Sports
Sports Icons Pay Tribute To Mandela
Sport’s greatest icons have
paid their own tributes to South Africa’s first black president Nelson Mandela, who has died aged 95.
Muhammad Ali said: “His was a life filled with purpose and hope – hope for himself, his country and the world.
“He made us realise we are our brother’s keeper and that our brothers come in all colours.”
Pele said Mandela was “one of the most influential people in my life. He was my hero, my friend”.
Iconic former boxer Ali added: “What I will remember most about Mr Mandela is that he was a man whose heart, soul and spirit could not be contained or restrained by racial and economic injustices, metal bars or the burden of hate and revenge.
“He inspired others to reach for what appeared to be impossible and moved them to break through the barriers that held them hostage mentally, physically, socially and economically.
“He taught us forgiveness on a grand scale. His was a spirit born free, destined to soar above the rainbows. Today his spirit is soaring through the heavens. He is now forever free.”
The world’s number one golfer and a 14-time major winner, Tiger Woods, said: “You will always be in my heart, Mr Mandela. You have done so much for humanity.”
Former England captain David Beckham said: “My heart goes out to the people in South Africa and Mr Mandela’s family. We have lost a true gentleman and a courageous human being.”
Head of world football governing body FIFA, Sepp Blatter, said of Mandela’s impact on football’s 2010 World Cup in South Africa: “When he was honoured and cheered by the crowd at Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium on 11 July 2010, it was as a man of the people, a man of their hearts.
“It was one of the most moving moments I have ever experienced. For him, the World Cup in South Africa truly was ‘a dream come true’.”
He added that there would be a minute’s silence as a mark of respect ahead of the next round of international matches.
The Premier League confirmed a minute’s applause would be held before all of the top-flight matches taking place this Saturday, Sunday and Monday and the Football Association and Football League have also asked clubs taking part in their respective competitions to have a minute’s applause before their matches this weekend.
Mandela once said “sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people, in a way that little else does,” and his African National Congress saw sport as a way to unite the nation.
Sport had been targeted for sanctions during the country’s apartheid rule, leading to bans from the Olympic Games and various World Cups, and almost complete isolation by the time Mandela was released from his 27-year prison sentence in 1990.
But South Africa was allowed to send a team to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and enter the 1994 football World Cup qualifiers, long before the change in the political system was complete.
“The International Olympic Committee wanted Mandela in their ranks. He was an icon of the world and at the opening of the Barcelona Games they treated him like a head of state,” recalled Sam Ramsamy, former South African Olympic Committee president and now an IOC member.
After he was elected president in 1994, the 1995 Rugby World Cup was the showcase for Mandela’s unifying agenda in South Africa and the tournament’s final created one of the defining sporting images of the century.
In that moment, racially divided South Africa came together in a way which had been unimaginable as Mandela, dressed in a Springbok jersey, presented the World Cup to captain Francois Pienaar after South Africa’s 15-12 extra-time victory over favourites New Zealand,
Pienaar released a statement which read: “Nelson Mandela was the most extraordinary and incredible human being, not only because he united his country when such a task seemed impossible but also because, through his unique humanity, he inspired hundreds of millions of people across the globe.
“I will always be profoundly grateful for the personal role Nelson Mandela has played in my life, as my President and my example.”
South Africa rugby tweeted: “Rest in Peace Nelson Mandela. We will never forget the role you played in our country, in our sport, and for that we are eternally grateful.”
Francois Pienaar on receiving World Cup from Nelson Mandela
“What happened was Nelson Mandela said ‘thank you very much for what you’ve done for South Africa’ but I said ‘thank you for what you’ve done’.
“I almost felt like hugging him but it wasn’t appropriate, I guess.
“Then I lifted the trophy which was unbelievable. I can’t describe the feeling as I wouldn’t do it justice.”
South African golfer Ernie Els described Mandela as “the most amazing man I ever met. He was the father of our country and our continent”.
Els’s compatriot and fellow golfer Gary Player recalled the day he shook Mandela’s hand during a charity golf tournament in South Africa.
Player told BBC Radio 5 live: “I opened the door of the helicopter and he said ‘Gary, do you remember me?’ I shook his hand and he said ‘I won’t wash my hand for the next month’.
“He was a man who was humble, a man who was wise, a man who suffered for doing the right thing not the wrong thing.
“I don’t have the vocabulary of a Winston Churchill to describe the man. His body is gone but his spirit will remain in this world forever.”
The world number one ladies tennis player Serena Williams tweeted: “Nelson Mandela led one of the most impactful lives of our time. One life – Nelson Mandela’s life changed many. May his legacy live forever.”
England’s record goalscorer Sir Bobby Charlton said: “Mr Mandela worked tirelessly all of his life for racial equality and his legacy will live on way beyond our lifetime.
