XINHUA – Sports Africa

Kenyan sprinters hope for strong show at 2021 World Relays

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/xinhua/" rel="tag">XINHUA</a>

NAIROBI, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) — Athletics Kenya relay series enters the second leg on Saturday as the country’s sprinters prepare for a strong showing at the fifth edition of World Relays slated for Silesia, Poland, in May.

The three-leg meetings started on Jan. 9 in Nairobi, with the second edition scheduled for Jan. 23, while the third leg will be held on Feb. 6.

The weekend relay meets will culminate into national trials on March 26 and 27, where a team will be picked to represent Kenya in Silesia.

Over the years, the country’s sprinters have lacked high profile competitions resulting in a drop of standards among current Kenyan sprinters, and the creation of weekend relays will see the runners gain valuable experience and fitness ahead of the World Relays Championships and 2020 Olympic Games later in the year.

Kenya’s fastest sprinter Mark Otieno hopes to improve his first leg performance as he eyes national team selection in March.

Otieno, who made his breakthrough in 2017 when he clocked a national record of 10.14 seconds to book his spot at the 2017 World Championships, remains optimistic about making it to the world relays and Tokyo Games.

“Since making my international debut, I have gained enormous experience, and the ongoing weekend meets will make me get into full fitness ahead of World Relays and possible slot to the Olympics Games,” Otieno told Xinhua Wednesday.

Gilbert Osure, a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) sprinter who dominated the first leg of the weekend, topping the men’s 300m in a time of 34:03 seconds hopes to take full advantage of the weekend meetings to ensure he qualifies for the World Relays.

Athletes competed in 150m, 300m, 500m, 100m hurdles, 1,000m, 1,600m, 4x 200m relay, 4x400m mixed relay in the first leg, while the second leg on this Saturday will see runners participates in 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m, 4x400m mixed relays, 2x2x400m, shuttle relays – 100m hurdles for both men and women.

“The athletes wishing to represent Kenya at World Relays must participate in the ongoing weekend relays meet that’s the only way they will get a chance to compete at the national trials which will be an invite-only,” the Athletics Kenya senior vice president and director of competition Paul Mutwii told Xinhua on Wednesday.

The World Athletics Relays will head to Europe for the first time this year after the Bahamas hosted the first three editions followed by Yokohama in 2019.

Building work risks extending Dortmund’s malaise

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/xinhua/" rel="tag">XINHUA</a>

BERLIN, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) — A look at Borussia Dortmund’s training-ground in the city’s Brackel district seems to tell the story of a club in a bit of a mess.

The Black and Yellows are enlarging their training facilities in efforts to grow. While building work seems to be going as planned, the football side of things is not.

The mood, therefore, remains subdued.

The club’s approach of relying on gifted youngsters is being scrutinized after a disappointing first half of the season. Besides broken league championship dreams, the team’s qualification for next season’s Champions League is in doubt.

Newly-appointed interim coach Edin Terzic hasn’t been able to turn things around as the successor of Lucien Favre.

The controversial Swiss was sacked at the end of December 2020. Ten points from six games is nothing to be happy about.

The effect of changing coaches hasn’t paid off. Doubts about the team’s mentality returned after the latest 2-1 defeat in Leverkusen.

“Quality is the result of talent and mentality,” the 38-year-old said. “We rely too much on talent and lack resolution to fight back.”

Dortmund’s youngsters can’t control their impetuousness. The team’s actions are often wild and uncontrolled. There seems to be no smart strategy.

The inconsistent performances in the season’s first 17 games are something to think about, midfielder Julian Brandt said.

“We can’t keep playing at the same high level for 90 minutes,” the German international added. Favre failed to lift the young team to a higher level. Terzic seems to be facing similar difficulties.

In Leverkusen, Terzic complained about unsatisfactory body language. “Heads went down too fast,” he said. The team was too impatient and not resolute enough.

Ahead of Friday’s duel against Borussia Moenchengladbach, former Liverpool and Bayern Munich midfielder Dietmar Hamann said: “It comes down to character and will. I can’t see both in the side at present.” Brandt admitted, “We are too far away from the top to talk about the title. Our main thing is to gain stability and have a good winning run.”

Team captain Marco Reus complained, “We can’t manage to shut up shop at the back. We are forever too open in the back and neglect to protect our goal.” While the youngster’s unsteadiness seems comprehensible, Borussia is suffering from its leaders’ ups and downs. Brandt, Reus, Axel Witsel and Emre Can are all busy trying to be consistent.

Not only did Leverkusen’s fast dribblers Diaby, Florian Wirtz, and Leon Bailey force Dortmund’s defense into risky man-on-mans, they also won most of them. Even underdogs like Augsburg and Mainz quickly exploited the gaps created by high-speed attacks.

