SPORT - The African Mirror

Aug

04

2020

Soccer boss suspended for COVID-19 violation

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO TOP South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) club Kaizer Chiefs has suspended football manager Bobby Motaung for breaching of COVID-19 lockdown protocol. The decision to suspend Motuang follows multiple videos appearing on social media much to the ire of football fans. The videos show the football manager engaging in activities that are banned in terms of nationwide lockdown regulations. “With the Covid-19 pandemic, our processes have been intensified and stringent measures have been put in place to ensure the Club and its members play a role in the curbing of the spread of the virus and flattening the…

Aug

03

2020

By The African Mirror

Italian club Napoli sign Nigerian star

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO ITALIAN giants Napoli have confirmed the signing of Nigerian international Victor Osimhen from French club Lille. The 21-year old striker had been linked with several top European clubs after netting 18 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions for Lille, securing him a permanent transfer to Naples. The deal, worth €80m including add-ons and bonuses to Lille, makes Osimhen Napoli’s record club signing and Africa’s joint most expensive signing. Said Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis: "Napoli are the right club for him to achieve important results, and Osimhen will always give his best. I’ll say it now: Victor…

Aug

02

2020

By The African Mirror

Lewis Hamilton’s drama-filled home win

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER WORLD champion Lewis Hamilton won a drama-filled home F1 British Grand Prix race on three tyres after he experienced a spectacular blow out of his left front, half way through the last lap. Hamilton, who led from pole, brought the car home on a wing and a prayer, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, on fresh tyres, breathing down his neck. Verstappen came within six seconds of snatching victory from Hamilton. Tyre strategy by the teams and management by the drivers, was at the heart of the Silverstone race, with Hamilton, teammate Valterri Bottas and McLaren’s Carlos Sainz…

Aug

01

2020

By The African Mirror

Mercedes look to continue winning run

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO FORMULA One makes a stop at Silverstone for the first of two rounds at the British circuit. This will be the first time that the UK will hold back-to-back F1 events over consecutive race weekends. The first round at Silverstone also marks the first race in a second set of successive triple-headers in the revised Formula One calendar. Mercedes arrive at Silverstone as favourites after claiming victory in Austria, through Bottas in the first round and Hamilton in the second, with the latter winning again in the Hungarian GP. “We've had a good start to the season: we…

Aug

11

2020

By The African Mirror

It’s crazy, insane and unbelievable!

SPORT

SOUTH African Brad Binder made history on Sunday at the Czech GP when he claimed his first MotoGP victory, which was also Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's maiden race win in the premier class. Not only that, the 25-year-old from Krugersdorp became the first South African winner in only his third race following his promotion from the Moto2 ranks where he finished runner-up to fellow MotoGP rookie Álex Márquez in 2019. Here is what the 2016 Moto3 world champion had to say about his special day: How significant is it to be the first South African to win in MotoGP?…

Aug

13

2020

By The African Mirror

New boss for basketball in Africa

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO THE world’s leading basketball league, National Basketball Association (NBA), has announced Victor Williams as the new CEO of NBA Africa. Williams, fulfilling a newly created role, will oversee and be responsible for growing the NBA business and basketball development initiatives in Africa. This was announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver who praised Williams as an accomplished investment banker with extensive experience growing businesses across the U.S. and Africa. "Adding an executive of Victor’s calibre and experience is an important step in our continued efforts to grow basketball across the continent,” said Silver. "We look forward to Victor leading…

Aug

18

2020

By The African Mirror

Former Nigeria captain signs for Stoke City

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO VETERAN midfielder and former Super Eagles stalwart John Obi Mikel has joined Championship side Stoke City from Turkish side Trabzonspor. Mikel, now 33 years old, was a free agent after terminating his contract with Trabzonspor by mutual consent. He has signed a two-year deal with Stoke. Mikel made 249 Premier League appearances for Chelsea in an 11-year spell, which ended when he left Stamford Bridge in 2017.He won the Champions League and Europa League, two Premier Leagues, three FA Cups and the League Cup during his time with the London club. Stoke boss Michael O'Neill said: "I was…

Aug

18

2020

By The African Mirror

Dream debut for top striker

SPORT

SOUTH AFRICAN top striker Percy Tau has had a dream kick-off of his stint at top Belgian side Anderlecht, contributing a goal in his side’s 3-1 victory over St Truiden. Tau, the Bafana Bafana and ex Mamelodi Sundowns striker joined Anderlecht on loan from a similar stint with rivals Club Brugge. He is on loan from English club Brighton and Hove. He came on in the 64th minute and half an hour later, in stoppage time, received a sublime pass, trapped it magnificently and lobbed the ball past an advancing St Truiden keeper. His goal added to those from his…

Aug

16

2020

By The African Mirror

Record-breaking win and 156th podium finish Hamilton

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO REIGNING world champion Lewis Hamilton led the Spanish GP in Catalunya from pole to the chequered flag, to finish finishing ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The win was the 88th of his career leaving him three race wins shy of Michael Schumacher’s all-time record. He has, however, broke Schumacher’s record of 155 podiums and is number one on the all-time list Hamilton managed the race and the tyres well to build a lead that allowed him to finish way ahead of Verstappen. “I'm in a daze. That was amazing out there and we got our strategy spot…

Aug

15

2020

By The African Mirror

Mercedes F1 boss previews Barcelona race

SPORT

TOTO WOLF "THE 70th Anniversary Grand Prix was a good reminder how unpredictable and challenging our sport is and how difficult it is to win a race," said Toto. "You need to get absolutely everything right to beat your opponents - and we didn't do that last weekend. "We were quick in qualifying, but the points are given out on Sunday and that's when we struggled. We got beaten fair and square by Red Bull, and hats off to them again for the job they did. "Our team has always shown its greatest strengths when it was faced with tough…