The Polokwane City star has been on an impressive rise, and his consistent performances at club level have earned him recognition and regular call-ups to the national side. However, a former Amakhosi star has questioned why the defender continues to receive limited playing minutes in international matches despite his growing influence.
The Masandawana star is at the sunset of his career, while the Bucs' forward has just begun his career. There has been a raging debate on who will eventually succeed Mshishi given how the experienced playmaker has been influential, especially for his club. President Yama 2000 has shown signs he is ready to step up, but is the debate on who is better coming at the right time?
The 53-year-old coach has warned his players that their record-breaking momentum will mean nothing if they fail to maintain their standards in the Premier Soccer League title race. Despite sitting at the summit of the table, the Portuguese tactician is refusing to let complacency creep into the Chloorkop camp.
The defending Premier Soccer League champions collected vital points on Friday to underline their ambition in the ongoing 2025/26 edition of the South African top-flight football. The Sea Robbers have been doing quite well in Mzansi in their bid to stop the Brazilians from another triumph.
The Portuguese coach praised Masandawana’s tactical flexibility and squad depth after their emphatic 4-1 victory over Chilli Boys on Friday night at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, a result that sees the Brazilians reclaim top spot in the Premier Soccer League standings.
Masandawana needed the win in order to go top of the Premier Soccer League table and at least widen the gap between them and Orlando Pirates. However, the title race remains tight, given that both contenders are only separated by two points as the campaign enters the home stretch. For the Chilli Boys, the defeat is a big blow in their bid to climb up the ladder and avoid a relegation fight.
Masandawana are the only team carrying South Africa's flag on the continental stage after Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch FC were eliminated. After losing in the final of Africa's top-tier club competition last season, Downs are confident that they will win their second continental star this time around.
The 22-year-old is enjoying a terrific year after completing a big move to Masandawana, where he has continued to raise his profile. His impressive performances have also helped him stay in the national team setup. If his progress continues, he could find himself on the plane to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June.
The race for the Premier Soccer League Golden Boot is heating up, with the Masandawana star firmly among the leading contenders. He has kept himself in the conversation for the top-scorer crown. However, his impressive exploits in front of goal have not earned the national team coach's appreciation.
The duo worked together at the Premier Soccer League giants, but their relationship deteriorated in the last stages of their stay at the club. While the midfielder insists that he had fun moments with the tactician at first, there are things he would not have accepted from the coach.
The Rockets have experienced a season of sharp contrasts, swinging between impressive highs and disappointing lows. From stunningly knocking the Brazilians out of the top domestic competition to suffering a humiliating Premier Soccer League defeat at the hands of the Buccaneers, their campaign has been anything but predictable. As a result, opponents often struggle to know what version of the Rockets they will face.
After the international break, full focus is now on the club's competitions, and the league race is expected to dominate the headlines again. The Sea Robbers and the Tshwane giants are in a tight marathon, and pundits are now discussing who has the advantage in the entertaining race.
Hugo Broos sees the Sea Robbers' youngster as a creative player who can have a major impact behind the strikers, a role Mshishi has been playing for South Africa. The 21-year-old has made an impact for the Soweto giants when being placed centrally as opposed to wide areas.
South Africa struggled to take their chances in the recent two international friendly outings against Panama, where they drew 1-1 and lost 2-1 respectively. Lyle Foster and Evidence Makgopa were not convincing just two months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The respected football stakeholder in South Africa insists that some club owners are so much into their teams that they want to dictate some critical aspects. The tactician argues that a section of coaches have no free hand in determining who should be fielded because the managements have their interest.
The defending Premier Soccer League champions will be in action on Friday night, hoping to get maximum points against the relegation-threatened Chilli Boys. Three points will put them above the current leaders, Orlando Pirates, who have played a game more. However, they might not get it easy versus their hosts, who are desperate to avoid the axe.
The Brazilians are back to resume their push for the Premier Soccer League title. They know that a win over the Chilli Boys at Loftus Versfeld on Friday will take them to the top of the table. Their coach will be hoping that most of his players returned from national duty fully fit.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns star has issued a stark warning to the Buccaneers midfielder, saying the playmaker risks becoming a permanent 'what if' in South African football. Despite his natural talent, Mbule has struggled for consistency and has recently been left out of Hugo Broos’ national team plans.
The Masandawana netminder has reportedly committed his future to the Tshwane club by signing a new contract extension. The shot-stopper is back in training following a lengthy injury layoff and is ready to challenge for a starting berth in the coach's lineup.
Masandawana star has underlined the importance of relentless consistency as the Brazilians look to reclaim their place at the summit of the Premier Soccer League. With a high-stakes encounter against Chili Boys looming on Friday evening, the forward believes that maintaining their winning streak is the only way to ensure domestic dominance.
The 39-year-old tactician opted to take the new challenge in Libya after parting ways with Algerian League 1 outfit MC Alger a couple of weeks ago. The celebrated South African is expected to help the North African outfit make a mark both domestically and on the continent since he has financial backing.
Amakhosi legend has identified the man he believes can restore the glory days to Naturena, throwing his weight behind former Tshwane giants coach Manqoba Mngqithi. With the Soweto outfit currently under the guidance of co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben-Youssef, pressure is mounting for a specialist appointment to steady the ship.
The ex-Masandwana defensive midfielder is reportedly on the verge of returning to professional football with Babina Noko after a period in the wilderness. The 29-year-old, whose immense talent has frequently been overshadowed by persistent fitness struggles, has been reported to be training with the Limpopo team.
Chiefs have officially signalled a new era at Naturena, a move that fans hope will mark a turning point for the club's fortunes. After years of deliberation and strategic planning, the Soweto giants have finally stepped into the women’s football arena, acquiring their status in the Gauteng Sasol League for the 2026 campaign.
South African football legend has launched a scathing assessment of the current crop of strikers in the Premier Soccer League, suggesting a lack of dedication is behind the dwindling number of hat-tricks. Despite Relebohile Mofokeng’s recent heroics, Ndlanya believes the modern forward is falling short of the standards set during his own prolific era.
For long, Bucs and Masandawana have formed the backbone of the national team. Going into the World Cup finals, the same is expected to happen given the competitive levels of both teams. Now, Broos wants to see that change, and he wants other clubs to step up.
Mamelodi Sundowns FC
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