In his third nomination, the exceptional performances of the 21-year-old during the previous season captured the attention and votes of his peers in the Professional Footballers’ Association. Emerging as the victor, Bukayo secured the highest number of votes, outshining teammate Gabriel Martinelli. Martinelli, a strong contender with 15 Premier League goals, shared the top scorer spot with Martin Odegaard.

Erling Haaland of Manchester City, Jacob Ramsey of Aston Villa, Evan Ferguson of Brighton, and former Seagull Moises Caicedo, now with Chelsea, were among the other contenders. Yet, Bukayo’s outstanding season took center stage, achieving a career-best 15 goals across all competitions and providing 11 assists. He featured in all 38 Premier League games for the second consecutive season and showcased an impressive performance during the 2022 World Cup for England, netting three times in four matches as the team progressed to the quarter-finals.

The season finale brought news of Bukayo’s commitment, signing a new long-term contract with the club he joined at the age of eight. In the previous term, he secured the Football London Young Player of the Year award and claimed the third position in the Football Writer’s Association Player of the Year voting. Nominated for both the Premier League’s Player and Young Player of the Season awards, Bukayo clinched the esteemed PFA prize.

The 50th year of the award’s legacy since its inception in 1973/74, Bukayo becomes the 45th recipient and the sixth Arsenal player to claim the honor. He joins the esteemed ranks of players such as Tony Adams, Paul Merson, Nicolas Anelka, Cesc Fabregas, and Jack Wilshere. At the Lowry Theatre in Manchester, Jack Wilshere presented the trophy to Bukayo, crafting a touching moment on stage as two prominent Hale End products united in the spotlight.

Mike Tyson, the former ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’, is mentoring Francis Ngannou, the UFC heavyweight champion, for his boxing debut against Tyson Fury, the WBC world champion. Ngannou is known for his devastating knockout power, having stopped all but one of his eleven UFC wins by punches. He is one of the most feared strikers in MMA history. Tyson, who retired in 2005, was also a fearsome puncher in his prime, knocking out twenty-five of his first twenty-seven opponents and becoming the youngest heavyweight champion ever. He has stayed involved in boxing as a podcaster and a trainer. Tyson shared a video of his intense training sessions with Ngannou on his social media, hoping to help him pull off a huge upset. The Fury-Ngannou fight is set for October 26 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but it will not be for the heavyweight title and will only last ten rounds. Boxing fans are not giving Ngannou much of a chance against Fury, who is widely regarded as one of the best boxers in the world.

Cameroon’s 24-man squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Burundi includes Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana. He had previously retired from the team due to conflicts with coach Rigobert Song after the Qatar World Cup. Speculation about his return ended with confirmation from the sports minister, Prof. Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, following a call from Cameroon football legend Samuel Eto’o, head of FECAFOOT. Onana’s last game for the Indomitable Lions was in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, replaced by Devis Epassy. Other regular players like Vincent Aboubakar and Karl Toko-Ekambi are also named. Facing Burundi on September 12, Cameroon aims to secure a place in the 2024 AFCON, where they’re currently second in Group C.