Tension reportedly increased at Enyimba on Monday after Sporting Director Daniel Eke arrived at the club’s training ground in Aba with officials identified as Rapid Response Squad (RRS) personnel.

The development reportedly disrupted the team’s training session as the club prepares for Wednesday’s Nigeria Premier Football League clash against Sporting Lagos.

An eyewitness told Sportsbeat.ng that Monday’s training was brought to an early end after a confrontation at the training ground. Some club officials were also reportedly removed from the facility during the incident.

The eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said the situation created tension among players, coaches and administrative staff.

The incident happened less than 24 hours after Enyimba suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Inter Lagos at the Enyimba Stadium.

The result left the nine-time NPFL champions without a point from their opening three league matches of the 2026/27 season.

According to the eyewitness, Eke’s arrival with the security personnel was connected to an ongoing disagreement within the club. However, the exact reason for the confrontation was not immediately clear.

There were also unconfirmed reports that some individuals were later taken to a police facility.

However, it was not immediately established whether any formal arrests were made.

Neither the Nigeria Police, the Rapid Response Squad nor Enyimba FC had issued an official statement explaining the incident as of the time of filing this report.

Enyimba Struggling On And Off The Pitch

Monday’s incident comes at a difficult time for Enyimba, who have struggled for results at the start of the new NPFL season.

The Aba-based club opened their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Niger Tornadoes before losing 2-0 away to Doma United.

They then suffered another home defeat on Sunday, losing 1-0 to Inter Lagos.

Ezekiel Moses scored the only goal of the match in the 18th minute with a header to give Inter Lagos their first league victory.

The three defeats have left Enyimba without a point and under increased pressure ahead of their next match.

Pressure Builds Ahead Of Sporting Lagos Clash

The reported training-ground confrontation has added to the concerns surrounding the club’s football administration.

Eke was appointed Sporting Director earlier in 2026 as part of efforts to strengthen Enyimba’s football structure, with responsibilities linked to sporting strategy, recruitment and football development.

The reported involvement of security personnel in Monday’s incident has now raised further questions about the situation within the club.

Enyimba are scheduled to host Sporting Lagos at the Enyimba Stadium on Wednesday in their next NPFL fixture.

Sporting Lagos will also be looking to bounce back after a 2-0 home defeat to Abia Warriors on Sunday.

For Enyimba, the match will provide an opportunity to fight for their first points of the season and shift attention back to football after a difficult start to the campaign.

With 15 major championships and 82 PGA Tour victories on his resume, Tiger Woods’ competitive prowess is already the stuff of legends. But that all-encompassing drive to win wasn’t just limited to recorded tournaments. As two-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning recently explained to GOLF’s Michael Bamberger, Woods’ burning desire to beat his opponents extended to pro-ams too.

Manning sat down to chat with Bamberger over Zoom to talk about the tournament he’s chaired for six years but which has existed for 34: the Smith Cole, which is held at Cherry Hills Country Club and attracts pro-member teams from clubs like Cypress Point, Seminole, Augusta National and more, who are then paired with Cherry Hills pro-member teams for a three-day competition.

Over the course of their conversation, the topic turned to Woods, whom Manning has played with a number of times over the last 15 years. His favorite pro-am story with the Big Cat, though, involved quite an impressive turnaround.

“I was playing with Tiger and Stevie was his caddie, and we get on the 13th hole at Bay Hill,” Manning began. “Tiger says, ‘All right, I’m 4 down to you. I’ll play you from here on in for 100 bucks.’

“I said, easy. I’m done. This thing’s over. I had a banker from the sponsor who was my caddie, that was just there to be in the group with Tiger. He knew nothing about golf. Stevie was reading all my putts.

“We get on the 13th green. I got a 20-foot birdie putt. I said, Stevie, what do you like? I think it’s going left. Deadpan. It’s going right? Deadpan. I’m gonna hit it straight, Stevie. Deadpan.

“‘Boss says y’all got a bet, no more help.’

“Thanks a lot,” Manning continued. “I said, Banker Bob, what do you think? He’s like, I have no clue. Thank you very much.

“Who do you think won that match? Tiger Woods. If that doesn’t tell you how competitive that guy is, I don’t know a better example.”

For more from Manning, including additional details about the Smith Cole, as well as stories about Jack Nicklaus, check out the full interview below.

The spring campaign of trainer David Payne is in full swing, marked by the talented filly Bangkok Hottie’s latest victory at Randwick. This achievement represents the veteran conditioner’s fourth Saturday metropolitan win in consecutive weeks.

Bangkok Hottie, a three-year-old, has now added the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) to her earlier success in the Furious Stakes (1200m), which occurred two weeks ago. This winning streak for the stable began with Proxima Dea’s Midway Handicap win at Rosehill on August 29, and was followed by Persian Wonder’s triumph in the Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) last weekend.

A celebrated figure in South African racing as both a jockey and trainer, Payne has a history of success with horses since his arrival in Australia. The 78-year-old expressed his deep satisfaction with his stable’s current form.

