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Morne Morkel feels that the South Africa fast bowlers’ mental strength helped them overcome the heat and humidity to take 16 wickets in the Galle Test

Firdose Moonda 22-Jul-2014

In cerebral terms what separates humans from other living beings is said to be the size of our frontal cortexes. Ours are bigger, relatively speaking, which is considered to enable us to think more critically. Channelling those thoughts correctly is believed to have the power to help us achieve more than we may appear capable of. Morne Morkel believes South Africa’s quick bowlers proved that in Galle.”It’s hot, it’s humid and you need to prepare yourself for that,” Morkel said. “I’ve always tried to focus on getting it right mentally. If you’re not mentally strong, you’re going to struggle.”Morkel and Dale Steyn took 16 wickets between them to give South Africa the series lead and show that the story of fast bowlers on Sri Lankan wickets can be rewritten. But to do that they had to rely on more than just skill and dip deep into their reserves of self-belief to conquer both the elements and the opposition.South Africa’s endless chorus about the weather is enough to make most Sri Lankans hot under the collar. After all, it is not like they are neighbours with the sun. The truth is that South Africa know that they are coping. Despite the amount of time South Africa have spent wiping sweat off their brows, they have adapted far better than they have made out.On the field, there have been no prolonged signs of cramp. Off the field, the reserves have been spotted running the streets after play to get back to the hotel – no mean feat even as the last rays kiss the tarmac.Their real gripe with the 30-degree heat and the 70%-plus humidity is the effect it has on the tools of the trade, specifically the ball. It does not stay new for very long which can make it difficult to work with. “In this heat and humidity when the ball is a bit soft, that takes a bit of the battery life out of you,” Morkel said.When that happens, Morkel believes it is important for South Africa not to show weakness. Instead of allowing their shoulders and intensity to drop and aggression to fade, he believes that should spur them to operate at a higher level.”The key for us in these conditions (is) for the bowlers to have a strong body language, because that lifts up the field,” Morkel said. “Also for the Sri Lankan guys if they see that the fast bowlers are fired up and our body language is strong, that send a strong message. We have to get over those things – the wicket is flat, the ball is soft – and we have to come up with a game plan.”For Morkel the strategy involved bowling a fuller length which he does not normally employ and which is challenging for him to get right consistently. When it does work it complements the short length he is more comfortable with and the results can be spectacular. That was on display in Galle when Morkel picked up a perfect one-two. In the first innings he got rid of Kumar Sangakkara with his signature delivery: the short ball. In the second, he accounted for Mahela Jayawardene by drawing him forward.It’s no surprise that since Morkel is enjoying being tested, he relished the second scalp just a little more. “I felt I bowled very well bar the one over in the first innings but when the ball was a little bit softer it was quite tough. But to come back in the second innings – it’s one thing getting the first ten but the second ten is more important – so it’s a good thing for me to come back and support Dale and the rest of the bowlers and to have something in the wicket column.”It’s nice when we discuss and plan and those things happen. Mahela is a quality player and we knew him and Kumar were key for Sri Lanka. That was why we wanted to fire with intensity upfront at those two guys and maybe put some heat on them.”Steyn agreed that showing enough aggression was equally and perhaps even more important than relying on ingredients like pace or bounce. It’s a case of mind over matter and so in preparation for the second match which South Africa only need to draw to regain the No. 1 Test ranking, the fast bowlers will be allowing downtime for both their brains and their bodies.The three-day turnaround means “the most important thing for me is rest,” according to Morkel. “I will turn my arm over the day before the Test. The next couple of days is getting the body sorted. I’ve got a couple of blisters I need to attend to. So just feet up and rest – some pool time, stretching and maybe a light run.” Or a good book and soothing sounds on the iPod to keep the mind at ease as well.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has slammed his team for playing “awful cricket” during their 82-run defeat to South Africa in the third ODI

Andrew Fidel Fernando12-Jul-20142:48

Missing crucial chances cost us the game – Mathews

Angelo Mathews had to arrest a middle-order wobble and in the end was left with too much to do•AFP

