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US coach expects exciting displays from team at International Basketball Week in Abu Dhabi

The US national basketball team will play two exhibition matches in Abu Dhabi. (Supplied)
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Updated 15 August 2023
Michelle Kuehn
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US coach expects exciting displays from team at International Basketball Week in Abu Dhabi

  • Americans to take on Greece, Germany at Etihad Arena in preparation for 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila
  • Steve Kerr: You see the improvement of the players throughout the Middle East and of course the Arab national teams (Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan) that have qualified for the FIBA World Cup
Updated 15 August 2023
Michelle Kuehn

ABU DHABI: US national team coach Steve Kerr has revealed his excitement at taking part in two preparation matches against Greece and Germany in Abu Dhabi ahead of the start of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila on Aug. 26.

The Americans demolished Puerto Rico 117-74 in their first exhibition game in Las Vegas on Aug. 9, and followed it up with victories over Slovenia and Spain in Malaga before arriving in the UAE capital for International Basketball Week.

It will be the first time the US national team has played in Abu Dhabi, taking on Greece on Aug. 18 and Germany on Aug. 20.

Kerr said: “We are very excited to play in Abu Dhabi. I think a couple of the guys have been here because they played in the NBA (National Basketball Association) pre-season games last year.

“I have never been here, so I am excited to bring the team and I hope our team gives the fans a chance to see a lot of the players that they already know from watching the NBA, and that we make basketball even more popular in Abu Dhabi.”

Bobby Portis, the 28-year-old, 6ft 11in Milwaukee Bucks guard will make his debut with Team USA on his return to Abu Dhabi for a second time after playing last year in the NBA pre-season games which saw the Milwaukee Bucks take on the Atlanta Hawks at the Etihad Arena.

He said: “Speaking on my time there in Abu Dhabi back in October last year, obviously it is always different going to a new environment that you have never been to, and it was great going to a new culture, and they are big time basketball fans that don’t get a chance to see us that much in person.

“So being able to go there, and put on two games against the Hawks, I had a great time, and the fan support was crazy. The arena was sold out and packed, I am excited for this time as well. Representing my country for the first time, it is going to be great,” he added.

The International Basketball Week showcase will take place at Etihad Arena with games involving Egypt, Lebanon, and Mexico starting on Aug. 17. And with three Arab countries qualifying for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Kerr noted that it was a sign of the sport’s growth in the region.

“It is very exciting for me to see the progress of basketball in the Middle East. When I was there in high school, we would play games against the different clubs. I was playing for the Cairo American College, and we would play some of the (local) clubs.

“At the time, basketball wasn’t very popular, so we would win those games. Now you watch and see the improvement of the players throughout the Middle East and of course the Arab national teams (Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan) that have qualified for the 2023 FIBA World Cup,” Kerr added.

DCT Abu Dhabi and the NBA entered a multi-year strategic partnership last year, and the NBA will return for two pre-season games this year featuring the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 5 and 7 at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island. Several of the NBA players set for a return in October will be representing their home countries in the USA Basketball Showcase at the weekend.

Kerr said: “We really need these exhibition games that we are playing. We had one in Las Vegas, two in Malaga, and the two in Abu Dhabi before we get into the tournament.

“These games are really important, maybe the Abu Dhabi games are the most important given that those are the lead-in games to the tournament, and we will have been together as a team for a couple of weeks.

“So, I think those games should be really good indicators of where we are as a team, and we are playing two great teams as well with Greece and Germany. It is very exciting for us,” he added.

Portis said he was looking forward to playing against NBA players from rival nations.

“I think our team is great, we are trying to get better daily. Obviously playing against Germany in Abu Dhabi is going to be great, with Dennis Schroder (Toronto Raptors) and the Wagner brothers (Orlando Magic) – they have a lot of guys that play in the NBA that we respect a lot.

“Obviously when these guys play for their countries, they are different players than they are in the NBA. You have to be prepared for it, and we are ready for it,” Portis added.

Team USA players that will be appearing in Abu Dhabi this weekend:

Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets

Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans

Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets

Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks

Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers

Topics: 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup United States of America (USA) Steve Kerr

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Al-Khaleej stun Al-Hilal with comeback win

Updated 23 November 2024
John Duerden
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Al-Khaleej stun Al-Hilal with comeback win

  • Defeat was first for reigning champions in the league in 46 games since May 2023
Updated 23 November 2024
John Duerden

RIYADH: Al-Hilal lost 3-2 at Al-Khaleej on Saturday, a result made even more stunning as the all-conquering champions had been winning 2-0.

It is a defeat, a first in the league in 46 games since May 2023, that not only blows the title race wide open but shows that the champions are not invincible.

Al-Ittihad will go two points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League if they beat Al-Fateh on Sunday. It also means that Al-Nassr stay five points behind and are not out of the running.

