SPORT - The African Mirror

Nov

28

2023

Talking points from European soccer

FOOTBALL

ITALY NAPOLI'S MAZZARRI FACES DEFENSIVE CHALLENGES Walter Mazzarri's spell as Napoli manager got off to a fine start with a 2-1 win at Atalanta on Sunday but he must now address defensive issues ahead of crucial matches. Defender Mathias Olivera was taken off on a stretcher after slipping and is set for an extended period on the sidelines. The injury to the Uruguay international has put Mazzarri in a difficult position as the Napoli squad currently lacks any available left-backs, with Mario Rui also sidelined. First-choice goalkeeper Alex Meret could bring some relief as his recovery from a calf injury…

Nov

28

2023

By The African Mirror

Premier League talking points

FOOTBALL

RAMSDALE FAILS TO ANSWER ARTETA DOUBTS ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta refused to get drawn too deeply into Aaron Ramsdale's performance at Brentford on Saturday but the England goalkeeper can hardly be expected to keep David Raya out of the starting lineup after a nervy display. Raya could not play for Brentford, the club from whom the Spaniard is on loan, giving Ramsdale his first start in the Premier League since September but he failed to impress. He got away with two mad moments in the first half and, despite Arteta praising his courage, Raya is likely to be back between…

Nov

28

2023

By The African Mirror

Team-by-team analysis of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

MOTORSPORT

TEAM-BY-TEAM analysis of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina (in final championship order): RED BULL (Max Verstappen 1, Sergio Perez 4) Verstappen took his record 19th win of the season, 54th of his career, seventh in a row, and fourth in succession in Abu Dhabi. He won from pole and also set the fastest lap. The Dutch driver has set records for most points scored in a season (575), and most podiums (21), and he became the first driver to lead more than 1,000 laps in a season. He finished 17.9 seconds clear of Leclerc,…

Nov

27

2023

By The African Mirror

Verstappen finishes dominant season in record style

MOTORSPORT

RED Bull's triple world champion Max Verstappen wrapped up Formula One's most dominant season with a record-extending 19th win in 22 races at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The pole-to-flag victory, for the fourth year in a row under the Yas Marina floodlights, left the 26-year-old alone in third place in Formula One's all-time list of winners with a career 54. Only seven times champions Lewis Hamilton (103) and Michael Schumacher (91) have won more. Sergio Perez finished second on the road for Red Bull but a five-second post-race penalty dropped the Mexican off the podium, behind Ferrari's Charles…

Nov

26

2023

By The African Mirror

South Africa withdraw bid to host 2027 Women’s World Cup

FOOTBALL

SOUTH Africa has withdrawn their bid to host the Women's World Cup in 2027, the Football Association (SAFA) said. South Africa was among four bids confirmed by FIFA but the country will instead focus on submitting a bid for the 2031 tournament. "We felt that it was better to present a well-prepared bid for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup and ensure we put our best foot forward, rather than producing a rushed presentation," SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao said on the FA's official website. The remaining candidates are a joint bid from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, one from Brazil and another joint…

Nov

25

2023

By The African Mirror

Forest’s Awoniyi facing long spell on sidelines after groin surgery

FOOTBALL

NOTTINGHAM Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi has had groin surgery that will rule him out of action for months, the Premier League club's manager Steve Cooper said. Awoniyi aggravated a groin injury while playing for Nigeria during this month's international break. The 26-year-old, signed from Union Berlin for a then club-record fee of 17 million pounds ($21.18 million) in 2022, has scored 15 goals in 39 games in all competitions for Forest in the last two seasons. "It's bad news on Taiwo, he's had to have surgery and he is going to be out for months," Cooper told reporters ahead of…

Nov

24

2023

By The African Mirror

Uganda’s Chemusto banned for four years for doping violation

ATHLETICS

UGANDAN middle-distance runner Janat Chemusto has been banned for four years after the 25-year-old tested positive for a prohibited substance, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said. The AIU said in a statement that Chemusto had returned an adverse analytical finding for the prohibited substance "19-Norandrosterone (a Metabolite of Nandrolone (19-nortestosterone) or Nandrolone precursors)". The sample was collected at Nairobi's Kip Keino Classic in May, where Chemusto clocked a personal best of 4:01.79 to win the women's 1,500 metres. The ban will be backdated to July 13 2023, and Chemusto's competition results from May 13 onwards will be disqualified. The AIU…

Nov

24

2023

By NOKUKHANYA MUSI – AIMIENOHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Giddy Up! How Bandile Baartjies is making horse riding accessible

SPORT

BANDILE Baartjies’ talks about how his passion for horsemanship began at the wee age of six, at his grandmother’s place in Mkhulamini, in the Manzini region of central Eswatini. There, an uncle maintained horses and other farm animals and the young Baartjies was afforded the opportunity to get to know them - and to become familiar with equestrian pursuits. “That is where and how the journey began. As I grew older, I wanted to create a space where people of all ages and backgrounds can come to learn more about horses,” he explained. Now at the age of 28, Baartjies…

Nov

23

2023

By MARK GLEESON

Morocco win but other heavyweights humbled in World Cup qualifiers

FOOTBALL

GHANA and South Africa both suffered embarrassing defeats in World Cup qualification while top contenders Cameroon, Guinea, Senegal and Zambia also found it tough on the road as they all dropped points. On a busy day of 15 matches across the continent, there were also wins for Burkina Faso, the Cape Verde Islands, Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia and Uganda. But it was the Comoros, with a population of around a million, and Rwanda ranked 140 in world football, who tore up the form book in beating Ghana and South Africa respectively. Ghana’s loss in Moroni was a harsh reminder of their…

Nov

23

2023

By The African Mirror

Austria outclass Euro 2024 hosts Germany in 2-0 win

FOOTBALL

AUSTRIA outplayed a toothless Germany to win 2-0 in their friendly, ending their year on a high while piling more pressure on the embattled Euro 2024 hosts who had Leroy Sane sent off early in the second half. Marcel Sabitzer's low drive in the 29th minute put the dominant hosts, who have qualified for the Euros, in front with Germany posing no threat in attack and needing 32 minutes for their first shot on goal. Another quick passing move led to Austria's Christoph Baumgartner chipping the ball over keeper Kevin Trapp in the 73rd, with Germany down to 10 men…