Latest news with #ItumelengEnglish
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Pyramids FC: Predicted lineups for CAF Champions League final 2025
THE CHOSEN XI Here are the latest predicted lineups and key stats for the CAF Champions League final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids FC. Picture: Itumeleng English/Independent Media Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids FC will lock horns once more in the second leg of the CAF Champions League final, in Cairo, on Sunday evening. Kick-off is 7pm SA time. Sundowns drew 1-1 with Pyramids last week at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, as the visitors bagged a crucial away goal. Previously, in four two-legged finals involving a South African club which failed to win the first leg at home, only once has a comeback been pulled off. That of course came 30 years ago when Orlando Pirates drew 2-2 at home and then beat ASEC Mimosa 1-0 away in the return leg.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Proteas banking on 'human element' ahead of WTC final at Lords
PROTEAS top order batter Tristaan Stubbs will be looking to exploit the Australians' human insecurities when they face off in the World Test Championship in London. | Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers However, that is not the mood in the Proteas Test camp, as top-order batter Tristan Stubbs revealed. The Proteas batting unit has been diagnosed as the weak link due to the lack of experience in Test match cricket, and also due to the unit not having played against a potent bowling attack this World Test Championship cycle. Throughout the build-up, the Proteas' weaknesses have been thoroughly discussed, and very little has been said about the Australian Test team and their disadvantages. THE Proteas Test team landed in the United Kingdom over the weekend, and the full squad will start their first preparations as a group for the upcoming World Test Championship final at Lord's staring on June 11. The 24-year-old emphasised that the Australians, despite being the defending champions and their vast experience of high-pressure games, are also human and they would be nervous just as much going into Lord's. Having played with Australian opening bowler Mitchell Starc at the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League over the past two months, Stubbs' claim is warranted. "I played with him (Starc). The biggest thing is they're also human. They have the same thoughts we have, which you sometimes forget because they've won these big games. They're also a bit nervous. Don't use that as a headline," chuckled Stubbs. "They're just as scared as we are. They have the same fears, so that bodes well. They also have insecurities." Right from the start of his career, coach Shukri Conrad was clear about the role that he wanted Stubbs to play in the Test team. The coach wanted Stubbs to bat at three. However, the 24-year-old has found himself batting at different positions in the order in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle for a host of different reasons. Many thought that the youngster would be deterred by the varying batting positions and perhaps lack an understanding of his role in the team. However, Stubbs told the media that he is not deterred. "My whole career, every team I play for, I have a different role, so it's nothing new. One day I'm batting at three, another day I'm batting at six. I don't mind it," said Stubbs. "It helps the team, wherever they need, I can mould my game to that role. Once you've batted at three, you face the harder stuff with the new ball. It's pretty much like batting later in a one-day game. The situation tells you that it might be flat, and you might be able to score a bit quicker. "It might be overcast, you might have to come in and dig in. It's more of your game plan's role, the situation way up top. You know, okay, I'm going to come in, new ball, it's going to move around." Having not played much red ball cricket this year, Stubbs and the rest of the batting unit will have a much-needed time in the middle next week as they are set to play against Zimbabwe in a once-off Four-Day warm-up match.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
It's now or never for Mamelodi Sundowns in CAF Champions League final
TOUGH BATTLE AHEAD Mamelodi Sundowns aim to secure their second CAF Champions League title by overcoming historical odds and drawing inspiration from Orlando Pirates' 1995 comeback. Picture: Itumeleng English/Independent Media Having conceded an away goal in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final, Mamelodi Sundowns will face an uphill battle in the return leg against Pyramids FC in Cairo on Sunday. Last week, Sundowns drew the first leg 1-1 at home at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. Now, they will travel to Cairo, knowing only a win or a 2-2 draw will secure their title. Sundowns will hope to emulate the Pirates side of 1995, thanks to the challenging scoreline. In the four two-legged finals involving a South African club that lost the first leg at home, only once has a comeback been pulled off. That, of course, happened 30 years ago when Pirates drew 2-2 at home and then defeated ASEC Mimosa 1-0 away in the return leg.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Q & A: Graeme Smith on his love for Lord's, the Aussies and Proteas spearhead Kagiso Rabada
GRAEME Smith and other Proteas legends speaking at the current squad's send off ahead of the departure to the World Test Championship final at Lord's. | Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers Image: Itumeleng English/independent Newspapers Independent Media's Zaahier Adams, who will be covering the World Test Championship final between the Proteas and Australia at Lord's, sits down exclusively with former captain Graeme Smith. Smith shares his vast experience of the unique challenge of facing Australia, the charms of Lord's, and speculates about the make-up of the Proteas starting XI… ZA: Graeme, we here at the Betway SA20 office, how is the day job going these days? It's actually unbelievable the amount of people that think when our season finishes that the work comes to an end. You get asked, what are you doing now? I've got a really good team at SA20 and working hard already on hopefully improving a number of things and getting things right for Season 4. ZA: But before that gets underway, there's quite a big thing happening in South African cricket the next couple of weeks, the World Test Championship