Tennis Scores & Schedule

May 28, 2023

Tennis Scores & Schedule

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Tennis Scores & Schedule

French Open

ATP World Tour / Men’s Singles / Round of 128

Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia, seeded WC is currently playing Daniel Evans of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, seeded 20. The current score is 5-3. . Current server is Daniel Evans
Patrick Kypson of United States of America, seeded WC is currently playing Radu Albot of Moldova, Republic of, seeded Q. The current score is 3-6, 2-6, current set: 0-0. . Current server is Radu Albot
Sebastian Ofner of Austria, seeded Q is currently playing Maxime Cressy of United States of America. The current score is 6-4, 7-6, current set: 0-0. . Current server is Maxime Cressy
Karen Khachanov of Russian Federation, seeded 11 is currently playing Constant Lestienne of France. The current score is 3-6, 1-6, current set: 1-2. Current game: 30-G. Current server is Constant Lestienne
David Goffin of Belgium is currently playing Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, seeded 13. The current score is 3-6, 7-5, current set: 2-1. Current game is at deuce. Current server is Hubert Hurkacz
Pedro Martinez of Spain, seeded Q is currently playing Tallon Griekspoor of Netherlands. The current score is 4-6, 6-2, current set: 4-0. . Current server is Tallon Griekspoor
Marton Fucsovics of Hungary is currently playing Hugo Grenier of France, seeded WC. The current score is 4-1. . Current server is Hugo Grenier
Jiri Vesely of Czech Republic is currently playing Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, seeded 5. The current score is 2-1. Current game: Love-15. Current server is Jiri Vesely
Jason Kubler of Australia is scheduled to play Facundo Diaz Acosta of Argentina, seeded LL, at 12:05. First server will be TBD
Mackenzie McDonald of United States of America is scheduled to play Sebastian Korda of United States of America, seeded 24, at 12:20. First server will be TBD
Matteo Arnaldi of Italy is scheduled to play Daniel Elahi Galan of Colombia, at 12:20. First server will be TBD
John Isner of United States of America is scheduled to play Nuno Borges of Portugal, at 12:30. First server will be TBD
Laslo Djere of Serbia is scheduled to play Andrey Rublev of Russian Federation, seeded 7, at 13:30. First server will be TBD
Arthur Cazaux of France, seeded WC is scheduled to play Corentin Moutet of France, at 13:30. First server will be TBD
Ben Shelton of United States of America, seeded 30 is scheduled to play Lorenzo Sonego of Italy, at 13:30. First server will be TBD
Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain is scheduled to play Emilio Nava of United States of America, seeded Q, at 13:30. First server will be TBD
Alexander Shevchenko of Russian Federation is scheduled to play Oscar Otte of Germany, at 15:00. First server will be TBD
Lucas Pouille of France, seeded Q is scheduled to play Jurij Rodionov of Austria, seeded LL, at 15:00. First server will be TBD
Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, seeded 17 is scheduled to play Mikael Ymer of Sweden, at 15:00. First server will be TBD
Adrian Mannarino of France is scheduled to play Ugo Humbert of France, at 18:00. First server will be TBD

WTA Tour / Women’s Singles / Round of 128

Panna Udvardy of Hungary is currently playing Iryna Shymanovich of Belarus, seeded Q. The current score is 7-6, 3-6, current set: 0-0. . Current server is Iryna Shymanovich
Nuria Parrizas Diaz of Spain is currently playing Storm Hunter of Australia, seeded Q. The current score is 6-4, 2-6, current set: 4-2. . Current server is Storm Hunter
Magdalena Frech of Poland defeats Shuai Zhang of China PR, seeded 29. 1-6, 1-6
Nadia Podoroska of Argentina defeats Jessika Ponchet of France, seeded WC. 6-0, 5-2
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, seeded 2 defeats Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine. 3-6, 2-6
Maria Sakkari of Greece, seeded 8 is scheduled to play Karolina Muchova of Czech Republic, at 12:00. First server will be TBD
Sara Bejlek of Czech Republic, seeded Q is scheduled to play Kamilla Rakhimova of Russian Federation, at 12:30. First server will be TBD
Magda Linette of Poland, seeded 21 is scheduled to play Leylah Fernandez of Canada, at 13:00. First server will be TBD
Elise Mertens of Belgium, seeded 28 is scheduled to play Viktoria Hruncakova of Slovakia, seeded LL, at 13:30. First server will be TBD
Leolia Jeanjean of France, seeded WC is scheduled to play Kimberly Birrell of Australia, seeded WC, at 13:30. First server will be TBD
Clara Tauson of Denmark, seeded Q is scheduled to play Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus, at 13:30. First server will be TBD
Alize Cornet of France is scheduled to play Camila Giorgi of Italy, at 13:30. First server will be TBD
Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia, seeded Q is scheduled to play Qinwen Zheng of China PR, seeded 19, at 14:00. First server will be TBD
Taylor Townsend of United States of America, seeded Q is scheduled to play Anastasia Potapova of Russian Federation, seeded 24, at 14:00. First server will be TBD
Danielle Collins of United States of America is scheduled to play Jessica Pegula of United States of America, seeded 3, at 15:30. First server will be TBD
Anna Bondar of Hungary is scheduled to play Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania, seeded 27, at 15:30. First server will be TBD
Mayar Sherif of Egypt is scheduled to play Madison Brengle of United States of America, at 15:30. First server will be TBD
Jule Niemeier of Germany is scheduled to play Daria Kasatkina of Russian Federation, seeded 9, at 15:30. First server will be TBD
Liudmila Samsonova of Russian Federation, seeded 15 is scheduled to play Katie Volynets of United States of America, at 15:30. First server will be TBD
Sara Errani of Italy is scheduled to play Jil Teichmann of Switzerland, at 15:30. First server will be TBD

UAMS Health Little Rock Open

ATP Challenger Tour / Men’s Singles / Qualifying 1st Round

Mateus De Carvalho Cardoso Alves of Brazil is scheduled to play Omni Kumar of United States of America, at 16:00. First server will be TBD
Maks Kasnikowski of Poland is scheduled to play Rubin Statham of New Zealand, at 16:00. First server will be TBD
Peter Gojowczyk of Germany is scheduled to play Alafia Ayeni of United States of America, at 16:00. First server will be TBD
Giles Hussey of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is scheduled to play Nick Chappell of United States of America, at 17:30. First server will be TBD
Colin Markes of United States of America is scheduled to play Strong Kirchheimer of United States of America, at 17:30. First server will be TBD
Beibit Zhukayev of Kazakhstan is scheduled to play Kris Van Wyk of South Africa, at 17:30. First server will be TBD
Donald Young of United States of America is scheduled to play Mukund Sasikumar of British Indian Ocean Territory, at 19:00. First server will be TBD
Christian Langmo of United States of America is scheduled to play Gustavo Heide of Brazil, at 19:00. First server will be TBD
Adam Walton of Australia is scheduled to play Gabriele Brancatelli of United States of America, at 19:00. First server will be TBD
Duarte Vale of Portugal is scheduled to play Alex Bolt of Australia, at 20:30. First server will be TBD
Marius Copil of Romania is scheduled to play TBD , at 20:30. First server will be TBD
Tristan Mccormick of United States of America is scheduled to play Bernard Tomic of Australia, at 20:30. First server will be TBD

UK Premier Tennis Series Week 7

Regional / Men’s Singles / Group Stage

Regional / Women’s Singles / Group Stage

Saturn Oil Open

ATP Challenger Tour / Men’s Singles / Qualifying 1st Round

Oriol Roca-Batalla of Spain defeats Ramkumar Ramanathan of British Indian Ocean Territory. 6-2, 6-2
Robert Strombachs of Latvia defeats Maxime Janvier of France. 6-3, 6-4
Marvin Moeller of Germany defeats Vladyslav Orlov of Ukraine. 6-1, 6-3
Terence Atmane of France is scheduled to play John Sperle of Germany, at 11:00. First server will be TBD
Sumit Nagal of British Indian Ocean Territory is scheduled to play Sergey Fomin of Uzbekistan, at 11:00. First server will be TBD
Constantin Bittoun Kouzmine of France is scheduled to play Aldin Setkic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at 11:00. First server will be TBD
Benjamin Hassan of Lebanon is scheduled to play Hazem Naw of Syrian Arab Republic, at 12:30. First server will be TBD
Nick Hardt of Dominican Republic is scheduled to play Orlando Luz of Brazil, at 12:30. First server will be TBD
Liam Gavrielides of Germany is scheduled to play Manuel Guinard of France, at 12:30. First server will be TBD
Kenny de Schepper of France is scheduled to play Karl Friberg of Sweden, at 14:00. First server will be TBD
Renzo Olivo of Argentina is scheduled to play Jose Pereira of Brazil, at 14:00. First server will be TBD
Max Hans Rehberg of Germany is scheduled to play Louis Wessels of Germany, at 15:30. First server will be TBD

