Chase on for Two Oceans' old marks

Since the miracle by Simon Magakwe last weekend when he broke SA's 26-year-old 100m record, a sense of believe has been sparked that similar achievements in South Africa could be realised in roadrunning this weekend.

The targets are the two course records at the 56km Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, which like the old 100m mark, had been up for grabs since the 1980s. The men's record of 3:03:44 (1988) has stood as stoically as the character of its holder, the late Thompson Magawana, while the women's mark of 3:30:36 (1989) is held by the legendary Frith van der Merwe.

Two Oceans' 2014 edition on Saturday in Cape Town has additional appetiser of R1million for the winners who set the new course records, and Van der Merwe expressed confidence in a statement on Tuesday that her record could go.

She remembers how an incentive of a car spurred her on to a "comfortable" victory 25 years ago.

"The car was enough to motivate me, so the R1-million bonus this year is an incredible incentive," she said.

"It's going to attract very good marathon runners. It will take an athlete with natural speed to break the record."

The lithe Van der Merwe was unstoppable in 1989; two months before the Two Oceans she had smashed the South African standard marathon (42.2km) at the SA Championships in Port Elizabeth.

She has advised that the best chance at her 3:30:36 mark will be if the leading bunch of women can cross the 42km mark on Saturday at 2:30 hour mark or under. Unfortunately there is no South African female runner at this stage who can achieve that feat. The Russians, who have dominated the women's race at the Two Oceans, stand a better chance. Twins Elena and Olesya Nurgalieva (pictured below) are back in the hunt again this year, but their chance to run faster – who will be running again this year – but nobody has come within three minutes of the record.

Last year Zimbabwe’s Tabitha Tsatsa won the women’s race by default, after the first woman over the line, Russian specialist ultramarathoner Natalia Volgina, tested positive for steroids. Last week Tsatsa was also defending champion at the 50km Loskop Marathon in Middelburg but opted out of the race to focus on the more lucrative Two Oceans. 

The race offers R250 000 to winners in both men’s and women’s races.

The men’s winner last year, David Gatebe, is expected to return to the Cape Town a hungry man. He had not been earning income from his work at Impala Platinum following a protracted workers strike in Rustenburg’s platinum mines. 

Speaking on radio earlier this week, Gatebe said the men’s race was open and could go anywhere. He is right. Though SA men remain contenders in this race every year, the winner’s cheque can go to either Lesotho or Zimbabwe or east Africa or another part of the world.

Given prediction for warmer conditions on race day on Saturday in Cape Town, it appears the two-decade old records are safe again this year, despite the alluring R1m incentive. But there’s no stopping the expected intense competition for honours. 

Good luck to all.

SA soccer mentally humstrung by CAF

Destroyer. . . Firmin Ndombe Mubele of AS Vita Club scored the hattrick which ended Kaizer Chiefs run in 2014 CAF Champions League. Mubele starred for DR Congo during the CHAN tournament in SA in January.

The early fall of Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United in 2014 CAF competitions served to highlight the shortcomings of South African football in the international arena. Complaints about referees notwithstanding, we just don't know how to prepare for the game at this level. Orlando Pirates had a brave run last year in the Champions League, losing to Al Ahly in the final. But even then, Pirates were not a dominating force but just managing to scrape through mostly on the away goal rule until the Egyptian giants brought it to an end. 

Once again, SA clubs were eliminated early, mostly due to poor preparation. After relatively pleasant trips to Windhoek and Maputo in the earlier rounds of the Championship, Chiefs came unstuck in Kinshasa, losing 0-3 to AS Vita of Congo.
Reports about the first leg game in DRC indicate that Chiefs were the aggressors, while the home team benefited from counter-attack situations. That's not how the visiting team plays the first leg. The visitors should play to minimise harm in the first leg, and then go all out to finish the job at home. As it is, Chiefs comfortably won 2-0 at home but the damage was done in Kinshasa a  week earlier.

As far as the referee issue is concerned, I can only speak about the game I watched, that is the SuperSport United v Etoile du Sahel. The referees were bad and never ceased to amaze and frustrate the small but enthusiastic crowd at Lucas Moripe Stadium last Saturday night. But one thing was clear: the referee and his assistants were bad, not biased. They awarded free kicks and penalties were they never existed, with both penalties on the night going to United's favour.

So United's fall had to do a lot with their approach than the match officials. For starters the Tunisians acclimatised quicker to conditions in the ground, while United struggled the whole first half to contend with the wind speed and dew factor. It was embarrassing to see the home team slip sliding all over the park,  passes and shots at goal going astray because the players did not know much about the wind direction and speed in the hour of kickoff.

