Latest news with #MakazoleMapimpi
IOL News
2 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Green Shoots: When having a flutter is no longer fun
I was caught up in Johannesburg traffic the other day, and crawling along the M1 highway allowed me to take in the many billboards whose sole purpose is to convince you to buy what it is they are offering. And most of these offerings were from online gambling services. I saw Betway and Hollywood Bets promising me great excitement and wealth with minimal effort – I can place my bet anywhere, anytime, and on almost anything. You will have seen these adverts all over our television screens, and heard them on radio. Some of our favourite sports teams have been renamed according to their sponsors – Hollywood Bets Sharks is my rugby team of choice, and they play their home games at Hollywood Bets Kings Park Stadium, up the road from Hollywood Bets Kingsmead Stadium where cricket is played. And fan favourite rugby world cup winner Makazole Mapimpi is their brand ambassador, along with soccer legends like Teko Modise and Jerry Sikhosana. Gambling in this country is big business. Gross gambling revenue (GGR) was R59 billion in 2024. Since COVID in 2020, this revenue growth has been at 42% per year. Gambling is a significant contributor to economic activity and apparently supports 32 000 jobs, with most revenue generated in the Western Cape, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. I'm a little concerned about this phenomenon. We are suckers for a slick advertising campaign, and the saturation messaging of these betting platforms should be cause for concern – indeed, alarm – in more sections of our community, including government and the appropriate regulatory authorities. I found online information on gambling fairly easily, and so I clearly am not alone in feeling uneasy. Industry research says that the reasons respondents give for their gambling appear to be increasingly connected to financial strain, with more than half of surveyed punters saying they gambled because they needed the money. This survey clearly provided the option for multiple answers, because more than two thirds were hoping to win a large sum of money, and down the list somewhere 14% said they had lost their job. When the bet is placed because you need to survive, you know you're in trouble. The online source of my data is an investment firm, and they say that 'problem gambling' prevalence has increased five-fold since 2017, with 21% of problem gamblers unemployed and 84% earning under R15,000 per month. People, we have a problem. And this isn't even considering those for whom gambling is an addiction they cannot beat. Imagine trying to quit a habit when every corner and screen and broadcast is almost brow-beating you to place the bet. Some may say the tax revenue that is generated should be able to ameliorate the social costs ofgambling. Apparently casinos paid about 10% of their revenue in taxes last year, and betting platforms a paltry 7%. Is that supposed to ease the destruction that this practice has for people who are not recreational gamblers? For perspective, cigarettes are taxed at 40% and spirit alcohol at 36%. You don't see your favourite tipple on the telly anymore, and we're a short step from having cigarette packets with no branding expect really disturbing pictures of what happens to your gums when you smoke (I saw those in Thailand recently). I am no prude, and I have been known to wager a bit every now and then. I am no advocate for a nanny state – we cannot over-regulate the choices and behaviour of grown up people. And I know that jobs are at stake. Apparently Tsogo Gaming and Sun International employ half the gambling industry's workforce. With the lower cost and greater accessibility of online platforms, there is a real danger of job losses. For all these reasons, will the authorities please see reason and common sense, and control the bombardment of advertising of these online betting platforms.
The Citizen
09-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Sharks inability to finish cost them dearly in URC semifinal v Bulls
The Sharks had their opportunities, but were unable to finish most of them, allowing the Bulls to secure the win in their URC semifinal, Sharks wing Makazole Mapimpi goes over for the first of their two tries during their URC semifinal loss against the Bulls at Loftus over the past weekend. Picture: Johan Orton/Gallo Images The Sharks inability to finish their opportunities cost them dearly in their United Rugby Championship (URC) semifinal loss against the Bulls at Loftus over the past weekend. The Bulls emerged victorious 25-13 to set up a blockbuster final against Irish giants Leinster at Croke Park in Dublin this coming weekend, while the Sharks end a much improved season on a disappointing note. After their previous URC campaign, where they finished a disastrous 14th on the log, they turned that around this season, finishing third overall to host a quarterfinal for the first time, beating Munster on a historic penalty shootout, to then qualify for their first ever URC semifinal. But they were unfortunately unable to fire on the night, something that has troubled them over the season as a whole, but they importantly still found a way to come out on top, including in a five game winning run heading into the semi, but they weren't able to repeat the trick again. It will have been a frustrating watch for Sharks coach John Plumtree, as despite dominating possession and territory in the first half, they couldn't get over the tryline, while he then had to watch them fall away after briefly fighting back at the start of the second. It was during a period from the 27th to 49th minute, when the Sharks had a man advantage the whole time, that they should have been able to battle ahead. Sebastian de Klerk first got a yellow for a professional foul, followed by Cameron Hanekom for a tip tackle and Marcell Coetzee for pulling down the maul after a warning from the ref, which meant they played from the 36th to 46th minutes two men down against the visitors. One score But the Sharks could only score once in that period, Makazole Mapimpi going over in the 44th minute, before the hosts were back to their full complement, followed by an Ethan Hooker try in the 52nd minute making it 15-13, but the Bulls then pulled away again. 'We had plenty of opportunities (to score) before half time. We put the Bulls under pressure and they got three yellow cards, but we weren't quite good enough to finish them off. We should have been closer to 15-15 at half time, but didn't cash in close to the line,' explained Plumtree. 'We got held up over the goal line just before half time which was an absolute disaster. But I was still pretty confident at half time. We were starting to get our game going and had the territory we needed. 'We scored a couple of good tries (in the second half) to get back into the game, but weren't quite accurate enough and they managed to get that try (from David Kriel) that broke our backs. 'We were a bit off our game on attack. Sometimes we played too deep when we had momentum and sometimes too flat when we didn't.' Goal kicking was also a problem for the Sharks over the game, flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse missing three shots at goal, two penalties and a conversion, while only slotting one penalty, while his brother, scrumhalf Jaden missed a conversion, as they left 10 points out there.
