hacklink hack forum hacklink film izle hacklink marsbahis izmir escort sahabet porn Jojobet

Tag: Sport

New cricket boss Todd Greenberg makes a STUNNING call on Australia Day after sport vowed to cancel the national holiday
- Sporting body said Australia Day would not be commemorated in 2025
- Cricket Australia did not mention Australia Day at Gabba Test
- January 26 has become a very divisive day for Aussies
By JAMES COONEY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 18:37 EST, 8 December 2024 | Updated: 19:10 EST, 8 December 2024

The incoming CEO of Cricket Australia says that Australia Day will be commemorated from now on after the sporting organisation decided to not make reference to the national public holiday earlier this year.

Cricket fans across the nation won’t see any team in green and gold playing on Australia Day this summer because of a clash with the Australian Open.

But recently appointed cricket CEO Todd Greenberg says that going forward Australia Day will be celebrated and cricket will be played.

‘The cricket Australia board has spoken about it and they will playing matches in the future on Australia Day – but they do understand that we will need to do that respectfully and consult the right people and the right groups,’ Greenberg told 2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham.

‘My personal view on this is that I’ve loved Australia Day since i was a kid, but when you reflect on history and listen to other people’s views you can appreciate it is a difficult day for some people.

‘So, we have to respect that, but ultimately I think what you’ll see going forward is that if there’s opportunities to play cricket on Australia Day we will be – we will just do it respectfully.

Australian cricket CEO Todd Greenberg (pictured) says that going forward Australia Day will be celebrated by the sporting body

Cricket Australia refused to mention the national public holiday during the second Test at the Gabba in Brisbane earlier this year

Fordham quizzed Greenberg on what he meant by ‘respectfully’, explaining that many Australians feel like they aren’t allowed to celebrate the day.

‘Oh, no, we will be celebrating it – absolutely!’ Greenberg replied.

‘For those who who want to celebrate it, they are more than welcome to – and a day at the cricket is probably the best way to do it.

‘When I say ‘respectfully’, it’s just making sure that we understand that the day means different things to different people. And making sure we find a balance there.’

The decision to schedule the Test over the Australia Day weekend in 2024 was itself controversial, with women’s all-rounder Ash Gardner previously describing it as a day of ‘hurt and mourning’.

Gardner found support from men’s Test captain Pat Cummins and star batter Steve Smith.

Both claimed January 26 is not an appropriate time to celebrate the national holiday, with the date a highly controversial issue due to the landing of the First Fleet from Britain in Australia.

Smith formed his view after chatting with teammate Scott Boland, who has Indigenous heritage.

Indigenous cricketers Scott Boland and Ash Gardner have expressed their reservations about playing on Australia Day

Australia cricket captain Pat Cummins (pictured) has called for the the date of Australia Day to be changed

However Cricket Australia’s attempt to placate such opponents by shying away from acknowledging the national day also angered players who wanted the day celebrated.

Former test player Greg Ritchie was one of those.

‘I am quite disappointed to read the Cricket Australia has decided not to use the phrase ‘Australia Day’ for this Test match,’ Ritchie said.

‘It will be at the Gabba, which is my home ground, and to have an Australia Day Test there is special.’

Ben FordhamAustralia Cricket

Share or comment on this article:
New cricket boss Todd Greenberg makes a STUNNING call on Australia Day after sport vowed to cancel the national holiday
Source link
December 9, 2024
Your Favorite Athlete’s Favorite Sport

It’s hard to argue with how cool golf is these days. In fact, beyond perhaps peak – Tiger Woods in the early 2000s, the sport has likely not had as big a moment as what it’s going through right now.

That’s, in large part, due to the athletes of other sports who have picked up the game and unabashedly said that they like – love! – the game just as much as anyone else.

From accountants to zookeepers, golf is a game for everyone – including those at the top of their game.

Caitlin Clark is a perfect example.

The WNBA superstar and the league’s rookie of the year this past season said, after her team, the Indiana Fever, were eliminated from the playoffs, that she planned to play golf until it became too cold in Indiana and her off- season plans included, jokingly, to try to become a pro.

“Everybody thought I was serious. I was not serious. I love it. I love being outside and making it competitive with my friends,” Clark said in November.

“It’s challenging and getting to come here and be around the best and have a good time is what I’m looking forward to.”

Caitlin Clark and Nelly Korda

‘Here’ in this instance was teeing it up alongside world No. 1 Nelly Korda – and the icon herself, Annika Sorenstam – in an LPGA Tour pro-am a few weeks ago at Pelican Golf Club in Florida. She also pegged it with Zach Johnson at the pro-am for The RSM Classic the following week. That was her third time playing alongside the pros, as she played the pro-am at the John Deere Classic while she was attending Iowa in 2023.

“She gets it,” Johnson, a 2023 American Ryder Cup captain, said. “We’ve witnessed that time and time again, and still witnessing that … She’s in rare air; we talk about her talent on the court, and she’s raised the bar, she’s pushed the ceiling up in, frankly, women’s sports, but women’s basketball… but I say all that, she’s an even better person off the court. She’s quality all the way.

“She’s trying to play a lot … it’s hard; she’s got priorities, but she loves the game. It’s a good escape for her, as it should be.”

Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes

Professional athletes turning to golf is certainly not a new phenomenon.

They’ve teed it up at various PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour events and it’s often they’re inside the ropes at events around the world. Michael Jordan’s golf stories are legendary. Hockey players, baseball players, soccer stars, and NFL studs like the Kelce brothers (Travis and Jason) are all golfers.

Plenty are now involved with the game in a variety of ways including some like Derek Jeter and Eli Manning joining the investment group of the new New York Golf Club of the Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy – founded TGL.