“I’m making a comeback,” Payne quipped. “You get nice horses, you look after them, they reward you.”

Under the guidance of jockey Kerrin McEvoy, Bangkok Hottie ($3.90) made a positive start from her midfield draw, tracking the early pace set by Rachini. She then surged to the lead in the straight, successfully holding off the challenge from Striking Alibi ($2.70 fav) by three-quarters of a length.

Global Goal ($7.50) also put in a strong finish to claim third place, another long neck behind the runner-up.

The connections of the first three placegetters are likely to target the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in two weeks, and Payne is confident Bangkok Hottie will cope well with the increased distance.

“Not at all. She keeps winning, so who’s worried?” he said. “We didn’t want her that handy, but the way the track was playing, I said to Kerrin, ‘I’m leaving it to you’. And he does the right thing. I wish she could get a decent draw where she could be covered up. Maybe in the Flight Stakes, hopefully.”

James Mcdonald, who rode Striking Alibi, stated that his mount had “no luck” and performed commendably to finish second, setting up an exciting rematch with the winner in the final event of the four-race Princess Series. Check out the latest racing odds on Australian betting sites.

Jul 29, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage (39) is congratulated by teammates after leaving the game against the Washington Nationals during the seventh inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images

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India’s undisputed continental supremacy is expected to remain intact but a spirited Sri Lanka would aim to present a strong challenge when the two teams clash in yet another Asian Games women’s cricket final, here on Tuesday. Both the Indian women and men are certain to stand on the top of the podium again and only a very bad day in office can stop them from doing so.The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side comes into the final on the back of two commanding wins over Japan and Bangladesh.

With a gold on Tuesday, India would extend their supremacy in the region after outplaying Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final earlier this month.

Sri Lanka have beaten India in the past but the gulf between India and the other Asian team has only increased in recent past.

A sublime 50-ball 82 from captain Chamari Athapaththu helped Sri Lanka got over the line in a challenging chase against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka will surely need more moments of brilliance if they are to down India who are firing on all cylinders.

The openers, especially Shafali Verma, are in devastating touch while the management continues to experiment with the number three spot.

G Kamalini batted at three in the semifinal against Bangladesh while Bharti Fulmali was tried in the same position against Japan.

Kamalini, who is yet to fire in the tournament, opened with Shafali in the quarters.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur was far from her best in the Asia Cup and her fans would be hoping that she returns to her fluent ways in the all-important final.

Considering the first two games, majority of the wickets have been picked by the spinners and the trend is expected to continue.

Deepti Sharma has been in top form and is well supported by Shree Charani. In the pace department, Nandani Sharma has stood out.

Squads: India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Gunalan Kamalini, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Richa Ghosh(w), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav.

Sri Lanka: Imesha Dulani, Chamari Athapaththu(c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Hansima Karunaratne, Kaushani Nuthyangana(w), Mithali Ayodhya, Kawya Kavindi, Chamudi Praboda, Sugandika Kumari, Rashmika Sewwandi, Nimasha Meepage, Sanjana Kavindi, Anushka Sanjeewani.

Match starts 10.30 am IST.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Dodgers news: Roberts preps Sasaki playoff plan that helped win World Series appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have clinched a playoff spot and are looking to secure a bye to the divisional round of the MLB playoffs. As the team prepares for the final week of the season, the Dodgers are getting players, such as Shohei Ohtani, back in the lineup.

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Another player who will be back soon is Roki Sasaki, who has not pitched since August 26. While the pitcher will be back for the playoffs, he is going to be in a different role when he returns, according to ESPN.

Sasaki will be working out of the bullpen in the upcoming series with the San Diego Padres. Sasaki has not pitched out of the bullpen this season, making 23 starts for the team. He has a 5-5 record with a 4.60 ERA so far this year. Still, it will not be the first time that Sasaki has come out of the bullpen. He was a major contributor in 2025, appearing in nine games in the playoffs, all in relief. He posted a 0.84 ERA in 10 2/3 innings of work as the Dodgers won a second straight World Series.

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The team has a ton of depth at the starting pitching spot. While Tarik Skubal is currently on the bereavement list, he will be back for the playoffs. Meanwhile, Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been a stud for the team this year, as has Justin Wrobleski. The team also has Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell, who have both dealt with injuries this year. There is also always the possibility that Shohei Ohtani could be used to pitch some, although he is also dealing with injuries that have kept him out of the lineup.

The Dodgers are 96-60 this year and have clinched the NL West. Currently, they have the second-best record in the National League and are just two games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the top spot. They are also two four games in front of the Atlanta Braves for the last bye in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Currently, the Dodgers would face the winner of a series between the Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies in the divisional round of the playoffs. They begin a three-game series with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.

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Related: Dave Roberts teases Shohei Ohtani’s return vs. Padres, and he’s not only Dodgers player coming back

Related: How Tarik Skubal’s absence is allowing 1 Dodgers pitcher to make serious playoff roster case

However, it was impossible to shake the feeling that United were not running enough during the match. The players looked slow and passive as Fulham created far too many chances against a creaking defence. The home side looked sharper, more agile around the pitch.

