SPORT - The African Mirror

Sep

06

2020

Historic maiden win for Gasly in drama-filled Italian Grand Prix

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO THREE talented young drivers drove the races of their lives, giving Formula 1 fans a peek into the future in a drama filled race won by Pierre Gasly with top teams Mercedes and Red Bull missing from the podium. AlphaTauri’s Gasly, McLaren’s Carlos Sainz and Racing Point’s Stroll are seen as the next generation of F1 winners and they showed what they are capable of at Monza, a home race for Ferrari who suffered a double-blow when both drivers failed to finish the race. The 2020 Italian Grand Prix produced a spectacle of events that dazzled formula fans…

Oct

02

2020

By The African Mirror

Nigeria makes its presence known in mixed martial arts

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO IF you were asked to think of the most famous athletes from Nigeria, the options would effortlessly roll off your tongue. The memories would come flooding back of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, and the nostalgic glory of Nigeria’s football team would make you smile. Now? Now it’s Nigeria’s dominance in mixed martial arts, a sport that is captivating millions around the globe, with four Nigerian fighters at the centre of that conversation. Israel Adesanya. Picture: Supplied One would only have to look at the recent Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 253 event between current middleweight world champion Israel…

Oct

02

2020

By The African Mirror

African iconic football legend honoured

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER AFRICAN football legend Didier Drogba, who has been honoured with the Presidential Award by European Football Association, has paid tribute to all the clubs that he played for. Drogba also praised UEFA for helping to mould him into a football administrator strong enough to run for the presidency of the Ivory Coast Football Association. After receiving his trophy from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, Drogba said: “I want to thank @UEFA , President Čeferin for honouring me, the teams I’ve played for and against , my teammates and all the people who have sent me so many nice…

Oct

01

2020

By The African Mirror

New course, old rivals as Kipchoge and Bekele face off in London

SPORT

MITCH PHILLIPS AN unfamiliar course, poor weather and the absence of 750,000 cheering fans suggest a world record is unlikely in Sunday’s London Marathon but long-standing rivals Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele could still produce a race for the ages. After the cancellation of the original race in April due to COVID-19, organisers have pulled together an elite-only event, featuring almost 20 laps of St James’s Park, behind high fences and watched only by a handful of journalists, coaches and event officials. For Kenya’s Kipchoge, this will feel familiar after he became the first man to break two hours on…

Oct

03

2020

By The African Mirror

Somali women’s basketball team defy prejudice, hostility

SPORT

ABDI SHEIKH WHISTLES screech on the sea breeze as three female Somali coaches inspect a line of women in black and blue headscarves dribbling basketballs. It's not just the heat that makes it hard: the women are also braving the scorn of their families and the threat of attack by gunmen who think women should not play sport publicly. "We cannot openly say we are going to play. We put our playing clothes and shoes in school bags and carry them that way to the field and we pretend we are going to school or university," said Fardawsa Omar Ahmed,…

Oct

06

2020

By The African Mirror

African football stars’ big moves in Europe

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER TWO African soccer stars featured in a dramatic closing night for transfers where over a billion dollars was spent. Ghananian superstars Thomas Partey made a sensational move to British Premier League side Arsenal with South African Bongani Zungu joining Rangers on a season-long loan deal from French side Amiens. Partey’s much talkabout move was sealed soon after Arsenal paid Atletico Madrid the $40-million release clause as stipulated in his contract. Partey then cancelled his contract with Atletico and signed with Arsenal for $45-million. Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said he was delighted to add such a high quality…

Oct

06

2020

By The African Mirror

Turkish F1 GP to be held without fans due to COVID-19

SPORT

FORMULA One's Turkish Grand Prix next month will be held without spectators due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Istanbul governor's office has announced, as the event returns to Istanbul after an absence of almost a decade. The Turkish Grand Prix, scheduled for November 13-15, was put back on the Formula One calendar in August. Turkey last hosted a race in 2011 at the Istanbul Park circuit, which was popular among drivers but attracted small crowds. In order to boost attendances, Istanbul Park's operators Intercity had sold tickets at record-low prices for the 2020 weekend and announced that as many as…

Oct

06

2020

By The African Mirror

Top striker is NOT going anywhere, says Chiefs

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER TOP South African club Kaizer Chiefs says its crack striker, Samir Nurkovic, who is said to be have caught the eye of Egyptian giants Al Ahly, is not going where. In response to reports that Al Ahly have offered a R70-million offer after an earlier tender of R50-million was turned down, Chiefs categorically said "no club has approached us". Chiefs said no club has approached it to negotiate for the services of the Serbian. The club explained that it would not let Nurkovic go because it "not flexible in the market while waiting for CAS outcome". The…

Oct

05

2020

By The African Mirror

First crack appears in Kipchoge’s armour of invincibility

SPORT

MITCH PHILLIPS WHEN race commentator Steve Cram announced "this is not normal" midway through Sunday's London Marathon it was something of an understatement as Eliud Kipchoge, the most dominant performer the distance has ever seen, was finally looking mortal. An hour later, Kipchoge trailed home eighth in a time six minutes slower than his own world record and over a minute adrift of Ethiopia's Shura Kitata, who won the race after a spectacular sprint finish in two hours, 05.41 minutes. The Kenyan had finally cracked just under three miles from the end, later saying he was suffering from a blocked…

Oct

05

2020

By The African Mirror

Praise for Nigerian star at the NBA Finals

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) President Musa Kida has praised Miami Heat and Nigerian National team player, Gabriel Nnamdi Vincent, who has become the first Nigerian national team player to qualify for the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals. President Kida praised Vincent’s commitment and work ethic during the season. "Just early this year, Gabe was playing in the G-League with Stockton Kings before his hard work and consistency was recognised which earned him a two-way deal with Miami Heat and Sioux Falls Skyforce.” Vincent earned a national team callup after a stellar year in the NBA G-League which saw…