Sports
Three Talking Points From The Premier League’s Opening Weekend
Published
2 years agoon
By
Editor
Manchester City showed why they remain the team to beat on the Premier League’s return this weekend as the English champions cruised to a 3-0 win at Burnley.
Arsenal got their title challenge off to a winning start, but had to survive a nervy finish in beating Nottingham Forest 2-1.
The game of the weekend ended in a 1-1 draw between Chelsea and Liverpool, while Tottenham were also held 2-2 at Brentford in their first taste of life without Harry Kane.
AFP Sport looks at three talking points from the opening weekend of the season:
Caicedo chase explained
Moises Caicedo of Brighton & Hove Albion looks on during the Premier League Summer Series match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United at Red Bull Arena on July 28, 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
READ ALSO: Transfer: Lukaku Set To Return To Chelsea As Talks With Inter Collapse
Chelsea and Liverpool took their battle in the transfer market for the signature of Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo onto the pitch at Stamford Bridge.
But both sides showed why they are willing to break the Premier League transfer record by spending at least £110 million ($140 million) for the Ecuadorian.
Liverpool started without a recognised defensive midfielder and an attack-minded front six looked slick early on as Luis Diaz gave the visitors the lead.
Chelsea, though, were soon able to pick the Reds’ defence apart with ease and could easily have given Mauricio Pochettino a dream start as Blues boss.
Pochettino’s midfield options have been decimated by a clearout to trim down a bloated squad.
And they appear the front-runners to land Caicedo with Stamford Bridge the 21-year-old’s preferred destination.
READ ALSO: Man City To Receive Highest Bonus As FIFA Pays Clubs For World Cup Participation
Mind over matter for City
man-city-burnley
Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (R) speaks to his players during the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor in Burnley, north-west England on August 11, 2023. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP) /
City ended last season over a month after Burnley had concluded their Championship campaign, but a lack of preparation time for the new season did not show on opening night.
Pep Guardiola insisted the champions are far from their physical best.
“We are still away from our best form but we have to try to not drop points in this period with this amount of games,” said Guardiola.
“How you solve this lack of preparation is a question of mentality.”
But Erling Haaland’s finishing was as sharp as ever to ensure there was no slip-up from City.
The Norwegian took just over three minutes of the new season to find the net before smashing home a sumptuous second off the underside of the bar.
READ ALSO: EPL: Arteta Picks Arsenal Player To Replace Gabriel Jesus
Newcastle flex strength in depth
newcastle-
Newcastle United’s Swedish striker #14 Alexander Isak (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Aston Villa at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on August 12, 2023. (Photo by Ian Hodgson / AFP)
As many of the game’s biggest names chased the riches on offer in the Gulf in recent months, Saudi-backed Newcastle have again resisted the temptation to splash out on stars.
However, Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes enjoyed dream debuts in a 5-1 demolition of Aston Villa that exemplified the new-found strength in depth on offer to Eddie Howe.
Tonali smashed home just six minutes into his St James’ Park bow after a cross from Anthony Gordon, who had started ahead of Barnes.
Howe’s decision to select Alexander Isak over Callum Wilson was also rewarded with two goals by the Swede.
But Barnes made a stunning impact off the bench as he teed up Wilson for Newcastle’s fourth before rounding off the scoring in stoppage time.
The Magpies will need a stronger squad as the demands of a first Champions League campaign for 20 years kick in.
On this evidence, though, their rise since the Saudi Public Investment Fund took charge under two years ago shows no sign of stopping.
AFP
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Sports
Edo Sports Commission Liaises With Education Ministry To Support President Unity Cup, Other
Published
15 hours agoon
September 17, 2025By
Editor
Edo State Sports Commission has expressed readiness to liaise with the state Ministry Education in giving the necessary backing to this year’s President Unity Cup and Chief of Naval Staff Tournament.
Executive Chairman of the commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, expressed the commission’s readiness on Wednesday when he played host to national leadership of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), led by its National Secretary, Mr. Patrick Okpavuerhe.
He expressed the commission’s readiness after the YSFON National Secretary requested Edo State to host this year’s President Unity Cup, scheduled for September 25 to October 1, 2025, or alternatively, the Chief of Naval Staff Tournament.
Represented by Executive Director representing Edo Central at the commission, Barr. Anthony Ikuenobe, Enabulele assured the YSFON members of the commission’s readiness to collaborate.
READ ALSO:Edo Sports Commission Chairman Felicitates Tenebe On Birthday
“The Commission will review past correspondences and liaise with the Ministry of Education to support these tournaments.
“Edo remains committed to youth and grassroots sports development,” Ikuenobe said.
Earlier, Okpavuerhe commended Hon. Enabulele for his remarkable strides in youth sports development, particularly Edo’s impressive record in grassroots football.
According to him, the decision of Edo to host any of the tournaments “was taken during our last Central Working Committee meeting in recognition of Edo’s outstanding contributions to grassroots sports.”
