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      in Soccer

      I lost both of my grandfathers to suicide, we must do more to help, says Championship star Will Vaulks

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      WILL VAULKS knows all about the devastation that follows suicide.The Oxford United star’s two grandfathers both took their lives within 18 months of each other while he was in his early teens.Will Vaulks says the deaths caused ‘enormous destruction’ in his familyCredit: GettyHywel Edwards took his life just a day after watching Vaulks play footballVaulks described paternal grandfather Tom as wonderful to be withVaulks, 31, was just 13 when he and his family were left heartbroken when paternal grandad Tom died aged 67,  six months after he had initially tried to kill himself.And then the Wales midfielder’s maternal grandfather Hywel took his life aged 78, a day after watching his then 15-year-old grandson playing youth football for Tranmere.Now Vaulks wants to raise awareness for one of the biggest — yet “most forgotten” — killers.The latest 12-month UK Government figures showed 4,377 people died by suicide, that is an average of 12 deaths every day.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe U’s ace told SunSport: “Suicide is the biggest killer in men aged under 50 and women under 35.“So the biggest threat to your friend or family member’s life at that age isn’t a heart attack, cancer or a car crash . . . it’s from themselves.“We talk about cancer research and the need to learn CPR — which is important and great — but suicide gets forgotten.“So we must do everything to help get the numbers down.”Most read in FootballYou’re Not AloneEVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicideIt doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:Both grandfathers were much loved and Tom was a larger-than-life  character who would take his grandson for a spin on the back of his red Kawasaki 500 motorbike.Vaulks recalled: “He used to look after me, my brother and sister when our parents were away.“And he would say, ‘When the cat’s away, the mice play!’“I couldn’t have asked for a better grandparent so you can only  imagine the feelings I had when he chose to take his life. It was so  difficult for my dad and family.”At the time it was not understood why Tom had decided to end his life although with the benefit of hindsight years later the reason is perhaps less mysterious.His grandfather, who was divorced from Vaulks’ nan, was deeply depressed and complained about a stomach pain he could not get diagnosed.It is felt he feared getting old and not being able to continue doing the fun things he enjoyed.Then, in 2008, his other grandfather Hywel left home in circumstances out of character.Vaulks said: “My grandmother Brenda woke up to find he wasn’t in bed and had gone out.“He didn’t take a coat or get properly dressed so hadn’t gone out for a walk.”Police were called and a helicopter and search dogs sent out to comb the area.Loving grand-dad Hywel took his own life aged 78Tom, who died aged 67, is pictured with his son and grandchildrenBut eventually after a few hours it was Vaulk’s mum and Hywel’s daughter Ruth who discovered his body.Only the evening before he had been watching Vaulks playing football but he went home at the full-time whistle rather than stick around, as he normally did.That evening his mum went to check on him and Vaulks explained: “He told her, ‘You do know I love you, don’t you?’“It was a lovely thing to say to his daughter but it has been hard for my mum down the years because she has been left with many unanswered questions like was it a sign and should she have spotted it?“But he had made his decision at that  point and unfortunately we will  never know exactly why.”From experience, no one who is struggling is a burden. People want to help, people love you and you must love yourself too.Will VaulksPeople who take their lives are in the deepest of torment and often feel they are a burden to families and friends but, as Vaulks explains, the decision to die by suicide leaves a trail of devastation that is far worse for those loved ones left behind. He said: “The destruction the two suicides left for my family was enormous.“We had a normal family life which was happy, healthy and great.“The best way to describe it is it’s like a bomb going off within the family unit.“Suicide leaves a complex grieving process that some people do not  manage to get through. As a family, we fortunately did.“But I became a bit numb to normal passings because you feel bitterness in the way you lost your grandparents.“They both thought they were best out of the equation.“I’d say to anyone who is struggling, the burden you leave by taking your own life is 100 fold for those you leave behind.“From experience, no one who is struggling is a burden. People want to help, people love you and you must love yourself too.“I’ve spoken to suicide survivors who look back now and live happy, healthy fulfilled lives.”Championship side Oxford became the first club last month to sign up for a suicide prevention charity’s workplace pledge.United’s new partnership with Baton of Hope will see the U’s deliver in-house, personal  suicide prevention training to all its players and staff.Hywel was great to be around as a kid, saying Will VaulksTom became depressed in later life and worried about a stomach painIt coincided with the third anniversary of Oxford legend Joey Beauchamp taking his own life at the age of 50 after years of mental- health struggles.Vaulks, who also wants the EFL to get on board, says there are stereotypical myths  surrounding suicide.He said: “People always have one answer like he or she was a gambling addict, had an affair, took drugs — all hyper motive things.“Sometimes those issues are relevant but a lot of the time it’s not the case.“People have struggled silently for a long time and not had the help they need. At the moment, in the NHS, mental-health help is not there.“The charity’s founder is Mike McCarthy and his  son Ross was on a waiting list for six months and died two months into it. That sort of time frame for help isn’t acceptable.”Vaulks is sure prevention is better than cure and urges everyone to play an active part.He added: “People don’t wake up one day and decide to take their own life.A friend might be acting erratically, maybe drinking five pints instead of two or vice-versa, or acting quieter or louder. There are times when people are at crisis point and help lines or emergency services need to be called.Will Vaulks“The thing we can all do is to check in  twice. We all know when someone asks, ‘How are you?’ that a person usually replies, ‘Good’.“If you notice a slight change in your friend or people you don’t speak to so often, just  ask again, ‘No, really, how are you — is everything fine?’“We don’t need to have deep conversations but we do need to delve more into how people are feeling.“It’s proven eight to nine minutes of talking can be enough to lift someone’s mood and prevent them spiralling downhill.“A friend might be acting erratically, maybe drinking five pints instead of two or vice-versa, or acting quieter or louder.“There are times when people are at crisis point and help lines or emergency services need to be called.“But we must try to stop these things before they become major issues.READ MORE SUN STORIES“So if you feel happy and fulfilled, pass that on to people, even in the street.“We can live a competitive, fun and aggressive life — but still look out for others.” More

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      in Boxing

      How George Foreman went from teen mugger to earning $200m thanks to piledriver punches, wide smile & grilling machine

