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      I won Wayne Rooney’s Street Striker but then got banned from football… three years later I was in prison

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      TRAVIS BECKFORD had the world at his feet when he won Wayne Rooney’s Street Striker.But then he got banned from football and three years later ended up in prison.Travis Beckford won the first edition of Wayne Rooney’s Street StrikerCredit: Wayne Rooney’s street strikerThe first series was filmed in 2008Credit: News Group Newspapers LtdRooney crowned Beckford the championCredit: PA:Press AssociationBeckford – brother of ex-Leeds and Leicester striker Jermaine and grime artist Marci Phonix – stunned Rooney with his tricks and skills in a Stockport car park.So much so that he was crowned the inaugural winner of the TV competition show in 2008 by the Manchester United and England hero.Aged just 16, the emotion of the moment took over and he burst into tears.The victory should have been the kickstart his footballing career needed.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAfter all, he earned himself a cash prize, a trip to Brazil and the attention of plenty of professional clubs.Beckford joined the Leeds academy but struggled with the physicality and was left unable to walk for a month with an injury.That injury sparked a return to West London – where his parents moved him away from after he was stabbed aged 14.It was also where his late sister Sabrina was in and out of hospital during her battle with Crohn’s disease.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAnd an incident while playing for his local team Hanwell Town proved a sliding doors moment in his football career – and his life.An opponent hit out at the Hanwell captain and a mass brawl ensued.’I’m not playing for you’ – Wayne Rooney could’ve played for different country before breaking England goal recordBut Beckford was picked out in the aftermath as the FA handed him a one-year ban.From there, without football to keep him on the right path, the teenager turned to making money on the streets, including selling drugs… until one day it all imploded.Beckford, 32, told the Daily Mail: “I thought, ‘How is this happening to me when there were another 10, 12 people involved that weren’t banned?’ At that point, I was ready to just turn my back on football.“I was very upset, I was very deflated about it. I just thought, how could it go from being so good to so bad in the space of six months?“It was very bad in my area, there were a lot of shootings, murders, stabbings, there was a lot of drug dealing and gang problems,’ says Beckford. ‘People I knew got killed.’“Sabrina always used to say about staying focused and to stop running around the streets or you’re going to end up getting hurt or go to prison – but I never really used to listen to anyone.“I got deeper and deeper into street lifestyle, selling drugs. It turned into conversations with a few of my peers at the time – why are we getting all of these drugs and selling them, why don’t we just rob the drug dealers of the money, because they can’t go to the police about it?Travis is the brother of Jermaine BeckfordCredit: PA:Press AssociationThe striker is best known for his time at LeedsCredit: PA:Empics SportTravis started his prison sentence at Feltham Young Offenders InstituteCredit: PA:Press AssociationA visit from DJ Target proved life changing for BeckfordCredit: Getty – Contributor“That was our mindset: get their money and just leave. It got more and more serious and then, one particular evening, it just went completely left.“It all kicked off in this house, and a few people in there got hurt. It was a very bad situation. I got hurt, and so did my co-defendant.“It was one of the worst days of my life. There was knife crime involved, stabbings, it was just a mess, if I’m honest.“We got arrested shortly after that, there were police helicopters and dogs, it was very serious.”Beckford was denied bail and was initially handed a ten-year sentence two days after his 19th birthday.This was reduced to six years and eight months on appeal and he served two-and-a-half years behind bars.He started at Feltham Young Offenders Institution but was moved to the “incredibly violent” Isis prison in South-East London – but was determined to take the time to get himself back on track.Beckford added: “It was enough time for me to get myself together if I started immediately.“That’s what I started thinking about: what am I going to do, who am I going to be, when I get released?“All I’d ever known was playing football and being on the streets. Who was Travis Beckford going to be, post-Wayne Rooney’s Street Striker, post all this street stuff, post being a local [drug dealer] – who’s that going to be? I spent a long time working on myself.“My sister was dying, I needed to sort my life out. I felt incredibly bad because I was f***ing up, I’d made selfish decisions.I’ve managed to change people’s perception of what a prisoner isTravis Beckford“There’s this quote, ‘The road to hell is paved with good intentions.’ Even though I was doing bad things, I was doing it for the right reasons. I felt really bad about my mum and my sister, all the people who had believed in me.”A visit from Jason Mitchell and Chris Chalaye, who ran music production and radio broadcasting courses in the prison, proved critical.Mitchell introduced Beckford to BBC Radio 1 DJ Target and the pair reconnected following his release after he gained a place on a BBC apprenticeship scheme.That in turn led to meeting various others in the music industry and gave him a footing to break into the industry.Beckford landed another short-term contract with Sony before a full-time job at their Epic Records label and has even worked with the likes of Polydor, Modest Management and Nike.Now he focuses on his own projects including a platform to help young people break into music as well as a marketing and promotion company that has collaborated with Borussia Dortmund and Anthony Joshua.Beckford concluded: “I met loads of great people and 95 per cent of them really took to me.“But some of them heard where I came from, and they weren’t happy that the BBC had brought me in.“They thought, ‘This guy’s just been released from prison, there’s other kids out there that haven’t gone to prison, so why is he getting this opportunity?’Read More on The Sun“They made that very known, and it was very uncomfortable at one point.“But I’ve managed to change people’s perception of what a prisoner is, and now it’s got to a point where people are willing to listen.”The show lasted for three seriesCredit: Action ImagesTravis won a trip to Brazil and a cash prize from his successCredit: Wayne Rooney’s street strikerHe had a stint in the Leeds academy but suffered a bad injuryCredit: Wayne Rooney’s street strikerA non-league scrap saw him banned for a year and his life flippedCredit: Wayne Rooney’s street striker More

