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.
After elimination from the continental competition, the South African tactician has continued to face challenges as his charges are yet to win. The Algerian outfit has not won in the last three games, and if the trend continues, it will put the former Masandawana coach under pressure. As the winless run extends, the 38-year-old tactician must come up with a plan to steady his boat before it gets worse.
The 27-year-old last played a competitive football match in November 2025 while on loan at Orbit College from Orlando Pirates. He was apparently playing while carrying a thigh injury that flared up again after his shock move to Chloorkop in January. Now, as February draws to a close, rumours have started swirling about why the winger has yet to make an appearance in a match day squad at Masandawana.
The South African tactician had an ambition of having a successful debut campaign with the Algerian giants. However, one of his targets will not be achieved after the Algiers-based outfit was eliminated from the continental inter-club competition. After suffering the CAF setback, upon resumption of the domestic duty, Mokwena's club was handed another one.
The 53-year-old former Esperance tactician is seemingly getting it right at Masandawana after a heavy storm in the initial games. After just two outings in five days across all competitions, the Brazilians are in the CAF Champions League quarter-final and are now just three points behind the Buccaneers in the Premier Soccer League title race with a game in hand.
The Abafana Bes'thende boss believes the 22-year-old winger has the talent, drive and dedication to improvement for a major transfer overseas and dismissed links to the league's big clubs as mere speculation that won't influence the player or his club as they consider his future.
The defending Premier Soccer League champions are the only team from South Africa still in CAF inter-club competitions after Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch's elimination. The Brazilians hope to go all the way in the ongoing campaign of Africa's premier club competition after reaching the final in the previous edition, but fell to Pyramids from Egypt.
After a difficult week rocked by spying allegations against analyst Mario Masha for allegedly leaking tactical information to Rhulani Mokwena, Madsandawana rose to the occasion with a crucial victory over the Algerian side that kept their CAF Champions League campaign alive.
The South African tactician made an emotional return to the country to face his former side, a club that gave him a platform to become a top coach and a team he won a number of titles with. His mission to South Africa was a high-stakes encounter against Masandawana in search of at least a draw that was enough to send his team to the knockout phase. However, his former side was too strong for the Algerian outfit, who eventually crashed out of the continental competition.
The tension surrounding the much-anticipated clash escalated on match day, with further drama on the touchline. While the Tshwane giants progressed in their CAF Champions League campaign, both technical teams were involved in a heated confrontation that drew attention from officials.
The Portuguese coach went into Saturday’s match with mounting pressure, staring at the embarrassing possibility of failing to steer the Brazilians into the tournament’s knockout rounds. However, Madsandawana rose to the occasion with a crucial victory that kept their campaign alive. The result allowed their tactician to breathe a huge sigh of relief as the immediate threat to his position appeared to have eased.
It was a game of intense tension for both teams and their supporters, since neither could afford defeat in their bid to make the knockout phase. The Brazilians needed maximum points to make the last eight, while the People's Club could afford a draw at Loftus Versfeld Stadium thanks to the recent results in Group C.
The battle for the number one spot continues to heat up, with the Soweto side holding the advantage while Masandawana juggle their CAF Champions League commitments. The man who once starred for the Bucs has shared insights into what sets this season apart for the Mayfair side, explaining why his former team could be strong contenders to clinch the PSL title.
The winger's move from the Soweto giants to the Pretoria heavyweights was the biggest shocking move reported in the January transfer window. Given that some fans had seen the 27-year-old as an outcast after he was ostracised at Bucs, Masandawana still went on to sign him in an attempt to bolster their attacking department. The bigger question now is if the South African international can succeed with the defending league champions.
The defending Premier Soccer League champions host the Rhulani Mokwena side at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, desperate for maximum points in Group D. The Saturday outing in Mzansi might be the final game for under-fire coach Miguel Cardoso, who is struggling for consistency. Anything but a win will lead to Masandawana's elimination.
This is a massive game for the Brazilians as they hope to go all the way and win their second CAF inter-club competition star. However, it might also determine the future of coach Miguel Cardoso, who has been blowing hot and cold across all competitions. Any slip-up will lead to the elimination of the defending Premier Soccer League champions.
The highly anticipated fixture this weekend at Loftus Versfeld Stadium will see either Masandawana or People's Club miss out on the last eight of the CAF Inter-Club competition. The game comes in the wake of recent allegations involving the home team about one of their own sharing the club's strategy with the rivals.
The Brazilians' camp has been on fire this week after damning allegations against one of the technical team members. The saga comes as the team prepares for a crucial CAF Champions League game, at a time the coach would be avoiding any distractions affecting his players. A senior player has responded to the saga rocking Chloorkop.
It has now been revealed that the Soweto giants were keen to sign the fullback but were beaten by their rivals from Pretoria. After establishing himself as a top defender at his former club, the South African talent became a subject of intense transfer pursuit from big clubs. He finally moved to the Tshwane Giants, where he is yet to become a regular starter.
The Brazilians have unusually failed to win their last four continental games, plunging them into a swim-or-sink situation ahead of hosting the Algerian giants in a Valentine's Day fixture at Loftus Versfeld. While facing such a big assignment and trying to stay focused, a scandal has exploded in the Masandawana camp.
Ahead of a highly anticipated fixture at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium this weekend, the official has been temporarily sent home. It is claimed he shared the Brazilians' secrets with the opponents ahead of the crucial game in the annual CAF inter-club tournament.
The Dikwena Tša Meetse skipper has likened his side's league woes to slumps in form and fortune, endured by some of the biggest clubs in world football, but is confident that if they continue to put in the hard work off the pitch, then the results on it will come.
South Africa’s most prestigious knockout competition rolls on as teams gear up for the next phase. The remaining contenders have now discovered the opponents standing between them and a place in the quarter-finals. With the stakes rising, the battle for silverware promises even greater intensity in the rounds ahead.
The Mswenko Boys have moved in to sign an experienced player as the fight against relegation from the Premier Soccer League. High expectations are on the new player to assist a team that lost a top performer like Monnapule Saleng midseason. They hope the new addition willbring them closer to their objective in their debut campaign.
The Amakhosi and Bafana Bafana legend was speaking as a club ambassador at their Carling Black Label partnership launch when he dismissed suggestions that any side that beats The Brazilians to the title when the team is in turmoil will not have the right to believe they are the best team in the country.
The former Esperance tactician is not getting it easy at Masandawana as the Brazilians continue to disappoint domestically and abroad. Despite the resources at his disposal, the Portuguese is at risk of ending the 2025/26 season without silverware domestically and abroad. It explains why he might not end the campaign in Mzansi.
MC Alger
