The 21-year-old winger endured an unceremonious exit from Amakhosi but has since reinvented himself at TS Galaxy, emerging as one of the standout performers in the PSL. His exploits with the Rockets have placed him on the fringes of the Bafana Bafana setup and has a chance of featuring at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His form has also sparked transfer speculation, linking him with a return to Amakhosi as well as interest from Mamelodi Sundowns and the Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers have already clinched two trophies this season and, despite their CAF Champions League elimination, they still have a chance to finish the campaign with four titles. Their new signings have emerged as genuine game-changers, injecting fresh energy and quality into the squad. Their influence could prove decisive as the Soweto giants push to achieve their silverware ambitions.
The 20-year-old has made a huge leap in his young career, sealing a major move just nine months after breaking into professional football. While he was widely tipped to take the European route, the defender has instead opted for a switch to America, a decision that has sparked mixed reactions. Two former Amakhosi midfielders have come out strongly in support of the move after his national team coach openly voiced his opposition.
South Africa’s brightest young talent, Mbokazi, finds himself in the bad books of the no-nonsense Bafana Bafana coach and needs to work his way out to keep his dream of playing in the AFCON as well as the World Cup. Broos was left fuming after Mbekezeli Mbokazi, fresh from leading the Buccaneers to yet another cup triumph, arrived late for the national team camp in preparation for the upcoming AFCON.
Despite being overlooked by Bafana Bafana for the Africa Cup of Nations, the former Platinum Stars player has maintained his impressive club form, delivering influential performances and playing a key role in driving his side into the next round of the cup competition as his momentum continues to build.
The 27-year-old heads to AFCON with South Africa on the back of a rejuvenated season in which he rediscovered his best form with the Buccaneers. He last tasted international tournament football in 2017 at the Under-20 AFCON with Amajita, but now has the chance to showcase his talent on the big stage with the senior national team. Much is expected of him at the tournament in Morocco as he looks to repay coach Hugo Broos for the faith shown in him.
The Sea Robbers have had quite an impressive Premier Soccer League campaign so far and rightfully top the standings. A coach who won the PSL title with Masandawana has warned that teams have cracked Bucs' success code and will frustrate them when the season resumes. The tactician has, however, pointed out that the Buccaneers have the capacity and ability to withstand the frustrations expected.
The Moroccan tactician is having a dream start at Pirates, as he has collected three trophies so far since the season began. Although the latest collection is not an official one, it matters a lot because it was won without key players and against a side that had a number of top players from PSL. Naturally, one would expect him to celebrate, but the former Marumo Gallants coach says his mind is focused on what is more important.
The former Orlando Pirates striker will head straight to Morocco after South Africa coach Hugo Broos indicated that his Europe-based stars will team up with the rest of his squad at the continental tournament. That rules him out of Tuesday's international friendly match against Ghana at Dobsonville Stadium. But being someone who has been in the national team setup for a while, his absence from the early stages of camp is likely not to show.
The 27-year-old was given a lifeline by the Buccaneers after being discarded by Mamelodi Sundowns when his career appeared to be heading downhill. He has since silenced his critics by rejuvenating his game at the Soweto giants, earning himself a return to the national team on the back of consistent performances. Now enjoying some good form, he is widely expected to play a key role for South Africa at the continental competition.
The exhibition match at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday provided several players with the opportunity to showcase their talents against Beer Cup champions Orlando Pirates. It proved to be a valuable opportunity for Manqoba Mngqithi’s select side and the Buccaneers players alike to stake their claims during this AFCON break. In the end, the afternoon turned into a vibrant parade of what the Premier Soccer League has to offer, including exciting prospects emerging from the DStv Diski Challenge ranks.
The Sea Robbers have been doing well in South African domestic football this season where they have already won the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout. The Buccaneers are now tipped to go all the way and win the Premier Soccer League owing to their form, quality, and depth. Bucs are also hoping to make an impact in the Nedbank Cup.
