Man City’s Foden wins PFA Player of the Year award

Man City’s Foden wins PFA Player of the Year award
Manchester City’s English midfielder Phil Foden poses with the Player of the Year award during the 2023-2024 Professional Footballers’ Association awards at the Opera House in Manchester on Aug. 20, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 21 August 2024
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Man City’s Foden wins PFA Player of the Year award

Man City’s Foden wins PFA Player of the Year award
  • Foden: To win this award is something very special and it is one that I am very proud of and grateful for
  • City enjoyed a clean sweep of the main awards at the Manchester ceremony as Khadija Shaw was voted the women’s Player of the Year

LONDON: Manchester City forward Phil Foden won the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award on Tuesday.

Foden played a key role in City winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title last term.

The 24-year-old scored 19 times and delivered eight assists for Pep Guardiola’s team as they pipped Arsenal to the title on the last day of the season.

“To win this award is something very special and it is one that I am very proud of and grateful for. To be recognized this way by your fellow professionals means everything and I would like to thank everyone who voted for me,” Foden said.

“I also want to pay special thanks to Pep, the City coaches and all my teammates as they help me to try and get better every single day.”

Foden has already set his sights on a fifth successive Premier League crown after City started their title defense with a 2-0 win at Chelsea on Sunday.

“Last season was another very special one for everyone at the Club but now all our focus is concentrated on trying to achieve more success this term,” he said.

Foden also won the 2023-24 Premier League player of the season award and was named the Football Writers’ Association footballer of the year.

City director of Football Txiki Begiristain added: “Everyone here is so thrilled to see Phil win this award. To have your fellow professionals recognize you in such a way is very special.

“Phil embodies everything we stand for at Manchester City. He is a supremely talented player but is someone who always strives to seek to improve.

“He is a very humble guy who is hugely popular throughout the Club. We are all very proud of him.”

Foden’s City teammates Erling Haaland, who won the award last year, and Rodri, as well as Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins were also on the Player of the Year shortlist.

Chelsea forward Palmer was named the men’s PFA young player of the year.

Foden and Palmer’s awards made it the first time that both the senior and young player trophies went to English players since 2009-10, when Wayne Rooney and James Milner took home the silverware.

England international Palmer was second only to Haaland in the Premier League scoring charts with 22 goals in a breakthrough campaign after leaving Guardiola’s team to move to Stamford Bridge.

City enjoyed a clean sweep of the main awards at the Manchester ceremony as Khadija Shaw was voted the women’s Player of the Year.

Jamaican forward Shaw was the top scorer in the Women’s Super League with 21 goals as City were edged out for the title on goal difference by Chelsea.

“I am both happy and proud to have received this award, to be recognized in such a way by my peers is a very special honor,” Shaw said.


Masood says ‘hurt’ Pakistan aim to end win drought against England

Masood says ‘hurt’ Pakistan aim to end win drought against England
Updated 7 sec ago
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Masood says ‘hurt’ Pakistan aim to end win drought against England

Masood says ‘hurt’ Pakistan aim to end win drought against England
  • Pakistan have gone winless in 10 home Tests since February 2021
  • They were handed a 2-0 defeat by Bangladesh earlier this month 

KARACHI: Pakistan captain Shan Masood on Monday backed Babar Azam to find his batting touch as his side look to end their win drought in the three-match Test series against England starting next week.
Pakistan have gone winless in 10 home Tests since February 2021, the latest humiliation being swept 2-0 by Bangladesh earlier this month.
They also lost 3-0 in Australia earlier this year.
“It’s not acceptable for Pakistan to not win a home Test for that long and we accept the responsibility for that,” said Masood at a press conference in Karachi.
“As a cricketing nation we all are hurt right now.”
Masood was confident that batting great Azam would soon be back to his best after managing just 64 runs in the two Bangladesh Tests.
“We all know Babar is one of the top batters in the world and despite not scoring big runs the good thing is that he is not out of form, we have to back him,” said Masood.
Azam has not passed fifty in Tests in 16 innings dating back to December 2022.
England arrive in Pakistan on October 2 with the first Test starting in Multan five days later.
The second Test is also in Multan from October 15 while the final match is in Rawalpindi from October 24.
“I assure you that everyone is eager to stage a comeback in this series and take Pakistan cricket in a good direction,” said Masood.
England swept the series 3-0 when they last visited Pakistan in 2022.
“For me, pressure is a thing of privilege because leading your country is a great honor but with it comes responsibility,” said Masood, whose captaincy tenure runs until May 2025.
“If results are good then I will serve, if not then I will be punished. I don’t run away from challenges and this coming series is also very challenging.”


