Naitasiri’s squad depth proves decisive – FBC News
[File Photo] Nearly half of Naitasiri Rugby’s matchday squad was different from the previous week, but that didn’t stop them from delivering a composed 32–18 victory over Ba in their Skipper Cup quarterfinal clash at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka. The bold rotation strategy by coach Ilaitia Tuisese paid off as his side overcame a slow start to dominate the match and secure their place in next week’s semifinals. Tuisese said the team’s ability to adapt under pressure reflected the strong depth within the Naitasiri camp. Article continues after advertisement “It’s not easy we have injuries and we’re trying to rotate players every week. Some of the boys who played today didn’t feature last week, but they stood up when it mattered.” Ba looked promising early, controlling possession and territory in the opening 20 minutes, but once Naitasiri settled into their rhythm, their power up front and composure in key moments proved too much. Tuisese credited his players’ effort and commitment but says there is still work to be done ahead of the semifinals. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
‘Kaizer Chiefs miss Maart, he was the best’
Kaizer Chiefs may have new central midfield stars, but not everyone believes they’ve replaced what they lost when Yusuf Maart left. One man who knows that better than most is Cole Alexander, who played and competed for the same spot in midfield alongside Maart during their time together at Naturena. COLE ALEXANDER ON YUSUF MAART LEGACY AT KAIZER CHIEFS “His ability on the ball was outstanding. No disrespect to anyone there at the moment, but for me, Maart was one of the most complete players I’ve seen and got to enjoy playing next to,” the Mitchells Plain-born Alexander added. “If I’m totally honest, Maart achieved what I wish I could have achieved at Chiefs,” he added. “That was my goal, to be part of the team that broke the trophy drought. “What made him special wasn’t just what he did on the field, but how he handled the pressure and criticism. He kept coming to the party in every game despite all the hate. It was fantastic to witness. “He left on a high,” Cole said proudly. “He’s definitely missed at Kaizer Chiefs. There are good players there, but Maart was special. He’d be one of the first names I’d put on my team sheet.” YUSUF MAART BEFORE AND AFTER AMAKHOSI After that historic triumph, Maart, 30, from Atlantis, Western Cape, fulfilled his European dream by joining SV Ried in Austria. Maart had joined Amakhosi in 2022 from Sekhukhune United, after earlier spells with Cape Umoya United and Orlando Pirates’ reserves. In total, he made 95 appearances, scored seven goals, and laid on eight assists in gold and black. Also read: Kaizer Chiefs earn a slight advantage in the Congo
Erling Haaland is inevitable — but Manchester City’s over-reliance on striker is unhealthy
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more For Manchester City’s second highest scorer this season, Saturday brought a 2-0 win to enjoy. Not a City victory, admittedly, because he can scarcely savour a status as Erling Haaland’s closest challenger. But, more than two months into the campaign, only the Norwegian has scored more goals for City than Maxime Esteve. Who, rather than participating in City’s defeat of Everton, helped Burnley keep a clean sheet as they beat Leeds. In all competitions, Phil Foden has also struck twice for City. In the Premier League, no one has. Esteve’s two own goals came in Burnley’s 5-1 loss at the Etihad Stadium. Since the French defender’s inadvertent second, City have found the net seven times. The scorers? Haaland, Haaland, Haaland, Haaland, Haaland, Haaland and Haaland. No wonder, then, that Pep Guardiola diagnosed an acute case of Haaland-dependencia. “As a team we have to understand we can’t rely completely on him,” he said. “He’s always there, but we need the other guys, the wingers and attacking midfielders. They need to score goals, otherwise we will not achieve what we’re trying to do.” open image in gallery Pep Guardiola knows his side cannot become overly dependent on Erling Haaland (Mike Egerton/PA Wire) If, before Haaland’s arrival, Guardiola’s