Author: Larson Thebe
President Cyril Ramaphosa said 2022 has been a difficult year for South Africans, as they had to endure socio-economic challenges and tragedies. He was delivering his New Year message to the nation on Saturday. “2022 has been a difficult year. It is a year during which South Africans continued to endure the hardships that are given rise to by unemployment, poverty, and persistent inequality. On top of all this we have had to deal with the rising cost of living and an energy crisis,” said Ramaphosa. He highlighted that these challenges were also exacerbated by the loss of loved ones…
By Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu History was made by Morocco, the first African and first Arab team to advance to a semi-final at the men’s football World Cup. The Atlas Lions, endowed with impeccable organisation and defensive will, creative midfield passing, speedy offence and the rousing racket of its fans, broke the elusive World Cup glass ceiling against Portugal to face France in the final four in Qatar. The sound of the Moroccan fans has become a lifeblood coursing through the first World Cup to be staged in the Arab world. As magical as Morocco’s win seems, one should not…
Ever wondered why Brazil are known as ‘The Samba Boys’ and love to celebrate with dancing? What is the samba soccer style that the Brazil national football team are so famed for? The Selecao are renowned for a way of playing football which has been dubbed the ‘samba soccer’. If you’ve tuned into a World Cup over the past half a century, you may be familiar with the term. The likes of Pele, Ronaldinho and Neymar have all embodied the art form of Samba, on the world stage. But how exactly do you define it and where did it all begin? What is samba soccer (ginga)? Samba soccer is…
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi was named the Sharks’ European campaign leader ahead of their Champions Cup opener against England’s Harlequins in Durban, while Lukhanyo Am keeps the armband for the United Rugby Championship. Director of rugby, Neil Powell, made the official announcement on Thursday immediately after naming a Bok-laden side with Eben Etzebeth returning and Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Jaden Hendrikse and Makazole Mapimpi all included. “We’ve announced Siya as our captain for the European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) season,” Powell said. “So, it will only be for the Heineken Cup games, not for the URC games. It’s mainly because…
By Teresa Brevini and Fotios Samaziotis Almost three years into the pandemic, we’re still regularly seeing hundreds of thousands of new Covid-19 cases recorded each day worldwide. In a new study, involving a combination of miniature organ models, donor organs, animals and humans, we’ve shown that a drug used to treat liver disease could be repurposed to protect against Covid-19. Vaccines are one of the most potent weapons in our pandemic response, but not everyone can benefit from them. Covid-19 vaccines work by training our immune system to recognise and destroy SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19 As such, they’re…
A heroic, famous victory for Cameroon, who become the first African nation to defeat Brazil at the World Cup! But it won’t be enough to save them, because Switzerland have defeated Serbia 3-2 and secure second spot behind Brazil on goal difference. Cameroon finished third on four points, two points below second-placed Switzerland, who defeated Serbia 3-2. Brazil, who had already qualified, finished on top on goal difference with six points and will face South Korea in the last 16. Fred, Antony and Bruno Guimaraes all came close to scoring, while Gabriel Martinelli was the standout player for the five-time…
Star of the Year — Eben Etzebeth Etzebeth has been a colossus for the Springboks over the past two seasons and was unlucky to miss out on a nomination for World Rugby Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022. Etzebeth played in every one of South Africa’s matches in 2022 and made his 100th Test appearance against Wales in Cape Town in July. The 31-year-old has always been an enforcer of note, a role he embraces and takes pride in and this year was no different. But his outright physical domination of opponents often means that his other attributes…
By Sam Carr and Chao Fang The Marvel Studios’ film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever addresses themes of grief and the injustice of dying young, connected to the death of the lead actor, Chadwick Boseman, in 2020. Boseman died from colorectal cancer at the age of 43, throwing the original trajectory of his character’s script off the rails, forcing Marvel to revise the film’s plot. As Boseman’s character, T’Challa, is dying, his sister Shuri is in her lab, desperately trying to save his life. She refuses to give up and misses his passing. Without an outlet for her grief, she delves…
French referee Stéphanie Frappart will lead the first all-female officiating team in a men’s World Cup match. This is a first in the history of FIFA that women have been selected to officiate at the World Cup. FIFA has announced that Frappart is set to take charge of the Costa Rica vs Germany Group E match on Thursday, 1 December 2022, evening at 9pm (SA time). Neuza Back of Brazil and Mexico’s Karen Diaz Medina have been selected to be Frappart’s assistants and that completes the first all-female on-field refereeing team. “The men’s World Cup is the most important sporting…
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies continue their dominance in the local league after being crowned the Hollywoodbets Super League Champions for the third consecutive season. Banyana Ba Style were lagging from behind to claim a 4-2 victory over Richmond United at the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium on Saturday, although they came into the encounter with the silverware already in their bag, having secured the title with 4 games to spare. Goals from Salome Kekana, Lelona Daweti, Melinda Kgadiete and Lehlogonolo Mashigo ensured the Chloorkop side finished with an impressive 27 wins out of 30 games played. Coach Jerry Tshabalala’s charges scored 127…