SABC Sport delivers on cricket and rugby, where the incoming tours to South Africa make for prime viewing, while such classic events as the J & B Met, the Two Oceans Marathon, the Comrades Marathon, the Mandela Marathon and the Durban July are produced for all South Africans. Bu let’s not forget special prime events as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, which are broadcast by SABC Sport both on television and radio

The 2019 edition of the South African Athletics national championships will always be remembered for how the country’s 200m specialist Anaso Jobodwana couldn’t finish on the podium after having won his semi-final. The 2015 IAAF World Champions 200m bronze medalist could only finish fourth in the final race which was won by the 100m specialist and SA record holder Akani Simbine in 20.27secs at the Germiston stadium on Saturday (27 April 2019).

South African spring king Akani Simbine says he’s looking forward to racing against another sprint sensation in Anaso Jobodwana in Saturday’s 200m final of the South African Athletics national championships at the Germiston stadium.

South African spring king Akani Simbine says he’s looking forward to racing against another sprint sensation in Anaso Jobodwana in Saturday’s 200m final of the South African Athletics national championships at the Germiston stadium.

South African spring king Akani Simbine says he’s looking forward to racing against another sprint sensation in Anaso Jobodwana in Saturday’s 200m final of the South African Athletics national championships at the Germiston stadium.

South African spring king Akani Simbine says he’s looking forward to racing against another sprint sensation in Anaso Jobodwana in Saturday’s 200m final of the South African Athletics national championships at the Germiston stadium.

Minister of Sport and Recreation Thokozile Xasa has re-asserted her support for the World and Olympic champion Caster Semenya.

Minister of Sport and Recreation Thokozile Xasa has re-asserted her support for the World and Olympic champion Caster Semenya.

Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) hosted a successful world intellectual property day on sports at their main campus in Pretoria today. This year’s theme was going for gold-intellectual property and sports. The event was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization in 2000 to raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life and to celebrate creativity. Chairperson of Wheelchair Tennis South Africa Ntambi Ravele emphasized the importance of the day.

Earlier on the day men’s 400m World record holder Wayde van Niekerk withdrew from the men’s 400m heats. Van Niekerk published his shocking withdrawal on his twitter timeline, indicating that it is due to unfriendly weather. The Championships are set to wrap up on Saturday the 27th of April.

The first day of Athletics South Africa Senior Championships was disrupted by heavy rains and lightening in Germiston Stadium yesterday. The Senior Championships that were scheduled to start at 9am were delayed by two hours. As if this was not enough then load shedding added to their frustrations in the evening, forcing the event to be cut even shorter. World Champion Caster Semenya was one of those who performed yesterday winning the 5000m in 16:05; with Tebogo Mamatu clinching the 100m Women’s final in 11:45. Mamatu has more.

Minister of Sport Tokozile Xasa says Athletics South Africa (ASA) could have handled the issue of the Two Oceans Marathon not being broadcast on SABC last week better.

A right shoulder injury has forced reigning World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight champion Zolani Tete to pull out of a fight against World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight Super champion Nonito Donaire in the semi-finals of the money-spinning World Boxing Super Series (WBSS).

Swimming, Hockey, Basketball and Rowing are the other notable sporting codes that couldn’t meet their own set transformation targets. And these are the sporting codes that will be carrying the hopes of South Africa at next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Department of Sport Director-General Alec Moemi has more on the penalties that apply to federations which fail to meet the targets…

About nine out of 19 sports federations in the country have met 50% of their transformation targets according to Minister of Sports Tokozile Xasa. She was commenting in Pretoria during the sixth release of the Eminent Persons Group report which focuses on the transformation scorecard in South African sport. For the third time in a row, Athletics South (ASA) Africa has failed to meet 50% of its targets and previously this has been caused by lack of data mainly coming from their development programmes.

SABC Sport delivers on cricket and rugby, where the incoming tours to South Africa make for prime viewing, while such classic events as the J & B Met, the Two Oceans Marathon, the Comrades Marathon, the Mandela Marathon and the Durban July are produced for all South Africans. Bu let’s not forget special prime events as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, which are broadcast by SABC Sport both on television and radio

SABC Sport delivers on cricket and rugby, where the incoming tours to South Africa make for prime viewing, while such classic events as the J & B Met, the Two Oceans Marathon, the Comrades Marathon, the Mandela Marathon and the Durban July are produced for all South Africans. Bu let’s not forget special prime events as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, which are broadcast by SABC Sport both on television and radio

SABC Sport delivers on cricket and rugby, where the incoming tours to South Africa make for prime viewing, while such classic events as the J & B Met, the Two Oceans Marathon, the Comrades Marathon, the Mandela Marathon and the Durban July are produced for all South Africans. Bu let’s not forget special prime events as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, which are broadcast by SABC Sport both on television and radio

SABC Sport delivers on cricket and rugby, where the incoming tours to South Africa make for prime viewing, while such classic events as the J & B Met, the Two Oceans Marathon, the Comrades Marathon, the Mandela Marathon and the Durban July are produced for all South Africans. Bu let’s not forget special prime events as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, which are broadcast by SABC Sport both on television and radio

SABC Sport delivers on cricket and rugby, where the incoming tours to South Africa make for prime viewing, while such classic events as the J & B Met, the Two Oceans Marathon, the Comrades Marathon, the Mandela Marathon and the Durban July are produced for all South Africans. Bu let’s not forget special prime events as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, which are broadcast by SABC Sport both on television and radio

Badminton South Africa President Glen Brothers is confident that the country can win many medals at the upcoming All Africa Team Championships. The event will take place in Port Harcourt, Nigeria from the 22nd until the 25th of this month. The team championships will be followed by the Individual Championships from the 26th until the 28th. Brothers says they have selected a very young team. SA used to be the top ranked nation in Africa with decent ranking in the world. But in recent years they have fallen down the peck due to lack of competing in many international events. Brothers says lack of funding is a major challenge. The strong eight members team features Michelle Butler-Emmett, Johanita Scholtz and Bongani von Bodenstein, who represented the country at the Commonwealth Games in Australia last year. The remaining four members have only represented SA at the junior level. Brothers says there are private sponsors that are assisting them to compete in Nigeria. Badminton is not a popular sport like football, rugby and cricket. Brothers says it is small sporting code which is not lucrative and well paying.Men-Bongani von Bodenstein, Jarred Elliot, Ruan Snyman, Sean NooneWomen- Elme de Villiers, Johanita Scholtz, Megan de Beer, Michelle Butler-Emmett

In a bit to end plastic pollution, South African endurance swimmer, Sarah Ferguson has set a new world record by becoming the first person to swim around the entire perimeter of Easter Island in Polynesia. Ferguson bravely overcame the hazardous conditions and swam 39.46 miles (63.5 kilometers) over a duration of 19 hours and 8 minutes, finishing ahead of schedule in a swim expected to take approximately 24 hours to complete. Easter Island is a Chilean territory, sitting some 2,200 miles off the coast of Chile and located in the South Pacific Ocean between Chile and New Zealand, making it one of the most remote islands in the world. It is 1,200 miles from the nearest piece of land but even there the water is filled with plastic. Ferguson shares the challenges she encountered. Ferguson used to swim for South Africa in international pool competitions and has since taken to the fiercest passages of open waters in recent years to raise awareness about issues concerning water at large. She has tackled the country’s most challenging open water swims, including the Robben Island Freedom Swim and The Umlanga to Durban Endurance Race. In 2017, Ferguson became the first African woman to conquer the mighty 42km Ka’iwi passage, known as the Valley of Bones in the Hawaiian Islands.

SABC Sport delivers on cricket and rugby, where the incoming tours to South Africa make for prime viewing, while such classic events as the J & B Met, the Two Oceans Marathon, the Comrades Marathon, the Mandela Marathon and the Durban July are produced for all South Africans. Bu let’s not forget special prime events as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, which are broadcast by SABC Sport both on television and radio

SABC Sport delivers on cricket and rugby, where the incoming tours to South Africa make for prime viewing, while such classic events as the J & B Met, the Two Oceans Marathon, the Comrades Marathon, the Mandela Marathon and the Durban July are produced for all South Africans. Bu let’s not forget special prime events as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, which are broadcast by SABC Sport both on television and radio

SABC Sport delivers on cricket and rugby, where the incoming tours to South Africa make for prime viewing, while such classic events as the J & B Met, the Two Oceans Marathon, the Comrades Marathon, the Mandela Marathon and the Durban July are produced for all South Africans. Bu let’s not forget special prime events as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, which are broadcast by SABC Sport both on television and radio

South Africa’s longest serving boxing promoter Rodney Berman says the proposed Independent Communication Authority of South Africa’s (ICASA’s) proposed amendment of the sports broadcasting rights is going to collapse boxing and sport in the country. Berman’s company Golden Gloves Boxing promotions is one of the 32 entity’s that have made submissions to ICASA on these proposed regulations. Like most sports federations in the country, they are vehemently opposed to this draft and Berman was clear today that this has got the potential to finish off boxing as a professional sport in the country. Berman says boxing has also been an occupation of disadvantaged societies and if these proposed ICASA sports broadcasting regulations this will lead some boxers and their trainers to poverty. Golden Gloves has been promoting credible world champions for the past three decades from Brian Mitchell, Dingaan Thobela, Baby Jake Matlala, Welcome Ncita, Vuyani Bungu and many more. Berman says these proposed regulations could also lead to inactivity for professional boxers and hit them hard in the pocket.

The Two Oceans Marathon reigning champion Gerda Steyn, is taking the challenge of defending the title very serious as she is going under intense training preparing for the race. Following her first place in Dubai Marathon (10 KM) this January, Steyn has been training on the open roads of the mountainous Lesotho. With no injuries to distract her, the 2018 champion says that she is excited about the Marathon. There will be quality field of top local and international elite athletes competing in the race, and Steyn is aware that most athletes will be targeting to put her behind, but the 28 year old Ultra athlete remains calm. Steyn points out that she will not approach the race as a Champion, rather as a new race. The 2019 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon will take place on the 20th of April in Cape Town.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) technical Director David Elleray, CAF Referee and VAR Instructor Jerome Damon and FIFA referee Joshua Bondo are confident that come the knockout phase of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Egypt in July, the African match officials will be ready to implement the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

Athletics South Africa President Aleck Skhosana is looking forward to the African Under-18 and Under-20 athletics championships in Ivory Coast later this month. Skhosana says the formidable team will be announced soon. It will be the first time the two age categories will take part in one event in the African champs

Mamelodi Sundowns Captain Hlompho Kekana is appealing to supporters to come in big numbers, when they play against Al Ahly in the Caf champions league quarter-final first leg encounter at the Lucas Moripe stadium in Atteridgeville on Saturday. The match will kick off at 3pm after it was initially scheduled for Friday night at 9pm, but Ahly requested for a postponement.

Proteas Test opener Dean Elgar says South Africa will be shooting themselves in the foot if they did not take Aiden Markram to the World Cup. The 24-year-old batsman ended as the top run-scorer when the Momentum One-Day Cup concluded over the weekend, scoring over 500 runs in only five matches for the Titans. Markram also added that his form returned after clearing his mind and not even worrying about playing in the global competition

Polokwane City head coach Jozef Vukusic has congratulated the club’s first choice goalkeeper George Chigova on his looming century of league matches in Orange. If selected in the Limpopo Absa premiership derby against Black Leopards at the Peter Mokaba stadium on Sunday Chigova will reach the milestone.

Stormers Coach Robbie Fleck has made seven changes to the starting line-up that will face the Reds at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Friday. Fleck has been forced to make a few changes to the team due to injuries, but has also decided to rotate a few players for this important game. There are 5 changes to the Stormers pack with an entirely new front row in Corne Fourie, Scarra Ntubeni and Frans Malherbe, while Cobus Wiese starts at lock, with Kobus Van Dyk coming in on the flank.

After struggling to attain Visa for Australian Open Golf Championship, seven years-old Simthandile Tshabalala has finally received his visa with the aid of the current and former Minister of Sports and Recreation Tokozile Xasa and Fikile Mbalula respectively. Tshabalala’s father Bonginkosi Tshabalala twitted his frustration this morning pleading for assistance indicating that he tried several times to communicate with relevant departments regarding the matter, without success. As usual social media power amplified his voice to the right ears. The young Tshabalala affectionately known as "SimTiger" will be leaving tomorrow to represent South Africa in Australia and he will be competing in the golf championship that will start on Saturday the 6th till the 9th of April 2019. Tshabalala is no stranger to big stages as he recently lifted the flag of the Country in December 2018 in the World Golf Championship at Malysia. He is currently ranked top 15 in the world and Like any parent of a superstar Tshabalala’ father could not conceal his proud side when asked how he feels about his son’s achievement at this tender age and he takes us through his qualification process.

Team Protouch will be flying to Morocco tomorrow to join other fellow riders for Morocco Tour (Tour Du Maroc) pedalling on the 5th till 14th of April 2019. The Tour takes place over 10 consecutive stages in 10 days, covering a total distance of 1591.8kms an average of 159.2 kilometres per day. April will be the busiest month for the Johannesburg based elite continental cycling team, as they will be competing in five different countries including here at home, in Tour of Limpopo. Songezo Jim of Protouch says that their goal is to collect more points in Morocco. Despite the team having missed the first position in the recent tours, only taking the third place in Cape Town Cycle Tour (CTCC), they made it in the selection list among the best team to compete in Tour Du Maroc. Jim indicated that preparations are going well, and every member is in good condition, except for Aiden Geary, who is injured. The Protouch team to the tour are Myles van Musschenbroek, Reynard Butler, Mitch Eliot, Mornay Van Heerden, Rocco King and Jim.

East London-based boxing trainer Loyiso Mtya has remembered the contribution of the late Les Muller, who was regarded as the father of professional boxing in the Eastern Cape’s Border region. Mtya, who trains current World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Bantamweight Champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete, said that Muller came to boxing at the right time after he was introduced to the sport by social workers. Mtya was speaking at a poorly-attended memorial lecture in honor of Muller, who was the chairman of the then Border Boxing Control Commission. The memorial lecture was held at the NU6 Boxing Gym in Mdantsane.

Nobuhle Dlamini sealed a momentous victory in the Joburg Ladies Open with a convincing four-shot lead at Soweto Country Club yesterday, to pocket a cool R70,000 in prize money. The big-hitting Swazi national carded a final round two-under 70 to triumph on a two-under 214 total. Dlamini claimed her fourth overall Sunshine Ladies Tour victory and a second for this season after her Dimension Data Ladies Challenge success last month. The 27-year-old was also confirmed as the Investec Property Fund Order of Merit champion for the 2019 season, further pocketing a whooping R100 000 for her efforts on tour this season. The Swazi national says 2019 has been the best season of her life.

Rowing South Africa President Sean Kerr says they are planning to take four or five boats to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Japan. SA took five boats to the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil with one boat bringing a silver medal. The men’s pair, lightweight double sculls and fours were the three boats in the men section, while the pair and the lightweight double sculls were the two boats from the women section. SA won one silver medal in Rio, while four other boats narrowly missed out on the podium finish after reaching the A finals. Kerr says it is difficult to predict how many medals they will win in Tokyo.

South African athletes are gearing up for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark on Saturday. The team left for Denmark last night to prepare for the annual Championships. The 22-man and women strong team features top athletes such as 10 kilometre runners Precious Mashele, Rantso Mokopane and Ryan Mphahlele. It also features top women in the 10 kilometre such as Glenrose Xaba and Kesa Molotsane. Ahtletics South Africa (ASA) President Aleck Skhosana says they are going there to win medals. ASA is hosting theUunder-18 and Under-20 Track and Field Championships in Paarl from Today until Saturday. Skhosana is excited with the talent coming from the youth, and is also promising the best competition ever.

South African female 400 metre hurdler Wenda Nel is hoping to qualify for this year’s IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar later this year. Nel won bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia last year. She is also hoping to qualify for the 2020 Olympics in Japan. Nel qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil where she managed to reach the semi-finals finishing 13th overall. The 30-year old took part at the 2015 World Champs in Beijing, China, where she managed to finish seventh in the final. She also participated at the 2017 World Champs in London, where she reached the semi-finals, but finishing 10th overall. She is hoping to earn a medal at this year’s World Champs. Nel is looking to use the SA National Championships and other events to fine tune her preparations leading into the World Champs. The SA nationals will take place in Germiston late next month. Her personal best in the 400 metre hurdles is 54.37 seconds she achieved in 2015

Eighteen years-old self-coached Keith Khumalo and his 16 years-old counterpart Banele Mhango ) emerged victorious in the just ended 2019 South African Junior Closed Chess Championship at Kopanong hotel in Benoni, Ekurhuleni. Mhango, world-renowned chess player from the dusty streets of Lehawu near White River, Mpumalanga, successfully defended his U16 title against Andreas De Jager. Mhango says he is excited to win again. Mhango and Khumalo are both without coaches because of financial challenges. To keep themselves competitive they practice against each other online. The duo,who don national colours says they do ask for donations for international tournaments, but sometimes it does not work. Mpumalanga born Khumalo, who reside in Johannesburg, says that he is excited about his first victory in the U18 2019 South African Junior Closed Chess Championship.

Swaziland female Golfer Nobuhle Dlamini is sharing the lead with Anne-Lise Caudal from France at the Jabra Ladies Classic currently underway at Glendower Golf Club in Johannesburg. The pair shares a four-shot lead heading into the final round of this Sunshine Ladies Tour event. The Sunshine Ladies Tour is a Women's professional golf tour that is run in Southern Africa and the Jabra Ladies Classic with a prize fund of R200,000 happens to be one of the events. Dlamini says she is struggling with her putting despite the lead.

The Women Leadership Programme (WLP) spearheaded by the African Union Sport Council (AUSC Region 5) was launched in Johannesburg yesterday. Despite increased participation for girls and women in sport, women are underrepresented in leadership positions across many sporting codes, something that pushed the AUSC to launch a program that will provide women from the 10 Southern African countries opportunities to be mentored and developed for leadership and decision-making roles in sport. Region 5 AUSC CEO Stanley Mutoya shares more.

The African athletics community deserted Athletics South Africa (ASA) when it needed them the most during the Court of Arbitration (CAS) hearing for the fight that pitted SA’s golden girl Caser Semenya against the IAAF. But ASA is not about to return the favour and instead according to the President Aleck Skhosana they are ready to fight for Africa in what is perceived to be an IAAF plan to derail the African athletes. The world’s athletics mother body recently decided to discontinue the 5000m event during the Diamond League 90 minutes live TV event. This attracted the backlash of Athletics Kenya (AK) and their Ethiopian counterparts, countries that have dominated this event. Skhosana says they will show solidarity with the rest of the continent. Sikhosana has issued a stern warning to his African brothers and sisters in athletics calling them out for not supporting them during the CAS hearing in Switzerland recently. He says with the exception of the Botswana Athletics, no other African country supported them and has urged the African athletics community to fight its battles together.

The prestigious Cajun Classic tournament kicked off yesterday in Louisiana, America and South Africa’s number 1 ranked disabled tennis player Lucas Sithole has been pitted against Chile’s Pablo Araya (ranked 22nd in the world). Now ranked 6th in the world, Sithole heads into the game this evening on the back of good showing at the Georgia Open where he lost in the final 62-64 to number 2 ranked David Wagner on Sunday. Sithole, who was eliminated in straight sets by Japanese’ Mitsuteru Moroishi in the quarter-finals at last year’s Cajun Classic and lost in the semi-final round in the doubles says he is well prepared for this year’s edition. Sithole is the only SA representative in the top-flight super-series in the Cajun Classic tournament which will run until the 24th of March 2019. The tournament is one of six top wheelchair tennis events on the wheelchair tennis calendar and has attracted eight of the world's top-10 quad players.

Just two months after Athletics South Africa received the bombshell of Liquid Telecom pulling out of the Grand Prix Series, they were all smiles today as they announced three new sponsors under their umbrella. For the first time since the days of Yellow Pages, the South African Senior Track & Field national championships will now be sponsored by Sizwe Medical Fund and 3SixtyLife. With the national champs scheduled for the 25-27 of next month, ASA President Aleck Skhosana says the loss of the old sponsorship is history now, they are celebrating this new deal. The ASA U18 and U20 Track & Field Championships also received a sponsorship in the form of Twizza. The next championships will be held at the Josaphat Stadium in Paarl from the 28th until the 30th of this month. Skhosana says this is going to benefit their youth programmes. Former Olympic silver medalist Hezekiel Sepeng who is now the ASA High Performance Manager welcomed the sponsorship for the U18 and U20 track and field champs as he believes that it will go a long way to help them produce top class athletes. Stillwater Sports is the company that has been commissioned by ASA to help them get some commercial backing. Michael Meyer is the company’s Managing Director and says the success of athletes like Wayde Van Nierkek, Caster Semenya, Akani Simbine, Luvo Manyonga and many others on the international scene, makes it easier for ASA to attract the sponsors.

The 2019 South African Sports Association for Physically Disabled (SASAPD) national championships will take place at Coetzenburg stadium in Stellenbosch from tomorrow until the 21st next week Thursday. The champs will be boosted by the recently acquired sponsorship from vehicle company Toyota. Stellenbosch also hosted the nationals in 2008 and 2014. There will be eight sporting codes in the event. SASAPD President Moekie Grobelaar is looking forward to the event. The vehicle company has come on board as the biggest sponsor for the event until 2022. They will also donate a vehicle for the school that contributes the most to qualifying athletes that will take place at the future champs. Grobelaar says they will also offer a bursary for the deserving students. The nationals will also begin the long road to the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan . SA was ranked 22nd at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio, Brazil after amassing 17 medals (seven gold, six silver and four bronze). The athletes that impresses will be selected for the Para Athletics games in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in November. Grobelaar says the champs will be important for the swimmers and track and field athletes. Some of the Swimmers and track and field athletes will eventually be selected to represent SA in Tokyo Paralympics

South African Equestrian President Willem Edeling says local athletes have to fund themselves to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Japan. Edeling says it is hard for the riders in SA to get sponsorships. He also added that the mother body SASCOC (South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee) only funds athletes when they have qualified to prepare for the Olympics. There are many SA riders who are based overseas especially in Germany and England. Local riders have to export horses from SA to overseas at huge cost or buy a horse abroad at an exorbitant fee according to Edeling. SA is not in the top 20 in the world rankings. Horses are very important in Equestrian in terms of getting the results. The horse can either be in good or bad form depending on the state it is in. Edeling says horses suffer injuries sometimes, and also it is expensive to maintain them. Edeling says the athletes will attempt to qualify for Tokyo Olympics as a team or individually by accumulating certain amount of points. The team of four members will try to qualify in the dressage discipline in Netherlands or eventing discipline in Germany later in the year. He says if they fail to qualify as a team they will attempt to qualify individually. Tanya Seymour represented SA at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil. The German-based rider qualified for the dressage event and finished 56th overall. Edeling says there are other athletes who are based abroad such as Nicole Smith and Lica Williams and many others.

In the latest Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) rankings for the Men’s Elite Time Trial, South Africa’s number one track cyclist, Jean Spies, has broken into the worlds top ten according to results released today. Just recently, the 30-year-old achieved 15th place finish with a solid performance at the 2019 UCI Track Cycling World Championships held in Poland last week. The Randburg born rider finished the season in fine form and in the process accumulated 917.5 points to be catapulted into the top ten. In Poland, Spies also competed in the Kieran where he came 16th and the Sprint race where he came 36th and Spies says he competed despite not feeling too well.

Bowls South Africa President Robert Forbes says they are making progress in introducing the sport in the townships and black communities. Bowls is perceived as a predominantly white sport in SA. Prince Neluonde was the only black lawn bowler at the 2014 Commonwealth games in Glasgow, Scotland, and the 2018 Commonwealth games in Gold Coast, Australia last year. He also won gold medal in Glasgow. Bowls has been one of the major sources of medals for the country at the Commonwealth games. Lawn bowls managed to earn five medals for SA in Gold Coast, with three silver and two bronze medals. Forbes says the sport does not get the recognition it deserves.

South African women’s netball national team player Khanyisa Chawane is confident that the Proteas can earn a medal at the World Cup in England in July. Chawane is encouraged by the Proteas great display at the recent Quad series in England in January. The team beat England in the upset of the tournament. They then narrowly lost to New Zealand in overtime, after the two teams were level in regulation and extra time. The Proteas, who are ranked fifth in the world, will be in the same group as the fourth ranked team Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Fiji in Group C at the World Cup. Chawane says Jamaica will be a major threat.

Seven years ago Lionel Rofhiwa Mphaphuli joined Soweto Country Club where they revived a junior golf academy named after struggle icon Andrew Mlangeni Golf Development Academy. Mphaphuli, the Director of the academy says that the course was closing down but fortunately they received funds from abroad and from local the municipality. The academy is currently running at Soweto and in other few Johannesburg townships such as Alexander with a number of 75 golfers between the ages of 6 years-23 years. The Mlangeni academy is based in the heart of Soweto in Pimville, a football dominant area and it academy solely depends on the grant from Sport and Recreation, and it does encounter facility challenges. But against all odds they are on their peak and currently on top of Central Gauteng Golf Junior league. Already accommodating deaf learners, Head coach Prince Modiba says that they will accommodate more learners with physical disabilities. The professional coach who has been with the academy for five years added that it is in their plans to have more physical challenged golfers.

Sailing South Africa President Philip Baum is not happy with the SASCOC (South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee) requirements for the Olympic qualification. SASCOC does not deem the route of qualifying via the African continental qualifiers as sufficient. The body requires that the athletes must also be internationally competitive to make the cut. Baum says the issue is a bone of contention for them.

Organisers of the Tour of Good Hope cycling event have expressed concern at the increasing number of road accidents involving their members. ASG Events’s CEO Erick Oosthuizen is also angry and disappointed after a marshal Janine Olivier was run down by a motor car during the event. Olivier, a member of safety initiative, lost her life as a result. Oosthuizen believes that some road users do not respect cyclists, adding. Songezo Jim one of South Africa’ top combative riders, who his team took the third position yesterday in Cape Town Cycle Tour (CTCC), also spoke out about the marshals incident. Jim was also among the riders who participated in the Tour of Good Hope and was almost hit by a car.

Limpopo Schools Sports wrapped up their selections of provincial teams to participate in the 2019 national track and field championship this month. The selections started last week Wednesday with 50 intellectually impaired learners who are going to Kimberly this week, then followed by MMH schools where they selected 60 athletes to represent Limpopo in Port Elizabeth from 20-23 March. A 110 abled bodied primary school kids were selected for the national event to be held Germiston later this week while they selected 120 athletes to the secondary schools in two weeks to PE on Saturday. Limpopo schools athletics ‘Peter Maluleke. With a bigger group of athletes this year Maluleke is expecting an improved finishing spot from eighth to their 2019 target which is at least fifth with primary school learners.

From a situation where she thought she would never play sport again, Palesa Manaleng is riding the crest of a wave as the South African wheelchair track racing and hand-cycling champion. The 31-year-old suffered multiple and severe injuries in a cycling accident four years ago, which left her paralysed from the waist down after her bicycle brakes failed going downhill. She crashed into the palisade fence and dislocated her spine, broke two ribs, punctured a lung, fractured a shoulder and also sustained head injuries. Manaleng explains how she remained positive in the face of adversity. Manaleng is a T9/T10 complete paraplegic which means she has no stomach muscles or the use of her legs. Manaleng has represented South Africa in two para-cycling World Cups. Last month she won the Gauteng Championships and also defended her gold medal in the SA National Road and Para-Cycling Women's H3 hand-cycle championships in Pretoria last month, having won it last year in Outdshoorn. Ranked 8th in the world out of 27 countries in her category, Manaleng has since mastered the art of para-cycling but shares the challenges are aplenty for her. An all-rounder in sports, Manaleng had also played hockey, soccer, tennis, weight lifting, ran 10km races, rowed and swam at various times in her life prior to her accident. She shares her greatest inspiration. Manaleng is currently working towards being chosen to represent South Africa at the Paralympic Games in 2020 and calls on the media to shed light into the sport as it will trigger a sense of participation from more disabled youngsters.

Tour of Good Hope road cycling race wrapped its five days of their annual race in the Cape Winelands today. The race kicks started Monday the 4th, with Nolan Hoffman emerging victorious in 58.5km in opening stage at Boland Landbou in the Western Cape. The race comprises of five stages’ the 1st stage being a 25km individual time trial for the Elite Team competition, while riders entered in the Amateur Team competition complete a Team Time Trial of 63km. 2nd stage is mostly flat and fast, whereas stage 3 and 4 are the Tour’s queen stages and the 5th is flat and fast. ASG CEO Erick Oosthuizen who are the organisers of the tour says that the event went well but challenging due to roads construction. The route of the race was forced to change due to some road construction of R44 and R45. Oosthuizen is understandable okay with constructions happening notes that proper roads will be advantageous to the riders as well, acknowledges the tour was a success and add that there is always a room for improvement.

The under-23 road national champ Marc Pritzen of OfficeGuru cycling club emerged victorious in today’s final stage of Tour of Good Hope race at Taal Monument. The 19 year old and his fellow teammates won the Team Time Trial in stage 3. Pritzen finished his race in 1:43:01, followed by Byron Munton of Alfa Bodyworks-Giant club who crossed the finish line in 1:43:24 and his teammate in the 3rd position, Frans Claes who completed the race in 1:43:34. The just crowned Tour of Good Hope champion says that it is unbelievable he won.

Cape Town has won the bid to host the 2023 Netball World Cup. International Netball Federation President Molly Rhone announced today ( Wednesday) at an event in the Mother City, that Cape Town had beat out Auckland in New Zealand to host the biggest women’s sporting event in the world. Netball South Africa President Cecilia Molokwane was overwhelmed by the announcement. Molokwane says with this news and Banyana Banyana qualifying for the World Cup for the first, it is a big year for women’s sport in South Africa and credit should go to Minister of Sport and Recreation Tokozile Xasa for all the work she is doing.

With the All Africa games a few weeks away, National Badminton Women’s Team veteran Michelle Butler-Emmett talks about her illustrious career as she prepares to take Nigeria by storm. A racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net, badminton is the world’s fastest racket sport and certainly one that’s growing at a lighting speed in South Africa as it was traditionally played as a casual outdoor activity.

Sunshine Tour professional golf development in Africa executive Nhlahla Mohlaudi says they have been excited about the inaugural Limpopo championship since it was proposed. The four round tournament tees off at Euphoria golf estate in Modimolle from Thursday until Sunday, 10 March 2019. This is a first Sunshine sanctioned tournament in the province and is hosted in partnership with the Limpopo Tourism Agency. Mohlaudi says Limpopo has always been on their developments plans.

After 141 caps for South Africa, two Commonwealth Games (2010 and 2014), three World Cups (2006, 2010 and 2014) as well as the 2012 Olympic Games, men’s hockey stalwart Lloyd Norris-Jones announced his retirement from the senior national hockey team after a decade of sterling performances. Jones says he will, however continue to play club hockey at his new German team Uhlenhorster Hamburg. With 71 goals for the national team, Jones’ ability to spring the counter attack and immediately wait for the pass back to net it set him apart from the rest. It was Jones’ clinical goal against Japan that took South Africa to the London Olympic Games in 2012. Jones adds that his retirement wasn’t an easy decision for his family and fans to digest, but one he is content with. The sight of Jones tearing through the opposition and cracking in key goals for S.A will remain echoed in the minds of hockey fanatics for a long time. The 33 year old reflected back on his highs and lows of his international journey, 13 years after making his debut at the 2006 World Cup. Lloyd also made his mark on the continent, helping South Africa win five African Cups. He gave his thoughts on where S.A hockey is and his hopes for the sport. Lloyd leaves South Africa next week to join his new club Uhlenhorster Hamburg in the German Hockey League. The Capetonian shares light on his new chapter.

The world 400m champion and world record holder Wayde Van Nierkek is adamant that come the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar later this year, he will be ready to defend his title. Van Nierkek was speaking to the media following the renewal of his sponsorship deal with T-Systems for the next three years in Midrand, Johannesburg. The 400m Olympic champion has been out of competitive action since October 2017 following a freak accident during a celebrity touch rugby game. He’s confident that he will back by the time the World Champs come. This past weekend (Sunday), Van Nierkek won his first 400m race since 2017, beating teammate and South African hurdler Cornel Fredericks during a provincial meeting at the Mangaung Athletics track in Bloemfontein in a 47.28secs. This way too far from his personal best of 43.03secs but the 26year-old wants to be patient. At the last World Champs in London two years ago, Van Nierkek doubled and defended his 400m title but returned with silver in the 200m. Today, he spoke about the advice he’s been getting from retired spring king and reigning 100m and 200m champion and world record holder Usain Bolt. Olympics two-time gold medalist and 400m hurdles legend Edwin Moses recently said it could take Van Nierkek two years to get back to his best following this rehabilitation phase. But the two-time South African Sports Star of the year holds a different view. Van Nierkek got injured during a touch rugby game which was a curtain raiser to a Springboks and All Blacks test match. He tore both his meniscus and his anterior cruciate ligament from that resultant injury. Asked today if he regrets this injury, this was his response.

Swimming South Africa President Allan Fritz says his federation wants to fast-track transformation in swimming. Swimming is still dominated by white athletes, with no athlete of colour having previously represented SA in the major events. Fritz is happy with a progress in the junior events. He also added that they are also looking at building facilities in the black townships. SA swimming has been dominated by male athletes such as Chad Le Clos and the retired Cameron van der Burgh in the previous major competitions such as the Olympics, Commonwealth games and world championships. But in recent times Tatjana Schoenmaker has come of age with other female swimmers such as Erin Gallagher making great strides. Fritz is happy with the progress.

South African middle-distance runner Stephen Mokoka is hoping to compete in a marathon at the world championships in Doha, Qatar later this year. Mokoka is a renowned middle distance runner, who has competed in the track events, 5000 and 10 000 metres in the three Olympics. He says it is tougher to run a marathon. SA is going through a good patch when it comes to sprinters. The likes of Wayde van Niekerk, Akani Simbine and Henricho Bruintjies have won major events in the last few years. Some of the athletes in other disciplines believe that sprinters are getting preferential treatment, but Mokoka does not echo the same sentiments.

Nolan Hoffman relished his first victory with new team at the 106km Herald Cycle Tour on Sunday, 24 February 2019. He runs the team alongside long-time friends David Maree and Steven van Heerden, as part of his new self-managed team, DNS Sports. Maree and van Heerden also took part in the race. This was Hoffman’s seventh victory overall at the Port Elizabeth event. Hoffman has more.

Netball South Africa President Cecilia Molokwane says the 2023 world cup bid will bring positive legacy to the country and the continent. SA is competing with New Zealand for the right to host the quadrennial tournament. The announcement will be made any time from now with SA earmarking Cape Town as the host city. Netball SA has given assurance to the public that the professional league will commence later this year despite SAB pulling out of sponsoring the code late last year. Several Protea players are plying their trade overseas due to the lack of professional league. Molokwane is confident they will get a sponsor. Netball SA targeted mid-March as a deadline to securing a sponsor for the league. There are reports that the apparel company Puma will be sponsoring the Proteas national team when they play at the world cup later this year in England. Molokwane says they have plan B should the deals not materialize. Protea players based in SA will form a team and play in the professional league to prepare them for the world cup. Coach Dorette Badenhorst will be in charge of that team according to Molokwane.

With almost all the sports federations reacting negatively to the draft of the proposed sports broadcasting regulations by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), the Ministry of Sport is allaying the fears. Whilst ICASA is focusing on balancing between accessibility and revenue generation, the federations are expressing concern these proposed regulations will deplete their coffers. The country’s broadcast regulator has set the 15th of next month as a deadline for the pubic and the federations to make written submissions. Minister of Sport Tokozile Xasa says they are looking at helping the federations as they continue to make their submissions. The South African Football Association (SAFA), followed by its special member the Premier Soccer League (PSL), were the first organizations to express their concerns about these regulations. In what could be a first for SA football, Xasa says these two bodies must make a joint submission to ICASA, for these particular reasons. ICASA is proposing that the sports broadcasting rights be grouped into three categories and sporting events of national interest be prioritized for the public especially on free to air television stations. But it’s the exclusivity part and the threat to the pay-tv platforms that has got the federations up in arms as this has got the potential to bankrupt them. But ICASA also wants your average sports fan with no access to pay-tv to follow the major sporting events. Xasa focuses on this balance that needs to be achieved.

Boxing South Africa (BSA) is the latest sports federation to express its reservations about the draft of the proposed sports broadcasting regulations by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). BSA on Wednesday (20 February 2019) held a promoters’ workshop at its offices in Pretoria where one of the items on the agenda was this draft of ICASA regulations. Sporting codes like football, cricket and rugby have already expressed their concerns on how these proposed regulations are going to impact on their revenue streams. BSA Chairperson Dr Peter Ngatane says the exclusivity that is proposed by these regulations is going of cause problems.

Colin Nathan, who trains reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Moruti ‘’Babyface’’ Mthalane, has revealed that Mthalane is going to make his next defence of his title in May. Mthalane is going to make a mandatory defence of title against Japanese flyweight champion Masayuki Kuroda on a yet-to-be confirmed date in May. Last month the IBF ordered that Mthalane must make a mandatory defence of his crown against Kuroda. This came after Mthalane, who has not lost a fight since his loss to Nonito Donaire in 2008, successfully defended his belt when he stopped Japanese boxer Masahiro Sakamota in the 10th round in Hong Kong almost two months ago. Mthalane won the title when he beat Muhammad Waseem in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in July last year.

The showdown between the Minister of Sport and Recreation Tokozile Xasa and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) continues this week when they meet in Cape Town on Wednesday to find a common ground. SASCOC has released two statements already where they are objecting to some of the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry’s recommendations especially around the election of an independent President and other office bearers to their Executive. Xasa had earlier said that the implementation of these recommendations is non-negotiable and she’s now responding to what seems to be some defiance from SASCOC. SABC Sport understands that at the recent SASCOC special general council meeting, the tone of the executive and some members when discuss this final report and its recommendations, was a fighting tone. SASCOC has revealed that they have received some advisory from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Internationals Paralympic Committee (IPC) on the input they had sought. In the statement, they went on to say, they’ve shared this with Xasa. We asked her what is entailed in this advisory. The committee which was chaired by retired Judge Ralph Zulman and assisted by veteran cricket administrator Dr Ali Bacher and labour law expert Shamima Gaibie made a long list of recommendations that aimed to improve some corporate governance at SASCOC and address some financial irregularities. The beginning of April was put down as the deadline for the implementation of these recommendations, is Xasa still confident about this deadline. She also reveals that the independent facilitator who will be seconded to SASCOC to implement this report will be introduced in the meeting on Wednesday.

Limpopo MEC for Sport Arts and Culture Thandi Moraka has joint millions of South Africans in the #NaturalySuperior campaign in support of Olympic star Caster Semenya. Semenya with the support of the national department of Sport and Recreation will today start the fight at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) for their introduction of new rules that will see female athletes like her taking medication to “normalise” their hormones. The world athletic governing body the IAAF allege that hormones give unfair advantage to the likes of Semenya on the track. Moraka says enough is enough. According to these new rules set to be effective in March 2019 female athletes with natural high levels of testosterone would have to compete with men or change events should they decline to take medication. Athletes competing in middle distances are mostly affected by these developments. Moraka feels a lot of transformation needs to happen within the IAAF. Moraka also thanked Minister of Sport Thokozile Xasa for backing the Moletji born champion. The MEC says she has not spoken to the 28 year old or her team so far saying the province is following the national office’s lead in this matter.

Boxing South Africa (BSA) chief executive officer Tsholofelo Lejaka has congratulated newly-crowned International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion DeeJay Kriel after he won the belt when he stopped Mexican boxer Carlos Licona in the 12th round in a fight, which was held at the Microsoft Theatre in the United States early yesterday. Kriel, who was behind on points going into the final three minutes of the fight, decked Licona three times in the 12th round. According to fight judges Patrick Russell and Danny Sandoval’s score cards, Kriel had only won two rounds going to the 12th round while Rudy Barragan had the 23-year-old winning six of the first 11 rounds. The BSA boss has added that Kriel’s victory bears testimony to the fact that South African boxers are ready to compete against opponents from anywhere. Kriel, who is trained by legendary 78-year-old American boxing trainer Kenny Adams, left South Africa to search for glory in the US last year. Lejaka still insists that getting involved in fight for the world’s prestigious boxing bodies should be the way to go for South African boxers just like Kriel, a former World Boxing Council (WBC) International minimumweight champion, has done. Meanwhile, Kriel’s former trainer Colin Nathan has described the Johannesburg-born boxer’s victory over Licona as a remarkable win for South Africa.

Withdrawal of South African Breweries as a headline sponsor is a big blow for Netball in South Africa according to President Cecilia Molokwane. The company has been sponsoring the Netball Premier League for the past five years. The League provided the perfect platform between clubs and varsity players which has resulted in the Spar Proteas making massive strides on the international stage.

Netball South Africa has given an update on the 2023 world cup bid. SA is competing with New Zealand for the rights to host Netball biggest competition which is held every four years. Africa has never hosted a world cup before, while New Zealand is bidding to host it for the third time. The announcement will be made between February and March. Netball SA Chief Executive Officer Blanche De La Guerre says they believe they can host the competition. The bid has received an incredible support from the department of sport and recreation. Last year Netball SA President Cecilia Molokwane, CEO De La Guerre, minister of sport and recreation Thokozile Xasa and Director-General Alec Moemi went to Singapore to present the bid to the members of International Netball Federation.

South Africa has selected a strong lawn bowls team for the Antlantic championships in Cardiff. Wales. The tournament will take place from the sixth until the 24th of May. The team comprises of both men and women and featuring top athletes such as Gerry Baker in men singles and Collen Piketh in the women’s singles. The team will also include pairs, triples and fours events. Bowls SA President Robert Forbes says it is a very strong team. Bowls is a commonwealth sport and SA has done well in that competition. Apart from swimming and athletics, bowls has brought more medals than any other sport in the commonwealth games. Bowls brought back five medals behind Athletics and swimming. Forbes also spoke about other major events in the bowls calendar.

South African tennis player, Lloyd Harris is seeing his career growing in leaps and bounds with his latest victory, a straight sets 6-2 6-2 win over Italian Lorenzo Guistino at the Launceston International in Australia this past Sunday. The win has earned him an ATP singles top 100 ranking for the first time in the latest rankings released yesterday. The Cape Town born right hander saw a jump from a 119 ranking, going 19 places up to break into the special group of top 100 players in the world. Harris joins fifth ranked Kevin Anderson as the only South African player in the ATP singles top 100. Harris has come a long way, previously winning 13 ITF singles titles and four ITF doubles titles. He was at one time ranked the 38th best junior tennis player in the world and in 2015 turned professional at the tender age of 18. At 21-years of age, he is SA’s number two ranked tennis player behind Anderson and he says there is more to come.

South African Netball national team player Karla Pretorius says the Proteas will be confident going into the world cup in England later this year. Their confidence stems from the fact that they did very well in the recent Quad series in England last month. They lost to Australia 62-45 in the first match, and then beat England 48-45 in the second match, and then narrowly lost their last match against New Zealand in sudden death, after the two teams were level in extra time. The Proteas have been paired with Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Fiji in Group C. They are expected to progress to the next round alongside Jamaica. Pretorius says their performance at the Quad series will scare their opponents.

As nominations for the 2018 South African Boxing Awards continues, Boxing South Africa (BSA) chief executive officer Tsholofelo Lejaka, says the process, which opened last month is going to close on Friday, 22 February. The period under review for the awards is from 1 November 2017 to 31 October 2018. The BSA boss has reiterated that only 15 of the 16 awards will get nominations from the public while the 16th is divided into two. This will be the Lifetime Achievement Award and Special Achievement Award, and the recipients will be chosen by BSA chairman Dr Peter Ngatane.

Minister of Sport and Recreation Tokozile Xasa is launching a campaign to defend Caster Semenya as he prepares to take on the IAAF regulations governing females with hyperandrogenism wants to implement. Xasa says together with the department, they are hoping to take this campaign globally culminating with a picket at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. The new rules will require Semenya to lower her naturally occurring high levels of testosterone to compete in events from 400m to the mile. Xasa says they are doing this for all the African girls in Athletics. Interestingly, these restrictions are only limited to the females running in the 400m to mile and don’t apply on athletes competing in the 100m, 200m or in the 3 000 and up. Leading to Xasa saying this is specifically targeting Semenya and other African female athletes. Xasa also says they are looking at challenging the medication that IAAF wants to use on Semenya in lowering her testosterone levels.

The Proteas netball senior national team returned home to a hero’s welcome at the O.R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg yesterday. The team was welcomed by a small but vociferous crowd waving flags and balloons with a small brass band playing songs. The Proteas had an outstanding tournament at the Quad series in England. Netball SA President Cecilia Molokwane was very proud of the team and also explained why England hosted the tournament.

