Guillambert guides Lekhraib to Sha Cup win with spirited burst at QREC racecourse PAGE 13 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020 Esperance take on Zamalek, hope to end CAF Super Cup jinx today CAF Champions League winners Esperance Sportive de Tunis players (left), and CAF Confederation Cup holders Zamalek (Egypt) players warm-up ahead of their respective training sessions at the Al Gharafa Stadium in Doha on Thursday. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK 14 matches, they currently sit for us is to prepare ourselves DOHA top of the Tunisian League on Fan Zone to well and that is what we did. We 38 points – 10 ahead of Mona- open at 4pm have played good games recent- CAF Champions League stir in second. ly and we have been successful. champions Esperance Spor- Meanwhile, Zamalek have SUPPORTERS are encour- We hope that success will con- tive de Tunis will be hoping to won the CAF Super Cup three aged to arrive early to enjoy tinue with us against Zamalek.” win their first CAF Super Cup times and despite being third the Fan Zone, which will open Meanwhile, Zamalek goal- since 1995 when they take on in the Egytian league, are at 4pm. The zone will feature keeper Mahmoud Abdel Ra- CAF Confederation Cup hold- also on a good run with four food trucks, entertainment him, stressed that the Egyptians ers Zamalek of Egypt at the Al wins from five games. They and various football-related are in Doha to win the title. Gharafa Stadium on Friday. are however 11 points behind activities. There will be two ‘Gennesh’ as he is fondly called The four-time CAF Cham- leaders Al Ahli. Fan Zone locations outside added that the players know the pions League winners, have Esperance player Shams the stadium – one for ES responsibility they have to take lost three Super Cups, and al Din al Thawadi told Tu- Tunis fans; the other for Za- the trophy back home. most recently lost to Moroc- nisian Newspapers that the malek supporters. Each Fan “We have come to Qatar co’s Raja Casablanca 1-2 in the team has the mentality to Zone will feature food and to win the African Super Cup. Super Cup last year in Doha. take on Zamalek. entertainment which reects We know we face a strong and The ‘Ghoul of Africa’ as “We have the capabilities the culture of the different respectable team in Esperance, they are fondly known won to overcome Zamalek. They countries. Fans are also but that is motivating,” he said. back-to-back CAF Champions do not frighten us, especial- reminded about prohibited “Any player who plays in League titles in 2018 and 2019 ly if we play up to the level items. Items which are Zamalek is a great player. The marking the club’s centenary that I know we can,” he was commonly conscated role of the big players is to mo- year in style. quoted as saying. include lighters, water tivate all players, who I know Espereance, record Tuni- Esperance coach Moine bottles and perfume. are fully responsible and ready sian league champions with Chaabani told the media on A fan gets his picture clicked with the CAF Super Cup during the trophy tour in Qatar. for all challenges. 29 titles, are on a good run of Thursday in Doha that his “The Egyptian fans will be form having four of their last team hoped to put to bed last fortunate to win the African from the past. title. The matches between the we will play our best hopeful- a great incentive for us and I five league matches. Yet to lose year’s loss to Raja. Super Cup, but this season our “Zamalek is a respectable Tunisian and Egyptian teams ly,” Chaabani said. hope that the players will be at in the league this season after “Last year, we were not so team is 70 percent different team, but we want to win the serve as an exciting derby, and “The most important thing their best,” Gennesh added. Stage set for FINA/CNSG Marathon Swim World Series Doha 2020 Leading swimmers Arrangements nalised for ready to kick off Doha Open Water Challenge Olympic year at Action at the Katara Beach on Friday will begin when over 150 Katara Beach; swimmers will take plunge in the Doha Open Water Challenge – a subsidiary event involving different categories – that takes place a Top FINA ofcial day earlier ahead of the FINA Marathon and features amateur swimmers of the host country. praises Qatar’s There will be three categories available for the public in the Doha Open Challenge: 400m for boys & girls aged 11-14, 800m for boys efforts & girls aged 15-17, and 1,200m for boys & girls aged 18 and over. