Orlando Pirates secured back-to-back Premier Soccer League (PSL) titles on Saturday, when they preserved their two-point lead at the top of the standings with a 4-2 victory over Golden Arrows at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Only one team, Moroka Swallows, had a chance to catch Pirates when the final round of matches began, but Pirates' victory prevented the Birds from snatching the title on the final weekend. Swallows, though, did all they could do, defeating Maritzburg United 1-0 away from home to finish only two points behind the Buccaneers.

Despite the fact that they repeated as champions, it was far from a smooth season for Pirates. Club owner Irvin Khoza's very questionable decision to part ways with coach Ruud Krol after Pirates' won three titles the previous season came back to haunt him when Krol's replacement, Jairo Leal, failed to get the results the Buccaneers were capable of.

Quit

The Brazilian quit at the beginning of April after being suspended in March. The club's comment at the time was that Leal had said he "could not see a way forward".

At the time, the Soweto giants were lying second in the league, but had lost in the preliminary round of the Caf Champions League and had been beaten in the last-16 of the Nedbank Cup by Free State Stars.

Augusto Palacios was appointed to take over from Leal and Pirates responded while some other teams faltered as the season headed towards its climax.

Change of fortune

For Swallows, it was a remarkable season considering how they had narrowly avoided relegation in the 2010/11 season.

The club's change of fortune began the previous when Gordon Igesund, a winner of league titles with Manning Rangers, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Santos, was hired and helped Swallows avoid relegation. Given a full season in charge, Igesund lifted the Birds to second in the league as they became the highest scoring team in the PSL.

Much of that had to do with Igesund's ability to get the best out of striker Siyabonga Nomvethe. At the age of 34, Nomvethe produced 20 goals, far and away the leading mark in the league, with Eleazar Rodgers of Santos finishing second with 12 goals to his name.

Gavin Hunt again did wonders with SuperSport United as the club finished third, four points behind Pirates and ahead of big money clubs Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs, after they closed the season with a 2-1 victory at Bloemfontein Celtic.

Disappointing

For a club with the financial resources of Sundowns, finishing fourth was a disappointing season. For supporters of fan favourites Kaizer Chiefs, a fifth place finish was even more disappointing and that fact was underlined by the dismissal of coach Vladimir Vermezovic in April with seven matches remaining in the season.

Jomo Cosmos continued the club's yo-yo existence of winning promotion and immediately being relegated as they won only two of their 30 games whilst drawing 13 times. They finished eight points lower than the second bottom club, Santos.

The Cape Town club managed a 1-0 win over Cosmos on the last day of the season, but when Black Leopards beat Ajax Cape Town 3-1, Santos was consigned to the playoffs for a place in the PSL next season.

Poor season

On the subject of Ajax Cape Town, it was a poor season for the team which had gone into the final fixture of the previous season two points clear of Pirates, but ended up missing out on the title on goal difference. This time around they managed only ninth place, winning 11 matches, drawing seven and losing 12 times.

The University of Pretoria lifted the National First Division (NFD) title to secure a spot in the PSL next season. Chippa United and Thanda Royal Zulu, after finishing second and third respectively in the NFD, will face Santos in playoff matches for the remaining PSL place.

PSL CHAMPIONS

• 2011/12: Orlando Pirates
• 2010/11: Orlando Pirates
• 2009/10: SuperSport United
• 2008/09: SuperSport United
• 2007/08: SuperSport United
• 2006/07: Mamelodi Sundowns
• 2005/06: Mamelodi Sundowns
• 2004/05: Kaizer Chiefs
• 2003/04: Kaizer Chiefs
• 2002/03: Orlando Pirates
• 2001/02: Santos
• 2000/01: Orlando Pirates
• 1999/00: Mamelodi Sundowns
• 1998/99: Mamelodi Sundowns
• 1997/98: Mamelodi Sundowns
• 1996/97: Manning Rangers

• Would you like to use this article in your publication or on your website? See: Using SAinfo material

  

18 May 2012

After two years out of South Africa's national team, striker Siyabonga Nomvethe has forced his way back into the Bafana Bafana squad, thanks to his superb form in the PSL, where he has scored 20 goals this season, eight more than the next highest scorer.

