Argentina defends its title and secures only the second softball world championship for South America
Argentina has defended its title at the ten-nation U-19 Men’s Youth Softball World Championship, defeating New Zealand, 9-0, in the gold medal final, after 10 days of world-class softball. (See photos 1, 2, and 3.)
With the victory, Argentina brings only the second softball world championship title to South America, after winning the first title at the 2012 U-19 Men’s Softball World Championship in front of the home crowd in Argentina.
The New Zealand “Black Sox” will take the silver medal back to Oceania, while Japan — who fell to Argentina in the semifinals, in a battle that went into extra-innings — will take home the bronze. (*See final standings below.)
For New Zealand, it was the first time since 1997 that the Black Sox had advanced all the way to the championship final, after having defeated neighbour Australia in the semifinal.
“Congratulations to Argentina on retaining the world title and congratulations to the city of Whitehorse for delivering a very successful world championship,” said WBSC Executive Vice President Dale McMann.
“This special event not only highlights the depth of WBSC’s sport disciplines to engage and promote young athletes, but also shows the growing global presence of our sport, especially with countries like Argentina now firmly solidifying South America, and Australia and New Zealand in Oceania competing at world-class levels.”
The U-19 Men’s Softball World Championship is celebrated every two years, and the next edition will be hosted by Midland, Michigan, USA.
The U-19 world championship event was the showpiece National Team competition in baseball and softball, which concluded this past weekend and featured a total of 54 games.
At the continental level, world baseball No. 18 Nicaragua was crowned the Under-12 Boy’s Pan-American Baseball Champion with a victory over No. 1 USA in Mazatlán, Mexico.
In Europe, host Czech Republic defeated Denmark in the final of the European Men’s Softball Championship, and the U-19 Girl’s Softball European Championship opens up today in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
The WBSC’s 2014 world championship calendar continues with the elite U-15 Baseball World Cup, which will bring together eighteen nations to Sinaloa, Mexico, followed by the Women’s Softball World Championship in Haarlem, Netherlands beginning August 15.
World Baseball Softball Confederation
*U-19 Men’s World Championship Final Standings
1. Argentina
2. New Zealand
3. Japan
4. Australia
5. USA
6. Mexico
7. Canada
8. Czech Republic
9. Denmark
10. Singapore
NRFF lauds the Inaugural South-South/East Rugby Union League:
NRFF Technical Director, Olatunji Fasimoye has lauded the efforts of Friends of Rugby and the New Board in ensuring the spread of the sport throughout the country as the Inaugural South-South/South East League kicked off with four teams vying for the championship.
The first ever league game in South-South/Eastern Nigeria took place at Michael Okpara University Stadium in Umahia between Bufalo RFC from Abia and Imo Wild Cats RFC from Owerri.
Both sides performed well but it was the Wild Cats who edged an end to end encounter against the home team 15-10. Delta RFC will hit the road to play against Edo RFC in the next fixture.
Imo Wild Cats currently sit on the Log with 4 points.
Southwest Rugby League
South-West League: Cowrie beats Racing in league thriller…,
South-West Rugby Union League resumed over the weekend following a 2 month break. Cowrie Rugby Club enjoyed themselves on Saturday afternoon despite a spirited performance from Racing Rugby Club running in four tries on their way to a 26 – 8 victory.
The first match of the day saw Hawkster Athletics RFC hang on for a hard fought 5-0 win over Lagos Rugby Club.
Hawksters produced one of their most riveting performances of the season to earn their win by the narrowest of margins.
In other games, the strength of Royal Stallions Rugby Club was too much for Eco II Rugby Club as the Ilorin boys ran 50-3 riot over Eco II.
Police Machines out-muscled a predominantly young and determined Gosar Rugby Club 19-3 in the last match of the day.
Cowrie are now 6 points clear at the top of the log with 25 points, followed by Police Machines with 19 points and Racing Rugby with 17 points. Hawksters Athletics moved up to fifth with 10 points while Eco II is still at the bottom with no points.
Northern League: Zaria Rugby proving its relevance!
After 3 rounds of matches at the oldest Rugby Union league in the country, it’s tight at the top, with only 3 points separating the top two.
However, Zaria RFC are unbeaten so far with three wins out of three. They sit at the top of the log with 13 points followed closely by Barewa RFC with 10 points.
Kano RFC is at the bottom of the log with no points. The Northern league is the oldest and most consistent in Nigeria and it is highly competitive.
After a not so exciting Sunday in the football transfer market, our man Paul has captured mondays transfers gist and updates just for you.
