Sports ❘ 07 CONTACT US AT: 8351-9190, [email protected] Thursday January 18, 2018 RONALDINHO, “the ever-smil- ing magician” of Barcelona, as described by his former club, has ended his professional career. Roberto Assis, the brother and agent of the 2005 Ballon d’Or winner, announced Tuesday that the 37-year-old wants to play a series of farewell matches from August — and then focus on his already busy life off the pitch. Ronaldinho played his last professional match in 2015 for Brazilian club Fluminense. “Ronnie’s professional career is over. He wants to be a football ambassador, do charity, and work with his friends in music from now on,” Assis said. Assis hopes to schedule some farewell matches for Ronaldinho after the World Cup in Russia, which ends July 15. The initial plan is to play games in Brazil, Europe and Asia and to also get Brazil’s national team involved, Assis said. Last July, Ronaldinho said on the sidelines of a friendly in Chechnya that he was “too old” to return to action. He repeated that to a Brazilian TV in November, but did not rule out reconsider- ing. Ronaldinho’s decorated career also includes one World Cup title (2002), one Champions League victory (2006), two Spanish league titles with Barcelona, and two FIFA World Player of the Year awards (2004 and 2005). He played 101 matches and scored 35 goals for Brazil from 1997 to 2013. “We pay tribute to this ace that shone using the yellow shirt,” Brazil’s soccer con- federation posted on Twitter. At the 2002 World Cup, Ron- aldinho played second fiddle to midfielder Rivaldo and striker Ronaldo, but he was instru- mental in the 2-1 quarterfinal victory over England, with an assist and scoring a remarkable free kick goal from long range. Brazil great Ronaldinho retires RONALDINHO filled his trophy cabinet with count- less titles at both club and international level, with the most notable coming in the form of: 2 La Liga crowns 1 Champions League 1 Serie A 1 Copa Libertadores 1 Copa America 1 World Cup For Brazil, Ronaldinho made 97 appearances, scor- ing 33 goals, including two in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Individual honors: FIFA World Player of the Year (2): 2004, 2005 Ballon d’Or: 2005 UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2005-06 Golden Foot: 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Bronze Ball: 2005 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2002 FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Ball: 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Shoe: 1999 (SD-Agencies) Career honors Four years later, with Brazil as heavy favorites for the title and Ronaldinho considered the best player in the world, he failed to deliver. Brazil was knocked out in the quarterfinals by France. Ronaldinho started his pro- fessional career at Gremio in southern Brazil in 1998. He left for Paris Saint-Germain in 2001 and was signed by Barcelona two seasons later. At the Camp Nou, Ronaldinho was an integral member of a squad that took Barca back to the limelight. He played 207 games and made 94 goals and 61 assists for the team. However, after a series of club trophies, Ronaldinho’s career took a downturn. He was often accused by Brazilian and Span- ish media of lacking profession- alism, despite his mentoring of a then youthful Lionel Messi. His former club paid tribute to the Brazilian star, tweeting: “Camp Nou’s ever-smiling magi- cian. Thanks for everything!” In 2008, with Messi then lead- ing the Catalan team, Ronaldinho left for AC Milan. Despite being part of a squad that won Serie A in 2011, he failed to reach his previous heights as a player. AC Milan also praised Ronald- inho. “The man who enchanted San Siro and every football fan,” the Italian club said in a Twitter post. When returning home became a real option, Ronaldinho frus- trated Gremio’s efforts to re- sign him and joined Flamengo instead. Disappointing performances in Rio de Janeiro took him to Atletico Mineiro. Yet a more mature Ronald- inho took Atletico to a different level. In his last great run, Ron- aldinho carried Atletico with his superb passes and dazzling dribbles to second place in the 2012 Brazilian Championship. (SD-Agencies) Ronaldinho TEENAGE sensation Marta Kostyuk was hailed as the “future of tennis” yesterday after she became the youngest Australian Open second-round winner since “Swiss Miss” Martina Hingis in 1996. The 15-year-old was rewarded with an all-Ukrainian clash against fourth seed Elina Svi- tolina as her fairytale run at the year’s first Grand Slam continued with a win over local wildcard Olivia Rogowska 6-3, 7-5. It had commentators