Mamelodi Sundowns FC news

The Soweto giants were undone in Bloemfontein on Wednesday night in the Premier Soccer League assignment. Despite coming into the match as clear favourites, Amakhosi returned home empty-handed; they have now gone three games without victory.

The Tshwane giants went back to the summit of the Premier Soccer League table as the race to win the crown tightens with each matchday. The Sea Robbers would have widened the gap at the top had they won against Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby, but that was not the case.

The Glamour Boys were expected to collect their first-ever victory over the Premier Soccer League debutants, but things took an unexpected turn. The Soweto giants were undone by their hosts, ending their recent run of seven league outings without defeat.

The 40-year-old has been given an opportunity to prove his mettle as a coach. After working as an assistant to Adnan Beganovic, he is now at the helm of the Rockets, who are in the Nedbank Cup final, which is a big test for him.

The Brazilians are back at the top of the log standings following a 1-0 victory over Rise and Shine at Seshego Stadium on Wednesday. The narrow win boosted their chances of lifting the league title for the ninth time in a row.

Fresh from their hard-fought Soweto Derby draw, Amakhosi were brought crashing back to earth as the Bloemfontein outfit swiftly punctured their renewed confidence. Lehlohonolo Seema’s side took another significant step away from the relegation zone with a performance full of purpose and conviction. The defeat not only snapped the Naturena side’s unbeaten run and dented their hopes of securing a stable top-three finish, but also tested the growing faith they had begun to place in the tactical approach of co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef.

The Tshwane giants are standing on the precipice of continental immortality as they prepare for a high-stakes CAF Champions League final for the second season running. After the heartbreak of last year, veteran tactician Owen da Gama believes the Brazilians have finally forged the steel necessary to reclaim the throne.

The Usuthu coach anticipated a high-intensity contest from the two traditional giants, and his side would have to match both. He noted that while the two teams carry quality, one has more threat than the other.

The Masandawana star has become one of the standout figures in the Chloorkop outfit and, indeed, in the Premier Soccer League. Season after season, he continues to prove he has the pedigree to proudly fly the South African flag on football’s biggest stages abroad. Yet, despite the growing speculation, his representative has moved quickly to silence the rumours, insisting that the midfield maestro remains fully committed to the task at hand at Chloorkop.

The tactician will be in action on Wednesday night with Rise and Shine against the Brazilians, as the South African top-flight outfits continue working towards achieving their targets. Masandawana are aware they can't afford to drop points.

There is no clear leader in the title marathon between Bucs and Masandawana with a few games to go. The Tshwane giants had a chance to open the gap on Sunday after the Sea Robbers had been held in the Soweto Derby, but were frustrated by Richards Bay, which means the gap remained relatively where it was before.

The South Africa legend has been a keen follower of his former team Amakhosi, whom he represented for 25 years before his exit two seasons ago. The Glamour Boys have been doing well in the last seven games, where they have collected 17 points from a possible 21.

The former Esperance coach has been vocal about some of the pitches in South Africa, arguing they are not fit to host the Premier Soccer League matches. Ahead of the fixture against Rise and Shine, the 53-year-old has publicly explained why he is not happy with the venue.