Former Orlando Pirates winger Mohau Nkota appears to be settling in well at Al-Ettifaq. The 20-year-old has joined Al-Ettifaq on a three-year deal, leaving Pirates after just a season with the first team. “It’s a dream come true to come to a club like Ettifaq, playing in one of the top leagues,” says Nkota. He is now teammates with the likes of former Liverpool star Georginio Wijnaldum, who has welcomed Nkota with open arms. Equally welcoming have been the Ettifaq…

Finally, the wait appears to be over, and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) fixtures are being finalised. In its possession, African Times has the draft fixtures for the 2025/26 season. While it is public knowledge that the season will open with the MTN8 quarter-finals on Saturday, 2 August, the fixtures show some other important key dates. The Betway Premiership is slated to kick off on Saturday, 9 August, with the defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns away at Chippa United at the…

The Junior Springboks team has been announced for Saturday evening’s much-anticipated World Rugby U20 Championship Final against New Zealand in Rovigo, Italy. Lock Riley Norton will once again lead a familiar-looking side that has featured in most of the pool matches, as well as Monday’s semi-final victory over Argentina. The unchanged line-up means the bench will again feature a split of six forwards and two backs in what promises to be an epic battle between the two southern hemisphere rugby…

Businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize is the first to admit that she came through the back door in the football space when she bought Bloemfontein Celtic in 2021. Mkhize renamed the club Royal Andile Mpisane, shortened to Royal AM, but they have been expelled by the Premier Soccer League for failing to fulfill its obligations to the league. “Yes, it’s no more. I think a lot has happened,” she reflected. “You know, sometimes they say what goes around comes around. I think…

Rulani Mokwena will land in Algeria on Thursday to begin his tenure as head coach of Mouloudia Club d’Alger, popularly known as MC Alger. Mokwena has agreed to a two-year deal with the People’s Club, who are the reigning Algerian champions. One of the first people to wish Mokwena well in his new job is French manager Hubert Velud, who, in fact, missed out on the job. “Mokwena is a young and ambitious coach, part of a new generation of…

FC Barcelona have seen enough of Lamine Yamal, and a few days after his 18th birthday, they have handed him the club’s iconic jersey. From the new season, Yamal, who celebrated his birthday on 13 July, will don the number 10 jersey, signaling his importance to the Blaugrana. “This is the beginning of a journey that I hope will be very long and full of victories,” said the youngster, who has put pen to paper on a new six-year contract.…

Springbok No 8 Jasper Wiese has been suspended for four matches following a World Rugby disciplinary hearing on Tuesday. Wiese copped the ban for the red card he received in last week’s 45-0 victory against Italy. Wiese will be back in contention for selection for the last three Castle Lager Rugby Championship matches in September and October. The ban will rule him out of the closing Castle Lager Incoming Series match against Georgia in Nelspruit on Saturday, as well as…

Double Rugby World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi will make a return from injury to take over the captaincy for the first time this season against Georgia on Saturday. The clash will take place at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. In an exciting squad named by Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus for the final Castle Lager Incoming Series match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, Kolisi’s place was confirmed. Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe, and Neethling Fouche will all…

Orlando Pirates have shot down reports linking star player Relebohile Mofokeng to Dutch Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven. In a swift response, the Buccaneers set the record straight after reports emerged on Wednesday claiming Mofokeng is on PSV’s radar and the European club is prepared to pay over R100 million to secure the services of the Sharpeville-born, Gauteng footballer. “We wish to place it on record that no such offer has been received by the club,” stated Pirates. “The claims made…

Former Ivory Coast captain Kolo Toure’s deep knowledge of Manchester City stands him in good stead in his new role as first-team assistant coach. The permanent appointment to Pep Guardiola’s back staff comes after Toure performed the same role during the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. Commenting on Toure’s appointment, Director of Football Hugo Viana said: “We’re delighted to permanently add Kolo to our first team coaching staff. “Not only does he bring his immensely precious experience…