/ 23 September 1997

Midweek League fixtures

TUESDAY, 12.00NOON:

MOROKA SWALLOWS will be out to collect maximum points when they meet Jomo Cosmos in a Premier Soccer League match at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Fresh from a 3-0 defeat by Bush Bucks, Swallows coach Sheperd Murape has vowed to beat Cosmos. He said they lost to Bucks because they missed two regular players — injured Cleophas Dlodlo and suspended Debo Kitenge. Both players will return to the “Birds” line-up.

At Pretoria Technikon, Supersport United play against Bush Bucks in a Premier League match. United’s coach Shane McGregor said they will miss the duo of Paul Evans and George Koumantarakis — both red-carded in the game against AmaZulu at the weekend. “Bush Bucks have always given us problems and I don’t expect tomorrow to be any defferent,” said McGregor.

WEDNESDAY’S MATCHES: Lightbody Santos vs Kaizer Chiefs (Athlone) — 3pm

Real Rovers vs Wits University (Pietersburg) — 3pm

African Wanderers vs Bloemfontein Celtic (Kings Park) — 3pm.

QwaQwa Stars vs Hellenic (President Steyn) — 3pm

Manning Rangers vs Mamelodi Sundowns. *

SPORT BRIEFS

BOK COACH NAMED THURSDAY The new Springbok rugby coach will be announced on Thursday afternoon, the South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) said on Monday. “The appointment is to be announced after a meeting of the executive committee of Sarfu to be held earlier that day.”

BOTES GETS CHANCE SOON NATIONAL middleweight champion Soon Botes will challenge World Boxing Union champion Silvo Branco in Italy in December. But first Botes must defend his national title succesfully against Xolani Ngemtu at Brixton Palace on Sunday.

KIWIS HOLD ZIM TO DRAW ZIMBABWE and New Zealand completed the fifth and final day of their first cricket test in Harare on Monday with a draw. New Zealand’s Chris Cairns showed fine self discipline in batting for four hours and 20 minutes to score an undefeated 71 and help his side settle for a draw.

SQUASH ACTION MIKE TOOTILL and Claire Nitch won the men’s and women’s titles at the South African Squash Grand Prix at the Parkview Centre at the weekend. They defeated Craig Ruane and Annalize Naude in the finals respectively.

Meanwhile, Natal champion Natalie Grainger beat England’s Rebecca Mcree 9-3 4-9 7-9 9-3 9-5 at the News US Women’s Pro Champs in Rhode Island at the weekend. She then lost 3-9 9-4 7-9 0-9 to world number four Sue Wright in the semi-finals.

PRESTASI CHALLENGE WESTERN Cape took a huge step towards retaining the Prestasi national interprovincial golf title when they held off charging Southern Transvaal 8,5-3,5 on the opening day at the East London Golf Club course on Monday. In the other matches, Eastern Province beat Natal 7-5.

GROB MOVES FORMER Zimbabwean national goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar has joined English Premier League outfit Sheffield Wednesday on a three-month loan after less than a week at Oxford United.