https://www.voazimbabwe.com/z/3163 The Voice of America is one of the world's most trusted sources for news and information from the United States and around the world. VOA is a multi media news organization using radio, television, and the internet to distribute content in 45 languages. https://www.voazimbabwe.com/Content/responsive/VOA/en-ZW/img/logo.png https://www.voazimbabwe.com/z/3163 en 2026 - VOA 60 Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:10:46 +0200 Pangea CMS – VOA Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rain-soaked, rule-breaking opening ceremony studded with stars and fantasy along the Seine River. On-and-off showers did not seem to hamper the enthusiasm of the Olympians, with some holding umbrellas as they rode on boats down the river in a showcase of the city's resilience as authorities dealt with suspected acts of sabotage targeting France's high-speed rail network. Widespread travel disruptions triggered by what French officials called coordinated arson attacks on high-speed rail lines as well as the weather had dampened the mood ahead of the ceremony. SEE ALSO: 'Sabotage' hits French trains hours before Olympics  Crowds crammed along the Seine's banks and bridges and watching from balconies "oohed" and "aahed" as Olympic teams paraded in boats down the waterway. Undeterred from the festivities, many of the hundreds of thousands of spectators huddled under umbrellas and jackets as the rain intensified, though some dashed from their seats to seek shelter. As global audiences tuned in, Paris put its best foot forward — quite literally, with a spectacular launch that lifted spirits and joyous French cancan dancers featured early on. A humorous short film featured soccer icon Zinedine Zidane. Plumes of French blue, white and red smoke followed. And Lady Gaga sang, in French, with dancers shaking pink plumed pompoms, adding a cabaret feel to what is expected to be a more than three-hour show. French-Malian pop star Aya Nakamura, the most listened-to French-speaking artist in the world, sang her hit "Djadja" accompanied by the orchestra of the French Republican Guard. She emerged from a pyrotechnic display, wearing an all-gold outfit as she performed with a Republican guard band of the French army. Merging the elements of opera and rock metal music on the global stage, band Gojira brought their progressive and technical death metal style, while singer Marina Viotti inserted her mezzo-soprano vocals. With the opening ceremony, the stakes for France were immense. Dozens of heads of state and government were in town and the world was watching as Paris turned itself into a giant open-air theater. Along the Siene, iconic monuments became stages for dancers, singers and other artists. The sprawling ceremony gave organizers bigger crowds to transport, organize and safeguard than would have been the case if they'd followed the example of previous Olympic host cities that opened with stadium shows. Still, as the show got underway, optimism soared that Paris – true to its motto that speaks of being unsinkable – might just see its gambles pay off. Paris organizers said 6,800 of the 10,500 athletes would attend before they embark on the next 16 days of competition. The boats carrying the Olympic teams started the parade by breaking through curtains of water that cascaded down from Austerlitz Bridge, the start of the 6-kilometer (nearly 4-mile) parade route. The jetting waters were a wink at the splendid fountains of Versailles Palace, now the venue for Olympic equestrian competitions. Per Olympic protocol, the first boat carried athletes from Greece, birthplace of the ancient Games. It was followed by the Olympic team of refugee athletes and then, the other nations in French alphabetical order. Usually during Olympic opening ceremonies, the parade of athletes takes place during a pause in the razzmatazz. But Paris shattered that tradition by having the parade and pageantry at the same time, blending sports and artistic expression. Some spectators who followed organizers' advice to arrive well ahead of time along the ceremony route fumed over long waits to get to their seats. "Paris has been great, anything to do with the Olympics and dissemination of information has been horrible," said Tony Gawne, a 54-year-old Texan who turned up six hours in advance with his wife. "When you spend $6,000 on two tickets, well, that's a little frustrating." But Paris had plenty of aces up its sleeve. The Eiffel Tower, its head still visible below the clouds, Notre Dame Cathedral — restored from the ashes of its 2019 fire — the Louvre Museum and other iconic monuments will star in the opening ceremony. Award-winning theater director Thomas Jolly, the show's creative mind, was using the signature Paris cityscape of zinc-grey rooftops as the playground for his imagination. His task: Tell the story of France, its people, their history and essence in a way that leaves an indelible imprint on Olympic audiences. Refresh the image and self-confidence of the French capital that was repeatedly struck by deadly extremist attacks in 2015. Capture how Paris is also aiming to reboot the Olympics, with Summer Games it has worked to make more appealing and sustainable. It's a big ask. So Paris is going big, very big. That goes for the security, too. Large fenced-off stretches of central Paris were locked down to those without passes and the skies during the ceremony were a no-fly zone for 150 kilometers (93 miles) around. Many details of the spectacle that will stretch through sunset and into the Paris night had remained closely guarded secrets to preserve the wow factor. Zidane, who led France to World Cup ecstasy in 1998, was among the guesses for who might light the Olympic cauldron. Another suggestion is that organizers might bestow that honor on survivors of the 2015 attacks by Islamic State-group gunmen and suicide bombers who killed 130 people in and around Paris. The identity of the final torch bearers has been the country's biggest secret. Chief Paris Games organizer Tony Estanguet said Friday morning that only he knows "the personality or athlete" and that he still hadn't told that person. "I plan to tell the last carrier today," he said. "He or she doesn't know." The ceremony's broad-brush strokes have been previously announced and are stunning in their ambition. French President Emmanuel Macron said they initially felt like "a crazy and not very serious idea." During the athletes' waterborne adventure, Paris' splendors unfurled before them. They were passing historic landmarks that have been temporarily transformed into arenas for Olympic sports. Concorde Plaza, where French revolutionaries guillotined King Louis XVI and other royals, now hosting skateboarding and other sports, and the Grand Palais of iron, stone and glass, the fencing and taekwondo venue. The golden-domed resting place of Napoléon Bonaparte, the backdrop for Olympic archery, and the Eiffel Tower, which donated chunks of iron that have been inlaid in the gold, silver and bronze Olympic medals. They'll be won in the 32 sports' 329 medal events. Up to 45,000 police and gendarmes, plus 10,000 soldiers, were safeguarding the ceremony and its VIP guests, with IOC President Thomas Bach and Macron presiding. Paris' aim, said Estanguet, is "to show to the whole world and to all of the French that in this country, we're capable of exceptional things." https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/paris-olympics-begins-with-ambitious-sprawling-opening-ceremony-on-river-seine/7714698.