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      IN the boxing ring, George Foreman – who became world heavyweight champ twice, some 20 years apart – was a lean, mean fighting machine.With fists like wrecking balls and a piledriver punch, all bar eight of his 76 wins ended in a knockout.George Foreman posing for The Ring magazine in 1989Credit: GettyThe boxing legend with his loved ones in a picture released by his familyCredit: instagram/biggeorgeforemanGeorge suffers as Muhammad Ali hits back in probably the greatest fight of all timeCredit: AlamyThe heavyweight champ earned an astonishing $200million from his trademark cooking device – an electric barbecue that could be used indoorsCredit: Getty Images – GettyHe fought in probably the most famous boxing bout in history, the 1974 Rumble In The Jungle against Muhammad Ali, who beat him using a strategy he coined “rope-a-dope”.But Big George, who died on Friday aged 76, was no dope.Incredibly, he made far more money outside the ring — selling “a lean, mean grilling machine”. He earned an astonishing $200million from the George Foreman Grill — an electric barbecue that could be used indoors.It massively overshadowed the $5million he won for his part in the Rumble In The Jungle, a 4am fight in sweltering heat beamed by a new-fangled TV satellite from Kinshasa in Zaire, central Africa.READ MORE IN SPORTBut thanks to his ­charismatic fame and famous smile, he went on to earn almost $5million every MONTH selling his grill and other household appliances on telly.Not bad for a teenage mugger brought up in Texas in a family so poor his mother sent her children to school with mayonnaise sandwiches for lunch.One of the top three heavyweights of all time, along with Ali and Joe Frazier, George, who only lost five fights in his career, was married five times.‘A force for good’He fathered ten children — five boys, all called George “so he would not forget their names”, and five girls, including ­Georgetta. George also adopted two more daughters.Most read in BoxingAnnouncing his death on Instagram yesterday, his family said he passed away surrounded by loved ones.Although they did not disclose his cause of death, they paid tribute to “a devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father and a proud grand and great- grandfather”, who “lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility and purpose”.George Foreman claims Bruce Lee could have been world champion boxer as he was so good he left him with ‘chills’George Snr was, they said, “a humanitarian, an Olympian and two-time heavyweight champion of the world”.They went on: “He was deeply respected — a force for good, a man of discipline, conviction and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name for his family.“We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers, and kindly ask for privacy as we honour the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own.”George Edward Foreman was born in Marshall, Texas, on January 10, 1949. In later life, he discovered his real father was a man called Leroy Moorehead.But he took the name of his stepdad, railway construction worker J B Foreman, who his mother, Nancy, married when George was very young.He grew to become a big, strong teenager, and was often in trouble with the law for street fighting.By the age of 15, he had dropped out of school and became a mugger.George once said: “I’ve always been motivated by food, because I was always hungry. There never was enough food to eat for me, for various reasons.”The following year, George had a change of heart and convinced his mother to sign him up for Jobs Corps, a US government scheme that trained him to be a carpenter and bricklayer. He moved to California and, with the help of a trainer, George, by then 6ft 3in and nearly 18st, took up boxing.By the age of 19, he had won Olympic Gold in Mexico City, knocking out Jonas Cepulis of the Soviet Union, who was ten years older and had already won many of his 200 bouts.If Big George hit you, you stayed hit. It was as simple as thatBBC boxing analyst Steve BunceBBC boxing analyst Steve Bunce said: “If Big George hit you, you stayed hit. It was as simple as that.”Days after African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos did a Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics, George caused controversy among civil rights activists by waving a small US flag in the ring.He said: “I was just glad to be an American. Some people have tried to make something of it, calling me an Uncle Tom (a derogatory term for a black person considered overly submissive to white people), but I’m not. I just believe people should live together in peace.”George preaching in Atlantic City in 1991Credit: AP:Associated PressThe star posing in an African robe before his bout with AliCredit: GettyChamp Joe Frazier is rocked by a Foreman right during the title fight in JamaicaCredit: APThe legend waving the US flag after his heavyweight victory at the Mexico GamesGeorge regains his title, aged 45, in a fight against MoorerCredit: AFPHe later looked back with pride on how he turned his life around to ­triumph at those Games in Mexico City, adding: “Less than two years prior . . . I was under a house, hiding from the police. “I climbed from underneath that house, in mud and slop, and said to myself, ‘I’m going to do something in my life, I’m not a thief’.”Turning professional straight away, George was soon fighting a bout a month. By the time he competed in his first heavyweight title against ­Frazier at the “The Sunshine Showdown” in Kingston, Jamaica, in ­January 1973, he already had 39 wins under his belt — and no defeats. The 3-1 underdog, George knocked world champ Frazier down six times before ref Arthur Mercante stopped the one-sided fight in the second round.After defeating Ken Norton in the Caracas Caper in Venezuela, George’s next fight was the famous Rumble In The Jungle against Ali.The Sun’s legendary boxing correspondent Colin Hart was ringside in Kinshasa — now in the Democratic Republic of Congo — as dawn broke on October 30, 1974.Foreman, at 25, wasn’t the smiling carefree giant who resembled a benign Buddha that we saw in his latter years. He was surly, extremely bad-tempered and far from lovable.The Sun’s legendary boxing correspondent Colin HartHe wrote: “It’s a fair bet if you should mention the Rumble In The Jungle from Angola to Zanzibar, most people will know what you are talking about. “There couldn’t have been a greater contrast between Ali and Foreman — Beauty and the Beast perhaps sums them up best.”Foreman, at 25, wasn’t the smiling carefree giant who resembled a benign Buddha that we saw in his latter years.“He was surly, extremely bad-tempered and far from lovable.“Having won 37 of his 40 fights by knockout . . . menace seemed to ooze from every pore.‘Start at the bottom’“He made Sonny Liston (a ­powerhouse US boxer) look like a soft, cuddly teddy bear.”Backed up on the ropes for round after round, Ali took the sting out of George’s powerful punching with his “rope-a-dope” technique.But suddenly, in round eight, he sprung off the ropes for the first time and rocked his rival with a right hander. And with that, Ali was back in the fight. Almost in slow motion, George collapsed to the canvas and failed to beat the count. After losing the title he took a year off, but by then his first marriage, to Adrienne Calhoun, had ended.Over the years, he tied the knot four more times, finally marrying Mary Joan Martelly in 1985. She was with him until his death.In 2019, he explained that he named all of his sons George Edward Foreman “so they would always have something in common”.His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgottenMike TysonHe added: “I tell people, ‘If you’re going to get hit as many times as I’ve been hit by Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Evander Holyfield, you’re not going to remember many names’.”The boys, however, have nicknames — George III goes by Monk, George IV is Big Wheel, George V is Red and George VI is known as Little Joey.Foreman returned to the ring and had five more victories, including another over old rival Frazier.But after losing to Jimmy Young in Puerto Rico in 1977, he hung up his gloves aged 28, claiming it was because of his religious beliefs and his mother’s wishes.George had become a born-again Christian and was ordained as a minister. For the next ten years, he preached to congregations at a church in Houston, Texas, but money worries later drove him back to the ring.Overweight and out of shape, he said: “I’ve got a three-year plan. I want to start at the bottom. Train harder than any man in the world. Fight once a month.” Foreman fought up to nine times in a year. He cranked out 24 straight wins, although most were against boxers of lesser ability.But in 1994, at the age of 45, he got another title shot in Las Vegas against Michael Moorer, 26, who threw twice as many punches.But in the tenth round, Foreman delivered the knockout blow that made him the oldest heavyweight champion in history.George said: “Anything you desire, you can make happen. It’s like the song, ‘When you wish upon a star your dreams come true’. Well, look at me tonight.”Foreman returned to the church and a youth centre he had set up, and was never afraid to cash in on his fame. He was approached to endorse the George Foreman Grill in 1994, with a big smile and cheesy lines including: “It’s a knockout.”George went on to sell more than 100million units and earned a fortune, pocketing 40 per cent of the profits before selling out in 1999 for more than £100million.READ MORE SUN STORIESEx-British cruiserweight champ Tony Bellew said yesterday: “RIP to one of the greatest human beings to ever put on boxing gloves. This man was truly ­amazing!”And in a fitting tribute to the icon, ring king Mike Tyson added: “His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten.”George with fellow champs Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali in 1989Credit: PAAll all bar eight of the champ’s 76 wins ended in a knockoutCredit: Rex More

