Tag Futebol

Imran Tahir claimed career-best figures of 5 for 24 in South Africa’s victory in Auckland, in a timely audition before the IPL auction

Firdose Moonda17-Feb-2017With a career-best 5 for 24 to underline his No. 1 ranking in both limited-formats, Imran Tahir seems to have everything he could want at the moment, except maybe one thing.”I wish I could have muscles like him,” Tahir joked, the day before the one-off T20 against New Zealand in Auckland.The person Tahir was referring to was Sonny Bill Williams, the New Zealand rugby player, boxer and signature bad-boy-turned-good, who is a close friend of Hashim Amla. Amla introduced Williams to Tahir and other team-mates including Wayne Parnell two years ago and they make a point of catching up when they’re in the same country, and Tahir is still in awe of Williams’ superstardom.”When I first met him I was shaking because we were walking on a street in Auckland and I could see people’s reaction and I was blown away,” Tahir said. “He stopped for everyone and took pictures. I’ve never seen someone who’s that famous.”Cricketers in South Africa seldom get similarly swamped, not even when they are dominating internationally the way Tahir is, and he knows that a more imposing physique will not change that. “I’m happy with what I am – I’m not jealous of him,” Tahir clarified, amid some giggles. Imagine a Tahir with bulging biceps and thunder thighs.
Jokes aside, Tahir’s body will soon come up in discussions about how much longer he will be able to play. He turns 38 next month and has been playing cricket at a high level for two decades but has managed to avoid major injury. Being a spinner, whose action does not cause as much wear and tear as a quick bowler’s would, he is thought to have at least another two to three years, although he has suggested he could keep going for between five and ten. That doesn’t seem so outlandish when considering that Tahir has stayed fit and become more athletic and agile in the field than he was when he first emerged on the international scene.Tahir’s dedication to his craft has only increased as his career has progressed. He maintains that having waited so long to play for South Africa – Tahir moved to the country in the mid-2000s but only become eligible to play for them in 2011, when he was 32 – he wants to hold on to it for as long as he can.And there is maybe one other thing. The IPL auction takes place in three days’ time and this T20 was a last audition for some of the players looking to get deals – though Tahir insisted it was only a passing thought to him. He was released by Delhi Daredevils and has a base price of US$75,000, which is just short of a million South African Rand.Given how well Tahir has been performing recently, he is expected to fetch more than that. So while he may not have the muscles, he could soon boost his earnings by more than a million in one day.

On a green pitch under a cloudy sky and with Andre Adams at last fit enough to return, you could hardly blame what Wayne Madsen had secretly dreaded but Derbyshire are only two down

Jon Culley at Trent Bridge12-Jun-2013Derbyshire 245 for 2 (Chanderpaul 78*, Madsen 67*, Hughes 59) v Nottinghamshire
ScorecardShivnarine Chanderpaul has been worth Derbyshire’s investment•Getty Images

