Innholdsfortegnelse for 2021-08-27 i Star

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za ITALTILE, the manufacturer and retailer of tiles, bathroom ware and other home-finishing products, more than doubled its final dividend to 25 cents a share from 10c, and it will also pay a special dividend of 50c. It is the fourth consecutive year the group has been able to pay a special dividend, chief executive Jan Potgieter said in a telephone interview yesterday at the release of the group’s annual results to June 30. He said the decision to pay a special dividend was taken after headline earnings a share increased 77 percent to 140.1c, the strong cash-generation capabilities of the group were proven again, and after consideration of prospects for the year and capital expenditure requirements of R800 million to R900m in the new…

Jonathan Edwards Spencer Elden may very well be the most famous naked baby the world has ever seen. A photo of him as an infant – submerged in water and seemingly chasing a dollar bill dangling from a fish hook – became the iconic cover of Nirvana’s 1991 release Nevermind, considered one of the greatest rock albums of all time. Three decades later, Elden is now claiming the album cover is child pornography. Elden, who’s 30, on Tuesday filed a lawsuit in a Los Angeles federal court against a host of defendants tied to the album, alleging the cover is “sexual exploitation” that will hurt him – emotionally and physically – for the rest of his life. Elden is seeking at least $150 000 (R2.2 million) from each of…

THE AVERAGE salary in July did not change compared to the same period a year ago, the BankservAfrica Take Home Pay Index (BTPI) showed. BankservAfrica’s head of stakeholder engagements, Shergeran Naidoo, said that in July the real average salary was R12 129, which was only R2 more than the salary in July last year. “This is, however, R383 down from the June 2021 average pay of R12 512,” said Naidoo. However, as indicated in previous BTPIs, the average salaries during the height of the Covid-19 first wave last year were higher than usual. Higher- paid full-time employees did not suffer the same level of pay reductions as lower-paid casual workers, who bore the brunt of the cost-cutting measures at that stage. Economists.co.za chief economist Mike Schüssler said despite…

Jamal Grootboom jamald.grootboom@inl.co.za If, like me, you couldn’t get into The Witcher live-action series due to it not being in chronological order, then The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf is the perfect way to get into the action pack fantasy world. In the movie, the world of The Witcher expands in this anime origin story. Before Geralt (played by Henry Cavill in the live-action series), there was his mentor Vesemir (Theo James), as a swashbuckling young witcher who escaped a life of poverty to slay monsters for coins. However, when a strange new monster begins terrorising a politically fraught kingdom, Vesemir finds himself on a frightening adventure that forces him to confront the demons of his past. The Witcher live-action show, an adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski’s book series of…

Thobile Mazibuko thobile.mazibuko@inl.co.za THE knock-on effect of the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that many are tightening their belts and curtailing their social outings as a family. But that doesn’t have to be the case. We’ve picked out some fun things you can do in your city, under R300. Stellenbosch Spier Wine Farm wine and soup pairing To bid farewell to the winter season, Spier Wine Farm is hosting a wine and soup pairing. The wine and soup pairing is not only for adults but will be open to children, too, under their parents’ supervision. Kids can join in for a special grape juice tasting while their parents indulge in creamy Jerusalem artichoke soup with truffle cream paired with the Spier Chenin Blanc 2017. Also on the menu is a light…

SONRI NAIDOO THE SISTER of murdered Department of Correctional Services (DCS) warden Eunice Moloko struggled to keep calm when the man accused of her murder, Nigel Marais, appeared at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court yesterday. “You’re a murderer, you killed my sister, you do not deserve to live,” yelled Moloko’s younger sister, Patricia Matlala. She said that since her sister’s death she had been having sleepless nights and could not go to work because of trauma. Matlala also works at the Leeuwkop Correctional Centre, where Moloko worked and was killed. “My sister has lost her life in the line of duty. I was among the first to witness her lifeless body laying on the floor. Her face was covered with a towel. I assume the perpetrator did this because…

