'n Pad na Oekraïne
Channel: kykNET (DStv 144)
TX Time: 20h00
Genre: Documentary, Afrikaans
Just before a year after the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, a team of volunteers and members of the media decided to drive from the Netherlands to Poland.
There, they intended to cross the border and visit Ukraine to deliver much-needed medical supplies, generators for hospitals, and some treats for a children's home.
This mission resulted in a documentary, 'n Pad na Oekraïne (A Road to Ukraine), which follows the documentary 'n Bus na Oekraïne (A Bus to Ukraine).
In 'n Pad na Oekraïne, Martelize Brink and Johan Oldenburg are not only accompanied on their journey by a camera crew, but they also visit the women whose lives have been devastated by the war and who have been transported from Poland to the Netherlands.
Over the past year, Johan has taken care of their needs and helped them integrate in the Netherlands.
After the making of 'n Bus na Oekraïne, Johan became friends with Jack Parow and Loki Rothman, who released an anti-war song.
Helmut Meijer, who was responsible for the soundtrack, sent music to Jack so he could start writing lyrics.
Jack then reached out to Loki, and they collaborated on the song, sang the choir section together and helped produce it.
The result was the protest song Wit Vlag (White Flag).
RSG radio presenter Martelize Brink was in the media team that travelled along.
During the visit to Ukraine, the team also wanted to find out how the husbands and fathers were doing of the women and children who had fled to the Netherlands – husbands and fathers who had to stay behind to fight in the war.
Angel City
Channel: M-Net (DStv 101)
TX Time: 17h50
Genre: Documentary Series, Sport
Angel City is a docuseries that goes behind the scenes and onto the pitch of the Los Angeles-based professional women's soccer team, Angel City Football Club (ACFC).
Founded in September 2020 by actor Natalie Portman, venture capitalist Kara Nortman and gaming entrepreneur Julie Uhrman, ACFC breaks the mold by being the largest majority female ownership group in professional sports and includes 14 former US Women's National Team players as investors.
The series pulls back the curtain on the origin story through the 2022 inaugural season, and candidly reveals the passion and grit needed to build a franchise from scratch.
While the athletes and coaching staff contend with training facility challenges and unexpected injuries, the club is tasked with filling the stadium and proving to the world that you can lead with passion and purpose and still turn a profit.
As philosophies are debated and performance expectations aren't met, the club must cope with the growing pains of a startup, begging the question: can this new ACFC model succeed both on and off the pitch?
The series is driven by extensive access on and off the pitch and includes candid interviews with co-founders Kara Nortman, Natalie Portman and Julie Uhrman; ACFC team members; coaching staff; and appearances from Angel City investors Billie Jean King, Serena Williams, Becky G., Jennifer Garner, Eva Longoria, Mia Hamm, America Ferrera and more.
Part One: Brick by Brick
Three determined women come together from different industries - entertainment, business and gaming - in an unexpected way, to answer the question: "What would it look like if we did things different and started a team?"
As Natalie Portman, Kara Nortman and Julie Uhrman begin the process of building Angel City Football Club from the ground up ahead of its first season in the NWSL, they realise that bucking the status quo can be a tightrope walk and changing systems from the inside isn't always easy.
Part Two: Running with the Angels
From the moment they hit the pitch, the stakes are high, the pressure is intense, and the passion is palpable.
As players and staff deal with the stress of living up to the club's ambitious goals, ACFC kicks off their inaugural NWSL season at home in front of a vibrant, star-studded crowd.
Riding high on their early season results, the club soon finds its identity challenged and a devastating injury puts the team's resiliency to the test.
Part Three: It's Who We Are
Tensions mount as ACFC searches for solutions in their roster while fighting for a playoff spot during the final weeks of their inaugural season.
Looking to build on their success, the club's co-founders turn their attention to the future, confident that their vision will usher in a new era for professional women's soccer.