By Chris Totobela Throngs of football fans braved the scotching sun and made their way to JD Dlepu stadium for the Hollywood Bets Regional League double header on Saturday. In the first game, eighth-placed Maru FC took on rock-bottom XI Attackers in a local derby that promised fireworks. After a dull and boring first half, the game came alive midway through the second half as Attackers went to the break trailing by a single goal and were pushing for an equaliser. However, Maru doubled their lead when the Attackers’ goalkeeper misjudged a high ball. Attackers managed to pull one back…
Author: Luvuyo Mjekula
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By Chesley Daniels Salem 2nds’ impressive 88-run bonus point win against Swallows at the weekend catapulted the team to the top of the Grahamstown Cricket Board (GCB) 2nd League log table. In another thrilling encounter, Southwell 2nds edged hosts Manley Flats by a narrow 8-run win. The weekend saw some remarkable individual performances in the GCB 2nd League. Batting: * Tony Pedro 93 – Southwell vs Manleys * Dave Duncan 85 – Manleys vs Southwell * Ryan Labuschagne 63 – Salem vs Swallows * Chris Friderichs 57* – Southwell vs Manleys Bowling: * Juandre Nel 6/11 (6) – Sidbury vs…
By G Mackenzie The water polo season began with exciting home fixtures against Woodridge, Kingswood, Graeme and Pearson. These matches provided an excellent opportunity to involve all our teams, and the teams delivered some outstanding results. U14 Teams The newly formed U14A team had a nail-biting match against Woodridge’s U15A team, securing a narrow 7–6 victory. They later faced the St Andrew’s U15A side in a long-course game, holding their own impressively for the first two quarters before the experience of the U15A team prevailed. The U14 players show great promise, and I look forward to seeing them develop and…
By Chris Totobela One of the oldest boxing clubs in Makhanda that has produced the finest boxers, including former South African lightweight champion, Mzoxolo Ndwayana, is busy preparing two of its top boxers for imminent national trials. Khayelihle Prince and Qhama Kilani will take part in the South African National Boxing Organisation (Sanabo) 2025 boxing trials for elite men and women at Hemingways in East London from 11-16 February, and are expected to bring back home the glory. Kilani was so confident when he spoke to…
By Scott Jackson The St Andrew’s College 1st XI played against Kingswood College under the Knowling lights on Friday night to kick off the domestic cricket season. The atmosphere was fantastic, and thanks must go to all the supporters who came to watch. The St Andrew’s College XI batted first in tricky conditions, with Kingswood picking up two quick wickets. Myles Sansom and Oliver Johns consolidated, with Sansom scoring 45 and Johns 53. The St Andrew’s College XI finished on a competitive 155/7 in their 20 overs. Tight opening spells by the St Andrew’s opening bowlers meant that Kingswood were…
By Chris Totobela The New Year’s Cup (NYC) sport institute will host a Safa/CAF C License coaching course for all D License holders at Rhodes University next month. According to NYC chairman, Luyanda Papu, the course is open to all interested individuals all over the country, and the first phase will run from 8-15 February, with the second phase taking place some time in April. Makhanda’s Rhodes University will host the course and will also be represented by many local coaches. There are many well known former professional footballers who have registered for the course as, Papu confirmed when he…
By Chesley Daniels GCB 2nd League log as at 11 January 2025: 1. Swallows 21 (4) 2. Salem 18 (3) 3. Cuylerville 18 (4) 4. Manley Flats 17 (3) 5. Sidbury 11 (2) 6. Station Hill 8 (4) 7. Southwell 6 (3) 8. Rainbows 3 (4) 9. Tiger Titans 0 (3) 10. Port Alfred 0 (4) GCB 1st League 1. Cuylerville 41 (7) 2. Salem 26 (7) 3. Southwell 24 (6) 4. Willows 22 (5) 5. Sidbury 7 (5) 6. Rhodes 5 (6) 7. Makana Sona 1 (6) GCB 2nd League leading run scorers: 1. T Shotana – Rainbows 232…
By Chesley Daniels Willows Cricket Club and log leaders Cuylerville 1sts, recorded impressive victories in their respective Grahamstown Cricket Board (GCB) 1st League fixtures against Southwell and Salem over the weekend. The second half of the GCB season kicked off last weekend and already some highly competitive cricket being played, that also saw some outstanding individual performances. Young Emihle Mgoqi 125* (Willows) and Renier Steenkamp 105 (Sidbury 2nds) scored impressive centuries with the bat and played superbly for their respective teams in winning causes. In the bowling department, Francois Nel (Sidbury 2nd) took 5/28 (8.1), Chris Pieterse (Salem 2nd) 5/20…
By Chris Totobela All roads led to JD Dlepu stadium this past Saturday. On show was the Hollywood Bets Regional League clash between hosts City Pirates and XI Attackers in a highly anticipated local derby that has never failed to produce fireworks. Local football lovers packed JD Dlepu Stadium in Joza, creating a great atmosphere for both teams. The game started with both teams playing cautiously and weighing each other while waiting for openings. It did not take long before both teams threw caution to the wind and started attacking each other. Attackers’ ball retention and rotation was superb while…
By Ashley Westaway In January 2024, the city’s education community adopted a vision statement: “By 2028, Makhanda emerges as the leading academic educational centre and city in South Africa and is recognised as such, thereby affording all local children and young people the benefit of good quality and relevant education at pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary levels.” This analysis of the performance of our schools and students in the 2024 National Senior Certificate examinations gauges the extent to which we have made progress towards reaching this ambitious objective over the past twelve months. The methodology that I use for the…