Tears in Ecuador as Body of football star Benitez arrives for funeral (PHOTOS)

The body of former Birmingham City striker Christian Benitez has been flown home to Ecuador after his death aged 27, with fans lining the streets to bid farewell on the way to his funeral.

The coffin was accompanied on the flight from Doha in Qatar by his wife Liseth Chala and other grieving relatives.

The 27-year-old Ecuadorian international striker died Monday after playing his first match for Qatari league side El Jaish a day before HERE).

Lazio captain Mauri banned for six months over match-fixing

Lazio captain Stefano Mauri was banned for 6 months by the Italian football federation on Thursday for his part in a match-fixing scandal.

Mauri was one of 8 players accused of rigging the Serie A games between Lazio-Genoa and Lecce-Lazio in May 2011 and for failing to report match-fixing. He was found guilty for his role in the Lecce match but cleared of anything untoward against Genoa.

Cancer survivor tells amazing story of meeting with Federer

They say when the fight is against cancer, there is only one winner. But 18-year-old Beatriz Tinoco beat the odds by putting the dreadful disease to shame. Things were to get better for her as she was opportune to hang out with the greatest tennis player of all time Roger Federer.

The cancer survivor got to meet her hero through the Make A Wish Foundation and it is safe to say she was not disappointed by her time spent with the Swiss master.

She took to TwitLonger to tell her story and we thought we would share it with you here too.

Federer is the most successful tennis player in history but the below shows he is still a humble gent. Sportunes salutes you Mr. Federer!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - Stephan Effenberg, Reuben Kosgei, Helder Postiga, Michel Bastos, Giampaolo Pazzini, Nacer Chadli

Stefan Effenberg



Stefan Effenberg is 45 years today. The German international was a controversial midfielder, In the Bundesliga alone – where he represented most notably Bayern Munich, in six seasons in two different spells – Effenberg collected 109 yellow cards, an all-time worst at the time of his retirement.

Here's A Leaked Letter Aaron Hernandez Wrote In Prison

TMZ has published a letter that Aaron Hernandez sent a "pen pal" from the Bristol County House of Correction, where he's awaiting trial on murder charges.

He writes that he's going to be found not guilty and his faith in God is helping him through tough times in prison.

He also admits that he "fell off" when he got a big NFL contract.

TRIVIA.. Lets get Quizzical

               


If you were watching Ferencvaros Vs Debrecen in a stadium, what country will you be in?

- Serbia

- Hungary

- Slovakia

DID YOU KNOW?

During the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, the procession of athletes is always led by the Greek team, followed by all the other teams in alphabetical order (in the language of the hosting country), except for the last team which is always the team of the hosting country.

Greece always enters the stadium first due to its status as the birthplace of the Olympics. Before the Games, the Olympic Flame is lit in Olympia - the site of the Ancient Olympic Games, in a ceremony that reflects ancient Greek rituals and initiates the Olympic torch relay. 

The flag of Greece is always hoisted in the closing ceremony, along with the flags of the current and the next host country.

The Official World Cup Countdown Clock Is Stuck

The official World Cup countdown clock in Rio de Janeiro has stopped in time.

Although there are less than 11 months before the 2014 World Cup begins, the clock set up by local organizers at Copacabana Beach still shows there are 365 days to go before football's showcase event.

The Hublot clock has been stuck since the Pele took a picture in front of the clock a few weeks ago, attracting millions of people for masses at the famed beach.

One Direction Member Louis Tomlinson Signs For Doncaster Rovers On One-Year Deal

Doncaster Rovers claim to have signed One Direction star Louis Tomlinson in one of the most unexpected developments of pre-season.Tomlinson, 21, has been given the number 28 shirt by the Championship club and joins on a non-contract basis.

The pop star played in a charity match at the Keepmoat Stadium last season and the club say they hope he will appear for Paul Dickov's side at some stage of the season and raise money for the charity.

Weirdest Gifts Athletes have received

Through out my lifetime, there has never been a time i wasn't excited about receiving a gift from another person regardless of the size of the present.

Whether i'm given singlets during my birthday or boxers as xmas gift, i'm always grateful to them, for having an ordinary guy like me in mind.

But for athletes who make millions of dollars and can afford extraordinary things, the excitement isn't always the same. You have to go out out of your way to satisfy them.

From time to time Sportunes will be searching for those gifts that have berated our favorite athletes.

Roger Federer receiving Cows

Photos: Sulley Muntari Sets Up Exclusive Car Pimping Company In Italy

Is your car in a dilapidated state, are you always running from Lastma because its not road worthy? the good news is that one of our own African great has set up an exclusive company to pimp out cars but the bad news is - They only pimp expensive cars for top stars like footballers, designers, musician and millionaires... C'est La Vie

Angry Steaua Bucharest owner pulls out of Spurs deal for Vlad Chiriches From His Prison Cell

WE know Club chairmen can do and undo when it comes to transfers, if they like they can sell a player that just unveiled for their club the next minute.. but what is hard to imagine is a chairman deciding the future of a professional footballer from the prison cell.

That is exactly what eccentric Steaua Bucharest owner Gigi Becali has done, ordering his underlings to pull the plug on Tottenham’s approach for highly-rated Steaua centre-half Vlad Chiriches from the 6′x8′ Honeymoon Suite at the Rahova jail.

Ronaldo sends fans in Los Angeles wild as he throws awful first pitch at Dodgers game

 

Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo can certainly kick a ball, but his throwing skills need a bit of work.

Ronaldo threw out the ceremonial first pitch yesterday before the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees game at Dodger Stadium.

The pitch didn’t make it into the strike zone, but if there had been a soccer net behind the catcher it would have been a great goal.

SAMSON SIASIA SET FOR UNDER 20 RETURN

After the dismal performance at the just concluded U-20 world youth championship hosted by the Turks and won by the French, Coach John Obuh tendered his resignation letter which the Nigerian Football Federation gladly accepted.. Reports reaching us at Sportunes says that former flying eagles handler Samson Siasia is to collect the baton from Obuh.

Happy Birthday - Kanu Nwankwo, Hasan Sas, Chris Iwelumo, Manuel Agogo, Stephen Hunt, Julien Faubert, Bastian Schweinsteiger

Kanu Nwankwo

Ex Niigerian International Kanu Nwankwo is 37 years today. Papillo as he is fondly called, started his career at Iwuayanwu Nationale, he was then sold to Ajax fc where he won three league titles in a row crowned with the UEFA champions league. He journeyed on to Inter Milan - where he had a less succesful spell after managing just 1 goal in 3 years for the Italian giants, he also had a heart surgery during that period.