READ ALSO:Edo Sports Commission Boss Celebrates Okpehbolo On Birthday
He explained that the President Unity Cup, first held in 1982 after former President Shehu Shagari donated the trophy, has become a platform to celebrate President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria’s independence through sports, fostering national unity.
Founded in 1965, YSFON also highlighted its successful organisation of the Under-14 Boys and Under-17 Girls Chief of Naval Staff Tournament, which has been held since 1999 but never hosted in Edo State.
“We are requesting Edo’s support in providing logistics upon approval. Our plan is to host the Chief of Naval Staff Tournament in Benin City, using the President Unity Cup as a test run,” Okpavuerhe added.
READ ALSO:NSF: Aim For Top Honours, Edo Sports Commission Boss Charges Coaches, Others
Also speaking, Alhaji Ahmed Abdullah, YSFON’s National Welfare Officer and Acting National Organising Secretary, also praised Edo’s strong showing at the recently concluded National Youth Games in Asaba, describing the state as “one of Nigeria’s foremost promoters of grassroots sports development.”
Others present at the meeting included Mr. Kali Gwegwe (Vice President, YSFON South-South Zone), Mr. Osagiede Osamudiamen (Chairman, Edo State YSFON), Mr. Harrison Iyonmana (Secretary, Edo State YSFON), and Mr. Benmore Omoregieva (Welfare Officer, Edo State YSFON).
Sports
Edo Cricket Association Presents Indoor Facility Designs To Sports Commission Boss
Published
15 hours agoon
September 17, 2025By
Editor
The Edo State Cricket Association on Wednesday formally presented the proposed structural and mechanical designs for an Indoor Cricket Facility in Edo State to the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele.
The presentation marks a significant step in advancing cricket infrastructure in the state, aligning with Edo’s broader vision of strengthening grassroots sports development.
READ ALSO:Enabulele Applauds Team Edo Deaf Athletes For Performance At W’Africa Championship
Those present at the presentation include: Theophilus A. Ibodeme (High Performance Coach and Manager), Osasu Agbonwanegbe (Senior Special Assistant to the President/Chairman, Nigerian Cricket Federation), Esosa Aghohowa (Technical Assistant/Coach) and Afari Abdulhamid (Coach/Field Officer).
Sports
EPL: Newcastle Cancels 103 Season Tickets Over Resale Breach
Published
2 days agoon
September 16, 2025By
Editor
Newcastle United have cancelled more than 100 season tickets and issued an apology to fans after uncovering a long-standing ticketing oversight involving unauthorised resales.
The club revealed that seats originally sold to tour organisers nearly a decade ago had continued to be used without detection until a recent internal investigation.
According to BBC Sports on Tuesday, the issue came to light after it was discovered that a school located almost 200 miles away had obtained tickets for Thursday’s high-demand Champions League fixture against Barcelona — a match that saw over 110,000 supporters join an online queue for the limited number of available seats.
The club explained that when the new owners took over four years ago, they ended agreements with third parties that allowed them to sell tickets.
READ ALSO:Isak Breaks Silence, Insists On Leaving Newcastle; Club Disagree
That included the deal agreed a decade ago with a small group of tour organisers “for the benefit of school groups” – but the club did not realise they were still selling tickets because there was no formal deal with the organisers.
“At a time when we are doing our utmost to protect legitimate access for Newcastle United fans, we want to be fully transparent and apologise for this oversight,” the club said.
Forty-five tickets for the Barcelona match were bought by the High School of Dundee in the same month that 110,000 fans had been in an online queue for the remaining seats for the highly anticipated fixture.
A spokesman for the school said they purchased them in good faith, after being “approached” by a provider, but the tickets were subsequently cancelled by the club.
READ ALSO:Transfer: Newcastle Drops Isak For Pre-season Friendly Against Arsenal
Newcastle have now terminated a total of 103 season tickets in recent days for breaching terms and conditions.
The club says the latest situation does not relate to individual supporters re-selling their tickets for St James’ in “this instance”.
The tour organisers bought the season tickets in the 2015-16 campaign.
United stressed that the continued use and unauthorised resale of season tickets at a “higher package price” was not discovered because there was “no formal contract in place for the tour groups”.
READ ALSO:
“Upon being made aware of this issue, the club took immediate action,” a statement read.
“The club have not received any funds above the face value price of these season tickets and have immediately returned the seats for sale to supporters who have entered the official ballot for upcoming fixtures.”
The Newcastle United Supporters’ Trust previously “welcomed” the club “taking visible action to deter and penalise those who may be profiteering from other fans”.
“Along with the rise in ticket prices, according to our annual survey, one of the biggest concerns for Newcastle fans is reduced ticket availability due, not only to high demand, but the selling of tickets through third-party sites or other unauthorised means,” it added last week.
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