Trofeo FL Service – Citta di Vicenza

ATP Challenger Tour / Men’s Singles / Qualifying 1st Round

Roman Andres Burruchaga of Argentina defeats Ugo Blanchet of France. 7-5, 6-2
Vitaliy Sachko of Ukraine defeats Andrea Arnaboldi of Italy. 4-6, 2-6
Giovanni Fonio of Italy defeats Alexander Weis of Italy. 6-2, 6-4
Giovanni Oradini of Italy is scheduled to play Edoardo Lavagno of Italy, at 11:00. First server will be TBD
Alejandro Moro Canas of Spain is scheduled to play Francesco Forti of Italy, at 11:00. First server will be TBD
Luca Castagnola of Italy is scheduled to play Stefano Travaglia of Italy, at 11:00. First server will be TBD
Salvatore Caruso of Italy is scheduled to play Eduardo Ribeiro of Brazil, at 12:30. First server will be TBD
Lorenzo Giustino of Italy is scheduled to play Daniel Dutra da Silva of Brazil, at 12:30. First server will be TBD
Bor Artnak of Slovakia is scheduled to play Nerman Fatic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at 12:30. First server will be TBD
Edoardo Cherie Ligniere of Italy is scheduled to play Nino Serdarusic of Croatia, at 14:00. First server will be TBD
Maxime Chazal of France is scheduled to play Alvaro Lopez San Martin of Spain, at 14:00. First server will be TBD
Federico Gaio of Italy is scheduled to play Gabriele Bosio of Italy, at 14:00. First server will be TBD

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May 22, 2023

Spain has ‘problem’ with racism, says football federation chief after Vinicius abuse scandal

Post By zittrexstore World brazil, football, racism, Real-Madrid, Spain, Sport No Comments

Spanish prosecutors on Monday opened an investigation over racist chants aimed at Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior during a weekend match, according to a judicial source. The probe came as the head of Spain’s football federation admitted that the country has a “problem” with racism.

The prosecutor’s office in the eastern city of Valencia, where the match took place, is investigating the incident as a possible “hate crime”, a judicial source told AFP.

The investigation was launched after Real Madrid filed a criminal complaint with Spanish prosecutors over the racist abuse Vinicus Junior received during a weekend La Liga match.

Earlier Monday, Spain’s football federation chief Luis Rubiales said the country has a racism problem. “The first thing is to recognise that we have a problem in our country,” Rubiales said at a press conference in Madrid. It is “a serious problem that also stains an entire team, an entire fan base, an entire club, an entire country.”

The 22-year-old Brazilian international forward was targeted during a 1-0 defeat at Valencia on Sunday and was later sent off.

Vinicius issued a strongly worded statement afterwards saying that La Liga “belongs to racists” and several Brazilian players past and present offered their support.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned the abuse, telling a news conference at the close of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan: “He was attacked. He was called a ‘monkey’.”

Vinicius has frequently been targeted in La Liga and the latest incident came at Valencia’s Mestalla when he was racially abused by a home supporter.

Vinicius stood in front of fans behind the goal and pointed to the apparent culprit. Play was delayed for several minutes in the second half.

Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea spoke to stadium officials, who made an announcement calling for racist insults to stop before play resumed around 10 minutes later.

In his post-match report, the referee wrote that a fan shouted “monkey, monkey” at the player.

Vinicius was sent off in added time at the end of the game for hitting Hugo Duro during a brawl, with Valencia triumphing through Diego Lopez’s first-half goal.

Vinicius left the pitch making a gesture with his hands indicating Valencia were heading down to Spain’s second division.

Stop the game, says Ancelotti

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Spanish football needed to be prepared to halt matches.

“The Spanish league has a problem, and Vinicius is not the problem. Vinicius is the victim. There’s a very serious problem,” Ancelotti said.

“The fact I thought about taking him off because of the racist atmosphere does not seem good to me,” Ancelotti told reporters.

“What has happened today has happened before, but not like that, it’s unacceptable.”

Vinicius has been racially abused at several stadiums this season in Spain and an effigy of him was hung from a bridge in the Spanish capital by Atletico Madrid fans.

La Liga have filed legal complaints to Spanish authorities on multiple occasions this season, with the league pledging on Sunday to do so again after investigating.

However, Ancelotti said it was not helping.

“What has happened? Reports, and nothing at all has come from it. The solution is to stop the game,” said the veteran Italian.

Writing on Instagram, Vinicius said Spain was viewed as “a country of racists” in his homeland.

Não foi a primeira vez, nem a segunda e nem a terceira. O racismo é o normal na La Liga. A competição acha normal, a Federação também e os adversários incentivam. Lamento muito. O campeonato que já foi de Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano e Messi hoje é dos racistas. Uma nação…
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) May 21, 2023

“The prize for the racists today is that they have sent me off. It’s not football, it’s La Liga,” he said.

“The league that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano (Ronaldo) and Messi now belongs to racists,” added Vinicius.

Spain has a “problem” with racism, the head of the Spain’s football federation said Monday.

“We have a problem, we must first recognise that we have a problem of behaviour, of education, of racism,” Luis Rubiales told reporters at the federation’s headquarters near Madrid.

“As long as there is just one fan, a single undesirable, or group of undesirables who hurl insults over someone’s sexual orientation, or skin colour, we have a serious problem.”

The Spanish top flight said they have been “proactive” in previous cases of racism against Vinicius, filing nine complaints with relevant authorities and prosecutors.

‘Love and support’

Vinicius has received widespread support.

Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said he heard “monkey noises” after about 20 minutes of the game and said he would have walked off with Vinicius if the Brazilian chose to stop playing.

“If Vini wants to keep playing, we keep playing, but if Vini says he’s not playing any more, I’m leaving the pitch with him because we cannot tolerate these things,” Courtois told Movistar.

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand said Vinicius needed more protection from Spain’s football authorities.

“I see pain, I see disgust, I see him needing help,” he wrote on Instagram.

There was anger among many in Brazil.

President Lula called for FIFA and the Spanish league to take “serious measures”.

“It’s unjust that a poor kid who’s done so well in life, who may be on his way to becoming the best in the world — he’s certainly the best at Real Madrid – gets insulted at every stadium where he plays,” he said in Japan.

On Twitter, Brazilian Football Confederation president Ednaldo Rodrigues said: “Vini Jr., you have our love and support, and that of all Brazilians.”

The forward’s fellow Brazilian international Richarlison, retired legend Ronaldo and music icon Gilberto Gil were among those who condemned the racist treatment he has received in Spain.

“Another episode of racism in La Liga. And once again Vini Jr. is the victim. How long will this last?” the 46-year-old Ronaldo wrote on Instagram.

“As long as there’s impunity and complicity … Enough.”

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

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May 17, 2023

Football, family and hope: The Qasimi family’s journey from Quetta to Cranbourne West

Post By zittrexstore World Australia, football, Muslim, Pakistan, refugee, world cup No Comments

Teenager Mohammad Qasimi was at home looking after his sister Malikah.

It was just the two of them.

The rest of his family – his mother, Azizah, and two other sisters, Faziea and Setarah – had gone to the market to celebrate Eid; Ramadan was over, and it was time for two million Hazara Town people to feast, sing, shop, talk, smile… laugh… and be as happy as Hazaras can be in a country that is not theirs.

Mohammad was not angry about being excluded from the street joy; he was watching television, which was a treat because their house didn’t always have a TV.

The Qasimi family lived in a spare rental, one bedroom for mum and four children. Mohammad’s father, Abdullah, was in Iran, working as a labourer to send his pittance of earnings back to his wife and children in Pakistan.

Abdullah and Azizah were native to Afghanistan, where Mr Qasimi owned a store selling female coats until the Taliban came into their village in 1995.

Mr and Mrs Qasimi could remember how the Soviet Union arrived in much the same way, to exercise power, in 1979, and everyone ran to the mountains to survive. But in 1995 you could not outrun the Taliban in Afghanistan.

That was why the Qasimis fled with hundreds of thousands of other Shia Muslims to Hazara Town in Quetta, Pakistan. Mohammad was a baby then. His three younger sisters were later born in Pakistan.

It was a whispering existence in that little house.

“You have to keep the owner happy all the time,” Mohammad explains.

