SPORTS
Southampton Sack Manager as Punishment for Defeat
Southampton have sacked their manager Ralph Hasenhuttl in the wake of Sunday’s 4-1 home defeat by Newcastle.
Hasenhuttl, who was appointed in December 2018, departs with the club in the Premier League relegation zone with 12 points after 14 games.
Southampton last won at Bournemouth on 19 October in what is their only win from the past nine matches.
“We now believe it is an appropriate time to make a change,” said a statement from the south coast club.
First team coach Ruben Selles will take charge for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup third round home game against League One side Sheffield Wednesday.
Scoring goals has been a particular problem for Hasenhuttl’s side and the 55-year-old Austrian bemoaned his players wasting opportunities against Newcastle.
Afterwards he said he was not concerned about the risk of losing his job, but the Saints board have decided to act before the midweek EFL Cup game and Saturday’s trip to Liverpool. It is their final game before the Premier League breaks for the World Cup, which runs from 20 November to 18 December.
Southampton added that Hasenhuttl had departed “having made a significant contribution to the club, overseeing some memorable results and also playing a key role in the development of our club infrastructure, identity and playing squad”.
The Saints “will be announcing a permanent replacement in due course” and one of the early frontrunners for the post is Luton Town boss Nathan Jones.
Hasenhuttl has become the fifth Premier League manager to be sacked so far this season.
Scott Parker, Bruno Lage, Thomas Tuchel and Steven Gerrard were dismissed by Bournemouth , Wolverhampton Wanderers, Chelsea and Aston Villa respectively, while Graham Potter left Brighton to take over as Chelsea boss.
Hasenhuttl highs and lows
Former RB Leipzig manager Hasenhuttl succeeded Mark Hughes as Saints boss with the club 18th in the Premier League and guided them to safety at the end of that season.
His first full season in charge saw them finish 11th in a campaign disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, before a 15th-placed finish in 2020-21.
During that season, Southampton were top of the Premier League for the first time ever when they led on goal difference after eight games.
In January 2021, Hasenhuttl cut an emotional figure as he enjoyed a victory against defending champions Liverpool.
However, in February that year, Southampton were beaten 9-0 by Manchester United. It was the second defeat by that margin during his time at the club, having lost to Leicester by the same scoreline in October 2019.
After a stuttering start last season a winter revival saw them rise to as high as ninth in February, but they lost nine and won just one of their final 12 matches to slump to 15th.
The club responded by reshuffling Hasenhuttl’s coaching team over the summer, with Kelvin Davis, Dave Watson and Craig Fleming all leaving St Mary’s.
They also brought in numerous players, including goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, striker Sekou Mara, midfielder Joe Aribo and defenders Armel Bella-Kotchap and Duje Caleta-Car.
But that has failed to spark an upturn in form.
Southampton have only scored 12 goals in their 14 Premier League games this season and were wasteful again against third-placed Newcastle in what proved to be the manager’s final match.
“Newcastle have shown why they are where they are,” he said in his BBC Sport interview after the game.
“They were clinical in the right moments. They have shown us how to win games. I cannot say we played a bad game but not playing a bad game is not enough to win games. That’s why we are where we are.”
(BBC)
Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia on Saturday defeated Lobi Stars of Makurdi 1-0 in a pulsating North Central derby.
The matchday 16 fixture of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premiere Football League (NPFL) was played at the Lafia Township Stadium, Nasarawa State capital.
The Makurdi side had adopted the Lafia Township Stadium as their home ground for the 2024/2025 NPFL season.
The only goal of the match was scored by Qamar Adegoke in the 12th minute of the match to give all three points to the Lafia side.
Adegoke’s goal, who joined the Lafia team recently, was his second in four matches.
The Nasarawa attacker capitalised on a defensive error by the opponent’s backline and hit the back of the net to give Nasarawa United the advantage.
In a post-match interview, Kabir Dogo, Technical Adviser of Nasarawa United, hailed his players for taking all three points.
He explained that his team had improved by scoring five goals in their last three matches and expressed optimism that they would do better in subsequent games.
“We had a problem in the area of goal scoring in the past, but this has changed in our last three games,” he said.
With the win, Nasarawa United climbed to 14th on the NPFL table, while Lobi Stars remain on 17th position. (NAN)
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) is organising a two-day National Coaching Seminar, with the theme: “Leadership and Management Skills”.
The event will take place from Dec. 17 to Dec. 18, at the Additional Sports and Entertainment (ASEP) Pro Limited, in Mowe, Ogun State.
The seminar will enhance the capabilities of Nigerian table tennis coaches, with a particular emphasis on female coaches, aligning with the International Table Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) Initiative.
A statement issued by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, on Tuesday, said that the seminar was part of the one-week sports and leadership boot camp titled “Awaken the Giant, She Can 4.
0,” proudly supported by NTTF.“This seminar will also represent the third stage of the 2024 “My Gender, My Strength” programme, which has table tennis star Abosede Akinsete, as a beneficiary.
“NTTF President,Tikon Ishaku, Vice President, Adesoji Tayo, and other board members are dedicated to initiatives that support the development of coaches.
“Wahid Enitan-Oshodi, ITTF Executive Vice President, and President of ITTF-Africa, reaffirms his commitment to empowering women in sports, in line with the GEDI Initiative.
He explained that the seminar would feature people, who would speak on leadership and management skills, to enhance the abilities of coaches to identify and develop talents, as well as encourage the development of high-performance table tennis players capable of competing globally. (NAN)
Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt on Sunday returned to the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) summit as strong rivals Remo Stars FC faltered on Match Day 13.
Report says that Rivers United beat visiting Abia Warriors of Umuahia 1-0 after an Ndifreke Effiong 58th minute goal from the penalty kick spot.
Effiong’s goal in the match at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium helped them to move to 25 points from 13 matches, after seven wins, four draws and two losses.
Former leaders Remo Stars dropped to second with 23 points from 13 matches after seven wins, two draws and four losses, following a 0-2 loss to hosts Katsina United.
Plateau United of Jos beat visiting Nasarawa United of Lafia 2-0 to bolster their position.
Shooting Stars Sports Club also struggled to a 1-0 win over visiting Bayelsa United of Yenago.
A 15th minute goal by Anthony Okachi at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan gave them the win.
El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri had on Saturday beaten Akwa United of Uyo 1-0 to move into third place on the table with 22 points from 13 games.
Enyimba International of Aba remained in fourth place with 20 points from 12 matches, with their week 13 game against Sunshine Stars of Akure on hold.
Rangers International of Enugu are in fifth place with 20 points also, after a goalless draw with hosts Heartland FC ain Owerri on Saturday.
Bendel Insurance of Benin had also beaten Kwara United of Ilorin 3-1, while Lobi Stars of Makurdi drew 2-2 with visiting Kano Pillars in Lafia.
NAN reports that the league will enter Match Day 14 on Wednesday.(NAN)
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