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Friday, February 5, 2016 GOLF Rabia II 26, 1437 AH McIlroy lift eded GULF TIMES by unlikely birdie in Dubai SPORT Page 9

FOCUS CRICKET ICC blow Al-Attiyah to cut down for India, on rallying for Rio push England, ‘We have won it 12 times. I hope to win again because this will be a new record for MERC’ Australia

Reuters By Joe Koraith Dubai Doha he boards of India, England and Aus- hen it comes to the pin- tralia will no longer be permanent nacle of sport, the Ol- members of the International Cricket ympics pretty much Council’s decision-making executive rule the roost. Dreams Tcommittee, the governing body said yesterday. Ware made or shattered on a quadren- The ICC approved wide-ranging changes in nial basis, and 2016 is that year when 2014, giving the three powerful nations perma- the Olympics will transform the ef- nent seats in its executive committee and the forts of a select few into stardom. lion’s share of the revenue while also promising And every athlete, worth his or her more funds for everyone. salt, is trying hard to make it to Rio After taking over the reins at the ICC last come August. year, Indian cricket board president Shashank Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah is Manohar fl ayed the imbalance of power and one of them. criticised the 2014 restructuring. His last outing in the Olympics “The board has agreed to carry out a com- had yielded him a bronze medal in plete review of the 2014 resolutions and consti- the men’s skeet event. But since tutional changes,” the governing body said in a London 2012, you could say that al- statement following a board meeting held at its Attiyah has been a little pre-occu- Dubai headquarters yesterday. pied with other things - like winning The ICC received widespread criticism two the WRC2 Championships in 2014 years ago with some suggesting the ‘Big Three’ and the momentous Dakar Rally in would take over the sport at the expense of the 2015. other cricketing nations. In 2016, al-Attiyah fi nished a brave The governing body’s constitution is also to second despite his Mini being slower be completely reviewed and all members asked than the Peugots that dominated the to provide feedback in the next few weeks, it event and won the title. said. But this year, it’s all about the Ol- “No member of the ICC is bigger than the ympics for the rally legend. During other and I am determined to make a meaning- the recently concluded Asian Olym- ful contribution in this regard with support of pic Qualifying Tournament in Delhi, all the members,” Manohar said before adding al-Attiyah could only fi nish 12th in the ICC chairman would not be allowed to hold his event. But Qatar’s Rashid Saleh a position in a member country board in future. Hamad and Vitaliy Dovgun earned Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah and his French co-driver Mathieu Baumel at the start of the Qatar International Rally yesterday. The ICC has also reinstated Sri Lanka as a full quota places for Qatar, which means member after the country held elections last that al-Attiyah still has a chance Qatar is hosting a world shooting support, from the Volkswagen group. month to appoint a new organisation to run the to go to Rio. And the 45-year-old is championship in 10 days’ time and I am quite happy to race here in Qatar sport. planning to go ‘all guns blazing’ for that will be the fi rst pit stop for al- again and would like to thank all the Sri Lanka had previously been sanctioned for that spot. Attiyah. “In the next 10 days we have sponsors,” said al-Attiyah. government interference. “I won’t be taking part in WRC2 a Grand Prix in Qatar. There will be From “Dakar to Delhi to Doha”, or in any cross country rally. Except 300 shooters participating. This is has been a tough ask even for the ex- for 2-3 cross country races (includ- for fi rst time that we have so many treme athlete that al-Attiyah is but SPOTLIGHT ing Sealine Rally because it’s in taking part,” he said. he promises to give it all in the Qatar Qatar) and the Middle East Rally “After that we go to Cyprus (Grand Rally. “I am still tired. You need to Championships, I will not be tak- Prix & World Cup) and then we have have at least one month to recover. I ing part in any motorsport event. Italy, Azerbaijan and also a trial event have trained well and this is impor- News about This year it will be very quiet until in Rio. I will do my best to take part in tant to compete here in Qatar. I will the Olympic games. Because after the Olympics again,” he added. try to do my best with the new car. I the Olympics I can push again for For the next couple of days though, have lots of experience here.” Schumacher motorsport,” said al-Attiyah dur- al-Attiyah will be in familiar terri- And there’s added motivation to ing a press conference held for the tory because he will have a steering win this 2016 edition. “I have a lot 2016 Qatar Rally yesterday. wheel in hands rather than his rifl e. of experience in the Qatar Rally. We ‘not good’: There are fi ve world championship He will be driving the Skoda Fabia in have won it 12 times. I hope to win events in which al-Attiyah plans to Qatar’s Abdulaziz al-Kuwari in action during the special stage at Doha the Qatar Rally, the same car he was again because this will be a new take part to improve his shooting and Corniche yesterday. using in WRC2. record for Middle East Champion- Montezemolo get into prime form before the Olym- “It’s the fi rst time I will be racing ships.” pics and earn that quota place. “I will chance to get to the Olympics. Also show that I can compete in the next the Skoda Fabia in the Middle East. I After that it’s back to cradling the compete in all these world events it’s not good to take the quota place Olympics,” said the 45-year-old yes- tested it during WRC 2 in Spain and gun and getting that Olympic place. because if I don’t compete there’s no from the other shooters. But I need to terday. we like the car and we get factory Ready, steady, PULL!

Reuters Milan

he latest news about the health of sev- en-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher (pictured) is not good, his former Ferrari boss Luca Tdi Montezemolo said yesterday. The German is still receiving intensive treat- ment far from the public eye at his home in Switzerland following severe head injuries that he suff ered in a skiing accident in France in De- cember 2013. “I have news and unfortunately it is not good,” Montezemolo told reporters without giving any further details. “Life is strange. He was a fantastic driver and only had one accident with Ferrari in 1999,” the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation president Nasser Khalifa al-Attiyah with the participants ahead of the start of the Qatar International Rally yesterday. former Ferrari chairman said. Gulf Times 2 Friday, February 5, 2016 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS FIFA election globetrotters avoid In-form PSG set football’s real problems: experts

AFP and delivering the solution to the Zurich problem. new French league “This is particularly the case in sport, especially in the highly he battle for the FIFA political world of football,” said presidency has turned Sean Cottrell, chief executive of into a gruelling round- the lawinsport.com website and the-globe marathon for a lecturer on sports business in Tthe fi ve candidates but observ- London. ers say they are avoiding the real “Therefore only when some- unbeaten record problems facing the scandal-in- one is elected and the FIFA con- fected world football body. gress has passed the recommen- With Asian Football Confed- dations, subject to any changes, ‘We can be very pleased... The record, it really is something. About the match itself eration president Sheikh Sal- we will know if they have ad- man Bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifah dressed the real problems.” though my feelings are mixed. We were not in total control at certain times...’ and UEFA general secretary Gi- Football is the biggest sport and anni Infantino leading the pack, FIFA the most powerful sporting AFP many will descend on an African federation but it has been dragged Paris congress in Rwanda today and through the mud over the past quickly move on to Miami for year by corruption scandals. a meeting of north and central US authorities have charged 39 aris Saint-Germain established American soccer nations. individuals and two companies a new Ligue 1 record on Wednes- There will be more air miles to over more than $200 million in day as they stretched their un- cover in the race to succeed the bribes for football marketing and beaten streak to 33 matches by disgraced Sepp Blatter at a Feb- broadcasting deals. Peasing past Lorient 3-1 at the Parc des ruary 26 election in Zurich. Swiss prosecutors are look- Princes. There are no opinion polls, ing into FIFA’s management and Edinson Cavani was given a rare start but with the 79-year-old Blatter the way the 2018 and 2022 World by Laurent Blanc and justifi ed his man- forced into exile, the result is un- Cups were awarded. ager’s decision by opening the scoring in certain, experts said. Blatter and his former crown only the sixth minute. Prince Ali bin al Hussein a prince UEFA president Michel Lorient struck back midway through former FIFA vice president from Platini have been banned from the fi rst half with a well-worked equal- Jordan, Tokyo Sexwale, a South football for eight years for abuse iser from Raphael Guerreiro. African tycoon and politician, and of power in a $2 million dollar The defending champions forged Jerome Champagne, a former FIFA payment. ahead again though with a Zlatan Ibra- executive from France, are consid- Football is struggling to get himovic goal 10 minutes after half-time. ered outsiders however. over US attorney general Lo- PSG were not at their fl uent best, but All have released manifestos retta Lynch’s damning comment Layvin Kurzawa made it three with an ex- calling for a cleanup at FIFA, that corruption is “deeply en- cellent strike. reeling from the arrest of top ex- trenched”. in the sport. Blanc rang the changes, six in all, from ecutive members on corruption Sheikh Salman has proposed the side that equalled the record Nantes charges in the United States. But splitting FIFA’s football organisa- set over 20 years ago by winning at Saint- the detail is lacking. tion and business arms. Infantino Etienne on Sunday. “The candidates cannot go too has also called for a clear split be- “We can be very pleased tonight. The far otherwise they will alienate tween FIFA’s sport-political busi- record, it really is something”, Blanc said key voters like in an American ness and its day-to-day manage- after his side’s 14th win in a row. election,” said Jean-Loup Chap- ment of deals and business. “About the match itself though my pelet, a specialist on sports or- Nearly all the candidates say feelings are mixed. We were not in total ganisations at the University of FIFA should give more of its huge control at certain times. Lausanne in Switzerland. revenues back to the 209 mem- “But I have to take my share of the re- ber associations. sponsibility. After rotating the team, it is MONEY TALKS Infantino has also said the normal to have a few problems.” “Most are continuing the prom- World Cup should be increased It did not take the champions-elect ises of riches to national mem- from 32 countries to 40. long to get into their stride and Cav- bers rather than addressing “Increasing the number of ani eased any possible early nerves by the true, and desperate, chal- teams is an old demand from latching onto an Ibrahimovic through Paris St Germain’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring a goal during his team’s Ligue 1 match against FC Lorient. lenges that currently FIFA faces federations which could reduce ball, rounding Lorient goalkeeper Ben- for survival,” Patrick Nally, a the number of bid countries jamin Lecomte and slotting into an cross for his 20th league goal of the sea- Results end to Bordeaux’s seven-game unbeaten pioneer in international sports because you would need more empty net. son. run. marketing, told AFP of the cam- stadiums or several countries to PSG were in dominant form early on, Full-back Kurzawa had a fantastic Lille 1 (Soumaoro 59) Caen 0 France international Mathieu Debuchy paign. hold it,” said Chappelet. and after Ibrahimovic had a long-range match on his return from a knock that Nice 1 (Ben Arfa 82) Toulouse 0 made his Bordeaux debut following his “They are all playing lip serv- Nally said the weight of the free-kick saved by Lecomte, Marquin- ruled him out of the game at the week- Lyon 3 (Lacazette 41, 87, Kalulu 90+3) loan move from Arsenal, while Uruguay- ice to the membership and not Asian and African confederations, hos headed the resulting corner narrowly end, and he capped his display with a fi ne Bordeaux 0 an striker Diego Rolan was twice denied wanting to be in any way contro- which between them have the 105 wide. volley to seal all three points for his team. Reims 2 (Traore 43, Charbonnier 50) by fi ne saves from Lyon goalkeeper An- versial. In eff ect it is a very dull votes needed to win, had swayed But Lorient showed that they were Angel di Maria and Cavani both missed Angers 1 (Bouka Moutou 15) Guin- thony Lopes. and very disappointing presi- the campaign with the presiden- not just in the capital to make up the chances to add a fourth, while Walid gamp 4 (Erding 5, Sankhare 46, T. Lyon climbed back into the top half of dential election with no charis- tial rivals promising more money numbers, and they drew level in the 19th Mesloub was denied at the other end by Giresse 56, Blas 90) Troyes 0 Nantes the table, above 10th-place Bordeaux on matic leader in sight.” for member associations. minute. Trapp. 3 (Sala 14, Bedoya 23, Adryan 58) goal diff erence, and are six points adrift Most of the manifestos mirror He said real reforms would But those late exchanges were mere Gazelec Ajaccio 1 (Mayi 26) Paris SG of the Champions League spots. recommendations made by FIFA’s be forced from outside FIFA, by MARAUDING footnotes in a win that enters PSG into 3 (Cavani 6, Ibrahimovic 55, Kurzawa Nice leapfrogged Angers into third as own reform committee which calls sponsors. “Unfortunately none A cute backheel from striker Majeed the record books and keeps them a stag- 69) Lorient 1 (Guerreiro 19) Hatem Ben Arfa grabbed his 11th goal of the for greater transparency. of the candidates are addressing Waris released marauding left-back gering 24 points clear at the top of the campaign in a 1-0 win over Toulouse, while “However, there is a diff erence the real problems and answering Guerreiro, who fi nished confi dently past table. Played Tuesday 10-man Angers were beaten 2-1 at Reims. between highlighting a problem the right questions.” home stopper Kevin Trapp. With a crucial Champions League last Monaco 2 (Modesto 35-og, Silva 73) Nantes extended their unbeaten streak Lorient continued to hold their own, 16 tie against Chelsea starting on Febru- Bastia 0 to 10 matches following a 3-1 victory over although Lecomte had to be alert to tip ary 16, Blanc still wants further improve- Montpellier 0 Marseille 1 (Nkoudou Gazelec Ajaccio, Guingamp condemned DEFIANCE away another Ibrahimovic set-piece. ment. 68) lowly Troyes to a 4-0 defeat and Lille Uruguayan Cavani almost restored the “We could have had more goals, but earned a 1-0 win over Caen. hosts’ advantage early in the second pe- Lorient could have scored more too. On Tuesday, Monaco tightened their riod when he caught out Lecomte with “I am delighted with the performance over Bordeaux for just their second vic- grip on second place with a 2-0 win at Neville won’t quit an impudent lob, but the ball rebounded of Cavani, but individually and as a team tory in 11 matches. home to Bastia, while 10-man Marseille back off the post. we could have done better, and I include Lacazette struck four minutes prior to claimed a 1-0 victory at Montpellier to A matter of seconds later PSG broke myself in that.” half-time at Parc OL before quick-fi re push their unbeaten run in the league to despite 7-0 Barca their visitors’ resistance as talismanic Earlier, Alexandre Lacazette struck goals from Lacazette and Aldo Kalulu late 11 matches. striker Ibrahimovic tapped in Kurzawa’s twice as Lyon secured a welcome 3-0 win on ensured Bruno Genesio’s side put an Now to see what happens next. thrashing

