Forever Young: The Story of Adrian Doherty, Football’s Lost Genius by Oliver Kay. Courtesy Quercus
Forever Young: The Story of Adrian Doherty, Football’s Lost Genius by Oliver Kay. Courtesy Quercus

My favourite reads: Ian Oxborrow



Ian Oxborrow is Homepage Editor at The National

Forever Young: The Story of Adrian Doherty, Football’s Lost Genius

by Oliver Kay (2016)

As a youth player at Manchester United, Adrian Doherty was considered as good as Ryan Giggs – maybe even better. But on the cusp of his first-team debut in 1991 he injured a knee. At 26 he was found dead in a canal in Holland. After five years of research, Kay wrote the most emotionally touching sports book I have ever read.

The Miracle of Castel di Sangro by Joe McGinniss (1999)

I requested this as a Christmas present and read it cover to cover during the festivities. It’s the extraordinary tale of a small club in the Abruzzi region of Italy which reached the second tier of the football league in 1996. McGinniss is embedded in the squad and town and writes on the culture of the fans and players before a twist brings a sobering ending.

Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi (2009)

A lot of sports books depict the mental and physical struggles in attempting to be the best, but Agassi’s story takes on a different element – how he despised the tennis he was brilliant at. His father built a machine called the Dragon which fired balls at dizzying speeds, and after the intense opening chapters it feels like the Dragon is breathing all over you.

Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football by David Winner (2000)

Winner’s work analyses the concept of “Total Football” and how the Dutch managed to repeatedly self-destruct in major tournaments despite often having the best players. The book also explores the connections between the beautiful game and Dutch society, from the flatness of the land and its canals to the nation’s architecture.

KP: The Autobiography by David Walsh and Kevin Pietersen (2014)

Hero-worshipped by many, but deemed an oversensitive show pony by others, Kevin Pietersen still divides opinion in cricket circles, even as his career winds down. KP sets the record straight here in a book that can be described as one long, albeit entertaining, rant after he was ostracised from the England side.

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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

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Company/date started: 2015

Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif

Based: Manama, Bahrain

Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation

Size: (employees/revenue) 4/ 5,000 downloads

Stage: 1 ($100,000)

Investors: Two first-round investors including, 500 Startups, Fawaz Al Gosaibi Holding (Saudi Arabia)

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5
 
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Power: 268bhp / 536bhp
Torque: 343Nm / 686Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
On sale: Later this year
How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

Business Insights
  • As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses. 
  • SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income. 
  • Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

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Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

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From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

Honeymoonish
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The Arts Edit

A guide to arts and culture, from a Middle Eastern perspective

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