Category: African Sports

The Blitzboks’ long, long wait for glory in Hong Kong is finally over and for the first time since the inception of the HSBC SVNS Series in 1999, they claimed gold at this most iconic of tournaments that celebrated 50 years of sevens in 2026.

And what a way to do it, as the Blitzboks completed their HSBC SVNS World Championship opener with a commanding 35-7 victory over Argentina, outscoring their opponents five tries to one in the final.

They scored two beautiful tries in the first half and completed their perfect performance with another three five-pointers in the second half, with Selvyn Davids bagging two. To add to the faultless performance, all five tries were converted.

Also, it was not only a first Hong Kong win ever, but also a fifth title this season and the Blitzboks’ fourth in a row, with the previous three coming in the recently completed HSBC SVNS tournaments in Perth, Vancouver, and New York.

FINAL MATCH RECAP: BLITZBOKS BASH ARGENTINA IN TITLE DECIDER

It was a true seven-man effort for 14 minutes. Tristan Leyds played like a wizard, Selvyn Davids was his magical self, Shilton van Wyk and Sebatiaan Jobb ran like never before and in between, the forwards grafted like only Impi Visser, Ryan Oosthuizen and Zain Davids can.

Leyds scored first after a kick into space and Selvyn Davids waltzed through for the second. Argentina pulled one back when Santino Zangara scored, but after the break, the excellence continued.

Quewin Nortje, Ronald Brown, Jayden Nell came on in the second half and kept up the competitive excellence, not to mention 10-year tournament veteran and leader, Siviwe Soyizwapi, who scored his first try on debut in 2016 and a decade later, helped his team to this exceptional moment.

Leyds was named Player of the Final and he fully deserved it, running 70m for the opener and delivered a perfect kick to send Shilton van Wyk over for his second half try. Defending on the wing, he hardly missed a beat and every Los Pumas player was tackled into the Kai Tak Sports Park pitch.

A mention also to Donavan Don and David Brits, both of whom were ruled out of the final due to injuries, but equally worthy of the long awaited and seemingly elusive Hong Kong gold medal.

SEMI-FINAL MATCH RECAP: SOUTH AFRICA RUN RIOT AGAINST KIWIS

Earlier on Sunday, the Blitzboks raced into a 26-0 lead in their semi-final against New Zealand, which they eventually won 26-14 after two late tries by the Kiwis when the deal was already done.

They played with precision and pace, but more importantly serious defence. The bigger New Zealand attackers made the mistake of looking for bodies to run into, but the Blitzboks were excellent on the ground and got several turnovers and penalties.

Their first try, six minutes in, was from such a turnover, with Leyds running close to 70 meters after NZ was robbed of the ball near the Blitzbok line.

New Zealand was given a yellow card when Roderick Solo late-tackled Selvyn Davids and his team paid the price. Jobb scored just before the halftime break after the Blitzboks attacked to the left and then the right and when Davids converted from the touchline, the 14-0 scoreline was just reward.

They punished New Zealand early in the second half as well. Still a man down, the Kiwis were found wanting on the outside and Van Wyk raced in to score a converted try. At 21-0, the Blitzboks were heading to the final and a Ryan Oosthuizen try with three minutes left, confirmed that, with NZ’s two tries in the final three minutes too little, too late.

SCORERS

Final: Blitzboks 35 (14), Argentina 7 (7)
Blitzboks – Tries: Tristan Leyds, Selvyn Davids (2), Ryan Oosthuizen, Shilton van Wyk. Conversions: Leyds (2), Ronald Brown (3).
Argentina – Try: Santino Zangara. Conversion: Santiago Vera Feld.

Semi-final: Blitzboks 26 (14), New Zealand 14 (0)
Blitzboks – Tries: Tristan Leyds, Sebastiaan Jobb, Shilton van Wyk, Ryan Oosthuizen. Conversions: Leyds, Selvyn Davids, Ronald Brown.
NZ – Tries: Akuila Rokolisoa, Michael Manson. Conversions: Rokolisoa, Sam Clarke.

