Sporting Witness

Malaysian Nicol David talks to Uma Doraiswamy about the moment she became world number 1 in squash and how she stayed there for 9 years in a row. When she first started playing, her racquet was bigger than she was. Through her hard work and perseverance, she dominated the game winning titles and trophies throughout her career.

(Photo: Nicol David of Malaysia during the Women's Squash Singles Final at the Asian Games in August 2018. Credit: Getty Images)

Dutch football star Ruud Krol tells Matthew Kenyon about the Netherlands’ campaign at the 1974 World Cup. The team, coached by Rinus Michels and featuring the great Johan Cruijff, stunned the football world with the quality of their performance, as they brought the ‘Total Football’ philosophy which Michels had instituted at Ajax to the global stage. They are still remembered as one of the greatest ever international teams.

(Photo: German Gerd Muller beats Ruud Krol (12) and Arie Haan to score in the World Cup final on 7th July 1974 in Munich. Credit: Getty Images)

In 1974, Zaire became just the third African nation to take part in football’s World Cup. Having been crowned African champions earlier that same year, the team known as the Leopards had big hopes for a successful tournament in West Germany. However, their campaign is predominantly remembered for a 9-0 defeat and a moment viewed by many as something comedic. Mwepu Ilunga’s decision to run out of a defensive wall and smash the ball downfield as opponent’s Brazil prepared to take a free-kick has become part of World Cup folklore, but the true reasons behind the defender’s apparent rush of blood to the head are likely to be less amusing. Ian Williams speaks to Mohamed Kalambay, part of Zaire’s 1974 squad, to try to discover the truth of it all.

(Photo: The Zaire team line up to face Brazil in their final group game of the 1974 World Cup in Gelsenkirchen, West Germany. Credit: Getty Images)

With the the Middle East's first football World Cup underway, we look back to when Kuwait made its first and only appearance at the World Cup in 1982. The amateur side put in respectable performances against France and England. But press attention focused on the Kuwaitis’ team mascot, a camel called Haydoo, who became such a fan favourite that he even inspired a hit song. Sumaya Bakhsh talked to Kuwait's captain at the tournament, Saad Al-Houti, about how Haydoo came to represent national pride for a team that had been dismissed by the foreign media as a bunch of camel-herders. This programme was first broadcast in 2021.

(Photo: Kuwait players celebrate during the 1982 World Cup. Credit: Getty Images)

In 1994, the USA hosted the FIFA World Cup for the first time. The choice of host nation was a controversial one because, at that time, the US didn't have an active professional football league. Alan Rothenberg was the man in charge of organising the competition. He decided to book Motown legend, Diana Ross, to headline the opening ceremony in Chicago. Her penalty miss in front of 67,000 fans became an iconic moment in World Cup history. Alan has been sharing his memories of the tournament with Matt Pintus.

(Photo: Diana Ross performs at the World Cup opening ceremony. Credit: Getty Images)

In 1980, the newly independent nation of Zimbabwe was invited to enter a women's hockey team at the Olympic Games in Moscow. Despite their unfamiliarity with the pitches - and each other - the players won an unexpected gold medal and were nicknamed the Golden Girls. In 2016, Claire Bowes talked to Liz Chase, one of the victorious Zimbabweans.

(Photo: Zimbabwe's women's hockey team display their gold medals. Credit: Patricia McKillop via Alamy)

For millions of gamers all over the world Tonton Zola Moukoko is a cult hero. The Swedish-Congolese footballer found fame as a brilliant player in the computer game series Championship Manager. But in the real world, things were very different. He never managed to break into Derby County’s first team and in his personal life there were moments of immense tragedy. He has been sharing his story with Matt Pintus.

(Photo: Tonton in front of screenshot of Championship Manager. Credit: Tonton Zola Moukoko)

In October 1972, Llanelli rugby club, a semi-professional side made up steel workers, teachers and dockworkers in south Wales, took on the most decorated international side in rugby history – the All Blacks, and won.

Former Wales head coach and Llanelli local Gareth Jenkins was just 21 when he played against New Zealand's iconic rugby team. He tells Isaac Sneade how the match unfolded.

This is a One Tribe TV production for the BBC World Service.

(Photo: Llanelli playing the All Blacks in October 1972. Credit: Andrew Richards)

In March 1999 the Baltimore Orioles became the first US Major League team to play in Cuba for more than 40 years. Fans in Cuba eagerly awaited the fixture, and the game was played in a carnival atmosphere, with Fidel Castro looking on from the crowds. It was hailed as a success of sporting diplomacy.

Cuban baseball star Enrique Diaz was in the national team that day. He tells Witness about the highlight of his sporting career.

(Photo: Cuban and American flags. Credit: Getty Images)

Shanshan Feng was the first Chinese golfer ever to win a major championship back in 2012 and she also became number one in the women's world golf rankings. She won bronze in the Olympics in Rio 2016. She speaks to Wayne Wright about her distinguished career. This is a Made in Manchester production for the BBC World Service.

(Photo: Shanshan Feng. Credit: IMG China)