Oman are a step closer to securing ODI status, as the only side with two wins from two following a dramatic second day of action in the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 in Windhoek.
 
Zeeshan Maqsood made a brilliant century to help Oman defeat Canada by 99 runs, just 24 hours after beginning the tournament with victory over the United States of America.
 
For their part, USA bounced back on day two as their bowlers – led by Ali Khan with a five-fer – dramatically denied hosts Namibia in the final over to win by two runs.
 
And Papua New Guinea also recorded a first victory of the campaign as they expertly chased down a target of 223 to beat Hong Kong by three wickets.

On May 11, 2019 while the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) mark their 44th Awards Gala Night, the defending Sports Personality of the Year (2017), Isaac Dogboe will be in Arizona, USA fighting Emmanuel Navarrete for the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Super Bantamweight at the Convention Center.
The fight has been dubbed ‘Revenge Or Repeat’ by boxing connoisseurs as both boxers have predicted sweet victory by way of knock out.
Mexican Emmanuel Navarrete was the first boxers to announce that he will knock out his Ghanaian challenger and former champion any time they clash for a return fight, and his team are very serious about retaining the title.
For Dogboe, who believes he was not fight ready in the first bout which was his third defence due to injuries and travel tiredness, May 11 would be a different day and boxing fans are going to see the real fit Ghanaian from the Volta Region.

In Division Two Category, the defending champions Top Fry Nakuru II are on course to defending their title after a successful day one

NAIROBI, Kenya, April 21, 2019/ -- Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology had a 100%-win rate on Day one of the Top Fry Great Rift 10 Aside tournament after beating their opponents Egerton Wasps, Kiambu RFC and KCB RC 22-0, 24-0 and 12-5 respectively. KCB RC finished second in the Pool with two wins and one loss.

In Pool D, Menengai Oilers were ranked first having registered two wins and a draw while Mean Machine’s crucial 17-14 win over the hosts and the 12-5 win over Makueni saw them finish second in the pool. The much awaited match between Top Fry Nakuru and Menengai Oilers ended in a 5 all stalemate. The fixture had everyone on the edge of their seats in the first half as Oilers went over the whitewash and held on to the 5-0 lead to the breather. In the second half, the hosts leveled up the scores to 5 a piece; with three minutes left on the clock, an Oilers infringement in their own 22 saw the referee award a penalty to Nakuru. They’d later lose the possession courtesy of the Oilers’ defensive skills, the match ending with the 5 all score. Top Fry Nakuru RFC dropped to the Challenge Trophy Quarterfinal with one win, one draw and one loss together with Makueni RFC who lost all their pool matches.

​Madagascar qualifies for Pool A in the U20 tournament in 2020 in a tight and difficult match against the Zimbabweans on Saturday (April 20th) in Harare
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 21, 2019/ -- It is in Harare that the Malagasy Under-20 selection has won the very popular ticket to Pool A against the Zimbabwean hosts. The match was captivating until the last minute, when the Malagasy took the lead by scoring a try to win the fight, 27 to 25! “I can’t begin to explain how hard the team from Madagascar had to fight for this victory. They played fantastic Rugby! The best health check for any union is the U20 team.” Declared Steph Nel, Rugby Service Manager for Africa from World Rugby, who was present during the tournament in Harare.

​Zimbabwe paid dearly for another slow start in addition to a series of errors
HARARE, Zimbabwe, April 20, 2019/ -- Madagascar’s resilience and crafty ball handling skills got earned them promotion into the Under-20 Barthes Cup after they broke the hearts of spirited Zimbabwe 25-27 at Prince Edward High School.

This win for Madagascar comes of the back on a massive 65-0 against Morocco in their opening match giving them the top spot in the Group.

Zimbabwe paid dearly for another slow start in addition to a series of errors, by half time Madagascar led 15-7, but the host came back fighting leading 25-22 five minutes to the close of the match.

Madagascar were rewarded for their vigilance and came back with a runaway try in the final moments.

Home side Namibia began with a narrow win over Papua New Guinea, while Kinchit Shah’s hat-trick also inspired Hong Kong to victory on the opening day of ICC World Cricket League Division 2 action in Windhoek.
 
There is plenty at stake in what is the final Division 2 campaign, with the top four teams earning ODI status and joining Scotland, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates in the newly-formed ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 – where they will play 36 ODIs each over a two-and-a-half year period.
 
Meanwhile, the bottom two sides at the end of this week in Namibia will enter the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Challenge League A and B, as the road to ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 qualification continues to heat up.
 