“My mom (he still says mom, not mum) used to wake up early in the morning to clean up the yard, front yard and back yard, because the owner might not be happy and ask you to leave. And there is no rule for it. Maybe tomorrow, one week, you’re out.”

No security. No sense of home. It was hardest in June and July when it was so hot outside you had to live inside until the sun went down.

“It was like a camp living in that house.”

Mohammad, sitting and watching television and missing out on all the Eid celebrations, heard a window-rattling explosion and felt the earth shake. He knew it was a bomb and he knew it had gone off at the market.

Earlier that year, at least 91 people were killed by a bomb in a Hazara Town market water tank; a two-storey building was destroyed, trapping bodies of dead and injured. Militant Sunni group Lashkar-e-Janghvi claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mohammad Qasimi can still remember searching for his mother and sisters after the bombing at the market.(ABC Sport: Paul Kennedy)

He ran to find his mother and sisters, who might be hurt; he remembers thousands of people were running in the opposite direction – away from the carnage — because it was well known that terrorists liked to attack twice, one bomb to kill people and draw the presence of media and police, another bomb to blow up the first responders and mourners.

He feared a second attack, but his greater fear was grief.

“I was running,” he says. “I didn’t see them, they didn’t see me. You go there, you see parts of bodies and stuff like that. I need to find them, because where are they?”

The bomb had exploded outside a shoe shop. It was true that a mother and her two daughters had been killed, but whose mother and daughters?

“I knew they were there.”

The desperate young man searched fingers and hands for familiar jewellery. Nothing. Then he ran back home to get his bike and ride to the hospital. Maybe they had been taken there.

The son found his mother and sisters back at the house. They were shaking in shock but otherwise unharmed.

“She fell down,” Mohammad says of his ‘mom’. “She thought I was there too.”

As it turned out, Mrs Qasimi and her daughters had entered the shoe shop 10 or 20 seconds before the blast went off. If Mohammad’s family had been in an open window inside the building, they would have died, too.

“Because of the wall, they survived.”

Ten years later, a football pitch in Melbourne, Victoria

Olympic Park is surrounded by grand, cloud-shaped gum trees chock full of parrots chattering between autumn rain bursts. The field is damp and thick and bright, almost glowing under a silver sky.

It is a place with historical ties to the 1956 Olympics and a leading role in this year’s World Cup, as home base of the Canadian squad.

In the vast grandstand, one bloke stands on the steps an hour before kick-off at the NPL Under 19 match between Heidelberg Warriors and Southern Stars: it is Mohammad Qasimi, 27-years-old.

To his friends, he is now known as Mo.

Since moving to Australia, football has become Mohammad Qasimi’s great love.(ABC Sport: Paul Kennedy)

Mo didn’t know anything about football when he lived his entire childhood in Pakistan. He preferred cricket. Now his life is devoted to the beautiful game.

Inside the bluestone changerooms, the Warriors are getting ready for action under the charge of coach Dennis Georgakopoulos, a man who likes to use an attacking press.

“You must be ready to go forward,” he says. “Forward attacking zone. Force the error. Force the long ball.”

The teenagers sit listening to him on seats in front of their lockers.

Among them is Setarah Qasimi, 17, one of the sisters who survived the shoe shop attack.

She is the only teammate wearing a hijab.

Final instructions for Setarah’s Mildura United FC team.(ABC Sport: Paul Kennedy)

“I would watch the Matildas, A-League games, but I wouldn’t see anyone like me, with the hijab, who came from a place like me,” she said last week, while sitting in the loungeroom of her new family home.

“I wanted to be a representation for girls like me who didn’t have the freedom, the choices, that didn’t get lucky like I did. Plus, everyone was telling me how talented I was, so I was like yeah let’s make something out of this.

“This is a big opportunity that I have that I wouldn’t have if I wasn’t in Australia.”

The family’s journey from Quetta to Cranbourne West

In 2013, when the bombs were going off in Hazara Town, Abdullah Qasimi was all but stuck in Iran.

He did not know much about his four children because it was proving too difficult to see them.

“I basically saw my dad,” Mohammad says. “During my childhood, I can surely say not for more than six months.”

Abdullah Qasimi’s journey to rejoin his family in Australia was arduous.(ABC Sport: Paul Kennedy)

Mr Qasimi’s schedule was to work in Iran for four or five years, visit Pakistan for three months, and head back to Iran.

He had no passport.

Hazaras were targeted for killing in Quetta from 2009, not just in Hazara Town but in Mari Abad.

To socialise, Hazara people would risk death to travel between the two towns. Taxis were shot up. Buses too.

“Because we have a very clear identity whenever you see us,” Mo says. “Small eyes, small nose. Everyone knows Hazara. They could identify very easily because of our faces.”

After violence increased, Pakistan authorities blocked streets leading into Hazara Town and Mari Abad. Military checkpoints were installed. The two communities were cut off. Anyone who wanted to enter was questioned by soldiers.

The Qasimi family never daydreamed of a new life somewhere else in the world because it seemed impossible.

Mr Qasimi, however, was commitment to trying something, anything.

He managed to leave Iran to travel through Thailand to get to Indonesia, where he lived for three years as a United Nations refugee.

“Those three years were difficult,” he says through his son, who acts as interpreter. “Because in 24 hours I could only sleep one hour.

“I was struggling with mental health, I was depressed and had anxiety. If in 24 hours you can only sleep one hour that means something’s wrong. Lots of stress about what happens to us. What’s happening to my family back there [in Pakistan]?”

Eventually, Mr Qasimi was told he could move to Australia, to be resettled with him family.

Mohammad, Faziea, Setarah and Abdullah Qasimi together in Cranbourne West.(ABC Sport: Paul Kennedy)

“By the time I got the news I couldn’t believe it,” he says. “I was so happy. My mental health started getting better. I was feeling a lot fresher.”

A phone call was made from Bangkok to Hazara Town. It was one of those calls that changes the course of a family’s history.

“He called my mom,” Mo explains. “For the first time she had a Nokia mobile. He called us and told us what happened, and everyone went crazy.”

Australia was a mysterious land to the Qasimis.

“I was thinking about how Australia could be,” Mo recalls.

“I was thinking that the sky might be pink. Australia, everywhere is green.

“There is no dirt or anything like that. People, they look not like us. I didn’t know how they’d look – but not like us, even though we are all human.

“We couldn’t figure our how it might be, [but it was] the start of hope.”

“It was like an illusion,” Setarah remembers. “I felt like it was a dream. Like something was going to happen and we weren’t going to get there. It was just so hard to accept that we were going to go somewhere nicer, safer.”

First stop: Mildura United FC

The Qasimi family became residents of Mildura, a Victorian town of light traffic and distinctive seasons.

“In summer it is summer, in winter it is winter,” Mo says.

A temporary house was provided by the settlement agency AMES Australia.

Mr and Mrs Qasimi did not speak English. Neither of them had a driving licence. Feeling at home was most difficult for the parents because they had barely lived together in almost 20 years.

Who would make all the big decisions? Who would make the money?

This was the moment Mo decided to become the family’s ‘General Manager’.

“I started doing everything,” he says.

There was a case worker through Ames, but they needed more direction.

“She was busy. There’s no one else going to help us. Whatever language I have right now, I’ve got to find a solution.

“Sitting and complaining about problems is not going to help us. So I have to get out and make efforts to make the life easy.”

Setarah started in language school and then attended Mildura Primary School and Chaffey Secondary College.

She made friends easily.

“I was scared that I was going to get bullied and made fun of,” she says. “But when I went it was really welcoming. Everyone was nice, showing me around the school. It was a lot easier than I thought.”

Setarah Qasimi soon discovered she had a flair for football.(Supplied: Joao Tam)

Then football attracted Setarah and her older sister Faziea. The pair played in the park before joining Mildura United.

Among other things, Setarah realised she could run unusually fast.

“I could see that there was a natural thing,” she says. “I wasn’t training every day. It was kind of natural, my speed. And I had a strong foot. Maybe it was the technique.”

The Qasimi sisters became the only girls in a mixed Under 14 outfit.

Setarah reckons the boys didn’t think much of their international recruits.

“They wouldn’t acknowledge us or anything. If it was up to them they would put us on the bench but it wasn’t up to them.”

For training and games, General Manger Mo acted as taxi driver, number one supporter, and coach.

“There was no one else to coach us so he was the only option,” Setarah says. “He did teach us the basics. We knew he didn’t know much so we didn’t expect much.”

Around the football schedule, Mo was scouting houses in Melbourne’s outskirts, driving a 14-hour round trip every weekend to find the perfect home.

