Dakar hosts Youth Olympic Games, becoming the first Olympic venue in Africa

The South African team is preparing to improve upon last year's results at the upcoming MMA World Championship, which will take place in Georgia next week. This prestigious international amateur mixed martial arts competition starts in Tbilisi on November 1 and runs until November 7.

More than 820 athletes from over 60 countries will participate in the tournament, competing in junior and senior divisions.

MMA

Mixed Martial Arts South Africa (MMA SA) has registered ten athletes from Mzansi. The team hopes to continue the success of the previous year, when Mohammed Motala won bronze in the junior heavyweight division, and Charmaine Rabbolini won gold in the senior lightweight women's division.

In the junior men's division, Mogamat Sali will compete in the flyweight category, while Xavier Cornelius will take the bantamweight division. Jeremy Griffin will represent South Africa in the semi-heavyweight category.

MMA

All three of these athletes won gold medals at the National Championships this year, with Sali also holding the title of undisputed bantamweight champion.

MMA

In the senior men's division, Sanele Shabala and Agmad Keran will compete in bantamweight, while Giancarlo Torino and Jason Damons will also represent South Africa in the superlight and middleweight divisions, respectively, facing some of the world's strongest amateur opponents.

In the senior women's division, Nicole Alves (2026 national champion) will compete in the strawweight category, while Vinuska van Straaten (2026 national champion) and Sherize Verster will represent South Africa in bantamweight.

A Dream Realized on the World Stage

Part of the South African delegation has already arrived in Tbilisi, and the rest of the team plans to land in the coming days. Coach and Western Cape MMA board member Irfan Gool, along with Sali and Keran, are currently acclimatizing to the environment and getting acquainted with the Georgian experience before the competition begins. Cornelius and his mother are expected to arrive tomorrow, and the MMA SA president and coach, William Oberholzer, and the rest of the group will complete their journey by flying out on Friday.

Registration and draws are scheduled for November 1, with the official start of the competition on November 2.

For many athletes, these championships are a dream come true, providing an opportunity to showcase their abilities on the world stage, gain valuable international experience, and open doors for further opportunities in sports.

This event is particularly significant for Keran, who only started his MMA journey last year. The athlete, born in Lotus River, has made remarkable progress in a relatively short time.

Discussing the situation with Coach Gool at a hotel in Georgia, Keran struggled to contain his excitement about the opportunity. He stated: 'Coach, this isn't real. I'm a guy from Lotus River. Things like this don't happen. I'm competing in the World Championship and I'm part of the South African team... it still feels unreal.'

Gool, who has worked with Keran since the beginning of his MMA journey, expressed pride in the young athlete's progress. He noted: 'This was a truly big achievement for Agmad Keran, and I am proud to have been with him from the very beginning. He is a phenomenal student, and we grow as one unit.'

Building the Next Generation of South African MMA

Oberholzer believes that championships provide an important opportunity for South Africa's rising talents to gain experience while maintaining the country's proud record on the international stage. He emphasized: 'We have a relatively young team representing South Africa at these MMA World Championships, with several athletes debuting on the international stage.'

He added that 'South Africa has produced medalists and world champions in each of the three previous MMA World Championships, demonstrating that we constantly influence the global arena.'

According to Oberholzer, while they always strive to bring home medals, they also recognize the importance of gaining international experience and developing the next generation of South African MMA talent. He concluded: 'The MMA World Championships represent the pinnacle of amateur mixed martial arts, bringing together the best amateur athletes from around the world to compete at the highest international level. We are confident that our athletes will represent South Africa with pride and continue to build our international success.'

The countdown for the main music festival in Southern Brazil has begun with the launch of the pre-sale of tickets for Planeta Atlântida 2027, which will take place on January 29th and 30th. This initial phase allows planet-goers to secure their spots before the general public announcement.

The first purchase window is scheduled for this Wednesday (28th) and is restricted to customers holding a Banrisul Mastercard credit card. On Thursday (29th), the pre-sale expands to include Banrisul Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Each CPF is allowed to purchase a maximum of four tickets. Sales will start at 10 am and continue until the available batch is sold out, with payment made solely by card, with the possibility of installment payments up to ten times interest-free.

Sections

The Arena and Camarote sections will offer tickets in full, half-price, and solidarity categories, the latter being an option where part of the value is donated to social institutions.

For those seeking a different experience, the festival offers exclusive areas with additional benefits. Among them are Premium, a special section within the Camarote curated by Destemperados, which includes open bar, open food, and a privileged view of the Planeta Stage; the Rooftop Open Bar, located in the Arena, which guarantees unlimited drinks throughout the event; and the Atlântida Terrace, a novelty for this edition, designed to provide a distinct experience within the Arena, featuring an open bar, coverage, a resting area, and a privileged view of the Atlântida Stage. All three modalities are aimed at people aged 18 or older.

There is also the debut of Planeta Club, a loyalty program aimed at the most dedicated fans. Participants who join during the pre-sale will have access to exclusive advantages, such as participation in test events, priority in queues on festival days, a welcome press kit, discounts at the official store, and chances to win raffles. It is important to note that minors under 14 years old cannot attend the event, even when accompanied by parents or guardians. The opening of sales to the general public will be announced later.

About Planeta

Planeta Atlântida is organized by Grupo RBS and DC Set Group, with main sponsorships from Renner, Banrisul, Coca-Cola, PUCRS, Budweiser, and Monster. This festival is recognized as the largest music event in the south of the country and has a tradition dating back to 1996, taking place at the Saba countryside headquarters located on Atlântida beach, in the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul. Over the years, more than 1,400 national and international attractions of various genres have graced the stages of Planeta, providing planet-goers with over 900 hours of music. It is considered the most anticipated event of the Gaucho summer and celebrated 30 years with a historic edition in 2026.

Athletes from Khayelitsha are approaching training on a fully modernized facility following the completion of the first phase of the Mandela Park Stadium upgrade, which is valued at 32 million rand. This phase included the completion of work on the synthetic athletics track and the improvement of field event areas.

The city of Cape Town continues work on the remaining improvements in preparation for the next athletics season. The project aims not only to provide a new surface but also to enhance the quality of public amenities, ensuring excellent conditions for training and competition for local schools, sports clubs, and young athletes.

What was completed at Mandela Park Stadium?

The first phase primarily focused on the stadium's infrastructure, including the restoration of the synthetic track and the modernization of designated areas for field sports. These sports include long jump, triple jump, pole vault, shot put, and hammer throw.

In addition to the athletic surfaces, structural repairs were carried out on the stadium roof, support columns, and access ramps. New seating is currently being installed, which, upon completion, will give the venue a vibrant and colorful appearance comparable to the renovated Blue Downs athletics track.

Despite the significant progress made in the initial phase, further work is required for the full realization of the stadium's revitalization.

What is next?

The second phase of work prioritizes practical improvements to the grounds to increase functionality and accessibility. These measures include the installation of a new pavement, updating lighting systems, and modernizing sanitary facilities.

Parallel to the construction work, administrative preparations are underway to ensure full readiness for athletics competitions. An application for official athletic certification has been submitted, and efforts continue to comply with all requirements of the Sports and Recreational Events Safety Act (SASREA).

Although the remaining improvements must be completed to realize all the stadium's benefits, the City intends to finish all work before the start of the upcoming athletics season.

Why is the modernization important for Khayelitsha?

Fransin Hayam, a member of the City's Committee for Community Services and Health, emphasized that this project is an investment in the communities and provides young athletes with better opportunities to develop their abilities.