That makes getting off to a fast start in Windhoek pivotal, which is exactly what the hosts did as they recorded a hard-fought three-wicket triumph over Papua New Guinea.

Mrs. Joyce Mahama, president of Women Sports Association of Ghana (WOSPAG) has thrown her weight behind the African Women’s Sports Summit to be held in Ghana on May 15.
According to Madam Mahama, it is a laudable idea to bring women who love sports together to share ideas and unite to make things better.
She said although such an event should have been held earlier and frequently, it is better late than never and urged women who appreciate sports to contribute to the Summit which would be held at the Alisa Swiss Spirit Hotel in Accra.
She commended the convener, Juliet Bawuah and urged other bodies like the SWAG, NSA, GOC, WOSPAG, Ministry of Women Affairs and Ministry of Youth & Sports to support the Summit.
The Africa Women’s Sports Summit is the brainchild of respected Ghanaian female Sports Journalist, Juliet Bawuah.

Paul Dogboe, head of the technical team of former WBO Super Bantamweight champion, Isaac Dogboe has disclosed that it would take more than strength and skill to revenge against Mexican Emmnuel Navarrete in the return fight on May 11 at the Convention Centre in Arizona, USA.
Addressing a press conference at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel, he apologized to Ghanaians and fans of Isaac Dogboe for under estimating Navarrete and not being in the training camp abroad throughout to monitor the fitness level of his ward, who went into the December 8, 2018 bout not fully fit.
The coach / dad of the 2018 SWAG Sports Personality of the Year said he has been with Isaac shoulder to shoulder like it used to be in all his 20 unbeaten fights and his fitness has returned with all injuries cured.
He expressed that Isaac Dogboe, 24 is well conditioned as he now trains vigorously and seriously at the beach of Keta in the Volta Region and has the support of the people and spirits of the land.

DOHA (FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2019) – Riga Ghetto (LAT) won their first Masters after defeating world No.1 Liman (SRB) 15-14 in a tense final of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Doha Masters on April 18-19, 2019.
In a spectacular start to the season, it was a hard-fought, low-scoring game but the world No.3 finally tasted glory and were brilliantly led by Karlis Lasmanis who scored an equal game-high 8 points. He hit clutch buckets and deservedly claimed the MVP after leading all scorers with 39 points in the tournament.
Liman were unable to get revenge after losing to Riga Ghetto in the quarter-final of the Bloomage Final in Beijing last year.

​A number of activities have been lined up as a build up to the Grand Final to be hosted by Mine Secondary School on Friday 26th April, 2019 starting at 08hrs
LUSAKA, Zambia, April 19, 2019/ -- The Bhubesi Pride Foundation (a UK registered charity organisation) will be touring the former mining town of Kabwe in the Central Province of Zambia.

Zambia Rugby Union (ZRU) Communications Manager Tom Chaloba reviewed this in an interview. "The Coaches who are drawn from Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa have so far been to 5 Countries namely, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique and Malawi. After Kabwe, the touring Coaches proceed to Botswana, Namibia before eventually ending the tour in South Africa".

NEW YORK (April 18, 2019) – Major League Soccer club academies were launched in 2007 with the primary objective of producing top homegrown talent to contribute meaningfully to MLS first teams. During the past decade, MLS clubs have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the identification and development of homegrown talent and signed top academy players to MLS first team contracts. 
 
As MLS clubs deepen their commitment to player development through significant investments in fully-funded academies, these clubs – consistent with the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players – will now assert Training Compensation claims for any MLS academy product that signs his first professional contract with a non-MLS club outside of the U.S. and Canada**. Additionally, MLS clubs will seek FIFA-administered Solidarity Payments when players developed in MLS club academies are transferred, for a fee, between two clubs belonging to different international federations.

$200 Million Expansion Fee Set for Teams 28 and 29; 
Sacramento and St. Louis to Make Presentations to MLS Expansion Committee
LOS ANGELES (April 18, 2019) – Major League Soccer today unveiled plans to expand to 30 clubs in the coming years, as Commissioner Don Garber addressed the news media following today’s Board of Governors meeting in Los Angeles.  Garber also confirmed the expansion fee for each of the next two teams -- clubs 28 and 29 -- will be $200 million.
 