Reus announced the team won’t give up and said the game against rivals Moenchengladbach has to be a turning point.

Instead of competing for the title, Dortmund has to secure its Champions League participation.

Missing the target, including the millions of euros coming with it in the end, might endanger the future of Dortmund’s promising ensemble.

Pogba magic keeps Man United top, Man City also win

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/xinhua/" rel="tag">XINHUA</a>

LONDON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) — Manchester United came from a goal down to win 2-1 away to struggling Fulham and retain their lead at the top of the Premier League on Wednesday night.

Manchester City’s earlier 2-0 win at home to Aston Villa had temporarily lifted them to the top of the table, but that lead lasted just two hours as Edinson Cavani and Paul Pogba overturned Ademola Lookman’s 5th minute opener for Fulham.

Cavani scored as United kept the ball alive after Bruno Fernandes’ shot was blocked, while Pogba sealed the win in the 65th minute with a wonderful piece of control that saw him bring the ball down, drift past two defenders and score with a powerful shot.

There were some nervous moments in the closing minutes as Fulham worked hard for an equalizer, but United held on for another away win.

A sterling performance from Aston Villa’s England international Tyrone Mings meant that Manchester City had their patience tested before late goals eventually saw them claim a 2-0 win.

Although Pep Guardiola’s side produced another silky passing performance and dominated the game from nearly start to finish, it wasn’t until the 79th minute that Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez was finally beaten.

Rodri won the ball and Bernardo Silva held off several rival players before scoring, and Ilkay Gundogan’s last minute penalty sealed the win. Kyle Walker and Kevin de Bruyne both had to leave the pitch with injuries, with Guardiola saying afterwards that he didn’t know whether or not they were serious.

Ronaldo makes history as Juventus win ninth Supercoppa

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/xinhua/" rel="tag">XINHUA</a>

ROME, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) — Cristiano Ronaldo became the top goalscorer in football history as his Juventus side won the Italian Super Cup (Supercoppa) for the ninth time, beating Napoli 2-0 at Mapei Stadium on Wednesday.

Victory for the Bianconeri came despite a shaky performance in Serie A, with the defending champions currently ranking only fifth in the 2020-21 table.

The Supercoppa is a traditional clash between the previous season’s Serie A and Coppa Italia winners.

Juventus was missing Paulo Dybala, Matthijs de Ligt and Alex Sandro, but Juan Cuadrado returned to the starting line-up after recovering from Covid-19.

Meanwhile, Napoli had to do without Victor Osimhen and Fabian Ruiz.

Juve dominated possession in the first half, but Napoli had the best chance in the 29th minute when Diego Demme rolled across from the left and Hirving Lozano’s diving header forced a stunning save from Wojciech Szczesny.

Federico Chiesa picked up an injury, making way for Federico Bernardeschi who almost found the net right after the interval. Juve started to lay siege to Napoli’s goal as time wore on, and it paid off in the 64th minute when a corner bounced off Tiemoue Bakayoko and bobbled kindly for Ronaldo to sweep in from point-blank range.

It was Portuguese’s 760th career goal for club and country, making him the top goalscorer of all-time, surpassing the record of 759 set by Josef Bican.

Lorenzo Insigne should have scored an equalizer and his 100th goal for Napoli, but the captain missed a penalty earned by Dries Mertens in the 80th minute.

Juve punished Napoli deep into stoppage time, as after a textbook counter, Cuadrado surged forward and squared for Alvaro Morata to seal the win.

The Supercoppa is Juve’s first title in the current 2020-21 season, and also Andrea Pirlo’s maiden trophy as a head coach.

Third-tier Alcoyano send Real Madrid crashing out of Copa del Rey

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/xinhua/" rel="tag">XINHUA</a>

MADRID, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) — Real Madrid were knocked out of the third round of the Copa del Rey by third tier Alcoyano 2-1 on Wednesday night on a disastrous night for Zinedine Zidane and his side.

The defeat follows last week’s exit in the semi-finals of the Super Cup and means Real Madrid have once again failed in the knockout competition.

Zidane rested some first-team regulars, but a side containing Lucas Vazquez, Marcelo, Isco and Casemiro should still have been far too strong for their rivals.

Eder Militao’s header on the stroke of half-time gave Madrid the lead after a scrappy first half, but they never looked comfortable and the supposed difference in class was hard to see.

Alcoyano, whose keeper Jose Juan is 41 years old, drew level 10 minutes from time when Jose Solbes poked home following a corner to force extra-time.

The home side were reduced to 10 men with 10 minutes left to play after Ramon Lopez was sent off for a second yellow card, but with five minutes left to play Alcoyano worked space on the left and Juanan nipped in front of the defense to get a touch on Al Diakite’s cross to send the home side into ecstasy and deepend the crisis for Zidane.

