Phili: Scoring Against Sundowns Was a Huge Moment

Kaizer Chiefs winger Langelihle Phili has described representing the Soweto giants as a huge honour and privilege after his performance against Mamelodi Sundowns.

He got off the mark for Amakhosi after scoring the opening goal in their 1-1 draw against Sundowns on Saturday.

The 21-year-old has now scored one goal in his first two Betway Premiership appearances as he looks to continue his form in front of goal. milkshake.it.com

Phili has revealed his gratitude to everyone at the club for creating an environment that has allowed him to perform at his best.

“For me to represent Kaizer Chiefs is an honour and a privilege, and being able to help the team is a testament to the people within the Club and the organisation who have welcomed me with open arms,” Phili told his club’s official website.

“They have provided me with the environment to give something back through doing my best and putting in good performances.”

“Obviously, being at such a great football institution as Kaizer Chiefs you want to play in the big games, so being able to play and score against Mamelodi Sundowns, the African champions, was huge for me, as could be seen from my celebration.”

The post Phili: Scoring Against Sundowns Was a Huge Moment appeared first on SportsClub.

Brianna Robinson dug deep into her reserves of character and skill to realise a long-held dream, defeating Elzandri Janse van Rensburg to be crowned the Growthpoint South African Junior Nationals U19 women’s squash champion at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Saturday, 15 August 2026.

Facing a determined Northerns opponent, the Joburg Squash player fought back from 2-1 down to level the match before taking control of the fifth game with superb movement around the court to secure a 3-2 victory.

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In the U17 division, Northerns’ Starla Phillips held off a strong challenge from Border’s Kate van Biljon to claim the girls’ title 3-1.

It was a disappointing end to the championships for Janse van Rensburg, who had won the Growthpoint U17 title in 2024 and 2025. She had also lost to KwaZulu-Natal’s Makayla Naidoo earlier in the tournament to finish third in her section.

For Robinson, however, the victory represented the culmination of several years of hard work, with the emotions flowing as she began to appreciate the significance of her achievement.

“This has been a big goal for me since I started playing this tournament, so I’m very proud to have got the win.”

2026 Growthpoint SA Junior Nationals Women’s Squash Champion, Brianna Robinson

“I am just so grateful to everyone who has helped me over the past few years to make this sort of result possible.”

In the U17 girls’ final, Phillips recovered strongly after coming under early pressure from longtime rival Van Biljon to secure a deserved 3-1 victory.

Both players entered the final unbeaten, with left-hander Phillips particularly pleased to beat a player who had defeated her in the Growthpoint U15 girls’ final in 2024.

After dropping the opening game 11-8, Phillips seized control with accurate length play, repeatedly pushing Van Biljon into the back corners before capitalising on loose returns with her skilful short game.

There was a brief moment of concern in the fourth game when Phillips, leading 10-6, allowed three match points to slip, but she kept her composure to produce a winning backhand drop and seal the national title.

“I’m feeling good and very happy right now,” Phillips said afterwards. “I’ve had some good results this year, and also a few bad ones, but I am glad I was able to finish it off today.

“Kate and I have been playing each other for many years and always have a good game, so I’m happy to get the win today.”

Women’s Sections Final Results at the Growthpoint SA Junior Nationals squash championships at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Saturday, 15 August 2026

U17 Girls 1-4

Starla Phillips (Northerns) bt Rylee Howells (KZN) 3-0 (11-4 11-7 11-8)
Kate van Biljon (Border) bt Chelsey Cameron (KZN) 3-0 (11-5 11-4 11-5)
Rylee Howells (KZN) bt Chelsey Cameron (KZN) 3-1 (7-11 11-3 11-8 11-5)
Starla Phillips (Northerns) bt Kate van Biljon (Border) 3-1 (8-11 11-8 11-8 11-9)

Final placings:

1. Starla Phillips (Northerns)
2. Kate van Biljon (Border)
3. Rylee Howells (KZN)
4. Chelsey Cameron (KZN)

U17 Girls 5-8:

Keira Huang (Free State) bt Lala Masingi (Joburg Squash) 3-1 (8-11 11-7 11-8 11-8)
Genevieve Lang (WP) bt Shannon Render (Northerns) 3-1 (11-6 11-3 3-11 12-10)

Final placings:

1. Keira Huang (Free State)
2. Genevieve Lang (WP)
3. Shannon Render (Northerns)
4. Lala Masingi (Joburg Squash)

U19 Women 1-4:

Makayla Naidoo (KZN) bt Dane Meintjies (Boland) 3-0 (11-6 11-5 11-6)
Brianna Robinson (Joburg Squash) bt Elzandri Janse van Rensburg (Northerns) 3-2 (11-9 5-11 7-11 11-6 11-5).

