Category: Sports

  • Benjamin Mendy Returns to Court for Retrial on Sexual Offence Charges

    Benjamin Mendy Returns to Court for Retrial on Sexual Offence Charges

    French footballer Benjamin Mendy, 28, arrived at Chester Crown Court in northwest England on June 26, 2023, to face a retrial for two alleged sexual offenses. This comes five months after he was cleared of multiple other counts by a previous jury.

    Mendy, a player for Manchester City, was photographed entering and leaving the courtroom as he prepared to face one count of rape and one count of attempted rape. The proceedings for his retrial are set to commence on Tuesday (today), once a new jury is selected.

    Benjamin Mendy

    During his previous trial, which concluded in January, the jury was unable to reach verdicts on the two charges related to two different women. However, the defender was acquitted of six other counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against four women following a six-month trial.

    After the not guilty verdicts were announced in January, Mendy expressed his relief by covering his face with both hands and gently rocking back and forth. His lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, stated that he was delighted to be acquitted of most charges and looked forward to clearing his name regarding the remaining two charges.

    Mendy’s co-accused, Louis Saha Matturie, 41, who was described as an alleged “fixer,” was found not guilty by the jury of three counts of rape involving two teenagers. However, the jury also failed to reach verdicts on three counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against Matturie, filed by five other women. He will face a separate retrial later this year.

    The prosecution had alleged that Mendy was a sexual “predator” who engaged in non-consensual acts with young women provided by Matturie during parties at his residence in the south of Manchester. Both Mendy and Matturie denied any non-consensual sexual activity, asserting that their interactions with women were consensual.

    Benjamin Mendy joined Manchester City from French club Monaco in 2017. Although he has played 75 times for the team, injuries and a decline in form limited his playing time. He last played on August 15, 2021, shortly before he faced initial charges of four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

    Having won the World Cup in 2018, Mendy earned his last international cap for France in November 2019. His contract with Manchester City is set to expire at the end of the month and is reportedly not expected to be renewed.

  • Harambee Stars Loss to Mauritius Highlights Challenges Facing Kenya’s National Team

    Harambee Stars Loss to Mauritius Highlights Challenges Facing Kenya’s National Team

    Harambee Stars’ recent defeat by Mauritius has once again brought to light the numerous challenges faced by the team.

    While setbacks in sports are common, the loss against a relatively lower-ranked team has highlighted two critical issues that have plagued Kenyan football for years: poor funding and the non-payment of allowances.

    In this article, we delve into these challenges and their impact on the performance and development of the Harambee Stars.

    Harambee Stars
    Image: Mozzartbet

    Poor Funding and Non-Payment Of Allowances Still A Major Obstacle

    One of the significant hurdles that Harambee Stars continuously face is the lack of adequate funding. Without sufficient financial support, the team struggles to compete at an international level and falls behind other countries in terms of training facilities, equipment, and overall infrastructure.

    The consequences of inadequate funding are far-reaching, affecting both the short-term and long-term prospects of the national team.

    Inadequate training facilities: Insufficient funds hamper the establishment of proper training facilities for the national team. Limited access to quality grounds, gymnasiums, and state-of-the-art equipment can hinder the players’ development and prevent them from reaching their full potential.

    Without a nurturing environment, the Harambee Stars find it difficult to compete against teams that have better resources at their disposal.

    Harambee Stars Coach
    Engin Firat: Harambee Stars Head Coach.

    Harambee Stars Lack Player development

    The lack of financial support also impacts player development programs. Proper training and coaching at the grassroots level are crucial for identifying and nurturing young talents.

    However, due to the lack of funds, the talent pool in Kenya remains largely untapped, and promising players often do not receive the guidance and support they need to progress to the national team.

    International exposure

    Competing in international tournaments is crucial for the growth and exposure of any national team.

    However, inadequate funding restricts the Harambee Stars’ participation in major tournaments, depriving the players of the opportunity to test their skills against top teams and gain invaluable experience.

    The limited exposure to high-level competition further hampers the team’s ability to improve and perform consistently on the global stage.

    Harambee Stars
    Courtesy of PD

    Non-Payment of Allowances: Undermining Player Morale

    Another persistent issue that has plagued the Harambee Stars is the non-payment of allowances. Players represent their nation with pride, and their commitment and dedication should be met with proper remuneration.

    However, delays and non-payment of allowances not only create financial hardships for the players but also have a detrimental effect on their morale and motivation.

    Financial stress

    Football players, like any other professionals, have financial obligations. When allowances go unpaid or are delayed, players find themselves struggling to meet their personal and family needs. This financial stress distracts them from focusing on their performance, ultimately affecting their on-field productivity.

    Eroded morale

    Constant non-payment of allowances leads to a sense of disillusionment among players. They feel undervalued and unappreciated for their hard work and sacrifices. This erosion of morale can have a cascading effect on team dynamics, player commitment, and the overall performance of the Harambee Stars.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBUJfEopFuE&ab_channel=DailyNewsKenya

    Attracting and retaining talent

    The non-payment of allowances can also deter talented players from committing to the national team. When players witness their peers experiencing financial difficulties and lack of recognition, it becomes harder to persuade them to represent their country.

    This situation ultimately weakens the player pool available for selection and undermines the team’s competitiveness.

    The Way Forward

    To overcome these challenges, urgent measures must be taken to address the issues of poor funding and non-payment of allowances. The government, football associations, corporate sponsors, and other stakeholders must collaborate to provide adequate financial support to the Harambee Stars.

    Increased funding should be allocated towards improving infrastructure, player development programs, and facilitating participation in international tournaments.

    Conclusion

    The affair featured a referee who made some questionable decisions against the Kenyans.

    However, some argue that Kenya’s quality is significantly superior to Mauritius, making it unlikely for them to lose. In fact, Kenya defeated Mauritius 5-2 in October 2015.

    Harambee Stars concluded the four nations tournament series on a disappointing note. The team suffered a 1-0 defeat to the hosts as Kengy Saramandif scored a goal in the 22nd minute.

