The Buccaneers came into the match hoping for nothing but a win to push them to the next phase of the annual competition after a disappointing weekend that saw them get knocked out of the CAF Champions League by St Eloi Lupopo of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The victory against Dikwena Tsa Meetse was all the Soweto giants needed.
South Africa have begun preparations for December's Africa Cup of Nations finals to be hosted by Morocco. They will face their COSAFA rivals during the November FIFA break as the Belgian coach tries to come up with a list of players he will take to Africa's flagship football competition.
The winger has been on top of his game for his club and that has not gone unnoticed, earning himself a big gong. He has been lifting his hand up to be recognised by the Buccaneers coach Abdeslam Ouaddou if the Moroccan stays with the Soweto giants beyond next season.
Masandawana are often accused of âkilling the competitionâ by hoovering up the best talent their money can buy. However, highlighted by Cardoso, the latest batch of new signings like Fawaaz Basadien, Katlego âTsikiâ Ntsabeleng, and Asekho Tiwani are still to prove themselves worthy at the reigning champions.
Fresh from CAF Champions League elimination by FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo, the Buccaneers are back to fully focus on domestic responsibilities. They welcome Dikwena tsa Meetse in the last eight of the Beer Cup. These are the same opponents who knocked Bucs out of this competition last season.
Orlando Pirates will welcome defending champions Magesi FC to Orlando Stadium, with plenty on the line for the Soweto giants. The Buccaneers are eager to restore faith among their supporters after falling short in the CAF Champions League preliminary round â a thrilling 3(4)-3(5) encounter against FC Saint Eloi Lupopo that dashed their continental aspirations.
Now, with their focus back on domestic fronts, the Sea Robbers will be determined to chase silverware through the Premier Soccer League and the Carling Black Label Cup, aiming to remind fans that their hunger for success remains as fierce as ever.
Although they showed strong character and a spirited fight, the Sea Robbers were eliminated from the continental competition. After their continental campaign ended, even after coming so close last season, it means Bucs will only be chasing domestic titles in 2025-26.
There is not much time to rest for the Sea Robbers, as they are back in action for a domestic clash against their Premier Soccer League opponents. After elimination from the CAF Champions League despite fighting hard in the second leg of the preliminary round, it is now time to face another rival in another competition.
Bafana Bafana and Burnley striker Lyle Foster was something of a late bloomer, but the 25-year-old Soweto-born striker is reaching his peak at just the right time with his club five points above the relegation zone and the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 less than two months away.
The Soweto giants are coming up against the defending champions on Tuesday in the last eight fixture that will be staged at the Orlando Stadium. The Sea Robbers were eliminated by the Dikwena Tsa Meetse in the 2024/25 edition, explaining why the mid-week fixture will be exciting. A recent CAF Champions League defeat will be a motivation for the home team.
The 73-year-old Belgian is hopeful of guiding South Africa to continental glory after guiding the national team to bronze in the 2021 edition that was staged in Ivory Coast. He is, however, unhappy with the managers of the domestic competitions, who he feels have refused to accord the national team much-needed support for them to prevail in Morocco.
The 29-year-old Bafana Bafana international is one of the talented players from Mzansi, but now playing trade in Tanzania with Wekundu wa Msimbazi. The experienced midfielder has established himself at his new club in East Africa, where he has been vital in the final third. He has further discussed the interest from the Soweto giants in his services.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach is at a club where there are high demands for results and not winning the continental competition is regarded as failure. The Algerian giants are known for not being patient with coaches. However, it is an environment he is familiar with after experiencing it at Masandawana and Wydad Casablanca.
Nuno Santos and Peter Shalulile scored at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium to hand the Brazilians another win after beating their second preliminary round rivals on their own turf in the first leg. Since the big win at the M.K.O. Abiola Stadium, Downs' tactician has revealed that their objectives shifted.
The South African's side was made to sweat by their second preliminary round continental rivals, who proved to be a very stubborn opponent. However, in the end, it is Mokwena's team that had the last laugh.
South African teams were in action this weekend in the second leg of the preliminary rounds of both the Champions League and the Confederation Cup. Pirates and Sundowns did action in the continentâs premier competition - the CAF Champions League - while Chiefs and Stellies were playing in the Confederation Cup.
The Premier League served up a Southern African showdown as Bafana Bafanaâs Foster and Zimbabweâs Munetsi both found the net in the match between Wolves and Burnley. Munetsi struck first for the home side, but it was Foster who sealed the deal with a late winner at Molineux Stadium on Sunday, 26 October.
Abafana Bes'thende have now joined Richards Bay in the semi-finals as the domestic competition heads towards its conclusion. The win is a boost for the ex-Masandawana tactician, who is hopeful of winning at least a title this season.
On Sunday, South African defending league champions Mamelodi Sundowns booked their place in the CAF Champions League group stages with a commanding 7â1 aggregate win over Nigeriaâs Remo Stars. The result underlines Masandawanaâs continental ambitions as they continue their pursuit of a second CAF Champions League star.
Amakhosi's dream of winning a continental trophy remains alive thanks to their dominant home game against AS Simba. The Glamour Boys' hope of a group stage ticket was realised within just 26 minutes, as they had already achieved an advantage that Simba could not cancel in the end.
Heading into the return leg, Masandawana all but sealed their spot in the group stages after a dominant 5-1 first-leg win over Stars. With their midweek league clash against Sekhukhune United postponed, the hosts enjoyed a full week of focused prep ahead of the second leg, ready to finish the job and maintain their continental momentum.
After failing to score in the first-leg encounter despite creating many open chances, Amakhosi were clinical at home, and before the half-hour mark, they had stretched the win quite beyond the reach of their rivals. Chiefs must now ensure they are ready for more gruelling challenges in the group stage.
The Buccaneers are out of the continent's premier club competition following what some might view as an unlucky exit from the tournament. Their Moroccan coach made a surprise selection of his starting line-up up which sparked debate, and he has come out to justify his choices.
A former Mzansi defender has analysed Broos' squad and identified what he feels is a problem with it. As the former Cameroon tactician is expected to leave after the World Cup finals, his successor has been urged not to follow Broos' script.
The former Simba SC tactician has had a rather good start to his reign with the Moroccan outfit. Davids left the Tanzanian heavyweights for a return to North Africa, where he hopes to enjoy some success.
The Tshwane giants head into the game confident, given the kind of results they registered away from home. The technical bench must be mulling over whether to deploy their usual first teamers or deploy other players who have not been regularly used in order to prove themselves.
Orlando Pirates