City seemed to perfect the model of sharing goals around a squad, the danger is now they have veered too far in the other direction, to having a solitary scorer. Haaland has 65 percent of their league goals, 73 percent of those actually scored by City players. Last season, he scored more than three times as many league goals as anyone else for them, 22 compared to seven. In all competitions, it was notable that only Phil Foden joined him in double figures. In 2023-24, when Foden got a career-best 27, there was a group of four. In City’s Treble season of 2022-23, Haaland was the headline-grabber with 52, but there was a six-strong group with at least 10. And in 2021-22, in the interregnum between Sergio Aguero and Haaland, and 2020-21, the Argentinian’s final campaign, there were seven. Yet now, apart from Haaland, Foden and Bernardo Silva, everyone else who has got at least 10 in a campaign for City in the 2020s has gone now: Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Julian Alvarez, Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Ferran Torres. Guardiola has recalibrated his tactics around a giant, prolific centre-forward, but also rebuilt his squad, with a different cadre of attacking midfielders and wingers. Their responsibilities include scoring, rather than simply feeding Haaland. open image in gallery Manchester City need others to step up alongside Erling Haaland (PA Wire) “For a long time we talk about it,” he said. “They are good. I saw in training they’re good with finishing, so they have to do it. And I have no doubt, when they unlock, those players will score. Omar [Marmoush] is a top scorer, Savio [Savinho], in one moment it will happen, Oscar [Bobb] as well, Tijji [Tijjani Reijnders] and Phil, they’re really good at scoring goals. We cannot deny how good Phil is in those positions, Tijjani as well.” The five players Guardiola named have had 39 shots in the Premier League this season and got two goals between them. It is an inadequate return, but within that quintet, plus Jeremy Doku, Rayan Cherki and Silva, there are different tales, but the potential for more goals. Foden’s form has been encouraging, and excellent at times. He is not flattered by his goal return, but provided incisive passes in the build-up to each of Haaland’s brace on Saturday. The captain Silva was never prolific and, with his running power less formidable than it was, has had a lone shot in the top flight this season; it is harder to imagine him in double figures. open image in gallery Phil Foden’s form has been encouraging but the goals are yet to come (Getty Images) Doku has been terrific and has added more productivity and better decision-making, though for now that is reflected more in assists than goals, and he spurned a fine chance against Everton with a tame shot. Bobb and Savinho lack a goalscoring pedigree for City. The Norwegian has three goals in 41 games for the club, even if only 13 of them were starts. The Brazilian has four in 56 games; the comparisons with Mahrez are most inaccurate when it comes to their respective goalscoring returns. But Reijnders is shot-happy, possesses the drive and stamina to get into the box and scored 15 goals for AC Milan last season. Injury has limited Cherki and Marmoush to 71 and 150 Premier League minutes respectively but the Frenchman got a goal at Wolves and the Egyptian mustered seven in the second half of last season. Cherki got 12 goals in his final campaign at Lyon, Marmoush 20 in his last few months with Eintracht Frankfurt. It is a moot point if either figures in the strongest side, with Foden renascent and Doku improving, but three 2025 buys – including Reijnders – represent signs
Ashes 2025: Joe Root or Steve Smith? Pick your combined Australia-England XI
Ashes legends Michael Vaughan and Glenn McGrath will be picking their combined Ashes XI on a special BBC Radio 5 Live cricket show on Monday (21:00 BST). But who should make the BBC Sport readers’ XI? Are you ready to make the ultimate choice between Steve Smith and Joe Root? Have a go below and listen to the show to see how your team compares with Vaughan, McGrath and other readers. The first Ashes Test kicks off in Perth on 21 November (02:30 BST).
