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Exclusive offer_Final.indd 82 2020/03/19 7:33 AM Exclusive Offer The Fix.indd 1 2020/03/19 12:30 PM EXCLUSIVE TO SPORTSCLUB SUBSCRIBERS ISSUE 143 WHAT’S INSIDE? THE FEATURES COMEBACK KINGS The Blitzboks are SA’s most consistent performers 22 22 SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR PUFFER The T20 World Cup final eluded the Proteas Women 28
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Exclusive offer_Final.indd 82 2020/03/19 7:33 AM Exclusive Offer The Fix.indd 1 2020/03/19 12:30 PM contents03.indd 3 2020/03/23 12:15 PM YOUR NEWS STUCK ’COCK Welcome to SPORTSCLUB, where you can get your hands on Who: Viktor Axelsen When and where: 15 March, Birmingham What happened: Axelsen in action against a host of amazing prizes as well as some great sports stories! Tien Chen Chou in the men’s final of the All England Open Badminton Championships. Thanks for all the feedback and comments FROM about your monthly sports magazine. We read each and every contribution. THE EDITOR Keep them coming! ith fear of coronavirus running high and whole countries being shut down, even the world of sports is not exempt. Pretty much every event has been impacted and one can only wonder at the knock- Won effect, especially when it comes to revenue and salaries. This may not be so keenly felt by sportspeople earning millions and millions of rands, but think of assistants, ground staff, marshalls and cleaners – people without fund managers and endorsement deals. In these dark times, we celebrate the Blitzboks’ consistent performances in the World Sevens Series, and remind ourselves sport will be back to normal sooner rather than later. May 2020
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Who: Tom Brady When and where: 3 February 2019, Atlanta, US What happened: Brady, of the New England Patriots, in action against the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII. The 42-year-old star quarterback, considered by many to be the best in his position to date, announced in March he would leave the Patriots, where he has spent his entire 20-season NFL career. He led them to six Super Bowl titles, won four Super Bowl MVP awards and three NFL MVP awards. Despite speculation he would retire, Brady made himself a free agent when the 2019 season ended. Shortly after his announcement, news broke he would join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the new season.
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Sport ShotsMay20.indd 10 2020/03/23 11:10 AM ALL EYES LEFT Women competitors perform at ATSX1000, the sixth stop of the Ice Cross World Championship, in Yokohama, Japan
Sport ShotsMay20.indd 11 2020/03/23 11:10 AM COOLER-BOX KINGS Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon prepare to have some fun at the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Cooler Runnings event at Station Pier, Port Melbourne, in Melbourne, Australia MARCIO MACHADO/HANNAH PETERS/JAMES WORSFOLD/SUHAIMI ABDULLAH/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES
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Sport ShotsMay20.indd 13 2020/03/23 11:10 AM ‘YOU FEEL ME?’ Roevan de Beer and Sindile Manengela duel it out at EFC 84 at Time Square in Pretoria
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Sport ShotsMay20.indd 14 2020/03/23 11:10 AM SPORTSSHOTS
Sport ShotsMay20.indd 15 2020/03/23 11:10 AM FLYING CAR SPOTTED Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul in action at the 2020 World Rally Championship’s leg in Mexico
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Sport ShotsMay20.indd 17 2020/03/23 11:10 AM EXIT RIGHT (NOW) Julian Wilson nails it at Urban Surf Wavepark in Melbourne, Australia
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Sport ShotsMay20.indd 19 2020/03/23 12:54 PM ENGLISHENGLISH PREMIERPREMIER LEAGUELEAGUE 20202020
13 MARCH 2020 T P L . 4 April 2020 T .
T C C O A 2
T T L L . C . T R O . 25 . 1 ll u b rs orr t s t r HARRIET LANDER/COPA/CLI E BRUNS ILL//SHAUN BOTTERILL/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES HARRIET LANDER/COPA/CLI E
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New Numbers.indd 20 2020/03/23 9:56 AM RS ENGLISHENGLISH PREMIERPREMIER LEAGUELEAGUE 20202020
T C . T 68 L .
T L 19 B .
T B C . L T A A .
L C S O . T 9 . spr o oro rus s r r ts t orl o sports our r p o t p s str l ol o p
our rst ou t o l Cl s o o p
New Numbers.indd 21 2020/03/23 9:59 AM cOMebacK Kings
A gutsy Blitzboks team sERAs LIMA/BAckpAgEpIx MARTIn is looking to sharpen its approach in the buildup to the Olympic Games in Tokyo. By Jon Cardinelli
he Blitzboks’ performances on the Los Angeles leg of the World Sevens Series highlighted the character, composure and, ultimately, the unity within the squad. While they weren’t always accurate and their discipline Toccasionally let them down, a relatively young side managed to fight back from two seemingly hopeless situations and win an important tournament in the context of their overall campaign. South Africa conceded two early tries to trail hosts USA in the quarter-final. They crossed the line before half-time and then added a second try in the 13th minute to complete a thrilling 12-10 win. The best was yet to come in the final, against Fiji, though. Another team may have raised the white flag after conceding 19 unanswered points against one of the code’s traditional powerhouses. Neil Powell’s charges, however, maintained their composure to hit back and take the decider into extra time via a magnificent touchline conversion by veteran Branco du Preez.
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Blitzboks.indd 22 2020/03/20 3:12 PM BLITZBOKS cOMebacK
Blitzboks.indd 23 2020/03/20 3:12 PM Werner Kok – who played in his 50th Sevens retirements in recent months. With that Series tournament – made the point that Powell in mind, Powell should be pleased with the and company deserve credit for ushering in the fact the Blitzboks have qualified for four next generation of South African stars. finals this season. ‘Our depth is amazing,’ the veteran said. While South Africa did stumble in the ‘We have some very experienced guys in the most recent competition staged in Vancouver squad, such as Branco du Preez, Chris Dry, – finishing fourth – they returned from their Cecil Afrika and myself, but the younger North American sojourn having secured 37 out players’ talent is amazing. They are playing of possible 44 log points. At this stage, they sit well and the results are there to prove it. in second place and trail New Zealand by just 11. ‘These younger guys are all keen to be part Powell demands more of his players, though, of the squad for the Olympic Games and they and realises the Blitzboks will have to be more are really laying down a marker. That is good consistent if they’re going to overtake the Kiwis news, not only for the Olympics, but also for at the top of the standings. The group is also the rest of the World Series.’ building towards the Olympic Games in Tokyo Veterans Seabelo Senatla, Rosko Specman, – provided the event isn’t cancelled due to Dylan Sage, Ruhan Nel and Kwagga Smith concerns around the novel coronavirus. have not been available due to their respective Authorities have already decided to postpone commitments to Super Rugby and Japanese the two Asia-based tournaments in Hong Kong It was left to a couple of the Blitzboks’ clubs. The depth of the group has been further and Singapore. Towards the end of March, it youngsters to finish the job in spectacular tested with Siviwe Soyizwapi and Justin Geduld was not yet known whether the events in London fashion. Kurt-Lee Arendse surged upfield and sustaining injuries, and former captains Kyle and Paris – which were initially scheduled then offloaded to Sako Makata, who shrugged Brown and Philip Snyman announcing their for May – would go ahead as planned. off a defender to score the title-clinching try. ‘It was so pleasing to see how the players kept their faith in the system,’ Powell remarked after that game. ‘At half-time I could sense it was far from over. The players believe in that South African jersey and are massively proud to represent their country. You could see how much faith they had in the gameplan, and in one another, during that final. They never gave up. ‘We don’t look at the results all the time, rather the process, but this result was important for us to close the gap on New Zealand in the overall standings.’ BLITZBOKS RESULTS IN 2019-20 DUBAI: WINNERS CAPE TOWN: RUNNERS-UP HAMILTON: 10th SYDNEY: RUNNERS-UP LAS VEGAS: WINNERS CANADA: 4th REMAINING FIXTURES IN SEVENS SERIES LONDON: SEPTEMBER PARIS: SEPTEMBER SINGAPORE: 10-11 OCTOBER HONG KONG: 16-18 OCTOBER
Blitzboks.indd 24 2020/03/23 2:32 PM BLITZBOKS
‘We have to get the balance right,’ Powell admitted upon the team’s return from North America. ‘We don’t have an exact plan about what the rest of the year will look like. They might even postpone or cancel the Olympics. We are not even sure about Paris or London. Now that the coronavirus has spread to Europe, it might be that they’ll also postpone those tournaments. ‘It is difficult, but we will go ahead with our plans as if we are going to play in London and Paris at the end of May. That will give us a two-week break before we come back. That is a difficult thing to get right. We spoke about a tournament we wanted to play in Spain, but again that is in Europe. STAR ATTRACTIONS
coach neil powell will have to find a way to prepare his charges for the olympic games in japan
‘We are going to have to think carefully ‘We will continue with our plans,’ said the about how we plan these next two months, coach. ‘We were hoping to use the Hong Kong whether training or game time is going to be and Singapore tournaments to prepare for the more important for us. We still need to sit as Olympics. In an Olympic year, we usually start a management team and do the review and shifting our focus to that event in the final two see where our priorities lie, whether we need tournaments of the World Sevens Series. We will the game time and whether it’s worth travelling definitely use London and Paris as an opportunity to play a tournament. to start looking at combinations and see who we selvyn DaviDs ‘There are other options,’ the coach continued. still need to test and if there is still something The diminutive player has made a big impact for ‘Argentina is hosting a tournament. That will we need to change in terms of how we play. the Blitzboks this season. Davids has scored 109 mean crossing nine time zones to play a small ‘What we are considering as a management points after six tournaments, and is ranked ninth on the overall leaderboard. His tally includes 11 tournament so we would prefer to go to Europe, team is playing a tournament after the event in tries and 27 conversions. but we might not do that due to the coronavirus.’ Paris, when we get the likes of Rosko Specman
A g EpI x Powell will have to find a way to prepare his and those guys back who we think will take us angelO DaviDs charges for the Olympics. He will need time to to the Olympics. It is not a given yet – we still The Blitzboks have found another world-class reintegrate some of the aforementioned sevens need to announce that squad. finisher in the absence of sevens legend Seabelo veterans who are playing fifteens. World Cup ‘I think it is more important to get game
A n W IL k I sky/B ckp Senatla – who is focusing on his career with the winners Cheslin Kolbe and Smith are expected to time between London, Paris and the Olympics, Stormers. Davids has touched down 16 times feature when South Africa launch their campaign rather than between now and London. We will across the 2019-20 season, and is in sixth for a gold medal. Both were a part of the 2016 have to balance that and see what is more place on the overall try-scorers’ list.
