He warns money game rebels
LONDON. — England forward Jadon Sancho was among a number of sports stars adding their voice to worldwide protests against racism on Sunday.
Protests have been held after George Floyd, an unarmed black man, died while being restrained by Minneapolis police.
Sancho unveiled a “Justice for George Floyd” T-shirt after scoring for Borussia Dortmund against Paderborn.
Earlier, Marcus Thuram took a knee after scoring for Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Sancho, who scored a hat-trick as Dortmund thrashed Paderborn 6-1, was shown a yellow card for the gesture.
Sancho later wrote on Instagram: “Delighted to get my first career hat trick, a bittersweet moment personally as there are more important things going on in the world today that we must address and help make a change.
“We shouldn’t fear speaking out for what’s right, we have to come together as one & fight for justice. We are stronger together! #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd.”
Floyd died in police custody on Monday after a white officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes pinning him down.
Chauvin has since been charged with his murder and sacked.
American tennis player Serena Williams, a 23- time Grand Slam champion, shared a lengthy post on Instagram.
Underneath a video of a young black girl asking why she is treated differently to others because of her skin colour, a “heavy-hearted” Williams wrote that she was “lost for words”.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka wrote on Twitter: “Just because it isn’t happening to you doesn’t mean it isn’t happening at all.”
Teenager Coco Gauff, who had a fairytale run at Wimbledon in 2019, urged her Twitter followers to “demand justice for George Floyd”.
The 16-year-old posted the faces of black Americans who died in recent years at the hands of authorities or white fellow citizens, asking: “Am I next?”
Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster wrote a lengthy post on Twitter: “This is way deeper than just pointing out who’s staying quiet and whose speaking up.”
Brewster, who has previously spoken about the racist abuse he has suffered, continued: “For years and generations, we’ve been screaming out for change and to be heard, yet the pain continues.
“We don’t want special privilege. A level playing field is all we have been crying for, forever.
“Hear us. #BlackLivesMatter.” Vanessa Bryant, the widow of basketball legend Kobe, shared an image of her husband wearing an ‘I Can’t Breathe’ t-shirt.
“My husband wore this shirt years ago and yet here we are again,” she wrote.
“Life is so fragile. Life is so unpredictable. Life is too short.”
Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton criticised those in his industry for not speaking out.
“I’m one of the only people of colour and yet I stand alone,” the Briton (35) wrote on his Instagram story.
“I would have thought by now you would see why this happens and say something about it but you can’t stand alongside us.”— BBC Sport.
Sikhumbuzo Moyo in BULAWAYO
ONE of the country’s finest midfielders, Johannes “Tshisa” Ngodzo has warned players they risk an abrupt end to their careers if they engage in money games during the COVID-19 induced national lockdown.
A number of players contracted to Division One and Premier Soccer League clubs, especially in Harare, have in the past weeks been seen playing money games in various suburbs in the capital.
Several high-profile players were seen playing what appeared to be a well-organised match at Budiriro 3 Community Grounds where winners pocketed US$120.
CAPS United’s Blessing Sarupinda, Ngezi Platinum’s Devon Chafa and Dynamos’ Barnabas Mushunje some of the players that have been playing in the money games.
Highlanders’ new striker, Michelle Katsvairo, who earlier last month was seen in the company of Rodreck Mutuma during one of the matches, denied taking part in any of the games.
He said he was just a mere spectator.
Ngodzo said such activities were risky.
“What they are doing is not good at all, yes we know it’s been long without football but to then engage in those money games is not only totally unprofessional but risky,’’ said Ngodzo.
“They must know that careers can come to a brutal end and once you are injured in such games, you must forget about any assistance from your employers.
“Injuries in such games can’t be ruled out because as long as there is money involved, tackles are always going to be hard so I would really urge those involved to stop this defiance forthwith.’’
The former Highlanders and Warriors star midfielder’s promising career was also cut short by an ankle injury while on national team duty.
Ngodzo, who won the ZIFA Southern Region Division One championship as coach of Bantu Rovers in 2016, said if the players want to keep fit, they should do individual exercises.
“Our livelihood is derived from football, organised football that is, but when you find yourself playing money games, that is lack of vision,’’ he said.
“How much are you going to get from such matches compared to what you tend to lose in the event of an injury?
“Even if you win and share the winning purse, you can’t even buy two loaves of bread but you would probably have destroyed your career.
“As long as there is money, the tempo of the game changes, hard tackles become the order of the day which, naturally, can lead to an end to one’s career.
“Yes, the lockdown due to Covid19 is affecting everyone but it’s still not a reason to risk having your career coming to an end.”