With the 2019 FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon just under a month away, organizers have provided assurances to competitors over several issues, including the most pressing one of security. Last weekend, a few incidents marred a one-day race on the same uMsindusi and uMngeni Rivers which will stage the world famous race from February 14-16, prompting fears about this year’s Dusi. But General Manager of the popular KwaZulu-Natal event, Steve Botha, says there is nothing to worry about. The 2019 race is the 68th edition of the famous race that starts at Camps Drift in Pietermaritzburg, makes its way through the Valley of a Thousand Hills and ends at Blue Lagoon in Durban. The course is usually around 120 kilometres and spread over three stages, with this year’s even being a K1 or single class race. The competition interchanges between K1 and K2 or doubles each year and Botha says that they are well on course to deliver another spectacular event. As always with the Dusi, the water is a discussion point. However, Botha says there are no worries about low levels or the quality of water for 2019. He also confirms that the troublesome hyacinth weeds that usually trouble paddles is welll under control this year. Andy Birkett is a living legend of the race and will again be bidding to defend the title he won two years ago. In fact, the 28-year-old also won last year when he teamed up with Hank McGregor to clinch a fifth straight victory and eighth in the past nine years. He is again the men’s favourite this year ahead of the likes of Thulani Mbanjwa and Sbonelo Khwela. The women’s favourite is Christie Mackenzie, a multiple junior winner. But GM Botha is not counting out the overseas contingent to pose a threat this year.

Netball South Africa President Cecilia Molokwane says transformation in the sport should happen in all areas. The Proteas are currently in England for the Quad Series where they lost to Australia in the first match on Sunday. The team has five black players in the 15-women squad for the series. The Proteas will also play against England on Saturday and New Zealand on Sunday. Molokwane is hoping for more black players in the near future. Molokwane is also hoping that transformation extend to other areas of the sport such as with Umpires and administrators and coaches. There are now two black umpires in the professional ranks. Black Coaches in the professional ranks are also very few.

The world’s 800m women’s champion Caster Semenya is targeting the 36year-old world record this year according to her coach Samuel Sepeng. Semenya and her teammates at her athletics club Masai sports club have already started training preparing for the 2019 season from last month. Last year, Semenya swept everything in front of her as she easily defended her diamond league title and was unbeaten in all her races. As they look forward to the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar this year, Sepeng says they want to bring down Jarmila Kratochvílova’s (Czechslovakia) 1:53.28 world record that was set in 1983.

Mlandeli Tengimfene, the manager of current World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete, has revealed that Tete is sweating it out at training ahead of the semi-finals of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS). Tete will fight against World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight Super champion Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire. According to Tengimfene, they decided to start training for the Donaire fight a month ago even though no date has been set for the duel.

South African Baseball Union (SABU) President Marc Moreau says their main objective in 2019 is to spread the sport to the rural areas. Baseball is popular in the major cities such as Cape Town where they have their local leagues but less prominent in other areas especially in the disadvantaged communities. Moreau also believes that the sport has gained international recognition especially after the successful French tour where SA triumphed 5-2 in a seven-match series late last year.

South African National Track Champion Jean Spies will head to Pietermaritzburg to take part in the African Continental Track Championships. The event will commence on the 17th of January till the 19th. From a successful National Track Championship, Spies will be eyeing to keep his winning ways. The 28 year old will be undertaking in keirin, sprint, 1 kilometre time trial race. Spies’s manager Brigitte Mileson says preparations are going according to plans. In the previous Continental Champs in Morocco, South Africa had a successful outing with Spies who claimed six medals that consist of five gold in the sprint, keirin, time-trial, team sprint and team pursuit and a bronze in scratch. Spies says he is hoping for positive results.

Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-featherweight and International Boxing Organisation (IBO) featherweight champion Vuyani “The Beast” Bungu says the late Gabula “Slashing Tiger” Vabaza made a mark in boxing even though he never won a title with a credible world body. Bungu was speaking on the sidelines during Vabaza’s memorial service at the Gompo Hall in Duncan Village, East London, late yesterday. Vabaza passed away following a heart attack on Tuesday and is going to be buried in East London today. The 51-year-old Bungu, who defended his IBF crown a recorded 13 times, has added that Vabaza, a former South African flyweight, World Boxing Union (WBU) junior-featherweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) Intercontinental junior-featherweight champion, was a nice person.

Swimming South Africa Chief Executive Officer Shaun Adriaanse says the young Michael Houlie is capable of replacing the legendary Cameron van der Burgh. Van der Burgh announced his retirement last week to close a curtain on an illustrious career. Houlie is a young breaststroker that won the 50 metre gold medal in breaststroke at the Youth Olympics in Argentina recently. He also did well at the Region 5 games in Botswana last week. Van der Burgh has been an excellent servant for SA swimming over the last decade. He bowed out of an incredible career as double world champion at the World Swimming Short-Course Championships in Hangzhou, China on Sunday. He has won medals at the Olympics and Commonwealth games. Adriaanse says he will be sorely missed.

Damien Durandt is continuing with the legacy of his famous father Nick Durandt. The famous and the most successful trainer on the continent passed away in a motorbike accident last year in April. Nick coached 38 world champions and an impressive 97 national champions during a career spanning 29 years. Damien says it has been tough. Damien has been working and learning from his father since he was 11 years-old. Last year the gym had 30 fights and suffered just one defeat under his tutelage. He worked as an assistant trainer under his larger than life dad before he died. He gained wealth of experience over the years. Damien has exciting fighters in his stable such as cruiserweight Junior Makabu, who is rated no 3 by the WBC (World Boxing Council), Jackson Chauke ranked 48 in the world in the flyweight division. He says there are several exciting boxers to look out for.

Boxing South Africa (BSA) is set to issue the rule book for the 2018 South African Boxing Awards before the Christmas break. This was revealed by BSA chief executive officer Tsholofelo Lejaka, who added that the delay in issuing the rule book came as a result of on-going negotiations between his organisation and potential hosts of the awards function. The rule book gives people guidelines on how to nominate nominees for the different awards. The function for the 2017 awards was held at the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino in Port Elizabeth in February this year.

SA track cycling national champion Jean Spies’ world rankings is set to increase following his stunning performance at the Bellville Velodrome in Cape Town at the weekend . Spies took home gold titles in the Kilo, Keirin and Sprint races, and summed up his spectacular weekend winning silver in the Scratch race, and also achieved UCI points. Spies broke two national records particularly in the 2, 00m Sprint race with a time of 10.42 sec and the Kilo race at a time of 1:04.18. The self-funded athlete, Spies has had a jam-packed week of cycling, also breaking new ground in the many Track Cycling disciplines through the week. Spies’ world rankings of 31st in the Keirin and 42nd in the Sprint earn him a direct entry into the World Cup Season. He has received confirmation of his entries into the first two UCI Track World Cups after chasing points and world ranking places over the last few months.

Wheelchair Basketball South in Africa is (WCBAS) is in a rebuilding phase according to their High Performance Manager Gerry Smith. SA used to be the dominant force in Africa but they have stagnated which has seen the likes of Morocco, Egypt and Algeria catch up and even surpass them. Morocco is currently the leading nation in Africa. Wheelchair basketball is a flagship Paralympic sport according to Smith. USA men’s team defeated Spain to win gold medal at the Rio games in 2016, while the USA’s women team also won gold medal to claim the title from Germany. SA did not qualify for the Rio games. SA recently took part in the LWINI (an aid organisation in Angola founded by the former First Lady of Angola Ana Paula Dos Santos) cup in Angola to prepare for the Paralympic qualifiers next year. Four teams from three countries SA, Angola and Switzerland participated in a tournament that was won by SA. Smith says they used the tournament to prepare for the Paralympic qualifiers next year.

Factionalism within the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the amount of time spent on discussing disputes, make it impossible for them to champion sports development in the country. This is the view of labour law expert Shamima Gaibie, who was part of the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into SASCOC maladministration and financial irregularities. Minister of Sport and Recreation Tokozile Xasa released the findings of the inquiry last week, most of which are aimed at transforming SASCOC and its operations. In this short interview with SABC Sport journalist Velile Mnyandu, Gaibie who worked with retired Judge Ralph Zulman and veteran cricket administrator Dr Ali Bacher, says there was no direction at SASCOC.

Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-featherweight champion Welcome Ncita nearly fainted after hearing about the passing away of his protégé Gabula “Slashing Tiger” Vabaza. Duncan Village-born Vabaza, who was regarded as one of the finest boxers to come out of South Africa even though he never won a world title with a credible boxing organisation, passed away late yesterday after a long illness. Vabaza, a former South African flyweight, World Boxing Union (WBU) junior-bantamweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) Intercontinental junior-featherweight titlist, was unbeaten in 29 fights when he retired in 2006 after he failed a medical examination on the eve of an IBF junior-featherweight title fight against Canadian Steve Molitor. The 54-year-old Ncita, who now trains WBC International junior-bantamweight king Yanga Siqibo and Siphamandla Baleni, says he had a father and son relationship with Vabaza. The deceased was the first champion Ncita produced as a trainer.

New SA Open champion Louis Oosthuizen has credited new coach Justin Parsons and a different conditioning that is less stressful on his back for the for the winning golf that earned him his maiden SA Open title over the weekend. Oosthuizen says the last six to seven months have been spent focusing on the detail that will help him get better as a golfer. Oosthuizen says he has worked a lot on his short game while also trying to improve on his driving. The change in Oosthuizen’s game has yielded results sooner than anticipated with him having been in contention in the final round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City a month ago before winning the SA Open at Randpark on Sunday. Oosthuizen will now have his sights firmly set on recording back-to-back wins in this weekend’s Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek.

South African under-18 netball team has started the defence of their title with a bang at the Region 5 under-18 games in Botswana. The team beat Zambia 51-36 in the first match, and also defeated Malawi 49-38 in the second match. SA won gold medal at the 2016 games in Angola. Coach Dumisani Chauke is aware that most African countries are improving in leaps and bounds, but still confident of victory on the 12th. SA is ranked number one in Africa and also number 5 in the world. Most of the players are travelling on the continent for the first time with few having gone out in schools tournaments. Chauke is hoping that most of the youngsters will graduate into the senior team in the future. Meanwhile, the Proteas senior team recently successfully defended their Diamond Challenge Netball tournament, when they beat Zimbabwe 73-44 in Polokwane. SA’s reserve team President’s XII team also claimed four wins out of five matches in that tournament. Chauke says it was good to have two teams competing to increase the pool of players.

South Africa is running the risk of being suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) if constitutional matters are not respected by the government. This was the view of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) President Gideon Sam reacting to the release of the findings of the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into SASCOC maladministration and financial irregularities. Minister of Sport Tokozile Xasa released the final report which was scathing of Sam, stopping short of saying he’s not fit for office. Speaking during the SASCOC annual general meeting in Johannesburg on Saturday, Sam gives his overview on this report. The committee which was chaired by retired Judge Ralph Zulman, veteran cricket administrator Dr Ali Bacher and labour law expert Shamima Gaibie handed a lot of recommendations to Xasa. And some of them include SASCOC amending its constitution and appointing a President who is not affiliated to any sports federation. And judging by Sam’s comments it sounds like there’s going to be a problem. Xasa disapproved most of the representations that SASCOC had made and one of those included the recommendation that members of the board who are appointed coming from federations must relinquish such membership or affiliation upon election. Even here Xasa could be heading for a collision course if Sam’s comments are to be noted. The recommendations also propose that the board must serve no more than two four year terms and Sam is currently on his third and final term having been appointed from 2008, re-elected in 2012 and in 2016. He says there’s nothing that says he must step down now in the recommendations.

South Africa Men’s hockey team were eliminated from the World Cup tournament currently underway in Bhubaneswar, India after losing 5-1 to Belgium yesterday. The odds were massively stacked against the SA men ranked 15th in the world as they took on number 3 ranked Belgium to try and secure progress to the next round but it was not to be. SA could not have asked for a better start when Rhett Halkett set up Nic Spooner after just 35 seconds and South Africa’s most impressive player fired home an early advantage but they let the European team back into the game. Hopkins feels his team can draw positives. The world cup proceeds without South Africa until the 16th of December and Hopkins will be going back to the drawing board with his focus being on the 2019 Olympics qualifiers in June next year.

Louis Oosthuizen lived up to his pre-tournament billing of being the highest ranked player in the field by shooting an opening round 62 to finish nine under par and take a one shot lead at the SA Open being played at Randpark Golf Club in Johannesburg. Zambia’s Madalitso Muthiya and American Kurt Kitayama are one shot behind. Oosthuizen birdied six of the holes on the back nine and eventually broke away from partner Englishman Matt Wallace at the 13th hole. Oosthuizen says it was one of those rounds where everything went well. The former Open champion, Oosthuizen, is not getting carried away with his first round lead and says tomorrow will feel like a new start as he plays the Firethorn course after starting the tournament playing on the Bushwillow course. Oosthuizen says he prefers playing in tournaments where there are two courses and says he will not go in blind on the Firethorn course after playing it during the week.

South African boxer Jackson Chauke is confident of snatching the vacant WBC flyweight gold international title when he locks horns with the Zambian Alfred Muwowo in a main bout at Carnival City in Brakpan on Saturday night. Chauke qualified for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and Commonwealth games in 2006 in Melbourne, Australia. The 33-year old veteran is looking forward to the fight. Chauke’s trainer, Damian Durandt, who is the son to the legendary late trainer Nick Durandt, says they have been preparing for ten weeks. Muwowo who is the current ABU flyweight African champion, says he will prove that his opponent is old. Muwowo’s manager and promoter Christopher Malunga says they have been preparing for ten weeks for the big fight. The tournament will be promoted by Andre Thysse from Real Steel Promotions. Thysse is a former boxer who won many titles in his hey days. The 49-year old is looking forward to the tournament.

Defending SA Open champion Chris Paisley believes winning the tournament earlier this year at the Glendower Golf Course has given him a lot of confidence in his ability to win especially if he plays the kind of golf he can produce. Paisley says he can replicate the winning golf he played in January ahead of the SA Open which started this morning at Randpark Golf Course in Johannesburg.

Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-featherweight champion Welcome “Hawk” Ncita has lamented the poor state of boxing in East London. Ncita says problems in boxing’s in the area started after the sport was infiltrated by people, whose main aim was to make a quick buck out of the sport. Ncita adds that the infiltration has resulted in East London failing to produce champions from credible world bodies. The former world champion added that many people in East London think they know boxing, while they are clueless when it comes to the practical side of the fistic sport. Ncita, who now trains Yanga Sigqibo and Siphamandla Baleni, reckons that boxers become victims as a result of lack of interest by people with no clue in the sport, getting involved in boxing. Sigqibo is going to fight against Keyvin Lara from Nicaragua in a WBO Intercontinental junior-bantamweight title at the Orient Theatre in East London this coming Friday while Baleni has a date with South African - champion Xolisa Magusha at the same venue on Sunday. The 54-year-old Ncita says East London boxing people need to go back to the basics in an effort to make sure that the sport thrives again. Meanwhile, Ncita says new methods of doing things in boxing should never be discarded as they are going to help in advancing boxing’s cause.

South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) has signed an agreement with Machida City recently to allow SA athletes to use their facilities ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in Japan. Sascoc had already secured a similar agreement with Iizuka City and Fukuoka Prefecture. Sascoc acting chief executive officer Patience Shikwambane explains the deals. One of the reasons will be to help the athletes acclimatise to the different time zones and also conditions in Japan. The agreement will allow Team SA to utilise the training facilities between 2019 and 2020 at no cost. Shikwambane has more. 2018 was a good year for SA sports in many sporting codes. Sascoc introduced Operation Excellence Programme (OPEX) is designed to offer support to athletes who have potential to qualify for major events and also to bring back medals. Shikwambane says they will have their hands full trying to incorporate new athletes. Many women excelled in their respective sporting codes this year. Caster Semenya had a good year while Banyana Banyana did well to qualify for the FIFA world cup in France next year. Tatjana Schoenmaker in swimming also had an impressive year. Shikwambane was pleased with the progress.

Former South African long distance runner Hendrick Ramaala’s son Alex will represent the country in the swimming at the region 5 under 18 games in Botswana from the 6th until the 17th of this month. The 18 year old will take part in the breaststroke and individual medley events. Alex explains why he chose swimming. Ramaala has been taking part in the national championships for few years competing against top swimmers such as Cameron van der Burgh and the new sensation Michael Houlie. He says it has been a good experience. Alex has a Romanian mother but grew up in France, where his mother represented that country in Athletics. He cannot speak African languages but only English. He used to play other sport such as football and athletics at school. Hendrick is a renowned athlete who represented SA in four Olympics. He won the New York Marathon in 2004. Alex says his parents have played a huge role in his career.

The South African national netball team, Spar Proteas were crowned the 2018 Diamond Challenge champions in Seshego, Poloka yesterday. They won all their matches wrapping up the week-long tournament with 73-44 victory over Zimbabwe on the final day at the Ngoako Ramatlhodi indoor sports complex. The Proteas also dominated the individual tournament awards with captain Bongiwe Msomi named overall player of the tournament and Rome Dreyer being best center court. Proteas head coach Norma Plummer was happy with the strong finish. The host country was using this tournament to prepare next year’s Quad series where they will face opposition like New Zealand and England. Plummer emphasised the importance of watching the SA president’s XII compete at the tournament.

Swimming South Africa Chief Executive, Shaun Adriaanse says they will send a strong team to the 2018 Africa Union Sport Council (AUSC) Region 5 Under-20 Games in Gaborone, Botswana. The games will take place from the 7th to the 16th of December, and 35 swimmers will represent SA. The team has a mixed balance of more experienced swimmers and upcoming young ones. Adriaanse says the objective this year is to help the young ones grab as much experience as possible. Meanwhile, TeamSA claimed the top spot on the medal table in the other junior competition, the Africa Swimming Confederation (CANA) Zone 3 Championships in Sudan which concluded on the 17th this month. Adriaanse says it is an added pressure for the Under-20’s to impress in Gaborone. The highlights in the Zone 3 Championships saw Eastern Cape’s Keagon Mnyaka and KZN’s Kaydn Naidoo winning an impressive 13 medals between them.

The Spar Proteas national netball team got their 2018 Diamond Challenge campaign to a good start as they convincingly beat Namibia 78-28 in Seshego yesterday (Tuesday, 27 November 2018). The Proteas dominated from the first quarter finishing it with a 17-6 lead, they were 38-9 at the end of the second quarter. The score in the third quarter was 61-15 for the host country and the last one was 76-26 in favour of the Proteas. Netball South Africa vice president Christine Du Preez was pleased with how things proceeded on the first day even though action was delayed by at least 30 minutes...

A total of 35 swimmers have been included in the South African team, including 17 girls and 18 boys, for the 2018 Africa Union Sport Council (AUSC) Region 5 Under-20 Games to be held in Gaborone, Botswana from the 7th to the 16th December. Swimming is one of the codes which makes up the bulk of the squad and, girls coach Chanelle van Wyk says it will be an enormous experience for herself and her team. The team comprises medallists from the recently ended 2018 Youth Olympic Games where Dune Coetzee won a silver medal in the Women 200m Butterfly and Michael Houlie went home with gold in the Men 50m Breaststroke event. Van Wyk says she is taking a strong team to Botswana. Team South Africa comprises of 220 athletes from nine sporting codes namely athletics (incl. visually impaired), basketball, boxing, football, judo, netball, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

South African President’s XII team Coach Jenny Van Dyk is looking forward to playing against African teams in the Diamond Challenge this week. The teams will take on national sides from Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia over five days at the Ngoako Ramathlodi Sports Complex in Seshego, Polokwane from 27 November to 1 December. The President’s XII team will come up against Zambia tomorrow at 7pm. SA has been playing against international teams in the Quad series featuring Australia, New Zealand and England this year. Van Dyk is excited for the opportunity to play against African teams.

South African doubles specialist Raven Klaasen has summed up his year saying that he relishes his successful partnership with New Zealander, Michael Venus after they reached five finals, notably the Wimbledon final and winning a title in Marseille. Klaasen who landed in South Africa on Friday from a five week series says the year started slowly as their partnership was still new. Klaasen feels honoured to be part of the Digicall ITF Futures Series currently underway at the Maties Tennis Club in Stellenbosch University and set to end on the 9th of December. He says it is an exciting opportunity to see youngsters in action.

Athletics South Africa President Aleck Skhosana says the federation is shocked that Olympic and world champion Caster Semenya was snubbed for the IAAF Female Athlete of the Year award. Semenya did not even make the top five after an impressive season where she swept all the boards in her events. Semenya was among the IAAF’S ten nominees last month, with a ballot deciding the five finalists. IAAF wanted to introduce regulations for athletes with hyperandrogenism which would require them to take medication to lower naturally occurring higher levels of testosterone. She has challenged the move at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. Skhosana is not sure if that is the reason for the snub.

SA women’s hockey team captain, Sulette Damons is excited about the newly appointed coach, Robin van Ginkel. Van Ginkel was appointed last week Friday (16 November 2018) to replace Sheldon Rostron who resigned two months ago. Damons says this means a fresh start to the team that has great ambitions.

Basketball National League (BNL) champions Soweto Panthers are taking it easy, using the season break for light training sessions ahead of the next league programme. Panthers took the BNL championship after an 84-58 victory against Egoli Magic. Panthers captain Reece Wade Prinsloo says that it has been a smooth journey for them and will soon be preparing for African club Championship which take place prior the 2019/20 league. Having represented South Africa in different match occasions such as Olympic qualifiers, Basketball Continental World Cup qualifier, and achieved 15 cups for the country, Prinsloo says that he has reached his goals in his basketball career. Like many other sporting codes other than soccer, cricket and rugby, the Panthers captain lamented lack of recognition on basketball.

Team South Africa is targeting more medals at the eighth edition of the Africa Union Sport Council Region 5 under-20 Games in Botswana next month. The Games, that were previously known as the Zone VI Games will take place from the seventh until the 16th of next month. SA finished in first position in the Angola Games two years ago with 123 medals. SA team leader Isaac Mdaka is hoping for more medals with the addition of basketball and men’s football team. Team SA comprises of 220 athletes from nine sporting codes that includes athletics (including visually impaired), basketball, boxing, football, judo, netball, swimming, tennis and volleyball. Mdaka says the team will give strong performance. The strong team comprises of medalists from the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina recently such as Swimmers Dune Coetzee and Michael Houlie. The women’s football team are also the defending champions. Mdaka says top stars such as Wayde van Niekerk and Caster Semenya competed at these Games.

After securing an impressive 5-2 series win against France in the recent President’s Cup series, the South African national baseball team will continue preparing for a big year of qualifications. 2019 will see South Africa attempt to qualify for the Olympic Games, but to reach the big event in Tokyo in 2020; the team will have to first win two rounds of African qualifiers (The African South Zone and African Championships) as well as an Africa/Europe qualifying competition. Baseball South Africa’s president, Marc Moreau says it is a long and difficult process, and can be quite expensive, especially considering many of the non-professional players are students, or have full-time jobs.

South African sprinter Henricho Bruintjies says his main target next season is to win as many medals as he can. The Cape-Town born athlete won silver medal in the 100 metre event at the Commonwealth games in Gold Coast, Australia early this year. He finished behind compatriot Akani Simbine and ahead of the legendary Jamaican Yohan Blake. Bruintjies has already begun with his off season training. The 25-year old will be competing in the athletics world championships in Doha, Qatar. The event is seen as a dress-rehearsal ahead of the 2020 Olympics in Japan. Bruintjies wants to compete in both the 100 and 200 metre events.

With the 2018 Sports Star of the year awards now history, the spotlight is on the Minister of Sport Tokozile Xasa to release the long awaited Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into SASCOC governance final report. The hearings into the mismanagement and financial irregularities at SASCOC took place in February and March this year and the Committee was headed by retired Judge Ralph Zulman, veteran cricket administrator Dr Ali Bacher and labour law expert Shamima Gaibie. SABC Sport has already seen the contents of the Executive Summary of the report and sports governance in South Africa will not be the same again. And Xasa knows very well that she cannot go beyond this month without having released this report.

South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen says he had a good day but his pursuit of eventual winner Lee Westwood proved too costly as Oosthuizen bogeyed the 15th hole and double bogeyed on the 18th as well to finish third behind Westwood and Sergio Garcia at the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City today. Oosthuizen carded a 69 to finish 11 under par and four shots off Westwood.

The South African national baseball team clinched the Presidents Cup series against France yesterday, when they beat France 11-1 at the Durbanville Baseball Club. The victory means South Africa win the series 4-2, with one match still to be played. South Africa got off to to the ideal start when they scored 9 runs in the first innings of the match, and the game was called after the seventh innings, with the home team leading by 10. South African coach Neil Adonis says he wanted his team to come out and show their intent, and it was the ideal start to the game.

Having played second fiddle for the past three years at the South African Sports Awards, Mzansi’s golden girl Caster Semenya made a clean sweep at the 2018 awards held at the Sand Du Plessis Theatre in Bloemfontein last night. The world’s 800 champion won the main award (Sports Star of the year), the People’s Choice Sports Star of the year and the Sportswoman of the year award. Semenya was not present to accept her awards due to some commitments at home and her trainer Samuel Sepeng received them on her behalf.

Local favourite and former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen was ecstatic to still be two shots behind tournament leader Sergio Garcia after the South African shot 72 to finish the day at 8 under par at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City yesterday (Saturday, 10 November 2018). Oosthuizen admits that he did nothing good but was happy that he was still able to stay in contention and hold on to second place on the leaderboard.

Former Masters champion Sergio Garcia is pleased to still be in the lead at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City after shooting a round of 71 to close off the day at 10 under par yesterday (10 November 2018) and, with a two shot lead over local favourite Louis Oosthuizen. Garcia said it is getting tougher by the day to play on the Gary Player Golf Course in the sweltering heat and winds on the course.

Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel finished the first round as the best placed South African with a score of 68 and four shots behind round one leader Sergio Garcia. Schwartzel says it is important to have a good start at the tournament if he is to remain in contention for the remainder of the weekend. Schwartzel who has struggled with form this year believes that being at home will help build his confidence and is hopeful that it will show in his performance this weekend.

Netball South Africa President Cecilia Molokwane says preparations for the 2018 Diamond Challenge are going well. The tournament will be hosted in Seshego’s Ngoako Ramatlhodi Indoor Sports complex from 27 November until 1 December 2018. This edition will feature South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and SA President’s XII. Molokwane has thanked the parties organising this event saying their efficiency has not gone unnoticed. Molokwane further reveals that the South African national technical team will conduct selections on 22 November to give more players a chance at playing. Molokwane further says that the floor will be laid in the venue on the 22 November as well. With attendance a challenge in many sporting codes, Molokwane says the activism her federation is busy with will ensure there are people at the matches. The President also adds that should this event becomes successful it will open doors for other small cities to host international events. Molokwane also says the Federation will conduct coaching clinics with local clubs to empower them.

Former Masters champion and two-time Nedbank Golf Challenge winner Sergio Garcia raced into a bogey free 64 and eight under par to take a four shot lead on the opening day of the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City on Wednesday. The Spaniard says it was a great day for him and he got things right for most of the time. Garcia says it is still early days to claim any sort of victory and it will be important to build on his good start in the following three days. Garcia was greeted by a loud cheer on the 18th hole and the Spaniard says he is always humbled by the support he gets in South Africa.

Proteas allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo says he is learning a lot from time spent with star bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn and Lungi Ngidi and believes that being amongst them forces him to be a better player. The Proteas have arguably the best pace attack in world cricket at the moment and find themselves already one win up in the four match ODI series against Australia. The second ODI will be played in Adelaide on tomorrow (Friday).

There is no bigger honour the country can bestow for sporting excellence than the S.A Sports Awards. Consisting of as many as 19 categories, The 13th edition of the SA Sports Awards will be held in Bloemfontein this Sunday and swimming sensation Tatjana Schoenmaker is waiting with bated breath for the glitzy ceremony. Dubbed the princess of South African swimming, the 21 year is nominated alongside Luxolo Adams and Minke Janse Van Rensburg in the Newcomer of The Year category. Schoenmaker believes winning the award will endear her to more South Africans.

Softball South Africa President Mashilo Matsetela says his federation has an ambition of qualifying for the 2020 Olympics in Japan. They will compete in the African qualifiers for the Olympics in April/May where they are likely to go through. But they still have to overcome a challenge in the Africa/ Europe qualifiers where they will face the likes of Great Britain, Italy before going to the global showpiece.

The South African president Cyril Ramaphosa was among the dignitaries who graced the event, including the Premier of Gauteng David Makhura and Mayor of Johannesburg Herman Mashaba. President Ramaphosa indicated that he has been longing to run the People’s Race. President Ramaphosa went on leading by example in encourage all the citizens to take part in activities that aid their state of health.

Irvette van Zyl successfully defended her Old Mutual Soweto marathon title yesterday. Van Zyl crossed the 42km finish line at the FNB stadium in 2:33:43, breaking the marathon course record by over 2 minutes. She was followed by a Basotho long-distance runner Mamorallo Tjoka who finished at 2:37:12, Seating on the third place is the Ethopian Selam Abere Alebachew who came out in 2:44:50. Van Zyl who also beat a record set by Tjoka in 2011 admitted that her pace shocked her.

At least 30, 000 athletes have filled the slots for the 2018 Old Mutual Soweto Marathon that will take place this Sunday the 4th of November at FNB stadium. Dubbed the “People’s Race” because of its inclusion of runners throughout the country, the race will start and finish at FNB Stadium, with the route via the heart of Soweto. The longest distance of the day 42km, is expected to start in at 06h00; followed by 21km at 06h30 and the 10km at 07h00. Soweto Marathon Trust chairman, Sello Khunousays a surprise inclusion in the race will be President Cyril Ramaphosa, who will be sweating it out with the rest of the runners. In an honourable gesture, three EMS fire-fighters will run in honour of their late colleagues that lost their lives when a Johannesburg building caught fire two months ago. EMS runners commemorating the fallen heroes will be Siphiwe Shabalala and Nkosi Mzolo who revealed that they will be wearing their fire fighting work suits for this cause. Danny Blumberg the race Director has more.

South Africa’s golden girl Caster Semenya was named as Tuks Female athlete of the century and 400m hurdles veteran LJ Van Zyl as the Tuks male athlete of the century at the University of Pretoria on Wednesday night. This historic institution was celebrating the Tuks Athletics Club centenary celebrations as the club was formed way back in 1918. Former South African sprinting queen, 2006 Commonwealth Games 100m silver medalist and SABC Sport Athletics presenter Geraldine Pillay was the Programme Director. SA’s 100m sprinter Thando Roto who made headlines when he ran a sub 10 (9.95secs) last year and qualified for the IAAF World Championships in London only at the age of 21, was proud of the Tuks Sports School. Also in attendance at the function was Minister of Sport Tokozile Xasa who acknowledged the role played the Tuks Athletics club in producing top athletes for this country.

Softball in South Africa is not one of the most popular sports compared to football, rugby and cricket. Softball SA was established in 1994 and have an estimated 200 clubs, with over 10 000 players and over 120 technical officials. SA Softball President Mashilo Matsetela highlights the tournaments they had this year as well as the upcoming tournaments. SA national teams have been doing well on the continent and also globally. The men’s senior team are ranked number one in Africa, with the senior women’s team ranked number two behind Botswana in Africa. The senior men are ranked number 15 in the world with the senior women ranked number 16 globally according to Matsetela. Matsetela is a shrewd administrator who has been nominated in the administrator of the year award at the SA sports awards to be held in Bloemfontein on the 11th of next month. He says they have been working hard behind the scenes to improve the sport.

South African boxer Hekkie Budler has had a good year having won the world junior-flyweight title in Japan early this year. He narrowly beat Japanaese Ryoichi Taguchi in Tokyo on points. Taguchi was one of the few unified champions in boxing, holding the WBA and IBF titles, as well as the Ring magazine‘s belt given to him as their champions of the world. Budler says he might fight Taguichi in a rematch in December. The victory against Taguchi was arguably the biggest for a South African since Vic Toweel won the undisputed world bantamweight crown in 1950. He says 2018 has been the best year of his illustrious career so far. The 30-year old Johannesburg born fighter has an impressive professional record having won 32 fights in 35 matches with only three losses. He won ten fights through a technical knockout and says he still wants to achieve a lot in the sport. Budler has been nominated in the SA Sports Awards to be held in Bloemfontein on the 11th of next month. He will contest the Sportsman of the year and Sports star of the year awards. Another boxer Zolani Tete has been nominated in the Sports Star of the year category. Budler is hoping that Tete wins the medal.

The annual University of Pretoria Tuks Open Tennis tournament currently underway at the university’s Hilcrest Sports Campus will end on Sunday the 4th of November. Since its inception 20 years ago, organisers have not missed hosting the event except in 2015 due to the fees must fall campaign. Compared to the previous events Tuks acting head of programme Prince Madema who is also the coach of Tuks tennis academy admitted that the bar dropped a bit this year because of lack of sponsorship.Zimbabwe junior tennis ace Mehluli Sibanda is the International star that graced this tournament with his presence. The 18-year-old will be representing Zimbabwe in the Africa Tennis Nations Cup at Botswana Gaborone from the 5th to 10th of November. He says that the tournament is necessary for his preparations.

International Chess Master, Jesse Nikki February will be competing in the 2018 World Championships in Russia on Friday. She leaves for Khanty-Mansiysk this Wednesday to represent South Africa where 64 players from different countries will be competing. February qualified as the only South African going to the tournament. Two other Africans Wafa Shahenda and Toubal Hayat from Egypt and Algeria respectively, will also be taking part in the tournament. February qualified for the World Championships by coming 3rd in the African Championships in Oran, Algeria last year. The 21-year-old is looking forward to the challenge. February has attended a lot of other international prestigious tournaments in her career, but she says the World Championships is the toughest of them all.

The 2018 Two Oceans champion Gerda Steyn is leaving South Africa for New York tomorrow (30th of October) to take part in one of the greatest races, The TCS New York Marathon. Steyn, South Africa’s golden girl of long distance running reiterated her intention to enter the race after her 10 km Spar Women’s race. Steyn came second in the race after being denied victory by Irvette van Zyl. Steyn has more on her next race. The 2018 edition of the New York Marathon will be held Sunday the 4th of November. The route covers all five areas of New York City. It will start on Staten Island, in Fort Wadsworth, near the approach to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. Steyn points out that with her practice in a not so flat Johannesburg she is ready for the up hills of New York.

The South African Men’s Hockey team will take on France in a test series with dates for the four matches planned yet to be announced. South Africa will be hoping to step up their preparation for the Hockey World Cup to be held in India in two months time. Veteran goalie Rassie Pieterse says friendly matches are always welcome for the national team. South Africa and France are both ranked 15th and 16th in world rankings respectively. They are looking to field most of their World Cup squads with the impetus largely placed on fine tuning the squad. Pieterse admits that France has skillful players.

Beach tennis is set to flourish following Tennis South Africa (TSA)’s partnership with Kia Motors South Africa. The duo have signed a three years deal to launch a high-profile International Tennis Federation event circuit in December 2018. Hosted today at George Lea Park, Sandton, this partnership announcement and press launch of the Summer Slam beach tennis tour, was supported by plenty of athletes from other sporting codes, including Erin Burger and Lenize Potgieter from SA Netball, Wihan Lubbe and Aaron Phangiso from bizhub Highveld Lions as well as Grant Thomson and Wandile Makwetu from Multiply Titans. TSA CEO Richard Glover explains this initiation. In addition to the high-profile December events, the new partnership will also see beach tennis courts being built at existing TSA Growthpoint development centres – in Soweto, Atteridgeville, eThekwini and Cape Town, respectively. Glover believes that tennis should accessible to all.

Boxing South Africa (BSA) Chief Executive Officer Tsholofelo Lejaka has revealed that the BSA board is going to meet this coming weekend and decide on where to hold the next edition of the South African Boxing Awards. The Boxing Awards returned to the BSA calendar last year after seven years and the 2016 award ceremony was held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban in January last year while a function for the 2017 awards was held at the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino in Port Elizabeth in February this year. Meanwhile, the BSA boss has admitted that they are faced with challenges in their efforts to take boxing to greater heights. According to Lejaka, the implementation of BSA’s Rules and Regulations is still a challenge in as far as ensuring that their licensees do things the right way. On the other hand, Lejaka is happy with WBA junior-flyweight champion Hekkie Budler and reigning World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight king Zolani Tete’s nominations in the SA Sport Awards. The SA Sport Awards function is going to be held in Bloemfontein on Sunday, 11 November. Budler got two nominations in the Sport Star of the Year and Sportsman of the Year categories while Tete is a nominee in the People’s Choice Sports Star of the Year award.

Free State Sport Confederation President Lucas Matobako says women in sports are not adequately catered for like their male counterparts. Motabako says the inclusion and support of women’s sport in the Free State is a slap in the face for women emancipation. He says for decades women’s sport has taken a back seat without support while support for their male counterparts continues to soar. Matobako calls on parental guidance as the foundation of female inclusion into sport, adding that if parents can support the girl-child from a young age that we will start to see a significant change in the number of women taking part in sport. Free State has produced a number of female Olympians including Karen Muir, who broke the world swimming backstroke record at the age of 12 in 1995, Lesley-Anne George in hockey, she's currently the Proteas vice captain and the barefoot Athletics world champion Zola Budd. Matobako says the inclusion of women into all sporting codes starts with the girl-child at school level. It is hard to not notice the ongoing financial troubles at PSL club Bloemfontein Celtic and Matobako is worried about the future development of the ladies team at Celtic.

The KIA South Africa Davis Cup team succumbed to a 4-0 clean sweep in a Euro/Africa Group One relegation tie against Portugal in Lisbon over the weekend. The loss puts South Africa back into Euro/Africa Group two for 2019 whilst Portugal survive relegation play-off to remain in Euro/Africa Group One next year. Here’s a reaction from Team SA captain Marcos Ondruksa.

Zimbabwe’s Mike Fokoroni won the 2018 Legends Marathon in East London in 68 km, crossing the finish line in 04:08:34. Fokoroni was followed by Joseph Mphuthi who finished in 04:11:24 and in the 3rd place it was Siya Mqambeli who finished in 04:12:12. Meanwhile in the females section Jennifer Koech of the Nedbannk club clinched the first place in 04:57:09; followed by Lieketseng Molefe in 05:38:34 and Monica Kativhu in 05:42:56. The Chairperson of Road running Border Athletics Thembela Makaula indicated that the event went well.

Team South Africa finished their Youth Olympics campaign in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with five medals, three of them gold, which is a big improvement compared to Nanjing 2014 where they returned with only one medal. Sprint sensation Luke Davids made history at the Games by winning a gold medal in the 100m finals. Outclassing the fastest under-18 sprinters in the world, the 17-year-old completely dominated the 100m event. Though he was pushed by a 3.4m/sec wind, the Parow High School pupil went 0.05sec quicker than the national youth record of 10.20 held by Gift Leotlela. Davids was obviously impressed with his display. Dane Roets also gave it her all and ended with a bronze medal in the girls’ shot put. Roets launched a 17.34m heave, going four centimetres further than she did in stage one to clinch the medal.

Olympic champion Caster Semenya has dominated the list for major categories for the South African sports awards that will be held in Bloemfontein on the 11th of November. The 800 metre champion has been nominated in the sports star, people’s choice and sportswoman of the year awards. The list was released by Minister of Sport and Recreation Thokozile Xasa at the SABC headquarters in Johannesburg today, swimmer Chad Le Clos has also been nominated in the two categories in the two awards, the people’s choice and the sportsman of the year. Xasa says the team of auditors had a tough time selecting the nominees. There will be 19 categories overall with the prize money for the winners remaining the same as last year. Newly crowned IBF, WBA, super and the Ring Magazine junior flyweight champion Hekkie Budler has been nominated in the two categories, sports star and sportsman of the year awards. Xasa says the awards have been growing in leaps and bounds.

Cape Town-based Kinetic Cycling Club is producing a growing stock of exciting young riders, particularly among the disadvantaged communities of the Western Cape. The club, formed in 2000 has managed to not only harness talented youngsters but also do its little bit to help combat the threats of drugs and gangsterism in some parts of Cape Town. The club, based in Ravensmead has been tapping into talent from the Cape Flats which includes Brackenfell-Kraaifontein areas Club Chairman O’Ryan Bruintjies has more.

This year’s Otter African Trail Run will have a special significance in its 10th instalment, as it will also serve as the Grand Finale of the Golden Trail Series, which will see the top 10 men and women in the world compete for the Series crown. The Golden Trail Series is a collection of the five most iconic marathon-distance Trail runs, and on Saturday athletes from 11 different nations will compete alongside local runners. One of the top 10 women competing for the prize is South African Megan MacKenzie, who is also the defending champion of ‘The Otter’. MacKenzie says that the race is incredibly tough, and while she may know the course better than her competitors, she knows how tough her opponents are.

Reigning World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete had to put up a brave face and soldiered on after he was informed about his mom Nomonde’s hospitalization in East London just a few hours before his fight against Russian boxer Mikhail Aloyan in Russia on Saturday evening. The news didn’t dampen Tete’s spirit and he went on to score a unanimous points decision victory over Aloyan in the quarter-finals of the World Boxing Super Series at the Expo Center in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Tete returned to his Mdantsane home Monday night.

International Chess Master Watu Kobese says the game is not growing at the rate it is supposed to in South Africa as compared to other countries. Kobese had recently returned in the country from the 43rd World Chess Olympiads, organised by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) in the Georgia’s Black Sea coastal city, Batumi. South Africa, which was represented by two teams consisting of five women and men, came with a ranking of 70 out of 185 teams. The somewhat disappointed 45-year-old who resides in Cape Town says there is impressive talent in the country, but emphasises that players need funding and support to play regularly in international tournaments. Kobese also takes us through his concept of a chess book he wrote...

South Africa won the third gold medal in the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aries, Argentina. Swimmer and flag bearer Michael Houlie claimed gold medal in the men’s 50 metre Breaststroke event. He clocked 27.51 seconds after he earlier posted 27.33 seconds, which was the fastest time in the semi-finals. He is happy with his performance.

South African Protea Netball player Shadine van der Merwe has become the latest player to join a team overseas. She will team up with Surrey Storm in the Vitality league in England next year. Van der Merwe has been a regular player for the Proteas, and she made her debut early this year. She is excited for the opportunity. Many Protea players are already plying their trade overseas such as Bongiwe Msomi, Lenize Mostert, Phumza Maweni, Maryka Holtzhausen and many more. Van der Merwe says the foreign contingent has improved netball in SA.

As South African tennis star Lloyd Harris continues to climb up the ATP rankings, the academy that nurtured his talent, the Anthony Harris Tennis Academy, is starting to get recognition for the good work they are doing in Cape Town. Founded in 2013 by tennis coach Anthony Harris, who is not related to Lloyd, says the academy has already seen players in their structure win 74 international titles. He says this year has been exceptionally good, with Lloyd, who won his second ATP Challenger in Stockton, California on the weekend, at an ATP high-ranking of 113th, while Kholo Montsi and Pierre Malan are ranked in the top 100 juniors in the world. Harris explains that for the first three years of the Academy’s existence, it was completely self-funded.

Reigning World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete is confident that he is to going to retain his title on Saturday. Tete is going to fight against Russian boxer Mikhail “Misha” Aloyan in the quarter-finals of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) at the Expo Center in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Tete is positive about getting a win in Russia even though he has admitted that Aloyan is more like a closed book to him as the 30-year-old Russian only has four fights in the paid ranks. The WBSS pits the best eight boxers in the bantamweight division with World Boxing Association (WBA) Super champion Ryan Burnett fighting against Nonito Donaire early next month.

Netball SA President Cecilia Molokwane has called on Corporate SA to get involved and back Netball and women’s sport as a whole in South Africa. Molokwane said this last night after the 2018 Netball Varsity Cup final last night in Bloemfontein, when University of the Free State team Kovies beat University of Pretoria’s Netball 63-59, to lift the championship trophy. Molokwane is saddened by the lack of backing netball is getting from the corporate side.

South African female swimmer Mariella Venter is hoping to win a gold medal at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aries, Argentina. SA only managed to win one medal at the Nanjing games in China four years ago. The backstroke swimmer will be competing in her last youth games and would love to finish with a bang. Swimming is expected to carry team SA with bringing many medals home. The code always delivers medals in major events such as the Commonwealth games and the senior Olympics. Venter says they do not feel any pressure. Chad Le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh and many other male swimmers have managed to qualify for the major events. Only Tatjana Schoenmaker has managed to reach the World championships in Hungary last year, although she did not take part due to school commitments. Venter is inspired by other great female swimmers. The 18-year old takes part in the 50 metre, 100 metre, 200 metre and 4x100 metre medley relay. She took part in the Commonwealth games in Australia in gold coast earlier this year. She is excited to be part of the games.

Amber Schlebusch staged an exceptional comeback and won the first gold medal for Team South Africa in the women’s triathlon at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. After a poor start, Schlebusch struggled at the back of the field in the first two segments but moved up through the pack, overtaking race leaders Sif Bendix Madsen from Denmark and Switzerland’s Anja Weber to win the title. The 17-year-old from Durban began the race with a weak swimming opening leg, leaving the water in seventh position and 27 seconds behind the leaders. She eventually caught Weber and then Madsen and was near tears as she crossed the finish line 11 seconds ahead of the latter.

In the just ended Johannesburg-leg Spar Women’s Race, Irvette van Zyl emerged victorious, crossing the 10km finish line in 00:34.07. She was followed by the current Two Oceans champion Gerda Steyn who finished in 00:34.57, Kesa Molotsane took the 3rd place in 00:34.59. Van Zyl says despite being exhausted the race was good. Moletsane, a 2017 winner, admitted that she came into the race still feeling discouraged by the Maritzburg Grand Prix saga. She was among the athletes who were disqualified by the organisers for taking the wrong route. Steyn who was running for the first time in this race and will also be running in the New York Marathon this year on the fourth of next month, says this race was what she needed.