BOTTOMLINE AFP “Positivity has been immov- Barcelona able in my life. When I have moments like this I don’t enjoy them at all, it was painful. I stood alencia boss Gary Nev- out there both halves feeling ille admitted his side’s helpless, trying to change it in Suarez, Messi hat-tricks hit 7-0 Copa del Rey semi- some way, knowing the tide of fi nal mauling at the the game was against us. Vhands of Barcelona on Wednes- “We were playing against a day was one of his worst nights fantastic team, keep that in per- in football but he refused to quit. spective, but the scoreline is un- Neville’s Valencia for seven Luis Suarez scored four and acceptable. Lionel Messi added a hat-trick as “I need to make sure every- Barca rendered next week’s sec- thing in the players’ minds now AFP Barca side back to their best and across Australian international ond-leg meaningless with what shifts to Betis. Be clear, we have Barcelona on the verge of a fi fth fi nal in six Matt Ryan into the far corner. Valencia sporting director Jesus to deliver on Sunday. seasons. Aleix Vidal then cut-back Garcia Pitarch described as one “I feel most for fans. It’s their However, Neville insisted Sergio Busquets’s ball over the of the worst results in the club’s club and tonight they suff er very uis Suarez scored four he wasn’t prepared to resign top of the Valencia defence for history. badly. I have to make sure to- and Lionel Messi hit a just two months after taking Suarez to slam home his 33rd Neville has yet to win in eight morrow morning I have a team hat-trick as Barcelona charge. goal of the season fi ve minutes La Liga games since taking his in for training and work out how piled more misery on “I won’t sleep well tonight. I later. fi rst managerial role in Decem- we can get in a positive frame of LGary Neville’s ill-fated reign as didn’t like what I saw. The fans Messi was left with the simple ber and with Valencia set to visit mind on Sunday.” Valencia boss to take an unas- didn’t deserve that and we have task of slotting in his fi rst of the fellow strugglers Real Betis on Pitarch also apologised to the sailable 7-0 lead in their Copa to recover incredibly quickly,” evening from close range after Sunday, Pitarch refused to give club’s notoriously demanding del Rey semi-fi nal, fi rst-leg on said the former Manchester great work by Andres Iniesta and his full backing to Neville staying fanbase and admitted he had met Wednesday. United captain. Suarez just before the half-hour in charge beyond the weekend. with club president Lay Hoon Two fi ne fi nishes inside 12 “It’s going to be a painful three mark. “I wish Betis game started Chan after the match. minutes from Suarez put Barca in or four days. This was one of my Valencia were happy to get in 10 minutes. It’s going to be a “We apologise to our fans for control before Messi rounded off most painful days in football.” to the break just three down as painful three or four days,” said one of the worst days and one of a fi ne team move for Barca’s third. Neymar had made headlines Messi then hit the bar from Sua- Neville. the worst results in our history in It could have been even worse earlier in the week as he was rez’s brilliant low cross before “This was one of my most a Cup semi-fi nal,” he told Canal for Valencia as Neymar hit the quizzed by a judge in Spain’s top the Argentine was clipped by painful days in football. They Plus. post from the penalty spot after Barcelona’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez (R) celebrates a goal court over the murky transfer Mustafi as he bore down on goal. happen, I had some as a player, “We have had a meeting to see Shkodran Mustafi was sent-off with teammate Lionel Messi during the Copa del Rey match. deal which brought him to Barca Neymar was over-confi dent now as a manager, but, when you what our refl ections were on the for bringing down Messi inside in 2013 amidst corruption and with his one-step run-up, give the ball away close to your game. the area. “It is one the best games we have a good advantage.” fraud allegations. though, as his penalty came back own goal three times in fi rst 15 “We know what we have to do. However, Messi and Sua- have played all season in every The Cup had been Neville’s However, he showed his per- off the post. minutes, you get punished.” We know the situation the club is rez both added two more after sense,” Suarez told Canal Plus. one refuge during a winless run formances continue to be unaf- Gerard Pique, Busquets and Neville refuted suggestions he in is diffi cult. We have to refl ect the break to make next week’s “From the fi rst minute to the of eight league games since tak- fected by off -fi eld problems as Messi all fi red just off target as may be considering resigning and internally whilst recognising we second-leg at the Mestalla a for- last we showed a great attitude, ing charge in December, but he drove at the Valencia defence Barca continued to run riot after refused to answer more questions have caused tremendous disap- mality. we were good on the ball and we Valencia were blown away by a before playing in Suarez to fi re the break. when pressed on his future. pointment to our fans.” Gulf Times Friday, February 5, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Chinese clubs paid more per player than Europe elites — report Chinese clubs spent more per Jackson Martinez’s 42 million player than any other country euro ($47 million) switch to in the January transfer win- Guangzhou Evergrande from dow, according to data from Atletico Madrid on Wednes- FIFA’s Transfer Matching Sys- day. Bayern seek to tem (TMS) seen by the Times. Excluding the Martinez deal, A flurry of high-profile trans- clubs in China’s top-flight fers to China’s Super League spent 33 million pounds on 10 has also pushed the country players in the window, com- up to third in the table of total pared with 120 million pounds spending behind traditional on 115 players by English clubs powerhouses England and and 42 million pounds on 104 Spain. players by Spanish clubs. calm nerves with China will overtake Spain and The transfer window in China move into second place after does not close until Feb. 26, so 30 more transfers are proc- the country’s level of spending essed by the TMS, including is likely to increase further. Court: agents can’t take money for win at Leverkusen contracts of under-age players Player agents cannot take Frankfurt court confirmed the a fee for finding a club for original DFB rule that agents The weekend Bundesliga programme sees two matches involving the top four, under-age footballers players cannot take a fee for under- in Germany but don’t have to age players, and said that Wolfsburg’s Julian Draxler set to meet his former club Schalke, and Borussia register with the nation’s foot- professional players and their ball federation DFB, according clubs must publish the sums Moenchengladbach and Werder Bremen trying to beat the curse of Fridays to a court ruling published agents have received, saying yesterday. that sporting interests must DPA The Frankfurt regional court come before financial aspects. Berlin ruling made Tuesday settles Player agents received more a long-standing dispute be- than 100 million euros (109.6 tween the DFB and the Rogon million dollars) in the 2013-14 eaders Bayern Munich will be agency. season alone from Bundesliga keen to put some turbulent days Both sides had appealed and second division clubs. behind them when they meet various aspects of a previous But the agents were also fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen court ruling in connection successful in the new ruling Lwhile Borussia Dortmund travel to Her- with new DFB rules for agents as the court confirmed a previ- tha Berlin in two top-four Bundesliga introduced last year and ous adjudication that they clashes tomorrow. based on regulations by the don’t have to submit them- Champions Bayern are at Leverkusen world governing body FIFA. selves to the DFB statutes and in their fi rst match since coach Pep Guar- Rogon had taken the DFB to regulations. They also don’t diola’s future was confi rmed as manager court, also on behalf of other have to provide an extended at Manchester City next season. agents. clearance certificate for their But even before the announcement, In the latest ruling, the profession. Guardiola was the focus of media atten- tion amid reports of disciplinary prob- lems and a mood of dissatisfaction in the squad after the coach had reportedly SHAME criticised some players. The latest controversy surrounds mid- fi elder Arturo Vidal who was reported by Sport Bild to have left the team camp sev- Shock at player eral times during last month’s training camp in Doha and returned intoxicated. Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rum- brawls in Argentine menigge dismissed the report and a reference to a salary of “8 million euros net a year” as “malicious” and “false.” friendly matches Sports director Matthias Sammer said: “Maybe one is trying to make the league more exciting or to create a situation that AFP “This is absolute instinctive it will be tighter and Dortmund get nearer. Buenos Aires barbarity,” said Dario “I can only say they will achieve the Mendelson, a sports opposite. We will be even more united as psychologist. “It is true that a team and be even closer.” ass on-pitch brawls there is extra pressure during Keeper Manuel Neuer said Thursday: between players in classic matches, but you have “We stick together and we are all there supposedly “friend- to train your mind to cope for each other. There are no problems ly” matches between with the pressure,” he said in the team. The things that are be- Mtop Argentine football teams File picture of Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola. ing transported from the outside don’t have driven the government to son, a sports psychologist. touch us.” The match also brings together two turn to his old club, where he spent 14 Moenchengladbach, who started the vow to end soccer violence. “It is true that there is extra The mood at Bayern has not been on-form strikers in Robert Lewandowski, years before joining the Wolves in Au- year with two defeats, have not won any Long used to match-day vio- pressure during classic matches, helped by the club’s injury problems. who has scored all four of Bayern’s goals gust, but has come down with a fl u virus of their last six Friday evening games, lence involving hooligan gangs, but you have to train your mind After the loss of central defender Jerome in 2016, and Javier Hernandez who has 13 and could be a doubt. losing fi ve of them and failing to score a Argentine fans saw ugly rucks to cope with the pressure,” he Boateng to a groin muscle tear, defensive goals in 16 league games for Leverkusen. If he recovers, Draxler, whose last game single goal. erupt on the pitch itself at two said. alternative Javi Martinez has undergone Dortmund, eight points adrift of Bay- for Schalke was coincidently at Wolfs- Third-last Werder’s record is hardly recent high-profi le friendlies. “No preventive measures are knee surgery and will be absent for sev- ern, also face a diffi cult trip to third- burg in a 3-0 defeat early in the sea- better, with their last six Friday games Argentina’s new President being taken here.” eral weeks. placed Hertha Berlin, who have lost only son, can expect a vitriolic reaction from failing to produce a win. But they man- Mauricio Macri, himself a fan After insisting there would be no “pan- one of their last nine competitive games Schalke fans- The Gelsenkirchen faithful aged to win in Moenchengladbach two and former chairman of top team ‘SAVE FOOTBALL’ ic buys,” Bayern then went out and signed - 2-0 to Bayern. were also unforgiving of Neuer’s decision months ago, a thrilling 4-3 in the cup. Boca Juniors, responded by vow- Argentine anti-violence football central defender Serdar Tasci on the last Dortmund in their fi rst season under in 2011 to leave for Bayern Munich. Elsewhere, Eintracht Frankfurt host ing to crack down on soccer vio- charity Let’s Save Football agrees day of the transfer window on loan from Thomas Tuchel and Hertha under Pal “This won’t be a normal game for me,” VfB Stuttgart, with both sides unbeaten lence. that players are under pressure Spartak Moscow. Tasci promptly suf- Dardai - appointed almost exactly a year Draxler told Sport Bild. “I saw what hap- so far this year, Augsburg, now seven Last week’s Buenos Aires sum- and blames authorities for being fered light concussion in his fi rst training ago - are having impressive seasons. At pened with Manuel Neuer after his move games without defeat, are at Ingolstadt, mer derby between the country’s too lax in the past. session and is not likely to be available the same stage last season, Hertha were to Bayern - I am prepared for the worst. and basement side Hanover are at home two most popular teams, Boca “This is violence by the play- against Leverkusen. last and Dortmund second to last. Of the 60,000 crowd, 55,000 will be to Mainz, having lost four of their last fi ve and their fi erce rivals River Plate, ers, but violent groups of the Bayern can expect a tough game at Seventh-placed Wolfsburg, with the against me.” home games. descended into a full-on punch- clubs’ fans pressure them and Leverkusen, who started 2016 with four league’s worst away record and a poor Borussia Moenchengladbach and Wer- On Sunday, SV Hamburg welcome up. they end up off ering up that points from two games and have only lost start to 2016 with just one point, go to der Bremen will meanwhile be out to fellow midtable side Cologne, while A match already marred by kind of behavior to the stands,” one of last six home games against Mu- fi fth-placed Schalke. Wolfsburg mid- banish the curse of Friday evening when second-last Hoff enheim are at home to cynical fouls and insults de- said the NGO’s leader Mariano nich. fi elder Julian Draxler is set for a fi rst re- they get the weekend programme rolling. Darmstadt. generated after a clash between Berges. former Manchester City striker He is a former judge who Carlos Tevez of Boca and a River probed various cases of football SERIE A defender. violence. Five players were sent off and His group says six people were River Plate’s goalkeeper was hit killed in football-related vio- by a projectile from the stands, lence in Argentina last year, 16 but the match carried on to end in 2014 and 12 in each of the two in a 1-0 win for River. years before that. Napoli stay top aft er game On Sunday in the city of Mar Rules in place since 2013 have del Plata, a match between rivals restricted visiting fans’ move- Estudiantes and Gimnasia was ments at football grounds to pre- abandoned after a mass brawl vent clashes. broke out on the pitch with kicks, But fi ghts between fans of rival suspended for racist chanting spitting and shoving. sides have given way to violent “We all regret it. It got out of power struggles among fellow hand,” said Gimnasia’s Uruguay- members of extreme fan groups. Reuters was sent off for the second con- Results an midfi elder Roberto Brum. They fi ght each other over Milan secutive match. He had left the pitch before rackets such as ticket sales and Juve registered their 13th con- Frosinone 1 (Dionisi 77-pen) the ruck broke out but jumped parking around the stadium. secutive league win thanks to Bologna 0 off the bench and ran back on to Now the violence has spread to apoli maintained their a moment of magic from Juan Empoli 1 (Pucciarelli 90+1) join in the fi ght. the pitch to an alarming degree. two-point advantage Cuadrado, who evaded Arman- Udinese 1 (Zapata 23) Overall 18 players were booked “This refl ects many years of at the top of Serie do Izzo with a superb shimmy Fiorentina 2 (Valero 2, Zarate by the referee. It is not yet known exasperating permissiveness by with a 2-0 victory at before his cross defl ected past 90+3) Carpi 1 (Lasagna 73) what their sanctions will be. the authorities,” said Berges. LazioN on Wednesday in a game Mattia Perin in the 30th minute. Verona 2 (Siligardi 42, Pazzini suspended due to racist chant- The champions stayed second 83) Atalanta 1 (Conti 30) Inter SOCCER SECURITY MEASURES FOOTBALL FAN BLACKLIST ing as Juventus beat Genoa 1-0 on 51 points and Massimiliano Milan 1 (Icardi 48) Chievo 0 A day after the second brawl, Se- Macri has called for an end to to break a club record for con- Allegri’s side are only four wins Juventus 1 (De Maio 30-og) curity Minister Patricia Bullrich football violence. secutive league wins in a single away from equalling Inter Mi- Genoa 0 Lazio 0 Napoli 2 (Hi- called a meeting of offi cials from “We clearly hope that all Ar- season. lan’s record of 17 consecutive guain 24, Callejon 27) Palermo the Argentine Football Associa- gentines, be they fans of Boca, Gonzalo Higuain scored his Serie A victories set in the 2006- 0 AC Milan 2 (Bacca 19, Niang tion. River Plate or other teams, or 23rd goal in 23 league games for 07 season. 33-pen) “She demanded the utmost those who do not like football, Napoli this season when he fi n- The win came at a cost, how- Sampdoria 2 (Muriel 66, severity,” said the head of the as- can see on the pitch a spectacle ished from close range after fi ne ever, with Martin Caceres and Soriano 84) Torino 2 (Belotti sociation, Luis Segura. that is just about sport,” he said work from Marek Hamsik in the Patrice Evra being replaced due 71, 90+4) “It will be handled by our dis- recently. 24th minute. to injury and Simone Zaza was ciplinary tribunal.” His government last week an- Jose Callejon added a second sent off in stoppage time. Estudiantes’ chairman is Juan nounced it would draw up a na- when he lobbed the advancing “Sunday’s 4-0 win at Chievo Inter halted a miserable run Sebastian Veron, a former Man- tional blacklist of fans banned by Federico Marchetti after Loren- created a lot of euphoria, but with a 1-0 home win over Chie- chester United midfi elder and their clubs for violence. zo Insigne’s exquisite long ball. tonight our feet are back on the vo, Mauro Icardi ending his re- Argentina international. “It seems there is now politi- The match was halted for ground,” Allegri told Mediaset cent scoring drought, while Car- He promised the club would cal resolve to end this problem,” three minutes in the 68th Premium. “This reminded us los Bacca’s fi fth goal in his last impose “internal sanctions” over said Berges. minute after racist abuse aimed Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain celebrates after scoring against Lazio. that there are no easy games. fi ve games set AC Milan on their the violence. “That is what has been miss- at visiting centre back Kalidou “I’m not interested in the way to a 2-0 victory at Palermo. But he called for critics “to un- ing over the last 20 years. In that Koulibaly, but the referee opted Napoli moved on to 53 points, struggling Carpi 2-1 with Mauro record,” he added. “There are 15 Bottom club Verona won their derstand the confrontations that time there has been a lot of talk to play on having consulted with two clear of Juve and eight ahead Zarate bagging a sensational rounds to go and we need a certain fi rst league game of the season there are on the pitch.” but nothing done in practice.” players, coaches and offi cials of third-placed Fiorentina who 93rd-minute winner. number of victories, whether they when they beat 10-man Atalanta “This is absolute instinctive Now to see what action those and the game was completed. survived a late scare to beat Fiorentina coach Paulo Sousa are in a row or not is irrelevant.” 2-1. barbarity,” said Dario Mendel- in charge take to rectify this. Gulf Times 4 Friday, February 5, 2016 FOOTBALL

