Mehdi Taremi excluded from Olympiacos' list for Champions League match against NEC Nijmegen

The head coach of the Orlando Pirates team, Abdelslam Waddu, called for patience regarding young player Kamren Dansin following his match-of-the-game performance.

Pirates defeated Milford 2-0 in the Betway Premier League on Saturday, marking the start of the team's title defense at the Orlando Stadium. The 21-year-old midfielder demonstrated a confident performance in the center of the field, showing all-around productivity, which underscores his status as one of the club's most promising young players.

After playing 16 matches for the first team, having exited the DStv Diski Challenge last season, he has continued his upward trend under Waddu's guidance. He previously also received the 'Betway Premier League Goal of the Season' award for an impressive goal against Mamelodi Sundowns.

Despite the midfielder's performance generating enthusiasm among Pirates fans, Waddu believes it is important not to put too much pressure on the young player at such an early stage. He stated: 'We must be very careful. I have been working in this field for some time, but the boy is doing well.'

The coach added that the team took time to bring this young talent in. He recalled not hesitating to play him in a major match against Sundowns last season, where the player scored a fantastic goal. 'He was with us in most games; we discovered the talent, but you cannot burn out that talent. It happens step by step. People didn't understand why it took so long to bring him in, but we knew what we were doing.'

Waddu believes that Dansin still has a long road of development ahead of him, despite the impressive start to the season. He emphasized that Dansin should remain humble and ignore external opinions, as he could quickly lose himself. 'We are here to help him. He just needs to work, focus on his career, be serious and humble, and I think everything will be fine.'

The Pirates mentor also appealed to everyone around the club, including the media, to take part in managing the young player's development. He stated: 'All coaches, the club, and you as the media must protect this talent.'

In the current season, as Pirates balance domestic and continental goals, Dansin appears ready for a more influential role; however, according to Waddu, the midfielder's development will proceed at a measured pace rather than being rushed by rising expectations.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the leading playmaker for the Springboks team, has returned to the 26-man squad for the key match against Argentina on August 8th after recovering from an ankle injury.

The 24-year-old player was included in South Africa's squad on Friday for the one-off match in Argentina. Previously, he scored a record 37 points for the Springboks against the South American team in Durban last year, but in May he was forced to leave a United Rugby Championship match due to limping.

Thanks to the depth of the squad, including players like Mani Leibock, Handre Pollard, and the recently debuted Wusi Moyo, head coach Rassie Erasmus has the option to choose between them and Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu is one of several players who will be playing in Buenos Aires for the first time this season, having recovered from injuries or concussions. Other players getting a chance include captain and flanker Siya Kolisi, Luke Eben Etzebeth, and Lud de Jager, as well as scrum-half Morné van den Berg.

Some other players, including tighthead prop Jesse Kriel and reserve captain and flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit, are resting after participating in three matches over 15 days in July.

The match against Argentina serves as a warm-up for the Springboks before their encounter with their main rival New Zealand in a four-match series starting on August 22nd. Two of these matches, dubbed the 'Clash of the Titans', will take place at different Johannesburg stadiums: one in Cape Town and another in the American city of Baltimore.

Erasmus noted that they tried to find the right balance by including players returning from injuries and those who haven't had much game time. He added that players recovering from injuries trained intensively this week and are ready to participate in the challenging test match.

South Africa's season began in June with an 80-31 victory over the Barbarians in a friendly match. The Springboks then won three home matches in the debut World Cup, defeating England 45-21, Scotland 42-28, and Wales 43-0.

Argentina showed less successful results in its three home games, losing to Scotland 47-38 and England 31-24 in a tense contest, while the Pumas beat Wales 35-21.

The Springboks have played 18 matches in Argentina since 1993. The four-time Rugby World Cup champions won 14 matches, lost three, and drew one.

Alexandra Eala sensationally defeated Naomi Osaka with a score of 6-4, 6-2 on Saturday, earning her a spot in the women's final of the WTA and ATP Washington Open. In the final, Eala will face Jessica Pegula, who ranks third.

The 21-year-old left-handed tennis player from the Philippines achieved an impressive victory over the multiple Grand Slam champion from Japan, thereby advancing to the second WTA final. Previously, she lost her first final in Eastbourne last year.

After the match, Eala shared her impressions, noting: 'I am very proud of my game. I played really well, I had a great mentality, and I maintained concentration until the very end.'

Eala, whose world ranking is vying for the 24th spot, previously beat Elina Svitolina, who was ranked second, and secured her sixth top-10 win this year after defeating Washington champion Leila Fernandez. This match marked the first meeting between Asian stars, where Eala faced one of her idols from youth.

Speaking about Osaka, Eala noted her aura and strength, recalling watching her finals at the Australian Open and US Open: 'She definitely has an aura and definitely has strength. I remember watching her finals at the Australian Open and US Open, so it was a truly wonderful experience to share the court with her. I am very happy that I could show such a level against her.'

Osaka, ranked 13th, failed to secure her eighth WTA title and her first since winning the Australian Open in 2021. She admitted that the main reason for the defeat was the large number of her own errors: 'I made many unforced errors, so that is probably one of the main reasons (for the loss),' said Osaka.

In the other semi-final, Jessica Pegula, aiming for her 12th WTA title and her third this year, defeated Diana Snyder from Russia with a score of 7-5, 6-4. Pegula commented on the upcoming final: 'It will be a battle. Alex, I am a big fan of hers. She is the future of the tour, and she is here already.'

Pegula, who won her first WTA title in Washington in 2019, trailed Snyder 5-2, but the 32-year-old American favorite managed to come back into the game to reach her fourth final this year. Pegula is a semifinalist at the Australian Open this year and has already won titles in Dubai and Charleston this season.

More comprehensively prepared

Previously, Pegula defeated Eala in the Miami semi-final in 2025, which was their only encounter in their careers. Eala commented on her game then and now, stating: 'I am more comprehensively prepared. Physically, I am slightly better. I have improved several of my shots. My serve has also significantly improved.'

In the men's final, American tennis player Taylor Fritz, ranked 10th, will meet 19-year-old Spanish player Rafael Nadal. Fritz hit 13 aces, defeating his compatriot, Brandon Nakashima, ranked 33rd, with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Fritz, who is aiming for his 11th career ATP title and his first in Eastbourne since last year, said: 'I dug very deep just to hold on.'

Nadal, confident of reaching the top 20 ranking next week, defeated Alejandro Tabilo from Chile with a score of 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-4. Despite losing the tense first set, Nadal maintained his composure and took the initiative, winning a break and bringing the score to 4-3 in the second set. He defeated Tabilo to start the third set and advanced to the final, getting a chance for his second ATP title after winning in Morocco in April.