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      in Soccer

      Jadon Sancho has matured at Chelsea but shock return to Man Utd and new role under Ruben Amorim could save his career

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      JADON SANCHO’s former coach believes the struggling winger could still be a success at Old Trafford.The 24-year-old wide man, who is currently on loan at Chelsea from Manchester United, was hauled off against Arsenal after an indifferent display.Jadon Sancho’s struggles continued the Emirates against ArsenalCredit: GettySancho was replaced in the 76th minute against the Gunners following an ineffectual performanceCredit: ReutersNow, Sancho is at a career crossroad with his future up in the airCredit: GettySancho’s form at Chelsea has tailed off this seasonThe Blues have an obligation to buy Sancho for around £25million, should they finish above 15th in the Premier League.However, recent reports suggest Sancho could find himself back at Old Trafford, if Chelsea pay a ‘penalty fee’ to back out of the deal.This season, after starting the campaign off well, he has managed just two goals in 28 games.Premier League player development lead coach Dan Micciche worked with Sancho at U15 and U16 level for England.He believes a return to Man Utd, who paid Borussia Dortmund £73million for his services in 2021, could benefit Sancho and get him out of his recent slump.Coach Ruben Amorim is desperate to find an option to play as a left-sided No10 in his preferred 3-4-3 formation, with Alejandro Garnacho struggling to get to grips with the position.But, in Sancho, the Portuguese boss could have someone suited to play the role.Micciche told SunSport: “Jadon would have to play as a left-sided No10, I couldn’t see him play as a wing-back.”Can he play there? Yeah, absolutely. I think he could play for Ruben Amorim in his system.”It might actually suit him more – in terms of freeing him up. “He wouldn’t be hugging the touchline as much, he would in middle of the pitch more and would have more options when he gets the ball.”Jadon Sancho throws corner flag during Chelsea’s celebration at Tottenham Sancho is at a career crossroads. After showing some early promise at Stamford Bridge, his Chelsea loan has since turned sour.The latest example of stalling came in his performance against Arsenal on Sunday, where he was hauled off after 76 minutes following an ineffectual performance.Should he sign for Chelsea in the summer, his game time could be further limited under boss Enzo Maresca as competition for places will be even more intense.Chelsea will welcome Brazil star Willian Estevao to Stamford Bridge in the summer, having signed him a year ago for £45m from Palmeiras.However, Micciche believes Sancho’s matured under the Italian manager.He said: “I’ve been to a few Chelsea games this season and Jadon has done some wonderful things in those games.”The way they play, he’s often left in one on one situations. “The way the game is going now, it can be hard for those types of players because they get doubled up on a lot.”The expectation on him is so high. When he gets the ball, we’re expecting a bit of magic.”I actually think he’s matured. When he was younger, he would be trying to beat the full-back and dribble his way through situation whenever he got the ball.”In Maresca’s system he plays with his teammates a lot more. I think what makes wingers more effective is the runs ahead of him because that unbalances the full-back.Sancho was ineffectual against ArsenalMan Utd paid £73m to sign Sancho in 2021 from Borussia DortmundCredit: AlamyChelsea have an obligation to buy Sancho for around £25m in the summerCredit: RexHowever, recent reports suggest Chelsea could pay a penalty clause and send him back to Old TraffordCredit: Rex”Whereas when you get the ball and those forward runs aren’t made, and you are left one against one, opposition will double up.”Then, you’ve got two choices – try to beat two players or pass the ball.”I think Sancho might have had less ‘wow’ moments, but he’s played for the team a lot and showed maturity.”During his time at club level, Sancho’s professionalism has sometimes been questioned.At Borussia Dortmund, he was dropped for an important Champions League match against Barcelona after skipping a team meeting in the build-up.While at Manchester United, Sancho was banished to the reserves by former manager Erik ten Hag for claiming the manager lied about his exclusion from the squad in a match against Arsenal.Micciche believes Sancho is misunderstood and is a good person, at heart.He said: “What we’re talking about is different personalities.”There’s one thing about having a different type of personality, then there’s another thing of not being a very nice person.”Jadon is a good person. What we have to remember is players are all very different.Sancho earned a reputation as one of football’s most talented youngsters at Borussia DortmundCredit: AP:Associated PressDan Micciche believes Sancho is misunderstoodCredit: Getty Images – Getty”I always think the hardest players to coach are wingers. It’s very easy to point the finger at them and how they don’t track back.”But, if you look at the players the current generation looked up to – it’s the likes of Ronaldinho and Neymar, flamboyant players and personalities.”I think there’s a generalisation that players who have lots of flair are bad characters. It’s just their personality. They don’t do it deliberately. “They are a bit different, to even how they dress, or sticking to rules, but as long as it doesn’t get out of control you have to accept they’re a bit different.”They’re just creative individuals and think and act a bit differently, but that’s what makes them special. If you take out their individuality, then the game becomes very boring.”Micciche believes Sancho needs to add another string to his bow and continue his development.He divulged: “He’ll be judged on his goals and assists, so he’ll need to improve on those.”He also needs to develop his game and find different ways to be effective on the pitch.”That could be becoming a free-kick specialist. If he wanted to copy his idol, Ronaldinho who could score from set-pieces, then that would add another string to his bow.”Say a free-kick does come off during a game, then that would also give him the confidence to try something different during a match that he might not have tried if he hadn’t scored that free-kick.”There’s always things players can do to add to their game to solve different problems.”We know Jadon’s a good player, otherwise teams wouldn’t double up on him. Now, he has to overcome that.”Sancho needs to overcome his hurdles by working hard in trainingCredit: RexMicciche believes Sancho can get a smile back into his game if he adds a new skill to his gameCredit: AFPMicciche suggested Sancho became a free-kick specialistCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      in Soccer

