5 minute read
Sporting Action: The 2024 Post-Match Report
By Koketso Mamabolo
You’re only as good as your last game, goes the old saying, passed on from coaches to generation after generation of athletes. Once the final whistle blows at the end of December we can celebrate the new year knowing our last game, 2024, was a good one. We scored goals and tries, we swam, we ran, we threw, we raced, we won and we won in style. It’s a time to celebrate and while many of South Africa’s finest will continue to chase glory over this festive season surely even they will look back on the year that was and feel that results in 2025 are in their hands.
This year Tatjana Smith became South Africa’s greatest Olympian, swimming her way to a gold and silver at the Paris Olympics. Wheelchair tennis player Kgothatso Montjane won her third Grand Slam, Dricus du Plessis became a world champion and Akani Simbine finally received the reward he deserved. Paralympic sprinter Mpumelelo Mhlongo broke records again and Tasneem Solomons became the best women’s pool player in the world.
Banyana Banyana continued to capture the hearts of millions and Bafana Bafana brought back the glory days. The Springbok Men were immortalised and the Springbok Women began the opening chapters of what promises to be an interesting story in 2025.
The new year will kick off with the Proteas Men taking on Pakistan in the second test match a month before both teams, along with New Zealand, compete in the Tri-Nations Series. The Proteas were on a sixmatch winning streak at the time of writing and the side will hope to sustain that momentum into the last stretch of the 2024/2025 international season.
Newly appointed Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardos has a tough job ahead of him, with the cracks in the dynasty beginning to show. All eyes will be on his side as the year starts off and fans will be treated to the Soweto Derby at the beginning of February with Orlando Pirates likely going into the classic fixture as favourites.
In European football the January transfer window will have fans anxiously checking for updates on the movement of players as the continent’s top five leagues begin to reach the midpoint of their season. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will have to pull his team from the brink of collapse as their counterparts from across town begin another rebuilding phase which fans will hope won’t crumble like the last few.
South Africa’s club rugby sides have tough fixtures lined up against some of France’s finest teams that will give them a chance to silence critics of the South’s transition to the North. With plenty of golf lined up, there’s something for everyone in January and February. Until then, let’s celebrate a great year for South African sport.
2024 Highlights
Tatjana Smith’s Strong Finish
With the hopes of a nation behind her, Tatjana Smith did what she does best and brought home gold and silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics, writing her name in the history books as the country’s greatest Olympian. With her days in the pool drawing to a close, young javelin thrower Jo-Ané van Dyk’s silver medal gives hope that South Africa has plenty more gold in its future.
Dricus reminding us they don’t know what we know
Flanked by Siya Kolisi and the most-capped Springbok of all-time, Eben Etzebeth, UFC fighter Dricus “Stillknocks” du Plessis defeated Israel Adesnaya to clinch the world title and have people all of the country saying, “Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie!”
Springboks became the greatest of all time
Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks leaped from under the shadow of the the Jake White/Peter de Villiers sides as many declared them the best Springbok side of all time - sparking debates of whether or not they’re even better than Graham Henry and Steve Hansen’s 2011 - 2015 All Blacks side which redefined dominance.
What's On In Janaury & February
Cricket
Proteas Men vs Pakistan 3 January
New Zealand vs Proteas Men 10 February
Pakistan vs Proteas Men 12 February
Football
Liverpool vs Manchester United 5 January
Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur 15 January
Manchester City vs Chelsea 25 January
Orlando Pirates vs Kaizer Chiefs 1 February
Arsenal vs Manchester City 2 February
Golf
US PGA Tour: The Sentry 2 - 6 January
Sony Open in Hawaii 9 - 13 January
The American Express 16 - 20 January
Farmers Insurance Open 22 - 26 January
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am 30 January - 3 February
DP World Tour: Team Cup 10 - 12 January
Hero Dubai Desert Classic 16 - 19 January
Ras Al Khaimah Championship 23 - 26 January
Sunshine Tour:
Betway Big Easy Tour 9 14 - 17 January
Mediclinic Invitational 16 - 20 January
Betway Big Easy Tour 10 21 - 24 January
SCDC Open 23 - 27 January
My Golf Life Open by Pecanwood Estate 30 January - 3 February
Rugby
Champions Cup:
Stormers vs Sale Sharks 11 January
Sharks vs Stade Toulousain 11 January
Castres vs Bulls 11 January
Bulls vs Stade Francais 18 January
Union Bordeaux-Begles vs Sharks 19 January
EPCR: Montpellier vs Lions 11 January
Cheetahs vs Zebrea 12 January
Lions vs Dragons 18 January