Steph Curry

Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors NBA star, is, perhaps, involved in golf more than any other athlete these days. He teed it up on the Korn Ferry Tour a few. years ago, has a +1 handicap, was named the 2023 Ambassador of Golf Award winner by the PGA Tour. His impact in golf goes well beyond the course, as he, in 2019, partnered with Howard University to bring a DI golf team to the school for both men and women. He also, in 2021, founded UNDERRATED Golf, a purpose driven business endeavor with the overarching commitment to provide equity, access and opportunity to student-athletes from every community by balancing participation in the sport to truly reflect our society.

“It’s something about this game,” Curry told NBA.com recently. “I don’t know how to explain it, but it brings a lot out of you.”

But what is that something?

“It’s become a purpose for them, it’s something they can pour themselves into,” Charlene Bendt, the PGA Golf Professional at Gentle Creek Country Club in Texas, says about why retired athletes – or just athletes in general – find solace in the game.

Bendt, who has been a PGA pro for 10 years, worked under Jaime Mulligan – the 2021 Teacher of the Year – and played college golf at UCLA. She tells a fun story of how, at a clinic with players on the Dallas Wings of the WNBA, many were just getting started with the game. But once someone suggested a little competition, the women completely switched their approach to things.

Josh Allen

“All of a sudden, these girls – who are obviously super unbelievable athletes – looked completely different. They went from lighthearted to locked in. You could feel it and you could see it and they all performed better too,” says Bendt. “When there’s something on the line, the girls that even really struggled, they were doing it. It was really neat. And fun to see, too.”

There are obvious, well-documented physical benefits to golf – even for professional athletes – but the mental side of the sport has been the thing that Bendt has seen amongst athletes as a key prompt of joy.

“One of the surprising parts when you’re retiring – as an athlete – you’re losing a bit of certain identity and maybe there is a void there and golf can really fill that void,” she explains. “The comradarie is a big piece of it (and) what has amazed me over the years is how much people are getting out of the mental aspect of golf.

“You’re in the same place with your mind and your body and it’s source of why it’s healthy for people. It can be a moving version of a meditation where you have to get really narrow and specific for one thing at least for a few seconds. That’s a great skill for us to have and a very positive thing for mental health.”

So, whether you play backyard baseball or launch dingers at Dodger Stadium (or used to), golf continues to show it’s a game for all, and it’s never been cooler to play this game. “(Athletes) can challenge themselves in different ways, see personal growth, and celebrate all the little wins along the way,” Bendt says. “It’s such a cool part.”

Source link

December 4, 2024
Pure Sole: The sport of dance

The anniversary of one of the holiday’s most heartbreaking and heartwarming events still chills me to this day.

I remember the headlines.

“Giant Mice Storm Holiday Party” and “Valiant Prince Nearly Dies in Dance of Death” and “Young Adventurer Lost in Land of Sweets Follows Snowflake Path Home.”

Yep.

It is that time of year again.

“The Nutcracker” returns.

And attending the Land of Sweets Tea & Tour at the Juneau Dance Theatre’s performance?

Can I say…whatttttttttt? Sign me up again and again please!

You are probably asking, “Klas, what does ‘Nutcracker’ have to do with sports?”

And I am probably answering, “Folks, ballet dancers are pretty, pretty, pretty athletic.”

Ballet dancers require a unique combination of strength, endurance, control, precision and mental focus that sets them apart from other athletes.

I am not going to list all the famous dancers, not do a top 10, not cite performances or companies.

Instead, I’m just going to challenge you.

Stand en pointe for a minute — ballerinas can go eight minutes on their toes while in serious dance mode. Jump so high your head touches a basketball rim. Soar the length of a long jump pit, but only higher — ballet dancers have stronger leg muscles and cores than professional football/basketball/baseball/track athletes. Leap and spin and prance repeatedly for an hour…with a smile on your face.

Yeah, thought so.

In this 2009 photo, December’s mid-day light shines through the Juneau Dance Unlimited studio as Misha Culver stretches in her Snow costume during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker.” (Klas Stolpe)

In one professional company’s performance of “Swan Lake,” principal dancer Kathleen Martin did 64 fouettés — a quick-spinning movement of a raised leg usually accompanying a pirouette. A pirouette is a turn on one leg with the dancer starting on one or two legs in a plié and moving into a relevé (rising onto the ball of one’s foot for a man and en pointe for a woman) with a rotation. She did 64 fouettés without stopping.

Yes, I had to Google that, my Swedish explanation would have been: Katie spun around fast.

Dancers have explosive power and artistry, physical prowess and emotional expression.

We are not talking 3 a.m. at the local night boogie stop here.

So let me just bask in the glory of “The Nutcracker” season.

If you need a resolution in a month, watch a couple ballets and you will be vowing to exercise a bit more.

Okay! Missy Copeland, Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Olga Smirnova, Eleonora Sevenard, Laura Morton, Vincenzo Di Primo, Bianca Scudamore, Amanda Morgan, Kennedy Brown, Maria Coelho….

I name-dropped a couple for you.

Juneau’s own Genevieve Carson, Misha Culver, Máire New and Anouk Otsea are a few that impressed me years ago in coverage…just look at the guest faculty of the Juneau Dance Theatre and everyone there is more athletic than the average hiking Swede.

Would I choose a dancer first in a game of pickup basketball? I would not even care if they had no jump shot.

Sports, entertainment, business…the line is easily crossed when someone can do things so incredible that my muscles get sore just watching.

In Vegas gambling? Check out any Cirque du Soleil performance.

Here’s a fact:

It is easier to get onto a college basketball team than that same university’s performance dance team.

And while ballet is not considered a sport, dance has come into the Olympic games in various contests (breakdancing, figure skating, gymnastics).

So maybe “sport” is the wrong noun. “Athlete” is more fitting. “Super athlete” to be more specific.

