The first round of the Currie Cup demonstrated intense competition, marking the start of an exciting season. During this tournament, which is South Africa's oldest domestic competition, several impressive victories took place, despite attention being diverted to the Springbok rugby team's final match in Durban.
On Friday in Cape Town, the Stormers XXIII team defeated Griquas with a score of 25-19. This victory was secured by a last-minute try, allowing the Cape Town team to start their campaign perfectly. Their next match will be a tough away game against neighbors from Boland in Wellington.
On Sunday in Wellington, Boland Kavaliers managed to defeat the Bulls visitors with a score of 24-10. Although the home team held the advantage in possession and territory, they failed to fully surpass the Bulls. Rainy conditions and careless play from both sides contributed to the match being tense, and referee Griffin Colby was very busy.
Despite both teams behaving indisciplinedly, Boland's forwards ultimately brought them the victory. The win was sealed by a penalty try scored through a powerful maul at the end of the game.
Boland's head coach, Hawies Fourie, noted the contribution of the forwards, stating: 'I must praise our forwards for taking responsibility, and they did well in securing the ball and executing pick-and-go attacks, as well as scoring two maul tries against a good Bulls team.' He also emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline and pride in the team's efforts despite difficult conditions.
In Bloemfontein, Cheetahs XV had to battle the Lions. After the initiative changed between the sides, the home team eventually won with a score of 29-27 in a very exciting, albeit error-filled, confrontation. Cheetahs XV star, two-time Faf de Klerk World Cup winner, distinguished himself with quick play in ball distribution and signature runs.
Faf de Klerk's visionary play attracted the attention of Springbok coaches. However, Lions visitor coach, Mziwakhe Nkosi, was not pleased with his team's opening performance. He admitted that the result did not meet expectations but noted an improvement in defense during the second half. Nevertheless, Nkosi pointed to a lack of discipline as the reason for the defeat and missed opportunities to finish attacks in the 22-meter area.
Furthermore, Sharks XV in Mbombela also showed impressive play, defeating Pumas with a score of 26-24, starting their campaign with a win.
Khayelitsha Boxing Academy (KBA), a registered non-profit organization and amateur boxing gym located in Lingelethu West, combines boxing training with mentorship, academic support, and life skills education.
At the heart of Khayelitsha, the local boxing academy does more than just prepare young fighters. It helps children stay in school, using sport as a tool for education, instilling discipline, responsibility, and a sense of community in the boxers.
Olivia Jade Williams, KBA's chairperson, noted that they have created a space where athletes can calmly do their homework. She emphasized that the boxers from this space represent different segments of society, and the academy makes every effort to provide them with mentorship.
According to Williams, the academy has the advantage that most of its coaches and management members live nearby. Since they grew up in Khayelitsha, they possess firsthand experience in solving the various problems the community faces.
She also mentioned that the gym hosts boxers with a wide range of talents, including achievements in sports, academics, and other fields. Williams has repeatedly stressed the importance of education, asserting that boxers need not only physical activity but also personal development.
KBA assists boxers with paperwork for university or college admissions and helps them find employment when necessary. Williams added that the late coach Ayanda 'Ginger' Mapasa helped many boxers complete their university applications, many of whom later returned to KBA after finishing their studies.
Education is one of KBA's key objectives. For a long time, it has been customary at the academy for boxers to openly report their grades, and these reports are often shown to the coaches. Emphasis is then placed on completing homework before training.
Williams noted that some parents are very open about their children's academic difficulties and work together to find the most effective support methods. Usually, when a boxer is in Grade 12 (matriculation), they are not allowed to participate in competitions because the main focus is on completing the school year and submitting applications to educational institutions.
The chairperson also reported that boxers only withdraw due to external pressure in rare cases. The academy insists that giving in to peer pressure may seem like an easy way out now, but it is not a viable way to build a future.
KBA currently relies entirely on sponsorship. Many athletes come from disadvantaged or challenging circumstances and often view the gym as a place where they can feel free and focused while still being children.
Williams stated that their main goal right now is to continue creating a safe space for the athletes by raising funds for transporting boxers to tournaments, as well as for purchasing equipment and gear. Furthermore, the academy strives to provide additional study materials for boxers who use the space to do homework after school, and to provide them with meals when possible.
She constantly reminds the boxers to 'be proud of themselves.' People often feel pressure to meet others' expectations, which leads to disappointment from failing to achieve goals set by others. Williams highlighted the importance of motivating these athletes and explained that they need to compete their best, and even after a loss, they should be proud of their performance and that they did everything possible.
Williams expressed hope that the academy has had a deeper impact on the athletes' lives than the athletes have had on hers. She added that regardless of their difficult and complex backgrounds, these boxers consistently demonstrate resilience, courage, patience, empathy, and love. They taught her that despite any difficulties, they always enter any room with a smile on their face and rejoice in the opportunity to motivate their teammates. Williams concluded that the athletes are more than just boxers; they have become like her own children, and she involves them in all aspects of her life, often providing support 'outside the ring.'
