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Olympic sprinter, Oscar Pistorious released from S’African prison

The double-amputee Paralympic and Olympic sprinter, Oscar Pistorius, was released from prison on parole on Friday, more than a decade after shooting his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in a killing that shocked the world, CNN reports.

A parole board granted Pistorius’ petition in November because he had served half of his 13-year sentence for shooting Steenkamp, making him eligible according to South African law.

A South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo, told CNN that Pistorius was released from Atteridgeville Correctional Centre, west of Pretoria, on Friday morning. He will be subject to parole conditions until his sentence expires in 2029.

In a statement Friday, Steenkamp’s mother said her only desire following Pistorius’ release is that she would be allowed to live her remaining years “in peace”.

“There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back,” June Steenkamp said. “We, who remain behind, are the ones serving a life sentence.”

Pistorius shot Steenkamp four times through a locked bathroom door in his home in Pretoria on February 14, 2013. He has maintained that he did not kill her in a fit of anger during a Valentine’s Day argument, as prosecutors argued, and said instead he had mistaken her for an intruder.

During the trial, which garnered global attention, Pistorius pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder and a firearms charge associated with Steenkamp’s killing.

He was initially convicted of manslaughter in 2014 and sentenced to five years. But a higher court overturned the conviction and upgraded it to murder a year later, increasing his sentence to six years in prison.

The ruling was appealed by prosecutors who claimed the sentence was too lenient. Pistorius’ sentence was increased to 13 years and five months by South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal in 2017.

Pistorius became eligible for parole in March 2023, due to a law for inmates who have served half of their sentence and met conditions such as good behavior. The legislation is part of the country’s “Restorative Justice” process, which gives offenders the opportunity to “acknowledge and take responsibility for their actions.”

According to the DCS, Pistorius will complete the remainder of his sentence in the country’s community corrections system.

He will have to attend programs on gender-based violence and continue therapy sessions on anger management, Reuters reported, citing a lawyer for the Steenkamp family.

The DCS said in a statement Wednesday that “general parole conditions” will apply, including Pistorius being required to be home at particular hours of the day. He will not be allowed to consume alcohol or prohibited substances and will be required to participate in programs identified by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board.

“Just like other parolees, Pistorius is restricted from conducting media interviews,” the statement added.

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Lagos SWAN Agrees To Unite As National President Isaiah Benjamin Visits, Parleys Members

Members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos State Chapter met with the National Leadership of the Professional body with a view to find lasting solution to the lingering issues.

The meeting which held inside the SWAN Chapter Secretariat located within the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos, had in attendance both Veterans and Young Sports Writing Practitioners, at the instance of SWAN National President, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin.

At the meeting, the President of SWAN while commending members of the sporting media at the Nigeria’s Commercial hub, recalled the high-octane vibrancy SWAN Lagos was known for, being the centerpiece of Journalism practice, particularly Sports Writing.

President Benjamin then urged all interests to sheath their swords and unite for the overall growth and well-being of the revered Association.

The number one sportswriter in Nigeria also reminded them of the need to join hands in restoring needed peace and be united as it were, adding, “For us at the National Executive Committee (NEC), we are committed to ensuring that the various 36 States and FCT Chapters are not only united but formidable.

“Everyone knows that yes all the Chapters are important, but Lagos is the hub of Journalism practice in Nigeria. So, as the privileged SWAN President today, I’m very much disturbed about what Lagos State Chapter has turned out to be in recent years. Since I took over, I haven’t rested. I have kept calling and engaging especially our veterans on best solution to the issues.

“It now for all SWAN members to join hands to restore the height SWAN is known for in Lagos and make it better. The good thing is that majority of Sports Writers, including the Elders are in agreement that there is need to reunite and, in few months, ahead make plans on to conduct fresh election.”

The SWAN President enjoined members to particularly rally round and allow the incumbent Chaper Executive led by Olatutu Oladunni to complete their tenure by October 2025 when a new election will be conducted, with an assurance that those who will form part of the Electoral Committee will be drawn from sides of the divide.

He also assured that the National Leadership will be unbiased in ensuring seamless process, just as it was done in FCT Chapter in 2024.

Some of the Elders and Young SWAN members who spoke during the meeting, including Mr. Kunle Salami, Mr. Patrick Ibeh, Mr. Victor Enyinnaya, Mr. Tony Ubani, Mrs Olatutu Oladunni, Mr. Enitan Obadina, Mrs Oluchi Tobe-Chukwu, Mrs Blessing Nwosu, Mr. Bello Omotunde, Mr. Kaseem Ajibola Mr. Oni Afolabi, Mr. Taiwo Adelu among others were one in echoing that the togetherness of the Association will go a long way in ensuring that the upcoming election in Lagos will be successful.

A number of NEC members including National Ex-Officio Mr. Abiodun Ogundipe, National Treasurer Mr. Femi Amusan, Vice President South-West zone Mr. Ayodeji Ogunsakin and Secretary-General Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo as well as South-West zonal Secretary Mr. Charles Ogundiya accompanied the SWAN President to the meeting.

