Wednesday, 25 November 2020
Diego Maradona dies of heart attack at 60 #diegomaradona
Friday, 17 August 2018
Serena Williams learned sister's killer had been released from prison just minutes before shock heavy defeat to Johanna Konta
Serena Williams has revealed the extenuating circumstances behind her stunning 6-1, 6-0 defeat to Johanna Konta in the first round of the Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose earlier this month - the heaviest defeat of her career.
Speculation over the shock scoreline began almost immediately after Konta thrashed Williams in just 53 minutes and now, in a wide-ranging interview with Time Magazine, Williams has admitted that her focus was compromised after looking on Instagram just minutes before she took to the court and discovering that the man convicted of killing her half-sister, Yetunde Price, had been released from prison on parole.
Williams' elder half-sister was shot dead by Robert Maxfield in 2003 in a drive-by shooting not far from where they grew up in the Compton district of Los Angeles, aged 31. Maxfield was jailed for 15 years in April 2006 and Williams attended the sentencing. He has been freed on parole three years early due to good behaviour.
"I couldn't shake it out of my mind," Williams told Time. "It was hard because all I think about is her kids (who were 11, nine and five at the time of their mother's death) - what they meant to me and how much I love them.
Williams added: "No matter what, my sister is not coming back for good behaviour.
"I would like to practice what I preach, and teach [daughter] Olympia that as well. I want to forgive. I have to get there. I'll be there."
Source: Telegraph Sport
Saturday, 26 August 2017
Mayweather vs McGregor - date, time and best places to watch the fight
Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor are
finally set to square off after more than a year
of teasing us that it would go down. The two
titans of their respective industries will step
inside the boxing ring on Saturday night to
square off in what many think could be a
display of boxing prowess as the undefeated
Mayweather takes on the boxing novice
McGregor in his debut in the ring.
It's getting so hyped that everyone is trying to
figure out where they can catch all the action.
We at CBS Sports have you covered on all of
that.
Mayweather vs. McGregor viewing information
Date: Saturday, Aug. 26
Time: 6 p.m. ET (prelims) | 9 p.m. ET (main
card)
Location: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vega
Source: cbssports.com
Barca get Dembele for 147m euros
Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign Borussia
Dortmund forward Ousmane Dembele for a fee
that could rise to 147m euros (£135.5m),
making him the world’s second most
expensive player.
Barca will pay an initial 105m euros (£96.8m)
for the France international, 20, who has
agreed a five-year contract and will undergo a
medical on Monday.
The deal is eclipsed only by Neymar’s recent
£200m move to Paris St-Germain.
Barca revealed that his deal will contain a
release clause of 400m euros. Dembele has
not featured for Dortmund since the German
Super Cup on 5 August. The German side
rejected a bid from Barca for the forward
earlier in August, with the player then
suspended for missing training.
Dortmund said they rejected Barca’s approach
because their offer “did not correspond to the
extraordinary footballing and additional value
of the player and the present economic
situation of the European transfer market”.
With regard to the fee now agreed, Dortmund
said in a statement that the payment of add-
ons “was agreed up to a maximum total
amount of approximately 40% of the fixed
transfer fee”.
Source: vanguardngr
Roberto Carlos faces jail time
Former Real Madrid full-back Roberto Carlos
is facing a jail sentence in his native Brazil
over unpaid alimony fees, according to
reports.
Marca states the legendary left-back owes
61k reals (€16.5k) to his ex-partner Barbara
Thurler with an ongoing court case in Rio De
Janiero.
The report cites media reports in Brazil which
state the former Brazil international, currently
an ambassador for Madrid, is claiming
financial problems for the delay in payments.
Prosecutors are asking for the two-time World
Cup winner to face jail time of three months
due to the delay, which is in relation to two of
his children.
Carlos’s current wife Mariana Lucon has
recently given birth to his ninth child, while
fellow 2002 World Cup winner has previously
been sent to jail twice for failure to meet
alimony deadlines.
The 44-year-old made over 500 appearances
for Los Blancos between 1996 and 2007,
winning four La Liga titles and three
Champions Leagues.