Although the Board didn’t select any markets today, the Board authorized the Commissioner’s Office to advance the discussions with St. Louis and Sacramento.  Ownership groups representing those two markets will make formal presentations to the MLS leadership and the league’s Expansion Committee. MLS anticipates these presentations will take place during the second quarter of 2019 and will address the following for each bid:

Innovative partnership demonstrates commitment to being a global leader in total wellness by providing best-in-class resources for soccer players and coaches

NEW YORK (April 18, 2019) – Major League Soccer (MLS) and U.S. Soccer today announced a three-year partnership with Headspace, one of the world’s leading meditation and mindfulness apps.

Headspace will annually provide thousands of app subscriptions to ensure all U.S. Soccer and MLS athletes, coaches, and league and club staff have access to strengthen their mindfulness and meditation skills. This partnership illustrates U.S. Soccer and MLS’ commitment to being at the forefront of total wellness by providing athletes with the best mental skills training resources.

As part of the deal, Headspace will conduct in-person introductory training sessions with U.S. Soccer and MLS athletes and coaches, led by Headspace co-founder Andy Puddicombe, and the company’s Head of Sports and Fitness, Lindsay Shaffer. Training sessions will take place during U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Team training camps and at various MLS events.

Six global champions were in City Center Doha this evening for the opening ceremony of the IAAF Heritage World Athletics Championships Exhibition.
The exhibition, the largest ever of its kind, celebrates the history of the IAAF World Athletics Championships whose first edition took place in Helsinki, Finland, 36 years ago, and which remain today the third most important sporting event on the planet.
The evening was hosted by IAAF President Sebastian Coe and Dahlan Al Hamad, IAAF Vice President and Director General of the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 Local Organising Committee.
The exhibition, which occupies 400m2 of space in the largest shopping mall in Qatar will be open daily to the public for six months, closing on Monday 7 October. During this time the Asian Athletics Championships, Doha Diamond League and IAAF World Athletics Championships will be hosted by Doha, drawing thousands of athletes, official, media and fans to Qatar.

Ambassador Ashim Morton has disclosed that the 5th edition of the Millennium Marathon will be grand and very big.
Speaking to Yours Truly in an exclusive interview, Ashim Morton said the first four editions were fantastic and gave credit to the participants and sponsors.
He noted that the fifth Millennium Marathon in Accra, Ghana would be special as he is planning a lot of activities and programmes to go with the event.
He said last year, participants and the media were treated to packages where some lucky people won expensive electronic gadgets and other fantastic prizes.
He expressed that the 2019 edition is going to be different with registered runners getting fast food and other freebies.

Dreamville rapper Bas to perform in tournament closing ceremony on April 20;
MLS and international academy leaders to take part in coaching seminars streamed live on Twitch

NEW YORK (April 18, 2019) – Major League Soccer (MLS) announced today the full programming schedule at the 2019 Generation adidas Cup held at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The schedule of programming includes a concert, coaching symposium and player engagement seminars throughout the week. The unparalleled player experience will be heightened by adidas’ presence and activations at the elite youth tournament.  
 
Bas, the acclaimed Queens-based rapper signed to J. Cole’s Dreamville record label, will cap the week of festivities at the conclusion of tournament play with a performance at the National Soccer Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 20. Since signing with the label in 2014, Bas has gone on to release top hits such as “Tribe” featuring J. Cole and “Boca Raton” featuring A$AP Ferg, each garnering tens of millions of streams.  ​

Samini, the multiple award winning Ghanaian musician has been chosen as the star performer for the 44th MTN/ SWAG Awards Night at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), on Saturday, May 11, 2019
The Afro-pop, Dancehall and Reggae artiste is among, high profile musicians to grace the awards ceremony organized by SWAG over the years.
Mr. Kwabena Yeboah President of SWAG revealed at the presentation of a sponsorship deal worth 60, 000ghc between SWAG and MTN on Wednesday, April 17 at MTN House.
The ‘My Own’ hit-maker would rock the audience with great love tunes from his old and current albums.

The Athletics timetable for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was unveiled today during a ceremony in the Japanese capital.
Spread over ten days, athletics competition at the 29th Summer Olympic Games will commence on Friday 31 July with the men's 20km race walk, which will finish in front of Japan’s imperial palace, and conclude on the final day of the Games, Sunday 9 August, with the men's marathon.
In between, competition will be spread over 17 exciting sessions at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium.
“The Tokyo 2020 schedule is substantially different from our previous Olympic timetables, but will offer the vast majority of athletics fans attending the Games the opportunity to see Olympic medals being decided, with finals scheduled in 15 of the 17 sessions in the main stadium,’’ IAAF Competitions Director Paul Hardy said.