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/paris-olympics-begins-with-ambitious-sprawling-opening-ceremony-on-river-seine/7714698.html Fri, 26 Jul 2024 23:49:49 +0200 WorldSports voadigital@voanews.com (Associated Press) PARIS (AFP) — The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on Tuesday unveiled a nine-member refugee team for the upcoming Games in Paris. The team is made up of eight competitors and one guide runner. They will take part in taekwondo, athletics, triathlon, power lifting, table tennis and wheelchair fencing. "The world has more than 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide," said Andrew Parsons, the IPC president. "Many live in dire conditions. These athletes have persevered and shown incredible determination to get to Paris 2024 and give every refugee around the world hope." Ibrahim Al Hussein will be competing in a third Paralympics for the refugee team but is switching from swimming to triathlon, even though he faced the challenge of putting together "all the necessary equipment to compete in triathlon which can be expensive." Al Hussein arrived in Greece from Syria 10 years ago. "Sport has helped me integrate into society," he said. Zakia Khudadadi, who represented Afghanistan at the COVID-delayed Tokyo Games in 2021 shortly after being evacuated from the country following the Taliban takeover, and Hadi Hassanzada will compete in parataekwondo. Hassanzada was born in Afghanistan and grew up in Iran. "Then I returned to Afghanistan thinking that the country had become peaceful. I was wrong.” He fled. "Living in the forests of Turkey with my friends in the cold of winter, there were times when I was close to death," he said in interview with the IPC. His journey to the Paralympics showed "refugees can succeed despite all the problems they face," he said. Guillaume Junior Atangana sprinted for Cameroon in Tokyo before leaving for Britain. He said his training for the 100m and 400m T11 events in Paris was hampered when his guide, and fellow refugee, Donard Ndim Nyamjua was injured. "Many people wanted to be on the team. So, I have had to pull out all the stops to be the best," Atanganga said. Shot putter Salman Abbariki will compete in track and field at a second Paralympics. Once Hadi Darvish, a refugee from Iran, found a gym that would take an athlete in a wheelchair and without a bank account, he thrived in power lifting, winning a German title in 2022 in a championship for able-bodied athletes. The team is completed by Sayed Amir Hossein Pour, who won Asian junior table tennis titles representing Iran, and wheelchair fencer Amelio Castro Grueso. "No matter how difficult their circumstances, these athletes have found a way to compete at the very highest level of Paralympic sport," said the team's chef de mission Nyasha Mharakurwa, who represented Zimbabwe in wheelchair tennis at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. "They are not just representing the forcibly displaced people worldwide but the world's 1.2 billion persons with disabilities." The Opening Ceremony for the Paralympics will be held on Aug. 28 along the Champs-Elysees and in the Place de la Concorde in Paris. https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/largest-refugee-team-to-compete-at-paris-paralympics-/7709048.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/largest-refugee-team-to-compete-at-paris-paralympics-/7709048.html Tue, 23 Jul 2024 02:44:31 +0200 WorldSports MADRID (AP) — Kylian Mbappé is finally a Real Madrid player. Madrid said on Monday it reached a deal with the France star for the next five seasons, bringing together one of soccer’s top talents and its most successful club. Madrid did not release any financial details. It also didn’t immediately say when it will officially introduce Mbappé, who is with France preparing for the European Championship. The announcement came after years of flirtation by Madrid with the player who inherited the status of the best in the game from Lionel Messi. “A dream come true,” Mbappé said on X. “So happy and proud to join the club of my dream. Nobody can understand how excited I am right now. Can't wait to see you, Madridistas (Madrid fans), and thanks for your unbelievable support. ¡Hala Madrid!” The post, with the message written in English, Spanish and French, was accompanied by photos of a young Mbappé wearing a Madrid jacket while visiting the club. One photo was with Madrid great Cristiano Ronaldo. The club also posted a video on its website showing Mbappé highlights. At the beginning, a voiceover says, “Are you watching closely?” The 25-year-old World Cup winner joins a Madrid team that is already loaded with talent and still celebrating its latest European triumph — and sixth in 10 seasons. Just two days ago, Madrid won a record-extending 15th European Cup title when it beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the Champions League final in London. Mbappé joins a team that already features young stars in Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham. His signing could revive Madrid's “galatico” squads, when it had some of the world's top players including Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Brazil's Ronaldo, David Beckham, Luis Figo and Karim Benzema, among others. The current Madrid players were quick to welcome their newest teammate. “Welcome to the best club in the world,” forward Brahim Díaz said. “I don't know if we won the Champion League on Saturday or if we won it today with Mbappé's signing,” former Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas said. Until now, Mbappé has played club soccer only for French teams — first at Monaco and for the past seven seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, which he left as a free agent after it failed to persuade him to renew his contract. Mbappé didn't take the option for an extra year on the deal he signed two years ago. Monaco wished Mbappé success and posted a photo of the player as a youngster holding Monaco's jersey in front of several posters of Madrid players, including Ronaldo. The Spanish league said “a new star in the universe of Real Madrid.” In 2021, Madrid was rejected after offering PSG a bid of 180 million euros, the same amount PSG paid Monaco for a teenage Mbappé years earlier. Madrid president Florentino Pérez made signing Mbappé a strategic club priority since the powerhouse failed to lock him up when Mbappé visited the club’s facilities at age 14. He, instead, opted to join Monaco’s youth academy, and became a teenage sensation when he helped lead the Principality club to the Champions League semifinals in 2017. The Qatar-backed PSG turned down Madrid's 2021 bid, but with Mbappé’s contract expiring the next year, Madrid took it for granted that Mbappé, who had never hid his desire to one day play for the Spanish club, would come south of the Pyrenees in 2022. But French President Emmanuel Macron encouraged him to stay, and Mbappé stunned Pérez and most of the soccer world by signing a contract extension to “continue his adventure” in Paris. Madrid won the 2022 Champions League after beating Mbappé’s PSG in the knockout rounds. Pérez said after Mbappé turned down his club two years ago that perhaps it was best he didn’t come after all, but there were no bridges burned and Madrid is getting a once-in-a-generation player as a free agent. Mbappé studied Spanish while he was with Monaco and speaks it well, which should help him blend well into a team that also features French players Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Ferland Mendy. Mbappé’s resume features winning the World Cup at 19, a World Cup final hat trick at 23, seven French leagues, four French Cups, and a proven prowess for dominating games with his scoring ability. Mbappé captains France. When they won the World Cup in 2018, he was the second teenager after Pelé to score in a World Cup final. Four years later, he was one of only two players in history to score a hat trick in a World Cup final when France fell to Messi's Argentina. Mbappé was unable to lead PSG to the ultimate goal of a Champions League crown, losing the only final he played in 2020. He also failed to score in both semifinal legs against Dortmund this season. Mbappé left PSG as its all-time leading scorer with 256 goals, including a club record 175 in the French league. His highest scoring season with PSG was 44, and he was the top scorer of the French league for the sixth consecutive season (27). ___ Associated Press writer Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona. https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/kylian-mbapp%c3%a9-finally-joins-real-madrid-in-union-of-soccer-s-top-player-and-club/7641724.