Is This The Year of The Underdog
The whole of Europe is in shock with the results from Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League group stage matches. Powerhouses suffered humiliating defeats at the hands of the so-called minnows. Real Madrid and Bayern lost away at Lille and Aston Villa respectively with identical 1-0 scorelines and Atleti was hit for four without reply in Portugal by Benfica. This has set the tone for this year’s revamped UEFA Champions League format. Can this wave of upsets also culminate in Stellenbosch causing an upset against Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 Final at Moses Mabhida in Durban this Saturday?
Is Remo Stars Just A Case Of An Elephant On Top Of A Tree?
Having finished 2nd in the previous season, Remo carried the momentum into the 2024/25 season starting on high with three wins on the trot. They are early pace setters in the season, having suffered the agony of being knocked out by FAR Rabat in qualifying rounds of the CAF Champions League one would expect this to have negatively affected the players but this has done the opposite, the players are fired up for the fight to claim their maiden NPFL title.
The Kaizer Chiefs Conundrum, The Correlation Between Good Leadership and Success
Kaizer Chiefs has been going through a tough period with the 2014/15 ABSA Premiership Trophy being their last taste of glory. If they fail to win a trophy this season it would be 10 years trophyless. The team’s slogan is love and peace but this run surely does not bring any love and peace to their fans. So for a team that has enjoyed incredible success over the years what has gone wrong in the past decade? Has the team finally turned corner under Mohamed Nabi and his maverick crony Ilyes Mzoughi, are the glory days back at Naturena?
Will The Pumas Spoil The Springboks’ Party?
The Pumas will be facing the Springboks with coach Rassie Erasmus having made ten changes to the team that faced the All Blacks in Cape Town. The Springboks will be captained by Salmaan Moerat. He will have an opportunity to captain the side since the last time he did so in Perth, where he faced the agony of suffering a concussion within the 1st 20 minutes of the encounter. History is likely to be made as Eben Etzebeth may come on from the bench to equal Victor Matfield’s Springboks record of 127 caps.
Orlando Pirates aim To Be Too Hott-o for The Chilli Boys
Orlando Pirates are enjoying a purple patch in the cup games as they recently qualified for the MTN8 Final and progressing in the CAF Champions League preliminary stages. Having defeated Jwaneng Galaxy in their backyard in Botswana to avenge the defeat in the previous season’s CAF Champions League that knocked them out in the preliminary stages. This time they are well on course to proceed to the group stages and look to add the 2nd elusive star since their triumph in 1995. The team started the season well coming from the preseason camp in Spain, the mood in the camp is at an all-time high. The Buccaneers will be looking to carry the momentum into the Betway Premiership match tonight against Chippa United at Orlando Stadium.
Manqoba Mngqithi Seeks to Prove The Doubting Thomases Wrong
Coming on the back of a win in the CAF Champions League by a four goal margin, one would think that this would appease the Mamelodi Sundowns fans and make them start to believe that Manqoba is right on track to ensure they defend the Betway Premiership but this is not the case. Many are downplaying it as a routine win, as the opponents from Eswatini are no match for the Giants, Mamelodi Sundowns. It leaves one wondering are the Mamelodi Sundowns fans now intoxicated from Rhulani’s success that their dopamine levels were altered so bad that it can only take a highly potent substance to give them the same joy, what more can Manqoba do thus far to please the fans? Can a win tonight against Supersport United make the fans believe that Manqoba is the right man fit for the job?
Kaizer Chiefs Return To The Venue Where They Suffered A 4-0 Thrashing At The Hands Of Yanga
We expect a bumper crowd at the sold out Toyota Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. Marumo Gallants will look to capitalize on the psychological advantage of hosting Kaizer Chiefs in the Betway Premiership season opener at the venue they recently lost 4-0 at the hands of Yanga. The City is known to be football loving dating back to the days of Bloemfontein Celtic. Now that Marumo Gallants has moved base to utilize the stadium at their home ground they will have the backing of the city that has been starved of premiership football. Marumo Gallants acquired the franchise of Moroka Swallows in the offseason having been relegated to the Motsepe Championship in the 2022/23 Season so they have an experienced squad.
Jomo Sono King, Don’t Worry We Will Always Love You
Once all the lights no longer shine on a footballer when he hangs up his boots, having been used to the constant admiration and hero worshiping from fans, the media attention, and the privileges he used to receive wherever he went, this is bound to create so much fear and may even take a former footballer into depression. For a legend who had soccer boots named after him, that admiration and honour can be as good as a drug, its potency similar to opium. It’s every footballer’s fear that the fans will forget about them. Football fans suffer from a terrible case of amnesia, their memory is only good enough to remember your last game.
