News - AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY

IOC President Issues a Statement on the Terrorist Attacks in Russia

12/30/2013

By: Editor

The President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach today December 30th 2013 released a statement about the terrorist attacks in Volgograd, Russia.

"This is a despicable attack on innocent people and the entire Olympic Movement joins me in utterly condemning this cowardly act. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims.

I have personally written to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to express our condolences to the Russian people and our confidence in the Russian authorities to deliver safe and secure Games in Sochi. I am certain that everything will be done to ensure the security of the athletes and all the participants of the Olympic Games.

Review 2013 - Poland, Brazil top podium at Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships

12/30/2013

By: Editor

Katarzyna Kociolek and Jagoda Gruszscynska celebrate gold in the Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships

Lausanne, Switzerland, December 30, 2013 – As part of an end-of-year review series, www.fivb.org looks back at the FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships in Umag, Croatia.

If the age-group World Championships are about opening up a pathway to future teams and offering opportunities to developing countries, then the FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships showed that the growth of the sport is likely to continue apace in the coming years as new teams step up to the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour. Five different countries were represented on the podium, with only Poland enjoying success in both the men’s and women’s competition.

Namibia, Netherlands and Uganda captains chase a dream

12/30/2013

By: Editor

Sarel Burger revealed Namibia had profited immensely from the insights of Jonty Rhodes

The ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier New Zealand 2014 (CWCQ) will be held between 13 January and 1 February across seven venues in New Zealand. A total of 10 teams will compete for the final two spots in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 (CWC) in Australia and New Zealand, and Group B captains Sarel Burger of Namibia, Peter Borren of the Netherlands and Davis Arinaitwe Karashani of Uganda have said that qualification to the ICC’s pinnacle would be a dream come true.

Namibia captain Sarel Burger, who played in Namibia’s sole campaign at the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2003 said: “It's a dream come true for any cricketer, playing in the ICC Cricket World Cup.

Simpson to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame

12/30/2013

By: Editor

Debbie Hockley and Simpson will join Adam Gilchrist and Waqar Younis as inductees of 2013-14

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that Debbie Hockley and Bob Simpson will be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in a special function to be held in Sydney on 2 January 2014.

Hockley will become the fourth female player after Belinda Clark (Australia), Enid Bakewell and Rachael Heyhoe-Flint (both England), and second cricketer from New Zealand after Richard Hadlee to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

South Africa extends lead as the number-one ranked side

12/30/2013

By: Editor

Meanwhile, Australia has an opportunity to finish third on the Test team rankings table

If Australia wins the Sydney Test, then it will finish in third place

Sri Lanka needs to beat Pakistan by 2-0 or better to move into fifth position

South Africa’s 10 wickets victory over India in the second and final Test in Durban on Monday has allowed it to extend its lead as the number-one ranked side on the Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings Table.

The 1-0 series win has helped South Africa gain two ratings points to finish on 133, while India has conceded two ratings points to end at 117. This means the gap between the two top ranked sides has now increased from 12 ratings points to 16 ratings points.

Saracens To Entertain Sharks in London

12/30/2013

By: Farai Diza

The Northern and Southern hemisphere will collide yet again when the Saracens from UK clash with the Sharks at Allianz Park in London on 25 January. The match between the Aviva Premiership leaders and the South Africa Currie Cup champions will present a rare opportunity to assess the relative strengths of club rugby in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

“Our players will enjoy the challenge presented by a full strength Sharks team packed with Springboks like Bismark du Plessis and Francois Steyn and its sure to be a fantastic rugby occasion at Allianz Park,” Saracen’s Director of Rugby, Mark McCall told the club’s official website.

Five PSL Matches Scheduled During CHAN

12/30/2013

By: Farai Diza

The Premier Soccer League have released a statement announcing that five Premiership games will be contested during the African Nations Championship (Chan) that will be held in South Africa from January 11 to February 1 next year.

According to KickOff Magazine the matches, which are likely to affect Gordon Igesund’s ability to field his strongest team involve six clubs in the shape of AmaZulu, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, Supersport United, Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town.

South Africa On Course after Kallis Shines

12/30/2013

By: Farai Diza

South Africa is on course to upset India in their second test match at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban after Jacques Kallis shined with the bat giving the Proteas a slight edge yesterday striking a total of 500 runs.

South Africa resumed the day from their overnight score of 299/5 and all eyes were on Kallis who is playing in his last test match before calling it quits and he did not disappoint anyone, scoring his 45th test century.

He was ably supported by Dale Steyn as the overnight pair added 86 runs for the 6th wicket. Robin Peterson and Faf du Plessis rattled up a quick century stand to help the hosts stretch the lead to 163 runs.

Mputu out of DR Congo CHAN squad

12/30/2013

By: cafonline.com

Midfielder Tresor Mputu Mabi has been left out of the DR Congo squad for next month’s Orange African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.

The TP Mazembe player, who led the Leopards to victory at the maiden edition of the tournament designed exclusively for local-based footballers in 2009 in Cote d’Ivoire, was the notable absentee in the 23-man squad named by head coach Santos Mutumbile last Saturday (December 28).

