logo
OFFICIAL: Bafana Bafana's rising star poached by English giant!

OFFICIAL: Bafana Bafana's rising star poached by English giant!

The South African21 hours ago

A month after winning player of the tournament at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Bafana Bafana prospect Tylon Smith has reportedly agreed terms with Championship side Queens Park Rangers.
Hailing from Stellenbosch's academy, the 20-year-old defender is expected to soon travel to London to complete his medical. Bafana Bafana are now amongst the best top 10 teams in Africa according to the latest FIFA rankings. Image: X/BafanaBafana
Bafana Bafana fans will have to wait until September 1 to cheer on their side. That day, they will take on Lesotho in matchday 7 (out of 10) of the World Cup qualifiers before facing Nigeria a week later.
As things stand, South Africa lies at the top of the log, five points ahead of joint second-placed holders Rwanda and Benin.
Meanwhile, head coach Hugo Broos made a wild prediction regarding the future of Bafana youngster Relebohile Mofokeng, who is heavily linked with a move abroad following another successful season for the 20-year-old.
'Talking about Mofokeng, I just hope that he makes the right decisions. And that he is not going to a team where he won't play,' said Broos.
'I see all the things around, Barcelona and Rangers and… (sighs) I'm a little bit afraid. I just hope that the people around make the choice of the best sportive solution and not the best financial solution.
'Okay, I think his parents want the best for him, that's for sure. But there is another guy who wants to win a lot of money also, but that's the problem. But ok, let's hope, maybe I talked too soon about that.
'We'll see. I think in June, Rele will not be a player of Orlando Pirates anymore, but a good choice is very important.'
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Why Kaizer Chiefs will be a different team next season
Why Kaizer Chiefs will be a different team next season

The South African

time7 hours ago

  • The South African

Why Kaizer Chiefs will be a different team next season

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Mokete Tsotetsi feels his former club will be a different team next season. Amakhosi have finished outside the top 8 in back-to-back seasons for the first time in PSL history. Under Nasredine Nabi, the club has not shown much improvement; however, they ended their 10-year trophyless run when they won the Nedbank Cup. 'Chiefs went to Turkey last season and they did well in the early stages of the league. Remember there was a reshuffling of the technical team after the first assistant left and then they had to bring in another one,' Tsotetsi told Soccer Laduma . 'Going to Netherlands now, it will be good for them because they are going to be preparing against teams that will give them a challenge to prepare for the league. In Netherlands, they are usually good tactically, so I think it can help Chiefs in establishing a good structure in their line-up. I think they will come back a different team. They will come back a better team.' Kaizer Chiefs have parted ways with five players but are yet to confirm any new signings. The likes of Ranga Chivaviro and Edmilson Dove are amongst the departed players meaning the Soweto giants might be eyeing to sign a few foreign players. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

Springbok coach Erasmus introduces 'hybrid player' Esterhuizen
Springbok coach Erasmus introduces 'hybrid player' Esterhuizen

Eyewitness News

time9 hours ago

  • Eyewitness News

Springbok coach Erasmus introduces 'hybrid player' Esterhuizen

CAPE TOWN - Innovative South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus called centre-turned-flanker Andre Esterhuizen a "hybrid player" on Saturday after a 54-7 victory over the Barbarians in wet and cold Cape Town. When replacement back Andre Esterhuizen came on early in the second half of the non-cap exhibition match for the world champions, it was as a loose forward. "You can call him a hybrid player, he is a backline player who can also play in the forwards now," Erasmus told a press conference. "You can have a forward covering a back position like (flanker) Kwagga Smith covering wing, and you can have a back covering a forward position, like Andre. "We started chatting to Andre about it five months ago, now he is a backline player who can also play as a forward." Former Springboks flanker Erasmus, who played key coaching roles in the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup triumphs of South Africa, is a master innovator. He is best known for changing the traditional five forwards-three backs split on the substitutes' bench, choosing six-two and even seven-one combinations instead. Erasmus hailed lock Lood de Jager, back in the team after a two-year absence with a career-threatening heart illness and then injuries. "The condition that he had was almost career-ending, but when we did the fitness testing three weeks ago, he was exceptional," said the coach. LOCK DEPTH "His body might be 32 or 33, but he has had some 'rest' in the last couple of years, and I think that showed. "We are very glad Lood came through, and we have some nice depth at lock now," said Erasmus, referring to eight locks in a 45-man squad for three July Tests against Italy and Georgia. After torrential rain during the eight-try victory over the Baabaas, Erasmus said he was hoping for dry weather when the record four-time Rugby World Cup title-holders face Italy on July 5. "Some of the half gaps and some of the line breaks we made today would have stuck if the weather had been drier," he said. "We cannot wait to play on a dry pitch and improve our attack. We want to get better, and in the next three matches, we will be trying to focus on ourselves before the Rugby Championship. "We know who is going to play in the two Tests against Italy, and certainly by the end of the Georgia game, which will be a grind, we will have a group that have had some game time. "We will not get carried away with this performance, (but) some of the newer guys showed us that they can do it at this level," added Erasmus. Democratic Republic of Congo-born flanker Vincent Tshituka from the Sharks, one of four debutants, scored two tries. South Africa face Italy in Pretoria, then in Gqeberha on 12 July, before a one-off Test against Georgia in Mbombela on 19 July. Two Rugby Championship fixtures each against Australia, New Zealand and Argentina follow between August and October. November Tests in France, Italy, Ireland and Wales complete the schedule for the Springboks, who will defend the World Cup in Australia in 2027.

'Overpriced' Springbok tickets blamed for 'empty' DHL Stadium
'Overpriced' Springbok tickets blamed for 'empty' DHL Stadium

The South African

time9 hours ago

  • The South African

'Overpriced' Springbok tickets blamed for 'empty' DHL Stadium

South Africans are blaming the exorbitant ticket prices for Springboks games for scenes of an 'empty' DHL Stadium during the team's clash against the Barbarians on Saturday, 28 June. The South African national rugby team played its first game, which it won 54- 7, against the British squad. It marks the first of many scheduled games to be played on home soil. On social media, rugby fans who watched from home and those who watched the game live in action have commented about empty seating at the cold and wet DHL Stadium in Cape Town. For many, the 'overpriced' tickets on sale were to blame for the disappointing scenes. TikTok user @ninajanecarterr posted: 'They rugby brings the nation together, but half the nation couldnt even afford to be there.' A second – @coachdullah – posted: 'When playing home matches, SARU should consider the average South African budget. Yes, the Springboks are world champs, but don't make it unaffordable?' A third @ added: 'These prices are outrageous. There are so many who want to go, but simply can't afford to'. @ninajanecarterr all these empty seats and for WHAAATT 🙂 hoping this was a rude awakening for whoever decided on the prices of those tickets?! #springboks #barbarians ♬ original sound – Daiy Abrahams TDM Other Springbok fans excitedly revealed how they managed to scoop high-end tickets for a fraction of the price on match day. TikTok user @drinkandderive0 posted: 'Got them 2 hours before the game! They were greedy with the initial price'. @drinkandderive0 got them 2 hours before the game too. They were greedy with that initial price springboks #saru #barbarians #dhlstadium ♬ Jet2 Advert – ✈️A7-BBH | MAN 🇬🇧 It's not the first time Springbok fans have complained about the price of test match tickets at the DHL Stadium. But why are they so expensive? According to stadium management, this is because of the venues… Modern, world-class features Limited availability and high demand Cape Town is being hailed as a top tourist destination Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store