dataDp/3575.jpeg

Futbol

Tottenham came from behind to end their five-match losing streak in the Women's Super League with a 1-1 draw at Leicester City. Robert Vilahamn's side had not picked up a point in the league since 26 January, slipping to ninth in the table, but rescued a draw with Drew Spence's close-range effort cancelling out Josefine Rybrink's own goal. Tottenham dominated proceedings at the King Power Stadium, with the best chance of the first half falling to Martha Thomas, who found herself one on one with Janina Leitzig and brought a sharp reaction save out of the goalkeeper. Olivia Holdt, Ella Morris, and Jessica Naz also went close for the visitors before the break. They were nearly left to rue those missed opportunities when Leicester took the lead in the 55th minute, Hannah Cain driving a vicious shot at Lize Kop, who could only parry the ball towards defender Rybrink who put it into her own net. However, they were only behind for seven minutes, with Spence side-footing beyond Leitzig after a cutback from Naz. Tottenham and Leicester remain ninth and 10th in the division, with the Foxes now seven points clear of bottom side Crystal Palace. "We got a point which is better than the last games we've had," Vilahamn told Sky Sports. "Good football, created so many chances, had most of the possession. In one way we're doing a good game but we're not really there yet to manage to actually win." The reaction from both sides at the final whistle on Sunday spoke volumes. Leicester keeper Leitzig had a beaming smile on her face. Several Tottenham players slumped to the floor. The visitors had ended their losing streak, but this felt like two points dropped rather than one gained. Before this match, Tottenham had scored just once in five league matches, conceding 11 in the process, and all season have been over-reliant on Bethany England, who is currently absent with a quad injury. The England forward is Spurs' top-scorer this campaign with eight goals, with Eveliina Summanen the next best on two. Reflecting on Tottenham's goal-scoring struggles before the game, Vilahamn said: "It's a mixture of how we play, create chances, and the self-confidence of the attacking players. We need to keep working on those moments." And that lack of self-confidence and, in the words of Ella Morris, "clinical edge" was on display against Leicester. Tottenham dominated possession (66.2%) and out-shot Leicester 23 to 10 (and 11 to two in terms of attempts on target) but could not make their attacking dominance pay against a spirited Leitzig in the hosts' goal. "If you look at the team they don't have the best self-confidence in the world. But where we are in the table you can see that it's actually a really good team playing good football," Vilahamn said afterwards. Holdt, Morris, Naz, and Maite Oroz all had chances to open the scoring in the first half, Summanen saw a second half free-kick ping off the crossbar, and Leitzig pulled off a leaping stop in the final minute to deny Matilda Vinberg. However, no one better epitomised Tottenham's struggles in front of goal than Thomas, who fluffed a one-on-one opportunity midway through the first period, attempting to shoot straight past Leitzig. Thomas is yet to score in the WSL this season while Tottenham have only managed 21 goals in 18 matches. "We need to be better to finish the set-pieces and in our finishing. Today was better [than last time out losing to West Ham] so I hope we can go to Aston Villa in a few weeks and actually win that game by scoring a few goals," said Vilahamn. Head here to get involved

dataDp/3575.jpeg

Futbol

Arsenal Confirm Berta As Sporting Director - What Will 'architect' Bring?

