not,” Eric said. “It’s Tom Brady will account for a $14mn roppolo, who’s entering his mid-20s time Monday afternoon to completely American. We’re doing cap hit for the New England Patriots in and the end of his rookie deal. recognise Eric Reid. it because we want equality for eve- 2017 — an absolute bargain. Then he’s set Even if Garoppolo can’t currently Reid’s former 49ers team- rybody. We want our country to be a to make an average of $20.5mn over the generate the earning potential of guys mateC thanked the fi fth-year free better place. So that’s why I decided next two seasons. According to Spotrac, like Luck and Carr, he is certainly in safety for his continued support in a to resume the protest.” there are 14 players who are currently Mike Glennon range. If the former pair of Twitter posts, each of which Kaepernick also appreciated Reid making more than that per season. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback can included Kaepernick using the word using his signature celebration dance Brady gets paid — and well. However, get a three-year, $45mn contract with ‘brother’ to describe Reid. after defl ecting a pass Sunday... he’s never really stuck it to the Patriots ted $122.9mn to Luck over fi ve seasons on those players (particularly Luck and the Chicago Bears, then Garoppolo can “Speaking truth to power! Love Reid mentioned the celebration in in contract negotiations. The Patriots’ while the Oakland Raiders ponied up Carr at their age) are high, and there’s certainly get in that same range. you Brother,” Kaepernick wrote in his comments to reporters (per In- last 18 years of success have been built $125mn over that same time frame. nothing more valuable in the NFL than All that remains for him is to actu- one tweet. “Thank you for being a man). around Brady, and he’s still playing at Between the three of them, Carr, a franchise quarterback. ally get on the fi eld and prove whether voice for the people!” “I did it last week and I don’t think an MVP level. If anyone could break the Luck and Staff ord have a total of three So why not Brady? In short: Because he can actually play. While the Patriots Reid resumed the protest Kaeper- anybody noticed. It’s just a shout- bank for a contract, it’s him. playoff wins — all belonging to Luck. he doesn’t want it. certainly seem to want to keep Garop- nick started last season by kneeling out to my brother,” Reid said. “I miss Still, it’s not Brady who’s making So why are they getting bigger pay- Brady’s clearly made it a priority to polo around as the heir apparent, it during the national anthem before him and hopefully I’ll see him on the headlines for monster contract. It’s days than Brady? For one, the Lions, stay with the Patriots, and has made won’t be cheap (and potentially un- the 49ers’s preseason game Sun- fi eld someday.” guys like Staff ord, Derek Carr and An- Colts and Raiders are all paying mark- eff orts to make his deals more team- manageable). day. Kaepernick’s message Monday Much has been made of Kaeper- drew Luck. ing rates for quarterbacks who are just friendly, giving them a little more re- Not with what the rest of the NFL is used video taken by Bay Area News nick’s future in the NFL, though the The Indianapolis Colts commit- about to enter their prime. The ceilings sources under the cap to make the team paying. Group’s Cam Inman of Reid explain- QB clearly knows who his friends are. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 30, 2017 5 SPORT

CYCLING / VUELTA A ESPANA SOUTHEAST ASIAN GAMES Trentin wins 10th Landmark gold launches stage, Froome Rocketman’s Olympic dream

AFP parents, they hardly ever watch my race retains red jersey Nilai, live. And also to be the winner of the 111th gold medal is absolutely amazing for me.” It caps a breakthrough 12 months ‘I really wanted this victory... climb was tricky... it was a climb I could handle’ alaysia’s “Pocket Rocket- for the 29-year-old, who took keirin man” Azizulhasni Awang bronze at last year’s Rio Olympics be- AFP set his sights on Olympic fore winning the event at the world Alhama de Murcia, glory after he fi lled a gap in championships in in April. Mhis trophy cabinet with cycling gold at “I’ve had a very good career, bronze the Southeast Asian Games — and set medal at the Olympic Games and then a talian Matteo Trentin won yester- off national rejoicing in the process. world title,” he said. “SEA Games (gold) day’s 10th stage of the Vuelta a Es- The pint-sized world keirin champi- feels about the same as my world title pana, with Britain’s Chris Froome on, who is 1.66m (5ft 5in) tall, had never because it’s amazing to win in front of retaining the leader’s red jersey. won a SEA Games individual title until your home crowd.” IQuickstep rider Trentin, who won his assured victory in the men’s sprint Azizulhasni, who is also hot favour- the fourth stage, pulled clear of a late on Monday. ite for the SEA Games keirin title, is 15-strong breakaway group to com- It also happened to be table-top- now starting his preparations for the fortably deny Spain’s Jose Joaquin Ro- ping Malaysia’s 111th gold medal of the next world championships in April. jas in the dash for the line. Games — matching their record haul But he said his emotional victory on Another local hope, Jaime Roson, in 2001, when they last hosted the re- home soil could be a good omen as he took third at the end of the 164.8km gional mini-Olympics. builds towards what he hopes will be ride from Caravaca to Alhama de Mur- “I can’t even describe with words,” the pinnacle of his career — the Tokyo cia. Azizulhasni told AFP, as Malaysia’s 2020 Olympics. Nicolas Roche had a productive day sports minister and the state sultan “For Tokyo 2020, of course I want to amongst the favourites for outright joined celebrations at a packed Nation- win a gold medal and who knows, may- victory. al Velodrome in Nilai. be this victory 111 is a good sign for my The Irish rider, who is placed third “Mostly because I won in front of my Tokyo Olympics,” he smiled. overall, moved to within 36 seconds of Froome in the general classifi cation after the BMC man’s decisive move on the descent to the fi nish. Colombia’s Esteban Chaves is sec- ond, also 36sec adrift of the Briton who is aiming to become only the third man in history to add the Spanish cycling blue riband event to Tour de France victory in the same year. Trentin, in possession of the green points jersey, said he had targeted a Quick-Step Floors’ rider Matteo Trentin celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 10th stage of the Vuelta a Espana win on this stage. in Alhama de Murcia, Spain, yesterday. (AFP) “I really wanted this victory, I’ve been thinking about this stage for a Today’s 197.5km 11th stage is the 4. Jacques JV Rensburg (Dimension 1. Chris Froome (Sky) 40:12:43” long time because the climb was tricky fi rst major test in the mountains with Data) +21” 2. Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott) +36” but consistent, it was a climb I could a summit fi nish at Calar Alto in Anda- 5. Alexandre Geniez (AG2R) +56” 3. Nicolas Roche (BMC) +37” handle.” lusia and two category-one climbs in 6. Marc Soler (Movistar) +59” 4. Vincenzo Nibali (Merida) +1:17” While this was Trentin’s second the opening 60km. 7. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) +2:22” 5. Tejay van Garderen (BMC) +1:27” win of the race, it was a fourth stage 8. Alessandro De Marchi (BMC) 6. David De La Cruz (Quick-Step) +1:30” success for his team with Quickstep’s STAGE 10 RESULTS 9. Arnaud Courteille (FDJ) +2:40” 7. Fabio Aru (Astana) +1:33” Yves Lampaert taking the second stage 1. Matteo Trentin (Quick-Step) 3:34:56” 10. Rafael Reis (Caja Rural) +3:05” 8. Michael Woods (Cannondale) +1:52” and teammate Julian Alaphilippe the 2. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) +1” 9. Adam Yates (Orica-Scott) +1:55” eighth. 3. Jaime Roson (Caja Rural) +19” OVERALL CLASSIFICATION 10. Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha) +2:15”

