Big Vic: Tony won’t take any Bok secrets

Victor Matfield is unfazed by the prospect of attack coach Tony Brown taking Springbok intellectual property back to New Zealand after the 2027 World Cup.

NZ Rugby announced on Monday that Brown had signed a two-year contract to be part of the All Blacks coaching set-up from 2028. freshyourfeel.com

Speaking on the Rivals podcast, Matfield insisted that Brown’s departure should not be viewed as a concern.

“One thing I do like about Rassie [Erasmus] is his open communication,” the former Bok lock said. “Before the last World Cup, we knew Jacques Nienaber and Felix Jones were going to leave almost a year before the tournament, and they still did a fantastic job.”

KIRWAN: Brown will bring Springbok IP with him

Matfield also recalled a similar challenge during his playing days when former Bok forwards coach Gert Smal joined Ireland.

“He worked with me for hours on lineouts, so it was difficult because he knew exactly how I thought about the game,” he said.

“But it works both ways. Tony is sharing everything with the Boks now, and when he goes there, we’ll also know how he thinks and what he wants from an attack.”

BEAVER: Tony coup the ultimate ‘power play’

Matfield also dismissed concerns that Brown would expose South Africa’s secrets to their fiercest rivals.

“I think everyone knows what the DNA of the Springboks is,” he said. “We want to dominate set-piece, dominate territory, and the kicking game and aerial battle are hugely important to us. Then we’ve got X-factor players who can hurt you from anywhere.

“I think most teams know exactly what we do and how we do it.”

POLL: Should Brown stay or go now?

Matfield said the Boks would look to tap into all of Brown’s knowledge and experience in a bid to land a hat-trick of World Cup titles, which would lead to an “even bigger rivalry” between the two countries.

“Let’s just win our third World Cup, and then you can have him, because then we need some competition,” Matfield quipped.

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images

The post Big Vic: Tony won’t take any Bok secrets appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Kaizer Chiefs are expected to remain active in the transfer market as they continue rebuilding a squad capable of challenging for trophies on a consistent basis.

While Bradley Cross showed signs of becoming the club’s first-choice left-back, there is still a strong argument for adding further competition in the position.

KAIZER CHIEFS LEFT-BACKS

Paseka Mako and Nkanyiso Shinga both struggled with injuries during the campaign, leaving Amakhosi heavily reliant on Cross for large parts of the season. As a result, the club may look to strengthen the department before the new season begins.

If Amakhosi want a player who combines top-flight experience, international recognition and room for further growth, then Sekhukhune United’s Vuyo Letlapa deserves serious consideration.

Also read – Scouting for Kaizer Chiefs: Left-backs to sign – Part 1

Unlike some of the more established names available in the market, Letlapa’s rise has been remarkably rapid.

Born in Rooiboglagte village in Acornhoek, Mpumalanga, the 22-year-old started his football journey at local amateur side Real Rangers FC while attending Lekete Secondary School.

His performances earned him a move to Jomo Cosmos in the ABC Motsepe League, where he quickly established himself as one of the club’s standout young prospects.

That form attracted interest from Sekhukhune United, who offered him the opportunity to make the jump into professional football.

The transition proved seamless. Despite arriving with little top-flight experience, Letlapa quickly cemented his place in the starting lineup. He became one of Babina Noko’s most reliable performers.

BETWAY PREMIERSHIP EXPERIENCE AT A YOUNG AGE

His development did not go unnoticed at national level either.

Just months after establishing himself in the Premiership, Hugo Broos handed the young defender a senior Bafana Bafana call-up as a replacement for Aubrey Modiba ahead of crucial FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin.

That achievement underlined just how highly Letlapa is rated within South African football circles.

CONSISTENCY, DURABILITY AND ROOM TO GROW

During the 2025-26 Betway Premiership campaign, Letlapa made 29 league appearances and accumulated 2,371 minutes of action.

He contributed one assist, collected only three yellow cards and recorded an average FotMob rating of 6.97 across the season.

While those attacking numbers may not immediately jump off the page, Letlapa’s greatest strengths lie in his consistency and reliability.

The defender rarely missed matches and regularly delivered solid performances against some of the league’s strongest opposition.

His standout displays included a highly-rated 7.7 performance in a 3-1 victory over Chippa United, while he also produced one of the defining moments of his season in the Nedbank Cup by scoring the winning goal against the University of Pretoria.

His endurance was further highlighted when he completed a demanding 120-minute cup encounter against Milford FC.

At 22 years old, Letlapa remains several years away from his peak. He already possesses Premiership experience, international recognition and a reputation as one of the country’s most promising young defenders.

With reported European interest emerging last season, Amakhosi may need to act sooner rather than later if they wish to bring him to Naturena.

SHOULD KAIZER CHIEFS MAKE THE MOVE?

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L’Algérie disputera son ultime répétition générale face à la Bolivie le 10 juin à 19h00 heure locale, soit le 11 juin à 01h00 du matin en Algérie.

Cette rencontre se déroulera dans des conditions particulières. Selon les informations disponibles, les autorités locales du Kansas ont décidé que le match serait joué à huis clos, et sans présence des médias présents sur place, pour des raisons de sécurité. La rencontre ne sera également pas retransmise à la télévision.

Ce duel constituera le dernier test tactique de Vladimir Petkovic avant l’entrée en lice des Verts au Mondial 2026, prévue le 17 juin face à l’Argentine.

Rappelons que la sélection algérienne a rejoint les États-Unis ce lundi pour poursuivre sa préparation. À leur arrivée, les joueurs ont été accueillis par plusieurs groupes de supporters venus leur témoigner leur soutien, dans une ambiance chaleureuse.

The post Algérie – Bolivie : les autorités de Kansas City imposent le huis clos pour le dernier test amical des Verts appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Iran et Irak, même combat. Selon les informations du Guardian, Aymen Hussein a été interrogé par les autorités à son arrivée à Chicago. Il aurait été retenu et questionné pendant près de sept heures après avoir atterri avec la délégation irakienne. Il aurait été confondu avec un autre ressortissant irakien par les autorités américaines. Plusieurs médias irakiens ont expliqué qu’il avait été traité « tel un terroriste ». Selon l’agence de presse Shafaq, «la délégation irakienne a tout tenté pour obtenir la libération du joueur, mais en vain».
Aymen Hussein n’est pas le seul Irakien à avoir vécu un calvaire à son arrivée en terre américaine. Talal Salah, le photographe officiel de la sélection ( notre photo), a, lui aussi, vécu un traitement particulier à sa sortie de l’avion. Il a été retenu douze heures avant de se voir refuser son entrée sur le territoire américain, alors que son visa et son accréditation lui ont été délivrés par la FIFA. Il a ensuite expliqué sur son compte Instagram « avoir quitté Chicago en direction de Madrid, avant une deuxième escale au Caire, en Égypte, puis un retour final à Bagdad ».
–YB

L’article CM : Un joueur et un photographe irakiens accrédités interdits aux États-Unis est apparu en premier sur Foot Afrique.