Sports

‘Don’t let Christian Atsu’s name die’, wife of late Ghanaian footballer pleads

Published

1 year ago

August 14, 2023

Marie-Claire Rupio, the wife of late Ghanaian footballer, Christian Atsu, who lost his life six months ago in the earthquakes that devastated parts of Turkey and Syria, has called on Ghanaian authorities not to let his name and legacies perish.

Rupio, who spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live on Monday, said she hoped the name of the former Chelsea and Newcastle midfielder would not be buried and forgotten by the West African country, as well as the football world.

Rupio, who had three children for Atsu, said it was important for his memory and legacies to be maintained as he had impacted the lives of many in his short life.

“For me, it’s very important that his name is still there, especially for the children, that he was known, that he was loved by everybody,” Rupio said.

“I just hope that his name will never go away. He helped a lot of charities, even in the UK. He’s helped a lot of people in Ghana. You can’t really talk just about his talent, he’s been a good person as well.

“The people who are close do know that, even from the outside as well, they have seen it. He’s built a school for children in Ghana and that’s something that not everybody would do, if they have money”, she added.

Atsu, who was only 31 years old at the time of his death in February, was one of over 50,000 victims of the earthquakes that rocked parts of southern Turkey and Syria.

He was found dead under the rubble of his home in Antakya on 18 February, almost two weeks after the quakes.

According to Rupio, she had spoken to Atsu a day before the disaster following his goal for his team in a match against Kasimpasa, and congratulated him on scoring the only goal of the match, only to hear the devastating news the following day.

“I didn’t believe that it could happen in a place wherehe would be. As a human being, you think this can’t happen to you or anybody you love.

“I was like ‘he’s fine and he will call’. But then after a while his sister called and told me that his building had totally collapsed. I was shocked, it was hard to believe.”

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Sports

Kenyan court jails killers of Ugandan Olympian Kiplagat for 35 years

Published

6 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A Kenyan court sitting in Nairobi on Tuesday sentenced two men, Peter Ushuru Khalumi, 30, and David Ekai Lokere, 25, to 35 years in prison each for the murder of Ugandan Olympic athlete, Benjamin Kiplagat, who was stabbed to death last year.

Khalumi and Lokere were both found guilty by Justice Reuben Nyakundi of the Kenyan High Court in the northwestern city of Eldoret for stabbing the 34-year-old steeplechaser to death.

In his ruling, Nyakundi said overwhelming evidence from CCTV cameras showed the pair intentionally killed the athlete, adding that they had not shown any remorse for the pre-meditated crime and deserved a harsh sentence.

“Your actions were cruel to a defenceless person whose life you cut short contrary to God’s plan, where God intended man to live for a minimum of 70 years,” Nyakundi said while announcing the 35-year sentence for each defendant.

The judge however, rejected a plea from Kiplagat’s mother, Elizabeth Chemweno, and his two brothers who wanted Khalumi and Lokere to be given life sentences.

The two convicts were arrested a day after the athlete’s body was found in his car on the outskirts of Eldoret on New Year’s Eve with a deep wound to his neck in a murder that shocked the country and Africa in general.

Kiplagat who was born in the Eldoret region in Kenya, had an illustrious career spanning almost two decades, and had represented Uganda internationally in the 3,000m steeplechase, including at several Olympic Games and World Championships.

He won the silver medal in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2008 World Junior Championships and bronze at the African Championships in 2012 and made the semi-finals of the event at the 2012 Olympics in London and also competed in Rio in 2016.

Sports

Chepkirui leads Kenya to podium sweep at New York City Marathon

Published

1 day ago

November 4, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Kenya had a clean sweep of the podium at the 2024 New York City Marathon on Sunday as Sheila Chepkirui clinched victory in the race, clocking 2:24:35, with the defending champion, Hellen Obiri, securing second place, while Vivian Cheruiyot finished third.

In just her fourth marathon, Chepkirui ran a ferocious last half mile to win the race ahead of Obiri, the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist.

Chepkirui, 33, came into the race with the fastest personal best in the field, 2:17:29, which she ran at the 2022 Valencia Marathon though this is her her first win at a world marathon major.

Speaking in the post-race press conference the race, she said:

“Winning means a lot to me. It means my training has been going well, and I’m really happy for the win.

“The last turn was really tough. I was still with Hellen. I told myself I had to push up at the finish line.

“In the last mile, it was really hard. I pushed myself. I’m so happy. I pushed myself to the limit.”

This Kenyan dominance underscores the nation’s strength in long-distance running, particularly in major marathon events.

The 2024 New York City Marathon featured a competitive field, but the Kenyan athletes’ performances stood out, reaffirming their status as leading figures in women’s marathon running.