SPORT - The African Mirror

Dec

06

2020

Sergio Perez’s historic Formula One win

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO SERGIO Perez had the biggest smile of the night, some tears and made history. Mercedes stand-in George Russell was the most unlucky in a dramatic Formula 1 race at the Sakhir Circuit in Bahrain which the Mexican won comfortably. Perez, in his penultimate race for Racing Point and probably his last in F1, capitalised on uncharacteristic mistakes by the Mercedes pit team, who caused telling delays to Russell and his teammate for the night, Valterri Bottas. Perez registered his first-ever F1 victory and became the first Mexican since Pedro Rodriguez in 1970, to win an F1 race. He…

Dec

06

2020

By The African Mirror

Mercedes duo impresses as Bottas tops lap charts

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO MERCEDES driver Valtteri Bottas soared to pole position in a time of 53.377s at the modified Bahrain circuit. It would be the first time a Grand Prix would be hosted at the same circuit on back-to-back weekends. Bottas’ single-lap time serves as the quickest lap in Formula One history. The Mercedes driver thanked teammates after he impressed under the Sakhir lights “Thank you everyone for your support, let’s do the job tomorrow!” Mercedes’ other driver, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, shocked his team and the F1 community with a positive COVID test, keeping him out of a whirlwind…

Sep

18

2021

By The African Mirror

Pandemic inflicts off-pitch losses on soccer giants Man Utd, Juventus

SPORT

ABY JOSE KOILPARAMBIL and CHRIS PETERS ENGLAND’S Manchester United and Italy's Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo's current and former teams, both suffered hefty financial losses for 2020-21 as the coronavirus crisis drained European soccer stadiums of fans. While Executive Vice Chairman Ed Woodward expressed confidence in United's recovery as Old Trafford hosts capacity crowds for the first time in almost 18 months, Juventus said it would also end its 2021-22 financial year, which will still be heavily affected by the pandemic, with a "significant loss". Woodward, who in April said he will step down at the end of the year, reflected on…

Sep

16

2021

By The African Mirror

Olympics 2021: Sha’Carri’s case shows doping rules need to change

SPORT

BRENDAN SCHWAB US track and field star Sha’Carri Richardson has received global support after an anti-doping tribunal imposed a one month ban for cannabis use, barring her from Olympic participation. Beyond a simple rule change, her situation demonstrates why deeper reforms are required if the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is to meaningfully incorporate athlete perspectives and enjoy their trust and confidence. In response to submissions from the World Players Association earlier this year about the unjustness of anti-doping rules, WADA made some changes to how it treats ‘substances of abuse’ – which include drugs like cannabis and cocaine. The changes…

Jan

30

2021

By The African Mirror

Tribute to legendary softball star

SPORT

TRIBUTE TO LEGENDARY SOFTBALL LEGEND MASHILO MATSETELA THE softball community in South Africa, Africa and the world has lost a softball legend and we are hurting. Today we are reading the footprint of a softball legend. We are not battling to write and or to read Thabo footprints because his softball footprints are very clear. Thabo was a multi award player in his own right. Very unique in stature, that defies the ordinary simplistic view of how a balanced physique of a softball player should be. He had the strength and the power to unleash whatever he wanted to do…

Jan

30

2021

By The African Mirror

Why Cameroon is obsessed with hosting the Afcon

SPORT

DANIEL EKONDE “I think [the] 2022 [Africa Cup of Nations] has the power of taking Cameroonian sport to another level,” says Njie Enow, sports editor at state-owned Cameroon Radio Television. The central African country is desperate to host the continent despite the many challenges it has faced since being given the right to stage the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). They were stripped of that right when they were deemed unprepared, but given the 2021 edition instead. And then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, pushing the men’s continental showpiece to 2022. The country’s readiness to host the Afcon is being…

Sep

14

2021

By The African Mirror

Mixed Martial Arts: EFC Africa 89

SPORT

The stage was for an amazing evening of fighting at the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) performance institute in Johannesburg, South Africa. The EFC provided an evening to remember with 9 electric fights culminating in a show-stopping main event flyweight bout, won by Nkazimulo Zulu, by way of submission. Zulu was able to force opponent Luthando Biko to tap out in the second round of the main event. Unfortunately, Zulu was not able to walk away with the championship belt due to missing the flyweight weigh-in limit. Biko was caught by surprise, being a confident ground operator, by Zulu who is…

Sep

12

2021

By The African Mirror

I am lucky to be alive, says Hamilton after rival’s tyre landed on his head

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO THE rear right wheel of his rival's car landed on the safety Halo, just above his head, and seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who escaped with a headache, knows that he is lucky to be alive. There was drama in Lap 26 of the Monda F1 race when Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen battled into the tight Variante del Rettifilo. Hamilton had just pitted and Verstappen was making his way to the front after a horrific 11 second pit stop. With none of the drivers prepared to give room, Verstappen car ended on top of Hamilton's…

Sep

11

2021

By The African Mirror

FIBA holds Youth Camp in Kenya

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO UNDER-18 players from 33 African countries gathered in Nairobi, Kenya for the first International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Africa Youth Camp of 2021. The FIBA Africa Youth Camp in Nairobi, the first of three on the African continent, allowed players to gain experience and skills from National Basketball Association (NBA) coaches. The FIBA Africa Youth Camp focused on life skills, focusing on combining basketball and education, leadership, character development, health and wellness. The technical team is led by Don Showalter (USA Basketball), Naoufal Uariachi (FIBA Expert) and other African basketball experts. "As part of FIBA Africa's strategy to make our…

Sep

10

2021

By The African Mirror

How Obama’s backing for NBA Africa venture could boost basketball on the continent

SPORT

FORMER US President Barack Obama’s decision to invest in the National Basketball Association’s Africa venture reflects a lot about his past – his basketball playing youth and his African roots. It also signals that his future ambitions stretch beyond US borders. JOHN NAURIGHT, Dean, Richard J. Bolte, Sr. School of Business, Mount St. Mary's University, Mount Saint Mary College SARAH ZIPP, Lecturer, Faculty of Health Science and Sport, University of Stirling The Basketball Africa League was launched in 2021 as a collaboration between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). The inaugural competition consisted of 12…