2025 a year of sporting greatness — from the back pages to big stages
Western Province's Luthabo Mpongwane, centre, among gthe front runners in a 2000m steeplechase event, at the national junior championships, in Green Point, earlier this year.
Image: Fuad Esack
As the curtain closes on another year, our publications reflect on the sporting achievements that defined the communities we serve. As community newspapers, our focus remains on telling the stories that may not always make national headlines but dominate our back pages — stories rooted in neighbourhoods, schools, and clubs across the Cape.
In April, Karate Satori chief instructor Jeffrey Jackson was named national coach for the Africa Region South Championships in Durban. That same month, Manenberg’s Wassim Chellan secured a memorable second-round stoppage win over Siphenathi Qampi at Simon van der Stel Primary School in Wynberg.
May delivered a flurry of success Zeekoevlei High School’s under-19s won their division at the Freedom Cup, hosted by Wynberg Boys’ High. Wynberg boxer Ishmaeel “King K” Kadri (25) claimed the IBF Africa Youth featherweight title with a technical knockout victory over Namibia’s Lineekela Nghifindaka at Carnival City, while Penlyn Estate’s Mutalieb Allie was crowned SA singles snooker champion before adding the All Africa 6 Reds title in Morocco in July.
Karate Satori chief instructor Jeffrey Jackson all smiles after being named named national coach for the Africa Region South championships.
Image: Fuad Esack
Manenberg’s Suleiman Hartzenberg marked his 50th Stormers appearance with a man-of-the-match performance in a 34–24 United Rugby Championship win over Cardiff at DHL Stadium.
July produced standout moments across codes. Boundary Table Tennis Club’s Tamika van As (12), from Bonteheuwel, made history by winning both the under-15 and senior titles at the club championships in Grassy Park, becoming the youngest senior singles champion. Central Hockey Club’s senior men retained their national title for a third straight year with a 4–0 win over WPCC in Durban.
Women’s boxing delivered a classic as Simamkele Tutsheni defeated unbeaten rival Caleigh Swart by unanimous decision to claim the IBO All Africa super bantamweight title on Women’s Day. In August, the Springbok Women added to the celebrations with a historic 24–12 win over New Zealand’s Black Ferns at Athlone Stadium.
Manenberg's Suleiman Hartzenberg's touches down for a try during his 50th appearance for the Stormers, in a clash that saw him being named man-of-the-match award, in his side’s 34-24 win in a United Rugby Championship match against Cardiff, at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium, earlier this year.
Image: Conray Swail
Schools football also shone, with Plumstead High’s under-19s lifting the Safa Cape Town Kay Motsepe regional title, following a 1-0 win against Modderdam High, while Hanover Park FC claimed the Coca-Cola Amateur Cup with a 2–1 victory over Vasco da Gama. Elsewhere, Ubuntu Football Academy’s class of 2025 flew the flag for the Mother City at the annual Bayhill Premier Cup tournament, beating Randburg FC 2-0 in the championship final, at Erica Park, on Easter Monday.
Habitual tournament winners, Gugulethu’s Cape Town Roses cemented their dominance in the Engen Knockout Challenge girls’ under-20 division when they beat RV United 2-0, at Erica Park, in Belhar, on Sunday to claim a historic fourth consecutive title. In the boys under-18 section, former champions and last year’s losing finalists, Cape Town City FC, beat debutants Eagles Performance Academy (EPA) 3-1 to lift the trophy.
Ellen Strydom and Peninsula Canoe Club’s Ryley Smith claimed the junior title, at the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships, in Durban.
Image: Supplied
Among youth standouts, Pelican Park High’s Nathan Harrison (14) won the Oasis “Reach For Your Dreams” freestyle ball-juggling competition, Portland High’s senior netball team qualified for the national Kay Motsepe Championships, and Tafelsig dancer Aimsley Fortuin booked his place at the Red Bull Dance Your Style national finals.
Club rugby delivered drama as Collegians edged Primrose 49–29 in Super League B, SK Walmer surged towards a Super League A final a year after narrowly avoiding relegation, and Villager defeated Hamilton to lift the Super League A title in the country’s oldest club rivalry. Primrose later secured promotion with a dominant Super League B final win over Franschhoek.
On the international front, Bo-Kaap's Haashim Pead helped his side to a 23-15 win against New Zealand at the under-20 World Rugby Championship final in Italy earlier this year. He also received a call from national coach Johan Rassie Erasmus to join a Springbok training camp upon his return.
