Transfer Report: Sundowns reach agreement for first season

Mamelodi Sundowns appear to be on the verge of securing their first major signing of the transfer window after reaching an agreement with Austrian club SV Ried for the transfer of Antonio van Wyk.

The Betway Premiership champions have been pursuing the former Stellenbosch FC winger for several months and have now taken a significant step towards bringing him back to South Africa.

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS DEAL ENTERING FINAL STAGES

According to SABC Sport journalist Mazola Molefe, Sundowns and SV Ried have agreed on a transfer fee, clearing one of the final hurdles in the deal. extract-html.com

The latest development comes after reports earlier this month indicated that negotiations between the two clubs were progressing positively following an unsuccessful attempt to sign the player in January.

With the clubs now understood to be in agreement, Van Wyk’s move to Chloorkop appears increasingly likely.

Molefe further reports that the 24-year-old has already completed his medical examinations and is eager to make the switch to Sundowns.

Personal terms have also been agreed, meaning only the formal completion of the transfer remains before the move can be officially announced.

The developments suggest Sundowns have moved swiftly to secure one of the country’s most promising attacking talents ahead of the new campaign.

RETURN TO SOUTH AFRICA ON THE CARDS

Van Wyk left Stellenbosch FC for SV Ried in September 2024 after establishing himself as one of the club’s standout performers.

The Belhar-born winger came through the ranks at Ubuntu Football Academy before progressing to Stellenbosch’s first team under coach Steve Barker.

He made 77 appearances for the Winelands side, helping the club lift the 2023 Carling Knockout and earning recognition at international level through South Africa’s COSAFA Cup squads.

His move to Austria reunited him with former mentor Moritz Kossmann and proved successful as he helped SV Ried secure promotion to the Austrian Bundesliga.

Now, less than two years after departing South African football, Van Wyk appears set for a return to the Betway Premiership, with Sundowns closing in on what could be one of the standout transfers of the window.

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 8, 2026 – Kenyan steeplechase sensation Edmund Serem has earmarked this year’s Commonwealth Games as his ultimate stop in his quest for glory, this year.

Serem is determined to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Amos, who bagged bronze at the last edition of the competition in Birmingham in 2022.

“I ran a PB in Rabat so I hope to run well again in Paris, and then I will head to Monaco. With no major championships this year, my main aim is to win the Commonwealth Games,” the world bronze medalist for the men’s 3000m steeplechase said.

With Kenya’s fortunes in the water-jump-and-barrier race dwindling by the day, Serem has emerged a glimmer of hope that the country may yet reclaim its longstanding status as a powerhouse in the competition.

His first taste of success came at the 2024 Africa Championships in Douala, Cameroon where he clocked 8:21.94 to win silver.

More success followed at the World Under 20 Championships in Lima, Peru where he ran 8:15.28 to clinch the title, at that level of competition.

His second senior appearance for the country yielded bronze at last year’s World Championships in Tokyo, clocking 8:34.56 to finish third.

Serem’s latest success was a second-place finish at the fifth leg of the Diamond League in Stockholm on Sunday night.

He timed 8:12.27 to take second place in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, a race won by Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali who clocked 8:10.40.

Another Kenyan, Commonwealth Games champion Abraham Kibiwot, finished third in 8:12.75.

It was Serem’s second Diamond League competition in 2026 after Rabat, Morocco, where he clocked a personal best (PB) of 8:01.61, although finishing fourth.

Although he was hoping to run faster, the youngster was nonetheless delighted with his podium finish.

“I am pleased with second place, as I really wanted to get on the podium today. I was hoping to run under 8-minutes but the race didn’t work out like that today, plus it was too windy – I just tried my best and I was happy with my strong finish, it’s good Diamond League points ahead of my big goal to do well in the final,” the 18-year-old said.

The youngster’s meteoric rise bode him well on the path to the Club Games in Glasgow in July and would add to his already impressive medal collection.

The post Steeplechase star shifts gears to Commonwealth Games in chase for more medals appeared first on Capital Sports.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says the Vodacom Bulls would have learned a lot from last season’s URC final at Croke Park.

The Bulls will return to Dublin for next Saturday’s decider looking to avenge that 32-7 loss, having booked their place in the final with a dramatic 22-21 comeback victory against the Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield.

Cullen believes the experience of reaching a fourth final in five seasons – this time under head coach Johan Ackermann – will make the Bulls an even tougher proposition.

ALSO: Ackers lauds senior players for Murrayfield turnaround

“They would have learned a lot from the experience of being in a final last year,” he said after Leinster’s 20-11 semi-final win against the Stormers at the Aviva Stadium.

The Leinster boss highlighted the contrast between the three South African teams his side has faced in the playoffs.

“The Lions were the South African Shield winners, but they have a lot less Springbok international experience in their team,” he said. “The Stormers put a lot more physical pressure on us.

“The Bulls, listen, they’re different the way they defend but they’re a team with a tonne of Springbok experience. World Cup winners littered throughout their group.

“If you look at some of the players they’ve added as well. The likes of Handré Pollard in particular. He’s a World Cup winner and what he brings to a team.

“They’re a serious outfit.”

Cullen said the Bulls’ victory at Murrayfield underlined the threat they pose.