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/kylian-mbapp%c3%a9-finally-joins-real-madrid-in-union-of-soccer-s-top-player-and-club/7641724.html Tue, 04 Jun 2024 03:20:29 +0200 SportsWorld ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST — Senegal’s captain Sadio Mane says he expects "a really difficult group" lies ahead as the West African team prepares to face Gambia, Cameroon and Guinea in the group stages of this year’s AFCON tournament. Speaking to reporters ahead of the kick-off of the AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast on Saturday, Mane said their "match against Cameroon is going to be very tough," adding, "We dare not underestimate our other opponents." The two- time CAF African Player of the Year said, "While accepting that none of these matches will be easy, we (Senegal) have the ability and determination to reach the knockout stage." Senegal defeated Cameroon 34 years ago in a group match in Algeria when they first met in the African football showpiece. But Cameroon have had the upper hand since, winning a quarter-final, then the 2002 final and another quarter-final after penalty shootouts. Senegal have beaten Guinea twice, but only drew 0-0 against them in the group stage two years ago en route to winning the Cup of Nations for the first time. The Group C clash between the titleholders and surprise 2022 quarter-finalists Gambia will be the first in the tournament. Mane, one of several Senegalese stars who joined the lucrative Saudi Pro League this year, admits that while winning two years ago was difficult, retaining the title will be even harder. "I believe the 2024 Cup of Nations will be the toughest to win because the line-up is the strongest," he said in reference to the fact that the top 15 ranked teams have qualified. "I cannot recall a stronger field. All the giants are going to be in the Ivory Coast, and all of them will be plotting to dethrone us," Mane added. The 31-year-old multi-award-winning footballer has won the Club World Cup, Champions League and Premier League with Liverpool, but says none of those triumphs compare to lifting the Cup of Nations trophy in Yaounde two years ago. "Winning the last AFCON was the greatest moment of my career. No other success compares with it." Mane helped Senegal secure their first AFCON trophy after converting the winning penalty in the final shootout against Egypt. "It was a special achievement and one I dreamt of since childhood. Our victory had a massive impact on all Senegalese," he said. Since the Cup of Nations success, Senegal have also won the African Nations Championship for home-based players and the African under-17 and under-20 titles. Cameroon, whose five titles makes them the second most successful country in the Cup of Nations, are among the most unpredictable qualifiers. After a draw and loss to Namibia in qualifying, the West African team defeated Burundi to scrape through after being lucky not to trail by several goals at half-time. Cameroon's Manchester United based goalkeeper Andre Onana is expected to play against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday —one day before the West African team faces Guinea in their opening match in Yamoussoukro. Cameroon’s coach Rigobert Song is expected to rely on 2022 Cup of Nations leading scorer Vincent Aboubakar and Karl Toko Ekambi for goals after leaving out Bayern Munich forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. Guinea hope star forward Serhou Guirassy, scorer of 17 Bundesliga goals for Stuttgart this season, recovers from a thigh injury sustained in a warm-up win over Nigeria. https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/senegal-s-sadio-mane-expects-difficult-afcon-group/7435995.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/senegal-s-sadio-mane-expects-difficult-afcon-group/7435995.html Thu, 11 Jan 2024 19:59:43 +0200 Sports By Nick Mulvenney SYDNEY (Reuters) - Captain Olga Carmona scored the winner in the first half as Spain won the Women's World Cup for the first time by beating England 1-0 in front of 75,784 fans at Stadium Australia on Sunday. La Roja, robbed of some of their best talent by a mutiny against coach Jorge Vilda only a few months ago and thrashed 4-0 by Japan in the group stage, outplayed England to deservedly claim their first major title in only their third World Cup. Aitana Bonmati and Teresa Abelleira ran the game from the Spanish midfield and the margin of victory would have been greater had England goalkeeper Mary Earps not saved a second-half penalty from Jennifer Hermoso. "It's the best feeling of my life," a tearful Hermoso said. "We played the football we wanted to but I still think we are not aware of what we have achieved." Vilda became only the second male coach to win a major women's tournament - the World Cup, the Olympics and the Euros - since 2000. "What we did, it's difficult to achieve," he said. "Very proud of this team, we have shown we know how to play, that we know how to suffer, we have believed and we are world champions." England's second defeat in 39 matches since Dutchwoman Sarina Wiegman took over as coach denied them the chance to add a maiden world title to the European Championship crown they won last year. "It's really hard to take," said captain Millie Bright. "We gave everything, in the first half we weren’t at our best but in the second half we were back. "There was a lot of belief, we have been 1-0 down, we never give in. We are absolutely heartbroken but unfortunately we weren't there today. The girls are unbelievable." The first Women's World Cup final not to feature either the United States or Germany started at quite a pace with England just about enjoying the upper hand in the battle of two first-time finalists. Forward Lauren Hemp continued where she left off in the semi-final against Australia and screwed the ball towards goal in the fifth minute before clipping a shot off the bar 12 minutes later. Spain responded immediately, with Carmona overlapping down the left flank and driving the ball across the goal but teenager Salma Paralluelo was unable to make contact and Alba Redondo's shot from the far post was well saved by Earps. La Roja took the lead just before the half-hour mark after England were dispossessed in midfield and Abelleira curled a sublime cross-field pass to Mariona Caldentey, who slid the ball forward to Carmona. The left back drove into the area and let fly with an angled shot which flew past the fingertips of Earps and into the far corner of the net. The goal appeared to knock the stuffing out of England and Spain had the better of the rest of the half with Paralluelo pinging a shot off the post just before the break. England have shown their adaptability throughout the tournament and Wiegman switched from three to four at the back after the break, while bringing Lauren James on for Alessia Russo up front. Spain's game, by contrast, has been unchanging and they continued to drive forward with Caldentey bringing a fine save out of Earps with a shot from the edge of the box in the 50th minute. Bonmati hit the bar with a long-range effort just after the hour mark and the Spanish appealed vociferously for a handball against Keira Walsh during their next visit to the England box. The award of a penalty looked a formality from the moment referee Tori Penso was instructed by VAR to review the footage but Earps dived low to her left to stop Hermoso's spot kick. James had a shot tipped over the bar by Spanish goalkeeper Cata Coll in the 75th minute but Spain were not content to sit on their lead and Earps had to be at her best to deny Ona Batlle as the clock hit the 90th minute mark. England threw all 11 players forward for a corner deep into stoppage time but Coll, playing only her fourth international, came out confidently to gather the ball. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by Peter Rutherford ) https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/7232907.