Fahey and Ferguson getting into the Spirit ahead of Saudi Cup

Fahey and Ferguson getting into the Spirit ahead of Saudi Cup
Richard Fahey apeaking at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh (Neville Hopwood/JCSA)
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Updated 23 February 2024
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Fahey and Ferguson getting into the Spirit ahead of Saudi Cup

Fahey and Ferguson getting into the Spirit ahead of Saudi Cup
  • Big-race winner in Bahrain represents some famous connections, including former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson

RIYADH: Trainer Richard Fahey has admitted he was “humbled” when first getting the opportunity to train horses for legendary ex-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, and suggested that saddling Spirit Dancer (GB) in Saturday’s Howden Neom Turf Cup is the “stuff of dreams.”

The co-owner’s homebred capped off a memorable year when winning the Bahrain International Trophy in November, and following a prep run in Dubai last month, appears a leading contender in the $2 million (SR7.4 million) Howden Neom Turf Cup.

“I felt he would need the run the last day and it looked that way as well,” Fahey said. “He has had four or five weeks to acclimatize now. It’s all stuff of dreams, which is becoming a reality when we get to run on Saturday.”

Fahey’s association with one of the most successful British sportsmen has been fruitful for both parties, and the trainer has been able to swap sporting experiences with Ferguson.

“To be fair when I first started training for him I was a little bit humbled,” Fahey said. “I have some fantastic conversations with him and he has been to the yard three or four times now. He is just a wonderful man and you can see why he has been a success.

“It’s a humbling experience, but it’s amazing because even this morning we were discussing footballers and horses, and Sir Alex was asking why we didn’t canter on the grass.

“I explained we race on the (grass) surfaces because if we were to train on them all the time, we wouldn’t have many horses left, so we tend to use the artificial surfaces, and he compared it to a very good football team whose training pitch was quite quick and a lot of the players were getting hurt — so there are comparisons with football and racing.”

Fahey has been impressed with the surroundings in Riyadh and confirmed that the seven-year-old Spirit Dancer has settled in well.

“It’s fantastic here; we are well looked after and the horse is happy. When you come on these trips, the most important thing is how the horse is and the horse is in good order,” the North Yorkshire-based trainer said.

“I’m very pleased with him and at the moment I wouldn’t swap my fella.”

There is no hiding the sheer enjoyment that all connections got from Spirit Dancer’s Bahrain victory and Fahey is hoping for more of the same this weekend.

“It has given them a huge amount of pleasure and I think as a trainer we don’t really respect the pleasure horses give to people. For Sir Alex to be animated and excited and for all the team, it was a great win,” Fahey said.


Root says ‘many more to get’ after continuing excellent form against Pakistan

Root says ‘many more to get’ after continuing excellent form against Pakistan
Updated 10 October 2024
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Root says ‘many more to get’ after continuing excellent form against Pakistan

Root says ‘many more to get’ after continuing excellent form against Pakistan
  • Root became England’s greatest Test match run-maker after scoring 176 unbeaten against Pakistan in Multan
  • With 12,578 runs, Root is now fifth in the list of all-time Test run-scorers with Sachin Tendulkar still on top