Source: vanguardngr
Wednesday, 23 August 2017
Wayne Rooney retires from international football
The record goalscorer and no 10 England
player, Wayne Rooney, Wednesday announced
his retirement from international football with
immediate effect.
The 31-year-old — scorer of 53 goals in 119
appearances for his country — told Southgate
of his decision during a phone conversation.
According to him, “Having already thought
long and hard, I told Gareth that I had now
decided to retire for good from international
football,” said Rooney in a statement sent to
Press Association Sport.
Source: vanguardngr
Tuesday, 22 August 2017
Cristiano Ronaldo cries injustice as last appeal rejected
Cristiano Ronaldo reiterated his anger at what
he described as the “incomprehensible
decision” to reject his final appeal against a
five-match ban on Tuesday.
Spain’s administrative sports court (TAD)
dismissed Real Madrid’s latest appeal for the
suspension handed out to the World Player of
the Year for pushing a referee after being
sent-off in the first leg of the Spanish Super
Cup against Barcelona.
“Another incomprehensible decision,” Ronaldo
posted to his over 57 million Twitter followers.
“Injustices will not knock me down. I will come
back stronger.
“Thanks to those who have supported me.”
Ronaldo was controversially shown a second
yellow card for diving after coming off the
bench to score as Real won the first leg of the
Spanish Super Cup 3-1 away to Barcelona.
The Portugal captain was handed a one-
match ban for the 10th red card of his career
and a further four-game suspension for
pushing referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea
in protest.
Ronaldo blasted his treatment by the Spanish
Football Federation as “persecution” on his
Instagram account after his first appeal was
rejected last week.
“It seems to me exaggerated and ridiculous,
this is called persecution!”
Ronaldo has already served two games of his
suspension as Madrid completed a 5-1
aggregate win over Barcelona in the Super
Cup second leg and as Real opened their La
Liga campaign with a 3-0 win at Deportivo la
Coruna.
Real will also be without their all-time top
scorer for La Liga matches at home to
Valencia and Levante and away at Real
Sociedad.
However, Ronaldo will be free to play when the
European champions begin their defence of the
Champions League on September 12 or 13.
Source: vanguardngr
Sunday, 20 August 2017
Floyd Mayweather v Conor McGregor: Lennox Lewis calls fight a 'farce'
Irish UFC lightweight champion McGregor, 29,
will make his boxing debut when he faces
undefeated American Mayweather on 26
August in Las Vegas.
"There is tremendous build-up and hype but I
don't really take it as a serious fight," Briton
Lewis told Sportsweek.
He added that "nothing is ever obvious when
it comes to gimmicks and hype" but
"Mayweather should win it".
Mayweather, 40, will surpass fellow American
Rocky Marciano's perfect record of 49 fights
without defeat should he overcome McGregor.
But Lewis told BBC Radio 5 live: "I wouldn't
count a fight like this as a 'fight'. He's
basically boxing a guy that is a UFC fighter
and not a boxer.
He added: "Everybody wants to know what's
going to happen.
"Is McGregor going to throw a kick because,
obviously when he resorts to boxing and
realises he is no match for Mayweather, what
will he do? How will he get around that?
"No other boxers from 49 fights have figured
out how to beat Mayweather - now a UFC
fighter that doesn't even have a boxing career
is trying to beat him at boxing - I think it's a
farce to a certain degree.
"I don't think it is a fight that I am going to
jump on a plane and go to see unless they
pay me to commentate on it."
Analysis - 'Mayweather moves in the
mirror?'
According to BBC Radio 5 live boxing analyst Steve Bunce:
It's going to be a relentless week. Too many
people are treating it like a comedy carnival.
On the night I think it will be a lot more
serious than people think. I think the laughter
will stop in Las Vegas, probably around
Wednesday.
McGregor is a guy who was nowhere four
years ago. Now he can earn hundreds of
millions of dollars. He got there because he is
absolutely driven. I've seen his fights, I think
he likes hurting people. So there will be dark
undertones next week. Anyone who thinks
Mayweather doesn't have a nasty, dark side
has been living in a cave for 30 years.
I believe McGregor has picked up a lot from
Mayweather.
