FRIDAY, 12.00NOON:
SOUTH Africa’s Wayne Ferreira continued his revival at the Dubai Open on Thursday with a tense and hard-fought second-round victory over powerful New Zealander Brett Steven.
World No 50 Steven got the match off to a cracking start, conceding only three points on serve and breaking Ferreira twice in the first set. But the 51st-ranked South African gave it his all to claw his way back to victory with some spectacular shots. The final score was 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 to Ferreira.
Said Ferreira: “Although it would have been nice to go through in straight sets, this was another huge confidence boosert for me.
SPORT BRIEFS
NO COMEBACKS FOR CRONJE
THE Australian Cricket Board says it will take no action against SA skipper Hansie Cronje for spearing a cricket stump through the door of the umpires’ room in the recent third Test in Adelaide. ACB CE Mal Speed said he has received a written apology from Cronje and the matter is now closed.
INDIA THRASHED AGAIN
THE second round of the Ttri-nations women’s hockey tournament on Thursday saw India drubbed again. The Indians were beaten 4-0 by Argentina, to rub salt into their wounds from their previous day’s 5-0 hiding by South Africa.
RETURN OF ‘THE HAMMER’
TWENTY wrestlers from the All Stars Promotions stable will serve as additional ringside security in the controversial comeback of oft-suspended muscleman “The Hammer” at the Magaliesburg Mampoer Festival this weekend. The Hammer returns to the ring after serving suspensions for spitting at a female spectator, becoming involved in a fracas in which a spectator’s spectacles were stomped, and being too flabby. Said promoter Paul Lloyd: “It’s like a powder keg when The Hammer is in action. We have to take strong measures to protect both the wrestlers and the public … Danie Voges is a popular person. He’s been in front of the mampoer crowds [before], and if things get heated when he faces The Hammer we may have problems.”
ASA LEGAL CHALLENGE
ALL-Africa pole vault record-holder Okkert Brits can legally compete in a European Grand Prix indoor meeting in Birmingham, England, on Sunday, even though he does not have the sanction of Athletics South Africa. But ASA’s legal adviser Olly Gordon says the national athletics body will appeal the court interdict Brits obtained last Friday preventing ASA from keeping him in the country for national team service.
WILL WE, WON’T WE?
WITH the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix almost certainly tangled in the armco following an appeal court ruling upholding a total ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship, the chances of a South African Grand Prix in 1998 are better than ever. With the Portuguese race off because of the unreadiness of the Estoril track and the unlikelihood of Belgian F1 authorities getting a special exemption by the FIA’s February 15 deadline, standby hosts South Africa and China both appear likely to get their race. The FIA will make an announcement on the final 1998 race schedule this weekend.
MUSCLEMEN TO GREECE
A THREE-member SA weightlifting team leaves for Greece on Monday to compete in the Tofalos Kakousis Invitational meeting in Petras from February 21-22. The team members are: Henk Booysen (105kg), Pieter Smith (94kg), and Willem Phillips (56kg).
BROKE NORTH-WEST SELLS FIXTURE
CASH-strapped North-West Rugby Union is in negotiations to sell its Super-12 home fixture between the Northern Bulls and Otago Highlanders to the Blue Bulls, Bulls’ manager Willem Strauss said on Wednesday night. If confirmation of the shift is approved by Bulls directors at Thursday’s meeting, the venue will shift from Potchefstroom to Loftus Versfeld on May 15.