WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 SPORTS Thai refugee eyeing Premier League with Sheffield

LONDON: In the prison-like surround- to dream again. “I would love to play in missed out on promotion back to the camp, including Kler and five family same time as having to learn a new lan- ings of a Thai refugee camp on the the Premier League one day but at pres- second tier. He watched Thailand beat members, were resettled in Sheffield as guage and adapt to an unfamiliar cul- Myanmar border, 10-year-old Kler Heh ent my goal is to impress (manager) Myanmar in the final of the Southeast part of the United Nations Gateway ture. It has been an incredible achieve- would play soccer in bare feet with fami- Nigel Adkins and (under 21 coach) Chris Asian Games tournament in June, but Protection Programme. ment to be awarded with a professional ly and friends dreaming of a new life Morgan, and repay Sheffield United for said his international chances with either Unable to speak the language, Kler contract at the club.” elsewhere. Anywhere. The long list of the faith that they have shown to me,” he are complicated by his ethnicity and lack took to the sanctuary of soccer once Kler, now holding a British passport, possible locations never included the told Reuters. of passport for each country. again, playing for school teams and in went back to Thailand in 2012 to visit northern English city of Sheffield but the “I want to grow as a player and I Sunday leagues. Friends told him of the family and friends at the Umpiem Mai once-mighty industrial town that has believe that I will be able to do that INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT Football Unites Racism Divides group, Refugee Camp, which is home to almost struggled since the decline of its steel under Chris Morgan’s guidance. “But I am Born in the refugee camp, he and his which helped Kyle Walker on his way to 13,000 people. mills in the 1980s has became a wel- an ambitious player and I would love to family of ethnic Karens, a minority group becoming an England international, and He said he is was happy to carry the come home, largely because of soccer. and one day be the captain of either who have faced oppression in Myanmar, he went along and impressed. Two weight of expectation for all back home After four years living in England, Myanmar or Thailand at an international had already failed with their attempts to nerve-filled trials at Sheffield United, in a region obsessed with the Premier Kler’s perseverance and hard work level and as I grow play at the highest move to Australia and seemed destined where Walker also started, came and League and desperate to see one of their showed English third tier side Sheffield level possible the Premier League and never to escape the depressing camp went before Kler was finally taken on by own play in the lucrative league for the United the skills learnt on the enclosed Champions League.” environment. the club’s academy at the third attempt first time. “I know that I am representing Thai streets were worthy of a chance Kler is a skilful winger who will play in “You can’t really get out, nobody has and has impressed coaches. myself, my family, friends and everyone with their academy. Now 18 and pos- United’s under-21 side this year and a passport to go into Thailand and go “Trying to progress through the acad- in Myanmar and Thailand,” Kler said. “I sessing a first professional contract with push for first team opportunities with out like a normal human would,” Kler emy ranks is a tough challenge on its want to be a positive role model and a the four-times FA Cup winners and 1898 the Blades, who made the semi-finals of explained. own,” United academy manager Nick Cox symbol of hope that there is life outside English champions, Kler allows himself the League Cup last season but narrowly But in 2006, a small group from the told Reuters. “Kler has done this at the the refugee camps.” —Reuters Pele leaves hospital

SAO PAULO: Brazilian football legend Pele, Known as “O Rei” (“The King”), Pele has 74, left hospital in Sao Paolo on Monday been admitted to the same hospital several after successfully undergoing spinal sur- times going back to 2012. In May, the glob- gery, doctors said. al sporting icon was hospitalised for four Pele “was discharged today. The patient days and had surgery for an enlarged left the hospital at 4:00 pm,” the Albert prostate. Einstein hospital in Brazil’s financial capital Last November, he underwent surgery said in a statement. for kidney stones and then came down An undated photograph provided by with an infection that required treatment in the hospital showed the former star for- a hospital intensive care unit for several ward of all-conquering Brazilian sides smil- days. ing, with his arm around his companion His one remaining kidney-the other was Marcia Aoki, and wearing street clothes. removed following a rib injury during his The hospital earlier said that Pele had playing days-stopped working and had to undergone surgery for nerve root decom- be treated with dialysis. pression in his back on July 14 and that he He also had surgery on his femur in was recovering satisfactorily. The operation November 2012. Pele was named Athlete was “preprogrammed.” Pele was suffering of the Century by the International Olympic from compression of two vertebrae which Committee in 1999. had made him lose the strength in his legs, The athlete, whose real name is Edson especially in his right leg, according to Arantes do Nascimento, is widely regarded Brazilian media reports. as one of the greatest footballers to have The only player to have been in three played. World Cup-winning teams, Pele was report- Born on October 23, 1940, Pele won his edly due to undergo an operation on the first World Cup in Sweden in 1958 and was problem last year but other health prob- also part of the Brazil sides that triumphed lems forced him to put off the surgery. in 1962 and 1970.—AFP Van Gaal salutes Rooney’s leadership

