Sports Focus

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LIMPOPO DERBY FEVER Page 3 & 4 GRAND PRIX CELEBRATES 10 YEARS Page 7 TSOGO SUN ACADEMY BEAR FRUITS Page 18-19 BANYANA, U-23 OFF TO RIO Page 23 As Nedbank Cup continue WANT TO SEE MORE OF TERRAH? Page 5 ISSUE # 71 APRIL, 2016 9772073 821004 > 0 1 0 1 0 FREE a Lenaka Media Publication

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Edition Number 71

Transcript of Sports Focus

Page 1: Sports Focus

LIMPOPO DERBY FEVERPage 3 & 4

GRAND PRIXCELEBRATES

10 YEARSPage 7

TSOGO SUNACADEMY

BEAR FRUITSPage 18-19

BANYANA, U-23 OFF

TO RIOPage 23

As Nedbank Cup continue WANT TOSEE MORE

OF TERRAH?Page 5

ISSUE # 71APRIL, 2016

9 7 7 2 0 7 3 8 2 1 0 0 4

>01010

FREE

a Lenaka Media Publication

Page 2: Sports Focus

THE fourth edition of South Africa's largest football talent search is edging closer for aspiring footballers all over the country. Through the Ke Yona Team Search, Nedbank will once again lay the foundation for the unearthing of the c o u n t r y ' s n e x t f o o t b a l l diamonds such as Jerrad Meyer (Jomo Cosmos), Ian Ch ikohwa (Un ivers i ty o f P r e t o r i a F C ) , L u t h a n d o Sixhaso (Kaizer Chiefs) and M a p h o s a M o d i b a (Mpumalanga Black Aces & SA U23) who are excelling in their clubs and as well as the junior national teams.The country's leading football talent search initiative is set to kick off in Bloemfontein with Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Gauteng in line to host the other try outs. The brains trust entrusted by Nedbank to unearth talent from the furthest parts of country will again be Shakes Mashaba, Owen Da Gama, Khabo Zondo and Mike Mangena. The Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search's success is in line with Nedbank's goal of making the th ings that real ly mat ter happen and this has been commendably demonstrated through players such as M a p h o s a M o d i b a w h o emerged from the furthest part of Limpopo to now represent South Africa in country's such

as Brazil. Also living his dream of professional football is Cape To w n b o r n , g o a l k e e p e r Luthando Sixhaso who's is b e i n g m e n t o r e d b y t h e country's the number one

goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune at Kaizer Chiefs. The 2015 Ke Yona Team cap ta in , Ian Chikohwa made his maiden appearance in the Nedbank Cup with a dream goal to cement his place in Shaun Bartlett's team. South African U23 head coach, Owen Da Gama urged aspiring footballers between the ages of 18 and 23 to partner with Nedbank and make their football dreams happen.

N e d b a n k ' s H e a d o f Sponsorships and Cause Marketing, Tobie Badenhorste m p h a s i s e d N e d b a n k ' s commitment to making peoples dreams happen and wishedthe 2016 Ke Yona Team Trialists the best of luck."The Nedbank Ke Yona team s e a r c h c o n t i n u e s t o demonstrate what we do as a business everyday - enabling o u r c u s t o m e r s a n d communities to make the th ings that real ly mat ter happen. We are always looking at nding innovative and effective means of reaching out to communities and affording them the opportunity to realize their dreams and make the things that really matter for them. We therefore wish this year's participants the best of luck in this year's Ke Yona T e a m S e a r c h " s a i d Badenhorst. 2016 Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search Try Out Dates: 27 April, Seisa Ramabodu Stadium (Bloemfontein, Free State), 30 A p r i l , Wo l f s o n S t a d i u m Uitenhage (Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape), 2 May, Athlone Stadium (Cape Town, Western Cape), 7 May (King Zwel i th in i Stadium Durban, KwaZulu-Natal), 21 M a y , R a n d S t a d i u m (Rosettenville, Gauteng) and 4 June (Lucas Moripe Stadium Pretoria, Gauteng)

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Sports Focus

DA GAMA CALLS UPON ASPIRINGFOOTBALL PLAYERS

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We are already in the quarter of the year, and winter is almost at the door.With the clock ticking fast for those c lubs ght ing off relegation battles as the curtain is being drawn near to mark the end of the 2015/16 league season in both the National First Division and the Absa PremiershipClubs such as Maritzburg United, University of Pretoria, J o m o C o s m o s a n d Polokwane City wish they can

hold the sun not to go down as they are seriously ghting with all they have in their p o s s e s s i o n s t o k e e p themselves aoat in the top ight league and honestly speaking, one of them will be automatically relegated while the other will have to ght for their survival via the dreaded NFD Promotion/Relegation Play-Offs come June.On the other side, the Absa Premiership league title race is seemed to have become a

two dog race be tween Mamelodi Sundowns (1st w i th 55 po in ts f rom 24 matches) and BidVest Wits (2nd with 51 points from 24 matches) while Platinum Stars (3rd with 44 points from 24 matches) are seemed to have dropped out of the race.We also take this opportunity to congra tu la te A l l i s te r Coetzee for his appointment as the Springbok coach.

April 2016

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APRIL 24 will go down in the football's historical books in Limpopo when Baroka FC and Polokwane City takes each other in their rst-ever quarter-nal match of the Nedbank Cup, WRITES NAKAMPE LEKWADU

Not only does this Limpopo Derby is expected to produce re-works, but it is expected to divide the province's crazy football fans.Up the Bakgaga as Baroka are fondly known are currently at the top of their form, and despite being in the NFD it is no secret that their opponents are spending some sleepless nights as to how they are going to handle them in this encounter of this competition dubbed Ke Yona Cup.This is the second time that Baroka, the only NFD club remaining in this competition have reached the semi-nals of this competit ion after having done so in 2011. This after they managed to brush aside two Premiership side, Moroka Swallows and Kaizer

Chiefs in the last 32 and last 16 of the competition before they were knocked out of the s e m i - n a l s b y B l a c k Leopards. T h i s s e a s o n , t h e G a -Mphahlele, Limpopo based side who are on top of the NFD summit with 50 points from 24 league matches

reached the quarternals after yet another giant-killing after having beaten Chippa United and Golden Arrows 3-2 and 2-0 in the last 32 and last 16 respectively.T h a b i s o K u t u m e l a a n d Nkosinathi Ndlovu remain Baroka's key stars up front when coming to converting

goals. Kutumela is NFD's leading goal-scorer with 16 goals while Ndlovu has 8 league goals under his belt.Polokwane City on the other hand have been not doing well in their league campaign and they haven't won any match in their last six matches. Their focus in this competition which saw them reached the quarternals via a 2-0 and 2-1 over African All Stars and Platinum Stars in the last 32 and last 16 respectively is likely to be distracted by their relegations blues as they still need to win their league matches to avoid the chop.

thTheir currently lying 13 on the log with 23 points from 23 matches and their closest r iva ls are Univers i ty o f Pretoria and Jomo Cosmos

th thwho are lying 14 and 15 with 20 points each. Thobani M c g w a n g o a n d J a b u Maluleke remains Arise and Shine's key man up front after having scored 9 and 5 league goals apiece.

