Missed chances force 127th-ranked India to surrender to 157th-ranked Hong Kong! Parth Jindal raises his voice against the system
A 94th-minute spot-kick guided Hong Kong to a 1-0 win against India in their AFC Asian Cup qualifier at the Kai Tak Sports Park on Tuesday. Ashley Westwood’s team goes top of Group C with four points in two matches while India are languishing at the bottom of the table with two points from two matches. Manolo Marquez’s wait for his first competitive win with India continues. Hong Kong obtained the spot-kick after Vishal Kaith fouled Udebuluzor as both came to catch the ball, and the referee pointed to the spot. Pereira shoots low to Kaith’s right. Kaith goes the wrong way as the ball hits the inside of the net. Despite playing against strong home support, India were able to create some scoring opportunities in the first 45 minutes. But as usual, finishing let the Blue Tigers down. Both teams registered two shots on target in the first-half. The scenario in the second session was almost the same with India failing to utilize opportunities and struggling to defend opposition counter-attacks. Ashique Kuruniyan’s name should be mentioned in particular who squandered the golden sitter in the second half. Sunil Chhetri substituted Ashique Kuruniyan in the 56th minute but failed to impress. Significantly, founder of JSW Sports and owner of Bengaluru FC Parth Jindal, disappointed with the senior national team’s performance choose social media to express his frustration. He has written in his post, ‘This is completely unacceptable @Indianfootball-just not good enough under any circumstances – deep introspection needed by the AIFF – this is not what all of us lovers and backers of Indian football have spent our hard-earned money and effort to witness – get a manager and a system that works – it’s high time – there is too much effort to see a result like this. India’s experienced defender Sandesh Jinghan however still has hopes of qualifying for the Asian Cup! In a post-match media interaction, he said, “There are still four more matches. I have trust in this team. I believe in my boys and we will give our best and finally, if god wishes then we will be in the Asian Cup.”
Ronaldo to continue with Al Nassr; Wants to play the key role of ‘decision-maker in the transfer market!
Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna confirmed a week ago that the former Manchester United and Real Madrid legend will remain at Al-Nassr but that he will be ‘the main decision-maker’ in the transfer market. Cristiano Ronaldo will stay at Al-Nassr, as exclusively revealed. The agreement has been reached between the parties CR7 has received all the necessary guarantees from the PIF to build a competitive. He will be the main decision-maker in the transfer market this summer. ‘A new sporting director should arrive in the club Al-Nassr wants a new center back, defensive midfielder, and a left winger. The club howver is open to offers for Sadio Mané, and Brozovic, and Otavio. After helping Portugal to Nations League glory last week, Ronaldo revealed that he will be staying at Al-Nassr, he commented: “Practically nothing will change. Will I be in Al Nassr? Yes.” And during his new contract negotiations, Spanish website Ronaldo ‘demanded’ one signing in the form of Manchester United winger Garnacho, who is set to leave the Red Devils this summer. Garnacho has caused unrest in recent weeks with a video appearing to show him pushing past a fan on the street on the Red Devils’ tour of Southeast Asia.
Guardiola receives honorary degree from University of Manchester; stands for Gaza and its victims
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been awarded an honorary degree by the University of Manchester, recognizing his extraordinary contribution to the city over nine years on and off the pitch. At a ceremony in the historic Whitworth Hall, he was presented with an honorary doctorate by the University’s Chancellor, Nazir Afzal. The award is in honor not only of his sporting success but for his inspirational work away from football, including through his family foundation, the Guardiola Sala Foundation. Pep said: “Manchester means so much to me. I have spent nine years here and it has become home. The people, the culture, my incredible football club, my colleagues… it is all so special to me and my family. When I arrived here in 2016, I did not know how long I would spend here. The way this city embraced me made everything easy. My time here has been beautiful. Significantly, During his acceptance speech, Guardiola stood up for the victims of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. While standing for Gaza and its people, the Manchester City manager said it pains him to see what has been unfolding in the region for the past year or so. “It’s so painful what we see in Gaza. It hurts my whole body. And let me be clear, it’s not about ideology. It’s not about whether I’m right, or you’re wrong. Come on. It’s just about the love of life, about the care of your neighbor. Maybe we think that we see the boys and girls of four years old being killed by the bomb or being killed at the hospital because it’s not a hospital anymore. It’s not our business.”
