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Siya eyes history, honours Soweto’s sacrifice
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi says Saturday’s Test against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium is about more than winning, it is a chance to repay a debt to the people of Soweto. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports. amunra.help
Kolisi spoke movingly on Friday afternoon about the sacrifices made by the community living in the shadow of the famous Calabash.
“We’re thankful for the people connected to that place who fought for the freedom that lets me and him [assistant coach Mzwandile Stick] sit here today,” he said, adding that the current generation had benefited from freedoms secured by those who endured struggles they themselves had never experienced.
“Giving our best tomorrow, and using every opportunity we get, is part of us saying thank you.”
AFRICA PICKS: Springboks vs All Blacks betting odds
The Springbok skipper recalled the deep footballing history tied to the ground, referencing memories from the 1996 African Cup of Nations, and said the connection runs far beyond rugby. He described homeless residents rising to cheer as the team bus passes, and locals giving up what little they have so others can watch the match.
“It hasn’t always gone our way in Soweto, we didn’t win the first time we played here, but the numbers that show up at the stadium, and the vibe inside it, we feel it,” he said. “We hope we can give them a good memory, not just with words but with our efforts tomorrow.”
SNAKEY: Boks’ midfield holds edge
On the field, Kolisi is closing in on a piece of Springbok history of his own. A win would give him a record 55th Test victory as Bok captain, taking him past John Smit.
He and teammates Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese will also claim the record for the most Tests played together as a Springbok loose trio, a combination Kolisi credits for much of the side’s recent success.
“We’ve all got different roles, and we’re used to playing alongside one another,” Kolisi said. “You can see the way Jasper carries the ball through contact, the work Pietie puts in, and mine is more the stuff nobody really notices, which I actually enjoy.”
STOKKE: Boks want home series win
He was quick to deflect individual milestones back to the collective.
“As for the wins record, that’s a team achievement, not mine personally. As long as we win, I’m happy, because it shows we’re building and moving forward as a group.”
Asked whether wet weather forecast for kick-off could disrupt the Springboks’ plans, Kolisi was unmoved.
“It won’t affect our game plan at all. The way we play is built for any weather.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post Siya eyes history, honours Soweto’s sacrifice appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Proteas beat Namibia for the first time, booking their place in T20 tri-series final
South Africa had to dig deep, but they managed to maintain their composure at the death, securing an 11 run victory over Namibia on Friday to book their place in the T20 International tri-series final in Windhoek.
Having lost to their neighbours in their previous two T20 matches, it was the Proteas’ first ever win over Namibia in an international match.
Chasing 229 runs to win, Namibia put up a powerful fight, anchored by openers Jan Frylinck and Louren Steenkamp who shared 119 runs for the first wicket.
Fast bowler Andile Simelane broke the partnership in the 11th over of the innings when he had Frylinck caught by sub Tony de Zorzi on the deep square leg boundary for 72 runs off 36 deliveries.
After Frylinck was removed, Steenkamp went on to make 61 off 44 before he retired hurt at the end of the 16th over.
Though the hosts continued to work for it, after the openers were dismissed they were ultimately restricted to 217/3.
Proteas innings
Earlier, after losing the toss and being sent in to bat, the Proteas were carried by openers Lhuan-dré Pretorius and Connor Esterhuizen.
The duo combined in a 156-run opening stand, which was the second-highest partnership for the first wicket (and the sixth-highest for any wicket) by a South African pair in T20 International cricket.
Esterhuizen was removed in the 11th over for a career best 88 runs off 40 balls when spinner Jan Balt dismantled his leg stump.
After he was dismissed, Pretorius went on to contribute 101 off 53 deliveries before he was bowled by spinner Gerhard Erasmus in the last over of the innings.
Pretorius – who was given a life when he was dropped on 23 – hit his first T20 International century, with the SA team compiling 228/4.
South Africa, finished top of the T20 tri-series table with six points, face Zimbabwe in the final in Windhoek on Sunday, 6 September.