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      Marcus Rashford stars on FA Cup weekend with 20-point haul to prompt wave of early transfers

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      MARCUS RASHFORD (£3.7m) earned more points than anyone else over the FA Cup weekend.The England international scored a brace as Aston Villa beat Preston 3-0 at Deepdale for the 20-point return.Rashford enjoyed himself at DeepdaleCredit: Dream TeamIn addition to his goals, one coming from the penalty spot, Rashford registered four shots on target and created two big chances before he was replaced in the 81st minute.He was far from the only Villain to take advantage of what was the most favourable fixture of the cup quarter-finals as Lucas Digne (£3m), Jacob Ramsey (£2.4m) and Ezri Konsa (£3.4m) also notched double-digit hauls.But it’s Rashford who tops the rankings for Gameweek 29 ahead of the midweek Premier League fixtures.Unai Emery’s side are due to face Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday night and it will be interesting to see how many points the 27-year-old on loan from Manchester United is able to add to his tally.Some gaffers have wasted no time in recruiting RashfordCredit: ReutersHe is already among the most popular recruits ahead of Gameweek 30, favoured by those who rightly see no harm in early transfers if they like what they see at the weekend.Remember, transfers can be reversed any time before the deadline if the outlook changes.Broadly speaking, this seems like a good time to back Villa players as they are the only team set to follow up a double header in Gameweek 29 with two more double Gameweeks.In Gameweek 30, Rashford and company will host Nottingham Forest before travelling to PSG for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.Most read in FootballIn Gameweek 31, they will visit Southampton before welcoming the Ligue 1 leaders to Villa Park.Emery will need to rotate his squad as Villa remain active in three competitionsCredit: GettyRelegation-bound Saints aside, it’s a relatively tricky run of opponents but the sheer volume of point-scoring opportunities means Emery’s troops are worthy of proper consideration.As expected, a 20-point haul has put Rashford in the spotlight but Villa’s attacking assets have shared the points around lately.Marco Asensio (£4.1m) has scored seven goals in nine appearances since his loan switch from PSG in January.Ollie Watkins (£5.2m) leads the way for goals (14), assists (13) and points (251) but he had to settle for a one-pointer against Preston as he was restricted to just a few minutes off the bench having skipped England duty because of a troublesome knee.Will Watkins be fit enough to start against Brighton on Wednesday night?Credit: GettyMorgan Rogers (£3.9m) and Youri Tielemans (£4m) have been the most reliable options in terms of minutes and both rank among the top ten midfielders in the game at the time of writing.Villa will have to produce something special to get past PSG in the Champions League but at present they are the only team still active in Europe and the FA Cup which makes them a huge point of focus.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOW More

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      ‘Shown us what courage means’ – Ex-Arsenal star, 29, rips up contract after being diagnosed with rare brain condition

