Football – In humble Spanish suburb, wonderkid Lamine Yamal embodies hope

Football – In humble Spanish suburb, wonderkid Lamine Yamal embodies hope
A man walks past a graffiti depicting Lamine Yamal in Rocafonda, the neighborhood where Spain’s forward grew up, in Mataro, 35km from Barcelona, on July 11, 2024. Every time he scores a goal, Lamine Yamal usually signs the number 304 with his hands. It is the postal code of the humble Catalan neighborhood where he spent part of his childhood, Rocafonda, which is now very excited about his success and for finally being in the news for good reasons. (AFP)
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Updated 15 July 2024
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Football – In humble Spanish suburb, wonderkid Lamine Yamal embodies hope

Football – In humble Spanish suburb, wonderkid Lamine Yamal embodies hope
  • Lamine Yamal was born in Spain from a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinea mother, joined Barcelona’s academy when he was six and moved to live in the city aged 11

MATARO: In the working-class, multi-ethnic Barcelona suburb where Lamine Yamal grew up, the stunning rise of Spain’s football wonderkid in the European Championship generates both intense pride and hope.

The Barcelona winger, who turns 17 on Saturday, celebrates his goals gesturing 304 with his fingers in a nod to the 08304 postal code of the Rocafonda neighborhood, in the coastal city of Mataro, where he grew up and where his father and grandmother live.

“My son is like any other kid. He has fought for a dream and has had the opportunity to achieve it,” said his jubilant father, Mounir Nasraoui, 38, dressed with Lamine Yamal’s Spanish national jersey at a local bar where people took selfies and embraced him.

He forecasts Spain will beat England 3-0 in Sunday’s Euro 2024 final in Berlin, which he will attend.

The El Cordobes bar, with a framed signed jersey of Lamine Yamal hung on a wall, witnessed the family’s early financial struggles.

Nasraoui would be given his coffee for free so he could instead use his money for a train ride to take his son for training at Barcelona’s academy, said the bar’s owner Juan Carlos Serrano.

“This jersey is the pride of the neighborhood, man!,” said Serrano.

“Lamine is the prototype of a kid who has had to work hard, who has been a good student and just graduated from secondary school,” he added. “For this reason, he is a mirror for children.”

Rocafonda is among Mataro’s neighborhoods with the lowest household income and most residents were born outside the Catalonia region and Spain, primarily in Morocco.

Lamine Yamal was born in Spain from a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinea mother, who lives in a nearby town. He joined Barcelona’s academy when he was six and moved to live in the city aged 11, his father said.

On Tuesday, he became the youngest player to score in a World Cup or Euros with a sublime 25-meter strike against France.

He also lifted Rocafonda’s self-esteem.

“People used to be ashamed of saying they are from here. This is a very humble neighborhood where people make 1,000 euros a month,” said 28 year-old Sufian, born from Moroccan parents. “Now people that are not even from Rocafonda or Mataro, say: I am from 304!.”

At Rocafonda’s asphalt pitch where Yamal used to play football, young people from Moroccan and Senegalese origin say they dream of following in his footsteps, echoing the humble neighborhoods where other stars grew up such as Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappe.

Lamine Yamal, who is Black, also represents how Spain has become more ethnically diverse in recent decades due to migration from Africa and Latin America.

His success also comes at a significant political moment. Spain’s far-right party Vox, with a strong anti-migration rhetoric, on Thursday announced it would break five regional government coalitions with the center-right People’s Party over disagreements on the shelter policy for under-18 migrants.

“Lamine’s goal (on Tuesday) was not only a goal, it also sent the message that racism is over and that we are all the same,” said Sufian.


