Marc Strydom
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Football writer but not breather, former London cycle courier and Alps ski bum, son of soil of Africa and prophet of Clive Barker (coach), all views are my own
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Articles by Marc Strydom
WATCH | ‘Apartheid legacy in our brains’: McKenzie slams Safa offering Mosimane less than Broos
Sports minister Gayton McKenzie has weighed in on the protracted negotiations between the South African Football Association (Safa) and Pitso Mosimane over the Bafana Bafana coaching job. McKenzie slammed the smaller remuneration package offered to Mosimane than was paid to predecessor Hugo Broos as stemming from an “apartheid legacy”.
As Mothiba fires blanks, Cardoso sweats on the form and fitness of Sundowns’ strikers
Story audio is generated using AI Lebo Mothiba can find his stride if he gets regular game time, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso said, though he expressed some concerns about the potency of his strike force in a slow start to the season for the Brazilians.
As Mothiba fires blanks, Cardoso sweats on form, fitness of Sundowns’ strikers
Story audio is generated using AI Lebo Mothiba can find his stride if he gets regular game time, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has said, though he expressed some concerns about the potency of his strike force in a slow start to the 2026-27 season for the Brazilians.
DeChambeau and Rose to headline Nedbank on upgraded Sun City course
Bryson DeChambeau of the US will headline the field for the 2026 Nedbank Golf Challenge, it was announced at the competition’s launch at Sun City on Tuesday. England’s Justin Rose, the 2007 runner-up to Trevor Immelman, and last year’s winner, Kristoffer Reitan of Norway, return to this year’s competition to be held on Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club golf course, which organisers said has had R50m of work done to it in upgrades.
DeChambeau, Rose to headline Nedbank on upgraded Sun City course
Bryson DeChambeau of the US will headline the field for the 2026 Nedbank Golf Challenge, it was announced at the competition’s launch at Sun City on Tuesday. England’s Justin Rose, the 2007 runner-up to Trevor Immelman, and last year’s winner, Kristoffer Reitan of Norway, return to this year’s competition to be held on Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club golf course, which organisers said has had R50m of work done to it in upgrades.
Sundowns are rebuilding and TV pundits should know that, Cardoso says
Story audio is generated using AI Mamelodi Sundowns are in a rebuilding phase at the start of the 2026-27 season and will find a better stride when the technical staff’s work instilling stability bares fruit, Brazilians coach Miguel Cardoso says. The coach was taking a dig at critical television analysts who, he said, should be aware of that situation.
After first-goal high at Royale, disappointment for Mofokeng in Champions League
Relebohile Mofokeng will not play in the Uefa Champions League’s league phase in his first season at Royale Union Saint-Gilloise after the Belgian club lost their third qualifying round tie 5-6 on aggregate to Bodø/Glimt. The Champions League disappointment follows the 21-year-old scoring his first goal for Royale in his Jupiter Pro League (JPL) debut as they beat KVC Westerlo 5-1 away in their league opener on Saturday.
Short-sightedness or Realpolitik 101?: Africa chooses Infantino for better or worse
Gianni Infantino’s once seemingly impregnable position as Fifa president has hung in recent weeks by a thread and African football leadership’s support right now provides the main strands of it. Calls for the Italian’s head have grown — including from three major international regions in a strongly-worded open letter declaring his recent backtracked plan to sell an interest in the World Cup was a “fundamental breach of trust”.
Blow to Da Cruz’s trophy hopes as Arrows boot Chiefs out of MTN8 Original
Lamontville Golden Arrows inflicted an early blow to Kaizer Chiefs’ hopes of a strong start to the 2026-27 season inflicting a 1-0 defeat on Amakhosi in their MTN8 quarterfinal on Sunday. Khulekani Shezi’s cross-cum-shot flummoxed unbalanced Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen to earn Arrows the decisive goal against the run of play in the 53rd minute.
Orlando Pirates draw islanders in Champions League opening round
Orlando Pirates drew La Cure Waves SC of Mauritius in the first preliminary round of the 2026-27 Caf Champions League on Thursday. Pirates — winners of the 1995 predecessor to the Champions League, the African Cup of Champions Clubs — qualified for this season’s tournament as 2025-26 Betway Premiership winners.
