Q 2015-16 Prev

P 4 | FOOTBALL P 37 | BOXING QAtAr KEEp WINNING COUNtDOWN bEGINS Qatar continue their winning spree by defeating The Qatar Boxing Federation marks Hong Kong and top Group C in the second the 30-day countdown to the round of World Cup Asian Zone qualification. Amateur World Championships.

WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | Vol X | No.32 | QR 2.00 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Follow us on

tArt HEAD S pAGES 8-25 Holders Lekhwiya enjoy a slight advantage even as Sadd, Jaish, Gharafa and Rayyan all look capable of upsetting their applecart.

Q SL EW 2015-16 PREVI

UK ...... £1 UAE ...... Dh 5 Europe ...... €2 Yemen...... 75 Riyals P 32 | SWIMMING Oman ...... 200 Baisas Sudan ...... 1 Pound Bahrain ...... 200 Fils KSA ...... 2 Riyals P 24 | POSTER Egypt ...... LE 2 Jordan ...... 500 Fils Trying hard to Lebanon ...... 3,000 Livre Iraq ...... $1 EXCLUSIVE Kuwait ...... 250 Fils Palestine ...... $1 XAVI & ZOLA Morocco ...... Dh 6 Syria ...... LS 20 INTERVIEW bridge the gulf! www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 3

OPINION

» The writer can be contacted at: Editor-in-Chief Dr Ahmed Al Mohannadi [email protected] Managing Editor Kumar Ravi Senior Editor/Writer Aswin Abraham Senior Sports Writer N Ganesh Sports Writers Sajith B Warrier Aju George Chris Mohammad Amin-ul Islam Sarath Pookkat Only top quality football can Photographers Mohan Vinod Divakaran Fadi Al Assaad Mohammed Dabboos attract fans to QSL matches A K BijuRaj Graphic Designers Abhilash Chacko ItH the Qatar Stars League (QSL) kicking important factor that draws crowd, will be missing yet Gopakumar K off this week, the most important question again. Joice Michael Wthat comes to my mind is ‘What’s new?’ One can’t blame Lekhwiya for being too strong. Technical support Shaheen Mohammed Searching for an answer, I couldn’t see anything beyond they’ve about a dozen Qatar internationals and a few Abdul Naser M the return of Al rayyan and the presence of a couple of proven foreign stars in their ranks. they’ve topped the big players who’re past their prime. league four times out of five since their debut. However, the other notable change is the minor amendment for all practical purposes, they’re an institutional side made to the 3+1 rule. the QSL has reverted to the old and don’t have a strong fan base. the same is the case p.O. box: 24598, Doha, Qatar tel: +974 44138065, Fax: +974 44138597 norm of allowing teams to field four foreign players, with El Jaish too. www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com including one Asian. It may be recalled that last season, Al Sadd, Al rayyan and Al Arabi boast of reasonable Editorial: tel: +974 44138522, Fax: +974 44138593 they had restricted the on-field presence of foreigners fan following. but barring Sadd, others have fallen by e-mail: [email protected] to three. the wayside in recent times and obviously fans deserted Marketing & advertising: tel: +974 44138566 the single most concern for the QSL management them. perhaps, rayyan’s return to the top tier may e-mail: [email protected] Distribution: tel: +974 44138535/36, Fax: +974 44138597 remains the fans’ apathy. A top official said he hoped the rekindle a fresh interest among their supporters. e-mail: [email protected] new season would be one of the best and reiterated that the only way to draw more spectators is to make one of its main agendas would be to attract spectators. the matches more exciting. the onus is on the QSL but there was no hint about how this could be management to ensure that all teams get equal www.twitter.com/dohastadiumplus achieved. the new season, in fact, clearly projects a resources and opportunities to build strong squads. www.facebook.com/dohastadiumplusqatar champion even before the kick-off, making it very mere words won’t attract fans, only top quality predictable. football will. www.flickr.com/photos/dohastadiumplusqatar Looking at the comparative merits and demerits of the 14 teams, I can easily say Lekhwiya are most likely to win the shield. there’s a five to 10 per cent chance Publishers: ASpIrE printing, publishing and Distribution of Al Sadd upsetting them. It’s said that as soon as Printed at ASpIrE printing press things become predictable, they become boring. the Dr Ahmed Al Mohannadi field is very lopsided and, as such, excitement, the most Editor-in-Chief

WE WON’T LET INSIDE YOU GET AWAY P 28 | FOOTBALL P 34 | CRICKET P 38 | TENNIS Tryst with destiny Paking a T20 punch! Down, but not out! Iceland create history by making the pakistan Super League t20 rafael Nadal, who crashed out FROM THE GAME it to the finals of a major event tournament, to be held in Qatar next in the US Open third round, still for the first time as they qualify February, is equally important for both believes he could regain his Catch every pulse of action... Stay tuned for the Euro 2016. countries, albeit for different reasons. superiority on the court. www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com P 36 | MOTORSPORT P 37 | CUE SPORTS

Publishers: ASPIRE Printing, Publishing and Distribution P O Box: 24598, Doha, Qatar. Back in action Tough challenge Marketing & advertising: Tel: +974 44138566 Qatar’s Abdulaziz Al Kuwari will Dutchman Niels Feijen is back to e-mail: [email protected] be seen behind the wheel of his defend his crown at the World Distribution: Tel: +974 44138535/36, Fax: +974 44138597 Ford Fiesta at the World rally 9-ball pool Championship at the e-mail: [email protected] Championship’s support category Al Arabi Sports Club.

www.twitter.com/dohastadiumplus www.facebook.com/dohastadiumplusqatar www.flickr.com/photos/dohastadiumplusqatar leg in Australia. www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 3

OPINION

INSIDE P 28 | FOOTBALL P 34 | CRICKET P 38 | TENNIS Tryst with destiny Paking a T20 punch! Down, but not out! Iceland create history by making the pakistan Super League t20 rafael Nadal, who crashed out it to the finals of a major event tournament, to be held in Qatar next in the US Open third round, still for the first time as they qualify February, is equally important for both believes he could regain his for the Euro 2016. countries, albeit for different reasons. superiority on the court.

P 36 | MOTORSPORT P 37 | CUE SPORTS Back in action Tough challenge Qatar’s Abdulaziz Al Kuwari will Dutchman Niels Feijen is back to be seen behind the wheel of his defend his crown at the World Ford Fiesta at the World rally 9-ball pool Championship at the Championship’s support category Al Arabi Sports Club. leg in Australia. 4 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 5

FOOTBALL | QATAR

ŠŠOman proved too good for Qatar at the GCC Under-19 Qatar championship.

QATAR DROP THEIR GUARD TOWARDS THE K BijuRaj DSP/A END, BUT SURVIVE A SCARE AS THEY BEAT HONG KONG TO CONTINUE THEIR WINNING Qatari colts bow out RUN IN THE WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS, OStS Qatar bowed out serious blow for Qatar, who will WRITES MOHAMMAD AMIN-UL ISLAM. of the GCC Under-19 host the Group D AFC U-19 Asian HChampionship, losing to Championship qualification from Oman 2-4 in their last Group b October 2 to 6. match at the Al Gharafa Stadium Oman, Lebanon and Kyrgyzstan AtAr notched up a nervy 3-2 Cheung Kin Fung’s cross was headed last monday. are the other teams in the group. away win against Hong Kong down by Jean-Jacques Kilama at the Oman, who had lost their Kuwait, who had played a in Group C of the 2018 FIFA back post and an unmarked bai He opening Group b fixture 0-1 to goalless draw with Qatar, topped Q ŢŠAli Asad... World Cup qualifiers at the mong headed home in the 87th to start the hat-trick effort. Kuwait, opened the scoring through the group with four points. Oman Kok Stadium on tuesday. revival. mohsin Al Ghassani as early as the advanced to the semifinal as the Qatar, coached by Daniel Carreno, two minutes later, Hong Kong sixth minute. second-placed team from the group lead the group with nine points earned a free-kick on the left. bai’s Al Ghassani doubled the lead two with three points. from three matches. China and Hong shot from the edge of the box was minutes later. Zaher Al Akbari struck In Group A, Saudi Arabia beat Kong have seven points each while weak, but it somehow reached the third in the 20th for the side the UAE 5-1 and held bahrain 1-1 maldives and bhutan are yet to open Godfred Karikari right in front of the coached by rasheed Jaber. to emerge as leaders. they will their account. goal. He turned and lifted the ball However, Qatar, coached by Joao face Oman in the first semifinal

Karim boudiaf headed home a over the keeper. Al Assaad DSP/Fadi pereira, fought back and reduced while Kuwait take on bahrain in Hassan Al Haidous corner to give Qatar had only themselves to ššHong Kong’s, the margin in the 34th through the other last four-clash, both on Qatar the lead in the 22nd minute. blame for allowing Hong Kong to It is a long road and Carreno still brought them back to earth. Huang Yang, left, Syed Yousef. thursday. the final is scheduled for and Lam Ka Wai Hardworking left-back Abdulkarim come back into the game as they has a lot of concerns. the absence of the change in coaching reins challenge Qatar’s Goals rain in a record tarek Suleiman converted from Saturday. Hassan fired home a low shot past showed a serious lack of discipline a specialist and experienced striker rekindled hope as Carreno led Qatar boualem Khoukhi. the spot five minutes into the goalkeeper Yapp Hung Fai into the towards the end. It was more due to was again felt, but luckily goals came to an away win in maldives in the second half to make it 3-2, RESULTS UAE lost to Saudi Arabia 1-5 far corner in the 62nd for the second overconfidence that they let in two from elsewhere. opening qualifier in June. It was a but Salah Al Yahyaee scored show against Bhutan Kuwait drew Qatar 0-0 goal while right-back mohammed goals in the space of two minutes. mohammed muntari is still not up hard-fought victory. Nevertheless, it an opportunistic goal in Kuwait bt Oman 1-0 mousa added the third in the 84th, Hong Kong looked dangerous and to the mark while boualem Khoukhi was good enough to raise the team’s LI Asad and mohammed Daniel Carreno. the 76th to dash Qatar’s UAE drew bahrain 3-3 tapping the ball home, after Yapp threatened more, but Qatar hang on once again proved he is good only as morale. muntari notched up “We saw two different levels, hopes. Qatar lost to Oman 2-4 ŢšQatar’s failed to keep hold of a rasping shot to the lead, desperate for the final “the maldives was a good lesson Ahat-tricks as Qatar recorded but we were very serious and the early exit was a Saudi Arabia drew bahrain 1-1 mohammed mousa, from Abdulkarim. whistle. for us. It was an eye-opener and their biggest-ever victory with a 15-0 disciplined throughout the left, celebrates THOSE SHAKY 10 his goal with but the home team came Qatar coach Daniel Carreno helped us do better,” said Carreno. thrashing of bhutan in a Group C game. And this was the positive Abdulkarim Hassan. back strongly towards the end. made just one change to the team MINUTES IN THE END the 2022 hosts, who are aiming to FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifier at the thing. that walloped bhutan 15-0 earlier SUGGESTED THE TEAM avoid becoming the first nation since Al Sadd Stadium last week. “We worked hard with the group in the week, Karim replacing his NEEDS TO IMPROVE A LOT. Italy in 1934 to host the World Cup bhutan, a tiny Himalayan while aiming to win and score the Qatar Under-23 team Lekhwiya team-mate Abdulrahman without ever having played in the kingdom without notable sporting highest number of goals. I didn’t mohammed. finals, were boosted by a 4-0 friendly achievement, endured a nightmarish expect we were going to win by loses to Ireland, USA After a rusty start, Qatar an attacking midfielder. win against Singapore before the such a huge margin,” the Uruguayan found the rhythm, utilising the Qatar’s confidence was high after bhutan match. added. Qatar dominated from the AtAr’S Under-23 team lost 1-4 to Ireland’s wings to test the rival defence. winning the Gulf Cup in riyadh, Confidence was the key when QATAR DOMINATED start and the opening goal set things U-21 side in a friendly played as part of their It was smooth sailing for them Saudi Arabia, where they beat the they kicked off against Hong Kong, FROM THE START AND in motion. Qtraining camp at bury, England. till the end when the back line hosts 2-1 in the final last November. but those shaky 10 minutes in the THE OPENING GOAL SET “the first goal was the most Sean Kavanagh, who plays for Fulham, scored a suddenly cracked under pressure. but a poor Asian Cup campaign, end suggested the team needs to THINGS IN MOTION. important one. the players were first-half double for Ireland while Alan browne and Opponents like China, ranked where they were beaten 4-1 by the improve a lot if they want to qualify trying hard to score from the Harry Charsley too found the target in the second 84th in the world, may punish Qatar UAE, 2-1 by bahrain and 1-0 by Iran, as group winners. beginning,” he added. “After we session. Almoez Ali netted Qatar’s only goal. for such indiscipline. Carreno should outing and trailed 0-8 at half-time. scored three, we were trying to Qatar suffered their second defeat when they urgently address this issue as Qatar mohammed mousa, Hassan Al achieve the highest number of went down to their American counterparts 0-2 on Qatar coach Daniel Carreno said he was confident host China in Doha on October 8. Haidous and boualem Khoukhi goals because we’ll need it if goal tuesday. ‘We enjoy his men would respond to the challenge even Only the group winners and though they are under pressure to qualify for the scored a brace each while difference comes into play at the benji Joya put the US ahead, converting a penalty four best runners-up from eight pressure’ 2018 FIFA World Cup. mohammed Kassola, Akram Afif end.” kick in the first half. Gboly Ariyibi doubled the lead in groups of five teams progress to “there’s pressure, but it’s a kind of pressure we and Ismael mohammed added one Once the goal-fest started, it was the second, smashing a volley into the right corner. the next round. the 12 teams enjoy,” said Uruguayan Carreno. “We’ve enough apiece. almost impossible to keep count as Qatar, coached by Felix Sanchez, are preparing will be placed into two groups strong points to enable us to play in the World Cup. “From a tactical perspective, the home team steamrollered the for the West Asian Football Federation Under-23 of six, with the first two in each We’re optimistic about reaching russia, but we’re there was a huge difference minnows, who had already lost 0-7 Championship, to be held in Doha from September still far away.” group heading for russia. between the teams,” said Qatar coach and 0-6 to Hong Kong and China. 30 to October 14. www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 5

ŠŠOman proved too good for Qatar at the GCC Under-19 championship. DSP/A K BijuRaj DSP/A Qatari colts bow out OStS Qatar bowed out serious blow for Qatar, who will of the GCC Under-19 host the Group D AFC U-19 Asian HChampionship, losing to Championship qualification from Oman 2-4 in their last Group b October 2 to 6. match at the Al Gharafa Stadium Oman, Lebanon and Kyrgyzstan last monday. are the other teams in the group. Oman, who had lost their Kuwait, who had played a ŢŠAli Asad... opening Group b fixture 0-1 to goalless draw with Qatar, topped hat-trick effort. Kuwait, opened the scoring through the group with four points. Oman mohsin Al Ghassani as early as the advanced to the semifinal as the sixth minute. second-placed team from the group Al Ghassani doubled the lead two with three points. minutes later. Zaher Al Akbari struck In Group A, Saudi Arabia beat the third in the 20th for the side the UAE 5-1 and held bahrain 1-1 coached by rasheed Jaber. to emerge as leaders. they will However, Qatar, coached by Joao face Oman in the first semifinal pereira, fought back and reduced while Kuwait take on bahrain in the margin in the 34th through the other last four-clash, both on Syed Yousef. thursday. the final is scheduled for Goals rain in a record tarek Suleiman converted from Saturday. the spot five minutes into the second half to make it 3-2, RESULTS UAE lost to Saudi Arabia 1-5 but Salah Al Yahyaee scored show against Bhutan Kuwait drew Qatar 0-0 an opportunistic goal in Kuwait bt Oman 1-0 LI Asad and mohammed Daniel Carreno. the 76th to dash Qatar’s UAE drew bahrain 3-3 muntari notched up “We saw two different levels, hopes. Qatar lost to Oman 2-4 Ahat-tricks as Qatar recorded but we were very serious and the early exit was a Saudi Arabia drew bahrain 1-1 their biggest-ever victory with a 15-0 disciplined throughout the thrashing of bhutan in a Group C game. And this was the positive FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifier at the thing. Al Sadd Stadium last week. “We worked hard with the group bhutan, a tiny Himalayan while aiming to win and score the Qatar Under-23 team kingdom without notable sporting highest number of goals. I didn’t achievement, endured a nightmarish expect we were going to win by loses to Ireland, USA such a huge margin,” the Uruguayan added. Qatar dominated from the AtAr’S Under-23 team lost 1-4 to Ireland’s QATAR DOMINATED start and the opening goal set things U-21 side in a friendly played as part of their FROM THE START AND in motion. Qtraining camp at bury, England. THE OPENING GOAL SET “the first goal was the most Sean Kavanagh, who plays for Fulham, scored a THINGS IN MOTION. important one. the players were first-half double for Ireland while Alan browne and trying hard to score from the Harry Charsley too found the target in the second beginning,” he added. “After we session. Almoez Ali netted Qatar’s only goal. outing and trailed 0-8 at half-time. scored three, we were trying to Qatar suffered their second defeat when they mohammed mousa, Hassan Al achieve the highest number of went down to their American counterparts 0-2 on Haidous and boualem Khoukhi goals because we’ll need it if goal tuesday. scored a brace each while difference comes into play at the benji Joya put the US ahead, converting a penalty mohammed Kassola, Akram Afif end.” kick in the first half. Gboly Ariyibi doubled the lead in and Ismael mohammed added one Once the goal-fest started, it was the second, smashing a volley into the right corner. apiece. almost impossible to keep count as Qatar, coached by Felix Sanchez, are preparing “From a tactical perspective, the home team steamrollered the for the West Asian Football Federation Under-23 there was a huge difference minnows, who had already lost 0-7 Championship, to be held in Doha from September between the teams,” said Qatar coach and 0-6 to Hong Kong and China. 30 to October 14. 6 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 7 FOOTBALL | ASIA

Malaysia-Saudi match halted due to crowd trouble Grazing cattle, misused funds and Goal project! the World Cup qualifier between of the All Nepal Football Association not respond to phone calls and malaysia and Saudi Arabia at the Ross Adkin and Syed Raza Hassan (ANFA) during a FIFA investigation messages querying the discrepancy. Shah Alam Stadium in Selangor into misconduct. ANFA officials the centre in Quetta, in the was suspended three minutes from alleged he ran the association in a southern baluchistan province, close because of crowd trouble. 8 Visitors Saudi Arabia were HErE are no recognisable self-serving way, and drew attention has lodgings, a canteen and Goal projects were started leading 2-1 in the Group A match football fields, no players, to a pwC audit and other evidence an office, but nowhere to play in pakistan with $2.6m of when play was stopped in the 87th Tand just a rusting goalpost at that thapa and his family took large football. “the construction of FIFA funds, but the only minute after fans launched flares pakistan’s Hawksbay training centre, payments from a former Asian a football ground is part of one completed and fully and fireworks on to the pitch. built with a $500,000 FIFA grant on Football Association chief. the project and will be started operational is a $481,650 players from both teams left a windswept plot by the Arabian thapa denies any wrongdoing. soon,” said baluchistan Football the pitch as smoke began filling office in Lahore which Sea near Karachi, and officially FIFA’s Ethics Committee has not yet Association General Secretary the ground and the game was functions as the pakistan suspended. completed two years ago. ššSepp blatter, second right, with Ganesh thapa, centre, during one of his visits to Nepal. made a judgement in the case, and Haji Saeed taku. Football Federation’s malaysia led 1-0 when mohd In Nepal, goats graze on a rutted he resumed his post in July after his the Abbottabad centre has a headquarters Safiq rahim scored in the 70th, playing field near decrepit facilities at days after seven FIFA officials were made a difference in developing replacement died from an electric playing field, offices and lodgings but Saudi Arabia equalised three the Dharan Football Academy built arrested on bribery-related charges football in poorer countries. shock. for visiting players, but no electricity, minutes later through taisir Al with FIFA cash in the Himalayan as a result of a wide-ranging US In mogadishu, Somalia, for pakistan Football Federation gas or water connections. While the Jassim and then took the lead after foothills. the sole member of staff, investigation into corruption in FIFA. example, a dusty national stadium (pFF) president Faisal Saleh Hayat inside looks smart, the contractors between ’05 and ’12 in the South 76 minutes when mohammed Al a watchman, says he has not been In early June he said he would step now boasts a smooth, bright green is the focus of an investigation violated an agreement to use Asia region,” FIFA said last year. A Sahlawi scored. malaysia are bottom of Group A, paid for a year. down once a successor had been playing surface. In Costa rica, started in June by the country’s imported materials, including doors, committee spokesman cited FIFA having suffered a record 0-10 loss to A review of football development elected in February. the football association has used Federal Investigation Authority over instead replacing them with low- rules prohibiting him from saying the UAE earlier last week. projects in these two South Asian FIFA says it spends $200m a year successive grants to build up a allegations by a faction of the game’s quality local materials, said Adil whether the probe had been countries shows they are littered on development programmes, national sports centre. governing body in the country that Khan Jadoon of the Abbottabad concluded. ššIraq’s Justin meram, left, and with half-built and under-used partly through its ‘Goal’ initiative. It “Look at the difference in so many he embezzled funds and spent District Football Association, which Fernando said both investigations thailand’s Suttinun facilities, despite receiving more declined to comment on the specific cases of football associations not $1.4m on foreign travel. He denies represents local teams. were launched against him because phukhom battle for than $2m from the sport’s world cases of Nepal and pakistan, but having headquarters or fields or the accusations. “We raised the issue of he supported one of blatter’s rivals. the ball. Syria’s Eagles soar, governing body this year alone. said the majority of its ‘Goal’ projects technical centres before FIFA started the architect’s drawings for the sub-standard materials and poor He said FIFA was “an iceberg of Several projects in pakistan and around the world were successful. investing in 1999,” said Jerome Hawksbay technical Centre show a quality of work, but nobody listened corruption.” Nepal that received FIFA money “Over the past few years, FIFA Champagne, a former FIFA deputy lush green football field. Approval to us,” said Jadoon. “We’re really thapa, who has run Nepali under its ‘Goal’ projects — which has put in place stringent financial general secretary. “Governments for the centre “for the training of grateful to FIFA for providing funds football for two decades, is under fund football fields for youth controls and audit checks to ensure, don’t suppress the (british) NHS national and youth teams” came in to promote football, but it’s very a pending investigation by FIFA’s Thailand hold Iraq academies, known as technical as far as we can, that the money we (National Health Service) or the 2006, and FIFA’s website shows that painful to admit that it didn’t help Ethics Committee after a ’12 KpmG centres, and playing surfaces provide is spent on the projects we French social security because some its contribution of $505,958 was promote the game here as the funds audit found “inappropriate cash Ar-tOrN neighbours meram opened the scoring in the held Oman to a goalless draw in in stadiums — had no training intend and is managed carefully,” people may cheat the system.” spent. weren’t properly utilised,” he said. movements”. Syria and Iraq continued 34th minute. Group D, rekindling their fairytale programmes or proper playing fields. Even so, there are places besides Hayat said the project was thapa acknowledged that the Wtheir unbeaten starts Younis mahmoud doubled the start to the qualifying competition. During embattled outgoing Nepal and pakistan — parts of the completed a year ago. Dharan centre was not functioning. to the World Cup Asian Zone lead in the second half with his Guam showed no signs of a president Sepp blatter’s 17-year THERE ARE PLACES WHERE Caribbean, for example — where the centre, near pakistan’s best IT’S A SHAME THERE’S He blamed uncooperative local qualifying competition on tuesday. 55th international goal. hangover from their 6-0 thrashing reign, FIFA has poured money into ‘GOAL’ RESOURCES HAVE ‘Goal’ resources do not seem to have known beach resort, consists of SUCH A BIG PLACE FOR officials and the association’s weak Forced to play all their matches but thailand, who won their away to Iran last week as they such projects in some of the poorest NOT REACHED THOSE THEY reached those they were aimed at or a sprawling building with a giant FOOTBALL THAT’S NOT finances. “We’re facing a very big away because of the problems first two matches, scored twice continued their unbeaten run at corners of the world. blatter has WERE AIMED AT. have not been properly managed. concrete football on the roof, FUNCTIONAL YET. financial problem. We don’t have in their homeland, Syria’s Eagles in the last 10 minutes through home against the more fancied said the programmes aim was to A Swiss investigation into FIFA, surrounded by an uneven boulder- the money to run the centre at the made it three wins from as many theerathon bunmathan and Oman team. make the world’s most popular sport running in parallel with the US strewn field. there was no grass. minute,” he said. matches with a 6-0 thrashing of mongkol tossakrai, to remain at the pair are level at the top of accessible to all, but critics contend a FIFA spokesman said. “Only in probe, is looking at whether FIFA rahim baloch, treasurer of the It is a similar tale in Nepal. Since 2000, FIFA has given ANFA Cambodia at the Olympic Stadium the head of Group F standings, the Asian Group D standings with such grants have helped ensure he a small minority of cases do we funds for development grants to Sindh Football Association, which the Dharan technical centre was $6.9m for football development, in phnom penh. although Iraq, three points behind, seven points each, although Oman retained power with support from discover problems that give cause for regional and local football bodies covers Karachi, said the national built in ’02, but was mainly used including $1,050,000 this year. In ’10, Syria’s 21-year-old striker have a game in hand. have a game in hand. the heads of football associations concern.” around the world were siphoned team, for whom the facility was by drug addicts and then maoist under ‘Goal’, FIFA donated $400,000 Omar Khrbin scored twice while Jordan scored twice in each in countries not known for their It is not certain how many of the off for personal gain, among other built, has never trained there. rebels for the next six years, said the “for financing of three existing mahmoud Al mawas, Sanharib half in a 4-0 win over bangladesh COLLATED RESULTS prowess in the sport. more than 700 completed ‘Goal’ things, according to a source with “It’s not playable. It’s a shame academy’s director Deepak rai, football academies,” including SEPTEMBER 8 malki, Omar midani and Osama blatter was re- projects around the world meet knowledge of the probe. there’s such a big place for football Local clubs occasionally trained Dharan. bangladesh lost to Jordan 0-4 Ššpakistan Football Omari also got on the scoresheet. Guam drew Oman 0-0 Federation Acting elected president FIFA’s objectives. but there are clearly the presidents of the football that’s not functional yet,” Yaqoob there, but it was never professionally but that year, the ANFA provided the victory — their second by IN GROUP D, THE TINY maldives lost to China 0-3 Secretary General for a fifth examples where FIFA money has associations in both pakistan and baloch, a club-level football coach in turfed, nearby residents say, and just $13,000 for the centre’s costs. that scoreline in the qualifiers — PACIFIC NATION OF Hong Kong lost to Qatar 2-3 Farasat Ali Shah. time in late Nepal face leadership challenges Karachi, said. when the centre was due to be In 2009-12, it granted between Cambodia lost to Syria 0-6 consolidated Syria’s position at the GUAM HELD OMAN TO A Afghanistan lost to Japan 0-6 may, just from opponents who accuse them of Of eight ‘Goal’ projects in pakistan inaugurated in ’08, local people dug $13,000 and $21,370 each year for a top of the Asian Group E standings GOALLESS DRAW. Chine taipei lost to Vietnam 1-2 corruption — which they deny. started with $2.6m of FIFA funds, clods of grass from their fields to full-time training programme for 25 with nine points and 13 goals thailand drew Iraq 2-2 both noted that FIFA pays ‘Goal’ the only one completed and fully make the pitch presentable, said rai. youths — the only time the centre without reply. Laos lost to Kuwait 0-2 project funds directly to contractors functional is a $481,650 office built A plaque at Dharan marks the has been used for its intended philippines lost to Uzbekistan 1-5 In another match in the group, in Dhaka to remain undefeated malaysia vs Saudi Arabia Abandoned without passing through the in Lahore as the pFF’s headquarters. centre’s inauguration by FIFA’s then purpose in 13 years, according to Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki in Group b, with Abdallah Deeb tajikistan lost to Australia 0-3 Over the past few years, accounts of member associations Hayat had previously said that four South Asia director of development, thapa and ANFA audits. scored twice each as four-time scoring a brace, including a penalty. India lost to Iran 0-3 — a mechanism designed to avoid of the eight projects were complete manilal Fernando, and thapa, the thapa said the ANFA had stopped Lebanon lost to South Korea 0-3 FIFA has put in place Asian champions Japan thrashed Kuwait defeated Laos 2-0 in corruption. — the office in Lahore, and technical ANFA president. funding the Dharan centre because palestine drew UAE 0-0 stringent financial Afghanistan 6-0 in tehran to keep Vientiane to preserve their 100 per Yemen lost to bahrain 0-4 controls and audit Ganesh thapa temporarily centres in Karachi (Hawksbay), FIFA banned Fernando for life of a dispute with local officials over their campaign on track. cent record in Group G. SEPTEMBER 3 checks to ensure, as stepped aside last year as president Quetta and Abbottabad. He did in ’13 after an investigation into treatment of the boys. masato morishige and Keisuke China got their campaign back UAE bt malaysia 10-0 bribery and corruption related to a Saudi Arabia bt timor Leste 7-0 far as we can, that the Honda also found the net for the on track after their scoreless draw ’09 election within the Asian Football Australia bt bangladesh 5-0 money we provide is Samurai blue, who picked up their with Hong Kong, with a 3-0 win Jordan drew Kyrgyzstan 0-0 spent on the projects Confederation. Fernando, a Sri second successive win after being over the maldives in Group C, with China drew Hong Kong 0-0 Lankan who had been a member of we intend and is held to a shock goalless home the help of two goals from striker Qatar bt bhutan 15-0 FIFA’s Executive Committee, was in Iran bt Guam 6-0 draw by Singapore in their opening Yu Dabao. managed carefully. Only charge of distributing ‘Goal’ project Oman bt turkeminstan 3-1 in a small minority of $ m group fixture in June. Vietnam registered their first win Japan bt Cambodia 3-0 funds in South Asia. 200 Iraq surrendered a 2-0 lead, with a 2-1 victory over Chinese Syria bt Singapore 1-0 cases do we discover ANFA was subject to a FIFA Ethics a year has been spent conceding two late goals to draw taipei, with tran phi-Son scoring Iraq bt Chinese taipei 5-1 problems that give Committee investigation in ’13 by FIFA on development South Korea bt Laos 8-0 cause for concern. 2-2 with thailand in bangkok, the winner in stoppage time on his Kuwait bt myanmar 9-0 over “tsunami funds and the ‘Goal’ programmes, partly but remain unbeaten in Group F. international debut. Uzbekistan bt Yemen 1-0 FIFA projects managed by Fernando through its ‘Goal’ Iraq’s American-born winger Justin the tiny pacific nation of Guam bahrain lost to North Korea 0-1 initiative www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 7