Final placings:

1. Brianna Robinson (Joburg Squash)
2. Makayla Naidoo (KZN)
3. Elzandri Janse van Rensburg (Northerns)
4. Dane Meintjies (Boland)

U19 Women 5-8:

Hanrie Duits (Eden) bt Emma Hill (EP) 3-0 (11-4 11-8 13-11).

Final placings:

1. Hanrie Duits (Eden)
2. Benedette van Tonder (Free State)
3. Emma Hill (EP)
4. Tara Neville-Smiley (WP)

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Original Copy: BLD Communications, with editing by gsport

Main Photo Caption: Brianna Robinson claimed the U19 women’s title at the Growthpoint SA Junior Nationals squash championships at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Saturday, 15 August 2026. All Photos: Petri Oeschger / Gallo Images

Photo 2 Caption: Starla Phillips won the girls’ U17 title at the Growthpoint SA Junior Nationals squash championships

The post Brianna Robinson Digs Deep to Win SA Junior Squash Title in Cape Town appeared first on gsport4girls.

Steven Kitshoff has revealed the brutal preparation that has gone into getting the Springbok squad ready for the first Test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday.

With much of the squad travelling to Argentina two weeks ago, a group of players remained in South Africa to prepare for the series opener. According to Kitshoff, they were not left twiddling their thumbs.

Instead, they were put through intense live rugby sessions designed to ensure they would be match-ready when the All Blacks arrived.

“For the 15, 16 players staying behind, they would run live drills, live scrummaging, tackling drills, live scenario drills for 40 to 45 minutes – maybe once or twice a week,” the former Bok prop said on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.

“So they actually get that conditioning side built into the session without just running broncos the whole time. They actually do the rugby work, so the guys are quite geared.”

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The intensity of that preparation was underlined by Malcolm Marx, according to the 83-Test Bok veteran.

Kitshoff said he had spoken briefly to the experienced hooker, with Marx revealing just how hard the players left behind had been pushed.

“I had a quick conversation with Malcolm when I arrived in Joburg and he said this week has probably been the week from hell,” Kitshoff said.

“Having most of the guys in Argentina, the guys who were left behind basically just got flogged for five days in a row. So the guys were working hard. They did a lot of live stuff to make sure they’re game ready when the Test matches start.”

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Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

The post Kitsie reveals Bok ‘week from hell’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

The 2026 edition of the City 2 City ultra-marathon has been called off, provincial athletics bodies have confirmed.

The annual 50km race was scheduled to be held between Johannesburg and Pretoria on 27 September.

“The decision follows the inability to secure the necessary financial support and sponsorship required to stage the event to the appropriate standard,” Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) and Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) said in a joint statement on Monday.

Previously one of the most popular ultra-marathons in Gauteng, the race was scratched between 2015 and 2023, with organisers failing to rake in sufficient funding.

It was relaunched in 2024 with support from the Gauteng provincial government, and it was held again last year with around 1,700 runners taking part.

At both the 2024 and 2025 editions, a total prize purse of R1.2 million was offered, with R200,000 going to the men’s and women’s winners, which attracted strong fields packed with local and international elite athletes.

However, with the provincial government withdrawing its support, organisers were unable to rope in sponsorships to ensure the 2026 race went ahead.

Looking ahead

CGA and AGN hoped to revive the event next year, provided they could find the required funding.

“We acknowledge the disappointment this decision may cause and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to athletes, clubs, officials, volunteers, partners, stakeholders and members of the public. We thank everyone who has supported the race and contributed to its legacy over the years,” CGA and AGN stated.

“The cancellation of the 2026 edition does not mark the end of the City 2 City Marathon. CGA and AGN remain committed to preserving its legacy and have commenced engagements with potential sponsors and strategic partners towards creating a sustainable foundation for its return.”