British Premier League - The African Mirror

Jun

2021

Zambian striker joins Leicester City

BOITUMELO RANTAO ZAMBIAN crack striker Patson Daka has signed for British Premier League side Leicester City. Leicester has announced the arrival of the 22-year-old Zambian International, who joins the team from Austrian First Division side Red Bull Salzburg. He has signed a five-year contract. Daka, who won the Austrian Bundesliga Player of the Year for the past season, scored 34 goals and provided 12 assists in 42 matches across all competitions in the 2020/2021 season. He has received a message of congratulations and support from Chelsea and Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogba. https://twitter.com/didierdrogba/status/1410190325780520961?s=20 Daka said was excited about his move…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

Iheanacho – a troubled joker having the last laugh

SPORT

OLUWASHINA OKELEJI KELECHI Iheanacho has suffered a number of setbacks since his breakthrough season at Manchester City. He was subjected to relentless criticism from Nigerian media and national team coach Gernot Rohr during a patchy run of form with Leicester City. But 2021 has seen a change in fortunes following the player’s rise from vilification to being named March’s English Premier League Player of the Month. Amidst all the adulation, Iheanacho cries out for his late mother and dedicates his rebirth to the woman who gave him life. His rich vein of form has led to an improved standing with…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Super League crumbles, 6 English teams quit

SPORT

THE $6-billion dream of a breakaway European Soccer League featuring 12 of the richest clubs lies in tatters after strong player and fan resistance forced six English teams to withdraw. In sensational development in the past 24 hours, cracks began showing among the 12 clubs evidenced by the following developments: Manchester City has withdrawn from the ESL.Chelsea pulled out.Liverpool withdrew after players publicly expressed their opposition.Manchester United withdrew the club had “listened carefully to the reaction from our fans, the UK government and other stakeholders”. The club’s announcement came after its executive vice chairman Ed Woodward, who negotiated the ESL…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

New golden age for Côte D’Ivoire

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO MAY 2013 marked the peak Côte D’Ivoire reached in the FIFA Rankings after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in the same year. Gleefully, an enthusiastic glow hovers around the 2021 team - star studded with talent hungry to surpass the triumph of the generation before them. The 2013 team, consisting of all-time top scorer Didier Drogba and Premier league star Yaya Toure, reached 12th among the world’s best. The current Côte D’Ivoire team is ranked 61st, as of 20 March 2021, with high-level talent honouring the trend of Ivorian footballing success. The present-day squad features AC…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

South African makes debut for Leicester City

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THERE were Nigerian and South African touches in British Premier League’s Leicester City’s 5-0 mauling of Sheffield United. Nigerian star forward Kelechi Iheanacho scored a stunning hat trick in the game and South African midfielder Khanya Leshabela made his debut for Leicester and made his first touch in one of the best football leagues in the world. The win saw Leicester move second in the British Premier League table. SA soccer fans took to the social media networks to mark Leshabela’s historic moment and to heap praise on his manager Brandon Rogers. Leicester marked Leshabela’s debut by…

Jan

2021

By The African Mirror

Percy Tau recalled by Brighton & Albion

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO SOUTH Africa’s top strike Percy Tau has returned to one of the best leagues in the world, the British Premier League and is set to feature for Brighton Hove & Albion in Britain's Premier League. Tau has been on loan in Belgium for two and-a-half years since being acquired in 2018. The 26 year-old began his international club career in Belgium’s second division, before being sent to UEFA Champions League in Club Brugge for a loan spell. Tau netted four goals, and tallied 8 assists, in a league title winning season in 2019/20. Tau then joined RSC Anderlecht,…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

African football stars’ big moves in Europe

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER TWO African soccer stars featured in a dramatic closing night for transfers where over a billion dollars was spent. Ghananian superstars Thomas Partey made a sensational move to British Premier League side Arsenal with South African Bongani Zungu joining Rangers on a season-long loan deal from French side Amiens. Partey’s much talkabout move was sealed soon after Arsenal paid Atletico Madrid the $40-million release clause as stipulated in his contract. Partey then cancelled his contract with Atletico and signed with Arsenal for $45-million. Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said he was delighted to add such a high quality…