Grazing cattle, misused funds and Goal project!

of the All Nepal Football Association not respond to phone calls and (ANFA) during a FIFA investigation messages querying the discrepancy. into misconduct. ANFA officials the centre in Quetta, in the alleged he ran the association in a southern baluchistan province, 8 self-serving way, and drew attention has lodgings, a canteen and Goal projects were started to a pwC audit and other evidence an office, but nowhere to play in pakistan with $2.6m of that thapa and his family took large football. “the construction of FIFA funds, but the only payments from a former Asian a football ground is part of one completed and fully Football Association chief. the project and will be started operational is a $481,650 thapa denies any wrongdoing. soon,” said baluchistan Football office in Lahore which FIFA’s Ethics Committee has not yet Association General Secretary functions as the pakistan ššSepp blatter, second right, with Ganesh thapa, centre, during one of his visits to Nepal. made a judgement in the case, and Haji Saeed taku. Football Federation’s he resumed his post in July after his the Abbottabad centre has a headquarters days after seven FIFA officials were made a difference in developing replacement died from an electric playing field, offices and lodgings arrested on bribery-related charges football in poorer countries. shock. for visiting players, but no electricity, as a result of a wide-ranging US In mogadishu, Somalia, for pakistan Football Federation gas or water connections. While the investigation into corruption in FIFA. example, a dusty national stadium (pFF) president Faisal Saleh Hayat inside looks smart, the contractors between ’05 and ’12 in the South In early June he said he would step now boasts a smooth, bright green is the focus of an investigation violated an agreement to use Asia region,” FIFA said last year. A down once a successor had been playing surface. In Costa rica, started in June by the country’s imported materials, including doors, committee spokesman cited FIFA elected in February. the football association has used Federal Investigation Authority over instead replacing them with low- rules prohibiting him from saying FIFA says it spends $200m a year successive grants to build up a allegations by a faction of the game’s quality local materials, said Adil whether the probe had been on development programmes, national sports centre. governing body in the country that Khan Jadoon of the Abbottabad concluded. partly through its ‘Goal’ initiative. It “Look at the difference in so many he embezzled funds and spent District Football Association, which Fernando said both investigations declined to comment on the specific cases of football associations not $1.4m on foreign travel. He denies represents local teams. were launched against him because cases of Nepal and pakistan, but having headquarters or fields or the accusations. “We raised the issue of he supported one of blatter’s rivals. said the majority of its ‘Goal’ projects technical centres before FIFA started the architect’s drawings for the sub-standard materials and poor He said FIFA was “an iceberg of around the world were successful. investing in 1999,” said Jerome Hawksbay technical Centre show a quality of work, but nobody listened corruption.” “Over the past few years, FIFA Champagne, a former FIFA deputy lush green football field. Approval to us,” said Jadoon. “We’re really thapa, who has run Nepali has put in place stringent financial general secretary. “Governments for the centre “for the training of grateful to FIFA for providing funds football for two decades, is under controls and audit checks to ensure, don’t suppress the (british) NHS national and youth teams” came in to promote football, but it’s very a pending investigation by FIFA’s as far as we can, that the money we (National Health Service) or the 2006, and FIFA’s website shows that painful to admit that it didn’t help Ethics Committee after a ’12 KpmG provide is spent on the projects we French social security because some its contribution of $505,958 was promote the game here as the funds audit found “inappropriate cash intend and is managed carefully,” people may cheat the system.” spent. weren’t properly utilised,” he said. movements”. Even so, there are places besides Hayat said the project was thapa acknowledged that the Nepal and pakistan — parts of the completed a year ago. Dharan centre was not functioning. THERE ARE PLACES WHERE Caribbean, for example — where the centre, near pakistan’s best IT’S A SHAME THERE’S He blamed uncooperative local ‘GOAL’ RESOURCES HAVE ‘Goal’ resources do not seem to have known beach resort, consists of SUCH A BIG PLACE FOR officials and the association’s weak NOT REACHED THOSE THEY reached those they were aimed at or a sprawling building with a giant FOOTBALL THAT’S NOT finances. “We’re facing a very big WERE AIMED AT. have not been properly managed. concrete football on the roof, FUNCTIONAL YET. financial problem. We don’t have A Swiss investigation into FIFA, surrounded by an uneven boulder- the money to run the centre at the running in parallel with the US strewn field. there was no grass. minute,” he said. a FIFA spokesman said. “Only in probe, is looking at whether FIFA rahim baloch, treasurer of the It is a similar tale in Nepal. Since 2000, FIFA has given ANFA a small minority of cases do we funds for development grants to Sindh Football Association, which the Dharan technical centre was $6.9m for football development, discover problems that give cause for regional and local football bodies covers Karachi, said the national built in ’02, but was mainly used including $1,050,000 this year. In ’10, concern.” around the world were siphoned team, for whom the facility was by drug addicts and then maoist under ‘Goal’, FIFA donated $400,000 It is not certain how many of the off for personal gain, among other built, has never trained there. rebels for the next six years, said the “for financing of three existing more than 700 completed ‘Goal’ things, according to a source with “It’s not playable. It’s a shame academy’s director Deepak rai, football academies,” including projects around the world meet knowledge of the probe. there’s such a big place for football Local clubs occasionally trained Dharan. FIFA’s objectives. but there are clearly the presidents of the football that’s not functional yet,” Yaqoob there, but it was never professionally but that year, the ANFA provided examples where FIFA money has associations in both pakistan and baloch, a club-level football coach in turfed, nearby residents say, and just $13,000 for the centre’s costs. Nepal face leadership challenges Karachi, said. when the centre was due to be In 2009-12, it granted between from opponents who accuse them of Of eight ‘Goal’ projects in pakistan inaugurated in ’08, local people dug $13,000 and $21,370 each year for a corruption — which they deny. started with $2.6m of FIFA funds, clods of grass from their fields to full-time training programme for 25 both noted that FIFA pays ‘Goal’ the only one completed and fully make the pitch presentable, said rai. youths — the only time the centre project funds directly to contractors functional is a $481,650 office built A plaque at Dharan marks the has been used for its intended without passing through the in Lahore as the pFF’s headquarters. centre’s inauguration by FIFA’s then purpose in 13 years, according to Over the past few years, accounts of member associations Hayat had previously said that four South Asia director of development, thapa and ANFA audits. FIFA has put in place — a mechanism designed to avoid of the eight projects were complete manilal Fernando, and thapa, the thapa said the ANFA had stopped stringent financial corruption. — the office in Lahore, and technical ANFA president. funding the Dharan centre because controls and audit Ganesh thapa temporarily centres in Karachi (Hawksbay), FIFA banned Fernando for life of a dispute with local officials over checks to ensure, as stepped aside last year as president Quetta and Abbottabad. He did in ’13 after an investigation into treatment of the boys. far as we can, that the bribery and corruption related to a money we provide is ’09 election within the Asian Football spent on the projects Confederation. Fernando, a Sri Lankan who had been a member of we intend and is FIFA’s Executive Committee, was in managed carefully. Only charge of distributing ‘Goal’ project in a small minority of funds in South Asia. $200m cases do we discover ANFA was subject to a FIFA Ethics a year has been spent problems that give Committee investigation in ’13 by FIFA on development cause for concern. over “tsunami funds and the ‘Goal’ programmes, partly FIFA projects managed by Fernando through its ‘Goal’ initiative 8 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 9

FOOTBALL | QSL 2015-16 PREVIEW

ROLL OF 2014-15 2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 COVER STORY HONOUR Lekhwiya Lekhwiya Al Sadd Lekhwiya Lekhwiya Al Gharafa Al Gharafa Al Gharafa Al Sadd Al Sadd Last 10 champions.

STARS TO Should be a thrilling WATCH

to boost the competition’s overall attack with foreign names with an KICK-OFF DSP/Mohan will enjoy our country’s launched great initiatives to attract VLADIMIR WEISS (SVK) standard. Yet, there are enough I WANT TO WIN THE aim to land their maiden title. Al rayyan vs Al Sailiya AL GHARAFA AL ARABI AL RAYYAN great hospitality,” said the more spectators and provide them Club: Lekhwiya Al Sadd Stadium, 6pm. reasons to foresee Lekhwiya LEAGUE AND EMIR’S rayyan, in the top flight after a FRIDAY, official. fantastic experience on match days,” Weiss is a stylish SEPTEMBER 11 extending their domestic supremacy. one-season gap, are determined Al Khor vs Umm Salal “Various departments said Hani. player and prolific CUP WITH SADD. WE’VE Al Khor Stadium, 8.15pm. the cops may have to break that to make their comeback count as scorer. the Slovak, PREPARED WELL. Al Kharaitiyat vs Qatar SC who netted eight extra sweat this time as Al Sadd, they have seasoned performers like SATURDAY, Al Khor Stadium, 6pm. goals last season, featuring barcelona and Spain great Sergio Garcia, rodrigo tabata and SEPTEMBER 12 Al Arabi vs Al Wakrah RETURN TO LIONS ARE MAIDEN THE ASIAN CROWDED loves to drop deep Xavi Hernandez, El Jaish, Al Gharafa belmadi’s second coming did Sebastian Soria in their ranks. Al Arabi Stadium, 8.15pm. FOUR BACK ATTEMPT SHARE CALENDAR and carry the ball and Al rayyan are all capable of not start as he wanted as they Former champions Al Gharafa Al mesaimeer vs Al Sadd the Qatar Stars Al rayyan are back Debutants that nine of the 14 teams like Lekhwiya, forward. the former manchester SUNDAY, Al Arabi Stadium, 6pm. League, which in the QSL and look mesaimeer’s target Asian player slots Al Sadd and El Jaish City winger wears his heart on his making their life difficult. lost the AFC Champions League has handed the coaching reins to sleeve and is a bit temperamental, SEPTEMBER 13 El Jaish vs Al Ahli limited the number determined to prove is to stay in the top have been shared by will mostly feel the Comeback coach Djamel belmadi, quarterfinal’s first leg away to Al pericles Chamusca who, in turn, has Lekhwiya Stadium, 8.15pm. of overseas recruits a point. the seven- flight. Considering South Koreans and pressure this season but when his is in his element, few who managed Lekhwiya in their Hilal 1-4 in riyadh, something their rebuilt the squad with proven names in the playing eleven time champions’ their limited squad Iranians goes on to as they contribute players in the league can stop him. first two top-flight seasons, knows rivals would have taken note of. but including prolific scorer Alain Dioko. to three last time, has two-decade-long title and experience, they speak the monetary the most number reverted to the four- drought is something will find it tough to power of the QSL and of players to the the club and most players like the they should regroup in time. Among the seven new coaches, SERGIO GARCIA (ESp) foreign player rule the fans just cannot achieve that. If the the brand value it has Qatar national team. Club: Al rayyan back of his hand. they have almost Sadd look the best to challenge former Italy and Chelsea great (3+1, four foreigners digest. they have team ends up as in those countries. the league will be Xavi Hernandez is ŢŢmarquee retained last season’s squad and them. the exit of Yousef Ahmed and Gianfranco Zola is the out of which one made big signings. the punching bag the demand has only stopped many times surely going to be signings of Qatari boast arguably the best starting Al mehdi Ali has slightly weakened biggest name, but Asian is mandatory), Uruguayan Jorge of the competition, gone up over the last owing to World clubs with QFA mainly owing to Fossati is their coach then it will not be five years as players Cup qualification the star attraction, Vice-president eleven. Four titles in five seasons the squad, but Housseine Amouta’s the clubs’ demand. and he knows how to a great reflection of from those countries and Gulf Cup, but another Saud Abdulaziz Al speak about their dominance and men are worthy contenders and the new coaches new foreign NOTABLE the restriction was reap success in Qatar the quality of the have proved to be affecting the teams’ ex-barcelona mohannadi and and Spain player, also imply their players’ confidence presence of former barcelona will try their players will be FEATURES aimed at giving more football. Qatargas League. steady performers. momentum. QSL CEO Hani taleb luck this time seen in action opportunities to Sergio Garcia, is ballan. while going into the new season. star Xavi should give Qatari players. ready to make a big impact on the 7 19 league. Garcia, who joined rayyan in July, boasts great credentials as a scorer. rayyan have rebuilt the team with several major signings and if Garcia can find his footing early on, then he would well be having the last laugh.

ALAIN DIOKO Club: Al Gharafa Dioko, arguably the league’s best African player and top scorer in the last two seasons, has moved to Gharafa from Ahli. the centre forward would be under pressure to perform at the seven- time champions, but the Congolese player, with his effortless style and powerful physique, should live up to

DSP/Vinod Divakaran DSP/Vinod his billing. 8 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 9

FOOTBALL | QSL 2015-16 PREVIEW

STARS TO Should be a thrilling WATCH

XAVI HERNANDEZ (ESp) season, says Hani Club: Al Sadd Xavi Hernandez, AtAr Stars League at the QSL, be it marketing or one of the best (QSL) CEO Hani sports, have been working hard to midfielders to have taleb ballan said ensure the clubs had a smooth and ever graced the Q game, is the QSL’s he had high expectations productive build-up to the league,” biggest signing about the 2015-16 season. he said. this season. Sadd season will expect the former barcelona MOST “All teams look well Hani said plenty of freedom was Head start and Spain captain, known mainly prepared. the players given to the clubs in the pre-season. TITLES for precise passing, to make the are eager to start the “We wanted the clubs to be on HOLDERS LEKHWIYA ENJOY A SLIGHT ADVANTAGE EVEN AS SADD, JAISH, GHARAFA AND difference in big matches. RAYYAN ALL LOOK CAPABLE OF UPSETTING THEIR APPLECART, WRITES N GANESH. new season. We must congratulate the fine job HASSAN AL HAIDOUS (QAt) 7 done by their technical ŠŠHani ALL TEAMS LOOK WELL Club: Al Sadd taleb ballan staff,” Hani told Doha PREPARED. I’M SURE Al Haidous, with the QSL Stadium Plus. WE’LL HAVE A LOT OF who won the N OVErWHELmING belmadi has gambled by them the vital cutting edge. he has his task cut out at Arabi. shield at “I’m sure we’ll have Qatar Football 4 the launch EXCITEMENT THIS TIME. Association’s best favourite, four potential signing young Qatar international “I want to win the league and Last year’s surprise package ceremony. a lot of excitement this player award Achallengers, a classy player mohammed muntari as his Emir’s Cup with Sadd. We’ve Qatar Sports Club and former AFC time. being the official last season, is and added foreign flavour offer spearhead when Sebastian Soria left prepared well,” said former Spain Champions League semifinalists 13 league governing body, we their own and hence gave a lot of undoubtedly the something to look forward to as this his camp and later joined Al rayyan. captain Xavi. Umm Salal might find it tough to want to welcome (promoted freedom. but we insisted the clubs most improved Qatari player in the last few years. the lanky player, who season’s Qatar Stars League (QSL) but the Algerian did not disturb Jaish have regularly figured in repeat their fourth and sixth-place sides) Al rayyan and Al should perform at a high technical has terrific speed, great dribbling kicks off on Friday. his successful midfield, which has the top four since making the QSL finish respectively. mesaimeer to our great level in the competition, which’s our skills and wily ways, can play as the QSL has reverted to the old consistent foreign performers in debut in the 2011-12 season, but competition. We also extend top priority. media has been greatly a striker, winger and full-back. If format and will allow four foreign Vladimir Weiss, Youssef msakni and never looked consistent enough to The writer can be contacted at: a hearty welcome to the supporting us and we’re confident Haidous can maintain his current » form, then the rival teams will find it AL SADD LEKHWIYA players together in the playing Nam tae-Hee. clinch the shield. French coach Sabri [email protected] new international players it’ll continue to do so. tough to stop him. eleven, a move generally believed Lamouchi has strengthened the and coaches, who I’m sure “then there’re the fans. We’ve to boost the competition’s overall attack with foreign names with an KICK-OFF DSP/Mohan will enjoy our country’s launched great initiatives to attract VLADIMIR WEISS (SVK) standard. Yet, there are enough I WANT TO WIN THE aim to land their maiden title. Al rayyan vs Al Sailiya AL GHARAFA AL ARABI AL RAYYAN great hospitality,” said the more spectators and provide them Club: Lekhwiya Al Sadd Stadium, 6pm. reasons to foresee Lekhwiya LEAGUE AND EMIR’S rayyan, in the top flight after a FRIDAY, official. fantastic experience on match days,” Weiss is a stylish SEPTEMBER 11 extending their domestic supremacy. one-season gap, are determined Al Khor vs Umm Salal “Various departments said Hani. player and prolific CUP WITH SADD. WE’VE Al Khor Stadium, 8.15pm. the cops may have to break that to make their comeback count as scorer. the Slovak, PREPARED WELL. Al Kharaitiyat vs Qatar SC who netted eight extra sweat this time as Al Sadd, they have seasoned performers like SATURDAY, Al Khor Stadium, 6pm. goals last season, featuring barcelona and Spain great Sergio Garcia, rodrigo tabata and SEPTEMBER 12 Al Arabi vs Al Wakrah RETURN TO LIONS ARE MAIDEN THE ASIAN CROWDED loves to drop deep Xavi Hernandez, El Jaish, Al Gharafa belmadi’s second coming did Sebastian Soria in their ranks. Al Arabi Stadium, 8.15pm. FOUR BACK ATTEMPT SHARE CALENDAR and carry the ball and Al rayyan are all capable of not start as he wanted as they Former champions Al Gharafa Al mesaimeer vs Al Sadd the Qatar Stars Al rayyan are back Debutants that nine of the 14 teams like Lekhwiya, forward. the former manchester SUNDAY, Al Arabi Stadium, 6pm. League, which in the QSL and look mesaimeer’s target Asian player slots Al Sadd and El Jaish City winger wears his heart on his making their life difficult. lost the AFC Champions League has handed the coaching reins to sleeve and is a bit temperamental, SEPTEMBER 13 El Jaish vs Al Ahli limited the number determined to prove is to stay in the top have been shared by will mostly feel the Comeback coach Djamel belmadi, quarterfinal’s first leg away to Al pericles Chamusca who, in turn, has Lekhwiya Stadium, 8.15pm. of overseas recruits a point. the seven- flight. Considering South Koreans and pressure this season but when his is in his element, few who managed Lekhwiya in their Hilal 1-4 in riyadh, something their rebuilt the squad with proven names in the playing eleven time champions’ their limited squad Iranians goes on to as they contribute players in the league can stop him. first two top-flight seasons, knows rivals would have taken note of. but including prolific scorer Alain Dioko. to three last time, has two-decade-long title and experience, they speak the monetary the most number reverted to the four- drought is something will find it tough to power of the QSL and of players to the the club and most players like the they should regroup in time. Among the seven new coaches, SERGIO GARCIA (ESp) foreign player rule the fans just cannot achieve that. If the the brand value it has Qatar national team. Club: Al rayyan back of his hand. they have almost Sadd look the best to challenge former Italy and Chelsea great (3+1, four foreigners digest. they have team ends up as in those countries. the league will be Xavi Hernandez is ŢŢmarquee retained last season’s squad and them. the exit of Yousef Ahmed and Gianfranco Zola is the out of which one made big signings. the punching bag the demand has only stopped many times surely going to be signings of Qatari boast arguably the best starting Al mehdi Ali has slightly weakened biggest name, but Asian is mandatory), Uruguayan Jorge of the competition, gone up over the last owing to World clubs with QFA mainly owing to Fossati is their coach then it will not be five years as players Cup qualification the star attraction, Vice-president eleven. Four titles in five seasons the squad, but Housseine Amouta’s the clubs’ demand. and he knows how to a great reflection of from those countries and Gulf Cup, but another Saud Abdulaziz Al speak about their dominance and men are worthy contenders and the new coaches new foreign NOTABLE the restriction was reap success in Qatar the quality of the have proved to be affecting the teams’ ex-barcelona mohannadi and and Spain player, also imply their players’ confidence presence of former barcelona will try their players will be FEATURES aimed at giving more football. Qatargas League. steady performers. momentum. QSL CEO Hani taleb luck this time seen in action opportunities to Sergio Garcia, is ballan. while going into the new season. star Xavi should give Qatari players. ready to make a big impact on the 7 19 league. Garcia, who joined rayyan in July, boasts great credentials as a scorer. rayyan have rebuilt the team with several major signings and if Garcia can find his footing early on, then he would well be having the last laugh.

DSP/Vinod Divakaran DSP/Vinod his billing. 10 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 11 FOOTBALL | QSL 2015-16 PREVIEW LEKHWIYA AL SADD COPS | FOUNDED IN 1938 WOLVES | FOUNDED IN 1969

Lekhwiya were founded as Al Shorta Al Sadd are the most successful club Doha. they were promoted to the in Qatar football. they have won the premier division at the end of the 2009- AFC Champions League twice. Some of 10 season. they won the title on debut PRESIDENT the best players in the world, including PRESIDENT HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani and retained it next season. romario and raul Gonzalez, have donned their colours. Qatar Stars League titles Lekhwiya4 have 13times Al Sadd have clinched won in their five top-flight seasons. Cops again among favourites Pressure on Xavi, Sadd to deliver the league title. COACH EKHWIYA emerged as the through the second saw the cops last time. He departed in the close HEN the new season straight after their Champions League Football Association’s best-player award COACH DJAMEL BELMADI (ALG) deserving champions in the Qatar retain the league shield with a match season, with the club turning once begins, all eyes will be on triumph, they have one of the best last season, into the mix, Sadd have a HOUSSEINE AMOUTA (MAR) LStars League for the fourth time in to spare. again to Algerian Djamel belmadi. WAl Sadd. Not because they midfielders the game has ever team capable of challenging any side. After contract renewal talks with last five seasons. they amassed 62 of the they went on to win the Qatar Cup Lekhwiya have kept most of their are the most successful club in Qatar produced. Xavi is the only new player However, the absence of enough Housseine Amouta, a former player of Al season’s much-successful coach michael Sadd, took over their coaching reins from Laudrup failed, Lekhwiya turned to Djamel total 78 points on offer and lost only and thus, for the first time, ended foreign and Qatari players. football, but they have in their ranks as Sadd decided to retain South Korean reserve players had toppled their plans much-successful Jorge Fossati in the 2012- belmadi. two matches. up with more than a title in one they are one of the favourites to an exceptional player called Xavi defender Lee Jung-Soo, Algerian last time. Coach Housseine Amouta 13 season and has done a decent job so far. the Algerian, who guided Lekhwiya to back- Lekhwiya were second behind season. retain the league title, but should Hernandez. midfielder Nadir belhadj and brazilian had expressed that concern time and Amouta, who won the league title on his to-back QSL titles straight after winning leaders Al Sadd after the first phase. Lekhwiya were proud to have consistently perform like last season as Sadd struggled last season due to striker muriqui. again, but the management has been debut, failed in his next two attempts. but promotion to the top flight, in the 2010-11 he helped them win the coveted Emir’s Cup and 2011-12 seasons, was fired early into However, a series of fine performances former barcelona and real madrid Sadd, El Jaish and Al rayyan will all be the absence of a wily playmaker and Add the likes Khalfan Ibrahim and reluctant as it wants to promote their in the last two seasons. the moroccan has his third year after the team’s form slumped. together with Sadd’s slump midway midfielder michael Laudrup as coach eager to beat them. in Xavi, who joined from barcelona Hassan Al Haidous, who won the Qatar own young players. an experienced group at his disposal, but a He has a tough task on hand. relatively small squad should be his cause for concern. FOREIGN FLAVOUR FOREIGN FLAVOUR

VLADIMIR WEISS (SLO) XAVI HERNANDEZ (ESP) Forward midfielder the Slovakian winger was one of the league’s best performers last Sadd signed midfield maestro Xavi Hernandez, who hoisted the season. the former manchester City player made the difference Champions League trophy in June, on a two-year deal. the 35-year-old, in big matches, be it through his crucial goals or vital assists. one of barcelona’s most decorated players of all time, was also one of the His skilful runs are a treat to watch. If he maintains his form, heroes of Spain’s Euro and World Cup triumphs. Xavi was a central figure Lekhwiya can think of winning more titles this season. It would of barcelona’s tiki-taka style of football, which helped the Catalan side be interesting to see how new coach Djamel belmadi utilises the become arguably the dominant team in Europe in the first decade of the 25-year-old this season. century. by joining Sadd, Xavi has followed in the footsteps of his former 2014-15 RECORD 2014-15 RECORD Spain team-mate raul Gonzalez, who helped Housseine Amouta’s side wrest the league title from Lekhwiya. TOP SCORER TOP SCORERS CHICO FLORES (ESP) NADIR BELHADJ (ALG) SEBASTIAN Defender Defender KHALFAN SORIA IBRAHIM AND Chico Flores had joined Lekhwiya Ever since he joined Sadd five HASSAN AL from English premier League seasons ago, Nadir belhadj has been HAIDOUS club Swansea last season. He known as a consistent performer. had replaced Algerian captain the 33-year-old, known for his madjid bougherra, and went skilful runs and set-pieces, is always 11GOALS on to become one of their key eager to give his hundred per cent players. being their only foreign on the pitch. He was adjudged the the Qatar defender, Flores played almost best player in the season before 11GOALS international had a all matches. the 28-year-old was last and was instrumental in Sadd’s mixed season, but the Qatari pair did the still topped the cops’ without his defensive partner Emir’s Cup triumph last time. belhadj bulk of the scoring, but scoring chart. Dame traore for many games, will be one player Amouta will count Al Haidous had more but put his experience to good on as well. reasons to cheer as use as they emerged champions he was adjudged the conceding least number of goals. season’s best player. DOUBLY SWEET SECOND TIME UNLUCKY For the first time, the cops bagged more Housseine Amouta had won the league title than one title in a single season by adding on his debut in 2012-13, but Sadd finished the Qatar Cup to the league title. behind Lekhwiya for the second straight time. YOUSSEF NAM LEE JUNG-SOO MURIQUI PERFORMANCE METER MSAKNI (TUN) TAE-HEE (KOR) (KOR) (BRA) PERFORMANCE METER Forward midfielder Defender Forward 62 pOINtS 57 pOINtS

DSP DSP HOW THEY FARED RATING RATING HOW THEY FARED

19WON Dr5AWN LOS2t SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S 17WON Dr6AWN LOS3t CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp GOALS FOr 59 GOALS AGAINSt 25 runners-up Winners Winners Semifinalists Winners runners-up Semifinalists Winners GOALS FOr 68 GOALS AGAINSt 35 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 11

AL SADD WOLVES | FOUNDED IN 1969

Al Sadd are the most successful club in Qatar football. they have won the AFC Champions League twice. Some of the best players in the world, including PRESIDENT HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani romario and raul Gonzalez, have donned their colours. 13times Al Sadd have clinched Pressure on Xavi, Sadd to deliver the league title. HEN the new season straight after their Champions League Football Association’s best-player award COACH begins, all eyes will be on triumph, they have one of the best last season, into the mix, Sadd have a HOUSSEINE AMOUTA (MAR) WAl Sadd. Not because they midfielders the game has ever team capable of challenging any side. are the most successful club in Qatar produced. Xavi is the only new player However, the absence of enough Housseine Amouta, a former player of Al Sadd, took over their coaching reins from football, but they have in their ranks as Sadd decided to retain South Korean reserve players had toppled their plans much-successful Jorge Fossati in the 2012- an exceptional player called Xavi defender Lee Jung-Soo, Algerian last time. Coach Housseine Amouta 13 season and has done a decent job so far. Hernandez. midfielder Nadir belhadj and brazilian had expressed that concern time and Amouta, who won the league title on his Sadd struggled last season due to striker muriqui. again, but the management has been debut, failed in his next two attempts. but he helped them win the coveted Emir’s Cup the absence of a wily playmaker and Add the likes Khalfan Ibrahim and reluctant as it wants to promote their in the last two seasons. the moroccan has in Xavi, who joined from barcelona Hassan Al Haidous, who won the Qatar own young players. an experienced group at his disposal, but a relatively small squad should be his cause for concern. FOREIGN FLAVOUR

XAVI HERNANDEZ (ESP) midfielder Sadd signed midfield maestro Xavi Hernandez, who hoisted the Champions League trophy in June, on a two-year deal. the 35-year-old, one of barcelona’s most decorated players of all time, was also one of the heroes of Spain’s Euro and World Cup triumphs. Xavi was a central figure of barcelona’s tiki-taka style of football, which helped the Catalan side become arguably the dominant team in Europe in the first decade of the century. by joining Sadd, Xavi has followed in the footsteps of his former 2014-15 RECORD Spain team-mate raul Gonzalez, who helped Housseine Amouta’s side wrest the league title from Lekhwiya. TOP SCORERS NADIR BELHADJ (ALG) Defender KHALFAN IBRAHIM AND Ever since he joined Sadd five HASSAN AL seasons ago, Nadir belhadj has been HAIDOUS known as a consistent performer. the 33-year-old, known for his skilful runs and set-pieces, is always eager to give his hundred per cent on the pitch. He was adjudged the best player in the season before 11GOALS last and was instrumental in Sadd’s the Qatari pair did the Emir’s Cup triumph last time. belhadj bulk of the scoring, but will be one player Amouta will count Al Haidous had more on as well. reasons to cheer as he was adjudged the season’s best player.

