Team Jayco Alula welcomes Saudi cycling talent Moroj Adil to European training camp

Team Jayco Alula welcomes Saudi cycling talent Moroj Adil to European training camp
Saudi cyclist Moroj Adil of will join Team Jayco AlUla for training camp in Europe. (Supplied/Team Jayco)
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Updated 07 June 2023
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Team Jayco Alula welcomes Saudi cycling talent Moroj Adil to European training camp

Team Jayco Alula welcomes Saudi cycling talent Moroj Adil to European training camp
  • 24-year-old describes move as ‘a major step for my career’
  • Adil first met the team in Alula a few days after the UCI Saudi Tour in February, where she attended key presentations and underwent valuable training

ALULA: Professional road race cycling team Team Jayco Alula has welcomed young Saudi Arabian talent Moroj Adil to their European training camp.
The 24-year-old is in Girona, Spain, a European base for many of the team’s riders and staff. There, Adil took part in more training in the pursuit of becoming a professional rider in the women’s WorldTour peloton.
Adil first met the team in Alula a few days after the UCI Saudi Tour in February, where she attended key presentations and underwent valuable training.
She said it was a great step to join the camp in Spain, and progress for a sport she began as a hobby at just one and a half years old.
“I used to be really attached to my father and whatever he would do, I would do with him. After he passed away, I wanted to find a new hobby. I found cycling and it helped me cope with stress and allowed me to spend more time outdoors.
“As my love for cycling grew, I was determined to become a professional cyclist and compete,” she added. “Being part of the training with Team Jayco Alula is a major step for my career and I’m grateful for such a wonderful opportunity.
“It’s been an honor to be part of the growing cycling community in Alula, and I’m excited for what’s to come.”
Philip Jones, Chief Tourism Officer of The Royal Commission for Alula, said: “Moroj is an incredible talent, embodying the spirit of cycling and inspiring Saudi women and men. I’m thrilled that our collaboration with Team Jayco Alula has empowered her to experience this transformative milestone.
“Moroj’s story is a core part of what Alula is striving to achieve as a destination for cycling, with its scenic roads and mountains, historic landscape and robust infrastructure that is rapidly expanding. We hope that Alula will be a source of motivation and a dynamic hub for even more athletes.”
Brent Copeland, Team Jayco Alula General Manager said that his organization is “very excited” to work with the Royal Commission for Alula and the Saudi Cycling Federation for future camps.
“Despite her relatively recent start in cycling, the team is fully dedicated to supporting her. We all hope Moroj’s unique experience will inspire more Saudi women and men to embrace cycling not just as a potential profession but as a lifestyle choice.”
When Moroj began cycling, she was determined to participate and compete in local cycling competitions and was selected by the Saudi Cycling Racing Federation to join the Women’s Saudi National Team to compete regionally and internationally.
In 2022, her determination enabled her to enter the four-day MTB race in NEOM Titan Desert Saudi Arabia. The race covered a total of 427 km with more than 3,500 meters altitude gain.
Fares Alotaibi, Adviser Saudi Cycling Federation, said: “The Saudi Cycling Federation is proud of Moroj Adil, a young and talented woman who is passionate about cycling.
“Moroj loves cycling and wants to improve her quality of life by achieving her goal of becoming a pro cyclist.
“We, at the Saudi Cycling Federation, will continue to support Saudi cyclists to help them achieve their dreams and will extend our support to our partners in Alula, The Royal Commission for Alula and Team Jayco Alula.
“We strive to achieve common objectives such as engaging more young Saudi men and women to take up cycling and make it a lifestyle choice, while also helping them improve their performances to be able to compete like pro riders.”


Eddie Howe does not intend let Pep Guardiola Man City off the Carabao Cup hook

Eddie Howe does not intend let Pep Guardiola Man City off the Carabao Cup hook
Updated 13 sec ago
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Eddie Howe does not intend let Pep Guardiola Man City off the Carabao Cup hook

Eddie Howe does not intend let Pep Guardiola Man City off the Carabao Cup hook
  • Though his rival intends to rest key players in their third-round clash on Wednesday, Howe will not follow suit as he aims to end Newcastle United’s long trophy drought
  • ‘We will give it every importance and try as hard as we can to progress because we want to try and compete in every competition,’ says Howe

NEWCASTLE: It’s about time Newcastle United finally won another trophy — few fans are old enough to remember the last time they hoisted anything of merit.

By the time the Carabao Cup final comes around next year, it will have been nearly 69 years since Newcastle United claimed a domestic honor: the FA Cup in 1955. In fact it will have been 55 years since the Magpies won a trophy of any sort, the last one being the Inter Cities Fairs Cup, a forerunner of the Europa League, in 1969.

There is some beautiful symmetry about all this. It feels to many as if this is finally Newcastle’s time to shine, with Eddie Howe in charge of a Saudi Public Investment Fund-backed, “new money” Premier League Goliath.