Minister of Sport and Recreation Thokozile Xasa says the controversial Ministerial Committee of Inquiry report into the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) governance will be released in due course. The final report is alleged to have delved deep into the alleged irregularities and financial mismanagement at SASCOC. The report follows the hearings that took place between February and March this year, where SASCOC board members, members of the management, leaders from different sporting codes appeared in front of the committee. Xasa says the final report will be made transparent to the public. The report of the committee was chaired by retired Judge Ralph Zulman, veteran cricket administrator Dr Ali Bacher and labour law expert Shamima Gaibie was scathing on the conduct of SASCOC President Gideon Sam and former CEO Tubby Reddy. Xasa was speaking at the send-off for the Youth Olympics that is going to Buenos Aries, Argentina from the 6th until the 18th of this month. The multi-coded team departed to South America on Tuesday, 2 October 2018. The team brought only one medal in the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China four years ago, and Xasa is not putting pressure on the young team.

Swimmer Michael Houlie will be South Africa’s flag bearer at the Youth Olympics starting this Saturday in Buenos Aries, Argentina. Houlie will lead the team of more than 100 athletes in at least 19 sporting codes such as swimming, athletics, rowing, sailing, hockey and many more. Houlie says it’s a great honour. The 17-year old from Cape Town will follow in the footsteps of Wayde van Niekerk and Caster Semenya as a flag bearer. Houlie is set to take up a swimming scholarship in America next year. He is currently the national 50 metre breaststroke champion but he is not putting himself under pressure to win a medal.

Limpopo MEC of Sport Arts and Culture Thandi Moraka has encouraged the winners at the 2018 Limpopo sports awards to invest their prize monies. Moraka’s department hosted the awards ceremony on Saturday night, 29 September 2018, in Polokwane. The MEC says athletes should strive for economic freedom adding that her department away from the event are putting some programmes that will assist them to manage their finances better. The MEC was also asked how Black Leopards football club received an Excellence award when there is controversy surrounding the Premier Soccer League side.

Softball was the biggest winner at the 2018 Limpopo Sport Awards after bagging provincial federation of the year, administrator of the year and Lucas Lamola winning new comer of the year at the awards ceremony in Polokwane last night. The federation has been a good feeder of players and coaches to the National softball teams this year while also producing umpires for international events. Lamola was a key member of the South African team at the Junior World championships in Canada earlier this year. The 18year-old from Ga-Mashashane Jupiter thanked his family and coaches for always encouraging him to play...

Registration and booking for accommodation for the annual Old Mutual Soweto Marathon at the Runners’ Village is still underway, and organisers are optimistic they will meet the target. The event is strictly for the underprivileged athlete. There is still space for applicants to register for the under privileged race which is held on the eve of the major event. At least 600 under privileged athletes will be accommodated at the Morris Isaacson High School in Central Western Jabavu. The chairman of the Soweto Marathon Trust Sello Khunou explains.

The Limpopo department of Sport Arts and Culture through the provincial sports academy have organised counselling sessions for the Limpopo Ncuva team. This comes as the team mourns the passing of one of their own Vutomi Forget Maleyana. The 25 year old passed-on on Saturday morning, 22 September, following a short illness whilst in camp with team Limpopo for the 2018 national Indigenous games. The games are being held in Seshego outside Polokwane until Friday 28 September 2018. The department is helping with arrangements of the athlete’s burial which is expected to be this coming weekend. SABC Sport’s Lethabo Kganyago has more.

Port Elizabeth-based South African female junior-lightweight champion Nozipho Bell will make history when she fights for the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) junior-lightweight title next month. Bell will become the first South African female boxer to fight for a WBO title, when she challenges Warsaw-based reigning world champion Ewa Brodnicka in Poland on Friday, 26 October. Bell is happy that she will get a short at Brodnicka’s title.

South African sport will never be the same again once the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry report into the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) governance is released. The SABC can exclusively reveal that one of the recommendations of this report is that the President of SASCOC, an accountant and a commercial lawyer must be filled by persons who are independent and not affiliated to any sport or recreation body. SABC Sport is in possession of this final report that delved deep into the alleged irregularities and financial mismanagement at SASCOC. SABC Sport senior journalist Velile Mbuli has been following this inquiry and has compiled this report

Minister of Sport and Recreation Thokozile Xasa is happy to see young people become part of community teams for Indigenous games. Xasa was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2018 national Indigenous Games (IG) in Seshego yesterday. Nine provinces will compete in the week- long festival in codes such as diketo, nchuva, kgati, moraba-raba, juskei and dibeke from today until Friday in Seshego. Xasa says the games are not part of the school sport programme fully but hopes things will improve to help close the gap between IG and mainstream sport.

Swimming South Africa President Allan Fritz says they took a developmental team to the African swimming and open water Championships in Algeria. The SA team concluded the 13th edition of the Champs on Sunday with an outstanding total of 40 medals (12 gold, 18 silver and 10 bronze) and claimed the second spot on the medal table behind Egypt. Top swimmers such as Chad Le Clos did not take part as they are at the world cup circuit in Doha, Qatar

Gymnastics South Africa President Elizabeth Cameron-Smith says lack of funding is hampering their efforts to grow the sport. Gymnastics is a sport that requires balance, strength, flexibility, coordination and endurance. The sport has many disciplines such as rhythmic, trampolining and tumbling, acrobatic and aerobic. The sport is not one of the popular sports in the country such as football, rugby and cricket, it is an Olympic sport and SA was represented at the Rio Olympics in Brazil. Artistic men and women, rhythmic and trampoline are four disciplines that take part in the Olympics. Gymnastics is one of the sports that take part annually at the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic in Sandton where their aim is to develop the sport from the young age especially in schools, something Smith is passionate about.

The Proteas netball national team will play in the upcoming Quad series in Australia and New Zealand without star player Erin Burger. The 31-year old from Pretoria is the most capped SA player having amassed over 100 caps for the national team. She is expected to be out for at least six months with an injury according to Coach Norma Plummer.

Proteas netball national team new cap Jessica Khomo believes that they will surprise top teams at the Quad series in New Zealand and Australia in the coming week. SA will play against New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday morning (SA time 4am). The Proteas are ranked fifth behind Australia, New Zealand, England and Jamaica. The team has finished bottom in the last two editions of the Quad Series only beating England in the last two years.

South African youth developing athletics are looking forward to 2018 Youth Olympic games, to be hosted in Buenos Aires, Argentina next month. Hezekiel Sepeng, one of the organisers, says that they are running successful projects such as street athletics and cross athletics to identify and prepare young athletes who will represent South Africa in the junior level.

Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-featherweight and International Boxing Organisation (IBO) featherweight champion Vuyani “The Beast” Bungu has mixed feelings about South African boxing. Bungu says the fact that boxers like World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight champion Zolani Tete and World Boxing Association (WBA) junior-flyweight titlist Hekkie Budler hold titles in credible organisations is good for our country’s fistic sport. In the same breath, Bungu has lamented divisions in the Eastern Cape where promoters do not see eye to eye. There are two rival organisations, which represent boxing promoters in the Eastern Cape. The 51-year-old former South African junior-featherweight champion says cracks among boxing promoters in the Eastern Cape are bad for boxing as they hamper the progress of boxers.

With only two months before the IAAF’s female classification rule that is targeting South African golden girl Caster Semenya takes effect, Athletics South Africa (ASA) President Aleck Skhosana says they are yet to get a date from the Court of Arbitration for Sport for their legal challenge. Semenya faces having to take medication to lower her testosterone level after the IAAF ruled that it gives her an unfair advantage. This rule will start operating on the first of November and only applies to women who race in track events from 400m, 800m, 1500m up to a mile. It’s a rule that’s clearly targeting Semenya and it’s for that reason that the ASA through Norton Rose Fulbright is leading this legal challenge. Canada was one of the first countries to show its support to SA on this IAAF matter and SABC Sport understands that it was also one of the reasons that government convinced SAFA to back the successful United Bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Skhosana confirms that they are getting a lot of international support in this legal challenge against IAAF,

Johannesburg-based boxing trainer Colin “Nomakanjani” Nathan has welcomed highly-rated East London boxer and current International Boxing Federation (IBF) Africa junior-lightweight champion Azinga “Golden Boy” Fuzile to his gym. Fuzile, who arrived in Johannesburg late last week, will today start training under Nathan at Hotbox Gym. This comes after the 22-year-old left his long time trainer Mzamo “Chief”Njekanye in Duncan Village, East London. Nathan, who is the 2017 Trainer of the Year award winner, insists that he didn’t poach Azinga. Nathan started his friendship with Fuzile soon after Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP), a promotions company which promotes the boxer, appointed the Johannesburg-based boxing trainer as its international advisor in July.

Finally, the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry report into the South Africans Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) governance and financial mismanagement will be released before the end of next month. This was confirmed by the Minister of Sport Tokozile Xasa at the annual Andrew Mlangeni Golf Day at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club today. The inquiry chaired by retired Judge Ralph Zulman, assisted by veteran cricket administrator Dr Ali Bacher and labour law expert Shamima Gaibie sat between February and March this year listening to more than 25 witnesses. Xasa says they are almost ready to release the report and has promised to implement all its recommendations.

The Proteas will be looking for a massive improvement in the forthcoming Quad Series. They will be looking for only their second victory in the event in two years. The only team they have beaten so far is England and they have always finished rock bottom on the log. But the team has lost narrowly to Australia and New Zealand in recent times. Plummer says they will be competitive. Plummer selected 15 players for the quad series include three reserve players. The team comprises of experienced players such as captain Bongiwe Msomi, vice captain Karla Pretorius and new caps such as Khanyisa Chawane, Rome Freyer and Jessica Khomo. Plummer explains why she chose three reserves Sigrid Burger, Meagan Roux and Monique Reyneke.

Proteas national team Coach Norma Plummer says her mission is not only to coach the team but also to impart her knowledge to the local coaches. Netball South Africa selected budding coaches such as Zanele Mdodana, Dumisani Chauke and Jenny van Dyk to learn from the veteran and experienced Australian coach. The young coaches will accompany the team to the upcoming Quad series in Australia and New Zealand next month.

Sports minister Tokozile Xasa has called on the media to play an active role in promoting women sports by increasing the coverage of female athletes. Xasa was speaking at today’s Women and Sport Breakfast which was hosted by the Department of Sport and Recreation. The Breakfast, held during women’s month, looks to create a platform for dialogue and networking for South African women in sport. Xasa says events like these show that the Sports Department is dedicated to transforming sports, especially for women. The Minister also mentions that they look to increase participation and create policies that enable the progression and development of women sports.

South Africa’s leading wheelchair tennis ace Kgothatso Montjane has secured funding to the value of 1,5 million rands, which will go towards helping her compete in various tournaments for the next year. The Limpopo-born star received this financial boost after it was revealed that she did not have enough money to cover her tours this year. Montjane’s financial woes started after Wheelchair Tennis SA lost the support of Airports Company SA (Acsa) 19 months ago. Montjane says she is relieved to have the support. Before jetting off to the French Open and Wimbledon, Montjane had to embark on a last dash sponsorship drive to secure funding for the prestigious tournaments. She returned to the country having made history by becoming the first black South African woman to play in Wimbledon. There she reached the semi-finals where she succumbed 6-1, 7-5 to Dutchwoman Diede De Groot. The frustration of not having adequate financial support for her career weighted heavy on the 6th ranked player, who revealed that she considered quitting at some point.

Former South African lightweight and super middleweight boxer Dingaan Thobela says his involvement with Limpopo boxing promotions is about helping the sport run professionally and help boxers do well in their provinces. Thobela says it is a partnership he would like to have with many promoters in the country, and Limpopo is only the beginning. The parties are also working together to organise a 10 bill tournament in Sekhukhune this coming weekend as their first project.

The Italtite Orange River Rafters made history by becoming the first team to win all of their group stage matches in the Premier Hockey League (PHL) after beating Namaqualand Daisies 1 – 0 at the Randburg Astro stadium on Sunday. Striker Lerato Mahlangu scored the only goal for the ladies when Donna Small went on a slalom run to set her up in the box for a fantastic finish. Going into the game, the defending champions were top of the log table, securing their spot in the semi-final on Saturday. Rafters captain, Nicole Walraven was excited to reach the last four but first coach Shaun Hulley said he wanted to maintain the momentum.

Thirty games of hockey in the last two weekends have so far produced 108 goals and just four women’s and men’s are sides left in the 2018 CTM Premier Hockey League being contested at the Randburg Astro. The biggest upset this weekend was seen in the men’s tournament as two-time defending champions Maropeng Cavemen suffered two defeats to drop to fourth spot and just about qualify for the semi-final stage. Kilimanjaro Addo Elephants marquee player Miguel da Graca believes the Cavemen still pose a threat despite his team beating the Cavemen 2-1 on Saturday.

South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee President Gideon Sam says that the country does not focus enough on youth and junior sport. Sam was speaking based on the fact that the SA youth team will be competing at the 2018 Youth Olympic games in Buenos Aires in Argentina in October. The last time they sent a large contingent of athletes to the games held in Nanjing, China four years ago only to be disappointed, winning only one medal. SA sent 54 athletes in 14 sporting codes for the second edition youth games where they took part in athletics, wrestling. Aquatics, canoeing, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, hockey, judo, sailing, shooting, swimming, tennis and triathlon. Sam could not predict how many medals they expect this time.

New cap Khanyisa Chawane is proud to be selected to the Proteas Netball national team for the upcoming second leg of the Quad series in Australia and New Zealand. Chawane was part of the 12-women travelling squad that also includes overseas based players and two other new caps. The team also included three reserves that will also be part of the team.

Internationally acclaimed boxing judge and referee Stan Christodoulou has spoken out against the late payment or non-payment of boxers’ purses after they had fought. Christodoulou says late payment or non-payment of boxers’ purses is rife in the Eastern Cape even though he didn’t mention names of culprits. Current World Boxing Federation lightweight champion Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni is still owed R1 million by Dicksy Ngqula from the days of the Premier Boxing League. Ndongeni was also among boxers who were not paid their purses after fighting at a Sijuta Promotions tournament in April 2016. Ndongeni only got his purse after BSA paid him from its coffers and then suspended Sijuta Promotions managing director Andile Sidinile. Late last month a tournament promoted by Ayanda Matiti’s Xaba Promotions and Events in East London was cancelled by BSA chief operations officer Cindy Nkomo only for BSA board chairman Dr Peter Ngatane to overrule her. Nkomo cancelled the tournament after Matiti had only paid 10 percent of the purse fees on the day of the official weigh-in. Christodoulou, the former executive director of the then South African National Boxing Control Commission (SANBCC), who has officiated in more than 140 fights all over the world, puts the blame squarely on BSA’s door as he insists that the organisation has failed to uphold its own rules and regulations.

Fifteen netball players have made it to the Spar Proteas team for the upcoming Quad Series in New Zealand and Australia later this year. The 12-man squad will travel with the team alongside three backup players. Initially, 40 players assembled on Monday for training assessment until the team was trimmed to 15 players. New caps such as Khanyisa Chawane and Jessica Nkomo have been included. Here is Netball South Africa (NSA) President Cecilia Molokwane. NSA is negotiating to have two test matches at home before the end of the year. The Quad series will not take place in SA for the rest of the year and early next year. The team will also take part in the Diamond league also this year. Molokwane explains the tight programme ahead.

A date for World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete’s fight against Mikhail “Misha” Aloyan in the quarter-finals of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) has been set. Tete from Mdantsane is going to clash against the Russian at the Expo Center in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on Saturday, 13 October. The WBSS pits the best eight boxers in the bantamweight division with World Boxing Association (WBA) Super champion Ryan Burnett against Nonito Donaire while WBA regular titlist Naoya Inoue will face Juan Carlos Payano and current International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt holder Emmanuel Rodriguez will fight against Jason Moloney. The final of the WBSS tournament is set for June next year with the overall winner going to pocket $11 million (about R147-million) Tete’s manager Mlandeli Tengimfene gives more on the fight.

Gauteng Jaguars Coach Jenny van Dyk believes that her team will do better than last year in the Super club tournament in New Zealand later this month. The Jaguars will take part again as the prize for winning the Brutal Fruit tournament this year after they beat the Western Cape Stings in the final. The team finished rock bottom in their debut tournament last year. This year it will take place from the 16th until the 24th of August. Top three teams from New Zealand (NZ) as well as five elite international club sides will take part in the eight-team annual tournament that will see 20 matches played. NZ team Southern Steel beat Northen Mystics in the grand final last year. Van Dyk says it is a very difficult tournament.

Veteran middle distance runner, Stephen Mokoka, says the quality of South African road runners has vastly improved over the recent years. Mokoka’s comments come after his successful title defence at the ASA Half-Marathon Championships in Port Elizabeth at the weekend. There, he came out tops in one hour, one minute and 44 seconds (1:01:44), edging out international contenders Benard Bil and Linus Ruto, who finished second and third respectively.

It is all system goes for the IBO junior-bantamweight showdown between champion Gideon Buthelezi and his Argentinian challenger Lucas Emanuel Fernandez, at the International Convention Centre in East London on Friday evening. Tuesday, the two were among 14 boxers who were given a clean bill of health at a pre-medical check-up ahead of the Xaba Promotions (XPE) bill. East London’s Yanga Sigqibo will face Filipino opponent Rene Dacquel in a vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) International junior-bantamweight title contest while another East London boxer Ntlantla Ngamntwini and Mexican Ulises Salvador Lara will clash for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) Intercontinental junior-bantamweight belt. XPE managing director Ayanda Matiti explains. Matiti is happy that boxers from Argentina, Mexico, Tanzania and the Philippines, who are already in East London, have also been declared fit for the tournament.

SA MTB XCO Champion Mariske Strauss says she is thrilled to have earned the right to wear the National Championship jersey for another 12 months, after winning the elite women’s race in Bloemfontein, Free State, at the weekend. Strauss outclassed Candice Lill and Cherie Redecker, who finished second and third respectively, in the five-lap race. The victory handed Strauss her 15th national title. Strauss is fresh from producing her best European performance since 2013, after placing 21st at the UCI MTB World Cup at the Vallnord Bike Park, in Andorra. She says she is happy to have carried her good form to the SA Championships.

The third annual Brics games got underway at the Wits Rugby stadium and Old Mutual Hall today (18 July 2018) and they were officially opened by the South African Minister of Sport Tokozile Xasa last night. With the Brics Summit set to take place later this month here in Johannesburg, these games bring together the five countries, namely SA, Brazil, Russia, China and India. They will compete in U17 Women’s football, men and women’s Volleyball. Xasa has more on the importance of these games.

Boxing South Africa (BSA) chief executive officer (CEO) Tsholofelo Lejaka says they never doubted Moruti Mthalane’s ability when he left South Africa to fight against Pakistan-born Muhammad Waseem. Mthalane had the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight belt strapped around his waist for the second time following a unanimous decision victory over Waseem at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this morning. This is the same title the IBF stripped from Mthalane in 2014 because of inactivity. Lejaka has added that the 35-year-old Lindelani-born Mthalane’s victory has added more excitement to BSA in as far as the number of world titles is concerned.

Nelson Mandela Bay A coach Desree Neville says it is a fantastic opportunity for the new players to be exposed in the Spar National Netball Championships in Port Elizabeth. The new tournament, which is played at the Lotto Young Park Tennis courts commenced Sunday, 08 July 2018 and will end on Saturday. It features 87 teams from the districts with more than 1000 players including the under-21 and senior teams. Eastern Cape, as the host province, has entered eight teams which is the second biggest number after Kwazulu Natal.

South African long jump world champion Luvo Manyonga is looking forward to competing at the inaugural athletics world cup in London from the 14th until the 15th of this month. The Athletics World Cup is a team-based international athletics competition that will feature eight national teams based on world rankings, with each team entering one athlete per event, with points gained on the basis of finishing position. Manyonga is leaving for London today (Wednesday, 11 July 2018).

A media statement by the Limpopo premier spokesperson Kenny Mathivha confirmed that former MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Onicca Moloi has tendered in her resignation as MEC of the department. The statement said Premier Stanley Chupu Mathabatha accepted the letter, and is sad to see Moloi go. Though the premier wished Moloi well in her future endeavours he admitted that he had hoped to see the former MEC appointed in September 2016 stay longer. Current MEC of Treasury Rob Tooley will act as the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture until a replacement is found. Kenny Mathivha.

Xaba Promotions and Events (XPE) managing director Ayanda Matiti has launched the annual tournament dubbed Celebrating Madiba as a boxer. Highly regarded boxer Yanga Sigqibo from Duncan Village in East London and Filipino opponent Rene Dacquel will headline the tournament when they fight for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) International junior-bantamweight title. The tournament is going to take place at the East London International Convention Centre (ICC) on Friday, 27 July.

Cape Town-based boxing judge and referee Deon Dwarte says none of the two boxers will get favours from him when he officiates in the vacant International Boxing Organisation (IBO) welterweight title fight between Mdantsane-born Thulani Mbenge and Diego Chaves from Argentina at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park on Saturday. Dwarte will be assisted by judges Ace Makaluza from Port Elizabeth, Jean-Robert Laine from Monaco and Zambian John Shipanuka.

There is still no clarity over the storm that surrounds unpaid Comrades Marathon athlete Alexandra Morozova with both organisers and Athletics South Africa pointing fingers at each other. The Russian, who finished third at the 93rd running of the world-famous race on Sunday, sparked controversy after the race by revealing she had not being paid for coming second last year. She blamed ASA for holding back earnings, but the country’s mother body responded by saying Comrades Marathon Association was responsible because it allowed a banned athlete to run. This was what ASA president Aleck Skhosana had to say about the issue.

Bongmusa Mthembu admitted that he had to fight his emotions to win the Comrades Marathon yesterday (Sunday) after a difficult year. The 34-year-old, who surged to his third title when he crossed the finish line first at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, saw his preparations severely disrupted three months ago when training partner Sphiwe Ndlela passed away due to illness during a training camp in the Drakensberg. However, Mthembu managed to put that all beside him, even though he was still thinking about Ndlela. He also spoke about his love for Comrades after he became the first South African in 30 years to win back-to-back races.

Kwazulu/Natal Kingdom Stars coach Madri Maritz believes that Gauteng Jaguars are the overwhelming favourites to win this year’s Brutal Fruit Netball tournament. The Jaguars are on top of the log after five rounds having won all their eight matches. They remain the only unbeaten team in the tournament so far followed by Western Cape Stings with just one loss. The sixth round of the tournament will continue this weekend at the University of Pretoria, with Stars taking on the favourites Jaguars later tonight.

The 93rd running of the Comrades Marathon takes place this weekend with organiser optimistic their historic move to end the race at the iconic Moses Mabhida World Cup Stadium will be the start of growing the race even further. The 2018 edition of the race has already seen the second biggest entries received for the world-famous ultra-marathon. More than 23,000 people have registered with around 22,000 qualified to run, meaning it will be the biggest field since the Y2K hype of 2000. Organisers have also moved from the traditional Kingsmead finish to Moses Mabhida and race director Rowyn James is looking forward to it.

Botswana rising star Karabo Sibanda was the biggest winner at the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Sports Awards function held at the Birchwood hotel in Boksburg last night. Sibanda, a finalist in the 2014 Olympics 400m final and part of the Botswana 4x400m relay team that won the gold medal at the recent Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast in Australia, is a promising athlete on the global scene. Sibanda is currently away in Europe competing in the Diamond League and his trainer Mogomotsi Otsetswe collected his junior sportsman of the year and sportsperson of the year awards…

Free State Crinums are showing good form in the Brutal Fruit Netball tournament, after they narrowly beat Gauteng Fireballs 44-43 in a third round match at the University of Pretoria Saturday. The victory was their fifth in six matches in the tournament so far, with the only defeat coming against the reigning champions Jaguars on Saturday. Crinums coach Burta de Kock was satisfied with the results.

Port Elizabeth-based Boxing South Africa (BSA) service provider Mthunzi Mapitiza has described the death of female boxing promoter Phindile Mbhele, who traded under the Aphile Boxing Promotions banner, as a great loss to the sport. Mbhele, who was based in Port Elizabeth, died of kidney failure last week just a week after another female promoter Gladys “Noforty” Tsenene passed away.

The Canon South African Disabled Golf Open reached its milestone 20th year and former British soldier Mike Brown claimed a breakthrough victory in style. The 38-year-old leg-amputee from England won with a 12 shot victory on 232 ahead of second placed Iglin Grobberlaar at the Magalies Park Golf Club this past week. Brown had this to say about how he started playing disabled Golf and also spoke about his victory.

Boxing South Africa (BSA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tsholofelo Lejaka has hailed Hekkie “Hexecutioner” Bulder after the 30-year-old presented himself with a birthday present by dethroning former International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) “Super” junior-flyweight champion Ryoichi Taguchi at the Ota City Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan, today. Budler, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Friday, won the fight via a unanimous decision with all three score cards reading 114-113.

Reigning South Africa’s World Boxing Organisation’s (WBO) bantamweight champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete will take part in a multi-million rands boxing bonanza starting in September this year. Venues for the super fights will be announced at a later date. According to Tete’s manager Mlandeli Tengimfene, the WBO champion has signed to fight in the money-spinning World Boxing Super Series tournament. Tengimfene and Tete are in London, where they attended the launch of the tournament Tuesday. The overall winner of the tournament will pocket $11 (R135. 7 million). Tengimfene, who is confident that Tete will win the competition, says the tournament will be staged in different venues across the world. He says the first quarter-finals are going to be staged in September with the second installment of quarter-finals scheduled set to take place between January and March 2019. The final is going to be held in June next year.

Netball South Africa president Cecilia Molokwane has no doubt that the Brutal Fruit Netball League (BFNL) has improved the standard of the sport in the country. Speaking ahead of the start of the fifth edition of the competition that gets underway this weekend, the country’s netball chief also expects the competition to keep growing stronger, while she has no doubts that the effect of the league will rub off on the Spar Proteas. The 2018 season begins on Friday with Kingdom Stars of KwaZulu-Natal taking on Northern Cape’s Diamonds in Johannesburg. Molokwane is looking forward to steady increase in standards.

Minister of Sport Tokozile Xasa has revealed that they are facing a court challenge from Solidarity, which is accusing them of practicing apartheid in reverse through their policies on transformation. This also follows some of the political statements that have been made by the civil rights group Afri-Forum, which have been along those lines. Xasa is accusing Solidarity of trying to preserve the apartheid and colonial legacy by resisting transformation in sport.

Limpopo MEC for Sport Arts and Culture Onicca Moloi has joined growing chorus of support for Olympic medallist Caster Semenya. This follows the IAAF’s decision to introduce new eligibility regulations for female athletes with Difference of Sexual Development (DSD) from middle distances. Under these new rules female athletes will have to take medication to lower their testosterone. The Limpopo born athlete is seen as a target for the rules set to come into effect in November this year. Last week minister of Sport Thokozile Xasa said her department was going to challenge the IAAF and Moloi echoed those sentiments in Polokwane yesterday.

Former South African netball national team player Dumisani Chauke believes that the Spar Proteas could have finished higher than the fifth place finish they achieved at the recent Commonwealth games in Gold Coast, Australia. The Proteas finished behind the gold medal winners England, Australia, New Zealand and Jamaica, who are the top four ranked nations in the world. The Proteas managed to improve on the sixth place finish they achieved in the Glasgow games in 2014.H

International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior-bantamweight champion Gideon “Hardcore” Buthelezi’s next defence of his title has been postponed from tomorrow to Friday, 11 May. Initially, Buthelezi was set to defend his crown against Filipino boxer John Riel Casimero at the Emerald Resort and Casino in Vandebijlpark tonight. Buthelezi will now face Hugo Berrio from Colombia in two weeks’ time.

Minster of Sport Tokozile Xasa has expressed her disappointment and dismay at the decision by the IAAF to introduce new eligibility regulations for female athletes with Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) for events from 400m to a mile. These new regulations are seen to be targeted at South African superstar middle stance runner Caster “Cobra” Semenya as she will be forced to take daily testosterone lowering medication to be able to compete in the 400m, 800m and 1500m events. These new regulations are expected to start from the first of November later this year but Xasa says they will fight them head on.

Middle distance runner Caster Semenya says her main goal now is to break records and not to win medals. Semenya has done it all having won gold medals at the Olympics and Commonwealth games in recent times. She has also dominated the African championships and national championships in the 800 and the 1500 metre events. The Limpopo-born runner recently broke the records in the 1000 metre event and the 1500 metre event at the Commonwealth games.

Entries for the 25th Old Mutual Soweto Marathon this year opened earlier than ever before but already 13000 entries have been sold. The People’s Race will take place in November with the start and finish set at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. The race has over the years tailored itself as a great way to experience our country, its history and diversity. The People’s race is beginning to attract more sport tourists as runners’ race through eight heritage sites.Race Director Danny Blumberg has more.

World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion Zolani Tete was disappointed with his opponent Omar Andres Narvaez in their fight in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Saturday night. Tete retained his title in a lopsided victory when he won all the 12 rounds against the Argentinian. He arrived back in South Africa this morning after a long flight from the United Kingdom. The 30-year old says he expected a decent fight.

Organisers of the Amashova Durban Classic cycle race have announced a new feature to the iconic event which takes place on the 16th of October. A new 160km distance has been added to the event, which will now form part of the Gran Fondo World Tour. Elite riders will however still compete over the standard 106km distance that starts in Pietermaritzburg and takes them all the way to the finish in Durban. Race Director, Annie Batchelder explains.

South Africa has an opportunity to get a medal in the 4x100 metre relay at the Commonwealth games in Australia. But the lack of adequate preparation could hamper the team’s chances at the global spectacle. The relay team did not compete at the recent athletics grand prix series and also at the SA track and field national championships leading up to the games. Some of the athlete’s coaches have been reluctant for their charges to take part in the relay. Athletics manager Hezekiel Sepeng says coaches of individual athletes need to embrace the relay team.

South African swimming sensation and one of the top athletes this country has ever produced Chad Le Clos has completed a treble of gold medals at the Commonwealth Games currently underway at the Gold Coast in Australia. He completed a clean sweep of the butterfly events with this 100m, adding to the 50m and the 200m gold from this past weekend. He broke his previous Commonwealth games record of 51.29 secs to finish in 50.65 secs and looks back at this successful day at the swimming pool for Team SA. Le Clos has now won 16 medals (seven gold, three silver and six bronze) from the 2010 Delhi, 2014 Glasgow and 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Le Clos, who turns 26 on Thursday is happy with his progress in these games.

Day five has proven to be a very successful day for Team South Africa at the Commonwealth Games, the medals have now reached double figures. At the Gold Coast in Australia, they have added nine medals in lawn bowls, swimming and athletics to bring the total medal tally to 18. Cameron Van der Burgh has just won the the 50m breaststroke in 26.48 seconds to add to the bronze medal he won on Saturday in the 100m breaststroke final. The 29year-old has now won this event in three consecutive Commonwealth Games. Tatjana Schoenmaker also added her second gold medal in these games when she smashed the African record that was set by the great Penny Heyns in 1999 to win the women’s 100m breastroke final in 1:06.41secs. The 20year-old earlier won the 200m breastroke gold medal this past weekend and didn’t come to this race with a lot of expectations.

Swimming sensation Chad Le Clos has won his third medal at the Commonwealth Games currently underway in the Gold Coast in Australia as he finished joint second in the 100m freestyle to pick up the silver medal. Le Clos finished second in 48.15 secs, the fastest time he has ever swum this race. The South African star finished behind Scotland's Duncan Scott (48.02 secs) and was tied with Australian Kyle Charmers for the second spot. Team SA has now picked up four gold, one silver and four bronze medals so far at the games. Le Clos has another favourite event as he will be involved in the 100m butterfly final later this afternoon (13:59 SA TIME). Les clos, who turns 26 on Thursday, believes that he tried his best in the freestyle final. Team SA also picked its fourth bronze medal in the bowls women’s singles as Colleen Picketh beat Kelly McKerihen from Canada 21-17 in the bronze medal match. Picket won two medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow four years ago and was equally excited with the third medal too.

We will bring medals for South Africa at the Commonwealth games in Gold Coast, Australia. Those words were expressed by shooting player Andre du Toit ahead of the games that will commence from the fourth until the 15th of this month. SA will send four shooters in Bartholomeus Pienaar, Pierre Basson, Arno Haasbroek and Du Toit himself. He knows the expectations from the nation for them to deliver medals.

Saturday sees the 49th edition of the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon take place in Cape Town. The Gold Label status marathon remains one of the most anticipated sporting events of the Cape Calendar year, and it is predicted to bring in over R675 million into the Western Cape, while also creating thousands of jobs in the region. Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Thabi Khanyile says they are very proud to be involved in the sponsorship of a race that represents the spirit of South Africans. Bongmusa Mthembu, who won the Comrades last year, says the Two Oceans is a great way to prepare himself for marathons like the Comrades, and he is hoping to improve on his 7th place from last year. One of the favourites for the women’s race is Gerda Steyn, who finished fourth in last year’s Comrades Marathon. Steyn, who is still relatively new to competitive racing, says she does not feel pressure with the favourite tag, and has had a good build up to the race. And the Zimbabwean Collen Makaka, one of the most successful Two Oceans runners, with 4 top 5 finishes in the last 6 years, says that this will be the last time he challenges for this race, as he looks to focus on the Comrades going forward.…

South African women hockey player Shelley Jones is confident the Proteas can win a medal at the Commonwealth games in Gold Coast, Australia. The quadrennial games will commence on the 4th of next month. In the past the Proteas narrowly missed out on the podium finish in Glasgow 2014 when they finished fourth. Jones spoke about the challenges facing the team ahead of the games.

Olympic and world champion Caster Semenya says Commonwealth gold medal is the only missing link in her glittering career. Semenya has won gold medals in the major events such as the Olympics, world championships and All Africa games. This will be the first time she will be competing in the Commonwealth games and she is looking to complete the puzzle.

The World and Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya will be the flag bearer for team South Africa at the Commonwealth in Gold Coast, Australia. Semenya was chosen at the official sendoff for the team at the gala dinner in Johannesburg last night. Semenya is expected to win two gold medals in the 800 and 1500 metre events at the games. She is honoured to be the flag bearer at her first Commonwealth games.

South African swimming legend Natalie du Toit is pleased to see so many female swimmers and youngsters in the SA team that is heading to the Commonwealth games in Australia early next month. Youngsters such as Erin Gallagher, Emily Visagie. Mariella Venter and Kate Beavon will compete at the Quadrennial games in Gold Coast, Australia. Out of 23 swimmers overall, eleven female swimmers will represent SA. This was veneration to many after no female swimmers qualified for the Rio Olympics in Brazil, while only Tatjana Schoenmaker qualified for the world championships in Hungary last year. Du Toit is happy to see many women in the team.

The South African National Men’s Hockey team flew out to Australia yesterday as their preparations for the 2018 Commonwealth Games get into full swing. The games will take place between the 4th and 15th of April. Veteran goalie Rassie Pieterse says the SA team will square up against Wales, Canada and India in the lead up to the Gold Coast games.

Road Race cycling specialist Bradley Potgieter says it would be an honour to represent South Africa following his late call-up to the SA Commonwealth Games team that will do duty at the games in Australia. The Gold Coast Games will take place from the fourth until the 15th of next month.

South African 200 metre record holder Clarence Munyai says he will focus on his own race to become the best in the world. Munyai broke the SA 200 metre record recently when he posted 19.69 seconds to smash Wayde van Niekerk’s record he set in Jamaica last year when he clocked 19.84 seconds. He will be competing in the Commonwealth games in April and also in the Diamond league later this year, where he will compete with the likes of Canadian sprinter Andre de Grasse and Jamaican Yohan Blake.

With the opening race of this year’s Women’s 10km Grand Prix series scheduled to take place on Sunday at the Bellville Stadium in Cape Town, South African runner Rene Kalmer says she anticipates a highly competitive season, as top female road runners challenge each other over the six race series. This year marks the 11th edition of the highly competitive women’s race which was launched back in 2007. Kalmer, who is also one of the Grand Prix ambassadors, says she is delighted to have witnessed the growth of the event over the years.

South Africa has a potential to get a medal in the 4x100 metre relay event at the Commonwealth games in Gold Coast, Australia next month. The team has a golden generation of talented sprinters such as Akani Simbine, Anaso Jobodwana, Henricho Bruintjies and the young Clarence Munyai. All the athletes have run sub-9 times at some stage in their careers. But lack of preparation ahead of the Commonwealth games might hamper their chances of a podium finish according to Anaso Jobodwana.

Reigning World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete is disappointed that he will not get a chance to fight against the World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight Luis Nery of Mexico. This follows Nery’s failure to weigh between 52.16kg and 53.52kg before his fight against now retired Japanese boxer Shinsuke Yamanaka more than a week ago. This has also cost Nery his belt on the scales which the WBC has since declared vacant. There were already talks of a unification bout between Tete and Nery. The only thing that was pending was for Tete to beat Argentine boxer Omar Narvaez in next month’s mandatory title defence. Tete is going to fight against Narvaez in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Saturday, 21 April.

South African women hockey player Stephanie Baxter says their goal at the Commonwealth games in Australia is to finish in the top three or four. SA has been to the five Commonwealth games finishing in fourth place twice in 2010 and 2014. They finished in fifth place in 1998 and 2002, as well as in eighth place in 2006. Baxter is looking for a podium finish this time.

Ashleigh Buhai wrote her name in the record books of the Investec South African Women’s Open once again, thanks to a two-stroke victory at Westlake Golf Club in Cape Town. The only amateur to win the national championship twice and the youngest champion to boot, Buhai fired a flawless final round 67 to realise a dream she’s nurtured since she joined the pro ranks in 2007. With the event having been moved from its original venue Atlantic Beach Country Club to West Lake due to the Cape Town water crisis, nothing was to take the glow and shine of the event and Buhai says she is proud to have won the R2 million showpieces.

Former South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) CEO Tubby Reddy has accused his former boss and the organization’s President Gideon Sam of collapsing the country’s hopes to host the 2022 Commonwealth’s Games. Reddy was testifying at the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into SASCOC governance at Ellis Park stadium yesterday. He was dismissed at the beginning of the year from his position after he was found guilty of sexual harassment, financial mismanagement and corruption. Reddy says Sam’s greed contributed in the government’s decision to drop the hosting of the Commonwealth Games. South Africa had won the 2022 Commonwealth Games bid without any opposition after the city of Edmonton in Canada had also dropped an interest in hosting these games. After having won the bid in 2015, a year later the country was lagging behind in government guarantees and the then Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula later indicated that the country does not have enough money in the kitty to afford these games. Reddy lays the blame squarely at Sam.

Anaso Jobodwana set the scene alight when he comfortably beat world 100 metre champion Justin Gatlin in a 150 metre race at the Athletics Grand Prix event held at Tuks stadium in Pretoria last night. The 2015 World Championship 200m bronze medallist clocked 15.08 seconds to win the race ahead of second-placed Roscoe Engel, who posted 15.17 seconds and Luxolo Adams on 15.18 seconds with world champion Justin Gatlin finishing fourth at 15.23 seconds . Jobodwana dedicated the victory to his new born baby. On the other side the golden girl Caster Semenya smashed the SA record in the 1000 metre event when she posted 2:35.44 seconds. The previous record, held by Ilze Wicksell, had stood for 35 years. It was the first time the Olympic and world champion competed in the event. She was happy with her time

American sprint legend Justin Gatlin says he is bothered by his doping past as a human being, but not as a sprinter. Gatlin spoke at the press conference for the Telecom Liquid Athletics Grand Prix event that will take place at Tuks stadium in Pretoria tonight. The 36 year old reigning 100 m World Champion was banned from competing between 2006 and 2010 for failing a second drug test, testing positive for testosterone.

The Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) entered its second week and the spotlight was on the serving members of the SASCOC board. Previous testimonies about how divided and dysfunctional this board has been were confirmed this week by some of the board members including Natalie Du Toit and Merill King. SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli has been following this inquiry at Ellis Park from Day One and he’s prepared this report.

World number one and 20 time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer has firmly set his sights on becoming the first tennis player to win 100 tournaments this year. Regarded as arguably the greatest tennis player of all time and certainly the greatest of the Open era, Federer is currently on 97 tournament and is the oldest ranked number one. He has credited his longevity in the game by staying healthy and admits that he has exceeded his wildest dreams with his success. Speaking in Monaco after being crowned the World Sportsman of the Year and also Comeback of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards to become the most decorated sports star with six Lauereus awards, the 30 year old Switzerland born, believes that South African tennis star Kevin Anderson can become a Grand Slam winner and that Anderson making it to the final of the US Open last year, could be the key to bigger success. Federer has a South African connection through his mother Lynette who is South African and a lot of charities he support are also in South Africa.

International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Cruiserweight champion Kevin “KO Kid” Lerena is focused on starting his 2018 on a good note against a boxer he has got a lot of respect for in Dmytro Kucher from Ukraine. Lerena will be defending his title against Kucher in a tournament dubbed Palace Pandemonium at the Emperors Palace on Saturday evening. Speaking during a pre-med today in Kempton Park, Lerena says the strength of the opponent is his toughness and durability.Also stepping up into the ring this coming weekend in the same bill would be Thulani Mbenge, the WBC International and South African Welterweight champion. He will be taking on the Mexican Diego Cruz in a 10 rounder and is banking on his height advantage going to this fight.

Athletics South Africa (ASA) has secured a sponsorship for the upcoming Grand Prix Series that kicks off tomorrow, the 1st of March. Liquid Telecom will be the new sponsors for the next three years. The first meet will take place at Ruimsig stadium in Johannesburg, with the second on the 8th of next month at Tuks stadium in Pretoria, where American sprint legend Justin Gatlin will take part in. The last event will take place in Cape Town later next month. ASA president Aleck Skhosana is thrilled with the developments.

Multiple Olympic and World Champion hurdler Edwin Moses says the IAAF treated South African track queen Caster Semenya wrongly and unfairly a few years ago with the gender verification scandal. Semenya had to be ruled out of athletics between 2012 and 2014 as a war of opinions and science raged around her eligibility to participate as a woman. Moses says there is enough research around Semenya’s condition and that the double Olympic and world champion was not trying to circumvent the rules for her gain. Moses was speaking from Monaco ahead of the Laureus World Sports Awards where Semenya is nominated in the Sports Woman of the Year category.

Former Athletics South Africa (ASA) President James Evans has repeated previous claims made at the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into SASCOC governance that the SASCOC President Gideon Sam could have been involved in a conflict of interest because he was the chairperson of a sports marketing company Accelerate Sport. Evans was one of the six witnesses that testified today at the inquiry, which resumed at Ellis Park after a weeklong break last week. Evans says it was questionable that an amount of R2million had to be paid to Accelerate Sport…

Startling revelations were made in the first week of the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into SASCOC governance this week. But Wessel Oosthuisen’s explosive revelations on former SASCOC CEO Tubby Reddy will remain a talking point until Reddy comes to defend himself in front of retired judge Ralph Zulman and his assistant Dr Ali Bacher and Labour Law expert Shamima Gaibie. Oosthuizen who is a former SASCOC official photographer first dropped a bombshell by saying he was paid R52 000 despite not having worked on an assignment.

Veteran sports administrator and former Boxing South Africa (BSA) chairperson Ntambi Ravele has added her voice to those who are claiming that the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee’s (SASCOC) board is dysfunctional. Ravele was one of the six witnesses today at the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into SASCOC governance when it resumed today. Ravele says SASCOC board is dysfunctional and that is not good for South African sport.

South African Netball National team Goalkeeper Phumza Maweni believes that they stand a chance of winning gold medal at the Commonwealth games in Gold Coast, Australia in April. The Spar Proteas have never won the Commonwealth games before. Their best results was when they finished 4th in 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Maweni says that the recent Quad Series featuring Australia, New Zealand and England will help them to prepare for the games.

One of South Africa’s finest female Golfers Stacey Bergman says although her game has had its fair share of up and downs, it is consistency this year that has been her strength. Bergman so far won this year’s Tshwane Ladies Open in January but it is her tenacity and willingness to take risks that has set her apart from other golfers in this year’s Sunshine Ladies Tour.

South African national 100m champion and record holder Akani Simbine can look forward to having his long time coach Werner Prinsloo on a full-time basis. This is thanks to a three-year partnership he has entered into with Liquid Telecom, which was announced in Midrand today. The Telecommunications company will provide support to Simbine for the next three years leading to the next Olympic games in Tokyo, Japan in a deal worth R8million. The 24year-old has more on the importance of this sponsorship.

Moruti Mthalane’s trainer Colin Nathan has revealed that Mthalane will have an opportunity to fight for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight belt. This comes after Mthalane, who once held the same title, was moved from eighth to third on the IBF flyweight ratings. And Nathan says it is a matter of time before Mthalane fights for the belt again. Mthalane vacated the IBF flyweight crown in 2015 after he was offered what was reported to be a measly purse for a title defence. Nathan explains.

Startling revelations were made in the first week of the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into SASCOC governance this week. But Wessel Oosthuisen’s explosive revelations on former SASCOC CEO Tubby Reddy will remain a talking point until Reddy comes to defend himself in front of retired judge Ralph Zulman and his assistant Dr Ali Bacher and Labour Law expert Shamima Gaibie. Oosthuizen who is a former SASCOC official photographer first dropped a bombshell by saying he was paid R52 000 despite not having worked on an assignment.