TimesLIVE
04-06-2025
- General
- TimesLIVE
Sharks come up for air before Loftus semifinal battle
Drained after an energy-sapping win over Munster, the Sharks are planning to adjust their training schedule to draw breath before Saturday's semifinal battle against the Bulls, coach John Plumtree said. The Sharks and Irish powerhouses Munster were level at 24-all at the end of normal time after a titanic United Rugby Championship quarterfinal tussle in Durban. Then, after 20 minutes of extra time, the teams remained deadlocked and a tiebreaker kickoff was required to decide the winner. Leinster will face the Glasgow Warriors in Saturday's first semifinal at Lansdowne Road in Dublin (3.45pm), after they defeated the Scarlets 33-21 in the other quarterfinal. The Loftus Versfeld clash, which is expected to attract a capacity 52,000 crowd, kicks off at 6.15pm. South Africans + Irishmen + rugby + Durban = 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐀 🍿 — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 3, 2025 'Even in my long career, I've never seen anything like that game against Munster,' Plumtree said. 'I'm exhausted. That was a tough 100-plus minutes. 'We will get the group together and see how everybody is doing. We might have to adjust our programme a little. 'I'm just glad we had those boys on the pitch kicking for goal: the Hendrikse brothers [Jordan and Jaden] and Bradley Davids, who came off the bench. The plan was to get Bradley on and sub Makazole Mapimpi. JP Pietersen was in the coaching box and was confident that Brad was going to do the job. 'It was a little frustrating it came down to that. It was never a plan we as coaches discussed during the week, but Neil Powell [Sharks director of rugby] had a pitch plan and knew which side the boys would be more comfortable on. And everyone was pretty calm in the coaching box. 🖤 "Having a brother that's always been with you from a young age is very special." The Hendrikse brothers stepped up in the shootout this weekend to help lead the Sharks into the #VURC semi-finals. 📺 Bulls vs Sharks | Saturday | 18:15 kick-off — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 3, 2025 'I was hopeful it wouldn't get to that, because during the first half of extra time, we dominated territory and possession, but didn't take the opportunities. I was a little frustrated, and as I said, it shouldn't have come down to placekicking. 'However, there were a lot of tired bodies, and I am proud of how everyone kept calm and trusted the plan. 'Though we were calm in the change rooms — we've been in that spot the last few weeks — we needed to tidy up a few things. The main issue was that when we got momentum, we played too deep. In the second half, we started playing a little flatter and were a bit more dangerous. 'I thought we were the best attacking team out there, even if we didn't take all our opportunities. So it puts us in good stead for next week.' Sharks skipper Eben Etzebeth thanked his goal-kickers for keeping cool heads when the pressure was on. 34 years 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐆 🐍 Makazole Mapimpi was at his brilliant best as the Sharks secured their spot in the semi-finals. He carried 183 metres and beat 6 Munster defenders 😤 #VURC | @Vodacom — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 2, 2025 'I thought it would be over before the 100 minutes,' he said. 'And then going to goal kicks. I don't know how those guys felt. 'Having to take those kicks must be very stressful. Thank goodness, we won that lottery.' Davids said he spent extra hours training to perfect his kicking drill. 'We kick a lot against each other to see — if Jordan gets injured — who will take over,' he said. 'We always challenge each other to see who's kicking the best in training. Luckily, it came off tonight. 'My girlfriend gets fed up with me because I always want to do extra kicks after training. She brings her work along to the side of the field. 'Credit to her for coming along and watching me kick. We actually do a shot clock and kick under pressure and fatigue.' The Herald
The Citizen
27-04-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Plumtree: Ulster tested Sharks' ability to stay in the fight
