Jamshedpur FC rope in ISL Golden Boot winner Valskis for two seasons
Kolkata: Indian Super League side Jamshedpur FC on Friday announced the signing of last edition’s Golden Boot winner Nerijus Valskis for two seasons. The Lithuanian forward had led his former club Chennaiyin FC to the ISL league final last season, scoring 15 goals and six assists. “I am thrilled to be playing for a football-crazy city like Jamshedpur. The city has a huge legacy in football, and I want to help add silverware by winning the coveted ISL trophy for the fans,” Valskis said in a statement. “It is unfinished business for me, and I hope to work hard towards contributing and making Jamshedpur FC Champion of India! This club has huge ambition, and I can’t wait to kick-start an exciting future,” he added. The 33-year-old has plied his trade at clubs in Lithuania, Israel, Belarus, Latvia, Romania, and Poland. He enjoyed his best season at FK Suduva in the 2013 A Lyga campaign in the Lithuanian top-flight. Last season’s heroics by the striker was not the first time that Valskis has taken a league by storm. He topped the scoring charts with 27 goals in 30 league appearances in the 2013 season with FK Suduva and was crowned ‘A Lyga Player of the Year’ for his exploits. (PTI)
David Silva lauds Sociedad’s style
Madrid: David Silva returns to Spain next season after making over 300 appearances for Manchester City in England with Basque side Real Sociedad. Silva has said that the club’s location in San Sebastian was as important as their playing style.”The truth is that I had several offers to play for different teams, but I decided to come to Real Sociedad because it is a club that is doing great things. They have a style that I think is really good for me, for the way I play. I know the city, San Sebastian, it’s really beautiful and calm and my family decided as well,” Silva told Times of India. “Last season I watched a lot of games of LaLiga. I think they played really well, and the people I talked to gave me good references about the team and also about the coach (Imanol Alguacil). I think we can do important things and we can play great football. There’s an amazing locker room and the way they play it’s perfect for me,” Silva added. (IANS)
Indian challenge over at Prague Open
Prague: The Indian challenge came to an end at the ATP Challenger Prague Open with the defeat of all three players competing in the doubles event. Top seeded Divij Sharan and Robin Haase lost their quarterfinal 3-6 6-7(8) to Jiri Lehecka and Tomas MacHac on Thursday. N Sriram Balaji and his partner Kimmer Coppejans were also defeated in straight sets, going down 4-6 3-6 to Steven Diez and Blaz Rola. Sumit Nagal, who lost to world number 17 and three-time Grand Slam winner Stanislas Wawrinka in the singles, also lost his doubles match to bow out of the tournament. Nagal and Ilya Ivashka lost 2-6 4-6 to Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Arthur Rinderknech. It was the first competitive tournament for these three Indian players since the game was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic in March this year. (PTI)