News - AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY

Cricket South Africa And Audi In Big Partnership

12/17/2014

Audi have signed an agreement with CSA that will see the brand become the Official Vehicle Partner to CSA and the Proteas.

The announcement, coming just two days before the Proteas kick-off the Sunfoil Test Series against the West Indies, will see Audi gaining branding exposure both in-stadia and on television. Fans at home and at the stadium will get unique insight into player performance via the Audi Performance Tracker, and will be able to keep track of the speed of every ball with the Audi Speedgun.

"We are proud to associate with another world-class brand and it is simply fantastic to end the year by welcoming a brand new partner into our cricket family," said CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat.

Mpumalanga And Zimbabwe Post Big Totals At U13 Meet

12/17/2014

Mpumalanga Province and Zimbabwe both piled up totals in excess of 250 in the second round of 50 overs matches that brought the CSA under-13 week at Potchefstroom to a close on Monday.

Eastern Province must have thought they were well in their game against Zimbabwe when they reduced them to 100/7 but Rodney Mufudza (80) and Brett Hansell (56) then produced a partnership of 138 to turn the game on its head. They were eventually all out for 252 and Hansell then completed a good all-round performance to take 3/11 as Eastern Province were dismissed for 103.

Tiaan Brits continued his good form of the previous day when he contributed 76 to his team's total of 253. This time he received better support from his team mates with the top six all reaching double figures. Griquas were dismissed for a paltry 101 in reply.

IAAF welcomes WADA investigation

12/17/2014

Monaco –The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) welcomes the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announcement of their three-person Independent Commission that will investigate the serious doping allegations recently aired in a series of German television documentaries.

As previously confirmed in a statement issued by the IAAF (4 Dec) which followed the first German broadcast, with regard to matters revealed in the documentary related to anti-doping and, therefore outside the scope of the IAAF Ethics Commission, these will be studied carefully and dealt with according to the relevant IAAF rules and in full co-operation with WADA.

Spain to host first-ever FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2018

12/17/2014

MIES, Switzerland (2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup) - FIBA on Tuesday announced that Spain will host the first-ever FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2018.

Spain and Israel presented the two bids shortlisted to host the biggest women’s basketball tournament.

Twenty three of the 26 members making up FIBA’s Central Board voted. Eighteen were in favour of Spain's bid, while five backed that of Israel.

“We would like to thank both Spain and Israel for submitting outstanding bids and giving us every reason to believe they would host a first-class event and make it a great success for all concerned,” said FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member Patrick Baumann.

Athletics timetable for Rio 2016 Olympics published

12/16/2014

Monaco - Following the recent news that the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will feature finals during the morning sessions of the athletics programme, the IAAF has today published the full timetable.

“Staging finals in the morning was done at the request of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee and the Olympic Broadcasting Service, supported by the International Olympic Committee,” said IAAF Competitions Director Paul Hardy. “Having finals in the morning will also ensure that we receive maximum visibility for athletics at the Olympic Games across all time zones.”

Awoko: ‘Stakeholders are more united than ever’

12/16/2014

Former Western Area Football Association (WAFA) chairman, Alhaji Unisa Alim Awoko Sesay has dismissed talks of disunity and factions amongst football stakeholders.

The owner and Chairman of premier league side, Anti Drugs Strikers said the current unification amongst them as stakeholders is something that never existed before adding that they as stakeholders are now ready to work as a family to develop football.

“Before we use to have the Rodney Michael/Foday Bangso camp and the Nahim Khadi camp but such no longer exists in our football anymore, we are now united as a family and we speak with one voice. The more we unite the more our football will improve,” Awoko said adding that is why they as stakeholders are keen for the planned December 20th congress.

Gourcuff names Algeria squad for Africa Cup of Nations

12/16/2014

Algeria head coach Christian Gourcuff has named his 23-man squad for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Equatorial Guinea from 17 January to 8 February.

The squad includes three players from the English Premier League in Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, Newcastle United's Mehdi Abeid Mehdi, and Leicester City forward Riyah Mahrez.