On a green pitch under a cloudy sky and with Andre Adams at last fit enough to return, there can have been little doubt in Chris Read’s mind about what to do when he won the toss. Bottom-of-the-table Derbyshire, the gap between themselves and the pack beginning to yawn just a little, have yet to bowl first in a Championship match this season and if skipper Wayne Madsen had secretly dreaded what might unfold you could hardly blame him.Yet after a day restricted by rain to 65 overs, Derbyshire are only two down. Madsen is well set alongside Shivnarine Chanderpaul in an attempt to reprise their record-breaking partnership against Surrey two weeks ago and the positive signs that coach Karl Krikken took from drawing that game might be more than wishful thinking. “The last couple of weeks we have started to compete and it’s not a foregone conclusion that we are going to go down,” he said. “There are nine games to go and we’ll keep fighting.”Much of Krikken’s renewed optimism stems from Chanderpaul’s enduring quality and professionalism. Approaching 39 and with pretty much every box ticked in his list of career ambitions, Chanderpaul is playing for his fourth county and his decision to sign a well-rewarded contract with a newly-promoted underdog might be open to cynical interpretation, yet Krikken could not be more insistent that Chanderpaul is giving maximum value.He made his first century for Derbyshire against Surrey and is on course for another here. After their stand of 265 against Surrey, they have put on 145 so far here, with Chanderpaul on 78 from 88 balls, and the Nottinghamshire attack feeling a little chastened. But Krikken says Chanderpaul is about more than runs.”He has been immense for us on the field but it is also his work-rate behind the scenes, with the youngsters in the squad in the nets,” Krikken said. “He is a great cricketer and the time he spends in the nets and the way he thinks about his game is what we want our younger players to emulate.”When you are playing on result wickets it is not easy but now we are getting some flatter wickets he is coming into his own. But he has not moaned at all because he knows we have to try to get results.”It is important to the team, to the younger players, to see your captain and your overseas player standing up to be counted, so their form has come at the right time.”In the earlier games we just weren’t consistent enough. We were having a good session but then throwing it away with a poor one and we know we can’t keep doing that. But in the last couple of weeks there have been signs that we are starting to compete.”Chanderpaul in his customary way gathered his runs with deceptive swiftness. He may not be flamboyant but his clever placement ensures steady singles and as ever he was able to gather boundaries through timing rather than force.It was a contrast from Chesney Hughes, who launched Derbyshire’s best start to an innings so far with gusto, his boundaries coming usually with a flourish. He had nine in his 59 and it was a shame that he paid the price for being too extravagant, mishitting an attempt to pull Harry Gurney to the ropes and cursing himself as the ball flew tamely to mid-off.At least Gurney could feel compensated. He had seen Hughes, on 48, and Godleman, with 19, dropped off consecutive balls by Samit Patel at slip.Adams picked up his sole reward when Godleman followed one outside off stump and gave Read a regulation catch but neither he nor any of his colleagues has found much in the pitch. The ball swung a little under the morning’s cloudy sky but for once here conditions have not been as read. Krikken admitted Derbyshire would have bowled first, too. Madsen, this time, will be pleased he did not have the choice.

Brett Matthews, the former South African first-class bowler, died in Pretoria on Thursday

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Feb-2013Brett Matthews, the former South African first-class bowler, died in Pretoria on Thursday. Matthews, 50, had been in a medically induced coma after being injured in a road accident earlier this month.A left-arm seamer, Matthews represented Eastern Province, Transvaal and Western Province during his six-year career. He played 38 first-class matches, taking 120 wickets at 23.63, and claimed 36 wickets in 33 List A games.He was the brother of Craig Matthews, who had 18 Tests and 56 ODIs to his name for South Africa in the 1990s.

Queensland will host the ICC’s 2012 Under-19 World Cup in August next year, with Brisbane, Townsville and the Sunshine Coast to be the primary venues for the event

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Aug-2011Queensland will host the ICC’s 2012 Under-19 World Cup in August next year, with Brisbane, Townsville and the Sunshine Coast to be the primary venues for the event.Australia hosted the inaugural edition of the Cup in 1988. The Australian team won the last tournament, in New Zealand in 2010, and can be expected to put up a stern defence on home soil.James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, said the tournament had proven itself as a useful stage for upcoming generations of cricket talent. He also pointed out that the event would aid Australia in its preparations for the senior edition of the World Cup, to be held down under in 2015.

The groups for the Under-19 World Cup

Group A
Australia, England, Nepal, Ireland
Group B
Pakistan, New Zealand, Scotland, Afghanistan
Group C
West Indies, India, Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea
Group D
Sri Lanka, South Africa, Bangladesh, Namibia

“The ICC U19 Cricket World Cup is the showcase event for best young cricketers in the world and is where the next Cameron White or Yuvraj Singh gets their first real taste of top-level international cricket,” Sutherland said. “It was only a couple of years ago we saw Mitch Marsh captain the Australia Under-19 team to victory in New Zealand with talents such as Josh Hazlewood, Alister McDermott and Alex Keath alongside him.”We are very grateful to Queensland Cricket and Events Queensland for their support in hosting this tournament and I think all the teams and supporters will enjoy their time in Australia’s sunshine state. We are building towards hosting the senior ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015 and this tournament will play a big part in getting ready for that event,” he said.Graham Dixon, the Queensland Cricket chief executive, said the choice of the Sunshine Coast and Townsville as venues beyond Brisbane would be helpful for the development of cricket, and sporting infrastructure, in two major regional centres.”Queensland Cricket is thrilled at the decision to bring the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup to our state, and especially with the decision to play in two important regional centres, Townsville and the Sunshine Coast, with the resulting positive economic impact on those areas,” he said.”The support of the State Government and the Events Queensland will enable Queensland to provide an international showcase around this tournament, which has grown into a significant event on the world cricket stage.”Queensland Cricket is acutely aware that the ICC Cricket World Cup will be staged in Australia and New Zealand in 2015 and so tournaments like the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup are an important proving ground for us, and for Cricket Australia, as it gets closer to hosting that major event.”The ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat added: “This tournament has proved to be an important stepping stone for elite young cricketers aspiring to play international cricket. It’s an opportunity for them to develop and test their skills in a high-pressure situation against the world’s best at this level.”We also use it as an opportunity to educate them on several important issues like anti-corruption, anti-doping and social responsibility expected of international cricketers while also exposing them to the ICC Code of Conduct and media attention.”