Three-peat win for Suva futsal – FBC News
Source : FFA / Facebook The HLB Mann Judd Suva Futsal side has claimed back-to-back Extra Futsal titles after defeating Tailevu Naitasiri 3–0 in the final at the Vodafone Arena in Suva. Suva’s goals came from Krishneel Singh, Merrill Nand, and Nikhil Chand. For Tailevu Naitasiri, it was a brave showing in their first-ever final appearance. The young team, featuring players such as Neeraj Sharma, Nitin Chand, and Vinayak Rao, showed plenty of courage and heart against a well-drilled Suva outfit made up of several national squad members. Tailevu Naitasiri coach Shivneel Kumar says Despite battling injuries and fatigue, the team takes pride in their performance. Kumar says the team will use this year’s campaign as a stepping stone towards stronger seasons ahead. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Jack Draper and Taylor Fritz call for change after horror Holger Rune injury
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Jack Draper called on the ATP Tour to “adapt” its schedule after World No 11 Holger Rune suffered a horror injury in the semi-finals of the Nordic Open in Stockholm. The 22-year-old Rune limped off the court in tears after suffering a suspected torn Achilles tendon that is certain to end his season and could result in months on the sidelines. After struggling physically in the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters last week, Rune was hoping to make a late push for the ATP Finals and said before his semi-final with Ugo Humbert that he was not at “100 per cent”. “Right now, it’s just stiff and tired. I need to recover, and then I hope I’ll be ready,” Rune had told SpilXperten. “I probably won’t be at 100 per cent, but none of us playing this late in the tournament feel 100 per cent anyway.” Posting on Twitter/X, British No 1 Draper, who is currently sidelined with a left arm injury, said the “tour and calendar” have to change if younger players are going to have long careers in the sport “Injuries are going to happen… we are pushing our bodies to do things they aren’t supposed to in elite sport,” said the 23-year-old, who called time on his season after his second-round exit from the US Open. “We have so many incredible younger guys on the tour right now and I’m proud to be apart of that, however, the tour and the calendar have to adapt if any of us are gonna achieve some sort of longevity…” World No 5 Fritz, who had just played in the third-place match at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia, defeating Novak Djokovic after the 38-year-old retired following a 75-minute first set, said he agreed with Draper. Fritz replied: “Facts, also seeing more injuries and burnout now than ever before because balls, courts, conditions have slowed down a lot making the weekly grind even more physically demanding and tough on the body.” Rune is set to undergo a scan on Sunday but it has been reported in Danish media that Rune’s mother, Aneke Rune, said her son faces up to six months out after suffering a torn Achilles tendon. “It’s terrible. The doctors say he’s three to six months out. Holger is crying,” she told bt. open image in gallery Rune was helped off the court following his retirement (AP) Humbert will face Norway’s Casper Ruud in the final. “It’s incredibly hard to hear,” Rune told SpilXperten. “It looked really bad, and I know he’s going to be tested tomorrow, but I’ve also heard that he heard a distinct sound, which is a really bad sign. “This type of injury is something you really can’t control, so it’s just extremely unfortunate. Tennis is a brutal sport, and as a player, you don’t want to miss several months. “He’s still very young, so he has a long career ahead of him, so I hope he can come back strong quickly.” The Independent has contacted the ATP for comment
Cape Town Marathon CANCELLED
In a stunning turn of events, Sunday’s Cape Town Marathon was sensationally cancelled by race organisers mere hours prior to the start. Over 24 000 runners from all corners of the world had been due to tackle the 42.195km route around the Mother City. Organisers reportedly cancelled the race due to “safety concerns” with many speculating that those concerns were wind-related. Unconfirmed reports suggested the start/finish line suffered damage and water tables along parts of the route were unmanageable. The news comes as a devastating blow to the organisers’ hopes of having the Cape Town Marathon included as one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, a series consisting currently of seven of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world – London, Berlin, Chicago, Tokyo, New York, Boston and Sydney. Next year’s Cape Town Marathon will move from its usual October date to Sunday, 24 May. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
Carlos Alcaraz details Jannik Sinner’s key change in Six Kings Slam thrashing: ‘I could feel it’
