Latest news with #Ghana-born
The Independent
29-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Vaibhav Suryavanshi: Cricket's 14-year-old prodigy must beware the cautionary tales of sport's starlets
Whatever happened to Freddy Adu? It is a question many will have asked in the 20 years since he made his senior debut. You may recall the tale of the Ghana-born, USA-raised teenage football phenom, drafted into Major League Soccer (MLS) as a 14-year-old accompanied by the loftiest of comparisons with Pele. This, the headlines cried, was the wunderkind to drive America's footballing expansion; the face of the future and the boy to carry the burden of a nation's dreams on his shoulders. Or not, it proved. Adu concluded a perfectly creditable playing career with Swedish club Osterlen in 2021, collecting 17 international caps and an impressive array of stamps in his passport along the way. Stints in Portugal, Monaco, Greece, Turkey, Brazil, Serbia and Finland form remarkable chapters in an incredible sporting story – even if Adu never lived up to the unfair potential others promised of him. It is a cautionary fairytale that unfortunately came to mind when watching Vaibhav Suryavanshi make a most remarkable 35-ball century for Rajasthan Royals on Monday. If the public had enjoyed passing familiarity with the name of the teenager from the Bihar province in India's far north-east after he became the youngest player ever bought at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction in December, his slamming of the first ball he faced in the competition for six thrust him further into the cricketing consciousness. His ton, however, was something else entirely. This was not an effort to be lauded simply due to the 14-year-old's tender age but one of the great IPL innings, the fastest century ever made by an Indian in a competition that has transformed the sport. Suryavanshi bettered the mark of Yusuf Pathan made by the former all-rounder in a 2010 innings that the youngster was not even alive to see. This was no understrength bowling attack being flayed for seven fours and 11 sixes in an hour of extraordinary hitting, either, but one formed of seven fully-fledged internationals and including, in Rashid Khan, perhaps the finest T20 spinner of all-time. Strutting down in celebration with arms spread after depositing Khan over deep midwicket for six to reach the milestone, Suryavanshi had the steely-eyed look of a cricketer who knows he has the world at his feet. His coaches at the Royals speak of a mature character who has embraced every challenge thrust in front of him, including taking on Jofra Archer in the nets while others dodge and dive away from the England quick. A past prodigy was impressed. 'Vaibhav's fearless approach, bat speed, picking the length early, and transferring the energy behind the ball was the recipe behind a fabulous innings,' Sachin Tendulkar posted on X, formerly Twitter. 'End result: 101 runs off 38 balls. Well played!' One hopes that Suryavanshi has the right figures around him and enjoys the sort of sporting life his talent would suggest lies ahead. But the tale of Adu is just one reason to fear for Suryavanshi's future. Many a sporting starlet has burned brightly only to soon reach supernova, often leaving a difficult legacy behind. The singular drive required to sustain a career at the top takes its toll on all those who embark on the difficult journey. Tennis player Todd Ley, signed by IMG at 12, detailed in an interview with Fox Sports earlier this year how he had built his identity around his chosen pursuit and struggled to deal with the consequences as it crumbled. 'It was a mess,' Ley explained, having battled substance abuse problems. 'And I was enjoying it. It felt like I was completely annihilating this image other people had created for me. The feeling of destroying myself was cathartic. 'Because I'd been robbed of a childhood, I felt like I had absolutely every right to make up for what I missed out on. So, I behaved like a child does. And it was fantastic, but also very problematic.' The lifestyle demands placed on emergent athletes are extreme. If one of the great growing phases of adolescence is developing the capacity to learn from one's mistakes, there are times where those in the sporting spotlight are not afforded the chance to do so, each error on – or perhaps more damagingly off – the pitch scrutinised or censured. Even a figure like Adu – who produced a career to be proud of – is ultimately defined by the player he never became than the player he was. In Indian cricket, such thoughts can never be far away. A unique culture of sporting deification can have tremendous positives but also bedevil the gods at its centre. Virat Kohli is thought to have moved his family to London, protecting their privacy and allowing him to walk the streets without undue attention. While Tendulkar went on to become a great of the game, his no-less talented contemporary Vinod Kambli played his last Test at the age of 23 while averaging more than 50, tumbling away among tales of off-field tumult even in an age before social media. Not all stories are quite so dramatic. Though his exact age remains a matter of some dispute, Pakistan's Hasan Raza is widely recognised as the youngest male Test cricketer but made just 22 more international appearances having been unable to replicate his early success; eight years on since becoming Derbyshire's youngest first-class player, the gifted off-spinner Hamidullah Qadri finds himself cast out by county cricket after leaving Kent. Even for the prodigious and promising, professional sport can be uncompromising and unforgiving. Not that any of this should concern Suryavanshi. One of the great joys of youth is to live and savour each moment, the sort of spirit shown in abundance in his breakthrough knock. May the boy from Bihar lap up the riches and rewards on offer and continue to love his cricket – and let us hope that cricket loves him back.
