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“As a man, it’s kind of frowned upon to show mental weakness or a bit of softness,” he says after a ‘very special’ knock in Christchurch

Firdose Moonda25-Feb-20222:48

Sarel Erwee: ‘I was a phone call away from calling it quits’

Sarel Erwee was going to quit. It was the summer of 2019, he’d been playing cricket for a decade, was approaching his 30th birthday and thought his dreams of being an international cricketer were over. He had reason to. Erwee had gone almost two years and 30 innings without a first-class century and averaged 28.63. Even before that, his average across 75 matches hovered just above 35. He had just had enough.”I was a phone call away from calling it quits,” he said after becoming South Africa’s newest Test centurion in Christchurch.But then came an intervention. “I had huge support, when I sat down with my family, with my parents and they picked me up. I saw a sports psychologist and we worked through it daily. It was a hard slog to try and get motivated again, to give my best after wanting to give up,” he said. “All the years of hard work felt pointless and worthless at one stage.”Until they didn’t and the sessions Erwee went to worked.He went on to score two hundreds in two matches in early 2020 and to double his average to 54.80 in the last two years. He was selected for the South African squad to play Sri Lanka at home, then to tour Pakistan, West Indies and against India at home and, despite Aiden Markram’s waning form, didn’t get a game. It was only when Keegan Petersen contracted Covid-19 and was forced out of the visit to New Zealand and Markram was granted the concession of moving to one-drop, that Erwee got his opportunity and two Tests in, he has made the most of it.

“As a man, it’s kind of frowned upon to show mental weakness or a bit of softness. There’s a lot of work still to be done. I am in that process every day, every week, every month, where I am trying to better my mental wellbeing.”

He is the first South African opener to score a century in a year, since Markram in Pakistan. He shared the highest opening stand in 18 innings and helped the team score more runs on one day than they did in the entire first Test. His was an innings defined by the discerning leave – Erwee did not play at a third of the deliveries bowled to him – and the well-timed drive, and it was an innings that played out in front of his sister, Chantelle, who has not seen him for four years.Related

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Erwee “got a lump in my throat,” and wiped a tear from his eyes when he was asked what it was like to score a century alongside the batter he is likely to replace in the medium-term, Markram, and with a member of his family in the audience.”It was extremely special. They (Dean Elgar and Markram) are two good guys. They’ve taken me under their wing and helped me through this journey. It was lovely to be there with them and lovely to celebrate and get that hundred in front of my family. My sister lives here in New Zealand,” he said, as his voice cracked. “Sorry, I’ve got a lump in my throat here. She’s been through a tough time here, so it’s nice for her to have something to smile about.”Honest emotion, heightened by the global pandemic that has kept people away from each other for the last 24 months, is still rare in professional sport, especially among men. But Erwee has spent too long and worked too hard to hide his feelings. In the same week that a well-known South African rapper, Riky Rick, died by suicide, Erwee put mental health in front and at the center of the conversation and asked for it to be given more attention.Sarel Erwee struck his maiden international century•Getty Images”It’s a big thing and I don’t think we focus on it enough in South Africa, not just in cricket but in all sports,” Erwee said. “And in general life. As a man, it’s kind of frowned upon to show mental weakness or a bit of softness. There’s a lot of work still to be done. I am in that process every day, every week, every month, where I am trying to better my mental wellbeing. It’s a big part of my life and probably will be for a long time.”For someone in their second Test match, who has just achieved a century, to demonstrate the composure to discuss a topic so serious spoke about Erwee’s maturity, as a person and a player, and provides a reminder that Erwee is no overnight sensation. He is 32 and has done years in the often-overlooked-and-under-rated domestic game and maintained that it is a satisfactory training ground for the biggest stage.”You’ve got to get on with it at domestic cricket. You’ve got to prepare yourself. Whether it’s your first year or your sixth year, you’ve got to prepare yourself for international cricket if that’s what you want to do,” he said. “You’ve got to front up and show up every single day and make sure you get better. I am very fortunate that I had a year to settle into the squad and find my feet preparation-wise, and find out what it takes to do half decently or do well at this level. That’s just the help from team-mates. Preparation and fronting up is key.”Elgar also used the words “front up,” when he explained his decision to bat first – the only captain in 11 Tests to make that choice. On a pitch with less bounce than the first Test and strong winds making it difficult for the bowlers, his top three have so far proved him right but for Erwee, it’s not so much conditions as it is mindset that fueled South Africa’s performance. “We are here to win a Test match. We want to be one-all leaving the shores here. You’ve got to front up and that’s what we did today. We’ve got a goal in mind. If that means you have to bat first on a greenish wicket or a wicket that does something, so be it. That’s the nature of this game.”