Angelo Mathews is not used to his team losing a series. Not this year at least. So when Sri Lanka lost their first trophy of 2014 in their first home assignment, Mathews did not hold back on the criticism of his own side.Sri Lanka played “awful cricket” on Saturday, he said, when they allowed South Africa to wallop 339 for 5, then fell 82 runs short of that score. There was no talk of “taking the positives” or dwelling on personal achievements. It was a match in which Mathews felt Sri Lanka “didn’t do anything well”.First in the firing line was the bowling and fielding, which was particularly lackluster in comparison to South Africa’s effort in the field. The hosts dropped Quinton de Kock on 38 and missed a stumping chance when he was on 71. De Kock would go on to top score with 128 and lay the foundation for South Africa’s mammoth score.”We don’t deserve to win – the way we played today,” Mathews said. “We started off pretty poorly with the ball and in the field. I think they got 20 to 30 runs too many. On the field we were pretty flat once again. Our fielding was not up to the mark. A team like South Africa is going to steal runs from us. We have to sharpen that up. We let a couple of crucial chances go.”We know our conditions at home, so we should have played better. South Africa is a very good team, and we can’t take them lightly, and I said that at the start of the tour.”No score in excess of 300 has ever been chased in Sri Lanka. Mathews, however, felt the hosts had a chance to win the match with the bat, but his team approached the chase poorly. Mathews top-scored with 58 at a strike rate of 72, and perhaps he wanted his team-mates to bat a little more like him – conserving their wickets and rotating the strike, in preparation for a big surge in the final 15 overs.However, despite a rapid start, Sri Lanka lost three wickets for six runs between the 12th and 14th overs, effectively leaving the lower middle order with too much to do.”The way we batted – I guess the middle order thought of getting the runs in 40 overs. We tried to get a few too many runs too soon and ended up giving wickets.”It was a very good wicket. The middle order could have taken the game deep, we could have chased it. We kept losing wickets at crucial stages. There are about four 30s from the top order. When we are chasing 320, someone in the top four has to score a hundred. Two of their batsmen hit centuries.”Among his frustrations with the batting order is the problem of inconsistency. Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan have been prolific for the team over the past two years, but aside from Mathews, no other batsman has strung together significant scores through that period. Lahiru Thirimanne’s Asia Cup may be the only exception.”If we take Sanga and Dilshan, they are among the runs all the time. If the others can be consistent like that, that would be great for the side. We can’t expect runs from a couple of players every match, because there are seven batsmen. Someone has to play well on a certain day. If we don’t score runs and take the responsibility, the bowlers have nothing to bowl at.”The third ODI became a double blow for Sri Lanka because it put AB de Villiers in even better touch than he had been in, as he hit 108 from 71 balls. Mathews hoped Sri Lanka would bowl better at him in the upcoming Tests.”AB is a very dangerous player, and when he gets going you can’t really bowl at him because he scores 360 degrees. He’s one of the best players I’ve seen and he’s in great form, so hopefully we can get him out early in the Test matches.”

Steve Rixon, Australia’s outgoing assistant coach, has declared that he had “very little respect” for Cricket Australia and in particular what saw as interference with cricket decisions from above

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jan-2014Steve Rixon, Australia’s outgoing assistant coach, has declared that he had “very little respect” for Cricket Australia and in particular what saw as interference with cricket decisions from above.Rixon has been axed from the coaching staff, although he said he had no problem with head coach Darren Lehmann’s desire to build his own coaching group and he would have finished his tenure before this year’s IPL anyway. However, in a radio interview on Thursday, Rixon took a parting shot at Cricket Australia and its general manager of team performance, Pat Howard.”I’m not getting into a slinging match … I have very little respect for the organisation, so I think we best just leave it there,” Rixon said on Sky Sports Radio. “I don’t like a lot of things they do. They interfere basically with a lot of the cricket decisions over the period of time and I don’t necessarily agree with that.”It’s none of my business. At the end of the day, I do what I do, I go out and do it to the best I know how. But it’s probably just draining and the one thing I’ve lived my cricket life with is a major passion for the game.”When pressed on whether it was Howard, a former rugby union international, who Rixon had a problem with, Rixon replied: “Let me say, I hope he was a good rugby player.”Rixon was brought into the setup as fielding coach in June 2011, before Mickey Arthur was named head coach later that year. Rixon said as well as his duties in drilling the fielders, part of his role was to be a sounding board for the then new captain Michael Clarke, with whom he had a long-standing relationship from Clarke’s junior years.”With Michael now being very content with where he is, Boof’s obviously come in with a stronger approach to that,” he said. “That’s why I think cricket’s in a very good shape with Australia, we’re starting to get all those bits and pieces.”Darren will eventually get a team around him that he’s very, very comfortable with and that’s fine. That’s the way life is, that’s the way it is with coaching. He’s come in with some heavy hands and he’s done a very good job in actually sorting a few of these things out and I complimented him for that. If he continues down this road, he’ll get the best out of this Australian cricket team.”