By SA Rugby.

Kaizer Chiefs made changes to their line-up following the win over Magesi FC, bringing back Given Msimango and Thabo Cele as they looked to keep their winning run going.

The visitors looked lively early on and tried to impose themselves quickly. Wandile Duba created the first opening, setting up Glodly Lilepo just outside the box, but the shot was blocked before it could test the goalkeeper.

CITY SETTLE AFTER EARLY KAIZER CHIEFS PRESSURE

Kaizer Chiefs kept asking questions in the opening spell. From a Lebohang Maboe corner, Aiden McCarthy rose well inside the box, but his header drifted wide as they searched for the opener.

Also read: Brayan Leon fires Sundowns into CAF Champions League final

Polokwane City grew into the match after that early spell. Juan Mutudza nearly made the breakthrough with a header that forced Brandon Petersen into action.

The hosts began to find space and confidence, with Simon Ramabu getting a sight of goal after a neat pass from Ndaumelo Maphangule, but Petersen was again equal to it.

By the end of the first half, City had found their rhythm, while Chiefs’ early momentum had faded.

CHANCES COME AND GO IN OPEN SECOND HALF

The second half started with City on the front foot. Mutudza had another big chance from close range, but Petersen reacted quickly to keep the scores level.

Kaizer Chiefs had their moments later on. Msimango nearly scored with a strong header at the back post, but he couldn’t keep it on target.

Lilepo came even closer in the final stages, striking a powerful free-kick that crashed against the crossbar and went over.

City also had a late chance through Bonginkosi Dlamini, but his effort went straight at Petersen.

Both sides pushed in the closing minutes as the game opened up, but neither could find the finishing touch, with the match ending goalless in Polokwane.

Also read: Appollis and Mofokeng stunners fire Pirates back to the top

WHAT DOES THIS RESULT MEAN FOR KAIZER CHIEFS’ TOP-TWO PUSH?

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Mamelodi Sundowns striker Brayan Leon scored the decisive rebound after his penalty was saved, as Sundowns controlled the game with discipline to book their place in the final.

The decisive moment came in the 34th minute. Brayan Leon was brought down inside the box by Esperance goalkeeper Ben Said, and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.

LEON STRIKES AS SUNDOWNS TAKE CONTROL

The Colombian stepped up to take the penalty, but his effort was saved. However, he reacted quickest to the rebound and fired home to give Sundowns the lead on the night and put the tie beyond Esperance.

Also read: Orlando Pirates sign teenage winger, to join after matric

The Tunisian champions nearly pulled one back against the run of play when Yan Sasse broke free down the left flank and delivered a dangerous cross into the box. The ball deflected off Florian Danho and crashed against the crossbar, with Ronwen Williams left flat-footed but spared.

With Esperance pushing for an equaliser in the second half, coach Miguel Cardoso responded by tightening the midfield, withdrawing Arthur Sales and introducing Marcelo Allende to help manage the pressure.

Sundowns still looked dangerous going forward despite their aggregate lead. With 20 minutes left, Khuliso Mudau drove forward and picked out Jayden Adams, but his first-time effort was blocked inside the box.

Cardoso later made two more changes for the final stages, with Leon and Matthews sacrificed as Iqraam Rayners and Monnapule Saleng came on to close out the match.

Also read: Pirates set to lose Mofokeng overseas – Ndlovu to replace him?

KABO YELLOW SEE IT OUT AND EYE CONTINENTAL GLORY

Sundowns managed the closing stages with calm control, shutting down Esperance’s final push and protecting their clean sheet across both legs.

Sundowns now move into the CAF Champions League final, where they will face the winner of the all-Moroccan semi-final between AS FAR Rabat and RS Berkane. AS FAR take a 2-0 lead into the second leg away to Berkane, who will be aiming for a comeback on home soil to reach the final.

DO YOU EXPECT SUNDOWNS TO FINALLY BECOME AFRICAN CHAMPIONS FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE 2016?

