WeeklySA_AdminJACQUES FREITAG
MISSING
Former South African world high jump champion, and current national record holder in the event, Jacques Freitag, has gone missing in Gauteng.
Freitag’s sister, Chrissie Lewis, put out a call on social media for the public to assist in finding him. He has not been seen since 12 June, the day after his 42nd birthday when he reportedly visited his mother, Hendrina, in Bronkhorstspruit.
“With sadness to say. We have to report that my brother Jacques Freitag is missing,” Lewis said in a Facebook post.
PITCH HORRIBLE
Test Match Special pundits Steven Finn and Alex Hartley criticised the “awful” pitch used for the T20 World Cup semi-final between South Africa and Afghanistan in Trinidad.
Afghanistan were bowled out for 56 – the lowest score in a T20 World Cup semi-final – when batting first at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. South Africa chased it down in 8.5 overs for the loss of just one wicket but only after numerous uncomfortable moments for their batters on a pitch with extremely inconsistent bounce. “It was ugly really,” former England seamer Finn said on TMS. “The pitch just deteriorated and it led to not a great spectacle for a T20 game.
BAFANA SHARE SPOILS
Bafana Bafana’s 2024 COSAFA Cup campaign got underway on Wednesday night, as coach Helman Mkhalele’s side faced Mozambique at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The much-anticipated battle between the two Southern Africa neighbours ended in a 1-1 draw after neither team could find the decisive winning goal. It was clear from the start of the match that the home side wanted to take control of the game as they almost hit the back of the net just three minutes into the game.
“I’m proud of my team and the performance they gave, even though we did not get the result we aspired to achieve. During the first half we dominated, even though we created clear chances but could not take advantage of that situation,” he said. Bafana Bafana face Botswana in their second Group A match in this tournament on Saturday.
JAMAICAN SPRINTER NO GO OLYMPICS
Elaine Thompson-Herah, the reigning Olympic champion is both the 100 and 200 meters, won’t be in Paris to defend her titles. The Jamaican star sprinter announced on Instagram that she has withdrawn from trials due to an Achilles injury that she sustained earlier this month at the New York Grand Prix.
“It’s never fun sharing news like this but at the New York Grand Prix I felt something in the race and still insist to push, couple steps to the line I realize something is really wrong.
I sat on the ground because I couldn’t apply any pressure to the leg whatsoever as I was carried off the track. I went quickly to get some medical checkup and to found out that I have a small tear on my Achilles tendon,” Thompson-Herah wrote on social media.
SPAIN COPS IN PARIS
Spain said Thursday it will send 313 police officers to Paris to bolster security for this summer’s Olympic Games as France remains on high alert following attack threats. The officers, including bomb deactivation experts and sniffer dog teams, will be deployed in response to a request from France for foreign assistance with Games security, the Spanish interior ministry said in a statement.
France, which will host the games from July 26 to August 11, has raised its security alert to the highest level after the deadly attack at a Moscow concert hall in March. The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for the massacre.
The Spanish police will stay in Paris for the Paralympics which will be held from August 28 to September 8, the statement added.
