The departure of the 20-year-old centre-back to North America may have left a void that the Buccaneers will need to address. The Soweto giants have enjoyed a season built on being tight at the back and will be keen to ensure they do not suddenly become porous. Maintaining that defensive solidity will be key to their bid to add more silverware this season.
The Belgian mentor recently unveiled his final 25‑man squad set to carry South Africa’s hopes at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. With a blend of seasoned campaigners and rising talents, the group will aim to showcase resilience, unity and ambition on the continental stage as Bafana Bafana prepare to fly the national flag high in pursuit of glory.
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 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 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 two Sea Robbers were teammates at defunct SuperSport United before they took different paths. Now at Bucs, they are teammates again and have both become crucial players for the Soweto giants in their debut seasons. They are also teammates on the national team and, in a few weeks' time, will be heading to the AFCON finals.
The Bafana defender has signed with the Major League Soccer side, and the confirmation of his move came just days before a second cup final for Pirates this season. The 20-year-old centre-back was a pivotal player in Bucs' campaign, and appearing in the final should be a befitting goodbye for his efforts. As the Sea Robbers hunt for another trophy, only Gallants stand between them and the cup glory.
The retired Sea Robber has stated he keeps tabs on the club's development and is happy with how the Soweto giants are doing. The Bucs legend has also said he is thankful to the club for how it has helped him live a decent life, and were it not for them, his life would have been worse. Among the players he fondly follows is Mofokeng, a promising forward within the club's ranks.
The 23-year-old centre-back has been unfortunate to suffer a long-term injury just when he had established himself as a key figure for both club and country. As a result, his continental ambitions for this year have taken a heavy knock, halting what had been some steady progress. Still, he remains determined to fully recover and represent his country on the global stage.
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 Bafana defender is reportedly on his way to Major League Soccer, with Chicago Fire rumoured to be his next home. With the debate over the defender's imminent speculated move dominating headlines, the question on many lips is who is going to replace him. Mbokazi, within a short period of time, managed to become Bucs' top star, and his exit, when it is finally confirmed, will leave a huge gap in the team.
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 Belgian has opened a wide, ambitious window with his preliminary AFCON squad - an orchestra of veterans, disruptors and bold prospects that must be cut to 27. The selections signal a team designed for multiple tempos: patience when games tighten, speed when they fracture and enough nerve to suffer. This is not a list; it’s the architecture of how Bafana want to win.
The Soweto giants are hoping to mount a serious challenge for the Premier Soccer League title this season under new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. They might have started the league campaign on a poor note with back-to-back defeats, but they have since come good and look like a team prepared to go the distance.
It's been 13 long years since the Sea Robbers were crowned champions of South Africa. However, there's a growing feeling that 2025/26 can spell the end of that long league title drought as Ouaddou's charges look fresh, relatively injury-free and with their eyes firmly focused on the prize they desperately crave.
The Soweto giants played a role in raising awareness on a critical medical issue that reportedly affects around 4.2 million South Africans. The Buccaneers participated in World Diabetes Day, during which assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi also took a moment to brief the media on the upcoming Carling Knockout Cup, set to take place on December 6 against Marumo Gallants.