PREVIEW EPL Gomes denies Chelsea, Everton Lekhwiya coach end slump Belmadi wary of ‘diffi cult’ Sailiya ‘We have trained well for the match, although we will be without Yasser Ahmed who is still injured after his time with the Qatar U23 side, apart from this we are at full strength’ Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes reacts after the match. AFP Gomes saved his best for last, London leaping to his right in the 88th minute to claw a header from Costa away from beneath the helsea captain John Terry crossbar. began his long goodbye Chelsea are now unbeaten by marshalling his de- in eight league games since the fence to a clean sheet in sacking of Jose Mourinho. They Ca 0-0 draw at Watford in the Pre- host Manchester United on Sun- mier League on Wednesday. day. Making his fi rst appearance The day’s other game saw since announcing on Sunday that Everton snap a run of fi ve league he has not been off ered a new matches without victory by beat- contract, Terry eff ectively shack- ing relegation-threatened New- led Watford’s livewire striker castle United 3-0 at Goodison Odion Ighalo as Chelsea extended Park. their unbeaten run of games un- Aaron Lennon opened the der interim manager Guus Hid- scoring in the 23rd minute, gath- dink to nine in all competitions. ering Tom Cleverley’s pass from Watford goalkeeper Heurelho the left and drilling a low shot into Gomes was the game’s stand-out the bottom corner. player, though, producing sev- Ross Barkley sealed victory eral second-half saves to restrict with a pair of late penalties, the Chelsea to a rise in the table of just fi rst after Rolando Aarons tripped one place to 13th. Lennon, the second—a stoppage- The result left Quique Sanchez time ‘Panenka’—after Jamaal Flores’s Watford four points Lascelles had been sent off for above Chelsea in ninth. bringing him down. After a watchful start from Everton manager Roberto Mar- both sides, Watford began to as- tinez described Barkley, who was sert themselves midway through playing his 100th league game at the fi rst half, with Ighalo squan- the age of 22, as a “phenomenal dering a couple of chances and footballer” and a “phenomenal Etienne Capoue forcing Thibaut person”. Courtois to save at his near post. “He took responsibility with Diego Costa threatened for both penalties and showed how Chelsea in the 32nd minute, spin- he is an assured, technical foot- ning Craig Cathcart and lashing a baller,” the Spaniard added. left-foot shot across goal, while Martinez’s men climb one Oscar shot narrowly wide from place to 11th, while Newcastle, Costa’s pass 10 minutes into the who handed a debut to £12 million second half. ($17.5 million, 15.8 million euros) Chelsea looked the team more new signing Andros Townsend, likely to score as the game wore remain in the relegation zone. Lekhwiya’s Djamel Belmadi addresses a press conference ahead of his team’s match against Al Sailiya. on, but Gomes parried from Os- “It’s not acceptable,” said New- car and Branislav Ivanovic, who castle manager Steve McClaren. By Sports Reporter ing Slovakian winger Vladimir Weiss who new side,” confessed Trabelsi after Ilyas next match Caixinha said, “The dif- had been teed up by substitute “We have to put this one behind Doha moved to Al Gharafa on transfer deadline moved to Umm Salal on transfer deadline ference between the two sides is only Eden Hazard. us and move on.” day. “Vladimir Weiss is a good player, but day. a couple of places. I think that we have at Lekhwiya we do not look to just one When asked about the title race, had good performances in recent weeks ekhwiya head coach Djamel Bel- player. We pride ourselves on the team Trabelsi was sure of only one winner. “I I think we have a good chance to get the SPOTLIGHT madi has predicted a diffi cult collective, and we have shown that in re- think now, with Al Rayyan’s lead the title win.” Al Arabi coach Gianfranco Zola match against Al Sailiya when the cent results. I wish Vladimir all the best race is over. However there is still plenty has insisted that his side is in good form two teams meet in the Qatar Stars at Gharafa. to play for with Qatar Cup and Relegation despite the recent draw with relegation LLeague today evening at Qatar Sports “We will fi ght to the very end for the places.” threatened Qatar SC. “I am disappointed Cut Costa some Club Stadium. league, Al Rayyan has a big lead at the Meanwhile, Al Gharafa head coach with the result last week, however my The defending champions are 11 points moment, but this is football and it can Pedro Caixinha believes his side is well team is now ready for this match. I will be behind table toppers Al Rayyan after 16 quickly change” noted Belmadi when equipped to beat Al Arabi in the QSL happy if our side can get a draw against a slack, says Chelsea matches and are aware that another de- asked if Lekhwiya could reclaim the fal- match of the week for round 17. good side like Al Gharafa.” feat could well mean the end of their al- con shield. “We have invested in our squad and “Al Gharafa has brought in some new ready-slim title chances this season. Sailiya head coach Sami Trabelsi be- have three brand new players in the side, players, but we have also made changes boss Hiddink Speaking to the press ahead of the lieves his side is well prepared ahead of I think they can make a big diff erence for which will fi t in with our play also. Our match, Belmadi said; “Al Sailiya are a their clash against second placed Le- us in the second half of the season,” said aim is to be in the top four, we will give well-organised side, they have had a khwiya. Caixinha our all for this goal in the second half of Chelsea’s Brazilian-born good victory against Meisameer and will “We have worked on several key areas “We have to forget what happened in the season.” Spanish striker Diego Costa (R) be full of confi dence. of our game this week, I feel we are ready the recent past with Gharafa now, we are Today’s matches avoids a tackle from Watford’s “We have trained well for the match, tactically to face a strong team like Le- on a new path now and have good play- Umm Salal vs Qatar Sports Club, 4.30pm German-born Greek midfielder although we will be without Yasser khwiya,” said the Tunisian . ers to help us push up the table” claimed at Qatar Sports Club Jos Holebas (L) on Wednesday. Ahmed who is still injured after his time “The loss of Abdul Qadir Ilyas is a big the Portuguese coach who has overseen Lekhwiya vs Al Sailiya, 7.15pm at Qatar with the Qatar U23 side, apart from this one for us, he was a strong player for two wins in his fi rst two games with the Sports Club we are at full strength.” Sailiya. However his time with us with Cheetahs. Al Gharafa vs Al Arabi, 7.15pm at Al He was asked about the impact of los- short, and I wish him the best at his Talking about his opponents in their Gharafa

BOTTOMLINE Leaders Leicester face huge test AFP punched Diego in his back and London after that they stumbled,” Hid- DPA throttle again after a brief lull. third title in fi ve seasons. dink said. London “In training sessions I saw my “We are in all four competi- “This is something we must players refreshed,” Ranieri told tions and I am very happy with uus Hiddink accused not do. It’s provocation to get reporters. “After Christmas we the games we have played this Watford of trying to Diego off the pitch. he Premier League title were a little tired but now they’re season,” he said. “We have had provoke Diego Costa “The ref saw it and didn’t fall race could become a little getting better. very bad luck with injuries but after the Chelsea strik- for this provocation. There’s no clearer this weekend as “Now I’m curious because on the players have always showed erG was involved in a series of way Diego was near the guy’s surprise leaders Leices- Saturday we have to run, run, run character with fi ght and have clashes during a feisty 0-0 draw face. terT City take on second-placed a lot. Against City it will be an- played the way they like to play.” at Vicarage Road. “This is a man’s game, de- Manchester City in an enthral- other tough match but it was im- Tottenham, level on points Costa appeared fortunate to fenders are big guys and some- ling encounter at the King Power portant to start this month well. with Arsenal in third two points avoid a red card after he pushed times they go over the edge but Stadium. For me it’s important to see my further back, host Watford while over Watford defender Sebastian this is something we must not Three points clear of City at players fi ght and try to win. the Gunners travel to Bourne- Prodl and then shoved Juan Car- do.” the top, Leicester continue to “Sooner or later we’ll lose a mouth on Sunday, desperate to los Paredes later in the fi rst half. Hiddink said Costa never defy those who believed they match but that’s not important. get back to winning ways after a The second off ence infuriated looked like losing his cool, but would have faded by this stage What’s important is how we lose. defeat and draw in their past two Watford’s players and fi nally he did concede serial off ender of the season but the visit of City Leicester City’s English striker Jamie Vardy celebrates after scoring If there is a great goal from an op- games. prompted referee Mike Dean to Costa, who reportedly punched promises to be a true test of their against Liverpool on Tuesday. ponent, well done - but we have Champions Chelsea, still stuck book Costa. a hole in a tunnel walk after row- title claims. to fi ght. If Man City fi ght more in the bottom half, play fi fth- The Spain international had ing with West Bromwich Albion The match, which will be After a brief lull at the start of but slowly he started to go down. than us, well done to them.” placed Manchester United while already been given a retrospec- players recently, must do more played at lunchtime on Satur- last month, when he had a minor Now he is fresh and is a new Var- Aguero scored his 13th league at the other end, Aston Villa, six tive three-game ban this season to keep control of emotions in day, pits two of the league’s top groin operation, Vardy is back to dy. He presses a lot, works very goal of the season in midweek points adrift and 10 points from after Dean failed to send him general. two strikers against one another full strength and manager Clau- hard and scored a goal.” and manager Manuel Pellegrini safety, play Norwich. off following clashes with Arse- “Yeah I talked to him but he as Leicester’s Jamie Vardy faces dio Ranieri believes he is at 100 Ranieri spent most of the fi rst will be desperate for the Argen- Second-bottom Sunder- nal pair Laurent Koscielny and was calm and in control, there City’s Sergio Aguero. per cent again. half of the season saying his side tine to shake off a knock in time land are away to Liverpool while Gabriel. was nothing needed to calm him Vardy scored two more goals “Now it is one month since were getting closer to a position for the trip to Leicester. third-bottom Newcastle host But Chelsea interim manager down,” Hiddink said. as Leicester beat Liverpool 2-0 he restarted training,” he told of safety, despite their place at City announced this week that West Brom. Everton travel to Hiddink felt Costa was more “He felt he was provoked and in midweek to take his tally to 18 Leicester’s offi cial website. the top of the league. Pellegrini would be replaced by Stoke, Swansea meet Crystal sinned against than sinner on when he is provoked I will pro- league goals for the season, with “Before he didn’t train well Now, the Italian admits they Pep Guardiola at the end of the Palace and Southampton take on this occasion. tect him. Costa likes to go physi- his fi rst goal, a long range volley, a and played without training. It is are in the running for the title and season but the Chilean said he West Ham in the weekend’s other “It was very clear because cal but he must do it within the contender for goal of the season. not easy. He continued to score believes his side are playing at full was focused on trying to win a games. we were very close. Paredes rules.” Gulf Times Friday, February 5, 2016 5 SPORT

RUGBY FOCUS Sevens stalwart Vakatawa to start for Jones defends new new-look France

Reuters day. The most important thing Paris is to have good people around you.” Noves has a huge task ahead ew France coach Guy after Les Bleus were left in tat- England’s old look Noves has made a ters following a record defeat bold choice by pick- against New Zealand in the ing Sevens stalwart quarter-fi nals of the World Cup. Coach opts for safe side in first match, Uncapped trio named as replacements NVirimi Vakatawa on the wing in “I am bothered that we’re a new-look team to face Italy in talking about the World Cup their opening Six Nations game again. The point is not what the at home tomorrow. players did yesterday, but what England’s Head Coach Eddie Jones and Dylan Hartley Fijian-born Vakatawa, who they will do in the future,” said (R) talk to the media during the press conference. (AFP) has not played any 15-man rugby the former Toulouse coach. since 2013, will make his fi rst It will be the fi rst match at the appearance in a side containing Stade de France since the Nov. 13 four uncapped players. Paris attacks when three suicide Sebastien Bezy also makes bombers struck near the stadi- his debut at scrumhalf and will um, part of a wave of coordinat- pair up with number 10 Jules ed attacks that killed 130 people. Plisson in the absence of the in- “We don’t need a game to jured Morgan Parra and Francois think about it. We think about Trinh-Duc, who was deemed this every day,” Noves said. not fi t enough when Noves as- Team: sembled his squad last month. 1-Eddy Ben Arous, 2-Guilhem Centre Jonathan Danty and Guirado (captain), 3-Ra- lock Paul Jedrasiak are the other bah Slimani, 4-Paul Jedrasiak, uncapped players brought in 5-Yoann Maestri, 6-Wenceslas by Noves, who took over from Lauret, 7-Damien Chouly, Philippe Saint-Andre after last 8-Louis Picamoles, 9-Sebastien year’s World Cup. Bezy, 10-Jules Plisson, 11-Virimi Vakatawa “has got shortcom- Vakatawa, 12-Jonathan Danty, 13- ings, but the sooner he starts Gael Fickou, 14-Hugo Bonneval, with the squad the better,” Noves 15-Maxime Medard told a news conference. Replacements: 16-Camille Chat, Asked if the team were not 17-Uini Atonio, 18-Jeff erson too young, with the eldest be- Poirot, 19-Alexandre Flanquart, ing 30-year-old fl anker Damien 20-Yacouba Camara, 21-Maxime Chouly, Noves replied: “I have Machenaud, 22-Jean-Marc Dous- no fear. We all have to start some sain, 23-Maxime Mermoz

