Tariku Bekele

As Ethiopian star Kenenisa Bekele prepares to defend his Olympic 10,000 meters gold medal in London, his toughest competition could very well come from his younger brother, 25-year-old Tariku. On Sunday in Hengelo, the Netherlands, Tariku clocked 27:11:70, the fastest time in the world this year for the 25-lap race.

The Dutch competition doubled as Ethiopia’s 10,000 meters qualification race for the London Games. Lelisa Desisa finished a close second, only 0.28 behind Tariku, to also book a ticket to London. Ethiopia’s third Olympic 10,000

Kenenisa Bekele

meters berth was reserved for Kenenisa Bekele.

Kenenisa is regarded as one of the greatest distance runners of all time. He is the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder at both five thousand meters (12:37:35) and 10,000 meters (26:17:53). However, he has not been in top form the past two years because of leg injuries.

Another Ethiopian who has not been in top form in recent years is Haile Gebrselassie, a former world record holder and two-time Olympic champion at 10,000 meters who was hoping to qualify for his fifth Olympics.

Haile Gebrselassie

But Father Time is one opponent the 39-year-old Ethiopian star has not been able to beat. Haile finished seventh in Hengelo, and afterwards hinted to reporters that he is moving closer to retirement from athletics. He made journalists laugh when he said at the post-race press conference: “Well, after this you will see me you know not with a track suit – with a suit!

Off the track, Haile has been wearing that business suit more often. He has become a successful businessman with several commercial ventures, including a resort hotel at Ethiopia’s Lake Awassa.

Didier Drogba

Ivorian star Didier Drogba said Tuesday he’s leaving Chelsea Football Club at the end of June when his contract expires after eight years with the club, which won the UEFA Champions League title May 19th in Munich, Germany.

In a statement at Chelsea’s website, the 34-year-old Drogba said: “I wanted to put an end to all the speculation and confirm that I am leaving Chelsea. It has been a very difficult decision for me to make and I am

Didier Drogba and his Chelsea teammates celebrate their UEFA Champions League trophy (Getty Images)

very proud of what we have achieved, but the time is right for a new challenge for me. As a team, we have accomplished so much and won every single trophy possible.”

Drogba’s biggest trophy came in Munich, where he played a huge role in Chelsea’s first-ever European title. He scored the equalizer in the 88th minute against host Bayern Munich, to take Chelsea into extra time and then a penalty kick shootout. And then the muscular striker scored the winning penalty kick in Chelsea’s 4-3 penalty shootout victory.

Drogba delivered 157 goals in 341 appearances for the West London club, and his 34 goals in European competition is a Chelsea record. The two-time African Footballer of the Year also won three English Premier League titles, four English F.A. Cups and two Carling League Cups.

He says holding the trophy in Munich, after losing in the UEFA Champions League final four years earlier in Moscow, was a crucial moment in deciding to leave Chelsea. “I think winning the final was the key,” says Drogba, “and not me scoring the winning penalty but winning the game I think was the turning point. I think it’s the best time to move on.”

Didier Drogba’s next move may be China, where he reportedly would join former Chelsea teammate Nicolas Anelka with the club Shanghai Shenhua.

Mwamoyo Hamza

In this Olympic year, Mwamoyo Hamza says the favorite sporting event he’s covered was the 1984 Los Angeles Games. In an email sent from his Tanzanian homeland, Mwamoyo looks back fondly on those Olympics in Los Angeles: “The first time I came to the USA was for reporting the 1984 Summer Olympics. I was a strapping 24-years-old. After having lived in a country with limited information, I was surprised by the USA’s prosperity and freedom.”

Mwamoyo says his first trip to the USA helped inspire him to study in the United States. He graduated with double majors in Journalism and Mass Communication from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Mwamoyo has moved on to become chief of the VOA’s Swahili Service, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a ceremony in Washington. “It was a great feeling,” says Mwamoyo. “It was a great honor on behalf of all the good broadcasters who made Swahili Service what it is today.”

In addition to his chief duties, Mwamoyo also broadcasts sports in Swahili. It’s always interesting to get Mwamoyo’s take on the National Basketball Association Playoffs, since basketball is his favorite sport. He’s picking the Miami Heat to win this year’s NBA title.

Miami lost to the Dallas Mavericks, four games to two, in last season’s NBA Finals. Mwamoyo says he wasn’t surprised to see the Mavericks swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-0, in the first round. “All season long, they (the Mavericks) did not play like champions.”

Yaya Toure

Here’s a Sonny Side of Sports salute for Yaya Toure, the Ivorian and Manchester City football star who probably will be celebrating his 29th birthday next week by holding the English Premier League trophy.

The 2011 African Footballer of the Year scored both goals for Man City Sunday in a crucial 2-0 road victory over Newcastle United.

Yaya Toure scores his second goal against Newcastle

Toure put Man City in front in the 69th minute with a beautiful goal from just outside the box to the bottom of the right corner of the goal. And then in the 89th minute, the rugged midfielder sealed the victory with another goal.

With the triumph, Manchester City is on the verge of its first English Premier League title since 1968. Man City is level on points, with 86, with local rival Manchester United. But Man City has the edge on goal difference and it’s expected to wrap up the league title when it plays at home against struggling Queens Park Rangers in its final match May 13th.

Man City’s Italian manager, Roberto Mancini, is delighted with his team’s victory over Newcastle and he describes Yaya Toure as a fantastic player. Yaya’s older brother, 31-year-old Kolo, also plays for Man City, and the Toure brothers make regular appearances for Ivory Coast’s national team, currently top-ranked in Africa.