COVENTRY CLINCH PROMOTION TO END 25-YEAR PREMIER LEAGUE EXILE

Coventry secured promotion to the Premier League on Friday as the Championship leaders' 1-1 draw against Blackburn ended their 25-year exile from the top-flight.

Coventry promoted to Premier League© X (Formerly Twitter)

Coventry secured promotion to the Premier League on Friday as the Championship leaders' 1-1 draw against Blackburn ended their 25-year exile from the top-flight. Frank Lampard's side needed a point from their trip to Ewood Park to be certain of automatic promotion. They did it the hard way, trailing to Ryoya Morishita's deflected 54th-minute strike before Bobby Thomas headed the priceless equaliser in the 84th minute. Having led the Championship table for much of the season, the Sky Blues have wrapped up their return to English football's elite with three games to spare.

"It was an incredible moment. This is what it's about," a tearful Lampard said in an emotional post-match interview.

"Coming here and getting a point at this stage isn't easy. We had to see it out and we didn't know whether to attack again.

"Doing this after 25 years? Wow! Wow!"

Backed by 7,500 raucous fans crammed into the Darwen End, Coventry were below their best for long periods of a nervous display.

But their performance will quickly be forgotten, replaced by life-long memories of the promotion party that followed Thomas' glancing header from Victor Torp's free-kick.

Supporters wept tears of joy when the final whistle announced their ascent to the Premier League.

"Amazing, amazing. I couldn't believe it when it went in," Thomas said. "It's been a hell of a season. I feel like we deserve it."

Now Lampard's men can set their sights on winning the Championship title, with second-placed Ipswich 11 points behind with five matches to play.

"This is a serious, serious football club. I grew up with them as a top flight club but I didn't realise," Lampard said.

"To go and get promotion automatically as a non-parachute team with three games to go. These boys have managed to achieve something special and unique."

Fittingly, Coventry's previous promotion to the top-flight in 1967 was also sealed at Blackburn when Rovers drew with Bolton.

That was the start of a 34-year spell in the top tier before relegation in 2001 sparked a steep decline.

Coventry plunged into the fourth tier for one season in 2017-18 and were even forced to play their home games in Northampton and Birmingham for three seasons due to a bitter legal battle between the club and their stadium's owners.

The 1987 FA Cup winners' rise back to prominence was initially piloted by Mark Robins, whose second spell in charge brought promotion from League Two and League One.

Losing the 2023 Championship play-off final against Luton stalled Coventry's momentum and eventually led to Robins' dismissal in 2024.

Hiring former England star Lampard as Robins' replacement proved an inspired move as he revived his career following sackings by Chelsea and Everton.

Lampard led Coventry away from the relegation zone in his first season before losing to Sunderland in the play-off semi-finals.

Fuelled by the pain of that near-miss, Coventry embarked on a relentless march to promotion.

A 7-1 demolition of QPR and a 5-3 win at Lampard's former club Derby in August established Coventry as the Championship's dominant force.

Jack Rudoni's assured presence in midfield, complemented by the goals of Haji Wright, Ellis Simms and Brandon Thomas-Asante, kept Coventry top of the pile as the promotion dream came true.

The Sky Blues' success has also reinvigorated the midlands city, according to Coventry's Lord Mayor Rachel Lancaster.

"It's huge for Coventry football club and the fans, but for Coventry itself as a city, this has been massive," she said.

Coventry owner Doug King added: "The fans have been starved of it for a long time and you can feel it.

"Twenty-five years is a huge amount of time. If you don't bounce back you feel like it's never going to happen.

"Getting out of this league is very difficult but we did it. We got the whole city together. I'm super proud of everybody."

- Agence-France Presse

A SHORT TALE OF EAST AFRICAN FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT FOR THE GOSSAGE CUP IN 1965

The year 1965 was historic for Tanganyika/Tanzania football after clinching the Gossage Cup title for the fifth time in Kampala, Uganda.

The team was captained by Sharif Salim and coached by Yugoslavian Pejo Celebic, who helped strengthen modern tactics.

