AFC President Hails Unity and Solidarity of Asian Football Family
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Delighted Jurgen Klopp wants more from champions Liverpool FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2020 PAGE 10 Al Arabi coach Hallgrimsson excited on season restart between them and the rel- Al Rayyan still in QSL, Aspetar egation zone. They however sign agreement face a tough challenge against the hunt for title an Al Rayyan side with a lot DOHA: Qatar Stars League to prove in the remaining AYENI OLUSEGUN (QSL) signed a cooperation games of the season especially DOHA agreement with Aspetar Hos- with the unceremonious de- pital to be its official medical parture of talismanic captain AL Gharafa and Al Arabi kick partner in order to ensure Rodrigo Tabata. off the QNB Stars League strong and constructive part- Four points behind leaders restart at the Al Janoub Sta- nership. The agreement aims Al Duhail, The Lions’ coach dium on Friday. The league to reinforce aspects of co-oper- Diego Aguirre said his team is had been on hiatus for just ation and joint efforts and take focused on winning their next over four months due to the advantage of both entities’ match and not worried about coronavirus pandemic. Also capabilities to achieve com- the competition around them. on Friday, second-placed Al mon goals and ambitions. QSL “I’m very happy with our Rayyan will hope to pick up CEO Hani Taleb Ballan said: foreign players because they maximum points to keep the “We’re pleased to sign this are all good players. Whatever pressure on leaders Al Duhail agreement with an institution happens with other teams is when they take on Qatar SC. that has an active and vital not our problem. We have to Ahead of the match against role in sports medicine not focus on our team and not fourth-placed Al Gharafa, only in Qatar, but around the what happens with others. We Al Arabi coach Heimir Hall- world. Aspetar Hospital is one can still win the league and the grimsson said, “It is really of the most important sports players are ready to play. good to be back. It was a dif- medicine facilities regionally Our opponents are strong ficult period for everyone, we and globally, and we’re proud and we need to win to keep are happy with the return of of its vital role.” (QNA) the pressure on the title. We football action. First of all, we think it’s possible to still win would like to thank all those the league so we need to start who made it happen.” Today’s matches with a win over Qatar SC,” the The Icelandic coach has Argentine, in his second spell seen his side suffer from in- Al Gharafa vs Al Arabi at the club, said. consistent performances af- (at Al Janoub) 4:45pm On Tabata’s departure, he ter a good start to the season. said, “Tabata is one of the best The Dream Team were on Qatar SC vs Al Rayyan players and if he decides to go, a miserable run off form prior (at Al Sadd Stadium) 7pm we have to respect that. He’s a to the lockdown having just nice person and is very profes- a win and three draws from sional so I wish him the best.” their last five matches, in- cluding a disappointing draw QNB Stars League standings at bottom side Al Shahania. “I think we have many Al Gharafa players during a training session on Thursday evening. Pos Club Matches Won Lost Draw GF GA GD Points players who have benefited 1. Al Duhail 17 13 1 3 33 14 19 42 from this break. We have tunately we practised closer portance and can be seen as 2. Al Rayyan 17 11 1 5 34 14 20 38 achieved a good level before to the normal way during the a six-point game, because the break and have performed Al Arabi coach Heimir Hallgrimsson on Thursday, the eve of QSL restart. past three weeks. It is not the opponents are behind us 3. Al Sadd 17 10 5 2 45 27 18 32 well in many matches. We easy to say the current level in the fifth position with 24 4. Al Gharafa 17 8 5 4 29 24 5 28 have young players who need in the table, where Al Arabi top three. Sofia Hanni has of readiness because we have points in the table. I hope we 5. Al Arabi 17 6 5 6 27 24 3 24 time to progress so we can are fifth with 24 points and been impressive for the Chee- not played for a long time, will be at our best and give 6. Al Sailiya 17 7 8 2 19 22 -3 23 focus on their development. Al Gharafa fourth with 28 tahs this season but will miss but we played some friendly our maximum efforts to win,” We have players who train so points. So we have to work the restart alongside fellow matches to check the level the Serbian added. 7. Al Wakrah 17 5 8 4 24 27 -3 19 hard as well and I am excited to achieve victory in this Algerian Adlene Guedioura. we have reached,” Salvisa 8. Al Ahli 17 5 8 4 22 29 -7 19 to see how they will be when match,” Hallgrimsson added. “We had almost four- Jokanovic said. QATAR SC VS AL RAYYAN 9. Qatar SC 17 4 8 5 16 22 -6 17 they are back in action. Al Gharafa though will and-a-half months without “All matches will be cru- In the other match, a win for 10. Al Khor 17 3 9 5 19 27 -8 14 “It is the season’s game hope Jonathan Kodjia repli- playing an official match. cial. After facing Al Arabi, we ninth placed Qatar SC at the 11 . Umm Salal 17 3 9 5 15 33 -18 14 because of the difference in cates his form in January as After that, we started some will have four other games. Al Sadd Stadium, will see points between both teams they seek to break into the individual exercises and for- Al Arabi match has great im- them further extend the gap 12 . Al Shahania 17 1 9 7 17 37 -20 10 AFC president hails unity and solidarity of Asian football family In the first ever AFC Executive Committee meeting held online, the AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa reflected on the fact that Asia will now be the focus of world football in the coming years: “Asia can look forward to hosting not only the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022 but the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023 and the FIFA Club World Cup in China in the near future.” AFC to be the first cross-Confeder- KUALA LUMPUR ation hosts of any FIFA com- petition – the FIFA Women’s SHAIKH Salman bin Ebrahim World Cup in 2023. Al Khalifa, the Asian Football Shaikh Salman said: “It Confederation (AFC) President, was a historic bid but most on Thursday acknowledged the importantly it was the strong- solidarity and unity which has est bid. The FIFA Evaluation not only allowed the AFC to be- Report scored it 4.1 out of 5 gin the recovery from the COV- and Colombia 2.8. If we are ID-19 pandemic but also deliver to commission these reports, more global events to Asia. then the Council, I felt, was In the first ever AFC Ex- duty bound to follow the rec- ecutive Committee meeting to ommendations. be held online, Shaikh Salman “I am delighted that CAF praised all the Member Asso- and CONCACAF – as well as ciations for the way that they the FIFA President – joined had contributed to the health with all the AFC and OFC FIFA and wellbeing of their commu- Council Members in uphold- nities during the recent crisis. ing that belief and voting for AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (top left), on Thursday, praised all the Member Associations for the way they contributed to the health and wellbeing of their He said: “On behalf of the Australia/New Zealand. Con- communities during the recent coronavirus crisis. Asian football family, I thank gratulations to FFA and to all you all for the work of your initi- those involved. I am sure that our gratitude to both FFA and Cup in the People’s Republic 2021 in Qatar as part of prepa- club and national team – would the interest registered in the atives and the work of your MAs the FIFA Women’s World Cup JFA.” The AFC President also of China in the near future. rations for the FIFA World Cup be completed in 2020 – where MENA broadcast rights.” on behalf of your communities in 2023 will be the greatest yet. reflected on the fact that Asia “Then next year Asia will Qatar 2022. The focus of world safe to do so. The AFC Presi- The AFC will also establish during this troubled time.” “But while congratulating will now be the focus of world welcome not only the Olympic football will be on Asia and I dent thanked the Member As- a working group to preserve The AFC President was FFA we must also personally football in the coming years: football tournament in Tokyo know that we can deliver.” sociations which have offered and protect the Confedera- joined by the Executive Com- thank Kohzo Tashima and the “Asia can look forward to host- but the FIFA Women’s U-17 Finally, while accepting the to host centralised groups.