      Becoming Match of the Day host was like finding out I was PREGNANT, says Kelly Cates as she reveals how she landed job

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      WHEN Kelly Cates was told she and Gabby Logan would become the first female Match Of The Day hosts in the show’s 60-year history, she wanted to shout it from the rooftops. But unfortunately for the new presenter, she was ordered by BBC bosses to keep quiet about her new role — a scenario which felt ­familiar to the mum of two. Kelly Cates wanted to shout with joy after making history as one of Match Of The Day’s first female hosts – but the BBC told her she’d need to keep it quietCredit: RexThe appointment of Kelly, who is the daughter of Celtic, Liverpool and Scotland great Kenny Dalglish, above, was widely welcomed by the football worldCredit: AlamyKelly will be joining Mark ‘Chappers’ Chapman and Gaby Roslin as the lead MOTD presenter teamCredit: PABecause, for Kelly, sitting on the enormous secret felt just like ­hiding a pregnancy. Speaking in depth for the first time about taking over from Gary Lineker next season, Kelly, 49, said: “I’m not good at secrets — it killed me! Genuinely, once the news was announced I could have slept for two days. “I found the stress of ­keeping it a secret so hard and even though it is a nice secret, it was a little bit like the early stages of pregnancy where you feel terrible that you can’t tell anybody. “It was awful lying to genuinely good friends. I hated it.” READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSKelly will be part of a new three-strong presenting team, alongside Gabby and Mark Chapman, both 51. And she is thrilled she can now share how she managed to land the biggest job in British sports broadcasting. An industry veteran of nearly 30 years, Kelly had been working for the BBC as part of 5 Live’s football coverage, as well as anchoring live games for Sky Sports, when she was called into a meeting by Beeb executives. ‘Ego-filled world’ It had been rumoured for some time that new BBC Director of Sport boss Alex Kay-Jelski wanted to shake up Match Of The Day, the world’s longest-running football highlights show. Most read in FootballBut Kelly had not bargained for being a part of his plans. Speaking on the White Wine Question Time podcast, she explains: “I had the conversation early on but in very vague terms. ‘Won’t be able to look him in the eye’ – Christine Lampard and MOTD’s Kelly Cates in hysterics over ‘Frank’s hot sauce’“I was already doing radio for the BBC, already working on 5 Live so it was natural for me to have meetings when a new boss came in, and everything was being changed so that was quite natural. “But in the course of one of those meetings it was, ‘Well, we’re rethinking how we’re going to do Match Of The Day and would you be interested to be in the mix?’ Inside I couldn’t wait for the meeting to end so I could shout ‘Oh my God! This is incredible’Kelly Cates“And I was trying really hard to keep a ‘not bothered’ face, saying, ‘Yeah, that would be great’. “But inside I couldn’t wait for the meeting to end so I could shout ‘Oh my God! This is incredible’.” Kelly added: “And they were brilliant around the whole thing — trying to balance the two and the fact I can keep doing live football, which I think is really important because if you don’t do that you forget why you’re covering it, you forget about those big moments and what it is like.” It was only when Kelly’s new gig was officially unveiled in January that the enormity began to sink in. She added: “Suddenly friends of mine who don’t even like football were phoning me saying, ‘Oh my God, this is so exciting — congratulations’. I didn’t even think it would be on their radar. “They’re not in that sports world and then you realise something like Match Of The Day goes past all of that. It’s in people’s lives — it’s in the background.” The appointment of Kelly, who is the daughter of Celtic, Liverpool and Scotland great Kenny Dalglish, along with Gabby and Mark — aka Chappers — was widely welcomed by the football world. All three are hugely respected figures within the industry and there was a general consensus they had done their time, working up the ranks and honing their craft over several decades. Kelly believes landing the gig came at the perfect time for all of the new line-up. She explains: “That was the big draw for the three of us. Kenny with wife Marina, Kelly and brother Paul in 1980Credit: Getty“To be in the mix with Chappers and Gabby, who I really like as people, first of all, but really admire as broadcasters as well . . . it’s just a really lovely group to be in. “People have this perception that it is a massive ego-filled world, and it is at times and you need a certain sort of ego to feel like you can do the job because you need a certain amount of confidence. “But you don’t want to be in a position where we’re all trying to scramble over each other. “The fact we’re all the same age, we’re at the same stage of our careers, we’ve all got other things outside of Match Of The Day that we’re all passionate about and really invested in, it means none of us are treading on each other and preying on each other’s insecurities. “We’re all really comfortable about who we are and where we are in our careers, so it really works for all of us. “We’re all at a stage in our lives as well where we want to spend time with our families. “We have kids of different ages and different things going on in our home lives as well. “It’s really nice to be able to keep all that in the mix.” Kelly’s grounding in sports broadcasting came in the early days of Sky Sports News, a rolling news channel launched in 2010. ‘Kicked up a fuss’ The female-heavy list of anchors, including Kirsty Gallacher, who is godmother to one of Kelly’s daughters, became synonymous with the channel. However, the presenters were often sexualised by viewers and when that attitude seeped into the brand marketing, Kelly was the one who put a stop to it. Don’t start undermining us from inside the organisation because we can take it from other people — we’re used to that — but we thought you had our backs here, that’s the way it should beKelly on sexualisation of female sports presentersThe star has always taken her position as a role model for women in sport seriously. She explained: “It was seen as ‘fruit on the barrow’, where you would put your juiciest fruit on the barrow — there was that attitude to it. “But we didn’t feel like that from the inside. That was very much an external thing. “Then I remember there was an ad put out with four female Sky Sports News presenters on, saying ‘There’s always something worth watching on Sky Sports News’. “I remember it happened on the Sunday and I think by the Tuesday or Wednesday I’d gone into the office and said, ‘No. I get that this comes from the outside but don’t do that to us from the inside’. “Don’t start undermining us from inside the organisation because we can take it from other people — we’re used to that — but we thought you had our backs here, that’s the way it should be’.” She added: “The reaction was they didn’t think I would be the person who came in and kicked up a fuss. “I was like, ‘That says something. If you think I’m easy-going and it upset me then you should probably read something into that’.” Kelly took an extended break from sports broadcasting to concentrate on bringing up her children. She returned to work in 2013 at Radio 5 Live where she hosted the station’s famous 606 football phone-in on Sundays alongside ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright. She later returned to Sky Sports to anchor live games and previously made history as the first female presenter on talkSPORT. Glasgow-born Kelly, whose brother Paul was a professional footballer for Newcastle, is now separated from Tom Cates, the father of her two daughters. Like most working mums, Kelly admits taking care of her career and their teenage daughters can be challenging. She added: “It’s juggling lots of diaries, and I’ve got a really good relationship with my ex-husband. “He’s great with the girls in terms of being flexible because we have to be around my job. “You just make it work. I’m really lucky — I have a great job. “People do this and work three jobs and are stressed about putting food on the table and heating the house. “Although it’s tricky to do everything and all problems are relative, it’s manageable.” READ MORE SUN STORIESSaturday nights are about to get a whole lot busier for Kelly. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.Kelly will be one of the team taking over when Gary Lineker leaves MOTD at the end of the current seasonCredit: BBC More