RUGBY Track cycling world champion Azizulhasni Awang (foreground) competes during the keirin men final of the 29th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Nilai, Malaysia, yesterday. (AFP)

Boks seek to extend revival SPOTLIGHT against Wallabies, All Blacks Gold rush seals medals victory for Malaysia Reuters AFP faced scrutiny, including in boxing, Kuala Lumpur sepak takraw and pencak silat, and the #ShameOnYouMalaysia hashtag has onfi dence has returned af- been used by critics online. ter consecutive wins over alaysia clinched victory on ’s delegation chief Thana Argentina but the Southeast Games med- Chaiprasit also took aim at the hosts now face much tougher tests als table yesterday as a rush when he said: “They organise sports inC away trips to Australia and world of victories took the home they are good at and do not organise champions , coach Al- Mnation to a record total — and nearly sports other countries are good at.” lister Coetzee said yesterday. one-third of the tournament’s golds. Since Malaysia last hosted and The Springboks stretched their On a bumper penultimate day, with topped the SEA Games in 2001, their winning run in 2017 to fi ve matches 60 gold medals up for grabs, Malaysia biggest tally has been 68 gold medals in when they comprehensively beat Ar- snared 22 to reach 133 for the tourna- 2007. Two years ago in Singapore they gentina 41-23 in Salta on Saturday ment, putting an unbridgeable distance won 62, fi nishing fourth. in this year’s southern hemisphere between them and the chasing pack. But Malaysia’s haul of gold medals championship. Malaysia already have about one- isn’t outlandish for the SEA Games. In The wins, which follow a 3-0 Test third of the 404 gold medals at the 2007 Thailand won 183 out of 477 on whitewash against France in June, mini-Olympics, smashing their previ- home soil, and in 2011 host nation In- contrast starkly to last year when the ous record of 111 and sealing top spot donesia fi nished with 182 out of 554. Springboks lost eight of 12 interna- for the fi rst time in 16 years. Yesterday the home team had wins tionals and fi nished the year in tur- Thailand trailed on 69 golds and Vi- in badminton, sailing, diving, pencak moil. etnam had 58, meaning the second and silat, muay kick-boxing, speed skat- “It’s a diff erent beast waiting that third-placed teams totalled less than ing and water ski and wakeboarding. side, it’s always tough going down to Malaysia between them. Malaysia’s polo team, which features Australia. They are hitting form as The biennial SEA Games, now in the country’s sports minister, also won well,” Coetzee said. their 29th edition, have a well-worn gold. “They made a couple of mistakes in tradition of allowing the hosts to tailor Malaysia’s men’s football team were the fi rst game against the All Blacks the sporting programme to suit their scheduled to play Thailand in the fi nal and were punished for that but you strengths, meaning they often fi nish later yesterday. The Games will end could see how they put New Zealand South Africa’s head coach Allister Coetzee (third from right) poses for a picture with players (second from top. with a closing ceremony following a under pressure in the second Test,” he left), (centre), flyhalf and scrumhalf (right) after their win over Argentina in at Some of Malaysia’s results have limited programme today. told reporters after his team’s 30-hour Padre Ernesto Martearena stadium in Salta, some 1550 Km northwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Saturday. (AFP) journey home from Argentina. “Always high ball in play when you improve, such as scrumming, mauling The Springboks conceded just eight SQUAD go there, they are very clever with and creating opportunities. penalties in the two games, he Forwards: (), Billionaire’s off er ‘too late’ to save Force: ARU chief their set pieces, especially at the lin- “I feel comfortable with the prepa- said, and needed that level of disci- (), eout and their mauling. So yes, it’s go- ration we’ve had and taking that into pline and work rate to prevail against (Lions), Dan du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez Billionaire Andrew Forrest’s off er of but it had come too late in the day. ing to be a massive challenge,” Coetzee match days means we always stand a the Wallabies and the All Blacks. (both ), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben a significant investment in Austral- “I wish he’d been involved in the said of the Sept. 9 game against Aus- chance,” he said. Coetzee said fl yhalf Handre Pollard, Etzebeth, , Siya Kolisi (all ian rugby came too late to save the process perhaps a little earlier, that tralia in . South Africa play New Zealand in scrumhalf Ross Cronje and utility back ), , team, would have been helpful,” Pulver told Australia were hammered 54-34 by Auckland on September 16, face the Dillyn Leyds would return to a 29-man (both Lions), (Storm- Australian chief Bill reporters in Sydney. New Zealand in the fi rst game of the Wallabies at home in squad for the Australia and New Zea- ers), (Lions), Tendai Mta- Pulver said yesterday. “We are way down the track having Championship but a much improved on September 30 and New Zealand in land games. warira (Sharks), (Bulls), The Western Australian mining made commitments... to go to four performance in Saturday’s return leg Cape Town on October 7 in their fi nal Pollard was rested against Argen- , magnate made the off er to ARU teams, and having had an EGM where saw the Wallabies race to a 17-0 lead two matches of the annual four-na- tina to help with his conditioning and (both Sharks) off icials last week in a bid to prevent our members voted to go to four before they succumbed to a combi- tion tournament. will be utilised in a versatile role, cov- Backs: , Ross Cronje the cull of the Perth-based Force as teams. “It’s a little late in the process nation of poor kicking and a late All “We were delighted with the result ering centre too, Coetzee said, adding (both Lions), (Storm- part of the contraction of the mainly to be making that sort of change.” Blacks try. in Salta, another step in the right di- that the player had made a huge im- ers), Francois Hougaard (Worcester), southern hemisphere competition to Rugby Western Australia have ap- rection. We were good in all areas of provement in his skill levels and team’s Elton Jantjies (Lions), (Bulls), 15 sides for next season. pealed the decision to axe the Force METHODICAL APPROACH our game. We handled the physical game plan. Dillyn Leyds (Stormers), , Pulver said Forrest had tabled a do- at the Supreme Court of New South The Springboks’ coach said his side game that the Argentines threw at us Centre , fl yhalf Cur- Handre Pollard (both Bulls), Raymond nation of up to A$50mn ($39.81mn) , which Pulver expected to were working methodically on the ar- and our discipline was remarkable,” win Bosch and scrumhalf Jano Ver- Rhule (Cheetahs), (Bulls), to the Australian Rugby Foundation hand down a ruling next week. eas of the game where they needed to said Coetzee. maak have all been dropped. (Lions). Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, August 30, 2017 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT City’s deal with Guardiola’s brother raises questions Of all the football deals in all the world, what attracted Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi owner to go into business with their manager Pep Guardiola’s brother and agent to buy Girona?