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      FORMER Arsenal star Kristoffer Olsson has agreed to terminate his Midtjylland contract after being diagnosed with a rare brain condition.The 29-year-old has not played football since suffering blood clots to his brain in February last year, which required intensive care in hospital. Kristoffer Olsson has mutually terminated his contract with MidtjyllandCredit: APThe midfielder got an emotional sendoff during Midtjylland’s home game against Brondby on SundayCredit: APHe was rushed to hospital after losing consciousness at his home and eventually diagnosed with an inflammation of the cerebral blood vessels.Olsson has spent the last year building his fitness levels back up and is now looking to make a full return to the pitch.But in order to do so, the midfielder has decided to leave Midtjylland and return to Norrkoping, his home town, to be closer to his family.He will join his local club, IFK Norrkoping, in a bid to get regular first team football.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLOn Olsson’s departure, Midtjylland’s deputy football director, Kristian Bach Bak, said: “Kristoffer has been a fantastic footballer from day one and an equally great person off the pitch.”Before the illness, he was an important part of our team – with his eye for the game, his technical quality and his way of bringing people together.”He has helped lift us as a club, and we have been proud to have him at FC Midtjylland.”Meanwhile, football director Peter Sand added: “We will never forget the speech he gave before one of the crucial matches.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”It was a powerful and unifying moment that is still clear to both players and staff.”He had not been on the pitch for months, but he found the strength to contribute to the team and give something of himself. It says everything about him as a person.”Inside a day in the life of an Arsenal player as newly promoted goalkeeper, 19, gives glimpse behind the scenesOlsson got an emotional sendoff during Midtjylland’s home game against Brondby on Sunday.The midfielder said: “When I look back on my time at Midtjylland, I first and foremost feel great gratitude.”I have been here several times, and every time I have been met with warmth, care and respect.”When I was struck by the disease, it felt unfair – but I am happy that I was right here, where people knew me and understood who I was.”The club, the people, everyone around me – they were there from the first second. I will be grateful for that for the rest of my life.”FC Midtjylland is not just a football club, it is a place that takes care of people.”First and foremost, I still dream of being a footballer. To be able to train fully and feel that I am contributing to a team.”Every week I feel progress, and I am more hungry and motivated than ever. Having the opportunity to do it at home in Norrkoping, close to my family and friends, means a lot. The feeling is just right.”OLSSON’S CAREEROlsson spent three years at Arsenal between 2011 and 2014 but made just one senior appearance.He then spent three years at Midtjylland before returning to the club in 2023.Read More on The SunBetween his two spells with the Danish side, he spent time in Sweden, Russia and Belgium.The 29-year-old won two Superliga titles with Midtjylland and a league title with AIK.Olsson made one senior appearance for ArsenalCredit: Getty More

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      Dani Alves’ wife reveals she’s pregnant after three miscarriages in emotional post days after he was was cleared of rape

