Dyche stunned by Everton’s late collapse against Cherries

Dyche stunned by Everton’s late collapse against Cherries
Everton's English striker #09 Dominic Calvert-Lewin jumps for a header during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Bournemouth at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on August 31, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 01 September 2024
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Dyche stunned by Everton’s late collapse against Cherries

Dyche stunned by Everton’s late collapse against Cherries
  • Everton have conceded 10 goals in their opening three Premier League matches and sit bottom of the table

LIVERPOOL: Sean Dyche branded Everton’s astonishing 3-2 defeat against Bournemouth as the most frustrating result of his career after they conceded three times in the closing minutes at shell-shocked Goodison Park.
Heading into the 87th minute, Everton led through goals from Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
But Antoine Semenyo scored with what was then only Bournemouth’s second shot on target in the 87th minute, sparking an embarrassing Everton collapse.
Stoppage-time goals from Lewis Cook and Luis Sinisterra completed a turnaround that Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola admitted his side did not deserve.
Never in Dyche’s long managerial career with Watford, Burnley and Everton had he experienced just a devastating meltdown.
“I’ve had a few defeats down my years as a player, coach, manager, but this is the most frustrating because to dominate a game for so long and come out of it without something at least is incredibly frustrating,” he said.
“These are ones that as a manager you scratch your head at.”
Everton have conceded 10 goals in their opening three Premier League matches and sit bottom of the table.
They were booed off at the final whistle by their furious fans and once again face a relegation battle after a terrible start to their final season at Goodison before moving into a new stadium.
“I speak to the players all the time and that’s been my biggest frustration since I walked in here. Unfortunately taking chances has been a challenge,” Dyche said.
“For whatever reason they score a goal and we’re just looking at each other, ‘Who’s going to win a challenge, who’s going to win a race, who’s going to win a header?’ We’re waiting for someone else to make a difference.
“After the first goal I could smell it in the air. Not necessarily not winning but I could smell it, ‘This ain’t right’, and I’m screaming at them to get their shape and do the ugly side of the game. We didn’t and they get a win out of nowhere.”


Karim Benzema happy at Al-Ittihad, head coach Laurent Blanc says

Karim Benzema happy at Al-Ittihad, head coach Laurent Blanc says
Updated 30 October 2024
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Karim Benzema happy at Al-Ittihad, head coach Laurent Blanc says

Karim Benzema happy at Al-Ittihad, head coach Laurent Blanc says
  • Team sits second in Saudi Pro League ahead of Thursday’s Sea Derby clash with Al-Ahli
  • ‘It will be a very interesting game,’ Frenchman says

JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad manager Laurent Blanc says his star striker Karim Benzema is happy to be at the Jeddah club, as the French duo target victory over Al-Ahli on Thursday.

Al-Ittihad go into the Sea Derby in second place in the Roshn Saudi League, with their rivals back in 11th. Ahead of the match, Blanc, a World Cup winner with France as a player in 1998, has spoken about managing Al-Ittihad, 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Benzema, facing Ivan Toney and the big game itself.

The match, which kicks off at 9 p.m. at King Abdullah Sports City, is part of the league’s innovative Derby Week, which falls on Matchweek 9 of the 2024-25 season.

The new feature will also see Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr play champions Al-Hilal, with Neymar at No. 10, at Al Awwal Park in the Capital Derby in a mouthwatering match up on Friday. The Eastern Derby between Al-Ettifaq, managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, and Al-Qadsiah, who welcomed Real Madrid hero Nacho into their ranks in summer, is on Saturday.

Here are some of Blanc’s views on what promises to be a big weekend for Saudi football:

The Sea Derby

“It will be a hard game because it is a derby. But the game? I don’t know, I am not a magician. We hope we have the ball, because we want the ball in every game. Certainly, Al-Ahli will not agree with that. They are a good team with good players, so we need to be ready for a big game.

“It will be a very interesting game because on the pitch will be many good players. It will be a tough game, physically and technically. And there will be many people in the stadium to see it. I am impatient because this game is very interesting to play.

“I have been involved in a lot of derbies — in France, in England, in Spain, in Italy. It is the same way everywhere. In Saudi Arabia it is the same. You prepare for the game, you want to prepare to be ready, physically and technically. We are preparing well, I am sure. But Al-Ahli is also too. The only way is to win the game, but for now we don’t know the result. So it is the same everywhere guys, the most important thing is preparing to be ready physically and in my opinion in the derby, mentally. If you are ready mentally you can get a result, if you are not ready mentally it is very difficult.”

Benzema

“I think he is happy on the pitch and certainly off the pitch — this is very important for the player and he’s scored a lot. But this isn’t a surprise. Karim Benzema has played football for 20 years more or less and he scored a lot every year — 25, 27, 24 goals in a year. In Madrid, in Lyon and in Al-Ittihad it is the same.”

