As the Premier Soccer League title race intensifies, each point becomes precious, and none of the rivals at the top of the table would like to drop any. With Orlando Pirates also unrelenting in their own pursuit of the title, Downs must ensure they are as effective as possible in order to boost their chances of extending their dominance of the top tier to a ninth consecutive season.
There have been questions raised about some decisions made in the South African top tier, some of which have cost teams trophies as well as points. SAFA, alongside the Premier Soccer League management, has been working in conjunction with the government to improve the situation of football in the country.
The PSL has officially confirmed the first set of its Monthly Awards winners for the second half of the season. The Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Orlando Pirates sensation, and Kaizer Chiefs forward have all been recognised for their outstanding contributions during the January–February period.
The honeymoon period is officially over for the 39-year-old coach as his MC Alger side were dumped out of the cup competition by CR Belouizdad on Wednesday. The pressure is mounting on the ex-Mamelodi Sundowns tactician, who has faced criticism of his style of play and is being targeted by Libyan side Al-Ittihad to take their hotseat.
Going forward, Masandawana will be the busiest side among the Premier Soccer League sides. The Tshwane giants are the only club from the country with additional continental duties. That means the technical bench must come with a strategy that will make use of every player as they juggle the busy calendar.
The Pretoria side will be aiming to settle scores with Abafana Bes'thende in a clash that promises excitement, as the KwaZulu-Natal team looks to bounce back after a disappointing weekend draw, while Masandawana remain steadfast in their title defence mission. Downs will need to win this game because if they drop points, that means they would have ceded some ground to title race rivals, Orlando Pirates.
The title race continues to intensify with each passing matchday, placing added pressure on Masandawana as they look to reclaim top spot. They face a stern test on Wednesday when they welcome their former coach, Manqoba Mngqithi, who masterminded their defeat earlier this season.
The Sea Robbers will be back in action on Wednesday after a morale-boosting win over the Glamour Boys in the Soweto derby. Against Rise and Shine, Bucs will need more points in order to keep pace with Mamelodi Sundowns in the tight Premier Soccer League title race.
The 55-year-old coach has moved to temper expectations surrounding his side, insisting that a charge for the title was never the internal mandate. Despite Babina Noko sitting in a competitive position, Tinkler is adamant that any championship talk has been manufactured by the media rather than the club’s boardroom.
The 61-year-old may have delivered a golden era of silverware at Al Ahly, but the South African tactician still has high-ranking detractors in Cairo. Despite a trophy cabinet bulging from his 21-month stint with the Red Devils, former Managing Director of Sport Mohsen Saleh has launched a scathing attack on the coach's credentials and his eventual departure from the Egyptian giants.
The Libyan heavyweights have confirmed that they are in the middle of a high-stakes pursuit to pry the 38-year-old away from MC Alger. Despite the South African tactician being currently employed in Algeria, the Tripoli-based side have identified him as the primary candidate to lead their ambitious sporting project following the departure of Khaled Ben Yahia.
When the 20-year-old moved from Orlando Pirates to Chicago Fire, it triggered a massive upsurge on the Chicago club's social media, which saw 180,000 followers join in the first 48 hours. That figure has since grown to over half a million South African social media accounts now following the club, making up a quarter of their entire online audience.
The South Africa international is one of the new players that the Brazilians signed in the January transfer window. However, he had to endure some time on the sidelines as he recovered from an injury sustained while on loan at Orbit College from the Buccaneers. It is interesting to see how he will impact his new team this season.
Bahlabane ba Ntwa have announced the immediate suspension of their head coach. The decision comes in the wake of a catastrophic slump in form that has seen the club suffer seven consecutive defeats across all competitions, leaving their top-flight status hanging by a thread as they slide into a desperate relegation scrap.
The 24-year-old playmaker, who had become a peripheral figure at Chloorkop due to a loss of form and whispered concerns regarding his discipline off the pitch, made a triumphant return to the spotlight on Sunday with a Man of the Match display.
Masandawana managed to withstand the Babina Noko storm and finally collected three points at home. The victory ensured that Downs remain in a neck-and-neck battle with the Sea Robbers as the league enters the homestretch. Bucs had earlier registered a convincing win over arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in a Soweto derby showdown.
The former Bafana Bafana coach is currently unattached, with his last stints being outside South Africa in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran. He has been linked to Kaizer Chiefs and replacing Hugo Broos in the national team. His tenure at the Cairo giants is still being debated.
Going into this fixture, Masandawana were already under pressure after Orlando Pirates widened the gap on Saturday. A convincing win over Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby saw the Sea Robbers go three points ahead of Downs. But after the Sunday result, the title race rivals are at par point-wise, but Bucs lead courtesy of a superior goal difference.
Premier Soccer League action continued this weekend as the campaign rolled into matchday 19, with teams jostling for crucial points in the race for honours and survival. While the Soweto Derby featuring Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates understandably hogged the limelight, other teams were also in action, quietly shaping the standings and adding fresh twists to an increasingly competitive season.
Since the 2019/20 season, when many believed Kaizer Chiefs were destined to lift the trophy, the Premier Soccer League has rarely produced such uncertainty at the top. Sundowns have consistently set the pace in recent years, often pulling clear of the chasing pack. However, the 2025/26 season seems to be heading in a similar direction, with the title race far less predictable, a development that the ex-Bafana forward finds exciting.
As he shines, the promising attacker has been linked with a move to the Premier Soccer League's big three. According to transfer rumours, he is the most sought-after talent right now in the country. However, he has been advised to take his time before making a rushed decision to join either the Buccaneers, Masandawana or Amakhosi.
The South African coach has come out swinging against his detractors following a frustrating period for MC Alger. The former Mamelodi Sundowns tactician, who has often been compared to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola due to his tactical sophistication, insisted on his own unique coaching identity after his side failed to secure maximum points in consecutive league outings.
The Derby is one of the most emotionally charged fixtures in South African football, where nerves and pressure can either inspire brilliance or lead to costly mistakes. By focusing on emotional control and mental readiness in the build-up, Ouaddou appears to have struck the right chord, a psychological approach that translated into a composed and ruthless performance from the Buccaneers.
The 20-year-old started his first home match of the season and played well in securing a clean sheet for his club despite playing for 40 minutes with 10 men after a VAR review led to a red card for left back Jonathan Dean.
The Tshwane giants will be determined to claw their way back to the summit of the Premier Soccer League table, a task that promises to be anything but straightforward. Babina Noko, equally desperate, are battling for every available point as they look to solidify their place in the title race.
Babina Noko will be paying a visit to the Tshwane outfit, setting up a clash that promises intensity. The last meeting between these sides saw Sundowns claim maximum points with a 2-0 win over a resilient Limpopo side. This time, both teams head into the fixture in need of points, with their eyes firmly set on the league title, currently a tightly contested race among the top four.
Mamelodi Sundowns FC
.JPG?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