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      in Soccer

      Inside the rise of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly as Arsenal pal reveals what England wonderkids are really like

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      WHILE Prem stars Myles Lewis-Skelly and Levi Colwill are ready to do battle for England, two old team-mates are fighting the drop to League Two.Crawley midfielder Bradley Ibrahim, 20, was captain of the Arsenal team which got to the FA Youth Cup final two years ago and featured Lewis-Skelly as well as Ethan Nwaneri.Crawley ace Bradley Ibrahim played with Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri at ArsenalArsenal ace Myles Lewis-Skelly is eyeing an England debutCredit: GettyEthan Nwaneri has enjoyed quite the breakout season with ArsenalCredit: EPAMeanwhile, Burton midfielder Charlie Webster, 21, came through the ranks at Chelsea with 22-year-old Colwill and worked with England boss Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge.Ibrahim, on loan from German club Hertha Berlin, believes this England call-up for Lewis-Skelly, 18, will be the first of many.The pair grew up together at Arsenal, and Ibrahim told SunSport: “I spoke to Myles on Friday after his selection was announced while on the way to Cambridge. He was buzzing.”Ibrahim says Lewis-Skelly’s aggression, strength, fearlessness, self-confidence and humility drove him to the top.Read More on ArsenalHe said: “Myles was always brave — he’ll never play with fear. No matter where he is or who he’s against, Myles has a belief in himself that he’s one of the best and is going to be the best.”But Ibrahim insists off the field the teenager is humble because of his family roots.He recalled how the Arsenal star’s mum, Marcia, always kept him on the straight and narrow. He said: “His progress has been helped by having great parents.“His mum is a strong character and always kept him well disciplined.“He was never one to go out. His mum sometimes didn’t let him.Most read in SportJoin SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates“He’s well-spoken and talks to everyone exactly the same — whether it’s the kitchen staff, cleaners or manager. He’s so humble.”Lewis-Skelly, who could make his senior debut on Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Albania, only made his Prem bow in September at Manchester City. He was red-carded against Wolves and West Ham this season.’It’s like Messi… there I said it’ – Pundits rave about Arsenal ace Nwaneri as Shearer dubs him ‘potential superstar’And Gunners boss Mikel Arteta had to sub him after 35 minutes at PSV Eindhoven this month to safeguard him after the teenager picked up an early booking. Although the dismissal against Wolves was rescinded, there have been concerns raised about his aggression.But Ibrahim said: “If you take a bit of his aggression away, you take a big thing out of his game.“If he was an older player, people wouldn’t talk about it but because he’s young, people spin it negatively. Even in training and mini-games he’d take it seriously.”He’s well-spoken and talks to everyone exactly the same — whether it’s the kitchen staff, cleaners or manager. He’s so humble.Bradley Ibrahim on Myles Lewis-SkellyIbrahim’s favourite memory of his pal was his last-gasp extra-time winner in the FA Youth Cup semi-final against Manchester City in 2023.However, the Gunners lost 5-1 to West Ham in the final.Part of that team was Nwaneri, 18 today, who incredibly broke into the Under-18s side at 14.The Arsenal whizkid has already clocked up 21 top-flight appearances since making his debut two-and-a-half years ago, aged 15 years and 181 days, the youngest in Prem history.Ibrahim, whose third-from-bottom Crawley side host Bristol Rovers on Friday, said: “It’s not like he’s overhyped. He’s unbelievable and one of the best I’ve played with.”Ibrahim now turns out for Crawley in League OneCredit: RexHe has been shining for Crawley in a tough seasonWebster signed for Burton in the summer after 12 years at Chelsea.The midfielder first joined the Blues at Under-10 level and says he will be forever grateful for Tuchel naming him on the bench for a Carabao Cup game against Brentford in December 2021 when he was 17.He said: “Tuchel will be unbelievable for England. He’s intense in terms of how he focuses on key details, he never misses anything.”READ MORE SUN STORIESCentre-back Colwill, now a first-team regular, was a team-mate of Webster for the Blues’ youth teams.Webster, whose Brewers side are not in action due to international call-ups, added: “Every player’s journey is different but he has been given his chance and taken it. That’s all down to him. He’s a brilliant footballer.” More

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      in Soccer

      Model pupil Ethan Nwaneri handed in HOMEWORK on morning after Arsenal debut and scored 98 per cent on maths test

