Celine Abrahams

Amakhosi dazzled under the FNB Stadium lights on Tuesday evening, delivering a 4-1 masterclass against top-flight newcomers, the Mswenko Boys. The emphatic win thrilled home fans and catapulted the Glamour Boys to second on the Premier Soccer League table, sitting joint-top with leaders and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns on 22 points apiece.

Fresh off weekend wins, both teams arrived at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night brimming with confidence. Amakhosi edged Durban City 1-0 away last Friday, while the Umswenko Boys beat Magesi 3-1 on Saturday. With momentum building, both sides were locked in on one goal: bagging maximum points under the midweek lights.

The Umzimkhulu-born coach returned to KwaZulu-Natal for a third stint after parting ways with Masandawana in December 2024. He spent a decade with the Tshwane giants, first joining as Pitso Mosimane’s assistant in 2014. Before rejoining Abafana Bes’thende, he was reportedly eyed by North African clubs and now, it has been revealed that there was also interest from the clubs in Soweto.

Latest reports suggest the South African Football Association has opted for a bold move: finalising the Teboho Mokoena yellow card blunder via internal ballot. The decision could have major implications for Tseka, whose oversight during the Lesotho qualifier remains under scrutiny.

At just 20, Dansin stunned the Loftus Versfeld crowd with a thunderous equaliser against reigning Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday. His strike sealed a dramatic draw in one of the season’s most anticipated clashes, as the Soweto giants and Masandawana shared the spoils in a high-stakes showdown.

The defending league champions were held to a 1–1 draw by the Buccaneers at Loftus Versfeld, bringing their perfect home run to an end. Namibian striker Peter Shalulile opened the scoring, but the Soweto giants hit back through Camren Dansin to snatch a point, leaving the early Premier Soccer League title race finely poised.

Dansin made back-to-back starts for the Buccaneers for the first time and delivered. The 20-year-old silenced his doubters with a superbly taken strike, helping the Soweto giants earn a hard-fought point against the defending Premier Soccer League champions at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon.

The 20-year-old brought Masandawana’s flawless home run to a halt, as the defending Premier Soccer League champions dropped points for the first time this season. Saturday’s one-all draw wasn’t just a result, it was a statement, as the youngster’s impact left the crowd stunned and three points still separating the two clubs.

Amakhosi travelled to Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday, 31 October, determined to claim all three points against the KwaZulu-Natal outfit. A delayed kickoff added tension to the evening, but once the whistle blew, the visitors looked to seize control and make their mark in a tightly contested league clash. Ultimately, Amakhosi snatched a late winning goal.

On Sunday, South African defending league champions Mamelodi Sundowns booked their place in the CAF Champions League group stages with a commanding 7–1 aggregate win over Nigeria’s Remo Stars. The result underlines Masandawana’s continental ambitions as they continue their pursuit of a second CAF Champions League star.

Heading into the return leg, Masandawana all but sealed their spot in the group stages after a dominant 5-1 first-leg win over Stars. With their midweek league clash against Sekhukhune United postponed, the hosts enjoyed a full week of focused prep ahead of the second leg, ready to finish the job and maintain their continental momentum.

The Cape Winelands side returned to Athlone Stadium on Sunday, 26 October, aiming to break the deadlock after a goalless first leg played in tough conditions in Equatorial Guinea. With home support behind them, they looked to seize control and book their place in the next round with a decisive performance.

After a bruising 3-0 away defeat to The Railmen, the Buccaneers return to Orlando Stadium with more than just a scoreline to overturn. Accusations of poor treatment in Lubumbashi have stirred the pot, but Saturday’s CAF Champions League second preliminary round return leg is about grit, goals and rewriting the narrative.

The Buccaneers edged past Polokwane City with a hard-fought 1-0 win on Wednesday, 22 October, climbing to third on the Premier Soccer League table. The Sea Robbers secured maximum points in a tense midweek clash as they build momentum ahead of Saturday’s crucial CAF Champions League second preliminary round return leg.

After a bruising CAF Champions League second preliminary round first-leg defeat in the Democratic Republic of Congo over the weekend, the Buccaneers returned to Premier Soccer League action hoping to lift their spirits against Rise and Shine. With the second-leg clash against Saint-Eloi Lupopo looming, the midweek fixture at Orlando Stadium offered a chance to reignite their fighting edge.

The Buccaneers were dealt a heavy blow in the first leg of their second preliminary round clash, falling 3-0 to the Congolese side away at Stade Kibassa Maliba on Sunday, 19 October. With the deficit looming large, they now face a daunting task in Saturday’s decisive return leg in front of their home crowd at Orlando Stadium.

The South African tactician is unbeaten in Algeria’s top flight and finally winning over fans and media. But this week brings a defining double-header: a league clash and a CAF Champions League decider. Two wins could elevate his comeback. Anything less, and his North African ambitions may be paused.

The Brazilians kicked off their CAF Champions League journey with a trip to M.K.O. Abiola International Stadium on Sunday, 19 October, for the second preliminary round of the continental showpiece. Ranked among Africa’s elite, the South African side received a first-round bye; a nod to last season’s run to the final, where they ultimately fell short against Egyptian giants Pyramids FC.