The 39-year-old governor of Nagasaki prefecture, Kengo Oishi, is facing potential calls for resignation after he skipped a crucial conference to watch a football match featuring Cristiano Ronaldo.
Oishi traveled from Nagasaki to Nagai Stadium in Osaka to witness a friendly match between Al-Nassr and PSG on July 25, a decision that has sparked controversy.
Oishi defended his actions, stating that he paid for the match ticket while the travel and accommodation expenses were covered by the prefecture.
Despite his absence at the governors’ conference in Yamanashi prefecture, Oishi claims official duties tied to a June trip with Nagasaki assembly speaker Tatsuya Tokunaga necessitated his attention.
The conference focused on addressing Japan’s declining birth rate, rural population shrinkage, and the impacts of global warming. Oishi’s decision to prioritize the football match over the conference has raised concerns about his commitment to official responsibilities.
After the match, a private meeting between Oishi and Cristiano Ronaldo was arranged by a company, where the governor reportedly sought Ronaldo’s assistance in promoting Nagasaki Prefecture. The response from the Portuguese football star has not been disclosed.
Oishi, elected as the youngest governor in Japan in February the previous year, now faces scrutiny over conflicting priorities and potential consequences for his political career.
Shan Masood Takes The Helm As Captain For Karachi Kings In PSL 9
In another development, the Karachi Kings, a team in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), announced that Shan Masood, Pakistan’s Test team captain, would be leading the team in the upcoming ninth edition of the tournament. The Kings made this announcement on their official Twitter account, welcoming Shan Masood as the new captain.
In addition to the captaincy announcement, the Karachi Kings also revealed that they selected New Zealand batter Tim Seifert in the Diamond category for the upcoming PSL season. In the previous edition, the team was led by Imad Wasim, who has since joined Islamabad United.
Meanwhile, the Quetta Gladiators retained Sarfaraz Ahmed as their team captain for the ninth edition. The Gladiators also made significant picks in the draft, selecting Sherfane Rutherford in the Platinum category and acquiring pace bowler Mohammad Amir and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz.
