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Qatar Tribune
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Al Sadd players Camara and Salem suffer injuries
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Stars League and Qatar Cup champions Al Sadd will be sans two key players for the start of their pre-season training as Malian midfielder Mohamed Camara sustained a pelvic injury and will travel to France for specialized medical assessment and treatment while Mahdi Salem has suffered a hamstring injury and is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks. The news comes just as the team prepares to depart for their overseas training camp in Spain, scheduled from July 16 to August 4, where they will lay the groundwork to defend their domestic double. Qatar Stars League clubs are intensifying their preparations for the 2025-2026 season, with a flurry of activity announced Tuesday encompassing key transfers, significant injury setbacks, and the commencement of European training camps. Al Shamal sign Abdulrahman Rashid Meanwhile, Al Shamal SC continued its ambitious summer recruitment drive, announcing the signing of defender Abdulrahman Rashid from Al Wakrah SC on a one-season loan. The club, which finished 6th last season, hopes Rashid will be a valuable addition to a squad already bolstered by the high-profile signings of Egypt's Akram Tawfik and Spanish midfielder Alex Collado. The moves signal a clear intent from Al Shamal to challenge for higher positions in the upcoming season. Elsewhere, Al Shahania SC has secured its core foreign talent by renewing the contracts of Sierra Leonean attacker Alhassan Koroma and Belgian playmaker Francesco Antonucci. Al Sailiya and Al Arabi teams leave for Europe Al Sailiya and Al Arabi teams have left for Europe where they hold pre-season camps. Al Sailiya departed for their training camp in Slovenia, while Al Arabi left for Valencia, Spain.
The South African
29-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Springboks Player Ratings: Who FIRED, Who FLOPPED
The Springboks got their 2025 season off to the perfect start with a 54-7 win over the Barbarians on Saturday. The Springboks demolished the Barbarians 54-7 at the DHL Stadium on Saturday, 28 June 2025. Rassie Eramus and the Boks have plenty to celebrate following their resounding performance en route to claiming their thir successive Qatar Cup. These are the players who stood out as well as a couple of stars who were slightly underwhelming. Lood de Jager – 9/10 Lood hasn't missed a step despite not playing for the Springboks in almost two years. The lanky Bok lock made countlies huge carries, getting over the advantage line at ease. He was also astute defensively and a solid line-out option for the Springboks. Vincent Tshitshuka – 8.5 What a debut. The elusive Sharks flanker scored two tries to cap off a well-rounded performance in his first Springboks test. Tshitshuka agility and skills were on full display. Meanwhile, he was a solid third choice in the line-out. Kurt-Lee Arendse – 8 Welcome back, Arendse. The speedy and skilful Springboks winger reminded the Bulls and SA Rugby what we have been missing since he left for Japan. Arendse finished off a beautiful well-worked team try in the corner and was a constant threat with ball in hand. He beat defenders at will with his fleet-footed stepping and lightning speed. Cheslin Kolbe – 9 The 2024 SA Rugby Player of the Year reminded us all why he was given awarded this honour. Kolbe was one of the stand-out Boks. His try in the corner was just the start of what was another world class display from Kolbe. He was excellent in the air dominating the aerial battle in wet conditions. Kolbe was perfect defensively, putting in one solid hit after the other. He added memorable bounce off on Ricky Riccitelli in the second half and was a threat all afternoon. *Please note that these players did not pay badly at all. They were just not as exceptional as the rest of the pack in what was a comprehensive display and dominance Springboks performance. Jean Kleyn – 6/10 He did not do much wrong but he was certainly overshadowed by his Bok lock team mate, Lood. Kleyn struggled to get over the advantage line or to make dominant tackles. He was solid at line out time and did what he needed to but did not stand out. Morne van den Berg – 6.5/10 He provided quick delivery from the base of the ruck. However, he certainly did not knock the selection door down and was outplayed by his replacement, Cobus Reinach. 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.