News.com.au
22-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
A-League Men's: Adelaide United's finals hopes suffer major blow after draw in Brisbane
Adelaide United's hopes of playing finals football suffered a major blow on Tuesday night when the Reds were held to a 1-1 draw by the battling Brisbane Roar. Needing a win at Suncorp Stadium to jump back into the A-League's top-six, Adelaide led early through a goal from wing-back Dylan Pierias. However, the Roar, who were chasing back-to-back home wins after last week's shock 2-1 victory over Western United, grabbed a deserved second-half equaliser through their Ghana-born former Portuguese youth international striker Asumah Abubakar. Both sides pushed for a winner, but had to settle for a share of the points. And while the draw was enough for Adelaide to move level with sixth-placed Sydney FC on 37 points, the Reds remain in seventh place with a significantly worse goal difference. Adelaide has also played one more match than Sydney, and has only one regular season game remaining, a tough away clash against second-placed Melbourne City on Saturday Sydney has two matches of its regular season schedule to play, but neither are easy, with the Sky Blues to meet Western United and Melbourne City, both away from home. Adelaide coach Carl Veart was forced to defend his decision to leave the competition's equal leading goalscorer Archie Goodwin and key playmaker Zach Clough out of his starting 11. 'It's just about managing their loads,' Veart told Paramount Plus. 'They are two important players for us, and when the speed was taken out of the game, I thought there was an opportunity for them to come on and get something for us. 'Tonight was just about us trying to get a result. We tried to be a little bit more resilient defensively and try to get a few things going on the counter attack, but we just weren't good enough when we won the ball. Veart, whose coaching contract won't be renewed for next season, said the Reds would 'give it everything' they had against Melbourne City. 'Hopefully things fall our way,' he said. For the Roar, the draw was enough to move them a point clear of last-placed Perth Glory. Abubakar said his side was 'happy' with the draw. 'We created a lot of chances … and we fought until the end of the game,' he said. The Reds went ahead in the 11th minute through Pierias, who netted from close range after being found unmarked at the far by a cross from Yaya Dukuly. However, Adelaide's customary defensive woes should have led to a Brisbane equaliser just two minutes later, but the Roar's French playmaker Florin Berenguer somehow lifted his shot over the crossbar from point-blank range. The Roar thought they did have an equaliser 60 seconds later courtesy of a wonderful strike from teenage talent Jacob Brazete, but a VAR ruling foiled the hosts, with the former Sydney FC youth player judged to be offside by the barest of margins. Brisbane's frustrations continued in the 33rd minute with another offside ruling, this time against Abubakar, ensured Adelaide remained in the lead. Dukuly had a chance to double the Reds advantage on the stroke of half-time but his shot was saved by Roar gloveman Matt Acton. The Roar grabbed a deserved equaliser in the 59th minute, with Abubakar rewarded for his hard work when his 25-metre strike got the better of Reds gloveman Max Vartuli, who made a mess of his attempt to save the shot.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Adelaide's finals hopes dive after ALM draw with Roar
Adelaide United's A-League Men finals hopes are on a knife's edge after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium. The one point took the visitors to seventh on the ladder, equal with Sydney FC but behind on goal difference. Adelaide have played one more match than the rest of the competition and must now win their final game away against Melbourne City and hope other results go their way to play finals. The race for positions in the top six is set to go down to the final round of the regular season in the first weekend in May. Just four points separate third from seventh, with Western United (41), Western Sydney (40), Melbourne Victory (39), Sydney FC (37) and Adelaide (37) fighting it out. Adelaide coach Carl Veart will leave the club at the end of the season and said winning their next match and going on a dream run in the finals would mean everything to him. "We have one more game and we will give it everything we've got and hopefully things fall our way," he said. Adelaide opened the scoring in the 11th minute on Tuesday night, with Dylan Pierias slamming home a wonder cross from Yaya Dukuly, who provided the pinpoint pass across the face of goal after a scything run down the left. That pass - Chef's kiss 👌Dylan Pierias opens the scoring for @AdelaideUnited and it's all thanks to Yaya Dukuly's fine work.