English
Indian
العربية
Español
Deutsch
Türkçe
Русский
Français (Afrique)
SA20 unveils star-studded Season 5 squads
All six SA20 franchises have confirmed their retained and pre-signed players ahead of Season 5, with the remaining 19 slots to be filled at the Player Auction on 7 October.
Australia’s T20I captain Mitchell Marsh headlines the announcements. Marsh is set to make his SA20 debut for triple champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape alongside 2026 Player of the Season Quinton de Kock.
The pair will feature in the tournament opener against Pretoria Capitals at St George’s Park on 17 January, where fellow Australian Matthew Short will make his own SA20 debut for the Capitals. macnevers-and-co.beer
#BetwaySA20 Season 5 squads are taking shape 👀
Curran & Markram at DSG
Holder & Ferreira at JSK
Jacks & Rabada at MICT
Root & Miller at Royals
Salt & Ngidi at Capitals
Marsh & de Kock at SunrisersInternational firepower meets SA’s finest.
Teams as they stand before the 7 Oct… pic.twitter.com/yO37mowYh6— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) August 5, 2026
Centurion crowds will also see the return of England’s Phil Salt to the Capitals, now ranked fourth on the ICC T20I batting list, alongside Sherfane Rutherford, Dewald Brevis and Proteas T20I Player of the Year Lungi Ngidi.
Paarl Royals and Durban’s Super Giants have opted to lock in their full 19-player rosters before the auction. The Royals retain newly reappointed Test captain Joe Root, who returns for a second spell alongside Ottneil Baartman, David Miller and Lhuan-dre Pretorius.
Durban’s Super Giants add England all-rounder Sam Curran, who returns to the league after two seasons in Cape Town, joining Aiden Markram, Jos Buttler, Sunil Narine and Heinrich Klaasen.
MI Cape Town have pre-signed Will Jacks after three seasons with Pretoria Capitals, joining Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton and Nicholas Pooran at Newlands.
Joburg Super Kings add West Indies pair Jason Holder and Akeal Hosein to a squad already featuring James Vince, Donovan Ferreira and Dian Forrester.
JSK and MI Cape Town head into the auction with the most work to do, each needing to fill six vacancies including an Under-23 spot.
Pretoria Capitals have five slots open and Sunrisers Eastern Cape two, while every franchise has filled its overseas pre-signed quota bar Joburg’s remaining Wildcard option.
Season 5 begins at St George’s Park on 17 January 2027, with the final at Newlands on 21 February.
Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images
The post SA20 unveils star-studded Season 5 squads appeared first on SA Cricket Mag.
Gor coach Akonnor: ‘Nyamridhi’ ready to feast on Africa’s elite
NAIROBI, Kenya, August 5, 2026 – Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor is convicted that his charges have the wherewithal to compete with the creme-de-la-creme in the Caf Champions League.
The Ghanaian has cited the team’s recent performances at the Cecafa Club Championships as testament of K’Ogalo’s pedigree on the continental scene.
“There are a few elements that we saw that the future is bright for this team and so we are very happy. We believe that going forward, things will improve in our favour. In many ways, we know that we have a bigger competition coming ahead of us. If we’re able to test ourselves and do well and play against the likes of Al Hilal, who are a very good team…if we can play them and distract them from functioning very well, then we’ve achieved something,” Akonnor said.
The Kenyan champions brushed aside the Sudanese giants in a hard-fought semi-final of the regional tourney, excelling 8-7 on post-match penalties to qualify for the finals for the first time since 2015 — when they lost 2-0 to Tanzania’s Azam.
Both teams were deadlocked at 1-1 after 120 minutes, Gor finishing a man down after Jackson Dwang’ was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
Regardless of the result, Akonnor revealed his boys had already done enough to earn his admiration and respect.
“Even if we would have lost today through penalties, I’d have been proud of them because they did exactly what we wanted them to do. They showed great character and we believe that going forward, things will be okay. We will have to improve anyway but honestly, I’m proud of them. I am sure Kenya is also proud of them and we’re happy,” the ex-Ghana national team tactician said.
As they retreat to the training ground to prepare for Friday’s final against hosts Rayon Sports, the Ghanaian will be sweating over their bluntness in front of goal, which was a sore thumb in that last four tie against Al Hilal.
