Sports

AMMAN — Jordan’s tennis players and fans were treated to a fun filled weekend getting to watch and play with professional tennis players in Jordan for the first time.

It will surely be a day to remember especially for young players ages 5 and up. On the other side of the net was legendary French star multiple Grand Slam champion Mary Pierce!

Players got a chance to play and get some tips before receiving their medals on Saturday from Pierce, a French champion, turned pro at the age of 14, who went to win four Grand Slam titles, including the 1995 Singles Australian Open, the 2000 Singles French Open, the 2000 doubles French Open, and the 2005 mixed doubles Wimbledon title.

In the festival’s closing match on Saturday, Finnish tennis star Jarkko Nieminen and Tunisian tennis champion Malek Jaziri played an exhibition match capping an action packed week for tennis players of all ages.

Watched by a capacity crowd of parents, players, ex-players and tennis fans, Jaziri beat Nieminen 2-6, 6-3, 7-4. Former World No. 13, Finland’s most celebrated tennis star Nieminen won two ATP singles titles and three doubles titles and reached the quarter finals in the 2005 US Open, the 2006 Wimbledon Championships and the 2008 Australian Open.

He has beaten former World No. 1 tennis legend Andre Agassi and current World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. He represented Finland in three separate Olympic games between 2004 and 2012 and he is the first and only Finnish player to have an ATP singles title.

Jaziri has competed in all four Grand Slam events in his career. In 2015, he reached the Round 3 of the Australian Open and came close to beating the legendary Roger Federer in a tight three-set match at the Dubai Open. Jaziri is the first male Tunisian player to reach the semifinals of an ATP event at the 2012 Kremlin Cup in Moscow.

Tennis Academy President Khalid Naffa noted his academy’s mission was to create a dynamic and professional environment for young and aspiring Jordanian tennis players to thrive and eventually compete on the global tennis stage.

Hosting international events like the 2015 Lexus Tennis Festival undoubtedly gives players the chance “to be exposed to the highest levels of the game and most importantly, to instil in them a belief that they too can one day become champions”, added Naffa.

The 2015 Lexus Tennis Festival attracted more than 200 local tennis players from across the country, competing in 14 different tournaments throughout the eight-day festival.

AMMAN — Mohammed Tayseer on Friday captured the Jordan Speed Test Championship title after winning the fourth round of the Kumho Speed Test event with the participation of 65 drivers.

Tayseer leads with 80 points after clocking 1m12.89s.

“I am really thrilled and excited to win the fourth round. The competition was really tough especially since we have drivers from Oman, Lebanon and Palestine,” Tayseer said.

“I developed a strategy which proved to be effective in several events and it worked today too. I thank Jordan Motorsports for their effort in making the rounds so exciting for both drivers and fans,” he added.

Yazan Qatan (1m16.18s) came in second place, followed by Jad Nabas (1m17.44s).

Lina Hadidi took the Women’s Cup and Islam Abu Sareyeh from Palestine took the Fastest Palestinian Cup. Oman’s Mazen Shebani took the Fastest Foreigner Cup.

Othman Nassef, Jordan Motorsports CEO said that everything went well and according to the plan.

“We saw a lot of excitement today and we are happy that all drivers had the opportunity to prove that they can develop their skills and improve their driving. The event was not easy at all but this is auto sports at its best,” he said.

“We are focusing now on the next big event and that is Jordan Rally in October and we hope that everything will go well,” he added. 

MANCHESTER — If HRH Prince Ali is to beat Michel Platini in the race to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president he knows he will have to be prepared to fight for the job — and all the indications are that he has taken off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves.

In May, Prince Ali politely — some might say meekly — conceded after winning 73 of the 209 votes available in the first round, allowing Blatter to secure a fifth term.

It was a thoughtful gesture from the 39-year-old prince, saving his allies from the very public act of defying Blatter for the second time in a day at the ballot box.

That election was simply about whether FIFA’s congress was ready to ditch Blatter — something that never looked likely.

