12 Friday, January 31, 2020 Sports India’s Ngangom Bala Devi seals ground-breaking Rangers FC move AFC to ply her trade abroad at a “To play my football in Eu- of training and competition. Glasgow (SCOTLAND) professional level. rope with one of the biggest “I’m very grateful to The deal will also make clubs in the world is something (Women’s and Girl’s Football Indian women’s national the 29-year-old the first Asian I could never have dreamed Manager) Amy McDonald, the team star Ngangom Bala woman to represent Rangers. of,” Devi told the Rangers FC coaching staff and the entire Devi is set to join Scottish A talented creator and First abroad website. management at Rangers for Women’s Premier League prolific scorer for both club Devi will join the Glasgow “I hope my move to Rang- believing in me.” high-flyers Rangers FC in a and country, Devi has more ers serves as an example to all Devi’s move makes her the landmark move announced than 50 international goals to giants on an 18-month-deal the women footballers back latest Asian star to join a Brit- on Wednesday. her name, including four in a from 2019 Indian Women’s home in India who dream of ish club, with Australian AFC Devi will join the Glasgow single Tokyo 2020 Olympics League runners-up Manipur taking up the sport profession- Women’s Player of the Year giants on an 18-month-deal qualifier against Bangladesh Police Sports Club, pending ally.” winners Sam Kerr and Caitlin from 2019 Indian Women’s in November 2018. an international clearance, “I’m looking forward to Foord recently joining Korea League runners-up Manipur Devi revealed her delight making her the first making the most of the top- Republic national team vet- Police Sports Club, pending an at putting pen to paper on a Indian woman to ply her trade class facilities and coaching erans Ji So-yun and Cho So- international clearance, mak- historic move for Indian wom- abroad at a professional level. and I am certain I will benefit hyun in the English Women’s ing her the first Indian woman en’s football. immensely from the standard Super League.

QNB Stars League Al Gharafa are wary of ‘dangerous’ QSC Ayeni Olusegun

Al Gharafa coach Slavisa Jo- kanovic is wary of dangerous floaters Sports Club whom they host in the QNB Stars League on Friday. Ninth-placed Qatar SC Al Arabi’s Pierre-Michelle Lasogga battles against ’s Adel al haven’t lost in any of their Sulimane during their QNB Stars League match at the Grand Hamad last six league matches hav- Stadium (Al Arabi) on Thursday. ing notched three wins and three draws. Al Gharafa on the other hand, crushed Al Umm Salal hold Al Arabi Rayyan last weekend to end a two-game losing run. They re- main fourth in the league, four to frustrating 1-1 draw points ahead of Al Arabi. “Qatar SC are one of the Tribune News Network back to the top-four bracket. much-improved teams this Doha Also on Thursday, season. They did not suffer any snatched their second equal- defeat in recent matches and Al Arabi were held to a drab iser right at the death to hold achieved important victories, Al Gharafa players in a training session to prepare for their QNB Stars League match against Qatar Sports Club. 1-1 draw by Umm Salal in the Al Ahli to a 2-2 draw. especially against Al Sadd. QNB Stars League at the Al Lucca Borges bagged a “They have good players against Qatar SC and lost two Arabi Stadium on Thursday. brace for Al Khor, while Ab- who are able to quickly switch Ninth-placed Qatar SC have QSL Standings points, but we deserved to win. Pierre-Michelle Lasogga delrahman Moustafa and from defence to attack, which not lost in their last six Club MP W D L GF GA GD Pts Before that, we won against Al gave Al Arabi the lead in the substitute Nabil El Zhar may be dangerous to us,” Jo- Sadd and have collected four league matches with three 1. Al Duhail 13 10 3 0 27 11 16 33 64th minute, but that Raul scored for the Brigadiers. kanovic said. wins and three draws in points from two games. The Oscar scored the important Al Ahli now have 17 points Al Gharafa’s new signing 2. 