final, with the Proteas playing for the golden mace, something you know a little bit about … I've been fortunate to get my hands on the mace a few times. The thing about the mace is to get there and get your hands on it, the amount of toil and hard work that goes into achieving that No 1 status in Test cricket. Travelling the world, you've got to have a team that can handle pressure for five days, that can handle the mental state and perform the skills consistently in many different conditions. It's a reward of performance over a period of time. It's great that South Africa are back in that place with the opportunity to get their hands on it. Graeme Smith PROTEAS legend Grame Smith. | Itumeleng English/independent Newspapers Image: Itumeleng English/independent Newspapers ZA: The opposition is none other than the arch-enemy Australia. A team you enjoyed many a battle with. So, let's rewind to your debut series in 2001, you receive a verbal barrage, and you speak about it publicly afterwards… It came back to a bit of innocence as well, naivety. I think for me, playing against that great Australian team, making my debut as a youngster at 21 years old, and then performing reasonably well in a cauldron like that when it was so highly pressurised, The (Australian) attack was probably one of the better attacks I've ever played against … (Jason) Gillespie, (Brett) Lee, (Shane) Warne, (Glenn) McGrath. And of course, Steve Waugh was still there, that old school hard Australian style. I think for me, just doing an interview afterwards, I was actually speaking out of excitement. I learnt a valuable lesson because the reporter took advantage of it and it became a big thing. Independent Media's Zaahier Adams will be at Lord's covering the ICC World Test Championship final. Picture: Independent Media Image: Independent Media ZA: Four years later, you are now captain of the Proteas heading Down Under. And you take a lot of the responsibility on yourself both on and off the field. Do you feel it is key that the captain has to lead the way when facing Australia? I think as you grow, you balance things. At the time, we were a team that probably wasn't good enough to go and win in Australia. A lot of players going there for the first time. It was a valuable lesson for me, that tour. It was my first experience of touring Australia. Yes, I tried to take a few things extra on my shoulders. We fought hard in that series. I think for me, a lot of valuable lessons that I took away, that really helped frame us going back there in 08-09 and how we wanted to go about it. Building the type of team that can go there to be successful. (3:56) What are the challenges you need to overcome? (3:58) A lot of hard lessons on that first tour that were tough, (4:01) that ultimately framed the future successes. ZA: You finally climbed Everest in 2008. You beat the Aussies on their home patch. The celebrations in Melbourne were extremely special. What did that mean to you as a group to go there after all the hardship that had gone before? Winning at probably one of their most iconic stadiums, winning the series at the MCG. When you start on Boxing Day, you walk out there, you're like, wow, this is just an incredible coliseum to perform in. Then winning for the first time in Australia was just an amazing moment. I had watched teams and been a part of a team that had gone there and suffered at the hands heavily. It's a hard tour. The media is tough. The crowds are tough. They're an incredible cricket nation, a lot of outstanding players. It's a huge hurdle to overcome. I think it was so important that South African Cricket broke that barrier down in 08-09. There's an image that I'll never forget of getting onto the team bus and Jacques Kallis is all emotional and in tears. For him, it had been such a tough run and now he'd overcome it. There was JP Duminy bouncing on him on his first ever tour. He was like, what's all this fuss about? The Proteas claimed the ICC Test mace at Lord's under Smith's leadership in 2012. Picture: AFP Image: AFP ZA: And then you head back in 2012, and do it all over again! By then we were a team that had come together. We had some incredible bowlers. A great attack. We had depth with Kallis as an all-rounder and De Villiers performing and another all-rounder in JP. We also had a batting unit where the majority of the guys averaged close to 50 or over 50. We built a culture, we built a value system. We knew what we stood for and the performances just followed. ZA: It all basically reached a crescendo at Lords in 2012, and you lift the mace. The Proteas are the best team in the world. Just that experience, the Lords' experience. How does this young Proteas side going there now, how do they cope with the enormity of the situation? There's a lot of experience around South African cricket now. Maybe that's something we can get better at is the sharing of knowledge and experience of what was important for us. For example, arriving at Lords, there can be a lot of fanfare because it's people's first experience of the museum, the ground, the traditions that come with it, the Members Stand. Often, it's about getting those little things out of the way and dealing with it pre-game. It is just an amazing place to go and play cricket and to have a final, a World Championship final there, adds to the occasion. Hopefully the South African team really just recognises the opportunity and is determined to go and do well. ZA: What are the biggest challenges facing the Proteas? We know that they've got certain challenges they're going to need to overcome against a very successful Australian team. They're the underdogs. But what an opportunity. It would be fantastic to see, in a one-off Test match, they give it everything and perform their skills. ZA: How do you approach a once-off Test match? Obviously, preparation is key. I think for the underdog team it's a benefit. If you can get your stuff together and a couple of players or you get a batting unit that suddenly posts a total or your bowlers get you into the game, it really is. Over a three to five test match series, you expect the better teams to get better and better. The pressure over a lengthy period of time will take its toll on a team that's maybe got a few gaps. But in a once-off, you've got six days to really get it together and perform your skills. Graeme Smith has the highest score by an overseas batter at Lord's. Picture: AFP Image: AFP ZA: How do you think Temba Bavuma, as captain of the Proteas, needs to front up to the Aussies? I think Temba