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/7232907.html Sun, 20 Aug 2023 21:09:15 +0200 Sports By John Pye SYDNEY (AP) — England moved on to its first Women’s World Cup championship game with a 3-1 victory over co-host Australia on Wednesday, ending the Matildas captivating run through the tournament. Australia superstar Sam Kerr started her first match of the tournament and scored for the Matildas but it wasn’t enough to hold off European champion England. Ella Toone scored in the 36th minute to put England up 1-0 and the Lionesses dominated possession in the first half. Kerr’s equalizer in the 63rd gave the 75,000-plus crowd some hope, but Lauren Hemp scored to to restore England’s lead in the 71st and provided a perfect through ball for Alessia Russo to clinch the game four minutes from the end of regulation time. England and Spain will each be playing in the Women’s World Cup final for the first time when they meet at Stadium Australia on Sunday. It will be the first all-European final since 2003. England manager Sarina Wiegman became the first coach to lead two countries to the Women’s World Cup final. She guided Netherlands to the final before a loss to the United States in 2019. “You make it to finals, it’s really special,” Wiegman said in a post-match television interview. “I’d never take anything for granted, but I’m like, ‘Am I here in the middle of a fairytale or something?’” Australia will play Sweden for third place on Saturday in Brisbane. “We wanted to dominate the game, we didn’t do that. And we wanted to probably create more scoring opportunities and we didn’t do that,” Australia midfielder Katrina Gorry said, reflecting on her 100th game for her national team. “But you know, we’ve got a quick turnaround and we want to win the bronze medal.” England was playing in the semifinals for the third consecutive Women’s World Cup and Australia was in the final four for the first time. It showed, particularly in the first half and in the last 20 minutes. England had a harder edge, was more clinical when it counted and played a game that deprived Australia of possession for long periods. The Australians seem to have played their final in the 7-6 penalty shootout win over France last weekend, their first win in four quarterfinal appearances at the Women’s World Cup. Australia had to wait five games for Kerr to join the starting lineup in her home tournament because of a calf muscle injury she sustained on the eve of the tournament. After being subdued by England’s defense in the first half, the superstar striker made a big entrance with an equalizer just after the hour. Kerr took the ball at half way, moved up-field in a solo run and wrong-footed a defender before launching a right-foot shot from outside that lightly touched defender Mille Bright before going into the top left corner. Kerr started making inroads but England responded quickly, with Hemp running onto a long ball into the area and scoring with a left-foot finish after Australia defender Ellie Carpenter over-ran the ball. Kerr missed a chance to equalize again with a header of the crossbar in the 82nd and England made them home team pay for the miss, with Russo finishing it off for England. https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/7227347.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/7227347.html Wed, 16 Aug 2023 15:29:48 +0200 Sports (REUTERS) - Before Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo came along, the enduring debate in soccer about who was the greatest player centered on two men: Pele and Diego Maradona. It was an argument that played out for years on terraces and in bars, on radio and on television. Brazil's Pele, a prolific goal scorer who died aged 82 on Thursday in Sao Paulo, won the World Cup an unprecedented three times as a player in 1958, 1962 and 1970 and put the small town of Santos on the map before conquering the United States with the New York Cosmos. SEE ALSO: Brazilian Football Legend Pele Dies at 82 Maradona, who died at the age of 60 in 2020, guided Argentina to the World Cup in 1986 with perhaps the most influential performance ever at a major tournament and lifted Napoli to unparalleled heights in Italy and Europe. The argument about whose legacy was greater so divided the football world that when Maradona was voted the player of the 20th century in a FIFA internet poll, there was widespread outrage, with many griping that Pele's earlier career put him at a disadvantage with younger fans. FIFA held another poll voted on by its own "football family," won by Pele, allowing the pair to share the glory. "Here Pele, the striker whose territory was the penalty box, a player who scored goals for fun and became Minister of Sport, more your quiet type of person," FIFA wrote at the time. "There Maradona, possibly the most complete player ever, playmaker and goal-scorer, technically brilliant, unpredictable and impulsive, both on and off the field, a player plagued by a variety of problems for many years."   FILE - In this March 1987 photo, Pele, left, and Diego Maradona, hold trophies during an awards ceremony in Italy. The cases made on both sides came with a host of subtexts: the Argentine versus the Brazilian, the man of the people versus the establishment figure, the party animal versus the quiet man, the rebel versus the conformist. Everyone took a side, and the two protagonists were not shy about making their own feelings known. Pele thought Maradona was gauche and undignified, and Maradona thought Pele was a sellout. "As a player he was great. ... But he thinks politically," Maradona said, in one of his kinder criticisms. Pele called the Argentine, who struggled with addiction, "a bad example" and much more besides.   Football legends Pele, right, and Diego Maradona attend a promotional event on the eve of the opening of the UEFA 2016 European Championship in Paris, June 9, 2016. Still, the two South Americans got on well when they met for the first time in 1979, Maradona flying to Rio to meet Pele. Pele was happy to counsel the budding star, and Maradona excited to be fulfilling his dream of meeting the Brazilian. But their relationship soured in 1982 after Pele criticized Maradona when he was sent off for stamping on a Brazilian in a World Cup tie in Spain. From then on, they spent decades criticizing each other and then making up, with the praise as sincere as the insults. Pele was magnanimous on hearing of Maradona's death, saying: "I lost a great friend, and the world lost a legend." Messi, who strengthened his own claim to sporting immortality by leading Argentina to their third World Cup victory this month, shared a photo of himself with Pele in a terse tribute to the Brazilian star on Instagram, saying: "Rest in peace Pele." Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, eclipsed by Messi at the Qatar World Cup, was more expansive, calling the Brazilian "King Pelé" and an inspiration to millions. "He will never be forgotten, and his memory will last forever in all of us football lovers," he said. https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6899272.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6899272.html Sun, 01 Jan 2023 01:58:17 +0200 Sports Reactions poured in from around the world to the death of Brazilian soccer legend Pele. He died of cancer in Brazil at age 82. His grace, athleticism and mesmerizing moves transfixed players and fans. ____ “A simple goodbye to the eternal King Pelé will never be enough to express the pain that hits the entire world of football at this moment. An inspiration for so many millions, a reference of yesterday, today, always. The affection he has always shown for me was reciprocal in every moment we shared, even at distance. He will never be forgotten and his memory will last for ever in each and everyone of us football lovers. Rest in peace, King Pelé.” — Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese soccer star. ___ “Your place is on God’s side. My eternal king. Rest in peace.” — 1970 World Cup winner Roberto Rivellino and teammate of Pele on the Brazilian national team. ___ “Before Pelé, ’10′ was just a number. I read that somewhere at some point in my life. But that line, beautiful, is incomplete. I would say that before Pelé football was just a sport. Pelé changed everything. He transformed football into art, entertainment. He gave voice to the poor, to the Black and above all he gave Brazil visibility. Football and Brazil elevated their standing thanks to the King! He is gone, but his magic will endure. Pelé is