ALI HAIDER/Ry team that won Olympic bronze. important,’ the coach added.
www.sportsclub.co.za 25
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Harry How/augusta NatioNal/DoNalD Miralle/JaMie squire/getty iMages/gallo iMages 2020 - May Sport Club New Advert.pdf 1 2020/03/19 15:56:48
“Do you know what my favourite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.”
Mike Singletary
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The Sports Trust celebrates 25 years of delivering sustainable sport development initiatives to the underprivileged communities by providing sports facilities, equipment and kit across our country.
We thank all our partners who have supported our mandate and vision through their generous contributions towards grassroot sports development for both abled and disabled persons.
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44_extreme.indd 32 This month:World SkateboardingChampionship THE PUNCHES ROLLING WITH T S run in2019whentheStreetLeague Kingdom. Adressrehearsalofsortswas before hasitbeenhostedintheUnited Janeiro andSaoPauloinBrazil.Butnever Chicago andLosAngeles, been heldintheUScitiesofNewJersey, Previouseditionsoftheeventhave kateboarding Tour addedaLondonstop. EVENT DETAILS 24 May 23 May 22 May Date Park, CopperBoxArena Venue: QueenElizabethOlympic Box Arena,from22-24May. Elizabeth OlympicPark’s Copper the firsttime,atQueen is settobeheldinLondonfor Skateboarding Championship he 2020World Street Finals Semi-finals First round Round
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is even iftheydon’twin. and improvetheirchancesofentryforJapan, last whereriderscangainworldrankingpoints the Olympicsandeventisalsooneof Championship willgainanautomaticentryinto first time.ThewinneroftheLondonWorld the summerOlympicGamesinJapanfor with skateboardingsettoberepresentedat being occasion ofthismagnitude,despitenot that Englandcouldhostaskateboarding The successoftheeventremovedanydoubt a big cloud hanging over the meeting that a bigcloudhangingoverthemeetingthat There is an extra bit of spice added in 2020 There isanextrabitofspiceaddedin2020 a traditionalpowerhouseofthesport. Unfortunately, there
the StreetLeagueSkateboarding(SLS). been cancel World Tour inLasVegas andBeijinghave restrictions, thefirsttwostopsofSLS (Covid-19) outbreakandtheassociatedtravel caused bytheCoronavirusDisease2019 events havebeenaffected. Olympics havebeencalledoffyet,severalother While neithertheWorld Championshipn place atall.Thecloud,ofcourse,iscoronavirus. could on the situation, so things could change on thesituation,sothingscouldchange The SLSsaidit ‘Due tothepotentialserioushealthconcerns mean itisdelayedor, worse,doesnottake led,’ read the statement from led,’ readthestatementfrom keeping a close eye was keepingacloseeye or the or the
2020/03/23 11:29AM
RICK KERN/SEAN M HAFFEY/ALEXANDRE SCHNEIDER/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES EXTREMESPORT
at short notice and it is still possible the World Championship could be cancelled. ‘After careful consideration, given the global scope of this rapidly developing situation and following the recommendations of medical professionals and governmental officials, OFF THE RAILS the decision to cancel the first two events has been made to best protect the health, MEN safety and well-being of athletes and fans, Year Gold Silver Bronze which is always our top priority. 2010 Nyjah Huston (US) Sean Malto (US) Chris Cole (US) ‘We will continue to monitor the situation 2011 Sean Malto (US) Nyjah Huston (US) Chris Cole (US) 2012 Nyjah Huston (US) Chris Cole (US) Chaz Ortiz (US) and provide updates regarding the SLS World 2013 Chris Cole (US) Nyjah Huston (US) Luan Oliveira (BRA) Championship scheduled for May. Our thoughts 2014 Nyjah Huston (US) Torey Pudwill (US) Ishod Wair (US) are with all of those affected by coronavirus.’ 2015 Kelvin Hoefler (BRA) Nyjah Huston (US) Luan Oliveira (BRA) 2016 Shane O’Neill (AUS) Nyjah Huston (US) Cody McEntire (US) 2017 Nyjah Huston (US) Shane O’Neill (AUS) Kelvin Hoefler (BRA) 2018 Nyjah Huston (US) Kelvin Hoefler (BRA) Felipe Gustavo (BRA) 2019 Nyjah Huston (US) Yuto Horigome (JPN) Gustavo Ribeiro (POR) WOMEN Year Gold Silver Bronze 2015 Leticia Bufoni (BRA) Vanessa Torres (US) Alana Smith (US) 2016 Lacey Baker (US) Leticia Bufoni (BRA) Alexis Sablone (US) 2017 Lacey Baker (US) Leticia Bufoni (BRA) Mariah Duran (US) 2018 Aori Nishimura (JPN) Leticia Bufoni (BRA) Lacey Baker (US) 2019 Pamela Rosa (BRA) Rayssa Leal (BRA) Aori Nishimura (JPN)
e n e O i es e O lD s a e Oa Ding 10 a iOns i as een elD
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44_extreme.indd 33 2020/03/23 11:29 AM Indy500.indd 34 THEN&NOW This month:I 00 back in1909. because ofthebrickpavingitboastedway Thetrackearneditsnickname,‘TheBrickyard’, Indianapolis MotorSpeedway. been sinceitsinception109yearsago,the the ‘Triple CrownofMotorsport’thatincludes elite inracingandispartofwhatknownas T T he event holds a special place among the he eventholdsaspecialplaceamongthe held at the same venue it has held atthesamevenueithas is stillheldannually. Theraceis automobile raceintheworldthat known, isbelievedtobetheoldest or ‘Indy500’asitisaffectionately he Indianapolis500-mileRace, I 00 & NOW from America and Europe. It turned out to from AmericaandEurope.Itturnedoutto attractive toracingteamsandspectators host onemajorraceeventthatwouldbe real cause,thedecisionwastakentoinstead to whythatmighthavebeenbut,whateverthe 24 Hours of Le Mans race. 24 HoursofLeMansrace. the MonacoFormulaOneGrandPrixand attendance asitprogressedthroughtheyear. the seriesregisterednotabledecreasesin races ofeachseasonwerewellattendedbut smaller eventsthroughouttheyear. Theopening previous twoyears,theracecourseheldmultiple T he first Indy 500 was held in 1911. In the he firstIndy500washeldin1911.Inthe everal reasons have been suggested as everal reasonshavebeensuggestedas Forty cars ualified by being able to sustain Forty cars ualifiedbybeingabletosustain 46 entriesfromacrossAmericaandEurope. of whichHarrountookhome 14250,anddrew the largestprizepursetothatpointat 27550, an estimated85000fans.Theraceboasted of May. varies butitisalwaysonthelastweekend weekend, whichmeanstheactualdate is nowheldeveryyearontheMemorialDay be aresoundingsuccessandtheIndy500 Forty cars ualified by being able to sustain Forty cars ualifiedbybeingabletosustain 46 entriesfromacrossAmericaandEurope. of whichHarrountookhome 14250,anddrew the largestprizepursetothatpointat 27550, an estimated85000fans.Theraceboasted with anaveragespeedof120km hinfront representing theMarmonMotorCarCompany, endurance eventwaswonbyRayHarroun, T he inaugural running of the 800km he inauguralrunningofthe800km e yea inDy as i s elD 1 11 1 11 1 11 2009 2020/03/19 12:13
S LIED/ ATRICK HERT OG/O AN KOSE/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES I IA APOLIS MOTOR SPEE A
a speed of 121km h over a uarter-mile long straight. Interestingly, the grid positions were determined by the dates the teams submitted their entrance forms. The race was not without controversy, either. A multi-car accident on the 14th lap created chaos with timing and scoring in the pre-digital age, leaving Ralph Mulford convinced he had won the race. These days, the race is typically held with a field of 33 drivers in 11 rows of three cars and grid position is determined by each racer completing four timed laps on a separate weekend from the race. It is claimed to be the biggest single-day sporting event in the world. Due to safety concerns, the race is not held when it is raining. It can be delayed until showers cease and the track has dried but will be called off if the rain persists through the day. f percipitation falls during the event, officials The track where the Indy 500 is held is a 4km long, perfectly symmetrical oval. It is known as a ‘rounded can end the race prematurely and still declare rectangle’ with four turns of identical dimensions, which lead into four straights two long and two short. a winner. The race is held over 200 counter-clockwise laps to create a running length of 800km.
2019
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T st o s o ts no ISS E 1 SOL TIO
C ith o SS A M I K ELART E TA 2. Name the English Premier League manager L who was diagnosed with coronavirus. M U C M 1. Who became the first Premier League player to test 6. ‘ At the end it’s hard when you are playing with L H A U B positive for coronavirus 13 against 16.’ Which head coach said this after R R D U EDDIEJONES L 3. Name the F1 team that withdrew from the Australian a recent Six Nations match N N O L ALUNWYNJONES Grand Prix after a team member tested positive for 7. Name the Wales rugby captain who e ualled the L O D D A the virus. record for most international appearances in 2020. FRANCO I S LOUW U 9. Name the former Springbok flank who announced N I S 4. Which Super Rugby team was forced to change kits at H T half-time due to a clash of colours with the opposition that he will be retiring from all rugby at the end of JOEMARLE R A 5. Which former Brazilian footballer was arrested after the season. L I attempting to enter Paraguay using a fake passport 10. Which English prop received a 10-week ban A 8. Which team won the Women’s T20 World Cup for grabbing the genitals of an opponent
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crossword.indd 37 2020/03/20 10:41 AM ‘HOPE LIGHTS OUR WAY’
The Olympic torch was lit in Olympia, Greece, on 12 March and handed to Olympic shooting champion Anna Korakaki, the first woman to be the initial torchbearer. The lighting and handover ceremonies in Athens had no public attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic. The torch relay boasts the slogan ‘Hope Lights Our Way’.