📺 Watch #BRIvADL live and exclusive NOW on Paramount+ — Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) April 22, 2025 The hosts had their chances to score in the first half but were frustrated. Roar midfielder Jacob Brazete lobbed a shot inches over the crossbar in the fifth minute. There was a controversial moment in the 15th minute when the 19-year-old caressed a curling right-to-left shot into the net after attracting three defenders just inside the box. VAR denied the goal for offside for the sake of several Brazete toes. Roar striker Asumah Abubakar, the player of the match, had a goal correctly ruled out for offside after a deft pass from skipper Jay O'Shea. Earlier it was a Florin Berenguer miss from close range in front of an open goal that had the home fans holding their heads in dismay. Dukuly had a thunderbolt shot well saved by Roar goalkeeper Matt Acton on the cusp of halftime. Then in the 59th minute, Ghana-born Abubakar lashed in a right-footer from 35m out for his fourth goal of the season. "We are very happy with the draw. We created a lot of chances and fought until the end of the game," Abubakar told Paramount Plus. WOW! WHAT A HIT 🚀😱@brisbaneroar's Asumah Abubakar unleashes an absolute ROCKET from distance and runs straight to the gaffer to celebrate 🥹📺 Watch #BRIvADL live NOW on Paramount+ — Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) April 22, 2025 Striker Luka Jovanovic had a chance to take the lead for Adelaide but was unable to find the net. Roar's Ben Halloran had a shot in the 88th minute well saved by goalkeeper Max Vartuli, but a winner from either side proved elusive. The Roar are in 12th place and can avoid the wooden spoon with one win in their final two games.
Perth Now
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Adelaide's finals hopes dive after ALM draw with Roar
Adelaide United's finals hopes are on a knife's edge after being held to a 1-1 draw by Brisbane Roar in the A-League Men clash at Suncorp Stadium. The one point took the visitors to seventh on the ladder, equal with Sydney FC but behind on goal difference. Adelaide have played one more match than the rest of the competition and must now win their final game away against Melbourne City and hope other results go their way to play finals. The race for positions in the top six is set to go down to the final round of the regular season in the first weekend in May. Just four points separate third from seventh. Western United (41), Western Sydney (40), Melbourne Victory (39), Sydney FC (37) and Adelaide (37) are fighting it out. Adelaide opened the scoring in the 11th minute on Tuesday night, with Dylan Pierias slamming home a wonder cross from Yaya Dukuly, who provided the pinpoint pass across the face of goal after a scything run down the left. The hosts had their chances to score in the first half but were frustrated. Roar midfielder Jacob Brazete lobbed a shot inches over the crossbar in the fifth minute. There was a controversial moment in the 15th minute when the 19-year-old caressed a curling right-to-left shot into the net after attracting three defenders just inside the box. VAR denied the goal for offside for the sake of several Brazete toes. Roar striker Asumah Abubakar, the player of the match, had a goal correctly ruled out for offside after a deft pass from skipper Jay O'Shea Earlier it was a Florin Berenguer miss from close range in front of an open goal that had the home fans holding their heads in dismay. Dukuly had a thunderbolt shot well saved by Roar goalkeeper Matt Acton on the cusp of halftime. Then in the 59th minute, Ghana-born Abubakar, from 35m out, lashed a right-footer in for his fourth goal of the season. Striker Luka Jovanovic had a chance to take the lead for Adelaide but was unable to find the net. Roar's Ben Halloran had a shot in the 88th minute well saved by goalkeeper Max Vartuli, but a winner from either side proved elusive. The Roar are in 12th place and can avoid the wooden spoon with one win in their final two games.