Facing Toney and Mahrez

“Everybody knows this player (Toney) is a very good player. He is a scorer too. He scored a lot of goals in England. But it’s not only Toney, they have Mahrez who we know a lot because he played in France and in England, he scored a lot. Technically he is a very, very good player. Al-Ahli is a good team. Everybody knows that.”

Building a successful team

“We need to adapt the squad to our objective. It is complicated, if you want to go to the top there is only one way and that is to win games. So the objective is big and we have to work a lot. The local players and the foreign players don’t have the same culture, so we have to work with the football but also in my opinion to be working with the human. I love to do that. Sometimes we have good results, sometimes we have bad results but we need to continue to work like this.”


England’s FA apologizes after Muslim footballer barred from match over clothing

England’s FA apologizes after Muslim footballer barred from match over clothing
Updated 30 October 2024
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England’s FA apologizes after Muslim footballer barred from match over clothing

England’s FA apologizes after Muslim footballer barred from match over clothing
  • Iqra Ismail, 24, captained the Somali women’s team in 2019
  • She was told by a referee during a league game that shorts were mandatory

LONDON: England’s Football Association has apologized to a Muslim footballer who was barred from a league match over her clothing.

Iqra Ismail, 24, who captained the Somali women’s team in 2019, was prevented from taking the field after refusing to wear shorts due to her religious beliefs.

On Sunday, Ismail was due to come on as a halftime substitute for United Dragons FC from London, but was prevented by the referee, who said club shorts were mandatory.

The Dragons were playing Tower Hamlets within the Greater London Women’s Football League, which has since updated its guidance to match officials and members.

The league said in a statement that it has been working with the FA to “better understand” its guidance on women’s playing attire to “ensure their faith or religious beliefs are not compromised.”

The statement added: “It was our understanding that players were permitted to wear tights or tracksuit bottoms to cover their legs but that they would also have to wear shorts on top, to adhere to club colour regulations. It was this requirement that our referee was seeking to adhere to this weekend.”

Ismail told the BBC that she “was warmed up and ready to go” before the referee’s decision, and that she had worn tracksuits in matches for almost five years.

“I’ve never worn shorts playing competitively,” she added. “I told him that I wasn’t comfortable wearing shorts in any capacity. It was a shock to me that the referee took such a strong stance of it.

“I was very visibly upset as the game was going on, my teammates and the manager were very supportive. Everyone has been devastated.”

Ismail has played the sport since she was 8 and has always worn a sports hijab, a long-sleeve top and tracksuit while on the field.

She was appointed to the Football Black List in 2019 and was a speaker at the FA’s Your Game Your Way event at Brentford Football Club earlier this year, Sky News reported.

Since the incident on Sunday, which Ismail detailed in an online video, the FA has pledged to ensure that the issue is “quickly resolved.”

An FA spokesperson told Sky: “We are aware of this matter and we are in contact with Middlesex FA to ensure that it is quickly resolved.

“We proactively wrote to all county FAs and match officials across the women’s grassroots game earlier this year to confirm that women and girls should be allowed to wear clothing that ensures their faith or religious beliefs are not compromised.

“We remain deeply committed to ensuring that English football is an inclusive and welcoming environment for everybody.”


Abu Dhabi to host UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in December

Abu Dhabi to host UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in December
Updated 30 October 2024
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Abu Dhabi to host UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in December

Abu Dhabi to host UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in December
  • Free-to-attend event takes place Dec. 17-21 at the city’s Nation Towers

ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi Sports Council, in collaboration with the Union Cycliste Internationale, will host the 2024 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships later this year.

Taking place at Abu Dhabi’s Nation Towers from Dec. 17 to 21, the event returns to the city following a successful hosting of the 2022 edition.

The championships include competitions in two disciplines: BMX Freestyle (park and flatland for men and women) and trials (Women Elite, Men Elite 20 inch or 508 mm wheel size, Men Elite 26, Men Junior 20, Men Junior 26 and mixed team).

Other competitions taking place in Abu Dhabi include the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships on Oct. 26, as a part of the city’s bid to promote cycling.

In addition, on Dec. 18 and 19, the UAE capital will host the 2024 UCI Mobility and Bike City Forum, the UCI’s annual conference dedicated to the promotion of sustainable and active mobility, and cycling’s contribution to the global sustainable development agenda.

Aref Al-Awani, general secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said hosting the event reflects the “confidence” of international sports federations in Abu Dhabi’s “ability to dazzle, excel and be professional in organizing the largest global sporting events.”