However, now is not the time for the Magpies to take their foot off the pedal, as so many top-end, top-flight clubs are guilty of doing around this time of year.

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has promised to rest most of the key men from his history-making, treble-winning side when they visit St James’ Park in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. It was the only honor his side did not win last year.

Meanwhile, Newcastle will want to forget their forgettable history in the competition in which they have twice been bridesmaids (finalists in 1976 and 2023) but never the bride.

Therefore, despite far greater battles to come in the Champions League (Paris Saint-Germain will be in town next week) and the Premier League (in which Newcastle got back on track with an overwhelming 8-0 win at Sheffield United on Sunday), Howe cannot rest too many players in his bid to lift the only domestic cup the club has never won.

The coach does plan to make a few alterations but wholesale changes to the squad are unlikely as he is clearly taking the game very seriously.

“It’s an important competition for us,” Howe said. “Last year was amazing for us. We started it against Tranmere, which was an incredibly difficult game. It seems a long time ago now but you have to go to some tough places in the early rounds.

“We’ve got the ultimate test coming up, so a totally different tie to last year, but we will give it every importance and try as hard as we can to progress because we want to try and compete in every competition. We’re certainly not dismissing it as anything other than an important game.”

Pushed on whether he might take the Guardiola approach — the Spaniard said he would not be wasting any energy on the competition — Howe said: “I think we will use the squad. I say ‘think’ because it’s not finalized in my brain what we’re going to do yet.

“I need to assess everybody physically first, from the game we’ve just had. There have been players carrying certain things so we’ll need to manage them but we do have players who are really keen to play.

“I think I have to utilize the squad, especially with what we have coming up, not just at the weekend but midweek next week. As I’ve said many times, we want the players to enter the pitch in the best physical condition to showcase their skills.

“There’s no priority list (of competitions). There’s no one tournament more important than the other, as I’ve said to the players many times. The most important game is our next game, whoever that is or whatever competition that is. We’ll focus all our energies in trying to win that match.”

It is the blue half of Manchester that will be visiting Tyneside on Wednesday but it was their red rivals, Manchester United, who dished out the biggest reality check of Howe’s largely successful reign so far at St James’ Park.

In February, coach Erik ten Hag’s men spoiled Geordie Carabao Cup dreams with a 2-0 win in the final at Wembley. Has that shaped Howe’s thinking about the competition this time around?

“That experience has driven us all forward because the experience of the run to get to the final was something we really enjoyed,” he said. “The final, itself, we didn’t (enjoy) because we didn’t get the outcome we wanted but it’s there in the back of our minds.

“We know the Premier League is intense and very difficult and, of course, we have got European competition. But this, with the FA Cup, which our recent performances haven’t been strong in, are competitions we take seriously.

“We are well aware of our hunt for a trophy here. It is pushing us all. This is a competition we take very seriously. We would love that to be a trophy, that we want to win, so we will do everything we can to try and do it.”


Pochettino urges struggling Chelsea players to ‘believe’

Pochettino urges struggling Chelsea players to ‘believe’
Updated 26 September 2023
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Pochettino urges struggling Chelsea players to ‘believe’

Pochettino urges struggling Chelsea players to ‘believe’
  • The Blues, European champions just two years ago, are a lowly 14th in the Premier League table
  • But new manager Pochettino, speaking on the eve of their League Cup third-round match against Brighton, struck a positive note, saying his team were still a work in progress

LONDON: Mauricio Pochettino has urged his struggling Chelsea team to keep believing in themselves but admitted they had to “fix” their crippling goalscoring problem.
The Blues, European champions just two years ago, are a lowly 14th in the Premier League table, just four points above the relegation zone, after one win in their first six matches.
Big-spending Chelsea have mustered just five goals in the league — and three of those came in the 3-0 win against newly-promoted Luton.
But new manager Pochettino, speaking on the eve of their League Cup third-round match against Brighton, struck a positive note, saying his team were still a work in progress.
“(It is) a very short time that we are together,” said the Argentine. “Realistically, we only started after the transfer window closed. Before, it was a little bit of an unstable situation.”
He said injury-hit Chelsea were full of ideas and dominating games but struggling to find the net — Raheem Sterling is the top-scorer with just two goals.
“Every single football person in this country sees Chelsea deserve more but we have missed (scoring) goals, the most important thing in football — we cannot forget that,” said the former Tottenham boss.
“We need to get criticized, of course, because we are not winning games but we need to keep being strong in the belief.
“The team is very well-organized, the effort is massive. You can see against Aston Villa (a match Chelsea lost 1-0) how the players fight with 10 men.”
He added: “We are playing well, it’s only we are not clinical in front of the goal. That is what we need to fix and try to give more confidence to our offensive players.”


