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tuesDAY 31•01•2017
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THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Ronaldo turns boos to cheers for Real
BaRCELONa, JaNUaRy 30 (REUtERs): Cristiano Ronaldo shrugged off the boos of his own supporters to fire Real Madrid to a 3-0 win over Real Sociedad on Sunday as Zinedine Zidane's side took advantage of slip ups by Barcelona and Sevilla to open up a four-point lead at the top of La Liga. Ronaldo teed up Mateo Kovacic for the opener in the 38th minute to cool tensions at the Bernabeu after supporters had grown impatient with an uninspired display and then secured victory with a strike of his own in the 51st. Substitute Alvaro Morata then put the finishing touch to the win by adding the third in the 82nd minute. With Barcelona only able to snatch a 1-1 draw at Real Betis with a late Luis Suarez equaliser after earlier having had a clear goal disallowed and 10-man Sevilla losing 3-1 at Espanyol, Real strengthened their po-
sition at the top of the table. They have 46 points with Barca second on 42, ahead of third-placed Sevilla on goal difference. Zidane's side also have a game in hand on both their title rivals. Ronaldo had been one of the scapegoats for Real's recent stuttering run which saw them win one of their last four games and exit the King's Cup in midweek to Celta Vigo. He was whistled after giving the ball away early in the game and responded by shouting back at the crowd although all was forgiven when he latched onto Kovacic's through ball and coolly chipped it into the net. "After a few difficult days we were back doing our thing. It was a good night because our rivals drew and lost. You're alReal Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (R) and Real Sociedad's Raul Navas in action. (REUTERS) ways more motivated when your rivals slip up," Zidane time we played well. It's not equaliser for Barcelona but the ball clearly crossing the ute after they had hit the told reporters. easy to score three goals their title hopes were dent- line. Betis's Alex Alegria woodwork twice in quick "We had some difficult against Real Sociedad." ed as the champions were gave the home side a de- succession although Sumoments but at the same Suarez snatched a late also denied a goal despite served lead in the 75th min- arez secured a point for the
visitors by arrowing home Lionel Messi's through ball in the 90th. Before the equaliser, Barca were left incensed when Aleix Vidal's cross was deflected towards goal and the ball crossed the line by about a metre before Aissa Mandi scrambled it away. Unlike the English Premier League, there is no goalline technology in La Liga to help the referee. "I have nothing to say about the ghost goal, I've seen the pictures. Technology could help, and it's obvious that referees need help," Barca coach Luis Enrique told reporters. GILT-EDGED CHANCE Betis striker Ruben Castro missed a gilt-edged chance to seal an unlikely win but failed to beat MarcAndre ter Stegen after racing through on goal unchallenged. Suarez's goal came too late for Barca to score an-
other as their five-game winning streak in all competitions ended. "We did not play well, we made lots of errors in the first half and in the second half they were completely superior to us, we were nowhere near our usual level," Luis Enrique said. "The final minutes changed our sensations but this feels like a point gained. Fellow contenders Sevilla also faltered at Espanyol after playing almost the whole game with 10 men after Nico Pareja was sent off in the second minute. Goals from their former player Jose Antonio Reyes, Marc Navarro and Gerard Moreno condemned Jorge Sampaoli's side to their first defeat after a run of five league wins. Stevan Jovetic scored for the visitors, who battled back to level, but the strain of playing for so long with 10 men after Pareja's straight red card eventually showed.
Pakistan to host T20 league final on home soil SC appoints four-member panel to run BCCI
C M Y K
IsLaMaBaD, JaNUaRy 30 (REUtERs): Pakistan will host the final of its domestic Twenty20 tournament on home soil in March, the country's cricket board (PCB) said on Monday, a big lift for a nation which has largely been shunned by international teams since 2009 due to security risks. Last year, the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL), based on the franchise model of the Indian Premier League and Australia's Big Bash League, became a success though all the matches were played in the United Arab Emirates. The PCB said at the time that the real test would be to bring
the game back home. In 2009, gunmen attacked a bus carrying the Sri Lankan team from their hotel to Lahore's Gaddafi stadium for a test match, injuring six players and killing six security personnel and two civilians. The incident forced Pakistan to play their home matches in the UAE and the country has since remained starved of international cricket at home, apart from Zimbabwe's limited-overs tour in 2015. "We will host the final in Lahore on March 7," the PCB's executive committee chairman Najam Sethi told Reuters. "We are going full steam ahead, and
have all the green signals." Last week, Giles Clarke, the head of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Pakistan Task Force, arrived in the country on a two-day fact-finding mission on security. "We've been able to see very significant work that has been invested in, and invested very wisely in how safety and security will be made possible for visiting international cricket teams," Clarke said. "There's a considerable amount of perception that needs to be changed and information that needs to be shared. But I am most impressed by the efforts of the authorities to make Lahore a safe city." A se-
nior PCB official said the PSL final would be hosted in Lahore "for sure, but only if there is no big security related incident from now to Feb. 9," when the league kicks off in the UAE. Last year, the PCB sold five franchises for $93 million and attracted players from 11 different countries, including big names like West Indies batsman Chris Gayle and former captains Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka and England's Kevin Pietersen. National television viewing figures were higher than for the 2015 World Cup, with 55 percent of Pakistan's TV-watching public tuning into the tournament at peak times.