Ballet is one of the most physically grueling endeavors a human can withstand.

And heck, if they have an orchestra that makes my heart swoon, it is even better.

• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stople@juneauempire.com.

Source link

December 3, 2024
It’s criminal that rugby insists on overlooking the misunderstood titans who have had a thunderous impact on the sport, writes CHRIS FOY

They’ve been ignored yet again for the official prizes, so the time has come to celebrate props and their thunderous impact on the sport, by launching awards solely for the unheralded titans.

And it is an important subject. Frankly, it is mind-boggling that 117 players have been shortlisted for World Rugby’s Player of the Year award and never once has a prop been among them. That is a blatant misrepresentation of the value of these sturdy cornerstones of the sport.

So, why have they been so criminally overlooked? Perhaps they are not deemed box-office enough. Playmakers, finishers and dynamo back-rowers tend to dominate the nominations, year after year.

The judges should venture over to France, to gain a different perspective. There, the top props are deified. On one recent occasion at La Rochelle, the mighty tighthead Uini Atonio had been replaced but was then called upon to do another brief stint while a head injury assessment took place.

He rumbled on again, won a scrum penalty and retired straight back to the bench, to a mass ovation as the sellout crowd chanted his name.

Joe Marler’s abrupt retirement last Friday cast a spotlight on the colourful world of the props, who epitomise the physical diversity which the sport prides itself on; with its regular assertion that rugby union is ‘for all shapes and sizes’. But the role has shifted so much. No longer is it just about shoving and resting – now there is heavy lifting (check out the size of some locks they have to help into the sky) and carrying, tipping and offloading.

Joe Marler’s abrupt retirement last Friday cast a spotlight on the colourful world of the props

On Saturday, Cian Healy (right) became Ireland’s most-capped player, while on one recent occasion at La Rochelle Uini Atonio (left) had been replaced but was then called upon to do another brief stint

Props have become tacklers and jackalers, turbo-charged runners and canny decision-makers. The latter point was illustrated when Sam Warburton recently argued that Gethin Jenkins was among the savviest players he had ever lined up with – armed with an unsurpassed grasp of tactics.

Yet, these pack anchors still have to perform their bread-and-butter tasks with the same commitment and core strength and cunning as ever. Does anyone else have a harder job than props? I’ll wait…

On Saturday, Cian Healy became Ireland’s most-capped player. Dan Cole is now second in England’s all-time list, just ahead of Jason Leonard. James Slipper stands No 1 for Australia. Jenkins is second in the Welsh hierarchy.

Tendai ‘the Beast’ Mtawarira is the fourth most-capped Springbok. There is a clear pattern of remarkable longevity despite the punishing demands of the position.

There is a close bond between the combatants, which is another precious feature of the sport. Leonard would always seek out his opposite number for a post-match pint and while the modern game doesn’t allow so much time for that, the giants still share respect.

They also look out for each other, such as in the famous case when New Zealand’s Kees Meeuws stopping driving when his opposite number, Ben Darwin of Australia, shouted ‘neck, neck, neck’ during a World Cup semi-final in 2003.

Darwin spoke warmly of his gratitude after doctors told him that, if Meeuws hadn’t eased off, he could have ended up a quadraplegic.

2024 Top of the Props

Best in the world: Ox Nche. The Springbok rock is perfectly built for his job of scrum destroyer-in-chief. A key man in World Cup and Rugby Championship title success. A modern-day icon.

Dan Cole (left) has been a brilliant servant to England over the years and was another dominant figure in recent Autumn Tests

Mail Sport’s Chris Foy names South Africa’s Ox Nche (pictured) as the best prop in the world

Fin Baxter takes the title of best newcomer after announcing himself on the fast track to Test rugby

Best newcomer: Fin Baxter. The Harlequins rookie delivered a statement performance in Bordeaux to announce himself on the fast track to Test rugby with England.

Scrum rout: Soyaux Angouleme’s young pack bulldozed Biarritz in a Pro D2 fixture in October, led by reserve props Georgy Balakarev and Seydou Diakite. Chapeau.

Best send-off: Afolabi Fasogbon had made his mark in England’s Under 20 World Cup success, then he waved off Ellis Genge after a scrum blitz at Ashton Gate.

Prop brand: Nche again. His Ox Kraal range of Christmas jumpers bear the cake lover’s now famous slogan: ‘Salads don’t win scrums’.

My Prop Hall of Fame

All-time favourite scrum performance: Andrew Sheridan for England versus Australia in the World Cup quarter-final in Marseille in 2007. A legendary demolition job.

Prop pass: Tadhg Furlong is a powerful figure but dexterous too, as he proved with a stunning, long pass to release Hugo Keenan as Leinster thrashed Toulouse in 2022.

Smaller stalwarts: In a special category for the men who have dominated giant rivals, it is a tie between Tom Smith, the Scottish Lion, and Thomas Domingo of France.

Tadhg Furlong is a powerful figure but dexterous too, as he has proved on countless occasions before

All-time favourite scrum performance: Andrew Sheridan for England versus Australia in the World Cup quarter-final in Marseille in 2007

Prop beards: A crowded field, full of Georgians. The stand-out is Davit Zirakasvili, who played 337 games over 16 years for Clermont Auvergne.

Fly-half in disguise: These days, so many props demonstrate classy distribution, none more so than Cyril Baille of Toulouse and France.

Prop personalities: So many characters to choose from. Here are a handful of the best – Marler, John Afoa, Adam Jones, Jamal Ford-Robinson, Max Lahiff, Adam Jones and Martin Castrogiovanni.

Viral shove: Brazil’s props became global sensations in 2018 when their scrum marched the Maori All Blacks back 15 metres to spark jubilation in a large crowd.