Gary Neville stoked the fire after Fulham’s goal on commentary duty for Sky Sports, fuming: “I’ve watched United since I was five, and that’s the worst 15 minutes I’ve ever seen them play. Absolutely pathetic.”

Neville continued his rant in the studio after the game. And then an alternative view was presented: What if the lack of running was actually by design?

There’s an element of truth to that argument. United’s players are not told to mark man-for-man like many teams in the Premier League, which has seen games regularly decided by who can duel and battle the hardest.

Carrick wants his players to defend zonally, so they were in the positions they were supposed to be against Fulham. But you’re now probably thinking, if that was the case, then why did United look so poor against a team that sat at the bottom of the table going into the clash?

Youri Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes started in midfield again, and a pivot of Tielemans and Mainoo, as talented as both players are, is certainly not the most mobile midfield duo in the Premier League.

Tielemans has played senior football since he was 15. He established himself as one of the league’s best technicians during his time with Aston Villa, but he was not signed by United to provide running power in midfield.

Carrick knows the strengths of the players at his disposal and wanted to transition to a more possession-based team this season, which would theoretically give United more control and help them progress as a team.

United had 56 per cent possession against Fulham, which shows there is still some way to go to match Manchester City and Arsenal, who dominate the ball against bottom-half teams.

Carlos Baleba will help after the international break. He is not only a brilliant passer, a non-negotiable for a midfielder in Carrick’s team, but he can eat up ground and clock up the kilometres than Tielemans cannot.

The analytics team will present the running statistics to Carrick during the international break, and it would be fascinating to know whether he agrees it’s an issue, or believes it’s a result of the way his team has been set up.

The statistics have been used as a stick to bash Carrick after the disappointing Fulham draw, as in the Premier League, United are bottom for out-of-possession distance at high intensity, time spent at high intensity, sprints and time sprinting.

The interesting thing is that City, who are top of the league, are joint-last with United on high-speed runs, but when sprinting distance is also added to a scatter plot, City essentially distance themselves from United.

Take a quick glance at the scatter graph below. You do need to be a data analyst to conclude that United are not where they should be. The Reds should be around where Tottenham sit on the graph because ball recoveries are required for a successful possession-based team.

And what is needed to have a high percentage recovery rate as a team? High-intensity distance and sprints. They are intrinsically linked.

Perhaps Tottenham are not a great example because they have gone into the international break sitting bottom of the league after spending £334 million in the summer, but the graph shows that it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Spurs outrun United when they meet at Old Trafford on October 10.

The statistics explain why United are late to recover second balls, why they are late to arrive in the box, and why their phases of play can become stale-looking, which could be put down to conditioning.

United were happy with their pre-season schedule, which saw them stay in Europe for the first time since 2002 (excluding Covid-impacted years). They jetted to European cities, stayed a night at a hotel, played a friendly and returned to Manchester on the same day as the game.

The players who represented their nations at the World Cup reported back to Carrington after each individual had had a three-week break, the exact same time they have been given off after previous major tournaments.

Internally at United, there are no qualms about the team’s preparation over the summer. Some critics have pointed to Tielemans’ interview with Rio Ferdinand in pre-season when he said there hadn’t been “lots of running”, an alleged smoking gun, but he’d just returned from playing at the World Cup, so wouldn’t have lost much fitness.

Carrick did change training when he was appointed in January, putting on shorter sessions but with more intense days, and the tweak was hugely successful, helping him to pick up more points than other top-flight manager during his time in charge last term.

However, it’s plausible that the tweak in training has eventually affected the players’ ability to perform high-intensity actions.

Carrick did not bring his own fitness coach to United when he was appointed. The contracts of his backroom staff were renegotiated when he was hired full-time, but no further additions were made to his coaching team.

Ruben Amorim had his own physical performance coach at United, Paulo Barreira, who had previously worked at Arsenal and Liverpool. Amorim made plenty of mistakes during a disastrous 14-month tenure, but his United team were regarded as being in good condition.

Barreira departed when Amorim was sacked. Sam Erith, performance director at United, has been in his role for over two years, so he has overseen the transition to Carrick, and it would be within his remit to recommend an appointment if he felt it was needed.

There are dedicated physical performance coaches, such as Edward Leng and Charlie Owen (the latter guides the team through running drills at the start of training), but it’s interesting that Amorim brought his own performance coach into the building to complement the existing staff.

Carrick recently bristled at the suggestion that a set-piece coach could be added to his backroom staff, so he would likely take umbrage again at a anyone asking whether a physical performance coach was required, given what that question would imply about his team.

Ultimately, the statistics back up the lethargic visual impression United have given fans. There are clearly mitigating factors, but it’s hard to believe United are outright at the bottom of some key metrics entirely by design.

It’s a talking point people are starting to discuss. That conversation has grown louder due to bad results.