F T SA ARIS MESSINIS/RICHARD HEATHCOTE/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES ARIS MESSINIS/RICHARD HEATHCOTE/GETTY
Poster.indd 38 2020/03/23 12:10 PM OL MPI AMES
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to yo japan j ly a g st
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Poster.indd 39 2020/03/23 12:10 PM [design] pic suggestions in folder; mark out two more quotes and I will fill them later sidebar to go with soccer COVID-19
[strap] Coronavirus
[head] With Bated Breath
[intro] [body] WITHBATED There’s no doubt about it: coronavirus is the biggest challenge the world has faced in generations – and BREATH sport is collateral damage
hen lives are lost – and towards As coronavirus – or Covid-19 as it has been torn up, golf and tennis tournaments cancelled the end of March this figure had named – spreads around the globe, sport has and cricket and rugby schedules in disarray. soared alarmingly to 14 700 been shutting its doors. Towards the end of Even Liverpool were being made to wait for a globally – sport and other things March the only live sport in South Africa was first top-flight football league title in 30 years. in society pale into insignificance. horse racing, but it also seemed to be a matter Over the next few pages we have highlighted How important is a rugby match, of when, not if, it too was halted. There have been what sports fans have missed out on. The list Wa round of football fixtures or a tennis or golf some major ‘casualties’ around the world: Euro is by no means conclusive as cancellations and tournament when people are dying? 2020 postponed to 2021, Formula One’s schedule postponements were occurring on a daily basis.
2020 SUMMER OLYMPICS The Tokyo Olympic Games were one of the first big sporting events thrown into question due to coronavirus. The leader of the IOC’s co-ordination commission for the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to start in July, said there was no May deadline to cancel the Games and he remained confident they would go ahead. Some countries said they would not take part in any qualifying events, including the International Judo Federation. Fina postponed water sports qualifiers like the Diving World Series and the Water Polo World League. THE IOC SAID THERE WAS NO MAY DEADLINE TO CANCEL THE OLYMPIC GAMES AND
REMAINED CONFIDENT THEY WOULD GO AHEAD IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES KIMIMASA MAYAMA/GETTY
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40-46_new.indd 40 2020/03/23 1:02 PM COVID-19 XXXX
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Easter weekend led to the cancellation of a number of popular schoolboy tournaments, including the Kearnsey, Noord-Suid Rugby, and Wilderklawer festivals.
SOCCER The beautiful game’s global reach and congested schedule have seen it become one of the sports impacted the most by coronavirus. March 2020 will go down in history, but not in the way many were expecting. Liverpool’s epic march to their first domestic league title in three decades was stopped in its tracks, while Kaizer Chiefs’ run towards ending their own national trophy absence from the top spot was similarly suspended. Chelsea midfielder Callum Hudson Odoi and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta were among the first high-profile personalities to confirm positive diagnoses as teams like Real Madrid were sent into self-isolation after their training facility was RUGBY SA Rugby cancelled all international events compromised. Meetings were frantically arranged A number of fixtures and leagues have been featuring the Junior Springboks. This includes online as the outbreak worsened. Even the idea suspended or cancelled. At the conclusion of the international series featuring the national of playing behind closed doors was not deemed the seventh round, Sanzaar announced that U20 teams of Georgia and Argentina, as well sufficient to limit the spread of the virus. all Super Rugby fixtures will be suspended for as the team’s tour to the United Kingdom in Rival teams and tournaments with conflicting the foreseeable future. The match between the May. It was no surprise that the U20 World interests were forced to work together as they Jaguares and Highlanders – which was set to Championships – which were due to be played plotted the way forward. The picture changed be played behind closed doors, was called off in Italy, where by late March nearly 6 000 almost daily before some hard lines were drawn. only hours before kick-off. deaths had been recorded – were called off. The European Championships were moved The final round of Six Nations matches have The Varsity Cup has also been suspended. out a year, Olympic football was left in limbo been postponed. All matches against Italy, where President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to close and the Premier League abandoned its first coronavirus had hit particularly hard, had been schools from 18 March until the end of the ruling, which set a deadline for the season to called off earlier, but then the suspension was rolled out across Europe. The Pro14 organisers have taken the unprecedented decision to suspend the tournament indefinitely. Resumption of the 2019-20 season will become a matter of constant review. As a result, no end date to the suspension can be provided at this time. Elsewhere, the Top League in Japan, the Premiership in England and the Top 14 in France have all been suspended. The London and Paris Sevens Series events, scheduled to take place at the end of May, have been postponed to September. The two Asia-based sevens events, in Hong Kong and Singapore, have also been postponed, to 10-11 October and 16-18 October respectively. The Women’s Sevens Challenger Series in Stellenbosch has also been postponed. The series would have seen the Imbokodo go up against other nations for a place as a core
team on the sevens circuit. KING/CHUNG SUNG-JUN/FRANCESCO PECORARO/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES MATT
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40-46_new.indd 42 2020/03/23 2:34 PM for 60 days. This effectively ended the One Day Internationally, the opening three track and EXTRAORDINARY TIMES Cup and the 4-Day Franchise Series, which had field meetings on the elite Diamond League German club Borussia Moenchengladbach’s two rounds of fixtures left to play. The round- circuit were postponed. The meetings affected first team offered to give up their wages to robin phase of the One Day Cup had finished were Doha (17 April), Shanghai (16 May) and help the club’s financial struggle. the previous weekend and the semi-finals another Chinese venue yet to be named, on Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic was forced were originally scheduled for that week. 9 May. The Boston Marathon, scheduled for to apologise after travelling to Serbia and CSA CEO Jacques Faul confirmed director 20 April, has been postponed until September. breaking self-isolation rules put in place of cricket Graeme Smith would choose the to limit the spread of coronavirus. winner in both formats. CYCLING Manchester United vowed to pay 3 000 Internationally, Quinton de Kock and his In South Africa, the annual mountain bike casual staff for the remainder the season even if matches are forced behind closed fellow Proteas returned from their ODI tour of extravaganza, the Cape Epic, was cancelled. doors or cancelled. India without a ball having been bowled, while The organisers called off the 2020 edition just Brazilian midfielder Willian pledged to play the New Zealand-Australia ODI series was called 40 hours before it was to start, creating havoc, for Chelsea beyond the end of his contract if off after one match, played in an empty stadium. especially for overseas riders. Race founder the Premier League requires a summer finish. The Australian women’s team cancelled the Kevin Vermaak said they had taken this step Former Arsenal pair Alex Song and Johan Djourou South African leg of their Women’s Championship with a heavy heart and it followed ‘formal had their contracts terminated as part of nine Series which was to be played in East London advice received from government’. players let go by Swiss side FC Sion after they and Pietermaritzburg. In the following days, the organisers of refused the temporary unemployment terms. the joberg2c mountain bike race announced ATHLETICS the 2020 event, set to take place from 24 April be completed. The FA is committed to playing Athletics South Africa decided in March to to 2 May, had also been cancelled. out the season to ensure all domestic and suspend all athletics events at all levels for Internationally, the Giro d’Italia, the second- European matches are played. There is no 30 days. However, the Comrades Marathon most prestigious race after the Tour de France, time frame for this, meaning matches could Association (CMA) said the 2020 race would was postponed. be played beyond 30 June. The directive solves go ahead. CMA chairperson Cheryl Winn added: the delicate issue of how to conclude the 2019- ‘With nearly three months to go, the board has TENNIS 20 season instead of accepting the current decided it is premature to postpone this year’s The French Open, the year’s second Grand standings as final or declaring the campaign Comrades Marathon. We will make a decision Slam scheduled to start on 25 May, has been null and void. by 17 April on whether to postpone Comrades postponed to 20 September. The ATP, who runs to a date later in the year.’ the men’s game, suspended its tour for six CRICKET Earlier, the 51st edition of the iconic Two weeks, while the Women’s Tennis Association On 16 March, Cricket South Africa (CSA) elected Oceans Marathon, which was due to take cancelled the Volvo Car Open, scheduled to start to terminate all forms of cricket in the country place on 11 April, was called off. on 4 April, and suspended its tour until 2 May.
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MOTORSPORT Formula One postponed its Grands Prix in Bahrain and Vietnam and expects its season THE PGA TOUR HAD ANNOUNCED IT HAD NO PLANS TO to start at the Monaco Grand Prix, which is scheduled for the end of May. The Australian CANCEL EVENTS, BUT THEN CALLED OFF THE PLAYERS race, the opening event of the 2020 season was called off after a McLaren team member tested CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER THE FIRST ROUND positive for the coronavirus in mid-March. In MotoGP, the Qatar race was cancelled at the last minute and the next event, the Grand Prix of the Americas, scheduled for 5 April, was postponed. The following race was the one in Argentina on 19 April.
GOLF South Africa’s Sunshine Tour has suspended all activites after six of the European Tour’s events in this season’s Race to Dubai were earlier either postponed or cancelled. The PGA Tour postponed The Masters, the first Major of the year, in March, and days later also postponed The PGA Championship, the year’s second Major, scheduled to start on 14 May. The association had announced it had no plans to cancel events, but officials then called off The Players Championship after the first round. It also cancelled the next three events and postponed another four.
NBA After two Utah Jazz players tested positive for coronavirus, the NBA announced in mid-March it was suspending the season ‘until further notice’ and players the Jazz faced in the 10 days since were told to self-isolate. The league was bracing itself for the possibility of mid- to late June as
DAVID GRAY/BEN JARED/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES GRAY/BEN DAVID the earliest return.
