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Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Sitting volleyball showdown - Sports - Al-Ahram Weekly
The ParaVolley Africa Zonals finished up with the Egyptian men's team winning the championship. The team showed why they are a Paralympic medaling team, as they did not drop a set all competition. The final saw Egypt face off against Rwanda – who themselves dropped only one set in all the tournament. Egypt came out on top with a 25-21, 25-13, 25-20 victory for the gold medal, but both teams earned the PVA berths at the 2026 World Championships for finishing first and second. In the bronze match, Algeria defeated Morocco in straight sets, 25-18, 27-25, 25-12. Egypt was crowned champions of the African Championship after a commanding 3-0 win over Rwanda in the final match of the tournament held in Kenya. The championship also serves as a qualifier for the 2026 World Cup in China. Egypt claimed the title with undeniable merit. They began their campaign with a 3-0 win over South Africa, followed by another 3-0 victory against Morocco. In the semi-final, the team maintained their dominance with a clean sweep of Algeria, securing a spot in the final and ultimately achieving the gold medal. With the victory, Egypt successfully defended its continental title, continuing a legacy of dominance in sitting volleyball across Africa since the tournament's inception. Emad Ramadan, president of the Egyptian Paralympic Volleyball Federation and head of the delegation, played a pivotal and positive role in the team's impressive showing. His leadership and experience were instrumental in guiding the squad to a well-deserved championship. Ramadan dedicated the win to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, Ashraf Sobhi, minister of youth and sports, and to the Egyptian people. He emphasised that Egyptian sports are witnessing a golden era under the exceptional support of President Al-Sisi. The Egyptian squad included Hesham Salaheddin as team captain, along with Ashraf Zaghloul, Abdel-Nabi Hassan, Mohamed Al-Hennawi, Hossam Massoud, Al-Sayed Moussa, Ahmed Khamis, Ahmed Fadl, Zakaria Al-Sayed, Hamada Al-Sayed, Ahmed Zakaria, and Mohamed Hamdi. The team was led by a dedicated technical staff comprised of Mohamed Bashir as head coach, Mohamed Saad as coach, and Amin Abdel-Moneim as team manager. Egypt's preparation for the tournament was both intensive and strategic, drawing from the valuable experience gained in previous competitions. Notably, the team had also won the last African Championship held in Nigeria, where they defeated Morocco 3-0 in the final. The coaching team has been praised for its dynamic leadership, which focuses on continuous player development through rigorous training sessions and friendly matches. The national team's roster reflects a healthy balance of experienced veterans and promising young talent, positioning Egypt as a formidable contender in upcoming continental and global tournaments. Ramadan met German Juergen Schrapp, president of the World ParaVolley Federation, on the sidelines of the championship. During the meeting, the two leaders agreed to initiate a cooperative partnership between the International Federation and the Egyptian Sitting Volleyball Federation, with the goal of positioning Egypt as the leading force in developing sitting volleyball across Africa. Schrapp, a former sitting volleyball player and captain of the German national team, shares a longstanding friendship with Ramadan, dating back over 20 years. Egypt competed in Group B, alongside South Africa, Morocco, and Nigeria, while Group A included Kenya, Rwanda and Algeria. The team was determined to defend its continental title, which it has held since the championship's inception. Under the leadership of Ramadan, the federation aims to use this tournament as a platform to test and develop new players at the international level. The federation also aspired to deliver an outstanding performance, claim the championship trophy, and dedicate the victory to President Al-Sisi and to the Egyptian people. Ramadan extended his sincere thanks to Minister Sobhi for his ongoing and unwavering support of the Egyptian Sitting Volleyball Federation. He also praised the minister's close attention to every detail and his efforts in ensuring a smooth journey and preparation for the team. Ramadan also expressed his gratitude to Amr Al-Haddad and Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz, assistants to the minister of sports, for their significant efforts in supporting all Paralympic sports, including sitting volleyball. Speaking to Ramadan, Al-Haddad stated that the Egyptian state provides strong support to all national teams. 