By David Conn fi rst time in its history last season, is said to have The Guardian cost €7mn, which looks like remarkable value. If City’s aim is to make money from their stake increasing in value, then they are also helping anchester City’s purchase of the La Pere, Pep’s brother, do the same. Liga club Girona last week combined So another club has been added to the Abu a billionaire’s swagger with an un- Dhabi portfolio centred on east Manchester, but easy impression of keeping business Girona is much closer to home than the other Min the family. The unprecedented deal presents hubs of Mansour’s empire. His executives, sur- a dizzying clutch of questions, the most glaring veying the modern football business after he one concerning the with the agent bought City in 2008 decided early on to attain Pere Guardiola in the joint 88% acquisition of economies of scale and a global reach for spon- another club. sors by buying clubs on other continents. Of all the football deals in all the world, what The New York City MLS franchise buys a stake attracted Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi owner at the centre of soccer’s growth in the US; Mel- and executives to go into business with their bourne Hearts, the name changed to City and kit manager Pep Guardiola’s brother and agent? changed to blue, was aimed at securing a pres- Inquiries of , which ence not only in Australia but Pacifi c Asia too; has detailed regulations seeking to prevent the most recent move was to obtain a foothold agents, managers and clubs working incestu- in South American football with the purchase of ously together and having confl icts of interest, Club Atletico Torque in Uruguay. produces the answer that no rules have been The minority stake in Japan’s Yokohama F broken. Pere Guardiola, agent to Luis Suarez, Marinos was driven by City’s Japanese glo- Andres Iniesta and many other mostly Span- bal sponsor, Nissan. Having sold 13% of the ish players including two at City, is a registered City Football Group to China Media Capital for intermediary (the new term for agent) with the £265mn in December 2015, City’s executives are English and Spanish FA. now looking to invest in a club in China. Girona’s Municipal de Montilivi Stadium will host top-flight football for the first time this season. The FA does have a regulation, E4, headed City have been lending Girona players since “restriction on confl ict of interest”, which pro- Pere Guardiola became involved there, when the play each other, the authorities recognise a risk hibits a club, club offi cial or manager from hav- shares were bought by the French media com- to genuine competition. City anticipated this ing “any interest in the business or aff airs of an pany TVSE Futbol, in the summer of 2015, be- potential problem should Girona ever succeed intermediary”. City and Pere Guardiola are con- fore City fi nally secured Pep’s signature as City’s in qualifying for the Champions League and be- fi dent that Pep, who will be sending players to manager. The principal purpose of buying the lieve they could mount an argument that their Girona on loan, to his brother and agent’s ben- club is said to be the football one: maintaining a arrangement is not caught by UEFA’s restric- efi t, is not caught in a confl ict of interest. fi nishing school to which City can send players tions. UEFA’s rules state that “No individual or Rule E4 also states boldly that “an intermedi- whom Pep is not selecting in the . legal entity may have control or infl uence over ary shall not have an interest in a Club”, which Mansour’s executives have famously invested more than one club participating in a UEFA club seems to catch Pere Guardiola. The purpose is to hugely in youth development since his takeo- competition”. guard against the very obvious risk that an agent ver, opening their vast, cutting-edge, £200mn One defi nition of “control”, owning a major- could move players in and out and take fees to “campus” next to the Etihad Stadium in De- ity of both clubs, will not apply because City suit his own opportunities to make money, rath- cember 2014. Yet for all that spending, global have structured the deal at 44% each with their er than make recruitment decisions solely in the scouting and buying of young overseas players, manager’s brother. The one which could catch best interests of the club. the chances for most of those accommodated in the relationship with Girona defi nes control as However, the FA says that the rule restricts the campus to play in the fi rst team remain van- “being able to exercise by any means a deci- agents from having an interest or infl uence only ishingly small. sive infl uence in the decision-making” of both in an English club. This prohibition on a confl ict Into Mansour’s 10th year of ownership, in- clubs. City accept this is a possible description of interest does not apply to buying into an over- cluding eye-watering expenditure in this sum- of how the relationship will work – they will seas club. City are understood to have been giv- mer’s transfer window, City have paid approxi- surely want some decisive infl uence – but they en this assurance by the FA before they moved mately £1.2bn to buy players, mostly top class, are prepared to argue. from their informal partnership with Pere Guar- ready-made and in their prime, to win the Pere Guardiola, the Manchester City manager Pep’s brother, has taken a 44.3% share in Girona. The recent decision by UEFA’s “adjudicatory diola and Girona, in which several City players Premier League twice and become Champions chamber” to allow Red Bull Salzburg and RB have been loaned to the Spanish club over the League regulars. they have a serious problem giving opportuni- of them if they sell them – only a few will ever Leipzig to play in the Champions League – they past two years, to a formal deal. The only young player from the academy to ties to the fl ocks of young players they strain to play for Manchester City.” decided that Red Bull is only a sponsor and does The Spanish FA does not have a similar re- approach playing for the fi rst team regularly attract. The Girona deal is being presented as CIES performance analysis has sought to not own Salzburg and does not operate a “deci- striction, so Pere Guardiola was free to buy his was Kelechi Iheanacho. Now 20, Iheanacho was a way of easing that logjam; there are fi ve City quantify the increase in market value City are sive infl uence” on both clubs – has given City’s 44.3% share of the Catalan