Sport TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2021 SerenaS Williams cruises past Gavrilova in YarraY Valley Classic opener ItI feels good to be back here. I felt I was definitely composed and in a zone and trying to do the things I’ve been working on.: Williams sayss after defeating Daria Gavrilova in Melbourne yesterday. Serena Williams Sport |08 QVA SENIOR LEAGUE: Al Arabi beat Qatar SC 3-2 (23-25, 25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13); Police beat Al Gharafa 3-1 (25-19, 22-15, 25-16, 25-16) Qatar’s Al Duhail eye special show in maiden Club World Cup appearance FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA There are always surprises in football. We mustst Reigning QNB Stars League (QSL) play as a team, respect our opponent and do ourur champions Al Duhail will enter the field as the underdogs when they face best. The team knows the value of the Club Egypt’s Al Ahly – regarded as the World Cup. One thing I am sure of is that the world’s most decorated club - on their players will not give up and will do their best too FIFA Club World Cup debut on leave a mark (on their debut): Al Duhail Thursday. The second round clash at the Edu- coach Sabri Lamouchi cation City Stadium will be the toughest test yet for Sabri Lamouchi-coached Red Knights, who are representing training camp, is realistic in his hosts Qatar, just like Al Sadd did in the approach and aware of the big task for last edition. his side on Thursday. Our preparations are good and the Al Duhail – formed in 2017 with “We are not Bayern Munich, Al Ahly team has shown excellent performance the merger of Qatar football giants or Tigres UANL. They are big teams Lekhwiya and El Jaish – have accom- who have many continental titles to in the last match. We hope to continue plished much in country’s football their name, so it is definitely going to the same momentum. Competing in the circuit, collectively winning seven QSL, be a difficult test for us,” the event is an honour and all the players three Amir Cup, three Qatar Cup and Frenchman said in an interview. are looking to give all-out effort: two Sheikh Jassim Cup titles since “Al Ahly are the best side of Africa Lekhwiya was founded in 2009. where the standard of football is very Al Duhail forward Ismail Mohamed But, they are still aspiring to high. They are definitely the favourites achieve success at the continental or against us,” Al Duhail coach added. the global stage. Lamouchi, however, did not rule out his team’s chances, saying his which have high standards. We will players have ability to pull off a have to give special performance. We shocker. will give everything in the match “There are always surprises in (against Al Ahly) and we hope we will We are ready to face Al Ahly. Everyone football. We must play as a team, give surprise to the fans and reach the in the team is excited and looking to respect our opponent and do our best. semi-final,” the striker added. give a very good performance at the The team knows the value of the Club Almoez said the team is also Club WorldWorld Cup.Cup. WeWe are lookinglooking toto bebe atat World Cup. One thing I am sure of is banking on the support of home fans that the players will not give up and in the elite tournament. the sameame level of other teams,teams, which will do their best to leave a mark (on “When Al Sadd represented Qatar have highhigh standards. We will havehave their debut),” he added in his interview (in the last edition) they got huge to giveve special performance. with Doha Stadium magazine. support from the fans. Now, we are We willwill give everything in representing Qatar and we are hoping We are ready to face Al Ahly: for the same support that will be a huge the matchmatch (against(against Al Ahly)Ahly) Almoez motivating factor for us,” he said. and wewe hopehope we will givegive Al Duhail - with the likes of Qatar “The fans support can get the best surpriserise to the fans and However,However Egypt’s Al Ahly – the Egyptian Cup crowns and 11 Egyptian national players centre back Bassam out us and help us leave a clear imprint reachh thethe semi-final:semi-finall: reigningreign African champions Super Cups. The Red Devils are also Al Rawi, midfielders Ali Afif and Assim on this tournament.” haveha a glorious history the most successful club in Africa, Madibo, who played key role in Al Another Al Duhail forward Ismail Almoezoez Ali sinces it was established winning a total of 20 continental tiles Annabi’s AFC Asian Cup glory in 2019 Mohamed said the team was in good in 1907. They have won including nine CAF Champions League - have the potential to stun top sides. shape for the event. a staggering 139 titles crowns. Almoez