logo
Orlando Pirates name captain and two vices for 2025-26 season

Orlando Pirates name captain and two vices for 2025-26 season

The Herald6 days ago
The club said the ' position of captain has been vacant since the departure of long-serving defender Innocent Maela'.
'Maela led from 2022 to date, having taken over from another stalwart and legend, Happy Jele.
'In keeping with club tradition, the appointment came directly from the players through a confidential voting process. Emerging as the team's clear choice to wear the captain's armband is defender Nkosinathi Sibisi.
'Sibisi will be assisted by Thapelo Xoki and Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who have been named as vice captains.'
The selection of Mbokazi, only 19, who had an outstanding debut season for Pirates' senior team in 2024-25 and made his Bafana debut in June, is another vote of confidence in the quality and leadership potential of the young talent.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Orlando Pirates' documentary sheds light on Monnapule Saleng's struggles: Was it necessary?
Orlando Pirates' documentary sheds light on Monnapule Saleng's struggles: Was it necessary?

IOL News

time3 hours ago

  • IOL News

Orlando Pirates' documentary sheds light on Monnapule Saleng's struggles: Was it necessary?

Orlando Pirates have sent Monnapule Saleng on loan to Orbit College in order to help him regain the form that turned him into one of the most exciting players in South Africa. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix Image: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix Soweto giants Orlando Pirates have seemingly thrown Monnapule Saleng under the bus in their fly-on-the-wall documentary aired on SuperSport. The documentary, which provides an in-depth look at the club's operations, spotlighted Saleng's turbulent experiences, raising crucial questions about player welfare and the ethics of club transparency. Saleng, who played a pivotal role for the Pirates during the early stages of the 2023/24 season, faced significant turmoil over the past year. A notable absence from the pitch for much of the last season led to rampant speculation regarding his future with the club. Reports emerged hinting at a tense stand-off between Saleng and the Pirates management, where the 24-year-old believed he warranted a salary comparable to the club's highest earners, based on his contributions to the team. 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 ✕ Mental health challenges also came into play during this tough period, with whispers of Saleng struggling mentally, ultimately resulting in his loan transfer to Orbit College FC. The hope is that this move will allow him to regain the form that once marked him as one of South Africa's most promising football talents. The documentary hastily shifts to the Carling Knockout Last 16 clash, where Pirates faced a disappointing 3-2 defeat against Magesi FC. During half-time, a visibly agitated Saleng was approached by then head coach Jose Riveiro, who, after noticing Saleng's reluctance, opted to substitute him. Riveiro narrates the moment saying, 'Because we know Saleng, we know what he's capable of doing… And we have a weird half-time… you could see that the boy is not happy, he's just not himself.' In an emotional response, Saleng spoke of the chaos surrounding his experience at the club, stating, 'What caused the situation? A lot of things. A lot of things happened.' The poignant exchange raises an essential question: was airing such a sensitive incident necessary? The portrayal of Saleng in this public arena arguably paints him in a negative light and raises alarming concerns regarding how Orlando Pirates navigates internal conflicts. Airing moments that delve into a player's vulnerabilities, particularly concerning mental health, can come off as a breach of trust. While transparency is important, it appears that the club has chosen to use the documentary as a shield, deflecting blame rather than supporting one of their most gifted players during a challenging phase. This decision to present Saleng's struggles publicly may serve to win a narrative battle, but it undoubtedly risks the morale and trust within the squad. However, supporters of the club may argue that such openness is necessary to provide fans with an authentic, unfiltered look behind the scenes of a professional football club. The response from fans will likely vary, with loyalists desiring transparency while others may question the ethical ramifications of revealing a player's struggles. 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 iolletters@ 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).