Buoyant Inter gunning for leaders Napoli and Serie A summit

Buoyant Inter gunning for leaders Napoli and Serie A summit
Updated 39 sec ago
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Buoyant Inter gunning for leaders Napoli and Serie A summit

Buoyant Inter gunning for leaders Napoli and Serie A summit
Wednesday’s win came despite Inzaghi dropping five first-choice players with Napoli
The defense of the Serie A title his clear priority in the early months of the season

MILAN: Inter Milan have top spot in Serie A in their sights as they host league leaders Napoli this weekend boosted by a gritty win over Arsenal in the Champions League.
Reigning champions Inter are a point behind Napoli and in buoyant mood ahead of Sunday’s clash at the San Siro after showing huge spirit to beat Arsenal 1-0 and continue their unbeaten start in Europe.
Simone Inzaghi’s team are yet to concede a goal in the Champions League and after four matches are two points behind leaders Liverpool in the new single league phase.
Wednesday’s win came despite Inzaghi dropping five first-choice players with Napoli and the defense of the Serie A title his clear priority in the early months of the season.
And Inter had to hold off wave after wave of Arsenal attacks in the second half after Hakan Calhanoglu’s penalty in stoppage time of the opening period, claiming the win with the sort dogged defending which has been lacking in Serie A where they have conceded 13 times in 11 matches.
“It was a win earned through sacrifice, the only thing that mattered tonight was the result. I needed minutes, now I’m ready for Napoli,” said Calhanoglu who was excellent in his first start since recovering from a thigh injury and will guide Inter’s midfield on Sunday.
Inter will be at full strength after Nicolo Barella, Federico Dimarco, Marcus Thuram, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Francesco Acerbi all started the Arsenal win on the bench.
That is a daunting prospect for Napoli who have however had a week to prepare for Sunday’s clash and won at the San Siro against AC Milan as recently as last week.
Napoli have impressed by leading the league following last season’s disastrous defense of their first Scudetto since the days of Diego Maradona.
But Napoli were thumped 3-0 at home by dark horses Atalanta last weekend and questions remain over whether Antonio Conte’s side are ready to reclaim the title.
Conte, a practicing Catholic, said ahead of his team’s humbling at the hands of third-placed Atalanta that “football miracles can happen but only one person can make them happen.”
“All we can do is work hard and try to create something beautiful which in football terms translates into more points,” said Conte.
Mario Balotelli is set for more minutes with his new club Genoa who face Como at the unusual time of Thursday night, a rearrangement forced by an important rally race being held in the port city over the weekend.
Former Italy striker Balotelli made his Genoa debut off the bench late in last weekend’s 1-0 win at Parma which lifted Alberto Gilardino’s team out of the relegation zone, but his only contribution was getting booked.
In-form Fiorentina and Lazio, who are level on 22 points with Atalanta, face Verona and Monza respectively and have a chance to move level with Napoli before Sunday’s big match at the San Siro.
Juventus, who sit a point behind that trio in sixth, host local rivals Torino after drawing 1-1 at Lille on Tuesday.

Fresh from another stellar performance in Wednesday’s 2-0 win at Stuttgart, Lookman is in the form of his life as Atalanta host Udinese in Sunday’s lunchtime fixture with talk of a title challenge looking increasingly realistic.
Nigeria forward Lookman, the hat-trick hero of last season’s Europa League triumph, has scored eight goals and set up five more in 12 appearances this term.
His stunning performances, which have helped push Atalanta to within three points of Napoli, come after being dropped at the start of the season after pushing for a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
But the way he and attack partners Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere have been playing suggests that Lookman could just as likely scale new heights staying exactly where he is.