With key players unavailable as they are focused on the Africa Cup of Nations, Ouaddou is expected to give playtime to other stars. In the team that has landed in Durban ahead of the showdown against All-Stars, there are a few players, including a teenager, who could be deployed. After winning the Carling Knockout, the Bucs might win another trophy on Saturday, although it is not an official cup.
The 20-year-old former Orlando Pirates defender, who recently joined a Major League Soccer outfit, Chicago Fire, found himself on the receiving end after failing to report to the South African residential camp on time. The 73-year-old Belgian tactician did not take it lightly, as anticipated, since he loves players who are disciplined.
The 24-year-old winger is one of the players who featured at the last edition of the continental tournament in Ivory Coast, even though he was used only sparingly at the time. Back then, he was still turning out for Polokwane City before securing a big move to the Buccaneers ahead of the current season. The national team coach has since highlighted the significant improvement shown by the Cape Town-born star.
South African political party, United Democratic Movement (UDM), has angrily reacted to the utterances made by the Belgian coach as he took aim at his defender and the player's agent who facilitated the transfer from the Buccaneers to North America. The political party has deemed the coach's remarks as inappropriate, leading to them approaching the Human Rights Commission with a complaint.
The former Morocco defender was captured in a moment of connection with his players after the Buccaneers beat Marumo Gallants 1-0 to win the Carling Knockout at Peter Mokaba Stadium last Sunday. The Soweto giants' coach sprinted on the pitch with his players in hot pursuit to shower him with champagne in celebration of their triumph and second major trophy of the season.
The Buccaneers were rewarded with their impressive domestic form as they produced nine players for Hugo Broos' South Africa, who will be in Morocco from December 21 to challenge for the continental glory. The 20-year-old defender who recently sealed a move to the Major League Soccer outfit Chicago Fire is convinced Bucs players will play a starring role for the national team at the tournament.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder has emerged as one of the Buccaneers’ standout performers this season, consistently delivering influential displays in the middle of the park. His impressive form has earned him the trust of both the Soweto giants’ technical team and the national team coach. At 27, he looks rejuvenated and is playing some of the best football of his career.
The 29-year-old has been conspicuously missing from the Sea Robbers during matchdays, and his absence has only generated speculation around his future. Given that he is Bucs' prolific striker, many expected that he would remain a primary figure for the club, but that has not been the case. His coach has now addressed the issue and, in the process, explained why the attacker has not been used on a more regular basis.
In the last transfer window, Bucs signed more than ten players, and that meant there would be stiff competition for starting positions. Some of the players who were regular starters under Jose Riveiro have found themselves snubbed at times, even when they are fit and available. Although Abdeslam Ouaddou has perfected a rotational policy to accommodate every member of his playing unit, even then, some players have been rarely involved.
The experienced former Mamelodi Sundowns tactician has been serving Abafana Bes'thende since his unceremonious exit from the defending Premier Soccer League champions. He has, however, been linked to some top teams, including the Glamour Boys, who are currently under caretaker coaches until the end of the season.
The tactician has beaten a star-studded line-up of coaches and will now lead a yet-to-be-named All-Stars starting line-up. Although he is struggling at club level, the experienced tactician has a chance to win a trophy this season. However, he faces a tough test, given that the recently crowned Carling Knockout champions, Pirates, are his opponents.
There have been calls for Bafana to play against the so-called top nations as part of the preparations for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Local football's governing body has managed to secure a mouthwatering match against one of the teams that will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America as the final preparatory game for Hugo Broos' side.
The Moroccan-French tactician opened up about their biggest rivals' chances of winning the most coveted trophy in the country following the Buccaneers' Carling Knockout success in Polokwane. Ouaddou, who won the September-October PSL Coach of the Month accolade, also discussed the department which needs strengthening with one of Bucs' players likely to leave the club next month.
The Sea Robbers continue to celebrate their majority presence in the national team squad that is heading to Morocco. Out of the 25 players named for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, nine are from the Soweto giants, although Mbekezeli Mbokazi has signed for Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer. Until recently, Masandawana dominated Bafana, but the Sea Robbers have displaced them as the majority contributor.
Sekhukhune United
