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WWW.THEFIX.CO.ZA @thefixza 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 WITH BATED BREATH SportsClub looks at Covid-19’s icy grip on sport 40 PLUG SEEING IS BELIEVING Read our first-hand account of El Clasico 2020 48 BROKEN PRODUCTION LINE SA’s U19 cricket coach takes the unions to task 56 REGULARS PULL THE OTHER ONE 4 SportsClub News Nobody likes a sore loser, but boxers don’t get it 60 6 Subscriber Benefits ZINZI ON TARGET 8 SportsClub Gold Young Chabangu owns the triple jump event 66 10 Sports Shots 20 Numbers Game 26 The List R50 OFF 32 Extreme Sport WHEN YOU SPEND R350 28 34 Then & Now Mind Games SCAN TO FIND YO’ CLOSEST 37 #THEFIXGUY STORE 48 66 38 Poster 52 Action Stations EARN REWARDS Valid 1-31 May 2020, in-store only. Applies to full-priced EVERY TIME menswear items, excl. gift cards & cellular. Simply swipe your Lemke Column YOU SHOP. TFG account card to redeem. DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN! 64 Account customers YOUR SHARE OF R15 000, 70 Calender are automatically SHOP ONLINE 24/7 credited to your account, on page 6 TFG REWARDS 72 Time Capsule members. E&OE. WWW.THEFIX.CO.ZA @thefixza 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 WHO’S THE MAN? 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. 4-5_club news/letters.indd 4 2020/03/23 2:31 PM CLUBNEWS TO US This is your magazine, and your WRITE SportsClub – drop us a line at FOR YOUR CHANCE TO SportsClub, PO Box 180, Howard Place, WIN 7450, or send us an email at sportsclub @tfg.co.za or [email protected], and let us know what you think. If yours WINNER’S YELLOW! is our winning letter, you will win a Shoprite Wherever you spot this yellow colour in the magazine, gift card to the value of R1 000. Don’t there is a chance for you to win! Be sure to check it out. forget to include your TFG account number. STRONG EMBRACE HIGHBURY MEDIA Editorial Director Gary Lemke Managing Editor Jacques Liebenberg Group Deputy Sports Editor Philippa Byron Art Director Stuart Apsey Production Manager Rushaan Holliday Director of Sports Sales Niall Meegan Project Manager Robbie Nicholls Chief Executive Officer Kevin Ferguson Managing Director Tony Walker Production Director Bilqees Allie Financial Director Lindsey Makrygiannis Human Resource Director Rizqah Jakoet Cover Photo Dmitry Feoktistov/ Getty Images/Gallo Images © Highbury Media (Pty) Ltd 2004/031056/07, Highbury Media, 36 Old Mill Road, Ndabeni 7405, Cape Town, South Africa; ISSN: 2519 0512 Editorial Enquiries Tel: (021) 416-0141, Fax: (021) 421-1250, email: [email protected] Advertising Enquiries Tel: (021) 416-0141, Fax: (021) 418-0132, email: [email protected], www.hsm.co.za Subscription Enquiries Tel: 0860 117 530 All material in SportsClub is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction without permission from TFG is forbidden. SportsClub does not accept unsolicited manuscripts for publication. Every care is taken in compiling the contents of this magazine but we assume no responsibility for the effects arising there from. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or TFG. We reserve the Who: Dillyn Leyds, Sikhumbuzo Notshe right to shorten and edit letters. Merchandise available at When and where: 14 March, Durban selectedstores, while stocks last. Prices and specifications What happened: Leyds, of the Stormers, and the correct at time of print and subject to any inadvertent or Sharks’ Notshe contest a kick during their obvious errors. Availability and pricing subject to change Super Rugby clash at Kings Park. without prior notice. ALI HAIDER/MATTIA OZBOT/DEAN MOUHTAROPOULOS/ALEX GRIMM/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES OZBOT/DEAN MOUHTAROPOULOS/ALEX ALI HAIDER/MATTIA WWW.SPORTSCLUB.CO.ZA 5 4-5_club news/letters.indd 5 2020/03/20 1:29 PM SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS FREE MEDICAL ADVICE LINE YOU COULD Our free Medical Advice Line has qualified medical professionals available to assist you with any BE A WINNER! health issues you may wish So how do you enter? to discuss, from HIV/Aids to All TFG account subscribers are automatically entered into every everyday health advice, free competition in the magazine. If you are a cash subscriber, simply of charge. To reach the Medical SMS ‘SPORT WIN’ and your name to 45176. Every month there will Advice Line, just call 0861 678 be a random draw. If you are selected as a winner, we’ll confirm 876. Members of SportsClub that you are a valid TFG account holder or a SportsClub cash who live outside South Africa subscriber, and then dispatch your prize to you. should dial +27 11 991 8773. 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The winners’ names will be published in the August 2020 issue of SportsClub magazine. 6 WWW.SPORTSCLUB.CO.ZA C_Benefits.indd 6 2020/03/06 14:04 TFG ACCIDENT PLAN TFG Accident Plan is an optional product which is available to TFG account holders. Terms and conditions apply and can be viewed at www.tfginsurance.co.za. ACCIDENTAL If you die as a result of an accident, an amount of DEATH R52 500 will be paid to your COVER nominated beneficiary. If you become permanently as a result of an accident, PERMANENT disabled R52 500 will be paid to you. DISABILITY BENEFIT The permanent disability benefit is only payable once. If you suffer a bodily injury as a result of an accident and are admitted to hospital within 14 days BODILY from the date of the accident, INJURY you will be paid R5 250. BENEFIT The bodily injury benefit is only payable once.