BAROKA, POLOKWANE CITY IN LIMPOPO DERBY VIA NEDBANK CUP

3 April 2016

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By SEKABA MAAKETHE quarter-nals of the Nedbank Cup kicks off on April 22 through to Sunday, April 24.Although the games kick off on Friday night (April 22) at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in A t t e r i d g e v i l l e o u t s i d e Tshwane where in SuperSport United will be welcoming Mpumalanga Black Aces at 8pm, the main focus will be on Saturday, April 23 at the same v e n u e w h e n M a m e l o d i Sundowns will be entertaining Orlando Pirates. Both the two sides have had an easy sailing in the rst two stages of the competition, with the Brazillians beating the National First Division's league titlechasers,Highlands Park and Mbombela United 1-0 and 3-1 respectively while the Sea Robbers brushed aside their Soweto's traditional arch-rivals with a 2-0 beating before they could turn their wrath to Jomo Cosmos whom they beat 3-1.On the same Saturday, (April 23), BidVest Wits will be away

in Bethlehem where they have a date with Free State Stars. K ick -Off a t Gob le Park Stadium is at 3pm.The quarter-nals matches will be wrapped in Polokwane at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium where Baroka FC will take on fellow Limpopo side, Polokwane City in a much anticipated Limpopo Derby which is expected to draw a huge crowd.

Tickets for these matches are expected to be on sale soon.

The Nedbank Cup Quarter-nals' full xtures are:Friday, April 22: SuperSport United v Mpumalanga Black Aces (Lucas Moripe Stadium, 8pm)Saturday, April 23: Free State Stars v BidVest Wits (Goble Park, 3pm) M a m e l o d i S u n d o w n s v Olando Pirates (Lucas Moripe Stadium, 8.15pm)

Sunday, April 24: Polokwane City v Baroka FC (Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, 3pm)

BEST OF THE BEST CLASH IN THENEDBANK CUP QUARTER FINALS

April 2016

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Name: Terrah ModulathokoSurname: MapailaBirthdate: 24 February 1990Birthplace: Acornhoek, LimpopoSchool: Matriculated from Maripe Senior in 2007Hobbies: Writing, cooking, and outgoingFavourite Dish: Dumbling, chicken stew and spinachFavourite Music: Gospel

I am a loving person, and I have been a lways d reaming to become a teacher or a nurse. My dream changed as I grew up and decided to follow modeling and lms.If not busy at Rage Modeling Agency, she keeps herself busy on writing her book which she is intending to wrap it very soon

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RATHER than clarifying the potential champions, play-off hopefu ls and re legat ion candidates, the weekend's NFD action served only to

f u r t h e r i n t e n s i f y t h e aforementioned situations. While this will add more tension to the clubs involved, for the neutrals and general NFD followers, it has only increased the excitement and sense of anticipation for the nal six rounds of action. Starting at the top, Baroka FC

(on 50 points) were on Sunday within minutes of establishing a four point cushion over Highlands Park, who had beaten third-placed Witbank

Spurs 2-0 on Saturday. But a late goal from Victor S h o n g w e a t t h e K a n y a m a z a n e S t a d i u m ensured a 1-1 draw for M b o m b e l a U n i t e d w i t h Baroka, meaning the Limpopo side now only enjoy a two point cushion at the summit. Spurs are now in third spot on

45 points, three points behind second placed Highlands Park, who have 48 points. Hovering just outside the top three are Milano United (44 points), Royal Eagles (42) and Mbombela United (41). All are within reach of Spurs, but Milano and Royal Eagles will both be unhappy about their weekend results, Milano losing 3-0 away to Mthatha Bucks, while Royal Eagles conceded a scrappy last minute goal in a 1-1 draw away to Cape Town All Stars. At the foot of the table, Moroka

S w a l l o w s g a v e t h e m s e l v e s a morale-boosting 2-1 win away to FC Cape Town, that resul t taking the Birds to within six points of potential safety. Swallows now have 16 po in t s , wh i l e African Warriors, in 15th spot, are on 18 points, having lost to Black Leopards on the weekend. The three teams above the relegation

zone – Mthatha Bucks (22 points), Vasco da Gama (23 points) and Thanda Royal Zulu (24 points), all secured vital wins on the weekend, against Milano, Santos and AmaZulu respectively. The NFD continues on the weekend, as follows: Saturday, April 163pm: Moroka Swallows v Highlands Park - Dobsonville Stadium 3 p m : W i t b a n k S p u r s v Mbombela United - Puma Rugby Stadium 15:00 African Warriors v Cape Town All Stars - Charles Mopeli Stadium 15:00 Vasco Da Gama v Baroka FC - Parow Park 15:00 Milano United AFC v FC Cape Town - Athlone Stadium 1 5 : 0 0 R o y a l E a g l e s v AmaZulu - Harry Gwala Stadium Sunday, April 17, 2016 15:00 Black Leopards v M t h a t h a B u c k s - Thohoyandou Stadium 15:00 Thanda Royal Zulu FC v Santos - Umhlathuze Sports Complex.-www.psl.co.za

NFD MOVING TOWARDS THRILLING FINALE

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THE most sought-after title in women's road running, the SPAR Grand Prix, is 10 years old this year, and is celebrating by looking to the future.As part of its 10th anniversary ce l e b ra t i o n s , S PA R h a s announced that each of the runners who have won the Grand Prix title will take a promising junior runner under her wing. This mentorship programme will include the junior runners travelling to all ve races with their mentors, and having access to advice about training, strategy and various aspects of competition.The SPAR Women's 10km Challenge series is by far the biggest in South Africa, with more than 100 000 women competing in the ve races held around the country. Many of South Africa's elite athletes have launched their careers in the SPAR Challenge, with runners like Rene Kalmer and Irvette van Zyl stamping their mark while still running as juniors.I n an env i ronmen t whe re women's sporting achievements are largely under-reported, the C h a l l e n g e h a s b e e n a n opportunity for the top runners to receive the recognition they richly deserve.The Grand Prix was launched in 2007 to consolidate the ve SPAR Women's 10km Challenge races into a single series for elite athletes. It has proved highly successful, with South Africa's top runners vying for the top spot and raising the prole of each of the ve races, which are held in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, D u r b a n , P r e t o r i a a n d Johannesburg.Five of the six runners who have won the Grand Prix have either qualied, or are in the process of qual i fying, for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro later this year, and Kalmer and Van Zyl both took part in the London