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After a turbulent week of headlines, Selborne College has confirmed that its relationship with former Springbok coach Jake White is back on track.

The premier East London school had come under scrutiny after White abruptly stepped away from his rugby consultancy role, citing a lack of support and alleged interference in rugby matters.

Reports also suggested that director of rugby Derek Page had similar concerns.

White sent a letter to the school detailing his grievances, particularly surrounding an apparent lack of backing from headmaster Andrew Dewar.

Dewar went on to defend his position, suggesting that a legal process was underway.

“I can say though that my role is to service the whole school and support everything we do, not only focus on rugby,” Dewar told Rugby365.

Now, in a formal media release issued on Friday the school says the matter has been resolved amicably – and that its partnership with the World Cup-winning coach will continue.

Selborne moves to steady the narrative

In its statement, Selborne acknowledged the fallout from a leaked internal email that fuelled the controversy, while emphasising its commitment to a balanced, values-driven approach.

The school also confirmed that its rugby programme will remain part of a broader vision that includes academics and other sporting codes.

FULL STATEMENT: Selborne College

According to a press release from the school dated 17 April 2026

“Selborne College acknowledges the concern arising from the circulation of an internal email and the commentary on social media with regards to the school’s rugby programme.

Selborne College is a value-driven institution committed to excellence in academics, culture, and sport. Guided by integrity, accountability and respect. The School provides an environment that empowers young men to thrive and achieve their full potential across all aspects of school life.

We take this opportunity to apologize to the greater Selborne community for the unfortunate negativity that has arisen from the email leaked to social media.

The School is pleased to confirm that the internal issues have been amicably resolved and that it will continue to work in partnership with Jake White in strengthening and advancing its rugby programme. We extend our gratitude to Jake for his continued support and involvement.

This partnership reflects a unified commitment to aligning goals and establishing a clear, combined vision that supports excellence both on and off the playing field.

Selborne College welcomes a renewed and forward-looking chapter for its rugby programme, centred on collaboration, shared purpose, and long-term sustainability.

This initiative forms part of a broader strategic approach, where the rugby programme will serve as a foundation for growth and development across all school sporting codes. Through this model, Selborne College aims to create a cohesive and high-performance environment that nurtures talent, discipline, and character.

At the core of this collaboration is a shared vision of academic, cultural, and sporting excellence. The rugby programme is intended not only to enhance sporting performance but also to contribute meaningfully to the holistic development of learners and the continued sustainability of the School.

This partnership marks a positive step forward, through a renewed approach, as the school continues to build a legacy of excellence and opportunity.

We thank our community for its ongoing support and look forward to an exciting future shaped by collaboration, vision, and shared success.

The Headmaster, staff of Selborne College, the School’s Governing Body, the Old Selbornian Association and the Selborne Foundation Trust remain committed to the success of the implemented rugby structure, as we are with all other sports, and will align with the School’s vision, values, governance structures and long-term objectives.

Selborne College remains steadfast in its commitment to principled leadership and sound governance, in the best interest of every learner.

We thank our Selborne community for its continued support. Together we will continue to move forward with purpose and confidence and prepare young men of character and substance for the future – where boys become men – Palma Virtuti!”

White clears the air

According to the Daily Dispatch, director of rugby Derek Page, who had stepped back amid the dispute, is also back in the fold.

A Friday morning meeting involving the Old Selbornian Association, the Selborne Trust, White, Page and Dewar helped align all parties on a way forward.

White also released a statement on Friday, confirming his commitment to the school:

“The Headmaster is the person who runs the school. I agree with that 100%. I respect that too.

Selborne is 153 years old. I was really happy to assist Selborne Rugby for free. Gratis. Why? Because I love rugby. I was excited about associating myself to a traditional rugby school.

Importantly too, I was asked by a friend. He is an ex pupil, ex master and an ex 1st XV coach (Phiwe Nomhlomo). Yes, helping out a friend. Rugby does that to you.