SAN JOSE: Manchester United manager striker have been my two best goalscoring Clint Dempsey in action in this file photo. Louis van Gaal has saluted the leadership seasons. of Wayne Rooney as he prepares to reward “It is where the manager and myself see the Red Devils captain by playing him in his my best position. “Hopefully I can get a preferred role of centre-forward. good run of games and repay the manager US confident ahead of Rooney was handed the captain’s arm- and score goals for the team, but it is obvi- band by van Gaal last August during his ously on me to do that. first season in charge at Old Trafford, and “I have no doubts that I can score 20 the England striker’s performance in the goals or more again and I am ready to take Jamaica Gold Cup clash role made a lasting impression on the on that mantle and be the one who gets Dutchman. “I could not have expected the goals for this team. “If I play up there more,” van Gaal told reporters here Monday again this season, then I can get the goals. ATLANTA: Defending champions the United want him to score.” The Americans hope to retain not easy. All their players play at a high level,” as United prepared for the second game of It is where I like and it is where I will play.” States, sparked by six goals in four matches from the trophy and secure a berth in the 2017 Schaefer said. “Now it’s Berti Vogts and their US tour against San Jose Earthquakes. Rooney has set himself a target of scor- Clint Dempsey, enter today’s Gold Cup semi- Confederations Cup, a World Cup warmup event Klinsmann against me. This is difficult. We are “I think he’s a great captain. Better than I ing more than 20 goals for United this sea- finals confident but cautious against a defen- in Russia. definitely the underdog.” Panama edged Mexico had expected. He is fully accepted by the son after finding the net just 14 times last sively determined Jamaica. “The confidence grows in the team as the 2-1 in the 2013 Gold Cup semis but lost 1-0 to players and that’s also very important year in all competitions, his lowest return The Americans, trying to match Mexico’s tournament goes on,” Dempsey said. “Hopefully the US because I can choose the captain-but the since joining United from Everton in 2004. record with a sixth title, face the “Reggae Boyz” our best ball is yet to come.” The US squad is 13-1 in the final. The Canaleros reached the last players decide.” The 29-year-old believes his goalscoring in the opener at the Georgia Dome followed by with eight drawn in the all-time rivalry with four after dispatching Trinidad and Tobago in Rooney spent a frustrating season at record for England suggests he will provide a 2013 semi-final rematch between Mexico and Jamaica, the lone loss coming 2-1 at Kingston in the ninth round of penalty kicks, goalkeeper United last year being deployed in various United with a potent threat following the Panama in the biennial North American regional 2012 during World Cup qualifying. Jaime Penedo making the winning save. positions, from midfield, out wide or as a departures of Robin van Persie and football showdown. But these “Reggae Boyz” were toughened by “Penedo is very fast,” Panama coach Hernan withdrawn striker. Radamel Falcao. “I think we’re in a very good spot going to playing in last month’s Copa America and have Dario Gomez said. “Jaime has a very high, Now however van Gaal plans to give “I have played different roles over the Atlanta,” US coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. “We three consecutive 1-0 Cup wins.”We can’t get too impressive level. “He’s very good in the goal and Rooney an opportunity to nail down his years for United, but you only have to look approach everything in its proper way and we’re high. There’s still a lot of work ahead of us,” US his level of confidence is even more now.” favored starting position as an out-and-out when I play for England as a striker, I score very well prepared. We won’t make it easy for defender Omar Gonzalez said. “We have to stay Mexico, also toughened by a Copa America centre-forward. “I’ve listened to you and goals,” Rooney said. anybody.” Dempsey produced his first US hat focused, stay hungry and be ready for whatever appearance, has been beset by injuries, losing that’s why,” van Gaal joked to journalists on “I hope to score 20 or more goals again trick in a 6-0 quarter-final romp over Cuba to is thrown at us.” The Jamaicans have already Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez before the Gold Monday when asked to explain his deci- this season. If I am playing as a striker, I will seize the Gold Cup scoring lead, but the 32-year- matched their best Gold Cup showing after Cup began. Now striker Giovani dos Santos is sion. “I think you have more knowledge be disappointed if I cannot that do that. old former Fulham standout expects a tougher semi-final runs in 1993 and 1998, but the questionable for