Remember that you can follow Paul on twitter: @El_Pauleta on twitter and also follow @NewFanzone and we will follow you right back, lets keep the discussion going.
Done Deals:
– Liverpool have confirmed that Iago Aspas has joined Sevilla on a season-long loan deal
– Juventus has completed the signing of Patrice Evra from Manchester United on a 2 year deal.
– Arsenal’s Wellington Silva has joined UD Almeria on a season-long loan.
– Hearts have completed the signing of Swedish striker Osman Sow on a two-year deal.
Iago Aspas: Photo credit, liverpoolfc.com
Today’s Report and rumours:
– According to inside sources, Loic Remy has flown to Boston,USA to complete a medical ahead of his move to Liverpool
– Atletico Madrid has been linked with a move to bring Fernando Torres back to the club from Chelsea.
– Wolfsburg have rubbished reports suggesting that they may be willing to negotiate the sale of Ricardo Rodriguez to Manchester United
– According to inside sources, Ben Davies has passed a medical at Tottenham hotspur and will travel with the team to Toronto ahead of their next friendly
– Chelsea hopes to announce the return of club legend Didier Drogba this week.
– Ac Milan CEO Adriano Gallaini has denied receiving any bid from Arsenal this summer for Italy striker Mario Ballotelli.
– Stoke city midfielder Wilson Palacios fails hi medical at Qatari club.
– Sunderland transfer target Fabio Borini has joined Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States.
– Leicester city are keen on signing Sporting Lisbon’s Algerian striker Islam Slimani
– Southampton defender Dejan Lovren is set to complete a £20million move to Liverpool this week.
– Micah Richard wants a loan move after several clubs baulked at Manchester city’s £7million asking price.
– Tottenham have opened talks with Swansea city goalkeeper Michael Vorm over a potential move to White hart lane
– According to reports, Mats Hummels has snubbed Barcelona and will join Manchester United this week.
– According to reports in Spain, Real Madrid and Monaco have agreed terms for the transfer of James Rodriquez and the attacking midfielder will be unveiled by the Spanish Giant on Tuesday.
Football tit bits:
– Manchester city striker Alvaro Negredo says he will be out for “a few months” after fracturing a metatarsal bone.
– Newcastle United Manager Alan Pardew has dedicated the forthcoming season to the two fans that died in the Malaysian Airlines tragedy. John Alder and Liam Sweeney were killed when flight MH17 came down in eastern Ukraine last week as they traveled to New Zealand to watch the Magpies play on their pre-season tour.
– Steven Gerrard has announced his retirement from international football, He had 114 caps for England.
– Shakhtar Donetsk’s owner has confirmed six players have refused to return to Ukraine for the new season as conflict rages around the club’s home city. Brazilians Douglas Costa, Fred, Dentinho, Alex Teixiera and Ismaily plus Argentine striker Facundo Ferreyra remained in France following a friendly against Lyon on Saturday.
Adeola Olaiya of Kano Pillars dribbles Akpara Akita of Mark Mentors in jersey no 9 PHOTO CREDIT AKINKUMI FARINTO
The president of the Nigerian Basketball federation Mr Tijjani Umar on Saturday at the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium said umpire Tunde Popoola got the decision to cancel the final basket scored by Mark Mentors basketball club of Abuja right at the Final Match of the DSTV Premier Basketball League Final 8, After he and the chairman of Mark Mentors club Mark Igoche came out of the OB van of TV right owners SuperSport to review the dying seconds of the epic final match.
“From the replay it was clear that Musa Usman still had possession of the ball as time expired. The referee dully indicated that, and from the video footage I and the Mark Mentors chairman saw, the referee got the decision spot on”.
Controversy struck at the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium in Lagos when referee Tunde Popoola cancelled Mark Mentors guard, Musa Usman’s basket at the end of the game on Saturday. Mark Mentors who lead all through the game, lead by 4 points with 21 seconds of the game to spare.
However there was a dramatic twist of fortune when Pillars took the lead by one, 89-88 points with 5 seconds left on the game clock courtesy a 3 points shot from Abubakar Usman after team mate Adeolu Olaiya’s dunk reduced the deficit to 2 points earlier.
With the championship title still at stake, Mark Mentors pushed to score within the 5 seconds left. They did score, but it was a tale of too little too late. As time expired before they could get the ball in the basket.
Kano Pillars successful defended the title they won last season and match winner Abubakar Usman going home with his 2nd consecutive Most Valuable Player of the Final 8 award.
Nda’ Abu as he is popularly called also won the highest scorer award having ended the tournament as the leading scorer with 138 points in 5 matches. While Mark Mentors Forward Abdul Yahaya went home with the highest rebounder award.