I am like most South Africans. I read the schools 1st XV rugby results. When my alma mater is winning 1st XV matches, my school is doing well. It gives us old boys bragging rights. It makes our weekend. Rightly or wrongly.

I’m an old boy like most, that wants a 1st XV team that gets better and better every year. Even if I know it’s highly unlikely.

I believe in South Africa that rugby in schools is very important. It should be the most important investment for a school. It gives the best returns.

I believe that the 1st XV rugby team are your marketing team. Again, rightly or wrongly. They influence your recruitment, sponsorship, old boy involvement and a lot more. Successful teams are a must.

My only objective was to assist Selborne Rugby. My intention was pure.

A leaked letter has now unfortunately turned a situation that was supposed to be positive into something negative. For that to all Selbornians, I am sincerely sorry.

My letter was merely to explain that if the Headmaster of a school and my old boy philosophy are not aligned, then I’m not your guy. Please respect that.

It’s important to everyone linked to Selborne for Selborne to do well. Now more than ever. Selborne is and will always be a valued school in our country.

Going forward, I will always be supportive to any of the school’s rugby needs. I will definitely not turn my back on them.“

Kaizer Chiefs will face Polokwane City this weekend looking for their earn their sixth successive leage win.

With the first of two assignments in Polokwane this week completed, Amakhosi now turn their attention to Rise and Shine.

They will be aiming for a double in their Polokwane adventure after their convincing 4-1 victory over Magesi FC on Wednesday night at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Chiefs’ attackers Flávio da Silva and Wandile Duba struck in the first half, with Mduduzi Shabalala and Khanyisa Mayo adding two further goals after the break.

The team has remained in Polokwane as they prepare for Saturday’s early evening fixture, which marks their 24th Betway Premiership match of the season.

On the log, Chiefs sit in third place with 45 points from 23 games. Their hosts, Polokwane City, have collected 33 points from the same number of matches and currently occupy seventh position.

What time does the Polokwane City v Chiefs game start?

Kick-off is scheduled for 17:30 at the old Peter Mokaba stadium.

Amakhosi are looking to secure third place, which will guarantee them a spot in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup. A top two finish is possible, but they will have to win all their remaining matches and hope rivals Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns drop points.

The Polokwane City match will provide a good test for Chiefs, who still have to play Pirates and Sundowns in the coming weeks. Five consecutive wins were against weaker teams, with three of them facing relegation.

In recent matches, Flavio Silva, Mduduzi Shabalala, Wandile Duba and Glody Lilepo have often been the difference for the Glamour Boys. The four attacking players are likely to start for Chiefs against Polokwane City on Saturday evening.

Rise and Shine will not be an easy team to beat at home and will want to hand Amakhosi their first defeat in six games.

Can Amakhosi win their next game?

Kaizer Chiefs forward Khanyisa Mayo was among the goals as Amakhosi secured a convincing 4-1 victory over Magesi on Wednesday evening.

Goals from Flávio Silva, Wandile Duba, Mduduzi Shabalala and Mayo ensured all three points for Chiefs at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Mayo, who has struggled for consistency since joining the club in September, netted his second goal in as many matches after coming off the bench. The former Cape Town City FC forward will be eager to build on his recent form as he looks to secure a permanent move to Naturena, with seven matches remaining this season.

Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef believes the goal could prove vital in restoring Mayo’s confidence.

“Also very proud of the players coming from injuries, coming from the bench, they gave us support and what we asked from them,” said Ben Youssef.

“Reeve was back, gave us two assists, and Mayo scored his second goal in the league — he’s back. It’s very good for the confidence of the striker.”

Ben Youssef also highlighted the strength in depth within the squad, stressing that the team does not rely on individuals.

Mayo scores for Chiefs

“As I said from the beginning, we have a big squad. We’re not a team that depends on one or two players — any player who is ready will fight and help the team,” Ben Youssef said as per iDiski Times.

Amakhosi now sit on 45 points from 23 league matches, firmly in contention for a top-three finish as the Betway Premiership season heads into its final stretch.

