The league is taking an interesting turn as Masandawana try hard to close the gap between them and runaway Bucs. On the other hand, Amakhosi suffered a huge setback after they suffered a defeat after a rather long period of point collection.
The Soweto giants picked their first maximum set of points in this CAF Confederation Cup Group D after edging Zega Mambo away at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Sunday. It was a crucial victory on the road which renewed Amakhosi's hopes of reaching the knockout stage of this continental competition.
After a shaky start earlier in the week, Babina Noko held the Sea Robbers to a goalless draw on Saturday - a performance that earned praise from the 55-year-old tactician. However, he also flagged concerns over the team’s consistency.
After signing more than 10 players in the offseason transfer window, the Bucs' squad expanded incredibly, and that meant some players were automatically going to struggle for game time. In the January window, more have been brought on board; consequently, some will be released, while others will be allowed to join other clubs, either permanently or on short-term deals.
In a bid to seek stronger ties outside the country, the Glamour Boys have entered into a partnership with the clubs. It is expected that Amakhosi players will be the greatest beneficiaries of these deals. Already, the Soweto giants have sent some of their young talents out in order to help them gain first-team experience.
After months out of the dugout, the 50-year-old has landed a new job in Scandinavia. After a good stint with the Soweto giants, the Spaniard struggled with Al Ahly and was dismissed after a short period of time. Now, with a new club, the MTN8 winner must prove to the world that he is still a top coach by guiding the success-hungry team to more titles and that the Al Ahly period was just a temporary period of struggle in his career.
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 majority of the teams are working hard to realise their objectives, with the Premier Soccer League table taking shape ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) break scheduled from late December to mid-January next year. One of the sides that have been doing well are Babina Noko, who are surprising many with their run in the league.
It was another day for a former Pirates star to play a crucial role in helping Gallants collect a point, and his display earned him Man of the Match recognition. Meanwhile, the draw means Bahlabane Ba Ntwa have extended their winless run to five games in regulation time. PSL is expected to run for weeks before it goes on a break to allow selected players to join their national teams for the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.
As Bucs eye yet another trophy this season, they might chase the domestic glory without players who have been phenomenal for them. It largely depends on how head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou will play his cards in regard to the players in danger of missing the cup final. Their opponents are also not safe, as they could also miss equally crucial players for the final.
In a high-octane Premier Soccer League at Olympia Park Stadium, fans were not only treated to drama but also to a classic football match as Stellenbosch grabbed a 2-1 win over Orbit College. Monnapule Saleng registered his third assist of the season, although his side was stunned by the opponent's late comeback.
Amakhosi will not be without some of their influential youngsters during the trip to the United Kingdom. Also missing is the experienced tactician who has played a crucial role in the development of the team. The Naturena-based giants' official has now explained what exactly ruled them out of the trip.
The Soweto Giants have a massive opportunity to show their potential when they play in Europe against some top sides. Their Sporting Director is anticipating a tough outing but insists there will be a lot to learn for the players, and the club will, in the long run, benefit. In the previous season, Stellenbosch represented Mzansi.
The Amakhosi star is among the four players from the club who have been included in the provisional Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals squad. What now remains is to see how many will be included in the final team that will head to Morocco for the continental tournament. Broos has always snubbed players from Naturena, and he previously defended his position, citing the club's poor performance.
South Africa are set for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations that will take centre stage on the continent from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco. Mzansi tactician named his initial 55-man provisional squad on Monday, which will be trimmed to 23 early next month, who will represent the nation. Some call-ups, however, have raised eyebrows.
South Africa have started preparations for the biennial competition to be played in Morocco from late December, where they hope to go all the way. They are played in Group B alongside record champions Egypt as well as COSAFA duo Zimbabwe and Angola. The top two teams will get an automatic ticket for the knockout phase.
The Glamour Boys suffered a defeat in their first Group C game, and the tactician believes the loss is a harsh result. To him, a draw would have been a far better outcome given how his Chiefs went toe-to-toe against the Egyptian outfit. Next, Amakhosi will play another Egyptian side, but this time around, the challenge is expected to be even huge because Zamalek are not only heavyweights at home but are also continental giants.
Amakhosi's CAF Confederation Cup group stage campaign started with disappointment after going down 2-1 to Al Masry of Egypt. Despite showing determination to fight back while playing away from home, Chiefs were undone by poor defending as Al Masry grabbed the advantage to strike the winning goal. After the loss in Suez, three players have been singled out, and Inacio Miguel was specifically blamed for his mistake that handed the Egyptian side a glorious chance to punish Amakhosi.
With the playmaker experiencing limited playtime for the Glamour Boys, debate on whether he should be released or his contract extended has been intensifying. With Chiefs engaging in the CAF Confederation campaign this season, one would think Sirino's presence will give the Soweto giants a competitive edge in terms of experience. But with stiff competition for starting slots in the club, it could be hard for the former Mamelodi Sundowns star to be guaranteed regular minutes.
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.
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 Glamour Boys are enjoying a good season domestically and abroad, where they are pushing for glory in top competitions, which will, hopefully, kick-start their path to recovery following a decade-long struggle. Amakhosi will be playing in Egypt this weekend in Group D of the CAF Confederation Cup, hoping to get the best possible start.
The defending Premier Soccer League champions are known for their untamed appetite for good and quality players to continue challenging for top honours domestically and abroad. They have recently been linked to the Bafana Bafana centre-back, who has been growing from strength to strength since leaving the Glamour Boys.
The Cape Town Spurs' product has settled well at the Glamour Boys after his controversial move a couple of weeks ago. The 22-year-old is set to make his first-ever appearance in CAF Inter-Club competitions this weekend as the Soweto giants tackle the Green Eagles in Suez, hoping to get maximum points in Group D.
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.
There’s no doubt, Mzansi football is on the up. One just needs to take one look at the performances of Bafana Bafana over the last few years. Since Hugo Broos took charge, the national team has improved significantly, and the recent nominations of SA players at the CAF Awards were a testament to that fact.
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