Sports

Ugandan World Cross Country champion Jacob Kiplimo involved in near-fatal accident

Published

4 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Two-time World Cross Country champion, Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, is currently battling for his life after he was involved in a near-fatal accident which could see him miss the 2024 Paris Olympics Games starting in July.

According to a police statement, the accident occurred on Tuesday after Kiplimo’s vehicle careened off the road in Kween District in Eastern Uganda.

The police statement stated that though the 23-year-old Kiplimo escaped what was a potentially catastrophic road crash, he emerged with injuries which could hamper his Olympics participation.

The accident happened a few days after Kiplimo, the newly crowned World Cross Country Champion of 2024, returned to the country from his triumphant outing in Belgrade, Serbia, where he clinched victory in 28 minutes and 09 seconds.

“Witnesses recounted how Kiplimo’s vehicle veered off the road just a few kilometers away from his village,” a Ugandan media platform, New Vision wrote.

“Stranded and shaken, the 23-year-old athlete, trapped in his vehicle, could only rely on the assistance of onlookers until he was finally rescued.

“Despite the frightening ordeal, Kiplimo sustained minor physical injuries, for which he expressed profound gratitude.

“I’m not sure how much body damage internally this could have caused to me but I am grateful to God for shielding me. It could have been worse,” he was quoted as saying.

“Following the accident, Kiplimo was promptly transported to Kapchorwa town for medical evaluation and treatment. However, the full extent of his injuries remain uncertain, raising concerns about Uganda’s prospects for the upcoming Paris Olympics.

“Blame for the crash was attributed to the poor road conditions in Kween district, particularly the route leading to Kiplimo’s residence in the Benet sub-county,” the platform wrote.

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Sports

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.

Sports

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

Published

3 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.