The Betway Premiership is heading toward a dramatic photo finish as league debutants Orbit College find themselves holding the keys to the South African football kingdom. In a classic David versus Gol...
The 16 Premier Soccer League teams in the Betway Premiership are edging closer to the end of a gruelling 10-month season as they prepare for their final two matchday league fixtures.
Mamelodi Sundown...
A dramatic late equaliser from Kamogelo Sebelebele salvaged a 1–1 draw for Orlando Pirates against Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final, played at a packed Orlando Stadium on Saturday evening.
The high-stakes clash between two of South Africa’s biggest clubs lived up to expectations, delivering moments of brilliance, tactical battles, and a crucial goal apiece as the tie remains finely poised heading into the second leg.
It was the visitors who struck first. In the 36th minute, Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena showcased his aerial prowess by heading home from a well-delivered corner by Marcelo Allende. The goal came after a period of sustained pressure by the defending league champions, who looked composed and in control for much of the first half. Despite efforts from Pirates to respond, Sundown’s carried a 1–0 lead into halftime.
The second half saw a much-improved Orlando Pirates, with the likes of Evidence Makgopa and Mbekezeli Mbokazi pressing forward and threatening the Sundown’s defence. Makgopa came agonisingly close in the 78th minute, rattling the post after a slick one-two just outside the box.
But it was Kamogelo Sebelebele who would steal the spotlight. With time running out, the 23-year-old midfielder latched onto a pass inside the box and calmly slotted the ball past Ronwen Williams in the 87th minute, sending the Soweto crowd into raptures.
The 1–1 result leaves everything to play for in the return leg, set to be played at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. Sundowns will feel they let a lead slip, while Pirates will take heart from their late surge and fighting spirit.
Benni McCarthy's Kenya claimed top spot in Group A and qualified for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) quarter-finals after defeating Zambia on Sunday afternoon.
The Harambee Stars came into the clash top of Group A following their 1-0 win over Morocco last weekend, while Zambia were playing for pride, having already been eliminated.
However, neither side could be separated in the opening 45 minutes, although McCarthy's charges enjoyed more of the chances and possession.
Kenya got the breakthrough in the 75th minute as Ryan Ogam bagged his second goal of the tournament.
The one goal was enough to secure the win and Kenya's spot in the last eight.
Democratic Republic of Congo 1-3 Morocco
Morocco advanced to the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday afternoon.
Both nations came into the clash with their fate in their own hands, with the winner securing their spot in the next round.
The Moroccans opened the scoring after just eight minutes courtesy of a strike from Oussama Lamiloui.
Congo, however, brought themselves level three minutes before the halftime break as Jephté Kitambala Bola opened his account for the campaign.
Mohamed Hrimat restored Morocco's lead from the penalty spot on 70 minutes, before Lamiloui completed his brace ten minutes later to seal the win, which secured second spot in Group A.
In a surprising turn of events, midfielder Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo has made a swift return to Marumo Gallants, the club where he rose to prominence.
The announcement, made yesterday by Gallants, confirms the 30-year-old’s signing on a free transfer after his contract with Orlando Pirates expired in June. This move marks the end of a three-year spell at the Soweto giants that never quite reached the heights many had anticipated.
During the 2021/2022 season, he was a key figure for Gallants, scoring an impressive eight goals in 25 league appearances and leading them to the Nedbank Cup final. His dynamic performances in midfield made him one of the most sought-after players in the country, and on the final day of the transfer window in September 2022, the Soweto giants secured his services with a three-year deal.
The move was widely celebrated as a major coup for the Buccaneers, with many believing he would replicate his heroics at the bigger stage.
However, Ndlondlo’s tenure at Pirates proved to be a challenging one. While he was part of a team that won the Nedbank Cup in his first season and finished second in the league, his individual contributions were muted compared to his time at Gallants.
Over three seasons, he made a total of 65 appearances, scoring only three goals and providing three assists. His first season was the most productive with two goals in 16 league matches, but his recent 2024/2025 season saw him make just six league appearances without finding the back of the net.
His return to Gallants is a clear sign that the environment at Bucs, despite all its success, was not the right fit for him to consistently showcase his full abilities.
The clubs themselves addressed the move in official statements. Pirates released a statement saying:
“Orlando Pirates Football Club can confirm the departure of midfielder Phillip Ndlondlo. The 28-year-old is now free to sign with a club of his choice. The Club extends its sincere gratitude to Phillip for his professionalism and commitment during his spell at Orlando Pirates and wishes him every success in the next chapter of his career.”
Meanwhile, Gallants announced the reunion on social media.
“We are excited to officially announce the return of Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, an attacking midfielder who previously played for Marumo Gallants FC in 2021-2022.”
With the midfielder now back at the club where he enjoyed his best form, both Ndlondlo and Gallants will be hoping he can rediscover the magic that made him a household name in South African football.
In a move that has sent ripples of concern through the Mamelodi Sundowns fanbase, the club officially announced the departure of Neo Maema this morning.
The confirmation comes after weeks of speculation and arrives just as the 29-year-old talented midfielder reminded everyone of his immense value with a stellar performance at the ongoing CHAN tournament. Maema’s recent brace against Guinea, which subsequently earned him man-of-the-match honours, served as a poignant final act in the yellow and blue.
The creative midfielder’s ability to link up play and produce moments of magic is undeniable, making his exit a difficult pill for many to swallow.
Over his four-year stint at the club, Maema made 120 appearances, scoring 14 goals and providing 14 assists. His time at Sundowns was highly successful, contributing to four league titles, a Nedbank Cup, an MTN 8 trophy, and an African Football League title.