club, with The City hardly a local Manchester boy made good; he players there on loan. achieving by sending to Girona their play- lawyers encouragement. Football Group – the overarching global corpo- was coveted by many top clubs after starring City also have a lending partnership with the ers: Pablo Maff eo, 20, the Spanish right-back During the phenomenal nine-year transfor- ration owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al- for Nigeria in the 2013 under-17 World Cup, and Dutch Eredivisie club NAC Breda – no fewer signed from Barcelona in 2013; Aleix García, the mation of City from hapless local club to Abu Nayan – buying an equal 44.3% stake. City signed him in 2014 aged 17. Having made than six City players featured in their game 20-year-old attacking midfi elder signed from Dhabi-owned global corporation, Mansour’s City’s Catalan and former Barcelona chief ex- 12 full league appearances in three seasons, and against PSV Eindhoven last weekend, a 4-1 de- Villarreal; Marlos Moreno, also 20, a Colombian executives have prided themselves, for all the ecutive, Ferran Soriano, and director of football, 34 as substitute, Iheanacho has been sold this feat. City’s senior football administrator, Brian striker, and the 24-year-old Nigerian striker £1.2bn spent, on avoiding the less savoury, in- Txiki Begiristain, who know and worked closely summer to Leicester City for £25mn. Marwood, and Soriano and Begiristain, have Larry Kayode. The fi fth City player there now is cestuous areas of the football business. They with the Guardiola brothers during Barça’s glo- The academy graduates Mansour inherited fostered a web of other arrangements and part- Douglas Luiz, the 19-year-old midfi elder signed have embraced City’s founding church roots and ry years and lobbied ceaselessly to attract Pep to have departed, notably Stephen Ireland and nerships with clubs in England and overseas, to this summer from the Brazilian club Vasco da developed a fondness for a motto associated with City, have been central to concluding this deal to Micah Richards, and Pep Guardiola’s fi rst major support their own youth development system. Gama, and immediately loaned to Girona. William and Charles Clegg, the austere, Meth- buy Girona with Pere. The attractions for their act, a statement of intent last year, was to cast “The buying of Girona is a logical conse- This is the fi rst time City have bought into a odist directors of Sheffi eld Wednesday, a century Abu Dhabi employer are said to be that more out Joe Hart, whom City fans had watched ma- quence of City’s group strategy and the con- European club, and it raises fraught questions ago –“Nobody gets lost on a straight road.” of the players increasingly accumulated at City ture from a 19-year-old signing from Shrews- centration of wealth in European football,” says about independence and integrity, as well as With this purchase of Girona the City hier- from young ages can be loaned for polishing in bury to the captain and England goalkeeper. Raff aele Poli, head of the CIES Football Observ- the Premier League clubs’ stockpiling of young archy is giving the impression of straining to , and that buying the club is an invest- City – like all Premier League clubs but more atory, which analyses statistics and trends. “As players. Despite the jarring feel to football’s please Pep Guardiola, and the road they are tak- ment. The whole 88% of Girona, a small club in so given the scale of their investment in the with other partner clubs, Girona will allow City sporting traditions, there are no rules against ing looks to have become just a little narrow, and a charming ground promoted to La Liga for the “campus” – are increasingly recognising that to develop players and make more of a profi t out “dual ownership” in itself, but if two such clubs winding.

ROUND-UP Stoke snap up Austrian defender Wimmer from Tottenham ustrian international central deal until 2022 in what Roma called a Lanzini with an elbow during New- ineligible player after the Court of Ar- defender Kevin Wimmer “record” deal that could eventually be castle’s 3-0 win over the Hammers on bitration for Sport (CAS) rejected their signed for Stoke City from worth 42mn euros, plus a signifi cant Saturday. The Serbia international has appeal yesterday. The decision by CAS Premier League rivals Tot- sell-on fee to Sampdoria. until 1700 GMT today to respond to in Lausanne means the country can tenhamA Hotspur yesterday for £18mn. Schick had appeared set to join Ju- the Football Association charge. no longer qualify for next year’s World The 24-year-old — who represents a ventus earlier this summer before the Cup fi nals in Russia. good piece of business for Spurs having Turin club pulled out of the deal due to CHELSEA SIGN HAZARD’S Bolivia played defender Nelson joined them in 2015 for £4.3mn from doubts raised in a medical. YOUNGER BROTHER Cabrera for the qualifi ers against Chile German side Cologne — has signed a Chelsea signed Eden Hazard’s younger and Peru last year, but despite hav- fi ve-year contract with Stoke. GOALKEEPER PICKFORD brother Kylian from Hungarian club ing gained Bolivian nationality, FIFA Wimmer had found cementing a OUT OF ENGLAND SQUAD Ujpest. Kylian will start his time with found him to be ineligible after playing regular fi rst team place impossible with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford Chelsea as part of their development a friendly in 2007 for Paraguay, his Belgian duo Toby Alderweireid and Jan has withdrawn from England’s squad squad and the midfi elder could make country of birth. Both matches will go Vertonghen holding sway there. The for their World Cup qualifi ers against his debut in the understudies’ fi xture down as 3-0 losses for Bolivia, after arrival of young Colombian Davinson Malta and Slovakia due to injury, the against Sunderland on September 9. they had originally beaten Peru 2-0 Sanchez from Ajax earlier this month Football Association said yesterday. The 22-year-old began his profes- and held Copa America champions for a club record fee of £42mn saw the The uncapped 23-year-old, who sional career in his native Belgium, Chile to a 0-0 draw. South American eight-times capped Wimmer’s chances joined Everton in a £30mn deal from where he played for White Star Brus- qualifying sees the top four teams in of a breakthrough diminish further. Sunderland, has returned to his club sels and Zulte-Waregem. He moved to the 10-strong table book their World Wimmer is Hughes’s