And how they conceded four goals boils down to technical inefficiencies of the defence, which was continuously forced to play backpasses to the keeper. One of these resulted in United chief tormentor, 21-year-old Malian striker Michailou Drame, stealing the ball and rounding off poorly protected Ronwen Williams. The less said about other defensive howlers the better.

The final straw for me was when Mame Niang missed from the spot kick in the 85th minute. Until that minute Niang had the worst game of the season, with the fans screaming for his replacement. For him to be given the penalty lent itself to poor decision-making because the gangly Senegalese was mentally out of it, and so was his co-striker Bradley Grobler. 

General lack of hunger by SuperSport United at their home ground and Chiefs' players talking about their Kinshasa game a week earlier as if their destination was Lubumbashi, a good 2 000km away the DRC capital, does not help our cause at all. I mean, how do you win a battle when you don't know the location of the battle field?

Once again, SA teams come short in CAF club competitions not because they are worse off materially, but because mentally they are not up to it. This CAF season Chiefs at least have another chance to correct their errors in the Confederation Cup, where they were relegated after the loss to Vita. They've been drawn against West Africa's powerhouse, ASEC Mimosas of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, later this month.     

Chan failure points to SA's lack of development vision

The future. . . Ayabulela Magqwaka, the captain of the SA under-20 team. Why was he not considered for Chan?

I suspect even the Safa executive does not know him, but that's how clumsy South Africa has been with football development. His name is Ayabulela Magqwaka. In case you are wondering what's special about this name, he's the national captain for the under-20 team.

So what? He led from the front in Lesotho where his team won the Cosafa Youth Cup, beating Kenya 2-0 in the final. Kenya was playing as an invited guest to strengthen the competition. Magqwaka scored one of the goals in the event which took place in December.
Subsequent to his exploits in Maseru, a week later his team Ajax Cape Town offered him a contract which promoted him from the team's under-19 squad to the senior team. He was signed with his national teammate, Rivaldo Coetzee, with whom he won various youth titles playing with the Ajax Cape Town Youth Academy.

Magqwaka has had a well paved out route in his development as a footballer, after joining the Ajax Academy at the age of 11. His accolades include the Engen Knockout Challenge title (three times), the Metropolitan Premier Cup title (three times) and the prestigious 2013 Copa Amsterdam.
Morever, he has had a brilliant under-17 career as well, despite limited game time that team enjoyed in his time in that age category. What is even significant, in my book, is that in December 2012 Ayabulela and the U17 team travelled to Ghana for an Africa Junior  Championship qualifier at Essipong Stadium in Sekondi.

Ghana is important because it represents all that is good about soccer development in Africa. Ghana is always up there as far as global youth tournaments are concerned, and we saw how its young, inexperienced side carried itself in the recent Chan tournament in SA. It is ironic that they were stopped by Libya, another nation which showed faith in its youth to rebuild its fortunes.

Isn't strange that up to this stage, SA has not sought to forge a working relationship with Ghana, in order to learn from that country how to set up and manage successful development structures? Such a deal should include a technical exchange of personalities in youth coaching and training fields, so that when South Africans learn in Ghana, while the Ghanaians will come here to point out the good and the bad about our work in soccer development.

Needless to say, SA lost the opportunity to walk the same path, opting to send an overly matured squad into the tournament when a team with a fresh victory was available. Sending the under-20 team which won the Cosafa tournament would have done the national team a world of good. Had those youngsters failed to progress beyond round one, then we would have known that at least the future holds so much in promise.

Ayabulela and his teammates should not have watched Chan from afar when their peers from all over the continent were enjoying the run on the park, right here in our backyard. Even more worrisome is that the coach of the senior team, Gordon Igesund, does not seem to be having any working relationship with the Under20 coach, Ephraim Mashaba. Mashaba is an accomplished coach with plenty of experience, and therefore a very important conduit between the senior team and development ranks.

The good thing about the U17 squad which went to Ghana is that it was coached by Mashaba, who is now taking care of the same boys at under-20 level.
Now given this clear path of progress, why Igesund did not work with Mashaba and some of his boys in the Chan? I know it is too late for this question but it needs to be asked in order to fix things going forward.
Whether Igesund stays or goes, the coach of Bafana Bafana must work with Mashaba or whoever is the coach of the under-20 side. Otherwise how do we know about upcoming talent when the national youth coach is not part of the set-up at senior level?

I will conclude by paying tribute to Ayabulela Magqwaka and his U20 teammates once again. I want to say in a normal environment their progress would be lauded and guarded by their national federation. Unfortunately, in South Africa such basics in football development are not taken into consideration in a neverending pursuit of shortcuts and reason to party.