Ocean View Bulldogs Basketball Club’s Eric Griffith goes on the offence during his side’s semi-final match against Observatory’s Eagles Basketball Club, at the under-19 Youth Classic tournament, at the Cape Town German School, in June.
Image: Fuad Esack
In October, Ocean View’s Bulldogs Basketball Club reached the final of the African Grassroot Hoops Youth Classic, while surfers Kai Stubbs and Emily Jenkinson qualified for the Rip Curl GromSearch International Final in France. Peninsula Canoe Club paddlers also impressed at the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships in Durban.
Boxing remained a highlight as Khayelitsha’s Khaya Mlata won the WBC Youth super bantamweight title in Johannesburg, extending his unbeaten run, while Tutsheni’s Women’s Day triumph further cemented a golden year for female boxing.
Combat sport reached new heights with Cape Town hosting the Professional Fighters League at GrandWest, alongside the growth of local MMA platforms. The year was capped by Tumelo Manyamala earning a place on The Ultimate Fighter in the US.
Khayelitsha’s Khaya Mlata returning home to a hero’s welcome after winning the WBC youth super bantamweight title, in Johannesburg.
Image: Buntu Gotywa
Beyond the results, dedication to development stood out. Gugulethu schoolteacher Xolile Madikane once again guided Cape Town Roses to the Engen Knockout Challenge, continuing his work in growing the women’s game, while baseball talent Taariq Adams prepared for his third World Cup after SA under-23 success at the WBSC Africa Championships.
The year closed with one of its most inspiring stories. Blouberg’s Darren Thomas, paralysed after being shot during a home robbery, was crowned world champion at the Hyrox World Championship in Chicago. Refusing to be defined by his injury, Thomas’s journey embodied the resilience and spirit that defined Cape sport in 2025.
In November, after months of training, preparation, and planning, Reuben Jansen van Rensburg, 23, from Kommetjie, took at the Official Strongman Games in Dallas, Texas. Crowned South Africa’s and Africa’s Strongest Man in the under-80kg division in 2024, a bright future awaits Jansen van Rensburg.
- Additional reporting by Buntu Gotywa
Blouberg’s Darren Thomas, paralysed after being shot during a home robbery, was crowned world champion at the Hyrox World Championship in Chicago.
Image: Supplied
Abfuraghmaan Karriem, aka Speedy Karriem, set the ninth fastest time in the 200m sprint at Green Point Stadium earlier this year.
Image: Gerrit van der Linde
Penlyn Estate’s Mutalieb Allie crowned SA singles and All Africa 6 Reds snooker champion in 2025
Image: Fuad Esack
Cape Town Roses coach, Xolile Madikane, seen here giving instructions to his players during this year's Engen Knockout O Challenge, earned multiple awards in 2025 for his continued commitment to the game.
Image: Buntu Gotywa
Athlone Athletics' Taariq Adams helped the SA under-23 baseball side qualify for the World Cup finals in Nicaragua.
Image: Buntu Gotywa
Simamkele Tutsheni grabbed the IBO All Africa title in her Women's Day bout aginst Caleigh Swart in August.
Image: Supplied
Bo-Kaap's Haashim Pead at the family home in Dorp Street, following his side's 23-15 win against New Zealand, at the under-20 World Rugby Championship, in Italy, earlier this year..
Image: Ebrahim "Billy" Christian
Aimsley Fortuin, 22, an all-styler from Tafelsig, on his way to winning the Cape Town regional finals of the Red Bull Dance Your Style, earlier this year. Fortuin also won at the national final, at Century City, in August to earn his spot at the global finals in Los Angeles in October.
Image: Tyrone Bradley/ Red Bull Content Pool
Long-standing rivals, Villager and Hamilton faced off in a muddy Super League A encounter, at Brookside, at the height of the Cape winter, earlier this year, with the home side coming away with a 29-24 win.
Image: Hein Gouws
Action from the Undisputed MMA Championships between Reuben Job and Nic Laubscher.
Image: Buntu Gotywa
Cape Town Roses' Lisakhanya Situlweni on the ball at this year's Engen Knockout Challenge, at Erica Park, in Belhar, earlier this year. Situlweni is among a number of bright stars to come out of the hands of coach Xolile Madikane.
Image: Buntu Gotywa