Dembele dropped from PSG squad for Arsenal trip

Dembele dropped from PSG squad for Arsenal trip
Updated 30 September 2024
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Dembele dropped from PSG squad for Arsenal trip

Dembele dropped from PSG squad for Arsenal trip
  • Without the in-form Dembele, who has four goals and as many assists in six league games this season, PSG will rely more heavily on Bradley Barcola

LONDON: France forward Ousmane Dembele has been left out of Paris Saint-Germain’s squad for their Champions League game at Arsenal on Tuesday, a source close to the club told AFP.
Dembele’s absence is not injury-related but “a decision of the coach” Luis Enrique, the source told AFP.
It appears to be a disciplinary measure following a heated exchange between Luis Enrique and Dembele after Friday’s 3-1 win over Rennes in Ligue 1, according to sports daily L’Equipe.
Without the in-form Dembele, who has four goals and as many assists in six league games this season, PSG will rely more heavily on Bradley Barcola.
Barcola is the leading scorer in the French top flight this term with six goals, two of which came in the victory over Rennes.
Marco Asensio is in a race against time to be fit after picking up an injury in PSG’s Champions League opener against Girona two weeks ago.


3-Soccer-World Cup winner Griezmann announces shock retirement from French national team

3-Soccer-World Cup winner Griezmann announces shock retirement from French national team
Updated 30 September 2024
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3-Soccer-World Cup winner Griezmann announces shock retirement from French national team

3-Soccer-World Cup winner Griezmann announces shock retirement from French national team
  • The 33-year-old, who struggled at this year’s Euros, was one of the key elements in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup campaigns as Les Bleus took the title in Russia and finished runners-up in Qatar

PARIS: France midfielder Antoine Griezmann announced the end of his international career on Monday after being coach Didier Deschamps’s most important player for a decade, during which he won a World Cup title.
The 33-year-old, who struggled at this year’s Euros, was one of the key elements in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup campaigns as Les Bleus took the title in Russia and finished runners-up in Qatar.
“Today, it is with deep emotion that I’m announcing my retirement as a player of the France team,” the Atletico Madrid player said on social media.
“After 10 incredible years marked by challenges, successes and unforgettable moments, it is time for me to turn a page and make way for the new generation.
“Wearing this jersey was an honor and a privilege.”
’Grizou’, a favorite among his teammates and fans, was also the top scorer at Euro 2016 when France reached the final, only to be beaten by Portugal after extra time at the Stade de France.
Griezmann won 137 caps for France, scoring 44 goals, and imposed himself as a versatile player in Deschamps’s midfield and even if the captain’s armband went to Kylian Mbappe after Hugo Lloris’s international retirement, he was always a voice everyone listened to.
He played a French record of 84 consecutive matches with Les Bleus, a number that underlines his status as the national team’s most valuable player in the last 10 years. “We’ve had a long discussion about (his retirement) recently. Since his debut in the France team 10 years ago we’ve had a relationship based on trust and frankness,” Deschamps said in a statement.
“Even if his club career is not over, Antoine will remain a monument of French football, one of the greatest player in its history.
“It was often said that he was my favorite. We indeed had built a very strong relationship, that will remain intact. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything, Grizou.”
A man who was always thankful for a sometimes thankless role, Griezmann is the second top player to retire from international football after Olivier Giroud, the team’s all-time top scorer, hung up his France boots after the 2-1 defeat by Spain in this year’s Euro semifinals. Griezmann, who also helped France win the 2021 Nations League, is the team’s fourth all-time goal scorer.
He has made more than 500 appearances in LaLiga with Real Sociedad, Atletico and Barcelona.
This season, he has scored three goals in nine games in all competitions for Atletico.


