Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 19 November 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# We kick off with rugby: Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids says they will not underestimate Wales in their final Outgoing Tour match in Cardiff on Saturday. The Welshmen, who made the World Cup quarterfinals just over a year ago, are seeking to end their eleven-Test match losing run, while the Boks will be hunting for their third successive victory. Davids says they still need to be at their best, regardless of Wales’ previous results:

Meanwhile, Australian coach Joe Schmidt says they won’t get carried away with their second win on the trot on their European tour. Australia hammered Wales 52-20 on Sunday after beating England the previous weekend, and face Scotland and Ireland next. Schmidt says emulating the 1984 Wallabies with victories over all four British teams is too far away to contemplate. He expects a tough battle against Scotland, who he met regularly when coaching Ireland, and says he hasn’t even started thinking about the Ireland game.

# Soccer: The Confederation of African Football has unveiled the top five nominees in the men’s seven categories for the CAF Awards next month. Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has been nominated for three awards, including Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year. Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has been nominated for Coach of the Year, while the national team is also up for the Team of the Year award. Meanwhile, on the domestic front, Mamelodi Sundowns is nominated for the African Club of the Year award.

# Tennis: Tennis South Africa has launched the National Club Championships, with a prize pool of over 200-thousand-rand. The tournament will feature both men and women in a doubles team competition. It will include provincial playoffs between January and July next year, with the winners qualifying for the national finals at Sun City in North West from the 29th of August to the first of September. Tennis SA president, Gavin Crookes, says this event will inspire a new generation of players and invigorate tennis clubs nationwide. 

And finally, more tennis news: Spanish ace Rafael Nadal says the Davis Cup Finals will be about trying to help his country win and not about his coming retirement. The 38-year-old 22-time Grand Slam champion will end his illustrious career after the tournament, starting in Málaga in his home country today. Nadal may only play doubles if it gives Spain a better chance of clinching the title for the seventh time. The quarterfinals will conclude on Thursday, followed by the semifinals on Friday and Saturday, and the final on Sunday.

Stay tuned for more news………….