By Chris Totobela Last weekend, Makana LFA under 19 teams represented Sarah Baartman district in the premier games held in East London. This came after the local boys won in the district trials held in Addo hosted by the Sundays River municipality a few weeks ago. The team made every football fan in Makhanda proud despite finishing third overall. In the first game, they fell short as they were narrowly defeated by Chris Hani district by two goals to one but went on to win the next two games against Joe Gqabi and Alfred Nzo districts by 1-0 and 2-1,…
Author: Chris Totobela
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By Chris Totobela The Makana LFA premier league is now reaching a crucial stage where every point counts and might determine your destiny. Many coaches and managers, including some football fans, are completely unhappy with the standard of refereeing in Makhanda. Rhodes University sports administrator and Maru coach Siyabonga Dumiso says that local referees are not that bad: “Our referees are improving, yes they make mistakes sometimes as human and costly ones at times. I can mention two that I think are doing their job well: Akhona Heshu and Lucky Ngcani.” Jacaranda Aces coach Asanda Koliti echoed the same sentiments.…
By Chris Totobela Junior netball and women’s football teams are sweating at training, preparing for an exciting sporting weekend ahead. The Luyanda Stwayi Foundation is hosting a Human Rights Day youth tournament that will take place from 21 to 24 March at JD Dlepu Stadium, kicking off at 9am. Speaking to Grocott’s Mail, Luyanda Stwayi Foundation CEO, Luyanda Stwayi, was excited about the event. “We have noticed that the grassroots level sports and athletes have been neglected for a very long time and are always forgotten when it comes to these big sporting dates,” he said. He added, “We felt…
NguChris Totobela Bekuxhelw’ exhukwane kubalandeli bebhola ekhatywayo nanjengoko imidlalo yeMakana LFA yesigaba soompondo zihlanjiwe ibuyele kwikhaya lebhola ekhatywayo yaseMakhanda iJD Dlepu nalapho baphume ngobuninzi emva kwesithuba esinga phezulu konyaka livaliwe elibala. NgoMgqibelo iGolden Eagles ibhaxabule iAfrican Spears ngamanqaku amane kwelinye, yaze yona iMaru Academy yatywatyusha iHellenic ngamanqaku amahlanu eqandeni. NgeCawe iMakana Tigers ibethe iJuventus ngamanqaku amathandathu kwamathathu logama yona iLove and Peace ibethe iLalibela Lions ngamabini eqandeni yaze yona iSophia Stars yazixhwithela kwiGolden Brothers ngamanqaku amahlanu eqandeni. Kowona mdlalo obuvutha bhe, utaka amadangatye, iRhodes University ibhungce ngamanqaku amabini kwelinye ngethuba ibiqubisene noomakadenetha iJoza Callies. Bekudlalwa mpela kulo mdlalo, kungafundiswa iintaka…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…