The Super Eagles and Bolton Wanderers icon has sparked debate by suggesting that Mzansi footballers are held back by a lack of ambition to ply their trade in the world's biggest leagues. The midfield maestro, who enjoyed a glittering 20-year career across Germany, Turkey, France, and England, suggested that the talent in the PSL often stays stagnant because players are unwilling to leave the comfort of their surroundings.
The arrival of the 27-year-old at Soweto was seen as a revival of his career following a disappointing spell in Pretoria, and the Bucs faithful quickly took to him. But recently he has struggled to live up to the promising glimpses he once showed. Injuries have also played a part in his setbacks. With his one-year contract soon expiring, time is running out for the playmaker, and fans, along with former players, are beginning to debate whether he has done enough to earn a long-term stay at Mayfair.
After a dramatic build-up surrounding the rescheduling of this fixture due to the Pretoria side’s continental commitments, both teams will be eager to settle matters on the pitch on Tuesday evening with the Pretoria side looking to put pressure on title rivals Pirates who could fall three points behind ahead of their own mid-week match on Wednesday against Richards Bay.
Referees play critical roles in any football competitions but are always on the verge of a severe dressing-down if they make decisions considered biased. The coaches have always expressed their dissatisfaction openly when they feel decisions made were against their teams. Although freedom of expression is allowed, an experienced tactician has cautined his colleagues against public condemnation of the match officials.
Last season, Bucs reached the semi-final of the CAF Champions League, and this season they were eliminated at the second preliminary round. To achieve success, a former Amakhosi star has told the Sea Robbers what they must do, including a forward who fell down the pecking order under the current coach.
The 24-year-old forward arrived at the Soweto giants from Richards Bay before the start of the current season. Expectations on him to deliver are now weighing heavily on his shoulders from the ever-demanding Buccaneers fans. He has managed seven goals and three assists from 21 appearances in different competitions this season
The versatile South African attacker has continued to deliver in North Africa. 'Nyoso', as he is commonly referred to, ditched Wydad Athletic Club for the Libyan outfit to help sharpen their attacking department. He has taken little time to settle into his new team, hoping to help them chase and achieve their targets for the season.
The 27-year-old appears to be going through a difficult phase at the Buccaneers, with injury now compounding his troubles. Even before the fitness setback, he had already lost his place in the team after Relebohile Mofokeng emerged as a star playmaker. With uncertainty over his role, questions are now emerging about what next season might hold for him.
There have been questions about the availability and fitness of the 'Master Chef' who has been used sparingly by the Sea Robbers after the conclusion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Bafana Bafana. The Buccaneers have been relying on other players in midfield despite the quality of the former Mamelodi Sundowns star who joined the club at the beginning of the season.
Following a string of incidents in the mid-week fixtures various coaches have lashed out at the Premier Soccer League's officiating standards. With calls for VAR introduction reaching fever pitch, AmaZulu FC's Arthur Zwane has joined the growing chorus of dissatisfied tacticians clamouring for improvement.
The Buccaneers striker has been set a daunting challenge to find his shooting boots in the PSL title run in, with a club legend suggesting a traditional intervention is required. Since arriving from Richards Bay FC at the start of the current campaign, the 24-year-old has found himself under the microscope as he attempts to lead the line for one of Africa’s most demanding fanbases. While his return of seven goals and three assists from 21 appearances is respectable, the standard at the Buccaneers remains sky-high.
The Sea Robbers managed a slim victory at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium to earn points that firmly keep them in the Premier Soccer League title. However, the match was overshadowed by a controversy; the referee initially pointed to the penalty spot for a Bucs penalty, only to overturn the decision after consultation with his assistant. The Buccaneers coach has now revealed what he thinks of the decision.
The 27-year-old began the season in scintillating form for the Buccaneers, a run that earned him a recall to the national team and a place in the squad for the 2025 AFCON finals. However, his fortunes have dipped since returning from the continental tournament, with his form and game time coming under scrutiny. His agent has since claimed the player is being frozen out for other reasons than his performances on the pitch.
The Sea Robbers had to rely on a late show to overcome a stubborn Rise and Shine outfit, with second-half strikes from Relebohile Mofokeng and Patrick Maswanganyi doing the damage. However, the wet and uneven conditions made life difficult for the Soweto giants, leading Ouaddou to question why a Premier Soccer League fixture was not moved to the modern World Cup venue situated right next door.
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.
The Ghost survived a scare against Rise and Shine in Limpopo but will be happy to go back home with a narrow victory from the match at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday. More importantly for the Soweto giants, they are still at the summit of the Premier Soccer League log.
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.
Amakhosi fans are frustrated following their team's poor run in the last five outings across all competitions. The Soweto giants are at risk of ending the season trophyless after falling short in the Carling Knockout, Nedbank Cup, and, most recently, CAF Confederation Cup. Their only hope is in the Premier Soccer League, where they are facing stiff competition from Orlando Pirates and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Buccaneers will host the Natal Rich Boyz at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Wednesday. The KwaZulu-Natal side will come in high on confidence, having secured three points against Kaizer Chiefs in their last league match. However, for the Sea Robbers, every point is crucial at this stage, and they are laser-focused on the title race, while the visitors are striving to climb the standings and secure a coveted top-eight finish.
After facing off in the first Soweto derby of the season, both Bucs and the Sea Robbers are staring at bad news. Amakhosi and the Buccaneers will be in action in the midweek but will have to do duties without key players. The stars are suspended, meaning the coaches of the respective teams will have to look out for alternatives.
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.
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.
A legal battle could be looming as the forward accuses the two football bodies of failure to enforce an order by FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Since the world governing body ordered that the former Amakhosi star be paid his dues, that has not happened. Now, the two football administrative bodies find themselves in a difficult position given the new steps taken by the player.
The Glamour Boys welcome the joint league leaders this weekend, Saturday, at home in a highly anticipated fixture. Interestingly, both teams are desperate for a win following their recent struggles, explaining why both sets of supporters are anxiously waiting for the biggest game on South African soil.
During the Buccaneers Nedbank Cup exit at the hands of second-tier Casric Stars, a section of the home support started booing 'Tito'. Now, in the aftermath of the defeat and with the Derby just days away, Innocent Chikoya has slammed the fans who targeted the 27-year-old and reminded them that the attacker was their last-minute penalty hero against Amakhosi just a year ago.
Amakhosi will welcome their former head coach, Gavin Hunt, who will lead his troops for a high-profile league encounter on Tuesday. The Glamour Boys return to the pitch for the first time since they were eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup. The match at home offers the Soweto giants a chance for revenge on Stellies, who ejected them from the Nedbank Cup.
Siwelele
