Cape Town race joins prestigious World Marathon Majors series

Twelve years after it was relaunched, with a vision of becoming the first race in Africa to receive World Marathon Majors (WMM) status, the Cape Town Marathon has been given the green light. fishroad-app.com

While organisers were hoping to receive top-flight status last year, which was supposed to be the second successive compulsory year of assessment, the 2025 event was cancelled due to inclement weather.

Agreeing to allow the second assessment year to be postponed, the World Marathon Majors organisation attended last month’s race in the Mother City, and it was confirmed on Wednesday that the annual event had been given the nod.

‘Adding new dimension to series’

“It gives me huge pleasure to welcome Cape Town to the family,” said WMM chief executive Dawna Stone.

“After watching the race grow in size and stature during its candidacy and also seeing the resilience and dedication of the team lead so wonderfully by Clark Gardner (Cape Town Marathon CEO), Africa’s first Major has finally arrived.

“The unique culture, the welcome from the people of the city and the wonderful setting Cape Town provides will bring a whole new dimension to our series. I know runners in Africa and across the world will have a phenomenal experience at this race.”

The Cape Town Marathon becomes the eighth race around the globe to receive WMM status, alongside popular 42km races in Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York, Tokyo and Sydney.

The 2027 edition of the annual race, to be held on 27 May, will be the first to be run under the WMM banner, cementing the event’s status as the most prestigious marathon race on African soil.

À 78 ans, Claude Le Roy n’est pas prêt pour abandonner le coaching. Ce mercredi, le technicien français est annoncé comme nouveau sélectionneur du Congo. Il reprend une sélection qu’il a déjà entraîné entre 2013 à 2015.

Surnommé le « Sorcier blanc », Claude Le Roy n’a rien perdu de sa passion pour le football africain. Cinq ans après sa dernière expérience sur le banc du Togo, le Français retrouve le continent pour relever un nouveau défi. Il pourrait être accompagné dans cette mission par Omar Daf, ancien entraîneur de Sochaux et d’Amiens, qui intégrera le staff technique.

Claude Le Roy vise la CAN 2027 avec le Congo

L’objectif fixé au nouveau sélectionneur est une qualification du Congo pour la Coupe d’Afrique des Nations 2027, organisée conjointement par la Tanzanie, le Kenya et l’Ouganda. Pour y parvenir, les Diables Rouges devront terminer parmi les deux premiers du groupe G des éliminatoires, où figurent également le Cameroun, les Comores et la Namibie.

Cette nomination marque la neuvième expérience de Claude Le Roy à la tête d’une sélection africaine. Au fil de sa carrière, il a dirigé le Cameroun (1985-1988 et 1998), le Sénégal (1988-1992), le Ghana (2006-2008), la RD Congo (2004-2006 et 2011-2013), le Congo (2013-2015) ainsi que le Togo (2016-2021).

Les supporters congolais gardent un excellent souvenir de son précédent mandat, notamment grâce au parcours remarquable réalisé lors de la CAN 2015, où les Diables Rouges avaient atteint les quarts de finale. Avec son immense expérience et sa connaissance du football africain, Claude Le Roy tentera désormais de redonner au Congo une place parmi les nations majeures du continent.

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Le Racing Club de Lens a passé sans problème son audition, ce mercredi, devant la DNCG.

La DNCG a débuté ses auditions concernant les clubs de Ligue 1 et Ligue 2 et leurs budgets pour la saison prochaine. Après avoir donné le feu vert au PSG et à Troyes, ces dernières heures, l’instance de la LFP recevait le RC Lens, vice-champion de France et a rendu son verdict. Une décision communiquée par le club dans la foulée sur ses canaux.

« Dans le cadre de l’examen annuel de la situation des clubs au titre de la saison 2026/27, la direction du Racing s’est présentée ce mercredi devant la Commission de Contrôle des Clubs Professionnels. À l’issue de cette audition, aucune mesure n’a été prononcée à l’encontre du club. », a écrit le club artésien sur son site officiel.

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Ntombifuthi Khumalo has spent her working life in the company of young footballers, and when the conversation turns to Youth Month she reaches first for memory and meaning.

“Youth Month is something special for us, especially in South Africa,” she says. “Remember what happened in June 1976.”

For the Bantwana head coach, a Pietermaritzburg native and one of the most decorated youth development coaches in African women’s football, the month is a reminder of what the present generation has inherited. She wants the girls she works with to hold that history close.

“Because were it not for that time, the opportunities they have today to play sport, especially young girls, mean a lot to us and to them.”

Bantwana Head Coach, Ntombifuthi Khumalo

She sees young people not as bystanders to that legacy but as the ones who carry it forward, able to make “a meaningful difference through courage, determination and an active perspective” in their communities and the nation.

Her own route into coaching was drawn by that same conviction. “It’s a passion for development and a commitment to help young girls who have potential and talent,” she says, describing the work that has kept her in the youth game when other doors stood open.

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The tournaments, she says, are a privilege rather than a burden. “Coaching them in big tournaments like a World Cup qualifier or COSAFA is a blessing from God, because mine is to see them growing in the game, as a young girl who loves football but does not have much opportunity to see herself in a national team or university setup.”

“It always motivates me when I see them growing and getting opportunity.”

A student of the Maximal Football concept and its focus on developing distinctly African talent, she measures her work by more than results. “Beyond football, I also play an important role in shaping character, teaching values such as discipline, respect, responsibility and teamwork, so that they can become better people and positively contribute to society,” she says.