“I feel blessed to have lived during his life span and privileged to have met him on a number of occasions.”
South Africa cricketers Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock, former captain of the South Africa football team and Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar, South Africa rugby union players Joost van der Westhuizen and Bryan Habana and British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton were among the many sportsmen to share their appreciation of the former president.
Cricket South Africa used their official Twitter account to say: “RIP Tata Mandela. It is because of you that a represented Proteas team can express their talent across the globe.”
In Adelaide, a couple of hours after the news of Mandela’s death was announced, a minute’s silence was observed before the start of play on day two of the second Ashes Test between Australia and England.
Both sets of players wore black armbands in tribute to Mandela.
Six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt also paid his respects, tweeting: “One of the greatest human beings ever. May your soul rest in peace. The world’s greatest fighter.”
Sports
CAA Wants Ghana To Host 2026 Athletics Champions
The Confederation of African Athletics has invited Ghana to bid for the hosting rights of the 2026 African Athletics Championships, following a successful athletics event at the just concluded 2023 African Games.
President of Ghana Athletics, Bawa Fuseini, stated this and expressed confidence in the transformative potential of the Legon Stadium for athletes and Ghana’s bid to host international competitions.
With a capacity of 11,000, the Legon Stadium played a pivotal role in the recent African Games, hosting both the opening and closing ceremonies as well as various sporting events including athletics, football, and rugby.
Fuseini highlighted the success of the athletics events held at the stadium, which contributed to Ghana winning six medals.
“We have already started getting requests from the Confederation of African Athletics to bid for the 2026 African Athletics Championships.
“When they came and saw what we have put in place and the level of organisation, they told me that for the last 20 years, they’ve never seen any organisation like this before. We did three official courses. And the last one, we had 110, all of them passed. We had a lot of officials and equipment.”
Since its establishment in 1979, Ghana has never hosted the African Athletics Championships, with Nigeria being the host country twice, in 1989 and 2018.
This year, Cameroon will take the reins as the host nation, with the event set to be held at the Olembe Stadium.
Sports
‘I’m Not Under Pressure To Coach Eagles’
Finidi George, head coach of the Nigeria Premier Football Leagues side, Enyimba, has stated that he is not losing any sleep over getting the Super Eagles job on a permanent basis.
Early this month, the Nigeria Football Federation declared the position of the Super Eagles’ head coach vacant, following the exit of Portuguese Jose Peseiro, who led the side to a second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup Nations in Ivory Coast in February.
In an advertisement on its website calling for applications with a March 13 deadline, the football governing body stated that the prospective Eagles coach “must have proven experience at the elite level of football.”
The former Ajax man, who also applied for the job, was appointed Eagles interim coach for the international window with the former winger picking a win and suffering a defeat.
In an interview with Tidesports source, the 52-year-old tactician said he was not desperate for the job permanently.
“I felt really good when I was told to take charge of the team. I have been with the team for almost two years, I know all the players, their strengths, and their weaknesses but I am only here to serve Nigeria the way I know how to do stuff.
“I will just take these two games and go back to my club. Whatever the decision is taken after, so be it. I’m not under pressure to say I must get the role permanently.”
Sports
‘Reasons Why Eagles Lost To Mali’
The friendly games against Ghana and Mali were to serve as an audition for George Finidi, who was in charge of the team on an interim basis, but the Eagles’ lacklustre display in those friendlies has called for his further evaluation.
Finidi kept faith with ex-coach Jose Peseiro’s defensive formation against Mali on the back of his first win (against Ghana) in charge of the team four days earlier.
But this time, his defence was punished following a combination of defensive errors and poor passes.
The Eagles struggled to play out of defence due to the high pressing of the Malians and it was no surprise that the first goal by Les Aigles was a direct result of their aggression.
Chidozie Awaziem, who started on the right of the back three alongside Kenneth Omeruo and Semi Ajayi, lacked composure and was pressured into making a pass across his box straight at Bilal Toure, who made no mistake in getting the ball past Stanley Nwabali. They missed the calming presence of injured William Troost-Ekong.
Vice captain, Kenneth Omeruo, was also culpable of misplaced passes and was beaten for pace when Kamory Doumbia ran past him to seal Mali’s first win in over four decades, firing his shot past a helpless Nwabali, who stood no chance.
Eagles wing backs, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Jamilu Collins also did not do enough to support the team in attack when they had the chance to.
Lack of creativity
Finidi paired Raphael Onyedika and Wilfred Ndidi in a double pivot in midfield. Both players are naturally anchor men and neither is a box-to-box midfielder.
They both do not possess the offensive capability to drive the team’s attack forward, which left the Eagles once again craving for a natural creative midfielder.
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