Johnny Eblen on Costello van Steenis' upset: 'I wouldn't want to win that way'
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News24
23 minutes ago
- News24
‘I'm grateful for the love' - Thembinkosi Mthembu on staying booked and busy
We were first introduced to him as Mabutho on The River, and his career has since pivoted, and it continues to surge. He's become one of the most recognisable faces on the small screen and is showing no signs of slowing down. Award-winning actor Thembinkosi Mthembu chats with Drum to discuss his latest role on Mzansi Magic's 'Homecoming.' In this exclusive interview, he reveals the secret behind his ability to master every character he portrays and gives insight into his exciting upcoming projects. 'To be honest, there's no secret to me getting more work, it's just how I treat my colleagues, the way I conduct myself on set. For example, I didn't audition for my first role at Tshedza Pictures, we just had one meeting and the role was mine,' he says, 'I'm very grateful for the love and support that I'm receiving from the public' Throughout his career thus far, the heartthrob has shown dedication to his craft. His sterling portrayal of his current role as Sifiso in Homecoming bears testimony to his impeccable work ethic. 'My current role on Homecoming is different from previous work; it's challenging. All the fighting. I respect my work, which is why I'm able to secure more work, and I even coined a nickname for my role on Adulting, which I don't like,' he chuckles, adding that he always gets a break between his roles. 'I always get a break before starting a new job, even if it's a week'. With such a hectic work schedule, just when does that star get time to retreat? Well, he says that although he has a busy work schedule, he can make time for family. 'When I'm not working, I'm at the gym or I'm with family here in Jozi or KZN. As busy as I am, I do make time for my family. I came to Johannesburg to work; this is the reason I hardly take a break. I'm just grateful for the opportunities that I continue to get, because the industry is tough,' he quips. While the fact that he spends a lot of time at work may not be ideal, he doesn't like complaining, as he is aware of the fact that he came to Johannesburg to work, and in the industry he's in, not many of his peers can usher in new work opportunities as frequently as he does. 'I can't complain about anything, my mission was to work when I got here, so being able to work is nothing short of a blessing'. Since the start of his career, he has remained unstoppable, and as he undertakes new ventures in the best future, Thembinkosi remains upbeat that he'll continue to keep his work ethic. 'In 2026 and 2027, there are projects that I'm working on with Angus Gibson. We've already spoken about them, and it's only a matter of time before we start working on them,' he concludes.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chimaev credits Trump for return to United States
Khamzat Chimaev has credited US President Donald Trump after he secured a visa which allows him to fight in America for the first time in nearly three years. Russian Chimaev's past two fights took place in Abu Dhabi, with the 31-year-old previously denying that travel issues prevented him from fighting in the US. Chimaev has ties to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who is sanctioned by the US over alleged human rights abuses, including repression, torture and murder. The middleweight, who has won the first 14 fights of his career, has been pictured numerous times with Kadyrov on social media. He returns to the US for the first time since 2022 when he faces South Africa's Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight title at UFC 319 in Chicago, Illinois on 16 August. "This wasn't my bad. This wasn't my fault," Chimaev said about not fighting in the United States. "Everyone knows I didn't have the visa to [travel to] the US. That's why I didn't fight only once [but twice] in Abu Dhabi. So now Donald Trump is here, we go for a fight." Trump is close friends with UFC president Dana White, who was a key supporter during his 2024 election campaign. Last month Trump said he plans to host a UFC event at the White House next year as part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations. Despite his return to the US to take on Du Plessis, Chimaev does not believe he will be invited to fight at the White House and has downplayed his interest in politics. "I don't understand why they're going to put the fights over there," said Chimaev. "I'm an athlete, a sportsman - all my life I've been training. Some people put me in a position like political and break my visa down and I don't know why. "I'm just doing [it] for my family - fighting, training. Athletes don't have to be with politics. I'm not connected." Du Plessis is making the third defence of his belt, while Chimaev is fighting for the first time since submitting Robert Whittaker in October. Chimaev has long been considered a future UFC champion, but inactivity and illness have stalled his career in recent years. After submitting Kevin Holland in 2022 - his last appearance in the US - Chimaev has fought just once a year, beating Kamaru Usman in 2023 before his win over Whittaker 10 months ago. MMA schedule and results 2025 Watch every Born to Brawl episode More MMA from the BBC Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
CAF 2025/2026: Clubs exempted from the first preliminary round revealed
African competitions: discover the clubs exempted from the first preliminary round (2025-2026 season) CAF 2025/2026 / @ The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has decided to exempt several clubs from participating in the first preliminary round of the 2025-2026 editions of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. This decision is based on the continental club rankings, which are determined by their performances over recent years. As a result, the highest-ranked teams earn direct entry into the later stages of the competition. According to information shared by journalist and CAF insider Micky Junior, only two clubs have been granted exemption from the first round of the Champions League: Al Ahly SC (Egypt), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa). For the Confederation Cup, six clubs have been exempted thanks to their strong continental ranking over the past five seasons: Zamalek SC (Egypt), Wydad AC (Morocco), USM Alger (Algeria), JS Kabylie (Algeria), Al Masry SC (Egypt), and Stellenbosch FC (South Africa). It is worth noting that Espérance Sportive de Tunis will exceptionally begin their campaign from the very first preliminary round of the Champions League—a decision that has surprised many supporters and presents a new challenge for the Tunisian giants. Full calendar for African competitions 2025/2026 First preliminary round First leg: September 19–21, 2025 Second leg: September 26–28, 2025 Second preliminary round First leg: October 17–19, 2025 Second leg: October 24–26, 2025 Group stage Matchday 1: November 21–23, 2025 Matchday 2: November 28–30, 2025 Matchday 3: January 23–25, 2026 Matchday 4: January 30–February 1, 2026 Matchday 5: February 6–8, 2026 Matchday 6: February 13–15, 2026 Knockout stages Quarter-finals: March 2026 Semi-finals: April 2026 Final: between May 8 and May 24, 2026
