IN ENGLAND
==============================
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, Chelsea boss, Xabi Alonso, Hull City coach Sergej Jakirovic and Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca have been nominated for the Premier League August Manager of the Month award.
The four nominees were unveiled by organisers of the English topflight, the Premier League.
Chelsea’s new manager, Alonso, opened his tenure with a perfect record in August, winning his first two league matches in emphatic fashion.
Under Arteta, the reigning champions won both their opening matches with the sort of control that defined last year’s title win.
Pep Guardiola is the hardest of acts to follow, but Maresca has started with two wins in Manchester City’s first two matches.
=============================
Former England striker Peter Crouch has predicted that Chelsea will defeat Arsenal three-two in their upcoming Premier League clash, stating that the Blues have nothing to lose.
Crouch also noted that Chelsea’s strong start to the campaign has announced them as genuine title contenders.
He admitted it was a bold call given Arsenal’s strong record and start to the season.
Crouch feels Chelsea have nothing to lose, though he noted that the Blues still have defensive vulnerabilities and will likely concede goals in a high-scoring thriller.
=================
===========
Liverpool manager, Andoni Iraola says he is very happy with all of Liverpool’s signings since his arrival and that it is down to him to develop the squad.
Liverpool had four major incomings this summer, including the one hundred and twenty-three million pounds purchase of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain.
Barcola will be available for selection for Liverpool’s Premier League game against Ipswich Town on Friday.
The Reds opted against strengthening at right-back and in central midfield and Iraola has defended that decision.
=======
Manchester United legend, Teddy Sheringham has backed the team’s star Bruno Fernandes to be a genuine contender for the 2027 Ballon d’Or.
Sheringham’s public backing follows Fernandes’ exceptional performances for Manchester United, which culminated in him being named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
Fernandes achieved a monumental milestone by breaking the Premier League record for the most assists in a single season, registering twenty-one assists (alongside nine goals) to eclipse the previous record of twenty held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
==========================
Arsenal forward, Gabriel Martinelli has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for a fee of sixty million pounds.
The deal, which is worth a guaranteed sixty million pounds and includes a sell-on fee, ends the Brazil international’s seven-year stay in north London.
Martinelli, has signed long-term deal with Al-Hilal, who are currently joint-top of the league with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.
He will team up with Ollie Watkins at Al-Hilal after the England striker left Aston Villa in a fifty-one million pounds deal.
================
=========
Crystal Palace head coach, Pierre Sage says the team’s forward Ismaila Sarr will need time to process the collapse of his proposed move to Liverpool.
The Senegal attacker, who was the club’s top scorer last season, was linked with a move to Anfield late in the transfer window, but ended up staying at Selhurst Park.
Sarr has yet to feature for Palace this season, missing Premier League defeats at Everton and home to Manchester City with a groin injury.
He will remain sidelined for Saturday’s trip to Fulham.
=======================
Hull City has criticised the abhorrent racist abuse directed at new signing Robinio Vaz when they announced his transfer on social media.
The post on Tuesday, which announced the 19-year-old French striker’s arrival from Roma on a season-long loan deal, has since been deleted.
Hull said they are working with Humberside Police and other authorities to identify the accounts responsible for this disgusting abuse.
=======================
Leeds United manager, Daniel Farke says centre-back Joe Rodon will be out for between eight and ten weeks with a serious hamstring injury.
The Wales international, was forced to come off after 34 minutes in his side’s one-all Premier League draw against Brentford.
Rodon had played in the season-opening league win at Nottingham Forest and a Carabao Cup success against the same opposition.
================
=======
Brazil forward Richarlison has been left out of Tottenham’s Premier League squad.
Spurs manager Roberto de Zerbi said last week the Brazil forward had asked to leave the club and he looked close to joining former club Everton before Tuesday’s transfer deadline, but a deal fell through.
The 29-year-old has now been left out the club’s squad to play in top-flight games for the first half of the season.
It is understood Richarlison does not feature in Tottenham’s plans, and this was explained to the player before Tuesday.
================
=======
Former Premier League referee, Mike Dean says he used to set himself mini-challenges during matches as a laugh.
Dean said he would see how long he could go without blowing his whistle, or stay inside the centre circle.
Mark Halsey, who refereed in the Premier League between 1999 and 2013, stated that Dean’s comments damaged the reputation of all referees.
