CK Updates
Kalou praises South Africa’s Professional Soccer League
Salomon Kalou during the Betway Premiership 2025/26 match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orbit College at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on 19 January 2026 ©Phakamisa Lensman/BackpagePix
Friday Feb 27, 2026. 13:00
Former Ivorian international Salomon Kalou has given South Africa’s Professional Soccer League (PSL) his stamp of approval.
Speaking to members of the media at the pre-match conference for the Soweto Derby, the former Chelsea winger praised the country’s top flight, the Betway Premiership, for its standard.
“I mean, the South African league is impressive,” said Kalou.
“You know, you see the national team is full of the players that play at home. They play in those leagues from [Mamelodi] Sundowns to [Orlando] Pirates to [Kaizer] Chiefs. Those are the players that represent the national team. So that shows how strong the league is and how well those teams are developing those young talents.”
The 40-year-old cited the league as the main reason for the improved results and performances of the South African national team on the global stage.
“You can tell that with the result of the national team, that South Africa is coming back to the level that they used to be since the golden generation in 1996. You know, we were always waiting for South Africa to come back to where they belong. And they are coming back and the league is showing that,” he said.
Kalou, who notched 97 caps for the Elephants, stated that the league is setting the standard across Africa and that his home country could learn from South Africa.
“I’m impressed how the stadium is nice and the players are very professional. That should be an idea for us back home in Ivory Coast because, you know, it’s always good to come and finish [your career] at home or to start home and go to Europe. And they have that opportunity here.
“We don’t have that. So, you know, it’s a little bit envious of a player here because you can come home and finish your career or you can start your career home. Not always every country in West Africa or Africa will have that opportunity,” he said.
The Betway Premiership was recently ranked as the 47th best football league in the world and the fourth best in Africa by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
By Nic Gleeson
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.
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.”
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.”
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