SPORT - The African Mirror

Aug

28

2020

NBA ready to resume games after players’ racial injustice boycott

SPORT

FRANK PINGUE and AMY TENNERY THE National Basketball Association (NBA) said on Thursday it hopes to resume play in a day or two after a boycott by players protesting racial injustice and police brutality, while President Donald Trump denounced the league. NBA Executive Vice President Mike Bass said the league is "hopeful" it will resume games Friday or Saturday after the protest, which was sparked by the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and led to game cancellations in other sports as well. The NBA players, a majority of whom are Black, decided not to…

Aug

28

2020

By The African Mirror

Senegal’s first female pro surfer draws others in her wake

SPORT

ZOHRA BENSEMRA GROWING up in the coastal capital of Dakar, Khadjou Sambe never saw a Black woman surfing the Atlantic swells. As Senegal's first female professional surfer, Sambe is now inspiring the next generation to defy cultural norms and take to the waves. Undeterred by the postponement of the Olympic Games, Sambe trains whenever conditions allow in the powerful surf break near her home in the hardscrabble district of Ngor - the westernmost point of the African continent. "When I am in the water I feel something extraordinary, something special in my heart," Sambe said, wearing a t-shirt of the…

Aug

27

2020

By The African Mirror

NBA postpones games after Bucks boycott, other sports follow suit

SPORT

RORY CARROLL and FRANK PINGUE THE National Basketball Association (NBA) has postponed all three playoff games after the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted Game 5 of their series against the Orlando Magic to protest racial injustice, triggering similar moves across other sports. The action by the Wisconsin-based team follows the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the city of Kenosha, also in Wisconsin, on Sunday. Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer and the Women's NBA also postponed games, while two-times tennis Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka joined the protests by pulling out of a tournament after reaching the semi-finals.…

Aug

26

2020

By The African Mirror

Soccer-England withdraw Maguire from Nations League squad after trial in Greece

SPORT

MANCHESTER United captain Harry Maguire was withdrawn from England's Nations League squad on Tuesday after a Greek court found him guilty of multiple charges following a brawl on the island of Mykonos last week. Court officials said Maguire had been found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees and insult after his arrest in Mykonos last Thursday. The 27-year-old was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days by the Greek court. Manchester United captain Maguire was initially named in Southgate's latest squad on Tuesday, while his trial was ongoing. "In light of…

Aug

26

2020

By The African Mirror

I wanted to build a Manchester United dream team – Van Gaal

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO Louis Van Gaal has spoken out about how his attempts to build a Manchester United dream team, to reclaim their past glory, was thwarted. “I wanted Robert Lewandowski, but when this proved difficult I tried to get Gonzalo Higuain instead, “Before I had arrived, I also spoke with the board about Neymar. If you are at United, you have to think big. He was also interesting for the club in terms of selling shirts, and I wanted to have quick wingers,” Van Gaal describes in the latest edition of Four Four Two, due out 26 August. Van Gaal…

Aug

26

2020

By The African Mirror

Messi bombshell has the world in a spin

SPORT

AFRICA MIRROR REPORTER LIONEL Messi’s decision to leave the club he joined as a 13-year-old boy has led to the resignation of Barcelona’s chief executive, deep anger among the club’s fans and wild speculation about his next club. Messi, the Argentinian superstar who is the heart and soul of Barcelona, activated the release clause on his contract days after the club’s 8-2 humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinal. Munich went on to win the trophy with a 1-0 victory over PSG. Following confirmation that Messi (33) has formally handed in a request for the…

Aug

23

2020

By The African Mirror

Why Cameroon has slid back since Italia ’90

SPORT

DANIEL EKONDO Thirty years ago, Cameroon announced themselves in style in the international arena with a storming performance in the 1990 Fifa World Cup. Their display is still regarded as one of the best by an African team in the showpiece. Cameroon were not tipped to do much in Italy given that they had been eliminated by just a goal in the group stage of the 1982 finals in Spain and had missed the previous edition in Mexico. While they were nobodies in the global arena, the Indomitable Lions ruled the African continent. Cameroon had won their first Africa Cup…

Aug

31

2020

By The African Mirror

Hamilton dedicates record Belgian GP win to fallen superhero

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO LEWIS Hamilton claimed his 88th Formula 1 Grand Prix win, fourth win at Spa de Francorchomps, equalling a record set by racing legend Jackie Stewart. Hamilton led the 44 lap race comfortably from start to the chequered flag. “No matter how much success we have we keep our heads down. It’s incredible, It felt great to get the win, I really wanted to deliver because he [Chadwick Boseman] made everyone feel like a superhero,” said Hamilton. Teammate Valterri Bottas finished in second place ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who remained unthreatened for most of the race. Verstappen…

Sep

02

2020

By The African Mirror

Faith Ogallo, Kenya’s taekwondo sensation

SPORT

KARIEN JONCKHEERE WHEN strangers discover that Faith Ogallo competes in martial arts, they generally have one of two responses, particularly if they’re men. “Being a lady, I am usually asked whether I am not worried about being disfigured, and others also ask whether I am an aggressive type of person outside the ring,” she said. It’s unlikely they’d ask a male taekwondo professional the same questions. But rather than taking offence, Ogallo relishes the chance to set them straight. “This gives me the chance to convince them that impossible is nothing. Women can do better both in sports and in…

Sep

03

2020

By The African Mirror

Football star Neymar tests positive for COVID-19

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER The world most expensive football star Neymar - who plays for the Brazil national team and French league champions PSG - has tested positive for COVID-19. Neymar and Manchester United’s Paul Pogba are among high profile football stars to test positive for what is widely described as a silent killer that has infected more than 25-million people across the world and claimed in excess of 860 000 lives. Neymar’s club PSG has not named the player, only confirming that three players have tested positive for COVID-19. However, media reports emanating out of France and elsewhere have identified…