Wenger to inaugurate AIFF-FIFA academy in Odisha on Nov 21
New Delhi, Nov 15: Legendary football coach Arsene Wenger will inaugurate the AIFF-FIFA academy, to be launched under the global football body’s talent development scheme, in Bhubaneswar on November 21. Wenger, who is now the chief of FIFA’s global football development programme, will be in India from November 19 to 23 and will meet ISL, I-League clubs besides entities involved with youth development in Indian football. Wenger was Arsenal’s manager from 1996 to 2018, under whose tenure the club won three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups and remained unbeaten in 49 games. FIFA’s talent development scheme aims to collaborate with member associations across the world to increase the competitiveness of their national teams. “Arsene Wenger will be here in India from November 19 to 23. During this period, he and his team will meet ISL, I-League clubs and all those who are involved with youth development in Indian football,” said AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey in a release on Wednesday. FIFA has recommended Sergi Amezcua Fontrodona as the FIFA-trained coach, who will relocate to India to implement the project and act as the head coach at the FIFA-AIFF academy. Amezcua was previously involved with developing football in China as the project director at the Barca Academy Pro Haikou. (PTI)
Union Berlin parts ways with coach Urs Fischer after 14 winless games
Berlin, Nov 15: Union Berlin parted ways with coach Urs Fischer on Wednesday after a 14-game winless run in all competitions. In his five years in charge, Fischer led Union from the second division to the Bundesliga for the first time and then into European competition. He took the club into the Champions League after placing fourth last season to continue its impressive rise. However, results this season have been poor and Union has just one draw and 13 losses from its last 14 games in all competitions. Its last win was August 26. A 4-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday left Union last in the Bundesliga and without a goal in any of its last four games in the German top division. Its four Champions League games have brought one point. Under-19 coach Marco Grote will be in interim charge. Union’s next game is at home to Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Nov. 25. Union heads to Braga in the Champions League four days later. (AP)
WTF remain richest badminton tourney as BWF ramp up prize pot
Kuala Lumpur, Nov 15: The BWF World Tour Finals will remain the richest badminton tournament in the world with the sports governing body on Wednesday committing US $11.5 million in prize money over the next four years. The prize money for BWF World Tour Finals 2023, to be played at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium from 13-17 December, will be $2.5 million, up from $1.5 million last year. Over the coming years the prize money will increase to $3.5 million in 2026, according to the information by BWF. World Tour Finals Prize Money in 2023: US$ 2.5 million, 2024: US$ 2.5 million, 2025: US$ 3.0 million and 2026: US$ 3.5 million. “We are delighted to be able to confirm US$11.5 million over the next four years for what already is our signature finale to the BWF World Tour,” BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund said. “This represents an overall greater commitment to our players and contributes to an enhanced world-class sports product that we seek. We are excited by the prospect of making Hangzhou the new home of the season-ending finals and can’t wait to see the world’s top stars fight it out for ultimate glory.” (IANS)
Oscar Mayo leaves LALIGA
Madrid, Nov 15: Oscar Mayo Pardo, until now Chief Executive Officer of LALIGA, will leave the organisation in January 2024 to take on new professional challenges. Mayo, who held the position of CEO since 2021, made his decision after seven years working for LALIGA. He has been responsible for multiple successes at LALIGA such as the exponential growth of commercial revenues and the signing of key partnerships. One of these was the agreement with CVC, which has brought nearly 2 billion euros into the competition, and he also helped with establishing joint ventures in China, MENA and the United States. In the words of LALIGA President Javier Tebas, “Oscar has performed excellently in every position he’s held at LALIGA and his work has contributed substantially to the major milestones achieved in recent years”. (IANS)