'Kvaradona' Leading Upbeat Napoli's Charge against Liverpool

'Kvaradona' leading upbeat Napoli's charge against Liverpool. AFP
'Kvaradona' leading upbeat Napoli's charge against Liverpool. AFP
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'Kvaradona' Leading Upbeat Napoli's Charge against Liverpool

'Kvaradona' leading upbeat Napoli's charge against Liverpool. AFP
'Kvaradona' leading upbeat Napoli's charge against Liverpool. AFP

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is the name dancing around Napoli fans' lips thanks to a stunning start to life in Italy which has swept away the summertime blues ahead of Wednesday's visit of Liverpool.

Kvaratskhelia has been nicknamed "Kvaradona" after scoring four times and setting up another goal in the first five rounds of Serie A fixtures.

The Georgian will be leading Napoli's bid for a big win in their Group A opener at the Stadio Maradona, especially as Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen is a doubt with a muscular problem.

And while comparing him to Napoli's and possibly football's greatest ever player might seem like blasphemy, it is testament to how well he has slotted into a team which until the first day of the Serie A season appeared to be deep in crisis.

Such has been his impact he has also been called the "new KK" after Kalidou Koulibaly, one of four big players to leave the club since their league title challenge collapsed at the tail end of last season.

Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti has been keen to dampen expectations of the 21-year-old, who arrived from Dinamo Batumi in his home country but who had already impressed over three years at Rubin Kazan before leaving following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"He's a really sweet kid, a good kid, one of those who at times doesn't want to be in certain situations because he's so timid," said Spalletti on Saturday after his latest match-winning display at Lazio.

"When you see him walk about he's all floppy like he's on springs, but when you give him the ball he knows how to move.

"He's got a quality in how he strikes the ball and brings down anything you throw at him."

- Bad feeling banished -
Kvaratskhelia smashed home the decisive second in Napoli's 2-1 win at Lazio which put them two points behind Serie A leaders Atalanta, and he could easily have had more.

His beautifully struck effort from distance cannoned off the post in the first half and he should have put Napoli ahead moments before his 61st-minute winner, shaving the bar from an almost identical chance.

His instant impact and obvious delight at playing for such a storied club have been the perfect antidote to the negative vibes which had been almost as suffocating as the heat of a Neapolitan summer.

Fans were livid after seeing some of their crown jewels sold off with few of the replacements seen as adequate for a team who were in last season's exciting Scudetto race until April.

They implored owner Aurelio De Laurentiis to sell the club, using the hashtag "A16" on social media as a reference to the motorway which connects Naples with Bari, another southern city where the film mogul owns the club.

During a summer training camp event organized to present the team Spalletti was interrupted by a enraged supporter who shouted at him to "wake up" from his supposed torpor.

But nine goals from their first two games, Kvaratskhelia's sparkling form in both and the subsequent arrival of Italy starlet Giacomo Raspadori, Giovanni Simeone and Tanguy Ndombele swept away the ill feeling.

A fresh league title bid looks on the cards, but the question is now whether Kvaratskhelia and Spalletti's exciting side can make the sort of impact on the Champions League that Italian clubs have failed to do for too long.



Barcelona Enter New Era as Flick Targets La Liga Hat-trick

Barcelona's Spanish forward Lamine Yamal will lead a new-look attacking line for the champions. Lluis GENE / AFP
Barcelona's Spanish forward Lamine Yamal will lead a new-look attacking line for the champions. Lluis GENE / AFP
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Barcelona Enter New Era as Flick Targets La Liga Hat-trick

Barcelona's Spanish forward Lamine Yamal will lead a new-look attacking line for the champions. Lluis GENE / AFP
Barcelona's Spanish forward Lamine Yamal will lead a new-look attacking line for the champions. Lluis GENE / AFP

Hansi Flick's second season at Barcelona built on the success of his first, with the German coach guiding the Catalan giants to a second straight La Liga title.

His third campaign, however, brings significant structural change to the team as Barcelona look to maintain their domestic dominance and handle the threat of Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid, while aiming to end their wait for Champions League glory, said AFP.

Barca begin their campaign at Elche on Sunday in the Spanish top flight, a day after Mourinho's Los Blancos visit Espanyol in the Catalan capital.

"We have an incredible team, with a lot of quality," Flick told Barca's fans on Wednesday ahead of their final pre-season friendly against Al Ahly. "We are ready to work hard day after day and to fight for all the titles."

The arrival of Rodri from Manchester City is Barca's most significant addition, while the departures of veteran striker Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres leave Flick with a reshaped attacking unit.

Barcelona have been prolific going forward but vulnerable at the back since Flick arrived in 2024, and the club hopes the arrival of World Cup winner Rodri can help address the latter.

The Spain captain was a market opportunity Barcelona were reluctant to pass up, particularly with Real Madrid also linked with the 30-year-old holding midfielder before his move to Catalonia.

Rodri brings not only control and defensive protection but also the experience of winning the biggest trophies in club football, qualities Barcelona hope can help them claim a first European crown since 2015.

