Sports

Sex scandal rocks Zambian women’s team as players accuse coach of sexually abusing them

Published

10 months ago

July 11, 2023

The coach of the Zambian women national team, Bruce Mwape is in all sorts of trouble after some senior players in the team accused him of sexually abusing them.

The accusation has led to the Zambia Football Association (FAZ) and world football organising body, FIFA, opening an investigation into the allegations against the coach.

Though the Zambian is currently preparing for the Women’s World Cup which will kick off in Australia and New Zealand on July 20 with matches against Spain, Costa Rica and Japan, the country’s football authorities say Mwape is being investigated after receiving complaints of sexual abuse from several players.

According to reports, the FAZ had informed FIFA on September 2022 of an open investigation concerning Mwape who has been the women team’s manager since 2018, as well as the coach of the female U-17 team, Kaluba Kangwa.

The investigation was opened after a player claimed that Mwape abused his position as the coach by sleeping with his players before selecting them for matches.

“If Mwape wants to sleep with someone, you have to say yes. It’s normal for the coach to sleep with the players from our team,” the player who wished to remain anonymous had told journalists.

Another player also revealed cases of emotional blackmail from Mwape and said that players were threatened if they dared to say anything about what happened.

“The federation turns a blind eye because the women’s team has had good results. It’s his way of showing success and a good image to the public and authorities. But behind the scenes, things are very ugly.”

While responding to the allegations, FAZ Secretary General, Adrian Kashala, had said in a statement:

“While we have no official complaints from anyone about the allegations, we consider them very serious and have opened an investigation into the matter. We will collaborate with the Zambian Police and other stakeholders.”

On his, part FAZ chairman, Andrew Kamanga, had said in October:

“We prefer that an independent body such as FIFA should handle investigations. We are planning to serve sanctions. We have enough rules and regulations within football to be able deal with this.”

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Sports

Egyptian midfielder Elneny announces departure from Arsenal after eight years

Published

15 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Egypt and Arsenal midfielder, Mohamed Elneny, has announced his departure from the club at the end of this season after eight years at the North London club.

Elneny who made the announcement in a video on Friday, said he will depart the club following the expiration of his contract.

Elneny joined Arsenal from Swiss side Basel in 2016 and made 161 appearances but in the last two seasons, the Egyptian midfielder has struggled for playing time due to a combination of injuries and loss of form.

In 2019, under former manager Unai Emery, he was loaned out to Besiktas for the 2019-20 campaign, where he played 36 times for the Turkish side.

Upon returning to Arsenal, he found a more prominent role under new manager Mikel Arteta.

Elneny’s contract was due to expire at the end of last season, but Arsenal opted to extend it by an additional year. With this extension now coming to an end, it has been widely reported that the 31-year-old will leave the club this summer.

In the video on X, Elneny said:

“Gooners, I’m here today to send you a message. To say goodbye and thank you for everything you’ve done for me, the love, the support, and the kindness. I am really going to miss you so much and you will be in my heart forever.

“I wanted to say how much I love you and how much you mean to me. I will never forget the way you supported me. I am going to see you on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium to say goodbye face to face.”

He added that he would bid farewell to fans at the Emirates on Sunday as Arsenal host Everton in their final league match.

Though Elneny did not say where he would go after leaving Arsenal, it is believed he will be heading to the Saudi Arabian league to join a horde of elite players who have made the Saudi League the new football haven.

Sports

Ethiopian marathon legend Bekele returns to Olympics after 12-year absence

Published

2 days ago

May 17, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

After a 12-year absence on the international race circuit, Ethiopian marathon legend, Kenenisa Bekele, has announced that he will return for the 2024 Olympic Games in July after he was named in a 10-member team on Thursday.

The 41-year-old Bekele last competed in the London Games in 2012 when he finished fourth in the men’s 10,000m before he was overlooked for the 2016 and 2020 Olympics.

His surprise return to the Ethiopian team came after a remarkable second-place finish at the London Marathon in April which was enough to earn him a place for the Paris Olympics in a squad which also features women’s world record holder Tigist Assefa.

In his heydays, Bekele won three Olympic golds in the 5,000m and 10,000m, and is now expected to renew his rivalry with reigning Olympic champion and former world record holder, Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya who was also named in the Kenyan team.

In August 2003, Kipchoge dusted his Ethiopian rival when the two met for the first time at the Paris World Championships, holding on to win the 5,000m race, pipping Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj into second place while Bekele finished third.

Bekele made his marathon debut in April 2014 when he produced the sixth-fastest run over the distance in Paris but his career has been hampered by injuries.

Other members of the Ethiopian men’s team for the Olympics are Sisay Lemma, the Valencia marathon champion, and Deresa Geleta, while 2023 New York marathon champion and 2022 world champion Tamirat Tola and Eusedin Mohammed, are standby reserves.