Latest news with #Capetonian
The South African
a day ago
- Sport
- The South African
Springboks points machine: Where is Percy Montgomery now?
Percy Montgomery enjoyed a colourful and not always linear career with the Springboks. Where is the Capetonian these days? Montgomery collected 102 caps for South Africa. Along the way, he's seen some pretty cool sights. Frans Steyn 2007 or Handre Pollard 2023? At the start of his career, Percy Montgomery was known for his flashy, flamboyant skills. However, as he matured and settled into his roles for the Springboks, Sharks, Stormers and clubs abroad, Monty became one of the most dependable players in the world. He was often the first name on the team sheet. A career tally of 102 caps and 893 points for South Africa bears testament. Only six players in history pulled on the green & gold jersey more often than Percival Colin Montgomery. No player amassed more points. At his best, Percy was rock-solid as the last defensive line and used his in-game intelligence and tactical smarts to join attacking movements at opportunistic moments. Off the kicking tee, Percy was a metronomic maestro with that abbreviated run-up. 105 of Percy's points for his country came at the 2007 Rugby World Cup when the Boks beat England in the final. Monty led the individual scoring charts that year. THROWBACK: Nelson Mandela and his Springboks drip Former Springbok Percy Montgomery. Photo: AFP Percy had stints with Newport and the Dragons in Wales before a short spell with French outfit Perpignan in 2007. Between 2001 and 2008, he was also a valued member of the Barbarians. Percy is up there with the most capped Springboks in history Percy was the first Springbok to reach a century of caps. Overall, his tally of 102 appearances places him seventh in the all-time reckoning. Only Eben Etzebeth, Victor Matfield, Bryan Habana, Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit and Jean de Villiers have more. Meet the four RWC winners born in the 80s Percy has started a tequila brand, El Centurion 102, paying homage to his Springbok test cap tally and the fact that he was the first to bring up a century. He lives on the Atlantic seaboard of Cape Town. The author of this article was lucky enough to summit Lion's Head with the legendary fullback, alongside a bunch of other patriotic South African rugby lovers. This was an informal gathering to drum up support just before the Springboks travelled to Japan to contest the 2019 Rugby World Cup. That ended pretty well. Percy also coached the SA Rugby Legends vs the Portuguese Barbarians in 2022 in Portugal. For a laugh, you know? Join Percy on Instagram as he continues tackling life's side quests on his travels, which include saving a dolphin. Former Springbok Percy Montgomery has helped save a dolphin calf that had been stranded on the beach in Arniston in the Western Cape. Image: Video screengrab Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Iqraam Rayners: All about the small details for Mamelodi Sundowns at Fifa Club World Cup
Matshelane Mamabolo | Published 49 minutes ago IQRAAM Rayners has expressed his delight at having helped Mamelodi Sundowns win their opening match at the Fifa Club World Cup, after scoring in Masandawana's 1-0 victory over Ulsan HD in Orlando, Florida in the United States on Wednesday. Rayners walked away with the Player of the Match award thanks to his 36th-minute strike, a toe-poke from close range after he'd been sent sailing by Lucas Ribeiro's sublime through-ball. The duo actually combined two more times in the match for Rayners to score, but both goals were ruled out by VAR. The first was because the ball had made contact with the striker's arm before it went in, and the other one was due to the Capetonian having been offside when the Brazilian made the pass. Not that Rayners was gutted by not having had a World Cup hat-trick. Far from it, for though he'd protested against the initial denial, Rayners was just pleased Sundowns won. 'The important thing was for us to get a win tonight, and that's what matters. I am happy we won the game,' he said during the post-match press conference. 'For me, it was about my team first and the technical team, and then the people behind us (the fans). 'We had a lot of opportunities to kill the game, but I am happy for the victory.' Though he admitted the match was a tight contest, he said nothing about their opponents surprised them – not even the fact that the South Koreans were far less physical than they'd been made out to be. 'The coach spoke to the players about the small details, so we were not surprised about them (Ulsan) because the coach gave us all the details, which were important,' the Bafana striker said. 'He told us how important it is to move the ball quicker; that we must play to our strengths, and for us (strikers) to create the passing lines for the midfielders and the two number 10s. 'It was important for us to know that Themba (Zwane) and Lucas were there (on the pitch).' Coach Miguel Cardoso spoke of Rayners' importance to the team: 'He put the ball inside the net, and it is a moment that when it happens it is the reason for all the excitement. 'He is a player with a wonderful contribution, and he understands very well how to use the spaces that appear on the pitch.' The Portuguese lauded Rayners for his tenacity. 'He did not have an easy season because he had highs and lows. But he finished it well in winning the South African league, and played in the Champions League, and now he's showing it here in the World Cup. 'It's wonderful to have the quality players, and we have a locker-room full of them.' Cardoso says all he and his technical team have to do is arm the players for battle. 'We just need to give them the tools so that they feel free. The players like Iqraam, they are creative players and need to have the proper emotional freedom and a comfort to express the best they can, so that they can give their best for the team.' And there can be no denying that Rayners did just that on matchday one of Sundowns' Club World Cup campaign. Now he has to replicate that showing against Germany's Borussia Dortmund in their next match on Saturday (6pm SA time kick-off).