Sharks head coach John Plumtree said positives could be taken from how the Sharks made the second half their own, shutting down Ulster and clawing back for the win. Sharks head coach John Plumtree said his side were pushed hard for their win against Ulster in Belfast on Saturday, but the desire they showed to pull off the comeback victory bodes well for the rest of the United Rugby Championship. The Sharks mustered from a 19–5 deficit at half-time to beat Ulster 22–19 in their final away game before the play-offs. With home matches against Ospreys and Scarlets left, the Sharks are well-placed to possibly overtake the Bulls, who are five points ahead of them at third on the log, or hold off Cardiff, who are seven points behind in fifth place. Should the Sharks remain fourth, they will host their quarter-final against the team finishing fifth. Sharks take back momentum The Sharks' win against Ulster came courtesy of scores by Makazole Mapimpi, Emmanuel Tshituka and Jurenzo Julius, with Jordan Hendrikse contributing two conversions and a penalty. 'We were pretty slow at the start. There were just too many errors and we didn't build enough pressure in the first half,' Plumtree said, alluding to Ulster's blistering opening that saw them score two tries within the first nine minutes. 'There were some defensive lapses. We were chasing the game from pretty early on, but 10 minutes from half-time, we started playing some better footie. We were a bit unlucky not to go 19–10 at the break with the TMO decision, which I thought was pretty rough. Anyway, that's the way it goes.' He was referring to a try that was overturned following a television match official review, which found a forward pass in the build-up. It was an extremely tight call. Ulster lose territory and possession battle against the Sharks 'In the second half, we continued where we left off in the first half. [We] dominated the gain line. The boys' confidence came back up and we scored,' the Sharks coach continued. 'Then we thought we could get the game if we got the right amount of territory and possession. 'So it was another great test for us around our ability to hang in the fight and stay in contention, close it out for the win. 'So some real positives around our willingness to win close games, but we've got a lot to do if we want to win this championship. That's what we will endeavour to do when we get back home.' The Sharks will host 11th-placed Ospreys on 9 May, and seventh-placed Scarlets on 17 May.
The Citizen
25-04-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Sharks expect Ulster to throw down in last home game of season
'Ulster is going to be a big, big game. They will be very amped up. It's going to be hard and physical, and fast. They are a great attacking side.' The Sharks are riding high on confidence ahead of their last game on tour, but they know Ulster have it all to play for in what is almost certainly their final home game of the season. The teams clash in the 16th round of the United Rugby Championship (URC) at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast on Saturday (kick-off 8.35pm). Sharks centre André Esterhuizen said the team is in great spirits after their scintillating 18–17 win against Edinburgh in Scotland last weekend. They triumphed against the strong Scottish side, where the Bulls and Lions had failed in the preceding weeks, though victory came for the Sharks only thanks to a last-minute try from wing Makazole Mapimpi on the sideline. The Sharks were statistically the weaker side on the day. Ulster play away at Munster and Edinburgh in their last league games and due to their positioning on the table, have almost no chance of hosting play-off matches should they qualify. They sit 10th on the log, three points away from eighth position but 12 points off the fourth-placed Sharks, who are in a good position to host a home play-off against the team that finishes fifth. Sharks in good spirits Esterhuizen, who earned Man of the Match against Edinburgh for winning the most turnovers and completing a try-saving tackle, said the Sharks have had a good week of training in Belfast. 'The weather is looking quite good. It might be a little wet on Saturday, which will change conditions a bit. But we'll adapt and be ready for anything,' he said. 'Our training week has been good. The boys look focused and ready for the task ahead. The mood in the camp is great, everyone is in good spirits. We've been having a good tour so far.' However, the Sharks have only played one other game on the tour so far, losing 34–21 to Lyon in the Challenge Cup last 16, ending their hopes of defending the title. Ulster have it all to play for in final home game The Durban side will not have it any easier against their Irish opponents. 'Ulster is going to be a big, big game. It is a massive game for them – their last home game. They will be very amped up. It's going to be hard and physical, and fast. They are a great attacking side, so our defence needs to be on point. 'We also need to be sharp in our attack, execute all the opportunities we get to be successful over the weekend to put an end to a successful tour.'
