This round-up showcases the top sports highlights and achievements in Brakpan from January to June 2025.

January
• Bielie van ‘n baars uitgetrek
Meliny van der Merwe (43) van Brenthurst kon op 29 Desember haar opgewondenheid skaars beteuel toe sy ‘n groot swaart grootbekbaars (Largemouth black bass) uitgetrek het. Haar indrukwekkende vangs het die skaal se naald op 3.3kg laat stilstaan en dit was ook haar persoonlike beste vangs tot dusvêr.

• Brakpan Pool Club receives accolades from EGPA
The Eastern Gauteng Pool Association (EGPA) recently held a prizegiving, where several players and teams from Brakpan Pool Club were recognised for their achievements.

• Adjusted qualifying time a relief for Comrades runners
The Comrades Marathon Association has adjusted the qualifying time for the standard marathon (42.2km) for this year’s ultimate human race back to under 05:00.

• Gunning for the title
A major title fight at the ACPP Hall in Pretoria in March will feature Pieter ‘Bulldog’ Vorster against Tjaart ‘Piston’ Kruger.

The title and belt up for grabs is the super heavyweight champion in the Slap Fight league. Vorster, a local slap fighter, hopes to bring the title to Brakpan.

• Club gets set to host Comrades qualifier
The Mamepe Striders are excited about hosting the inaugural MNS Attorneys Carnival City Marathon at the Carnival City sports grounds on May 1.

After successfully hosting the annual Duduza Community Race, which included 16km and 32km events, in the past two years, the club will host its first 42.2km distance since it was established in 2015.

• BSA Super League continues
The Brakpan Sports Association (BSA) Super League for senior teams continued on January 26 at the Apex Sports Grounds in Benoni. Young Stars won their game 3-2, and Leachville and Alliance drew 2-2.

February
• Rugbyklub kry nuwe bestuur
‘n Opwindende jaar wag vir die Brakpan Rugbyklub en die verkiesing van die nuwe klubbestuur vir 2025 het verlede Woensdagaan die bal aan die rol gekry.

Frikkie Bosman is tot die nuwe voorsitter van die klub gekies. Die oud-inwoner van Brakpan is bekend in rugbykringe en kom uit ‘n familie wat diep spore in Brakpan rugby geskeidenis getrap het.

Sy oupa, Koos Bosman, na wie die Bosman Stadion vernoem is, het 75 jaar gelede ook in die voorsitterstoel gesit.
Frikkie Bosman sal bygestaan word deur Kiewiet Janse van Nieuwenhuizen (onder voorsitter), Werner Stoltz (ere sekretaris) en Franco Booysen (klub kaptein).

• Karateka grades to junior shodan
The New World Shotokan (NWS) karate’s Refiloe Doro graded to her junior black belt during a recent grading ceremony.

The 14-year-old from Brakpan began her journey in the sport as a seven-year-old, taking inspiration from her karateka father. She said the black belt is the beginning of her journey in the sport.

• Racers start year in high gear
The first round of the SA Short Circuit Series, held in Vereeniging on February 1, saw two Brakpan racers once again, proving they are forces to be reckoned with.

Eight-year-old Marnitz Otten, who raced in the SM50 and SM65 classes, earned second place podiums in both his classes.

Brakpan’s other racing superstar competing on the day was Liam Smith (8) who also races in two classes – PW50 and SM50. He started the season off with a second place in the championship.

• Age is just a number of senior women’s golf president
Ekurhuleni Senior Women’s Golf president Charmaine Stone continues defying age with her masterful skills and calm demeanor on the golf course.

At 64, Stone is an example of longevity in golf. She has been teeing off and putting for 30 years, proving that age does not diminish talent.

She is competitive and has achievements to prove it – club champion at Maidstone Golf Club, Amanzimtoti Country Club, Benoni Lake and 2024 club champion at Benoni Country Club.

• Spanne wen in eerste superliga wedstryd
Dit was vier uir vier vir die Brakpan Rugbyklub se openingswedstryde in die Castle Superliga op Bosman Stadion die naweek.

‘n Goed voorbereide Brakpan het teen die Grizzlies uitgedraf en die eerste, tweede, derde sowel as die o21 spanne het ‘n wen aangeteken.

• Pool players off to nationals
Several players from the Brakpan Pool Club will represent the Eastern Gauteng Pool Association at the nationals in Potchefstroom in May.

They will compete in several divisions, some in the masters’ division, one in the grandmasters and a couple in the ladies’ division.

March
• Brakpan reg om Rhinos te pak
Die Brakpan Rugbyklub het die afgelope naweek voortegebou op die momentum van hul eerste wedstryde teen Sibanye Stillwater gewen.