South African Women hockey coach, Sheldon Rostron, has stuck with consistency and largely retained the players that faired so well in the past year to represent the country at the 2018 Common Wealth Games in Australia. The women’s team, currently ranked 14th in the world achieved a respectable 5th position at the World League Semi-finals at Wits Astro-turf last year and Rostron says he will surely add a few youngsters to the team but experience will be vital as the aim is to win a medal.

If South Africa is to compete successfully and be on par with some of the best countries in sport globally especially in games like Olympics, the model of funding needs to be addressed. This was the view from the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) High Performance manager Ezera Chabangu who was testifying at the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into SASCOC governance at Ellis Park stadium yesterday. Chabangu’s believes that the funding model needs to be improved. Chabangu’s office heads the Operation Excellence (OPEX) programme that identifies deserving top athletes and priorities them for the major competitions like the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games. Labour Law expert Shamima Gaibie has given a strong indication that an athlete could be appearing as a witness in this inquiry.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) employee Desiree Vardhan has described the mood at the Olympic House in Johannesburg as toxic and unbearable. She was speaking at the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into SASCOC governance at the Ellis Park stadium yesterday. Vardhan who accused former SASCOC CEO Tubby Reddy of sexual harassment that led to his dismissal alleged that her computer had been hacked. Vardhan could not hide her excitement at the fact that Reddy, Maharaj and senior manager at Reddy’s office were dismissed last month. Vardhan, whose husband is alleged to have benefited in two SASCOC linked coaching projects amounting to just more than R3million says the dismissal of the three officials was good riddance.

Former Athletics South Africa board member Laraine Lane has accused South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) President Gideon Sam of conflict of interest. Lane who was testifying at the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into SASCOC at Ellis Park stadium today, alleged that Sam was benefiting from sports marketing company Accelerate Sport who have been working with different sports federations in the country.

Mark Hopkins has been named as the head coach of the South African Men’s Hockey team and will take charge of the team up until the 2018 FIH Hockey World Cup in India. The England born Hopkins began his coaching in Wales and was also Youth Director at one of the world biggest clubs, Bloemendaal from Holland. Locally, Hopkins has led Southern Gauteng’s men to Gold at the inter-provincials and says he aims to get SA back in the world’s top 10 from 15th ranking.

The South African netball national team player Erin Burger says their main ambition at the Commonwealth games in Australia is to improve on their world rankings. The Spar Proteas are currently fifth in the rankings behind Australia, New Zealand, England and Jamaica. The Commonwealth games will commence in the Australian city Gold Coast from the fourth until the 15th of April. Burger says their aim is to break into the top four. The Proteas recently competed at the annual Netball Quad series that features Australia, New Zealand and England. The tournament was held in England and South Africa. The Proteas finished rock bottom for the third year in a row, but Burger believes that it was a good preparation for the games.

The inaugural Athletix Grand Prix promises fireworks following confirmation yesterday morning that world 100m champion, Justin Gatlin will be running the 150m in Pretoria on the eighth of next month. Gatlin who holds three world titles and an Olympic title is the single biggest name to appear on South African soil since the likes of Michael Johnson and Marion Jones at the turn of the century. Gatlin has never been to SA, nor has he raced in a 150m. Both prospects have him excited. Gatlin is also the fifth fastest ever human being in the 100m and 200m. He is very excited to see the incredible sprint talent coming out of SA, feeling that the more countries are competitive in the sprints, the more the bar will be raised.

Lee-Anne Pace clinched her 12th Sunshine Ladies Tour title with a play-off victory in the Cape Town Ladies Open at Royal Cape on Thursday ( yesterday 08-Feb-18). Pace fired a final round 71 to tie for the lead with her close friend from France, Anne-Lise Caudal on eight-under-par 214 to find herself in a play-off for the second successive year. The 36-year-old Pace buried a long birdie putt to deny the French competitor a long-overdue trophy.…

Swimming South Africa president Alan Fritz Official opened Tiger Valley High performance Swimming Academy, this afternoon, at Lynnwood Pretoria. The facility will also be made accessible to twenty schools that were identify by Swimming SA, which is expected to unearth talent from previous disadvantaged communities.

National netball side Spar Proteas wing defence Precious Mthembu says they’ll be aiming for nothing less than a top four finish at the upcoming Commonwealth Games, to be held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia from April 4 to 15 April. South Africa were drawn in pool A for the 21st edition of the games, alongside defending champions Australia, Jamaica, Barbados, Fiji and Northern Ireland.

South African top doubles tennis star, Raven Klaasen says he struck a good cord with his new doubles partner, Michael Venus who hails from New Zealand. The 35-year-old Klaasen boasts 13 ATP doubles titles and is currently ranked No 25 in the world. The Capetonian split with long-time partner, Rajeev Ram from USA and had his first pairing with his new partners at the Australian Open earlier this year. Klaasen believes it is a good pairing.

He might not have his predecessor’s razzmatazz and huge social media following but on policy the current Sport Minister Thulas Nxesi cannot be faulted. By quickly establishing the two Ministerial Committee of Inquiries into the FNB stadium and SASCOC, he is showing the way. Nxesi says all he is demanding from the federations and their mother body SASCOC is accountability and good governance. SABC Sport understands that there was a bit of resistance from the SASCOC board when it comes to this inquiry as it also comes at a time when there’s infighting at this macro sports body. This has resulted in SASCO firing its CEO Tubby Reddy after founding him guilty on allegations of sexual harassment and mismanagement together with the CFO Vinesh Maharaj and Jean Kelly a senior manager at Reddy’s office. Department of Sport and Recreation Director General (DG) Alec Moemi is no stranger to Ministerial Committee of Inquiries having helped to put together the Cricket Inquiry that saw the demise of former Cricket SA CEO Gerald Majola and he is clear about what is to be expected from the inquiries that start next week and would last until April.

The South African Netball national team coach Norma Plummer says the recent Quad Series will help her team to prepare for the Commonwealth games in Gold Coast, Australia in April. The Proteas gave a good account of themselves in the series that include top three nations in the world Australia, New Zealand and England. They finished bottom of the log for the third year running, but have been improving in leaps and bounds with every match.

The Director-General of Department of Sport and Recreation Alec Moemi has clarified that the public should expect a Ministerial Committee of Inquiry and not Commissions of Inquiry to South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and FNB stadium. Earlier its been reported that there would be two Commission on Inquiries starting in two weeks time but Moemi provides clarity. The inquiry to SASCOC would be looking at corporate governance failure after few federations (SASCOC members) approached the Ministry with their concerns as Moemi explains. The inquiry into FNB stadium will be looking at the death of two football fans during the Carling Black Label Cup pre-season game between the two Soweto archrivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in July last year. Moemi says they have to find answers and closure on this matter. The inquiry into SASCOC is long awaited following the boardroom squabbles that have seen the macro sports body firing its CEO Tubby Reddy on allegations sexual harassment and mismanagement. SASCOC also parted ways with its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Vinesh Maharaj and Jean Kelly a senior manager in Reddy’s office. Following the announcement of Team South Africa to the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast in Australia in April, we asked SASCOC President Gideon Sam about their readiness for this inquiry.

As the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) announced its 169 member team to the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast in Australia today, the organization’s President Gideon Sam admitted revealed that boardroom squabbles didn’t affect their preparations. SASCOC recently fired its CEO Tubby Reddy after finding him guilty on allegations of sexual harassment and mismanagement. They also got rid of their CFO Vinesh Maharaj and Jean Kelly, a senior manager at Reddy’s office. Sam says the selection of the Commonwealth team was not affected by this but admits that this has been damaging to brand SASCOC.

Netball SA president Cecilia Molokwane has hailed the 2018 Spar Quad Series which wrapped up at a packed Ellis Park Indoor Arena yesterday. The final day of the third edition of the series saw the Australian Diamonds hand defending champions the New Zealand Silver Ferns a 67 – 48 defeat to win gold. Molokwane says the fact that they managed to fill the 4300 capacity venue proves just how successful the tournament was.

The 100m and 200m world record holder Usain Bolt, arrived in South Africa last week and has been involved in a series of corporate events including training with former African champions Mamelodi Sundowns yesterday. He announced his official retirement after the IAAF World Championships in London last year and he says he’s been on the road for the past few months attending to all the corporate gigs

Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane was happy to host the legend at their training session. The former Bafana Bafana coach joked that he is willing to sign the legend to bolster their team. Sprint legend Usain Bolt trained with Mamelodi Sundowns at their headquarters in Johannesburg this afternoon. The eight-time Olympic champion is visiting South Africa as part of an Athletics South Africa development. The retired super star also has a passion for football and he showed glimpses of his footballing skills. Bolt enjoyed his experience training with the PSL log leaders.

Boxing South Africa (BSA) CEO Tsholofelo Lejaka has declared his organization’s readiness for the 2017 South African Boxing Awards ceremony. The function, which is going to be used to reward deserving boxing personalities, is going to be held at the Boardwalk Casino in Port Elizabeth this coming Friday. Last year’s function was held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.

Veteran boxing trainer Loyiso Mtya is happy to be back as chief trainer at East London’s All Winners Boxing Club where reigning World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete trains. Mtya, who guided Tete to WBO glory in April last year, left All Winners Club mid-year following a fall out with the club’s managing director Mlandeli Tengimfene, who is also Tete’s manager. Mtya’s return means that he is going to be in Tete’s corner when the Mdantsane-born champion defends his world title against Argentine boxer Omar Narvaez in April.

At age 25, International Boxing Organization (IBO) Cruiserweight world champion Kevin Lerena feels that he is getting into the important stage of his boxing career and wants to make the most of it this year. He was speaking at the Smith Boxing gym in Fourways, Johannesburg yesterday afternoon where his next fight against Ukrainian Dytro Kucher was announced. Lerena won all his three fights last year including his latest IBO belt on a split decision against Youri Kalenga from Democratic Republic of Congo (based in France) late last year. In 20 fights, he has won 19 and lost only once and that was four years ago, the former South African Cruiserweight champion is looking forward to bigger things this year. Lerena won all his three fights last year including his latest IBO belt on a split decision against Youri Kalenga from Democratic Republic of Congo (based in France) late last year. In 20 fights, he has won 19 and lost only once and that was four years ago, the former South African Cruiserweight champion is looking forward to bigger things this year.

Reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete’s second title defence, which was going to be against Argentine boxer Omar Narvaez has been postponed until a yet-to-be confirmed date in April. The postponement of the fight, which was scheduled for the 10th of next month at the Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Hackney Wick in London, follows after Tete picked up calf muscle and Achilles tendon injuries while preparing for the Narvaez duel at the beach in East London. Doctors have since advised Tete to stay away from training until the end of this month. Tete’s manager Mlandeli Tengimfene has more on the champion’s injury.

Nicholas Dlamini in his first full season for Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka on the World Tour, this week proudly wore the King of the Mountains jersey at the end of stage one of the Tour Down Under. The UCI World Tour stage one race had begun in Port Adelaide and ended 145 kilometres later in Lyndoch. The “King of the Mountain” is the title given to the best climber in a cycling road race, usually and officially known as the Mountains classification. The 22-year-old South African who also raced for Team Dimension data last year, becoming the first black South African to ride in the Tour de France has remained humble and had this to say.

Boxing SA chairman Dr Peter Ngatane says having experienced members serving on the board is going to make his life a bit easier as he believes they will be in a better position to address the challenges in local boxing. In November last year, Minister of Sport Thulas Nxesi mandated Ngatane together with Matilda Kabini, Mzamo Gumbi, Khulile Radu, Luthando Jack, Letlhogonolo Noge-Tungamirai and Gilberto Martins with the task of taking boxing out of the doldrums. Kabini, Gumbi, Radu and Jack served with Ngatane in the previous board, which was chaired by Ntambi Ravele. South African boxing has stagnated in the last 10 years because of lack of finances and poor administration. Ngatane’s priority is securing a sponsorship for BSA as the organisation has not had sponsorship since Vodacom pulled out in 2005. BSA has been operating through a grant from the Department of Sport and Recreation, and also from funds raised from sanctioning fights and licensing fees. Ngatane has admitted that it is not going to be easy to secure sponsorships because companies don’t want to be associated with an organisation, which is in disarray. BSA Chief Executive Officer Tsholofelo Lejaka revealed during a presentation at a boxers’ seminar in East London in June last year that BSA’s budget allocation for the 2017/18 financial year was R14,1 million with R11,5m coming from the Department of Sport and Recreation with the remaining R2,6m expected to be raised through sanctioning and licensing fees in terms of the Boxing Act.

Cycling South Africa race director, Bosseau Boshoff believes cycling enthusiasts in South Africa can look forward to another exciting year in a sport that keeps generating more interest amongst South Africans. The cycling season kick-starts with the Mpumalanga Tour which is currently underway. Several elite riders are taking part including the Namibian national team. Boshoff has more.

Nominees for the 2017 SA Boxing Awards were announced at a media briefing in East London today. The winners from the 17 categories are going to be announced at a function, which is scheduled for the Boardwalk Hotel in Port Elizabeth on Friday, 02 February 2018. Here is Boxing South Africa (BSA) Chief Executive Officer Tsholofelo Lejaka with more on the awards.

With the new pro cycling season looming on the horizon, there are many professional riders still hoping to land a last-minute contract for 2018, however Umtata born rider Songezo Jim has sealed a deal with the Pretoria based side, Sampada Private Equity. The former Dimension Data rider joins one year after spending a year with Kuwaiti based side, Cartucho Es and has more on his latest move.

Reigning World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete has decided against training in Johannesburg ahead of his second defence of the title against Omar Narvaez next month. Normally, Tete, who faces the Argentine in London on Saturday, 10 February, completes his preparations in Johannesburg before jetting out of the country after having started in East London. However, Tete will, this time around, remain in East London until the day of departure for London. The Mdantsane-born Tete believes that East London-based boxers are capable of giving him good sparring sessions ahead of the Narvaez fight. The 29-year-old Tete goes into the Narvaez clash following his sensational 11 seconds stoppage of compatriot Siboniso Gonya in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in November last year

South African’s top swimmers continued to post Commonwealth Games qualification times after day five at the Kwazulu-Natal Aquatics Premier Championships in Durban. Twenty-eight swimmers have already made the Commonwealth list and with one more day of action to go. The final Commonwealth Games team will be selected and announced by South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) in accordance with their Selection Policy. Brad Tandy was victorious in the men 50m freestyle event with 22.33 seconds. The 2016 Rio Olympic finalist was happy for qualifying. Douglas Erasmus finished second in the highly competitive men 50m freestyle final in 22.90 seconds. Armand Maritz finished fourth in the men 50m freestyle final but dipped below the qualifying time in 23.25 seconds behind Ryan Coetzee in third. Jarryd Baxter posted qualification in the men 200 metre backstroke final in a time of 1:59.65 seconds despite finishing second behind Martin Binedell, who claimed his first qualification time in 1:59.59 seconds. Baxter says it feels unreal to qualify

The Orange River Rafters were at their best Tuesday night following a 3-2 victory against Private Property St Lucia Lakers in their first Premier Hockey in the women’s final at the Randburg Astro Turf last night. The team’s victory follows their shaky start in the tournament where they were at the bottom. In the men’s section, Crossroads Maropeng Cavemen stormed to a successful title defence with 3-0 over the Pro-Grip Drakensberg Dragons to clinch the final. Rafters captain Sulette Damons says her team were underdogs...

The last two years have been very difficult for South African sprint sensation Anaso Jobodwana, he’s been hampered by injuries and failed to make his mark in the Olympics and IAAF World Champs. In 2016 Jobodwana was troubled by injuries and he couldn’t make it past the 200m heats at the Rio Olympics. This year he also failed to make it to the IAAF World Championships in London. The 2015 World Champs 200m bronze medalist who is now based in Durban after returning full time from the US, looks back at his challenges this year. Jobodwana’s major event is the 200m where he previously held the South African record of 19.87 seconds but Wayde van Niekerk set a new record in June of 19.84 secs. His target this year is to run a sub-10 in the 100m, his season’s best clocked at the national champs in Potchefstroom in April is currently 10.19 seconds.

SA Athletics programme has gone through its leadership challenges in the last six years due to some administrative challenges. This resulted in some sponsors pulling out and when Aleck Skhosana took over as Athletics South Africa (AS) President three years ago together with his team they had a lot of challenges to deal with. And today he had a broad smile. outh African athletics calendar will never be the same again following the launch of the Athletix Grand Prix Series in Johannesburg today. This series gets underway in March next year and it will see the countries top athletes competing against their international counterparts in three meetings around the country. Close to R1,4million in prize money will be on offer throughout this Grand Prix Series. In recent years SA athletes like Wayde van Niekerk, Caster Semenya, Akani Simbine, Luvo Manyonga and many others have been making headlines, clinching gold medals and world titles. Simbine, the 100m national champion and record holder sees a direct link between this new competition and SA athletes improved global profile.Henricho Bruintjies was amongst the first sprinters to break the 10-second barrier in the national 100m. He’s amongst the current golden generation of sprinters and is excited by this new series. Jobodwana didn’t have a good 2017 season, as he couldn’t qualify for the IAAF World Champs also following an unsatisfactory Rio Olympics performance last year. The 2015 World Champs 200m bronze medalist sees the new competition and addition to the ASA calendar as a great concept for local athletes

The Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) is pulling all the stops to ensure that Sunday’s 42,2km Heroes Marathon in Mthatha becomes yet another success. This is the 18th edition of the marathon, which will start at the Mthatha Airport and finish at the Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu. Nompendulo Msi, a manager from the Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) in the OR Tambo Region has more.

Olympic gold medalist and South Africa’s swimming sensation Chad Le Clos is crediting his world-renowned Italian coach Andrea Di Nino and strong family support for the good recovery he’s had this year. Last week, Le Clos became the first South African to win four World Cup series title. Le Clos won this title in 2011, 2013 and 2014 whilst countryman Cameron Van Der Burgh has also won it three times. Speaking to SABC Sport from Turkey where he was rounding up his training, Le Clos looks back at his successful 2017 campaign. At the Rio Olympics last year, Le Clos could only return with two silver medals and he wasn’t impressed with that return. At the FINA world championships in Budapest, Hungary in July this year he won the men's 200m butterfly gold medal defeating home-crowd favourite Laszlo Cseh who was the defending champion. Le Clos showed that class is permanent…

Olympic and World champion Wayde van Niekerk had a great season according to his 75-year old coach Anna Botha. The 25-year old did his personal best in the 200m clocking 19.84 seconds. He also broke the world record in the 300m event when he posted 30.81 seconds. Van Niekerk capped a great season when he won gold medal in the 400m at the IAAF world athletics championships in London, and also silver in the 200m. Van Niekerk has been one of the most prominent sprinters in the world in recent times. He won the 40m event at the Rio Olympics in Brazil last year, and also smashed the world record set by the American legend Michael Johnson in 1999. Last year he also became the first, and to date, the first sprinter in history to have run 100m in 10 seconds, 200m in under 20 seconds, and 400m in under 40 seconds. Botha says he is a special athlete.

Doug Ryder has hailed the influence of Mark Cavendish for South Africa’s ever-improving UCI ProTeam Team Dimension Data. Cavendish has won the third-most stages at all three cycling Grand Tours with 48 in total. Ryder explains.

Boxing South Africa (BSA) manager in the Eastern Cape Phakamile Jacobs has hailed reigning World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete following his first successful defence of his belt. Mdantsane-born Tete made history when he stopped challenger Siboniso Gonya in 11 seconds of the first round at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Saturday night. As a result of the win, Tete beat former WBO junior-featherweight Daniel Jiménez’s record, which he set when he stopped Harald Geier in 17 seconds on 3 September 1994.

Olympic and World champion Caster Semenya says her main goal next season is to break the world record in the 800m event. She also wants to become the greatest runner of all time in the same event. The 26-year old will have a hectic year as she will be competing in the Commonwealth Games in Australia, African Athletics Championships, Inter-Continental Championships as well as the Diamond League series. Semenya has been dominating the 800m over the last few seasons.

Port Elizabeth’s Boardwalk Casino is going to host the next edition of the SA Boxing Awards on Friday, 02 February 2018. Nominations for the 17 categories opened at the beginning of this month and will close on Wednesday, 06 December. The Boxing SA (BSA) CEO Tsholofelo Lejaka Lejaka added that they did everything by the book and it was DSRAC’S duty to provide a venue for the ceremony.…

Fresh from achieving a time of 3 hours and 31 minutes at the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon 42 km distance last Sunday, South African Paralympian Louzanne Coetzee believes she has what it takes to one day break the T11 world record in the same distance, which stands at 3 hours 14 minutes. The 24-year-old running sensation has already represented the country at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and has taken to long distance marathon running with the goal of smashing world records. In the past at national championships for the physically disabled, Coetzee has broken South African records in the 800m, 1500m and 5000m. She has set personal best times at World Championships, African championships and at national level. Last year she also participated in the Berlin World Championships in July, improving her African record in the 1500m and the Bloemfontein based athlete says she does a lot of track training and has set her sights in doing big at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020.

South Africa men and women won the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, held at Ismailia in Egypt, defeating Egypt and Ghana 2-1 and 4-0 respectively in the finals. Coach Sheldon Rostron who had the very rare but enormous task of coaching both the men’s and women’s team landed in Johannesburg Monday morning delighted.

Former IBF Welterweight champion Tsiko Mulovhedzi says he didn’t get enough time to prepare for the intercontinental IBF Welterweight fight with Hungary’s Laszio Toth. Mulovhedzi lost his title to Toth on points at the Ngoako Ramatlhodi sports complex in Seshego on Friday. The man from Vhembe says he was given two and a half weeks which is not enough for an athlete who’s been inactive for the majority of the year. To add to his unfitness problems Mulovhedzi was also overweight. Fighting in this division requires a boxer to be 66, 68 kg and the Mulovhedzi weighed 71,22 kg while his opponent weighed 65,86 kg. Mulovhedzi says he felt weak as early as the second round. Mulovhedzi further says he was forced to risk fighting unprepared because he doesn’t want his family to starve. Asked if he shouldn’t have been ready seeing that he is a professional athlete, Mulovhedzi says that’s difficult in the sport as the training is really hard. Meanwhile the boxer says he’s going back to gym to prepare for a trip to Australia to work with boxing legend Lovemore Ndou next year.

SA women’s hockey team co-captain Sulette Damons says it is always a privilege to represent South Africa in any event as the team prepares to compete at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ismalia, Egypt from the 19th to the 29th of October. Damons is one of the more experienced team members having featured for South Africa in the 2012 Olympics and a few other major tournaments. The ladies had already qualified for next year’s 2018 World cup after finishing 5th at the World League semi-finals held in Johannesburg earlier this year, however their male counterparts still need to win the Africa cup of nations in order to qualify. Damons feels the ladies also have a lot to fight for despite not having a major challenger from Africa…

Gymnastics South Africa Chief Executive Officer Tseko Mogotsi says their mission is to grow the number of participants in the sport. Gymnastics is a men’s and women’s sport that requires balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, endurance and control. The sport comprises of many disciplines such as rhythmic gymnastics, trampolining and tumbling, acrobatic and aerobic gymnastics. Gymnastics is a minor sport is SA and as a result does not have many participants, but Mogotsi, who succeeded the retired Cameron Smith two years ago, is determined to change that.

The South African Men’s Hockey side will be heading to Egypt in an attempt to win the African Cup of Nations for the 8th consecutive time and defend the title that they last won in Johannesburg in 2015. Coach Sheldon Rostron has had to drop a few key players due to personal commitments and with some players plying their trade in European leagues not being selected for the tournament that takes place between the 22nd to the 29th of this month…

Badminton South Africa acting President Chris Dednam believes that they can do well at the Commonwealth Games in Australia next year, depending on the luck of the draw. SA was ranked 7th at the previous Commonwealth Games Glasgow, Scotland in 2014 with 13 Gold, 10 silver and 17 bronze medals but with no medal in Badminton.

Boxing South Africa (BSA) manager in the Eastern Cape, Phakamile Jacobs, who is mourning the death of Sinethemba Magibisela, has lamented the killing of boxers. Magibisela, who was a South African mini-flyweight title contender, was stabbed to death in Ilitha outside King Williams Town last Sunday, a day after he put up a fine performance during his win over Mbulelo Nxazonke at a tournament held at the Willowvale Indoor Sport Centre in the Eastern Cape. Jacobs added that a lot happens when one is a professional boxer thus he has called for extra care to be taken in as far as boxers are concerned.

Rowing South Africa President Sean Kerr believes that the sport is in a very healthy state in the country. Kerr said this on the back of the performances at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil. In 2012 the lightweight men’s rowing four comprising of James Thompson, Matthew Brittain, John Smith and Lawrence Ndlovu won gold medal while the men’s coxless pair of Britain and Shaun Keeling won silver medal at the Rio Olympics, with three boats finishing fourth and one finishing fifth.

The Chief of Staff at the national Department of Sport and Recreation Sumaila Khan says they appreciate the partnership they have with long term hosts of the annual national indigenous games in Limpopo. The province will once again be hosting the nine code event from Monday, 25th until the 29th of September in Seshego outside Polokwane. Khan who was representing Sport Minister Thulas Nxesi at the launch on Sunday also added that her department is also pleased that it is leaving an infrastructure legacy in the community of Seshego.

Former IBO lightweight champion Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni is leaving South Africa for the United States on a trip financed by former ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa. Nomeva will be trained by Luis Tapia after signing a four-year contract with the famous trainer. The unbeaten 27-year-old who is also former WBF International junior-light, SA junior-lightweight and national lightweight champion, is yet to discuss with his team as to which world title or titles he should go for once he settles in the US. Phosa also reveals why he decided to help Ndongeni through the Mathews Phosa Foundation.

South African sprinter Thando Roto says he can compete with the best athletes in the world following his exploits at the world University Games in Taipei, Taiwan. Roto won a silver medal in the 100 metre event after finishing second in 10.24 seconds to the local athlete Han-Chun Yang, who finished on 10.22 seconds and ahead of the third placed Malik Cameron Burrel with 10.27 seconds.

Event organisers of the 2017 Old Mutual Soweto Marathon have called on runners who were not able to enter before the cut-off date in June, to secure a substitution entry before the end of September. Organisers have opened a window for substitutions which enables a runner to officially take over the entry of an athlete that needs to withdraw from the race. The Soweto Marathon sold out early in June, making history by reaching full capacity for the 10km, 21km and the 42.2km marathon. Grant Panter from the Soweto Marathon race clarifies the process.

University Sport South Africa President Ilhaam Groenewald says gold medals would have boosted the country’s rankings at the world university games in Taipei, Taiwan. She said it after the team arrived from Taiwan at the O.R Tambo international airport on Saturday, 2 September 2017. SA was ranked 44th after amassing five medals at the 29th edition of the games. They sent over 130 athletes participating in ten sporting codes. The team got five silver medals but with no gold medals.

WBO bantamweight champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete’s proposed title defence against Siboniso Gonya has been floored by lack of funds. Last Born Promotions, which is Tete’s company, was going to promote the fight. Tete’s business manager Mlandeli Tengimfene has more.

Organisers of the 2017 Mandela Day Marathon have declared the race a huge success after around 15,000 athletes participated in the sixth edition of the event. The 42 kilometre race, run from Manaye Hall in Imbali to the Mandela Capture site in Howick, drew massive crowds and a positive response from everyone involved. New champions were crowned too as Ethiopia’s Tekletsion Kassahun Tefera went one better than last year to win the men’s race, while Lesotho’s Mamorallo Tjoka was the women’s winner. Lennox Mabaso is the Head of Marketing and Communications for the race and he was pleased with the way the weekend went. The Provincial Government of KwaZulu-Natal and the uMgungundlovu District Municipality are the main organisers of the race and this year they brought on a corporate sponsor for the first time. That investor is banking giant Absa, who have pledged their support for the next three years and Dante Mashile, head of Marketing and Corporate Relations, was also satisfied with the way the day went.

2017 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships event organiser, Alec Lenferna says preparations ahead of the upcoming Para-cycling Road World Championships in Pietermaritzburg this weekend have gone well and they are ready to welcome the World’s top Para-cyclists to Africa’s bike city.

Jamaican and World superstar Usain Bolt took to the track on Sunday as he said goodbye to the sport he loves dearly. Bolt who said he started running at the age of 10 said it was an emotional farewell for him. He competed in the Men’s 100m and came third; he was also part of the Men’s 4x100m relay team but couldn’t finish the race due to injury. He said his biggest race was when he won the 2015 Men’s 100m race in Beijing World Championships and the regret of his career was when he false started in World Championships Daegu 2011. Bolt said he wants to thank all his supporters with the way they have supported him throughout the years. Meanwhile British Athlete Mo Farah who also announced his retirement from track and field said his last race was one of the toughest and didn’t want to lose at his home town. Farah came second in the Men’s 5000m behind Ethiopian Muktar Edris of Ethiopia and Bronze medal went to Paul Chelimo of the USA. Farah who will now put his focus on road running said his last race was not easy.

South Africa’s golden girl Caster Semenya secured the country’s third gold after winning the Women’s 800m championship in London on Sunday night, 13 August. Semenya ran the world’s best leading time of 1:55.16 to take gold whilst Francine Niyosaba of Burundi came second with a time of 1:55.92, the third position went to America’s Ajee Wilson with the time of 1:56.65. Semenya said she knew it was going to be a fast race. Meanwhile another South African athlete who was in action is Lebogang Shange who participated in the Men’s 20 Kilometres Race Walk event. Shange surprised many by coming fourth in the event with the national record time of 1:19:18 just 14 seconds outside the podium finish. Columbian Eider Arevalo took gold, whilst silver went to Sergei Shirobokov and Caio Bonfim of Brazil took bronze. Shange said he felt great and happy with his performance.

Top Mountain Bike (MTB) rider William Mokgopo says he’s highly motivated ahead of UCI MTB World Championships in September. Mokgopo was named in the cross-country team to represent South Africa at the Championships in Australia. The young rider, who is a final year Sports Science student at the University of Pretoria, says he is relieved to have acquired a sponsor to fund his trip to Cairns.

The world student games are the stepping stone to bigger things for athletes. Those words were expressed by Thembi Baloyi who is going to be part of the strong South African team at the world student games that will take place in Taipei, Taiwan from the 19th until the 31st of August. The University games were a breeding ground for top athletes such as Anaso Jobodwana, Wayde van Niekerk and Akani Simbine, and Baloyi is hoping to achieve that.

National Basketball Association (NBA) players showcased their talent in front of an energetic African crowd at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg on Saturday night, 5 August 2017. Team World featured the likes of Portland Trail Blazers player CJ, McCollum, Boston Celtics, Jayden Brown and Team Co Captain Kemba Walker, while Team Africa boasted top names like Emmanuel Mudiay, Los Angeles Lakers Luol Deng and Utah Jazz's Thabo Sefolosha. Team Africa was the first to score, but couldn’t maintain control as Team World came back firing, building up a nice lead in the third quarter and eventually came out 108-97 winners on the night. Cameroonian Luc Mbah a Moute says he spotted a lot of talent during his time in South Africa and believes that with proper coaching and adequate infrastructure, top quality players could develop from the country. Team World Co-Captain Walker says that while the match was very tight at some points, the players all had fun on the court. Switzerland-born Thabo Sefolosha, whose father hails from South Africa, says playing in front of the Johannesburg crowd, was extra special for him.

Cycling SA believes that the 2017 UCI Road World Championships that will be held in Bergen, Norway from the 17th to the 24th of September is a crucial event and South African will be sending a strong team there. Cycling SA road director Bosseau Boshoff feels with a few household names in the team South Africa will have good shot.

After successfully defending his IBO junior-bantamweight title by a unanimous decision over Ryan Rey Ponteras at the East London International Convention Centre on Friday night, reigning champion, Gideon “Hardcore” Buthelezi, said he had his September fight with Dewayne Beamon in mind when he battled it out against the Filipino boxer.

Elias Tshabalala, who trains reigning IBO junior-bantamweight champion Gideon “Hardcore” Buthelezi, is confident that the Boipatong-born boxer will emerge victorious when he defends his crown against Filipino boxer Ryan Rey Ponteras at the East London International Convention Centre tonight. Tshabalala is confident of victory even though he has admitted that Ponteras is a closed book to them. A win from tonight’s fight will give Buthelezi a chance to fight against Dewayne Beamon in North Carolina in the United States in September. But Tshabalala insists that their focus is wholly on tonight’s contest.

Long distance runner Mapaseka Makhanya says that while she has been left frustrated by the chaos caused by the controversial Athletics South Africa (ASA) selection criteria, she remains grateful for the opportunity to represent the country at next month's IAAF World Championships in London. Makhanya was named in the final 23-man squad to represent the country at the championships from August 4. She and Jenna Challenor achieved the IAAF qualifying standard of two hours, 45 minutes, missing out on the tougher A standard of two hours, 28 minutes set by ASA. Makhanya, who secured her qualification at the 2016 Shanghai Marathon, with a time of two hours, 37 minutes and 19 seconds, says her selection means a lot to her.

Reigning IBO junior-bantamweight champion, Gideon “Hardcore” Buthelezi, has other thoughts about Filipino boxer Ryan Rey Ponteras whom he meets in a title defence at the East London International Convention Centre on Friday. The 31-year-old Buthelezi reckons that altitude and climate might work in his favour against Ponteras. Speaking through an interpreter Ponteras has declared that he is in South Africa to capture the IBO belt away from the Boipatong-born champion.

Reigning International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior-bantamweight champion Gideon “Hardcore” Buthelezi, is unfazed as he is preparing to face Ryan Rey Ponteras from the Philippines even though he has admitted that he knows nothing about his Filipino opponent. Buthelezi, a former IBO minimum weight champion, will be out to defend his IBO junior-bantamweight title when he trades leather with the 27-year-old Ponteras at the East London International Convention Centre on Friday next week. Though the Boipatong-born southpaw admits that a closed book can be dangerous, he insists that a clever trainer can read the situation quicker for the benefit of his boxer. Buthelezi has a professional record of 19 victories (four KOs) and five losses compared to Ponteras’ record of 20 wins (nine KOs), a draw and 11 losses.

This weekend’s hockey action saw South African women’s and men’s hockey teams compete in the Hockey World League semi-final matches as the host nation at the Wits Hockey grounds in Johannesburg. The ladies played to a 0-0 draw against India in their opening match and the men’s game ended with a 2-0 loss for South Africa. While SA ladies coach Sheldon Rostron was disappointed with the draw, he was pleased with the fight shown by his team and says a top five finish is not out of reach.

Boxing South Africa (BSA) chief executive officer Tsholofelo Lejaka says his organisation is prioritising the growth of women’s boxing. Lejaka adds that the growth is going to happen in the form of tournaments, which will feature all-women bouts. With South Africa having only 41 professional women boxers compared to 746 male fighters, Lejaka says they want to see more females getting involved in the sport. The BSA boss is worried about the absence of South African boxers in prestigious world bodies like the WBO, WBC, WBA and IBF ratings.

Cycling South Africa President William Newman says the federation is proud of Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio’s achievements, on the international stage, saying she’s a great inspiration to young cyclists in the country. Last month, the Commonwealth bronze medallist moved up to the highest ever ranking for any South African woman cyclist, after climbing to a career best third in the Elite Women UCI Individual World rankings. Moolman-Pasio has enjoyed an incredible run of form on the world stage this year, recently finishing in the top ten at the Ovo Energy Women’s Tour. Her great showing on the road has her cushioned among the world’s top five ranked women in the world and Newman believes Moolman-Pasio has shown great class as an athlete by breaking into the top five.

Boxing South Africa (BSA) celebrated Youth Month with a difference as the organisation hosted a two-day seminar at Buffalo Park in East London. According to BSA chief executive officer (CEO) Tsholofelo Lejaka, the aim of the seminar, which started yesterday and ends today, is to empower boxers. Lejaka adds that boxers are faced with a lot of challenges, especially when it comes to substance abuse. As recent as this week, former SA featherweight and junior-lightweight champion Aphiwe Mboyiya was busted by the South African Institute For Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) after banned substances, furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide, were found in his urine sample, which was taken following his win over Sibusiso Zinganga in April this year.

South African male boxer of the year Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni says the non-payment of boxers could kill the popular sport in the country. Nomeva is still owed R1million by promoter Dicksy Ngqula, after he won the Premier Boxing League tournament in the Eastern Cape two years ago. In April last year, he did not receive his R100 000 for his ten-round lightweight scrap against Tanzanian Emilio Norfat, after he featured in the Sijuta Promotions tournament in which promoter Andile Sidinile failed to pay fighters for an event that took place in the Eastern Cape.

Veteran boxer and former IBF World Super featherweight champion Mzonke Fana believes that it is time to consider his future in the sport of boxing following yet another title fight loss last Friday, 16 June 2017. The 43-year-old Eastern Cape born fighter known as ‘The Rose of Khayelitsha’ as he now resides in Cape Town has lost his four of his last fights in and outside of the country. Fana holds a proud record of 51 professional fights, 38 wins and 13 losses with 16 of those 38 victories coming by way of Knock Out.

Swimming South Africa national Coach Graham Hill believes that the future of the sport looks bright in the country, heading into the Commonwealth games in Australia next year and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Japan. Only eight swimmers qualified for the FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary next month, but only three did not go to the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil which suggested that new swimmers are not breaking through. Hill’s confident words stems from the fact that more than twenty young swimmers managed to qualify for the FINA Youth World Champs in Indianapolis, USA to take place in August later this year. Hill had several young swimmers in his stable such as Erin Gallagher and Emily Visagie, who impressed at the recent national swimming championships in Durban. Hill believes the youngsters will be a force to be reckoned with in the near future.

Boxing South Africa chairperson Ntambi Ravele says the country needs prominent heavyweight boxers for the sport to return to its former glory. The sport was in the doldrums for many years when there were ongoing problems in the boardroom, which Ravele claims have since been resolved. There was a blackout from the South African Broadcasting Corporation for two years, until the public broadcaster made a return in 2014. The boxing awards also made a return early this year after a six-year absence.

South Africa’s top junior tennis player Bertus Kruger might have seen his golden run at the Junior French Open come to a disappointing end after going down to Oliver Crawford from the US who won 7-6, 6-4 this past week in Paris. However Kruger has since returned to South Africa and says the overall experience at the Roland Garros was his best so far in his fledgling career. On his way to reaching the last 32 of the boy's singles at the Junior French Open, the 82nd ranked Kruger recorded an impressive 6-3, 6-3 singles win over Rubio Fieros, from Mexico. In this tournament Kruger beat two players ranked in the top 50 before going down to the 10th seeded Crawford.

After three years of knocking on the door, the Jaguars have finally clinched their first Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League title on Sunday, after beating the North West Flames at the Mangaung Indoor Arena, in Bloemfontein. A dominant display from shooter Chrisna van Zyl and team captain Shadine van der Merwe led the Jaguars to a 49-43 win in their Premier League final. Jaguars coach Jenny van Dyk says it has been a tough four year search for them and they are thrilled to have finally stepped up to the number one spot.

Tennis South Africa (TSA) has formally endorsed Beach Tennis as a discipline and the governing body hopes with the time the discipline will be more competitive and that a national team to represent South Africa can be assembled in the near future. The rules are not too different from traditional tennis rules but the exception is that the ball cannot touch the ground. Smith says one cannot take away the fun element in the sport and he anticipates a lot of enthusiasm in this discipline.

The Gauteng Jaguars maintained their lead at the top of the Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League standings following their victories in the fourth round of the competition, which was played at the Bellville Velodrome at the weekend. On Friday the Jaguars battled to a 46-42 victory over the Southern Stings and followed that up with a 62-38 thrashing of Mpumalanga Sunbirds. They wrapped up their weekend play with a thrilling 67-38 victory over the EC Aloes. Jaguars coach Jenny van Dyk says she’s proud of their early season success. The Jaguars sit pretty on top with 12 points, with the Gauteng Golden Fireballs close behind on 10 points. Coach Van Dyk says the team understands that staying ahead of other teams won’t be easy and they’ll need to maintain their consistency, which has seen them do well enough to take an early lead in this year’s competition.

South African sprint king Akani Simbine’s exploits on the track continue to benefit him commercially and today he added another corporate company announcing a partnership with Condrac Communications. This is a precursor to a partnership between Simbine and Mercedes Benz South Africa through the AMG brand. Simbine has started the year on a bright note reclaiming the South African 100m title and also continuing running six sub 10 seconds. And now he’s reaping the benefits off the track. Whilst top SA athletes continue to attract good sponsors, the same cannot be said about the mother body Athletics South Africa (ASA). And this is affecting the development of athletics, Simbine believes that the corporate sector is now starting to notice the good work in athletics.

Lightweight boxer Jeffrey Nonhlanhla Magagane may have signalled his magnificent return following a point decision over Sinovuyo Tayi at Orient Theatre in East London last week. However, the boxer is still to convince pundits that he is back with a bang and will impress going forward. He is still being hunted by his only defeat in the hands of Ayanda Nkosi which cost him his Gauteng lightweight title crown.

Cape Town will be uniting again on Sunday 21 May as people from all walks of life gather together to run through the streets of the Mother City. The Cape Town 12 ONERUN celebrates everything Cape Town: The Vibe, the City itself, but most importantly the people. Founder of the race Michael Meyer says the Cape Town 12 is a lot more than just a race. It is about uniting people from all over the country and even the African continent.

Former Commonwealth and South African super middleweight champion Andre Thysse, has called on the boxing fraternity to fight for boxing to return to being the number one sport in South Africa. The former boxer turned promoter running Real Steel Promotions made the call following the passing of Nick ‘Mthakathi’ Durandt. Much like the late Durandt, Thysse who is also known for making bold calls in the game says it is time to fix the game and work together.

Tennis South Africa (TSA) has announced that they will be rebuilding women’s tennis as it is in an unhealthy state at the moment. TSA’s board member responsible for Women’s tennis Bridget Visee has this to say about the current state of women’s tennis. Visee says in line with the overall TSA strategy of encouraging greater participation in the sport she would like to see more women playing tennis especially the younger generation.

Eastern Cape MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Pemmy Majodina remembered the late Nick ‘Mthakathi’ Durandt as a community developer and a true champion in unearthing raw talent from the outskirts of the Eastern Cape. Majodina paid homage to the Durandt family and his Crusaders Bike Club, where he was serving as national President, on behalf of all Eastern Cape boxing licensee’s and the boxers. Majodina also called on the boxing fraternity not to cry but mobilize, celebrate a life well lived and take a leaf out of Durandt’s book.

South Africa boxing legend Dingaan ‘The Rose of Soweto’ Thobela was among thousands of mourners who gathered to pay their last respects to boxing legend Nick “Mthakathi” Durandt at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg today. Durandt, who was involved in boxing for 15 years, died in a motorbike accident on April 21. Durandt produced boxers such as; Thulani Sugar-Boy Malinga, Cassius ‘Hitman’ Baloyi, Philip “The Bomb” Ndou, Silence Mabuza, Geoffrey Mathebula, Zolani Tete and Moruti Mthalane. Speaking to SABC journalist Thando Gqamane, Thobela also extended words of comfort to Durandt’s son Damian.

One of South Africa’s fastest growing Cycling South Africa sanctioned mountain bike stage races, the Transcape MTB is set to undergo a revamp in terms of the route for 2018. Race director Darren Herbst has more about the race’s new innovations. With more and more South Africans taking up cycling as a leisure sport, there certainly is an opportunity for cycling enthusiasts to be more competitive. According to Herbst the new Transcape route will want to make riders fall in love with the countryside as the route will traverse small towns barely heard of and give riders a sense of adventure...

IBO (International Boxing Organization) flyweight champion Moruti “Baby Face” Mthalane is looking to defend his title, when he takes on Genesis Libranza from the Philippines at the Wembley Arena in Johannesburg on Friday night. Mthalane will be defending his title for the third time after he successfully defended it twice while he was still working under the late boxing hero Nick Durandt. The 34-year old has been starved of action after all his fights were cancelled at an eleventh hour last year, but is looking forward to the fight against the Philippine.

The executive Mayor of Polokwane Local municipality, Thembi Nkadimeng launched the 2017 Polokwane municipality Annual Mayoral road Race scheduled for 29 April 2017 and the annual Mayoral cycling Race taking place on 28 May respectively at the Peter Mokaba stadium on Monday, 24 April 2017. The event features the Comrades marathon qualifier, the mayor’s road race and, the 104km Cape Argus qualifier, the mayor’s cycling race and fun runs and cycling including walking. Registration was open as of Monday online (www.cycleevents.co.za), the municipality civic centre for walk-ins until the day of the events. Nkadimeng said the cycling race becoming a qualifier for Cape Argus is proof of the improvements in the event. The mayor also reveals that R300 000 has gone to prizes, with activities costing R2m.

After successfully defending her double national titles in the 400m and 800m in the South African Senior athletics championships in Potchefstroom this past weekend it’s understandably why many will be asking why Caster Semenya is not doubling at the IAAF World Championships later this year. But the Olympic champion says for the next few years she’s got no intention of doubling in major championships and has confirmed that in London later this year, she will only be focusing on her specialty, the 800m. Last year, Semenya made history when she became the first SA athlete to complete a triple at the SA nationals as she also won the 1500m title. She couldn’t do it this year but says for this coming weekend’s University Sport South Africa (USSA) athletics championships, she’s going to triple, in preparation for the IAAF Diamond League season.