Olympics in 2012.Rene Kalmer has won the Grand Prix title three times and Irvette van Zyl has won it twice. Poppy Mlambo won the inaugural title. T h e e b u l l i e n t M a p a s e k a Makhanya won in 2014, and the road running twins, Diana-Lebo and Lebogang Phalula took the t i t l e i n 2 0 1 5 a n d 2 0 1 6 respectively.Kalmer said she was very excited a b o u t t h e m e n t o r s h i p programme.“I think it's awesome that we are going to mentor some of the junior runners,” she said.“I feel privileged to be able to give something back.”She said the junior runners would nd that running was not always plain sailing, but their mentors would be there to help them through the bad patches.“The juniors will travel to the SPAR races with us, so we will be able to advise them and to help them with training programmes and race tactics. I think we will be like a helpline for the juniors. It is all part of building for the future,” said Kalmer.I a n L a x t o n , f o u n d e r a n d coordinator of the Grand Prix, said the SPAR series had been a beacon of l ight for woman runners of all ages.“At the elite end every single

athlete considers these races to be the equivalent of national championships,” said Laxton.” Spar has assisted numerous r u n n e r s e s t a b l i s h a n d consolidate their careers in an environment where there is little opportunity other than trying to get into races overseas or moving up to ultra distances. The 10km distance is perfect because it caters for both established world-c l a s s r u n n e r s a s w e l l a s youngsters trying to make their mark.“Moving into its second decade, the Spar Grand Prix is again opening the door for elite runners to earn big prize money, attract sponsors, run world class times, compete with internat ional athletes coming into South Africa and offering them a unique opportunity to compete in world-class events without men. And now the addition of the junior-mentorship element will assist South African running to have a new generation of world class runners to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Rene, Elana Meyer and the Phalulas,” said Laxton.SPAR Marketing Director Mike P r e n t i c e w e l c o m e d t h e mentorship programme.“The SPAR Challenge races and the Grand Prix are among our most important sponsorships,”

said Prentice.“The Grand Prix has been going for 10 years now, and it has gone from strength to strength. With this programme, we will ensure that the current h i g h s t a n d a r d s w i l l b e maintained in the future, and our Grand Prix winners will be p a r t o f a n e x c i t i n g development programme.”The prize money for the Grand Prix has been increased, with the winner taking home R160 000. The runner-up will receive R53 000 and the third-placed athlete R32 000.There are cash prizes for the

top 15 athletes. There are also cash prizes for the top runners in the junior, veteran, master and grand master categories. Prize money for 2016 amounts to a whopping R405 000.In another innovation, the winner of each race will be paid a bonus of R10 000, in addition to the race prize money.The rst race takes place from the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town on April 17.

SPAR GRAND PRIX CELEBRATES 10 YEARS, STAND A CHANCE OF WINNING R1 000 SPAR SHOPPING VOUCHER TO THE FUTURE

April 20167

Meanwhile Spar and Sports Focus and are giving away a Spar Shopping Voucher worth R1 000 to 10 lucky readers. To stand a chance of winning answer the simply question below:

How many years is Spar Grand Prix celebrating this year?

Send your answer, name and contact details to [email protected] competition closes on Monday, April 4 at 12.30pm and winners will be informed telephonically on the same day.

COMPETITION

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MOTSEPE Foundation and the Department of Basic Education launch R117,5 million partnership for the deve lopment o f schoo ls football, choral and traditional music and netball.This initiative is also supported by the Department of Sports and Recreation, as well as the Depar tment o f Ar ts and Culture.During the rst ve years of the sponsorship, an amount of R55 million will be allocated to the Kay Motsepe Schools F o o t b a l l C u p , t h e A B C Motsepe Eisteddfod, Choral and Traditional Music and the Kay Motsepe Schools Netball Cup.For the next ve years from 2021 to 2025 the Motsepe Foundation will contribute another R62,5 million.All the 25 000 public and private schools in South Africa from the rural and urban areas h a v e b e e n i n v i t e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n a l l t h r e e competitions.The Kay Motsepe Schools Football Cup has been in operation for the last 10 years and is regarded as having the largest prize money in the world for schools football, with the winning school receiving R1 million from a total annual

prize money of R3,4 million. The school that comes second receives a prize money of R600, 000 and the school that comes third receives a prize money of R400, 000.The schools that win the competition in each of the nine provinces of South Africa receive prize money of R100, 0 0 0 e a c h . S A F A h a s supported and partnered with the Motsepe Foundation and the Department of Basic Education over the years in schools football.Referring to this partnership,

SAFA President Danny Jo rdaan sa id : “Th i s partnership is a great platform and vehicle that will assist our Vision 2022 goals. We have insisted that we need to increase the number of participants that play the game of football and the biggest potential of growth lies within schools. We want more kids to be exposed to football at an early age and we also believe it is

within schools that the future Bafana Bafana stars will be ident ied. We have also i n t r o d u c e d t h e o n l i n e registration platform called Inqaku for all schools football registrations. This will assist us in having a database for all the players and curb the age cheat ing syndrome. The online registration for schools is available on www.safa.net on the homepage.”The sponsorship amount for the ABC Motsepe Schools E i s tedd fod , Cho ra l and Traditional Music will amount to R3 million per year and the sponsorship for the Kay Motsepe Schools Netball Cup will amount to R2 million per year. Minister of Basic Education, A n g i e M o t s h e k g a s a i d : "Sporting and cultural activities in education help advance social cohesion and are an integral part of a holistic education system. As the D e p a r t m e n t o f B a s i c Education we are extremely gra te fu l to the Motsepe

Foundation for this generous contribution which we believe will go a long way in advancing the deve lopment o f our learners within the system. These educational programs wil l help to enhance the Nat iona l iden t i t y o f our learners and promote our d i v e r s e c u l t u r a l understanding."The co-founder and CEO of the Motsepe Foundation, Precious Moloi-Motsepe, said:" Sports and music make an important contribution to the growth and development of our youth and helps them become good role models. My father-in-law, ABC Motsepe, loved schools football and choral and traditional music. B e f o r e h e s t a r t e d h i s businesses, the school of which he was a headmaster participated in schools football and choral and traditional music competitions. I am also exc i t ed tha t we w i l l be sponsoring netball which is very popular amongst our girls in the rural and urban areas."

MOTSEPE FOUNDATION POUR MILLIONS INTO SCHOOL SPORT

April 20168

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P P C , t h e l e a d i n g supplier of cement in southern Africa, has jo ined forces wi th COSAFA to sponsor the region's Under-20 championship in 2016 a s t h e y s e e k t o develop Africa's stars of tomorrow.PPC pride themselves on building 'from the ground up' and are therefore a perfect t f o r t h e S o u t h e r n A f r i c a n j u n i o r championship that has seen so many star names developed into top footballers over the years.This year's COSAFA U - 2 0 Y o u t h Championship will be h o s t e d i n S o u t h Africa's North West province in December, with PPC having an option to renew their sponsorsh ip fo r a further three years.“April this year sees PPC celebrating 124 years as a truly Afr ican success story – a focussed business that reects the strengths of i ts people, products and services. As we look forward to our on-going role in shaping Africa's future we recognise that creating long-term success requires a new approach to business. The key ingredients of which i n c l u d e a p u r p o s e f u l approach to partnerships, broadening our notion of stakeholders to include key communities and redening investment beyond project nance to include our people – both current and future

e m p l o y e e s . P P C ' s involvement with COSAFA ticks all of these boxes,” explains Rob Rein, Executive: Sales and Marketing at PPC.Rein adds that “Sport has the power to transform lives, uplift communities and shape the f u t u r e o f A f r i c a ' s n e x t generation. PPC recognises t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h i s sponsorship in creating a development pipeline that will impact and uplift communities across southern Africa.”COSAFA President Suketu Patel has commended PPC for their dedication to growing Southern African football and

to helping the young stars of tomorrow shine.“Our core business is the development of football in the region and it's not easy to nd Corporates such as PPC who share the same virtues and passion for the growth of the game in Southern Africa. We are grateful to PPC and to the North West Province for making th is tournament possible and we look forward to seeing the best of our young Southern African talent on the pitch,” Patel said.The COSAFA U20 Youth Championships have taken on many guises over the 33-

