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Irish Daily Mirror
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
St Patrick's Athletic keeper outlines his World Cup hopes and European dreams
Joseph Anang hopes his European exploits with St Patrick's Athletic can boost his bid to go to next year's World Cup. The 25-year-old received his first Ghana call-up for last month's Unity Cup against Nigeria and Trinidad & Tobago - and although he wasn't capped he was delighted with the experience. Anang had his eye on an international call-up when he returned to St Patrick's Athletic, this time on a permanent deal, from West Ham. 'Obviously West Ham let me go and from there I had to go somewhere and play some football,' he said, ahead of tonight's Europa Conference League clash between St Pat's and Estonian side Nomme Kalju. 'I also had the international career in mind, that's why I had to come here and get some games and then obviously get my career going again.' Ghana are on course to qualify for next year's World Cup. With four games to go, they lead their group, with second-placed Comoros three points behind them. 'It (qualification) is very, very possible because now we've got four games and I think we've got to win two to go through. So yeah, it's very, very possible,' said Anang, a former England underage goalkeeper.' As for his recent international call, he said: 'Me and the Ghana FA, we've been in contact since I was at West Ham but back then I wasn't playing so they couldn't really put a trigger. 'But now for the past year, we've been playing, so obviously that's why in the last two months, that's why I was able to get a call up. 'That was a great, great experience. That was my first call up, so hopefully first of many.' Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . European performances have tended to be the ones to elevate League of Ireland players onto the international stage. Shamrock Rovers' Josh Honohan caught the eye of Boys in Green boss Heimir Hallgrímsson with his performances in the Conference League last season. 'It's like they (international managers) are more focused on players playing in big leagues or playing against decent enough opponents and stuff like that,' said Anang. 'So I think they are watching me more playing in Europe than in the league, for sure.' If that's the case, then another clean sheet tonight would do his prospects no harm. Anang's goal wasn't breached once in the Saints' Conference League first qualifying round tie against Lithuanian side Hegelmann, as the Dubliners recorded a 3-0 aggregate win. In all competitions, he has recorded four consecutive clean sheets - and 13 in total this season. 'It feels good,' he said. 'It feels very good and obviously that shows how me and the boys have been working day in, day out and training defensively. 'So yeah, hopefully we can keep you up in the coming games.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
IOL News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
KZN youngsters overcome challenges to compete at the prestigious Gothia Cup in Sweden
Mariannridge friends Delon Taylor and Ansley Cloete managed to avoid socio-economic problems in their community to grasp the opportunity of a lifetime to participate in the Gothia Cup soccer tournament taking place in Sweden, from Sunday. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo Eight KwaZulu-Natal youngsters will depart Johannesburg's International Airport for Sweden, on Friday, for the Gothia Cup soccer tournament taking place from Sunday. Zarina Agherdien, coordinator of the Bluff-based team, the KZN Lyons, explained that selections for this opportunity took place at the Unity Cup in Johannesburg, which was hosted by her partners in football and development, the German International Soccer Academy-South Africa (GIS). Despite challenges, the boys managed to raise the required funding to pay for their tickets. The boys include: Raul Abrahams (Pietermaritzburg); Shaye Moody (Wentworth); Delon Taylor (Marianridge); Luwellyn Loots (Newlands); Braylen Roaskruge (Wentworth); Ezra Hutchinson (Wentworth) and Mikhaeel Montgomery (Sydenham), and Ansley Cloete (Mariannridge). Mariannridge friends Taylor,16, and Cloete,17, managed to avoid socio-economic problems in their community to grasp the opportunity of a lifetime. Both boys are in Grade 9. Delon is a midfielder, while Ansley is a goalkeeper. Delon and Ansley will be competing in the under-18 squad and claim that they are worthy candidates for this international footballing experience. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Agherdien said the Gothia Cup is the world's largest football tournament, attracting teams and, more importantly, scouts from across the world, providing valuable exposure and elite competition. They worked tirelessly to earn this opportunity and honed their skills by competing notably in the eThekwini u.16 development league in 2024. Ansley's mother, Genevieve Anyigulile, spoke of her struggles in raising four children in an abandoned sports ground's changing room for the past 12 years. Anyigulile said it was an emotional send-off. 'Although we could not go to the bus station, my neighbours and I gave him a send-off. He has never been away from home, and he will now learn to be self-sufficient. He has good company and people around him. I know he will be a success,' Anyigulile said. Tracy Taylor encouraged her son Delon to stay focused and follow his dreams and regarded Taylor as an unsung hero in the community who would one day inspire others. Agherdien together with football director Zaid Poultney made it their duty to know each of their players' worth, mannerisms, and needs. 'We see them as our own. What we are trying to do is difficult because most of them do not come from privileged backgrounds,' she said. Poultney played football, and Agherdien played hockey, both following in their parents' footsteps. She strongly believes that sports can change lives.