Arsenal have confirmed the appointment of Andrea Berta as their new sporting director. Italian Berta, 53, becomes the permanent successor to Edu after the former Gunners midfielder left Emirates Stadium at the end of 2024. Edu's deputy Jason Ayto was appointed interim sporting director following the Brazilian's departure and was a serious contender for the position. There is hope that Berta will be in attendance for Arsenal's Premier League meeting with Fulham on Tuesday night. "I am thrilled to be joining Arsenal in what is a hugely exciting period for the club," said Berta. "The club has great values and a rich history, and I am looking forward to playing my part in shaping a successful future with a great team." Berta arrives in north London with the reputation of being one of the shrewdest sporting directors in European football. He worked for Italian sides Parma and Genoa before joining Atletico Madrid, initially as their technical director, in 2013. While at Atletico, he was instrumental in signing Rodri, Antoine Griezmann and Jan Oblak. Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke said: "Anyone who knows football knows Andrea is an impressive figure. He has vast knowledge of the game, a great track record, a strong network and an insatiable desire to build winning teams. "We undertook a thorough recruitment process and we were hugely impressed with the level of all the other candidates, but it was Andrea's experience and the success he has enjoyed that stood out." Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told BBC Sport: "He's quite unique compared to other sporting directors. "He had no playing career, started in banking, and only got into football later, first at Carpenedolo, an amateur club, then at Parma and Genoa, where he built key connections with Peter Kenyon and Jorge Mendes. "Under his watch, Atletico won two La Liga titles (2013-14, 2020-21), a Copa del Rey (2013), a Europa League (2017-18), and a Uefa Super Cup (2018). "He's seen as the architect of the squad rebuild after the 2014 title-winning team faded." Working with manager Diego Simeone, Berta helped Atletico make some astute acquisitions during that rebuild. France striker Griezmann was signed from Real Sociedad for £24.8m in 2014 and five years later was sold to Barcelona for £103m. Atletico then bought him back in 2021 for just £16.5m. Spain midfielder Rodri, now a Ballon d'Or winner, was signed for £16.5m in 2018 and sold to Manchester City the following year for £62.5m, while Slovenian goalkeeper Oblak signed from Benfica in 2014 for just £13m. He's now widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. More recently, forward Julian Alvarez joined from Manchester City last summer for £81.5m and he has scored 23 goals for Atletico this season. "He brought in key players like Griezmann (twice), Luis Suarez, Kieran Trippier, Llorente, De Paul, and Julian Alvarez," added Balague. "But he also had some flops, like Joao Felix, Kalinic, Arias, Torreira, but he always worked within the club's financial limits. "In total, he made 52 signings since 2017, spending around 828 million euros (£692m), leaving a big mark on Atletico's squad. An end of an era for them." BBC Sport's Arsenal reporter Alex Howell There are a few immediate issues he has to deal with. The main and most obvious task is to ensure that Arsenal bring in a much-needed forward. The Gunners have suffered key injuries to key attackers this season and have not brought in a forward for two transfer windows in a row. Kai Havertz has done excellently in filling that void but at times Arsenal's need for a natural goalscorer has been obvious. RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko has long been monitored, while Newcastle forward Alexander Isak is also being linked with a move to north London. However, Eddie Howe's Magpies are in the mix for the Champions League places, making a deal for Isak expensive and more difficult to do. There is also an argument that Arteta's side could do with a player who has some flair and the ability to make something happen when they play against teams that sit in a low block against them in the Premier League. It's not only incomings that Berta will need to address. It's a big summer for the club with key players Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes entering the last two years of their contracts. Berta will need to make sure that those players are locked down so that Arteta can continue to build on the impressive work he has done with the team. There are also players who need to be moved on. Oleksandr Zinchenko has dropped further down the pecking order after the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly and the Gunners were willing to let him go in January if they received the right offer. It is an exciting project for any sporting director to come into but with the Gunners challenging for silverware in recent seasons, this summer is not something that they can afford to get wrong.

dataDp/3575.jpeg

Futbol

Arsenal Confirm Berta As Sporting Director - What Will 'architect' Bring?

Arsenal have confirmed the appointment of Andrea Berta as their new sporting director. Italian Berta, 53, becomes the permanent successor to Edu after the former Gunners midfielder left Emirates Stadium at the end of 2024. Edu's deputy Jason Ayto was appointed interim sporting director following the Brazilian's departure and was a serious contender for the position. There is hope that Berta will be in attendance for Arsenal's Premier League meeting with Fulham on Tuesday night. "I am thrilled to be joining Arsenal in what is a hugely exciting period for the club," said Berta. "The club has great values and a rich history, and I am looking forward to playing my part in shaping a successful future with a great team." Berta arrives in north London with the reputation of being one of the shrewdest sporting directors in European football. He worked for Italian sides Parma and Genoa before joining Atletico Madrid, initially as their technical director, in 2013. While at Atletico, he was instrumental in signing Rodri, Antoine Griezmann and Jan Oblak. Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke said: "Anyone who knows football knows Andrea is an impressive figure. He has vast knowledge of the game, a great track record, a strong network and an insatiable desire to build winning teams. "We undertook a thorough recruitment process and we were hugely impressed with the level of all the other candidates, but it was Andrea's experience and the success he has enjoyed that stood out." Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told BBC Sport: "He's quite unique compared to other sporting directors. "He had no playing career, started in banking, and only got into football later, first at Carpenedolo, an amateur club, then at Parma and Genoa, where he built key connections with Peter Kenyon and Jorge Mendes. "Under his watch, Atletico won two La Liga titles (2013-14, 2020-21), a Copa del Rey (2013), a Europa League (2017-18), and a Uefa Super Cup (2018). "He's seen as the architect of the squad rebuild after the 2014 title-winning team faded." Working with manager Diego Simeone, Berta helped Atletico make some astute acquisitions during that rebuild. France striker Griezmann was signed from Real Sociedad for £24.8m in 2014 and five years later was sold to Barcelona for £103m. Atletico then bought him back in 2021 for just £16.5m. Spain midfielder Rodri, now a Ballon d'Or winner, was signed for £16.5m in 2018 and sold to Manchester City the following year for £62.5m, while Slovenian goalkeeper Oblak signed from Benfica in 2014 for just £13m. He's now widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. More recently, forward Julian Alvarez joined from Manchester City last summer for £81.5m and he has scored 23 goals for Atletico this season. "He brought in key players like Griezmann (twice), Luis Suarez, Kieran Trippier, Llorente, De Paul, and Julian Alvarez," added Balague. "But he also had some flops, like Joao Felix, Kalinic, Arias, Torreira, but he always worked within the club's financial limits. "In total, he made 52 signings since 2017, spending around 828 million euros (£692m), leaving a big mark on Atletico's squad. An end of an era for them." BBC Sport's Arsenal reporter Alex Howell There are a few immediate issues he has to deal with. The main and most obvious task is to ensure that Arsenal bring in a much-needed forward. The Gunners have suffered key injuries to key attackers this season and have not brought in a forward for two transfer windows in a row. Kai Havertz has done excellently in filling that void but at times Arsenal's need for a natural goalscorer has been obvious. RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko has long been monitored, while Newcastle forward Alexander Isak is also being linked with a move to north London. However, Eddie Howe's Magpies are in the mix for the Champions League places, making a deal for Isak expensive and more difficult to do. There is also an argument that Arteta's side could do with a player who has some flair and the ability to make something happen when they play against teams that sit in a low block against them in the Premier League. It's not only incomings that Berta will need to address. It's a big summer for the club with key players Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes entering the last two years of their contracts. Berta will need to make sure that those players are locked down so that Arteta can continue to build on the impressive work he has done with the team. There are also players who need to be moved on. Oleksandr Zinchenko has dropped further down the pecking order after the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly and the Gunners were willing to let him go in January if they received the right offer. It is an exciting project for any sporting director to come into but with the Gunners challenging for silverware in recent seasons, this summer is not something that they can afford to get wrong.