Brakpan het na Rustenburg gereis vie dié kragmeting, waar die eerste span uiteindelik moes klaarkom sonder ses van hule spelers.

Die kaptein, Ruben Beytell asook Louis de Bruin, Keagan Balfour, Danny Keyser, GP Bezuidenhout, Justice Nkombua en Fanna Botha was nie beskikbaar vir die eerstes se wedstryd nie.

Die span kon egter na ‘n klipharde 80 minutes op die veld daarin slaag om ‘n wen van 26-25 aan te teken.

• Young swimmer gears up for Treviso Cup
Pinnacle Gryphons Aquatic Club swimmer Araya de Waal is gearing up to compete at the Treviso Swimming Cup in Italy on June 27 and 28.

The Brakpan resident, who is a Grade 11 learner at Pinnacle College in Rynfield, will represent Eastern Gauteng Aquatics on a tour, which will expose her to elite competition and world-class training.

• Champs refuse to be slapped down
Brakpan slap fighters Bobby ‘The Punisher’ Krisch and Pieter ‘Bulldog’ Vorster competed on Saturday in Pretoria, where Krisch won his semi-final heavyweight match, and Vorster won the title for the super heavyweight division.

• Wrestlers in fine form at event
The Ekurhuleni Wrestling Association Open was hailed as a huge success after bringing together 572 wrestlers from across SA for a day of intense competition and thrilling wrestling action recently.

Athletes across various age groups and experience levels engaged in hard-fought battles, with emerging talents and seasoned wrestlers showcasing their abilities.

• Goeie vangs aangeteken
Die Verre Oos-Rand Hengelklub het op 8 en 9 Maart by Biermans, Vaaldam lyne gemaak. Die lede het ‘n groot totaal van 123 visse vir die dag gevang met ‘n totale gewig van 115,85kg.

• Phoenix Netball Club land second place
Brakpan’s Phoenix Netball Club participated in Midrand Royals Netball Club’s opening tournament at Curro Sagewood on March 8, where the placed second.

One of the mix team player, Jayden Wheeler, was named player of the matching, earning a certificate and bragging rights.

April
• Karateka sharpen their skills
The Brakpan Shotokan Karate Club, headed be sensei Lolia Basa, is preparing for the Japan Karate Association African Cup from May 20 to 24 in Johannesburg.

In preparation, Lolia recently worked on stance, technique and knowledge of the Japanese names of stances and movements with his students. The seminar aimed to sharpen their skills so they can compete in the cup.

• Powerhouse performance
It wasn’t just a test of strength but a showcase of power and determination when Ekurhuleni’s strongest men and women battled for regional titles during the East Rand Strongest regional champions on April 5 in Brentwood Park.

The event attracted local pro and amateur athletes and some from other parts of the country when they vied for titles in the U80kg, U90kg and U105kg weight classes.

• Brakpan Rugbyklub se spanne goed op dreef
Spanne van die Brakpan Rugbyklub het die afgelope naweek in verskeie dorpe uitgedraf vir wedstryde in die President Liga.

Die o21’s het op Brakpan teen Benoni gespeel en weggestap met ‘n wen van 29-12. Die derde span het na Vanderbijlpark gereis om teen NWU Vaal se tweede span te staan te kom.

Dié span hete ook huiswaarts gekeer met ‘n wen van 33-14. Die tweede span het tuis vir Die Eagles van Elsburg die stryd aangesê en ‘n weghol oorwinning van 85-0 aangeteken. Die eerste span het ook op hul tuisveld teen Elsburg uitgedraf en in ‘n verkorte wedstryd met 97-9 gewen.

• Leachville Shooters win BSA League
The Brakpan Sports Association held a senior league playoff tournament on Sunday in Vulcania. In the final match, Amabenjamin and Leachville Shooters took to the field in a heated game. Shooters won 2-0, with goals scored by man of the match, Nqobile Gamede.

• Runners give thumbs up to marathon route
The MNS Carnival City Marathon route was described as fast and flat, making it ideal for runners to achieves their PBs while Comrades runners are sure to improve their seeding.

This verdict came after a successful dry run, led by hosting club Mamepe Striders from Duduza, at Carnival City recently. Over 100 runners attended the route tester.

• Ringbalklub geniet spel
Brakpan Ringbalklub het onlangs ‘n vriendskaplike toernooi bygewoon in Vanderbijlpark, wat deur die Sedibeng Distrik se klubs aangebied is.

Brakpan se vroue spelers het een van die drie wedstryde waaraan hulle deelgeneem het op die dag gewen.

May
• Karateka compete in KWF inter-club championship
Members of the Dan Triangle Karate Club’s Brakpan and Dalpark dojos competed in a KWF inter-club champions at the Brakpan Indoor Sports Centre. Sensei Chris Anthony is very proud of the club’s performance.