FIFA is pleased to confirm that it has received nine registrations in connection with the bidding process for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, namely from the following member associations (in alphabetical order by country):

• Argentinian Football Association
• Football Federation Australia
• Bolivian Football Association
• Brazilian Football Association
• Colombian Football Association

Mr. Kudjoe Fianoo , chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) has called on all people in the football fraternity to be friendly to each other.
Speaking at the 10th anniversary launch of Dreams FC at Shiashie, near Legon, he noted that divisions among the football people is causing the downfall of the sports in Ghana and it is about time that is changed.
“Football people should come together now that we have come to a cross road. We have sold our football to strangers and now we are galloping in the dark on where to go.” He said.
Fianoo represented GHALCA in the Dreams FC 10th anniversary launch on Monday in Accra.

LIMA, PERU (April 16, 2019) — The Official Song of the XVIII Pan American Games of Lima 2019 was revealed today at the Domes of San Miguel in the Costa Verde region of the Peruvian capital, with the presence of Peru’s top sport authorities, top athletes, media and the public.

At the "Serenade to 100 Days to Go to Lima 2019” event, a night full of music, dance and sport made the city come to life. More than 1,000 people enjoyed sport demonstrations by the Lima 2019 Athlete Ambassadors, artistic performances and of course the main event of the evening, a concert by Pedro Suarez-Vertiz and his band performing the Official Song of Lima 2019 - “Let’s All Play!”.

"It's a song with heart, a song with energy, that invites us all to play and to get excited. This is the first time in our history that Peru is organizing an event of such magnitude: the most important multisport event in the entire continent. And what better way than to receive all of the athletes than with a song of Peruvian rhythms, using instruments unique to our culture and talking about the friendship between our brother countries," said Pedro Suarez-Vertiz.

​The Tournament is being held in honour of their fallen team-mate hence it being dubbed Khondwani Sakala Memorial Tournament 
LUSAKA, Zambia, April 16, 2019/ -- Linda Lions Rugby Club of Chilanga, which was established in 2016 in collaboration with the Tag Rugby Trust, will be hosting their first ever invitational youth rugby Tournament on Friday 19th April, 2019.

Tournament Organizer Akim Kabemba, who is also Tag Rugby Trust Country Manager said the Tournament is being held in honor of their fallen team-mate hence it being dubbed KHONDWANI SAKALA MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT. " Khondwani Sakala was one of us from the start, he was very instrumental in helping the team achieve all that we did and he did his part in ensuring new comers felt welcome. After his sudden demise, his family graciously offered to help organize a tournament in his memory and we are highly appreciative to them, that even though he is no more, his memory still brings people together".

Former Ghana international Michael Essien will feature for the Blues in the Soccer Aid for UNICEF match at Stamford Bridge in June.
The tireless enforcer will lace his boots once more at Stamford Bridge as he and ex- Chelsea team-mates Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho have confirmed they will play for World XI against Joe Cole’s England XI on Sunday 16 June.

Ghana’s capital, Accra, will hold the inaugural Africa Women’s Sports Summit on May 15.
The summit, which is a brainchild of International Sports Journalist Juliet Bawuah, will bring together over sixty participants for a day’s session with some of Africa’s leading and respected women sports Journalists as well as notable names in media, corporate and sports landscape who have shattered the glass-ceiling in the areas they operate.
The event will be held under the theme: “Take Your Place”, which will highlight and trigger conversations about empowering young female sport Journalists and upcoming talents to lead and impact their communities.
The maiden edition will focus on Sports Journalism and the window of opportunities available to women. It is open to aspiring and established women sports Journalists, who will learn from and interact with speakers from across Africa.

​

​Rugby Africa EXCO Members attended meetings in London with members of World Rugby and Rugby Europe to discuss global projects and the development of African rugby
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 17, 2019/ -- The President of Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com), Mr Khaled Babbou, attended meetings in London on the 16th of April, with his counterpart from Rugby Europe, Mr Octavian Morariu, and members of World Rugby to discuss the  project of a World Rugby Nations Championship and its implications for Tier 2 and Tier 3 countries.

Mr Babbou, accompanied by the President of Ghana Rugby and Member of the Rugby Africa EXCO, Mr Herbert Mensah, met with the President of World Rugby, Mr Bill Beaumont and the CEO of World Rugby, Mr Brett Gosper, David Carrigy and other World Rugby Executives ahead of the meeting on the World Rugby Nations Championship.