profile/5683FB_IMG_16533107021641748.jpg

News_Naija

2027: PDP Chieftains Kick As Party Leaders Endorse Tinubu

Some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party have faulted the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, and the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose. The PDP chieftains, including a former Deputy National Vice Chairman, Chief Bode George and Deputy National Youth Leader of the party, Timothy Osadolor, said Eno and Fayose’s position was capable of undermining the unity and future of the party. Eno, a PDP governor, had during the official flag-off of the 65-kilometre, three-lane dual carriageway section of the highway project in Nsit-Antai Local Government Area of the state last week, declared support for Tinubu’s re-election. “Let me end by assuring our people-loving President that we will stand by him. He deserves to complete his eight years in office. He cannot start this work and abandon it. Someone else may not finish it with the same passion. Me, I’m supporting Baba Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term,” he stated. This was as Fayose ruled out the chances of the PDP in the 2027 election, saying, “It is better to allow Asiwaju (Tinubu) to complete his tenure because this is a southern slot. Everybody is fighting for their survival.” Reacting, George expressed disappointment at Eno’s stance, describing it as dangerous. “I don’t bother about whatever Fayose says or what he is doing, but I am very worried about the governor — a sitting governor of our party in Akwa Ibom,” he said. The PDP chieftain warned that Eno’s decision could damage the party’s prospects ahead of the 2027 elections. “I will advise him (Eno), as a leader of this party and as a father of this party, to take things easy. Taking that kind of decision without consultation with the national body of the party or with other stakeholders is undermining our party ahead of the 2027 election,” he said. George added that the move was unprecedented in Akwa Ibom’s political history, urging the governor to reconsider his position. “He should recant his comment in the interest of the history of this country, because what would he be remembered for? It has never happened in Akwa Ibom. It was a wrong decision,” said George. Also, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the party, Timothy Osadolor, berated the duo, stating that they were not in a position to decide the direction the party will go in 2027. Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, Osadolor said, “If there is a state that is 100 per cent PDP, that state is Akwa Ibom. Mr Eno is the governor of the state, but he is not in a position to decide the political direction of PDP members in the state. His endorsement of President Tinubu is personal to him and has nothing to do with our party.” On Fayose, Osadolor said, “Nobody takes the former governor seriously anymore. He is at liberty to say whatever he likes because he owns his mouth, but the party is not bothered by the comments of Ayo Fayose.” Commenting on the crisis rocking the party, a member of the House of Representatives, Wole Oke, decried the crisis rocking the PDP. Oke described PDP as a party gasping for breath. “The PDP is in big trouble, and it is gasping for breath,” he said. He expressed worry that with less than two years to the next election cycle, the party was still swimming from one crisis to another, even as some of its chieftains were openly endorsing Tinubu for a second term in office.