year history of the tournament, but has a l w a y s b e e n a signicant breeding g round fo r young talent in the region.The likes of South A f r i c a n s t a r s I tume leng Khune, Lerato Chabangu, D a i n e K l a t e a n d Lebohang Mokoena a l l g o t t h e i r i n t r o d u c t i o n t o international football tournaments at this level and have gone on to forge successful careers for club and country.The same can be said for Clifford Mulenga and Isaac Chansa ( b o t h Z a m b i a ) , Tinashe Nengomasha and Onismor Bhasera (both Zimbabwe), as w e l l a s J i m m y Zakazaka (Malawi), who also used the t o u r n a m e n t t o persuade observers they had a bright future

in the game.Zambia have tended to dominate, especially in the early years, with 10 victories to their name, followed by Zimbabwe (six), defending champions South Africa (ve) and Madagascar (one).They remain the only four nations to lift the trophy and will be among the favourites again in December.The last tournament was played in Lesotho in 2013, where South Africa defeated guest nation Kenya 2-0 in the Final.

PPC TO THE COSAFA U-20 CUP’SRESCUE

April 20169

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The fourth generation of Vitara presented at 2014 Paris Motor Show has now entered the South African market brimming with competition of high quality f o r t h e S U V m a r k e t . Competitors here include the likes of the Nissan Juke, Ford EcoSport, Renault Duster and Captur, Honda H- RV and Mazda CX-3.The all-new fourth generation model is 125 mm (4.9 in) shorter, 85 mm (3.3 in) lower, 35 mm (1.4 in) leaner, it is now a compact crossover, and has a wheelbase 140 mm (5.5 in) shorter than the previous generat ion Grand Vi tara, making the Vitara easier to drive on narrow roads and tight parking spaces. The engine displacement is also down by 0.8 litres.Suzuki's answer for this market segment is the new Vitara which competes in the compact crossover segment – but which becomes a contender in the compact SUV sector when e q u i p p e d w i t h S u z u k i ' s innovative AllGrip all-wheel drive system.

Model rangeThe ve-model Suzuki Vitara range spans three specication levels – GL, GL+ and GLX – a n d a c h o i c e o f t w o transmissions, as well as either front-wheel or AllGrip all-wheel drive.The AllGrip system, offered on two of the ve Suzuki Vitara models, adds real all-terrain capability, with four user-selectable dr iv ing modes without compromising fuel economy.The fou r -mode system optimises traction in variety of driving conditions.All ve models are equipped with the same, four-cylinder

1.6-litre petrol engine.

ExteriorIt is highly attractive vehicle with sporty looks. Even better the GL + models offer a two-tone option just for the fun of it. Overall the Vitara is available in eight exterior colours, four roof colours and three grille nishes (chrome, black and white).

Interior designT h e V i t a r a c o m b i n e s a contemporary, streamlined, raised stance shape on the outside with a spacious, car-like interior. The cabin of the V i t a r a c a n a l s o b e personalised.The interior is roomy and has comfortable space with a user-friendly instrument layout.In the back there is enough space for three teenagers or two adults to sit comfortably.The main instrument binnacle is dominated by dual analogue dials for speed and rev count, while an information display between the two dials offers se lec tab le t r ip computer information. The MP3/WMA-compatible multi-speaker audio system includes a CD player and FM/AM tuner, as well USB connect iv i ty. I t a lso has

Bluetooth connectivity.The steering wheel is equipped - depending on the model - with multifunction controls for the audio system, hands-free telephony, and cruise control and speed limiter systems.The front bucket seats are height adjustable for both driver and front passenger, while the rear bench seat is split 60/40

and can be folded at partially or completely.The luggage compartment is spacious and easily accessible thanks to a tailgate that opens all the way down to bumper l e v e l . T h e l u g g a g e compartment has a divider board, as wel l as a 12V accessory socket and a boot light.

SafetyAll ve models are equipped with a full array of active and passive safety features. As a result, the new Vitara attained a full ve-star safety rating under the latest, stringent EuroNCAP crash safety tests.Active systems include an electronic stability programme (ESP), and ABS anti- lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and

electronic brake assist (EBA).The passive safety features include seven airbags (dual front, side and curtain airbags, as well as a knee airbag for the driver), as well as a brake pedal release system.

Engine and PowerAll the models are equipped with a 1.6 litre petrol engine. There are no turbo engine options in this range. The engine is quite lively and willing and the Vitara doesn't struggle when overtaking vehicles on the open road. While it is quite happy and sturdy on the open road, its compact dimensions make it ideal for the urban commuter with the added advantage of a heightened seating position with good visibility.While the same engine is used across the entire Vitara model range, would-be buyers can opt for either a ve-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox. Manual override is available via shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.Its average fuel consumption is stated as 6L/100kmOverall, the Vitara not only looks good, but it also gives a solid performance, practicality a n d e c o n o m y a t a v e r y competitive price in this market segment.

Pricing1.6 GL 5MT R255 9001.6 GL+ 5MT R289 9001.6 GL+ 5MT ALLGRIP R313 9001.6 GLX 6AT R322 9001.6 GLX 5MT ALLGRIP R342 900

VITARA EXCELLENTLY COMBINES PERFORMANCE AND PRACTICALITY

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The new Renegade is the rst Jeep vehicle built in Italy as a result of the ownership deal between Fiat and Chrysler. Though it has retained much of its American Jeep heritage, touches of Italian nesse are all there to be admired.The Renegade, a mini SUV, offers two four-wheel drive systems Active Drive I and Active Drive Low, both of which are paired with Jeep's Selec-Terrain System. It also has an available My Sky dual panel removable roof. The My Sky can be either retracted like a standard sunroof or removed completely for a more open-air experience, similar to that of the Jeep Wrangler.At one time it was believed that the Renegade would replace the Compass and Patriot in the Jeep lineup, but the Renegade has since been clearly identied by Jeep as being in a smaller class than the MK twins.

Comfort in high-techAll models other than the base Sport model offer optional features such as passive entry with push-button start, a remote start system, the U Connect 6.5AN stereo with AM-FM HD Radio, iPod/USB and 3.5-millimetre auxiliary audio input jacks, SIRIUS-XM S a t e l l i t e R a d i o , v o i c e c o m m a n d , U C o n n e c t ACCESS and Apps wi th hands-free Bluetooth phone and stereo wireless audio streaming, GPS navigation by Garmin and a 6.5-inch touch-screen display. Even more,

t h e s t e e r i n g w h e e l b o a s t s m o u n t e d r e m o t e controls, while the sound coming out of nine premium amplied speakers with a subwoofer, tellite Radio. The craziest of technological innovations is the MySky retractable roof panel system, which is manually-removable or power-retractable.

Homely interior The Renegade's rugged and energetic look pays tribute to t h e b r a n d ' s l e g e n d a r y heritage, taking its air to the next level. Drawing inspiration from extreme sports gear, the design theme is dened by intersections of soft forms with

gritty details.The Renegade offers either cloth or leather seating surfaces. It offers seating for ve passengers, with a 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench seat, and a fold-at front passenger's seat for more cargo capacity.

