La Liga’s Deportivo Alaves looking to spread sporting technology, innovation in MENA

La Liga’s Deportivo Alaves looking to spread sporting technology, innovation in MENA
Alaves CEO Haritz Kerejeta (left) and CCO Borja Txasko. (AN photo)
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Updated 13 March 2024
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La Liga’s Deportivo Alaves looking to spread sporting technology, innovation in MENA

La Liga’s Deportivo Alaves looking to spread sporting technology, innovation in MENA
  • The football club, part of the Baskonia-Alaves Group, is now an established team in Spain’s top tier
  • Alaves are planning to gain an advantage over rivals through technological advances shared with global strategic partners

On May 16, 2001, Deportivo Alaves of Spain’s La Liga were involved in one of the most famous matches in the history of European football.

In an epic battle that was settled by a “golden goal,” the underdog team from Vitoria-Gasteiz in the Basque Country lost 5-4 to Liverpool in the final of the UEFA Cup, now the Europa League, at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund.

Alaves are yet to reach those heights again, but having gained promotion from the second division last season, the team are now establishing themselves in the top tier of Spanish football. And they are doing that via new and creative avenues.

“Deportivo Alaves aims to reach the highest competitive standards through technology and innovation by trying to control all information possible around football and players: from injury prevention, recovery, scouting, performance analysis and much more,” club CEO Haritz Kerejeta told Arab News from La Liga’s offices in Dubai.

It is a methodology that not only serves the club’s ambitions, but one that Alaves hope to export to the region through partnerships with Saudi and other teams in the Middle East.

“As Deportivo Alaves, we have the vision of promoting our values, our identity and our club across all MENA (Middle East and North Africa), where we understand that the fanbase for football, and more specifically for La Liga, is huge,” Kerejeta added.

“We are working on a set number of projects, and of course partnering with MENA-based sport properties is always a possibility for us.”

These are ambitious steps for a provincial club that was established 103 years ago.

The football club is part of the Baskonia-Alaves Group, which includes basketball team Saski Baskonia (established 1959), four-time Spanish champions and a founding member of the EuroLeague.

The group’s objective, according to a promotional video, is “to transform the sports industry through excellence in business management and the competitiveness of our teams, as well as through the promotion of talent, innovation and new technologies.”

Borja Txasko, chief commercial officer at the group, said: “Alaves is very important for the city, for the community. It’s a social (institution), involved in the economic field, innovation, sustainability. Baskonia means a lot for the territory, for the Basque Country.

“We have more than 700 employees in the group, that is a huge amount of people, and that means a lot for the economy and the region.”

The football and basketball teams inevitably attract valuable customers to local businesses, according to Txasko, adding to the economic and social growth of the territory.

“During game day in the city, there are a lot of restaurants and bars, and the atmosphere in the city is (great),” he said. “There are a lot of people present and a very good percentage of funds go to the stadium.”

To help achieve this growth, the group, led by President Josean Querejeta, has established The Faktory, a center of excellence that acts as a strategic platform for the needs and challenges of all teams under the Baskonia-Alaves umbrella.

“Because we are really ambitious and we want to improve and grow and grow, we think we have to do different things to compete with other teams,” Txasko added. “Not only in sport, not only through football, so we try to think different, to do things differently.”

Kerejeta summed it up: “Alternative business and innovation is the way to improve and to grow.”

The idea is to forge relationships and alliances with partners interested in the development of science research and technology, including clubs in the Middle East.

La Liga this year celebrates the 10th anniversary of opening an office in Dubai, and it recently announced expansion into Saudi Arabia, with a view to spread the brand in the region.

“We are following (the same path) as La Liga,” Txasko said. “To get exposure first: We are Alaves, we are here, we are in La Liga. And then bring people to our city and generate business.”

Kerejeta pointed out that it is not just the football team expanding its horizons. “Now there is a big opportunity because it seems that a basketball franchise is going to be created here in Dubai, to play in the EuroLeague, to play in European competition,” said the CEO.

“It gives us an (opportunity) to come here, because we will probably in the future be competing against the Dubai franchise.”

As for direct partnerships with regional clubs and institutions, that should come through the “sharing and development of science, research and technology,” according to the club’s objectives.

“We have different consultancy projects,” Txasko said. “Sport consultancy, sports management.”

The net is cast wide in terms of locations around the world for the Baskonia-Alaves Group.

“We will be working with countries like Japan, France, Finland, Ecuador; and Alaves owns a team in the first division in Croatia, so we are also competing there,” Kerejeta said. “It will be a good choice to find a partner here to continue to develop the product.”

The CEO added that Baskonia-Alaves are also developing a strategic relationship with the UAE Basketball Federation.

Currently, Deportivo Alaves have two Arab footballers on their books: Algerian forward Abde Rebbach and Moroccan defender Abdel Abqar.