TENNIS Del Potro prepares for return from long-term injury

DPA February 15,” Del Potro said on Buenos Aires a Facebook video. “I’m able to confi rm that I will play again and Reuters Ford at fl yhalf. Danny Care is New captain Dylan Hartley I wanted to share [it] with you. It London restored to fi rst-choice scrum- is the most seasoned operator, JACK CLIFFORD rgentine Juan Del Po- is a great joy to play after all these half. Former captain Chris Rob- with 66 appearances, though tro will make his come- really complicated mood swings shaw switches to the blindside this will be the hooker’s fi rst back from his latest and moments.” ew England coach Ed- fl ank position, James Haskell match since last year’s Six Na- wrist injury this month Del Potro is currently without die Jones defended is in at seven and number eight tions—he was left out of the atA the ATP event in Delray Beach, a coach after parting with long- his ‘conservative’ fi rst Billy Vunipola completes a World Cup squad by Lancaster Florida, the 2009 US Open win- time mentor Franco Davin last team yesterday after powerful, but hardly fresh, back for disciplinary reasons. ner announced Wednesday on summer. The Argentine is hop- Nnaming an experienced lineup row. A lack of leaders in the team social media. ing for the best but setting no to face Scotland in the Six Na- The starting XV boasts 512 was highlighted by some ob- “I know you are anxious to see goals for his return: “I [hope] my tions in Edinburgh on Saturday caps, with lock George Kruis servers as a weakness for Eng- me play, but I ask you for patience return will be successful, for me and keeping his uncapped trio and winger Jack Nowell the least land during the World Cup, because it’s going to be my fi rst it is already [successful] being on the bench. experienced on 10 each. where despite their home ad- tournament and part of the reha- able to step on a tennis court.” The Australian said last week That contrasts with Lancas- vantage they failed to reach the bilitation is to return to the cir- that a Calcutta Cup was not a ter’s fi rst team, also for a trip to knockout stage. cuit,” the 27-year-old said, add- French federation director time to experiment and he was Scotland four years ago, which Jones has acted to address ing that “the uncertainty and bad general sacked true to his word when he un- had only 236 caps. Lancaster that issue by appointing three things I have lived through even French Tennis Federation veiled a team boasting 512 caps started with three uncapped vice-captains—Farrell, Vunipo- made me think of giving up.” (FFT) director general and on Thursday. players and gave another four la and fullback Mike Brown—to Del Potro’s return after a third French Open director Guilbert “I’ve picked the best 23 to their debuts off the bench. support Hartley. wrist operation since fi rst getting Ysern has been sacked by federa- win the match,” Jones said, a Uncapped pair Maro Itoje and “We have a variety of char- hurt in 2010 will come at a small tion president Jean Gachassin, number of times, when pressed Elliot Daly will travel to Scot- acters and personalities there,” venue where he won a title fi ve French sports daily L’Equipe said on his squad which many fans land with the squad and Jones Jones told reporters. “Billy’s a years ago; the Delray Beach tour- yesterday. had hoped would contain a few said they would eventually get young guy with not a lot of lead- nament begins on February 15. “It’s very brutal,” Ysern was more fresh faces in the wake of their chance and could both go ership responsibility but who is The player last competed seri- quoted as saying by L’Equipe. England’s World Cup quarter- on to be “60-cap players”. a really key player at number ously in 2015 in Sydney, reach- “I’m a bother but I have done fi nal exit under Stuart Lancas- “I know you love them, I read eight. “Owen is tough as nails, ing the quarter-fi nals. He then nothing wrong,” he added with- ter. the papers every day,” Jones a very good speaker, while stopped again due to his prob- out elaborating. The newspaper The uncapped trio of fl anker said. “It shows the strength of Browny is a quiet assassin type lem, attempting a comeback in reports that Ysern and Gachassin Jack Cliff ord, centre Ollie De- the Premiership if they are the but very committed.” Miami last March where he lost had been at odds since the presi- voto and prop Paul Hill were form players you say but are not England have won the Six in the fi rst round to Canadian dent sacked Davis Cup captain named among the replacements in the 23 but they’ll get picked Nations just once since 2003, Vasek Pospisil. “I was waiting a Arnaud Clement last year and while Owen Farrell will play when they are ready for test and fi nished second in their long time to announce that I will replaced him with former French at inside centre with George rugby.” four seasons under Lancaster. return to play in Delray Beach on Open champion Yannick Noah.

SPOTLIGHT Scotland recall fl anker Barclay for opener

Reuters beaten England since 2008. London Coach Vern Cotter said Scotland were “determined to learn from past experiences” but expected a feisty cotland have recalled fl anker test from an England side playing John Barclay for their open- their fi rst match under new coach ing Six Nations champion- Eddie Jones. ship game against England at “England will look to build their MurrayfiS eld tomorrow. game from set-phase dominance, Blindside Barclay, who did not while we expect them to have de- feature at last year’s World Cup and veloped their attacking play into the has played just two tests since 2013, wider channels, which can create has been in good form this season challenges as well as opportunities,” for his club side Scarlets and starts he said in a Scottish RFU statement. in place of Blair Cowan who drops to “We’re expecting them to be ex- the bench. tremely motivated and physical, and In the only other change to the we’re looking forward to that chal- starting side from Scotland’s last lenge. “Continuity and accuracy will game, their agonising last-gasp be key for us in this game.” World Cup quarter-fi nal defeat by Australia in October, Matt Scott re- Scotland: Stuart Hogg, Sean places the injured Peter Horne at in- Maitland, Mark Bennett, Matt Scott, side centre. Scott will line up along- Tommy Seymour, Finn Russell, Greig side Mark Bennett who has been Laidlaw (capt); Al Dickinson, Ross JOHN BARCLAY passed fi t to play after recovering Ford, WP Nel, Richie Gray, Jonny from a shoulder injury. Gray, John Barclay, John Hardie, Uncapped prop Zander Fagerson David Denton. has been named as a replacement. Replacements: Stuart McInally, Scotland, who took the wooden- Gordon Reid, Zander Fagerson, Tim spoon in last year’s championship Swinson, Blair Cowan, Sam Hidalgo- after losing all fi ve matches, have not Clyne, Duncan Weir, Duncan Taylor. Gulf Times 6 Friday, February 5, 2016 AMERICAN FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Back in Super Bowl, Oher no longer blindsided by movie ‘I always tell people that everybody has a story, mine just got told’ FOCUS

Reuters San Francisco Security plan

ichael Oher’s life story was made into a Hollywood movie informed by Paris seven years ago but the Super Bowl-bound Carolina Pan- Mthers off ensive tackle says he has only watched it once. attacks: US offi cial Fortunately fi lm critics thought more of The Blind Side than Oher, who despite the subject matter could not give the feel- Reuters enforcement offi cials who spoke good sports drama two thumbs up, saying San Francisco stressed that there were no spe- only “It was OK.” cifi c or credible threat at to the The life of an NFL off ensive line- game, or to Super Bowl related- man is one of anonymity unless they do S law enforcement of- events in the region. something wrong, spent in the football fi cials preparing for But they all also urged the trenches engaged in hand-to-hand com- Super Bowl 50 have public to stay vigilant, repeating bat protecting the team’s biggest asset - worked with their the oft-heard motto “if you see the quarterback. FrenchU counterparts to learn something, say something.” But Oher’s inspiring journey from pov- from last year’s deadly attacks San Francisco Police Chief erty to what will be a second Super Bowl in Paris, as they plan safety for Greg Suhr’s department is po- appearance on Sunday when the Panthers Sunday’s big game, the Secre- licing events in so-called Su- take on the Denver Broncos, has lifted him tary of Homeland Security said per Bowl City in downtown from obscurity. “I always tell people that on Wednesday. San Francisco, 50 miles (80 km) everybody has a story, mine just got told,” Secretary Jeh Johnson said he northwest of Santa Clara. Suhr Oher told Reuters. “Everybody probably and his team have been “con- told the news conference his of- has a worse story than I had. Mine just got stantly” in contact with security fi cers have made some arrests, told. I’m fi ne with that.” offi cials in Paris following the but that they were all for people To the bigger world outside the NFL, Nov. 13 attacks there by gun- “having too much fun.” Oher’s life story is better known than men linked to the Islamic State Police have kept a highly vis- that of either of the star players in Super militant group. “The threat pic- ible presence, with some offi cers Bowl 50, quarterbacks Peyton Manning ture is diff erent every February,” wearing tactical gear and carry- and Cam Newton. In The Blind Side, a Johnson told a news conference ing assault-style rifl es. homeless black teenager is taken in by a after he toured Levi’s Stadium Santa Clara Police Chief wealthy Memphis family who introduced in Santa Clara, California, where Michael Sellers said his force was him to football, a sport that helped him to the NFL championship game preparing for possible protests, attend college and ultimately become a will be played. adding there would be a desig- fi rst round NFL draft pick. “We are always informed by nated area for demonstrations Now in his seventh NFL season, Oher recent events and what we see in about a block from the stadium. continues to be better known as “that the world situation,” he said. Jeff rey Miller, a senior NFL se- guy they made a movie about” than for Johnson and other offi cials curity offi cial, said some 4,000 his skill and success on the fi eld which who addressed reporters were private security staff had been includes a Super Bowl triumph with the tight-lipped on how the details hired to support law enforce- Baltimore Ravens. of Super Bowl security plans ment at events and the game. Initially fl attered by the attention by might diff er from previous years Fans cannot bring in back- the time the Ravens met the San Fran- in response to the attacks in the packs, purses, coolers or a pleth- cisco 49ers in the Super Bowl three years French capital, and to a shoot- ora of other prohibited items, ago, Oher had grown fatigued of constant ing rampage in December in San and can expect pat downs and and repetitive questions about the hugely Bernardino, Southern Califor- to pass through metal detectors, successful fi lm that grossed over $300 nia. All the federal and local law Miller said. million. The movie had overshadowed his real life. It was as if The Blind Side had Michael Oher’s inspiring journey from poverty to what will be a second Super Bowl appearance on Sunday when the provided the inspiration for a profession- Carolina Panthers take on the Denver Broncos, has lifted him from obscurity. (USA TODAY Sports) al football career and not the other way around. But recently Oher has come to The theme of overcoming adversity unwanted, shuffl ed from school to school proved himself to be one of the best in terms with his celebrity and while he may detailed in the movie is one that contin- and foster home to foster home Newton’s the NFL as the Panthers off ensive line not fully embrace Hollywood fame he has ues to run through Oher’s life and career. text brought a new purpose to a fl agging allowed just 33 sacks. Standing in the accepted that the messages delivered in After fi ve roller coaster seasons with Bal- career. midst of the crazy scene that is Super the fi lm are valuable. timore Oher signed with the Tennessee “It lets you know he (Newton) wanted Bowl Opening Night, Oher shuffl ed his “It’s about doing something positive Titans. And after one disappointing in- me here and that meant a lot,” said Oher. feet, smiled and spoke with softness that with your life,” said Oher, a hint of shyness jury-plagued year in Nashville talk about “It just goes to show you hard work and could barely be heard above the Super still evident despite years in the spotlight. his NFL career had moved from The Blind people believing in you anything can Bowl buzz. “It was always a dream of mine to be suc- Side to the down side. happen. Every single year you have to re- “It was tough coming from the envi- cessful not only in sports but as long as Then last February Oher received a prove yourself in the NFL. I think that is ronment I grew up in,” said Oher. “Just you are successful in life. Just having drive message from Newton, “I need you,” text- the great thing about the NFL, every year the road I had to travel to make it to the ... not letting your environment, circum- ed the Panthers quarterback. For some- you have to prove yourself.” NFL it is a dream come true. It’s still a stances around you hold you back.” one who had spent their early childhood This season, back at left tackle, Oher dream come true.” Fans are seen entering Super Bowl City in San Francisco. (AFP)

