Wits are PSL kings!

JOHANNESBURG – Founded in 1921 and Bidvest Wits’ most glorious milestone came on a chilly Wednesday night at their university grounds. It’s been some wait.

When Daine Klate, a Premier Soccer League legend in many respects with five titles to his name prior to kickoff, scored the second goal for the Clever Boys on the hour mark, it felt like it was written in the stars.

Wits have been saying they want to win things. That’s how the arrival of Gavin Hunt in 2013 was justified. It took him long enough to deliver though, but he did – his fourth championship.

He’s joined a special elite club alongside the late Ted Dumitru and Gordon Igesund in the PSL era to have clinched the title at least four times.

Hunt has no doubt earned a contract extension, with his current deal due to expire in June.

Owner Brian Joffe, whose hobby is to take pictures on the sidelines at this venue, will cherish this night. Those pictures should go up on his walls at home.

Just last week, Wits thought they had stuffed up the chance to win their maiden league title.

Even though Hunt would have unconsciously budgeted for defeat away at Free State Stars, given that in all the years he has been at Wits, the Clever Boys are yet to register a win at Goble Park.

In a TV interview a day later, the coach confessed that the lowly outfit from Bethlehem have always given him nightmares, even during his playing days.

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At Goble Park, Wits were thumped 3-1 and several players went to the ground in disbelief, while others were sobbing.

That was before they heard that second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, the reigning champions, had shared the spoils with Baroka FC thanks to a controversial last-gasp penalty awarded to Baroka by referee Thando Ndzandzeka.

The score ended 2-2 and Wits remained top and two points clear with two games still to be played in the run-in.

Again, you’d have to be quite stubborn not to think that maybe after 96 years of huffing and puffing, it was written in the stars.

Gavin Hunt knew the job was completed as he celebrates a sensational goal by Daine Klate. Photo: Gavin Barker, BackpagePix

A week later here, Wits played with intent. It wouldn’t have been a typical Hunt team if the former SuperSport United league-winning coach didn’t make at least five changes to the previous starting team.

We will still have to look at the statistics, but it will be hard to find a coach among the top five teams this season who has tinkered with his side as much as Hunt has en route to winning this championship.

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If Wits had imploded in their five or so remaining matches this season, like they have done in the last three since Hunt arrived, then he would have had to shoulder the blame.

But he’s delivered the championship, ran the marathon and emerged victorious. As coaches often say, they look intelligent when these come off.

Wits were not the most consistent side in the league, and Hunt will be the first to admit that.

But they have an incredible home record, especially in the second half of the season, where they only lost once here at this venue.

What a long wait, but deserved champions.

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Sundowns relinquish PSL title in draw against Maritzburg

PRETORIA – Pitso Mosimane paced up and down more than usual in this encounter against Maritzburg United.

Mosimane, who usually prefers sitting down alongside his two assistants Rhulani Mokoena and Manqoba Mngqithi, while they analyse their team’s performance in the dugout, avoided sitting on his chair in this one.

His seat was too hot for him. Bidvest Wits had set fire underneath it just four minutes into their match against Polokwane City at Bidvest Stadium. James Keen had just found the back of the net for the Braamfontein outfit. On paper, that lead meant that Wits were now in pole position to win the league title with a game to go before this season comes to an end.

The reigning Caf African Coach of the Year knew what was at stake here. Mosimane knew if Downs didn’t up their game soon, they were going to surrender their league title to the Clever Boys. And so he, Jingles, started being animated on the sidelines, bellowing instructions onto the pitch and almost pleading with his side to switch on, especially in the attacking third. He was trying to wake them from their slump. The Chloorkop outfit were not aggressive enough in the final third.

Fadlu Davids moved up and down in his dugout too. But he was much calmer than his counterpart Mosimane. Davids only stood to gesture instructions to his side to hold their defensive line each time they were under attack.

