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TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016
Ronaldo rests to show haters who’s best n AFP, Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo will not play in Portugal’s pre-European Championship friendly against England on Thursday as he rests from his third Champions League triumph but he insists those who doubt his talents are “jealous”. The 31-year-old, who looked jaded in Real Madrid’s win over Atletico Madrid on Saturday even though he scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out, believes he is still “number one” and has nothing to prove. After a sixth straight season with more than 50 goals, Ronaldo has been given extra time off and will miss Portugal’s friendly game at Wembley on Thursday. “Come on, let me rest my legs. Now is the time to rest and enjoy this moment. I have six days to be prepared to play a good competi-
tion,” Ronaldo told reporters after Saturday’s triumph in Milan. Portugal coach Fernando Santos said Ronaldo’s performance in the Champions League final for Real Madrid was not a concern for his campaign. The star forward has struggled with fitness problems in recent weeks but should be ready to play Estonia in a final friendly on June 8, two days before the tournament starts. “I am not worried. What interests me is that he will be with us next weekend and he really wants to help us and to win,” Santos said after Portugal’s 3-0 friendly win against Norway on Sunday. Ronaldo said he was also not worried and that he had every reason to feel proud and happy after helping Real win their 11th European Cup. “Only the jealous don’t feel
that,” he said. “But I don’t care about that. I always keep the people who love me. So this Champions League is for them, the guys who support me all the time, my fans in Portugal and around the world.” Ronaldo highlighted that he was the Champions League’s top scorer for the fifth time with 16 goals while also reaching 50 goals altogether for the campaign once again. “But I am asking more,” he declared. “I am always in the top level. I just want to maintain. I still feel good, I still feel fresh ... and I want to carry on like that. “I feel good and I love to play for Real Madrid. I want to carry on. I have more than 4,000 minutes (playing time this season). I was the number one in the team, again, for most minutes. That means a lot
to me. “It means I am still good, I still feel good physically, mentally.” However, Ronaldo did acknowledge feeling fatigued at the end of a long season. “I have a lot of minutes in the legs. But I am still there. I am always there. I showed the team I am there for the good moments and bad moments. This is what makes me feel proud. “My performance (in the final) was maybe not the best one but who played unbelievable? No one.” Ronaldo’s performance in Madrid’s celebrations, however, was firmly in the limelight. The Portuguese took centre stage at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Sunday night. “I am so proud to wear this white shirt, it suits me and I am very happy,” he told the crowd. l
Nazmul: Selection will keep coach busy Gamage quits as coach n Minhaz Uddin Khan The Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan said yesterday that the national team’s head coach will be integrated in the selection process to make get him more involved. The BCB working committee following a meeting last week had proposed to increase the numebr of members in the national selection committee. It was also proposed that the head coach and the national team manager (who will also be a director of the board) should be a part of the selection process. Though questions were raised on the proposal and the chief selector Faruk Ahmed said that he was not keen to stay in the enlarged committee, Nazmul said that a decision will come in the next board meeting. He believes the idea is a good one given this will keep the head coach involved.
Chandika Hathurusingha is contracted by the BCB on a ‘number of days’ basis, thus he remains away from Bangladesh when there is no
I want the coach to observe domestic matches. I do not want him to sit idle when he has time in hand. It is better for him to see the matches as he will also be part of the selection process international cricket. But the latest move by the BCB will mean that he will be available during domestic tournaments. “I want the coach to observe do-
mestic matches. I do not want him to sit idle when he has time in hand. It is better for him to see the matches as he will also be part of the selection process. Actually I want someone or the other to follow the matches so that their job becomes easier. The coach being part of it will mean he won’t be surprised if there is selection of an emerging player,” Nazmul said to the media yesterday following a meeting with the BCB technical committee. Nazmul said that they also discussed the quality of umpiring in domestic cricket, which has been criticised during this season’s Dhaka Premier League. “We are looking for fair play in the matches but it is not possible for us to change it overnight. The technical committee has made some suggestions. They are highly experienced. I believe we will be able to do some good for Bangladesh cricket with their suggestions,” he said. l
n Minhaz Uddin Khan Bangladesh women’s coach Janak Gamage resigned from his job yesterday after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) did not offer an extension to his contract. Gamage who took the Bangladesh job in August 2014, said that he will now work with the Thai women’s team. “I am leaving (Dhaka) tomorrow (today). I will work with the Thailand women’s team from now,” Gamage said at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. “I did not get any offer for extension from the BCB. There is a tournament coming up in Thailand and they have called me. I have resigned because the BCB has not shown any interest in retaining me.” The former Sri Lankan paceman Gamage played four ODIs. He had taken the Bangladesh job with aim to improve the team’s international ranking. But since his joining there
has hardly anything notable. During Gamage’s tenure Bangladesh women’s played only one bilateral series, against visitors Zimbabwe and had won 2-0. Gamage’s last assignment was in the ICC World Twenty20 2016 the team had qualified as runners-up in the final of the qualifiers against Ireland. But in India, they lost all their group stage games to England, West Indies, Pakistan and hosts India. Gamage said the Bangladesh women’s team has the talent but it needs to be nurtured better. “I enjoyed working here. Always felt like home. The team have come a long way and can go further if they can overcome few things. The other teams practice throughout the year but the Bangladesh team does not get that chance. They need to overcome this issue. I believe this team has a good time ahead,” he said. l
I don’t know what I sign, Messi told judge in fraud case n AFP, Barcelona Argentina star Lionel Messi, who is due to go on trial in Barcelona for alleged tax fraud, told a judge that he never looks at the contracts he signs, the El Periodico daily said Monday. The newspaper got access to Messi’s September 2013 statement to a judge and published extracts just a day before Messi and his father stand trial. “I signed things, but I never look at the contracts. I don’t know what
I sign,” he allegedly said. Messi and his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, are accused of using a chain of fake companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid paying taxes on 4.16 million euros ($4.7 million) of Messi’s income earned through the sale of his image rights from 2007-09. They have been charged with three counts of tax fraud. According to the alleged statement published by the Barcelona daily, the judge showed him several sponsorship contracts that he signed, but he did not remember them. l
Titas Club players and officials pose with the National Bank Dhaka Metropolis Premier Volleyball Laegue trophy at their headquarters in Dhaka yesterday COURTECY