News - AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY

All set for Momentum One Day Cup final

3/30/2017

The Titans and Warriors meet for the right to win the Momentum One-Day Cup title when they face each other in the final at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday.

With several Proteas stars in action headed by AB de Villiers, the match, which is expected to be played in front of a bumper crowd, will draw the curtain on the domestic franchise cricket season.

DE KOCK, RAHUL, RAVAL AND YADAV FINISH SERIES ON A HIGH

3/30/2017

South Africa’s wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock, India’s pair of KL Rahul and Umesh Yadav, and New Zealand opener Jeet Raval have achieved career-high rankings in the latest MRF Tyres ICC Test Player Rankings which were released on Wednesday following the conclusion of the Dharamsala and Hamilton Tests.

De Kock, who scored a gutsy 90 in the first innings to lift South Africa from 148 for five to 314 all out, has climbed four places to sixth and has consequently become South Africa’s highest-ranked batsman, ahead of Hashim Amla (10th), AB de Villiers (12th) and Faf du Plessis (18th).

FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Trophy Tour set to begin Sunday

3/30/2017

MARCH 30, 2017 MUNICH, Germany (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) – The FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Trophy Tour sets off on its 24-country journey this weekend, beginning with Riga, Latvia on Sunday.

Riga, one of the four host nations of FIBA EuroBasket 2015, also had the honor of being the first stop on the 2015 Trophy Tour, therefore taking on special significance as the build-up to FIBA EuroBasket 2017 enters its next phase.

Guinea-Bissau and Angola were worth the exercise - Da Gama

3/30/2017

Photo Credit: safa.net

30 March 2017 – Bafana Bafana stand-in coach Owen da Gama believes they got what they wanted out of the two international friendly matches against Guinea-Bissau and Angola.

The South African Senior Men’s National Team defeated Guinea-Bissau 3-1 Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban and played to a goalless draw against Angola at Buffalo City Stadium in East London.

The two clashes took place on Saturday, 25 March and Tuesday, 28 March respectively.

IOC sanctions four Russian athletes for failing anti-doping tests at London 2012 following a targeted wave of re-analyses

3/30/2017

The protection of clean athletes and the fight against doping are top priorities for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as outlined in Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement.

In order to support the investigations of Prof. McLaren and his team, the IOC ordered a number of targeted re-analyses of Russian athletes’ samples during the course of 2016.

As part of this process, the IOC today announced that four Russian athletes have been disqualified from the Olympic Games London 2012. The details follow.

Mozambique beat Lesotho in Beira

3/30/2017

Mozambique maintained their winning spree after beating Lesotho 1-0 on Tuesday (28 March 2017) in Beira.

Dayo, who plays for local side, Ferroviário da Beira, scored the only goal in the dying embers as the Mambas recorded back-to-back wins after beating Angola 2-0 in a similar exercise last week in Maputo.

The Mozambicans had the luxury of wasting a penalty on the hour mark after captain Dominguez was denied by the Lesotho goalie.

Phiri named Malawi coach

3/30/2017

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has named former U-20 trainer Gerald Phiri as head coach of the senior national team.

The appointment of Phiri comes barely three weeks before the Flames travel to Antananarivo to face Madagascar in the qualifiers for the Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) Kenya 2018.

Phiri, 48, whose son Gerald Phiri Junior, plays for South African side Platinum Stars was unveiled at a ceremony on Wednesday, 29 March 2017 in Blantyre.

SA Rugby signs new airline partner

3/30/2017

SA Rugby has announced that FlySafair had been appointed as the official domestic carrier for the Springboks and SA Rugby.

The airline succeeds SAA, whose sponsorship came to an end in December 2016, and will see the newcomer cater for SA Rugby’s domestic needs for the next three years.

As the official partner to the Springboks, the airline will be entrusted with providing the national team with travel experiences. The partnership was sealed at OR Tambo International Airport when a FlySafair Boeing 737-800 was unveiled bearing the Springbok logo incorporated into its livery.

