Sibaya defends Broos, backs Bafana after defeat to Mexico

Former Bafana Bafana midfielder MacBeth Sibaya has leapt to the defence of Hugo Broos following South Africa’s 2-0 defeat to Mexico in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Bafana’s Broos feels the heat

Broos has faced criticism from some supporters and pundits over his team selection and cautious approach after Bafana produced a disjointed display against the hosts.

Matters were made worse when South Africa finished the match with nine men following the dismissals of Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane. xsportfeed.quest

However, Sibaya believes the Belgian coach got his selection right given the quality of the opposition. The former midfield enforcer, who represented South Africa at the 2002 and 2010 FIFA World Cups, insists Broos should not be blamed for the result.

Sibaya – ‘He had to be careful’

“A lot of people were talking about it saying that he had six or seven defenders, but he had to be careful because it was the first game,” Sibaya said.

“You were playing against Mexico who are a very formidable side and have great discipline when you talk about tactical values as individuals and as a unit.

“We have to be realistic about the mindset of South African players because I believe that was a good starting line-up given the balance that was required.”

Despite the setback, Bafana’s hopes of reaching the round of 32 remain alive, with crucial Group A encounters against Czechia and South Korea still to come.

Sibaya believes South Africa have the quality to beat both sides but warned that neither fixture will be easy.

‘I know that we can beat Czechia and South Korea’

“I know that we can beat Czechia and South Korea, but they will be awkward games because they are very disciplined sides,” the former Jomo Cosmos player said.

“They are committed and they stick to their game plan with high levels of concentration. I believe that with the current team and our support, they are doing very well.

“I believe the players are capable of bouncing back in the next game. It was just a lapse in concentration in the game against Mexico. I believe that in our next game, we will get the required result.”

Bafana will now turn their attention to their must-win clash against Czechia in Atlanta on Thursday as they look to revive their World Cup campaign and keep their knockout stage ambitions on track.

Le mercato estival du Real Madrid est officiellement lancé. Le club madrilène a annoncé ce lundi la signature du défenseur espagnol Marc Cucurella, en provenance de Chelsea. À 27 ans, l’international espagnol devient ainsi la première recrue du nouveau projet porté par José Mourinho et le président Florentino Pérez, récemment reconduit à la tête du club.

Le latéral gauche s’est engagé avec les Merengues pour une durée de six saisons, soit jusqu’au 30 juin 2032. Après plusieurs années passées en Premier League sous les couleurs de Chelsea, Cucurella effectue son grand retour en Liga, un championnat qu’il connaît parfaitement pour y avoir évolué avec le FC Barcelone et Getafe.

Le communiqué du Real Madrid sur Marc Cucurella

Dans son communiqué officiel, le club madrilène a confirmé l’opération : « Le Real Madrid et Chelsea FC ont trouvé un accord pour le transfert de Marc Cucurella, qui sera lié à notre club pour les six prochaines saisons, jusqu’au 30 juin 2032 », peut-on lire dans le communiqué du Real Madrid.

Marc Cucurella est passé par la Masia du Barça

Révélé à la Masia avant de poursuivre sa progression à Getafe puis à Brighton, Marc Cucurella s’est imposé comme l’un des latéraux les plus complets du football européen grâce à son activité incessante, sa qualité de centre et sa solidité défensive. Son passage à Chelsea lui a également permis d’acquérir une expérience précieuse au plus haut niveau.

Avec cette arrivée, le Real Madrid renforce un secteur clé de son effectif et envoie un message fort à ses concurrents. Les supporters madrilènes attendent désormais de voir Cucurella apporter toute son énergie et son expérience à la Maison Blanche pour les saisons à venir.

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LOS ANGELES, United States, June 15, 2026 – Rarely has a team arrived at a World Cup carrying so much political baggage than Iran.

Until this week, the host nation, the United States, had been at war with the country.

The team has faced visa problems. They have had to relocate their base camp. And when they take to the pitch here in Los Angeles on Monday (Tuesday, 02:00 BST), they will do so under the gaze of one of the world’s largest Iranian diasporas.

An agreement to halt hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz was announced on Sunday. It may have eased fears of further escalation, but tensions remain high.

“This kind of tension undermines the joy of the World Cup,” said striker Mehdi Taremi.

“I felt the tension from the first moment we arrived. The tension started even before we got here.”

After months of uncertainty, Iran moved their World Cup base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to the Mexican border city of Tijuana.

The decision followed concerns over visas, security and the increasingly fraught political climate surrounding the team’s participation.