• Boxers, coaches selected for Ekurhuleni
A boxer and two coaches from Brakpan Boxing Club were chosen for the Ekurhuleni team recently. Steven Labuschagne was selected for the position of coach, Liandry Martens is boxing for the team and Jaco Visagie was appointed team manager.

• Brakpan wen President Liga
Brakpan was Saterdag eenvoudig te sterk vir ‘n goed voorbereide Vereeniging-span in die finaal van die President Liga-eindstryd, wat by Bosman Stadion gespeel is.

Vereeniging, die verdedigende kampioen, het met 35-24 verloor. Brakpan is nou die nuwe titelhouers van die President Liga trofee.

• Relay star Leendert’s future shines bright
The national relay teams touched down at OR Tambo International Airport on May 14 with Dalview resident Leendert Koekemoer and his teammates welcomes with fanfare.

The athletes were returning home from the World Athletics Relay Championships in China where the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m clinched gold medals.

The 18-year-old 400m sensation shone in the final with a blistering third leg. Botswana had a slight advantage over South Africa when he received the baton.

He found his footing, running the second fastest split of 44.23 to finish strongly to give anchor, Zakithi Nene, the easy job of securing the gold.

• Athletes tackle cross-country relay
Over 30 athletes from Brakpan’s iRun Athletics Club showcased their talent at the ASICS Menlo Cross-Country Relay on May 16.

The event drew young runners from across the province, with iRun’s presence strongly felt across all age groups, from U8 to U19. Among the standout performances were the club’s U13 4x2km relay teams.

• Gearing up for the big one
Dalpark resident and City of Ekurhuleni Athletic Club runner Sepitle Aubrey Leshilo will soon be making his way to KwaZulu-Natal to take on his 11th Comrade’s Marathon.

Last year, he was the recipient of a Green Number, which signifies that a runner has completed 10 or more races.
This achievement earns runners a permanent race number they can use in future races.

June
• Double victory for young racing star
After a phenomenal day of racing, Brakpan’s Marnitz Otten is currently first in the SM50 and second in the SM65 championships.

The nine-year-old competed in Round 3 of the SA Short Circuit Series on May 31. He took first overall for the day in the SM50 class, and managed a clean sweep in the SM50 race – winning all three heats.

• XKT fighters stand their ground
Xtreme Kickboxing Technologies recently participated in the South African Kickboxing Association Championships held in Newcastle.

Seven athletes represented the Brakpan club, and brought home four gold, four silver and four bronze medals.

• CoE runners conquer Comrades Marathon
Members of the City of Ekurhuleni Athletics Club did their city and club exceptionally proud at the Comrade’s Marathon.

This year’s race, held on June 8, covered 89.98km, and was a down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. The club’s athletes bagged 26 medals – one silver, seven Bill Rowan, two Robert Mtshali, eight bronze, and eight Vic Clapham.

• Brakpan seëvier teen Springs
Brakpan het Saterdag in ‘n volgepakte Bosman Stadion vir Springs aangevat in ‘n Valke Peregrine Liga kragmeting en al drie wedstryde gewen.

Die positiewe telbord was die kersie op die koek vir ‘n baie suksesvolle dag tussen twee spanne wat al vir jare lank teen mekaar wedywer.

Die eerste span het in ‘n harde wedstryd, waar Springs nie vir een oomblik gaan lê het, gewen met 35-29. Brakpan se tweede span het ook te staan gekom teen ‘n goed voorbereide span van Springs en kon die knoop deurhaak met ‘n wen van 28-24.

Springs se o21’s was nie opgewasse teen hul opponent nie en Brakpan het gemaklik met 87-0 gewen.

• Boksers gaan streek verteenwoordig
Drie boksers, n’ afrigter en ‘n span bestuurder van die Brakpan Boksklub gaan van 18 tot 20 Julie in Pretoria die streek by die Gauteng Kampioenskappe verteenwoordig.

Jaco Visagie, een van die klub se afrigters en bestuurders, sal as spanbestuurder vir Ekurhuleni se kadet- en juniorspanne dien, terwyl Jackie Fourie, ook ‘n afrigter by die klub, die afrigtersrol sal vervul.

Die drie boksers is Donewin Martins en JP Visagie vir die juniorspan, en Talitha Roos vir die kadetspan.

• Dan Triangle Karate Club members show their mettle
Members of the Dan Triangle Karate Club participated in the Junior and Youth KWF South African Championships recently.

The karateka brough in a mix of medals, totalling 16. Senseis Chris and Christopher Anthony are proud of their fighters for bringing in the gold, silver and bronze medals.