CAF Confederations Cup news

The Stellies are determined to get back into the top positions on the Premier Soccer League table. In the off-season transfer window, they lost some big names to top teams in the country, something that weakened them. It got worse when coach Steve Barker dumped them for Tanzanian Premier League heavyweights Simba SC.

With the emerging keepers at Naturena, the Amakhosi senior team is expected not to struggle for top stars in that department. However, the challenge for the Soweto giants is to produce dependable goalkeepers who can match or go above Itumeleng Khune in terms of performance and longevity. Replacing the former Bafana Bafana custodian has been a mission that Chiefs have not successfully accomplished since Khune left in 2024.

In a bid to get a constant supply of future stars, the Sea Robbers have added two upcoming youngsters into their ranks. Considered promising talents that could be the next big names in the South African football circles, Bucs have moved with speed to ensure they belong to them. In recent times, the Soweto giants have produced top stars who have ended up making their names at relatively young ages.

As the season gathers momentum after a brief break owing to the Africa Cup of Nations finals, Amakhosi will be in league action again just days after facing ZESCO United. The CAF Confederation Cup result against the struggling Zambian giants saw the Glamour Boys register back-to-back wins across competitions. Against Gallants, they face a side that last registered a league win in mid-October last year.

Although Amakhosi won, their coach was not satisfied with the standard of the pitch, a concern he did not shy away from expressing. Now, he has been answered by his ZESCO United counterpart, who has said that is an excuse by the Soweto giants. Excuse or not, the temperatures are set to rise significantly before the two teams meet again in a week's time for another high-stakes game.

The former TS Galaxy tactician saw his side register a crucial win that takes them closer to the knockout stage. For the Maroons, the loss has come just as they start a new journey under the former Amakhosi coach, who was recently appointed to steer the club after the departure of a long-time tactician.

The Soweto giants recovered from setbacks in their opening two group matches by grinding out a crucial away win in Zambia. While it is three vital points picked in Ndola, some fans were left unimpressed by the manner in which the team secured victory. The result reignited hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the competition from a group that has Zamalek and Al Masry as fierce competitors.

The Soweto giants picked their first maximum set of points in this CAF Confederation Cup Group D after edging Zega Mambo away at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Sunday. It was a crucial victory on the road which renewed Amakhosi's hopes of reaching the knockout stage of this continental competition.

After a long-awaited inclusion, the 23-year-old playmaker finally made his Kaizer Chiefs debut just before the Africa Cup of Nations break, slotting in seamlessly and making his presence felt immediately. For Velebayi, however, the road to that moment was mentally challenging — a true test of patience and resilience.

After a shaky start earlier in the week, Babina Noko held the Sea Robbers to a goalless draw on Saturday - a performance that earned praise from the 55-year-old tactician. However, he also flagged concerns over the team’s consistency.

Amakhosi make the trip to Zambia knowing there is no room for error as they look to revive their continental campaign and keep their hopes alive. The Soweto giants are staring at a must-win scenario, but the task ahead is far from straightforward. They will need to produce a disciplined, all-round performance to outmuscle a home side that is equally desperate for points and strengthened by a dominant record in previous meetings.

The Sea Robbers were in action against Babina Noko in the South African top-flight football on Saturday at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. The Buccaneers have been in good form and were aiming to avenge the initial 1-0 defeat suffered. However, spoils were eventually shared as no team found the back of the net.

After resuming their Premier Soccer League campaign with a slim victory over Golden Arrows, Amakhosi turn their eyes on the continental competition. In two games in Group D, the Glamour Boys are third, and only a win away from home will help them boost their chances of reaching the knockout stage. However, the Zambian giants, although they are struggling this season, are expected to give them a challenge, especially since they will enjoy massive home support.

The Sea Robbers failed to collect maximum points against Sekhukhune United at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium, which saw them fail to get on top of the Premier Soccer League table. It is a slow start to the year, which was not anticipated by their faithful owing to their strong run in domestic competitions before the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) break.

Amakhosi landed in Ndola and are ready to take on their continental rivals in a game that carries high stakes for both sides. Amakhosi and Team ya Ziko are both winless after two games, and to increase their probability of reaching the knockout stage, points from this game will matter most. The Zambian outfit have already declared they are ready to inflict pain on Amakhosi, who travelled without key players.

Prior to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) break, the Sea Robbers were the most in-form team domestically. Under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, the Buccaneers had won the MTN8, Carling Knockout and the Carling Black Label Cup while their rivals struggled to deliver. The main challenge is to sustain their run in the second half of the season.

When it comes to the PSL title race, many pundits and soccer fanatics are always ready to bet on either Mamelodi Sundowns or Orlando Pirates winning it but not Amakhosi. Since 2015, the Glamour Boys have never won the league, and last season they finished outside the top eight. This season, they have shown improvements, but do they have quality players to help them end the league title drought?