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IOL News
6 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Five big wishes Orlando Pirates fans have for the new PSL season
Big season ahead Orlando Pirates fans will hope new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou will pick up where Jose Riveiro left off. Photo: Orlando Pirates on X Image: @orlandopirates After another season of near misses and silver medals, Orlando Pirates enter the new campaign with renewed hope and a sense of unfinished business. While cup success has kept the fans cheering, the league title – the one that truly matters – has remained just out of reach. With a new coach at the helm and fresh faces in the squad, the Sea Robbers faithful have plenty to be excited about, and even more to wish for. With the new season on the horizon, IOL Sport takes a look at five things Orlando Pirates supporters will be hoping for. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Sipho Mbule to prove his critics wrong A lot has been made about the midfielder's past struggles at former club Mamelodi Sundowns and Sekhukhune United, where he spent a brief period on loan. What football fans everywhere agree on is that Mbule is a fantastic talent. However, his disciplinary issues are a worry. Pirates fans, and everyone else in the country, will be rooting for Mbule to stay on course. Pirates have a very good player on their hands. If he behaves, they could mean business in the league. New coach to pick up where Jose Riveiro left The appointment of Abdeslam Ouaddou as the club's new coach came out of left field. When Jose Riveiro left, the club was heavily linked with Rulani Mokwena, who has experience in winning trophies in South African football. All eyes will now be on Ouaddou to see if he can deliver. If he can pick up where Riveiro left off, Pirates fans will be happy. Mbekezeli Mbokazi to get even better Remember the name 'Mbekezeli Mbokazi'. Football fans everywhere are excited about him. At just 19 years old, Mbokazi has done enough to impress. He has all the hallmarks of a top defender. He has an understanding of his position that's second to none and also excels in aerial duels and physical confrontations. He's destined for the top, and fans will be hoping to see him make his mark in the PSL with a number of eye-catching performances in defence. To see the club fill the gap left by Mohau Nkota and possibly Rele Mofokeng Mohau Nkota has left the club, and according to reports, there continues to be interest from Europe for Relebohile Mofokeng. If he heads towards the exit as well, the club will have lost two of their best wide players. They've already brought in Bafana star Oswin Appollis. Fans will now want to see him terrorise defenders much like Nkota and Mofokeng did last season. To finally win the league The one thing Pirates fans want more than anything is for the club to win the league. Under Riveiro, they did well in cup competitions as they won three MTN8 titles and two Nedbank Cups in three years. However, in the league, they just couldn't get over the finish line ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns. Pirates fans would love nothing more than seeing Ouaddou's men lifting the Betway Premiership trophy at the end of the campaign. IOL Sport Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Kaizer Chiefs star Rushwin Dortley shares injury update after knee surgery
Now on the mend, Dortley is taking his recovery one day at a time as the club is being put through its paces on a pre-season tour to the Netherlands. The injury to his knee required surgery, and he was ruled out for the remainder of the season. Without their star defender, Amakhosi struggled and finished ninth in the league. However, they did go on to win the Nedbank Cup . Kaizer Chiefs' Rushwin Dortley has given an update on his recovery after undergoing knee surgery earlier this year. "This is my first serious injury that needed an operation," the player was quoted by the club's website. 'One has to be strong mentally, as you want to play, but you can't. It's not easy, but I do know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.' Dortley has also shed light on his support system as he goes through what must be a tough ordeal for a professional sportsman. "I have a lot of support from my family. My girlfriend, my father, my mother, my brother... They are all playing a huge role on my road to full recovery." He is also gaining strength from the support of some of his teammates as he nears full recovery. "That's how the team is," Dortley said. "If one is injured, we can all feel the loss of a player. We are one." IOL Sport
IOL News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Benni McCarthy: Rele Mofokeng must move to Europe to become a global star
Benni has spoken Bafana great Benni McCarthy has given his opinion on where he would like to see Orlando Pirates ensation Relebohile Mofokeng playing his football. Photo: Phakamisa Lensman/BackpagePix Image: Phakamisa Lensman/BackpagePix Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 'I've watched him several times, and I think he's got huge potential. He's got the mentality, the football brains, and mentality of players from my generation,' McCarthy, who is currently the head coach of the Kenya national team, said when answering IOL Sport's question. 'He's generations ahead of the current crop of players. I think he's got what it takes to make it in Europe. I would encourage him to find a way to play in Europe. South Africa, yes, it has some of the best players in Africa, but Africa is a small continent in football terms. 