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Former world record holder advises Kenyan athletes on how to use their riches
NAIROBI, Kenya, September 11, 2026 – Former world record holder for the women’s marathon, Tegla Loroupe, has called on Kenyan sportsperson to better the lives of their local communities by participating in noble causes. palladian.co.za
Loroupe holds that athletes should not forget their humble backgrounds even as they enjoy success on the international front.
“For sure, I think something they can learn from me is that I come from a humble background. I believe also even the current athletes, nobody comes from a rich family, they come from a humble background. This is something they should never forget,” the two-time New York Marathon champion said.
The 53-year-old rose from the dusty plains of the war-torn West Pokot to become one of the most distinguished female runners to ever emerge from Kenya.
Loroupe clocked 2:20:47 to set a new world record at the Rotterdam Marathon in April 1998, lowering it by four seconds, a year later at Berlin Marathon.
In addition to winning two New York Marathon titles, she also boast three Rotterdam Marathon crowns, and three world half marathon wins.
With the experience of the harsh conditions of growing up in a poverty-stricken area afflicted by conflict, Loroupe has channeled her success to the grassroots, becoming a voice of the voiceless, including girls from marginalised communities as well as refugees.
Through the Tecla Loroupe Peace Foundation, the former marathoner established annual Peace Run in Kapenguria to bring warring tribes together to lay down their arms in exchange for exploring their sports talents.
Reflecting on her struggles to scale up the athletics ladder, Loroupe says her eventual success should inspire many others faced with similar predicaments in their lives.
She also acknowledges that the situation has somewhat improved as cultural bottlenecks that had previously frowned upon sportswomen has thawed over the years.
“Nowadays, they have everything but during our time, we had a lot of luggage coming from the family. You didn’t have equipment or even money to take you to competitions but we did not lose hope. We had to fight…while you are still alive, you have to fight,” Loroupe said.
Other than running to put food on the table, Loroupe believes it should be a Kenyan culture adopted to fight lifestyle diseases.
The Covid-19 pandemic, Loroupe mentions, was a prime opportunity to ingrain a running culture among Kenyans.
“Look at the Covid-19 period, many people embraced running because they were tired of staying in the house. I wish we could have continued as a country with the same practice even after the pandemic ended,” she said.
Her passion for charitable causes were recently on show at the Strathmore Annual Run in Nairobi where she ran in the 2.5km race.
Loroupe admitted she didn’t think for a second when she was offered the opportunity to come on board the initiative, which seeks to raise funds for scholarship for needy students at the institution.
“I want to say something that motivated me is the VC (vice chancellor) who stood for charity to support the underprivileged students and therefore, that’s something that’s in my heart. When I see somebody who has the heart of supporting and is using this energy also to bring other people, that motivates me a lot. I may not give much but I am happy to contribute,” she said.
Noxolo Cesane Opens a Two-Goal Lead as the Festival Heads to Pretoria
Noxolo Cesane’s strike carried Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies to a 1-0 win over Stellenbosch FC and opened a two-goal lead at the head of the Hollywoodbets Super League scoring charts at the UWC Stadium in Cape Town on Sunday, 6 September 2026.
The result closed a three-day Amplified festival in the Western Cape and left the defending champions perfect after six matches. Sundowns hold 18 points, five clear at the top of the Super Era stream, with 22 goals scored, none conceded and a match still in hand.
That outstanding fixture is the price of a successful August. Sundowns spent the closing week of the month in Gaborone, where they beat Zambia’s ZESCO Ndola Girls 2-1 in the final of the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifier on Saturday, 29 August 2026, taking a third regional title and a place at the continental finals.
Cesane now stands on six goals for the season, two ahead of Refiloe Jane of TS Galaxy Queens, Bonolo Mokoma and Gabriela Moodaly-Salgado of JVW FC, and Siyamthanda Qashani of University of Pretoria.