  • Betika Sued For Shortchanging Winner

    Betika Sued For Shortchanging Winner

    Giant betting company Betika is embroiled in a legal battle with a gambler over more than half a million shillings.

    Mr David Juma, a Nakuru-based gambler who won a Sh500,000 jackpot after placing a Sh10 bet on a Betika platform, has sued the company for refusing to pay his claim.

    Juma and his brother Collins Kizito placed a Sh500,000 lottery bet on Betika’s 8-game Sababisha jackpot with Sh10 on 18 February.

    The two studied the 8 games advertised by the betting company for prediction before placing a bet.

    After placing the bet, the punter watched the matches closely to see what the outcome would be.
    According to Mr Juma, all the predictions came true, and they waited to collect their prize money.

    However, they were shocked when they logged on to the website and discovered that the company had mistakenly indicated that one match had not been correctly predicted.

    They decided to contact the company to try and correct the error, but their efforts proved futile.

    “Since then, it has been a game of cat and mouse as all attempts to contact Betika to correct the error and pay me my winnings have proved futile. My brother and I have made several calls to Betika and tried to reach them through social media but to no avail as there has been no response,” said Mr Juma.

    The player lamented that he had spent time, money and energy analysing the games only to be betrayed by the company that had let him down.

    In his case at the Nakuru Small Claims Court, Mr Juma sued Shop and Deliver Limited, the company trading as Betika.

    In his evidence, he attached the betting slips and transaction messages with the match results to the petition.

    Mr Juma alleges that the company’s actions were malicious and in breach of contract.

    Mr Juma’s brother, Collins Kizito, told the court that he helped his brother analyse and place the bets using his (Juma’s) Betika account, which was acknowledged by the company.

    “I used Juma’s account to analyse and place the bets, I followed the matches as they were played and our predictions turned out to be correct and on February 18, I called him to inform him of the same, but he told me that Betika had marked the bet as lost on their website,” Kizito alleged in court papers.

    According to Kizito, the website indicated that FC Juarez had won the match against Leon, which was not true as the game ended in a draw.

    He also confirms that he helped his brother contact Betika, who refused to pay the amount, prompting them to go to court.

    He wants the court to issue an order compelling the company to immediately pay him his Sh500,000 winnings with interest accrued from February 18 and other damages.

    Resident Magistrate Edward Otieno directed that the matter be served on the defendant before it comes up for hearing on May 8.

  • BangBet Kenya: The Ultimate Online Gaming and Betting Destination in Kenya

    BangBet Kenya: The Ultimate Online Gaming and Betting Destination in Kenya

    Online gaming and betting have taken the world by storm, and Kenya is not an exception. The country has seen a surge in the number of online gaming and betting platforms that cater to all types of players. Among these websites, BangBet Kenya stands out as one of the best online gaming and betting destinations in Kenya. This website has been gaining popularity in the online gaming and betting industry, with many players considering it the ultimate gaming and betting platform in Kenya.Launched in 2019, BangBet Kenya has quickly gained a reputation for its user-friendly interface, extensive game selection, generous bonuses, and excellent customer support.

    The website is licensed and regulated by the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), which ensures that all its operations are fair, transparent, and secure. The website caters to all types of players, from beginners to experienced players, and offers a variety of games and betting options.One of the key factors that make BangBet Kenya the ultimate online gaming and betting destination in Kenya is its extensive game selection. The website offers a wide range of games that cater to all types of players, including sports betting, virtual sports, casino games, and live dealer games.

    The sportsbook section of the website offers betting options for a variety of sports, including football, basketball, tennis, rugby, and cricket. The virtual sports section offers betting options for virtual football, horse racing, greyhound racing, and more.The casino section of the website is packed with a wide range of games, including slots, table games, and live dealer games. The slots section offers a wide variety of games, from classic slots to video slots, with different themes and features. The table games section offers games such as roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and poker.

    The live dealer games section offers games such as live roulette, live blackjack, and live baccarat, giving players a real-life casino experience.Another key factor that makes BangBet Kenya the ultimate online gaming and betting destination in Kenya is its commitment to responsible gambling. The website offers tools and resources to help players gamble responsibly, such as self-exclusion, deposit limits, and reality checks. One unique selling point (USP) of BangBet Kenya is its mobile app.

    The app is available for both Android and iOS devices and offers a seamless gaming experience on the go. The app is easy to use, fast, and offers all the features and games available on the website. The app also offers exclusive bonuses and promotions for mobile users. BangBet Kenya is also known for its excellent customer support. The website has a comprehensive FAQ section that answers most common questions. If players have any further questions or issues, they can contact the customer support team via live chat or email.

    The customer support team is available 24/7 and is responsive and helpful.The website also offers a variety of bonuses and promotions for players. New players can enjoy a welcome bonus when they sign up and make their first deposit. The website also offers reload bonuses, cashback offers, and free spins promotions for existing players. The website also has a loyalty program that rewards players for their loyalty.

  • Step-By-Step Tutorial On How A Bet On 22Bet

    Step-By-Step Tutorial On How A Bet On 22Bet

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  • 22BET Brand Ambassador Emmanuel Adebayor Announces Retirement From a Career Spanning 22years

    22BET Brand Ambassador Emmanuel Adebayor Announces Retirement From a Career Spanning 22years

    The 39-year-old former Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid striker, took to Instagram to announce his retirement revealing that he is excited and ready for the next stage of his life.

    “From the highs to the lows, my career as a professional athlete has been an incredible journey,” he wrote on Instagram.

    “Thank you to my fans for being there every step of the way. I’m feeling so grateful for everything, and excited for what’s to come!”

    The Togolese striker shone in his three and a half years at the Gunners after joining from Monaco in 2006, scoring 62 goals and in 2008 was crowned African Footballer of The Year and named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.

    However, in July 2009 he joined Manchester City for £25m – who had recently been bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group – with many Arsenal fans feeling let down by the move.

    To compound matters, two months later the teams met in the Premier League and Adebayor scored against his old club in a 4-2 win, famously running the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the travelling Arsenal fans, with projectiles, including a chair, thrown from the away end.