The victory celebrations were made even more special when Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere personally congratulated the players, seen in the photo standing with the entire squad at the State House in Dar es Salaam.

For Mwalimu, football was not just a game, but a tool for national unity in a young nation.

The 1965 squad included:  

Kitwana “Popat” Manara, Sembwanna, Mohamed Chuma, Abeid Maulid, Mbaraka Salum, Abdallah Aziz, Kitwana Ibrahim, Hemed Seif, Hamisi Kilomoni, Mathias Kissa, Mohamed Msomali, Emil Kondo, John Limo (Lyimo), Abdulrahman Lukongo, Hamisi Fikirini, and Rashid Seif.

This victory cemented Tanzania’s place in East African football history, marking the end of the Gossage Cup era before it was renamed in 1967 to the East and Central African Challenge Cup, now known as the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.

- Muhidin Issa Michuzi

RIP: CONDOLENCES FLOOD IN FOR TWO DECEASED BOKS

REACTION: Mark Alexander, President of the South African Rugby Union. expressed condolences to the families and friends of two deceased Springboks

Springbok flank Johannes Hermanus Hugo Coetzee, better known as Jan Boland, passed away on Friday morning following illness.

Bok fullback Bevin Fortuin passed away on Thursday, at the age of 46.

Coetzee, who was born on 20 January 1945, made his international debut against the British & Irish Lions in Cape Town in 1974 at the age of 29, and played in a total of six Tests until 1976, when he started in all four Tests against the All Blacks on their tour of South Africa.

Rated as one of the best fetchers of his time, Coetzee was a stalwart of Stellenbosch University, and he played in 127 matches for Western Province between 1967 to 1979. He also represented the Junior Springboks, SA XV, Gazelles and SA Universities.

“To lose a member of the South African rugby family is never easy and Jan Boland’s passing is indeed a very sad day for us all,” Alexander said.

“He was much more than a hard-working flank and a legend of Western Province rugby, Jan Boland was a gentleman whose grace, humility and quiet strength left an indelible mark.

“Off the pitch, his life was rich and varied. After retiring from rugby, he became a successful winemaker and leaves behind a legacy of excellence in the wine industry.

“He was recognised not just for his technical and entrepreneurial achievements, but for his generosity, especially in sharing knowledge and uplifting those around him, and he also very passionate about support for workers in the agricultural sector.

“Above all, Jan Boland embodied values we all hold dear: humility, perseverance, and respect. He served his community and his craft, and I would like to extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, teammates, and everyone who experienced his kindness and inspiration – may you find solace in the memories of a great man.”

* Fortuin, who was born on 6 February 1979, played two Tests for the Springboks, against Ireland in Dublin in 2006, and against Australia in Sydney in 2007.

Provincially, he represented the SWD Eagles in 122 games between 2000 and 2010, and from 2005 to 2009, he played 79 times in the colours of the Cheetahs, including making 22 Super Rugby appearances.

Fortuin also played for the Emerging Springboks, SA U21s, and the Southern Kings.

After hanging up his boots, Fortuin ploughed back into the game with a long coaching career, working most recently as head coach of Gold Cup side Northam Rhinos.

“It is with deep sorrow and profound respect that we mourn the passing of Bevin Fortuin, a man whose life embodied integrity, humility and unwavering dedication to the game of rugby and the communities it uplifted,” said Mr Alexander.

“Bevin was more than a gifted player and coach; he was a mentor, a leader and a beacon of hope for many young athletes who saw in him the possibility of greatness grounded in grace. His contributions to South African rugby, both on and off the field, were marked by quiet strength and a deep sense of purpose. He carried the jersey with pride, and he wore his humanity even prouder.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and all who were fortunate to walk alongside him, may you find comfort in the legacy he leaves behind: one of service, excellence and compassion. His memory will live on in every try scored, every young player inspired and every community he touched.