If you are skint like he was five
or six years ago and you are seeing a guy like
Mayweather who has been making it rain
throwing dollar bills in the air, of course he is
copying that. He has wanted a bit of that. I
can imagine McGregor before he goes to bed
at night doing a few Mayweather moves in the
mirror.
I'm sure Mayweather can do what he wants in
there. He can make it last as long as he
wants. Hopefully, he will make it exciting for
the public.
Source: bbc
Monday, 14 August 2017
Ronaldo slammed with 5-match ban
Ronaldo challenging the referee Ricardo De
Burgos after bagging a red
Real Madrid will miss the services of their star
striker Cristiano Ronaldo, in the next five
matches in the Spanish league.
As predicted Sunday, the Spanish Football
Federation banned Ronaldo for five matches
today.
He was punished for pushing the referee after
he was shown a red card against Barcelona in
Real Madrid’s 3-1 Spanish Super Cup first leg
victory on Sunday.
Ronaldo was sent off in bizarre fashion,
collecting a yellow card for taking his shirt off
during a goal celebration before being shown
a second for diving.
Upset by referee Ricardo De Burgos
Bengoetxea’s decision to dismiss him,
Ronaldo shoved the official, which landed him
in further hot water.
RFEF issued Ronaldo with a 3,005 euro ($
3,543.20) fine and a four-match suspension in
addition to the automatic one-game ban the
player was due to serve for his red card.
Ronaldo, who struck a spectacular second
goal for a dominant Madrid, will miss the
Super Cup second leg at the Santiago
Bernabeu on Wednesday and the club’s first
four La Liga matches.
Having featured in the Confederations Cup for
Portugal, the striker only returned to training
earlier this month. He came on as a substitute
in the UEFA Super Cup win over Manchester
United on Aug. 8.
Source: vanguardngr
Wednesday, 9 August 2017
Gatlin sad at media sensation of rivalry with Bolt
American sprinter Justin Gatlin has accused
the media of sensationalizing his rivalry with
eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt.
The 35-year-old secured a surprise victory in
the men’s 100m final at IAAF World
Championships on Saturday, beating crowd
favourite Bolt on his final individual race
Gatlin, who has twice been banned for doping
offenses, was booed every time he was
introduced to the crowd at the London
Stadium before the 100m heats, semifinals
and final.
Spectators again jeered once it was clear that
the 2004 Olympic champion had won gold and
ruined Bolt’s farewell.
The crowd’s dissatisfaction was less audible
when Gatlin stepped on top of the podium to
collect his medal, but some fans did make
their displeasure known.
Gatlin is the sport’s most controversial drugs
cheat. He was banned for two years in 2001
when he was still at college. He served 12
months of his sentence for taking a banned
amphetamine after successfully arguing he
had taken the drug as medication for attention
deficit disorder.
reax to usain bolt retirement_00011226
In 2006, he was banned for eight years, later
reduced to four on appeal, after testing
positive for the banned steroid testosterone.
Asked how he felt about the crowd’s reaction
in London, Gatlin told CNN: “It leaves me
scratching my head.
“I’ve been back in the sport since 2010. I
wasn’t booed in 2012, ’11, ’12 — which was
still in London — ’13 or ’14 or ’15 and not
that much in ’16.
“I understand why, you have black hat, white
hat; good, evil, but I think it was
sensationalized by the media between two
people who have the utmost respect for each
other.”
Source: vanguardngr
Monday, 7 August 2017
Real Madrid ready to go without Cristiano Ronaldo against United in Super Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo has finally returned to training with Real Madrid but the defending European champions are set to be without the Portuguese superstar in Tuesday’s UEFA Super Cup clash with Manchester United in Skopje.
Ronaldo’s summer has been overshadowed by accusations of tax evasion in Spain, which led to him being charged in a court near Madrid last week, while he was handed an extended summer break by his club after playing for Portugal at the Confederations Cup.
He only returned to training at the weekend, meaning it would be a major surprise if coach Zinedine Zidane were to include the 32-year-old against his former club in the match at the Philip II Arena in the Macedonian capital.
