Edition 66

R5.95

ISSUE # 66 SEPTEMBER, 2015 a Lenaka Media Publication 0 1 0 1 0>

9 772073 821004

ZIWA MO! ....Telkom Knockout Return WANT TO SEE MORE OF MALESWANE Page 5

WIN R3 000 SPAR SHOPPING VOUCHER Page 6

TSOGO SUN PLOUGHS BACK Page 10

Page 3 SPRINGBOK ARRIVES IN ENGLAND Page 23

Sept 2015 SUMMER days are here with us again, time to show off our lovely legs and six packs.

First let's congratulate Swimming South African Team who represented us well during the All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.

For the record, the Team SA came back home with a bag full of medals, all 54 of them (25 Gold, 18 Silver and 11 Bronze)…well done boys and girls.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said on our senior national football team, Bafana - nakampe@sports-focus.co.za 071 562 1847

Bafana who are sailing on a thin ice and at risk of not qualifying to the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon. This after Bafana failed to impress in their recent matches, and losing 31 to Mauritania was the last straw.

Calamity has also struck on the country's senior women's team Banyana Banyana who failed to qualify for the forthcoming All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.On a positive note though, we would like to wish the

CLAPHAM HIGH DEFEND THEIR COPA COCA-COLA PROVINCIAL TITLE

- eric@lenakacom.co.za 082 703 6822

REPORTERS: Amogelang Ramela amogelang@sports-focus.co.za Precious Rajane precious.rajane@sports-focus.co.za Busisiwe Mokwena PHOTOGRAPHERS: Lucky Zitha lucky@sports-focus.co.za

Sports Focus @Sports Focus www.issuu.com/SportsFocus

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Sports Focus is a Lenaka Media Publication Distributed by Media Distribution Africa (MDA)

Springboks all the best in their attempt to win the Rugby World Cup in England. The team left our shores this week and there are xpected to play their rst match against Japan on September 18 at the Brighton Community Stadium, kick-off is at 5.45pm…all the best boys.

Back to football we are expecting an explosive nal match of the MTN8 Ajax Cape Town and Kaizer Chief in Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela Bay..

CLAPHAM High school from Pretoria West successfully defended their COPA CocaCola Under-15 Football Tournament Gauteng title.

The school won the provincial tournament hosted by CocaCola in conjunction with the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA), held at the Swaneville Sports Complex in Kagiso on Saturday after defeating Bophelo Secondary School from Mayfair by 4 - 0 in the nal.

COPA Coca-Cola is a global initiative that gives millions of young football fans a chance to come together and

celebrate their passion for football, and also affords them the opportunity to realise their greatest potential by living an active healthy lifestyle.

This South African initiative searches for raw talent to nd the best U-15 school teams, as well as the most promising U15 talent in the country by conducting level-by-level knockout competitions.

Furthermore, COPA CocaCola has added a new innovation to the 2015 edition of the tournament by introducing the 'Which Part Will You Play' campaign which recognises that every footballer plays an important

role in their team beyond football skills. Coca-Cola will be selecting an invitational side, which will travel to the COPA Coca-Cola National Finals, comprising of 11 individuals who epitomise the key components which make up a successful football team.

Siya Mkhwanazi, a left back from Bophelo Secondary School was selected to join the invitational side after being identied as 'The Rebel' for inspiring his teammates and for his intellectual passes from his left foot.

"This was my school's rst participation in the COPA Coca-Cola tournament, it has been a great experience, not just for me but for my teammates as well. I have always admired Simba Marumo; he was one of my favourite players back then when he was still playing at Mamelodi Sundowns. To play in front of him and impress him at the game has been a great honour for me.

I could never have dreamed of this and look forward to the National Finals," says 14 year old Mkhwanazi.

Mkhwanazi will join nine other character selectees at the COPA Coca-Cola National Finals scheduled for September 23-26.

3

Sept 2015

TELKOM KNOCKOUT BACK WITH A BANG

By NAKAMPE LEKWADU WITH the MTN8 coming out of the way after the Saturday (September 18)'s nal match involving Ajax Cape Town and Kaizer Chiefs, football fans can brace themselves for even more action galore in the form of the Telkom Knockout Cup. The ofcial launch and draw for the competition will be c o n d u c t e d o n M o n d a y, September 21 at the Wanderers Clubhouse in Illovo, Jozi.

Ziwa Mo! as this lucrative competition is known has throughout the past years attracted more fans at various venues throughout the country and this year is expected to be no optional.

Last year saw the ever-green.

Thuso Phala scored the winning goal as SuperSport United emerged 3-2 victory over his former club, Platinum Stars in an electried grand nale played at Orlando Stadium. Ironically Stars were the defending champions after having won the competition a year earlier (2013) Matsatsantsa A Pitori, however were made to sweet as they had to wait until the 111th minute of the extra time to get the winning goal.

Before their victory last year, United managed twice to reach the nal matches of this

competition in 2004 and 2005 respectively but failed to lay their hands to its glittering silver-ware until when Gordon Igesund could join them as their new coach.

Kaizer Chiefs boast of the highest record wins of the competition since 2006 after

having won the title in 2007, 2009 and 2010, followed by Platinum Stars in 2006 (then known as Silver Stars) and more recently in 2013.

Orlando Pirates and Bloemfontein Celtic won the competition in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Sept 2015

DHL DELIVERS RUGBY TO AFRICA

A team of seven who embarked on an epic journey from Cape Town through Africa to London in October 2014 as part of DHL's Africa as One campaign, have nally arrived at their nal destination after traveling through 45 countries.

During an 11-month journey, the team crossed 102 border posts, travelled 70,854 kilometers, spent over 856 hours on the road, all while introducing the game of rugby and what I represents to 3,370 children in Africa. The ambitious DHL Africa as One journey formed part of the build-up to Rugby World Cup 2015 in England, and involved the team passing a single rugby ball from hand to hand across Africa.

This rst-of-its-kind campaign saw the team face many challenges, including terrain, security, health and safety issues. DHL Africa As One Team leader, Louise Otter, says that Africa is not for the faint-hearted.

"However, the incredible experiences along the way, from the local music and great ruins of Zimbabwe, snorkeling

in Lake Malawi, learning about coffee and the Black Pharaohs in Ethiopia and Sudan, to name a few, kept the team going, and provided much encouragement and enthusiasm.

"Moments spent with locals across the continent have also been a highlight. When visiting Guinea Bissau last month, we discovered that rugby is an entirely new concept to the locals, and that many had never seen a rugby ball before."

