The first weekend of July started on a rather sour note as Banyana Banyana boycotted their 2023 FIFA World Cup send-off match against Botswana while Steve Kompela was appointed as the new Swallows FC head coach and the Gauteng Jaguars are the 2023 Telkom Netball League Champions.
1. Banyana Banyana boycotted their send-off match against Botswana at the Tsakane Stadium
Banyana Banyana B side against Botswana at the Tsakane Stadium
Banyana Banyana were called mercenaries and traitors on Sunday as they boycotted their send-off match against Botswana at the Tsakane Stadium on Sunday the 2nd of July ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup later on this month.
Banyana Banyana said the Tsakane Stadium is in an unsuitable state for international football while also they are unhappy with the financial arrangements ahead of the World Cup, where they will face Sweden, Argentina and Italy in Group G.
According to the players, they will receive $30 000 (R565 537) each from FIFA for being at the World Cup, but nothing from the South African Football Association (SAFA).
Banyana reacted by refusing to sign pre-tournament contracts, saying they wanted an additional $21 000 (R395 876) per player from SAFA.
Meanwhile, SAFA chief financial officer (CFO) Gronie Hluyo lamented that the players are being unreasonable in their demands.
"What FIFA has committed to giving them is way more than we have committed to any of the national teams previously, including Bafana Bafana, the men's senior national team.
Each player received R20 000 ($1 500) for competing at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France, so what they are getting now is way more than that but they are still not happy," Hluyo said.
Banyana Banyana are due to leave for New Zealand in two groups, on Wednesday the 5th of July and Thursday the 6th of July 2023 with the World Cup starting on the 20th of July until the 20th of August.
2. Steve Kompela is the new head coach of Swallows FC
Coach Steve Kompela while he was still at Mamelodi Sundowns
Swallows FC released a statement on Sunday the 2nd of July 2023 confirming that coach Steve Kompela is their new head coach ahead of the new season and will be assisted by Musa Nyatama and Ditheko Mototo.
"We want to take Swallows FC to the next level and we are very excited to have attracted the services of coach Komphela.
We appreciate the professional manner in which Mamelodi Sundowns FC managed these negotiations, Coach Musa Nyatama remains a special pillar of our team and his willingness to learn and work closely with an experienced coach like Steve Kompela is highly appreciated.
The two coaches met last night to celebrate coach Komphela’s birthday and they were both excited to work together and take Swallows FC to higher levels.
The coach will be formally introduced to the Swallows FC family on Tuesday, the 4th of July 2023," the statement read.
Komphela’s coaching career started with Manning Rangers in 2002 as he has also coached Dynamos, Maritzburg United, Free State Stars, Platinum Stars, Kaizer Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic at the club level.
3. The Gauteng Jaguars are the 2023 Telkom Netball League (TNL) champions
The Gauteng Jaguars celebrating their Telkom Netball League triumph at the Hearfelt Arena in Pretoria.
The Gauteng Jaguars were crowned the Telkom Netball League (TNL) champions after a hard-fought 59-51 victory over the Free State Crinums during their entertaining final on Saturday afternoon at the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria.
The final saw four Vitality Netball World Cup-bound players on the court, the Crinums had three Khanyisa Chawane, Lefebre Rademan and Refiloe Nketsa while the Jaguars had Izette Griesel.
The Jaguars started on a slow footing in the first quarter but they redeemed themselves after that and led from the first quarter until the final whistle.
While the title is the Jaguars' sixth title since the inception of the TNL in 2014, it was coach Rozzane Matthyse’s first one.
Meanwhile, the Limpopo Baobabs were crowned the champions of Division Two of the competition as they overcame a determined Western Cape Tornados in the final of the second tier stream while last year's silver medallists, the Mpumalanga Sunbirds took home the bronze medal.
4. Winchester Mansion is the 2023 Durban July champion
Winchester Mansion with its rider Kabelo Matsunyane during the Durban July
Winchester Mansion won the 2023 Durban July race at Grenville on Saturday afternoon.
Ridden by Kabelo Matsunyane, trained by Brett Crawford, and owned by the Drakenstein Stud of Gaynor Rupert, Winchester Mansion edged out favourite See It Again in the final strides to take first prize in the R5 million Grade 1 contest over 2200m.
Three-year-old Filly Bless My Stars finished third while galloping gallantly in the fourth position was Do it Again.
5. Verstappen dominated a hectic Spielberg race as Leclerc went ahead of Perez in second place.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrating his victory during the Austrian Grand Prix Max Verstappen did the predictable by winning the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday the 2nd of July 2023.
The victory was his seventh of the season and Red Bull's ninth overall as Charles Leclerc finished second ahead of Red Bull's Sergio Perez.
Verstappen now has 229 points to his name, with Perez on 148 with Red Bull winning every race this year and being poised to dominate every one of the remaining 12 races.
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