Algeria squad
Goalkeepers: Doukha Izzedine (JS Kabylie), Mbolhi Rais (Philadelphia Union/USA), Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche (USM Alger)

Samuel Barlay extends Syrianska IF stay

12/16/2014

Sierra Leonean midfielder, Samuel Barlay has extended his stay for another year with Swedish second division side, Syrianska IF.

The 28-year-old along with the Swedish club agreed to exercise a contractual clause for an extension until the end of the 2015 league season.

Baraly who joined the red and yellow club in the summer transfer market after a long spell in Azerbaijan's top league decided to stay on with Syrianska IF for another term.

According to the clubs website, before Big Sam as he is fondly called joined the club there was a renewal option in his contract clause and both parties welcomed the idea to sign a new contract.

Setif and Sydneysiders seek redemption

12/16/2014

There will be pride on the line when ES Setif meet Western Sydney Wanderers, with the pair aiming to bow out of Morocco 2014 on a high in their first campaigns in the competition.

The match
ES Setif - Western Sydney Wanderers, Le Grand Stade de Marrakech, Wednesday 17 December, 16:30 (local time)

This is an occasion that ES Setif wanted to avoid at all costs, having targeted the semi-finals, only to be thrown off course by Auckland City, who defeated Les Aigles Noirs courtesy of a John Irving strike. Now the African champions dare not slip up again if they wish to salvage some consolation for their fans, who were dreaming big ahead of the first ever appearance in the competition by an Algerian side.

South Africa needs to win series against West Indies to cement top Test ranking

12/16/2014

The three-Test series between South Africa and West Indies starts at Centurion on Wednesday with the host looking to further consolidate its position at the top of the Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings Table.

Ahead of the series, Hashim Amla’s men know that irrespective of how the Australia-India series pans out, if they beat the West Indies by 1-0 or better, then they will be guaranteed top Test spot at the annual cut-off date.

However, if the South Africa-West Indies series ends in a draw and Australia wins all four Tests against India, then Australia will claim the top spot by 0.2 ratings points, with South Africa falling to second.

Awesome Auckland breaking new ground

12/15/2014

Auckland City midfielder Mario Bilen was in for something of a shock after helping his side reach the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014 on Saturday. As he and his jubilant team-mates celebrated the semi-professional team’s surprise 1-0 defeat of African champions ES Setif with songs, hugs and a tear or two, the Croatian checked his phone and saw the following message: “Great game. You’re sacked. Signed: your boss.”

Most of the Auckland players supplement their income with part-time jobs outside football, among them Bilen, who could have been excused for fearing for his. Happily for him, the text was just a joke played on him by his giggling team-mates.

Cape Town Roses crowned 2014 Sasol League National champions

12/15/2014

14 December 2014 – Cape Town Roses were crowned 2014 Sasol League National champions on Sunday, 14 December 2014 at the Isaac Wolfson stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Roses beat three times champions, Palace Super Falcons 2-1 to clinch the title for the first time. The team from Cape Town put on an impressive display on the day.

A second half brace by former Banyana Banyana player, Nocawe Skiti handed Roses the trophy, while second half substitution, Gugu Gabuza got the goal for Falcons.

Dubai will be next Stage in Kenenisa Bekele’s Marathon Quest

12/15/2014

Kenenisa Bekele’s next marathon will be in Dubai. The organisers of the Standard Chartered Dubai marathon in conjunction with Dubai Holding announced the news at a press conference in the Desert Emirate on Sunday. The major investment conglomerate Dubai Holding, supporter of the marathon, has engaged Bekele as its ambassador for its Corporate Wellness Programme. The marathon will be run on its super flat and fast course on January 23. Taking into account shorter distances held in conjunction, around 25,000 runners are expected to participate. Entries can be made online at: www.dubaimarathon.org

First medal is gold for Czech pair Bonnerova/Hermannova in Mangaung

12/15/2014

Mangaung, South Africa, December 14, 2014 - Martina Bonnerova and Barbora Hermannova claimed their first ever career medal on the World Tour on Sunday by winning the FIVB Beach Volleyball Mangaung Open. The Czech pair defeated Japan’s Takemi Nishibori and Sayaka Mizoe 2-0 (21-15, 21-17) in the final.