Mathew Onmonya, Kano Pillars Captain, receiving the 1st place trophy from PR Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, Caroline Oghuma; Mark Igoche and Nigeria Basketball Federation President, Tijjani Umar during the final of 2014 DStv Basketball League PHOTO CREDIT AKINKUNMI FARINTO
African Volleyball Confederation grated the organization of the first ever Women’s U23 African Nations Championship to Algeria September 5 to 15, 2014.
The new competition will be organised in conjunction with the Girls’ U18 African Nations Championship which will be held in the same dates in Algeria.
Players who are Eligible to participate in the African U23 competition are those who were born on 1st of January 1993 or after.
The 2014 edition will be the first in this age category after the FIVB introduced the World Championship U23 for the first time in Mexico 2013. Algeria and Kenya were nominated at that time as African representatives through the world ranking where Kenya already participated and Algeria withdrew.
CAVB put the July 31 as a deadline for the African National Federations to register in the unique African Nations Championship.
The winner and runner up of this Championship will represent Africa in the FIVB Women’s U23 World Championship 2015.
Emmanuel Amuneke (MON), Golden Eaglets’ Head coach, has categorically denied having a Facebook account, saying he should not be associated with an impostor on the social media.
A certain person has for long been parading himself as the 1994 African Footballer of the Year on Facebook but Amuneke said it was nothing but a fictitious account since he’s not on any social media for that matter.
“I’m not on Facebook and I’m not ashamed of saying so,”Amuneke said.”The only thing I do on my phone is receiving calls and at worst, use the short message service (sms) but count me out of anything outside that.”
Amuneke said it was unfortunate that ‘one clown’ would be using his personality in order to deceive unsuspecting public, warning Nigerians to be wary of the impersonator. As at the last check, the copycat claimed Amuneke attended Ahmadu Bello University amongst other things.
” I’m not on Facebook, I don’t tweet and in fact, I don’t have any social media account,” Amuneke maintained.” I don’t have the time for such and my colleagues here know I’m not part of the crowd on any social network.
“Any Emmanuel Amuneke with my photograph on Facebook is a fraud and I’m using this opportunity to warn the public so that nobody fools them,” Amuneke added.
Golden Eaglets bench – Emmanuel Amuneke, Kabiru Baleria, Emeka Amadi
ITF BEACH TENNIS WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP, MOSCOW, RUSSIA RESULTS – 20 JULY
Please find below Sunday’s results from the 2014 ITF Beach Tennis World Team Championship that took place in Moscow, Russia on 17-20 July. Italy, the 2012 champion, regained the title with a 2-0 victory over defending champion Brazil. A total of 24 teams took part in the third edition of the event.
The Team Championship is a mixed competition in which nations compete against each other on a knock-out basis. Each team is comprised of two men and two women, with ties consisting of a men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles rubber.
The Team Championship joins the individual ITF Beach Tennis World Championships as the flagship events on the ITF Beach Tennis Tour. Since the launch of the Tour in 2008, worldwide participation has continued to grow each year. The 2014 Tour will see around 200 events held in 37 countries, while 54 nations are currently represented in the ITF Beach Tennis World Rankings.
(2) ITALY defeated (1) BRAZIL 2-0
Federica Bachetta/Sofia Cimatti (ITA) d. Joana Cortez/Lorena Melo (BRA) 61 62
Alessandro Calbucci/Marco Garavini (ITA) d. Marcus Ferreira/Vinicius Font (BRA) 61 61
Mixed doubles not played
3rd-4th Place Play-Off
(5) RUSSIA defeated (6) GERMANY 3-0
Daria Churakova/Ekaterina Kirgizova (RUS) d. Dorothee Berreth/Carina Blank (GER) 62 75
Nikita Burmakin/Sergey Kupstov (RUS) d. Alexander Bailer/Oliver Munz (GER) 63 62