The Blues had the better of the play from the beginning and few were surprised when Marcos Leonardo put the leaders ahead after just 12 minutes.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic won the ball on the edge of the area as Khaleej tried to play out from the back and there was Leonardo to stroke a low shot home.

Eight minutes before the break, Aleksandar Mitrovic struck with his 12th goal in the SPL this season. Salem Al-Dawsari, such a big miss for Saudi Arabia in recent World Cup qualifiers, curled over a corner and there was the Serbian striker to head home.

It seemed to be all over but then the hosts were handed a lifeline on the stroke of half time. Kalidou Koulibaly made a clumsy challenge in the area and while Yassine Bounou saved the penalty from Konstantinos Fortounis, Abdullah Al-Salem reacted the quickest to shoot the rebound home.

Al-Salem stunned Al-Hilal soon after the restart with a stunning goal. The hosts made uncharacteristic defensive mistakes and Khalid Narey fed the ball  to the 31 year-old who chipped Bounou delightfully from the right side of the area.

With five minutes remaining, Fabio Martins side footed home from another Narey assist to provoke wild celebrations as Al-Khaleej move into sixth. Al-Hilal stay top but maybe not for much longer.

 

Topics: football soccer Saudi Pro League (SPL) Saudi Arabia SPL Al-Hilal SPL Al-Khaleej

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Spurs thrash Man City 4-0 to end 52-match unbeaten home run

Updated 23 November 2024
AFP
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Spurs thrash Man City 4-0 to end 52-match unbeaten home run

  • James Maddison struck twice in seven first-half minutes before Pedro Porro rubbed salt in the wounds of his former club and Brennan Johnson completed the rout
  • City’s first defeat on home soil from open play since the eve of the 2022 World Cup leaves them still five points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool
Updated 23 November 2024
AFP

MANCHESTER: Manchester City crashed to a stunning fifth consecutive defeat as Tottenham won 4-0 at the Etihad to end the English champions’ 52-game unbeaten home run on Saturday.
James Maddison struck twice in seven first-half minutes before Pedro Porro rubbed salt in the wounds of his former club and Brennan Johnson completed the rout.
City’s first defeat on home soil from open play since the eve of the 2022 World Cup leaves them still five points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool, who play their game in hand at bottom-of-the-table Southampton on Sunday.
A great day for Tottenham eases the pressure on Ange Postecoglou as they climb into the top six.
City boss Pep Guardiola has committed himself to turning around the poorest run of his managerial career after extending his contract till 2027 this week.
But hopes his new deal could revitalize a City side, that have won an unprecedented four consecutive Premier League titles, proved short-lived.
Rodri paraded his Ballon d’Or trophy to the home fans before kick-off as his name was lit up across the Etihad pitch by firelight in an ostentatious show of support for the Spanish midfielder.
The 28-year-old is not expected to play again this season after suffering knee ligament damage in September and his absence has been at the heart of City’s demise.
Guardiola’s men did start strongly as Guglielmo Vicario denied Erling Haaland and the Norwegian had another shot deflected wide.
But the momentum of the match completely swung on Tottenham’s first serious attack after 13 minutes.
Dejan Kulusevski’s teasing cross picked out Maddison who applied a cool first-time finish.
Maddison had found himself frozen out of Postecoglou’s starting line-up in recent weeks and was keen to prove a point to his manager.
Son Heung-min’s inventive pass freed the England international inside the box and he dinked the ball over the advancing Ederson to double Spurs’ lead.
Inconsistency has been the scourge of Tottenham’s season so far.
A 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich before the international break saw Postecoglou’s men slip to 10th in the table.
But they have now twice won comprehensively in Manchester after a 3-0 win over United at Old Trafford.
Dominic Solanke was denied by a fine Ederson save with the chance to make it 3-0 before half-time.
Spurs, though, were not to be denied seven minutes into the second period.
The excellent Kulusevski crossed for Solanke and he patiently laid the ball back for Porro to blast home from close range.
Haaland clipped the bar from an almost impossible angle as City labored to find a response.
Instead, they were hit with one final sucker punch as Timo Werner eased past Kyle Walker and crossed for Johnson to tap home at the far post.
The one glimmer of hope for City may be the return of Kevin De Bruyne after a two-month injury absence as a late substitute.
However, Guardiola has to find solutions fast if his side’s title defense is to be maintained into the new year.
A daunting trip to face Liverpool at Anfield is next up in the Premier League, where City have not won in front of a crowd since 2003.