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Carlos Alcaraz said he felt “under pressure” as a result of Jannik Sinner’s improved serve as the Italian responded to his defeat in the US Open final with a 6-2 6-4 destruction of the World No 1 to win the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia. After working on his service motion following his defeat to Alcaraz in New York last month, Sinner won 80 per cent of his service points and did not allow his rival a single break point as he cruised to a dominant win in just 73 minutes to win the $6m total prize for a second time. The 24-year-old Sinner admitted after his US Open final defeat that he had to make “changes” to his game and, while the Riyadh altitude gave Sinner’s serve some extra pop, Alcaraz said he could “feel” how his shot had developed since their last meeting. “He played great today. He didn’t let me get a good rhythm,” Alcaraz said. “He was improving a lot, the serve, and I could feel it. No break points today, which for me is something weird. I’m used to at least one break point in the match. But when he’s serving really good it’s really difficult. I couldn’t find a solution today, so I think he deserved it.” Sinner also won over 80 per cent of his service points in his 6-2 6-4 win over Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, and said after that match: “We worked a lot in the past month, we’re serving hours and hours.” Sinner broke Alcaraz’s serve in the opening game of the match and broke again to lead 4-1, converting his advantage to win the set. Alcaraz faced constant pressure to hold in the second set but held on until Sinner broke him to lead 4-3. Sinner did not blink as he closed out his victory with a love-hold. While Sinner’s win over Alcaraz won’t count towards the rankings race or their head-to-head record, the Italian had just one victory over the six-time grand slam champion in his previous eight attempts. This was his second win over Alcaraz in the final of the Six Kings Slam, however, adding to last year’s triumph. “When Jannik is playing at this level, it’s always difficult. I think everybody could enjoy his tennis today,” Alcaraz said. “It was really high level of tennis. Sometimes it seems like he’s playing ping pong. It’s not funny, to be honest, being at the other side of the net open image in gallery (Getty Images) “But I always said that. When he plays such great tennis, it gives me motivation just to then go to the practice court, give him 100 per cent, try to be better. Sometimes he’s annoying, but at the same time he gives me extra motivation.” The victory sets up Sinner to make a push towards the year-end ATP Finals, where he may also benefit from the altitude and indoor conditions in front of his home fans in Turin. “It’s always nice to share the court with Carlos,” Sinner said. “You’ve done an incredible job throughout the whole season, working very hard, winning incredible titles, title after title. So thanks actually for leaving one also for me at the moment! “I lost also many times against Carlos, it’s a huge pleasure and an honour to share the court with him, but at the same time, you want to get better as a tennis player. It’s nice to have a great rivalry and also, more importantly, a great friendship off the court, and we have a very, very special, special friendship.”
Malolo rugby dedicates win to late coach Esala Nauga – FBC News
[Photo Credit: Malolo Rugby Union] Malolo Rugby Men’s coach Rupeni Nasiga says his side’s victory over defending Skipper Cup champions Nadroga was built on hard work, belief, and the never-give-up attitude that defines the island team. Malolo stunned Nadroga 23–22 at Lawaqa Park, a result that ended the Stallions’ title defense and confirmed Malolo’s place in the Skipper Cup semifinals. The underdog side dedicated their hard-fought win to their late coach, Esala Nauga, a respected figure in Fijian rugby who passed away recently. Article continues after advertisement Nauga, a former Flying Fijians vice-captain and long-time Nadroga head coach, had been closely involved with the Malolo Rugby Union before his passing, leaving behind a legacy of discipline, humility, and hard work. Coach Rupeni Nasiga said the team played with Nauga’s memory in their hearts. “It was hard work. That’s how we won the game today. We dedicate this win to our late coach, to his family. It will be very tough. Playing against Nadroga, they are giants in this competition and we came as underdogs but we worked hard, really hard.” He said the players showed heart and courage, putting their bodies on the line against one of the toughest teams in Fijian rugby. While proud of the performance, the coach admitted there’s still work to be done as they Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Stephen Bate ends career with world gold amid more British success in Rio
Two-time Paralympic champion Stephen Bate secured a golden finish to his 12-year career by winning the men’s tandem individual pursuit title at the Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro. Bate and pilot Christopher Latham achieved victory by catching Italian rivals Lorenzo Bernard and pilot Paolo Toto in an impressive display. It ensured Bate ended his career as a five-time world champion across road and track events, and a five-time Paralympic medallist. It was in Rio nine years ago where he and then-pilot Adam Duggleby achieved a golden Paralympic double in the individual pursuit and road time trial events. Partnered by Latham on his return to the Brazilian capital, with whom he won individual pursuit silver at his final Paralympic Games in Paris last summer, Bate signed off in style on another hugely successful day for the British team. That was one of three gold medals won by the British team on Saturday, as 21-year-old Archie Atkinson regained the men’s C4 10km scratch race title. Elizabeth Jordan and pilot Dannielle Khan also triumphed, retaining their women’s B 1km time trial title. Finlay Graham made it three medals in as many days as he clinched silver in the men’s C3 elimination race. There was also silver for Kadeena Cox in the women’s C4 Sprint Race. Those successes took GB’s tally to seven golds, five silver and five bronze medals overall.