MDFA to conduct training and examination for football coaches
MOkOkChUNg, JaNUaRy 30 (MExN): For the first time in Mokokchung, an intensive training camp for local football coaches will be held in the month of February, 2016 which will be conducted by an All India Football Federation (AIFF) “D” Certificate instructor, N William Koso. The training camp for the coaches is being organized by the Mokokchung District Football Association (MDFA) with an aim to make the football coaches of local clubs to become more professional and dynamic while coaching their club players.
During the camp, the local coaches will be intensively trained and an examination conducted, after which a ‘D-License’ certificate will be awarded to the successful participants. The MDFA, during the last decades of organizing the annual MDFA Trophy, has observed that the clubs also needs professional and trained football coaches, so that the local players can better perform while playing in the field. This training camp is also an outcome of years of deliberations among the footballers and local coaches by the MDFA. In this connection, the MDFA
has invited all the interested local football club coaches and those aspiring to become more professional football coaches to avail this great opportunity and gain the D-License certificate which will be certified by the AIFF DCertificate Instructor. The MDFA has invited all the interested participants to submit their bio-data to Supongwati, the MDFA Tournament Secretary, on or before 6th of February, 2016. Furthermore, those interested football coaches can contact the MDFA Tournament Secretary at mobile number: 9856699423 for more details.
DC Phek restrains conduct of PDSA tournament
PhEk, JaNUaRy 30 (DIPR): The Phek District Games & Sports Association Tournament has been scheduled at Phek from February 7 to 14 despite a pending settlement of an issue between the two nomenclatures of Khezha Range and Kuzhatephe Range. Finding that the issue is found to be very serious and contentious to both the groups among the people, the matter was referred to the Jury Board under Chakhesang Public Organisation, but, the matter is still pending settlement.
The venue of PDSA tournament has been changed from Pfutsero to Phek without proper consultation with the concerned hosting range, and it is apprehensions are for a very serious law & order situation in the district Hq. as well as Pfutsero. In view of the prevailing situation, the district administration has restrained the conduct of PDSA Tournament at Phek or elsewhere in Phek District till such time the Jury Board of CPO has brought an amicable and permanent solution on the aforementioned issue.
Sachin warns Australia ahead of India series; goes gaga over Federer, Nadal
MUMBaI, JaNUaRy 30 (agENCIEs): ‘Master Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar has said he’s confident of the Virat Kohliled Indian cricket team beating Australia in the upcoming Test series. Speaking at an event, Tendulkar also chipped in about the epic Australian Open final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Team India will square off against the team from Down Under in a four-match Test series in India, starting from February 23. The former Indian skipper was extremely confident about the Indian team’s abilities but warned the ‘Men in Blue’ to not underestimate Australia, who were whitewashed 3-0 by Sri Lanka in their last Test series in the subcontinent. “The last thing you would want to do is to underestimate your opposition,” said Tendulkar. “Australia is a strong side. It will be different to play in Indian conditions and Australian players have also acknowledged that, which is a compliment to the Indian team and the way they have been playing.” The confident ‘Little Master’ also urged the national team to prepare to the best of their abilities. “You cannot take things for granted and you need to prepare yourself. Australia are going to be tough to handle as they
have always been, but I am confident of the Indian team,” added Tendulkar at an event organised to launch the ‘Sachin by Spartan’ range of sporting equipment. Speaking about the Australian Open final, Tendulkar said he never wanted the clash between Federer and Nadal to get over. “Tennis was exciting. I have always been a huge fan of Roger Federer. I was one of those guys who did not want the match to get over,” said an excited looking Tendulkar. “We enjoyed their tennis, they (Federer, Nadal) have given us remarkable moments and that’s always going to stay with us.” Federer and Nadal rolled back the years with a classic five-set match in the finals of 2017’s first Grand Slam, where the former beat his nemesis 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to lift his 18th major at the age of 35. The duo made an extraordinary comeback after they both battled recent injuries and were written-off. Tendulkar, who played for more than two decades for India had his fair share of injuries, said that he could relate to both the tennis players. “The quality of tennis was just incredible. More so, I enjoyed because I could relate myself with both those athletes (Federer, Nadal),” revealed Tendulkar.
