HALİL

WIZARD OF
FOOTBALL :
RONALDINHO

ALİ ECE
Galatasaray named winter champs
with record of lowest points
Galatasaray is held to a goalless draw against Trabzonspor to
complete the first half of the Spor Toto Super League gathering
the least number of points for a leader at this stage of the
season. The Lions have a lead over its Istanbul rivals, while
high-flying Antalyaspor is the surprising team of the term.

WORLD CUP GLORY
If Ronaldo was known for having a few tricks and flicks himself, then Ronaldinho
never attempted to outdo one of his idols for skills on the training field.
“I never even dared to do that,” he says solemnly. “I have the utmost respect for him
– Ronaldo is now our national team president. To be friends with him is one of the
greatest honours for me. It was always very natural between us both.”
Ronaldinho was only a year into his senior career at Gremio when he joined Ronaldo,
Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos and Cafu on the field in his first competitive match for Brazil,
as a substitute against Venezuela at the 1999 Copa America. Within four minutes he
had received a pass from Cafu and flicked the ball over the head of a defender (just
once was enough this time) before firing home a brilliantly impudent goal. Weeks
later, he was the player of the tournament at the Confederations Cup in Mexico.

THE BEST FOOTBALLER OF THIS WEEK

FIXTURE OF SPOR TOTO SUPER LEAUGE