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      DANI ALVES’ wife has announced she is pregnant – THREE DAYS after the footballer had his rape conviction overturned on appeal.Joana Sanz, 32, revealed on Instagram – where she has 928,000 followers – that they are set to welcome a baby girl into the world.Dani Alves was last week cleared of raping a woman in Barcelona in December 2022Credit: THE MEGA AGENCYThe Brazilian’s wife, Joana Sanz, stood by him during the trialCredit: GETTYThe 32-year-old has revealed they’re expecting their first child just days after Alves’ clearingCredit: INSTAGRAM@JOANASANZBut in the message, the Spaniard bravely fought back the tears as she revealed she’d previously suffered three miscarriages.She said: “I didn’t want to say anything until it was more than obvious but I wanted to share it for those who are in the battle themselves.“I’ve had to deal with questions like, ‘When’s the baby due?’ since I was twenty-two years old …what scary social pressure.“I never had a mother instinct, that desire to have kids or that I’d like to carry someone’s baby.READ MORE SPORTS NEWS“Over the years, my group of friends were having babies and social media was filled with births (I guess age is what matters).“There is so much ignorance about the reproductive age of a woman and it is not so easy to get pregnant.”Five years ago I thought of being a mother with great fear, afraid because a human being will depend on me to survive, afraid of not working, afraid of losing myself as a woman… but this is another story.“What I came to tell you is that a healthy twenty-seven-year-old woman had two IVFs, three losses and the latest a salpingectomy added to the onset of endometriosis.”Most read in FootballJoana Sanz bravely revealed she’d previously suffered three miscarriages in her announcement videoCredit: EPAThe model continued: “The frustration and why ‘everyone’ gets pregnant like magic plagued me.“I’m used to achieving what I set my mind to with hard work, effort and perseverance, but this doesn’t go like that.Former Barcelona star Dani Alves cleared of raping woman at nightclub after appeal “I lost my mother two years ago, I have no parents or siblings, the feeling of orphanage and emptiness has followed me until the day I heard my baby’s heart for the first time.“My last frozen embryo, my last hope to have that reason to be strong in life. Here she is, healthy and growing.“And I know that it was my mother who sent her to me so that I never feel alone again.”So that I can make her want to live and have this rainbow full of love after so many storms.“I still can’t believe it and I wake up in the morning in fear of seeing the sheets covered in blood or close my eyes on the ultrasound until I hear everything is perfect. Everything comes, don’t give up.”Sanz’s revealing of her pregnancy came days after her husband – who she’s been married to for eight years – was cleared by four Catalan High Court judges of raping a woman at a plush Barcelona nightclub in December 2022.Joana Sanz felt as if she was the one on trial during husband Dani Alves’ rape caseCredit: EPAFollowing the clearing of her husband, who spent 14 months on remand before being bailed, Sanz issued a statement revealing she felt as if she was the one on trial.She wrote on Instagram: “I was singled out, insulted, threatened and persecuted for two years. As if I were the one in the dock.“Despite so much media/public damage, I am still standing, not lacking work as so many wanted it to happen, faithful to my beliefs and defending what I think without being intoxicated by others.”Sanz added: “I invite you to stop venting your hatred on people you know nothing about.Read More on The Sun”To get informed and educated, so you don’t have to bite your tongue, which sometimes poisons.”Alves’ accuser plans to launch a last-ditch appeal to Spain’s Supreme Court after her lawyer’s previous attempts to get Alves jailed for 12 years on conviction. More

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      Baller League EXACT time: When is Night 2 kicking off TONIGHT?

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      BALLER LEAGUE is back TONIGHT after the competition kicked off in spectacular style last weekThe Baller League will be headed up by president KSI, who recently sold out Wembley in the Sidemen Charity Match.KSI is the president of the Baller League after selling out the Sidemen Charity MatchCredit: GettyThe first night of the Baller League took place last weekThe YouTuber-turned-boxer put on a great show as Sidemen FC fell to defeat on penalties to YouTube Allstars, and Baller League promises to be another success.Twelve teams will compete, with the top four after 11 games going into the play-off round to determine the winner.The 12 teams will be managed by some huge stars, ranging from Premier League winning captain John Terry to musician Dave.Sky Sports has picked up the Baller League and it started to great excitement last week – with AngryGinge’s Yanited taking an early lead in the standings.Read more baller leagueThe action all comes from the Copper Box Arena in Stratford.When does Baller League start, how can I watch it and is there a live stream?Baller League started on March 24 and will run for 11 consecutive weeks every Monday.Each match is six-a-side and played in two 15 minute halves.In the final three minutes of each half there will be new rules introduced, such as the keeper being unable to use hands or the teams going down to 2-vs-2Nightly action can be watched on UK TV on Sky Sports Mix.The action is also available to be live streamed on YouTube and Twitch, as well as on SkyGO for Sky Customers.Coverage begins at 5.15pm with the first match kicking-off at 5.35pm GMTAlternatively, SunSport will live blog all the action. More

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      Baller League fixtures and results, format, rules and CONFIRMED teams for huge competition featuring Terry & Lineker

