Locked Down Spectator

*** This article was first published in February 2023, before any significant developments on the African and European footballing calendars since then ***  The smartest decision CAF has made this century – or last decade to be specific – was moving the Africa Cup of Nations from January to June/July. The scheduling before proved to be menacing to Europe’s leagues, whether they were the prestigious ones or otherwise. This was understandable, considering how the continent’s best players were now plying their trade up north. Having to let go of these valuable individuals so that they could go do international duty in the demanding period during and after the festive season regularly derailed a team’s campaign, so the grumblings of discontent were justified. Up until the 2000s, African leagues ran from February until November and December, so having AFCONs take place when they did was perfectly sensible. However, it was only a matter of time before many local football associations – n...

The South African sports landscape is in upheaval, as if an earthquake has just struck it. The sports world is coming to terms with the fact that SuperSport (parent company = Multichoice) will not be broadcasting the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations starting on Saturday, 13 January in the Ivory Coast. Instead, and one cannot stress this hard enough, SABC Sport will SHOCKINGLY be broadcasting the tournament where Bafana Bafana will make a welcome return after missing the 2021 event in Cameroon. SABC News gleefully reported that it will air all 52 matches of the 34th edition Africa's showcase footballing event. Naturally, the amazing, unforeseen and life-altering news caused a buzz for the ages on social media, whether it was skepticism or joy. We have selected a few choice quotes related to this development. @kabelomolekwa said: "Dear fellow South Africans, please, let us pay our TV license. What SABC did to us is really massive. It's only R265 per year. They deserve something af...

The longest ever recorded successful drop goal is at a staggering 77.7 metres long! This record belongs to the late former Springbok Gerry Brand, who sent a missile sailing over the goals from the sideline near the halfway line against England on 02 January 1932. Almost (exactly) 92 years later, it was the turn of another Springbok in the form of the mercurial showman Manie Libbok to attempt breaking, or at least matching, this ridiculous record. He did so with the help of DHL Stormers teammate Herschel Jantjies at the team’s training ground in the Cape Town suburb of Belville. The difference between Brand and Libbok’s attempt was that the latter did not have an entire team of Englishmen bearing down on him as he tried to slot the kick, having all the time in the world to do so. At the time of publication, the video, uploaded by World Rugby on its YouTube channel, had gone viral with just over 60 000 views. The immensely gifted Libbok has been a spectacular success in the Cape followin...

Has India’s time to finally, finally, finally win a Test series in South Africa, that country’s final cricketing frontier? The team from the subcontinent is one series win away from immortality alongside Australia following the commencement of the 2023/2024 Freedom Trophy at SuperSport Park in Centurion. The all-too-brief series will conclude in the New Year’s Test at Newlands Cricket Stadium in Cape Town. At the time of this article’s publication, they will taken on the South Africans in three T20Is and three ODIs. For the record the former ended 1-1, while the latter saw the visitors triumph 2- and rather convincingly. If they triumph in the Test series, it would put them in the incredible echelon of “clocking the game”, so to speak. India would be the second team in men’s cricket history to win home-and-away against every Test nation in the long format of the game, One Day Internationals, T20s as well as winning the ICC Champions Trophy, the T20 World Cup as well as the Cricket Wor...

If football peaks after this one then it will the greatest peak of all time! South African football is that gift that keeps on giving. This time it was the turn of Skepe Nketole to give tot the world the absolutely absurd! The team arrived for the 2023 Philly’s Games spectacularly in a helicopter for their encounter against Alex Cheese FC. This remarkable and unexpected arrival delayed the game by 15 minutes as the ‘bird’ landed on a gravel football pitch in the township of Ivory Park in Midrand, north of Johannesburg. A video of this spec actor is now doing the rounds on social media as tongues wag over the madness. The Philly’s Games are one of several tournaments that take place during the festive period around South Africa. Traditionally, they serve as entertainment while the local football season is in recess during the Christmas and New Year’s Day celebrations. They are also a platform for unseen wannabe-pros to be scouted should the opportunity arise. Also, it’s where unserious...

The phrase “a chip of the old block” gets used more than enough one might say. It has become hackneyed, so to speak. But one cannot help but apply it to one Charlie Woods. And to do so would be fair and accurate without putting much thought into it. The youngster is all but his old man Tiger in his style of play, technique and mannerism. This was as plain as day during the 2023 Father/Son Challenge, more commonly known as the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton .  Several videos on the internet have gone into depth either seriously or tongue-in-cheek about Tiger and Charlie Woods’ similarities. Charlie and his sister Sam Alexis were born to Woods and his ex-wife Elin Nordegren. As per the reliable and always-accurate Wikipedia, the PNC Challenge is  an annual golf tournament for two-player teams, consisting of PGA Tour and Champions Tour golfers and (usually) their sons.