Sports Briefs
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BLESSING Okagabare, a Nigerian athlete, added yet another gold medal to her collection on Monday, August 11, 2014 when she not only won the 100 m race at the African Athletics Championship, but also set a new championship record of 11 seconds.
Okagabare, who won two gold medals at the recently conclude Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland was dominant in Marrekech, Morocco as she powered to glory to erase the former record of 11.03 seconds.
“I am very happy to have won the title because I just wanted to win for my fans and do my country proud. Just coming straight from the Commonwealth Games, my body is tired, but my coach told me to just focus and execute the race, which was what I did,” the athlete said moments after the race.
Her closest rival was Murielle Ahoure, an Ivorian, but Okagbare noted that the competition was stiffer in Glasgow. Nevertheless, she acknowledged the challenge of Ahoure and hoped that Nigeria could re-produce having three Nigerians on a bigger platform like they did in Morocco on the day of the race.
Okagbare, by her performances, has virtually won everything this summer. She won the IAAF Golden League in Lausanne, Switzerland and Monaco and went to the Commonwealth Games where she sent tongues wagging with doubles win in the 100 m and the 200 m.
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Ameobi Signs One-Year Deal
SHOAL Ameobi, former Newcastle and Nigerian Super Eagles striker, has signed a one-year contract with Gaziantep Buyuksehir Belediyespor, a Turkish second-division club. Ameobi, 32, was a free agent following his departure from Newcastle where, after graduating from the club’s academy, he had been a first-team player for 14 years.
“We want to establish an ambitious team in the league this season, and a strong team continues to strengthen by adding players,” said a statement on Gaziantep’s official website.
“We have therefore tied Nigerian striker Shola Ameobi – from one of the strongest teams in England, Newcastle United – to us for one year.”
Ameobi made 312 appearances for the Magpies, scoring 53 goals, but much of his career on Tyneside was plagued by injury and inconsistent form. He scored Champions League goals against Barcelona in 2002 and against Bayer Leverkusen the following year, while his best return in the Premier League saw him score nine goals in 2005-06.
Ameobi’s 11 goals in 21 appearances helped Newcastle win promotion from the Championship in 2010 but he steadily became a fringe player as boss Alan Pardew re-established the club in the top flight.
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Real Madrid Wins Super Cup
CRISTIANO Ronaldo, scored twice as Real Madrid won the Super Cup, the first European silverware of the season, with a 2-0 win over Sevilla, also a Spanish club in Cardiff, Wales.
Ronaldo, starting alongside new recruits James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos, tapped in a cross from Cardiff-born Gareth Bale to give Real the lead.
The Portuguese doubled his side’s advantage with a drilled shot from the left when played in by Karim Benzema. It was the first of six trophies Real said they hoped to win this season.
The Champions League winner will now look to defend the title it won by beating Atletico Madrid in May. Besides, Bale has expressed the team’s confidence of winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Fifa Club World Cup and the Supercopa de Espana in the new season.
Dreams do come true, but can this? Only time will tell.
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Tsonga Beats Federer to Win Rogers Cup
JO-WILFRIED Tsonga beat Roger Federer, former number one tennis player, in straight sets to win the Rogers Cup for the first time.
The Frenchman, who recorded impressive wins over Andy Murray and Grigor Dimitrov in the previous rounds, won 7-5 7-6 (7-3) in Toronto.
The first set went with serve until Federer went long on Tsonga’s first break point.
Federer saved a championship point before Tsonga, 29, claimed his second ATP Masters 1000 title.
The Frenchman’s powerful display against the 17-time Grand Slam winner capped a fine few days in Canada that also saw him down Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon champion, as well as Murray and Dimitrov.
Federer said Tsonga “deserved this title”, adding “he beat some amazing players on the way”.
Tsonga in his remarks said: “If you believe in something it can happen. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved this week.”
— Aug. 25, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT
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