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Tshwane and Cape Town to square off for national netball title
New champions will be crowned on Tuesday, for the first time in five years, when Tshwane meet hosts Cape Town in the final of the Spar National Netball Championships.
In a thrilling Gauteng derby on Monday, Tshwane pulled off a stunning victory over defending champions Johannesburg in the first semifinal.
With the scores level at 47-47, and Tshwane on attack in the dying stages of regulation time, an intercept from Johannesburg wing defence Phula Ntuli forced the game into extra time. amunra.help
Then, at the end of extra time, Johannesburg goal shooter Tinita van Dyk levelled the scores at 55-55 in the final second.
This pushed the game into extended extra time, with the first side to take a two-goal lead securing victory.
And Johannesburg were ultimately edged out, with experienced Tshwane goal shooter Ine-Mari Venter scoring twice to snatch the win for her team.
‘They were great competitors’
Johannesburg, who had won the title the last four years in succession, lost to Tshwane and Cape Town in the round robin stage of the tournament last week, and Venter was full of praise for their Gauteng rivals for putting up such a powerful fight.
“We know Johannesburg are always going to come back stronger and harder. They have that discipline to adjust really quickly, which is what we saw today,” Venter said.
“I think sometimes we were slow to adjust, but we stayed in it, which is the important part because when you stay in it, it can go either way.
“They were great competitors in this semifinal, but at the end of the day we were able to pull it through, and I’m just really thankful for that.”
Staying grounded
Tshwane remained unbeaten at the six-day tournament, which was being played at Stellenberg High School, but Venter insisted they were not getting ahead of themselves as they geared up for what was expected to be a hard-fought final on Tuesday.
Cape Town coasted to a 68-53 victory over Mangaung in the second semifinal and were set to enter the trophy battle full of confidence, despite having slipped in a 59-52 defeat to Tshwane in the round robin stage.
“Like we saw [against Johannesburg], whether you’re favourites or not it doesn’t count on the day,” Venter said.
“You still need to rock up and be prepared…and in a final it can go either way.”
Real Madrid : Mbappé, Konaté et Cucurella rejoignent le groupe
Le Real Madrid a enregistré lundi le retour de plusieurs de ses cadres après leur période de repos. Kylian Mbappé, Ibrahima Konaté et Marc Cucurella ont rejoint Valdebebas, où ils ont d’abord passé les examens médicaux avant de retrouver le terrain pour une première séance collective.
Ces retours permettent à José Mourinho de disposer progressivement d’un groupe plus complet. L’entraîneur portugais, de nouveau sur le banc madrilène treize ans après son premier passage, pourra bientôt compter sur l’ensemble de ses internationaux.
Mbappé avait profité de plusieurs semaines de vacances après la Coupe du monde 2026. Le Français avait notamment séjourné à Ibiza, tout en poursuivant individuellement son travail physique avant de reprendre avec le club espagnol.
Aurélien Tchouaméni et Jude Bellingham doivent également effectuer leur retour à Valdebebas dans la journée. Le Real Madrid va rapidement entrer dans une phase importante de sa préparation avec plusieurs rencontres au programme.
Les Merengue affronteront notamment le Deportivo La Corogne mercredi dans le cadre du Trophée Teresa Herrera, avant de retrouver Schalke 04 samedi. La première journée de Liga est programmée le 22 août, avec un déplacement sur la pelouse de l’Espanyol Barcelone.
The post Real Madrid : Mbappé, Konaté et Cucurella rejoignent le groupe appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.
JP on Ma’a Nonu: His name says it all
Sharks coach JP Pietersen backs Ma’a Nonu’s experience against the All Blacks, with limited centre options also influencing the decision to select the veteran on the bench, reports DEVIN HERMANUS.
Nonu, a two-time World Cup winner, joined the Sharks last week as a mentor for their outside backs and is set to make his debut off the wood against his former international team in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry clash at Kings Park on Tuesday.
“Ma’a Nonu, his name says it all and what he has achieved,” Pietersen said. “He’s been good helping Jurenzo Julius, Lili Bester, Zekhethelo Siyaya with prepping yourself for a game, and helping with the skill set going into a game.”
ICYMI: Sharks lose Bok for All Blacks clash
He stressed that the 44-year-old Nonu’s selection has not come at the expense of a younger midfielder, with Julius starting and Springboks André Esterhuizen and Ethan Hooker unavailable.
“What Ma’a brings is experience, and people will always say, ‘What about a younger player in the system?’ The younger player – Jurenzo – he’s the one playing and starting,” Pietersen said.
“It’s going to be an emotional game for Ma’a, because it’s the first time he plays against the All Blacks, so it’ll be awesome to see tomorrow.
“Out of the centres not playing, it’s André and Ethan who aren’t available for us, and we’ve only got Murray Koster and Jurenzo standing. That’s obviously the reason why Ma’a’s on the bench.”
ALSO: All Blacks excited for a crack at Nonu
Nonu has already made an impression at the Shark Tank, with Pietersen valuing the insight the 103-Test midfielder can provide before and during Tuesday’s clash.
“It’s great that he’s here with us, giving our young boys a feel for what the All Blacks may bring to them, and also showing them some good pictures of what they may expect tomorrow against the All Blacks.