KEDIBONE MODISE THEATRE-maker and human rights activist Marlene le Roux says she’s humbled to be one of the recipients of the prestigious Bring Her Up: Women Of Firsts Awards. The awards ceremony takes place today at the Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel in Sandton. This year South Africa is commemorating 150 years of Charlotte Makgomo (née Mannya) Maxeke’s birth, recognising her as an inspiration, trailblazer and a force to reckon with. This initiative echoes Maxeke’s words, when she said, “this work is not for yourselves, kill that spirit of self and do not live above your people but live with them and if you can rise, bring someone with you”. Le Roux, who is the first woman of colour to become the chief executive of Artscape, will be honoured for…

Staff Reporter JOBURG City Parks and Zoo plans to rejuvenate the Brixton Cemetery through greening restoration, green fencing and the planting of 2 000 indigenous trees to mark Arbor Day on September 1. In celebration of national Arbor Week, which starts on September 1, the entity will be reinforcing the perimeter fencing with a green fence and the planting of indigenous trees along the inside of the fence. The aim of the green fencing is to provide sustainable solutions to challenges such as vandalism, the theft of palisade fencing, illegal dumping and the presence of displaced persons. Brixton Cemetery, which was first laid out in 1912, has a rich history. In the early 1900s Mahatma Gandhi approached the town council on behalf of the Hindu community to construct a crematorium,…

ZAAHIER ADAMS MARK Boucher was a fantastic wicket-keeper/batsman for South Africa. His records are unlikely to ever be broken. Equally, his Cricinfo profile claims him to be “relentlessly competitive, invariably aggressive, and as hard and uncompromising as the new ball.” All attributes of a warrior that relished each and every battle in the trenches, none more so than when he was at the crease on both occasions South Africa crossed the line at Edgbaston 2008 to secure the first Test series win in England post-isolation and also at the Wanderers in the epic 438 game against Australia two years earlier. Such feats earn legendary status and divine immortality. Australia’s Justin Langer is of equal pedigree and character. He is half of arguably one of the premier opening partnerships – along…

FOLLOWING the Premier League’s decision to not release players for African World Cup qualifiers who would be travelling to countries on the United Kingdom’s red list, Caf has pleaded for the decision to be reversed. “Premier League clubs have today reluctantly but unanimously decided not to release players for international matches played in red-list countries next month,” a statement on the Premier League’s official website read. “The clubs’ decision, which is strongly supported by the Premier League, will apply to nearly 60 players from 19 Premier League clubs who are due to travel to 26 red-list countries in the September international window.” Caf, however, reacted strongly on Wednesday by making the following statement: “Caf has noted the current circumstances in place in Britain regarding the lack of sporting exemptions for…

HARRY Kane ended speculation over his future by announcing on Wednesday that he will remain at Tottenham this season. Manchester City were interested in the England captain as a long-term successor to all-time top goalscorer Sergio Aguero. But with three years left to run on Kane’s contract, even the deep pockets of the Abu-Dhabi owned Premier League champions could not tempt Spurs chairman Daniel Levy into selling. We look at what Kane staying put means for the player, City and Tottenham. Can Kane satisfy trophy quest? Behind Kane’s desire to leave his boyhood club was a desire not to end his career known only for individual awards and goalscoring milestones. At 28, he has still not to win a single trophy for club or country and saw City, who have…

MIKE GREENAWAY mike.greenaway@inl.co.za SHARKS coach Sean Everitt has held back some of his aces for tomorrow’s Currie Cup match against Western Province at Jonsson Kings Park but that hardly means the visitors are in for an easy ride. The men from the Cape have to win this match on the last weekend of the round-robin if they hope to qualify for the play-offs while the second-placed Sharks can only make the top spot on the log if the Bulls somehow lose at home to the Cheetahs. On form, this is highly unlikely to happen and that is why Everitt can afford to continue developing his depth ahead of the imminent United Rugby Championships in Europe, while still fielding a team that can win. “Our will to perform every game and…

