01 Jun 2014

FOOTBALL - Nigeria wins gold medal

Nigeria defeated Swaziland 3-0 at the UB Stadium on May 30 to claim the football gold medal of the Gaborone 2014 African Youth Games. The Nigerians finished top of the group with 13 points after playing fifteen matches. The bronze medal went to Tanzania who finished with 10 points, while Mali settled for bronze medal after defeating South Africa 1-0.

CYCLING - South Africa wraps up glory

South Africa rounded up the last round of the African Youth Games cycling events with victory in both junior men and junior ladies cross country mountain bikes. In an intriguing Junior Women 20.8 kilometres four laps race Frances Du Toit did an impressive 53 minutes 21 seconds while her partner Relebohile Pebane came just seven minutes to collect gold and silver respectively.

Botswana’s Bakang Madisa could only managed to arrive an hour and 10 minutes before Leandra Bowden arrived a minute after. Kenya was crowned runners-up after Joyce Omondi clocked 59 minutes and 45 seconds while her partner Watende Sharon could only manage three laps in an hour and two minutes.

In the Junior Men’s race Botswana’s Collen Mosarwa failed to complete the six laps that covered an area of 30km. Mosarwa came just one hour and 10 minutes falling too short of the eventual winner South African Alan Harthley who completed the entire six laps just under one hour seven minutes.

TRIATHLON -  South Africa dominates triathlon

The 2014 African Youth games triathlon competition ended in a thrilling style on Thursday May 29 with all South African athletes getting medals. Out of the six medals at stake, South African athletes snatched four medals for triathlon at Otse.

South Africans were good, especially inside the swimming pool and Maude Elaine Le Roux started the quest for medals when she won gold in the female triathlon final in a time of 01:08:40. Her teammate Simone Claire Faulman came behind to win silver in 01:10:38. On the third place was Rehab Hussein from Egypt who took the bronze medal in a total time of 01:11:29.

The South Africans continued to fly their flag high in the male category when Nathan Le Roux and Wikus Saunders won silver and bronze medals respectively, behind Namibian athlete Jean-Paul who won gold.

VOLLEYBALL - Egypt claim gold as hosts falter

A comprehensive 3-0 victory over Rwanda at Molepolole Institute of Health Sciences on Friday May 30 secured Egypt gold medal in the volleyball competition with 18 points. The win also improved the North Africans imperious record in the competition to six in six matches.

Kenya with five victories and 14 points settled for silver medal, while Rwanda came third with 13 points. Hosts, Botswana, with just six points gained from two wins were the major disappointment in a sport where the country has traditionally done well.

They started the competition slowly by suffering four straight defeats before winning their last two matches against South Africa and Uganda. But it was already too late to stage a late push for a medal position. Ends