Independence war veteran and former Makokoba MP Rtd Colonel Tshinga Judge Dube died on Thursday evening aged 83. The outspoken Zanu PF politburo member, who was the deputy minister of defence from 2015 to 2017, suffered kidney failure more than a week after he was hospitalised at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo, according to his […]
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CHELSEA icon Eidur Gudjohnsen was caught in two minds as was spotted at Stamford Bridge, cheering on his son.
Gudjohnsen, 46, starred for Chelsea across six seasons from 2000 to 2006.
While at Stamford Bridge the Iceland international made 263 appearances, scoring 78 goals and adding 40 assists.
His exploits helped the Blues win the Premier League twice under Jose Mourinho and landed the League Cup and Community Shield twice – one of which was pre-Mourinho.
Gudjohnsen returned to his old stomping ground during Chelsea’s clash with Gent in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night, but was not simply there to support the home side.
Instead, Gudjohnsen was present to cheer on his son, Andri, who was appearing for the visitors.
The 22-year-old managed to chip in with an assist as Tsuyoshi Watanabe scored for the Belgian side in the second half.
However, it was not enough to overcome Enzo Maresca‘s side as they romped to a 4-2 victory thanks to goals from Renato Veiga, Pedro Nero, Christopher Nkunku and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Gudjohnsen senior was spotted in the stands wearing a black jumper, blue blazer and flat cap while also enjoying a hot beverage.
The 88-cap Iceland star has one daughter and three sons, all of whom are footballers at different levels.
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Andri is his middle son, while 26-year-old eldest son Sveinn Aron stars for Norwegian outfit Sarpsborg 08 and youngest son Daníel Tristán stars for Swedish club Malmo.
Sveinn Aron joined his father on the trip, taking to Instagram to share a video as the stars emerged from the tunnel before the game.
Following his time at Chelsea Gudjohnsen went on to star for Barcelona from 2006, winning the Continental Treble under Pep Guardiola in 2009.
After moving to Monaco, Gudjohnsen then returned to England on loan with Tottenham from January 2010 to June 2010.
This was followed by a permanent transfer to Stoke that summer, where he stayed until January when he went to Fulham on loan.
Stints with Club Brugge, Bolton and Molde would follow before he retired in 2017.
TYRONE May could be at the centre of something biblical if Hull KR make it to the Grand Final.
And he revealed reading the word of the Lord is helping him keep his focus, by taking his mind off rugby league.
Although, there is nothing in the Scripture that covers no longer wanting to strangle now team-mate Mikey Lewis!
May has held his hands up to straying in the past – he admitted to SunSport he was to blame for the social media post that saw him sacked by NRL side Penrith and end up in Super League.
He also knew only he can put things right and as he scours the Book of Proverbs, ‘the one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.’
May revealed: “I read and try to escape rugby league through that reality. It’s all about perspective and I try not to indulge my whole life into the sport.
“I understand that I’m a player first and foremost, that’s my job, but when I’m away from it I do like to get away from it and read.
“I’m reading Proverbs at the moment. It’s a good way to get your imagination going and think about other things and circumstances.
“But I relate a lot of my reading back to rugby league. Things like strategy and how I carry myself throughout the day. A lot of that is based around life but it does help with my game as well.
“Since I came over here, I’ve also liked to travel. Any time I can, I get away and I go for walks to be around nature.”
May’s link with Lewis has been a big part of Hull KR’s rise to the top in 2024, a rise that can still end with silverware.
Defeat Warrington tonight and Willie Peters’ men will be 80 minutes from immortality – some distance from one wanting to throttle the other.
But to quote another verse from Proverbs, ‘Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.’
May, 28, who came in from Catalans for this season, added: “Little Mikey’s been outstanding – last year, I wanted to strangle him when I played against him and a lot of clubs feel that way!
“But when you play alongside him, he’s pretty electric. He’s someone you want to put your arm around and look after.
“He gets under the skin of the opposition and that’s when he’s at his best. He got under mine last year and I wasn’t happy about it.
“However, we’ve formed a good partnership this year and since I walked through the door, he’s been nothing but welcoming. Everyone here has.
“You get different personas on and off the pitch everywhere. You see a lot of players on the pitch that opposition teams and fans don’t like.
“I played alongside Sam Tomkins, who’d go somewhere every week and fans would have the same chant for him. Even I started singing along sometimes!
