Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 15 April 12:30 pm

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

# We begin with soccer: Banyana Banyana defeated Algeria 1-0 in an international friendly in Durban. The only goal came from Nthabiseng Majiya in the 35th minute. The teams will play another match while ramping up preparations for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in July. Banyana’s coach, Desiree Ellis, is happy with the result, but believes they can still improve:

Other soccer news: World governing body FIFA has reportedly discussed asking US president Donald Trump to halt immigration raids during the World Cup in his country, Canada and Mexico. Reports indicate FIFA president Gianni Infantino could use his relationship with Trump to push for a pause on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in host cities. The move aims to ease safety concerns and ensure smooth tournament operations amid growing scrutiny over immigration enforcement. 

# Cricket: Experienced Proteas Women duo Dané van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp will miss the five-match T20 series against India, but hope to be ready for the World Cup, starting in England on 12 June. Van Niekerk is still recovering from injury and Kapp is recuperating from illness, and both missed the recent series against New Zealand’s White Ferns. The series against India starts in Durban on Friday and will be followed by another encounter in the coastal city, two in Johannesburg and the final one in Benoni, Gauteng.

# Rugby: South Africa A and Zimbabwe will play a curtain raiser for the Springboks’ season opener against the Barbarians in Gqeberha on the 20th of June. The hosts will see action for the first time since a European tour in 2022, while the neighbours qualified for next year’s World Cup in Australia for the first time since 1991. Bok coach Rassie Erasmus describes the match as a fantastic opportunity for both teams, saying Boks such as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Aphelele Fassi and Grant Williams have represented the A-team earlier.

And staying with rugby: New Zealand outfit the Crusaders were forced to scrap their decades-old horse parade before home games in Christchurch because of safety concerns. Horses draped in the team’s red-and-black gear trotted around Rugby League Park and Lancaster Park before games for the past 30-years. But the infrastructure at the Crusaders’ new home, the Te Kaha Stadium, isn’t compatible with the animals, leading to the very difficult decision to ditch the parade. The riding group’s spokesperson, Mark Donald, say they are incredible disappointed, but understands the rationale.

Stay tuned for more news………….