The Sea Robbers continue to celebrate their majority presence in the national team squad that is heading to Morocco. Out of the 25 players named for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, nine are from the Soweto giants, although Mbekezeli Mbokazi has signed for Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer. Until recently, Masandawana dominated Bafana, but the Sea Robbers have displaced them as the majority contributor.
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 20-year-old Bafana Bafana international has been excellent for both the Buccaneers and the national team despite making his debut in top football in March under the then Bucs tactician Jose Riveiro. He will now be playing in the Major League Soccer in the United States after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The 21-year-old South Africa international has rediscovered his form in a critical time as the country hopes Hugo Broos' men will defy the odds to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) that will be staged in Morocco from December 21 to January 18. The versatile attacker helped the Buccaneers win another trophy last weekend.
The Buccaneers coach used the example of his own playing career to encourage the young defender to seize the opportunity at Chicago Fire knowing he had helped the Bucs to top the league and win two trophies already this season.
The Buccaneers winger was named as the best player on the pitch after they defeated Marumo Gallants 1-0 in the final of the Beer Cup at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday. However, his award that comes with R100,000 sparked debate as some fans believed other players performed better than him as the Soweto giants claimed their second trophy of the season.
The versatile attacker has peaked ahead of the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations, which is good news for coach Hugo Broos and the entire South Africa at large, owing to his impact on the pitch. Despite being just 21, the Bafana Bafana star has won the Buccaneers several domestic titles owing to his quality in the final third.
The former Morocco international and Fulham defender is enjoying his tenure at the Soweto giants, where he has already won two domestic crowns, a couple of months after helping Marumo Gallants from the Premier Soccer League's relegation. However, the 47-year-old is set to do without one of his key players, who is set for a new challenge.
The Buccaneers continued their great domestic form on Saturday with another Cup triumph, which makes it two titles in just a couple of months. The team is hoping to go all the way and secure the Premier Soccer League title for the first time in a decade, as well as the Nedbank Cup once club football resumes in January.
The Buccaneers waited until late in the second half of the extra time to find a way past Marumo Gallants to secure their second crown in domestic football. The former Morocco international had helped the Sea Robbers win the MTN8 title early in the season with a victory over Stellenbosch, who were determined to spoil the party.
The Premier Soccer League leaders marched into the final at New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, December 6, chasing a second trophy of the campaign, having already lifted the MTN8 earlier in the season. Standing in their way were Bahlabane ba Ntwa, determined to script history by claiming their first-ever piece of major silverware in the top-flight.
The senior national team played in the 1998, 2002, and 2010 global competitions but failed to get past the initial hurdle. A majority of the supporters in the country believe that could change in the 2026 edition to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada after Friday's draw that saw Mzansi being placed in what they feel is a manageable group.
South Africa will open the prestigious global competition against the co-hosts, hoping to start on a high note to stand a chance of advancing to the knockout phase for the first time in their history. However, they will definitely not find it easy coming up against a team supported by thousands of home fans.
With the Premier Soccer League campaign taking shape, the title favourites can now be deduced based on how teams have fared so far. Usual competitors, the Sea Robbers and the Brazilians, are the leading contenders, pointing to another possibility that there will be a tight run between them again.
The Botswana Premier League is steadily emerging as an attractive destination for South African coaches and players seeking new opportunities. This could reflect how football in that country is growing. A clear sign of this progress is the Botswana national team, which has qualified for AFCON and is guided by South African coach Morena Ramoreboli. Now, a big-name coach in South African football is linked with a club in the Southern African nation.
GOAL gives you the details to follow the Soweto giants' clash with Bahlabane ba Ntwa in the Carling Knockout final at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday. It is both teams' final game of 2025 and they would be keen on signing off the year on a high. For the Buccaneers, they will be on the hunt for a second trophy of the season after lifting the MTN8 earlier on. Their opponents are bidding for their first-ever piece of major silverware in the top-flight league.
The 61-year-old celebrated South African tactician believes Hugo Broos' men have enough quality to ensure they don't fall in the initial phase of the prestigious global competition that will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The senior national team has, in the past, not made the knockout stage.
The Carling Knockout final is more than a trophy chase. For the Buccaneers, it’s a farewell stage for 20-year-old centre-back Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who departs for Major League Soccer after this match. For Bahlabane Ba Ntwa, it’s a chance to etch their name into history. One night, two stories and a stadium braced for destiny.
South Africa are set for the tournament, where they have been placed in Group A alongside the co-hosts, hoping to get the needed result that will see them get into the knockout phase. The country has never made it past the initial phase in the competition, and this will be a massive chance for them to show the world what they are made of.
The Sea Robbers are set for their 10th final in the Carling Knockout when they will take on Bahlabane Ba Ntwa at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday. This is also a chance for Bucs to seal another cup, three months after defending the MTN8 trophy. The cup final is a duel between a Pirates side that is quite consistent and a Gallants side that has struggled and is winless for several games.
The Sea Robbers are set to go all the way this weekend and win the annual domestic competition after missing out on several occasions. Under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, the Buccaneers have been solid despite the rotation of players across all tournaments. Bahlabane Ba Ntwa come into the match as underdogs but can still cause an upset.
The defending Premier Soccer League champions, Masandawana, are getting stiff competition from the Soweto giants, the Buccaneers, who have been consistent in their bid to win the South African top-flight football. The Brazilians have been dominating the top tier for almost a decade, where they have been crowned nine times.
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.
The Soweto giants square off against Bahlabane ba Ntwa in the Carling Knockout final at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, aiming to end the season on a high after also being guaranteed to end the year as Premier Soccer League leaders. Having already lifted the MTN8 in October, the Buccaneers are chasing a second major trophy this term as they seek to continue as domestic football's Cup Kings.
The 20-year-old centre-back is on his way to North America despite widespread expectations that he would secure a move to Europe. His move has raised questions about how it could influence his international prospects as Bafana Bafana prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Looking at the bigger picture, he will be hoping the move does not jeopardise his chances of making Hugo Broos’ final squad for the global football competition.
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 Sea Robbers are gearing up for an impactful finish to the first half of the 2025/26 Premier Soccer League campaign, with another piece of silverware on the line. Pirates are set to lock horns with Bahlabane Ba Ntwa in the Knockout Cup finale, taking center stage at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The majority of the teams are working hard to realise their objectives, with the Premier Soccer League table taking shape ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) break scheduled from late December to mid-January next year. One of the sides that have been doing well are Babina Noko, who are surprising many with their run in the league.
The defending Premier Soccer League champions knew they had no option but to beat their hosts to replace Orlando Pirates, who are not in action as they are preparing for the Carling Knockout final against Marumo Gallants on Saturday. The Brazilians hope to win their ninth South African top-flight football title in a row.