Fuel economy and PowetrainJeep claims 6L/100km fuel consumption rate, which makes the Renegade one of the best SUVs around in term o f f u e l e c o n o m y . The a l l -new 2015 Jeep Renegade is the world's rst small SUV with nine-speed automat ic t ransmiss ion. These include four MultiAir

petrol units, two MultiJet II diesel units and a ex-fuel E.torQ engine coupled to two manual and one dual-clutch DDCT offerings.Four-wheel drive is standard on every model, and for more capability there's the Active Drive Low 4×4 system which includes a 20:1 crawl ratio. A disconnecting rear-axle is also included, which stays disconnected to save fuel economy, and reconnects to provide four-wheel drive.

Packed with Safety FeaturesThe Jeep Renegade Limited Launch Edition comes well equipped with safety features and these include six airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, traction control, stabil i ty control and rollover mitigation. This model also came tted with Blindspot Monitoring, Crosspath Detection, Lane Departure Warning, rear pa rk i ng senso rs and a ParkView rear camera.

Pricing 1.6L E-Torque Longitude R333 990.00 1.4L Limited T M Air 6MTX R396 990.00 1.4L TJET Limited Auto R420 990.00 2 . 4 L T r a i l h a w k R474 990.00 1.4L TJET Limited AWD R476 990.00

These include 3-year/100 000km warranty and a 6-year/100 000km maintenance plan.

NEW JEEP RENEGADE CHARMS WITH ITALIAN ACCENT

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It would seem is not enough for Ford that its Focus make is hugely popular, because the manufacturer has upped its Focus range to 14 models! To reach this phenomenal number Ford beefed up the Focus range with four new options, offering its automatic transmission on the Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost derivatives in both Ambiente

and Trend specication levels. This additional feature has been added to both the hatchback and sedan cars.“By making the combination a v a i l a b l e o n s e d a n a n d hatchback models, and in both A m b i e n t e a n d T r e n d specication levels, these two great technologies are more accessible than ever. The Focus 1.0 EcoBoost Ambiente, in particular, offers exceptional value for money for private, company and eet buyers alike,” says Tracey Delate, general marketing manager for Ford Motor Company Sub-Saharan Africa Region.Engine PerformanceFord's 3-cyl inder 1.0- l i t re turbocharged engine offers 92 kW and 170 Nm of torque and ach ieves a c l a imed f ue l

consumption gure of 5.5 l/100km when paired with the automatic transmission. Other fuel saving technology includes auto-start-stop, active grille shutter and a regenerative charging system. It's also worth mentioning that the Ford Focus 1.0T Trend is currently South Africa's best compact car in the recent Cars.co.ca Consumer

Awards.If you are after a bit more power from your Focus, you can also consider the 1.5-litre EcoBoost Trend derivative that offers 132 kW and 240 Nm.In terms of safety, the Focus comes well equipped with four a i r b a g s , A B S w i t h E B D , emergency b rake ass is t , electronic stability programme with traction control and hill launch assist. Ford MyKey also allows for personal settings on selected driving and in-car features.FeaturesIn Ambiente trim, the Ford Focus 1.0T comes tted with electric windows and mirrors, electric power steering, trip computer with ECO mode, manual air-conditioning and a temperature gauge as standard.

An audio system with six speakers is also included while the 4.2-inch multimedia screen features Ford SYNC with Bluetooth and Voice control. There are also two USB ports for added convenience as well as an auxiliary input.T h e F o c u s 1 . 0 T T r e n d derivative gains 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, cruise control

with speed limiter and all-round e l e c t r i c w i n d o w s . T h i s derivative also gets curtain airbags, taking the airbag count up to six.Buyers can opt for a Styling Pack to personalise their Focus Trend model too, and this option includes 17-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler, privacy glass, automatic headlamps, adaptive bi-Xenon HID headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lights, dual-zone climate control and heated and electrically folding side mirrorsA Driver Assistance Pack is also on offer as an option and this i n c l u d e s l a n e d e p a r t u r e warning, lane keeping aid, active park assist, pull-out assist, active city stop, rear camera and front and rear parking sensors.

Pricing Standard HatchbacksŸ 1.0 EcoBoost Ambiente

ManualŸ R233 900Ÿ 1.0 EcoBoost Ambiente

P o w e r S h i f t A u t o m a t i c R246 900

Ÿ 1.0 EcoBoost Trend ManualŸ R255 900Ÿ 1 . 0 E c o B o o s t T r e n d

P o w e r S h i f t A u t o m a t i c R267 900

Ÿ 1.5 EcoBoost Trend ManualŸ R287 900Ÿ 1 . 5 E c o B o o s t T r e n d

AutomaticŸ R304 900Ÿ

ST HatchbackŸ 2.0 EcoBoost ST1 Manual

R403 900Ÿ 2.0 EcoBoost ST3 Manual

R443 900Ÿ

SedanŸ 1.0 EcoBoost Ambiente

ManualŸ R228 900Ÿ 1.0 EcoBoost Ambiente

P o w e r S h i f t A u t o m a t i c R241 900

Ÿ 1.0 EcoBoost Trend ManualŸ R250 900Ÿ 1 . 0 E c o B o o s t T r e n d

P o w e r S h i f t A u t o m a t i c R262 900

Ÿ 1.5 EcoBoost Trend ManualŸ R281 900Ÿ 1 . 5 E c o B o o s t T r e n d

AutomaticŸ R299 900Ÿ

* All models are sold with a 4-year / 120 000 km warranty, 4-year / 80 000 km service plan and 3-year / unlimited km roadside assistance. A 5-year / unlimited corrosion warranty is also included.

FOCUS POPULARITY SHOOTS UP TO 14 MODELS!

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In Italy, the land of Fiat automaker, the streets in town are narrow, which explains the need for smaller car models they use there. However, with the fast changing times comes taste for ner things in life and that does not always mean beauti ful things in huge proportions.Fiat has long recognised that and being Italian and naturally s ty l ish, the Tur in-based

carmaker has been churning out tiny bombshells, the latest being the Fiat 500X. The all-new Fiat 500X boldly enters the crossover market with

innovation, fun/ctionality and Italian style. Our designers and engineers took the FIAT 500 and added more space, u t i l i t y , d r i v e r - c e n t r i c amenities, capability and advanced safety and security features. Three trim levels let you choose your personal style. The FIAT 500X range includes the urban-oriented Pop Star and off road-oriented Cross and Cross Plus models

feature a more athletic look.TractionThe Fiat® 500X Cross and Cross Plus are available with 4x2 comb ined w i th the

Traction Plus system. They are characterised by off-road-look bumpers with protective shields, rims with specic design, exterior details with satin-chrome nish and roof rails. These two trim levels demonstrate the 500X's more adventurous and content-rich soul. This is the ideal equation for those looking for the strong and distinctive appearance of a true crossover, but who don't

accept compromise when adventure calls.

TechnologyWhy should the exterior of the

F ia t® 500X ge t a l l t he attention? Inside, you'll nd a number of features to excite and insp i re your d r i ve . Uconnect® Systems offer a variety of available features tha t i nc lude fu l l - co lou r t o u c h s c r e e n s , V o i c e C o m m a n d , B l u e t o o t h ® Streaming and much more. Add the optional 6.5'' GPS Navigation on Cross Plus, and the interior of the FIAT 500X becomes t echno log i ca l perfection.

