SPORT - The African Mirror

Oct

04

2020

Ethiopia’s Kitata sprints to London Marathon win as Kipchoge suffers rare defeat

SPORT

MITCH PHILLIPS Ethiopia's Shura Kitata outsprinted Kenya's Vincent Kipchumba to win a thrilling London Marathon on Sunday as world record holder Eliud Kipchoge faded late in the race to suffer his first defeat since 2013. In cold, wet conditions, Kitata edged clear to win in a relatively slow two hours, 05.41 minutes. Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia was third, with Kipchoge eighth in 2:06.49. - Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Oct

03

2020

By The African Mirror

Mosimane hits the ground running at Al Ahly

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER SOUTH African Pitso Mosimane, who has been given a warm welcome by his new club Egyptian giants Al Ahly, has no time to settle down. He has to lead the team in a semi-final for continental honours. Mosimane left South African top side Mamelodi Sundowns after eight years and 11 trophies. He replaced Swiss Rene Weiler at the Al Ahly. Al Ahly will face Wydad Casablanca in the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League, where a win will take them a game away from clinching their 9th title. In an interview with Al Ahly TV, Mosimane expressed…

Nov

06

2020

By The African Mirror

Saudi Arabia to host F1 night race in Jeddah in 2021

SPORT

ALAN BALDWIN SAUDI Arabia will host a Formula One Grand Prix for the first time next year with a night race on the streets of the country's second city Jeddah, the sport and organisers announced on Thursday. The November race -- along Jeddah's corniche facing the Red Sea -- will be the third in the Middle East with Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, subject to confirmation of a 2021 calendar that has yet to be published. Formula One's current season has been restricted by the COVID-19 pandemic to 17 races in Europe and the Middle East but the sport is hoping…

Nov

06

2020

By The African Mirror

Supercoach Ans Botha says athletics saved her

SPORT

AS her protégé glides effortlessly around the Bellinzona track, “Tannie” Ans Botha watches pensively, and in awe of the immense talent she has had the privilege to mould and nurture. Wayde van Niekerk’s one-lap trot around the Swiss track in September marked his first international race in three years. His return to the track represented a final sigh of relief after the emotional ebb and flow that accompanied his recovery from a career-threatening injury in 2017. “That evening in Bellinzona, I stood next to that track, and my whole body was covered in goosebumps, and I just thought to myself…

Nov

04

2020

By The African Mirror

Soccer-Argentina great Maradona recovering in hospital after anemia – doctor

SPORT

ARGENTINE soccer great Diego Maradona was anemic and dehydrated but is recovering well in hospital, according to his personal physician. Maradona, 60, is still undergoing tests after he was admitted to the Ipensa clinic in La Plata, Argentina on Monday, according to his doctor Leopoldo Luque, who said his condition is not related to COVID-19. "He is evolving as we wanted. I hope he will want to stay until tomorrow," Luque told reporters. "He will have to do long-term treatment." Luque said on Monday that Maradona was "not well psychologically" and it had impacted his physical health. He is expected…

Nov

01

2020

By The African Mirror

Mercedes make history as Hamilton steals sensational win at Emilia Romagna GP

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO MERCEDES driver Lewis Hamilton stormed to his 92nd career race win at the historic Imola track in Italy. Hamilton predicted a boring race, due to tough overtaking conditions, but to his surprise was left in third position behind teammate Valterri Bottas and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The defending world champion held his composure to seal a Mercedes 1-2 finish, ahead of Bottas. The win sealed Mercedes’ seventh constructors championship, the most all-time, breaking the tie with rivals Ferrari. https://twitter.com/MercedesAMGF1/status/1322905725455245318 “People watching at home might think we are used to this but to be part of breaking a record…

Nov

01

2020

By The African Mirror

Pirates win one of Africa’s biggest football derbies

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER WITH only four matches into his tenure as Kaizer Chiefs coach, Gavin Hunt, finds himself under early pressure following his side's 3-0 humiliation at the hands of arch-rivals Orlando in a Soweto derby played at the Orlando Stadium. Hunt would know that while management and supporters at his new team will understand his battle to understand the team and get them to play his way, a loss against Pirates is a total no-no. Predictably, Hunt was not happy with the outcome of the game. He pointed to a myriad of mistakes in the midfield and upfront. He…

Oct

13

2020

By The African Mirror

Christiano Ronaldo tests positive for COVID-19

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER WORLD football star and Portugal captain Christian Ronaldo has tested positive for COVID-19. The Portugues Football Federation has announced that Ronaldo, who also plays for Italian giants Juventus, has gone into self-quarantine and will now miss his country’s next UEFA Nations League game against Sweden. His last game was goalless draw on Sunday against France. In a statement, the FPF said Ronaldo was doing well, without symptoms, and in isolation. “Following the positive case, the remaining players underwent new tests this Tuesday morning, all with a negative result, and are available to Fernando Santos for training this…

Oct

11

2020

By The African Mirror

Hamilton scores record-equalling 91st victory

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO WORLD champion has equalled F1 great Michael Schumacher’s record of most victories in the sport after he won the Eifel Grand Prix, a race marked by a myriad of technical problems which forced five drivers to retire. Hamilton, who started in 2nd position, drove a race of his life, registered several lap records to win ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The world champion was forced to bring his best performance with ten laps to go after the deployment of the safety car. His 91st win means he now has 231 world championship points. There was a special…

Oct

11

2020

By The African Mirror

Bottas takes pole at Eifel Grand Prix

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER MERCEDES’ Valterri Bottas starts today’s Eifel Grand Prix on pole after pipping teammate and world champion Lewis Hamilton by the narrowest of margins. Bottas pole and Hamilton’s 2nd spot means that Mercedes have continued with their dominance on the circuit, achieving 100% pole positioning record for the 2020 season. Bottas was 0.256s ahead of Hamilton with Red Bull's Max Verstappen slotting into the third spot. Bottas was elated with his achievement. “It feels great to be on pole position here and I really enjoyed that session. It’s such a nice feeling when you get it with your…