weekly newspaper.
After a recruitment drive that saw the team bolster their ranks in addition to the quality they already possessed in their squad, much was expected from Orlando Pirates this season. So far, they have failed to live up to the hype.
They snapped up players such as Deon Hotto, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Thabang Monare and Terrence Dzvukamanja from the now defunct Bidvest Wits. They also lured goalkeeper Richard Ofori from Maritzburg United. This in addition to stars such as Thembinkosi Lorch, Vincent Pule and Gabadinho Mhango already in the stable.
With coach Josef Zinnbauer having come in halfway through the 2019/20 season, the consensus was that he had laid a solid enough foundation for his team to build on the fourth-placed league finish in his debut season.
7 March 2020: Nkosinathi Sibisi of Golden Arrows and Gabadinho Mhango of Orlando Pirates during an Absa Premiership match at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban, South Africa. (Photograph by Anesh Debiky/ Gallo Images)
Nkosinathi Sibisi’s trip to the Netherlands changed his life. The Lamontville Golden Arrows defender, who is among this season’s best players, was part of the club’s MultiChoice Diski Challenge (MDC) side that won the 2015/16 campaign and earned themselves a trip to the home of Total Football.
Sibisi spent three seasons with the MDC side, coached by Vusi Vilakazi. In those three seasons they won the MDC twice, earning trips to Spain and the Netherlands where they played several friendlies and were trained by Barcelona and Dutch legend, Johan Neeskens. But it’s the 2016 trip to the Netherlands that left a huge mark on Sibisi.
For many marathoners any distance longer than 42.2km is now the benchmark, whether it is trail running or road running. Two of South Africa’s most popular ultras, the iconic 90km road-running Comrades Marathon and the K-way SkyRun100 trail run, have recently had a huge increase in participants.
General views during the Comrades Marathon 2017 on June 04, 2017 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images)
General views during the 94th Comrades Marathon on June 09, 2019 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images)
According to Comrades race director Ronwyn James, numbers have increased by 60% in the past five years. In 2015, 16,630 runners took part and in 2020 it went up to 27,626. Media coverage had helped make it a race to aspire to a bucket-list event.
SENZO S GRAVE DESTOYED!
Comments DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - NOVEMBER 10: General view during the unveiling of Senzo Meyiwa s tombstone at Chesterville Cemetery on November 10, 2020 in Durban, South Africa. Senzo Robert Meyiwa was a South African professional footballer who was shot and killed in a robbery on 26 October 2014. (Photo by Gallo Images/Darren Stewart)Photo by .
JUST a few weeks ago, the Meyiwa family was overjoyed as they unveiled Senzo’s tombstone.
But their joy was short-lived.
And it’s all thanks to vandals who destroyed the late Bafana Bafana goalkeeper’s grave.
The family has since been left with so many unanswered questions. News that Senzo’s tombstone was vandalised circulated on social media on Saturday, 26 December.