The SPAR Madibaz team are determined to put on a display worthy of the occasion when the Varsity Netball tournament kicks off in Port Elizabeth next weekend. Nelson Mandela University will be one of the hosts of a bumper weekend as the tournament launches with four matches on August 26 and 27 at the Madibaz Indoor Sports Centre, South Campus. Besides the Madibaz team, local fans will be able to see sides from Stellenbosch, University of Western Cape and Vaal University of Technology in action. Madibaz Sport Netball manager Melinda Goosen said they were looking forward to this opportunity to showcase not only their netball prowess, but also what the university had to offer. The matches on the Sunday (August 26) will be televised live. "Not only will there be home-ground advantage, but there will also be the fact of having home support," she said. "It is always great to bring netball closer to our fans and this is a perfect opportunity to showcase our players and their talents to our immediate community, as well as to the greater community of Nelson Mandela Bay." She added that a lot of work went into hosting a weekend of this nature and it was a significant occasion for Mandela University. "Playing at home means we can show the rest of the country our beautiful university and what it has to offer. "Varsity netball, as a competition, has grown its viewership over the past years and so it is important to demonstrate that we are a university of choice in South Africa." Goosen added that the double-header of matches would provide a chance for local netball fans to see many top players in action. "Netball is very popular in Nelson Mandela Bay and we are privileged to have great talent in our local team. "In addition, you can watch the top student players in the country go head to head in clashes that will set the tone for the rest of the tournament. "We would love to see strong support for the Madibaz team to help them reach new …
Fitness behind UJ’s promising start
A strong commitment to an extensive fitness programme has seen the University of Johannesburg team deliver a promising start to the Varsity Football season. After three rounds UJ are sporting an unbeaten record with two wins and a draw, placing them in second place on the log, two points behind early pace-setters North-West University. The team registered a significant 2-1 win over Johannesburg rivals Wits on Thursday and UJ soccer manager Joel Kgokong said much of their success was down to their conditioning. "We have got off to a good start and that's what we were aiming for," he said. "Much of this can be put down to the programme we have in place under one of sports scientists - Sereeta Miles - who has managed the fitness of the players very well." He said an indication of this came in the University Sport South Africa tournament, from which they emerged with all their players' fitness intact "Maintaining fitness is one of the challenges we have had," added Kgokong. "You don't normally compete in a tournament [such as USSA] where you play seven matches in five days and avoid injuries. "But that's what we have managed to achieve and Sereeta has been able to get the players to peak fitness for the next tournament - Varsity Football. "So that is definitely one of the reasons why we have been able to perform better." In addition to that, Kgokong said there was a strong sense of urgency in the camp that this was their chance to take the title. "We are tired of making the semifinals and sometimes losing in the final [UJ were runners-up in 2016], so there is a real focus on trying to win the tournament this year. "We have several players with a fair amount of experience because they have been part of Varsity Football since 2014. "They form the core of the team and understand the dynamics of Varsity Football and what we need to do to make sure we are in with a chance of winning." Even though they were among the early …
Hudson Park win SPAR Schoolgirls hockey title
Hudson Park emerged as the latest champions in the SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge when they defeated Alexander Road in the provincial finals at Woodridge, near Port Elizabeth, on Saturday. In a tense and well-contested encounter, the East London side overcame their Port Elizabeth rivals 1-0, with a goal by Tayla Jade Marais in the third minute of the game deciding the issue. Both sides had chances thereafter, but neither team were able to find the net and Hudson claimed their first title in the 30-minute final. It completed a successful year for the school, who also qualified for the inaugural provincial finals in 2016, ending as runners-up. In May, Hudson defeated 2017 provincial champions Clarendon to win the East London Coastal tournament and on Saturday they were unbeaten in the round-robin phase of the finals. They beat Alexander Road 1-0 in the round-robin and confirmed their