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      THE exciting new Baller League returns TONIGHT with a variety of famous faces involved.The six-a-side spectacular has been a major success in Germany – where it was set up by Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski – and kicked off in the UK last week to great excitement.Baller League arrived in the UK last week to huge excitementThe competition brought huge excitement to the Copper Box in LondonCredit: PAJohn Terry saw his 26ers get off to a losing start in Week 1Credit: PAYouTuber-turned-boxer KSI has been unveiled as the president of the UK version, with streaming sensation iShowSpeed guiding the US.A stunning advert – which mimics the famous Nike Brazil ad from the 1998 World Cup – revealed football legends such as John Terry and Luis Figo will act as managers of teams.Match of the Day alumni Gary Lineker, Micah Richards and Alan Shearer will also take charge of a team, as will Arsenal Invincibles Freddie Ljungberg, Jens Lehmann and Robert Pires.Ian Wright and Chloe Kelly have a side competing, as do Alisha Lehmann and Maya Jama.Sidemen stars Miniminter and Tobi, plus YouTubers AngryGinge and Sharky are also managers.Brit Award winner and platinum-selling superstar Dave will take charge of Santan FC, while fashion icon Clint 419 will manage FC Rules the World.Baller League CEO, Felix Starck said: “Baller League is a brand new way to consume football.”We’re redefining how the game is played by bringing an exhilarating and authentic approach to football, and one that will appeal to current fans along with future generations.Most read in Football”Baller League is all about forward-thinking, aggressive, hyper-exciting football. We’re about creating a version of the game that’s impossible to ignore – thrilling, bold and packed with excitement.”After the tournament kicked off with Night 1 last week, teams are now able to include WILD CARD players from tonight.John Terry and his 26ers were losers on the opening night, while AngryGinge’s Yanited looked excellent in a 7-2 win.SunSport also picked out some of the best players to watch after the first round of action.What is Baller League?Baller League is a weekly indoor football tournament – consisting of legendary footballers and other famous stars managing the teams.Twelve teams will play in six-a-side matches, with the top four teams of the league advancing to the final play-off in June to be crowned the champion.The entertaining format will be similar to Gerard Pique’s Kings League from Spain and the German version of the Baller League.When is Baller League coming to UK?The first night of Baller League took place on Monday, March 24.Matches then run for 11 consecutive Monday nights until June.Each night is made up of six 30-minute matches.London’s Copper Box Arena will host all the gamesWhat are the Baller League rules?Matches will be played in a six-a-side format on a smaller indoor pitch.Each half will be 15 minutes long.Shock rule twists will be introduced for the final three minutes of each half, including a three vs three format, long-range goals counting as double, and goalkeepers not allowed to use their hands.These rule twists for the final three minutes will be randomised.MLS-style one-vs-one penalties are to be used.12 teams in the league, with the top four going through to the playoffs.The league begins in March 2025, with the final four play-offs taking place in June.Wild card players will be introduced from Night 2 (March 31).Is Baller League on TV and can it be live streamed?After UK broadcasting rights were left unknown for a few weeks, it has now been confirmed that Sky Sports have signed a one-year deal.Matches can also be