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New York Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Nigeria win Unity Cup in ‘carnival-like' atmosphere: Steel drums, beef patties and a penalty shootout
The train from Waterloo station, just south of the River Thames in central London, to Brentford's Gtech Community stadium in west London was only 20 minutes, but a group of three Jamaica fans took the time to hang the country's flag in the window. Another Jamaica fan tested out the three horns he had brought and proclaimed they were going to win the Unity Cup. The vibes were high. Advertisement The four participating nations have been represented in English football through players — such as Dwight Yorke (Trinidad and Tobago), Michael Essien (Ghana), Shola Ameobi (Nigeria) and Wes Morgan (Jamaica), and three of the four countries — except Trinidad and Tobago — have active Premier League players. But it was a rare opportunity to see the national teams on U.K. soil — this was the first Unity Cup since 2004, and these fans did not waste the opportunity. Steel drums, horns (including vuvuzelas), and half-time performances from music artists, including Young T and Bugsey and Stylo G, all contributed to the sounds of national pride. Appropriate nutrition was needed to fuel such energy during a day that stretched from 12.30pm BST (the first game's kick-off) to 7.15pm (when the second game finished). Among the Afro-Caribbean food and drink options inside the stadium were Jamaican beef patties, jerk chicken burgers, fruit punches and Supermalt. Nigerian supporter Cliff Ediale came while celebrating his 28th birthday. 'I've only ever watched them (Nigeria) on TV. It's the first time I've watched in person,' he tells The Athletic. He'd seen clips of Nigeria's 2-1 win over Ghana three days prior and was excited to come and support. Up first was the third-place game between Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago, with the pair losing to Nigeria and Jamaica respectively earlier in the week. Leicester City's Jordan Ayew, Ghana's captain, scored the opener and assisted twice before being substituted in the 60th minute, and his team won convincingly 4-0. The other goalscorers were Razak Simpson, Mohammed Fuseini and Lawrence Agyekum. With it being an all-day event, people arrived gradually. No time was louder than in the hour approaching the second game, the final, between Jamaica and Nigeria. People's eardrums would have been ringing on their way home. Advertisement As crowds reached their peak, there were team sections on either side of the stadium, but Jamaica were best represented, taking over the neutral zones, too. After Jamaica's 3-2 win over Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday, manager Steve McClaren said of the support: 'They're always vocal, home or away. That's why we are here, for the Jamaica players to experience playing in the UK, the UK-based players to play in front of family and friends wearing a Jamaica shirt, but most importantly for the two and a half million people in this country (half a million living in London) and it felt like we had them all in here.' Before the actual national anthems of these countries sounded, honorary ones from Nigeria and Jamaica were played, such as Clarks by Vybz Kartel, Popcaan and Gaza Slim, and Last Last by Burna Boy. One Nigeria fan, who attended with friends, said: 'The atmosphere was very carnival-like. It reminded me a lot of Notting Hill carnival or any game with a west African or Caribbean team. Steel drum bands, vuvuzelas, so I think it definitely had that atmosphere, and it was good to see that in the Brentford stadium.' He continued: 'It was a really good incentive, bringing communities together. It was not only a celebration of the footballing talents but also of the cultures. Having the entertainment from different nations was another feature that added to the celebration.' Anyone whose first football games were at the Unity Cup would have a very different perception of a fan experience than the usual Premier League games at the same stadium. It showcased how football, a global game, is enjoyed differently around the world. The game itself proved worthy of a final. Nigeria took the lead twice through Moses Simon and then Samuel Chukwueze, but Jamaica were able to find a response both times from Kaheim Dixon and Jon Russell (of Charlton and Barnsley respectively). Milan's Chukwueze revelled on this stage, exciting fans further with a number skilful runs on the ball. He appeared to go down injured in the 79th minute but adamantly signalled to the bench he wanted to stay on, clearly enjoying himself. Advertisement With the game finishing 2-2 after 90 minutes, it went straight to penalties, taking the atmosphere up another notch. Dwayne Atkinson of Jamaica missed their fourth penalty, and Nigeria scored all five of theirs to win the cup. These were all considered friendly games on paper, but meant a lot more to fans, players and managers, too. Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle said in the post-match press conference: 'I don't want to talk about it because maybe people say, 'Blah, blah , blah', but the reality is this is my first trophy as a coach and I hope I can bring to Nigeria another trophy.' While the Champions League final stole the headlines on Saturday, there was no doubt who the respective fans in west London were championing. They will hope it is not another 20 years until next time.
CBC
29-05-2025
- General
- CBC
What's planned in Ottawa this Canada Day?
The federal government announced the lineup for this year's Canada Day celebrations. With U.S. trade tensions spiking, the feds hope to instill national pride.
CBC
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Sarah McLachlan, Blue Rodeo among stars performing in Canada Day celebration
Sarah McLachlan, Cœur de pirate and Josh Ross are among the performers set for Canada Day celebrations organized by Heritage Canada. The federal department says homegrown stars will anchor an evening bash on July 1 meant to celebrate national unity, pride and sovereignty. The festivities will take place at LeBreton Flats in Ottawa, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET. Most events will be broadcast across the country from Ottawa, with more performers beamed in from other regions: Blue Rodeo in Summerside, P.E.I.; Crook the Kid and Brenda Montana in Yellowknife; and Alex Wells and Dear Rouge in Vancouver. All in all, more than 20 musicians and special guests will take part in the cross-country celebration. WATCH | Metric performs Black Sheep at the 2024 Canada Day celebration: The evening party in Ottawa also includes performances by Tom Cochrane, Mitsou, Amanda Marshall, Roch Voisine, Randy Bachman and Talk. The flag-waving begins with a noon ceremony including Marshall, Garou and Thompson Egbo-Egbo. CBC Gem, CBC Radio and the CBC News YouTube channel. "The July 1 festivities will allow us to celebrate our unity and express our national pride, while affirming our sovereignty, our identity and our culture," the Department of Canadian Heritage said Thursday in a release.