Halsey added he had spoken to other officials who said they have not heard of it either, as he questioned the validity of Dean’s claims.
===================
=====
London City Lionesses owner, Michele Kang says her club’s new shirt sponsorship deal with sports brand Nike is the largest in the women’s game and worth more than those of some Premier League sides.
The current largest deal for a women’s side is believed to be for the new National Women’s Soccer League franchise in Atlanta, which is set to join the competition in 2028.
Atlanta’s shirt deal is reportedly worth about two point ninety-six million pounds, a similar figure to that of new entrants to the Premier League and more than most Championship clubs.
========================
IN NIGERIA
====================
====
Nigeria’s Falconets has arrived in Katowice as preparations entered the final phase ahead of the 2026 FIFA Under-twenty Women’s World Cup in Poland.
The team departed their training base in Trzebnica and checked into the Novotel Katowice Centrum ahead of their opening Group F clash with Spain on Monday.
The training camp also allowed the players to acclimatise to conditions in Poland and improve their match fitness before the start of the tournament.
As part of their preparations, the Falconets played two international friendly matches against Poland and Korea Republic.
Nigeria are drawn in Group F alongside Spain, China PR and New Caledonia.
After facing Spain on Monday, the Falconets will take on China PR on 10th September before rounding off their group-stage campaign against New Caledonia on 13th September.
====================
======
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have been drawn alongside Côte d’Ivoire and Niger in Group B of the 2026 WAFU B Under-seventeen Championship.
The top two teams in the group will advance to the semi-finals of the competition.
Hosts Burkina Faso will battle Ghana, Benin Republic and Togo in Group A.
The tournament will serve as the WAFU Zone B qualifying competition for the 2027 Africa Under-seventeen Cup of Nations.
The participating teams will compete for the available qualification slots to represent the zone at the continental finals.
Burkina Faso will host the competition from 10th to 23rd October, 2026.
==========================
Trabzonspor President Ertugrul Dogan has once again reiterated the club’s desire to keep Paul Onuachu.
The Nigeria international has been widely linked to a lucrative transfer to Saudi Arabia
There are further speculations that Onuachu could be sold by the Turkish Super Lig club following the arrival of Guinea-Bissau international Franculino Djú from Danish outfit FC Midtylland.
Dogan declared that the Black Sea Storm won’t entertain any offer for the forward.
===================
========
D’Tigress head coach, Rena Wakama has announced Nigeria’s final 12-player roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
The squad, which will be captained by Amy Okonkwo, includes a mix of experienced campaigners and emerging talents.
D’Tigress arrived in Berlin, Germany, ahead of the tournament, which will run from 4th to 13th September.
The reigning African champions have been drawn in Group B alongside Hungary, Korea Republic and France.
Wakama’s side will begin their campaign against Korea Republic at the Berlin Arena on Friday, 4th September.
===================
=======
Nigeria’s Senior Women Handball team have begun their campaign at the inaugural IHF Women’s Nations Trophy Africa Zone III on a winning note, defeating Ghana 39-18 in Burkina Faso.
The Nigerian side, coached by Michael Taangahar, dominated proceedings from the start and went into the break with a commanding 18-7 lead in the match played at the Palais Des Sports De Ouaga 2000.
The team maintained its intensity in the second half, extending the advantage to secure a convincing 21-goal victory over their West African rivals.
Queen Modebe was the star of the encounter, as she was voted the Most Valuable Player of the match following her impressive performance for Nigeria.
Nigeria will now turn their attention to their second Group Stage game against hosts Burkina Faso on Friday.
===================
=======
OTHER LEAGUES
==========================
Fifa has accused UEFA of a smear campaign against it and its leadership in a challenge to litigation over president Gianni Infantino’s scrapped plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
In a dramatic escalation of the controversy, UEFA accused Infantino of criminal mismanagement and a fraudulently off-market price promoted by him for his own benefit over the now-shelved Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme.
The world governing body Fifa has now responded with court filings lodged in the US and requesting that a court oppose the application by the end of the month.
Fifa claims UEFA’s argument suffers from a fundamental defect and legal deficiencies.
==========================
The Argentine league will pay tribute to Lionel Messi after his retirement from international football by pausing all of their matches in the 10th minute this weekend for a minute of applause.
