Sinolwetu Tompela

The 36-year-old midfielder made headlines when Chloorkop announced his arrival, as he had been a key player for the Soweto Giants, who were on the verge of clinching the league title. Unfortunately for Chiefs supporters, it was Masandawana who ultimately lifted the trophy at the final hour, with the former Chiefs midfielder part of the victorious team—a development that left a bitter taste for Amakhosi faithful.

The Naturena-based outfit has, over the past few seasons, struggled to fully demonstrate its big club status in the Premier Soccer League, consistently falling short and finishing the campaign outside the top eight. However, despite their struggles last season, they managed to break their long-standing trophy drought by being crowned champions of the Nedbank Cup, a moment widely viewed as the start of new beginnings. That success appears to have carried into the 2025/26 season, with the club opening the campaign on a high note and delivering performances strong enough to position themselves among the recognised league title chasers.

The 24-year-old has experienced a career-changing run in the few months since joining the Sea Robbers, winning the MTN8 Cup and, more recently, the Carling Knockout Cup. After showcasing impressive form for his club, earning a call-up for the Zambia international friendly clash, and making it to the preliminary South Africa squad, there were hopes he would be part of the travelling team to Morocco—but that did not materialise.

The Soweto giants closed off their first half of the Premier Soccer League campaign on Sunday with a frustrating 0–0 draw against TS Galaxy. Despite putting up a commendable challenge throughout the match, they were unfortunate to walk away with just a single point.

The South African national team is just a few days away from departing for Morocco, where they will continue their preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations, kicking off on December 21. For a certain PSL right-back, who has earned a place in Hugo Broos’ 25-man squad, a new chapter begins. He will be aiming to see his career reach new heights while gaining valuable experience on the continental stage.

With just one day left before the much-anticipated Carling Cup takes centre stage, all eyes will be glued to the screens as the South African football fraternity eagerly awaits to see who will lift the trophy. For the Buccaneers faithful, hopes are high to see their team secure another piece of silverware in the 2025/26 Premier Soccer League season, while many others are banking on Gallants to pull off an upset. However, according to Chaine, the Sea Robbers are leaving nothing to chance, as he has singled out a key threat who he believes could seriously test his prowess on the grand stage.

South Africa's World Cup group opponents will be officially revealed on Friday evening, with the draw set to take place at the John F. Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC, United States. The Mzansi side has been placed in Pot 3, alongside Norway, Egypt, Tunisia, Panama, Ivory Coast, Paraguay, Qatar, Scotland, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Algeria. The much-anticipated global football tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Sundowns’ shot-stopper has faced heavy criticism after failing to clear a threatening attack that resulted in the Pretoria side settling for a single point in a 1-1 draw against the Bloemfontein outfit. The costly moment saw the Brazilians heading into the Premier Soccer League mid-break in second place on the log table, leaving them in an unfamiliar predicament.

The Chloorkop outfit missed out on an opportunity to return to the top of the Premier Soccer League standings on Wednesday night, coming from behind only to settle for a 1-1 draw against Siwelele FC at the Dr. Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein, leaving the Buccaneers well-positioned to close out the first half of the 2025/26 league campaign with a significant advantage.

The 31-year-old has been one of the most trusted figures at the back in Chiefs’ continental campaign, making five appearances and completing the full 90 minutes in both group-stage clashes against Al Masry and Zamalek. The consistent game time has boosted his confidence, and he’s delighted to be trusted with such responsibility—embracing the pressure, gaining valuable lessons and experience. However, he’s fully aware that turning these performances into crucial points remains a priority.

The Glamour Boys are yet to find convincing results in their CAF Confederations Cup group campaign. They opened their account with a 2–1 defeat to Al Masry in Egypt, before managing only a single point in their home fixture against Zamalek on Saturday — a match in which they had hoped to capitalise on home advantage. Interestingly, in both encounters, Chiefs’ only moments of real threat came from an unexpected source, with right-back Dillan Solomons popping up as the unlikely goal contributor.

The Bucs vice-captain has been one of the standout performers in the Premier Soccer League, firmly cementing his place in the Buccaneers’ camp while also making waves in the Bafana Bafana setup as a reliable centre-back. His performances have spoken for themselves, and it comes as no surprise that he is now heavily linked with a move to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire.

The Maroons picked up a crucial point on the road against the Tanzanian outfit, with the match ending 1–1 as they continue to assert their recognisable presence on the continental stage. However, Stellies were left frustrated on Sunday after the draw — a result that coach Steve Barker believes could have been very different with fairer officiating.

Durban City are gearing up for a fierce showdown when they host a ruthless Soweto outfit at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday. The Durban side will be hoping to sign off their final home match of the first half of the 2025/26 campaign in style and, with a bit of luck, push themselves up into fourth place. Meanwhile, Pirates will arrive intent on guarding their winning streak and ensuring their momentum doesn’t take a knock.

The Soweto giants are steadily taking over the South African national team by sheer demand, and it comes as no surprise — their form and squad depth speak for themselves. They became the first side in the 2025/26 Premier Soccer League season to lift a trophy. Despite the CAF Champions League setback, they are already chasing more success as they prepare to feature in the Carling Knockout Cup final next month. They also sit level on 25 points with defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns on the league table, separated only by goal difference.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach was full of praise for the current state of South Africa’s displays on the bigger stages. Bafana Bafana recently reaped the rewards of their hard work by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will next month take the stage at the Africa Cup of Nations. Meanwhile, Amajimbos bowed out of the FIFA U-17 World Cup earlier this month, and the senior women’s national team is busy preparing for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations [WAFCON].

The Tshwane giants travel to Algeria, where they will battle it out at the Ali La Pointe Stadium on Friday evening against their former coach Rhulani Mokwena, whose side is wounded after a disappointing start to the CAF Champions League group stage. Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns supporters remain divided — some still yearning for Mokwena’s return due to dissatisfaction with current coach Miguel Cardoso, while others hope this clash will prove that the former Orlando Pirates mentor was not necessarily the ideal candidate either. However, once the whistle blows, all off-field debates fall aside, as both teams will be equally tested in their pursuit of crucial group-stage points.

The Mswenko Boys are set for a stern Stellies test in their midweek Premier Soccer League assignment, hoping to capitalise on Steve Barker’s men’s poor form as they push to climb the table. The Western Cape outfit has struggled this season, which explains why they are far from guaranteed a positive result.