CK Updates
2026 FIFA World Cup Profile – South Africa
Friday Jun 05, 2026. 13:00
South Africa will be appearing at their fourth FIFA World Cup, and for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010. Bafana Bafana, who will play against Mexico, Czechia and South Korea in Group A, will be looking to advance beyond the group stage for the first time.
Coached by Belgian Hugo Broos, South Africa secured their berth by finishing top of Group C in the African qualifiers, edging out heavyweights Nigeria by one point. This was despite being docked three points for fielding an ineligible player in one of their fixtures.
Captained by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Bafana Bafana’s key players include rising stars Relebohile Mofokeng (attack) and Mbekezeli Mbokazi (defence), veteran midfielder Teboho Mokoena, striker Lyle Foster and winger Oswin Appollis.
Nickname: Bafana Bafana
Previous World Cup appearances: 3 (1998, 2022, 2010)
Best World Cup performance: Group stage (1998, 2002, 2010)
World Cup record: P9 W2 D4 L3 GF11 GA16
2026 Qualification record: P10 W5 D3 L2 GF15 GA9
2026 World Cup fixtures (Group A, times CAT)
– Mexico v South Africa, Thursday 11 June, 21:00
– Czechia v South Africa, Thursday 18 June, 18:00
– South Africa v South Korea, Thursday 25 June, 03:00
Head coach: Hugo Broos
The longest-serving coach in South Africa senior national team history (since May 2021), Hugo Broos has been in charge for over five years and has overseen an impressive turnaround in form, notably leading Bafana Bafana to a third-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and a first successful World Cup qualifying campaign since the early 2000s.
Captain: Ronwen Williams
One of the best goalkeepers on the African continent, Ronwen Williams is both the safe pair of hands and composed captain for South Africa. A veteran of multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the 2020 Olympic Games, he will be looking forward to his first taste of World Cup action.
Key player: Relebohile Mofokeng
Though just 21 years of age and only recently into double figures for caps, Relebohile Mofokeng could be South Africa’s key game-breaker as a forward or attacking midfielder. He has enjoyed a sensational season for Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership and will back himself to carry that form into the 2026 World Cup.
Credit: https://goalmzansi.com/
CK Updates
Ludek Miklosko: Ex-West Ham goalkeeper dies aged 64
Former West Ham, QPR and Czech Republic goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko has died at the age of 64.
Miklosko made almost 400 appearances for the Hammers from 1990 to 1998 and was much loved by supporters, who regularly sang his name long after he left the club.
He later returned as a goalkeeping coach.
Miklosko withdrew from cancer treatment in December 2024, three years after his diagnosis.
Days later he returned to West Ham’s London Stadium for a Premier League match against Liverpool to a hero’s reception.
A West Ham statement read: “It is with deep and profound sadness that West Ham United announces the passing of legendary former goalkeeper and coach, Luděk Miklosko.
“Rest in peace Ludek, our beloved, inspirational goalkeeper and gentle giant of a man.”
More to follow.
CK Updates
US Open 2026 results: Alexander Zverev beats Ben Shelton for second Grand Slam title
Going into the 2026 season, few people would have backed Zverev to win two Grand Slam tournaments, with the German having already lost three major finals in a career which looked in danger of not living up to expectation.
But injuries to his biggest rivals – Alcaraz missing the French Open and Wimbledon, with Sinner ruled out of the US Open – opened the door for Zverev.
A below-par Zverev scraped through the opening rounds at Flushing Meadows in a series of early-morning finishes, but he gradually improved over a fortnight where he did not play a top-20 opponent until Shelton.
Zverev had not lost to Shelton in their five previous meetings and immediately capitalised on a nervy start by his opponent.
Shelton double-faulted on break point in the first game of the match, handing over the type of initiative that opponents often struggle to wrestle back from Zverev.
Through the strength of his first serve, and his ability to unpick Shelton’s weaker backhand in the baseline exchanges, Zverev rolled through the opening set and clinched it when Shelton hit another double fault on set point.
Zverev continued to patiently draw mistakes from Shelton in the second set, but without being gifted a break when his only opportunity arrived in the fourth game.
He instead showed why he has a strong tie-break record with another nerveless display and, unlike in the 2020 US Open final when he lost from a two-set lead, kept his composure in the pressure moments to secure a commanding victory.
Addressing his team which is led by his father Alexander senior and brother Mischa, Zverev said: “We went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now won two in the span of three months.
“I think God has seen how hard we have worked, how hard we have suffered and how much pain we went through.
“I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before.”
CK Updates
Erling Haaland goal: Was Haaland’s derby winner a VAR error?
With Haaland’s goal settling the match, United were unsurprisingly disappointed by the decision.
“I think it was offside,” said Martinez. “And what I can’t understand is the rules. I want to be calm now, I want to control myself.
“It’s so hard because you lose a derby, you lose three points at home, and every season they’re [referees] coming to our club, they explain for one hour the rules, and they look so confident with that, and then after [there are] five or six people doing these kind of mistakes in the Premier League – it’s unacceptable.
“It’s the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world, and now we have to go home with this injustice.”
United boss Carrick also expressed his confusion.
“We put things in place in the game now, we have people in offices with all the screens for this decision,” he said.
“It’s more worrying about if that’s the interpretation of football now. If that’s the interpretation of not interfering in the game now, that’s really worrying for me. It’s a staggering explanation.
“The decision isn’t going to change the season, but it’s had a major impact on the game.”
Wayne Rooney, part of the BBC’s MOTD2 team, said: “Surely it’s offside. Martinez is impacted by Fernandez’s movement, and he is offside.”
Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: “I think we’ll see some sort of apology from the referee’s association, there’s no doubt Fernandez is playing that ball and is trying to put off Martinez. I think it’s one they’ll recognising they got wrong.”
Micah Richards added: “I think it’s been a bad day for referees. They got the Foden decision wrong and the Fernandez decision wrong. I think they got it so wrong but I don’t think it takes anything away from City’s performance.”
Meanwhile, City boss Maresca said: “I think it was onside clearly so it’s good.”

