When the Belgian announced his 23-man squad headed to Morocco for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON], there were some surprises. The 73-year-old tactician left tongues wagging with some of his choices, leaving out some big names and experienced campaigners. Broos also included a couple of youngsters, some of whom will be in the senior national team setup for the very first time.
The Premier Soccer League rewards the best individuals monthly, starting from the tactician who has delivered for his team, the player with the best starts in the respective month, as well as a second-to-none strike in the South African top-tier. The Sea Robbers have once again been recognised for what they have achieved.
A majority of countries on the continent are unhappy that the World Football Governing Body told clubs they can keep their players for up to a week before the prestigious nations' biennial competition that will be played in Morocco. A total of 24 teams, with South Africa among them, will be battling for the bragging rights.
GOAL digs deep into the stats and numbers to find which players have performed the best in their positions in the league season so far, as we reach the halfway stage of the campaign for most of the Premier Soccer League teams. It is safe to say, though, that there are a few surprises in this list as several fan favourites miss out.
Since co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze took charge following Nasreddine Nabi’s exit, Amakhosi fans have intensified their calls for management to appoint the decorated coach; a move many believe could stabilise the club, restore its competitive edge and fill one of South African football’s most demanding yet coveted roles.
The 29-year-old has been conspicuously missing from the Sea Robbers during matchdays, and his absence has only generated speculation around his future. Given that he is Bucs' prolific striker, many expected that he would remain a primary figure for the club, but that has not been the case. His coach has now addressed the issue and, in the process, explained why the attacker has not been used on a more regular basis.
The assistant coach has voiced frustration at FIFA’s ruling that clubs may delay releasing players until just before the Africa Cup of Nations. Moving away from the long‑standing policy of earlier release dates has sparked concern, with questions over fairness, respect and how such decisions impact preparation for Africa’s premier football tournament.
The Sea Robbers have been excellent in local competitions since the 2025/26 season began, already netting two crowns. This weekend, they have a chance to win another one, although unofficial, when they come up against a team selected by the fans at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Amakhosi and Masandawana have each produced four players in the starting side as voted in.
In the last transfer window, Bucs signed more than ten players, and that meant there would be stiff competition for starting positions. Some of the players who were regular starters under Jose Riveiro have found themselves snubbed at times, even when they are fit and available. Although Abdeslam Ouaddou has perfected a rotational policy to accommodate every member of his playing unit, even then, some players have been rarely involved.
The tactician has beaten a star-studded line-up of coaches and will now lead a yet-to-be-named All-Stars starting line-up. Although he is struggling at club level, the experienced tactician has a chance to win a trophy this season. However, he faces a tough test, given that the recently crowned Carling Knockout champions, Pirates, are his opponents.
The two tacticians have coached in the Premier Soccer League before, where they always created unwarranted drama during matches before leaving for North Africa. The duo faced each other for the first time in the Algerian top tier on Monday night, hoping to get a positive result in their bid to realise the set objectives for their respective clubs.
There have been calls for Bafana to play against the so-called top nations as part of the preparations for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Local football's governing body has managed to secure a mouthwatering match against one of the teams that will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America as the final preparatory game for Hugo Broos' side.
The Moroccan-French tactician opened up about their biggest rivals' chances of winning the most coveted trophy in the country following the Buccaneers' Carling Knockout success in Polokwane. Ouaddou, who won the September-October PSL Coach of the Month accolade, also discussed the department which needs strengthening with one of Bucs' players likely to leave the club next month.
The Sea Robbers continue to celebrate their majority presence in the national team squad that is heading to Morocco. Out of the 25 players named for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, nine are from the Soweto giants, although Mbekezeli Mbokazi has signed for Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer. Until recently, Masandawana dominated Bafana, but the Sea Robbers have displaced them as the majority contributor.
PSL's top three clubs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, are naturally monitoring the talented player's situation, having raided the Winelands side for stars over the years. The highly rated forward will see his contract expire at the end of the season, and this means he is free to sign a pre-contract with a club of his choice from January 1.
The January Transfer window is a couple of weeks ago, meaning the Premier Soccer League teams have already started identifying players to reinforce their respective squads ahead of the second half of the campaign. Usuthu and the Mswenko Boys are among the South African top-tier outfits expected to strengthen.
While he was in charge of the Saudi Pro League side, the tactician said he was interested in signing the South African star. However, due to challenges, the move did not materialise in the end. The experienced tactician also revealed that he is impressed by how Bucs have managed to sign deals with clubs from the Middle East despite the difficulties involved.
The Buccaneers waited until late in the second half of the extra time to find a way past Marumo Gallants to secure their second crown in domestic football. The former Morocco international had helped the Sea Robbers win the MTN8 title early in the season with a victory over Stellenbosch, who were determined to spoil the party.
In what is expected to be a nostalgic reunion, South Africa and Mexico will meet to relive the emotional moments experienced in 2010. Bafana and El Tri met in the opening game then, and although the North Americans fought back to earn a draw, the noise that followed the goal scored by Siphiwe Tshabalala still rings in the ears of the many African football fans. It was not only a classic long-range strike, but it was also the first World Cup goal scored on African soil.
The Belgian mentor recently unveiled his final 25‑man squad set to carry South Africa’s hopes at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. With a blend of seasoned campaigners and rising talents, the group will aim to showcase resilience, unity and ambition on the continental stage as Bafana Bafana prepare to fly the national flag high in pursuit of glory.
With the Premier Soccer League campaign taking shape, the title favourites can now be deduced based on how teams have fared so far. Usual competitors, the Sea Robbers and the Brazilians, are the leading contenders, pointing to another possibility that there will be a tight run between them again.
The Botswana Premier League is steadily emerging as an attractive destination for South African coaches and players seeking new opportunities. This could reflect how football in that country is growing. A clear sign of this progress is the Botswana national team, which has qualified for AFCON and is guided by South African coach Morena Ramoreboli. Now, a big-name coach in South African football is linked with a club in the Southern African nation.
The Premier Soccer League giants are set to sharpen themselves with opponents outside the country as the season takes a break. The league will go into a break to allow players to represent their respective countries in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Morocco. Five of the Masandawana stars will be part of Hugo Broos' team, but the rest will not have as much rest, as they are scheduled to participate in the tournament.
The defending Premier Soccer League champions, Masandawana, are getting stiff competition from the Soweto giants, the Buccaneers, who have been consistent in their bid to win the South African top-flight football. The Brazilians have been dominating the top tier for almost a decade, where they have been crowned nine times.
The South African national team is just a few days away from departing for Morocco, where they will continue their preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations, kicking off on December 21. For a certain PSL right-back, who has earned a place in Hugo Broos’ 25-man squad, a new chapter begins. He will be aiming to see his career reach new heights while gaining valuable experience on the continental stage.
The multiple Premier Soccer League winner was snubbed when the Belgian announced the squad he will be taking to the continental finals in Morocco. Although many were surprised that the experienced star was not called up, some have argued that Broos made the right decision in overlooking him.
Mamelodi Sundowns FC