TOP-ranked Novak Djokovic will try to complete the first calendar year men’s singles Grand Slam since 1969 and become the all-time men’s leader in slam titles by capturing the US Open. Five past champions won’t be in the field when the showdown begins on Monday on the New York hardcourts, with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka, Juan Martin del Potro and 2020 winner Dominic Thiem absent due to injuries. That leaves the main obstacles in Djokovic’s path to a 21st career slam crown as a set of rising 20-something talents trying to build their trophy hauls – Russia’s second-ranked Daniil Medvedev, Greece’s third-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas and fourth-ranked Olympic champion Alexander Zverev of Germany. The roots of Djokovic’s amazing 2021 run were in last year’s US Open, where he was…

Dieketseng Maleke dieketseng.maleke@inl.co.za DESPITE stellar annual results delivered by Distell, its shareholders’ noses were out of joint after the South African wine and spirits maker placed its dividend on ice again, which saw its share price tank 3 percent in intra-day trade. The shares in Distell, which houses brands such as Amarula, Savanna, Hunter's Dry, Durbanville Hills and Nederburg, closed the day 1.69 percent lower at R170.01 on the JSE yesterday. For the 12 months ended June, headline earnings and headline earnings per share – a gauge of profitability in South Africa – increased by a staggering 227.3 percent to R1.7 billion and by 227.1 percent to 769.6 cents, respectively, while its group revenue increased by 26.3 percent to R28.3bn, this on the…

ONE OF THE greatest challenges facing humanity is finding sustainable ways to feed the world’s rapidly increasing population. This challenge is also one of Africa’s greatest opportunities. Across Africa, a more productive and environmentally sustainable agriculture system holds great promise for achieving food security around the world – as well as for the region’s development. Global population growth, combined with dramatic dietary changes, will over the next several decades put great stress on agriculture and food systems worldwide. To meet the expected demand, governments and producers must work together to create environmentally sustainable, market-driven systems of agriculture and food production. A number of African countries not only have great access to water, but also have some choice as to its source and cost. The irony is that Africa has abundant…

CALL ME KAT M-NET, DSTV CHANNEL 101, 7PM A wacky season finale. When one of the oldest cats in the café dies unexpectedly, Kat decides to turn the one-year anniversary of the Cat Café into his funeral. HACKS M-NET, DSTV CHANNEL 101, 10.30PM A comedy series starring Jean Smart as legendary comedian Deborah Vance. ABSOLUTE DECEPTION M-NET CITY, DSTV CHANNEL 115, 8.50PM Cuba Gooding Jr. stars in this action film. A widowed reporter seeks the help of a federal agent to investigate her husband's secrets, but they soon become targets.…

Liam Karabo Joyce liam.joyce@inl.co.za Princess Charlene of Monaco has revealed that her family have jetted into South Africa to pay her a visit. Her husband, Prince Albert, and their 6-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, paid her a visit while she continues to recover from an infection. The royal has been in South Africa since early May. At the time, the Royal Palace of Monaco released a statement that said: “During a trip to the African continent as part of a wildlife conservation mission, Princess Charlene contracted an ENT (ear, nose and throat) infection that does not allow her to travel.” This week, the 43-year-old princess shared a series of family pictures on Instagram showing her cuddling her children, with the prince standing behind her. Other photos showed Prince…

Lutho Pasiya lutho.pasiya@inl.co.za SOUTH AFRICA has historically been a beer- and wine-drinking country. But the artisanal cocktail movement has exploded in recent years, together with the craft spirits movement. Today, there are many great spots around the country with sophisticated, carefully-curated cocktail menus. Despite numerous difficulties caused by the pandemic over the past year, bartenders continue to innovate how cocktails are created and served. Now, in addition to grabbing a seat at the bar for cocktails, many establishments are also putting greater emphasis on outdoor seating on spacious patios, offering drink kits to compile at home, or serving to-go cocktails to enjoy outdoors. After all, there’s no better way to wind down after a long day or a gruelling week than by enjoying a few drinks with friends. Below, we…

