Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
Lelo Mzaca

Creator

Lelo Mzaca

Lelo Mzaca is an award-winning multitalented journalist, copywriter and presenter of The Big Breakfast Show on Radio 2000, with an overwhelming passion for sport, lifestyle, music, arts and culture

Bafana Bafana lost their opening game to Mexico in the World Cup 2-0. (Bafana Bafana/X)

Bafana Bafana’s disappointing Fifa 2026 opener against Mexico

Bafana Bafana suffered a 2-0 defeat against co-hosts Mexico in their Fifa World Cup 2026 opener at Estadio Azteca. The match, played on June 11, 2026, was controversial,…

Bafana Bafana’s grand return: Pride, pressure and possibility at the 2026 World Cup opener

The day has finally arrived. The 2026 Fifa World Cup kicks off on Thursday, 11 June in Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca. South Africa’s Bafana Bafana step onto the global…

FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the opening press conference of the FIFA World Cup. (Screenshot)

Gianni Infantino highlights unity and challenges ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

FIFA President Gianni Infantino painted a picture of both immense excitement and logistical complexity surrounding the tournament in a wide-ranging address before the opening of…

Bafana Bafana’s training session at Estadio Hidalgo. (@Tuzos/X)

Bafana Bafana, spying scandals and the erosion of fair play in football

Crossing into private sessions through drones, hidden cameras or leaks violates the spirit of competition

The anxious money wait: Why African soccer fans dread payment disputes before major tournaments like the Fifa World Cup

For millions of fans, a familiar cloud of anxiety looms — not over tactics or form but over something far more basic: whether players will be paid what they are owed by their…

The 2026 boot wars echo innovation races in marathon running and basketball. The boots blend heritage, technology and personal stories, from Jordan’s influence to Maradona’s untied laces and Khumalo’s Puma legacy, helping propel athletes towards glory.

The evolution of glory: Soccer boots and brand battles at the 2026 Fifa World Cup

The 2026 boot wars echo innovation races in marathon running and basketball. The boots blend heritage, technology and personal stories, from Jordan’s influence to Maradona’s…

Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams boarding to Mexico. (Bafana Bafana/X)

Bafana Bafana finally depart for North America after embarrassing visa mix-up – in stark contrast to other African teams

Safa must treat the visa fiasco as a loud and final wake-up call

Arsenal parade through the streets of North London after winning their first Premier League title in 22 years. (Arsenal/X)

Arsenal’s season was no failure; it was a triumph deserving respect amid champions league heartbreak

Fans have every right to feel proud. A Premier League title and a Champions League final appearance constitute a successful season, undiminished by events in Europe

Clubs such as Betway Premiership champions Orlando Pirates and Confederation of African Football (CAF) champions Mamelodi Sundowns, not forgetting the national team, Bafana Bafana, frequently emerge as victims of systemic gamesmanship.

CAF complicit in South African football suffering continental gamesmanship, often off-field

Football should reward skill, not survival of the shrewdest. South African teams offer professionalism and infrastructure that uplift the continent. Allowing gamesmanship to…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos announced his final 26-member squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria on Wednesday. Photo: SAFA

Bafana Bafana: A squad built for more than just participation

The current squad stands out as one of the most impressive in recent memory. Its strength draws heavily from the domestic powerhouse clubs