This time there will be very a different question facing delegates — who do they want to lead the reforms of FIFA and re-shape the organisation as it looks to leave its corruption crises behind?

As it stands, if the prince is to win, he has to persuade FIFA’s voters that not only he is a credible figure but he has to turn them away from current front-runner Platini, the UEFA president.

It is a task that looks extremely difficult for the prince. The bulk of his 73 votes in May came from Europe, but with Platini standing, that electoral constituency has slipped away from him.

“I was not brought up to walk away in the face of a tough fight. Nor have I been brought up to walk away from what I believe in or take the easy way out,” the prince said as he announced his candidature on Wednesday.

It was a speech that, tellingly, was liberally laced with tough talk — in what was a clear effort to send the message that no punches will be pulled in the fight with Platini.

“I had the courage to fight for change when others were afraid. They didn’t have the guts to run, but I did,” said Prince Ali, when referring to May’s vote, one of several not so disguised digs at Platini.

“We all face daily burdens. We must all overcome difficult challenges. Be it the fight to feed our families or the fight to stand up for what we believe in,” he added.

Special forces

A wrestler in his youth, the prince spent part of his education at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in the United Kingdom and served in the Jordanian Special Forces where he practised free-fall parachuting.

But what is firing him up for battle in this campaign is clearly a sense of having been betrayed by Platini.

During an interview at the Soccerex global convention in Manchester on Monday, the prince was careful not to make any personal attacks on Platini, focusing instead on labelling him a “protege” of Blatter.

When launching his campaign speech, however, he made it clear that he feels he was manipulated by Platini.

“I conceded that election not because I was not the best candidate, but because others were using me to make room for themselves,” Prince Ali said.

“Ever since President Blatter promised his resignation just a few days later, they have been scrambling to secure the job for themselves,” he added.

“I will not be a pawn for others. I cannot leave the field that I have cleared, only to allow a flawed system to continue.

“I am my own man, with my own beliefs. They are beliefs formed from my own experiences. I am free of influence and free of manipulation.”

It was impressive rhetoric which at the very least raised the prospect of a genuine battle for votes in FIFA — as opposed to the previous electoral practices which relied on deal-making behind closed doors, rather than public debate.

But with the leaders of his own Asian Football Confederation having thrown their weight behind the former France international, the odds are certainly stacked against the prince.

He needs to persuade national associations in Asia to ignore their leader’s wishes and to get the former Blatter loyalists in Africa and the Caribbean to back a man who a few months ago was standing against their candidate.

The prince may have been the stalking horse, used to challenge and ultimately weaken Blatter’s power-base.

But now he needs to prove that he is the thoroughbred that can take FIFA over the many hurdles that it faces.

AMMAN — The 2015 Lexus Tennis Festival concludes Friday but not before tennis enthusiasts get a chance to saviour professional calibre tennis right in the capital for the first time ever.

Finnish tennis star Jarkko Nieminen and Tunisian tennis champion Malek Jaziri have joined legendary French star and multiple Grand Slam champion Mary Pierce, for two days of great tennis and family fun.

Following an action packed week for tennis players of all ages, players and fans booked a date with ATP Tour professional players at The Tennis Academy Amman where Nieminen and Jaziri, will compete in both doubles and singles matches. Nieminen and Jaziri will partner two top Jordanian players for a doubles exhibition match before going head to head on Friday in the final exhibition match, the first time ever for these two tennis champions to meet on court.

Tennis enthusiasts and especially the avid young players will have a chance to meet up with Pierce on the closing day starting at 3:00pm on Friday. 

Pierce, a French champion, turned pro at the age of 14 and won four Grand Slam titles, including the 1995 Singles Australian Open, the 2000 Singles French Open, the 2000 doubles French Open, and the 2005 mixed doubles Wimbledon title.

Former World No. 13, Nieminen is Finland’s most celebrated tennis star. Throughout his career, he won two ATP singles titles and three doubles titles. He reached the quarter-finals in the 2005 US Open, the 2006 Wimbledon Championships and the 2008 Australian Open.

