SPORT - The African Mirror

Apr

20

2023

Going the Extra Mile: How ultra-marathons are bolstering the legacy of running in Africa

ATHLETICS

AFRICAN athletics is often synonymous with sleek, speedy runners dominating the standard marathon. But there's another side to the continent's running culture, one that's been thriving for decades: ultra-marathons. From South Africa's iconic Comrades Marathon to Morocco's gruelling Marathon des Sables, ultras are attracting the biggest names in athletics and bolstering the legacy of African sports. Last weekend (April 15), Cape Town played host to thousands of athletes from South Africa and beyond for the latest edition of the Two Oceans 56km Marathon. According to Sports Network Africa, an African sports site, thousands of eager athletes flocked to the Cape…

Apr

19

2023

By The African Mirror

Morocco should win Africa Cup of Nations first before thinking about World Cup, says Boufal

FOOTBALL

WORLD Cup semi-finalists Morocco, who became the first Arab team to beat Brazil last month, should focus on winning the Africa Cup of Nations next year before dreaming of glory at the 2026 World Cup, winger Sofiane Boufal said. Morocco was the surprise story at the World Cup in Qatar last year, beating Belgium, Spain and Portugal on the way to the semi-finals prompting coach Walid Regragui to talk up his desire of winning the 2026 edition. That dream became bigger after a 2-1 win over five-times world champions Brazil in a friendly match in Tangier last month. Only European…

Apr

18

2023

By MICHAEL SARPONG MFUM, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Former Ghana midfielder, Doreen Awuah, is bringing football to young girls

FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL is often seen as a male sport, but for Doreen Angelina Awuah, it was worth running away from home for. "As a young girl, I received lashes from my father on several occasions when I returned home from playing football. My parents warned me not to play football because it was considered a sport for males and told me to concentrate on my education," said Awuah. However, she was determined to pursue her passion, which led her to run away from home and relocate to the Western Region of Ghana for three years. "I was not given the opportunity…

Apr

19

2023

By The African Mirror

More chaos at Egyptian champions Zamalek as club president excluded

FOOTBALL

FIVE-TIME African champions Zamalek suffered another blow in a chaotic season as a local administrative court in Egypt ordered the removal of club president Mortada Mansour, days after the team appointed Colombian coach Juan Carlos Osorio. A local administrative court in Cairo ordered on Sunday to exclude Mansour from his post, as he has just served a one-month prison sentence over a defamation case against Al-Ahly president Mahmoud El Khatib. Mansour can appeal the ruling. Mansour told his YouTube channel, which has more than half a million followers, "I will not talk about the ruling now because judgment is the title…

Apr

16

2023

By The African Mirror

Tuchel’s Bayern stumble again in home draw with Hoffenheim

FOOTBALL

BAYERN Munich conceded a 71st-minute free kick to draw 1-1 at home against Hoffenheim at the end of a turbulent week for the champions but they stayed two points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with six games remaining. It was Bayern's latest slip-up under coach Thomas Tuchel following last week's German Cup exit to Freiburg and Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg loss at Manchester City. The league draw had only limited impact after second-placed Borussia Dortmund squandered a two-goal lead and conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in their 3-3 draw at VfB Stuttgart to remain two points behind…

Apr

16

2023

By The African Mirror

Tottenham blow top-four chance in defeat by Bournemouth

FOOTBALL

MARTYN HERMAN TOTTENHAM Hotspur blew a gilt-edged chance to rekindle their hopes of finishing in the Premier League's top four when relegation battlers Bournemouth snatched a last-gasp 3-2 away victory over them on Saturday. Substitute Dango Ouattara's superb finish in the fifth minute of stoppage time secured a vital three points for Bournemouth whose fans celebrated wildly as their side took another step towards top-flight survival. For the hosts, their chances of playing in the Champions League next season look bleak after a 10th defeat of the season. Third-placed Newcastle United's lunchtime defeat at Aston Villa had opened the door…

Apr

16

2023

By The African Mirror

Lampard says Chelsea need to learn to fight, and quickly

FOOTBALL

WILLIAM SCHOMBERG CHELSEA interim coach Frank Lampard said he has to turn around the club's slump urgently before Tuesday's visit by Real Madrid in a Champions League quarter-final second leg, following the Blues' latest limp defeat. Lampard, speaking after a 2-1 home Premier League loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, said Chelsea - the 2021 European champions who are now stuck in 11th place in the Premier League - were displaying a worrying lack of desire and competitiveness. "At the minute, we are falling short on that and we need to turn it around quickly," said the former Chelsea midfielder…

Apr

13

2023

By The African Mirror

LaLiga hails ‘passionate’ and talented young KwaZulu-Natal footballers after first LaLga Camps in the Zulu Kingdom

FOOTBALL

LALIGA has hailed the ”hunger to learn” and passion of young footballers in KwaZulu-Natal after the completion of the first LaLiga Camps in the province at Durban’s Hoy Park. LaLiga UEFA Pro-Licenced coaches Saúl Vázquez and Javier García conducted the LaLiga Camps, which were attended by 150 promising young under-10 to under-17 KwaZulu-Natal boys and girls footballers - and 30 local coaches - in Durban this week. The LaLiga Camps, which were previously also held in Johannesburg and Cape Town, are part of LaLiga’s flagship global Grassroots programme, which has seen more than 900 young players participate in LaLiga Camps…

Apr

15

2023

By The African Mirror

Bayern drop Mane from squad for Saturday game over Sane clash

FOOTBALL

BAYERN Munich's Sadio Mane will not be part of the squad for Saturday's Bundesliga game against Hoffenheim and has been fined over a row he had with teammate Leroy Sane, the club said. Senegal international Mane clashed with Sane at the end of their 3-0 loss at Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday. "Sadio Mane will not be included in the FC Bayern squad for this Saturday's home match against 1899 Hoffenheim," the club said in a statement. "This is due to his misconduct after Bayern's Champions League match at Manchester City. Mane will also…

Apr

06

2023

By The African Mirror

Bryan Habana’s MATCHKIT partners with SOSA in support of the national team

FOOTBALL

WITH less than 3 months until the Special Olympics Summer World Games in Germany this June, Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) today announced its official partnership with Bryan Habana’s MATCHKIT in support of the sports Launched in February 2023, the Adopt an Athlete campaign will help raise much-needed funds in support of the 2023 Special Olympics South Africa National Team. The team will represent the country at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin, Germany from 17 – 25 June 2023. Bryan Habana The games will welcome 7,000 Special Olympic athletes and Unified partners from approximately 170 countries…