Integrating Pirates’ signings and managing World Cup stars
Story audio is generated using AI Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has some issues of management on his mind at the start of the Premier Soccer Leagaue campaign as the Buccaneers have high hopes of mounting a serious defence of the title they won last season. It will be hard for Ouaddou to replicate the heroics of his first campaign in charge when Pirates ended their 14-year drought of league titles and also won their first treble since they last lifted the Premiership trophy.
Ouaddou’s early concerns: integrating Pirates’ signings, managing World Cup stars
Story audio is generated using AI Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has some issues of management on his mind at the start of the 2026-27 Betway Premiership campaign as the Buccaneers have high hopes of mounting a serious defence of last season’s title. It will be hard for Ouaddou to replicate the heroics of his first campaign in charge when Pirates ended their 14-year drought of league titles and also won their first treble since they last lifted the Premiership trophy.
Banyana shocked by Tanzania in Wafcon group opener
Banyana Banyana could not turn domination into a winning result as they were shocked 2-1 by a fiery Tanzania in their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) Group B opener in Casablanca on Monday. Diana Msewa opened the scoring against the run of play for Tanzania in the 38th minute at Stade Moulay Rachid. Defender Bambanani Mbane pulled one back for the South Africans two minutes into first-half added time.
Banyana shocked by Tanzania in Wafcon group opener
Banyana Banyana could not turn domination into more goals and a winning result as they were shocked 2-1 by a fiery Tanzania in their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) Group B opener in Casablanca on Monday. Diana Msewa opened the scoring against the run of play for Tanzania in the 38th minute at Stade Moulay Rachid. Defender Bambanani Mbane pulled one back for the South Africans two minutes into first-half added time.
Bafana player Zwane’s World Cup red card flagged by sports betting group — report
Story audio is generated using AI The red card Themba Zwane received in Bafana Bafana’s 2026 Fifa World Cup opening match defeat to Mexico at Estadio Azteca on June 11 has been flagged in a report by a group monitoring sports betting at the tournament, according to a news report.
WATCH | Danny Jordaan loses his cool when pressed about Broos’s Bafana contract
South African Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jodaan lost his cool when asked questions about talks about Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos’s contract. The national coach’s term ends this month. The 74-year-old Belgian announced some time ago he would retire from coaching after taking Bafana to the 2026 Fifa World Cup in North America, where they exited in the last 32 last month.
WATCH | Zungu camp alleges intimidation in Safa presidential race
Story audio is generated using AI The camp of billionaire businessman and AmaZulu owner Sandile Zungu, who has announced he will stand against Danny Jordaan for the South African Football Association (Safa) presidency, believes it has support among the association’s regions. However, they allege intimidation of the main voting bloc in the elective congress set for September 13, Safa’s 52 regions, is being used to deter those who are swaying away from support for Jordaan.
Zungu camp says it has support for Safa presidency bid, but alleges intimidation
Story audio is generated using AI The camp of billionaire businessman and AmaZulu owner Sandile Zungu, who has announced he will stand against Danny Jordaan for the South African Football Association (Safa) presidency, believes it has support among the association’s regions. However, they allege intimidation of the main voting bloc in the elective congress set for September 13. Safa’s 52 regions are being used to deter those who are swaying away from support for Jordaan.
Bafana player Zwane’s World Cup red card flagged by sports betting group — report
The red card Themba Zwane received in Bafana Bafana’s 2026 Fifa World Cup opening-match defeat to Mexico at Estadio Azteca on June 11 has been flagged in a report by a group monitoring sports betting at the tournament, according to a news report.
Fomer Sundowns coach Mosimane confirms his interest in Bafana job
Pitso Mosimane has made it clear he is interested in the Bafana Bafana coaching job. The hugely experienced former SuperSport United, Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly (Cairo) coach, who turns 62 on Sunday, suggested he was not as impressed as some at the team’s performance under incumbent Hugo Broos. Mosimane strongly suggested he could take Bafana to a higher level.
