In a football stadium tucked away in Western Kenya, the contenders pace and snort under a brilliant blue sky as gusts of wind carry the cheers of thousands of spectators. Oblivious to the noise and bets being placed, Iminyi and Ingwe prepare for battle, racing up and down the pitch as if possessed.
Floods caused by heavy rains have killed at least eight people and displaced tens of thousands across Kenya this month, officials said on Tuesday as downpours continued in parts of the East African nation. Over the weekend three sisters drowned in the central Rift Valley and an infant was swept away by waters in western Kenya.
Laura Bush’s five-day goodwill mission to the Middle East to promote women’s rights has thus far met with protests, muted applause and fashion criticism. On arriving at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Sunday, the United States’s first lady ”was treated to a lesson in the strident realities of Middle Eastern street politics”, reported Eric Silver in the Independent.
The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa reserved judgement on Monday on whether the South African Broadcasting Corporation was misleading the public by referring to Tshwane instead of Pretoria in radio and television broadcasts. The two-hour hearing followed complaints by viewers and political parties.
The Springbok squad gave the Bulls players a warm reception when the Pretoria-based players joined the national team at their pre-season training in Bloemfontein on Monday. Said Springbok captain John Smit: ”They really did us proud on Saturday and, with a bit of luck, could so easily have won the game.”
Jacques Kallis was voted the 2004 Sportsman of the Year for the Western Cape Sports Writers’ Association. Kallis was presented with the trophy by Nick Mallet at a function held at the Newlands cricket stadium on Monday evening. The woman’s award went to Natalie du Toit for her performance at the Paralympic Games held in Athens.
Russia’s Anastasia Myskina wrote herself an unwanted chapter in the Roland Garros record books on Monday when she became the first defending champion in history to crash out in the first round. There were no such dramatics in the men’s first round where Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Gaston Gaudio and Tim Henman all won in straight sets.
Only a tiny plaque on a small brick monument in Ann Arbor commemorates 99-year-old Ferry Field as hallowed ground, the site of the finest hour in athletics thanks to the legendary Jesse Owens. Wednesday marks the 70th anniversary of Owens setting three world records and matching another within a span of 45 minutes.
Jonny Wilkinson marked his return to international rugby by rescuing a share of the spoils for the British and Irish Lions in their 25-25 draw against an under-strength Argentina at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Monday. The England flyhalf had not played Test rugby since booting the winning drop goal at the 2003 World Cup final.
United States billionaire Malcolm Glazer said on Monday he plans to take Manchester United off the London Stock Exchange as early as June 22, putting the world’s richest soccer team into private ownership. Glazer also moved on Monday to buy out remaining shareholders of the team.