Former Canada coach Priestman returns to football in NZ after ban
The 39-year-old Englishwoman, who led Canada to Olympic gold in 2021, has just completed a one-year FIFA ban from football-related activity for her role in flying a drone over a closed New Zealand training session at last year's Summer Games.
Priestman has been handed a two-year deal by Phoenix to coach their women's side, who finished ninth of the 12 teams in the otherwise Australian A-League Women earlier this year.
"We're really pleased to be able to welcome Bev back to football," Phoenix chairman Rob Morrison said in a club statement.
"We all know she's had a period of time away from the game, but we understand the circumstances and we're really comfortable with this appointment.
"This is a step up in an exciting era for the Phoenix women's team."
Priestman is no stranger to her new home, having previously served as New Zealand Football's director of football development and married former Football Ferns midfielder and current Phoenix academy director Emma Humphries.
"Huge thanks to (the club) for giving me this chance to come back to the game I love, and hopefully bring some special moments to not only this city, but this country," said the former assistant coach of England's women's team.
"Coming back to New Zealand and seeing the Phoenix week in week out as the only professional women's team has been amazing. We have a responsibility now to fly the flag for this country and try to do something special."
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Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
Qin Haiyang hails ‘miracle of Lane 8' after winning 200m breaststroke at World Aquatics C'ships
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Qin Haiyang of China celebrates after winning the Men's 200m Breaststroke held at the WCH Arena on Aug 1. SINGAPORE – Having qualified with the slowest time in the men's 200m breaststroke final, there was a huge question mark over Chinese swimmer Qin Haiyang's hopes of a golden double at the World Aquatics Championships (WCH) in Singapore. While he had swept all three breaststroke events at the 2023 edition in Fukuoka, where he also set the 200m world record of 2min 5.48sec, he has been struggling for consistency of late. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, he finished seventh in the 100m breast final and could not even reach the 200m final. He won the 100m gold and 50m bronze at the WCH Arena in Singapore, but the Jekyll and Hyde showing continued as he nearly missed the 200m final again, finishing eighth overall in the semi-finals on July 30 in 2:09.32, just 0.28sec clear of the ninth-placed swimmer, Britain's Gregory Butler. 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Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Straits Times
Russia hopes swimming return paves way for end to sporting neutrality
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Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Straits Times
Mexico's Osmar Olvera Ibarra ends China's dominance in men's 3m springboard
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Osmar Olvera Ibarra of Mexico in action during the World Aquatics Championship Men's 3m Diving final held at the OCBC Aquatic Centre on August 1, 2025. SINGAPORE – Waking up in the morning of Aug 1, Mexican diver Osmar Olvera Ibarra had only one thing in mind. Having claimed three silver medals at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, the 21-year-old was determined to win the gold in his last event and end China's near two-decade stranglehold on the men's 3m springboard. At the OCBC Aquatic Centre later in the evening, he accomplished what he had set out to do as he somersaulted, twisted and piked his way to history. Garnering 529.55 points from six dives, he became the first Mexican winner of the event, thwarting China, represented by Cao Yuan and Wang Zongyuan, from making it 11 consecutive wins. Cao, who was just 6.85 points behind Olvera, had also finished second in 2019 and 2022 while Wang, who had won in three consecutive editions before this meet, slipped to third with 515.55 points. 'Yeah, I believed it,' said Olvera when The Straits Times asked him shortly after the medal ceremony if he had believed that he would be the one to end China's streak, which stretched back to the 2007 edition. 'When I got up, I told myself that I will get a gold medal today. And that today, I will be a world champion and I got it, so I'm so happy. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Tech Reporting suspected advanced cyber attacks will provide a defence framework: Shanmugam Business Singapore's US tariff rate stays at 10%, but the Republic is not out of the woods yet Business ST explains: How Trump tariffs could affect Singapore SMEs, jobs and markets Singapore Thundery showers expected on most days in first half of August Singapore SPH Media awards three journalism scholarships to budding newsroom talent Singapore Synapxe chief executive, MND deputy secretary to become new perm secs on Sept 1 Singapore 5 women face capital charges after they were allegedly found with nearly 27kg of cocaine in S'pore Business Sumo Salad had valid insurance coverage for work injury claims: MOM 'I don't know (why I felt this way) but yesterday when I went to sleep, I thought, it would be a really great day and in the morning, I was really sure today I would beat the Chinese divers. I know that they are the best, the best country in this sport, and I am always training, thinking that I want to beat them. And today I got it. 'It's a dream come true.' Olvera had finished second behind Wang in the 2023 edition in Fukuoka and was third in Doha in 2024, behind Wang and Xie Siyi. Finishing behind China had become an all-too-familiar feeling to him. At the Paris Olympics last August, he also placed third behind Wang and Xie in the 3m springboard and partnered Juan Manuel Celaya Hernandez to a silver in the synchronized 3m springboard, as Wang and Long Daoyi claimed the gold. Even in Singapore, he had to settle for silver in the men's 3m synchronised springboard, 1m springboard and mixed 3m and 10m team – all behind Chinese rivals. The script looked set to stay that way on Aug 1. Going into the penultimate dive, it was the Chinese divers who had the upper hand with Cao and Wang racking up 344.80 points and 335.85 points respectively, while Olvera garnered 329.45. But the Mexican saved his best dives – and the most difficult ones – for the last two rounds, as he overtook his rivals to become the first non-Chinese winner in the event since Canada's Alexandre Despatie in 2005. Standing atop the podium with the Himno Nacional Mexicano blaring through the speakers was an emotional moment for him. 'Honestly, I was almost crying. I felt my country, I felt my family. I think they are really proud and I want to just enjoy the moment,' said Olvera. Despite finishing second, Cao said he was very satisfied. 'It's also a breakthrough for me. I really wanted to help the Chinese team win the gold medal, but there may be some details that I didn't do well enough,' said the 30-year-old. 'For me, second place is actually very satisfying, but I hoped to help the Chinese team win the gold medal.' During the preliminaries earlier in the day, Singapore's Avvir Tham and Max Lee finished 22nd and 44th respectively out of 65 and did not make it to the semi-finals. Only the top 18 progressed to the semi-finals before it was further whittled down to 12 for the final showdown.