The UCI’s President David Lappartient said he was “delighted” that the event is being held again in the UAE capital.

“The city provides a fitting setting for the spectacular urban disciplines of BMX Freestyle and trials, and with free entry to Nations Towers, the local population will have easy access to witness the best in the world in action.”

The popularity of cycling continues to grow in the capital following the launch of Bike Abu Dhabi in 2021, a government initiative designed to foster mobility, health and leisure.

The city currently has 300 km of dedicated cycle tracks in locations including Al-Hudayriyat Island, Abu Dhabi Corniche, Al-Wathba, Qasr Al-Sarab and Yas Marina Circuit, home of the iconic Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

This year’s edition will be the seventh instalment of the championships, with China (Chengdu) having hosted the first three events in 2017, 2018 and 2019, before it moved to France (Montpellier) in 2021.

Abu Dhabi staged the competition in 2022 with the UK (Glasgow, Scotland) taking over in 2023.


UAE national jiu-jitsu team are world champions for fifth year running

UAE national jiu-jitsu team are world champions for fifth year running
Updated 30 October 2024
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UAE national jiu-jitsu team are world champions for fifth year running

UAE national jiu-jitsu team are world champions for fifth year running
  • The Emirati athletes claimed nine medals in the tournament, which took place in Greece

HERAKLION: The UAE’s national jiu-jitsu team have taken the World Championship title for the fifth successive year.

The team, sponsored by Mubadala Investment Company, won nine medals in the adult category at the championships, in Heraklion, Greece — two golds, three silvers and four bronzes.

Hamad Issa Al-Blooshi also took the gold medal in the 60 kg para-jiu-jitsu section.

Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, dedicated the team’s achievements to the UAE’s leadership and support.

He also praised the dedication of the athletes and commended the technical staff, emphasizing how intensive training camps ahead of the tournament helped prepare them for the event and enhanced their performance.

“Our champions gained valuable experience at the championship, competing alongside the world’s elite. Their success in winning nine medals in the adult competitions and a gold medal in the para-jiu-jitsu category reflects their high sense of responsibility and readiness to meet any challenge,” Al-Dhaheri said.

“Throughout the championship, they displayed tremendous determination to achieve victory. We are confident that even more accomplishments lie ahead, driven by the leadership’s support, the athletes’ passion for jiu-jitsu, and their resolve to stay at the forefront.”

Gold medalist Al-Blooshi said: “I dedicate this achievement to the UAE’s wise leadership and the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, who have been a strong source of support, providing everything we need to pursue excellence. Jiu-jitsu is more than just a sport to me; it’s a way of life and a path that has helped me realize my potential.”

In the adult category, Omar Al-Suwaidi and Khaled Al-Shehhi won gold medals, while Balqees Abdul Karim, Zayed Al-Katheeri and Mohammed Al-Suwaidi claimed silver and bronze medals went to Aysha Al-Shamsi, Maitha Shraim, Mahdi Al-Awlaqi and Saeed Al-Kubaisi.


Bangladesh spinner Taijul takes 5 wickets but South Africa stays in control of 2nd test

Bangladesh spinner Taijul takes 5 wickets but South Africa stays in control of 2nd test
Updated 30 October 2024
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Bangladesh spinner Taijul takes 5 wickets but South Africa stays in control of 2nd test

Bangladesh spinner Taijul takes 5 wickets but South Africa stays in control of 2nd test
  • Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed his second straight five-wicket total but South Africa reached 413-5 at lunch on Day 2 of the final cricket test. Taijul

CHATTOGRAM: Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed his second straight five-wicket total but South Africa reached 413-5 at lunch on Day 2 and was in control of the final cricket test on Wednesday.
Taijul, who ended the session with 5-152, triggered a collapse as South Africa lost three wickets for five runs to be reduced to 391-5 from 386-2.
Taijul took eight wickets in the first test that Bangladesh lost by seven wickets.
Wiaan Mulder (12) and Ryan Rickelton (11) resisted Taijul to keep the side in strong position before going to lunch.
Resuming at 307-2, Tony de Zorzi and David Bedingham extended Bangladesh’s misery by batting without any trouble as the pitch still appeared to be good to bat on.
De Zorzi converted his maiden century to 150 from 235 balls, smashing a tossed-up delivery of Taijul through mid-wicket for a four.
Bedingham, who raised his third 50 off 70 balls with a single of Mehidy Hasan, was dismissed on 59.
An over later, de Zorzi who was playing sweep shots to precision, missed the line to be trapped leg-before wicket. That ended his marathon 269-ball 177, which included 12 fours and four sixes.
Kyle Verreynne, the centurion of the first test, also missed a sweep shot to be trapped leg-before without scoring, handing Taijul his 14th five-wicket haul in test matches.