Author: Larson Thebe
The US ambassador to South Africa has accused the country of supplying weapons to Russia despite its professed neutrality in the war in Ukraine. Reuben Brigety claimed that a Russian ship was loaded with ammunition and arms in Cape Town last December. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office said it was disappointed by the claims and said no evidence has been provided to support them. The country has maintained claims of neutrality in the invasion of Ukraine Brigety said at a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday that Washington had concerns about the country’s stated non-aligned stance on the conflict. He referred…
In what appears to be one of the biggest scandals since Brazil legalised sports betting in 2018, 16 persons, including seven professional soccer players, were accused by state prosecutors in Brazil on Wednesday with alleged match-fixing and unlawful betting. Brazil Justice Minister Flavio Dino ordered the federal police to launch an investigation into the scheme after the charging documents were published on Wednesday. Prosecutors of the Public Ministry of Goias said the alleged offenses took place in 13 matches in Series A and B of the Brazilian Championship, including eight played in 2022. According to the charging documents, a criminal…
In early trade on Thursday, the South African rand hit a fresh three-year low, under renewed selling pressure from the worst power outages on record, which analysts predict could worsen in the coming months. Eskom, the struggling state power utility, is currently imposing scheduled blackouts lasting more than 10 hours each day for many households and businesses, with lengthier disruptions expected later in the southern hemisphere winter. Investor sentiment toward the rand has deteriorated significantly this week, with the currency falling to its lowest level against the dollar since May 2020 on Wednesday and falling further on Thursday. The rand…
On Wednesday, Mthokozisi Thwala, the second witness who was in the house the night former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was shot and killed, testified in the former keeper’s murder trial. According to Thwala, an intruder with a gun entered the house and demanded cell phones and money; Longwe Twala stood up and pushed the gunman as he fled the house; Meyiwa and Tumelo Madlala then rose as Meyiwa began pushing the shooter into the kitchen. That is what Thwala claims he witnessed, but despite witnessing the shoving, he claims he is unable to explain how it occurred. Thwala’s account contradicts what Madlala had told the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. According to Madlala, the accused burglar with the gun was pummeled on the kitchen floor by Zandi Khumalo and her mother, Gladness, who were using Madlala’s crutches.…
The South African Football Association (Safa) has appointed its first woman Chief Executive Officer, Lydia Monyepao who took over following the shocking resignation of Tebogo Motlanthe. Monyepao was appointed SAFA COO in May 2021 until Sunday 7 May 2023 and has made great strides in her position and that has led to her latest appointment. At the press conference on Monday, Motlanthe simply said he had resigned for “personal reasons” and reiterated that the resignation letter circulating on social media over the past weekend is not the one that he sent to Safa. “I have tendered my resignation; I’ve sent…
Momentum Proteas fast bowler Shabnim Ismail has announced her retirement from international cricket. The 34-year-old bows out after representing Mzansi in 241 international ODI, T20I and Test matches. In a statement, Ismail said she wants to focus on her family, however, she will continue playing T20 franchise cricket around the world. “After 16 years proudly representing my country, I have come to the difficult decision to retire from international cricket and move on to the next chapter of my life,” Ismail said. “As any athlete knows, training and competing at your best requires much sacrifice and dedication, and I now…
There’s a potential TV blackout of this year’s FIFA women’s World Cup in five major European countries, if broadcasters don’t increase their offers for rights. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who was speaking at a World Trade Organization meeting in Geneva, said “disappointing” offers from the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany and France were a “slap in the face” of the players and “all women worldwide”. “Broadcasters especially public broadcasters funded by taxpayers’ money should put their action behind their words because they rightfully criticise football organisations or other sporting organisations for not paying equally women and men,” he said. Infantino emphasised…
Liverpool and England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has launched a bold new initiative that aims to provide career opportunities for former academy players who don’t make it to professional levels. Being a part of an academy at a young age can be seen as a platform to kick start a sporting career, however the road from academy football to getting a professional contract isn’t guaranteed as many soccer hopefuls can attest. There are numerous success stories of academy graduates playing in the Premier League, and there are countless more stories of those who are forced to leave the game after failing to earn…
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has announced its withdrawal from attending the South African Football Association’s (SAFA) Indaba Ordinary Congress this weekend. SAFA are hosting a workshop/Indaba of the Association’s Regional Members, which is to be followed by an Ordinary SAFA Congress on Sunday 23 of April, however, the PSL’s National Executive Committee (NEC) said it will not attend due to reasons not revealed. In an official statement, the PSL confirmed that its ExCo met on Thursday for their monthly meeting and unanimously decided to withdraw. “The executive committee discussed the agenda circulated by the South African Football Association for…
The countdown to South Africa’s hosting of the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 (VNWC2023) is gaining momentum, as today marks 100 days until Cape Town hosts the first-ever global netball event on African soil. The global showpiece will be hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre and set to takes place from 28 July to 6 August 2023. There are several upcoming activities planned in various provinces, to mark 100 Days to Go which will be spearheaded by various Provincial Governments and Municipalities. The activations kicked off on Friday the 14 April, where the Organising Committee launched a “Netball Friday” celebration…