Publications
COLUMNS
Tim Spirit: Royal AM’s ‘brown envelope’ saga devalues the beautiful game
In a country where match-fixing in football is rife, particularly in the lower divisions, the sight of a brown envelope in a stadium could easily be misconstrued as some form of bribery. Although this was not the case last weekend when the Royal AM leadership was seen flashing wads of cash after their victory over Maritzburg United, it cannot and should not be condoned, writes Timothy Molobi.
Guest columnist: PSL hierarchy needs urgent correction to rescue its brand
Since its inception, the PSL brand has been growing and there is no question about the commercial success of the cash-flush league.
Last year alone, it raked in more than R1 billion in commercial revenue, continuing its impressive business growth. However, the brand is lately showing a drastic decline in its reputation and value, writes Thabani Khumalo.
Side Entry: Promising early signs from domestic T20 knockout competition
When SA Under-19 coach Shukri Conrad said his team – in making their debut in the Cricket SA Provincial T20 Cup on Friday – were not in the competition to make up the numbers, it sounded like one of those platitudes coaches like to offer by way of soundbites to the media. The last great vintage of the SA Under-19 side was in 2014, when current Proteas Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada led them to the World Cup title, so sounding bullish about the prospects is hardly the done thing any more, writes Simnikiwe Xabanisa.
STORIES
It looks like Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is on to something, and the signs are good. Broos’ new-look Bafana have found their form at the perfect time – just as the country is about to welcome fans back to stadiums – following their 3-1 away victory over Ethiopia yesterday. Should Bafana secure a third victory in Group G, they could move another step closer to qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Safa gets its way as SA fans set to return, but...
By the time of going to print, Safa was in the process of clearing the last hurdle in its request to get 2 000 vaccinated soccer fans into FNB Stadium in Soweto to watch Bafana Bafana take on Ethiopia in a World Cup qualifier – the first time in 18 months that spectators will be allowed at a live match. By last night, Safa had the mechanisms in place and were awaiting the final instruction from Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa.
Net-buster Shalulile eager to emulate Mbesuma
Free-scoring Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile makes it look easy, but there is intricate work that goes into his craft. Since his arrival from the now-defunct Highlands Park last season, Shalulile has bagged 29 goals in 48 games – and his statistics just keep improving
Mabaso finally finds his place in Bucs line-up
Versatile Orlando Pirates midfielder Abel Mabaso is the epitome of perseverance. Having waited for four seasons, he is now a regular in the Buccaneers starting line-up. For a moment, it looked as if history would repeat itself for the player who was shipped out on numerous loan spells while at Mamelodi Sundowns.
How Ntuli regained his scoring touch
Two seasons ago, AmaZulu striker Bonginkosi Ntuli did the unthinkable when he scored 13 of his team’s total haul of 20 league goals, pushing eventual top-scorer Peter Shalulile all the way in the race for the golden boot. However, injury robbed Ntuli of any chance of replicating his incredible run last season. With four goals in six games across all competitions so far this campaign, the 30-year-old has once again underlined his qualities as a reliable striker.
Axed Safa executive turns to the courts
Former Safa national executive committee member William Mooka wants to have his expulsion from the football governing body rendered irrational and unlawful on the basis that the disciplinary process that found him guilty of misconduct and a string of other charges was flawed.
Keshav Maharaj on his less known aggressive side
Spinner Keshav Maharaj’s path into the Proteas’ T20 World Cup squad has been as unlikely as it has been swift. He tells us how surreal it was to make his T20 debut as captain.
United Rugby Championship exposes SA teams’ lack of skill
When South African rugby’s so-called big four franchises were finally lured into Pro Rugby to play in the newly minted United Rugby Championship, the expectation was that they would bring the kind of glamour, not to mention competitiveness, that the Southern Kings and Cheetahs hadn’t. Having been sent up north to test the waters for a long-held belief that playing in Europe would be a commercial game-changer for SA Rugby, the Cheetahs and Kings’ returns of 20 wins from 42 matches and four wins from 55 games in Pro14 suggested that it was a job for the relative cavalry of the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers and Lions.
Nare takes Spar race grand prize to Ethiopia
She is what legends are made of. Despite having to shuttle between two countries to compete, Ethiopian mid-distance runner Tadu Nare has been crowned this year’s Spar Grand Prix champion. With her win in 32 minutes and 33 seconds at Nelson Mandela Bay University in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, yesterday, the 20-year-old completed a clean sweep of six victories and pocketed R340 000 in prize money.
Cape Town embarks on first local marathon in the Covid era
Next weekend, the country will witness the first mass participation on the local sporting calendar in more than a year. In all, 10 000 runners are expected to participate in the 42km and trail running events under the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon banner on Saturday and Sunday.
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