status as the top side in the final. Hudson Park team manager Rosanne De'ath said it had been another wonderful tournament, to which they had been fully committed. "We have had a fantastic time and we are really grateful to SPAR for the exposure this tournament gives us," she said. "It gets our hockey to a good level early in the year and we have played against a number of teams during the tournament that we would not normally face." She said they had entered the provincial finals with a plan to take the title. "We wanted to make a good start and fortunately we managed to get on a roll [opening with a 5-0 win over York) and we finished off on a high. "We are lucky to have a very good coach in Jerry Snyman, who sets out a game-plan but is also able to change that if necessary. "The girls are well drilled and we are always prepared for any situation we face." For some players, such as Hudson captain Zimkhitha Weston, this was their final SPAR tournament as they are in matric. Weston paid tribute to the sponsors at the …
Senekal scoops gold in Nigeria
Nelson Mandela University student athlete Ischke Senekal continued to show she can perform at the highest level when she won the shot put gold medal at the African Athletics Championships on Sunday. The 25-year-old Bestmed Madibaz Athletics Club member completed a memorable meeting in Asaba, Nigeria, after opening the weekend on Friday with a bronze medal in the discus event. Senekal, who qualified for the Commonwealth Games earlier this year but was not included in the South African squad, said it was extremely satisfying to return with the gold medal. "I know what I can do and this was just another opportunity to prove that I can compete on the big stage," she said, reflecting on her heave of 17.24 metres which won the gold. Heading into the tournament, Senekal said she was definitely focused on earning spots on the podium. "I wasn't really sure what colours [of medals] I could achieve, but early on in the shot put I could see my chances of getting the gold were fairly good so I really worked hard on that one." Her performances in Nigeria resulted in Senekal being included in the African team which will compete in the Continental Cup in the Czech Republic on September 8 and 9. "Having finished in the top two at the African Championships earned me selection for the Continental Cup," she said. "I am really looking forward to competing on a bigger stage and there will definitely be some very tough competition at that meeting." The Continental Cup is the only athletics meeting where the teams compete as continents, rather than individual countries, meaning the standard is extremely high. Senekal is looking forward to the challenge after another outstanding year in which she achieved a personal best in the shot put event. This came at the University Sport South Africa meeting when she threw a distance of 17.56m at Sasolburg in Gauteng. "It started with the nationals where I won the shot put and discus titles for the third year in a …
A Two-Fold Opportunity
This August Afrika Tikkun is calling on all South Africans who enjoy a challenge - and enjoy cycling - to make a difference by joining the Tikkun Eagles for the 22nd edition of the Telkom 947 Cycle Challenge in Johannesburg in November. If you're a cycling enthusiast and were already contemplating doing the race, no matter where you are in the country, you can join the Tikkun Eagles and make sure that your entry fee and race participation goes well beyond cycling on the day. Non-profit organisation, Afrika Tikkun works with partners in underprivileged areas of Joburg and Cape Town to develop youth holistically from 'cradle to career', including nutrition and family support programmes for the benefit of entire communities. To date, the lives of over 230,000 youth across the country have been positively affected by their efforts; and by cycling the 2018 Telkom 947 Challenge as a Tikkun Eagle you will be part of their good work. Afrika Tikkun Group Executive of Partnerships and Marketing, Onyi Nwaneri says, “We work across the areas of education, nutrition, health care and family support because they are all interlinked in the development of a little person. You can’t teach a hungry child. You can’t expect a child in crisis at home to do well at school. You can’t expect a child being abused – physically or mentally – to be able to focus. You can’t assume that a child with disabilities in any form will perform the same as a child without, and you need to equip the families of those children properly too. Taking care of a child’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing will ensure that they become productive citizens, but they need support from benefactors and individuals like us in order to survive, to learn, to shine, to hope and to dream. Joining the Tikkun Eagles team is just one way in which you can get involved and make a difference. There is still so much to achieve, and we can all help!” Afrika Tikkun and its many partners believe that when we invest …
