Team SA looks sharper for Tokyo world athletics championships

When the 20th World Athletics Championships get underway at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday, September 13, Team South Africa will be chasing a return to the global podium after an agonizing eight-year wait. Not since the 2017 edition in London has the country won medals at the world’s premier athletics showpiece. That year, Wayde van Niekerk, Caster Semenya, and Luvo Manyonga spearheaded a golden generation, delivering six medals combined. In 2017, Van Niekerk claimed gold in the 400m and silver in the 200m, Semenya won the 800m and secured bronze in the 1,500m, while Manyonga leapt to gold in the long jump. Ruswahl Samaai added a long jump bronze to complete what remains one of South Africa’s finest performances at a World Championships. Since then, however, the nation has endured a dry spell, failing to reach the podium in subsequent editions. This year, hope has been rekindled. A 49-member squad carries the weight of expectation, led by the experienced Akani Simbine, who remains one of the world’s premier sprinters. The evergreen 31-year-old grabbed silver in the 100m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, finally stepping onto the Olympic podium after years of near-misses. In Tokyo, Simbine once again carries South Africa’s sprinting dreams, and he will be joined by two promising compatriots, Retshidisitswe Mlenga and Gift Leokela. Van Niekerk is also back, though this time he has shifted his focus to the 200m, making way for a new star in the 400m: Zakithi Nene. If there is one athlete who embodies South Africa’s new wave, it is Nene. After surprising many by reaching the Olympic final in Paris last year, the 26-year-old has since proven he belongs among the best. In 2025, he became the world’s fastest over one lap, clocking a breathtaking 43.76 seconds in Nairobi, the fastest time recorded globally this season. With consistent sub-45 performances and strong Diamond League results—including a runner-up finish behind Olympic champion Quincy Hall in Rome—Nene is widely seen as South Africa’s strongest medal hope. The team suffered a setback when teen sprint sensation Benjamin Walaza, who impressed in Paris, withdrew this week due to an injury. His replacement, however, brings a fascinating storyline. Retshidisitswe Mlenga, once a teenage prodigy, returns to the global stage after serving a four-year ban for doping. At just 25, the Bloemfontein-born sprinter is eager to revive his career. Mlenga won gold at the 2017 World Under-18 Championships before his suspension derailed his progress. Now, with a second chance, he is motivated to make the 100m final and perhaps even push for a medal. His presence alongside Simbine and Leokela gives South Africa depth in the men’s sprint events. On the women’s side, South Africa’s brightest prospects lie in the middle distance and field events. Prudence Sekgodiso has emerged as a force in the 800m. Earlier this year, she won the World Indoor title, and she enters Tokyo with renewed confidence. The 22-year-old also set a personal best of 1:57.16 in Ostrava to claim victory at the prestigious Golden Spike meet. While her Olympic campaign ended in disappointment after fading in the final, Sekgodiso’s consistency and talent make her a genuine contender for a medal. In the javelin, Jo-Ane van Dyk is targeting another podium finish after securing silver at the Paris Olympics with a throw of 63.93m. She has remained competitive on the international circuit, producing a season’s best of 62.77m in Oslo, where she placed third behind Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi and Serbia’s Adriana Vilagos. With her proven ability to deliver on the big stage, Van Dyk is among South Africa’s strongest female medal prospects in Tokyo. As the competition kicks off, South Africa’s mix of seasoned campaigners and fresh talent creates a sense of cautious optimism. The likes of Simbine and Van Niekerk will provide experience, while Nene, Sekgodiso, and Van Dyk could well usher in a new era of success. If the pieces fall into place, Team SA may finally break its medal drought and reignite the golden memories of 2017. The World Championships conclude on September 21, and South Africa will be hoping that by then, its athletes will have returned to the podium, restoring the nation’s pride on the global athletics stage. All the best, Team SA!

