SPORT - The African Mirror

Oct

01

2020

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…

Oct

04

2020

By The African Mirror

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…