White starts first in chess, but in South Africa black is king. The highest-ranked chess player in the country is Watu Kobese. He is also the only chess professional in the country, eschewing a more secure career for battle on the chequered board.
United States Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill and rock singer Bono this week arrived in Addis Ababa on the last leg of their 11-day tour of four sub-Saharan African countries. They had already seen some of the best and worst of the continent.
Finally, it all kicks off. Holders France, with 11 overseas-based stars, against outsiders Senegal, with 11 French-based wannabes. Typically, the opening game of this topsy-turvy 2002 World Cup throws up a wonderful contradiction.
When the pursuit of World Cup glory unfolds with an oriental backdrop on Friday morning, it might be appropriate to recall John Knox Bokwe’s A Plea for Africa and, as the song requests, give a thought to Africa ‘neath the rising sun.
”Let’s go and watch the soccer,” says Han, a Korean trainee Buddhist priest as he jumps down the steps of the temple and makes towards the dormitory block. The hour-long prayers session of chanting and songs has cut into the start of England’s game against South Korea, but what is half an hour of a friendly international compared with the possibility of enlightenment?
What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago the only thing the world knew about Kim Clijsters was that she went out with another up and coming player, Lleyton Hewitt, and that some shrewd judges thought she might one day be rather good. Two weeks after starting the French Open as this unheralded teenager she was still giving her all, against Jennifer Capriati in one of the longest and most competitive women’s grand slam finals ever seen.
The history of panties observed from a male perspective does not inspire confidence, especially since men have been known to play a rather unsavoury and unwelcome part in making sure women wore as hideous a style of underwear as possible.
South African cricket coach Graham Ford may be axed from his position when the general council of the United Cricket Board meets to discuss recommendations made by the National Cricket Council.
Cabinet has approved a plan for the transformation of higher education that will leave no institution untouched.
Vuyani ”the Beast” Bungu may have bitten off more than he can chew by accepting a fight against Lehlonohlo Ledwaba for the World Boxing Union (WBU) featherweight world title on July 27 at Carnival City.