Cheteshwar Pujara didn’t have to think too hard when asked who the fastest bowler he has ever faced is. Morne Morkel.The answer may come as a surprise, especially since Pujara, who has recently played against the likes of Dale Steyn and Tino Best*. But Pujara was adamant. Morkel was the quickest.South Africa’s management team would be pleased. For months, they have been saying the same thing. Morkel has got the speed gun more excited than Steyn, and has softened batsmen up more than Vernon Philander but just hasn’t recorded the same results. Luckily for them, Morkel is completely comfortable playing a supporting role.”My partnership with Dale is long gone. Vernon and Dale are the new guys and I’ve made peace with that. I am not going to wear the yellow jersey anymore,” Morkel said, referring to what a cyclist dons when he is the stage leader in a race. “Those guys have been unbelievable for the team.”Between them, Steyn and Philander have taken 69 wickets in Tests this year. Steyn’s 41 have come at an average of 14.36 while Philander’s 28 average 16.35. Contrastingly, Morkel has managed only 13 wickets at 30.69, but he has played as important a role as the other two.Morkel’s job is a balance between pressing home any advantage Steyn and Philander give South Africa, while buttering batsmen up for a fresh assault from the opening pair. With the bounce he generates, he has to ensure the batsmen can never settle and has also been tasked with keeping run-scoring to a minimum, as he did in the Abu Dhabi Test against Pakistan.When neither Steyn nor Philander could break through, Morkel simply held his end. He was South Africa’s most economical bowler, costing them only 1.52 runs an over, and even though they lost that match, Morkel’s ability to contain was a positive.Traditionally, Morkel does not so much frustrate as cause fear. He applies the basting – short of length balls which keep batsmen on the back foot and bouncers directed at the body – so someone else can do the roasting. Despite the Wanderers surface likely to offer more for Morkel than some of the other bowlers, he sees himself playing a similar role.”When I come to the Wanderers, I bowl for one dismissal – for the caught behind because I get so much bounce,” he said. Morkel has taken 15 of his 177 wickets at the ground, with a best of 4 for 59 against England three years ago, which may be why he doesn’t see it as his favourite hunting ground. “The most important thing for me is to stick to my strengths. It’s always been bouncy and quick here and the margins are a little bit smaller. It will be crucial that we do not get carried away.”0:00

Have game plans for each batsman – Morkel

While conditions will suit the seamers more than in other places, Morkel is still well aware that batsmen have also enjoyed playing at the Wanderers. The ball comes onto the bat quicker, aiding stroke-making, while altitude and a fast outfield allow the ball to travel faster once hit.For Morkel, that means there’s a distinct possibility of a high-scoring game, especially because of the mindset of the Indian players, which he described as “very attacking.” He identified the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and R Ashwin as batsmen who would take the fight to South Africa and wants his team-mates to start well to blunt the Indian line-up’s intent.”Where we have been guilty of late is that we start a little bit slowly, like in Abu Dhabi,” he said. South Africa went 1-0 down in the series before surging back to square it in Dubai. Morkel does not want to see a lapse like that ahead of a home summer that culminates with three Tests against a much-improved Australia. “For us it’s key to take momentum and get overs in our feet. It’s going to be important to get used to bowling long spells again and playing competitive cricket.”Despite India’s build-up – a 2-0 thrashing in the ODI series and a washed-out tour game to deprive them of any red-ball match practice – this series still pits the top-ranked Test team against the second-placed one and they are expected to be well matched. The central battle lines have been drawn between South Africa’s bowlers and India’s batsmen with conditions expected to favour the former and challenge the latter.Morkel doesn’t think it’s that simple, which is why he wants to slip back to basics and his supporting actor role to play his part in the contest. “It doesnt matter who you play against or where, the top of off stump and the odd bouncer is a winning combination,” he said. And that’s what he will be doing.*December 16 4:30 pm GMT This article had incorrectly stated that Pujara faced Mitchell Johnson in the recent ODI series between Australia and India

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A estreia do Brasileiro sub-17 foi marcante para o Botafogo. Na tarde desta quinta-feira, no CEFAT, em Niterói, o Alvinegro recebeu o América-MG pelo Grupo B e, com gols de André Loiola e Matheus Nascimento, venceu por 2 a 0.

