Sports
Koke commits future to Atletico Madrid
Madrid: Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke says he is reluctant to leave the Spanish football club despite lucrative offers from abroad.
English clubs Manchester United and Arsenal are believed to be interested in the playmaker. But the Spanish international, approaching his 200th club appearance ahead of his 23rd birthday, said he wants to remain at the club he has supported since his childhood, as per reports.
“I see life in red and white. I’m happy here, the club is growing and I’m growing with it,” said Koke Tuesday.
“I don’t see any time or place when I’d leave. I’m happy to make Atletico fans happy, and I’d like to stay here forever,” continued the midfielder.
But he was also pragmatic in accepting footballs uncertain tomorrows saying that one could never be certain of the future.
“In football you never know. But if everybody is happy, I’ll be at Atletico for many years. You try to think about playing as much as you can for the team you support, and getting to that number (200 appearances) with a big club like Atletico.
I grew up here and it’s an honour to have played so many matches in this shirt. But all I am thinking about it is playing more,” added Koke.
Koke’s next appearance for his club would be in the return leg of the King’s Cup quarter-final as Atletico look to overturn a 0-1 first leg deficit at home. He admitted looking forward to the occasion.
“The Vicente Calderon stadium will be spectacular. It will be an amazing night, the stadium will be a furnace and the atmosphere will be incredible as always. Barcelona have an advantage but we are going to go for the win,” the Spanish international concluded.
Home
Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.