Weekender Alicante South Issue 109

32 FRIDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 2019
www.weekender.news
Sport
Former Rangers
hero Fernando
Ricksen dies
Ricksen won 12 caps and
spent six seasons at Ibrox
and the Dutchman had
been living with motor neurone
disease
The end of Fernando’s suffering
brings heartbreak and
relief said his family.
Fernando spent six trophyladen
seasons at Ibrox having
initially joined a number
of other Dutch players under
manager Dick Advocaat in
the summer of 2000. Ricksen,
who won 12 caps and was
signed by Rangers from AZ
Alkmaar for £3.75m, raised
awareness of motor neurone
disease and funds to tackle it
through the Fernando Ricksen
Foundation.
The famous Benidorm bar
“IBROX” Calle Lapanto, had
a number of visits from Ricksen
who on his birthday came
to Benidorm. Together with
owners Wilma and John they
raised thousands of euros for
his charity. Talking to Wilma
today she said “we will continue
to have his birthday
fund raisers here at Ibrox Bar
in his memory and to help
fight this awful killer disease”
A benefit match, held at
Ibrox in January 2015, was
attended by more than 41,000
fans and raised £320,000,
with the proceeds split between
Fernando, his daughter
Isabella, MND Scotland
and the Rangers Charity
Foundation.
Rangers said today “The
thoughts of everyone at
Rangers are today with his
wife Veronika, his daughter
Isabella and all his family
and friends.”
Countdown
to the Rugby
World Cup
Rugby World Cup
2019: England,
Wales, Ireland
and Scotland
poised for start
• Hosts: JAPAN
• Dates: 20 SEPTEMBER TO 2 NOVEMBER
The world's top rugby
nations are poised for
the start of the Rugby
World Cup with the outcome
as uncertain as
any of the previous eight
editions.
New Zealand have
won the past two World
Cups, but Ireland are
currently ranked as the
best team in the world.
A resurgent South Africa
won the Rugby Championship
earlier this year,
while Wales took the Six
Nations in March.
England have won 10 of
their last 14, while Australia's
minimum target is
a repeat of their 2015 run
to the final.
De Gea commits to
DAVID De Gea has signed
a new long-term contract
with Manchester United,
keeping him at the club
until at least June 2023.
The 28-year-old Spanish
goalkeeper arrived at Old
Trafford in 2011 and has
made 367 appearances for
the Premier League side so
far.
During his time with the
club, he has won the Premier
League, the FA Cup,
the League Cup, the UEFA
Europa League and the
Community Shield.
He said: “It has been a
United
privilege to spend eight
years at this great club and
the opportunity to continue
my career at Manchester
United is a genuine honour.
“Since I arrived here, I
could never have imagined
I would play over 350 games
for this club. Now my future
is fixed, all I want is to help
this team achieve what I
believe we can and win trophies
again, together.”
He added: “As one of the
senior players in the squad,
I want to support and lead in
any way that I can to assist
the younger players, so they
know what it means to play
here. I still feel that I have
so much more to achieve at
the club and I truly believe
that Manchester United can
build on the club’s tradition
of success and reward our
fans for their support.”
United boss Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer said: “I am delighted
that David has committed
his long-term future
to the club.
“ Over recent years, David
has proved himself to
be the best in the world and
a vital part of our plans as
we look to take Manchester
United back to where it belongs.
“David is a fantastic person
and his outstanding
quality provides the perfect
base to our defence.”