Micheal Phelps makes history, Chas le Clos goes gold

Michael Phelps made history by winning his 15th gold medal of the Olympic Games, his nineteenth overall. The American was denied the chance of becoming the first male swimmer to win the 200m butterfly three times in succession when Chad le Clos of South Africa won the gold medal. It is only the second gold medal for South Africa in this year's Games after de Burgh won a gold as well. South Africa has not won a medal outside the pool so far. 

Bucs win the Carling Black Label Cup

The first Soweto derby of the season got under way in an expected fashion, the encounter was only a pre-season cup match by name as both teams gave it their all the entire match. The match was played in front of a full house, 95 750 spectators were present to watch arguably Africa's biggest soccer derby game.

Amakhosi were the first to find the back of the net after a string of beautiful passes inside the the Bucs territory, Abia Nale finished off from close range from a decent cross by Reneilwe "yeye" Letsholonyane.

The boys from Naturena thought they won the trophy until the Sea Robbers' veteran srtiker Benni McCarthy scored with an excellent header with three minutes remaining on the added time.

The 34-year old striker turned from hero to villain when he missed a penalty during the shootouts. Orlando Pirates won the match on sudden-death 5-4 to retain the trophy and go to the footballing season claiming the bragging rights of one of the world's most competitive sport derbies.  

Super15 final between New Zealand and SA teams

This year's edition of the Super15 finally will be contested by a South African team and another from "the land of the long white cloud". Australian teams failed to make into the top four and after a successful Australian 2011 rugby season the cabinet will be empty for teams from "Down Under". Queensland Reds proved that they are a one-season wonder but they did well in managing to reach the play-off phase of the tournament although they were nowhere near from defending their title.

Later this morning the Canteburry Crusaders will take on the in-form Hurricanes from Wellington in an eagerly awaited all-New Zealand affair which will be played in Christchurch. The second semi-final will be between the 2010 runners up the Stormers and the 2007 runners up The Sharks. The match is not only a South African derby, but it is also a coastal derby. It is a must watch encounter as both teams boast experienced Springbok players within their ranks.

Banyana Banyana punished by the Swedes

South Africa's women's national football team was humiliated and outplayed by the Swedes in their opening encounter of London 2012 Olympics, just two days prior the opening ceremony of Olympics in the English capital. The game was played at Coventry in the Midlands, one of six host cities for this year's Olympics.

The game was so one-sided that the Swedes were denied an opening goal by the woodwork on the 3rd minute. The fourth ranked football team in the world finally opened the scoring on the 8th minute. Then the flood gates opened as Banyana were 3-0 down before the half-hour mark.

The South Africans scored a consolation stunner of a goal from the halfway line inside the Swedish territory, courtesy of Portia Modise who was once nominated as the Women's Football Player of the Year and was linked with a move to Arsenal FC of England.

The Swedes immediately extended the lead courtesy of their captain Lotta Schlelin, scoring her second goal of the night. The South Africans were fortunate not to concede seven goals as the Swedes hit the posts three times in that match. Mkhonza's ladies should go back to the drawing board as the team was error prone the entire match and their defence at times looked as if it did not exist and they posed no threat at all when it came to finding the back of the net. The match ended 4-1 in favour of the Europeans.

Jackie Selebi granted medical parole

The former SAPS commissioner Jackie Selebi was granted medical parole last week after police claimed that he could no longer stay in prison as his health condition deteriorated. Selebi only served a few months out of his 15-year jail sentence, a decision that most political oppositions claim to be politically motivated.

The ruling party was quick to defend the accusations saying that the decision was made after considering Selebi's health condition and that other six inmates were also going to be granted medical parole.

Nkosazana-Dlamini Zuma appointed as new AU commission chair

Nkosazana-Dlamini Zuma was newly appointed as the AU Commission Chair yesterday in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. Dlamini-Zuma was competing for the position ahead of Gabon's Jean Ping. She is the first woman to be appointed as the AU Commission Chair and the first ever to come from the SADC region.

In yesterday's press conference in Addis Ababa Dlamini-Zuma said that she will make it her responsibility to get rid of Western influence within the AU ranks particularly that of France, a country that colonised most West and Central African nations.

After three rounds of voting by AU members, Dlamini-Zuma came out unanimously triumphant in all three of them in a vote that was seen by political analysts as "French-speaking Africa Vs English-speaking Africa". The former President's wife said that she will also make sure that women in the African continent are given the respect they deserve. Most South Africans hope that the country will benefit in having a representative in AU's top brass while others say that her wisdom and leadership skills are required in South Africa.

Spain make history

The Spanish national soccer team made history when they became the first team to successfully defend the European Championship. La fela roja defeated the 1968 chamions and 2000 runners-up Italy who were outplayed through out the match. The Spaniards thrashed Azzuri 4-0 in what is the biggest score margin in a World Cup final or European Championship.

The Spaniards did not only rewrite the history books for winning the coveted European football prize in twice in succession but for winning three major tournaments consecutively, achieving a feat that even the footballer of the century and three time World Cup gold medalist Pele did not achieve.

Under Vincente del Bosque who is their coach, Spain has won Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012 and at one stage they were 35 games unbeaten until USA surprised them in an embroiling Confederations Cup 2009 in South Africa to clinch victory by 2-0. Spain is currently ranked the no.1 national football team in the world and their refers to them as "the greatest generation of footballers" and have not considered a single goal in the last ten knockout games.