Team SA kicked off their search for gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games with the soccer team losing 1-0 to hosts Japan yesterday.
Coach David Notoane’s Covid-hit side played on the back foot in the Tokyo National Stadium.
Their defence was finally breached by Takefusa Kubo with 20 minutes to go. SA now face bottom Group A side France on Sunday 10am, after Les Bleus lost 4-1 to Mexico.
With the opening ceremony taking place today, South Africa also have hockey, rowing and water polo action this weekend before the Rugby Sevens team take the field at 4am on Monday morning.
Tomorrow, the rowing pairs team of Luc Daffarn and Jake Green get their oars wet in the first heat of the competition at 3.20am and the Fours quartet of Lawrence Brittain, Kyle Schoonbee, John Smith, Sandro Torrente compete at 5.10am.
Staying with aquatics action, the women’s water polo team face off with Group A rivals Spain at 11.20am in the preliminary round.
On the hockey field, both the men’s (v Great Britain at 11.30am) and women’s (v Ireland at 2.15pm) teams are in action.
Then on Sunday, the men’s water polo team meet Italy in the Group A prelims at 3am before the men’s hockey side cross sticks with the Netherlands at 2.15pm.