SPORT - The African Mirror

Jun

2021

Soccer clubs embrace cryptocurrency, but fans are divided

TOM WILSON and ANNA IRRERA A growing number of major soccer clubs are launching digital coins that allow fans to vote on a variety of minor decisions as the sport faces slumping revenues caused by the coronavirus pandemic. But supporters are divided over the so-called fan tokens. Some appreciate the novel way to engage with their teams - and help make decisions, even if only on small-time matters such as the song played at matches after a goal is scored or images used on social media. Others dismiss the tokens as superficial participation that adds to the already growing costs…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

New head coach for Angola’s national basketball team

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO SPANIARD Josep Carlos has been named as the new head coach for Angola’s Senior National Men’s team. The announcement follows the resignation of Brazilian Jose Neto - who led the team throughout the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) African Basketball Championships (AfroBasket) qualifying windows in November 2020 and February 2021. Carlos’ agreement with the Federaçao Angolana de Basquetebol will stretch until the AfroBasket tournament taking place in Kigali, Rwanda from August 24 to September 4. Prior to the AfroBasket tournament, Angola will compete for a place in the Tokyo Olympic Games. Angola will travel to Lithuania where they will…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Zamalek strengthen BAL roster

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO EGYPTIAN basketball club Zamalek has added four talented players to their roster ahead of the inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL) season. Zamalek have acquired a pivot in Chinemelu Elonu - who stands tall at 6’10” (2.08) meters. Elonu is an American and Nigerian Citizen who last played in the Puerto Rican BSN league for Capitanes de Arecibo. In 13 games the power forward averaged 14.5 points per game (ppg), 9.6 rebounds per game (rpg), 1.4 assists per game (apg), and 1.5 blocks per game (bpg). Elonu won the BSN Championship with Capitanes de Arecibo in 2018. Elonu, drafted…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Rethinking football finance: Fan-owned clubs around the world

SPORT

ANURADHA NAGARAJ, CHRISTINE MURRAY and SHARON KIMATHI FOOTBALL fans are pressing the government to implement community control and democratic ownership of clubs following the demise of plans for a European Super League. The controversial project collapsed on Wednesday after eight of the 12 founding clubs from England, Italy and Spain pulled out under pressure from fans, players and politicians. But if clubs were owned - at least partly - by fans, would similar profit-making ventures, criticised widely for undermining established competitions and grassroots football, be a thing of the past? Here are three examples of football clubs and leagues around…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Brazil players criticise handling of Copa America switch

SPORT

THE Brazilian soccer team criticised the last-minute decision to switch the Copa America to Brazil from Argentina amid a surge in novel coronavirus infections but said they would play in the 10-nation tournament which kicks off in Brasilia on Sunday. Brazil was unexpectedly chosen to stage the Copa America after co-hosts Colombia were removed amid ongoing civil unrest and Argentina withdrew due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. Multiple news reports in Brazil had said the players were upset at not being consulted about the decision as well as the possible public health consequences, with some players reportedly reluctant to…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Fans booing players taking a knee show racism still a problem -Henderson

SPORT

ENGLAND midfielder Jordan Henderson said fans who booed players for taking a knee before matches proved racism was still an issue and that the team will continue to take a stand during the European Championship. There were jeers from a small section of spectators at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough when players took the knee before England's friendly wins over Austria and Romania last weekend. "It shows that if there are still people booing because we're standing together against racism, then there still is a problem and we've still got to fight it and stand together," Henderson said before Sunday's…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Angola suspends players prior to Olympics

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO AFRICAN Olympic hopefuls Angola have been hit by a wave of suspension following late arrivals to national team camp in preparation for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Lithuania. Leonel Paulo and Childe are the only players reported to have justified their absence from the Petro De Luanda Basketball club. Petro De Luanda represented Angola in the recent Basketball Africa League (BAL) and recently arrived back home following the culmination of the tournament. The Angolan team went as far as the semifinals before getting knocked out by eventual champions Zamalek of Egypt. Head Coach Josep Carlos will be…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Perez wins eventful Baku GP

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO SERGIO Perez won his second career Formula One win, and first at new team Red Bull, at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in the Baku City Circuit. Perez had an amazing start to the race, continuing his good fortune in Baku, taking 2 positions on the first lap. Perez has now registered three podiums through the windy Azerbaijan streets. “We love Baku!” the Red Bull driver exclaimed, ”We have to enjoy today, our pace was great and we have a very good race car. The relationship with the team is great and there’s still a long way to go…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Osaka thanks fans for ‘all the love’ after French Open withdrawal

SPORT

NAOMI Osaka has thanked her fans for their support after the four-time Grand Slam champion earlier this week withdrew from the French Open, citing mental health issues. The Japanese player initially said she would not attend the tournament's mandatory post-match press conferences, which she said put undue pressure on players. The 23-year-old world No. 2 later announced she would not compete at all and revealed she had been suffering from bouts of depression for several years, leading to an outpouring of support. "Just want to thank you for all the love," she wrote in an Instagram story. "Haven't been on…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

Navratilova sad for Osaka, says mental health gets short shrift

SPORT

WOMEN’S tennis great Martina Navratilova has said she was saddened by Naomi Osaka's decision to withdraw from the French Open following the controversy over her decision to boycott media obligations. Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka announced her decision on Monday, a day after being fined $15,000 for not attending a post-match media conference and threatened with expulsion after her first-round win. The Japanese player, who cited the negative impact on her mental wellbeing caused by facing journalists at post-match press conferences as the reason for her boycott, wrote on Twitter that she had suffered from depression since 2018. Martina Navratilova…