Thobile Mazibuko thobile.mazibuko@inl.co.za IF THERE is one thing the pandemic has taught creatives, it is the importance of collaborations. Sometimes as an entrepreneur you need to partner with other entrepreneurs for your business to reach a wider market. South African décor design duo Morongwe “Mo” Mokone and Michelle Mokone have partnered with US retailer Crate and Barrel to sell their products across Europe. The Mokone sisters started Mo’s Crib in 2016 as a hobby. Little did they know that one day they would attract international retailers with their unique designs. They started with only one product, the origami swan sculptures, which they sold at local markets. The product won the Best Product of the Market award on its first outing. Due to its popularity, they were able to…

SONRI NAIDOO DESPITE the prompt vaccination roll-out in the country, many annual events continue to resort to live-stream due to the ongoing restrictions which limit the number of spectators. Special Olympics South Africa (Sosa) is hosting the fifth edition of its annual Polar Plunge on September 18 at the popular Altitude Beach in Fourways. SA’s well-known personalities have committed to support the event this year, and help raise funds to send the Sosa National team to the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Russia in January. Over the years, Sosa has received overwhelming support from the athletes, their families, the media, celebrities and corporate South Africa. Participants commit to taking the plunge into a pool with 5 tons of ice in it. Others pledge a “plunge fee”, which contributes…

FRIDAYS look set to be busy days for City of Johannesburg workers. They will no longer be “half days”. This is after the Johannesburg mayor Jolidee Matongo, with his cabinet, contractors and employees of the city, last week pulled up their sleeves, put their overalls and boots on, and inspected the streets of Soweto and surrounding areas to ensure service delivery reaches residents efficiently and timeously. These oversight visits are intended to take place every Friday. “The old days of relaxing after the mayoral oversight are over. Employees must start or continue to do the work as we leave the site. Every Monday, the mayoral committee will go out in all the affected areas to check on the progress (in overcoming) all the problems identified a week before,” Matongo said.…

Karen Singh karen.singh@inl.co.za South Africa bagged two awards at the 10th annual Rhino Conservation Awards. The awards event, which was held virtually, recognises the work of individuals and organisations across Africa who play a vital role in protecting the endangered species. Sebenzile Rwexu, from the Great Fish River Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, received the award for best field ranger. The Game Rangers Association of Africa said Rwexu’s 36 years as a field ranger allowed him to hone excellent bush craft skills. His capability and natural leadership qualities had been used to good effect to mentor young rangers, it said. “As a senior ranger, Sebenzile leads from the front, maintains high fitness levels and displays steadfast determination using his outstanding tracking skills to ensure he has been…

Stuart Hess stuart.hess@inl.co.za AMIDST the political upheaval in the country, Afghanistan’s national cricket coach Lance Klusener has also been left frustrated about the impact it’s had on the team’s preparations ahead of the T20 World Cup. It is a sentiment, Klusener said yesterday, that is shared by the players. The Afghanistan team had been in camp preparing for a one-day international series against Pakistan, which was due to be hosted in Sri Lanka, but has subsequently been postponed because there are no flights out of Kabul following the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan. Klusener got back to South Africa last week. “I left a few days before ‘everyone’ arrived in Kabul,” Klusener said. At no point did he feel in any danger. “No, no, not at all. I’ve been there numerous…

MIHLALI BALEKA @Mihlalibaleka SWALLOWS FC are aiming to build on last season’s sixth place finish in the Premiership by challenging for silverware this campaign after reaching the semi-final of the MTN8, where they’ll face Cape Town City in a two-legged clash. After wandering in amateur football, three seasons ago, the Birds made their much-anticipated return to top-flight football last season. They gained automatic promotion, having been crowned the champions of the GladAfrica Championship and in the elite league, the Dube Birds soared under the stewardship of Brandon Truter. Swallows won the MTN8 back to 2012 under coach Zeca Marques, before they were relegated two seasons later. Truter, though, says they are aiming to start a new chapter, given that they’ve grown in leaps and bounds, recently. “2012 was a long…