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Iqraam Rayners: All about the small details for Mamelodi Sundowns at Fifa Club World Cup
Iqraam Rayners scored the only goal for Mamelodi Sundowns against Ulsan. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix IQRAAM Rayners has expressed his delight at having helped Mamelodi Sundowns win their opening match at the Fifa Club World Cup, after scoring in Masandawana's 1-0 victory over Ulsan HD in Orlando, Florida in the United States on Wednesday. Rayners walked away with the Player of the Match award thanks to his 36th-minute strike, a toe-poke from close range after he'd been sent sailing by Lucas Ribeiro's sublime through-ball. The duo actually combined two more times in the match for Rayners to score, but both goals were ruled out by VAR. The first was because the ball had made contact with the striker's arm before it went in, and the other one was due to the Capetonian having been offside when the Brazilian made the pass. Not that Rayners was gutted by not having had a World Cup hat-trick. Far from it, for though he'd protested against the initial denial, Rayners was just pleased Sundowns won. 'The important thing was for us to get a win tonight, and that's what matters. I am happy we won the game,' he said during the post-match press conference. 'For me, it was about my team first and the technical team, and then the people behind us (the fans). Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 𝗡𝗢 𝗗𝗡𝗔, 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗦𝗔 🇿🇦 Congratulations to Masandawana on their first historic #FIFACWC win 🙌 Catch the @FIFACWC | June 14 - July 13 | Every game. Free. | | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld — DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 18, 2025 'We had a lot of opportunities to kill the game, but I am happy for the victory.' Though he admitted the match was a tight contest, he said nothing about their opponents surprised them – not even the fact that the South Koreans were far less physical than they'd been made out to be. 'The coach spoke to the players about the small details, so we were not surprised about them (Ulsan) because the coach gave us all the details, which were important,' the Bafana striker said. 'He told us how important it is to move the ball quicker; that we must play to our strengths, and for us (strikers) to create the passing lines for the midfielders and the two number 10s. Iqraam Rayners is our first #FIFACWC Superior Player of The Match after scoring the winner in our opening game! 🔥#Sundowns #TakeItToTheWorld #AfricaToTheWorld — Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) June 18, 2025 'It was important for us to know that Themba (Zwane) and Lucas were there (on the pitch).' Coach Miguel Cardoso spoke of Rayners' importance to the team: 'He put the ball inside the net, and it is a moment that when it happens it is the reason for all the excitement. 'He is a player with a wonderful contribution, and he understands very well how to use the spaces that appear on the pitch.' The Portuguese lauded Rayners for his tenacity. 'He did not have an easy season because he had highs and lows. But he finished it well in winning the South African league, and played in the Champions League, and now he's showing it here in the World Cup. 'It's wonderful to have the quality players, and we have a locker-room full of them.' Cardoso says all he and his technical team have to do is arm the players for battle. 'We just need to give them the tools so that they feel free. The players like Iqraam, they are creative players and need to have the proper emotional freedom and a comfort to express the best they can, so that they can give their best for the team.'