“He needed to rest. He has had his holidays and that was important,” said Zidane of the man whose two goals helped propel Madrid to a 4-1 victory over Juventus in the Champions League final in Cardiff two months ago.
That victory saw Real become the first club to retain the trophy in the Champions League era and completed a glorious campaign in which they also won La Liga.
The season started with a 3-2 extra-time triumph against Sevilla in the Super Cup in the Norwegian city of Trondheim.
“Real Madrid is a team, a club, an institution that has hunger. We all know where we are and when you finish a season like last year winning, it helps you try to do the same thing coming into the new season,” Zidane — whose team have Barcelona to come at the weekend in the Spanish Super Cup — said in a UEFA interview.
However, his side failed to record a victory during a pre-season tour of the United States that included a high-profile friendly encounter with Jose Mourinho’s United in Santa Clara, California.
That International Champions Cup encounter ended in a 1-1 draw before United won on penalties.
While the Spaniards have made two relatively low-key summer signings in Dani Ceballos from Betis and Theo Hernandez from Atletico Madrid, United have spent big ahead of their return to the Champions League.
The Europa League winners have added the defender Victor Lindelof from Benfica, the midfielder Nemanja Matic from Chelsea and Everton striker Romelu Lukaku and they wrapped up their preparations with a 2-1 win over Sampdoria in Dublin.
Mourinho plays down reunion
This match offers a chance for United to start the new campaign on a high before their opening Premier League game against West Ham United next Sunday.
In a glittering career Mourinho has not yet won the Super Cup — his Chelsea team lost on penalties to Bayern Munich in the 2013 edition.
The Portuguese is coming up against the club he coached for three years until 2013 — he did not leave the Spanish capital on the best of terms but he insisted that experience is not on his mind this week.
“It’s something I’ve been through many times. I left Porto and two months later I was facing them in the Champions League,” he told UEFA.com .
“I left Chelsea and a few months later I was facing them with Manchester United. I never look at it in terms of taking on my former club, not at all. So I just look at Real Madrid as what they are: a big club, the European champions, and it’s a great motivation for us to play against them.”
This annual meeting of the European champions and Europa League winners comes to the Balkan state after going to Prague, Cardiff, Tbilisi and Trondheim in recent years.
But in contrast to the cool conditions in Norway 12 months ago, temperatures in Skopje are expected to reach 40 degrees for much of the week.
The forecast is for it to be upwards of 30 degrees when Tuesday’s match kicks off at 20:45 (1845 GMT).Cristiano Ronaldo has finally returned to training with Real Madrid but the defending European champions are set to be without the Portuguese superstar in Tuesday’s UEFA Super Cup clash with Manchester United in Skopje.
Source: vanguardngr
Sunday, 6 August 2017
No Champion Forever: Bolt loses world title, ends individual career with bronze
Eleven time World Championship men’s 100m
gold medallist, Usain Bolt, on Saturday night
ended his individual career with a bronze
medal after losing his title to bitter rival
Justin Gatlin of the USA at the 2017 World
Athletics Championships in London.
American Gatlin won his second world 100m
title – 12 years after his first – to ruin 12-
time Olympic champion Bolt’s final individual
race.
Bolt, who retires after next week’s 4x100m
relay, had no answer and was third behind
Gatlin, who clocked 9.92secs and Christian
Coleman (9.94secs).
It was the most anticipated race of the
competition after home boy, Mo Farah, who is
also retiring after the championships, won the
men’s 10,000m gold on Friday.
Bolt’s 9.95secs equalled his best effort of
2017 but he always trailed. The 30-year-old
world record holder, who before Saturday had
never lost a final race in his entire career, has
struggled all season and was first beaten by
21-year-old Coleman in the semifinals of the
event.
He will now look to the 4x100m for a gold
medal to finally celebrate his retirement from
the sport.
Gatlin – banned twice for doping – was booed
before the race and celebrated wildly, holding
his hands to his ears.
The 35-year-old, who started in lane eight,
was behind his compatriot Coleman from the
blocks but picked up in the last 20 metres to
wear down the margin and take his first major
title since 2005.
Bolt’s compatriot, Yohan Blake, took the
fourth position in 9.99secs, South Africa’s
Akani Simbine was fifth in 10.01secs while
France’s Jimmy Vicaut was sixth in
10.08secs.
