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…
Author: Chris Totobela
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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…
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…
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…
By Chris Totobela Easter weekends will never be the same in Makhanda as organisers of the New Year’s Cup plan to host a brand-new tournament this Easter. The Super Bowl Easter Soccer Tournament will be contested by 16 teams from all over the province and countrywide starting Thursday, 28 March, at JD Dlepu Stadium. The opening day line-up will feature a legends’ game and a ladies’ game as curtain raisers, followed by two opening games of the tournament proper kicking off in the evening – two home sides taking on two visiting teams. On Friday, 29 March, games will move…
NguChris Totobela Bachulumancile abalandeli bebhola ekhatywayo kweli loMzantsi Afrika emva kokuba iqela lesizwe iBafana Bafana iqhube kakuhle kakhulu kwi tumente yamazwe ase- Afrika. Emva kokuphoxeka kumdlalo owandulela owama gqibela kankqoyi ngethuba bekhala ngaphantsi kumdlalo wabo neNigeria babuyise isidima sabo babetha iDR Congo kwiipenaliti. Ngokwenza njalo baphele begqiba kule tumente kwindawo yesithathu. IBafana Bafana izuze imbasa yebronze, baphinda bafumana indebe bewongwa njengelona qela likwazileyo ukuziphatha kakuhle kule tumente. UNozinti uRonwyn Williams uwongwe njengo yena nozinti oye wabalesela kule tumente. Kukho nabadlali abaye babandakanywa kwiqela labadlali ababalaseleyo balapha e-Afrika. URonwyn Williams, Khuliso Mudau noTebogo Mokoena ngabo abamele uMzantsi Afrika kweli qela. Umqeqeshi…
By Chris Totobela Joza Aerobics and Fitness Club is working hard to prepare for the upcoming Valentine’s boot camp. This boot camp will kick off on Saturday, 17 February, at Soccer City in Raglan Road and is open to the public free of charge. Event organiser Nomawethu “Sweshy” Simama told Grocott’s Mail that this event is for a good cause: “We have asked the participants to donate a few toiletries items that will be handed over to the identified schools. We will also be handing over two school jerseys to one boy and one girl in need. As this is…
By Chris Totobela On Saturday, 10 February, a decent crowd made their way to Rhodes University’s Kings field for a Hollywood Bets regional league doubleheader. City Pirates locked horns with the Port Alfred-based Young Pirates in the lunchtime kick-off. Both teams started the game at pedestrian pace but quickly changed into another gear as both of them were looking for an early goal. City’s defence sat very deep and attracted opponents closer to their goal mouth. Young Pirates took the lead in the 10th minute after City’s defence was found in sixes and sevens, and the Young Pirates’ attacker miskicked…
NguChris Totobela Yalala inkomo isengwa, atshabalala amathemba abalandeli nabathandi bebhola balapha eMzantsi Afrika ngethuba iqela lesizwe iBafana Bafana libethwa yiNigeria. Lo bingu mdlalo owandulela owama nqam bubanjelwe kwibala iStade de la Paix eBouake kwelase Ivory Coast. Abafana Bafana badlale kakuhle kakhulu bezijula ijacu bezimisele. INigeria ikhokele ngenqaku elinye eqandeni lika kapteni wabo u-Ekong emva kokuba befumene ipenaliti ebangelwe ngumdlalo orhabaxa kaMthobi Mvala kuVictor Osimen. IBafana Bafana ifumene inqaku loku linganisa emva kokuba uPercy Tau edlalwe rhabaxa phakathi ebhokisini waze yena uTebogo Mokoena wayivalela phakathi lo bhola. Uye waphela lo mdlalo ebambene ngenqaku elinye macala kwaye abakwazanga ufumana amanqaku nakwixesha elongezelelweyo…
NguChris Totobela Iqela lesizwe le bhola ekhatywayo eMzantsi Afrika elaziwa jikelele ibafana Bafan,a lidlulele kumaqela asibhozo okugqibela kwitumente yamazwe ase-Afrika ebanjelwe kwelase Ivory Coast. Oku kwenzeka emva kokuba eli qela libethe iqela ebelijongwe njenge linye lamaqela azintandane nalindelwe ukuba aphakamise le ndebe yamazwe ase-Afrika iMorocco kwibala lebhola ekhatywayo iStade Laurent Pokou eSan Pedro kwelase Ivory Coast. Ifolosi ye-Orlando Pirates u-Evidence Mokgopa uze nenqaku lokuqala emva kwebhola entle ebisuka kuThemba “Mshishi” Zwane logama yena uTebogo Mokoena weSundowns ebethelele isikhonkwane sokugqibela ngenqaku elihle kakhulu babe kanti ngokwenza njalo badudulela ngaphandle iMorocco eyajika kumaqela amane okugqibela kwindebe yehlabathi ebibanjelwe eQatar. IBafana Bafana baze…