Topics: Manchester city Tottenham Hotspur Pep Guardiola James Maddison

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Odegaard inspires Arsenal to reignite title hopes

Updated 23 November 2024
AFP
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Odegaard inspires Arsenal to reignite title hopes

  • Victory at the Emirates lifts them to 22 points, level with third-placed Chelsea
  • Captain Odegaard was making his first appearance at the Emirates since late August and showed what a huge miss he was for Arsenal
Updated 23 November 2024
AFP

LONDON: Mikel Arteta said his Arsenal team “flows in a different way” when Martin Odegaard is playing after the Gunners crushed Nottingham Forest 3-0 on Saturday to end their winless run.
Stunning strikes from Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey and a first Premier League goal for teenager Ethan Nwaneri gave Arsenal a first victory in five league games, reigniting their title challenge.
Arsenal, Premier League runners-up for the past two seasons, started the campaign strongly but their form dipped and they kicked off on Saturday nine points behind leaders Liverpool.
Victory at the Emirates lifts them to 22 points, level with third-placed Chelsea.
Arsenal took the lead in the 15th minute when Saka exchanged passes with Odegaard on the edge of the area before lashing a left-footed shot into the roof of the net.
Captain Odegaard was making his first appearance at the Emirates since late August and showed what a huge miss he was for Arsenal during his two-month injury absence.
Time and again the Norwegian found space in the penalty area with his quick feet and he teed up Gabriel Jesus, who curled narrowly wide, before linking up with Saka again.
Partey doubled Arsenal’s lead early in the second half after collecting Saka’s pass 20 yards out and taking a touch, before curling his shot away from the dive of Matz Sels and inside the far post.
Seventeen-year-old Nwaneri tucked away Raheem Sterling’s cutback to wrap up an emphatic win in the 86th minute.
“I think we started really well,” Arteta told the BBC. “The sense I was getting in the last 48 hours after the international break, the boys coming together and were all at it.”
Speaking about Odegaard, who returned to action at Inter Milan earlier this month, he said: “It’s not a coincidence. The team flows in a different way when he is playing.”
And he also had warm words for Nwaneri.
“He is the second-youngest (Premier League goalscorer) in our history,” Arteta said. “That’s a story in itself.
“He’s brave. You see the reaction of fans and they were singing ‘He’s one of our own’. I think we have to put brick by brick and make sure the cement doesn’t get dry. Hopefully we can build a beautiful thing with him.”

Topics: Arsenal english Premier League Martin Odegaard

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Riyadh retains Chestertons polo title in Dubai

Updated 23 November 2024
Arab News
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Riyadh retains Chestertons polo title in Dubai

  • Saudi team secures 6-5 victory over Egyptian opponents in final match
Updated 23 November 2024
Arab News

DUBAI: The Riyadh polo team have successfully defended their title as Chestertons MENA Polo in the Park champions for a second year after defeating their Cairo rivals in Dubai on Saturday.
The Saudi team secured a 6-5 victory over their Egyptian opponents in the final match, which was held at Dubai’s Desert Palm Polo Club.
Amr Zidan, chairman of the Saudi Polo Federation, awarded the championship trophy to Khalid Al-Omran, the Riyadh team captain.
Representing Riyadh alongside Al-Omran were Rayan Al-Ajaji, and professional players Santos Iriarte (Argentina) and Guillermo Li (Peru).
The tournament featured four teams: Riyadh, Cairo, London, and Dubai.
It was the second Chestersons Polo in the Park event to be held in the Middle East after having been held in London for over a decade.

Topics: Riyadh polo team Saudi Polo Federation

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Andy Murray to coach Novak Djokovic

Updated 23 November 2024
AFP
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Andy Murray to coach Novak Djokovic

  • “I’m thrilled to have one of my biggest rivals on the same side of the net with me, this time as my coach,” Djokovic said
  • Murray said: “I am very excited about this and look forward to being on the same side of the net for a change”
Updated 23 November 2024
AFP

BELGRADE: Novak Djokovic announced on Saturday that his retired long-time rival Andy Murray is joining the 24-time Grand Slam-winning player’s coaching team, starting at the Australian Open in January.
“I’m thrilled to have one of my biggest rivals on the same side of the net with me, this time as my coach. I look forward to starting the season with Andy and having him by my side in Melbourne, where we’ve shared many exceptional moments throughout our careers,” Djokovic said in a statement.
Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion who retired from competitive tennis in August, said: “I am very excited about this and look forward to being on the same side of the net for a change.
“I’m also grateful for the opportunity to help him achieve his goals for the upcoming year.”

Djokovic posted a video on X of him and Murray during the Scotsman’s playing career, jokingly titled: “He never liked retirement anyway.”
The 37-year-old Serb has won the Australian Open a record 10 times, defeating Murray in four finals.
Djokovic failed to win a Grand Slam in 2024 and has slipped to seventh in the world, although he did land the Olympic singles title in Paris.

Topics: Novak Djokovic Andy Murray

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