FORMULA 1 | Page 7 Bottas edges Vettel to set the pace in Shanghai Saturday, April 13, 2019 FOOTBALL Sha’baan 8, 1440 AH Valverde considers GULF TIMES resting Messi ahead of United return SPORT Page 2 SPOTLIGHT Former India captain Ancheri lauds Qatar ormer India skipper Jo visit to the SC Legacy Pavilion in turned for the successful organi- has a good opportunity to give a steps in grassroots football by Paul Ancheri has lauded Doha, Ancheri said, “It is a won- sation for the 2022 World Cup good account of themselves at the starting baby leagues. It will take Qatar’s organisation and derful experience to be back in and their progress has not only 2022 World Cup thereby realising time to build upwards, the former operational structure as Qatar. I made my international refl ected on the ground with re- the Federation’s long-term ob- skipper remarked. Fthe country prepares to host the debut here at the Khalifa Stadium spect to the stadia, but also on jectives. I hope the national team “Our kids are not able to play 2022 FIFA World Cup. (Doha) in 1994, and I have been the fi eld with the senior national can give fans some good results,” matches even inside India. Only The Kerala-born former foot- able to come back to Qatar a cou- team. he added. if they play in as many league baller was highly impressed by ple of times after that. Qatar surprised one and all While Qatar’s development matches as possible will they get the facilities on off er during his “I am happy to see that Qatar when their fairly young squad across all age groups has been the confi dence. recent visit to Qatar’s Supreme has made a good beginning to captured the country’s maiden rapid, Ancheri feels India still has “Practice alone counts for Committee’s Legacy Pavilion in fi nding the best approach towards AFC (Asian Football Confedera- a long way to go to reach the same nothing if it is devoid of actual Doha, football portal goal.com football whether it be in opera- tion) Asian Cup title in the 2019 level. match experience. Kids need to reported. tional matters such as the hosting edition held in the UAE. The 43-year-old pointed to In- play a lot of games in the grass- Qatar holds a special place in of the 2022 World Cup or in tech- “The Qatar Football Associa- dia’s performance in the FIFA U17 roots leagues. Ancheri’s heart given that the nical elements, as seen from the tion have planned well and they World Cup held at home in 2017 “Our national team played in versatile player made his senior emergence of the country as an worked hard for more than 12 where the team crashed out with- the 2017 FIFA U17 WC, but it was debut for India there during the Asian football power by winning years towards this success,” said out a single point in the group evident that our boys lacked the 1994 Doha Independence Cup. the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.” Ancheri. stage. match exposure from their form- Looking back on his recent Qatar has left no stone un- “The Qatar national team now “India has just taken the fi rst ative years.” (www.goal.com) FOOTBALL/ QNB STARS LEAGUE FOCUS Al Sadd chase more Liverpool boss Klopp records, Al Rayyan condemns ‘disgusting’ fi ght to stay in top-4 Salah abuse Ferreira has earned respect with his shrewdness and his penchant for speaking his mind AFP London By Sports Reporter Raul Caneda said his team will Doha give their best, hoping to jump one spot from their ninth posi- urgen Klopp has con- tion. demned “disgusting” rac- ll 12 teams will be in “We are facing the new cham- ist abuse aimed at Mo- action today as the pions, so we will play with all hamed Salah and called curtain falls on the our strength and abilities to get a Jfor lifetime bans for the Chelsea AQNB Stars League positive result,” said Caneda. fans accused of taunting the Liv- which kicked off in August last “We are not focusing on the Al erpool star. year and produced some top Sadd team and my focus will be A video circulated on social quality football over a period on my team. Our goal is to play media ahead of Chelsea’s Europa suspended by the club for alleg- spanning nine months. for victory. We suff ered a big loss League match at Slavia Prague edly abusing Raheem Sterling Al Sadd, who won the title against Al Shahania last week. this week showed a group of six during Manchester City’s defeat with a match to spare last week, The result of the previous game supporters chanting “Salah is a at Stamford Bridge on December will take on Umm Salal today must have a positive impact on bomber” repeatedly. 8. hoping to fi nish the tournament the players and we expect a posi- Egypt forward Salah, who Chelsea also criticised anti- with a fl ourish, while Al Sailiya, tive reaction from them.” played for Chelsea before join- Semitic chanting by Blues fans Al Rayyan and Al Ahli will be Al Rayyan, meanwhile are ing Roma in 2016, is a practising during the club’s 2-2 Europa hoping to salvage at least a top- wary of dropping out of the top- Muslim and has previously faced League draw at Hungarian side four fi nish which will give them 4. They have 34 points but Al abuse about his religion. MOL Vidi on December 13. a shot at the AFC Champions Sailiya and Al Ahli, who have 35 Chelsea’s security staff iden- Klopp believes life bans from League next year. and 33 respectively, can still beat tifi ed three people in the widely stadiums are the only appropri- Al Duhail, who were de- them to it. shared video and denied that ate punishment for anyone found throned by Al Sadd this season, Under-23 coach Gilson Souza trio entry to Thursday’s clash in guilty of racism. have already secured the second spoke to the media ahead of Prague. “The stronger the reaction spot, and should have no prob- their QNB Stars League Week 22 It is understood that the re- from all of us, the more it will lems seeing off Al Arabi in their match against Qatar SC. maining three people in the video help to avoid things like this in fi nal match. “We are through with our did not attempt to enter Slavia’s the future,” he said. Al Sadd have 54 points to their AFC Champions League third- Sinobo Stadium for Chelsea’s 1-0 The German manager believes credit, having lost only once, to round engagement and now we quarter-fi nal fi rst-leg victory. football authorities, clubs and Al Ahli in the fi rst leg. They also are fully focused on our QNB Liverpool said the video players must unite with one voice have the most number of victo- Stars League game against Qa- showed “vile discriminatory to condemn such actions and ries (17) and are also comfortably tar SC. We will try hard to win. chants” and was “dangerous and make a stand together. ahead in goals scored and goal Otherwise, we will make things disturbing”, while Chelsea is- “It is a complete misunder- diff erence as well. diffi cult for ourselves as far as sued a statement pledging to use standing of how life should be Their coach, Jesualdo Ferreira, top-four fi nish is concerned,” all available punishments against — all parts of racism are that gave his players the licence to go Al Sadd coach Jesualdo said Al Rayyan U23 coach Gilson those involved. The incident is some people think they are more ahead and create more records Ferreira reacts after his side’s Souza, who is also handling the especially sensitive as Liver- worthy or valuable than others for themselves and the team match against Al Ahli last senior side.” pool host Chelsea tomorrow in a and that’s the biggest misunder- when they take the fi eld today. week. “We have some injury con- match with huge implications in standing in the world out there,” “This is our fi nal match in this cerns, but we will prepare the the Premier League title race and he said. season’s league competition. players to face Qatar SC, who are the battle to fi nish in the top four. “Football is the best example of We are so happy to have already going through a diffi cult situa- Asked about the latest incident how people from diff erent races won the title, which was our goal tion. But that does not concern of racism in football this season, can work together brilliantly. from the start of the season,” me. We will focus on achieving Klopp made it clear the behaviour “Go into any dressing room in said Ferreira. our target of fi nishing among should not be tolerated. the world and you see players sit- “We will enjoy the match ing his mind. Normally a serious I spent a lot of time preparing a Amir Cup. the top four. “It’s disgusting. Another ex- ting next to each other, and no- against Umm Salal. It will not be person, he was smiling broadly strong team. I am happy with “We, at Al Sadd, love to break “Losing Tuesday’s AFC ample of something which should body cares where you come from a very important match from our throughout his press confer- this team,” he said.