Author: Chris Totobela

By Chris Totobela On Saturday, March 9, football lovers packed JD Dlepu stadium to the rafters. On show was another Hollywood Bets regional league doubleheader, capped by a local derby between two old rivals. First up in the lunchtime kick-off, two teams on the opposite ends of the log table, Maru FC and City Pirates locked horns in a much-anticipated encounter, in front of a huge crowd. Both teams started like a house on fire, taking the game to each other, but Maru had the better of the early exchanges, forcing the Pirates’ minder to come up with some superb…

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By Chris Totobela The Joza-based Joza karate club is working hard to prepare for the new 2024 calendar. Established in 2004, the club has produced several good athletes who have done well both provincially and nationally, and on top of the list is Thanduxolo Rooi. He represented South Africa in the World Karate Championship held in Slovakia in 2019 and brought home the bronze medal. Bongi Mbangeli, one of the senior members of the club, told Grocott’s Mail about their planned event: “We will be celebrating our 20th anniversary later this year in September, and we will keep the public…

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By Chris Totobela The participants of the inaugural Super Bowl Easter soccer tournament have been confirmed. Judging from the line-up, football lovers are in for a great treat of good football. Makhanda will be represented by no less than seven teams, and on top of the local list, are tournament favourites Maru FC, who are the strongest of the local sides and are a formidable team. Camper United FC, the 2023 New Year’s Cup champions, and Morning Stars FC, will be representing Gqeberha, while Kwanobuhle Camp FC will represent Kariega. ABC Motsepe side Bush Pirates from Addo will participate in…

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NguChris Totobela Abuyele ebaleni amaqela oompondo zihlanjiwe kwiMakana LFA emva kwethuba elide esekhefini. La amaqela agqibela ukudlala phambi kwexesha lika xakeka neziyunguma zokuphela konyaka. Ngokutsho kuka nobhala weMakana LFA uAkhona Heshu, imidlalo yangoMgqibelo ayikwazanga ukuqhubekeka emva kokungafumaneki kweepali kwelinye icala, nto leyo ebangele ukuba irhoxiswe imidlalo. NgeCawe oomakadenetha bengena bhatyi iJoza Callies iqale apho ibishiye khona yabhaxabula iGolden Brothers ngamanqaku amane kwelinye logama iMakana Tigers ingombe iLove and Peace ngamanqaku amathathu kwelinye. ISophia Young Stars iquthise iJuventus ngamanqaku amathandathu eqandeni yaze yona iRhodes University yabambana ngenqaku elinye macala neLalibela Lions. ISophia Young Stars isathe ngcu encochoyini ikhokela ngamanqaku alishumi elinesithandathu…

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By Chris Totobela Once again, local football lovers made their way to the only available football field in Makhanda – King’s Field at Rhodes University. On show was another double header involving two local sides on the opposite ends of the log table. Jacaranda Aces eased their relegation woes when they defeated Young Pirates from Port Alfred in the first game of the day. Abachathazi won with three comfortable unanswered goals. Next up was the hope of Makhanda football and title contenders Maru FC against another title-chasing outfit, Eleven United from Bathurst, in a thrill-a-minute encounter. The home side took…

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By Chris Totobela Makhanda’s very own champion, Mzoxolo “Black Tiger” Ndwayana, affectionately known as The General or Bokoloshe by his die-hard fans, returns to action after a two-year break. Ndwayana’s last fight was against Nicholas Juke of Ghana in 2022 in Kariega. The two boxers clashed in a Welterweight international bout over eight rounds, which Ndwayana won by knockout in the last round. Speaking to Grocott’s Mail, Ndwayana explained his decision to take some time off from the sport: “After the passing of my father and mentor, I had to deal with a lot of stuff, and the reality of…

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By Chris Totobela Makhanda’s sporting fraternity is again under a dark cloud after the news of the passing of one of the greatest sons of the soil. Monwabisi Curnick Mdyesha succumbed to a short illness and left behind his wife and four children. The 46-year-old Mdyesha, the son of Gecelo and Harriet Mdyesha, a well-respected education inspector and school principal, respectively, was a well-gifted sportsman. He made a name for himself in both rugby and cricket. He excelled in rugby and made huge strides. and formed part of the Eastern Province team and was also a member of the national…

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By Chris Totobela  Makhanda has been the host of double headers lately. This past weekend was no different as a handful of supporters made their way to Rhodes University’s King’s field to witness another doubleheader on show. First up in the lunchtime kick-off, debutants Young Eagles hosted Port Alfred-based Mighty Forest in an exciting clash. Eagles made their intentions very clear from the first whistle. The visitors absorbed a lot of pressure while nearly catching the Eagles on the counterattack several times but failed to convert. Eagles took the lead in the 12th minute after Forest’s defence was caught ball-watching…

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NguChris Totobela Iqela lebhola yomnyazi laseTransit Camp iMakhanda Angels liqhube kakuhle kakhulu kwimidlalo yalo kule mpela veki sisuka kuyo. Eli qela belifudula liziingqongqo zamanye amaqela, kodwa mvanje lithande ukubhaxabula kwanto ephambi kwalo. Ibala livulwe ngaboo baminyaka engaphantsi kweshumi elinanye nalapho iiAngels zikhale ngaphantsi ngenqaku, ngethuba bebethwa yiMisoyethu ngamanqaku amane kwamathathu (4-3). Kulandele abo bangaphantsi kweminyaka elishumi elinambini nalapho iMakhanda Angels ibethe iKhayelitsha ngamanqaku alishumi elinesithathu kwamathathu (13-3), yaphinda yabhaxabula kabuhlungu iLeister City ngamanqaku alishumi elinesithoba kwamathandathu kuphela (19-6). Kumdlalo wabo bangaphantsi kweshumi elinesithathu iMakhanda Angels ibethe iKhayelitsha Stars ngamanqaku alishumi elinesithandathu kwelinye (16-1), yaphinda yabhaxabula kabuhlungu iLeister City ngamanqaku alishumi…

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By Chris Totobela Football lovers made their way to Rhodes University’s King Field last Saturday to witness another double header of exciting duels. In the first game, Young Eagles took on City Pirates in a pulsating local derby, which was won by Pirates who scored a goal in each half to take home maximum points and eased their relegation woes. In the main game of the day, leading local side Maru FC locked horns with one of their fierce rivals and Alicedale-based Friendly City. The home side came to this much-anticipated encounter on the back of three consecutive defeats. The…

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