WeeklySA_AdminDANNY MEETS KODWA
South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr Danny Jordaan met Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa in Pretoria on Thursday (30 March 2023) to discuss a host of issues, including South Africa’s interest to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
South Africa registered its intention to bid for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and submitted letters of support from the Government and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) a few months ago.
Dr Jordaan said Thursday’s meeting was the first of similar engagements with the Minister that will take place in the coming months as South Africa bids to bring the 2027 event to the country.
“All the key dates are outlined in the bid document and we will have further discussions with the Minister (at a later stage),” Dr Jordaan said.
ESPN AFRICA BOXING
BONANZA
ESPN Africa’s coverage of Top Rank Boxing continues on Saturday with a mouthwatering WBO Featherweight world title showdown between clash April, Robeisy Ramirez vs. Isaac Dogboe, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This is part of a multiyear agreement that seeks to add to the diverse US and African sport that ESPN currently offers by bringing viewers the very best of international boxing and showcasing some of the most prolific fighters in the world.
Last weekend viewers were shown a live broadcast of the junior welterweight battle between Jose Ramirez and Richard Commey of Ghana.
Top Rank Boxing is boxing’s leading promotion company that has shaped, developed and promoted the careers of top international pay-per-view superstars, including Muhammad Ali, Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Aaron Pryor, Alexis Arguello, Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr.and others.
STORM CALMS DOWN PLAY
MOOKGOPHONG, Limpopo – The Limpopo Championship was hit with severe weather on Friday which prevented the resumption of the suspended first round at the Euphoria Golf and Lifestyle Estate, and with play eventually called off for the day.
The first round had to be suspended on Thursday as a result of dangerous weather conditions. Jaco Prinsloo and Jacques Blaauw shared the clubhouse lead with their rounds of six-under-par 66. Wynand Dingle was two strokes back following his 68. Neil Schietekat and Keenan Davidse were also both on four under par through 12 holes when play was called off because of poor light.
Play was scheduled to resume at 7:40am on Friday, but a threat of lightning prevented this restart. Then persistent rainfall rendered the golf course unplayable, and with five hours required for the golf course maintenance team to prepare the course if and when it stopped raining, the decision was made to call off play for the day.
The first round will now resume at 7:30am on Saturday, with the second round scheduled to start at 9:05am. – Mic
ONTHATILE GETS HER WINGS
The year kicked off with a bang for the University of Pretoria graduate who relocated to Cape Town to explore some opportunities with the signing of a sponsorship deal with energy-drink company Red Bull.
Historically, women athletes have been far behind their male counterparts when it comes to sponsorship deals. However, the narrative is changing as more and more female athletes get recognition,
Now having bagged this incredible brand partnership, Thati is certain that her career will only get better as she has the financial support to thrive
“The partnership with Red Bull allows me to dream big about my goals and aspirations. I can fully concentrate on my performance.
Sponsorships go beyond just tangible things. I have access to a team of experts that will help me to optimise my training and nutrition to ensure that I perform at my best.
They will also help me develop a mental training plan that will help me stay focused and motivated.”
PALTRY PURSE NO HEADACHE FOR CAPTAIN CHARISMA
PALTRY PURSE NO HEADACHE FOR CAPTAIN CHARISMA
UNFAZED: Bonokoane has big plans ahead as WBF junior featherweight best boxer
By Pule Mokhine
For the first time since being crowned World Boxing Union (WBU) junior featherweight title six months ago, Thato “Captain Charsima” Bonokoane has revealed receiving a “paltry” R100 000 purse for winning the belt. At the same time, he says he has no beef with “peanuts” that he has received from the promoter for his efforts.
By boxing standards, any boxer winning a world championship belt is entitled to earn at least in the region of around R500 000 or more for annexing a global championship belt. But this has not been the case for “Captain Charisma”.
Bonokoane made a name for himself by beating Diego Alberto Rietz of Argentina to be crowned the new WBU kingpin at the Feather Market Hall in Gqeberrha, Easten Cape last October in a tournament that was promoted by J4Joy Promotions.
But promoter has since being barred by Boxing SA from staging any fights since their effort to bring former world welterweight champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather to SA in December as a guest of Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini for a showdown that was scheduled to take place at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, failed to materialize.
