Connect with us

Sports

Tunisian footballer sets self ablaze in protest after police accuse him of terrorism

Published

on

A 35-year-old professional footballer in Tunisia, Nizar Issaoui has died after setting himself ablaze in a protest against the police for labelling him a terrorist following a dispute over bananas, his brother, Ryad, told journalists on Friday.

Issaoui, who set himself alight on Wednesday in the village of Haffouz in the central region of Kairouan, suffered third-degree burns and died in the hospital the following day, according to Ryad.

“He was taken from hospital in Kairouan to the specialist burns hospital in the capital Tunis, but doctors were unable to save his life,” the brother said.

Before setting himself on fire, Issaoui had posted on Facebook that he had sentenced himself to “death by fire“.

“I have no more energy. Let the police state know that the sentence will be executed today,” he wrote.

Issaoui was said to have decided on the extreme protest after police officers accused him of “terrorism” when he complained that he was unable to buy bananas for less than 10 dinars ($3.30) a kilogramme, double the price set by the government.

“For a dispute with someone selling bananas at 10 dinars, I get accused of terrorism at the police station. Terrorism for a complaint about bananas,” he reportedly wrote on social media.

The incident which has been widely reported by the Tunisian media, is coming 13 years after a street vendor, Mohamed Bouazizi burned himself to death on December 17, 2010, an action that sparked a revolution in the country, triggering the famous Arab Spring which toppled some authoritarian regimes across North Africa and the Middle East.

Issaoui’s death also sparked protests on the streets of Haffouz on Thursday evening, as young demonstrators hurled stones at police who responded with tear gas, the media reported.

The late Issaoui was a free agent at the time of his death, after a career that saw him play for a range of clubs from the lower divisions to the top flight in the country’s league.

Sports

Former Zambian captain Rainford Kalaba discharged from hospital after near-fatal accident

Published

on

Former Zambian national team captain, Rainford Kalaba, has been discharged from hospital weeks after he was involved in a near-fatal accident where he sustained serious injuries.

The accident which involved a head-on collision between a Mercedes-Benz car in which Kalaba was in, and a truck, had initially sparked fears for his life and has since been in the Intensive Care Unit of the Zambian University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

The good news on the footballer’s progress was released by the UTH Public Relations Officer, Nzeba Chanda, who informed that the Chipolopolo legend has been discharged after showing positive signs of recovery.

“Mr. Rainford Kalaba has been discharged from the UTH-Adult where he was admitted after being involved in a road traffic accident two weeks ago,” Chanda said, adding that Kalaba will continue his recovery at his family home.

According to local media reports, the 37-year-old was a passenger in a Mercedes Benz when it collided with an oncoming truck in the south-eastern Zambian town of Kafue a week and five days ago.

In his active playing days, Kalaba spent the majority of his club career at TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, winning the CAF Champions League with the club in 2015 and the CAF Confederation Cup in 2016.

He also had a spell with clubsides in Portugal including FC Braga, and was a major part of the Zambian squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 under Frenchman, Herve Renard.

Continue Reading

Sports

Domestic worker sues Pitso Mosimane, wife following debilitating injuries

Published

on

Former Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Al Ahli of Egypt coach, Pitso Mosimane, and his wife, Moira Tlhagale, have been sued by their domestic worker after a severe injury at the home of the couple led to disabilities.

The domestic worker, domestic worker Dorothy Sikirivao, filed the lawsuit against Mosimane who is the current head coach of Abha Club of Saudi Arabia, claiming the sum of R5.7-million at the Johannesburg High Court after suffering from severe injuries he sustained in a mishap at the couple’s residence in April 2021.

According to reports by Sunday World, Sikirivao had a serious fall at the Mosimane’s home while clearing debris, with the accident allegedly leaving her with “catastrophic spine-related injuries, leading to a significant reduction in her mobility and affecting her reproductive health.”

The reports stated that medical specialists diagnosed Sikirivao with multiple injuries, including blood clots in the brain, shoulder dislocation, various bone fractures, and severe pressure on the spinal cord.

“The domestic worker claims the injuries were exacerbated by the demanding nature of her duties and the couple’s insistence that she return to work soon after the accident,” the tabloid wrote, quoting Sikirivao legal documents

“This was because of the tedious nature of the work she did and the potential of aggravating the injuries. The injuries she sustained from the said accident were of such a nature that exacting physical labor will aggravate them.”

The documents explained that initially, Mosimane and Tlhagale covered Sikirivao’s medical expenses but reportedly ceased payments without explanation.

“Despite being granted a month of sick leave following the incident, Sikirivao alleges she was coerced into resuming work, which worsened her condition.

“The plaintiff, post the said accident, was also prognosed to be in a situation where the plaintiff may never be able to carry a pregnancy and fulfil her desire to have her biological children except through an expensive and legally cumbersome process of surrogacy.

“Furthermore, she may face ongoing health complications due to the accident. The compensation Sikirivao seeks includes R1.7-million for loss of income, R2-million for past and future medical expenses, and R2-million divided equally for the loss of amenities of life and for pain and suffering,” the legal documents added.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Sports3 hours ago

Former Zambian captain Rainford Kalaba discharged from hospital after near-fatal accident

Former Zambian national team captain, Rainford Kalaba, has been discharged from hospital weeks after he was involved in a near-fatal...

Metro5 hours ago

‘Cyber Act fails to protect the vulnerable,’ Student demands media inclusivity for persons with disabilities

Peter Libila, a student at Icof University’s Chipata campus, highlights the lack of awareness among individuals with disabilities and those...

Metro9 hours ago

All my tough policy decisions are in Nigerians’ interest— Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has insisted that all his tough policy decisions and reforms have been taken with the...

VenturesNow9 hours ago

Nigerian oil regulator implements regional fuel standards

Nigeria’s oil authority has clarified that the recent changes to diesel fuel sulphur content standards are part of a regional...

VenturesNow9 hours ago

IMF predicts Kenya’s economy to overtake Angola

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says that this year, Kenya will pass Angola to become the fourth biggest economy in...

Politics9 hours ago

S’Africa lengthens troop deployment in Mozambique, Congo DR 

President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a speech that South Africa’s military would keep sending troops to Mozambique and the Democratic...

Metro11 hours ago

Nigeria govt cancels 924 dormant mining licences

Nigeria’s minister of mines said on Wednesday that 924 expired mining licences had been cancelled immediately. The country now wants...

Tech24 hours ago

Nigeria’s NGX Group enters into strategic investment partnership with Ethiopian Securities Exchange

Leading Nigerian integrated market infrastructure group in Africa, the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), has announced strategic investment in the Ethiopian...

Culture24 hours ago

Namibia govt condemns tourists posing naked on Big Daddy Dune

The Namibian authorities have frowned at tourists who posed naked at the Big Daddy Dune, the country’s top tourist attraction...

Sports1 day ago

Domestic worker sues Pitso Mosimane, wife following debilitating injuries

Former Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Al Ahli of Egypt coach, Pitso Mosimane, and his wife, Moira Tlhagale, have...

Trending