Iran’s manager, Amir Ghalenoei, told the BBC the disruption had inevitably affected preparations.

“Without any doubt, this kind of behaviour has impacted the spirit of football,” he said.

“Football is supposed to bring nations and cultures together. It is about bringing joy. These conditions have affected our focus, but I have tried to make sure the players concentrate on strategy and performance.”

He added that the team had arrived late and had little time to adjust.

“But I know how committed these players are to performing.”

Los Angeles is often nicknamed “Tehrangeles” – a fact that drew smiles from both player and manager when it was mentioned at the news conference.

Many Iranian-Americans will be heading to SoFi Stadium on Monday where Iran will open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand.

Many will not be there to cheer, but to protest.

Fifa has banned the pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flag – a powerful symbol for many Iranians living abroad.

The decision has angered parts of the diaspora.

“You don’t come to Los Angeles and tell us we can’t fly the Lion and Sun flag,” said activist Arezo Rashidian, who is helping organise demonstrations outside the stadium.

“This is the largest Iranian community outside Iran. Many of us came here after the revolution. We’re opposing Fifa’s ban and standing in solidarity with the people of Iran.”

Many members of the diaspora are hostile towards Iran’s regime, and some see the squad as an extension of the Islamic Republic.

“It’s unfortunate that the regime turns athletes into mouthpieces.” said Rashidian. “We want athletes to remain athletes.”

Despite that, she and many others still plan to attend the match.

“We understand the pressure they’re under,” she said. “We’ll carry our colours. We’ll cheer for Iran – the country – held captive by the Islamic Republic.”

But while protesters prepare to make their voices heard outside the stadium, Iran’s players say their focus remains on football.

“As players of the national team, we play for every single Iranian, whether in the diaspora or in Iran,” Taremi said.

“In every country people have different opinions. We are here to unite people and bring joy. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We don’t get involved in politics.”

That may be the ideal.

But for Iran’s team, keeping politics outside the stadium could prove difficult in a tournament where football has often felt like a sideshow for this squad.

“There is no winning for Iran’s team,” investigative football journalist Samindra Kunti said.

“Given the circumstances, the political pressure, the location of the matches and the diaspora in Los Angeles, they’re under enormous pressure.”

“It’s impossible to avoid the politics.

“Everything becomes a reminder of their situation.”

The players face pressure from home, pressure from the host nation and pressure from a diaspora determined to make its voice heard.

All before a ball has been kicked.

The post Political tension has undermined World Cup joy, says Iran striker appeared first on Capital Sports.

The Western Cape Tornados were crowned Telkom Netball League Division 2 champions after edging the Kingdom Queens 47-46 in a pulsating final that went down to the wire at Rembrandt Hall, University of Pretoria, on Sunday, 14 June 2026.

The Queens made the brighter start, asserting themselves early with higher intensity and capitalising on their attacking opportunities. The Tornados gradually settled, finding their rhythm and matching the Queens’ physicality and pace. With five minutes left in the opening quarter, two goals separated the sides. A brilliant bounce-pass sweep in the circle from Tornados goal defence Ziyanda Mwezo looked set to create an equalising chance, but Queens goalkeeper Lonwabo Khumalo denied them possession.

Unbeaten Free State Crinums and the Golden Fireballs to Contest the 2026 TNL Final

The Tornados then made the most of their Supershots, with goal attack Hannah Kriel converting two two-pointers and shooter Liandré Kriel adding a single shot to overturn the deficit and take a 14-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Tornados continued to dictate proceedings in the second quarter, showing composure and discipline while punishing the Queens for unforced errors. The Queens struggled for attacking fluency, managing only two goals in the first five minutes as the Tornados stretched their lead to six goals midway through the quarter. The Tornados defence neutralised the influence of Queens playmaker Thobekile Mjaja, limiting her impact.

The Queens regrouped late in the quarter and steadily cut the deficit to three goals. Although the Tornados failed to convert any Supershots, Mjaja struck from long range and shooter Aphiwe Thusini added a single shot to inspire a turnaround, and the KZN side took a 26-25 lead at half-time.

Defensive intensity defined the third quarter as the Tornados suffocated the Queens’ attacking flow, their relentless pressure forcing the KZN side into multiple passes and difficult ball movement through the court. The Tornados closed the gap to a single goal before the Queens called for a strategic time-out, with assistant coach Lungile Lembethe urging the players to stay calm and take the game ball-by-ball.

The Tornados made it hard for the Queens to execute the instructions, equalising immediately after the talk before surging ahead to a three-goal cushion. The quarter remained a low-scoring affair dominated by defence, with the Tornados adding a single shot but doing enough to carry a 37-33 lead into the final period.