Ali, who finished as the top “Our preparations are good and the includingi 42 Egyptian Lamouchi, as he prepares his side scorer for Qatar in Asian Cup title-win team has shown excellent performance PremierP League titles, 37 for the Club World Cup in a closed can also be a dangerous player against in the last match. We hope to continue any opposition, and the 24-year-old is the same momentum. Competing in Al Duhail Suqad eyeing an outstanding show. the event is an honour and all the “We are ready to face Al Ahly. Eve- players are looking to give all-out Coach: Sabri Lamouchi ryone in the team is excited and effort,” he said. (France) looking to give a very good per- Al Duhail, in their last compet- Mohammed Al Bakri (Qatar), formance at the Club World Cup,” he itive match before the Club World Mohammed Musa (Qatar), Ali said yesterday. Cup, thrashed QSL rivals Al Ahli 6-0 Malolah (Qatar), Medhi Benatia “We are looking to be at the same in the Amir Cup Round of 16 on (Morocco), Bassam Al-Rawi level off otherotthher teams,teams, January 25. (Qatar), Ahmed Yasser (Qatar), Ismaeel Mohammad (Qatar), Luiz Júnior (captain) (Qatar), DefinitelyDefinitely it (Club World Cup) is a good chance Edmilson Junior (Belgium), Karim Boudiaf (Qatar), Mubarak fforor me anandd my team-mates and it is a challenge Shanan Hamza (Qatar), fforor eveveryone,eryo and we are ready for the matches Abdullah Al-Ahrak (Qatar), anandd rereadyady to face the challenges that are in our Khalifa Ababacar (Qatar), Sultan papath.athh. EvEveryoneer here trust in my abilities to Al-Brake (Qatar), Almoez Ali (Qatar), Ali Afif (Qatar), Salah coccontributenttrrib to the attack line, and inside the Zakaria (Qatar), Khaled ststadiumad we all support each other. This Mohammed (Qatar), Assim cchampionshipha will be a good chance for all Madibo (Qatar), Ali Karimi (Iran), ooff us and from my side I will do my best: Michael Olunga (Kenya), Mohammed Muntari (Qatar) and Al Duhail's Michael Olunga Dudu (Brazil) Al Duhail's players taking part in a training session at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium yesterday. TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2021 SPORT 11 FIFA pledges taking no Fans urged to plan ahead before health risks in Qatar 2022 attending Club World Cup matches qualifiers THE PENINSULA – DOHA Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium Fans planning to attend FIFA Club World AP – GENEVA Cup Qatar 2020 matches are being advised to take the Doha Metro and With 3,000 soccer players arrive at least one hour before kick-off. due to travel internationally Qatar will host the 17th edition of the for World Cup qualifying tournament from 4-11 February. The games next month, FIFA Pres- tournament was due to be played in ident Gianni Infantino said December but was delayed due to the yesterday all will conform to COVID-19 pandemic. Matches will take health rules in the corona- place at two FIFA World Cup 2022 sta- virus pandemic. diums: Ahmad Bin Ali and Education City, “We will certainly not take with a maximum capacity of 30% at each any risk for the health of venue due to COVID-19 precautions. anyone when we play In order to help fans to plan their football,” Infantino said in a journeys, the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar World Health Organization 2020 Local Organising Committee (LOC) news conference. has announced a range of key advice – Delays in the 2022 World including to arrive early, respect social Cup qualifying program in distancing and be aware of temporary most continents led FIFA last road restrictions in the vicinity of tour- year to create new games nament venues. dates next January. They will Abdulaziz Al Mawlawi, the LOC’s help make up the backlog in Host Country Operations Director, said: an increasingly tight schedule “Our main message to fans is to plan with broadcasting rights ahead before you travel. Check the already sold. official channels and social media for AHMAD BIN ALI STADIUM of Education City Station (Green Line) TRAVEL ADVICE FOR THOSE In Asia, 40 national teams any updates in relation to road closures, Distance from central Doha: 22km FCWC 2020 matches: NOT ATTENDING MATCHES are due on March 25 to public transport and COVID-19 Doha Metro: Within walking distance February 4 – Al Duhail SC vs Al Ahly Doha Metro and local roads are resume qualifying groups that protocols.” of Al Riffa Station (Green Line) SC (kick-off 20:30) expected to be busier than usual imme- last played in November 2019. Fans will be able to travel to all FCWC 2020 matches: February 7– Match 5 (kick-off 21:00) diately before and after each match, A total of 135 teams are matches by the Doha Metro, car or taxi.