Here Is an Overview of The Various Sportsbooks and Bonus Offers Available
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It’s time we give Rassie Erasmus his flowers whilst he can still smell them
It’s human nature to only appreciate greatness when the person has retired or has passed on. It’s seldom we bestow greatness on someone during their time in action. We only look back reminiscing at the good old days, it’s only then we want to honour the legends and sometimes it’s too late. Born in the small town of Despatch in the Eastern Cape, he went on to study at the University of Free State. It is in Free State where he got his big break in rugby as he got to play for Free State making his debut in the Currie Cup in 1994 as a loose forward. He then went on to represent the Springboks in 1997 starting as a flank and went on to play at the 1999 Rugby World Cup. He then played for the Cats, now known as Lions and also played for the Western Province. After his playing career he went on to get his break as a coach of his previous team the Free State Cheetahs in 2004
So, New Zealand Keep Your Haka and We Will Keep Our Sister Bethina
There is a special bond between the Cape Town Community and the All Blacks that dates back to Apartheid. Back in the 1970s and 1980s some players of the All Blacks team stayed in the homes of Coloured families whilst on tour in South Africa. Considering at that time there were segregation policies that restricted non-white players from where they could stay, it was a bold message against racial segregation. The All Blacks Team was inclusive as it featured Maori and Pacific Island players, therefore became a symbol of resistance against apartheid for many in the Coloured community. The traditional Maori war dance, the Haka performed before matches also became a symbol of cultural connection between the Cape Town Community and the All Blacks.
It’s about time we give Steve Barker the respect he deserves
Stellenbosch is an area popular for its vineyards in the Cape Winelands where some of the best wine is made. However, something bigger has been brewing that is bringing excitement to this small town. Led by the man who has earned his stripes, having been in the trenches as a player for Wits University and Supersport he has aged well just like fine wine combining his experience both on and off the field to great effect.
Khama Opts for Another Walk, Another Dance with the Warriors
From the dusty streets of Mufakose a ghetto neighbourhood in Harare, a star was born. Despite his pint-sized stature, he was blessed with a blistering pace that in primary school at Gwinyiro Primary he was part of the athletics team and got into the football first team in grade 3. Growing up when the junior football structures in Harare still existed, he was already a star player. With the benefit of having Uncle Cheche Billiat a prominent footballer at Caps United a top team in Zimbabwe his path to stardom was set.
Orlando Pirates look to brew a Storm in Cape Town City
The rescheduled fixture will be played tonight at the same venue at Cape Town Stadium. The last time the teams met in a cup fixture was in the quarterfinal of the MTN8 in the 2020-21 season, the Buccaneers came out victorious with a 1-0 win at Orlando Stadium, courtesy of a Terrence Dzvukamanja’s first-half strike. Orlando Pirates as the defending champions look to get a positive result in this 1st leg tie to take back to Soweto for the 2nd leg.
New UEFA Champions League Format for the 2024/25 Season Explained
UEFA based its design on extensive consultations with key stakeholders in the European football community to ensure the new 2024/25 format will deliver the best for clubs, players and fans. From the 2024/25 season, 36 clubs will participate in the Champions League 1st phase previously known as the group stage now known as the league phase, giving four more sides the opportunity to compete against the best clubs in Europe. Those 36 clubs will participate in a single league competition in which all 36 competing clubs are ranked together.
Manqoba Mngqithi looks to restore confidence of the Mamelodi Sundowns Fans
Following the narrow 0 – 1 defeat at the hands Stellies in the 1st leg encounter at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville Pretoria on Wednesday evening, Mamelodi Sundowns fans were baying for Manqoba’s blood. Many were not convinced by his tactics in his second match since taking over from Rhulani Mokwena who parted ways with Sundowns at the end of last season.
Double Dutch in Manchester
The greatest rivalry in English football resumes at Old Trafford. Manchester United are looking to recover from their defeat away at Brighton whilst Liverpool is on the hunt for a third straight victory under the guidance of the newly appointed coach Arne Slot who had huge shoes to fill following the departure of Jurgen Klopp but has done so with aplomb.
Stellenbosch seek to cause an upset against Mamelodi Sundowns
Sundowns and Stellenbosch will begin their fight for a spot in the lucrative MTN8 final in the first leg of the two-legged semi-final at Lucas Moripe Stadium at 19:00. Stellies aim to build on their successes from the previous season where they won their first major trophy in the top tier, the Carling Knockout, and finished third on the league table behind Sundowns and Orlando Pirates.
Barcelona Aim To Extend Winning Start To The Season
The upcoming match between Rayo Vallecano and Barcelona is set to take place at 9:30 PM CAT on 27/08/2024. Barcelona has had an impressive start to the 2024/25 La Liga campaign with two wins out of two matches. However, the upcoming away game against Rayo Vallecano poses a tough challenge, as Rayo Vallecano has also performed well in the league so far.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester United 24 August 2024
Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Manchester United to the Amex Stadium on Saturday the 24th of August 2024, at lunchtime, with both clubs seeking to build on their opening weekend victories in the Premier League. The two teams meet just over three months after concluding the previous top-flight campaign on the South Coast, where the Red Devils secured a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Diogo Dalot and Rasmus Hojlund.
