Springboks vs All Blacks Headline Huge Saturday as MTN8 Semifinals, Women’s Boxing Event Postponed
South African sport is set for another blockbuster weekend, with the Springboks welcoming New Zealand to Ellis Park for the opening match of their four-Test series, while the MTN8 semifinals get underway and a major women’s boxing event takes over Cape Town.
- Springboks and All Blacks Renew Rivalry at Ellis Park
The Springboks face New Zealand at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, with kick-off at 17:10, in the opening Test of a four-match series.
South Africa arrive on a 12-match winning streak as world champions, while the All Blacks have also impressed under coach Dave Rennie, winning their three warm-up matches against the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls.
With both sides among the world’s top-ranked teams, the clash promises a physical battle, particularly at Ellis Park where the Springboks will look to impose themselves through their powerful pack and set-piece game.
- Orlando Pirates Begin MTN8 Semifinal Defence Against Sekhukhune
The MTN8 semifinals begin on Saturday when defending champions Orlando Pirates travel to Polokwane to face Sekhukhune United at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The match kicks off at 15:00, with Pirates chasing an unprecedented fifth consecutive MTN8 title.
Sekhukhune booked their place in the last four after edging AmaZulu 4-3 following extra time in a thrilling quarter-final. They will now look to use home advantage to unsettle a Pirates side with plenty of experience in this competition.
The two clubs will meet three times in quick succession, with their league encounter in midweek adding another layer to an already intriguing rivalry.
On Sunday, Mamelodi Sundowns host Golden Arrows at Lucas Moripe Stadium, also at 15:00.
Sundowns needed extra time to overcome Polokwane City in the quarter-finals, while Arrows produced the shock of the previous round by eliminating Kaizer Chiefs 1-0.
The away-goals rule will apply, although extra time will not be played if the aggregate score is level after the second legs.
- Women’s Boxing Event Postponed
The Fight Like a Woman: Battle at the Island boxing event, which was scheduled to take place at the GrandWest Grand Arena in Cape Town on Saturday, has been postponed.
Organisers Fighters Club confirmed that the tournament will no longer take place this weekend, with a new date and venue yet to be confirmed.
The event has not been cancelled, however, with Fighters Club saying it is working through the next steps and will communicate the revised date, venue and event details once they have been agreed.
The postponement follows a number of challenges encountered during the organisation of the event. Fighters Club said the decision was made after careful consideration and was intended to protect the interests of stakeholders, partners and, most importantly, the boxers.
The planned event was set to feature five women’s championship bouts, including Simangele “Smash” Hadebe’s challenge against Owethu Rula for the vacant WBF world flyweight title.
Other scheduled championship bouts included Sibulele Soboois vs Asanda Simelane for the vacant ABU SADC flyweight title, Bonita van Jaarsveld vs Asazakhe Jamani for the South African lightweight title, and Ntomboqala Tolashe vs Caleigh Swart for the South African featherweight title.
Saarah Karriem was also scheduled to face Samkelo Mbambo for the vacant Western Cape junior lightweight title, while Jason Phaal and Meegan King were due to contest the South African cruiserweight championship.
Fighters Club said the priority is to maintain the integrity and standard of the event and ensure that it is ultimately delivered in a manner that the fighters, partners and audiences deserve.
Saturday promises plenty of action across the sporting landscape, from the highly anticipated Springboks-All Blacks showdown at Ellis Park to the MTN8 semifinal battles, although the planned women’s boxing showcase in Cape Town will now have to wait for a new date.
Springboks vs All Blacks Headline Huge Saturday as MTN8 Semifinals, Women’s Boxing Take Centre Stage (Graphic: SizaNazo365 | Images: Springboks, Pirates, McAusland Management)