With Nomvethe to the fore, Moroka Swallows are the PSL's leading scorers, and it's between them and Orlando Pirates for title honours with one match remaining in the season.

He has been capped 79 times and netted 16 goals. Bafana's biggest problem has for a long time been its goal scoring, so it makes sense to restore Nomvethe to the national team, even at the age of 34.

Fixtures

He is part of a 27-man line-up that was named on Thursday in Johannesburg for South Africa's upcoming 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia and Botswana, and a friendly international against Gabon.

Bafana face the Ethiopians on 3 June in Rustenburg. On 9 June, they play Botswana in Gabarone, while the friendly against Gabon takes place on 15 June in Johannesburg.

The league's second highest goal scorer, Eleazar Rodgers of Santos, is one of four new caps in the 27-man squad, which once again underlines the search for a consistent goal scorer for the national team.

Nomvethe and Rodgers are joined up front by new cap Tokelo Rantie of Orlando Pirates and the incumbent Katlego Mphela, who have netted seven and 10 goals respectively this season.

Winger called up

On the back of a strong season by Free State Stars, which will see the team finish no lower than sixth in the league, Stars' winger Mzikakiyise Mashaba has also been called up.

There was good news for the experience of the team and for its midfield strength when Kaizer Chiefs' Siphiwe Tshabalala and Reneilwe Letsholonyane were named in the squad after previously having been sidelined by injury.

The squad includes eight overseas-based players: captain Steven Pienaar, goalkeeper Darren Keet, defenders Bongani Khumalo, Tsepo Masilela, Anele Ngcongca, and midfielders May Mahlangu and Thulani Serero.

"It is important to keep the balance of youth and experience in the team because we are also preparing the team beyond 2014. We have also acknowledged and rewarded most of the players who have done well in the PSL this season," coach Pitso Mosimane told the media at the announcement of the squad.

'Very stubborn'

Looking ahead to Bafana's first match, he said: "Ethiopia is a very and stubborn team that doesn't give up and give in to pressure.

"They have a very quick team up front and a very compact in defence, but we think we have the ammunition and the players to unlock this ultra-defensive approach.

"We have played against such defences against the Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone recently, and we managed to unlock them at particular times. We hope the experience of those two matches will help to us unlock the Ethiopian defence.

"It is important to win the game at all costs. At this point in time the key is to win the game and not focus on playing very well. The country deserves a win," he concluded.

Bafana is ranked 67th in the latest Fifa world rankings, while Ethiopia is in 138th place.

BAFANA BAFANA SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Wayne Sandilands (Mamelodi Sundowns), Darren Keet (KV Kortrijk FC)

Defenders: Punch Masenamela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tsepo Masilela (Getafe), Eric Mathoho (Bloemfontein Celtic), Siboniso Gaxa (Kaizer Chiefs), Morgan Gould (SuperSport United), Siyabonga Sangweni (Orlando Pirates), Bongani Khumalo (Tottenham Hotspur) Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk)

Midfielders: Andile Jali (Orlando Pirates), May Mahlangu (Helsingsborg), Thulani Serero (Ajax Cape Town), Steven Pienaar (Everton, captain), Oupa Manyisa (Orlando Pirates), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Mzikayise Mashaba (Free State Stars), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Teko Modise (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lebohang Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Strikers: Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvethe (Moroka Swallows), Tokelo Rantie (Orlando Pirates), Eleazor Rodgers (Santos)

South Africa may be able to tap into thousands of megawatts in renewable energy when the massive Inga hydro-electric project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) goes live.

The Department of Energy's chief director of clean energy, Mokgadi Modise, said a treaty that would make this possible, outlining the roles and responsibilities of the different actors, was being finalised.

Modise was speaking at a media briefing during the Africa-European Union Energy Partnership's first stakeholder forum in Cape Town on Wednesday.

Potentially largest project in the world

The Inga hydro-electric project on the Congo River could become the largest hydro-electric project in the world, and is expected to generate a massive 40 000MW of electricity - more than the current electricity generation in South Africa.

