Former ski jumper Roglic leads Tour de France into mountainous final week PAGE 14 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2020 Teams from AFC west region converge in Qatar for 2020 Champions League Fifteen squads from six nations to compete in Qatar till Oct 3 TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA WITH a three-week festival of football set to kick-off in Qatar on Monday, a total of 13 teams from the 2020 AFC Champions League Groups A to D have arrived in Doha to Shaikh Salman extends join local sides Al Sadd and Al Duhail SC. condolences on the Recognised as sporting capital of the world, Qatar has passing of Nadhim Shaker readied bio-secure venues and hotels for the event which will AFC see as many as 20 matches KUALA LUMPUR being staged from September 14 to October 3 including two ASIAN Football Confedera- quarter-finals and one semi- tion (AFC) President Shaikh final in the AFC Champions Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khal- League west region. ifa has sent his condolences Operating under excep- to the Iraqi Football Associa- Former Iraq international and tional circumstances imposed tion (IFA) and the family and head coach Nadhim Shaker. by the COVID-19 pandemic, all friends of former Iraq interna- players and officials participat- tional and head coach Nadhim World Cup in Mexico after edg- ing in the 2020 AFC Champi- Shaker who passed away at the ing out Syria 3-1 on aggregate ons League were required to age of 61 on Friday after con- – an achievement that remains undergo COVID-19 testing be- tracting COVID-19. Iraq’s only appearance at the fore their departure from their Players of defending champions and three-time winners Al Hilal club of Saudi Arabia on their arrival at the Hamad International Airport in Doha. The AFC President said: global showpiece. respective countries and again “On behalf of the whole Asian The former defender en- upon their arrival in Qatar, with ers and officials will be lim- the six designated team hotels, bekistan’s Pakhtakor FC and Shahr Khodro FC of Iran in football family, please accept joyed an illustrious club career subsequent tests will be con- ited to the hotel, stadium and medical coverage at stadiums IR Iran’s Shahr Khodro FC. a Group B match starting at my heartfelt sympathies and with Iraqi giants Air Force ducted every three to six days. training sites, as part of a and mobile teams to serve Meanwhile, Iran Pro 6pm at Al Janoub Stadium. condolences on the passing of Club before turning his at- So far, the results of those ‘medical bubble’. people inside the venues,” said League champions Persepolis On the same day and time, Nadhim Shaker. tention to coaching where he tests have shown that five (5) At a press conference held Dr. Almusleh. play against Sharjah, Al Duhail Al Ahli FC of Saudi Arabia “The COVID-19 pandemic managed and led a host of players and one (1) member on Sunday and attended by Iran’s Esteghlal FC were and Al Taawoun in Group C. will meet Al Shorta of Iraq in has been the toughest medi- teams including his former of the management team from officials from the local organ- the first to arrive in Qatar (on UAE Pro League side Al Group A at the Khalifa Inter- cal crisis of our time and we club as well as Erbil SC, Al- Al Hilal Club of Saudi Arabia, ising committee, Ministry of Thursday). They compete in Wahda FSCC, drawn in Group national Stadium. mourn the loss of a true serv- Minaa SC and Al Shorta, and one (1) player from Qatari Public Health and Asian Foot- Group A alongside Iraq’s Al A, had informed the Asian Later in the evening on ant of the game. His coaching success side, Al Duhail, have tested ball Confederation, the plans Shorta and Al Ahli Saudi FC. Football Confederation (AFC) Monday, UAE’s Al Wahda “He will always be remem- reached its peak in 2009 when positive, informed Asian Foot- to conduct the tournament in Inaugural AFC Champions that they are unable to travel will meet Iran’s Esteghlal FC bered for his incredible contri- he joined just a handful of Ira- ball Confederation (AFC) – the a secure way were unveiled. League winners Al Ain FC be- to Qatar for the competition (Group A) at 9pm while Al Hi- butions to football development qis to have played and man- Asian football governing body. Dr Abdulwahab Almusleh, came the last of the 13 teams after several members of the lal (KSA) will lock horns with in Iraq and Asia and for serving aged the Lions of Mesopota- All appropriate medical Senior Consultant to the Min- to arrive, touching down at club tested positive. Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor at as an inspiration to the Conti- mia after he took reigns of the care and support is being giv- ister of Public Health (MoPH), Hamad International Airport The centralised West zone 9pm at Al Janoub Stadium. nent’s fans and players for his national team and the U-20 en to the two teams and those said Qatar was putting in a in the late hours of Friday fixtures will take place across Qatar’s QNB Stars League remarkable achievements in the side from 2009 to 2011. who tested positive are under massive effort to ensure the night, to compete in Group four air-conditioned venues; champions Al Duhail will be game,” said Shaikh Salman. The thoughts and prayers medical supervision in a quar- smooth organisation. D alongside Sepahan FC, Al Khalifa International Stadium, in action on Tuesday in Group Regarded as a true icon of of the AFC and the rest of the antined environment as re- “We have put in place Nassr FC and Al Sadd. Al Janoub Stadium, Education C against UAE’s Sharjah FC at Iraqi and Asian football, Shaker Asian football community quired by the safety measures medical services and precau- Group B sees reigning City Stadium and Jassim Bin 6pm while Qatar’s Al Sadd will made 57 international caps for are with the loved ones and and COVID-19 protocols put in tionary measures keeping in champions Al Hilal SFC pitted Hamad Stadium. meet UAE’s Al Ain in Group D the West Asians, and was part friends of Shaker, IFA and the place for the tournament. line with the AFC regulations. against UAE’s Shabab Al Ahli On Monday (Sept 14), encounter at the Jassim Bin of the side who created history Iraq football family during this The movement of all play- These include 24x7 clinics at Dubai FC in addition to Uz- Shabab Al Ahli (UAE) will play Hamad Stadium. by qualifying for the 1986 FIFA difficult time. Qatar Sports Club stun giants Al Rayyan; Mimi bags a brace as Al Sailiya cruise TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Saoud Farhan and Moham- DOHA med Osman made attempts at the goal, but in vain as Sailiya QATAR Sports Club stunned picked up their first win of the league giants Al Rayyan by a young season. lone goal even as Al Sailiya At the Al Duhail Stadi- cruised past Al Kharaitiyat 2-0 um, Mohammed Benyettou’s in the QNB Stars League at the 37th-minute free-kick put Al Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium Wakrah ahead against Umm on Saturday. Salal before youngster Khalid Meanwhile, Mohammed Muneer sealed victory for The Benyettou showed inspiring Waves early in the second half. form as Al Wakrah went on to On Sunday, Al Arabi will beat Umm Salal 2-0. hope to get their season up Al Rayyan’s inconsistent and running when they host Al start to the season continues Gharafa at the Al Arabi Stadi- as they suffered a shock loss at um. The Dream Team has just Qatar SC’s hands despite dom- one point from two matches inating possession. and Heimir Hallgrimmson The Lions narrowly missed will hope his defence improves out on the title last season after conceding a point to Al and were optimistic coming Khor last weekend despite into the season. They have so leading by two goals. far lost one, won one, and an Mohanad (Mimi) Ali in action against Al Kharaitiyat during their QNB “I can say after the last opening day draw means they Qatar Sports Club players celebrate during their QNB Stars League match against Al Rayyan on Saturday. Stars League match on Saturday. match we were not only disap- have a lot to do, especially in pointed but ashamed of our attack, to get their season back Rayyan defence napping, and For Al Sailiya, Mohanad portunities right throughout, the 42nd minute, but his shot Mohanad scored a sec- performance. And the only on the right track. the Brazilian beat his marker Ali (Mimi) bagged a brace The and Mimi had several chances went over the bar, while his ond time not long after the thing we can say is we are sor- Against Qatar SC, Yacine for pace before slotting home Iraqi has been a positive sign- and could have easily had a team-mate Tiago Bezerra sent resumption of play, off a pass ry for that performance and Brahimi dominated proceed- past Saud Abdullah. ing to Sami Trabelsi’s side, hattrick. The Iraqi finally got a free-kick wide of the target. from Ahmed Hammoudan hope we will not perform like it ings were Kayke Rodrigues, Al Rayyan tried to restore and he once again proved to the opener 14 minutes in as For Yousef Adam-coached who, along with Bezerra, again,” the Icelandic coach said.