MULTAN: Joe Root said there are “many more runs to get” after he surpassed Alastair Cook to become England’s greatest Test match run-maker on Wednesday.
Root moved past Cook’s 12,472 runs when he drove Aamer Jamal for a boundary to reach 71 on his way to a brilliant 176 not out on the third day of the first Test against Pakistan.
The 33-year-old batted through the day in the heat and fought cramp to register his 35th Test century, taking England to 492-3 and within 64 runs of Pakistan’s first innings after an unbeaten 243-run stand with Harry Brook.
“(I feel) tired, more than anything. It’s been a long day,” said Root.
“I’m obviously proud, but still feel there’s plenty more left to do and many more runs to get.
“I’m sure I’ll look back at it at some point when I’m finished and be very proud of it.”
Root also put on century partnerships with Zak Crawley (78) and Ben Duckett (84), who came in at four after hurting his thumb while taking a catch to wrap up Pakistan’s innings late on the second day.
He and Brook (141 not out) then set about putting England in a strong position after two days of toil in the field, as Pakistan struggled for answers with the ball on a flat wicket in Multan.
“I think more than anything just the way we played today as a team is what stands out,” said Root.
“We’ve still got an opportunity to win the game, which is really exciting. Hopefully we can kick on tomorrow.”
Duckett, who combined with Root to add 136 for the third wicket, hailed the achievements of his team-mate.
“He (Root) is one of the greats of the game and certainly a great of English cricket,” said Duckett.
“He is extremely humble and those things don’t bother him and he wants to play for England as long as he can.”
With 12,578 runs, Root is now fifth in the list of all-time Test run-scorers. India’s Sachin Tendulkar sits at the top of the pile on 15,921.
“It’s just a pleasure to share the dressing room with him,” said Duckett. “He is probably still working as hard as he ever has, always grinding away in the nets.
“We make jokes that he says he is out of form and he is still getting hundreds, so it’s probably a good place to be in.”
Duckett revealed Root was fully aware of the milestone and backed him to set more records.
“He 100 percent was aware (of the record) but I think he made out that he didn’t have any idea,” said Duckett. “I did not know so I asked him and he told me, so he definitely knew.”
“When he is in good form, he cashes in and scores big and I hope it continues,” added Duckett.
“If he stays fit and stays on the park there is no reason why he can’t break more records. He is an incredible player and there are no signs of his form dipping.”
England batting coach Marcus Trescothick, a former opener who played 76 Tests, expressed his pride at Root’s accomplishments.
“We’re lucky enough to sit and watch history being made,” Trescothick told Sky Sports. “The way he goes about it, the work he puts in and continues to strive for greatness all the time.
“He’s been superb and think will continue to be superb for a number of years yet.”
Pakistan captain Shan Masood, who made 151 for the hosts in their first innings total of 556, tipped Root to eventually go past Tendulkar.
“Congratulations to Joe, but I personally want to hold this congratulations till he becomes the leading Test run-getter, which I’m sure he’ll achieve,” said Masood.
“He’s not only the best batsman I’ve come across in my life but one of the best human beings also.”


Run blitz edges India and South Africa closer to Women's T20 World Cup semifinals

Run blitz edges India and South Africa closer to Women's T20 World Cup semifinals
Updated 10 October 2024
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Run blitz edges India and South Africa closer to Women's T20 World Cup semifinals

Run blitz edges India and South Africa closer to Women's T20 World Cup semifinals
  • India made a tournament high of 172-3 from their 20 overs before Sri Lanka were dismissed for 90 off the penultimate ball of the match
  • South Africa chalked up 166-5 in their 20 overs before the Scots, playing in their first World Cup, were bowled out for 86

DUBAI: India and South Africa piled up the two highest totals at the Women’s T20 World Cup on Wednesday to stay on track for the semifinals.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and opener Smriti Mandhana hit half-centuries as India defeated Sri Lanka by 82 runs.

India made a tournament high of 172-3 from their 20 overs before Sri Lanka were dismissed for 90 off the penultimate ball of the match.

Earlier, South Africa produced a superb all-round performance to thrash Scotland by 80 runs.

South Africa chalked up 166-5 in their 20 overs before the Scots, playing in their first World Cup, were bowled out for 86.

India now have two wins in three games ahead of their final Group A match with six-time champions Australia on Sunday.

The top two teams from each of the five-nation pools make the semifinals.

Mandhana made 50 from 38 balls with four fours and a six to register her 27th T20 international 50.

She also shared a 98-run opening stand with Shafali Verma (43) before Kaur put on a blistering display of shotmaking.

The captain reached her 13th half-century in the format off 27 balls and finished undefeated on 52 with eight boundaries and a six.

Just as important for India, Kaur showed little effect of the neck injury she had suffered in the win over Pakistan at the weekend.

“It was one of those days when I was in my zone, whenever ball was in my zone, I went hard. I was only thinking about positives,” said Kaur.

In reply, Asian champions Sri Lanka collapsed to 6-3 inside three overs before Kavisha Dilhari (21) and Anushka Sanjeewani (20) put on 37 for the fourth wicket.

But they always struggled to keep up the run rate with Ama Kanchana (19) the only other player to reach double figures.

For India, fast bowler Arundhati Reddy and leg-spinner Asha Sobhana returned identical figures of 3-19 in their four overs.

“We struggled even in the bowling. We dropped catches. We didn’t bowl in the right areas. Batters including me didn’t do a good job. We have to rethink what we have to do and bounce back,” said disconsolate Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu.

The result means that Sri Lanka have no chance of making the semifinals after three defeats.