BOTTOMLINE Younger Manning Eli says Scottish kicker relishing pressure Peyton’s legacy safe, win or lose San Francisco: New York Giants quarterback already set will not keep Peyton’s 35-year-old kid AFP Eli Manning says older brother Peyton has not brother from cheering him on like a rowdy fan. San Francisco talked to him about his playing future this week, “I get emotional about it, hopefully will have adding that the legacy of the Denver Broncos lots of reasons to cheer and get excited. I’m quarterback is set, win or lose Super Bowl 50. rooting for him hard,” said Eli, appearing for cotland-born Graham Gano says he The younger Manning has won a pair of Super FedEx, which announced a $200 million com- would relish the pressure of having Bowl titles and Super Bowl MVP awards with the mitment to help 200 under served global com- to kick a Super Bowl-winning fi eld Giants compared to one for his celebrated big munities by 2020. “I watch it as a little brother goal after a season where rule changes brother, but Eli said regardless of the outcome rooting for my big brother to play well.” madeS his unerring accuracy with the boot against the Carolina Panthers, Peyton has left a Eli, a more inconsistent player than Peyton, more valuable than ever. lasting mark. “His impact on the game and the expected a good Super Bowl battle. “Two teams The Carolina Panthers star is aiming to NFL, especially on the quarterback position, that are very deserving,” he said. “Both defenses become the second Scottish kicker to win has been made,” Eli said about his 39-year-old are much the best in the NFL so it will be inter- the Super Bowl in the past decade follow- brother, who holds a host of significant NFL esting to see who can go out there and perform ing the double success of the New York Gi- quarterbacking records from an 18-year career. at the highest level when it matters the most.” ants’ Lawrence Tynes in 2007 and 2011. The “He kind of set a standard of playing up- Wednesday was the eighth anniversary of Eli 28-year-old was born in Arbroath while his tempo football, the no-huddle (off ense), being Manning’s first Super Bowl triumph in leading US serviceman father was stationed on a able to get into any play, being that off ensive the Giants to a 17-14 upset over the unbeaten military base there. Gano spent six years in coordinator on the field that you’re seeing more New England Patriots and he cherished the Scotland before returning as a child to the and more teams do. He kind of started that memory. “You learn a lot what winning a cham- United States, where he has lived ever since. trend and played at an extremely high level, won pionship means to everybody in your circle. Although his home is the United States, he a lot of games and been part of some all-time From your family members to your team mates, continues to identify himself as a Scot and great off enses and he’s been an ambassador for to ex-team mates that you played with from hopes to carry a Scottish fl ag into the Levi’s the NFL for a very long time.” high school to college, for the ownership, the Stadium on Sunday when the Panthers face Believing the Broncos quarterback’s legacy is coaches and the fans,” he said. the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50. “I’m proud of both my Scottish and Amer- ican roots and most of my team-mates know Denver Broncos quarterback where I’m from, but not what the Scottish Peyton Manning fl ag looks like, so I’ll get a few questions,” he The Carolina Panthers star Graham Gano is aiming to become the second Scottish kicker to told Scotland’s Daily Record recently. “Mil- win the Super Bowl in the past decade following the double success of the New York Giants’ lions of people will see the Scottish fl ag. It’d Lawrence Tynes in 2007 and 2011. be great to represent Scotland like that and make the country proud.” to that. I hope that every game and that is but it is funny—when the game is on the line, Gano has had another standout campaign what makes my job the most fun.” who do they look to when you are down by a for the Panthers this year, nailing high-pres- Gano arrived at the Panthers in 2012 via a couple points? It’s the kicker.” sure long-range kicks in last-gasp wins over circuitous route which included stints with This season, the NFL’s brotherhood of the Indianapolis Colts and the New York Gi- the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Red- kickers faced additional pressure after a rule ants during the regular season. Now he is skins as well as a spell with the Las Vegas Lo- change that lengthened the distance of ex- contemplating the possibility of Sunday’s comotives in the now-defunct United Foot- tra-point kicks. “At the beginning I wasn’t in game coming down to a fi eld goal and a shot ball League. favor of it, I don’t think anyone is in favour of at glory from his metronomic boot. “I’ve After six years in the business, Gano says making their job more diffi cult. But I think it been thinking about that since I fi rst started he is used to being teased about the fl eeting— was something that needed to happen—and playing,” Gano told reporters on Wednesday but often vital—role of a kicker. “Everyone it’s going to make guys who can make them in his unmistakably American accent. “I am has their own opinions about kickers, I guess. consistently more valuable, so yeah, I am hoping for it, so hopefully it does come down They say they aren’t really football players, defi nitely in favour of it.” Gulf Times Friday, February 5, 2016 7 SPORT

NBA Curry fi res in 51 as Warriors shoot past Wizards 134-121 Curry put on a dazzling shooting display, hitting 19-of-28 from the field and 11-of-16 from behind the three-point arc

DPA Los Angeles

tephen Curry was on fi re and the Wash- ington Wizards got burned. The league top gun Curry dropped in 51 points and matched a career high with 11 three- pointersS on Wednesday, shooting the Golden State Warriors to their eighth straight victory, 134-121 over the hosting Wizards. “He couldn’t miss,” said Wizards John Wall, whose season-high 41 points did not help avoid defeat. “You keep defending the best way you can. We challenged some shots. He didn’t have too many open looks. He just made them.” Curry put on a dazzling shooting display, hit- ting 19-of-28 from the fi eld and 11-of-16 from behind the three-point arc for his fourth career game of 50 or more points. “You make your fi rst couple shots and you get confi dence,” Curry said. “You fi nd a rhythm and fi nd the rim. I was getting to my spots and things were fl owing.” The reigning league MVP came within one triple of tying the NBA single record for three- pointers. “I knew I was in reach and kind of searching but not forcing,” he explained. “You can’t mess around with the basketball gods chasing the record when the game doesn’t call for it.” Klay Thompson hit six triples en route to 24 points for the defending NBA champions (45-4), while fellow All-Star Draymond Green picked up his league-best 10th triple-double of the season, with 12 points, 12 assists and 10 re- bounds. Curry fi red in 25 points in the opening quarter, hitting 9-of-10 fi eld goals and seven 3-point- ers. The All-Star guard had 36 by halftime on 13-for-14 shooting and the Warriors had a 74- 60 halftime cushion. “Steph had an amazing fi rst quarter and an amazing overall game too,” Thompson said. “He’s big reason why we won tonight.” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said: “Steph was scintillating coming out of the gate. He was brilliant.” The Wizards came out with more energy and cut a 17-point defi cit to 86-84 late in the third quarter. But Curry nailed two more triples and Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (right) attempts to block the shot of Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (second right) in the third quarter in Washington. (USA TODAY Sports) the Warriors carried a 102-91 lead into the fi nal frame before coasting home. ATLANTA HAWKS 124, OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 117, the ninth time in the last 10 meetings despite a CHICAGO BULLS 107, PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 86 ORLANDO MAGIC 114 game-high 28 by Germany’s Dirk Nowitki. SACRAMENTO KINGS 102 SAN ANTONIO SPURS 110, Mike Scott and Tim Hardaway Jr led eight play- Kevin Durant drained the game-winning triple E’Twaun Moore had a career-high 24 points, NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 97 ers in double fi gures with 13 points apiece, and in the fi nal second to cap a 37-point eff ort, and UTAH JAZZ 85, DENVER NUGGETS 81 Derrick Rose added 21, as Bulls (27-21) edged LaMarcus Aldridge scored a season-high 36 the visiting Hawks (29-22) spanked the league- the Thunder (38-13) edged the visiting Magic for Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward scored 16 the Kings for their fi rst win in Sacramento since points, Kawhi Leonard had 26, and the Spurs worst Sixers (7-42) with their most lopsided win a fi fth straight win. Russell Westbrook had his points apiece, and the Jazz (23-25) ran their win- December 2011. DeMarcus Cousins led Sacra- (41-8) improved to 27-0 at home this season af- since 1994. eighth triple-double of the season for Oklahoma ning streak to a season-high fi ve after slipping mento (21-28) with 30 points and 11 rebounds. ter topping the Pelicans. Anthony Davis led New City, with 24 points, a career-high 19 rebounds past the visiting Nuggets (19-31), led by Danilo Orleans with 28 points and 10 rebounds. BOSTON CELTICS 102, and 14 assists. Victor Oladipo scored 37 points to Gallinari’s 24. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 108, DETROIT PISTONS 95 pace the Magic (21-27), losers in 14 of their last LA CLIPPERS 102 CHARLOTTE HORNETS 106, CLEVELAND Isaiah Thomas had 17 points, Avery Bradley 16 decisions. INDIANA PACERS 114, Andrew Wiggins scored 31 points, Karl-An- CAVALIERS 97 added 15, and the Celtics (29-22) trimmed the BROOKLYN NETS 100 thony Towns had 17, as the T-Wolves (15-36) Jeremy Lin scored 24 points and the Hornets visiting Pistons for their seventh win in the last MIAMI HEAT 93, DALLAS CJ Miles tossed in 27 points, Paul George scored surprised the Clippers to stop a 12-game road (24-25) used a dominant 33-17 third quarter to eight outings. MAVERCKS 90 17, and the visiting Pacers (26-23) sent the Nets slide and fi ve straight losses overall. Chris Paul snap the Cavs’ fi ve-game winning streak. Kyrie Reggie Jackson scored 17 points for Detroit Chris Bosh scored 20 points, Dwyane Wade had to their fi fth straight loss. scored 22 points and Jamal Crawford had 21 off Irving topped the Cavs (35-13) with 26 points (25-24) while Andre Drummond had 16 and 13 16 of his 18 in the second half, and the visiting Brook Lopez paced Brooklyn (12-38) with 21 the bench for the Clippers (32-17), who had their and LeBron James added 23. rebounds. Heat (28-22) handled the Mavericks (28-24) for points. four-game success snapped overall.

NHL FOCUS Tampa Bay top Red Wings Auction jersey worn by Mourning has autographs of Obama and 12 stars

AFP Miami

basketball jersey worn by Hall of Fame forward Alonzo Mourning (right) and autographed by US President Barack Obama and a dozen stars of the sport is beingA auctioned online. Huggins and Scott Auc- tions is handling the bidding, which started at $900 and will run through February 11. Mourning, a seven-time All-Star who won an NBA title with Miami in 2006, wore the jer- sey when he played in a set of pickup basketball games at Fort McNair in Washington to celebrate Obama’s 49th birthday on August 4, 2010. Obama played in pickup games alongside and against NBA stars Mourning, LeBron James, Kobe Tampa Bay Lightning’s Ondrej Palat (right) attempts to stop Detroit Red Wings’ Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Magic Johnson, Pau Luke Glendening during the third period at Amalie Arena. (USA TODAY Sports) Gasol, Chris Paul, Baron Davis, Chauncey Bil- lups, Shane Battier and Grant Hill plus Women’s Reuters with 24 saves after playing in the All-Star FLAMES 4, HURRICANES 1 NBA standout Maya Moore. Tampa Bay, Florida Game in Nashville on Sunday. Bishop earned Center Sean Monahan had a goal and three Several wounded US soldiers were invited to his 100th regular-season win with Tampa assists as the Calgary Flames ended a day watch the games and after one contest, Mourning Bay in four seasons with the Lightning. of bad off -ice news with a 4-1 win over the gave his jersey to one of them, Jack Thebau. It was in the world and it’s time to make it even bigger in he Tampa Bay Lightning picked right Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. later signed by Obama and the players involved. the US market. back up on the tear they were on be- SABRES 4, CANADIENS 2 Calgary lost defenseman Dennis Wide- “We are ready to introduce the best global fore the All-Star break, returning to Left winger Johan Larsson scored the game- man to a 20-game suspension earlier in the MAVERICKS OWNER CUBAN BUYS brands and the world’s best players to our grow- the ice on Wednesday with a 3-1 win winning goal to lift the Buff alo Sabres to a day for his Jan. 27 hit on a linesman that the INTO US FUTSAL LEAGUE ing fan base and I’m thrilled to be part of the PFL.” Tover the Detroit Red Wings at Amalie Arena 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens at the NHL deemed intentional. Left winger Johnny Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA’s Dallas Maver- Cuban, whose holdings also include the Land- at the National Hockey League on Wednes- Bell Centre. Left wingers Marcus Foligno and Gaudreau and defensemen Marc Giordano icks and an investor on the US television show mark Theatres chain and Magnolia Pictures plus day. A pair of power-play goals lifted Tampa Jamie McGinn and right winger Brian Gionta and Dougie Hamilton also scored for Calgary, “Shark Tank,” is backing a new American sports the cable TV network AXS, hopes to launch play Bay (28-18-14) to a ninth win in 10 games, also scored for the Sabres. and each added an assist. venture, the Professional Futsal League (PFL). in 2017. The league’s co-owner is Donnie Nelson, with center Tyler Johnson scoring the go- Right winger Dale Weise and left winger Monahan had the fi rst assist on all three The fl edgling league announced Wednesday the Mavericks’ president of basketball opera- ahead goal in the second and right winger Alex Galchenyuk scored for Montreal. goals for the fi rst four-point night of his that Cuban has purchased a principal ownership tions. While futsal has made little US impact, an Nikita Kucherov, who assisted on that eff ort, Goaltender Robin Lehner made 32 saves three-year career. His goal was into a virtu- stake in the fi ve-a-side football competition. “I indoor version of football, arena soccer, is played adding a goal in the third period. for Buff alo (21-26-4). Counterpart Mike ally open net off a nice feed from Gaudreau at couldn’t be more excited about partnering with using artifi cial turf inside ice hockey boards. The Detroit (25-17-8) got only one goal past Condon stopped 28 shots for the Canadiens 2:47 of the third period. Center Elias Lind- and investing in the PFL,” Cuban said in a state- Major Arena Soccer League has 20 teams, three of Lightning goalie Ben Bishop, who fi nished (24-24-4). holm had the lone goal for Carolina. ment. “Futsal is one of the fastest growing sports them based in Mexico. Gulf Times 8 Friday, February 5, 2016 SPORT

CYCLING Froome shows early class as Sky take over

AFP “The race last week gave us quite a bit Healesville, Australia of confi dence going into today,” Ken- naugh said. “We had a plan for today’s stage which ritish national champion Pe- worked out absolutely perfectly. It was ter Kennaugh stormed through to make it hard going into that last climb the fi rst stage of the Herald for ‘Froomey’ to have a go... I was just to Sun Tour yesterday with Chris follow wheels and judge the situation. FroomeB at his side as Team Sky took “If I felt like I could jump across, then charge. do that... once I got across to him I pret- The pair broke away after 97 kilome- ty much just sat on his wheel the whole tres (60.3 miles) of the 126.1-kilometre way up the climb,” Kennaugh said. stage through Victoria’s Yarra Valley and Despite the Herald Sun being his fi rst could not be caught. event for fi ve months, Froome warned it The Sky leaders shared the winning would now be up to the rest of the pelo- time of three hours, one minute and 47 ton to catch him and Kennaugh. seconds but Kennaugh took the overall “We’re going to try and protect that lead by seven seconds with the double (lead) now,” he said. Tour de France winner in second. “Pete’s in great shape, he won Cadel’s Froome and Kennaugh, who won the race just a few days ago. We’ll try and Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race at keep the jersey on his shoulders.” the weekend, launched their attack on Australian Will Clarke (Drapac) won the second of two climbs. the prologue on Wednesday but came in They fi nished with a 17-second ad- 33rd on Thursday, three minutes in ar- vantage over a 29-man chase group led rears. Today’s second stage covers 144.2 by Kiwi Dion Smith (One) who won the kilometres through grazing farmland sprint for third. from Yarra Glen to Moe. British cyclists Christopher Froome (L) and Peter Kennaugh (R) of Team Sky cross the finish line together in stage one of the 2016 Herald Sun Tour yesterday. (AFP)

DUBAI TOUR BOXING Heavyweight cham Fury Team Sky’s Italian rider ready to ‘walk away’

Reuters Viviani wins stage two London orld heavyweight champion ‘We’ll try to overcome the short climb at the finish and I’ll have another chance to win the overall’ Tyson Fury is struggling for motivation and could quit boxing, the controversial Wfi ghter told the BBC yesterday. Italian sprinter Elia Viviani (L) of Team Sky The 27-year-old Briton, who stunned celebrates aft er winning the second stage of Vladimir Klitschko to claim the world the Dubai Tour yesterday. heavyweight crown with a points win in Germany in November, may even hang up his gloves before facing the Ukrainian in a rematch scheduled for May or June. “I’m struggling to get motivated,” Fury told BBC radio. “I could walk away. I could just sail into the sunset unbeaten with all the belts and live a normal life.” Fury (25-0), who drew fl ak for his of- fensive comments about women, homo- sexuality and abortion late last year, said he would rather spend more time with his family than chase money or try to se- cure a legacy. “All that I would be boxing for is mon- ey and I always thought to myself I never want to let sport become about money, he added.” “I’ve accomplished a dream. It’s about how much motivation I have to keep go- ing on. There is life after boxing and I don’t know what I’m going to do at the moment. I haven’t even cemented I am going to fi ght in a rematch.” Qatar and Abu Dhabi are reportedly among the fi ve possible venues for the rematch but Fury said he had yet to start training for his next bout. Fury previously threatened to retire af- ter fellow Briton David Haye twice with- drew from bouts against him through injury in 2013.

