The 31-year-old playmaker had been without a club for the past six months following his departure from the Naturena-based side. During his stint with the Soweto giants, which began in 2023, he scored five goals and provided two assists, contributing to the team’s efforts on the pitch. He was also part of the squad that lifted the Nedbank Cup, helping Amakhosi end their 10-year trophy drought, although his impact was more supportive than decisive due to recurring injury setbacks.
After a few seasons of the Soweto giants showing flashes of being a dangerous outfit only to fall short at crucial moments, the Sea Robbers have produced a commendable run of form, signaling their intent to go for everything in the 2025/26 Premier Soccer League season. The Bucs have already lifted three trophies before the halfway mark of the campaign — the MTN8, Carling Knockout Cup, and Carling Black Label Cup — while also sitting top of the league table, underlining their growing authority and consistency.
The 27-year-old, on loan at Amakhosi from Algerian side CR Belouizdad with a possible permanent deal in play, is still working to make his mark. With just one goal in six matches so far, Mayo is continuing to search for rhythm and consistency as he adapts to the Chiefs setup amid growing outside interest in his future.
South Africa did well to finish third in the 2023 edition despite coming into the competition against the odds owing to their initial struggles. However, things are seemingly working in their favour ahead of the 2025 campaign to be staged in North Africa, where Hugo Broos' men have been tipped to have a say on the title race.
The Amakhosi youngster has been previously compared to Premier Soccer League legend Themba Zwane as well as Thembinkosi Lorch. Although he is tipped to become a key player for the Soweto giants, being played out of his natural position has been cited as impeding his development. Despite competition from more experienced rivals, he has been able to become a regular starter.
The defender has been excellent since his move to the Romanian heavyweights two seasons ago, winning the top tier and other domestic cups. The South Africa international has also been competing with the best in Europe, as his exploits continue to attract suitors who want to acquire his services to bolster their squads.
The 32-year-old attacking midfielder enjoyed a highly credible spell with the Sea Robbers, where he played a pivotal role in helping Orlando Pirates lift three MTN8 Cups. He also tasted success in domestic cup football, contributing to the club’s Nedbank Cup triumph. Beyond the local scene, Makaringe had the privilege of showcasing his talents on the continental stage, featuring in the CAF Champions League and testing himself against some of Africa’s top clubs. Known for his creativity, vision, and knack for key moments, he established himself as a respected and influential figure during his time at Mayfair.
The Soweto giants have come under scrutiny despite their efforts to end a 10-year trophy drought a year ago. While the team shows promise, a significant gap remains. Current co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze are still struggling to settle on their trusted starting eleven, and some questionable selections have impacted results. Much of the disappointment, however, can be traced back to the club’s struggles in goal poaching.
In a match that was expected to help Bafana prepare adequately for AFCON, it ended up bringing an unexpected fear. A key player is now in a race against time to be fit just before the finals begin in Morocco. Should Oswin Appollis' injury fears be confirmed to be serious, Hugo Broos will be forced to look at his reserve list and pick a replacement.
The Amakhosi player is considered one of the promising stars in the country, and he has now attracted interest from another Premier Soccer League rival. Given the competition from more experienced options at the club, the youngster has been unable to break into the first team, and a move to another top-flight outfit could give him the necessary exposure. With the January window set to open, eyes will be keen to see whether Chiefs will consider selling or loaning the star.
It is always refreshing to hear some Premier Soccer League [PSL] players being linked with overseas clubs, especially big European leagues. In recent times, young players in South Africa have been getting their big moves to Europe or the USA, with the latest being talented former Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi.
The former Polokwane City winger is among the players who have been in a trajectory mode this season with the Buccaneers. The tricky player made the final squad for the biennial competition with the other eight players from the Sea Robbers, who are flying high in the Premier Soccer League. He, however, was injured against the Black Galaxies.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Bronze winners played their final build-up game against the West African nation on Tuesday evening, where they laboured to a morale-boosting victory. The team will now leave for Morocco on Wednesday, December 17, with hopes of bringing glory back to Mzansi for the second time in their history.