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      ETHAN NWANERI is not one for unnecessary fuss or over-the-top celebrations.Less than 24 hours after becoming the Prem’s youngest player – making his Arsenal debut on Sunday September 18, 2022 aged 15 years and 181 days off the bench at Brentford – he was handing in GCSE English homework at St John’s Senior School in Enfield.Arsenal wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri continues to focus on schoolCredit: GettyArsenal’s Nwaneri scored 98 per cent in a maths’ test for his school entrance examsCredit: Jamie McPhilimeyNwaneri handed in GCSE English homework right after his historic Arsenal debutCredit: Jamie McPhilimeyNwaneri spent time diligently studying in hotel rooms alongside Myles Lewis-SkellyCredit: GettyTeacher Elle Bewley revealed: “I’m not joking, he just walked into school on Monday, gave me his homework, sat down and got on with it. No discussion, no distraction. Nothing.”So, it is no surprise that Nwaneri will not be celebrating his 18th birthday on Friday like any normal teenager would. Instead, he is part of Lee Carsley’s England Under-21 camp taking on France in Lorient.The Hale End wonderboy – already with eight goals across all competitions in his breakthrough season under boss Mikel Arteta – is now technically a man.This landmark day also means he can finally get changed in the same dressing room as Arsenal’s seniors at the Emirates and their London Colney training base – safeguarding restrictions prevented him from doing so until now.Read More on ArsenalBut those that know Nwaneri best will tell you he has been a wise old head on young shoulders for some time, such is his eye-catching maturity and humble personality.It is assumed he gets that from his father, a guiding figure in his life on and off the pitch so far.At the Under-17 European Championships in Hungary back in May 2023, Nwaneri spent time diligently studying in hotel rooms – alongside pal and fellow academy grad Myles Lewis-Skelly – for his GCSE exams as his father had warned that education comes before football.At St John’s, he would ask teachers for extra revision papers to take home. For a GCSE English spoken language project, he avoided basing it on football, instead researching and presenting it on conspiracy theories.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from The EmiratesHis speciality was mathematics, scoring 98 per cent in his school entrance exams. His headteacher Alexander Tardios commented: “He is a very academic boy. He could have easily ended up at King’s College or UCL.”Nwaneri would order Ubers from London Colney back to his school to ensure he did not miss any tests.Ethan Nwaneri’s rise at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta’s guiseAnd on days off, Nwaneri would have childhood friend Lewis-Skelly – who lived nearby – cycle over so they could get in some extra training.Even now, as a first-team regular, he has remained down-to-earth. After training, he is often seen waiting in the car park to be picked up while his team-mates drive off in luxury sports cars.Nwaneri was first introduced to the Arsenal fans as an eight-year-old in May 2015 when the Under-9s were paraded around the pitch at half-time of a 4-1 Premier League victory over West Brom.I’m not joking, he just walked into school on Monday, gave me his homework, sat down and got on with it. No discussion, no distraction. Nothing.Nwaneri’s teacher, after his Arsenal debutFour-and-a-half years later, a 12-year-old Nwaneri was on the radar of newly-appointed manager Arteta. The Spaniard asked academy coach Dan Micciche for videos of his progress.Soon, Nwaneri was training with boys much his senior, scoring on his Arsenal Under-18s debut aged 14 having played for the Under-14s aged 12.He was also encouraged to play in numerous positions to enhance his development, toughen him up: No10, a left-sided No8, a centre-forward and winger.’Continues to develop’Ex-Arsenal midfielder Steve Morrow was the Gunners’ head of youth development when Nwaneri arrived at Hale End after a brief stint in Chelsea’s youth set-up.Morrow told SunSport: “We always had that philosophy that the players needed to be at a level where they were being more challenged than their actual age group.“The traits that he had from 11 and 12 years old, you still see. That balance, that drop of the shoulder, that power, that acceleration. How he is so direct as well.“It’s incredible how all those super-strengths that he had have continued to develop.Arsenal ratings vs ChelseaARSENAL collected three points at the Emirates with a comfortable display as they fight to keep their fading title hopes alive.“Going down to Hale End and watching him on a Sunday, he was scoring goals for fun every week with pure skill and intelligence and technique, not just physical qualities.“He didn’t always play wide, he often played centrally. That really helped his development because it gave him spacial awareness of what was going on around him.Seizing his chance“It is quite rare for young players to be such good decision-makers. He had it early and you can see it today. Ethan can go as far as he wishes.“Sometimes you see players that you think have similar levels of talent but it’s always the ones that have the right attitude, character and focus, the ones who are brave and able to deal with disappointments, who make it.”At the end of his scholarship year in the summer of 2023, he was linked with a move back to Chelsea, with Manchester United and Manchester City also sniffing around, but eventually committed to the club with his first senior contract signed in March 2024.It has paid off, seizing his chance with Bukayo Saka out for three months this term following hamstring surgery in December, shining both in the Prem and the Champions League so far.It is quite rare for young players to be such good decision-makers. He had it early and you can see it today. Ethan can go as far as he wishes.Steve MorrowCurrent Under-18s coach Adam Birchall said: “We treated him like any other person. And the parents were outstanding in understanding the importance of that.“That’s such a key thing, because it really helped in values — in everything, as people.READ MORE SUN STORIES“What I’ve seen throughout is [Nwaneri’s] application to be the best he can be, that mentality, just being relentless.“That’s what being a Strong Young Gunner is all about — that real strength as a person and understanding yourself to be able to go into that environment.” More

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      in Boxing

      ‘Like I was made in a lab’ – How Moses Itauma became ‘Project Thanos’ with background from Slovak mountains and Nigeria

