Although their display was not entirely convincing, Masandawana managed to collect crucial points in their CAF Champions League campaign. Starting with three points in a group that has heavyweights like Rhulani Mokwena's MC Alger and Sudanese giants Al Hilal should be considered an early achievement for Downs, who hope to go all the way to the final again. Nuno Santos, who is having a good start to life with the Tshwane giants, keeps proving why he was signed by the Brazilians, who wanted a player who would bring the X factor.
Amakhosi cruised past Chippa United, delivering a commanding performance. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers tightened their grip on the summit, opening a five‑point cushion after overcoming Richards Bay. Saturday’s results underline the growing intensity of the title race, with both giants finding form at a crucial stage of the campaign.
Masandawana managed to outclass their first group stage opponents by securing a win in an end-to-end encounter at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday. Considered a group of death, Downs have collected their first three points after dispatching the Sea Robbers' tormentors. The home win is a morale boost for the Tshwane giants, who will face their former head coach, Rhulani Mokwena, in their next continental game.
The youngster is proving his quality for both the Buccaneers and the South African national team with excellent and consistent displays, regardless of the opponent he is facing. The bulky centre-back has been tipped to ply trade overseas, which might see the Sea Robbers coach Abdeslam Ouaddou find a solution at the heart of his club's defence.
As South Africans slowly come to terms with the expected exit of Broos next year, several native tacticians have been touted as his best successors. The Belgian tactician has had a rather successful stint with Bafana, and that means anyone who will come in after him will be expected to be as good or even far better. Broos has a chance of making his time with Bafana even a more successful story – that is, if he does well in the AFCON and the World Cup finals.
The Mzansi star was on the scoresheet as the Saudi Arabian club returned to winning ways after a rather long period of a winless run. Their last win was on October 18 and since then, they have lost three games and drawn in another. The goal is a morale boost for the former Sekhukhune United winger who moved to the Middle East on a loan move.
The Bafana full-back has struggled to break into Masandawana's first team despite the ambitious move he made before the season began. At Chloorkop, Basadien is facing stiff competition from Zimbabwean star Divine Lunga and Aubrey Modiba. His situation at the Pretoria giants has complicated his chances of making it into the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad.
The 38-year-old enjoyed a great career with both South Africa's Bafana Bafana and the Glamour Boys at large before he was forced to retire at the end of the 2023/24 season. The legendary custodian has now advised fringe custodians at Masandawana and the Buccaneers on what to do to be successful in their careers.
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 28-year-old midfielder has had quite a journey through the football ranks, having first made a name for himself at the now-defunct Bidvest Wits before joining Al Ahly and later being loaned to Masandawana, where he won the hearts of the South African football community. His rise continued, but his dream was short-lived due to alleged off-field issues.
However, he now finds himself at the mercy of the Mpumalanga side, where he will have to convince the technical team that he is worthy of another chance on the field, having been spotted training with the club on Thursday morning.
The Soweto giants' dream of competing in the CAF Inter-Club competition and probably going all the way was crushed by Saint Eloi Lupopo, who stood up to the Orlando Stadium supporters' pressure to make the group stage. The Buccaneers alleged anomalies from the Chaminots, but the ruling didn't favour them as anticipated.
The South Africa international has been on a steady rise to the top since the Spaniard gave him his debut in the top-tier game barely a year ago. After one season in the Premier Soccer League, the 21-year-old had done enough to attract suitors from abroad who hastened to seal a deal with the pacy, versatile attacker.
Tuesday's defeat to the Teranga Lions might have left some Kenya fans and football pundits questioning if the Bafana Bafana legend is the right man for the job he is in. This was after the former FC Porto forward was in charge of the fourth-heaviest defeat ever suffered by the East Africans. The FKF boss was forced to immediately issue a statement apologising for the embarrassing result.
The Sea Robbers and Bahlabane Ba Ntwa are set to fight for the bragging rights of the domestic competition on December 6. Riveiro, who did not win the trophy while in charge of Bucs, has revealed his expectation for the ultimate clash between the Premier Soccer League sides. The Buccaneers will be looking to win their second domestic trophy after defending the MTN8 earlier in the season.
Despite taking an ambitious step in his career by accepting the offer from the Egyptian giants, the Spaniard did not last long in Cairo. The 50-year-old tactician had a relatively successful three-season stint with Bucs, but his brief spell with Al Ahly was disastrous and did not last long. In three months, he only managed one win in seven games, and his fate was sealed after a home loss to Pyramids FC at the end of August.
After they were eliminated, the Soweto giants complained to the continental governing body. At the centre of the Bucs' complaints was the ineligibility question of two Saint-Eloi players and their head coach, Guy Bukasa. With the judgement out, the DR Congo can now fully focus on their next game against Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Premier Soccer League has acknowledged the efforts to introduce the technology-aided officiating system, but has raised fundamental questions. The funding model remains a key issue of concern for the league, and according to Khoza, PSL cannot make any contribution on the matter at this juncture. PSL's stance comes at a time when there is a raging debate on what VAR model to implement and when to do it.
The Democratic Republic of Congo outfit got past the Buccaneers in the second preliminary round to make the next phase of the annual continental club competition. They have now been pooled with the defending Premier Soccer League champions, hoping to finish in the top two positions and make the knockout hurdle.
The 50-year-old tactician enjoyed a relatively successful campaign with the Sea Robbers during his time with them before leaving for the Red Devils. He has since explained his decision to leave the Buccaneers, who needed him to stay, owing to the relationship they had built in the three years of association.
The South Africa legend and former Manchester United coach was humiliated with his East African team against the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations champions, the Lions of Teranga, in an international outing staged in Turkey. It was a wake-up call for the 48-year-old who is expected to be at the helm when the country host the 2027 biennial competition.
The South African legend is in the headlines for grim reasons after overseeing what is now the worst result of his coaching career. The humbling defeat to the Teranga Lions has intensified scrutiny on him and left the former FC Porto forward facing a massive task of managing and repairing a dented reputation. Also pressing is the need to regain the trust of the Kenyan football public.
The 36-year-old Buccaneers linkman showed his experience last season and was one of the league's best-performing, winning himself one of the respected awards. He got this recognition despite ending the term on the sidelines, nursing an injury. The veteran player is yet to play competitive football this season, although he has resumed full training with the rest of the team.
There have been many questions regarding a player who is suited to playing behind the strikers and being that creative link South Africa needs following the injury to Themba Zwane. It seems the Belgian tactician has settled for the Orlando Pirates midfielder who has been deployed in that role. The 27-year-old has been on the rise since joining the Soweto giants.
The duo has been working effectively at the Soweto giants, hoping to end the Premier Soccer League drought that has lasted more than a decade, as well as winning other domestic competitions in South Africa. The former Morocco international has settled well in the team after succeeding Spaniard Jose Riveiro, who had served Bucs for three years.
The 27-year-old has seemingly managed to focus solely on football after initial disciplinary breaches threatened to cut short his career. The versatile midfielder is currently one of the most important players on coach Abdeslam Ouaddou's squad, as well as the senior South African men's national team under Hugo Broos.
Mzansi football has been on the rise in the last couple of years, and last season was no different, as clubs reached the latter stages of CAF inter-club competitions. South Africa has also been doing well across all tournaments, which saw top players and teams get nominated for prestigious continental awards.
Chippa United
