Qatar Football Awards Nominees Announced Ices by Baku2017.Com
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FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 2 NBA | Page 5 Fabregas Celtics down foils Watford Wizards to set in Chelsea up Cleveland title party showdown Wednesday, May 17, 2017 CRICKET Sha’baan 21, 1438 AH Supergiant stun GULF TIMES Mumbai to reach maiden IPL fi nal SPORT Page 7 FOCUS Fans in for an ‘experience’ at Khalifa stadium: offi cials From a new lighting system and intricate roof designs to fan zones, Friday’s Emir Cup final is expected to be a treat The newly-renovated Khalifa International Stadium. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil By Sports Reporter world with such a facility. The Khalifa panels in place. Doha International Stadium will give specta- Corporates can take advantage of a tors a new experience and the lighting beautiful corporate box area, which is system, including the roof lighting sys- spread over three layers, and provide a ans at the Emir Cup fi nal be- tem, is capable of showcasing a variety perfect view of the magnifi cent pitch. tween Al Sadd and Al Rayyan, of colours.” The renovated stadium has more which will be hosted at the re- He added: “The energy-effi cient seats for the specially-abled, and the developed Khalifa International LED lighting systems reduce costs and design ensures a good view from all po- FStadium, will be in for an unforgettable improve safety and crowd fl ow with sitions. experience, offi cials told journalists well-lit areas in and around the sta- The LOC will announce the ticket yesterday during a tour of the complex. dium.” prices for the match at a press confer- The visit was arranged by the Local According to the offi cial, the new ence today and will also give an insight Organising Committee of the Emir Cup features are in full compliance with on match day operations and general Final 2007 to apprise journalists about FIFA requirements and include an ad- information for the fans. the new facilities at the stadium. ditional seating stand on the eastern Additionally, the Community En- Khalifa International Stadium part of the stadium, innovative cool- gagement team under the Supreme project manager Mohamed Elamin Ab- ing technology to keep spectators and Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) dullah Ahmed said the lighting system players comfortable throughout the showed various community groups the installed at the stadium is one of the match, and a sports museum within the fan zone area, which will feature food best in the world. venue. and drinks kiosks, while entertainment “This lighting system is a world- The entire spectator area has a new will be available to the public during the class design feature, allowing visually roof, which features an intricate net of match on Friday. stunning light shows to be created in- German- and Italian-made steel ten- On the big day, as many as 19 expatri- side and outside the stadium,” Moham- sion cables. ate communities will take centre stage ed said. These cables, weighing 4,000 from 3.30pm-6.30pm in fan-related “There are not many stadiums in the tonnes, have been put up to hold the 92 activities for families in the fan zone. BOTTOMLINE Khalifa stadium symbolises sporting excellence: former Saudi football boss any Arab and Gulf football stars hold He continued: “I fi rmly believe that Khalifa In- unforgettable memories of Khalifa In- ternational Stadium will keep up its magnifi cent ternational Stadium, which originally role as the beating heart of sporting tradition in opened in 1976 and has played a piv- Qatar, embracing football fans from all over the Motal role the region’s sporting history. world, looking forward to the start of the 2022 The former president of the Saudi Arabian Foot- FIFA World Cup Qatar.” ball Federation (SAFF), Ahmed Eid, witnessed the The winner of the best goalkeeper award at the opening of the historic arena. In an interview with Gulf Cup of Nations in 1970 added: “Football in its SC.qa, he expressed his happiness over the com- core depends on bold decisions, and the redevel- pletion of the redevelopment of the fi rst proposed opment of this arena is truly a gigantic step in the host venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. journey towards 2022. The fi rst ever tournament He said: “I have witnessed great events staged at in the Middle East region, which we will all en- this sports venue, particularly the fi fth Gulf Cup of sure is a success at all levels without exception, is Nations in 1976, which proved to be a golden mile- driven by the passionate desire to develop football stone in the history of the game across the region.” worldwide.” Being one of the most celebrated goalkeepers Reminiscing about the history of the Gulf Cup in the region, Eid represented the Saudi national of Nations, Eid said: “The fi rst chapters of the Gulf team