It seems like the defending Premier Soccer League champions are set to start preparations for the new campaign as soon as possible. They have already identified their target, who has massive experience in the South African game despite his tender age. The versatile attacker has been linked with a move to the Soweto giants.
A scandal has shaken Chloorkop as the Brazilians brace for a swim-or-sink showdown against the Algerian giants led by their former coach. The high-stakes encounter has heightened tension around the club, with anticipation building ahead of what promises to be a fiercely contested clash. For coach Miguel Cardoso, the outcome could prove decisive, with his job hanging in the balance.
As the former Orlando Pirates coach hopes to have a successful campaign with the Algerian outfit, he has declared that he will use a template perfected by 'Jingles'. The young tactician worked under the three-time CAF inter-club competition winner during their time at Masandawana, where he must have picked up one or two technical cues from his then mentor.
The 24-year-old seems to be on his way back to top form following his impressive performances in recent games. This follows some struggle for regular game time and failing to influence games after moving to Chloorkop from Stellenbosch FC a year ago.
The Brazilians face the possibility of failing to reach the quarter-finals of Africa's premier club competition as they struggle, the latest being dropping points in Lubumbashi. However, their Portuguese coach blames their opponents for employing some dirty tactics to deny them victory.
The draw complicates Masandawana's dream of reaching the last eight and puts more pressure on head coach Miguel Cardoso. This was the third straight match where Downs dropped points after a defeat and a draw against Al Hilal in the previous two games. Should the Pretoria giants fail to advance, they will be considered architects of their own downfall, given the inconsistency in performance that they have shown.
Masandawana will face the DR Congo outfit in a match that has high stakes as far as their fate in the continental competition is concerned. Already, Downs have fallen down on the standings after Rhulani Mokwena's MC Alger beat Al Hilal, which means their situation is more complicated even before they kick the ball for their fifth group stage game.
Masandawana will visit the DR Congo outfit for a crucial match that could determine their fate in the continental competition. The Downs' tactician is aware of how the Sea Robbers fell at the TP Mazembe Stadium and is keen for his charges to avoid the same pitfall. Lupopo are expected to give Sundowns a tough challenge, as they are also in the hunt for points to boost the odds of reaching the next phase of the competition.
The Brazilians narrowly beat Gomora United to keep their Nedbank Cup hopes alive, providing a timely boost for Cardoso after days of mounting pressure and supporter criticism. While the victory was the highlight of the night, the 53-year-old also revealed that a suspicious photo had landed in his hands, reiterating the need for VAR in the domestic league as a way to safeguard the integrity of the game.
The 38-year-old has had a relatively good time in Algeria with the People's Club, especially in domestic competitions. However, in his recent interview with the media, the former Masandawana tactician has conceded that something is amiss. He argues that some of his requests to the management were not met.
In a bid to make themselves a competitive outfit in PSL and in Africa, Masandawana have always crossed the borders to bring on board players. Whereas some have come and left an impact, others have flopped despite high expectations that came with their arrival. In the off-season and mid-season transfer windows, Downs have followed the same script as they aim to collect more trophies.
Mokwena's charges registered their first win in the group to close in on Masandawana, who dropped points against Al Hilal. The Sudanese giants lead by a sizeable margin, but for Downs, MC Alger and Lupopo, the race to win the quarter-final ticket remains a tight affair.
Mokwena's trophy dream faced a new storm after a second loss in the continental competition. Now with just a point, MC Alger's ambition of reaching the knockout stage is uncertain after dropping points once again. According to the South African tactician, his side did not challenge their rivals, whom he says were simply the better team on the day.
The blow has come at a time when the South African's multiple-title dream was boosted by a domestic trophy won a few days ago. Although Mokwena's campaign on the domestic front looks promising, he has struggled to find good form in the continental competition. Now, his side is facing what looks like an imminent elimination from Africa's premier inter-club competition.
The Glamour Boys have reportedly been chasing the experienced and versatile attacker for a couple of years now. He, however, left Young Africans of Tanzania for the former Rhulani Mokwena club, initially on loan, before the Botola Pro League side made his deal permanent. He is one of the quality players on the continent, explaining why Amakhosi have been repeatedly linked to him. However, those links have been put to bed in emphatic style by the club's head of recruitment.
The West African player, who made his name at Young Africans in Tanzania before he moved north, could be on his way out after another North African club is reported to be ready to sign him. Despite making a reported big money transfer from Tanzania to Morocco, the forward has not quite settled with the Moroccan heavyweights.
The former Orlando Pirates coach has gone on to create history beyond Mzansi borders, with the 39-year-old tactician once again underlining his pedigree. Having already shown his capability during his spells at Mayfair and Chloorkop, the latest cup triumph with his current side came as no surprise to Pitso Mosimane, who had long foreseen Mokwena’s success and publicly backed him when he appointed him as his assistant at Sundowns.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach has seemingly managed to get his grip back in North Africa after the Botola Pro League inconsistencies. The 39-year-old hopes to deliver for the Algerian outfit domestically and on the continent. This is happening amid speculations that the South African might return to Mzansi with Kaizer Chiefs.
There has been a massive debate regarding the decision by the national team technical team to exclude Mshishi and Nyoso from the squad, which featured in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where South Africa crashed out in the Round of 16, falling 2-1 against the five-time champions Cameroon.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates tactician has been heavily linked with a return to Mzansi despite his strong showings with the Algerian Ligue 1 outfit, the People's Club. The Glamour Boys have been tipped to make changes to their technical team at the end of the ongoing 2025/26 campaign.
The 38-year-old has been doing relatively well since his exit from the defending Premier Soccer League champions two seasons ago. He has since been serving in North Africa, initially with the Botola Pro League outfit Wydad Athletic Club, followed by MC Alger of Algerian Ligue 1, who took him in at the start of the ongoing campaign.
The 38-year-old former Orlando Pirates and Masandawana tactician has been proving his doubters wrong with his tactics in North Africa, where he is currently contracted to the Algerian League 1 outfit, a couple of months after leaving Morocco's Botola Pro league. The South African has been linked to the Glamour Boys.
The South Africa versatile attacker has been excellent for both the Buccaneers and the national team across all competitions. There have been a host of clubs that have been heavily linked with the winger, but none have materialised so far despite the talent he has. The former Masandawana tactician has now revealed interest in the Bucs player.
Mokwena's journey with the Algerian side has been impressive so far, and they are likely to lift more trophies in his maiden season. Judging by how the journey is going, the South African tactician could have a far more successful season after struggling with Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca. This is the second time that the Premier Soccer League-winning tactician has been praised by an opponent who faced his team.
The South African tactician continues to make waves in North Africa, guiding MC Alger with a calm authority and a growing sense of purpose. Mokwena’s unbeaten run has injected belief into the squad and heightened expectations among supporters as the club pushes deeper into the Algerian Cup and edges closer to silverware.
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.
MC Alger
