David Beckham, left, make his AC Milan debut against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. His performance received average marks from the Italian press.
David Beckham, left, make his AC Milan debut against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. His performance received average marks from the Italian press.

Beckham gets average grades after surprise start



ROME // David Beckham received average ratings from Italian sports dailies today after playing nearly a full 90 minutes in his AC Milan debut last night. The Gazzetta dello Sport gave the former England captain 6 out of 10 for his performance in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Roma. "Ninety minutes that nobody expected... He played hard, crossed, shot and helped with humility. For his debut it was enough," the Gazzetta said.

The Gazzetta counted nine crosses from Beckham - more than any other Milan player - but also reported that he lost the ball 13 times, matched only by fellow midfielder Clarence Seedorf. The Rome-based Corriere dello Sport also gave him 6 out of 10. "He seemed disoriented, and had trouble understanding where his position on the field should be," Corriere wrote. "He made few errors, without shining, in the first 45 minutes. In the second half, he exited nearly completely from the scene."

The 33-year-old Beckham has joined the Rossoneri on a two-month loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy to maintain his fitness levels during the MLS's off-season and keep him in the thoughts of the England manager Fabio Capello. The Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Saturday that it would be "difficult" to start the former Manchester United and Real Madrid player because he had not played a competitive match for two months.

However, he lined him up in his familiar role on the right side of midfield for Sunday's game at the Stadio Olimpico and Beckham played 89 minutes before being replaced by Mathieu Flamini. "When I said that Beckham wasn't going to play from the start I made a lie," Ancelotti said after the game. "We decided together to not say that he was going to start, so he wouldn't have too much pressure on top of him. He played a good game, played simply, always maintaining the correct position on the field."

The England coach Capello was caught off guard and did not have any scouts at the game, the Gazzetta reported. Beckham got a week of training in with Milan in Dubai over the holiday break where they played a friendly against the Bundesliga outfit Hamburg SV. "He has shown he's an intelligent and balanced player over these past days. I wanted to give him a small prize for the work he did in Dubai, for how much he trained and the dedication he showed," Ancelotti said.

"He has integrated very well with the group and the team. I think we're all happy that he's here." *AP

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Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books

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Healthy tips to remember

Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:

Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast

Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits

Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day

Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet

Company Profile

Company name: Yeepeey

Started: Soft launch in November, 2020

Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani

Based: Dubai

Industry: E-grocery

Initial investment: $150,000

Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year


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