Hockey Challenge set for exciting finale
Another thrilling year of competition will culminate in what should be an intriguing finale when the SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge takes place at Woodridge, just outside Port Elizabeth, on Saturday. A total of five teams will contest the provincial finals, meeting each other in a condensed version of the game to decide the Eastern Cape champions for 2018. With a number of established schools such as defending champions Clarendon and EP teams Collegiate, Woodridge and Pearson not having qualified this year, the race is on to see who can seize the moment. National tournament director Les Galloway said the fact that a team such as Alexander Road had reached the provincial finals was indicative of the opportunities the tournament provided. "It is brilliant to have a team like Alex in the finals for the first time because it provides exposure for another set of players," she said. "And then there is also a school like Hudson Park, who are back after missing out last year. It shows that this tournament gives so many opportunities to different players." Galloway said there would be plenty of pressure in the finals when matches will be played over 30 minutes (15 minutes in each half). "There are some quality sides in attendance and it will all come down on the day to who wants it the most." She referenced the recent women's World Cup in Britain, which saw the lightly regarded Ireland reaching the final against all the odds. "That was a platform for them to succeed and although this is obviously on a smaller scale this tournament is a chance for the players and the coaches to show what they can do," said Galloway. "You just never know who will lift the trophy in the end." In its third year in the Eastern Cape, she said the Challenge had proved to be extremely successful, thanks to the involvement of SPAR Eastern Cape. "We have seen about 700 to 750 girls exposed to a level of hockey they might not normally face and this is …
Talented young Pretoria cyclist excited at new role
Pretoria schoolgirl Azulde Britz's promising career as an all-round cyclist is poised to flourish after she joined Positive Sports Solutions as an ambassador this month. The Grade 12 Cornwall Hill College pupil, who lives in Irene, is focused on her road cycling career, but is equally adept on the mountain bike and is looking forward to being one of the faces of Positive Sports Solutions. The South African company has followed a policy of bringing affordable options from the overseas market to the country, focusing on quality products to assist local consumers. Among the products it distributes are HEAD bikes, Westfalia bike carriers, Gipiemme wheels and Controltech bike components. The 17-year-old Britz is excited about her new position and the support it will provide as she continues to chase her dream. "It is really amazing and I am so privileged to have them supporting me," she said. "This sort of backing means I will be able to chase and, hopefully, achieve my goals. "Being linked with Positive Sports Solutions means I have new opportunities and a group of people who ensure I receive the best equipment and become the best I can possibly be." Her earliest cycling memories are of riding in muddy races with her father in Parys in Free State, but Britz has now become a star in her own right. "The biggest highlights of my career include winning the SA cross-marathon championship in the youth category in 2016 and racing for both Team HEAD/Ciclo [based in German) in 2017 and Team RYGTER [based in Denmark] in Europe earlier this year," she said. Focused on road racing, Britz said her goals for this year were to race internationally again and to be selected for the national team for the world road championships in Austria in September. "In the long term I would like to cycle for a professional women's team and be a regular rider on the international scene." A Positive Sports Solutions spokesman said they felt the talented Britz would …
Gipiemme wheels a hit in South Africa