Nigerians pay the price for ignoring their own league

Earlier this year, Nigerian media, commentators, and football followers erupted in outrage following the March 25 World Cup qualifier in Uyo, where the Super Eagles were held to a 1-1 draw by Zimbabwe. On paper, it should have been an easy assignment. Nigeria’s squad, stacked with stars from Europe’s top leagues, was expected to sweep aside a Zimbabwean side traditionally considered lightweight. Yet the Warriors who arrived in Uyo were far from the Zimbabwe of old. The southern Africans had undergone a quiet transformation, with several players now plying their trade in big European leagues. Zimbabwe has also borrowed from West Africans by pursuing diaspora kids for its national team. The outpouring of anger in Nigeria was not surprising, given the country’s unmatched passion for football. But in hindsight, the fury was misplaced. The ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN), currently being staged in East Africa, has brutally exposed where Nigeria’s real weakness lies. Unlike the AFCON or World Cup qualifiers, CHAN is reserved strictly for players who feature in their domestic leagues. And Nigeria has fared disastrously, crashing out after two successive defeats—1-0 to Senegal and 4-0 to Sudan. Their final group match against Congo-Brazzaville on August 19 is a dead rubber, with the Super Eagles already eliminated. The lesson is clear: Nigeria’s league is simply too weak to sustain a competitive national team structure. Long before CHAN laid it bare, the decline of Nigerian club football was evident. The country’s clubs have become invisible in the advanced stages of CAF competitions. The last Nigerian side to command continental respect was Enyimba, and that was years ago. Since then, South African, Central African, and even East African clubs, have pulled ahead to challenge the North African domination. While mismanagement and corruption within the football system are always cited as culprits, ordinary Nigerians also shoulder part of the blame. The obsession with the English Premier League and other European competitions has drained local football of attention, revenue, and prestige. Stadiums remain half-empty, clubs struggle to attract sponsorship, and promising players lack the competitive environment to flourish at home. If Nigerian fans redirected even half of their passion to their own league, the results would be transformative. Stronger domestic clubs would attract investment, create jobs, and nurture talent that could feed directly into the Super Eagles setup. More importantly, Nigeria would rely less on scouring the globe for players of Nigerian descent and instead develop world-class talent within its borders.

Until that shift happens, Nigeria will continue to punch below its weight in African football. This week the Nigerian Premier Football League kicks off for the 2025/2026 season - with new champions Remo Stars hosting Rivers United on Friday in Ikenne, Ogun state, for the opening match. Hopefully, the season start will also mark the start of a new attitude by Nigerians towards their own league. And it's no rocket science, Naija guys and gals, just show the NPFL more love than any other league in the world. Finidi George coaches Rivers; what more would people want to appreciate that charity begins at home!

Ambitious Pyramids rank as Pirates' most important foe so far this CAF season

For decades, the Egyptian league had been dominated by Cairo giants Al Ahly and Zamalek football clubs, with some limited challenge offered by Ismaily and Arab Contractors. Both Ismaily and Arab Contractors had significantly receded in the past decade, with the Contractors (now preferring to be known as Al Mokawloon Al Arab) losing their premier league status as they currently campaign in the Egyptian second-tier. Despite their fallen fortunes, the Contractors and Ismaily remain among five other clubs to win the Egyptian league apart from Al Ahly and Zamalek. Amid these events Pyramids FC emerged in 2018 to forcefully stake a claim in the top 3 of the Egyptian league. The club was in fact formed in 2008 as Al Assiouty Sport in Beni Suef, a city 120km south of Cairo. In 2018, a season after the club had returned to premier for its second stint, it was bought by the chairman of the Saudi Sports Authority Turki Al-Sheikh, renamed Pyramids and relocated to New Cairo, a modern metropolitan city developing on the outskirts of the original Cairo. In their first season under the new name, Pyramids finished third in the Egyptian and reached the final of the 2019 Egyptian Cup where they lost to Zamalek. The same year, the club was bought by UAE businessman Salem Al Shamsi and continued to fortify its position in the Egyptian top 3. Pyramids have now finished as runners-up to the league title three times including the previous season. They were runners-up in 2019/2020 CAF Confederation Cup, losing to Morocco's RS Berkane in the final. In the meantime, Pyramids' value also increased by leaps and bounds that last year at €22.25-million, they were ranked the third most valuable African club behind Mamelodi Sundowns (€35.40m) and Al Ahly (€28.45m). They value is set to increase as they are on course to win their first Egyptian league title, as they lead the league table. Today, Pyramids seek to raise the bar to a higher level in their quest to be rated among the best when they come up against Orlando Pirates in the Champions League semifinals. The first leg is scheduled for 6pm at the FNB Stadium. Pirates' home venue, Orlando Stadium, is not available after it was booked for Easter festivities by the Grace Bible Church. Pirates should know they are meeting a hugely ambitious club, and by now, I trust they have not only studied the team's strengths and weaknesses but also understand Pyramids' philosophy and ambition. So, today it will not be about winning a football match for both teams but a show of determination to grow their brands and respect on the continent. In my opinion, this is the most important challenge for Pirates in their Champions League journey this season. Pyramids mean business and Pirates in return must show they have a longer, colourful history that the visitors must respect. The only way to achieve that is to win today and eventually qualify for the final by sailing through in the second leg on April 25.