While that number could potentially increase in the future, Kerejeta says that the club will not favor one region over others when looking to unearth talent.

“We try to scout all over the world, but we don’t trust our strategy on one (nationality) anywhere in the world to develop the brand of the club, either in basketball or football,” said the CEO.

“We think that it must be about the players. So we don’t think that we should sign a Japanese player just to develop the Japanese market, for example, because in the future if he goes to another club, this is a short-term strategy.”

At present Alaves is 13th in the 20-team La Liga, a healthy position that could act as a launch pad for the club’s wider ambitions.

“For sure, we want to keep the team stable in La Liga, we are ambitious, our target is to compete in the Europa League or Europa Conference League,” said Txasko.

Certainly fans would welcome the chance to recreate the heroics of 2001. But at home, how the smaller clubs can compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona on the pitch remains Spanish football’s eternal question.

“The gap is very big, but I think it’s smaller than before,” said Txasko. “Different teams have recently been getting closer, for example Sevilla, Real Betis, Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao, and Osasuna was close last season. And we think we can get closer.”

When asked if the clubs mentioned, and Alaves, are closing the gap on the big two, Kerejeta’s answer was an emphatic: “No. The gap is still very big, from Real Madrid and Barcelona to the rest, Atletico, Valencia, Sevilla, Betis, the gap is too big.”

Finding alternative ways to compete economically is the club’s target. “For example, last season we opened our own university,” he said.

“Our main goal is to try to diversify our business, not to depend only on football and basketball for our income.

“(Having) the university and the sports facilities will create new incomes that can bring resources to the club, increase the budget, help us be more competitive and decrease that gap.”


Sofia Kenin and Cristina Bucsa win Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open qualifiers

Sofia Kenin and Cristina Bucsa win Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open qualifiers
Updated 02 February 2025
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Sofia Kenin and Cristina Bucsa win Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open qualifiers

Sofia Kenin and Cristina Bucsa win Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open qualifiers
  • Mixed day for the Brits as Sonay Kartal progresses but Heather Watson is beaten
  • Main draw pits Ons Jabeur against Jelena Ostapenko while Emma Raducanu meets Marketa Vondrousova

ABU DHABI: The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open returned to the UAE capital on Saturday with qualifying wins for the likes of Sofia Kenin, Cristina Bucsa and 17-year-old Wakana Sonobe.

Meanwhile, the main draw produced clashes between crowd favorite Ons Jabeur and Jelena Ostapenko, and Grand Slam champions Emma Raducanu and Marketa Vondrousova.

The third edition of the Women’s Tennis Association 500 event takes place at the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, over the next week, with the final on Saturday, Feb. 8.

American Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, overcame Japan’s Aoi Ito in an entertaining match early on, edging a tight first set via tie-break before running out the winner, 7-6, 6-2.

In her match, Cristina Bucsa fought back from a set down to beat Kamilla Rakhimova 5-7, 7-6, 6-3.

Brit Heather Watson, the Wimbledon mixed doubles champion, suffered an early exit at the hands of Katie Volynets, losing 6-4, 6-3, but her compatriot Sonay Kartal produced a superb comeback against Chloe Paquet, overturning a one-set deficit to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Elsewhere, Sonobe, who won the girls’ singles title at the Australian Open one week ago, defeated Hailey Baptiste 6-3, 6-1, while there were also straight-set victories for Veronika Kudermetova and McCartney Kessler.

Meanwhile, Teodora Kostovic and Renata Zarazua progressed via walkovers following the withdrawals through injury of Diane Parry and Ysaline Bonaventure.

Away from the on-court action, the main draw took place in the new-look Mubadala Tennis Village which, at 15,000 sq. meters, is double the size of previous years.

Three-time Grand Slam finalist Jabeur takes on Ostapenko, who won the French Open in 2017 and the US Open doubles title in 2024, while 2021 US Open winner Raducanu, goes head-to-head with 2023 Wimbledon champion Vondrousova.

Elsewhere, Belinda Bencic, winner of the inaugural Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open in 2023, goes up against Rebecca Sramkova, Polina Kudermetova faces Liudmila Samsonova, and 2022 WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia plays Lulu Sun.

Tournament director Nigel Gupta said: “The opening day of this year’s tournament has been a huge success, with some wonderful matches and fantastic off-court entertainment. Attendance figures have been great, and it was brilliant to see so many fans of all ages coming through the gates and enjoying the Mubadala Tennis Village.

“The draw has produced some really exciting matches, and everything is on course for the 2025 edition of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open to be the best yet. We look forward to welcoming many more spectators to Zayed Sports City over the course of the next week.”


