THURSDAY, 10.45AM:
THE South African Broadcasting Corporation has bought the rights to broadcast all matches involving South Africa in the 1998 African Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso. The SABC bought the rights from M-Net.
SABC Topsport GM Edward Griffiths said that Bafana Bafana supporters will be able to see their heroes defend their title. Topsort has resolved to broadcast events which bring the nation together. “And we are delighted to have regained the rights to broadcast the Cup of Nations to the entire country,” added Griffiths.
“We never had the intention to exclude Topsport and offered them the rights provided that they came up with money,” said chief executive of M-Net Supersport, Russell Macmillan.
SPORT BRIEFS
WATERPOLO TEAM TO CUBA THE South African Under 20 men’s water polo team will leave on Thursday for Havana, Cuba to take part in the world championships from July 15-24.
ALL BLACKS ARRIVE THE Tri-Nations rugby defending champions New Zealand arrive in South Africa on Wednesday to defend their title. The All Blacks won the title last year in South Africa when they finished with a record of four wins in the same number of matches. New Zealand play South Africa at Ellis Park on July 19 and Australia in Melbourne on July 26.
FERREIRA TO QUARTERS SOUTH AFRICAN Wayne Ferreira beat Spaniard Fernando Vincete 2-6,6-3,6-4 to book a place in the quarterfinals of the Swiss Open on Wednesday.
SA BOYS PERFORM SOUTH AFRICAN cricketers Alan Donald and Jacque Kallis did well in their respective English county club matches this week. Donald took 5/54 for Warwickshire, who beat Somerset, while Kallis scored a century and took 4/47 for Middlesex in the match against Gloucestershire.
ERNIE BIRDIES 18th SOUTH AFRICAN and US Open champion Ernie Els opened the Loch Lomond Invitational golf tounament in Scotland on Wednesday with 17 straight pars and a last-hole birdie to finish on 70, seven shots behind the pace set by Joakim Haggeman.
ALI’S GREATEST FAN DIES MUHAMMAD ALI’s greatest fan Phillip Dlamini of Orlando East died on Tuesday. His friendship with Ali began in 1974 when he went up to Zaire for the Ali-Foreman fight; he was subsequently invited by Ali to other fights, and was on several occasions a guest at Ali’s home. Many local boxers are expected to attend the funeral at Soweto’s Avalon cemetery on Saturday.