In order to make a lasting

impact in the various countries visited, the journey also included rugby fairs as well as various CSR activities including free eye tests for over 4,000 people through DHL's partnership with Mercy Ships and the distribution of over half a million units of stationery to young children across Africa.

Every step of the j o u r n e y, e v e r y person, every place and every pass was captured on lm, in photographs and words, and shared with Africa and the rest of the world.

According to Megan Collinicos, Head of Advertising & Public Relations for DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa, the tour was not only about rugby, but about showcasing Africa to the rest of the world in all her beauty. "We wanted to make a difference in each country, as well as capture Africa in her everyday routine, highs and lows in order to share this beautiful continent with the rest of the world."

"We decided to leverage the partnership in Africa, where rugby is relatively unknown in a number of markets. With this campaign, we wanted to marry our experience, knowledge and capabilities across the African continent with the concept of this ambitious journey - one that requires careful co-ordination and intricate logistics as well as signicant investment."

Collinicos adds: "Our dream of sharing Africa's beauty and culture with the rest of the world is now a reality. We have received a fantastic response to our campaign with over 26 million YouTube views on our Africa As One country episodes to date," concludes Collinicos.

DHL will be concluding their journey with a three-day activation in London, raising money for the United Nations World Food Programme's ( W F P ) Ta c k l e H u n g e r campaign.

All donations will help WFP to provide nutritious school meals to children in Africa.

To support the DHL Africa As O n e ' s Ta c k l e H u n g e r campaign, head down to Canary Wharf Station from September 14 - 16 in London.

Name: Maleswane Surname: Makgae Birthdate: 1995 April 13 Birthplace: Thabazimbi, Limpopo School: Matriculated at Hendrick Makapan High Year Completed: 2013 Favourite Sports: Netball Favourite Dish: Pap and Vleis Hobbies: Reading, listening to music and watching TV

Maleswane described herself as an aspiring young lady who is a goal-getter.

She says she is also caring, caring, self-respecting and takes life positively.

Her biggest dream is to become a top model in the near future.

Sept 2015

TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE SPAR JOBURG CHALLENGE

Buittengeluk, JohannesburgSpring is here, which means it is time for the women of Joburg to take to the roads to prepare for t h e S PA R W o m e n ' s 1 0 k m Challenge at the Wanderers Sporting Club on Sunday October 11.

The 10km Challenge and the 5km Fun Run have become an important part of the Joburg social calendar, with thousands of women of all ages, and from all walks of life, taking part.

While Joburg cannot boast sparkling sea views, the Sonja Laxton-designed course winds its way through some of the City of Gold's most beautiful suburbs.

The 10km route takes the runners along Corlett Drive and Oxford Road as far as Riviera Road in Killarney, before zigzagging back through some of Joburg's leaest suburbs.

The 5km route meanders through the plush suburbs of Illovo, Melrose, Birdhaven and Atholl-

Oaklands, giving runners and walkers a chance to peek at some of the most beautiful gardens in Johannesburg.

As always, there are some wonderful prizes on offer, in addition to the substantial cash prizes for the top 10 runners.

There is a lucky draw for a SPAR voucher worth R15 000, the very popular Bring-a-Buddy competition, generous offers of computers and equipment for schools with the most entries, but the most exciting of all is that one lucky runner will win a brand new Suzuki Celerio motor car.

But everyone is a winner on the day, with medals and goodie bags for the rst 15 000 to cross the nish line. The rst 15 000 to pre-register for the race will receive a free race t-shirt.

“Our Women's Challenge race is very important to us,” said SPAR South Rand Marketing Director Martin Webber.

“We love our elite runners who are vying for Grand Prix points, and making sure that our races are truly competitive, but we believe the most important part of the races are the thousands of women of Joburg who take part just for fun.

“Women do the bulk of shopping at our stores, and we are very happy to be able to say thank you to them by providing them with a really enjoyable day out.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and proceeds from the Joburg Challenge will go to support awareness of cancers affecting women. Many women who have conquered breast cancer take part in the race every year, proudly sporting their pink ribbons.

The Joburg Challenge will be the nal leg of the national ve race SPAR Grand Prix series. Already this year races have been run in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Pretoria and the ght is on for the top season ending spot which will be nalized after the race in October. Leading the Grand Prix is Lebogang Phalula who with a solid Joburg nish should walk away with the R150 000.00 top prize. However with a bunch of athletes challenging for second place on the Grand Prix leaderboard, nothing is guaranteed until after the Joburg race making the Joburg SPAR Women's Challenge a race to watch.

There are just a few weeks before the race, but there's still plenty of time to prepare for it. So jump out of bed, put on your training shoes, and get ready to take part in Joburg's celebration of Spring.

COMPETITION SPORTS FOCUS AND SPAR SOUTH RAND ARE GIVING AWAY SPAR SHOPPING VOUCHERS WORTH R3 000 EACH TO FOUR LUCKY READERS. TO WIN ANSWER THE QUESTION BELOW: Which city will the Final Leg of Spar Women’s Challenge be held?

Send your answers to sportsfocus@lenakacom.co.za Competition closes on 2015, September 18th and winners will be notied via email.

7

Sept 2015

HAVE A BALL AND HELP YOUR SCHOOL Johannesburg, South Africa- Do you want to win some brownie points at school and have fun at the same time? It is all so easy – all you have to do is take part in the SPAR Women's Challenge at The Wanderers Sporting Club in Illovo, Joburg on Sunday October 11 and you can help your school stand a chance of winning Mecer laptops and all in one printers.

There are two parts to the Challenge – you can either take part in the 10km Challenge or else you can opt for the 5km Fun Run and the great news is that walkers are welcome in both races. The school with the most nishers on race day will win the grand prize of a Mecer laptop with software and an all in one colour printer, copier, scanner and fax.

Schools with the second and third highest number of nishers will each win a Mecer laptop with software; and the second place school taking away an all in one mono printer, copier, scanner and fax. Schools must have at least 20 entries to qualify for the prize.

That's not all, there are some really great prizes on offer – the best is groceries for a year in the form of SPAR vouchers worth R15 000 – can you imagine your mother's face if you come home with a prize like that.

Just think of the fun you can have while helping your school. You could organise a competition within a competition – why not try to see which class can get the most number of girls to take part, or you could have an inter-house competition – perhaps the winning class or house could be

the ones to get rst use of the computer?

