Sports

How stray dog stopped Kenyan athlete from winning Argentina marathon

Published

2 months ago

September 29, 2023

A Kenyan marathon athlete,
Robert Kimutai Ng’eno, has blamed a stray dog for denying him the chance to win the Buenos Aires Marathon in Argentina and pocket the prize money of KSh 1.1 million ($7,450).

According to Ng’eno, he was in the lead during the race on September 24 and was closing in on the final stretch when the dog came out of nowhere and ran after him on the race course, destabilizing him.

Ng’eno ended up in third place behind fellow Kenyans, Cornelius Kiplagat and Paul Kipngetich Tanui, who came first and second respectively.

Ng’eno, who shared a picture of the dog chasing after him on X, said despite efforts by some spectators to shoo the dog away, the encounter distracted him into losing the race.

He said he also tried to chase the canine away with stones, but it kept coming at him until a lady whisked it away.

“I was really scared and I think that was what made me lose focus. I knew I was going to win the race but the other athletes closed the gap at the 38km mark,” he said.

“My target was to register a better time and I knew having surged forward, I was going to achieve it but it was cut short by the dog. I want to forget these quickly,” Ng’eno added.

A Kenyan Senator, Samson Cherargei, who also shared the story on X, criticised the organisers of the race for failing to act after a dog chased Ng’eno during the marathon race.

“The athlete was robbed of his dignity and subjected to untold ridicule,” Cherargei wrote on the platform.

The senator argued that Kenya’s Sports Minister, Ababu Namwamba and Athletics Kenya had also failed the runner, adding that they “have not found it wise to protest and call for investigations by Argentina authorities,” he added.

Related Topics:Athletics Dog Featured Kenya Marathon Robert Kimutai Ng'eno

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Sports

CAF Award: Osimhen, Salah, Hakimi make fiinal three shortlist

Published

1 day ago

December 7, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

In-form Nigeria and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, has made the final three-man list for the 2023 CAF Men’s Player of the Year Award which will hold on December 11 in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Osimhen, who had a sterling last season where he led Napoli to its first Italian league title in 33 years with 26 goals to end as the first African player to win the top scorer award in the Serie A, will battle for the crown with Egyptian captain and Liverpool star, Mohamed Salah, and Moroccan defender, Achraf Hakimi, who plays for PSG in the French Ligue One.

Many football pundits in the continent have so far tipped the Lagos-born Osimhen to pick the diadem ahead of Salah and Hakimi.

The latest to give the gong to the former Lille player was mercurial ex-Super Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, who believes Osimhen has done enough to be named CAF Player of the Year for 2023 after his exploits with his Italian club and the Eagles.

In an interview on Wednesday, Okocha said the 24-year-old Osimhen’s consistency at the highest level had won him the prestigious gong already.

“Osimhen deserves it because for me, he was the most consistent player of last season,” the former PSG midfield star said in the interview.

If Osimhen goes ahead to win the award, he will be the second Nigerian player to achieve the feat after Nwankwo Kanu who won the CAF Player of the Year Award in 1999.

Sports

Moroccan player Bilal El Khannouss wins Lion Award in Belgium

Published

2 days ago

December 6, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Moroccan international, Bilal El Khannouss, has been named the best player from North Africa in the Belgium Jupiler league.

El Khannouss, who plays for KRC Genk, was on Tuesday presented the Belgian Lion Award, which is given annually in Belgium to the best player from North Africa in the country’s First Division.

Fellow Moroccan, Tarik Tissoudali, who also plays for KAA Gent, finished in second, while Adem Zorgane of Charleroi and Youssef Challouk of KV Kortrijk, both Algerians, finished in joint-third position.

The award ceremony also honored female footballers from North Africa who also play in Belgium, with Moroccan international striker, Sakina Ouzraoui, who plays for RSC Anderlecht, picking the Belgian Lionne Award 2023.

The event also paid tribute to the “Best Belgian with Arab Roots,” awarding RB Leipzig’s Belgian striker, Lois Openda.

The esteemed Golden Boy Award, which recognizes the best players under 21 in Europe, also named El Khannouss among its 25 finalists.