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Manchester City Make light Work of Thrashing Hapless 10-Man Arsenal

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Manchester City made light work of thrashing a hapless 10-man Arsenal 5-0 in the Premier League on Saturday, a result that means the Gunners have lost their opening three league games of a season for the first time since 1954-55.

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta, back at the Etihad Stadium where he worked as an assistant between 2016 and 2019, watched in horror as his team fell apart early on, with Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres giving City a 2-0 lead inside 12 minutes.

The visitors remained masters of their own chaotic downfall as Granit Xhaka inexplicably got himself sent off for a two-footed lunge in the 35th minute, making an already difficult task a bit more challenging for Arteta’s men.

City could then afford to take their foot off the gas but the goals still flowed as British recording signing Jack Grealish set up Gabriel Jesus for City’s third just before halftime.

Rodri added a fourth early in the second half, before Torres scored his second late on to complete a miserable afternoon for Arteta and his side.

Another loss means Arsenal are without a point, or even a goal, from their three games so far this season, while City, temporarily at least with rivals in action later in the weekend, are back on top of the standings.

“Arteta knows how I love him,” City boss Pep Guardiola said.

“In the two or three years he was here he was important to what we built. People want results right away; with the players he had today, Ben White, Thomas Partey were missing, many players they invested in were missing, without that it is difficult.

“I know his awareness as a manager and as a leader, the moment everyone is back he will do an excellent job. I know this because I know him, I know the job he can do.

“Today we scored some goals that we didn’t deserve. We didn’t play that good to score a goal.”

City boss Pep Guardiola was adamant on Friday that the club did not need Cristiano Ronaldo as reports circulated that the champions were about to bring in the Portugal forward, before he eventually sealed a return to City’s rivals Manchester United.

Right from the off in the Etihad sunshine, the Spaniard’s confidence in his current forward options was understandable as the hosts blew Arsenal away, even if the visitors gave them more than a helping hand.

Jesus was allowed far too much time get a seventh-minute cross into the middle, Calum Chambers then got his angles all wrong as he let the ball float over his head and Gundogan stole in to head home.

Things went from bad to worse for Arsenal as a Bernardo Silva cross was then allowed to drift past several defenders before Torres, who could not believe his luck, stroked the ball home.

Arteta cut a frustrated figure on the touchline.

Already under pressure after Arsenal finished eighth for the second successive season last term, the Spaniard watched them concede two goals inside 12 minutes for the first time since 2017.

Xhaka’s recklessness must have made Arteta consider making an early exit himself; Since the start of the 2016-17 season, no player has been sent off more often in the Premier League than the Swiss midfielder.

Grealish then had an impact as he easily squared for Jesus to make it three, before Rodri drilled a well-placed strike into the net from distance to put City on course for a big score.

Substitute Raheem Sterling should have made it five late on, before Torres arrived right on cue to put the icing on the cake as City made it back-to-back 5-0 wins at home. (Reuters/NAN)

NEWS

Lobi Stars Unveil New Foreign Head Coach 

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Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi has unveiled a Finnish tactician, Mika Lönnström, as the new head coach of the club.

The club chairman, Philip Nongu, said at the unveiling ceremony on Wednesday in Makurdi that Lönnström was hired as part of measures to improve the performance of the club.

Nongu welcomed the new coach, saying his expertise and passion will undoubtedly elevate the team’s performance.

“We are here at this important event to introduce to the Benue community, the players, as well as sports journalists, the newly appointed head coach, Mr Lönnström.

“He will be working together with the other technical crew members with the needed intent of moving the club out of its current position as well as making it more competitive.

“The board is committed to repositioning the club under my watch. The current position of the club is just temporary, and I am optimistic the club will soon move away from the red zone,” he stated.

The chairman charged the players to be disciplined, stating it wouldn’t be business as usual.

He thanked Gov. Hyacinth Alia for finding them worthy to serve the state in this capacity.

James Iorpuu, a member of the board, congratulated the Finnish tactician on his appointment and assured him of the needed enabling environment that would help him to succeed.

He lauded Lönnström for accepting to work with the team and promised him that he would not regret making the move.

“The governor’s desire for sports, especially football, remains unwavering.

“His desire for Lobi Stars to be at the top competing at the highest level remains key to his administration,” he said.

