Sports

TP Mazembe owner Moïse Katumbi to run for DR Congo president

Published

1 year ago

December 16, 2023

Billionaire owner of DR Congo’s top club, TP Mazembe, Moïse Katumbi, has announced his intention to run for the country’s presidency in the December 20 presidential election.

Katumbi, who is one of the most powerful men in the DRC and a multi-billionaire mining magnate, has promised to overhaul the country’s security apparatus and steer the troubled eastern DR Congo towards peace.

Local media reports that Katumbi has not hidden his ambition of running for president as he had previously attempted to gun for the position in the past but was blocked by numerous obstacles, including a jail sentence, death threats and exile.

But now, the popular football boss believes he is ready and hopes 2023 will be the year he finally lands the top job.

While making the announcement, Katumbi said his prior success in boosting infrastructure and education while governor of the country’s richest province, Kantanga, was the pilot programme for Congo.

The 58-year-old who is the leader of the “Together for the Republic” party is considered a front-runner – and so far, four other opposition candidates have pulled out to throw their support behind him.

But Katumbi’s critics have questioned his record on transparency and have accused him of using politics to advance his personal business interests.

A close ally of former President Joseph Kabila, Katumbi once accused the Congolese government of trying to poison him.

“Their plan was to kill me because they are scared about my popularity,” he had said.

On the business front, Katumbi is the owner of subcontracting Mining Company of Katanga (MCK), which he founded in 1997, and which then merged with Canadian firm, Anvil, to become AMCK Mining in 2004.

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Sports

Coach of Mamelodi Sundowns female team suspended over sexual harassment allegations

Published

3 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns women’s team, Jerry Tshabalala, has been suspended indefinitely amid allegations of sexual harassment of players.

A statement by the management of the top South African team said the 44-year-old Tshabalala, who has been in charge of Sundowns’s women’s team for over a decade, has been accused of a number of allegations, including making inappropriate sexual comments to his players, as well as entering the dressing room and refusing to leave while players are completely naked.

In a statement released on Saturday, Sundowns said they had appointed a law firm to investigate the allegations against the coach with specific instructions to unravel allegations of improper conduct by the Tshabalala.

The club said it views the allegations in a very serious light and has relieved the coach of his appointment pending when the investigations are concluded.

“Sundowns has, in the interim, put Coach Jerry Tshabalala on special leave pending the outcome of the investigation,” the club statement said.

“This is not done to pre-empt the outcome of the investigation, but to ensure that the investigation can proceed expeditiously and protect the rights of all parties.

“In the event that the investigation establishes facts that warrant action, the Board will immediately take such steps as are appropriate.

“Mamelodi Sundowns will in due course make announcements on the findings of the investigation and the action to be taken,” the statement concluded.

The Sundowns female team have been a dominant force in women’s football in South Africa and on the continent since Tshabalala took over in 2012, winning seven domestic league titles, as well as two CAF Women’s Champions League crowns.

Sports

FIFA Ranking: Nigeria ends 2024 as fifth best team in Africa

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Nigeria’s men’s football national team, the Super Eagles, ended the year 2024 as the fifth best team in Africa in the latest FIFA world ranking for the month of December.

According to the rankings published by the world football governing body, Nigeria remains unchanged from its previous position, despite having a challenging international break.

The FIFA rankings also reveal that Nigeria suffered a significant decline this year, dropping eight places to end 2024 ranked 44th globally.

The decline follows disappointing performances during the final AFCON qualifiers for 2025, where the Super Eagles struggled against the Benin Republic and Rwanda, resulting in a lack of wins.

However, some of the Super Eagles bitter rivals like South Africa’s Bafana Bafana experienced a resurgence, climbing three positions to finish the year ranked 57th in the world, showing a marked improvement in their recent form and successful matches during the qualifiers.

It was a woeful year for West African rivals Ghana who ended the year in 77th position, which highlights the challenges the Black Stars have encountered in the outgoing year in its bid to maintain its positions among Africa’s elite teams.

Meanwhile, the Moroccan national football team, the Atlas Lion, retained its 14th position in the in the world while still maintaining its number one spot in Africa, holding the first position for the third year in a row.

In the world ranking, Morocco is followed by Senegal on 17th position, Egypt, 33rd, Algeria 37th, Nigeria, 44th, Côte d’Ivoire, 46th, Cameroon, 49th, Mali, 51st, and Tunisia in the 52nd position.

Top 10 African teams in 2024

1. Morocco – (14th)

2. Senegal – (17th)

3. Egypt – (33rd)

4. Algeria – (37th)

5. Nigeria – (44th)

6. Côte d’Ivoire – (46th)

7. Cameroon – (49th)

8. Mali – (51st )

9. Tunisia – (52nd)

10. South Africa – (57th)