Sports

US Open 2023: Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur zooms into round of 16

Published

8 months ago

September 3, 2023

Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur’s quest for a first Grand Slam was boosted on Saturday night after she thumped Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic in a brutal third-round match at the US Open.

The world’s fifth seeded African star who had suffered a series of injuries and illness prior to the tournament, defeated Bouzkova 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 on Arthur Ashe Stadium in a gruelling encounter that once again showed her resilient spirit.

After beating the 31st seed Bouzkova in two hours and 56 minutes, Jabuer, who was the runner-up last year at the US Open, told journalists that she had expected a tough match against her opponent and had to dig deep to come up with the fight she required to beat Bouzkova.

“Man it was a very tough match. We both played really well. She didn’t want to stop. She’s a great player. This is a tough sport. You always don’t want to give up. I really respect her for that. I think we both had a great battle tonight, and hopefully I’ll continue getting this ‘warrior’ symbol with me during this great tournament,” she said.

“Hopefully I’ll continue with this warrior symbol. I love fighting. I trust my body. I know I can go all the way playing three sets, no problem.

“It’s not fun starting being sick. I feel like this tournament is testing me and showing me that I have a lot of strength, that I can go really far,” she added.

Next up for the 29-year-old Jabeur is a matchup against Chinese 23rd seed, Zheng Qinwen at the Flushing Meadows as she hunts a first major title.

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Sports

Al Ahly, Esperance to clash in CAF Champions League final

Published

15 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Two of Africa’s club giants, Egypt’s Al Ahly and Esperance of Tunisia, will do battle next month over two legs for the right to be crowned champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Title-holders Al Ahly and their long-standing rivals Esperance both booked their places in the final with dramatic semi-final victories over DR Congo”s TP Mazembe and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa respectively on Friday night.

While Al Ahly, winners of five of the last seven editions of the continent’s top draw tournament, with a record 11 in total, overcame TP Mazembe with a 3-0 aggregate victory in the semi-final second leg after a goalless first leg last Saturday, Esperance surprised Sundowns with a 1-0 victory in Pretoria to wrap up a 2-0 aggregate win.

The two-legged final will mark the third encounter between Ahly and Esperance in the Champions League final, with the Egyptians winning in 2012 and the Tunisians triumphing in 2018.

In 2023, the two clubs clashed in the semi-finals with Ahly emerging victorious home and away, securing a 4-0 aggregate triumph.

Esperance who are aiming for a fifth Champions League title, will host the first leg in Rades on May 18, with the return fixture scheduled in Cairo seven days later.

Sports

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

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

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.