2016 Rio Olympics double silver medallist Chad Le Clos wants to win the gold medal at the FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August. Le Clos shot into prominence at the 2012 London Olympics, when he won gold medal to stun the legendary and childhood hero Michael Phelps in the 200 metre butterfly event. The Cape Town based swimmer qualified in the four events for the world champs in the 100 and 200 metre butterfly, 100 and 200 metre freestyle events. He failed to win a gold medal at the Rio Olympics, but still managed to get double silver medals in the 100 metre butterfly and 200 metre freestyle races. He is looking to reclaim gold medal again in Hungary.

Newly crowned WBO bantamweight world champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete has paid tribute to the late boxing trainer and manager Nick Durandt who passed away on Friday in a bike accident in Clarens in the Free State. He was speaking after his arrival at the OR Tambo international this morning from the UK where he won the interim title on Saturday evening beating Filipino Arthur Villanueva on unanimous points decision. Tete worked briefly with Durandt after he lost to Moruthi Mthalane in the IBF flyweight world title fight in 2010. He says, he dedicated his fight and the unanimous points decision results to Durandt…

Wayde Van Niekerk, Akani Simbine and Anaso Jobodwana’s exploits at international level have profiled South Africa as a leading producer of sprinters on the African continent recently and an emerging one globally. It’s still too early to say SA can be mentioned on the same line as Jamaica and the US when it comes to sprinting. But this past weekend’s events at the SA senior championships in Potchefstroom where Van Niekerk won the 200m men’s national title in 19.90secs, proves that the country is on the right path according to the World and Olympic 400m champion. Teenager Clarence Munyai raised eyebrows last year when he won the 200m national title in Stellenbosch but it was a difficult and competitive field on Saturday as he couldn’t make the podium finish.

he star of Olympic silver medalist Luvo Manyonga continues to rise and shine on the athletics field. Earlier today Manyonga improved his own South African and Africa men’s long jump record when he leapt to a new record of 8.65m with his first jump in the final. He bettered his previous record that he set during the Athletics Gauteng North provincial meeting in Pretoria last month by 3cm. Last year Manyonga finished in a low position because of no jumps but this time he says he’s at another level. After breaking the record with his first jump, Manyonga who is currently carrying the world’s lead, stopped competing.

The world and Olympic 400m champion Wayde Van Niekerk has sent a strong message to his counterparts in the IAAF World Championships that his plan to double on the podium is not just an idea but reality. Van Niekerk won the 200m national title in 19.90 seconds at the conclusion of the two-day South African Senior championships at the McArthur stadium in Potchefstroom yesterday. This is the second fastest time by a South African in the 200m. Van Niekerk says this time proves why he’s right about doubling in London later this year…

In 2013 he was the first South African sprinter to dip under 10 seconds as he won his record sixth 100m national title in 9.98 seconds that year. Simon Magakwe made a return this afternoon to competitive athletics as he won his fifth heat in 10.40 seconds at the SA Senior Championships at McArthur stadium in Potchefstroom. In December 2013, the 30year-old was banned for two years after he refused a mandatory out of competition doping test by the IAAF. As he prepares to line-up in the semi-final and the final later today, Magakwe tells SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli that he nearly turned a professional footballer few months ago.

In its fourth year running, the Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League looks set to be more than just an eight week netball tournament by leaving a lasting legacy in women’s sport. Today Netball South Africa (NSA) in partnership with the sponsor, announced new features to the tournament, revealing that this year’s champions would get to travel to New Zealand to compete in the Super Club Championships. A new study programme was also introduced which will allow players within the league to further their studies. The beverage company’s Marketing Manager, Kudzi Mathabire had this to say. Since its inception back in 2014, the Netball Premier League has been instrumental in the growth of netball in the country. NSA’s President Mimi Mthethwa attested to this by saying the tournament has elevated the standard of netball in the country.

Top South African mountain biker Mariske Strauss says she’s still hungry for more titles in her cycling career and hopes to put out top performances in coming local events as she looks to book her spot in the World Championships in Australia, later this year. The current National Mountain Bike champion continued her dominance in the local scene at the weekend when she claimed victory at the second round of the 2017 SA National MTB Cup Series XCO at the Wolwespruit Bike Park in Tshwane. Strauss, who’s career best result so far is a second place finish at the 2013 Cross country World Cup in Malaysia, says her journey to the top took years of hard work and is fortunate to have a supportive structure behind her.

Following her victory over German’s Alesia Graf, the newly crowned World Boxing Federation (WBF) female bantamweight champion, Bukiwe Nonina will set her sight on the WBC silver title. The “Anaconda” beat Graf after 10 rounds on unanimous points decision in Cape Town late last month. She also became the boxer from Dutywa, Eastern Cape to win a world title. Nonina failed to win the WBC silver belt against Catherine Phiri in 2014 in Zambia, and will be gunning for revenge against the Zambian champion. The South African boxer of the year at some point held the SA title, which she defended successfully five times.

Swimming South Africa chief executive officer Shaun Adriaanse is impressed by how the inland provinces have performed at the on-going South African Schools Aquatics National championships in Polokwane. Adriaanse says one of the factors that can be credited for this improvement is the federation’s framework on everyone doing what they are supposed to do.

The annual SA National Aquatic championships ended in Durban this past Saturday, with many swimmers having achieved qualifying times to their respective world championships. Eight athletes managed to reach the FINA (world swimming federation) senior world championships in Budapest, Hungary later in July. Of those who qualified, five athletes took part at the Rio Olympics in Brazil last year, which shows that there is a lack of new talent coming through. What was encouraging was the fact that 24 young swimmers managed to reach the junior world championships which will take place in Indianapolis, USA later in August. The current President of African Swimming Confederation (CANA) Dr Sam Ramsamy says the future is bright with the many youngsters coming through.

In his first official outing as minister of Sport and Recreation Thembelani “Thulas” Nxesi opened the 2017 South African School National Aquatics championships in Polokwane on Sunday evening. All provinces except Northern Cape will compete in Limpopo’s capital from Monday until Thursday. Minister Nxesi admitted it’s a concern that learners from one province are missing on the activities however wasn’t happy with the racial representation which was majority white. Nxesi also believes that taking swimming to all parts of the country including predominantly rural provinces is one of the routes that can be used to make the code attractive to black people.

KIA South African doubles specialist Raven Klaasen and Ruan Roelofse overcame Slovenia’s Grega Zemlja and Tomislav Ternar in straight sets 7-6 (6) 6-2 6-4 to clinch an overall victory for South Africa in the Davis Cup at the Irene Country Club. With South Africa having clinched the tie 3-0, the reverse singles are effectively dead rubber as the team now stands a chance to play for promotion in September for a possible place in Euro/Africa Group I next year. SA’s double team were clear favourites but Klaasen says they did not expect it to be plain sailing but it went smoother than expected. Roelofse, who now stands at seven wins and no losses in Davis Cup ties was extremely proud of the team’s effort this weekend.

Polokwane City says it will travel with a bigger squad to Port Elizabeth for both the Nedbank cup last 16 encounter and the league match next week against Chippa United. The cup match is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium and the sides will meet again on Tuesday night at the same venue. City interim coach Bernard Molekwa reveals the side won’t be travelling back and forth as it could be taxing on the players.

Rio Olympic double silver medallist, Chad Le Clos has posted another qualifying time for the World Championship in Hungary later this year, at the SA National Aquatic Championships in Durban last night. Olympian Myles Brown also recorded a qualifying time in the 200m Freestyle race which was won by Le Clos. Meanwhile Rio Olympian silver medallist Cameron van der Burgh posted a qualifying time in the men’s 50m Breaststroke semi-finals in 27.06 seconds. Le Clos won the gold medal in the Men 200m Freestyle race in 1:46.48 seconds. He also posted the fastest time in the year in the discipline, and is pleased with that…

Two weeks ago, Gauteng North Championships earned a national and international status when the 100m final produced two sub-10’s. South Africa’s 100m record holder Akani Simbine, narrowly won the race in 9.92 seconds but a youngster by the name of Thando Roto was 0.03 seconds behind him. Roto who hails from Dimbaza, a small township between King William’s Town and Alice in the Eastern Cape is now officially the second quickest sprinter of all time in South Africa with his 9.95secs finish. As the athletes prepare for the Senior National Championships in Potchefstroom in two weeks time, the 21year-old tells SABC Sport reporter Velile Mbuli about his goal of running at the World Students Games and the IAAF World Championships later this year.

The men’s 100m final race at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Senior Championships in Potchefstroom between the 21st and the 22nd of this month, promises to be lit in the modern lingo. With more than four sprinters in South Africa having ran sub-10’s in the last few months, this could go down as one of the most exciting and competitive 100m in the country. Names like SA 100m record holder Akani Simbine, 100m national champion Henrico Bruintjies, 400m world and Olympic champions and world record holder Wayde Van Niekerk, the new sensation Thando Roto, 200m world bronze medalist Anaso Jobodwana and many more. It’s for this reason Simbine is leading the athletes’ call for the venue to be packed, through the #FillupPotch ‘s campaign. It’s not just the 100m final that promises to produce fireworks at the Seniors but also the 200m final where Simbine, Van Niekerk and Jobodwana are also likely to square up to each other. But it’s also the youngsters like Gift Leotlela, the 18year-old sprint sensation who are ready to pull off an asset. Clarence Munyai is the reigning 200m national champion having reigned supreme at the national championships in Stellenbosch last year. He also participated at the Rio Olympics last year and has more on why SA sprints are at another level currently.

Myles Brown became the third swimmer to qualify for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary later this year at the SA Aquatic Championships in Durban last night. He posted 1:47.51 seconds in the semifinals of the men’s 200m Freestyle ahead of Chad Le Clos on 1:49.47 seconds and Jarryd Baxter on 1:49.47 seconds. He will also be taking part in the 400m Freestyle race. Brown, who also took part at the Rio Olympics in Brazil last year was pleased with the qualification…

South African multiple Paralympic medalist Tyrone Pillay returned to action with an Impressive performance in as he claimed Gold in the Men’s Discus F42 category at the Nedbank National Championships for the Physically Disabled in Port Elizabeth yesterday. Pillay, who is taking part in his ninth national finals this year, says he is pleased with his performance upon his return from injury. After throwing 12.51m today, the reigning African and South African record holder (13.91m) Pillay, warned that this year he is looking to set the bar high and touch the 15m mark in preparation for the upcoming world championships. Reigning javelin world champion and Paralympic gold medalist Reinhardt Hamman believes that he is well on his way to finding his best form heading into the world championships in London. Albeit having struggle to clear 50m yesterday, Hamman says he feels that he is not too far from resetting the record books.

Entries for the 2017 Old Mutual Soweto Marathon have opened and with the “People’s race” being popular, the closing date has been set for 30 June. The chairman of the Soweto Marathon Trust, Sello Khunou has more. The race will take place on 5 November 2017 and the venue for the race remains the iconic FNB stadium for the second year running. This will be the location for both start and finish lines. The 2016 Soweto Marathon was a success beyond expectations and one of the best experiences for runners, largely due to the various parties that came on board to join the event sponsor like the SABC who are media partners.

Lesotho National Olympic and Commonwealth Games (LNOCG) secretary general Morake Raleaka says his organization is investing in weight-lifting athletes for the first time in preparation towards the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia as well as the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. He says the Olympic movement has introduced qualifications for the weight-lifters from the mountain kingdom. Releaka says Lesotho weight-lifters have shown immense improvement in recent times and that has prompted his organization (LNOCG) to inject funds into the weight-lifting sporting code. He says his organization will work with the Lesotho weight-lifting federation to promote the excellence among the weight-lifters. Releaka explains. Meanwhile Releaka says cycling is a high priority and one of the sporting codes his organization will be banging their hopes on in the medals stakes in the Commonwealth Games in Australia next year. Cycling remains one of the sporting codes that is showing high potential. The LNOCG secretary general says the Lesotho cycling team are currently on their way to Namibia to compete in the international terrain. Meanwhile Releaka says cycling is a high priority and one of the sporting codes his organization will be banging their hopes on in the medals stakes in the Commonwealth Games in Australia next year. Cycling remains one of the sporting codes that is showing high potential. The LNOCG secretary general says the Lesotho cycling team are currently on their way to Namibia to compete in the international terrain.

South African female boxer of the year Bukiwe Nonina is on the verge of winning a world championship belt. She will exchange blows with the German Alesia Graf for the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) bantamweight title at Khayelitsha Hall in Cape Town on Friday night. The South African has a record of ten wins, three defeats and one loss from fourteen bouts, while her experienced opponent has a record of 29 wins with five defeats from 34 bouts. The Giyani based 24-year old Nonina who bemoans a lack of competition in local boxing, is happy to be fighting for international title.

Cycling South Africa (CSA) has plans to launch an Elite International Road Cycling Stage Race to be held in South Africa in the first quarter of 2018. The event is expected to attract the world’s top professional teams to what is initially planned to be a six-day multi-stage race. Cycling SA Race Director Bosseau Boshoff said that the intention is for the event to attract World Tour teams and Pro Continental teams, the likes of Giro Italia, Vuelta a Espana and Tour de France riders. South Africans can look forward to seeing our very own Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka and our other International riders participating on home soil. Meanwhile in a striking blow for South Africa’s first ever L’Étape du Tour South Africa, CSA has announced that they are unable to sanction and endorse the event that is set to take place this Sunday. This is due to L’etape race organiser’s failure to furnish the National Federation with the required documentation, including the safety file, risk categorisation and road permissions by the deadline provided by Cycling SA.

Former mountain bike champion Brendon Davids said he was happy to have come out with great results at the weekend, especially in front of his friends and family. Davids took the overall series win at the KZN Summer Series for Men in Pietermaritzburg, after winning the two races in the event. On Saturday, he finished ahead of the pack, outriding teammates Kent Main and Clint Hendricks to take the overall victory. He followed that up with another thrilling performance on Sunday, winning the 135-kilometre race ahead of Main and Team BCX’s Calvin Beneke. The Cycle Challenge champion says he has set himself some lofty goals, adding he plans to race in Europe later this year, following in the footsteps of teammate Kent Main, who recently signed with Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka.

South African rider Daryl Impey claimed stage six of the Tour of Catalonia as Alejandro Valverde extended his overall lead to 53 seconds over Alberto Contador. Impey was clearly delighted with this win. Meanwhile Chris Froome fell out of contention after the three-time Tour de France champion plunged from second place to 31st after losing more than 26 minutes on the 189.7km stage from Tortosa to Reus. Spain's Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) took second place ahead of French champion Arthur Vichot (FDJ) to extend his overall lead. Italians Alessandro De Marchi and Dario Cataldo looked set to contest a two-man sprint after jumping away from the leading group 15km from the end but they were reined in within 50 metres of the line as Orica Scott's Impey surged ahead to clinch stage six.

There continues to be doubts about whether Athletics South Africa (ASA) will send a strong team to the IAAF World Relays in Bahamas next month. Earlier this year ASA announced that they would be sending a team to Bahamas but now the challenge is that this event is clashing with the South African Senior national championships in Potchefstroom from the 21st to the 22nd of next month. The national men’s 4x100m relay team produced a show at the final and fourth leg of the Speed Series event in Germiston last night but both Akani Simbine and Henrico Bruintjies seem to have made up their minds. Not turning up for Bahamas will not be a train smash for this relay team especially with the IAAF World Championships still to come in London later this year. Simbine says using the national champs to perfect this relay team could be another perfect option. Bruintjies is the national 100m champion and Simbine a national record holder with a total of 10 sub-10’s in the last three years. It was a showdown between the two last year in Stellenbosch and Bruintjies won over Simbine who was suffering from a hamstring injury. And he’s also determined to defend his title. Bruintjies is the national 100m champion and Simbine a national record holder with a total of 10 sub-10’s in the last three years. It was a showdown between the two last year in Stellenbosch and Bruintjies won over Simbine who was suffering from a hamstring injury. And he’s also determined to defend his title. Last night Bruintjies got out of the blocks, teenage prodigies Clarence Munyai and Gift Leotlela were at their best in delivering the handovers and Simbine as expected stormed down the home straight to finish in a good time of 38.47secs. All the athletes are in unison that the 100m race in Potchefstroom will be a real show…

An eight year-old South African long jump record tumbled last week and who else other than the Olympic silver medalist Luvo Manyonga to be the cause of that. Back in 2009, during the IAAF Super Grand Prix meeting in Madrid, Spain, Khotso Mokoena leapt to a new SA and Africa record of 8,50m. But Manyonga bettered it last Friday during the Athletics Gauteng North Championships in Pretoria, with a major 8,62m leap. Neil Cornelius is his coach and speaking to the SABC Sport today, he’s surprised they’ve managed to break this record so early into their 2017 programme. Following the success of Wayde Van Niekerk, winning the Olympic gold medal and breaking the 400m world record at the Olympics, Caster Semenya also returning with goal and the exploits of Akani Simbine finishing in the 100m top five in Rio. The track has been dominating the field events by far but Manyonga is hoping that he can help to swing the attention with his results.

The biggest names in the sport of Long Distance Triathlon will return to the Friendly City again in 2017 as the Ironman African Championship reaches new heights. On 2 April 2100 athletes will line up on Hobie Beach to tackle the course that starts with a 3.8km swim. The bike route changed in 2016 and the cycle leg will again consist of two 90km loops on which the participants will experience some breathtaking fews of Port Elizabeth. The race concludes with four loops along Marine Drive as the athletes experience a terrific vibe on the 42km run. Ironman African Championship race director Colleen Durant says they expect a very hard fought men's and women's race this year. The Ironman races over the world have grown in popularity over the last few years and as one of the toughest one day events in the world, the honour to be called an Ironman has become something that many strive for. Durant says taking part in an Ironman event will have a lifelong effect on your life. The South African full Ironman has been taking place in Port Elizabeth since 2004 and Durant says the City is a major reason why the event is so successful. Although the Easterly Beasterly wind, as it is affectionately known, causes the cycle race to feel that much tougher, the race has found a permanent home in Nelson Mandela Bay. The people in PE also come out in their thousands every year to cheer on and admire those who put themselves through a tough physical and mental test on the day. 80 000 people usually come out to support the athletes on particularly the run course, where arguably the athletes need it most, as they head into the home stretch. This year the all 17 hours of the Ironman African Championship will also be broadcast in South Africa and Durant says she hopes that it will encourage more people to take part in the future.

As the Nissan Easter Festival draws closer, reigning SA Outdoor Grand Prix champion Nicola Sime-Riley says we can expect a lot of surprises at this year’s event to be held at the Kyalami Equestrian Park from the eighth until the 17th of next month. Hot on the 2016 champion’s heels will be the 2012 and 2014 champion, Nicole Horwood, Dominey Alexander and Lorette Knowles-Taylor. Equestrian athletes from countries such as Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland, Zambia and Namibia will be joining the hundreds of South African riders who will be competing in a wide range of disciplines such as showing, equitation, dressage and showjumping. Having international riders is good for the event but Riley says the challenge with horse coming from elsewhere is the Horse Sickness disease. On board this year, and his first time building in South Africa, is FEI Level 3 course designer Marco Behrens from Germany who has built 1m60 tracks around the world including Germany, Emirates, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Riley says having builders from elsewhere helps build excitement.

South African middle distance specialist Mapaseka Makhanya says she has prioritized the longer marathon distance as her focus this year. Makhanya was named in Athletics South Africa’s preparation squad for the IAAF World Championships in London later this year. If selected in the final squad, she will represent South Africa in the marathon event. In efforts to bolster her running career, Makhanya recently moved to Potchefstroom to join forces with Olympic medallist Caster Semenya’s coach Jean Vester. The Soweto-born runner is fresh from taking part in the 3000meters at the third leg of the South African speed series in Potchefstroom. There she was outsmarted by Semenya, who won the race in a new personal best of nine minutes, 36.29 seconds. Makhanya, who finished fourth, says she was not disappointed by the result because she was using the race as speed preparation ahead of a bumper season.The versatile runner, who has also proven her worth over the shorter 10km distance, after winning the women’s 10km Grand Prix title in 2013, says she welcomes the changes made ahead of the Grand prix series this season and looks forward to tough competition among the runners.

The Epic, often referred to as the Tour de France of Mountain Biking, will take place from 19 to 26 March in the Western Cape and will once again see professional mountain bikers as well as amateurs test themselves in one of the world's most challenging races. The route will see the riders tackle roughly 700km and 15 000m of accumulated climbing over the Western Cape's most magnificent mountain passes. Spokesperson for the Cape Epic, Chris Whitfield, says this year's race will be as tough as ever.

South Africa’s Sports and Recreation minister Fikile Mbalula has expressed disappointment on behalf of government with the manner in which the Commonwealth Games Federation had decided not to allow Durban to host the 2022 event. The CGF announced on Monday that it was searching for a new Commonwealth Games host because the chosen city did not meet the criteria set by the organisation. Addressing a press conference in Durban on Tuesday, Mbalula did not agree with the CGF decision, but said they will respect it and move on.

For the first time in 40 years the Cape Town Cycle had to be cancelled due to a number of factors, of which the strong winds was the biggest. About 35 000 people from all over the world were preparing to take on the 109 kilometer race which would have taken the cyclists through some of the world's most spectacular scenery. Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust Marketing, Media and Sponsorship Director David Bellairs, read out the statement released by the race directors at a media conference earlier today. The Cape Town Cycle Tour is made possible through a number of sponsors who have thrown their support behind the race. The cancelation will be a big blow to these sponsors, while other charities also raise money through the race. Bellairs says the sponsors backed their decision to cancel the race and added that they simply had no other choice. The Cycle Tour was celebrating it's 40th year and in past editions the main talking point was usually the wind. But never before had the race have to be cancelled altogether. Many people came from all over the country and even other parts of the world for the iconic race, and although a number of people were understanding of the cancelation, some were determined to be reimbursed for their entry. Bellairs says that when cyclists enter the race they agree that if the race is cancelled due to safety reasons they won't get their entry fee back and added that the race will be back in 2018.

South African long-distance runner Irvette van Zyl says she has mixed feelings over the inclusion of foreign athletes in the Spar women’s 10km Grand Prix series challenge. Event organisers recently announced changes to the annual women’s event, opening it to international athletes, who would now qualify for Grand Prix incentives. This change comes after the event was largely dominated by local runners for over ten years. The defending champion says she doesn’t believe the addition of foreign athletes will benefit the popular local series, but also feels it gives her added motivation to keep the title in South Africa. She recently opened her 2017 campaign with a disappointing performance at the Barcelona Half-Marathon in Spain where she finished ninth in a time of one hour, 12 minutes and 36 seconds. She says the event gave a good indication of her current form and helped her identify areas that need improving ahead of a packed schedule this year. The Olympic marathoner says while she looks to improve her time over the shorter distances this year, her main focus will be defending her titles in the women’s 10km Grand Prix series and the Two Oceans half marathon.

South African Sprinter Akani Simbine says that the Men 4 x 100 metre relay team is ready for the IAAF World Relay athletics Championships later this year. The event will take place in the Nassau, Bahamas on the 22nd to the 23rd of April. The 23-year old is likely to spearhead the team with the likes of Henricho Bruntjies. Simbine had a great year in 2016 after he finished fifth in the 100 metre final at the Rio Olympics with a time of 9.94 seconds. The race was won by the legendary Usain Bolt from Jamaica. The Information Science student at Tuks also broke the SA national record in 100 metres with a time of 9.89 seconds in South Korea last July. He is hoping to improve on is personal best in 100 and 200 metre events, and to do well at the World athletics Championships in London later this year.

For a change there hasn’t been recycling of coaches in South African football. Orlando Pirates announced their new head coach Kjell Jonevret from Sweden this morning, he comes in to replace Muhsin Ertugral who resigned from the club after they lost 6-1 to Supersport United in November last year. He’s got a daunting task of turning the fortunes of Pirates around, as they have now gone nine matches without a win in all competitions. But the 54year-old who has signed a three year deal at Pirates was quick to acknowledge that this won’t be a quick fix job. Jonevret who has been coaching in his home country and Norway since he started sitting on the bench 24years ago, is getting his first job outside those two countries. He’s not only coming outside Europe for the first time but will be getting first time exposure in African football, what’s his state of readiness for that adjustment. . One of his challenges at Pirates is to sort the leaking defense, they have the worst defensive record in the league having concede 27 goals, and fortunately Jonevret has identified this area as the primary focus

Kaizer Chiefs’ return to the top of the Absa Premiership table, following their 1-0 win over Highlands Park in Durban over the weekend, has rekindled strong title winning ambitions again at the club. According to Amakhosi stalwart Tsepo Masilela, who has won two PSL titles with Chiefs since his return from overseas in 2012, winning more titles is enough motivation for his side to challenge for the title this season. Masilela believes that the current crop of Chiefs players still have their own history to write and titles to win in the near future. The Glamor Boys have now won five PSL matches on the trot, a winning streak dating back from their last two games before the lengthy December break due to the 2017 AFCON. The former Maccabi Haifa and Getafe CF defender emphasized the importance of rediscovering their winning culture. Masilela, who turns 32 in May, is yet to sign a contract extension with the Naturena Chiefs Village side with his current contract coming to an end at the end of the season. Having played professional football for over 10 years with stints in Israel and Portugal, Masilela says he would not mind finishing his career at Chiefs.

The five man shortlist for the vacant Bafana Bafana coaching post is out and Timeslive.co.za reported yesterday that Iran and former Bafana head coach Carlos Queiroz, two times African Nations Cup winning coach Herve Renard top the list of the five candidates. SAFA last week announced an 11-member search committee that includes four former Bafana stars Lucas Radebe, Neil Tovey, Benni McCarthy and Helman Mkhalele and they’re responsible for this short-listing. It’s believed that they met on Sunday and came up with this five-man shortlist. SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli has compiled this report

Bidvest Wits are through to the next round of the CAF Champions League qualifiers after beating SS St-Louisienne 3-1 at the Bidvest Stadium on Saturday night making the tally of the two legged game (4-3) on aggregate, in their favour. “The Clever Boys” will now face eight times CAF Champions League winners, Al Ahly in their next round of qualifying games and if they win, they go through to the group stages. “The Students” manager, Gavin Hunt says that the big stage has now been set and that they are looking forward to playing against “The Red Devils”, but he also just wants to focus on the league games. Hunt says that because of the size of his team, he needs to be careful with his squad while he plays the balancing act between the domestic league and the CAF Champions League. The talented tactician says that although they won the MTN 8 this season, they really have not won or done anything else however they are in the process of changing the clubs history.

Andy Birkett cruised to a convincing victory to clinch the 2017 Dusi title at Blue Lagoon in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday. Birkett who led the race from start to finish‚ won in a time of just over eight hours 32 minutes. The seven time winner was delighted to have overcome gruelling conditions to take the victory. Birkett is now tied on seven Dusi titles with the ‘Dusi Duke’ Martin Dreyer. Birkett who has been reigning champion for four consecutive races since 2014 to 2017 says winning is always amazing. Birkett win was almost flawless as even his closest Rival Sbonelo Khwela was not any near upstaging him throughout the race but he remained modest about this feat and he says he will take some time off to relax before turning focus on World Marathon Championships...

Makhetha Mazibuko is on everyone’s lips after he almost registered his biggest victory in his career on the Sunshine Tour last week. He almost won PGA Championship only to surrender it to Erik van Rooyen in a playoff following a three-way tie on 16-under with Dylan Frittelli in regulation. He hopes to continue from where he left off when tees-off in George for this weeks Dimension Data. Mazibuko, who’s a product of the South African Development Board (SADB) before earning a scholarship to the Ernie Els Foundation, ironically where the Dimension Data is taking place this week. The highly motivated Botshabelo born lad says course knowledge will definitely come in handy.Meanwhile, the 29 year-old says following the heroics at the PGA Championship everyone will be looking to prove a point against him but even that does not bother him. Nevertheless, Mazibuko who was bidding to become the first player of colour to win a Sunshine Tour summer swing event, the PGA Championship, came within whiskers of that feat. He held a one-stroke lead heading into the last hole, but was deprived by a bogey on the 18th after he miss judged his shot. Here’s Mazibuko as he reminisces.

The 2017 Dusi Canoe Marathon takes place this week with 2012 London Olympic Games medallist Bridgitte Hartley amongst the favourites in her first competitive attempt on the race. The 33-year-old, who won a bronze medal in the K-1 500 meters race at the global spectacle just under five years ago, has been better known as a sprint racer over the years. But she has been working hard to try and change disciplines as she attempts to win one of the world’s most popular river marathons. Hartley is looking forward to the three day race, which begins at Camps Drift in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday, 16th February 2017.

South African middle-distance runner Stephen Mokoka is excited that the World Cross Country Championships will be held in Africa for the first time since 2007. The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) organised event will take place in Uganda capital city Kampala next month (March). Mokoka is part of the preliminary team announced by Athletics South Africa (ASA) last month that will compete at the global event.

It’s been four months at the helm and Tennis SA new CEO Richard Glover believes his proposed growth plan for tennis in South Africa over the next eight years should be to focus on three key areas namely interest, participation and high performance. One of the crucial strategies is to build up the SA Open from being a challenger event with a goal of growing it into an ATP event. Glover hopes to rebuild Tennis SA’s relationship with the Department of Sports and Recreation as an important stakeholder.

Tennis South Africa (TSA) has announced the City of Cape Town as a host to the 2017 International Tennis Federation (ITF) Young Seniors World Team and Individual Championships from the 19th of next month until th 1st of April. The ITF Young Seniors World Team Championships is the highest ranked event on the Seniors Circuit for male and female players in the age categories of 35-45 and is set to build the enthusiasm in a sport that received a new lease of life since new board members and leadership took to the helm. The Mother City will have to brace itself for some exciting tennis action as there will be 86 teams from 26 countries represented in the Mother City. Tennis South Africa CEO Richard Glover says launching tournaments of this magnitude works towards meeting the strategic objectives they have to improve the sport.

Tennis legend Wayne Ferreira was thrust into a consultancy role as the SA Davis Cup team beat Estonia 4-1 in a Euro Africa Group II tie this weekend. South Africa has been struggling to make World Group and Ferreira says it is important to start tapping into the knowledge of former greats to improve the game and he has already begun these conversations with Tennis SA CEO Richard Glover. At the peak of his career, Ferreira reached top ten singles ranking in the world along with his 15 major titles. The US based great says SA Davis Cup Captain Marcus Ondruska was a major factor in him coming to join the SA team. Ondruska believes former players like Ferreira are a great resource for our current crop of tennis players to tap from. With a capacity crowd at Irene Country Club, Ferreira says this shows that the enthusiasm for tennis is still there and that should be the basis to rebuild the momentum and take the sport forward.

South African Netball team will continue with the third leg of the Quad Series programme, when they take New Zealand Ferns in England on Sunday. The Proteas lost all their two matches last week to England and Australia. But they will take heart in the way they lost narrowly in overtime against the fully professional teams English Roses, and also by going down to the Aussies by a lowest margin ever. Coach Norma Plummer says they are looking to keep on improving against the All Blacks. The Proteas, who are semi professionals are ranked fifth behind Australia, New Zealand, England and Jamaica. The Australian-born coach Plummer says their ambition is to get to the fourth spot in the rankings. Some of the Protea players will go and play abroad for several months in the super leagues in the world. Stand in captain Bongi Msomi will play in England, Lenize Potgieter will play in New Zealand and Karla Mostert will head to Australia. Plummer says if she had her way she would take all the players abroad.

Netball South Africa Chief Executive Officer Blancha de la Guerre is impressed with the improvement made by the national team at the recent third leg of the Quad Series in Durban. The semi-professional Proteas showed tremendous progress, when they drew with England 48-all in regulation time on Saturday, only to lose 60-55 in overtime. Last night they lost to fully professional Australia 62-46 in their final match, but should be proud of their efforts because they were defeated by the smallest margin ever against the world champions. SA have improved in leaps and bounds ever since the Australian-born coach Norma Plummer took over the coaching reins in 2015. The 72-year old mentor coached Australia to gold medals at the world cup in 2007 and 2011, and also boost an impressive record of 67 victories in 89 tests. De la Guerre says they are privileged to have a quality coach on board.

South African Netball national team lost 62-46 to Australia in a Quad Series match played at the Chief Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban last night. This was the second match the Proteas lost in the series after they narrowly went down to England 60-55 in overtime on Saturday. The Proteas started poorly and trailed 17-9 in the first quarter. The gap widened during half time when they were behind by 31 to 20 goals. But the hosts showed improvement in the last quarter despite being outscored by 17 to 16 goals in the final quarter. Proteas coach Norma Plummer was pleased with the results despite the defeat.

Mpumalanga top golf prospect Eugen Marugi has won the fight against substance abuse and alcohol, to make a fresh start to his golf career. The 32 years-old Marugi resurfaced from abyss with a borrowed set of golf club to roll back the years when he carded an almost blemish free round of 6-under 66 in the final round and took his tally to minus seven at the Vusi Ngobeni Open last week. The forever-humble Marugi was happy to get his playing privileges back and he said he cannot wait to rub shoulders with old pals at the Sunshine tour.

South Africa netball national team coach Norma Plummer is confident that her deep knowledge of the Australian team will help her team to prevail over them, when they meet in the Quad Series at the International Convention Centre in Durban tomorrow evening. Plummer was in charge of the Australian diamonds in a highly successful period from 2003 until 2011, when she recorded 67 victories in 89 tests. The Australian-born coach was replaced by the current coach Lisa Alexander. The 72-year old has coached most of the Australian players and knows their strengths and weaknesses.

400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk believes that Usain Bolt’s Olympic gold medal loss will not tarnish anything he has achieved and done for track and field in his illustrious career as the fastest man ever. The 30-year-old Bolt was recently stripped off his 2016 Rio Olympics 4x100m relay gold medal after Jamaican long time teammate Nesta Carter had tested positive for banned substances. Van Niekerk, who has become good friends with Bolt since his rise to stardom, says Bolt has set the bar to new heights and no one can take any credit away form what he has done. The reigning world and Olympic champions, Van Niekerk, reaffirmed his ambitions of running short distance sprints as well adding the 100 and the 200m to his event as well. Speaking to SABC Sport Journalist Thando Gqamane at the Adidas Creator Squad Training Experience in Cape Town, Van Niekerk says he is committed to the process. With South Africa brimming with young budding sprinters in the likes of Gift Leatlelo, Clarence Munyai, Henrico Breintjies, to mention a few, Van Niekerk says he is ready for the extra push on the track. He also calls on South Africans to get behind the country’s young sprinters and support them.

Alwande Skhosana’s coach Khotso Matshego says he is happy with this player’s performance against some top juniors. On the way to the semis, Skhosana had to play two tough matches plus some doubles matches and his highlight in France has been his convincing victory over Brazilian Jucelio Torcuato Da Silva winning 6-1 6-2 to storm into the semis. The Cruyff Foundation Junior Masters is named after the late Dutch football legend Johan Cruffy to give children the opportunity to play and be active. Cruffy succumbed to cancer almost a year ago (March 2016). Matshego says the Junior Masters have been beneficial for Skhosana’s game as he transitions to the men’s division.

South African wheelchair tennis top junior Alwande Skhosana did the country proud as he made it up to semi final stage of Cruyff Foundation Junior Masters played in Tarbes, France losing 7-5 6-1 to Rubén Spaargaren of the Netherlands. Skhosana sums up his experience and performances in France. Skhosana says he would like to share this experience with the juniors kids back in South Africa and he hope the Cruffy Junior Masters comes to South Africa.

Newly crowned South African Male Boxer of the year Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni is bracing himself for some big and life changing fights in 2017. Ndongeni a former South African lightweight champion and current IBO lightweight world champion beat Zolani Tete and stable mate Simphiwe Khonco to this main award at the Boxing South Africa’s awards held at the Chief Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban on Friday night. Reflecting on winning this award, Ndongeni says in the last few years he’s been making history. Ndongeni recently fought in California, in the US and beat Mexican boxer Juan Mendez on unanimous points decision. The Mount Frere born lad is looking to more international fights in that much sought after market. Former IBF junior bantamweight world champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete was seen as the overwhelming favourite to win the main award but only ended up going home with the knockout of the year award. He was obviously disappointed by the perceived snub. When he retired from boxing last year, many thought Nick Durandt was joking and he was going to reconsider his decision but he’s kept his word. After decades serving the sport of boxing, he earned himself a double on the night as he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award and the Chairperson’s special award. The flamboyant former boxing trainer and manager was philosophical after getting these awards. SA female bantamweight queen Bukiwe “Anaconda” Nonina deservedly took home the female boxer of the year award beating Leighandre “Baby Lee” Jegels and Sharadene 'Shinzo' Fortuin to this award. Nonina, who hails from Idutywa in the Eastern Cape, is hungry for more success on the boxing ring after getting this award.

The return of the Boxing South Africa awards for the first time in seven years, is also part of rebranding and repackaging of the sport, to make it more attractive to the market. This was said by Boxing SA CEO Tsholo Lejaka last night, as he prepares for his first major project in his bid to turn around the fortunes of this once mighty sporting code in SA. The awards take place at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) tonight and will be aired live on SABC 2 starting at 21:30. Lejaka looks back at the road map that paved the way for the return of these awards. BSA last held these awards in 2010, the TV blackout also contributed to this because the sporting code was cash strapped and couldn’t afford to run most of the projects they used to have. Lejaka, who comes from the Department of Sport where they had also revived the SA Sports awards, says it wasn’t an easy decision to bring back these awards. SA boxing has also been facing serious challenges inside the ring, where very few credible world champions (WBC, WBO, WBA or IBF) are being produced. Currently not a single SA boxer holds any of these above mentioned belts but Zolani Tete is inline for a WBO title fight this year. Lejaka is hoping that the return of these awards will also improves the competitiveness of their boxers.

SA women’s hockey goalkeeper Sanani Mangisa has announced her retirement from international duties. She says after 112 national team caps, 2 Olympics and World Cup appearances plus 10 years of commitment to the women’s national team, it is time for her to move on and pave the way for up and coming youngsters.With a number of international matches including the World Leagues semis that South Africa hosts later in July, the SA national women’s team will head into the rest of 2017 without the calming, stabilising presence of the 29 year old goalie. Already, the team has been missing her from the Cape Town Summer Series which is currently underway in Hartleyvale.

England’s netball coach Tracey Neville believes South Africa are showing signs of good development under coach Norma Plummer ahead of their Quad Series opener on Saturday. The two sides meet at the Durban International Convention Centre at 5pm with the hosts seeking a first-ever win over the third-ranked English Roses. The Proteas are ranked fifth in the world and have been constantly improving since Australia’s former World Cup-winning coach Plummer took charge in June 2015. Neville says their progress is no secret. The January 28-31 series, which also includes top-two ranked nations Australia and New Zealand, is the part of a recent partnership known as SANZEA, with Durban being the second leg. The Proteas are yet to win a match in the competition and generally have a poor record against the top-ranked nations. But Neville expects things to start changing, especially with some South African players plying their trade overseas. Captain Bongiwe Msomi and her deputy Karla Mostert as well as the injured Maryka Holtzhausen all spend some time abroad, which the England coach feels is crucial. After their opening game on Saturday, South Africa will go on to play Australia on Tuesday night at 7pm. When the Proteas faced England in the first leg of the Quad series, they lost 57-44 in a match they lead 8-0 at one stage. Neville recalled that clash and competition, admitting they were slightly fortunate to have beaten South Africa. Now she is targeting an improvement for her girls.

World Boxing Association (WBA) Pan African light flyweight champion Hekkie Budler says he and Simphiwe Khonco deserve to win the Male fight of the year award at the South African Boxing awards. The awards will return for the first time in seven years on Friday night at the Durban International Convention centre. The two little fighters produced one of the most memorable fights in recent years, which was won by Budler unanimously on points. The two have since become stablemates and are now good friends. The former WBA and International Boxing Organisation (IBO) minimum weight champion is preparing for a fight against Joey Canoy from the Phillipines on the 4th of February in Kempton Park. The two will be slugging it out for the vacant IBO light-flyweight title. Budler, who did not have a Christmas break, is looking forward to the fight.

Netball South Africa President Mimi Mthethwa is hoping the Proteas netball team can cause an upset and win the upcoming Quad series in Durban. The third leg of the series featuring the Proteas, New Zealand, Australia and England, will kick off from the 28th until the 31st of this month. The first two legs took place in Australia and New Zealand last year. The fifth ranked Proteas will be the underdogs against Australia, who are ranked first in the world, New Zealand are ranked second, with England third. But the Proteas are coached by vastly experienced Australian-born 72-year old coach Norma Plummer. Three Protea players will go to play overseas immediately after the tournament. Captain Bongi Msomi will head to England, top goal shooter Lenize Potgieter will move to New Zealand and Karla Mostert will go to Australia. There is an agreement between the countries to release the SA players whenever the country needs them. Mthethwa says this will improve the sport in the country. Mthethwa further elaborated on the under-21 world cup in July. She says it will be the second most important event for Netball SA after the Quad series, and also encouraged fans to attend the event in large numbers. The Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League will return again this year. At least 10 teams will once again battle to become the very best in SA, with two from Gauteng and one representative from the rest of the provinces. Mthethwa says this year it will be hosted in Durban, Cape Town with the semifinals and finals in Bloemfontein, the home of the champions for the past three years.

South Africa’s top wheelchair tennis junior Alwande Skhosana has jetted off to take part in the 2017 Cruyff Foundation Junior Masters to be played in Tarbes, France from 26-29 January. The tournament will include eight of the top ranked junior boys and four of the top ranked junior girls. Skhosana was delighted to be going abroad and mentioned the two players he desires to play against. Skhosana is an exciting prospect and has been tipped to reach the heights of his predecessors Lucas Sithole, Evans Maripe and Kgothatso “KG” Montjane. He gives a background of how his love for wheelchair tennis began and how he is inspired by the three popular leaders in this sporting discipline.

South African swimming legends are determined to be involved in the development and coaching in the country. These are the words expressed by Swimming South Africa President Allan Fritz. The four time Olympian and American based Roland Schoeman, who has also won a gold, silver and bronze medals at the quadrennial games is looking to set up an academy to unearth young swimmers, as well as another Olympian and gold medallist and Canadian based Penny Heyns and Lyndon Ferns, who also won gold at the Olympics. Meanwhile, South Africa has been punching above its weight in major competitions when it comes to competing with the best in the world. The likes of Chad Le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh have done well for the country bringing medals at the Olympics and Commonwealth games. Fritz says this has been achieved despite the shoe string budget compared to countries such as Great Britain, USA and Australia.Only van der Burgh and Le Clos won medals at the Rio Olympics last year. It was a disappointing return in a team which brimmed of talent and oozed confidence. American based Brad Tandy managed to reach the final in the 50 metre freestyle event, but the likes of Christopher Reid, Myles Brown, Jarred Crous and Sebastien Rosseau failed to even reach the final. Fritz is confident those youngsters will peak for the Commonwealth games and the next Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. There has been an argument about where is the best place to prepare competitive local swimmers, either locally or abroad. Le Clos and van der Burgh are based in Cape Town, while Reid, Tandy and others are based in America in the colleges. Fritz is convinced that local swimmers are better equipped to compete on a global stage.

Netball South Africa President Mimi Mthethwa says it is important for the national team to be exposed to high quality international matches. The Proteas, who are ranked fifth in the world, will campaign in the third leg of the Netball Quad Series, which will take place from the 28th until the 31st of this month at Durban’s International Convention Centre. The tournament will feature the world and Commonwealth champions Australia, who are also ranked number one in the world. New Zealand and England, who are ranked second and third respectively will also take part in a series nicknamed SANZEA. The first two legs of the series were played in New Zealand and Australia last year, with the competition to be held in South Africa and England this year. The opening matches on the 28th will be between New Zealand Ferns and Australian Diamonds, a mouth-watering encounter between two giants of world netball (kick-off 3pm). This will be followed by the battle of flowers featuring the Proteas and the English Roses (kick-off 5pm). The final match on the 31st will feature the Proteas against the Diamonds (kick-off 7pm). Mthethwa says the preparations are going well. Proteas head coach Norma Plummer selected the same team which played in the first two legs down under. The team will jet into Durban tomorrow (18th January) ahead of their training camp. The Australian born Plummer will be assisted by Nicole Cusack and also joined by Dumisani Chauke, who is the former Protea and the current under-21 assistant coach. Mthethwa says they did not change the team for the sake of continuity. Durban has been chosen to host the series to serve as a dress-rehearsal for the Commonwealth games, which will take place in the city in 2022. The Kwazulu-Natal city has already hosted other major international events such as the Rugby, cricket and football world cup. Mthethwa is grateful of the support they are getting from the relevant stakeholders.

Chippa United coach Dan Malesela is happy that his star midfielder Thami Sangweni and striker Rhulani Manzini have signed three-year extensions to their contracts as their initial deals with the Chilli Boyz were set to expire at the end of the season. Malesela reckons the fact that Sangweni and Manzini have extended their contracts with the team shows that the Chilli Boyz are serious about challenging for honours. Meanwhile, Malesela has explained the confusion regarding who the skipper of the team is between Sangweni and James Okwuosa, who wore the captain’s armband until their match against Ajax Cape Town before the Christmas break. The 51-year-old Malesela explains why they decided to release 22-year-old left-back Simphiwe Mtsweni without him getting any game time at the Chilli Boyz.

