The rites and rituals that make the boxer
There is a link between initiation rites for boys and the world-class boxers that South Africa produces. It’s a built-in language of combat that takes other forms around the world.
Sport
The Sharks and Bulls have global ambitions
South Africa’s two strongest rugby franchises want to progress and they have the means and manpower to do so, but financial tentativeness at other local sides could hold them back.
The plot thickens as Champions League final nears
Fans are hoping that yet another contentious decision by the Confederation of African Football does not mar what should be a memorable event, with much at stake for the coaches too.
The day football died
In Text Messages this week, the sport loses the last vestiges of being a beautiful game played by people who have something in common with their supporters.
Christine Mboma outruns the limits imposed on her
Despite a painful injury and being banned from certain sprint events, the Namibian athlete is staying positive and is determined to enjoy running and reach greater heights in her career.
Senzo Meyiwa’s brother just wants the truth
Sifiso Meyiwa is hoping that with the murder case reopened and a trial under way, the family will finally find out who killed the Bafana Bafana footballer in 2014.
The making and breaking of Nick Mwendwa
The president of Kenya’s football federation officially left office at the end of November. But the dark clouds that have followed him still cast their shadow on the sport in the country.
Orlando Pirates seek Zen in Uyo
Coach Fadlu Davids wants his team to keep their emotions in check and impose their style on Berkane in the CAF Confederation Cup final in Nigeria.
Lwandile Simelane wants to get sport back on track
Sascoc’s first vice-president is happy to deal with the ‘nice, boring, interesting stuff’ that is sports governance if it means creating opportunities and incomes for South Africa’s top athletes.
Bradley Carnell’s shot at US footballing greatness
St Louis City’s head coach has the opportunity to build a legacy from scratch at the midwest club, the latest franchise added to the United States’ Major League Soccer.
Umran Malik brings his street skills to the IPL
The odds were stacked against the fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir, but he’s shaking up the cricket world with a raw talent that makes 150kph the new normal.
David Obua’s South African legacy
The Ugandan footballer paved the way for his countrymen when his skills on the pitch got Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates vying to sign him in the mid-2000s.
SA is unlikely to host the Rugby World Cup again
The affluence of potential host nations appears to be influencing World Rugby when it comes to selecting preferred candidates to host its lucrative global showpiece.
Can boxing bear the heavy weight of Tyson’s fury?
Is the sport too hungry for money to care about what Tyson Fury has said he believes? It would certainly seem so, as he is not the first and likely not the last fighter to attract controversy.
Women’s football is gaining traction in Cameroon
The achievements of the national team since 2015 have built support for the Indomitable Lionesses, leading to sponsors, match broadcasts and a commitment to uplift the game in the country.
SA’s ‘cricket nomad’ refuses to give up on Ukraine
Kobus Olivier’s life as a coach has taken him from Cape Town to Croatia via the war-torn country, where he had been working hard to promote the sport and establish proper structures for it.
The athlete that God fuels
Circumstances have denied Keegan van der Merwe what he needs to become a world-class sprinter, but he hasn’t given up yet – even if his path to the Olympics is paved with dry bread.
The making of Nkosingiphile Ngcobo
The Kaizer Chiefs’ exciting midfielder had a difficult journey to the top, including a stint in an operation that is accused of peddling young footballers for profit.
Chad le Clos’ deep waters of depression
The South African swimmer went through a dip in performance last year after a traumatic experience left him struggling mentally. But after therapy, he’s in winning form again.
It has taken a family to raise Haashim Domingo
The Mamelodi Sundowns player gives all credit for his football success to his beloved mother and father, who have supported him on an arduous journey every single step of the way.
No reason Bafana shouldn’t qualify for Afcon
Football can be fickle, but the national men’s team stand a good chance of coming out on top of their group of South Africa, Morocco, Liberia and Zimbabwe.