watched on NOWTV.Every match will be broadcast on the channel and hosted by Chunkz and Olivia Buzaglo.Baller League UK’s official YouTube and Twitch channels will also stream all the action.Coverage gets underway at 5.15pm with the first match of the night set to kick-off at 5.35pm.Alternatively, SunSport will LIVE BLOG all the action as it happens.Who is playing in the Baller League?26ers – managed by John TerrySquad – J’ardell Stirling, Bilal Sayoud, Sak Hassan, Kojo Apenteng, Marcel Lewis, Jordon Ibe, Matt Chizzum, Emmanuel Rowe, Justin Dass, Spike Stegel, Vladislav Platinov, Jack Crook.Deportrio – managed by Alan Shearer, Micah Richards and Gary LinekerSquad – Bakary Sako, Adam Dawson, Francis Gerald Mapolo, Zach Fagan, Marvin Sordell, Charlie Kuehn, Tommy Scott, Raphael Gas, Alex Dyer, Ruben Singale, Tristan Goodridge, Leo Serri.FC Rules the World – managed by Clint 419Squad – Michael Ndiweni, Josh Harrop, Tareiq Holmes-Dennis, Kevin Gonzalez, Oliver Bosworth, Karim Kamhouri, Erghis Pepy, Onuchi Oki, Yusuf Shentu, Alamiji Oluma, Sandro Kamara, Festus Chalet.M7 FC – managed by MiniminterSquad – Jesse Waller-Lassen, Femi Akinwande, Stefan Ilic, Jean Belehouan, Toby Bull, Sam Fitzgerald, Arjun Young, Ramez Gonzalo, Arin Zaha, Lewis Garcia, Henry Wise, Zion Nditi.MVPs United – managed by Alisha Lehmann and Maya JamaSquad – Lorenzo Spinelli, Ashton Peltier, Jake Chambers Shaw, Ross Derham, Josh Misoki, James Canton, Alfie Matthew, Declan McCarthy, Jay Beckford, Joe Edwards, Dwayne Suel, Esteban Salgado.N5 FC – managed by Jens Lehmann, Robert Pires and Freddie LjungbergSquad – Owen Locke, Adrian Mariappa, Brian Ly, Charlie Wakefield, Dayo Adekayo, Chris Arba, Imran Kahani, Michael Class, James Alabi, Troy Molunda, Freddie Berrati, Callum Charlton.Santan FC – managed by DaveSquad – Michael Hill, Richard Kesey, Dominic Voss, Erick Kenco, Ranell McKenzie Lowes, Jamell Abou-Bakare, Rico Okinari, David Upu, Abdullah Gervardi, Jack Wilson, David Solidemi, Luka Valentine.SDS FC – managed by SharkySquad – Bruno Andrade, Bayley Brown, Ody Alfa, Cole Da Silva, David Marques Castanho, Calvin Dickson, Big John, Camillo Astreppo, Finley Chadwick, Michael Felibe, Hussein Mahdi, Tyler Edmundson.Trebol FC – managed by Luis FigoSquad – Montel McKenzie, Vani Da Silva, Ciaran Clark, Isaac Modi, Ethan Oke, Reggie, Emi, Ryan Gorwell, Jordan Brown, Shani Omed, Aaron Steven, Nathan Bowen.VZN FC – managed by Tobi BrownSquad – Henri Lansbury, Kurtice Herbert, Jerome Sinclair, Remy Mitchell, Montel McKenzie, Florian Kastrati, Michael Olive-Wigan, Barrell Mensah, Ethan McClear, Diego Dombaboni, Jami Kheresi, Luka Barusic.Wembley Rangers – managed by Ian Wright and Chloe KellySquad – Domingos Pires, Check Fayum, Ben Long, Stuart Cook, Oliver Cannon, Juan Pablo, Ruben Junior, Luke Gambin, Kaylen Kofi, Braden Shaw, Joseph Diomande, Nabid Eshari.Yanited – managed by AngryGingeSquad – Kadell Daniel, Michael Hector, Mohammed Mahyoub, Remy Clerima, Percy Kiangebeni, Medy Elito, Max Pitman, Harry Cain, Henry O’Shea, Daniel Thompson, Daniel Woods, Pharrel Mensah.Baller League schedule and resultsMatchday 1: March 24Game 1: Yanited 7-2 N5Game 2: FC RTW 4-5 MVPs UnitedGame 3: SDS 5-2 26ersGame 4: Trebol 4-6 Santan FCGame 5: M7 3-2 Wembley RangersGame 6: Deportrio 6-3 VZNMatchday 2: March 31Read More on The SunGame 1: MVPs United vs M7 – 5.35pmGame 2: Wembley Rangers vs VZN – 6.35pmGame 3: N5 vs Deportrio – 7.35pmGame 4: 26ers vs Yanited – 8.35pmGame 5: Santan FC vs SDS – 9.35pmGame 6: FC RTW vs Trebol – 10.35pmMatchday 3: April 7Matchday 4: April 14Matchday 5: April 21Matchday 6: April 28Matchday 7: May 5Matchday 8: May 12Matchday 9: May 19Matchday 10: May 26Matchday 11: June 6Final Four Day: June 11 More