PerformanceThe al l -new Fiat® 500X comes ready to perform. But power is nothing without control, and the Fiat 500X has plenty of that, too. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) helps to provide excellent traction and responsive performance i n a l m o s t a n y w e a t h e r condition.

SafetyThe muscular appearance of the Fiat® 500X is no accident. A number of standard and optional safety and security features are designed to help keep you protected from the dangers of the road. We started with six airbags+ and a s t e e l s a f e t y f r a m e f o r excellent protection in front, side and rear impacts.

PricingFIAT® 500X POP STAR R313 990F I AT ® 5 0 0 X C R O S S R346 990FIAT® 500X CROSS PLUS R383 990

FIAT 500X IS SIMPLY A BOMBSHELL

April 201614

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THE popu la r i t y o f SUV vehic les in South Afr ica remains on the upward climb a n d i f c o n s u m e r s a r e confused which SUV to buy given all the models to choose from, perhaps the new JMC Lanwind 5 will help ease the blues.To say the Landwind 5 is impressive is most probably an understatement; the shiny, well-built car offers so much value for money. It comes with most comfort and safety features a consumer wants from a car, more so in this category perceived to be luxurious. These standard features, all in good standing, include air-

con, power steering, central locking, a radio with MP3 and aux port, plus single disc CD, electric windows and side mirrors, rain wipers with intermittent setting and roof rack rails.Safety features include dual airbags, ABS with EBD, park d i s t a n c e c o n t r o l , h i g h -mounted LED brake light and child-safety rear door locks. Normally all this will cost a fortune, but for just R289 880 if you really want an SUV that works and no further frills, the Landwind is the car for you.Tried and tested reliability is what sits under the bonnet: a Mitsubishi 4G63S4T inline, four-cylinder engine. This

e n g i n e p o w e r e d t h e Mitsubishi Evolution model when it came out but for the Landwind 5, it has additional oomph in the form a Borg Warner turbocharger for gures of140kW/250Nm. Credibility is clearly what drove JMC technicians when building this SUV as further technical assistance was sought elsewhere to help develop the Landwind 5. These include Prodrive, a B r i t i s h m o t o r s p o r t a n d engineering group,which helped with the suspension, while Delphi, also a British automative company, did the electronics. German-based Getrag was roped to handle

the gearbox department.The Landwind5 is also not build for speed but if the user needs that, take off from 0-100km/h time in 11 seconds clearly makes this SUV no slouch. The fuel consumption is also decent at this level, at 8.5 litres/100km. Overall assessment is that the Landwind, also nicknamed the 5, will simply blow you away in all fronts - given its price for the technology involved.Pricing:Landwind 5 MT 4X2 LUX R289 880The price include a three-year/100 000km warranty and a two-year/60 000km service plan.

PREPARE TO BE BLOWN AWAY BY JMC LANDWIND

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ALLISTER Coetzee has been named as head coach of the Springboks for the next four years, ushering in an exciting new era for rugby in South A f r i ca , sa id Mr Oregan Hoskins, president of SA Rugby.The 52 -year -o ld fo rmer Springbok assistant coach succeeds Heyneke Meyer at a t ime when a number o f veterans of the 2007 Rugby World Cup triumph have gone into retirement, including three of last year's four captains.“Allister's appointment marks the changing of the guard at the top of Springbok rugby and is an exciting new departure fo r SA Rugby, ” sa id Mr Hoskins. “It is a watershed moment for our game with new players developing alongside a spine of experience and it was the right time to have a new man guiding the Springboks for the foreseeable future.“Allister was the outstanding candidate in terms of his rugby credentials, his understanding of our unique South African transformation imperatives and also in the image he will present as Springbok coach. I am delighted to welcome him back into the Springbok fold.“The Springbok coaching job is an enormous challenge but Allister has the full support of us at SA Rugby and we will be united in our efforts to continue to make Springbok rugby strong. I want to wish him well in his new job, I also want to pay tribute to Heyneke and his management team for their dedication and service to Springbok rugby the past four years.”Coetzee is arguably the most experienced man to be given the Springbok head coach's job. He wil l draw on his

personal involvement in 66 matches in the Springbok b a c k r o o m i n 2 0 0 0 a n d between 2004 and 2007. He also has an exemplary record at Currie Cup and Vodacom Super Rugby record. C o e t z e e s a i d h e w a s extremely honoured and h u m b l e d t o c o a c h t h e Springboks.

“This job comes with a huge amount of responsibi l i ty because our passionate fans rightfully demand the best from the Springboks at all times,” said Coetzee.“Rugby igni tes so much passion in our country. The team inspires all our people and every young rugby player in our country aspires to be a Springbok one day. I know full w e l l t h a t c o a c h i n g t h e Springboks requires a lot of dedication, patience and hard work. I am very excited and

grateful for this opportunity.” SA Rugby CEO, Jurie Roux, said that Coetzee had been recommended for the role by t h e S A R u g b y H i g h Performance Committee, whose recommendation had b e e n a c c e p t e d b y t h e Executive Council and the General Council over recent weeks.

He said that Coetzee emerged as the best candidate for the role following a robust and thorough process. “Allister was the most outstanding cand idate based on h is excellent track record as a coach at prov inc ia l and Vodacom Super Rugby level, which makes his appointment a great one for SA Rugby,” said Roux.“He proved himself on the domestic front by winning the Currie Cup twice with DHL Western Province and leading

the DHL Stormers to three SA Conference t i t les in the extremely tough Vodacom Super Rugby competition. And we all know of his contributions as assistant coach to the Springboks, culminating in success at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.“We at SA Rugby are pleased with his appointment and we

know we have the right person to lead us into the next and hopefully exciting phase of Springbok rugby. We're also grateful to Kobe for allowing Allister to join us in South Africa.”Coetzee had already been involved in a number of planning sessions with SA Rugby staff said Roux. His rst ofcial engagement as a coach will be the opening Test of the year against Ireland in Cape Town on Saturday, 11 June.

ALLISTER COETZEE APPOINTED AS NEW SPRINGBOK COACH

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CHAD le Clos led the way as the Olympic and Paralympic Q u a l i c a t i o n s h o r t l i s t continued to grow on the third night of swimming action at the S A N a t i o n a l A q u a t i c Championships at the Kings Park Aquat ics Cent re in Durban. It was a close nish between Chad le Clos and Myles Brown in the nal o f the 200m freestyle. Le Clos came out on top and conrmed his Olympic Qualication time with a golden 1:47.75, while the silver medal went to Brown in 1:48.29 and the bronze to Egypt's Marwan Elkamash in 1:48.34. Le Clos's second Olympic Qualication time came in the 200m buttery semi-nals, where he led the pack from start to nish and posted a fast 1 :55.61, to the requ i red 1:56.97, whi le Sebast ien Rousseau was a close second in 1:57.60. The nal of the event was expected to take place on Wednesday (April 12). T h e p h e n o m e n a l performances continued with Christopher Reid, who raced to the gold and an Olympic qualication time of 54.02 in the 100m backs t roke na ls , followed by Zane Waddell in 56.09 and Jacques van Wyk in 56.25.The 200m individual medley semi-nals saw Marlies Ross, Kirsty McLauchlan and Gabi Grobler take the top three positions in 2:16.17, 2:19.29 and 2:21.61, respectively. The nal will be held tomorrow. Karin Prinsloo came one step closer to making the Olympic Qualifying Time of 1:58.96 in the 200m freestyle, when she won the semi -na ls th is evening in 2:00.96 ahead of Kristin Bellingan in 2:04.98 and Caitlin Kat in 2:05.59. In the 100m backstroke nal, Mariella Venter walked away