O gol marcado por Matheus aumenta ainda mais o eco em cima do jovem atacante de apenas 15 anos, que é da Seleção Brasileira da categoria e estava estreando pela categoria de cima. Ele entrou aos 15 minutos do segundo tempo e, após belo passe do meio-campista Padela, marcou no final do duelo.

– É uma vitória de grande importância, começar vencendo um campeonato que será muito acirrado, até pelo nível das equipes no país. Esse primeiro passo, diante do líder do Mineiro, num espírito de luta como foi, eleva a nossa motivação para poder enfrentar o Flamengo. Antes, teremos que focar no jogo contra o América-RJ (sábado) pelo Estadual – disse o técnicoThiago Aprigio.

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Agora, o time comandado por Aprigio volta ao Brasileiro para enfrentar o arquirrival Flamengo, no dia 24 deste mês, pela segunda rodada do Grupo B, em local a definir.

MAIS DO BRASILEIRÃO SUB-17

O Brasileirão Sub-17 é uma nova competição realizada pela Confederação Brasileira de Futebol, que promove o nacional da categoria pela primeira vez. O campeonato conta com 20 clubes, divididos em dois grupos de dez na primeira fase, onde os times se enfrentam em turno único. Os quatro primeiros colocados avançam às quartas. A partir daí, os duelos passam a ser mata-matas, em jogos de ida e volta até a final.

James Hildreth batted beautifully, scoring at roughly a run a ball for his entire innings, and soothed talk of a possible Somerset relegation

David Hopps at Trent Bridge25-Sep-2013
ScorecardJames Hildreth made a timely hundred to ease Somerset’s relegation fears•Getty Images

Sometimes in late season you can become so obsessed with the intricacies of promotion and relegation – how this bonus point lost will affect this bonus point gained – that something dreamily proficient can almost pass you by. James Hildreth’s unbeaten hundred at Trent Bridge felt like that.Hildreth batted beautifully, scoring at roughly a run a ball for his entire innings, and soothed talk of a possible Somerset relegation, yet did it in a manner which made no grand statement, a west country lad protecting their Division One status in understated fashion. Like many Somerset batsmen this season, he has been short of his best, but here was a reminder of his mellifluous talent.Given a Derbyshire win 20 miles or so down the A52, the side that loses at Trent Bridge could be relegated. If that sounds unlikely now thanks to Derbyshire’s struggles, it was not the case in early afternoon. Nottinghamshire’s total of more than 400 had left them feeling comfortable. Attention was very much on Somerset.Notepads were grabbed, calculations hastily scribbled. Finally, after many crossings out, everybody concurred: Derbyshire would have to manage one more batting point than Somerset as well as beating Warwickshire. Somerset would have to lose. Given that scenario, Somerset would be relegated.Somerset were 11 for 2 in as many overs when Hildreth came to the crease – Marcus Trescothick lbw to a decent delivery from Harry Gurney, Chris Jones caught at the wicket off Luke Fletcher. They seemed destined for an afternoon of pain. Pessimistic talk abounded about how they would be relieved just to avoid the follow-on and collect a couple of batting bonus points to put Derbyshire under pressure.It is doubtful that Hildreth busied himself with working out the Division One table. He has had a largely unproductive season and, even though he has nearly 11,000 Somerset runs to his name, England have stopped looking. But in most situations he bats agreeably and then when the day is done he often slopes modestly away.Hildreth dealt with Notts’ attack in wristy fashion from the outset, reminding onlookers that his talents deserve this stage. He made his move just before tea: three boundaries in an over by Paul Franks, repeated by Nick Compton off Brett Hutton in the next over.Compton also played with certainty in a third-wicket stand that had swollen to 172 in 33 overs when bad light brought a premature end to a day restricted to 51.5 overs. Considering the unsettled weather, the odds on a draw that would automatically spare both sides from the drop are shortening – with Tony Pigott, the ECB pitch inspector, on hand to ensure there is no hint of collusion.Nobody much believes the national selector, Geoff Miller, when he says the door is not closed on Compton – it feels made of foot-thick English oak, with sentries stood above it with vats of boiling oil – but Compton is within range of 1000 Championship runs for the season nonetheless. He reached his 50 with an emphatic straight six off the left-arm spin of Samit Patel.Such meagre rewards were less than Notts must have expected after vigorous new-ball spells from Gurney and Fletcher. Charles Dickens, who liked names to give a clue to his characters would have named the Notts pace attack the other way round. Harry Gurney would have been the big, broad-beamed fast bowler, whilst Luke Fletcher would have been the slim whip of a lad. But we’re not in Dickens country – more DH Lawrence around here.As for Hildreth, in a Dickens novel, he would have been a bank clerk, unassuming , perhaps ill-treated at times, never entirely achieving the fortune he deserved, but with enough talent to ensure that his end was a happy one.

