SPORTS
Trump Turns to Golf, Family Business on Irish Visit’s Second Day
Donald Trump turns his focus Sunday to golf and promoting his business interests, as he wraps up a two-day visit to Ireland during which his off-the-cuff diplomacy has caused another stir.
The US president caught his Irish hosts and the neighbouring UK off-guard Saturday when he waded into highly sensitive political territory by announcing he would “love to see” a united Ireland.
Breaking with Washington’s traditional neutrality on the historically charged topic, Trump argued reunification of the Republic of Ireland and UK territory Northern Ireland — after more than a century apart — was “going to happen eventually”.
“It may as well happen now,” he ventured as he met Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin in Dublin, prompting pushback from pro-UK loyalists in Northern Ireland and some leading politicians in mainland Britain.
“Donald Trump is Donald Trump and the president will say and speak his mind as he sees it,” UK minister Angela Rayner told Sky News on Sunday.
“But look, we’re really serious about the Good Friday Agreement,” she added, referring to the 1998 peace accords that largely ended three decades of sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland.
It stipulates that a referendum on Irish unity can be held if the UK government determines a majority there is likely in favour. Republic of Ireland voters would also need to back it in a separate poll.
– Tight security –
Within hours of his surprise intervention on the issue, Trump had touched down in Doonbeg, on the country’s west coast, where his Trump Organization-owned golf course is hosting the Irish Open.
The American leader will attend the tournament Sunday — the main reason for the trip — before departing for Washington later that day.
Martin assured him at Saturday’s meeting that Doonbeg’s 784 residents were “very grateful” for the Trump Organization’s investment there after it bought the site in 2014, insisting that his family were “welcome” there.
The US president is joined in the remote corner of Ireland by his two sons, Eric and Don Jr, who have managed the family business since their 80-year-old father returned to the White House last year.
The former real estate magnate, who promotes its enterprises at every opportunity, told Martin that Doonbeg was “one of the greatest courses in the world”.
Some 40,000 fans are expected at the tournament over the weekend, with six-time major winner and current world number two Rory McIlroy the main draw.
Trump’s attendance adds an extra layer of complexity to a security effort that is reportedly costing Ireland 20 million euros ($23 million). He could present the winner with the trophy on Sunday.
The course — set among dunes on the rugged County Clare coastline — has twice been targeted by pro-Palestinian activists in the past 18 months.
Police said three women — aged in their 20s, 30s and 40s — had appeared in a western Irish court late Saturday after being arrested for separate trespass and public order offences there.
‘Conflict of interest’
Around 4,000 Irish and US security personnel were expected to be involved in the weekend-long security operation, with anti-drone technology among the measures deployed.
The golf-mad president — whose relaxed relationship with the game’s rules was documented by sports journalist Rick Reilly in the 2019 book “Commander in Cheat” — plays the game most weekends at one of his family’s US properties.
He is even scheduled to host December’s G20 summit at his Miami golf resort.
Opposition Democrats in the US have long complained that blurring the lines between his presidency and personal business interests is corrupt, while some have called for an investigation into insider trading and market manipulation claims.
According to legally required financial disclosures, Trump raked in more than $2 billion in income in 2025 — the year he returned to power — with a large portion coming from cryptocurrency activities.
That compared with just over $600 million in 2024.
The White House has aggressively pushed back against claims of conflicts of interest and that Trump has been using his presidency to enrich himself.
The US leader has similarly dismissed criticism for accepting a new Air Force One plane gifted by Qatar — aboard which he arrived in Ireland.
“Since the Civil War, we haven’t had a president with a significant financial conflict of interest from a business enterprise,” University of Minnesota Law School professor Richard Painter told AFP.
The former White House ethics lawyer warned Trump’s conduct could send the message “that the way to curry favour with the president is to patronise his properties, do business with his companies and so forth”.
The Portuguese Football Federation has reaffirmed its support for Cristiano Ronaldo’s continued involvement with the national team, with president Pedro Proença describing the veteran forward as an icon of Portuguese football.
Proença on PFF’sX handle on Monday, said Ronaldo remains an important part of the national team whenever he is fit and available.
He also defended Ronaldo’s place in the squad, insisting that his selection is justified by his performances.
Proença also addressed the reported disagreement between Ronaldo and Portugal coach Jorge Jesus, describing the situation as a misunderstanding that should be handled internally.