with the title in 1:01.32, with Nathania van Niekerk in second, clocking 1:02.41 and Jessica Ashley-Cooper third in 1:02.46, whi le the 100m breaststroke gold was claimed by Tatjana Schoenmaker in 1:09.17 ahead of Franko Jonker in 1:09.24 and Tara Nicholas in 1:09.30. With ve athletes having already swum eight Paralympic Qualifying Times to date, Shireen Sapiro (S10) and Emily Gray (S9) added their names on the short list to Rio by improving on their heat times to nish the 100m backstroke in 1:11.87 and 1:17.17, dipping under the set 1:13.40 and 1:17.70, respectively. Hendri Herbst posted his rst Paralympic Qualication time in the S11 100m backstroke, claiming the gold in 1:16.84, while Craig Groenewald won the S14 and S15 event in 1:09.50, with Aaron Putz coming in second in 1:11.39 and Challis Wright third in 1:11.66. Christelle Kriel just missed out

on the Paralympic Qualication time in the S14 and S15 100m backstroke, when she nished with a time of 1:16.40 to the r e q u i r e d 1 : 1 6 . 2 3 , w h i l e Michaela Kretzen took the silver in 1:26.18 and Maritza Snyders the bronze in 1:31.36. The day 04 heats will start at 10h00 while the nals will begin at 18h30 daily.The staging of this event has been made possible through the suppor t prov ided by Swimming SA partners, Sport and Recreation South Africa, SASCOC, National Lotteries Commission, Arena, Rand Water and the SABC.

Olympic Qualifying Times following Day 03:Ÿ Sebastien Rousseau - 400m

individual medley - 4:14.75Ÿ Michael Meyer - 400m

individual medley - 4:15.71Ÿ M y l e s B r o w n - 4 0 0 m

freestyle - 3:48.86Ÿ Cameron van der Burgh -

100m breaststroke - 59.66Ÿ Christopher Reid - 100m

backstroke - 54.02

Ÿ C h a d l e C l o s - 2 0 0 m freestyle - 1:47.75

Ÿ C h a d l e C l o s - 2 0 0 m buttery (SF) - 1:55.61

Paralympic Qualifying Times following Day 03:

Ÿ Kevin Paul (SM10) - 200m individual medley - 2:15.78

Ÿ Kevin Paul (SB9) - 100m breaststroke - 1:05.10

Ÿ Johann van Heerden (SB9) - 100m breaststroke - 1:12.64

Ÿ Alani Ferreira (SM13) - 200m individual medley - 2:50.43

Ÿ Alani Ferreira (S13) - 400m freestyle - 5:21.00 (heats)

Ÿ Alani Ferreira (SB13) - 100m breaststroke - 1:26.90

Ÿ Emily Gray (S9) - 400m freestyle - 5:05.36 (heats)

Ÿ Emily Gray (S10) - 100m backstroke - 1:17.17

Ÿ Craig Groenewald (SB14) - 100m breaststroke - 1:12.33

Ÿ Hendri Herbst (S11) - 100m backstroke - 1:16.84

Ÿ Shireen Sapiro (S10) - 100m backstroke - 1:11.87

April 201617

THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC QUALIFICATION SHORTLIST CONTINUED TO GROW AT THE 2016 SA NATIONAL AQUATIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

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T S O G O S u n F o o t b a l l Academy is fast yet silently making progress in taking football development to the n e w h e i g h t s , W R I T E S NAKAMPE LEKWADUFrom its humbled beginning with 40 players shortly after the 2010 FIFA World Cup which was held in the country, the academy has grown with leaps and bounds, and today boasts of 80 players.Academy manager, G i f t

Mokgupo said they have a reason to celebrate their s u c c e s s a s t h e y h a v e produced a number of players to some of the country's top clubs.“ W h e n w e s t a r t e d t h i s academy, our main aim was to p l o u g h b a c k t o t h e c o m m u n i t i e s a r o u n d Silverstar's operational areas in the Mogale City, and little did we know that the results would come as fast as they are now,”

said Mokhupo during our surprise visit to the academy's t r a i n i n g s e s s i o n i n Krugersdorp recently.Mokgupo said they between 2011 and now, the academy has developed and produced seven players who are now p l y i n g t h e i r t r a d e s a t developments of big clubs such as Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and BidVest Wits plus School of Excellence. With former Kaizer Chiefs'

veteran development coach, Terror Sephoa in charge as the h e a d o f t h e a c a d e m y, Mokgupo said the sky will has no limit“Ntate Sephoa is a committed coach and a father gure like him is a motivation on its own for us and the players equally as we are learning a lot from him. He has a rich experience that we are benetting from him,” added Mokgupo.

TSOGO SUN ACADEMY BEARING

18 April 2016

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Among the players t h e y h a v e developed before t h e y c o u l d b e snatched by big c l u b s i n c l u d e Prince Moeketsi a n d Ts h e p a n g Moredi who have both been signed by Kaizer Chiefs for their Under-17 team, two more players, Tebogo and Lesego have been signed by BidVest Wits while Orlando Pirates also signed three p layers , Yah im M o d i s e , L e h l o h o n o l o Letshwene and Steve Kobeni who are part of the Sea R o b b e r s ' y o u n g s t e r s participating in the Multichoice Diski Challenge.Said Sephoa:”These trio were signed by P i r a t e s ' d e v e l o p m e n t coach after our a c a d e m y b e a t theirs 3-1 in one of o u r f r i e n d l y matches. Palacios was always asking a b o u t t h e i r w h e r e a b o u t s whenever I was chatting with him,

and I sensed his seriousness about these youngsters of which I ended up releasing them to him.”Apart from the players who were signed by the three clubs, Sephoa also was not mincing his words whenever he was s p e a k i n g a b o u t o t h e r youngsters, one “Hlokoloza” Mabe.Sephoa added that Tsogo Sun has gone out of their way in

making sure they bring the best coaches for the academy which has three divisions.“We have a bunch of coaches who understand and have interest in seeing these kids being developed,” added Sephoa

The coaches are Tumelo Kgosi who heads the Under-13 team, Sonny Sathekge (U-15) , former Jomo Cosmos' Sammy Magalefa (U-17) and Gift himself who coaches the U-20 team.The academy participates in the SAFA-Soweto League and their U-13 and 15 managed to nished their league season on position 7 respectively while their U-19 and 19 side nished fourth apiece.Good news for the academy is t h a t t h e y h a v e b e e n approached by the Premier Soccer League to participate in its Gauteng League of the Juniors of which Mopgupo said i t c a m e a s y e t a n o t h e r achievement for the academy as the more they participate in these kind of activities, the more they will be able to

produce more players .“The invitation came as good news for us, more so because in all the academies around Gauteng, PSL only invite three which was us, School of Excellence and Randburg academy,” said Mokgupo.