“They’re a hugely physical team and we need to be ready for that challenge.”

ALSO: Bulls make big travel call for URC final

The extra week between the semi-finals and final could prove crucial for both teams. While it gave the Bulls a chance to return to Pretoria for a break, Cullen believes it will also help Leinster freshen up after a demanding run of knockout matches.

“Bit of down time, recovery time and then turn the page later, towards the tail-end of next week,” he said. “Obviously you can see they take the toll because it’s do or die, it’s all left out there.

“But listen, I think the time is [good] for the regeneration of some of the players. Rest and recovery is hugely important when you get it at this stage of the season.”

REWIND: When Bulls brought the fight to Leinster

Leinster are hoping to welcome back several key players for the final. Hooker Dan Sheehan, prop Tadhg Furlong and centre Robbie Henshaw missed the semi-final through injury, while wing Tommy O’Brien is expected to be available after taking a full part in the warm-up against the Stormers.

However, loosehead prop Andrew Porter is a major doubt after limping off with a calf injury in the first half.

Photo: Vodacom Bulls

The post Cullen: Bulls a serious outfit appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Bafana Bafana will have the honour of kicking off FIFA World Cup 2026 off against co-hosts Mexico.

Here’s all you need to know.

Mexico vs Bafana Bafana: 2026 World Cup opener key details

Mexico and South Africa will kick the 2026 World Cup off at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the scene of Diego Maradona’s iconic ‘Hand of God’ goal in 1986 against England.

Incidentally, these sides also played the opening match of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the first showpiece of its kind hosted on African soil.

Co-hosts Mexico, ranked 15th in the world by FIFA, will be eager to get their campaign off to a winning start against a Bafana Bafana side ranked 60th-best on the planet.

Mexico vs South Africa kicks off on Thursday, 11 June at 21:00 (SA time).

All you need to know about the Orlando Pirates/Mamelodi Sundowns-dominated squad

Nineteen of the 26-man squad named by Hugo Broos play in the Betway Premiership.

Ex-Orlando Pirates star Lyle Foster is the only British-based player, recently relegated from the Premier League with Burnley.

Uncapped 22-year-old defender Olwethu Makhanya is on the books of United States MLS side Philadelphia Union.

The squad contains eight players from the newly crowned champions Orlando Pirates. Mamelodi Sundowns, champions in eight of the last nine PSL campaigns, also have eight representatives.

South Africa face co-hosts Mexico in the tournament opener on 11 June in Mexico City, before Group A clashes with the Czech Republic in Atlanta on 18 June and South Korea in Monterrey on 24 June.

Scouting report on the Mexico team

The co-hosts are under the tutelage of the street smarts of 67-year-old Javier Aguirre.

He has held posts as the head coach of Japan and Egypt’s national sides, and coached several club sides in Mexico and Spain, notably Atletico Madrid, Espanyol, Mallorca, Real Zaragoza, Leganes and Monterrey.

He was at the helm for Mexico’s 2002 and 2010 World Cup campaigns.

He’ll lean on 34-year-old Fulham striker Raul Jimenez, veteran of 125 caps for Mexico, the most of any active player.

Exciting Club Tijuana star Gilberto Mora isn’t expected to start games regularly, but the prodigiously gifted 17-year-old playmaker is one to watch in 2026.

South Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup fixtures

All times SA

• Thursday, 11 June: Mexico vs South Africa – 21:00
• Thursday, 18 June: The Czech Republic vs South Africa – 18:00
• Thursday, 25 June: South Africa vs South Korea – 03:00

SA Rugby magazine rewinds to the 2021-22 Vodacom URC semi-final between Leinster and the Bulls in Dublin.

Leinster went into their home semi-final against the Bulls in the inaugural edition of the URC as clear favourites having topped the log before thrashing the Glasgow Warriors 76-14 in the quarter-finals.

The fourth-placed Bulls, meanwhile, had needed a drop goal at the death to beat the Sharks 30-27 at Loftus Versfeld the week before.

Leinster started fast at the RDS Arena in Dublin when a kick into space evaded Bulls winger David Kriel, and hooker Dan Sheehan reacted to open the scoring.

Flyhalf Chris Smith got the visitors on the board with a penalty goal before hooker Johan Grobbelaar powered over. Flank and captain Marcell Coetzee then added a second try to give the Bulls a 17-7 lead.

ALSO: Bulls make big travel call for URC final

Leinster centre Robbie Henshaw’s converted try cut the deficit to just three at the break, but 13 minutes into the second half, a Bulls driving maul resulted in a penalty try to make it 24-14, with Leinster captain and lock James Ryan yellow-carded.

Leinster wing Rory O’Loughlin crossed with 10 minutes remaining but flyhalf Johnny Sexton crucially missed the conversion.

A Leinster mistake near halfway then led to a breakdown penalty and flyhalf Morné Steyn gave the Bulls an eight-point cushion.

CULLEN: Bulls a serious outfit

Replacement prop Cian Healy’s converted try in the 82nd minute was scant consolation for the Irish giants, as coach Jake White’s men celebrated a famous 27-26 win.

But it would be heartbreak a week later for the Bulls, who suffered an 18-13 defeat to the Stormers in the Cape Town decider.

Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile/Gallo Images

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