Hard Tackle

ST Sports Talk Ep 128: A microscope over the business of the breakaway European Super League

30:07 mins

Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the biggest sports talking points every month.

In this episode, sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz chats with James Walton, who is sports business group leader at Deloitte South East Asia, about the financial reasons behind the audacious bid for a breakaway European Super League (ESL).

Sazali and Walton also discuss whether these clubs’ fans are partly to blame for fuelling their owners’ greed, how the ESL could change the future of broadcast deals and media consumption trends, whether other sports could follow suit, and whether Walton thinks the ESL will take off at all, given all the criticism.

They discuss:

1. The three reasons behind the mooted breakaway (1:33)
2. How much do teams participating stand to gain? (6:13)
3. Should clubs be more sustainably-run? (13:26)
4. The future of the landscape of broadcast deals (17:20)
5. Whether other sports could see breakaway competitions too (23:01)
6. A clear answer within two weeks (27:01)

Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz ([email protected]) and Penelope Lee

Edited by: Penelope Lee

Subscribe to the ST Sports Talk podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

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Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Sazali Abdul Aziz on Twitter: https://str.sg/JbxS

Read his stories: https://str.sg/Jbxq

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

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ST Sports Talk Ep 127: Jose Mourinho on pressure, man-management and Singapore

12:45 mins

Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the biggest sports talking points every month.

In this episode, sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz chats with Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho, who spoke to ST in an exclusive interview after a virtual live event organised by the club’s main sponsors AIA.

The 'Special One' chatted with ST about the new reality of football affected by Covid and how he has handled the pressure of being in some of football’s hottest seats.

He shares insights into his man management techniques, as well as his tip for stressed-out Singaporeans.

They discuss:

1. Getting used to football's empty stadiums? (0:45)
2. Coping with the pressure of being in football’s hot seats (3:09)
3. Insights into his famed man-management (6:33)
4. What he misses about Singapore (7:24)

Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz ([email protected]) and ST Video team

Edited by: Aleemah Basirah

Subscribe to the ST Sports Talk podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa

Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JX88 

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Sazali Abdul Aziz on Twitter: https://str.sg/JbxS

Read his stories: https://str.sg/Jbxq

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts

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ST Sports Talk Ep 126: More Chinese footballers, and a SEA Games gold by 2029?

11:23 mins

Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the biggest sports talking points every month.

In the final of a three-part series, ST sports editor Lee Yulin and sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz chat with the two men spearheading the government’s ambitious Unleash The Roar! project to lift Singapore football standards with the goal of getting the national team to the 2034 World Cup.

Their guests, Lim Teck Yin, chief executive officer of national sports agency Sport Singapore, and Bernard Tan, deputy president of the Football Association of Singapore, share how harnessing an untapped segment of the population could help achieve such targets, and by when.

They discuss:

1. Can Singapore harness more Chinese talents? (1:06)
2. Timing of milestones targeted under the project (5:23)
3. A message to the Singapore public (7:29)

Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz ([email protected]), Ernest Luis & Penelope Lee

Edited by: Penelope Lee

Subscribe to the ST Sports Talk podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa

Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JX88 

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Sazali Abdul Aziz on Twitter: https://str.sg/JbxS

Read his stories: https://str.sg/Jbxq

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts

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ST Sports Talk Ep 125: Can children succeed in SG football with a good post-playing career?

13:23 mins

Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the biggest sports talking points every month.

In the second of a three-part series, ST sports editor Lee Yulin and sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz chat with the two men spearheading the government’s ambitious Unleash The Roar! project to lift Singapore football standards with the goal of getting the national team to the 2034 World Cup.

Their guests, Lim Teck Yin, chief executive officer of national sports agency Sport Singapore, and Bernard Tan, deputy president of the Football Association of Singapore, share how they plan to convince parents to buy into their long-term plan for the local game.

They discuss:

1. Can parents be convinced of a football future for their kids? (0:37)
2. Singapore’s ‘generational change’ (8:15)
3. To play or not to play? The dilemma during exams (9:37)

Listen to Pt 1 - How can football build a culture of excellence needed for Unleash The Roar plan?: https://omny.fm/shows/gameoftwohalves-1/how-can-football-build-a-culture-of-excellence-nee

Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz ([email protected]), Ernest Luis & Penelope Lee

Edited by: Penelope Lee

Subscribe to the ST Sports Talk podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa

Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JX88 

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Sazali Abdul Aziz on Twitter: https://str.sg/JbxS

Read his stories: https://str.sg/Jbxq

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts

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ST Sports Talk Ep 124: How can football build a culture of excellence needed for Unleash The Roar plan?

12:27 mins

Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the biggest sports talking points every month.

In the first of a three-part series, ST sports editor Lee Yulin and sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz chat with the two men spearheading the government’s ambitious Unleash The Roar! project to lift Singapore football standards with the goal of getting the national team to the 2034 World Cup.

Their guests, Lim Teck Yin, chief executive officer of national sports agency Sport Singapore, and Bernard Tan, deputy president of the Football Association of Singapore, shed more light into the plan and how they hope to achieve the targets set out.

