Basadi in Action

Ezemvelo Women's FC head coach, Ntokozo Bhengu, cut a calm and reflective figure as she looked back on her team’s maiden Hollywoodbets Super League campaign. Coming from the football-rich community of uMlazi township, Bhengu has brought a grounded, honest approach to her coaching — and her assessment of the season is no different. Ezemvelo Women's FC  © Backpagepix With one league match still to play, Ezemvelo sit on nine wins, seven draws and 13 defeats. For a first season in the top flight, Bhengu believes the team has handled the pressure and expectations well. “I believe it was a fair season, especially as it's the first season,” she said. “We have experienced players who know that in football you will have three forms of results — a draw, a win, and a loss. We are able to deal with those setbacks.” Despite the challenges, Ezemvelo managed to produce competitive performances throughout the season. Their nine victories and seven draws show that the team had moments where...

Lebogang Priscilla Mabatle, affectionately nicknamed AMG-G63, has always been a force in defense, whether at center-back, right-back, or as a defensive midfielder. Hailing from Pankop, Mpumalanga, and armed with a diploma in fitness instruction, her journey from South African varsity football to professional leagues abroad has been nothing short of remarkable. Lebogang Mabatle  © Her path to international football began in an almost modern fairytale fashion. “I posted one of my clips on Instagram featuring my match against Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies,” Lebogang recalls. “A guy named Stephen Motete DM’d me asking, ‘With so much talent, why are you still playing in South Africa? Don’t you want to play overseas?’  He compiled videos from my games, and within a month, he found me a team in Georgia. Unfortunately, a communication issue with SAFA meant I couldn’t proceed. But within a week, Phoenix in Marrakech offered me a spot—and I didn’t look back. When God blesses your path, every...

At just 21, striker Ronnel Tammlyn Donnelly is learning that even in elite football, challenges can strike when least expected. Shortly after joining Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Donnelly suffered a serious knee injury during the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifiers against Zesco Ndola Girls of Zambia — a moment that could have shaken even the strongest athletes. Ronnel Donnelly  © Backpagepix “As soon as I heard my knee pop, I knew something was wrong. The pain was overwhelming, and I was filled with frustration and disbelief,” Donnelly recalls. “It was devastating because I had just arrived at the tournament. But I believe everything happens for a reason, and I’ve put my trust in God.” Donnelly revealed that the injury was a major setback, especially so early in her Sundowns journey, labeling it as horror: "I'd worked so hard to get to this point, and to see it all potentially slipping away was just heartbreaking. It was a storm of emotions and I think I was in shock,...

The DP World Lions are set to kick off their 2025/26 campaign in style this weekend when they host the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in the opening clash of the Hollywoodbets Pro 50 series at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg (October 4–5). Entrance is free, and fans are encouraged to come in numbers to back the reigning champions as they look to defend their crown. Raisibe Ntozakhe  © Gallo Images The launch of the Lions’ new season kit added an extra spark to the build-up, with captain Raisibe Ntozakhe sharing her excitement about what the designs represent. “I think it’s great that it has actually changed from the past two seasons, this one is dapper if I must be honest. It’s really cool, very dope,” Ntozakhe said with a smile.   Lions Cricket Launch “You can actually see the stadium behind the travelling T-shirt and you can also see the whole of Jozi in our training kit. The T20 kit has the lion roaring and the 50-over has the lion’s claws, so I think it truly represents...

The 2025 Varsity Women’s Football Final has all the makings of a classic. On Friday, September 19 at 7pm, the UJ Soweto Stadium will play host as the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and the University of the Western Cape (UWC) go head-to-head for the crown. Nthabeleng Modiko Both teams have been flawless in the competition. UJ have scored 13 goals without conceding, with Thato Mofolo leading the charts on six goals. UWC have been just as ruthless, firing in 15 goals and conceding only once, with Chelsea Daniels their top scorer on four. The sides are no strangers to each other — they also meet regularly in the Hollywoodbets Super League, where UJ currently sit 6th with 35 points and UWC are 14th with 21 points. But when it comes to Varsity Football, it’s a different stage, and both arrive unbeaten. Coach Modiko on the Journey For UJ Head Coach Nthabeleng “Dunga” Modiko, the path to the final has been about balance, energy, and growth: “My journey with the team into this year’s competit...

The wait is almost over — the SPAR Baby Proteas are ready to take on the Netball Youth World Cup in Gibraltar from 19–28 September, and Head Coach Precious Mthembu says her side is determined to make South Africa proud. Head Coach Precious Mthembu  © Backpagepix For Mthembu, herself a former Proteas star, this tournament represents both a professional and personal milestone. She is tasked with leading South Africa’s finest young talent into battle against some of the best youth netball nations in the world — and she couldn’t be prouder of her team. “Our main mission is to represent South Africa with pride, discipline, and excellence on the world netball stage,” Mthembu says. “We want to ensure that every match we play reflects the hard work and preparation that has gone into this competition. There are goals we have set: Firstly to progress as far as possible in the tournament and compete for a top finish. Secondly, we really want to grow these young players’ international experien...