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      MOSES ITAUMA is a super-freak of a fighter built in a fantasy lab somewhere between the icy Slovak mountains and scorching Africa.The 20-year-old heavyweight prodigy, with a Nigerian father, was born in his mum’s Kezmarok home but raised in Chatham, Kent.Moses Itauma has credited his Nigerian father and Slovakian mother with inspiring him to successCredit: GettyItauma revealed his uncle woke him up at 2am to go to the world’s largest ice bathCredit: GettyItauma’s coach has likened him to Avengers character ThanosLike Itauma, former world champion Anthony Joshua has talked extensively about his Nigerian heritageCredit: GettyThe union between the rugged central-European region – where freezing dips in the Poprad river instill an ice-cold will – and the West-African hotbed of professional warriors like Anthony Joshua, has created the 6ft 3in southpaw superstar.And the code of ultra-discipline his military-focused maternal uncles have taught him has swirled with his father’s fearsome genepool to create a boxing force comparable with Marvel comic super-villain Thanos.When SunSport asks Itauma if the unlikely blend of cultures has created a monster, he tells us: “Yes. 100 per cent.“You probably wouldn’t think of putting those two nations together but I am very proud of my heritage.READ MORE BOXING NEWS“I have a military-like discipline from my mother’s side and I am just a genetic freak from my dad’s side.“It is like I was made in a lab and this was all planned: Project Itauma.“My old nutritionist actually used to call me ‘Project Thanos’, the Marvel character.”When SunSport drops our guard and reveals our age by admitting we have only heard of Thanos via our schoolboy sons, we are firmly informed: “He’s a big powerful purple guy who fights the Avengers.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“He is the villain in the film but, at the same time, he is very powerful and it takes all of the Avengers – who are all individually very powerful – to come together to beat Thanos.”Back on planet Earth, Itauma explains how bringing together two countries separated by 3,000 miles and the Mediterranean Sea has helped British boxing spawn a new superpower who can carry the hopes of the nation on his shoulders, after Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have retired.Moses Itauma ‘could beat’ Mike Tyson’s youngest heavyweight champ record after impressive first round KO of Demsey McKeanHe explained: “Being born in Slovakia and living there for a couple of years, to a Nigerian father, I have that little brag of being a weird mix of heritage.“But I have learned a lot from everyone, if you ever go into my bedroom or my car, everything is spotlessly clean and I know where everything is.“I went to go and work with my uncle in Switzerland for a while and I remember his apartment there being so spotlessly clean and he knew where absolutely everything was and everything had its place.“I remember him telling me that it makes your life so much easier if you know where all the important things are. That’s just one aspect.Itauma is unbeaten with nine of his eleven victories coming via knockoutCredit: GettyIn his last fight, Itauma demolished the highly-rated Demsey McKean in one roundCredit: Getty“Another is, I have a cousin who I went running with in Slovakia, at high altitude, and he is not a boxer or an athlete, he does not run, he’s chubby. But he outran me.“And he was telling me ‘we never quit, we never lose’.“His heart must have been doing cartwheels inside his body but that mentality is nice to see and know it is part of me.”It would be easy to assume that Itauma’s giant dad, who also sired light-heavyweight Karol and amateur footballer-turned-boxer Samuel, might be the sole source of the family’s fighting credentials.But Itauma reveals that the fearless Slovak side of his DNA has played a huge part in his rapid and ruthless rise to world title prominence among so many other Nigerian fighters.He said: “My mum’s maiden surname was Blaschek.“Which is quite well known, where we are from, for the men loving fighting and – not being crazy – but doing crazy things like running up mountains, doing 1000 press-ups and running back down again. They are known for being disciplined.“They are not crazy but they are so disciplined that people might think they are odd.“I remember one Christmas day my uncle saw on the news that there had been the world’s biggest ice bath somewhere and then, at 2am, he got me and my brother down to the lake to jump in for five minutes.“He’s not a complete nutter, just a very disciplined man.“I went to live and work with him for a little while in Switzerland, he might still be up drinking at 2am but then he was up at 4am, doing his press-ups and pull-ups, and taking a cold shower. I was only waking up at 4:30am and he was ready to go.Itauma revealed his family instilled a high level of discipline in him from a young ageCredit: Instagram / m.itaumaThe boxer has trained in extreme conditionsCredit: Instagram / m.itaumaItauma in Zdiar, Slovakia in 2019Credit: Instagram / m.itauma“And then, on my dad’s side, everyone knows about African culture and them being stupidly strong.“Just look at the boxing landscape now, Lawrence Okolie, Richard Riakporhe, Anthony Joshua, Joe Joyce, Daniel Dubois and Deontay Wilder, all of Nigerian heritage.“And in the UFC you have guys like Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman, the proof is in the pudding.”The buzz around Itauma has been shaking gym walls for five years, when aged just 15 he started arriving to spar the likes of Joyce and Okolie while still in his school uniform.There has been a concern that the latest British boxing ace was being overhyped and – like Dubois – was destined for a fall.But the one-round demolition of respected Demsey McKean in December opened the floodgates for fanfare and outrageous predictions that we have a mutant mix of Mike Tyson and Oleksandr Usyk on our lucky hands – and Itauma isn’t interested in dampening those flames.“Anything outside of the boxing ring is not really my expertise,” he told us at a Mayfair lunch arranged by manager Francis Warren.“When I get asked questions, I try to articulate the answers as best I can, but it’s not my job, it’s my job to fight. It doesn’t matter how I answer these questions, as long as I am respectful. It’s not my job to talk.“I had a couple of problems going into that fight and my coach even thought about pulling me out.“Dempsey was a big test for me but my coach wondered if it was worth potentially losing.“But I knew I could breeze into the fight, not get hit, and potentially knock him out early and that’s the only reason that the fight happened.“Before the fight, I said to myself ‘if I am the person that I think I am, then I should breeze through Dempsey’. And I did.READ MORE SUN STORIES“So I am the person I think I am.“I don’t need to be overhyped.”Itauma sat down to chat to SunSportCredit: The Sun More

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      in Soccer

      Ex-Juventus star Han Kwang-Song mysteriously disappeared for three years, thanks to North Korea’s nuclear bomb tests

