‘My hand," Yasser Arafat once said, "is the only hand that can sign a peace agreement with Israel." The assertion may sound vainglorious, but it was undoubtedly true. Israelis may yet come to rue the death of the 75-year-old Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) leader they refused to deal with for so long, and spent so much time demonising.

In the days when Britain was being forced to give up one colony after another, the phrase ”father of the nation” was much in vogue. Julius Nyerere in Tanzania, Archbishop Makarios in Cyprus and Kenneth Kaunda in Zambia were among the many who won this informal title. Forty years on from the age of decolonisation, Yasser Arafat is the last man who can claim that status.

The South African ”A” team in Argentina overcame strong resistance from Buenos Aires Province on Wednesday night to emerge 47-28 victors in a tightly contested match that kept supporters on their feet for the better part of the game. It all came down to the tactical superiority of the visitors.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted he will continue to put out a reserve side in the League Cup even though the club have now reached the quarterfinals of the competition. He also praised former Fulham striker Louis Saha, who is battling for a regular place in the United starting line-up.

Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker, Shane Warne, said on Thursday the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) new proposal on cricket’s ”chucking” controversy might create more confusion. An ICC committee has recommended a new rule allowing bowlers to straighten their arms by up to 15 degrees.

A goal 13 minutes from time by Richard Rantjie kept Supersport United’s unbeaten record intact and earned them a 1-1-draw against a nine-man Jomo Cosmos team in a drama-packed Castle Premiership clash played at Loftus on Wednesday night. United held the upper hand in an opening half that came alive in the last five minutes.

Manning Rangers beat Silver Stars 2-1 in a Castle Premiership encounter played at Chatsworth Stadium on Wednesday night. Stars were the first to get a scoring chance when Tsepo Kamokala’s well-taken free-kick hit the upright, with Rangers goalie John Tlale beaten hands down.

Bush Bucks got a valuable point in their one-all draw with Ajax Cape Town in their Castle Premiership game played at the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night. The visitors were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty in the first minute when Moeneeb Josephs brought down Taya Mrewa in the box, but the referee waved play on.