In the mix. . . SA under-17 and under-20 international Rivaldo Coetzee
For the record Siyanda Ngubo of Malaga FC scored the second goal in the 2-0 victory against Kenya in Lesotho.
Here is the rest of the team which featured in the final match of 2013 Cosafa Youth Cup: Dumisani Msibi (gk, Supersport United), Madisha Motjeka (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ayabulela Magqwaka, Rivaldo Coetzee (both Ajax CT), Pule Maraisane (Stars of Africa), Siyanda Ngubo (Malaga), Nhlakanipho Ntuli (Orlando Pirates), Fagrie Lakay (Santos), Tlotlo Leepile (Stars of Africa), Tebogo Moerane (Orlando Pirates), Siphelele Luthuli (University of Pretoria).

The enigma of Mayweather visit

Ever since Floyd Mayweather's trip here was announced by the South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula I have been wondering about the purpose of the controversial boxing champion Floyd Mayweather's visit. Well, I am not in the dark anymore because "Money" has said it himself: "I don't know why I'm here but it's good to be in Africa."

Of course it's good to be in Africa, despite all the troubles the continent experiences and you got to love Mayweather for his honesty in this instance. Mbalula has brought to the sport minsitry, which for a long time had been stagnanted by his predecessors. However, the trouble with "Fiks" are two main distractions to his mission:  his love of the party and obsession of for US celebrities.

If Mayweather is here to inspire somebody - youth or boxers - then he does not come fully equipped for that task. This was seen by his late arrival at the Dube Boxing Club in Soweto today. He visibly thrilled by the vociferous welcome he got from the excited youngsters who had packed the little venue. He reciprocated with a stale address, but then motivational talk is not his game.

He is billed to conduct motivational talks in different parts of the country during his week-long tour. Perhaps he will get the catch of the game for such events because back home Mayweather is known more for self-promotion than community projects. In 2011 he was senteneced to 40 days of community service for delaying giving a sworn evidence in court under false pretences. He said he needed more time to recover from injuries,  only to be captured partying on the scheduled day for the deposition.

So far he is lucky no one has asked him about his 2012 conviction for battery, after he beat up his ex-girlfriend in front of their children. In a country like South Africa where abuse of women and children is rampant, visiting personalities with such reputations should be viewed with some level of reservation.

Mayweather has done well for himself to be where he is as an international sport icon. Only hard work and dedication can keep an athlete at the top of his game for so long. This means therefore the man does have admirable qualities that should inspire masses without him even uttering a word.

Welcome to motherland indeed, Floyd. Here's hoping this visit will help reconstruct your perspective towards life, as much as you wish to help reshape the lives of the youngsters you are supposed to inspire with your visit here.

Knowledge is key for Bafana

Man to watch. . . Abdoulaye Sissoko, left, shows why he's the man to mark when Mali meet South Africa today.

Sidibe, Traore, Sissoko, Diarra, Coulibaly. . . these are the names any Mali football team is likely to have. Mali players are characteristically lanky and muscular. They play in a semi-professional league which is largely based in the capital Bamako, with very little organised football in far-flung regions of the massive country. Given this usual background about Mali football, what's there to fear for South Africa ahead of their Chan 2014 fixture this evening?

Well, Mali beat Nigeria 2-1 in their opening match, and their tactical aptitude and aggressive approach were a delight to watch in that match. Does this now mean restless time for Bafana Bafana? It should not be. Mali is not Bafana's problem, self-doubt is what limits the host team.

Fair enough, it was Mali which kicked South Africa out of the Afcon 2013, at the quarterfinals. Ironically, SA is he host again and today it needs victory over Mali to advance to the quarterfinals of Chan early. Bafana are under pressure to do well, not only because they are host but also that this tournament is played by home-based players. This means SA must defend the reputation which came from the self-promotion by its league, the PSL, as the best league on the continent.

Gordon Igesund and his team are therefore facing additional challenge over a frivolous matter. Just because we are rich does not mean we are the best. And if I am wrong about this, well, Chan is here. Let's take the damn thing and then gloat about being the best league in Africa, if that is such an important thing.
Mali looked good against Nigeria but today is a new ball game - 11 against 11 from the first whistle.

Bafana must use their strengths to the best of their ability, these being speed and darting moves to ward off the physical advantage of the Malians. I don't see why Bafana must feel the pressure; their mission for a positive result is achievable if they focus on the job at hand and forget silly antics.

Above all, knowledge is power. Bafana must have learnt everything there is to know about their opponent: watch Abdoulaye Sissoko upfront and find way past Ousmane Keita and Mahamadou Traore in defence. If panic sets in during the match it will be of their (Bafana) own doing, not because of any outside force. 

