Alex Eala to face Janice Tjen in PH Arena homecoming

FUNCHAL: Hundreds of Cristiano Ronaldo fans reportedly gathered outside a historic cathedral in Portugal over the weekend, hoping to catch a glimpse of the football superstar on his wedding day — only to discover that they had arrived for someone else’s ceremony. Rumors circulating on social media and in media reports claimed that Ronaldo was set to marry his longtime partner, Georgina Rodriguez, on Saturday in Funchal, the capital of Portugal’s Madeira island. Although Ronaldo’s family reportedly denied the claims, the speculation was enough to send scores of excited fans and journalists to the city’s historic Sé Cathedral. Many waited outside for hours, holding mobile phones and cameras in anticipation of the arrival of the Al Nassr star and Rodriguez. But the expected celebrity wedding never happened. Instead, the cathedral was preparing to host the wedding of a local couple, Nicole and Fabio. Fabio had already arrived at the church, while Nicole faced an unexpected challenge: getting through the crowd that had gathered outside believing Ronaldo would soon appear. The unusual situation created confusion around the cathedral, with tourists, fans and members of the media filling the surrounding streets. The Sé Cathedral administration later addressed the incident on its official Facebook page, congratulating the newly married couple while explaining that the large number of journalists and tourists had caused considerable confusion. The church eventually had to be closed while the wedding ceremony took place. In another post, the cathedral described the scene outside as something it had never experienced before, noting that the bride had difficulty entering the church because of the crowd. The guests also appeared to find the situation amusing. One guest joked to local media that they suddenly felt like celebrities themselves. Another questioned how anyone could have believed Ronaldo would arrive for a wedding without significant security arrangements. Ronaldo himself appeared to see the funny side of the episode. The footballer reportedly reacted to an Instagram post about the confusion with laughing-with-tears emojis, giving fans a glimpse of his reaction without directly confirming or denying any future wedding plans. Ronaldo and Rodriguez have been together for years and became engaged last year. Reports have previously claimed that Ronaldo presented Rodriguez with an expensive engagement ring featuring a large diamond. Despite the latest frenzy in Madeira, the couple has not announced a wedding date. For now, fans hoping to witness Ronaldo walk down the aisle will have to wait — and perhaps check the guest list before heading to the church.

MONACO: Paul Pogba’s much-anticipated return to regular football has suffered another setback after the former France international picked up a new thigh injury during Monaco’s training camp in England. The 33-year-old midfielder sustained an injury to his left thigh on Tuesday, just days after Monaco defeated Liverpool in a pre-season friendly. The setback came at England’s national football centre at St George’s Park, where Monaco were continuing preparations for the new campaign. Pogba had only recently returned to group training following a lengthy absence caused by problems with his right knee. His latest injury has now raised fresh questions about whether he will be fit enough to make a meaningful contribution when the Ligue 1 season begins. The 2018 World Cup winner has endured a difficult period since leaving the spotlight of top-level football. After serving an 18-month suspension from football following a doping case, Pogba returned to competitive action with Monaco last season. However, his comeback was limited. He appeared in only six Ligue 1 matches and managed just 115 minutes of football, underlining the physical challenges he has faced since his suspension. Pogba has also featured sparingly during Monaco’s current pre-season campaign, playing only one half of football so far. Sources close to the situation reportedly believe the latest injury means he remains some distance from the fitness level needed to start the Ligue 1 campaign. The Frenchman’s future at Monaco could therefore become a major talking point in the coming weeks. While his experience and quality remain valuable, his ability to stay fit will be crucial if he is to rebuild his career. For Pogba, the latest setback is particularly frustrating as he had been working toward a sustained return. The midfielder will now face another period of recovery and rehabilitation as Monaco assess the seriousness of the injury. With the new Ligue 1 season approaching, Pogba’s immediate priority will be getting back to full fitness. Whether he can overcome another injury setback and finally enjoy a consistent run of football remains one of the intriguing questions surrounding his career.