Emaqenjini azobhekana kuma-quarterfinal, kukhona elidlala kwi-ABC Motsepe League, amathathu adlala kuSuper League, amabili agijima kuZonal League bese kuba amanye amabili adlala ngaphansi kwamaLocal Football Association (Safa).
The Durban leg of the Engen Knockout Challenge has once again proven to be a goldmine of raw South African talent, and at the centre of the spotlight is none other than Khusekhaya Football Aces’ towering defensive sensation, Siphesihle Siyamthanda.
Read: Mhlongo To Mentor Stars of Tomorrow at Engen Knockout Challenge
In a scout report that’s already causing a buzz in local football circles, respected talent spotter Scelo Zuma couldn’t hide his excitement about the 17-year-old defender.
“Siphesihle reminds me so much of Siyabonga Sangweni,” said Zuma, drawing a direct comparison to the legendary Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana centre-back.
“He’s tall, dominating, physically imposing, and plays with an intelligence far beyond his years.”
Siphesihle didn’t just impress, he owned the tournament.
He was deservedly crowned Defender of the Tournament, showcasing leadership qualities that saw him marshal his backline like a seasoned professional. Despite facing highly-rated attackers from better-resourced academies, Siphesihle stood his ground, never backing down from a challenge, and proving himself a rock at the heart of his team’s defence.
Beyond his defensive skills, scouts were particularly impressed with his composure on the ball. His ability to pass accurately and play out from the back gives him the profile of a modern-day centre-back, while his readiness to lift his teammates when under pressure highlights his natural leadership qualities.
“There’s no doubt in my mind,” continued Zuma.
“Siphesihle has the potential to walk into a PSL team with the right guidance. He’s a rough diamond, but with proper polishing, he could be one of South Africa’s next great defenders.”
If his performances in Durban are anything to go by, Siphesihle Siyamthanda is a name local football fans would do well to remember, because this young man is going places!
Jeff Kassouf covers women’s soccer for ESPN, focusing on the USWNT and NWSL. In 2009, he founded The Equalizer, a women’s soccer news outlet, and he previously won a Sports Emmy at NBC Sports and Olympics.
United States women’s national team midfielder Lily Yohannes has signed a three-year contract with French powerhouse OL Lyonnes, the club announced on Monday.
Lyonnes, the eight-time champions of Europe, had agreed to terms last week on a transfer with Ajax for the 18-year-old American, sources told ESPN. Her contract will run through June 30, 2028.
A source told ESPN that the fee is around €450k ($526k), with Ajax also receiving a percentage in a future transfer. Yohannes’ contract with Ajax ran through June 2026.
Chelsea were also in the running to sign Yohannes, sources previously told ESPN.
Yohannes has eight caps for the USWNT. She scored 10 minutes into her debut in June 2024 as a 17-year-old.
In November, Yohannes declared her decision to represent the United States internationally. She previously had not decided amid interest from the Netherlands, where she was reportedly in the process of securing Dutch citizenship.
Yohannes was born in Virginia and her family moved to the Netherlands when she was 10. She signed a professional contract with Ajax at age 15.
In 2023, when she was 16, Yohannes became the youngest player to ever start a UEFA Women’s Champions League match when she started for Ajax in a 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain.
Disney+ will be the only place football fans can watch all 75 matches live each season. Visit the Disney+ website to get access.
“She’s got unbelievable maturity and coachability, and someone who I know is going to become an important part of our program,” USWNT head coach Emma Hayes told reporters in May.
“But I’m invested in that development, and we have to be patient with that considering her tender age and her lack of international and high-level experience.”
Next July, MetLife Stadium will be hosting the FIFA World Cup final match. In the opinion of Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovač, the venue is more suited to hosting the PGA Championship.
“It’s more a golf green, so you can putt here,” Kovač said after a 3-2 loss to Real Madrid in the Club World Cup, via Ronald Blum of the Associated Press. “It’s very short. But this is not the grass we are used to playing on in the Bundesliga and also in the other two stadiums.”
