KARACHI: Brazilian football star Ronaldinho is set to visit Pakistan as part of a goodwill mission to promote the game in the cricket-mad country.
The recently retired 36-year-old, who won the World Player of the Year twice and was part of the 2002 World Cup winning team, issued a short video message on Twitter saying simply “Pakistan, I am coming” as he unfurled a Pakistani flag.
News of Ronaldinho’s visit has generated excitement among fans, and comes as the South Asian nation seeks to revive international sports fixtures that were disrupted by a militant attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team in 2009.
Those efforts were given a boost when the country successfully staged the final of its Pakistan Super League (PSL) cricket tournament in Lahore earlier this month, a rare match featuring prominent international sports stars.
Ronaldinho is being brought to the country by UK-based Leisure Leagues — organizers of 5, 6 and 7-a-side tournaments which recently announced plans to expand to Pakistan.
Shahrukh Sohail, a Pakistan representative for the company confirmed the visit Tuesday, adding the company would be launching tournaments next month in Pakistan’s major cities Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore.
He declined to say whether the Brazilian would arrive in time to make an appearance.
Cricket-obsessed Pakistan has a strong base of football fans and players, particularly in southwestern Balochistan and the southern city of Karachi.
But its national team has struggled in recent decades and has fallen to a lowly 198th place in the FIFA rankings.
Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) officials were involved in court wranglings against each other for the last two years, forcing the men’s and women’s teams out of international competitions.
The Lahore High Court last month decided in favor of recognizing Faisal Saleh Hayat as the federation’s chief, a post he has held on-and-off since 2003 without being able to turn around the team’s fortunes.
Earlier this month, Spanish giants Barcelona announced their former star would return to act as an ambassador for the club.
Brazil’s Ronaldinho to visit Pakistan
Brazil’s Ronaldinho to visit Pakistan
Chelsea deny 10-man Wrexham Hollywood finish in FA Cup thriller
- The game changed complexion when George Dobson was sent off in stoppage time
- Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior made nine changes to his starting team against the Championship club
WREXHAM, UK: Chelsea twice came from behind to deny Hollywood-owned Wrexham a fairytale FA Cup triumph on Saturday, edging past the second-tier side 4-2 in a captivating contest to reach the quarter-finals.
Wrexham, watched at the Racecourse Ground by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, took the lead through Sam Smith but the visitors were level courtesy of an own goal shortly before half-time.
In a breathless second period, Callum Doyle put the Welsh team back ahead again in the 78th minute only for Josh Acheampong to equalize four minutes later.
The game changed complexion when George Dobson was sent off in stoppage time and Alejandro Garnacho volleyed home in the first period of extra time before Joao Pedro’s late strike added gloss to the scoreline.
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior, juggling Premier League and Champions League commitments, made nine changes to his starting team against the Championship club.
In-form Wrexham, who put out Premier League club Nottingham Forest earlier in the competition, went ahead in the 18th minute when Doyle found Smith with a raking long pass.
Smith’s first touch was superb and he raced away from Tosin Adarabioyo before finishing coolly past Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea enjoyed the bulk of possession but created little against Phil Parkinson’s organized side, who are targeting a fourth-consecutive promotion — this time to the Premier League.
But Wrexham suffered heartbreak five minutes before half-time when the ball squirmed into the net off the back of goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo for an own goal.
Wrexham started the second half on the front foot again, putting Chelsea’s defense under huge pressure, roared on by a passionate home crowd.
Rosenior brought on forward Marc Guiu for defender Mamadou Sarr just before the hour mark, throwing on Marc Cucurella and Dario Essugo a few minutes later.
Wrexham continued to make life uncomfortable for the Club World Cup champions and re-took the lead with a brilliant, instinctive flick from Doyle, who turned home Josh Windass’s shot in the 78th minute.
But just minutes later Chelsea were all-square again, with Acheampong firing into the roof of the net.
Windass had a glorious chance to put Wrexham in front for a third time but headed wide with Sanchez stranded and Pedro Neto rattled the bar at the other end.
- Red card -
The dynamic of the match shifted when Dobson was sent off in stoppage time by referee Peter Bankes following a VAR review.
That gave Wrexham a mountain to climb and their task was even harder when Essugo’s cross was finished crisply by Garnacho in the sixth minute of extra time.
Astonishingly, Wrexham had the ball in the net again after Kieffer Moore’s header was turned home by Lewis Brunt but the goal was ruled out for offside by VAR.
Lewis O’Brien flashed just wide as Parkinson’s side finally ran out of chances with substitute Pedro grabbing a fourth for Chelsea.
Chelsea now turn their attentions to a Champions League last-16 date with Paris Saint-Germain in midweek while Wrexham will continue their push to reach the Premier League.
