SPORT - The African Mirror

Nov

13

2020

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

SPORT

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

SPORT

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

SPORT

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

SPORT

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…

Nov

17

2020

By The African Mirror

Lungi Ngidi becomes first cricketer signed to Roc Nation Sports group

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO SOUTH African star bowler Lungi Ngidi has been signed to Roc Nation Sports following his stellar season for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Cricket South Africa’s 2020 ODI and T20I Cricketer of the Year is regarded as one of the most promising young talents from an illustrious crop of Proteas bowlers. He joins Countrymen Siya Kolisi and Cheslin Kolbe, who joined the sports titans Roc Nation after their 2019 Rugby World Cup triumph. https://twitter.com/NgidiLungi/status/1328632138464374784 Roc Nation Sports has made the big announcement in a short video which features the three South African sports…

Nov

17

2020

By The African Mirror

Gabon national team capture six hours delay on social media

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER GABON captain and Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, along with his teammates were forced to wait at the Gambian airport for six hours on Sunday evening before they were allowed into the country. The team had arrived in the Gambia ahead of their Monday night Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match against the nation’s football team but were delayed at Banjul International Airport due to COVID-19 regulations. Aubameyang, along with his teammates, documented the entire wait on Instagram. The players and coaching staff were all awaiting their COVID-19 test results and could not head to their hotel. Through…

Nov

17

2020

By The African Mirror

COVID-19 forces postponement of Basketball Africa League

SPORT, BASKETBALL

BOITUMELO RANTAO THE COVID-19 pandemic has forced Africa to defer its dream for a continental basketball league. Basketball Africa League (BAL) President, Amadou Gallo Fall, has announced the postponement of the inaugural season of the league to next year. Basketball Africa League (BAL) President, Amadou Gallo Fall Fall said that postponing the historic BAL tip-off, which was scheduled for March this year, was a difficult, but necessary decision Fall. “We had hoped to launch the league before the end of the year, and our hosts in Rwanda were excited and prepared,” he said. Fall elaborated on the current state of…