Eventually, after saving enough money for a deposit, the family resettled again in a house at Cranbourne West. And it was perfect. Four bedrooms. Quiet street. Close to the bus stop for Mr and Mrs Qasimi. Near the M1 freeway entrance for M, who had to drive long distances for his work in construction. Good schools. Friendly neighbours.

Across the road was a vast sporting field with soccer goals a hundred metres from the Qasimi welcome mat.

“It was crazy,” Mo. “After more than 20 years. For us, having our own house was a freedom. You don’t need to stress about anything. You don’t need to stress about making noise.”

Next stop NPL

Setarah had the football bug and wanted to practice every morning and afternoon. Mo would arrive home exhausted from work and be asked to play goalkeeper for an hour or so.

His answer was always yes.

“It shows the commitment she has.”

At 13, she was enrolled in the local club, Barton United FC, with a strong Afghan community.

Setarah’s work ethic and commitment to the game has caught the eye of her teammates and coach.(Supplied: Joao Tam)

Her coach was impressed and suggested she try for higher honours at NPL club Southern Stars. The name suited her: Setarah means star. Then she crossed to Heidelberg.

“At that point, I wanted to make something out of this, I want to go as far as I can.”

Last season she played for the senior women team, one step away from the A-League.

“She’s amazing,” Under 19 coach Dennis Georgakopoulos says. “She works hard, she listens. She’s probably a bit too hard on herself. But she’s got the quality, the ambition. She’s got the drive. It’s just being able to perform week after week.”

Mo watches every game on Saturdays, then barracks for his sister Faziea on Sundays at Barton United. He gets visibly nervous during games.

“My close family always make fun of me.”

In 2021, Craig Foster and other influential football people arranged for female Afghan national players to escape Kabul and resettle in Australia after the US troops withdrawal.

“A couple of them came to Barton and we played together in an Afghan tournament,” Setarah says.

“It was pretty cool to meet national players.”

Setarah’s pace has proven her greatest attribute on the field.(Supplied: Joao Tam)

The Qasimi General Manager still drives Setarah to all her training sessions, fighting dense suburban traffic at every turn from Cranbourne West to Heidelberg. Getting home late in the evening.

During Ramadan this year, Setarah sat in the passenger seat and fed her older brother after sunset whenever they were safely stopped at a red light.

Otherwise, it is Mohammad who is in service to his sibling on the road; Setarah, as the teenager of the car, sets the terms of travel music and conversation.

Saturday afternoon

Refs walk out the tunnel onto the field.

Setarah and her teammates follow. It is almost 1.30pm. There is more rain from the broken sky.

It is not the pristine gum leaf backdrop that makes the start of this game at Olympic Park so enjoyable, rather it is the promise of the game itself.

Setarah Qasimi prepares for action with her Mildura United FC teammates.(ABC Sport: Paul Kennedy)

Teammates stand arms-around-shoulders to hear the captain calling for them to go with her into the contest and win.

Then comes the whistle, and 90 minutes of play.

Football is freedom of movement. It is concentration without distraction… watch the ball, react, dance if you need to… let your feet tell the story of your life. Grimace in effort, smile as reward. Take deep breaths, don’t stop. Sprint, top speed, NOW.

Setarah’s coach says she has a promising future.

“She is an attacking player for us,” he explains. “She’s very good one v one, so whenever she’s got space in behind, she’s very good at taking players on and getting past them.

“She creates a lot of opportunities for us. She’s doing really well.”

There has been no racism to overcome in her short footballing life, only acceptance and belonging.

“It’s been really good.”

Last match, something unusual happened: Setarah seemed unlike herself in the first few minutes of the game.

The coach and team manager noticed she was agitated. Her hijab was coming loose, so she came to the bench to fix it.

Team Manager Rocio Brito watched closely as Setarah’s nearby teammates stood as one to form a barricade around her, like a big changeroom curtain.

“The awareness of the girls was amazing,” Brito says. “They weren’t thinking about it, they just did it naturally. They wanted to make her feel comfortable.”

Setarah fixed her hijab tightly before running back onto the right wing.

Mohammad and Faziea Qasimi watch the game with friends Batoor and Nooria.(ABC Sport: Paul Kennedy)

This year she is looking forward to watching the World Cup when it comes to Australia.

Sam Kerr is her hero.

“I love her.”

And she would like to emulate Kerr one day by playing for the Matildas.

“For sure, represent Australia. That would be my biggest goal.”

Mo likes that his sister’s mind is imagining magnificent scenes.

“Represent the Matildas, to play Champions League in the same team as Sam Kerr. To become role model for Afghan girls.”

The Qasimi family knows pink skies exist.

“You know it is a family dream,” he adds. “It would be crazy, it is a feeling like there is no words in the world to describe it.”

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May 11, 2023

Premier League Darts: Michael Smith defeats MVG, Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price to win in Sheffield

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Michael Smith storms to a third consecutive nightly win with a 6-3 success against Gerwyn Price in Sheffield; P&J Live, Aberdeen will be the 16th of 17 individual venues on Thursday May 11 with the Play-Offs returning to The O2 in London on Thursday May 25

Last Updated: 11/05/23 11:42pm

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A look back at the best of the action from Night 15 of the Premier League in Sheffield as Michael Smith stormed to a third consecutive nightly win

Michael Smith secured a hat-trick of Premier League Darts nightly wins by defeating Michael van Gerwen, Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price en route to more stunning success in Sheffield.

Price could have guaranteed top spot with victory in the Night 15 showpiece, but the St Helens star cut the Welshman’s lead at the summit to just three points after claiming the spoils in the Steel City.

Premier League – Night 15 in Sheffield Results

Quarter-finals	Gerwyn Price	6-2	Nathan Aspinall
	Chris Dobey	6-4	Peter Wright
	Michael van Gerwen	4-6	Michael Smith
	Jonny Clayton	6-4	Dimitri Van den Bergh

Semi-finals	Gerwyn Price	6-2	Chris Dobey
	Michael Smith	6-4	Jonny Clayton

Final	Gerwyn Price	3-6	Michael Smith

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Smith ended Michael van Gerwen’s hopes in Sheffield with this sensational 130 checkout on the bullseye

Smith began his campaign with a 6-4 win over reigning champion Van Gerwen, converting a stunning 130 checkout on the bull to defeat the Dutchman for a second week in succession.

The world No 1 continued his charge to defeat Clayton in a repeat of last week’s decider, averaging almost 108 and sealing the deal with a superb 11-darter.

Smith then capped off a terrific night of action by claiming the £10,000 winner’s bonus, extending his winning Premier League run to nine matches in the process.

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Van Gerwen produced this brilliant 154 checkout against Smith

“Three in a row, it took me 15 weeks to win one night last year and now I’ve won four,” reflected Smith, who has leapfrogged Van Gerwen into second spot after his fourth nightly win overall. “I am still in with a chance of finishing top.

“Me and Gez spoke about it backstage before the match, if it’s me and him in the final next week he finishes top. Hopefully I can be top.

“I know you get nothing out of finishing top but it is the prestige. I have qualified last week and I could have just laid down and let anyone beat me. But I still need to go to The O2 playing well and winning.”

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Smith says he spoke to Gerwyn Price after their match and reminded the Welshman he can still finish in top spot

Price – who was victorious in Sheffield 12 months ago – retained top spot after storming through to his eighth nightly final of 2023 with 6-2 wins over Nathan Aspinall and Chris Dobey.

In the evening’s other quarter-finals, Clayton moved two points clear of Aspinall ahead of their decisive Night 16 showdown, courtesy of a battling 6-4 victory against Dimitri Van den Bergh.

The 2021 champion conjured up a spectacular 170 checkout midway through the tie, and registered his sixth ton-plus average of the campaign to see off the Belgian.

‘The Ferret’ is in a straight shootout with Aspinall for the final spot, with the pair going head-to-head in the quarter-final next week in Aberdeen.

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Jonny Clayton took out this brilliant 170 during his victory against Dimitri Van den Bergh

Victory will assure the Welshman another appearance at The O2 while even if Aspinall wins the quarter-final he also has to win his semi-final.

“It’s massive,” Clayton said. “All the pressure is on Nathan next week. He has to win, the ball is in my court because if I win I am through. I am going to try and relax and play my game.

“I was shaking like hell up there. It’s two points that are going to be massive.”

Meanwhile, Dobey cemented sixth spot in the table with an impressive 6-4 success against Peter Wright, crashing in six 180s and reeling off four straight legs from 4-2 down to advance.

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Peter Wright found this 126 checkout after Chris Dobey just missed out on a spectacular 170 finish

Live Premier League Darts

May 18, 2023, 7:00pm

Live on

Where are we heading next?