Reports have emerged that the Zimbabwe Cricket board has removed David Mutendera and John Rennie from the selection panel, replacing them with former national coach Kevin Curran and Givemore Makoni

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jul-2011Reports have emerged that Zimbabwe Cricket has removed David Mutendera and John Rennie from the selection panel, replacing them with former national coach Kevin Curran and Givemore Makoni, who is chief executive of the Southern Rocks domestic franchise. National selector Alistair Campbell survived the clean-out and remains in his post.Makoni has been a constant on Zimbabwe’s cricket scene for several years, having been one of the founders of Takashinga Cricket Club, which was originally known as Old Winstonians. He’s also carried out of the role of team manager of the national side – a position he resigned before taking charge of Southern Rocks. Makoni has not been free from the controversy that has dogged cricket in the country in recent years though and has often been portrayed as a politicised figure.Curran, a former player who has also been involved with cricket in Zimbabwe for several years, had recently sealed the job of coach of the Mashonaland Eagles franchise and has been playing an active role at the Interfin Cricket Academy in Harare.Rennie and Mutendera – both former national players themselves – were reportedly given the axe as part of the fall-out from Zimbabwe’s disappointing World Cup campaign in the subcontinent earlier this year, where they failed to beat any of the major nations, although their only really controversial selection was leaving experienced batsman Hamilton Masakadza out of Zimbabwe’s squad for the tournament.The decision to relieve them of their duties was taken at the same meeting where it was decided that Brendan Taylor would replace Elton Chigumbura as captain of the national side.

The Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) will not be used during the upcoming Test series between Sri Lanka and India

Sidharth Monga09-Jul-2010The Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) will not be used during the upcoming Test series between Sri Lanka and India. “The decision at the ICC meeting was that both the teams should agree with having the DRS system. When we checked with India, they were not happy to have it,” Nishantha Ranatunga, secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), told Cricinfo.In its annual conference, the ICC had decided: “One of the decisions is that the host member would determine whether to use DRS in home Test series (following consultation with the visiting country).” It was during this consultation that Sri Lanka couldn’t achieve an agreement with the visiting team, India.The UDRS, which has courted controversy since its implementation, was first used in the 2008 series between the same teams, and immediately became a key player in the contest. The controversial and impractical Virender Sehwag dismissal aside, Sri Lanka used the challenge system way better than India, securing marginal lbw dismissals for Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis that would have otherwise needed brave umpires to call. Sri Lanka made 11 successful reviews in that 2-1 series win, as opposed to India’s one.On their return tour to India, Kumar Sangakkara lamented the absence of the UDRS. He said it cost his side “over 500 runs and a lot of wickets” during the 2-0 defeat. To add to his frustrations then, the review system was used in two simultaneous series being played elsewhere.When asked if the absence of the review system would be a disadvantage for the home team, Ranatunga said: “Definitely it will be a disadvantage. Not only for Sri Lanka, it’s a disadvantage for India as well. It’s a disadvantage for all the players.”India haven’t really been fans of the system, and haven’t been involved in any series since then that has used the UDRS. Sachin Tendulkar had said he wasn’t won over by the system, largely due to the inadequate technology that has prevented its successful implementation. The Hot Spot, he said, was a better means to establish contact between bat and ball, and ball and pad.The host broadcasters don’t use the required technology, and that could be one of the reasons why India decided not to use the UDRS. However, Ranatunga said the Indians didn’t give any reasons for their choice.