“But off the field, Sam is a champion bloke. When you cross that white line, you turn into someone different, you change your mentality.
“If he wasn’t on the shortlist for Man of Steel, something was going on. Now, hopefully, he can get that award.”
PROFESSOR GREEN is readying himself for a comeback – five years after his last album Matters Of The Heart.
The rapper, real name Stephen Manderson, hasn’t been sitting round twiddling his thumbs though.
He has been busy juggling music and being a dad to his adorable son Slimane, who he affectionately calls Slim.
As Stephen Facetimes me from his London home for a catch-up, he sounds and looks the happiest and most content I’ve ever seen him.
“Next year we’re releasing new music,” he says with a smile.
“I mean, a lot has been happening.
“There’s genuinely probably three albums now after all the recording I’ve been doing.
“I wrote a song for Slim called Blue Blanket. I started writing that in 2014 but I didn’t have kids then. Then I had him and I could finish the record.”
Teasing what is to come, Stephen adds: “There’s a song I wish I could play you.
“I don’t feel like anyone’s really doing social commentary without being really f***ing boring.
“It gets too political and I don’t think it speaks to everyone. But I’ve got a record where I play a character.
“His name is Terry, and good old Tel doesn’t really understand the world. And that’s all I am going to tell you.”
Fans clamouring for a taste of new tunes from the Lullaby star will get a single today, in the form of Moola In My Wallet (Satnav Rap).
Stephen wrote the track after being asked to work with car loan app Carmoola and I have to admit after hearing it once, it’s a proper earworm.
And it’s got the seal of approval from Stephen’s No1 fan, Slim, thanks to its brilliant chorus and catchy hook.
Stephen says: “I put on some of my new stuff in the car and Slim’s like, ‘Nah’.
“I played this and he loves it. He gives me an unfiltered truth. There’s no airs and graces with kids.
“With songs, once I put them out it is someone else’s. But he wants to hear it so I’m having to listen to it all the time, which means I am walking around and singing it.
“It came together in 45 minutes from start to finish. Instead of going big budget on the video, I called this amazing videographer, Lawrence, that I know and just asked if he could film me while I was driving around.”
Laughing he adds: “I really let go in the car, I feel like I’m having the time of my life. “I feel like people will see me and think, oh, he listens to Green Day.”
Along with working on this tune, and his upcoming fifth album, Stephen spent the summer back on stage playing festivals around the country, along with working on his new digital TV show Chattoo with Arabella Drummond.
And while it’s been 13 years since his first No1 single Read All About It, Stephen said he was humbled by how many youngsters knew his music when he got back on stage.
“It’s weird seeing your audience mature but then I did Boardmasters and there were 10,000 kids who knew every word,” Stephen explains.
I did a freshers’ gig in Lancaster, the kind of gigs I’ve been doing for 15 years.
“And I said, ‘You lot were three years old when this album came out’. I was joking with them, calling them a bunch of snowflakes and taking the ps and they f***ing had it.
“This generation of 18-year-olds, like the kids I performed to this year, they are f*ing wicked.
“As an artist, to know you still have the youth is really important.”
I’m sure they will be as excited as us day-one fans to hear next year what Stephen has been working on.
UPCOMING Coronation Street scenes see Kit Green left unnerved after making a startling discovery.
The police detective – played by Jacob Roberts – arrived on the ITV soap earlier this year.
In scenes yet to air, Kit is investigating Joel’s (Calum Lill) laptop and downloads files.
Horrified by what he finds, he calls colleague DS Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers).
At the station, he admits to struggling to make any headway with the Joel Deering investigation.
Last week, Corrie seemingly aired evil Joel’s final scenes as the villain skipped court.
Joel had been due to face justice, having been charged with his crimes.
Betsy (Sydney Martin) had secretly recorded the villain, incriminating him enough for her mother Lisa to arrest him.
Former fiancee Dee-Dee (Channique Sterling-Brown) arrived in court to face Joel while he entered his plea.
However, the twisted solicitor was nowhere to be seen – leaving both viewers and Weatherfield residents on edge.
Joel turned up drunk at Roy’s Rolls where he threatened Roy (David Neilson) but fled when Carla (Alison King) intervened.
Earlier this year, Roy went to prison after being charged with Lauren Bolton’s (Cait Fitton) disappearance – which Joel was responsible for.
In his final scenes, Joel had a large cut on his cheek as he rang Dee-Dee from an unknown location.
