THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 SPORTS South Korea’s Park hangs up his boots SEOUL: South Korean Park Ji-sung then Manchester United manager announced his retirement from soccer yes- Ferguson. Park, described by Ferguson as terday, bringing the curtain down on a the “ultimate professional”, spent seven career that took him to the 2002 World Cup seasons at United, winning four Premier semi-finals and saw him become the first League titles and the Champions League in Asian to play in a UEFA Champions League 2008, though he was surprisingly omitted final. from the squad for the final. Park’s industry, energy and work ethic In 2009, he became the first Asian to made him a favourite of Alex Ferguson dur- play in the Champions League final when ing his time at Manchester United and his he started in United’s 2-0 loss to Barcelona. performances in England and with Dutch “The proudest moment for me was of side PSV Eindhoven helped raise the profile course the 2002 World Cup,” said Park, of Korean soccer around the world. flanked by his father and his mother, who The 33-year-old, who called time on his was in tears throughout the news confer- international career after the 2011 Asian ence. Cup, said he could not continue to play at the highest level because of knee issues but added that he was leaving the game without any regrets. “I didn’t cry about it yesterday, and I’m not crying about it today, that means I’m leaving with no regrets,” he told a news conference at the Park Ji-sung Football Centre in Suwon, where he has a street named after him. “I enjoyed playing football. I have achieved more than I have thought I would. I’m truly grateful for all the support I have received and I will live the rest of my life thinking how I can pay it back.” After leaving Manchester United in 2012, Park signed for Queen’s Park Rangers but spent the last season on loan at PSV. Issues with his knee sidelined him for long Park Ji-sung spells over the last two years. “I thought about getting an operation “The most influential figure in my life is but even if I did it wouldn’t mean the injury Guus Hiddink. He took me abroad after the would be gone completely. Naturally, World Cup and that was the turning point retirement was the option,” he added. of my life. Park grabbed the spotlight at the 2002 “Ferguson also helped me play at the World Cup finals, which were co-hosted by world’s top level... the coaches I’ve spent South Korea and Japan. Under the tutelage time with are definitely my great asset.” of Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, the shaggy- Park gave himself a “seven out of 10” for his haired midfielder flourished on the game’s career and said he would pull on the PSV biggest stage, scoring the winning goal uniform for the last time on May 28 when KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Al-Kuwait club player Chadi Hammami (left) vies for the ball against Bahrain’s Al-Riffa club Mohammad Duaij against Portugal to seal Korea’s place in the the Dutch side visit Korea to play in a chari- during their AFC football match yesterday. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat knockout stages for the first time. ty match as a tribute to the victims of the recent ferry disaster. ‘ULTIMATE PROFESSIONAL’ Park said if he had to choose only one After the World Cup, Hiddink was team to play for it would be the national appointed manager of PSV and brought side. “I would choose to wear the national Park with him, where, after a tough start, he team uniform because it was my lifetime Scolari charged with won over the fans and caught the eye of dream to wear it.” —Reuters tax fraud in Portugal Preview LISBON: Portuguese authorities have charged Kuwait and Uzbekistan. Dutch newspaper income tax declarations correctly,” Scolari said Demoted Ahly the Brazil’s national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari with Financieele Dagblad said Scolari received mon- in a statement in reaction to the press reports. tax fraud, less than a month before the World ey from two Netherlands-based companies, “I always declared my earnings in all the CAF Cup team to beat Cup starts, a prosecution spokesman told AFP Chaterella Investors Limited and Flamboyants countries I worked in,” he insisted. “I am yesterday. Sports. absolutely convinced of the correctness of my JOHANNESBURG: Egyptians Al-Ahly Abidjan Investigators said they have asked the Portugal has asked US authorities for assis- declarations. began this year seeking a record third Nickname: Black and Yellows United States, Britain, the Netherlands and consecutive CAF Champions League title Coach: Siaka Traore Brazil for assistance in the case. Scolari is only to be forced into an abrupt change Qualifying: CO Bamako (MLI) 3-1 (1-1 accused of hiding about seven million euros of ambition. 