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Is Germany keeper Neuer ready for the World Cup?

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Berlin, May 4 (IANS) After Germany’s star goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was sidelined with a broken foot in September last year, millions of Germans are preoccupied with his health and fitness. Not only are they giving Neuer advice but they all have an opinion on whether or not he will return to action in time for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

While national coach Joachim Loew is said to be optimistic that Neuer will be back for the team’s pre-tournament preparation camp in northern Italy from May 23 to June 9, other experts are less confident, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to former German international Stefan Effenberg, Neuer is risking his future as a professional by returning too early. “It’s becoming more and more difficult with the World Cup looming. I count on his common sense to weigh up the pros and cons and not make a rash decision,” the former midfielder commented.

It would be more important to secure his long-term future than to take a big risk, Effenberg stressed.

While Germany has two friendlies ahead of the World Cup in Russia, Neuer’s club Bayern Munich only has three games before the season ends.

The league match this weekend against Cologne seems too early for a return. Neuer will most likely be in the team for the final game of the season at home to VfB Stuttgart next week.

The third opportunity is a delicate issue as it would mean leaving out Neuer’s replacement Sven Ulreich in the German Cup final on May 19. As Ulreich has played the majority of the season, many feel he should be rewarded with the final.

“His big goal is to be part of the World Cup. It would be helpful if he could play some games in advance,” Bayern’s chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said after Neuer attended the team’s training this Thursday.

The Berlin-based tabloid Bild reports that there has been a setback and the 32-year-old goalkeeper was unable to do any work with the ball at a recent training session.

Effenberg said German football can count on other top-class goalkeepers like Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (FC Barcelona), Bernd Leno, who is rumoured to be on his way from Bayer Leverkusen to Atletico Madrid this summer, or Kevin Trapp (Paris St Germain).

Neuer’s return was initially planned for January but was then postponed to March or April. Bayern’s coach Jupp Heynckes then announced that, “he will play sometime this season.”

Ulreich’s howler in the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid has sparked a debate about Bayern’s next steps to solve their goalkeeping conundrum.

Defender Mats Hummels said that Ulreich has done a great job this season but added: “We’ve played the entire season without the world’s best keeper.”

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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