gushing that Kostyuk was “the future of tennis” as she extended her win streak at Melbourne Park to an incredible 11 matches after lifting the Australian Open girls’ title in 2017 and coming through quali- fying this year. “This is the future, ladies and gentlemen. Fifteen years of age,” said former British number one Sam Smith on Australia’s Channel 7. “This is an incredible story. This is the IN the 2017 winter transfer window, the Chinese Super League outspent the English Pre- mier League by US$422 million compared to US$315 million. A year on, England or Spain is set for the top spot and Chinese soccer officials are perfectly happy. Alarmed by the amount of money heading into the pockets of foreign players, clubs and agents, authorities in Beijing moved to slow down the market and it seems to have worked. “The relative lack of spending in the Chinese transfer window reflects the ongoing moderation of the market for players by China’s state authorities,” Simon Chad- wick, professor of Sports Business at Salford University in the United Kingdom, said. “Following several high-value deals over the past two years, several regulatory interven- tions were made.” The two most influential came into effect in 2017. Just before the season started in March, the Chi- nese Football Association (CFA) reduced the number of foreign players that could be named to a matchday roster from five to three, reducing demand. In June, a so-called “transfer tax” was introduced that stipulated that any club, which was in debt and was signing a foreign player, had to pay an amount equal to the transfer fee to a soccer develop- ment fund. Last summer’s transfer window was especially quiet with the only signing of note that of French striker Anthony Modeste join- ing Tianjin Quanjian for US$43 million in July. So far this winter window, there has also been a lack of big moves, despite plenty of rumors. Earlier this month when it was reported that Beijing Guoan and Guangzhou Evergrande were engaged in a bidding war for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Borussia Dortmund, that could cost US$86 million, the CFA reminded the clubs of the rules. “Recent reports claiming two Chinese Super League clubs will compete on price for a foreign player have attracted a lot of atten- tion,” a statement said. “The CFA has sent a letter to the respective clubs to ask for an explanation. The CFA will deal seriously with any violation of its regulations.” (SD-Agencies) Chinese soccer goes quiet after years of big spending Reports say that Beijing Guoan and Guangzhou Evergrande were engaged in a bidding war for Dortmund’s Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang. SD-Agencies IN a first for English soccer, a goal was awarded thanks to the intervention of a video assis- tant referee (VAR) as Leicester advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup on Tuesday. Kelechi Iheanacho’s deft finish was ruled out by the assistant referee for offside against the Leicester striker in the 77th minute, only for the decision to be overturned and the goal given by the on-field referee about 70 seconds later on the advice of the VAR. That second goal for Iheana- cho clinched a 2-0 win for Leices- ter over third-tier Fleetwood at King Power Stadium, in one of five third-round replays. The use of VARs is being tri- aled in England in the two cup competitions — the FA Cup and the League Cup — this season, but not yet in the Premier League. (SD-Agencies) Teenage kicks continue for sensational Kostyuk future of tennis on your screen.” Before the start of this week Kostyuk’s total career prize money was US$6,733, but she already has plans for the bumper US$142,500 pay day she will earn even if she loses to Svitolina in the third round. “Maybe I will get presents for my family, first of all, of course, because I have big family,” she said. “And then for myself a bit. Yeah.” In the first round she had dis- mantled Chinese number one and 25th seed Peng Shuai in straight sets in just 57 minutes. The talented Kostyuk contin- ued in the same vein against Rogowska, taking the first set in 39 minutes. (SD-Agencies) VAR intervenes for FA Cup goal Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine hits a shot against Olivia Rogowska of Australia during their match in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday. SD-Agencies
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Sports x 07CONTACT US AT: 8351-9190, [email protected]
Thursday January 18, 2018
RONALDINHO, “the ever-smil-ing magician” of Barcelona, as described by his former club, has ended his professional career.
