A disappointed Junior Springbok head coach Bafana Nhleko bemoaned his team’s error-rate and not keeping the pressure up in their heart-breaking defeat against Australia in the second round of the U20 Rugby Championship on Tuesday.

The match was yet again played at a wet Sunshine Coast Stadium, where the Junior Boks showed great fighting spirit until the final whistle despite a red card in the first half, and a yellow card towards the end of the encounter.

Australia led 10-7 at the break, but the Junior Boks took a 14-10 lead, only to see the hosts score shortly thereafter to retake the lead. Australia won by 24-19 (https://apo-opa.co/4dyvKGD) but despite their numerical disadvantage, the South Africans stayed in the fight, with a combination of unforced errors and ill-discipline costly in the end.

“The disappointing thing is that we actually managed to build pressure at times, but then consistently released that pressure,” said Nhleko.

“As JF (van Heerden, captain) said, we played against ourselves but fair credit to Australia for capitalising on our errors and their set piece ascendancy.

“It was frustrating that we managed to get ourselves into the right areas of the field, but we let ourselves down with our execution. We don’t want it to be a recurring theme, so we need to get it right.”

A red card for Junior Bok prop Mbasa Maqubela in the 20th minute for charging into a ruck didn’t assist their cause, while Bathobele Hlekani was yellow carded for infringing a rolling maul, which also resulted in a penalty try for the Aussies.

“Australia took their opportunities and deserved to win, but the cards had the effect that our pack played for approximately 30 minutes with seven players, which obviously hurt us by sapping our energy,” said Nhleko.

“We will have a good review, and as much as we are disappointed with tonight’s outcome, I do believe the players have the skill and ability compared to what we saw today. We have to find the character to show it against Argentina. Today was a tough experience, but we will pick ourselves up and prepare for Argentina.”

The SA U20’s next play Argentina in their final fixture on Sunday morning (SA time) before returning home the next day. New Zealand, who recorded a bonus-point victory over the Pumitas earlier on Tuesday to move to the top of the log, play Australia in the final match of the tournament.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Rugby.

Tea farmers will earn more from the crop following a pact between Kenya and Liptons Teas and Infusions and Brown Investments.

Under the new plan, the two firms will position Kenya’s Tea as a premium product to the global stage.

The collaboration will see these entities partner with the local communities to enhance the capacity of the sector.

It will include the setting up of a Community Endowment Trust Fund with an initial investment of Sh1 billion in community projects.

Liptons is already setting up the Lipton’s Tea Academy that will see the training of farmers on the global best practice to achieve maximum value on their crop.

The two entities will also set up a state-of-the-art tea-specific fertilisers plant.

President William Ruto said Kenyan tea will continue attracting world attention due to its top quality.

He spoke on Tuesday at State House in Nairobi.

Present in the meeting were Sri Lanka High Commissioner Veluppillai Kananathan, among other leaders.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of President of the Republic of Kenya.

There are three changes to the Lionesses starting line up  for Wednesday’s Rugby Africa Women’s Cup clash against South Africa at the Stade Makis in Antananarivo.

Faith Livoi is moved from the second row to the backline, starting at inside center as part of a midfield partnership with Esther Juma as Lewin Amazimbi does not feature in the match day squad.

Hesla Khisa, who came off the bench during Saturday’s 29-22 defeat to Madagascar, starts in the second row alongside Naomi Jelagat in a rejigged pack that sees Enid Ouma move from the blindside to number eight.  Mitchelle Akinyi is also handed a start in the backrow after coming on as a replacement on Saturday.

Diana Kemunto, a starter in the previous match, will come off the bench while Nolin Khaleyi and Hellen Anyango could make their first starts of the tournament after being named among the replacements.
This match kicks off at 1300 EAT and will be aired live on the Rugby Africa Facebook page.

Lionesses squad to face South Africa
15. Diana Omosso, 14. Diana Awino, 13. Esther Juma, 12. Faith Livoi, 11. Terry Ayesa, 10. Anne Ochieng, 9. Winnie Awino, 1. Rose Otieno, 2. Knight Otuoma, 3. Natasha Emali (C ), 4. Naomi Jelagat, 5. Hesla Khisa, 6. Mitchelle Akinyi, 7. Maureen Chebet, 8. Enid Ouma REPLACEMENTS 16. Mitchelle Atieno, 17. Jane Chanya, 18. Sheilah Wesa, 19. Nolin Khaleyi, 20. Diana Kemunto, 21. Mitchelle Alivitsa, 22. Hellen Anyango, 23. Carol Nyamwamu

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kenya Rugby Union (KRU).

