
Al Hilal showed Saudi league not just about money, says Koulibaly
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Arab News
33 minutes ago
- Arab News
Two-time EuroLeague champion Dzanan Musa signs for Dubai Basketball from Real Madrid
DUBAI: Dzanan Musa, one of Europe's most sought-after shooting guards, joins Dubai Basketball on a three-year deal starting with the 2025-26 season. The two-time EuroLeague champion will join the Dubai side directly from a title-winning campaign with one of the world's most celebrated teams, Real Madrid. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The 26-year-old Bosnian has created a name for himself with a brief stint in the NBA, followed by his immediate ascent in the EuroLeague. Speaking on his transfer to Dubai that will see him on the team until 2028, Musa commented: 'Joining Dubai Basketball is an incredible opportunity and a challenge I'm fully prepared to take on. Coming off a championship season in Spain, I feel confident in what I can bring to the court, and I'm excited to help this team create history in both the EuroLeague and ABA League. 'It's been an amazing journey to reach this stage of my career. Now being here in Dubai, ready to write a new chapter, it's truly special,' he added. 'I'm looking forward to supporting the growing basketball community here, connecting with our fans, and making them proud. I'm committed to doing whatever it takes to help this team grow and leave a lasting legacy in this city.' Before returning to Europe, Musa spent two seasons in the NBA with the Brooklyn Nets, who selected him 29th overall in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft. During his time in the US, he appeared in 49 NBA games, gaining playing time alongside All-Star teammates, including NBA stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Musa also excelled in the NBA G League, where he averaged 19.5 points per game with the Long Island Nets, underlining his offensive potential. Musa made an immediate impact since his debut, which started with Slovenian side Cedevita Olimpija, where he made his first EuroLeague appearance at just 16 years old. Following his time in the US, Dzanan joined Spanish side Rio Breogan in 2021, where he was named the Spanish league's MVP for his standout season. The Bosnian was quickly scouted to join Spanish giants Real Madrid at 23 years old. He became a key figure in the team's 2022-23 EuroLeague title-winning run, contributing an average of 14.8 points and 2.7 assists per game, which led him to be selected in the All-EuroLeague First Team in his inaugural year at Madrid. Musa joins Dubai Basketball after wrapping up a successful domestic league campaign where he contributed a total of 466 points to clinch the Spanish side's 16th league title. Musa becomes the first signing ahead of what promises to be a historic season, not only for Dubai but for European basketball. Since the team's inception in the 2024-25 season, Dubai Basketball has consistently made headlines by reaching milestones, setting records, and paving the way for a new era in the sport. As the club prepares for its EuroLeague debut this season, head coach Jurica Golemac is assembling a roster capable of challenging the very best in Europe.


Asharq Al-Awsat
2 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Football Returns to War-torn Sudan as Elite Clubs Go Back Home
League football has returned to war-torn Sudan for the first time in more than two years with a one-month competition being organized for eight clubs to determine the country's champions. Sudan has been in the grip of conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, with more than 150,000 people killed and about 12 million uprooted, creating the largest displacement crisis in the world. Among them have been the country's biggest clubs Al Hilal and Al Merrikh, who between them have won all but four of the championships since the league was created in 1965, according to Reuters. Last season, the pair were invited to play in the league in Mauritania, on the other side of the continent, where they could remain active and moved their club structures to the West African country, where Al Hilal emerged as champions. But they are both back in Sudan to take part in a tournament to decide which clubs will compete in continental club competition for the 2025/26 season. Al Hilal were quarter-finalists in this year's African Champions League despite having to host their home games on neutral territory. They were also weekend winners against Al Merghani Kassala in the first round of the Sudanese Elite Championship, which is being played at Ad-Damer, some 430km from the capital Khartoum, which has been badly damaged by the civil war. Matches in the tournament are also being hosted in Atbara, which is 320km north of Khartoum. There will be seven rounds of fixtures, and Al Merrikh also got off to a winning start over the weekend by beating Ahly Madani 1-0. Their derby against Al Hilal is set for the last day of competition on 22 July. The other clubs competing are Zamalek, Umm Rawaba, Al Amal Atbara, Hay Al Wadi Nyala and Merrikh Al Abyad, who will all each play each other once. Sudan's national team, who will compete in the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco at the end of the year and are also chasing a first-ever World Cup appearance next year, have not played a home match since March 2023.


Al Arabiya
4 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Ricky Hatton, 46, To Make Boxing Comeback In Dubai
Ricky Hatton, the 46-year-old former two-weight world champion, will return to the ring to fight in the United Arab Emirates on December 2, 13 years after he retired. The Manchester native, who turns 47 in October, will face Eisa Al Dah in Dubai, it has been announced. Hatton (45–3) has not fought since losing in his last comeback bout to Vyacheslav Senchenko in November 2012. 'Fight! Fight! Fight! It's official,' Hatton posted on X. He won world titles at welterweight and light-welterweight, with his other two losses coming against pound-for-pound greats Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. He is the latest former champion to announce a comeback long after retirement in a growing market for such events, with Pacquiao, Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr., and Julio César Chávez Jr. all making lucrative returns. Al Dah, also 46, has not fought since 2021 and only once since 2012. But he was adamant it will be action-packed. 'It will not be like the Mike Tyson–Jake Paul fight,' Al Dah said. 'It will be a true fight. True action, and I will do my best.' Hatton became a British sporting hero after winning epic battles against Kostya Tszyu, José Luis Castillo, and Paulie Malignaggi. They earned him clashes with Mayweather and Pacquiao – but both ended in knockout defeats. He retired for the first time after his brutal second-round knockout defeat against Pacquiao in 2009 but returned more than three years later and fought Ukrainian Senchenko at the Manchester Arena. That fight also ended in defeat, with a ninth-round stoppage that left Hatton in tears. Since retiring, Hatton has trained other fighters in his Manchester gym. He said he hoped his fight would lead to more being staged in Dubai. 'There's a market for it,' he said, 'and I think it'll be a sensational evening.'