R70 000 to repair potholes
R70 000 to repair potholes

The Citizen

time5 hours ago

  • The Citizen

R70 000 to repair potholes

Wynand de Villiers Wynand de Villiers of De Villiers National Cycling, who has been involved in cycling for 24 years and worked side by side with the previous Cycling South Africa president Raoul de Villiers, said they have already had to pay R70 000 to service providers to repair potholes so that races can take place. 'It cannot be window-dressed. It is becoming increasingly difficult to host road races.' Besides the poor condition of the country's roads, he said Covid-19 has also had a major impact, with sponsors not returning to the sport. 'Without sponsors and numbers, it is difficult.' Entries at most major races, such as the Montecasino and Emperors, have dropped. Some of the races he is aware of that have also been cancelled include the Carnival City and the Race for Victory. De Villiers said cycling is his passion, and he will continue to host races as long as he can and that the entries for this year's Montecasino on October 12 look good. Danie Botha – president, Mpumalanga Cycling National road cycling has a very big challenge, and in my opinion, the period it takes for approval from authorities and the condition of roads that change overnight means that many of the big races this year have to be cancelled or postponed. The biggest challenge we have is to find roads that will allow us to ride safely. 'With the passing of Oom Hendrik and the incredible knowledge he had, there was no one else who wanted to take over the races, and I think the period to get everyone's approval will not just happen overnight. 'I am currently looking at options to give road cycling a strong foundation again in Mpumalanga, but one's starting point is always the safety of riders and then the rest. ' I hope to get a road cycling race in place in 2026 that will attract people and also many of our riders who ride abroad, the right month just needs to be chosen. 'Eastern Transvaal used to be the mecca of road cycling, but with the condition of the roads, the grand tours aren't going to happen. I always look at the trends happening internationally, and I believe that cycling as a whole is undergoing a metamorphosis.' Also read: Save the rhino… but what about the road cyclist? Colin Hoffman – veteran cycling journalist Road cycling is certainly dying out. The general condition of the roads, and the extremely high cost of hosting races these days play a big role in this. Hosting the Cape Cycling Tour already costs in the region of R1m just to keep the traffic arrangements running smoothly. Another factor is the high entry fees. The absolute incompetence of Cycling South Africa also has a lot to do with it. It's a bunch of people who sit at the office all day and don't do much. Cyclists themselves are also to blame. Most are true prima donnas, and there is never a shortage of opinions. Everyone always has solutions to 'fix' things, but as soon as you ask them for help, they disappear like mist before the sun. The future of cycling definitely lies in mountain biking and gravel racing, and to a lesser extent, criteriums like the former Il Campione or the Zoo Lake Kermesse. Gravel racing is just as good as our road racing, with all the 'potholes'. However, these disciplines will never be able to develop tough road men and women. My biggest dismay is that track cycling is also at its end. The Velodrome in Bellville seems to me doomed. And if this one falls (and it will), it is the end of track cycling in the country. The rest of the tracks are in a terrible condition, and of the 32 tracks we had in 1989, only seven remain. And still, FSA fails to do anything. Jaap Beyers – Chairman of the Middelburg Cycling Club The safety of our roads plays the biggest role. It has also become attractive with the wave of MTB stage events, with the bonus of exploring nature with friends that road cycling can no longer compete with. As students, we organised big road cycling tours, but the hassle of applying to the various road agencies and authorities and the cost of road events today is the final 'nail in the coffin'. I was a road cyclist for years and have organised many road as well as mountain bike events over the past 35 years, but will not organise road cycling events again… due to the above reasons. Cycling SA also plays a role… but I don't want to stick my head in that beehive.

Youth lawn bowls camp inspires next generation
Youth lawn bowls camp inspires next generation

The Herald

time5 hours ago

  • The Herald

Youth lawn bowls camp inspires next generation

The future of lawn bowls in the Nelson Mandela Metro looks bright after a successful Youth Development Camp held at the Kirkwood Bowling Club. The event brought together 40 enthusiastic juniors, with participants ranging in age — the youngest just seven years old — for a fun and educational introduction to the sport. The primary aim of the camp was to raise awareness of lawn bowls among youth and begin nurturing future stars in the game. By engaging with the next generation early, the organisers hope to create a sustainable pipeline of talent and break the outdated stereotype of lawn bowls as a sport for the elderly. 'This is a sport that truly caters for all ages, and one that you can enjoy for life,' organisers Arthur Langley, Cindy Nell, Francois Nell and Duane Nel said. They made the event possible through their passion and commitment to youth development. Throughout the day, juniors received hands-on coaching, learnt the basics of the game and were given the opportunity to test their skills in a friendly and supportive environment. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many youngsters expressing a newfound interest in lawn bowls. The event also underscored the importance of development at the grassroots level and the value of mentorship from seasoned players and coaches. With camps like these, lawn bowls in SA is shedding its outdated image and positioning itself as a sport that is inclusive, skill-based, and filled with opportunities, regardless of age.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store