13 8 4 1 30 12 17 28 draw with Qatar SC was like a equaliser for struggling Umm and Al Khor 10. Jonathan Kodjia announced that period. Al Gharafa on 3. Al Sadd 13 9 0 4 39 23 16 27 loss, we want compensation by Salal in the 86th minute. Abdelrahman put Al Ahli his arrival to Qatar with a stun- the other hand, crushed Al 4. Al Gharafa 13 7 2 4 26 20 6 23 winning against Al Shahania,” Al Arabi and Umm Salal ahead with a shot from out- ning hat-trick against Al Rayy- Rayyan last weekend to end 5. Al Arabi 14 5 4 5 25 23 2 19 Lopez noted. now have 19 and nine points side the box. an, but Jokanovic has played a two-game losing run. They 6. Al Sailiya 13 5 2 6 15 17 -2 17 Al Shahania dropped to respectively. Lucca helped Al Khor down having too much expec- bottom of the table after Umm remain fourth in the league. 7. Al Ahli 14 5 2 7 19 25 -6 17 The hard-earned point draw parity halfway through tations on the Ivorian striker. Salal’s point on Thursday was a huge sigh of relief for the first half with a free-kick. “We have to be happy with 8. 13 4 4 5 18 21 -3 16 against Al Arabi moved them Umm Salal, who are rooted in A minute into the second our performance but we can’t goalless draw against Al Wak- 9. Qatar SC 13 4 3 6 14 17 -3 15 one point ahead. the danger zone along with Al half, Al Ahli captain Nabil expect Jonathan to score three rah last time out. 10. Al Khor 14 2 4 8 16 25 -9 10 Jose Murcia’s men have Shahania and Al Khor. came off the bench in place goals everyday. “I am convinced that any 11. Umm Salal 14 2 3 9 9 28 -19 9 only eight points and badly Lasogga volleyed home a of Mohsen Hassan and im- “We are glad to have a team can have a bad match, 12. Al Shahania 13 1 5 7 13 28 -15 8 need to start picking up points rebound off the horizontal af- mediately earned a penalty player like him but we also which happened against Al if they are to stay away from ter Yousef Abdulrisag hit his when Musab Abdulmajid have other players who can Wakrah. Everyone admitted Al Gharafa coach Slavisa Jokanovic speaks to the media during a the relegation zone. rising shot against it. fouled him. score like Al Sadd, Al Duhail. that the performance was not press conference on Wednesday. “If we get the three points, New signing Raul earned Nabil placed home the It was a great performance enough to satisfy us. It was a I think we can jump more them the equaliser late into rebound after goalkeeper from him last week, perfect lesson for us and we have ben- Al Wakrah vs Al Shahania to sixth place behind Al Arabi. than one position, I have big the game by heading in a cross Baba Djibril blocked the performance.” efited a lot from it. In the first match of the week- Al Wakrah, coached by confidence in my players. Our from the right by Mahmoud shot. As Al Ahli cruised to Qatar SC coach Wesam “I am waiting for my play- end, Al Wakrah face Al Shaha- Spaniard Marquez Lopez, chances are big, I have good Al Mawas, the livewire among their second successive win Rizik who has overseen a ers’ reaction against Al Ghara- nia at the Al Wakrah Stadium crystallized by a shock 2-1 players with experience, for The Orange Fortress’ ranks. came Lucca’s goal, which re- change in the club’s fortune fa. I consider this match as a on Friday. win over Al Sadd 2-1. this I feel great confidence in It was yet another setback sulted from a free-kick from of late said he expects a reac- special challenge for them,” Al Wakrah have 16 points “As far as we are con- them and in my experience,” for Al Arabi in their bid to get inside the box. tion from his players after their Rizik said. and a win could see them move cerned, we played a big game said Murcia.