Tottenham : Roberto De Zerbi écarte Richarlison, un départ imminent ?
Richarlison n’entre désormais plus dans les plans de Roberto De Zerbi. L’attaquant brésilien ne figure pas dans la liste de Tottenham pour la Premier League, un choix qui confirme la rupture entre le joueur et son entraîneur. À 29 ans, l’ancien buteur d’Everton se retrouve ainsi poussé vers la sortie alors que Trabzonspor s’est positionné pour le récupérer avant la fermeture du mercato turc.
De Zerbi tranche pour Richarlison
Le signal envoyé par Tottenham est particulièrement fort. Richarlison avait déjà été écarté du groupe lors de la rencontre face à Newcastle, après plusieurs demandes de départ formulées auprès de sa direction. De Zerbi lui avait alors clairement fait comprendre qu’il ne comptait plus sur lui.
Son absence de la liste de Premier League confirme cette tendance. D’autant que les Spurs ont choisi d’y inscrire plusieurs joueurs actuellement indisponibles, notamment Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski et Wilson Odobert. Le choix concernant Richarlison apparaît donc avant tout sportif et lié à sa situation avec le club.
Le Brésilien, encore sous contrat pour une saison avec une année supplémentaire en option, avait pourtant été prévenu avant la fermeture du mercato anglais qu’il ne faisait plus partie des priorités de l’entraîneur italien.
Trabzonspor tente de profiter de la situation
Un départ vers Everton avait été envisagé quelques jours auparavant. Richarlison pouvait alors servir de monnaie d’échange dans les discussions autour d’Iliman Ndiaye, mais le scénario a finalement échoué après le transfert du Sénégalais à Manchester City. Tottenham avait fixé le prix de son attaquant à environ 35 millions de livres, sans parvenir à trouver d’accord.
Frustré, Richarlison avait ensuite laissé éclater son amertume sur les réseaux sociaux, écrivant notamment : « Je suis le méchant de nombreuses histoires mal racontées ». Il avait également reconnu son désir de retrouver Everton, où il avait vécu une période particulièrement heureuse.
Depuis, Trabzonspor est devenu une piste concrète. Le club turc aurait trouvé un terrain d’entente avec le joueur sur les conditions personnelles de son arrivée. Il reste désormais à convaincre Tottenham. Avec la fermeture imminente du mercato en Turquie, les négociations pourraient connaître leur dénouement très rapidement.
Pour Richarlison, l’équation est donc claire : rester à Tottenham sans entrer dans les plans de De Zerbi, ou profiter de cette dernière opportunité pour relancer sa carrière ailleurs.
The post Tottenham : Roberto De Zerbi écarte Richarlison, un départ imminent ? appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.
Fenerbahçe-Lyon : Guendouzi lourdement sanctionné par l’UEFA
L’UEFA a rendu son verdict après les incidents qui ont marqué le barrage retour entre l’Olympique Lyonnais et Fenerbahçe. Matteo Guendouzi écope de la sanction la plus lourde, avec quatre matches de suspension et 50 000 euros d’amende. Mason Greenwood, les deux clubs et le staff lyonnais sont également concernés par les décisions disciplinaires.
Guendouzi manquera les deux premiers rendez-vous européens
La qualification de Fenerbahçe pour la Ligue des champions aura donc une conséquence immédiate pour Matteo Guendouzi. Le milieu français est suspendu pour quatre rencontres de compétitions européennes, après avoir été reconnu coupable d’insultes, de provocations envers les spectateurs et de violation des règles fondamentales de comportement.
La sanction est partiellement assortie d’un sursis : deux matches seront effectivement purgés, tandis que les deux autres sont suspendus pendant une période probatoire d’un an. Guendouzi sera ainsi absent contre l’AS Roma et Aston Villa, les deux premières affiches européennes de Fenerbahçe. Il devra également s’acquitter d’une amende de 50 000 euros.
Greenwood et les deux clubs également sanctionnés
Mason Greenwood est lui aussi sanctionné, mais dans une mesure nettement moindre. L’attaquant anglais reçoit une amende de 30 000 euros et un match de suspension avec sursis pendant un an. Il pourra donc participer au rendez-vous face à la Roma.
