WeeklySA_AdminBUCS PLAYERS IN SPORTS BETTING ROW
Orlando Pirates has noted a video circulating on social media involving two of their players discussing betting. In a statement released midweek, the club said they would like to clarify that the players in the video did not place any bets. The video captured a light-hearted moment among teammates purporting to have placed a bet on an English Premiership match. “As a Club, we are fully aware of the regulations regarding betting. Betting on any sport is strictly prohibited for any professional player. However, we have addressed the matter with the players involved, emphasising that even in jest, such discussions can have serious implications. The club has instituted its own internal investigation to ensure that no player is involved in any form of sports betting as this would constitute a breach in the club handbook that all players are signatory to.”
HUGE INCENTIVES FOR TEAM SA
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) has unveiled its plan to reward Team SA Olympic Games medalists generously. SASCOC on Wednesday introduced 39 athletes from seven different sporting codes at the Olympic House in Johannesburg, with the final additions to the 230-member squad to be disclosed in June and July. SASCOC boss Barry Hendricks revealed gold medallists will receive R400 000, plus R100 000 for their coaches, while silver medallists will earn R200 000 and R50 000 for their coaches, and bronze medallists will get R75 000, and R25 000 for their coaches. “As I mentioned this is the first batch, there are other bigger squads such as the women’s rugby and so on. So, for us this is an exciting time because this is now where we can really build the hype and the buzz around Team South Africa in the build up to the Olympics. 72 days to go, we are looking forward to bringing South Africa together around Team SA,” Hendricks said.
RABADA ‘READY’ FOR T20
Kagiso Rabada is expected to fit for the T20 World Cup despite leaving the Indian Premier League (IPL) early due to a lower limb soft tissue infection. The Proteas fast bowler has consulted a specialist and is being closely monitored by the Cricket South Africa (CSA) medical team. Rabada has played 11 matches for Punjab Kings in this season’s IPL, taking 11 wickets at an economy rate of more than 8 runs to the over. The T20 World Cup kicks off on 1 June in the West Indies and USA with the Proteas in the same group as Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Nepal and Bangladesh. The Proteas will travel to the Caribbean later this month and take on the West Indies in a three-match series before the global tournament.
MAKALIMA EYES 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP
Trailblazing FIFA-accredited referee, Akhona Makalima, has set her sights on the next big assignment – the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the host nation for the latter event is yet to be announced. The Eastern-Cape born match official has distinguished herself among the trustiest in the game. She was one of the referees at the 2023 FIFA World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand. Makalima also worked on VAR during the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in January this year “There are a lot of preparations that I’m doing so obviously I would want to prepare for the next World Cup 2026 and 2027. I’m preparing and I look forward to going to the next AFCON next year which is in Morocco and more women competitions that are coming up, the AFCON and obviously sharpen my skills and my talent in terms of VAR that I’m currently doing,” Makalima said.
HOLLYWOODBETS BRAWL NO OUTCOME
Weeks after the much-publicised brawl between Lindelani Ladies and Royal AM in the Hollywoodbets Super League KwaZulu Natal Derby, there is still no outcome on the matter. Broadcasted live on national television almost a month ago, the two sets of players from the teams got involved in a fistfight, leading to the referee issuing five red cards – two to Royal AM and the other three to Lindelani Ladies.
Royal AM won the fixture 2-1. Lindelani Ladies head coach Nkosikhona Mthembu says they are yet to receive correspondence and the wait is giving them sleepless nights, speaking on SABC. “Of course it does in a big way. It gives one sleepless nights and now it has become the hindrance to most of the things we do for the betterment of the team. You see when you have a runny stomach, picking up something heavy becomes impossible but we’ll keep on waiting,” Mthembu said.