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      ‘Nothing could have prepared me’ – Cardiff City star heartbroken after brother, 30, dies in first Muay Thai fight

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      A CARDIFF CITY star paid tribute to his brother who sadly died.Andy Rinomhota’s sibling Joseph Itai Rinomhota, 30, passed away after taking a kick to the ribs in his first-ever Muay Thai match in Thailand. Cardiff City player Andy Rinomhota spoke out after his brother Joseph Itai died after a Muay Thai boxing matchCredit: Andy RinomhotaRinomhota plays for Cardiff City in the ChampionshipCredit: GettyJoseph was making his debut in the sport when he received the kick to his ribsCredit: Andy RinomhotaRinomhota, 27, shared a heartbreaking Instagram post paying tribute to his older brother. He wrote: “Nothing could’ve prepared me for what’s happened and no words or pictures are going to be enough to show or express the love I have and will always have for you my brother. “I’m hoping this will help to heal the pain even if only slightly. “You were the most driven and positive-minded person I know, always pushing for more and never settling for the minimum, always looking for that next thing to try and achieve. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL”You lived life to the fullest and I know you’d have no regrets even now. “As a brother, they don’t come better than you, caring, kind, supportive, the list is endless, you always looked after me in every way possible and I should’ve told you more just how much that meant to me. “‘Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us everyday’ – I know you’ll continue to watch over me and provide me with the strength and love you always have. “You’ll be with me doing the things we had planned to do together, you will always be in my heart and never forgotten.Most read in Football”Rest in peace Joe.”Andy also shared a collection of photos of his brother throughout the years – including as young children, on holidays, doing activities like indoor skydiving and a selfie sent from Thailand before the fateful events.The final image is a screenshot of Andy’s text to Joseph before he stepped in the ring.It read: “Not sure what time fight is but good luck again! Know you’ll smash it my guy.”Joseph was competing in the Samui International Muay Thai Stadium on the popular tourist island of Koh Samu on Friday. The fight, which kicked off at 9.30pm local time, was stopped by the referee in the third round after the Brit was reportedly kicked in the right side of his rib cage, local outlet Khaosod English reported.He managed to leave the ring and took off his gloves, but suddenly became unwell while unwrapping his hand bandages.Witnesses said he began experiencing muscle tension, struggled to breathe, and his eyes began rolling.Though still conscious, he collapsed shortly afterwards, with his heart said to have stopped.The Brit’s trainer desperately performed CPR until emergency services rushed him to Thai International Hospital, less than two miles from the venue.But despite medics’ efforts, he was pronounced dead at 11pm local time.Read More on The SunZimbabwe international midfielder Rinomhota joined Cardiff in 2022 having come through at AFC Portchester.The Leeds-born star signed for Reading in 2015 and came through to make 139 first-team appearances before the switch to South Wales. Andy shared a series of photos of Joe through the yearsCredit: Andy RinomhotaAndy said ‘nothing could prepare’ him for the devastationCredit: Andy RinomhotaThe brothers clearly had a strong bondCredit: Andy RinomhotaJoseph passed away after he could not be revived in ThailandCredit: Andy RinomhotaHe sent this message before the fateful fightCredit: Andy Rinomhota More

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      What’s gone wrong for Cole Palmer? Why Chelsea’s superstar is struggling and how he can turn it around for Enzo Maresca