Broos returns respect and the swag to Bafana

When Hugo Broos was announced in May 2021 as the new manager of the South African national football team, the news was received by sneers and jeers if not completely ignored by some of those it affected the most - the SA soccer fraternity. At the time Bafana Bafana, the national team, had not long been labelled a "bunch of losers" by the sports minister Fikile Mbalula. His words cut like a blunt knife, even though the truth is that Bafana were at the time hopeless and lacked confidence. It was fair-game for anyone, including the lowest-ranked nations, to meet Bafana because the chances of scoring a victory over the SA team were real and attainable. So, more than the sports minister, the nation was despondent over Bafana circumstances. Even Broos appointment, despite his known success on the continent, was slammed as that of an old man chasing an easy retirement fund. It was a tough job from the start for the Belgian - having to rouse the players from a comatose of low self-esteem, telling touchy soccer bosses the truths they don't want to hear and setting the media right about its lack of space in the technical forum deciding who to call up. Broos slowly worked his magic, as he appealed to the nation to stop making Bafana play home internationals in empty stadiums. The results turned positive, the fans returned to the stadium for the games and Bafana qualified for the 2023 Ivory Coast Cup of Nations (which played earlier this year) and the team returned home with bronze medals and huge smiles on their faces. Bafana Bafana have qualified for the 2025 Morocco Afcon in great style, topping their group with 14 points and no loss after six qualifying matches. The last qualifier, on Tuesday in Cape Town, was a celebration of entertaining football by Bafana and the love from the fans who packed the stadium to the rafters. Bafana Bafana are on the right track and looking the part with the swagger of champions in their step; one thing South Africans football fans had been missing for a long time until Hugo Broos came along.

The enemy within at Kaizer Chiefs

The new Premier Soccer League in South Africa is in its third week and already there's trouble at one of the biggest clubs, Kaizer Chiefs. The upheaval stems from within, thanks to the club's restless supporters. Restless is an understatement to describe a largely belligerent horde ready to trash and clobber, as they showed once again at Mbombela on Sunday 20 August after losing to TS Galaxy. Chiefs are not winning matches because they are goal-shy, scoring just 1 goal in their opening three matches of the league. That is not the scoring rate to win football matches. But instead of directing their anger to the team's forwards, and to some extent the rest of the outfield players, the supporters are blaming the coach and the goalkeeper. Chiefs No 1 keeper Brandon Peterson is a having a torrid time from the fans, despite his form saving the team from serious embarassment game after game. Against Galaxy last week a stopped four certain goal attempts, and earlier in the month he made seven saves against a rampant Sundowns. Chiefs lost both matches 1-0, but Peterson was loudly blamed by the supporters for the two defeats. But numbers show that the fans are barking up the wrong tree with their blame game. To date Chiefs have played 3 league matches, scoring 1 and conceding 3 with 1 point in the bag. It's messy numbers and they clearly call out the efforts of the strikers and their fellow outfield players. How do you win matches with a scoring rate of 1 goal per 3 matches? Where is the fault of the goalkeeper in this matter, more so that Peterson often fights alone in defence as his backline is leaking? Even the outcry over the new head coach Molefi Ntseki is misplaced; he has played just 4 matches so far, with 1 draw and 1 win in MTN 8 cup competition. By any reasonable assessment that does not translate to crisis. The crisis at the club at this stage is being fomented by the combative conduct of the supporters. Many pronounced on Ntseki early departure as soon as he was announced as the new head coach. That means these followers were never prepared to give their new coach a chance to settle into the position, which has turned out to be the hottest seat in the PSL. The team starts the new season with a new coach because of the same quarrelsome supporters who gave the previous coach, Arthur Zwane, a hellride in just his first season in charge. It was too much, and caused unnecessary panic as the club demoted Zwane. He did not do badly as he worked hard to build a team that was supposed to be unleashed in his second season. A system was beginning to be visible and his players appeared ready to die for Zwane, which augured well for the following season. Historically, Chiefs are not in the game of firing coaches willy-nilly; it's a new phenomenon which has been enforced by restless, antagonistic supporters. Ntseki is in charge now and that means the club's plan with Zwane was sabotaged by its followers. Earlier I said Chiefs panicked with their decison but they coud have removed Zwane to protect him and his honour as a club legend against a sustained onslaught by the supporters. Given the poisonous noise in the stands, bars and social media the players cannot be in the right state of mind knowing they are under attack from the club's followers.

