SPORT - The African Mirror

Aug

15

2025

Exclusive: Women’s Cricket booming in South Africa, says CSA’s Enoch Nkwe

SPORT

ENOCH Nkwe, the Cricket South Africa Director of national teams and high performance, expressed his excitement for the bright future of Women's cricket in South Africa. The rise of women's domestic cricket August is Women's Month in South Africa, a month that is meant to commemorate the 1956 women's march to the Union Buildings in protest of the Pass Laws. The month-long celebration honours the contributions of women to the struggle against apartheid and their ongoing role in shaping South African society. Now, 31 years into a democratic South Africa, the sacrifices made by women in the past have had…

Aug

12

2025

By The African Mirror

CHAN 2025: Drama in Kampala as Uganda soar and South Africa find their voice

CHAN 2024

THE afternoon sun blazed down on Kampala as South Africa stepped onto the Mandela National Stadium pitch carrying the weight of a nation's expectations and the burden of sitting rock-bottom in Group C. What followed was a masterclass in resilience that breathed new life into their tournament dreams. From the first whistle, Molefi Ntseki's warriors hunted in packs, pressing high and refusing to let Guinea settle into any rhythm. The early aggression paid dividends in spectacular fashion. Just ten minutes in, the dynamic duo of Thabiso Kutumela and Neo Maema combined with telepathic understanding – Kutumela's clever link-up play releasing…

Aug

08

2025

By Jovial Rantao

From war-torn DRC roots to Canadian Open Glory: The rise of Victoria Mboko, tennis’ newest star

TENNIS

IN a stunning display of talent and resilience, wildcard Victoria Mboko, an 18-year-old rising tennis star with deep African roots, shocked the tennis world by defeating the four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka to claim her first WTA title at the Canadian Open. Her victory, achieved in her breakthrough tournament, is much more than a sporting triumph - it is a story woven with courage, history, and hope, resonating deeply across Africa. Victoria Mboko’s remarkable journey begins long before her tennis rise, in the turbulent landscapes of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In 1999, amidst a devastating war that…

Aug

06

2025

By Jovial Rantao

Defending champions Senegal strike first blood against Nigeria in CHAN thriller

CHAN 2024

IN a battle befitting two of Africa's footballing superpowers, defending champions Senegal edged Nigeria 1-0 in a brutal Group D opener that lived up to every expectation at Amaan Stadium on Tuesday night. Christian Gomis' 75th-minute strike proved the difference in a contest that showcased both the tactical sophistication and raw intensity that has made West African football a continental force. The TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship – featuring exclusively domestic-based players – exploded into life as the continent's two most successful nations in recent years locked horns in what many considered a premature final. Senegal, riding high from their…

Aug

07

2025

By The African Mirror

Exclusive: Makhaya Ntini says Shukri Conrad’s arrival changed everything for Proteas

SPORT

THE unmitigated success of the Proteas since Shukri Conrad took over has been nothing short of incredible, according to legendary South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini. It was no joke when Rob Walter resigned as the Proteas limited-overs coach on April 1, and it meant that a month later Conrad was given the role across all three formats. Conrad was first appointed as Test coach in February 2023, and at the time, Cricket SA (CSA) had envisioned that two different coaches would handle the limited overs and red ball formats. It came as quite a shock then when Walter resigned…

Aug

07

2025

By The African Mirror

Exclusive: Kevin Lerena announces break from boxing after disappointing Okolie defeat

SPORT

KEVIN Lerena has seldom tasted defeat in his boxing career, but in July, ‘Two Guns’ was left bitterly disappointed after his loss to Lawrence Okolie for the WBC Silver Heavyweight title at a packed Wembley Stadium in London. At 33, the loss may limit Lerena’s future and immediate prospects. With 35 pro fights to his name, Lerena has come away victorious in 31 of those bouts. The worrying stat for Lerena, though, is that three of his four losses have come in his last six fights. Lerena Reflects on Performance and Embraces Future Opportunities “It didn’t go my way, it…

Aug

05

2025

By Jovial Rantao

CHAN 2024: Congo, Sudan share points in thrilling Zanzibar opener

CHAN 2024

THE TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 kicked off with a pulsating 1-1 draw between Congo and Sudan at Zanzibar's Amaan Stadium on Tuesday night, setting the tone for what promises to be a fiercely competitive tournament. In the opening Group D fixture, both nations demonstrated the grit and determination that defines CHAN, the biennial competition exclusively featuring players from domestic African leagues. The match marked the first-ever encounter between these two sides at the tournament level, and it did not disappoint the lively crowd in attendance. Sudan strike first, Congo respond late Sudan looked the more dangerous…

Aug

04

2025

By The African Mirror

HARAMBEE STARS ROAR: Kenya stuns two-time champions DR Congo in electrifying CHAN debut

FOOTBALL

THE earth shook in Nairobi on Sunday night. Not from any seismic activity, but from the thunderous roar of 60,000 voices rising as one when Austin Odhiambo's left boot changed the course of Kenyan football history forever. In a moment that will be etched into the folklore of East African sport, Kenya's Harambee Stars announced their arrival on the continental stage with a seismic 1-0 victory over two-time champions DR Congo at the sold-out Moi International Sports Centre, marking their debut at the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 with the kind of statement that sends shockwaves across…

Aug

02

2025

By HABIB NOORBHAI

Cricket’s great global divide: elite schools still shape the sport

SPORT

IF you were to walk through the corridors of some of the world’s leading cricket schools, you might hear the crack of leather on willow long before the bell for the end of the day rings. Across the cricketing world, elite schools have served as key feeder systems to national teams for decades. They provide young players with superior training facilities, high-level coaching and competitive playing opportunities. This tradition has served as cricket’s most dependable talent pipeline. But is it a strength or a symptom of exclusion? My recent study examined the school backgrounds of 1,080 elite men’s cricketers across…

Aug

01

2025

By The African Mirror

Exclusive: From township dreams to test captaincy as told by Temba Bavuma’s father

SPORT

IN the heart of Cape Town’s oldest township, Langa, a young boy once chased red leather cricket balls across dusty fields. Years later, that same boy who became a man, Temba Bavuma, would walk onto the hallowed turf of Lord’s Cricket Ground, the first Black African to captain South Africa in Test cricket. His is a story not just of sporting excellence, but of resilience, identity, and quiet defiance in the face of relentless scrutiny. At the centre of this journey stands his father, Vuyo Bavuma, who spoke candidly about the sacrifices, the setbacks, and the triumphs that shaped his…