“It’s so amazing”, Hermannova said. “We really put a high standard there with gold being our first medal. But why not?”

Bonnerova and Hermannova were in control during the whole match and were racing towards a big win in the first set, leading 19-11. But the Czechs lost focus a bit and let the Japanese come back to 19-14. In the end they needed two set points to close it.

Perfect season ending for Nummerdor/Varenhorst and Bonnerova/Hermannova in Mangaung

12/15/2014

Mangaung, South Africa, December 14, 2014 - Dutch pair Reinder Nummerdor/Christiaan Varenhorst and Martina Bonnerova/Barbora Hermannova of the Czech Republic ended the 2014 season perfectly on Sunday with a golden crown at the FIVB World Tour Beach Volleyball Mangaung Open.

The Dutch defeated Chilean cousins Esteban and Marco Grimalt 2-0 (21-18, 21-18) in the final. France’s Youssef Krou and Edouard Rowlandson won the bronze medal.

Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games mascots were named Vinicius and Tom by a public vote

12/15/2014

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, December 14th 2014: The mascots of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games were named respectively Vinicius and Tom. After three weeks of popular vote and 323.327votes, 44% of the voters chose to honour musicians and partners Vinicius de Moraes and Tom Jobim. The two are exponents of Bossa Nova, a movement that made everyone know and sing about the beauties of Rio. They were the creators of The Girl from Ipanema, one of the most played songs in the world. A well-tuned duo, like our mascots.

Setif determined to soldier on

12/15/2014

Newly crowned African champions ES Setif suffered an unlikely setback when they were beaten by Auckland City in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014 on Saturday. Their hopes of reaching the last four dashed, the Algerians will look to salvage their wounded pride when they take on Australia’s Western Sydney Wanderers in the match for fifth place.

As Setif skipper Farid Mellouli explained to FIFA.com after Saturday’s defeat, the Algerians were taken aback by the quality of Auckland’s performance: “We didn’t expect them to play the way they did. They dominated the first half, and in the second they made the most of the few opportunities they had to win the game.”

Two out of three for Mangaung Open champions Nummerdor/Varenhorst

12/15/2014

Mangaung, South Africa, December 14, 2014 – In only their third World Tour event together Reinder Nummerdor and Christiaan Varenhorst grabbed their second gold on Sunday at the FIVB Beach Volleyball Mangaung Open. The Dutch team defeated Esteban and Marco Grimalt from Chili 2-0 (21-18, 21-18) in the final of the South African event.

The 38-year old Nummerdor is now the most successful Dutch player in history with 11 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze medals. He is also a two-time Olympian, finishing fifth in Beijing and London with his former partner Richard Schuil.

“Still, I am very happy with this win”, Nummerdor said. “We were under a lot of pressure this tournament, as the number one seeded.”

APB Ranking Phase “Matches of Champions” results (75kg, 81kg and 91kg)

12/13/2014

Lausanne, 13 December 2014 – Istanbul, Caserta and Sofia hosted the APB Ranking Round 3 matches for the Middleweight, Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight categories with the following results:

MIDDLE 75 KG – FRIDAY, 12 DECEMBER (21:00 GMT +2)

Location: Istanbul, Venue: Caferaga Spor Salonu

Home star and World Championships bronze medalist Adem Kilicci defeated Egypt's All-Africa Games bronze medallist Hosam Abdin on points to continue his undefeated start to the competition.

European Boxing Champion Artem Chebotarev also defeated Dmytro Mytrofanov on points, and he will face Kilicci in the next Round for the Ranking Title.

