Author: Larson Thebe
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…
Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis is set to be among the recipients of this year’s National Order of Ikhamanga. The ceremony will be hosted by President Cyril Ramaphosa on April 28, 2023. The National Orders recognise the contributions made by individuals towards building a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa as envisaged in the country’s Constitution.Ellis will be bestowed the Order of Ikhamanga which recognises South African citizens who have excelled in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport. The former Banyana captain has been given this special recognition for her outstanding contribution to football,…
In a move to reduce betting advertising in sports in the UK, Premier League clubs have collectively agreed to withdraw gambling sponsorship from the front of clubs’ match day shirts. The Premier League on Thursday announced that its clubs have agreed to remove all gambling companies as sponsors on the front of players’ jerseys by the end of the 2025/2026 season. A Premier League statement read: “Premier League clubs have today collectively agreed to withdraw gambling sponsorship from the front of clubs’ match day shirts, becoming the first sports league in the UK to take such a measure voluntarily in order…
Netball South Africa (NSA) has announced that this year’s edition of the Telkom Netball League (TNL) is set to start on 27 April at the Ngoako Ramahlodi Sports Complex in Seshego, Polokwane. The partnership between NSA and Telecommunications giant Telkom as a headline sponsor is now in its fifth year, a journey that began in 2019. NSA President Cecilia Molokwane announced that this season’s competition has been expanded to 15 teams – with the inclusion of the Free State Sonneblomme and the Limpopo Lilies in the B Section. Molokwane said she’s pleased with the growth of the league. “I’m very…
Yesterday marked exactly 22 years since a stampede claimed the lives of 43r fans during a soccer derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg. More than 250 people were injured at the venue which hosted the league match between the two soccer giants, attracting more and more fans at a stadium that was already filled to capacity and couldn’t hold more people. The tragedy occurred in front of what was meant to be a 60 000-capacity crowd, however reports suggest a further 30 000 more fans were trying to gain entry into the…
With the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup group stages done and dusted, focus now shifts to the quarterfinals of the inter-club competitions. Mamelodi Sundowns and Marumo Gallants are Mzansi’s representatives, after they both secured top spots in their group stages following the round of fixtures played. Being group leaders means when the quarter-final draw is conducted, winners will be paired with the runners-up and teams from the same group cannot face each other again. Masandawana secured top spot in Group B after beating Coton Sport 2-1 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. The newly crowned DStv Premiership champions are…
The England football women’s team is the latest team to ditch white shorts for blue ones. The move comes amidst a growing movement to accommodate athletes competing during their menstrual cycles. The Football Association (FA) confirmed this on Monday, after players voiced concerns about playing in white while on their period. “The Lionesses will also showcase the new design during April’s games with Brazil at Wembley in the inaugural UEFA Finalissima and then against Australia at Brentford FC,” the FA said in a statement. Soccer isn’t the only sporting code making this important statement, rugby (Ireland women’s rugby team) and…