Newcastle end historic losing run against Saracens

Newcastle’s stunning victory over Saracens at Kingston Park on Friday night not only lifted them off the foot of the Premiership table, it ended the longest losing run against a particular opponent in the history of the league.

Rugby statistician Stuart Farmer confirmed the feat, after the Falcons broke a sequence of 24 consecutive defeats against Sarries, which started in 2009.

The Tyneside club also nailed the social-media post of the season, linked to a clip of the squad and staff having a celebration sing-along. Targeting the triumphant director of rugby, it read: ‘Steve Diamond will appear before an RFU disciplinary panel on Tuesday, charged with not knowing the words to the “Blaydon Races”.

Newcastle’s stunning victory over Saracens at Kingston Park on Friday lifted them off the foot of the Premiership table

Steve Diamond will appear before an RFU disciplinary panel on Tuesday, charged with not knowing the words to the ‘Blaydon Races’.

The sanction for this offence ranges from three to six pints.

The club will be making no further comment. https://t.co/B7yKULlNoc

— Newcastle Falcons (@FalconsRugby) November 30, 2024

‘The sanction for this offence ranges from three to six pints. The club will be making no further comment.’

The way Newcastle are going now, Diamond better brush up on those lyrics as more wins are bound to follow, and the victory songs will be broadcast.

This column is very, very glad to keep gorging on humble pie after saying the Falcons faced another winless season and were struggling to justify their place in the elite.

Ireland reveal huge multi-million losses

Days after the RFU released its incendiary financial report, their Irish counterparts revealed losses of £15million and complained that taking part in World Cups doesn’t pay well enough. Seriously.

Kevin Potts, chief executive of the IRFU, talked about the global showpiece as a ‘value transfer’ from leading unions to World Rugby, in that there are no autumn Tests in these parts when a World Cup takes place, meaning a significant drop in income.

During Potts’ lament about the impact of World Cups, he said: ‘It’s also being used to develop the game globally. It’s not working and World Rugby are aware that we and other unions are challenged by this and need to look at, is there a better way.

‘We certainly can’t continue to have World Cups every four years that are having such a major impact in that year on our finances.’ That’s the spirit; to hell with all the developing nations, just think solely of your own bottom line, Kevin. How infuriating that vital revenue must be shared around, to aid poorer rugby countries, every once in a while.

Days after the RFU released its incendiary financial report, their Irish counterparts revealed losses of £15million

Ireland complained that taking part in World Cups doesn’t pay well enough as they revealed their losses

Firstly, if Ireland had actually won the Webb Ellis Cup, as expected – after going into the 2023 tournament top of the rankings – they would have earned £4.8m in prize money, rather than £600,000 for being ejected at the quarter-final stage yet again.

Maybe the IRFU should invest in expanding the Aviva Stadium, given that the 51,000 capacity there critically limits what they can make from ticket sales.

Or they could just do what they’re doing, which is have the audacity to demand greater compensation for the inconvenience of taking part in World Cups.

Last Word: A new Six Nations logo has been unveiled and it is an abomination. If you haven’t seen it, spare your eyes.

A new Six Nations logo has been unveiled and it is an abomination with orange and black colours featuring

It is clearly an attempt to align the men’s and women’s tournaments, in terms of branding, but it just looks like a graffiti artist has done it, without any briefing about the event’s identity.

The teams wear blue, white, green and red – so, hey, let’s market it with orange. It doesn’t say what it is and the only discernible word is the name of the sponsor; another sign of the hyper-commercial times.

It just looks awful. Some have said it is like a cross between a chocolate bar wrapper, the title screen for a cartoon, or a garish energy-drink brand.

What it doesn’t look like is a symbol of the Six Nations, but maybe a younger audience will love it and all that investment in a rebrand will be justified.

Source link

December 2, 2024
Revealed: The shock name BBC insiders think is on Match of the Day list to replace Gary Lineker – MIKE KEEGAN’S INSIDE SPORT
- BBC are hunting for a new anchor with Lineker to leave at the end of the season
- Join Mail+ to get ahead of the game with Sami Mokbel’s unmissable football news column every Thursday, plus more of your favourite writers and clubs
By MIKE KEEGAN and LEWIS STEELE

Published: 12:00 EST, 1 December 2024 | Updated: 12:00 EST, 1 December 2024

Potential changes to Match of the Day, along with the race to replace Gary Lineker, remain the talk of the BBC.

Insiders believe that one move being considered is to introduce a segment to the highlights show of news from behind the scenes, which would see a journalist brought in to give some off-the-field detail.

The appearance of Roman Kemp on Radio 5 Live, on which he recently hosted the 606 phone-in with Robbie Savage, has also set tongues wagging.

With Chris Sutton covering Celtic’s late clash at Hearts, the 31-year-old stepped in to co-host. Kemp, son of Spandau Ballet star Martin, performed well after a nervous start and is known to have admirers in high places.

Whether the BBC’s new director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski would give him Lineker’s shoes to fill, however, remains to be seen.

BBC bosses remain on hunt to find someone to replace Gary Lineker at Match of the Day host

The recent appearance of Roman Kemp (pictured) on Radio 5 Live has set tongues wagging

Mark Chapman (left) and Gabby Logan (right) among favourites to step into Lineker’s shoes

Padel’s at the wheel

While the eyes of the Formula One world were on the track for this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, many of the drivers had already taken part in a keenly contested competition elsewhere.

The padel court at Doha’s Waldorf Astoria threw its doors open to drivers and sports figures from across the world in the days building up to the big race.

Insiders say British pair George Russell and Lando Norris were among those to catch the eye while Novak Djokovic took on Premier Padel (and Paris Saint-Germain) chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

Lando Norris was a Formula One star to catch the eye on the padel court at Doha’s Waldorf Astoria this weekend

Wales to tackle the FA

The attempt by Welsh clubs playing in the English league to qualify for Europe by entering the Welsh League Cup will now go before the full FA Board, rather than just a sub-committee.