The fourth quarter delivered a fitting finale to an enthralling contest, with both teams trading blows in a true championship spectacle. The Queens came out firing as Mjaja rediscovered her attacking confidence and resumed the chief playmaker role, while Thusini stayed composed and clinical under the post. Khumalo also made her presence felt in defence, producing a vital intercept that allowed the Queens to convert their centre pass and take a two-goal lead.

The Tornados refused to surrender, responding immediately after the Queens were penalised for an unforced error and capitalising on a draw once again. With momentum swinging both ways, the Tornados edged a goal ahead heading into the final Supershot period. They then scored the decisive 47th goal of the match, leaving the Queens six seconds to salvage it. The Queens secured the centre pass, but time ran out after the first pass, sealing a dramatic 47-46 victory for the Tornados.

“I think it was brilliant, Queens came out guns blazing and that’s how a final should be played.”

Western Cape Tornados Head Coach, Lucy Twani

“Ball for ball every quarter, it was not predictable and they were doing great defensively. We were trying to find each other, there was a disconnect at some point but we found each other and played until the last minute,” said Twani.

In the Division 2 bronze play-off, Free State Sonoblomo capped their campaign in style with a convincing 62-44 victory over the Limpopo Baobabs to secure third place. After finishing fourth in the round-robin standings and losing to the Tornados in the semi-finals, Sonoblomo bounced back to record their best finish since joining the competition in 2023.

The Baobabs, who caused upsets during the round-robin phase with narrow wins over the Diamonds and Sunbirds to finish second on the log, could not recover from their semi-final defeat to the Queens and settled for fourth.

2026 Telkom Netball League Division 2 Final Standings

1. Western Cape Tornados
2. Kingdom Queens
3. Free State Sonoblomo
4. Limpopo Baobabs
5. North West Tshukudu
6. Northern Cape Diamonds
7. Mpumalanga Sunbirds
8. Eastern Cape Comets
9. Limpopo Lilies

TNL Division 2 Individual Accolades:

Best Shooter: Aphiwe Thusini (Kingdom Queens)
Best Mid-Court Player: Lara Ehlers (Western Cape Tornados)
Best Defender: Asemahle Dyidi (Western Cape Tornados)
Player of the Tournament: Rochelle Maree (Limpopo Baobabs)

The 2026 Telkom Netball League Power Week 3 Results and Fixtures at Rembrandt Hall, University of Pretoria, from Friday, 12 June to Monday, 15 June 2026

Friday, 12 June 2026

D2 Play-off Position 7/8: Mpumalanga Sunbirds 55-49 Eastern Cape Comets
D2 Play-off Position 5/6: Northern Cape Diamonds 40-41 North West Tshukudu
D1 Play-off Position 5/6: North West Flames 51-37 Eastern Cape Aloes

Saturday, 13 June 2026

D2 Semi-Final 1: Western Cape Tornados 53-45 Free State Sonoblomo
D2 Semi-Final 2: Limpopo Baobabs 49-55 Kingdom Queens
D1 Semi-Final 1: Free State Crinums 60-37 Gauteng Jaguars
D1 Semi-Final 2: Golden Fireballs 57-54 Southern Stings

Sunday, 14 June 2026

D1 Play-off Position 3/4: Southern Stings 55-45 Gauteng Jaguars
D2 Play-off Position 3/4: Free State Sonoblomo 62-44 Limpopo Baobabs
Division 2 Final: Western Cape Tornados 47-46 Kingdom Queens
Division 2 Medal Ceremony

Monday, 15 June 2026

15h30 Relegation Match: Kingdom Stars vs. Western Cape Tornados
18h00 Division 1 Final: Free State Crinums vs. Golden Fireballs
19h30 Division 1 Medal Ceremony

Power Week 1 Wrap

Power Week 2 Wrap

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Original Copy: Kgotla PR for Netball SA, with editing by gsport

Main Photo Caption: The Western Cape Tornados were crowned Telkom Netball League Division 2 champions after a 47-46 win over the Kingdom Queens in the final at Rembrandt Hall, University of Pretoria, on Sunday, 14 June 2026. All Photos: Netball SA

Photo 2 Caption: Best Mid-Court Player, Lara Ehlers; Best Defender, Asemahle Dyidi; Player of the Tournament, Rochelle Maree; and Best Shooter, Aphiwe Thusini.

Photo 3 Caption: The Kingdom Queens took the Division 2 silver medal after a narow defeat to the Western Cape Tornados in Pretoria on Sunday.

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