Gulf Giants stay alive in DP World ILT20 playoff race after win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

Gulf Giants stay alive in DP World ILT20 playoff race after win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
Updated 02 February 2025
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Gulf Giants stay alive in DP World ILT20 playoff race after win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

Gulf Giants stay alive in DP World ILT20 playoff race after win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
  • The Giants won by 7 wickets to sit 3rd in the table after 10 matches

ABU DHABI: The Gulf Giants returned to winning ways as they coasted to a seven-wicket win over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the DP World ILT20 clash at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

The win sees the Giants climb to third in the table and gives a welcome boost to their playoff chances. The result also confirms the MI Emirates join the Desert Vipers as playoff qualifiers.

Needing a win to keep their competition hopes alive, the Gulf Giants were brilliant with the ball as they stifled the Knight Riders for 123. In response, they rode on a superb 70-run partnership between Gerhard Erasmus and Tom Curran and some late pinch-hitting from Shimron Hetmyer to clinch the victory.

The Giants were off the blocks well in what appeared to be a straightforward chase. However, David Willey worked his magic as he picked up two wickets in as many deliveries to put the opposition in a worrisome spot. James Vince played the ball onto his stumps to depart for seven and Willey trapped Jordan Cox LBW on the next to give his side a fighting chance. The Giants scored 27/2 in the powerplay, just three runs more than their opponents at the same stage. A disciplined bowling effort from Willey and Sunil Narine curtailed the Giants’ batting as they were restricted to 50/2 at the halfway point.

But it was just a matter of time before Erasmus and Curran found their groove, which happened in the 11th over. Curran let loose as he hit Andre Russell for a four, a six and another four to amass 17 much-needed runs. That gave the Giants the impetus they needed as they got 12 more runs off Terrance Hinds in the 13th.

The Giants were on track at this point, at 82/2, and needed a run per ball from the remaining seven overs. An impressive 70-run partnership between Curran and Erasmus came to an end when Jason Holder found the breakthrough in the 15th over. Erasmus was caught at mid-off, but Hetmyer joined Curran and made his intentions clear early on with a superb boundary. Narine, uncharacteristically, gave away four runs in extras as the Giants inched closer to the target.

Hetmyer displayed his big-hitting skills as he clobbered Irbar Ahmad for a maximum over deep midwicket and subsequently hit the winning runs to seal a remarkable victory for the Gulf Giants.

Earlier, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders made a poor start when they lost both their openers — Kyle Mayers and Andries Gous — inside the opening three overs. Each made one run as the Knight Riders limped to 4/2. Roston Chase offered some hope as he struck a few boundaries to lead them to 24/2 at the end of the powerplay.

He departed for 15 soon after to Blessing Muzarabani, and Willey entered the fray. The Englishman steadied the ship and teamed up with Joe Clarke to put up 29 runs for the fourth wicket. The runs, though, were hard to come by as the Knight Riders went through four overs without a boundary. They were precariously placed at 55/3 after 12 overs when Clarke fell to Chris Jordan.

The Knight Riders made plenty of changes to their batting order. Russell came in next, his arrival seeming to swing the fortunes in his side’s favor as Willey launched two massive sixes before Russell hit a couple of boundaries. However, his stay at the crease was cut when Curran dismissed him for 15.

With five overs to go, the Knight Riders were at 80/5 and in dire need of some quick runs to put up a competitive total. Willey shouldered the responsibility and hit Mark Adair for a six, but the Irishman struck back on the next delivery. Willey’s resolute display ended after a crucial 41 off 29 deliveries.

Alishan Sharafu, the local boy who has been among the Riders’ better batsmen this season, was tasked with steering his side at the death overs. He got off the mark with a boundary, but the runs then dried up as his team managed just three boundaries in the final four overs to put up a modest total of 123.

Sunil Narine, captain of the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, said: “I think they bowled brilliantly and used the conditions to their advantage. We tried to take as many wickets as possible in the powerplay. We couldn’t take many wickets in the middle overs and it became easier for them. Jason Holder has been doing a fantastic job with the bat and the ball. He assessed the conditions as best as possible. We are on the backfoot, but we will be looking forward to that Mumbai-Sharjah game and are hoping for the best.”

Player of the Match Dan Worrall said: “Opening the bowling with Mark, we had to get us off to a good start. Our bowling group prides itself on diversity. Left arm, right arm, tall and short, we have a bit of everything. We’re glad that we’ve at least given ourselves a fighting chance. We’ll be crossing our fingers for the next couple of days.”