In what would appear to be a blow for those wanting to ‘have their Welsh cake and eat it’, as one English exec quipped, EFL clubs have been told that the decision has been made ‘due to the importance and significance of the topic’.

Clubs have also been assured that they will be given the opportunity to respond as part of the consultation process.

The attempt by Welsh clubs playing in the English league to qualify for Europe by entering the Welsh League Cup will now go before the full FA Board

Ignorance is Faes

Not all of Leicester City’s footballers were out partying while manager Steve Cooper was getting sacked. A group including Conor Coady and Harry Winks were spotted in a Copenhagen nightclub, close to a sign which read ‘Enzo I Miss U’, which many interpreted as a dig at Enzo Maresca’s replacement, hours after the defeat by Chelsea which saw Cooper punted despite his side not being in the relegation zone.

However, with the squad not expected back in until Tuesday, centre-back Wout Faes was spotted in the more tranquil surroundings of Cliveden House in Buckinghamshire. Indeed, as club bosses were harshly deciding that Cooper was out of his depth, Faes was relaxing in the spa’s swimming pool.

Wout Faes was not out partying while Leicester players were snapped out just before Steve Cooper’s sacking

In the footage obtained by Danish outlet Ekstra Bladet, a sign reading ‘Enzo I miss u’ was held aloft while players including Winks (right) laughed and film the moment on their smartphones

The Gretsy Lights

Christmas lights of a different variety have arrived at Crewe Alexandra courtesy of Cheshire Police, rather than Santa Claus.

Officers arrived at Gresty Road last week armed with LED grow lights, which they had seized following a raid at a cannabis factory.

With the League Two side’s pitch having suffered in previous winters, the donations were well-received by club staff, with one insider claiming they now had their own version of the Northern Lights.

Share or comment on this article:
Revealed: The shock name BBC insiders think is on Match of the Day list to replace Gary Lineker – MIKE KEEGAN’S INSIDE SPORT
Source link
December 1, 2024
Local football finally starts – Sport

Local football finally returns to Namibia with the Debmarine Namibia Premiership and the FNB Women’s Super Leagues kicking off this weekend.

The Debmarine Premiership was originally supposed to start on 21 September, but was delayed due to a protracted court case between the Namibia Football Association (NFA) and Namibia Correctional Service, who eventually lost their bid to be included in the premiership.

It was then set for 2 November, but was once again postponed due to negotiations to finalise sponsorship agreements.

Now, with the third attempt, the league is finally set to kick off with the third and final year of the Debmarine sponsorship, which amounts to N$18 million for the season.

African Stars, who have won the league for the past two years in a row, should once again start as the favouriters, but the other teams are catching up and they can expect stiff competition this season.

One of them is FC Ongos, who finished three points behind Stars in second place last season, and with a clear vision and strategy mapped out, they are determined to go a step further this season.

“The league is won by the team that accumulates the most points and not the team that beats African Stars. It doesn’t help if you beat Stars but lose two or three matches in a row after that, so we will take it one game at a time and focus on each match and try and accumulate the points that we need,” coach Mervin Mbakera said yesterday.

“FC Ongos has to become a household name, not just in Namibia, but also in Africa. We have to broaden our horizons and strive to take on the best. Our women’s team has participated in the Champions League but they have to improve on that stage and our men’s team must now also reach that level and the only way to do it is by winning the league,” he added.

Ongos will kick off the new league when they take on Tigers at the Independence Stadium tonight, and Mbakera said they are well prepared and eager to start their campaign.

“The long delay was a bit of a challenge, but we made the most of the additional time to make sure we are fully prepared. We are extremely grateful to our management who have supported us during the delays by paying the players’ salaries during these difficult times,” he said.

“The dedication shown by the players and technical team has been exemplary. We’ve had numerous preparation matches, and although there was a bit of a dip with the delay, the players are now rejuvenated and ready. Tigers are a strong opponent, but we have made sure that we are mentally, physically and tactically prepared,” Mbakera added.

Tigers, meanwhile, will be led by seasoned coach Woody Jacobs, who says it is great to be back in Namibia after a stint in Botswana.

“It’s going to be a tough encounter against Ongos – they have come on in leaps and bounds and it was no fluke that they came second last season. They have a good team with a good coach and Ricardo Mannetti as director, so they will be a force to be reckoned with,” he says.

“We, however, have a good, well-balanced squad of youth and experience, we are highly motivated and we want to start our campaign with a win,” Jacobs adds.

African Stars open their campaign against Young African at the Independence Stadium tomorrow, and their chairman, Salomo Heii, says they hope the league will turn fully professional soon.

“We are looking forward to the start of the league and hopefully next year we will have a professional league in place that is independent from the NFA, in line with aim of professionalising football in Namibia,” he says.

“We are happy to see there is also the new MTC Maris Cup – at least there is more to play for this season now,” he adds.

African Stars will also be in action in the FNB Women’s Super League for the first time after they acquired Ongwediva Queens and rebranded the team, but they have been hit with a transfer ban by Fifa due to outstanding payments to their former Ghanaian midfielder Michael Okolo.

Heii, however, says it hasn’t really affected them.

“Our transfers were completed long ago – the ban only came into effect on Tuesday, so it doesn’t really affect us. There are one or two players that we are still interested in but our legal team is working on the matter. It’s a new season, a new challenge and we are looking forward to defending our title,” he says.

There are several other enticing fixtures this weekend, including the highly-anticipated derby matches between Julinho Sporting and Cuca Tops at Rundu; Blue Waters and Blue Boys at Walvis Bay; and Eeshoke Chula Chula and KK Palaced at Grootfontein.

Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!

Source link

November 29, 2024
Inclusive Ipswich athletics club shaping future sport stars

John Fairhall/BBC

Morgan, 14, is hoping to compete in more wheelchair races next year as he undertakes his first winter training with Orwell Panthers

Offering equal opportunities to people with disabilities is crucial – and one athletics club is going above and beyond while shaping rising sports stars.

Orwell Panthers Athletics Club in Ipswich was set up 20 years ago to offer a group for those with physical and mental disabilities.

The club, which today has 19 athletes, meets on Wednesday evenings at Northgate Sports Centre.

There is no pressure on the athletes to compete, but for 14-year-old Morgan, he is hoping to take on more wheelchair races next year.

‘Like a community’

John Fairhall/BBC

Several members of the club gathered at the Northgate Sports Centre during a recent training session

Morgan joined just three months ago and works hard during each training session.

“I joined because I wanted to get back into wheelchair racing and what I’ve done over the last three months is fantastic,” he explained.

“What the club has given me as well is fantastic. I’m looking forward to spending more time here.

“I’ve improved in racing wheelchair, I’ve improved in some other sports they do here and when I came here I couldn’t do most of that, so I’ve got to say thank you to the club.”

Morgan said the group was like a community and had helped him make new friends.

‘The club is helping lives’

John Fairhall/BBC

Ian Ling said the club was open for anyone from the age of eight upwards with disabilities regardless of if they wanted to compete or not

Ian Ling has been the lead coach at the club for the past six years and said every athlete had their own personal reason for attending.

“Some will come here because they want to do athletics, some will come because it’s another social event to do,” he said.

“[There’s] loads and loads of enjoyment and hopefully smiles on their faces while they’re doing it and smiles when they leave.

“That then puts a smile on my face and if they come back week after week then obviously I’m doing something right.”

Mr Ling said finding inclusive clubs was often difficult locally.

However he believed Orwell Panthers was “helping lives” and encouraged anyone to come along, even if they did not want to compete.

“We’re hopefully making their lives more enjoyable and giving them something fun to do,” he added.

‘We all have laughs’

John Fairhall/BBC

Rhys Ford said he was nervous when he first joined the club but the coaches had helped him improve

Rhys Ford, 21, travels from Leiston to join the club’s training sessions.

He has been with the club for a couple of years and enjoys competing in the long jump, 200m sprint and the relay race.

Asked why he liked coming to the club, he said: “[It’s] just the atmosphere and getting to see new people, making new friends and just enjoying it.

“[Everybody] is very friendly and very caring. We all have laughs.”

Mr Ford said the coaching team were “really supportive” and he had seen great improvement in himself – leading to several competition wins.

‘I love the jumping’

John Fairhall/BBC

Fabienne found huge enjoyment in being a part of the club and loved the training on the track

Fabienne, 10, has just started with the club and her favourite thing is the new friends she had already made.

She enjoyed the running element and said she liked to run “really far”.

“I love the jumping,” she added.

“I’ve done one competition. It was a really big competition with lots of people, I won three gold medals in running, throwing and jumping.”

She thanked the coaching staff and wider team for their support since she joined.

‘Different opportunities’

John Fairhall/BBC

Matthew Foulger specialises in disability throwing and also helps to officiate at competitions

Matthew Foulger, 30, is one of the assistant coaches.

He has been in the role for four and a half years and a member of Orwell Panthers for 20 years.

He specialises in disability throwing and has coached the athletes through other track events like shot put. Mr Foulger also helps officiates at competitions.

What kept him coming back was “seeing all the athletes progress and having different opportunities to compete in abled body competitions, disabled body competitions, and worldwide”.

‘I can switch off’

John Fairhall/BBC

Hamish Crawford was inspired to join the club in 2012

Hamish Crawford, 20, has been coming to the Orwell Panthers for 12 years after he was inspired by the London 2012 Paralympic Games – and British wheelchair racer Hannah Cockroft.

“Hannah Cockroft got me thinking, ‘I want to do that’, and I’ve competed at Lee Valley and a few other places,” he explained.

“It gives me a bit of down time from college work because college work is quite busy.

“It’s one of the things where I can just switch off, talk to my friends, coaches and talk about football as well.”

He said the club was brilliant at helping get “people with disabilities active”.

Source link

November 29, 2024
Days After Emotional Davis Cup Retirement, Rafael Nadal Finds Quick Escape From Tennis by Venturing Into New Sport

Rafael Nadal means competing without a break. Just last week, the 22-time Grand Slam winner hanged up his tennis racket and said his final goodbye to an illustrious career. Facing Botic Van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands, in the QF round, Nadal seemed like a shadow of his past self as he couldn’t dominate the Dutchman. The latter managed to get the better of Rafa and took the match 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets. While many people were curious to know what would the King of Clay do after retirement, he’s made it pretty much clear now, thanks to an update coming from his hometown in Mallorca.

Rafael Nadal has taken to his passion for golf. The 38-year-old took to the golf course and participated in the FGB Hexagonal Q-Romia Circuit at Club de Golf Son Servera on Saturday. What’s more?

Well, he succeeded in finishing at the eighth position with a score of 76 strokes, four over par, as reported by Spanish website Ultima Hora. Nadal’s birdies on the par-5 ninth and sixteenth holes, and on the par-3 third hole, highlighted his round. At one stage, he was, in fact, on the first spot, but couldn’t maintain the lead. But earning eighth place, among close to 80 players, in the Handicap category, is still commendable to say the least, isn’t it?

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

While he and his team gave their best, the ultimate winner of the competition was the team of Terraza Balear Part of Gunni Trentino. On second position was Engel&Volkers Commercial, followed by God save The Par. Nadal’s The Rafael Nadal Academy took the fourth spot, while Ejusan Ecologic B rounded out the top five.

