Author: Larson Thebe
A crucial showdown between DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns and relegation-threatened Maritzburg United will take place on Tuesday in Pretoria. Before the penultimate round of games in the Premier League on Saturday. Besides winning against Mamelodi Sundowns, they also rely on loses or draws for Marumo Gallants and Chippa United in order to avoid relegation. Coach Fadlu Davids stated they are going for maximum points since they have nothing to lose at a media meeting on Monday. “We must act quickly and deliberately. When handling the ball, we must be aggressive. Goals must be scored for us. Additionally, we are…
Reuben Brigety, the US ambassador to South Africa, has apologised to Pretoria after accusing the nation of providing arms to Russia. Naledi Pandor, the minister of international relations and cooperation, called Brigety to a meeting on Friday afternoon. According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Brigety acknowledged that he overstepped the mark by bypassing established diplomatic channels to express his nation’s concerns. Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela said the government expressed its “displeasure” at the ambassador’s statements. The US ambassador to South Africa’s actions, according to Dirco, “are perplexing and at odds with the friendly and mutually beneficial…
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…