Great Britain’s Reece Prescod — who qualified
for his first major final with an impressive
time of 10.05secs in the semifinal — finished
seventh in 10.17secs and China’s Bingtian Su
was eighth in 10.27secs.
Bolt told BBC Sport , “I tightened up at the end
and that is something you should never do. I
didn’t execute when it mattered.
“I am not fully comfortable in those blocks but
you have to work with what you have. I can’t
complain about that. He (Gatlin) is a great
competitor. You have to be at your best
against him. I really appreciate competing
against him and he is a good person.”
“I tuned it out [the booing] through the rounds
and stayed the course. I did what I had to do.
The people who love me are here cheering for
me and cheering at home.
“It is Bolt’s last race. It is an amazing
occasion. We are rivals on the track but in the
warm-down area, we joke and have a good
time. The first thing he did was congratulate
me and say that I didn’t deserve the boos. He
is an inspiration,” gold medallist Gatlin said
Source: punchng
Wednesday, 2 August 2017
Neymar On Verge Of Record-Breaking PSG Move – Agent
Neymar’s record-breaking 222 million euros
($263 million) transfer from Barcelona to
French side Paris Saint-Germain appeared
close to completion on Wednesday (August
2), when his agent predicted he could be
unveiled by the weekend.
Events moved swiftly on Wednesday when
Barcelona released a statement
announcing that the 25-year-old had
informed them of his intention to leave, and
confirming the amount of his buy-out
clause.
Neymar, his father and his agent Wagner
Ribeiro arrived at Barcelona airport to
board a private plane which departed at
14:30 (12:30GMT).
Before boarding, Ribeiro said the PSG
would pay the buyout clause in the next
hours and then added it could be by the
end of the week.
The move would complete a hectic few days
in which Neymar’s heavily trailed exit has
inched closer.
Neymar’s destination is still unknown.
Spanish media first reported he was flying
to London, but other reports later said he
was in Porto.
Source: channelstv
Friday, 4 November 2016
Gambian national goalkeeper dies crossing Mediterranean
The goalkeeper of the Gambia’s national women’s football team died crossing the Mediterranean in the hope of starting a new life in Europe, her former coach has said.
Fatim Jawara, believed to have been just 19, was on board a boat that ran into trouble in the Mediterranean last month while crossing from Libya to Europe.
More than 3,300 migrants have lost their lives in the Mediterranean this year, according to figures from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Jawara made her debut for the national team, known as the Scorpions, a year ago in a friendly against a team from Glasgow.
“Her death is untimely, but we will remember her for her great performances on the pitch,” said Chorro Mbenga, who was the assistant coach of the national under-17 side in which Jawara made her breakthrough and knew her well.
Jawara is said to have left the Gambia in September to cross the Sahara and head for Libya, where most African migrants begin the sea crossing to Europe.
The president of the Gambian football federation, Lamin Kabba Bajo, said: “We are grieving at the moment as this is a great loss to the national soccer team and the nation.
“She will be remembered for saving a penalty kick in a friendly encounter involving the national soccer team and the Glasgow Girls from Scotland.”
Gambians represent the fourth-largest group of arrivals to Italy by number according to the IOM, despite being one of Africa’s smallest nations with a population of around 1.8 million.
The Gambia’s information minister cited the “mass murder of young African migrants on European beaches and waters” in its reasoning for withdrawing from the international criminal court (ICC) last week.
It called the lack of action by European nations to protect migrants making the crossing a “racist genocide” and attacked the ICC for failing to prosecute their leaders.
However, the Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh, dismissed the economic worries of Gambian migrants last year, arguing in a televised address that “true Muslims” would encourage their sons and daughters to take up job opportunities which were available at home.
In reality, 60% of the population live in poverty, and a third survive on $1.25 or less a day, according to the UN.