“Bevin Fortuin’s name will forever be etched in the story of South African rugby – not only as a player, but as a man who gave his heart to the game and to the people it serves. May he rest in peace and may his spirit continue to guide us.”

- Sam Smith

CLASSIC FAST CARS | MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SEL 6.3 LITERS V8 ENGINE

Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 liters V8 engine - Acceleration from 0 to 100 km in 6.5 seconds.

It had 250 hp and an automatic transmission. It was one of the fastest four-door cars in the world at the time and was built from 1967 to 1972.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: SULER BOWL 59 MAY BE THE LAST GAME TRAVIS KELCE PLAYS IN NFL (REPORT)

Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes will try to win their fourth Super Bowl championship together on Sunday.
 

The Kansas City Chiefs have the chance to make NFL history on Sunday. If they win Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles, they will become the first team of the Super Bowl era to win three consecutive titles. It is important to note, though, that they would not be the first team to be crown champions of the NFL three consecutive times.

That honor, of course, goes to the Green Bay Packers, who did it twice. They won the league title in each season from 1929-1931 and again from 1965-1967, a stretch that included victories in Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II.

But while a victory over the Eagles in New Orleans on Sunday would add to the Chiefs’ legacy, it could also mark the end of a Hall of Fame career.

Kansas City Chiefs Tight End Travis Kelce May Retire if He Wins Super Bowl LIX

Super Bowl 57: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes passes the the Lombardi Trophy to Travis Kelce after winning the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium on Feb 12, 2023.
 

There is no doubt that Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will be a first ballot Hall of Famer as soon as he becomes eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A ten-time Pro Bowler and four-time First Team All-Pro, he has already won three Super Bowl titles with Kansas City, making him the most decorated tight end of all time.

Kelce’s 1,004 career receptions are the most among active NFL players and rank rank fourth all-time. Only Tony Gonzalez (1,325) and Jason Witten (1,228) have more than him among tight ends.

His 12,151 receiving yards are 24th in NFL history, with only Gonzalez (15,127) and Witten (13,046) ahead of him among tight ends as well.

Kelce’s 77 career touchdown receptions are 37th all-time, with only Gonzalez (111) and Jimmy Graham (89) ahead of him among tight ends.

And while Kelce has stated that he feels he could play for a number of years beyond this season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that sources close to Kelce are not so sure that he wants to:

“And while the star player has spoken glowingly about his situation and how much football he no doubt still has in him, sources say Kelce still hasn’t made up his mind about whether or not he’ll play in 2025.

“It is, in fact, possible that Super Bowl LIX on Sunday is the final game of Kelce’s 12-year professional career.

“Kelce, who is in the conversation for greatest tight end to ever play in the NFL, is expected to take time after the Super Bowl, consider his future and make a decision before free agency, which officially begins March 12.

“Sources informed of his thinking say Kelce’s decision could hinge on the results of Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.”

Per Rapoport, if Kansas City wins Super Bowl LIX, Kelce could decide to call it a career and ride off into the sunset after having won his third consecutive Super Bowl, and fourth overall. However, a loss to Philadelphia might light a fire under him and inspire him to return in 2025 to chase one more title with the Chiefs.

 - Robin M Adams

MUHAMMAD ALI FLIRTING WITH FUTURE WIFE BELINDA BOYF

Muhammad Ali, 24, flirts with future wife Belinda Boyd, 16, at a bakery shop in Chicago ... They married a year later in 1967.

CANADIAN GRAND PRIX: PREVIEW, PREDICTIONS, SESSIONS TIMES, AND MORE

 

Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll (R) with son Lance. Clive Mason/Getty Images

Formula One has reached round nine of the season: the Canadian Grand Prix, and the home race of Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and his father, Lawrence, who owns the team.

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is popular with fans and drivers alike. The circuit is made up of roads on the man-made island of Notre Dame in the middle of the St Lawrence River. The island was created in 1967 for Expo 67, a world fair, and later used for the 1976 summer Olympics before it morphed into an F1 circuit.