Amir Ghalenoei, the head coach of Iran, has taken full accountability for the underwhelming performance of Team Melli during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite this, he maintained that the squad faced numerous exceptional obstacles both prior to and throughout the tournament.
Following Iran's return from the World Cup, Ghalenoei addressed reporters, stating that the team's most significant accomplishment extended beyond the realm of football. He asserted that the tournament provided the global community with a clearer perspective on Iran and its populace.
Ghalenoei emphasized that the world witnessed both the tenacity of the Iranian people and the robustness of their nation. He expressed deep gratitude to his players, noting their commitment despite various hardships and their fight for Iran.
The coach detailed a sequence of logistical issues that hampered Iran's preparations. According to Ghalenoei, the final training camp remained undecided until two weeks before the competition because there was uncertainty regarding whether the team would be situated in the United States or Mexico. Ultimately, FIFA allocated Team Melli to Tijuana, yet the squad only received authorization to enter the United States twenty-four hours before their opening match.
He elaborated that the initial plan involved arriving much sooner, but instead, they entered the country just one day before their debut game. Furthermore, he pointed out the strenuous travel itinerary, revealing that Iran undertook two flights in under twenty hours before playing Belgium, which left the coaching staff with only one complete training session to prepare for that fixture.
Iran's preparatory phase was also negatively impacted by the cancellation of several scheduled friendly matches. A major warm-up game against Spain was canceled due to the commencement of war, and both North Macedonia and Puerto Rico declined to play Team Melli, compelling the coaching staff to constantly adjust their strategies.
Nevertheless, Ghalenoei insisted that neither he nor his staff sought to use these events as justifications. He stated, 'We never tried to shift responsibility or put pressure on the federation. Whenever a plan fell through, we created an alternative. Our focus always remained on football.'
The 62-year-old coach also offered thanks to Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iran Football Federation, and the federation's executive board for their ongoing support during the campaign. When confronted with criticisms concerning the national team's aging roster, Ghalenoei refuted the notion that Iran had failed to revitalize the squad. Instead, he argued that international football necessitates a 'generational transition' rather than comprehensive youth development.
He noted that over the preceding two to three years, nearly 38 players had been called up, and eight or nine footballers participated in the World Cup for the very first time, indicating that the transition process had already commenced.
Looking forward to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, Ghalenoei acknowledged the high expectations placed upon the national team and reiterated his aspiration to achieve continental success. He remarked that football is inherently unpredictable, which contributes to its beauty. He confirmed that they are aware of areas needing improvement and their objective is to rectify these shortcomings to build a more robust team capable of contending for the Asian title.
Ghalenoei concluded by reiterating that the unpredictability of football is what makes the sport unique, adding that even a team like France, filled with stars, can yield disappointing outcomes—this is simply football. They are focused on correcting their weaknesses before the AFC Asian Cup to ensure they arrive at the tournament as a stronger contender.
The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Geyton Mackenzie, presented parliament with documentary proof of expenses related to his trip to the FIFA World Cup and called on opposition parties to provide evidence of any misconduct on his part.
This followed an interrogation by the Democratic Alliance and ActionSA regarding the 31 million rand allocated to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture for a delegation of 151 people in North America.
In a detailed statement, Mackenzie emphasized that the amount was openly disclosed in a parliamentary response and stated that 'there is nothing to hide.' He clarified that the program included 151 participants traveling to Mexico and the United States, excluding service providers, and that part of the costs was covered by private sponsors. The final reconciliation of sponsor contributions is still ongoing.
According to Mackenzie, 7.86 million rand was spent on the official delegation. These funds covered travel, accommodation, local transport, travel insurance, daily allowances, and other approved expenditures for civil servants, logistics personnel, communications teams, protocol officers, and South African artists.
Furthermore, 6.71 million rand went to the 'South Africa Legends 2010' program, which included a friendly match between the 2010 Bafana Bafana team and the 2010 Mexico legends team. Another 3.36 million rand was allocated for official event venues in Atlanta and Monterrey.
Mackenzie reported that 3.01 million rand covered 294 match tickets, while the remaining 10 million rand financed South Africa's exhibition stands in Mexico City, Atlanta, and Monterrey.
He asserted that all expenses align with the department's mandate to promote South Africa through sport, art, and culture. Mackenzie added that if anyone believes the money was improperly distributed, misappropriated, or spent, or that he personally benefited from corruption, he invites these individuals to present evidence.
He accused opposition parties of turning legitimate government expenditures into a scandal and stated that assumptions that he personally spent 31 million rand are false. Mackenzie also stated that his personal expenses amounted to 1,058,379.75 rand over a five-week period, including airfare, accommodation, and insurance.
He noted that he waived daily allowances totaling 55,000 rand, used public transport where possible, and stressed that no state funds were used for his family's travel.