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      COLE PALMER has been the shining light in a Chelsea season which has peered into the edge of darkness too often.But now, for the first time since his arrival from Manchester City, Palmer is struggling.Cole Palmer has struggled to meet expectations at times this seasonCredit: GettyThe midfielder is currently experiencing a slump in formCredit: APAnd how he and the Blues find a way out of Palmer’s slump may determine whether they are playing Champions League football next season – or face a THIRD straight season out of Europe’s elite.The Blues’ talisman is undeniably one of the best players in the Premier League.Not just in the Prem either – just recall his impressive cameos for England in Euro 2024, including that stunning equaliser in the Final defeat to Spain.But from being the stand-out English performer of the season, with goals and assists raining in, Palmer is in the middle of a barren run.Palmer, 22, has 14 goals and six assists to his name in the top flight this term, having scored 22 and laid on 11 more last season.Yet since the turn of the year, Palmer has lost form, without a single direct goal contribution in his last NINE games.Few players ever go through their career without periods in the doldrums and Palmer has already shown enough to believe this is a temporary downturn.But SunSport has looked at how the Blues can get Ice Cold Cole back to his best, and fast.Join SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford BridgeBattling illness and injury Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was honest – arguably too honest – about how Palmer was struggling with stomach issues and diarrhoea ahead of the match with Leicester. Nonetheless he played in that game, and his barren run continued, his run of 12 successive converted penalties coming to an abrupt end as Mads Hermansen plunged to his left to turn the spot-kick aside. ‘Reminded me of Gerrard at Liverpool’ – Cole Palmer told he needs to LEAVE Chelsea and has outgrown the club alreadyPalmer then missed the defeat at Arsenal – which left Chelsea in fourth and part of the group of seven clubs scrapping for Champions League football – and was pulled out of Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad.The news that Palmer requires a second scan on the unspecified injury will be a massive concern for Chelsea fans – to add to their recent woes.Has he been ‘figured out’?Some fans are suspecting that Cole Palmer has been ‘figured out’ by Premier League opposition, but to me, that seems unlikely. Palmer is an enigmatic, maverick of the League, who has shone at Chelsea in the number 10 position and on the right hand side since he joined. Some fans have claimed that Palmer has been ‘figured out’Credit: GettyEven throughout his slump, he still looks a class above most players on the pitch, he just hasn’t had the ability to convert that into numbers. That’s not to say compared to last season teams aren’t making it harder for him, because that is definitely true.Everyone who has watched Chelsea in the past year knows that he is their main goal threat, especially in the absence of Nicolas Jackson – a factor that must be taken into serious account.What that means is he’s being marked tighter, doubled up on and tackled a bit harder.Chelsea fans of an older vintage will see parallels of how Eden Hazard was targeted by opponents during his time at Stamford Bridge – and how the Belgian found his own way to combat that treatment.And like Hazard, Palmer will be able to cope with the need to deal with such rough-house defending by evolving his own game.Palmer has already shown he can do so this season. That, though, was when his team-mates were also pulling their weight to give him the room to play. And at the moment, they’re not.Missing Nico and Noni Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke have both come under heavy criticism and scrutiny since joining Chelsea, which is perhaps down to the lofty standards of the fans rather than the players’ individual ability. One thing is for sure, that since the pair have been on the treatment table and not the pitch, the team has suffered. And, unsurprisingly, Palmer has too.It has been well documented the great relationship Cole has with these two in particular, and even in his face on the pitch you can see he’s not enjoying himself as much without them around. But it’s not only about relationships, Jackson is still Chelsea’s second highest Premier League scorer and while his finishing is questionable at times, his creative effort and link-up with Palmer cannot be underestimated. Nicolas Jackson’s absence has affected PalmerCredit: GettyPalmer is also missing Noni MaduekeCredit: GettyHe makes runs into the channels, often moving out to the left and allowing Palmer to take up space in the middle, but also presents a threat in the box from the England man’s in-swinging crosses – something which Chelsea massively lack at the moment. Unless Marc Cucurella has stormed in from deep, that is…It’s a similar story with Noni Madueke. While he has often been criticised for appearing selfish, actually his selfishness has been under-appreciated.His high shot volume has led to more goals than most in Blue this season, with his ability to create space on the right and pose a goal threat creating more space for Palmer to get free and work his magic.With those two out, Chelsea have lacked chemistry in attack. More critically, as far as Palmer is concerned, it has left him as the main, indeed, sometimes ONLY threat – and therefore much easier to defend against than three. While Christopher Nkunku and Pedro Neto are not bad players, neither appears the natural fit for Chelsea.Nkunku, whose first term was significantly blighted by injuries, is making his goal-laden final two years at Leipzig look like the blip, rather than the norm. The Frenchman has scored just six Prem goals across two seasons.Neto, bought with an injury cloud hanging over him, is a winger, pure and simple. Asking him to play up front, as Maresca has done recently, is putting a square peg in a round hole. It cannot fit. Is he trying TOO hard?At the crux of this issue, is what you see visibly on the pitch – a player who is unable to be his best because of a combination of factors, many of them outside his control.Watching Palmer, not just his performances but his body language, and you see a player who looks as if he’s almost trying too hard to score.The 22-year-old sometimes looks like he is trying too hard during gamesCredit: ReutersPalmer clearly shows with his touches, quick feet and passing that he is one of the better players on the pitch – and the stats showed that in February he was the most creative player in EUROPE, despite not registering an assist in the previous two months.This shows the extent to which he is being let down somewhat by his teammates in terms of goals. Against Southampton and Leicester in particular he was doing all the work to get into a good position.But when it came to pulling the trigger he appeared to be overthinking things – when the beauty of his game before was that it seemed so natural, effortless and almost an afterthought. How will it work out? More than likely Palmer just needs one bit of fortune and we will see the ice cold menace turned Premier League sweetheart back at his best.The returns of Jackson and Madueke would almost certainly give Palmer a boost too, with Chelsea being a more threatening side overall when they’re in it – this should ease the creative burden on Cole and allow him to be a bit more natural and instinctive in his play. The international break will provide him with a rest, and hopefully when the Premier League returns we’ll see ‘Cold’ Palmer prove that while form is temporary, class is permanent. Chelsea ratings vs ArsenalCHELSEA missed the chance to pull clear in the race for Champions League football as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at Arsenal.Mikel Merino scored the only goal of the game as the Blues produced a limp performance at the Emirates.They were without several key men including Cole Palmer.And they struggled to create chances against Arsenal with a threadbare subs bench to boot.But who was Chelsea’s best player in North London?And which players will want to forget about their performance as soon as possible?See SunSport’s Andy Dillon’s verdict on the Chelsea players here More