The circuit is fast with two long straights, but unforgiving with walls close to the track, few run off areas and tight hairpins, which mean cars must ride the kerbs, particularly before the first and last chicanes.

The changeable Montreal weather and the circuit layout often produces a classic race, like Jenson Button's famous 2011 win in the rain.

Look out for the final corner -- the Wall of Champions -- known for the amount of big names who have crashed into it over the years.

Latest news

Since last time out at Monaco, Sergio Pérez has signed a contract extension at Red Bull through to 2026, ending speculation over the Mexican's future and the available seat at the current top team.

Also, following his crash with his teammate Pierre Gasly at Monaco, Alpine confirmed Esteban Ocon will leave the French team at the end of the year, and he has been replaced for Canada's first practice session with reserve driver Jack Doohan.

Can Ferrari leave Canada top the constructors standings? Plus Canadian GP preview -- listen to the podcast.

Gilles Villeneuve takes the checkered flag in his Ferrari 312T3 at the end of the Canadian Grand Prix, Ile Notre-Dame, Montreal on Oct. 8 1978. It was the first race on the new circuit and his home grand prix. Klemantaski Collection/Getty Images

Circuit stats

Canada has hosted grands prix since 1967, but the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal was first held in 1978 and has been on the calendar nearly every year since. National hero Gilles Villeneuve won the inaugural race, and four years after his death the circuit would take his name.

Laps: 70 laps of 4.361km

Lap record: 1:13.078, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes (2019)

Most wins: Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton with seven wins each. Elsewhere from the current grid, Verstappen has two wins here in 2022, 2023, and Daniel Ricciardo in 2014.

Most poles: Schumacher and Hamilton are tied on six poles each. Elsewhere from the current grid, Verstappen has two in 2022, 2023, and Fernando Alonso has one in 2006.

Max Verstappen won the race in 2023, with Fernando Alonso finishing second and Lewis Hamilton in third. Gongora/NurPhoto via Getty Images

What happened last year

In the 2023 edition, Max Verstappen claimed the fourth of what went on to be a record 10-straight wins. The Dutchman won from pole in utterly dominant fashion and he also secured Red Bull's 100th race win since their debut in 2005.

Fellow world champions Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton were engaged in a thrilling battle for second and rounded off the podium.

Who's going to win?

This is a huge opportunity for Ferrari. We saw how good the Italian team were in Monaco on a street circuit, so Charles Leclerc will likely feel good about going back to back.

Meanwhile, Monaco exposed Red Bull's weakness, as Verstappen put it, with their issues riding kerbs; that will be a factor again at this circuit.

The forecast in Montreal is set for peak temperatures between 19-22°C and showers throughout the weekend. So far in 2024, there hasn't been a wet race, so rain and tyre choice could throw the cat among the pigeons.

Max Verstappen leads the drivers' championship by 31 points going into the Canadian Grand Prix. Peter J Fox/Getty Images

How to watch the GP

Watch on ESPNEWS and ESPN+ (U.S. only).

Live broadcast coverage in the U.K. is on Sky Sports F1, and BBC Radio 5 Live, with Sunday's highlights on Channel 4.

For news, analysis and updates, follow the coverage with ESPN's F1 team Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson in Montreal.

Friday, June 7

Free practice one - 18:30-19:30 BST / 13:30-14:30 EDT

Free practice two - 22:00-23:00 BST / 17:00-18:00 EDT

Saturday, June 8

Free practice three - 17:30-18:30 BST / 12:30-13:30 EDT

Qualifying - 21:00-22:00 BST / 16:00-17:00 EDT

Sunday, June 9

Race starts - 19:00 BST / 14:00 EDT

The grand prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a total distance of 305.27km over 70 laps. Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher hold the win record with seven each. Dan Istitene - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images

How the championships look

Verstappen leads the drivers' championship with 169 points, 31 points clear of Leclerc. McLaren's Lando Norris is currently third, just 25 points, or one race win, from second.

Red Bull lead the constructors' championship, but Ferrari's recent race wins and podiums have cut the deficit to just 24 points.