25 Sports Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Former Barca Enrique tasked with reviving Spain Enrique’s appointment as coach for the next two years

MADRID: Former Barcelona coach was Andres Iniesta, who has retired from international football. appointed Spain’s new coach yesterday after previous incumbent was sacked on the eve of the RESTORING CONFIDENCE World Cup in what turned out to be a disappointing cam- The new manager faces the same two-pronged brief that paign. “Luis Enrique’s appointment as coach for the next Lopetegui was tasked with two years ago: to restore confi- two years was approved unanimously,” , presi- dence and get fresh blood from the younger generation. Of dent of the Spanish football federation, told reporters. The the starting XI against Russia, only will be 48-year-old faces a similar challenge to the one that he had under 30 when the next World Cup comes around. Gerard when he took over at Barcelona in 2014. Pique, , , and Sergio A team with a history of success, a talented squad and a Busquets will all be 33 or older. The survivors from the triple distinctive style of playing, had just failed to win a trophy triumph of Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 for the first time in six years. With Spain, Enrique must will either be gone or nearing retirement, which paves the revive a side that won three consecutive major tournaments way for an evolution of personnel and maybe style. between 2008 and 2012 but are deflated after three failures, Enrique played for both the warring powers of Spanish the latest their World Cup loss to hosts Russia-ranked 70th club football. A bustling forward or , he made 157 in the world-on penalties in the last 16. appearances for Real over five seasons scoring 15 Before that, Spain were humiliated at the hands of the goals and then played 207 games, scoring 73 times, for Netherlands in 2014 and beaten by Italy at Euro 2016 — Barcelona over eight seasons. He also made 62 appearances their winning streak but a distant memory. Enrique will be for Spain between 1991 and 2002, scoring 12 goals. taking over from Lopetegui, who was fired by Rubiales After retiring in 2004, Enrique was groomed as a coach when the coach announced he had signed to take over at by Barcelona and led the club’s B team to promotion to the Real Madrid. Spanish second division and then took them to a third-place Spain’s then sporting director stepped finish. His first head coaching job was at Roma in 2011 but in hastily to replace him and led the team to the last 16, after a mediocre season he returned to Spain and led Celta before stepping down after the tournament. Changing the Vigo to ninth, an improvement of eight places, and master- coach two days before Spain’s opening game probably did minded a 2-0 home victory over Real Madrid that ensured not benefit the side’s chances. Atletico Madrid won the title. That summer he joined With Hierro in place, there were positive signs against Barcelona for a glorious three-year reign. His first season Portugal, when ’s free-kick overshadowed started shakily while he searched for a settled lineup but BARCELONA: In this file photo taken on May 21, 2017 Barcelona’s coach Luis Enrique holds a ball during an assured Spain performance in a thrilling 3-3 draw. But ended in a treble of , Copa del Rey and the the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs SD Eibar at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on May defensive errors and tactical rigidity soon came to the fore Champions League, beating Juventus in the final. Barcelona 21, 2017. The Spanish Football Federation named yesterday former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique as as poor displays followed against Iran, Morocco and Russia. then won the World Club Cup and at the end of the 2015-16 Spain’s new coach. — AFP Enrique will also be taking over a team shorn of captain season added another Spanish double.—AFP

ered from a career-threatening knee injury suffered last politician and a former professional shooter who won Modi lauds Indian year as her average score of 14.150 edged out silver in the 2004 Olympics, also praised the champion Indonesia’s Rifda Irfanaluthfi (13.400). gymnast. “#DipaKarmakar is the stuff champions are “More than the gold, what was important for me was made of! After battling an injury for the past 2 yrs, she gymnast for first to perform at the optimum level. I am happy I could do makes a heroic comeback by clinching her first in the Wilshere feels that considering the fact at the beginning of the year, I Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Turkey! Many gold in world event was hobbling back to fitness,” Karmakar was quoted as Congratulations to her for making proud!,” Rathore saying by the Hindustan Times newspaper. wrote on Twitter. ‘special bond’ “Getting back into top gear makes me believe that Karmakar though is still some distance away from my knee has healed completely and I should now be the dangerous “Produnova Vault” that got her bronze in with new club NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the able to go all out at the Asian Games,” she added. The the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. tributes yesterday for woman gymnast Dipa Karmakar Asian Games take place in Indonesia from August 18 to Named after Russian gymnast Yelena Produnova, the who bagged India’s first ever gold medal in a global September 2. Modi took to Twitter to congratulate the “Vault of Death” as it is nicknamed was first introduced West Ham gymnastic event in Turkey. Karmakar, who participated Indian athlete who missed the Commonwealth Games in in 1999, but is so dangerous some want it banned. Australia this year due to her injury. “India is proud of It involves a handspring double-front somersault, in her first international competition since narrowly LONDON: England midfielder Jack Wilshere said it missing an Olympic medal in 2016, won the women’s @DipaKarmakar!... This