Scotsman
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Fifa and Scottish football clubs take note as Refugee World Cup shines light on marginalised players
24 teams compete for four trophies across five hours of football at Toryglen Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Over in America, the sprawling Club World Cup grinds on. In Glasgow this weekend, meanwhile, something far more rewarding will be done and dusted within a day despite involving as many as 24 teams. Follow that, Fifa. The Refugee World Cup, a seven-a-side tournament attracting players from over 50 nationalities, kicks off on Sunday at 11am and will be wrapped up by 4pm, when, in a departure from recent years, four trophies will be presented. The winners of the four groups of six teams will compete for the Refugee World Cup 2025 title. The second, third and fourth-placed teams will play for different cups: the Unity Cup, Equality Cup and Peace Cup. Unity, equality and peace. All concepts worth extolling at this time. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On hearing the organisers are in discussions with Fifa to officially endorse the tournament, it's possible to wonder why. Why risk ruining it? The bloated, financially motivated Club World Cup that – checks internet – yup is still plodding on in the States is an example of what can happen when Fifa are anything to do with it. Glasgow Afghan United managing director and tournament organiser Abdul Bostani launches the 2025 Refugee World Cup at Hampden Park with Cammy Bell and Packie Bonner. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'I don't see it from that angle,' says Abdul Bostani, managing director of the charity Glasgow Afghan United and one of the leading lights behind the Refugee World Cup. 'Fifa are an international body of football around the world and involvement of Fifa will benefit this tournament and make us stronger and more official in the world.' Discussions with world football's governing body are, he reveals, ongoing. He wants an open discussion about whether it might be held every four years, every year and in one or in several countries. As it stands, Glasgow is alone. The competition, which started in 2012, was previously known as the Refugee Football Festival. Renamed the Refugee World Cup in 2024, it's slightly surprising to hear they haven't received a cease and desist letter from Fifa president Gianni Infantino protesting about the use of 'World Cup' in the name. Maybe Fifa have found a soul. Maybe they can appreciate what Bostani says the Refugee World Cup is all about – a celebration of football and community and a reminder of our shared humanity. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scotland, too, ought to embrace it because, as Bostani confidently predicts, players of refugee backgrounds will one day proudly wear the Scotland jersey, 'just as France's national team reflects the diversity of its own heritage'. He wonders whether a 'Scottish Kylian Mbappe' is already here. Former Celtic winger Karamoko Dembele, currently with Queens Park Rangers, played in the competition as recently as last year, as did his brother Siriki, now at Oxford United. They grew up in Glasgow after their parents moved to Britain from Ivory Coast and represented a team called Scoutables FC, who are involved again this time around. Karamoko Dembele of Queens Park Rangers, and formerly of Celtic, has previously played in the Refugee World Cup. (Photo by) | Getty Images 'This tournament is an invitation to see refugees not as statistics, but as individuals,' explains Bostani. 'It's about fostering empathy, understanding and inclusion, values that have long defined Scotland and the UK as welcoming nations. 'There over 120 million displaced people in the world,' he adds. 'And we have millions of refugees around the world. This type of population is almost denied everything. If you are a refugee, you are not allowed to work, you are not allowed to do this, do that. We need to recognise the reality of what is happening in the world, and football is a main way of bringing people together. You might not speak the same language, but no matter where in the world you are from the minute you kick a ball you have made a connection.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Behind every refugee is a story of courage, of leaving behind home, loved ones, language and culture to seek safety and a future free from fear,' he adds. Bostani should know. He fled Afghanistan in 2001 and arrived in Glasgow, graduating in accountancy from the University of Strathclyde in 2011 and then gaining a master's degree in community development and adult education from the University of Glasgow in 2019. He is a local councillor for the SNP in Maryhill and has British citizenship. He was still a teenager when he first landed in Glasgow, alone and cut adrift from his family. He was last in Afghanistan in 2014. His father died when he was a young boy. He hasn't seen his mother since his last visit home 11 years ago. The Taliban's subsequent return to power has made it impossible for him to return although he has built a new life – and family – in Scotland, having married and had seven children, all born in Glasgow, aged between four and 20. Two of his sons will be playing on Sunday at Toryglen Regional Training Centre, where the Refugee World Cup takes place. Chris Priestley, manager of Burnhill FC, one of the competing teams, is also fixtures secretary of the Scottish Football Unity League, which was set up to create an environment free from all forms of prejudice and discrimination. He maintains there's work still to be done. Few from minority backgrounds have established themselves in the Scottish senior leagues, far less the Scotland national team. Edinburgh-born Rayan Mohammed, who has just been released by Dundee, was included in Pakistan's squad to play Myanmar earlier this month but is currently clubless. