Cup news

The Sea Robbers have been creating chances in matches but struggled to take them despite having experienced players at their disposal. Questions have been asked about the ability of the club realising their ambition of winning all the available domestic trophies. So far, they have secured the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout.

The Brazilians had hoped to continue with their recent run both in the CAF Champions League, where they made the quarter-final stage, as well as the Premier Soccer League after beating Orlando Pirates to reduce the gap to three points. However, they were humbled by the Rockets, who are now dreaming big following their triumph.

The Buccaneers are out of the Nedbank Cup after being knocked out by their National First Division opponents, via a penalty shootout, at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday. It was a second successive defeat for the Soweto giants after losing 2-1 to Mamelodi Sundowns in a Premier Soccer League match on Wednesday.

The Brazilians had no answers as the Rockets outplayed them in the domestic Cup tournament played at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium. The technical team rotated the team, but the plan didn't work as Masandawana now joined the Glamour Boys in the cold, paving the way for the Sea Robbers to go all the way and reclaim the crown.

Before the Africa Cup of Nations finals, the 27-year-old was a prominent starter for the Soweto giants. However, since returning from Morocco, he has been a peripheral figure at a time when the Sea Robbers are hunting crucial points. His absence has raised numerous questions, and now a club legend has hinted there could be a problem between the midfielder and his coach.

As the season nears its end, football fans, former players, and coaches have their predictions, but a former Bafana Bafana international believes every team still has a chance, noting that the goals flowing in the 2025/26 season have not gone unnoticed. The traditional Big Three are in the title race mix, but who will have the last laugh when the campaign concludes?

The 20-year-old made a surprising exit to the Major Soccer League after making his name in South Africa while turning out for the Sea Robbers. There was reported interest from Europe, where some top teams were linked with the Bafana Bafana international. However, the centre-back and his representatives opted to go to the United States.

A Champions League knockout phase play-off encounter in Lisbon between Benfica and Los Blancos had to take an unplanned 15-minute break. Reason? The Brazilian and Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni exchanged words, with the former alleging he was racially abused, delaying the match in the process. The 'Special One' has found himself on the receiving end of heavy criticism when he failed to condemn his player at the centre of the alleged racial abuse controversy.

The South African tactician had an ambition of having a successful debut campaign with the Algerian giants. However, one of his targets will not be achieved after the Algiers-based outfit was eliminated from the continental inter-club competition. After suffering the CAF setback, upon resumption of the domestic duty, Mokwena's club was handed another one.

The Soweto giants began the campaign on a promising note but have since fallen short in their pursuit of silverware, leaving the league title as their only realistic shot at redemption. However, their struggles in front of the goal have continued to haunt them, limiting their options and stalling momentum throughout the season. And according to the ex-Chiefs marksman, the revolving door approach in the starting XI has done more harm than good.

The move made by the Bafana Bafana defender to switch from the Premier Soccer League to Major League Soccer remains one of the most controversial transfer stories in recent history. One of the high-profile figures to oppose it was Hugo Broos, and the coach's comments almost rocked the national team camp as it prepared for the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco. While some argued the move was made in haste, others felt it could end up opening the window for the defender to Europe eventually.

The Sea Robbers are up against a lower division team again in South Africa's premier knockout competition. They are out to reclaim a trophy they last won in 2024 under Jose Riveiro. The Soweto giants would also want to atone for being this competition's losing finalists last season after rivals Kaizer Chiefs denied them a chance to shine on the podium.

The Buccaneers continue with their ambitions to lift the quadruple as they lock horns with National First Division opposition in their latest assignment. A far sterner examination looms against familiar old foes, setting up a defining spell in their campaign. It marks a demanding period for the Moroccan coach and his men, who are still recovering from a bruising encounter against Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Buccaneers are still hoping to become the only side in South Africa to win all the available major trophies on the domestic front in a season. After winning the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout, the Soweto giants are now targeting a place in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals as they host the lower-tier outfit at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday in the Round of 16.