    It earned him a suspended two-match ban and £25,000 fine, in addition to a three-match ban for a stamp on former Arsenal team-mate Robin van Persie.

    Adebayor apologised, saying “the emotion took over me”, but said the Arsenal fans had been insulting him all game.

    The controversial goal – an 80th-minute header – features in his retirement announcement on Instagram, as does another strike for Manchester City.

    Adebayor would later be loaned to Real Madrid, before a permanent move to Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham, before stints at Crystal Palace and spells in Turkey and Paraguay.

    The former Togo forward, who scored 32 goals in 85 games for his country, finished his career in his homeland at Semassi.

    Only three African players have scored more Premier League goals than Adebayor’s 97 – Chelsea’s Didier Drogba (104), former Liverpool and Southampton winger Sadio Mane (111) and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah (131).

  • 22Bet Launches Global Promotion

    22Bet Launches Global Promotion

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  • Why Organic Traffic Drops: 10 Main Reasons

    Why Organic Traffic Drops: 10 Main Reasons

    A steady drop in organic traffic in the website, be it an online store, a streaming platform, or the best betting company in Uganda, isn’t a reason to panic, but a reason to conduct a thorough analysis. This indicator is a key one for an online site that is focused on commerce. And therefore, it should be given due attention. If the number of live conversions for a long time (week, month) decreases by 15% or more, it’s necessary to look for the causes of the decrease in organic traffic for their further elimination. Ignoring the problem is impossible, otherwise you can remain without orders.

    What Is Organic Traffic?

    Organic traffic is the total volume of conversions to a site by visitors through an organic search engine. This means conversions to pages that are at the top of search engines due to high-quality SEO, but not due to advertising. For online stores, this indicator is key because it directly shows the potential number of customers interested in a particular product and ready to order.

    Decent organic traffic indicators can only be achieved through long-term work with SEO. High-quality optimization allows you to bring a page to the top of search engine results and keep it there for some time. As a result, an increase in the probability of clicks on it.

    The Main Benefits of Organic Traffic

    Optimizing a site for organic traffic has several advantages:

    Real customers. Search engines give users pages that satisfy their needs. Unlike advertising traffic, in the case of organic traffic, the probability of 100% hitting the target audience is higher.
    Stability. Even if the site’s position deteriorates and organic traffic decreases, the flow of customers does not stop completely. With advertising, it’s a little different: as soon as the advertising campaign is over, the number of visitors comes to naught.
    Improved brand reputation. Advertising is perceived by users as “paid content.” And search engine selections – as sites that can be trusted. Therefore, SEO promotion to attract organic traffic contributes to the creation of a positive reputation for the company, as well as forming a high trust in it from potential customers.

    Another important advantage of optimization for organic traffic is the conditional absence of costs. In this case, the customer doesn’t pay for advertising, clicks on links. Payment is made only for the work of SEO specialists.

    The Main Causes of Dropping Traffic and How to Solve Them

    Live traffic may drop due to a slight deterioration of the website position in search results. Such a process is normal and does not threaten the owner of an online store with “ruin”. But a steady decrease in such conversions, which can be determined with the help of Google Analytics and Yandex Metrika services, over a long period of time leads to a natural decrease in conversion and a decrease in profits. To solve such a problem must be resolved in stages. The first step is identifying the cause of the decline in organic traffic to continue to work with her. Most often, this deterioration is due to 10 factors.

    Change of Address

    The most obvious reason for the decrease in live traffic is a change in the URL of the site/page. This usually happens when the online store moves to a new domain. URL changes may occur due to massive redesign of the structure. This results in an error for the majority of indexed pages and a significant drop in your store’s position in the search results bar. Naturally, the number of clicks on a particular page decreases.

    The solution is 301 redirect. If you have already moved the site to a new address, use 301 redirect. It “tells” the search engine that the online store has permanently moved to a new address. In response the search engine redirects users to the specified link.

    Seasonality

    A drop in traffic can be perfectly natural and normal if the store sells seasonal items. It works according to a simple algorithm: if at a particular moment your products don’t interest users, then live traffic will decrease.

    All leading stores try to provide a wide assortment for sale that is relevant throughout the year.

    The solution is promotions. If you don’t have an opportunity to supplement your store’s assortment with year-round goods, then stir up the interest of potential buyers with seasonal sales, special offers.

    Search Engine Filters

    Google not only promotes quality services in the positions in extradition but also “chops” sites that use third-party manipulation to improve their performance. Search engine filters can be installed for the following reasons:

    Useless content. Page content must be relevant to them and relevant to visitors.
    Obtrusive advertising. Hidden content and overt advertising are taboo for search engines.
    Surge in conversions. Occurs, as a rule, as a result of buying clicks on third-party services.
    A large number of keywords. First, the keywords should be included organically and appropriately. Secondly, they should be contained in moderation.

    The solution is to fix the problem. To get rid of search engine filters, fix the problems identified by the system. For example, if the cause of the sanctions is overspam, then reduce the number of promoted occurrences on a particular page.

    Deterioration of Behavioral Factors

    Behavioral factors are a direct measure of how useful and necessary a particular site is for users. It’s a metric that includes all the actions of visitors:

    Section clicks.
    Appeals to the feedback form.
    Adding items to cart, etc.

    Accordingly, the fewer actions users perform in the online store, the worse the behavioral factors are and the lower the position of the site in search engine results.

    The solution is to improve your site. To encourage users to spend more time on the store and be more active, optimize its mobile version, add useful information, and make the snippet more attractive.

    Incorrect Internal Relinking

    Internal linking is important for the promotion of a site. This is especially true for Google. The basic rule is that the greatest number of promoted links led exactly to the important pages of the online store. These sections should be presented in the header, footer, sidebar or other prominent place. Also an important component is the sequence of transitions. Relinking should be built clearly, in stages.

    Check its quality, as well as compliance with the current requirements of search engines can be through SeRanking, NetPeak Spider, Ahrefs, or other services. Use the results of the check to eliminate a specific problem.