The man who tackled Khalid Latif to the ground during a one-day game at the WACA last month has been fined $9000 after being convicted of assault and trespass

Cricinfo staff16-Feb-2010The man who tackled Khalid Latif to the ground during a one-day game at the WACA last month has been fined $9000 after being convicted of assault and trespass. David James Fraser, 37, of Yangebup, pleaded guilty to the charges and his lawyer said he had been dared by a mate to run on to the ground.Fraser was fined $6000 for the trespass charge and $3000 for the assault following the incident on January 31, which his lawyer said was alcohol-induced. He was also banned for life from the WACA.The incident led to calls from Cricket Australia and the WACA for harsher penalties for pitch invaders. Following the court hearing, the WACA released a statement saying that it would continue to lobby the state government for greater fines for field invaders.”Field of play invasions by spectators during major sporting events are dangerous, disrupt major public events and can influence the outcome of those events, whilst also damaging Australia’s and Western Australia’s reputation in the eyes of international viewing audiences,” the statement said. “The ICC has the power to revoke the WACA Ground’s accreditation to host international cricket matches, and the WACA supports harsher penalties that would encourage members of the crowd to think twice before attempting to enter the field of play.”

The two-time World Cup winner played her final international match on Sunday after a career that has changed the game on and off the field

Women's soccer has never seen anyone quite like Megan Rapinoe. Hell, the world in general hasn't either. For more than a decade, the United States women's national team star has been a lightning rod of attention and a fireball of a player, one that has transcended the game she plays and the country she calls home.

This summer, though, was her curtain call, her last dance. Not from the bright lights, of course, as Rapinoe will no doubt remain part of pop culture long beyond her playing career. The USWNT star isn't going away, that's for sure. There isn't anything in the world that could truly silence her.

No, Rapinoe, the celebrity, will continue on. As will Rapinoe, the activist. Rapinoe, the player? Well, her days are numbered. Prior to the Women's World Cup, Rapinoe announced that the tournament would be her last as she intends to retire at the end of 2023. At age 38, the time has come. Sunday's match against South Africa was her final in a USWNT shirt before she calls it a career at the end of the NWSL season.

She'll leave the game as one of its most decorated players, with two World Cup triumphs, an Olympic Gold Medal, a World Cup Golden Ball, a World Cup Golden Boot, a Ballon d'Or and a FIFA The Best Women's Player award, just to name a few.

Her time on the big stage didn't end the way she would have liked, however, as her penalty soared into the sky at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium against Sweden in the World Cup last 16, proving that even a star as big as Rapinoe doesn't often get the chance to write their own ending.

On and off the field, Rapinoe has been a dynamo, a superstar unlike any we've ever seen. From the bright hair to the aura of defiance that has so often been stamped out of a less politically-inclined sports landscape, Rapinoe is a one-of-one.

“I’m exactly what they’re familiar and comfortable with, just packaged up differently," she told ahead of the World Cup. "I’m exactly the brash, arrogant athlete that Americans love.” And though her time as that athlete is coming to an end, Rapinoe's legacy on the field is secure as she's solidified her spot as one of the game's most important players.

• Getty
  

  An important announcement

  Rapinoe didn't want it to linger. She didn't want her team dealing with speculation or questions or uncertainty. So, instead, she just came out and said it. She's retiring.

  The announcement came via U.S. Soccer, who released a lengthy statement hailing Rapinoe's accomplishments. World Cup champion, Ballon d'Or winner, LGBTQ+ icon… the list went on and on.

  And that's basically what Rapinoe wanted to avoid: dragging this whole process on and on. She knew the questions would come about her future. She knew that, if she didn't answer them, her teammates would be asked them, too. So, to turn the focus back toward the World Cup, she got ahead of it all.

  "Obviously I'm 38 years old, I'm not going to be playing forever and it just always feels weird for me to have something settled and feel at peace and to not answer a question honestly," Rapinoe said. "I kind of wanted to have that for myself.

  "I think it allows me to focus a lot more, allows the team to focus a lot more. We don't have to get questions every time, every single game. It's just kind of out there and I can just really enjoy it and focus on trying to win the tournament."

  Still, despite Rapinoe's intentions, her team-mates still had plenty to say about her impending exit ahead of this summer's tournament.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  A tearful goodbye

  Kelley O'Hara started off pretty strong, to her credit. She was full of praise for Rapinoe and what she's meant to the USWNT program. By the end, though, O'Hara's strength was failing a bit. The voice started cracking a bit as the tears began to flow. From the outside, it seemed that, in that moment, it began to hit her.

  "It's hard to put into words, honestly," O'Hara said. "I know that the world sees the Megan Rapinoe that the world sees, but we get to see her up close and personal. The Pinoe that the world sees is an incredible person and human, and that is her up close and personal as well. She brings a sense of humor and lightness, but intensity and empathy.