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NHL The National Hockey League suspended play immediately in March. However, the league was optimistic it would be able to resume its schedule. By mid- March, 189 games and three and a half weeks remained in the NHL’s regular season.
MLB NFL HORSE RACING Also in mid-March, Major League Baseball The National Football League was still planning The South African authorities continued with announced it was delaying the start of the to hold its 2020 draft in April in Las Vegas, as races, but no spectators were allowed, while 2020 season, scheduled for 26 March, by at scheduled, but public events associated with the British Horseracing Authority has abandoned least two weeks. Spring training camps had it were cancelled. its attempt to continue racing behind closed been suspended immediately and Opening Day In March, the league said it had no plans doors. It has announced all racing in Britain was pushed back to mid-May, at the earliest. yet to move the start of the season. will be suspended until the end of April. Earlier, the 146th Kentucky Derby in the US was moved from 2 May to 5 September. LO CHUN KIT/PATRICK SMITH/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES LO CHUN KIT/PATRICK
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48-51.indd 48 2020/03/19 11:46 ELCLASICO
ould you like to go to El Clasico?’ I was asked about 10 days before the 1 March meeting of Real Madrid and Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. My reply was an ‘Wimmediate but cautious ‘yes’ – attending one of the greatest games in football is an obvious bucket list item, but it all seemed too good to be true. However, a couple of days later the details were ironed out and – still reeling at my incredible luck – I flew to Valencia, Spain, to begin the trip of a lifetime, culminating in a VIP experience of the ‘big game’ at one of the world’s greatest football venues. The trip was not only about El Clasico, but also featured visits to the home grounds and training facilities of La Liga clubs Valencia, Villarreal and Levante. The stands at Valencia’s Mestalla are even more steep and imposing than they appear on television and the club showed its community heart with plenty of kids playing at their training ground; Villarreal’s Ceramica (formerly known as El Madrigal) is a compact but historically significant venue, and currently home to one of Africa’s rising stars, Nigerian Samuel Chukwueze; while Levante’s Estadi Ciutat de Valencia featured one of the highlights of the trip: a hidden ‘museum’ below one of the stands, curated by their long-serving groundsman. It’s the ultimate football fan’s ‘man cave’, with dozens of shirts, books, balls, posters and mementos of all kinds lovingly adorning the walls. No frosted glass or fancy display cases here – it was a tactile, immersive experience, and one in which the passion for football came through on full blast. Visiting Real Madrid’s museum, by contrast, is a somewhat ‘cold’ experience. The club’s DID YOU KNOW?
Barcelona and Real Madrid are two of the three clubs which have never been relegated from La Liga. The other is Athletic Bilbao. Real Madrid’s total squad value on the transfer Graeme Jackson got an up-close and personal market is an estimated 1.08-billion euros, view of the latest showdown between Real while Barcelona’s is 1.06-billion euros. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is the highest- Madrid and Barcelona at the Bernabeu, paid player in the world, earning a reported €8.3-million euros per month. Real Madrid’s courtesy of La Liga. This is his experience top earner is Gareth Bale, at€2.5-million euros. El Clasico has an estimated global television audience of 650 million. ALEJANDRO RIOS/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES
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48-51.indd 49 2020/03/23 2:38 PM incredible history and achievements (only a REAL MADRID vs BARCELONA explained Real Madrid’s imminent plans record 13 Uefa Champions League titles, don’t to upgrade the Bernabeu (they will feature you know) are on full display and beautifully Head-to-head record, all competitions a retractable roof and revamped facade) and presented, yet there is a calculated distance took us out on to the hallowed turf ... well, almost. kept between the common fan and the heart We were allowed to linger on the artificial grass of the club. You are just one of thousands doing BARCELONA next to the pitch, with the playing surface the stadium tour at the Bernabeu each and every 96 deemed very much off-limits. Sneak a toe day – it’s not a criticism of Real, merely a reality towards the perfectly manicured grass and of being a behemoth of football. The personal MATCHES several security guards would jump into action touch is lost amid the sheer enormity of being PLAYED REAL and ensure the pitch remained unsullied a few arguably the greatest football club on earth. 96 days ahead of Barcelona’s visit. However, there was a bit of added spice for 244 While the outside of the Bernabeu is our particular group, as we were given a short something of a concrete monolith – artfully meet and greet with Los Blancos legend Emilio structured and impressive, but lacking in the Butragueno. The snappily dressed 56-year-old DRAWS beauty that so much of Madrid boasts in its 52 historic statues, fountains and buildings – the inside is a sea of blue seats and pristine green KEY STATS grass, with the stands sweeping to seemingly impossible heights. It’s a truly grand theatre, First played: 13 May 1902 one made all the more inspiring for its history Most appearances: 44 – Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) and heritage, and I couldn’t wait to sample Most goals: 26 – Lionel Messi (Barcelona) its atmosphere – especially when dialled Most assists: 14 – Lionel Messi (Barcelona) up to 10 for El Clasico! Biggest win: Real Madrid 11-1 Barcelona, Game day brought a sense of a city gearing 19 June 1943 up for a massive party. There was a noticeably Most consecutive wins: 6 – Barcelona (25 January 1948 to 15 January 1949) & Real greater police presence on the streets around the Madrid (30 September 1962 to 28 February 1965) stadium, but the atmosphere was one of relaxed Longest undefeated runs: 14 – Real Madrid (31 January 1931 to 3 February 1935) and Barcelona (1 November 1917 to 3 June 1928) Most consecutive games scored: 23 – Barcelona THE BERNABEU IS A TRULY GRAND THEATRE, ONE MADE (27 April 2011 to 13 August 2017) ALL THE MORE INSPIRING FOR ITS HISTORY AND HERITAGE ALEJANDRO RIOS/ALEJANDRO RIOS/OSCAR J BARROSO /OSCAR /GETTY IAMGES/GALLO IMAGES
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48-51.indd 50 2020/03/19 11:46 ELCLASICO
LIONEL MESSI DROPPED THE POLITICAL BACKGROUND The fierce passion behind El Clasico is rooted DEEPER AND DEEPER TO in the political and cultural affairs of Spain in the mid-20th century. To put it simply, football and the team one chose to support was often an extension COLLECT THE BALL, BUT of a political ideology. Thus, Barcelona, the capital of the northeastern region of Spain known as HE APPEARED SHORT Catalonia, took sides with the Spanish Republic, a left-leaning political organisation supporting an OF HIS ELECTRIC BEST elected government. The city of Madrid, meanwhile, came to be associated with the Nationalist movement – a unified Spain under one Spanish flag and right-wing ideals. These political concepts and ideals colour the rivalry to this day.
from nowhere when he is at his peak. Madrid were lethargic and overcautious in the first half, but they emerged a different team after the break; pressing high up the pitch to give their opponents no time and space to breathe. Barca had no answer in response, and it seemed only a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ Los Blancos would break through. The decisive moment arrived with just under 20 minutes left to play: Vinicius Junior (below; the liveliest, if most wasteful player on anticipation, with streetside stalls selling shirts, displays of the ‘Grada Fans’ (the block of the pitch) broke free down the left of the penalty flags and the classic ‘half and half’ scarves – exclusively white-clad supporters behind the goal area and scored from a tight angle thanks to one part in white and gold for Real Madrid, the posts on the south stand) raising goosebumps a deflection off Gerard Pique. The Bernabeu other in red and blue for Barcelona. As the match for everyone in the stadium. Except of course, erupted in a shower of white confetti and a crept closer, so the weather worsened, with the the Barcelona fans, who were perched high up sweet victory for the hosts seemed inevitable. skies over Madrid going grey with cloud and in the corner of the opposite stand and seemed The triumph was secured in injury time, with rain. However, this did nothing to dampen the to have the misfortune of having the rain blowing Mariano Diaz an unlikely hero as he sprinted anticipation and excited ambience around in on them relentlessly – a portend of what was free down the right and squeezed a shot behind the Bernabeu. to come through the 90 minutes. Marc-Andre ter Stegen for 2-0. Once again the Our group was privileged enough to be treated Barca bossed possession in the first half, Bernabeu cheered its approval, but even that to a VIP hospitality reception at a nearby hotel, but their dominance was mostly sterile and was overshadowed by the roar greeting the final complete with eats, drinks and the chance to unthreatening. Lionel Messi dropped deeper whistle – Los Blancos had defied the odds, the have your photo taken with the Uefa Champions and deeper to collect the ball, but he appeared weather and their self-doubt to secure a thrilling League trophy, but in truth it was no more than short of his electric best, unable to create the victory, one which will live long in the memory for a time-filler until we could make our way down kind of openings that he can seemingly summon all of those lucky enough to have been there. to the ground, through the imposing gates and up into our seats, situated on an upper ring of the main stand. It was cold, windy, rainy ... and incredible! The buzz inside the stadium was a tangible thing, with Real fans anxious to see if they could shrug off their stuttering form (they had lost away to Levante in La Liga the week before and been beaten at the Bernabeu by Manchester City in the Uefa Champions League a few days prior) and get one over their hated rivals for the first time in years. Los Blancos certainly had a 12th man behind them, with the singing of ‘Hala Madrid’ just before kick-off and the
48-51.indd 51 2020/03/19 11:46 ACTIONSTATIONS ESSENTIAL FIXTURES
STAR PLA ER
nglish remier League M , Although a rampant Liverpool faltered a bit in March by losing in spectacular fashion to atford and suffering a shock blemish to their unbeaten record, few would’ve bet against them claiming their first Premier League title since the inception of the competition in 1992. The final rounds of matches were supposed to have been played in May, but the Reds and their fans will have THE NUMBER OF GOALS SALAH to wait a bit longer after all fixtures were suspended in mid-March due to coronavirus. Jurgen lopp’s HAD SCORED BY 13 MARCH, ‘heavy metal’ footballers have swept away any and all comers and will likely be considered one of the MAKING HIM THE REDS’ TOP best teams in the league’s history – comfortable in the presence of Alex Ferguson’s all-conquering Red SCORER IN THIS CAMPAIGN Devils and Arsene enger’s ‘Invincibles’. Reds fans would tell you, it’s about time.