SECOND TIME UNLUCKY Housseine Amouta had won the league title on his debut in 2012-13, but Sadd finished behind Lekhwiya for the second straight time. LEE JUNG-SOO MURIQUI (KOR) (BRA) PERFORMANCE METER Defender Forward 57 pOINtS

DSP RATING HOW THEY FARED

SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S 17WON Dr6AWN LOS3t CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp Winners runners-up Semifinalists Winners GOALS FOr 68 GOALS AGAINSt 35 12 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 13 FOOTBALL | QSL 2015-16 PREVIEW EL JAISH QATAR SC SOLDIERS | FOUNDED IN 2007 KINGS | FOUNDED IN 1959

El Jaish, a club owned by the Qatar military the club was founded under Sport Association, were promoted to the the name Al Oruba. In 1972, it premier division at the end of the 2010-11 changed its name to El Esteqlal season. they have emerged as one of the PRESIDENT before again renaming it to PRESIDENT HE Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Nasser Al Thani leading sides in the country in a short time, Qatar Sports Club in 1981. finishing regularly among the top four since making their top-flight debut. cups 2El Jaish have 3times Qatar SC have won won so far Consistency is key to chances Qatar SC pin hopes on Radhi the league title. COACH L JAISH are losing their patience. In Sabri Lamouchi, they have a frontline by bringing in forwards NEW coach can help a club radhi Shenaishil. the Iraqi surprised the man who did the star turn was COACH SABRI LAMOUCHI (FRA) they have played in the top flight manager who has the experience of Abderrazak Hamdallah (morocco) make an incredible turnaround. everyone and helped them finish a tunisian striker Hamdi Harbaoui, who RADHI SHENAISHIL (IRQ) Ein the last four seasons, but could playing in Europe as well as Qatar. and Sardor rashidov (Uzbekistan). AIf any further proof was needed, creditable fourth. they also progressed pumped in 21 goals. He was also Sabri Lamouchi replaced tunisian Nabil manage to win only a Qatar Cup and Under him, they finished a creditable they have got two of the best Qatari then it came at the Qatar Sports Club to the Emir’s Cup semifinal. shortlisted for the best-player award. radhi, a soft-spoken coach, let his players maaloul last January. the Frenchman’s only do the talking by taking Qatar Sports Club to previous coaching spell was with the Ivory Qatar Stars Cup so far. Considering third in the league last season and goalkeepers, Khalifa Abubaker last season. It was tremendous improvement While injured Halliche has given a fourth-place finish last season. the Iraqi Coast team, whom he managed at the World the amount of money they have also came runners-up in both Qatar and Saud Al Khater, while majed the club management fired by the club, which had finished a way to moroccan defender Ismail further boosted his profile in between by Cup in brazil. He had ended his playing invested, especially on Qatari players, Cup and Emir’s Cup. mohammed, mohammed methnani Czech coach Ivan Hasek after the disappointing 10th in the previous benlamaalem, Shenaishil has provided taking his country (on short-term contract) career in Qatar, having plied his trade with the management would be eager to Jaish have retained foreigners and Wagner ribeiro are players of second round, following defeats season. their foreign players, be it more support to Harbaoui by replacing to a fourth-place finish at the Asian Cup Al rayyan, Umm Salal and Al Kharaitiyat. He in Australia last January. radhi was a spent his prime days at French and Italian snatch the league title. Jaish have tried romarinho and Lucas mendes. calibre. Consistency will be the key against Lekhwiya (0-5) and Al Ahli rafik Halliche, Cho Young-Cheol midfielder Cho with striker mouhcine surprise replacement for Ivan Hasek as the clubs, including lengthy spells at Auxerre (129 four coaches as well as two caretakers. Lamouchi has strengthened his word for Jaish. (1-3), and handed over the reins to or Han Kook-Young, all clicked, but Iajour, also from morocco. 48-year-old had worked only in his country. games) and parma (90 games). However, his familiarity with Qatar is not just limited to his coaching role, but also FOREIGN FLAVOUR FOREIGN FLAVOUR to his playing career.

ROMARINHO (BRA) HAMDI HARBAOUI (TUN) Forward Forward romario ricardo da Silva, commonly known as romarinho, moved to El the tunisian striker sprang perhaps the biggest surprise in the star- Jaish last season reportedly on a €7.5m deal, after spending all his career studded Qatar Stars League last season by emerging as the second- in brazil. A skilful player, he also has speed and acumen. but it took highest scorer. His poaching skills were key to Qatar SC finishing fourth in him some time to get acclimatised to the game in Qatar. though the the league. the 30-year-old, who started his career at native Esperance 24-year-old started showing his potential under coach Nabil maaloul, in 2003, then moved to belgium’s mouscron in ’08 and spent rest of his he flourished under Sabri Lamouchi and went on to become their top career in that country before moving to Qatar SC last season. An intelligent scorer with 16 goals. the Sao paulo-native will be one player Lamouchi player, Harbaoui also thrives on his power. He will have to begin from 2014-15 RECORD will count on as he chalks out his plans for the new season. where he left off last season if Qatar SC want to repeat their fine work. 2014-15 RECORD

TOP SCORER ABDERRAZAK HAMDALLAH MOUHCINE IAJOUR (MAR) TOP SCORER ROMARINHO (MAR) Forward Forward mouhcine Iajour, who in 2013 HAMDI El Jaish signed moroccan striker became the first African footballer HARBAOUI Abderrazak Hamdallah from to win the top-scorer award at Chinese Super League club the FIFA Club World Cup, joined Guangzhou r&F on a two-year Qatar Sports Club from native 16GOALS deal. the 24-year-old had started side moghreb tetouan. “It’s the his career with native side Olympic first time I’ll be playing in a Gulf the diminutive 21GOALS Safi in 2012 before heading for country. I find it as a challenge. I brazilian forward got Norwegian club Aalesunds. After want to do well,” said 30-year-old the tunisian forward a lot of prominence becoming their top scorer in the first Iajour. did the star turn for the in the second phase yellow-and-black side, of the season under season, he was signed by ambitious Guangzhou r&F for a record fee. scoring consistently and Sabri Lamouchi as he eventually finishing as ended up as the top the second highest scorer scorer. in the competition.

ELUSIVE TITLE LEAGUE DROUGHT the Qatar Stars League title has continued to elude the Armymen despite investing a twelve seasons have passed since Qatar SC lot on national players. last won the league. SARDOR LUCAS ISMAIL HAN KOOK- PERFORMANCE METER RASHIDOV MENDES (BRA) BENLAMAALEM YOUNG (KOR) PERFORMANCE METER (UZB) Defender (MAR) midfielder 47 pOINtS Forward Defender 46 pOINtS

DSP DSP HOW THEY FARED RATING RATING HOW THEY FARED

15WON Dr2AWN LOS9t SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S 14WON Dr4AWN LOS8t CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp GOALS FOr 54 GOALS AGAINSt 33 Did not qualify third runners-up runners-up Did not qualify Fourth Semifinalists Semifinalists GOALS FOr 51 GOALS AGAINSt 40 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 13

QATAR SC KINGS | FOUNDED IN 1959

the club was founded under the name Al Oruba. In 1972, it changed its name to El Esteqlal before again renaming it to PRESIDENT Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Nasser Al Thani Qatar Sports Club in 1981.

3times Qatar SC have won Qatar SC pin hopes on Radhi the league title. NEW coach can help a club radhi Shenaishil. the Iraqi surprised the man who did the star turn was COACH make an incredible turnaround. everyone and helped them finish a tunisian striker Hamdi Harbaoui, who RADHI SHENAISHIL (IRQ) AIf any further proof was needed, creditable fourth. they also progressed pumped in 21 goals. He was also then it came at the Qatar Sports Club to the Emir’s Cup semifinal. shortlisted for the best-player award. radhi, a soft-spoken coach, let his players do the talking by taking Qatar Sports Club to last season. It was tremendous improvement While injured Halliche has given a fourth-place finish last season. the Iraqi the club management fired by the club, which had finished a way to moroccan defender Ismail further boosted his profile in between by Czech coach Ivan Hasek after the disappointing 10th in the previous benlamaalem, Shenaishil has provided taking his country (on short-term contract) second round, following defeats season. their foreign players, be it more support to Harbaoui by replacing to a fourth-place finish at the Asian Cup in Australia last January. radhi was a against Lekhwiya (0-5) and Al Ahli rafik Halliche, Cho Young-Cheol midfielder Cho with striker mouhcine surprise replacement for Ivan Hasek as the (1-3), and handed over the reins to or Han Kook-Young, all clicked, but Iajour, also from morocco. 48-year-old had worked only in his country. However, his familiarity with Qatar is not just limited to his coaching role, but also FOREIGN FLAVOUR to his playing career.

HAMDI HARBAOUI (TUN) Forward the tunisian striker sprang perhaps the biggest surprise in the star- studded Qatar Stars League last season by emerging as the second- highest scorer. His poaching skills were key to Qatar SC finishing fourth in the league. the 30-year-old, who started his career at native Esperance in 2003, then moved to belgium’s mouscron in ’08 and spent rest of his career in that country before moving to Qatar SC last season. An intelligent player, Harbaoui also thrives on his power. He will have to begin from where he left off last season if Qatar SC want to repeat their fine work. 2014-15 RECORD

MOUHCINE IAJOUR (MAR) TOP SCORER Forward mouhcine Iajour, who in 2013 HAMDI became the first African footballer HARBAOUI to win the top-scorer award at the FIFA Club World Cup, joined Qatar Sports Club from native side moghreb tetouan. “It’s the first time I’ll be playing in a Gulf 21GOALS country. I find it as a challenge. I want to do well,” said 30-year-old the tunisian forward Iajour. did the star turn for the yellow-and-black side, scoring consistently and eventually finishing as the second highest scorer in the competition.

LEAGUE DROUGHT twelve seasons have passed since Qatar SC last won the league. ISMAIL HAN KOOK- BENLAMAALEM YOUNG (KOR) PERFORMANCE METER (MAR) midfielder Defender 46 pOINtS

DSP RATING HOW THEY FARED

SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S 14WON Dr4AWN LOS8t CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp Did not qualify Fourth Semifinalists Semifinalists GOALS FOr 51 GOALS AGAINSt 40 14 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 15 FOOTBALL | QSL 2015-16 PREVIEW AL AHLI UMM SALAL BRIGADIERS | FOUNDED IN 1950 ORANGE FORTRESS | FOUNDED IN 1979

Ahli are one of the oldest clubs in Qatar. they Umm Salal, founded as Al tadmun Club, have won the Emir’s Cup four times, but are were renamed in 1996. the club, with yet to clinch the league title. many top players, limited resources and facilities, made a including current bayern munich coach pep PRESIDENT huge statement of intent by progressing PRESIDENT Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Thani Sheikh Faisal bin Ahmed Al Thani Guardiola, have donned their colours. to the AFC Champions League semifinal in 2009. coaches — milan macala2 and Zlatko 9seasons Umm Salal have been playing Kranjcar — managed the club last season. Dioko’s absence will affect Ahli Uygun has his work cut out in the top flight. COACH HLI proved their sixth-place season, parted ways with the Czech league’s top scorer, left in the ULENt Uygun helped Umm Salal With Al rayyan back in the fray and defender Welinton replaced Ahmed COACH ZLATKO KRANJCAR (CRO) finish in the season before coach and brought in Zlatko Kranjcar pre-season for Al Gharafa. to a creditable sixth-place finish Al Gharafa expected to be stronger, Fathy, tuncay Sanli and pejman BULENT UYGUN (TUR) Alast was no flash in the pan by in his place. Under the Croat, they Ahli have retained midfielders Blast season which prompted the Umm Salal will find it tough to montazeri. Former Croatian international Zlatko Kranjcar ending up one higher in the standings. performed convincingly in the second mojtaba Jabbari and mulota Kabangu club management to retain him. repeat their sixth-place finish. Uygun, Among new Qatari players, Uygun, a former turkish professional player, replaced milan macala as Al Ahli’s coach last switched to midfield after starting his career February on a two-year deal and he made milan macala, 71, was the man who phase. and most of their Qatari players. Unlike in the season before last, however, is ready for a fight. mohammed Khamis and mesaad Al as a striker. He spent most of his career at a sudden impact on the team. the decision had rebuilt the team and helped them When Kranjcar devises his strategy Iranian defender pejman montazeri when they could manage to collect He has made some notable Hamad are the notable names. native club Fenerbahce, who he represented to bring Kranjcar came in the wake of Ahli’s become Second Division champions in this time, he will have to do it without came in for compatriot Jalal Hosseini only eight points in the first phase, changes. Among the foreign recruits, As in the past, Umm Salal are in more than 100 matches. He spent all his string of poor results, but he steadied the 2012-13. talisman Alain Dioko. the Congolese while Congolese Firmin mubele the men in orange collected 20 in the only French forward Jeremie Aliadiere planning to sign a few more local coaching career in his country before taking ship. Kranjcar, 58, had previously coached charge of Umm Salal. the montenegro national team (2010-11) the club management, on noticing striker, who was key to Ahli’s fortunes replaced Dioko as the centre same period last time. And they added was retained. midfielder Andranik players on loan before the transfer as well as UAE’s Al Shaab (’07) and Iran’s a slump in form midway through last last season and emerged as the forward. another 17 in the second. teymourian, striker Yannick Sagbo and window closes on September 30. Sepahan (2011-14). FOREIGN FLAVOUR FOREIGN FLAVOUR

MOJTABA JABBARI (IRI) YANNICK SAGBO (CIV) midfielder Forward Jabbari joined Ahli the season before last in place of compatriot Umm Salal signed Ivory Coast striker Yannick Sagbo in the close season on Ferydoon Zandi. the former Iran international has been the livewire of a two-year deal. the Ahli midfield and has performed consistently well over the last two the six-foot tall player moved in from English premier League side Hull seasons. the 32-year-old, who has great ball control and passing ability, City, after failing to make much of an impact there. is equally adept in set-pieces. Former coach milan micala had woven his Sagbo, 27, who had also played for monaco, Evian thonon Gaillard and strategy around the intelligent playmaker and Kranjcar has continued Wolverhampton Wanderers, is a powerful centre forward. 2014-15 RECORD it. Jabbari is in the final year of his contract and will be eager to impress. “He’ll be a big asset for us and I wish him all the best,” said Umm Salal 2014-15 RECORD “I’m happy to be at Al Ahli because we’ve a very good midfield and most Football Head Sheikh tamim bin mohammed Al thani. of the time we keep position of the ball well,” said Jabbari. TOP SCORER TOP SCORER JEREMIE ALIADIERE (FRA) TUNCAY ALAIN DIOKO Forward SANLI the former Arsenal player joined Umm Salal from FC Lorient at the beginning of last season, but did FIRMIN MUBELE (CON) not get enough playing time. the Forward 32-year-old did not look that lethal 12GOALS 26GOALS either whenever given a chance. Congolese striker Firmin mubele the former With four professional players middlesbrough and Stoke the joined Ahli from native side Vita allowed this time, Aliadiere can be Congolese Club. the 21-year-old, who shot into City forward was brought forward hopeful of starting every match. in by turkish coach bulent prominence with a hat-trick in the He looked more confident during Uygun and he repaid emerged as the African Champions League last year, Qatar Stars League’s training sessions and that should be his compatriot’s faith by top scorer for the is rated highly on the continent. He a good sign for coach bulent Uygun. emerging as the team’s second straight has limitless potential and is known top scorer. season. for his speed and dribbling skills even though his finishing looks to HIGH EXPECTATIONS have room for improvement. CONSISTENT SHOW Uygun had helped Umm Salal finish seventh It was a consistent show by Ahli who, in the season before last, taking the team all having collected 20 points in the first round, the way up from rock bottom after the first added 18 in the second to finish fifth. phase. Naturally, the expectations will be high. MULOTA PEJMAN WELINTON (BRA) ANDRANIK PERFORMANCE METER KABANGU MONTAZERI Defender TEYMOURIAN (IRI) PERFORMANCE METER (CON) (IRI) midfielder 38 pOINtS midfielder Defender 37 pOINtS

DSP DSP HOW THEY FARED RATING RATING HOW THEY FARED

WON11 Dr5AWN 10LOSt SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S 10WON Dr7AWN LOS9t CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp GOALS FOr 48 GOALS AGAINSt 40 Did not qualify Fifth Did not qualify third round Did not qualify Sixth Did not qualify Quarterfinalists GOALS FOr 43 GOALS AGAINSt 37 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 15

UMM SALAL ORANGE FORTRESS | FOUNDED IN 1979

Umm Salal, founded as Al tadmun Club, were renamed in 1996. the club, with limited resources and facilities, made a huge statement of intent by progressing PRESIDENT Sheikh Faisal bin Ahmed Al Thani to the AFC Champions League semifinal in 2009. 9seasons Umm Salal have been playing Uygun has his work cut out in the top flight. ULENt Uygun helped Umm Salal With Al rayyan back in the fray and defender Welinton replaced Ahmed COACH to a creditable sixth-place finish Al Gharafa expected to be stronger, Fathy, tuncay Sanli and pejman BULENT UYGUN (TUR) Blast season which prompted the Umm Salal will find it tough to montazeri. club management to retain him. repeat their sixth-place finish. Uygun, Among new Qatari players, Uygun, a former turkish professional player, switched to midfield after starting his career Unlike in the season before last, however, is ready for a fight. mohammed Khamis and mesaad Al as a striker. He spent most of his career at when they could manage to collect He has made some notable Hamad are the notable names. native club Fenerbahce, who he represented only eight points in the first phase, changes. Among the foreign recruits, As in the past, Umm Salal are in more than 100 matches. He spent all his the men in orange collected 20 in the only French forward Jeremie Aliadiere planning to sign a few more local coaching career in his country before taking charge of Umm Salal. same period last time. And they added was retained. midfielder Andranik players on loan before the transfer another 17 in the second. teymourian, striker Yannick Sagbo and window closes on September 30.

FOREIGN FLAVOUR

YANNICK SAGBO (CIV) Forward Umm Salal signed Ivory Coast striker Yannick Sagbo in the close season on a two-year deal. the six-foot tall player moved in from English premier League side Hull City, after failing to make much of an impact there. Sagbo, 27, who had also played for monaco, Evian thonon Gaillard and Wolverhampton Wanderers, is a powerful centre forward. 2014-15 RECORD “He’ll be a big asset for us and I wish him all the best,” said Umm Salal Football Head Sheikh tamim bin mohammed Al thani. TOP SCORER

JEREMIE ALIADIERE (FRA) TUNCAY Forward SANLI the former Arsenal player joined Umm Salal from FC Lorient at the beginning of last season, but did not get enough playing time. the 32-year-old did not look that lethal 12GOALS either whenever given a chance. the former With four professional players middlesbrough and Stoke allowed this time, Aliadiere can be City forward was brought hopeful of starting every match. in by turkish coach bulent He looked more confident during Uygun and he repaid training sessions and that should be his compatriot’s faith by a good sign for coach bulent Uygun. emerging as the team’s top scorer.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS Uygun had helped Umm Salal finish seventh in the season before last, taking the team all the way up from rock bottom after the first phase. Naturally, the expectations will be high. WELINTON (BRA) ANDRANIK Defender TEYMOURIAN (IRI) PERFORMANCE METER midfielder 37 pOINtS

DSP RATING HOW THEY FARED

SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S 10WON Dr7AWN LOS9t CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp Did not qualify Sixth Did not qualify Quarterfinalists GOALS FOr 43 GOALS AGAINSt 37 16 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 17 FOOTBALL | QSL 2015-16 PREVIEW AL GHARAFA AL ARABI CHEETAHS | FOUNDED IN 1979 REDS | FOUNDED IN 1952

Formed as Al Ittihad, the club changed its Al Arabi were one of the leading name to Al Gharafa in 2004. they have clubs in Qatar and boasted achieved a lot of success at the domestic level, arguably the strongest fan base. including a hat-trick of league titles starting PRESIDENT they won the Emir’s Cup on eight PRESIDENT Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani Hitmi bin Ali Al Hitmi with the 2007-08 season. occasions, Qatar League and Sheikh Jassim Cup seven times and Heir Apparent’s Cup once. seasons have passed since5 Al Gharafa 18seasons have passed since Arabi won last won the league title. Gharafa look to revive old glory Al Arabi pin high hopes on Zola the league title. COACH L GHArAFA, once the reference the ‘Cheetahs’ kept slumping and After it ended last January, Gharafa’s rAbI once found themselves While their neighbours Al Ahli, with In Gianfranco Zola, they have COACH PERICLES CHAMUSCA (BRA) in Qatar football for success and never looked good enough to lift the once-successful coach marcos paqueta on a high pedestal in the Gulf less resources and facilities, came back arguably the most popular name GIANFRANCO ZOLA (ITA) Aprofessionalism, have struggled league shield. tried to rebuild the team with new Aregion, but if hardly anyone to the top flight in the 2012-13 season among all coaches. but then, Daniel In brazilian pericles Chamusca, Al Gharafa to make an impression of late. they the Gharafa management changed foreign and local players. they gave takes them seriously now, then it is and emerged as a fighting unit in petrescu, another Chelsea star, had Zola, the unassuming Italian who fully have a coach who knows the Qatar Stars bloomed as a player at English premier League inside out. the 50-year-old had looked to be the undisputed leaders too many players and coaches in an the impression of a comeback, it did mainly because of the management’s quick time, Arabi have found it tough begun as the coach only to be fired League club Chelsea, took charge as Al Arabi helped Al Arabi to fourth in 2010-11 and while completing a hat-trick of league attempt get back to the winning path, not last long, which led to the firing whimsical attitude. they made to get their act together despite having after a few weeks. coach on a two-year deal. the 49-year-old, then guided El Jaish to second the very next titles in the 2009-10 season under the but failed. to add to their worries, FIFA of paqueta. but in the close season, changes every now and then (21 a rich tradition. Zola has asked the management to who played alongside Diego maradona at season. Gharafa believe he can mastermind inspiring leadership of brazilian great slapped them an 18-month transfer Gharafa were one of the first to act as coaches in the last 10 years), disturbed As yet another season is set to give him time to build a strong team, Napoli and previously trained teams like their turnaround. “I’m happy to be back in West Ham United and Watford, admitted he Qatar. Gharafa are a strong club, with a lot of Juninho. but ever since Lekhwiya ban following the disputed signing of they signed Alain Dioko, top scorer in promising combinations and always begin, Arabi are hardly considered but it will be better for him not to test had a tough task on hand. “I promise to try history. I’m optimistic they can challenge for dethroned them the following season, mark bresciano from the UAE’s Al Nasr. the last two seasons, from Al Ahli. looked for instant success. favourites. its patience. my best to take the club back to their glory titles and bring back glory,” said Chamusca. days of the 1990s. I don’t know how long it’ll take, but I’m working towards that goal,” FOREIGN FLAVOUR FOREIGN FLAVOUR said Zola.

ALAIN DIOKO (CON) ROD FANNI (FRA) Forward Defender Alain Dioko, who won the Qatar Football Association’s top-scorer award Arabi moved quite early in the pre-season to sign French right-back rod for the second straight season last time, joined Al Gharafa from Al Ahli Fanni from Ligue 1 side Olympique marseille on a two-year deal. the on a three-year deal. One of the best African footballers to play in Qatar 33-year-old, capped five times by France, has previously played for Ligue in the last few years, Dioko is a powerful centre forward, who has 1 sides Lens, Nice and rennes. “money was also a major factor for me to exquisite control, fantastic dribbling skills and lightning speed. He is quit marseille as Qatari clubs have good financial conditions. I had given lethal in the box and Ahli had mostly relied on his poaching ability to much time to the French side, but they kept me waiting. At some point, I finish a creditable fifth in the league last season. “I feel settled now need to be reassured and think selfishly. Hence, I decided to leave them,” at Al Gharafa, I feel a part of the club from the very first day, I hope to said Fanni on his switch to Arabi. 2014-15 RECORD 2014-15 RECORD contribute to the team’s success,” said Dioko.

TOP SCORER MASOUD SHOJAEI (IRI) ASHKAN DEJAGAH (IRI) TOP SCORER midfielder midfielder PAULINHO CLAUDIO masoud Shojaei replaced Australian Attacking midfielder Dejagah KESERU midfielder mark bresciano as Al joined Arabi last season from Gharafa’s Asian player. One of the English premier League side most talented Iranian players of Fulham. the 29-year-old Iran his generation, Shojaei showed his international did not start abilities last season at minnows all matches last time, but 8GOALS Al Shahaniya and that prompted grabbed the chances he got 9GOALS Gharafa to sign him. “I hope that my and scored five goals. Dejagah, the romanian striker stint at the club will be successful who represented Germany the brazilian quickly played only in the like that of my countrymen Farhad at the youth level between found his footing at last four months, Arabi and was a vibrant but ended up as majidi and mohamed reza, who 2001 and ’09, won with them presence upfront. Gharafa’s leading played here,” said Shojaei. the European Under-21 scorer. Championship in ’09. DAMPENED MORALE DESPERATE ATTEMPT Arabi have changed a few players and brought in former Italian great Gianfranco Al Gharafa have invested heavily this Zola as coach, but not many are ready to put season and are eager to make an impact. their money on them. YASSINE ANDERSON PAULINHO JUNIOR PERFORMANCE METER CHIKHAOUI MARTINS (BRA) DUTRA (BRA) PERFORMANCE METER (TUN) (BRA) Forward Forward 36 pOINtS Forward Defender 35 pOINtS

DSP DSP HOW THEY FARED RATING RATING HOW THEY FARED

WON11 Dr3AWN 12LOSt SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S WON9 Dr8AWN LOS9t CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp GOALS FOr 48 GOALS AGAINSt 54 Did not qualify Seventh Did not qualify third round Did not qualify Eighth Did not qualify third round GOALS FOr 43 GOALS AGAINSt 38 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 17

AL ARABI REDS | FOUNDED IN 1952

Al Arabi were one of the leading clubs in Qatar and boasted arguably the strongest fan base. they won the Emir’s Cup on eight PRESIDENT Hitmi bin Ali Al Hitmi occasions, Qatar League and Sheikh Jassim Cup seven times and Heir Apparent’s Cup once. 18seasons have passed since Arabi won Al Arabi pin high hopes on Zola the league title. rAbI once found themselves While their neighbours Al Ahli, with In Gianfranco Zola, they have COACH on a high pedestal in the Gulf less resources and facilities, came back arguably the most popular name GIANFRANCO ZOLA (ITA) Aregion, but if hardly anyone to the top flight in the 2012-13 season among all coaches. but then, Daniel takes them seriously now, then it is and emerged as a fighting unit in petrescu, another Chelsea star, had Zola, the unassuming Italian who fully bloomed as a player at English premier mainly because of the management’s quick time, Arabi have found it tough begun as the coach only to be fired League club Chelsea, took charge as Al Arabi whimsical attitude. they made to get their act together despite having after a few weeks. coach on a two-year deal. the 49-year-old, changes every now and then (21 a rich tradition. Zola has asked the management to who played alongside Diego maradona at coaches in the last 10 years), disturbed As yet another season is set to give him time to build a strong team, Napoli and previously trained teams like West Ham United and Watford, admitted he promising combinations and always begin, Arabi are hardly considered but it will be better for him not to test had a tough task on hand. “I promise to try looked for instant success. favourites. its patience. my best to take the club back to their glory days of the 1990s. I don’t know how long it’ll take, but I’m working towards that goal,” FOREIGN FLAVOUR said Zola.