The Tsogo Sun Academy selects its players via its annual tournament which is held every year in September at the Lusaka Sports Complex in Swaneville on the West Rand. “Our Academy is very different from other academies in Gauteng. Our emphasis is on life skills, values in the players every week when we do life skills both on and off the eld,” pointed out Mokgupo.This is part of Tsogo Sun's CSI's initiate headed by CSI manager, Shanda Paine to reach and plough back to the community“We are looking forward for yet another successful year in the 2 0 1 6 e d i t i o n o f t h e compet i t i on , ” conc luded Mokgupo.

19 April 2016

THE FRUITS OF ITS SUCCESS

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VUWA LODGE REMAIN THE LIMPOPO’SBEST GUEST HOUSE

20

WHEN Thomas Ramulifho decided to venture into hospitality industry in 2008, little did he know that one day his establishment, Vuwa Lodge will be rated as one of the best in the country.Ramulifho is still in cloud nine few months after Vuwa Lodge scooped the Lilizela Awards in the 3 Star Guest House catergory. “I never thought such a day where our Guest House could earn this kind of achievement, let alone to be nominated as a provincial candidate for this award,” said Ramulifho during Sports Focus' visit at the Lodge in Polokwane.Convenient ly located in Polokwane's busy plush suburb of Flora Park, Vuwa Lodge is close to the popular Savannah Shopping Mall, Flora Medi-Clinic and Body Life Gymnasium, this is where the government and private b u s i n e s s e s h o s t t h e i r conferences.T h e L o d g e i s a l s o conveniently few kilometers from the 2010 FIFA World Cup

v e n u e , P e t e r M o k a b a Stadium and less than 10km away from the Polokwane International Airport and also 10km away from Meropa Casino and Entertainment. Ramulifho said he could not believe it when he was told that his establishment was among the candidates for the provincial Lilizela Awards.“For me it was a surprise because I did not even notice

when inspectors once took us by a surprise when they visited us here to inspect the Lodge. We did not even had time to prepare this place so that when they come they could nd it c l e a n b e c a u s e t h e y n e v e r i n f o r m e d u s , ” added Ramulifho who is a former lecture.Vuwa Lodge went on to win the award in the province in the 3 Star Guest House catergory before they could

go on to scoop the big one at national level.“I am very grateful about this award and it will go a long way in putting us on the map as one of the best establishment in the province and in the country as well. This could not have been possible if it was not through the hard work and the effort by our friendly staffers here,” said the excited Ramulifho. From the humble beginning in 2 0 0 8 w h e n R a m u l i f h o converted his house into a seven room guest house before he could bought out his neighbours' house which he added to the establishment to 18 rooms in 2009. Today

Vuwa boast of 24 rooms and two conference halls that seat 60 and 80 delegates, with a standby generator for a continuous electricity supply.Other amenities include air conditioning, bathrooms en suite, disabled facil it ies, laundry services, satellite TV, tea and coffee in rooms, phones in rooms and Internet access.Ramulifho's future plan is to establ ish another guest house at his home village of Vuwani village in Venda.“I have already bought a huge land there for this purpose and it is just the matter of time before I can realise that dream.

April 2016

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ATHLETES TSHOBA AND MABONE WINS BESTMED TUKSRACE

Before the sun rose, over 12,000 people gathered at the University of Pretoria eld to participate in the biggest road running event in the Gauteng, the Bestmed TuksRace.Winners of the 21.1km Open Men's race are Vuyis i le Tshoba (Rockies) in a time of 67:50 in rst place, followed by Jeffrey Gwebu (KPMG) in a time of 68:04 and Collen Mulaudzi (TUT) in a time of 68:29 in third place. Liziwe Mabone (AMPA) came in rst in the 21.1km Open Women's race in a time of 82:19 with Samukeliso Moyo (Maxed El i te) coming in second in a time of 88:31, and Caroline Wostman (KPMG) in a time of 90:30 in third place.Kgosi Tsosane (Nedbank) took the day in the 10km Open Men's race in a time of 30:22 f o l l o w e d b y K w a n e l e Mthembu (Prestige) in a time of 31:17 and in third place, Collen Mailola (Nedbank) in a time of 31:22.Tsosane commented on his win, “After struggling with minor injuries for two years, my hard training has paid off and I'm happy to win the 10km race. This is all part of my

training to quality for the Olympics, and I will also be taking part in the Senior Track and Field Championship in May this year.”Irvette van Zyl (Nedbank) came in with a timing of 33.55 in the 10km Open Women's race, beating last year's winner, Rutendo Nyahora (Nedbank) who came in second this year in a time of 34:56. In third place was Glenrose Xaba (Eskom) in a time of 35:54.

Professor Gloudien Spies, Chairperson of Tuks Marathon C l u b s , s a i d , “ We w e r e delighted with the record turnout this year, especially families who participated in the 5km and 1km race. It was great to see the joy and enthusiasm early this morning a t pa r t i c ipan ts se t ou t . Although the race attracts the e l i t e a t h l e t e s , w e a l s o encourage families, social and fun runners and walkers to participate.” Mr Gert Oosthuizen, Deputy Minister of Sport said at the prize giving ceremony, “Our mission is to create a winning na t ion and spor t has a language that transcends all barriers. It is very exciting to see the growth of the Bestmed TuksRace over the last 6 years and see how this partnership has gone a long way to promote a healthy lifestyle for all.” “ B e s t m e d a n d U P acknowledge the sponsors, which include Audi Hateld,

A u t o m o t i v e I n v e s t m e n t Hold ings, Ford Hateld, Iemas, 4D Health, Mediscor, and Run a way Sports. Their involvement has enabled this race to become one of South Africa's most sought after and premier road running events, and we look forward to an even better race next year,” concludes Dries La Grange, CEO of Bestmed.

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April 2016

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BANYANA Banyana and the National Under-23 technical team leave for Brazil onWednesday to attend the 2016 Rio Olympics draw that will take place on 14 April atthe iconic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.Each of the two teams will be represented by a coach and team manager.Banyana Banyana will be represented by coach Vera Pauw and manager Portia Makgalamele while coach Owen da Gama and Levy Ramajoe will represent the U-23.South Africa, Sweden and Germany are the only three countries that qualied for men and women's 2016 Olympic nals, a rare feat in modern football.“This is quite unique and prestigious to have all our teams qualifying for the Rio Olympics. We might stumble here and there but there is no need to despair. The future of our football looks very bright and our Vision 2022 is very much on track,” said SAFA President, Danny Jordaan.

The SAFA President said the two teams would go to Brazil to compete and not just make the numbers.“Both Banyana Banyana and the U-23 will go to Brazil to make a statement and will step up their preparations once the draw has been done on Thursday,” added Jordaan.After the draw, the organisers wi l l run a workshop for coaches and managers while the following day will be put aside for site inspection for all the qualied team.

U-23 Men Qualiers:

Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, J a p a n , N i g e r i a , K o r e a Republic, Honduras, Iraq, Sweden, Fiji, Portugal, South Africa, Algeria, Colombia, Denmark and Germany

Women Qualiers:

Australia, China, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Canada, USA, B r a z i l , C o l o m b i a , N e w Zealand, France, Germany, Sweden.

BANYANA AND U-23 OFF TO BRAZIL FOR DRAW

April 2016

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