Modise said the South African negotiating team was being led by the Department of International Relations and Co-operation and included the Department of Public Enterprises, the Department of Energy and the National Treasury.

She said the project would help more South Africans access electricity while significantly boosting African regional integration.

Africa-EU Energy Partnership

According to the government's Integrated Resource Plan, a 20-year projection on electricity supply and demand, about 6% of electricity generated in the country will be required to come from hydro resources.

Modise added that the Finnish and Austrian governments were funding nine energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects in South Africa.

The Africa-EU Energy Partnership, created in 2007, is a partnership between business, government and civil society to find ways of meeting sustainable energy challenges on the continent. The partnership has 54 African and European members.

In Vienna in 2010, the partners signed a declaration setting out targets, to be met by 2020, for energy access, energy security, energy efficiency and the adoption of renewable energy.

The partnership's stakeholder forums - of which the Cape Town meeting is the first - are intended to enable members to explore ways of achieving these targets.

Source: BuaNews

South Africa's women's football team, Banyana Banyana, will step up their preparations for the London Olympic Games with a training camp in Potchefstroom from 9 to 18 May, followed by two matches against African opposition later this month.

Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Kylie-Ann Louw and Roxanne Barker will return from abroad and join up with young guns Andile Dlamini, Robyn Moodaly and Lebohang Mabatle, as part of the 24 players that will go into the training camp.

A squad of 18 players will be chosen for an international friendly against Tanzania in Dar Es Salaam on Sunday, 20 May. Banyana will then face Zambia in Lusaka on Saturday, 26 May, in an African Women's Championship first leg qualifier.

Experience and goal scoring

Midfielder Nyandeni, who plays for Russian club Rossiyank FC, will bring experience and a good goal scoring record to the squad. She missed out on the Cyprus Women's Cup in March because of injury and will want to show that she is fit and ready to compete for a place at the London Olympic Games. She has played 92 internationals and scored 27 goals.

While Banyana Banyana coach Joseph Mkhonza will be keen to analyse the form of his overseas-based players, he is equally happy to have some younger players in camp, who recently did duty for the South African under-20 team.

Defender Lebohang Mabatle (one cap), midfielder Robyn Moodaly (10 caps and one goal) and goalkeeper Andile Dlamini (two caps) will also be out to prove that they can add value to the Banyana Banyana team.

Young stars

Moodaly was a key member of the Banyana Banyana team that saw off Zambia, Tunisia and Ethiopia en route to Olympic qualification last year, while Dlamini has done her chances a world of good by putting in a super performance for her Mamelodi Sundowns' Ladies side in the Sasol League Gauteng Road Show held in Soweto almost two weeks ago.

"In order to send the best players to the Olympics, we have kept the selection process going for as long as possible to make sure we don't overlook any talent," Mkhonza said in a statement.

"I am happy to welcome back our overseas-based players and the national under 20 side players, so we can assess their form as we enter this crucial phase in the build-up to the Olympics."

Banyana Banyana Squad

Goalkeepers: Thoko Mndaweni (University of Johannesburg), Roxanne Barker (Pepperdine University, USA), Andile Dlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Defenders: Lebohang Mabatle (Hallelujah Zebra Force), Amanda Sister (Liverpool Ladies), Janine van Wyk (Palace Super Falcons), Gabisile Hlumbane (Kovsies), Refiloe Jane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Zamandosi Cele (Durban Ladies), Nothando Vilakazi (Palace Super Falcons)

Midfielders: Nompumelelo Nyandeni (Rossiyank FC, Russia), Kylie Ann Louw (Stephen Austin University, Texas, USA), Yola Jafta (University of Johannesburg), Mamello Makhabane (Palace Super Falcons), Mary Ntsweng (Tshwane University of Technology), Leah Sethunya (Maluti Ladies), Nondyebo Mgudu (Durban Ladies), Robyn Moodaly (HPC)

Strikers: Portia Modise (Palace Super Falcons), Amanda Dlamini (University of Johannesburg), Noko Matlou (University of Johannesburg), Sanah Mollo (Bloemfontein Celtic), Andiswe Mgcoyi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Leandra Smeda (Cape Town Roses)

SAinfo reporter

Canadian miner Platinum Group Metals has announced the discovery of potentially rich platinum deposits in a previously unexplored part of the platinum-rich Bushveld Igneous Complex in the Waterberg region of South Africa's Limpopo province.