Fenerbahçe devra de son côté payer 95 000 euros d’amendes, répartis entre l’utilisation de feux d’artifice, les incidents dans les tribunes et le non-respect des règles générales de conduite. L’OL n’échappe pas davantage aux sanctions : le club français reçoit plusieurs amendes pour des jets d’objets, des feux d’artifice, des troubles dans le public et des manquements au comportement général, pour un total de 108 500 euros. Son entraîneur des gardiens, Antonio Ferreira, est par ailleurs suspendu cinq matches, dont trois fermes, pour agression grave.
L’UEFA a donc sanctionné l’ensemble des protagonistes de cette fin de match mouvementée. Fenerbahçe, qui avait annoncé son intention de défendre les intérêts de ses joueurs et du club devant les instances européennes, devra désormais décider des suites à donner à ces décisions.
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Ardie vows to ‘smash’ mate Siya
All Blacks captain Ardie Savea has thrown down a cheeky but pointed challenge to Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi ahead of Saturday’s third Test at FNB Stadium. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.
Savea promised fireworks between the two close friends when the whistle blows.
Asked on Friday afternoon about Kolisi currently holding an unofficial 1-0 edge over him in the tackle stats, thanks to a ferocious hit on him in Cape Town, Savea made clear that friendship counts for nothing once the game starts.
“I told him, next time, tackle me frontwards, take me home,” Savea said, laughing off the previous hit. “I was lying on the ground and all I could hear was my dad’s voice telling me to get up. So I got up.
𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐌
Siya Kolisi with a massive hit on Ardie Savea
Stream #RugbysGreatestRivalry on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/ZwNwMFJMlP
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 29, 2026
“Siya’s the same guy off the field, we get on well, but once you’re on the field you’re locked in, he’s the enemy out there. That’s footy, we’re going to try and smash each other tomorrow, then jump on the plane again afterwards.”
MORE: Siya, Ardie showing ‘best of rugby’
Beyond the personal battle with Kolisi, Savea was blunt about the scale of what awaits his side.
“I think we all know the importance and the spectacle of this game,” he said. “If you’re thinking of it like State of Origin [the annual rugby league series between New South Wales and Queensland], it’s game three, one apiece, here in Africa, so it’s a big one.
“It’s exciting to get to play at the Soweto stadium and challenge ourselves to get the win.”
WATCH: Ardie gets Cape Town haircut
The All Blacks skipper conceded his side has been guilty of slow starts through the series but insisted the belief within the squad remains unshaken.
“You wouldn’t be an All Black if you weren’t confident by this point in the week, so we’re confident, but we also respect the threat the Springboks pose,” he said.
“Last week they came out firing … we’d talked about starting well and didn’t quite deliver on that.”
AFRICA PICKS: Springboks vs All Blacks betting odds
He identified the breakdown as the critical battleground.
“Every rugby team is trying to hunt turnovers at the breakdown, and there’s no doubt the Springboks are strong there. They did a good job keeping us out last week, and they’ll have to do it again this week.”
Savea also dismissed suggestions that a leaner, sharper-looking squad in training signals a change of style.
“I wouldn’t say so. We know how we want to play, and South Africa know how they want to play. The game comes down to fine margins, we lost that battle last week and the Springboks took advantage of it.
“We have to be really clinical, accurate and disciplined. They’re world champions for a reason, and if you do that you won’t get it back.”
ALSO: Siya eyes history, honours Soweto’s sacrifice
With his family in South Africa for the tour, Savea admitted the trip has carried extra meaning off the field.
“It’s been amazing. The majority of our time here has been absolutely beautiful. For me to go and do my work with the All Blacks and then come home and see them here [in the team hotel] has been a massive blessing.”
But with the series on the line, sentiment ends at kick-off, and Savea knows exactly who stands in his way.
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
The post Ardie vows to ‘smash’ mate Siya appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.