SA Davis Cup doubles specialist Raven Klaasen says 2016 has been the best year of his career after the King William’s Town tennis player reached a career best 12th ranking in ATP doubles rankings and also reaching the ATP world tour finals alongside his partner from the USA, Rajeev Ram. In the meantime, Klaasen is back at his place of birth, Cape Town and he says he is currently enjoying time off from the sport that he loves but he added that his downtime will be limited to 10 days as he has to start training for a new season ahead. The 34 year old has been fortunate enough to have struck a great combination with his partner Ram as he has played with the US national for over a decade on ATP tours and took time to praise the decision by Tennis South Africa to make Irene Country Club the official venue for Davis Cup matches.

After an eight year absence, the Boxing SA (BSA) awards return to the boxing calendar and nominations for the prestigious awards were today announced in Johannesburg, with 18 categories represented in the shortlists. Bukiwe Nonina was nominated alongside Lianda Jeggels and Sharodine Fortuin in the Female Boxer of the Year category, with the winner scheduled to be announced on January 25, at a glittering awards ceremony at the Durban ICC. Nonina’s nomination comes after she enjoyed a great year in which she made history by being the first ever female boxer to claim the ownership of Boxing SA’s belt, this after she successfully defended her South African bantamweight belt five times. Nonina says she’s happy to be among the nominees and confidently believes she’ll take home the title next month. The 24-year-old boxer, who hails from Idutywa in the Eastern Cape and trained in Giyani, Limpopo by Emmanuel Neluonde, says she’s not threatened by the competition she faces and believes she has more clout over the other boxers on the list. The boxer who made her professional debut in 2011 says she endured a challenging 2016 after most of her fights were cancelled in the last hour, but despite the disruptions, she’s happy to have kept her focus and successfully defended her title twice this year. Nonina will be gunning for a world title early next year and says she’s working around the clock to make sure she’s fit and ready to be crowned world champ. And while Nonina looks for greater success in the sport, she equally hopes that the female game in South Africa will also improve. In efforts to improve the sport for female boxers in the country, Nonina has called for all playing fields to be levelled, where female boxers enjoy the same privileges as their male counterparts.

Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk believes that South Africa has got so much potential in athletics especially in track and field. Van Niekerk won the 400 metre race in style at the 2016 Rio Olympics when he broke the long standing 17 year old world record of the Legendary American Michael Johnson. Track and field brought four medals out of ten accumulated by Team South Africa in Rio, and also dominated major awards at the South African Sports awards. Van Niekerk says more youngsters needs to be unearthed to take the country forward. The 24-year old had an incredible year after he was voted the best male athlete at the Rio Olympics by the Association of National Olympic Committee. He staved off a challenge from the likes of Usain Bolt and Mo Farah. He admitted that he was stunned with the recognition. Van Niekerk recently launched a foundation called Wayde Dreamer Foundation. It is aimed at setting up initiatives throughout the country, that will enable and support young people to achieve their dreams by exploiting their talents. The foundation is based on the intergration of physical health, mental strength and spiritual balance and the use of those elements to nurture talent. The African champion is held in high esteem by the renowned sprinter Bolt, who has dominated 100 and 200 metres at the Olympics since Beijing edition in 2008. The Jamaican beat Van Niekerk for the IAAF male World athlete of the year. Van Niekerk also trained with Bolt in the build up to the Olympics. The Bloemfontein-based sprinter recently returned to training after his exploits at the Olympics. He has started to prepare for the national events next year and most importantly the World athletics championships in London. He had a difficult year suffering from injuries but he is hoping to go big next year.

Paralympic silver medalist Ntando Mahlangu says his ultimate dream is to become an engineer when he finishes his studies. The Mpumalanga athlete won silver medal for Team South Africa at the Rio Paralympics in the men’s T42 event, when he cruised to a time of 23.77 seconds, only being beaten by British sensation Richard Whitehead. He achieved a personal best and an African record in the process. The 14-year-old might be the biggest star in the Paralympics after convicted killer Oscar Pistorious, but for him athletics is not the main priority.

It’s been years since the SABC last showed live an international boxing tournament from outside South Africa and this weekend that will come to an end. The TKO boxing programme will broadcast live Ali Funeka’s WBO Inter-continental Welterweight title fight against New Zealander Jeff Horn from the Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand this coming Saturday. This fight will be the main supporting bout to the much-anticipated WBO heavyweight title fight between US’s Andy Ruiz-Jnr and US based New Zealander Joseph Parker. Funeka’s promoter Ayanda Matiti of Xaba Boxing promotions has more on how he managed to secure this title fight. Funeka is a veteran of 21 years in professional boxing having first fought at the top level back in 1995. He recently returned victorious on a split decision where he beat a local Vikshan Murzabekov. Matitit sees this weekend’s tournament as a Las Vegas bill but in New Zealand. It’s been more than a decade since SABC last broadcast a top international boxing tournament but this weekend SABC 2 viewers on Saturday morning can look forward to some interesting bouts according to Matiti. At age 38, Funeka will be fighting a boxer who is 10 years younger than him and unbeaten but like’s he’s proven in the past, the man from Tshabo Village, just outside Berlin in the Eastern Cape is prepared to surprise many. Funeka has fought some big bouts in his career, in one particular night in in 2009 he could’ve easily been an owner of the IBF, WBA and WBO lightweight title belts but lost that fight to Nate Campbell in the US. He was also unfortunate not to beat Joan Guzman for the IBF title in the same year. After he was knocked out by Tsiko Mulovhedzi for the vacant IBO Welterweight title fight last year, Funeka has never looked back

Olympic champion Caster Semenya says her next target is to break the world record in the 800 metre event next season. Semenya had a great season after she won gold in the 800 metre at the Rio Olympics in Brazil, and also winning multiple events at the African senior Athletics championships in Durban in the build up to the Olympics. The 25-year old won gold in the 800, 1500 events as well as in the 4x400 metre relay at the African champs. Semenya fell short of breaking the world record despite winning gold in Rio, and her next mission will be to achieve that feat at the world championships in London next year. The Polokwane-born athlete recently won the sports women of the year award at the South African Sports Awards in Bloemfontein recently. She is planning to improve on her times by dipping below the 1 minute, 55 seconds mark in the 800 metre event, run below four minutes in the 1500 metre, and also fall within 50 seconds in the 400 metre in the next season. Semenya was shortlisted by the IAAF for women’s 2016 World athlete of the year, but failed to make the cut in the final list. The 2012 London silver medalist endured many challenges in the build up to the Olympics because of injuries and the questions regarding her gender. She says challenges makes her stronger.

Despite failing to win the IAAF Male World Athlete of the Year award, Wayde van Niekerk is delighted with his 2016 season. The accolade was handed to Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt at a gala function in Monaco by the world’s athletics body IAAF on Friday evening. Bolt earned treble gold at the Rio Olympics, achieving the feat for the third straight edition of the Games. Van Niekerk who set a 400m world record of 43.03 seconds to win the Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in August---paid credit to Bolt, who had previously said he would call time on his career after next year's IAAF World Championships in London.

SA Women’s Indoor Hockey team took on their strongest challengers on the African continent, in the form of Namibia after playing in a five test series in Swakopmund, Namibia. The series was crucial as both teams look to step up their preparations towards the 2018 International Hockey Federation (FIH) tournament. South Africa won this series 3-2 after some pulsating hockey action saw the SA ladies seal the series 3-0 well before the hosts saved face with two late dead rubber victories. Captain Cindy Hack commended Namibia as one African team giving SA ladies a stiff challenge. The South African squad featured a mix of experience and new caps as Isabella da Rocha, Nicole de Vries, Natasha Rootenburg and the dynamic Heather McEwan all received their first caps for the green and gold. Hack says blooding in more youngsters in the team was crucial but she will be hoping to have some crucial seniors who missed this test series back for the world cup qualifiers.Debutant McEwan seems like a bright prospect amongst the players earning their first caps. South Africa rose up the FIH Indoors rankings to up one place to 10th in the world. Hack says their main goal at the world cup is to be competitive against the traditional European and South American powerhouses.

Moto3GP world champion Brad Binder has made no secret that his ultimate goal is to become MotoGP world champion but it will have to be after fulfilling his two season contract in Moto2GP with the Red Bull KTM team under the management of Ajo. The 21-year-old Potchefstroom born rider has a two year contract to honour with his current team and believes that he can easily make the required step up to the ultimate stage of MotoGP on the next two years where he will challenge for the world title. Binder arrived back on home soil today after being crowned world champion and was well received at OR Tambo International Airport. Binder was so dominant in this year’s Moto3GP that he won the world title with four races still to spare in the season after winning five Grand Prix during the season with the world championship coming with a second place finish in Aragon on the 25th of September this year. Binder, who is set to ride in MotoGP in the next two years believes his road to the top has been made easier with his heroics in Moto3GP and says everything will be up to the results he produces next year regardless of which he eventually ends up riding for. Binder almost missed out on becoming world champion in Moto3GP but fortunately his management team talked him out of moving to Moto2GP this year and he believes that it was the best decision for his career as he got to establish himself and secure a better future for himself in the sport after spending three seasons in the Red Bull Rookie Cup before graduating to Moto3GP. Binder has been humbled by the reception from the motoring fraternity in South Africa and revealed that immediately after winning the world championship he received an email from South Africa’s only Formula One world champion Jody Scheckter who is considered a legend in South African motorsport. Binder says it is a good feeling being acknowledged by his compatriots and was on Sunday a recipient of the International Achievers Award at the South African Sports Awards in Bloemfontein. Binder looks set to return to the riding only at the beginning of next year after breaking his arm during testing recently but says his biggest challenge is to pick up the required six kilograms in order to meet the requirements of bike and rider in the Moto2GP section next year. Binder will ascend from riding an 86 kilogram bike to one that weighs 140 kilograms while having to add more weight to his body instead of having to struggle with a bike that has weights added onto it. Binder says that he prefers that the injury happened now in the off-season instead of during the season. Binder’s hero growing up has been Italian multiple world champion Valentino Rossi and the South African describes rubbing shoulders with the legend of the sport as a strange feeling but says Rossi has been extremely welcoming towards him and so too the rest of the riders in the sport.

In the absence of 2015 champions Dimension Data, Team Road Cover rode to victory to scoop the most coveted team time trial cycling event in Swellendam, Western Cape at the weekend. The Coronation Double Century is an annual, 202 kilometre team cycle race that is limited to 250 teams. Road Cover team captain Nic White has this to say about his team’s victory. The Coronation Double Century is more than just an ultra-marathon cycle race, it is all about camaraderie and team spirit. White explains how different this sport is from an individual cycling events. White fielded a strong team including Cape Town Cycle Tour winners Clint Hendricks and Willie Smit, and he says his team put in a decent amount of hours into getting to a competitive level.

Wayde van Niekerk was the biggest winner of the major awards at the South African Sports Awards for the second year in a row in Bloemfontein last night. The 24year-old was named Sport star of the year, Sportsman of the year and also voted in the People’s Choice Award. Van Niekerk had a year to remember after winning gold in the 400 metres event, and breaking Michael Johnson’s 17year-old long standing record at the Rio Olympics in Brazil. Van Niekerk appreciated the awards and the support he received from the public.

Golden girl Caster Semenya won the Sportswoman of the year award after she also had a great year in 2016. Semenya won gold medal in the 800m event at the Rio Olympics. She also won gold at the African athletics in Durban earlier this year where she also competed in the 400 metre event. She outsmarted Jenna Ward and Phumza Maweni. Semenya, who walked away with R230 000, says it has been an amazing year.

Long before Jean Verster trained Caster Semenya to her highly prized Olympic gold medal in Rio few months ago, 20 years ago he had played a big role in helping Hezekiel Sepeng winning an 800m silver medal in the Atlanta Olympics. The North West University-Potchefstroom athletics coach is not your average mentor, he lives for the big occasions. Verster will contest the SA Sports Awards coach of the year award in Bloemfontein on Sunday---but he tells SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli that for him it's always about his group of athletes first.

With less than four days to go before the 11th annual SA Sports Awards function take place in Bloemfontein on the 27th of November , the exciting is building for the night that will honour the stars of 2016. Olympic gold medalist and South Africa’s 800m record holder Caster Semenya has had a remarkable season and her three nominations for these awards also reflect that. Semenya is nominated for the Sports Woman of the year, People’s Choice Sports Star of the year (decided by the public) and the overall award the Sports Star of the year award. She’s facing stiff competition from the two main awards from the man of the moment Wayde Van Niekerk. After running good times this year and doing well to win the overall Diamond League 800m season, Semenya says consistency was key this year. One of the highlights this year from Semenya was when she completed a triple at the SA Senior Championships in Stellenbosch, winning the 400m, 800m and 1500m national titles all in one day. Interestingly the North West University-Potchefstroom student says she’s the one who introduced this idea to her coach Jean Verste. Semenya’s Olympic gold medal was achieved in style as she not only dominated the IAAF Diamond League races this year but also improved her own South African record twice. The 25 year-old says this year was all about leaving a legacy behind.

The National Indoor Women’s hockey team is set to travel to Swakopmund, Namibia for a five match Test Series taking place between the 24th and the 27th of this month. Coach Lennie Botha recently announced his squad and says he will be taking four new caps to blood new youngsters into the team. Most people will not know the subtle differences between indoor hockey and field hockey explains Botha explains it. Coach Botha says he will use this test series as it will be the only opportunity to gauge his team ahead of a crucial world cup qualifier in June next year. Team Captain speaks about the camp and the excitement of the new players that have been selected. Hack feels the current ranking of the indoors team is good and this discipline of hockey is becoming more and more popular which bodes well for the sport.

Global awards and recognition continues to come the way of Olympics and world 400m champion and world record holder Wayde van Niekerk. This follows the best Male Athlete of the Rio 2016 Olympic games award that Van Niekerk received from the Association of National Olympic Committee Wards in Doha, Qatar last night. The 24year-old is also in line to win big at the South African Sports Awards in Bloemfontein next week and possibly also take home the IAAF Male Athlete of the year in Europe next month. With all these earnings coming his way, Van Niekerk shares with SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli why he’s focused on establishing a Foundation that would help athletes in his hometown, Bloemfontein.

South African 100m sprinter Henricho Bruintjies was today unveiled as the new Puma School of Speed South Africa brand ambassador at the University of Pretoria (Tuks) athletics track. The 2016 Rio Olympian, Bruintjies, is set to work with the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt in partnership with Puma in a bid to uncover the next Bolt in South Africa. The Cape Town born Bruintjies praised the initiative, aimed at school children between 14-18, as it brings hope for young aspiring sprinters especially form previously disadvantaged background...The initiative will see a series of five athletics meetings conducted across the country with the top five sprinters from each round winning themselves a contract with the brand that sponsors Bolt. Bruintjies, who missed out on an opportunity to run against the Jamaican at the Rio Olympics says he still hopes to challenge and hopefully beat the speedster before he retired in 2018. The 23-year-old also explains his below par performance at the Rio Olympics after failing to progress from the 100m Heats. However, Bruintjies believes that he will be ready and in tip top shape for next year’s world Championships. With forever improving teammate Akani Simbine also set to be around for some time, Bruintjies believes the future of SA sprinters is bright especially with youngsters pushing them around. Bruintjies believes that with teammates such as Simbine, Wayde van Niekerk, Gift Leotlelo and Clarence Munyai fully fit and ready, they are gunning for Gold in the 4x100m relay in London later next year.

Former IBF junior-bantamweight champion Zolani’s Tete’s will have to wait a bit longer for his WBO bantamweight title eliminator against Arthur Villanueva of Philippines following the postponement of the fight. The bout was scheduled for the 26th of this month at the Morpoint Arena, in Cardiff, Wales. The winner of this elimination bout is expected to fight another Filipino Marlon Tapales for this WBO title. Tete’s manager Mla Tengimfene confirms that the postponement was requested by the opposition camp and the fight is now likely to take place in January next year. Tete had been preparing for close to three weeks now for this fight in Johannesburg when the news about the postponement came through. He’s a bit disappointed by the postponement but not forgetting the bigger picture that his UK based Queensberry Promotions is working on. Tete and Villanueva’s fight is likely to be a tight contest, “Last Born” is unbeaten in his last eight fights and in the last four years. The Filipino on the other side has only lost once in 30 fights and the Mdantsane-born boxer says he understands why he would go as far as postponing this fight. Trained by veteran boxing mentor, former administrator and professional boxer himself Loyiso Mtya and assisted by former South African champions Mhikiza “Showtime” Myekeni and Phumzile Matyhila, Tete was very advanced in his plans. Tengimfene says there will be a lot of sacrifices in his camp ahead of the festive season.

Nedbank Golf Challenge (NGC) director Alastair Roper is living proof of the old saying ‘Rome has grown since its humble beginning that is now overwhelmed by its own greatness’. Roper who started out as chef in 1980’s for Sun International is well respected in the golfing community around the world since assuming a lead role in event back in 1995. However, with the event now celebrating 36 years with and extended field of 72 players, Roper says he could be happier with himself because he has seen the tournament grow from strength to strength. The 2016 NGC pro-am is set to get underway on Wednesday and it will be followed by the main event from Thursday until Sunday. However, one familiar face and South African darling, Retief Goosen will be making his comeback for the first time since. According to Roper the tee-off time will also change from 10:10am to 07:50am to accommodate the huge field. However he says he hopes it doesn’t rain otherwise they will not finish.

It was an Ethiopian victory for both the men’s and women’s race at the 2016 Old Mutual Soweto Marathon as Sintayehu Legese won the men’s race at a time of 2:20:44 and Selam Abere ran to victory in the women’s race at a time of 2:42:32. Speaking through an interpreter Legese says that he is happy to finish at the new venue, FNB Stadium. Irvette van Zyl came third but was the first South African woman to cross the finish line at a time of 2:46:32 she says that she will take a year’s sabbatical from the race but she hopes to come back stronger. Lesotho national Seutloali Khoarahlane says he felt good about his position after achieving 3rd place in his first Soweto Marathon. The Chairperson of the Soweto Marathon Trust Sello Khunou declared the race as a 100% success.

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka team principal Doug Ryder says 2016 has been significantly harder in terms of depth and quality of racing. Ryder says that this has been their most successful season with 32 race wins coupled with 5 Tour de France stage race wins and he confirmed contract renewals of three top internationals; Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway, American Tyler Farrar and Igor Anton from Spain’s Basque region. Ryder added that Cavendish’s signing last year was a major coup. Although Songezo Jim will not be part of the team next year, they have other black cyclists that are ready to step up and take the mantle for the team.

As the voting lines for the IAAF male and female athlete nominations close today, the Olympics and World 400m champion and world record holder Wayde Van Niekerk says it’s an honour for him to be mentioned alongside the nine other best male athletes for 2016. The Olympic women’s 800m champion Caster Semenya is also nominated for the IAAF Female Athlete of the year. At the conclusion of the voting process, the IAAF will announce three men and three women finalists who will be honored during the IAAF Awards ceremony next month. Van Niekerk says he’s had a glorious year and hopes that this would inspire more athletes here in South Africa.Van Niekerk’s success on the track has also translated into a good reception on the commercial side where he’s involved himself in a lot of things off the track. But he had also set himself a target of returning to training by the 19th of last month and he has more on the importance of balancing commercial and the performances. : After winning two brand new Mercedes Benz cars and more than a million rand in prize money from last year’s SA Sports Awards, taking away all the three awards he was nominated for, Van Niekerk’s is in a good position to repeat that feat. He’s been nominated for the SA Sports Star of the year, People’s Choice Sports Star of the year as well as the Sportsman of the year award. In this short and exclusive interview with SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli shortly after returning from Germany this past weekend, the 24year-old speaks about the importance of these awards to local athletes. Also nominated for the SA Sports Awards is Van Niekerk’s coach Anna “Tannie Ans” Botha for the coach of the year award.

The nominees for the 11th edition of the South African Sports Awards have been announced this morning at the M1 Sports studios at the SABC headquarters in Johannesburg. Rio Olympics gold medalists Wayde Van Niekerk and Caster Semenya who are also nominated for the IAAF Male and Female Athlete of the year respectively, are dominating the list of nominees as expected. The awards will take place in Bloemfontein on the 27th of next month. The Sports Star of the year, which is the top award, has Van Niekerk, Semenya and Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada as the nominees. Deputy Minister of Sports and Recreation Gert Oosthuizen says in an Olympic year, the competition is always tough. The coach of the year is also likely to be the tightly contested award with the coach of the African Champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Pitso Mosimane nominated alongside Van Niekerk’s coach Anna “Tannie Ans” Botha and Semenya’s trainer Jean Verster. Sundowns have also been nominated in the team of the year category together with the Springboks Sevens. This being an Olympic and Paralympic year, there’s also the special award that to two athletes that have excelled at this event, the Shield of Jove. This past weekend, there were also media reports that the Department of Sport is yet to pay athletes that they had recognized for their various successes in international events. This included Comrades Marathon winners and some of the Olympians and Paralympians who have just returned from Rio. But Moemi clarifies that they have no choice but to follow government processes.

SA women’s national team player Shelley Russell feels home advantage can inspire the team to raise their game. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has confirmed South Africa as hosts of the Hockey World League Semi-Finals in June next year. Russel says as hosts, they will have advantage over their opponents. This will be Johannesburg’s first major FIH event since the champions challenge was held in the same city in 2011. At least 10 teams will take part in each semi-final. Joining South African, who qualifies automatically as hosts will be six teams whose qualification is based on their FIH World ranking. The remaining four teams will qualify through Hockey World League Round 2 events taking place earlier in 2017. Russell gives a breakdown of the tournament format. A lot is at stake for teams participating in the semi-finals. Whilst vital FIH World ranking points will be awarded depending on final standings both women’s and men’s teams will also get a chance to qualify for the World Cup kicking off what will be a spectacular few months of international hockey. Russell was part of the Premier Hockey League (PHL) action and turned out for the St Lucia Lakers who did not do too well after losing the 3rd and 4th playoffs to finish fourth overall but she praised the local league after it was launched last month adding that it was an exciting development for the sport locally.

New Tennis South Africa CEO Richard Glover is expected to be a game changer, with a wealth of experience in the sports industry locally and internationally he has worked at both Cricket South Africa and Arsenal football club in London. Glover is settling in well in his new role barely a week after his official appointment and says his very first objective is getting out there and collaborating with stakeholders. The 40 year old says that crucial to his plans is to work with the Department of sport and recreation to further advance the transformation of sport in order to get more black kids to be playing tennis. He also believes focus on the youth will be crucial to the future success of the sport and one of the challenges that most small sporting federations is the issue of finances but he indicated that he aims to bring more money into tennis. With our top ranked tennis players recently not turning up for South Africa in the Davis Cup, Glovers says he aims to bring back SA’s top players like Kevin Anderson and Raven Klaasen to represent the country.

Swimming South Africa (SSA) Chief Executive officer Shaun Adriaanse is confident that potential young black swimmers will represent the country in the major events in the near future. The CEO said this in the aftermath of the Olympics and Paralympics games in Rio, Brazil in the last two months. The Olympic team came back with three medals, while the Paralympians brought back just a single medal. Vincent Sitsula compiled this report. South Africa has never had a black representative in the Olympics, Paralympics and Commonwealth games since the country was re-admitted into international games in 1992. There were encouraging signs at the SA National Championships and Olympics trials in April in Durban, where a lot of black swimmers featured, despite not qualifying for the Olympics. Adriaanse is convinced that they are very close to unearthing young blacks, who will participate in the Commonwealth games in the Australian city of Gold Coast in two years’ time, and the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan in 2020. Swimming has been one of the biggest sources of medals for team SA in the last few Olympics and Paralympics games. In 2012 the sporting code brought three out of the six South Africa amassed in the London 2012 Olympics, and 11 out of 29 in the Paralympics. One of the biggest challenges for the sporting code has been the lack of facilities especially in the previously disadvantaged communities. This has resulted in many youngsters focusing on the traditionally black sports such as football and boxing. SSA is planning to implement facilities in the black communities, and also host major tournaments across the country to raise awareness of the sport. Adriaanse is also looking to form a partnership with so-called black schools in the townships to implement facilities, and also encourage young black swimmers to take part in swimming.

Gauteng featherweight champion Rofhiwa ‘War child’ Maemu is oozing confidence ahead of his fight against Tello ‘ King Razor’ Dithebe for the vacant WBF International featherweight title in Bloemfontein on Friday the 7th of September 2016. Although the duo will be meeting for the first time, the war words from both camps have already erupted as they gear-up for the Macufe boxing extravaganza. Maemu, who boosts 10 victories and two draws in 17 fights, will be looking to extend his winning streak to seven, while Dithebe can draw some inspiration from victory against Rofhiwa Nemushungwa on points last year. According to Maemu, who has won his last four fights on knockouts, his approach will be the same and he says Dithebe will kiss the floor before the seventh round. The over confident Dithebe has promised to burst Maemu’s bubble. Maemu has been challenging both Macbute Sinyabi and Oscar Chauke to face him. Sinyabi is the current holder of the SA featherweight champion, the title he won the title from Chauke in November last year.

Banyana Banyana assistant coach Desiree Ellis hopes that one day soon all the South African professional football clubs in South Africa will have women’s teams. Ellis, who is rumored to be taking over from Vera Pauw as Banyana head coach on an interim basis, says that female footballers could really improve if they had access to the resources and coaching that the 32 professional clubs in the PSL and NFD had. She also says that being able to identify with a recognized brand can be a huge confidence boost to the players. Before leaving to play in Holland for Heerenveen, Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Roxanne Barker trained with the first team goalkeepers at Ajax Cape Town, and Ellis says it was a huge boost for the Barker. Ellis says it was fantastic that Ajax opened their doors to Barker, and also had Thembi Kgatlana there for a bit, and she says they really enjoyed the experience. Ellis was recently honored by Cape Town City, who handed life-time season tickets out to thirty legends of Cape Town football, and the former Banyana captain, was the only women named. She says it was such an honor to be named amongst some of the legends listed, though she is a little disappointed that she was the only woman on the list.

Fresh from a personal best in Cape Town a week ago, Lesotho’s Namakoe Nkhasi showed the big names a clean pair of heels in the inaugural FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN this past Saturday. The 23year-old crossed the finish line at Mary Fitzgerald Square in 29:48 minutes ahead of Kenya’s Edwin Koech who finished 30:07 seconds. It was billed as the showdown between arch rivals Stephen Mokoka and Elroy Gelant with fellow Olympian Sibusiso Nzima also in the mix, but it was Namakoe who had too much firepower on the day. Namakoe says he’s been preparing for the Soweto Marathon. The ladies race as expected was between the twins Lebo and Lebogang Phalula and Zimbabwe’s Rutendo Nyahora. But in the end it was Lebogang who reigned suroreme at the end winning in 35:33 minutes and she has more on her race strategy. Both the men and women’s race winners took home R20 000 prize money. Faced with the challenge of the Consitutional Hill, Lebogang says this wasn’t a problem for her as she had to deal with Nyahora as well.

Drakensburg Dragons may have ended the inaugural Premier Hockey League (PHL) as the bottom placed team after amassing just six points from the five league games played at the Randburg Astroturf. This however has not broken the team’s spirit of giving as the Dragons started a social media drive to collect hockey equipment and give to less privileged communities. Dragons player Mohamed Mea has more. Mea says the response from the people to their drive has been quite overwhelming. Mea added that this first ever PHL has been amazing and gave a resounding thumbs up to all stake holders involved in this tournament including the Department of Sports and Recreation. He added that he is already looking forward to next year’s event.

All eyes were on the young sensation Ntando Mahlangu who won a silver medal in the T42 200m only at the age of 14 in his first Paralympic games. Mahlangu who only started walking four years ago after having been on a wheelchair mainly, has paid tribute to fellow Paralympian Arnu Fourie whom he says inspired him to this Paralympic dream. Mahlangu, who also finished fifth in the 100m, was welcomed by a large group of his fellow schoolmates from Laerskool Constantia Park where he’s a grade seven learner. He says nothing has changed to the Ntando that went to the Paralympics and the one that’s returning now and has more on how he will handle the R270 000 prize money.

Charl Du Toit collected over R1million in prize money after returning home with two gold medals having broken a World Record in the process. Du Toit says the money is not the main focal point for him but achieving for his country is. Du Toit won gold in the men’s T37 100m and 400m respectively, breaking the World Record in the 100m. He got R800 000 for double gold including an extra R100 000 and R150 000 for the record. The 23year-old transformed from being a middle distance runner into a sprinter and credits his backroom team for the quick transition

Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula has emphasized the importance of treating Team South Africa Paralympians and Olympians when it comes to rewarding their excellence at the games. Mbalula was speaking at the welcoming of the Paralympians from the Rio 2016 games at the OR Tambo international airport. Over R6 million in prize money was distributed to 13 athletes after they achieved 17 medals at the Paralympic games. Mbalula started to recognize Olympians and Paralympians equally in distribution of prize money during the London 2012 games and this is something he feels strongly about. In 2012, the 62 athletes that represented Team SA returned with 29 medals and this time the 44 Paralympians that were in Rio managed to return home with 17 medals. Mbalula is satisfied with what this team has achieved in Brazil.

Team South Africa has finished 22nd in the Rio Paralympic games with seven gold, six silver and four bronze, making that a total of 17 medals. In London four years ago, Team SA got 29 medals but that’s also when Natalie Du Toit and Oscar Pistorius also contributed about seven medals between the two of them. It’s been an amazing performance from the 45-member strong squad and Dyan Buis was the last athlete to secure gold when he won the T38 400m in 49.46 seconds, setting a new Paralympic record in the process. Buis finishes these games with two medals after having won bronze in the 200m last week and he’s thanked the perfect support system around him for the good performances. In London four years ago, Buis finished with three medals but there was no gold, two silver and bronze. He turns 26 in November and promises to continue with his athletics career but he’s also seeing the need to get his life on the right path off the track as well. The last medal for Team SA came from the veteran campaigner, Hilton Langenhoven who won his second medal of these games when securing silver in the T12 200m finishing second behind Savon Pineda of in 22.43 seconds. Langenhoven is happy with his two medals from Rio. These have been Paralympic games to remember for Langenhoven as he was disqualified for stepping out of his lane in 400m semi-final, he returned to win the long jump gold and now silver. The 33year-old is still undecided about Tokyo 2020 Paralympic games but happy with his seven medals overall at the games dating back to his first Paralympics in Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012 and now Rio.

One of the most decorated athletes in South Africa since the country’s return to international sport in 1992, Ernst van Dyk bagged Team South Africa’s fifth gold medal yesterday as he won the cycling road race in a time of 1:37.49. It's van Dyk’s eighth Paralympic medal, in his seventh and last games but only his second career gold, after picking up a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. He looks back at his race. Van Dyk has won three bronze medals and three silver medals, and fell two places short of another medal in Rio when he came fifth in the time trial. This was also the 43year-old’s last Paralympics race as he now switches his focus to marathons. A little later in the day 2015 javelin world champion Reinhardt Hamman lived up to the expectations when he won the F38 gold medal with the best throw of 50.96m and he was understandably excited with his achievement.The two gold medals sees Team SA jumping seven spots from 27th to joint 20th with Thailand on 13 medals in the bag when counting Jonathan Ntutu’s silver in the men’s T12 100m and Dyan Buis’ bronze in the T38 long jump from last night. Ntutu finished second in 11.09 seconds a season’s best and was happy to have secured a medal for his country.

Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile ‘Mr Razzmatazz’ Mbalula this morning hailed Team South Africa upon their return from a fruitful Rio 2016 Olympic Games with hundreds of supporters ululating at the O.R Tambo International airport. Team SA return from the world showpiece with the best medal count ever for South Africa (10) and Mbalula says the athletes deserve to be celebrated more than they actually are. Mbalula, who calls on more sponsors to continue supporting and assisting the athletes in order to continue flying the South African and the African flag high. Mbalula also reaffirmed his additional bonuses to the athletes who excelled at the games. Mbalula also calls on South Africa to start preparing and working towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as early as tomorrow in order to continue gaining ground on the top nations...

South African Sports Federations and Olympics Committee president Gideon Sam says he is extremely pleased with Team South Africa’s performances at the 2016 Rio Olympics after bringing home our best medal count ever, 10 medals. With the target set at 10 medals or more en-route to Brazil earlier this month, Sam says even though we could have claimed more medals it was critical to be realistic. Sam also extended a word of thanks to the South African public for their undying and continuous support for the athletes and the media for all the unconditional coverage. With the Olympics only once every four years and the right of participation subject to qualification, the SASCOC president extended a word of encouragement to all athletes who have been through all adversities to return home with medals, saying that there are still hundreds of other athletes with similar stories that also need to be given chances to participate in sport and hopefully represent their countries and do well. Sam also wished the Paralympics Team SA all the best at they depart for the Rio Paralympics later this week. Sam says he is confident they will also bring back medals.

800m Olympic gold medallist, Caster Semenya’s family is beyond happy and proud of her achievements at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Semenya crossed the finish line first in 1:55:28 on Sunday morning to hand South Africa their second gold and overall 10th medal in Rio. One of her elder sister Nicoleen Semenya who praised her younger sister with her clan name admitted she is happy for the athlete saying they were a little sad when Semenya finished second in London in 2012. Semenya’s other elder sister Mmaphuti says that she spoke to her champion sibling just before her race. She also adds that the family is overwhelmed with the support they received from South Africans. Semenya’s mother Dorcus also expressed gratitude to South Africans for supporting her daughter and her family. She adds that the people in her own community Ga- Mmasehlong in Moletji have started arriving with gifts and they have warned the family there is more to come as they want to show appreciation for her daughter’s achievements. Mama Semenya reveals a conversation she had with a star daughter after her first race in Brazil. The 25 year old father Jacob Semenya says he never even doubted his daughter would win gold in Rio. The athlete is also the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal for South Africa and her father is proud of her. Semenya also congratulated team SA for their overall performance including 400m men’s champion Wayde Van Niekerk. Semenya’s father also adds that he is looking forward to touching the medal emphasising that his daughter will dominate until she retires from the track. Mr Semenya is also happy for javelin silver medallist Sounete Viljoen saying the girls did well during women’s month.

Caster Semenya has secured Team South Africa its targeted 10 medals at the Rio Olympics. This follows her gold medal in the women's 800m, winning the final in 1:55.28 a new national record. She finished ahead of Burundian Francine Niyonsaba (1:56.49) and Kenyan Margaret Wambui (1:56:89). After winning silver medal in London 2012, Semenya was an overwhelming favourite. Team SA is now sitting on two golds, six silver and two bronze medals. A huge improvement from the six medals in London even though there were three golds there. Niyonsaba's is Burundi's first Olympic silver medal in 20 years, and youngster, Wambui, who only turns 21 next month was equally happy with her finish.

Caster Semenya ran a very tactical race and was leading from the front in the first 200m on her way to winning the Rio Olympics 800m gold medal at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this morning, 21 August 2016. She said this was a strategy from her coach Jean Verster. Since moving to Potchefstroom to work with Vester at the North West University, Semenya has been a different athlete altogether and running good times that saw her improving the national record twice this year, 1:55.28 won the race this morning and she had ran 1:55.35 in Monaco last month. In this short interview with SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli, Semenya a former world champion says experience has been vital for her in this Olympic campaign.

Richard Murray is hoping that his success in Triathlon at the Rio Olympic games alongside his compatriot Henri Schoeman, will elevate the sport to greater heights and also secure more funding. The 27-year old from Cape Town came fourth in the Men’s Individual final in a time of 1:45.50 seconds yesterday. The Cape Town born triathlete finished just seven seconds behind Schoeman, who clocked 1:45.43 seconds to bag himself a bronze medal. Schoeman almost didn’t take part in the race due to illness. Murray was sidelined for almost two months, when he broke his collarbone after crashing on the bike leg at the World Triathlon Series race in Gold Coast, Australia in April. He subsequently made a stunning comeback from injury, winning his maiden ITU Duathlon World title in Avile, Spain in June. He did not have a good start in yesterday’s race, struggling in the swim leg to finish in a dismal 47th position. He then miraculously caught up in the Bike and Run legs. He says he gave it all but could not finish in the podium. Murray won the Junior ITU Duathlon World Championships in 2007 and 2008 before entering the adult Tri in 2009. He was also the Under-23 African champion in both triathlon and duathlon in 2010, and later became the elite African triathlon champion in 2011 and 2012. He finished seventeenth at The London Olympics four years ago.

Olympic medalist and former world champion Caster Semenya remains an overwhelming favourite for the women's 800m gold at the Rio Olympics final on Saturday the 20th of August at 9:15pm in Brazil time (01:15am Sunday the 21st of August, morning SA time). Semenya was the fastest qualifier for the final after easily winning her semi-final heat 3 in 1:58.15 at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil last night (this morning SA time). Now that she is in the final, she says she has to prepare thoroughly as the pace is most going to be quicker. The 25year-old has ran the quickest times in the 800m this year but after only settling for a silver medal in London four years ago what matters for her in these games is winning more than breaking the 33year-old world record. Semenya's mental state ahead of the final is also proving to be at its utmost best especially with all the frenzy around her eligibility to compete in these games mainly driven by the Western media. In this interview done by the SASCOC media and communications department, Semenya says she is fully focused on the Olympics and not destructed by off the track issues.

South Africa’s Chad Ho took part in the men’s 10km, having finished 10th after a confirmation of a disqualification, Ho is very happy with his performance, despite the goal of achieving a medal. After being in Rio for over two weeks without any racing, Chad Ho explains thanks to his coach he was able to stay in tune for his 10km race. Ho also explains, having the opportunity to watch his fellow team mates in the swimming events really motivates him to perform and do his country proud. After the woman’s 10km the previous day, one of the topic discussed by the ladies were the conditions of the race. Many complaining of the choppy conditions towards the end along with the extreme saltiness of the water. Ho feels the conditions were great, having both calm and rougher sections. Ho however felt the physical aspect to the racing was more challenging than the actual conditions.

David Rudisha has continued to make history at the Rio Olympics, four years after breaking the 800m world record at London 2012 when he clinched the gold medal in the final at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro last night. Rudisha (27) became the first athlete since New Zealand's Peter Snell in 1964 to retain the men's 800m Olympic title. The Kenyan finished in 1:42.15 ahead of Algerian Taoufik Makhloufi in 1:42.61 and Clayton Murphy in 1:42.93. The Kenyan also took time to congratulate the newly crowned 400m world and Olympic champion and world record holder Wayde Van Nierkek in this short interview with SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli

Despite failing to win a medal at the Rio Olympics in Brazil, South Africa’s 100m record holder Akani Simbine, says he’s satisfied with his performance at these quadrennial games. Simbine finished fifth in the 100m final on Sunday the 14th of August, that was successfully defended by the great Usain Bolt. The 22year-old University of Pretoria student could have easily finished third but was pipped at the finishing point. But it’s been a good season for Simbine who broke the SA record twice and his personal best of 9.89 remains the fifth fastest time in the world this year. In this short interview with SABC Sport reporter Velile Mbuli at the Olympic Athletes Village in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he also looks at how he’s getting international recognition.

: Olympic silver medalist Luvo Manyonga’s late coach Mario Smith was everything to him, he had spotted his talent growing up in Paarl and nurtured it for him to be crowned the IAAF World Youth Champion in Canada in 2010. Even when Manyonga went through his lowest moment in 2011 and was banned for 18 months after traces of methamphetamine (Tik) were found in his system, Smith was always there for him. But unfortunately the former University of Stellenbosch athletics coach passed away in 2014 and when SASCOC President Gideon Sam came into the picture to save the long jumper’s career, a decision was made that he should relocate to Pretoria. And that’s when he started to work with Neil Cornelius at the High Performance Centre competing for the famous Tuks club. In this interview with SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli, Cornelius only 28 and was coaching in his first ever international major competition looks back on how they plotted this historic 8.37m…

South Africa’s Tripple jump Olympian Khotso Mokoena participating in his 4th and final Olympics fell short of securing a spot in the semi-finals, Mokoena says that the excitement of being part of the Olympics is always there. Mokoena added that he will always cherish the experience he lived in the Olympics and might hang up his jumping boots at the end of the season.

South Africa’s Richard Murray made a remarkable recovery from a broken collarbone in April to be ready for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The country’s top triathlete’s Olympics dream seem to be dashed when he crashed during the WTS Gold Coast in Australia earlier this year, but the 27-year old from Cape Town never thought he wasn’t going to make the trip to Brazil. The crash disrupted Murray’s training plan for Rio, but only two months after he broke his collar bone he won his first Senior World Championships title as he claimed the win at the World Duathlon in Spain. He finished 17th at the London Olympics four years ago, but says he hopes to medal in Rio and has been inspired by Wayde van Niekerk’s gold medal on Sunday night.The Olympic distance triathlon consists of a 1500 meter swim, 40 km bike ride and 10km, which means triathletes need to train for more disciplines than most other athletes. Murray says this is what a basic week looks like in his life.Murray also added that he hopes the sport will grow in popularity in South Africa and says a special emphasis needs to be placed on introducing young kids to the sport

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) President Gideon Sam played a big role in resurrecting the athletics career of Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalist Luvo Manyonga three years ago. When Manyonga leapt to 8.37m in the long jump final this morning, 14 August, and for a moment looked like a sure bet for a gold medal before America’s Jeff Henderson stole it in the final round by a tiny one centimeter. Manyonga, a 2010 World Youth Championship champion, had tested positive for methamphetamine (Tik) in 2011, he lacked a proper support structure especially after his coach Mario Smith passed away in 2014. This is when Sam came into the picture and helped him to relocate to Pretoria to be based at the High Performance Centre. And this is why the 25year-old will never forget Sam’s efforts that have resulted in him being the Olympic medalist he is today. These are the types of stories that prove once again that sport is very important in changing people’s lives. And it’s a statement that the Minister of Sport, Fikile Mbalula shares all the time and today, 14 August, he followed that up during a ceremony at the Olympic Athletics Village to celebrate Manyonga’s silver medal.

Botswana's Nijel Amos was a surprise package in the men's 800m in the London 2012 Olympics finishing behind the great David Rudisha to pick up a silver medal. But on the opening day of the Athletics Programme at the Rio Olympics he disappointed very badly. SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli was at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro and has more.

Former gold medalist and Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry was not disappointed at not winning a medal in her final Olympics in Rio, Brazil. She managed to reach the final but finished sixth clocking 2.08.80 seconds. Dirado Madeline from USA won the race in 2.05.99 seconds. Coventry won three medals, gold, silver and bronze at the 2004 Olympics in Greece. The Rio Olympics are her fifth and will be her last. Coventry is the top African Olympian with more medals than any other African after making her Olympics debut in the Sydney games in Australia in 2000. The 32-year old former world record holder says her main target was to be in the final.

The men's 400m world champion Wayde van Niekerk will line-up from lane 8 in this morning’s Rio Olympics final at the Olympic stadium. This follows a second place finish in the second semi-final in 44.45 yesterday. Van Niekerk will have a tough fight on his hands against Grenada's Kirani James and US's LaShawn Merritt who are working hard to dethrone the world champion. The South African Sports Star of the year will run the final at 3am and, in an interview with SABC sport journalist Velile Mbuli, he’s upbeat about his chances of clinching the ultimate prize.

South African sprint sensation Akani Simbine won his 100m heat in a time of 10.14 to qualify for the semi-finals at the Olympic stadium. Simbine says winning his heat was an important step for him in his way of making an impact in Rio. The men’s 100m semi-finals takes place this morning, 2am at the same venue. Simbine says he will treat the semi-finals as if he is participating in the finals.

The remarkable story of Luvo Manyonga will remain a talking point in South Africa for months to come after he bounced back to win a silver medal at the Rio Olympics last night in the long jump. Going into the last round, Manyonga was in a gold medal position after a leap of 8.37m, his personal best. But American Jeff Henderson bettered that by a tiny one centimeter to give SA its sixth Rio Olympic medal and fifth silver. But the story will go back to how Manyonga recovered from being banned for two years after testing positive for methamphetamine (Tik) in 2011 and bounced back to win a silver medal in his first Olympics. In this joyful interview with SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli, Manyonga---a 2010 World Youth Championship long jump champion, has more on how this medal will improve conditions back home.

The rescheduling of some Olympic events due to inclement weather is affecting Team South Africa’s preparations. This is according to the aquatic team medical Dr Danielle Lincoln. The rowing and the sailing teams have had their events opponent due to wind and later rain. Dr Lincoln says the team’s resilience helped them to cope with adversity. To an ordinary person, it would not be easy to understand the rigidities an Olympian has to deal with. However team doctor, Danielle Lincoln says Team South Africa has been tenaciously trained. Meanwhile Dr Danielle Lincoln says except for few who were under the weather earlier on, all athletes are on a clean bill of health. She applauded SASCOC’s astute leadership.

Golfer Jaco van Zyl says the late arrival of their clubs didn’t affect their performance in the opening round of the Rio Olympics in Brazil yesterday. The clubs only arrived on the eve of the tournament but the 37-year old carded an even par 71, eight shots behind the leader Marcus Fraser of Australia, who finished on eight under par 63. Van Zyl says it wasn’t ideal but didn’t affect him. Van Zyl withdrew from both the British Open and the PGA Championship to be in Rio, when top golfers withdrew citing the fear of Zika virus. He moved into the position to qualify for SA team after Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen withdrew due to the mosquito-carried disease. But he is also not fazed by Zika. The world 96 ranked golfer Brandon Stone carded four over 75 to finish tied in 56th position, alongside Rickie Fowler from USA and Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh. He also downplayed the clubs issue. Stone had a mixed feelings about the golfers who pulled out. But he is happy to be representing South Africa in the Olympics.