seventh sign- for treatment on a muscular injury. Hungary in 2015 and made 42 appear- Cup places automatically. ing since the end of last season — in England manager Gareth Southgate ances for Ujpest. Kylian is the third The failure of Bolivia’s appeal has which Stoke fi nished 13th — with the has three other goalkeepers at his Hazard brother to join Chelsea after large ramifi cations above them in Austrian his third defensive reinforce- disposal in Joe Hart, Jack Butland and Thorgan spent 2012 to 2015 at Stam- the table, as Chile’s extra two points ment. He has brought in Chelsea’s Tom Heaton, so has not drafted in a ford Bridge, although he was loaned move them into the fourth and fi nal French international defender Kurt replacement. England, who top their out for much of that time. automatic spot, one point above 2014 Zouma on loan and bought Dutchman deal reported to be worth 10mn euros Lyon are unbeaten after four outings World Cup qualifying group, play Eden has yet to play for the Premier World Cup runners-up Argentina. Bruno Martins Indi from Portuguese with 4mn euros in add-ons. of the new season to lie fourth in the Malta in Ta’Qali on Friday before host- League champions this season after Whoever fi nishes fi fth will face a outfi t Porto after he impressed during a He is the seventh new recruit at table, four points shy of joint leaders ing Slovakia at Wembley on Monday. suff ering an ankle injury at the end of play-off against the winner of the loan spell last term. Lyon who have had to strengthen their Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco. last term, but he has joined up with Oceania fi nal in September between squad after losing Alexandre Lacazette, NEWCASTLE’S MITROVIC HIT Belgium this week for their World Cup New Zealand and the Solomon Islands. LYON SIGN PAPE DIOP Corentin Tolisso and captain Maxime ROMA CAPTURE CZECH STAR WITH VIOLENT CONDUCT CHARGE qualifi ers. “I would have preferred a diff erent FROM CELTA VIGO Gonalons over the summer. Diop came SCHICK FROM SAMPDORIA Newcastle United striker Aleksandar decision from CAS, now we have to do Celta Vigo midfi elder Pape Diop has under Lyon’s radar when he helped Roma have signed highly-rated Czech Mitrovic was charged with violent CAS CONFIRMS BOLIVIA’S more to qualify for the World Cup,” signed a fi ve-year contract with Lyon, Spain lift the 2015 Under-19 European forward Patrik Schick, 21, from Serie A conduct yesterday following his clash INELIGIBLE PLAYER SANCTION said Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli. the French Ligue 1 side announced. championship title, the club’s recruit- rivals Sampdoria, the Italian outfi t an- with West Ham United’s Manuel Bolivia will have to forfeit two 2018 “It has been decided to give the points The 19-year-old moves to France in a ment offi cer Florien Maurice revealed. nounced. Schick has agreed a fi ve-year Lanzini. Mitrovic appeared to catch World Cup qualifi ers for fi elding an to Chile, and we have to accept it.” Gulf Times Wednesday, August 30, 2017 7 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT QNB Stars League to be more competitive, France face Dutch as says CEO Ballan : Fewer teams in the QNB Stars League will produce much more competitive foot- ball and result in the overall de- velopment of the game, its CEO Hani Ballan said on Monday. World Cup qualifi ers With the QNB and Qatar Football Association agreeing to a whopping six-year deal bring the game closer to the under which the bank will not public. It will provide an impe- only sponsor most of the tour- tus to the growth of the game. naments held in Qatar but also Al-Kuwari also added that the country’s senior and junior a new app is also being devel- enter fi nal stretch national teams, the stage is set oped to help people keep track for a marked improvement in of the game in Qatar. the game’s standards, Ballan “Not just football in Qatar, said at a press conference. fans will be able to follow the The winners of the nine groups qualify directly for next year’s World Cup in Russia “The teams in the league results of their favourite teams have been reduced to 12 from all around the world,” he said. Reuters 14 to make the tournament QNB’s deputy public rela- Zurich more competitive and we are tions director Salem al-Nuaimi sure it will be the case,” Ballan said his team, in collaboration said. “The emphasis we have with the QFA, are in the proc- group-by-group preview of this is on quality, not quantity. This ess of “discussing activities” to week’s European World Cup is what we want to achieve get the public more involved in qualifi ers. The winners of the over the next few years. Many the league. nine groups qualify directly for leagues around the world “We don’t call our agreement RussiaA while the best eight of the second- keep the number of teams low a sponsorship. We’d prefer to placed teams take part in two-leg playoff s and that contributes to their call it collaboration and coop- for four more places. Results against the competitiveness. In fact many eration,” he added. bottom team in the group will be discarded leagues are tough precisely Essa al-Hitmi of Al Kass in calculating the best eight runners-up. because of that,” he added. Channel said fans would see QNB Stars League’s acting much improved television GROUP A head of marketing and com- coverage of the tournaments ( 13, France 13, 10, munications Hassan al-Kuwari in Qatar. “We have acquired the 9, Belarus 5, Luxemburg 1) said a number of initiatives will latest equipment for our cover- The Dutch are sitting in last chance sa- be launched shortly to take the age, including the most mod- loon and know they must at least pick up tournament to the masses. ern cameras. We have been a point — and preferably three — away to “We are in the process of following the teams even when France tomorrow to have any chance of launching a new website that they were in camps outside of making it to Russia. will contain a huge database Qatar during the summer. Sweden, meanwhile, visit Bulgaria of the teams and the players,” “We are developing a whole knowing that a win for the hosts could said al-Kuwari. range of programmes, includ- throw the group wide open. “Through the website we ing some for children to get Both France and Sweden face relatively will promote our activities and them more involved. straightforward matches the following Sunday when the French host Luxem- burg and Sweden visit Belarus, while the Dutch and Bulgarians face each other.

