Sports

Late Kelvin Kiptum inducted into prestigious Talanta Hall of Fame

Published

1 month ago

March 20, 2024

Late Kenyan world marathon record holder, Kelvin Kiptum was on Wednesday morning, inducted into the prestigious Talanta Hall of Fame by the government.

His family and that of the Rwandese coach, Gervais Hakizimana, who died alongside the marathon great in a ghastly road accident on February 11, were also given the sum of Ksh10 million each by the President William Ruto-led administration.

Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts,
Ababu Namwamba, who presided over the event that had in attendance Kiptum’s and Hakizimana’s families, said Kiptum’s name will paint the hall alongside other iconic legends in the sports and creative economy realm.

The Talanta Hall of Fame is a prestigious platform that celebrates excellence in the realm of creativity, sports and innovation in the East African country.

During the induction ceremony, Nanwamba said Kenya will always celebrate Kiptum’s life and even in his death, the world will continue acknowledging his impact.

“This Hall celebrates the best of Kenya’s sports and creatives such as Joe Kadenge, Paul Tergat, and Ngugi wa Thiong’o.

“This is both a proud and sad moment as we celebrate the induction of a promising athlete who departed this world in his prime.

“This is special because it is the very first formal induction, and Kelvin becomes the first of our legends to be formally inducted in this hall of fame and stands here as a permanent heritage to his incredible contribution,” Nanwamba added.

Before he was cut down in his prime, Kiptum was the world marathon record holder and the reigning London Marathon champion.

In his short but impactful career, Kiptum had won all the marathons he had competed in since his debut at the 2022 Valencia Marathon where he won in the fastest time ever by a debutant.

He then won the London Marathon in 2023 in the second fastest time before shattering compatriot Eliud Kipchoge’s world record at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

He was due to attempt the sub-two-hour marathon assault at the NN Rotterdam Marathon before his untimely death.

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Sports

Al Ahly, Esperance to clash in CAF Champions League final

Published

1 day 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.