The federation president stressed that Ronaldo remains firmly connected to the national team, pointing to his role as captain in the first of Portugal’s four matches.
According to Proença, Ronaldo’s decision to continue representing Portugal reflects his strong attachment to the national team.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese icon and an exceptional player. He could have ended his career at the World Cup, but he didn’t because of his love for his national team,” he said.
Proença added that he has personally witnessed the relationship between Ronaldo, the Portuguese public and the national team.
With the four matches now completed, Proença believes there is an opportunity for Ronaldo and Jesus to resolve their differences.
Proença concluded by reiterating that Ronaldo remains part of Portugal’s football legacy and that his future with the national team remains open.
“Cristiano is part of our legacy, and he will always be here whenever the coach wants him,” he said.
As Lionel Messi prepares to get a hero’s farewell for his successful international career, Cristiano Ronaldo’s could have ended with him running down the tunnel at the final whistle of a game he did not play.
After the World Cup, Argentina’s Messi, 39, decided to retire from international football, while Ronaldo, 41, opted to play on for Portugal.
Yet there is the possibility that Messi’s Argentina career will end up lasting a few days longer – with a home friendly with Benin on Tuesday marked as his final game.
Ronaldo, furious at being made to warm up and not be brought on against Norway in the Nations League, walked out on the Portugal squad after finding out he would not start against Denmark either.
The Al-Nassr forward has scored 146 goals and won 234 caps for Portugal – both world records.
After such a high-profile falling-out with new boss Jorge Jesus, also a larger than life character who does not back down, Ronaldo is facing a big decision.
Jesus has insisted he would be welcome back if he wants to return and talks between Ronaldo, his representatives and the Portuguese FA are ongoing as they look for a solution.
While Ronaldo could not carry on playing forever, this is not how he would have expected his international career to end.
His fans are remaining loyal to him, with social media full of posts supporting Ronaldo and criticising Jesus, while on the other side some fans and a lot of Portugal’s media have been critical of what they see as selfish behaviour.
Ahead of Portugal’s next match against Denmark in November lies a big decision for one of the world’s greatest ever players.
It has all happened very quickly.
After the World Cup, Portugal replaced Roberto Martinez with Jesus, who had been Ronaldo’s boss with Al-Nassr last season.
Less than two weeks ago, Ronaldo said: “I had a conversation with our president, with our coach. I still believe that I’m able to help the national team to reach what they want.”
Things were still looking OK when he started in the 1-0 win over Wales.
Jesus told Ronaldo he would be on the bench for the next game against Norway. After being told to warm up for a period of the game, he remained an unused substitute in a Portugal game for the first time in 18 years.
Guillem Balague, who wrote a book about Ronaldo in 2015, said: “He gets asked to warm up for the whole of the second half, practically.
And as the final whistle went he went down the tunnel instead of going to the fans with his team-mates.
Jesus said there was no falling out but confirmed Ronaldo would not start the next game with Denmark either.
Portugal’s FA president Pedro Proenca flew to Copenhagen, landing at 02:30 in the morning, to try to smooth things over with Ronaldo but failed.
After beating Norway on Sunday in their final Nations League match – again without Ronaldo – Jesus said: “If he wants to, he’ll return to the national team. We can talk before the next call-up, but Cris is the one who’s going to decide.
On several billboards in Lisbon posters went up praising Ronaldo and criticising Jesus.
They read, in Portuguese: “Thank you Cristiano Ronaldo for everything you did for Portugal. You will always be our captain.
“Jorge Jesus was not up to the task. Lack of sensitivity. Treating a captain wrongly. Inflated ego.”
One was placed next to the Estadio da Luz, home of Benfica – who Jesus managed to three league titles.
At the Denmark game, some fans wore T-shirts spelling out ‘Love you Jesus’ while others were head-to-toe in Ronaldo merch.
Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund, incidentally, celebrated his goal with his idol Ronaldo’s trademark ‘siuuu’ something he has done previously when netting against Portugal.
Portugal’s newspapers had differing perspectives.
Meanwhile, videos were posted online of angry fans ripping up their Portugal jerseys.
Jesus and Proenca were booed leaving a building in Copenhagen.
But many foreign fans purely supported Portugal because of Ronaldo – so they do not necessarily represent the views of actual Portuguese supporters.
Portugal fan Maria Ribeiro, from Lisbon, said: “It is so hard for all us fans. We all love him but it is getting too much now. It is hard to imagine Portugal without Ronaldo but maybe this is the time. There is too much arguing between ourselves.”