Argentina can now play without Messi: Scaloni
Argentina has learned to cope with Lionel Messi’s absences and no longer needs to reorganize the line-up when the Inter Miami forward is not available, manager Lionel Scaloni said before Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Columbia. Colombia defeated Argentina 2-1 when the sides met last time in the World Cup qualifiers in September. Since making his senior debut in 2005, Messi has scored 112 goals in 192 appearances for Argentina, winning the World Cup in 2022, two Copa America titles, and a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The 37-year-old captain missed Argentina’s 1-0 win over Uruguay and 4-1 thrashing of rival Brazil in March due to injury, with Scaloni’s side securing its place at the 2026 World Cup during that international break. He returned to the squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers and made a substitute appearance in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Chile last week. “The team is now in a moment where it can play in the same way with Leo (Messi) or without Leo, which used to be more complex in the past as we had to change some players,” Scaloni told reporters ahead of the match in Buenos Aires. “But now we don’t have this necessity and the team works in the same way, that’s good.” While Argentina has already qualified for the World Cup in North America, Colombia is in the sixth and final automatic qualification spot and will be looking to put some distance between itself and seventh-placed Venezuela with a win. “It’s a great team and with great players, and it has a clear style that can put you in trouble,” Scaloni said. “We’ve analyzed it, we’ve shown the players their strengths and what we want to take advantage of. It’s going to be a nice game, especially because we play at home, so it’s good for our people to see the players.”
Mahesh says one goal will change the scenario; Not worried about Hong Kong’s ‘foreign-born’ players
Sudeep Pakrashi: Mahesh Gawli, the senior national assistant coach who has been involved with the senior national team for the last three years believes that one goal will change the Indian national team’s recent depressing scenario. The senior national team have been able to earn one win only in a friendly out of the seven overall they took part in after Manolo Marquez took charge of the senior national team in July last year. The depression of the Indian football fraternity increased after the senior national team’s last 2-0 loss to Thailand in a friendly match. Gawli still believes the team’s performance in the last couple of matches was not below satisfactory level. But they lacked only in converting opportunities. “We need the goal. One goal will change the scenario. We created more opportunities than Thailand in the match. But we lacked the finishing. Once it starts, the players will regain confidence. They will have a different body-language and deliver their best,” asserted Gawli while speaking to Parallel Sports from Hong Kong. India and Hong Kong, China’s meeting on Matchday 2 of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round on June 10 is billed as the highest-stakes clash of Group C as they are the top two ranked sides in the four-team group, and are aiming for the first win of their campaign. Placed in Pot 1 for the qualifiers, India, ranked 127th, got off to a slow start with a draw against Bangladesh in March. Meanwhile, Pot 2 side Hong Kong, ranked 153, could also only manage a point in Singapore. For Hong Kong, June 10 will be a historic date. The game is not only a crucial qualifier in their search for only a second AFC Asian Cup berth in 59 years but also the inaugural football match at the 50,000 seater Kai Tak Stadium, part of the Kai Tak Sports Park, the largest sports complex in Hong Kong. The previous meeting in 2022 is still fresh in the memories of many — a 4-0 drubbing in a rain-lashed Asian Cup qualifier in Kolkata. The 45-year-old former India international is aware of Hong Kong’s present strength. He explained, “After arriving here we watched Hong Kong’s one preparatory match against Nepal. The team have changed a lot compared to the approach and style we watched four years ago in Kolkata. Additionally, they have several foreign-born footballers and players who ply their trade in the Chinese Super League. But I do not feel it will be the key factor as our footballers are now accustomed to competing against quality foreigners in the ISL.” Hong Kong’s squad also features many new naturalized and foreign-born players. Among them are forwards Juninho and Stefan Pereira, midfielder Fernando, and defender Dudu — all born in Brazil. Spain-born forward Manolo Bleda and Japan-born midfielder Sohgo Ichikawa also made their Hong Kong debuts recently. Among the experienced lot are goalkeeper Yapp Hung Fai, who has over a century of caps, defenders Sun Ming Him, Yue Tze Nam, and Tsui Wang Kit, all of whom ply their trade in the Chinese Super League, and midfielder Tan Chun Lok. The majority of the squad, however, plays their club football in the Hong Kong Premier League for Kitchee SC, Southern District, Lee Man FC, Eastern FC, and current champions Tai Po FC. Meanwhile, it is believed that Manolo Marquez has planned to quit from chief national coach’s post after Tuesday match although the Spanish coach has not yet given any clear indication about his decision.