El Tri with an adductor injury. than I, so now Rooney is there.” “The last time I really played the full sea- test from the Caribbean champions. “Reggae Boyz” want more as well. “We will have to keep working on him, see Rooney, who led the line in a 4-2-3-1 for- son as a striker was 2011-12. All the other “The semi-final is going to be difficult. We “We have a win streak. We don’t want to go how he feels,” said Mexico coach Miguel Herrera. mation for 45 minutes against Club seasons, I have been up front, then in mid- can’t look past them,” Dempsey said. “We’ve just down. We want more,” Jamaica coach Winfried “If he’s 100 percent, then there’s no doubt he will America in Seattle on Friday, is relishing the field or out wide, so hopefully I will stay up got to make sure that we’re sharp and doing Schaefer said. “I’m proud of my team.” go in.” chance to stake a claim to the striker’s role. front.” After United play San Jose on everything we can to win.” Herrera’s job could be in jeopardy if Mexico “My best position, and I have always said Tuesday they face a further game against Klinsmann has stressed taking advantage of GERMAN COACHES CLASH cannot win a third Gold Cup in four tries. The it, is as a striker, getting into the box,” Barcelona on Saturday before wrapping up opportunity to Dempsey, whose 47 career goals Schaefer was a Borussia Moenchengladbach Mexicans are 3-3 with seven drawn in a span Rooney told British media. “And the two their tour against Paris Saint Germain in are 10 shy of Landon Donovan’s all-time record. teammate of US team advisor Berti Vogts on the starting with a 2-0 friendly loss at the United seasons I have really done that as a lone Chicago. —AFP “He’s hungry for goals and he has two more first of five Bundesliga champion teams for the States in April. meals,” Klinsmann said. “Now we make sure he club. Schaefer left and was finishing his “We have three days to prepare well, analyze really enjoys the next two games. Those are the Bundesliga career as US coach Klinsmann began well the opponent, break it down and have the big ones. These are the ones where you really his. “This is a team a little more Jurgen’s style. It’s ideal tactic to get the result,” Herrera said.—-AFP Blatter faces months of troubles before departure

ZURICH: FIFA president Sepp Blatter has seven The U.S Department of Justice investigation into in the U.S Senate paying attention, the pressure months left at the top of world soccer’s governing corruption, kickbacks and racketeering in soccer shows no sign of easing. A Senate commerce sub- body but his hope of putting the organisation’s could lead to more charges, especially if some of committee hearing last Wednesday questioned troubles behind him before he goes looks forlorn. those indicted agree to cooperate with authorities. what U.S. soccer chiefs knew about purported cor- Blatter, elected to the top position in 1998, will Blatter has not been charged with any wrong- ruption in FIFA. stand down on Feb. 26, the date FIFA selected for doing. But former FIFA vice-president and CONCA- Former US soccer official Chuck Blazer, who was an “elective congress” to choose his replacement. CAF president Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands, a FIFA executive committee member for 17 years, FIFA’s answer on Monday to the corruption widely praised by Blatter and seen as his protege, has pleaded guilty to a series of offences related to scandal that has engulfed it since the arrests of pleaded not guilty in federal court in New York on bribery and is cooperating with authorities. Blatter senior officials in May on U.S. fraud and money Saturday to charges of racketeering conspiracy, surely wants to go out on a high in February, with a laundering charges, was to announce the creation wire fraud and money laundering. He was released FIFA congress hailing his reforms. Instead, he might of another “task force” made up of people from on $10 million bail. find himself rather wearily handing over a lot of within the body. In addition to the criminal case, the U.S. problems to his successor.—Reuters The 79-year-old Blatter clearly hopes they will Securities and Exchange Commission regulator was come up with a package of reforms that will pla- examining the behaviour of several companies cate his critics and those of the organisation. with links to FIFA and other soccer organizations to “My responsibility and mission is to make sure see if there were possible violations of bribery laws. when at the end of February I come to the end of Closer to FIFA’s Zurich headquarters, Swiss pros- my career, I can say in FIFA we have started again ecutors were looking into possible corruption the reform and have rebuilt the reputation of FIFA,” around the awarding of the 2018 World Cup to Blatter told a news conference. Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar. But even if his task force, made up of represen- Earlier in July, the Swiss attorney general’s office tatives of the regional confederations but with a said they have 81 reports of suspicious financial “neutral chairman” makes progress, it is hard to see activity linked to those decisions by FIFA. how Blatter’s final months in charge will be any- And with sponsors such as Coca Cola demand- Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney looks to pass the ball in this file photo. thing other than fraught. ing change from FIFA and politicians such as those FIFA president Sepp Blatter