Ronaldo’s search for a record 1,000 career goals remains on but will he have to finish that at club level in Saudi Arabia?
He has scored 979 times for Portugal, Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr.
While his old rival Messi scored eight goals, and assisted four more, to take Argentina to the summer World Cup final – Portugal fell at the last-16 stage.
Ronaldo’s former United team-mate Wayne Rooney added: “He is a genius, a superstar. What he has given to football and millions of people is something very rare.
In the last nine years of Ronaldo’s international career, Portugal’s win percentage without him is slightly better 64% to 63% and they have scored 2.7 goals a game without him compared to 2.1 with him.
The two biggest wins in their history – 9-0 over Luxembourg and 9-1 against Armenia – came in the last two qualifying matches that he missed, both through suspension.
Journalist Marcus Alves, who covers Portugal, said: “How much gratitude is enough? That’s a question that Portuguese fans have been asking for a few years now.
“Of Portugal’s last five coaches, Ronaldo had issues with four of them Carlos Queiroz, Paulo Bento, Fernando Santos and now Jesus. That’s too much of a distraction when Portugal has arguably their best generation ever.”
Former players of Bayelsa United on Wednesday donated a set of jerseys to the club to support their preparations for the 2026/27 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.
Presenting the jerseys to the club, leader of the players and former Chairman of Bayelsa United, Ebiki Timitimi, said the gesture was their little way of contributing to the club’s campaign in the NNL.
Timitimi said the former players remain committed to the growth and development of the club and appealed to critics to be constructive in their assessments.
“As ex-players of the club, we deemed it fit to support the team in our own little way.
We decided to give a set of jerseys to the club as they start their pre-season friendlies.“Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but we should criticise constructively by engaging the management to hear their side of the story before jumping to conclusions.
“Criticising them publicly without proper knowledge of the subject matter,” he added.
Receiving the jerseys on behalf of the Chairman, Peter Singabele and the Management Board, Godson Ekadi described the gesture as a significant show of solidarity from a key constituency of the club.
Ekadi said that the donation, the first major support from stakeholders ahead of the new season, will serve as a huge morale booster for the board, technical crew, and players.
“It is a wonderful statement that has been made today by the ex-players, because when you get support from your immediate constituency, it means that it’s going to be a wonderful season for us.
“Because this is the first gift we’re getting from stakeholders, and we’re calling on others to toe the line of the ex-players.
“It’s like our season has already started because of this gesture they have shown not only verbally, but also by giving a set of jerseys to the club,” he said.
He called on corporate organisations, stakeholders, and International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the state to emulate the ex-player
Former Delta Governor Uduaghan Dies at 70
ShareFrom Francis Sadhere, Delta Former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, has died. Uduaghan, who governed the state...
Customs Opens Review for Disqualified Recruits, Flags 397 Applicants
ShareBy Tambaya Julius, Abuja The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has opened a review process for applicants disqualified during its recent...
World Bank Tasks FG, States on Sustainable Cash Transfers
ShareBy Tambaya Julius, Abuja The World Bank has urged the Federal Government and state governments to establish a sustainable social...
NDLEA Nabs 85-year-old Woman, Seizes 407kg Cannabis
ShareThe National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an 85-year-old grandmother and five other suspected drug traffickers during coordinated...
Economy would’ve Collapsed without Tinubu’s Reforms, Says Shettima
ShareVice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigeria’s economy would have collapsed had President Bola Tinubu not taken what he called...
House of Reps Seeks 90-Day Fuel Reserve for Nigeria by 2027
ShareFrom Rabiu Sanusi, Kano The House of Representatives has backed plans to increase Nigeria’s strategic petroleum reserve from 20 days...
56,000 Candidates Register for 2026 Private WASSCE
ShareThe West African Examinations Council (WAEC) said no fewer than 56,000 candidates registered for the 2026 West African Senior School...
JAMB Warns Varsities Against Issuing Admission Letters
ShareThe Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned universities against issuing admission letters to candidates, insisting that only admissions...
Beyond Survival: Building A Healthier Nigeria For A Longer Life
ShareBy Yussuf Mubaraq Damilare What does it mean to live a long life if access to basic medical care remains...
Jigawa to Increase Corps Members Allowance – Namadi
ShareThe Jigawa government has announced plans to increase monthly allowance for the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) members posted to...