NFF to set record, Serena Slam and 7 sporting events that caught our eyes last week

We start from tennis where Wimbledon was the focus of attention and the ‘Serena Slam’ made it more memorable while in France, the Tour de France continues and saw its first African riders while the Nigeria Football Federation are on the way to setting a record for naming a coach of the Super Eagles just days after the departure of the former manager.

Serena Williams gets 21st Grand Slam title

Serena Williams on Saturday at the centre court of Wimbledon completed her Serena Slam – holding all four grand slam titles at the same time and her 21st Grand Slam, just one behind Steffi Graf. And she now has her mind fixed on retaining the US Open to ensure a calendar slam. The younger of the Williams’ sisters is surely on her way to becoming the greatest woman tennis player of all time if she is not already.

NFF to name Oliseh one week after sacking Keshi

In what is a radical departure from the workings of the Nigeria Football Federation, the Amaju Pinnick-led federation is set to name Sunday Oliseh as the substantive coach of the Super Eagles less than two weeks after Stephen Keshi’s sack. Looking for a coach for the national team in Nigeria has in the past ensured that officials could junket around the globe in search of the appropriate candidate.

Gatlin leads Gay and Powell in drug race

Athletics and drug use will always be in the news so much so that former drug cheats, now rehabilitated, continue to win races. Last week at Lausanne, the 100m winners’ podium had Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell – three athletes who have previously failed drug tests and served two-year bans. Gatlin, in particular, has been in blistering form this year but has been banned twice; serving a four-year ban from 2006-2010 as observers and Usain Bolt continue to be unconvinced about his genuineness.

First black man mounts Tour de France podium

The Tour de France has been an exclusive preserve of Caucasians but the 2015 edition has broken some barriers. Firstly, there is an African team, MTN-Qhubeka competing at the event, which started in 1903, and for the first time ever, a black man, Daniel Teklehaimanot earned a first ever Tour de France jersey, leading the mountain points and a podium.

The exits of club icons continues

This summer continues to see club icons exit their football clubs. Following on closely from Steven Gerrard’s exit from Liverpool, Iker Casillas tearfully bid Real Madrid farewell after 25 years of service – a time in which he won every title that was available. The way and manner Real and its president, Florentino Perez, went about this is galling and showed why footballers will not need to be loyal to any club. See Raheem Sterling!!!

Germany faced Greece’s wrath in political football

There is not supposed to be a mixture of politics with sports but that was not the case last Tuesday as the German under-19 team found out in Greece (on the throes of an economic collapse) as their national anthem was roundly booed before their match against Spain, which they roundly lost 3-0. The jeers must have gotten to Die Mannschaft’s young guns. The Greeks believe that Germany is the main opponents to their bail out by the European Union.