Should Amakhosi keep Mayo?

Kaizer Chiefs have rediscovered their attacking edge, netting 11 goals in their last four Betway Premiership matches – a vast improvement on earlier in the season and one that has reignited belief among the Amakhosi faithful.

After struggling for consistency in front of goal earlier this season, Amakhosi’s forward line is now firing, led by Flavio Silva, Glody Lilepo, Mduduzi Shabalala and Wandile Duba.

Central to the resurgence

Silva, the club’s leading scorer, has been central to the resurgence with nine goals across all competitions.

Seven of those have come in the league, alongside strikes in both the Nedbank Cup and CAF Confederation Cup.

The Portuguese forward recently downplayed comparisons to global icons like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting he simply needs good service to deliver – a claim now backed up by his clinical finishing.

Lilepo has also made a strong impact, particularly in continental competition, where he has scored four times.

Combined with his league contributions, he has eight goals this season.

Shabalala sits third on the scoring charts with five league goals, while Duba has hit form late in the campaign, scoring three times in his last four matches.

Breakdown

According to Flashscore, across all competitions, Kaizer Chiefs have scored 40 goals – 28 in the Betway Premiership, 11 in the CAF Confederation Cup, and one in the Nedbank Cup.

They failed to qualify for this season’s MTN8 and exited the Carling Knockout Cup in the opening round after a goalless draw with Stellenbosch FC and a penalty shootout defeat.

With contributions also coming from players like Siphesihle Ndlovu, Mfundo Vilakazi, Khanyisa Mayo and Aden McCarthy, Kaizer Chiefs appear to be developing a more balanced attacking threat.

They will look to maintain their scoring momentum when they face Polokwane City on Saturday, 18 April at 17:30 as they push for a strong finish to the season.

Kaizer Chiefs’ 28 Betway Premiership goals in 23 matches still trails by some distance the total scored by rivals Orlando Pirates (47 in 24 matches) and Mamelodi Sundowns (42 in 23 matches).

Prior to their 11 goals in their four most recent fixtures, Kaizer Chiefs only boasted 17 in 19 clashes.

Breakdown of Kaizer Chiefs’ goal scorers this season

Scorer	League	Nedbank Cup	CAF Confed Cup	Total
Flavio Silva	7	1	1	9
Glody Lilepo	4	0	4	8
Mduduzi Shabalala	5	0	0	5
Wandile Duba	3	0	0	3
Siphesihle Ndlovu	2	0	0	2
Mfundo Vilakazi	2	0	0	2
Khanyisa Mayo	2	0	0	2
Aden McCarthy	1	0	1	2
Nkosingiphile Ngcobo	1	0	0	1
Gaston Sirino	1	0	0	1
Etiosa Ighodaro	0	0	1	1
Zitha Kwinika	0	0	1	1
Dillon Solomons	0	0	1	1
Pule Mmodi	0	0	1	1
Own goal	0	0	1	1
TOTAL	28	1	11	40

Correct as at 16 April 2026

Kaizer Chiefs have won five consecutive league games for the first time in six years thanks to Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef as co-coaches.

Amakhosi‘s run of form has seen them climb to third in the Betway Premiership with seven matches still to play.

Having beaten Magesi 4-1 midweek, the Soweto giants moved to 45 points which is their highest point tally in four seasons.

A third-place finish will see them qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup but they can still catch Orlando Pirates for second spot if the Buccaneers crumble in their remaining matches.

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze has praised his players for their consistent performance in March and April.

“I think that we are here to serve the club and I believe that the consistency has been lacking a little bit because even I remember last season we could win one game or two games at maximum but that consistency of having a run of two, three, four games was a little bit lacking,” said Kaze.

Will Kaizer Chiefs retain Kaize and Ben Youssef?

Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef have been serving as co-coaches for much of the season and the team has gotten better this season under their leadership.

Their mandate is to finish in the CAF Champions League spot, according to the Chiefs Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr.