The company first announced its Waterberg discovery in November, followed by a statement in February saying that "multiple intercepts of consistently high grade, thick reef" with "excellent exploration potential" had been discovered at depths of much less than 1 000 metres.

Extension of the Bushveld Complex

It described the estimated basket metal price for the reefs under exploration as "attractive and high in gold", noting that the northern "limb" of the Bushveld Complex had seen an increase in exploration and investment in the past seven years because of "larger thickness" suitable for mechanized mining.

The company's Waterberg project is located north of this northern limb - an extension of the Bushveld Complex that the company discovered in 2011.

On the basis of the high grade, shallow and wide drill intercepts discovered since then, the company estimates that the extension covers at least 100 square kilometres.

'Don't assume the best stuff's already been found'

It has expanded its Waterberg exploration programme from five to eight drill rigs, with CEO Mike Jones, in an interview with Business Day, describing the find as "geologically the most interesting thing I've done".

"In South Africa, there's been more than 100 years of mining, but don't be so sure the best-grade thicknesses have all been found yet," he told Business Day last week.

According to the newspaper, Platinum Group "has diverted its entire geology team from its Western Bushveld Joint Venture mine near the Pilanesberg game reserve to the project, and may add two more drill rigs and dramatically bump up the venture's US$2-million exploration budget."

The Waterberg project is a joint venture between Platinum Group (49.9%), Japanese state company JOGMEC (37%), and South African empowerment company Mnombo Wethu, which owns a 26% stake in the project (and is 49% owned by Platinum Group).

SAinfo reporter

First-world infrastructure plus a vibrant emerging market equals huge investment potential!

South Africa's national women's football team, Banyana Banyana, were handed a very tough draw for the London Olympic Games on Wednesday. Their pool includes three teams ranked inside the top seven in the world.

At number three in the Fifa rankings, 2011 World Cup winners Japan present a formidable obstacle, while Sweden is ranked fifth and Canada seventh. South Africa is ranked 65th.

"Drawing World Cup champions Japan in our group ... well, it doesn't come much more challenging than that," captain Amanda Dlamini said in a statement on Wednesday. "But we are a highly competitive unit and will give it our all to make all those who have been supporting us, including the football fans in South Africa and across the African continent, proud.

'A dream come true'

"It's a dream come true for Banyana Banyana to be a part of Team SA at the Olympics, and I can assure you that the players will be working harder than ever in training in the hope of being among the 18 athletes who will get the chance to compete in London," Dlamini said.

South Africa face the Swedes first in Coventry on 25 July. That match is followed by another at the same venue two days later, against Canada. On 31 July, Banyana take on Japan in Cardiff.

Banyana coach Joseph Mkhonza was in London for the draw on Wednesday and shared his thoughts about it afterwards. "We are humbled to be here as this is a historic day for us as South Africans, and we have been drawn against some high-profile teams," he said.

'Not an easy task'

"It will not be an easy task for us, so we need to step up preparations to ensure that we're ready to compete against these three countries, but as you know the game of football can be very unpredictable, and this all depends on how a team performs on the day.

"We are very optimistic given the fact that, thanks to Sasol and Safa (the South African Football Association), we've been having various training camps since the beginning of the year to ensure that we make our presence felt coming to the Olympics as we look to promote women's football in South Africa."

South Africa will contest Group F at the Olympics. Group E is made up of composite team Great Britain, New Zealand (ranked 24th in the world), Cameroon (52nd) and Brazil (4th), while Group G includes the USA (1st), France (6th), Colombia (28th) and North Korea (8th).

After the group phase of competition, the top two teams from each pool will advance to the last eight, along with the two best third-place teams.

SAinfo reporter

Caster Semenya added her name to the list of South African athletes that have qualified for the London Olympic Games when she bettered the required A-standard in the 800 metres at the Yellow Pages III Track and Field meeting in Pretoria on Friday.