“It’s a concern for the near future because very soon we’ll be having a lot of competitions coming up. I mean, on the next match, on the final, we will manage it as of now because we’ve got a few guys who can help and improve the team,” he said.
K’Ogalo have an axe to grind with Rayon Sports who beat them 2-0 in a pre-season friendly in Kigali at the end of last month.
Akonnor will be buoyed by a number attacking reinforcements he has made in recent weeks, including one-time Puskas Award nominee Dennis Omedi, David ‘Messi’ Okoth and Paul Okoth — who was the second highest scorer with 19 goals in the FKF Premier League last season.
Le Bayer Leverkusen s’offre Miguel Gutiérrez
Le Bayer Leverkusen tient le remplaçant d’Alejandro Grimaldo. Le club allemand a officialisé ce mercredi l’arrivée de Miguel Gutiérrez, recruté en provenance de Naples. Selon plusieurs sources, le transfert du latéral gauche espagnol est estimé à 26 millions d’euros.
À 25 ans, Miguel Gutiérrez s’engage avec le Bayer après une seule saison passée sous les couleurs du Napoli. Les dirigeants de Leverkusen ont rapidement identifié l’ancien Madrilène pour renforcer le flanc gauche de leur défense à la suite du départ de Grimaldo vers l’Atlético de Madrid.
Formé au Real Madrid, le défenseur a effectué ses débuts avec l’équipe première avant de se révéler à Gérone, où il s’est imposé comme l’un des meilleurs latéraux de Liga. En trois saisons, il a disputé 112 rencontres, inscrit 6 buts et délivré 19 passes décisives, attirant l’attention de plusieurs grands clubs européens. Son parcours est également marqué par un titre olympique remporté avec l’Espagne.
En rejoignant le Bayer Leverkusen, Miguel Gutiérrez retrouve un environnement hispanophone avec la présence de Lucas Vázquez et Aleix García, deux compatriotes qui faciliteront son intégration au sein du club allemand.
The post Le Bayer Leverkusen s’offre Miguel Gutiérrez appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.
Vozinha granted shirt name exemption by Chile FA
SANTIAGO, Chile, August 5, 2026 – The Chilean Football Federation (ANFP) has granted an exemption to allow Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha to wear his nickname on his Colo Colo shirt.
The 40-year-old signed a six-month contract with the Chilean Liga de Primera side on Monday after garnering global acclaim for his performances at the World Cup.
Under league rules, he is required to play under his legal name Josimar Jose Evora Dias, with ANFP regulations stating “nicknames, appellations or sobriquets will not be permitted” on playing shirts.
However, Colo Colo have successfully secured permission for him to play under his famous moniker, which means ‘little granny’ in Portuguese.
“It is the name I have used my entire life,” Vozihna said in a news conference. “In Cape Verde, it holds great significance and a rich history, and now it does globally as well.
“If my grandmother were alive today, I think she would be proud. I hope to keep using it for the rest of my career as a tribute.”
Vozinha arrived in Santiago on Sunday to a lively reception from Colo Colo’s fans and joined his new team-mates in training two days later.
The veteran goalkeeper became a cult hero when Cape Verde claimed their first-ever World Cup point against Spain in the group stage and has seen his social media fame explode from 50,000 Instagram followers to nearly 30 million.
After helping his team reach the knockout stages, taking finalists Argentina to extra time in the last 32, Vozinha was named in Fifa’s team of the tournament and even had a newly discovered species of sea slug named after him.
Vozinha’s career has taken him to Slovakia, Angola, Moldova, Cyprus and, most recently, Portuguese second division side Chaves, but he has always believed himself to be a “‘big club’ player”.
Joining Colo Colo, the most successful team in the Primera Division (34 titles) and Copa Chile (14), is his career “highlight”.
“The decision was very clear. Despite playing in smaller leagues for clubs that weren’t exactly giants, deep down I always told myself I was a ‘big club’ player,” Vozinha said.
“So when Colo Colo came calling, there was no doubt. From day one, I knew where I wanted to play. I received many offers but Colo Colo was always the priority.
“The World Cup was the best thing that ever happened to me in football, but that is in the past now. Being here representing Colo Colo – a massive club with a rich history – is the highlight of my club career.”