PARIS Saint-Germain and Manchester City, two of the leading candidates to win the Champions League, will face each other in the group stage of this season’s competition after coming out together in yesterday’s draw. Pep Guardiola’s City beat PSG in the semi-finals last season on the way to losing the final to Chelsea in Porto. Qatar-owned PSG responded to that disappointment by signing Lionel Messi and there is a chance that the two meetings of the clubs could see the Argentine come up against his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward is being strongly linked with a move to Abu Dhabi-owned City from Juventus before the European transfer window closes next Tuesday. The clubs are in Group A along with RB Leipzig and Belgian champions Club Brugge. Leipzig were…

DEFENDING champion Naomi Osaka is seeking her third US Open title in four tries as the year’s final Grand Slam begins on Monday with top-ranked Wimbledon winner Ashleigh Barty leading a host of rivals. What’s uncertain is whether New York will see Osaka rediscover the dominant form that saw her win the past two Grand Slam events she played to the finish. The 23-year-old Japanese star lit the flame in the Olympic cauldron at the Tokyo Games, but has played only two matches since Japan ahead of the Open. “I know there are a lot of things I need to fix within my game, so in a weird way I’m kind of glad that I lost, because there are so many things that I want to fix before New York,”…

STAR South Africa forward Duane Vermeulen is set to play again after a serious injury as the successful but criticised Springboks head to Australia for major Rugby Championship challenges. The veteran back-row forward had ankle surgery in June and, after missing the six-match home leg of the world champions’ season, should be available for a September 12 Test against Australia. The Boks completed back-to-back wins in Gqeberha over Argentina last weekend. They now face the Wallabies again the following weekend, then meet arch foes New Zealand twice. Home advantage often decides clashes against Australia and New Zealand and they will be champing at the bit to knock the long-time leaders of the world rankings off their perch. Coronavirus travel restrictions mean Australia will host the remaining nine matches in the…

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za WOOLWORTHS (Woolies) resumed dividend payments during the 52 weeks ended June 2021 after the sale of its Australian properties boosted cash flows and led to a significant slashing of net debt. Woolies declared a surprise 66 cents a share final dividend with a proposed payment in respect of Woolworths South Africa, representing a 25.8 percent decline from the prior year’s 89c per share. Chief executive Roy Bagattini said yesterday that declaring the dividend was a positive move despite the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. “We have paid our debt by more than 90 percent and we are in a very healthy position as a business, the healthiest position we have been in for many many years and that gives us the capacity to…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za THE SOUTH African Poultry Association (Sapa) yesterday welcomed the recommendation for the renewal of anti-dumping duties on imports of bone-in chicken from the European Union. Earlier this week, Import and Export Control (Itac) recommended the renewal of anti-dumping duties on poultry imports from Germany, the Netherlands and the UK in terms of the Customs and Excise Act, 1964. Itac made an amendment to Part 1 of Schedule No 2, by the deletion as well as substitution of various items in order to maintain the anti-dumping duties on frozen bone-in portions of the species Gallus domesticus originating or imported from these countries. The imports regulatory body found that dumping by the three countries had continued in spite of anti-dumping duties of between 3.86 and 73.33 percent…

THE AVERAGE South African household was now better able to manage debt than before the Covid-19 pandemic began, a trend likely to continue into next year, the maiden results of the Altron Fintech Household Financial Resilience Index (Afhri) showed. Optimum Investment Group economic adviser Dr Roelof Botha said: “It is fairly apparent that a sharp downturn occurred during the second quarter of 2020, when the worst of the Covid-19 lockdown regulations were in place. Due to a remarkably swift recovery of most key economic sectors since the third quarter of 2020, the Afhri trend line has returned to a positive growth trajectory. “A V-shaped recovery has been evident in a number of other key economic indicators, especially gross domestic product (GDP), retail trade sales and the SA Reserve Bank’s composite…