CHECK US OUT AT WWW.SPORTSCLUB.CO.ZA ALE DODD/NO S AD T E AYIL/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES ALE DODD/NO S AD T E AYIL/GETTY
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action stations.indd 52 2020/03/18 2:13 PM SoccerClubSportsclub_SOCCER Subs.indd FILLER_Converted 1 typ.indd 35 2020/03/192020/03/16 12:3112:35 PM Dane paterson in the house the cobras and proteas fast bowler on regular rounds with cricket teammates, getting his handicap down to five and
his dreams of playing with rory McIlroy xxxxx
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dane patterson.indd 54 2020/03/23 7:37 AM cElEbCORIRiTyGAUFFgOlf
How did you get into golf? It started when I was a youngster. I played cricket at united cricket club in cape town and the guys would do some chipping across the field before or after cricket practice. Guys like Qaasim adams were there and eventually I just took my brother’s old Dunlop clubs and got involved. It was a lot of fun and things kicked on from there.
Do you play golf regularly? I play as much as I can. If we get a day off, Kyle Verreynne is always keen to play. I live just down the road from Kuilsriver Golf club, so I like to play there. rondebosch is also good. If Vernon philander can organise us a round at pearl Valley, we play there. but that doesn’t happen often enough. the guys at Durbanville Golf club host us nicely, too. It’s always enjoyable and we get out there when time allows.
I’ll ever become a scratch golfer – I’d be really What are the best courses you’ve played? surprised if I did. It depends on which courses Durban Country Club is quite demanding, but the courses we have in and around I play. I’m better on some than others.
Cape Town are all pretty good. Obviously, though, Pearl Valley is among the nicest. Do you watch a lot of golf? I’ve played the Ebotse Links in Benoni, too. That’s really nice. Like some of the I like following rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and obviously tiger woods. I know a few of others, it has challenging characteristics that make for a good round or two. the guys on the sunshine tour, so they have an influence on me watching golf and taking Who is in your regular fourball? it a bit more seriously. on any given day it can be between ashwell prince, zubayr Hamza, Kyle, David bedingham, If you could play with anyone, anywhere George linde and a few others. ashwell takes in the world, who and where would it be? his golf quite seriously. we mix and match the I’d definitely like to play with McIlroy at pebble fourballs. It’s good fun when we get together beach Golf links. that seems a good fit and over some golf. the cape cobras have quite I’d look forward to it. a few golfers always keen on a round when they can. Who do you think would fare better between the current cricketers and the retired players? Of the cricketers you have had as teammates, the former cricketers play a lot of golf and are who is the best golfer? really good. I think it would be a tight affair. Kyle keeps it quite simple on the course. You never know, though. on the day, the current bedingham also does the same, which makes cricketers could do well. Guys like Mark boucher them pretty good. ashwell is a very decent and Jacques Kallis are really good. we’d have golfer. we’ve got some good golfers around to see what the result would be on the day. in the cricket circles. we’re always shaking hands on the second-last or last hole.
What’s your handicap – and what do you PATERSON bio Dane paterson has been playing first-class cricket think you can get it down to? for over 10 years and made his international debut My index is 7.1, so I’m playing off a nine from in 2017. a formidable seamer in oDI and t20I cricket, the back tees and a six or seven from the front. he played test cricket for the first time this year. when I’d like to get my handicap down to a seven he’s not pushing for a berth in south africa’s squad for the t20 world cup in australia, he’s playing golf.
Shaun Botterill/getty image S /gallo from the back tees, or even a five. I don’t think
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56-59.indd 56 2020/03/23 8:47 AM LAWRENCEMAHATLANE
SA’s beleaguered U19 coach says there’s a problem with unions not bringing youngsters through. Broken By Ken Borland Production Line
e were drinking coffee as we being able to play spin bowling has returned sat and chatted in one of the to South African cricket. Exhibit B is the way broadcast booths high above the senior Proteas have been playing spinners the Wanderers, but one had the such as Ashton Agar, Adam Zampa, Dominic distinct impression national Bess, Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali, Ravichandran junior coach Lawrence Mahatlane Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja this summer. Wfancied something a bit stronger as he had When I asked Mahatlane what went wrong flashbacks to cause hosts South Africa to finish eighth at to the ICC U19 World Cup that ended in February. the U19 World Cup, he said: ‘Our batting group Below us in the Bullring was stalwart Lions did not put enough runs on the board due to left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso, not turning the way they played spin in crucial moments.’ the ball much but nevertheless tormenting the The pure numbers show this clearly. In the Knights batsmen with accuracy and probing games South Africa lost, they were blown away variations in pace and flight. The admirable like powder for scores of just 129, 157, 143 and Lions captain took 4-30 at one of the least 154 by the spin-based attacks of Afghanistan friendly venues for spinners and bowled his (twice), Bangladesh and West Indies. team to an 87-run victory. Mahatlane believes it is not a lack of talent, As we pondered wickets falling to straight but rather a lack of exposure that causes the
xxxx balls, it became clear the old malaise of not necessary skills to remain undeveloped. Quality Jan Kruger/getty images/gallo images
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56-59.indd 57 2020/03/23 8:47 AM spin bowlers are thin on the ground in South As coaches, we tried to make sure mahatlane’s results BY COuntrY African schools cricket so leading batsmen we had covered all the bases, but are not used to being put under pressure it was execution that let us down,’ Played Won Lost by slow bowlers. Mahatlane said. As soon as vs Afghanistan 4 2 2 ‘The recent history of the ICC U19 World a decent spinner came on vs Bangladesh 17 4 13 Cup shows how the subcontinent teams have and bowled wicket-to-wicket, vs Canada 1 1 0 dominated, so we did our best to expose the SA U19 batsmen simply ourselves to quality spin by playing a series dissolved under the pressure. vs England 10 3 7 against India and Afghanistan in India. But ‘Luke Beaufort played spin vs India 6 1 5 the big difference is that at schools level there the best, and Bryce Parsons and vs India ‘B’ 1 0 1 is usually at least one loose ball in an over. So Jonathan Bird had their moments, vs Ireland 1 1 0 our batsmen know they can afford to block four but for the rest there were a whole deliveries because the boundary ball is coming. lot of strange dismissals. And vs Kenya 1 1 0 ‘If you look at our modes of dismissal in the that’s despite playing a lot of vs Namibia 3 2 1 World Cup, most of the guys were bowled or cricket – we were in the top five vs New Zealand 4 3 1 out lbw which shows they are trying to make in terms of the number of games vs Pakistan 8 0 8 something out of quality bowling, trying to hit we played before the World Cup through midwicket or the covers when they and we even took on senior vs Scotland 1 1 0 should be playing straight down the ground. provincial teams. We also had only vs Sri Lanka 10 6 4 two guys in the squad this year vs United Arab Emirates 1 1 0 who were already out of school. vs West Indies 7 3 4 ‘As coAches, we tried ‘There’s an amazing growth in boy’s cricket between the ages vs Zimbabwe 5 2 3 to mAke sure we hAd of 18 and 20 and I would like covered All the bAses, to see them get exposed more to senior cricket. In other countries, the top junior cricketers are At schoolboy nets the spinner is normally always brought into the senior teams far quicker, so they but it wAs just execution running back to fetch the ball, but being exposed are not just dominating their less-talented peers. at provincial level will teach them how to play SA’s U19 World Cup squad boasted 20 List A and thAt let us down’ under pressure,’ Mahatlane continued. 20 first-class games between them; eventual champions Bangladesh had a team with 123 senior List A appearances. Even Afghanistan’s boys were sharpened by far more exposure to men’s cricket, with 49 appearances in 50-over and 109 in first-class cricket. Opener Ibrahim Zadran had already played two Tests, an ODI and three T20s for Afghanistan. His 87 in the second innings of the Test against Bangladesh in September helped Afghanistan to a famous win. ‘There’s a massive difference in how other countries approach their U19 team, compared to schools cricket,’ added Mahatlane. ‘Pakistan’s Naseem Shah is a prime example, playing Test cricket when he was still 16. We only had one guy who had franchise experience, only four Bangladeshis hadn’t played at that level. At provincial level there are far too many boys for us to look at them all properly. The guys chosen for the squad we see for only two weeks at a time. ‘But internationally the trend is to have more provincial teams, which gives more opportunities for exposure. This is why I would like to see our best U19 cricketers playing in the Senior Provincial One-Day Competition on Sundays, especially for the home team, as this would