The race itself is great fun – thousands of women out to enjoy themselves. You and your friends can catch up on some important talk time, with no-one telling you to keep quiet or walk in line! There is always great entertainment at the nish, and there's a real party atmosphere.

The rst 15 000 people to enter the race will receive a free race tshirt at registration, and the rst 15 000 to nish will receive a medal and a goodie bag. This year's t-shirt are coloured a lovely pink that will look good on anyone, so it is well worth entering the race just for the tshirt.

It is very important to get your school's entries in before the closing date of September 26 – that's next week! Only preentries will be considered for the laptop and printer prize and just as important, only pre-entries will receive the free t-shirt.

Entry forms are available at all S PA R , S U P E R S PA R a n d KWIKSPAR stores or you can enter online at www.spar.co.za.

Don't delay – enter today! Just think how popular you will be if you help your school win one of those laptops.

Sept 2015

TEAM SA SCORES 54 MEDALS IN THE ALL AFRICA GAMES

THE South African swimming team concluded the aquatics programme of the 11th All Africa Games in Brazzaville tonight with a phenomenal total of 54 medals (25 gold, 18 silver and 11 bronze) and claimed the top spot on the medal table.

Myles Brown nished the competition on a high note, winning the gold medal in the 200m individual medley in 2:01.71, over a second ahead of Egypt's Mohamed Khaled in 2:02.38 and teammate Ayrton Sweeney, who grabbed the bronze in 2:04.22.

Douglas Erasmus and Clayton Jimmie made the perfect duo in the 50m freestyle, scooping the gold and bronze in 22.61 and 22.98 respectively, while Mazen Elamash won the silver in 22.97.

After winning the bronze in the

200m individual medley the previous evening, Rene Warnes bettered that performance by winning gold in the 200m buttery in 2:16.40, with the silver and bronze

going to Egypt's Rwioda Heshem and Mariam Sakr in 2:17.80 and 2:20.49 respectively.

Karin Prinsloo and Charlise Oberholzer won silver in their respective races.

Prinsloo was quick off the block and was leading after the 50m mark but had to settle for a second place nish in the 200m backstroke in 2:14.31 behind Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry in 2:13.29 and ahead of Tunisia's Rim Ouennich in 2:20.16.

In the 1500m freestyle, Oberholzer claimed the silver medal in 17:11.34, while the gold and bronze went to Algeria's Majda Chebaraka and Soudad Nassa Cherouati in 17:07.82 and 17:18.35 respectively.

To end off what was a highly

successful competition for the South African swimming team, it was a gold and a silver medal for the ladies and men's 4 x 100m medley relay teams.

J e s s i c a A s h l e y C o o p e r, Ta t j a n a S c h o e n m a k e r , Vanessa Mohr and Prinsloo were victorious in 4:12.36, while the men's quartet of Ricky Ellis, Alaric Basson, Nico Meyer and Jimmie nished second in their race in 3:42.85.

10

Sept 2015

Advertorial

SCHOOL SOCCER COACH WINS TOP WOMEN'S SPORTS AWARD

ALREADY a proven winner as a soccer coach for under12 and under-14 boys, Tsogo Sun Soccer Academy Coach Londiwe Hlatswayo has taken her winning streak up a notch and won the Gsport Volunteer of the Year Award.

"No words can explain how I feel. I am grateful to the Tsogo Sun Academy for believing in me and I'm looking forward to working further with the academy.

The programme is reviving my life and I will be doing more to give back to my community and my whole country South Africa," says a thrilled Londiwe Hlatswayo Gsport was launched in 2006 to raise the prole of South African women in sport, and to encourage corporate South Africa to back its female athletes.

The annual awards ceremony was held on 14 August and women were celebrated for their contribution to sport across a range of categories.

Hlatswayo joined the traditionally male-dominated ranks of soccer coaching by default. She had always been a netball coach, but when she moved to Khaselihle Primary School in Kagiso on the West Rand in 2012, there was no place for another netball coach. She coached athletics until the season ended and then turned to soccer with the Tsogo Sun Soccer Academy.

To ensure sustainability of t h e S o c c e r A c a d e m y, coaches are sourced from among the teachers in the participating schools and are then given the opportunity to become qualied coaches through a programmes partnership with the South African Football Association (SAFA). Hlatswayo attended training and quickly acquired knowledge of the sport, achieving her qualication as a level one SAFA accredited coach. With a constantly growing strategic understanding of the game,

her under-12 and under-14 teams fast became winners in their events and tournaments.

The learning curve was steep but Hlatswayo's passion for sports and her tenacity and commitment to creating an environment that fosters community support and respect for the students, the game and the coaches, quickly took her to the top of her game.

"We're immensely proud of Londiwe, but not surprised that she has achieved this prestigious award from gsport. She is a winner, not only because of her rm grasp of the game and her ability to inspire and motivate our young soccer players, but also because of her commitment as an educator and to soccer as a unifying force in a community is inspiring," says Shane Collinson, General Manager of Silverstar Casino.

T h e Ts o g o S u n S o c c e r Academy is designed to promote healthy living for youngsters, as well as a lifelong participation in sport, in line with government's vision. In the programme, soccer is used as a medium to deliver lifeskills,

leadership, and healthcare training, while also reinforcing the importance of education to young learners.

The Academy operates in 35 schools in Kagiso on the West Rand, working with 20 teachers and more than 1000 learners.

Hlatswayo shares the Tsogo Sun Soccer Academy belief that sport is a tool for transformation that can enhance a learner's life and encourage a positive mindset with the potential to produce a well-rounded individual.

Shanda Paine, Group CSI Manager of Tsogo Sun says, "Londiwe is an inspirational coach who has brought a welcome woman's touch and a new perspective to the game as well as to the Tsogo Sun Soccer Academy. This has allowed for growth within the programme and a new understanding of how sports can be a catalyst for student development. Through Londiwe's focus on communication, talent and skills development, it has been great to see the progress into thriving teams that rival the male-dominated coaching arena."

11

Sept 2015

Advertorial

TSOGO SUN TOURNEY IS BACK

By SEKABA MAAKE IT is that time of the year when all roads are heading for Lusaka Sports Complex in Swaneville, Kagiso where the annual Tsogo Sun Soccer Academy tournament is expected to take place.

The event which marks its 6th year this year takes place on September 19 from 9am until 5pm with approximately 900 youngsters from West Rand participating in this annual soccer tournament.

Each year 80 school league youngsters are selected and given an opportunity to compete in the professional development league which teaches them to perform at their best both on and off the eld.

This is coupled with various life skills workshops which provide the platform for great young adults of the future.