The club’s technical adviser, Daniel Amokachi, expressed delight to have Lönnström under his technical crew, saying the club will experience positive development.

“Mika Lönnström is a man of pedigree; his working ethic will help us a lot. In modern football, you must have young players who would work tirelessly.

“I have identified good young players in the team, and we shall be working with them pending when the window of the league is open for other decisions,” he said.

Lönnström, in his remarks, expressed excitement to join the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side.

The new head coach said that he was honoured to be part of Lobi Stars’ rich history and expressed commitment to driving the team to success. (NAN)

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SPORTS

AC Milan Stun Real Madrid 3-1 at Bernabeu

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AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw, Alvaro Morata and Tijjani Reijnders all got on the scoresheet in a surprise 3-1 win at holders Real Madrid in their Champions League clash on Tuesday.

Thiaw gave seven-times European champions Milan the lead with a header from a corner in the 12th minute but Vinicius Jr equalised with a penalty 11 minutes later.

Morata put the visitors back in front by netting from a rebound in the 39th and Reijnders fired home a Rafael Leao cross after a counter attack to wrap up Milan’s statement win over the lacklustre title holders.

Real are languishing in 17th place in the 36-team Champions League table with six points, one spot ahead of Milan on goal difference after four games.

(Reuters/NAN)

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SPORTS

Kogi State Handball: Stakeholders Calls for Leadership Reform

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From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

Handball stakeholders in Kogi State have called for a comprehensive leadership reform within the state’s handball association to restore the sport’s prominence.

Addressing journalists after a visit to the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Monday Aridaojo Anyebe in his office in Lokoja on Tuesday, the stakeholders outlined the achievements and setbacks of Kogi State handball since its inception in 1991, pointing the need for immediate change to revive the state’s handball culture.

They noted that Kogi State’s handball history includes significant accomplishments from winning national underage tournaments in the 1990s to representing Nigeria in international competitions.

Kogi’s under-15 boys’ team won gold in Italy in 1995, while local teams performed well in various national championships uptile 2019.

However, the stakeholders noted a decline in participation and development initiatives, which they attribute to issues within the association’s leadership.

They revealed that since 2020, Kogi’s Confluence Stars, the state’s premier league team, has struggled to participate in the league due to financial constraints and a lack of support.

This situation according to them has led some players to seek opportunities with teams in other states, undermining team cohesion and player morale.

Additionally, the once-thriving Confluence Queens female team, which participated in national tournaments until 2020, has since disbanded”

Stakeholders attribute much of the sport’s recent decline to the leadership of Jibril Saidu, the current chairman of Kogi State Handball Association. They allege that Saidu’s decision to withdraw sponsorship, along with personal conflicts, has prevented Kogi from participating in critical national events. This includes the under-12 and under-15 championships held in Sokoto over the past five years, where Kogi teams were notably absent.

In response to these challenges, the stakeholders called for the dissolution of the current board, citing a lack of effective leadership and commitment to the state’s handball development.

They propose the formation of a new board that will prioritize regional representation, involvement from former players, and individuals with strong sponsorship capabilities.

The stakeholders also endorsed Okpanachi Mark Ogah as the next chairman, describing him as a capable leader who they believe can restore Kogi State’s handball legacy within two years.

Speaking during the visit, His Royal Highness, Oba Luke Oludoyi from Isanlu who is one of the handball Stakeholders appealed to the Commissioner to give them necessary support in making handball sporting activities in the state a laudable venture for the overall growth of the State Sports Sector.

On his part, Hon. Mark Okpanachi Ogah said he is ready to further the ideals of the stakeholders and rebirth a new and active handball sport in Kogi State.

He assured that if given the mandate, the Kogi State handball team will take its rightful place again as champion.

Responding, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon Monday Anyebe, noted that Kogi State Government is committed to ensuring that the sports sector in the state continues to receive the necessary support towards enhancing sporting activities in the state.

The Commissioner said under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo all sporting activities will be given adequate attention and Support.

He called on members of the handball stakeholders in the state to be united and continue to promote the activities of the handball sport in the state.

Also Present during the visit includes the Permanent Secretary of the state ministry of sports, Jibo Haruna Muhammed, the Director Kogi State Sports Council, Onipe Obakachi and other Directors of the Ministry.

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