Kaze though says the focus for them is to finish the league stronger.

“I think that we emphasise every day at training that we need to stay hungry every time, we need to take opportunity of every training, every exercise that we do to improve ourselves because we are in such a big club that you can’t allow yourself to relax or to feel that you have arrived,” he added.

“About the last part of the question, we have eight games to go and as coaches we know what we want to do and we are here to serve the club and we will do our best for the remaining games.”

It remains to be seen if Chiefs will keep Kaze and Ben Youssef next season.

Should Chiefs keep the co-coaches?

FIFA World Cup 2026, set to take place across Canada, Mexico and the United States from 11 June to 19 July, will feature an expanded format with 48 national teams.

Each participating nation will be required to register a squad of up to 26 players, including three goalkeepers.

Only players named in the final squad will be eligible to take part in the tournament.

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Provisional list

Teams must first submit a provisional squad list of between 35 and 55 players to FIFA by 11 May 2026 – one month prior to the opening match of the tournament. 

These preliminary lists will not be made public.

From this extended group, nations will then finalise their squads, submitting a list of between 23 and 26 players by 1 June – exactly 10 days before the tournament kicks off.

FIFA regulations also allow for last-minute changes in the event of injury or illness.

Any player ruled out before their team’s first match can be replaced up to 24 hours before kick-off, provided the injury is verified by both the team doctor and FIFA’s General Medical Officer.

Replacement players are not restricted to the provisional list.

Record African nations

Player details – including positions, age, international caps and goals – will be based on official squad submissions.

Ages will be calculated as of the tournament’s opening day (11 June), while club affiliations will reflect the last team each player represented in a competitive match prior to the competition.

The expanded squad system is expected to give teams greater flexibility and depth as they prepare for the largest World Cup in history.

With FIFA World Cup 2026 featuring 48 teams for the first time, the top two sides in each group plus the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the Round of 32.

The tournament will also feature a record 10 African nations.

Bafana Bafana’s Group A Fixtures (SA time)

• Thursday, 11 June: Mexico vs South Africa, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 21:00
• Thursday, 18 June: Czech Republic vs South Africa, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 18:00
• Thursday, 25 June: South Africa vs South Korea, Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe – 03:00

Other Group A matches:

• Friday, 12 June: South Korea vs Czech Republic – 04:00
• Friday, 19 June: Mexico vs South Korea – 03:00
• Thursday, 25 June: Czech Republic vs Mexico – 03:00

FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic
Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey
Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

Who are the three most important players for Bafana Bafana to reach the Round of 32?

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Orlando Pirates are desperate to get back to winning ways following their 2-2 draw with Richards Bay last week.

The Buccaneers travelled to Richards Bay hoping to secure three points and put pressure on log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who were in action on Sunday but in a different competition.

Abdeslam Ouaddou‘s men displayed a poor showing away and were lucky to come back with a draw. The result puts the Sea Robbers a point behind Masandawana however the Brazilians have played a game less.

Despite the setback, Pirates midfielder Thalente Mbatha still believes the league is still there for the taking.

“For us, I believe that we’re still in the race,” he said on OP TV.

“And, we have to continue playing our game coz we have to take it one game at a time.

“We are running our own race, and I believe that is something we must continue doing.”

Can Orlando Pirates turn things around?

If the Buccaneers are to win their remaining six league matches, they need their front three to fire every match.

Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis have been the team’s key players this season, netting 15 goals between them.

Against the Natal Rich Boys, the duo were neutralised and did not pose much threat. One player who has flopped is striker Yanela Mbuthuma.

Despite getting plenty of opportunities to score, the ex-Richards Bay striker has fired blanks in recent weeks to the frustration of Bucs fans.

Mofokeng has nine goals in 2026 alone and is favourite to win the Betway Premiership after another successful campaign. Many have already declared him as PSL Footballer of the Season, with a move to Europe looming.

With AmaZulu visiting Orlando this weekend, Pirates will feel more confident playing at home where they have a good record.

Where will the Buccaneers finish this season?