The primary objective of the Tsogo Sun Soccer Academy strategy is to provide young South Africans with opportunities to become educated, capable and skilled adults through a holistic approach to education and sport that incorporates life skills development with health and wellness education in the form of workshops within their sporting programmes. At the same time sporting talent and tertiary education opportunities are being identied and developed. The Soccer Academy strategy strongly supports the government's School Sports Framework for learners by providing extra-curricular activities at school.

The youngsters - some of whom have been a part of the programme since its inception ve years ago - have worked hard, shown commitment and balanced their school and extra-curricular activities in order to remain a part of the programme. Students who have persevered in the programme and shown exceptional talent are then selected to be part of Tsogo Sun Soccer Academy talent development team that is currently participating in the Soweto Football Association league.

Va r i o u s S o u t h African sporting heroes and positive role models are deeply involved in t h e Ts o g o S u n Sports Academy and are often on hand during the tournament and league to encourage a n d i m p a r t knowledge on the benets of sport at school. Among them is international footballer Morgan Gould, who currently plays for Kaizer Chiefs FC, and is

delighted to be working with the programme as it gives him an opportunity to give back to the community.

“It is overwhelming to see the impact such a programme makes as an extra-curricular activity in schools, encouraging the boys to develop discipline and camaraderie. This programme teaches a range of skills I wish I understood from a younger age.” said Gould who added that the boys do not only commit to school just to play soccer, “but more importantly they strive to excel at

school in order to be part of the programme. Some of the boys may become sporting heroes and some may become lawyers, but it is the Tsogo Sun Soccer Academy that is laying the foundation of fundamental life skills through sport that will allow them to succeed and accomplish better lives.”

Other heroes who graced the event include former Bafana Bafana and Leeds United captain Lucas Radebe, Sphiwe Tshabalala, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula.

12

Sept 2015

BANYANA BANYANA KNOCKED OUT BY LOTS

BANYANA Banyana were eliminated from the African Games Brazzaville 2015 after their Group B was decided by the drawing of lots in Congo recently.

Both Banyana and Ghana nished equal on points and goals scored, conceded and difference and as per CAF rule, the toss of the coin was to decide who among the two who would proceed to the seminals.

South Africa lost the toss and Ghana progressed to play in the penultimate stage of the tournament while Banyana Banyana is heading home.

Vera Pauw's charges drew 1-1 with Cameroon in the opening match and 0-0 with Ghana while Cameroon and Ghana also ended deadlocked at 1-1;

meaning Cameroon led the 3team log standing on superior goal scored while Banyana Banyana and Ghana ended deadlocked on the same number of points and goals.

Banyana Banyana coach Vera Pauw said while she was disappointed by the drawing of lots she had accepted fate as this was part of the rules.

“Well, I don't really have much to say except that I am very disappointed at the way we were knocked out but then again rules are rules.

I still think things went wrong for us

when we had a penalty awarded against us late in the rst match.

“We then had to play Ghana who hadn't played a match and were still fresh. I guess we were just unlucky because the toss could have gone either way,” added Pauw.

“We really needed to play more matches as part of preparations for the Rio 2016 Olympic qualier against Equatorial Guinea later this month. We will re-group and restrategise to ensure we are more than ready when we play that match. But it is a bit disappointing for the girls to lose this way.”

13

Sept 2015

AJAX ON THE LEAGUE’S DRIVE SEAT AJAX Cape Town climbed top of the Absa Premiership table after the latest round of action over the weekend when there was an impressive win for Kaizer Chiefs and a shock loss for Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Urban Warriors beat Polokwane City 2-1 at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night to overtake Mpumalanga Black Aces at the summit, with champions Amakhosi recording a ne come-frombehind 4-1 demolition of SuperSport United.

Meanwhile, the Brazilians lost 2-1 at promoted Lamontville Golden Arrows as the league swung back into action following the international break.

All seven games produced goals with 20 scored in total, the most coming at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane where a remarkable second-half showing saw Steve Komphela's side bag a famous win.

The Soweto giants fell behind to a Dove Wome (22) goal

midway through the rst half and trailed until the 49th minute when George Lebese levelled.

After Ivan Bukenya (58) put Chiefs ahead nine minutes later, Dean Furman was sent off and impressive Bafana

Bafana winger Lebese further stretched the lead in the 88th minute.

Siphiwe Tshabalala then added a fourth from the penalty deep into stoppage time as Steve Komphela's men climbed third.

In Cape Town, Ajax claimed their third successive victory thanks to goals from Nathan Paulse (5) and Abbubaker Mobara (7). Jabu Maluleke (15) netted what proved to be a consolation.

The Urban Warriors have nine points, the same number as Bidvest Wits, who won the battle of the universities 1-0 against University of Pretoria thanks to a Jabulani Shongwe (51) goal at Tuks Stadium.

Platinum Stars are now fourth after Robert Ng'ambi (12) and Eleazar Rodgers (30) goals saw them oust Jomo Cosmos 2-1 at Olen Park. Ezenkosi, who lost for the rst time this term, netted a consolation through Cheslyn Jampies (74).

Bloemfontein Celtic jumped to fth following an impressive 2-

0 win over Maritzburg United, a result that saw the Team of Choice slip to the bottom of the table, at Harry Gwala Stadium.

Thapelo Morena (40) and Musa Nyatama (45) were the scorers in Pietermaritzburg.

Up the road in Durban, Mabhuti Khenyeza's (7) early penalty added to a Ryan Chapman goal (71) sent Arrows to seventh on the table with a 2-1 win over Sundowns.

The Brazilians, who were only briey in the game through a Themba Zwane (47) goal, had Bongani Zungu sent off after just 18 minutes.

Finally at Goble Park, Free State Stars won for the rst time this term with a convincing 3-0 drubbing of Chippa United Andrea Fileccia (34 and 84) netted a brace either side of a Danny Venter (77) goal to seal a lop-sided win.

Aces and Orlando Pirates were not in action due to the latter being involved in the CAF Confederation Cup that saw them lost 4-1 away in Egypt to Zamalek.

Sept 2015

SHAKES MASHABA LOOKS UP FOLLOWING a challenging week for Bafana Bafana, we put questions to Head Coach Ephraim Shakes Mashaba on how he sees the future panning out in the wake of the defeat to Mauritania, a win over Senegal in the Nelson Mandela Challenge and the tough programme ahead.

In this frank and open interview, Mashaba talks candidly about the challenges but says he sees a great future for the South African Men's Senior National Team.