The well-known Italian brand, Gipiemme wheels, now available in South Africa, is making a big impact on the cycling industry in the country. With a range of stock having arrived, local cyclists are beginning to benefit from the advantages of the Italian make, and none more so than the Demacon Ladies Team. The outfit comprising Lynette Burger, Carla Oberholzer, Kim le Court and Heidi Dalton have been the dominant team in South African road-racing this season. The numerous events they have won include the national road championship title (Oberholzer) and the Cape Town Cycle Tour (Le Court). Team captain Burger, who won the Fast One early this year, said the wheels had made a big difference to their riding. "We are very happy with the wheels," she said. "Gipiemme is a really high quality brand and we are delighted at being given the opportunity through Positive Sports Solutions to ride these wheels. "It's a very strong, light, rigid and responsive wheel. We ride with the GPM C32 carbon wheels, which do not have a very deep dish. This helps us, especially in very windy and hilly conditions." The Italian wheels became available to South African cyclists when stock arrived in South Africa in mid-year following an agreement between the European producers and Positive Sports Solutions. The South African company is the sole distributor of Gipiemme wheels in the country, continuing its drive to create opportunities which are beneficial for local consumers. "Positive Sports Solutions is trying to make cycling affordable to the public again," said a company spokesman. "In terms of the Gipiemme wheels, you are getting one of the highest quality carbon wheels at an affordable price." Besides the Gipiemme wheels, Positive Sports Solutions also distributes HEAD bikes, Westfalia bike carriers and Controltech components in South Africa. The spokesman added that there had been a strong response from the public to the product. "With Gipiemme's …
Ex-SA swimmer backs SPAR plastic campaign
Former South African international swimmer Sarah Ferguson has linked her talent for swimming to a passion for the environment by joining SPAR Eastern Cape as an ambassador in their Stop Plastic campaign. The long-distance ace was a top pool competitor during the 2000s, swimming for South Africa in a number of World Cups, but is now putting her skills to work for another cause. This month she formed a partnership with SPAR EC in their campaign to educate the public about the dangers of plastic pollution, combining it with challenging swims around the world. She recently completed a 100km Elephant Coast swim, which took her from southern Mozambique to northern KwaZulu-Natal over a period of six days. The association with SPAR EC was sparked by a presentation Ferguson, who lives in Durban North, gave after a 2km swim in Hawaii, in which she became aware of the dangers of plastic to the environment. "I came to Port Elizabeth for a meeting and they liked what they saw," she said. "Equally I was keen to work with them to promote their Plastic campaign." In April this year, SPAR EC took the bold step of trying to limit the use of plastic in their stores by encouraging consumers to make use of alternative packaging options available at all outlets. In particular, they are focused on limiting single-use plastic, which includes items such as plastic bags. At that stage, managing director Conrad Isaac said it was time to take a stand and to set an example to others, even if the journey started with one small step. "Let us start by cleaning up our own backyard. If we are able to maintain the spaces in which we live and work by reducing the plastic content, that is a start. "And if it helps to clean up the world, well that would be just great." That initiative is now beginning to stretch beyond the borders of the Eastern Cape, with ambassadors such as Ferguson joining the fight against plastic pollution. "SPAR EC are supporting this trip, …
Joburg – The Color Run is back with a bang!
Drab winter is over. Strap in for the colours of spring, with The Happiest 5K on the Planet The Color Run believes in keeping the fire alive in a long-term relationship, and its old flame Jozi is in for a bit of a spoil this year. The Happiest 5K on the Planet is welcoming spring in Joburg with the grandest parade yet. South Africa is the first country in the world to welcome The Carnival Tour, so stand aside New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro. And, for the first time ever, The Carnival Tour will be handing out exclusive The Color Run finishers’ medals! Where to wear your feathers: Place: Roosevelt High, 1 Thibault St, Roosevelt Park Johannesburg Date: 16 September 2018 Time: Start gun goes off at 10:00. Be there at least by 09:00 to absorb the spirit of The Carnival Tour The Color Run is the world’s largest running series. It was founded in 2011, with the mission of bringing people together to make the world a happier, healthier place. Dubbed “The Happiest 5K on the Planet”, The Color Run is less about your 10-minute-mile, and more about having the time of your life. Come and revel in health, happiness, and community in an atmosphere of pure celebration. The Carnival Tour brings with it stilt walkers, balloon shapers, music, good-natured clowning around, and colour, colour, colour. Participants begin the race in their white The Color Run T-shirts, and complete it covered in colour. The Color Run has now been experienced by over six million runners, in more than 40 countries around the world. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …