Sports Minutes with Zia-ul Raushan

Flying the flag for the Lion City in Indonesia, Jacob Mahler is seemingly living up to his much talked about potential. But what are the perks of playing abroad, and how does he deal with the pressure that comes with representing the nation? We speak to Singapore footballer and Madura United defender Jacob Mahler ahead of the Lions' crunch World Cup Qualifier against Guam to find out more. Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

When we talk about eSports more often than not we envision being sat on a couch with a controller in hand. What could be so taxing about that? Well, with the burgeoning interest and influx of money into the world of gaming - the pressure to perform is at an all-time high. Beyond gaming, eSports athletes have also become brand ambassadors - which in itself ramps up the pressure. So how do they cope?We speak to Charlie Bailie, Chief Strategy Officer of Ampverse - which is Asia’s largest ecosystem of gaming communities and IP, to find out more! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

In his first media interview since being elected FAS President, Bernard Tan sat down with The Straits Times to share why he decided to step up, what the scene needs to do to measure up to others in the region and what changes local football fans can look forward to. But are the fans convinced? Well we assembled a panel of members from the fraternity - Deepanraj Ganesan, sports reporter with The Straits Times, Faris, a founding member of Singa Brigade and Jose Raymond, former journalist with SPH Media and currently a public relations and policy strategist at a regional PR firm - to respond to Bernard's interview and discuss the road ahead. Bernard Tan's interview with The Straits Times: https://youtu.be/sWVpW5M2TH0?si=K9ywJSvY9rp0Dm94 Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Arguably one of the most-played console game of all time for football lovers the world over, FIFA is now known as EAFC24 - after ending a long-standing partnership with the game's governing body, and venturing into a brave new world under new name and new guise. But has the change on the cover had a knock-on effect on the gameplay? Jake Su, games editor with Geek Culture, shares his observations. Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Newcastle's meteoric rise under Eddie Howe continues - as the Magpies thumped PSG 4-1 to cap a memorable night in the Champions League. In stark contrast, ten Hag's troubles continues - as Manchester United lost their 6th match in 10 games this season, falling to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Galatasaray. Tune in as we discuss and dissect both the clubs, and the road ahead. Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Has PGMOL releasing the audio from the officials of Luis Diaz's controversial disallowed goal clarified the debate that has waged on since the weekend? Evidently not, judging by the noise on social media. We speak to FIFA-certified referee Taqi Jahari - who has been on VAR duty at FIFA men's & women's World Cups - for his expert opinion on this matter. We also hear from fans on their take, and the road ahead. Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Shanti Pereira ended Singapore's 49-year wait for an Asian Games gold medal in athletics by winning the women's 200m final at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou - capping a stellar year on track that's seen her win medal after medal, smash record after record. What can we learn from Shanti's heroics, and where to from here for Singapore's sprint queen? We speak to Rohit Brijnath, assistant sports editor with The Straits Times, who was in Hangzhou to witness Shanti's historic feat. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/a-golden-lesson-from-pereira-winning-is-within-our-reach Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Liverpool fell victim to a "significant human error" as the PGMOL admitted that VAR officials had failed to act after Luis Diaz's 34th-minute strike at Tottenham was wrongly ruled out for offside. With the catalogue of errors by officials piling up, how can the refereeing body restore credibility? And speaking of apologies, Guardiola might owe one to "that Korean guy" as Hwang Hee-chan scored the winner in Wolves' unlikely win over Manchester City! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Singapore's Tampines Rovers and Thailand's BG Pathum have entered into a three-year collaboration with the Singaporean club set to be renamed BG Tampines Rovers from 2024. After three years, the Thai club will take over the Stags' operations, potentially paving the way for more privatised teams in the SPL. Is this good news for the local game? And what does it mean for the competitiveness of the local league? We are in conversation with Tampines Rovers chairman Desmond Ong to find out.  READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/tampines-rovers-to-add-bg-to-their-name-after-signing-3-year-deal-with-thai-club-bg-pathum Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

We all know her name, Angela Lee. We all know her craft, mixed martial arts. But beyond the guts, glory, fame and fortune lies a battle with overcoming the inner demons - fuelled by the pressure of having to live in the public eye. In this tell-all interview Angela opens up on her suicide attempt in 2017, her younger sister Victoria taking her own life and setting up Fightstory - a non-profit organisation founded by Angela, dedicated to speaking one’s truth, inspiring hope, and building a community for those struggling with mental health.  FIND OUT MORE: https://fightstory.org/ Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg