Sports
US judge dismisses rape suit against Cristiano Ronaldo
A US district judge in Las Vegas has dismissed a rape lawsuit against football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, castigating the legal team behind the complaint.
Judge Jennifer Dorsey threw out the case brought by Kathryn Mayorga of Nevada, who alleged she was assaulted by the Portuguese football star in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009.
In a 42-page ruling released Friday, the judge accused Mayorga’s attorneys of “abuses and flagrant circumvention of the proper litigation process” and said that as a result, “Mayorga loses her opportunity to pursue this case.”
Her attorneys had actually moved to dismiss the case voluntarily last month, US media said, but Dorsey decided that their repeated use of illicitly obtained confidential documents meant the case had to be dismissed “with prejudice” — meaning it cannot be revived.
“Nothing less than a with-prejudice dismissal will purge the taint that has permeated this case from its very inception and preserve the integrity of the litigation process,” Dorsey wrote.
Mayorga filed a complaint in September last year alleging she was sexually assaulted by Ronaldo, who strongly denied the accusations.
Mayorga said that while she had agreed to a financial settlement with Ronaldo shortly after the alleged incident — reportedly for $375,000 — her emotional trauma at the time did not allow her to participate in the mediation process.
But in trying to revive the case, Dorsey found, Mayorga’s lawyer Leslie Stovall made repeated use of “cyber-hacked attorney-client privileged documents.”
That use of the documents was “bad faith,” the judge ruled, “and simply disqualifying Stovall will not cure the prejudice to Ronaldo, because the misappropriated documents and their confidential contents have been woven into the very fabric of Mayorga’s claims.”
Sports
Adeyemi defeats Adekanla to clinch West Africa boxing title
Segun Adeyemi has been crowned the West African Boxing Union (WABU) light welterweight champion.
Adeyemi, popularly known as War, defeated compatriot Adeyemi Adekanla via majority decision to claim the regional belt on Wednesday at GOtv Boxing Night 31 held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
The victory was Adeyemi’s 11th win in 12 professional fights with just one draw. His opponent was also undefeated before the bout, with 12 wins in 13 professional fights.
In other bouts, the 16-year-old Raheem “Badoo” Animashaun secured a fourth-round technical knockout win over Samuel Moses in their national light welterweight challenge fight.
Badoo’s performance in the fight earned him the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy for the best boxer of the night with N1 million cash prize.
The teenager is the son of Jamiu “Rotor” Animashaun, a former professional boxer who fought in the first two editions of GOtv Boxing Night.
Also, on the night, Adewale “Playboy” Oladeji sealed a unanimous decision win over Afikun “Ijebu” Gbenga in their super welterweight encounter.
Emmanuel “Ability” Abimbola secured a split decision win over Azeez “Latest” Ayobami in a national lightweight challenge fight, while Sikiru “Omo Iya Eleja” Shogbesan defeated Batholomew “Aboy” Abuchi via technical knockout in their national super featherweight challenge duel.
However, the national flyweight challenge bout between Sikiru “Isho” Ogunyaju and the current national flyweight champion, Sifon “Best” Iwatt, ended in a tie.
Also, the national light welterweight challenge fight between Hammed “Eshe” Ganiyu and Yusuf “Hungry Lion” was declared a no-contest after the latter sustained an injury in the second round from a headbutt by his opponent.
Sports
19 years later, NFF still owes me salary as Eagles coach, says Christian Chukwu
Christian Chukwu, former Super Eagles captain, says the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) still owes him salary from his time as the country’s male senior national team head coach.
Chukwu, nicknamed “The Chairman”, was head coach of the Eagles between 2002 and 2005.
He led the team to a bronze medal at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia.
The manager was relieved of the job in June 2005 during the qualification campaign for the World Cup in Germany.
In a chat with The Athletic Nigeria on Monday, Chukwu said 19 years after his stint with the Eagles, NFF is yet to pay him some of his salary from the period.
The Chairman added that he is not the only indigenous coach owed by the federation, adding that some of the victims are dead now.
“They owe Nigerian coaches. They don’t owe foreign coaches. It is a problem. You take on an indigenous coach who takes a cheap salary, and you owe him,” Chukwu said.
“Is it proper? Are you encouraging him to do his job? I am still being owed up to today. They are still owing me till tomorrow. My files are there with the NFF. There is nothing I can do [to get them to pay me]. The file is there. Go to their office, and you will see how much they owe me. Not only me, other indeginuos coaches are being owed too. Some are late.”
In 2019, Chukwu suffered prostate cancer, which affected his leg. The family had to open a GoFundMe appeal to solicit funds for the Nigeria football legend’s medical treatment.
Femi Otedola, the billionaire businessman, eventually paid $50,000 for Chukwu’s treatment overseas.
Chukwu captained Nigeria to its first AFCON success in 1980. He also led the Enugu Rangers FC team that won the Africa Cup Winners Cup in 1977.
Sports
Nnadozie wins best goalkeeper of the season award in France
Chiamaka Nnadozie, Super Falcons of Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, has been voted the season’s best goalkeeper in the French Division 1 Feminine League.
The 23-year-old was announced the award winner on Monday night. She received the individual accolade following a stellar season in which she garnered a reputation as a penalty expert, saving seven spot-kicks in the league and Champions League, the highest in Europe this season.
Notre gardienne @Nadoziechiamaka est élue 𝐌𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐞 𝐥𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑/𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 🥇✨
— Paris FC Féminines (@PFC_feminines) April 29, 2024
🔵⚪️ #CertifiéParis #TrophéesD1Arkema pic.twitter.com/mMOzaG7jxk
Her penalty-saving heroics saw her lead Paris FC to shoot-out wins over giants Arsenal and Wolfsburg in the Women’s Champions League. She also guided the Paris-based club to the semi-final stage of the competition where they were knocked out by rivals Lyon.
Speaking at the event, the 2023 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year winner said she is “very happy” to have won the award.
On his part, Pierre Ferracci, president of the club, praised the Nigerian goalkeeper.
“It’s very pleasing, because she deserves it and she achieved an exceptional Champions League and not only on penalties. She is adorable. It is deserved. We know that she will be courted this summer but we will try to keep her,” Ferracci added.
Paris FC are third in the League with 42 points, eight points behind Paris, their local rivals, and a further 11 points away from Lyon, the league leaders.
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