'We are always thankful for the blessing of safety and security that the Egyptian people enjoy under the wise leadership of President Al-Sisi.' He added, before the tournament, that the Egyptian team was determined to defend its continental title. He also affirmed the federation's hope to deliver an honorable performance and to lift the championship trophy once again. Ramadan also held an extensive meeting with a distinguished group of legendary figures from across generations of the sport. He warmly welcomed all the icons who visited the federation's headquarters to congratulate the board on Egypt's recent triumph. During the meeting, Ramadan discussed plans to establish a Sitting Volleyball Academy aiming to develop a unified curriculum for coaches, referees, administrators, event organisers, and all stakeholders involved in the sport under the federation's umbrella. The gathering was marked by a spirit of pride and collaboration. Among those in attendance were Hossameddin Mustafa, president of the Egyptian Paralympic Committee and honorary president of the Sitting Volleyball Federation, Wagih Hamdi, major general Mansour Al-Mohammadi, Mossad Al-Ayouti, Captain Mohamed Badawi Basheer, captain Amin Abdel-Moneim, media figure Asaad Talaat, Marwan Saleh, and captain Essam Shehata. Mustafa extended his congratulations to Ramadan, expressing his support for the launch of this important initiative. Sameh Salem, vice president of the federation, also called in to welcome the guests at the federation's headquarters and pledged his full support to overcome any obstacles and ensure the success of this significant step for Paralympic sports in Egypt. * A version of this article appears in print in the 24 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Sharjah 24
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah to host the first Badminton World Cup 2025
This World Cup will showcase badminton in a unique outdoor stadium that will be built in Sharjah, with the exact location still to be revealed. A total of 72 players from 12 different teams across five continents will compete. Each continent will be represented by the following number of teams: Asia (3 teams), Europe (3 teams), Africa (2 teams), North and South America (2 teams), Oceania (1 team), and the host country, the UAE (1 team). The tournament will feature three main competitions: a team relay, a women's triathlon, and a men's triathlon. To qualify for the World Cup, teams need to participate in four regional tournaments around the globe: the Americas Championship in Lima, Peru, from April 12-13; the African Championship in Accra, Ghana, from July 3-6; the Asian/Oceanic Championship in Port Dickson, Malaysia, from August 8-10; and the European Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan, from September 5-7. The best team in the team relay from each regional tournament will earn a spot in the World Cup, while the triathlon teams will be formed by players from these qualifying teams. Notably, Venezuela and Brazil qualified last April! Issa Hilal Al Hazami, the Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council, expressed his gratitude to the Deputy Ruler of Sharjah for his support of sports and athletes. He highlighted that hosting the upcoming badminton tournament in Sharjah will boost the city's reputation worldwide, as it has a strong history of successfully organizing sports events. The Council aims to ensure the tournament is a success and to promote badminton among the local community, encouraging people to participate in both regional and international competitions. Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, the President of the Badminton World Federation, shared her excitement about Sharjah being chosen to host this important tournament's first edition. She views this as a significant step towards creating a comprehensive international badminton schedule by 2025. Leeswadtrakul mentioned that this tournament provides a unique chance to expand interest in badminton globally, especially for players from developing countries. It aims to create an inclusive environment where everyone can compete. She believes that the event will not only feature top-level competition but also offer a fun atmosphere with various recreational activities, appealing to new fans. With Sharjah's experienced track record in organizing beach sports, she is confident that the Sharjah Sports Council will make the first tournament a memorable one. Noura Al Jasmi, President of the UAE Badminton Federation, expressed pride in the UAE, particularly Sharjah, for being the first to host this world championship. She called it a historic moment for the sport and reaffirmed the Federation's commitment to enhancing the country's reputation in the global sports arena. Al Jasmi is optimistic that this championship will uncover new talent, inspire future generations, and solidify the UAE's status as a major sport destination.'