2-0), CS Constantine (ALG) 6-1 (6-0 0-1), ($9.6 million) in income when he was Portugal’s A shock qualifying loss to Libyans Al- Kaizer Chiefs (RSA) 3-1 (1-0 2-1) Scorers: coach between 2003 and 2008, according to Ahly Benghazi meant demotion to the Koffi 5, Boua, Fofana 2 each, Kangoute, media reports. second-tier CAF Confederation Cup, and Loua, Zagbayou 1 each Group appear- He has denied any wrongdoing. But the they squeezed past Moroccans El-Jadida ance: 2011 (3). inquiry threatens to taint Brazil’s preparations in a play-off for a pool place . Group record: (home) P3 W2 D1 L0 to host the World Cup, which starts on June 12. Now the Cairo ‘Red Devils’ are F4 A2, (away) P3 W0 D0 L3 F1 A4 Scolari coached Brazil to their World Cup tri- favoured to become the first Egyptian Verdict: Unpredictable! Fired six past umph in 2002 and has returned to the national winners of the African equivalent of the Algerians Constantine only to battle side for the campaign on home territory which Europa League. against Kaizer Chiefs ‘B’ team. they are favourites to win. Another five Champions League Portugal reached the final of Euro 2004 as demotees triumphed in the play-offs as hosts and the World Cup semi-finals in 2006 Group B did Ivorians ASEC and Tunisians Etoile AL-AHLY (EGY) when Scolari was in charge. The Portuguese Sahel, who came through the inquiry is being carried out by the Central Founded: 1907 Confederation Cup qualifiers. Stadium: Cairo (75,000) Department for Criminal Investigations and The six-match day group phase kicks Penal Action (DCIAP). Nickname: Red Devils off this weekend with the top two finish- Coach: Fathi Mabrouk The department, an arm of the Prosecutor ers in each mini-league advancing to the General’s office, confirmed in a statement that Qualifying: El-Jadida (MAR) 2-2 (1-0 semi-finals. 1-2, won on away goal) “Luiz Felipe Scolari stands accused in an investi- AFP sport introduces the eight con- Scorers: Al-Saied, Raouf 1 each gation.” tenders for a trophy lifted last year for a Group appearances: none “This probe is investigating happenings dat- record third time by Tunisians CS Verdict: It would be a shock if the ing back to the period between 2003 and 2008 Sfaxien. and is related to eventual fiscal infractions,” it club that has won a record 18 CAF titles failed to survive group stage added. “In the course of these investigations, Group A international assistance was requested from COTON SPORT (CMR) the Netherlands, Britain, Brazil and the United NKANA (ZAM) Luiz Felipe Scolari Founded: 1986 States. The request to the USA is still to be Stadium: Roumde-Adja (35,000 Founded: 1935 answered.” The statement did not give a figure capacity), Garoua Nickname: Cottoners Stadium: Nkana (10,000), Kitwe for the alleged fraud and said “investigations tance in the inquiry as the money was believed “If there is something wrong it is not of my Coach: Didier Gomes da Rosa (FRA) Nickname: Red Devils are ongoing.” to have been transferred to the United States, doing,” said Scolari, who invited the authorities Qualifying: Petro Atletico (ANG) 4-3 Coach: Masauso Mwale Scolari, 65, has made a personal fortune the Dutch daily added. to look into “all the facts.” The Brazilian Football (2-1 home, 2-2 away) Scorers: Daouda, Qualifying: Bizertin (TUN) 1-1 (0-0 1- from his work with Brazil and Portugal but also Financieele Dagblad said that Scolari trans- Confederation (CBF) have yet to comment on Djeugoue, Mbah, Zimbori 1 goal each 1, won on away goal) as a club manager with teams such as Chelsea. ferred money through companies based in the the case, which has been given widespread Group appearance: 2004 (2nd place) Scorer: Mwanza 1 Scolari has also worked as a coach in Japan, Bahamas and other tax havens. “I made all my attention in Brazil. —AFP Group record: (home) P3 W2 D1 L0 F5 Group appearances: none A0, (away) P3 W1 D1 L1 F4 A3 Verdict: Difficulty in scoring against Ono inspires dramatic Verdict: Never-say-die spirit shown top-class opponents could prove undo- Hamburg face Fuerth with against Petro suggests they can reach ing. Wanderers comeback semi-finals proud record at stake SEWE SAN PEDRO (CIV) SYDNEY: Departing Japanese star Shinji Ono inspired a REAL BAMAKO (MLI) Founded: 1977 dramatic comeback by Western Sydney Wanderers as they Founded: 1960 Stadium: Auguste Denise (10,000), BERLIN: Hamburg host Greuther Fuerth With Leverkusen reported to have offered scrambled into the AFC Champions League quarter-finals Stadium: Modibo Keita (35,000), San Pedro today in the first of a two-legged Bundesliga 12 million euros, both German daily Bild and Bamako Nickname: Seweke on away goals against Sanfrecce Hiroshima yesterday.