The Glamour Boys, under the guidance of co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, have been placed in Group D of the CAF Confederation Cup. They’ll face tough competition from Zambian outfit ZESCO United and Egyptian giants Zamalek SC and Al Masry SC as they aim to make a strong impression in the group stages.
The Buccaneers' head honcho has been at the helm of the league since 2003, steering domestic football through two decades of both progress and controversy. His long reign has seen both the league's commercial growth and debates about democratic governance issues. While some credit him for building a financially stable league, others argue that his extended stay has blocked fresh leadership and new ideas into the local game.
We sat down with the former Orlando Pirates midfielder and now U19 coach at AmaZulu to get his views on the the Amajimbos attacking midfielder and his future in the game.
The Midnight Express has been identified as the right man to replace one of Bafana's greatest coaches when he steps down next year. The 56-year-old has enrolled for a coaching course and upon completion, will be eligible to take charge of an African senior national team.
South Africa has a wealth of talent, with each player boasting their own blend of abilities. Some are fast, or technically gifted, or have a creative vision that can split a defence apart. Others are more athletic and can put in a crunching tackle or two. No matter what their skillsets are, there is one thing they all have in common: the price a football club is willing to pay for their services.
Mabviravira have made history in Zimbabwe in their maiden season in the top flight, becoming the first team in 41 years to achieve such a feat. The club enjoyed an impressive campaign, winning 17 games, drawing 10, and losing just five across 32 matches. Their remarkable performance earned them a reward of millions of rands from businessman Wicknell Chivhayo.
The versatile attacker is dazzling the fans with his skills and technique, which has seen him go top of the table as far as goal-scoring is concerned. In just 10 games, he has been directly involved in 10 goals for his club, who are six points from the top. The former defender now hopes the Soweto giants can give him a chance.
The Brazilians are set for the resumption of the CAF inter-club competition once the FIFA international break concludes. The South African champions are hoping to go all the way and win the prestigious annual continental competition after reaching the final last season, but ended up falling to Egyptian outfit Pyramids.
Although the DR Congo outfit advanced to the group stage of the CAF Champions League, they remain on tenterhooks as the case filed by Pirates has not yet been determined. Lupopo are in Group C and will face Mamelodi Sundowns, Rhulani Mokwena's MC Alger and Al Hilal. That means they will make another trip south to face the Tshwane giants after eliminating Bucs at the preliminary stage.
Although he recently defended his policy of rotating players, the former Marumo Gallants tactician has hinted that the same may not apply to the goalkeeping department. Despite having options, the Moroccan has regularly trusted the experienced goalkeeper week in, week out. With a cup final coming up in December, Ouaddou is expected to stick with Chaine again as Bucs chase another domestic trophy.
The 73-year-old Belgian has less than a year to serve Mzansi before leaving the footballing scene and focusing on his family. With the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming, the former Cameroon head coach is reluctant to gamble with his squad, opting to stick to the players who have been doing the job.
Bucs and Bahlabane Ba Ntwa will face off at the 45,500-capacity stadium that is expected to host a sold-out affair. Last season, the final game was held at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein when Magesi FC shockingly beat pre-match favourites Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 to clinch the domestic title. This will be the first final at the Peter Mokaba Stadium for the first time in almost 10 years.
When the Buccaneers announced the Moroccan tactician as Jose Riveiro’s successor at the beginning of the season, many were left unconvinced. The lanky former defender had big shoes to fill, replacing a man who had won the hearts of the ‘Happy People’ after bringing much-craved success.
The public broadcaster is facing a potential blackout after failing to settle its broadcast rights debt with the South African Football Association. It is a lapse that could leave millions of South Africans, who rely on the SABC, unable to watch an international involving Bafana Bafana.
The former Bucs star has delivered once more for the North African giants, who are fighting to win the league again after struggling under Rhulani Mokwena last season. However, the heavyweights are facing a challenge this early from FAR Rabat as the season gathers momentum. Although Lorch has been in good form, he has not been appreciated at home, as the national team head coach keeps ignoring him.
The South African tactician extended his unbeaten run in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 as MC Alger secured a hard-fought win over relegation-threatened El Bayadh on Sunday. The result keeps Mokwena’s side firmly atop the standings and adds further momentum to their impressive domestic campaign.
The Premier Soccer League sides served up an entertaining encounter as they fought for a final slot in the domestic cup. After a rather dull first half, a four-goal thriller was witnessed in a livelier second half. Despite the thrilling show, no team managed to get a winning goal even in extra time, and the winner was decided from the post-match penalty shoot-out.
The Buccaneers crashed out in the second preliminary round, losing the two-legged tie to DR Congo’s Saint-Eloi Lupopo. The Soweto giants had hoped to build on last season’s run, which ended in a semi-final defeat to eventual champions Pyramids, making this early exit a bitter blow to their continental ambitions.
The 47-year-old arrived in South Africa in March 2025 and quickly made an impression during a brief three-month spell at Marumo Gallants. His move to the PSL came after years of building his coaching resume in Europe and Africa, beginning as a youth football coach in France before taking on a national team backroom role with Algeria. The former Morocco international defender was then thrust at the helm of MC Oujda in Algeria and had coaching stints in Benin and DR Congo. That diverse experience in different countries set the stage for impressing at Gallants before being lured by the Buccaneers.
The former Bafana Bafana star claims that the Amakhosi youngster is not as effective as he should be because he is deployed out of position. Khanye has also blamed those who nurtured the teenager, saying they did not develop him well. Despite Khanye's claims, Vilakazi has been fighting hard and is pushing himself to be one of the key players for his club.
After a painful CAF Champions League exit, the Buccaneers quickly picked themselves up, turning their continental disappointment into domestic motivation. They managed to weather a stern challenge from the Natal Rich Boyz to storm into the final of the Beer Cup where they face the winner of the game between Golden Arrows and Marumo Gallants who clash in the other semi-final.
The Sea Robbers are looking dangerous and untouchable with each passing weekend as they continue grinding results in the league. However, the Brazilians are struggling for consistency despite their good quality, as defending champions Amakhosi hope to end their unimpressive run with victory when they play on Sunday.
The Sea Robbers will be taking part in their second cup final this season after defending the MTN8 earlier. Reaching the ultimate stage of the domestic competition also means Ouaddou is in a prime position to win a second trophy in his debut season with the Soweto giants. However, elimination from the CAF Champions League at the preliminary stage will always be cited by his critics.
The Buccaneers have been excellent in domestic competitions, where they are chasing a quadruple after the CAF Champions League exit. After winning the MTN8, the Sea Robbers are in the Carling Knockout final following their success this weekend in the semi-final staged at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
The defending Premier Soccer League champions have found the going a bit tough in the 2025/26 edition, despite sitting on top of the table after 12 games. The Soweto giants have been doing quite well in the South African top-flight as opposed to the Brazilians who, despite their quality, seem to lose it in critical times.
The win is a morale boost for the Sea Robbers, who were recently eliminated by Saint-Eloi Lupopo in the CAF Champions League. Advancing to the final of the competition means Bucs' chances of winning another domestic trophy are now a high probability. For Richards Bay, it is an agonising moment after advancing to the last four only to lose by a slim scoreline.
Orlando Pirates