Buzz Feed
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Canned Beans, Air-Fried Plantains, And Questionable Casting: Get Into This Red Red Competition
Canned Beans, Air-Fried Plantains, And Questionable Casting: Get Into This Red Red Competition They each step into the kitchen, dish in hand, ready to claim the title of Red Red connoisseur. The lineup is full of flavor before the cooking even starts. Vic's Ghana-born and LA-based. Nadou's Togolese by birth, Ghanaian by blood. And Gloria? Ghanaian-born, but raised in…Scotland. Yeah, I had to pause too. Black folks in Scotland? Apparently, yes. And she's here to show what her Scottish-Ghanaian combo can bring to the stew pot. For those unfamiliar, Vic broke down what Red Red is. It's a rich tomato-based stew cooked down with onions and black-eyed peas, often paired with plantains and rice. Naodu insists garri — dried cassava — is a must-have addition. Gloria goes first, pulling up with yellow plantains, canned beans, an avocado on the side, and a sprinkle of garri on top of her stew. Vegetarian, vegan-friendly, but still full of flavor thanks to her secret weapon: shito. That's the spicy, smoky condiment from Ghana made with dried fish and peppers — a flavor bomb. Visually, the plate had me ready to risk it all and dive through the screen. But the taste test? Not so kind. Vic wasted no time pointing out the canned beans. He wasn't impressed, and Nadou echoed the same. Vic also said the stew had too much oil, and Nadou wasn't feeling the garri — said it had a 'sandy texture.' Vic kept it blunt: he didn't like anything on the plate and questioned the lack of meat. Safe to say Gloria's dish did not win over the crowd. Final score: 10 Then came Nadou. And listen, how she made it here is a mystery in itself. Sis had to phone-a-friend to figure out the recipe — literally. Admitted she doesn't like cooking, but here she is in a cooking competition. Make it make sense. Someone needs to pass me the casting sheet next time. She pulled up with palm oil, garlic, peppers, curry, and a splash of peanut butter — plus fried plantains and boiled eggs on the side. Presentation-wise, Vic and Gloria were kind. They liked the look and texture. But once they tasted it? The vibes switched. Vic said it smelled like cow's feet. Gloria found it mushy, and Vic legit spat it out. The palm oil was doing the most and not in a good way. The only thing they liked was the egg. Final score: 7 Last up: Vic, who's been the loudest critic all episode. Now it's his turn to show us how it's really done. He air-fried his plantains, went with a mix of white and yellow rice, and served up a stew with black-eyed peas, tomatoes, curry powder, short ribs, and maggi cubes — which, by the way, are a staple in African dishes but hard to find in LA (thank God for Amazon). The ladies didn't hold back. Gloria came for the rice, asking if it even belonged on the plate. Nadou said it was just 'okay.' Flavor-wise? Gloria said it was 'uneventful,' and Nadou called it 'one-dimensional.' The man who dragged everyone else got dragged right back. They chewed through the critiques — and him. Final score: 9 Gloria walks away with the crown, and honestly, from what I saw, she earned it. While I go find someone who actually knows how to make Red Red properly, do yourself a favor and check out this episode.
