THE past week has provided sport fans from around the world with many breathtaking moments. In football the Premier League in England is shaping up to be as exciting as it was last year with all the major teams in with a shout to make a pitch for the title.

Manchester United fans will take lots of hope into the next couple of weeks with the consistent performances of their team over the past couple of games and because of the draw of Chelsea on Sunday against the Reds of Liverpool. We will have to wait and see but we will surely be entertained by some some mouthwatering matches in the coming weeks.

In South Africa we are witnessing the two greats - Pirates and Chiefs - battling it out with only four points separating them. League newcomers AmaTuks have also proven that they are a force to be reckoned with.

The Soweto derby scheduled for December 8 will be a titanic battle not only for the top spot but also bragging rights, as is typically the case with these matches. We look forward to enthralling football on the local scene.

The Spar Proteas Netball team has just returned from a successful campaign at the Fast 5 World Championship in New Zealand. Amantombazana, as they are affectionately known, are ranked sixth in the world and surprised other competing netball powerhouses by beating teams such as New Zealand and Jamaica to claim the bronze medal. The performances by Amantombazana are certainly among the best in international competitions in recent times and have proved that with some incentive we can be a top netball nation. The forthcoming Netball Professional League will serve as a platform to further enhance and develop our ability as a netball powerhouse.

Congratulations to captain Simnikiwe Mdaka and her team for making us proud as a nation and promoting South Africa.

Let me also, on behalf of all South Africans, extend our congratulations to the Banyana Banyana team and management on reaching the final of the African Women's Football Championship. Although they did not win the Championship, Banyana have proven that they are an ever-improving team who have shown enormous progress over the last year. The participation of Banyana at the London Olympics, which was their first international tournament, has been a valuable experience and laid the basis for them in this tournament.

Their historic victory over eight-time champions Nigeria in the semifinal has been a highlight of the tournament and has sent a clear message that they are a force to be reckoned with in Africa.

Last week I read a newspaper article questioning why the Banyana Banyana coach received the Coach of the Year award. The performance of his team surely answers that question.

I want to congratulate Safa and the team under the astute leadership of Joseph Mkhonza for a tireless campaign at these championships and express my hope that we will work together to ensure that our girls go from strength to strength.

Developing women's football is an integral component of our strategy to empower young women and thereby our nation.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased footballers of Polokwane City FC. To the injured I wish you a speedy recovery.

• Mbalula is minister of sport and recreation