Nikita Burmakin/Daria Churakova (RU) d. Alexander Bailer/Dorothee Berreth (GER) 41 53
5th-6th Place Play–Off
(8) SPAIN defeated (3) VENEZUELA 2-0
Maria Pilar Escandell/Maria Rosa Sitja (ESP) d. Lady Correa/Patricia Diaz (VEN) 64 64
Antomi Ramos-Viera/Saulo Tejada (ESP) d. Ramon Guedez/Pedro Penalver (VEN) 46 62 [10-6]
Mixed doubles not played
7th-8th Place Play-Off
(4) JAPAN defeated (7) PORTUGAL 2-1
Tomomi Takahashi/Kaori Yanase (JPN) d. Ana Pereira/Susana Pereira (POR) 64 60
Pedro Correia/Filipe Rebelo (POR) d. Hideki Iwasaka/Susumu Kawashima (JPN) w/o
Tomomi Takahashi/Susumu Kawashima (JPN) d. Filipe Rebelo/Ana Pereira (POR) 62 62
9th–10th Place Play-Off
FRANCE defeated SAN MARINO 3-0
Marie-Eve Hoarau/Mathilde Hoarau (FRA) d. Alice Grandi/Camilla Zafferani (SMR) 62 62
Raphael Jannel/Jeremy Pont (FRA) d. Nicolo Bombini/Davide Pedini (SMR) 76(4) 76(4)
Raphael Jannel/Marie-Eve Hoarau (FRA) d. Nicolo Bombini/Alice Grandi (SMR) 24 54(0) 54(5)
11th–12th Place Play-Off
ESTONIA defeated LITHUANIA 2-1
Ana Maret/Anelle Luik (EST) d. Evelina Abaraviciute/Gabriele Sinskaite (LTU) 64 46 [10-8]
Skirmantas Macinskas/Jurgis Rudgalvis (LTU) d. Ott Ahonen/Ainar Laube (EST) 63 62
Ainar Laube/Anelle Luik (EST) d. Luidzi Pakula/Evelina Abaraviciute (EST) 46 64 [10-3]
BELGIUM defeated BELARUS 3-0
Annouck Meys/Linde Mues (BEL) d. Olga Barabanschikova/Natalia Zvereva (BLR) w/o
Tom Beke/Joris Mees (BEL) d. Pavel Kotliarov/Ihar Lakhvich (BLR) 63 63
Joris Mees/Annouck Meys (BEL) d. Pavel Kotliarov/Olga Barabanschikova (BLR) 41 40
17th–18th Place Play-Off
GREECE defeated SWITZERLAND 2-1
Eveline Egger/Laura Galli (SUI) d. Varvara Katakalidou/Aspasia Sotiriadou (GRE) 62 63
Giorgos Martinis/Vasilis Mavraganis (GRE) d. Kevin Fischer/Yves Fornasier (SUI) 46 61 [10-8]
Giorgos Martinis/Aspasia Sotiriadou (GRE) d. Yves Fornasier/Eveline Egger (SUI) 64 16 [10-8]
19th–20th Place Play-Off
ISRAEL defeated THAILAND 2-1
Bongkoch Bortisa/Rada Manataweewat (THA) d. Alona Pushkarevsky/Maayan Sela (ISR) 67(4) 75 [10-8]
Lior Brik/Danila Kourkoulin (ISR) d. Khunpol Issara/Chin Kampanatsanyakorn (THA) 62 62
Lior Brik/Alona Pushkarevsky (ISR) d. Oran Tungvongkij/Rada Manataweewat (THA) 62 60
21st–22nd Place Play-Off
BULGARIA defeated LATVIA 3-0
Katerina Guenova/Diyana Miteva (BUL) d. Audrina Inga/Ilona Gilberte (LAT) 61 75
Emil Argirov/Rosen Nentched (BUL) d. Andris Antonovos/Oskars Vaskis (LAT) 61 61
Rosen Nentched/Katerina Guenova (BUL) d. Andris Antonovos/Ilona Gilberte (LAT) 40 42
23rd–24th Place Play-Off
GREAT BRITAIN defeated CHINA, P.R. 3-0
Suzy Madge/Gemma Sgariglia (GBR) d. Fang Chunxue/Cili Yongzong (CHN) 62 62
James McCabe/Richard Wheeler (GBR) d. Zhu Dingqiang/Sun Hong (CHN) 61 62
James McCabe/Suzy Madge (GBR) d. Zhu Dingqiang/Cili Yongzong (CHN) 40 41
5th–8th Place Play-Offs
(8) SPAIN defeated (4) JAPAN 2-0
Maria Pilar Escandell/Maria Rosa Sitja (ESP) d.Tomomi Takahashi/Kaori Yanase (JPN) 63 63
Antomi Ramos-Viera/Saulo Tejada (ESP) d. Hideki Iwasaka/Susumu Kawashima (JPN) 63 64
Mixed doubles not played
(3) VENEZUELA defeated (7) PORTUGAL 2-0
Lady Correa/Patricia Diaz (VEN) d. Ana Pereira/Susana Pereira (POR) 61 61
Ramon Guedez/Pedro Penalver (VEN) d. Pedro Correia/Filipe Rebelo (POR) 75 63
Mixed doubles not played
13th-16th Place Play-Offs
HUNGARY defeated BELARUS 2-1
Monika Elderlyi/Zsuzsanna Kovacs (HUN) d. Olga Barabanschikova/Natalia Zvereva (BLR) w/o
Pavel Kotliarov/Ihar Lakhvich (BLR) d. Mate Endrody/Benedek Molnar (HUN) 36 61 [10-5]
Mate Endrody/Monika Elderlyi (HUN) d. Olga Barabanschikova/Pavel Kotliarov (BLR) 75 61
CYPRUS defeated BELGIUM 2-0
Marianna Tsakkistou/Antria Tsangaridou (CYP) d. Annouck Meys/Linde Mues (CYP) 26 75 [10-5]
Petros Baghdatis/Christopher Koutrouzas (CYP) d. Tom Beke/Joris Mees (CYP) 62 64
Mixed doubles not played
previous: 1:18.68 USA, Walnut, USA, 17 Apr 94
(Michael Marsh, Leroy Burrell, Floyd Heard, Carl Lewis)
World indoor record Men 4 x 800m
Men 4 x 800m
7:13.11 USA All Star USA, Boston, USA, 8 Feb 14
(Richard Jones, David Torrence, Duane Solomon, Erik Sowinski)
previous: 7:13.94 USA, Boston, USA, 6 Feb 00