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      HAN Kwang-Song was a teenage sensation courted by Liverpool and Manchester City.In only his second senior game in European football, Han beat former England goalkeeper Joe Hart to become the first North Korean to score in Serie A.He spent a brief spell with JuventusCredit: AlamyHan Kwang-Song currently plays for DPRK Premier League club April 25Credit: GettyBarely two years later the striker joined Italian giants Juventus.But a mysterious chain of events was already in motion that would wreck Han’s promising career and deliver him back him to obscurity.Han, who once had the world at his feet, finds himself a virtual prisoner of global politics.He is back in North Korea and playing for army team April 25 in the domestic league, leaving the pariah state only for national team games.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut even that is better than being stranded abroad for three years by the Covid-19 pandemic and being forced to train on his own at an embassy, with his promising career in ruins.It was a trip to Barcelona that set Han on the road to short-lived stardom.North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un loves using sport as a political tool – just like his dad Kim Jong-Il, who once claimed to have hit a 38 under-par 34, including several holes in one, in his first ever round of golf.At the Pyongyang International Football School, the motto is said to be: “Better than Messi.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThe regime was looking for an academy in Europe to train their best young footballers and chose Fundacion Marcet in Barcelona.Coaches travelled to Pyongyang and selected 18 players, including Han, to go to Catalonia in the autumn of 2013.Football icons’ strange hobbiesJose Ignacio Marcet, president of the academy and a former Barca and Real Madrid player, explained how the young visitors took time to adapt.Marcet said: “They couldn’t take losing. They understood that the norm was to win.“Because of this we had to teach them that losing and making errors was vital in the learning process and it’s one of the keys to success.“Week by week they began to change their mentality.“They became more relaxed and quickly started to adapt to the dynamics of Spanish culture.“The players that left were completely different to ones they were when they arrived.“I think we managed to leave a mark on a country that doesn’t easily take in foreign influence”.Some of those youngsters made a mark on the global football stage less than a year later.Han was previously scouted by Man City and LiverpoolCredit: GettyNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-unCredit: ReutersDeranged dictator Kim Jong-un has been ramping up weapons testsCredit: AFPHan scored the equaliser as North Korea’s under-16s came from behind to beat South Korea 2-1 in the final of the Under-17 Asia Cup in September 2014.He continued his European football education at an academy in Perugia as part of a collaboration between the North Korean government and agency Italian Soccer Management, but could not officially play because of Fifa rules about the transfer of minors.Nevertheless City and Liverpool were among those to show interest in his progress, with Reds chief scout Barry Hunter reportedly travelling to meet the player and his representatives.In 2016, Han was close to joining Fiorentina with compatriot Choe Syong-Hok, who had scored the winner in that Asia Cup final.But instead he went on trial at Cagliari in February 2017 and was so impressive for the youth teams that by April he was making his senior debut against Palermo.And in Cagliari’s next match, at home to Torino, he made history after coming on as an 81st-minute substitute.With his team trailing 1-3, Han beat Hart in the Torino goal. It was particularly big news because one of Italy’s biggest football embarrassments, at the 1966 World Cup of 1966, was a defeat by North Korea.Han said: “I feel at home here. I’m very happy and I would like to thank the manager, my team-mates and the club.”Yet the political issues that would eventually send Han into football exile had already surfaced.International team-mate Choe’s time at Fiorentina had ended after four months because it was found that his salary was being funnelled back to the North Korean authorities.Similar concerns were raised about Han’s wages, especially after he signed a five-year professional contract with Cagliari in June 2017.But for now he was free to continue his promising career – albeit with some interference from back home.Han went on loan to Serie B side Perugia where his goals had to do the talking for him – because the North Korean regime blocked an interview on Italian television.Perugia president Massimiliano Santopadre said: “A call from a shadow ministry figure arrived and it blocked everything.“Negotiating, like on the transfer market, was impossible, too, because Pyongyang want to talk only and exclusively with Han.”The situation with their government has become even more rigid and their footballers have been prohibited from appearing on TV, otherwise they would have repatriated him. Han is scared.”Whatever his fears, the striker kept doing well and after two seasons at Perugia, he went on another loan, this time to Juventus’ Under-23 side and with an obligation to buy at the end of the two-year deal.Han, in a written post via the ISM International Scouting Center, said: “It has been a long way but finally I can say my dream came true [after] scoring my first goal in the Serie A and becoming the first North Korean to wear such an important shirt as Juventus’.”Juventus called Han up to the bench of the first team in October 2019 and on January 2 202,0 they bought him from Cagliari for around £3m.But only six days later, the 21-year-old was sold on for twice the price to Qatari side Al-Duhail.What was going on? Well, let’s rewind to the end of 2017, the year Han arrived in Cagliari.In June of that year, Han had made his senior debut for North Korea in a friendly against Qatar.But in September, his country carried out its sixth nuclear test, prompting the United Nations Security Council to announce further sanctions.In November, North Korea upped the ante still further by launching an intercontinental ballistic missile.So in December, the UN announced that all North Koreans working and “generating foreign export earnings that the DPRK…uses to support its prohibited nuclear ballistic programs” would have to be sent home by December 22 2019.Given the stipulations of Resolution 2397,  it remains unclear how Cagliari, Juventus and Al-Duhail got away with selling and buying Han in January 2020.And only Han knows what was going on in his head, but on the pitch he scored five goals in 16 appearances as Al-Duhail won the Qatar Stars League and finished runners up in the Cup.But Han’s appearance as a substitute in the final game of the 2019/20 season, on August 20, would be the last time that the wider world saw him for more than three years.Official documents and the odd media report are all there is to fill in the blanks.UN records show that Han’s contract with Al-Duhail was terminated by early 2021, in compliance with the prohibition on employing North Koreans.Yet Han could not even go home because his homeland had closed its borders completely in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.There is allegedly evidence that he flew from Doha to Rome on January 26. And then the trail goes cold and relies on hearsay for nearly three years.An article in China quoted a former North Korean international player named An Yingxue as saying: “Han Guang-shong was trapped in the North Korean Embassy in China due to the pandemic and trained alone for about two to three years.“It is a pity that Han Guang-shong could not return to the North Korean football team to participate in the game earlier during his time in China.”But the first time anyone in the outside world knew for sure what Han was doing and where, was when North Korea finally resumed competitive football in September 2023 after a gap of nearly four years.Han played the first half of a 1-0 defeat in Syria in the opening game of the second round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.In early 2024, Japanese media reported that Han was back in North Korea and playing for the April 25 Sports Club.The team’s name derives from the date that Kim Il-Sung, grandfather of Kim Jong-Il, established the predecessor of the Korean People’s Army in order to fight the Japanese occupiers.Multi-sports institution April 25 belongs to the Ministry of People’s Armed Forces and all its players are considered army officers.Little is known now about the life and career of footballer/soldier Han, who is still only 25.His last international appearance was on November 19 last year in a 1-0 home defeat by Turkmenistan that left North Korea rock bottom of their group in the third round of World Cup qualifying.The game, like earlier “home” matches, was staged in Laos, because of what the regime described as “security concerns”.READ MORE SUN STORIESNorth Korea finally re-opened to limited numbers of tourists last month after a gap of more than five years.But the door seems to have slammed shut on Han’s dreams of becoming a global football star. More