Media Contact:
KRU Communications
Tel: +254 724 256 179
Email: media@kru.co.ke

Africa + Rain Cage Ltd (A+RC), a subsidiary of Rain Cage Carbon Inc. (RCC), announces the world’s first renewable energy contract created from an entirely new power source – Advanced Carbon. Put together by pan-African advisory firm CLG (formerly Centurion Law Group) (https://CLGGlobal.com/), the agreement with Sapele Power PLC (SPP) aims to decarbonize its Nigerian power plant and provide 1,000 MW of renewable electricity.

RCC is a global cleantech firm which has developed a CO2 capture technology (The EDEN™ System) that removes many pollutants – including CO2 – from industrial emission streams. Rather than sequestering the compressed CO2 as is done in existing CCUS technologies, the captured CO2 is converted and refined into a proprietary Advanced Carbon.

This carbon is both graphitic and cathodic, meaning that electricity can be generated directly from it. Emissions captured from industrial sites – power plants, factories etc. – are harvested, converted into clean carbon, and used to generate 100% green power – an excellent example of circular economics.

The carbon forms the backbone of RCC’s DC Knight’s Charge™ generator, a continuous power generator that, unlike battery storage systems, needs no charging. It can be located in regions with limited or no grid connectivity, making it ideal for micro-grid deployments. Alternatively, it can provide clean power onto power grids around the world to support greener energy mix strategies from power plants.

“We are witnessing the birth of a new type of renewable energy, previously unavailable to the world” says Dwayne Dreger, the Global Managing Partner of RCC and Executive Chairman of A+RC. “Unlike solar and wind, the ‘always available’ nature of the Knight’s Charge DC units makes them a clean, reliable energy source for energy installations of all sizes. By converting fossil fuel emissions into renewable power, we may at last have discovered the key to energy transition by both reducing CO2 emissions and increasing available renewable power.”

Mrs. Heather Onoh, the Group Managing Director for SPP, emphasizes that this collaboration aligns with SPP’s fundamental values of providing power to Nigeria while embracing innovation and minimizing environmental impact. Through this strategic partnership, the advancement of the country will be fostered by providing dependable electricity to businesses and industries of various sizes and across all regions, enabling them to operate with optimal efficiency and effectiveness.

President and CEO of A+RC, Tony Agbonkhese, shares his excitement about the strategic collaboration with Sapele Power PLC: “Not only can our technology generate a steady supply of electricity but can also reach customers in remote areas where power access was once unattainable, helping reduce energy poverty in Africa. This achievement will help facilitate the continued industrialization of the continent while simultaneously mitigating its adverse effects on the climate. This is crucial as we strive to strike a balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability.”

The project planning phase is set to commence in 2024, with the deployment scheduled to begin in 2025. The implementation will be carried out in two phases, with each having a capacity of 500 MW. The potential for expansion exists beyond the initial capacity of 1,000 MW, demonstrating Sapele’s readiness to adapt and grow in response to market demands, opportunities, and impact on the climate.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of CLG.

About Sapele Power PLC:
Sapele Power Plc (SPP) is a leading Nigerian integrated energy company specializing in power generation. SPP operates Nigeria’s second largest power plant by installed capacity of 1020MW; capable of meeting the energy needs of around 750,000 households at full capacity. With a strong focus on sustainable generation, SPP is continuously seeking to expand its generation network, as well as creating efficiencies and minimizing its environmental impact.

About Rain Cage Carbon:
Rain Cage Carbon (RCC) Inc. is at the forefront of decarbonization technology, dedicated to transforming CO2 and other emissions into valuable Advanced Carbon through its proprietary EDEN™ System, and renewable energy technologies. This innovative approach not only mitigates harmful emissions but also converts them into a resource with extensive applications in various industries, marking a significant step towards a sustainable and profitable environmental stewardship. Contact us: info@raincage.com

About Africa + Rain Cage:
Africa + Rain Cage (A+RC) Ltd, the Africa subsidiary of RCC, has a primary objective of forging partnerships with industries and government entities to establish impactful strategies for decarbonization. Our mission is to extend the presence of RCC’s groundbreaking technologies across the vast expanse of the African continent. Through close collaboration with diverse sectors, we aim to spearhead substantial progress in carbon emissions reduction and pave the way for a sustainable future for Africa. Contact us: info@africaplusraincage.com

About CLG:
CLG is one of the leading advisory firms in Africa. Headquartered in Johannesburg South Africa and with presence in 54 African Countries, CLG (formerly Centurion Law Group) is listed on the Dusseldorf Stock Exchange in Germany. The firm is at the forefront of superintending collaboration between foreign investors and stakeholders in key sectors of the African Economy. Contact us: info@clgglobal.com