Night 16 in Aberdeen: Thursday, May 18

Quarter-Finals	Gerwyn Price vs Peter Wright
	Jonny Clayton vs Nathan Aspinall
	Michael Smith vs Dimitri Van den Bergh
	Michael van Gerwen vs Chris Dobey

The Premier League roadshow heads to P&J Live, Aberdeen on Thursday May 18 for Night 16 of the league phase.

League leader Price meets Wright in his quarter-final tie, knowing that a run to next Thursday’s final will see him top the table for the first time in his Premier League career.

Clayton and Aspinall meet in a huge encounter with fourth spot on the line.

Clayton would confirm his Play-Off qualification with victory, while Aspinall must progress to the Night 16 final to overhaul his Welsh rival, who will qualify via nights won if the pair finish level on points.

Smith will begin his bid for an unprecedented fourth straight nightly win against Van den Bergh, while Van Gerwen and Dobey also collide for a place in the semi-finals.

2023 Premier League Schedule

Night 16	P&J Live, Aberdeen	May 18
Play-Offs	The O2, London	May 25

We’re back for more Premier League Darts action from the P&J Live, Aberdeen on Thursday May 18 – live on Sky Sports Action from 7pm.

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May 4, 2023

Premier League Darts: Michael Smith defeats Nathan Aspinall, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton to win in Manchester

Michael Smith claims his third nightly win of the Premier League season by defeating Jonny Clayton in Manchester The Utilita Arena, Sheffield hosts the 15th of 17 individual venues on Thursday, May 11 with the Play-Offs returning to The O2 in London on Thursday, May 25

Last Updated: 05/05/23 1:07am

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Michael Smith went so close to a nine-darter during the final against Jonny Clayton in Manchester

Michael Smith wired a nine-dart attempt on his way to sensationally defeating Jonny Clayton in Manchester, cementing his position in the Premier League Darts top four.

World champion Smith saw off local hero Nathan Aspinall, reigning champion Michael van Gerwen and Welsh star Clayton to complete back-to-back Premier League night wins with a remarkable display.

Premier League – Night 14 in Manchester Results

Quarter-finals	Peter Wright	5-6	Jonny Clayton
	Chris Dobey	6-2	Dimitri Van den Bergh
	Michael Smith	6-3	Nathan Aspinall
	Gerwyn Price	2-6	Michael van Gerwen

Semi-finals	Jonny Clayton	6-3	Chris Dobey
	Michael Smith	6-4	Michael van Gerwen

Final	Jonny Clayton	3-6	Michael Smith

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A look back at the best of the action from Night 13 of the Premier League in Manchester

After seeing off Aspinall 6-3 in their quarter-final, Smith then landed six doubles from 11 attempts to overcame Van Gerwen 6-4 in a repeat of January’s World Championship final.

He then raced to glory in the final to seal the £10,000 winner’s bonus, saving his best display of the night for the decider as he missed double 12 for a nine-darter and landed five 180s in a stunning performance.

Clayton took out 72 and 121 to establish a 2-1 lead early in the final, but ‘Bully Boy’ turned on the style in a stunning four-leg burst to take command.

He firstly missed double 12 for a nine-dart finish, taking leg four in 10 darts, before landing six perfect darts in the next as a 12-darter moved him ahead, before he took the next two – including a 100 checkout – to lead 5-2.

Clayton punished a missed match dart from Smith to hit back in the eighth leg, but Smith sealed his second successive nightly triumph in the next leg on double 13.

Smith ended the final with a season’s best average of 110.05, and crucially opened up a six-point buffer over Clayton and Aspinall in the league table.

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Smith beat Michael van Gerwen thanks to this 116 checkout

He said: “Beating Michael, I think I’ve beaten every player in the Premier League.

“I’m starting to come good, I won night three in Glasgow, struggled for seven or eight weeks just picking up the odd points.

“Now it’s starting to come good at the right time and the O2 is in three weeks and I’ll hopefully lift that title going into the Matchplay with the perfect run and the triple crown.

The 32-year-old added: “It’s twice now I’ve missed a double (for a nine-darter) in the last few weeks, but if I hit that I might have got involved with the crowd a little bit, not played as well so I’m glad I missed and a bit disappointed I
didn’t hit it, it happens but as long as I got the victory, that’s all that matters.

“It’ll happen again I know it will but for now I keep putting it on the wire, I’m not a million miles away but keep coming close.”

Clayton’s run to the final moved him back into the top four in the race for Play-Off spots, as he defeated Peter Wright and Chris Dobey.

Van Gerwen ended a run of five successive defeats against Gerwyn Price with a superb 6-2 win in a high-quality quarter-final, with both players averaging over 103 and the Dutchman landing six doubles from 10 attempts.

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Dobey hit a the big 170 finish against Clayton. It was his second ‘Big Fish’ of the Premier League Darts season!

Defeats in the quarter-finals for both Wright and Dimitri Van den Bergh saw their feint hopes of being able to qualify for the Play-Offs ended, as both relinquished a 2-0 lead before losing out to Clayton and Dobey respectively.

Despite landing a second 170 finish of the Premier League season Dobey also cannot now reach the Play-Offs in his debut season, sitting 10 points adrift of the top four with two league nights remaining, with Clayton and Aspinall certain to meet on Night 16 in Aberdeen.

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Nathan Aspinall received a brilliant homecoming from the Manchester crowd

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Peter Wright was unhappy with the movement of the camera but still manage to take out this 86 before telling the crowd what he thought!

Where are we heading next?

Night 15 in Sheffield: Thursday, May 11

Quarter-Finals	Gerwyn Price vs Nathan Aspinall
	Chris Dobey vs Peter Wright
	Michael van Gerwen vs Michael Smith
	Jonny Clayton vs Dimitri Van den Bergh

The Premier League roadshow heads to the Utilita Arena, Sheffield on Thursday, May 11 for Night 15 of the league phase.

Van Gerwen takes on Smith in another repeat of the World Championship final, while Price takes on Aspinall.

Dobey faces Wright and Clayton squares up to Van den Bergh.

2023 Premier League Schedule

Night 15	Utilita Arena, Sheffield	May 11
Night 16	P&J Live, Aberdeen	May 18
Play-Offs	The O2, London	May 25

We’re back for more Premier League Darts action from the Utilita Arena, Sheffield on Thursday, May 11 – live on Sky Sports Action & Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm.

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May 4, 2023

Messi scandal spotlights Saudi ambitions to turn desert kingdom into tourist Mecca

Post By zittrexstore World Advertising, Cristiano Ronaldo, football, Lionel Messi, Middle East, PSG, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Sport, tourism No Comments

Issued on: 04/05/2023 – 19:30

Lionel Messi’s promotional trip to Saudi Arabia has kicked up a storm at his Qatari-owned football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), while also casting a spotlight on Riyadh’s efforts to showcase its heritage and lure foreign visitors. FRANCE 24 spoke to Gulf analyst Karim Sader about Saudi ambitions to turn the desert kingdom into a tourism hotspot.

Messi, who recently lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar, was suspended by the Parisian club this week after failing to show up for a training session just days after the French league leaders slumped to their latest, humiliating home defeat.

Instead of trading passes with the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, the Argentinian football hero was in Saudi Arabia, a falcon perched on his arm, watching a palm-weaving demonstration and touring the Arabian Horse Museum as part of a lucrative commercial deal to promote tourism in the oil-rich nation.

The ensuing row, which looks set to precipitate the end of Messi’s unhappy two-year spell at PSG, has exposed the competition between Gulf states eager to become major players in the money-making world of football. It has also brought to the fore Riyadh’s ambitions to become a magnet for foreign visitors.

#WelcomeMessi to Diriyah, the land of traditions, heritage and history. Leo Messi, his wife Antonella and his sons Mateo and Ciro had an enjoyable tour where they learned about the history of Saudi and met its generous and hospitable people in At-Turaif. pic.twitter.com/vna7y63m2u
— Ahmed Al Khateeb أحمد الخطيب (@AhmedAlKhateeb) May 2, 2023

Tourism is indeed a pillar of “Vision 2030”, an ambitious plan to modernise and diversify the Saudi economy and reduce its dependence on oil, which Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman – known as MBS – unveiled in 2016. The aim is to turn this oil kingdom with a dubious human rights record into a high-end tourist destination.

Home to Islam’s two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, as well as six UNESCO World Heritage sites, Saudi Arabia has primarily attracted Muslim pilgrims so far. In MBS’s vision, the objective is to welcome some 30 million international visitors by 2030 and generate up to a million jobs in tourism.

FRANCE 24 spoke to political analyst Karim Sader, a specialist in the Gulf region, about the crown prince’s plans to turn Saudi Arabia into a Mecca for foreign visitors, and the limits to his ambitions.