Longines Hathab round Top Russian and Serbian clubs set seven action from today for Match Premier Cup at Aspire Tribune News Network Doha Tribune News Network in sport, Aspire is an impres- Doha sive Academy that’s for sure.” The 7th round of the third annual Longines Qa- The tournament falls dur- tar Equestrian Tour ‘Hathab 2019-2020’ will be The “Match Premier Cup” ing the winter break from most held at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab on Fri- returns to Aspire Academy European league and clubs use day and Saturday (January 31 and February 1). after a successful debut last the opportunity to fine tune for The Small Tour (Table A, One round against year. The 2020 edition fea- the resumption phase. the clock 100/115cm), and Medium Tour for tures three top Russian Pre- Head coach Tedesco went individuals and teams (Table A, Special two mier League (RPL) clubs on to describe his team’s goals phases 120/130cm) events will take on Friday Spartak Moscow, Lokomotiv for the second half of the sea- at 2pm and from 5.30pm onwards. Moscow and Rostov who will son saying, “Spartak is a great On Saturday, the Future Riders’ class (Op- be joined by top Serbian club club with a great history and timum Time 70/85cm, 85/100cm) will begin at Partizan Belgrade to com- ambitious goals in the future. 9am. The Open Class (Power and Skill (Six Bar) plete the quartet. We have a very young and Competition 115/125cm), and the feature Big The tournament will run Winners of the 2019 The Match Premier Cup Spartak Moscow ambitious that we want to de- Tour (Table A, Special two phases 130/145cm) from February 1 to 9 at As- celebrate with the trophy after the final last year. velop it to its maximum. will be held from 2pm and 5.30pm respectively. A young rider takes his horse for the mandatory pire Academy grounds and “We are convinced that The 12-leg series National showjumping series veterinary check ahead of the 7th Hathab round at is organized by TV channel “The facilities and conditions chance to show themselves.” there is a lot of talent and po- – where best seven results are take into account in the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab on Thursday. MATCH PREMIER. Tourna- are very good here at Aspire Domenico Tedesco was tential in it. But at the moment deciding overall champions -- currently has Mo- ment matches will be broad- Academy and the environ- not in charge last year when it’s important to stabilize the hammad Sultan al Suwaidi leading the Big Tour In dressage, Jassim Mohammed al Ku- cast on Match TV and MATCH ment is great and we are real- Spartak Moscow won the team and to collect as many with a tally of 140 points ahead of Salmeen al Su- wari leads Level 1 with 80 points, while Jassim PREMIER, as well as covered ly looking forward to playing tournament in Doha last year points as possible as fast as waidi, who has 125 points from his participation Nasser al Qadi head Level 2 with 84 points to on their social networks and our first match of the 2020 spoke of the beauty, he has possible. in five rounds. He had missed the opening round. his credit. websites: matchtv.ru, match- Match Premier Cup. seen upon arriving in Qatar. “The most important Khaled Mohammed al Emadi (122), also The QR1.5mn National showjumping series premier.ru and sportbox.ru. “The tournament is an “It’s my first time here in thing at the moment is to from five rounds, is third. Hathab runs from October o April each year and The first team to arrive important part of our prepa- Doha and l am impressed by and make our fans happy In the Medium Tour, Hussein Saeed Haidan is an initiative of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad in Qatar for the tournament ration. When we go on the what l have seen. My first im- again and those in Doha who (145) is the leader and is followed by Moham- al Thani, President, Qatar Olympic Committee. were Spartak Moscow whose pitch we want to win, that’s for pressions of the environment will come watch us in the mad Nasser al Qadi (141). Hathab aims at honing equestrian talent manager, Domenico Tedesco sure. But on the other side it’s and conditions here for ath- MATCH PREMIER CUP will In the teams’ competition, the Top team in Qatar and prepares riders for international praised the tournament and normal for this moment that letes are very good and offer a witness this”, concluded Do- (169 pts) are ahead of the second-ranked Al competition. The competition is open for par- highlighted its importance, we will give a lot of guys the world of opportunities to excel menico Tedesco. Shaqab, and third-placed ExxonMobil teams. ticipation to all Qataris and residents of Qatar.