win is a prime example of her and has one of the highest degrees of difficulty rating a felt “special” to be joining West Ham on a free trans- vault at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge tenacity and never-say-die attitude,” said Modi. seven, but only a handful of gymnasts have attempted it fer yesterday as it is the club he and his family sup- Cup in Mersin on Sunday. The 24-year-old had recov- Sports minister Rajyavardhan Rathore, an Indian in competition. —AFP ported. The 26-year-old-whose lack of form towards the end of the season with Arsenal led to his being omitted from the World Cup squad-signed a three year contract with the Hammers. Wilshere-scorer of 14 goals in his 197 appear- Pivac to coach ances for the Gunners and who won two FA Cup winners medals in 2014 and 2015 — said it was well known the strong emotional ties he had with Wales after West Ham. “It feels good, it feels special,” said Wilshere on Gatland era the West Ham website. “Many people know that I’ve had a special bond with this club growing up. “People will have seen the picture of me in a West Ham shirt LONDON: Wayne Pivac will coach Wales when and I’ve got good memories of my childhood sup- fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland’s 12 year porting West Ham, watching them at Upton Park. reign comes to an end following the 2019 Rugby “It feels good and of course my family and a few World Cup, the Wales Rugby Union announced of my friends are West Ham fans so everyone’s buzzing.” Wilshere-whose contract ran out at the end yesterday. Pivac’s successful tenure at Welsh of June — decided to look for a new club when new region Scarlets-last season he guided them to their Gunners manager told him he would not first European Cup semi-final in a decade-had Kuwait jet ski team with Kuwait’s Ambassador in Jasem Al Budaiwi and other Kuwaiti be a first choice next season. placed him as favourite to fill the vacancy. diplomats. Emery’s predecessor Arsene Wenger had recom- Pivac, who also coached Scarlets to a thumping mended that the club offer Wilshere a new contract victory over Irish powerhouses Munster to land the after a series of impressive performances last season. 2017 Celtic League title, saw off two fellow New efforts to provide all sorts of services and facilities to Wilshere’s career has been hobbled by injuries and he Zealanders-two-time Super Rugby winning coach Kuwaiti team wins 4 various Kuwaiti delegations that visit Belgium, political, was willing to take a pay cut to stay at a club he had Dave Rennie, who is presently in charge of economic cultural, sports. We are here to help them to been with for 17 years but Wenger’s departure left his Glasgow Warriors, and Scott Robinson.”The cur- ease their stay here,” Al-Budaiwi told KUNA. fate in Emery’s hands. rent Scarlets boss will take over from Warren medals at Belgium’s “We are keen on promoting Kuwait’s relations with Wilshere-who won the last of his 34 England caps Gatland, who is scheduled to step down after the Belgium in different fields. Sports is a sector where cul- in the humiliating Euro 2016 2-1 defeat to Iceland- 2019 Rugby World Cup when he will have served European Jet Ski tures and the youth can meet and exchange views and said he did not have to think twice when he learned of more than 12 years at the helm,” read the WRU ideas in a very civilized and peaceful manner,” he said. West Ham’s interest in securing his services adding statement posted on their website. On his part, Jet skier and team member that he is a great admirer of manager Manuel Martyn Phillips, chief executive of the WRU, said championships Abdurrahman Al-Umar said that he won a gold medal in Pellegrini. that there should be no complaints after a rigorous the pro-am runabout limited class. “I think it was a number of things,” he said. “The selection process which took two years to com- BRUSSELS: The Kuwaiti national Jet Ski team won one “It was really a tough competition. It is the first time manager being one and the way he wants to play and plete. “We have secured the best man for the job gold, two silver and one bronze medal at the Euro Jet- that I participated in this class. I am really happy that I where he sees me playing.” Mario Husillos, director of football at West Ham, said he and Pellegrini had made and we have done so rigorously and decisively to tribe Jetski Championship held in Belgium from July 4- won,” he said. On his part, teammate Salem Al-Mutawa the collective benefit of all involved in Welsh rug- said that he won the silver medal in the pro-am limited Wilshere’s signing a priority once they knew he 8. Kuwait’s Ambassador to Belgium, the EU, NATO and would be available. by,” said Phillips. Luxembourg, Jasem Al-Budaiwi, yesterday welcomed category and a bronze medal in pro-am stock category. “Both Wayne and Warren and their coaching “Manuel and I identified him as a target as soon as the team to the Kuwait embassy and congratulated Mohammad Ibrahim Burabia won the silver medal in the we joined the club and we are delighted to have suc- teams, our international players, supporters and them on their win. He noted that the Kuwaiti team had pro-GB category, which he said, “is the biggest and everyone at the Scarlets now have clarity and there ceeded in securing Jack’s signature above a number an outstanding performance at the championship that hardest category in the championships.” of other teams. “On the biggest stage, he has shown is no underestimating the positive benefit to be was organized by the Belgian Jet Ski Federation near A number of 31 countries from around the world, that he has game-changing abilities, as well as having gained from having the time to plan properly for the town of Froidchapelle in southwestern Belgium. including some Gulf countries, with 299 racers took the creativity and intelligence to make a real differ- the future.—AFP “The embassy welcomed this team in line with its part in the event. — KUNA ence to our squad.”—AFP