ROD FANNI (FRA) Defender Arabi moved quite early in the pre-season to sign French right-back rod Fanni from Ligue 1 side Olympique marseille on a two-year deal. the 33-year-old, capped five times by France, has previously played for Ligue 1 sides Lens, Nice and rennes. “money was also a major factor for me to quit marseille as Qatari clubs have good financial conditions. I had given much time to the French side, but they kept me waiting. At some point, I need to be reassured and think selfishly. Hence, I decided to leave them,” said Fanni on his switch to Arabi. 2014-15 RECORD

ASHKAN DEJAGAH (IRI) TOP SCORER midfielder PAULINHO Attacking midfielder Dejagah joined Arabi last season from English premier League side Fulham. the 29-year-old Iran international did not start all matches last time, but grabbed the chances he got 9GOALS and scored five goals. Dejagah, who represented Germany the brazilian quickly at the youth level between found his footing at Arabi and was a vibrant 2001 and ’09, won with them presence upfront. the European Under-21 Championship in ’09. DAMPENED MORALE Arabi have changed a few players and brought in former Italian great Gianfranco Zola as coach, but not many are ready to put their money on them. PAULINHO JUNIOR (BRA) DUTRA (BRA) PERFORMANCE METER Forward Forward 35 pOINtS

DSP RATING HOW THEY FARED

SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S WON9 Dr8AWN LOS9t CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp Did not qualify Eighth Did not qualify third round GOALS FOr 43 GOALS AGAINSt 38 18 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 19 FOOTBALL | QSL 2015-16 PREVIEW AL KHARAITIYAT AL KHOR THUNDERS | FOUNDED IN 1996 KNIGHTS | FOUNDED IN 1951

Kharaitiyat were formed as Al Hilal and were Al Khor was unofficially set up by oil promoted to the top flight at the end of the workers in 1951. It was reestablished 2007-08 season. 10 years later, with an emphasis on PRESIDENT football. the club, earlier known as Al PRESIDENT Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani taawun, was renamed in 2004.

seasons Kharaitiyat7 have been 2trophies have been won by Al Khor so playing in the top flight. Osim’s men rely on teamwork Keen to start on promising note far in their history. COACH L KHArAItIYAt, who stared at and Al Sadd, and finished ninth. a much better side. We play with HEN Khor begin their boloni, with plenty of European season. the only notable change is the COACH AMAR OSIM (BOS) relegation midway through Jordanian centre forward Hassan a much quicker tempo and there’s campaign against Umm experience, had a limited squad at his arrival of South Korean defender Lee JEAN FERNANDEZ (FRA) Alast season, made a terrific Abdelfattah did the star turn for them always an emphasis on teamwork,” WSalal on their home turf disposal, but he helped them put up Yong in place of Jordanian centre-back Al Kharaitiyat coach Amar Osim is hopeful turnaround under coach Amar Osim. by netting 17 goals, but it was sheer said Abdelfattah. on Friday, former coach Laszlo boloni several gritty performances, especially mohammed mustafa, who hardly got Al Khor signed Jean Fernandez as coach on his side would do a much better job this a one-year deal. the Frenchman, 60, last time. After taking over from bertrand When he took over, Kharaitiyat were teamwork that won them games. they have retained all foreign will be greatly missed. the romanian at home. Yet, the management felt a any chance last season as only three coached Ligue 1 side montpellier, in 2013. marchand last February, the bosnian had 12th in the 14-team table with 13 Under Osim, they fought as a unit, players except Issiar Dia, who has has been a vibrant presence on the change was necessary and handed the foreigners were allowed to take the He had managed a host of clubs in his been able to reap success within a short points. scored a lot of goals and defended given way to talented midfielder touchline, always spurring on his reins to Jean Fernandez. field at a time. country as well as in Saudi Arabia, with Al period. “We played confidently towards the Under the bosnian, they collected with purpose. they commanded the Anwar Diba. Experienced Qatari players, arguing with referees and the Frenchman’s task will be to Khor are eager to begin their Nassr, Al Wehda and Al Shabab. end of last season and we want to resume with the same level this season,” said Osim. 21 of the possible 33 points, with wins rivals’ respect. players Khalid Jebarti and mohammed often openly expressing his frustration keep the team in top flight. the squad campaign on a promising note this including against Qatar Sports Club “the Kharaitiyat you see now is Salem too have joined the side. when things did not go as planned. remains more or less the same this time.

FOREIGN FLAVOUR FOREIGN FLAVOUR

HASSAN ABDELFATTAH (JOR) MARCO ANTONIOU (BRA) Forward midfielder Abdelfattah transformed himself under coach Amar Osim to help brazilian midfielder marco Antoniou, who joined Khor last January, Kharaitiyat finish ninth last season. had made a sudden impact. He soon took control of proceedings in the the lanky striker, who had just four goals to his credit after 15 rounds, midfield, something which he loves to do, and helped Khor avoid the pumped in 13 more from the last 11 matches. the 33-year-old had a relegation threat and finish 10th in the table. the 30-year-old former rather forgettable spell with Al Khor in the 2012-13 season, but looked Gremio player, who moved to Khor from Figueirense where he was a totally different footballer at Kharaitiyat. A hardworking player, Fattah on loan, should be more confident this time. His passing ability and has represented Jordan in 87 matches and scored 28 goals. He played intelligence are something any coach would like to bank on and he is sure 2014-15 RECORD at the ’04 and ’11 Asian Cups. He is best known in Jordan as “Shatter to figure prominently in Jean Fernandez’s scheme of things as well. 2014-15 RECORD Hassan”, an Arabic fairytale character of an unusually clever boy.

TOP SCORER ANWAR DIBA (MAR) MADSON (BRA) TOP SCORER midfielder midfielder JULIO CESAR HASSAN He is the kind of player who leads by the brazilian midfielder, who joined ABDELFATTAH example, even during practice. the Khor four seasons ago, has been one moroccan’s best performances came of the shortest players in the league at Al Wakrah, where he underlined and is rightly described as a pocket his credentials as one of the best dynamo. the 29-year-old possesses playmakers around. Diba, who loves great ball control, excellent dribbling 17GOALS to surge through the middle, is a skills and is a player to watch. He can 16GOALS prolific scorer, good at set-pieces and also be dangerous when it comes to the Jordanian can also play on the wings. set-pieces. the brazilian was reserved his best for regularly picked by the second phase and former coach Laszlo was in superb form. boloni, first as a winger and then as striker, and he repaid his master’s faith.

CONTINUING DROUGHT SAMBA STRENGTH the brazilian trio of Julio Cesar, madson and Al Kharaitiyat are yet to marco Antoniou, hold key to Khor’s chances win a title. once again. YAHIA KEBE DOMINGOS JULIO CESAR LEE YONG PERFORMANCE METER (BUR) NASCIMENTO (BRA) (KOR) PERFORMANCE METER Forward (BRA) Forward Defender 34 pOINtS Defender 30 pOINtS

DSP DSP HOW THEY FARED RATING RATING HOW THEY FARED

WON8 D10rAWN LOS8t SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S WON7 Dr9AWN 10LOSt CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp GOALS FOr 37 GOALS AGAINSt 38 Did not qualify Ninth Did not qualify Second round Did not qualify tenth Did not qualify Quarterfinalists GOALS FOr 38 GOALS AGAINSt 48 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 19

AL KHOR KNIGHTS | FOUNDED IN 1951

Al Khor was unofficially set up by oil workers in 1951. It was reestablished 10 years later, with an emphasis on football. the club, earlier known as Al PRESIDENT Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani taawun, was renamed in 2004.

2trophies have been won by Al Khor so Keen to start on promising note far in their history. HEN Khor begin their boloni, with plenty of European season. the only notable change is the COACH campaign against Umm experience, had a limited squad at his arrival of South Korean defender Lee JEAN FERNANDEZ (FRA) WSalal on their home turf disposal, but he helped them put up Yong in place of Jordanian centre-back on Friday, former coach Laszlo boloni several gritty performances, especially mohammed mustafa, who hardly got Al Khor signed Jean Fernandez as coach on a one-year deal. the Frenchman, 60, last will be greatly missed. the romanian at home. Yet, the management felt a any chance last season as only three coached Ligue 1 side montpellier, in 2013. has been a vibrant presence on the change was necessary and handed the foreigners were allowed to take the He had managed a host of clubs in his touchline, always spurring on his reins to Jean Fernandez. field at a time. country as well as in Saudi Arabia, with Al players, arguing with referees and the Frenchman’s task will be to Khor are eager to begin their Nassr, Al Wehda and Al Shabab. often openly expressing his frustration keep the team in top flight. the squad campaign on a promising note this when things did not go as planned. remains more or less the same this time.

FOREIGN FLAVOUR

MARCO ANTONIOU (BRA) midfielder brazilian midfielder marco Antoniou, who joined Khor last January, had made a sudden impact. He soon took control of proceedings in the midfield, something which he loves to do, and helped Khor avoid the relegation threat and finish 10th in the table. the 30-year-old former Gremio player, who moved to Khor from Figueirense where he was on loan, should be more confident this time. His passing ability and intelligence are something any coach would like to bank on and he is sure 2014-15 RECORD to figure prominently in Jean Fernandez’s scheme of things as well.

MADSON (BRA) TOP SCORER midfielder JULIO CESAR the brazilian midfielder, who joined Khor four seasons ago, has been one of the shortest players in the league and is rightly described as a pocket dynamo. the 29-year-old possesses great ball control, excellent dribbling skills and is a player to watch. He can 16GOALS also be dangerous when it comes to set-pieces. the brazilian was regularly picked by former coach Laszlo boloni, first as a winger and then as striker, and he repaid his master’s faith. SAMBA STRENGTH the brazilian trio of Julio Cesar, madson and marco Antoniou, hold key to Khor’s chances once again. JULIO CESAR LEE YONG (BRA) (KOR) PERFORMANCE METER Forward Defender 30 pOINtS

DSP RATING HOW THEY FARED

SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S WON7 Dr9AWN 10LOSt CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp Did not qualify tenth Did not qualify Quarterfinalists GOALS FOr 38 GOALS AGAINSt 48 20 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 21 FOOTBALL | QSL 2015-16 PREVIEW AL SAILIYA AL WAKRAH PEREGRINES | FOUNDED IN 1995 WAVES | FOUNDED IN 1959

Al Sailiya have not achieved much success in Al Wakrah are one of the oldest clubs in their two decades of existence. the club got Qatar. they have won the Qatar League a shot in the arm when the Qatar Olympic twice, Sheikh Jassim Cup four times, and Committee refurbished the stadium four PRESIDENT Heir Apparent’s Cup and Qatar Stars Cup PRESIDENT Abdullah Al Eida Sheikh Khalifa bin Hassan Al Thani years ago. once each. many big names, like France’s Frank Leboeuf, have played for them. foreign players3 Al Sailiya 14seasons have passed since Al Wakrah changed this season. Targeting top-four finish again ‘We must work with single aim’ last won the league. COACH L SAILIYA impressed the season signings including that of portuguese Cameroonian midfielder raoul Cedric WO-tImE league champions defeated Al Gharafa, Shahaniya lost relegation. COACH SAMI TRABELSI (TUN) before last with a fourth place defender ricardo Costa. Loe. bahraini international defender Al Wakrah have lost their to Ahli and thus they remained in top “the teamwork was missing,” said JOSE MAURICIO (URU) Ain the league and runners-up perhaps, the only saving grace was Faouzi Ayesh, who has been a Tsupremacy in Qatar football flight. Wakrah’s overall performance tufegdzic. “We had a good squad, but Sami trabelsi, who took charge in 2013, is finish in the Emir’s Cup. Abdulrahman Al Harazi winning the consistent performer for the side, was long ago and they were lucky to have last season left a lot to be desired. they we lacked motivation.” Uruguayan Jose mauricio Larriera took charge credited with transforming Sailiya into a of Al Wakrah on a two-year deal. He joined fighting unit, even though he himself may tunisian Sami trabelsi won the ‘best Young player’ award. retained. stayed in top flight on the last two tried three coaches — tunisian maher the Wakrah management, from native club Defensor Sporting. “this’ll be not be happy with their results last season. best-coach award as well, but they Yet, Sailiya have kept faith in there has been a few changes at occasions. Kanzari, Algerian Noureddine Zekri and which drew criticism for its lack of my maiden stint in an Asian country. I hope I’ll A former tunisia international and coach, he failed to repeat the good work last trabelsi. the coach acted fast in the the administrative level as well, with Last time around, their position was Serb Goran tufegdzic. professionalism, however, is looking be able to put my experience to good use and had prior experience in Qatar, having played time. transfer window and brought in three Abdullah Al Hanzab being named as not safe going into the final match tufegdzic, who helped Kuwait win forward to the new season after help the team with some positive results,” said for Al rayyan as centre-back. mauricio. they finished 11th despite the players — romanian defender Dragos the football head and former player as they were tied with minnows Al the Gulf Cup in Yemen in 2010, was entrusting the coaching reins with management making a few big Grigore, brazilian forward Edinho and Abdullah Darwish his deputy. Shahaniya on 20 points. While Wakrah instrumental in helping them avoid Uruguayan Jose mauricio.

FOREIGN FLAVOUR FOREIGN FLAVOUR

EDINHO (BRA) SEBASTIAN SAEZ (ARG) Forward Forward Al Sailiya signed brazilian Eder Luciano, commonly known as Edinho, Saez joined Wakrah from Chilean club Audax Italiano the season before last as their spearhead and handed him the No.10 jersey. Edinho, 33, who after emerging as the top scorer in the league. He may not have won the made his senior-team debut with native club Cachoeiro, spent the golden boot in Qatar, but he topped the team’s scoring charts in the last two next seven years of his career at lesser-known clubs in his country and seasons, with 18 and 11 goals respectively, thus helping them stay in top flight. portugal. He then moved to Iran’s mes Kermen, for whom he played Short, but strongly built, he is good in the air and lethal inside the box. Coach nearly 150 games in two different spells. He last represented Iran’s Jose mauricio has provided more support to the team by strengthening the tractor Sazi while his only stint in the Gulf region was at Al Sharjah midfield as well as signing support striker maher Yousef. Saez 2014-15 RECORD (2011-13). Edinho, a stylish player, has an eye for goals and special liking must start delivering once again right from the start if they 2014-15 RECORD for long-rangers. want to avoid any anxious moments towards the end.

TOP SCORER FAOUZI AYESH (BRN) TOP SCORER Defender ISAAM SEBASTIAN bahraini international defender SAEZ JEMAA Faouzi Ayesh is known to be a man of aggression. He has been Al MOUHCINE MOUTOUALI (MAR) Sailiya’s best performer in the last midfielder two seasons. the winning mentality Wakrah, who have always shown a he brings into the team has been special liking for moroccan players, 11GOALS astonishing and that makes him the has moutouali as their playmaker. the 16GOALS sort of weapon any coach would 29-year-old, who joined the club from the tunisian had the Argentinian finished love to have in his armoury. native club raja Casablanca last season, a mixed run and A wing-back, the 29-year-old can as the club’s top scorer despite topping the looked good, but it is doubtful whether for the second straight club’s scorers’ chart, also play in the midfield and even the team could fully utilise the former season. he was not retained. upfront. He has been a consistent morocco international’s skills. scorer as well and pumped in 10 goals last time. BEST SEASON LUCKY ESCAPE Al Sailiya turned in a series of fine Al Wakrah had a forgettable season last performances to finish fourth in the season time and had to wait till the final match to before last, which is their best placing so far. avoid relegation. DRAGOS RAOUL LOE RUBEN ALI REHEMA PERFORMANCE METER GRIGORE (CMR) AMORIM (IRQ) PERFORMANCE METER (ROM) midfielder (POR) Defender 29 pOINtS Defender midfielder 23 pOINtS

DSP DSP HOW THEY FARED RATING RATING HOW THEY FARED

WON8 Dr5AWN 13LOSt SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S WON6 Dr5AWN 15LOSt CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp GOALS FOr 40 GOALS AGAINSt 54 Did not qualify Eleventh Did not qualify third round Did not qualify twelfth Did not qualify Second round GOALS FOr 34 GOALS AGAINSt 52 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 21

AL WAKRAH WAVES | FOUNDED IN 1959

Al Wakrah are one of the oldest clubs in Qatar. they have won the Qatar League twice, Sheikh Jassim Cup four times, and Heir Apparent’s Cup and Qatar Stars Cup PRESIDENT Sheikh Khalifa bin Hassan Al Thani once each. many big names, like France’s Frank Leboeuf, have played for them. 14seasons have passed since Al Wakrah ‘We must work with single aim’ last won the league. WO-tImE league champions defeated Al Gharafa, Shahaniya lost relegation. COACH Al Wakrah have lost their to Ahli and thus they remained in top “the teamwork was missing,” said JOSE MAURICIO (URU) Tsupremacy in Qatar football flight. Wakrah’s overall performance tufegdzic. “We had a good squad, but long ago and they were lucky to have last season left a lot to be desired. they we lacked motivation.” Uruguayan Jose mauricio Larriera took charge of Al Wakrah on a two-year deal. He joined stayed in top flight on the last two tried three coaches — tunisian maher the Wakrah management, from native club Defensor Sporting. “this’ll be occasions. Kanzari, Algerian Noureddine Zekri and which drew criticism for its lack of my maiden stint in an Asian country. I hope I’ll Last time around, their position was Serb Goran tufegdzic. professionalism, however, is looking be able to put my experience to good use and not safe going into the final match tufegdzic, who helped Kuwait win forward to the new season after help the team with some positive results,” said mauricio. as they were tied with minnows Al the Gulf Cup in Yemen in 2010, was entrusting the coaching reins with Shahaniya on 20 points. While Wakrah instrumental in helping them avoid Uruguayan Jose mauricio.

FOREIGN FLAVOUR

SEBASTIAN SAEZ (ARG) Forward Saez joined Wakrah from Chilean club Audax Italiano the season before last after emerging as the top scorer in the league. He may not have won the golden boot in Qatar, but he topped the team’s scoring charts in the last two seasons, with 18 and 11 goals respectively, thus helping them stay in top flight. Short, but strongly built, he is good in the air and lethal inside the box. Coach Jose mauricio has provided more support to the team by strengthening the midfield as well as signing support striker maher Yousef. Saez 2014-15 RECORD must start delivering once again right from the start if they want to avoid any anxious moments towards the end.

TOP SCORER SEBASTIAN SAEZ MOUHCINE MOUTOUALI (MAR) midfielder Wakrah, who have always shown a special liking for moroccan players, has moutouali as their playmaker. the 16GOALS 29-year-old, who joined the club from the Argentinian finished native club raja Casablanca last season, as the club’s top scorer looked good, but it is doubtful whether for the second straight the team could fully utilise the former season. morocco international’s skills.

LUCKY ESCAPE Al Wakrah had a forgettable season last time and had to wait till the final match to avoid relegation. RUBEN ALI REHEMA AMORIM (IRQ) PERFORMANCE METER (POR) Defender midfielder 23 pOINtS

DSP RATING HOW THEY FARED

SHEIKH JASSIm QAtAr StArS QAtAr EmIr’S WON6 Dr5AWN 15LOSt CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp Did not qualify twelfth Did not qualify Second round GOALS FOr 34 GOALS AGAINSt 52 22 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 23 FOOTBALL | QSL 2015-16 PREVIEW AL RAYYAN AL MESAIMEER LIONS | FOUNDED IN 1967 TORCHES | FOUNDED IN 1996

Al rayyan have won the Qatar League seven times, the club was unofficially formed in Heir Apparent’s Cup and Sheikh Jassim Cup four 1996 under the name Al Nahda and times each and Emir’s Cup on six occasions. Former was renamed as Al Shoala in ’98. In Qatar international mansour muftah, Fernando PRESIDENT 2000, the Qatar Olympic Committee PRESIDENT Sheikh Saud bin Khalid Al Thani Abdulrahman bin Saad Al Shathri Hierro, De boer brothers Frank and ronald, Sonny built administrative building, changing Anderson, ricardinho and Sabri Lamouchi are some rooms and a football field for the club. of the big names to have represented them. mesaimeer took their current name in ’04. seasons have20 passed since rayyan last 4new foreign players have been signed won the Qatar league title. Lions banking on experience Debutants face a daunting task by Al mesaimeer this season. COACH L rAYYAN look determined to the management, which paid dearly quite early on in the pre-season while L mESAImEEr, who will make at the end of the 2013-14 season, only impossible. Qualifying for the QSL was COACH JORGE FOSSATI (URU) repeat their feat of 1990, when for fielding a young-blooded team in defenders Victor Caceres and Gonzalo their Qatar Stars League (QSL) to get relegated. While Shamal ended definitely a historic achievement for all RODION GACANIN (CRO) Athey won the Qatar League on the 2013-14 season, seems to have Viera and midfielder Koh myong-Jin are Adebut this season, are sure to up as the punching bags and could of us, but we mustn’t relax. We’ve to Fossati, who has more than two decades their return after spending a season in realised its mistake. the Lions this time their other fresh foreign faces. find the going tough. manage just one victory, Shahaniya remain focused because staying in the mesaimeer handed the coaching job to rodion of experience in coaching, is undoubtedly Gacanin this season. the Croat last managed the best candidate to guide rayyan on their the lower division. have signed several experienced names but the most important step was the they are one of the youngest clubs fared slightly better and collected 20 top flight is going to be a challenge. Iraqi club Erbil. the 52-year-old, who started comeback. He expressed confidence when rayyan’s relegation was the biggest like Sebastian Soria, Khalifa Ammari, decision to hand the coaching reins to in the country, and have limited points from 26 rounds. “It’s very difficult for any promoted his managerial career at native NK Opatija in he assumed charge. “We shouldn’t forget news in the season before last, but Juma Al Alawi and Ulises pascua. Jorge Fossati. the Uruguayan, who had resources and facilities. Yousuf Adam, who helped side to maintain form and consistency 1997, moved to the Gulf region more than two that we came from the Second Division, it’ll they proved their worth by winning the Successful midfielder rodrigo tabata successful spells with Al Sadd and Qatar they have hardly got any inspiration mesaimeer win promotion before as there would be several strong decades ago. He has since then coached seven make it even harder for us, but I think we’re clubs as well as the Kuwait national team in contention,” said Fossati. Qatargas League (Second Division) and has been naturalised. Former Espanyol national team, has a thorough idea to draw from Al Shamal and Al being replaced by Croatian coach teams. It’s a dream come true for (2007-08). getting back to the top flight. captain Sergio Garcia was roped in about the style in the country. Shahaniya, who both were promoted rodion Gacanin said, “Nothing is everyone.”

FOREIGN FLAVOUR FOREIGN FLAVOUR

SERGIO GARCIA (ESP) HELIO PINTO (POR) Forward midfielder Ace Spaniard Sergio Garcia will spearhead Al rayyan’s attack this season. pinto, a central midfielder, moved to mesaimeer from polish club Legia A strong forward, Garcia has delicate touches and has penchant for Warsaw this season on a two-year deal. A product of portuguese club scoring goals. the 32-year-old has a good record in assists as well. He benfica’s youth system, pinto spent most of his career with Cypriot club left Espanyol after scoring 41 goals for the Catalan club over the past ApOEL, appearing in more than 275 games and winning eight major 2014-15 RECORD five seasons, including 14 last time. born on June 9, 1983, Garcia started titles. the 31-year-old left-footed player is known primarily for his (Qatargas League) his career with barcelona. He was transferred on loan to Levante during exquisite passing skills. Coach rodion Gacanin can confidently chalk out the 2004-05 season. He then moved to real Zaragoza and real betis his strategy around the six-foot player, who may have to work that extra 2014-15 RECORD before joining Espanyol in ’12. He was also a member of the ’08 Euro bit as mesaimeer are likely to be on the back foot most of the time. (Qatargas League) Championship-winning Spain squad. TOP SCORER RODRIGO TABATA KOH MYONG-JIN (KOR) TOP SCORER midfielder JAYCEE South Korean midfielder Koh JOHN myong-Jin moved to Al rayyan on a one-season deal after spending 12 years with his native club FC MOHAMED NOURI (IRI) 22GOALS Seoul. “I’ve the aspiration to always midfielder the attacking remain in the thick of things and mesaimeer signed the attacking midfielder came back great ambition to win trophies midfielder for one season from 19GOALS to rayyan in January with rayyan. I’ve gained a lot of persepolis. the Iranian moved to Doha after playing in the experience during my time at Seoul after spending his entire career in his the former bahrain first phase on loan and I want to put all that to good homeland. “As someone with many international lived at Al Sadd, but still up to the club’s effect here,” said the 27-year-old. years of experience, I hope, along with expectations. netted 22 goals to take our new foreign players, I can help the Lions back to the top flight. my new team-mates perform at their optimum level,” said 32-year-old Nouri. DETERMINED LOT MODEST TARGET Having signed experienced coach Jorge Staying in the top flight will be the Fossati and a host of proven performers, target of Al mesaimeer. rayyan want to make an impact this season. VICTOR GONZALO RAFAEL ERIVELTO PERFORMANCE METER CACERES (PAR) VIERA (URU) AMORIM SILVA (BRA) PERFORMANCE METER Defender Defender (BRA) Forward 48pOINtS Defender 44 pOINtS

DSP DSP HOW THEY FARED RATING RATING HOW THEY FARED

16WON Dr0AWN LOS1t SHEIKH JASSIm QAtArGAS QAtAr EmIr’S SHEIKH JASSIm QAtArGAS QAtAr EmIr’S 14WON Dr2AWN LOS1t CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp GOALS FOr 87 GOALS AGAINSt 13 Did not qualify Winners Did not qualify Quarterfinalists Did not qualify runners-up Did not qualify Second round GOALS FOr 67 GOALS AGAINSt 23 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 23

AL MESAIMEER TORCHES | FOUNDED IN 1996

the club was unofficially formed in 1996 under the name Al Nahda and was renamed as Al Shoala in ’98. In 2000, the Qatar Olympic Committee PRESIDENT Abdulrahman bin Saad Al Shathri built administrative building, changing rooms and a football field for the club. mesaimeer took their current name in ’04. 4new foreign players have been signed Debutants face a daunting task by Al mesaimeer this season. L mESAImEEr, who will make at the end of the 2013-14 season, only impossible. Qualifying for the QSL was COACH their Qatar Stars League (QSL) to get relegated. While Shamal ended definitely a historic achievement for all RODION GACANIN (CRO) Adebut this season, are sure to up as the punching bags and could of us, but we mustn’t relax. We’ve to find the going tough. manage just one victory, Shahaniya remain focused because staying in the mesaimeer handed the coaching job to rodion Gacanin this season. the Croat last managed they are one of the youngest clubs fared slightly better and collected 20 top flight is going to be a challenge. Iraqi club Erbil. the 52-year-old, who started in the country, and have limited points from 26 rounds. “It’s very difficult for any promoted his managerial career at native NK Opatija in resources and facilities. Yousuf Adam, who helped side to maintain form and consistency 1997, moved to the Gulf region more than two they have hardly got any inspiration mesaimeer win promotion before as there would be several strong decades ago. He has since then coached seven clubs as well as the Kuwait national team to draw from Al Shamal and Al being replaced by Croatian coach teams. It’s a dream come true for (2007-08). Shahaniya, who both were promoted rodion Gacanin said, “Nothing is everyone.”

FOREIGN FLAVOUR

HELIO PINTO (POR) midfielder pinto, a central midfielder, moved to mesaimeer from polish club Legia Warsaw this season on a two-year deal. A product of portuguese club benfica’s youth system, pinto spent most of his career with Cypriot club ApOEL, appearing in more than 275 games and winning eight major titles. the 31-year-old left-footed player is known primarily for his exquisite passing skills. Coach rodion Gacanin can confidently chalk out his strategy around the six-foot player, who may have to work that extra 2014-15 RECORD bit as mesaimeer are likely to be on the back foot most of the time. (Qatargas League)

TOP SCORER JAYCEE JOHN

MOHAMED NOURI (IRI) midfielder mesaimeer signed the attacking midfielder for one season from 19GOALS persepolis. the Iranian moved to Doha after spending his entire career in his the former bahrain homeland. “As someone with many international lived up to the club’s years of experience, I hope, along with expectations. our new foreign players, I can help my new team-mates perform at their optimum level,” said 32-year-old Nouri. MODEST TARGET Staying in the top flight will be the target of Al mesaimeer.