Two goals from Real Sociedad striker Willian Jose gave his side a relatively straightforward 2-0 win away to third-tier Cordoba. Cordoba had knocked Getafe out of the previous round, but rarely threatened against last season’s finalists, who saw the Brazilian score a side-footed goal at the far post from Roberto Lopez’s cross, before smashing home from 25 yards to seal the win.

In Wednesday’s La Liga games corresponding to the 19th round of matches, Mauro Arambarri’s 69th minute shot gave Getafe an important 1-0 win at home to bottom side Huesca, while ruining Pacheta’s debut as new Huesca coach.

Real Betis took advantage of the absence of Iago Aspas for Celta Vigo to come back from a goal down and claim a 2-1 win. Sergio Canales scored twice for Betis after Santi Mina had opened the scoring for Celta, who have just one win in 21 matches without their captain.

Villarreal and Granada shared four goals in a rollercoaster game that began with Roberto Soldado scoring for the visitors against one of his former clubs, before Ruben Pena and Mario Gomez’s penalty turned the scoreline around, only for Kenedy to seal a point for Granada with 15 minutes left to play.

Djokovic says demands for Australian Open players ‘misconstrued’

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/australian-open/" rel="tag">Australian Open</a>, <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/xinhua/" rel="tag">XINHUA</a>

CANBERRA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) — World number one Novak Djokovic said his demands for tennis players in quarantine ahead of the Australian Open were “misconstrued”.

In an open letter to the Australian public published from hotel quarantine in South Australia, Djokovic defended his “good intentions”.

It comes after the eight-time Australian Open champion was widely criticized after issuing a list of demands for players in quarantine to Australian Open chief Craig Tiley, including shorter quarantine periods and “moving as many players as possible” to houses with private tennis courts.

Djokovic said that his letter to Tiley was taken the wrong way. “My good intentions for my fellow competitors in Melbourne have been misconstrued as being selfish, difficult and ungrateful,” he said. “This couldn’t be farther from the truth.”

More than 70 players competing in the Australian Open have been confined to their hotel rooms for 14 days after fellow passengers on their charter flights to Melbourne tested positive for Covid-19.

Other players including Djokovic, who will compete in an exhibition tournament in Adelaide before heading to Melbourne, are allowed out of their rooms for five hours per day to train.

“I genuinely care about my fellow players and I also understand very well how the world is run and who gets bigger and better and why,” Djokovic said in his letter.

“I’ve earned my privileges the hard way and for that reason, it is very difficult for me to be a mere onlooker knowing how much every help, gesture and good word mattered to me when I was small and insignificant in the world pecking order.

“Hence, I use my position of privilege to be of service as much as I can where and when needed.”

Pound says Tokyo Olympics could be held without spectators

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/xinhua/" rel="tag">XINHUA</a>

TOKYO, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) — Dick Pound, the IOC’s longest-serving member, claims that the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games will be held in the summer, backtracking on comments he made two weeks ago.

Pound, 78, said on January 8 that he was not “certain” that the Tokyo Games would take place, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But in an interview with Kyodo news agency on Wednesday, Pound said the Olympics could go ahead without fans in attendance. “The question is, is this a ‘must-have’ or ‘nice-to-have.’ It’s nice to have spectators. But it’s not a must-have,” Pound told the Japanese news agency.

“Nobody can guarantee [that the Olympics will go ahead as planned]. But I think there’s a very, very, good chance that they can, and that they will,” he said.

An IOC member since 1978, Pound added, “And the bottom line, they say, is that it’s better to have the Games even if there are no spectators, than it would be to cancel them because there are no spectators.”

He said that the Olympics would not be postponed again and that if the Games cannot take place this summer, cancelation was the only other option.

“All the indications are that we should go ahead. There’s no reason why the Games can’t go on.”

Ghana’s Kotoko agrees partnership with Southampton FC

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/xinhua/" rel="tag">XINHUA</a>

ACCRA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) — Ghanaian football club Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Tuesday announced a partnership agreement with English Premier League side Southampton FC in which the latter will support the development of the former’s strategy both on and off the pitch.

“Asante Kotoko is elated to announce a partnership with Southampton FC as part of ongoing restructuring and development of the Asante Kotoko SC brand into a viable model. This ground-breaking partnership seeks to plug Kotoko into Southampton and ensure a sustainable development where Kotoko functions like Southampton,” said CEO Nana Yaw Amponsah.

Mark Abrahams, director of business and community development for Southampton, said, “During these challenging times we’re delighted to have agreed on a long-term partnership to work with Asante Kotoko. Nana Yaw has a clear vision for Asante Kotoko to be a self-sustainable football club both on and off the pitch. We look forward to working with him and his team to support their development.”