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK The races will start at 1pm after Friday prayers. (TNN) DOHA THE Qatar Swimming Asso- ciation (QSA) is all set to stage the season-opening FINA / CNSG Marathon Swim World Series Doha (QAT) 2020 to be held on Saturday at iconic Qatar Swimming Association (QSA) President Khaleel al Jabir with swimmers Olympic silver medalist Anderson Haley of USA, world champion Katara Beach – which will pro- Wellbrock Florian of Germany, FINA Technical Delegate John West, and other ofcials at the pre-event press conference at Katara on Thursday. vide a stunning setting for elite athletes in the 10km races. ments have been completed races on Saturday. to a very good competition on “Doha is a special venue QSA, which organised the for the first competition of “This is a very strong year Saturday,” he added. for me because we can see last two meets of the series at 10-meet series. for us and we have very very The highly-anticipated buildings around the venue, the Corniche waters, is confi- “I would like to thank strong field for this competi- Doha event has attracted all we don’t have something like dent that athletes will have an FINA for giving us opportu- tion. Big teams from countries the leading long-distance this in Germany,” he added. amazing experience compet- nity to host event like this. We such as France are participat- swimmers, who are starting Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA), ing at this world class venue, consider it as a test event as we ing as we build up for Olympic their final round of prepara- Simone Ruffini (ITA), and vet- which successfully hosted prepare for the 2023 World qualifying competition. We tions for this year’s Tokyo eran swimmer Igor Chervyns- Open Water events at the Championships,” he said. have a large field – 82 men Olympic Games. kiy (UKR) are other top athletes inaugural ANOC World Beach “I would also like to thank and 54 women, and this com- The men’s race will see to compete in men’s race. Qatar Games last October. Katara for giving us this place. petition is probably stronger 2019 overall champion Krist- will be represented by Abdel- This year’s FINA Mara- Katara has done a great job for in depth of the field than the of Rasovszky (HUN) vying rahman Hesham Mohamed thon at Katara Beach will add us. We are ready to organise Olympic Games,” said West. against top-ranked athletes and Ahmad Tarek A K Samara. to Qatar’s vast experience in the event and I wish the best “We want to thank from like Olympic champion Ferry In the gruelling 10km hosting multiple world-class for all athletes in the competi- FINA’s perspective our col- Weertman (NED), and Well- women’s race, 2019 over- FINA events, including eight tion,” he added. leagues in Qatar Olympic brock (GER), who will be de- all champion Rachele Bruni FINA World Cups and the The QSA President was ac- Committee and Qatar Swim- fending his Doha title. (ITA) will be up against Rio 2014 World Swimming Cham- companied by FINA Technical ming Association for their “I won the race last here Olympic gold medalist Sharon pionships (25m), as it builds Delegate John West, reigning support and hosting this event and I am very happy to be van Rouwendaal (NED) and up to the 2023 FINA World world champion Florian Well- on our behalf. Without their back here. Last year we had defending Doha champion Championships, the pinnacle brock (GER) and Olympic silver support and consideration we water temperature of around Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA). event of the aquatics calendar. medalist Haley Anderson (USA) wouldn’t be able to run this se- 20 degrees and this time we Former European champi- At the pre-event press at the press conference. ries. The work, which we have have 16 degrees or 17 degrees on Arianna Bridi (ITA) will be Over 150 swimmers will take the plunge in the Doha Open Water conference on Thursday at He praised Qatar’s effort done so far with the organ- so it could be harder to defend the other main contender for Challenge (at the Katara Beach waters) – a subsidiary event involving Katara Beach, QSA President in promoting swimming in the izing committee, is very good the title,” Wellbrock said at the women’s crown besides other different categories – that takes place a day ahead of the FINA Khaleel al Jabir said arrange- region and predicted thrilling and we are looking forward press conference. star athletes. Marathon and features amateur swimmers of the host country. 12 Friday, February 14, 2020 Sports Aspire off to a winning start at Al Kass International Cup TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK mi Itoh got down well to save. Ajax’s Moroccan midelder DOHA Gharbi fared better on 35 Hakim Ziyech.