The 21-year-old versatile attacker has been a factor in the Premier Soccer League, where he has consistently delivered for the Rockets, who gave him a chance following his unceremonious exit from the Glamour Boys' junior team two seasons ago. He has been linked with several top teams in the country and abroad.
Amakhosi are under a co-coaching arrangement between Cedric Kaze and Khalil ben Youssef following the departure of Nasreddine Nabi earlier this season. But with the Soweto giants struggling to challenge for trophies, some fans want the club to consider the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly coach for the top job at Naturena.
The 21-year-old winger endured an unceremonious exit from Amakhosi but has since reinvented himself at TS Galaxy, emerging as one of the standout performers in the PSL. His exploits with the Rockets have placed him on the fringes of the Bafana Bafana setup and has a chance of featuring at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His form has also sparked transfer speculation, linking him with a return to Amakhosi as well as interest from Mamelodi Sundowns and the Buccaneers.
The two coaches continue to attract scrutiny as some question whether they are capable of leading the Soweto giants to success. Before the Africa Cup of Nations break, Chiefs had a chance to go level with Orlando Pirates point-wise, but they collected just two from a possible six, putting Kaze and Ben Youssef under more pressure. Angry for more titles, some have been calling for the Naturena outfit to consider the more experienced Mosimane, who is not with a club now.
The 20-year-old has made a huge leap in his young career, sealing a major move just nine months after breaking into professional football. While he was widely tipped to take the European route, the defender has instead opted for a switch to America, a decision that has sparked mixed reactions. Two former Amakhosi midfielders have come out strongly in support of the move after his national team coach openly voiced his opposition.
Despite being overlooked by Bafana Bafana for the Africa Cup of Nations, the former Platinum Stars player has maintained his impressive club form, delivering influential performances and playing a key role in driving his side into the next round of the cup competition as his momentum continues to build.
The 73-year-old former Kaizer Chiefs tactician has raised a similar concern to what Hugo Broos highlighted as he prepares Bafana for the Africa Cup of Nations. Bafana have been training without players who are still attached to their clubs in Europe. According to Broos, it is only possible for those stars to link up with the rest a few days before the tournament begins in Morocco.
Despite bringing in 11 new faces to Naturena in the last PSL transfer window, the Soweto giants are still expected to go into the market to address issues in creativity and their inconsistent scoring. More transfer activity could help fix those problematic departments in a team that has, however, shown clear improvement in defence and goalkeeping this season. A former Amakhosi player has already recommended an in-form PSL star as the club’s ideal next signing.
The 20-year-old found himself in hot water with his national team coach after arriving late for AFCON camp in Pretoria. He had missed his flight from Durban after being granted two days off to recover from the Buccaneers’ participation in the Carling Knockout final. The incident infuriated the Belgian tactician, who did not hold back in publicly castigating the defender’s actions.
The former South Africa international made his name with the Glamour Boys, serving them as a player and a senior member of the technical team. He also coached Amakhosi via several stints before unforeseen circumstances led to his unceremonious exit to Usuthu where he is currently serving at the helm of the first-team.
The reigning Premier Soccer League champions are in Botswana, where they took part in a tournament, as most of their players were not involved in the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), starting December 21 to January 18 in Morocco. Masandawana showed their class, reaping their opponents apart as the technical team continues working on their tactics.
The 61-year-old coach has surprisingly failed to stay long in each of his last four jobs, a sharp contrast to the stability he enjoyed at SuperSport United, Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly. He is currently unattached amid speculation rife about his next move. With Hugo Broos expected to step down after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the former Abha Club coach is already being linked with a possible return to Bafana Bafana as well as other teams.
The 19-year-old forward is highly expected to help end Amakhosi’s long-standing goal-scoring troubles as the Soweto giants seek to have their attack match an improved defence. He faces tough competition for game time from experienced forwards like Glody Lilepo, Etiosa Ighodaro, Flavio da Silva and Khanyisa Mayo. But this is his opportunity to show Chiefs supporters that he can be the striker the club has always been searching for.
Kaizer Chiefs
