SPORT - The African Mirror

Nov

25

2020

First-ever Bafana and Banyana Supporters Club in the Middle East launched

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THE South African Football Association (SAFA) and the South Africans in Qatar (SAIQ) community group today officially launched and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the first Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana Supporters’ Club in the Middle East. The announcement made in Johannesburg and Doha today – exactly two years to the day before the kickoff of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar – was attended by SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan, Qatar Football Association General Secretary, Mansoor Al Ansari, and South Africa’s Ambassador to Qatar, HE Faizel Moosa. The MoU is part of…

Nov

27

2020

By The African Mirror

How Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ quote went round the world

SPORT

MARTYN HERMAN IT became the most iconic sporting comment of all time but the English-speaking world very nearly did not get to hear Diego Maradona's pithy reflection on his infamous goal in Argentina's 2-1 defeat of England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Reuters sports correspondent Rex Gowar was in the bowels of Azteca Stadium after the match when Maradona confessed to the most talked-about piece of cheating in soccer history. "It was my first World Cup with Reuters," Gowar, who first encountered a teenaged Maradona in Buenos Aires as a photographer for an Argentine newspaper, recalled on Wednesday…

Nov

26

2020

By The African Mirror

OBITUARY – Diego Maradona, Argentine soccer genius who saw heaven and hell, dead at 60

SPORT

WORLD soccer great Diego Armando Maradona, who has died less than a month after his 60th birthday, was worshipped like a god for his genius with the ball, but his demons almost destroyed him. Maradona had died after suffering a heart attack at his home in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, those close to him confirmed. Argentine President Alberto Fernandez declared three days of national mourning. Rising to stardom from a grimy Buenos Aires slum to lead Argentina to World Cup victory, Maradona was a rags-to-riches story in his soccer-mad homeland and gained the iconic status of fellow Argentines Che…

Dec

05

2020

By The African Mirror

Africa’s bright basketball showcase

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO BASKETBALL’S eyes shifted to Africa as national teams gathered in Kigali, Rwanda for the 2021 FIBA AfroBasket qualifiers. The first phase of continental competition between Africa’s hopefuls gave a sneak peek to which teams have distinguished themselves as frontrunners for the title. Nigeria’s head coach, Mike Brown is of the opinion that if the right things are put in place by African basketball federations, many teams can compete favourably with the best in the world. Teams have commenced preparations for the third window of the qualifiers between February 19 - 21, 2021. Brown, who is on his maiden…

Dec

03

2020

By The African Mirror

Schumacher’s son to make F1 debut

SPORT

MICK Schumacher, the son of the legendary F1 legend, Mike, is to make a historic debut in F1 in 2021. Haas has unveiled Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin as their new drivers, replacing Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen. Grosjean, who was injured after a horrific high speed crash in which his car burst into flames and was torn into two, was released from hospital yesterday. Schumacher will this weeked battle for the world championship in F2. An excited Schumacher, who will also drive from next year, said: The prospect of being on the Formula 1 grid next year makes me incredibly…

Dec

02

2020

By The African Mirror

Motor racing-Hamilton ‘gutted’ after positive COVID-19 test

SPORT

ABHISHEK TAKLE SEVEN-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton said he was devastated after testing positive for COVID-19 and being ruled out of Sunday's penultimate race of the season in Bahrain. It will be the first time the 35-year-old Mercedes driver has missed a race in an F1 career that started with McLaren in 2007. The sport's most successful driver of all time, with a record 95 wins and 98 pole positions, said on social media that he had tested negative three times in the past week but woke up on Monday with mild symptoms. The Briton said he then…

Dec

01

2020

By The African Mirror

Fittipaldi to replace injured Grosjean

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER BRAZILIAN Pietro Fittipaldi will make his Formula 1 at Sunday’s Grand Prix at the Sakhir Circuit in Bahrain, replacing the injured Romain Grosjean, the Haas team has announced. Grosjean sustained hand injuries during a horrific high speed crash in last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix. Fittipaldi, (24), has attended the majority of Formula 1 races this season in his test and reserve driver role with Haas. The Miami-born Brazilian resume which includes a Formula V8 3.5 Championship title and several starts in IndyCar Series competition. Grandson of two-time FIA Formula 1 World Champion and double Indy 500 winner…

Nov

30

2020

By The African Mirror

Tributes for Papa Diop, Senegal football legend, who has died

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER FOOTBALL fans, colleagues and clubs that he played have paid warm tributes to retired Senegalese international football star Papa Bouba Diop who has passed on after a short illness. Diop (42) retired from international football after 63 appearances and is remembered for, among others, his special goal that sunk France 1-0 in their opening World Cup game in 2002. In a special message, football world governing body FIFA, said: “So too did world governing body FIFA, who declared: “FIFA is saddened to learn of the passing of Senegal legend Papa Bouba Diop. Once a World Cup hero,…

Nov

28

2020

By The African Mirror

World champ Hamilton wins 98th pole in Bahrain

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO LEWIS Hamilton, with the 2020 Formula 1 world championship already won, has registered his 98th pole position as Mercedes locked the front row ahead of today’s race in Bahrain. Hamilton kept his practice form, outperforming teammate Valtteri Bottas who qualified in 2nd ahead of a charging Max Verstappen from Red Bull. The perfomance by Hamilton and Bottas reflected Mercedes’ dominance on the circuit this year. Hamilton has won his record 7th world championship and Mercedes bagged the constructors trophy. Hamilton paid tribute to the technical team behind his success: “The continuation of what we do as a team…

Nov

28

2020

By The African Mirror

Mosimane, Al Ahly make African football history

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER SOUTH African coach Pitso Mosimane has celebrated his historic win of the CAF Championship League trophy with a powerful quote from the legendary Nelson Mandela. As Al-Ahly fans went wild and painted Cairo red after they had defeated rivals Zamalek 2-1, Mosimane drew inspiration from Mandela. "It always seems impossible - until it is done." Mosimane himself also had powerful words to mark the occasion. He said: "I had come to the Nile River to catch the big Fish." And, in African football, they don't come bigger than the CAF Championship. Mosimane has become the first coach…