It has been a rollercoaster week, take us through it A: I was the rst to put my hand up to say we didn't play well in Mauritania but in the same breath, I also think some of the criticism went beyond fairness and was a bit personal. But, it also showed me how people of South Africa are passionate about their sport and in particular Bafana Bafana.

It is out of national pride that people have expressed their views. I understand that the game of football is all about winning, losing and drawing. I have been through a lot during my playing and coaching career. I have lived this game for my entire life, so yes, while some criticism hurt, I always pride myself in the fact that I put all for my country, the team and all those who love this team.

There has been massive criticism regarding preparations for Mauritania.

How much did playing on synthetic pitch affect the nal outcome?

A: We have travelled and played across Africa on numerous occasions, played on synthetic and grass pitches with great success. In fact, the harsh reality on the continent is that it is 50/50 regarding grass and articial pitches, so talk that we didn't do our homework is far-fetched. We were just outgunned on the day and we are not happy with our overall performance on the day.

Everything just didn't go well for the team and it hurts.

Then what really went wrong in Mauritania?

A: We conceded a bizarre goal very early in the game, a goal which would not beat Itumeleng Khune in a million attempts. But that is football for you. Check around the globe and you will see that errors are part of this game.

After a pep talk in the second half, I was condent to turn things around but minutes into the second half, we got a red card and that really threw us into a spin. Much as we tried, playing with 10 men, away from home against a rejuvenated home team, we were always going to chase the game. To add salt to injury, we had three defenders all suffering niggling injuries in the second half – Eric Mathoho (shoulder), Rivaldo Coetzee (ankle) and Anele Ngcongca (mild concussion) – and because we had already used all three substitutions, we couldn't take them off. The heat didn't help matters as well, but, most i m p o r t a n t l y, w e offer no excuses and we understand that we should have done much better. This will be a d d r e s s e d decisively in the r e m a i n i n g matches.

What about team captain Itumeleng Khune?

A: He is a true leader! That young man proved it against Senegal when he pulled off a string of brilliant saves. I was the rst to tell him to forget about the Mauritania game and I knew he would come back stronger. Those are the attributes of a leader and star player. I am happy and proud for him. Khune will always be a special player on my team sheet.

The boys turned things around against Senegal. How did this happen?

A: I have said some of the criticism against Mauritania was understandable. We showed against Senegal that when our backs are against the wall we can dish as much as we can get. We have beaten some of the best teams and qualied for the 2015

AFCON unbeaten. Those were not friendly matches. I am condent of this project, that given a good environment, it can blossom into massive national pride. Watch this space!!

There has been stability in the goalkeeping department and c a p t a i n c y. I s t h a t s e t t o continue?

A: The whole intention is to have a core of players within a set-up but then at times changes are forced on you. The rotation of the captaincy was for us to develop a core group of leaders in the team so that we can provide the necessary on-eld leadership even when we are forced to change our squad for the different competitions we usually enter.

15

Sept 2015

TO BAFANA’S FUTURE AHEAD will understand.

Explain Vision 2022....

A: Most people don't understand this concept. It is about building a world class SAFA as a global brand in which we develop our junior teams in preparation for battles to come and I am only touching from a playing point of view (It is a massive concept which entails administration, nancial stability, etc).

Already our U17 National Team is going to the World Cup in Chile, our U20 National Team won the Commonwealth Cup in Russia, but unfortunately could not replicate the same form at the African Championships in Senegal. Our U23 National Team is headed to Senegal for the 8Nations tournament in which the top three African countries qualify for the Olympics and we are condent we will make it to the Rio 2016 Olympics. Junior tournaments are all running at full throttle and come 2022, we are condent we will have built competitive national teams ready to compete on the continent and globally. We are very much on track as far as that project is concerned.

How do you and your technical team analyse the opposition?

A: We do lots of homework on the opposition and make use of the modern technology as dictated by modern trends.

About your selection criteria ...

A: There is a lot of work put into the entire system such as checking the well-being of the player, his suitability within the set-up, dedication to the team, DISCIPLINE and match tness.

All these are criteria discussed by the entire technical team and people must be mindful that before we name any team, it is subjected to a thorough 'tness test'.

The media criticism....

A: I have come to accept that it

goes with the territory although at times I feel that some of the attacks are personal. Perhaps I can just appeal that the criticism be a bit measured, constructive and relevant to the match/es. I promise, I will not undermine their (media/public) faith and belief in our National Team.

How do you feel when the team loses?

A: Like any other proudly South African, I get very emotional because I am passionate about this team and this sport which is the only thing I have known my entire life. I am only human and at times I may come across as being too emotional. But, we learn every day, but I don't think I will ever lose my passion for this team and our country. I hope you

Coming matches...

A: We are headed into a busy xture programme which starts next month with two away friendly matches in Costa Rica and Honduras before playing Angola home and way in CHAN and World Cup2018 qualiers. I am condent of where we are headed and think that we are entering a dening period in our campaign on all three fronts.

Supporters have stood by you through thick and thin A: The supporters have been the bedrock of my life in football and without them I could have cracked. Wherever I go, they encourage me to keep my head high. I stop at shopping malls to chat to them and exchange notes. When we have played below par they say so and we have to accept. In the same vein, when we do well they also congratulate us which shows

there is a balance. On behalf of the technical team and players, I would like to say to all Bafana Bafana supporters around the country, 'take a bow,' thanks for the support and we love you.

N B : B a fa n a B a fa n a ' s n e x t matches will be two international friendlies against Costa Rica and Honduras followed by four back to back qualiers against Angola for CHAN and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Thursday, 8 October 2015 Costa Rica vs BAFANA BAFANA International Friendly 8pm local time (4.am 9/10 SA Time) Baltodano Bricenio Stadium, Liberia Costa Rica Tuesday, 13 October 2015 Honduras vs BAFANA BAFANA International Friendly 4pm local time (00.00 SA Time) Metropolitano Stadium, San Pedro Sula Honduras Saturday, 17 October 2015 BAFANA BAFANA vs Angola First Round 4th Edition of CHAN, Rwanda 2016 3pm Saturday, 24 October 2015 Angola vs BAFANA BAFANA First Round 4th Edition of CHAN, Rwanda 2016 3pm local time (4pm SA Time) 11th October Stadium Luanda * Friday, 13 November 2015 Angola vs BAFANA BAFANA Round2 - 1st Leg, FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualier 3.15pm / 5pm local time (4.15pm / 6pm SA Time) Ombaka National Stadium, Benguela Angola * Tuesday, 17 November 2015 BAFANA BAFANA vs Angola Round2 – 2nd Leg, FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualiers 7pm Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban *

Sept 2015

OPEL MOKKA IS STRONG, ADVENTUROUS AND MULTI-TALENTED

If you've after the full-sized SUV experience combined with the driving dynamics of a compact car -meet the new Opel Mokka.