Team South Africa is representing the rainbow nation at the Rio Olympics in Brazil, with the target to emulate the 2012 London medal haul of six by winning at least ten medals in these games. Media and volunteers are attending the games for various reasons, and so are the fans to cheer for their respective countries in many different events. They think Rugby Sevens and Athletics will bring SA many medals. They have followed Team SA in the London 2012 Olympics and now in Rio 2016. SABC sport journalist Vincent Sitsula caught up with two fans from South Africa at the Olympic Aquatic centre, Aneldi Bestbier and Ruan De Jager, who are here to cheer the SA team in its quest for winning medals. They are confident that South Africa can get a record number of medals at these Olympic Games.

Chad Le Clos was unsuccessful in his attempt to defend the 200 metre Butterfly event at the Rio Olympics in Brazil on Tuesday night the 9th of August 2016. He finished fourth in the final in 1:54. 06 seconds behind his greatest rival Michael Phelps on 1:53.36 seconds and Masato Sakai from Japan on 1:53.40 seconds. Le Clos won silver in the Men’s 200 metre freestyle on Monday evening the 8th of August 2016. Schoeman, who featured in four Olympics and won three medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics in Greece, says that he did not expect Le Clos not to finish in the podium position. Le Clos beat Phelps in the same event at the London Olympics four years ago. But the American avenged the defeat in the 100 metre Butterfly later on. They will meet again in the 100 metre Butterfly event, which starts on Thursday. Schoeman, who is currently the coach of Trinidad and Tobago, says Le Clos was concerned about Phelps more than himself. The Men’s 4x200 freestyle relay team also failed to reach the final. The team comprising of Myles Brown, Calvyn Justus, Douglas Erasmus and Sebastien Rosseau also finished fifth in their heat in 7:12.61 seconds, and eleventh overall. Le Clos was supposed to be part of that team but chose to focus on his final. Schoeman says it was a calculated move not to have Le Clos in the team.

The Junior World silver medalist Gift Leotlela’s ambition at the Rio Olympics is to emulate his personal best in the 200 metre event. Two weeks ago in Poland the 18-year old came second in the Junior Champs at 20.59 seconds behind Michael Norman of USA. Leotlela will be in action in the heats on Tuesday the 16th. He qualified for the Olympics at the Southern Region Under-20 Championships in Lusaka, Zambia, with a personal best of 20.47 second in June. Leotlela was unsuccessful in the 100 metre final at the Junior Champs finishing fourth. He felt disappointed because this is his favorite event; nonetheless he was relieved that he finished in a podium in the 200 metre with a bronze medal. His schoolmate and fellow Olympian Clarence Munyai finished fourth also in the 200 metre. He says the Champs have prepared him for the Olympics.Leotlela recently competed in the recent African Athletics Championships in Durban, where he was unsuccessful in his bid for a medal in both the 100 and 200 metre events. He is hoping to improve in Rio and build up to the next Olympics in Tokyo, Japan in 2020.Leotlela looks up to the 400 metre world and African champion Wayde van Niekerk as his inspiration. He says he also likes the fact that he is God fearing person. Van Niekerk is one of the medal hopefuls for Team South Africa.Leotlela is a Grade-12 learner at TuksSport High School. He has been travelling extensively across the globe in the last few months and also missed classes in the process. He says they have drawn up a programme for him and Munyai so that they can prepare for their final examination.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) President Gideon Sam has welcomed the first Rio Olympic medal that with Cameron Van Der Burgh last night. Four years after Van Der Burgh had won the 100m backstroke, last night he finished just behind the on from Briton young lad Adam Peaty who improved his own World Record again. But what mattered most for Sam is that the country has started counting on the medal table. SASCOC came here with a projection of 10 medals, up from the six medals that they got in London four years ago. Sam believes that it still doable. Sam says their overall targets now are not just on improving the SA team but also helping the neighbouring countries in Southern Africa to bring big numbers and competitive athletes to the Olympics. This is on the back of some countries in our region like Swaziland sending only two athletes to the Olympics.

The South African Freestyle swimming legend Ryk Neethling is confident that South Africa is standing a very good chance of winning a medal in the 4x100 metre Medley. Neethling said this at the Rio Olympic Aquatic stadium last night. Neethling won an Olympic gold medal in the 4×100 m freestyle relay together with Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns and Darian Townsend at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The men’s 4x100 medley relay team comprises of two Olympic champions Chad Le Clos on Butterfly and Cameron Van der Burgh on Breaststroke. Backstroke swimmer Christopher Reid will also be in the mix. The decision will still be made on who takes part in the Freestyle leg but Myles Brown is the favourite to fill the void.Neethling is the former joint holder of the 4×100 m freestyle relay world record, which was later broken by the USA in 2006. He also competed in four successive Olympic Games from 1996 in Atlanta and 2008 in Beijing, and also holds several South African records in various events. Meanwhile Neethling feels disappointed with the absence of female swimmers in Rio. The 38-year old showed his loyalty for his country by refusing a multimillion-dollar offer by Qatar's Olympic body to switch nationalities and swim for the gulf nation at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Despite lack of adequate support from the corporate world, Swimming brought three medals from the six that team SA accumulated in London four years ago. Neethling says more can be achieved with proper support.

Bert Le Clos shares his thoughts on the Rio 2016 Games versus the London Olympics, he explains as a parent he is extremely nervous. Le Clos Snr feels these Games come with a whole new set of challenges and pressure, with Chad now having a target painted on his back along with the hopes of a gold medal from the whole of South Africa. Brother to Chad Le Clos, Jordan is also extremely passionate about sport, except his love falls for martial arts, mainly a passion for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Bert Le Clos explains Jordan has the same passion for the sport as his older brother shares for swimming. Le Clos Snr feel strongly we could be seeing Jordan in a world championship event for the sport in the near future.

Egyptian swimmer Marwan Elkamash believes that Chad Le Clos will emulate his 2012 Olympics achievements at the Rio games in Brazil. Le Clos, the Olympic, Commonwealth and World champion will be in action on Monday in the Men 200 metre Butterfly event. El Kamash said this after he participated in the heats of the Men’s 400 metre Freestyle event on Saturday. The Egyptian took part in the South African Aquatic Championships and Olympics trials in April in Durban, where he competed with the likes of Le Clos, Myles Brown and Calvyn Justus. Both Elkamash and Le Clos are coached by Graham Hill. El Kamash finished first in heat four in 3:47.43 seconds, but failed to reach the final after he registered the sixteenth fastest time. South African Myles Brown also didn’t make the final in the same event. Brown finished second in heat five but recorded the twelfth fastest time in 3:45.92 seconds.

The men’s coxless pair of Shaun Keeling and Lawrence Brittain have reached the Rio Olympics rowing semi-finals after finishing second in the first heat behind Australian in a time of 6:41.42 at the Lagoa de Freitas stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday morning. They finished fourth overall and will compete again on Tuesday morning. Keeling says the priority was reaching the next stage. The SA’s pair could've easily won the heat, after leading in the 500m, things changed in the last 1500m and Brittain says weather conditions that they aren't used to contributed to their second position.

Ryan Patterson says he has put in the hard work and that the next couple of days will be about preparing mentally for his gymnastic event. The 22-year old Johannesburg-born is the first South African gymnast to feature at the Olympic Games since the country’s return to international sport in 1992. On Saturday Patterson will be in action in the men’s individual event and he says he will spend the last bit of his preparation time getting his mind ready. Patterson moved to the United State of America when he was four years old, but still chooses to compete in South African colours. He is currently a final year business student in California where he grew up. Patterson represented South Africa at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and also impressed at the 2014 and 2016 editions of the World Artistic Championships. He says he feels at home in Team SA. Despite qualifying for the Games on the 16th of April when he finished 44th in the individual all-round at the Rio Olympic Test Event, Patterson only found out at the end of May that he would be representing South Africa in Brazil.

Former Olympic champion Roland Schoeman says the South African swimmers are prepared for the Rio Olympics and all that remains is the mental belief in themselves and their training. Speaking at the SABC studios at the Olympic Park, International Broadcast Centre (IBC, Schoeman says it is normal for swimmers to feel nervous and doubt whether they have rested enough ahead of the start of the tournament. Olympic champion Chad Le Clos made headlines at the London Olympics by winning the 200 butterfly ahead of US’s Michael Phelps. Since then, Phelps, one of the most decorated Olympians of all time, has retired and staged a comeback in the hope of redeeming himself in Rio. Le Clos’ journey and preparation for Rio has not been smooth sailing as he had to deal with an emotional roller coaster but Schoeman believes that this could work in his favour. The are high expectations for the SA swimmers in the medal standings, Schoeman who won a gold medal at the Athens Olympics, believes that the team can put up a solid performance across the board and can walk away with at least four medals.

The Olympic Games is the stage where the world’s top athletes compete for the highest honours but the humanitarian side of these games is also very important. For the first time in the more than 120 years of these games, 10 refugees will compete against the world’s best under the banner of the Olympic Refugee Athletes. This is a joint initiative between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United Nations Refugees Agency (UNHCR). Kenya’s former marathon and world record holder Tegla Loroupe who is the Chef de Mission of the Refugee Olympic Team, emphasized the importance of this programme. Loroupe a two times New York City Marathon champion, two times Rotterdam marathon champion as well as London and Lausanne marathon champion selected the five runners from the Kakuma refugee camp to train at her sports foundation in Nairobi.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had identified 43 potential candidates for inclusion in the Olympic refugee team with the final selection taking various things into consideration. Loroupe explains the criteria used for final selection.It was 11 years ago when Yiech Pur Biel fled his home country of South Sudan and trekked south to Kenya, forced by a fiercest civil war. After living in a refugee camp for 10 years, he only started running competitively a year ago and this month the 21year-old will compete in the Rio Olympics. Biel will be competing in the 800m after starting only competitive running last year and says their lives would never be the same after these games. Anjelina Lohalith is one of the five athletes in this Olympic Refugee campaign who comes from the famous Kakuma refugee camp, which sits on the border of Kenya and South Sudan. Lohalith who left home at the age of six in 2001 when her country was gripped by civil war and violence says their participation in the Rio Olympics will give millions of refugees around the world some hope. The Kakuma refugee camp is one of the largest in the world with over 179 000 refugees and according to Rose Lokonyen who is part of the five runners life is not easy there especially for women. In 1999, James Chiengjik who hails from an area of Bentiu in South Sudan also fled his country after his father who was a soldier was killed during the second Sudanese civil war. At only the age of 13, Chiengjiek left South Sudan and escaped to Kenya as a refugee to avoid being recruited by rebels and be forced to be a child soldier. Yesterday on the 02 of August 2016 he told SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli that this initiative would go a long way towards changing the lives of refugees and giving them hope. At 18, Yusra Mardini is the youngest athlete in this group of Olympic Refugees. The Syrian born swimmer crossed from Turkey into Greece in inflatable boat (swimming after its motor had stopped) before crossing Europe by train through mainland Greece, the Balkans, Hungary and Austria to eventually reach Germany where she now lives and trains.The IOC set aside about $2million for this project and were helped by the National Olympic Committees (NOC’s) to put it together. Mardini whose parents also fled Syria for Germany where they have all settled now, says refugees deserve to be treated with some respect too.

All the athletes from around the globe will battle for supremacy when the Rio Olympics officially get underway in Brazil on the 5th of August 2016. But most importantly three sets of medals, Gold, Silver and Bronze will be on display to be won by top achieving athletes. The Rio 2016 Organising Committee presented the official Rio 2016 Olympic Games medals to the broadcast media at the International Broadcast Centre (IBC). The medals have been designed by the Brazilian Mint with both innovation and sustainability at their heart, using recycled and sustainability source materials, whilst guaranteeing the level of purity required in these precious metals. Alexander Lee, who is in the communication department for the Organizing Committee explained the significance of the occasion.A total of 2488 medals have been produced, 812 gold, 812 silver and 864 bronze medals each weighing 500 grams. Engraved by laser on the outside edge of each medal is the event it is intended for. They are accompanied by a pendant with a serial number which is paired to each medal. The first Gold medal available is in the Women’s 10 metre rifle on the 6th of August.Sustainability is a key feature of the medal’s production. Gold is 100 percent Mercury free, Silver is made of 30 percent Recycled Materials and Bronze is 40 percent Recycled copper. Sustainability is also integral to the medal’s other features. The lanyard is made from 50 percent Recycled plastic bottles. The front of the medals feature laurel leaves in the form of the wreaths awarded competition winners.

Gold medal hopeful paralympian archer Shaun Anderson says representing South Africa at the upcoming Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will be a dream come true in just over a month from now. The Paralympics Games are scheduled to start on eptember 7th-18.th The 43-year-old, who overcame a life-threatening illness and had to remodel his shooting action in the past two years, says he is honored to be part of Team South Africa. The Tuks Archery Club member, Anderson, says he believes that he is thoroughly prepared with the hope of returning with a medal. The para-archer won Gold at the Archery National and World Champs last year, competing with able-bodied people, to reaffirm his challenge for a medal in Rio. Anderson thanked his support structure for their continuous support during the difficult times in preparation for the Paralympics. After sacrificing and losing almost everything including his job in order to live his dream of representing South Africa a the Paralympics, Anderson mostly thank his immediate family for the extra support. Nicknamed ‘The One Arm Bandit, ’Anderson adds that the key to achieving anything in life is believing in one’s self and their ability.

Boxing South Africa (BSA) president Ntambi Ravele has confirmed that BSA officials including Archie Nyingwa have opened a case of assault GBH ( intention to do grievous bodily harm) with the Thohoyandou police this weekend against Philip Ndou. The former welterweight champion had his boxing license application declined just days to his non title fight with Malawian Chimwemwe Chiotcha , due to medical reasons. In a letter where they declined the application, the BSA also requested a meeting with Ndou’s camp to discuss a way forward.Ravele adds that this complicates matters between BSA and Ndou’s camp because they cannot institute disciplinary procedures as it’s in the hands of the law. Though the 39 year old went back to apologize for his behavior Ravele reveals that they hadn’t received any formal apology from the boxer or his manager.

The University of Pretoria in conjunction with Tuks Sport and their High Performance Centre yesterday the 28th of July 2016 bid farewell to the remainder of their 2016 Rio bound Olympians and Paralympians in Pretoria. Tuks Sport Director Kobus van de Walt addressed Tuks Sport officials, families and the media in bidding bon voyage to the athletes and the coaches with great anticipation of Gold in return. Van der Walt says that he is confident of fruitful Olympic games for both the youngsters and the experienced campaigners. Without putting up a number, Van de Walt says he is also confident that Tuks Sport athletes will beat their three medals contribution made at the London 2012 Olympics this time around. The send-off also included Tuks Sport Paralympians Emily Gray(swimmer) and Shaun Anderson(Archer) who will also be heading to Rio for the event from 7-18 September. Van de Walt says both athletes have experienced hard times in the past couple of years to get to the stages they are on...

With the launch of the 2016 Soweto marathon already done and dusted it is no surprise that this year’s event promises more excitement and interest after all stakeholders have gone all out to pledge further support. The race takes place later on this year on the ninth of November with FNB Stadium set to be the start and finish points of the race. The Nedbank running club will feature some of its top runners and team manager Nick Bester has more. The 2016 Comrades ladies champion Charne Bosman says the Soweto Marathon is close to her heart as this year’s event will be on her birthday and she has taken part in previous events. The route is set to attract lots of interest as it goes through lots of monumental sites darted around Soweto and these include the; Hector Pieterson memorial, Vilakazi street, Walter Sisulu square and the Chris Baragwanath Hospital. Bosman explains how she has had to undergo some recovery but goes on to promise that she will be prepared for the race come end of the year. Another former Comrades Marathon runner Claude Moshiywa committed to giving his all for this race and he will be getting support from his team.

The Namibian National Olympic Committee (NNOC) has released the names of the ten athletes that will represent Namibia at next month’s Rio Olympic Games in Brazil. This includes four marathon runners (three women and one male) that made the grade to represent Namibia. Namibian Athletics Federastion (NAF) secretary general Erwin Maimhwaka said that there is a dispute that needed to be resolved before the team depart with regards to track and field athletes qualification status.

The 2016 Old Mutual Soweto Marathon is set to bring back the ‘Kasi vibe’ in and around the South Western Townships(Soweto) with the 42 km marathon getting better and bigger every year. The Soweto Marathon Trust together with their partners and sponsors, launched the budding event on Thursday, 21 July with a number of new initiatives incorporated. Soweto Marathon Trust chairperson Sello Khunou said they are anticipating their biggest race to date. With the target number of runners expected this year raised to 25 000, Khunou calls on athletes to register and start training in due time ahead of the November 6 meeting.

A classy performance by Raven Klaasen and Ruan Roelofse in the doubles on Saturday kept South Africa’s chances alive in their second round Euro/Africa Group II Davis Cup tie against Lithuania in Kaunas. The South African duo beat Lukas Mugevicius and Laurynas Grigelis of Lithuania 6-1 6-1 6-3 in a quick 96 minutes. South African Captain, Marcos Ondruska questioned Lithuana’s use of their singles players in the doubles format coming into the last day which involves the final two singles games. Vorster went down 7-6 (1) 3-6 3-6 2-6 to Lithuanian number one Laurynas Grigelis whilst Harris despite winning the opening set and having a double break advantage in the second set crashed out to Lukas Mugevicius (LTU) 6-3 6-7 (5) 0-6 4-6. Ondruksa motivated why he chose the duo for the singles ties on day one.Ondruska also spoke about Tucker Vorster and the confidence the number two ranked SA Davis cup team member seems to be playing with and the team captain feel the team is capable of coming back stronger.

Beijing Olympics silver medallist Khotso Mokoena and two-time World Championships bronze medallist Sunette Viljoen will appear at their fourth Olympic Games. They will join Ryk Neethling and Henrik Ramaala as four-time Olympians – the most by any South African to date. Van Niekerk and Semenya will spearhead the track and field team, while rising stars Clarence Munyai and Gift Leotlela, and Jacob Rozani were also included in the team. Athletics South Africa President Aleck Skhosana is disappointed that some athletes, whom they have invested a lot of money in didn’t make the team, but excited for Munyai and Leotlela.

Team South Africa accumulated six medals in the 2012 London Olympics and with hopes high this time around, Sascoc deputy president Gert Oosthuizen says he is confident of more in Rio...

Namibia has been allocated a spot in the men's elite road cycling for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games. This continues Namibia’s recent participation in the men’s road races with Erik Hoffmann having represented Namibia at Beijing 2008 and Dan Craven at London 2012. It also shows the southern African nation’s rich tradition in elite cycling. The Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) and the Namibia Cycling Federation are upbeat that a formal invitation from the International Cycling Federation affirms Namibian Cycling as up there with the very best in the world. NNOC Secretary General Erwin Maimhwaka explains.

Caster Semenya won gold medal in the women 1500 metre event, to become an African champion on the third day of the 20th African Senior Athletics Championships in Durban last night. The 2012 Olympic silver medalist ran an impressive time of 04minutes:01.99 seconds to set a new championship record, which was also the second fastest time in South Africa in the event. Semenya will be running in the 800m event at the Olympics and she is undecided on the 400m event. Semenya is happy that she is competing in three events as a build up to the Olympics. She will be competing in the Diamond league meeting in Monaco in the next few weeks to fine tune her preparations. She says that her main goal now is to break the SA record.

South Africa’s Khotso Mokoena has won bronze medal in the men’s Triple Jump final, on the penultimate day of the 20th African Senior Athletics Championships in Durban Saturday night the 25th of June. The 31-year old managed to jump in 16.77m to finish third behind the winner and gold medalist Tosin Oke from Nigeria, who jumped 17.13m, and the second placed Fabrice Zango from Burkina Faso in 16.81m. Mokoena has also qualified for the Rio Olympics, which will be his third global games. He is thrilled to qualify and says it will be his last Olympics. Mokoena who holds the national records in both events, won the silver medal in the Long Jump at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, which was the only medal South Africa won at those games and says that the Triple jump is more technical.

Cornel Fredericks is yet to qualify for the Olympics after he disappointingly finished sixth in the men’s 400m final in 49.82seconds. The race was won by Boniface Mucheru from Kenya in 49.20 seconds. To make matters worse he also failed to defend his title he won in Morocco two years ago. Fredericks has failed to qualify in five races so far and he is left with two races to still make the Olympic cut.

The 400 meter world champion Wayde van Niekerk is adamant that pressure will not affect him at the Rio Olympics in Brazil in August. Van Niekerk has arguably become South Africa’s new poster boy after his exploits at the World Championships in Beijing, China last year. The Cape-Town born athlete stunned the then world champion LaShawn Merrit and current Olympic champion Kirani James to win gold medal. The spotlight at the global games will undoubtedly fall on him after the demise of the world renowned Oscar Pistorious, but he is confident he is going to cope under the circumstances. Van Niekerk has been competing in the diamond league in Europe to prepare for the Olympics in recent weeks. He won at the inaugural Adidas Boost Games in Boston at the weekend, where he clocked 44.28 seconds, crossing the line just outside his season’s best set in Bloemfontein in April. He will also feature at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA)’s 20th Senior Championships in Durban from Wednesday until Sunday. Van Niekerk says his coach and agent will help him not to suffer from burnout leading to the Olympic.

Experience and a good fighting strategy won Simphiwe “Chain Reaction” Khonco his maiden and vacant IBO world title fight on unanimous points decision against Siyabonga “Smiling Assassin” Siyo at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park Saturday night the 11th of June 2016. This was the view of Khonco after seeing the judges comfortably scoring the bout in his favour 112-116, 112-116 and 110-118, having fought a good and convincing fight. Khonco’s record improved to 16 wins and five losses and says his overall strategy was to draw Siyo into his fight plan. Khonco also becomes a rare world champion from Mthatha as most successful boxers in the Eastern Cape come from East London. This was his first fight under his new stable, Hotbox Gym that is ran by Colin Nathan and feels that the result says all about the move.

New Springbok backline coach Mzwandile Stick says that the camp in Stellenbosch ahead of the series against Ireland beginning on the 11th of June has been a wonderful experience so far. The former Eastern Province Kings and national sevens star says he feels the team is on the right track and he’s really enjoying working with Louis Koen and Johann Van Graan, and of course with head coach Allister Coetzee. Stick says that the work they have been doing on attack has been going very well, and he is pleased to be working closely with attacking coach Johann Van Graan, who he looks up to. Stick, who played a major role for the Blitzboks in recent years, says that there are things like hard work and discipline that he can help bring from the sevens’ game, but he will also be learning from those around him who know the Springbok culture well.

South African long distance runner Lusapho April is excited and honoured to be part of SA’s marathon team for the 2016 Rio Olympics. The 34-year-old April from Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape qualified for the Olympics after he won the Hannover Marathon in Germany in a time of 02:11:25 two months ago. Having won the Hannover Marathon a record three times, April is now gunning for an Olympic medal something, which he says, would be good as he and Zimmerman are celebrating 20 years of working together.

Athletics South Africa (ASA) coach Hezekial Sepeng says he is disappointed by the withdrawal of several professional athletes from the ASA Relays Night Series 4 held at the Old Peter Mokaba stadium last night. Most of the top track athletes are competing in meetings on the continent and abroad preparing for or trying to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games. The 1996 Atlanta Olympics silver medallist also believes the current crop of track athletes in the country have what it takes to perform well for a long period.

After finishing the third edition of the Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League (BFNPL) round robin stage unbeaten with eight wins from nine matches and one draw to their name, the North West Flames have put their hands up for this year’s title ahead of the decisive leg at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban this weekend. The Flames drew against second semi-finalists the Gauteng Jaguars (52-all in JHB) in Week 4 of the tournament. Flames captain Nadia Uys says they have grown from strength to strength as a team.

Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula has assured the newly appointed Boxing South Africa’s (BSA’s) CEO Tsholofelo Lejaka that he is got his full support in enforcing the law and regulations in the sport. Lejaka was introduced Friday 20 May 2016, during a press conference in Pretoria alongside newly appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Thabang Moses and Director of Operations Sabelo Silinga. Lejaka replaces Moffat Qithi who was released from his contract last year in controversial circumstances. Mbalula has blamed weak leadership for the problems that BSA has had in the past and says that the appointment of Lejaka should deal with these elements that continue to derail the progress of boxing. Mbalula also announced that they’ve set aside R7million for the establishment of the South African National Amateur Boxing Organization’s (SANABO) new Open Boxing League that is aimed at fast-tracking the development of boxers.

South Africa’s top men’s singles wheelchair tennis ace Evans Maripa says his goal is to cause an upset or two at this year’s Paralympics to be staged in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Maripa has been quietly going on about his business in preparing for the event and has already set his targets.

The organisers of the boxing extravaganza held in Seshego outside Polokwane last Friday night the 29th of April 2016 apologised for the confusion about the national anthem at their event. Prior the main bout (IBO Welterweight title) between Tsiko Mulovhedzi and Jesus Gurrola the sound technicians played one of South Africa’s old anthems and also mixed the sequence in which anthems are played. Though the right anthem was played at the end of the fight in the right order one of the consortium’s directors Ayanda Matiti admits what happened is inexcusable.

On the eve of the Limpopo boxing extravaganza to be held in Seshego, Polokwane tonight the 29th of April 2016, the former world champion Vuyani Bungu says that people need to recognize the history will be made in Limpopo. The event will feature four international sanctioned bouts and the former IBF junior-featherweight & WBU featherweight champion says, the local boxers need to understand the privilege of carrying the nation’s hopes on their shoulders. Bungu is also part of the group that is hosting the event, the consortium of African promoters and trades under Ncita- Bungu Promotions with his partner being another former IBF world champion Welcome Ncita. He says for the bouts in Limpopo he has no fighters however supporting fellow promoters.

Athletes in Zambia have embarked on an intensive training ahead of the Rio Olympics later this year 2016. Already two ladies have already qualified in athletics and judo respectively. The major announcement for those who would qualify for the Rio multi-faceted sporting spectacle would be announced next month. Zambian Olympics Committee (ZOC) president Miriam Moyo explains. Zambia won a boxing medal in the light fly-weight division in Los Angeles in 1984 when Keith Mwila displayed amazing spirit and courage in the midst of adversity. Samuel Matete also won a medal in the 400m hurdles in Atlanta 1996. Zambia athletes, who show promise will be funded to travel abroad for training ahead of the Rio Olympics, Although funding for the athletes remains a challenge Zambia Olympic Committee.

Reigning IBO lightweight Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni says he knew he was going to stop Tanzanian boxer Emilio “Prince Kilimanjaro” Nofart. Ndongeni took only 62 seconds to end his fight against Nofarty at the Orient Theatre, in East London on Friday night, 22 April. As a result of winning that non-title fight, which was scheduled for 10 rounds, Ndongeni has stretched his unbeaten record to 21 wins. Nofart, who was speaking through an interpreter, says he doesn’t know what happened to him as he has fought against better boxers than Ndongeni, and 35-year-old former WBA and IBO featherweight champion Simphiwe “V12” Vetyeka has spoken about how tough the 22-year-old Japanese boxer Tsuyoshi Tameda was during their 10-round contest last night. Tameda, speaking through an interpreter, admitted that Vetyeka was indeed a better and skilful boxer compared to him. Yohei Tobe, speaking through an interpreter, hailed Luzuko Siyo whom he stopped in the seventh round during their WBA International junior-bantamweight title. Tobe says Siyo is a good boxer though the Japanese had an easy night against the Duncan Village-born lad. Siyo’s father and trainer Ben Mtyaliselo said that his charge’s mistakes contributed to his loss. Mtyaliseko adds that they are going back to the drawing board and will work the mistakes, which cost them the fight.

Last Saturday, South Africa’s 5000m specialist and one of the middle and long distance respected runners in the country Elroy Gelant helped Stephen Mokoka run an Olympic qualifying time in the 10 000m as he entered as a pacesetter during the South African Seniors Championship at Coetzenburg in Stellenbosch. Mokoka who had already qualified for the 10 000m in the US last year praised Gelant for this good gesture after he paced the race for him for the first 4000m. Three days later, Gelant was back on the track this time trying to help runners like Dumisani Hlaselo who were trying to achieve Olympic qualifying time in the 1500m at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Nite Series in Port Elizabeth last night, unfortunately it wasn’t to be. Meanwhile it has emerged that the African Athletics Championships, which would also serve as the last hope for some athletes to qualify for the Olympics, could be moved from Durban to Pretoria due to challenges with the track at Kings Park Athletic stadium. Gladwin Mzazi who also failed to run a qualifying time in the 5000m, says moving the championships to inland will affect the middle and long distance runners big time.

The third leg of the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Nite Series failed to live up to the expectations and not a single athlete managed to run an Olympic qualifying time at the Nelson Mandela Metro University stadium on the 18th of April. With the race very close to the SA Senior championships that ended this past Saturday in Stellenbosch, most athletes complained that the travelling also affected them as well. Long distance runner Gladwin Mzazi was attempting to run the 5000m Olympic qualifying time of 13min:25.00secs but he only finished in 13min:54.99secs. He also failed to qualify for the London Olympics. In the 1500m---Dumisani Hlaselo was hoping to finish inside the required qualifying time of 3min:36.20secs but also fell short as he only managed to win the race in 3min:39.49secs ahead of Jerry Motsau (3min:39.74) and Jeromy Andreas (3min:43.37secs). Hlaselo who is studying at University of Johannesburg will now focus on making the qualification time overseas, as his studying time will take priority. But one man who was content with what he achieved last night, was London Olympics 800m silver medalist Nigel Amos of Botswana who cruised to win the 400m in 45.73 secs. Amos who is based at the North West University in Potchefstroom is using the shorter distance to work on his endurance.

Limpopo province will be the scene of double celebrations of sporting and political significance at the end of the month. The celebrations of freedom and democracy will be staged in Giyani on the 27th, while boxing will be hosted in Seshego at the Ngoako Ramathlodi indoor sports centre two days later. The tournament will feature four international fights headlined by the IBO Welterweight title fight between Tsiko Mulovhedzi and Mexican Jesus Gurrola. The renowned boxing promoter Ayanda Matiti, who is part of the consortium of African promoters will be organising the tournament. He says it will be great for the events to happen in the province

The Athletics international season programme is just getting underway and most South African athletes will be jumping on the European season as they up the stakes in their preparation for the Rio Olympics. Fresh from making history by being the first SA athlete to complete a triple, winning three events (400m, 800m and 1500m) on the same day during the SA Senior Championships in Stellenbosch this past weekend, the former world champion and Olympic silver medalist Caster Semenya says that she is gearing up for the tough IAAF Diamond League season and she looks at the required time that will enable her to come back with the gold medal in Rio in August.

At this very same venue last year, Mokoka broke a 20year-old 5000m SA record, finishing in 13:10.89 and he was helped by this special Stellenbosch crowd. He was fully appreciative of the support he’s getting in this past of the land…

Another special performance of the day came from SA’s middle distance king of the moment Stephen Mokoka who finished in an Olympic qualifying time of 27:57.51 to win the 10 000m gold medal finishing ahead of Gladwin Mzazi (28:28.68) and Sibusiso Nzima (28:36.85) respectively. With this performance, he completed a double having defended his 5000m title yesterday. Mokoka had 5000m specialist Elroy Gelant helping him with pace setting earlier in the race and he believes that this worked perfectly …

Former World Champion and Olympic silver medalist Caster Semenya completed a glorious weekend at the South African Senior Championships, as she became the first SA athlete to win a triple at Coetzenburg stadium in Stellenbosch today. Earlier on the day Semenya first won the 400m title in 50.74 seconds then followed up with her main event the 800m title in 1:58.46 and rounded off the triple with the 1500m gold medal taking it in 4:10.93. Racing in front of a cheerful and supportive crowd, Semenya expressed her happiness with this weekend’s performance and says she also surprised herself…

Coming to these championships, Semenya already had the momentum on her side having qualified for both the 400m and 800m in the Olympics. She didn’t have an explosive start in the 1500m and says it was part of her tactical run…

With the focus on the track on the first day of the SA Senior Athletics Championships at Coetzenburg stadium in Stellenbosch, Victor Hogan turned on the heat when he threw a massive 67.82m in the discus today to qualify for the Rio Olympics. 26year-old and this throw is certainly going to attract some invitations in the European season

Brad Tandy and Douglas Erasmus have enhanced their chances of qualifying for the Rio Olympics in Brazil, on the sixth day morning session of the SA National Aquatic Championship and Olympic trials in Durban. Only two fastest swimmers who post the qualifying times will book their tickets to Brazil, and the names will be confirmed tonight in the final. Tandy finished first in the heat ten of the Men 50 metre Freestyle event, clocking twenty two point one three seconds (22:13). The required Olympic time is twenty two point two seven seconds (22:27). Erasmus also didn’t harm his chances of qualifying for the global showpiece with a strong performance also in the same event. He finished first in the heat eleven, posting twenty two point two six seconds (22.26), narrowly dipping below the required Olympic time of twenty two point two seven seconds (22.27).

Stephen Mokoka has defended his South African 5000m national title beating favourite Elroy Gelant to the finishing line winning the race in 13:40.82 ahead of Gelant at the South African Senior Track and Field Championships at Coetzenburg stadium in Stellenbosch. Last year Mokoka did a double at these national champs, winning both the 10 000m and the 5 000m but it was in the latter where he excelled most smashing Shadrack Hoff’s 20-year-old national record of 13:14.16. The 31year-old from Mahikeng in the North West has already qualified for the Rio Olympics in three events the 5000m, 10 000m and the marathon.

When the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Senior Track and Field Championships get underway at the Coetzenburg stadium in Stellenbosch today the 15th of April 2016, one family that will be filled with emotions and tears of joy would certainly be the Manyonga family. Luvo’s mother, Joyce Manyonga (57) says that four years ago they watched with disbelief and sadness as the country’s Olympic medal hopeful was banned for 18 months after having tested positive for a drug that is ravaging youth in the Western Cape. Mrs Manyonga says it was a difficult moment for her son when he found out about his drug ban, aged 21 at the time she says Luvo even contemplated suicide back then. The Manyonga credit The SASCOC president Gideon Sam who personally visited his home to make sure he returns to big time sport and the boy didn’t disappoint as he qualified for the Rio Olympics early last month jumping 8.20 metres with ease in a league meeting.

Interestingly, Manyonga received a call from SASCOC and Tuks HPC whilst he was still at an initiation school in Lady Frere in the Eastern Cape, in March last year 2016 where his family originates from. But Luvo Manyonga’s father, Vumani says that when his son was making his come back, his long-time coach at the University of Stellenbosch Mario Smith died in a car accident in 2014, he recalls that time as one of the most challenging times because the accident happened while Smith was on his way from Stellenbosch to meet with Luvo at Mbekweni in Paarl. Manyonga Senior says that they were worried about the future but Luvo remained positive because he had made a name for his himself.

The South African Football Association (SAFA) schools programme gets underway this coming weekend on the 16th of April 2016 when the inter Local Football Associations (342) (LFA’s) are expected to start with a tournament in all the 52 regions, catering for the U/13 and U/17’s both boys and girls. The league system for the two age groups is expected to start next Wednesday on the 20th of April 2016.Last week SASFA also announced the extension of their sponsorship with McDonalds for the next three years to add another sponsorship renewal with Coca Cola.The Motsepe Foundation, SASFA will sponsor the U/19 tournament with Nestle focusing on the U/13 boys and girls tournaments at primary schools level.Meanwhile, the comparison between football and netball could be a bit unfair given how big the game of billions is but it’s also fair enough to hear how does Netball South Africa deals with schools netball, Motsepe says that’s why he’s focusing on these two sporting codes whose grassroots programmes covers a broader base.

Marlies Ross failed to make it for the Rio Olympics, after she came first in the heats of Women 100 meter Freestyle event, registering fifty seven point eight seven seconds (57.87), just over three seconds of the required Olympic time of fifty four point four three seconds (54.43).Ross recently moved to the US where she is under the guidance of a new coach. Ross has also recorded the fastest time of all the heats followed by Felicity Passon and Emma Chelius.

Christopher Reid came very close to qualify for another event in the Rio Olympics in Brazil, on the Men 200 meters Backstroke in the heats, on the fifth day of SA National Aquatic Championship and Olympic trial in Durban.He posted one minute, fifty eight point six five seconds (1:58:65), just short of the required Olympic time of one minute, fifty eight point two seconds (1:58:22).The Port Elizabeth born swimmer is already going to Rio Olympics in Brazil for the 100 meter Backstroke event.

Christopher Reid became the fifth South African to qualify for the Rio Olympics in Brazil on the second day of the SA National Aquatic Championship and Olympic trial in Durban. He came first in the men 100 metre Backstroke event in the heats posting fifty three point one two seconds (53.12). The University of Alabama student in the US dipped below the required Olympic qualification of fifty four point three six seconds (54.36). Reid was happy to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in style beating the long standing record of Zandberg. He says to go to the Olympic Games you must do something phenomenal.

Craig Groenewald has also booked his ticket to the Rio Paralympic games after coming first in the 100 metres Breaststroke in the (SB14). He clocked an impressive one minute, twelve point three seconds ahead of Challis Wright and Aaron Putz, while Kevin Paul has qualified for his second Paralympic event after finishing first in the 100 metres Breaststroke, SB9 event. He clocked an impressive qualifying time of one minute, five point one zero second. Paul had already qualified for the games in the 200 metres Individual Medley on day one of the championships. He says his great time is the morale booster for the Rio games.

Swimming sensation Chad Le Clos has added another event for the Rio Olympics on the second day of the SA National Aquatic Championships and Olympic trials in Durban. Le Clos finished first in the semifinals of the 200 metres Freestyle event, posting 1:47:88. The Durban born swimmer comfortably dipped below the required Olympic qualifying time of 1:48.80.

Cameron van der Burgh won gold medal in the 100 metres Breaststroke, after finishing in 59.66 seconds, which was an improvement of his semifinal time. Van Der Burgh, who had already qualified for the Olympics on day one on this event, has already posted the Olympic qualifying time three times in the Championships. He is happy that he is consistent but not pleased with his time

KwaZulu-Natal Kingdom Stars player, Bongiwe Msomi was a head and shoulder above the rest in their match against Eastern Cape Aloes and for her afford she was awarded a R5000-00 cheque together with a player of the match trophy. The Proteas midfield ace inspired Stars to a 46-26 win over Aloes in their only match of the weekend and instead of taking all the credit the forever humble Msomi lauded her fellow teammates for the job well done, According to Msomi the little award she got will serve as good motivation for her fellow teammates.

University of Pretoria coach Shaun Bartlett hailed their Absa Premiership victory over relegation rivals Maritzburg United on Saturday the 9th of April 2016 as a massive result in the context of the season. Amatuks came from a goal down to smash the Team of Choice 4-2 in what was a six-pointer at the Harry Gwala Stadium. Despite their progress up the table, Bartlett highlighted the importance of now kicking on and building on the result. The Cape town born Star also explained how he had learnt from his previous experience of fighting relegation two seasons back he was partly in charge of Lamontville Golden Arrows in their failed survival bid, although he was only appointed when the club already looked doomed.

Movie star and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger is coming to South Africa next month, May, with his Arnold Classic Africa Games with the inaugural event set to be held at the Sandton Convention Centre from the 27th until the 29th. The multi-sport event is part of a vision shared by Schwarzenegger that has seen it taking place in other continents for close to three decades. This event is coming for the first time to Africa, thanks to partnership between the organizers and the South Africa Sports Confederations and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) as well as the Gauteng Department of Sport and Recreation. Wayne Price is the Arnold Classic Africa partner and looks back at the history of these games.

The road to the 31’st Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro at Brazil in August 2016 is intensifying for Team South Africa this weekend as Swimming South Africa starts it’s week long Olympic trials at the Kings Park Aquatic Centre in Durban on Sunday. Whilst big names and medal hopefuls like Chad Le Clos and Cameron Van der Burgh have already qualified in their main events, more swimmers will be looking to add to the list until the event finishes next weekend. The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) President Gideon Sam says that they are not only anticipating a big team but also people who are going to bring medals.

Free State Crinums vice-captain Lauren-Lee Christians, says that they are anticipating an extremely tough Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League third season which kicks off in Pretoria tonight, the 8th of April 2016, 18h00 at the Heartfelt Arena. The two-time BFNPL champions, Free State Crinums, get their title defense underway against a strong Gauteng Jaguars outfit in the first of two games. Christians says that with players having moved around to other teams for this season, they are expecting an even tougher tournament but she believes that if they focus on their ultimate objective and they can rewrite the history books and win the title again.

The deputy minister of Sport and Recreation Gert Oosthuizen yesterday the 4th of April 2016 commended the upcoming Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League tournament schedule to start this Friday at the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria. Addressing the media and the guests on behalf of the absent Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, Oosthuizen said that Netball SA is moving to the right direction with the league and the development of the sport in the country, he also calls on Netball SA to equally invest as much as they have done with the BFNPL in their provincial structures and leagues as well.

Although netball is not yet an Olympic recognized sport, Netball South Africa is undoubtedly leading the African continent in striving to professionalize the vastly growing sport code in the country and beyond. This comes after Netball SA today launched the 3rd edition of the Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League (BFNPL) scheduled to get underway this Friday at the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria. Netball SA president Mimi Mthethwa says with the slight change in the league structure as well, they are anticipating a fruitful tournament again this year. Mthethwa says they achieved their ultimate goal in the first two seasons and now it is time to elevate the standard and broaden the standard of competition across the board. Mthethwa also reiterates that talks are currently being held by all the countries in their respective continents, together with the International Netball Federation, to meet certain requirements needed for the sport to be officially credited as an Olympic sport for both women and men

Paralympic gold medalists and veteran South African sprint king Hilton Langenhoven says he is pleased with having achieved A qualifying standards in the 200metres, 400metres and long jump for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games on the last day of the Nedbank National Championships for the Physically Disabled. Langenhoven was particularly satisfied with his effort in the 400metres while battling head winds in the long jump……The 32-year-old Langenhoven had a heavy schedule at the championships having to participate in the heats and finals of the 200 and 400metres while also juggling the long jump but the former Commonwealth Games gold medalist says it was more a battle of the mind than the body……Langenhoven is confident that he will make the final cut for Team South Africa to participate in his fourth Paralympic Games having begun his career in Athens in 2004 and says his main focus events will be the 400metress and long jump……

wo time Paralympic gold medalist Fanie van der Merwe says 2016 is his bonus year after a decade long career that saw him win gold medals in the 100metres (T37) at the 2008 and 2012 Beijing and London Paralympic Games, respectively, and also won a gold in the 200metres (T37) in Beijing. Van der Merwe confirmed that would be his last season as an athlete after winning the 100metres and 200metres (T37) at the Nedbank National Championships for the Physically Disabled last night……Van der Merwe finishes his career on the national scene in the City of Roses which is co-incidentally the same place where he participated in his first national championships ten years ago. Van der Merwe will be involved in the sport for the physically disabled in the future as a coach and mentor and has already started an outreach programme in Stellenbosch to unearth new stars in the Paralympic movement…..

Olympian medalist Caster Semenya and middle distance runner Elroy Gelant grabbed the headlines at the second Athletics South Africa (ASA) Nite Series at the Greenpoint Athletics Stadium in Cape Town last night (Tuesday, 22 March 2016). The two athletes grabbed Olympic qualifying times in their respective events. Gelant ran a time of 13:20:70 in the 5000 metres race, almost five seconds under the qualifying time of 13:25:00, while Semenya’s 2:00:23 time in the 800 metre race was well under the 2:01:50 qualifying time, and the fastest 800m run in the world this year. Semenya says she is very happy to have got the Olympic qualifying time, and to have achieved what they’ve been training for.

Arnu Fourie says that he is impressed and excited with the fast times run by South African sprinters this year, and hope that it can carry on for many years to come and not just in an Olympic year. Fourie says that he believes South Africa can produce many more medal contenders in Olympic games and world championships and hopeful that the men’s 4x100 metres relay team could be a surprise package at the Rio Olympic Games. He already has identified 15 year-old double amputee Ntando Mahlangu as one of the stars of the future and a sprinter that will shine at this week’s championship.

Paralympic gold medalist and sprint sensation Arnu Fourie is eager to replicate the good performances by world champion Wayde van Niekerk at the same track in Bloemfontein where Van Niekerk became the first man in history to run a sub 10 seconds in the 100 metres, a sub 20 seconds in the 200 metres along with his sub 44 seconds in the 400 metres. Fourie’s ultimate goal though, is to be the fastest blade runner on earth and is desperate to get his hands on Paralympic gold in the 100 and 200 metres in the T44.

Mdantsane-born boxer Zolani “Last Born” Tete has return home after he won the then vacant IBF International crown following a seventh round stoppage of Mexican boxer Jose Santos Gonzalez at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England, last Saturday the 12th of March 2016. Having fought most of his fights overseas in recent years, the former World Boxing Foundation flyweight champion says fighting away from home doesn’t bother him at all. Tete also revealed that he did not have an easy ride while preparing to fight Gonzalez.

The 23 year-old Strauss says Pace has always been her role model and she strives to be like her. Even though Pace has been the bench marker for a while and a role model for most young and upcoming South African stars, Strauss says she should not rest on her laurels as she is in for a tough competition.

The American based golfer Bertine Strauss intensified her rivalry with Lee-Anne Pace who won her third successive tournament and the final event of the 2015/2016 season during the Investec Cup Final. Strauss attained an unbelievable five strokes at Millvale Private Retreat in Koster North West, yesterday the 15th of march 2016.The bubbly North West born, Strauss earned herself LPGA Tour card for the 2016 season at the grueling Final Stage Qualifier at Hill and Jones Course to join the American tour.