FRANCE 24: The controversy over Messi has cast a spotlight on Riyadh’s ambitions for tourism. Just how important is the industry to MBS’s “Vision 2030”?

It is clear that Saudi Arabia is sparing no efforts to build an attractive tourism industry. It’s part of the transformation of Saudi society and the desire for international recognition that MBS is pursuing through his Vision 2030 project. The aim is to develop a number of ‘soft power’ instruments, including tourism. Riyadh is trying to follow in the footsteps of its Gulf neighbours, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, which understood early on that securing international recognition meant investing in sectors with a strong media impact, such as sport, tourism and the media itself.

Of course, the kingdom has a rich historical heritage that has long been overshadowed by the influence of Wahhabism [editor’s note: a hardline form of Sunni Islam practised in Saudi Arabia], including the magnificent site of Hegra, which bears witness to the Nabataean civilisation. But it still has a lot of work to do to build the image of a tourist destination, logistically and socially speaking.

That is why MBS is spending lavishly to attract both industry specialists and global stars like Lionel Messi who can serve as a luxury showcase for the country. The same strategy has been deployed in sports with the spectacular signing of another football superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo [who joined Saudi club Al Nassr last December]. It proved to be a resounding PR coup for the Saudi league, which hardly anyone in the West was familiar with.

41:00

THE DEBATE © FRANCE 24

In late March, Saudi authorities invited several French musicians, including former first lady Carla Bruni, to give a concert near the remains of the ancient desert city of Al-Ula – a revolutionary step in itself, since we’re talking about a pre-Islamic site. Promoting this type of landmark would have been unthinkable at the height of Wahhabi influence in Saudi Arabia. It’s quite a paradox that the crown prince should be leading this revolution.

Saudi Arabia has set itself a target of creating 200 museums and organising 400 annual events to attract 30 million foreign visitors by 2030. Is this ambitious goal reachable?

As always, the crown prince wants to move fast and hit hard – it’s both his strength and his flaw. MBS is in the process of revolutionising Saudi society and giving this sclerotic conservative kingdom a dynamism that would be the envy of the UAE, a country whose development model has long fascinated him. It’s not just a matter of spending lavishly. In his mind, it is also necessary to ensure investments are profitable by designing a technology-based tourism, betting on the construction of ‘smart’ cities that will attract investors.

The Saudi public will need to be prepared to welcome foreign visitors and manage tourist sites. Some planned sites involve displacing local communities that have been there for many generations, which could lead to protests and security issues. One example is Neom, the futuristic city MBS plans to build in the middle of the desert. So far, the mega-project is a failure and is causing tensions, despite having cost a lot of money and allowed designers, architects and consultants to make a small fortune. In my view, Neom shows the limits of MBS’s ambitions, which could turn against him.

To attract tourists, Saudi Arabia needs to foster a peaceful climate in the wider region. Could this be a factor behind Riyadh’s current proactive stance on the diplomatic stage?

The development of tourism is part of MBS’s “Saudi First” strategy, which aims to guarantee the stability of the kingdom in a pacified regional context, both in terms of security and the economy – and whatever the cost in terms of alliances. Riyadh has freed itself from its traditional alliances and now leads an extremely supple diplomacy. This allows it to engage in a rapprochement with [arch-rival] Iran and China while also preserving its partnership with the United States. Diplomatically, as well as economically, the Saudis are now investing in a pragmatic way. The days of careless spending are over; the cliché no longer holds.

This article was translated from the original in French.

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April 27, 2023

If in doubt, sit them out: New concussion guidelines for grassroots sport

Concussion has become more of a subject in professional sport in recent years – but grassroots still lags behind

Awareness of concussion injuries in professional sport has been at times dramatically highlighted in recent years.

Across several sports, involving both female and male athletes, numerous head injuries have been seen by thousands in the stands and millions on the TV. Much more work in research, mitigation and aftercare is widely recognised as a priority though.

However, professional sports account for just a fraction of the amount of people who take part in sport across any given week. The vast majority participating in sport are hundreds of thousands of children, teenagers and adults playing just for the love of it. The ‘grassroots’.

But just how aware are coaches, teachers, parents and those who play when a concussion injury may have occurred and how to deal with it?

The Government, Sport & Recreation Alliance and a panel of medical experts are hoping that from today that new guidelines will increase awareness greatly as a huge difference between professional and amateur sport is that the pro’s will typically have dedicated healthcare professionals on site, while grassroots sport does not.

The government guidance isn’t medical advice, it’s about being aware and doing the right thing. In this case, it’s following what has been used in Scotland for several years now. A catchy headline: “If in doubt, sit them out.” It kind of does what is says on the tin.

It’s to make people think first and then know how to act. So why would you be ‘in doubt?’ A concussion is a brain injury that affects the way a person thinks, feels and remembers things, and in sport concussion can arise from an injury to the head.

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Former England defender Matthew Upson said earlier this year football’s approach to concussions should be the same across the board

A clash of heads, falling heavily to the ground and hitting your head, even a heavy collision that doesn’t involve a blow to the head can cause a concussion. The key, say the guidelines, are to look out for 4 key elements; physical, mental processing, mood and sleep.

Physical – for example headaches, dizziness, vision changes.
Mental processing – for example not thinking clearly and feeling slowed down.
Mood – for example being short tempered, sad and emotional.
Sleep – for example not being to sleep or sleeping too much.

The full guidelines give greater details on visible clues of concussion.

If any of those traits are obvious, there must be doubt, so ‘sit them out.’ Remove the player from the field of play. The guidelines recognise that in fast moving sports it can be difficult to spot visible clues of concussion, but they urge players, coaches, teachers, referees, spectators and families to watch out and remove anyone with a suspected concussion from play immediately.

The guidelines also advise on not returning anyone back into play. That is crucial. The next step is an evaluation by a healthcare professional. That practically means accessing the NHS by calling 111 within 24 hours of the incident.

Rest and sleep as required within the first 24-48 hours is now seen as good for recovery while limiting smartphone, screen and computer time for the first 48 hours has also been shown to improve recovery. The don’ts are classic bits of advice, don’t leave someone on their own, don’t drink alcohol and certainly don’t drive a car.

As most grassroots sports don’t have professional healthcare professionals on site, the onus is on players, coaches, teachers and those watching on. Hence these guidelines are really about creating greater awareness.

Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said: “Sport keeps us healthy and active, but it is not without risk and major injuries to the head can and do happen.

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Rugby League’s Stevie Ward recently hosted a panel discussion on concussion in rugby league with fellow professionals James Graham, Tom Johnstone, Tyrone McCarthy and Greg Burke

“Research has shown the importance of fast and effective tailored treatment and we are issuing expert guidance to help people spot and treat head injuries. Whether used in a local leisure centre during a swimming lesson or on a village green during a cricket match, the guidance will make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Development of the guidelines has been led by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, Professor James Calder, chair of the expert drafting group, and Laurence Geller, the government’s adviser on concussion in sport.

The expert drafting group drew upon existing field research, with the aim of producing a consistent and preventative approach across all sports in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It builds upon the world-leading work conducted in Scotland, which was the first nation in the world to produce guidelines covering all types and levels of sport. Its guidance was updated in March 2021.

Professor Calder said: “For the first time we have UK-wide guidance that raises awareness of concussion in grassroots sport at all levels. It provides practical evidence-based advice for those who may have sustained a concussion and gives a step by step plan for their safe return to work, education, exercise and full sport.

“Participation in sport and exercise is crucial for the nation’s mental and physical health and, with appropriate management, the vast majority of those who sustain a concussion during sport should make a full recovery.”

Professor Willie Stewart of Glasgow University added: “The release of these guidelines represents a world-leading landmark in sports concussion management.

“Based on the pragmatic, precautionary approach to immediate concussion management of ‘if in doubt, sit them out’, followed by an emphasis on individualised, self-managed return to normal life and sport, these guidelines set the standard for grassroots concussion management that all sports across the UK will follow.”

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April 27, 2023

Here’s how to watch the 2023 NFL Draft for free without cable

We’ve had 3.5 months to catch our breath after Super Bowl LVII. That means it’s time for the ramp up to the 2023-2024 season of the NFL.

The 2023 NFL Draft will kick off Thursday night and run through Saturday, April 29. And it’s being preceded by some big trades, none bigger than Aaron Rodgers move from Green Bay to the New York Jets.

Starting Thursday night, though, it’s the college stars who will have their time in the spotlight, and Alabama’s Bryce Young is the odds-on favorite to be first picked.