    The solution is the proper organization of the linking. Take the most important sections in the main menu (if this is not possible – put them in the basement of the site), adjust all the subsections correctly.

    Changing Search Engine Algorithms

    This cause occurs rarely but also has a right to exist. It comprises a sharp change in search engine algorithms, which leads to a deterioration of the positions of the online store. As an example, Google 2019 update, after which the traffic of all medical sites dropped sharply.

    To identify or rule out this reason for the deterioration of organic traffic, it’s necessary to:

    Keep an eye on search engine news. As a rule, all major changes are accompanied by announcements.
    Analyze your competitors. If the positions of your main competitors are decreasing similarly to yours, then most likely it is a matter of updating algorithms.
    The first step is the most important. It’s informational awareness that allows you to quickly adjust to new rules and change the site in accordance with them. The main thing is to study the information in official sources.

    The solution is adjusting to updated algorithms. Wait until a new effective method for promoting the site in accordance with the current search engine rules, and implement it.

    Development of Competitors

    If the competitors of your online store are actively optimizing, while you are cutting the budget for website promotion, it’s logical that they will manage to overtake you in the top of extradition. That’s why it’s important to conduct regular competitive analysis to determine the reason for the decrease in organic traffic.

    The solution is a stable budget for SEO. Forcing other online stores to freeze promotion, alas, is unrealistic. The only way out in the competition is stable and high-quality optimization of your own resource.

    Technical Deficiencies

    As a result of the completion of technical work on the site, the position of the latter may rush down. Most often this happens because:

    Incorrect redirection.
    Errors in robot.txt.
    Junk pages in the index.

    Some errors will cause positions of individual pages to deteriorate. Some of them (robot.txt) may cause your online store to drop out of indexation altogether. Therefore, before launching the site, you should conduct a thorough technical analysis. You can identify flaws through Serpstat, Ahrefs, and other services.

    The solution is fixing technical errors. With the help of specialized services identify technical problems and fix them.

    Incorrect Display of the Store Pages

    The beauty of web design doesn’t interest search engine algorithms. But the quality of page display has one of the main values in their promotion. Firstly, the design of the online store should correspond to its direction. Secondly, the design of the site should be convenient and understandable for users. And thirdly, the service must display correctly on all devices. Check the quality of its display can be checked yourself. To do this, enter the full address of the site in the search engine bar, click on the information triangle next to the snippet that appears, and then – on the “Saved copy”. This is where all the visual imperfections of the resource are displayed.

    The solution is to fix bugs in web design. Make the design comfortable for users, simplify the management system, set up the correct display of pages on all devices.

  • The Career Of Legendary Serena Williams Has Come To An End

    The Career Of Legendary Serena Williams Has Come To An End

    A defiant Serena Williams bid an emotional good-bye to the U.S. Open with a third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic on Friday, in what may have been the last singles match of her glittering career.

    Defeat has always been hard to swallow for the fiercely competitive Williams and no doubt the 7-5 6-7 (4) 6-1 loss to the 46th ranked Australian stung her to her core.

    But after a joyous run into the third round there was no shame in a loss to the gritty Tomljanovic, allowing the 23-times Grand Slam winner to exit with dignity intact and head held high.

    Her three matches, highlighted by a second-round win over world number two Anett Kontaveit, were a gift to her fans, the relentless never-surrender attitude that made her tennis’ dominant player for over two decades on display right until the very final point.

    “Clearly I’m still capable,” Williams told reporters. “But it takes a lot more than that.

    “I’m ready to be a mom, explore a different version of Serena.

    “Technically in the world I’m still super young, so I want to have a little bit of a life while I’m still walking.

    “I have such a bright future ahead of me.”

    Always up for a fight, the 40-year-old came out swinging, forcing Tomljanovic to go the distance.

    The Australian needed six match points to deliver the knockout punch and bring an end to an engrossing three-plus-hour slugfest.

    Without a WTA Tour title and never before going beyond the quarter-finals of any Grand Slam, Tomljanovic has spent most her career as one of tennis’ lesser-known names.

    But now the 29-year-old will live on forever in tennis history and at sport trivia pub nights, as the answer to the question; “Who was the last player to beat Serena Williams”.

    “No one’s going to pronounce my name right,” laughed Tomljanovic. “That’s going to suck.

    “I don’t think I’ve been part of tennis history, so that’s pretty cool.”

    Williams had signalled her intention to retire in a Vogue article in early August, saying she was “evolving away from tennis” but never confirming the U.S. Open as her final event.

    Given the opportunity to put speculation to rest that the U.S. Open may not be the end, Williams left the door open just a crack.

    Asked whether she might be tempted to return to tennis, she responded: “I don’t think so but you never know.”

    “I always did love Australia, though,” she later told reporters, hinting at a tilt at the Australian Open in January.

    For fans, however, the message was clear, the U.S. Open would be where Williams would take her final bow.

    The raucous New York crowd that had backed her from the very beginning and over the years, fuelling her runs to six U.S. Open titles, was in her corner once again but could not lift her to one more win.

    “I BELONG HERE NOW”

    Tomljanovic, who is yet to win a WTA Tour tournament, appeared to have had little chance against Williams, winner of 73 career titles, but would not be intimidated.

    Before stepping out onto center court Tomljanovic paused for a moment and touched the plaque quoting Billie Jean King that hangs at the entrance: “Pressure is a Privilege”.

    “I liked the quote,” explained Tomljanovic. “I felt pressure, from myself, where I’m at in my career.

    “I feel like I belong here now. That’s why I expect myself to perform well in these circumstances. When I saw that, yeah, just felt right.”

    Despite an electric atmosphere the match got off to a sluggish start with the players trading breaks before settling in.

    Williams had looked to seize control when she broke Tomljanovic to go ahead 5-3 and serving for the set.

    But with Williams two points from a 1-0 lead Tomljanovic dug in, breaking back and sweeping four straight games to steal the set, leaving the stadium stunned.

    A defiant Williams, as she has done so many times, lifted her game hitting back in ruthless style in the second and breaking the Australian twice on the way to 4-0.

