MONDAY, 12.30PM:
THE South African women’s soccer team, Banyana Banyana, drew 1-1 with their Moroccan counterparts in an international friendly match played at the Ersterus Stadium near Pretoria on Sunday.
Sibongile Khumalo gave the South Africans an early lead, heading into the goal in the 24th minute after receiving a good cross from Fikile Sithole.
The Moroccans struck back ten minutes later when Noftakhir Janila netted from a free kick, after she was brought down on the edge of the box by Reineth Phutego.
The South Africans played well in the first half, but failed to capitalise on the Moroccan’s jittery defence.
The teams will play each other again in Tembisa on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs beat Tembisa classic 1-0 in a friendly match at the Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa on Sunday. Marcus Mphafudi scored Chiefs’ only goal in the match that saw the Premier League side waste many good scoring opportunities.
SPORT BRIEFS
ELITE ENGLISH CHANGE HOTELS
RELATIONS between the SA Rugby Football Union and the England Rugby Football Union have soured overnight, following the sudden departure of the English players from their three-star hotel on Friday. English coach Clive Woodward and his players were apparently unhappy that the SA U/21 team were staying at the same hotel, and moved to the five-star Mount Nelson Hotel. Woodward said the Newlands Holiday Inn, where other international teams frequently stay, is not “commensurate to the elitist image of my professional team”. Sarfu junior vice-president Tobie Titus said that Woodward’s actions are “a slap in the face of Sarfu”. Titus added that the matter will be taken up with the England Rugby Football Union.
SURFING POSTPONED
THE Billabong/MSF Pro surfing championships at Jeffreys Bay has been postponed until 7.30 am on Tuesday because of a lack of swell and a stiff cross-wind blowing up the point. Officials will decide on Tuesday whether to continue with heat seven of round two of the men’s competition, or to start with the women’s event.
J-BAY LOCAL BEATS TOP SEED
JEFFREYS Bay local Jevon le Roux caused a major upset when he beat Australian top seed Danny Wills in the second round of the Billabong MSF Pro in J-Bay on Sunday. Le Roux used his local knowledge, clever tactics and stylish surfing to good effect, outpointing the current WCT ratings leader. East London surfer Greg Emslie, however, lost to Australian world number two Mark Occhilupo in round one and was then eliminated by Wills in round two.
GAUTENG PAIR TAKE HONOURS
CENTRAL Gauteng rider Simon Kessler and Gauteng North’s Etienne van Wyk upset the pre-race fovourites to win the elite and under-23 national road cycling titles respectively in Tweespruit on Sunday.
NEW COACH FOR COETZER
AMANDA COETZER, South Africa’s highest-ranked tennis player, has teamed up with Lawn Tennis Association coach Nigel Sears. Coetzer has been without a coach since parting with Australian Gavin Hopper in March.
POOE WINS EASILY
SOUTH AFRICAN marathon champion Frank Pooe won the Viking Chemicals 10km race in Johannesburg on Sunday. In his preparations for the Commonwealth Games Pooe clocked 30,05 minutes, ahead of Daniel Radebe and Simon Mpholo, who recorded times of 30,24 and 30,32 respectively. The women’s race was won by Sarah Jane Nkala in a time of 36,28.
PETELO CAN BE CHAMP
ZOLANI PETELO showed on Saturday night that he has the form to be a great mini-flyweight champion by beating Filipino Carmelo Caceres on a seventh round TKO at the Carousel on Saturday night, thereby retaining his IBF mini-flyweight title.
MEMANI ROBBED
SOUTH AFRICAN mini-flyweight champion Lindi Memani lost to Filipino Jun Arlos in a split decision at the Carousel on Saturday night. Memani clearly had the upper hand, but got the wrong end of a 77-78, 78-75 and 78-76 split decision.
HAWK, BABY JAKE ON TOP
HAWK MAKEPULA and Baby Jake Matlala both beat their Filipino opponents at the Carousel on Saturday. Makepula was in awesome form, stopping Benjie Conception with a single right to the ribs in the fourth round. Veteran Matlala completely outboxed Ric Magramo, beating him on points over 10 rounds.
STORBECK GOES HIGH
SOUTH AFRICAN Hestrie Storbeck cleared 1,96m to win the high jump at the Linz Grand Prix in Austria on Sunday night. Storbeck beat Kajsa Bergquist, Elena Topshina and Monica Gollner, who were all on 1,88m.
CRAVEN WEEK RESULT
BORDER outplayed North West in all departments to win 27-8 their under-19 Craven Week rugby match at the Isak Steyl Stadium in Vanderbijlpark on Monday.