Masandawana are playing catch-up, trying hard to close the gap between them and in-form Bucs. Meanwhile, inconsistent Amakhosi are staring at the prospect of losing the trophy, which was historically won last season.
The Chilli Boys boosted their chances of survival after they recorded their back-to-back league victory. In a four-goal thriller, Orbit College and Polokwane City shared points in a match where a record in the league was also broken. Babina Noko recovered to keep themselves in a title mix by beating the Rockets after a difficult start to the year 2026.
After they started the group stage campaign with a loss, Amakhosi managed back-to-back victories, massively boosting their chances of reaching the knockout stage. The Glamour Boys completed a double over their continental rivals from Zambia after their last victory in Ndola. For Zega Mambo, the struggle continues as they remain winless, pointless and rooted at the bottom of the group.
The Buccaneers faithful have witnessed the value of having a game in hand. After the Mayfair-based side was ridiculed and tipped to drop points following their opening fixture, the Soweto outfit responded emphatically on Saturday evening, producing a commanding display to secure a convincing three points.
The Soweto giants face a crucial encounter that could send a strong message in their continental return. Having struggled against this opponent in the past, securing two victories would mark a significant step forward in their campaign.
Amakhosi will welcome the Zambian outfit to the Moses Mabhida Stadium in a much-anticipated encounter that promises to be one for the books. The hosts will be eager to complete a double over Team Ya Ziko and maintain their momentum, while the visitors arrive wounded after falling short at home and are desperate to secure their first win in Group D.
The Sea Robbers did everything within their power on Saturday evening at the Orlando Armstel Arena to silence Dikwena Tsa Meetse in the South African top-tier outing. It was a massive victory that saw the Buccaneers overtake traditional rivals the Glamour Boys on the table. Abdeslam Ouaddou's men are now on 32 points, the same as log leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played a game more.
Bucs' intention of clinching the title from their arch-rivals becomes clearer each matchday as they keep widening the gap from their closest challengers. As the Sea Robbers' winning run continues, the defending champions' campaign gets even more complicated after dropping more points in a second straight game.
The Glamour Boys are in action on Sunday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium against the Zambian outfit, aware that they need maximum points. The Soweto giants' faithful have every reason to be optimistic about their team, which is in good form. Victory will increase their chance of making the knockout phase.
After the Africa Cup of Nations finals, where, arguably, there was unanimous national support for Bafana Bafana, fans have now turned their focus on their individual clubs. With the Premier Soccer League gaining momentum after the AFCON break, the title chase is shaping up with the 'Big Three' tightly in the race. Mamelodi Sundowns are looking to defend the title; Pirates are hoping to end Masandawana's dominance after coming so close in the past few seasons, but can Amakhosi sustain the chase?
Before the Premier Soccer League went into the break to allow players to represent their countries in the Africa Cup of Nations finals, Bucs were at the top of the PSL standings. The Sea Robbers had also registered a five-match winning streak across all competitions before that break. However, they resumed the campaign with a goalless draw against Sekhukhune United, meaning they dropped points and saw their winning run halted.
The 2024/25 finalists and one-time champions were not convincing at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, on Friday night in the CAF inter-club competition. They struggled against the Sudanese outfit despite the massive quality that they had on the pitch. The result put Miguel Cardoso under pressure since he had the needed resources to succeed.
In the PSL mid-season transfer, clubs get another chance to strengthen their squads ahead of another gruelling remainder of the campaign. Although many clubs bought new players before the season began, the mid-season window gave them a chance to get the right players to strengthen further until Thursday, January 29, when it came to a close.
The race for the South African top-tier crown is interesting as the top dogs continue to get positive results. Apart from the Brazilians, who have won the last eight editions, the Buccaneers are determined to beat them to the prize in this edition. However, the Glamour Boys and Babina Nko have shown they can also win it.
The Glamour Boys are rebuilding this season, but have not been that busy as opposed to their rivals. Despite ending their trophy drought in the 2024/25 season, it seems Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns will benefit as they lead the race for the title. It is interesting to see how Amakhosi will deal with the current gap.
The 27-year-old arrived at Amakhosi amid huge expectations to help end the Soweto giants’ long-standing attacking problems. Despite having a squad packed with eight forwards, the Glamour Boys have continued to struggle for goals, placing the spotlight firmly on their strikers' shoulders. The former Cape Town City star is still expected to become the prolific scorer Amakhosi desperately need as they chase the Premier Soccer League title, the Nedbank Cup and the CAF Confederation Cup.
The Glamour Boys have confirmed the exit of the goalkeeper at a time their fans are waiting to see if a new player will be signed for the first team. Unlike Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, Amakhosi have not yet strengthened the first team, which sends a signal that they are satisfied with the current playing unit. Meanwhile, there is stiff competition in the goalkeeping department at Chiefs currently, with Brandon Petersen the number one choice given his performance.
The 29-year-old has been based in Europe since 2016, building a solid career abroad. During his decade overseas, his journey has taken him through Sweden, Portugal and Israel, before settling in Cyprus over the past four years. He now joins a club soaked in success, having been crowned champions of Cyprus on 21 occasions.
The Soweto giants boast a strikeforce that has eight forwards in their squad, yet they continue to struggle with glaring shortcomings in front of goal. The attacking frailties could come back to haunt them as they enter a crucial phase of the season, including the bid to defend the Nedbank Cup. A former Amakhosi striker has weighed in, pinpointing what he believes is holding the club’s forwards back from being consistently prolific.
The 28-year-old has been struggling to get regular playing time at the Buccaneers despite recovering from a long term injury. The competition has been stiff, with those preferred by coach Abdeslam Ouaddou delivering as expected, explaining why the Super Eagles defender wasn't going to easily fit in. The Nigerian has now left the team, a couple of weeks after Mbekezeli Mbokazi left for Chicago Fire.
The current campaign for the Soweto giants has shown significant improvement. After ending their trophy drought last season—a success that marked a new dawn for Amakhosi, their league form had been below par, finishing last season only two points higher than where they are now halfway through this campaign. According to co-coach Kaze, the team’s performance this season represents a notable step forward.
The Sea Robbers have had a strong run in domestic competitions this season, winning the two tournaments - MTN8 and the Carling Knockout, respectively. The Buccaneers are still determined to win the top-tier crown as well as the Nedbank Cup since they have what they need to go all the way. However, the supporters have been warned that nothing is guaranteed.
The Glamour Boys are showing their hunger to deliver the South African top-tier crown in the 2025/26 campaign. Despite being regarded as the dark horses, Amakhosi are proving to be serious title contenders with critical wins against some tricky teams. They are just two points behind the defending champions.
The Soweto giants leapt one place up the Premier Soccer League ladder to position two just behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. This followed the victory over Bahlabane Ba Ntwa at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium on Wednesday. It was a result that keeps Amakhosi firmly in contention for the league title.
The Buccaneers have been doing quite well for the last three seasons, during which they have won seven major trophies. This season, the Soweto giants have been tipped to win all the available domestic trophies owing to their impressive form at home. It explains why even investors want a piece of the cake since it will increase their products' visibility.
With the emerging keepers at Naturena, the Amakhosi senior team is expected not to struggle for top stars in that department. However, the challenge for the Soweto giants is to produce dependable goalkeepers who can match or go above Itumeleng Khune in terms of performance and longevity. Replacing the former Bafana Bafana custodian has been a mission that Chiefs have not successfully accomplished since Khune left in 2024.
Kaizer Chiefs
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