Seventeen long years. That’s how far back since Lamontville Golden Arrows toasted cup success.

A return of four points from two group A games has laid a foundation for the South African men’s national u-17 team to advance to the next round of the Fifa u-17 World Cup.

What? Are you telling me that Bafana have returned to winning ways not because of the brilliance of Hugo Broos but because Safa has finally settled the outstanding bill of the muthi man who cast a spell on them by locking all their goals inside a bottle?

Before he set foot on these shores, South Africans were saddled with a national soccer side which was a sorry sight, writes Bareng-Batho Kortjaas

Ex Holland international gloveman Edwin van der Sar believes it is a matter of time before Manchester United turn the tide of underachievement and return to halcyon days.

World number six Jessica Pegula fought back from 2-5 down in the deciding set to upset top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 2-6 6-4 7-6(2) yesterday and set up a Wuhan Open final against fellow American Coco Gauff.

As Bafana walked down the passage of the Moses Mabhida Stadium towards the dressing room in deadly silence, the men in green followed each other in a single file as if they were on their way to a funeral.

From being in total command of the group to doing a cheek-to-cheek dance with the deflating possibility of failing to banish a 16-year absence from the greatest football stage in the globe.

Firing five unanswered goals in a World Cup match may leave many a coach swinging on the chandeliers with delirium but not if your name is Raymond Mdaka.

The likelihood of Vincent Tseka being fired from his Bafana Bafana team manager job after Fifa deducted points from the team for fielding suspended Teboho Mokoena is “very slim”.