South African footballer Luke Fleurs shot dead

Published

4 weeks ago

April 4, 2024

The South African football fraternity has been thrown into mourning following the death of Kaiser Chiefs defender, Luke Fleurs, who was shot dead during a carjacking incident.

The police, in a statement on Thursday, said the shooting took place at a petrol station on Wednesday night in the Johannesburg suburb of Florida.

The statement stated that the 24-year-old Fleurs was waiting in line to be attended to when he was approached by unknown gunmen who ordered him to get out of the vehicle.

“One of the suspects is reported to have fled the scene with Fleurs’ car after the shooting,” the police said.

“The victim, 24, who played for South African Premier Division side Kaizer Chiefs, was taken to hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries,” the police added.

His club also released a statement on Thursday confirming the incident.

“It is with a great deal of sadness that we announce that Kaizer Chiefs player, Luke Fleurs, tragically lost his life last night during a hijacking incident in Johannesburg.

“We are profoundly shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic and untimely passing of one of our players, Luke Fleurs.

“The club’s management, players, and the technical team are all profoundly upset by this devastating turn of events.

“We convey our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this extremely difficult time. The club will make further announcements at a later stage.”

South Africa’s Minister for sport, Zizi Kodwa, who expressed his sadness at the death of the promising player, said in a statement released by his office:

“I am saddened by the passing of Kaizer Chiefs defender and former junior international Luke Fleurs.

“I am saddened that yet another life has been cut short due to violent crime. My thoughts are with the Fleurs and Amakhosi family, and the entire South African football fraternity.”

Fleurs, a former South African junior international, played for the U-23 at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 where he made three appearances for his country.

He was called up to the senior national team in 2021 but never made a senior international appearance.

He joined Kaizer Chiefs in October 2023 after spells at Ubuntu FC and SuperSport United.

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Nigeria’s football federation appoints Finidi George as Super Eagles coach

Published

16 hours ago

April 29, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has approved the appointment of former international, Finidi George, as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.

The board of the Federation
on Monday, approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint George, a former Eagles winger, as the manager of the Nigeria’s men national football team.

Before his appointment, George, served as assistant to José Peseiro before the Portuguese voluntarily resigned from post after leading the Eagles to the final of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations where they lost 2-1 to host Cote d’Ivoire.

Following Peseiro’s departure, George took charge of the squad in interim capacity during two friendly matches in Morocco last month.

He led the squad to a 2-1 victory over Ghana in the first match but lost 0-2 to Mali in the second game.

The 52-year-old George was a member of the Eagles team of the early 90s fondly called the “Golden Generation” that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia and qualified Nigeria for its first ever senior FIFA World Cup in 1994.

During his playing career, George starred for Sharks of Port Harcourt and Calabar Rovers in Nigeria before moving abroad where he played for Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Real Betis of Spain.

He won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals and also won gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments.

George’s immediate task will be to guide the Super Eagles to victory in two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan respectively, in a little over five weeks.

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Al Ahly, Esperance to clash in CAF Champions League final

Published

2 days 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.