on 25 occasions during his playing career. Cup of Nations actually started with Faisal bin Fa- Later he plied his trade for diff erent clubs, includ- had Stadium, then with Khalifa International Sta- ing Al Ahli Club, until he was elected to run the dium, and later on with King Fahad International football governing body in his country and presid- Stadium.” ed over SAFF for fi ve years, from 2011 until 2016. He concluded: “When we remember those by- “Today, after being fully renovated and expand- gone days, we realise that those arenas played a ed, and with the introduction of state-of-the-art crucial role in sporting innovation, with the best cooling technology, which is unprecedented in the example being the fi fth Gulf Cup of Nations that region, we are genuinely grateful and appreciative was hosted by Khalifa International Stadium, as of those who stand behind this remarkable accom- well as the 1992 edition that Qatar won.” Ahmed Eid (third from right), QFA president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani (fourth from right) and other off icials attend the opening plishment,” he added. (SC.qa) of the Khalifa International Stadium recently. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, May 17, 2017 FOOTBALL PREMIER LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT Chelsea legend Fabregas foils Watford Terry undecided about playing future AFP wherever that may be. Genuinely in Chelsea title party London I haven’t made any decisions of yet and I’m evaluating all my op- tions at the moment.” helsea icon John Terry Terry, who has captained 'We have the possibility to win 30 games and we have to try to reach this target' scored in what is likely to Chelsea on a record 579 occa- be his penultimate game sions, said he had never intended for the newly-crowned in trying to prevent younger tal- Cchampions and suggested unless ent from breaking through whilst a good off er came along he might he blocked their way. “I never retire after Sunday’s fi nal Pre- wanted to be that player that was Chelsea’s manager Antonio Conte mier League match. kind of hanging about, stopping (left) embraces midfielder Cesc The 36-year-old — who has the younger players from coming Fabregas after their win over spent 22 years at the club win- through,” said Terry, who is un- Watford in the Premier League ning 15 trophies including this likely to make the starting line- at Stamford Bridge in London on season’s title — opened the scor- up for the FA Cup fi nal against Monday night. (AFP) ing in the 4-3 win over Watford Arsenal on May 27th. at Stamford Bridge his 67th goal However, Terry, capped 78 in 716 appearances for the Blues. times by England, admitted Sun- Terry, who hadn’t started a day’s home game against rele- league game since September gated Sunderland — where a win 11 last year, slightly blotted his would see Chelsea become the copybook in handing their op- fi rst Premier League champions ponents the equaliser sixty sec- to win 30 games in a 38 match onds later. Terry has been linked campaign. “It’s going to be tough. with a move to Premier League Tonight was tough but next week side Bournemouth whilst Swan- I’m going to be in bits,” said Ter- sea manager Paul Clement who ry. Terry, whose achievements worked with the former England on the pitch were often marred defender at Chelsea has also de- by his behaviour off it, told the clared an interest, but he inti- BBC his defensive blunder in let- mated to Sky Sports he had not ting Etienne Capoue make it 1-1 yet had an off er that might per- should serve as a lesson to young suade him to keep on playing. children. “It was a crazy minute. “I still haven’t ruled out Sun- I got on the scoresheet and a day being my last game and retir- minute later made a mistake and ing,” said Terry, who announced let him (Capoue) in. Mixed emo- in mid-April he would be leaving tions,” said Terry. “I’m delighted the club. “It depends if the right to get on the scoresheet. But any off er comes along I will sit down young kid watching, if in doubt and consider it with my family — get it out. That’s what I should whether that’s here, abroad, or have done.” AFP have to try to reach this target now.” Batshuayi was rewarded for his title- drilling a crisp shot into the bottom-left London Conte made nine changes to his start- clinching goal at West Bromwich Albion corner. After Willian, freed by Hazard, ing XI and having kept faith with the on Friday with a fi rst league start in Chel- had seen a shot fi nger-tipped wide by same tight group of fi rst-teamers for the sea blue and it was after he had seen a Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes ear- ubstitute Cesc Fabregas scored vast bulk of the season, it was little sur- shot defl ected wide that the hosts took a ly in the second half, the ‘one for you, one an 88th-minute winner as new prise their understudies looked a little 22nd-minute lead.