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works but I would like to see them take the latest intake of hopefuls and told them ODI RECORD an earlier step into provincial cricket. only a couple of them would go on to play in 2014 vs England (a): Lost 5-0 ‘The cancellation of the U19 three-day international cricket for a lengthy period of time. 2015 vs Bangladesh (a): Lost 6-1 competition has left me wondering whether ‘It was a reality check, but I had to tell them vs Bangladesh (h): Lost 5-2 our guys can bat for long periods under pressure. the odds are only two of them will be playing 2015-16 World Cup (Bangladesh): We had guys like Hashim Amla and Graeme for the Proteas for 10 years,’ he said. ‘Only Finished 11th Smith making double hundreds in three-day a couple of players per team become really Lost to Bangladesh, Namibia, Zimbabwe cricket and I’d like to see us go back to that. good international cricketers, so producing Beat Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand 2016 vs Sri Lanka (a): Lost 2-1 India, for example, can be 20-3 but there’ll players for our local system is actually our 2016-17 Tri-Nations Tournament (h): still be someone in the top seven who will goal. They are just starting their careers and Beat Zimbabwe (twice), Sri Lanka (three times) make a hundred,’ he said. are being thrown into these big games. Lost to Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka (final) It is important to bear in mind, though, that ‘Maybe the expectations are too much. vs Sri Lanka (h): Won 2-1 the U19 World Cup has generally not been a We shouldn’t be surprised when they make 2017 vs West Indies (h): Lost 3-2 happy hunting ground for South Africa. Perhaps schoolboy errors. 2017-18 Tri-Nations Tournament (h): the triumph in 2014 under Ray Jennings and ‘And the way the game has evolved with Beat Namibia (twice), England (final) Lost to England (twice) Aiden Markram created too much expectation. the advent of social media, there’s a lot more World Cup (New Zealand): Finished fifth The only other times South Africa have played attention on the players now. Previously South Beat Kenya, West Indies, New Zealand (playoff in the final were 2002 and 2008. Africa lost twice to Nepal, including when Ray semi-finals), Bangladesh (fifth- Mahatlane caused some consternation in Jennings was coach, but not much was said. place playoff) the U19 change room when he first addressed But the extra attention is not a bad thing, it’s Lost to New Zealand, Pakistan (playoff quarter-finals) important how they handle it,’ Mahatlane says. 2018 vs England (a): Won 2-0 Getting former Proteas involved will not 2018-19 Quadrangular Series (India): ‘THEY ARE JUST STARTING necessarily solve South Africa’s U19 problems Lost to India ‘A’, India ‘B’ either – Robin Peterson was on the coaching Beat Afghanistan (twice) THEIR CAREERS AND ARE staff until he was appointed Warriors coach 2019 vs Pakistan (h): Lost 7-0 BEING THROWN INTO THESE and even he became frustrated because the 2019-20 vs India (h): Lost 2-1 kids resort to old habits under pressure. Quadrangular Series (h): Perhaps, as Mahatlane himself pleads, the Lost to India (twice), Zimbabwe BIG GAMES. MAYBE THE Beat New Zealand answer lies in the individual unions involving World Cup (SA): Finished 8th EXPECTATIONS ARE TOO MUCH’ their own talent more in their senior systems. Lost to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, West Indies, Afghanistan (seventh-place playoff) Beat Canada, United Arab Emirates Overall record: Played 80 Won 31 Lost 49
expose the youngsters to pressure cricket. At the moment they are not exposed to consistent pressure.’ Mahatlane, who has been involved in the national U19 set-up since 2002 when South Africa – with Hylton Ackerman as head coach – lost to Australia in the final, believes the gems are in the pipeline, it is just how they are polished that is the problem. ‘I thought the group we had this year was good enough to do well and I believe a couple of them will still be spoken about in 10 years’ time. Our system is very good, although we need to spend a lot more quality time with our batsmen. We have amazing talent but we need to back these talented youngsters so senior
JAN KRUGER/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES cricket can provide another filter. The system
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excuses.indd 60 2020/03/23 1:04 PM SPORTSEXCUSES
boxing leads the way when it comes to excuses for losing a fight and the list keeps getting Pullthe longer. by Gary Lemke Other One
o one likes a sore loser, but in Deontay when the towel came floating into the ring (below). tyson blamed too much sex for the wilder’s case he was not only lacking in the seventh round, the referee looked to be defeat. ‘I was f***ing them Japanese girls class in defeat – he was also a on the brink of stepping in to save wilder from like I was eating grapes,’ he said. battered and bruised loser in every suffering some serious long-term damage. Many years before, in 1974, there was another sense. Having been stripped of his but it was the suit ... huge upset when George Foreman was knocked cloak of invincibility, after being It reminds one of the trainer who told out in eight rounds by a ‘too old’ Muhammad ali Nbeaten for the first time in 44 fights, the his lumped-up boxer between rounds, in zaire. the unbeaten heavyweight champion american heavyweight boxer resembled ‘You’re winning the fight, he’s not touching later gave the reason for his defeat in his a cry baby in the aftermath of the hiding you.’ the boxer replied, ‘well, it must be the autobiography, stating he had hurt ali and was he received from tyson Fury in las Vegas. ref then, because someone is knocking the about to knock him out, but got distracted by ‘He didn’t hurt me at all, but the simple s*** out of me.’ a friend of his in the crowd who ‘betrayed’ him fact is my uniform was way too heavy for me,’ with so much emphasis placed on winning by cheering for ali. It ruined his concentration the ‘bronze bomber’ lamented. ‘I didn’t have in sport it’s not surprising that excuses in defeat and ali recovered. no legs from the beginning of the fight. In the come freely. and in the macho, ego-filled world russian heavyweight alexander povetkin third round, my legs were just shot all the way of boxing, there’s never a shortage of reasons felt the ‘stink’ of Marco Huck contributed to through. I was only able to put it on for the first why a fighter has been beaten. a poor performance in 2012. the russian time the night before but I didn’t think it was one of the biggest upsets in boxing history corner claimed Huck had lathered his body in going to be that heavy,’ he added. ‘It weighed came in 1990 when James ‘buster’ Douglas some kind of foul substance that left povetkin’s some 18 kilograms with the helmet and all the knocked out the unbeaten Mike tyson in tokyo eyes watering ‘because of the stench’. batteries. I wanted my tribute to be great for black History Month. I wanted it to be good and I guess I put that before anything.’ that sounds like the drunk getting out of a car, barely able to stand, and telling the traffic cop, ‘I only had one beer, offisher.’ no/REUTERS/g ETT y i MA g ES /g A llo while wilder’s defeat by Fury was not an outrageous upset, the manner in which the british ‘Gypsy King’ dominated his rival came as a surprise. He got in the american champion’s ‘space’ from the first bell and stood toe-to-toe with one of the most
STEVE MARCUS/M ASA h ARU hATA destructive punchers in boxing history.
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excuses.indd 61 2020/03/23 1:04 PM SPORTSEXCUSES
when there is a defeat that borders on embarrassing, they have to reach into the cupboard of excuses to explain what went wrong
In 2009 Kermit cintron claimed that sergio Martinez’s hair gel was the reason for an under- par performance against the argentine. ‘I’d like to get a rematch,’ he said. ‘look, the guy wore so much hair gel and mousse that the fumes were making me dizzy. and I still managed to put it “on” him on only four weeks’ notice. let’s clear the air for good. with an eight-week camp, I knock him out. simple as that!’ In 2010 carl Froch lost his world super- middleweight title to Mikkel Kessler and blamed the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull for the defeat in Denmark. ‘It would’ve been better if that volcano hadn’t put up all that ash in the air,’ he said. ‘My flight was cancelled, so I had a barbecue and ate some burgers and fizz pop.’ ‘It wasn’t me ...’ british heavyweight David Haye lost to some of the most creative excuses proffered by athletes come after wladimir Klitschko in 2011 and blamed a broken they test positive for drugs or similar banned substances. that’s toe. ‘I couldn’t push off the right foot to throw the what happened to tennis player richard Gasquet (left) in 2009 in right hand,’ he pointed out. ‘I thought adrenaline Miami when he was suspended for having illegal substances in would get me through it, but it was tough. It’s his system. Gasquet insisted he never snorted any ‘white powder’ incredibly frustrating. we were thinking about – instead, he placed the blame on a girl he kissed at a nightclub. the tribunal bought his excuse and lifted the suspension. pulling out three weeks ago, but we couldn’t with all these great fans here.’ In the 2011 women’s world cup, North Korea blamed their 2-0 the heavyweights sure do have a conveyor loss to the us on being struck by lightning during a training match belt of excuses. shannon briggs attributed in pyongyang the month before. ‘During training players were hit his first pro loss (to Darroll wilson in 1996) by lightning and more than five of them were hospitalised,’ their manager said. to a freak asthma attack, causing him to get stopped in the third round in atlantic city. lashawn Merritt (right), the 2008 olympic 400m champion, failed three the list goes on – and it will continue to as drug tests between 2009 and 2010, and cited using ‘an over-the-counter long as boxing continues to exist. It’s a brutal male enhancement product’ as his excuse. He served 21 months away sport, one of the toughest there is. and despite from the sport. those who shout from the cheap seats that sir alex Ferguson saw his Manchester united team trail southampton some boxers don’t have the ‘heart’ or the ‘guts’ 3-0 at half-time and blamed the grey kit they were wearing, saying to belong in a ring, simply climbing through his players couldn’t see each other. they changed their kit at half- the ropes to face an opponent, with the sheer time, but still lost 3-1. intention of knocking them senseless – hit or Darts player Mervyn King blamed the air-conditioning for a defeat to be hit – every boxer is a brave individual. raymond van barneveld. ‘I asked for the ac to be turned off before It’s therefore quite reasonable that when there I went up there and it wasn’t. I asked for it to be turned off at the is a defeat that borders on embarrassing, they break – it wasn’t. the air-conditioning doesn’t affect raymond have to reach into the cupboard of excuses to because he throws a heavier dart and a very flat dart.’ explain what went wrong. wilder’s ‘too heavy zambian tennis player lighton Ndefwayl had a novel excuse for losing suit’, however, must be right up there with the
to Musumba bwayla in a local tournament in 1992. ‘bwayla is a stupid best. after all, we’re talking about a fearsome id R AM o S /Al B E llo/g ETT y i MA g ES /g A llo man and a hopeless player,’ Ndefwayl declared. ‘He has a huge nose and heavyweight puncher who stands 2.01m tall is cross-eyed. Girls hate him. He beat me because my jockstrap was too and weighs 96kg. You wouldn’t have imagined tight and because when he serves he farts, and that made me lose my in your wildest dreams a walk-in ring suit would concentration, for which I am famous throughout zambia.’
