SportsClub takes a look at the six most essential and mouth-watering fixtures to keep an eye out for during the month of April.
FOOTBALL:
KAIZER CHIEFS VS MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
30 APRIL, SOWETO, JOHANNESBURG
Mamelodi Sundowns may be runaway leaders in the DStv Premiership, but Kaizer Chiefs are hoping to match them in the coming seasons and could get a statement win in this league clash at the FNB Stadium. It is always a big occasion when these two meet given their rich history and clashes over silverware in the past.
7 STAR TEAM: MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Mamelodi Sundowns are seeking an unprecedented seventh DStv Premiership title win in a row, and few would bet against them. Before they set out on their current hot streak, the record for successive title wins was three. They are the undisputed kings of local football.
OTHER GAMES TO WATCH THIS MONTH
3 Apr, 19:30 – Moroka Swallows vs Orlando Pirates, Dobsonville Stadium
6 Apr, 20:00 – Cape Town Spurs vs Mamelodi Sundowns, Athlone Stadium
27 Apr, 17:00 – Kaizer Chiefs vs SuperSport United, Peter Mokaba Stadium
MANCHESTER UNITED VS LIVERPOOL
6 APRIL, OLD TRAFFORD, MANCHESTER
Liverpool are gunning for the title in Jürgen Klopp’s final season in charge and will hope for three points in this clash with bitter North West rivals Manchester United. Erik ten Hag’s side do blow hot and cold but can be a match for anyone on the day. They would enjoy nothing more than to put a dent in The Reds’ chances as Liverpool look to equal United’s record of 20 English league titles.
16 STAR PLAYER: MO SALAH
Mo Salah has so often been the scourge of Manchester United in the past and has 16 goal contributions against them in 13 previous matches. He has netted 12 times himself and added four assists. Those contributions have all come in his eight most recent games against the Red Devils dating back to 2020. So, it is really an average of two per game in that time, an incredible record.
OTHER GAMES TO WATCH THIS MONTH
3 Apr, 20:45 – Chelsea vs Manchester United, Stamford Bridge
20 Apr, 16:00 – Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City, Tottenham Stadium
27 Apr, 16:00 – Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal, Tottenham Stadium
RUGBY:
STORMERS VS LA ROCHELLE
6 APRIL, CAPE TOWN STADIUM
Champions La Rochelle come to the Mother City for their European Rugby Champions Cup last-16 clash having already lost at Cape Town Stadium in the pool stage this season. The weird format of the competition means you can meet a team from your pool in the first knockout round and the Stormers will be hoping for a repeat performance of their last-gasp 21–20 victory in December.
3 STAR TEAM: LA ROCHELLE
The French Top 14 side have appeared in the final of the Champions Cup for the past three seasons in a row, an incredible achievement. They lost to compatriots Toulouse in 2021 before beating Irish side Leinster in both 2022 and 2023. It has been sweet for their Irish coach Ronan O’Gara, who was a stalwart with Leinster’s bitter rivals Munster in his playing days.
OTHER GAMES TO WATCH THIS MONTH
6 Apr, 13:30 – Bulls vs Lyon, Pretoria
6 Apr, 21:00 – Leinster vs Leicester Tigers, Dublin
7 Apr, 16:00 – Toulouse vs Racing 92, Toulouse
SHARKS VS ZEBRE
7 APRIL, KING’S PARK, DURBAN
It has been a rocky old season for the Sharks, but they have found their feet in the European Rugby Challenge Cup having topped the log in their pool, which has set up a last-16 clash with Italian side Zebre. This should be a routine win for a side likely to be brimming with Springbok players and eager to stamp their authority on this competition.
1 STAR PLAYER: LUKHANYO AM
The Sharks centre is fit again and looking to work his way back into the Springbok side this season having not played a minute in their Rugby World Cup triumph last year because of injury. The 30-year-old has 35 caps and had been an automatic pick, but with young guns like Canan Moodie around, he is perhaps not so sure of his place anymore.
OTHER GAMES TO WATCH THIS MONTH
6 Apr, 13:30 – Clermont vs Cheetahs, Dublin
6 Apr, 18:30 – Benetton vs Lions, Clermont-Ferrand
7 Apr, 13:30 – Montpellier vs Ulster, Montpellier
CRICKET:
FIRST ODI VS SRI LANKA
9 APRIL, BUFFALO PARK, EAST LONDON
The South African women’s side showed just how much they have grown with their first ever wins over Australia in both the One-Day International and Twenty20 formats on their recent trip Down Under. They may have lost a lot of experience in recent times but have an excellent crop of young players coming through. They meet Sri Lanka at home and will hope to build on that excellent tour of Australia.
2 STAR PLAYER: MARIZANNE KAPP
In many people’s eyes the best all-rounder in world cricket, Kapp has been a stalwart for South Africa across all formats since she made her debut in 2009. It is hard to say whether she is better with bat or ball as she excels with both, but she has two hundreds in ODIs – 102 not out against Pakistan in 2013 and 100 against the same opponents a decade on in 2023. She will believe she can make it number three against Sri Lanka.
SOUTH AFRICA VS SRI LANKA, WOMEN
3 Apr, 18:00 – Third T20, East London
9 Apr, 10:00 – First ODI, East London
13 Apr, 10:00 – Second ODI, Kimberley
17 Apr, 10:00 – Third ODI, Potchefstroom
GOLF:
US MASTERS
11–14 APRIL, AUGUSTA NATIONAL GC, GEORGIA, USA
The best players in the world head to the famed Augusta National course in a bid to win the green jacket for this year and write their names into the history books. The 2011 champion Charl Schwartzel is expected to be there, as is Erik van Rooyen, along with Christo Lamprecht as winner of the 2023 Amateur Championship.
5 STAR PLAYER: TIGER WOODS
Woods is a five-time champion of the US Masters, claiming the first of his titles in 1997 and the most recent in 2019. He has had plenty of ups and downs in the past few years but is expected to be back to compete in 2024. He is chasing Jack Nicklaus’ record of six championship titles.
Photos by Sydney Mahlangu/Gerhard Duraan/Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Photos by ADAM VAUGHAN /ETIENNE LAURENT/DAN HIMBRECHTS/EPA
Photos by Dave Winter/INPHO/Shutterstock