TimesLIVE
28-06-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Springboks batter Baabaas in Cape Town
There were times when this clash did not carry the majesty or grandeur of matches in time honoured Barbarians tradition. The rain that fell on the Grand Parade played a spoiling hand here too but the Springboks kept their powder dry and mustered their champion qualities to thoroughly vanquish the rag-tag visitors. Sure, the rain and accompanying greasy conditions put paid to this match living up to its true festival billing in the first half but through the mist and the drizzle the Springboks, at times viscerally, left no one in doubt they are a team endowed with champion qualities after the break. The first half left the impression that another government sponsored sports wash perhaps got what it deserved from the weeping gods, but the Boks rose above that through their heaven-sent bench in the second half. When the Boks deployed their bench in the 45th minute it did not send tremors around the rugby globe as it did the last time they contested the Qatar Cup. When they humbled the All Blacks in London last year seven hulking forwards were pressed into battle en masse. Nonetheless the impact of the bench was immediately felt on Saturday when replacement prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels dotted down barely two minutes after removing his puffer jacket. That score helped break the dam wall. In the end though it wasn't the Boks' razzmatazz that won the day but their ability to fastidiously stick to script. Their cohesion, particularly up front, ground down the visitors leaving Peter O'Mahony, Sam Cane and others perhaps showing their crusty vintage. The Baabaas at times looked like a team that conceived some of their line-out routines in the bar or conference rooms of Camps Bay's Bay Hotel. As is their staple, the Barbarians were forced to live off scraps. They made little headway as the Boks thud them back in the tackle. With their momentum stunted the odds on them winning this game was as long as the beer queues on this precinct. There were several Boks with a point to prove and almost all did so with aplomb. Lock Lood de Jager cut an influential figure throughout in his first game in the Green and Gold since 2023. De Jager's full restoration to the Bok fold will come as a major boost. His line-out prowess is supreme, while his leg drives in the maul carries weight. It was from his line-out take in the sixth minute that the Boks drove the Barbarians back over their own tryline. Hooker Malcolm Marx was again the grateful beneficiary. That try came on the back of the Barbarians failing to gather the wet ball. Soon after visiting flyhalf Josh Jacomb again dropped the ball to present the Boks a platform from which to launch. The hosts duly did and though they appeared hemmed in by the defence Aphelele Fassi's deft toe prod gave Cheslin Kolbe something of the chase. He scored en route to a man of the match performance. No.8 Jean-Luc du Preez, another long-time absentee from the Boks ranks, was full of honest endeavour. Perhaps predictably given the conditions, flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu delivered a mixed bag. Scrumhalf Morne van den Berg's intelligent use of the boot caged the Barbarians inside their own territory, while replacement Cobus Reinach injected energy and purpose after the break. Kurt-Lee Arendse was typically hawkish in eyeing opportunity, Kolbe played as if fit with all-weather tyres, while Fassi was full of the lustre that has characterised his season. Kolbe was electrifying in the second half. The visitors' scrum infractions started to mount in the first half as the trimmed down tight head prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye made his presence felt in Bok colours. The Boks however did not maintain their grip in that facet and the tourists grew stronger as the first half wore on. Melvyn Jaminet opened the visitors' score in the 65th minute but by then the tourists' baabaalas was well in the making.
The South African
28-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Springbok Player Ratings: Big Lood puts on a big show, Tshituka shines
The Springbok team showed up and showed out in Cape Town on Saturday as they outscored the Barbarians eight tries to one in their exhibition match to retain the Qatar Cup. There's no stopping the Springbok juggernaut, at least not for Barbarians, who plunged to a hefty defeat against the world champions. Here we dish out some key player ratings: Lood de Jager 9/10 Three super touches and carries leading up to the opening try scored by Malcolm Marx. Two crucial lineout steals close to the half-hour mark when the Barbarians were looking for a way into the contest. He capped off his fine return to international rugby after a two-year hiatus with a try in the second half. Vincent Tshituka 9/10 Used at the lineout as both a jumper and lifter in this clash, the debutant did his primary job to perfection. But his work in the loose and in openplay were superb too. Tshituka rounded of his first (of many) Bok game with two well-deserved tries. Kurt-Lee Arendse 8/10 In his first game back on South African soil, the speedster reminded the everyone just why he is coach Rassie Erasmus' first-choice winger. The dynamic runner breached the BaaBaas' defence at will, and while some of his Aphelele Fassi 8/10 With this performance, he confirmed that he is not conceding the Springbok No 15 jersey anytime soon. Fassi was rock solid at the back in defence and served as one of South Africa's greatest creative sources on attack. Morne van den Berg 7/10 As the race for a spot in the Springbok match-day squads for the upcoming Test series heats up, Van den Berg just edged ahead of the chasing pack at scrumhalf. He marshalled the game excellently and played a pivotal role in cover defence. Honourable mentions: Cheslin Kolbe and Asenathi Ntlabakanye Kolbe was named the official Man of the Match for his hot-stepping display in front of a crowd that went ballistic every time he touched the ball. Meanwhile, Ntlabakanye not only held his own against the well-accomplished Cian Healy, he completely outplayed the Irish legend. WHO DO YOU THINK WAS THE BEST SPRINGBOK ON THE FIELD TODAY? 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.