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Qashani did the most to close that gap. She struck in the 12th, 74th and 85th minutes as University of Pretoria beat TS Galaxy Queens 3-0, the heaviest defeat of the weekend, handing the Rockets a second loss of the season and lifting Pretoria level with them on 13 points from seven matches.
Festival hosts University of the Western Cape matched that scoreline. Aaliyah Jacobs, Lindokuhle Gladile and Tiffany Kortjie all found the net in a 3-0 win over Richmond United that kept the students fourth, also on 13 points, and left Richmond third from bottom on seven. Copperbelt Ladies FC stayed within a point of that group, Maphuti Matlala opening the scoring on 15 minutes before an own goal six minutes into the second half sealed a 2-0 win over Diepkloof Ladies. Stellenbosch FC remain at the foot of the stream, still without a point from seven outings.
In the Super Rise stream, JVW FC protected both their lead and their unbeaten record. Nompumelelo Nyandeni put them ahead on 24 minutes, Sibongile Ntoane levelled for TUT FC on 63, and Shannon Macomo settled it on 77 for a 2-1 win that left JVW on 17 points from five wins and two draws.
University of Johannesburg are second on 14 after a 1-0 win over Ramatlaohle Ladies FC, TUT FC third on 11 and University of Fort Hare fourth on 10 from a run of four draws. Ramatlaohle Ladies FC sit fifth on 10, First Touch FC Ladies sixth on nine after a 1-0 win over Ezemvelo Women’s FC, and Ezemvelo seventh on six. City Lads remain bottom, a 2-0 defeat by University of Fort Hare leaving them without a point or a goal from seven matches.
The festival now moves inland, and it moves into new territory.
Matchweek 8 runs at the Tshwane University of Technology grounds in Pretoria from Friday, 11 September to Sunday, 13 September 2026, and it opens the return leg. Both streams completed a full round of fixtures in Cape Town, so every meeting in Pretoria is a rematch played with the evidence of the first encounter on the table.
Diepkloof Ladies take the hardest of those assignments, hosting Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies in Friday’s opener having lost 6-0 to the champions on the opening weekend in May. Sundowns still carry their outstanding fixture against Copperbelt Ladies FC, which is not on this weekend’s card, and a win in Pretoria would take them eight clear.
University of Pretoria and University of the Western Cape, level with TS Galaxy Queens on 13 points, both have the chance to move ahead of the Rockets on Saturday morning. Pretoria face a Stellenbosch FC side still hunting a first point, while UWC meet TS Galaxy Queens themselves in a rematch of the 2-2 draw that opened both campaigns. Richmond United close the stream on Sunday against a Copperbelt Ladies FC side that beat them 3-1 in May.
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In the Super Rise stream the pressure sits with the chasers. Ramatlaohle Ladies FC open the entire weekend against an unbeaten JVW FC on Friday evening, City Lads meet TUT FC on Saturday afternoon still looking for a first goal of the season, and Sunday brings Ezemvelo Women’s FC against University of Johannesburg followed by First Touch FC Ladies against University of Fort Hare.
The centralised festival model introduced by SAFA continues to shape the competition. Gathering a stream’s fixtures at a single venue across one weekend trims travel budgets, concentrates the supporter experience into one occasion rather than scattering it across the country, and allows coaches to watch their direct rivals in person either side of their own match.