For those unaware, Nadal’s passion for golf is not new. The tennis icon, a keen golfer, has participated in the Balearic Mid-Amateur Golf Championship three times in the last four years. This year in February, Nadal outperformed the field, finishing three over par for a two-round total of 147 strokes. His seven-stroke victory over Jaime Nicolau Olmos secured him the men’s title.

In fact, he’s expressed his liking for the sport on numerous occasions in the past.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

When Rafael Nadal revealed his brewing passion for golf

Back in 2012, speaking to Miami Herald, the 14-time Roland Garros champion had expressed his inner thoughts on golf. While unleashing his love for the sport, he said, “I love the game of golf in general,” he said. Continuing further, he added, “Golf is great, because you are always in beautiful places when you are playing, and the risk for injury, as you know, is very small.”

Moreover, his craze for the sport even attracted golf legend Tiger Woods, who became a fan of him! Back in 2019, during the R16 at the US Open, Woods was spotted watching Rafael Nadal. Later in that event, Nadal emerged victorious at the Flushing Meadows and lifted the trophy after defeating Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller. After winning the final, Rafa extended his gratitude towards Woods.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

“It’s a huge honour to play in front of all of [New York fans] but to play in front of Tiger is a very special thing. I’ve always said that I don’t have idols, but if I did I would have to say that one idol is him. I always try to follow him, every single shot through the whole year,” he said. “He’s a big legend of sport, one of the greatest sportsmen of all time. I want to congratulate him for one of the most amazing comebacks of the sport ever when he won The Masters this year”, he concluded while praising Woods’ golf supremacy.

Now that the tennis chapter is over, it will be intriguing to see whether Nadal will take up golf as a permanent profession. Do you think he will ace in this role as well if he decides to go pro? Let us know in the comments below.

Source link

November 26, 2024
Jimmie Johnson Takes a Break From His Tiring NASCAR Season by Getting Into Europe’s Biggest Sport in Birmingham

Jimmie Johnson is taking a well-earned rest. After a disappointing season as owner/driver of Legacy Motor Club, the seven-time Cup Series winner is back with his family in the United Kingdom, taking a break from the NASCAR world before another demanding season begins. With his racing team currently in the middle of a rebuild, the 49-year-old has his hands full with responsibilities, but that isn’t stopping him from catching up with some other sports as well.

In an Instagram story uploaded by Johnson, the California native was seen enjoying an entertaining Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Crystal Palace. Could we see the 49-year-old potentially invest in European football in the future?

Jimmie Johnson gets a taste of Premier League action

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Jimmie Johnson is broadening his horizons. Literally. The seven-time Cup Series winner has moved to England along with his wife, Chani, and two daughters, Evie and Lydia. The decision to live across the pond came after a family tragedy, which involved a double-murder suicide where his in-laws and nephews passed away. Knowing that a change of scenery would be beneficial, the Johnsons now live in London, while the veteran driver travels often to the United States for races, meetings, and partner events.

Living in the United Kingdom has its fair share of benefits. It has allowed the family to travel across Europe, while Jimmie Johnson has used the opportunity to expand his networking base and knowledge about sponsorships. It seems like the racing driver is also using this time to catch up with other sports, having recently been in attendance at Villa Park for a Premier League fixture. After a two-week-long international break, Aston Villa took on Crystal Palace, with the game ending in a 2-2 draw.

via Getty

The Premier League is a highly lucrative sporting competition, featuring record attendances in the stadiums and multi-billion dollar television rights deals. Could Jimmie Johnson look to potentially invest in a football team, or was he simply enjoying the game in his downtime? While the possibilities are endless, the famous atmosphere at Villa Park will surely leave a lasting impression on the veteran racing driver.

After retiring from full-time racing in 2020, Jimmie Johnson’s involvement in NASCAR has transitioned to being an owner/part-time driver. The California native will be competing in the No. 84 Chevy during the 2025 season but in a limited capacity. Legacy Motor Club has undergone a significant rebuild, which means the focus will be on John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones to excel on the racetrack, with Johnson saying, “I’m a result-oriented guy.”

The rebuild involves changes in personnel, such as the addition of Chad Johnston to serve as the organization’s Manager of Race Engineering. Johnston has 7 Cup wins to his name and was the crew chief for Ryan Preece and the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing team in 2024. LMC also parted ways with Dave Ellenz, leading to a reshuffle. Ben Beshore took over the #43 team for the season’s end, while Brian Campe assumed the role of interim crew chief for the #42 team.

Meanwhile, the California native is enjoying life in England, even though his motorsports adventures in the country haven’t gone as planned.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Johnson crashes $2.5 million car at the Goodwood Revival

Having been there and done that in NASCAR, Jimmie Johnson has been exploring motorsports events in England now that he’s calling the country his new home. The 49-year-old recently participated in the prestigious Goodwood Revival in West Sussex, England, where he crashed his No. 46 Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight during a practice session. However, despite the setback, the veteran driver went on to win the Stirling Moss GT Extravaganza race despite plenty of on-track drama.

Reflecting on his result, the California native said, “This is very special – oh I get a cigar too! This is great. What an honor. This has just been an event that I don’t wanna miss. I have always dreamed of coming here and competing. Big thanks and credit to this team. I kind of scratched the back in the rain…and they’ve been able to fix the car back on track. Of course, Dario had just been a long-time close friend. To be able to share a car with him and to be able to share a win together – it’s gonna be a fun night.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Jimmie Johnson competed in the event alongside four-time IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti. Despite starting the race in ninth place, the veteran showed just how valuable his experience is by going from fourth to first in a space of two corners, even though he incurred a 10-second penalty. His first appearance at the Goodwood Revival was in 2022, but on-track setbacks forced him to settle for a third-place result while driving a Ford Galaxie 500. Do you think he will participate in more British motorsports events? Let us know in the comments!