Roberto Assis, the brother and agent of the 2005 Ballon d’Or winner, announced Tuesday that the 37-year-old wants to play a series of farewell matches from August — and then focus on his already busy life off the pitch.
Ronaldinho played his last professional match in 2015 for Brazilian club Fluminense.
“Ronnie’s professional career is over. He wants to be a football ambassador, do charity, and work with his friends in music from now on,” Assis said.
Assis hopes to schedule some farewell matches for Ronaldinho after the World Cup in Russia, which ends July 15. The initial plan is to play games in Brazil, Europe and Asia and to also get Brazil’s national team involved, Assis said.
Last July, Ronaldinho said on the sidelines of a friendly in Chechnya that he was “too old” to return to action. He repeated that to a Brazilian TV in November, but did not rule out reconsider-ing.
Ronaldinho’s decorated career also includes one World Cup title (2002), one Champions League victory (2006), two Spanish league titles with Barcelona, and two FIFA World Player of the Year awards (2004 and 2005).
He played 101 matches and scored 35 goals for Brazil from 1997 to 2013. “We pay tribute to this ace that shone using the yellow shirt,” Brazil’s soccer con-federation posted on Twitter.
At the 2002 World Cup, Ron-aldinho played second fi ddle to midfi elder Rivaldo and striker Ronaldo, but he was instru-mental in the 2-1 quarterfi nal victory over England, with an assist and scoring a remarkable free kick goal from long range.
Brazil great Ronaldinho retiresRONALDINHO fi lled his trophy cabinet with count-less titles at both club and international level, with the most notable coming in the form of:
2 La Liga crowns1 Champions League1 Serie A1 Copa Libertadores1 Copa America1 World CupFor Brazil, Ronaldinho
made 97 appearances, scor-ing 33 goals, including two in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
Individual honors:FIFA World Player of the
Year (2): 2004, 2005Ballon d’Or: 2005UEFA Club Footballer of the
Year: 2005-06Golden Foot: 2009FIFA Confederations Cup
Bronze Ball: 2005FIFA World Cup All-Star
Team: 2002FIFA Confederations Cup
Golden Ball: 1999FIFA Confederations Cup
Golden Shoe: 1999 (SD-Agencies)
Career honors
Four years later, with Brazil as heavy favorites for the title and Ronaldinho considered the best player in the world, he failed to deliver. Brazil was knocked out in the quarterfi nals by France.
Ronaldinho started his pro-fessional career at Gremio in southern Brazil in 1998. He left for Paris Saint-Germain in 2001 and was signed by Barcelona two seasons later.
At the Camp Nou, Ronaldinho was an integral member of a squad that took Barca back to the limelight. He played 207 games and made 94 goals and 61 assists for the team.
However, after a series of club
trophies, Ronaldinho’s career took a downturn. He was often accused by Brazilian and Span-ish media of lacking profession-alism, despite his mentoring of a then youthful Lionel Messi.
His former club paid tribute to the Brazilian star, tweeting: “Camp Nou’s ever-smiling magi-cian. Thanks for everything!”
In 2008, with Messi then lead-ing the Catalan team, Ronaldinho left for AC Milan. Despite being part of a squad that won Serie A in 2011, he failed to reach his previous heights as a player.
AC Milan also praised Ronald-inho. “The man who enchanted San Siro and every football fan,”
the Italian club said in a Twitter post.
When returning home became a real option, Ronaldinho frus-trated Gremio’s efforts to re-sign him and joined Flamengo instead.
Disappointing performances in Rio de Janeiro took him to Atletico Mineiro.
Yet a more mature Ronald-inho took Atletico to a different level.
In his last great run, Ron-aldinho carried Atletico with his superb passes and dazzling dribbles to second place in the 2012 Brazilian Championship.
(SD-Agencies)
Ronaldinho
TEENAGE sensation Marta Kostyuk was hailed as the “future of tennis” yesterday after she became the youngest Australian Open second-round winner since “Swiss Miss” Martina Hingis in 1996.
