Spirited Sribhumi FC lose to NITA; Kickstart FC beat Sesa Goa
Sribhumi FC, despite a spirited show, lost to NITA FA in their concluding group league match of the first phase of the Indian Women’s League (IWL) at Kalyani Stadium on Friday morning. The scoreline was 3-2 in NITA FA’s favor. Karishma Shirvoikar scored a sameside goal for Sribhunmi FC in the 25th minute. Then India international Pyari Xaxa struck twice after the break in the 55th and 90th minutes. Sribhumi, despite trailing by a first-half suicide goal, leveled the score line in the 47th minute when Anju Tamang scored for the Kolkata side. Karishma Shirvoikar compensated for her suicide goal, equalizing the scoreline again with a strike in the 67th minute. However, in another match on the day, Kickstart FC of Karnataka defeated debutant Sesa FA by 3-1 at the NCE. Emem Pis Esien scored a hat-trick for the winners while Aniela Bareto scored for Sesa FA.
Vinicius Jr and Simeone exchange ‘heat’ during Super Cup semi-final!
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr and Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone were involved in a heated exchange during the closing stages of the Super Cup semi-final on Thursday night. As the Brazilian was being substituted off in the 81st minute, Simeone appeared to gesture boos coming from the crowd towards Vinicius. The duo were then involved in a war of words that saw even Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso get involved, while Vinicius had to be held back by teammate Antonio Rudiger. “Vini, Florentino Perez will kick you out,” Simeone had said to the player during the match, according to multiple reports from Spanish outlets. When Vinicius was being substituted, Simeone appeared to refer to the same thing, whilst also pointing out the whistles being made by certain fans towards Real Madrid’s No. 7. Simeone defended his actions in the media later on, stating that “what happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch. “I have nothing to say. Ever since my playing career, I’ve said that what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch,” he said. On the other hand, Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso wasn’t best pleased with Simeone’s actions. “I heard what Simeone said to Vini, and I didn’t like it. You can’t talk like that. Some things cross the line,” Alonso stated after the game. Meanwhile, Vinicius took to social media to take another pop at Diego Simeone after Real Madrid defeated Atletico 2-1. “He has lost another qualifier match,” commented Vinicius on an Instagram post after the match. Real Madrid will take on arch-rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday.
New promise in Kiwi cricket Aditya Ashok: Excited to play against his birth country with Rajanikanth-inspired tattoo!
Aditya Ashok is the new-kid-on-the block in New Zealand cricket. Before his debut in the forthcoming ODI series against India, his birth country, the 23-year-old Tamil Nadu cricketer is being hailed as the future of New Zealand spin-attack. Ashoke was born in Vellore and brought up in Auckland. He got early training at the Chennai Super Kings Academy. Undoubtedly, he seems excited ahead of his debut against India. “I am very excited to potentially represent my country and also represent the people who have helped me along my journey,” Adithya commented on Thursday after New Zealand’s first training session ahead of Sunday’s ODI series opener against India at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium. Significantly, Ashok is a fan of South Indian film star Rajinikanth. He has a tattoo on his right arm. A famous Rajinikanth dialogue, ‘En vazhi thani vazhi’(My way is a unique way) from the superstar’s film Padayappa. Adithya said the phrase holds personal meaning from a conversation with his late grandfather. “We discussed values and morals at home while a Rajini film played in the background,” he recalled. “That’s how it started. People ask, but it’s personal. That conversation meant much to me. My grandfather passed soon after, so it’s a lasting memory. I’m very grateful for that moment.” As he prepares for his first taste of international cricket in India, Adithya carries with him not just ambition, but a journey shaped across cultures, continents, and deeply held personal values.
Careless RFYS: Jangalmahal Academy forced to pull out in the midway!
Sudeep Pakrashi: Following utmost carelessness from the organisers of Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS), a debutant football academy from Jangalmahal, Purulia, has been forced to withdraw in the middle of the ongoing RFYS youth league across West Bengal. It is Manbazar Vibekananda Sports Academy, which has been running for the last five years at Bandowan, Purulia district. The academy returned to Bari village, Manbajar travelling for almost 7-8 hours after taking part in their last group league match on 7th January. The academy president, Prashanta Mahato, when asked about the issue, explained, “I received a WhatsApp message from the organisers on 7th late night and then around 11 in the morning on the 8th January afternoon, despite the fact that these boys had travelled almost eight hours by bus and returned home at around 11 in the night on the day before! So, how could it be possible? I requested them to spare at least a day for us. In reply, they asked me to give a walkover in our first group league match on 9th January!” More importantly, the academy had already spent nearly Rs 1 lakh to participate in their last round matches. According to Mahato, it would not have been easy to accommodate the hotels for around 25 boys within 24 hours. RFYS people were not available for their reaction. Signioficantly, Vibekananda Sports Academy had an excellent performance in their outing in the last group league matches. In their seven matches, the academy won in five, drew in one, and lost in one each.
