CK Updates
Bafana squad missing in-form names
Hugo Broos, head coach of South Africa ©Alche Greeff/BackpagePix
Tuesday Mar 10, 2026. 15:00
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos released his preliminary squad for South Africa’s upcoming international friendlies against Panama, which contains a few glaring omissions.
The squad was announced on Monday evening as Bafana begin preparations for their 2026 FIFA World Cup warm-up fixtures against the Central American nation. The fixtures will be held in Durban and Cape Town on 27 March and 31 March respectively.
Broos’ squad contains no real surprises in terms of inclusions, with Polokwane City’s Ndamulelo Maphangule returning after making his debut against Mozambique in June last year. Jayden Adams’ return to form sees him get the nod after missing out on AFCON.
The MLS trio of Olwethu Makhanya, Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Mbekezeli Mbokazi were included, while Thapelo Maseko’s move to AEL Limassol in Cyprus has done wonders as he is included for the first time since September 2024.
Selected for the first time, Mthetheleli Mthiyane of Stellenbosch could be in line to receive his first cap for the national team
The 37-man preliminary squad does however miss out on a few big names and top performers.
During South Africa’s successful World Cup qualifying campaign last year, Broos believed he had found a long-term replacement for Themba Zwane in the number 10 role in Sipho Mbule. However, Mbule has played only twice for Orlando Pirates since returning from AFCON, featuring for 22 minutes in Pirates’ 3-0 league win over Marumo Gallants and 28 minutes in their Nedbank Cup win over Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandil. He has not had game time since 14 February. His name is missing from Broos’ list.
Thembinkosi Lorch misses out despite his fantastic numbers this season. The 32-year-old has bagged four goals and three assists in his last 10 games in all competitions and has continued to impress after his move to Libyan giants Al-Ittihad SC. He was last selected by Broos in June 2022 and remains frozen out.
Another previous player under Broos, Gift Links, has been omitted despite his incredible form in the Danish Superliga. He has been named in the league’s Team of the Week on nine occasions in the 2025/26 campaign and has achieved the highest overall player rating according to FOTMOB. The wing-back has started all of Aarhus GF’s 22 league games, bagging three goals and four assists. However, he misses out yet again.
Club Brugge’s Shandre Campbell, who was a part of the AFCON squad but did not play, was not included. However, his fellow 20-year-old Tylon Smith, who also did not play at AFCON, was included.
Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen was not selected despite his stellar season, as he is recovering from surgery. The shot-stopper missed out on the Soweto Derby and has not featured since undergoing emergency surgery. He has notched 11 clean sheets in 16 league games for AmaKhosi and is unfortunate to not be included.
By Nic Gleeson
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.”

