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...
In the upper echelons of South African football, a troubling reality is emerging - the political manoeuvring surrounding the Premier Soccer League (PSL) is beginning to overshadow the essence of the game itself.
Recent performances from Siwelele, a new club in the top flight, have been disheartening, as they have suffered their sixth defeat in eight matches without scoring a single goal in their last seven games.
Yet, it’s the escalating off-field crises that present an even more pressing issue.
At the centre of this turmoil is the club’s chairman, Calvin Le John, whose lineage ties him to Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie. Le John has stoked controversy with his recent remarks regarding the club’s management and trajectory.
In a video announcement, Le John declared that Siwelele has severed ties with CEO Stan Matthews and assistant coach Andre Arendse, citing alleged threats to their safety. This alarming revelation suggests a more sinister atmosphere surrounding the club, prompting questions about the pressures faced by those in leadership positions.
Le John further inflated concerns with his intention to unilaterally terminate contracts of players he perceives as lacking commitment. “Players who lack heart and commitment to this team will be released,” he stated, indicating a management approach that appears more reactive than strategic.
These developments raise critical questions about the ownership standards in the PSL. Political influences looming over club decisions can have detrimental effects on the sport. When political ties become entangled with football management, it risks undermining the integrity and competitive spirit of the game.
As Siwelele navigates this precarious situation, one must ask: what constitutes effective leadership in the present-day PSL? Is it determined by hasty decisions made under duress, or should it be grounded in fostering development and stability?
While definitive answers may remain elusive, emerging trends are evident. If these declining standards go unaddressed, the essence of South African football faces serious jeopardy, hanging by a thread.
Siwelele’s struggles mirror a larger issue within South African football. How can we expect to see improvement when those at the helm appear more focused on threats and scapegoating than on creating a unified team on the field?
The future of the PSL is precarious, and if these recent developments are any indication, it’s clear that an evaluation of ownership standards is urgently needed.
The South African Football Players’ Union (SAFPU) has stepped in to support the staff at Siwelele, expressing concern over the club’s unsustainable financial practices. In its statement, SAFPU highlighted that the club’s issues indicate a serious lapse in financial due diligence during the acquisition process.
These developments cast a shadow over the PSL, the governing body of professional soccer in South Africa.
Irvin Khoza, the PSL chairman, last confronted ownership issues amid the tumultuous situation with Royal AM, which notably refused to participate in scheduled matches and the promotion/relegation play-offs. In a moment of frustration, Khoza famously remarked, “We have to go out there into the open market where there’s a willing buyer and a willing seller.”
This statement rings with desperation and aligns with SAFPU’s assertions about the club’s financial mismanagement. Khoza also insisted, “I will not let anyone – anyone – mess it (the PSL) up.” Yet, if the PSL continues to overlook due diligence, it risks undermining its own credibility. In the last decade, nearly every season has seen clubs changing hands, raising serious questions about stability.
As the Premier Soccer League strives to embody the spirit of South African football, troubling trends regarding ownership and management have surfaced. The unsettling news emanating from Siwelele extends beyond the field, revealing alarming details about its internal operations.
This significant alteration in management not only raises questions but also highlights a lack of accountability and professionalism that every reputable club in the PSL should maintain.
Football often mirrors society, reflecting deeper societal issues; Siwelele’s circumstances may serve as a wake-up call for the league’s leadership. In these challenging times, it seems that not only are player performance standards dwindling, but the expectations and conduct at the management level are also deteriorating significantly.
Orlando Pirates produced a commanding 3-0 victory over Lesotho’s Lioli FC on Saturday in what resembled a training-ground outing, ahead of their Premiership clash against embattled Siwelele FC on Tuesday.
Pirates have enjoyed a fortunate start to their CAF Champions League campaign, playing their first away continental fixture on South African soil. This rare circumstance has spared them the fatigue of international travel. Their opponents, Lesotho's Lioli FC, were unable to secure a CAF-approved venue in their home country and opted for a Free State ground instead.
Adding to Pirates’ good fortune, they will return to the same venue on Tuesday. Serbian striker Samir Nurković will not lead Siwelele’s attack against Pirates. The 33-year-old former Kaizer Chiefs star received a straight red card in his debut match against Medgesi on Saturday, ruling him out of the fixture.
Nurković, renowned for his physical presence and clinical finishing, was expected to play a pivotal role in Siwelele's offensive strategy. His absence forces the team’s coaching staff to rethink their approach to counter Pirates’ strengths.
After Saturday’s win, Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou said the team was preparing for Tuesday’s league match. “Now, it is good, and I am happy; we are going to rest because we have a very important game in the league,” he said.