Al-Ahram Weekly
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Hajij expects record turnout at African Beach Volleyball Championship in Morocco - Omni sports
Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) President Bushra Hajij said on Friday she expects a record number of participants at this year's African Beach Volleyball Championship, which gets underway in the Moroccan city of Tétouan on 23 June. Speaking at a press conference in Rabat, Hajij said 22 countries had confirmed their participation in the women's competition, up from the previous edition, with 88 women's doubles teams set to compete. The men's tournament will feature 114 doubles teams from 27 nations. The championship, which runs through 30 June, will serve as a qualifier for the 2024 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Australia, scheduled from November 14 to 23. Hajij listed the men's entrants as: Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cape Verde, Algeria, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Eswatini, Togo, Uganda and Zambia. The women's field includes teams from: Benin, Burundi, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gambia, Algeria, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Uganda and Zambia. The top four teams in both the men's and women's categories will qualify for the World Championships. An under-21 African Championship will be held concurrently in Tétouan and will also serve as a qualifier for the U21 World Championships, set for Mexico from October 15 to 19. "I wish to welcome all guests to Morocco and dedicate this event to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and to Allah," Hajij said. "Sport is a driver of economic, human and social development, and a service to the youth of the African continent," she added. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
The Irish Sun
21-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Man Utd target Victor Osimhen suffered tragic loss of mum and sold sachets of water on streets before breakthrough
VICTOR OSIMHEN is the man of the moment. His name, which means 'God is good' in his local Edo dialect, is fitting for someone whose journey reflects faith, grit and perseverance. 8 Osimhen shot to fame at the FIFA U-17 tournament in Chile with 10 goals Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 8 Osimhen at the extreme right with his Nigeria U-17 team in 2015 Credit: Nigerian U17 National Football team 8 Osimhen always wanted to play in the Premier League as a child Credit: INSTAGRAM Osimhen could soon be heading to Manchester United as Talks with Viktor Gyokeres collapsed after the striker was not happy with the Red Devils' offer and now wants to move to United are still in need of a striker and will now The move would cap a remarkable rise for the Napoli striker, who spent last season READ MORE IN FOOTBALL The Nigerian began life selling sachets of water on the streets of Lagos to survive. Watching him play today you can feel that hunger, a drive forged in the hustle of one of the world's toughest cities. For years his WhatsApp profile photo carried the words: 'Focus, hustle, and believe.' It's a mindset he still lives by. Even as global interest in him soars, Osimhen remains grounded in the values that shaped him into a world-class striker. Most read in Football His first coach, Chinedu Ogbenna, told SunSport in an exclusive interview from his base in Nigeria about how it all started for the striker Ogbenna said: 'I lived in the same compound where Victor was born. 'His father was a friend. I literally witnessed his first days on earth. 8 Osimhen with his sister while on holiday in Nigeria Credit: INSTAGRAM 'The house was a shared compound filled with kids. Even as a toddler, Victor would cry uncontrollably if the ball was taken from him. 'He could barely kick but he just needed the ball near him. That's where his love for football began. 'Life was hard, he lost his mother before he turned one. That's the kind of start he had, it tells you everything you need to know about his journey.' Breakout moment in Chile Osimhen first grabbed international attention when he won the Golden Boot at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile in 2015. Nigeria had only narrowly qualified after finishing fourth in the African Championship. Team media officer Morakinyo Abodunrin told SunSport how he witnessed first hand the growth of the man who will now become one of the best in the world. Sports DESK EP17_9_16 _AP_V3 He said: 'He wasn't the finished product when he joined, but something shifted in Chile. 'He asked the team manager for Nike boots and promised to score goals in them. I didn't even think we had any but he insisted. 'True to his word he dominated the tournament in those boots, scoring 10 goals and helping us lift the trophy.' His pace, power, and clinical finishing stood out but it was his mental toughness that truly separated him. 8 Osimhen goes back home to inspire the next generation when on holidays Credit: INSTAGRAM Losing his mother early and watching his father struggle without work gave him a resilience beyond his years. Osimhen opened up to He said: 'I lost my mom in October, I do not even remember the year. "I was small. Three months later, my father lost his job. It was very hard for our family. 'My brother sold sports newspapers, my sister, oranges in the street and me, bottled water in Lagos in the middle of the traffic. "We have to survive so we stick together. 'In the evening, we were all together and we gathered the money on the table. "We gave everything to our big sister and she made food and organized everything. 