The news of Maema’s exit closely followed the official announcement of the departure of Thembinkosi Lorch on Thursday. Lorch, who spent the last season on loan with Moroccan club Wydad AC, is also a confirmed exit.
This brings the total number of players certainly leaving the club to four, including the rumoured departures of star forward Lucas Ribeiro and fan-favourite right-back Khuliso Mudau.
While the club’s stated goal of "downsizing" is understandable given their large and talented roster, the timing and execution of these moves are a cause for concern. Sundowns’ consistently congested schedule, which included the recent 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, highlights the need for a large and deep squad to combat player fatigue and maintain momentum across all competitions.
The uncalculated disposal of players of Maema and Lorch’s calibre, just as they demonstrate their class on an international stage, feels like a significant gamble. In an era where the Brazilians have set the standard for domestic football, the departure of core players could signal a shift, and fans will be watching closely to see if the new-look squad can maintain the same level of excellence.
Jaisen Clifford scored in added time to give Marumo Gallants a shock 2-1 victory over Orlando Pirates on Tuesday, which took the Bloemfontein club to the top of the South African Premiership.
Jaisen Clifford scored in added time to give Marumo Gallants a shock 2-1 victory over Orlando Pirates on Tuesday, which took the Bloemfontein club to the top of the South African Premiership.
The substitute poked a cross past goalkeeper Sipho Chaine and home supporters in a capacity 15,000 crowd erupted with joy at the unexpected second-round triumph.
Pirates, reeling from a home loss to Sekhukhune United at the weekend, led after 16 minutes when Patrick Maswanganyi sidefooted a cross past veteran Zimbabwe goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
Marumo avoided falling further behind when under severe pressure and levelled just before half-time when another Zimbabwean, Daniel Msendami, fired home from close range.
Pirates seemed the likelier winners for much of the second half as they attacked relentlessly, only for Clifford to strike and leave the Buccaneers pointless from two outings.
Marumo are coached by Alexandre Lafitte from France, 28, the youngest coach in the Premiership this season.
"We played good football and achieved a good result. I have worked hard to improve the mentality of the players," he said.
Moroccan coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, a former Premier League defender with Fulham, joined Pirates during the close season after quitting Marumo.
Marumo have six points, two more than defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who beat AmaZulu 2-0 in Pretoria through second-half goals from Iqraam Rayners and Tashreeq Matthews.
Sundowns, who began their campaign with a draw at Chippa United three days ago, are chasing a record-extending ninth straight league title.
A notable absentee from the Sundowns line-up was Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro, who was voted the 2024-25 South African player of the season and players' player of the season.
He is reportedly keen to take up a new challenge after two seasons at Sundowns, with Qatar Sports Club a possible destination.
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
Players at the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup will sport high-tech mouthguards that light up red when they suffer heavy head impacts, in a move aimed at improving player safety and reducing concussion, British media reported.
The smart gumshields will send an alert to the match-day doctor warning of possible concussions during the August 22 to September 27 tournament in England, while referees will be advised to stop play upon seeing the red flash.
The LED mouthguards are set to be implemented in top-flight rugby next season following the Women’s Rugby World Cup, British media reported.
The technology builds on World Rugby’s introduction of smart mouthguards as part of the Head Injury Assessment (HIA) process in October 2023, which debuted in the WXV women’s competition that year before being integrated into the HIA from January 2024.
“If you want to be involved in the off-field assessment, you need to be wearing the mouthguard, so there are male players who opt out of getting an off-field HIA because they don’t want to wear an instrumented mouthguard,” Dr Eanna Falvey, chief medical officer at World Rugby, was quoted as saying by The Times.
“We’ve had players who decided that they don’t like the fact that it’s a Bluetooth device, we’ve had players that feel it’s uncomfortable, we’ve had players who don’t want to know.
“The women’s leagues and teams and competitions, I don’t know the reason for it, but they’re much more likely to collaborate, they’re much more accepting and excited about opportunities in technology.
“We have full opt-in for the World Cup now. There are two people wearing braces so they physically can’t wear it, but other than that we’re full opt-in.”
A brilliant display of tactical acumen by South African coach Benni McCarthy saw Kenya's Harambee Stars secure a historic 1-0 victory against two-time champions Morocco in a thrilling African Nations Championship (CHAN) match.
The win, which puts Kenya in a strong position to advance to the knockout stages, was a masterclass in coaching by McCarthy, who took the helm of the Kenyan national team earlier this year.
McCarthy definitely proved his credentials on the international stage by applying a relentless, aggressive approach that unsettled the Moroccans. The crucial moment of the game came just before halftime when Ryan Ogam found the back of the net, giving Kenya a lead they would not relinquish up until the end of this nailbiting continental duel.
However, the true test of McCarthy's genius came after a first-half red card left Kenya with only ten men for the entire second half.
Instead of wilting under Morocco's unrelenting pressure, McCarthy's side displayed remarkable discipline and resilience. He quickly reshuffled his team, bringing on extra defenders to clearly "park the bus" -a blatant defensive tactic reminiscent of his playing days under José Mourinho at Portugal outfit FC Porto.
The defense indeed held firm and every Kenyan player fought for every ball. Harambee Stars’ gritty determination ultimately frustrated the Moroccan attack.
This monumental win not only elevates Kenya on the continental stage, but also serves as a powerful testament to the growing coaching capacity of South African tacticians abroad.
McCarthy's success in the international fray, following his impressive stints at AmaZulu and Cape Town City, demonstrates that coaches from the region can deliver results at the highest level. Kenya will now face Zambia next Sunday at 19:00 in their next CHAN tournament.
