South Africa’s Andre Watson will referee his last rugby Test when he officiates in Saturday’s encounter between Australia and the Pacific Island Warriors in Adelaide. Watson (46), the only man to have refereed two World Cup finals, will quit after his 28th international in control.
I once bought a beautifully preserved second-hand 2,5-litre Rover from a family connection. Its age and my poverty soon disproved the bargain — ”classic cars” and deep pockets go together, like leeks and potatoes. The previous owner had merely disposed of a problem. I think of that car when I contemplate some black economic empowerment (BEE) deals, reflects Reg Rumney.
In a huge boost for new coach Rafael Benitez, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard on Monday ended speculation about a possible transfer by confirming that he will stay at Anfield. Gerrard, who signed a new four-year deal with Liverpool in November last year, had been strongly linked with a switch to Chelsea during Euro 2004.
World champion Michael Schumacher said on Monday that the formula-one season has so far gone better than in his wildest dreams with eight wins in nine races and another milestone in the sport. ”Not in my wildest dreams had I expected such a season,” Schumacher said on his website.
Two-time defending champion and top seed Serena Williams of the United States moved into the Wimbledon quarterfinals on Tuesday with a crushing 6-2, 6-1 win over French teenager Tatiana Golovin. Williams will now face either old rival and compatriot Jennifer Capriati or Russia’s Nadia Petrova for a place in the semifinals.
Fourth seed Amelie Mauresmo of France worked her way back from a slow start to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals in London on Tuesday, defeating Italian veteran Silvia Farina Elia 7-5, 6-3. Mauresmo is rated the main threat to top seed and defending champion Serena Williams.
South Africa’s First Lady Zanele Mbeki was the guest of honour at a quayside ceremony in the Cape Town harbour on Tuesday to name a new R250-million purpose-built coastal tanker, the Southern Unity. Just under 176m long, the tanker’s freshly painted red hull, blue deck and white superstructure loomed over the guests and dignatories.
The police have been instructed to stop giving information to the media on the anticipated arrests of soccer referees and officials in Operation Dribble, a spokesperson said on Monday. Information would only be supplied if there had been an arrest.
Preliminary studies into the efficacy of the anti-Aids drug nevirapine have raised concerns about patients developing resistance to the drug, the South African health ministry said on Monday. A national consultative meeting would be convened as soon as possible after next month’s international Aids conference in Bangkok to further discuss the matter of resistance, the ministry said.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has repeated its call for President Thabo Mbeki to urgently break the ”silence of silent diplomacy” towards Zimbabwe. The MDC this weekend accused Mbeki of misleading the world by constantly asserting there was progress in the talks between Zimbabwe’s government and the MDC, says the DA.