Hollywoodbets Super League Matchweek 8 at the Tshwane University of Technology grounds in Pretoria from Friday, 11 September to Sunday, 13 September 2026
Fri 11 Sept, 15h00: Diepkloof Ladies vs. Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC (Era)
Fri 11 Sept, 18h00: Ramatlaohle Ladies FC vs. JVW FC (Rise)
Sat 12 Sept, 9h00: University of Pretoria vs. Stellenbosch FC (Era)
Sat 12 Sept, 11h30: UWC vs. TS Galaxy Queens (Era)
Sat 12 Sept, 15h00: City Lads vs. TUT FC (Rise)
Sun 13 Sept, 9h00: Ezemvelo Women’s FC vs. University of JHB FC (Rise)
Sun 13 Sept, 11h30: First Touch FC Ladies vs. University of Fort Hare FC (Rise)
Sun 13 Sept, 15h00: Richmond United vs. Copperbelt Ladies FC (Era)
Main Photo Caption: Noxolo Cesane extended her lead at the head of the Hollywoodbets Super League scoring charts to two goals, her strike earning Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies a 1-0 win over Stellenbosch FC that carried the defending champions to six wins from six matches, at the UWC Stadium in Cape Town on Sunday, 6 September 2026. Photo: Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Team
The post Noxolo Cesane Opens a Two-Goal Lead as the Festival Heads to Pretoria appeared first on gsport4girls.
Cardoso Warns Sundowns of Tough Chippa Test
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso admits his side face another tough test when they take on Chippa United at the Buffalo City Stadium this weekend.
The Brazilians come into this fixture high in confidence after claiming a comfortable 3-0 victory over Siwelele FC.
Sundowns will now travel to East London for their upcoming Betway Premiership fixture against the Chilli Boys.
Cardoso says the situation will leave Sundowns with limited recovery time ahead of their upcoming international commitments, but insists he does not want to make excuses as they turn their attention to Saturday’s clash.
“It will be a tough match, we play there on Saturday,” Cardoso said.
“A little bit of applications, I don’t want to speak about that but a change of the venue that will allow us to stay one more day, we’ve only flight the following day on the night to attach preparation for our international match the following weekend and it’s a pity that things are that way but I don’t want to cry, they say I cry too much.
“But I just stuck too reality, but now it’s time to think about the next match and to recover the players and think about the weekend thank you.”
The post Cardoso Warns Sundowns of Tough Chippa Test appeared first on SportsClub.
Lucas Bergvall prolonge avec Tottenham
Tottenham poursuit sa politique tournée vers la jeunesse. Le club londonien a annoncé la prolongation de Lucas Bergvall, l’un de ses jeunes éléments les plus prometteurs. À 20 ans, le milieu de terrain suédois s’inscrit désormais dans la durée avec les Spurs, après avoir déjà disputé 80 rencontres sous leurs couleurs.
« Construire quelque chose de formidable »
Lucas Bergvall entend poursuivre son aventure à Londres. Le milieu suédois a accueilli cette prolongation avec enthousiasme et affiche de grandes ambitions pour la suite.
« Je pense que nous sommes en train de construire quelque chose de formidable ici. C’est une période passionnante pour le club et c’est pourquoi je suis heureux de prolonger mon contrat », a-t-il expliqué.
Le joueur souhaite également franchir un nouveau cap sur le plan individuel. « Mon objectif est d’apporter davantage à l’équipe, avec des performances, des buts et des passes décisives, afin de contribuer au maximum. Je progresse chaque jour à l’entraînement et j’ai hâte de vivre une très belle saison », a-t-il ajouté.
De Zerbi compte sur lui
Chez les Spurs, la confiance accordée à Bergvall est totale. Le directeur sportif Johan Lange considère le Suédois comme « un jeune joueur exceptionnel doté d’un potentiel énorme ». Il met notamment en avant « ses qualités techniques, son intelligence sur le terrain et le caractère que nous attendons de nos joueurs ».
Roberto De Zerbi partage cette confiance. L’entraîneur italien apprécie particulièrement l’état d’esprit de son milieu au quotidien.
« Chaque jour à l’entraînement, on peut constater le désir de Lucas d’apprendre, de progresser et de se surpasser », a expliqué De Zerbi, avant d’insister sur sa personnalité : « Lucas est courageux, il aspire aux responsabilités et possède le tempérament nécessaire pour briller dans les moments décisifs. Je crois que le meilleur est encore à venir pour lui. »
Une progression rapide depuis son arrivée
Arrivé à Tottenham en provenance de Djurgården en 2024, Bergvall s’est rapidement imposé dans le groupe londonien. Pour sa première saison, il a participé à 45 rencontres et a reçu un triple titre de Joueur de la saison en mai 2025.