The 39-year-old, who wore the number 10 shirt for Argentina, announced his retirement from the national side on Monday.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s final game for his country, who he captained to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, was the 2026 World Cup final defeat by Spain in July.
====================
=====
Real Madrid defender, Raul Asencio has been acquitted of alleged involvement in distributing a sexually explicit video involving a minor.
The 23-year-old was absolved of the offence by a Spanish court, and charges were withdrawn against him in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.
The court also gave minimum sentences to the three defendants who were convicted after the victims, who were two women aged 16 and 18, forgave the accused.
====================
=====
Rangers has confirmed they have bought Venezuela striker Kevin Kelsy from Portland Timbers for an undisclosed fee and taken Algeria winger Badredine Bouanani on a season-long loan from Stuttgart.
Their double announcement as the Scottish transfer window closed on Thursday takes the total of summer additions to the Ibrox squad to fourteen.
The 22-year-old Kelsy, who has signed a four-year contract with the option of an additional year with the Scottish Premiership club, had joined Portland on a four-year deal when he was sold by Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2025.
=====================
====
OTHER SPORTS
=====================
====
Third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime has been knocked out by Russian Karen Khachanov in the second round of the US Open.
A two-time finalist at the tournament, the Canadian was beaten 6-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 by the unseeded Russian.
Auger-Aliassime managed to fend off his opponent to edge the first set in the tie-break.
His exit followed that of 24-time Grand Slam champion and fourth seed Novak Djokovic in the first round.
========================
In Formula one, Lewis Hamilton says an upgraded Ferrari engine for this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix is a step forward but not the whole amount we need.
Ferrari are taking the opportunity of their home grand prix to introduce the second of the two upgrades they are permitted this year in the hope it will improve their chances of a win on the historic Monza track.
Ferrari have the fastest car in the corners on balance, but have been lagging on the straights so far this year.
=====================
===
In Cricket, Henry Crocombe has claimed his second hat-trick in eight days, and third five-wicket haul of the season, to leave Essex’s batting in total disarray on an incredible evening of tumbling wickets at Chelmsford.
The 24-year-old seamer, who leaves Sussex for Surrey at the end of the season, had never taken three wickets in successive balls before running through Somerset’s tail at Hove last week.
Essex had been progressing serenely after tea on the second day of the County Championship match when Charlie Allison became Crocombe’s first victim after a tidy 56.
=======================
In Rugby, Centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg has admitted that he probably would have loved to play for his native South Africa, but denied Rassie Erasmus’ claim he was in talks over a Springboks call-up before making his England debut.
Janse van Rensburg, who represented South Africa’s under-20 side, became eligible for England this summer after living in the country for five years and scored on his Test bow against Fiji in Liverpool in July.
The previous week South Africa head coach Erasmus had claimed Van Rensburg had been very keen in talks with Springboks officials, but ultimately was not selected.
=======================
In Cycling, Spain’s Enric Mas has extended his overall lead in the Vuelta a Espana with a late attack as Slovenia’s Jakob Omrzel won stage 12 to Calar Alto.
Omrzel, 20, secured his first Grand Tour stage victory in imperious fashion, riding clear of his remaining breakaway companions on the 17km final climb to finish nearly two minutes clear of Urko Berrade, with Colombia’s Santiago Buitrago in third.
In the process Omrzel moved within 30 seconds of Oscar Onley in the best young rider’s classification after a difficult day for the Briton.
========================
TODAY’S FIXTURES
=======================
IN ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Ipswich Town vs Liverpool
=================
=====
IN SPANISH LA LIGA
Real Betis vs Real Madrid
=================
=====
SOCCER ACTION CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND
======================
IN ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
ON SATURDAY
Newcastle United vs Bournemouth
Brentford vs Sunderland
Brighton vs Leeds United
Fulham vs Crystal Palace
Manchester City vs Coventry City
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur
Hull City vs Aston Villa
ON SUNDAY
Everton vs Manchester United
Arsenal vs Chelsea
=======================
IN SPANISH LA LIGA
ON SATURDAY
Athletic Club vs Atletico Madrid
Rayo Vallecano vs Racing de Santander
Villarreal vs Deportivo de A Coruña
ON SUNDAY
Valencia vs Barcelona
Alavés vs Osasuna
Málaga vs Levante
Espanyol vs Sevilla
======================
FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success…words from Dale Carnegie
.
securityandsafetymatters 