He has beaten former World No. 1 tennis legend Andre Agassi and current World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. He represented Finland in three separate Olympic games between 2004 and 2012 and he is the first and only Finnish player to have an ATP singles title.

Better known as “Jazz”, Jaziri has competed in all four Grand Slam events in his career. In 2015, he reached the Round 3 of the Australian Open and came close to beating the legendary Roger Federer in a tight three-set match at the Dubai Open. Jaziri is the first male Tunisian player to reach the semi-finals of an ATP event at the 2012 Kremlin Cup in Moscow.

“We are thrilled to host Mary Pierce, Nieminen and Jaziri at our academy,” said Tennis Academy President Khalid Naffa commenting on “hosting tennis champions of this calibre in Jordan”. 

He added that his academy’s mission is to create a dynamic and professional environment for young and aspiring Jordanian tennis players to thrive and eventually compete on the global tennis stage.

Essential to this mission is to host international events like the 2015 Lexus Tennis Festival, so that “kids can be exposed to the highest levels of the game and most importantly, to instil in them a belief that they too can one day become champions”, added Naffa.

The 2015 Lexus Tennis Festival has attracted more than 200 local tennis players from across the country, competing in 14 different tournaments throughout the 8-day festival.

AMMAN — Sixty-five drivers on Friday will battle it out at the fourth round of the Kumho Speed Test Championship held at the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan racetrack.

Drivers from Lebanon, Oman, and Palestine in addition to Jordan will focus on adding more points in preparation for the fifth and final round.

Mohammed Tayseer is leading the standings with 60 points, followed by Jad Nabas, Salem Taimeh and Gaith Edwan in the second, third and fourth respectively with 40 points each.

Meanwhile, Marina Habaybeh is leading the women participation with 18 points.

LONDON — Wayne Rooney was overcome with emotion after becoming England’s all-time record scorer when he smashed home his 50th goal with an 84th minute penalty in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland at Wembley on Tuesday.

The England skipper, who scored from the spot after Granit Xhaka had fouled Raheem Sterling, has now passed the mark of 49 goals established by Bobby Charlton in May 1970.

The FA presented the 29-year-old with a replica shirt with “Rooney 50” on the back in the dressing room after the 2-0 win secured top spot in Group E for already-qualified England.

Charlton will be invited to present fellow Manchester United great Rooney with a golden boot to mark the record before England’s next home match against Estonia in October.

Asked to describe his feelings, Rooney, who equalled Charlton’s record also with a penalty away to San Marino on Saturday, said: “It’s a great feeling obviously.

“I’ve known I’ve been close to it for the last few England games and to finally do it is a dream come true and as you’ve probably seen I was a bit emotional out there.

“It’s a huge honour and something I’m extremely proud of and happy it’s done and hopefully I can kick on from here and concentrate now again on the team and hopefully success in the future,” he told ITV.

“I am pleased its out of the way because now I don’t have to keep on being asked questions about it.”

Big moment

Rooney blasted his penalty past Yann Sommer making sure he hit it with enough venom to give the Swiss keeper no chance.

“It was a big moment for me and I just picked my corner and put my boot through it to get as much power on it as possible and make it hard for the goalkeeper and the keeper got a touch and thankfully it had too much power so I’m grateful for that.

Asked where it ranked in a career in which he has won five Premier League titles and the Champions League, he said: “It’s right up there if not the best to be your country’s all-time leading goalscorer before the age of 30.

“It’s something I could never have dreamt of. I’m extremely proud tonight.”

Rooney praised England manager Roy Hodgson for helping him achieve his milestone after taking over the job in 2012.

“Since Roy’s come in I’ve scored a lot of goals and I’m grateful to him for letting me play with the freedom which I’ve enjoyed,” he said.

Hodgson, whose side was the first to qualify for next year’s finals in France, told a news conference: “I am pleased we won, I am pleased Wayne broke the record and I am pleased Harry Kane scored the other goal.