Under the agreement, the English club will share their coaching expertise to help Kotoko realize their ambition of building a sustainable academy and pathway to the first team, with year-round remote support supplemented by regular visits to Ghana.

The partnership will include academy staff exchange visits between the United Kingdom and Ghana, as well as opportunities for Kotoko’s young players to attend annual UK player development camps and experience the Southampton academy methodology first-hand when travel corridors open up and it is safe to travel.

Southampton will also support the development of Kotoko’s commercial and operational strategy through collaborating on key projects. Kotoko becomes Southampton’s first professional club partnership in Africa.

Southampton becomes the second Premier League club to partner with Kotoko after Sunderland in 2011.

CHAN: Burkina Faso coach upbeat despite slump over Mali

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/xinhua/" rel="tag">XINHUA</a>

Burkina Faso coach Seydou Zerbo is still upbeat that his side will proceed to the quarter finals despite a shock 1-0 defeat to Mali in the opening match of the Africa Nations Championship in Cameroon Saturday.

A 70th minute header by Mali’s left-back Siaka Bagayoko at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium means that the Burkina Faso must beat Zimbabwe who lost to Cameroon by the same margin, and the hosts, if they are to progress to the next stage.

“It’s up to us to correct our mistakes in order to have good matches in the future and achieve our goal of qualifying to the second round,” Zerbo said in a post match interview.

“We have to think about the game against Zimbabwe which is very important to us. After that, we will focus on the last match against hosts Cameroon.”

Cameroon also needed a second half goal to kick off their campaign on a positive note.

Salomon Banga was the hero for the Indomitable Lions who needed a 72nd goal to see off a stubborn Zimbabwe at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium.

With Malia and Cameroon both tied on three points, the next match will be interesting for both teams in Group A.

“Against Cameroon, we hope to see a good match between two teams playing good football,” Mali tactician Nouhoum Diané was quoted by Cafonline.

Zdravko Logarusic whose Zimbabwean side fell in the first hurdle, is also upbeat that he will turn the tides when he faces Burkina Faso.

“This is not the end of the world. We will play two more games and we have every chance of securing a place in the quarterfinals. It’s up to us to study our mistakes and correct them before our next meeting against Burkina Faso.”

Day two of the action will pit Libya against Niger as Congo and DR Congo clash in the ‘Lingala Derby’.

Hosts Cameroon start off Chan campaign with win over Zimbabwe

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/xinhua/" rel="tag">XINHUA</a>

YAOUNDE, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) — Hosts Cameroon started their African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2021 campaign on Saturday with a 1-0 victory over Zimbabwe at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in the capital, Yaounde.

The Indomitable Lion’s striker, 25-year-old Salomon Banga netted a beautiful goal in the second half of the game to secure three points for the hosts, putting them on top of Group A. Roared on by vociferous home fans at the stadium, the Lions could have won by a bigger margin if they had used all the chances that came their way.

Cameroon dominated much of the first half but Zimbabwe’s goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda denied all the scoring opportunities despite efforts by the experienced Jacques Zoua who left Europe to join the Lions as captain. Zimbabwe had a rare chance just before half-time but Shadreck Nyahwa shot wide.

When the two teams returned for the second half, it was Cameroon who continued to miss chances prompting frantic reactions from fans.In the 71st minute, Sibanda tried to save a free-kick but the ball fell on the right leg of Banga who acrobatically hit it with his back facing the net. That secured the first and only goal for the hosts.

The victory rekindled confidence in the team that had failed to convince fans during a four-nation pre-CHAN tournament. “I am satisfied with the three points acquired during this first day because this is important for the start of each tournament. We will study Mali, our next opponent,” Cameroon’s head coach Martin Ndtoungou Mpile told reporters after the match.

“We played against a good team which will certainly have a say in this CHAN. We will play two more games and we have every chance of securing a place in the quarterfinals,” said Zdravko Logarusic, Zimbabwe’s head coach.

The inaugural match was preceded by the opening ceremony of CHAN, a colorful display heavily laden with Cameroonian culture, tradition, and fireworks to the viewing pleasure of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Cameroon Prime Minister Joseph Ngute, and interim CAF President Constant Omari who attended the ceremony.

Ngute gave the green light for the championship, welcoming the African football teams and fans.”It is a beautiful feast that has started. CHAN has started very well with all the COVID-19 barrier measures. We hope that it will continue this way,” Ngute told reporters after the inaugural match.

Sixteen African countries are competing in the championship that fields only players who ply their trade in their respective nations’ local leagues.The race to dethrone defending champions Morocco is officially open and the final of the tournament will be held on Feb. 7 at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde.

LATEST POSTS

LET'S TALK