TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 2016 SPORTS

Ibrahimovic - troublemaker who became a role model

MALMO: Zlatan Ibrahimovic makes no finish was good!” recalled his coach at ZLATAN TUNNEL VISION award. As soon as school ends in Rosengard. “On our team, for those born secret of his lofty opinion of himself and Malmo, Ola Gallstad, where Ibrahimovic The club president presses the mes- Rosengard, kids rush out onto “Zlatan in 1980-1981, we all came from the for- according to his childhood club it is a went in 1994. sage to young players that if Ibrahimovic Court”, kicking the ball around a pitch he mer Yugoslavia,” recalled Milosevic. Born longstanding trait of the Swedish super- The stubbornly single-minded perse- can do it, so can they. FBK Balkan is had built and which is emblazoned with in Malmo, Sweden’s third city, star. Ibrahimovic pulled on his boots for verance was the key to Ibrahimovic’s based in the working class Rosengard the gold swoosh of his sports equip- Ibrahimovic has a mother of Croatian the first time at the age of six at success. And the powerful striker likes to district of Malmo. The flamboyant ment sponsor. “Everyone knows who origin and a Bosnian father. Fotbollsklubb (FBK) Balkan, a club creat- trumpet it. “I came like a king, left like a Ibrahimovic seems omnipresent. He Zlatan is. By contrast, not everyone The team still follow the Ibrahimovic ed by Yugoslav immigrants in Malmo in legend,” the 34-year-old Swede said as rarely goes to the town of red brick knows who the king (of Sweden) is!”, ethic however. “If you really want it and 1962. “The only thing he wanted was to he confirmed last month that he would apartment buildings now, but his unmis- joked Milosevic. “For us, it’s huge to play give it all you’ve got, there’s a chance score goals, so sometimes he listened to be leaving Paris Saint-Germain where he takeable grin adorns a local tunnel wall. for his first club,” said Max Skarpas Torres, you could become like Zlatan the coaches but sometimes he just did broke scoring records in four years. Young and old are quick to boast of their a 19-year-old defender who wears the Ibrahimovic,” said 24-year-old player what he wanted,” said Ivan Milosevic, the “From morning to night, he would prac- connections to Sweden’s best known same FBK Balkan jersey that Zlatan wore, Dino Dulji. For kids in this neighbor- FBK Balkan president. tice with the ball, dribbling, feinting, player who had a stellar career at Ajax featuring the flags of Sweden and the hood, where unemployment is high, He played with Ibrahimovic when playing, playing, playing,” Milosevic said. Amsterdam, Inter Milan, Barcelona, former Socialist Federal Republic of Ibrahimovic is a role model: the son of they were young and now trains the sen- “He always had a ball. I think he even Juventus, AC Milan and Paris Saint- Yugoslavia. migrants who grew up in difficult condi- ior side. A former FBK Balkan coach slept with one. He was never without Germain. FBK Balkan claims to be the oldest tions and managed to make it to the top Hasib Klicic has similar memories. He one,” added Klicic. “He and a friend Even at 34, Ibrahimovic will be the club in Europe representing a diaspora, ranks of the football world. “For the kids remembered Ibrahimovic as “a trouble- fought to score the most.” Some FBK centrepoint of Sweden’s team at the as well as Ibrahimovic’s alma mater. It and youth of Malmo, he is proof that you maker. Not very good but he always Balkan members say Zlatan has forgot- European Championship finals. He is the has had its ups and downs over the can rise to the top echelons, that you wanted to play.” “He was good but not ten the team since becoming a star. But all-time record national scorer with 62 years and is now struggling, having can become someone in life,” said ‘wow what’s happening here’... He was a Milosevic avoids that debate. He prefers goals and a 10-time winner of the failed to attract the migrants from the Ibrahim, a 26-year-old Rosengard resi- little bit slow when he started but the to remember a very determined player. national Guldbollen player of the year Middle East who are now a majority in dent.—AFP WCup agony still hurting Panama