Qatar Tribune
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
QBF approves 2025-26 season agenda, new system for men's league
Tribune News Network Doha The Board of Directors of the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) approved the programme for 2025-26 season besides a new system for the men's league during the second meeting held at the federation's headquarters on Wednesday. The meeting was presided over by QBF President Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughaiseeb and attended by Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, QBF Secretary General, and Ahmed Yousef Mohammed Mubarak Al Darwish, QBF Assistant-Secretary. The meeting also featured board members: Abdullah Sultan Al Jaber, Abdulrahman Hamad Mohammed Al Mana, Mishaal Abdullah Yousef Al Malki, and Zahra Majed Burhan Al Zaidan, the sole female member on the board. Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughaiseeb expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the board members for their significant contributions during the 2024-25 sports season. Several critical topics were discussed during the meeting, particularly the approval of the agenda for the upcoming 2025-26 season, a detailed presentation of the national teams' forthcoming foreign participation schedule, and a dialogue regarding the implementation of the strategic plans previously established by the Federation to enhance the game, broaden its reach, and improve its visibility both locally and internationally. The federation approved several vital decisions, including the discussion and endorsement of the Competitions Committee's recommendations and the establishment of the calendar and activities for the forthcoming season. Additionally, the federation introduced new modifications to the men's league competition considering the unique characteristics of the impending phase as Qatar prepares to host the prestigious 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which is set to take place for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa region from August 27 to September 12, 2027. The new men's league system is set to be implemented across all clubs associated with QBF in the near future. As per the sanctioned schedule, the men's general basketball league is scheduled to take place from October 25, 2025, to February 16, 2026. The initial round of matches will be held between October 25 and December 25, 2025, while the subsequent round of matches to take place from December 31, 2025, to January 29, 2026. The semi-finals are planned for February 5 to 9, 2026, and the final round is slated from February 12 to 16, 2026. Following this, the Qatar Cup for men will commence from February 23 and continue till March 9, 2026. The principal men's tournaments will conclude with Amir Cup, scheduled from March 26 to April 23, 2026. The Under-19 league is set to run from September 15, 2025, to May 28, 2026. It will consist of two segments: the first from September 15 to December 1, 2025, and the second from January 20 to May 28, 2026. The U-19 Qatar Cup is scheduled for May 4 to 27, 2026. The league for Under-16 will take place from September 14, 2025, to May 26, 2026, and will also be divided into two segments: the first from September 14 to November 30, 2025, and the second from January 18 to May 26, 2026. The Qatar Cup is scheduled to take place from May 3 to May 26, 2026, while the Qatar Cup for Under-16 will be from March 30 to May 23, 2026. The U-14 league's first section will be held from September 13 to November 29, 2025, whereas the matches for the second division will be held from January 17 to April 25, 2026. Additionally, the Qatar U-14 Cup is planned for May 2 to May 25, 2026. The seasonal agenda further encompasses the organization of sports festivals aimed at younger age groups, specifically Under-9 and Under-12, from November 1, 2025, to May 16, 2026. This initiative is part of the association's commitment to fostering a culture of the game from an early age. As for women's basketball, it was decided to conduct festivals for girls from January 17 to February 10, 2026. The Under-15 Girls League is scheduled from January 16 to May 25, 2026, and the Under-18 Girls League will take place during the same time. The Women's General League is also set to be held from January 17 to May 25, 2026. At the end of its meeting, QBF reiterated its unwavering dedication to executing its development plans and annual calendar in alignment with the highest organizational standards. The commitment aims to fulfill the aspirations of the Qatari basketball community and to enhance the preparedness of national teams and clubs for forthcoming local and international events, particularly the hosting of 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