    Playing her fourth match in five nights, Williams suddenly seemed to run out of gas and Tomljanovic, showing some steel of her own, pulled level at 5-5 as the set moved to a tie-break.

    Everyone inside Arthur Ashe, now on their feet, knew Williams was not going to exit without a fight, and running on fumes dug into her reserves to take the tie-break 7-4.

    Williams had the crowd roaring again when she broke Tomljanovic to start the third but simply had nothing left in the tank. The Australian put the former-world number on the ropes, storming through the next four games for a 4-1 lead.

    But Williams was not going to hand Tomljanovic the win, she would have to earn it, needing six match points to get the job done. (Reuters)

  • Paul Pogba Paid Sh12M To Blackmailers, Report

    Paul Pogba Paid Sh12M To Blackmailers, Report

    French footballer Paul Pogba paid €100,000 (Sh11,995,000) to a blackmailer after revealing that he had been threatened by an organized gang whose members included his childhood friends and elder brother Mathias, FranceInfo reported Tuesday.

    The public radio network, which broke the news on Pogba, reported that he had already paid the sum to his extortionists in March this year. Around this time, Pogba was forcefully taken to an apartment in Paris by his “friends,” where they demanded €13 million from him in the presence of two men armed with assault rifles. The group threatened him to pay €3 million immediately in exchange for the services rendered by his friends, including “protecting” him discreetly for the last 13 years.

    The report said Pogba initially refused to pay the amount but agreed under persistent threats. His bank denied the €3 million transaction, however, only allowing him to withdraw €100,000. Pogba reportedly paid the sum to his friends and signed a paper agreeing to pay the rest of the amount.

    The latest scandal to hit the French football team emerged after French authorities on Monday confirmed launching an investigation into charges made by Pogba of attempted extortion.

    Pogba, 29, plays for the French national football team and Italy’s Juventus football club.

    The confirmation came in the wake of Mathias Pogba’s posts on social media regarding “explosive revelations” about his younger footballer brother, his agent Rafaela Pimenta, and his France teammate and Paris-Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe on Saturday.

    Pogba’s lawyers admitted in a statement that he was receiving “threats and attempts at extortion in an organized gang.” FranceInfo, quoting sources, said Pogba had already confided to investigators from the Central Office for the Fight against Organized Crime that he was trapped by a gang that included his childhood friends and Mathias.

  • Paul Pogba’s Brother Threatens To Reveal ‘Explosive’ Details About Ex-Man Utd Player Who’s Facing ‘Organized Extortion’

    Paul Pogba’s Brother Threatens To Reveal ‘Explosive’ Details About Ex-Man Utd Player Who’s Facing ‘Organized Extortion’

    PAUL POGBA’S older brother Mathias has threatened to reveal “explosive information” that could “affect his sibling’s popularity around the world”.

    Mathias, 32, bizarrely targeted his brother – as well as agent Rafaela Pimenta and even Kylian Mbappe in a video posted to social media.

    In a rant uploaded online and cited by the Mail, the former Wrexham, Crewe and Patrick Thistle footballer said: “The French, English, Italian and Spanish public, in other words the whole world, as well as my brother’s fans, and even more so the French team and Juventus, my brother’s team-mates and his sponsors deserve to know certain things.

    “If he deserves his place in the French team and the honour of playing in the World Cup. If he deserves to be a starter at Juventus.

    “If he is a trustworthy person, that any player deserves to have at his side.”

    Mathias then ranted about Pimenta – who has taken over as Pogba’s agent since the death of Mino Raiola earlier this year.

     

    In doing so, he questioned “her integrity, her professionalism… her loyalty”.

    He then claimed to have “explosive” information about Paris Saint-Germain and France superstar Mbappe.

    Mathias Pogba went on: “I will tell you very important things about him and there will be elements and many testimonies to confirm my words.

    “Everything could be explosive and make a lot of noise.”

    Paul Pogba’s mother and lawyer Yeo Moriba teamed up with Pimenta to launch a response to Mathias’ claims.

    They said: “Mathias Pogba’s recent statements on social networks are unfortunately not a surprise.

    “They are in addition to threats and organised extortion attempts by an organised gang against Paul Pogba.

    “The competent bodies in Italy and France were informed a month ago and there will be no further comments in relation to the ongoing investigation.”

    AFP have since stated that the French police have opened an investigation into Pogba’s claims of extortion.

    They have declared that large amounts of money are being demanded from Pogba.

    Mathias is without a club after leaving fourth-tier French side Belfort earlier this year.

    Following his departure after just eight months, Belfort president Jean-Paul Simon said: “We made a bad choice in signing Mathias Pogba.

    “You could say he was the wrong man for the job.”

    Mathias was in Russia cheering on his younger brother at the 2018 World Cup four years ago.

  • Detectives Grill Sports PS Okudo Over Oregon Scandal

    Detectives Grill Sports PS Okudo Over Oregon Scandal

    Sports Principal Secretary Joe Okudo was on Monday grilled by detectives for more than four hours over the Oregon scandal in which he is said to have facilitated some joyriders to travel for the games.

    Okudo was interviewed by detectives attached to the Economic and Commercial Crimes Unit (ECCU) of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) as reports emerged that at least three members of his family may have been part of the joyriders.

    Detectives are trying to verify claims that Okudo’s wife and two daughters who happened to have travelled together with Team Kenya to the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, US in June may have been sponsored by the taxpayer.

    Six other senior officials from the Ministry’s procurement, human resource and accounts are also said to have been questioned alongside Okudo.

    Budget Estimates

    Okudo is said to have arrived at Mazingira House, the DCI headquarters at around 9.30 am and left some minutes after 2pm.

    Though details of Okudo’s session with detectives were scanty, sources said he was questioned over details of budget estimates and approval for Oregon 2022 world athletics championships, payment vouchers in respect to allowances paid to athletes and Central Management officials who were approved to take part in the sports. He is also said to have been questioned on payment list of overseas allowances for Team Kenya, procurement and approval of air tickets and the list of qualified athletics in each event forwarded by Athletics Kenya.