  "She's one of a kind. There's never been anyone like her, and there's probably never gonna be one close to her, so it's sad to think about this being her last, but she's done such incredible things for this team and for the world, so to be able to see the up close and personal Pinoe and be close to that has been really special, and I hope that we can send her out on a high."

  That sentiment was largely echoed by Alex Morgan, Rapinoe's teammate at four World Cups, with this most recent run serving as their final adventure together.

  “She’s been an advocate for this team. She’s been a backbone for this team,” said Morgan. “Whether it’s going through the equal pay fight, standing up for marginalized communities, she’s someone who is going to stand up for that when it’s not always a popular opinion…She’s true to herself. That’s from the beginning when I met her until now. She says what she thinks, she means what she says. You have to love her for that.”

  Kristie Mewis, meanwhile, did her best before the tournament to convince Rapinoe to stay on for one more cycle. The USWNT might have needed her, after all. "Honestly, she's just such a presence," Mewis said. "That's how I would describe her. She's just such a presence on this team."

  Rapinoe isn't staying. This was it, her last World Cup.

• Getty
  

  Rapinoe's reduced role

  Given her age, it isn't exactly a secret or surprise, but Rapinoe has slowed down. She's not the dominant force she once was, and there was a while when it looked like she may not even be part of the USWNT in the lead-up to this World Cup.

  Rapinoe was one of several World Cup winners excluded by head coach Vlatko Andonovski at parts of this cycle as he looked to facilitate a transition towards youth. All of the old guard was put on notice, even if there was a plan in place to bring them back later on.

  In some places, that youth movement never quite came to fruition, as the U.S. still leaned on the likes of Morgan and Julie Ertz. In other places, it worked, with young stars like Sophia Smith, Alyssa Thompson, Trinity Rodman and Naomi Girma all booking their spot in the squad.

  Rapinoe, meanwhile, accepted her new place as the USWNT's, as she puts it, "fun grandma". The next generation has started to take control, leaving Rapinoe without the starring role she had for most of her career. And she was just fine with that. Rapinoe, by and large, was glad to be along for one last ride before it was all over.

  "These little kids are just good," she said on the Snacks podcast of her rising-star teammates before the tournament. "Everyone’s just good."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  'A sick joke'

  "I'm like, 'You've got to be f*cking kidding me'," Rapinoe said after her World Cup came to an end. "I'm going to miss a penalty? I mean, honestly, I can't remember the last time I missed."

  That was it, her last kick of a ball at the World Cup. With the USWNT duelling with Sweden in a penalty shootout, Rapinoe was among three USWNT stars to miss. She hadn't missed in years, but the Soccer Gods don't care about that sort of statistic.

  “This is like a sick joke for me personally," she told after the game. "This is a dark comedy that I missed a penalty. This is the balance to the beautiful side of the game.”

  The miss capped a tough World Cup for the USWNT star, who was never quite able to impact the game from her role as a substitute. She couldn't find a goal or an assist in three appearances as the 38-year-old veteran looked just a step off the pace.

  But no one could have predicted that cruel, cruel ending. Rapinoe herself laughed as she trotted back to her teammates, knowing just how out of character it was for her to miss in that moment. It's an unfortunate swansong for a player that could have, and probably should have, had a better goodbye to the game at this top level.

MatériaMais Notícias

Quando não encara o forte do calor do Rio de Janeiro nos treinamentos do Botafogo, no Estádio Nilton Santos, Keisuke Honda trabalha com projetos paralelos. Recentemente, o meio-campista abriu uma escola online no Japão para crianças e adolescentes de 12 a 18 anos com o custo de 1 dólar (R$ 5,42, na cotação atual) por mês.

A educação é algo levado a sério pelo japonês. No clube de General Severiano, o camisa 4 tenta conversar com os jogadores mais jovens sobre adquirir conhecimento além do futebol. Em entrevista realizada à “BotafogoTV”, publicada nesta sexta-feira, Honda explicou o motivo de achar a valorização da educação tão importante.

– O que aprendi quando penso em educação é tentar se comunicar com os mais jovens. Gosto de falar com os jogadores, educar os jogadores mais jovens e as crianças. O bonito da educação é que, uma vez que você ganha uma habilidade ou conhecimento, você nunca perde em sua vida. As coisas que você aprende sempre o ajudam. São úteis. Claro que o dinheiro, ou qualquer outro bem material, você irá perder caso aja errado. Masvocê nunca perde habilidade, conhecimento e competências. Por isso educação é tão bonito e quero que todos tenham educação de alta qualidade, não importa onde você nasceu, quanto dinheiro tenha. Toda criança deveria ter educação de alta qualidade, por isso que me preocupo – afirmou.