The 2009 world champion and 2011 silver medallist needed to run 1:59.90 or better to secure her place in the South African team. She managed to improve on that time slightly, clocking 1:59.60.

Athletes are required to better the standard at least twice before the Olympics and also compete in the South African National Championships.

Qualifying runs

Semenya first bettered the mark at the World Championships in Daegu last year, and was then crowned national champion in Port Elizabeth earlier this month, although she failed to achieve the necessary standard on that occasion.

On Friday, with the help of pacemaker Tjipekapora Herunga, she was a convincing winner, with Monique Stander in second place in 2:02.57 and Mapaseka Makhanya third in 2:04.77.

"It is a huge relief to attain the London Olympic A qualifying standard early in the year," Semenya told African Athletics.

"I owe a debt of gratitude to our pace pacesetter, who worked according to how we planned the race."

Looking ahead, Semenya said: "It will be great to make it to the podium and even win a gold medal at the Olympics. Going to the Africa Senior Championships in Benin is a good chance to sharpen up for the Olympics."

Long jump qualifier

Beijing Olympics silver medal winner in the long jump, Khotso Mokoena, took advantage of the perfect conditions to record a distance of 8.29m with his first leap. He now needs to leap 8.20 metres again to secure his place in London.

His South African and African record stands at 8.50 metres.

Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, who like Semenya won the 800 metres at the World Championships in Berlin in 2009, once again narrowly missed out on a qualifying time. After running 1:45.78 in Port Elizabeth, he clocked 1:46.12 in Pretoria as he took a convincing victory ahead of Thapelo Madiba and Daniel Nghipandula.

Wenda Theron, after producing a time of 55.79sec in the 400m hurdles at the South African Nationals in Port Elizabeth, stopped the clocks in 56.05. The Olympic qualifying time is 55.50sec.

SAinfo reporter

South Africa's track and field athletes have to compete in the Yellow Pages SA Senior Championships in Port Elizabeth this week to be considered for selection for the London Olympics. Expect a top-quality, action-packed competition!

The most recent qualifying standard was achieved by 400 metres hurdler LJ van Zyl at the Yellow Pages Interclub meeting on Thursday, 5 April, in Pretoria. He clocked 49.42 seconds to dip under the qualifying mark of 49.50 seconds.

World Championships medallist

Last year, Van Zyl won bronze at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. As a medal winner, that result already counted as achieving a first qualifying standard. However, he had to achieve the qualifying standard after 19 March too.

Caster Semenya (800m) and Sunette Viljoen (javelin throw) fall in the same category as Van Zyl, having won silver and bronze respectively in Daegu. Should they reach the qualifying standards at the Senior Championships, they would join Van Zyl at the Olympics.

Semenya needs to break the two-minute mark in the 800m, with the A-standard set at 1:59.90, while Viljoen needs to throw 61m in order to qualify. She has already bettered that mark this year, registering 61.41m at the North West Provincial Championships on 17 March.

110m hurdles

Lehann Fourie achieved the A-standard in Gainesville, Florida, on 6 April in the 110m hurdles when he crossed the line in 13.31sec, well within the qualifying time of 13.52 sec.

A number of other athletes have recorded A-standard qualifying marks at least once. They include three men in the 200 metres, namely Lebogang Moeng, Thuso Mpuang, and Simon Magakwe, who has also achieved the qualifying standard in the 100 metres.

In March, Oscar Pistorius ran 45.20sec at the Gauteng North Provincial Championships to better the required mark of 45.30. He was part of the South African 4x400m relay team that won silver at the World Championships last year.

Tsholofelo Thipe has met the required standard in the women's 200 metres.

Close

A number of athletes have narrowly missed the set standards, including Willie de Beer in the 400m, Elroy Gelant and Gladwin Mzazi in the 5000m, Ruben Ramolefi and Dean Brummer in the 3000m steeplechase and Cornel Fredericks in the 400m hurdles.

Women that that have come close to the A-standard in their respective events are Rorisang Rammonye in the 400m and Wenda Theron in the 400m hurdles.

