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.
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.
Anticipation is high as the Belgian coach edges closer to announcing his final squad for the continental competition. His provisional list has already offered a glimpse of what the final group could look like, sparking debate about the positions still up for grabs. Notably, four Amakhosi players have been included, and all eyes will be on whether they survive the final cut after the Soweto giants failed to contribute a single Bafana Bafana player at the last AFCON edition.
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 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.
The Amakhosi star is among the four players from the club who have been included in the provisional Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals squad. What now remains is to see how many will be included in the final team that will head to Morocco for the continental tournament. Broos has always snubbed players from Naturena, and he previously defended his position, citing the club's poor performance.
The forward struggled while in Germany but has found his footing since he made the unexpected move after several stints abroad. He is not only a regular starter under Miguel Cardoso but also plays a critical role as a creative brain in the club's attacking adventures. Now, he has been tipped as the next big thing for Bafana Bafana, given the progress he has made.
South Africa are set for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations that will take centre stage on the continent from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco. Mzansi tactician named his initial 55-man provisional squad on Monday, which will be trimmed to 23 early next month, who will represent the nation. Some call-ups, however, have raised eyebrows.
South Africa have started preparations for the biennial competition to be played in Morocco from late December, where they hope to go all the way. They are played in Group B alongside record champions Egypt as well as COSAFA duo Zimbabwe and Angola. The top two teams will get an automatic ticket for the knockout phase.
Masandawana attacking midfielder Nuno Santos shared his reasons for joining the lethal Sundowns squad in the Premier Soccer League, following their three–one triumph over FC Saint Eloi Lupopo — the same side that knocked out the mighty Orlando Pirates — in Saturday’s CAF Champions League group-stage clash at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. The midfielder made a powerful statement, netting two goals and providing an assist for the Tshwane giants while donning the famous No. 10 jersey, with the third goal finished off by Marcelo Allende.
Despite being snubbed by the national team head coach, the former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns player continues to prove his worth for the Moroccan giants. The Mzansi star played a crucial role as Wydad Casablanca managed a 3-0 win over Kenya's Nairobi United on Sunday at Laribi Zaouli Stadium. The win propelled the Moroccan heavyweights to the top of the table, while Nairobi United, who made it to the group stage in their debut season, are at the bottom.
The 43-year-old's coaching credentials have been under stern scrutiny as his club struggles in the Botswana Premier League. Poor results sparked rumours that his job is no longer safe and that he could soon be shown the exit door. The pressure has mounted as he battles to transfer the class he once displayed as an Amakhosi star into his coaching career.
The 21-year-old South African talent has been thriving in Norway, adapting seamlessly to life in the Eliteserien, while showcasing his growing influence on the pitch. His performances have not only earned him recognition among Molde FK supporters but also highlighted his potential to become a long‑term asset abroad as he continues to flourish in Europe.
The South African forward has quietly carved out a stellar campaign in Egypt, delivering consistent performances that have propelled his club to the summit of the log standings. Sitting above giants Al Ahly, Zamalek and Pyramids FC, his form has been instrumental in maintaining their grip on first place and reinforcing his growing reputation in North Africa.
As South Africans slowly come to terms with the expected exit of Broos next year, several native tacticians have been touted as his best successors. The Belgian tactician has had a rather successful stint with Bafana, and that means anyone who will come in after him will be expected to be as good or even far better. Broos has a chance of making his time with Bafana even a more successful story – that is, if he does well in the AFCON and the World Cup finals.
The Mzansi star was on the scoresheet as the Saudi Arabian club returned to winning ways after a rather long period of a winless run. Their last win was on October 18 and since then, they have lost three games and drawn in another. The goal is a morale boost for the former Sekhukhune United winger who moved to the Middle East on a loan move.
The Bafana full-back has struggled to break into Masandawana's first team despite the ambitious move he made before the season began. At Chloorkop, Basadien is facing stiff competition from Zimbabwean star Divine Lunga and Aubrey Modiba. His situation at the Pretoria giants has complicated his chances of making it into the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad.
The Algerian champions began their group campaign on a sour note after suffering a 2-1 defeat to the Sudanese giants at Al Hilal's temporary home ground, Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, on Friday. It was a disappointing outing in which they struggled to impose themselves despite some periods of promise. For The Doyen’s South African coach, it was a forgettable game as his side could not make use of their numerical advantage late in the match.
Since October 2024, the veteran midfielder has been battling persistent fitness issues that have severely limited his game time for both club and country. His latest injury struck just as he had recovered from a previous setback, adding to the frustration. The recurring problems have raised fears that he may now be injury-prone. With him spending more time on the sidelines than on the pitch, concerns continue to grow about the future of his career. These mounting worries have also sparked fresh fears that he might soon consider calling time on his career when he is needed by Masandawana and the national team.
The defending Premier Soccer League champions are known for their untamed appetite for good and quality players to continue challenging for top honours domestically and abroad. They have recently been linked to the Bafana Bafana centre-back, who has been growing from strength to strength since leaving the Glamour Boys.
The 25-year-old defender made a surprising switch from arch-rivals Orlando Pirates earlier in the season, but his journey at Kaizer Chiefs has been overshadowed by recurring injury setbacks. Despite this, his quality is evident whenever he steps onto the pitch. Monyane remains hopeful that he will eventually earn another opportunity to don the South African jersey and compete for his rightful place in the Bafana setup.
The South Africa international has been on a steady rise to the top since the Spaniard gave him his debut in the top-tier game barely a year ago. After one season in the Premier Soccer League, the 21-year-old had done enough to attract suitors from abroad who hastened to seal a deal with the pacy, versatile attacker.
South Africa