Its fresh sporty appeal, extra space and ground breaking technology make it a major challenger in its class.

The Opel Mokka's advanced driver assistance systems deliver on superior safety and comfort.

While its versatility and “goanywhere” nature of an SUV pairs effortlessly with your urban lifestyle.

The bold, self-condent design and aerodynamic lines, equals Mokka moments of gliding into a dream on every drive.

The Opel Mokka has successfully taken the Opel design language to create a look that is uniquely its own. It conveys a powerful stance on or off road. While it's rugged sense of style is as self-condent as you are. Experience that Mokka moment when you can't help but take a second look at the new Opel Mokka's elegantly sculpted sides, rear styling and 18” alloy wheels.

Exterior design Seen from the front the attraction is immediate. The frontal styling with the distinctive grille, wraparound headlights, lower trim and steeply raked windscreen speak to the Opel Mokka's aerodynamic design philosophy. The athletic,

sporty appearance continues with elegantly sculpted sides that draw your attention to the the generous height and width of the doors. The short overhangs and business-like wheel arches show off the Opel Mokka's rugged capabilities.

The rear view is functional and stylish. The sporty, curved, wrap around rear window adds to the aerodynamics of its sleek form.

The Opel Mokka wears the Opel Blitz high and proudly, packing all the rugged style of a full sized SUV into a compact drive. This is a vehicle you'll instinctively want the keys to.

Interior design True greatness comes from within. The interior of the Opel Mokka is an impressive feat.

Quality and comfort is strongly showcased in the interior design and storage concept of the Opel Mokka. Perfect ergonomics, an elaborate cockpit and strikingly beautiful ambient lighting, give it a spacious and inviting feel.

While the high mounted supportive seats, easy access controls and premium feel of the trim offer a friendly and mutedly modern design. For the convenience of storage space the rear seat folds down when you need it. Getting the little ones into their car seats is made so much easier with the Opel Mokka's high and wide opening

doors.

From the chrome detailing to the generous sized air vents and “sweeping” design of the dashboard, everything has a solid look and feel of durability.

Safety and luxury The Opel Mokka boasts many pioneering technical innovations that keep it far ahead of the pack.

The rear view camera enhances parking safety and makes manoeuvring into those tight spots a breeze. The Opel Mokka also provides outstanding control and road holding in any weather condition. he Opel Mokka has an extraordinary body structure. At its heart is the Safetec ® Security System that is an active and passive safety system that allows for maximum security in any accident situation. The sturdy frame of the Opel Mokka incorporates side impact protection and impact absorbent bumper systems for the least possible damage in the event of a collision.

In frontal collisions the impact is reduced by three pre-dened crumple zones. The front and rear structures are designed to absorb collisions at low speed, so that repair costs are kept down.

Beam assistant for halogen headlights - The high beam assistant i.e. the automatic adjustment of the low is now

available for the halogen headlights of the Opel Mokka.

The system automatically detects slopes, road contours and monitors the distance of the car in front of you as well as the oncoming trafc, to regulate the low beam accordingly. The result is greater comfort and safety for the driver and passengers.

Rear View Camera - You get more security with the rear view camera in tight parking situations. Your parking skills are greatly enhanced thanks to this device. You get a full view of the parking with the rear-mounted rear view camera monitor.

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - Manually monitoring the tyre pressure is a thing of the past. The Opel Mokka's Tyre Pressure Monitoring System does it all for you. Should you be losing tyre pressure, the driver is alerted by a signal on the instrument panel. You'll even get an exact display of the pressure on each tyre (Available for the Opel Mokka Cosmo only).

Prices Mokka Enjoy 1.4T manual R288 500 Mokka Enjoy 1.4T automatic R298 500 Mokka Cosmo 1.4T manual R325 500 Mokka 1.4 T Cosmo automatic R335 500

Sept 2015

SMALL CAR TAKES A BIG LEAP FORWARD The all-New Mazda2 brings you chic style, while Skyactive Technology unlocks quickwitted agility and outstanding f u e l e c o n o m y. O n l i n e connectivity is a seamless part of the fun with improved safety features.

This forward-thinking performance is matched to elegantly owing design.

'Kodo – Soul of Motion' design reects the dynamic beauty of an animal leaping into action.

Despite its size, the all-new Mazda2 is to shake up the local compact hatch establishment with its cheeky looks, modern technology and good value price tag.

Like its larger new-generation siblings, the new hatch inherits Mazda's Kodo design language and SkyActiv technologies and buyers will have a choice between two 1.5-litre engines in the form of a petrol and a diesel.

It comes with air conditioning, electric windows, height adjustable driver's seat, pushbutton engine start and a fourspeaker MP3/CD/USB/Aux audio system linked to steering wheel controls.

Safety comes in the form of dual front airbags. These high end features for a small car earned the Mazda 2 Car of the Year in Japan last year. Even more, safety is key and as

results Mazda 2 came out ying from a test by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), and was awarded ve stars for adult occupant protection.

Thanks to a lightweight, but strong body using high and ultra high tensile steels, the new Mazda2 proved itself among the bests in the segment on Euro NCAP crash tests. It scored an impressive total of 34 points for adult protection and the highest possible ranking of ve stars.

Not only are adults given

optimal protection in the new Mazda2, children are as well.

With a four-star ranking for child occupant protection with 37 points, Mazda's new subcompact becomes one of the few cars in its segment to achieve this level of child protection. And for pedestrian safety, Mazda2 achieved an admirable 18 points and twostar ranking.

The lightweight body due to weight-saving measures has made the new Mazda2 a trendsetter for fuel efciency and low CO2 emissions. It delivers some of the Bsegment's lowest fuel consumption (the standard power 1.3-litre petrol uses just 5.1 litres per 100 km combined) while producing just 119 g/km of CO2.

The new Mazda2 is not only one of the lightest, most fuelefcient, best-looking, and fun to drive sub-compacts in Europe - it is also ofcially one of the safest.

For not a lot more, the 1.5 Dynamic will liven up your life with 15-inch alloy wheels, B l u e t o o t h c o n n e c t i v i t y, electric folding mirrors,

leather-wrapped steering wheel and a full-colour touchscreen MZD Connect infotainment system with internet radio integration.

