SHOWBIZ TALKING POINTS WITH TEEKAY
COMPLIMENTS of the new season.Today, we introduce a new column dubbed ‘Showbiz Talking Points with Teekay (Trust Khoza).’ It’s a recap of what transpired during the week. Here we go…
THE second week of 2024 started on a high note with the new crop of young influencers making headlines.
Rap sensation Saintfloew’s engagement to sweetheart Beverly broke the internet.
As expected, social media trolls had a field day when he posted their videos.
Instead of applauding the youngster for his show of commitment in matters of the heart, social media users had no kind words for the star.
After his rehabilitation against drug and substance abuse in South Africa last year, we feel Saintfloew needs our love.
One of the right decisions he made is this engagement, which shows his commitment to his fiancée
In life, we all need a partner who will come to us and give us a shoulder to lean on.
And this partner comes in the form of a loving spouse or girlfriend.
When it comes to the true definition of beauty, it remains subjective since people can give different views.
To Saintfloew and his wife-to-be, the social media trolls should make you strong.
· APPRECIATION OF THE WEEK
This gong goes to Jah Signal who gifted his pregnant wife a brand new Range Rover.
Jah Signal’s appreciation proved that he loves his wife and unborn baby.
He has set the bar, which should be emulated by fellow chanters.
May the love he showed his wife never die.
· MASTER & VOLTZ JT
The dynamic duo is trending with their duet named Dhanzi, which fans want renamed Nawadem.
The catchy phrase, which originated from Jamaica, has become the talk of the street.
What has raised the appeal of the new phrase is how local chanters have been pronouncing it.
The late Soul Jah Love, Silent Killer and the duo of Master H and Voltz JT pronounce it differently.
The song Dhanzi, which has become an instant hit, was recorded by Oskid.
· MORON OF THE WEEK — RAY VINES
tender for the crown of shame.
What started as a social media rant between him and one Solomon Harudzibwi, who lives with albinism, turned nasty when he lost the plot.
Solomon had called Ray Vines a spent force and the latter riled the people living with albinism when he posted: “ndosaka uchishisha kana ukarohwa nezuva”.
Ray Vines mocked Solomon, which did not go down well with other social media users.
They demanded an apology from Ray Vines but the damage had already been done.
He finally apologised on DJ Ollah’s podcast this week but it was not enough for many.
· BEGGAR OF THE WEEK — BATROY
The Afro-fusion star genuinely told Zimbabweans that he was tired of using public transport despite his status.
He begged businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his prayer was answered.
However, BaTroy was advised he would only get a car on condition he has a driver’s licence or provisional.
He had none of the above and it appears he will continue using public transport again.
Chivayo, who has been splashing cars on people, did the right thing by giving BaTroy a condition.
Several prominent people are driving without licences, posing a danger to other road users.
Well done Wicknell and tough luck BaTroy.
· ACROSS OUR BORDERS
Grammy award-winning South African songwriter and disc jockey, Black Coffee, is a baby of grace.
He survived a plane crash on Sunday evening while flying to a show in Argentina.
We wish him a speedy recovery and more years of deejaying and singing to the world. — For feedback Text/WhatsApp me on 0774119633 or DM me on X @trustkhosa
A COURT in Nepal sentenced the country’s highest-profile cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane to eight years in jail on Wednesday after he was convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman.
His lawyer said he would launch a higher court appeal.
Lamichhane (23) has been the face of cricket in Nepal and the only player from the Himalayan country to take part in prominent Twenty20 leagues in India, Australia, Pakistan and West Indies.
The leg-spinner was suspended as Nepal’s captain and taken into custody after police issued an arrest warrant for him over the assault in 2022, and was later released on bail.
Kathmandu district court official Chandra Prasad Panthi said Lamichhane should also pay about $3 770 as a fine and compensation to the victim.
Lamichhane was found guilty of rape last month and the sentence was announced on Wednesday. His lawyer said before the sentencing that Lamichhane would appeal against his conviction.
“We are not convinced about the decision of the court ... The court has whimsically declared Sandeep to be a convict. Sandeep will go to the higher court for justice,” lawyer Saroj Ghimire told Reuters on Wednesday. — Reuters.
IF there is one player who simply thrives on hardcourts, it is Daniil Medvedev and 2024 promises to be an eventful year for the world number three, who will hope he can overcome the final hurdle at the Australian Open at long last.
Medvedev reached the final at Melbourne Park in 2021 and 2022 but fell to two of the ‘Big Three’, first losing in straight sets to Novak Djokovic before Rafa Nadal overcame overwhelming odds and triumphed from two sets down.
The Russian took a long time to recover from the body blow of Nadal’s stunning comeback, losing his way in a topsy-turvy 2022 season while a third round loss in Melbourne last year saw him drop out of the top 10.
While such a decline would have knocked down most seasoned pros, it was all the motivation Medvedev needed to spring back to his feet and return to his best.
He rediscovered his magic touch and suddenly turned things around as he embarked on an explosive run, winning 25 of his next 26 matches to claim four titles in five tournaments.
Although he was denied a Sunshine Double when Carlos Alcaraz beat him in the Indian Wells final, Medvedev did not stop there as he even found success in Rome where he won his first title on clay — the surface he despises the most.