While the Blue Jays missed out on designated hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani's services in free agency, they received quite the consolation prize: an American League pennant just two years later.

With Toronto basking in its league championship and looking forward to the World Series, the Blue Jays were able to laugh a bit about the saga Thursday ahead of Game 1 against Ohtani's Dodgers. Toronto manager John Schneider jokingly suggested Ohtani give back the souvenirs the Blue Jays tried to recruit him with, and Ohtani offered up a humorous response in return.

"It's in my garage," Ohtani chuckled to reporters via TSN, referring to a hat Toronto gifted him.

Speaking through an interpreter, Ohtani offered nothing but praise for the Blue Jays.

"I really had a wonderful time getting to know them as an entire organization, and the impression I got is like, they're very top class," Ohtani said. "Awesome people. And so the circumstance that we get to play against them, against that superb organization, is something I'm really looking forward to."

The future Hall of Famer has had little trouble with Toronto in the past; in 121 career at-bats against the Blue Jays, he's slashing .314/.435/.719 with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has defended Lamine Yamal following a difficult Champions League performance against Chelsea, while also challenging the teenage forward to "step up" and prove his quality. Flick acknowledged the difficulty of facing Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella, whom he described as "one of the best in the world," but insisted that Yamal needs to lead the team's recovery from their 3-0 defeat.

AFPFlick challenges Yamal after difficult Chelsea outing

Yamal endured a difficult night against Cucurella as Barca were overpowered at Stamford Bridge and ended up being substituted with 10 minutes left. The winger's reaction to his withdrawal sparked caught attention in the media, but Flick moved to defend the 18-year-old and stressed he expects better against Deportivo Alaves on Saturday.

"Lamine is fine and feels good. Many players aren't happy when we substitute them," he said at a press conference. "I was a player myself, and many times I didn't react as I should have. Cucurella is one of the best full-backs in the world; he's a very good player. But, for me, now it's Lamine's turn to step up and show that we need to forget the Chelsea game. This is when he has to show how good he is."

AdvertisementBarcelona seek reaction after 'tough' Champions League loss

Barcelona's 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge was a significant setback, with an own goal from Jules Kounde and strikes from Estevao and Liam Delap condemning them to a heavy loss. The result left them in 18th place in the Champions League group stage table with seven points from five matches, placing them in the play-off positions rather than the automatic qualification spots.

Flick admitted the defeat was "tough" and that the team was "feeling down," but he refused to solely blame the defence for the result. "When we lose and when we concede three goals, it's easy to say it wasn't a good match or that it wasn't the Barca we'd like to see. Ultimately, some people don't understand what we need to play with that high defensive line," he explained. "It's our own style; it's not just about the defenders. The forwards and midfielders also initiate the press. That's what I need from the players. The blame seems to fall on the defense, but that's not fair. If we don't all press effectively, we'll have problems, I want to make that clear."

Injury updates and squad news ahead of Alaves clash

Ahead of the league fixture against Alaves, Flick provided updates on several key players. He confirmed that Ronald Araujo will miss the match due to a stomach virus, adding to the defensive concerns after his red card against Chelsea.

