AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR
Ghetto Kids to light up CAF Awards 2023 in Marrakech
From Uganda to the world! The Ghetto Kids have seen it all. The FIFA World Cup in Doha. A halftime performance at a PSG game in Paris. Britain’s Got Talent in London. And wait for it. The acclaimed CAF Awards 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco!
Exuberance. Energy if you wish. This is them. The Ghetto Kids widely known for performing in Ugandan artist and Grammy nominated Eddy Kenzo’s music videos have since become a household name globally and continue scaling the heights.
And when they perform at the CAF Awards 2023 at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday, December 11, it will be yet another opportunity for them to showcase their excellence and hard work but most importantly their niche to further celebrate Ugandan and African music through their dance moves.
This performance is also the perfect opportunity to pay homage to Moroccan rapper French Montana who featured them in his ‘Unstoppable’ hit back in 2017 in his country of origin.
Jacks of all genres. The Ghetto Kids can switch from South American music to Afro Beats to a fine touch of techno, pop music, electronic music and back to house music in a few minutes of performing. They are good. Actually, they are brilliant.
“We have performed in so many places across the world but to be invited here for the CAF Awards 2023 is a dream come true. We are being celebrated on our continent and we are going to perform in front of so many legends and people we normally would see on television,” expressed Dauda Kavuma, the Ghetto Kids Manager and father figure told CAFOnline.com.
Kavuma beams with joy and a full ear-to-ear smile on his face as he thinks back at a few moments ago when Zambian and African Legend Kalusha Bwalya walked up to him and said he admires the work that he is doing with the Ghetto Kids.
“I cannot believe it. Kalusha walked up to me and said hello before saying that he is our very big fan and that he has been following our work for some time now. This is unbelievable. It is truly amazing. I am extremely humbled about this moment.”
Bwalya, who was the African Footballer of the Year in 1988 – the same year that Kavuma was born, expressed outright sincere admiration for the Ghetto Kids.
“My wife and I have watched the Ghetto Kids so many times and to see them here in Marrakech is very exciting. I cannot wait to see them perform at the CAF Awards. They can switch from one genre of music in South America to AfroBeats to everything and anything they prefer. I love them,” Bwalya said passionately.
Bwalya, who is of the Bemba Tribe in Zambia further explained that his numerous visits to Uganda have continued to show him the similarities between the two countries and notably pointed out some Luganda words – a language spoken predominantly within the Ghetto Kids fraternity.
For Kavuma, the CAF Awards is the perfect birthday gift as he turns 35 on Monday.
“I love football. I wanted to be a professional footballer but when things did not work out, I realized that I could use music, dance and drama to achieve big dreams and here we are now. We have traversed the world and continue to create impact everywhere we go. There is a strong connection between music and football. This is the definition of entertainment,” the excited and grateful Kavuma added.
Right next to him beaming with so much joy is 14-year-old Akram Muyanja. He has just met Senegalese icon El Hadji Diouf. He cannot believe his eyes.
“This means so much to me. I am a big Liverpool fan so to see Diouf in person means a lot. Tata (Kavuma) knows him and has told me a lot about him. Wow! I will always remember this moment,” explains Muyanja who is over the moon as he looks at the photo he has taken with Diouf.
Kavuma, who is a father figure to the 30 Ghetto Kids who live in the same house in Kampala, is keen on providing a good education for all of them who are between the ages of five and 13.
Thirteen-year-old Priscilla Kisakye Zawedde who was part of the history-making Ghetto Kids team that wowed the crowd at this year’s Britain’s Got Talent in London is excited about performing in Marrakech.
Zawedde sees this as the perfect opportunity to continue their amazing work as music continues to open doors for the Ugandans. Together with her mates, they cannot wait to get onto the stage and light up the CAF Awards 2023 on Monday.
-Caf
Iran’s conflict with the U.S. and Israel has led to sporting events being postponed in several countries, while competitions elsewhere have been hit by travel disruption, with thousands of flights cancelled in some of the world’s busiest transit hubs.
ATHLETES’ ARRIVALS AT PARALYMPIC GAMES DISRUPTED
The International Paralympic Committee said it is working to find solutions after several athletes were finding it difficult to travel to the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympic Games due to travel disruptions in several Middle Eastern airports.
“The closure of airspace in the Middle East is impacting the arrival of some stakeholders… we are working diligently with Milano Cortina 2026 to find solutions for those affected,” the IPC said on Tuesday.
TENNIS IN UAE HALTED DUE TO SECURITY ALERT
The ATP Challenger event in Fujairah was cancelled due to safety concerns after a security alert abruptly halted play.
The ATP Tour later said a charter flight had been arranged , “fully funded by the ATP to assist with departures from the region at no cost to players”.
U.S. WITHDRAW FROM HOCKEY WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
The U.S. men’s hockey team withdrew from a hockey World Cup 2026 qualifier in Ismailia, Egypt, after an official advisory from the State Department urging all U.S. citizens to leave nations within or close to conflict zones.
The International Hockey Federation said the U.S. team had withdrawn with the body’s “full support” and the team departed Egypt earlier on Wednesday.
SOCCER MATCHES IN IRAN AND QATAR POSTPONED, SPAIN V ARGENTINA IN DOUBT
All sporting events in Iran have been cancelled until further notice, including the country’s top-flight Persian Gulf Pro League.