DP World Tour prepares to celebrate 15th anniversary in Dubai

DP World Tour prepares to celebrate 15th anniversary in Dubai
Updated 26 September 2023
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DP World Tour prepares to celebrate 15th anniversary in Dubai

DP World Tour prepares to celebrate 15th anniversary in Dubai
  • 2023 edition of the season-ending event will bring 50 of the world’s top golf stars to Dubai

DUBAI: The DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, is set to return for its 15th edition in just 50 days with a blend of world-class golfing action, entertainment and fan experiences.

Following record weekend crowds last year and a sold-out event, the championship will take place at Jumeirah Golf Estates, as the grand finale of the prestigious Rolex Series.

From Nov. 16-19, the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates will witness the world’s top 50 players on the “DP World Tour Race to Dubai” Rankings battling for the coveted title of Race to Dubai champion.

The DP World Tour Championship Fan Village will offer an array of experiences including family-friendly activities, a special Ladies Day celebrating women’s golf, and daily music performances from local UAE based artists including Conleth McGeary, Lexie, Faux-asis and Garry Greig.

For those looking to improve their golf game, the “Golf for All” program will offer attendees lessons on the driving range, along with an opportunity to put skills to the test through a “long putt” challenge sponsored by DP World.

Tom Phillips, the DP World Tour’s Head of Middle East, said: “We’re thrilled to be celebrating the 15th edition of the DP World Tour Championship. This Rolex Series is not only a highlight on the global golfing calendar but has also firmly established itself on Dubai’s vibrant social calendar. It’s a testament to our commitment to delivering a world-class sporting and lifestyle experience that resonates with residents and visitors alike, and we can’t wait to share this milestone with everyone.”


Al-Nassr cruise, Al-Hilal stumble into King’s Cup round of 16

Al-Nassr cruise, Al-Hilal stumble into King’s Cup round of 16
Updated 26 September 2023
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Al-Nassr cruise, Al-Hilal stumble into King’s Cup round of 16

Al-Nassr cruise, Al-Hilal stumble into King’s Cup round of 16
  • Without Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr comprehensively overcome Ohod 5-1

Riyadh rivals Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal safely booked their spots in the round of 16 of the King’s Cup after away victories over lower-tier opposition on Monday night.

But while Al-Nassr cruised to a comfortable 5-1 win over Ohod, Al-Hilal struggled to overcome Al-Jabalain 1-0.

Al-Nassr, playing without the rested Cristiano Ronaldo, took the lead on 15 minutes through a penalty by Sadio Mane, but the home team responded with a fine chipped equalizer from Konrad Michalak deep into first-half stoppage time.

Second-half strikes from Seko Fofana (62 minutes), Talisca (75), Ayman Yahya (81) and Sami Al-Najei (86) saw the Yellows safely through to the next round.

In contrast, Al-Hilal could only manage a solitary goal from Reuben Neves on 64 minutes as they labored to beat stubborn first-division outfit Al-Jabalain.

Elsewhere on Monday night, there was shock as Saudi Pro League team Al-Raed were beaten by first-division Al-Najmah 2-1, while Damac progressed after a 2-1 victory over Al-Qaisumah.


Padel to debut at Emirates Dubai 7s with new tournament Rebound

Padel to debut at Emirates Dubai 7s with new tournament Rebound
Updated 26 September 2023
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Padel to debut at Emirates Dubai 7s with new tournament Rebound

Padel to debut at Emirates Dubai 7s with new tournament Rebound
  • Organizers confirm contest to be played across 5 custom-designed courts Dec. 1-3

DUBAI: Emirates Dubai 7s is to launch Rebound, its first padel tournament, further expanding the lineup of its sporting events for this year’s edition.

Set to take place from Dec. 1 to 3, the tournament welcomes players of all abilities, and will see them compete across five custom-designed padel courts at The Sevens Stadium.

Players can select from eight categories namely Team Open Competitive (C), Team Open Social (D), Men’s Open Competitive (C), Men’s Open Social (D), Women's Competitive (C+), Women’s Challenger (C-), Women’s Open Social (D), and the Parent & Kids Social for children aged 8 to 14.

During the tournament, each team will take part in a minimum of three games during the group stage, and game formats will vary by category. For most categories, there will be six games to a set in the group stage, and nine in the knockout stages, while the parent and children categories will feature four games to a set in the group stage and six in the knockout stages.

The tournament will kick off on Friday, Dec. 1 with the parent and children categories, as well as the initial group stages to determine finalists for the knockout stages. The team category will consist of four players — two female and two male — taking on opponents in mixed and same-gender matches in the group stages and finals.

Simon Jelowitz, head of sport operations at the Emirates Dubai 7s, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to introduce padel to our schedule of sporting events for the 2023 Emirates Dubai 7s, which will offer a completely new experience for players. Padel is a sport that is growing rapidly around the world and it’s no different in the UAE with a number of padel courts set up across the country.

“Whether you’re trying for the first time or play regularly, this is a great opportunity to be part of our first-ever padel competition in what will be a fantastic weekend of sports and entertainment and we encourage everyone to register and book spots now.”