"I'm here to compete for everything, for big things like the Champions League," said Rodri after his presentation.

Achieving a third consecutive Liga title is a challenge in itself, particularly with Real Madrid strengthening heavily in the transfer market and turning back to Portuguese veteran Mourinho.

Barcelona have established a domestic advantage over their great rivals in recent seasons, but Mourinho's arrival adds fuel to the fire of a rivalry he helped turn particularly bitter during his first spell in Madrid, between 2010-2013.

For Flick, the wily Mourinho represents a different kind of challenge.

The German has generally had few problems with opposing coaches during his time in Spain, but Mourinho is an expert at piling pressure on his rivals.

- Striker vacancy -

Former Germany and Bayern boss Flick will also have to rebuild an attack that has been one of the team's greatest strengths.

New arrivals Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi appear well suited to the German's high-intensity approach, with both offering the pace and work rate required to lead Barcelona's aggressive pressing game.

However, the key question is whether sporting director Deco can land a center-forward before the transfer window closes.

Barca's attempt to sign Julian Alvarez splintered on the rocks of Atletico Madrid's resolve, leaving Flick without an obvious replacement for Lewandowski.

"What Ferran did we can cover with the signings, but what Robert did is more difficult," said Deco.

"We have internal solutions but we will make another move, we'll try and find the best solution."

Barcelona could opt for a cheaper attacker and preserve their spending power for next summer, particularly after making pricy moves for Rodri and Gordon.

Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Gordon and Adeyemi can all operate as false nines, giving Flick different ways to compensate for the absence of a traditional striker, if the club do not get a deal over the line.

Above all, Barcelona will hope teenage sensation Lamine Yamal can remain in his extraordinary form and enjoy a full season at the top of his game after injuries and other concerns disrupted the early months of his previous campaign.

At just 19, Yamal is already the crucial figure in Barcelona's attack and the player around whom the club's ambitions are built.

If Rodri can provide greater stability behind him and Flick finds enough goals across a reshaped attack, Barcelona have the tools they need to retain their Liga crown.

With Mourinho back in the Spanish capital the domestic race promises to be more fiercely contested though, and with the Champions League a key goal for Barca, Los Blancos are aiming to capitalize.


Global Initiative for Female Athletes Expands to 9 Nations

Athletics - European Athletics Championships - Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, Britain - August 16, 2026 General view as the athletes line up at the start of the women's marathon REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
Athletics - European Athletics Championships - Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, Britain - August 16, 2026 General view as the athletes line up at the start of the women's marathon REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
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Global Initiative for Female Athletes Expands to 9 Nations

Athletics - European Athletics Championships - Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, Britain - August 16, 2026 General view as the athletes line up at the start of the women's marathon REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
Athletics - European Athletics Championships - Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, Britain - August 16, 2026 General view as the athletes line up at the start of the women's marathon REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

The Global Alliance for Female Athletes (GAFA) has expanded from four to nine members with Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland joining the initiative, the Australian Sports Commission said on Friday.

Aimed at improving health and performance outcomes for women in sport, GAFA was launched last year by organizations from Australia, the US, Britain and New Zealand.

Ireland and Belgium have also joined the initiative as ⁠supporting partners.

The Australian ⁠Institute of Sport (AIS), which helped establish the alliance, said the new members would strengthen international collaboration in addressing research gaps and enhance support for female athletes, coaches and sports medicine practitioners.

"The growth ⁠of GAFA to nine nations shows there is enormous appetite around the world to work together, share knowledge and create lasting change for female athletes," AIS Female Performance Health Initiative lead Rachel Harris said in a statement.

"By working together across borders, we're able to accelerate research, share lessons faster and ensure more female athletes benefit ⁠from ⁠the latest evidence and insights."

According to Reuters, Harris said a key priority for the alliance was ensuring that female-focused research reaches athletes, coaches and health professionals around the world.

The expansion comes amid growing efforts to address female-specific health issues in sport, including anterior cruciate ligament injuries, with studies showing female athletes are two to six times more likely to sustain the injury than men.


US Open Announces Record $108 Million Prize Purse

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 7, 2025 General view during the final match between Italy's Jannik Sinner and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 7, 2025 General view during the final match between Italy's Jannik Sinner and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
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US Open Announces Record $108 Million Prize Purse

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 7, 2025 General view during the final match between Italy's Jannik Sinner and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 7, 2025 General view during the final match between Italy's Jannik Sinner and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo

The US Open will hand out $108 million in prize money at this year's final Grand Slam, it said on Thursday, marking the largest purse in tennis history and a 20% jump from last year's total payout.

The men's and women's singles champions ⁠at the August ⁠23 to September 13 major in New York will earn $5.5 million each, which marks a 10% increase from last year ⁠and is the largest Grand Slam payment in history for a main draw singles champion.

The compensation package also includes what tournament organizers said is a Grand Slam record for first-round payouts, which this year will increase 27% ⁠to $140,000, Reuters reported.

The ⁠payout structure was revealed shortly after the sport's four biggest tournaments announced the creation of a Grand Slam Player Council that is intended to give players a voice on a range of issues like prize money.