The festive season is a time for celebrations, and sports people in Cape Town have a lot to celebrate. Yes, the Covid-19 pandemic or the “new normal”, as many experts describe it, is still well with us. Disrupting our lives, changing the ways we do things and leaving a lot of uncertainty about the future.

Just in December, Kaizer Chiefs could not honour their Premier Soccer League fixture at home against Cape Town City, Tshwane South could not travel down to Cape Town to defend their senior Spar National Women’s National Championships title, and many tournaments were called off – all these were due to the devastating pandemic.

But there is so much to be grateful for. Despite the pandemic, almost all the amateur sporting codes in Cape Town and elsewhere found new ways to live with the “new normal” as they continued doing what they love the most – to play their sports. That is why in this edition we salute the individual athletes, clubs and federations who have completed their competitions and seasons despite the real threat of Covid-19.

Among the many highlights of sport in the Mother City last year was Cape Town Tigers’ amazing success in the local, national and regional basketball sector (page 10) to put themselves on the verge of qualifying for the Basketball Africa League. And it would be the first time for South Africa to have a rep in that prestigious league.

In the local front, Vasco da Gama dominating women football (page 7) and Clarewood JPM FC bringing a fresh and interesting approach to sport (page 34), and Xolisa Mtiki using sport and education to empower the youth (page 23) are developments that call for celebration. So as the life stories of legendary hockey player Rory Townsend (page 14), football referee Sisonke Holideyi (page 16) and Liyema Waqu (page 32). The list is endless.

Welcome to another blockbuster Cape At 6 Sport edition! And we wish all our readers and partners a prosperous 2022.