NEw DELhI, JaNUaRy 30 (IaNs): The Supreme Court on Monday appointed a fourmember Committee of Administrators (CoA), headed by former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai, to run the affairs of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The bench of Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said the other members of the committee are to be: historian Ramchandra Guha, managing director & CEO of Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC) Vikram Limaye and former women's cricket captain Diana Edulji. The court also appointed a three-member committee comprising BCCI Joint Secretary Amitabh Choudhary, Treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry and Limaye to represent the Indian cricket board at the three-day International Cricket Council (ICC) meet starting on February 2. While appointing four administrators, the court for now "deferred" a suggestion by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to appoint the Secretary, Ministry of Sports, as one of the administrators. It cited July 18, 2016, apex court verdict that barred a minister or a govern-
ment official from becoming the office-bearer of the national cricketing body. The Attorney General had appeared for the Railways, inter-Services sports board and the Association of Universities. The court cold-shouldered the submission by senior counsel Kapil Sibal that Vinod Rai was disqualified from being a part of the CoA as he is a Chairman, Bank Board Bureau -- a position under the Central government. As the head of the Banks Board Bureau, he is involved in the appointment of the heads of the public sector banks and the banking reforms. The court said BCCI CEO Johri will submit to the Rai committee the report on the implementation or otherwise of the Justice Lodha Committee recommendations for organisational reforms in the board. Directing the next hearing of the matter on March 27, the bench said that the CoA will submit its report on the status of the implementation of the Justice Lodha Committee recommendation to the court in four weeks' time. It noted that Justice Lodha Committee had made 19 recommendations and 16 timelines. It also noted that submission by Sibal that "most of the recommendations of Justice
Lodha Commitrtee have been compiled with", has been disputed by counsel for the Lodha panel and also panel secretary Gopal Shankarnarayanan. The court brushed aside suggestion by senior counsel Arvind Datar that the CoA should work without any remuneration as the BCCI officerbearers have been doing. Rejecting the suggestion by Datar -- who had appeared for the BCCI -- the court said that he (Datar) would submit a proposal for a "respectful" remuneration for the administrators. "When I (office-bearers of the BCCI) work pro bono, then why they (CoA) should not work pro bono," Datar told the bench. Saying that for now it was only interested in seeing that Justice Lodha panel's recommendations were carried out, the court declined to pass any order on hearing a batch of applications seeking to shield the state associations from Lodha panel recommendations. It was contended on their behalf that they could not be subjected to the Lodha recommendations as they have not been heard. They referred to an earlier judgment which said that the reforms were limited only to BCCI and not applicable to its State affiliates.
Federer says his game-style made him believe he could win 18th slam
MELBOURNE, JaNUaRy 30 (REUtERs): In his darkest moments last year when he doubted if he would ever get back to full fitness following his knee injury, Roger Federer clung on to one thought -- he still had the game to maybe sneak another grand slam title. He was right. Federer, who missed the Rio Olympics and U.S. Open last year while he recovered, outlasted Rafa Nadal in five sets on Sunday to clinch his 18th grand slam title at Melbourne Park, four and half years after his last. "There's never a guarantee but I was always positive," the 35-year-old told the Australian Open website about how he got through the doldrums last year. "It was about staying calm and believing the work's paying off and that the variety I have in my game maybe allows me to maybe sneak in one or a couple." Federer said his belief was also based on the fact that until his injury, he was still competing well, reaching two grand slam finals in 2015 and two semi-finals in 2016. "If you look back at my results, in 2016 and especially in 2015, I think I played some really good tennis and some good attacking tennis," he said.
Switzerland's Roger Federer hugs the trophy after winning the Men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia in this handout image taken January 30. (REUTERS)
"Honestly I believed I could do it, the question was how's Novak (Djokovic) going to play, how's Andy (Murray) going to play, Rafa and everybody. "I knew it was going to be hard because they're not getting any worse and I am getting older so I don't have much time." With Murray and Djokovic both go-
ing out before the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park, Federer took his chance, beating Kei Nishikori, Stan Wawrinka and then Nadal. Federer, who had promised to "party like rock stars" after the victory was bleary eyed when he turned up to the champions' photo shoot in Melbourne on Monday.
"Waking up, I don't know if I slept, even if I did sleep," said Federer. "I had to look at the highlights again to remember how close the match was again." Federer climbed to 10th in the rankings after his win and added it was his self belief when he had been trailling 3-1 in the final set that had helped him
to victory. "I said to myself, 'I'm all in'," he said. "I still had the mindset that I had nothing to lose. "I think I was able to shuffle all those things around in my head and believe until the very end I could actually turn it around and the last four games were just epic, so I couldn't be happier."
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