be his downfall. x/ dAVF RE d M ARVAU
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excuses.indd 62 2020/03/23 1:04 PM RedCross Africa.indd 1 2016/12/13 2:16 PM ‘UNCOMMON’ COMMON SENSE GARY LEMKE IS ANOTHER FEATURE OF THE COLUMN CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
iven how swiftly President Cyril We could start with Nathi Mtwethwa, the their stuff and headed indoors to self- Ramaphosa acted to the threat of Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, who gave isolate or practise social distancing. coronavirus – he dwarfed the likes the Premier Soccer League the green light to However, on the other side of the world, G of the British prime minister, Boris play fixtures behind closed doors, just as the in Japan, the 2020 Olympic chiefs were Johnson, and the US president, Donald number of Covid-19 cases in South Africa broke steadfastly sticking to their guns. In a Trump, when it came to decisiveness – it was through the 100 mark. Fortunately, hours later, statement, as the rest of the world shut staggering to see how some sports continued he was overruled by the Safa president, Danny down and major sports events were cancelled, to keep their heads buried in the sand. Jordaan, who announced that as the PSL falls or postponed – in some cases until next year Just about everywhere on the planet new under the umbrella of Safa, the league would – they said: ‘The IOC remains fully committed restrictions were being imposed on a daily be taking its cue from Caf and Fifa. No games to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and with basis. Schools closed, gatherings of 100 people would be held behind closed doors. The wags, more than four months to go before the Games or more banned, pubs and restaurants only predictably, reckoned that fewer than 100 fans there is no need for any drastic decisions selling alcohol until 6pm, social distancing pitched up for ‘normal’ PSL matches in any at this stage; and any speculation at this encouraged, working from home where case, so soccer wouldn’t really be affected moment would be counter-productive. possible. And rightly so, as the former Soviet by any Covid-19 restrictions. ‘The IOC encourages all athletes to Union premier, Vladimir Lenin, said a long time Horse racing meanwhile continued. continue to prepare for the Olympic Games ago: ‘There are decades when nothing happens Meetings would go ahead, although no Tokyo 2020 as best they can,’ the statement and there are weeks where decades happen.’ spectators would be allowed at the course, said, adding, ‘The IOC has confidence that I remember a prominent 800m runner from which meant that only owners, trainers, the many measures being taken by many Tuks a few years ago so irritated with the then jockeys and on-course workers would be authorities around the world will help contain administration that she wore a ‘I’m Surrounded seen. Which is no different to most weeks the situation of the Covid-19 virus.’ By Idiots’ badge on her vest at the start of then. Business as usual. In fact, horse racing The statement seemed to be completely a particular race. One wishes she’d produced was the only ‘live’ sport on television as we at odds with what was happening in the rest and patented those badges because she would approached April. The Sport of Kings, the last of the world and athletes from many countries be doing a roaring trade today. one standing when all others had packed up criticised the decision. Those in Europe, in particular, where Covid-19 had taken root after initially laying waste to Wuhan in China, argued that even if the Olympics were to go ahead on schedule in July, they would not have been able to reach full fitness, considering their countries were in lockdown and they couldn’t go outdoors. How were they to train for the Olympic marathon? Run around the sofa in their lounge a thousand times a day? Prepare for the javelin by trying to throw a broom out their apartment window on to the roof over the road? As someone said on social media, ‘There’s nothing common about common sense.’ We don’t know what the immediate future holds, but hopefully one of the oldest adages will ring true: ‘It’s always darkest before dawn.’ Hopefully, we’re about to see the light.
Lemke is a veteran sports correspondent and sports editorial director at Highbury Media. PETER POWELL/BACKPAGEPIX
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65.indd 65 2020/03/10 8:00 AM 66-68 v2.0.indd 66 2020/03/20 3:18 PM YOUNGSTAR ZinZi on TargeT The quest to be South Africa’s best female triple jumper could become an all-out family affair. By Wilhelm de Swardt
n March, during a Gauteng North League According to Chabangu there does come Meeting at Tuks, Zinzi Chabangu set a South a time when family ties count for absolutely African record in the triple jump, becoming nothing. For her, it is when she lines up to the first local woman to ‘fly’ past 14m. She compete in the triple jump. jumped 14.02m – 13cm further than the ‘I want to win; be the best. When Patience distance her cousin Patience Ntshingila is one of my rivals, so much the better as I know Iachieved in 2012 when she set a national I can’t rest on my laurels. But when the last jump record of 13.89m. is completed, no matter who had won we are Not surprisingly, Ntshingila was one of the friends again. It is always a case of, what happens first to congratulate her University of Johannesburg in the “pit” stays in the “pit”. I will never begrudge cousin on her record-breaking effort. But rest Patience her success and vice versa.’ assured, she is not going to let it lie. The question Ntshingila seemed to have had the upper is not whether she is going to ‘strike back’, but hand over her cousin for a long time. Last year, when. And Chabangu expects no less. After all, the however, there appeared to have been a changing cousins had been at it for eight years already. of the guard. Chabangu seemingly could do no ‘We are family,’ she says. ‘I genuinely admire wrong. She won the triple jump at the South Patience. Her perseverance motivated me through African and USSA Championships as well as
supplied the years to never give up on my dreams.’ being victorious at the Varsity Athletics meeting.
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To top it all, she won bronze at the African Games in Morocco. Chabangu readily admits ‘The mosT imporTanT Thing is she did not expect to go so big so early in the season. ThaT i should noT forgeT To ‘I was somewhat shocked when it was keep on having fun. if i do, announced that I had jumped 14.02m. Because it is an Olympic year, the goal is The big jump will happen’ to go big, but I did not expect to do so the first time I competed in the triple jump. I only the Olympics in the long jump too. Chabangu, wanted to have fun and test myself, as I have however, emphasises that for now, the triple had some injury issues. jump remains her sole focus. ‘I did not have the best of starts. I overstepped For Fraser, it is a case of not losing track with my first jump. The second one was the big of what they set out to achieve. Chabangu’s one, but somehow I then lost the plot. I had a goal is to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. real adrenaline rush after the 14.02m jump. It ‘International athletics is highly competitive,’ led to me getting overeager. I so wanted another he adds. ‘That is why you find fewer athletes big jump. Unfortunately, I kept on overstepping.’ nowadays trying to double up. I want Zinzi to She is confident of improving on her record. execute her triple jump technique to perfection. ‘I’ve actually got no choice but to try to jump If she competes in the long jump as well things further. The Olympic qualification standard can, at times, tend to get confusing.’ is 14.32m.’ Apart from the landing, Fraser believes his Even though there are seemingly a lot of protege needs to work on the mental aspects centimetres between Chabangu and her Olympic of competing. ‘Her performance at Tuks was dream, she remains a realist. ‘The biggest far from perfect. After she had jumped 14.02m mistake I could make is getting obsessed with it seemed as if she mentally self-destructed. jumping a specific distance. For now, it is back Zinzi overstepped with each of her last four to the basics. I need to focus on improving attempts. It could have been because she was certain aspects of my technique. My coach, Wade Fraser, and I are working on my landing, so excited and her adrenaline was pumping, as it costs me quite a few centimetres. but you can’t have that happening at a ‘The most important thing is that I should not significant international competition.’ Game On! forget to keep on having fun. If I do, the big jump When asked what he admired about will happen. It is only a matter of time.’ Chabangu, the first thing Fraser mentioned One of the most exciting rivalries in South African A quick glance at Chabangu’s World Athletics was her work ethic. ‘She genuinely wants to women’s athletics existed in 2012. Patience Ntshingila (top) and Charlene Potgieter (right) profile shows her versatility. Her best time in be the best she can and knows what it is going were the two main protagonists. Their battlefield the 100m is 11.90s and her best long jump to take, but she is never one to shy away from was the sandpit, with the choice of ‘warfare’ being is 6.55m. Theoretically, it means if she should putting the hard hours. That is what it takes the triple jump. Until then, Charmaine Barnard’s choose to do so, she could try to qualify for to be a champion.’ South African record-breaking effort of 13.46m had stood for 20 years. Potgieter was the first to seriously challenge Barnard’s record. She did so in 2011 by jumping 13.45m at the South African Championships in Durban. A year later in Germiston, Potgieter did get the record when she jumped 13.61m. Three weeks later Ntshingila recorded a personal best with a 13.55m effort in Potchefstroom. Now the battle was truly on. A week later, Ntshingila and Potgieter faced off in Potchefstroom. Potgieter fired the opening salvo, improving on her record with a 13.70m effort. Ntshingila was not to be outdone on her home turf and promptly jumped 13.89m. Potgieter later made a valiant effort to regain the national record when she jumped 13.81m. The year ended with the two of them improving on Barnard’s long-standing South African record on no fewer than eight occasions. Roge R s ed es/Ch istiaan Kotze/gallo images
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Tech Subs.inddfilla ad May.indd 1 4 2020/03/182020/03/19 12:16 9:27 AMPM MAY GO SPORTS EVENTS YOU JUST CAN’T MISS PGA TOUR 7-10 at t byron Nelson trinity Forest Golf club 14-17 the pGa championship tpc Harding park 21-24 charles schwab challenge colonial cc 28-31 rocket Mortgage classic Detroit Golf club EUROPEANTBC TOUR 9-10 Golfsixes cascais oitavos Dunes 14-17 the pGa championship tpc Harding park 21-24 Denmark championship Himmerland Golf and spa resort