That holistic philosophy runs through everything at her programmes. “Developing the player holistically, everything goes hand in hand,” she says. “Along with improving football skills, we focus on life skills, discipline, education, leadership and personal growth.” For Khumalo the two are inseparable, because “when you talk about the best player, it is also about the better human being.”

To the girls whose efforts go unseen, her message is patient and firm:

“You must continue working hard when no one notices your effort. The sacrifice, the commitment and discipline you make in silence will prepare you for the opportunities that come your way. When your moment arrives, you will be ready.”

She has seen that promise come true. In May 2024 she guided the South Africa Under-15 girls to the CAF African Schools Football Championship title in Zanzibar, the country’s maiden title in the competition and the first won by any team from the COSAFA region, beating Morocco on penalties at a packed Amaan Stadium. The win reshaped young lives. “It was something that was big for young girls, and it was a beginning of special things,” Khumalo says. “Many of them are now playing in the Hollywoodbets Super League.”

The value, she says, ran deeper than medals. “After winning the CAF title, they gained more confidence about their game, also as human beings, because that’s another important thing in sport: when you do something good, you also feel good about yourself.”

The harder days have taught her too. A chastening defeat to Nigeria in a previous qualifying campaign became a lesson rather than a wound. “It wasn’t a good result for us, but it helped us a lot,” she says. “Their physical strength, intensity and athleticism were among their greatest strengths. This experience showed us the importance of adapting our style of play and preparing differently depending on the opponent.” She calls it “a learning phase”.

Now Bantwana stand one tie away from the game’s biggest stage, facing Kenya in the final qualification round from 3 to 13 July 2026, with a place at the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, running from 17 October to 7 November, waiting on the other side. Whatever the result, Khumalo is clear about what she wants her players to carry.

“When they are wearing the national jersey, that’s both an honour and a responsibility,” she says. “Through discipline and commitment, they can create a legacy that will remain forever.”

Her certainty is rooted in her own story. “My background and the challenges that I went through shaped me into the person I am today,” Khumalo says. “Every difficulty I face becomes a lesson, and every step back becomes an opportunity to grow stronger.” Those years, she says, taught her “the value of hard work, resilience and perseverance”.

It is the lesson she leaves for any young girl who fears her chance has passed.

“Never give up, whatever you’re doing.”

“Trust the process and believe in your journey.” There will be setbacks, she allows, but the door is not closed. Stay committed, stay disciplined, and “Be ready when your time arrives”.

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Main Photo Caption: Ntombifuthi Khumalo, head coach of Bantwana, the South Africa Under-17 Women’s national football team, is regarded as one of African women’s football’s foremost developers of young girls’ talent. All Photos: Supplied

Photo 2 Caption: A distinguished youth coach from Pietermaritzburg, Khumalo is leading Bantwana’s FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying push.

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Griquas and the Pumas both claimed convincing wins against overseas opposition at the Free State Stadium on Wednesday.

Griquas, who beat Romania A in the opening round of the Toyota Challenge, made it two from two with a dominant 56-21 victory against Georgia’s Black Lion.

The Currie Cup champions raced into a 28-0 half-time lead and never looked back, scoring eight tries.

Lock Lungi Mbiko crossed inside the opening minute after a powerful break from No 8 Dillon Smith.

One of the highlights of the match came when Griquas caught the visitors off guard with an inventive midfield lineout move that ended with Smith scoring their third try.

Black Lion, who rested several first-choice players, struggled to gain a foothold in the contest and were punished for a host of errors, particularly at scrum time.

Captain Phumzile Makondwana extended Griquas’ advantage shortly after the break before the Georgians finally got on the scoreboard through No 8 Giorgi Sinauridze.

Griquas were reduced to 14 men when flyhalf Liam Koen received a red card for head contact in a tackle, but they continued to dominate and added two more tries while a man down.

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The Pumas bounced back from their opening-round loss to Black Lion by thrashing Portuguese outfit Lusitanos 57-24.

Wing Tino Swanepoel scored three of the Lowvelders’ nine tries, while veteran hooker Simon Westraadt and No 8 Marvelous Mashimbyi each grabbed a brace.

Despite making 15 changes to their side, the Pumas raced into a 26-3 half-time lead.

Lusitanos scored three late tries to add some respectability to the scoreline.

GRIQUAS (56) – Tries: Lungi Mbiko, Jack Hart, Dillon Smith, Tom Nel, Phumzile Makondwana, Keagan Blanckenberg, Cephas van Biljon, Caleb Abrahams. Conversions: Liam Koen (6), Simon Liversage (2).
BLACK LION (21) – Tries: Giorgi Sinauridze, Guga Ganiashvili, Shalva
Aptsiauri. Conversions: Merlynn Pieterse, Luka Tsirekidze (2).

PUMAS (57) – Tries: Marvelous Mashimbyi (2), Tino Swanepoel (3), Simon Westraadt (2), Junior Banda, Troy Delport. Conversions: Danrich Visagie (6).
LUSITANOS (24) – Tries: Hugo Aubry, Rodrigo Marques, Vasco Baptista. Conversions: Aubry (3). Penalty: Aubry.

Toyota Challenge fixtures and results
Round 1
Pumas 36 Black Lion 46
Griquas 35 Romania A 20
Cheetahs 54 vs Lusitanos 24
Round 2
Griquas 56 Black Lion 21
Pumas 57 Lusitanos 24
Cheetahs 47 Romania A 14
Round 3 (Sunday, 14 June)
12pm: Griquas vs Lusitanos
2pm: Pumas vs Romania A
4:30pm: Cheetahs vs Black Lion

Photo: Johan Orton/Gallo Images

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