The Yellow Pages SA Senior Championships takes place at the Xerox Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Nelson Mandela Bay. The first event starts at 09:15 on Friday. The last event of the day will start at 17:00. Saturday's programme begins at 06:30, with the last event at 17:25.

Tickets are available online from itickets.co.za, via telephone on 086 1000 291, or at the gate. They cost R25 for adults and R15 for children.

SAinfo reporter

South Africa's Burry Stander and Swiss star Christoph Sauser successfully defended their Absa Cape Epic title in Lourensford in the Western Cape on Sunday after dominating the eight-day, seven-stage event from start to finish. The all-South African duo of Kevin Evans and David George placed second.

Sunday's final stage wasn't the procession it was expected to be as the defending champions and overall leaders attacked their rivals on the 64km leg from Oak Valley to Lourensford to win their sixth out of seven stages.

The 36One-Songo-Specialized pair broke clear of the lead group just before the Telkom Hot Spot, won the R10 000 cash prize for being first across the prime, and then continued to power away up the steep climb that followed.

South African flag

They then carried a relentless pace to the finish, where Stander, on the final approach, grabbed a South African flag, which he carried proudly across the finish line.

Second place on the day went to the Topeak Ergon duo of Alban Lakata (Aut) and Robert Mennen (Ger) who pipped Songo-Specialized's Max Knox (RSA) and Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) in the sprint for second place, just less than a minute down on Stander and Sauser.

Stander and Sauser's sixth stage win in eight days confirmed their dominance at the ninth edition of the world's most prestigious mountain bike stage race.

Third victory

It was also Sauser's third victory in the event, his other having come in 2006 with compatriot Silvio Bundi. Stander is the only South African to have won the overall Cape Epic title. His total of 20 career stage wins is second only to Sauser, who has 26 to his name.

Nedbank 360Life's Kevin Evans and David George were fifth on the final stage, but secured second place on the General Classification, the highest ever placing by a South African team in the event. They also won the Absa African Team competition. Hannes Genze (Ger) and Andreas Kugler (Sui) of Team Multivan Merida, were third overall.

Unlike many of their rivals, Stander and Sauser had an incident-free eight days, which is virtually unheard of in a race that covers such rugged terrain and features such varied weather conditions as this year's edition, which included intense heat, gale force winds and driving rain.

Rode on the front'

"We simply rode on the front for about 80% of the entire race and stayed out of trouble," said Stander afterwards.

"When you ride on the front you can pick your line and avoid possible problems. When you follow someone else, you can't anticipate what’s coming. I felt so much more in control riding on the front more this year.

"We worked hard for this stage and the overall," he added. "We will never say no to the opportunity of winning a stage. Twenty-seven minutes is a big victory margin, but not only thanks to us. Our whole team and our equipment played a role.

'Nothing compares to it'

"We learnt our lessons in previous years. The Absa Cape Epic is a story. Every day is a chapter and that makes it so amazing. Now we know the Yellow Jersey is ours. Until now it felt like we were borrowing it. Nothing compares to it."

The only other South Africans to win a category were the Team Contego 28E pairing of Erik and Ariane Kleinhans. The married couple won the Mixed category title overall and collected seven stage wins in the process.

They were by far the most dominant Mixed team in the race with an eventual winning margin of two hours and seven minutes over runners up Udo Bölts (Ger) and Milena Landtwing (Sui) of Team Centurion Vaude. Bölts won the Master's division last year and is a former top-10 finisher at the Tour de France.

Masters winners

Former World and Olympic champion and 2005 Cape Epic winner, Bart Brentjens (Ned) and his compatriot Jan Weevers of the World Bicycle Relief team won the Telkom Masters (over-40) category. They were followed by two all-South African teams – Delaney Impey and Adrian Enthoven (JAG Craft) and Scott McKenzie and Warren Squires (Complete Cyclist), in second and third respectively.

The women's division was dominated by the Wheels4Life team of Sally Bigham (GBR) and Esther Süss (Sui), who won all seven stages and the overall title. South African Theresa Ralph and her Norwegian partner Nina Gassler were second, while another South African, Karien van Jaarsveld, and her Swiss teammate, Jane Nuessli of Team MTN Qhubeka, were third.

