Coaches happy with decision to scrap extra time

By Anil JohnSports Editor

Lekhwiya coach Djamel Belmadi (L) and Al Sadd's Jorge Fossati will be squaring off against each other in the first semi-final of the Heir Apparent Cup tomorrow

The Qatar Football Association have decided to do away with extra time play in the Heir Apparent Cup to protect players from injuries as the national team begin their preparations for the final phase of Asian qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.The eight-month football season in Qatar is scheduled to end in the second week of May with the Emir’s Cup, after which the QFA’s focus will turn to the crucial 10-team qualifiers beginning on June 3.Qatar have been placed in Group A along with South Korea, Iran, Uzbekistan and Lebanon, while Australia, Iraq, Jordan, Oman and Asian champions Japan constitute Group B, with matches to be played on a home and away basis and the two top teams in each group making it to Brazil.And with fitness of the players a prime concern for the QFA, it was decided to limit the Heir Apparent Cup matches to the regulation 90 minutes, with teams going into the penalties directly, a move that won the whole-hearted support of the coaches of the teams who will play the Heir Apparent Cup.Lekhwiya (Internal Security Force) coach Djamel Belmadi said the decision was understandable considering the gruelling season, although he got to know about it only yesterday.“Honestly, it’s no big deal,” said the former Algerian international who guided Lekhwiya to two successive QSL titles in 2011 and 2012.“I was not aware of the extra time rule this time for the Heir Apparent Cup because I was focused on Lekhwiya’s Asian Champions League campaign,” he added.Belmadi added that it was up to the QFA to decide what was best for the players.“Obviously the QFA must have given it a great deal of thought. They feel extra time would increase the risk of injuries. I have no problem with that because when you are on the field your focus is on winning.” Belmadi even reprimanded a journalist for suggesting that it was the Lekhwiya management’s fault that he didn’t come to know of the rule change early.“Please, don’t try to create unnecessary controversies, just concentrate on football,” he said. “The Lekhwiya management is fantastic. I know there would be a big story tomorrow saying that I was not aware of the rules. Please stop this. ”Lekhwiya star Adel Lamy said the QFA had discussions with the teams’ medical staff and fitness experts before deciding to scrap extra time.“It was a well thought-out plan,” said Lamy. “The decision was taken basically to ensure that national team players don’t run into fitness problems during club matches because they will be soon playing the World Cup qualifiers,” he said. Al Sadd coach Jorge Fossati said the rule made no difference to him. “It’s the same for everybody. Players fatigue has to be dealt with in the best way possible. Our job is to follow the rules. We received the plan from the QFA and we have to go with it,” said the Uruguayan under whom Al Sadd won the Asian Champions League last year.Fossati said Al Sadd always aim to win in regulation and that would be the case even in their Heir Apparent Cup semi-final against Lekhwiya tomorrow.“I am not too bothered by such rules. Al Sadd will try to take victory in 90 minutes,” he said. El Jaish’s Brazilian coach, Pericles Chamusca, however, offered a slightly different view.“Extra time is always a strategic period of play and how you handle your players become important. I would have preferred to have extra time but we have to follow the directives.”El Jaish, who finished second in the QSL will take on Al Rayyan in the second semi-final on Sunday.