Jamal Grootboom Lockdown actress Lorcia Cooper has come under fire on TikTok after an old video clip of an interview with DJ Sbu on Massive Metro on being coloured in South Africa, resurfaced. In the 4-year-old interview, Cooper was asked about the challenges of being a successful actress in the local television arena, to which she answered: “Being coloured in South Africa isn’t the easiest thing … I mean you can watch TV, you can pause the PVR and there’s not one coloured performer on that show.” She goes on to explain it happens in multiple shows even though South Africa is a diverse country. In the shortened clip shared by the @coloured24sev7n, Cooper said perhaps she should consider learning another African language: “Someone once said to me,…

Thobile Mazibuko thobile.mazibuko@inl.co.za SOUTH AFRICANS are anticipating a blissful spring this year. It is because, in 2020, there wasn't much fun in the air due to the Covid-19 pandemic. And the vaccine was not yet available. However, now that millions of people are getting vaccinated, especially the youth, many are eager to enjoy themselves this season. If you’re looking for a place where you can welcome spring in style, these are some of the events to attend. Joburg 6th Alex Music Festival One of the biggest townships in South Africa, Alexandra is hosting the 6th annual Alex Music Festival. The festival will take place at Dandy Lifestyle Corner, north of Joburg on September 4. Alex Music Festival is a concert that helps feed disadvantaged children in and around Alexandra. It…

The choices we make every day affect the environment, the climate and other species. Any time you drive somewhere you could have walked, throw something you could have reused or leave electronics plugged in overnight, you have a negative impact on the planet. The effects of such actions may not be noticeable immediately, but they have long-term, irreversible consequences. Here are easy and practical ways to get you started living more sustainably: Choose reusable alternatives Single-use products, particularly plastic ones, cause harm to wildlife and the environment. We can prevent this by choosing reusable alternatives. Start small by using cloth bags to buy vegetables, reusable kitchen towels, compostable garbage bags, reusable coffee cups and cloth instead of tissues. Reduce your waste From food waste to plastic, what we throw away…

Thobile Mazibuko thobile.mazibuko@inl.co.za GO LAUGH your problems away at Villieria, Pretoria, as Andre the Hilarious Hypnotist, known for his hypnotic comedy, returns to the Pierneef Theatre. The comedian who rose to fame in the early 90s, when he made the audience the stars of the show, is hosting a one-man show this weekend. Using his skills as a hypnotist, magician and mind reader, Andre intends putting his audience under his hypnotic spell, doing everything from acting as anything from a washing machine to Superman. “This is truly the only show where the audience becomes the stars of the show, and Andre the Hilarious Hypnotist is quick to dispel any myths and fears. Nobody has ever gotten stuck in hypnosis, and no person will do something that he is not comfortable…

TWO anti-gender-based violence and femicide activists are set to embark on a long walk from Cape Town to Makhanda (previously Grahamstown) to raise awareness and funds for survivors and victims. Headed by Reverend June Dolley-Major, the walk is to commence on September 20 at Sir Lowry's Pass, and end in the town where her alleged rape occurred, nearly 19 years ago. Dolley-Major will be joined by Elsies River activist Celesthea Pierang for the “Try Walking in my Shoes, the Shoes of a Rape Survivor” campaign. The two hope to reach their destination by October 30, and Dolley-Major appealed to the public to walk with them along the route to show support. Earlier this month, the Anglican Church of Southern Africa Diocese of Cape Town tribunal into the alleged rape of…

Goitsemang Tlhabye TSHWANE resident Karabo Mathe will be hoping that her X-factor and voice see her taking the top spot in season 17 of the South African Idols competition. Mathe comes from the township of Hebron and was announced as one of this year’s Top 16 picks in the singing competition. The 22-year-old said she loved music and looked up to artists such as South African writer, lyricist, composer, director and theatre producer Mbongeni Ngema and gospel artist Ntokozo Mbambo. “Mbongeni Ngema is my favourite South African artist. I admire his love and passion for music and art. I simply love Ntokozo Mbambo’s voice and her choice of genre,” said Mathe when asked with whom she would love to collaborate. She added that from watching the competition over the years,…