ORLANDO: Nearly three years after Russia. “These are thing we are working on. Panama agonizingly saw qualification for Mentally it is about fighting for you goals the World Cup slip out of their grasp in and the goal is to get to a World Cup, to injury time in their final game, the feeling take that next step,” he said. of hurt still hasn’t gone. Indeed, according At this Copa America, Panama have to veteran defender Felipe Baloy, that expe- been drawn in a tough group which rience, which cost the team a first ever includes defending champions Chile and appearance on the biggest stage, is still World Cup runners-up Argentina.Not sur- very much an open wound. prising then, that with progress to the “That was a very bitter experience. And knockout stage a long-shot for the Central lot of Panamanians can’t forget it. But the Americans, the focus is on using the tour- important thing is that we as players have nament to get valuable experience for the the desire to turn it around and get to the push to get to Russia 2018. Panama has next World Cup,” he told reporters ahead of grown as a nation within CONCACAF and Monday’s Copa America Centenario game their days as a minnow are clearly over. ‘Los against Bolivia.”That is not only my dream, Canaleros’ have reached the last four in that is my passion. Get to the World Cup,” their three most recent CONCACAF Gold he said. Panama were 2-1 up against the Cup campaigns, losing 1-0 to the United United States heading into injury time with States in the 2013 final. a win enough to secure them fourth place “We are up against opponents here who in CONCACAF qualifying and a play-off are very experienced and with great history against Oceania’s New Zealand for a place - Argentina and Chile are two of the best in in Brazil. the world, so they will show us if our work But dramatically, the US scored twice in is effective or not for our goal. But in this injury time meaning that Mexico grabbed tournament, we will try and get as far as we fourth spot, beat the Kiwis and went on to can,” said Gomez, who added that he would reach the second round in Brazil. Coach prefer to face an Argentina with Lionel Hernan Dario Gomez, a Colombian who Messi in the line-up. “To be honest, the took over after that campaign in 2014, has players would be sad if Messi didn’t play, clearly used the lingering sense of hurt as because we came here for that. We want motivation for his players. “It is good to the full Argentina because it’s great to play GLENDALE: Uruguay’s Diego Godin, second from left, heads the ball to the goal for a score, sending it past Mexico’s Diego Reyes (5), Rafael hear that from Felipe because that is the against opponents like that - that’s why we Marquez (4) and teammate Abel Hernandez as Mexico’s Hector Moreno (15) looks on during the second half of a Copa America group C soccer mentality I want Panama to have, for us the consider this a historic tournament for us,” match at University of Phoenix Stadium Sunday, in Glendale, Ariz. Mexico defeated Uruguay 3-1. — AP ultimate goal is to get to the World Cup in he said. — AFP

Mourinho faces grilling after Mexico down Uruguay Chelsea doctor rejects £1.2m after anthem blunder CROYDON: Jose Mourinho faces a public Semantic debate grilling at an employment tribunal brought In Mourinho’s own statement, the by former Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro, manager said: “Filho da puta is a phrase I GLENDALE: Mexico defeated Uruguay 3-1 in a Uruguay and to the fans for this mistake,” a state- Guardado then received a second yellow to which opened yesterday after she rejected often use, all of the players know it. There stormy Copa America Centenario on Sunday that ment said, blaming the gaffe on “human error.” earn a red card and from the ensuing free-kick a £1.2 million offer to settle the case. The is no sexist connotation in the use of the saw both teams finish with 10 men after a pre- When the game kicked off, Mexico took the Godin headed Uruguay level-before being pelted tribunal heard that new Manchester United phrase. “In the world of football, a lot of match furor over a bungled national anthem. A lead after only four minutes with a goal that owed with missiles from the overwhelmingly pro- manager Mourinho is likely to be ques- swear words are used.” In her opening pulsating clash at the University of Phoenix stadi- everything to the guile of PSV Eindhoven mid- Mexico crowd as he celebrated. The game tioned for at least a day during the case. argument, Carneiro’s lawyer Mary um in Arizona saw Mexico take all three points in fielder Andres Guardado. The 29-year-old wide appeared headed for a draw but Marquez rifled Carneiro is claiming constructive