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O domínio foi grande, mas não há como dizer que o Santos teve vida totalmente fácil no Pacaembu diante do América-RN, principalmente na primeira etapa, quando o América-RN chegou a se aproveitar dos espaços defensivos fornecidos pelos donos da casa. No entanto, mais uma vez o volume de jogo no ataque e a mentalidade ofensiva do time de Jorge Sampaoli falaram mais alto, mesmo com novidades na escalação.

A vitória por 4 a 0 sobre a equipe potiguar garantiu vaga na terceira fase da Copa do Brasil, mas serviu também para reforçar características santistas (boas e ruins) nesta temporada. Ainda que o resultado tenha sido positivo, algumas deficiências puderam ser vistas desde a escolha dos 11 titulares.

Sem Felipe Jonatan, que já havia atuado pelo Ceará na competição e não pôde ser inscrito, Sampaoli tinha a opção de escalar Orinho ou Copete, mas preferiu seguir uma terceira via e colocou Diego Pituca para a função. Jean Mota, porém, foi quem começou na lateral esquerda. Os setores de meio-campo e ataque, por sua vez, sentiram falta da movimentação de Mota e, por isso, a inversão com Pituca foi feita pelo técnico argentino.

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A partir daí, o time começou a jogar mais, criar mais chances, inclusive a que originou o primeiro gol, anotado por Derlis González. A insistência em querer a bola e a quantidade de jogadores dentro da área foram fatores decisivos na abertura do placar. Isso, porém, não exclui os espaços dados nos contra-ataques do América-RN, problema que tende a piorar contra times mais qualificados.

O volume de jogadas de ataque é impressionante, especialmente com a velocidade de atletas como González, Soteldo e Rodrygo, que no segundo tempo fizeram muita diferença. Quem viu o jogo, tinha a certeza de que os gols sairiam a qualquer momento, mas fica evidente também a necessidade de, por vezes, ter um atacante finalizador na área. Com a quantidade de lances pelas pontas, a impressão é de que muitos mais tentos sairiam, algo que ajudaria em duelos mais duros.

Mesmo com carências sabidas desde o início da temporada, o que traz uma ideia de planejamento deficiente, o repertório e o pensamento ofensivo trazidos por Sampaoli e seus comandados acabam resolvendo os jogos. Contra o América-RN não foi diferente, classificação conquistada com o DNA de uma equipe que não gosta de sair de campo sem vitória e com poucos gols.

عبر محمد الشناوي قائد فريق كرة القدم الأول بالنادي الأهلي، عن فخره بقيادة الأحمر لتحقيق بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا للمرة الثالثة.

ونجح الشناوي في قيادة الأهلي للفوز بلقب بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا أعوام 2020 و2021 و2023.

طالع أيضًا | ديفيد سيزا لـ”بطولات”: إنجازات كولر لم تفاجئني.. ويمتلك ميزتين وراء تفوقه مع الأهلي

وقال الشناوي عبر حسابه على موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “تويتر”: “بفضل الله وتوفيقه، شرف كبير قيادة فريق الأهلي للفوز بلقب دوري أبطال إفريقيا للمرة الثالثة”.

