Sports

Anthony Joshua in talks to invest in boyhood club Watford

Published

6 months ago

June 1, 2024

Representatives of British-Nigerian former world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, are in talks to invest in English championship football clubside, Watford.

Joshua’s spokesperson, who confirmed the development on Friday, said preliminary talks were ongoing with the boxer’s team working with an investment group as Joshua mulls the idea of putting money into the club he has supported from his childhood.

According to reports in the Athletics, Joshua is a Watford fan and could be set to take a minority stake in the Championship club.

The Athletics reports that the boxer’s camp have opened talks with the club about a potential investment after the club approached him to seek assistance in staying alive.

The Athletics said the club which appears to be actively seeking investment, are valued at a fee in the region of £150 million to £175m ($191m to $223m).

“Joshua was born in Watford and reportedly has a net worth of £150m to £200m ($191m to $254m). He is a two-time heavyweight champion and also claimed gold at the London Olympics in 2012,” the Athletics said.

“The boxer has good relationships with former Watford owner Sir Elton John and ex-skipper Troy Deeney, while footballers such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar have been spotted with Joshua watching the Tyson Fury fight with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.

“A spokesperson for Joshua told The Athletic:

“An investment business which has brought Anthony investment opportunities in the past was approached and held an entry level discussion about an opportunity with Watford Football Club.

“This was an initial chat without even a discussion over due diligence which so often kills these types of deal.”

If Joshua does opt to invest in Watford he will become the latest big name to make the move into football, and will be following in the footsteps of Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney who took over at Wrexham, NFL legend JJ Watt who invested in Burnley and legendary quarter-back Tom Brady is a minority owner at Birmingham City.

The Hertfordshire outfit earned promotion back to the Premier League in 2015 and enjoyed five consecutive campaigns in the top-flight before being relegated in 2020.

Joshua who spoke on the potential investment said:

“I grew up in Watford and a couple of the Watford players used to get their hair cut in the local barbers, so I support Watford.

“My good friend Troy Deeney played for them as a striker, so I’ve got a lot of love for where I grew up – Watford FC but my overall favourite, because of the one man, Cristiano Ronaldo, I’m going to roll with Real Madrid.”

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Sports

TP Mazembe pip AS FAR to win African Women’s Champions League

Published

28 minutes ago

November 24, 2024

Isaac Dachen

TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) became the third team to win the 2024 African Women’s Champions League after narrowly defeating AS FAR of Morocco 1-0 in the final played on Sunday at the El Jadida’s Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi Stadium.

TP Mazembe claimed the title for the first time courtesy of a 10th minute penalty which was converted by Marlene Kasaj after AS FAR captain Aziza Rabbah handled the ball in the box.

The Congolese side should have doubled their lead six minutes later when an unmarked Merveille Kanjinga fired wide from seven yards out before the more fancied home team gradually grew into the match and looked to cancel the deficit and add to their continental triumph in 2022.

But AS FAR put in a subdued display and failed to test Mazembe’s goalkeeper Fideline Ngoy, with tournament top scorer Doha El Madani who had netted six goals in their run to the final, wasting their best chance as she sliced a first-half free-kick wide.

With the triumph, TP Mazembe carted home the giant trophy and a cheque for $600,000 (£479,000) after the prize money was increased for the fourth edition of the tournament, while the AS FAR went home with $400,000 (£319,000).

Sports

Wafcon 2024 draw throws up interesting pairings

Published

1 day ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The draw for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) holding in Morocco from July 5 to 26 next year which was held on Friday, threw up some interesting match-ups to look forward to as hosts Morocco found themselves in what has been described as the group of death.

The Atlas Lionesses will have to contend with Zambia, DR Congo and Senegal in Group A, while Group B has record 11-time continental champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria slugging it out with Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana, just as current defending champions, Banyana Banyana of South Africa will do battle with Ghana, Mali and Tanzania in Group C.

The top two sides in each group will progress to the quarter-finals, alongside the two best third-placed finishers.

Though qualification for the 2024 Wafcon was completed in December last year, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was forced to push the finals into 2025 because of international football’s congested calendar, which included the participation of Nigeria and Zambia at the Olympics.

Morocco also staged the 2022 edition of Wafcon, ending as runners-up, and former international Fatiha Laassiri believes home support will provide “a real advantage” next year.

Wafcon 2024 group draw with world ranking in brackets:

Group A: Morocco (hosts, 59), Zambia (62), Senegal (83), DR Congo (102).

Group B: Nigeria (36), Tunisia (78), Algeria (84), Botswana (153).

Group C: South Africa (holders, 50), Ghana (66), Mali (81), Tanzania (145).