NOT only is Marks Park Sports Club the home of champions and future Proteas, the City of Johannesburg-owned sports facility has also been raising awareness for breast cancer in partnership with the Central Gauteng Lions. The historically rich Emmarentia-based facility also joined the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. It partnered with other organisations and delivered food parcels in townships around Johannesburg during the hard lockdown when people could not go to work. This multipurpose facility houses many different codes of sport. The four fields are shared between cricket, soccer, baseball and rugby. The well-tended green fields are enjoyed by the club members, the community of Emmerentia and all those who pass daily, including visitors. “The City of Joburg has assisted us in creating a great facility for cricket and other…

Odwa Mkentane odwa.mkentane@inl.co.za EX-CONVICT Vincent Mafu was serving his four-year jail sentence for robbery when his childhood dream of starting a dance club was reignited – a wish he would make a reality after finishing his sentence. The 28-year-old Cape Town resident’s road to re-integration was marred by confusion, loneliness, and he felt like an outcast in society. Mafu opened a dancing club in 2017 called Pantsula For Life, which has six students between the ages of 12 and 17. The dance club now hosts street shows on weekends to showcase their development “I suffered a lot because I had nothing, and as you know, it is hard to be employed when you have a criminal record. “I had to adjust myself to this new life. “While I was still…

MANCHESTER City manager Pep Guardiola is likely to leave the Premier League champions when his contract expires in 2023 as he wants to take a break before venturing into international football, the Spaniard said on Wednesday. "The next step will be a national team, if there is a possibility," Guardiola was quoted by Spanish daily Marca. "After seven years at this club, I think I'm going to have a break. I will need to rest after being somewhere so many years and also stop to evaluate what we've done and to try to learn from other coaches. "If, during this process of stopping, there is a chance to coach a national team then I think I'd like that. I'd like to coach at a European Championship or Copa America or…

SERENA Williams won’t be chasing a 24th Grand Slam singles title at the US Open, but with her 40th birthday only a month away, she will be starting perhaps her greatest challenge in closing out her career on her own terms. Williams disclosed on Wednesday that she would miss the New York hardcourt showdown with a torn right hamstring suffered in a first-round match last month at Wimbledon. “After careful consideration and following the advice of my doctors and medical team, I have decided to withdraw from the US Open to allow my body to heal completely from a torn hamstring,” Williams posted on Instagram. Williams, whose 23 Grand Slam singles crowns are one shy of Margaret Court’s all-time record, will be battling back from injury at an age when…

Eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za MAMELODI Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena has all but confirmed that Percy Tau will be leaving English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion to join Egyptian giants Al Ahly, where he will reunite with Pitso Mosimane. Social media was abuzz yesterday after Tau was pictured in the colours of Al Ahly. “I have my opinion on the matter. I am privileged that I have first-hand access to Percy Tau and I am humbled that before making the decision, he did give me a call about two or three weeks ago,” said Mokwena. “Percy knows my opinion on this matter and our discussion was an emotional, two-hour conversation between father and son. I know Percy’s feelings about where his career is and what he would like to do.…

MAX Verstappen will seek to exert a degree of home advantage by beating Lewis Hamilton to revive his title bid as Formula One returns from a mid-season summer break at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday. The Belgium-born Dutchman saw a comfortable 33-point lead become an eight-point deficit at the British and Hungarian Grands Prix last month before the annual shutdown. He knows he needs to bounce back strongly in the next two races in front of his fervent ‘orange army’ of fans. After the controversies of Silverstone and Budapest, the 23-year-old Hasselt-born Red Bull driver also needs an uneventful contest to regain consistency following opening lap collisions in his last two outings. “I am excited to go back to Spa,” he said. “It’s my favourite track and it’s really…