Knockout Cup news

The Sea Robbers are fresh from securing a huge 3-1 win in the midweek Premier Soccer League assignment that took them second on the table. They want nothing less than a slot in the final of the ongoing annual domestic competition when they come face to face with the Natal Rich Boys this weekend.

The Carling Knockout Cup semi-finals promise tension, theatre, and legacy-defining football. On Saturday, the Buccaneers revisit the Natal Rich Boys with revenge in their veins. On Sunday, Abafana Bes’thende and Bahlabane Ba Ntwa collide in a clash of ambition and grit. Two days. Four teams. One golden ticket to the final.

The 21-year-old has been struggling for consistency at Orlando Pirates since the start of the season. With South Africa preparing for the biennial continental competition, the 73-year-old former Cameroon tactician has refused to guarantee the versatile attacker a place in his squad with barely a month before he names his final team.

The Buccaneers coach continued with his rotation policy in Wednesday's Premier Soccer League clash against Golden Arrows at King Zwelithini Stadium. He opted to rest central defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who has been a regular starter since March. In his place, captain and experienced defender Nkosinathi Sibisi was handed a start. The coach has been trying to keep his squad fresh and competitive in a move that also underlines depth within the Buccaneers camp.

The competition in the Premier Soccer League has been impressive in the last couple of games, where the defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, are getting a stiff challenge from the Soweto giants. The trio currently sit in the top three positions with just three points separating Masandawana from third-placed Amakhosi.

The Buccaneers lifted their first piece of silverware this season by clinching the MTN8 title for a fourth straight term. The triumph helped remove doubt about their Moroccan coach after a difficult start to their Premier Soccer League campaign. But there was little time to celebrate as the Buccaneers quickly switched their focus back to PSL duties, the CAF Champions League and the Carling Knockout, which could be their second trophy of this season. Juggling responsibilities between different competitions has been a test of the team’s depth.

From making his professional debut for the Buccaneers in March 2025 to earning his maiden Bafana Bafana call-up three months later, the 20-year-old from KwaZulu-Natal’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. The defender has dished out performances, and with the kind of maturity beyond his years. His rapid rise has become one of South Africa's feel-good football’s most exciting breakthroughs of 2025. But just as he enjoyed being at the top of his game, he has now found himself in hot water with the world football governing body.

The Sea Robbers are expected to play the penultimate match of the domestic competition without a key midfielder who has always started under Ouaddou. The tactician has, however, not commented on Relebohile Mofokeng's situation as his limited gametime continues to raise eyebrows. Apart from the injury news, Ouaddou has explained why he loves the pressure that comes with his job.

The South African stars will contest for the prestigious award against other players from the continent during a gala ceremony that will be conducted by CAF. The continent's football governing body has also set up a dedicated voting hub where fans will cast their votes for their favourite goal. The voting process has already begun and will run until Wednesday, when voting will close.

Since making his professional football debut for the Soweto giants in March 2025, the 20-year-old has established himself as a regular starter for the Buccaneers. His consistency in defence has made him one of the most trusted names on the Pirates team sheet. The rise of the player from KwaZulu-Natal has not gone unnoticed, earning him a regular place in the Bafana Bafana setup and becoming a key figure.

The Buccaneers appear to be the complete package in 2025/26, boasting a superb defensive spine, top-quality options off the bench in all positions, and tactical versatility. The new Moroccan boss has also shown an ability to juggle his resources effectively as the fixtures come thick and fast.

The Buccaneers reached the semi-final of the annual prestigious continental club competition last season before falling to the eventual champions, Pyramids, who beat the Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the final. However, things didn't work out in their favour as they were undone in the last preliminary round and crashed out.

The 21-year-old attacker has struggled with form and fitness this season but was back on the bench for Bucs 3-1 win over Golden Arrows, coming on to provide his first assist of the campaign.

The 20-year-old has been nothing short of a breath of fresh air in Mzansi football, taking everyone by surprise with his rapid rise in such a short span of his professional career. Mbokazi has continued to display remarkable composure and fearlessness — not only for the Soweto giants but also in his appearances for the South African men’s national team, where his commanding presence and confident communication have earned him the admiration of his teammates.

The Soweto giants proved on Wednesday that they mean business with another impressive display at the King Zwelithini Stadium against Abafana Bes'thende. It was a massive result that ensured they stay just three points behind the defending Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played two more games.

Masandawana were forced to sweat for three points by determined TS Galaxy, who were led by a Kaizer Chiefs academy product. Although it is another win for Downs, Miguel Cardoso's tactics have yet again come under scrutiny, given the display his players showed against the visitors. Struggling against PSL rivals now raises questions on whether the Tshwane giants are indeed ready for the CAF Champions League's gruelling campaign ahead.

A sold-out crowd packed into King Zwelithini Stadium on a buzzing Wednesday night, with anticipation crackling in the air as Abafana Bes’thende welcomed the Buccaneers for a much-anticipated midweek league showdown. The stands were a sea of colour and noise, with fans from both camps in full voice, creating a charged atmosphere under the floodlights.