Midfielder Fermin Lopez is also out after feeling discomfort following the match at Stamford Bridge. "The tackle from Athletic Club affected him, but he wasn't seriously injured. It was after the Chelsea game that he felt discomfort. There's no other explanation. This is football, and things like this happen. Sometimes it's related to new boots. Now they have a new color every month," Flick stated.

However, there was positive news regarding Pedri, who is expected to feature as a substitute in the second half as he continues his return to full fitness. Flick also mentioned that Marc Bernal, returning from injury, will get playing time, and Andreas Christensen could be an option in midfield, where he has been trialled alongside Eric Garcia.

Raphinha, who Flick described as "one of the most focused players on the team," is also keen to make an impact after the coach admitted he had missed the Brazilian's influence.

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gettyWhat next for Barcelona?

Barcelona face Alaves at Camp Nou in La Liga on Saturday. Flick stressed the importance of securing three points to maintain their lead at the top of the table. "Our goal tomorrow is the three points. Anything else is secondary," he said. Following the domestic fixture, Barcelona will look to improve their Champions League standing in their remaining group matches to secure a more favourable position for the knockout stages.

Former two-time American League MVP Miguel Cabrera is playing professional baseball again, but not in MLB.

Cabrera, 42, will be playing for the Tigres de Aragua in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League this winter in the 2025-26 season, the club on Friday announced in a post on X.

"As part of the organization’s 60th anniversary, we are filled with great excitement to officially announce the addition of Miguel Cabrera to the team’s active roster," the club said as part of a statement.

It's not exactly clear if Cabrera, who now acts as a special assistant to Tigers president Scott Harris, is eyeing a more permanent return to pro baseball or is simply scratching an itch. He expressed in an interview back in July of 2024 that he misses the game.

"I miss it a lot," Cabrera said. "Sometimes I think a lot about not playing baseball anymore, but I also understand that my era is over. I understand that life goes on and you have to accept new challenges."

In addition to his duties as a special assistant for the Tigers, Cabrera is also set to serve as the hitting coach for Team Venezuela at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Cabrera retired from MLB in 2023, his final campaign, after 21 seasons in the big leagues. One of the best young prospects in the history of MLB, Cabrera made his big league debut with the Miami Marlins at the age of 20 back in 2003. Over the course of his decorated career with the Marlins and Detroit Tigers, Cabrera won one World Series, was named to 12 All-Star teams, won two AL MVPs and a Triple Crown, belted 511 career home runs and collected 3,174 career hits.

Former Paris Saint-Germain striker Pedro Miguel Pauleta has labelled Vitinha a "phenomenon," comparing the midfielder to Barcelona's Pedri and the legendary Andres Iniesta. The praise comes after the Portuguese star scored in PSG's 7-2 Champions League demolition of Bayer Leverkusen, with Pauleta hailing his compatriot's technique and positioning.

Pauleta hails 'Iniesta-like' phenomenon

The comprehensive victory at the BayArena on Tuesday saw PSG maintain their perfect start to the new Champions League league phase. Vitinha capped off the dominant display by scoring the seventh goal in the 90th minute, adding to a scoresheet that included an own goal from Willian Pacho, a brace from Desire Doue, and strikes from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes and Ousmane Dembele.

Ex-Portugal international Pauleta, who scored 109 goals for the Parisian club during his career, was unequivocal in his admiration for the midfielder and his development under Luis Enrique.

"It's a huge pleasure to watch players of this quality," Pauleta said on . "Is he the best midfielder in the world? He's at a huge level, like Pedri at Barca. They remind me of Iniesta. Vitinha, he doesn't lose the ball, he's always well positioned. He knows how to do everything with the ball. He doesn't make a mistake and doesn't miss a pass. He has the confidence of his club. He's a phenomenon."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportLeverkusen rout cements PSG's European dominance

Pauleta's comments were triggered by Vitinha's commanding performance against Bayer Leverkusen, a match that cemented PSG's control of their Champions League destiny. The 7-2 victory was a statistical mismatch, with PSG registering eight shots on target from 22 total attempts and commanding 67 per cent of the possession away from home.