واختتم: “فخور كوني ضمن جيل رجال ولاعبين استطاعوا أن يحققوا تاريخًا كبيرًا لكيان الأهلي”.

الأهلي توج بلقب بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا للمرة الحادية عشر في تاريخه، أول أمس الأحد، بعد الفوز على الوداد المغربي 3-2 بمجموع نتيجة مباراتي الذهاب والإياب.

بفضل الله وتوفيقه، شرف كبير قيادةٌ فريق الأهلي للفوز بلقب دوري أبطال إفريقيا للمرة الثالثة! فخورٌ كوني ضمن جيل رجالة و لاعيبه قدرت تحقق تاريخ كبير للكيان 🦅🏆 pic.twitter.com/vDAr5NDcGb

— Mohamed El Shenawy (@Melshenawy) June 13, 2023

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“Vai, Corinthians!”.

Essas foram as primeiras palavras de Júnior Urso assim que sentou na sala de imprensa do Corinthians para ser apresentado como reforço do clube. Foi um pedido para testar o som do microfone e o jogador não hesitou em dar mais uma demonstração de sua paixão pelo time de infância. Urso está empolgado com a chance de defender o Timão e já projeta onde vai se encaixar na equipe de Fábio Carille, na qual ele enxerga uma lacuna: um volante rompedor de linhas, como se define.

-Eu estou bem, ainda não o ideal, preciso melhorar ainda. Penso que vai funcionar bem, sou o tipo de volante que rompe essas linhas, acho que todo clube precisa de um jogador assim. Então acho que vai cair bem no clube. Assisti aos jogos, vi que de repente falta algo assim, alguém chegando de surpresa ali – afirmou Urso.

-Vejo como uma disputa interessante (por posição), até porque todo mundo tem uma característica diferente. Eu venho para agregar nessa situação, que de repente não sei se falta ou se não estão fazendo, que é esse rompimento das linhas, de chegar ao ataque, com força. Assisti contra o Palmeiras, e achei que várias vezes eles deram essa oportunidade, de chegar ali. Consegui me enxergar ali, claro que de fora, mas de dentro também tenho essa leitura, acho que está faltando um pouco – completou o jogador de 29 anos, que assinou contrato válido por três temporadas.

Júnior Urso mostrou muita personalidade na entrevista. Tocou no ponto de ter revelado que é torcedor do Corinthians quando foi contratado e disse que não se importa caso isso venha a fechar portas no futuro, em outros clubes, mas admite que o peso será maior.

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-O que pressiona é o fato de eu ter exposto para todos, minha vida. Eu tenho de ir bem para a oportunidade que eu tenho, porque de repente se eu não for bem, pode fechar portas em outros clubes. Mas nem penso em outros lugares, minha ideia é permanecer aqui o máximo possível. Espero que Corinthians e Urso caminhem bem para títulos que a torcida vai apoiar – declarou o jogador.

Confira outros trechos da entrevista do décimo reforço corintiano para a temporada 2019:

Sensação de reforçar o Corinthians
Estou muito feliz, difícil explicar o que estou sentindo. Inexplicável vestir essa camisa, para mim e minha família, que sempre sonhou com esse momento. Feliz por representar a essa torcida, muito grato também a quem se esforçou para eu vir. Não precisou muito, porque a partir do momento que eles me contactaram já foi suficiente para eu estar aqui.

Como a família recebeu a notícia?
Foi um choque positivo. Algumas pessoas falaram para eu esconder isso, ser o profissional, mas para mim é impossível. Toda minha família é corintiana. Sempre sonhei com esse momento. Minha família toda é fanática. Meu irmão tem uma tatuagem do Corinthians. Sempre acompanhei pela televisão, porque jogando era difícil ver. Nunca deixei de acompanhar

Abriu mão de dinheiro para fechar?
Digamos que sim. Saí da China com situação bem encaminhada para voltar ao Brasil. Aí surgiram algumas coisas, eu não sabia de nada, assimilando o que fazer, aí a partir do momento que recebi a ligação, contato direto do clube, mudou meu pensamento, independente de valores. É aqui que eu queria estar, estou muito feliz, isso superou qualquer valor.

