The 38-year-old coach gained valuable experience after being at the helm of both the Buccaneers and Masandawana in high-pressure environments. He now finds himself in another demanding role at MC Alger, where expectations remain just as high and intense. This comes after a season at Wydad Casablanca, where he further sharpened his tactical prowess.
The Premier Soccer League has seen some big names over the years. A good chunk of them have moved to pastures new, in all corners of the globe, for massive transfer fees. Given his enormous talent, Mbokazi could fetch a figure as big as anything we've ever seen when he eventually seals a switch to the United States MLS with Chicago Fire.
The Soweto giants’ rising star is still battling to secure a consistent place in the Amakhosi first team despite all the hype around his talent. Adding to the pressure, one of the players he grew up with has already made a major breakthrough and is now an international player with a strong reputation in South African football. That contrast has intensified expectations on the 19-year-old to finally step up and prove his worth.
The Soweto giants are steadily taking over the South African national team by sheer demand, and it comes as no surprise — their form and squad depth speak for themselves. They became the first side in the 2025/26 Premier Soccer League season to lift a trophy. Despite the CAF Champions League setback, they are already chasing more success as they prepare to feature in the Carling Knockout Cup final next month.
They also sit level on 25 points with defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns on the league table, separated only by goal difference.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach was full of praise for the current state of South Africa’s displays on the bigger stages. Bafana Bafana recently reaped the rewards of their hard work by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will next month take the stage at the Africa Cup of Nations. Meanwhile, Amajimbos bowed out of the FIFA U-17 World Cup earlier this month, and the senior women’s national team is busy preparing for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations [WAFCON].
The Tshwane giants travel to Algeria, where they will battle it out at the Ali La Pointe Stadium on Friday evening against their former coach Rhulani Mokwena, whose side is wounded after a disappointing start to the CAF Champions League group stage. Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns supporters remain divided — some still yearning for Mokwena’s return due to dissatisfaction with current coach Miguel Cardoso, while others hope this clash will prove that the former Orlando Pirates mentor was not necessarily the ideal candidate either.
However, once the whistle blows, all off-field debates fall aside, as both teams will be equally tested in their pursuit of crucial group-stage points.
The Premier Soccer League table is taking shape with a third of the matches already played, as players continue to give their best, hoping to help their respective teams realise their objectives in the South African top tier. A few individuals have made their cases after switching clubs and are already being named for possible rewards at the end of the ongoing campaign.
In a high-octane Premier Soccer League at Olympia Park Stadium, fans were not only treated to drama but also to a classic football match as Stellenbosch grabbed a 2-1 win over Orbit College. Monnapule Saleng registered his third assist of the season, although his side was stunned by the opponent's late comeback.
The Belgian has opened a wide, ambitious window with his preliminary AFCON squad - an orchestra of veterans, disruptors and bold prospects that must be cut to 27. The selections signal a team designed for multiple tempos: patience when games tighten, speed when they fracture and enough nerve to suffer. This is not a list; it’s the architecture of how Bafana want to win.
This was the remaining crucial piece of information regarding the domestic competition whose ultimate duel will go down on December 6 in Polokwane. The organisers of the tournament had already announced that Peter Mokaba Stadium would host the final game involving the PSL clubs. Now, it is all systems go as football fanatics await to see who will be crowned the winner as Bucs eye their second domestic trophy.
There was an element of surprise again when the Moroccan tactician opted to bench the Bafana forward who has been a key player for his team. The 24-year-old came on in the second half and played a crucial role in Bucs' 2-0 victory against struggling Chippa United. Ouaddou was put to task to explain why the new signing did not start, and he defended his selection, saying every player on his team needs to be given playing and rest time.
The 20-year-old youngster had been tipped to leave the Buccaneers for an overseas club after his showings in the Premier Soccer League and international outings with Bafana. However, when news broke this week of a potential move being lined up with a North American club, the centre-back found himself at the centre of feverish speculation over whether the move was suitable for his career aspirations.
