Everton vs Manchester United Preview

Everton v Manchester United | Monday 20 August | Goodison Park | 21:00

It may have been only fourteen weeks since Sergio Aguero’s right foot provided the most thrilling finale to an English Premier League season in memory, but it feels like ages. It always does. Even in a summer filled with European Championships and the Olympics, there is nothing quite like the thrills and spills of the most widely watched football league in the world. Last season saw the race for the Premier League title transforming into a battle for being crowned the best in Manchester. The two Manchester clubs – City and United – were a cut above the rest, a fact that was reflected in the final league table with third placed Arsenal lagging behind the Manchester duo by a staggering 19 points. The pick of the first round of fixtures sees last seasons’ runners-up, Manchester United, travel to Liverpool to face David Moyes’ Everton.

SuperSport Utd v Orlando Pirates MTN8 Preview

SuperSport United v Orlando Pirates | MTN8 | Sun 19th August | Peter Mokaba Stadium | 15:00

The semi-final draw of the MTN8 took place last week after four of Mzansi’s best qualified from the quarter-finals. Defending champions Orlando Pirates will take on SuperSport United, while Mamelodi Sundowns will host Moroka Swallows. The ties will be played over two legs. Both look tasty ties, with this one involving champions Pirates and 2012 Nedbank Cup winners SuperSport especially enticing. The two teams have had some top battles over the past few seasons and it promises to be an open and entertaining match. The draw means Bucs and Matsatsantsa will play each other three times in one week. After this leg of the semi-final, they will face each other in the league at the very same Peter Mokaba Stadium on August 22, before the second leg of the cup semi on August 25.

South Africa vs Argentina - Rugby Championship Preview

South Africa vs Argentina | 18 August | Newlands, Cape Town | 17:00

Saturday’s historical clash at Newlands between Los Pumas and the Springboks marks a seismic shift in the perception of rugby in the Southern Hemisphere, certainly going a long way to broadening the entrenched systems of Rugby Union. Argentina’s inclusion, while extending an already saturated rugby campaign, should provide a much needed shake up of the Southern Hemisphere’s premier international competition. Ever since their heroic 3rd place finish at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, calls for Sanzar to incorporate Argentinean rugby into more competitive international fixtures have resounded throughout the corridors of international rugby. Now it is time for the enigmatic South Americans to potentially realize their considerable promise against the Springboks, in their first match of the inaugural Rugby Championship.

Australia vs New Zealand - Rugby Championship Preview

Australia vs New Zealand | 18 August | ANZ Stadium, Sydney | 12:05

This weekend’s encounter between the Wallabies and the All Blacks at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney sees a Bledisloe Cup encounter that pits the indomitable All Blacks against a team struggling with consistency. The last time the Wallabies actually won the Bledisloe Cup outright was in 2001, and only the most partisan Australian supporter can possibly envisage that the pattern will change in this year’s Rugby Championship. 

English Premier League Week 1 Preview

It’s good to be back. We may have had a winter filled with the European Championships and the Olympics, but nothing gets the blood flowing quite like a bit of English Premier League. It’s bound to be another season of high drama, twitter controversies, last minute wheeling and dealing and hungover Sundays on the couch. I have an unrequited love for the English game and the passion of those that follow it so religiously. It’s a kinship that is hard to explain. It’s been a strange old off-season, dominated mostly by who has stayed rather than who has moved on. Roman Abramovich clearly had some extra cash lying around, and decided to spend it on every No.10 worth his salt in an effort to make Fernando Torres look like a decent striker. The champions on the other hand, have been noticeable in their absence of big-money signings. Either way, it’s shaping up to be another vintage season, but that was never really in doubt was it? The league was won with the final kick of the ball last season, but what will happen when the ball gets rolling again on Saturday? Let’s find out.

England vs South Africa - 3rd Test Preview

England vs South Africa | 16 August | Lord's Cricket Ground, London | 11:45

The forthcoming third test between two of the game's closest rivals may well be South Africa's most important since readmission. There is a lot at stake. The number one ranking in test cricket, no matter how flawed the system, is still the only prize that the format commands. The Proteas have been on top before, but due to bafflingly poor home form have failed to hold onto the coveted ranking. As a team, they have never looked stronger and with Australia still in the process of reformation and the English seemingly coming to the end of their fairly brief golden era, the time is nigh for the Proteas to become the dominant test nation and begin a legacy of their own. That is not to say that the English will be taking it lightly. It is their top position on the line and they will no doubt be fighting tooth and nail to hold onto it in a year where their test form has waned. In terms of recent history, this test is probably second in importance only to the final Ashes test in 2005, where they regained them after 18 years. Are you as excited as I am? I bet you are.

Wyndham Championship Preview

Wyndham Championship | 16 August - 19 August | Sedgefield Country Club

As the excitement of last week’s Major begins to fade, attention is now focussed on Sedgefield Country Club as players tee up for the Wyndham Championship. This will be the fifth year in a row the course will host the event and the relatively easy layout is going to be a treat for those who were crushed by the trying conditions at Kiawah Island. With scoring here being fairly low, putting is going to be important, so keep an eye on players who can rank highly in this stat. Last year Webb Simpson won with a final score of -18, so expect to see a ton of birdies. Can he do it again this year or do we need to turn our attention elsewhere and find some value? 

Francis Semela: Hollywood Star of the Week

Apart from being given the gift of life by his late mother, FRANCIS TIEHO SEMELA was introduced to the wonderful sport of horseracing thanks to his mum and he has blossomed in his career as a workrider, after starting right at the bottom, as a groom. A humble Semela continuously thanked his late mum during this interview for changing her mind in allowing him to pursue a career in the sport of kings. He recently participated in his first proper workrider series for the 2011/2012 season and finished a very creditable second to his fellow Winning Form-sponsored workrider and five times champion Abram Makhubo. We catch up with him in our Hollywood Star of the Week interview.

Germany v Argentina Preview

Germany v Argentina | International Friendly | Wednesday 15^th August | 21:00

Germany will be looking to put the disappointment of yet another semi-final tournament exit behind them as they take on Argentina in what should be a thoroughly entertaining international friendly in Frankfurt. The last times these teams met, Ze Germans tore apart Diego Maradona’s Argentina as they triumphed 4-0 to knock La Albiceleste out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage. Not much has changed in the two years since, with both teams retaining most of the players from that day in Cape Town, although finally Lionel Messi is starting to show glimpses of his majestic ability on the international stage.

England v Italy Preview

England v Italy | International Friendly | Wednesday 15th August | 21:00

With the start of the European football season coming as it does this weekend, it seems a bit ludicrous that there should be a full contingent of international friendlies this week. Then again, FIFA have never really been the most forward-thinking of organisations. Considering the proximity to both the conclusion of the Euro’s and the start of the season, managers have taken the chance to blood some new talent on the international stage. This match should prove no different, as the teams will be much changed from the ones that served up one of the duller Euro quarter-finals in recent history.

A History Lesson: Lord's Love Affair

South Africa's travels to the Home of Cricket are never without the weight of importance. With the fierce rivalry that exists between two of the game's oldest competitors, there will always be a proud determination emanating from both camps, whatever ranking is at stake. Usually Lord's would play host to the first test of the tour - which comes with the importance of getting on the front front early in a test series - but for the first time since South Africa's return to the international stage, Lord's will be the setting to decide the outcome. With South Africa leading 1-0 and the number one test ranking on the line, it has never been more crucial. And the Proteas can hardly ask for a better opportunity to ascend to the top of the rankings.