Kovač is referring to matches played by Dortmund at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati and at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
“As you saw, the watering wasn’t good enough, I would say, because you don’t have the devices for that.” Kovač said. “When it’s too dry, it’s unbelievable. It’s sticking.”
Kovač also commented on the heat of the outdoor matches. When the most recent match at MetLife Stadium started, it was 86 degrees.
The FIFA World Cup final is reportedly expected to start at 3:00 p.m. ET on July 19. Which means it could be very hot for the most important match in the sport.
The betting favorites won the CONCACAF Gold Cup on a holiday weekend with plenty of baseball action.
The Mexican national soccer team beat the United States 2-1 in the final on Sunday night in Houston. Mexico went into the match favored at +150 at the BetMGM online sportsbook, while the American team was +210. A tie was listed at +185.
Besides baseball, there was also the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour and a NASCAR race in Chicago.
Trends of the Week
Mexico its won record 10th CONCACAF Gold Cup title on Sunday at NRG Stadium. The Mexican team took in 38% of the bets and 55% of the money.
The three most-bet MLB teams in terms of bets and money all won on Sunday. The Baltimore Orioles (+130) beat the Atlanta Braves 2-1, the Detroit Tigers (-220) defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-2 and the Philadelphia Phillies (-250) beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-1.
Tigers ace pitcher Tarik Skubal’s over 7.5 strikeouts was the most-bet prop of the day. It easily cashed with Skubal striking out 10 Guardians hitters.
Shane van Gisbergen won the NASCAR race in Chicago. He was the favorite (+125) and took in the most money (33%).
Upset of the Week
Brian Campbell won for the second time on the PGA Tour this season, taking the John Deere Classic in a playoff over Emiliano Grillo. Both players finished at 18 under, and Campbell made par on the first playoff hole to secure the victory. In pretournament betting, Campbell was +35000 to win.
Coming Up
The Los Angeles Dodgers remain the favorites to win the World Series. They are +210 after opening at +400. The New York Yankees are the next closest team at +700, after opening at +800.
ADVERTISEMENT
After winning eight games in a row, the Toronto Blue Jays are now +1900. They opened +6000 and were +3500 at the start of last week.
___
This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.
POLOKWANE, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 09: Thabo Moloisane warms upduring the South African men’s national soccer team training session and press conference at Peter Mokaba Stadium
Despite already announcing 10 new signings in the current transfer window, Orlando Pirates are believed to be actively working on securing the signature of a Bafana Bafana defender, the Siya crew understands.
As previously reported by Soccer Laduma, the Buccaneers are keen on strengthening their defensive department, with Stellenbosch FC defender, Thabo Moloisane high on their priority list.
READ: Chiefs Star Maart Set For SV Ried
Insiders close to the club have indicated that Pirates’ pursuit of Moloisane remains ongoing, with the club having made initial inquiries about his availability.
“It’s believed to be an ongoing process. It’s one player at a time and if you look at the players signed so far there are no central defenders and apparently that’s why it’s believed that the club are still pursuing Thabo Moloisane. The club scouts and recruiters are believed to have been following his progress for some time now,” the insider told Soccer Laduma.
A second source close to the Soweto giants stated that Pirates are comprehensively reinforcing their squad ahead of a demanding season that includes multiple competitions.
READ: Luandi: Sekgota Attracted Moroccan Club Before Being Booked Into Rehab
“They are apparently looking at bringing in Thabo Moloisane to strengthen and bolster the squad and have a well-balanced squad as the club are building a strong squad to compete in all the tournaments this season including fighting for the league title,” the second insider told the Siya crew.
Moloisane, a product of Mamelodi Sundowns’ development system, joined Stellenbosch FC from Maritzburg United two seasons ago. In his debut campaign with Stellies, he featured in nearly all the matches and found the back of the net too. Last season, he was just as impressive and earned his first caps for the South Africa national team.