Not going to be home when the picks are made? Maybe you’ve gotten rid of cable to keep bills under control? Don’t worry. There are still plenty of ways to watch.

When does the 2023 NFL Draft take place?

This year’s NFL Draft will begin on Thursday, April 27 and run through Saturday, April 29. Round one picks will be announced Thursday. Rounds two and three happen on Friday. And Saturday will see rounds four through seven.

What time does the 2023 NFL Draft begin?

It varies by night

Thursday’s coverage will begin at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Friday’s coverage will start at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Saturday’s coverage will begin at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Which network or networks are airing the 2023 NFL Draft?

Again, it will depend on the day.

Thursday, ABC will broadcast the first round.

Friday and Saturday’s coverage will air on ESPN. The NFL Network will also air the 2023 NFL Draft.

How can I watch the NFL Draft for free?

As with any network-centric programming, the best way to watch for free on a big screen is with a good HD antenna. Since ABC is airing the early round of the NFL draft, you’ll be able to watch even if you don’t have a cable subscription. To ensure you’re getting the most reliable signal, be sure to test the antenna in multiple locations in your home.

Can I watch the 2023 NFL Draft online?

Yep. There are a number of options, too. You can always log on to the WatchESPN app, but if you’d prefer to watch on a big screen (or don’t want to bother with adding another app) there are several alternatives.

Disney+

Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $13.99 per month for all three combined (or $19.99 per month for no ads on Hulu). Including Live TV in the bundle bumps the price to $70 per month ($76 with no ads).

Hulu with Live TV

The free trial on this service is no longer offered, as well. It will cost you $70 per month.

YouTubeTV

After up to a two-week trial, you can expect monthly charges of $73.

Sling TV

Dish Network’s Sling lower-tiered “Orange” plan will now run you $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive “Blue” plan bumps the cost to $55 per month. (A $5 per month increase for each.)

DirecTV Stream

Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $70 per month and up after the free trial option.

Fubo TV

This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks in most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $70–$100, depending on the channels you choose.

Does the NFL offer any service for me to watch the 2023 NFL Draft?

It does, but there are fewer options than you have during the regular season.

NFL App

The NFL App will let you stream this year’s draft, via the NFL Network.

Can I watch the 2023 NFL Draft on Amazon?

Nope. The streaming service doesn’t have any broadcast rights for the draft.

What’s the Draft Order for selections in 2023?

Chicago, which had a truly terrible 3-14 record last season, would normally have first pick, but the Bears traded that pick to the Carolina Panthers for four others. And the Miami Dolphins forfeited their top pick after the team was found to have violated the league’s anti-tampering policy, by trying to lure Tom Brady.

The order of the picks will vary by round, but here’s how things are shaping up for Round One:

Carolina Panthers (From Chicago Bears)
Houston Texans
Arizona Cardinals
Indianapolis Colts
Seattle Seahawks (from Denver Broncos)
Detroit Lions (from LA Rams)
Las Vegas Raiders
Atlanta Falcons
Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers)
Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans Saints)
Tennessee Titans
Houston Texans (from Cleveland Browns)
Green Bay Packers (from New York Jets)
New England Patriots
New York Jets (from Green Bay)
Washington Commanders
Pittsburgh Steelers
Detroit Lions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Seattle Seahawks
Los Angeles Chargers
Baltimore Ravens
Minnesota Vikings
Jacksonville Jaguars
New York Giants
Dallas Cowboys
Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals
New Orleans Saints (from San Francisco 49ers through Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos)
Philadelphia Eagles
Kansas City Chiefs

Which players are first-round favorites in the 2023 NFL Draft?

Part of the thrill of the NFL Draft is how quickly things can change, but 2023 has a clear frontrunner. Bryce Young of Alabama is widely expected to be snatched up in the first round. Other expected high-ranking picks could include:

Jalen Carter, UGA– He’s a great athlete on the field, but his no contest plea last month to reckless driving charges in connection with a crash that killed two people, including a teammate have raised doubts about how high he’ll be picked.
J. Stroud, Ohio State– Quarterbacks are the top picks this year. And Stroud’s performance with the Buckeyes should make him highly sought after.
Will Levis, Kentucky – The Wildcats didn’t have the best season, but few blame that on Levis.
Anthony Richardson, Florida – The real wildcard this year. Richardson could go as early as number two or could be a later round draft pick.

After the draft, what’s next?

Once the draft is over, all eyes turn to the 2023-2024 schedule. That will be released on or about May 11. The season will begin on Thursday, September 7 (on Amazon), and conclude in February 2023 with Super Bowl 58.

Tickets will go on sale after each game is announced.

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April 22, 2023

Rochester netballers come up with inventive way to keep 2023 season on track

Post By zittrexstore World Campaspe, club, Courts, Echuca, Floods, football, netball, river, Rochester, Sport, women No Comments

The bitumen netball courts in Rochester — a Victorian town ravaged by flood waters late last year — are a metaphor for the women who run netball there: Bloody tough.

Located just a few hundred metres from the Campaspe River, the courts and surrounds sat under contaminated floodwater for days.

Fences, signage, seating and children’s play equipment were destroyed or damaged, and the small wooden netball club rooms — which sit more than 1 metre above ground level — were inundated, ruining the flooring, toilets, showers and netball gear inside.

Once the water subsided and the sludge, silt and debris had been cleaned away, the courts — which are home to the Tigers, the netball club attached to the local football club, and a junior association — were “spongy and soft”, like a gymnastic mat.

After floods inundated the Rochester netball courts, the surfaces turned spongy and soft.(ABC Sport/Siren Sport: Erin Delahunty)

Rochester Football/Netball Club netball president Katie Rasmussen and her sister-in-law, Jac Rasmussen, the president of the Rochester Netball Association, feared the worst.

“Almost every single person in Rochester was in disaster mode in the immediate aftermath — because all but a handful of houses were flooded, along with every business — but, as soon as the water went down, we headed to the courts and it looked bad … really bad,” Katie explained.

“I didn’t think there was any chance we’d be able to play netball here in the 2023 season, it was such a mess. You couldn’t even tell they were netball courts really.”

Once “outsiders could get into town again”, representatives from Netball Victoria and Emergency Recovery Victoria started co-ordinating the heavy-duty clean-up, which included calling in local volunteer CFA brigades. Next, a call was put out to the community on social media.

Myla Whipp and Remi Rasmussen observe the flood damage.(ABC Sport/Siren Sport: Erin Delahunty)

“Even though people had so much going on in their own lives, trying to find somewhere to live, people turned up to help,” Katie said.

“There were a couple of volunteers there that day who I didn’t even know. They just rocked up with shovels and gloves. It was incredible.”

A race against the clock

Once cleaned, the extent of the damage to the playing surface was evident.

“We knew we’d have to replace lots of infrastructure, but the courts were our main concern,” Katie said.

“When you walked on them, they were really spongy, soft and bouncy. It was very strange.

A lot of infrastructure needed to be replaced at the courts, after it was covered in debris.(ABC Sport/Siren Sport: Erin Delahunty)

“It felt like a worst-case scenario. Not being able to play at home would have been so hard. Everyone had been through so much.”

However, amazingly, the courts dried out in the days and weeks following the disaster and a recent audit by Netball Victoria gave the courts the tick of approval, meaning the Tigers were able to train on them and start their season.

Rochester then hosted Kyabram in round one of the Goulburn Valley Football/Netball League, winning in three of five netball grades.

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“It’s kind of amazing to think the courts survived like they did,” said Jac, who heads up the junior association that feeds into the Tigers.

“The fences have been replaced, lots of damage is still visible, but they build stuff tough around here.”

Road to recovery

What didn’t survive the flood was the huge, pre-season tournament Rochester’s junior and senior clubs usually host in early March.

Attracting teams from across Victoria, the two-day event usually raises more than $5,000.

With key tournament organisers such as Katie, Jac and committee member Meagan Keating either not living in town after being made homeless by the flood or in caravans, and the rooms not being usable, it just proved too difficult.

The football/netball committee came up with a new membership category, to help raise money and keep the club afloat.(ABC Sport/Siren Sport: Erin Delahunty)

“We were all stretched really thinly with what was going on in our own lives. So, while we had lots of offers of support and even to host the event somewhere else, we just decided to call it,” Katie said.

That left a huge hole in the netball budget. To help fill it, the joint football/netball committee came up with a new membership category for 2023 called “My Shout”, a way for those living outside Rochester to help.

By buying a $50 individual or $100 family membership, people could ensure players, members, supporters and townspeople would not have to pay $10 or so to get into club home games at Rochester Recreation Reserve.

“We are a sporting club, but we are about more than footy and netball, we want to bring people together and provide a safe, inclusive space for everyone,” the club said in promoting the membership.

