Latest news with #LubabaloDobela
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Lions still sponsorless
'We are negotiating with a few large overseas companies. What makes things a bit more difficult now is the European holiday period.' JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 17: Lubabalo Dobela of the Lions scores the winning try and celebrate with teammates during the United Rugby Championship match between Emirates Lions and Ospreys at Emirates Airline Park on May 17, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images) The Lions remain without a team title sponsor and stadium naming-rights sponsor ahead of the 2025-26 season. Emirates ended its 10-year sponsorship of the Johannesburg-based franchise at the end of June, having informed the Lions late last year that the agreement would not be renewed. 'We are negotiating with a few large overseas companies,' Lions CEO Rudolf Straeuli told Rapport. 'What makes things a bit more difficult now is the European holiday period. 'Like last year, Fidelity ADT is the main sponsor of our Currie Cup team. We've also added one or two smaller sponsors to the mix. But we are still in talks with potential major sponsors – international companies – which unfortunately takes more time.' Pieter Burger, managing director of Ellis Park, had previously told Rapport that the Lions were in contact with about six prospective sponsors regarding the naming rights for both the stadium and the team. The Lions advertised the sponsorship opportunity on business social network LinkedIn a month ago. This story was first published on It is republished here with permission.
TimesLIVE
6 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Lions looking to set a marker for Currie Cup season when they take on the Sharks
In their Currie Cup opener at Ellis Park on Saturday, the Lions have the opportunity to exact revenge and set a marker against the team they lost to so dramatically in last year's final but flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela warned they cannot afford to be overzealous. Last year, the Lions had one hand on the trophy at the full-time siren but manufactured a way to still lose 16-14 as the competition climaxed. Though Dobela is happy the Lions have an early crack at the Sharks, he is pleading for his teammates to have calm heads. 'I think it is still fresh for a lot of guys. We want to set the tone. We have home ground advantage. We want to go out with a bang but at the same time not get too excited and lose what your focus is. 'We are going in blind because neither team has had a warm-up game,' Dobela added. Though he is desperate to break the Lions' trophy drought that stretches back to 2015, coach Mziwakhe Nkosi has a few boxes that require ticking while stressing the Lions unapologetically also have to prepare for the United Rugby Championship.
IOL News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Is Lubabalo Dobela the answers to Lions' flyhalf woes in the URC?
Lubabalo Dobela had a solid outing at No 10 for the Lions against the Ospreys this past weekend in the URC. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Lubabalo 'Lubs' Dobela could hardly have asked for a better starting debut at flyhalf in the Lions' win against the Ospreys on Saturday – dictating play with ball in hand and with the boot, setting up centre Henco van Wyk's try ... and scoring the winner after the hooter. He was also solid in defence, with a steal at the ruck one of his notable defensive efforts in the nail-biting 29-28 win over the Welsh visitors at Ellis Park in the United Rugby Championship. His kicking at poles could do with a bit of work but he did land two of his four conversion attempts. As a half-back pairing, Lubs' link with Nico Steyn seemed out of sync at times, but that will surely develop over time. All in all it was a memorable outing from the exciting and versatile backline player, who has also featured at fullback. These Lions don't know when they're beaten 😤 Fantastic scenes at Ellis Park as Lubabalo Dobela scores in the corner to give @LionsRugbyCo the win 🎉 #BKTURC #URC | #LIOvOSP — BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) May 17, 2025 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. 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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. Next Stay Close ✕ Coach Ivan Rooyen has never doubted his attacking talent, speaking glowingly of him after his arrival from the Griquas earlier this year. But he used him sparingly as the former Junior Springbok and Blitzboks player was allowed time to bed in. Saturday's 'dead rubber' may have been the ideal time to test a new half-back combination, and Dobela grabbed the chance with both hands. His performance, and that of the Lions backline in general, will give the long-suffering pride cause for optimism for next season. It is no secret that flyhalf has been one of the positions where the Lions have struggled. Injuries to stalwarts, as well as the early release from his contract of the versatile Sanele Nohamba, compounded matters this season. In fact, their struggles at flyhalf can arguably be traced back as far as the exit of Jordan Hedrickse to the Sharks last season. The experienced Kade Wolhuter, Gianni Lombard and journeyman Sam Francis have all missed chunks of the season due to injury, loss of form or a bit of both. It is no coincidence that the absence of veteran Wolhuter, in particular, coincided with a dip in form for the Lions, who had started their URC campaign brightly, before tailing off alarmingly after a nightmare tour of Europe. Youngster Francis stepped into the breach, but lacked consistency, while Lombard limped off when he looked to have been settling in. The Lions attack lacked cohesion and the error count began to mount as the Joburg side limped to the end of the season. They bowed out of URC playoff contention after failing to convert a favourable run of home games in the run-in into the desired results. An injury to Springbok scrumhalf Morne van den Berg late in the campaign also confounded Lions efforts to build a settled halfback combination. Nohamba's heroics in the final game may not suggest that the Joburg side's problems will magically disappear, but at least there is light at the end of the tunnel. It is also difficult to judge a player on one match. However, the early signs are promising. With a good preseason under his belt, the nippy Lubs could yet develop into a key member of the Lions backline for seasons to come.
