Neymar tests positive for Covid-19, His club confirms
Brazilian forward Neymar has been sidelined after testing positive for Covid-19, his club Santos announced in a statement quoted by Brazilian media. The 33-year-old began experiencing symptoms on Thursday and was immediately withdrawn from team activities. Medical tests later confirmed the infection, and the Brazilian Serie-A The club did not disclose the duration of Neymar’s unavailability and did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Neymar is already ruled out of Thursday’s league match at Fortaleza due to suspension. The Fortaleza match will be Santos’ last before the Brazilian league pauses from 14 June to 13 July Club World Cup in the United States. The former Barcelona forward’s future at Santos remains undecided, with his contract expiring in June. Limited by injury, he has made 12 appearances for Santos across all competitions this season, contributing three goals and three assists.
Rinku Singh gets engaged to Priya Saroj
Indian cricketer Rinku Singh officially got engaged to Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj in Lucknow on Sunday. The couple held an engagement ceremony that was attended by some of the biggest names in the cricketing and political spectrum. Some beautiful videos and pictures have surfaced on social media in which Priya and Rinku are flaunting their engagement rings. Rinku, who plays for the Indian cricket team in the T-20I format and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL, couldn’t have many of his international teammates at the ceremony due to cricketing commitments. However, a few months ago, Priya’s father, Tufani Saroj, had made the relationship status of the two clear. Tufani, who is also a sitting MLA from the Samajwadi Party, spoke to ANI and said that both Rinku Singh and Priya Saroj sought their parents’ permission. He also confirmed that the engagement has not taken place yet, and only the initial talks have taken place. Rinku had quite an ordinary IPL 2025 campaign with KKR, scoring 206 runs at an average of 29.42 and a strike-rate of 153.73. The Knight Riders had a forgettable season that saw them finish eighth in the table with 12 points, winning just 5 out of 14 matches.
Ishfaq says East Bengal should utilize Ramsanga; Explains proper planning needed for the senior national team’s progress
Sudeep Pakrashi: Ishfaq Ahmed admits 2024-25 has been the most impressive season for him in his last 10 years of coaching career. Under his tutelage, Real Kashmir had almost ensured their maiden I-League title, finally finishing in second place with 37 points from 22 matches. Ishfaq bears the frustration opining, “We would have had the last laugh even if we had won our concluding match.” But despite the disappointment, the 42-year-old coach feels proud of the fact that Real Kashmir have been able to produce a footballer today who can get an offer from ISL teams. “Lalramsanga is joining East Bengal. Mohammed Inam, who was brilliant in the League this season, had already received a three-year offer from Bengaluru FC, but he refused and decided to continue with Real Kashmir for another season. Then our goalkeeper received an offer from Punjab FC. One of our defenders is already among the ongoing under-23 national preparatory camp. The scenario was not there even a few years ago. As a coach I am proud that nowadays Real Kashmir have been producing footballers who are getting offers from ISL teams and that was my mission primarily when I took over the charge of this club,” said Ishfaq while speaking to Parallel Sports. When asked whether Ramsanga’s prospect with such a popular team like East Bengal, the former under-17 national coach commented, “East Bengal, though a big team, should utilize Ramsanga’s ability. He is calm and technically sound. As a footballer, he is very effective and can deliver his best as even number 8. However, it will depend on the coach that how he utilizes Ramsanga’s ability.” Significantly, Real Kashmir does not keep any transfer fee clause in its agreement with the footballers. The club had sole mission to promote talented Kashmiri footballers and they have been doing that. But in the future, Real Kashmir might add the clause of transfer fee for their footballers who will be receiving offers from ISL teams. However, when asked about the senior national team’s recent failure at the Asian level, Ishfaq explained, “I believe we need proper planning and intensity in scouting and promoting the potential generation of footballers. We have a bundle of talents. So, the pool of national footballers during the preparatory camps should have at least 50 potential footballers. I can give an example of Lalrinzuala. He is superb, becoming the top scorer in the I-League consistently for the last three seasons. So, did not he deserve to be in the national camp?” He made one important advice stating, “You have to start planning and perfect scouting from the age-group level if you want success with the senior national team. You have to follow the model Jordan and Uzbekistan have made.” His contract with Real Kashmir expired on 31st May although the club has already asked him to renew contract. Ishfaq divulged one of his dreams saying, “If I am with the I-League club, then my mission will be to shape more potential Indian footballers. I will try to instill belief among them that they are equally competitive with the foreigners who are playing in our country.”