Table Mountain Cableway renews deal

3/30/2017

Table Mountain Cableway has announced a renewed and expanded sponsorship that sees it taking the title sponsorship role of the newly named Cableway Charity Challenge.

The Cableway Charity Challenge, which is set to take place on 1st April 2017, will see 200 participants attempting to conquer as many mountain summits as they can from sunrise to sunset.

The 2017 Charity Challenge entries were full within 13 days of opening with over R800,000 already raised. This year the beneficiaries are the South African Education and Environment Project, Paedspal, CoolPlay and Wilderness Search and Rescue.

Tennis SA & Lotto Sport partner

3/30/2017

Lotto Sport has been unveiled as the official technical apparel partner to Tennis South Africa (TSA).

The three-year partnership, which commences in April 2017, will see the Italian sportswear manufacturer, through its local agent, provide playing and practise wear for all TSA national high performance teams - from under-12 all the way through to the Davis and Fed Cup teams.

The KIA South African Davis Cup Team will play in Lotto Sport clothing for their forthcoming Euro/Africa Zone Group 2 Round 2 Davis Cup tie against Slovenia, from 7th to 9th April 2017 at the Irene Country Club.

Uganda captain Massa announces retirement

3/30/2017

football.

Massa, 31, brought down the curtains on his career with the Cranes in a letter addressed to the Uganda Football Federation on Wednesday (29 March 2017).

“It is with immense pride that I announce my retirement from the national football team after representing the country for 12 years. I have had an incredible career and I am thankful for each and every moment for my time with the Uganda Cranes.

Van Niekerk becomes Discovery Ambassador

3/30/2017

Financial services organisation Discovery has announced Wayde van Niekerk – world record holder and Olympic champion in the 400 metres – as a new Discovery Vitality ambassador.

Van Niekerk will represent Discovery Vitality on a global scale, joining Discovery Vitality ambassadors, including, British track and field athlete, Jessica Ennis-Hill; current world number one in women's singles tennis, Angelique Kerber; current captain of England in Test cricket, Joe Root; and English rugby union player, Maro Itoje.

Women’s football back in focus as the Sasol League kicks off

3/30/2017

30 March 2016 – Premier women’s football returns to action with the much-anticipated kick off of the Sasol League across Gauteng.

Sixteen teams will go head to head as the battle for supremacy in South African women’s football gets under way for the 2017 season.

NWU Vaal Campus and TUT-PTA will kick off the league tonight (Thursday, 30 March) at 19h00 at the NWU Vaal Grounds, while defending Gauteng champions JVW will begin their title defence against VUT at the Bedfordview Stadium at midday on Sunday, 2 April.

FIFA opens tender process in Spain for the media rights to the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019™

3/30/2017

© FIFA.com
FIFA has opened an invitation to tender (“ITT”) in Spain for the media rights to the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017, the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ and the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™. These media rights will cover TV, internet, mobile and radio transmissions. Bidders may also indicate an interest in the media rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ and/or other FIFA events taking place during 2017-2022 and submit independent unconditional bids for such rights.

Friends Who Sweat Together Stay Together

3/30/2017

New Research By Virgin Sport Reveals That Working Out With A Friend Is The Key To Achieving Fitness Goals And A Stronger Friendship.

- 35% of people say working out with someone else helps them develop a close bond
- 62% of people say they are more likely to keep up a good exercise routine with a friend & 61% of people say it helps motivate them

Stallions spring to new heights

3/30/2017

© AFP

Now 36th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking for March 2017 – the highest position in their history
Climbed to third at the 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations
Qualified for the third round of the African qualifiers for Russia 2018

If one were to put together a list of the top teams in Africa, the names that sprang to mind would likely include Cameroon, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Egypt and Algeria, who have all regularly made an impression at major tournaments. But is it perhaps time to add Burkina Faso to that roll of honour?

Goycochea: Mexico are Confederations Cup contenders

3/30/2017

© FIFA.com

Mexico the latest stop on a pre-Russia 2017 trophy tour
Argentina icon's Confederations Cup win & World Cup penalty heroics discussed
Tour set to continue in Chile

Argentina legend Sergio Goycochea today finished a two-day visit to Mexico, where he stopped by the headquarters of the Mexican Football Association in Toluca and enjoyed a get-together with the organisation's president, Decio de Maria.