Montreal, San Jose and Toronto Select Players in Phase One of the 2014 Re-Entry Process

12/13/2014

NEW YORK (Friday. Dec. 12, 2014) – A total of three MLS players were selected today in the Stage One draft of the 2014 Re-Entry Process. Montreal Impact picked up Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Eric Kronberg with the first pick of the draft, while San Jose Earthquakes followed suit choosing another Sporting Kansas City ‘keeper, Andy Gruenebaum. Toronto FC closed out the first phase of the Re-Entry Process with its selection of Real Salt Lake forward Robbie Findley. A complete list of players chosen in today’s draft is below.

Players not selected today are eligible for the Stage Two draft, which will take place on Thursday, December 18 at 3:00 p.m. ET. The draft will take place via teleconference with all 20 clubs represented. MLS will release the results following the call. The second phase will also be conducted in the same order as the traditional Waiver Draft.

Nosaina Pokana’s deliveries found to be Legal

12/13/2014

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today confirmed that following remedial work and a re-test at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, the bowling action of Papua New Guinea’s Nosaina Pokana is legal and he can now resume bowling in international cricket.

The left arm pace bowler was originally reported during the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in February 2014.

Olympic Agenda 2020 – From Decision to Implementation

12/13/2014

Following the unanimous approval of the 40 recommendations that make up Olympic Agenda 2020 by the IOC Session on 8 and 9 December, the focus has now turned from decision to implementation.

On Thursday 11 December, IOC President Thomas Bach chaired meetings at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne to begin the implementation of a number of the recommendations, including on the bid process for the Olympic Games (Recommendation 1) and on the launch of an Olympic Channel (Recommendation 19).

The IOC President said: “Following the success of the IOC Session in Monaco and the unanimous endorsement of my fellow IOC members for the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations, it is critical that we utilise the momentum and energy we have created throughout the Olympic Movement and start implementing straight away.”

Preview of the APB Ranking Phase, “Matches for Champions”

12/13/2014

Lausanne, 12 Dec 2014 - AIBA Pro Boxing has announced the first 3 matches of the Ranking Phase Round 3 that will take place this Friday December 12 in Istanbul (Turkey), Sofia (Bulgaria) and Caserta (Italy) according to the following schedule:

(Match-ups based on Week 1 and 2 Rankings)

MIDDLE 75 KG - FRIDAY, 12 DECEMBER (21:00 GMT+2)
Location: Istanbul – Venue: Caferaga Spor Salonu

Adem Kilicci, bronze medallist in the AIBA World Boxing Championship 2007, will face Hosam Abdin, All-Africa Games 2007 bronze medallist.

Team Novi Sad beats home side Doha to win 2014 FIBA 3x3 All Stars

12/13/2014

DOHA, Qatar (FIBA 3x3 All Stars) - Team Novi Sad dominated Doha 20-12 in Friday’s final of the FIBA 3x3 All Stars, which was staged on Katara Beach with the city skyline on the horizon.

Marko Savic topped all scorers in the deciding game, with 8 points, including three shots from behind the arc. His team-mates Dejan Majstorovic and number one 3x3 player in the world Dusan Domovic Bulut contributed 7 and 5 points respectively.

Mohammed ‘Big Mo’ Seleem Abdulla scored 5 points in a losing effort for Doha.

FIBA President Horacio Muratore and Qatar Basketball Federation President H.E. Sheikh Saoud Al-Thani handed out the winning cheque to Team Novi Sad.

55 College Seniors Invited to 2015 adidas MLS Player Combine

12/11/2014

NEW YORK (Thurs., Dec. 11, 2014) – Major League Soccer today announced the 55 NCAA DI college seniors invited to participate in the 2015 adidas MLS Player Combine. Top collegiate athletes from across the country will have the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of representatives from all 20 MLS clubs in Fort Lauderdale, FL from Jan. 8-13, 2015. All invited players will be eligible for selection in the 2015 SuperDraft presented by adidas that will take place on Thursday, Jan. 15 in Philadelphia, PA.

A committee of NCAA Division I coaches from every conference, as well as MLS coaches, selected the invitees, all of whom completed their college eligibility this season. Generation adidas signings, non-collegiate players, and additional college seniors will be announced in the coming weeks.