Dubai BC secures big win over Slovenia’s Cedevita Olimpija

Dubai BC secures big win over Slovenia’s Cedevita Olimpija
Updated 30 September 2024
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Dubai BC secures big win over Slovenia’s Cedevita Olimpija

Dubai BC secures big win over Slovenia’s Cedevita Olimpija
  • The team will be searching for their third straight win when they take on Serbia’s Mega MIS next weekend

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball Club secured their first away victory and second consecutive win in Europe’s ABA League after beating Slovenia’s Cedevita Olimpija 92-84 on Sunday night.

Dubai BC tipped off at the Arena Stozice and put on a solid team performance as they looked to build on their debut win against defending champions Crvena Zvezda last weekend.

Playing in his homeland, Dubai captain Klemen Prepelic led from the front with 23 points including five rebounds, four assists and two steals, while dynamic duo Nate Mason (20 and seven assists) and Isaiah Taylor (10) also hit double figures.

Jacorey Williams dominated in the paint with nine rebounds and 6 points, along with a stellar defensive performance that helped keep Cedevita Olimpija’s star and NBA veteran Devin Robinson, to only 14 points.

Prepelic opened the game with a jump shot and added to his tally with two free throws to give Dubai an early lead. Despite the hosts levelling the score, Dubai’s captain added to his points tally with a 7-4 run, before taking complete control of the game. Cedevita Olimpija had no answers for Nate Mason, who put up 8 first-quarter points, extending the lead to 29-17. The momentum didn’t stop there, as the visitors went into half-time with a healthy 63-42 lead.

After scoring 20 points in the third quarter, Dubai Basketball rallied to hold off Cedevita Olimpija, with Prepelic and Williams adding to the team’s tally to secure the 92-84 win — a result that sees Dubai BC shocking the league with an incredible start to the inaugural season.

Head Coach Jurica Golemac had nothing but praise for his players.

“It was a dominant game,” he said. “We controlled it for 35 to 37 minutes and the players stuck to everything we agreed on. Cedevita Olimpija is a difficult opponent so we knew we had to be very energetic, maintain a very high intensity, which is difficult to do for 40 minutes.

“Overall, I am satisfied. When we saw the games schedule everyone said let's go and win the first two, which we have done. We all want to be very competitive and aggressive and not think about being beaten.”

He added: “We have high ambitions. I told my players in the locker room that small games are the biggest games. We have played these two games where we were not favorites, now we have Mega, then Borac Cacak next and we now need to rest and work well in training for those games.”

Dubai BC play their next game at home, at the Coca-Cola Arena, against Serbia’s Mega MIS on Saturday, Oct. 5.


Al-Qurashi, Mustafa win at Saudi Toyota Championship

Al-Qurashi, Mustafa win at Saudi Toyota Championship
Updated 30 September 2024
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Al-Qurashi, Mustafa win at Saudi Toyota Championship

Al-Qurashi, Mustafa win at Saudi Toyota Championship

RIYADH: The first contest of the 2024 Saudi Toyota Karting Championship concluded at the Dirab Karting Circuit in Riyadh on Saturday with Abdulrazzaq Suleiman Al-Qurashi and Malik Firas Mustafa winning the junior and senior categories respectively.

The one-day event, with eight drivers participating, was organized by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation.

It was sponsored by Jameel Motorsports and Saudi Investment Bank, in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports.

In the junior category at the FunXtreme track, Al-Qurashi finished first in 1 hour, 1 minute, 7 seconds, while Tameem Firas Mustafa came second in 1:02.22.

Mustafa won the senior category in 59.79, Khalid Abdullah Al-Zaid came second in 59.778, and Lyth Maher Momenah third in 59.896.