No disgrace as Sekhukhune look forward to CAF

It was heartbreak all-round as Sekhukhune United lost in their maiden cup final in their short spell in the South African Premier League on Saturday. Eventual winners of the 2003 Nedbank Cup Orlando Pirates were runaway favourites ahead of the showdown at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. Despite that glorified tag, Pirates knew they were not going to have it that easy against the hugely improved Limpopo side, and they did struggle at Loftus before eventually running out 2-1 winners deep in injury time. Pirates also had to force a 1-1 draw at the break, via a late equaliser from the spot by Tapelo Xoki after a bizarre concession of a penalty by Victor Letsoalo. The experienced forward had been lying on the ground in his own penalty box, with Pirates forward Thembinkosi Lorch teasing him with the ball until Letsoalo stretched out his hand to pull back the ball. It was one of those ridiculous moments in football. Anyway, overall Sekhukhune gave it their all, giving Pirates and their majority supporters in the stands plenty of scary moments. Pound for pound, upfront Pirates outgunned United but the underdogs' backline displayed highly disciplined and committed defence play. Central defenders Daniel Cardoso and Edwin Gyimah, flanked by Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya and Nyiko Mobbie on the left and right flanks, showed great leadership qualities as they helped the team stay afloat during match-long onslaught by Pirates forwards. Overall, losing in the final was no disgrace for Sekhukhune who can also point to their top-8 finish in the league as another sign of progress - more so under Btandon Truter. Clearly one of the best coaching brains in the country, Truter dusted himself off after two largely incomprehensible sackings by Swallows and later AmaZulu. The club look to be in good hands going into the break ahead of the next season. Two strong strikers and two aggressive attacking midfielders is all Sekhukhune need going forward. And that's not all about this club's achievements this season. The story that has not been properly ahead of the Nedbank Cup final was that, win or lose, Sekhukhune had already qualified for continental football next season. The Nedbank Cup's winners qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup, with third-placed team in the league, this time SuperSport United. But because Pirates have already qualified for the more prestigious CAF Champions League by virtue of finishing second in the league, that means cup runners-up, which means Sekhukhune United this time around, qualify for the Confed. Congratulation are in order for Babina Noko and best wishes to them for new, bigger battles ahead.

South African teams fight lonely battles abroad and home

On May 10, South African football was represented in two international fixtures and got a lashing in both. In the first match, South Africa's premier league team Marumo Gallants lost 2-0 to Tanzania's Young Africans FC in the CAF Confederation Cup. The quarterfinal tie was played in a packed Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. In the other match, South Africa lost 5-0 to Senegal in the quarterfinals of the CAF Under-17 Championship currently on Algeria. While the national's team fate in the tournament is sealed, not only via a heavy defeat but with heavier reality that the country has failed in its quest to qualify for the Fifa U17 World Cup, Marumo still has another day to fight. On May 17, the Limpopo-based side will host Young Africans for the second leg of their semifinal clash at Royal Bafokeng in Rustenburg, North West province. What Marumo need is to win 2-0 on the day to force the fixture to penalties or end 90 minute with a 3-0 score in their favour to eliminate the Tanzanians outright. It will be a tough task but very much doable in football. What is more tough for Marumo and other teams representing South Africa in international football on the continent it's the apathy of the population back home. The U17 national team fought a lonely battle knowing that a vast majority of their compatriots did not know about it but a lot more footballs in SA knew about and watched the Milan derby the same evening. Even Marumo later this month, are aware the larger section of society, including the country's football fraternity, won't be in their hearts and minds when the match against Yanga kicks off at Royal Bafokeng. The stadium is most likely to be largely empty, compared to the vibe that shook Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Wednesday. These two matches clearly mark the level of apathy the South African public has reached in as far as connecting itself with what is important with this country - in sport and beyond. The scenario is now of a place that says do not count us anymore among those with ambition to achieve, and all that we want is to follow the progress in Europe. I lack further words to express my disappointed over the self-defeating spirit that has enveloped my nation. And for a sombre update of the blog, on Wednesday May 17 the misery of Marumo Gallants in CAF ConfedCup came to end on a chilly evening at Royal Bafokeng in Rustenburg. The world class stadium in the village of Phokeng turned out to be a happy gathering place for Tanzanian expatriates living in different cities of South Africa. Not all were Yanga supporters but were there to make sure the name of Tanzania is lifted sky-high, while for poor Marumo the evening sounded like they were back in Dar es Salaam. For the record it ended 2-1 in favour of Yanga, who won the semifinal fixture 4-1 on aggregate. To this minute not even a third of SA population knows what happened at Royal Bafokeng yesterday.