Source link

November 24, 2024
The Jewish Sport Report: Orthodox college football player Sam Salz is on a mission to inspire

This article was sent as a newsletter. Sign up for our weekly Jewish sports newsletter here.

Happy Friday! In this week’s Jewish Sport Report, we profile Orthodox college football player Sam Salz, invite you to an exciting Jewish sports event next month and share hall of fame updates across multiple sports.

Let’s dive right in.

Inside Orthodox player Sam Salz’s historic college football debut — and his improbable path to the SEC

Sam Salz is in his third season with the Texas A&M football team after walking on in 2022. (Rob Havens/Aggieland Illustrated)

Before Nov. 16, Sam Salz had never played a snap of organized football. The 5-foot-6, 160-pound wide receiver grew up attending an Orthodox day school in Philadelphia that didn’t have a football team.

But last Saturday night, Salz took the field for the first time with the Texas A&M Aggies, the No. 15-ranked team in Division I and a decorated program that plays in the elite Southeastern Conference.

Salz walked me through his first taste of football, and what it meant to hear his name called for a play as the Aggies routed New Mexico State 38-3.

“There’s probably a Jewish kid, and maybe even especially an Orthodox kid, who wants to play football, or wants to play sports, and is sitting somewhere confused about what he should do, or who’s told that he’ll never be able to do it,” Salz said. “Even getting to see me run down on that field, successful play or not, could have given him all the hope that he wanted.”

Click here for Salz’s remarkable story.

Halftime report

COOPERSTOWN CALLING? Longtime second baseman and former Team Israel player-turned-manager Ian Kinsler is on the 2025 MLB Hall of Fame ballot, making him the first Jewish player to make the ballot since Kevin Youkilis in 2019. Kinsler is a 4-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner and 2018 World Series champion. Getting on the ballot is itself an accomplishment — even if his chances at making it to Cooperstown alongside the likes of fellow first-balloteer Ichiro Suzuki appear slim.

DEFLATED. One prominent Jew who will definitely not be enshrined in a hall of fame in 2025 is New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who, according to ESPN, was not selected for the 2025 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Kraft, one of the league’s most influential owners and a six-time Super Bowl winner, failed to advance out of the hall’s nomination committee for the 13th time. Ralph Hay, a co-founder of the NFL, was chosen instead.

HONORED. More on halls of fame! Former NHL star Mathieu Schneider was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in New York last weekend. Schneider, who scored 223 goals across 21 seasons in the league, said being a Jewish pro athlete “meant an awful lot to me.”

LISTEN TO THIS. U.S. rugby bronze medalist Sarah Levy appeared on the Women of Reform Judaim’s “Just For This” podcast, which highlights women in leadership positions. Check out the interview here, and for a refresher, here’s our profile of Levy from this past summer.

HOLDING COURT. The Israel Tennis and Education Centers Foundation raised half a million dollars at a fundraiser Tuesday in New York City to benefit the organization’s work supporting Israeli children across socioeconomic and religious backgrounds. The ITEC, which has more than 200 courts across Israel, has expanded its work since Oct. 7, 2023.

Jews in sports to watch this weekend (all times ET)

🏒 IN HOCKEY…

Jakob Chychrun and the Washington Capitals host Jack and Luke Hughes and the New Jersey Devils Saturday at 7 p.m. Jason Zucker — who scored his 200th career goal Wednesday — and the Buffalo Sabres face Jake Walman, Luke Kunin and the San Jose Sharks Saturday at 8 p.m. Zach Hyman and the Edmonton Oilers host Adam Fox and the New York Rangers Saturday at 10 p.m.

🏈 IN FOOTBALL…

Michael Dunn’s Cleveland Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-19 last night on “Thursday Night Football.” In the NCAA, Jake Retzlaff and No. 14 BYU face No. 21 Arizona State Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Sam Salz and Texas A&M play Auburn Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

⚽ IN SOCCER…

Daniel Edelman and the New York Red Bulls face their crosstown rivals, New York City F.C., at Citi Field in the MLS conference semifinals on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. In European soccer, Matt Turner and his Premier League club Crystal Palace play Aston Villa Saturday at 10 a.m., and one level down, in the Championship, Manor Solomon and Leeds United take on Swansea Sunday at 10 a.m.

🏀 IN BASKETBALL…

Deni Avdija and the Portland Trail Blazers face the Houston Rockets tonight at 8 p.m. in the NBA Cup and Saturday at 8 p.m. in regular season play. Domantas Sabonis, who is converting to Judaism, and the Sacramento Kings play the Los Angeles Clippers tonight at 10:30 p.m. in the NBA Cup and host the Brooklyn Nets Sunday at 9 p.m. in regular play.

⛳ IN GOLF…

Daniel Berger is competing in the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic tournament this weekend in Georgia.

🏎 IN RACING…

Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll will be on the grid this weekend at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Lights out at 1 a.m. on Sunday.

Join us for an online event to mark the 75th anniversary of a remarkable Jewish basketball championship

On Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. ET, I will sit down (virtually) with Matthew Goodman, author of “The City Game: Triumph, Scandal, and a Legendary Basketball Team,” to discuss the 75th anniversary of the City College of New York’s extraordinary 1949-50 basketball championship — and the point-shaving scandal that rocked the sport in its aftermath.

The CUNY Beavers, a team made up entirely of Jewish and African-American players at a time when the NBA was still segregated, became the only team in history to win the NIT and NCAA tournaments in the same year.

Click here for more information and to register for our free online event.

Support the Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.

Source link

November 23, 2024