    In a letter summoning him to the DCI headquarters, ECCU head Mike Muia had asked Okudo to provide a list of all persons who were facilitated to Oregon to participate in championship, letters requesting for visa facilitation for the team and a list of names forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for visas.

    Muia declined to comment on the matter. Sources intimated that investigators believe that all the persons in the entourage to Oregon were fully catered for by the government and are now seeking to establish the reasons behind the payments made and the roles each played.

    Though initial reports had indicated that around 32 officials from the Ministry, Sports Kenya and Athletics Kenya travelled to Oregon as joyriders, the number is said to have been more. The Ministry alone is said to have produced at least 15 people.

    Sources said most of the persons included in the trip had nothing to do with the athletics competition.

  • Tennis Star Collabos With Basketball Star Lebron To Launch ‘Hana Kuma’ Media Company

    Tennis Star Collabos With Basketball Star Lebron To Launch ‘Hana Kuma’ Media Company

    Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka is launching a media production company in partnership with The SpringHill Company, a media conglomerate created by Lebron James.

    The production company, called Hana Kuma, will produce scripted and nonfiction content, starting with a New York Times documentary about Patsy Mink, the first woman of color elected to U.S. Congress, according to a press release. The announcement says Hana Kuma will highlight “empowering” and “culturally specific” stories.

    “There has been an explosion of creators of color finally being equipped with resources and a huge platform,” Osaka said in the release. “In the streaming age, content has a more global perspective. You can see this in the popularity of television from Asia, Europe and Latin America that the unique can also be universal. My story is a testament to that as well.”

    The SpringHill Company, founded by NBA star James and business partner Maverick Carter, will provide production and strategic resources to Hana Kuma, the release said. Hana Kuma also has partnerships with crypto exchange platform FTX and health platform Modern Health.

    In May, Osaka launched an athlete representation agency called Evolve.

  • Top 6 Online Betting Mistakes You Should Avoid

    Top 6 Online Betting Mistakes You Should Avoid

    Nowadays, betting on various events and sports is easy because several online bookmakers are available with a single button click. However, because of the easy accessibility, most customers, especially beginners in the online betting world, also create classic mistakes easily.

    While we all know that committing mistakes is normal and allows you to learn, avoiding these can also help you have a good start in online betting. Here are six famous live betting mistakes you should know.

    1. Not Utilizing The Bonuses

    One of the best perks of online betting, such as Betway, is the bonuses, promotions, and free bets available to most betting sites for customers. When you don’t take advantage of these, you reduce your chance of getting more money and other prizes.

    Two sites can offer the same promotions, so choose one with another bonus attached, allowing you to get more benefits and earn more.

    2. Not Managing Money Wisely

    Knowing how to manage your bankroll is probably the most important thing you need to remember in live betting. When you continuously bet without checking whether you can lose the money you used, you might go bankrupt, empty your savings account, and regret later.

    Create a separate account for the money you plan to use for betting to avoid this. That way, you are guaranteed that you are only using the money you put aside, not affecting your savings.

    3. Placing Too Many Bets

    When you’re new to online betting, you might be blinded by too many games and events online, causing you to place bets beyond what your money can. You should avoid this mistake because it might cause you to lose more money than you hoped. It’s best to be selective and place fewer bets. Learn to give importance to quality over quantity.

    4. Betting Blind

    Betting might involve luck and chance, but it helps if you do background research on your betting teams. Avoid betting blind and always make an informed decision when choosing a team. Normally, beginners commit this mistake by not doing proper research and betting on their favorite team. You should remember that the favorite team does not always win.

    5. Chasing Your Loss

    When you bet, it’s normal that you want to win. However, losing is inevitable, especially when things don’t go according to how you want them to. You might be tempted to redeem yourself and recover the money you lost by placing a new bet – chasing a loss.

    It might be a good thing to do this at first, but it can turn into a dangerous habit when you constantly do this. Constantly chasing your losses can lead to a losing cycle, causing you to lose money continuously.

    6. Not Tracking and Keeping Records

    Betting in online casinos like Betway with a data-driven approach allows you to gain valuable insights into the teams and their corresponding players.

    As a reminder, always track the money you deposit, the amount you gain or lose, and the types of sports and markets you are successful and not successful in. Doing this allows you to create a road map that can tell you how you should move forward and where you should bet.

    Key Takeaway

    The best way to ensure that you’re not wasting your money on a losing bet is by following the pointers we listed in this article. Betting mistakes can be avoided with careful planning, allowing for better betting experiences.

  • Bryant’s rookie jersey to fetch Sh580m

    Bryant’s rookie jersey to fetch Sh580m

    The purple and gold jersey worn by Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant during his rookie season 25 years ago will hit the auction block next month where it is estimated to fetch between $3 million and $5 million.

    Bryant premiered in the NBA league as a teenager in 1996 and the number eight jersey has been “resolution photomatched” to four games in the beginning of his career including two playoff games.

    The jersey has also been matched to the basket ball legend’s 1997 Skybox Z-Force trading card, where he can be seen wearing it on the back of the card.

    “In SCP’s opinion, this spectacular specimen from the legendary Laker’s rookie campaign could set a new price record for a game worn basketball jersey,” the auction house said.

    “The current record is $3.69 million (Sh452m) for another Kobe rookie jersey. However, that example was worn solely in the regular season, whereas this magnificent jersey was worn in the Mamba’s first-ever playoffs.” SCP Auctions said.

    Bryant jumped into the league straight from high school and went on to win five NBA championships in his 20 seasons with the LA Lakers.

    Bidding on the jersey belonging to the Hall of Famer begins May 18 and ends on June 4.

    The legendary Bryant perished on January 26, 2020 after a helicopter carrying him, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others crashed in Calabasas, California, roughly 30 miles north of Los Angeles. Everyone on board died with Bryant’s death sending shockwaves through the entire sporting world.

    Bryant featured for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 until 2016, winning five NBA Championships and the 2008 Most Valuable Player award while making the All-Star team in 18 of his 20 seasons.

    He established himself as one of the greatest players in the NBA history with his clutch shooting, capable defending, work ethic, and longevity.

