SPORT - The African Mirror

Nov

17

2020

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…

Nov

17

2020

By The African Mirror

Bafana defeat Sao Tome 4-2 from Percy Tau late heroics

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER AFTER a nervy day that seemed to be a marquee performance from Sao Tome & Principe, the Bafana Bafana duo of Percy Tau and Themba Zwane struck two goals each in Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to complete their two-legged qualifier with an overall score of 6-2. Tau, easily one of the best players on the park, also enjoyed moving into ninth on South Africa’s all-time goal scoring list with his 88th minute strike. https://twitter.com/CAF_Online/status/1328393646421381121 Bafana are in a favourable position to qualify for the finals in Cameroon. They are tied with group leaders Ghana on nine points. …

Oct

31

2020

By The African Mirror

The gift and curse of Musa Juwara’s success

SPORT

ALEX ČIZMIĆ THE success of Musa Juwara is a source of pride and a cause for concern for The Gambia. The teenage sensation who is on the books of Italian club Bologna and currently on loan to Boavista FC in Portugal has won many hearts with his performances, more so because of the road he has travelled to stardom. But first, the cause for concern. In April 2019, the European Union (EU) launched a youth empowerment programme in The Gambia to tackle the root causes of the country’s migration. It was called Tekki Fii, a Wolof term that means “make it…

Oct

31

2020

By The African Mirror

Kaizer Chiefs is in need of a revival

SPORT

CONRAD ABRAHAMS IF you were looking at the past and current season in isolation, things wouldn’t look so bad for Kaizer Chiefs. They were the painful runners-up to Patrice Motsepe’s billionaire Mamelodi Sundowns in 2019-2020, leading for almost the entire campaign but capitulating in the final half-hour. This season, Chiefs have landed the country’s second-most successful coach of the past decade, Gavin Hunt, and in the near term trophies should follow. Dig a little deeper, though, and all is not well in Denmark, or at Naturena. If silverware has slowed each decade from the 1990s for the one-time trophy machine…

Oct

28

2020

By The African Mirror

Soccer-FIFA President Infantino test positive for COVID-19

SPORT

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has tested positive for COVID-19, global soccer's governing body has announced. Infantino, who is 50 years old, has reported mild symptoms and is in self-isolation and will quarantine for at least 10 days, FIFA added in a statement. "All people who came into contact with the FIFA President during the last few days have been informed accordingly and they are being requested to take the necessary steps," the statement said. "FIFA sincerely wishes President Infantino a speedy recovery." - Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Oct

28

2020

By The African Mirror

Top South African club suffers huge blow

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER KAIZER Chiefs, one of Africa’s top clubs, will not be able to sign new players for the next two transfer windows. This is because the Court of Arbitration for Sport Panel has dismissed Chiefs’ appeal and confirmed FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) decision. Andriamirado ‘Dax’ Andrianarimanana Chiefs, who finished 2nd in the South African league last season, are being punished for violating Fifa’s transfer rules when it signed Madagascan striker Andriamirado ‘Dax’ Andrianarimanana from club Fosa Juniors. In a statement, the Court of Abitration in Sport confirmed the FIFA DRC noted that the Andrianarimanana and Chiefs entered…

Oct

26

2020

By The African Mirror

Hamilton writes his name into F1 History

SPORT

Boitumelo Rantao SIX-time world championship winner Lewis Hamilton clinched his 92nd Grand Prix win overtaking racing legend Michael Schumacher for all-time wins in Formula One. Two weeks after equalling Schumacher’s prestigious honour, the Mercedes driver now owns the record outright and shared a special mind-numbing experience upon taking the chequered flag. "I could never have dreamed of being where I am today," said Hamilton, who shared a loving embrace with his father Anthony after the race.” He added: "I didn't have a magic ball when I chose to come to this team and partner with great people, but here I…

Oct

25

2020

By The African Mirror

Hamilton roars into 97th pole as Mercedes locks the front row

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO IN a dramatic qualifying session, world champion Lewis Hamilton scored the 97th pole position of his F1 career - his ninth of the 2020 season and first at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal. Hamilton finished 10th of a second ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas ensuring Mercedes its ninth front row lockout of the season and 73rd in F1. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will start the race in third, capping a stunning drive after surviving a crash in the earlier session. Hamilton was happy with his performance but confessed that it was not easy. He said: “I…

Oct

24

2020

By The African Mirror

Mosimane’s Al Ahly storms into the CAF Champions League final with a 3-1 win

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THEY are singing praises on the streets of Cairo to South African coach Pitso Mosimane who has guided Egyptian giants Al Ahly to the finals of Africa’s premier club competition - the CAF Champions League. Al Ahly overwhelmed Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca 3-1 in the second leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final. The victory gave Al Ahly, dubbed “the club of the century” - a total score of 5-1 because went into second leg 2-0 up. Striker Marwan Mohsen, who has found a new lease of life under Mosimane, scored early in the game and Hussen…

Oct

24

2020

By The African Mirror

Zambian female footballer’s success in Chinese league cheered at home

SPORT

CHRIS MFULA AFTER clinching the top scorer award in the Women's Chinese Super League, Zambian footballer Barbra Banda is inspiring girls at home to follow in her footsteps. The 20-year-old won the Golden Boot of China's top flight after scoring 18 goals in 13 games. The powerful forward, playing her debut season in China, finished the campaign nine goals ahead of her nearest challenger Temwa Chawinga of Wuhan Jianghan. Having helped her side seal third place in the standings, Banda has been the talk of the league. "I have made my name there, everyone is talking about me, which is…