The Qatar Football Association indefinitely postponed all soccer matches in the country, putting in doubt a clash between Spain and Argentina set for Doha on March 27. The Bahraini FA also halted all domestic competitions.
ASIAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCHES POSTPONED
Round of 16 clashes featuring Middle Eastern clubs in the Asian Champions League Elite in the first two weeks of March have been postponed until further notice.
Next week’s quarter-final clashes in the Asian Champions League Two and the Asian Challenge League, featuring clubs from the region, are also postponed, the continental soccer body (AFC) said on Wednesday.
TENNIS PLAYERS MEDVEDEV, RUBLEV STUCK IN DUBAI
Russian players Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, who participated in the Dubai Tennis Championships last week, were among players facing travel difficulties in reaching California for the Indian Wells Open.
The ATP Tour said on Wednesday that the vast majority of players who were in Dubai had successfully departed on selected flights.
WEC POSTPONES SEASON OPENER IN QATAR
The World Endurance Championship postponed its season-opening race scheduled for March 28 at the Lusail circuit in Qatar, until later this year.
“A new date for the Qatar 1812km during the second half of the campaign will be finalised and communicated in due course,” the WEC said in a statement.
MIDDLE EASTERN F1 RACES HANG IN THE BALANCE
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who heads the global motorsport governing body FIA, said safety will be their main concern when taking a decision on next month’s Formula One races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
“Safety and wellbeing will guide our decisions as we assess the forthcoming events scheduled there for the FIA World Endurance Championship and the FIA Formula One world championship,” he said on Monday.
SINDHU WITHDRAWS FROM BADMINTON’S ALL ENGLAND OPEN
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu withdrew from the All England Open after being stranded for days at Dubai airport. She returned to India on Tuesday.
“Back home in Bangalore and safe. The last few days have been intense and uncertain, but I’m truly grateful to be back at my house,” Sindhu wrote on X.
-Reuters
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Three Super Eagles players have made the shortlist for this year’s AF Awards holding in Marrakesh, Morocco in December.
Expectedly, Ademola Lookman is listed among those for the elite award, the African Footballer of the Year. He is joined by Super Eagles’ captain, William Troost-Ekong. The revelation came from CAF through their X handle.
There are 10 players on the shortlist and in the next few days, that will be cut by half before the final three.
Listed in the elite category are Amine Gouiri of Algeria, Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), Simon Adingra (Cote d’Ivoire), Chancel Mbemba (Congo), Serhou Guiracy (Guinea), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Soufiane Rahimi (Morocco) and Rowen Williams (South Africa).
Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is nominated for the Goalkeeper of the Year award. He will contest the award with Morocco’s Yassine Bounou (now in Saudi Arabia), Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, and Senegal’s Djigui Diarra and Cameroon’s Andre Onana.
AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR
Nigerian Breweries raise a toast to Osimhen, Oshoala, and Nnadozie on CAF Awards victories
Nigerian Breweries Plc, a long-standing pillar of support for Nigerian football, has expressed immense pride and joy in the nation’s historic achievements at the 2023 CAF Awards.
The victories of Super Eagles’ forward, Victor Osimhen, and Super Falcons’ duo of Asisat Oshoala, and Chiamaka Nnadozie, were celebrated by the Head of Marketing Communications at Nigerian Breweries, Sandra Amachree who stated, “It is incredibly pleasing to see Nigerian football being celebrated in such a positive light.
This feat serves as a powerful inspiration and bodes well for the upcoming 2024 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments for both men and women in Cote D’Ivoire and Morocco, respectively.”
Sandra Amachree further highlighted the significance of these awards, emphasizing their potential to inspire further investment in Nigerian football by Nigerian Breweries.
“This success is a testament to the dedication and talent of our players, and it encourages us to continue investing in initiatives that raise the bar for football in Nigeria,” she added.
Osimhen ended Nigeria’s 24-year wait; winning the coveted ‘African Footballer of the Year’ award.
The Napoli striker follows in the footsteps of Nigerian legends like Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Nwankwo Kanu, and Victor Ikpeba
For Oshoala, she continued her reign as the queen of African football by securing a record-extending sixth CAF Player of the Year (Women) award.
While Nnadozie’s impressive performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup was duly acknowledged as she was awarded the Goalkeeper of the Year (Women) title.
The Super Falcons, consistently supported by Amstel Malta Ultra and Zagg Energy Drink with Malt, received their due recognition as they were crowned the Women’s National Team of the Year.
Nigerian Breweries, through some of its brands like 33 Export Lager, Star Lager, Life Continental Beer, Amstel Malta Ultra, and Zagg Energy Drink with Malt, has consistently demonstrated its unwavering support for Nigerian football since February 2018.
This commitment extends to both the men’s and women’s teams, as showcased by their continued backing of the Super Eagles and Super Falcons respectively.
Osimhen, a past recipient of the 33” Export Lager Man-of-the-Match Award, represents the ongoing commitment of 33 Export Lager and Life Continental Beer to the Super Eagles.
Similarly, the Super Falcons have enjoyed unparalleled support from Amstel Malta Ultra and Zagg Energy Drink with Malt, fostering a strong partnership between the brands and the women’s national team.
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