Raheem Sterling (Football) – Manchester City and England winger, born in 1994, is 22 today.

Sir Geoff Hurst (Football) – England’s hat-trick hero in the 1966 World Cup final, born in 1941, is celebrating his 75th birthday today.

Brian McClair (Football) – The former Manchester United and Scotland forward, born in 1963, is 53 today.

Amir Khan (Boxing) – Olympic silver medallist and former two-time world champion, born in 1986 is 30 today.

Congratulations go to Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne and his girlfriend Michele Lacroix. Lacroix posted on her Instagram page earlier: “Today is my birthday and 4 days ago I got the best pre birthday surprise. I’m going to marry my best friend, partner in crime, love of my life. #MrsDeBruyne.”

Barcelona have invited Brazilian side Chapecoense to play a friendly at the Nou Camp next August as a tribute to the victims of the air crash that all but wiped out the Brazilian team last month. “FC Barcelona want to pay homage to the 71 people that died in the accident and to their families so it is working on making the 2017 edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy a homage on behalf of the world of football to all of them,” said a club statement. The Joan Gamper Trophy is Barcelona’s traditional curtain raiser, taking place each year at the Nou Camp a week before the start of the La Liga season between Barca and an invited team. Nineteen Chapecoense players were killed in the plane crash in Colombia as the team were travelling to the first leg of the final of the Copa Sudamericana against Atletico Nacional, along with directors and their coaching staff and journalists.

UEFA has charged Dynamo Kiev and Besiktas with disciplinary offences after fan violence during Tuesday’s Champions League game between the teams in Kiev. Clashes involving hundreds of fans in the Ukrainian capital before the game, which Kiev won 6-0, left 10 people injured and there was further trouble at the stadium. UEFA has charged both teams over crowd disturbances and the use of fireworks, while Besiktas have also been charged with fans causing damage to the stadium while Dynamo face a safety charge over stairways being blocked. Kiev is due to host the 2018 Champions League final.

Zambia thrashed Zimbabwe 5-1 in their opening Group B match of 2016 Cosafa U-20 Championships played at the  Moruleng Stadium on Wednesday.
The Chipolopolo side led after just 40 minutes when Patson Daka capitalised on slack defending to roll in. Edward Chilufya smashed in the second after he leaped highest to head home from Solomon Sakala delivery to make it 2-0 by half time. Zimbabwe offered little sign of making a comeback, falling
further behind when Sakulanda drilled in a precise 15-yard strike ten minutes later. Fashion Sakala skipped around a static defence to slot with a goal that seemed to have burried the the Zims.  And when it seemed it was over Zambia relaxed and allowed themselves to absorb some pressure at their back yard allowing a penalty that made Zimbabwe pull one back through Bukhosi Sibanda. In the dying minutes, Zambia added the fifth when second-half subsitute Moses Nyondo combining well with Keneth Kalunga to seal the 5-1 victory for the ten-time regional champions. Story Courtesy: Sampson Adedeji.