Mangaung's Return Shocks Johannesburg, Tshwane Becomes Division A Leaders

The Mangaung team demonstrated an impressive confrontation, surprising Johannesburg, while Tshwane established itself as the leading team in Division A.

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The hosts, Johannesburg, suffered a narrow defeat with a score of 59-52 against Tshwane A on Saturday, interrupting their winning streak. During the match at Spar in Cape Town, Mangaung managed a dramatic comeback, closing the nine-point gap and securing a draw of 48-48 thanks to the last action of the game.

This result left the four-time title defenders, Johannesburg, with one win, one loss, and one draw after three matches. Meanwhile, Tshwane became the only undefeated team in the top Division A after defeating the Cape Town hosts with a score of 59-52.

At the start of the game, Johannesburg looked confident against Mangaung, leading the match in the fourth quarter with a score of 39-30, but the Free State team managed a remarkable comeback to split the points at the end of the match.

Johannesburg's coach, Elshe Jordaan, admitted that her team missed opportunities. 'I was very disappointed. I thought we were controlling the game,' said Jordaan. 'A few silly decisions that didn't go our way. We will have to study this. But we had enough chances—we should have capitalized on them.'

Nevertheless, she highly praised Mangaung for not giving up. 'Well done Mangaung for coming back from behind. Moments of pressure like these make players great, and we need more of that.'

For Mangaung's coach, Carly Pretorius, this result was a testament to the team's resilience, even if the performance did not meet their standards. She noted that every pass, every goal matters.

Pretorius emphasized: 'It wasn't our best game, but we fought again and managed a draw, which is better than a loss.' She believes that the ability to recover from difficulties is ingrained in the team's identity. 'I think it's just how you are raised in the Free State—standards. So often, when you don't play well, we know it's not us. It's just about pulling together.'

Mangaung's task now is to turn this fighting spirit into a more complete execution. 'We have confidence, we have players, and we have strategies to do everything right. It's about execution,' said Pretorius. 'We need to find a way to make it a confident 60-minute performance.'

For Johannesburg, this draw serves as a warning that in an increasingly competitive elite division, no advantage is guaranteed. Tshwane's victory over Cape Town further highlighted this point, placing the undefeated team at the top of the table after four matches.

iol.co.zaAugust 1, 07:30

Durban City aims for a fast start under Khalil Ben Youssef in match against Sekhukhune United

As part of the new Betway Premiership season, Durban City and Sekhukhune United will meet on Saturday at Chatsworth Stadium. The match will be important for Durban City, which hopes to start the season with a win to solidify its place among South Africa's elite.

Durban City, which finished in the top eight in its first season in the top division, will aim to secure three points in front of its home crowd. Particular attention is drawn to the appointment of the new head coach, Khalil Ben Youssef, who has promised to introduce a more attacking style of play while maintaining the defensive discipline that was a strength of the team last season.

The team cannot afford a slow start against Sekhukhune, which often demonstrates an ability to make it difficult for opponents. The previous encounter between the two clubs ended in a dramatic 1-1 draw; the goal for Durban City was scored by Saziso Magavana in the 71st minute, and Tsepho Mashilwane equalized two minutes before the end of regular time.

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Ben Youssef plans to rely on the solid defensive foundation built last season while encouraging midfielders to dominate possession and create more chances in the final third. The team showed promising signs in pre-season games, and the upcoming match will provide the first real indication of how quickly the players have adapted to his tactics.

Meanwhile, Sekhukhune arrives with the determination to unsettle the hosts and achieve a positive result. Their ability to hold matches until the final whistle was evident in last year's confrontation, making concentration a key factor for the home team.

Durban City will count on the creativity of Haasim Domingo and the finishing ability of Saziso Magavana. The attacking threat from Sekhukhune is expected from Tsepho Mashilwane and Bradley Grobler. With Chatsworth Stadium fully packed and both teams aiming for a strong start, all conditions are set for a spectacular tournament opening. For Durban City, three points would be an ideal way to begin a new era under Ben Youssef and demonstrate their intent to fight for another top-eight spot.

www.aajtak.inJuly 26, 11:03

Former player Akash Chopra raises issue of chances for reserve players after series against Zimbabwe

After the Indian team secured a confident victory in the first two matches of the three-match T20 series against Zimbabwe, the team is preparing to play the third match. Under the guidance of Shreyas Iyer, India has gained an early advantage of 2-0.

Opportunity for Reserve Players

Following the conclusion of the series, there was a demand to give a chance to players who were on the bench. Former Indian cricketer Akash Chopra advocated for including Prabhsimran Singh, an experienced batsman and wicketkeeper from Punjab Kings, in the starting eleven. He noted that Prabhsimran Singh has established himself as an opener in the IPL while playing for Punjab and has many memorable innings.

Arguments in Favor of Prabhsimran

Discussing the situation on his YouTube channel, Akash Chopra stated that winning the series is an ideal moment to test new players. He expressed his intention to consider giving Prabhsimran a chance, questioning: 'What is his fault? You selected Prabhsimran Singh for the team, and we have no idea when he will be selected again. Now that you have won the series, he should be given a chance.'

Team Composition Suggestion

Chopra also suggested that Ishan Kishan could be rested to make way for Prabhsimran. He advised resting Ishan because Prabhsimran can easily handle the wicketkeeping duties, allowing him to be used as a full-fledged player.

Stance on Other Players

Previously, Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, and Ishan Kishan played in the top order of India in the first two matches. Although Ishan delivered an impressive performance, scoring 81 runs off 44 balls in the second match, Abhishek Sharma failed to perform well in both matches. Despite the poor performance, Akash Chopra does not believe it is right to exclude Abhishek. He insists that Abhishek should be given another chance in the third match so he can score runs. Furthermore, he emphasized that Abhishek can act as a bowler if necessary.