New Murabba sponsors Al-Hilal’s women’s and youth teams

AL-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada (left) with Michael Dyke, CEO of New Murabba. (Supplied)
AL-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada (left) with Michael Dyke, CEO of New Murabba. (Supplied)
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Updated 9 sec ago

New Murabba sponsors Al-Hilal’s women’s and youth teams

AL-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada (left) with Michael Dyke, CEO of New Murabba. (Supplied)
  • ‘By supporting youth and women’s football, we are not only investing in the future of Saudi sport, we are also setting the stage for future generations,’ says New Murabba CEO
  • Al-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada said the deal brings together two organizations with deep historical roots, reflecting a solid legacy and a forward-looking vision

RIYADH: New Murabba, the mixed-use real estate development project in northwestern Riyadh and eastern Diriyah, has signed a shirt-sponsorship deal with Saudi football team Al-Hilal.

Under the agreement, the New Murabba logo will feature prominently on the front of shirts worn by the women’s first team and male youth teams.

The deal was signed by Michael Dyke, the CEO of New Murabba, which is a subsidiary of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, and Esteve Calzada, CEO of Al-Hilal Club Company.

“Al-Hilal represents excellence and legacy in Saudi football,” Dyke said. “This sponsorship is a step forward in supporting the Kingdom’s ambitious sports ecosystem, in line with Vision 2030.

“By supporting youth and women’s football, we are not only investing in the future of Saudi sport, but we are also setting the stage for future generations.”

Calzada expressed delight with the deal, which he said brings together two organizations with deep historical roots, reflecting a solid legacy and a forward-looking vision.

The sponsorship agreement supports a key goal of the club’s board, he added, which is to diversify investments and seize available opportunities, and represents an ideal opportunity given the company’s rich and inspiring history and bright future as a hub for creativity, sports and entertainment.

Dyke added: “We hope this sponsorship showcases the harmony between New Murabba’s vision and the momentum of sports in . Together, we’re creating unforgettable experiences, enriching lives, and powering ambitions.”


Racing returns to Riyadh with headline Abdullah bin Ibrahim Aba Alkhail Award Open

Feature race runner Tahzeem completes a four-timer in Riyadh on March 13. (JCSA/Ali Al-Abdullah)
Feature race runner Tahzeem completes a four-timer in Riyadh on March 13. (JCSA/Ali Al-Abdullah)
Updated 34 sec ago

Racing returns to Riyadh with headline Abdullah bin Ibrahim Aba Alkhail Award Open

Feature race runner Tahzeem completes a four-timer in Riyadh on March 13. (JCSA/Ali Al-Abdullah)
  • New 17-week season at King Abdulaziz Racecourse starts on Thursday, Oct. 16

RIYADH: A 17-week journey to the season-ending Saudi Cup meeting begins this weekend as racing returns to Riyadh’s King Abdulaziz Racecourse with three days of action headlined by the Abdullah bin Ibrahim Aba Alkhail Award Open on Saturday.

After a successful summer season at King Khaled Racecourse in the mountains of Taif, the focus now switches to the capital, where the Red Stable of Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz appears to hold many excellent chances at the opening fixture, highlighted by Tahzeem (KSA) in the 1800m feature.

The mount of last season’s champion jockey, Adel Alfouraidi, is top-rated in a field of 10 runners and seeks to extend his winning sequence having put together four victories on the bounce at the end of the previous Riyadh campaign.

One of his main challengers appears to be fellow Abdullah Al Kahtani-trained and Red Stable runner Harbi (KSA) who was a Taif winner this summer, with the White Stable of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz & Sons leaning on another Taif victor in the shape of Lelah Doroh (KSA) under Camilo Ospina.

The Red Stable have other brilliant chances on Saturday with Alex Moreno’s Hatha Alkalam (KSA) in Race 9, Saodad (KSA) and Jahdoon (KSA) in Race 4 and they are three-handed in the penultimate handicap with the Abdullah Alawfi-ridden Painters Palette (IRE) topping the weights for a 1800m handicap.

They are also represented in Race 5 by Alfouraidi’s mount Alfaisaleyah (GB), but this 1200m Open would appear to be at the mercy of Muqtahem (IRE) for the powerful combination of jockey Muhammad Aldaham, trainer Thamer Aldaihani and owner Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Al-Sabah.

Saturday’s card opens with an ultra-strong field for a 1400m Arabian Horses Open in which Taif Sprint Championship second and third, Baseqm and Bake (USA) and Tawaaq Al Khalediah (KSA), again do battle with the similarly rated Wasib (FR) also in the 12-runner field.

Races 8 and 12 are the standouts on Friday where dual Taif winner and King Khaled Racecourse Championship third placed Waqtuk (USA) is the headline name in the former over 1600m having failed to follow his trial win in the final event of the summer season.

The closing race is over the marathon 2400m and the Red Stable has Walter Hartright (IRE) and Moore’s Law (USA) declared — the latter is nicely clear on the figures and has the champion jockey in the saddle.

The weekend could get off to a great start for the Red Stable as Moreno’s mount Hatha Alkalam (KSA) looks the key player in Race 9 — Thursday’s main event — a local-bred open, having scored on two of his four starts last season.