Bonokoane, 33, who won WBF’s Boxer of The Year last weekend with his trainer Charity Mukondeleli receiving Best Trainer of the Year accolade, said he was not particularly bothered by the purse he got for punching above his weight to annex the coveted championship belt.
“I am aware that the purse that I have received from the promoter for winning the title is too little by my standards as the new title holder. But the fact I am now a world champion of a credible organization such at the WBF gives me much pride. I may have been underpaid, but I feel holding a championship belt of this sanctioning body will afford me the opportunity to make more money in future defenses of my upcoming title,” said a confident Bonokoane.
“Deep down in my heart, I feel that my foe Diego Alberto Rietz whom I beat to lift the WBU crown, may have been given a better purse even than me even though he lost to me. But I am not particularly bothered. I know I will make more money in the near future as a champion.”
He does not feel shy to intimate that he has a cordial relationship with WBU president Howard Goldberg, the man who is based in Cape Town in the Western Cape. Golberg’s sanctioning fistic organization has often been castigated for being inferior as compared to other controlling world boxing bodies.
But Bonokoane, the only boxer from Kagiso township on the Werst Rand to have ever tasted the glory of being a global kingpin, argues that being the champion, will also pave the way for him to achieve some of the finer things in life.
“My wish is to make more successful defenses and make more money in order to improve the living conditions of both myself and my family in the not-too-distant future. At 33, I am already at the age when I should start making more money from boxing before I retire.
“And making more successful defenses of my crown will be ultimate goal,” Bonokoane explains.
If Captain Charisma’s dream of making it big in the fisticuffs is anything to go by, the sky is the limit.
LIMPOPO DERBY PROMISES FIREWORKS
OLD RIVALRY: Relegation-threatened Black Leopards will have to dig deep to beat upbeat Baroka
By Masoja Cele
A red-hot-chillie atmosphere is guaranteed when two former DStv Premiership old foes Baroka FC and Black Leopards lock horns in a Motsepe Foundation Championship fixture scheduled for Sunday at Baroka FC Global Village, Lebowakgomo. Kick-off is 15hr30.
Baroka are perched 13th on the log with just eight points above the relegation slot. They have collected 26 points from 24 matches, while Leopards are sitting at the bottom of the table with 18 points with six matches remaining before the curtain closes down.
With the results not forthcoming, the Khurishi Mphahlele’s team has again been forced to reshuffle its technical team. Out goes head coach Bushy Moloi who has been redeployed to the development structures of the team as a technical advisor and in comes Stanley Nkoane, former Moloi’s assistant now elevated to a head coach tag with the view of pulling the team away from the relegation doldrums.
In the reverse fixture both teams played to a goalless draw. Nkoane will expect his players to put up a bruising fight and win against Lidoda Duhva. Baroka, otherwise known as Bakgakga Ba Mphahlele, will rely on the workaholic Malawian midfielder Gerald Phiri and Mthobisi Msomi to unlock the stubborn Leopards midfield.
The likes of long-serving Baroka servant Ananias Gerbhardt and Christopher Sekele will be hazardous for the opposition defence. Left-back Gerbhardt likes pushing forward, and with his speed and experience would ocassionally sneak behind the opposition defence to score a goal or create an assist.
Woe betide Black Leopards. The Thohoyandou-based team are rooted at the bottom of the table with only 18 points. Last season Leopards were in the same predicament only to survive the axe after the arrival of the prodigal coach Joel Masutha. Will the scenario repeat itself after the arrival of the experience gaffer Owen Da Gama?
The former Bafana-Bafana mentor was brought in to save the sinking ship. However, in six matches Da Gama clocked only two draws and lost 16 points in between.
With six matches to wind up the season Da Gama will have to dig down from his football reservoir to save the Venda based side from the dreaded axe. Since they were promoted to the elite league back in 2000 they have been relegated thrice. Should they be chopped at the end of the season it would be for the fourth time (2007-08, 2012-13, 2021-22 season to date). Should Leopards snooze in their remaining six matches then they will step on the foot prints of Jomo Cosmos who were relegated to Motsepe ABC League.
Published on the 92nd Edition.
