SPORT - The African Mirror

Nov

15

2020

Hamilton summits to the top of F1 history

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO LEWIS Hamilton won his record-equalling seventh world championship rising from sixth place on the grid. Hamilton’s historic feat spoke to his driving prowess on a day with horrid conditions that tested Mercedes' resolve. Along with drawing level with Michael Schumacher at the top of list Formula One’s greatest, Hamilton feat extended his record to 94 career race wins. “I'm definitely a bit lost for words. A huge thanks to the team. To Team LH for sticking with me for all these years. And to my family, “This is way beyond our dreams” said the Race winner Track conditions…

Nov

14

2020

By The African Mirror

Stroll takes maiden pole in Turkey

SPORT

RACING Point driver Lance Stroll took his first career pole position ahead of the Istanbul Grand Prix in a rain plagued qualifier session. "I can't really put it into words right now, I'm shocked!” said Stroll. "It's one of the biggest highlights of my career for sure, we dream about these moments growing up and it's pretty special!" He added Stroll finished ahead of fellow teammate Sergio Perez and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, in second and third place respectively. "A great result for the team, something we were not really expecting! I definitely prefer P3 to P2, I think tomorrow…

Nov

14

2020

By The African Mirror

South Africa beats Sao Tome

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AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER SOUTH African international star Percy Tau played a blinder to lead Bafana Bafana to an impressive 2-0 lead over Sao Tome in a qualifier for the AFCON 2021 tournament scheduled for Cameroon. The victory placed the South African national team second and in the hunt for qualification in a group led by Ghana. The match was played in an empty Moses Mabhida Stadium, in Durban, because of COVID-19 restrictions. Tau, who plays for Belgian side Andrelecht, ran rings around the Sao Tome defence in a man-of-the-match performance. He capped his day with a goal, scoring from the…

Nov

13

2020

By The African Mirror

Red Bull’s roar on the streets marks Formula One’s return to Turkey

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO FORMULA One makes its long-awaited return to Istanbul after nine-years, and Red Bull marked the occasion with an exciting, and discrete, ride through the town to the famous Bosphorous Bridge. F1 drivers Pierre Gasly of Scuderia AlphaTauri and Alex Albon of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing took to the streets of the transcontinental city Istanbul, Turkey with a driving display through the town. https://twitter.com/F1/status/1326942196763942912 Blown away at the beauty of the bridge Gasly said: “Any time you have the possibility to drive a Formula 1 car at an iconic landmark is special. It was incredible to drive on…

Oct

21

2020

By The African Mirror

Approaching 80, Pelé gives thanks for his lucid mental state

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DAYS before his 80th birthday, Brazilian football great Pelé told his fans he was happy and healthy and pleased to be reaching the landmark with his lucid mental state. Pelé has been shielding at home in Brazil for most of the COVID-19 pandemic but in a jovial recorded message ahead of his landmark birthday on Friday he looked ahead not back. "Now that I am 80, I need to thank God for giving me the health to get this far, and lucidly, although not always intelligently," he said with a laugh in a short video sent to the media to…

Nov

24

2020

By The African Mirror

Real Madrid, Manchester City stars pay tributes Anele Ngcongca: 1987 – 2020

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AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER REAL Madrid star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Manchester City striker Kevin de Bruyne have paid warm tributes to their former teammate, South African international Anele Ngcongca who died in a car accident. Courtois and De Bruyne played together at Belgian first division side Genk. Courtois said: “Sad to hear former Genkie Anele is no longer with us. Being one of the most enthusiastic players I have ever met, I’ll always remember your smile and will carry your positive mindset with me. We’ll miss you deeply, my friend. My thoughts go out to your family.” De Bruyne, the…

Nov

22

2020

By The African Mirror

Record 8 Nigerian players picked in historic 2020 NBA Draft

SPORT, BASKETBALL

BOITUMELO RANTAO Nigeria emerged as the winners on a historic night that saw eight of their players, two born in the country and six of Nigerian heritage, drafted into the NBA. https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1329316899981840385 Isaac Okoro who was born in the USA to Nigerian parents became the highest drafted player with Nigerian roots, drafted fifth by the Cleveland Cavaliers, since Michael Olowokandi was drafted number one overall by the LA Clippers in 1998. “It feels great to be the first Nigerian in this draft to be drafted. It’s also just a blessing. My mom always tells me to keep that Nigerian pride,”…

Nov

21

2020

By The African Mirror

Haiti’s football boss banned for life by FIFA for sexual abuse

SPORT

FIFA has banned Haiti's football federation president Yves Jean-Bart for life after finding him guilty of sexually harassing and abusing multiple female players, including minors, global soccer's governing body has announced. FIFA provisionally suspended Jean-Bart in May while it investigated multiple allegations against him by victims, their friends and family members detailing how he coerced girls into sex by threatening they would lose their places in national team programmes. Jean-Bart has denied the allegations. "The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has found Yves Jean-Bart... guilty of having abused his position and sexually harassed and abused various female players,…

Nov

20

2020

By The African Mirror

How transfers negatively affect Nigerian footballers’ families

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IN Nigeria, a large number of players move from one club to another in the country’s top division of 20 clubs. CHUKA ONWUMECHILI, Professor of Communications, Howard University Although exact figures are sketchy, there are many footballers who engage in this migration, covering large distances. Some players move between Lagos and Maiduguri, which is a distance of 952 miles (about 1,500km). These huge distances limit the number of times a footballer returns home to his family each season. Often, these visits may be limited to one for the Christmas break in Nigeria. Player transfers are a global practice. But they…

Nov

18

2020

By The African Mirror

Race to run Africa’s football confederation has just heated up. What’s at play

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SOUTH African billionaire Patrice Motsepe’s intention to contest for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will make for an interesting run up to the March 12 election. Until he announced his intention it appeared that Ahmad Ahmad, the Malagasy who currently leads the organisation, would be a shoo-in. CHUKA ONWUMECHILI, Professor of Communications, Howard University He had already secured support from 46 of the 54 member countries. Motsepe’s entry is bound to instigate a rethink. The president of CAF has immense powers, which include representing the continent at the highest committees for global football decision making at…