Bafana Bafana suffered a 2-1 defeat to Panama in an international friendly in Cape Town on Tuesday night. The sides met for the second time in four days following their goalless stalemate at Moses Mab...
By Mpho Sekharume
Free State Rugby Union ignites resurgence of local rugby as 12 teams target R30 000 prize pot
The Free State Rugby Union (FSRU) is strategi cally eyeing the revitalsation of the lo...
Kaizer Chiefs have fallen short of their proud standards over the past two seasons, and as they prepare to mount a stronger challenge in the 2025/26 campaign, the need for a fresh, unified push from the start is critical.
Securing one of the most sought-after free agents on the market right now could be just the spark they need to begin that journey.
Under the leadership of Tunisian head coach Nasreddine Nabi, who is entering his second season at the helm, the Glamour Boys will continue their rebuilding mission. Nabi has been entrusted with the task of restoring pride and silverware to one of South Africa’s most iconic clubs.
While Chiefs endured another difficult league season — once again falling short of a top-half finish for the second season in a row, the biggest concern was the lack of visible clear progress throughout the season.
But with that said, the Tunisian did guide the team to a long-awaited triumph in the Nedbank Cup, beating rivals Orlando Pirates 2-1 in the final. That victory not only ended a near decade-long trophy drought but also served as a morale booster across the club.
The cup success was a crucial first step — one that brought much-needed belief back into the camp. But the real measure of progress will come in the new season, where consistency in the league remains the biggest challenge.
Having moved on from several underperforming squad members, Chiefs appear ready to embrace a new direction. But at the same time, one of the nation’s most talented players, Percy Tau, remains without a club, and signing him could be the most significant move the Soweto giants make in their rebuild.
Tau’s addition would not only bring flair and firepower on the pitch, but his presence could also serve as a valuable example for the younger players.
Though previous signings like former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Gaston Sirino have yet to fully deliver, the inclusion of someone with Tau’s pedigree—an established winner who’s excelled at the highest levels — could inject the quality and belief the team desperately needs.
Beyond what he offers in terms of goals, Tau's calm demeanor and vast experience could prove invaluable to Nabi, who navigated through a rollercoaster debut season.
Much of that instability stemmed from high expectations and a reliance on young, developing players. A seasoned campaigner like the Lion of Judah, as he is affectionately known, could ease that burden and offer on-field leadership during tough moments.
The 31-year-old forward has been without a club since his contract expired with Qatari side Qatar SC. Before that, he collected multiple CAF Champions League and Egyptian Premier League titles with Al Ahly.
There are also reports linking him with a possible return to Sundowns, with Pirates also in the mix. However, a move to Chiefs could prove far more beneficial to both the player and the club.
Amakhosi haven’t always been known for spending big, but the reality they currently face is that to compete with South Africa’s elite clubs, they must match their quality on the pitch.
If Tau is brought in and stays fit, he could comfortably deliver a double-digit goal return—one that could help Chiefs rediscover their path back into the top five.
“MR PB!!” That was how South African superstar Prudence Sekgodiso reacted after running her fastest ever 800m time in Ostrava, Czech Republic on Tuesday night.
The 23-year-old middle-distance athlete clocked a stunning time of 1 minute 57.16 seconds (1:57.16) to clinch victory at the Golden Spike meeting.
That eclipsed her previous personal best of 1:57.26 that she posted in Morocco last year, and it is also the second-quickest effort in 2025, behind the world lead of 1:56.64 by Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma.
Having endured a few uncharacteristic defeats in recent weeks, Sekgodiso bounced back to remind her rivals that she is building up to September’s world championships in Tokyo in fine fashion as she inches closer and closer to Caster Semenya’s amazing SA record of 1:54.25.
With two pacemakers taking the field through a reasonably quick time on the first lap, Sekgodiso kept her cool in third place as she waited for the right moment to strike.
The current 800m world indoor champion pounced when the second pacemaker stepped off the track around the 650m mark, striding away from Ethiopia’s Nigist Getachew on the home straight to claim a superb triumph, with her training partner Oratile Nowe of Botswana finishing fast to grab second position in 1:57.49.