dismissal O’Rourke said Mourinho had used the the crucial Group C battle through an own goal player carved out space for himself on the left home score his 16th international goal in 131 against Chelsea and a connected, personal word filha rather than filho “because he is from Alvaro Pereira and late strikes from Rafa flank superbly and then whipped in a wicked cross appearances to put Mexico 2-1 up and Herrera legal action against Portuguese boss abusing a woman”. The expression is “very Marquez and Hector Herrera. Uruguay’s lone strike that sowed panic in the Uruguayan defense as added his injury-time third. Uruguay’s veteran Mourinho, who left the Blues in December, offensive”, she claimed, and was aimed at came from captain Diego Godin, the Atletico Herrera lurked menacingly. Alvaro Pereira spotted coach Oscar Tabarez refused to be downcast in for alleged victimization and sexual dis- Carneiro because she was the “only Madrid player heading in an equalizer 16 minutes the danger but as he scrambled to neutralize the defeat, paying tribute to his side’s “courage” in crimination. female pitch-side”. from time that looked to have secured the South threat, succeeded only in powering a header into coming back to level in hostile conditions. “I’m The case at the London South Portuguese language experts could not Americans a share of the points. But 37-year-old his own net. proud of the courage of the team and the way we Employment Tribunal in suburban Croydon agree on what Mourinho actually said dur- Marquez’s emphatic strike into the roof of the net came back,” said Tabarez, whose side now face a is expected to take seven to 10 days. ing the confrontation, the tribunal heard. on 85 minutes fired Mexico 2-1 up before Herrera GODIN PELTED tricky second game against Venezuela in Carneiro alleges she was sexually discrimi- Carneiro, 42, is expected to begin giving added a third in injury time to complete a memo- The goal rocked Uruguay who struggled to Philadelphia on Thursday. nated against by Chelsea’s then-manager two and a half days of evidence from today. rable victory for “El Tri”. find their rhythm in the early exchanges. Paris Venezuela improved their chances of progress- Mourinho shouting “filha da puta” at her- She attended the tribunal yesterday Uruguay’s players angrily remonstrated with Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani almost went ing with a 1-0 win over Jamaica earlier Sunday. Portuguese for daughter of a whore after though Mourinho did not. Mourinho match officials at the final whistle in an ill-tem- close to equalizing on the half hour, but his low “We are in a difficult situation with Venezuela,” she ran on the pitch during a match. As dropped Carneiro as Chelsea’s first team pered finale that capped a miserable afternoon for shot was saved brilliantly by Alfredo Talavera in Tabarez said. “We have to try to play well in that preliminary matters in the case got under doctor after the Blues’ opening match of ‘La Celeste’. Before kick-off, Uruguay’s players had the Mexico goal. On the stroke of half time it got game, because if we lose we are out of the Cup,” way, an extract from a statement by last season in the English Premier League, a looked baffled as they lined up for their national worse for Uruguay when Matias Vecino picked up he said. Venezuela defeated Jamaica in Chicago Mourinho was read out. In it he claimed he 2-2 draw at home to Swansea on August 8. anthem-only for Chile’s national anthem to be a second yellow card and received his marching thanks to a 16th minute strike from Josef Martinez. was known for regularly using the term “fil- Mourinho angrily berated her after she played by mistake. Copa America Centenario orders. Diego Rolan almost equalized after a Jamaica were reduced to 10 men after Rodolph ho da puta”, meaning son of a whore, and and physio Jon Fearn went on the pitch to organizers swiftly apologized for the blunder. “We superb charging run from his own half by Godin, Austin was sent off in the first half while coach had done so throughout the match in treat midfielder Eden Hazard, obliging him sincerely apologize to the Uruguayan Federation, who laid off to Cavani who fed Rolan, only for the Winfried Schaefer was also banished from the question last August. the Uruguay National Team, the people of Uruguayan to shoot wide. dugout at halftime.