IOL News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Lubabalo Dobela the late hero as Lions end URC season with thriller over Ospreys
Lions fullback Quan Horn was once again one of their strongest attacking weapons in the URC match against the Ospreys. Image: BackpagePix The Lions managed to restore some pride to the jersey as they ended the United Rugby Championship season with a consolation 29-28 win over the visiting Ospreys at Ellis Park on Saturday evening. There was a new halfback paring with the exciting Lubabalo Dobela started in the No 10 jersey, and Nico Steyn at scrumhalf. The pivot was able to knit play together early on with his crisp passing. Winger Edwill van der Merwe also got more involved in the early exchanges. He had been largely anonymous early on in last weekend's loss against the Scarlets. The Lions won a scrum penalty and rumbled the ball up through flank Renzo du Plessis before working the ball down the right wing to Richard Kriel. Unfortunately, a knock-on denied Dobela a dream try on his first start, when the ball was fed inside. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ The Lions were solid in the line-out and a set piece on the right was worked through the hands at pace. Lions stalwart fullback Quan Horn broke the line to set up Van der Merwe to score down the left-hand touchline in his farewell match. Dobela missed the conversion. Horn, who has been invited to the Springbok alignment camp, has often been the bright spark in an underwhelming season for the Lions and was once again a handful for the visiting defence. However, the Lions immediately surrendered that advantage when Will Griffiths charged down a Richard Kriel clearance kick. Dan Edwards kicked the conversion. Coach Ivan van Rooyen's side were looking energised on the attack, however, hitting the gain line at pace. The Lions forwards were also strong in the carry, keeping the ball tight. They also looked after it better at the breakdown. But they were a bit predictable on attack and the Welsh visitors were able to cope comfortably with the crash ball tactic. The scrums were also fairly even contested. Dobela was looking increasingly assured, and showed off his ability with the boot with a cross kick and high up-and-under, and in kicking for territory. There was a clever exchange of passes and Lions players ran strong support lines to eventually unlocked the Ospreys defence, with a looping run down the right wing. JC Pretorius timed the offload to perfection to set skipper Jaco Visagie up for a brilliant try in the 30th minute. Dobela landed the two extra points. The visitors finished the first half strongly, but there was no addition to the 12-7 scoreline in favour of the home side. The Ospreys won the first scrum penalty of the second half in what was developing into a titanic forward battle. They were also starting to boss possession and territory. The Lions did well to repel repeated assaults on their tryline. The pressure eventually told as James Ratti barged over for the five points, despite the TMO questioning the grounding. Great work by the all-action Du Plessis at the breakdown led to a penalty and the Lions kicked for touch in the left-hand corner. The rolling maul off the lineout throw-in was too powerful for the visitors to cope with and skipper Visagie powered over for his second try of the night. The game started to open up, but errors also started to creep into the play. Jack Walsh scored next for the Ospreys. They looked the hungrier of the two teams with 15 minutes to go in the match. Lions skipper Jaco Visagie scored two of his team's tries in Saturday's URC clash against the Ospreys that brought the curtain down on their season. Image: Backpagepix A fine steal and chip chase by Dobela again almost resulted in a try for the flyhalf, with the defender forced to dot down over the tryline and concede the 5m scrum to the Lions. But he showed great hands and vision to slip the pass for star Lions centre Henco van Wyk to run onto at pace and score. A late try by hulking Ospreys forward Sam Parry seemed to have broking Joburg hearts, with score 28-24 to the Welsh outfit. However, the Lions threw everything into the attack in the closing seconds, and they won a penalty at the hooter that they they kicked for touch. The rolling maul seemed to be going nowhere when a pass over the top found Dobela on the right for the winning score. It was no less than his dynamic play had deserved, ensuring a winning end to the season for the Joburg side, and announcing him to the pride. Points-Scorers Lions 29 – Tries: Edwill van der Merwe, Jaco Visagie (2), Henco van Wyk, Lubabalo Dobela. Conversions: Dobela (2). Ospreys 28 – Tries: William Griffiths, James Ratti, Jack Walsh, Sam Parry. Conversions: Dan Edwards (4).