The German side, who managed only two goals from Aleix García penalties, were reduced to 10 men after Robert Andrich's red card and could not cope with the relentless Parisian attack. The win gives PSG nine points from three matches, placing them firmly at the top of the 36-team table. They are one of only five teams, alongside Bayern Munich, Inter, Arsenal, and Real Madrid, to maintain a 100% winning record at this stage of the new format.

Vitinha's growing influence this season

The 25-year-old has been central to PSG's strong start to the 2025-26 campaign. In the Champions League, he has started all three fixtures, contributing one goal and one assist over 270 minutes of play.

His domestic form has been equally impressive. In seven Ligue 1 appearances, Vitinha has already scored one goal and provided three assists, helping his side remain unbeaten. His versatility across defensive, central, and attacking midfield roles has made him indispensable to Luis Enrique's tactical setup. The confidence mentioned by Pauleta is evident in his play, as he has become a primary link between the defence and the club's formidable attack.

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Praise for Mendes and Neves

Vitinha was not the only Portuguese player to draw praise from Pauleta. The 52-year-old also highlighted the exceptional technical ability of wing-back Nuno Mendes, who also found the scoresheet in the 50th minute.

"Nuno Mendes? It's not normal for a defender to have this technique!" Pauleta said. He also singled out 21-year-old midfielder Joao Neves for his maturity: "Joao Neves, given his age, it's not normal either to have such quality, such confidence. He's a treat. It's good for Portugal and for PSG!"

While his compatriots flourished, striker Goncalo Ramos has had a challenging start to the season, finding opportunities limited. Pauleta offered a lenient perspective on the forward's situation, attributing his struggles to a mismatch in tactical systems. "He's a striker who stays in the box. And that's not how PSG plays," Pauleta explained. "But every minute he plays, he takes advantage of it to help the team."

Lauren Hemp has spoken about a surprising and amusing routine she does before games, fake tanning in the buildup to be freshly bronzed out on the pitch. Speaking to ex-England internationals Karen Carney and Jill Scott, the Lionesses winger joked that she can't always be bothered do it properly and the Manchester City star laughed it off as 'a ritual of mine'.

Hemp's surprising pre-match tanning routine

During a lighthearted appearance on the podcast, Hemp shared her quirky tanning habit before matches. She explained that she often only tans her quads, leaving her calves – usually covered by socks – untouched, which has led to some amusing looks in the past. Both Carney and Scott teased her, but Hemp stood by the routine as something she always does.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesHemp shares the details behind her 'tan'

Explaining her approach, Hemp revealed: "Oh, I can't be bothered to do, like, my whole body. I just do, like, half and half. If I forgot, then I'll just do quads. I fake tan before every game? I just think, 'I'll do the bit people can see,' and then I leave the rest."

She went on to add with a smile: "That [tanning] is a ritual of mine. I can't really think of many other things I have. It's funny really, because you'd expect me to be talking about football preparation, but this is actually one of my matchday habits."

Hemp currently out injured for Man City

Hemp's jovial admission comes amid injury concerns at Manchester City. The winger was forced off in the first half against Tottenham with an ankle problem, leaving in a protective boot. Head coach Andree Jeglertz confirmed that she will likely miss the clash with the London City Lionesses, as she did in the Women's League Cup against Everton on Wednesday.

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Getty Images SportMan City continue to focus on WSL campaign

Manchester City will be monitoring Hemp's recovery closely as they continue their Women's Super League campaign against the ambitious London City Lionesses. The club will hope the injury is not as serious as last season's knee issue, which sidelined her for over five months. Supporters will be eager to see her return soon – tan ritual and all.