The 15-year-old was rewarded with an all-Ukrainian clash against fourth seed Elina Svi-tolina as her fairytale run at the year’s fi rst Grand Slam continued with a win over local wildcard Olivia Rogowska 6-3, 7-5.
It had commentators gushing that Kostyuk was “the future of tennis” as she extended her win streak at Melbourne Park to an incredible 11 matches after lifting the Australian Open girls’ title in 2017 and coming through quali-fying this year.
“This is the future, ladies and gentlemen. Fifteen years of age,” said former British number one Sam Smith on Australia’s Channel 7. “This is an incredible story. This is the
IN the 2017 winter transfer window, the Chinese Super League outspent the English Pre-mier League by US$422 million compared to US$315 million. A year on, England or Spain is set for the top spot and Chinese soccer offi cials are perfectly happy.
Alarmed by the amount of money heading into the pockets of foreign players, clubs and agents, authorities in Beijing moved to slow down the market and it seems to have worked.
“The relative lack of spending in the Chinese transfer window refl ects the ongoing moderation of the market for players by China’s state authorities,” Simon Chad-wick, professor of Sports Business at Salford University in the United Kingdom, said. “Following several high-value deals over the past two years, several regulatory interven-tions were made.”
The two most infl uential came into effect in 2017. Just before the season started in March, the Chi-nese Football Association (CFA) reduced the number of foreign players that could be named to a matchday roster from fi ve to three, reducing demand. In June, a so-called “transfer tax” was introduced that stipulated that any club, which was in debt and was signing a foreign player, had to pay an amount equal to the transfer fee to a soccer develop-ment fund.
Last summer’s transfer window was especially quiet with the only signing of note that of French striker Anthony Modeste join-ing Tianjin Quanjian for US$43 million in July. So far this winter window, there has also been a lack of big moves, despite plenty of rumors.
Earlier this month when it was reported that Beijing Guoan and Guangzhou Evergrande were engaged in a bidding war for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Borussia Dortmund, that could cost US$86 million, the CFA reminded the clubs of the rules.
“Recent reports claiming two Chinese Super League clubs will compete on price for a foreign player have attracted a lot of atten-tion,” a statement said. “The CFA has sent a letter to the respective clubs to ask for an explanation. The CFA will deal seriously with any violation of its regulations.”
(SD-Agencies)
Chinese soccer goes quiet after years of big spending
Reports say that Beijing Guoan and Guangzhou Evergrande were engaged in a bidding war for Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. SD-Agencies
IN a fi rst for English soccer, a goal was awarded thanks to the intervention of a video assis-tant referee (VAR) as Leicester advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup on Tuesday.
Kelechi Iheanacho’s deft fi nish was ruled out by the assistant referee for offside against the Leicester striker in the 77th minute, only for the decision to be overturned and the goal given by the on-fi eld referee about 70 seconds later on the advice of the VAR.
That second goal for Iheana-cho clinched a 2-0 win for Leices-ter over third-tier Fleetwood at King Power Stadium, in one of fi ve third-round replays.
The use of VARs is being tri-aled in England in the two cup competitions — the FA Cup and the League Cup — this season, but not yet in the Premier League.
(SD-Agencies)
Teenage kicks continue for sensational Kostyuk
future of tennis on your screen.”Before the start of this week
Kostyuk’s total career prize money was US$6,733, but she already has plans for the bumper US$142,500 pay day she will earn even if she loses to Svitolina in the third round.
“Maybe I will get presents for my family, fi rst of all, of course, because I have big family,” she
said. “And then for myself a bit. Yeah.”
In the fi rst round she had dis-mantled Chinese number one and 25th seed Peng Shuai in straight sets in just 57 minutes.
The talented Kostyuk contin-ued in the same vein against Rogowska, taking the fi rst set in 39 minutes.
(SD-Agencies)
VAR intervenes for FA Cup goal
Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine hits a shot against Olivia Rogowska of Australia during their match in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday. SD-Agencies
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