The English Premier League is a local affair once more.
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/ 22 December 2011
From the malign to the ridiculous, the madcap to the simply weird — there was no shortage of offbeat moments in world sport this year.
The rage of Britain’s rioters pales in comparison to the fury of football fans whose favoured fixtures were canned, judging by their Twitter tantrums.
As the capital city, Pretoria offers a political perspective on South Africa’s heritage — along with some fun crafts and art.
Though their light may have faded somewhat since they brightened up the world stage at Italia 1990, Cameroon are not to be underestimated.
With one of the strongest squads in Asian soccer, Japan, winners of three of the last five editions of the AFC Asian Cup, have high hopes for SA.
After a six-year absence, Denmark is once again set to explode on the elite world soccer scene.
The final or bust. The <i>Oranje</i> have set lofty aims for their campaign in South Africa, 32 years after their 3-1 extra-time defeat by Argentina.
The only African side to make it out of the group stage in 2006 and the first to qualify for South Africa 2010, Ghana are anxious to prove themselves.
Serbia played their maiden international, independently, in 2006, winning 3-1 in an away game to Czech Republic.
After a 32-year absence from the world stage, Australia made a strong statement at the 2006 Soccer World Cup.
Three-time Soccer World Cup winners Germany are perennial favourites at the tournament, and will come to South Africa with high expectations.
After falling flat at the 2006 World Cup, this might be the chance of international silverware for some of the most well-known faces in the game.
A nation of just two million people, Slovenia have already punched above their weight to secure a place at the Soccer World Cup.
Algeria will end a 24-year absence from football’s top table when they kick their first ball at the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
After seemingly coming from nowhere to triumph at UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) EURO 2004, Greece have continued to defy the odds.
Asia’s most frequent visitors to the Soccer World Cup, Korea Republic are also the continent’s most successful team at the event.
Expectations are diminished for Nigeria, but it was not long ago that the Super Eagles were seen as the most likely African nation to do well.
Despite a tortuous qualification campaign, Argentina are travelling to SA with serious designs on winning the title for the first time in 24 years.
France crossed a new threshold in qualifying for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, having never before graced the finals on four consecutive occasions.
After a turbulent period that saw three coaches come and go and more than sixty players, Mexico have returned to calmer waters under Javier Aguirre.
There is an air of cautious optimism in South Africa as the country prepares for the most significant chapter of its short football history.
Soweto is synonymous with SA, a symbol of the fight for freedom. However, it is also a place where millions play their favourite sport, football.
The referee’s gone off for a smoke, the players are drunk again and the kit needs washing. It’s no joke
owning a football team…
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/ 27 February 2009
The South African economy needs a bail-out in the form of cheaper money — for all of us.
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/ 10 October 2008
Football is a national obsession in Ethiopia, but it’s the UK premier league that gets the crowd — and the copycat Brit-style hooligans — going.