(Joey Woody, Karl Paranya, Rich Kenah, David Krummenacker)
World Junior Indoor Record Women 1000m
Women 1000m
2:35.80 Mary Cain (96) USA, Boston, USA, 8 Feb 14
previous: 2:40.1 Diana Richburg (63) USA, New London, USA, 07 Dec 82
(Please note that an earlier performance by Mary Cain set at another track in Boston – 2:39.25 Mary Cain USA, Boston, USA, 16 Jan 14 – remains pending ratification)
Nigeria National League side, Go Round FC on Saturday at the Kris Dera Hotel Stadium, in Omoku beat table toppers, Shooting Stars 2-1.
Captain, Nyime Nwangwa tormented the Shooting defence all game long and though he didn’t score, the attention on him created room for Eso Nelson to get a brace, one in each half.
Being two goals up early in the second half, fans of the home side started their partying early and with defensive midfielder, Chile Azu launching throw ins into the Shooting Stars box as though they were ferociously taken free kicks, there were always moments of palpable tension in the box
of the away side, Shooting Stars.
However, in a rare attacking move, with about ten minute left on the clock, Shooting Stars pulled one back through Demola Raphael with less than ten minutes on the clock left, it seemed like it would be a long day for Go Round FC.
The home side were however, able to hold on to their lead until the final whistle sounded.
Coach of Go Round FC, Ngozi Elechi said after the game that he was prepared for the game and glad he won.
“We are confident that we can push ahead. We prepared well for the game and I’m happy with the points we got,” Elechi said.
Head coach of Shooting Stars, Franklin Howard gave credit to the home side for their relentless effort to win the game.
“We knew it would be tough especially after we heard they lost their last match. They were even difficult for us to play in Ibadan even though we eventually won that game.
“It was a good game, we gave a good fight and the loss does not in any way change our expectations for the league,” Howard said.
Go Round FC next play Mountain of Fire and Miracles FC in Lagos in seven days.
The Commonwealth Games Federation has rescued the dreams of a group of athletes from Kenya, Jamaica, Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago, Tanzania, Australia, Ghana, and the Bahamas by approving their late entry to take part in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow starting this Wednesday (July 23).
A well-advertised deadline for entries closed on June 11, but due to a number of oversights by their own administrators the athletes were not entered and faced missing their events.
The officials from the eight countries sought special dispensation from the Commonwealth Games Federation for a total of 48 affected athletes.
“The CGF Executive Board took the view that wherever possible athletes should not suffer because of the failings of their administrators,” said CGF President, HRH Prince Imran.
“But we also had to ensure that the extra numbers could be accommodated at this very late stage within the existing complex operations and schedules, and without unfairly impact on those properly entered.
“We thank the Glasgow Organising Committee for working through the issues at this very busy time to allow us to assist the athletes.”
“The CGF and the Organising Committee are committed to these Games being athlete-centred and sport focused.”
All 48 athletes affected will now be able to partake in the Games.
“These athletes have trained for years for the opportunity to take part at Glasgow and we welcome them to these Commonwealth Games and wish them well,” said Prince Imran.
“But these situations must be avoided in the future. There is an on-going review of the sports program which will culminate at our General Assembly next year in Auckland and the CGF Board will, as part of that process, look at imposing sanctions against those Commonwealth Games Associations who fail to meet important deadlines that impact on the Games’ operations and their own athletes.”
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