    Bryant died while heading to his daughter Gianna’s basketball game at his Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California.

  • What The FIFA Ban Mean For Football In Kenya

    What The FIFA Ban Mean For Football In Kenya

    Kenya’s suspension from all football activities has been ratified on Thursday March 31 during the world football governing body Fifa’s congress meeting in Qatar.

    On February 24, Fifa president Gianni Infantino during a council meeting said that the council had found Kenya and Zimbabwe’s issues to be a clear case of undue interference by a third party.

    “Therefore, based on article 14 paragraphs 1 and 3 of the FIFA Statutes – as well as article 16 paragraph 1, under which the FIFA Council may, without a vote of the Congress, temporarily suspend with immediate effect a member association that seriously violates its obligations, the Fifa Council decided to suspend the FKF with immediate effect due to flagrant violations of the FIFA Statutes,” Infantino said.

    In November last year, Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed suspended the entire FKF secretariat and executive members citing financial impropriety and also ordered for the locking of the secretariat offices, which is against the Fifa statutes on grounds of government interference.

    Fifa Secretary General Fatma Samoura went ahead to write to all its member associations informing them about the developments indicating that the action meant that FKF loses all its membership rights, as defined in article 13 of the FIFA Statutes, with immediate effect and until further notice.

    The move by world football governing body means that neither the FKF nor any of its members or officials may benefit from any development programmes, courses or training from FIFA and/or CAF.

    Equally,the national team Harambeee Stars and local clubs will not be eligible to participate in any of the FIFA sanctioned competitions including CAF Champions or Confederations leagues, Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers.

    Other counties who were also suspended indefinitely during the 72nd Congress were Zimbabwe and Pakistan

    A total of 198 member nations voted in support of the suspension with only one disapproving the decision.

  • Most Popular Forms of Online Gambling

    Most Popular Forms of Online Gambling

    Gambling has been something that has always stirred people’s emotions, either for the good or otherwise. Gambling back in the old days used to be risky and highly illegal, but today it is one of the most popular leisure activities for many people around the globe.

    Online gambling is the type of game you will find under many names, depending on the site where you play it. It’s a game that allows players to bet money on their decisions and, with luck, make a profit.

    While there may be countless forms of online gambling, there are some that simply stand out to this day. With that being said, here are some of the top and most popular forms of online gambling.

    Casino

    The most popular form of online gambling is online or virtual casinos. These are broadly similar to brick and mortar casinos that you will be familiar with if you have ever visited a casino in Las Vegas or elsewhere.

    They allow players to bet money on games of chance via a computer – anything from blackjack and poker to roulette and even slot machines! The major difference between playing at an online casino and a real-life one is that you can’t play for free at a real casino (although some casinos offer free lessons).

    Online casinos also have much lower stakes than real-life ones and many other advantages over traditional casinos.

    Sports betting

    Sports betting is another popular form of online gambling, and there are many options available to bet on. It is a form of gambling, and the more you know about the sport you are betting on, the higher your chances of winning.

    From horse racing to football and basketball, anything that has a winner can be bet on. As with casino games, make sure you know the rules before you start playing so that you do not end up losing money by making the wrong moves.

    To help manage your risks better, you can use a free sports picks site to give you some tips to help you spot your bets.

    Esports betting

    The e-sports market is growing exponentially, with millions of new players getting involved every year. While many people start by playing video games for fun, others join e-sports teams and work hard to reach the top level of tournaments.

    While most of these players don’t make real money from their e-sports activities, others win large cash prizes in major tournaments. As a result, many people have started betting on esports matches and tournaments.

    E-sports betting has become a popular form of online gambling. Many sportsbooks offer odds on the outcome of major tournaments and even smaller events. There are also e-sports fantasy leagues that allow you to participate in online competitions for cash prizes.

    The most popular game for e-sports betting is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO). This is a first-person shooter where two teams face off against each other in a series of rounds. The first team to win 16 rounds wins the match. Other popular games include League of Legends, Dota 2, and Fortnite, but CSGO has the biggest number of bets placed on it every month.

    Lotteries

    Lotteries have been around for centuries. They’re a staple in many countries and have been popularized in movies and TV throughout the world. It’s no wonder that millions of people play lotteries online. You can play lotteries worldwide when you visit websites like Lottoland Mega Millions or buy tickets for your local lottery draw from an online vendor.

    Online gambling and its forms

    Lotteries have been around for centuries. They’re a staple in many countries and have been popularized in movies and TV throughout the world. It’s no wonder that millions of people play lotteries online. You can play lotteries from around the world when you visit websites like Lottoland Mega Millions or buy tickets for your local lottery draw from an online vendor.

  • Badoer Investments Assets Frozen In Battle Between Ricardo Badoer And Wazito FC Director

    Badoer Investments Assets Frozen In Battle Between Ricardo Badoer And Wazito FC Director

    The battle for supremacy between Wazito FC owner Ricardo Badoer and former Sporting Director Solomon Alubala took a new twist after the High Court froze several assets belonging to the Swede.

    In a court order dated Thursday, February 24, 2022, the High Court froze several assets belonging to Badoer Investments which houses the FKF Premier League side.

    In the court order, Wazito FC’s famous Mercedes Benz bus, a Toyota Land Cruiser and a Volkswagen Touareg car are among those that face imminent auction.

    Trouble at Wazito started in 2019 when the one-time loyalist Alubala was fired by Rico and replaced by Dennis Gicheru as the club’s CEO. Alubala went ahead to sue the Swede for defamation following inflammatory remarks posted by the Wazito owner on Twitter.

    According to Alubala, he was never compensated as per the Kenya Employment Act 2017, leading to the court battle.

    On the pitch, Wazito has had a fair share of their own problems ranging from poor match results and a huge turnover of coaches and players.

    Promoted into the top flight, the so-called moneybags promised to light the FKF Premier League with stunning performances, signing every top name in the local league. During the same period, Rico oversaw the birth of an all-sport online TV, Madgoat, that has since been folded.

    Court order.