Safa ‘has spoken to a lot of us’: Mosimane confirms his interest in Bafana job
Pitso Mosimane has made it clear he is interested in the Bafana Bafana coaching job. The hugely experienced former SuperSport United, Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly (Cairo), who turns 62 on Sunday, suggested he was not as impressed as some at the team’s performance under incumbent Hugo Broos. Mosimane strongly suggested he could take the national team to a higher level.
Safa denies agreeing to one-year extension for Bafana coach Broos
Story audio is generated using AI The South African Football Association (Safa) has denied reports it has agreed to a one-year extension to Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos’s contract. Safa said in a statement on Wednesday its “governance processes regarding the Bafana Bafana technical team have not yet been concluded”.
Motsepe ‘won’t stab Infantino in the back’, backs under-fire FIFA president
Patrice Motsepe came out in support of under-fire FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday, thanking him for the “most successful World Cup in history”. The Confederation of African Football (Caf) president was speaking at a press conference in Sandton, Johannesburg where he announced greatly increased prize money for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations that starts in Morocco on Sunday.
WATCH | After boos, Trump tries to photobomb Spain’s trophy moment
By Julien Pretot Boos descended from the stands as US President Donald Trump and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino took to the field for the World Cup trophy ceremony at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday. Spain beat defending champions Argentina 1-0 to win the title. It happened again! Trump lingers on the stage as Infantino tries to direct him off of it so Spain can lift the World Cup trophy. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/ZvZSb67wbL — Michael J.
LIVE UPDATES | World Cup final, Spain v Argentina, all the build-up and action Original
Refresh for latest updates. Read from bottom up ...
Mix of experience and youth as Banyana coach Ellis names Wafcon squad
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis named a 26-player squad for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) on Friday that contained a blend of experience and youth. Stalwarts such as goalkeepers Andile Dlamini and Kaylin Swart, defenders Lebohang Ramalepe and Bambanani Mbane, midfielders Noxolo Cesane, Gabriela Moodaly-Salgado, Linda Motlhalo, Refiloe Jane, Sibulele Holweni and Robyn Moodaly-Salgado and forwards Hildah Magaia and Thembi Kgatlana form a hugely experienced core of the team.
Messi v Yamal: Mentor faces mentee in epic final
It is more than a little crazy Lionel Messi was once photographed bathing a baby Lamine Yamal, and now they are meeting in Sunday’s Fifa World Cup final. Spain’s prodigy Yamal keeps breaking Messi’s records. The latest is that his first World Cup final comes at 19. He will take the field at New York New Jersey Stadium (9pm) six days after celebrating his birthday in Dallas. Spain squeezed France out with anaconda-like constriction in a 2-0 win where Les Bleus were made to look ordinary.
‘When it was time to fight he never backed down: Ronwen Williams pays tribute to Jayden Adams Original
Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams paid an emotional tribute to national and Mamelodi Sundowns teammate Jayden Adams at Thursday’s memorial to the player who died in Cape Town on Saturday. Williams said Adams was quiet but his smile and laughter would light up a room. He said the 25-year-old was a warrior on the field. The goalkeeper hailed Adams’ contribution to South African football.
Football saved Jayden Adams from the tough life, but in the end just not enough
Story audio is generated using AI Jayden Adams was well on his way to being an African football star. The skilful central midfielder who possessed muscle, a pass and vision won the Caf Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns in May. He played the full 90 minutes of the 1-0 opening leg win against FAR Rabat in Pretoria, then 53 of the 1-1 draw in Morocco before being substituted. That capped a fine second-half recovery in form in the 2025-26 domestic season.
Relebohile Mofokeng hails growth at Orlando Pirates, pens emotional farewell
Story audio is generated using AI Relebohile Mofokeng has penned a heartfelt farewell to Orlando Pirates as he leaves for a career in Europe at Belgian top-flight outfit Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. Titled “This is not goodbye”, the burgeoning 21-year-old midfielder, who starred for Bafana Bafana at the World Cup last month, spoke about the honour of representing the Soweto giants, where the Transnet School of Excellence product came up through the youth ranks.
