Assistant Coach Danks: Kompany's condition is improving... and his return has not been determined yet

The organizing committee of the FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 revealed “Suhail”, the official mascot of the tournament, which will be hosted by Doha during the period from August 27 to September 12, 2027, with the participation of 32 teams from around the world.

The Qatari newspaper Al-Raya reported that the character “Suhail” was inspired by the star known by that name in the Gulf region, who is known internationally as “Canopus.” For centuries, sailors, desert people, and pearl divers have used this star for guidance on their journeys, as it served as a guide for the people of Qatar and the region on their travels.

The choice of the “Suhail” star in the design of the official mascot gains additional importance, as the season of his appearance coincides with the date of the FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027, which strengthens the tournament’s connection with the heritage and ancient history of the State of Qatar. The “Suhail” star is one of the natural signs that the people of the Gulf use to indicate the change of seasons, as its appearance is associated with the decline of the summer heat and the moderation of the atmosphere, especially during the evening hours, and the “Suhail” star is expected to appear in the sky of Qatar during the period of the tournament.

Abdullah Al-Mawlawi, Executive Director of the Communications and Guest Relations Committee of the Local Organizing Committee of the Basketball World Cup, said: “The unveiling of (Suhail) represents an important step in our preparations for hosting the Basketball World Cup, as the tournament mascot reflects our keenness to highlight the cultural identity of the State of Qatar and celebrate its ancient heritage.” He added: “We were inspired by this character from the star (Suhail), who has a special place in popular Qatari and Gulf memory, to form a symbol that combines our connection to our past and our aspirations for the future.”

On the other hand, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and midfielder Jamal Musiala continue to be absent from the German football team Bayern Munich, in its second round match in the German Cup scheduled to be held tomorrow, Wednesday, against Magdeburg. Aaron Danks, Bayern's assistant coach, said in a press conference on Tuesday: “It is still early for Manuel Neuer and Jamal Musiala. “The duo underwent treatment yesterday, and we will have to wait and see.”

Neuer suffers from chronic inflammation in the tendons in his foot, while Musiala has not yet reached the required readiness after suffering a rupture in the muscle fibers. Joshua Kimmich is also absent, but is expected to resume training this week. Danks added that defender Kim Min-jae and midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic "are definitely a little closer to being fully fit."

Danks is leading the team during the absence of Vincent Kompany, the technical director, who has been in the hospital since last Friday, after he collapsed while following a training session. “I stopped by to see Vincent briefly yesterday and he was in good spirits,” Danks said. Things seem to be getting better day by day. "There is no final diagnosis yet. He is very calm and is getting enough time to recover."