RAFAEL ERIVELTO AMORIM SILVA (BRA) PERFORMANCE METER (BRA) Forward Defender 44 pOINtS

DSP RATING HOW THEY FARED

SHEIKH JASSIm QAtArGAS QAtAr EmIr’S 14WON Dr2AWN LOS1t CUp LEAGUE CUp CUp Did not qualify runners-up Did not qualify Second round GOALS FOr 67 GOALS AGAINSt 23 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com DSP/Mohan XAVI GIANFRANCO HERNANDEZ ZOLA DSP/Mohan XAVI GIANFRANCO HERNANDEZ ZOLA 26 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 27 FOOTBALL | QATAR

Qatar will do a fine job in 2022: Fossati In the middle of the OrmEr Uruguay goalkeeper and current season, the players Al rayyan coach Jorge Fossati has joined an will be in peak form Nurturing high hopes! Fincreasing number of football players and experts, and conditions, so who believe a winter World Cup would lead to I’m happy the Qatar increased performances on the pitch. held in the next few days to give “the World Cup is the most important event in World Cup will be Mohammad Amin-ul Islam TEAMS finishing touches to the event,” football and the players have to be in their best held in November and GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C said WAFF Executive Director conditions,” Fossati told www.sc.qa. December. Qatar Iran UAE Jordan Saudi Arabia Oman Suleiman Nawas. “So anyone who knows about football is quite aware Jorge Fossati AtAr will take on palestine palestine bahrain Syria Expectations are high for that players will never have their best moments at the ššFrom left, Andy in their first match, in Yemen Qatar. the Felix Sanchez-coached Young, martin end of a season. they’ll arrive with tired legs and body. Group A, at the West side consists of players who Josoor holds programme Girvan and Josoor In the middle of the season, they’ll be in their peak Q Institute’s Director Asian Football Federation (WAFF) the WAFF Championship will triumphed at the Asian Under-19 form and conditions, so I’m happy the World Cup in of Education ryan Under-23 Championship, to be be an ideal opportunity for teams Championship in myanmar last the preparations on spectator services bowd. 2022 will be held in November and December,” he said. held in Doha from September 30 to to warm up for the U-23 Asian October. they also made it to the are well in place for Fossati, who has coached Al Sadd and the Qatar October 14. Jordan and Yemen are Championship in Doha from FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New the championship. A HE Josoor Institute, a centre (acting) mushtaq Al Waeli. national team, highlighted the unique advantage of the other teams in the group. January 12 to 30 next year. Zealand in June. number of committees of excellence founded by “We’re committed to establish the country’s small size while hosting the World Cup. Hosts Qatar, coached by Algerian the draw ceremony will be held the Spaniard will be hoping have been formed and Tthe Supreme Committee for the mENA region’s reputation “If the event is organised by a country I’m not Djamel belmadi, had won the title in Doha on Saturday. to churn out yet another success meetings will be held Delivery and Legacy, conducted a as a top choice destination for familiar with, I would’ve had some doubts, because it last year when it was a senior event, “this is an ideal opportunity for story. soon to give finishing two-day executive development mega events with high standards isn’t easy to have so many people in one city and have beating Jordan 2-0 in the final. the teams to assess their strengths meanwhile, QFA General touches to the event. programme ‘Spectator Services of safety and the best quality everything moving smoothly. but in the case of Qatar, ten teams will compete in the Secretary mansour Al Ansari — A Senior manager and Director services for spectators at the a country which I know well, I firmly believe that Suleiman Nawas, tournament from which Kuwait and exuded confidence that the team Viewpoint’ last week. venues. they’ll solve all of the problems. WAFF Executive Director. Iraq pulled out. THE PRESENCE OF KUWAIT would put up a good show. the programme was attended by “As the infrastructure required “I’ve been lucky to know the people at the Group b comprises Iran, Saudi AND IRAQ WOULD’VE “I hope Qatar do well as we’ve a managers and directors working in for hosting the competition begins head of the project, I know that all the details Arabia and bahrain while Group MADE THE TOURNAMENT quality side,” said. sports industries. will be taken care of. It’ll give the world a unique C consists of the UAE, Oman and MORE COMPETITIVE. the programme was led by opportunity. In my country, it might’ve been Syria. Andy Young, who was the senior THE PROGRAMME WAS possible in 1930, but it was another world. In ’22, “both teams intimated us a FIXTURES consultant at Wembley Consulting ATTENDED BY MANAGERS to see two or three games in the stadium on the month ago about their inability and weaknesses ahead of the and head of events services during AND DIRECTORS WORKING same day is something simply fantastic, and a September 30 to take part. the exact reasons Asian event. All three groups are Qatar vs palestine the 2012 London Olympics and IN SPORTS INDUSTRIES. unique opportunity for a football fan,” said the are not known,” tournament strong and we hope to see high Jordan vs Yemen paralympic Games, and martin 62-year-old. Director Hamad Saleh Al mannai level of football,” Al mannai said. October 1 October 3 Girvan, Inspector at Sports Ground In a long and successful playing career, he has Iran vs bahrain Qatar vs Jordan told Doha Stadium Plus after Among the participating teams, UAE vs Syria palestine vs Yemen Safety Authority in the UK. to take shape, we should also focus a special memory also of the time he stood in goal the draw ceremony last Sunday. only bahrain, Oman and palestine October 4 October 6 “Spectators’ attendance and on developing and investing in its against a young player who would go on to become a ŢŢFrom left, “the presence of Kuwait and Iraq have failed to qualify for the U-23 Iran vs Saudi Arabia Qatar vs Yemen their positive experience on the human capital. this is where the World Cup legend — Diego maradona. mansour Al UAE vs Oman Jordan vs palestine Ansari, West would’ve made the tournament Asian Cup where 16 teams will be October 7 October 10 ground are probably the most institute’s mission comes into play,” “I faced many good players, but to play against Asian Football more competitive, but still seen in action. Saudi Arabia vs bahrain SEmIFINALS accurate measurements of an said Al Waeli. maradona was one of the most difficult moments. Federation Oman vs Syria General Secretary there’re strong teams like Iran, “the preparations are well in event’s success. that’s why training “Qatar has already identified “It happened when I was in Independiente and he October 14 ŢSheikh Hamad Fadi Zureikat and š UAE and Jordan. the competition place for the championship. A tHIrD-pLACE pLAY-OFF & the people responsible for creating its challenges and knowing what bin Khalifa bin was in boca Juniors. In his early days, he was even Hamad Saleh Al FINAL Ahmed Al thani, mannai at the promises to be a keenly-contested number of committees have been safe and enjoyable experiences for you’ve to deal with is the first step more fantastic than later in European football where third left, addresses draw ceremony. one.” formed and meetings will be spectators is important to us,” said in organising a successful event.” he had to adapt to a different style. He scored the QFA’s Annual Josoor Institute Executive Director he added. General Assembly. against me,” Fossati remembered.

Qatar, coached by Tiago Qatar Polido, are drawn with the UAE and Iraq into Group b in are drawn the West Zone qualifiers of with UAE the biennial Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal and Iraq Championship. Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, bahrain, Jordan are in Group A. the top two teams from each group will qualify for the finals. the matches will be held in malaysia from October 1 to 3.

DSP/A K BijuRaj DSP/A twenty two AFC member associations were divided into four zones — West, Central, ASEAN and East. Qatar backs formation of Gulf body Four teams each from West and ASEAN zones and HE Qatar Football Association other senior officials. adding more events in various two apiece from Central (QFA) has decided to back the the office of the new body will age-groups and including national and East will enter the final Tformation of Gulf Football be based in Doha. federations of Yemen and Iraq in round through qualifiers. Federation. “the QFA was in favour of such the GCC. Japan, Iran and Uzbekistan the decision was taken at its an organisation that would look “In addition to the hugely were given automatic berths Annual General Assembly, which after the interest of the sport, fans popular Gulf Cup, two new as the top three teams at the was attended by president Sheikh and all stakeholders in the region,” tournaments will be added to AFC Futsal Championship held in Vietnam in 2014. Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed said Sheikh Hamad. the regional calendar,” said Al However, since Uzbekistan Al thani, Vice-president Saud It was also decided that the mohannadi. “the new events are the hosts, the next best Abdulaziz Al mohannadi, General proposed body would launch two would be marketed and promoted team, Kuwait, qualified.

DSP/Mohan Secretary mansour Al Ansari and high-profile tournaments besides professionally.” www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 27

COLLATED RESULTS GROUP A Latvia lost to Czech Republic 1-2 Mighty Dutch on the brink of doom Turkey bt Netherlands 3-0 Iceland drew Kazakhstan 0-0 Czech Republic bt Kazakhstan 2-1 HE Netherlands were plunged brow Volkskrant said there was Netherlands lost to Iceland 0-1 into a veritable crisis after last a “blatant lack of quality, fitness, with Turkey drew Latvia 1-1 TSunday’s 0-3 loss in Turkey speed, teamwork and courage” GROUP B left their Euro 2016 qualification displayed by the team. Wales drew Israel 0-0 hopes in tatters with the local press Midfielder Wesley Sneijder was Bosnia and Herzegovina bt Andorra 3-0 Cyprus lost to Belgium 0-1 declaring it as the end of an era. not sure what exactly went wrong. Belgium bt Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-1 New coach Danny Blind said the “Maybe its bad luck, or lack of Cyprus lost to Wales 0-1 team had “shot ourselves in the foot” confidence,” he said. Israel bt Andorra 4-0 with individual errors in the defeat “We let two easy goals in against GROUP C in Konya, which followed on a 0-1 us that had to do purely with a lack Luxembourg bt Macedonia 1-0 Ukraine bt Belarus 3-1 home loss to Iceland. of concentration and focus,” he said. destiny Spain bt Slovakia 2-0 The two losses in Blind’s first two Robin van Persie, dumped as ICELAND MAKE HISTORY BY REACHING THEIR FIRST MAJOR FINALS AS THEY PICK UP A POINT GROUP D games left the Dutch floundering Georgia bt Scotland 1-0 in fourth place in Group A. They FROM A NERVY GOALLESS DRAW AGAINST KAZAKHSTAN TO CONSOLIDATE THEIR POSITION IN GROUP A Germany bt Poland 3-1 need to overhaul a two-point deficit WE NOW NO LONGER Gibraltar lost to Ireland 0-4 on third-placed Turkey with two OF THE EURO 2016 QUALIFICATION RACE, WRITES ANDY SCOTT. GROUP E HAVE IT IN OUR Estonia bt Lithuania 1-0 games to play in October to have any OWN HANDS. San Marino lost to England 0-6 chance of reaching the finals via the šşTurkey’s Caner Erkin, left, vies with the Netherlands’ Luciano Narsingh. Switzerland bt Slovenia 3-2 November play-offs. CELAND made history last England became the first hosts’ lead before the half-hour tournament since the ’58 World bosnia were comfortable 3-0 GROUP F It is a significant fall for the captain by Blind for the Iceland game no longer have it in our own hands. I Republic. This was followed by Sunday as they qualified for nation to qualify for the 24-nation mark. Cup. winners at home to Andorra, with Faroe Islands lost to Northern Ireland 1-3 Netherlands after finishing third at but restored for Turkey match after feel really terrible,” he said. defeat in Iceland. Greece lost to Finland 0-1 a major tournament finals for jamboree and the Czechs sealed burak Yilmaz sealed turkey’s A win at home to Israel in Cardiff Ermin bicakcic, Edin Dzeko and the World Cup in Brazil last year. injury to Arjen Robben, did not hide The Dutch were on the back foot Continuing poor performance saw I Hungary drew Romania 0-0 the first time, joining the Czech their place by beating Latvia 2-1 win later on, as Fatih terim’s side would have guaranteed progress Senad Lulic all scoring in the first GROUP G “We don’t count anymore,” his feeling. from the start as Guus Hiddink’s first Hiddink resign after less than a year republic in securing their berth at while the struggling Netherlands leapfrogged their opponents into from Group b, but they had to settle half. Russia bt Sweden 1-0 screamed the front page of “The whole qualifying tournament competitive game back as coach saw in charge with Blind promoted up Euro 2016. slumped to a potentially disastrous third place in the group, leaving for a 0-0 draw after failing to find a both sides were reduced to 10 Montenegro bt Liechtenstein 2-0 Algemeen Daglad while the high has all been very difficult. We now them lose in Prague to the Czech from assistant. the island nation, with barely 0-3 defeat in turkey. them in pole position to steal a way past goalkeeper Ofir marciano. men after the restart as bosnia’s GROUP H Malta drew Azerbaijan 2-2 şşGareth Bale 330,000 inhabitants, became First-half goals from David play-off place. belgium’s 1-0 win over Cyprus, muhamed besic was sent off along Norway bt Croatia 2-0 scores against Cyprus. England have time the least populated country Limbersky and Vladimir Darida put It was the Netherlands’ worst secured by Eden Hazard’s with Andorra’s Victor rodriguez. Italy bt Bulgaria 1-0 ever to qualify for a European the Czechs in control in riga, and 86th-minute strike in Nicosia, Italy edged closer to qualifying Bulgaria lost to Norway 0-1 Championship, thanks to a nervy they held on after Arturs Zjuzins got means Wales still require one from Group H after Daniele De Italy bt Malta 1-0 to experiment 0-0 draw with Kazakhstan in a goal back for Latvia. ICELAND ONLY NEEDED A point from their final two qualifiers rossi’s sixth-minute penalty proved Azerbaijan drew Croatia 0-0 GROUP I reykjavik. meanwhile, the Dutch are in POINT TO SECURE ONE OF next month, away to bosnia- enough to beat bulgaria 1-0 in NGLAND’S early qualification for next year’s Denmark drew Albania 0-0 Iceland only needed a point to real danger of missing out on a THE TOP TWO PLACES IN Herzegovina and at home to palermo. Serbia bt Armenia 2-0 Euro 2016 finals in France has given manager secure one of the top two places European Championship finals GROUP A. minnows Andorra. the Euro ’12 runners-up are ERoy Hodgson the rare luxury of being able to in Group A, and captain Aron for the first time since 1984 after belgium will also be through if two points clear of Norway, who experiment with his selections well ahead of the ŢşIceland players celebrate after Gunnarsson was sent off in the 89th suffering a second loss in as many they win in Andorra, so Israel are leapfrogged Croatia into second qualifying for Euro 2016. tournament kicking off. minute just before celebrations games under new coach Danny competitive defeat since Euro ’96. likely to have to fight it out with place thanks to a 2-0 win in Oslo, Jo England’s 6-0 win over San Marino helped them erupted on the final whistle. blind. they had earlier lost 0-1 to Iceland. bosnia for third place. Inge berget scoring twice. become the first country to take their place alongside ŢşSkipper Wayne the result allowed the side Semifinalists at last year’s World meanwhile, Wales will have Rooney scored the host France in the expanded 24-team finals. coached jointly by Heimir Cup, the Netherlands fell behind to wait before clinching opening goal in It was the earliest England have ever qualified Hallgrimsson and Swede Lars inside eight minutes in a packed qualification for England’s 6-0 rout for any major tournament apart from when they of San Marino. Lagerback to follow the Czechs stadium in Konya in central turkey a first European hosted the World Cup in 1966 and the European and England in being able to book to an Oguzhan Ozyakup goal and Championship, and a championship in ’96, and skipper Wayne Rooney flights to France next year. barcelona’s Arda turan doubled the first major now wants them to win every match in their qualifying group for the first time. Wanted, the real Welsh “I’m not sure early qualification gives us any particular advantage because we’re going to take a lot of time to plan and improve anyway,” said Bale at Madrid club! Hodgson. EAL Madrid fans watching nothing we as players haven’t “What it could do is give me the Gareth Bale driving Wales come to expect from him,” said opportunity for experimentation because Ralmost single-handedly to defender Ben Davies. we didn’t get that ahead of the World Cup the brink of their first major finals While his exploits have when we had to win our last two qualifiers since the 1958 World Cup may be prompted comparisons with Wales to get to Brazil,” he said. wondering if this is the same man great John Charles, Bale has yet to Although England failed to get out of they signed for a record fee two achieve the same kind of success the group stage in the World Cup last year, years ago. at Real that Charles did playing for they are now unbeaten in their last 12 The 26-year-old, who joined Italian side Juventus in the 1950s internationals. Real from Tottenham Hotspur for and early ’60s. They were always likely to emerge a fee of €100m, clinched a 1-0 win Bale’s debut season in Spain was unscathed from a Euro for Wales over Cyprus in their Euro very impressive and he scored in qualifying group against 2016 Group B qualifier, a towering the finals of the Champions League the likes of San Marino, header like a trademark effort from and the King’s Cup. Estonia, Lithuania, club team-mate and FIFA Ballon According to a recent survey of Slovenia and Switzerland, d’Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo. 725 Real members conducted by but youngersters have Bale has scored (six) or assisted the prominent market research impressed (two) eight of his nation’s nine firm SigmaDos forMarca sports Hodgson goals in qualification. daily, Bale was rated five out of 10 during the Without Bale’s contribution, for the season. campaign. Wales would would already be on That compared unfavourably Liverpool the brink of elimination, according with Portugal captain Ronaldo, defender Nathaniel to Spanish Twitter statistician who scored 7.8 after netting a La Clyne, 24, looks like being England’s best right-back Mister Chip (@2010MisterChip). Liga-best 48 goals and 61 in all since Gary Neville while Jonjo Shelvey, 23, has played “It was a great header but it’s competitions. his way back into the squad after good performances. www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 29

SPECIAL COLUMN Hulk goal gives Art of killing them softly!

Brazil victory Panenka when, in the 1976 prague playmaker almost by Jan Marchal European Championship final, he accident, and some time ahead of its ACKLUStrE brazil beat Costa rica 1-0 in New fooled West German keeper Sepp televised grand premiere in belgrade. Jersey last week, but the revamped team of maier to hand his country a surprise “We regularly practised penalties Lfive-time world champions failed to impress Or four decades, goalkeepers win. and free-kicks with our keeper The window in their penultimate friendly before next month’s have been haunted by the “If I had missed then, I would’ve Zdenek Hruska, betting a small World Cup qualifiers. F‘panenka’ penalty kick that been a turner with a forty-year amount of money, a beer or a Zenit St petersburg striker leaves them diving to the side while record in the job today,” smiles chocolate bar on each penalty,” Hulk scored after nine minutes the ball falls slowly into the middle the 66-year-old, still sporting his panenka explained. when he muscled his way past of the net. trademark moustache. “Since Zdenek quite often cleared a defender and fired home the western world first became the belgrade final headed into my kicks, they became quite costly to madness! from close. Hulk was starting aware of the kick a year after for me. He systematically dived to and brinkmanship that has become agents. premier League rules state for the first time since enduring a it had been invented by then- the right or left, so I tricked him Andrew Warshaw a hallmark of the UK market. that a player under contract “shall disappointing World Cup last year. Czechoslovakia midfielderAntonin WE REGULARLY PRACTISED before kicking the ball gently into the Mario Balotelli the totally unsatisfactory David not directly or indirectly make any brazil, who were largely disappointing, perked PENALTIES AND middle — he didn’t stand a chance,” de Gea ‘non-transfer’ to real madrid approach to another club without up when Kaka replaced Hulk midway through the FREE-KICKS WITH OUR he said. HE mad last-minute scramble from manchester United is a case in having obtained the prior written second half. KEEPER ZDENEK HRUSKA. brazilian legend pele once said is over and the dust is settling, point. the two clubs had months to consent of the existing club to who meanwhile, Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez that “only a fool or a genius” could Tbut the repercussions rumble agree a deal and failed at the 11th he’s contracted.” scored in the 82nd minute as Chile beat an venture to take such an unexpected on. Frustrated coaches, disaffected hour. Getting things done early is far the reality, of course, is vastly under-strength paraguay 3-2, in their first match penalties as Czechoslovakia and kick at a crucial moment like the Time to kick out players, disappointed fans. preferable. different. rarely will a club go after a after winning their first Copa America in July. West Germany were tied 2-2 after last penalty kick of a European the summer transfer window but football, of course, isn’t like player without having first contacted extra time. tournament. discrimination! may provide excitement and despair any other business. How much more his representative to see whether Four Czechoslovaks and three A French journalist once dubbed in equal measure, but is it actually ludicrous a situation could there be a move would be of interest and if Germans scored while Uli Hoeness panenka “a football poet”. EpOrtS of racism and other discrimination fair in producing a level playing field? than a player being paid a fortune so, how much would the salary be. ‘Pogba could be failed, the score being 4-3 before “I certainly don’t think I’m a in English football rose by 21 per cent last With the integrity of the game at and not even being registered on Hence expressions like ‘preliminary the last penalty. fool,” says panenka, who scored 17 Rseason to 887, according to figures released stake, it’s certainly a subject worth his team’s squad list. tottenham talks,’ ‘advanced discussions’, etc, worth €100m’ panenka took a quick run up, goals in 59 games for the erstwhile by the Football Association (FA) last week. examining. Hotspur’s Emanuel Adebayor is as selling and buying club lay looking set for a fierce blast and Czechoslovak national team. the number of complaints dealt with by many respected football voices in deemed surplus to requirements, down their respective demands via IDFIELDEr Paul Pogba could be worth maier dived to his left while panenka, who left bohemians anti-discrimination group Kick It Out also rose the UK are increasingly calling for the but his wage demands are so high intermediaries. more than €100m in the future, panenka checked his run and his prague for rapid Vienna in ’81, significantly, up 38 per cent to 393. window to close before the season that no other club was prepared to Did that have anything to do, one MJuventus Chief Executive Giuseppe gently-chipped shot took a slow enjoys watching the growing list High-profile incidents during the season kicks off. Every summer managers wonders, with De Gea’s protracted marotta said last week. curve and landed safely in the net. of his followers, including Zinedine included Liverpool striker mario balotelli receiving take stock of what has gone on at move breaking down? Or was that “As we want to win, we’ve decided to keep hold “Definitely you must’ve some Zidane, Andrea pirlo, Francesco totti, a one-match ban for retweeting an image of their clubs and start planning for the FINALLY LET’S NOT FORGET just down to a mixture of petty of a player as important as pogba, courage, but in the first place it’s Helger postiga, Sergio ramos or racial stereotypes, Stoke defender robert Huth next campaign. Or rather they try to LOAN DEALS WHICH bureaucracy and inefficiency in although we’ve had offers from necessary to practise hard, otherwise Zlatan Ibrahimovic. being banned for two matches for taking part in a plan. EXPLOIT THE either manchester or madrid, or some very important clubs,” it would be too risky to try this kick,” “I’m very happy that my idea isn’t transgender guessing game on twitter, and Wigan the fact that in England the TRANSFER WINDOW. both? marotta said. “In the future panenka said. “I myself perfected it dead,” he added. owner Dave Whelan’s six-week ban for remarks he window doesn’t close until well Finally let’s not forget loan deals, he could be worth more than during the months before Euro ’76.” He said his only regret was that made about Jewish people. into the season makes a mockery designed to allow young players €100m.” the idea of fooling goalkeepers he could never copyright his famous It was also revealed that balotelli had been of any kind of concrete preparation, take a punt on a player who’s now to gain invaluable experience the 22-year-old Frenchman, in this way came to the bohemians invention. targeted by 4,000 racist messages on social media. rendering squad building virtually 31. tottenham had apparently been elsewhere, but which exploit the who combines explosive pace and there were 124 cases reported to the football impossible as uncertainty kicks in trying to terminate his contract, but transfer window to an alarming strength with outstanding technique, has helped body, 723 involving the grass-roots game, and in amid all manner of rumours about the togo international reportedly extent. his side take a stranglehold on Italian football. terms of the FA incidents, 47 cases involved the Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of players’ futures. held out for a £5m payoff, believed take Chelsea. the premier League Juventus, Serie A champions for the last four ‘I’ve greatest respect Prince Ali Jordan, beaten in may’s FIFA professional matches. Everton, for instance, have to be the value of his final year. champions now reportedly have seasons, have lost their first two league games presidential election by Sepp mark Ives, the FA’s head of judicial services, said spent the last few weeks facing result? He stays where he’s, at least no fewer than 33 players out on this term and marotta admitted it had been may again blatter, strongly hinted he the rise showed people now had confidence in the prospect of losing their best until January, and plays loan after dispatching four more on difficult to replace Andrea pirlo, Arturo Vidal and for American justice’ stand for will stand for the position reporting incidents of discrimination. defender John Stones to Chelsea. the odd domestic cup transfer deadline day. All but two of Carlos tevez, who all left in the summer. again while speaking to “the important thing for me is that figures for they ultimately fended off the blues’ game. Utter lunacy. them will have virtually no chance IFA’S reform chief Francois Carrard was referring to the presidency delegates at the Soccerex both reports and convictions continue to rise, as it business convention last interest after rejecting the player’s So far I haven’t of returning for at least another Carrard meant no offence dawn raid on a luxury Zurich indicates people have an increased confidence in monday. transfer request, but the whole saga mentioned year. Youth prospects sent away to Fto United States authorities hotel in may where seven people, Asked if he was a what constitutes discrimination and how to report put a strain on everyone at the club. the role of improve their skills? Hardly. twelve Bierhoff when he questioned why they including FIFA officials, were candidate for the presidency it,” Ives said. “At the higher echelons of the game, Everton, like many others, played of them are full internationals were investigating corruption in arrested, two days before the of FIFA again, Ali replied, isolated incidents still occur on and off the field, four league games and once in the including, apparently, one or two backs salary cap football, he said last week. annual Congress. “I’m talking to national and we continue to work closely with clubs when associations, listening to League Cup by the time the window who’ve never even worn the shirt for A salary cap and draft League’s multi-billion euro Carrard also said he had the 77-year-old Swiss fans engage in discriminatory chanting.” their opinions and what they shut firm. Everton manager roberto the blues. system for football like broadcast rights deals. failed to make himself lawyer also explained there were 82 reports of racist behaviour see for the future and giving that used in American sports manchester United’s capture martinez believes business should the loan system needs to be properly understood his comments on the my own ideas. right now reported to the FA compared with 57 the previous would help stop the exodus of of teenage forward Anthony be conducted before the season better managed if it really doesn’t when he described game in the US. we need a candidate who’s season. top bundesliga players to richer martial from monaco for £36m, starts. serve the purpose of helping soccer in the United “this was a long forward thinking and will there were 20 incidents of homophobic competitions like the English labelled a panic-buy by sections He’s not alone. In theory, there’s no cash-strapped sides who need a States as “just an ethnic conversation.....I bring new ideas who’s not behaviour reported compared with 19, and nine premier League which dominate of the british media, ensured tainted by the past as well. reason why deals can’t be completed temporary bail-out. As it stands the transfer market, Germany’s premier League clubs racked sport for girls at schools.” meant that originally, complaints of sexist behaviour by supporters. So what I’ll say right now is a couple of weeks earlier, thereby now, it undermines the entire national team manager Oliver up a record spending of £870m the remarks were soccer in the States, “We’re particularly concerned about increasing ‘stay tuned’.” reducing the unsavoury antagonism integrity of the game. It shouldn’t Bierhoff said last week. in the transfer contained in an interview he 50 or 60 years ago, levels of hate crime in wider society, coupled with meanwhile, another FIFA “I’m a friend of the American window. be there simply to benefit a few gave to Swiss newspaper Le Matin was practiced more by presidential candidate Zico perceived worrying levels of prejudice, and how system because it’s about how “the elite clubs. When the recent Dimanche. ethnic groups,” he said. “And wants to hold a debate with this will impact on the work being done across can we keep this competition bundesliga is window closed Chelsea had “When you give a long then, what I was trying to point his rivals in Zurich later this the game to effect zero tolerance of any aspect of interesting. that should be our losing players, month, a source close to the loaned players to Italy, France, aim,” bierhoff said. that’s clear, interview, what you talk about out was the development of discriminatory conduct and prejudiced attitudes,” former brazilian international portugal, Germany, Holland Germany’s bundesliga has but we’ve to is squeezed for printing,” Carrard sports went through a major said Lord Herman Ouseley, chair of Kick It Out. said last week. and turkey, as well as lost several marquee players, accept that if said. “I expressed surprise at the development in high schools, “We’re urging all authorities and agencies to take David michel platini, president to four other premier with bayern munich’s bastian we’re talking harshness of the action taken in in particular with practices action, particularly through education, to tackle this de Gea of European football’s ruling Schweinsteiger and about a free League clubs. Zurich, it was a surprise blitz so to by the girls. We see now body UEFA, is considered phenomenon in a concerted way, not only for the Wolfsburg’s Kevin De bruyne market system,” speak. I’ve the greatest respect for how important football is the frontrunner to win the benefit of football, but also for the whole of society moving to England, bierhoff the American justice and I’ve no in the States. I should election to replace outgoing in the UK,” he added. boosted by the premier said. frustration at all with them.” speak less.” Sepp blatter on February 26. www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 31

Art of killing them softly!