Workers’ Cup 2017 set for exciting final between two SC contractors

3/30/2017

© LOC

Workers' Cup features teams of employees from around Qatar
This year's the biggest yet, featuring 32 sides
Final to be the last match played at Al Thumama site, which will host a 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ stadium

The final of the Workers’ Cup’s fifth edition is set to feature two sides involved in Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Qatar 2022 projects.

Cameroon end Chad's FIBA AfroBasket 2017 dream, advance to Final Round

3/30/2017

Cameroon became the 13th national team to qualify for the FIBA AfroBasket 2017

YAOUNDE (FIBA AfroBasket 2017) – Cameroon on Thursday ended Chad's FIBA AfroBasket 2017 ambitions thanks to a 70-59 triumph in their capital of Yaounde.

It was Cameroon's fourth win in as many games in the FIBA Africa Zone 4 Group D qualifiers.
In the process, Cameroon became the 13th national team to qualify for the 16-team FIBA AfroBasket in Congo-Brazzaville in August.

Bureau of the Council recommends slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™

3/30/2017

© Getty Images

The Bureau of the FIFA Council – comprised of the FIFA President and the presidents of each of the six confederations – convened this Thursday at the Home of FIFA in Zurich and agreed on a proposed slot allocation for the FIFA World Cup™ as of the 2026 edition.
The recommendation will now be submitted for the ratification of the FIFA Council, whose next meeting is scheduled for 9 May in Manama, Bahrain, two days prior to the 67th FIFA Congress.

FIFA awards 2017-2018 media rights for sub-Saharan Africa

3/30/2017

© Getty Images

Following an open tender process for 42 territories* in sub-Saharan Africa, FIFA has granted media rights to five major broadcasting entities in the region. The tender was launched on 21 October 2016 and included the media rights to all 2017-2018 FIFA events**, including the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.

The following broadcasters have been awarded certain media rights with regard to the 2018 FIFA World Cup:

First woman to coach men's national team in Africa cherishes Benin's FIBA AfroBasket 2017 qualifier experience

3/30/2017

Brigitte Affidehome Tonon (BEN) - Cote d'Ivoire v Republic of Benin, 2017 FIBA AfroBasket Preliminaries (CGO), Abidjan(Cote d'Ivoire), Zone 3, 24 March 2017

COTONOU (FIBA AfroBasket 2017) - Benin may not have qualified for the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 Final Round, but the team etched its name in the sand of times due to head coach Brigitte Affidehome Tonon.

While Tonon's name may not be popular in basketball circles, she surely has her path clearly laid out as the first female head coach of a men's national team on the African continent, after making her introduction during the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 Group C Qualifiers.

Top teams to select FIBA 3x3 World Tour Masters in unique draft

3/30/2017

It's decision time for Dusan Domovic Bulut (Novi Sad, left) and Jasmin Hercegovac (Ljubljana, right).

MIES (FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2017) - The best 8 teams in the FIBA 3x3 Team Ranking get a chance to pick where they will play some of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2017 Masters during a live draft, which will be held on Friday 31 March at 12:00 CET (GMT+2).

FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2017 calendar unveiled

3/30/2017

Ljubljana (SLO) won the last edition of the World Tour in Abu Dhabi on 27-28 October 2016

MIES, Switzerland (3x3) - FIBA on Thursday announced the full schedule for the sixth edition of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour, which will start inSaskatoon, Canada on 15-16 July and culminate with the World Tour Bloomage Beijing Final in the Chinese capital on 21-22 October.

FIFA Commercial Affiliates pledge full support for India 2017

3/29/2017

© LOC

FIFA and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 conducted a workshop for the Commercial Affiliates of the tournament. The presentation was run by FIFA and LOC members of the marketing delegation, who had travelled to each of the venues for a detailed inspection over 22-27 March in New Dehli.

FIFA and the LOC presented the marketing programme, promotional plan and commercial strategy for the tournament.