Festive Sport

As a follow-up to his hugely popular 2016 autobiography Trailblazer; Ryan Sandes’ new book explores the gripping and often life-threatening adventures this extraordinary ultra-trail runner has experienced around the globe since then. Not only have these projects tested the very edge of human endurance; but on several occasions; Ryan literally had to run for his life. Along with a 1 500-kilometre Himalayan adventure; read about his attempt at completing the first 700-kilometre solo run up Namibia’s legendary Skeleton Coast – only to stumble upon some very angry Namibian soldiers conducting illegal and; possibly; government-sponsored seal clubbing. And; with his running partner Ryno Griessel; becoming the first people to run the entire circumference of Lesotho; during which they find themselves fighting off an attack from local herdsman armed with rocks and clubs. In between these adventures; Ryan battles to balance a challenging career with a dedicated commitment to his young family. Risk. Run. Reward. is packed with adventure; humour and some fascinating insights into the psyche of an ultra-endurance athlete. Trust me; these people are not like you and me …

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Delve inside the mind of the greatest tennis player of all time. No man or woman has won more Grand Slam singles titles than Novak Djokovic, who took his 24th major at the 2023 US Open. Based on fresh interviews with people close to Djokovic - including his friends and mentors, along with his former coaches and his rivals - this is an in-depth exploration of the psyche of one of the most fascinating and controversial sporting characters ever. From a bomb shelter in Belgrade to an immigration detention centre in Melbourne, and everywhere in between, this book uncovers his relentless pursuit of perfection and the unconventional beliefs that have propelled him to greatness. Rage. Forgiveness. Shame. Pride. Love. Searching for Novak examines the psychological and emotional side of rewriting tennis history.

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You only need to win a game by one point.’ – Jacques Nienaber after South Africa’s tournament opener against Scotland in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Little did the coach know that it would take three one-point games to propel the Springboks into the history books as back-to-back winners of the Webb Ellis Cup. In 2017 the Boks looked punch-drunk as Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus watched them being overpowered by Ireland. The following year, the coaching duo took up the reins little more than 18 months before the 2019 RWC in Japan. And so began a journey that was to end in victory in the Stade de France six years later. Twice the Glory goes deep inside the Bok story of that historic era. Filled with drama, cheers and tears, it will have you on the edge of your seat as you relive each nail-biting moment. It’s all here: the Covid disruption, Siya Kolisi’s rise to the captaincy, Rassie in hot water over that video, injury blows and the emergence of new talent as they head off to France. The book also includes penetrating analysis and insights from the self-effacing Nienaber into how this team became the finest the world has seen. A recurring theme is the friendship between Jacques and Rassie that goes all the way back to their university days, and why they decided to come home to South Africa to ‘turn things around’.

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