The 1.5 Individual upgrades you to 16-inch alloys, chrome exhaust, auto headlights and a few extra interior garnishes, while the 1.5 DE Hazumi range-topper gives you diesel power and other goodies like half-leather trim, navigation, automatic climate control and DSC stability control.

PRICES 1.5 Active R188 500 1.5 Dynamic R199 900 1.5 Dynamic AT R211 300 1.5 Individual R211 400 1.5 Individual AT R222 800 1.5 DE Hazumi AT R259 900 All models come with a three-year unlimited kilometre warranty and three-year service plan.

Sept 2015 July 2015

QASHQAI FOLLOWS UP WITH SLEEKER DESIGN

Made in Japan but named after an Iranian nomadic people, the Nissan Qashqai has proved its popularity in the motoring combo sector of SUVs, which combine family car and light commercial features. Since its inception in 2007, it has notched sales success of over two million units globally and over 20 000 in South Africa.

The latest Qashqai model, issued in 2014, is keeping the momentum going, thanks to the sleeker look of its secondgeneration design. The new Nissan Qashqai is of compact hatchback dimensions. With the practicality of a passenger car and the big driving position of an SUV, the Nissan Qashqai has matured into a vehicle which answers customer's motoring needs.

Moreover, the completely new Qashqai is longer, wider, lower and lighter. The vehicle also boasts state-of-the-art technology and increased efciency in performance.

Engines There are ve models, three engines and two gearboxes to choose from. The engines include: 1.2-litre turbo petrol

with 85 kW and 190 Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine with 81 kW and 260 Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged diesel engine with 96 kW and 320 Nm. Additional fact of curiosity is that the current Qashqais cars are built at the Nissan factory in Sunderland, England and not in Yokohama, Japan Specication and features Specication wise, the new Nissan Qashqai offers generous helpings of comfort features, even from the bottom of the range starts with the 1.2T Visia manual, which includes standard feature highlights like LED daytime running lights, electricallyadjustable door mirrors, Charcoal cloth trim, 16-inch wheels, a 5-inch full-colour HD Drive-Assist Display, remote central locking, a fullycompatible audio system with four speakers, a multifunction steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, two cup holders, four bottle holders and manual air conditioning. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are available as an option.

The new 1.2T Acenta and 1.5dCi Acenta models add even more features with the addition of 17-inch alloy wheels as standard, along with autoc lights and wipers, front fog lights, electric folding door mirrors, a leather steering wheel and gear lever, Graphite cloth trim, an electric anti-dazzle rear view mirror, six speakers, dual-zone climate control, driver and passenger seatback pockets, and an extra two cup holders.

Optional extras consist of two packs called the Design Pack and the Techno Pack. You can h a v e e i t h e r o r, o r a combination of the two.

Design Pack consists of smart silver roof rails, privacy glass and 19-inch V-design alloy wheels, while the Techno Pack includes Around View Monitor, heated door mirrors and the new NissanConnect infotainment system.

Prices QASHQAI 1.2T Visia R281 900 QASHQAI 1.2T Visia + 17″ Alloy R288 600 QASHQAI 1.2T Acenta

R310 100 QASHQAI 1.2T Acenta Navi R326 800 QASHQAI 1.2T Acenta + Style Pack R322 900 QASHQAI 1.2T Acenta +Navi+ Style Pack R338 900 QASHQAI 1.5dCi Acenta R330 500 QASHQAI 1.5dCi Acenta + Navi R347 200 QASHQAI 1.5dCi Acenta + Style Pack R343 300 QASHQAI 1.5dCi Acenta + Navi + Style Pack R359 300 QASHQAI 1.6 dCi Acenta CVT R382 500 QASHQAI 1.6 dCi Acenta CVT + Navi R399 200 QASHQAI 1.6 dCi Acenta CVT + Navi+ Leather seats R409 200 QASHQAI 1.6 dCi Acenta AWD R383 800 QASHQAI 1.6 dCi Acenta AWD + Navi R400 500 QASHQAI 1.6 dCi Acenta AWD + Navi + Leather seats R410 500 All models carry Nissan's new class-leading 6-year/ 150 000 km warranty and a 5-year/ 90 000 km service plan which includes roadside assistance as standard. Pricing includes VAT.

19

Sept 2015

SPORTS BAR AT THE EMERALD OFFERS HEAPS OF FUN

There are pubs, taverns and the like... and then there is a Sports Bar at Emerald Resort & Casino.

This lively venue inside the Vaal's main entertainment venue, is a must see even if your mission for visiting Emerald was not to watch any live sport.

Though it is themed as a sports bar, it is a place of relaxation for any adult person. Sports Bar is fully licensed with a pub style menu, now boasting a TAB tote.

Anyone over 18 is welcome, including - 6 coinless slot machines Non-sporting types are well catered for even during televised live sports matches.

However, it does no harm to join the merrymakers when their sport teams are in action; the great atmosphere becomes better when everyone joins in the fun. Sports Bar is also the ideal venue to view all the action of Rugby World Cup 2015, while the atrium (just

outside Sports Bar) will come alive as a Fan Park through all the South African games plus the quarter, semi and ď€ nal games.

Moreover, this is the perfect place and moment to make new friends, irrespective of whether you had visited alone or are in company.

Though the Casino is the main business at the Emerald, the Sports Bar is fast forging a life of its own because of stylish design, ambience and the happy atmosphere. There are more people now who visit the resort just to be at the Sports Bar to enjoy scrumptious meals, the beer and the uplifting atmosphere.

The Sports Bar is located Emerld Resort & Casino on 777 Frikkie Meyer Boulevard in Vanderbijlpark, Southern Gauteng.

It can be contacted on 016 982 8236 or info@emeraldcasino.co.za.

Sept 2015

30-YEAR-OLD BEACHFRONT HOTEL

Tsogo Sun's nine seafront hotels and Suncoast entertainment destination carry the memories of hundreds of thousands of travellers and holiday makers across generations, and the group's investment into the rejuvenation of this elegant, mature and ambitious city is seeing to it that Durban holds its own into the future.

The Durban beachfront remains a vital part of Tsogo Sun's operations, contributing some 25% of its total EBITDA in an area stretching from Garden Court South Beach to the Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World at the northern end of the Golden

Mile. “Over the last few years, we have invested signicantly in refurbishing and upgrading our hotels on the beachfront in response to the outstanding work that the City of Durban undertook upgrading the promenade,” says Tsogo Sun CEO Marcel von Aulock.