eternal!” — Brazilian star Neymar. ___ “I had the privilege that younger Brazilians didn’t have: I saw Pelé play, live, at Pacaembu and Morumbi (stadiums). Play, no. I saw Pelé give a show. Because when he got the ball he always did something special, which often ended in a goal. I confess that I was angry with Pelé, because he always massacred my Corinthians. But, first and foremost, I admired him .... Few Brazilians took the name of our country as far as he did." — Brazil’s President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. __ "For a sport that brings the world together like no other, Pelé’s rise from humble beginnings to soccer legend is a story of what is possible. Today, Jill and I’s thoughts are with his family and all those who loved him." - US President Joe Biden. ___ "Pelé was one of the greatest to ever play the beautiful game. And as one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, he understood the power of sports to bring people together. Our thoughts are with his family and everyone who loved and admired him.” — Former U.S. President Barack Obama. ____ “The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten. RIP KING.” French player Kylian Mbappé. ___ “With the death of Pelé, soccer has lost one of its greatest legends, if not the greatest. Like all legends, the King seemed immortal. He made people dream and continued to do that with generations and generations of lovers of our sport. Who, as a child, didn’t dream of being Pelé?" — Didier Deschamps, former player and manager of the French national team. ___ “It will be very difficult to find another Pelé. Pelé had everything a player should have. Agile, jumped like no one, could kick with both legs, physically very strong and brave. There was no one like Pelé.” — Cesar Luis Menotti, Argentine coach and Pele teammate in the Santos football club in Brazil. ___ “Today football says goodbye to its most beautiful chapter. The man who charmed the world and changed the history of the game forever. You will always be the greatest, because 60 years ago, with all the difficulties you faced, you already did what only a few can do today. The man who dedicated his 1000th goal to children and made our country discover it could be much more." - Brazil player Richarlison. ___ “Thanks for his flair and his class. He left a mark even on the generations who weren’t lucky enough to see him play. Today the whole world mourns a legend named Pele.” - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. ___ “Pelé is an incontestable symbol of our nation, a source of pride for all of us. Beyond his achievements as a legend of world sport, Pelé was an exemplary public officer, loyal to his principles, values and to our country. We all lose in his departure.” — Former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso. Pelé served as his sports minister. __ “Football lost the greatest in its history today – and I a unique friend. Born in Três Corações, Pelé had three hearts: for football, for his family, for all people. One who played with the stars and always remained grounded. In 1977, I went to the United States. Because I really wanted to play in a team with Pelé at the New York Cosmos. That time by his side was one of the greatest moments of my career. We became U.S. champions together straight away, and Pelé called me his brother from that moment. It was an unimaginable honor for me." - West Germany star Franz Beckenbauer. ___ “Pelé had a magnetic presence and, when you were with him, the rest of the world stopped. His life is about more than football. He changed perceptions for the better in Brazil, in South America and across the world. His legacy is impossible to summarise in words. Today, we all mourn the loss of the physical presence of our dear Pelé, but he achieved immortality a long time ago and therefore he will be with us for eternity.” - FIFA president Gianni Infantino. ___ “I had the pleasure of meeting Pelé on a number of occasions in the 1980s and 1990s and our last meeting was on a working visit to Mexico in 2013 in Guadalajara. In each of our meetings I was struck by that same sense of joy with which he graced the football pitch.” - Ireland President Michael D. Higgins. ___ “Pele has died. The most divine of footballers and joyous of men. He played a game only a few chosen ones have come close to. 3 times he lifted the most coveted gold trophy in that beautiful yellow shirt. He may have left us but he’ll always have footballing immortality. RIP Pele.” - Former English player and broadcaster Gary Linker. ___ “RIP Pelé. A hero to so many and one of the greatest to ever grace the game.”- London Mayor Sadiq Khan. ___ “Pele was a truly magical footballer and a wonderful human being. It was an honour to have shared a pitch with him and I send my sincerest condolences to his family, friends and the Brazilian people.” - Sir Bobby Charlton, former English player. ___ “This is very sad news indeed…Pele was an unbelievable footballer; he had style, grace, flair and made everything look so easy. The precision in the way he played made him such a joy to watch. However more than anything he was a good man with a great presence and a fantastic smile.” - Denis Law, former Scottish player. ___ “He was and will remain the king of football. Goodbye Pele.” - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. ___ Associated Press writers Gary Fields, Paul Wiseman and Farnoush Amiri in Washington, Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, and Nicholas Riccardi in Denver contributed to this report. https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6898763.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6898763.html Sat, 31 Dec 2022 04:49:32 +0200 Sports Moroccan coach, Walid Regragui, has made history by becoming the first African coach to lead his national team to the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup. After a 0-0 stalemate against favorites Spain in Round of 16, The Atlas Lions shocked the world by beating the Spaniards 3-0 on penalties. In the past, African nations led by foreigners reached the quarter finals of the World Cup three times. The first African team to go beyond the group of 16 was Cameroon in 1990. The Indomitable Lions coached by Russian Valeri Nepomniach had talented players such as Francois Oman-Biyik, Roger Milla and Cyrille Makanaky. The feat was repeated by Frenchman, Bruno Metsu, with Senegal’s Lions of Teranga in 2002 when the team had at its disposal a classy player, El Hadji Diouf. Ghana’s Black Stars had the best chance to qualify to the semifinals under Serbian Coach Milovan Rajevac, but Uruguayan Luis Suarez’s goal line handball in the last seconds of extra time and a missed penalty by Asamoah Gyan saw Africa failing to break the semi-finals jinx. For the first time in the history of the World Cup, the five African teams in Qatar were all coached by locals and a lot was expected from them for a continent yet to win or reach the semifinals of the football showcase. The question though is: Has this experiment with local talent worked for Africa at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar? Zimbabwean sports commentator and former football star, More Moyo, says Moroccan coach, Walid Regragui is the most outstanding with his tactical abilities that saw his side defeat one the tournament’s  favorite and highly fancied Spain. “For me Morocco has been the most outstanding, as they are not conceding.” He added, “Ghana lacked luck and Senegal lacked the finishing touch. The loss of star forward Sadio Mane was telling. Cameroon never showed up.” The first African coach to reach the Round of 16 is the late Nigerian Stephen Keshi in 2014. Regragui also made history by becoming the fourth coach in Africa and second in his country’s history to go to the Round of 16 without tasting defeat. The feat was accomplished by Cameroon in 2002, Morocco in 1986 and Senegal in 2002. This year, of the five local coaches at Qatar, three coaches failed to equal Keshi’s record as Cameroon’s Rigobert Song, Ghana’s Otto Addo and Tunisia’s Jalel Kadri were sent packing in the first round. Addo has already stepped down after his team failed to beat sworn enemy, Uruguay