Ex-F1 driver Kobayashi signs for Toyota world endurance team

Agencies Manchebo forged on with 16km to Former Formula One driver Kamui Dubai go as the peloton was right behind Action from the second Kobayashi will replace the retired Alex him. He knew he’d get caught, es- stage of the Dubai Tour. Wurz for the Toyota Gazoo Racing pecially because the breakaway was team in the World Endurance Champi- ne year after winning Stage always kept under control with a gap onship competition that includes the 2 of the Dubai Tour at Palm of less than two minutes. The Span- fabled Le Mans race, the Japanese car Jumeirah in front of the ish veteran was reeled in with 12km to manufacturer announced Thursday. magnifi cent Atlantis hotel, go. British teams One Pro Cycling and Kobayashi, who steps up from test ItalianO sprinter Elia Viviani of Team Team Wiggins were the most active and reserve driver, will race alongside Sky repeated his victory as he edged at the head of the peloton in the last Stephane Sarrazin and Mike Conway in out his compatriots Sacha Modolo of 10km. the completely new TS050 hybrid car. Lampre - Merida, Giacomo Nizzolo Sir Bradley Wiggins himself sped The team’s other car will be driven of Trek - Segafredo and Andrea Guar- up from 3 to 2km to go to stretch the by 2014 world champions Anthony dini of Astana Pro Team. bunch. A crash occurred at the exit of Davidson, Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki He also succeeded Marcel Kittel of a tunnel 1km before the line but with Nakajima for a second consecutive Etixx - Quick Step in the lead of the minor consequences. Perfectly led season. overall classifi cation on the eve of the out by Team Sky and ultimately Ben “Racing in LMP1 will be a new experi- queen stage to Hatta Dam. Swift at the end, Viviani took his fi rst ence for me and I am looking forward “A perfect lead out means there’s victory of the year on the same water- to it a lot,” said Kobayashi. only one sprint to do and that’s for front that looks like a springboard for “There will be plenty to learn but I the victory. Yesterday I had to sprint another successful season. know my team-mates will support me twice only to reposition myself and “I’m happy to keep the white jersey. and I am sure I can be competitive I fi nished eighth. Today I got what I I also wanted to break away again to right from the start. Now my focus needed for winning,” Viviani said. defend the lead in the intermediate is on preparing properly for the new “Tomorrow it’ll be a decisive stage sprints competition but my friend season and being absolutely ready for for the Dubai Tour. Last year we didn’t [Francisco Mancebo] went so I stayed Silverstone.” see the route before the stage and I in the peloton,” best young rider Sou- Team president Toshio Sato added: got dropped with 10km to go. I have a fi ane Haddi said. “Kamui showed his speed and commit- better condition nowadays after hav- “It was good to have our team rep- ment in testing, so it was a relatively ing raced the Tour of San Luis. We’ll resented at the front again. I haven’t easy decision to select him to replace try to overcome the short climb at the said my last word. Tomorrow I’ll try Alex. fi nish and I’ll have another chance to to regain the lead for the intermediate “We know he is capable of doing a win the overall on Sunday.” sprints.” good job alongside Stephane and Four riders contested most of the Intermediate sprints leader Marcin Mike.” race at the front: Francisco Manchebo Bialoblocki said: “I might have little Kobayashi, 29, made his Formula One of Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team - experience at this level of racing but debut in 2009 and went on to start Al Ahli Club, Koen de Kort of Team we have prepared very well for our 75 Grands Prix for Toyota, Sauber and Giant - Alpecin, Silvan Dillier of BMC fi rst season as a Pro Continental team. Caterham. His sole podium came in Racing Team and Marcin Bialoblocki I’m in good shape so I had no problem the Japanese GP in 2012 for Sauber, of One Pro Cycling. The latter won with the speed. I was also fast enough Kobayashi leaving F1 with 125 career all intermediate sprints to claim the to win the intermediate sprints. I’m points. dedicated UAE fl ag jersey. happy with my ride.” Gulf Times Friday, February 5, 2016 9 GOLF

REPORT TARGET Snedeker McIlroy lift ed by sets sights unlikely birdie at on Phoenix Dubai Classic There has been something of a question mark raised about McIlroy’s form on the greens in recent times but he said it was now going in the right direction

Rory McIlroy in action in the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic yesterday.

Reuters will be looking to rebound from Phoenix a missed cut at Torrey Pines af- ter winning the previous week at the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi he PGA Tour’s West Championship. Coast swing certainly “I always enjoy being back in agrees with Brandt the desert. I have had some good Snedeker who turns his play here,” Fowler said of the attentionT to this week’s Phoenix TPC Scottsdale. “It’s always a Open in Arizona just days after week I look forward to. winning the weather-hit Farm- “I’ve been playing well ers Insurance Open in San Di- through the middle of last year ego. into the fall (autumn), and I’m Four of Snedeker’s eight career excited to continue that. Last victories on the U.S. circuit have week was a little hiccup along the come in California and before way but I’m looking forward to he triumphed on Monday for a picking back up where we left off second time at Torrey Pines, he in Abu Dhabi. was edged out in a playoff for the “Getting the win two weeks Sony Open in Hawaii in his pre- ago defi nitely put me in a little vious event. bit of a diff erent mindset com- “I love the greens, I love be- ing into this year than I have been ing out here,” Snedeker, 35, told pretty much all the years before reporters about the West Coast then.” swing while preparing for Thurs- Brooks Koepka, the world day’s opening round at the TPC number 17, is back to defend Scottsdale. the Phoenix Open title he won “This time of year has always last year by one stroke over fel- been huge. My (PGA Tour) career low Americans Bubba Watson started at Torrey Pines, fi nishing and Ryan Palmer, and Japanese third in my rookie year. Hideki Matsuyama. “I wish we could play all year “Any time you can win, it’s out here only the West Coast special, and if you’re going back because I absolutely play fantas- to those places, it’s cool,” said tic and I love being out here. It’s Koepka, 25, who tied for third at been an unbelievable start to the the winners-only Hyundai Tour- year for me.” nament of Champions in Hawaii The fast-talking Snedeker, last month. who won by one shot at Tor- “You’re kind of reliving some rey Pines after carding a bril- of the shots you hit, and obvi- Reuters Northern Irishman told reporters. Australia, South African Trevor Fisher The 42-year-old, back in Britain fol- liant three-under-par 69 in the ously you get a lot of positive Dubai “When I got myself out of position I and Peter Hanson of Sweden. lowing a three-year spell living in Florida, wind-swept fi nal round, faces a memories. was able to get back in play.” Westwood fully focused on golf again has been recharging his batteries recently. strong fi eld this week in Scotts- “I have a lot of positive There has been something of a ques- after marriage breakdown “I haven’t played much this winter so I dale where seven players in the thoughts going into this week, orld number two Rory McIl- tion mark raised about McIlroy’s form on Former world number one Lee feel well rested,” said Westwood, who had world’s top 20 will be competing. and I feel good about where my roy, boosted by an unlikely the greens in recent times but he said it Westwood wants to focus fully on his golf a spell at the top of the rankings in 2010 Fourth-ranked American game is at. I don’t think I have birdie four on his front nine, was now going in the right direction. again this season after being distracted by and 2011. “I needed that break after the Rickie Fowler leads the way and ever felt better.” made an encouraging start to “I still feel there’s room for improve- a painful split from wife Laurae in 2015. season I’d had. hisW title defence by shooting a 68 in the ment in my putting but it’s defi nitely got The Englishman had a season to forget “I enjoyed playing in the EurAsia Cup Dubai Desert Classic fi rst round yester- better,” he added. last year, sliding from 26th to 50th in the (last month) which, because it was match SPOTLIGHT day. “Ever since winning this tourna- rankings after failing to win on either the play and not stroke play, meant there The four-times major winner’s four- ment back in 2009, the strides I’ve European or U.S. tours. wasn’t too much pressure kicking off the under-par eff ort left him two strokes be- made in my putting have been great. “I’m going through a divorce and found year.” hind leader Alex Noren of Sweden. I feel like I’ve got a consistent routine it nearly impossible to concentrate on There was some good news for West- Win boosts McIlroy, who began his round at the in practice and that definitely helps on golf,” Westwood told ESPN.co.uk in an wood at the end of 2015 when he edged 10th hole, started off with a bogey six but the course.” interview. up one place in the rankings from 51st to recovered in style with three birdies on his McIlroy’s victory in the Desert Classic “How I played didn’t really concern me 50th, earning him a place at the U.S. Mas- Fowler’s confi dence outward half including a brilliant four at seven years ago was his fi rst win as a pro- but now I’m back living in the UK per- ters in April and the British Open in July. the 18th that came after he drove his ball fessional. manently and trying to factor in when I “Getting into the Masters and the Open into the water off the tee. Triple champion Ernie Els of South Af- see my two kids and which events I play was a bit of a ‘double whammy’ as far as I in major title hunt He had three more birdies on his in- rica also carded a fi rst-round 68, as did around that. was concerned,” he said. ward nine, mixed in with a bogey fi ve at British trio Chris Wood, Graeme Storm “I just want to get some consist- “It wouldn’t have been good to miss the second hole. and Simon Dyson, Spain’s Alvaro Quiros, ency back in my game and start to enjoy out on Augusta. The Masters is the one AFP last nine months,” Fowler said. “It wasn’t the best way to start... but American David Lipsky and Bernd Wies- it again,” said Westwood, who opened everybody looks toward at the start of the Los Angeles “The game feels great. Towards to bounce back and birdie some of the berger of Austria. his Dubai Desert Classic campaign with year, it’s the natural one you want to peak the end of last year is some of tougher holes on the course, I was re- In second place on 67 were Spain’s a disappointing three-over-par 75 on for... the early season is all about prepara- the best I have ever been swing- ally pleased with that,” the 26-year-old Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Brett Rumford of Thursday. tion for the Masters.” ickie Fowler’s victory ing. I’ve been playing well, but I two weeks ago at Abu know I can keep getting better.” Dhabi has provided In 2014, Fowler shared sec- BOTTOMLINE more confi dence in ag- ond at the US and British Opens, gressiveR play at this week’s PGA third at the PGA Championship Phoenix Open and the quest for and fi fth at the Masters, where his fi rst major title. he again will seek a major break- The 27-year-old Californian through in April. has jumped to a career-best “A major is my main goal right Korean Jang storms three fourth in the world rankings af- now going forward,” Fowler ter his fourth victory in the past said. “I feel very good off the nine months at the European wins I’ve had this past year and Tour event. excited about the majors this “Getting the win two weeks year and Augusta just around ahead in LPGA event ago defi nitely put me in a little the corner.” bit of a diff erent mindset com- Fowler downplays talk about Reuters under-par 65 to set a sizzling course,” Jang, 23, told reporters at last week’s Pure Silk Bahamas birdies in her last nine holes. ing into this year than I have himself joining reigning Masters Ocala, Florida pace on a breezy day at Gold- after covering her back nine in LPGA Classic where she aced the “I was pretty rusty the front been pretty much all the years and US Open champion Jordan en Ocala Golf and Equestrian three-under 33. eighth in the third round with a nine,” the 18-year-old told Golf before,” Fowler said. Spieth, 2015 PGA Champion- Club. “It’s perfect, no bogeys. I like three-wood from 218 yards to Channel. “I just wasn’t able to “It felt like trying to get off to ship winner Jason Day of Aus- outh Korean Jang Ha- Fellow Koreans Kim Sei- it. I don’t want to think about record the LPGA’s fi rst ever al- hit many shots close and the good starts, getting into conten- tralia and four-time major win- na, who made LPGA young and Chun In-gee, Cana- that it’s windy and I don’t play batross on a par-four hole. ones I did hit good were above tion and trying to get the year ner Rory McIlroy in a new “Big history last week with dian Jodi Ewart Shadoff , Can- for a score. I don’t see the score- “That was an unbelievable the hole. going from there. This year is a Four” of 20-something stars. an albatross one, bird- die Kung of Taiwan, American boards. I just keep it simple, just shot, so I got my new dog (a “It seemed like I was hitting little diff erent. Feel like I’m able But that means winning majors. Sied her last two holes to seize a Kim Kaufman and Malaysia’s simple thinking.” white Pomeranian) and named it (approach shots) a couple of to go out and be a bit more ag- “I know with what Rory, Jor- three-shot lead after the open- Kelly Tan opened with 68s while Jang has recorded nine top- ‘Albatross’,” smiled Jang. yards further so on the back nine gressive, play a bit more off en- dan, and Jason have done, they ing round of the Coates Golf world number one Lydia Ko 10 fi nishes on the LPGA Tour, New Zealand’s Ko, who at 17 I tried to control it a little bit and sively.” have defi nitely distanced them- Championship in Ocala, Flori- carded a 69 in her fi rst LPGA including four runner-up spots became the youngest golfer to go almost half a club less. Fowler won the Players selves,” Fowler said. “You can da, on Wednesday. event of the year. in her 2015 rookie campaign, hold top spot in the world rank- “But it’s a pretty good start Championship, Scottish Open see it in the world ranking, in the Jang, a runner-up in this “I felt very comfortable today but she has yet to claim a break- ings after tying for second at last to the tournament and the back and Deutsche Bank Champion- points there. I am the fourth- tournament last year during because last year I had a second- through win. year’s Coates Golf Champion- nine was defi nitely much bet- ship last year. ranked player, fourth in line, big her rookie season on the U.S. place fi nish here, so I really have But she has made a strong ship, rebounded from a slow ter, I gave myself good looks for “A lot more confi dent as far four, but I’ve got a little catching circuit, fired a flawless seven- more confi dence on this golf start this season, tying for 11th start on Wednesday with four birdies.” as coming off four wins in the up to do.” Gulf Times 10 Friday, February 5, 2016 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S CRICKETER BANNED FOR BETTING ON MATCH Coach Lehmann Melbourne: Australia has banned women’s cricketer Piepa Cleary (right) for six months, with another 18 months suspended, for placing bets on a men’s test match between Australia and New back to boost Test Zealand in November. The 19-year-old Cleary, who plays for Western Australia state, had placed six bets totalling A$15.50 ($11.10) on the match at Adelaide Oval. “CA has imposed a 24-month team in New Zealand period of ineligibility on Cleary of which 18 months are sus- pended on condition that she Lehmann has been sidelined since January 23 with a swollen calf commits no further off ences under the (Anti-Corruption) Code,” Cricket Australia said in a media release yesterday. “She is also required to participate in anti-corruption Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann player education programs (right) with batsman David Warner. delivered by CA in future.” The penalty bans Cleary from all domestic and interna- tional cricket, including cricket- related functions and events. It follows a 24-month suspended sentence given to Sydney-based women’s cricket- er Angela Reakes in December for placing five bets worth a total of A$9 on the man-of-the- match for the cricket World Cup final last March. Cricket Australia said there were “aggravating factors” in Cleary’s case, including that she had received face-to-face anti-corruption training two Unit boss Iain Roy said. months before she placed the “We take a zero tolerance bets. approach to any form of gam- “Bets totalling $15.50 might bling on cricket by players in seem small but it doesn’t mat- order to protect the integrity of ter,” Cricket Australia Integrity the game.”

