SABC Digital News

The Nelson Mandela Bay Giants’ unbeaten run in Mzansi Super League (MSL) continued when they beat Durban Heat by five wickets at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

Cape Umoya United, after parting ways with their head coach Dominic Isaacs last week, beat TS Galaxy 3-1 in a Glad Africa Championship game at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

South African Under-23 men’s national team arrived back home on Saturday afternoon to a low-key reception at the O.R Tambo International airport in Johannesburg. The team qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after beating Ghana on penalties on Friday.

After having spent his entire career playing cricket in his home province of the Eastern Cape, Sisanda Magala is adapting well to his time in Cape Town with the Cape Town Blitz. Magala has featured in all of the Blitz’s game this Mzansi Super League season and has played a big role in helping the Blitz to second on the table.

SA goalkeeper Mondli Mpoto saved two penalties in the shootout as the Under-23 men’s national team qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Japan. They won 6-5 on penalties following a 2-2 draw with Ghana in the third/fourth place playoff at the 2019 Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations in Cairo on Friday.

In Mzansi Super League action at Boland Park on Friday night, defending champions the Jozi Stars lost their fifth straight game, as the Paarl Rocks beat them by four wickets. After winning the toss, Themba Bavuma chose to bat first, but some tight bowling from the Rocks’ attack saw the Stars score just 129 for 3 in their 20 overs, Reeza Hendricks leading the way with 40.

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Keagan Buchanan expects all the pressure to be on his former club when they come up against his current club Maritzburg United in the Telkom Knockout semi-final in Nelspruit on Sunday.

With Bafana Bafana centre-back Eric “Tower” Mathoho out on suspension and Siya Ngezana still on national duty with the South African U23’s in Egypt, Kaizer Chefs head coach Ernst Middendorp will be forced to field a new pairing at centre-back on Sunday.

Durban Heat batsman David Miller has described their current Mzansi Super League (MSL) woes as ‘very very frustrating’ and hopes they can start getting serious involved in the action when they travel to the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants tomorrow (Saturday).

Organiser of the inaugural Mapungubwe Soccer Challenge Knockout Tom Sedibe says he approached the department of Sport, Arts and Culture in Limpopo about the tournament as a way to give back to the province.

Maritzburg United coach Eric Tinkler says his analysis of Kaizer Chiefs shows a vastly different team compared to last season.

Lamontville Golden Arrows Assistant Coach Mandla Ncikazi believes the time is now for Abafana Bes’thende.

Limpopo MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Thandi Moraka says her department is not exactly copying from their Free State counterparts by having a football tournament for an Arts and Music Festival.

Good news for the South African national U23 team currently taking part in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Egypt, is that all the players are available for tomorrow’s third place play-off against Ghana.

Reigning World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete is almost done with his preparations ahead of his title defence against his Filipino counterpart John Riel Casimero.

With Nigeria international goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi suspended for this game, Middendorp has confirmed that Bruce Bvuma will be wearing the number one jersey. But it’s the the prolonged absence of Itumeleng Khune that remains a huge concern not only to Chiefs but to Bafana Bafana as well.

Kaizer Chiefs have received a timely boost ahead of their crucial Telkom Knockout semi-final against Maritzburg United at the Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit on Sunday, with confirmation today that midfielder Kearyn Baccus has recovered from the injury and is available for selection.

Cape Town City Chairman John Comitis has spoken out about how the club is dealing with Mpho Makola’s six month ban from football.

Nelson Mandela Bay Giants Captain, Jon-Jon Smuts led from the front when the Port Elizabeth-based franchise continued with their impressive form in the Mzansi Super League (MSL) following a five-wicket victory over Cape Town Blitz at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth last night.

After finally managing to get a full game in game three, following a couple of game abandonments in Durban due to rain, the Heat are still in search of their first victory of the competition.

England and Tshwane Spartans paceman Tom Curran says they will be looking to build on their winning momentum when they host the Durban Heat in the Mzansi Super League 2.0 this evening.

Mamelodi Sundowns assistant Coach Manqoba Mngqithi says they cannot afford to lose twice in a row against Golden Arrows.

Mamelodi Sundowns Captain Hlompho Kekana says players do not focus on boardroom politics that has been affecting the team in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, its been approximately four years now since PSL Executive Committee member and Golden Arrows owner Mato Madlala started Acting as the PSL CEO.

Premier Soccer League (PSL) Chairman Irvin Khoza says they will be meeting with ICASA again in March next year to get the update on the broadcasting regulator’s plan to amend the sports broadcasting regulations in South Africa.