Panenka when, in the 1976 prague playmaker almost by Jan Marchal European Championship final, he accident, and some time ahead of its fooled West German keeper Sepp televised grand premiere in belgrade. maier to hand his country a surprise “We regularly practised penalties Or four decades, goalkeepers win. and free-kicks with our keeper have been haunted by the “If I had missed then, I would’ve Zdenek Hruska, betting a small F‘panenka’ penalty kick that been a turner with a forty-year amount of money, a beer or a leaves them diving to the side while record in the job today,” smiles chocolate bar on each penalty,” the ball falls slowly into the middle the 66-year-old, still sporting his panenka explained. of the net. trademark moustache. “Since Zdenek quite often cleared the western world first became the belgrade final headed into my kicks, they became quite costly aware of the kick a year after for me. He systematically dived to it had been invented by then- the right or left, so I tricked him Czechoslovakia midfielderAntonin WE REGULARLY PRACTISED before kicking the ball gently into the Mario Balotelli PENALTIES AND middle — he didn’t stand a chance,” FREE-KICKS WITH OUR he said. KEEPER ZDENEK HRUSKA. brazilian legend pele once said that “only a fool or a genius” could venture to take such an unexpected penalties as Czechoslovakia and kick at a crucial moment like the Time to kick out West Germany were tied 2-2 after last penalty kick of a European extra time. tournament. discrimination! Four Czechoslovaks and three A French journalist once dubbed Germans scored while Uli Hoeness panenka “a football poet”. EpOrtS of racism and other discrimination failed, the score being 4-3 before “I certainly don’t think I’m a in English football rose by 21 per cent last the last penalty. fool,” says panenka, who scored 17 Rseason to 887, according to figures released panenka took a quick run up, goals in 59 games for the erstwhile by the Football Association (FA) last week. looking set for a fierce blast and Czechoslovak national team. the number of complaints dealt with by maier dived to his left while panenka, who left bohemians anti-discrimination group Kick It Out also rose panenka checked his run and his prague for rapid Vienna in ’81, significantly, up 38 per cent to 393. gently-chipped shot took a slow enjoys watching the growing list High-profile incidents during the season curve and landed safely in the net. of his followers, including Zinedine included Liverpool striker mario balotelli receiving “Definitely you must’ve some Zidane, Andrea pirlo, Francesco totti, a one-match ban for retweeting an image of courage, but in the first place it’s Helger postiga, Sergio ramos or racial stereotypes, Stoke defender robert Huth necessary to practise hard, otherwise Zlatan Ibrahimovic. being banned for two matches for taking part in a it would be too risky to try this kick,” “I’m very happy that my idea isn’t transgender guessing game on twitter, and Wigan panenka said. “I myself perfected it dead,” he added. owner Dave Whelan’s six-week ban for remarks he during the months before Euro ’76.” He said his only regret was that made about Jewish people. the idea of fooling goalkeepers he could never copyright his famous It was also revealed that balotelli had been in this way came to the bohemians invention. targeted by 4,000 racist messages on social media. there were 124 cases reported to the football body, 723 involving the grass-roots game, and in terms of the FA incidents, 47 cases involved the Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of ‘I’ve greatest respect Prince Ali Jordan, beaten in may’s FIFA professional matches. presidential election by Sepp mark Ives, the FA’s head of judicial services, said may again blatter, strongly hinted he the rise showed people now had confidence in for American justice’ stand for will stand for the position reporting incidents of discrimination. again while speaking to “the important thing for me is that figures for IFA’S reform chief Francois Carrard was referring to the presidency delegates at the Soccerex both reports and convictions continue to rise, as it business convention last Carrard meant no offence dawn raid on a luxury Zurich indicates people have an increased confidence in monday. Fto United States authorities hotel in may where seven people, Asked if he was a what constitutes discrimination and how to report when he questioned why they including FIFA officials, were candidate for the presidency it,” Ives said. “At the higher echelons of the game, were investigating corruption in arrested, two days before the of FIFA again, Ali replied, isolated incidents still occur on and off the field, football, he said last week. annual Congress. “I’m talking to national and we continue to work closely with clubs when Carrard also said he had the 77-year-old Swiss associations, listening to fans engage in discriminatory chanting.” failed to make himself lawyer also explained their opinions and what they there were 82 reports of racist behaviour see for the future and giving properly understood his comments on the my own ideas. right now reported to the FA compared with 57 the previous when he described game in the US. we need a candidate who’s season. soccer in the United “this was a long forward thinking and will there were 20 incidents of homophobic States as “just an ethnic conversation.....I bring new ideas who’s not behaviour reported compared with 19, and nine sport for girls at schools.” meant that originally, tainted by the past as well. complaints of sexist behaviour by supporters. the remarks were soccer in the States, So what I’ll say right now is “We’re particularly concerned about increasing contained in an interview he 50 or 60 years ago, ‘stay tuned’.” levels of hate crime in wider society, coupled with meanwhile, another FIFA gave to Swiss newspaper Le Matin was practiced more by presidential candidate Zico perceived worrying levels of prejudice, and how Dimanche. ethnic groups,” he said. “And wants to hold a debate with this will impact on the work being done across “When you give a long then, what I was trying to point his rivals in Zurich later this the game to effect zero tolerance of any aspect of interview, what you talk about out was the development of month, a source close to the discriminatory conduct and prejudiced attitudes,” is squeezed for printing,” Carrard sports went through a major former brazilian international said Lord Herman Ouseley, chair of Kick It Out. said. “I expressed surprise at the development in high schools, said last week. “We’re urging all authorities and agencies to take michel platini, president harshness of the action taken in in particular with practices action, particularly through education, to tackle this of European football’s ruling Zurich, it was a surprise blitz so to by the girls. We see now body UEFA, is considered phenomenon in a concerted way, not only for the speak. I’ve the greatest respect for how important football is the frontrunner to win the benefit of football, but also for the whole of society the American justice and I’ve no in the States. I should election to replace outgoing in the UK,” he added. frustration at all with them.” speak less.” Sepp blatter on February 26. 32 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 33

SWIMMING

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Qatar reign supreme with whopping gold haul Hosts Qatar, with 33 gold, 10 It was Qatar’s first overall title Al Khulaifi (U-14) and silver and as many bronze in the event’s history. mohammed Al mahmoud medals, reigned supreme at “We were in for some very (U-12) were adjudged the best the 25th GCC Championships, tough competition. Our hard swimmers. which concluded at the Hamad work in the past months have Aquatic Centre last week. paid off,” said Qatar coach MEDALS TALLY Saudi Arabia finished second Christos paparrodopoulos. read as gold, silver and bronze. Bridging the Qatar 33 10 10 with eight gold, 15 silver “this indeed is a memorable and 11 bronze medals while moment for Qatar swimming.” Saudi Arabia 8 15 11 bahrain 4 8 8 bahrain brought up the last Qatar’s Waleed rafeeq Oman 3 6 12 ARAB SWIMMING CONFEDERATION CHIEF TAHA AL KISHRY spot on the podium. Dalloul (Under-17), Yacoub UAE 0 9 5 TELLS AJU GEORGE CHRIS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES gulf! šЃQatari medallists pose with the spoils. FACED BY THE SPORT IN THE REGION AND a relatively rare sight in the It has top quality pools and enjoy HOW TO EFFECTIVELY TACKLE THEM. Arab world… support from the country’s highest ЃЃSince there’re a lot of cultural authorities. It has organised several restrictions in place, it’s only FINA competitions in the past and developing in most Arab countries. nobody has any doubts about its However, women competitors hosting abilities. I’m confident I from Qatar and bahrain have taken As for the UAE’s interest, it isn’t can make it to the part in the ’12 London Olympics yet official. Even if it gets the final rio Olympics with and FINA World Championships. go-ahead, I don’t think it’ll stand. a ‘b’ standard So there’s some movement my reading is it’ll withdraw at the time or as a wild happening, but it’ll take some time. last moment to make things easier card. Competing We’re trying to promote women’s for Qatar. in the Games is swimming in whatever ways we one of the biggest šЃYacoub, left, and Yousef with their parents. can. ЂЃWhat’re the challenges for the dreams of my life. sport in the region? Noah Al Khulaifi ЂЃQatar are in the race for the ’21 ЃЃWhile funds have not been and ’23 FINA Aquatic Worlds. How a problem in recent years, there Band of brothers! do you see its chances, especially exists a huge gap between Arab as the UAE is also in the fray? countries and Asian nations like ANY see the Al Khulaifi “right now, my boys’ lives revolve ЃЃQatar will be the frontrunner to Singapore, Japan, South Korea and brothers — Noah, Yacoub around two things — swimming šЂQatar’s Yacoub Al Khulaifi en route to winning the 50m butterfly gold. host the event in whichever year it China. they’re decades ahead of Mand Yousef — as the and education. I’m sure they can chooses. In my opinion, it can run a us. Catching up with them is one of future of swimming in Qatar. Last continue doing both in the future. FINA Worlds tomorrow, if need be. our biggest challenges. week, they won a bagful of medals We’ll help them go as high as they ESpItE being densely traditional Omani garb, he was a promoted swimming. It’s almost this change in attitude was encouraged swimmers, but times at the GCC Championships in Doha want. We’ll stand by their decisions,” populated and spread over constant presence on the sidelines a second home for me. I want reflected on the GCC event in Doha. are changing fast. Now, there’s to give credence to the claim. said Cornelia. Da large area, the Arab world of the 25th GCC Championships to thank the Qatar Swimming Several new Gulf and national much more enthusiasm to push Noah, 16, is the oldest while Noah said his immediate aim was has largely been unable to produce at the Hamad Aquatic Centre last Association for hosting a flawless records, in addition to a slew of children into the discipline. Qatari Yacoub and Yousef are 14 and 10 to qualify for the 2016 rio Olympic swimmers of note. barring a few week. event. Its organisational skills are personal-best marks, were set. and Kuwaiti swimmers have the respectively. Games. names, like tunisian Oussama the official, who is also Secretary second to none. there’s always a potential to do well at the Asian Al Jabir happy their father Abdulaziz and mother “I’m confident I can make it to mellouli, who has made a mark General of the Asian Swimming constant exchange of ideas and ЂЂWhy haven’t more Arab Age-Group Championships in Cornelia Carr, were cheering the boys the rio Olympics with a ‘b’ standard on the world scene, the region’s Federation, is a bundle of energy. expertise between Qatar and the swimmers, like Mellouli, come up bangkok, thailand, next month with Qatar’s improvement on at the Hamad Aquatic Centre. time or as a wild card. Competing potential has remained largely In an exclusive interview with rest of the Arab world. through the ranks? (October 1 to 7). the sport’s future “I encouraged the boys to learn in the Games is one of the biggest untapped. Doha Stadium Plus, Al Kishry spoke ЃЂSwimming is such a in the region looks bright. AtAr Swimming Sport Affairs Director. Al Jabir said swimming to be safe on water. I dreams of my life,” he said. Arab Swimming about his plans for the Gulf and ЂЂHas swimming been getting hugely-competitive sport that Association (QSA) Al Jabir said they spared no he was confident soon realised they were quite good QSA president Khaleel Al Jabir felt Confederation wider Arab region. enough recognition in Gulf just one swimmer, out of several ЂЂHow much has the lack of Qpresident Khaleel Al expense to ensure swimmers were in the roadmap set at it. One day, a Qatar Swimming president taha countries? thousands, often makes it to the facilities affected the growth of Jabir has every reason to smile. in top shape in the run-up to the by Qatar’s Greek coach Association (QSA) coach visited their Al Kishry is ЂЂWhat were ЃЂthings have changed a lot for the top. And it’s even tougher to stay swimming? Not only did Qatari competitors Gulf competition. Christos Paparrodopoulos. school and saw them in action. He RIGHT NOW, MY BOYS’ determined your impressions better in recent years. Nowadays, there. mellouli was lucky that he ЃЂIt used to be a problem earlier, put up a strong show at the GCC “We worked hard to prepare them “He’s an experienced spoke about selecting them into the LIVES REVOLVE AROUND to change about the GCC the sport is getting much-needed was at the right place at the right but isn’t so anymore. Facilities Championships at home, for the GCC Championships. coach and remains national squad and we agreed. Since SWIMMING AND

DSP/Vinod Divakaran DSP/Vinod that scenario. Championships, government support. Earlier, team time. After being discovered at the have improved a lot in the Gulf. but another top event is they attended overseas confident we can make then, there has been no stopping EDUCATION. Clad in which Qatar hosted sports used to command more age of six, he received a lot of private heading the country’s training camps and also good results at the ’20 tokyo them,” Cornelia told Doha Stadium for the first time respect. the focus is now shifting and government sponsorship. He way. competed locally. I’m Olympics. It’s still five years Plus. since 2002? towards individual events trained in tunisia until he was 14 THE FOCUS IS NOW “After a break of more disappointed Kuwait away, but we believe him. We’ll A major problem faced by young the youngster could make the cut. ЃЂQatar has always as well. and then left for France and the US SHIFTING TOWARDS than a decade, Doha has pulled out of the help him in every way possible Qatari sportspersons is the hard “He’ll take part in the Asian to train. Not many Arab swimmers INDIVIDUAL EVENTS AS been chosen as host for Doha event. While that to develop the team,” he choice they have to make, between Age-Group Championships in get such crucial breaks. WELL. the 25m GCC Championships helped us win more gold signed off. sport and education, once they leave bangkok next month and FINA Having said that, there’re a few next year. We’ll try our best to put medals, it took away some of the school. However, Noah has very clear Aquatic World Series in Doha talented youngsters coming up up a good show in the pool as well competitiveness,” he said. plans in mind. in November. both are Olympic here and there. but it’s not enough. Look at Qatar. It built several as on the organisational front,” Al “the Doha races “I want to be a good student qualifying events. I’m confident thankfully, families have started world-class pools for the Asian Jabir told Doha Stadium Plus. were also a great athlete. I’ve invested too much of my Noah has a chance to do it,” he said. supporting their kids. they now and pan Arab Games. Other Gulf “I’m really happy with our preparatory event for time and passion on swimming to meanwhile, Yacoub said his elder realise swimming is as good a countries have also caught up with swimmers’ performances in the the Asian Age-Group give up education halfway through. brother was his inspiration. career as any sport. them. Governments have started Under-10 and open (above 18) Championships in I’ll likely go abroad for higher studies. “I always look up to him during providing better funding to teams. categories in Doha. they broke bangkok, thailand, next but I’ll carefully choose a college competitions. He’s a hard fighter ЂЂWhat should Arab nations do Arab competitors are coming up several national and GCC records, month. While most of our that’ll also allow me to pursue my and never gives up. He advices and to produce swimmers of Mellouli’s in all disciplines except water polo which only shows how good swimmers are ready, a few sport. I’ve more than a year to supports me a lot. It’s great to have calibre? and synchronised swimming. they’ve become,” added Al still need to improve. We’re decide,” said Noah. more than one swimmer in the Taha ЃЂEducation is the key word. Jabir, who is also Qatar very serious about mounting Khaleel Cornelia promised to support family as it helps us stay calm and Al Kishry Our culture has traditionally not ЂЂWomen swimmers are still Olympic Committee’s a strong challenge,” he added. Al Jabir her sons throughout. focused,” he said. www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 33

Qatar reign supreme with whopping gold haul Hosts Qatar, with 33 gold, 10 It was Qatar’s first overall title Al Khulaifi (U-14) and silver and as many bronze in the event’s history. mohammed Al mahmoud medals, reigned supreme at “We were in for some very (U-12) were adjudged the best the 25th GCC Championships, tough competition. Our hard swimmers. which concluded at the Hamad work in the past months have Aquatic Centre last week. paid off,” said Qatar coach MEDALS TALLY Saudi Arabia finished second Christos paparrodopoulos. read as gold, silver and bronze. with eight gold, 15 silver “this indeed is a memorable Qatar 33 10 10 and 11 bronze medals while moment for Qatar swimming.” Saudi Arabia 8 15 11 bahrain 4 8 8 bahrain brought up the last Qatar’s Waleed rafeeq Oman 3 6 12 spot on the podium. Dalloul (Under-17), Yacoub UAE 0 9 5

šЃQatari medallists pose with the spoils. a relatively rare sight in the It has top quality pools and enjoy Arab world… support from the country’s highest ЃЃSince there’re a lot of cultural authorities. It has organised several restrictions in place, it’s only FINA competitions in the past and developing in most Arab countries. nobody has any doubts about its However, women competitors hosting abilities. I’m confident I from Qatar and bahrain have taken As for the UAE’s interest, it isn’t can make it to the part in the ’12 London Olympics yet official. Even if it gets the final rio Olympics with and FINA World Championships. go-ahead, I don’t think it’ll stand. a ‘b’ standard So there’s some movement my reading is it’ll withdraw at the time or as a wild happening, but it’ll take some time. last moment to make things easier card. Competing We’re trying to promote women’s for Qatar. in the Games is swimming in whatever ways we one of the biggest šЃYacoub, left, and Yousef with their parents. can. ЂЃWhat’re the challenges for the dreams of my life. sport in the region? Noah Al Khulaifi ЂЃQatar are in the race for the ’21 ЃЃWhile funds have not been and ’23 FINA Aquatic Worlds. How a problem in recent years, there Band of brothers! do you see its chances, especially exists a huge gap between Arab as the UAE is also in the fray? countries and Asian nations like ANY see the Al Khulaifi “right now, my boys’ lives revolve ЃЃQatar will be the frontrunner to Singapore, Japan, South Korea and brothers — Noah, Yacoub around two things — swimming host the event in whichever year it China. they’re decades ahead of Mand Yousef — as the and education. I’m sure they can chooses. In my opinion, it can run a us. Catching up with them is one of future of swimming in Qatar. Last continue doing both in the future. FINA Worlds tomorrow, if need be. our biggest challenges. week, they won a bagful of medals We’ll help them go as high as they at the GCC Championships in Doha want. We’ll stand by their decisions,” to give credence to the claim. said Cornelia. Noah, 16, is the oldest while Noah said his immediate aim was Yacoub and Yousef are 14 and 10 to qualify for the 2016 rio Olympic respectively. Games. Al Jabir happy their father Abdulaziz and mother “I’m confident I can make it to Cornelia Carr, were cheering the boys the rio Olympics with a ‘b’ standard with Qatar’s improvement on at the Hamad Aquatic Centre. time or as a wild card. Competing “I encouraged the boys to learn in the Games is one of the biggest AtAr Swimming Sport Affairs Director. Al Jabir said swimming to be safe on water. I dreams of my life,” he said. Association (QSA) Al Jabir said they spared no he was confident soon realised they were quite good QSA president Khaleel Al Jabir felt Qpresident Khaleel Al expense to ensure swimmers were in the roadmap set at it. One day, a Qatar Swimming Jabir has every reason to smile. in top shape in the run-up to the by Qatar’s Greek coach Association (QSA) coach visited their Not only did Qatari competitors Gulf competition. Christos Paparrodopoulos. school and saw them in action. He RIGHT NOW, MY BOYS’ put up a strong show at the GCC “We worked hard to prepare them “He’s an experienced spoke about selecting them into the LIVES REVOLVE AROUND Championships at home, for the GCC Championships. coach and remains national squad and we agreed. Since SWIMMING AND but another top event is they attended overseas confident we can make then, there has been no stopping EDUCATION. heading the country’s training camps and also good results at the ’20 tokyo them,” Cornelia told Doha Stadium way. competed locally. I’m Olympics. It’s still five years Plus. “After a break of more disappointed Kuwait away, but we believe him. We’ll A major problem faced by young the youngster could make the cut. than a decade, Doha has pulled out of the help him in every way possible Qatari sportspersons is the hard “He’ll take part in the Asian been chosen as host for Doha event. While that to develop the team,” he choice they have to make, between Age-Group Championships in the 25m GCC Championships helped us win more gold signed off. sport and education, once they leave bangkok next month and FINA next year. We’ll try our best to put medals, it took away some of the school. However, Noah has very clear Aquatic World Series in Doha up a good show in the pool as well competitiveness,” he said. plans in mind. in November. both are Olympic as on the organisational front,” Al “the Doha races “I want to be a good student qualifying events. I’m confident Jabir told Doha Stadium Plus. were also a great athlete. I’ve invested too much of my Noah has a chance to do it,” he said. “I’m really happy with our preparatory event for time and passion on swimming to meanwhile, Yacoub said his elder swimmers’ performances in the the Asian Age-Group give up education halfway through. brother was his inspiration. Under-10 and open (above 18) Championships in I’ll likely go abroad for higher studies. “I always look up to him during categories in Doha. they broke bangkok, thailand, next but I’ll carefully choose a college competitions. He’s a hard fighter several national and GCC records, month. While most of our that’ll also allow me to pursue my and never gives up. He advices and which only shows how good swimmers are ready, a few sport. I’ve more than a year to supports me a lot. It’s great to have they’ve become,” added Al still need to improve. We’re decide,” said Noah. more than one swimmer in the Jabir, who is also Qatar very serious about mounting Khaleel Cornelia promised to support family as it helps us stay calm and Olympic Committee’s a strong challenge,” he added. Al Jabir her sons throughout. focused,” he said. 34 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 35

CRICKET

‘PSL will highlight Qatar’s name’ Pakistan need S YEt another pakistan such a league: Akram Cricket board (pCb) venture Acomes to Qatar, there is so Legendary paceman Wasim Akram. much of excitement and passion Akram said he was excited with “pakistan needed among the community members the pakistan Super League (pSL), such a league. So we which would give his country’s all have to support it and in the country. young and inexperienced players some good work is done Doha-based pakistan Cricket a much-needed international for hosting this in Qatar and Academy’s (pCA) president Haroon P a k i n g a stage to perform. I’m sure it’ll help lift pakistan Qureshi, who has contributed a Akram said he was very keen cricket,” he added. lot to promote the sport in Qatar, to support the event. Former captain ramiz believes the pakistan Super League “I’ve been invited to raja is also tipped to (pSL) will open a new window of be an ambassador of be an ambassador THE PAKISTAN SUPER LEAGUE T20 TOURNAMENT, the league and I’m of the league, opportunity for enthusiasts. excited about it as where 40 foreign “this is a great opportunity for TO BE HELD IN QATAR NEXT FEBRUARY, IS EQUALLY it’ll help our players players are people like us who’ve dedicated a IMPORTANT FOR BOTH COUNTRIES, ALBEIT FOR game-wise as well expected to large part of our lives for the sport’s DIFFERENT REASONS, WRITES SAJITH B WARRIER. as financially,” said feature. development here. As a cricket punch! lover and long-time Doha resident,

HE pakistan Cricket board’s Africa and Ireland in January, experienced curator mohamed Haji to Qatar again and have more THE THRILL OF T20 WILL (pCb) decision to host its 2014, and Asian Cricket Council’s bashir to prepare the pitch. discussions. they’ve given certain ALSO BE A SOURCE OF Tinaugural twenty20 League (ACC) Under-16 Elite tournament “Since it’s a tournament conducted suggestions and we’ll look into ENTERTAINMENT FOR in Qatar is a welcome news for a in October are the only major by the pCb, they’ll bring in all their them. As of now, 24 matches PEOPLE. country where the game is yet to tournaments held in Qatar so far. experts along. We’ll help them in are scheduled to be held in the find its bearings. the ground and facilities at the whichever way we can,” added Khan. inaugural edition,” Khan said. the pakistan Super League (pSL) Asian town may go in for some top foreign players from all Lack of practice pitches was one it’ll be a historic moment for me featuring five teams — from Lahore, overhaul in time for the franchisee- International Cricket Council’s (ICC) of the concerns during the ACC to watch international players in ššHaroon Qureshi, right, with ICC president Zaheer Abbas during the latter’s recent visit to Qatar. Karachi, peshawar, Quetta and based pSL, which has been Full member countries, barring India, U-16 tournament. the ACC had also action,” said Qureshi, who has Islamabad — is expected to be held modelled on the hugely-successful are expected to sign up for the $1m instructed the QCA to host their worked with missionary zeal to the perception about the game in and Ireland last year. at the Asian town Stadium in Doha’s Indian premier League (IpL). prize money tournament. ‘A’ Division matches on those turf groom young cricketers in the the country changed. Qureshi, who is also an Executive Industrial Area from February 4 to pCb Executive Committee Head wickets so that they get used more. 5 country. “In Qatar, cricket is considered member of the Qatar Veterans teams will feature in the 24. teams will play each other twice Najam Sethi, along with other “the less you use the pitch, inuagural pakistan Super “Although cricket has been as a sport that’s played only by League, thinks the pSL will help in a league format and the top four IT’S GREAT NEWS FOR officials, inspected the venue and the more uneven it becomes. League t20 tournament played in Doha for many years, Indians, pakistanis, Sri Lankans and improve the game’s profile in Qatar. will qualify for the semifinal. QATAR’S CRICKET FANS held a series of discussions with So, we’ve been conducting more I think it has lacked exposure at bangladeshis. I wish through pSL “people associate the UAE with the pCb was initially planning WHO’VE BEEN YEARNING officials of the Qatar Olympic domestic tournaments at the some levels. It has once again we can change that perception and good cricket in the middle East. I’m to organise the league in the UAE, FOR A BIG TOURNAMENT. Committee and QCA. Asian town Stadium. the pitch become a truly global sport after see it as a sport for all,” he added. sure the pSL will highlight Qatar’s which has been hosting pakistan’s “the pCb delegation will come has sufficient grass cover and can the introduction of twenty20 the pCb has always enjoyed name internationally among sports matches since 2009. However, with meet international standards. more format,” he said. cordial ties with the Qatar Cricket lovers as we’ll see a number of the the Emirates Cricket board already “It’s great news for Qatar’s cricket practice pitches can be laid in due 24 the pCA has trained more than Association and together they world’s best players. the thrill and allotting the venues to the masters fans who’ve been yearning for a course,” said Khan. matches will be played 500 youngsters belonging to had successfully hosted an excitement of t20 will also be a Champions League — a tournament big tournament. We want such the huge presence of Indian, in all at the Asian town various nationalities in Qatar and international women’s tri-series source of entertainment for people for retired international cricketers tournaments to be regularly held pakistani, Sri Lankan and Cricket Stadium Qureshi opined it was high time featuring pakistan, South Africa here,” he concluded. featuring the likes of Wasim Akram, in Qatar to help boost the sport’s bangladeshi expatriates means Jacques Kallis and brian Lara — profile,” Qatar Cricket Association’s there is a lot of interest in the game Qatar veterans’ it opted for Qatar as the alternate (QCA) Head of Events Gul Khan told in the region and the growth of the Politics makes the game suffer! venue. Doha Stadium Plus. United Arab Emirates as a global league tourney the international the Asian town Stadium can cricket destination is a case in HE pakistan Cricket board (pCb) for not inviting venture to foster camaraderie and from Friday women’s tri-series accommodate 13,000 spectators. point. though Doha has miles to Super players from India. the bCCI social gathering. featuring For the women’s tri-series, the go, a good beginning has been TLeague (pSL) doesn’t invite players from pakistan “We did a lot to promote the the Qatar Veterans’ Cricket pakistan, pCb had ensured the made and the onus is on the will not have any for its much-popular Indian game in the country without League’s annual tournament South services of local association to carry it representation from premier League. So it’s kind of a looking at the nationality of will commence at the West bay ground on Friday. forward. neighbouring country reciprocal feeling. It’s not an ideal players,” added Farid. the 27th edition of the “this’ll be a good India as its cricket board He hopes the pSL succeeds tournament, one of the experience for everybody has barred its players on the lines of the previous oldest in the country, features connected with the game. from featuring in any WE PROMOTED THE GAME pCb venture in Qatar — an 31 teams drawn into two players like Shahid Afridi foreign twenty20 leagues. WITHOUT LOOKING AT international women’s tri-series divisions. drew big crowds during a though the Indian THE NATIONALITY OF featuring pakistan, South Africa Seventeen sides feature in Division 1 while the remaining

DSP/Vinod Divakaran DSP/Vinod recent visit to Saudi Arabia. community has a significant PLAYERS. and Ireland at the Asian town 14 constitute Division 2. I hope it’ll be the same in presence in Qatar’s cricket Stadium in 2014. Construction Development Qatar,” added Khan. landscape, the absence of “the pCb’s inuagural Company (CDC) is the official As the international spotlight players from that country is situation. As a cricket enthusiast international women’s sponsor of the tournament. will be on Qatar next year, the likely to take away some of the you feel sad, but you can’t help it,” tri-series was received very well “multinational participation officials need to guard against gloss off the tournament. said Farid. in Qatar. It was a big hit from the has been the highlight of the vicious elements who engage in Qatar Veterans Cricket League Farid, along with hardcore cricket organisational point of view. As a tournament ever since its illegal betting and match fixing. (QVCL) president m I Farid, who lovers like Haroon Qureshi, were genuine cricket enthusiast, I want inception. As the tournament is almost completing three is also a prominent community the pioneers of the game in Qatar. to see more quality hard-ball şşAction from decades, we would like to the ongoing Sprite leader from India, believes the the QVCL, which draws players cricket in Qatar. I hope the pSL continue our support to this Cricket Stars Labour game is suffering as politics takes from various nationalities like serves it well. It’s a great chance venture,” said CDC business tournament at the centre stage. Indian, pakistani and Sri Lankan, to see international stars in Development manager Sanjiv the Asian town M I Farid Stadium. Gul Khan “You can’t blame the pakistan has always been looked upon as a Qatar,” he concluded. Jain. www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 35

‘PSL will highlight Qatar’s name’ Pakistan need S YEt another pakistan such a league: Akram Cricket board (pCb) venture Acomes to Qatar, there is so Legendary paceman Wasim Akram. much of excitement and passion Akram said he was excited with “pakistan needed among the community members the pakistan Super League (pSL), such a league. So we which would give his country’s all have to support it and in the country. young and inexperienced players some good work is done Doha-based pakistan Cricket a much-needed international for hosting this in Qatar and Academy’s (pCA) president Haroon stage to perform. I’m sure it’ll help lift pakistan Qureshi, who has contributed a Akram said he was very keen cricket,” he added. lot to promote the sport in Qatar, to support the event. Former captain ramiz believes the pakistan Super League “I’ve been invited to raja is also tipped to (pSL) will open a new window of be an ambassador of be an ambassador the league and I’m of the league, opportunity for enthusiasts. excited about it as where 40 foreign “this is a great opportunity for it’ll help our players players are people like us who’ve dedicated a game-wise as well expected to large part of our lives for the sport’s as financially,” said feature. development here. As a cricket lover and long-time Doha resident,

THE THRILL OF T20 WILL ALSO BE A SOURCE OF ENTERTAINMENT FOR PEOPLE.

it’ll be a historic moment for me to watch international players in ššHaroon Qureshi, right, with ICC president Zaheer Abbas during the latter’s recent visit to Qatar. action,” said Qureshi, who has worked with missionary zeal to the perception about the game in and Ireland last year. groom young cricketers in the the country changed. Qureshi, who is also an Executive 5 country. “In Qatar, cricket is considered member of the Qatar Veterans teams will feature in the inuagural pakistan Super “Although cricket has been as a sport that’s played only by League, thinks the pSL will help League t20 tournament played in Doha for many years, Indians, pakistanis, Sri Lankans and improve the game’s profile in Qatar. I think it has lacked exposure at bangladeshis. I wish through pSL “people associate the UAE with some levels. It has once again we can change that perception and good cricket in the middle East. I’m become a truly global sport after see it as a sport for all,” he added. sure the pSL will highlight Qatar’s the introduction of twenty20 the pCb has always enjoyed name internationally among sports format,” he said. cordial ties with the Qatar Cricket lovers as we’ll see a number of the 24 the pCA has trained more than Association and together they world’s best players. the thrill and matches will be played 500 youngsters belonging to had successfully hosted an excitement of t20 will also be a in all at the Asian town various nationalities in Qatar and international women’s tri-series source of entertainment for people Cricket Stadium Qureshi opined it was high time featuring pakistan, South Africa here,” he concluded. Qatar veterans’ Politics makes the game suffer! league tourney HE pakistan Cricket board (pCb) for not inviting venture to foster camaraderie and from Friday Super players from India. the bCCI social gathering. TLeague (pSL) doesn’t invite players from pakistan “We did a lot to promote the the Qatar Veterans’ Cricket will not have any for its much-popular Indian game in the country without League’s annual tournament representation from premier League. So it’s kind of a looking at the nationality of will commence at the West bay ground on Friday. neighbouring country reciprocal feeling. It’s not an ideal players,” added Farid. the 27th edition of the India as its cricket board He hopes the pSL succeeds tournament, one of the has barred its players on the lines of the previous oldest in the country, features from featuring in any WE PROMOTED THE GAME pCb venture in Qatar — an 31 teams drawn into two foreign twenty20 leagues. WITHOUT LOOKING AT international women’s tri-series divisions. though the Indian THE NATIONALITY OF featuring pakistan, South Africa Seventeen sides feature in community has a significant PLAYERS. and Ireland at the Asian town Division 1 while the remaining 14 constitute Division 2. presence in Qatar’s cricket Stadium in 2014. Construction Development landscape, the absence of “the pCb’s inuagural Company (CDC) is the official players from that country is situation. As a cricket enthusiast international women’s sponsor of the tournament. likely to take away some of the you feel sad, but you can’t help it,” tri-series was received very well “multinational participation gloss off the tournament. said Farid. in Qatar. It was a big hit from the has been the highlight of the Qatar Veterans Cricket League Farid, along with hardcore cricket organisational point of view. As a tournament ever since its (QVCL) president m I Farid, who lovers like Haroon Qureshi, were genuine cricket enthusiast, I want inception. As the tournament is almost completing three is also a prominent community the pioneers of the game in Qatar. to see more quality hard-ball decades, we would like to leader from India, believes the the QVCL, which draws players cricket in Qatar. I hope the pSL continue our support to this game is suffering as politics takes from various nationalities like serves it well. It’s a great chance venture,” said CDC business the centre stage. Indian, pakistani and Sri Lankan, to see international stars in Development manager Sanjiv “You can’t blame the pakistan has always been looked upon as a Qatar,” he concluded. M I Farid Jain. 36 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 37

Ace Qatari high jumper mutaz Essa barshim, who Mutaz bags finished out of medal contention at the recent Athletics World Championships in beijing, China, won gold at a gold at Zurich Diamond League meet in Zurich, Switzerland, last week. MIXED ZONE | QATAR Diamond League He finished ahead of his close rival bohdan bondarenko of Ukraine with a height of 2.32m.