GROUP B ( 18, Portugal 15, Hungary 7, Faroe Islands 5, Andorra 4, Latvia 3) The group has boiled down to a two- horse race between Switzerland, who have a 100 % record, and Portugal, who have won all their games since losing to the Swiss in their opener, and should be settled when they meet again in Lisbon on Oct 10. In the meantime, both are ex- pected to easily win their next matches when Switzerland host Andorra and Portugal entertain the Faroes tomorrow. France’s Kylian Mbappe (left), Olivier Giroud vie for the ball during a training session in Clairefontaine en Yvelines yesterday, as part Hungary, however, could throw a spanner of the team’s preparation for the World Cup 2018 qualifiers against The Netherlands and Luxembourg. (AFP) in the works by taking a point or three off the Portuguese in Budapest on Sunday. while, Ireland visit Georgia and Serbia They should extend that run away to to direct qualifi cation tomorrow when QNB Stars League CEO Hani Ballan and QNB’s deputy public host Moldova. Ireland then host Serbia in Malta on Friday while Slovakia host Slov- they host Gibraltar who have conceded 24 relations director Salem al-Nuaimi (below) speak to journalists at GROUP C a top-of-the-table clash on Tuesday. enia in one of the group’s key encounters. goals on their way to losing all six games. the press conference on Monday. ( 18, N Ireland 13, England then host Slovakia on Monday Belgium coach Roberto Martinez left AS 9, Azerbaijan 7, Norway 4, San Marino 0) GROUP E while Slovenia are at home Lithuania. Roma midfi elder Radja Nainggolan out Having won all six matches so far, (Poland 16, Montenegro 10, Denmark 10, of the squad for the game but the player world champions Germany face a poten- Romania 6, Armenia 6, Kazakhstan 2) GROUP G has denied a newspaper report that he has tially awkward trip on Friday to the Czech Poland visit Denmark on Friday know- (Spain 16, Italy 16, Albania 9, Israel 9, quit international football as a result. Republic who really need to win to keep ing that a win would give them a chance Macedonia 3, Liechtenstein 0). The race for second place appears to their chances fl ickering. to wrap up qualifi cation at home to Kaza- The group is a straight battle between be between Greece and Bosnia. Both will The Czechs would ideally have to also khstan the following Monday. Montene- Spain and Italy for top spot and direct expect to pick up wins as the Greeks host pull off another win against Northern Ire- gro need three points from their long trip qualifi cation which should be settled Estonia and Bosnia visit Cyprus. land three days later, especially if Michael to Kazakhstan on Friday to keep up their when they clash in Madrid on Saturday. O’Neill’s team beat San Marino on Friday chances of a fi rst-ever World Cup fi nal Italy are defending a remarkable GROUP I in what appears to be a formality. appearance. They currently have the worst 56-match unbeaten run in Euro and (Croatia 13, Iceland 13, Turkey 11, If Germany win in Prague, they could record of the nine second-placed teams. World Cup qualifi ers stretching back to 11, 1, Kosovo 1) seal top spot on Monday by beating Nor- 2006, while Spain have not lost since Having qualifi ed for Euro 2016, Ice- way at home — provided Northern Ire- GROUP F 2014 — 14 games ago. The 2010 world land are now bidding to reach their fi rst land fail to beat the Czechs. (England 14, Slovakia 12, Slovenia 11, champions are also unbeaten in 10 World Cup. They visit an out-of-sorts Scotland 8, Lithuania 5, Malta 0) matches since Julen Lopetegui took over Finland on Saturday in a match they need GROUP D Although it is hard to believe after wit- as coach following Euro 2016. to win, before hosting Ukraine in a key (Serbia 12, Ireland 12, Wales 8, 8, nessing their performances in the last showdown on Tuesday. Ukraine face an Georgia 3, Moldova 2) World Cup and European championship, GROUP H equally important match at home to Tur- Wales host Austria on Saturday in a England are formidable opponents in (Belgium 16, Greece 12, Bosnia 11, Cyprus key on Saturday. Leaders Croatia should match which will almost certainly end the qualifying matches where they are un- 7, Estonia 4, Gibraltar 0) beat Kosovo at home on Saturday before losing side’s interest in the group. Mean- beaten in 35 outings since Oct 2009. Unbeaten Belgium should move close visiting Turkey three days later.

FOCUS OPINION Fight for places intensifi es as Former Man U star Keane slams ‘mind-boggling’ transfer frenzy Germany eye World Cup place AFP boggling, the fi gures that are out like David Beckham Paul Sc- there — especially for the average holes, Ryan Giggs and Ruud van AFP players. If ever there was a time Nistelrooy, as well as Cristiano Berlin Germany manager to be a professional player it’s Ronaldo, who cost Real Madrid Joachim Loew. ormer Manchester Unit- now. Average players are going £80mn when he left Old Traf- ed star Roy Keane has for £35mn. My goodness,” Keane ford eight years ago. Asked what oachim Loew has told his Germany slammed the ‘mind-bog- said yesterday. Van Nistelrooy would cost now, stars they face ‘the toughest’ fi ght for gling’ spending of clubs “I don’t really analyse it too the 46-year-old replied: “Ruud places at next year’s World Cup with payingF huge fees for ‘average’ much, but that’s the market place would certainly be worth in the his defending champions hoping to players in a historically frenzied at the moment. There aren’t market now probably a bn. David secureJ their ticket to Russia this weekend. transfer window. many top players out there. The Beckham? A bn. Ryan Giggs? The Germany squad gathered yester- Keane, who now works as as- really big players are going for Two bn.” day to prepare to face the Czech Republic sistant to Republic of Ireland big money and it’s fi ltering down Asked further how much he in Prague on Friday before hosting Norway coach Martin O’Neill, has been now. When average players are himself might cost nowadays, four days later in Stuttgart in qualifi ers for shocked by some of the sums going for £30-40million, it does Keane was more modest and ref- Russia 2018. paid by Europe’s top clubs since make you scratch your head. But erenced the then British record With six wins out of six so far in Group the end of last season. if the clubs are prepared to pay fee United boss Alex Ferguson C, the 2014 world champions can book French giants Paris Saint-Ger- that, then it’s not the players’ paid to sign him from Notting- their passage to next year’s fi nals with three main have led the way, forking fault.” ham Forest in 1993. “£3.75mn, I points in Prague, providing group rivals out a staggering £200mn (222mn Keane played alongside stars think,” he said with a smile. Northern Ireland fail to win both of their Loew who became head coach in 2006. “Po- attacking midfi elder berth. euros, $263.5mn) for Neymar outings against San Marino and the Czechs. tential or talent or performances up until Both key defender Jerome Boateng and and preparing to invest heavily For the Germans, competition for places now are no guarantees of a free ride. There- goalkeeper captain Manuel Neuer are miss- once again in Monaco’s Kylian at Russia 2018 starts now with Loew say- fore the established players all know: they ing as they return from injury. “I believe Mbappe. In the Premier League, ing he has 35 to 40 players in contention have to always go to their limits to remain in that two