“He’s slotted in like he’s been here for a long time, and the boys love him.”
Pietersen also dismissed the suggestion the Sharks are protecting players for Tuesday’s clash, although the ex-Bok on Monday was forced into two late changes following several pre-season injuries.
“It’s an All Blacks game; last time they played here was 1996, if I’m right [Natal hosted New Zealand in 1992] – and it’s a great occasion. If players are fit and ready to play, they’ll take part, because this is our strongest team, the best we could put up.”
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
The post JP on Ma’a Nonu: His name says it all appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Alpinisme: à 15 ans, le Marocain Youssef Tazi rêve de l'Everest après avoir gravi le sommet Kang Yatse II
Le Marocain Youssef Tazi, âgé de 15 ans, est devenu le plus jeune alpiniste africain à atteindre le sommet du Kang Yatse II, dans l'Himalaya, en réalisant cet exploit la semaine dernière, sous une température extrême et des conditions d'ascension difficiles. Après s'être déjà essayé à plusieurs autres montagnes à travers le monde, le jeune alpiniste se rapproche de son objectif majeur : gravir l'Everest.
World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26: Ethiopia’s Almaz Yohannis crowned world champion in women’s 3000m steeplechase
Ethiopia produced a spectacular display of emerging talent as Almaz Yohannis was crowned world champion in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon, powering to a commanding victory in 9:15.81.
Yohannis delivered a superb performance to secure the gold medal and, in the process, recorded a World U20 Leading time (WU20L), underlining the strength of her performance on the global junior stage.
The young Ethiopian established herself as the athlete to beat, maintaining her composure and strength throughout the demanding eight-lap steeplechase before crossing the finish line well clear of the field. Her winning mark of 9:15.81 provided a fitting reward for a dominant championship performance.
Ethiopia’s celebrations were doubled when Wosane Asefa secured the silver medal in 9:30.50, producing a season’s best (SB) and completing an impressive Ethiopian one-two.
Kenya’s Anatasha Cheptoo ensured there was East African representation on all three steps of the podium, fighting her way to the bronze medal in 9:37.18.
Behind the medalists, Sweden’s Majken Söderlund Larsson finished fourth in 9:48.01, setting a national U20 record (NU20R), while Czech Republic’s Ema Berková followed in fifth with 9:49.06, also recording a national U20 record.
Sweden’s Fanny Szalkai placed sixth in 9:55.06, a personal best, while Greece’s Anna Dafni Almyroudi Stroumpou finished seventh in 10:00.63, another national U20 record.
Egypt’s Malak Abdelghany Abdalla Ibrahim crossed eighth in 10:04.52, also establishing a national U20 record. Slovakia’s Anna Švrček was ninth in 10:05.91, followed by Japan’s Rei Taya in 10:12.37.
Portugal’s Lara Roque finished 11th in 10:15.69, setting a national U20 record, while Poland’s Zuzanna Szymańska took 12th in 10:15.94, a personal best. Great Britain’s Ava James was 13th in 10:18.96, followed by American Sierra Wall in 14th with 10:21.21.
Poland’s Michalina Thamm completed the finishers in 15th place in 10:39.01.
Kenya’s Mercy Chepngeno Koskey, who had also lined up as part of the Kenyan challenge, was unfortunately unable to finish the race.
The final podium therefore belonged to three of East Africa’s rising stars, with Yohannis and Asefa delivering a memorable Ethiopian one-two, while Cheptoo secured bronze for Kenya.
Women’s 3000m Steeplechase — Official Results
1. Almaz Yohannis (Ethiopia) — 9:15.81 (WU20L)
2. Wosane Asefa (Ethiopia) — 9:30.50 (SB)
3. Anatasha Cheptoo (Kenya) — 9:37.18
4. Majken Söderlund Larsson (Sweden) — 9:48.01 (NU20R)
5. Ema Berková (Czech Republic) — 9:49.06 (NU20R)
6. Fanny Szalkai (Sweden) — 9:55.06 (PB)
7. Anna Dafni Almyroudi Stroumpou (Greece) — 10:00.63 (NU20R)
8. Malak Abdelghany Abdalla Ibrahim (Egypt) — 10:04.52 (NU20R)
9. Anna Švrček (Slovakia) — 10:05.91
10. Rei Taya (Japan) — 10:12.37
11. Lara Roque (Portugal) — 10:15.69 (NU20R)
12. Zuzanna Szymańska (Poland) — 10:15.94 (PB)
13. Ava James (Great Britain) — 10:18.96
14. Sierra Wall (United States) — 10:21.21
15. Michalina Thamm (Poland) — 10:39.01
DNF: Mercy Chepngeno Koskey (Kenya)
Yohannis’ victory marked the highlight of a brilliant Ethiopian performance, with her 9:15.81 World U20-leading mark setting the tone for a memorable championship final and announcing another exciting young talent onto the international athletics scene.
SOURCE: MY BEST RUNS
The post World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26: Ethiopia’s Almaz Yohannis crowned world champion in women’s 3000m steeplechase appeared first on SportsAfrica - Sports news | Live scores | Match highlights | Betting tips.