The ex-Masandwana defensive midfielder is reportedly on the verge of returning to professional football with Babina Noko after a period in the wilderness. The 29-year-old, whose immense talent has frequently been overshadowed by persistent fitness struggles, has been reported to be training with the Limpopo team.
South African football legend has launched a scathing assessment of the current crop of strikers in the Premier Soccer League, suggesting a lack of dedication is behind the dwindling number of hat-tricks. Despite Relebohile Mofokeng’s recent heroics, Ndlanya believes the modern forward is falling short of the standards set during his own prolific era.
In a bid to strengthen their off-field structures, the Soweto giants are expected to bring on board the tactician from their league opponents. The tactician is said to have already bid farewell to Stellies ahead of his move to join the Sea Robbers. Should the move see the light of day, it will reinforce a trend where the top-flight rivals have exchanged talents in recent times.
The Premier Soccer League campaign continues with a lot to play for among teams. At stake is winning the title race, earning a spot to play continental football next season, as well as avoiding the dreaded relegation at the end of the season.
South African football fans will have to wait at least another 12 months before Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology is officially introduced to the domestic game. Despite the government fulfilling its promise to provide the necessary funding, high-ranking officials have urged patience as the technical rollout begins.
As the Premier Soccer League entered matchday 21, the title race is intensifying with contenders pushing hard to gain an advantage. At the other end of the table, several sides are locked in a tense fight to avoid the drop as the pressure of relegation looms large. Meanwhile, attention is also fixed on the crowded midtable, where teams are battling to secure places in next season’s MTN8.
The dream of lifting silverware for Usuthu may be over, but for the ambitious coach ‘10111’, as he’s affectionately known by the fans, there’s still one last mission to cement the club’s name among the elite.
The Mpumalanga side overpowered their visitors from the Northern Cape to become the first top-flight league side into the semi-finals, joining Casric Stars and Milford FC in the last four. Meanwhile, the KwaZulu-Natal derby between Golden Arrows and Durban City will determine who takes up one spot left to claim.
The Mpumalanga side overpowered Spears to become the first Goliath into the semi-finals, joining Casric and Milford in the last four. Meanwhile, tension is building ahead of the KwaZulu-Natal derby, with just one spot left to claim.
The final four teams are officially confirmed as City secured a hard-fought penalty shootout victory over Abafana Bes'thende to join the Rockets, as well as lower-division sides Casric Stars and Milford FC in the last-four.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa are fighting hard for points that will take them out of the danger zone. A never-surrender fighting spirit saw them mount a comeback after going down and eventually win, piling pressure on the equally struggling Chilli Boys.
There have been questions raised about some decisions made in the South African top tier, some of which have cost teams trophies as well as points. SAFA, alongside the Premier Soccer League management, has been working in conjunction with the government to improve the situation of football in the country.
The 55-year-old coach has moved to temper expectations surrounding his side, insisting that a charge for the title was never the internal mandate. Despite Babina Noko sitting in a competitive position, Tinkler is adamant that any championship talk has been manufactured by the media rather than the club’s boardroom.
The 24-year-old playmaker, who had become a peripheral figure at Chloorkop due to a loss of form and whispered concerns regarding his discipline off the pitch, made a triumphant return to the spotlight on Sunday with a Man of the Match display.
Masandawana managed to withstand the Babina Noko storm and finally collected three points at home. The victory ensured that Downs remain in a neck-and-neck battle with the Sea Robbers as the league enters the homestretch. Bucs had earlier registered a convincing win over arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in a Soweto derby showdown.
Going into this fixture, Masandawana were already under pressure after Orlando Pirates widened the gap on Saturday. A convincing win over Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby saw the Sea Robbers go three points ahead of Downs. But after the Sunday result, the title race rivals are at par point-wise, but Bucs lead courtesy of a superior goal difference.
Premier Soccer League action continued this weekend as the campaign rolled into matchday 19, with teams jostling for crucial points in the race for honours and survival. While the Soweto Derby featuring Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates understandably hogged the limelight, other teams were also in action, quietly shaping the standings and adding fresh twists to an increasingly competitive season.
Since the 2019/20 season, when many believed Kaizer Chiefs were destined to lift the trophy, the Premier Soccer League has rarely produced such uncertainty at the top. Sundowns have consistently set the pace in recent years, often pulling clear of the chasing pack. However, the 2025/26 season seems to be heading in a similar direction, with the title race far less predictable, a development that the ex-Bafana forward finds exciting.
The Derby is one of the most emotionally charged fixtures in South African football, where nerves and pressure can either inspire brilliance or lead to costly mistakes. By focusing on emotional control and mental readiness in the build-up, Ouaddou appears to have struck the right chord, a psychological approach that translated into a composed and ruthless performance from the Buccaneers.
The Tshwane giants will be determined to claw their way back to the summit of the Premier Soccer League table, a task that promises to be anything but straightforward. Babina Noko, equally desperate, are battling for every available point as they look to solidify their place in the title race.
Babina Noko will be paying a visit to the Tshwane outfit, setting up a clash that promises intensity. The last meeting between these sides saw Sundowns claim maximum points with a 2-0 win over a resilient Limpopo side. This time, both teams head into the fixture in need of points, with their eyes firmly set on the league title, currently a tightly contested race among the top four.
Although the Brazilians are in a neck-to-neck battle for the Premier Soccer League title, their performance has not been convincing. Questions about Downs' ability to compete arise because the Tshwane giants are struggling to score goals and even to win in very convincing ways. While all these happen, it is the coach that has had to deal with immense pressure and criticism.
The Tshwane giants have long set high standards, and unfortunately, the recent performances have raised questions. The tight league title race has placed the Chloorkop outfit under intense pressure, but Motsepe believes these challenges can be overcome through mutual understanding between the fans and the technical team, as well as the management's long-term goals for the club.
The 24-year-old has become one of the most talked-about talents at Chloorkop, with the second half of the season highlighting a significant improvement for the Cape Town-born midfielder. Among those impressed is former Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana, who has publicly backed him as the best midfielder in the country.
The Tshwane giants face a tough challenge of defending the league crown after a dominance that has stretched for eight seasons straight. What makes it an even more entertaining race is the fact that the two Soweto giants are pushing hard and Downs are inconsistent. As the marathon intensifies, the defending champions have been told not to look for favours elsewhere but must do it by themselves.
This is a season that has the Masandawana faithful counting down to the final whistle, hopeful that the Tshwane giants can still salvage success from what has largely felt like a campaign to forget. With frustrations mounting and fingers pointed at management and the coach, questions have swirled around team selections. However, Cardoso has set the record straight and firmly dismissed the allegations.
Sekhukhune United
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