“We believe sport is an incredible vehicle for social connection. Whether it’s cheering your team on, having a beer, or just dropping in to be amongst people who get what you’re going through, we want you to feel welcome here.

“We are walking the long road to recovery and we don’t want anyone walking it alone.”

Help from all corners

In October, Katie said, the response was incredible, with helpers coming from all over Australia, just turning up to clean river silt off the courts.

“Before the season even began, we exceeded our normal number of annual members with My Shout memberships,” Katie said.

“It’s many thousands of dollars for the club and means people who are still struggling with the impact of the flood and the cost-of-living crisis, have one less thing to worry about.

“We were blown away by the response.”

CFA trucks were called in to help with the clean-up.(ABC Sport/Siren Sport: Erin Delahunty)

With the court safe and the membership drive taking the financial pressure off, the club’s netballers were able to have a “decent pre-season” ahead of round one.

“Netball is a constant part of the heartbeat of the town. So, when it was up and running again, it was a big piece of the puzzle of ‘recover and reconnect’, which is something of a theme for the town at the moment,” Katie said.

Coach of the Tigers’ A grade side Rachel Whipp said netball in Rochester has done what it always does: bring women and girls together.

“We weren’t sure what sort of turn-out there would be for trainings, given just about everyone in town lost their home in the flood and was dealing with their own trauma, but it’s been amazing,” she said.

“You always have a few who hang around after a Thursday night training, but this year, there’s been lots of long chats — and plenty of hugs. It’s a place to just be.”

ABC Sport is partnering with Siren Sport to elevate the coverage of Australian women in sport.

Erin Delahunty is a freelance sports and feature writer.

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April 20, 2023

UCL 2022/23 | In last-4, Man City meets Real test, Inter sets up Milan clash

Post By zittrexstore Sports AC Milan, bayern munich, Erling Haaland, football, Inter, Manchester City, ucl No Comments

His 48th goal for Manchester City this season.

Erling Haaland scored again on Wednesday for City to advance to a Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid with a 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich in the second leg of their quarterfinal.

Norweighian forward missed a first-half penalty but atoned by sealing City’s progress with a 4-1 win on aggregate by scoring on a counterattack in the 57th minute, just after Bayern missed a good chance at the other end.

Bayern’s lack of confidence after losing the first leg 3-0 in Manchester showed as it failed to take advantage of numerous chances.

“We really wanted to take the lead in the first half,” said Joshua Kimmich, who scored Bayern’s consolation from the penalty spot in the 83rd.

“We had a few chances, very, very good chances, and we needed the lead against City to make them nervous. It’s obviously easier for them when they can keep it scoreless for a long time. It’s very annoying … I’d like to have experienced the second half if we’d scored in the first.” The penalty was awarded after City defender Manuel Akanji was cited through VAR for handball.

Bayern counterpart Dayot Upamecano was also penalised for handball when Ilkay Gündogan’s cross grazed the bottom of his arm in the 35th, but Haaland blasted that spot kick just over the bar.

Kevin De Bruyne played Haaland through to settle it early in the second half when the unfortunate Upamecano slipped as he tried to recover.

“We played very well in the difficult moments, we were very compact and we didn’t give Bayern much,” De Bruyne said.

“At the other end, we got one chance. And when we scored the goal, it was much harder for Bayern.” City did little in manager Pep Guardiola’s return to the club he led to three consecutive Bundesliga titles between 2014-16, but the visitors didn’t need to thanks to their commanding lead from the first leg and Bayern’s lack of efficiency.

It is the Bavarian powerhouse’s third consecutive quarterfinal exit since winning the tournament in 2020 and the second competition it has been knocked out of in as many weeks following Freiburg’s win over Bayern in the German Cup quarterfinals.

Bayern chief executive Oliver Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidžic fired Julian Nagalsmann as coach last month as they felt the team was in danger of missing its targets for the season. Tuchel has since only seen the team win two from six games across all competitions. Bayern still leads the Bundesliga by two points from Borussia Dortmund with six rounds remaining.

Bayern fans held a huge banner toward the end of Wednesday’s game criticising Salihamidžic and Kahn saying “Targets may be missed — the club’s values not!” Bayern had made an encouraging start only to be let down with final crosses going astray and poor finishing.

Leroy Sané had the best early chance when Jamal Musiala sent him through but the Germany winger sent his shot just wide of the far post.

Referee Clement Turpin upset the home team when he showed the last defender Upamecano a red card for bringing down Haaland, who was offside. Turpin rescinded the red card after the linesman flagged the offside, then booked Tuchel for his ironic applause.

Tuchel was sent off late with his second yellow card for protesting another decision, while his assistant Zsolt Löw was shown a direct red card.

Manchester City is bidding to win the Champions League for the first time. It would be Guardiola’s first since winning as Barcelona coach in 2011. City will play Madrid, the defending champion, away for the first leg of their semifinal in May. Madrid beat City 6-5 after extra time in their semifinal last year.

“To win this competition, you have to beat them,” Guardiola said.

Inter advances past Benfica, sets up Milan semifinal in CL

Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg football match between Inter Milan and Benfica at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
| Photo Credit:
AP

The Milan clubs are set to meet again in another Champions League semifinal a decade after their last encounter in the final four of Europe’s elite club competition.

Inter Milan drew 3-3 against Benfica on Wednesday to complete a 5-3 aggregate victory over the Portuguese team. That came a day after AC Milan prevailed against Napoli in their quarterfinal.

After Nicolò Barella’s opener for Inter, Fredrik Aursnes restored some hope for Benfica shortly before halftime. But Lautaro Martínez and substitute Joaquín Correa netted in the second half to help Inter reach its first semifinal since José Mourinho led it to the treble of the Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup in 2010.

Inter nevertheless managed to relinquish a two-goal lead as António Silva and Petar Musa netted late on for Benfica.

“bviously I am happy, and I am happy for the boys because it is an important and historic achievement,”Inter coach Simone Inzaghi said.

“We’ve come a long way, from a very, very difficult group.

“With regards to the goals, their forward did well on the second goal and on the third goal we heard a whistle and so several players stopped. Of course I would have wanted to have won 3-2 and I’m more disappointed for the boys but we were already through to the semifinal and there was that whistle that we heard on the bench too … we would have deserved the win.” The Nerazzurri will face its city rival in a repeat of the 2003 semifinal. AC Milan won that on away goals and went on to beat Juventus in the final.

“It’s a very special match, we know what it means to play a match of this sort,” Inter forward Martínez said.

“Now we have to pick up points again in Serie A and then we’ll think about the Champions League.

“I play this sport to win everything.” Real Madrid will face Manchester City in the other semifinal after the English team drew 1-1 at Bayern Munich on Wednesday to advance 4-1 on aggregate.

Both Inter and Benfica came into the match at San Siro on a poor run of form.

Inter had only won one of its past eight matches in all competitions — the first leg in Lisbon — while Benfica had lost three straight matches for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

Inter had been criticised for not making the most of its numerous goalscoring opportunities — and had only scored two goals from open play in its past seven matches.

But the Nerazzurri took the lead with their very first chance, in the 14th minute, as Barella rode a tackle and played a one-two with Martínez before curling a delightful effort into the top left corner.

Benfica faced an uphill task and Inter was yet to concede in the knockout stage. The Nerazzurri had the ball in the back of the net again in the 33rd minute but it was disallowed for a slight nudge by Martínez on Gilberto.

Moments later, Barella did well to acrobatically clear a cross with Benfica top goalscorer Gonçalo Ramos lurking.

However, a defensive lapse saw Benfica get back into the quarterfinal seven minutes from the break as Aursnes got in front of Denzel Dumfries to head in Rafa Silva’s cross from the right.

Buoyed by that goal, Benfica continued to press but it was Inter that scored in the 65th minute, to all but put the outcome beyond doubt.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan cut a pass in from the left to Federico Dimarco, who crossed for the easiest of finishes as Martínez prodded it into the roof of the net from point-blank range.

And Correa capped a brilliant night for Inter by curling in off the right post two minutes after coming off the bench.

António Silva headed in a free kick for the visitors with four minutes remaining to add some respectability to the scoreline, before Musa drilled through a sea of legs in stoppage time to at least end Benfica’s losing run.

“We are disappointed because I think at the start we showed that we still believed we could reach the semifinal,” Benfica coach Roger Schmidt said.

“We started very well but after the first goal it was difficult because that makes everything even more difficult.

“I think our team showed a very good attitude today, very good focus and very good mentality … we tried to push in the second half but then we conceded a goal and I think we were also not very lucky with the decisions.”

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