SHOOTING ֫ Association Cup from Saturday

HE Qatar Shooting and Archery Association’s (QSAA) season-opening Association Cup Twill begin at the Losail Shooting range on Saturday. Competitions will be held in skeet, trap (both 50 ššFrom left, pat BOXING Fiacco, Karim and 75 targets), double trap as well as pistol and ֫ bouzidi and Dr rifle events. the pre-event training will begin on thani Abdulrahman thursday. Al Kuwari at the Final countdown meeting. “Competitions will be held strictly in compliance with the International Shooting Sport Federation to World C’ships rules. this is the first of a series of events we’re going to host here. the dates of the Qatar Open HE Qatar boxing Federation (QbF) marked Shotgun Championship, which draws a strong MOTORSPORT the 30-day countdown to the Amateur World international field, will be announced later,” said ֫ TChampionships last week. QSAA’s Competitions Director Abdullah Ali Al more than 260 boxers, representing 70 countries, Hammadi. ššQatar’s Khalid rashid Al mohannadi will be eyeing a good show in the will feature in the October 5-15 championships at the event will conclude on September 16. Association Cup. the Ali bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena. the tournament SPORTS SECURITY will be telecast live in more than 60 countries. ֫ “We’ve hardly one month before the event Back in action starts. We’ll reach out to all residents and take our portugal. but sponsorship issues with top drivers,” said Abdulaziz, message forward to sports fans,” said QbF president Football rules the roost! Sajith B Warrier forced him to skip poland, Finland who was the championship runner- Yousuf Ali Al Kazim. and Germany legs. up in 2013. “In the next one month, we hope to make sure HE Financial Integrity and co-ordination and collaboration Abdulaziz’s rallying career got the three-month break has the message has been well received by the fans transparency in Sport (FItS) between different sectors, AtAr’S promising driver a fresh lease of life when Qatar’s derailed his campaign in mErC and through our various promotions. Tproject, an initiative of including governments, law Abdulaziz Abdulaziz Al Kuwari is back ministry of Youth and Sport decided he was forced to miss last week’s “We made a promise to deliver a great event and Doha-based International Centre enforcement agencies, corporations Al Kuwari Qin rallying after financial to sponsor him for the WrC2 leg in Lebanon rally. now we’re at the last stretch,” said Al Kazim. for Sport Security (ICSS), revealed and international federations, constraints forced him to take a Australia as well as the middle East “I apologise to my fans and well the QbF chief said the 30-day countdown was new financial figures on the size of to protect sports from money break. He will be seen behind the rally Championship (mErC) rounds wishers for my absence in Lebanon, the key to the entire promotional campaign, which global sports market. laundering, tax evasion and other wheel of his Ford Fiesta rrC at the in Cyprus and Jordan, where I had finished third last time. will end 10 days before the championships begin. Unveiled at the FItS Forum in threats to its financial integrity. World rally Championship’s support “thanks to the ministry’s I didn’t have the budget this year. “the 30-day countdown represents an important Geneva, Switzerland, last week, Initiated by the ICSS in category leg in Australia, beginning sponsorship, my career is back on the ministry has assured me that phase in our promotion. this is a huge the preliminary data from the November, 2014, the wide-ranging on thursday. track. I’ve won in Australia before, so depending on my performances opportunity for boxing to reach out to new project shows the annual global FItS project seeks to address these the 35-year-old had won the rally it’s an added motivation to do well in Cyprus and Jordan, it’ll decide audiences in the country and region,” he revenues from spectator sports are mounting challenges by providing in New South Wales two years ago. there again,” Abdulaziz told Doha whether to sponsor me for the said. an estimated $80bn, with football a holistic, fact-based analysis of He has had a decent season so Stadium Plus. Oman and Dubai legs. meanwhile, Amateur International generating approximately $33bn. THE ANNUAL GLOBAL the existing issues facing sports. DSP/Vinod Divakaran DSP/Vinod far in the WrC2, winning Abdulaziz, was second in the “Winning the mErC is out of boxing Association Executive the preliminary figures, REVENUES FROM “We can’t ignore the mounting in Argentina, finishing WrC2 standings with 57 points question, but I’m still hopeful of a Director Karim bouzidi and Yousuf Ali developed by an international SPECTATOR SPORTS ARE threats and allow sports to Mishal shines at fourth in Italy as when he took the break, but now he runner-up finish,” added Abdulaziz, event supervisor pat Fiacco Al Kazim network of leading academics AN ESTIMATED $80BN. continue its rapid growth well as mexico finds himself sixth. who is now fourth in standings with held discussions with led by professor matt Andrews, unchecked. All industries need to and fifth in “I need to work a lot to catch up 30 points. Qatar Olympic Committee professor of public policy at the work together to safeguard sport European Superbikes Secretary General Dr thani Harvard Kennedy School, indicate film industry. It is the single biggest and ensure good governance and Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, that football generates more driver of income within both the effective financial control isn’t ”, HORSERACING who heads the Local income than all major US sports European and global sports market. just an aspiration, but a reality OrmEr national champion the treacherous circuit. Local hero roger Feghali ֫ Mishal Al Naimi brought cheers “I couldn’t compete in the Feghali won the rally of Lebanon Organising Committee, combined (NFL, NbA, mLb, NHL) In the face of this huge growth, said ICSS president mohammed to the Qatar camp by finishing previous round at portimao. So for a record 12th time as and Al Kazim. and is equivalent to the size of US there is a clear need for better Hanzab. F wins, Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al third and fifth respectively in two I’m at a disadvantage when Al Shaqab’s Aba’ath Attiyah suffered his first races of the European Superbike it comes to championship Nasser ֫ reversal in this season’s Championship’s (ESC) fourth round points. but I’ll prepare well crashes middle East rally dazzles in France CUE SPORTS held at the Albacete Circuit for the coming races Championship (mErC). in Spain last week. in order to have Nasser, the winner L SHAQAb’S Aba’ath won the prix Cheri bibi the Kawasaki rider, the opportunity of previous three mErC (Group 3 pure Arabian), at La teste, France, Tough challenge for Feijen at Worlds who made his mark in to fight for the rounds in Qatar, Kuwait last week. thomas Fourcy’s charge had to dig and Iran, was forced to A Spain almost a decade privateers’ title. deep in the final stages. He was caught between Ibn ArELY 15 months after the only player to have defended China Open recently, will look to go they have arrived retire on the last day after ago, reiterated his class I want to thank his car crashed. Azadi and rb burn, but stepped up a gear. he sank the final ball and the title. one better this time. in big numbers, and talent while also the Qatar motor Lebanese drivers, Aba’ath came to La teste after a fifth-place finish at Bcelebrated on top of the table, the qualifiers will end on Germany’s thorsen Hohmann with Carlo biado, the bagging the trophy for the and motorcycle who have dominated the prix Kesberoy (Group 3 pure Arabian), where he Niels Feijen is back to defend his thursday and real action begin brings out his best in big events and current world No.4, and best privateer. Federation for giving the rally ever since did not handle the soft ground, according to trainer crown at the World 9-ball pool on Saturday. is seen as another title contender seasoned campaigners “I’m very happy. From the me a chance to race it started, swept the thomas Fourcy. He is now expected to run in the Championship, which began at the predicting a winner for the while Chinese taipei’s Ko pin Yi, Dennis Orcullo and beginning, I saw that I could fight for in ESC,” he added. podium, with last year’s Qatar total Arabian trophy des poulains (Group 1 Al Arabi Sports Club last week. World pool-billiards Association- who clinched the World 10-ball Warren Kiamco being the winner Nicholas Ameona

top positions. I hope I can continue the other Qatari pure Arabian) on October 2 at Saint Cloud, where he However, the Dutchman has sanctioned tournament is tricky. title in the philippines in February, leading names. DSP/Mohan and tamer Ghandour at this level and keep fighting at the rider, Saeed Al Sulaiti, finishing in that order. should come up against stable companion Ibn Azadi. his task cut out as American Hall Former champion England’s Darren and USA’s Shane van boening are Waleed majed, who front till the end of the season,” said finished 12th in race 1 the mErC’s next leg “Aba’ath is starting to toughen up. He’s now of Famer Earl Strickland, who Appleton is a perennial favourite the other big names. reached the mishal. while mechanical issues will be held in Cyprus showing what I’ve thought of him since the start. He won the first two World 9-ball while last year’s finalist Albin Filipino cueists have always been pre-quarterfinal last year, is Niels the top privateer in qualifying, forced him to retire from from September 25 to has ability and just needs to strengthen up now,” said Championships in 1990 and ’91, is Ouschan of Austria, who won the a big hit in Qatar and, as usual, leading Qatar’s charge. Feijen mishal was in a class of his own on race 2. 27. Fourcy. www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 37

Ace Qatari high jumper mutaz Essa barshim, who Mutaz bags finished out of medal contention at the recent Athletics World Championships in beijing, China, won gold at a gold at Zurich Diamond League meet in Zurich, Switzerland, last week. Diamond League He finished ahead of his close rival bohdan bondarenko of Ukraine with a height of 2.32m.

SHOOTING ֫ Association Cup from Saturday

CUE SPORTS ֫ Tough challenge for Feijen at Worlds ArELY 15 months after the only player to have defended China Open recently, will look to go they have arrived he sank the final ball and the title. one better this time. in big numbers, Bcelebrated on top of the table, the qualifiers will end on Germany’s thorsen Hohmann with Carlo biado, the Niels Feijen is back to defend his thursday and real action begin brings out his best in big events and current world No.4, and crown at the World 9-ball pool on Saturday. is seen as another title contender seasoned campaigners Championship, which began at the predicting a winner for the while Chinese taipei’s Ko pin Yi, Dennis Orcullo and Al Arabi Sports Club last week. World pool-billiards Association- who clinched the World 10-ball Warren Kiamco being the

However, the Dutchman has sanctioned tournament is tricky. title in the philippines in February, leading names. DSP/Mohan his task cut out as American Hall Former champion England’s Darren and USA’s Shane van boening are Waleed majed, who of Famer Earl Strickland, who Appleton is a perennial favourite the other big names. reached the won the first two World 9-ball while last year’s finalist Albin Filipino cueists have always been pre-quarterfinal last year, is Niels Championships in 1990 and ’91, is Ouschan of Austria, who won the a big hit in Qatar and, as usual, leading Qatar’s charge. Feijen 38 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 39

MIXED ZONE | INTERNATIONAL

GOLF OLYMPICS ֫ ֫ TENNIS ֫ Nadal is down, but not out! ‘Commonwealth Slattery breaks jinx Games is priority’ NGLAND’S Lee Slattery claimed of the last day’s play by two hours, Ot even the presence of the opponent has more space. If “I accept that wasn’t his first European tour title in Slattery got his round off to perfect his sporting inspiration, you hit with less confidence, then my year and I’ll keep Tomic game HE decision to award the 2022 Efour years when he won the start carrying a two-shot overnight Ntiger Woods, at the US there isn’t as much top spin like fighting,” he said. Commonwealth Games to the South African moscow Open by just one shot. advantage over playing partner Open could lift Rafael Nadal to his used to be,” he said after his upset Earlier, he was cheered for Davis Cup Tcity of Durban would delay any bid from the 37-year-old posted a two- Goya and Scotland’s Craig Lee. accustomed heights at Flushing loss to the Italian. on by golfer tiger Woods. Australia’s Bernard Tomic has the country to host an Olympics, officials said, under-par 69 in his fourth round at but, despite an opening birdie, meadows, leaving the Spaniard to the defeat put a sour end to a Former world No.1 declared himself available for Davis effectively ruling themselves out until at least the Skolkovo Golf Club to finish on 15 by the sixth hole he trailed his assess his recent shortcomings on sub-par season for the 29-year- Woods has also dealt with Cup semifinal against britain after ’32 summer Games. under and secure a first victory since Argentinian rival by one and that the court. old, whose record run of winning injuries, recently needing being booted from the team in the Durban became the first African city to be deficit had doubled by the 12th. Nadal was 151-0 in Grand Slams at least one Grand Slam title for 10 back surgery, and has been wake of his public tirade at tennis awarded a global multi-sport event last week when bogeys by Goya at 13 and 15 when winning the first two sets, straight years was snapped. struggling to regain form. Australia (tA) during Wimbledon. the Commonwealth Games Federation approved its IT WAS THE edged the English player ahead but his perfect record ended when He went as far as the quarters “For me, as a sportsman tomic has been in a war of bid for the ’22 Games at their General Assembly in ENGLISHMAN’S FIRST again. words with tA. However, media he could not stave off the comeback at the Australian and French he’s a big example. His reported tomic had made peace Auckland. TITLE SINCE THE MADRID And a chip-in at the 17th gave of inspired Fabio Fognini, who Opens and was ousted in the attitude on the golf course with them, a move that could pave the coastal city was the only bidder for the event MASTERS IN 2011. him a two-shot cushion heading prevailed 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. second round at Wimbledon by an for me always was a big the way for his return. that is held every four years and feature athletes down the last as Goya birdied, but “If you hit the ball a bit shorter, opponent ranked outside top 100. inspiration,” Nadal added. from over 50 countries and territories, mostly former Slattery’s 69 was enough to secure british colonies. the madrid masters in 2011. his second European tour win. Edmonton in Canada withdrew its bid in February Argentinian Estanislao Goya “It has been a difficult year so it’s MOTORSPORT for financial issues, citing the falling global oil prices finished second on 14 under, with just nice to be able to finish the year ֫ as the principle reason. last year’s champion David Horsey off like this, with a win, knowing Despite winning the Commonwealth Games Lee of England a stroke back on 13 that I can plan next year now and bid and having a history of hosting World Cups Slattery under. hopefully get myself going again to for rugby, cricket and football in the past 20 years, After fog had delayed the start where I belong,” said Slattery. South African sports officials said there was no plans in the immediate future to bid for an Olympics. BOXING Monza magic! “We’re fairly focused now that we should pay ֫ Shane Watson OrLD champion Lewis boost when rosberg retired two attention to the Commonwealth Games in ’22 and Hamilton won the laps from the end with flames we will not intend to bid in the next seven years for Mayweather ready for final bout WItalian Grand prix at the flickering from the engine. anything. So an Olympic bid isn’t on our cards now. CRICKET historic monza circuit to take a Vettel finished 25sec behind When it is, we’ll speak on it,” said South Africa’s mErICA’S Floyd Mayweather to come out of retirement for a 50th ֫ 53-point lead in the Formula One while brazilian Felipe massa took Director General for Sport and recreation Alec Junior plans to go out fight. Australia’s whipping championship last Sunday after third for Williams a mere 0.3 ahead moemi. Aunbeaten and on his own “Forty-nine is my last fight,” the mercedes team-mate and closest of his Finnish team-mate Valtteri terms, as ‘the best Ever’, when he five-division world champion, said rival Nico rosberg retired with his bottas. ends his boxing career in Las Vegas before adding that self-preservation boy ends Test career car in flames. It was Hamilton’s third victory in on Saturday with his welterweight in the ring had always been a top HE retirement of all-rounder Shane Watson the briton had to wait several monza and also made him the first title defence against compatriot priority. robs tests of one of its most enigmatic more hours, however, for the result WHEN YOU STAND ON driver since compatriot Damon Hill Andre berto. “my health is more important. Tcharacters, while depriving Australian fans of to be confirmed after a stewards’ TOP OF THAT PODIUM in 1994 to take back-to-back wins Should mayweather win, as Anything can happen in boxing. I’m their favourite whipping boy in the red-ball game. enquiry into low tyre pressures on AT MONZA, YOU FEEL at monza. is widely expected, he would not really worried about losing. You the 34-year-old Queenslander bowed out last his car. TOTALLY INCREDIBLE. match the 49-0 record of former can make a lot of money but you week after a 10-year career of 59 tests, featuring With some rivals calling for RESULTS heavyweight great rocky marciano still won’t be able to talk, walk and 1. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) mercedes 1:18:00.6 3,731 runs at an average of 35.19 and 75 wickets at the reigning champion to be 2. Sebastian Vettel (GEr) Ferrari at 25.04sec but says he would not be tempted have a sharp mind,” he added. 33.68. disqualified, the stewards ruled victory, one less than his boyhood 3. Felipe massa (brA) Williams 47.6 Watson, who has not stepped down from the mercedes had followed the hero Ayrton Senna, and seventh of 4. Valtteri bottas (FIN) Williams 47.9 5. Kimi raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:08.8 CYCLING one-day and twenty20 sides, can further burnish specified procedures and decided the season. ֫ his considerable achievements in the shorter to take no further action. “I don’t know if I’ve ever had a STANDINGS ššthe moses mabhida Stadium in Durban, which will host the DRIVERS Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. formats of the game. Apart from that scare, Hamilton weekend like this. this circuit is 1. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) 252 but his respectable, if not spectacular, legacy in enjoyed a commanding cruise to such a special one for me. When 2. Nico rosberg (GEr) 199 Rodriguez surges tests will remain a source of debate in assessing one the top step of a podium, standing you stand on top of that podium 3. Sebastian Vettel (GEr) 178 Los Angeles was officially 4. Felipe massa (brA) 97 ŢŢLewis Hamilton Los Angeles selected as the American of the game’s most polarising players. high above a throng of Ferrari fans you feel incredible,” said the briton, 5. Kimi raikkonen (FIN) 92 cruises to victory candidate city that will bid “the thing I’m most proud of is I’ve given who had hoped to acclaim one who dominated practice, started CONSTRUCTORS at the Italian eyes 2024 to host the 2024 Summer ahead of the pack everything I possibly can to get the best out of Grand prix. of their own as winner but had from pole, led from the first corner 1. mercedes 451 2. Ferrari 270 Games Olympics after boston pulled myself. I haven’t achieved certainly all the things I to make do with Sebastian Vettel and set the fastest lap. 3. Williams 188 out of the race in July, the US UXEmbOUrG’S Frank “I’m very happy, the last few dreamed of achieving in tests — average 50 with finishing runner-up. His points advantage in the 4. red bull 113 Olympic Committee (USOC) Schleck won the 16th months have been very difficult for the bat and in the 20s with the ball,” said Watson. It was Hamilton’s 40th career championship gained a sudden 5. Force India 63 said. Lstage of tour of Spain me,” said Schleck, who missed the by any measure, Watson has been a man of Los Angeles, which has at Alto Ermita de Alba tour de France because of a knee contradictions, many of them frustrating and some hosted the Summer Games while Spaniard Joaquim problem. quite hilarious. twice before, in 1932 and Rodriguez took the leader’s Katusha’s 36-year-old rodriguez, ’84, will be among the front- Watson made his test debut against pakistan in runners and joins a race that red jersey. who has twice finished third overall 2005, fell flat on his face after his opening delivery at includes heavy favourite paris, Schleck, 35, elder in his home Grand tour, took the Sydney, but picked himself up to take a wicket and rome, budapest and Hamburg. brother of former tour lead seconds ahead of Italy’s Fabio score a nervous 31. “It’s my distinct honour to de France winner Andy Aru, with the next stage being He would play only two more tests before his formerly name the city of Los Schleck, came home alone Wednesday’s individual time-trial shoulder gave way, shunting him out of the side for Angeles as the US bid city to after outsprinting in burgos. another three years. host the ’24 Olympics,” said his final challenger meanwhile, tour de France USOC Chief Executive Officer Upon his return, he quickly established himself Scott blackmun. Colombian rodolfo torres winner Chris Froome had to as one of the country’s most important players in a the International Olympic 3km from the line following withdraw before the start of the team battling to rebuild after the retirements of a Committee will elect a winning a long breakaway in the 12th stage due to a broken bone in golden generation of players. bid in September, ’17. mountains. his foot. www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 39

GOLF OLYMPICS ֫ ֫ ‘Commonwealth Slattery breaks jinx Games is priority’ NGLAND’S Lee Slattery claimed of the last day’s play by two hours, his first European tour title in Slattery got his round off to perfect HE decision to award the 2022 Efour years when he won the start carrying a two-shot overnight Commonwealth Games to the South African moscow Open by just one shot. advantage over playing partner Tcity of Durban would delay any bid from the 37-year-old posted a two- Goya and Scotland’s Craig Lee. the country to host an Olympics, officials said, under-par 69 in his fourth round at but, despite an opening birdie, effectively ruling themselves out until at least the Skolkovo Golf Club to finish on 15 by the sixth hole he trailed his ’32 summer Games. under and secure a first victory since Argentinian rival by one and that Durban became the first African city to be deficit had doubled by the 12th. awarded a global multi-sport event last week when bogeys by Goya at 13 and 15 the Commonwealth Games Federation approved its IT WAS THE edged the English player ahead bid for the ’22 Games at their General Assembly in ENGLISHMAN’S FIRST again. Auckland. TITLE SINCE THE MADRID And a chip-in at the 17th gave the coastal city was the only bidder for the event MASTERS IN 2011. him a two-shot cushion heading that is held every four years and feature athletes down the last as Goya birdied, but from over 50 countries and territories, mostly former Slattery’s 69 was enough to secure british colonies. the madrid masters in 2011. his second European tour win. Edmonton in Canada withdrew its bid in February Argentinian Estanislao Goya “It has been a difficult year so it’s for financial issues, citing the falling global oil prices finished second on 14 under, with just nice to be able to finish the year as the principle reason. last year’s champion David Horsey off like this, with a win, knowing Despite winning the Commonwealth Games Lee of England a stroke back on 13 that I can plan next year now and bid and having a history of hosting World Cups Slattery under. hopefully get myself going again to for rugby, cricket and football in the past 20 years, After fog had delayed the start where I belong,” said Slattery. South African sports officials said there was no plans in the immediate future to bid for an Olympics. BOXING We’re fairly focused now that we should pay ֫“ attention to the Commonwealth Games in ’22 and we will not intend to bid in the next seven years for anything. So an Olympic bid isn’t on our cards now. Mayweather ready for final bout When it is, we’ll speak on it,” said South Africa’s mErICA’S Floyd Mayweather to come out of retirement for a 50th Director General for Sport and recreation Alec Junior plans to go out fight. moemi. Aunbeaten and on his own “Forty-nine is my last fight,” the terms, as ‘the best Ever’, when he five-division world champion, said ends his boxing career in Las Vegas before adding that self-preservation on Saturday with his welterweight in the ring had always been a top title defence against compatriot priority. Andre berto. “my health is more important. Should mayweather win, as Anything can happen in boxing. I’m is widely expected, he would not really worried about losing. You match the 49-0 record of former can make a lot of money but you heavyweight great rocky marciano still won’t be able to talk, walk and but says he would not be tempted have a sharp mind,” he added.

CYCLING ֫ ššthe moses mabhida Stadium in Durban, which will host the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Rodriguez surges Los Angeles was officially Los Angeles selected as the American candidate city that will bid eyes 2024 to host the 2024 Summer ahead of the pack Games Olympics after boston pulled out of the race in July, the US UXEmbOUrG’S Frank “I’m very happy, the last few Olympic Committee (USOC) Schleck won the 16th months have been very difficult for said. Lstage of tour of Spain me,” said Schleck, who missed the Los Angeles, which has at Alto Ermita de Alba tour de France because of a knee hosted the Summer Games while Spaniard Joaquim problem. twice before, in 1932 and Rodriguez took the leader’s Katusha’s 36-year-old rodriguez, ’84, will be among the front- runners and joins a race that red jersey. who has twice finished third overall includes heavy favourite paris, Schleck, 35, elder in his home Grand tour, took the rome, budapest and Hamburg. brother of former tour lead seconds ahead of Italy’s Fabio “It’s my distinct honour to de France winner Andy Aru, with the next stage being formerly name the city of Los Schleck, came home alone Wednesday’s individual time-trial Angeles as the US bid city to after outsprinting in burgos. host the ’24 Olympics,” said his final challenger meanwhile, tour de France USOC Chief Executive Officer Scott blackmun. Colombian rodolfo torres winner Chris Froome had to the International Olympic 3km from the line following withdraw before the start of the Committee will elect a winning a long breakaway in the 12th stage due to a broken bone in bid in September, ’17. mountains. his foot. 40 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 41

PEOPLE SPORT THIS WEEK

Cruzeiro have appointed Jamie McDonnell retained his Albert Pujols blasted his 555th bayern munich Chairman Karl-Heinz former brazil manager Mano World boxing Association career home run to tie manny Rummenigge has been re-elected QATAR Menezes as their new coach as bantamweight belt last Sunday ramirez for 14th on the all-time as the president of the European WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 they fight to avoid relegation a with a unanimous decision list as Los Angeles Angels defeated Clubs Association (ECA) at its General FOOTBALL year after winning the second over Japan’s tomoki Kameda Oakland A’s 9-4. the home run Assembly in Geneva last monday. the Qatar Stars League, Al rayyan vs Al of back-to-back league titles. in a rematch of their title came in the second inning 220-member ECA also nominated Sailiya, 6pm at Al Sadd Stadium, Al menezes replaces another fight earlier this year. the off Athletics pitcher rummenigge, along with Juventus Khor vs Umm Salal, 8.15pm at Al former brazil coach, Vanderlei briton knocked Kameda Sonny Gray and that president Andrea Agnelli, to fill the Khor Stadium. Luxemburgo, who was fired down in the final round as put the Angels ahead two seats offered by the UEFA on its SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 recently after winning six of 19 he won on all three judges’ 6-3. It was also Executive Committee. bayern great FOOTBALL games in charge of the belo scorecards 117-110, 116-111 and pujols’s 35th of the rummenigge played for Germany GCC Under-19 tournament, third- Horizonte club. 115-112 in Corpus Christi. season. at the 1982 and ’86 World Cups. place play-off, 5.15pm; final, 8pm at Al Gharafa Stadium. Qatar Stars League, Al Kharaitiyat vs Marvan Atapattu has quit as Sri Lanka off-spinner Tharindu Arsenal’s England striker Danny Andre Villas-Boas’s future as Zenit St Qatar SC, 6pm at Al Khor Stadium, SHOOTING Al Arabi vs Al Wakrah, 8.15pm at Al Association Cup, 8.30am onwards at Sri Lanka coach, the country’s Kaushal has been reported for Welbeck willl be out of action for petersburg manager appeared to hang Arabi Stadium. CUE SPORTS Losail Shooting range. cricket board said. the departure a suspect bowling action during several months after undergoing a in the balance after World 9-ball pool Championship, of the 44-year-old follows recent the third test against India at knee operation. the 24-year-old, he was handed a 12noon onwards at Al Arabi Sports SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 home test series defeats to Colombo, the International signed from manchester United on six-match ban by the Club (till September 18). FOOTBALL pakistan and India. the former Cricket Council (ICC) said. the deadline day in September, 2014, russia Football Union (rFU) FOOTBALL Qatar Stars League, Al mesaimeer test captain became the first 22-year-old, with a distinctive last played in April, missing both for pushing an assistant referee during GCC Under-19 tournament, vs Al Sadd, 6pm at Arabi Stadium, Sri Lankan to take the job on a high-knee run-up, has played the FA Cup final and end-of- a league game. though Villas-boas fifth-place match, Qatar vs UAE, El Jaish vs Al Ahli, 8.15 at Lekhwiya full-time basis since roy Dias in six tests for Sri Lanka and has season internationals. Despite refused to comment on the decision, 6.30pm at Al Gharafa Stadium. Stadium. 1999 when he was appointed in been earmarked as the country’s hopes that he would be able to recover rFU’s disciplinary panel head said the THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 SHOOTING September, 2014. spin spearhead when rangana soon, Welbeck is now set for an portuguese manager had apologised FOOTBALL Association Cup, 7pm onwards at Herath, 37, eventually retires. extended spell of rehabilitation. for his behaviour. GCC Under-19 tournament, Losail Shooting range. semifinals, Saudi Arabia vs Oman, 5.15pm and bahrain vs Kuwait, 8pm TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 at Al Gharafa Stadium. FOOTBALL HANDBALL AFC Champions League quarterfinal, IHF Super Globe final, 7pm at Qatar Lekhwiya vs Al Hilal, Lekhwiya STAR OF THE WEEK DIDIER DROGBA MOVERS&SHAKERS Handball Association Complex. Stadium, 7pm. Clarke takes a break INTERNATIONAL WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 IDIEr Drogba launched his Nevertheless, Drogba was not to reassess future CRICKET England vs Australia, 4th ODI at major League Soccer (mLS) happy with his team’s display in Headingley. Dcareer in style last week, the win. OrmEr Australia cricket my body and mind need some SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 scoring a hat-trick on his first start “For me, it isn’t a good result,” captain Michael Clarke has time away from the game and just HORSERACING for new club montreal Impact in a Drogba said. “the most important Fwithdrawn from the lucrative see what that’s like to be without Irish Champion Stakes at 4-3 win over Chicago Fire. thing is that you get the three domestic big bash twenty20 it,” said Clarke. Leopardstown, English St Leger at the former Chelsea striker points, but when you look at the League contract as he Clarke said he was taking Doncaster. opened his account on 21 minutes game itself, you know we’ve got reassesses whether he a break in Europe with SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 before Chicago battled back into the a lot of things to change and to will ever play the sport his wife Kyly, who CRICKET England vs Australia, 5th ODI at contest to take a 3-2 lead early in work on. there’s always room for again. is expecting their manchester. the second half. improvement in this team.” Clarke retired from first child, and that CYCLING but two typically-clinical Drogba Drogba made his mLS debut on all internationals after would give him the Vuelta a Espana (till Sunday). MOTORSPORT strikes just after the hour mark August 22, coming off the bench in Australia lost the Ashes opportunity to take TENNIS San marino motoGp. capped a memorable evening for the 59th minute in montreal’s 0-1 to England last month, stock of his future. US Open, New York (till Sunday). MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 the 37-year-old Ivory Coast legend, loss to philadelphia. with Alastair Cook’s side “Kyly and I are going for THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 TENNIS who celebrated by presenting his Last month, when he was wrapping up a series victory after a holiday. that’s just going to give GOLF WtA at Osaka, Quebec City (till EpGA at Dutch Open, Zandvoort; September 20). jersey to a fan after the match. unveiled before hundreds of the fourth test before Australia me some time to have a think LpGA at Evian Championship (till TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 “the crowd was amazing,” said montreal Impact fans, he said won the final match at the Oval. about what I’m going to do when I Sunday) FOOTBALL Drogba. “And, you know, this man he was looking forward to the “right now for me, I just think get home,” he added. MOTORSPORT Champions League group phase of the match (trophy) that they gave “beautiful challenge” of finishing rally of Australia (till Sunday). starts. me at the end, it’s for them. I give it his career in mLS. to them.” “I’m a man of challenges and Pacquiao in no mood to quit Drogba’s treble was the classic there’s a beautiful one before me,” striker’s full house, one goal scored said Drogba. ILIpINO boxing hero Manny my body. Just leave it alone. better with his left boot, another with his He added he had sought a move Pacquiao hinted he had not to react to that”. right and another from his head. to the mLS because he wanted Fseveral more fights left in him Arum was quoted as saying that that left interim Impact coach to play regularly after a farewell after his American promoter said pacquiao wanted to get on with his mauro biello purring with pleasure. season at Chelsea last year where he would likely retire next political career. “What can I say? What a he was used mostly as a squad year. “I believe he’ll take one performance from Didier,” said player. the 36-year-old more fight, and then biello. “He’s such a committed “I wanted to be out on the pitch played down remarks run for the Senate in person. He has won everywhere. more,” said Drogba, explaining by promoter bob Arum the philippines,” Arum He came here with a great spirit, his decision to sign an 18-month that he would fight said. with such a will to win. And we contract, adding he still “dreamed just once more in 2016 pacquiao, who saw that tonight.” of winning trophies”. before hanging up his has won eight World gloves to run for Senate in Championships in different the philippines. weight divisions, has previously reacting defiantly to Arum’s parlayed his boxing fame into a statement, pacquiao said, career in showbiz and election as a “I know better what’s happening to Congressman. www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 41

