/ 16 September 1997

Penny wants to refocus on swimming

TUESDAY, 12.30PM:

OLYMPIC double gold medallist Peny Heyns, who is back in South Africa for a month, said the pressure of being an Olympic medallist has made her lose focus and she will have to make changes to her training methods.

“You get involved in a lot of other things like sponsorships and so on,” said Heyns. “While these things are important, I need to start prioritising. It’s time now for me to focus on my swimming.”

She refused to reveal how she plans to change her training methods. “Broadly speaking, I’m going to be taking more of a track athletes view to training and train specifically for an event, not just put in countless miles in pools,” she said.

SPORT BRIEFS

RUTHERS HITS CENTURY KEN RUTHERFORD hit a century on Monday to help Transvaal to a 217 lead in their tour match of Western Australia. Rutherford hit 103 from 140 balls, with 10 fours and two sixes. He received fine support from Neil McKenzie who hit 34. Transvaal were on 179/5 in the second innings and a lead of 217 going into the final day. Spinners Derek Crookes (5/25) and Clive Eksteen (5/48) dismised the home side for 125 in two hours. Cookes also scored 61 in the first innings.

CHIPPA SENT OFF BAFANA BAFANA striker Phil Masinga, who plays for Bari in Italy, was given his marching orders by the refeere in the game against Fiorentina on Sunday.

TOVEY BACKS BARKER FORMER Bafana Bafana captain and most capped player Neil Tovey has come out in support of coach Clive Barker’s pay demands. “I hope he gets what he asks for. He has done one helluva job for the national side in winning the African Nations Cup and taking us to the World Cup finals for the first time. He deserves every cent he gets,” said Tovey, who has a record of 48 caps in a distinguished international career.

NO OVERSEAS SEAT FOR MUGEYI LAST season’s Premier Soccer League top goal scorer Wilfred Mugeyi is back in South Africa after spending the last two weeks on trial with Bundesliga side Hansa Rostock. He played in two friendly matches and scored one goal.”They said they will get in touch with me to arrange futher trials but I am already disillusioned and looking for other offers,” said Mugeyi.

NZ BEATS ZIM SIDE MATT HORNE hit an impressive 181 to steer New Zealand to a comfortable draw on the final day of their three-day cricket match against Mashonaland in Harare, Zimbabwe on Monday. This was New Zealand’s final warm-up match before taking on Zimbabwe in the first test in Harare starting on Thursady.