South Africa’s most successful boxing trainer and Johannesburg-based mentor Nick Durandt says the standard of the sport in this country has gone down considerably in the past decade. Durandt, who announced earlier this week that he is in his final year as a boxing trainer, reckons a lot has gone wrong with the fistic sport. He believes a television blackout between 2010 and last year contributed to the current state of SA boxing.

Meanwhile the reigning SA double sprint champion Carina Horn, became the first female sprinter to qualify for the Rio Olympics when she won the 100m in 11.23 secs. She finished ahead of Alyssa Conley who came second in 11.29 and also achieved an Olympic qualifying time. Horn says now with the qualification time in the bag, her next target is the SA record .....

South Africa’s 100m champion and national record holder, believes that his best is yet to come and he can still run faster than his current times. He was speaking after setting a new SA 100m record, finishing in 9.96 seconds at the inaugural Athletics South Africa (ASA) Nite Series at Pilditch stadium in Pretoria last night the 7th of March. Simbine broke the previous record of 9.97, which he and compatriot Henricho Bruintjies had set last year...

It was only the first race of the year for the University of Pretoria marketing student Akani Simbine’s, with the bigger picture being the Rio Olympics in August the aim is always not to pick up too early and Simbine says this new record won’t change his season’s plans. With a long season ahead and competitive still to come, Simbine believes that the SA record will be broken a couple of times leading to Rio....

A dominant South African Davis Cup display ensured a 5-0 win over Luxembourg at the Irene Country Club in Pretoria, but the more impressive outcome this past week the 4th of March 2016 is the emergence of 19 year old tennis rising star Lloyd Harris, who won both his singles matches clinically capping it all with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Alex Knaff. Harris says despite this being his first call up he came through comfortably with the wins. The upcoming star has been in the Futures tour and only last week played his first ATP Challenge in Japan making quarter-finals after dispatching Japanese fifth seed Hiroki Moriya 4-6 6-3 7-6 (4) he has more.

It is arguably the highlight of the road cycling calendar and sees many enthusiasts eager to take to the Mother City’s scenic roads just to be a part of it. The largest timed cycling event in the world, the Cape Town Cycle Tour will this year celebrate its 38th anniversary when it gets underway on Sunday, 06 March 2016. The event is expected to attract 35 000 cyclists in a field that also includes elite and international riders. Two-time defending champion Nolan Hoffman will also look to defend the title he has held since 2014 come Sunday. Hoffman might have won the last two editions but he says this year he could face stiff competition from Team Dimension data that looks really formidable.

Zolani “Last Born” Tete on his way to Liverpool, England for IBF International bantamweight title fight against Mexican boxer Jose Santos Gonzalez on Saturday, 12 march 2016. It is approximately a year since the 27-year-old earned some respect in Liverpool as he stopped local favourite Paul Butler via eight round knockout to defend his then IBF junior-bantamweight title. Tete returns there this weekend as a good ambassador for the Echo Arena, the bill is already sold out, proof that he made a good impression last year.

South African legendary boxing trainer Loyiso Mtya believes that Zolani “Last Born” Tete has got all the attributes of being world-class boxer with a super star status. He was speaking at the Urban Warrior boxing gym in Sandton on Tuesday, 01 March 2016, where they are preparing for an IBF International bantamweight title fight against Mexican boxer Jose Santos Gonzalez in Liverpool, England on Saturday, 12 March 2016. Mtya started training Tete towards the end of 2015 and he believes that South Africa has got a boxing super star in the making in Last Born.

The South African men’s hockey team will continue working on rebuilding the squad when they meet reigning Olympic champions Germany in a three-Test series in Cape Town next week. They play three test on the 26th, 27th and 29th of February respectively. Experienced SA defender Rhett Halkett said that he is relishing the opportunity that the team has to test themselves against one of the strongest sides in the world.

The women Paralympian wheelchair tennis player Kgothatso Montjane is confident of finishing in the podium at the Rio Paralympics in Brazil later this year. Montjane was the member of the South African Paralympic team at both the 2008 games in Beijing, China and 2012 games in London, England. The 29-year old, who was ranked 5th in the world in 2011 failed to win a medal in those two events. She says it does not matter what kind of medal she wins in Rio.

After months and months of deliberations and delays by Boxing South Africa (BSA), according to their chairperson Ntambi Ravele they have finally found their man that can run the office, as the Chief Executive Officer of the organisation. A position that has been vacant since Moffat Qithi was suspended in September 2013 for gross dishonesty, for failing to disclose his criminal record that would eventually lead to his permanent dismissal. And for Ravele who had to double up her roles to make sure that the organisation runs smoothly, it has been rather exasperating.

South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee ( SASCOC ) President Gideon Sam says, for 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil they are going for a realistic target of 10 medals, and are basing their hopes on the three sporting codes that delivered four years ago, which are Swimming, Athletics and Rowing. Since South Africa’s return to the Olympics and international sport in 1992, swimming has always been a sporting code to rely on for medals. Most teams and athletes are currently busy preparing for the games, others still trying to meet qualifying times and distances.

Jaco Venter led home a Dimension Data one-two in the South African national road race as he secured his first ever national title in the race that took place on Sunday the 14th of February 2016 in Westville, KwaZulu-Natal. Venters says he always wanted to win this title and he is proud of his team’s achievements. The defending champion Jacques Janse Van Rensburg made it away with teammate Songezo Jim, Calvin Beneke (Panda) and Kent Main (Road Cover), building up a lead of seven minutes. Meanwhile Stefan de Bod from the Dimension Data for Qhubeka Continental squad won the under 23 title to add to his time trial victory from a few days before.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) is expecting 10 medals from the South African team that will take part in the Rio Olympics later this year 2016. The bulk of these medals are expected to come from Swimming South Africa and Athletics South Africa, despite that these two federations are struggling with no corporate support at the moment , they are very positive. Swim SA CEO Shaun Adriaanse tells SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli that they will continue to do their best to produce more talent other than Chad Le Clos and Cameron Van der Burgh.

In Rio 2016, the world's best golfers will be part of the Olympic Games for the first time in more than a century. The lure of a gold medal is sure to attract the sport's biggest names and it will be the first time golf has been played at the Olympics since the 1904 Summer Olympic. Local golfer Jacques Blaauw, says this is one discipline the country has a strong chance of claiming a medal due to their strength with golfers like Branden Grace, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel. Blaauw is currently part of the top 16 in the Chase to the Investec Cup and says his top goal is to remain in the top 16.

Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) Sport and Recreation Services Department Cllr Nozipho Tyobeka-Makeke says she is happy that once again a South African has lifted the Ladies Tshwane Open. Monique Smit beat bookies favourite Ashleigh Simon in a playoff to lift her first trophy in two years on the Sunshine Ladies Tour in Tshwane, after both played were tied on nine-under following rounds of 68 and 69 respectively. Zwartkop Country Club will be known the home of ladies Tshwane Open after the club agreed to host them for free for the next couple of years.

Speaking after the Swimming South Africa’s second leg Grand Prix at the Kings Park Aquatic Centre in Durban on the weekend of 7th of February 2016, SA national swimming coach Graham Hill says finding two outstanding swimmers to complement Cameron Van der Burgh and Chad Le Clos in the Medley relay could be a bit of a challenge or short notice for Rio. Hill says they are targeting to have a 10-member team to represent South Africa at the Rio Olympics. He also unpacked their programme leading to the games, that include training in four different continents.

SA national swimming coach Graham Hill says the Grand Prix, which is, staged over four legs in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape is very important especially in an Olympic year. The trend has seen young girls from 13 to 16 year-olds who are very competitive and swimming good times. Hill says they’re driving an important programme that could yield positive results in the long term.

The second leg of the South African Swimming Grand Prix was concluded in style at the Kings Park Aquatic Centre in Durban on Sunday, 7th February 2016. Olympian Cameron van der Burgh took the honors in the 100m breaststroke in 1:01.48. Van der Burgh will be missing the next Grand Prix leg in Port Elizabeth and return again for the last one in Stellenbosch on the last weekend of this month (February 2016). With the Olympic trials set for Durban in April, the 100m breaststroke Olympic champion says it is important that they control their training programme.

The second leg of the South African Swimming Grand Prix was concluded in style at the Kings Park Aquatic Centre in Durban on Sunday, 7th of February, as Olympic champion powered into a 200m freestyle gold medal. Chad Le Clos’ golden time of 1:47.54 landed him on top spot in the 200m freestyle race, over two seconds ahead of his competitors. He produced the fifth fastest time in the world this year, another reason why he feels 200m freestyle could be a potential medal for him in Brazil later this year.

With two of the largest cycle events in the world, the Cape Epic and Momentum Cycle Challenge, South Africa has the potential to do more in the way of promoting the country as a top sports tourism destination. Multiple winner of the Cape Epic Grand Masters title, Andrew McLean says the sport is witnessing a boom in the country.

It was another dominant performance from Olympic champions Chad Le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh on Day 2 and first day of the South African Swimming Grand Prix finals at the Kings Park Aquatics Centre in Durban on Saturday, 06 February 2016. They both walked away with two gold medals each in their respective events with also the promising young talent showing through. The most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 22 medals in three Olympiads, Michael Phelps of USA came out of retirement in April 2014 and will renew his rivalry with Le Clos in Brazil later this year. Le Clos beat Phelps in the 200m butterfly in London as the USA athlete settled for a silver medal and it was the other way around in the 100m butterfly.

At 12pm today, Olympic champion Chad Le Clos will return to the Kings Parks Aquatics Centre in Durban where he’s taking part in the Swimming South Africa Grand Prix and in his main event’s final, the 200m butterfly. He swam an Olympic qualifying time of 1:56.27 last night. He was the second fastest qualifier in a non-Olympic event---50m butterfly finishing in 24.93 seconds. The 23year-old who won a gold and silver medals in the London Olympics four years ago says his dream is to become the best ever Olympian from Africa…

The next two Swimming South Africa Grand Prix events will be held in Port Elizabeth and Stellenbosch in the last two weekends of this month respectively. Olympic gold medalist and record holder Van der Burgh was in fine form last year winning the overall FINA World Cup $100 000 (R1,6m) first prize, topping the ranking table based on the points accumulated from the seven legs. But 2016 is a big year for the 2012 Olympian gold medalist and he’s prepared to give his all…

Olympic champion Chad Le Clos believes that the scheduling of finals to be during the day in the South African Swimming Grand Prix is going to prepare them well for the Rio Olympics in Brazil later this year. Le Clos was commenting during the KwaZulu-Natal leg of the Grand Prix that started at the Kings Park Aquatics Centre in Durban last night and will go on until tomorrow afternoon. In Brazil later in August, some finals will be held after midnight a decision that has come under fire from the world’s swimming governing body as well as leading coaches and swimmers. Le Clos who is mainly used to be swimming at night, says he will have to get his body used to this award time…

Motorsport enthusiasts will be thrilled that it will not be long before they start frequenting South Africa’s top Grand Prix Circuit. Extensive construction in Kyalami, which includes a complete refurbishment of the iconic track, as well as changes to the layout continues and will now incorporate a new International Convention Centre. Porsche South Africa (SA) has invested heavily in the upgrades and their SA Group Property Manager, Andrew Baldwin has more.

The South Africa men’s hockey team beat Canada 2-0 at a packed Hartleyvale ground in Cape Town after leading 1-0 at half-time. Jonty Robinson scored from the penalty spot in the 24th minute and Tevin Kok, one of the numerous new players in the SA squad scored SA’s second goal in the 39th minute with an excellent backhand shot. This victory comes after a 3 all draw with Ireland and a 2-1 win over Spain. Coach Fabian Gregory says one of the big pluses during the team’s time together in Cape Town has been the massive improvement in their defensive structure.

South Africa men’s hockey national team coach Fabian Gregory blasted the lack of support for the team especially from corporate sponsors who are all clamouring for the same sporting codes and teams whilst ignoring other sports that have done well internationally like hockey.

South Africa men’s hockey national team will be represented by an inexperienced and young team made up of 26-players as they square up against Ireland in their first official Test match of the Hartleyvale Summer Series. With the team not having done enough to meet the new strict criteria set by South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), to qualify for Rio 2016 Olympics, Coach Fabian Gregory says they have made peace with this and are looking ahead.

South African swimming sensation Chad Le Clos is looking forward to renewing his rivalry with the American Michael Phelps at this year’s Olympics in Rio, Brazil.

Akani Simbine is the new South African 100m champion after winning the final in 10.26 seconds ahead of Roscoe Engel and Emile Erasmus at the South African Seniors Athletics Championships at Coetzenburg stadium in Stellenbosch. Simbine replaces the six times SA champion Simon Magakwe who was disgracefully banned for two years by the IAAF after refusing to take an out of competition. Being an SA champion means a lot to the 21 year-old…

Former world champion and Olympics medalist Caster Semenya is not worried about making the world championships qualification time yet but just to keep her shape and distance. This she said after defending the 800m title at the South African Seniors Athletics Championships at Coetzenburg stadium in Stellenbosch. Semenya finished first in two minutes, and 05 seconds ahead of Lebogang Phalula and Mandie Brandt. This was her fifth 800m national title and says fitness is all that matters for now…

The crowd of close to two thousand people at the Coetzenburg stadium was on its feet as Stephen Mokoka raced into the finishing line to win the 5000m and break a 20year-old record to finish in 13m: 11.44seconds at the South African Seniors Athletics championships in Stellenbosch today. Mokoka who had defended his SA title in the 10 000m yesterday, broke Shadrack Hoff’s 13m: 14.16secs record that was set in 1995. Normally a 10 000m runner, Mokoka was excited with this record at what he’s starting to call his favourite track…

Ruswahl Samaai is the new South African long jump champion after jumping 8,38m today at the SA Seniors Athletics championships at Coetzenburg stadium in Stellenbosch. Samaai’s distance is also second in SA’s all-time long jumping records just behind Khotso Mokoena’s 8.50m record. The 22year-old came to these games with the expectation of jumping 8.20m but he ended up surprising himself too…

South African 10 000m champion Stephen Mokoka defended his title at the SA Seniors Athletics Championships at Coetzenburg stadium in Stellenbosch this morning but was slightly disappointed at having missed qualifying for the World Championships in Beij9ng later this year. With the standard qualifying time for the global event set at 27minutes, 45 seconds, Mokoka finished 30 seconds late in 28 minutes 15 seconds. The silver medal went to Sibusiso Nzima and Precious Mashele took the bronze medal. Most athletes are complaining about one thing on this opening day of the two day championships, the wind and Mokoka was no exception…

South African long distance runner Stephen Mokoka has won his record fourth Two Oceans half marathon after finishing first in 1hour and four minutes flat a slight improvement from last year where he was 16 seconds slower in Cape Town. This was Mokoka’s third consecutive win in this race having first won it in 2009. Coming second was Elroy Gelant in 1 hour, 04 minutes, 4 seconds and third Joel Mmone 1hr, 04mins, 05seconds who had finished second last year. Mokoka said he made the break after 18 kilometers and says the main threat to him was always going to be his training mate Gladwin Mzazi and former champion Lusapho April…

Day 4 of the Nedbank National Championships for Physically Disabled was lighten up by Ilse Hayes’ new African record and personal best time in the T13 200m at the University of Johannesburg Athletics stadium last night. The 29 year-old finished her event in 24.79 seconds. A veteran of the past three Paralympics from Athens, Beijing and London where she’s won two gold and two silver medals plus a bronze medal, she continues to make headlines…

19-year-old Northern Cape powerlifter Zwelinzima Bonolo Lizwe says he is proud of himself after breaking two South African records in the 62kilograms for squats and the deadlift at the Nedbank National Championships for the Physically Disabled currently underway at the Walter Sisulu Hall in Randburg. Lizwe set the new national mark in the squat of 130kg improving it by 20kg while in the deadlift he managed to improve the record by 2,5kg with his heave of 192,5kg. Lizwe also won gold in the bench but couldn’t break the existing record. The blind Lizwe said he is proud of his achievements especially after having to run to the venue this morning after their combi to the championships was involved in a minor accident……

In the continued effort to build a strong national basketball team, the Department of Sport and Recreation and Basketball South Africa (BSA) will be hosting an inaugural Basketball Four Nations challenge at the Wembley indoor arena in Johannesburg next week. The four nations challenge will see the SA men’s team taking on Nigeria, Mozambique and Kenya as from the 19th until the 22nd of this month. Speaking at the Olympic House at SASCOC in Johannesburg today, Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula has called on for the overseas-based SA basketball players to be roped in to the team so that it can become more competitive…

On Friday night, Zolani “Last Born” Tete successfully defended his IBF junior bantamweight title when he knocked out the challenger Paul Butler in the 8th round in his own backyard in Liverpool, England. Tete one of only two credible world champions in the country together with WBA straw-weight champion Hekkie Budler, was making his first title defense after having won this belt away from home in Japan in July last year. Unlike last year, at least this time Tete’s fight was at least televised at home. Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula has promised that Tete’s next fight will be here at home pending the outcome of the out of court settlement with his promoter Branco Milenkovic who is alleged to be the source of boxing blackout broadcast on SABC…

IBF junior bantamweight champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete has promised to knockout his challenger Paul Butler when they meet at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England tonight (23:30 SA TIME). The Mdantsane born boxer will be making his first defense since he won this title beating Teiru Kinoshita in his own backyard in Japan in June last year. One of only two credible world champions South Africa has at the moment, Tete says it was a good decision to leave early for England and the two weeks he’s spent there has made a huge difference…

The reigning Joburg Open champion Andy Sullivan will this week attempt the impossible, as he targets his third victory in a row on the Sunshine Tour co-sanctioned event when he tees off at the 8th Edition of the Africa Open in East London. The then unknown Sullivan won his maiden European Tour trophy when he captured the SA Open early in January. But the bubbly Englishmen who will be playing alongside South Africa top ranked player in the field this week George Coetzee says he is aware of the danger the East London Golf Course possesses especially if the wind blows but other than that he reckons it will be birdies aplenty…

The minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula says there is no doubt that South Africa will host the 2022 Commonwealth Games. In London yesterday Mbalula together with the Bid Committee led by chairperson Mark Alexander and Mayor of Durban, Cllr James Nxumalo, KwaZulu-Natal premier Senzo Mchunu as well other prominent business people and sport ambassadors, swimming Olympic gold medalist Cameron der Burgh and long- jump Olympic Silver medalist Khotso Mokoena, presented their bid to the Commonwealth Games Federation. Durban is the only candidate left for the 2022 Games following the withdrawal of Edmonton of Canada…

The sport of Lawn Bowling will quickly become popular in the townships and rural areas, as more seem people to take interest in the achievement of some players like Prince Neluonde. Last year Nelulonde made history when he returned with a gold medal in Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland competing in the men’s triplets. Born in Thohoyandou 30 years ago, Neluonde has been playing lawn bowls since 1985 and believes that there’s still a lot for him to achieve. He competed in the recent Warwick Wealth Bowls Masters in Wanderers Johannesburg but lost in the final. Neluonde a barman at the Bryanston Sports Club, promises SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli that this sport is going to grow fast especially after his achievement in Glasgow last year…

African and national shotput champion Orazio Cremona believes that he can make the top six at the IAAF World Championships to be held in Beijing from August 22 until the 30th this year. The championships will be held at the Beijing National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) which hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics. Cremona is planning on spending two months in Europe and then returning home to fine tune his training before leaving for the World Championships. Cremona says it is better to complete his preparations at home and is hopeful that he will be in the South African contingent after meeting the IAAF qualifying standard…….

Investec SA women's hockey team co-coach Sheldon Rostron reflects on the sixth and final Test of the series against Belgium, which was played at Hartleyvale in Cape Town Monday night. SA was defeated 3-1 by Belgium, which resulted in the six-Test series ending tied at 2-2 with two Tests drawn. Although the final match ended with a defeat for the South Africans, the coach has seen some positives and believes it could have went either way, especially when considering the fact that SA had played more matches than Belgium.SA played 10 Test matches during the past two weeks, including four against Chile. Belgium played six Tests in that time, all against SA

Investec SA women's hockey team co-coach Sheldon Rostron reflects on the sixth and final Test of the series against Belgium, which was played at Hartleyvale in Cape Town Monday night. SA was defeated 3-1 by Belgium, which resulted in the six-Test series ending tied at 2-2 with two Tests drawn. Although the final match ended with a defeat for the South Africans, the coach has seen some positives and believes it could have went either way, especially when considering the fact that SA had played more matches than Belgium. SA played 10 Test matches during the past two weeks, including four against Chile. Belgium played six Tests in that time, all against SA

Olympic gold medalist in the lightweight coxless fours James Thompson says that the team will need to be more consistent this year in order to ensure that they do well at the World Championships and also qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Thompson says that rowing in general would love to win more medals and improve on their times……..

Tennis South Africa (TSA) yesterday officially announced the sudden resignation of Davis Cup team captain and South African tennis stalwart John-Laffnie de Jager with immediate effect. TSA president and acting chief executive Gavin Crookes expressed the federations disappointments following De Jager’s controversy surrounded untimely resignation after almost a decade in the Davis Cup team.

Sijuta Promotions will kick off 2015 with a tournament headlined by a South African flyweight title contest. SA flyweight champion Thembelani Nxoshe will make his first defence of the crown probably against Siyabonha Blou from Uitenhage. Sijuta Promotions chief Andile Sidinile talks about the tournament… SABC Sport journalist Monwabisi Jimlongo reports

The Fast5 Proteas team left for Auckland in New Zealand for the much anticipated World Series tournament that kicks-off on November 10. The Fast5 Proteas finished 3rd at the inaugural championship in 2012 and this time around their coach Elize Kotze says they are like a well oiled machine… SABC Sport journalist Tshepo Khuzwayo reports

Thousands of mourners converged to the Standard Bank Arena near Ellis Park to celebrate the lives of the light-middleweight boxer Phindile ‘Zulu Girl’ Mwelase, former 800m world champion Mbulaeni” Silver Bullet” Mulaudzi and Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Senzo ‘Okpara Jr’ Meyiwa, who all passed on over the weekend. People from all walks of live were here to pay tribute to the fallen heroes of Mzantsi, from an ordinary person on the street, football supporters, track and field athletes, the boxing fraternity, Netball South Africa, South African Rugby Union, Winnie Madikizela Mandela, Minister of Sport Fikile Mbaluala, SAFA president Danny Jordaan, Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba and other dignitaries. Here is Sascoc's Operation Excellence manager Hezekiel Sepeng as he reminisces about the man known as the Silver Bullet to his peers… SABC Sport journalist Tshepo Khuzwayo reports

South Africa under 23 Invitation team were again short as they narrowly lost 41-37 to Australian Center of Excellence in the Spar International Netball Series at Kopanong Hall in Potchefstroom. It was also a clean sweep for the visitor as they won the series 3-0. However despite the defeat Baby Proteas and SA Invitation coach Dorette Badenhorst was still pleased with what the tournament was able to unleash…SABC Sport journalst Tshepo Khuzwayo reports

The rivalry between two huge sporting nations South Africa and Australia will once again resume, when the two Southern Hampshire giants exchange blows in a week-long Spar Netball International series in Potchefstroom. The South African invitational under 23 will take on Australian Team of Excellence from the 12 to 18 of October at the SANDF Kopanelo Hall. Here is Netball South Africa event coordinator Portia Dimu with more on this…SABC Sport journalist Tshepo Khuzwayo reports

The Ghana Hockey Association has been bankrolled in its developmental efforts after being selected by England Hockey and UK Sports to implement a hockey development project. This forms part of England’s legacy project for hosting the 2018 World Cup for Women’s Hockey. According to the Ghanaweb, Ghana’s female National Hockey team was chosen by England Hockey from a list of African teams following consistent performances for the last few years. Ghanaian Hockey correspondent Henry Asante explains… | SABC Sport reporter Coudjoe Amankwaa reports

Proving more sports scholarships at University level is the only solution to bettering the African countries’ performances at the Olympic games. That’s the view of Professor Michael Boit from Kenyatta University in Kenya. He was speaking at the South African Sport and Recreation Conference at the North West University in Potchefstroom today. At the London Olympics in 2012, South Africa (23) and Kenya (30) were the only Africans countries in the top 30 in the final medal table. Boit says the economical support is also important…SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli reports

Europe has retained the Ryder Cup trophy following an emphatic 16.5 to 11.5 victory over America at Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland. The win also sees Europe emulate their 2002 to 2006 stint to claim another 3rd tittle on the trot. However to most golfing pundits the USA team was embarrassed and it almost felt like taking a candy from a baby. Here is former Sunshine Tour professional Deon Barkhuizen with more on this…SABC Sport journalist Tshepo Khuzwayo reports

In an effort to reach out to all the sporting codes, the Department of Sport and Recreation is going the cycling and road running route in the Nelson Mandela Sport and Cultural Day this year. Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula confirmed this during the launch of the Unite for Mandela Campaign at Loftus stadium in Pretoria. This year’s event will start and finish at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on the 22nd of November. The inaugural event last year involved the Springboks and Bafana Bafana and Mbalula confirms that they are taking a different route…SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli reports

After a successful Vuelta a Espana debut that saw Team MTN-Qhubeka achieve an impressive overall 12th out of 22 teams in the time trial, principal Douglas Ryder reckons the time is ripe to take on the Tour de France....MTN-Qhubeka, Africa’s first participating team in the Vuelta a Espana was also 1 of only 5 teams to finish the race with its full complement of 9 riders, a feat the group can be proud of considering that they had 6 grand tour debutantes in a quality field that included Chris Froome and Alberto Contador. Ryder spoke about the immense pride he felt for his lads at achieving this feat...SABC Sport journalist Jefferson Lupuwana reports

The future of the Soweto Country Club is under threat following a string of robberies to the golfers due to lack of proper facilities. With the majority of black professional players hailing from Soweto the upcoming talent could be threatened by the latest development. Soweto pro Justice Matshaya says safety is still a huge concern due to lack of fence…SABC Sport journalist Tshepo Khuzwayo reports

The on-going concerns about dwindling spectators at sporting events in South Africa was a major talking point at the Discovery Sport Industry Summit in Johannesburg. Blue Label Telecoms chief marketing officer and chairman of the Sports Trust Rob Fleming says that sports federations and clubs have ignored the fans for too long and the time has come for them to listen to what the fans want if they are to remain sustainable businesses…….Fleming lambasted sporting teams for neglecting even the basics of looking after the hygiene of stadiums and that many sporting codes focus too much on managing the sport while ignoring building the brand amongst their supporters…SABC Sport journalist Vata Ngobeni reports

The dynamic Gauteng North wing-attack Tshina Mdau says she is excited by the Netball Proteas call-up. Mdau is one of the 31-member squad that will attend several training camps over the next few months, before being reduced to 15 as they prepare for next year Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia…The 20 year-old led was very instrumental in last month’s tournament for Gauteng North to claim their title back, after thumping Dr Kenneth Kaunda 63-37 in the final. Here’s Mdau as she reflects…However the University of Pretoria student will have to compete with equally versatile and more experienced Proteas players, Erin Burger, Zanele Mdodana and Bongiwe Msomi to make the cut into the final 15 squad…Meanwhile national Netball team coach Elize Kotze was equally taken aback by the young talent in particular Kefiloe Tsotetsi the goalkeeper of Dr Kenneth Kaunda who was outstanding at the recent Glagcow Commonwealth Games, even though did they not make it into the semifinals…It is known fact that South African has been underperforming at an international stage even though they ranked sixth something that is unacceptable according to coach Kotze…SPAR National squad: Mari-Lena Joubert, Juline Rossouw, Sashe-Lee Petersen (Boland), Nosi Goda (Buffalo City), Elsje du Plessis, Bhongeletu Ngubeni, Lensa Motau, Zandre Kruger, Kifiloe Tsotetsi, Nadia Uys, Chante Steyn (Dr Kenneth Kaunda), Lenize Potgieter, Melissa Myburgh, Lindie Lombard, Faith Mantjiu, Erin Burger, Shadine van der Merwe, Amanda Mynhardt, Vanes-Mari du Toit, Tshina Mdau (Gauteng North), Lauren-Lee Christians, Karla Mostert, Adele Niemand, Maryke Holtzhausen, (Mangaung Metro), Zanele Vimbela, Zanele Mdodana (Nelson Mandela Bay), Bongiwe Msomi, Precious Mthembu (Umgungundlovu), Rochelle Lawson, Phumza Maweni (Western Province), Thuli Qegu (Ekurhuleni). Journalist: Tshepo Khuzwayo

After a good performance in the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland Swimming South Africa is positive that a new sponsor is on its way. Despite good performances at the London 2012 Olympics, Swimming SA just like Athletics South Africa has been struggling operating without a sponsor. The federation is need of financial aid as they aim to intensify the preparations for Rio 2016 Olympics. SABC Sport journalist Velile Mbuli filed this report…The recent Commonwealth Games in Scotland proved once again that Swimming is a major sporting in the country when it comes to the multi-coded sporting events as they returned with 12 medals out of the 40 achieved. Out of the six medals SA got in London three came from swimming including two gold medals. Swimming SA CEO Shaun Adriaanse says results are there for everyone to see that they are achievers…The overall focus for SASCOC and it’s Olympic federations is preparing for Rio 2016 and improving from the six medals from London. Adriaanse says their preparations are starting now and couldn’t stop talking about the phenomenon that is Chad Le Clos…In the past three years, Le Clos has achieved what many South African sports personalities in recent years have failed to do, consistently putting the country on the map. In Glasgow he equaled Australian legend Ian Thorpe’s record of seven medals in the Commonwealth Games. He’s now won 12 medals from the games, including the five medals from Delhi in 2010. Adriaanse says they will be prioritizing Le Clos’ training programme going to Rio 2016…Despite all these achievements, Swimming SA continues to operate without a major sponsor after Telkom left them few years ago. The lack of TV coverage for swimming in the country is another challenge and Adriaanse is hoping that the mooted DTT project will help sporting codes like swimming…SABC Sport understands that two top companies already highly involved in sponsoring other sporting codes in the country could come in to rescue Swimming SA. Journalist: Velile Mbuli

Mangaung Metro coach Burta de Kock admitted that it is time for her young team to step up and be counted in this year’s Netball National Championship taking place at the Bellville Velodrome in Cape Town. The A division defending champions, Mangaung are without three of their core players, Adele Niemand, Kyla Mostert and Maryke Holtzhauzen who have just returned from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. De kock says this will provide a good platform for the youngsters to express themselves and prove that no one is irreplaceable… The sleeping giant who rekindled their status as the powerhouses of netball in the country last year by upsetting Gauteng North in the final, and to also rewrite history by winning their first championship in 51 years, were slow off the blocks in this year’s campaign. And their coach de Kock was not impressed with her troops passing on the day and she says that is why she had to swap positions…However it was not all jolly for other teams who got off to flying start yesterday including Umgungundlovu from KwaZulu-Natal who were brought down to earth by tournament favourites Dr KK Kaunda from North West. Umgungundlovu lost 35-56 to Dr KK earlier today. But even though the deficit was huge, their captain Bongiwe Msomi says is not all gloom and bad, her team has been exceptional…The Proteas wing-attack Msomi is a sole role-model for both her regional and provincial team, Umgungundlovu and KZN Kingdom Stars respectively. And she says the respect she receives is overwhelming and is the reason why she is forever on her toes…However Msomi also gave credit to the inaugural Brutal fruit cup that was held at the University of Pretoria in May this year, and she says that has helped to propel her team forward…Meanwhile DRKK Kaunda is slowly becoming a force to be reckoned with under the guidance of the Baby -Proteas coach Dorette Badenhorst. The team from North West registered their third win in a row after beating Umgungundlovu and Nelson Mandela Bay, 56-35 and 43-28 respectively, much to the delight of their coach Badenhorst…Meanwhile the defending Champions Mangaung Metro of Free State did not end today’s proceeding well, after they were beaten 37-41 to a local team, Boland of Western Cape. Journalist: Tshepo Khuzwayo

(Wheelchair basketball) The South African senior men’s wheelchair basketball team recorded their first victory over European opposition when they beat the French All Stars team 60-54 in the first out of four Tests at Mandeville Sports complex in Johannesburg. AmaWheelies captain Cecil Dummond believes this is the beginning of the steps to qualifying for the Rio 2016 Paralympics and World Cup 2017 qualifiers….. IN: For our team…..Dummond has urged the senior players within the team to continue to help the youngsters develop and continue their winning run against the French going into today’s Test against French All Stars also in Mandeville this afternoon starting at 3pm…..IN: We;; it’s a….While Amawheelies coach Franck Belen was not too eager to celebrate the win considering that the French had only arrived a day before, Belen did commend his team on the game they played especially in the second half…..Belen believes that the composure his team showed in the dying moments of the game was largely due to the three international competitions they have played in the past year citing the growth in experience and exposure…..As much as AmaWheelies won, Belen said that it would be important for the team to maintain some consistency when it comes to winning against European opposition…….Belen has no doubt that the French will come back stronger for today’s second Test and says his team will need to be better than last night if they are to record another win……Journalist: Vata Ngobeni

(Wheelchair basketball) National men’s wheelchair basketball team coach Franck Belen says the upcoming four Test Sasol All Star series against the French All Star team will be the perfect opportunity to blood in youngsters and get them used to the pace of international wheelchair basketball. Belen, who is a former coach of the French national wheelchair basketball team, said that the French will send out a strong team that consists of some players who finished second at the World Championships a few years ago. At the same time Belen is hoping to use the series as a barometer to see how far his team have developed in the past two months……Belen believes that the series will stand his team in good stead for next year’s qualifiers for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games especially with many of the national team players also going to be involved in other mid-week games for their clubs against the French All Stars……Belen has also called for patience with the national team’s progression saying it is important that the team first conquer Africa before looking at improving their standing in world wheelchair basketball. Belen said it is important that African teams strive to finish in the top nine teams at the World Championships and Rio Paralympics in order for Africa to be afforded more spots at international events which will in turn improve the competitiveness of wheelchair basketball on the continent……National men’s team wheelchair basketball veteran Jaco van Niekerk says they must use the upcoming series to build confidence amongst the youngsters in the side and not be intimidated by European opposition…….Van Niekerk who has played club wheelchair basketball in Italy and the Netherlands says he will be satisfied with a victory or close loss against the French All Stars as their objective is to improve the standard of their play during the series…..Journalist: Vata Ngobeni

The Swaziland Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (SOCGA) named a 12-man Commonwealth Games squad to represent the country in Glasgow, Scotland. Team Swaziland comprises of five sporting disciplines being athletics, swimming, judo, boxing and cycling. King Mswati 11 has urged the team to perform to the best of their abilities to ensure they make Swazis proud. Swaziland joined the Commonwealth in 1968 and made its debut in Edinburg 1970 Games. Chef de Mission of SOCGA Adam “Bomber” Mthetwa explains…The training programme for athletics - Sibusiso ‘Swazi Bolt’ Matsenjwa, Mlandvo Shongwe and France-based Phumlile Ndzinisa remain on track. The squad went to camp from July 12 to July 14 and will depart the country on July 20, to Glasgow, Scotland for the competition which starts on July 26 until August 3.Meanwhile, the squad’s Chef de Mission is SOCGA Board member and National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS) Mthethwa, remains upbeat, declaring that the Swazi athletes would win medals in Glasgow.The first Commonwealth medal for Swaziland was secured in 1974 by Richard Mabuza, who picked up a bronze medal in the Men’s Marathon event. Then in Melbourne 2006, Simanga Shiba won bronze medal in Men’s Light Flyweight boxing division. Overall Swaziland has scooped four bronze medals in the Commonwealth. Journalist: Coudjoe Amankwaa

Cycling veteran Andrew McLean says it is high time South African cyclists start making their name on the big stage. This year’s Tour de France will be short of local talent, one year after the sport enjoyed an excellent run in 2013 with Daryl Impey becoming the first South African in the 100 year history of the Tour de France to pull on the famous yellow jersey, while South African bred Chris Froome won the Tour....McLean however expressed optimism saying there can be an improvement if the sport can be taken to wider sections of the society to build a bigger pool. McLean applauded the work done by South African owned MTN-Qhubeka that has three international cyclists taking part in the Vuelta a Espana. MTN-Qhubeka will be looking at the Tour de France team to reckon with in future and this will help in encouraging the development of the sport locally...Meanwhile McLean himself is a keen participant of the Trans-Alps Challenge, one of the most challenging routes in Europe that involves a seven day crossing of the French Alps. McLean speaks highly of such events as good spring-boards to inspire local cyclists to reach the highest pinnacle of cycling...Mclean cited a few examples of some cyclists that have had to reach greater heights after participating in the Transalps such as 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans of Australia...Mclean also stated that his ambition is to win a category in the Transalps and that he is raring to go...Journalist: Jefferson Lupuwana

A team of 155 athletes, spread across 17 sporting codes will represent South Africa at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Team South Africa will compete at the Games (from 23 July to 3 August) with the purpose of winning medals. South African Olympic Governing Body (SASCOC) President Gideon Sam did not mince his words when he said his organization expects 40 medals from the athletes.In an exclusive interview last night, Sam insisted that the athletes travelling to Glasgow for this year’s Commonwealth Games are adequately prepared compared to the squad that went to New Delhi in 2010. Adding athletes’ preparations give his organization hope for success. And on the eve of Team South Africa’s departure, Sam explains…Meanwhile Sam revealed that majority of Team South Africa’s athletes are within the top five rankings of the Commonwealth. Sam conceded that it gives his organization the confidence to look forward to a really good team at the next Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, come 2016 He added that some promising juniors in the team will be ready to fight for a place in the Olympic team for Brazil.In New Delhi, India four years ago, Team South Africa won33 medals to end joint fifth on the medal table, with Kenya. They scooped 12 gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze. And Asked which sporting codes could deliver medals for South Africa, this is what Sam had to say. According to Sam, Team-South Africa is well balance and if the coaches have put in the necessary hard work, we should once again be in the top group of medal winners, just as we have done at previous Games.The Sascoc President – Gideon Sam – paid a moving tribute to parents whose sacrifices, often unnoticed helped establish sporting stars in society.The team boasts a rich spread of both Olympic and Commonwealth Games experience as well as stars of the future. The swimming squad includes timeless Roland Schoeman, a veteran of four Olympic Games. The line-up also includes 2012 Olympic gold medallists Cameron van der Burgh and Chad le Clos. Some swimmers like, Myles Brown and Marne Erasmus are products of the SA team at Zone VI Games as far back as 2010. Journalist: Coudjoe Amankwaa

The Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula never cease to amaze, with yet another spectacular sendoff to Team SA in a function that was attended by a host of dignitaries including parents at the Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni last night. The 187 strong Team SA athletes will be flying to Scotland as of today to represent the country in the 20th Commonwealth Games from the 23rd of July to the 3rd of August in Glasgow. And once again Patience Shikwambana has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the team as Cheff de Mission, a position she has held before. Here’s Shikwambana as she laments about the challenges of her position…Even though 40 plus medals were expected, the Cheff de Mission was very sensitive on the issue of performance and she says they are not under any pressure to deliver…Meanwhile Former Sevens captain Cecil Africa given the privilege of caring the South African flag. And Shikwambana says there was no one else deserving for the role of the flag bearer other than Africa…However SASCOC president Gideon Sam also took a swipe on Habana’s absence and he says because they lost out on one of the best players it doesn’t mean they are defeated...Meanwhile yesterday the South African Airways signed a three year partnership deal with SASCOC to solidify the existing relationship of low-priced tickets…Sam has also challenged other parastatals and corporate to follow suit and he says that is the only way they can achieve their objectives…Journalist: Tshepo Khuzwayo

After she was snubbed from the 15 ladies team that will represent the country at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in two weeks time, Mampho Tsotetsi says she is now targeting the quicker and shorter version of it, the Fast5, the new bug in the netball fraternity…The 30 year-old veteran, who switched position recently, was one of the outstanding players at the inaugural Brutal Fruit Netball Cup. Even so the energetic junior netball coach says the new version of the game has provided her, another opportunity to done the green and yellow jersey…The aerobics and football instructor was rated amongst the best centre’s in the world, and she never thought one day she would desert her playmaker role…Mampho Tsotetsi aspiration of representing her country once gain in Scotland Games was dented by Bongiwe Msomi and Erin Burger who have been donning the national Wing-Attack jersey for a while. Journalist: Tshepo Khuzwayo

The Sports Ministry has released it's key focus areas for the next five years and there are six priorities amongst them transformation, infrastructure roll out and the academy system. This follows the conclusion of the first gathering of the Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula and the MEC's of Sport with eight of them being new in their positions following the recent general elections. Mbalula says their strategy is aligned to the National Development Plan and the Medium Strategic Framework. Mbalula says their focus on transformation will now shift to a different phase after the Eminent Persons Group released their findings in April...Journalist: Velile Mbuli

Newly elected Athletics South Africa (ASA) President Aleck Skhosana has dismissed claims that this is a SASCOC imposed executive. Skhosana was responding to claims made by one of the unsuccessful candidates that the Olympic body had been circulating the names of people who should be voted into power. Skhosana got 31 votes ahead of Sello Mokoena with eight, Steve Mkasi with seven and former President James Evans with four. Skhosana stopped short of saying these were sour grapes…Mokoena who previously held a chairperson role in the Interim board earlier this year and was the darling of the media coming to these elections also poured cold water to the claims of SASCOC involvement in these elections…Mkasi, Skhosana and Mokoena were the three presidential candidates who attended the elections congress on Saturday at the SASCOC house but Evans opted not to attend. Mkasi says theirs is to ensure that there’s transparency at ASA and that these claims of SASCOC influence are unfounded…IAAF representative Cheikh Thiare who has been instrumental in resolving the squabbles between the ASA leaders has also paid tribute to the outgoing AD-HOC committee led by Daan Du Toit that ran this sport for the past three months…The past two executives at ASA couldn’t finish their terms due differences and allegations of maladministration. This new executive will only serve two years in office and Skhosana knows that for stability purposes it will be important that they finish their term…After months of impeachment, fights in court, funds that went missing, ASA is in dire financial constraints owing a lot of people. Skhosana says whilst they know that some steps have to be taken to resolve that, they will desist from going on a witch-hunt that could further divide the organization…The first two major assignments for ASA is to prepare athletes for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland next month and the Youth Olympics in China in August. Thiare also pleaded with the newly elected ASA executive to be inclusive in their running of the organization and for those who lost not to make things difficult for those in power…Journalist: Velile Mbuli

(Basketball) fter dominating African wheelchair basketball in recent years, the Sasol South African men’s wheelchair basketball team is now on a rebuilding phase. They will take part in an eight nation international tournament in Agadir, Morocco until the 15th of this month. The aim is to build a competitive force that will see the national team through next year’s Africa qualifiers for a place at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Head coach Franck Belen has a clear plan going forward that also includes players from the u/23 team…The other seven teams will include hosts Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Spain, Italy and Turkey. On their way to qualifying for the 2012 London Paralympics in 2011, Team SA overpowered Morocco in their own backyard and had the better of Algeria and Egypt too. But Belen now considers his team as underdogs…Team SA has not a grueling preparation going to this tournament, informed by it’s objectives of a developmental approach. Belen says for them this is not a must win situation…With 62 international caps, Jaco Van Niekerk is one of the most experienced members of this young team and together with other senior players, he says they’ve got a role to play in this rebuilding phase…Van Niekerk and another highly rated and key player in this team Mpho Mooketsi who spent three years in Germany have a lot of experience from European leagues something that augurs well for this team….Journalist: Velile Mbuli

Bongmusa Mthembu won the 89th Comrades Marathon after clinching the men’s 'down run' title by a comfortable margin in Durban’s Kingsmead Cricket Ground. The Nedbank runner, winner of three previous gold medals in one of the world's most famous ultra-marathons, crossed the line in a time of 5:28.34 to walk away with a cool R350, 000 prize money….Mthembu finished the 89.28km race over four minutes ahead of second placed Ludwick Mamabolo, the defending 'down run' winner from 2012 who recorded a time of 5:33.14. Mthembu, from Bulwer just outside Pietermaritzburg in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, took the lead just before Cowies Hill - approximately 17km before finishing off strongly and says he was spurred by the fact that he was not even remotely considered as a tournament favourite… Meanwhile, the woman's race was won by British-born Canadian, Eleanor Greenwood, ahead of the Nurgalieva twins, Elena and Olesya. Greenwood felt she started off badly and was surprised by the final outcome…South African running sensation Zola Budd Pieterse was also glad to have completed her race and make it into the top ten after having achieved seventh position at a time of 6:55.55….Meanwhile outspoken Mamabolo was pleased with his second place finish and he praised his team mate, Mthembu whilst also adding that people have to start believing in local athletes, this after South African runners occupied the top three slots…Journalist: Jefferson Lupuwana

With Hockey SA having made all the necessary arrangements to ensure a successful World Cup tournament, the team manager for the Men’s squad, Reginald Smith reckons all the ground work has been done and the onus will now be on the team to put up a decent performance at the 2014 Hockey World cup which takes place in The Hague, Netherlands from the 31st of May until the 12 June….The team had to undergo intensity training at the high performance centre in Pretoria as well as partake in a string of series games to mould the team and give the coach a chance to assess the wider pool of players Smith says they have had a great build up to the World Cup…The Men’s team kicks off their campaign on the 1st of June against big guns Germany and Smith says confidence will be crucial if they are to excel on the big stage…The games will televised around the world, including Europe, South Africa and parts of Africa. The South African team has enjoyed much media publicity in the host country which has a strong culture of hockey. Smith has more…Journalist: Jefferson Lupuwana