The central defensive pairing of both Brian Onyango and Bevan Fransman, proved very difficult for Mosimane’ side to infiltrate in the first half. It was their towering structures and immaculate clearing abilities which made it difficult for the likes of Percy Tau, Khama Billiat, Themba Zwane and Teko Modise to breathe up front.

At this point of the match, Sundowns added more numbers moving forward in an attempt to unlock their opponent’s defence. That move didn’t work though. The Team of Choice had were in full command of the game.

Onyango scored a brilliant header just 15 minutes before the break, following a superb cross from a corner from Deolin Mekoa. That goal was like a punch in Sundowns’ stomach, as they went to the half time break with their head drop going in the second period of the match.

In the second half, Wits increased their lead against Rise and Shine through Daine Klate’s finish, a goal which took the breath out of Sundowns play altogether.

Bafana ba Style played like they knew that their championship title was already out of their hands. They lacked that required aggression and figh. Sundowns were going through the motions. This is where the visiting side took advantage.

Evans Rusike produced a sole effort from the half way line to beat Kennedy Mweene between the sticks. Yannick Zakri scored for Sundowns just two minutes before fulltime, with Percy Tau finding an equalizer in the last minute of added time, but it was all too late for the defending champions to comeback.

Wits were the new Absa Premiership champions.

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[NEWS JUST IN] SPRINGBOKS FACE ALL BLACKS IN RUGBY WORLD CUP GROUP STAGES

JOHANNESBURG – The Springboks have been drawn against the world’s number one team, New Zealand, in the pool stages of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

The draw for a first ever World Cup to be hosted in Asia was completed on Wednesday morning, with the 20 teams involved divided into 4 pools.

In perhaps an exciting twist of fate in light of South Africa’s recent woes in the Test arena, the Springboks have been drawn against it's fiercest rugby foe, New Zealand, for the rugby showpiece in Japan.

Instantly memories of the 1995 final flood back, the epic third/fourth place playoff in 1999 and the heartbreak at Twickenham in 2015 as the Boks lost out in the semi-finals.

But since then, the All Blacks have had the better of South Africa, dominating the sport, winning the 2011 and 2015 editions of the competition.

Also in their pool, Allister Coetzee's men have been drawn alongside Italy, and repechage winner as well as the winner of the Africa 1 group which will be confirmed later this year.

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LIONS HOPE TO USE IRISH LESSONS TO HURT ALL BLACKS

BENGALURU - The British and Irish Lions will take a leaf out of Ireland's playbook and try to needle and knock the All Blacks off their stride when the sides meet in June, forward Iain Henderson has said.

Ireland played a high tempo, physical game to disrupt New Zealand and run out 40-29 winners in Chicago last November in a victory that sent shock waves around the rugby world.

Henderson, who missed Ireland's first win over the world champions in 111 years due to a shoulder injury, said disrupting New Zealand's free-flowing rugby would be key to beating the hosts.

"The boys over in Chicago got under the All Blacks' skin," Henderson told reporters during a Lions' training camp at Cardiff.

"They made them cough up a loss... The boys got in their faces and disrupted them from their usual game. It will be what we're looking to do out that there, not beat them at their game but at our game."

New Zealand avenged the defeat 21-9 in Dublin two weeks later but Henderson, who featured in that game, said the loss still revealed areas where the Lions could hurt the All Blacks.

"The All Blacks, as talented as they are, have weaknesses which can be exposed," he added.

The Lions start their 10-match tour against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei on June 3. They open the series against the All Blacks at Eden Park, Auckland on June 24, travel to Wellington for the second game on July 1 then return to Auckland for the third test a week later.

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CORRETJA: TIME AWAY HAS BEEN KEY FOR FEDERER, NADAL

BENGALURU - Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal have returned to tennis in blistering form this season because they were able to recharge during injury layoffs last year, former world number two Alex Corretja has said.

Nadal, the winner of 14 grand slam titles and the 2008 Olympic gold medallist, and Federer, who has won 18 grand slams, were sidelined for long periods last season as they battled injury.