    In the order, Ricardo has been barred from selling, transferring, or in any manner dealing with any shares, equity and property.

    “Upon reading the application dated 14th January 2021 and presented to the court by counsel for the Applicant under Order 51 of the Civil Procedure Rules 2010 and all other enabling provisions of the law and upon reading the supporting affidavit of Solomon Alubala sworn on 14th January 2022 together with annexures thereto and upon hearing for the Applicants and in the absence of the Respondent. I hereby ordered that a Mareva injunction does issue to restrain the defendant or by their servants or agents or otherwise howsoever from selling, transferring, or in any manner dealing with shares, equity, property and or bank accounts he holds,” part of the ruling read.

    Badoer has also invested in Sumac Microfinance Limited, Wazito Football club among others under the Badoer Investments.

  • Team Managers Exit, Players Boycott Training, Wazito FC Suffer From Financial Woes

    Team Managers Exit, Players Boycott Training, Wazito FC Suffer From Financial Woes

    Former national team Harambeee Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi has parted ways with Kenya Premier League side Wazito FC following a string of poor performance.

    The Dutch-trained tactician was appointed by Wazito in November 2020 to become the seventh coach to handle the Ricardo Badoer-owned outfit in less than four years.

    Once touted as the French moneybags in Paris-Saint Germain due to its financial prowess, things have not been rosy at the team lately with reports of unpaid salaries to players in recent months.

    So dire is the financial situation at Wazito that after the Vihiga Bullets game, players have decided to boycott training session with others opting to leave the club during the mid-season transfer window, which  opened on January 9 and ends on February 15.

    The boycott now puts the team’s weekend clash against struggling Nzoia Sugar in jeopardy since in the game against Bullets, coach Francis Kimanzi had only 16 players at his disposal.

    Some of the players reported to have left the club are strikers Eric Gichimu, Maurice Ojwang’, Kenyan internationals Cliff Nyakeya, midfielder Kevin Kimani, Vincent Oburu among others.

    Ojwang, who crossed to Wazito from record league  champions Gor Mahia two seasons ago said that he has been forced to relocate to his rural home in Kisumu because of being broke and unable to pay rent among other bills.

    “I had no choice but to return to my home and engage in other activities as I look for another team. I couldn’t pay rent and meet my needs because I haven’t been paid for four months. It was a tough decision but I  rather stay here in the village and figure out how to survive,” said the 25-year-old defender.

    “I’m looking for another team and if the opportunity comes my way, I will go and pick my release letter from Wazito. The problem is that the management has been giving us false promises week in week out,” he added.

    He added that he left for the village empty handed and is yet to receive a penny from the club.

    In its heyday, the club, owned by flashy businessman Ricardo Badoer flexed its financial muscles by luring talented and big names from all clubs in the competition including Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.

    Youth side gaffer Fred Ambani has taken over interimly as the team explores options of hiring a coach on permanent basis.

    The team lies in 16th place in the 18 table team with a paltry nine points from 13 games after going down 4-2 against relegation threatened Vihiga Bullets over the weekend.

    The experienced tactician under who Kenya achieved its highest ever FIFA ranking has also previously served as Mathare United and Tusker FC head coach besides deputising Frenchman Sebastian Migne at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.

  • INEOS And Eliud Kipchoge Reunite Under New Performance Partnership

    INEOS And Eliud Kipchoge Reunite Under New Performance Partnership

    INEOS has signed a new Performance Partnership with Eliud Kipchoge to support Kipchoge’s ambitious performance goals in running.

    Having won gold in the men’s marathon at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, defending his title from Rio 2016, Kipchoge is going for a record-breaking three Olympic titles back-to-back as he targets gold at Paris 2024. To support this ambition, Kipchoge has signed a Performance Partnership with INEOS and will be working with Sir Dave Brailsford in his new role as Director of Sport at INEOS.

    The new partnership will see the performance team behind the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, including Sir Dave Brailsford, Valentijn Trouw and Patrick Sang, come back together. In 2019, Kipchoge made history at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge by becoming the first person to run a marathon in under two hours. The knowledge and expertise of the team that made this feat possible will reunite again to work with Kipchoge to help achieve his goals.

    Eliud Kipchoge said: “To receive the support from such a great entity in sports is a huge boost to myself and the team. We have had a wonderful relationship since we first started working together and have already changed the world together once. I am excited to keep breaking barriers with the support of INEOS on our side. I believe that we can make a strong impact across all sports by sharing our knowledge and experiences with each other. To utilise the greatest minds in sports will continue to allow us to keep pushing the boundaries of running. I am very excited for the future ahead.”

    Sir Dave Brailsford, Director of Sport, INEOS said: “Eliud Kipchoge is a once in a generation athlete breaking athletic boundaries that many felt impossible. Collaborating with Eliud, his performance team and INEOS on the 1:59 Challenge was a truly inspiring experience. Eliud epitomises an INEOS athlete. The opportunity to come together again to tackle new ambitious challenges with Eliud and the wider running team is incredibly exciting.”

    Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS added: “Eliud is a very special person with an approach and mindset that transcends sport. We have a close affinity with Eliud after the 1:59 Challenge so I’m pleased to bring him back into the fold. We have a great opportunity ahead of us to support not only his performance goals but understand how his approach can help others achieve theirs.”

    Eliud Kipchoge and his team will begin working with the other teams backed by INEOS, which includes the All Blacks, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, INEOS Grenadiers cycling team, America’s Cup Challenger of Record INEOS Britannia, OGC Nice and FC Lausanne-Sport.

    Through their Performance Partnerships, INEOS brings together some of the best minds and talent in sport to tackle sports greatest challenges.

    Under Sir Dave Brailsford, the teams involved are working together to identify opportunities for performance gains that can be shared and applied across the group, utilising the unique knowledge and skills of world-leading experts who operate across the full sports performance spectrum.

    Sir Dave Brailsford added: “Across sports, we all face the same challenge, the need to continually improve. Through INEOS, we have a unique opportunity to take on this challenge. With some of the best minds in sport we will develop and grow the INEOS performance community, driving to become greater than the sum of our parts.”