CK Updates
Simba announce Barker as new head coach
Steve Barker coach of Stellenbosch FC during the Betway Premiership 2025/26 match between TS Galaxy FC and Stellenbosch FC at Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela on 02 November 2025 ©Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Friday Dec 19, 2025. 18:10
Simba SC has unveiled Steve Barker as the club’s new head coach.
The club made the announcement on its social media platforms on Friday.
Stellenbosch has yet to announce the departure of its long-standing coach.
Barker joined Stellenbosch in its infancy at the beginning of the 2017/18 season and led the club to the National First Division title the following season, earning promotion to the top flight.
The now 57-year-old would lead the club to great heights, including the Carling Knockout title in the 23/24 season, two consecutive MTN8 final appearances (2024/25 and 2025/26), two consecutive third-place finishes in the Betway Premiership, and the semi-finals of the CAF Confederations Cup in the club’s continental debut (2024/25).
Despite the club’s dramatic ascent and success, the Maroons have struggled this season, losing out on silverware in the MTN8 final and sitting one point above the relegation zone in the league. The Maroons have managed three wins, three draws and eight losses from their 14 league games and were sent packing from the Carling Knockout by Marumo Gallants, who gave them a 4-0 thumping in the quarterfinals.
The club has continually allowed its top performing players to leave and join other domestic clubs such as Ashley Du Preez (Kaizer Chiefs), Zitha Kwinika (Kaizer Chiefs), Jayden Adams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Deano van Rooyen (Orlando Pirates) Iqraam Rayners (Mamelodi Sundowns) and recently Sihle Nduli (Orlando Pirates) and Fawaaz Basadien (Mamelodi Sundowns), with New Zealand international Andre de Jong set to join Nduli and van Rooyen at Pirates in late January.
Bulgarian tactician Dimitar Pantev joined Simba in early October to replace Fadlu Davids, who left the club in September, joining Raja Casablanca.
Simba parted ways with Pantev earlier on Friday.
The Reds of Msimbazi sit fifth in the Tanzanian Premier League with 12 points from four wins and one loss, and bottom of group D in the CAF Champions League with two losses from two games.
CK Updates
Commonwealth Games 2026: Gymnast Ruby Evans wins first gold for Wales
Gymnast Ruby Evans has won Wales’ first Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow with victory in the floor final.
Evans, 19, performed the final routine of the women’s programme and defeated England’s Abigail Martin into silver, with her team-mate Shantae-Eve Amankwaah securing bronze.
Evans left the arena in tears on Sunday after her disappointing sixth in the all-round individual competition, that after Wales finished fourth in the team event.
Now, after Welsh identical twins Abigail and Emily Roper won bronze medals within a couple of hours of each other on Monday, Evans has delivered gold.
It was the first victory for Team Wales in Scotland and a ninth medal alongside two silver and six bronze.
There is also a guaranteed podium position for boxer Connor Williams after he reached the semi-finals.
CK Updates
Saltburn-Norton match investigated over alleged ‘finger clicking’ cheating
An amateur cricket match has made global headlines after a fielder was accused of cheating by clicking his fingers to get a wicket.
The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has started an investigation into a second XI Division 2 game between Saltburn and Norton.
A viral video on social media appears to show a Saltburn fielder clicking his fingers as the ball passes Noman Shabir’s bat before being caught by wicketkeeper Josh Bowes. Saltburn appeal and the umpire gives Shabir out.
It has been suggested that the finger-clicking was designed to trick the umpire into thinking the batter edged the ball.
Saltburn won by 159 runs and are top of Division 2 by 17 points.
“The league have received a formal complaint regarding alleged incidents in a Division Two game on Saturday,” the league said in a statement on X.
“A full investigation has been initiated and until such time as the formal processes are complete no further comment will be made.”
Last week Bowes took eight catches in Saltburn’s 22-run win over Shildon Railway. The men’s Test record for catches by a keeper in an innings is seven.
Bowes leads the league standings with 31 catches, 10 more than any other player.
Rory Cotterill, who captained Middlesbrough second XI during a 29-run defeat by Saltburn last month, responded to a social media post containing the video and alleged two further incidents of cheating by Saltburn in that match.
The original video of the incident has had more than three million views on X, with publications in Australia and New Zealand among those to report it.
The BBC has contacted the league and Saltburn. Norton declined to comment.
CK Updates
West Indies v Pakistan: Justin Greaves takes five wickets for none in incredible spell
First Test, Tarouba (day three of five)
West Indies 311 (Hope 92; Ali 4-50) & 126-7 (Chanderpaul 35, Abbas 3-14)
Pakistan 282 (Masood 109; Greaves 5-27)
West Indies lead by 155 runs
West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves took five wickets without conceding a run in an incredible spell of bowling on day three of the first Test against Pakistan.
Greaves, who is playing in his 17th Test, claimed his maiden Test five-wicket haul to help dismiss Pakistan for 282 in response to West Indies’ first-innings total of 311.
The 32-year-old Barbadian’s spell – five consecutive wicket maidens – was all the more remarkable given he had bowled six overs earlier in the day for 27 runs without taking a wicket.
“When I came on captain Roston Chase just said ‘continue to be disciplined in what you are doing’ and to see if I can get some wickets for the team,” Greaves said.
“The ball nipped around and I got some reward. Anytime I get the ball in hand the team looks to me to be that solid player for them [and] try to dig us out of situations.
“To get five wickets for the first time in Test cricket, I’m really happy, but there’s still a lot of work to do in the game.”
Pakistan captain Shan Masood was Greaves’ first wicket at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad when he was bowled for 109 in the 64th over following a superb set-up.
Greaves had pushed the ball wide to the left-hander from over the wicket before he tailed a delivery back into Masood who played down the wrong line and inside edged on to his stumps.
Aamer Jamal had his middle stump uprooted in Greaves’ next over as the seamer speared one through his defences.
Greaves then trapped Ali Usman lbw before he had Mohammed Rizwan and Mohammad Abbas both caught behind as Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for just 38 runs.
West Indies reached stumps on day three on 126-7 in their second innings – a lead of 155 runs – to leave the match finely poised.
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CK Updates23 hours agoCommonwealth Games 2026: Scotland’s Archie Goodburn on battling brain cancer
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CK Updates11 hours agoSaltburn-Norton match investigated over alleged ‘finger clicking’ cheating
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CK Updates5 hours agoCommonwealth Games 2026: Gymnast Ruby Evans wins first gold for Wales
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CK Updates17 hours agoWest Indies v Pakistan: Justin Greaves takes five wickets for none in incredible spell