Relebohile Mofokeng hails growth at Orlando Pirates, pens emotional farewell
Relebohile Mofokeng has penned a heartfelt farewell to Orlando Pirates as he leaves for a career in Europe joining Belgian top-flight outfit Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. Titled, “this is not goodbye”, the burgeoning 21-year-old midfield talent who starred for Bafana Bafana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup last month spoke of the honour of representing the Soweto giants, where the Transnet School of Excellence product came up through the youth ranks.
Football saved Jayden Adams from the tough life, but in the end just not enough
Story audio is generated using AI Jayden Adams was well on his way to being an African football star. The skilful central midfielder who possessed muscle, a pass and vision won the Caf Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns in May. He played the full 90 minutes of the 1-0 opening leg win against FAR Rabat in Pretoria, then 53 of the 1-1 draw in Morocco before being substituted. That capped a fine second-half recovery in form in the 2025-26 domestic season.
Football saved Jayden Adams from the tough life, but in the end just not enough
Story audio is generated using AI Jayden Adams was well on his way to being an African football star. The skilful central midfielder who possessed muscle, a pass and vision won the Caf Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns in May. He played the full 90 minutes of the 1-0 opening leg win against FAR Rabat in Pretoria, then 53 of the 1-1 draw in Morocco before being substituted. That capped a fine second-half recovery in form in the 2025-26 domestic season.
SA football rocked by death of Bafana star Jayden Adams, 25
South African football has been rocked by the news of the death of Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns star Jayden Adams at 25. While no official statement has been released by Sundowns or the South African Football Association yet, yet sources close to the player and his club and former team Stellenbosch FC confirmed the news of the death of the midfielder.
Williams urges keeping this Bafana team together, sees bright future after World Cup
Hope for the future was the predominant sentiment Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams took from the team’s performance at the 2026 Fifa World Cup. As supporters digest their team’s display, the prevailing sentiment seems to have been that there was a lot of good, and there was some bad. Coach Hugo Broos’s Bafana Bafana punched above their weight in North America. In a 48-team World Cup there will be some soft touch groups. South Africa’s was not one of those.
Serie A, Portugal, Ligue 1, England: where Bafana players are being linked after World Cup
Several Bafana Bafana players caught the eye with impressive performances as the national team punched above its weight at the 2026 Fifa World Cup. Orlando Pirates’ burgeoning 21-year-old playmaking talent Relebohile Mofokeng flew straight from the World Cup and Bafana’s final game in their 1-0 last-32 defeat against Canada in Los Angeles to conclude a deal with Belgian top-flight outfit Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
‘We need to talk to Hugo Broos’, says Safa boss Jordaan as Bafana return
South African Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan said the ruling body needs to “talk to Hugo Broos” as Bafana Bafana arrived at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg from the 2026 Fifa World Cup in North America on Thursday morning. Jordaan hinted the talks could be about Broos’ future as Bafana coach. The 74-year-old Belgian announced long before the World Cup he would retire from coaching after the tournament.
Peter Shalulile leaves Mamelodi Sundowns Original
Veteran Namibian striker Peter Shalulile has left Mamelodi Sundowns, the club announced on Thursday. The 32-year-old spent six seasons at Sundowns after joining them in September 2020. “Thank you Sha Sha,” Downs posted on X. “Peter Shalulile departs Mamelodi Sundowns as one of the club’s most prolific forwards. “Thank you for the goals, trophies and the commitment in yellow.
‘What he’s done for this team words can’t describe’: Williams salutes Bafana coach Broos
Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams has sung the praises of Hugo Broos, saying the national team would not be where it is without the work done in the five-year tenure of its “father figure” coach. South Africa had a mixed bag overall of a young team showing immense potential progressing past a World Cup group stage for the first time, though with searching questions on certain technical elements at the highest level at the tournament in North America.
WATCH | Booing, insults for South Korea and coach at Seoul airport after World Cup exit Original
The South Korean squad and former coach Hong Myung-bo were booed at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport on their return from a group stage exit from the 2026 Fifa World Cup. South Koreans at the airport for the team’s arrival at 4am chanted “Hong Myung-bo out”, hurled insults amid drumming and held banners, one of which read, “South Korean football is dead”. Some banners demanded Hong return his salary.