He told her: “Hi Dee Dee, it’s me. I just want to say one thing.
“I still love you so much. We always hurt the one we love, right?
“I know there’s no way back after everything but, maybe there’s something that I can still do to make you and everyone else happy.”
Actor Callum Lill’s exit from the cobbles was previously confirmed in August.
A source said at the time: “Calum has made a huge impact as Joel over the last year but he always knew it would be for a fixed term.
Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let's break down who's left the famous soap:
Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany.
The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza’s grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.
Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes.
After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite was devastated to learn he only had months left to live.
Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering.
Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America.
Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul’s impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full.
Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles.
The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend.
Simon’s been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy.
Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child.
It looks likely she’ll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind.
Show stalwart Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.
Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia.
“He’s been great playing Joel but all good soap villains must get their comeuppance and Joel’s is coming very soon.
“He’s already landed his first job after the show and so he’ll be finished in time to start rehearsals for that.
“But on-screen Joel has no idea what’s coming for him as his dark secrets start to be exposed.”
Coronation Street airs on ITV and is available on ITVX.
CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves could announce several changes that may affect people on benefits when she delivers her first Budget later this month.
The head of Britain’s finances will unveil the Government’s latest plan for spending and tax on October 30.
At the beginning of September, the Chancellor cautioned that the Budget could involve “difficult decisions” on tax, spending and also benefits.
Ms Reeves has previously warned of a £22billion financial black hole in the UK’s finances, which she claims was left by the former Conservative government.
This grave figure has led many experts to believe the upcoming Budget could spell further misery for thousands living under the cosh.
But what exactly could it mean for the 20million Brits who claim benefits?
In previous Budgets, benefits like Universal Credit have been increased in line with September’s inflation figure.
This was seen in the Autumn Statement delivered last November, with households on benefits ending up £470 better off as a result.
However, this has not always been the case.
The previous government froze benefits for four years in the 2010s, in a blow to people who are eligible for the help.
However, experts predict that the Government will uprate benefits in line with September’s inflation figure, which will be released next month.
Experts at Pantheon Macroeconomics are forecasting that it will be around 2%.
The Chancellor is understood to be mulling a reduction in the amount the state spends on benefits.
This rumour has been further solidified by comments made by Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer.
At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool last week, the PM said there has to be “trade-offs” between maintaining the welfare state and supporting those in need.
He admitted there would be “hard cases”, but that the Government and business must join forces to get people clocking on again.
There are around 2.8million people who are long-term sick, with numbers having surged since the pandemic.
Future cuts to working-age benefits and tax rises have also been hinted by health secretary Wes Streeting.
Working-age benefits provide financial support to individuals and families who are of working age.
There are a number of different types including Universal Credit, Jobseekers Allowance, and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Mr Streeting told the New Statesman that the Chancellor could make cuts to these benefits to help plug the £22billion black hole in the public purse.
It comes after the Labour government axed the £300 Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners who are not on means-tested benefits.
Mr Streeting said: “There are other choices to come and these aren’t just Rachel’s choices to face up to, these are the choices of the whole government.”
A crackdown on benefit fraud could also be outlined at the upcoming Budget.
The Government has previously promised to crackdown on fraudsters and get more people into work as part of a shakeup to the benefits system.
This could mean new laws will be introduced so that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can ask banks to report fraudulent activity, for instance if a claimant has more than £16,000 in savings, or how much they earn.
Under the proposals, the DWP won’t be able to access bank accounts directly, and the exact information they can request is still to be confirmed.
The department could also be handed more powers to recover debts from those who can afford to pay it back but have avoided doing so.
Sir Keir Starmer said in his speech at the Labour Party conference: “If we want to maintain support for the welfare state, then we will legislate to stop benefit fraud.”
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
Personal Independent Payments (PIP) are a benefit for people who are under State Pension age and need help with day-to-day life because of a long-term illness or disability.
The previous Government began a consultation on reshaping the payment which swiftly closed a couple of weeks later.
At the time, there were suggestions that PIP payments could be changed to vouchers or one-off grants.
In August, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall unveiled a “Back to Work” plan.
As part of this move, changes to disability benefits are expected to be introduced to help cut NHS waiting lists and help people get back into work.
This has led many to believe she could roll out the changes floated by the Tory government to help aid her plan.
The Treasury has been contacted for further comment.