Khothatso Leballo

Anticipation is high as the Belgian coach edges closer to announcing his final squad for the continental competition. His provisional list has already offered a glimpse of what the final group could look like, sparking debate about the positions still up for grabs. Notably, four Amakhosi players have been included, and all eyes will be on whether they survive the final cut after the Soweto giants failed to contribute a single Bafana Bafana player at the last AFCON edition.

The Soweto giants suffered defeat in their group opener away in Egypt, and that leaves them with a task to recover when they host Zamalek in Polokwane on Sunday. They will be out to avoid dropping points again as they eye reaching the tournament's Knockout stage. Failing to beat the White Knights could leave Amakhosi under pressure going into their third match of this pool,  something that might take a psychological toll on the players. 

Ever since he went to North Africa, starting with a stint at Wydad Casablanca and now in Algeria, the youthful coach has never met his former employers, Masandawana. The only time he came up against the Brazilians was when he was at Orlando Pirates as an assistant after leaving the Tshwane giants. Now a battle looms between Rhulani Mokwena and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Once more, the Amakhosi product was a shining star for Galaxy as he scored and provided an assist. The goalless draw will add more pressure on former Kaizer Chiefs head coach Gavin Hunt, as Durban City have failed to return to winning ways. The PSL debutants have only one win in the last five games across all competitions and were recently eliminated from the Carling Knockout.

The DR Congo international drew significant attention in October after his dramatic showing at Orlando Pirates’ stadium. His display even caught the interest of Kaizer Chiefs players Bruce Bvuma and George Matlou, who video-called him in a light-hearted jab at their Soweto rivals. Adding to that, popular Amakhosi supporter Papa Wawa presented the defender with a special gift upon his return to South Africa last week. That has all heightened the buzz around the player’s growing profile.

Masandawana were relatively quiet in the last transfer window, opting for minimal activity in the market. Of the four signings they made, the arrival of two Portuguese midfielders has generated the most anticipation and scrutiny. Both are expected to deliver at a higher level than their former Brazilian star who departed for Spain.

GOAL gives you the details to follow Amakhosi's CAF Confederation Cup Group D trip to Egypt. They face The Green Eagles at Suez Stadium on Sunday as they push to start their group campaign on a high. Coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef are leading the Soweto giants for this mission in North Africa from where coming back home with maximum points can be tricky.

The 43-year-old's coaching credentials have been under stern scrutiny as his club struggles in the Botswana Premier League. Poor results sparked rumours that his job is no longer safe and that he could soon be shown the exit door. The pressure has mounted as he battles to transfer the class he once displayed as an Amakhosi star into his coaching career.

Reports suggest that the 20-year-old is a wanted man in Major League Soccer. That has divided opinion, with some fans saying it would be a career blunder while others feel it would be a good move for his progress. This comes as the centre-back, who hails from KwaZulu-Natal, has been enjoying a terrific year of football, playing for both the Buccaneers and Bafana Bafana.

Masandawana host the Railmen at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday as they begin their CAF Champions League Group C campaign. They are keen on making a strong statement, knowing a win would help them stay at par or overtake Al Hilal, who occupy top spot after edging MC Alger on Friday. With home advantage and high expectations on them after last season's near-miss in this tournament, the Tshwane giants will be pushing to seize early control of the group.

The Algerian champions began their group campaign on a sour note after suffering a 2-1 defeat to the Sudanese giants at Al Hilal's temporary home ground, Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, on Friday. It was a disappointing outing in which they struggled to impose themselves despite some periods of promise. For The Doyen’s South African coach, it was a forgettable game as his side could not make use of their numerical advantage late in the match.

Amakhosi find themselves stretched in attack, with only three of their seven forwards available for Sunday’s showdown against their Egyptian opponents. The shortage raises concern, especially with one of their key available strikers having struggled for form this season. He has still made the trip and attention will be on him to see if he can rediscover his scoring touch if selected to play

Since October 2024, the veteran midfielder has been battling persistent fitness issues that have severely limited his game time for both club and country. His latest injury struck just as he had recovered from a previous setback, adding to the frustration. The recurring problems have raised fears that he may now be injury-prone. With him spending more time on the sidelines than on the pitch, concerns continue to grow about the future of his career. These mounting worries have also sparked fresh fears that he might soon consider calling time on his career when he is needed by Masandawana and the national team.

Amakhosi are in Egypt for their CAF Confederation Cup Group D clash against Al Masry at Suez Stadium on Sunday. The Soweto giants' sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr acknowledges the tough challenge that awaits them in North Africa as they are chasing their first continental trophy since 2001, when they lifted the CAF Cup Winners' Cup.

There was drama during the Railmen’s last visit to South Africa to face Orlando Pirates, with their defender Dieumerci Mukoko earning himself suspension for his over-the-top antics. The Buccaneers fell right into their visitors' trap and drew CAF sanctions for spraying chemical substances near the opponents' dressing room. The drama became one of the talking points of that afternoon at Orlando Stadium. Sundowns are aware of that chaotic episode and their coach says they will be on high alert to avoid similar pitfalls.

Three Amakhosi players who were part of the club’s pre-season tour of the Netherlands had raised hopes they would become central figures in the first team this season. However, the players failing to play first-team football suggests they have taken steps back in their development after such early promise. It also casts doubt on whether the Soweto giants are nurturing quality talent as expected, highlighting concerns about how effectively the club transitions academy prospects into the first team. That might see Chiefs having to rethink their entire player development strategy.

The 2025 CAF Awards ceremony was held on Wednesday in Morocco, with a South African team and footballers being part of the final nominees. The glittering event drew the continent’s finest football personalities under one roof and the strong South African presence might highlight the country's influence and contribution to football on the continent.

Amakhosi have been under pressure to produce players who go on to take South African football by storm. A number of their players have come close to reaching that, while others are still on their way to becoming big. The likes of Mfundo Vilakazi and Mduduzi Shabalala are still on the rise, with a lot of promise in them. However, others like Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and Wandile Duba cannot be ruled out from improving to fulfil the promise they showed.