Sports
Serbian Barber Carves Lionel Messi Headshot For Fans At N64,000 Per Head
For fans looking for a new haircut to celebrate the World Cup in style, a barber is clipping ‘portraits’ of stars Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo onto the back of heads in football-crazy Serbians at the rate of 150 Euros which is about N64,000 in Nigerian currency.
With the World Cup fever reaching fever pitch, Mario Hvala has decided to give his creativity free rein as he shaves and snips away on a headshot “hair tattoo” in his Novi Sad salon ahead of Thursday’s World Cup kick-off.
Speaking with AFP on his signature haircut, he said it all began nine years ago with a suggestion to a customer, “to do something different”.
That ended with a tarantula sculpted with a cut-throat razor into the hair on the back of the man’s head, and it’s since turned into something of a local fashion in Serbia’s second largest city Novi Sad.
“The portraits are the most complex when doing the ‘hair tattoos’,” Hvala said.
“It takes five to seven hours.”
With Serbia qualified for the World Cup in Russia, Hvala hit on the idea of “drawing” the faces of the world’s top two football players for fans.
“When I made Ronaldo’s portrait I got many positive comments and people were amazed,” the 35-year-old said.
However, he admits that “hair tatoo” clients often attract curious glances from passers-by or requests for photos.
But, isn’t that the whole point?
It doesn’t come cheap however: while a normal trim at the salon costs eight euros, the full portrait is priced 150 euros!
Sports
Alex Iwobi opens shop to donate free Chrismas food to poor families in London
Alex Iwobi, the Super Eagles midfielder, has opened a temporary shop where poor families can get free food for Christmas celebrations.
The shop, named ‘Alexpress’, is situated in Canning Town in East London, the community where the footballer was raised.
The pop-up stall is loaded with various food items stacked neatly in rows, and all offerings have a price tag of £0.
In a chat with the BBC, Iwobi cited his parents as his “role models,” who have inspired him to be altruistic since he was younger.
“This is where I was raised for my primary school education. People, families are going come in. They select a drink and the stuff for the house. There are different foods that they can take, and by the end of it, there is a turkey,” the 28-year-old said.
“‘Alexpress’ is a minimart to try to give out food to families that are not able to get food for Christmas. If I can help them celebrate Christmas, why not?
“Just seeing how my parents are, I have always seen them give back. And with that as my role models, I fill like when I am in a position I am today, or if I was in less position, I would try my best to give back and help the less fortunate and people who are not able to eat.”
Sports
Arsenal’s Saka out for many weeks with hamstring injury
Bukayo Saka will be sidelined for “many weeks” after suffering a hamstring injury in Arsenal’s 5-1 win at Crystal Palace, manager Mikel Arteta said Monday.
Asked at a press conference about the 23-year-old England international’s condition, Arteta said: “It is not looking good. He will be out for many weeks.”
Saka was filmed leaving Selhurst Park on crutches on Saturday, souring what had been a comprehensive second win over the Eagles in four days.
Arteta said after the match: “He felt something in his hamstring. He couldn’t continue. He will have to be assessed, so I’m pretty worried about that one.”
He also revealed on Monday that Raheem Sterling had injured his knee and would be out for many weeks.
Arteta was asked if there was a fear Saka would not return before the end of the season.
“No (there’s no fear),” he said. “I’m very optimistic he’ll be back before the end of the season.”
The Spaniard said it was part of the “development of a player”.
“It could have been much worse. It could have been something else that can take you out for a year,” he said.
“It’s how you react to that, how you overcome that situation and it’s a great learning process for him as well.
“It is what it is. He’s injured, we cannot change it. We’re going to use this time now to help him.”
Sports
Australian tennis star, Max Purcell, suspended for doping
The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced today that a two-time Grand Slam doubles champion, Max Purcell has been voluntarily suspended for breaking anti-doping rules.
The Australian, who is ranked 12th in the world for doubles, admitted to a breach of the regulations relating to the use of a “prohibited method” and had “requested to enter into a provisional suspension on December 10.”
No other details were divulged.
“Time served under provisional suspension will be credited against any future sanction,” the ITIA said, with the ban coming into effect on December 12.
Under the suspension, the 26-year-old is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised by any of the sport’s governing bodies or national associations.
It means he will currently not be able to play in the Australian Open at Melbourne Park in January.
Purcell won the 2022 Wimbledon doubles title alongside fellow Australian Matt Ebden and the United States Open crown this year, partnered by Jordan Thompson.
Tennis Australia stressed that the breach related to a prohibited method, rather than a prohibited substance.
“The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed the breach relates to the use of a prohibited method, rather than the presence of a prohibited substance.
“As the matter is currently under investigation, it is inappropriate to comment further at this time,” it said in a statement carried by Australian media.
The ITIA is the same organisation that charged top-ranked Jannik Sinner and world number two Iga Swiatek over breaches of its anti-doping programme.
Italy’s Sinner was exonerated after twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.
He is currently awaiting the outcome of a World Anti-Doping Agency appeal against the decision.
Swiatek tested positive for a banned heart medication in August.
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