They discuss:

1. Can Singapore football develop a culture of excellence? (1:36)
2. A 180 degree mindset shift needed - from coaches? (6:51)
3. How Unleash The Roar is different from plans that came before (10:22)

Listen to Pt 2 - Can children succeed in SG football with a good post-playing career?: https://omny.fm/shows/gameoftwohalves-1/can-children-succeed-in-sg-football-with-a-good-po

Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz ([email protected]), Ernest Luis & Penelope Lee

Edited by: Penelope Lee

Subscribe to ST Sports Talk Podcast and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa

Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JX88 

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Sazali Abdul Aziz on Twitter: https://str.sg/JbxS

Read his stories: https://str.sg/Jbxq

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 123: No shouting please; live tennis in the age of Covid

11:00 mins

Synopsis:  #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast.

This week, sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz and sports reporter Laura Chia chat about the recently-concluded Singapore Tennis Open, and the new norm of covering international live sports events.

They discuss:

1. Antigen Rapid Tests - a game changer for live events? (1:57)
2. Safe distancing, and no shouting please (4:12)
3. Alexei Popyrin - remember the name (6:53)
4. Could the ATP return to Singapore? (9:29)

Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz ([email protected]) & Penelope Lee

Edited by: Penelope Lee

Subscribe to #GameOfTwoHalves podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa

Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JX88 

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Sazali Abdul Aziz on Twitter: https://str.sg/JbxS

Read his stories: https://str.sg/Jbxq

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts

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#GameofTwoHalves Ep 122: Former US Open winner Marin Cilic talks pressure, focus and beating Federer

14:27 mins

Synopsis: #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast.

This week, sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz and assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath chat with world No.48 tennis player Marin Cilic, who is in town for the Singapore Tennis Open that takes place at the OCBC Arena from Feb 22 to 28.

The 32-year-old Croatian player, who won the US Open in 2014 and was ranked as high as World No.3 just two years ago, is one of a select group of players who can boast of beating Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

They discuss:

1. Playing Federer at a Maldives resort (0:51)
2. What happens when a top tennis player is in “the zone” (5:36)
3. Differences playing Djokovic, Nadal and Federer (7:28)
4. Titles or longevity at the top in G.O.A.T debate? (12:12)

Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz ([email protected]) 

Edited by: Penelope Lee

Subscribe to #GameOfTwoHalves podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa

Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JX88 

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Sazali Abdul Aziz on Twitter: https://str.sg/JbxS

Read his stories: https://str.sg/Jbxq

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts

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Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second and fourth week of the month.

This week, sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz talks to Victoria Lee, the 16-year-old sister of One Championship mixed martial arts (MMA) world champions Christian and Angela.

Victoria will make her professional MMA debut against Thailand’s Sunisa Srisen at One Championship’s Fists of Fury event at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Feb 26.

The junior at Mililani High School in Hawaii talks about her preparations for her big fight.

What does Victoria think about the possibility of an atomweight MMA fight against her sister in the future?

Highlights (click/tap above):

01:06 How to handle all the hype and pressure

03:20 Comparisons with her older siblings

05:51 What can fans expect in Victoria’s debut?

08:24 The Lee MMA family’s ‘hitlist’ when in S’pore

Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz ([email protected]) 

Edited by: Penelope Lee

Follow ST Sports Talk Podcast episodes every second and fourth Wednesday of the month:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

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Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JX88 

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Sazali Abdul Aziz on Twitter: https://str.sg/JbxS

Read his stories: https://str.sg/Jbxq

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Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

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Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

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#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 120: An Australian Open like no other

14:20 mins

Synopsis: #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times’ weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

This week, ST sports editor Lee Yulin and assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath discuss tennis’ first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open, which began on Monday (Feb 8).

The topics:

1. Rohit assesses the men’s draw and predicts which players will go deep (3:24)
2. What makes Rafael Nadal extraordinary (5:18)
3. Why Rohit thinks women’s tennis is more exciting than the men’s game now (6:41)
4. What would be Rohit’s dream women’s singles final? (9:40)
5. Does Serena Williams need to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slams to burnish her legacy? (12:36)

Produced by: Lee Yulin ([email protected])

Edited by: Penelope Lee

Subscribe to the #GameOfTwoHalves Podcast and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa

Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JX88

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Rohit Brijnath on Twitter: https://str.sg/JraG

Read his stories: https://bit.ly/3a2sAvR

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts

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#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 119: What is the impact of cancelling the Olympics?

14:28 mins

Synopsis:  #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

This week, sports correspondent David Lee, assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath and sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan look at the possible scenario of the Tokyo Olympics being cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic and the consequences for its various stakeholders.

They also look at the differing fortunes of the two Manchester clubs who have eyes on the English Premier League title, before discussing the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup draw that involved three Singaporean teams - Tampines Rovers, Lion City Sailors and Geylang International.

They discuss the following:

1. What do the Olympics mean to sports fans? (0:54)

2. What is at stake if the Olympics are held or not? (4:00)

3. What is wrong with Manchester United? (8:50)

4. Is it going to be a damage-limiting exercise for Tampines Rovers in the AFC Champions League? (11:00)

5. How far can the Singaporean teams progress in the AFC Cup? (12:50)

Produced by: David Lee ([email protected])

Edited by: Penelope Lee

Subscribe to #GameOfTwoHalves podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa

Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JX88

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow David Lee Twitter: https://twitter.com/STdavidLee

Read his stories: https://str.sg/Jbxq

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