Winner of the METRO GROUP Marathon Duesseldorf: Annie Bersagel; (Photo credit): Norbert Wilhelmi / METRO GROUP Marathon Duesseldorf


Annie Bersagel fell early in the race but recovered to defend her title in the METRO GROUP Marathon Duesseldorf. The American showed great determination to go on and clock a personal best of 2:28:29. In good weather conditions Marius Ionescu of Romania won the men’s race with 2:13:19. Adding other running events staged parallel to the marathon a total of 18,000 runners entered the METRO GROUP Marathon Duesseldorf.

For financial reasons there was only a very limited elite field in Sunday’s race. However organisers are hopefully that the situation will be much improved again next year.

Records tumbled at the Virgin Money London Marathon today where more than 37,500 finished the gruelling 26.2-mile journey from Blackheath to Westminster, making the 35th edition of the race the biggest in its history by almost 1000 runners.

Of the 37,675 who crossed the Finish Line in The Mall by 18:10 this evening, three established new world records while no fewer than six course records fell on a day of celebration for Paula Radcliffe and triumph for London Marathon debutants Eliud Kipchoge and Tigist Tufa, who took the prestigious elite titles in style.

Kipchoge clinched the men’s crown with a thrilling sprint finish and a flamboyant gesture, denying reigning champion Wilson Kipsang his third London win as he clocked the third fastest time on the course of 2:04:42, while Tufa upset the odds to beat a field of fancied Kenyans, becoming only the second Ethiopian to win the women’s race.

Dancers defy the rain in routine that brings together performers, including some in wheelchairs, from different musical styles

Some of the performers were trained dancers, while others were members of the public (Photo Rio 2016 Alexndre Loureiro)

If the Paralympic Games are about overcoming challenges, then the celebration of 500 days until the Rio 2016 Games were perfect. Undeterred by a short but heavy downpour moments before, about 200 dancers performed an energetic flash mob alongside Copcabana beach on Sunday (26 April). As the Games themselves will be, it was quite some party.

Spurs and England footballer Andros Townsend will be the official starter of the Virgin Money Giving Mini London Marathon on Sunday 26 April.

The Mini London Marathon is a series of 10 races over the last three miles of the London Marathon course involving more than 2,000 of the country’s best 11 to 17-year-old runners and wheelchair racers.

The London-born Townsend will set them on their way from Old Billingsgate at 08:40 before greeting the winners at the Finish Line in The Mall where he will present them with their medals and prizes.

There is just over a week to go before the IAAF/BTC World Relays, Bahamas 2015, which will be held in Nassau on Saturday and Sunday 2-3 May.

More than 600 athletes from around the world will compete in five relay disciplines in the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium: 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m, 4x800m and the distance medley relay for both men and women.

The star attraction will be, without doubt, the 100m and 200m world record holder Usain Bolt who has been entered as part of Jamaica’s 4x100m and 4x200m teams.

In the latter event, and with Bolt missing through injury, Jamaica set a world record of 1:18.63 at the inaugural IAAF World Relays at the same venue in 2014, one of three world records to fall in a memorable first edition of the latest addition to the roster of IAAF Competition.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission saw solid progress being made during its eighth visit (23 to 25 February) to the 2016 host city of Rio de Janeiro. Sports venues are taking shape and numerous engagement initiatives like ticketing, volunteering and the Olympic Torch Relay up and running. These positive developments come at a time when the Rio organisers are entering the operational phase of the project. This stage of preparations will see Rio 2016 and its partners increase their activity significantly, as they reach a new level of detail in theirGames planning, while simultaneously delivering 21 test events.

The Commission was also joined for part of its visit by IOC Presidente Thomas Bach, who led a delegation, including the Commission Chair Nawal El Moutawakel, to meet Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who again pledged full support for the Games from “every level and ministry of her government as well as from State and City authorities”. Bach also participated in a meeting with Rio State Governor Luiz Fernando Pezão, Rio de Janeiro’s Mayor Eduardo Paes, and Brazilian Minister of Sports George Hilton, and joined the Commission on a tour of the Barra Olympic Park.

One of the highlights of the last week in the Regular Season of the World Series of Boxing (WSB) is a hugely significant clash between Italia Thunder and Astana Arlans Kazakhstan.

Italy are currently third in the Group B table and in the last qualification spot for the knock-out stages, but they are only a single point ahead of Caciques Venezuela which makes this a must win contest.

Kazakhstan have won all 13 of their matches so far this season, and have lost just 11 times in 65 legs which has resulted in the Franchise qualifying directly through to the semi-finals due to their unassailable lead at the top of the group.

The case against Kaizer Chiefs player George Lebese was postponed to 30 April after he made a brief appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The midfielder is accused of assaulting his girlfriend and damaging her vehicle at a club last month.