The Sun
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
One of the world's cheapest holiday destinations reveals £1.5billion airport expansion with phoenix-shaped terminal
AN UNUSUAL bird-shaped terminal is opening as part of the a major £1.5billion airport upgrade on an affordable holiday island. The Phu Quoc International Airport, which serves a small island off the coast of Cambodia, is getting a billion pound upgrade - and it looks like a mythological phoenix. 5 5 The airport works will be carried out in two phases, with the first set to be complete by 2030. In the next five years, Phu Quoc International Airport should be able to accommodate up to 18 million passengers per year. This is over four times its current capacity of four million. By 2050, when the second phase is set to be complete, the airport is expected to handle up to 50 million passengers per year. According to Vietnam Plus, the first stage will cost 26.57 trillion VND (over £756million) and the second will be an additional 25.79 trillion VND (£750million). The airport is being designed by Singapore -based CPG Airport Consultants, and the unique shape of the terminal is intentional. It's inspired by a phoenix spreading its wings, symbolising "national pride and prestige", according to Vietnam Plus. In addition to the existing runway, a second runway will be constructed. The two runways will be over 3,000 metres each, and will mean that wider aircraft used for long-haul flights from Europe and the US will be able to land on the island. Inside, the designs for the terminal reveal a light and airy space. I left the UK & moved to the cheapest country in the world - rent is £432 a month, petrol AND lunch is £1 & beer is 40p 5 5 And it will be kitted out with a shopping centre as well as modern technology from remote check-in to automated baggage sorting, and biometric identification. With all of this, the entry and exit times are set to be reduced to 15–30 seconds per person. There will also be changes in the surrounding areas with major roads being built and expanded to accommodate for expected traffic. Last year, Vietnam was named as being the most affordable place to live in the world for the fourth year in a row, according to the Expat Insider survey. One Sun Travel writer travelled to Hoi An in Vietnam where he discovered bargain beers for as little as 30p. Phu Quoc is an island off the coast of the mainland and has been given two affectionate nicknames because of its natural beauty. The first being 'Pearl Island' because of its white sandy beaches, and 'the Venice of Vietnam' thanks to its narrow lanes and colourful shops fronts. In 2024, Phu Quoc was named the World's Leading Nature Island Destination by the World Travel Awards. And in July of 2024, the island was voted world's second most beautiful island by Travel+Leisure. Here's more on the exotic beach town crowned 'cheapest destination' for Brits. And one couple even upped sticks and decided to move to the destination.
Khaleej Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE jewellers set world record with largest gold frame of Sheikh Zayed, iconic landmarks
Two UAE jewellers have turned their passion and craftsmanship into a world record-breaking tribute to the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. They crafted a giant frame made entirely out of 21-karat gold, featuring a high-quality portrait of Sheikh Zayed surrounded by iconic landmarks from all seven emirates. This luxurious creation, which has now entered the Guinness World Records as the world's largest gold frame, has been showcased at the 55th edition of the Middle East Watch and Jewellery Show, organised by Expo Centre Sharjah. The idea was a collaboration between Golden Arabia Jewellery and Yogesh Jewellery Factory, a family-run business based in Sharjah since 1973. The golden frame is not for sale, rather, it's a heartfelt piece that represents national pride, unity, and the deep love many residents feel for Sheikh Zayed. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. 'This idea started out as a regular project,' said Nirmal Yogesh Kumar, a third-generation jeweller from Yogesh Jewellery Factory. 'But when we saw the final design and effort going into it, we realised this wasn't something ordinary, it had the potential to break records. That's when we approached Guinness World Records.' The frame showcases detailed gold carvings of seven landmarks from different emirates, including the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Burj Khalifa, and the Quran Roundabout in Sharjah. It combines both matte and polished finishes to highlight the depth and texture of each monument. 'The central photograph of Sheikh Zayed is printed in high resolution and set like a jewel within the frame.' The team completed the project in three months. According to Nirmal, 30 skilled artisans worked 10 hours a day, five days a week, totaling more than 19,500 man-hours. 'The design and idea came from the owners of Golden Arabia Jewellery and our team, and our job was to bring their vision to life. It's completely handmade, with only a few elements created through 3D printing for precision,' said Nirmal. According to Ali Hasan Saleh Al Yafeai, owner of Golden Arabia Jewellery, the inspiration for this piece came after the Sharjah royal family visited the Golden Arabia pavilion during a previous exhibition. 'They were impressed by a gold necklace shaped in Dubai's Museum of the Future. They encouraged us to create something even more extraordinary for the next edition,' said Ali. 'That stayed with me. I didn't want to create something just for business. I wanted to express what I feel for this country and for Baba Zayed. This frame is a tribute, and it's not for sale. It doesn't have a price tag, it's priceless.' Ali said that his entire family contributed to the concept and collaborated closely with the craftsmen at Yogesh Jewellery to make it a reality. 'It's very heavy to lift, but my love for the father of the nation is heavier,' Ali said with emotion. The makers said that this magnificent frame is not just an artistic marvel, it stands as a glowing symbol of the UAE's unity, vision, and the enduring legacy of Sheikh Zayed.