needing a draw to qualify to the last 16. Said Addo, “I said before, it was clear I would stop after the World Cup. At the moment, me and my family see our future in Germany, I like my role at Dortmund,” he told reporters. He said, “I said I would resign after the World Cup even if we were world champions,” he added. Kadri told reporters after his side’s elimination despite beating France-1-0 that, “It’s a historic win for us over the defending champions, but we wanted to qualify for the next round,” He added, “Unfortunately, we exited the tournament, but we also left the game with a lot of honor and pride,” Two coaches Cisse and Regragui managed to reach the knockout stages of the competition. Senegal was completely outclassed by a surging England and lost 3-0. Morocco and Senegal repeated the 2014 FIFA World Cup achievement when two Africa teams reached the Round of 16. There were notably victories for African coaches who bowed out early though as Cameroon became the first team to beat 5-time winners, Brazil, in the FIFA World Cup. The match was decided by a header by the impressive Vincent Aboubakar. The last time and African team had beaten a South American side was in 1990 when Cameroon beat Diego Maradona’s Argentina. Song called the latest achievemrnt a “historic victory.” Tunisia beat defending champions France 1-0 another major achievement for Africa. https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6864825.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6864825.html Tue, 06 Dec 2022 20:43:17 +0200 SportsWorld Cup 2022 voadigital@voanews.com (Blessing  Zulu) A last chance for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Kylian Mbappé back on the biggest stage of all. Brazil bidding for a record-extending sixth title. One of the most eagerly anticipated World Cups in memory — as much for off-the-field reasons as those on it — is just around the corner in Qatar and excitement is building after the qualification period was wrapped. Thirty-two teams, 64 matches, 29 days. The first World Cup in the Middle East. The tournament starts on Nov. 20 and the final is set for Dec. 18. Here’s a few things to watch when the tournament gets going in the smallest country ever to host a World Cup, where some fans will be staying in floating hotels when they head over to take in the games: TOP TEAMS Brazil (No. 1 in FIFA ranking). Neymar, Vinícius Júnior and the rest of the flair-filled Selecao are peaking at the right time. Is a first World Cup title since 2002 on the horizon? Belgium (No. 2). The “Golden Generation” is gradually breaking up but there’s still Kevin De Bruyne leading the Belgian charge. Argentina (No. 3). No World Cup title since the days of the great Diego Maradona. This will be the first World Cup since his death in November 2020 and Argentina is improving, with Messi still at its core. France (No. 4). The defending champions. Still the country with the most depth to its squad, despite a growing injury list. Now with Mbappé AND Karim Benzema leading the attack. No team has retained its World Cup title since Brazil in 1962. England (No. 5). The team has hit a bad patch of form — winless in six games — but has a strong track record in recent major tournaments. England was a semifinalist at the World Cup in 2018 and a finalist at the European Championship in 2021. BIG STARS Lionel Messi, Argentina. The seven-time world player of the year might have been saving his 35-year-old legs for one last push at a World Cup winner’s medal that, to many, would solidify him as soccer’s greatest player. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal. He has won the European Championship but the leading scorer in men’s international soccer hasn’t played in a World Cup final, let alone won one. He’s 37 years old now — make the most of him while you can. Kylian Mbappé, France. The star of the last World Cup at the age of 19 and he is only getting better. The speedy striker could match Brazil great Pelé in being a champion at his first two World Cups. Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium. Widely regarded as the world’s best midfielder, his driving runs are among the best sights in soccer. Belgium just has to hope he arrives healthy. Neymar, Brazil. Often overshadowed by Mbappé and Messi at Paris Saint-Germain, still the main man for Brazil. Watch out for tricks and flicks, and some histrionics, too. HOW IT WORKS Get ready for a feast of soccer. There are eight groups of four teams, with the top two advancing to the 16-team knockout stage. There will be four games back-to-back per day — yes, four! — for most of the first two sets of group games, then simultaneous kickoffs for the last two games in each group. There’ll be no break for the knockout stage, which begins the day after the group stage ends. The first day without soccer comes on Dec. 7 — the 17th day of competition. MUST-SEE GAMES Qatar vs. Ecuador, Nov. 20. The first match of the tournament and always a date to save on the calendar. Argentina vs. Mexico, Nov. 26. The first of the big continental rivalries in the group stage, with Messi potentially sealing his and Argentina’s spot in the last 16. Spain vs. Germany, Nov. 27. Surely there can’t have been many bigger group-stage matches than this at a World Cup? Two recent champions, two giants of European and world soccer. Iran vs. United States, Nov. 29. It has been labeled as “The Mother of All Games Part II.” Just like at the World Cup in 1998, the two countries will meet in the group stage in a politically charged matchup. Diplomatic relations have yet to be restored between the nations since being severed in 1980. Ghana vs. Uruguay, Dec. 2. Anyone remember the night of July 2, 2010? In the last minute of extra time in a World Cup quarterfinal match between Uruguay and Ghana, Luis Suarez deliberately stopped the ball with his hand on the goalline, got sent off, only for Ghana to miss the penalty and lose in a shootout as Suarez celebrated on the sideline. Revenge would be sweet for Ghana. https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6783937.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6783937.html Mon, 10 Oct 2022 21:25:24 +0200 Sports Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6782631.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6782631.html Mon, 10 Oct 2022 00:37:18 +0200 Sports HONG KONG — Rights group Open Stadiums has called on FIFA to throw Iran out of the World Cup finals in Qatar in November because of the country's treatment of women. In a letter sent to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday, the organization said Iranian authorities continued to refuse to allow female fans access to games inside the country despite pressure from the game's governing body. "The Iranian FA is not only an accomplice of the crimes of the regime. It is a direct threat to the security of female fans in Iran and wherever our national team plays in the world. Football should be a safe space for us all," the letter said. "That is why, as Iranian football fans, it is with an extremely heavy heart that we have to raise our deepest concern about Iran's participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup. "Why would FIFA give the Iranian state and its representatives a global stage, while it not only refuses to respect basic human rights and dignities, but is currently torturing and killing its own people? "Where are the principles of FIFA's statues in this regard? "Therefore, we ask FIFA, based on Articles 3 and 4 of its statutes, to immediately expel Iran from the World Cup 2022 in Qatar."   https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6781788.