Mokoena rues ‘three more steps’ that could have stopped Canada’s goal against Bafana
It is the small margins that make all the difference at the highest level — that’s the lesson Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena will take away from his first World Cup. It would be hard to criticise the Mamelodi Sundowns star, given his stellar performances in the two group games he played in the defeat against Mexico and the draw against Czechia, but Mokoena might have felt he did not give his best returning from suspension in the 2-0 last-32 defeat against Canada on Sunday.
Crucial for Bafana to be at 2030 World Cup, says Thalente Mbatha
Story audio is generated using AI Bafana Bafana midfielder Thalente Mbatha has spoken out on the importance of South Africa qualifying for the 2030 Fifa World Cup to be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain. South Africa were knocked out of the current tournament by co-hosts Canada at their historic last 32 stage with a 1-0 defeat in Los Angeles on Sunday. Mbatha said Bafana must take lessons from the experience and push for another qualification.
LIVE UPDATES | Bafana v Canada in the last 32, all the build-up and action Original
Refresh for latest updates. Rea from bottom up ... 6.56pm - To follow, some match info ... 6.55pm - Wow. Here we are. Bafana Bafana in a World Cup knckput stage match. That’s just crazy, isn’t it. And not. It was going to happen sometime.
WATCH | Saffers, Tartan Army, Dutch crazies, Viking Row: World Cup’s best fan videos Original
Story audio is generated using AI Videos on social media are going viral of the supporters turning the 2026 FIFA World Cup into a huge party. Scotland’s Tartan Army, with their bagpipes and bonhomie, have been making friends all over the US, while also finishing stocks of beer in Boston and Miami. The Norwegian supporters’ Viking Row has been a hit and they have performed it all over the place, including on the New York subway.
WATCH | Celebrations in Mexico and SA streets as Bafana beat South Korea Original
Story audio is generated using AI Celebrations erupted among the few hundred South Africans in Estadio Monterrey and on the streets of this country after Bafana Bafana beat South Korea 1-0 on Thursday morning to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup last 32. Thapelo Maseko’s 63rd-minute winner in Mexico on Wednesday (Thursday morning SA time) saw Bafana upset fancied Korea and end second in Group A and make history reaching the World Cup knockouts for the first time at the fourth time of asking.
LIVE UPDATES | Bafana Bafana v Czechia, all the build-up and action Original
Refresh story for latest update, read from bottom entry up ... 4.37pm - BAFANA KEY PLAYERS AND TACTICS Who to watch out for in in Bafana’s ranks: As per Mahlatse Mphahlele, SA’s five key players. Goalkeeper: Ronwen Williams — the Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper remains key for South Africa’s World Cup ambitions. There have been questions over recent form, but he pulled off some stunning saves against Mexico.
Bafana v Czechia in second World Cup game — all you need to know Original
Bafana Bafana meet Czechia in their second 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A game at Atlanta Stadium in Georgia, US on Thursday. The South Africans lost the opening match of the tournament 2-0 against co-hosts Mexico at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City last week.
LIVE UPDATES | Mexico v Bafana in World Cup opener, all the build-up and action Original
Refresh story for latest update 7.25pm - To warm us up, here are some videos sent from Mexico by Mahlatse Mphahlele, with some of the pre-match interviews and footage of training for this huge, huge game: WATCH | Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is targeting a win over Mexico in World Cup opener to calm nerves.
An amazing tale — Bafana coach Broos and Mexico’s Aguirre squared up as players in 1986 opener Original
As Bafana Bafana and Mexico stride out carrying the hopes of their nations in Thursday’s 2026 Fifa World Cup opening game at Estadio Azteca (9pm SA time), South Africa coach Hugo Broos and El Tri counterpart Javier Aguirre might give each other a knowing look. It will not be the first time the two square up on the turf of Mexico City’s fabled Azteca. In a remarkable tale, they also did previously as players.
Mexico v Bafana, World Cup kickoff and opening ceremony — all you need to know Original
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday when Mexico clash against Bafana Bafana at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
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