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CCYCLINGYCLING | Page 6 Dumoulin the big loser in Giro d’Italia mass fall Wednesday, May 15, 2019 GOLF Ramadan 10, 1440 AH Tiger trims events to GULF TIMES stay fresh but eyes Tokyo Olympics SPORT Page 7 FOOTBALL Qatar will be a better team aft er Copa America: Sanchez ‘It’s going to be a big challenge but at the same time it’s also a great opportunity to gain some great experience’ By Anil John Doha 15 - 05 -2019 otivation, commitment: two words Felix Sanchez cannot cut out from a con- versation, two words that Mform the very focal point of his life in football, two simple words that are not out of place in the context of a school competition as well as that of a global sporting showpiece. Sanchez is a not a man with a pen- chant for blather. He gives few press conferences, reluctantly attends gala dinners, shies away from publicity and prefers to be dressed in tees and jeans. He is a man of action, who is most com- fortable in the company of his players. Twelve years since he took a fl ight to Qatar from Spain to work with the Aspire Academy’s football project, Sanchez has come a long way. Several aspiring footballers with whom he fi rst Qatar coach Felix Sanchez (R) and media manager Ali Salat smile during a press interacted when they were mere kids conference yesterday. are now part of the Asian Cup winning national team. Now they have set their players would tackle Neymar. tract through to 2022 when Qatar hosts sights on making a mark on an entirely “There are not many diffi cult things the FIFA World Cup. new and somewhat unlikely stage for to do than playing against Brazil,” “I am grateful to the QFA President Asian teams – the Copa America, the Sanchez said. “Of course, if Neymar (Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed oldest continental football champion- America. It’s going to be a very big chal- Sanchez added that after the Asian of the month from an initial list of 40. plays we will try our best to minimise al-Thani) for trusting me and my team. ship in the world which debuted in 1916 lenge,” Sanchez said during a press con- Cup triumph earlier this year, Qatari It’s only normal that at the end of a sea- his impact on the match but they also Of course our priority was to continue when it was called the South American ference yesterday. players have hardly had any rest with son you have players with injuries. We have other great players.” working in Qatar and carry on with the Championship. The 12-team event which kicks off the season yet to get over. have to deal with that. After the match against Brazil on June work we were doing. We hope to keep As far as Qatar is concerned, it’s on June 16 and concludes on July 7 sees “It has been a long season. Two of the “As of now, Bassam (al-Rawi) seems 5, Qatar will have a closed door game giving good results.” a tournament that existed only in a Qatar placed in Group B along with Ar- clubs from which the majority of the na- to have suff ered an injury. We are wait- against a club team on June 9 before He, however, said whatever success somewhat mythical realm where Pele gentina, Colombia and Paraguay, teams tional team players are (Al Sadd and Al ing for scans. We are also waiting on the taking on Paraguay on June 16. he achieved with the team was the re- (1959) and other South American leg- against whom Qatar have never played Duhail) are playing the Amir Cup fi nal fi tness of Karim Boudiaf and Sultan al- Sanchez added that he was not think- sult of teamwork. ends dazzled worldwide audiences before in tournaments at the senior after their league engagements. They Brake plus some others.” ing about the results in the tournament. “It has been 12 years since I am here. with their distinct fl air and style. Now level. are also involved in the AFC Champions Qatar will hold a training camp in “We will try our best to compete. The country had big plans for football thanks to an invite as a guest team from “It’s going to be a big challenge but League. But they are ready to give their the US before fl ying out to Brazil for Let’s see how far we can go. In any case and I am personally proud and hon- hosts Brazil, Qatar can get a taste of the at the same time it’s also a great oppor- everything (at the Copa America).” the tournament, but before that they the experience of playing in the Copa oured to be part of the journey. But unique culture of football that makes tunity to gain some great experience. Sanchez has already started training have the simple matter of facing the America would be of great help to the there were lots of eff orts put in by oth- teams such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile Many of the teams in the tournament, with players who are available while Selecao in an international friendly on players. They will be much better play- ers, most notably Aspire, the QFA, the and Uruguay stand out. like Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay have waiting for the others to complete the June 5 at the iconic Maracana Stadium ers after that. It will help them for the medical and technical staff . “The Copa America is a totally diff er- won the World Cup several times. But season. in Rio de Janeiro. It’s a match that the big challenges ahead, especially the “They created the perfect environ- ent competition. For the fi rst time ever our players have the motivation, the “The training has started but there is Qatar football community is greatly 2022 World Cup.” ment for me to stay motivated and Qatar is getting an opportunity to play commitment. They are looking forward still time for the fi nal team of 23 players excited about, and sure enough the Sanchez also thanked the Qatar Foot- committed and also to keep the players against some of the best teams in South to it.” to be selected and submitted by the end question popped up as to how his ball Association for extending his con- motivated and committed.” CRICKET Bairstow, Roy dazzle as England canter to win AFP challenging target, particularly as But Joe Denly’s prospects suff ered a Bristol they had rested Jos Buttler following setback, with the leg-spinner — play- his match-winning 110 not out in the ing in place of the rested Adil Rashid second ODI at Southampton on Sat- — bowling a couple of full tosses in a onny Bairstow’s commanding urday. solitary over costing nine runs before hundred was the centrepiece of But Bairstow and opening partner he was removed from the attack. England’s dominant six-wicket Jason Roy, who made 76 after Shaheen Woakes reduced Pakistan to 27 for win over Pakistan in the third Shah Afridi dropped an easy chance to two, a full-length ball having Fa- Jone-day international at Bristol yes- catch him at mid-off on 21, shared a khar Zaman — fresh from a hundred terday as the World Cup hosts showed blistering stand of 159 inside 18 overs. at Southampton — edging to Root at they could chase, as well as set, a tar- The pair took advantage of a good second slip before a sharp off -cutter get. pitch, short boundaries, fast outfi eld bowled Babar Azam. England generally prefer batting and an inexperienced Pakistan attack But Haris Sohail made a run-a-ball fi rst but captain Eoin Morgan decided — Mohamed Amir was again ruled out 41 before he was run out going for a to give them experience of chasing with chicken pox — to repeatedly send sharp single by bowler Tom Curran just weeks away from the World Cup the ball soaring over the ropes. kicking the ball onto the striker’s- by opting to fi eld fi rst after winning Roy set the tone with a huge straight end stumps. But left-handed opener the toss. six off Afridi and fl at-batted medi- Imam went to his sixth hundred in 27 Bairstow’s 128 in a score of 359 for um-pacer Faheem Ashraf’s fi rst ball ODIs — and fi rst against England — four — England’s second highest win- straight back over the bowler’s head off 97 balls. ning total batting second in an ODI — for another. Roy eventually sliced The nephew of Pakistan great and vindicated Morgan’s decision and left Faheem to Asif Ali at cover-point, selection chief Inzamam-ul-Haq, his side 2-0 up with two to play in a having hit eight fours and four sixes. Pakistan’s Imam-ul-Haq celebrates upped his tempo by driving left-arm fi ve-match series. Faheem almost had a second wicket reaching 150 runs in Bristol yesterday. quick David Willey for six. Test captain Joe Root made 43 as when he was unable to cling on to a Imam surpassed his previous ODI Pakistan became increasingly ragged tough caught and bowled chance off edged a pull off Junaid Khan into his best of 128 against Zimbabwe at Bula- in the fi eld, England winning with 31 a hard-hit Bairstow drive when the stumps, with England on their way to wayo last year before he was bowled, balls — or more than fi ve overs — to batsman was on 86.

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