The Mswenko Boys are set for a stern Stellies test in their midweek Premier Soccer League assignment, hoping to capitalise on Steve Barker’s men’s poor form as they push to climb the table. The Western Cape outfit has struggled this season, which explains why they are far from guaranteed a positive result.
The versatile South Africa international has been a key player for the Sea Robbers, who are seemingly ready to dominate the local footballing scene, thanks to the inconsistencies by Mamelodi Sundowns, who have won the last eight Premier Soccer League titles. The Buccaneers are currently joint top in the logdespite playing a game less.
The Buccaneers have been navigating the season trying to have balance in their matchday squads, especially due to injuries to key players. This has become a real test of their squad depth in a campaign where they still have the chance to finish with a treble or even four trophies. Being knocked out of the CAF Champions League has eased their schedule and reduced the strain on their players. With fewer responsibilities, they can now channel their full energy into achieving success on the domestic front.
South Africa are among the nine teams from the African continent that secured an automatic ticket for the prestigious global competition that will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Hugo Broos' men topped Group C of the qualifiers ahead of Nigeria and Benin to qualify for the tournament that they last participated in way back in 2010 as hosts.
The Buccaneers were in action for the first time since news tipping Mbokazi to join Chicago Fire broke over the weekend. The 20-year-old has been one of the top performers not only for Bucs, but South Africa in 2025. His exploits for both club and country have not gone unnoticed, as there is reported interest in his services from abroad, but how close is the young man nicknamed 'TLB' to leaving Pirates?
The Buccaneers struck twice in the last 45 minutes to collect maximum points in the Premier Soccer League outing against Chippa United at the Orlando Stadium. While the win gave Bucs' supporters hope that their team can go all the way, it was a massive concern for their visitors, who are firmly rooted at the bottom of the table.
The Sea Robbers completed a double against the Chilli Boys on Tuesday night, underlining their hunger for domestic glory after a decade-long drought in the South African top-tier. An improved performance in the second half was all the Soweto giants needed to record their 25th point in the log and pile pressure on Masandawana, who have a superior goal difference.
The 1996 AFCON winner is one of the coaches highly tipped to become the next head coach post-Hugo Broos era. The Belgian has stated more than once that the Bafana Bafana coaching role will be his last, as he intends to retire after the 2026 World Cup finals. The tactician has decided to undergo the requisite training that will prepare him for a higher coaching position.
The Maroons travel to Olympia Park Stadium on Wednesday evening in high spirits after their 1–0 victory in the CAF Confederation Cup group-stage campaign. They now turn their attention to the resilient Mswenko Boys, aiming to secure crucial points in their push to climb the Premier Soccer League log. Still battling to escape the relegation zone, the Western Cape team sits on nine points in 15th place, while their opponents hold a four-point advantage above them.
The Bafana Bafana star has been tipped to leave the Premier Soccer League for a new challenge in Major League Soccer. The timing of his reported move has been questioned, with some saying it is too early, while others say he is ripe for a new environment. Mbokazi has experienced a sensational rise within the Bucs setup, and this propelled him to the national stage, where he has been impressive as well.
His absence from recent matchday squads has raised questions, forcing his agent to clear the air amid his absence. The arrival of head coach Adeslam Ouaddou gave the forward a new lease of life, as he was the preferred striker when the season began. Speculation around his future has intensified over the recent weeks, but what has kept him out of the team has been revealed.
After the FIFA international break, the Buccaneers are back at Orlando Stadium to entertain the Chilli Boys, knowing a win might put them on top of the table, depending on the number of goals they score. The Sea Robbers are chasing a double, having claimed a 3-0 win in their previous meeting staged at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Apart from the aforementioned duo, the Sea Robbers are missing the services of Thabiso Sesane, who made his name with the club under Jose Riveiro. The Soweto giants have shared some encouraging news as the Buccaneers continue their chase for top domestic honours, a couple of weeks after elimination from the CAF Champions League.
The Soweto giants are hoping to mount a serious challenge for the Premier Soccer League title this season under new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. They might have started the league campaign on a poor note with back-to-back defeats, but they have since come good and look like a team prepared to go the distance.
Orlando Pirates