“I don’t think Wayne will stop here either. I think he can play at least another 30 games for England. I don’t think he has finished yet.”

AMMAN — The women’s national football team left to Myanmar on Wednesday for the 2016 Summer Olympics football tournament Round 2 qualifiers kicking off in Myanmar on September 14.

The Kingdom topped Asian Group B qualifiers beating Uzbekistan 2-0, Hong Kong 1-0, Palestine 6-0 and qualified to Round 2 where it will join other group leaders Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar. Only the top team from this round will move to Round 3 to play the top five seeded teams — Japan, Australia, South Korea, North Korea and China — and only the top two qualify to represent Asia at the Olympic Games.

Jordan is now 53rd in the latest FIFA World Rankings leading all Arab teams at 11th in the Asian continent. Coach Khader Eid noted players were upbeat but “the task of clinching a berth from some of the best teams in East Asia was not easy”.

The Jordanian squad only had a series of local matches and after hosting Morocco in two friendlies winning 2-1 and drawing 2-2, playing the 81st ranked north Africans was not seen as a big advantage as observers noted that the teams preparedness had many gaps both on the technical and fitness levels.

It will be Jordan’s second time in qualifiers after the 2012 London Olympic qualifiers when it advanced to Round 2. In 2014, the senior women’s team exited Round 1 of the Asian Games and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, where it was also the only Arab team to have ever qualified. The squad is the reigning West Asian champ after winning the title with Iran, Lebanon and the UAE missing the event.

Friendlies ahead for U-16 team

Meanwhile, as Jordan starts the countdown to host the 2016 U-17 Women’s World Cup, the Jordan Football Association is trying to secure more friendlies for the team including playing Egypt, Uzbekistan and the Bavarian team in October.

The squad had a training camp in Germany and is slated to play Egypt on October 9 and 11 before leaving to Uzbekistan for a training camp and friendlies after October 20.

Women’s teams have been competing in all age divisions in the Asian zone. In 2014, the U-19 team was eliminated from Group A qualifiers for the 2015 AFC U-19 Women’s Championship after qualifying as the only Arab team in 2007. The U-16 girls team also failed to qualify to the 2015 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship after qualifying in 2013.

AMMAN — The U-23 national team was drawn in Group A for the upcoming West Asian Championship kicking off on September 30.

Jordan will play alongside hosts Qatar, Palestine and Yemen in the inaugural event which includes Iran Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in Group B; the UAE, Oman and Syria in Group C. The top team from each group will move on to round 2 alongside the best second placed team.

The draw might have served Jordan making up for an otherwise modest preparation period hampered with no training camps and serious friendlies. Coach Jamal Abu Abed noted the Asian and Olympic agenda ahead needed competitive playing experience underlining that the U-23 team squad did not have enough high level friendlies.

A four-nation friendly in Slovakia was cancelled after clubs did not release U-23 players to join training citing the local agenda. 

Abu Abed underlined the team needs to be supported so that a full line-up of recalled players attend practice when regrouped noting the significance of the Asian Football Association (AFC) U-23 Championships, which will be held in Qatar in January 2016, as the 16-team competition also serves as Asia’s qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The AFC announced the qualifiers to the championship which include Group B champs Jordan in addition to winners of Groups A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and J (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Syria, Australia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, China) as well five best second-placed teams from all groups — Thailand, Iran, Vietnam, Yemen, Uzbekistan — who will join hosts Qatar at the AFC U-23 Championship January 12-30, 2016. 

Jordan topped Group B qualifiers in Amman as the team overcame adversity and the change of schedule three times, which observers feared would undermine preparedness and competitive advantage. Jordan held Kuwait 3-3, beat Kyrgyzstan 4-0 and Pakistan 5-0 to advance. 

Over the past year, the U-23 team has impressed observers when it beat South Korea to take bronze at the inaugural AFC U-22 Championship (now renamed the AFC U23 Championship) as Iraq beat Saudi Arabia to take the title. The same squad also represented Jordan at the Asian Games where it made it to the quarter-finals despite a bumpy preparation period amid the busy agenda of the national team as well as local clubs. Jordan beat the UAE 1-0, India 2-0 and Kyrgyzstan 2-0 in extra time before losing 2-0 to Thailand in the quarters.