De Kock, the new force Proteas want

Talk of the town. . . The talented Quinton de Kock is not part of the SA Test team against India and yet he is the talking point.

The whispers and groans about Quinton de Kock continued at the Wanderers where the first Test between South Africa and India began without glitches earlier today. The Proteas took  two early wickets as the visitors bagged 70 runs at lunch.
As was the case in the run-up to the match, the absence of the young run machine De Kock continued to rub South Africa's cricket fans in different ways. While there are those confessing understanding for the reasons De Kock was excluded from the Test team after a memorable showing in the ODI series against selfsame, others feel they were shortchanged.

The talk about De Kock being young and inexperienced at this level of the game is not far-fetched. Though I don't have a fiery quarrel against this sentiment, I do not, at the same time, support it. The paying fans at the stadium, more so this time of the year, want to be thrilled. They want to be excited, and De Kock is right now the object of the stadium fun for the fans.

Yes, he's inexperienced but where was this when he blasted away India with three fine 100s in three one-day matches? Does this batsman sound like someone who needs protection? What harm would playing in two Test matches in familiar surroundings do this novice?

Too many questions and arguments, but the bottomline is that the risk factor to play De Kock in the two Tests against India was minimal. If it was high risk, as the selectors thought, then the dividends could have paid back far better from the youngster's exploits. The fans were indeed shortchanged because the excitement they want in the stadium is provided by such bravehearts, more so a young and unblemished one such as Quinton, who turned 21 only yesterday.

One of his few detractors around is India bowler Ishant Sharma, who was quoted saying: "Quinton de Kock has been quite lucky." If that's the case then this is the man any team would be happy to have, more so that he offers a lot more in one: wicketkeeping and excellent fielding. Clearly there can never be any wrong with a dose of luck in any game.

Senior SA players such as captain Graeme Smith, Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers remain reliable match winners with the bat. But you can't falter the people for wanting a new hero. De Kock's time will surely come but at this stage his omission is a lost opportunity. Borrowing from Sharma's observation, De Kock could be the new luck the Proteas need.

Khune has got it made

Spain was a godsend for Itumeleng Khune. Just two days after his controversial naming as the Sports Star of the Year at the SA Sports Awards, South Africa's No.1 goalkeeper and national captain showed why he is the people's choice as the most admired sportsman in the country. He dished up man-of-the-match performance whose fame reverberated all over Spain and the world beyond as the world champions succumbed to Bafana. It was a friendly, all right, but Spain were here to win.

Parker's world class did the magic while Khune's heroics secured the win for SA.

So what was the controversy with him winning the Sports Star award, with its R1million plus luxury? Khune in the past year did not achieve more than several other sports stars in arenas home and abroad. His club Kaizer Chiefs won the league-cup double. But as far as international competition is concerned, Khune did not get any look in both as Chiefs and Bafana player because there is no success that can be linked to him from that sphere. Therein lies the rub. When the category of Sports Star of the Year was introduced to the SA Sports Awards a few years ago, nomination criterion pointed to success on the international front. 

This does not mean winning in Spain or the US, but outperforming the best in the world in your sport event even if that happened in Garankuwa or Griekwastad.

Chiefs did not play in any international competition in the past year, while Bafana's participation was marked by monumental failures in Cup of Nations finals and World Cup qualifiers. Khune as a result was wrongfully nominated for this award. The public and other journos pointed out this discrepancy when nomination was confirmed, but the organisers, the Sports Department, ignored this protest.

The public vote decides the winner here, and Khune prevailed. Congratulations to him; he's an excellent sportsman, but not the top star for SA in the past year. On Tuesday night the masses marvelled at Khune's goalkeeping skills again, and you cannot blame them thinking the Ventersdorp-born is the best of the best. They don't know much about the exploits of other nominees, notably swimmer Chad le Clos, because his multiple world record feats they did not see. It all happened on channels the majority have no access to. Even families of DStv Compact clients did not see Le Clos matching the achievement of the biggest Olympic champion of all time, Michael Phelps. This happened in Barcelona in August, during the Swimming World Championships. He rounded off a great season with more victories and world records in the World Cup series earlier this month.

In conclusion, Khune is more visible to the voting masses, while Le Clos international victories are known by a very few in South Africa, and that was reflected Sunday night at Sun City. Tuesday night President Zuma and former president Thabo Mbeki walked into the changeroom to congratulate Khune and his boys for a job well done against Spain. Who can beat that?

Verdict: Let athletes who earned international glory be nominees for Sports Star category. Others can be nominated in the regular Sportsman or Sportswoman of the Year.