Buccaneers' coach has dismissed talk of sealing the Premier Soccer League title with wins over The Brazilians and Amakhosi in the next two weeks. Despite holding a six-point lead at the top the Moroccan tactician pointed out it will take a match-by-match approach while quoting a French proverb to prove his point.
When Andre De Jong moved from Stellenbosch to the Buccaneers he promised to help them win the Premier Soccer League crown. Now, on the eve of their crucial showdown with current champions Mamelodi Sundowns, the 29-year-old has revealed an extra motivation for joining the club.
As the season gains momentum in the second round, the battle lines have been drawn as far as the title race is concerned. Clubs considered the PSL's 'Big Three' are all in contention for the trophy, but the raging debate is who will withstand and beat their rivals in the end. The Soweto giants have their focus solely fixed on the top-tier marathon, as Masandawana have their attention divided between domestic and continental assignments.
It did not take long for the 32-year-old attacker to start paying back his reputed $75,000 (R1.2 million) transfer fee as he scored to help his new club progress to the next round of the domestic cup competition.
The Cape Winelands side and their opponents from Tanzania entered this last group game with their quarter-final hopes having already been extinguished. With nothing tangible left to fight for, the fixture effectively became a dead rubber. The chance to sign off in a respectable manner was all that remained at stake, but it turned out to be a disappointing evening for both teams.
In order to make the former Mamelodi Sundowns star an effective player, a position where he can express himself fully has been identified. Initially, the playmaker was deployed as the main man behind the strikers, but recently there has been stiff competition for that slot. In the games against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila and Marumo Gallants, he played in a different position and not as a playmaker.
After engaging in the Nedbank Cup campaign, teams turned their focus to the Premier Soccer League campaign. Orlando Pirates widened the gap at the top with a win over Marumo Gallants, while Babina Noko's result affected Amakhosi and Mamelodi Sundowns, who were focused on their respective CAF campaigns. At the other end of the table, the relegation battle is heating up.
It was Amakhosi's maiden participation in the group stage of this continental inter-club competition after successfully navigating through the preliminary round. But they came so close to getting a ticket to the quarter-finals and in the end were unable. The Naturena outfit needed just a draw to reach the knockouts, but a defeat to the White Knight saw Al Masry beat them to the ticket courtesy of a superior goal difference.
The Soweto giants have been knocked out of continental competition and will now shift their full attention to domestic duties. Their exit means only one tournament remains to fight for this season after falling short in three major trophy bids. With continental ambitions over, the focus turns to salvaging pride and success on the local front.
The Buccaneers' bid to win the title received a massive boost after their closest rivals suffered a defeat. On the other hand, the Glamour Boys' dream of defending it was hit with a blow after yet another defeat. With the title race campaign gaining momentum, the Sea Robbers enjoy a five-point advantage as rivals sweat trying to catch up.
Players from Amakhosi have found it increasingly difficult to break into the national team setup in recent years. Not a single player from the Soweto giants featured in the South Africa squad for the last two AFCON editions, underlining the widening gap between the club and their PSL rivals, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, who dominate Hugo Broos' side. That absence has raised concerns that performance standards at Amakhosi may have dipped compared to previous eras.
The Glamour Boys came into the fixture at Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia just needing a draw to progress. They fell 2-1 to Zamalek and exited the CAF Confederation Cup at the group stage. Now, as the dust settles, fans have taken to social media to vent their feelings over the result and Amakhosi's performance.
The Glamour Boys recovered from a poor start in Group D to come into the fixture at Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia with a good chance to progress but succumbed 2-1 to the White Knight and were eliminated from the competition. It was a result that did not sit well with Brian Baloyi who lashed out at the club's management.
The Glamour Boys recovered from a poor start in Group D to come into the fixture at Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia with a good chance to progress. For the White Knight, the only option was to secure maximum points to be sure of advancing as pool winners regardless of the outcome between Al Masry and ZESCO United.
The Buccaneers opened a six-point gap at the summit of the Premier Soccer League standings after a 3-0 victory over Marumo Gallants at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday. It was another productive outing for coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side, who continue to build momentum in the title race. The Soweto giants are now 14 matches unbeaten across all competitions, with their last defeat dating back to October 2025.
Although much has been expected from the 22-year-old, he has ended up attracting more criticism than praise. After wasting quite a number of chances against Stellenbosch in a Nedbank Cup encounter, his performance was again negatively scrutinised. But there is hope for the South African star; he has been tipped to become a top goal scorer and even a dependable Bafana asset.
The battle for the number one spot continues to heat up, with the Soweto side holding the advantage while Masandawana juggle their CAF Champions League commitments. The man who once starred for the Bucs has shared insights into what sets this season apart for the Mayfair side, explaining why his former team could be strong contenders to clinch the PSL title.
As Amakhosi players chase titles on the pitch, their supporters have been reminded of their cardinal role and warned against following what others do. The Bafana Bafana legend has explained why the fans should not be so negative against the players and said the fans need to be responsible.
Although it is their first participation in this competition, the Soweto giants swept past preliminary opponents to reach the group stage. Now, they are a touching distance from the quarter-finals, as they are set for the final group game, sitting top of the table. A draw will be enough for Amakhosi, but if they are defeated, they will rely on ZESCO United to beat or hold Al Masry.
The Group D leaders face the White Knights at Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt, without some key players. Inacio Miguel is out injured, while another versatile defender, Aden McCarthy, is suspended. The Glamour Boys' technical team has to come up with an effective plan to ensure they don't suffer defeat.
Babina Noko goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner has come out with a bold statement of intent that his Limpopo-based side are looking to 'win all our remaining games' and put their hands on, not one, but both of the domestic trophies still available to them.
Amakhosi will face the Egyptian heavyweights, knowing that at least a draw will guarantee them a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals. It will not be easy though, as The White Knights need a win too, to book their place in the knockout rounds. The two heavyweights of their respective countries do battle in Ismailia, Egypt on Valentine's Day.
Amakhosi will face the Egyptian heavyweights, knowing that at least a draw can help them reach the quarter-finals. Three back-to-back wins should act as a morale booster for the Soweto giants, who are also on top of the table before the do-or-die clash on Valentine's Day. If ZESCO United manage to hold Al Masry to a draw, that will be a positive outcome for Chiefs, as they will automatically advance to the next phase regardless of the result of their own game.
Although it is a matter of months before the next transfer window opens, the Buccaneers' scouting department is not resting. According to reports, the Sea Robbers have already identified a defender they would like to bring on board. In the last off-season window, they signed over 10 players and added more in January.
It has now been revealed that the Soweto giants were keen to sign the fullback but were beaten by their rivals from Pretoria. After establishing himself as a top defender at his former club, the South African talent became a subject of intense transfer pursuit from big clubs. He finally moved to the Tshwane Giants, where he is yet to become a regular starter.
The former Cape Town City striker realised his dream of donning the famous Black and Gold jersey at the beginning of the season. The Bafana Bafana forward is among the experienced heads at the Soweto giants who are aiming at pushing for both the domestic and continental glory in the ongoing edition. But with injuries and lack of goals hampering his impact, the possibility of being returned to his parent club looms nearer.
Kaizer Chiefs