FOCUS ‘Kohli reminds me of Richards’

Agencies a bit of himself in the fl amboy- New Delhi ant Indian, a praise that Kohli AFP Wellington match tomorrow and Hamilton on Febru- were eventually dismissed for just 148. fi nds surreal. The right-hander Sydney ary 8. New Zealand thrashed Australia by 159 runs in the Bailey did the rounds of Australian talk radio shows sizzled with half centuries in opening one-day international. yesterday and said Warner had actually ignored his ad- n awe of Virat Kohli’s me- all three T20 games, to go with vice. “I said, ‘What did it feel like?’ And he said, ‘High’. teoric rise, Indian Team two hundreds in the preceding oach Darren Lehmann has been cleared to join BAILEY HITS BACK AT NON-REFERRAL So I said, ‘Go for it’. And he turned around and walked Director Ravi Shastri said ODIs. Shatri feels Kohli, com- Australia’s Test team in New Zealand after suf- FINGER-POINTING off ,” Bailey told Melbourne radio station RSN. “So, I the swashbuckling bats- bined with the equally devastat- fering from deep vein thrombosis, Cricket Aus- Australia batsman George Bailey has hit back at reports don’t really know what more he wants from my end.” Iman seems like a mirror-image ing Rohit Sharma and the revived tralia said yesterday. Lehmann has been side- he was to blame for the non-referral howler that saw Bailey said Warner had also remonstrated with him of West Indian great Viv Rich- Shikhar Dhawan, make for the linedC since January 23 after he was admitted to a Sydney David Warner’s wicket thrown away and hastened his later in the dressing room. “He said, ‘I wasn’t that con- ards and “wields his willow like a “best top three in the world”. hospital with a swollen calf. team’s slide to a record 159-run defeat against New Zea- fi dent in what you said’. I said I’m not really sure what fencer does to his sword.” The top three were the prime Batting coach Michael Di Venuto replaced him for land at Eden Park. you’re after. I can’t be any more explicit than saying ‘go “Some of his (Kohli) batting reason Australia were blanked Australia’s Twenty20 series against India and the one- Opening batsman Warner was dismissed lbw during for it’,” he added. reminded me of Viv — like the and suff ered a never-before low day international tour of New Zealand, which started in Wednesday’s fi rst one-day international and after a chat Batsmen generally seek help with referrals for lbw de- way the great man dominated all in their proud cricketing his- Auckland on Wednesday. All the games have been lost. with non-striker Bailey, elected to walk rather than em- cisions given the non-striker has a better view of deliv- formats of the game he played. tory and Shastri was willing to “Darren has received clearance from specialists in ploy the Decision Review System (DRS). eries but Bailey said the onus should not be on the player He is an in your face kind of look at each of them individu- Australia to travel on Saturday and return to work,” The ball-tracking technology showed the at the other end. batsman,” Shastri told PTI as he ally. “Shikhar has a license to be Cricket Australia’s chief medical offi cer John Orchard delivery fl ying well clear of the stumps and left-handed “You know, I reckon, if you’re out or even if it’s close analysed the present Indian team destructive at the top, that’s the said in a statement Thursday. Warner bashed his bat into his pad in annoyance as he and it’s up to you to make that call,” he told Melbourne ahead of the World T20 at home role he has, and once his chances Lehmann will fl y to Wellington and remain there until trudged off the ground. The wicket left Australia on 39 radio station SEN. next month. came off , there was no stopping Australia’s fi rst Test against New Zealand starts on Feb- for three in pursuit of 308 for victory and was the cata- The three-match one-day international series moves The comparison cannot be too him. Rohit is all class: brilliant, ruary 12. The second Test is in Christchurch on February lyst for a batting collapse that saw another three wickets on to Wellington tomorrow with the sides also scheduled off the mark given that Richards explosive and his nonchalance is 20. Di Venuto was confi rmed as acting ODI coach for the tumble for the addition of only two runs as the visitors to play two Tests. himself has stated that he sees frightening.”

FIRST ODI Buttler’s ton enough for England despite De Kock blitz

By Vic Marks a silky torrent of boundaries against South Af- England because they were one man short in the Bloemfontein, South Africa rica’s second-string attack. Marchant de Lange inner ring. These aberrations may not have been and Chris Morris searched for swing but deliv- costly but they betrayed a captain preoccupied ered half-volleys, exquisitely stroked away. Ini- and off the pace as well as the absence of alert Bloemfontein run-bonanza, much en- tially Alex Hales was happy to proceed in Roy’s support from his team-mates in the fi eld. joyed by the wicketkeeper-batsmen slipstream, but after Roy was caught at cover off England were more vibrant when they were of both sides – but not their bowl- Morne Morkel – another exasperating dismissal out there and maybe this was a consequence of a ers – ended with England clutching a but that’s the deal – Hales opened his shoulders bench that was of Manchester City proportions. Duckworth-LewisA victory by 39 runs. while Joe Root was the only Englishman to at- Looking on was Stuart Broad no less, Chris England had hit their second highest score in tempt a pragmatic innings. Woakes and the two in-form batsmen, James ODI cricket, 399 for nine, with Jos Buttler regis- Upon Hales’s departure, Buttler emerged at Taylor and Jonny Bairstow. tering his fourth – and slowest – century in this No4 in the 18th over. Here was evidence of a Moreover Eoin Morgan had more bowling format. It took him all of 73 balls to reach the fresh, fl exible England, not tempted to hide one options than De Villiers and he needed them landmark and was another superb exhibition of of their trump cards in the pavilion. Buttler did against De Kock. From the moment he caressed power hitting. Yet even he was overshadowed by not disappoint. his fi rst ball through the covers De Kock was in- his opposite number, Quinton de Kock, who was There was brief reconnaissance – he had only spired. He outpaced Buttler and he kept going, stranded on 138 not out from 96 balls when the three runs after 13 deliveries, whereupon he hitting his ninth ODI hundred in just his 53rd rain, much needed in these parts, descended. struck a blameless ball from Imran Tahir on to game. No one else scores centuries in this for- De Kock played a staggering innings and he the tiles of the roof of a distant hospitality box. mat at this rate. will be scratching his head how he ended up on And off he went sedately – by the staggering He tormented all the bowlers but especially the losing side. In fact he lacked the support giv- standards of a man who has hit England’s three Chris Jordan and Moeen Ali. De Kock appreci- en to Buttler – all of England’s batsmen contrib- fastest centuries in this format. ated which way the wind was blowing and that uted – and the tourists’ bowling attack, though Here Buttler’s hundred – only the seventh was the direction he was minded to hit the ball. hammered, possessed a little more variety than fastest in the list of English centurions – en- Jordan’s deliveries were frequently fl icked to the South Africa’s. sured a mammoth target. long leg boundary, Moeen’s were sometimes And there was a brilliant one-handed, vital There were the usual reverse sweeps and clumped over deep midwicket. catch by Ben Stokes on the boundary to dispatch glides, the odd fl ick over the shoulder and the South Africa needed allies for De Kock and AB de Villiers. uppercut, but the most striking aspect of his in- they could have done without the rain. Faf du This was almost a textbook batting perform- nings was the simple, awesome power of his hit- Plessis, a vastly improved player when com- ance by England. They smashed more sixes than ting when playing the “orthodox” shots. Buttler pelled to play his shots, hit a fl uent 55. they have ever managed before in ODI cricket, is in the IPL auction this weekend and most De Villiers might have relished the challenge their 15 surpassing the 14 they hit against New good judges are well aware of his capabilities. but he fell to a gobsmacking catch by Stokes, Zealand both at Lord’s and the Oval last June. But this little reminder of his astonishing ability who sprinted to his right before sticking out his Moreover this was the fi rst time eight dif- to ransack white-ball attacks will not have done right hand. There magically the ball remained as ferent players had hit sixes in the same ODI his market value any harm. It would be remark- Stokes managed to stay on the right side of the innings, with only Reece Topley, Adil Rashid able if Buttler was not snapped up and the sea rope. It was a matchwinning moment, though and David Willey failing miserably to clear the change within the England and Wales Cricket no one told De Kock, who kept penetrating the boundary. The air may be thin up here but the Board is such that they are actively encouraging fi eld at will. boundaries at Bloemfontein are long by modern his participation. However, South Africa were always behind standards. South Africa were below their best in the fi eld, the Duckworth-Lewis rate and their plight was All the batsmen fl ourished or fl ickered. Ja- Jos Buttler smashed 105 in just 76 balls to set up victory for England by 39 runs on the Duckworth/ at times looking resigned to the concession of exacerbated by the loss of Rilee Rossouw just son Roy, free of back spasms, set the tone with Lewis method in the first one-day international against South Africa on Wednesday. (AFP) so many runs. Twice they donated no-balls to before a thunderstorm enveloped Bloemfontein. Gulf Times Friday, February 5, 2016 11 SPORT

HORSE RACING Assy makes a winning return to Doha turf Ain Jalout takes Purebred Arabian Trial, while Itorio and Double Look were locked in a dead heat in Thoroughbred Trial

By Sports Reporter Doha

hen Assy raced to a victory in HH The Emir’s Sword in 2014, the Julian Smart- trained horse had stitched Wtogether an eight-race winning run. It’s been two years since then but HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Tha- ni’s horse has neither lost any of those capabilities nor class. In the 10 furlong Purebred Arabian Sword Trial at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday, Amer’s son faced little challenge as champion Har- ry Bentley rode him to a six length vic- tory over Umm Qarn’s Nashmi, while Zakhir Stud’s Jenjal rounded up the top three. Qatar Derby champion Ain Jalout showed no signs of slowing down as the Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari’s colt raced to his third victory this season. Jassim Ghazali’s charge has never fi nished outside the top two in Doha, with, yesterday, Bentley riding the four-year-old Bay colt to a win in the Purebred Arabian Trial for colts and geldings four-year-olds and more. QREC chairman Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh al-Thani (second from right), Kia representative Abdullah Mohamed Abdullah al-Attiyah and QREC head of Media Saad Mubarak al-Hajri (right) with the winners of the Amer progeny Rassan fi nished two Purebred Arabian Sword Trial at the QREC yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim lengths behind in second place, ahead of half-brother Seif Ennar. victories, including yesterday’s, and Both Ghazali and Bentley had three three second-place fi nishes so far, and winners in the seven-race card yester- all have been on turf. day. Even as Darren Williams rode the Qatar Derby Trial winner The Blue Hassan Ali Abdulmalik’s fi ve-year-old Eye continued his exciting momen- gelding to victory, half a length behind tum winning the Thoroughbred Tro- him Al Wajba Cup winner Sandbetwee- phy Trial. With Bentley in the saddle, nourtoes and Ibrahim al-Malki’s Vic- Ghazali’s colt beat Injaaz Stud’s Nin- tory Laurel got locked in a dead heat for gara by a couple of lengths while Has- the second spot. san Ali Abdulmalik’s Ponfeigh fi nished Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari’s chest- third. nut gelding Astley Hall, who made his Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari’s Ito- Doha debut with a second place in Al rio and Mohamed bin Hamad Khalifa Rayyan Stakes in December, raced to al-Attiyah’s Double Look produced a victory in the Thoroughbred 3 Year thriller in the Thoroughbred Trial event Olds Trial event. as the two colts topped out in a dead JP Guillambert had Mohamed Jassim heat. Ghazali’s charge fi nish one and a half The two fi nished ahead of Go Dan Go length ahead of Binzart, while Shaka and Jumaira Tower. Zulu was third. Ghazali-schooled Itorio did well to bounce back from two disappointing RESULTS results including a last-place (16th) Race 1: 1. Chilworth Icon (Darren Wil- Harry Bentley rides HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Assy to a victory in fi nish in the Class 1 Qatar Derby and liams), 2. Sandbetweenourtoes (Harry the Purebred Arabian Sword Trial yesterday. 10th place in Wadi Al Sail Cup. Double Bentley), 2. Victory Laurel (Adrie de Look, meanwhile, fi nished on top for Vries), 4. Collect Art (Stephan Ladj- the second straight outing. adj). Won by: 0.5, Dh, 1.5. Time: 1:10.58. Sons of 2000 Guineas Stakes winner Owner: Hassan Ali Abdulmalik. Trainer: Footstepsinthesand swept the Local Deborah Mountain. Thoroughbred Trial event when Ahmed Race 2: 1. Astley Hall (JP Guillambert), 2. Hassan al-Malki al-Jehani’s Moad- Binzart (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. Shaka die beat Mohamed Kazim al-Ansari & Zulu (Almotasem al-Balushi), 4. French Sons’ Footprintinthesand by a little Encore (Darren Williams). Won by: 1.5, under two lengths. Shd, 1. Time: 1:23.34. Owner: Sheail bin Moaddie continued his impressive Khalifa al-Kuwari. Trainer: Mohamed run of places fi nishes with jockey Yanis Jassim Ghazali. Aouabed at the helm. The fi ve-year-old Race 3: 1. Moaddie (Yanis Aouabed), 2. The Blue Eye owner Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari receives a trophy after his colt The has won thrice besides a second place Footprintinthesand (Darren Williams), Blue Eye won the Thoroughbred Trophy Trial yesterday. and a third place fi nish each in six out- 3. Sraab (Seb Sanders), 4. Al Mansoor ings this season. (Harry Bentley). Won by: 1.75, 5, 0.5. Race 5: 1. Ain Jalout (Harry Bentley), 2. lambert). Won by: 6, 2, 3.5. Time: 2:13.50. Sraab, also trained by Ahmed Kobeissi Time: 1:55.47. Owner: Ahmed Hassan al- Rassan (JP Guillambert), 3. Seif Ennar Owner: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa like Footprintinthesand, was third. Qatar Malki al-Jehani. Trainer: H al-Jehani. (Gaetan Faucon), 4. Saab (Adnan Hawa). al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Smart. Derby winner Batter was fi fth. Race 4: 1. Itorio (Stephan Ladjadj), 1. Won by: 2, 0.5, 2.5. Time: 2:04.37. Owner: Race 7: 1. The Blue Eye (Harry Bentley), Chilworth Icon continued his love Double Look (Adrie de Vries), 3. Go Dan Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jas- 2. Ningara (Alberto Sanna), 3. Pon- aff air with short turf sprints when Go (Harry Bentley), 4. Jumaira Tower sim Ghazali. feigh (Darren Williams), 4. Fort Moville he raced to a victory in the 16-strong (Almotasem al-Balushi). Won by: Dh, - , Race 6: 1. Assy (Harry Bentley), 2. (Marvin Suerland). Won by: 2.5, 1.5, 0.75. Double Look (foreground), ridden by Adrie de Vries, and Itorio (background), with Thoroughbred Sprint Trial. 0.5, 0.5. Owner: Sheail bin Khalifa al- Nashmi (Gaetan Faucon), 3. Jenjal (Seb Time: 2:17.10. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail Stephan Ladjadj in the saddle, were locked in a dead heat in the Thoroughbred Trial Deborah Mountain’s charge has three Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali. Sanders), 4. Vetlana De Faust (JP Guil- al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali. event yesterday.

