
Proteas plan special celebration event on return to SA
After claiming a historic victory in the ICC World Test Championship this past weekend, the Proteas will return to South Africa on Wednesday, 18 June, at around 09:25 in the morning.
After years of trials and tribulations, South African cricket fans finally have a meaningful reason to celebrate, as the Proteas men return home with the coveted Test mace.
Following their triumphant victory on Saturday at Lord's, CSA has stated that the Proteas are eager to give back to their supporters.
Cricket South Africa, together with Proteas coach Shukri Conrad and captain Temba Bavuma, have now extended an invitation to South Africans to unite and join them in celebrating this historic moment on Thursday, 19 June 2025, at Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton City from 13:00 to 15:00.
'Come and be part of the celebrations, meet your favourite Proteas players, and get a closer look at the coveted WTC mace,' a statement read. 'Plus, the first 100 fans to arrive will receive an exclusive WTC Champions shirt.
'That's not all – fans can look forward to exciting spot giveaways throughout the event. And for one lucky supporter, there's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to join the Proteas on stage for a champion's photo opportunity.'
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Donald: Proteas' Test final win ‘slams door shut on past pain'
The Proteas team won the World Test Championship final following a five-wicket victory against Australia at the weekend. Allan Donald, who was a central figure in one of South African cricket's most heartbreaking and painful moments, says the Proteas' World Test Championship final win last weekend takes away some of the pain of the 1999 World Cup exit and other big tournament losses. The victory by the Proteas against Australia at Lord's in the Test final was South Africa's first major triumph in men's cricket since 1998 when the national team won the Champions Trophy. On Saturday at Lord's Temba Bavuma's team beat Australia by five wickets to end years of heartbreak for the national team at several T20 and ODI tournaments. 'The gate is now shut' 'To get that over the line shuts the door that's over 30-odd years old,' Donald told website 'It's something that's taken a lot of pain away as you know. Not really going to go into that detail [laughs], but you know what I'm talking about with us and ICC events.' Donald was famously run out in the final over and South Africa needing one run to win an ODI World Cup semi-final against Australia at Lord's in 1999, following a mix-up with Lance Klusener, which resulted in a tied match that ended South Africa's run in the tournament. 'It really is a day [last Saturday] for the past players who were involved in the '99 World Cup and the guys who followed them … I think we can safely say now that gate is now shut,' added Donald. Allan Donald and Lance Klusener walk off the field after the Proteas' win against Sri Lanka at the Cricket World Cup in England in 1999. The two men would later be involved in a now infamous run out in the semifinal against Australia. Picture: Ross Kinnaird /Allsport The former fast bowler said the Test final win could be a catalyst for more success. 'They've broken this deadlock now. I think this will… and hopefully open the door for more success. I already look forward to the 2027 [ODI] World Cup, I think it's going to be a really interesting one. A lot of those players who played today [the World Test Championship final] will be involved in that World Cup.' Another Proteas player, Rassie van der Dussen, who's also experienced plenty of disappointment in Proteas colours, but in more recent times, said the win at Lord's was also for all the past players. 'This is a feat that goes hand in hand with the song that the Proteas sing: the fire stays burning, to those before us, and those to come, we play together as one,' he told 'This win will make people sit up' 'Through all those ICC events and all those knockout matches that we lost, there are moments and guys that feel responsible for that, and this puts to bed that.' The top order batter added the victory would restore South Africans' belief in the Proteas team. 'I think what impact it will have is it will make people take Proteas cricket seriously again. The reason I say this is because in the last few years, even though we've got to the semifinals, people always compare cricket and rugby. It's like the cricket is good, but rugby wins World Cups type of thing. 'I think this win now … It's going to make people sit up and say, you know what? 'They're actually doing some good things at Cricket South Africa, and the Proteas are actually doing some good things. I think it's a culmination of years of, I want to say graft, and years of being honest, and putting in good work, and getting the right people in the right places, and years of good guys just putting their head down, and putting in the work, and keeping believing. 'It's a culmination of all that, because like I said, in the last few years, it's always been like, the Springboks are the main thing, and I'm not taking anything away from them, obviously. We all love our rugby, and what they've done for the country has been amazing. 'But I just think this win is going to … we haven't won four World Cups yet … but almost in a way, just put us on the same level, and people that realise that, listen, cricket is also serious about what they're doing.'

IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Relentless calendar: How Mamelodi Sundowns' FIFA Club World Cup campaign risks player burnout
Too much football? Mamelodi Sundowns' participation in the FIFA Club World Cup could hinder the start to the new season, as well as Bafana Bafana's attempts to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Mamelodi Sundowns face a demanding fixture list next season as they look to compete on all fronts once again. The Brazilians are currently in the United States of America and will kick off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign when they take on South Korea's Ulsan HD at midnight. For South African fans who want to support the team, they will have to make do with sleepless nights. Coming off a gruelling league campaign, Sundowns' involvement in the Club World Cup could leave them playing catch-up next season. Their final group match against Fluminense is scheduled for Wednesday, June 25, and if their tournament ends there, they'll have only a few weeks to recover and prepare for the new campaign. Last season, Sundowns began their CAF Champions League campaign on July 11. If the upcoming season follows a similar schedule, the players will have only a handful of days to rest. Progressing beyond the group stage in the Club World Cup would tighten that turnaround even further. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Fatigue is known to affect player performance. Bafana Bafana resume World Cup qualifiers in September, and in December, when players in South Africa take a Christmas break, they head to Morocco to play in the Africa Cup of Nations. And if they qualify for the World Cup, they will have gone almost two years without a break. Players are going to break down. The growing demands on elite footballers – both locally and abroad – raise serious questions about sustainability in the game. For clubs like Sundowns, who are now operating on a global stage, and for national teams like Bafana Bafana, the cost of success may well be paid in injuries, burnout, and declining performances. As fixtures pile up and rest becomes a luxury, it's not just depth that will define champions – it's endurance. Unless governing bodies begin to prioritise player welfare over profit, the beautiful game risks pushing its stars beyond breaking point. IOL Sport * The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media. ** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to [email protected]. Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication).


The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs star leaving after 41 matches?
Castillo joined Kaizer Chiefs in July 2023 from Monagas SC in Venezuela. The then 29-year-old proved to be a goal-scoring midfielder, scoring five goals in the 2023/24 Betway Premiership season. Last season was one to forget. Castillo's fibula injury kept him out of the Kaizer Chiefs team until the final part of the season. After just seven games last term and 41 games since his arrival, Kaizer Chiefs are reportedly considering parting ways with Castillo. This would free up a foreign spot as the club works to find international signings for next season. Kaizer Chiefs news: Junior Khanye and Percy Tau Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Edson Castillo against Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership. Image: @safootclassics/X According to iDiski Times' leading reporter, Lorenz Kohler, the 31-year-old Castillo is eager to guarantee improved game time before committing to Kaizer Chiefs next season. Full List: Mamelodi Sundowns' FIFA Club World Cup fixtures 'Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Edson Castillo could be set for a surprise exit with the player said to be exploring his options,' the report said. 'He signed a new one-year deal with an option to extend back in February and returned to the field towards the latter stages of the season but there are mixed reviews within the technical team over the future of the player. 'This has led to his representatives seeking options in the off-season, should the player not be secured with regular first team minutes in the upcoming campaign,' Kohler added. 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.