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14th CAF EGA: Nigeria’s Amaju Pinnick favoured to retain FIFA Council seat

Nigeria’s Amaju Melvin Pinnick is highly favoured to retain his seat as a member of the 37-person FIFA Council – the supreme governing-organ for world football – when elections are conducted at the 14th Extraordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday.

The debonair football administrator is at the forefront of the race alongside Moroccan Fouzi Lekjaa and Egyptian Hany Abou Rida, with 10 persons to battle for the available five seats when the poll is called inside the Marriott Mena House on Wednesday morning.

Africa has seven seats on the FIFA Council, with the sitting CAF President’s position guaranteed. One of the seven seats is reserved for a woman, and here, CAF’s sitting 5th vice president Kanizat Ibrahim from the Comoros Islands will slug it out with sitting member Isha Johansen from Sierra Leone.

The contest for the FIFA Council seats will certainly be the fiercest ever, with Ivorian Yacine Idriss Diallo, Senegal’s Augustin Senghor, Niger Republic’s Djibrilla ‘Pele’ Hima Hamidou, Zambia’s Andrew Kamanga, Mauritanian Ahmed Yahya, Benin Republic’s Mathurin De Chacus and Djibouti’s Souleman Hassan Waberi also in the poll.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe, who is also unchallenged for a second term at African football’s helm, keeps his seat without any sweat, but will watch keenly as only half of the contestants, all strong and deft politicians in their own rights, make it to the esteemed FIFA Council.

Each of the 54 Member Associations will have the opportunity to vote five persons in the densely-populated male category, and one of the two women. President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, who will vote on behalf of Nigeria, landed in Cairo on Sunday in company with the General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi.

The Government of Nigeria, which publicly endorsed Pinnick’s candidacy through the Presidency in July 2024, is robustly represented, with Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, and Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade on ground.

There were indications on Tuesday morning that Mauritania’s Yahya may also sail through in the contest at the extraordinary general assembly that begins at 9am Nigeria time.

Unlike the elections into the FIFA Council, the race for seats into the CAF Executive Committee has been weakened by zonal arrangements that have seen single candidates emerge in most zones, except the southern African region where firestorms are expected.

South African mining billionaire Motsepe comes from the COSAFA region where four candidates viz, Elvis Chetty (Seychelles), Alfred Randriamanampisoa (Madagascar), Mohamed Ally Samir (Mauritius) and Feizal Ismael Sidat (Mozambique), battle for two seats.

Elsewhere, Cameroonian legend Samuel Eto’o Fils, who needed the intervention of the Court of Arbitration for Sports to be reinstated on the ballot, is the sole candidate for the UNIFFAC (Central Africa) region, as Mustapha Ishola Raji (Liberia) for the WAFU A zone; Kurt Edwin-Simeon Okraku for the WAFU B zone and; Algeria’s Sadhi Walid for the UNAF (North Africa) zone.

The only female seat is also uncontested, with Congolese Bestine Kazadi the only candidate on the ballot.

FIFA Council Poll: Amaju Pinnick (Nigeria); Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco); Hany Abou Rida (Egypt); Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania); Yacine Idriss Diallo (Cote d’Ivoire); Augustin Senghor (Senegal); Djibrilla ‘Pele’ Hima Hamidou (Niger Republic), Andrew Kamanga (Zambia), Mathurin De Chacus (Benin Republic) and; Souleman Hassan Waberi (Djibouti).

Female Seat: Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros); Isha Johansen (Sierra Leone)

CAF Exco Poll: Samuel Eto’o (UNIFFAC, unchallenged); Sadhi Walid (UNAF, unchallenged); Mustapha Ishola Raji (WAFU A, unchallenged); Kurt Edwin-Simeon Okraku (WAFU B, unchallenged); Elvis Chetty (COSAFA); Alfred Randriamanampisoa (COSAFA), Mohamed Ally Samir (COSAFA) and; Feizal Ismael Sidat (COSAFA)

Female Seat: Bestine Kazadi (DR Congo)

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Teams Recorded More Wins As JOF Kids Cup Hots Up In Lagos

Matches continued across centres in the ongoing 6th edition of U-13 JOF Kids Cup Tournament in Lagos at the weekend even as teams recorded more victories to stand in good position moving to the next stage of the competition.

At Lekki playground on Friday, Rock Boys from Oshodi spanked United Stars of Mafoluku, Oshodi in game that ended 1-0, while Ultimate Villa of Ikorodu beat Mushiner Babes from Mushin 2-0.

At Ojo Oniyun playground in Ebute Metta, Greater Tomorrow of Lagos Island were too much for Phoenix Boys from Apapa as they triumphed in a match that ended 3-1. It was penalty shootouts that decided the game between Striker Academy of Oko Oba and Young Boys from Ogijo after they played 2-2 draw in the regulation time. Striker Academy, however, carried the day with 5-4 penalties.

On Sunday, Dollar Boys of Ifako lost 1-2 to Future Babes from Oshodi, Landa Boys of Okokomaiko also lost their game 0-2 to Thank God Boys.

Meanwhile, the Chairman Organising Committee of the tournament, Samuel Omolola, commended the spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by the teams since the beginning of the tournament.

The tournament is sponsored by JOF Nigeria Limited, a wholly indigenous Nigerian company, which prides itself in the development of talent of the Nigerian youth