BOTTOMLINE Proud to support Qatar and their vision of football: British ambassador

By Sports Reporter College, with some of the players future of football, and we are proud Doha from the FA Super League Ladies team to welcome the club to our embassy putting young footballers through their today. Sheffield FC is a historic club. paces. It’s so important that everyone sup- heffi eld FC - the world’s oldest Representatives from Sheffi eld FC - ports the history of football when we football club - were welcomed known simply as ‘The Club’- were then can, and this initiative gives us that to the British Embassy yester- received at the British Embassy with a opportunity. day as their partnership with host of British companies they hope “This visit also gives us the chance theS Supreme Committee for Delivery & may join Sheffi eld on their journey. to reiterate how important our re- Legacy (SC) continued. While a partnership with the SC lationship with the Supreme Com- The UK ambassador to Qatar Ajay may not seem obvious at fi rst, Tims mittee for Delivery & Legacy is. They Sharma welcomed Sheffi eld FC chair- concedes that a chance meeting with also support the past, the present man Richard Tims to the Embassy to the SC’s secretary general Hassan al- and represent the future of the game further their quest to return to their Thawadi, who studied law at Sheffi eld, as well, particularly when it comes spiritual home of Olive Grove - the during the bid for the 2022 FIFA World to the World Cup. The World Cup in ground where the fi rst offi cial rules of Cup Qatar made him realise that both Qatar will one day become part of the football were written. parties had a lot in common. successful history of football and I’m The visit was arranged following an He added: “For me, Qatar and the proud that we can play a part in sup- announcement last year the SC would people driving the future of the game porting that vision.” invest 100,000 GBP into Sheffi eld FC’s are the new shoots. I’m from England Refl ecting on the continued co-op- foundation. and love our heritage but you have to eration between the SC and Sheffi eld, For Tims that investment is just the understand football is a global game, al-Thawadi added: “Not many people beginning of a global hunt for funding it’s for everyone. That’s why we’re here. knew Qatar’s love of the game before that will allow his club to return to their We want to build the home of football. we bid for the World Cup. It’s in every beloved Olive Grove home. We need support to do that and we’re breath we take and we’re really proud He told www.sc.qa: “We’re a grass- excited to be in Qatar and speak to peo- to support Sheffi eld and help them de- roots team from a provincial town in British ambassador Ajay Sharma, SC secretary general Hassan al-Thawadi and Sheff ield FC chairman Richard Tims at a ple who share that passion.” velop their grassroots football. Their England. Sometimes it’s hard to believe reception held at the British Embassy in Doha yesterday. For his part, Sharma said: “We were values epitomise everything we want we’ve even got to this position. delighted to welcome our friends to achieve as a country organising the “We didn’t invent football. It was played by and tried to collate them into game did it for the love and not for the the game and our organisation relates from Sheffield and from the Supreme World Cup. What Sheffi eld have man- played all round the world before we a common set of laws. money. We played continually for 150 to this.” Committee for Delivery & Legacy. The aged to do on their journey is incred- came along in 1857 - but we did take the “We were pioneers of the game in the years. Around 99.9 per cent of people The visit to Doha saw Sheffi eld FC project being carried out by Sheffield ible. Our partnership seems to fi t well best bits of all the rules that everyone early years. The people who started our around the world play for the love of carry out a coaching course at Doha FC represents the past, present and in terms of a shared love of the game.”

Friday, February 5, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

LADIES TOUR OF QATAR Van Dijk powers to stage win, Worrack in overall lead ‘It’s very special to win here again. It was a diff icult stage... but it is all worth it when you win’

By Sports Reporter Doha

ormer champion Ellen Van Dijk of Boels Dolmans won the third stage of the Ladies Tour of Qa- tar yesterday, while Trixi Wor- rackF of SRAM-Canyon Racing took a 17-second advantage in the general classifi cation. Former world time trial champion made the best of her power skills in a solo ride over the last 1500m to claim a fi ne victory, her second straight in a stage ending at Madinat Al Shamal. “It’s very special to win here again. It was a diffi cult stage and I had my solo two kilometer, but it is all worth it when you win,” Van Dijk said. Stage one winner and four-time winner champion Kirsten Wild of Hitech Products bounced back from a disappointing second day to take sec- ond place ahead of Loretta Hanson of Australia in third. Worrack, who had two Canyon- SRAM team-mates for company in the front group, has a 17-second lead over Van Dijk’s team-mate Romy Casper in the overall classifi cation. Overnight leader Katrin Garfoot of Orica-AIS slipped to fourth overall af- ter she missed a crucial fi rst selection. The 2001 champion Van Dijk was Dutch rider Van Dijk receives flowers and trophy from Qatar Cycling Federation president Sheikh Khalid bin Ali al-Thani. part of a breakaway group that took off as soon as the fi rst few kilometres 9. Anouska Koster (Ned) Raboliv on a windswept day, and she was never Women Cycling Team 0:01:34 caught, emerging triumphantly at the 10. Chloe Hosking (Aus) Wiggle High5 fi nish line on her own. 0:01:42 “The fi rst few kilometres were one big Boels Dolmans rider Eleonora Van Dijk celebrates as she crosses the finish line to fi ght,” Van Dijk said about the early sal- win the third stage of the Ladies Tour of Qatar yesterday. PICTURES: Jayaram POINTS CLASSIFICATION voes that ultimately decided the stage. 1. Kirsten Wild (Ned) Hitec Products 31 With the wind blowing hard from the of Koster and Hanson, while the front Today’s 73-km fi nal stage will run pts north-west, action started at Al Zuba- group still had a 1’55’’ advantage. from Aspire Zone to Doha Corniche. 2. Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dol- rah Fort in the very fi rst kilometre of The gap kept on dropping but the mans Cyclingteam 22 racing. Two kilometres into the stage front ladies continued their strong ef- STAGE RESULTS 3. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Canyon SRAM and 13 ladies powered away led by stage forts. At the fourth passage on the line 1. Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dol- Racing 18 one winner Wild. Eager to hit back af- (99-km), the leaders’ advantage had mans Cyclingteam 2:48:56 4. Katrin Garfoot (Aus) Orica-Green- ter suff ering both a broken chain and dropped to 55’’ as Hanson captured the 2. Kirsten Wild (Ned) Hitec Products Edge17 a crash on Wednesday, Wild, wearing second intermediate sprint ahead of 0:00:07 5. Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Australia 13 the silver jersey, made the best of the Van Dijk and Wild. 3. Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Australia conditions, taking with her the likes Moments later, with just under a lap 4. Anouska Koster (Ned) Raboliv TEAM CLASSIFICATION of Van Dijk, Worrack, Casper of LPR, to go, Elvin took off on her own for a Women Cycling Team 1. Canyon Sram Racing 24:49:14 Gracie Elvin of OGE, Shelley Olds of long courageous eff ort. The Austral- 5. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Canyon SRAM 2. Orica – AIS 0:01:22 CPC and best young rider Anouska Ko- ian reached the fi nal 10-km mark with Racing 0:00:08 3. Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam 0:01:27 ster of RBW. Trapped behind, Garfoot, a slim 10’’ lead. She was eventually 6. Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 4. Wiggle High5 0:01:43 in golden jersey, reached the 5km mark caught at 108km. It was still looking 0:00:11 5. Raboliv Women Cycling Team 0:03:54 with a 50” defi cit. good for the front group, enjoying a 45’’ 7. Tiff any Cromwell (Aus) Canyon SRAM The gap kept on increasing on the advantage with 2-km to go. Like a year Racing 0:00:13 YOUTH CLASSIFICATION way to the circuit around Shamal and ago, at almost the exact same place, 8. Romy Kasper (Ger) Boels Dolmans 1. Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Australia reached a maximum of 2’50” at 50km Van Dijk powered away. The 2013 World Cyclingteam0:00:19 Trixi Worrack of SRAM-Canyon Racing now leads the general classification. 8:17:00 stage. Up ahead, the group had left be- time-trial champion managed to stay 9. Shelley Olds (USA) Cylance Pro 2. Anouska Koster (Ned) Raboliv hind French rider Jeuland. clear of her chasers and victoriously Cycling 0:00:24 2. Romy Kasper (Ger) Boels Dolmans 0:00:50 Women Cycling Team 0:00:02 At the fi rst passage on the line, strug- crossed the fi nish line with a 7’’ lead. 10. Christine Majerus (Lux) Boels Dol- Cyclingteam 0:00:17 6. Amy Pieters (Ned) Wiggle High5 3. Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team Liv- gling against the strong headwind, the Dolmans team manager Danny Stam mans Cyclingteam 0:00:45 3. Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dol- 0:00:53 Plantur 0:01:02 leaders saw their advantage drop down said: “Even yesterday we were in a mans Cyclingteam 0:00:31 7. Tiff any Cromwell (Aus) Canyon SRAM 4. Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) Raboliv to 2’. The fi rst intermediate sprint of the breakaway, but then we could not fi nish GENERAL CLASSIFICATION 4. Katrin Garfoot (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge Racing 0:00:56 Women Cycling Team 0:01:08 day, at the second passage on the line it. The riders were motivated to do bet- 1. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Canyon SRAM 0:00:34 8. Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Australia 5. Annie Ewart (Can) UnitedHealthcare (at 72km) was claimed by Elvin ahead ter today and Ellen did it for us.” Racing 8:15:28 5. Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 0:01:32 Professional Cycling Team 0:03:09

QATAR STARS LEAGUE Jaish cruise past Al Kharaitiyat ; Sadd hold Ahli

By Sports Reporter In the second match of the Doha day, Al Sadd failed to spark at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium and needed a last-gasp goal to draw commanding at- with Al Ahli 1-1. tacking performance Al Sadd, who had welcomed saw El Jaish crush Al back Qatar’s Olympic squad Kharaitiyat 3-0 in captain Abdelkareem Hassan, theirA round 17 clash in the Qa- produced a cagey display in the tar Stars League yesterday af- round 17 clash. Even Barcelona ternoon at Al Sadd stadium. star Xavi failed to lift the gloom Magid Mohamed Hassan (10) at Al Sadd. opened the scoring for El Jaish Al Ahli took the lead through while goals from Mohamed Ab- Meshal Abdullah off a penalty dula Methnani (40) and Wag- kick in the 71st minute to com- ner Ribeiro (69) added a ring of pound the matters for Jesualdo confi dence to their perform- Ferreira’s side. Abdullah calmly ance. Yesterday’s win was a slotted away his penalty and welcome relief for El Jaish who went for the left of Al Sadd lost to hosts Al Khor last week. goalkeeper to score the goal for Despite enjoying a com- the visitors. fortable lead, El Jaish players Thankfully, a smartly-taken Abderrazzaq Hamedallah (59) fi nish from close range saw Al and Ali Sanad al-Nuaimi (55) Sadd equalise in the tense clash picked up yellow cards in the in the 87th minute. Al Sadd’s round 17 clash. It was a similar Ali Asad slipped a neat ball story for Al Kharaitiyat as Assie past Al Ahli goalkeeper after a Koua Vivien (37) and Al Mehadi pass from the fl ank to ease up Khamasi (66) also got penal- the worried look on coach Fer- ised for rough tackles by referee reira’s face. Salman Falahi. Al Sadd, who lost to Al Second-placed El Jaish Wakrah last week, have now now have 35 points from 17 gone three games without a matches whereas Al Kharaiti- win. With only 8 wins in 17 yat - coached by Amar Osim - matches, Al Sadd are placed continue to struggle for wins. fourth on the QSL points table Yesterday’s loss was the third behind Al Rayyan, El Jaish and successive for Al Kharaiti- Lekhwiya. yat who have posted only 5 QSL action continues today wins from their 17 rounds. Al with Umm Salal playing Qatar Kharaitiyat, placed 11th, have SC and Lekhwiya taking on Al El Jaish’s Mohamed Abdula Methnani (left) scored the second goal of his team against Al Action from the match between Al Ahli (in green) and Al Sadd yesterday. The two 17 points. Sailiya. Kharaitiyat yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil teams played out a 1-1 draw.