Thursday
Genoa v Como (1945)
Friday
Lecce v Empoli (1945)
Saturday
Venezia v Parma (1400), Cagliari v AC Milan (1700), Juventus v Torino (1945)
Sunday
Atalanta v Udinese (1130), Roma v Bologna, Fiorentina v Verona (1400), Monza v Lazio (1700), Inter Milan v Napoli (1945)

Mbappe left out of France squad for November internationals

Mbappe left out of France squad for November internationals
Updated 31 min 4 sec ago
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Mbappe left out of France squad for November internationals

Mbappe left out of France squad for November internationals
  • It is the second successive France squad from which the national team captain has been absent
  • Mbappe was absent for France’s 4-1 win over Israel in Budapest and a 2-1 win in Belgium

PARIS: Kylian Mbappe has been left out of the France squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Israel and Italy after coach Didier Deschamps omitted the Real Madrid superstar from his list of players named on Thursday.
It is the second successive France squad from which the national team captain has been absent after he also missed the October double-header against Israel and Belgium.
The 25-year-old was rested for last month’s matches in order to help him recover from a minor thigh injury suffered playing for Real.
However, that quickly became a source of controversy when he returned to action for Real days later, before France had even played.
Mbappe was absent for France’s 4-1 win over Israel in Budapest and a 2-1 win in Belgium, and instead traveled to Stockholm for a short break with members of his entourage.
It was following that trip that Swedish media reported he was being investigated for an alleged rape. Mbappe himself said those reports were “fake news” while his lawyer said the player would take action for libel.
A Swedish prosecutor confirmed that an investigation had been opened, without naming Mbappe.
Since then, the ex-Paris Saint-Germain forward has made four appearances for his club, scoring one goal. However, he remains short of his explosive best form.


Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen struggling to maintain heights of last season

Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen struggling to maintain heights of last season
Updated 40 min 37 sec ago
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Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen struggling to maintain heights of last season

Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen struggling to maintain heights of last season
  • The aura of invincibility that Alonso built around the team have evaporated. But it’s not for want of trying
  • “To win against top, top teams, you need to go through tough moments and suffer. We need to learn from this,” Alonso said after the loss in Liverpool

BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen are struggling to reach the high standards they set for themselves last season.
Xabi Alonso’s team have already dropped points in five of their nine Bundesliga games, while Tuesday’s 4-0 loss at Liverpool in the Champions League was already their second defeat of the season.
The late goals that characterized last season’s remarkable Bundesliga and German Cup campaigns — Leverkusen won both without losing a game — seem to have dried up.
Leverkusen have already conceded 15 goals in the Bundesliga. That’s only nine goals fewer than they conceded in the league over the whole of last season.
Though Leverkusen drew with Bayern Munich 1-1 away, they also failed to beat relegation candidates Holstein Kiel and Werder Bremen.
The aura of invincibility that Alonso built around the team have evaporated. But it’s not for want of trying. Before the Liverpool game, Leverkusen had 19 shots at goal in a scoreless draw against Stuttgart, which were second in the Bundesliga last season.
Missed chances have replaced late goals as the recurring issue, while defense is also a concern.
Granit Xhaka was scathing in his criticism of the last three goals his team conceded against Liverpool, suggesting the side’s intensity dropped after conceding the first, though the Swiss midfielder remained confident the team can recover.
“If we keep doing our thing, we’ll start winning games again,” Xhaka said.
Alonso, likewise, does not seem too worried by his team’s results.
“To win against top, top teams, you need to go through tough moments and suffer. We need to learn from this,” Alonso said after the loss in Liverpool.
Alonso opted to stay at Leverkusen despite a host of suitors reportedly keen on acquiring his services in the summer – including former clubs Bayern and Liverpool – and the Spanish coach hasn’t tinkered with or changed his title-winning approach.
The squad from last season remained largely intact over the summer. Central defender Odilon Kossounou left for Atalanta, with Leverkusen bringing Nordi Mukiele from Paris Saint-Germain as his replacement. Mukiele hasn’t played much so far.
It had looked like defensive chief Jonathan Tah was going to join Bayern, but the clubs failed to agree a transfer fee for a player whose Leverkusen contract is up at the end of this season. Tah has played every minute for the team so far.
Leverkusen are already seven points behind unbeaten Bayern in the Bundesliga. They next face a short trip to Bochum on Saturday, when new Bochum coach Dieter Hecking will hope to coax some improvement from a team that have lost eight of their nine games. Bochum have a point after a draw with Kiel in September.