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6781788.html Sat, 08 Oct 2022 22:48:58 +0200 Sports Saudi Arabia will offer multiple-entry visas to fans at the Qatar World Cup, officials said on Thursday, as neighboring Gulf countries look to reap benefits from the competition. RIYADH — People with a Hayya Card, which is reserved for ticket-holders and used to access Qatar during the tournament, will be able to apply for the electronic visas, the foreign ministry said. The move comes as Qatar, which has a population of 2.8 million, tries to accommodate an expected 1.2 million visitors during the November 20-December 18 World Cup, and as Saudi Arabia ramps up efforts to attract tourists. People with a Hayya Card, which is reserved for ticket-holders and used to access Qatar during the tournament, will be able to apply for the electronic visas, the foreign ministry said. "Holders of the visa will be able to enter and exit the Kingdom several times during the validity of their visa," the ministry said on Twitter. The Saudi visas will be in effect 10 days before the start of the World Cup and will be valid for 60 days. Given the pressure on accommodation in Qatar, Saudia, Kuwait Airways, flydubai and Oman Air will put on more than 160 daily shuttle flights to bring fans on day-trips for matches. Qatari officials say more than 20,000 fans could arrive each day on shuttle flights from Gulf countries, some of which are offering special hotel packages. Large numbers of Saudis will also flood across the border. Saudi Arabia's Group C clash with Lionel Messi's Argentina is one of the most in-demand games, World Cup CEO Nasser al-Khater told the official Qatar News Agency in a Twitter interview late on Wednesday. The visa move comes despite Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt cutting ties with Doha in June 2017, accusing it of being close to Iran and supporting extremist groups, accusations which Qatar denied. The diplomatic, trade and transport blockade was only lifted in January 2021. https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6781786.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6781786.html Sat, 08 Oct 2022 22:44:10 +0200 Sports LUSAIL, QATAR — Beer-drinking will be OK at the Qatar World Cup, the tournament's chief insisted Thursday, despite severely restricted alcohol sales in the Muslim Gulf state. For the World Cup, beer will be sold at special zones around the eight tournament stadiums before and after games, in a FIFA fan zone and some specially-designated areas. 73 days from the first World Cup kicks off in an Arab nation, chief executive Nasser al-Khater said there was a "misconception" about alcohol sales, calling it one of the "unfair" criticisms faced by Qatar. The price of accommodation and availability of beer have been among the main concerns raised by fans. "Very simply put, we always stated that the sale of alcohol is available here in Qatar. We also said that during the World Cup we will make it available in specific zones for the fans," Khater said. "I think that there is a misconception regarding the sale of alcohol in the stadiums," he said. "We are working as any other World Cup where this is something typical and usual, and it is no different than any other World Cup." While Qatar is not dry, like fellow Gulf states Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, alcohol can only be bought by residents in one special government store and about 35 hotel bars and restaurants. Drinking in public is normally illegal. And away from the stadiums, and in the hotels and bars of Doha, it would be "business as usual" for drinkers, meaning alcohol is "haram" - forbidden. Many countries have restrictions on beer sales at sporting events. At English Premier League games, fans are not allowed to drink within sight of the pitch. That came after years of "footies" slugging it out in the stands after lagering up https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6781782.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6781782.html Sat, 08 Oct 2022 22:37:00 +0200 Sports MOSCOW — Senegal forward Keita Balde has been suspended until December 5 over an anti-doping violation in Italy, his new club Spartak Moscow announced, severely compromising his chances of playing at the World Cup. Balde, 27, signed a three-year deal with Russian Premier League side Spartak last month after spending the past season with Cagliari in Serie A. Balde "has been suspended by the Italian national anti-doping agency until December 5 for a procedural violation during an anti-doping inspection while he was playing for Cagliari," Spartak said in a statement. The Russian club did not specify the nature of the infraction, but said that no prohibited substance had been detected in the sample tested. According to Spartak, Balde will not be able to resume training until three weeks before the end of his suspension, in line with FIFA regulations. Spanish-born Balde won the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal in February, but the suspension could see him left out of the squad for the World Cup in Qatar, which runs from November 20-December 18. Senegal play the Netherlands on November 21 in their opening Group A match. They also face hosts Qatar and Ecuador. Balde's suspension would rule him out until the quarter-finals. https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6781780.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6781780.html Sat, 08 Oct 2022 22:29:58 +0200 Sports LE HAVRE, FRANCE — Ghana coach Otto Addo acknowledged the "danger" of integrating a number of new players into the squad ahead of the World Cup, but he does not believe it will have a destabilizing effect. Coach Otto Addo, who took charge in February after Ghana's disastrous Africa Cup of Nations campaign, handed debuts to Inaki Williams, Tariq Lamptey and Mohammed Salisu in last Friday's 3-0 friendly loss to Brazil. The 28-year-old Williams won one cap for Spain in 2016 and Lamptey, 21, played regularly for England's youth teams before opting to switch allegiance. German-born Addo, who played for Ghana at the 2006 World Cup, has also called up Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer and Stephan Ambrosius, both capped by Germany at under-21 level. "It's always a danger to get new players, especially if the players who are there before achieve something really, really good," said Addo, who oversaw the World Cup play-off win over Nigeria in March. "There's a group dynamic which I don't want to break, but I think from what I saw they were welcomed well. "They did well in training and get along with each other and it's not like they were strangers. Before some knew each other from playing in the same league and everything is okay." Addo believes adding European-born members of the diaspora will increase competition for places and benefit the Black Stars. "It's a good situation. We have pressure from the bench because new people are there who are very, very solid in Europe, and we have players on the pitch who have to prove themselves," he said. Addo admitted to being "very unhappy" with the nature of his team's defending at set-pieces, but insisted the loss to Brazil would provide a useful learning opportunity before heading to Qatar. - 'Team was bad' - Brazil, the world's top-ranked side, tore Ghana apart in a dominant first half in Le Havre, with Richarlison striking twice after Marquinhos headed in the opener. The second of Richarlison's goals came from a Neymar free-kick, with the Tottenham Hotspur forward nodding in at the near post. "In all, the team was bad, if you lose 3-0 you're bad," Addo said after Ghana suffered their fifth defeat in as many meetings with Brazil. "I was very disappointed, especially with the set-pieces. They had a lot of chances. We were a bit lucky in some situations they didn't score." But he bristled at the suggestion the four-time African champions were not ready to compete at the World Cup. "If you see how many times they (Brazil) have scored three or four goals, then nobody's ready," said Addo. "It's not like we were playing against some small boys. They're really, really good." At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, no African team made it to the knockout phase for the first time in 36 years. Ghana, who were a missed Asamoah Gyan penalty away from reaching the last four in 2010, have one final tune-up game against Nicaragua on Tuesday before Addo must finalize his World Cup plans. "We lost 3-0 so everybody probably thinks this is a weak team. This is maybe an advantage for us," he said. "Everything brings something good if you learn from it. I hope that I learnt myself. Maybe I have to do some things differently. If everybody thinks like that then we'll do better. I'm not concerned at all." "I made some mistakes, I will learn from them and can hopefully improve," he added. "The second half showed we can compete with them." Ghana play Portugal in their opening match at the World Cup on November 24. They have also been drawn alongside Uruguay and South Korea in Group H. https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6781777.