U-16 team heads to Qatar

The U-16 national football team plays Qatar on Wednesday before heading to Kyrgyzstan Group B qualifiers for the 2016 AFC U-16 Asian Championship where it will play Nepal, Oman and Kyrgyzstan from September 16 -20.

The squad played only four official friendlies losing 3-2 and 4-2 to the UAE and also 3-2 to Palestine before defeating it 2-0. It also played a series of local friendlies in the past month as coach Abdulla Qitati finalised the line-up, beating the youth team of Shabab Urdun 2-1, defeating Baqaa 2-0 after losing to them, 1-0 and 2-1. It also beat Yarmouk 4-1 and 1-1 as Qitati underlined “the importance of getting into the routine of Asian competitions and all the squad ready to play every 48 hours”.

AMMAN — Jordan defeated Bangladesh 4-0 on Tuesday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka in their third Group B qualifier of the 2018 World Cup in Russia doubling as part of the qualification for the 2019 Asian Cup.

Observers have criticised the Jordan Football Association on the team’s inconsistent training and late regrouping after the line-up.

MANCHESTER, England — When Lars Lagerback took over as Iceland coach in 2010, he set big targets for a tiny nation that had never qualified for a major football tournament.

“Lars told me that the team was strong enough to qualify for the [2014] World Cup,” said Heimir Hallgrimsson, who shares coaching duties with Lagerback. “I thought he was crazy.”

That proved just beyond Iceland — it lost to Croatia in a tight play-off — but the European Championship will do just fine as a second prize.

With a population of approximately 320,000, Iceland became the smallest European country to reach a major tournament by qualifying for Euro 2016 on Sunday with two games to spare.

“When I started playing football,” Iceland coach Aron Gunnarsson said. “I never even dreamed this could happen.”

And Iceland has qualified in style, losing just one of its eight group games so far and conceding only three goals. There have been home and away wins against the Netherlands, which was third in last year’s World Cup.

It didn’t really matter that qualification was achieved with a 0-0 draw at home to Kazakhstan on Sunday. It completed arguably the greatest achievement in Icelandic sport.

For the experienced Lagerback, it was just part of the job.

He took his native Sweden to five straight major tournaments as head coach, and was also in charge of Nigeria at the 2010 World Cup. Guiding Iceland to a European Championship tops the lot, although he doesn’t want to be regarded as some sort of hero.

“People like [Nelson] Mandela and Martin Luther King are heroes — I’m just a football coach,” the laid-back Lagerback said.

However, Lagerback’s impact mustn’t be downplayed. When he became coach, Iceland was ranked No. 134. Now the team is No. 23 and on the rise.

The play-off loss to Croatia in 2013 gave Iceland the kind of big-match experience that has proved significant in the current qualifying campaign.

There are some interesting back-stories from within the squad.

Goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson once juggled his football career with film-making. He shot the video for Iceland’s entry to the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest and also a video for an airline in which he cast himself and his Iceland teammates.

Then there’s Eidur Gudjohnsen, the 36-year-old striker who has been a beacon for Icelandic football during a career in which he has played for European giants Chelsea and Barcelona among other clubs.

Swansea’s attacking midfielder, Gylfi Sigurdsson, is the heartbeat of the team and probably its most famous player, especially now that Gudjohnsen is often consigned to a place on the bench.

But this has been a team effort from Iceland.

“This is a great group of players and they fully deserve to go to the Euros,” Lagerback said. “It’s amazing to work with this team. We are through and there are still two games left. That’s a fantastic achievement.”

With the expansion of the European Championship to 24 countries, it was inevitable that some unheralded nations would be competing in France next year.

Iceland fits that bracket perfectly. Previously, the smallest nation to reach a European Championship finals was Slovenia, whose population was estimated at about 2 million when it qualified for Euro 2000.