分类： sports

LONDON, United Kingdom — Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur have terminated the contract of head coach Thomas Frank following a prolonged period of poor results, culminating in a critical 2–1 home defeat to Newcastle United on Tuesday. The loss leaves Spurs hovering just five points above the relegation zone, intensifying pressure on the club’s leadership.

The decision, confirmed by the club on Wednesday, marks the end of Frank’s tumultuous eight-month tenure. Under his management, Tottenham recorded only two victories in their last 17 league matches, amassing a meager 12 points during that span. The team currently sits 16th in the league table and is enduring an eight-match winless streak—their worst run of form since October 2008.

In an official statement, the club acknowledged Frank’s appointment in June 2025 as a long-term project but conceded that recent outcomes necessitated an immediate change. “We have been determined to give him the time and support needed to build for the future together,” the statement read. “However, results and performances have led the board to conclude that a change at this point in the season is necessary.”

Frank, previously praised as “one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches” upon his arrival, did achieve success in the UEFA Champions League, guiding Spurs to automatic qualification for the last 16. Yet this accomplishment was overshadowed by a dismal domestic campaign featuring seven wins, eight draws, and 11 defeats in the league, along with early exits from both domestic cup competitions.

The Danish manager’s defensive tactical approach drew criticism from supporters who had grown accustomed to the more attacking style of his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou. Despite injuries to key creative players such as James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, fan patience wore thin—a sentiment loudly expressed during the Newcastle match with chants of “sacked in the morning.”

Frank is the seventh Premier League manager to be dismissed this season, underscoring the volatile nature of top-flight football management. Assistant coaches Ryan Mason and Matt Wells will assume temporary leadership ahead of Tottenham’s next match—a high-stakes North London derby against league leaders Arsenal on February 22.

ST JAMES, Jamaica — Manchester High School stands on the precipice of securing dual championship final berths in the ISSA Rural Area Boys’ basketball competition. The defending champions seized commanding 1-0 advantages in both Under-16 and Under-19 semifinal series following decisive Monday victories in Mandeville.

In the Under-16 division, Manchester High delivered a convincing 67-48 defeat to Knox College, establishing early dominance that persisted throughout the contest. The team’s performance was anchored by Jayquan Palmer’s extraordinary double-double achievement of 23 points and 25 rebounds. Supplementary scoring came from Dante Matthews (15 points) and Hasim Wright (13 points), while Knox College’s Kaden Dunstan managed 18 points in the losing effort.

The Under-19 matchup witnessed an even more dominant display as Manchester High obliterated former national champions Herbert Morrison Technical 72-33. The game immediately turned historic as Manchester established a unprecedented 20-0 first-quarter lead—marking the first time any Herbert Morrison squad failed to score in a single quarter. Oral Daley recorded another double-double for the champions with 11 points and 19 rebounds, supported by Shavar Bogle’s 15 points and Samuel Smith’s 12 points. Joshua Ferguson provided Herbert Morrison’s lone bright spot with a game-high 16 points.

Parallel semifinal action saw Holmwood Technical claiming a narrow 75-70 victory against Knox College in their Under-19 series opener. After trailing through the first half, Holmwood mounted a spectacular second-half comeback led by Melvin Ragoo’s 30-point performance. JA-dan Reid contributed 18 points while Romeo Smith added 16 points to secure the crucial Game 1 advantage.

In Tuesday’s Under-16 action, Herbert Morrison Technical rebounded from their senior team’s defeat by crushing York Castle High 85-44. Shamar Russell paced the victory with 22 points, supported by three teammates scoring in double figures as Herbert Morrison established overwhelming quarter leads of 21-4, 43-12, and 64-28 throughout the contest.

In a dramatic turnaround at Mumbai’s T20 World Cup encounter on Wednesday, the West Indies cricket team mounted a formidable recovery to set England a challenging target of 196-6. The Caribbean side’s resurgence was spearheaded by Sherfane Rutherford’s explosive unbeaten 76 runs and Jason Holder’s blistering late-order cameo of 33 runs.

The match began disastrously for the West Indies after England captain won the toss and elected to field. Jofra Archer struck immediately in the opening over, dismissing skipper Shai Hope for a duck. The situation worsened when Brandon King fell to Sam Curran’s first delivery, leaving the batting side reeling at 8-2 within the powerplay.

Roston Chase and Shimron Hetmyer attempted to stabilize the innings with an aggressive counterattack, particularly targeting spinner Will Jacks who conceded 19 runs in a single over. However, England’s bowling changes proved effective as Jamie Overton, replacing Luke Wood from the previous match, claimed Hetmyer’s wicket at 23 runs. The momentum further shifted when leg-spinner Adil Rashid achieved a monumental personal milestone by trapping Chase for 34 runs—marking his 400th wicket in T20 internationals.

At 77-4 in the 10th over, the West Indies found salvation in Rutherford and captain Rovman Powell’s dynamic partnership. The duo accelerated the scoring with a 50-run stand off just 26 deliveries, setting the stage for the final assault. Though Rashid broke through by dismissing Powell, Rutherford continued his destructive form, reaching his half-century in merely 29 balls.

The death overs witnessed complete domination by the Caribbean batsmen. Rutherford, featuring seven sixes and two fours, combined with Holder in a devastating sixth-wicket partnership that plundered 61 runs from 32 deliveries. Holder’s contribution included four sixes and one four, with Sam Curran—England’s hero from the Nepal match—being particularly punished for 20 runs in his third over.

Despite the overall batting onslaught, Adil Rashid emerged as England’s most economical bowler, finishing with exceptional figures of 2-16 from his four-over spell. The stage is now set for England’s chase in what promises to be a high-stakes contest between these cricketing giants.

Jamaican track and field athletes showcased impressive form on the European indoor circuit this week, with two standout performers achieving season’s best marks and podium finishes. At the Belgrade indoor meeting held at Atletska dvorana on Wednesday, World Indoor bronze medalist Carey McLeod captured third place in the men’s long jump with a leap of 8.22 meters. The two-time national champion, currently ranked fifth globally, finished behind Bulgaria’s Bozhidar Saraboyukov, who set a world-leading mark of 8.45m, and Greece’s reigning World and Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou, who jumped 8.27m.

The previous day at the High Jump meeting: Beskyd bar in Trinec, Czechia, Jamaica’s national record holder Lamara Distin delivered another strong performance. The 2022 Commonwealth Games champion cleared 1.94 meters in the women’s high jump to secure second place, marking her best jump of the season. Distin finished behind Australia’s Eleanor Patterson, who cleared 1.97m, while Poland’s Maria Zodzik took third with 1.91m. This performance improved upon Distin’s 1.93m clearance just days earlier at the Městská sportovní hala in Hustopeče, Czechia, demonstrating her consistent competitive form as the indoor season progresses.