OOT A PREMIER LEAGUE 2 arsenal vs liverpool Emirates tbc 2 burnley vs wolves turf Moor tbc 2 chelsea vs Norwich stamford bridge tbc 2 crystal palace vs Man utd selhurst park tbc 2 Everton vs aston illa Goodison park tbc 2 leicester vs sheffield utd ing power tbc 2 Man city vs bournemouth Etihad tbc 2 Newcastle vs spurs st ames’ park tbc 2 southampton vs brighton st Mary’s tbc 2 west Ham vs watford london tbc 9 bournemouth vs southampton itality tbc 9 aston illa vs arsenal illa park tbc 9 brighton vs Newcastle amex tbc 9 liverpool vs chelsea anfield tbc 9 Man utd vs west Ham old trafford tbc TBC9 Norwich vs burnley carrow road tbc 9 sheffield utd vs Everton bramall lane tbc 9 spurs vs leicester tottenham Hotspur tbc 9 watford vs Man city icarage road tbc 9 wolves vs crystal palace Molineux tbc 17 arsenal vs watford Emirates tbc 17 burnley vs brighton turf Moor tbc 17 chelsea vs wolves stamford bridge tbc 17 crystal palace vs spurs selhurst park tbc 17 Everton vs bournemouth Goodison park tbc 17 leicester vs Man utd ing power tbc 17 Man city vs Norwich Etihad tbc 17 Newcastle vs liverpool st ames’ park tbc 17 southampton vs sheffield st Mary’s tbc 17 west Ham vs aston illa london tbc t ti r t to h g i it port o or th t t i t r
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TeNN S 3-10 Madrid open the Magic box 10-17 Italian open Foro Italico 17-23 Geneva open tennis club de Geneve 17-23 lyon open Groupama stadium 24-6 un roland-Garros stade roland Garros RUG Y
SUPER RUGBY 1 Hurricanes vs chiefs sky tbc 2 crusaders vs stormers orangetheory tbc 2 TBC Highlanders vs blues Forsyth barr tbc 2 waratahs vs rebels tbc tbc 2 sunwolves vs aguares tbc tbc 2 sharks vs lions ings park tbc 2 bulls vs brumbies loftus ersfeld tbc 8 Hurricanes vs crusaders sky tbc 8 sunwolves vs waratahs tbc tbc 9 chiefs vs Highlanders tbc tbc 9 blues vs reds Eden park tbc 9 brumbies vs stormers tbc tbc 9 lions vs bulls Ellis park tbc 9 aguares vs shark ose amalfitani tbc 15 chiefs vs blues FMG waikato tbc 15 rebels vs brumbies aaMI park tbc 16 sunwolves vs stormers tbc tbc 16 Highlanders vs Hurricanes Forsyth barr tbc 16 reds vs waratahs suncorp tbc 16 lions vs crusaders Ellis park tbc 16 bulls vs sharks loftus ersfeld tbc 22 chiefs vs rebels FMG waikato tbc SCORE BIG! 22 reds vs Hurricanes suncorp tbc 23 Highlanders vs sunwolves Forsyth barr tbc 23 waratahs vs brumbies bankwest tbc AN A C ANCE O A E O R ACCO N 23 sharks vs crusaders ings park tbc 23 stormers vs lions Newlands tbc 23 aguares vs bulls ose amalfitani tbc CRE E O R ARE O R 29 blues vs Highlanders Eden park tbc 29 brumbies vs sunwolves GIo tbc 30 Hurricanes vs waratahs sky tbc 30 crusaders vs chiefs orangetheory tbc 30 rebels vs reds aaMI park tbc 30 lions vs aguares Ellis park tbc 30 bulls vs stormers loftus ersfeld tbc
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General subscription terms 1. You have subscribed to a magazine published or distributed by Foschini Retail Group (Pty) Ltd (‘TFG’). CONGRATULATIONS! 2. Your TFG account will be billed monthly for the magazine until you advise us to cancel your subscription, by contacting our customer services department. They can be contacted at 0860 576 576. You may cancel i e inner your subscription at any time but will be billed for the magazine until we receive your cancellation request. 3. Should you not wish to be billed for the magazine when your TFG account has a zero balance, please a segage, M Neku, Ginsburg Mkosana, advise us of this by contacting our customer services department. 4. TFG reserves the right to cease i h o zs Manjani, ot th o g M litheko, publication or distribution of the magazine at any time in our sole and absolute discretion. In such an event, ot th o g N sauls, t g r we will no longer bill you for the magazine. 5. TFG reserves the right to change or cease the benefi ts offered iin the magazine at any time. 6. TFG may change the shape and the size of the magazine at any time. 7. The price of the magazine may be adjusted annually, and you will be billed the increased price from the date that the increase becomes effective. We will give you advance notice of any such increase and the effective date thereof. 8. These terms and conditions can change from time to time and you will be bound to any new terms and conditions from the date of publication thereof in the magazine. 9. We hereby notify you that it may be necessary for certain third-party benefi t providers to process your personal information to enable them to provide their services to you. By subscribing to the magazine, you agree to this. 10. TFG staff members who subscribe to the magazine are not eligible for any magazine benefi ts and competition prizes. 11. You are contracting with Foschini Retail Group (Pty) Ltd, Registration number 1988/007302/07, VAT number 4210187250, situated at 340 Voortrekker Road, Parow East, Cape Town. Additional terms apply to Value Club magazine – see www.tfgclubmagazine.co.za for details.
Terms and conditions for mobile content products 1. Your TFG account will be billed monthly for the Mobile Content Product you have selected to subscribe to (‘the product’). 2. You will have full access to the product as long as your monthly subscription is paid in full via your TFG account. If your TFG account goes into arrears, your subscription may be cancelled and in such an event you will not have access to the product. 3. If you subscribe between the 1st and the 12th of a month, you will be billed for the product on the 12th of that month. If you subscribe after the 12th of a month, you will only be billed on the 12th of the following month. 4. Should you not wish to be billed for the product when your TFG account has a zero balance, please advise us. In such an event, you will not have access to the product for the month(s) that you are not billed. If you choose to continue to receive the product when your TFG account has a zero balance, you will continue to be billed for the product. 5. You may cancel the product at any time by contacting our customer services department on 0860 576 576. They can also be contacted for any queries or complaints. You may also cancel the product by visiting the service portal and clicking on the ‘unsubscribe’ link in the footer. You will be billed for the product until we receive your cancellation request. 6. TFG reserves the right to cancel the product(s) at any time in our sole and absolute discretion. In such an event, we will cease to bill you for the product. 7. The price of the product may be adjusted annually and you will be billed the increased amount on your TFG account from the date of the increase. We will give you notice of an increase before we increase your monthly subscription. 8. You are contracting with Foschini Retail Group (Pty) Ltd, Registration number 1988/007302/07, VAT number 4210187250, situated at 340 Voortrekker Road, Parow East, Cape Town.
General competition terms and conditions 1. As a magazine subscriber, you will be automatically entered into selected competitions in the magazine. 2. Where you need to send an SMS to enter a competition, standard SMS rates apply for these competitions. 3. Unless otherwise stated, all competitions are organised by Foschini Retail Group (Pty) Ltd Registration number 1988/007302/07 (‘TFG’). 4. In these rules, ‘promoter’ means a person who directly or indirectly promotes, sponsors, organises or conducts the competition, or for whose benefi t the competition is promoted, sponsored, organised or conducted, which includes TFG. No director, member, partner, employee, agent of, or consultant to the promoter or any other person who directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by the promoter, their advertising agencies, or their spouses, life partners, parents, children, brothers, sisters, business partners or associates, may enter a competition. This also applies to a person who is a supplier of goods or services in connection with a competition. 5. Competition winners (‘winners’) may be required to provide a copy of their ID to confi rm their magazine subscription. All winners need to be active subscribers of the magazine in order to qualify for a prize, which means their TFG account needs to be up to date and not in arrears. 6. Winners will be randomly selected by means of an automated system and will be contacted telephonically or via email within one month of the competition closing date. If we cannot contact a winner after two attempts have been made to reach him/her on their chosen contact number, and either the call is not answered or the call goes directly to voicemail, the prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be re-drawn. 7. The winner’s name and/or photo will be published in the magazine. The winner will be given the opportunity to agree or not to agree to the publication of their image unless the competition is of such a nature that the winner’s picture must be published. 8. The prize(s) will be sent to the winner(s) via courier to the winner(s) home address or to the nearest TFG store if the winner does not have a physical address. 9. All competition entrants must reside in South Africa. 10. By entering the competitions, entrants agree and understand that they may win a prize and that there is no guarantee that they will win a prize. 11. Unclaimed prizes will be kept for six months only, after which time they will be re- allocated to an alternative winner. 12. Prizes are not transferable, may not be deferred or exchangeable for cash or otherwise. 13. If any taxes, levies, duties or any charges whatsoever are levied on a prize by any competent authority, the winner will be liable for these and the prize value will not be increased to compensate for such charges. 14. Should the law or any authority terminate a competition, no notice of termination shall be required. In such an event, all entrants waive any rights and acknowledge that they shall have no claim of any nature whatsoever against TFG, its directors, agents or employees as a result of the termination. Further, TFG reserves the right to vary, postpone, suspend or cancel the competition and any prizes that have not yet been drawn, or any aspect thereof, without notice at any time and for any reason whatsoever that TFG deems is reasonable at the time. 15. You may be limited to how often you can enter a competition, how many prizes you may win, and how often you can win a prize per magazine. 16. The decision of TFG as to the winner is fi nal and there will be no correspondence. 17. To the extent that a licence (eg driver’s licence) or permission (eg by a parent/guardian) is required in order to accept or use a prize, the winner must produce such licence or permission for inspection by TFG prior to receiving the prize. If the winner does not or is unable to do so, the prize will be forfeited and another winner will be drawn under the same terms and conditions. 18. By accepting a prize or by entering this competition, you hereby indemnify TFG, its directors, agents, employees and the promoters/sponsors against any damages of any nature whatsoever that anyone may suffer as a result of the prize/s and/or this competition, including consequential damages and economic loss. 19. Failure to comply with these terms by a winner will be deemed to be a rejection of the prize and the winner will then be disqualifi ed from receiving the prize. 20. Certain competitions may have additional terms, and these will be set out in the magazine advertising the competition.
Terms and conditions for non-subscribers 1. All competitions (via automatic entry, SMS TTFGFG is(T madehe Foschini up of theGrou followingp) is made stores: up of the following stores: or post) for SportsClub are reserved for TFG (The Foschini Group) account holders who subscribe to SportsClub on a monthly basis. 2. All benefi ts as detailed in SportsClub are available only to account holders who subscribe to the magazine on a monthly basis. 3. The general terms and conditions for SportsClub magazine subscribers are applicable only to account holders who subscribe to SportsClub.
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