Sekgodiso screamed in delight after looking up at the stadium clock and realising that she had set a new PB, which was also a new meeting record – beating the previous mark of 1:57.72, set by Mozambique legend Maria Mutola in 2004.
SA ultra-distance star Gerda Steyn was among the well wishers on Sekgodiso’s Instagram post, stating “Amazing!!!!!”
Sekgodiso added that her next competition will be the Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon on July 5.
Meanwhile, there was another South African in top form in Ostrava in the shape of javelin-thrower Douw Smit.
The SA champion took a surprise lead early on in the competition with a new personal best distance of 84.12m, beating his previous mark of 83.29m.
But Potchefstroom’s Smit had to settle for second place in the end, with India’s 2024 Olympic silver medallist and current world champion Neeraj Chopra taking the honours with an 85.29m throw.
Smit, though, will be delighted to have beaten Grenada superstar Anderson Peters, who finished third in 83.23m.
“What a night! 4 throws over 80m and a new PB of 84.12m! Huge thanks to @zlatatretra for the invite, unforgettable evening! Baie dankie coach @chrisdb007_ en @potchtrackclub,” Smit posted on his Instagram account.
Two other South African athletes in action at the Mestsky Stadium were in the 1,500m event, although they ran in different races.
New SA record-holder Tshepo Tshite had to settle for ninth spot in 3:34.14 – well short of his national mark of 3:31.35 that he set at the Paris Diamond League last week, while Luan Munnik also came ninth in the other 1,500m race in 3:36.89.
Wimbledon organisers are planning to honour two-time champion Andy Murray with a statue at the All England Club.
Murray, who ended a 77-year wait for a British winner of the men's singles title in 2013 before winning again in 2016, retired after the Paris Olympics last year.
Wimbledon hope the statue will be revealed in 2027 during the championship's 150th anniversary.
"We are looking to have a statue of Andy Murray here (Wimbledon) and we're working closely with him and his team," All England Club chair Debbie Jevans told the ainslie + ainslie Performance People podcast.
"The ambition is that we would unveil that at the 150th anniversary of our first Championship, which was 1877.
"He's got to rightly be very involved in that and him and his team will be."
A bronze statue of Fred Perry, the last British men's champion before Murray, was erected at Wimbledon in 1984 to mark the 50th anniversary of his first singles championship.
Tennis greats John McEnroe and Billie Jean King are among those that have previously called for Murray to be honoured in similar fashion at Wimbledon.
Orlando Pirates Football Club has announced the appointment of Abdeslam Ouaddou from Marumo Gallants as the new Head Coach.
This comes after Ouaddou resigned from his role with the Bloemfontein-based side in May after overseeing 12 matches last season.
In a statement released by the ‘Buccaneers’ on Monday morning, the team said the 46-year-old brings a wealth of experience both as a player and a tactician.
“A former Moroccan international, Ouaddou earned 68 caps for the Atlas Lions and enjoyed a distinguished playing career across several top European leagues. His deep understanding of the game, coupled with a strong leadership profile, positions him well to lead the Buccaneers into a new era,” read the statement.
Coach Ouaddou, who is expected to arrive in South Africa towards the end of the week, will be assisted by Mandla Ncikazi and Rayaan Jacobs, Helmi Gueldich and Tyron Damons.
Pre-season preparations will officially kick off on June 27.
SuperSport has confirmed the passing of boxing and football commentator Phumlani Msibi, who died on Friday night after a short illness. The sports channel said that the 57-year-old Msibi started at SuperSport as a ring announcer with the late boxing promoter, Mzi Mnguni, and gradually became a seasoned boxing commentator in the 1990s, as well as the first to commentate in isiZulu and English on the sports. “Msibi soon embedded himself in the football sphere, becoming one of the faces and voices of football on SuperSport following the acquisition of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) broadcast rights in 2007,” said the Sports Channel. Minister of Recreation, Sports, Arts, and Culture Gayton McKenzie has joined mourners and passed his condolences to the Msibi family. He said, “My deepest and most sincere condolences to the Msibi family. Mooi loop, grootman.”
The party continues for the newly crowned ICC World Test champions – the Proteas – as they will be at the Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton this afternoon to meet and greet with fans.
