SPORT - The African Mirror

May

31

2021

Navratilova sad for Osaka, says mental health gets short shrift

SPORT

WOMEN’S tennis great Martina Navratilova has said she was saddened by Naomi Osaka's decision to withdraw from the French Open following the controversy over her decision to boycott media obligations. Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka announced her decision on Monday, a day after being fined $15,000 for not attending a post-match media conference and threatened with expulsion after her first-round win. The Japanese player, who cited the negative impact on her mental wellbeing caused by facing journalists at post-match press conferences as the reason for her boycott, wrote on Twitter that she had suffered from depression since 2018. Martina Navratilova…

May

30

2021

By The African Mirror

Zamalek crowned maiden BAL Champions

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO EGYPTIAN team Zamalek became winners of the inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL) defeating finalist US Monastir 76-63 at the Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. Monastir led by a slim margin after the first quarter and the first portion of the second, until Zamalek clawed their way back to lead 44-42 at halftime. Power Forward Micheal Fakude led Zamalek with 15 points off the bench in the final. Mohab Yasser and Souleyman Diabate proved the difference in the encounter as the 18-year-old Yasser scored 14 points for the Egyptians. Diabate also scored 14 points, together with 6 assists and…

May

30

2021

By The African Mirror

‘Best day of my life’: Ecstatic Chelsea fans celebrate title in Porto

SPORT

CATARINA DEMONY and MIGUEL PEREIRA ECSTATIC Chelsea fans erupted with joy after their team clinched the Champions League title in Porto's Dragao Stadium on Saturday, in a match that brought happiness to the winners but angered locals worried it could fuel a spike in COVID-19 cases. "It's the best day of my life," said a thrilled Chelsea fan leaving the stadium soon after the London side lifted the trophy, their second Champions League title. "I don't believe it." Some 16,500 fans were allowed into the stadium but many others travelled to the Portuguese city of Porto to support their teams…

Jun

05

2021

By The African Mirror

Ghana’s rising star signs with Liverpool

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO GHANAIAN star midfielder Abdul Fatawu Issahaku has signed a five-year deal with former English Premier League champion Liverpool FC. The 17-year-old attacking midfielder, formerly of Ghanaian club Steadfast FC, signed a deal worth £1.5 million. Source: twitter Issahaku led the Ghana Under-20 to the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy, where he claimed the Player of the tournament, earlier this year. The star midfielder netted 8 goals and provided 5 assists in 13 matches for Steadfast FC. As part of Issahaku’s development the midfielder will be loaned to Portuguese outfit Sporting CP. The agreement is also due, in…

Jun

05

2021

By The African Mirror

Hamilton expresses support for Naomi Osaka

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER LEWIS Hamilton has expressed his support for Naomi Osaka, following her publicised withdrawal from the Roland Garros tournament. At a press conference ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, Hamilton says that from experience, he understands how hard it is for young people to cope with the pressures of professional sport. “I think she’s an incredible athlete and human being,” he said. “Her activism has been just so impactful and at such a young age there’s so much weight on her shoulders. “It’s inevitable, the fact is, when you’re young you’re thrown into the limelight and…

Jun

04

2021

By The African Mirror

Nigeria’s Olympic medal hopeful

SPORT

LONG Jump sensation Ese Brume has set a new African mark in women’s long jump after she flew to an amazing, and World Leading, 7.17 metres at the Chula Vista Sports Festival to shatter Chioma Ajunwa’s 25-year African record. Ajunwa’s record of 7.12 metres set a quarter of a century ago gave her Nigeria’s first and so far, only individual Olympics gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Three-time African champion Brume took six tries to smash that mark, as she took gold, and set a new personal best at the Chula Vista Sports Festival Brume posted distances under seven…

Jun

03

2021

By The African Mirror

Kenya says Japan’s Kurume City pulls out of hosting training camp

SPORT

JAPAN’S Kurume City has pulled out of hosting Kenya's pre-Olympics training camp over COVID-19 concerns, Kenya's Olympics committee said yesterday, becoming the latest location to cancel plans to host overseas squads. The tournament is due to start in less than eight weeks but the pandemic has disrupted preparations, with more than 100 municipalities scrapping plans to host teams from abroad. Olympics Kenya said that Kurume City officials communicated the cancellation on Tuesday, saying infections had spread rapidly there since mid-April creating a critical situation. Facilities for training camps were now vaccination venues, the Kenyan statement quoted Kurume authorities as saying.…

May

28

2021

By The African Mirror

Nigeria women gear up for Tokyo

SPORT

NIGERIA'S Senior National Women's basketball team has stepped up their preparation for the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympic games. D'Tigress (Nigerian Women's Basketball team) will be in action competing in friendlies against their three group A rivals. The team, which has 13 players currently in camp, will face International Basketball Federation (FIBA) number 23, Puerto Rico; FIBA number 8 ranked Serbia; and hosts of the friendly games, and FIBA number 6 ranked, Belgium in the Olympic preparation. The fixtures will take place in Lange Munte arena situated in Kortrijk. Ezinne Kalu, Adaora Elonu, Promise Amukamara, Sarah Ogoke, Sarah Imovbioh and Aisha…

Jun

01

2021

By The African Mirror

Djokovic sympathises with Osaka, but says media is important

SPORT

JULIEN PRETOT NOVAK Djokovic said he understood Naomi Osaka's decision to boycott post-match press conferences, which he thinks could feel outdated for a player of the Japanese's age. The Serbian, who eased into the second round at Roland Garros, also expressed sympathy for the 23-year-old Osaka, who revealed she had been suffering from depression. Osaka withdrew from the French Open on Monday after being fined $15,000 by the tournament referee and threatened with exclusion from Roland Garros and future majors for declining to face the media after her first-round match on Sunday. "The Grand Slams are protecting themselves and their…

May

27

2021

By The African Mirror

Final four battle for BAL title

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO IT’S down to the wire as Basketball Africa League heats up ahead of the finals. Cameroon’s FAP are set up against Egypt’s fierce Zamalek in the opening game of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) quarter-finals on Wednesday, while Morocco’s AS Sale takes on Atletico de Luanda from Angola. Zamalek remained undefeated after three games in the BAL including a 97-64 North African derby win over Algerian team GS Petroliers. Senegal’s AS Douanes plays Tunisia’s number one seed US Monastir at the Kigali Arena, before the final last 8 clash between Ferroviario de Maputo and home side Patriots.…