Month: August 2026

Amilcar Xayiya @melkardascribe   Women's Month provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women, but in sport, their influence can stretch far beyond the scoreboard. South Africa has produced women who have not only produced at the highest level but who have challenged expectations and created new possibilities for those that follow.   From swimming pools and athletics tracks to tennis courts and football pitches, these women have helped […]

Amilcar Xayiya @melkardascribe   Banyana Banyana's hopes of defending their Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title may have ended in disappointment, but their journey towards the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup is far from over. After falling to hosts Morocco in the quarter-finals, South Africa faced Nigeria in a crucial play-off, where a 2–1 victory kept their hopes of reaching Brazil alive.   For NWU student Fezeka Zwane, however, […]

Tebello Monokwa @tebello_monokwa   Women in bodybuilding are challenging conventional expectations of how women should look, with athletes and coaches arguing that strength and muscularity should not determine a woman’s femininity.   For Kgopotso Shokane, seeing a woman with a muscular physique creates an impression of discipline, strength and commitment. She says that she respects the hard work required to develop such a physique. “I would respect the amount of […]

Akhona Maphumulo @akhonamaphumulo9   For some North-West University (NWU) students, sports betting has become part of following their favourite teams, while others see it as an opportunity to make extra money.   A recent Wits University article, “Student gambling: What is the real crisis?” published by dean of student affairs Jerome September, discusses the growing presence of gambling among university students. September points to financial pressures, rising living costs and […]

Akhona Maphumulo  @akhonamaphumulo9   Thamia Kganedi embraced her role as USSA captain while aiming to strengthen her team and grow table tennis at the university level. Kganedi, a North West University (NWU) Mahikeng Honours student in human movement and environmental science, had already gained leadership experience as a table tennis chairperson before taking the position as a captain.    According to News@NWU, she became chairperson of the table tennis at […]

Mine Fourie  @mine.fouriee   There is something different about competing on familiar ground. The changing rooms are known, the playing surface is familiar, the journey is usually shorter and the crowd is often filled with people who want to see the home team succeed.   This phenomenon is commonly referred to as the home advantage. While factors such as travel and familiarity with the venue can contribute, research suggests that the […]