The case was postponed for the outcomes of lawyers’ representations.

Lebese is charged with assault and malicious damage to property after he chased his girlfriend who was fleeing in her car. It’s then alleged Lebese got out of the car and began to kick the woman’s vehicle.

Annie Bersagel winning the METRO GROUP Marathon Duesseldorf 2014: Photo credit: Victah Sailer / photorun.net

Defending champion Annie Bersagel will be the main contender in Sunday’s METRO GROUP Marathon Duesseldorf. The American hopes to further improve her personal best she ran last year in this race with 2:28:59. While elite fields for this edition had to be cut drastically for financial reasons there are hopes for a national winner in the men’s race. With the Rio Olympic Games already in mind André Pollmächer intends to go for a sub 2:12 time. Adding other events at shorter distances a total of 18,000 runners have entered the METRO GROUP Marathon Duesseldorf.

Around the globe, 24 national teams are working hard on their final adjustments leading up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 – the pinnacle of women’s football - which will kick off on 6 June. Meanwhile, a 25th squad that is just as fundamental for the event gathered this week at the Home of FIFA in Zurich for some intense preparation: the Referees and Assistant Referees.

Between 20 and 24 April, 29 referees and 44 assistant referees from a total 48 countries selected to work in Canada went through an extensive programme. Medical examinations, fitness tests and theoretical and practical sessions led by FIFA referee instructors were on the menu, all in the name of seeing them reach peak condition come June. 

23 April 2015 – The South African Football Association (SAFA) has congratulated Kaizer Chiefs for winning the 2014/2015 Absa Premier Soccer League title.

Amakhosi wrapped up the league title when they defeated Polokwane City 4-1 at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night (22 April).

“SAFA would hereby want to congratulate Kaizer Chiefs for winning this season’s league title. They ran a magnificent race from start to finish. They say numbers don’t lie and the points on the table show their consistency throughout the season. 

The National Basketball Association (NBA), the world’s biggest basketball brand, has announced that it will host its first game in Africa on the 1st of August 2015 at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The game will see ‘Team Africa’ play against ‘Team World’. Team Africa will be made up of African basketball players and others with African heritage, while Team World will be largely comprised of players from the rest of the world.

The event marks a peak of NBA’s forays into Africa, having held 12 editions of Basketball without Borders (BWB) Africa tournaments. The tournament is a global basketball development programme that has positively impacted the game on the continent. The NBA contingent will also participate in other activities with communities in South Africa.

Johannesburg and Cape Town will be the focus points in South Africa on Saturday afternoon for two local Vodacom Super Rugby derbies which could have a massive influence on the final standings in less than two months’ time.

The claws will be out at Emirates Airline Park when two former partners, the Emirates Lions and Toyota Cheetahs, clash for the 12th time since the demise of the Cats franchise after the 2005 season.

The home team is on a four-match win-streak and a win on Saturday will be their best-ever run of results as a franchise and to achieve that, the Emirates Lions will have to record their seventh win over the Toyota Cheetahs.

All eyes will then move to Cape Town for the second North/South derby of 2015, between the DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls – currently the two pace-setters in the South African Conference.

A North American derby closes the Regular Season in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) as USA Knockouts host Puerto Rico Hurricanes.

After an excellent start to Season V, the American Franchise have lost six of their last seven matches and are sixth in the Group B table.

Puerto Rico are a place above USA in the table, and have enjoyed a good debut season in WSB with six wins from 13 matches.

Although neither side can qualify for the knock-out stages of the competition, bragging rights for an entire continent are on the line in this fixture.

FIFA’s Club Licensing System took centre stage in Cairo as world football’s governing body and CAF held a special two-day seminar that ended on 23 April 2015. Fifty-one African member associations attended the event, which followed up a similar gathering jointly organised with CONCACAF in January 2015.

During the seminar, FIFA and external experts presented the key objectives of FIFA’s Club Licensing System, its implementation process and its fundamental role as a development tool.

Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama has strenuously denied saying that Arsenal are interested in recruiting him during the off-season.

The Kenya international was previously thought to be a target for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger before he joined the Saints from Celtic in 2013.

There were numerous departures from St Mary's a year ago and more players are expected to leave during the upcoming transfer window, despite a strong showing from Ronald Koeman's side in the Premier League this term.

Wanyama appeared to cast doubt on his own future when he revealed that Wenger has expressed an interest in signing him, while claiming that the prospect of UEFA Champions League football was enticing.

The 2015 Sasol League season, which is women’s premier football league in South Africa, is in full swing as provinces kicked-off their fixtures early this month.

The league is played provincially in all nine provinces and comprises of 144 teams (16 teams per province) with a one stream format of 16, or a two stream with eight teams each. The two stream format was adopted to curb the travelling challenges that might face teams due to the geographical spread of the teams and long travel distances. Matches are scheduled for Saturday or Sunday afternoons in all provinces.

Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Western Cape got their season underway a week ago, while Northern Cape, Free State, Eastern Cape and North West kicked-off this past weekend. KwaZulu-Natal is expected to kick-off next month. 

Ghana begin on Sunday a potentially long, difficult journey they hope will end at the Olympic Football Tournament Rio 2016.

First up for the Black Meteors are Liberia in the initial of three qualifying rounds for a December tournament that will determine which three African countries go to South America. Having to enter a tournament at such an early stage is rare for a Ghanaian national team, but poor 2012 Olympic Games qualifying results did them no favours seeding-wise.  

Congo await Ghana or Liberia in the second round and whoever from the trio makes the next stage must confront former gold medallists Nigeria. Should Ghana survive all that, they will still be a long way from checking Rio de Janeiro airline schedules. 

After 25 rounds of action, the Algerian Premier Division is still up in the air, to such an extent that only 14 points separate the top team with the bottom. The current African club champions, ES Setif, are in pole position with 41 points, while 16th-place NA Hussein Dey have 27. The 1967 champions, in turn, are four points adrift at the bottom of the table, so there are remarkably just ten points between the leaders and the relegation zone with five rounds to play.

At the same stage last season, first-placed USM Alger had a 37-point lead over the bottom clubs Bordj Bou Arreridj and Ain Fakroun, but this term the right run of results could theoretically see a team go from bottom three to top three within a couple of matchdays. It's a tremendous moment of parity for football in Algeria, which FIFA.com examines with the help of local coaches and players.

A full Lansdowne Stadium is on the horizon for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™. With the largest women’s sporting event in the world on its way to Ottawa, Ontario, the community has overwhelmingly embraced this unique opportunity.

Ottawa is on its way to capacity crowds for nine matches over six match days starting on 6 June. Of note, the quarter-final match on 26 June is already 85 per cent sold with limited seats remaining for this all-important and final day at Lansdowne Stadium.

Ottawa’s opening doubleheader match on Sunday 7 June will host world powerhouse Germany taking on Côte d’Ivoire. The second match features former Women's World Cup champions Norway battling newcomers Thailand. Tickets for the doubleheader start at just $20.15.

The Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) announces that the media accreditation process for the 2015 CAF Inter-clubs draw opens from Thursday, 23 April 2015 to Saturday, 2 May 2015.

 

There will be draws for the group phase of the 2015 Orange CAF Champions League as well as the 1/8th round of the 2015 Orange CAF Confederation Cup leading to the group phase.

 

The participating clubs are expected to be known at the weekend of 1-3 May 2015.

23 April 2015 – The South African U23 Men’s National Team has been given a timely boost by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil.

CAF has revised the U23 Men’s fixtures following the withdrawal of DR Congo as hosts.

South Africa was scheduled to face the tough Senegal side in the second round of qualifiers next month, but now the Senegalese have replaced DR Congo in hosting the final tournament next month. This means Senegal will no longer be participating in the qualifiers, giving Owen Da Gama’s charges a passage into the third and final round where they will play against the winner of the 2nd round clash between Zimbabwe and Swaziland.

Photo Courtesy: Soccerladuma.com


Bloemfontein Celtic chairman Max Tshabalala has apologised to all foreign players plying their trade in South Africa and announced the club will join an anti-xenophobia march on Thursday.

In a press release published on the club's official website, Tshabalala condemned the on-going violence against foreign nationals living in South Africa and revealed they will be joining the march alongside the ANC, SACP and COSATU on Thursday.

"This abhorrent conduct of discrimination needs to be condemned with the contempt it deserves," he said.

(In Photo above) FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member Patrick Baumann and FIBA President Horacio Muratore receive the award for SportBusiness Ultimate Sports Federation from Iain Edmondson of SportBusiness Ultimate Sports City London.

 

MIES, Switzerland - FIBA has won the first-ever SportBusiness Ultimate Sports Federation Award, it was announced on Thursday by SportBusiness Intelligence at the SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit in Sochi, Russia. 

Kaizer Chiefs clinched the Premiership title in emphatic fashion as they cruised to a 4-1 victory over Polokwane City at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.

Lebese, Parker and Rusike all got on the scoresheet as AmaKhosi claimed the trophy after a dominant season.

Chiefs started with intent and almost got ahead as early as the fifth minute, when George Lebese missed the target with a headed effort. But Lebese was ready for the next chance that came his way, latching onto Katsande's through-ball to open the scoring on 27 minutes.

It got even better for Amakhosi just after the half-hour mark when Bernard Parker was let in for their second to put one finger on the trophy despite a late effort from Polokwane to get back in the game before the break.