'When you play in Europe, you get the chance to play against the biggest and the best. It's you against the world.' McCarthy believes that testing oneself in Europe is the only way for South African players to remain relevant and challenge themselves at the highest level. McCarthy continued: 'I think he should consider going to the Scottish league, somewhere like that, so he can work his way up from there. Rangers and Celtic always need strikers they can bring on and develop before selling on to bigger clubs. 'Some players are happy to stay in Africa, and they can make a decent living, but they become irrelevant if they don't test themselves as hard as they can. If you play in Europe, you can excel, and he could also move to the Dutch or the Portuguese league. 'If you succeed there, it's only a matter of time before the Premier League sides come calling. I think he's got the ability, and he needs to give himself the opportunity.' * Benni McCarthy was speaking to The full interview can be found here. IOL Sport Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
08-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Comrades Marathon winners Dijana, Steyn clinch third and fourth titles
Tete Dijana won his third Comrades Marathon title in the down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Sunday. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers Tete Dijana won his third Comrades Marathon title while Gerda Steyn claimed her fourth title in the men's and women's races on Sunday. Dijana won the down run from Pietermaritzburg in the time of five hours, 25 minutes and 27 seconds in a tense finish in Durban. Steyn crossed the line in five hours, 51 minutes and 19 seconds. According to IOL Sport, there were some runners who went out to set the pace in the beginning of the race but they ran out of steam quickly and the real contenders then took over. Dijana moved into the lead with 16km left in the marathon. It came down to the final 8.5km of the down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, in which Dijana running at the front would outlast Wiersma. At that point, Dijana clung to a 44-second lead over Wiersma. With 4km left, the lead was 51 seconds. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Gerda Steyn clinched her fourth Comrades Marathon title on Sunday. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers In the women's race, Steyn was happy to let Elizabeth Mukoloma lead the way in the early stages of the race. Just over the two-hour, 20-minute mark, Mukoloma had opened up a major gap over Steyn as she went out at a blistering pace. Mukoloma's pace was so impressive that if she had kept it up she would have broken the down-run record. But by the 2h42 mark, Steyn caught Mukoloma and took the lead in emphatic style and opened up a significant gap on her competitors. THE MERCURY
IOL News
07-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Down run dark horse: Givemore Mudzinganyama backed to shock Comrades field
Can Mudzinganyama upset the field? Zimbabwean Givemore Mudzinganyama has been tipped as the dark horse in Sunday's Comrades Marathon down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Photo: Phando Jikelo/Independent Newspapers Image: Phando Jikelo/Independent Newspapers Tough as predicting who would win the men's race of the Comrades Marathon is, a former winner of the Down Run believes Givemore Mudzinganyama has the potential to spring a shock. Shaun Meiklejohn acknowledges that title holder Tete Dijana and Piet Wiersma are the favourites, but he believes a surprise cannot be ruled out. "There are a lot of contenders," the 1995 champion told IOL Sport. "The Nedbank team has a bit of depth and I am sure Piet is hoping to make amends after that second-place finish from two years ago. He left his charge a little too late then and will believe he can win if he pounces in time. "Tete knows what it takes to win and he's also desperate to make amends for last year when he had a very poor run. On a good day, he's gonna be hard to beat — he seems to like the Down Run..." Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Meiklejohn, who is going for his 33rd race, has been impressed by Entsika Athletics Club star Mudzinganyama and expects him to do well. "Givemore is a Two Oceans winner and after finishing tenth last year in his first Comrades, he showed he has the talent. It's a good sign — he's got the taste of it, and he will start this one with confidence." While he admitted to not knowing the Zimbabwean that well, Meiklejohn believes Mudzinganyama is built for the Down Run. "Looking at his build from afar, he appears more of a downhill runner. I believe the Up Run tends to favour the shorter guys. If he has trained well, I think Givemore can spring a shock." While it is called the Down Run, Meiklejohn says the initial part of the race will leave the runners feeling they've been duped. "When you leave Maritzburg, you start doubting if it is the Down Run because you are climbing until a few kilometres after the halfway mark." The nine-time gold medalist says patience is key to winning Comrades. "The top runners who are patient — that will stand them in good stead. I don't think the novices will know how to be patient." Biding your time, he says, comes in handy after the 60km mark when the race essentially starts. "The thing with Comrades is that you are tired when you get to 60km, and then you have to start running down those very steep declines. Botha's Hill softens you up for Fields Hill, then you go to Pinetown before you reach Cowies. The one who survives the three jarring downhills has a good chance." Such is the tight competition for this year's race that Meiklejohn believes there will still be a handful of runners in contention after 45th Cutting. "They are so evenly matched in terms of running ability, it is going to be about the one who wants it the most. And even then, there are three or four who want it more." IOL Sport Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