IOL News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
Parking panic: Woman charged R110k for 2-hour parking at shopping mall
Yaditi Kava, a 39-year-old woman from Slough, England, received the shock of her life after being charged £4,586 (just over R110,000) for a two-hour visit to the Queensmere Observatory Shopping Centre. But even our most expensive car parks can't compare to what happened to a woman in the UK, who was charged more than R110,000 for a two-hour stop at a shopping centre. Yes, you read that right - R110,000. As a Capetonian living in Blouberg, I find it baffling that one of our nearby centres charges more than the V&A Waterfront. While I love its open design and spacious feel, the steep parking fees always leave a sour taste. If you've ever grumbled about paying R20 for a quick visit to your local shopping mall, you're not alone. The incident, reported by the BBC, has sparked global attention and has many of us side-eyeing those mall exit barriers even more. Ms Kava had taken her two daughters shopping after work on a Friday evening and decided to have dinner before heading home. When they returned to the parking area, the payment machines inside the centre were closed, so she opted to pay at the exit gate. In a rush and with tired children in tow, she tapped her card at the boom gate and was prompted to enter her PIN. She didn't think much of it as the large display read '4,5', which she assumed meant £4.50 (R108). So, when Yaditi Kava thought she was paying £4.50 (R108) for parking, she was instead charged £4,586, which is around R110,000 The barrier lifted, but her phone buzzed almost instantly with a payment notification that made her heart stop. The error, she later learned, was due to a faulty card machine. The centre's managing company, Savills, described the incident as 'an isolated anomaly' and assured her a refund was being processed. But getting that money back wasn't straightforward. It took Ms Kava three full weeks to recover the funds. During that time, she was left without the savings she had put aside for legal fees amidst a divorce, and even considered cancelling her daughter's birthday celebration due to the stress and financial strain. Feeling desperate and getting nowhere with mall management, she contacted a UK consumer rights programme. According to her, 'It was a godsend - one call from the programme's host and the next day the money was in my bank.' Savills told the BBC they had remained in regular contact with Ms Kava throughout and were investigating the system to prevent future mishaps. While the incident happened in the UK, it hits close to home for many South Africans frustrated with mall parking fees. Whether it's R20 for two hours or a five-figure blunder, it raises a broader question - why do we put up with such inflated costs just to do our shopping? Parking should feel like a service, not a penalty. And while Ms Kava's case may be rare, it's a reminder of how quickly a simple errand can spiral when systems fail, and just how important it is to check that machine before you tap. IOL Lifestyle
TimesLIVE
12-06-2025
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Comrades Marathon: 5 runners still in hospital 'are stable and recovering'
Twenty-five Comrades Marathon runners required in-hospital treatment after this year's race. Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) GM Alain Dalais said 440 people were treated in the medical tent in the finish area and 200 were sent to hospital for evaluation — 169 from along the route and 31 from the finish. Five were still hospitalised on Wednesday, including Capetonian Moira Harding, who went missing after the race and was found the next morning in a hypothermic condition in central Durban, about 7km from the finish. 'All these patients are stable and recovering and likely to be discharged in the next few days,' he said. While acknowledging some aspects of the race — particularly congestion in the finish area — need to be improved, Dalais praised the CMA medical team, saying their protocols were excellent and focused on ensuring athletes' safety. He confirmed no fatalities were recorded after this year's race, dismissing false rumours circulating online. The reassurance came amid heightened sensitivity after footage showing some runners crawling across the finish line and tragic incidents in previous years. In 2022, runners Phakamile Ntshiza and Mzameleni Mthembu died after taking part in the race. Before that, the last time multiple deaths occurred during a Comrades Marathon was in 2007. In 2019, Limpopo runner Sonnyboy Ngobeni died two days after the race. Comrades medical director Dr Jeremy Boulter clarified that Ngobeni's death was not included in the official tally as he had not been treated on race day and no link to the event could be medically confirmed. 'The statistic only takes into account deaths of runners treated or hospitalised on race day,' he said. Boulter noted that while it's often difficult to determine the exact cause of such deaths, most appear to be linked to cardiac arrest, often triggered by undiagnosed or underlying conditions or illness. He cautioned runners against participating while ill and advised avoiding medication during the race unless prescribed by a doctor. 'People mustn't run if they are unwell or had any illness in the past three weeks before the Comrades. If they feel they are running into trouble, they should pull out and catch a bus home instead of pushing through.' The race this year had 18,194 official finishers which was 86.75% of the runners who qualified to start the 89.98km course, slightly longer than last year's 87.70km. Dalais said organisers were reviewing the challenges experienced on race day and steps would be taken to improve on these aspects for next year's race and for the 2027 Down Run, which will be the 100th edition of the race. Criticism of the new street finish at People's Park in Durban for the 2025 race would be dealt with, he pledged. 'Congestion and dealing with the flow of people in the venue were particularly challenging in the last hour. This is one of the most important aspects of the race plan that we are looking at carefully and working to fix for next time. 'We are taking note of all the feedback and input from our runners — whether positive or negative — and adding this to the post-race debrief notes. We want to assure the running community we will implement changes and improvements to enhance the overall runner and spectator experience.'