Scotland are also out of contention after suffering a third loss in three games.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, South Africa chalked up 166-5 in their 20 overs with captain Laura Wolvaardt (40), Tazmin Brits (43) and Marizanne Kapp (43) all feasting on some weak bowling and poor fielding.

Scotland were never in the chase and slumped to 86 all out in 17.5 overs.

“We felt the best chance to win the game was to put a lot of runs on the board and restrict them,” said Wolvaardt.

“We wanted to be ruthless and show what we are about and kill it off the way we did.”

The win lifts South Africa, beaten by Australia in the final of the 2023 edition, to the top of Group B.

Scotland made life hard for themselves, dropping a simple chance when Wolvaardt was on just two.

The skipper made them pay as she clubbed five fours and a six in her 27-ball 40.

Brits hit five fours and a six in her 43 while Kapp smashed her 43 off just 23 balls, enough to give her the player of the match award.

Nonkululeko Mlaba was the most successful of the South African bowlers, picking up 3-12 in her four overs.

South Africa play their final group game against Bangladesh in Dubai on Saturday, knowing that a win will give them a great chance of reaching the semifinals.


Injuries plague South American World Cup qualifying even though Messi is set to return

Injuries plague South American World Cup qualifying even though Messi is set to return
Updated 10 October 2024
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Injuries plague South American World Cup qualifying even though Messi is set to return

Injuries plague South American World Cup qualifying even though Messi is set to return
  • Brazil coach Dorival Junior: We all have this goal to reverse this momentary scenario (of being only in 5th place)
  • Despite Messi’s comeback, World Cup champion Argentina will be shorthanded for the matches against Venezuela and Bolivia

SAO PAULO: Lionel Messi will return from injury for Argentina in the next two rounds of South American World Cup qualifying, but several other top players will have to skip the upcoming matches.

Brazil, currently lagging in fifth place in the 10-team round robin competition with 10 points after eight games, will have to cope with the absence of injured forward Vinicius Junior, in addition to long-term absentee Neymar. Coach Dorival Junior, who is under pressure, said Wednesday that a little-known striker will take the place of the Real Madrid star in his starting lineup at Chile: 23-year-old Igor Jesus, who played most of his career at Al-Ahli in Dubai.

Brazil will also miss several other frequent starters in Santiago and on Tuesday against Peru. Goalkeeper Alisson, defenders Eder Militão, Guilherme Arana and Bremer are also out due to injury.

Junior said in a press conference on Wednesday in Sao Paulo that both Jesus and Abner, a left-back who will start his first match for the national team, are up to the challenge they will face.

“The training sessions showed good things. Everyone is very focused so we can play to matches in a different level from the one of the previous match, especially the first half,” Brazil’s coach said, in a reference to his team’s 1-0 defeat at Paraguay in October. “We all have this goal to reverse this momentary scenario (of being only in 5th place).”

Despite Messi’s comeback, World Cup champion Argentina will be shorthanded for the matches against Venezuela and Bolivia. The most recent problem came in Wednesday’s training, when 19-year-old midfielder Valentín Carboni injured his left knee.

Defender Marcos Acuña and strikers Paulo Dybala, Nico Gonzalez and Alejandro Garnacho had already been ruled out.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez is suspended for the two matches due to his poor behavior in the two previous rounds. Argentina lead the standings with 18 points. Top six teams will secure automatic berths at the 2026 World Cup.

Second-placed Colombia, with 16 points, also have their share of injuries ahead of matches at Colombia and at home against Chile. First-choice defender Daniel Muñoz will not play.

The exception will be Uruguay, currently in third position with 15 points. Striker Darwin Nuñez will play after the Court for Arbitration of Sport accepted an appeal after his five-match suspension due to incidents with fans at the Copa America. Uruguay will take on Peru and Ecuador.

Bielsa under fire

Several Uruguay players, past and present, are unhappy with coach Marcelo Bielsa. Striker Luis Suarez said this week that the Argentine mistreated players and staffers at the national team training center, which was later confirmed by captain Federico Valverde and other players.

Suarez, who recently retired from the national team, told journalists that Bielsa “did not even say good morning” to his players. The 37-year-old striker also said the coach is mistreating staffers of Uruguay’s soccer federation and forbid players from greeting fans at the latest edition of the Copa América tournament.

“What Luis said is all true, he never lied, he did not exaggerate at any time, he said things as they are,” Valverde said.