— AFP A skeleton argument submitted to the to leave the field of play before being read- tribunal on behalf of Chelsea and mitted. With Chelsea chasing a victory late Mourinho said Carneiro had been “made an in the game, that meant the Blues were open offer of £1.2 million ($1.73 million, temporarily down to nine players-goal- 1.52 million euros) to settle her claims”. keeper Thibaut Courtois having already Guardiola ‘will transform’ City “The respondents have taken these steps been sent off. The Portuguese boss brand- only because they believe that it is in no- ed Carneiro and Fearn “impulsive and LONDON: New manager Pep Guardiola is an made it to Eastlands in 2014/15 but last term saw “So there are a lot of achievements that have one’s interests that this dispute should be naive”, saying they failed to understand the “incredible asset” who will “transform” Manchester City lift the League Cup again and get to the been made in those three years that I think we all determined through litigation.” The argu- match situation. She did not appear on the City, the Premier League club’s chairman said yes- semi-finals of the Champions League. But that’s have to recognize... Manuel and the team around ment claimed Carneiro had only made a bench again for first-team duties and later terday. Guardiola will arrive at Eastlands with a not good enough as far as City’s owners are con- him, we should thank them and be grateful for discrimination claim in order to “lift the parted company with Chelsea. The tribunal stellar reputation, having twice won the cerned, with domestic and Champions League these achievements. “At the same time, I think we statutory cap” and thereby justify her was adjourned until 2:00pm (1300 GMT) Champions League with Barceloma and seven titles in their sights, for all that Mubarak acknowl- also can’t hide the disappointment, particularly titles in three years with Bayern Munich, whom edged Pellegrini’s contribution to the club. “Let’s this year. “I think all of us came with high expecta- “extravagant compensation claim”. today.— AFP the 45-year-old Spaniard left at the end of last be objective first,” the City chairman said. “Over tions for this season, and I think, at the end of the season. Khaldoon Al-Mubarak, City’s chairman three years we won our second Premier League day, I cannot hide the disappointment of myself, since the club was bought by the Abu Dhabi title in the history of the club, we’ve won two obviously (club owner) Sheikh Mansour, I know United group in September 2006, is in no doubt League Cups under Manuel, we’ve gone to the the fans of the club, and I’m sure the entire team.” that Guardiola was the right man to replace semi-finals of the Champions League for the first Guardiola’s first match as City manager will be a Manuel Pellegrii. time, we’ve scored-I think-an incredible amount pre-season friendly away to former club Bayern in “I’m absolutely excited about Pep joining our of goals. Munich on July 20.— AFP team,” he told City TV, the club’s in-house televi- sion station. “I consider Pep to be one of the best, if not the best, managers today in football. “He’s a winner, he’s a proven winner, he has won profes- sionally in every team he has coached, his record at Bayern Munich, his record at Barcelona, I think speaks for itself. “The trophies he’s won...every sin- gle club competition out there, from the Champions League to La Liga to the Bundesliga, to the respective cups...I have no doubt that he will transform our team to a whole new level.” Mubarak met with Guardiola in Abu Dhabi ear- lier this week, although City’s new manager does not officially start work until next month. Last sea- son saw City, who confirmed Guardiola was tak- ing over during the campaign, finish fourth under Chilean boss Pellegrini and edge out local rivals MARSEILLE: People walk in Marseille yesterday by the “Cube M” office opened for all fans and Manchester United for a place in the Champions ILLINOIS: Jamaica’s Joel McAnuff (R) falls next to Venezuela’s Oswaldo Vizcarrondo supporters to check informations about the UEFA EURO 2016 championships events in the city. League. Pellegrini’s three years in charge yielded during the Copa America Centenario football tournament in Chicago, Illinois, United The French authorities have mustered 90,000 security personnel to guard stadiums and “fan three trophies, winning the Premier League and States, on Sunday. — AFP zones” where spectators will gather to watch the matches on giant screens. — AFP the League Cup in his first season. No silverware