The decision by Athletics South Africa (ASA) to deprive South Africans of televised national championships is an act of gross negligence, a betrayal of our sporting heritage, and an affront to the principles of development and transformation in sport.  This move is not just a failure in governance but a calculated abdication of responsibility. As someone who has been involved in sports administration since my days in SATISCO and through the establishment of federations that now govern our national sporting…

Eighteen months ago, Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos was critical of Cassius Mailula’s move from Mamelodi Sundowns to Major League Soccer (MLS) side, Toronto FC. Broos, who shoots from the hip, insisted at the time that Mailula, who had very little PSL experience, was being thrown to the deep end at Toronto, where there were a couple of established forwards. The Belgian was proven right when Mailula was shipped out to Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca in August 2024. All is well…

One of South Africa’s youngest and brightest coaches Rulani Mokwena didn’t exactly hit the ground running at the helm of Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca. However, the 38-year-old is starting to show his hand, and Wydad are back to winning ways, with five league wins on the trot to propel themselves to second spot on the table, albeit 13 points behind the leaders RS Berkane with nine matches remaining in the 2024/25 Morocco Botola. There’s progress. Last season was nothing to write…

South Africa would come to a standstill if Orlando Pirates were to meet Mamelodi Sundowns in this year’s CAF Champions League final. With this in mind, Pirates mentor Jose Riveiro has shared his thoughts ahead of the quarter-finals draw on Thursday, 20 February, as the Buccaneers and Brazilians will be in the hat. Pirates, who finished top of Group C, have three possible opponents in the quarter-finals: Sundowns, Algerian side MC Alger, and Pyramids from Egypt. Meanwhile, Sundowns settled for…

The South African fraternity is in mourning following confirmation that former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns defender, Siyabonga Zulu, has passed away. The 31-year-old was in the books of Mpumalanga ABC Motsepe League side, Phezulu FC, at the time of his death. African Times has confirmed that Zulu lost his life after Phezulu FC was involved in a car accident on their way home after playing Sivutsa FC at the Driekoppies Stadium on Saturday, 15 February. The details of the…

Kaizer Chiefs defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe is the latest footballer to make a big-money move to Libyan club, Al-Ittihad. The North Africans have been in the news lately for their transfer dealings. In the past week, Al-Ittihad has paid Moroccan club FAR Rabat $500,000 (R10.1 million) for Botswana international Tumisang Orebonye. Al-Ittihad also activated Mahmoud Kahraba’s $1.2 million (R22 million) release clause to sign him from Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly. Now they have set their sights on Orebonye’s countryman, Ditlhokwe, who’s…

Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture Gayton McKenzie says he’ll have the last laugh regarding Video Assistance Referee (VAR) in South Africa. It’s been four months since McKenzie made promises that he’d ensure the implementation of VAR in SA, specifically in the Premier Soccer League (PSL). At the time, McKenzie had met the South African Football Association (SAFA) National Executive Committee (NEC) in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. Since then, football publications have estimated the costs of VAR to be in the…

The 9th Asian Winter Games embodies Asian people’s shared aspirations for peace, prosperity and friendship, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday, urging common commitment to realizing these goals. Xi made the remarks at a welcome banquet ahead of the opening ceremony of the Games in Harbin, capital city of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. He called on Asia to hold fast to the common dream of peace and amity, jointly respond to all sorts of security challenges, and contribute to building…

Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba has explained why the province decided to part with R4.7 million to host Bafana Bafana against Lesotho at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday, 21 March. The South African Football Association (SAFA) has kept its word to take the senior national team, Bafana Bafana, across the country, but it doesn’t come cheap. However, Dr Ramathuba has insisted that it would be worthwhile for the province to host a match of this magnitude, which is…

In light of Solly Krok’s passing, Mamelodi Sundowns have paid tribute to their former owner. Solly Krok, who was 95, passed away this week due to natural causes. His twin brother, Abe, succumbed to an illness back in 2013. The Krok brothers, together with the Tsichlas family, were owners of the reigning PSL champions before billionaire Patrice Motsepe bought the club in 2004. “The Chairman and the Motsepe Family, the Board of Directors, Technical Team, Players, Management, Staff, Supporters of…