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Our frustration is that there is a lot of untapped talent here in Scotland but when it does break through it tends to go to England,' Priestley tells me. 'We have had players from the Unity League who have gone to Brentford, Southampton…I guess our frustration is these marginalised players are capable of making a contribution to semi-professional and professional clubs and yet are only getting this opportunity when they move to nations, typically England but other places, more used to diverse dressing rooms.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Multi-layered security cover deployed for 148th Rath Yatra
Ahmedabad: With the 148th Rath Yatra scheduled on Friday in Ahmedabad, the state govt and police department have put in place an extensive, multi-layered security plan to ensure peaceful and smooth proceedings. Chief minister Bhupendra Patel chaired a high-level review meeting in Gandhinagar on Tuesday, assessing the overall preparedness for the grand annual procession. Over 23,884 security personnel, including units from the State Reserve Police (SRP), Rapid Action Force (RAF), Chetak Commandos, and city police, will be deployed across the city. IG-ranked police officials will oversee critical locations along the 18-km route. A mobile force of 4,500 police personnel will accompany the procession, including the rath (chariot), trucks, akhadas, and bhajan groups. For traffic regulation, 1,000 officers and 23 cranes will be stationed at key junctions. City police commissioner G S Malik presented the comprehensive security and coordination blueprint to the CM, minister of state for home Harsh Sanghavi, and senior civic and state officials. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The CM specifically directed police to exercise heightened caution near 206 dilapidated structures identified on the procession route. Warning boards and barricades have already been erected to prevent public access to these vulnerable buildings. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad To assist citizens, 17 public help centres and 44 public address systems will be operational during the event. In efforts to foster communal harmony, police have conducted 177 peace committee meetings, 235 mohalla committee gatherings, and several interfaith dialogues in sensitive areas. The police are also collaborating closely with civic agencies to manage crowds, logistics, and public utilities throughout the event. For real-time tracking and crowd control, all processional vehicles will be equipped with GPS systems, allowing swift response in case of diversions or emergencies. Pointers: Comprehensive Blueprint - Security Deployment: 23,884 personnel, including IGs, commandos, SRP, and RAF - AI Technology: To be used for crowd alert and fire detection systems for the first time - GPS Monitoring: All raths, akhada vehicles, and trucks to be tracked in real time - Moving Security: Over 4,500 police in motion along with raths and bhajan mandalis - Traffic Control: 1,000 personnel and 23 cranes deployed - Surveillance: 227 CCTV cameras, 41 drones, 2,872 body-worn cameras, 240 rooftop points, 25 watch towers - Public Support: 17 help centres and 44 public address systems available along the route - Risk Mitigation: Dilapidated and old buildings marked with warning messages - Community Coordination: 177 peace committee, 235 locality, and 57 women meetings held - Social Events: Unity Cup cricket, blood donation camps, and cultural contests organised
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How to watch Jamaica vs Trinidad and Tobago: TV channel and live stream for Unity Cup semi-final today
The Unity Cup returns for the first time since 2004 today, with Jamaica set to face off with Trinidad and Tobago in the semi-final at the Gtech Stadium. Steve McLaren, who took over the Reggae Boyz last year, has named a young squad for the tournament, his first return to West London as a head coach since being sacked by Queens Park Rangers in 2019. They are on a four-game unbeaten run, last tasting defeat as they lost 4-2 to the United States in November. Advertisement Everton's Mason Holgate, who spent this season on loan at West Bromwich Albion, returns to the squad, and he features alongside Charlton Athletic's Kaheim Dixon and Burton Albion forward Rumarn Burrell, named in a senior Jamaica squad for the first time. McLaren had hoped that West Ham's Michail Antonio could make the squad after he broke his leg in December, but he will not be risked. Trinidad's squad, headed up by Aston Villa and Man United great Dwight Yorke, features Stevenage midfielder Daniel Phillips, and St Johnstone's Andre Raymond. It will be the 41st meeting between the two sides and the third this year, with Jamaica recording a 1-0 win and a 1-1 draw in the earlier fixtures. Advertisement Also contesting the Unity Cup are Ghana and Nigeria. The other semi-final will be held on Wednesday, with a the final and third-place decider to be played in a double-header on Saturday, May 31. All four matches will be held at the Gtech Stadium. How to watch Jamaica vs Trinidad and Tobago TV Channel: Jamaica vs Trinidad and Tobago will be broadcast live on Premier Sports 1, with coverage starting at 7:40pm ahead of a 7:45pm kickoff. Live stream: Premier Sports subscribers can watch online via the Premier Sports app and website.