RelacionadasBotafogoHonda se mostra animado com o Botafogo: ‘Faminto para aprender’Botafogo07/08/2020BotafogoNova opção do Botafogo: Guilherme Santos ‘ressurge’ como pontaBotafogo06/08/2020BotafogoMarcelo, do Botafogo, começa a estudar inglês por influência de Honda: ‘Ele me elogiou’Botafogo06/08/2020

No meio da pandemia do novo coronavírus, Keisuke Honda afirmou que refletiu sobre a vida durante o período de quarentena. O meio-campista considerou as questões de trabalhadores no Brasil. Na opinião do japonês, o momento é de paciência.

– Tenho pensando em muitas coisas durante essa pandemia porque não acho que alguém esperava que isso fosse acontecer. Tivemos tempo suficiente para pensar o que é a nossa vida, porque os governos. A maioria dos governos proibiu as pessoas de andar. Tiveram que ficar em casa. E, ainda, em alguns países pessoas ficaram em casa, mas por outro lado tinham que trabalhar para ganhar dinheiro e sobreviver. Então ninguém quer perder a vida por causa desse vírus louco. Mas, ao mesmo tempo, tem que ganhar dinheiro. Devem trabalhar pensando em suas famílias. Isso é muito incomum. Mas, estou triste, sabe, muitas pessoas morreram por causa dessa doença, e ainda continua. Ninguém consegue encontrar uma solução melhor neste momento. Esse é o problema. Temos que ser pacientes para enfrentar o coronavírus por um bom tempo. Não acho que vamos resolver esse problema agora. Temos que ser pacientes – declarou.

MatériaMais Notícias

Principal contratação do Palmeiras para a temporada, Rony ressalta a importância de vestir a camisa do clube, inclusive, por quem representa. Além de citar os torcedores, o atacante lembrou que carrega consigo a imagem do Pará, estado onde nasceu – o jogador é deMagalhães Barata, cidade com pouco mais de 8 mil habitantes e a mais de 160 km da capital Belém.

– Representamos uma nação, uma família, bilhões de torcedores. Para nós e nossos familiares, representa bastante. É uma satisfação imensa vestir essa camisa e representar o meu estado, o Pará. É uma honra vestir esse manto, levando o Palmeiras a um alto nível. Espero estar cada vez mais ajudando a equipe e o Palmeiras a crescer -disse em entrevista aos canais da Libertadores.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasBahiaPresidente do Bahia fala sobre negociações envolvendo Régis e GregoreBahia01/04/2020Futebol NacionalQuatro grandes de SP se unem em campanha do Hospital das ClínicasFutebol Nacional01/04/2020PalmeirasVitor Hugo transmite treino ao vivo em 1º dia de férias no PalmeirasPalmeiras01/04/2020

O Verdão adquiriu 50% dos direitos econômicos do camisa 11, que estava no Athletico-PR, por 6 milhões de euros (cerca de R$ 28 milhões na época), assinando contrato até dezembro de 2024. Já atuou em cinco partidas, sendo quatro como titular, e se sentia plenamente adaptado até a paralisação por conta da pandemia do coronavírus, a partir do último dia 16.

– Minha adaptação, graças a Deus, está sendo maravilhosa. Nem preciso ter muita preocupação com isso. Estou muito feliz por estar vestindo essa camisa e ter uma adaptação muito boa – comemorou o jogador, que, como o restante do elenco, iniciou nesta quarta-feira férias coletivas até o dia 20, a princípio.

Recebendo elogios dentro de campo, Rony também chamou atenção por oportunidades que perdeu de balançar as redes. Mas o jogador recebe o apoio, inclusive, do técnico Vanderlei Luxemburgo, que insistiu na sua contratação e pede calma para que o seu primeiro gol com a camisa alviverde saia.

– Fico com vontade de fazer um gol para as coisas começarem a caminhar, mas estou com a cabeça boa, bem tranquilo em relação a isso. Sei que, no momento certo, a bola vai entrar. Ele (Luxemburgo) já conversou comigo, para ter calma, que a bola vai entrar. E sei que as coisas vão começar a caminhar bem e, quando a bola entrar, tudo vai mudar de uma vez por todas – apostou.