Qual a origem do apelido Urso?
Na base, eu sempre tinha esse cabelo, trançado. Mas um empresário meu disse que eu não podia chegar nos times assim. Aí tirei, o cabelo grande, e quando comecei a pegar na bola, já começaram a chamar de urso. E também descobriram que eu durmo muito, aí pegou. Eu gosto, tinha muito Júnior, diferencia. Quando colocar no Google, virá meu nome (risos).

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Corinthians

Junaid Khan is a major doubt for Pakistan ahead of the second Test against South Africa

Firdose Moonda at Newlands13-Feb-2013Junaid Khan, the left-arm quick, is a major doubt for Pakistan ahead of the second Test against South Africa. He took a tumble a few days ago and the wounds on his thigh are still healing so he may not be considered for selection.At the pre-match press conference, Pakistan’s coach Dav Whatmore initially said Junaid was unavailable for the Cape Town Test. When pushed for confirmation he then revealed that Junaid will be fit for the third Test in Centurion. However, team manager Naved Cheema added to the confusion by saying Junaid has made progress and could be picked for the Newlands match.If Junaid is ruled out, a second spinner, the left-armer Abdur Rehman could make an appearance on what is expected to be a dry surface. What seems unlikely to depend on Junaid’s fitness is the fate of 7ft quick Mohammed Irfan, who is in line for a Test debut at Newlands after his seven wickets in the tour match against the Emerging Cape Cobras.South Africa have been preparing for the Irfan who Graeme Smith said will present them with a “unique challenge.” Jokes about Allan Donald standing on a cooler box to give the batsmen throw-downs are just wisecracks but Alviro Petersen confirmed that the team has done extensive technical analysis on Irfran.What they have also been studying is Pakistan’s batting technique. Sixteen of the 20 wickets in the first Test fell to catches behind the stumps, suggesting that Pakistan did not leave as well as they could have. Whatmore attributed that to insufficient time spent getting used to conditions, a common problem with modern fixture lists.”The longer you play here, the better you will get. The same applies when teams from here tour the sub-continent. They have got better because they tour there so often,” he said. Pakistan played one four-day match ahead of the first Test on an East London pitch that was completely dissimilar to the one they put on at the Wanderers.They have since had another game, of only two days despite the break between matches extending to 10, against the Emerging Cape Cobras. “We could have had more practice matches beforehand maybe but the schedule did not allow for it,” Whatmore said.While Pakistan attribute their first innings performance in Johannesburg on adjustment, Smith chose to credit the South African attack for who testing the opposition technique and showing it up. “I’d like to put it down to our guys getting good swing. They also allowed us to bowl at them and we managed to control the run rate,” he said.Conditions at Newlands may not allow for the same approach. On a surface that will offer less the quicks than the Wanderers, Pakistan may find it a little easier to judge their off stump. But Smith hopes that will work in South Africa’s favour too. “If you come into the game with the mindset to leave, you are going to be tentative,” he said.For that reason, Whamore has spent the last ten days concentrating on helping the batsmen understand the choices they will have to make in this match. “Shot selection is the main thing with any batsman,” he said. “If you make 90 or 100 correct decisions in an innings, you are going to score a lot of runs.”Nasir Jamshed was the player Whatmore was most disappointed in after the Wanderers. After playing himself into a position to get his maiden Test half-century, Jamshed pulled a short ball straight at mid-on when he could so easily have played a different shot.Whatmore singled out the young opener because he showed he had the potential to get the better of the opposition bowlers for a period of time and then caused his own downfall. Jamshed did not get the opportunity to practice rectifying that in a match situation because he turned his ankle before game against the Emerging Cape Cobras but it has healed in the lead up to his Test.That will come as some good news for Pakistan, who have been hit by a spate of injuries and illnesses on this tour. Taufeeq Umar and Haris Sohail were sent home before the first and second Tests respectively, Asad Shafiq almost missed the first Test with a hand injury, wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed was hit on the nose and Mohammed Hafeez had a viral infection.Sarfraz and Hafeez have both been cleared to play in the second Test which means Pakistan avoid the need for wholesale changes. It will be down to the same top order to make amends.