Morocco beat Congo to set new record 16-match winning run

Morocco beat Congo to set new record 16-match winning run
Updated 3 min 13 sec ago

Morocco beat Congo to set new record 16-match winning run

Morocco beat Congo to set new record 16-match winning run
  • Fenerbahce forward Youssef En-Nesyri scored the only goal of the game for the Atlas Lions
  • “Our National Team makes HISTORY with 16 CONSECUTIVE WINS,” the team said on X

RABAT: Morocco set a new world record of 16 consecutive international victories with Tuesday’s 1-0 World Cup qualifying success over Congo in Rabat.
Fenerbahce forward Youssef En-Nesyri scored the only goal of the game for the Atlas Lions, who had already secured World Cup qualification earlier this month with a 5-0 trouncing of Niger.
“Record breaking. Our National Team makes HISTORY with 16 CONSECUTIVE WINS,” the Moroccan national team said on its official X account.


“Unstoppable Lions,” it added.
The shock 2022 World Cup semifinalists were the first African nation to qualify for next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Morocco — whose run began on June 7, 2024 — had shared the previous mark of 15 victories with Spain, whose winning run began during their Euro 2008 success and ended a year later in June 2009.
That surpassed a previous record set by France, who were European champions at the time, between March 2003 and February 2004.


Qatari side Al-Sadd sack Sanchez after slump; Alegre named interim coach

Qatari side Al-Sadd sack Sanchez after slump; Alegre named interim coach
Updated 30 min 38 sec ago

Qatari side Al-Sadd sack Sanchez after slump; Alegre named interim coach

Qatari side Al-Sadd sack Sanchez after slump; Alegre named interim coach
  • Assistant coach Sergio Alegre will assume interim charge starting today, the club said
  • Sanchez, 49, took over in July 2024 after several years with the Qatar national team

DOHA: Qatar champions Al-Sadd have parted ways with coach Felix Sanchez by mutual agreement, the club announced on Wednesday, ending a tenure that began with high expectations but delivered mixed results.
Assistant coach Sergio Alegre will assume interim charge starting today, the club said in a statement posted on X.


Sanchez, 49, took over in July 2024 after several years with the Qatar national team, overseeing their historic 2019 Asian Cup title win and their debut World Cup campaign on home soil in 2022.
His appointment was seen as a strategic move to restore Al-Sadd’s domestic dominance and continental competitiveness.
However, the team have struggled for form, sitting seventh in the Qatar Stars League and seventh in their AFC Champions League elite group.
Alegre, who worked alongside Sanchez during his time with Qatar’s youth and senior national teams, will lead preparations for Al-Sadd’s upcoming league fixture later this week.


Czech Republic sack coach Hasek after Faroes flop

Czech Republic sack coach Hasek after Faroes flop
Updated 35 min 50 sec ago

Czech Republic sack coach Hasek after Faroes flop

Czech Republic sack coach Hasek after Faroes flop
  • “We have terminated cooperation with Ivan Hasek as of today,” FACR head David Trunda told reporters
  • An “interim coach” is meanwhile likely to lead the team in their last World Cup qualifier at home to Gibraltar in November

PRAGUE: The Czech football federation (FACR) announced the sacking of national team coach Ivan Hasek on Wednesday, following a humiliating 2-1 defeat in a 2026 World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands.
Seeking their first World Cup appearance since 2006, the Czechs are not even completely sure of a berth in the playoffs next March — a situation compounded by their loss in Torshavn on Sunday.
Croatia top Group L, three points ahead of the Czech Republic, and the 2018 World Cup runners-up also have a game in hand on their rivals.
The Faroes lie one point behind the Czechs, with both having one match remaining in their campaign.
“We have terminated cooperation with Ivan Hasek as of today,” FACR head David Trunda told reporters.
Trunda added that the FACR would now look for a new coach, possibly a foreigner.
An “interim coach” is meanwhile likely to lead the team in their last World Cup qualifier at home to Gibraltar in November.
Hasek started his second stint as national team coach ahead of Euro 2024, at which the Czechs were knocked out in the group stage.
Pundits criticized the 62-year-old former midfielder for his unattractive style of play, while he bemoaned having no players coming even close to the level of former Czech greats such as Pavel Nedved or Tomas Rosicky.
Hasek came under heavy fire following a 5-1 defeat in a World Cup qualifier in Croatia in June.
As a player. Hasek scored five goals in 56 games for Czechoslovakia and led the country as captain to the World Cup quarter-finals in Italy in 1990.
As a coach, he took Sparta Prague to back-to-back Czech league titles in 2000 and 2001.
Since then he has had a nomadic coaching career taking him to France, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and even the Lebanese national team.
His first stint as the Czech national team coach was in 2009 when he oversaw just five games.


Saudi tennis star claims Accra ITF J100 girl’s singles title

Saudi tennis star claims Accra ITF J100 girl’s singles title
Updated 15 October 2025

Saudi tennis star claims Accra ITF J100 girl’s singles title

Saudi tennis star claims Accra ITF J100 girl’s singles title

JEDDAH: ’s rising tennis star Haniya Minhas claimed victory in the Tennis Foundation’s Ghana Open — Accra ITF J100 girl’s singles title last week.

Minhas triumphed in the final against the tournament’s top seed, Tunisian player Lamiss Houas, with a score of 6-4, 6-2.

This victory marks her sixth gold medal in International Tennis Federation tournaments for the 2025 season.

The Saudi star was recently crowned champion of the ITF Junior Championship, following her victory over British player Alisha Nduku, continuing her strong presence in international competitions.

The 14-year-old represented the Kingdom at Wimbledon 2024 in the Girls’ 14 & Under Singles competition.

Minhas displayed impressive skills and determination at the All England Lawn Tennis Club event. Although she did not reach the finals, her victories in the round robin stage and first round of the consolation playoffs showcased her natural talent, commitment to training and growing potential.

Her participation marked a significant moment for , with Minhas becoming the first player from the Kingdom to compete at Wimbledon in the junior categories and the only athlete to represent the nation in Wimbledon competition.