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Reconnection: For immigrant and diaspora communities especially, the World Cup is deeper than sport. It is reunion, memory, identity, homesickness, pride and belonging compressed into 90 minutes. Photo: Flickr

The beautiful game stops at the border

Three dozen countries are banned from entering America in the year it is hosting the World Cup. Twenty-six of them are African. That’s half of Africa

Rising globally: The Argentinian team celebrates winning the WorldCup in Qatar in 2022. Cameroon, Senegal
and Ghana each reached the quarter-finals and Morocco went further by reaching the semi-finals. Photo: Fifa

World Cup as a gauge of African progress

The journey from a solitary representative in 1934 to unprecedented representation in 2026 is a measure of the continent’s long but undeniable march towards footballing recognition

The Proteas disposed of Canada in their first match at the ICC T20 World Cup. (Proteas Men/X)

The real test awaits as Proteas shake off opening-day jitters in Ahmedabad

On Wednesday, the Proteas face an Afghanistan side that were semi-finalists two years ago and are desperate for blood after a loss to New Zealand

Patriot: Rassie Erasmus embraces the values of the democratic South Africa, where we celebrate each other and our truly working class origins. Photo: Springboks

Rassie is ours, all of ours!

Even the rugby unions who can’t stand him, would not blink an eye if they could have him as their coach

Rassie Erasmus has commended his side after they overcame a tough Wales outfit to reach their third Rugby World Cup final. (Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters)

Well done, Coach Rassie! But 2027 is just around the corner

Our Boks showed what they are made of when they defeated the All Blacks 10-43 but they need adequate rest and consistent game time

Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard Photos: Craig Mercer/Getty Images

The good, the bad and the Boks

There was much to report on this year with multiple World Cups taking place across several sporting codes

October 16, 2023, Kolkata, India: Tabraiz Shamsi of South Africa celebrates with teammates Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram after dismissing Marnus Labuschagne of Australia (not pictured) during the semifinal match between Australia and South Africa of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup at Eden Gardens Stadium. (Photo by Dipa Chakraborty/ Eyepix Group) (Photo credit should read Dipa Chakraborty/ Eyepix Group/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Proteas show resilience at the World Cup

There is a need to balance transformation, local franchise cricket and experience

South Africa players look dejected following defeat in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup India 2023 Semi Final match between South Africa and Australia at Eden Gardens on November 16, 2023 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Proteas have put the world on notice

Despite semi-final disappointment, the future of South African cricket has hope once more

Many who are old enough would know that among the efforts towards building egalitarian and social cohesion was Makhenkesi Stofile’s singular boycott of the All Blacks and Springboks game because that team wasn’t reflective of South African demographic features. He succeeded. The game was not played.  (Photo by /Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Springbok triumph is what the late Makhenkesi Stofile envisioned

Are we really winning with the uniting force of sport? Or has that simply become a tagline?

Quinton de Kock has scored four centuries in this tournament. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Gallo Images)

Are the Proteas taking us down heartbreak lane?

South African cricket has given us a glimmer of hope … but history tells us how that story ends

Siya Kolisi renews global brand ambassador partnership with Oakley™

His inspirational story of resilience and hope embodies the spirit of the brand

World Cup winning captain John Smit heads up the squad of 15 global rugby superstars.
Video

Avante Brandy unites 15 rugby icons to launch ground-breaking Cape brandy venture

Join the Avante Gaurde movement to rub shoulders with the 15 and support young player development

Cheslin Kolbe, Siya Kolisi and Herschel Jantjies with the trophy during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Champions Tour on November 11, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Video

The Springboks, Mr Barnes, Ma Zandile and James Small

Rassie, along with his captain, Siya Kolisi’s generation of players, have deepened our bonds with rugby in a manner that I thought inevitable as a young boy. Win or lose, they…

Retreat: Safa boss Danny Jordaan shifted from threatening to kick out Banyana players to promises of pay. Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images

Like Banyana Banyana, Ace Magashule boots people under the bus

It’s payback time and the ANC’s former secretary general has taken a note out of Banyana Banyana’s game plan

Preordained: Gabriel Jesus scores against Leeds. His early return after injury is somewhat miraculous. Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

The second coming of Jesus for Arsenal’s Premier League hopes

A footballing three days and three nights in a cave don’t appear to have affected the striker’s performance

Mourners cry as they queue inside Vila Belmiro stadium to pay their respects to late football legend Pelé during his funeral on January 02, 2023 in Santos, Brazil. (Photo by Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images)

Brazil pays final respects to football giant Pele

A funeral procession will be held on Tuesday through Santos and past the house of Pele’s mother, 100-year-old Celeste Arantes

Bad blood spilled over after Argentina beat The Netherlands on penalties.

Qatar World Cup: Damp fireworks yet to be lit

When all is said and done, how many indelible memories will the desert cough up?

Anger at Suarez’s cynical handball in the dying moments of the 2010 quarterfinal between Ghana and Uruguay persists.

Embers of history fire up Qatar World Cup

The quarterfinals are laced with legacy and meaning

France’s 1998 and 2018 World Cup wins  might literally have saved lives. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)

World Cup fever can lead to more births, heart attacks and stock market fluctuations

The World Cup can trigger intense emotions in a way that no other sporting mega-event can

So what’s the best plan for Ghana? Go big or go home is a crude strategy but it seems to be working for various rebel nations at this World Cup.

To achieve poetic justice, Ghana must emulate Uruguay’s nasty edge

With redemption or revenge on the menu, the Black Stars must go for broke — but they will need a dash of Suarez-level cunning, too