Source: Guardian
Friday, 5 August 2016
Nigeria wins Japan 5-4
The Coach Samson Siasia tutored boys defied all the odds to defeat Japan in the thrilling Group B encounter in Manaus despite arriving in Brazil just hours before their first game in the early hours of Friday. Oghenekaro Etebo was the star of the show, scoring four goals, while the impressive Umar Sadiq added the other goal to secure the win for Nigeria, reports Compelete Sports. Japan had the game’s first chance but Emmanuel Daniel made a point blank save before Sincere Seth cleared away for a corner.
The game got off to a blistering start when Sadiq opened the scoring in the fifth minute after imoh Ezekiel’s initial shot was stopped by Japan keeper. A minute later Japan equalised from the penalty spot through Shinzo Koroki after Amuzie fouled inside the box. In the ninth minute, Etebo put Nigeria ahead again with a left foot strike off a cross from Shehu Abdullahi. Japan were back on level terms through Takumi Minamino on 13 minutes following a fine intricate passes which split the Nigerian defence open. Amuzie, in the 19th minute, hit a long range strike which Japan keeper palmed away for a corner. Few minutes later, Ezekiel made a timely block which went away for a corner. In the 31st minute, Ezekiel sent in a low cross which failed to connect with a Nigerian player. Etebo came close to putting Nigeria in front on 38 minutes but blazed his effort over the bar. In the 42nd minute, Etebo made it 3-2, pouncing on a poor clearance after his initial effort came off a Japanese player. On the stroke of half time, Etebo had the chance to score Nigeria’s fourth but didn’t get a clean header from Sadiq’s cross.
Etebo got his hat-trick and made it 4-2 in favour for Nigeria after Sadiq was fouled inside the box. In the 61 minutes Mikel Obi hit a left foot strike which went narrowly wide. Etebo made it 5-2 for Nigeria in the 67th minute after Japan keeper made a harsh of his clearance. Substitute Asano reduced the deficit in the 70th minute. Nigeria made their first change on 71 minutes with Kingsley Madu replacing Usman Mohammed. In the 77th minute Daniel rushed out of his line to make a save. Ndifreke Udo was introduced for Ezekiel in the 79th minute. Nigeria made their last change on 86 minute with Mikel coming off for Popoola Saliu. And in the 95th minute, Musashi Suzuki made it 5-4. Nigeria now top group B and will face Sweden on Sunday while Japan will face Colombia.
Monday, 1 August 2016
International Cup: PSG Sweep Past Musa’s Leicester 4-0
Paris Saint-Germain produced an impressive performance to beat Leicester 4-0 in the International Champions Cup in Los Angeles on Saturday evening.
Having already seen off Inter Milan and Real Madrid in pre-season, the Ligue 1 champions were dominant from almost the first whistle to the last at the StubHub Center.
Edinson Cavani gave PSG the lead from the penalty spot in the 26th minute and Nanitamo Jonathan Ikone doubled the advantage late in the half.
Substitute Lucas Moura headed in a third in the 64th minute and Odsonne Edouard scored a fourth in the closing stages to seal a convincing win.
Leicester next travel to Stockholm to face Barcelona before the Community Shield against Manchester United on Sunday.
Jamie Vardy could make his return in either of those matches after again not featuring against PSG.
Summer signings Luis Hernandez and Nampalys Mendy did start along with Riyad Mahrez.
But it was PSG who dominated the early stages and got the breakthrough in the 26th minute when Daniel Amartey swiped away Ikone’s legs in the box and Cavani stepped up to convert the penalty, reports Sky Sports.
Leicester responded well and Mahrez forced a sharp save from Alphonse Areola from a free-kick before Amartey headed wide after the keeper punched a corner out to him.
PSG grabbed a second late in the half on the counter as Ikone swept home from Thomas Meunier’s centre.
Ahmed Musa, Danny Drinkwater and Marc Albrighton were among the players introduced at the break by the Foxes.
And the Premier League champions should have quickly pulled a goal back as Leonardo Ulloa saw a shot saved and then Musa failed to convert from eight yards out with the keeper out of position.
From then on it was PSG who controlled much of the half and Lucas, one of six substitutes on the hour mark, headed in a third.
Albrighton missed the target from a promising position after being played in by Demarai Gray and the French side capped off victory late on as Edouard kept his composure to finish past Kasper Schmeichel.
Source: Vanguard News
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