Khothatso Leballo

For the second successive match in this competition, the Buccaneers have been drawn against lower-division opposition. They are aiming to reclaim the trophy they last lifted in 2024 before being dethroned by Kaizer Chiefs last season. The Sea Robbers have been cautioned against the opponents they will be coming up against.

The Brazilians' camp has been on fire this week after damning allegations against one of the technical team members. The saga comes as the team prepares for a crucial CAF Champions League game, at a time the coach would be avoiding any distractions affecting his players. A senior player has responded to the saga rocking Chloorkop.

The 30-year-old Buccaneers defender is yet to feature in a competitive match for the Soweto giants this season. He last played a competitive game in May 2025, and as he worked his way to try and make himself a regular this term, tragedy struck, and he found himself on the sidelines battling to regain full fitness.

The Brazilians have unusually failed to win their last four continental games, plunging them into a swim-or-sink situation ahead of hosting the Algerian giants in a Valentine's Day fixture at Loftus Versfeld. While facing such a big assignment and trying to stay focused, a scandal has exploded in the Masandawana camp.

South Africa’s most prestigious knockout competition rolls on as teams gear up for the next phase. The remaining contenders have now discovered the opponents standing between them and a place in the quarter-finals. With the stakes rising, the battle for silverware promises even greater intensity in the rounds ahead.

The Mswenko Boys have moved in to sign an experienced player as the fight against relegation from the Premier Soccer League. High expectations are on the new player to assist a team that lost a top performer like Monnapule Saleng midseason. They hope the new addition willbring them closer to their objective in their debut campaign.

The 29-year-old's profile has been spruced up in recent years, especially after making himself Nigeria's number one goalkeeper and gracing the two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals. He left the Chilli Boys when he appeared to have outgrown the club and needed more demanding opportunities elsewhere.

The Amakhosi goalkeeping department seems to have stabilised together with the defence, making it difficult for opponents to breach the Soweto giants. That solidity at the back is expected to make the Glamour Boys strong, giving them a chance of winning at least a piece of silverware this 2025/26 season.

The Amakhosi and Bafana Bafana legend was speaking as a club ambassador at their Carling Black Label partnership launch when he dismissed suggestions that any side that beats The Brazilians to the title when the team is in turmoil will not have the right to believe they are the best team in the country.

After coming through Amakhosi development ranks, the 32-year-old centre-back went on to forge a professional career elsewhere, passing through Chippa United, Bidvest Wits and Stellenbosch FC. Now he is back at the Soweto giants where he has turned himself into a key player and is one of the team captains.

Amakhosi face a stern test of character as they seek to prove they have what it takes to reach the knockout stages of the continental competition. They travel to Egypt knowing that a single point will be enough to secure progression to the next round. A former club winger has now made a stark prediction about their chances of getting the job done.

A scandal has shaken Chloorkop as the Brazilians brace for a swim-or-sink showdown against the Algerian giants led by their former coach. The high-stakes encounter has heightened tension around the club, with anticipation building ahead of what promises to be a fiercely contested clash. For coach Miguel Cardoso, the outcome could prove decisive, with his job hanging in the balance.

The 24-year-old seems to be on his way back to top form following his impressive performances in recent games. This follows some struggle for regular game time and failing to influence games after moving to Chloorkop from Stellenbosch FC a year ago.

After the Buccaneers were praised for their depth in central defence and midfield, another department has now emerged as equally well-stocked. The growing strength in this area highlights the squad’s balance and it follows the coach’s decision to assign new responsibilities to a Bafana Bafana midfielder.

The 28-year-old last featured in competitive action in September 2024, with persistent fitness issues playing a major role in his lengthy absence. Even after returning from injury, he struggled for game time amid stiff competition in the Buccaneers’ central defence. He eventually left the club in search of regular playing opportunities elsewhere.

The Soweto giants scored more than once in a match for the first time in 2026, marking what on paper looks like an attacking breakthrough. However, one of their goals has been strongly contested by their Egyptian visitors. The strike came from a controversial penalty decision that has sparked some debate.

The Maroons' veteran coach is finding the going difficult in the continental competition and has now presided over his side's elimination and it came in humiliating fashion. He now leads his men to fully focus on domestic duties.

The Natal Rich Boys join other clubs, including Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, in the next phase of a competition where a new champion is expected. Defending champions Kaizer Chiefs were eliminated as the remaining teams continue chasing the CAF Confederation Cup ticket by winning the annual competition.