Both players have hit the ground running in 2017, with Federer adding the Indian Wells and Miami Open titles to this year's Australian Open crown while Nadal, who lost to the Swiss in the Melbourne Park final, has won in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid.

"Everyone is surprised that Roger and Rafa have returned, but the key I think is that they have been able to stop," Corretja told TennisWorld website.

"The moment they have been able to stop and refresh themselves, they have found that strength again."

Corretja said world number one Andy Murray and number two Novak Djokovic are showing signs of wear and tear.

"Andy lacks that freshness and Djokovic is three quarters of the same. Although they have played fewer games, they really lack a little mental freshness," he added.

"When they are playing, those efforts take their toll."

Federer on Monday said he was pulling out of this month's French Open to avoid playing on clay this season as part of efforts to prolong his career, while Nadal will be bidding for his 10th Roland Garros title.

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SHARAPOVA TARGETING RETURN TO THE TOP

BENGALURU - Former world number one Maria Sharapova says she is not looking too far ahead after returning from a doping suspension but concedes she is eager to be competing for the biggest titles in tennis again.

The 30-year-old beat Christina McHale 6-4 6-2 in the first round of the Italian Open on Monday to guarantee herself a spot in the Wimbledon qualifying tournament.

She faces a battle to raise her ranking enough to qualify for the grasscourt grand slam by right and spare organisers the dilemma of whether to award her a wildcard into the main draw of the tournament she won in 2004.

The Russian is returning from a 15-month doping ban after testing positive for the heart drug meldonium at last year's Australian Open.

Since her return in April, Sharapova has received wildcard entries to the Stuttgart, Madrid and Italian Opens.

“I certainly have expectations of myself... when you have won big events and you have been No. 1 in the world, you know that feeling. So that feeling ultimately stays inside of you... and you know what you work for,” Sharapova told reporters.

“I would love to experience those feelings again. Of course, that is my goal. But as I said, every week is important... I might have not played my best tennis, but I set up an opportunity to play another match and to hopefully improve in that match, and that's what I need.”

Sharapova also said that she was unaware of this week's rankings deadline for the Wimbledon qualifying draw.

“Oh, is it? See, I think maybe you guys assume that I know these things, but I genuinely want to take care of each and every single week, and every single match is a priority for me,” Sharapova said.

“When you've been out of the game and haven't played competitively in 15 months... The fact that I'm back and playing three weeks in a row now and three events in a row for me is a big deal. That's my focus.”

The five-time grand slam winner will find out if she receives a wildcard entry into this month's French Open later on Tuesday.

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FIFA ETHICS COMMITTEE WAS INVESTIGATING HUNDREDS OF CASES - BORBELY

MANAMA - Ousted Fifa Ethics investigator Cornel Borbely said on Wednesday his committee were looking into "several hundred" cases of possible wrongdoing, some involving senior officials.

Fifa's ruling council decided on Tuesday not to renew the mandate of Borbely and chief ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, who had led the clean-up attempt at the troubled organisation.

Several dozen soccer officials, mainly from Latin America, were indicted in the United States in 2015 on corruption-
related charges, sparking the worst crisis in Fifa's history.

Among the officials banned from the sport were former Fifa President Sepp Blatter and Secretary General Jerome Valcke.

Fifa President Gianni Infantino was also investigated by the Ethics Committee but was cleared in August 2016.

Speaking at a news conference held close to the venue for Fifa's Congress, Borbely said the move was a "setback for the fight against corruption" with know-how and experience in the cases being lost.

"We investigated several hundred cases and several hundred are still pending and ongoing at the moment," Borbely said.

Borbely said he could not comment on specific cases that were pending or ongoing.

Fifa issued a statement on Tuesday saying Colombian investigator Maria Claudia Rojas had been nominated as the new head of the investigatory chamber with Vassilios Skouris of Greece, a former president of the European Court of Justice, put forward as head of the adjudicatory chamber.

The nominations of Rojas and Skouris, along with other proposed heads of committees, will be put to a vote of the full Fifa Congress on Thursday.

The changes to the Ethics Committee follow the resignation of former reform and compliance chief Domenico Scala last year.