Striker Agustin Canobbio, who will not be in Uruguay’s squad for the next two matches, added to the criticism against Bielsa.

“There was nonstop lack of respect. I am very respectful, but we reached a point in which I exploded,” Canobbio told Uruguayan radio Carve Deportiva. “I said it to his face that he was not being respectful.”

The coach is yet to respond.


Man City sink Barca in Women’s Champions League as Bayern outgun Arsenal

Man City sink Barca in Women’s Champions League as Bayern outgun Arsenal
Updated 10 October 2024
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Man City sink Barca in Women’s Champions League as Bayern outgun Arsenal

Man City sink Barca in Women’s Champions League as Bayern outgun Arsenal

PARIS: Manchester City made a spectacular return to the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday, defeating holders Barcelona 2-0 in the opening round of group stage matches as Bayern Munich downed Arsenal 5-2.
Both teams hit the woodwork in a lively start to the Group D clash at a sold-out Joie Stadium in Manchester, with City grabbing the lead when defender Naomi Layzell bravely scrambled home.
Vivianne Miedema headed smartly back across goal from a corner and a lunging Layzell reacted quickest to prod the ball past a crowd of Barcelona players.
Last year’s Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati went close to an equalizer with a deflected effort, but Khadija Shaw grabbed a second for City to condemn Barcelona to a rare defeat.
Shaw beat the offside trap with a perfectly-timed run to latch onto Layzell’s pass and rounded goalkeeper Cata Coll to clinch a memorable win.
“It’s fantastic from Naomi and Bunny (Shaw) finishes it off. It gave the players a real lift and we have to remember who we’re playing against. It’s a step for us,” City manager Gareth Taylor told DAZN.
“I said in my press conference yesterday that I really admire Barcelona and what they’ve done and we try to replicate that.”
City are making their first group stage appearance, having last played in the Champions League proper in 2020-21 when Barcelona knocked them out in the quarter-finals.
The defeat is only Barcelona’s second in 19 games in the group stage since its introduction for the 2021-22 season. It is also the first time they have failed to score a goal.
Pernille Harder scored a second-half hat-trick as Bayern kicked off their Group C campaign with a convincing victory over Arsenal in Germany.
Arsenal led through Mariona Caldentey’s strike in Germany, but Bayern captain Glodis Viggosdottir brought the home side level before Sydney Lohmann put them ahead.
Laia Codina equalized for Arsenal midway through the second half only for Harder to find the net three times in the final 20 minutes to secure an impressive win for German champions Bayern.
“The last few years have been tough with injuries, so now I’m just happy to be back playing in the Champions League. I was happy with the goals and the win,” said Harder, who ended a two-year goal drought in the competition.
Juventus are level with Bayern on three points following a 1-0 win away to Norway’s Valerenga, with Sofia Cantore netting the only goal.
Swedish side Hammarby won their first ever group stage game 2-0 against Austrian champions St. Poelten, who are appearing in the group phase for the third season in a row.
Vilde Hasund’s long-range effort gave Hammarby the lead and Cathinka Tandberg followed up her late winner in qualifying by wrapping up the points with another goal two minutes from time.


Panathinaikos defender Baldock found dead in his Athens home

Panathinaikos defender Baldock found dead in his Athens home
Updated 10 October 2024
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Panathinaikos defender Baldock found dead in his Athens home

Panathinaikos defender Baldock found dead in his Athens home

ATHENS, Greece: Panathinaikos defender George Baldock, a former Greece international who also played for Sheffield United for seven seasons, has been found dead in his Athens home, Greek media reported. He was 31.
State-run ERT television said the body of Baldock was found late Wednesday in his swimming pool in the southern suburb of Glyfada. The cause of death was not immediately clear.
Britain-born Baldock was called up for Greece in 2022 and played 12 matches, the last in March in Greece’s loss on penalties to Georgia in the Euro 2024 playoffs.
He was not in Greece’s squad for Thursday’s UEFA Nations League game against England.
Baldock joined Sheffield United in 2017 and helped the club earn promotion to the Premier League twice, in 2019 and 2023. He joined Panathinaikos in May, on a three-year contract, after Sheffield United was again relegated to England’s second division.
“Sheffield United Football Club is shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player, George Baldock,” the English club said on social media. “The defender left the club in the summer after seven years at Bramall Lane and was extremely popular with supporters, staff and team-mates who pulled on a red and white shirt alongside him.”