SPORT THIS WEEK

bayern munich Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has been re-elected QATAR as the president of the European WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Clubs Association (ECA) at its General FOOTBALL Assembly in Geneva last monday. the Qatar Stars League, Al rayyan vs Al 220-member ECA also nominated Sailiya, 6pm at Al Sadd Stadium, Al rummenigge, along with Juventus Khor vs Umm Salal, 8.15pm at Al president Andrea Agnelli, to fill the Khor Stadium. two seats offered by the UEFA on its SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Executive Committee. bayern great FOOTBALL rummenigge played for Germany GCC Under-19 tournament, third- at the 1982 and ’86 World Cups. place play-off, 5.15pm; final, 8pm at Al Gharafa Stadium. Qatar Stars League, Al Kharaitiyat vs Andre Villas-Boas’s future as Zenit St Qatar SC, 6pm at Al Khor Stadium, SHOOTING Al Arabi vs Al Wakrah, 8.15pm at Al Association Cup, 8.30am onwards at petersburg manager appeared to hang Arabi Stadium. CUE SPORTS Losail Shooting range. in the balance after World 9-ball pool Championship, he was handed a 12noon onwards at Al Arabi Sports SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 six-match ban by the Club (till September 18). FOOTBALL russia Football Union (rFU) FOOTBALL Qatar Stars League, Al mesaimeer for pushing an assistant referee during GCC Under-19 tournament, vs Al Sadd, 6pm at Arabi Stadium, a league game. though Villas-boas fifth-place match, Qatar vs UAE, El Jaish vs Al Ahli, 8.15 at Lekhwiya refused to comment on the decision, 6.30pm at Al Gharafa Stadium. Stadium. rFU’s disciplinary panel head said the THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 SHOOTING portuguese manager had apologised FOOTBALL Association Cup, 7pm onwards at for his behaviour. GCC Under-19 tournament, Losail Shooting range. semifinals, Saudi Arabia vs Oman, 5.15pm and bahrain vs Kuwait, 8pm TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 at Al Gharafa Stadium. FOOTBALL HANDBALL AFC Champions League quarterfinal, IHF Super Globe final, 7pm at Qatar Lekhwiya vs Al Hilal, Lekhwiya MOVERS&SHAKERS Handball Association Complex. Stadium, 7pm. Clarke takes a break INTERNATIONAL WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 to reassess future CRICKET England vs Australia, 4th ODI at Headingley. OrmEr Australia cricket my body and mind need some SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 captain Michael Clarke has time away from the game and just HORSERACING Fwithdrawn from the lucrative see what that’s like to be without Irish Champion Stakes at domestic big bash twenty20 it,” said Clarke. Leopardstown, English St Leger at League contract as he Clarke said he was taking Doncaster. reassesses whether he a break in Europe with SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 will ever play the sport his wife Kyly, who CRICKET England vs Australia, 5th ODI at again. is expecting their manchester. Clarke retired from first child, and that CYCLING all internationals after would give him the Vuelta a Espana (till Sunday). MOTORSPORT Australia lost the Ashes opportunity to take TENNIS San marino motoGp. to England last month, stock of his future. US Open, New York (till Sunday). MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 with Alastair Cook’s side “Kyly and I are going for THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 TENNIS wrapping up a series victory after a holiday. that’s just going to give GOLF WtA at Osaka, Quebec City (till EpGA at Dutch Open, Zandvoort; September 20). the fourth test before Australia me some time to have a think LpGA at Evian Championship (till TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 won the final match at the Oval. about what I’m going to do when I Sunday) FOOTBALL “right now for me, I just think get home,” he added. MOTORSPORT Champions League group phase rally of Australia (till Sunday). starts. Pacquiao in no mood to quit

ILIpINO boxing hero Manny my body. Just leave it alone. better Pacquiao hinted he had not to react to that”. Fseveral more fights left in him Arum was quoted as saying that after his American promoter said pacquiao wanted to get on with his he would likely retire next political career. year. “I believe he’ll take one the 36-year-old more fight, and then played down remarks run for the Senate in by promoter bob Arum the philippines,” Arum that he would fight said. just once more in 2016 pacquiao, who before hanging up his has won eight World gloves to run for Senate in Championships in different the philippines. weight divisions, has previously reacting defiantly to Arum’s parlayed his boxing fame into a statement, pacquiao said, career in showbiz and election as a “I know better what’s happening to Congressman. 42 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 43

MOSAIC

FITNESS CAMEO Chelsea tie up with Wipro English premier League football Dogus backs champions Chelsea announced a new partnership with Wipro, an It Wake up, Euroleague company based in bengaluru, India. Under its terms, Wipro will help turkey-based industrial the London club enhance the digital conglomerate Dogus Group experience for fans attending home became a partner of Euroleague matches at Stamford bridge and across the world. Fujitsu supports basketball. Under the three- meanwhile, manchester United announced a shoe deal year agreement, selected Dogus with South Korean brand Sbenu. It will see the company Rugby World Cup companies (in financial services, becoming the club’s Official Casual Footwear partner in Japanese information technology automotive, construction, media, the country. tourism services, real estate, solutions provider Fujitsu has energy and entertainment been unveiled as a sponsor of TECHNOLOGY sectors) will have pan-European the forthcoming rugby World hit the gym! or regional sponsorship rights Head & Shoulders above rest! Cup. Under the terms of the deal, to the top-tier turkish Airlines Fujitsu becomes a second-tier Euroleague and the second-tier top Spanish football club barcelona ‘official sponsor’ of the competition, Huawei ‘Force Eurocup. renewed their sponsorship deal with joining other major brands, soft Head & Shoulders, the shampoo brand drinks giant Coca-Cola as well as EW research exercisers ate the that remains their regional partner Japanese electronics companies Touching’ rivals! suggests that same breakfast, they in Indonesia, malaysia, Singapore, Canon and toshiba. Nworking out just did so after working thailand and Vietnam for a further two HINA’S Huawei technologies unveiled a new early in the morning, before out. years. the Catalan giants also announced — Courtesy CSM Sport & Entertainment smartphone last week, taking aim at the high breakfast, helps speed weight loss At the end of the month- a new agreement with Indosat, a telecommunications www.csm.com Cend of the market dominated by Apple and and boost energy levels by priming and-a-half eating fest, the ones brand that covers Indonesia. @FastTrack_ME Samsung Electronics. the body for an all-day fat burn. who had not worked out at all the mate S, launched on the sidelines of Europe’s One of the reasons why working had, unsurprisingly, packed on the biggest consumer electronics show, IFA, in berlin, has out in the morning helps us lose pounds — about six pounds each. a 5.5-inch display, a 13 mega-pixel rear camera and weight, or at least protects us from the ones who had been exercising HEALTH fingerprint security. Huawei says it is one of the first gaining it, is that it pushes the body smartphones to include a Force touch display, which to tap into its fat reserves for fuel, can distinguish between a light tap and deep press, as opposed to simply burning off MORNING WORKOUT Accuracy not guaranteed! enabling access to more functions just by pressing our most recent snack or meal. PUSHES THE BODY TO harder. In a recent study, 28 young, TAP INTO ITS FAT rISt-WOrN activity “We’ve continued to study these the consumer products tested Apple is also expected to introduce iphones healthy men spent six weeks eating RESERVES FOR FUEL. trackers, increasingly new consumer monitors since were the Fitbit Flex, Jawbone Up featuring Force touch technology soon. a hefty diet of 30 per cent more Wpopular among the companies provide no data 24, misfit Shine, Nike Fuelband SE Huawei became the world’s third-biggest calories and 50 per cent more fat consumers and in healthcare to support the accuracy of the and polar Loop. the professional smartphone company by sales last month, according than they had been eating before. after breakfast gained weight too, research, can vary considerably in estimates,” said study author Gregory products were Actigraph Gt3X-plus to research firm Gartner, overtaking local rival Lenovo, but while some of them spent the but only about half as much. their accuracy, a study from the Iowa Welk, an associate professor of and bodymedia Core. All were tested and aims to become the first Chinese firm to sell time stuffing themselves and barely In comparison, people who State University in the US suggests. kinesiology. against results from a metabolic more than 100 million smartphones this year. exercising, the others worked out hit the gym before breakfast had researchers pitted consumer Consumers are increasingly monitor, Oxycon mobile, that but it is still far behind Samsung, which had 21.9 every day. not gained any weight. they devices against a gold-standard using the monitors to track healthy measures breathing, heart rate and per cent of the market in the second quarter, and Of those who worked out, half had been able to eat a lot of metabolic monitor and found the behaviours including exercise and fat burnt. Apple, on 14.6 per cent. Huawei’s share rose to 7.8 per did so first thing in the morning, extra food, just as much as wristbands are more accurate for sleep, and researchers are adopting the two research monitors had cent from 5.4 per cent in the first quarter. the other half hit the gym and their fellow volunteers, calories burnt while resting or the devices for similar uses in the accurate calorie estimates overall, but did the same workout after without paying the jogging, but have higher error rates context of health studies, the study the Fitbit Flex, the Jawbone Up 24, a high-carb breakfast. price in additional for activities like weight-lifting and team pointed out in Medicine and and the Nike Fuelband SE provided Fasting pounds. crunches. Science in Sports and Exercise. reasonably accurate estimates. Your heart is older than you! CHARITY HrEE of four US adults have For the report, CDC researchers IOC setting up $2m a predicted “heart age” that gathered used risk factor data INITIATIVE Tis older than they are, putting collected from every US state as well them at increased risk for heart as information from a large, ongoing fund for refugees attacks and strokes, government heart study. Rewarding football-loving fans researchers said last week. they found that nearly 69 HE International Olympic polarised opinion in Europe. “Your heart may be older than million adults between the Committee (IOC) last week the amount of new arrivals AtAr Airways, the official network, FCb match tickets, Camp both the airline and team. We’re you’re. For most adults in the US, it’s,” ages of 30 and 74 have a Tdecided to set up a $2m stretched the European Union’s airline of Spanish football Nou stadium tours, barcelona continuously exploring new exciting said Dr thomas Frieden, director of heart age older than refugee fund as the asylum system as Qgiants barcelona, launched souvenirs and can benefit from its ways to create more involvement the US Centers for Disease Control their actual age. migrant crisis grips well as straining the FCb Fan Club for its privilege exclusive offers. Fan Club members for the fans and customers, and to and prevention, which released the the report also Europe. relations within the Club members. can also view FCb images and thank them for their dedication and first study to provide population- showed significant tens of thousands bloc. the fan club, which follows in the videos, match schedules, news and loyalty.” level estimates of heart age differences based have fled the Syrian “We’ve all been footsteps of the airline’s strategic merchandise. Qatar Airways’ nationwide. on gender. the conflict in recent touched by the partnership with barcelona, is a Qatar Airways’ Senior Vice-president for Customer the CDC calculates heart age average heart weeks, crossing via terrible news and platform to reward loyal Vice-president of marketing and relationship management and based on cardiovascular risk factors age for adult turkey and Greece on their way to the heartbreaking stories in the football-loving members. Corporate Communications Salam Loyalty Ian Di tullio said, “We including smoking, hypertension, men is eight years central and northern Europe. past few days,” said IOC president the privilege Club members who Al Shawa said, “Qatar Airways is would like to thank our privilege diabetes and obesity. older than their the plight of those fleeing thomas bach. “the Olympic subscribe to the Qatar Airways FCb pleased to partner FC barcelona Club members for their loyalty, and “It gives a simple risk calculation chronological age, conflict in their own countries movement wanted to play its part Fan Club can win economy class on this wonderful initiative that could not think of a better way than for having or dying of heart attack or compared to five years such as Syria, as well as economic in bringing humanitarian help to tickets to anywhere in the airlines’ brings great benefits to fans of to partner FC barcelona.” stroke,” said Frieden. older for women. migrants escaping poverty, has the refugees.” www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 43

CAMEO Chelsea tie up with Wipro English premier League football Dogus backs champions Chelsea announced a new partnership with Wipro, an It Euroleague company based in bengaluru, India. Under its terms, Wipro will help turkey-based industrial the London club enhance the digital conglomerate Dogus Group experience for fans attending home became a partner of Euroleague matches at Stamford bridge and across the world. Fujitsu supports basketball. Under the three- meanwhile, manchester United announced a shoe deal year agreement, selected Dogus with South Korean brand Sbenu. It will see the company Rugby World Cup companies (in financial services, becoming the club’s Official Casual Footwear partner in Japanese information technology automotive, construction, media, the country. tourism services, real estate, solutions provider Fujitsu has energy and entertainment been unveiled as a sponsor of TECHNOLOGY sectors) will have pan-European the forthcoming rugby World or regional sponsorship rights Head & Shoulders above rest! Cup. Under the terms of the deal, to the top-tier turkish Airlines Fujitsu becomes a second-tier Euroleague and the second-tier top Spanish football club barcelona ‘official sponsor’ of the competition, Huawei ‘Force Eurocup. renewed their sponsorship deal with joining other major brands, soft Head & Shoulders, the shampoo brand drinks giant Coca-Cola as well as that remains their regional partner Japanese electronics companies Touching’ rivals! in Indonesia, malaysia, Singapore, Canon and toshiba. thailand and Vietnam for a further two HINA’S Huawei technologies unveiled a new years. the Catalan giants also announced — Courtesy CSM Sport & Entertainment smartphone last week, taking aim at the high a new agreement with Indosat, a telecommunications www.csm.com Cend of the market dominated by Apple and brand that covers Indonesia. @FastTrack_ME Samsung Electronics. the mate S, launched on the sidelines of Europe’s biggest consumer electronics show, IFA, in berlin, has a 5.5-inch display, a 13 mega-pixel rear camera and HEALTH fingerprint security. Huawei says it is one of the first smartphones to include a Force touch display, which can distinguish between a light tap and deep press, Accuracy not guaranteed! enabling access to more functions just by pressing harder. rISt-WOrN activity “We’ve continued to study these the consumer products tested Apple is also expected to introduce iphones trackers, increasingly new consumer monitors since were the Fitbit Flex, Jawbone Up featuring Force touch technology soon. Wpopular among the companies provide no data 24, misfit Shine, Nike Fuelband SE Huawei became the world’s third-biggest consumers and in healthcare to support the accuracy of the and polar Loop. the professional smartphone company by sales last month, according research, can vary considerably in estimates,” said study author Gregory products were Actigraph Gt3X-plus to research firm Gartner, overtaking local rival Lenovo, their accuracy, a study from the Iowa Welk, an associate professor of and bodymedia Core. All were tested and aims to become the first Chinese firm to sell State University in the US suggests. kinesiology. against results from a metabolic more than 100 million smartphones this year. researchers pitted consumer Consumers are increasingly monitor, Oxycon mobile, that but it is still far behind Samsung, which had 21.9 devices against a gold-standard using the monitors to track healthy measures breathing, heart rate and per cent of the market in the second quarter, and metabolic monitor and found the behaviours including exercise and fat burnt. Apple, on 14.6 per cent. Huawei’s share rose to 7.8 per wristbands are more accurate for sleep, and researchers are adopting the two research monitors had cent from 5.4 per cent in the first quarter. calories burnt while resting or the devices for similar uses in the accurate calorie estimates overall, but jogging, but have higher error rates context of health studies, the study the Fitbit Flex, the Jawbone Up 24, for activities like weight-lifting and team pointed out in Medicine and and the Nike Fuelband SE provided crunches. Science in Sports and Exercise. reasonably accurate estimates. Your heart is older than you! CHARITY HrEE of four US adults have For the report, CDC researchers IOC setting up $2m a predicted “heart age” that gathered used risk factor data Tis older than they are, putting collected from every US state as well them at increased risk for heart as information from a large, ongoing fund for refugees attacks and strokes, government heart study. researchers said last week. they found that nearly 69 HE International Olympic polarised opinion in Europe. “Your heart may be older than million adults between the Committee (IOC) last week the amount of new arrivals you’re. For most adults in the US, it’s,” ages of 30 and 74 have a Tdecided to set up a $2m stretched the European Union’s said Dr thomas Frieden, director of heart age older than refugee fund as the asylum system as the US Centers for Disease Control their actual age. migrant crisis grips well as straining and prevention, which released the the report also Europe. relations within the first study to provide population- showed significant tens of thousands bloc. level estimates of heart age differences based have fled the Syrian “We’ve all been nationwide. on gender. the conflict in recent touched by the the CDC calculates heart age average heart weeks, crossing via terrible news and based on cardiovascular risk factors age for adult turkey and Greece on their way to the heartbreaking stories in the including smoking, hypertension, men is eight years central and northern Europe. past few days,” said IOC president diabetes and obesity. older than their the plight of those fleeing thomas bach. “the Olympic “It gives a simple risk calculation chronological age, conflict in their own countries movement wanted to play its part for having or dying of heart attack or compared to five years such as Syria, as well as economic in bringing humanitarian help to stroke,” said Frieden. older for women. migrants escaping poverty, has the refugees.” 44 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 45

CLOSE-UP | QATAR STARS LEAGUE LAUNCH DSP Photos/Mohan, Vinod Divakaran, Mohammed Dabboos Divakaran, Vinod Photos/Mohan, DSP www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 45 DSP Photos/Mohan, Vinod Divakaran, Mohammed Dabboos Divakaran, Vinod Photos/Mohan, DSP 46 WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 47

6 6 5 It is your turn now. tell us about sports events in your neighbourhood, send us photographs too and get them published in DSp. 4 MIND 2 9 1 5 7SQUARE Our e-mail is [email protected] YOUR PAGE 9 2 8 4 3 4 2 5 5 6 4 9

P 6 | FOOTBALL P 28 | MOTORSPORT QATAr FAVOUrITES NASSEr IN DrIVEr’S SEAT 5 3 6 1 7 2 Qatar start favourites against Bhutan Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah extends his lead in in their second-round tie of the 2018 the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies World Cup Asian Zone qualification. with a runner-up finish in Poland. SUDOKU-489 8 5 udoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 6 2 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEmBEr 2, 2015 | Vol X | No.31 | QR 2.00 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com Follow us on 9x9 grid with several given numbers. S the object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in 6 5 the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once.

Kenya top the tally for the first time 4 2 9 1 5 7 in the history of Athletics World GOLD Championships with Solution-488 seven gold, six silver and three bronze 9 2 8 4 CLASS medals. PAGES 16-27 6 8 9 7 4 1 2 5 3 4 2 5 3 9 8 1 7 6 3 4 2 5

UK ...... £1 UAE ...... Dh 5 Europe ...... €2 Yemen...... 75 Riyals P 26 | ATHLETICS P 20 | POSTER Oman ...... 200 Baisas Sudan ...... 1 Pound Bahrain ...... 200 Fils KSA ...... 2 Riyals Egypt ...... LE 2 Jordan ...... 500 Fils The man of Lebanon ...... 3,000 Livre Iraq ...... $1 BEST OF Kuwait ...... 250 Fils Palestine ...... $1 EXCLUSIVE 3 7 1 6 5 2 4 8 9 Morocco ...... Dh 6 Syria ...... LS 20 INTERVIEW Sebstance! BEIJING 9 5 8 4 7 3 6 2 1 5 6 4 9 1 6 7 8 2 9 5 3 4 5 3 6 1 7 2 It’ll be tough to find 2 3 4 1 6 5 7 9 8 someone like Bolt 8 4 3 5 1 7 9 6 2 8 5 Usain bolt dashed to triple glory at the World 5 9 6 2 8 4 3 1 7 Athletics Championships by winning the 100, 200m 7 1 2 9 3 6 8 4 5 2 and 4x100m relay to underline his total domination of sprint events (Doha Stadium Plus, September 2). there’s a good chance that next year’s rio Olympics will be bolt’s last appearance. Fans around the world will miss his dynamism and personality. the greatest challenge for athletics when the Jamaican superstar retires would be to find someone of his calibre. TOP TWEETS Yousef Idris, Doha. Will Jaish break the jinx? Fuchse face Veszprem in El Jaish are very keen to break their Qatar Stars League title jinx (Doha Stadium Plus, September 2). Rafael Nadal’s struggles don’t seem to be over. At the US their new overseas players, Uzbek Sardor rashidov Super Globe final Open last week, the two-time former champion, who has and moroccan Abderrazak Hamedallah, will definitely Wild cards Fuchse Berlin edged holders “We never gave up — that’s what 614 Grand8 Slam 9titles in his7 possession,4 lost1 to Italian2 Fabio5 3 bolster the squad. FC Barcelona 26-25 to set up a title Germans are known for. We just Fognini. That too after being two sets ahead. It had never Jaish coach Sabri Lamouchi knows how important clash with MKB-MVM Veszprem in stepped on the court, we knew what happened to Nadal in 151 matches in Grands Slam, but last the International Handball Federation’s we had to do. We had a strong defence it’s to win the league after they yet again fell short 4week, Fognini2 somehow5 3 found a9 way to8 come back.1 True,7 6 (IHF) Super Globe Championship at and I think that made the difference,” Nadal is nowhere near his top fitness after being hampered of expectations by finishing third last season. the the Qatar Handball Association (QHA) said Fuchse coach Erlingur Richardson. with countless injuries over the last few seasons. But the Soldiers need to be a lot more consistent if they want Complex Hall on Tuesday. Qatar’s Al Sadd, runners-up last year, 3Spaniard 7 has been1 known6 as the5 ultimate 2 fighter 4 and his8 9 to upset the applecart of Lekhwiya and Al Sadd, the Hungarian club Veszprem had no lost to Sydney University HC 17-21 in defeats are always shocks. On Twitter, fans expressed their most successful teams in Qatar of late. problem dispatching Sydney University the quarterfinal. disbelief at his early exit and wished him luck. Even his rivals’ Farid Ghulam Omar, Doha. HC 29-17 in the other last-four Meanwhile, the QHA won the right 9supporters 5 want8 him to 4get back7 to his best.3 6 2 1 clash. The final will be played on to host the tournament for another Thursday. four years. Doha has been hosting Qatari colts must improve Fuchse were trailing 12-15 at the the championship for the past six 1 6 7 8 2 9 5 3 4 halfway mark, but made a tremendous years. Despite the interests shown by Qatar’s recent performance at the GCC Under-17 Hussam Abdul-Monem @ESpNtennis @christophclarey a haircut... comeback. countries like Germany and Poland, the Championship, where they finished third, suggests @Hussam_A_monem “I tried to fight until the 2#Nadal 3 in masters4 10001 & 6 5 7 9 8 With the scores level at 25, they were IHF decided to extend the tie-up with Can’t find words to last ball. I believe I did, Grand Slams in 2015 Mike Ryan they need to improve a lot (Doha Stadium Plus, awarded a penalty and Bjarki Elisson Qatar till 2019. describe the struggles but was not enough QF QF 3r SF QF F QF 2r QF @michaelryanruiz September 2). duly converted it to pull off the victory. Mohan sent the photographs. of #Nadal. really feeling today.” Nadal on 3r loss to 83 r 3r.4 3 5 1General 7 public 9 and casual6 2 though some of the boys are sure to feature in gutted for him. we’ll Fognini. tennis observers have no the future national squads, a lack of aggression always support you champ Zain idea how broken Nadal’s upfront and a sloppy defence left a lot to be desired. #theLegendWillbounce Erik Gudris 5 @zaingilanii 9 6 2 8body 4has been3 for years.1 7 Another big test for these players, most of whom back. @AtNtennis Amazing that after losing Shame. At his peak, best from the ASpIrE Academy, will be the forthcoming Nadal led two sets and a that match, Nadal stays to I’ve ever seen. Redi Tlhabi @RediTlhabi break. And then “the Fog” 7sign autographs.1 2 Class9 act! 3 6 8 4 5 AFC Under-16 Championship qualification, where I’m not a Nadal fan but set in. Incredible match. Upmost respect for him. Andrew Prochnow they’re expected to face a stiff challenge, particularly I’m sad at his downfall.. @Andrewprochnow from Iraq. wish he could come Lindsay Gibbs aRNi Philorafaia the reason to be optimistic Ahmad Yacoub, Doha. back because he is a @linzsports @Arni_Abd is the same reason to phenomenal player. Wait. Wait just a minute. He will always fight be disappointed. #Nadal Nadal LOSt last night?!?! because he is rafa! Vamos was cruising, playing great. Hosting PSL a wise move Wendell Pierce Apparently I’m just never vamos #Nadal. Just didn’t finish. Almost @Wendellpierce allowed to sleep again. there! Doha hosting the twenty20 pakistan Super League 6-4;6-3; and leading 3-1, Cricketwallah (pSL) is indeed good news for cricket fans in Qatar I thought Nadal had it Piers Newbery @cricketwallah Vedant Agrawal (Doha Stadium Plus, September 2). in the bag. So I leave my @piersnewbery rafa Nadal’s performances @magicalZizou though Qatar’s players won’t be competing in the court side seat and miss Nadal will end the year in the last 4 Grand Slams I am die hard Federer fan, tournament, helping organise the pSL itself will go what was a stellar tennis without a Slam for the first have been as strong as but can’t see a person like a long way in promoting the sport. Currently, there match. time since 2004... popeye without his supply Nadal lose like this. Come aren’t much cricket activity in the country, where it’s a ESPNTennis Christopher Clarey of spinach or Samson after back stronger, Champ! relatively new sport. Yousef Mirza, Doha. www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com | WEDNESDAY, SEptEmbEr 9, 2015 47

It is your turn now. tell us about sports events in your neighbourhood, send us photographs too and get them published in DSp. Our e-mail is [email protected] YOUR PAGE

Fuchse face Veszprem in Super Globe final Wild cards Fuchse Berlin edged holders “We never gave up — that’s what FC Barcelona 26-25 to set up a title Germans are known for. We just clash with MKB-MVM Veszprem in stepped on the court, we knew what the International Handball Federation’s we had to do. We had a strong defence (IHF) Super Globe Championship at and I think that made the difference,” the Qatar Handball Association (QHA) said Fuchse coach Erlingur Richardson. Complex Hall on Tuesday. Qatar’s Al Sadd, runners-up last year, Hungarian club Veszprem had no lost to Sydney University HC 17-21 in problem dispatching Sydney University the quarterfinal. HC 29-17 in the other last-four Meanwhile, the QHA won the right clash. The final will be played on to host the tournament for another Thursday. four years. Doha has been hosting Fuchse were trailing 12-15 at the the championship for the past six halfway mark, but made a tremendous years. Despite the interests shown by comeback. countries like Germany and Poland, the With the scores level at 25, they were IHF decided to extend the tie-up with awarded a penalty and Bjarki Elisson Qatar till 2019. duly converted it to pull off the victory. Mohan sent the photographs. www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com

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