7 things we saw last week | Rangers can touch it as Palmer departs at 87

Rangers close in on first league title in 32 years

It should be a celebration of stupendous proportion in Enugu next Sunday as Enugu Rangers win the domestic football league for the first time in 32 years. The Coal-City team boasted an all-conquering team in the 70s and early 80s, with players like Christian Chukwu, Aloysius Atuegbu and the goalkeeping giant in Emmanuel Okala. Current Rangers’ coach Imama Amapakabo, was 14 when they last won the title.

Golf legend passes on at 87

One of golf’s most charismatic characters, Arnold Palmer, has died at the age of 87. Palmer, who was fondly called ‘The King”, won seven major championships, and the tributes have continued to pour in. Fellow great, Jack Nicklaus, said, “Arnold transcended the game of golf. He was more than a golfer or even great golfer. Nicklaus continued: “He was an icon. He was a legend. Arnold was someone who was a pioneer in his sport. He took the game from one level to a higher level, virtually by himself.

Arsenal beat Chelsea in the league for the first time in 5 years

It was a sweet 20th anniversary for Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger last Saturday at the Emirates as his side swept Chelsea aside 3-0. The French manager had continuously suffered the indignation of the Chelsea monkey on his back since his last win over their London neighbours.

Fury “runs” away from rematch against Klitschko

Tyson Fury, World heavyweight boxing champion, for the second time pulled out of his rematch against former champion, Wladimir Klitschko because his medical team certified him as being “medically unfit” to fight.

Most of the associations for which Fury holds titles have stipulations that champions must defend their titles at least once every 12 months. Which means that the British boxer could be stripped of his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles anytime soon.

Totti scores 250th Serie A goal

Just three days shy of his 40th birthday, Roma legend again rose from the bench to score though they lost 3-1 away to Torino. That was his 250th Serie A goal and is 24 goals short of Silvio Piola’s record of 274, which was set in 1954. Totti had some challenges last season when he made sporadic appearances for the Gilliarossi last season. The World Cup winner is playing his 25th consecutive season at his only professional club, Roma.

LeBron James supports Kaepernick’s protest

Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James has come out to say he supports athletes who chose to protest racial inequality during the rendition of the US national anthem even though James does not have any plan in joining the growing number of athletes who have joined San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback, Colin Kaepernick in seating or kneeling for the national anthem. “I’m all in favor of anyone – athlete or non-athlete – being able to express what they believe in a peaceful manner.”

And finally…

Bekele narrowly misses record

Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele narrowly missed setting a new world Marathon record as he beat Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang to win the Berlin marathon in the second fastest race of all time. At the end of the race, Bekele said, “I wanted to run a personal best; that was my first goal. The time was fantastic but I am a bit disappointed as well, as I missed a few seconds in the end.”