Ghana and Nigeria claim gold at Zone 3 Beach Volleyball tournament

12/30/2013

By Editor

Takoradi, Ghana, December 24, 2013 – The Ghana men’s team and the Nigeria women’s team clinched the gold medals of a Zone 3 Beach Volleyball tournament that featured six teams in each age category at the Last Hour Beach Resort in Takoradi, Ghana, from December 13 to 15.

The competition was organised by the Ghana Volleyball Association in partnership with the Western Regional Volleyball Association. The partners were supported by the Ghana Manganese Company and the Ghana Olympic Committee as well as Sky FM, Dynamite FM, Obonoo FM, Asempa FM, Radio Universe, Agoo FM and various print media.

Eritrea's youngsters given taste of volleyball

12/30/2013

By Editor

Eritrea's Volley-All programme proved popular with the students that took part

Asmara, Eritrea, December 20, 2013 – The Eritrean Volleyball Federation recently gave 350 school children the chance to hone their volleyball skills in a fun environment when they hosted the Volley-All festival in late November.
The FIVB provided support in the form of 200 balls and clothing for the participants, which totalled 350 students and 12 school teachers being led by three coaches from the National Federation. One month earlier the schools had begun their coaching programmes to be ready for the big day.

Miami loses to the Kings as the OKC Thunder struggle against the Bobcats

12/29/2013

By Leslie Koroma

Friday night was a busy one in the NBA with 9 games across the league that saw the Miami Heat lose to the Sacramento Kings. The Kings have been playing very well lately ever since acquiring superstar Rudy Gay. On Friday night they took it to the Miami Heat’s, who besides losing the game to the Kings by a score of 103 – 108 had their main star in LeBron James come down with a groin injury.

Review 2013 - China were untouchable at FIVB Womens U20 Championships

12/29/2013

By Editor

Tournament MVP Zhu Ting celebrates after the final of the FIVB Women's U20 World Championship

Lausanne, Switzerland, December 28, 2013 – As part of our end-of-year review series, www.fivb.org looks back at China’s brilliant performance in the FIVB Women’s U20 World Championship in the Czech Republic city of Brno.
After going through the tournament without dropping a set, China showed that they were a cut above the rest of the competition and finished off by beating Japan 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-15) in the gold-medal match.

Review 2013 - Germany, Brazil take top honors at U19 Beach Volleyball World Championships

12/29/2013

By Editor

The Brazilian duo of Taina Silva Bigi and 14-year-old Eduarda Santos Lisboa won the girls' title at the U19 Beach Volleyball World Championships in Portugal

Lausanne, Switzerland, December 28, 2013 – As part of our end-of-year review series, www.fivb.org looks back at the FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships, a tournament that provides developing players a first taste of international competition and the chance to mix with athletes from around the world.

Hafeez breaks into the top 20 for first time in his career

12/29/2013

By Editor

Regains number-one position on the all-rounders’ chart, Junaid on a career-high 11th spot

Mohammad Hafeez has achieved a career-best ranking in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmenafter finishing as the leading run-getter in the five-match series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka which concluded in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Hafeez aggregated 448 runs with three centuries, and for this performance he not only earned the player of the series award but has also been rewarded with a jump of 18 places that, in turn, has put him at a career-best 16thposition.

Sweden based Hamza Kamara wins Sprint double at Boxing Day Sports meet in Sierra Leone

12/29/2013

By Sahr Morris Jr

Hamza Kamara

Sweden based Sierra Leonean sprinter, Hamza M Kamara won the 100 & 200 meters sprint double at the 86th edition of the annual Sierra Leone Amateur Athletics Association Boxing Day Sports Meet.

Kamara who travelled from Sweden specifically for the event easily triumphed over the home based athletes in both events clocking 21:50 seconds in the 200meters and 10:56 seconds in the 100meters.
Freetown based Jimmy Thoronka followed closely with a 21:93 seconds in the 200meters taking the silver medal whilst Mohamed L Bangura secured bronze with a 21:94 seconds clocking.

In the 100meters, Michael Konomanyi scooped silver after clocking 10:61 seconds behind Kamara whilst Thoronka settled for the bronze with 10:67seconds.

Canada and others brace themselves for a tough tournament

12/28/2013

By Editor

Coetzer: “Recent form suggests it will be tough for us early on”

Khurram: “Qualifying for the first time since 1996 would do wonders for UAE cricket”

Hansra: “We’re conducting specific training scenarios for New Zealand conditions”

The ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier New Zealand 2014 (CWCQ) will see Jimmy Hansra captaining Canada, Kyle Coetzer leading Scotland and Khurram Khan at the helm for the UAE, as they all set their sights on the two remaining places at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 (CWC) available through the CWCQ.

SAFA response to sex scandal allegations

12/28/2013

Norman Arendse, president of SAFA Cape Town, says that SAFA is vigorously pursuing charges that a senior SAFA official used his position to try and extract sexual favours from a young female colleague. “There is no place for sexual predators in football,” he said. “If this person is found guilty he will be fired and banned from football.”

The man involved is Vernon Seymour, SAFA’s Cape Town vice president, who is currently working on the African Nations Championship (CHAN) that is to take place in Cape Town in January.