Tim Spirit:Dear heartbroken Chiefs and Pirates fans, this too shall pass
During my high school days, every Monday morning was a time to dissect the weekend’s matches.There was always a group of us arguing about what could have been as we tried to justify the results that didn’t go our club’s way.Obviously, the heated conversations always centred on the big teams: Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. It was not good to be on the receiving end of a losing result.
Side Entry:Conspiracy theories abound about director of cricket position at CSA
An unspoken definition of sports writers is that it doesn’t take long to turn them into conspiracy theorists.A great example was our reaction to SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus’ exclusive interview with the Daily Mail last weekend, in which he claimed he hadn’t leaked the infamous video complaining about referee Nic Berry during the British & Irish Lions series last year.
Downs make Pitso’s CAF task difficult
Coaching team Manqoba Mngqithi, Rulani Mokwena and Steve Komphela yesterday achieved what their predecessors, including Pitso Mosimane, could not with Mamelodi Sundowns, claiming back-to-back wins over superclub Al Ahly. The result guarantees Sundowns another appearance in the knockout stage, with two games to spare.
Why Downs remain ‘homeless’ for CAF assignments
The stringent compliance standards put in place by CAF have seen most stadiums in Africa barred from hosting official continental matches. Mamelodi Sundowns yesterday played their CAF Champions League fixture against Al Ahly of Egypt at FNB Stadium because their preferred home grounds in Pretoria – Loftus Versfeld and Lucas Moripe – did not meet the requirements.
Reviewing Motsepe’s time as CAF boss
The recently concluded Afcon in Cameroon might go down as a bittersweet experience for Patrice Motsepe, but the tournament still provided an ideal platform for him to put into action some of the promises he made prior to his election as CAF president last year.
Big McD’ relishes swimming with sharks in the elite league
When McDonald Makhubedu ventured into coaching in his late twenties, he had a burning ambition to pit his managerial skills against the best in the game.As he marks his first full season as a head coach in the elite league, Makhubedu has proven to be more than just the tactician who, over the past few years, gained recognition by causing upsets in the Nedbank Cup with amateur clubs.
In-form Mokgobu runs away with Motsepe race title
After winning three half marathon titles in two months, prominent South African road runner Desmond Mokgobu has set his sights on the Two Oceans race next month.Yesterday, the 33-year-old bagged the Race To Equality first prize at the Marks Park Sports Complex in Emmarentia, Johannesburg, when he clinched the race, organised by the Motsepe Foundation and Athletics SA.
Warriors punching well above weight despite resources gap
Robin Peterson’s approach to this interview is not too different from what it used to be when he answered to the description of left-arm orthodox. Like all self-respecting spinners, he tosses one up, and hopes for a little drift in the air and grip off the wicket. The Warriors coach was querying why he – and not Northern Titans counterpart Mandla Mashimbyi – was being interviewed after his team’s attempts to win the Cricket SA 4-Day Series were foiled by the weather this week, leaving them stranded seven points adrift of the new champions.
Time and time alone rescues graceless Bulls
The Bulls continued their painstaking climb up the United Rugby Championship table with a win over third-placed Munster, but not before they came perilously close to blowing a 23-point first-half lead.Jake White’s men lost all composure in the second half – a period in which the visitors scored three unanswered tries – and finished the game with 14 men after replacement hooker Bismark du Plessis was sent off for needlessly dumping an opponent on his head in a ruck.