Algeria denounces ‘baseless’ medical report targeting Olympic champion Imane Khelif

Algeria denounces ‘baseless’ medical report targeting Olympic champion Imane Khelif
Updated 07 November 2024
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Algeria denounces ‘baseless’ medical report targeting Olympic champion Imane Khelif

Algeria denounces ‘baseless’ medical report targeting Olympic champion Imane Khelif
  • Algerian Olympic Committee decries attacks on Imane Khelif since Paris Olympics 2024 boxing event

RIYADH: The Algerian Olympic Committee has condemned as “baseless” a medical report targeting gold medalist Imane Khelif, which claims she has male chromosomes and no uterus.

The unverified report, widely shared on social media, has sparked fresh controversy. This is the latest round of accusations that the Algerian athlete has had to face since the Olympic Games in Paris earlier this year.

In a statement carried by the German media group DW, the Algerian Olympic Committee rejected the claims as “baseless attacks.”

It said the accusations were aimed at tarnishing the image of Khelif, who was “an athlete who has brought honor to our nation on the international stage.”

The document in question, allegedly written by French endocrinologist Jacques Young, suggested Khelif has a condition known as Difference of Sexual Development.

However, Young has denied any involvement, accusing others of using his name to promote an anti-transgender agenda.

The hospital where Young works refused to confirm the document’s authenticity, citing patient confidentiality.

The International Olympic Committee has distanced itself from the document, labelling it “unverified” and confirmed that Khelif is considering legal action in response to the claims.

This is not the first time Khelif has faced controversy.

After her gold medal win in the women’s 66 kg boxing event at the Olympics, she was falsely accused of failing gender verification tests run by the International Boxing Association.

The IBA’s claim that she had male chromosomes was dismissed by the IOC as “illegitimate.”

The latest round of attacks resurfaced in late October, fueled by online platforms, including Reduxx, a magazine known for its “pro-woman” stance.

The report suggested Khelif underwent genetic testing that supposedly revealed a Difference of Sexual Development condition. However, a screenshot from the report clarified that Khelif was still deemed female by the doctors involved.

Khelif, who has always identified as a woman, has not publicly commented, but her management team confirmed she is pursuing legal action.

The Algerian Olympic Committee reiterated its full support for Khelif and called for an end to harmful gender-based attacks in sports.


Saudi jiu-jitsu team win 10 medals at World Championship in Greece

Saudi jiu-jitsu team win 10 medals at World Championship in Greece
Updated 07 November 2024
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Saudi jiu-jitsu team win 10 medals at World Championship in Greece

Saudi jiu-jitsu team win 10 medals at World Championship in Greece
  • Kingdom’s jiu-jitsu team scoop 3 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze at event held from Oct. 23 to Nov. 4

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s jiu-jitsu team won 10 medals — three gold, three silver and four bronze — at the World Championship in Crete, Greece, which was held from Oct. 23 to Nov. 4, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The gold medalists are Mohammed Al-Mukhlis in the under-69 kg category (Masters Division), Omar Nada in the under-94 kg category (Senior Team Division), and Abdullah Nada in the under-85 kg category (Youth Division).

Silver medals were won by Abdulmalik Al-Murdi in the under-62 kg category (Senior Team Division), Elias Banjar in the under-62 kg category (Youth Division), and Waleed Al-Haidari in the under-56 kg category (Youth Division).

Bronze went to Osamah Al-Marwia in the No Gi category, Khaled Habab, who earned two medals in the under-52 kg and No Gi - 52 kg categories (Youth Division), and Hadeel Qadha in the under-57 kg category (Junior Division).

Saudi Jiu-Jitsu Federation CEO Rakan Al-Fehaid thanked the government for supporting the athletes and helping them to achieve success.

The team had played a “significant role in elevating the Kingdom’s name on the global stage,” the report added.