Son parcours a également été marqué par un premier trophée européen avec Tottenham, même s’il n’a pas pu participer à la finale de la Ligue Europa à Bilbao en raison d’une blessure.
Cette saison encore, le Suédois continue de prendre de l’importance. Il a notamment trouvé le chemin des filets de la tête contre West Ham et compte déjà 33 apparitions supplémentaires avec les Spurs.
Son été a également été historique sur le plan international. Avec la Suède, Bergvall est devenu le plus jeune joueur de son pays à disputer une Coupe du Monde, après la qualification obtenue face à la Pologne.
À 20 ans, avec déjà 80 matches sous le maillot de Tottenham et 14 sélections avec la Suède, Lucas Bergvall représente clairement l’un des paris sur l’avenir du club londonien.
The post Lucas Bergvall prolonge avec Tottenham appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.
James Rodriguez retourne en Colombie et rejoint l’Atlético Nacional
À 35 ans, James Rodriguez s’offre une nouvelle aventure. Libre depuis son départ de Minnesota United, l’ancien joueur du Real Madrid retourne dans son pays natal et s’engage avec l’Atlético Nacional.
Il s’agit d’un véritable retour aux sources pour le milieu offensif colombien. James Rodriguez a débuté sa carrière professionnelle en janvier 2007 sous les couleurs de l’Envigado FC. Un an plus tard, il rejoignait l’Argentine et Banfield, avant de poursuivre son ascension en Europe.
Libre de tout contrat, le Colombien retrouve aujourd’hui son pays natal avec l’Atlético Nacional, troisième du championnat colombien la saison dernière. Une nouvelle étape pour le joueur, qui a porté les maillots de plusieurs grands clubs européens, parmi lesquels le FC Porto, l’AS Monaco, le Real Madrid, le Bayern Munich et Everton.
Une carrière riche en grands clubs
Sous le maillot du Real Madrid, James Rodriguez a disputé 125 rencontres, pour 37 buts et 42 passes décisives. Avec le FC Porto, il a totalisé 108 matchs, 32 buts et 42 passes décisives. Au Bayern Munich, il a également laissé son empreinte avec 15 buts et 20 passes décisives en 67 apparitions.
Au total, le Colombien compte 524 matchs professionnels, 127 buts et 163 passes décisives. Des statistiques qui illustrent la qualité et l’influence du milieu offensif tout au long de sa carrière.
Un passage express à Minnesota United
Avant de revenir en Colombie, James Rodriguez évoluait à Minnesota United. Arrivé le 6 février 2026, il n’a disputé que huit rencontres avec le club américain, délivrant deux passes décisives.
Cette expérience de courte durée l’a donc conduit à ouvrir un nouveau chapitre de sa carrière. Avec l’Atlético Nacional, James Rodriguez espère retrouver davantage de temps de jeu et relancer une trajectoire qui l’a longtemps placé parmi les grands talents du football sud-américain.
« James Rodriguez, c’est l’Atlético Nacional »
Pour officialiser son arrivée, le club colombien a publié un communiqué particulièrement élogieux à l’égard de sa nouvelle recrue.
« Ici, il n’y a pas de publicité. Il y a un travail fait par amour pour ce club. […] Quand un club travaille pour le club, la grandeur n’est pas un discours : c’est une conséquence. Ils ont fait confiance. Ils y ont cru. C’était inévitable. James Rodriguez, c’est l’Atlético Nacional. Le plus grand chez le plus grand », a notamment écrit l’Atlético Nacional.
À 35 ans, James Rodriguez retrouve ainsi la Colombie, là où son parcours professionnel avait commencé près de vingt ans plus tôt. Avec l’Atlético Nacional, le Colombien entend désormais donner un nouvel élan à sa carrière.
The post James Rodriguez retourne en Colombie et rejoint l’Atlético Nacional appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.