He argued that the independent committees had been undermined by changes made by Fifa president Infantino, who denied the accusation.

Borbely said they had not been officially informed by Fifa of the end of their mandate and found out only from the media.

The Swiss investigator said the manner of their dismissal meant there would be no transition period.

"We worked well on a very high level with a huge volume of cases," said Borbely. "There was no need to change the Ethics Committee - the only conclusion can be that this was politically intended."

The pair said that the Fifa administration had not interfered in their work prior to deciding to remove them.
Borbely and Eckert remain with an active mandate until the end of Thursday's Congress.

"I cannot tell you what we will be doing.... but we take this mandate very seriously until the very end," said Borbely.

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MURRAY INTO MADRID OPEN THIRD ROUND WITH STRAIGHT SETS VICTORY

LONDON - - World number one Andy Murray beat Romanian Marius Copil 6-4 6-3 to reach the third round of the Madrid Open on Tuesday.

The Briton made a slow start against an opponent 103 places below him in the world rankings but he broke Copil's serve in the 10th game to take the set and found his feet in the second after breaking at 3-2.

He finished off the big-serving Romanian in 83 minutes without having faced a break point.

Murray, runner up in Madrid last year to Novak Djokovic, is likely to face a real test of his number one status at the tournament where anything less than a final berth will reduce his overall ranking points.

Crowd favourite Rafael Nadal will make his first appearance at the tournament he has won a record four times when he meets Italian Fabio Fognini on Wednesday.

Nadal has made a flying start to the claycourt season by winning the Monte Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open for a record-extending 10th time.

World number two Djokovic will meet Nicolas Almagro, who won an all-Spanish affair against Tommy Robredo 6-3 3-6 6-1.

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SHARAPOVA SET FOR WILDCARD ENTRY IN BIRMINGHAM - REPORT

BENGALURU - Former world number one Maria Sharapova will be awarded a wildcard by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to play at next month’s Aegon Classic in Birmingham, according to a report in the Times.

Sharapova’s current ranking of 258, after a return from a 15-month doping suspension last month, was too low to merit a direct entry for the grasscourt event and the organisers are looking to give her one of the four available wild cards, the report said.

The 30-year-old Russian last won the Birmingham event in 2005 but her most recent appearance was in 2010.

“We are in the process of deciding which players will receive wild cards for our summer season grass-court tournaments,” an LTA spokesman told the Times.

The five-time grand slam winner Sharapova reached the Stuttgart Grand Prix semi-finals last month in her first tournament since being banned but lost 7-5 2-6 6-4 to Canadian Eugenie Bouchard in the second round of the Madrid Open on Monday.

The tournament is scheduled from 17-25 June at the Edgbaston Priory Club ahead of the Wimbledon, starting on 3 July.

Sharapova’s hopes of featuring in this year’s Wimbledon could hinge on a 20 June meeting of tournament organisers unless the Russian finds form in the forthcoming event in Rome.

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[NEWS JUST IN] SPRINGBOKS FACE ALL BLACKS IN RUGBY WORLD CUP GROUP STAGES

JOHANNESBURG – The Springboks have been drawn against the world’s number one team, New Zealand, in the pool stages of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

The draw for a first ever World Cup to be hosted in Asia was completed on Wednesday morning, with the 20 teams involved divided into 4 pools.

In perhaps an exciting twist of fate in light of South Africa’s recent woes in the Test arena, the Springboks have been drawn against it's fiercest rugby foe, New Zealand, for the rugby showpiece in Japan.

Instantly memories of the 1995 final flood back, the epic third/fourth place playoff in 1999 and the heartbreak at Twickenham in 2015 as the Boks lost out in the semi-finals.

But since then, the All Blacks have had the better of South Africa, dominating the sport, winning the 2011 and 2015 editions of the competition.

Also in their pool, Allister Coetzee's men have been drawn alongside Italy, and repechage winner as well as the winner of the Africa 1 group which will be confirmed later this year.

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