weeks without playing will do him the spree has set a new record for which will be whittled down to 23 places in the team,” he added as a warning. good,” said Loew with his skipper Neuer re- a single window as the 20 top tier his World Cup squad. “I expect that there The Germans unearthed the next crop turning from a foot fracture. clubs splashed out over £1.18bn. will be the toughest competition we have of stars when Loew took essentially a ‘B’ Thomas Mueller has the chance to work Manchester City splurged over ever had,” said Loew, who has called up 17 squad to the Confed Cup, which beat Chile out his club frustrations after being left £200mn, while 12 teams broke members of the squad which won the Con- in the fi nal, after he rested all bar three of fuming on Bayern Munich’s bench last their transfer records. Keane is federations Cup in July and only seven world his 2014 World Cup winners. RB Leipzig’s weekend. “He is an incredibly positive fac- astonished that players he re- champions. Timo Werner could usurp Mario Gomez as tor in our team, he’s a leader, and I know how gards as mediocre are being given “For as long as I have been here, the com- Loew’s fi rst-choice striker while Mesut Ozil he always performs when he is with us,” said lavish contracts after making petition has never been so great,” added is under pressure from Julian Draxler for the Loew of Mueller. big-money moves. “It’s mind-

Wednesday, August 30, 2017 GULF TIMES FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Manchester City off er Sterling in Al Thumama an ideal bid to sign Arsenal’s Sanchez London: Manchester City have attempted to break the choice for Qatar’s 2022 impasse over Alexis Sanchez by indicating that they would be prepared to include Ra- heem Sterling in a deal. Sterling, who joined City in 2015 from Liverpool for a British record transfer fee of generation: Fahad Thani £49mn, has been off ered to Arsenal in part-exchange for the Chile international after being informed he could ‘Legends of Qatar football, in their youth football days, learnt and developed their skills at Thumama’ leave. The England interna- tional, 22, is understood to By Abilash Nalapat be bemused at the decision Doha after scoring twice in City’s opening three Premier League matches but is open to mov- senior offi cial at the Qatar ing back to London, where he Football Association (QFA) be- began his career playing for lieves Al Thumama Stadium is QPR’s youth team before mov- a perfect fusion of past and fu- ing to Anfield. ture,A all of which is perfectly illustrated Sanchez, who has only one in its design. Revealed to the world on year remaining on his contract 20 August the stadium, which will host and has so far refused to matches up to the quarter-fi nal of the sign an extension, has been 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, is inspired a target for City throughout by local culture and tradition but will be the summer having indicated constructed using globally trending in- he would like to work under dustry practices. Guardiola once more. The area in which it is located was Having previously seen also used by the QFA to host youth de- a bid of around £50mn for velopment games – with several mem- Sanchez turned down with bers of the eventual 2022 national side Arsene Wenger insistent that most likely to have donned their foot- he would not be sold, it is ball shirts for the fi rst time within the believed that City’s latest off er Al Thumama precinct. And QFA Direc- includes Sterling and around tor of Development Fahad Thani, who £20mn on top. Arsenal have also coached Qatar for a brief stint in denied receiving any off icial 2013 including the 2014 FIFA World QFA Director of Development and bid, although it is understood Cup qualifi ers, told www.sc.qa that Al former Qatar national team coach that they have held talks with Thumama would be an appropriate Fahad Thani. City in recent days. choice for the 2022 host nation to play Sanchez was signed by one of its group matches. for Qatar and the Middle East,” he said. Guardiola for Barcelona from “It will be a nostalgic moment for “The tournament will encourage more Udinese in the summer of many connected to Qatar football if the kids to come into the fi elds and play the 2011 and was managed by him national team were to play in this great game. It feeds perfectly into our vision until the Catalan left at the World Cup stadium whose wonderful of broadening the base of the country’s close of the following season. design was unveiled recently by SC,” football ecosystem by nurturing the He is due to play for Chile said Thani. “Many modern legends of hidden talents of more and more kids.” against Paraguay in a World Qatar football, in their youth football For Thani, Al Thumama Stadium is Cup qualifier tomorrow night days, learnt and developed their skills also the perfect example of the connec- having returned from injury in at Al Thumama. I recall captain Hassan tion between the elite and grassroots Arsenal’s 4-0 defeat to Liver- al-Haydous playing for youth team of levels within the country, a corner- pool on Sunday. Al Sadd there. So too Khalfan Ibrahim.” stone of Qatar’s 2022 bid and one which By Jamie Jackson As is the case for al-Haydous, rep- contributed to the SC’s sponsorship of The Guardian resenting their country at the Al Thu- the QFA Schools League. “My biggest mama Stadium could roll back the years memory from many years of working for a few other potential members of the in Al Thumama is the smiles of children Qatar national side. The gahfiya-shaped 40,000-capacity proposed venue of the 2022 FIFA World Cup will rise from the area which housed the leaving the pitch after a game,” he con- Many grassroots events and age- QFA Technical Fields and where the governing body’s football development wing was located until a few weeks ago. tinued. “It does not matter if they won group competitions have been staged or lost but they are all happy as they there over the years with the most sters who came up through at Aspire Thumama in 2022.” stadium, according to Thani, will be the have all learnt something new and en- prominent being the QFA Schools and who brought glory to the country The gahfi ya-shaped 40,000-capac- perfect monument for the edifi ce built joyed themselves in the process. League, sponsored by the Supreme winning the AFC U-19 title in 2014 also ity proposed venue of the 2022 FIFA by the QFA’S grassroots and age-group “The passion of the kids of Qatar Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), developed their skills training and play- World Cup will rise from the area which programmes – who claimed the tourna- for the game is the platform for us to the AFC Grassroots Festival and the ing at Al Thumama in age-group club housed the QFA Technical Fields and ment will also act as a catalyst for an- achieve our vision for Qatar football – youth team fi xtures and competitions competitions,” Thani continued. “They where the governing body’s football de- other generation of young footballers becoming one of the top four sides of involving Qatar Star League (QSL) sides. certainly will be an emotional lot when velopment wing was located until a few from Qatar. Asia at all levels. The World Cup will “The current generation of young- they take the fi eld for their country in Al weeks ago. The 2022 FIFA World Cup “It will be an event of huge magnitude help to harness more of this passion.”

