Gokulam start webinar training
Kozhikode: Gokulam Kerala FC have started online webinar football training for kids during lockdown. This is the first time, an I-League club is giving online coaching sessions to kids during lockdown. The programme that started on April 15 in association with Impulse, a sports start-up from Thiruvananthapuram, has already received good response from football-loving children across the state. Other than GKFC coaches, Gokulam have roped in the services of Michael Matricciani (Head coach of Adelaide City FC), James Mcaloon (AFC A-License Coach, England), George Lopez (Trainer, Real Madrid Foundations, Spain), Simone Quinteri (UEFA B License, Italy) for the course. “Usually this is vacation time for children. But they have minimal sports related activities due to the lockdown. So we thought about giving online training classes for children,” said Bino George, the technical director of GKFC. GKFC and foreign coaches take one hour class for the kids for six days a week. There is special stress for nutrition and fitness in the course. (IANS)
Star NFL player tests positive
Los Angeles: Denver Broncos star linebacker Von Miller has tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the second NFL player to be hit with the disease which has caused a pandemic. Miller’s agent Joby Branion told the NFL Network television network Miller was resting at home and is “in good spirits.” He added that Miller plans to speak publicly on Friday. Miller is the second active NFL player known to have tested positive for the coronavirus. On Wednesday, Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen revealed that he is recovering from COVID-19 after also testing positive. Allen said he has since gotten over his virus symptoms, one of which included losing his sense of taste. (AFP)
Laver Cup postponed to 2021
Washington DC: The fourth edition of the Laver Cup that was to be held from September 25 to 27 this year has been postponed to 2021. The tournament, which was founded and is organised by Swiss great Roger Federer’s management company, will now be held at TD Garden in Boston from September 24-26, 2021. “It’s unfortunate that the Laver Cup has to be pushed back a year, but at this stage it’s the right thing to do for everyone concerned,” 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer said in the tournament’s release. “Although disappointing, the good news is that TD Garden will still be able to host the event next year and I really look forward to finally playing in Boston for the first time at Laver Cup 2021.” (IANS)
Austrian football could make return
Vienna: The Austrian Bundesliga could make its return to action from its coronavirus-forced suspension as early as mid-May, the league’s president has revealed. Teams from the top division will be able to restart training next week, albeit in a scaled back format of just six players at a time, and Christian Ebenbauer is refusing to rule out matches being played behind closed doors and finishing the season by the end of June. “Personally I think that it’s absolutely possible that we could restart playing matches in mid-May,” Ebenbauer told reporters. This week Austria was one of the first European countries to relax some restrictions put in place to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, as the disease is in sharp decline in the country. There are 10 rounds of matches remaining in the Austrian Bundesliga season, with LASK Linz three points ahead of RB Salzburg, who have won the last six league titles. (AFP)
Berlin Formula E GP deferred
Berlin: The Berlin Formula E Grand Prix, originally planned to be held on June 21, has been postponed due to coronavirus outbreak. “With strict containment measures continuing to be put in place globally by governments to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Formula E together with the FIA have jointly decided to extend the season suspension until at least the end of June,” the organisers said in a statement. “We aim to return to racing as soon as possible, but our priority in all decision-making must be the health and safety of our staff and the entire Formula E community of teams, manufacturers, partners, drivers and fans, as well as the citizens and residents of the cities in which we race. “We are assessing all available options in order to finish the season with the highest number of races possible. This contingency planning continues to explore staging races behind closed doors, using permanent track facilities, introducing new double headers and extending the season beyond its original end date,” it added. Ticket holders for the Berlin E-Prix will be contacted with further information in due course. The entire sporting calendar across the world has come to a grinding halt due to COVID-19 pandemic which has claimed more than 1.4 lakh lives thus far. (IANS)