Brief scores

Gulf Giants beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by seven wickets

Gulf Giants 124/3 in 17.5 overs (Gerhard Erasmus 47, Tom Curran 38 not out, Shimron Hetmyer 20 not out, David Willey 2 for 17, Jason Holder 1 for 17)

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 123-7 in 20 overs (David Willey 41, Alishan Sharafu 21 not out, Chris Jordan 2 for 20, Mark Adair 2 for 25, Dan Worrall 1 for 13)

Player of the Match: Dan Worrall


LeBron James becomes seventh NBA player to reach 2,500 3-pointers

LeBron James becomes seventh NBA player to reach 2,500 3-pointers
Updated 02 February 2025
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LeBron James becomes seventh NBA player to reach 2,500 3-pointers

LeBron James becomes seventh NBA player to reach 2,500 3-pointers
  • The NBA’s career scoring leader made his first 3 of the night midway through the third quarter
  • Next on the list is No. 6 Reggie Miller, the Hall of Fame Indiana Pacers star who had 2,560

NEW YORK: LeBron James made his 2,500th 3-pointer Saturday night, becoming the seventh player in NBA history to reach that total.
The NBA’s career scoring leader made his first 3 of the night midway through the third quarter of what was shaping up as another strong game at Madison Square Garden, where he came in averaging 28 points in 20 career appearances.
James had moved ahead of Kyle Korver into seventh place when he made his 2,450th on Dec. 4 in a game in Miami. Next on the list is No. 6 Reggie Miller, the Hall of Fame Indiana Pacers star who had 2,560.


Bakhashab clinches Hail Legends Rally title

Bakhashab clinches Hail Legends Rally title
Updated 02 February 2025
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Bakhashab clinches Hail Legends Rally title

Bakhashab clinches Hail Legends Rally title

HAIL: Saudi rally driver Abdullah Bakhashab and French co-driver Sebastien Delaunay stormed to a commanding victory in the second and final stage of the Legends Rally in Hail on Saturday.

Bakhashab set the pace in the Toyota Hilux from the start with an impressive time of 04:40:10. The duo set the fastest time in each stage in a dominant performance.

Despite the dramatic victory, it was Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Faisal who captured the headlines after an accident shortly before the end of the second stage in which his vehicle rolled over.

He was able to continue, with he and co-driver Pablo Morena of Spain finishing in fourth with a time of 05:48:24.

Second overall position went to Essa Al-Dosari with a time of 05:30:53, while veteran Saudi driver Ahmed Al-Sabban secured third with 05:45:05.

Speaking after the race, Bakhashab said he was delighted to win the Legends category, part of this year’s Hail Toyota International Rally, but that the victory was unexpected given his 15-year absence from rallying.

“I was following a strategy of taking my time so that I could pass Prince Khaled and the rest of my colleagues, and thank God I succeeded and was able to arrive first and win the title,” he said.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan congratulated Bakhashab, saying: “Abdullah was able to win the challenge with his experience, and this is not strange for him as a champion with titles and achievements.”

On his accident, he added: “Thank God we came out of this race safely, and I promise you that we will be crowned in the next rally. The challenge is still on with Bakhashab and the other competitors.”


Real Madrid’s winning run surprisingly ends in loss at Espanyol

Real Madrid’s winning run surprisingly ends in loss at Espanyol
Updated 02 February 2025
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Real Madrid’s winning run surprisingly ends in loss at Espanyol

Real Madrid’s winning run surprisingly ends in loss at Espanyol
  • Espanyol inched two points clear of the drop zone, while Madrid’s lead was cut to one point after Atletico Madrid beat Mallorca 2-0 earlier

MADRID: Real Madrid’s winning run ended in stunning fashion after losing at relegation-threatened Espanyol 1-0 on Saturday in La Liga.
Defender Carlos Romero’s late goal beat the La Liga leader and moved Espanyol out of the bottom three.
Espanyol inched two points clear of the drop zone, while Madrid’s lead was cut to one point after Atletico Madrid beat Mallorca 2-0 earlier.
Madrid, which found out on Friday that it will face Manchester City in the Champions League knockout playoff round, traveled to Espanyol with 10 victories in its last 11 matches in all competitions.
It dominated and Vinícius Júnior thought he gave the visitors the lead in the 21st minute but it was ruled out due to a foul by Kylian Mbappé on Espanyol midfielder Pol Lozano.
Madrid was made to pay for its missed opportunities five minutes from time when Romero volleyed in Omar El Hilali’s cross, much to the home fans’ raucous — and surprised — delight.
Back to winning ways
Atletico went into its match against seventh-placed Mallorca having lost both of its last two league matches and with only two wins in its last four games after a run of 15 consecutive victories.
It took the lead in the 26th minute when Giuliano Simeone sprinted down the right before rolling the ball across the edge of the area for Samuel Lino to fire into the bottom right corner.
Rodrigo Riquelme hit the crossbar with a free kick two minutes from time and provided the through ball for substitute Antoine Griezmann to run onto and delightfully chip the goalkeeper and seal the match in stoppages.
Fifth-placed Villarreal crushed bottom club Real Valladolid 5-1 and Getafe drew with Sevilla 0-0.