FOCUS Qatar football team arrives in Malaysia Pitch battle ahead of South Korea, World Cup clash AFP Seoul

ran have sparked a war of words in South Korea after complaining about the state of their training pitch ahead of today’s crucial World Cup Asia zone qualifi er. WithI the visitors already having secured their place as Group A winners and only the runner-up sure to join them in Russia, the heat is all on the Koreans who could face a potential winner-takes-all clash in their fi - nal match against third-placed Uzbekistan in Tashkent next week. Iran coach ramped up the Qatar football team arrived in Malaysia yesterday, ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Syria. pressure-cooker atmosphere on Monday by Felix Sanchez’s side will play the Syrians at 3pm tomorrow before returning home to take on China in claiming that the training pitch in Incheon, the last league match on September 5. 27 kilometres west of Seoul, was not up to Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said that the training pitch in Incheon was not up to standard. the standard of a nation that hosted the World Cup with Japan in 2002. “The qual- Instead of apologising, Choi predicted that have no place in Iran’s national football team ity of the grass is not good,” Queiroz said ac- Queiroz would watch the World Cup on any more... they crossed Iran’s red line,” the MATCH REPORT cording to the Korean media. “It is not what television. When Iran won 1-0 in Seoul to country’s deputy Sports Minister Moham- you expect from a country that has hosted qualify, Queiroz was accused of making rude mad Reza Davarzani. the World Cup,” added the former Real Ma- gestures towards the opposition dugout and The move prompted FIFA to ask Iran’s drid coach. South Korea head coach Shin the Iranian players were pelted with water FA to provide further information on the UAE deal Saudi Arabia’s 2018 Tae-Yong said he would not get involved in bottles by the home crowd. Prior to that, in situation. FIFA’s statutes ban political in- pre-match mind games but retorted: “Peo- 2009, Iranian captain had terference in its affi liated national associa- ple know how we were treated when we vis- predicted that the in tions, which can be suspended if the rule is World Cup hopes a blow ited Iran last year. I don’t want to engage in would be “like hell for the Koreans” ahead of breached. If a country’s FA is suspended, it his psychological game. I think they’re get- a World Cup 2010 qualifi er. means both the national team and its clubs Agencies after he had been hauled down ner that thudded against the ting good treatment here.” Queiroz also said he will not allow “ex- are barred from international competition. Al Ain, UAE inside the area by UAE defender crossbar. But on the hour mark Last October, South Korea lost 1-0 in Te- ternal factors” to infl uence his decisions as However, with Hajsafi named among the 23- Mohamed Fawzi. it was Khalil who completed the hran, a fourth successive defeat at the hands Iran head coach and maintains that Masoud man squad to take on the Koreans at Seoul The lead lasted just a minute, UAE’s comeback with another of Queiroz, when the Taeguk Warriors were Shojaei was let out of his squad to face South World Cup Stadium, Queiroz said Shojaei tunning strikes from Ali however, as Ali Mabkhout equal- superb goal for the hosts, this also unhappy with the state of their training Korea for football reasons. Iran, who have had been excluded for purely sporting rea- Mabkhout and Ahmed ised in sublime fashion. The Al time a piledriver from distance pitch and at their base being located too far already qualifi ed for next year’s World Cup sons, though he did not elaborate on them. Khalil kept alive the Unit- Jazira striker’s exquisite fi rst that screamed past the despair- away from the stadium. fi nals, travelled to Seoul without veteran ed Arab Emirates’ slim touch brought the ball down ing dive of Al Mayouf and into And the row is just the latest in a long midfi elder Shojaei, who, along with compa- hopesS of a place at the 2018 FIFA and instantly into his path in the net. WORLD CUP 2018 ASIA ZONE history of ugly spats between the two na- triot Ehsan Hajsafi , featured for Greek club QUALIFYING REMAINING FIXTURES World Cup after a 2-1 comeback one movement, before he rifl ed The hosts did go down to 10- tions. Four years ago the then Korea coach Panionios against Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv (all kick-off times GMT): win over Saudi Arabia in Group B home past goalkeeper Abdullah men in injury time after Mah- Choi Kang-Hee complained of substandard in a Europa League playoff on Aug 4. Today: Group A: China v Uzbekistan (in Wuhan, clash last night. Al Mayouf. moud Khamis was shown a sec- Tehran training facilities and declared he The Iranian government does not recog- 1200), South Korea v Iran (in Seoul, 1200), Syria The visitors had begun the tie Following half time, Saudi ond yellow card of the match, would enjoy eliminating Iran from the 2014 nise the state of Israel, and athletes from the v Qatar (in Melaka, Malaysia, 1200). strongly. Saudi opened the scor- Arabia captain Osama Haw- but they were able to survive World Cup in the return match in Seoul. country who compete against their Israeli Group B: Japan v Australia (Saitama, 1035), ing inside 20 minutes as mid- sawi went close to restoring the the Saudi onslaught to take their Queiroz demanded an apology saying counterparts have been banned in the past Thailand v Iraq (in Bangkok, 1200), UAE v Saudi fi elder Nawaf al-Abed coolly Green ’ advantage with World Cup destiny to next week’s Choi had “humiliated the Iranian citizens.” from representing Iran. “Hajsafi and Shojaei Arabia (in Al Ain, 1630) converted from the penalty spot a thumping header from a cor- fi nal match.