will go about it his own way. He's not a guy that shouts from the rooftops. He's calm, assured. The most important thing for Temba is his performance with the bat. There's a lot of players in that line-up that can bat around a Temba, and with his consistent performance of late, if he can take that into the game, it really does calm things down and settle things down for the rest of the unit. Then tactically, I think it's going to be important to see how they go about it, him and Shuks, in terms of selection. What's the type of bowling line-up they're going to put together? What's the weather? What's the pitch look like? Try and put combinations together that can really hurt Australia. ZA: In 2012, we saw the importance of JP Duminy and Vernon Philander scoring valuable runs at Nos 7 and 8. Do the Proteas stack their side again with the all-rounders? Just watching Shuks, he is a little bit unpredictable in terms of his selections, but I do think that he likes those options in terms of having a few more options with the ball and batting a little bit deeper. Depending on the weather, I would always be very nervous at Lord's to go without a spin option. Kesh (Maharaj) has been an outstanding option for Temba. If the sun does come out, sometimes that pitch can get good and you'll need someone to control the game as well. That's often the nuance as a captain and a coach is trying to find that balance in your XI. ZA: If you had a message to this young Proteas side before easily the biggest game of their lives, what would that message be to that group of players? Well, motivation shouldn't be an issue for the guys getting there. If you're not motivated, then there's something wrong. A lot of work probably needs to go into handling of situations, how they're going to handle the media, what's going to be their messages. Getting used to the Duke ball what are the key factors that they want to get right in the Test Match from a strategy perspective. Focusing on that and then putting all things on the table. I think one of the great things about the team that we built when travelling to Australia, we actually built in things to deal with. Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen will be influential for the Proteas at Lord's. Picture: AFP Image: AFP
IOL News
3 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Surve's Urgent Call for Action : A South African Vision for Youth and Economic Renewal
In a world of uncertainty, true leadership is measured by the ability to confront pressing crises. In South Africa, the future of millions of young people depends on bold action and innovative solutions. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers In an age where nations teeter between promise and peril, the true measure of leadership is not in grand speeches but in the ability to confront the crises that define a generation. Nowhere is this more urgent than in South Africa, where the future of millions of young people hinges on bold action, not empty rhetoric. It is in this context that the recent awarding of the Global Trailblazer Award to South African entrepreneur Dr. Iqbal Survé by the T20/G20 Future of Jobs Summit feels less like a surprise and more like the natural outcome of a life lived with purpose. The Award, reserved for individuals who have shattered boundaries and sparked global movements, acknowledged Dr Survé's lifetime of work in business innovation, social transformation, and international cooperation. In the words of the citation, it celebrated his 'pioneering spirit, boundary-breaking leadership, and relentless pursuit of excellence' — a fitting tribute to someone whose journey has consistently bridged commerce, conscience, and community. For decades, South Africa has struggled with one of the world's highest youth unemployment rates, now hovering at over 60%. The crisis extends beyond economics; it threatens the nation's social fabric and future stability. Addressing this challenge has been at the heart of Survé's broader mission, from his days as a medical doctor treating victims of apartheid, to building companies that have created thousands of jobs and sustainable enterprises across Africa. As a founding member and chairperson of the BRICS Business Council, Survé helped shape the architecture of South-South cooperation, advocating for emerging markets long before it became fashionable. His diplomatic engagements have earned him recognition from several nations, including the International Friendship award from Her Majesty, Queen Letizia of Spain, and fourteen other global awards, and he has been a member of the World Economic Forum since 2007. In these arenas, Survé has championed a future where emerging economies are not mere participants, but architects of a multipolar world order. During his recent address at the Future of Jobs Summit, Dr Survé didn't mince words about the scale of South Africa's challenges. In a moment that blended satire with sober reflection, he remarked on the conspicuous absence of key South African officials, a nod that underscored deeper concerns about leadership's reluctance to confront uncomfortable truths. True leadership, he argued, lies not in diplomatic courtesies but in the courage to advocate for bold, structural reforms, especially in the face of youth unemployment. 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 ✕ Ad Loading In his keynote, Dr Survé proposed practical and visionary solutions: creating regional centres of excellence across Africa, each dedicated to building expertise in critical sectors such as technology and energy. 'Let's divide up the continent,' he said, 'not by colonial lines, but by language and capability, and build institutions that serve our future.' It was a call not just to action, but to rethink Africa's place in the world. The significance of the Trailblazer Award, then, lies not merely in the personal recognition of Dr Survé, but in what it represents — the validation of a worldview rooted in service, resilience, and transformation. At a time when the global order itself is being renegotiated, leaders like Survé offer a reminder that real progress is driven not by those who wait for change but by those who build it. The world is full of awards, but few are earned through the steady accumulation of deeds that shift the horizon of possibility for others. In that sense, Survé's recognition is less about personal acclaim and more a marker of what leadership, grounded in principle and action, can achieve. * Adri Senekal de Wet is the Editor-in-Chief of Independent Media.
