RE-EMERGING BAFANA BAFANA, PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE RACE SET TO INTENSIFY AND MORE!
This week Gary Lemke has look at the re-emerging Bafana Bafana’s upcoming AFCON swansong, Premier League action returns, the NFL’s blockbuster Super Bowl LVIII and more!
BANANA SKINS EVERYWHERE IN EPL
Another 45 goals were banged home in last week’s round of English Premier League fixtures and there’s another full set this weekend. It was a record number in EPL history.
For those trying to study “form,” it’s simply not there. Chelsea, beaten 4-2 by Wolves at home, came up against Aston Villa (5-0 winners at Sheffield United) and the London club won the midweek FA Cup tie 3-1.
There are upsets galore, week-in, week-out. This week’s toughest game looks to involve Villa again when they host Man United. The only two “gimmes” seem to be Man City at home to Everton and Liverpool hosting Burnley. Arsenal are away to West Ham, Tottenham welcome Brighton, and Chelsea are at Crystal Palace.
Get those accas on, because if you can get a run of results the payout will be big!
PLAYOFF SIMILAR TO KISSING YOUR SISTER
There was a saying that a match between England and Germany always went to penalties – and ended with the Germans winning.
Well, South Africans experienced both emotions when beating Cape Verde in the shootout to reach the Afcon 2023 semi-finals, where they lost to Nigeria on spot kicks. That’s the fine margins in what can be a cruel game.
Bafana have regained their spot at the top table of African football this tournament and will look to bow out on a high when playing DR Congo in the playoff for third and fourth.
As players, it’s hard to get motivated for such a meaningless match. What’s that expression? It’s like kissing your sister. The main prize will go to either Nigeria or hosts Ivory Coast and that all happens from 11pm on Sunday.
SUPER BOWL SHOW STOPPERS
Sometime in the early hours of Monday, Super Bowl LVIII will be played.
Not sure why the Roman numerals are used, but it represents the 58th such “final” of the NFL season and this year features the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.
It’s as much a special occasion as it is a gridiron final, and the much-coveted half-time slot goes to Usher. Last year it was Rihanna, while we’ve also seen Maroon 5, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Coldplay, and The Weeknd in recent years, and in 2022 it was Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J Blige, and Kendrick Lamar taking centre stage.
And just how long is the half-time show? Around 13 minutes. And if you want to take a 30-second advertising slot? That will cost you $ 7 million (R132m). Oh yes, the 49ers are the betting favourites.
LIV GOLF JOINS THE VEGAS VIBE
The Super Bowl is being staged in Las Vegas and the gambling mecca is a playground for sporting fans and millionaires this week.
LIV Golf are holding their event – three rounds (54 holes) for a winner’s cheque of $ 1.6 million and a team’s first prize of $4m – and their Pro-Am was packed with celebrities.
It’s a chance for golf’s “noisy neighbours” to catch wider attention. The PGA Tour’s event this weekend is nearly 500km away from Vegas, at the Phoenix Open. First prize there is a healthy $1.5m, although the Tour’s golfers have four rounds to negotiate.
IRELAND’S CHANCE TO FLEX MUSCLES
Rugby’s Six Nations hasn’t quite separated the men from the boys yet, but after one round of fixtures, we already have a good idea of where the trophy is likely headed.
Ireland were impressive in seeing off France in Marseille, when the French went back to being a Jekyll ’n Hyde side.
Ireland come up against Italy at home on Sunday, and should run out comfortable winners and this is after Saturday’s two games should shed further light on the challengers to the Irish.
Scotland host France, while England are at home to Wales. You’d expect Ireland, England, and France to complete a set of wins that only comes out at 17/20, because surely France can’t be as poor two weeks in a row.
AND THEN THERE WERE TWO …
After 33 matches in the SA20 competition, we’ve reached the final.
The playoffs themselves were rather convoluted but the two teams left standing are Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Durban’s Super Giants. The Sunrisers topped the group of six franchises through their 10 matches, while DSG finished second on the round-robin table and therefore deserve their spot in the showpiece game at Newlands, at 5.30pm on Sunday.
Why not just allow the two most deserving teams over the course of the 10 matches their place in the final without all the playoff permutations?
Early risers on Saturday can tune in to the Proteas women looking for a historic ODI series win over powerhouses Australia, as they go into their final march of the series at 1-1.