A total of 604 two-rider teams started the 781km, eight-day race, with 481 teams finishing and 93 solo riders completing the event after their partners withdrew.

RESULTS

MEN

• 1. Burry Stander (RSA)/Christoph Sauser (Sui) 36One-Songo-Specialized
• 2. Kevin Evans (RSA)/David George (RSA) Nedbank 360Life
• 3. Hannes Genze (Ger)/Andreas Kugler (Sui) Multivan Merida
• 4. Thomas Dietsche (Fra)/Tim Boehme (Ger) Bulls 2
• 5. Alban Lakata (Aut)/Robert Mennen (Ger) Topeak Ergon
• WOMEN
  
• 1.Esther Süss (Sui)/Sally Bigham (GBR) Wheels4Life
• 2. Theresa Ralph (RSA)/Nina Gassler (Nor) Biogen Britehouse
• 3. Karien van Jaarsveld (RSA)/Jane Nuessli (Sui) MTN Qhubeka
• MASTERS
  
• 1. Bart Brentjens (Ned)/Jan Weevers (Ned) World Bicycle Relief
• 2. Adrian Enthoven (RSA)/Delaney Impey (RSA) JAG Craft
• 3. Warren Squires (RSA)/Scott McKenzie (RSA) Complete Cyclist
• MIXED
  
• 1. Erik Kleinhans (RSA)/Ariane Kleinhans (RSA) Contego 28E
• 2. Udo Bölts (Ger)/Milena Landtwing (Sui) Centurion Vaude
• 3 Klaas van Moortel (Bel)/Inne Gantois (Bel) BAIL Peak Performance Brugge

• SAinfo reporter

  Would you like to use this article in your publication or on your website? See: Using SAinfo material

  

This is big sky country, with vast mountain ranges falling into lush river valleys.

Slovenia has named its strongest possible side to do battle with South Africa in an all-important Euro/Africa Zone Group One Davis Cup tie at the Arthur Ashe Tennis Centre in Jabavu, Soweto from 6 to 8 April.

South Africa will be without its two highest ranked singles players, Kevin Anderson and Rik de Voest, for a showdown that will see the winning team into a playoff tie for a place in the prestigious World Group.

The Slovenian team, which will be captained by Blaz Trupej, includes two players ranked in the top 150 of world tennis, namely Blaz Kavcic (107) and Grega Zemlja (130). The other two men in the line-up are relatively unknown players in Janez Semrajc (668) and Nik Razborsek, who has no world ranking. Kavcic, the star Slovenian player was ranked as high as number 70 in the world six months ago.

'A very competent team'

"This Slovenian team named is a very competent team," SA Davis Cup captain John-Laffnie de Jager said in a statement.

"With two player ranked in the top 130 of world tennis they certainly could be seen as favoured, but two men don't make up a team and, as we have seen on so many occasions, anything is possible at any time in Davis Cup competition.

"My boys are ready for the challenge and are quietly confident too."

The South African team will comprise John-Laffnie De Jager, Izak Van Der Merwe, Raven Klaasen, Ruan Roelofse and Jean Andersen.

No entry fee

"Easter time is tennis time this year and we are not charging an entry fee which will hopefully attract a big crowd to Soweto to support our team do battle with Slovenia," said Ian Smith, the CEO of Tennis South Africa.

"Davis Cup is one of the most exciting team sport events and the players participating in this tie are top class professionals, so there promises to be some great tennis action over the three days."

The two teams have never met in Davis Cup competition and in the latest Davis Cup ranking, South Africa is in 24th position, while Slovenia is ranked 30th.

SOUTH AFRICA v SLOVENIA
Venue: Arthur Ashe Tennis Centre, Soweto

South Africa
Izak van der Merwe, Raven Klaasen, Ruan Roelofse, Jean Andersen
Captain: John Laffnie de Jager

Slovenia
Blaz Kavcic, Grega Zemlja, Janez Semrajc, Nik Razborsek
Captain: Blaz Trupej

SAinfo reporter