IPL 2018: Backing Nitish Rana has paid off, says Kallis
KOLKATA: With Nitish Rana emerging as one of the biggest gains of the new-look Kolkata Knight Riders, chief coach Jacques Kallis on Monday said they always backed the Delhi youngster fully and it is paying off. Displaying poise and panache in equal measure, the left-handed batsman has been the backbone of KKR batting and his part-time off-spin has come handy in giving breakthroughs. (PTI)

IPL 2018: Upset Sunrisers Hyderabad mention no-ball issue in captain’s report
NEW DELHI: The standard of umpiring in IPL has yet again come under the scanner – thanks to Vineet Kulkarni, who missed a genuine no-ball towards the fag end of the Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad game in Hyderabad on Sunday. The home team SRH eventually fell short by four runs while chasing a winning target of 183. The hosts would have got an extra run and a free hit and who knows, they could have also gone over the rope if the no-ball was called. (TNN)

IPL 2018: Archer, Gowtham down Mumbai Indians
JAIPUR: Allrounder Krishnappa Gowtham produced some sensational hitting (33 not out, 11 balls, 4×4, 2×6) to take Rajasthan Royals to a thrilling three-wicket win over Mumbai Indians at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Sunday. In a see-saw battle, Rajasthan required 28 from the last two overs after a collapse in the middle overs which saw them slip from a comfortable 123/3 to 125/6 in the 17th over while chasing 168.
A brilliant debut by Jofra Archer with match figures of 3 for 22 where he bowled yorkers at will was one of the highlights of the match. (TNN)

Improved Manchester City difficult to catch, admits Mourinho
LONDON: Manchester Unitedmanager Jose Mourinhoadmitted his side have little chance of catching Premier League champions Manchester City next season unless the standards set by Pep Guardiola’s side slip.
Second-placed United trail City by 16 points with four games of the league season to go after Guardiola’s men kept up their chase of a series of Premier League records by thrashing Swansea 5-0 on Sunday. (AFP)

Robin Hood, Rocky Balboa help Klopp passion shine at Liverpool
LIVERPOOL: A confessed admirer of the underdog tales of Robin Hood and Rocky Balboa, Jurgen Klopp is probably uncomfortable with Liverpool’s status as strong favourites in Tuesday’s Champions Leaguesemi-final, first leg against Roma. (AFP)

However, it is testament to how far the German has revitalised a sleeping giant on the European stage that Liverpool’s first appearance in the Champions League last four for a decade is met with such expectation.(AFP)

Rodriguez poised to show Zidane what Real are missing
BERLIN: Having rebooted his stuttering career at Bayern Munich, James Rodriguez has the chance to show Real Madridexactly what they are missing when the sides meet in their Champions League semi-final, first leg on Wednesday. Rodriguez has shone since quitting Real last July at the end of three often difficult seasons in Madrid for a two-year loan deal in Munich. (AFP)

Dempo SC clinch GFA U-14 League title

DULER: Dempo SC clinched the GFA U-14 League title for the season 2017-18 in style as they thrashed Salgaocar FC 4-0 in the finals played at Duler Stadium, on Sunday. Dempo SC started the game in the same attacking fashion as they did in the semifinals against Sporting Clube de Goa, and took the lead just ten minutes into the match when Shreyash Naik set up Rohit Shirodkar who scored with an easy tap in. (NT NETWORK)

Levy’s four-goal blitz fires Salgaocar to 5-0 win over Churchill Brothers

FATORDA: A four-goal blitz by striker Levy Pereira enabled Salgaocar FC complete a 5-0 rout of Churchill Brothers SC in the GFA U-18 Air Arabia Football League match played at artificial turf ground, Fatorda-Margao, on Sunday. Aaron Barreto scored the other goal.
Salgaocar started the match on an attacking note, and just when the match was in the 10th minute striker Aaron Barreto provided the lead for the Green Brigade as he, after collecting a neat pass from the middle and on entering the box, lost no time in slamming it in past the bewildered Churchill Brothers SC keeper Keith Fernandes. (NT Network)

Bardez Veterans emerge victorious
ASSOLNA: Bardez Veterans defeated VIVA North Veterans 5-3 via the tie-breaker to clinch the Assolna Veterans trophy in the final of the Assolna Veterans football tournament played at SAG ground, Assolna, on Sunday. Bardez Veterans’ Alexander Fernandes had the first best chance of the match in the third minute but the VIVA North keeper saved it brilliantly. At the other end, VIVA through Ramesh Palkar should have found the ball at the back of the Bardez net but the latter’s goal bond shot was denied by the cross bar in the 6th minute. (Herald)

GFA UNANIMOUSLY approves ITS statutes
GOA VELHA: The Goa Football Association (GFA) unanimously approved the statutes of GFA in their Extraordinary General Body Meeting (EGM) at Goa Velha, on Sunday. The much discussed amendment —availing of Section 80G benefit was unanimously passed on Sunday by the members during the meeting. Speaking during the meeting, GFA President Elvis Gome said, “The availing of Section 80G will give a benefit of drawing sponsors for the leagues wherein the sponsors can claim intern retain rebates after following proper procedures.” Gomes explained about the benefit of Section 80G to the members and received no opposition from anyone. The second issue discussed was the dissolution of the association wherein Gomes explained if any case the association dissolves in future due to any reasons, the funds available to the associations would be transferred to another charitable trust. The statute read, “In the event of dissolution or winding up of the association, the assets remaining as on the date of dissolution shall under no circumstances be distributed among the members of the association. But the same shall be transferred to another charitable trust or society whose objects are similar to those of the association.”
The statute received no objection from any members too. (Herald)