Women to Get Team in Qatar
First Romario. Now women.
The tiny Middle Eastern country of Qatar, which is apparently courting the former Brazilian striker, has announced that it intends to form a women’s national team. This would be a major step for women’s rights in a part of the world where women are banned from driving vehicles and must cover themselves from head to toe in public.
General Secretary Dato’ Peter Velappan of the Asian Football Confederation challenged other Middle Eastern countries to follow Qatar’s lead.
“This is a step in the right direction for women’s football,” he said. “The Qatar Football Assn.’s efforts to promote women’s football should be lauded. Qatar’s initiative is a boost to women’s football not only in Qatar but to Asia.”
Saud Al Mohannadi, an official with the Qatar Football Assn. said that the first step would be a seminar later this month for about two-dozen women interested in coaching.
Qatar was the center of attention this week when reports claimed that the club Al Saad had offered Romario $1.5 million for three months so he could compete in the Asian Club Championship. Romario, 37, whose goals led Brazil to the 1994 World Cup championship, plays for the Brazilian team, Fluminense.
*
Galaxy Third
Two goals and an assist on Friday by Chris Albright propelled the Galaxy to a 3-0 victory over Norway Viking in the third-place game of the Spanish La Manga Cup. Albright struck in the 20th and 33rd minutes off assists from Hercules Gomez and Jason Moore. An Albright pass led to a second-half goal by Mauricio Cienfuegos.
The Galaxy heads to Florida next week to play an exhibition in the Orange Bowl against the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday.
Rosenborg, Norway, beat Norway Odd Grenland, 1-0, in the La Manga final.
*
Stadiums
Financially strapped German Bundesliga club FC Kaiserslautern has agreed to sell its stadium, and Italian champion Juventus FC plans to cut its venue in half and add 200 executive boxes.
The sale of the Fritz Walter Stadion to a specially created company in which local banks and city and regional governments will hold shares, eases the threat of bankruptcy that has hung over Kaiserslautern. The club, which owes tens of millions of dollars in debt and back taxes, will have to pay rent to use its former grounds.
Juventus’ chief executive, Antonio Giruado, said his club expected to sign an agreement with the Turin City Council next month that allows downsizing of 70,000-seat Delle Alpi stadium that was constructed for in advance of the 1990 World Cup.
*
Bought
A nutrition-supplement magnate who owns Mexico’s Guadalajara team is buying into Costa Rica’s famed but troubled Saprissa team. Spokesman Manuel Munoz did not give details of the agreement with Chivas patron Jorge Vergara, who owns Grupo Omnilife, but said it would allow the team to meet salaries for players and administrators, which have gone unpaid since December.
Saprissa was founded in 1935 and has won 22 soccer championships in Costa Rica.
*
Short Shots
The United States men’s national team will play Wales in a friendly May 26 in San Jose. It will be Wales’ first match in the States.... The French first division will end 10 days early this season, giving national players much-needed breathing space before FIFA’s Federations Cup, which starts June 18. The 38th and last round of matches in the French championships will be played May 24 or 25.
The WUSA San Diego Spirit has hired former Portland Pacific and University of San Diego assistant coach Chugger Adair, 31, as assistant.
*
Times wire services contributed to this report.
