SA's top five sport stories of 2015

23 December 2015 - 13:36 By Times LIVE
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The score board is seen as South Africa's players celebrate winning a Pool B match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup between South Africa and USA at the Olympic Stadium, east London, on October 7, 2015.
The score board is seen as South Africa's players celebrate winning a Pool B match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup between South Africa and USA at the Olympic Stadium, east London, on October 7, 2015.
Image: AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK

2015 is already almost over. We’ve seen arrests at FIFA over corruption and bribery claims, the rugby and cricket national teams failing to make the grade at their respective World Cup campaigns, and sprinter Wayde van Niekerk making history at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing.

Take a look at the top five stories Times LIVE covered over the course of the year 2015.

1. Banyana Banyana and Young Bafana qualify for Rio Olympic Games

 

Young Bafana beat Senegal 3-1 on penalties

The Young Bafana and the women's national team, Banyana Banyana, made history when they both qualified for the second time for the Rio Olympics Game.

The Young Bafana team, who last appeared at the 2000 Sydney Games under the stewardship of Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba, finished third in the Africa U23 Cup of Nations held in Senegal in December, beating the home nation on penalties to advance. Top three teams at the youth  tournament qualify for the Rio Games.

Banyana booked their flight to Rio as early as October after beating Equatorial Guinea in a two-legged match. It will be the second time the girls qualify for the Games after their 2012 appearance at the London Olympics.

2. Wayde van Niekerk wins gold in Beijing

South African sprinter Wayde van Niekerk made global headlines in August when he won the 400 metres at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing in a personal best time of 43.48 seconds.

 </p><p ="">The "Wayde Dreamer"  became the first athlete from Africa to run the 400m in under 44 seconds and fourth fastest in history over the distance.</p><p =""> </p><p =""><strong>3. Springboks crash out of Rugby World Cup 2015 at semi-final stage</strong></p><p ="">In arguably one of the biggest upsets ever in rugby history, the Boks made global headlines for all the wrong reasons as they opened their Rugby World Cup match with 34-32 defeat to lowly Japan.</p><p ="">The Boks picked themselves up and went on to win all their remaining pool matches.</p><p =""><iframe frameborder="0" height="239" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1KqWm87BkAM" width="425">junk

New Zealand beat South Africa in the semi-finals of the 2015 Rugby World Cup

 

Going to the Rugby World Cup as one of the favorites to lift the Webb Ellis trophy, the Boks were unfortunately unable to bring home their third World Cup as they were beaten by defending champions New Zealand in the semi finals.

4. Proteas fail again in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

For a second successive time, New Zealand sent the Proteas crashing out of the Cricket World Cup, this time a more nail-biting affair at Eden Park in March.

 

South Africa lose to New Zealand in the semi-finals of the 2015 Cricket World Cup

The Proteas headed to the World Cup in Australasia with high hopes, and probably more equipped than ever, to break their duck in world cricket's showpiece event.

It ended in heartbreak as South Africa succumbed by four wickets to New Zealand in the semi-final with just a single ball to spare.

5. FIFA's massive web of alleged corruption and bribery

World football was shaken in May when police raided a Zurich hotel on the eve of the FIFA congress and arrested seven officials, including two FIFA vice presidents, who were among 14 wanted by US prosecutors over $150 million bribery allegations, including claims of buying and selling votes for South Africa to get the 2010 World Cup.

Police raid a Zurich hotel on the eve of the FIFA congress and arrested seven officials, including two FIFA vice presidents

The South African FA “categorically” denied that $10 million that was paid to the World Cup legacy projects was a bribe in return for a vote.

Irregularities also surfaced around the awarding of the World Cup to Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022).

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