“We brought the Elangeni and Maharani hotels together to create the most exciting destination complex and the largest hotel in the group – the Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani – and we have just nished a complete refurbishment of the Garden Court Marine Parade, an Art Deco masterpiece.”

The Garden Court Marine

Parade, as it's now known, was opened in 1985, becoming yet another Tsogo Sun landmark on the Durban beachfront. Constructed at a cost of R45 million, it set a

new standard in South African architecture and, exactly 30 years later, has just been g i v e n a R 11 0 m i l l i o n refurbishment to restore it to its former glory.

Sept 2015

RESTORED TO FORMER GLORY

“Tsogo Sun's Development team painstakingly retained the core elements of the 70s architecture, and combined it with the modernity of today's technology in a seamless way so that the guest experiences a fresh, modern product of a world class standard,” says John Aritho, General Manager of the Garden Court Marine Parade.

With a unique dome that has become an iconic picture of Durban and art décor theming that the group was determined to retain, the Garden Court Marine Parade, with 352 sea-facing rooms, occupies a prominent space on the beachfront.

The renovations include touch-ups and re-colouring in all the hotel's public areas, reception, conference rooms, guest toilets, lifts and lift foyers and corridors. The entire lobby now features light Brazilian tiles presenting a clean, crisp look. The pool area on the 30th oor boasts sweeping views of the Durban beachfront, harbour and city,

and has been revamped with new furniture including a mobile bar that is ideal for events.

Guest rooms and bathrooms now have minimalistic new furnishings throughout with emphasis on a cleaner, more contemporary look with simple uncluttered lines. New rooms have been added, increasing the offering from 346 rooms to 352 rooms.

The hotel offers an array of features, including

conferencing and events venues, free high speed WiFi, a new open air gym, hotel shuttle, bicycle rental and self-service business fa ci l i ti e s. Th e u p g ra d e d conference facilities are able to accommodate over 500 delegates in various layouts.

The restaurant has been designed in a contemporary fresh style and the bar area also has been refreshed with a relaxed café look.

The response from the market

to the refurbishment, says J o h n , h a s b e e n overwhelmingly positive.

“We've grown our conferencing business as a result of the revamp of our conference centre, which has boosted our occupancy out of season. Event organisers who confess to not having been in this part of Durban for 20 years are now bringing their events to the hotel.

Everyone is so proud to see Durban returning to where it was in the 80s. Tsogo Sun's investment in our beachfront hotels has been a great driver for business, one that supports what the City has done and that's been highly recognised by local government and Durban Tourism.”

Tsogo Sun's portfolio includes over 90 hotels and 14 casino and entertainment destinations throughout South Africa, Africa, the Seychelles and Abu Dhabi.

The Group operates in all segments of the hotel market from Deluxe to Budget. For further information, visit tsogosun.com, follow on Tw i t t e r a n d I n s t a g r a m @ Ts o g o S u n o r o n Facebook.com/TsogoSun.

Sept 2015

IT IS NOT THE WORST GROUP TO BE DRAWN IN – DA GAMA

THE South African Under-23 national team has been drawn with hosts Senegal in Group A of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations that will be played from November 8-December 12 in Dakar and Mbour. The other teams in the group are Zambia and Tunisia.

The draw which was conducted

in Cairo, Egypt on Monday morning, September 14 also sees Egypt, Algeria, Mali and Nigeria compete in Group B. Top three teams from the 8Nations tournament will book a spot to the Rio Olympics next year.

“Any draw was always going to be difcult. We have played

Tunisia recently in friendly matches and surely they will come at us guns blazing. So it is a difcult draw but at least now we understand what we are up against.

“We have seen Zambia play, so it's not the worst group that we have been drawn in because it could have been worse,” said Owen da Gama, South Africa U-23 National Team Head Coach.

Da Gama added now that the draw was over, it was time to up the preparations for the tournament.

“Everything will depend on our preparations which need to be spot on. The onus is on us to go and work hard and ensure that we are ready for the tournament. We need to sit

down with all stakeholders including clubs to make sure we don't leave anything to chance going forward,” added Da Gama.

The U-23 mentor said he was condent that with proper preparations, his team had the capacity to make the country proud FULL DRAW Group A Senegal South Africa Zambia Tunisia Group B Egypt Algeria Mali Nigeria

Sept 2015

ALL THE SYSTEMS GO FOR THE SPRINGBOKS

THE Springboks were greeted by sunny but cool conditions when they landed at Heathrow on Saturday morning, but not even the typical English weather could curb their enthusiasm as the team nally got into proper Rugby World Cup spirit.

The Boks were warmly welcomed by a delegation led by the South African High Commissioner to the UK, HE Mr Obed Mlaba, as well as representatives from Rugby World Cup, in the Royal Suite at the airport.

Thereafter the team set off on a two-hour journey by bus to Eastbourne, where they will be based for the rst week of the tournament. The Boks open their RWC campaign

next Saturday against Japan in Brighton.

“It is great to nally be here after most of the talk of the last year centred around the Rugby World Cup,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.

“We've been working incredibly hard for this and I can see the players are ready.

They've spent the last month sweating on the training eld and in the gym and can't wait to get going.

“The pressure will be on us from the rst match and every single Test will pose

different challenges. Having said that, the focus will be on what we want to achieve from our four pool matches.

“We've mixed up our play a bit earlier this year but a World Cup is different to the Rugby Championship. Decisionmaking will be key and although we want to score tries and play attractive rugby, the conditions could dictate a more tactical approach, while we must also not stray from our main strengths.”

Springbok captain Jean de Villiers, who will be playing in his third Rugby World Cup, echoed Meyer's comments.

“The rugby is obviously the main thing, but it's also important to enjoy this special tournament as it only comes a r o u n d o n c e e v e r y fo u r years,” said De Villiers.

“We'll be seeing parts of England we've never been to and the players are very excited to experience new things and new places. We must not lose sight of our ultimate goal though, and that is to go all the way.

“This will be a very closely contested World Cup – every single one of the top teams have lost at least once this year and past form will count for very little when the action starts on Friday.

De Villiers also thanked the South African supporters who came to Heathrow to welcome the team and apologised for not being able to greet them.

“We were made aware there were a lot of supporters waiting for us at Heathrow, but unfortunately the organisers took us via an alternative exit to avert the queues at customs and we did not get to see them. We're very sorry about it but it was not in our hands,” said the Bok captain.www.sarugby.co.za