'Part of my life has been a struggle to survive. But that's all I am today in the end. It's hard to classify all that but each event has created my personality.' The tough beginnings have given him the resourcefulness to survive through the harder times in his career. Former He said: 'You know how we Africans are with our mothers and he didn't have his so I think he channeled that void. 'To be honest when he first came to us for trial I didn't see much in him in the first set of games he played. 'But one of my assistants said, 'Coach, that boy in green could have something.' So I gave him another shot in the second game. 'That's when it clicked, tall, strong in the air, quick feet, and raw hunger. You could tell he could go far. 'Normally when someone is that tall you don't expect them to be that good with their feet but he had it all.' 8 It was at Lille that the world started to take note of the Nigerian Credit: AP:Associated Press German setback Following his U-17 triumph, Osimhen signed for Germany . But he played just 14 games without scoring, overshadowed by experienced forwards like Mario Gomez and Divock Origi . He was loaned to Belgian side Charleroi, where he found his form, scoring 20 goals in one season. Speaking to The Nationonline, he said:'I wasn't shaken by the criticism at Wolfsburg. I believed in myself. 'Moving to Belgium proved that difficult times can be blessings in disguise. "Many Nigerians had come to Belgium before me and succeeded. I'm proud to be among them.' A star at Lille Charleroi exercised their option to buy him for just £3million, but that same summer, Lille swooped in, using funds from He made an immediate impact, scoring twice on his debut and later finding the net against Then-Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was full of praise after watching him closely for the first time: 'He's a striker with everything, fast, strong, and technically sound. 'I'd watched clips before the game, but seeing him live was different. He's impressive and his story is inspiring.' Osimhen finished as Lille's top scorer with 18 goals across all competitions attracting attention from Europe's elite. He chose 8 He was the star man as Napoli won a historic Serie A title Credit: Getty Superstardom in Naples In 2020, Napoli signed Osimhen for a club-record £70million making him the most expensive African player in history. After two solid seasons, he exploded in 2022/23. He had missed AFCON with a facial injury and had to wear a mask which prompted the Italian media to dub him the 'Masked Assassin'. Osimhen scored 26 goals in 32 league games as he led Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years. He also broke George Weah's record to become the league's top-scoring African ever and won the Capocannoniere as Serie A's top scorer. In 2023, he placed 8th in the Ballon d'Or the first Nigerian ever in the top 10. But even at the height of success, tragedy struck again when his father, his biggest supporter, passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. A fallout with Napoli followed, derailing a dream move to Chelsea . From being the club's icon he suddenly found himself sidelined, training alone, staring down six months without football. 8 Osimhan has continued his goalscoring form in Turkey Credit: Getty King of Istanbul Then Turkey . He scored 26 goals in 30 games leading Galatasaray to the league title. Since the transfer window opened he's turned down four offers from Saudi clubs including one that was offering wages of £40million-a-year. Where he goes next remains uncertain but one thing is clear, Victor Osimhen has fought through unimaginable odds. He didn't just climb the ladder, he built it one step at a time. He's earned his place among the best strikers in the world.
The South African
18-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
'I was running that project': Riveiro makes bold Pirates claim
Former Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has reflected on his time with the Buccaneers. The 49-year-old coach recorded an impressive record of 80 wins, 26 draws, and 26 losses in 132 matches while in charge of the team. Over three years, he led the Pirates to win five trophies. In April, Riveiro caused a stir by announcing his departure from the club after three successful years. It was later revealed that he had signed a pre-contract with the Egyptian giants Al Ahly. 'Of course, being a coach at Orlando Pirates helped me a lot,' Riveiro told Al Ahly TV . ' The idea at Orlando Pirates is that I was not coaching a team, I was running a project there to build a whole team of young players. 'It was difficult, but I learnt a lot from it. I was able to win five titles, and I was able to participate in the African Championship [CAF Champions League]. And I was able to reach the final stages of the championship [Betway Premiership] more than once.' At Pirates, the Spaniard introduced the likes of Mohau Nkota, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Relebohile Mofokeng. The trio made their debuts as teenagers and went on to force their way into the Pirates lineup. 'And through Orlando Pirates, I was able to help a lot of young players become stars in Africa. First, because they were qualified. Secondly, because they were trained in a scientific way,' Riveiro continued. 'Of course, the support system helped me a lot. And the management of the club, which had a vision of how to bring out a generation of young players capable of competing in all the African championships.' 'The experience at Pirates helped me a lot. I was able to get to know Africa in my role and my abilities as a coach; I wasn't afraid,' he said. Pirates are yet to name Riveiro's replacement but Rulani Mokwena and Pitso Mosimane are favourite to take over. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
