Orlando Pirates news

The World Cup fever is rising every day even though the actual action will start in three months' time. Every team always has star players, and in the South African case, President Yama 2000 is one of them. The Bucs star is relatively young, but expectations on him are always high, as many expect him to carry the team.

Hugo Broos has always trusted the Masandawana keeper as his first choice even when he has other viable options. Going into the global showpiece, the Belgian is not expected to tinker with his goalkeeping department. However, those he will pick to deputise the Downs skipper is expected to be a hot topic in the debates.

Debate is already raging about who will succeed Lucas Ribeiro Costa as the Premier Soccer League’s best player. With the 2025/26 season approaching its conclusion, the league’s top performers are beginning to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Their decisive contributions in the final stretch could ultimately determine who claims the honour.

Premier Soccer League action is currently on a pause due to the FIFA international break. The Buccaneers went into the break in high spirits after hammering TS Galaxy with half a dozen goals just before the stoppage. That emphatic victory is expected to give the Buccaneers renewed momentum when domestic football resumes.

The Moroccan has sometimes never hidden his disappointment when he fumes during post-match interviews after his players miss clear-cut chances. This has happened even in matches where the Buccaneers go on to win by a comfortable margin. Yet despite his frustration, the Soweto giants remain the highest-scoring side in the Premier Soccer League.

When the Belgian omitted the Bucs star ahead of the Panama friendlies, the move raised eyebrows. Chaine has been Bafana's second-choice keeper, but his place in the national team is now debatable. Broos's decision was shocking, as it came at a time when the goalkeeper was doing relatively well at club level.

The Buccaneer was part of the squad that represented the country in the Africa Cup of Nations, although he did not play. He was also included in the preliminary team that was named before Hugo Broos trimmed it to 23 players ahead of the Panama friendlies. His omission has raised questions on whether the coach has lost trust in him and if he will be considered for a place in the World Cup line-up.

The football lovers in the country have been waiting for the fixture that was initially scheduled a month ago, but the organisers have opted to postpone it. The supporters will definitely be disappointed, the same as the players continue to wait for D-Day.

The Sea Robbers have made remarkable improvements in the last couple of years in their bid to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns, especially in the Premier Soccer League. The Spaniard tactician Jose Riveiro, alongside his technical team, finished second in three consecutive campaigns. Abdeslam Ouaddou has continued from where his predecessor left off.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns star appeared to be on the rise after joining the Buccaneers before the start of this season. He even earned a place in the national team squad for the 2025 AFCON tournament. However, limited game time at the club level has seen him fall out of the national team picture, denting his chances of featuring at the global tournament in North America.