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6781777.html Sat, 08 Oct 2022 22:27:02 +0200 Sports Eva Mazrieva WASHINGTON —  At least 125 people have died in a stampede at an East Java, Indonesia, football stadium Saturday night. Another 180 people were injured. East Java Police Chief Nico Afinta told reporters that two members of the police force are among the victims, most of whom were trampled to death. Police officials said the death toll had been revised to 125 from 174, after authorities found some of the victims were counted twice. Police chief Afinta said the Indonesia premier league game had ended with Persebaya beating Arema 3-2. He said Arema supporters — known as Aremania — were unhappy with the outcome and entered the field to chase the Arema players and team. He said, “Police officers tried to persuade the Aremania to return to the stands but were ignored. We do not know why the crowd became increasingly anarchic, and finally attacked the police too. Finally, police fired tear gas at the crowd.” Hundreds of supporters of each team ran to exit gates to avoid the tear gas, but many were suffocated and trampled. Hundreds of the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, but many of them died on the way or during treatment. The angry crowd also burned 13 police cars and trucks. Indonesian President Joko Widodo said in a televised speech he regretted the tragedy and had asked the minister of sports, the police chief and the head of the Football Association of Indonesia to evaluate football matches and their security procedures. He also said he ordered a temporary halt to matches until improvements to safety procedures have been completed. Indonesian Police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo told VOA that a team will fly from Jakarta to Malang, East Java, to help local police. “The East Java Regional Police are working with New Indonesian League [LIB] as the match operator, and also some related state holders. The National Police Team will leave for Malang this afternoon to back up the East Java Regional Police, to help identify the victims and provide medical assistance to hundreds of injured victims in several hospitals.” The coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, commonly known as Mahfud MD, said in an Instagram post Sunday that the number of spectators exceeded the capacity of the Kanjuruhan stadium. “The apparatus had asked the organizer to hold the match in the afternoon [not at night], and said the number of spectators must be adjusted to the stadium’s capacity of 38,000 people. But the proposals were not carried out… the match was still held at night and the number of tickets sold was 42,000.” https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6772635.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6772635.html Sun, 02 Oct 2022 19:13:53 +0200 SportsWorld A fashion company owned by a Zimbabwean in The Netherlands hosted the southern African nation’s rugby team at the weekend, ahead of a big match against the host country. The Sables have a high-profile International Test match against The Netherlands in preparation for the final round of qualifiers for the Rugby World Cup 2023 to be played in France from July 1 to 10. Zimbabwe’s senior national rugby team will take on the higher-ranked Dutch national rugby side, affectionately known as The Oranges at the Rugby Stadium Amsterdam on June 25. The two teams were initially scheduled to clash in November 2020, but were forced to shelve the game due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After an almost two-year wait, the match is finally set to go ahead and it will come at an ideal time too for the Sables, who are seeking to qualify for their first Rugby World Cup since 1991. Pfeka.com has created a Pfeka Brand Rugby Fans Jersey for the love of the game.  The rugby team had, an official team Jersey, signed and auctioned to raise money and this was bought for €300 by one of the Rugby followers, a Zimbabwean based in Europe,  Kudzi Kambarami.  This was presented at a pre-game party Pfeka hosted in Amsterdam for the boys and their management team. Pfeka.com managing director, Eglet Nyabvure, said, “We are excited to be part of this dream as we are Zimbabweans first and nothing beats a sadza meal and gochi-gochi on foreign land. We rally and support the Sables for the Saturday game and all the upcoming games.” Former Zimbabwe ambassador to the USA, Ammon Machingambi Mutembwa, who is now in charge of the embassy in Holland, graced the event. https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6626001.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6626001.html Tue, 21 Jun 2022 04:11:29 +0200 ZimbabweSports The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has thrown Zimbabwe out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after the Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) refused to reinstate the Felton Kamambo board they suspended as instructed by Fifa. In a statement, CAF said, “As a consequence of having failed to have their suspensions by FIFA set aside, CAF has confirmed that both Kenya and Zimbabwe will not participate in the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 qualifiers. The qualifiers will kick-off on the first day of June 2022. “CAF had included them in the official draw earlier in April 2022 on condition that the suspension must be lifted two weeks before their first match day. Kenya and Zimbabwe, suspended for political interference, have not yet met the criteria required by the FIFA Congress as a prerequisite for lifting their suspension. Fifa had ordered the Sports and Recreation Commission to reinstate the Kamambo-led Zifa board they suspended, something which the SRC has refused to do. “As a result because of the suspension, the two associations; Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) will be considered losers and eliminated from the competition. Groups C and K will be composed only of three teams and the order of the matches will be maintained in accordance with the match schedule that has been communicated to the teams after the draw. The first and runner-up teams of those groups will qualify to the final tournament.” Zimbabwe had been drawn in the same group with Liberia, Morocco, and South Africa. Michael Kariati contributed to this article https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6587012.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6587012.html Tue, 24 May 2022 16:09:46 +0200 ZimbabweAfricaSports The Premier Soccer League has suspended all Castle Lager PSL matches with immediate effect until further notice following incidents of violence and hooliganism that continue to take place in our football. In a statement, the PSL said it strongly condemns such acts “as they can only serve to tarnish the beautiful game of football. “We are currently engaging all key stakeholders to find lasting solutions to these challenges. We have scheduled a meeting with Security Officials including the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Club Security Officers and Marshals as well as stadium owners on Friday 20 May 2022.” The PSL said it has requested Highlanders FC, Dynamos FC and the ZRP to furnish “us with reports detailing the events that transpired at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday 15 May 2022. We will take disciplinary action after receiving the said reports. “We take this opportunity to apologise to all football loving fans, our sponsors and stakeholders. We hope to address these challenges before resuming football matches.” The match at Barbourfield https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6575430.html https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/6575430.html Mon, 16 May 2022 17:59:19 +0200 ZimbabweSports