By then he had made third spot in the rankings his own, capping the season off with a semi-final run at Wimbledon and another summit clash at the U.S. Open, where it was a case of deja vu as he fell to an unstoppable Djokovic yet again.
Nevertheless, Medvedev finished 2023 with 66 victories — more than any player on the ATP Tour — with 49 wins coming on hardcourts.
And the 27-year-old, who has reached five Grand Slam finals on hardcourts, is a man on a mission in 2024.
“I have just the biggest motivation ever to just continue finding my limits, to just go for more. Try to be even more professional, try to fight harder, be better on the court,” he told The National.
“I have big motivation to be even stronger physically to manage the season until the end. And hopefully I can have a lot of great tournaments.” — Reuters.
GOALKEEPER Andre Onana will miss Cameroon’s opening game of the Africa Cup of Nations against Guinea on Monday, having elected to play for Manchester United in their Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur the day before, Reuters understands.
United and the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) have been in discussions over an arrival date in the Ivory Coast for Onana, who had already delayed his travel once to play in the 2-0 FA Cup third round win over Wigan Athletic on Monday.
He will skip Cameroon’s Group C clash with Guinea, but is expected to travel for the Indomitable Lions’ games against Senegal (January 19) and Gambia (January 23).
Onana, 27, had walked out on Cameroon after a row with coach Rigobert Song at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but returned following reconciliation talks between the pair.
However, he was retired from international football when he joined United from Inter Milan in July, and his potential absence for up to four weeks depending on how far Cameroon progress, has come as a blow to the English club.
For that reason Cameroon have been flexible in their approach to the goalkeeper’s arrival and offered him some leeway.
“We’re talking with the Cameroon federation, it was an issue during the talks with Andre when he came in here (in July from Inter Milan),” United manager Erik Ten Hag told reporters last week. “It’s constructive.”
FECAFOOT did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters. — Reuters.
CHAMPIONS Ngezi Platinum Stars have pounced on former Zimbabwe national team fringe player Richard Hachiro as they begin pre-season training ahead of their title defence this season.
After a five-week break for the festive break, the Mhondoro side regrouped early this week and conducted medicals and fitness tests for the returning players before embarking on the first day of pre-season training on Wednesday morning.
The technical team, led by Takesure Chiragwi, was yesterday involved in a long meeting with the club’s board where they thrashed out plans for the upcoming season.
Ngezi Platinum Stars this season will be fighting on two fronts and would need adequate pre-season preparations to be able to handle the demands. They would want to make an impression on their debut CAF Champions League participation.
Ngezi Platinum Stars will unveil their team in the coming days and the Zimpapers Sports is reliably informed that they have so far settled for
Hachiro who is set to join from former champions Chicken Inn.
“The aim is to remain competitive as a team. We are also aware of the demands that come with playing in the African Safari.
“So, we need to really strengthen our team going into the new season.
“We have the young players in our development team who can come in and easily fit into the system,” said Chiragwi.
Ngezi Platinum Stars are set to retain most of their players, including veteran Qadr Amini, who was crowned 2023 Soccer Star of the Year, last season’s Golden Boot winner Takunda Benhura, Leslie Kashtigu, Tinotenda Murasiranwa, Delic Murimba, Claude Mapoka, Bruno Mtigo, Farai Madhanaga and goalkeeper Nelson Chadya.
Chiragwi is also expected to welcome back Tapiwa Sibanda and Wayne Makuva who were on a season-long loan at relegated Triangle last season. Ariel Makopa had already been recalled.
The team will also welcome back long-term injury casualty Carlos Mavhurume into the fold. Mavhurume suffered a knee injury and has since undergone corrective surgery.
THE Chevrons suffered a disappointing eight-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in the final One-Day International (ODI) at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo yesterday.
The match was reduced to 27 overs per side after rain.
The Chevrons were bundled out for just 96 runs after a rain delay, with Sri Lanka reaching the target in just 16.4 overs to take a 2-0 series win.
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat, and started well with an opening partnership of 43 by Joylord Gumbie and Takudzwanashe Kaitano in the first seven overs before a spectacular collapse to 96 all out in 22.5 overs.
Gumbie top scored with 29 runs off 34 deliveries, while Kaitano chipped in with just 17 runs from 24 balls.
Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga took seven wickets for 19 runs to bowl out the visitors.
The hosts chase down the target, finishing on 97/2 with 62 balls remaining, to continue their dominance over the Chevrons.
Luke Jongwe and Wellington Masakadza, who were playing their first match in the series, made 14 and 11 runs respectively, while all-rounder Sikandar Raza fell for 10 runs.
They were the only Chevrons’ batters to score double figures.
It was Zimbabwe’s most consistent bowler, Richard Ngarava who made the first breakthrough for the Chevrons, striking as early as the fifth ball of Sri Lanka’s innings.
Ngarava finished with figures of 1/20 in three overs, while Wellington Masakadza, who was also playing his first match of the series, took the other wicket to finish with figures of 1/15 in his 2.4 over spell.
New Sri Lankan skipper, Kusal Mendis, played a crucial captain’s knock, finishing undefeated on 66 off 51 balls.