In stark contrast, Siwelele FC is navigating a tumultuous period. Recently rebranded from SuperSport United, the team sits 14th in the league with just four points from seven matches. The weekend brought further upheaval as the club announced structural changes aimed at ensuring sustainability amid a dismal campaign.
hese include the departure of key staff, termination of contracts for underperforming players, and plans to recruit five to six new talents before Monday’s transfer deadline.
Siwelele faces the unique challenge of playing all their matches away from home. Following their acquisition, the team is based in Tshwane (formerly Pretoria) for at least one season, implementing cost-cutting measures such as restricting flights to journeys exceeding 600km, often resulting in long bus trips that impede player recovery.
Amidst the upheaval, former player Willem Jackson has been appointed as assistant coach to support head coach Lehlohonolo in reviving the team’s fortunes.
Nabi’s axing at Kaizer Chiefs may have sparked a potential coaching exodus that will see more premiership coaches being sacked by their clubs
By: Mpho Sekharume
The recent sacking of Nasreddine Nabi by Kaizer Chiefs may have cast the spotlight on the performances of other coaches at other Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs.
Although Amakhosi are yet to make an announcement, various reports have confirmed the Soweto giants have indeed severed ties with the Tunisian tactician following their 3-1 loss to log leaders Sekhukhune United on Wednesday - a move that may spark a ripple effect that might see other coaches face similar fates in the foreseeable future.
Despite having pulled the Soweto giants out of the trophy drought by winning the Nedbank Cup and only suffering a single loss in the league so far, Chiefs boldly released Nabi with prospects of current assistant coach rising to the helm.
Chiefs had in recent times maintained a healthy unbeaten streak in the league in Nabi’s absence, but their performance noticeably dwindled as soon as he returned to camp. This short yet vivid drop in form - compounded by incessant calls from Amakhosi fans for him to be fired - mapped Nabi’s exit from Naturena.
“My separation from Kaizer Chiefs was a mutual agreement with the club’s management, following a successful and challenging experience,” Nabi told North African news outlet, WinWin, despite Chiefs having not yet released a statement as confirmation.
He added: “Currently, I need some time to rest, focus more on my family, and monitor my wife’s health, which has required me to be by her side over the past period.”
Nabi is the second coach this season to be removed after Chippa United gave Sinethemba Badela his marching orders last month due to internal club politics.
Other PSL coaches such as Mamelodi Sundown’s Miguel Cardoso, Magesi FC’s John Maduka, Orbit FC’s Pogiso Makhoye and the revered Steve Barker of Stellenbosch FC, may all also be shown the exit door soon at their respective clubs.
While Sundowns sit second on the log behind the high-flying Sekhukhune, Cardoso has come under increasing pressure regarding the Pretoria side’s unconventional style of play and cumbersome tactical approaches to matches. This has placed him under similar scrutiny as his predecessor Manqoba Mngqithi, who is now at the helm of Durban outfit, Golden Arrows.
Bafana Ba Style loyalists have also questioned his player selections and his seeming deviation from the club’s traditional ‘piano and shoeshine’ style of play.
Elsewhere the writing might as well already be on the wall for Magesi’s Maduka who remains the only coach without a victory at this stage of the season. The 3-0 loss to Sundowns last Sunday saw Magesi slump to their third defeat in six outings, while having played to a stalemate in the other three fixtures.
The former Royal AM mentor is under pressure to start turning things around if he is to remain at the helm of the Limpopo outfit. Maduka will, therefore, be looking to claim all three points at home against a struggling Siwelele FC tomorrow at the Seshego Stadium.
Speaking of Siwelele, Lehlohonolo Seema may also come under intense scrutiny after the Bloemfontein side lost their midweek fixture away to fellow premiership entrants Durban City on Wednesday. The Bloemfontein side succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against Durban City on Wednesday - leaving them languishing in the relegation zone, having collected a mere four points from six outings
Another coach who might be in potential trouble is Orbit’s Makhoye, whose side sits right at the bottom of the log table with only one victory to show.
Despite what looked like a promising debut start to their premiership campaign at the beginning of the season, the North West outfit has struggled to sustain the winning momentum. This despite roping in key talent in Monnapule Saleng - who is currently on loan from MTN 8 Champions, Orlando Pirates.
Still in the relegation zone, back-to-back MTN 8 finalists, Stellenbosch FC, is another club that might show their coach the exit door should they not turn the corner soon.
Barker, who has transformed the Western Cape outfit into a formidable competitive side over the years is now guiding them through a slow start to the season that has seen them uncharacteristically register only one win in their opening six fixtures.
Only a single point separates Stellies - who suffered a 2-1 defeat to Amazulu on Wednesday - from bottom-of-the-pile Orbit.
While many may argue that fledgling entities such as Siwelele and Orbit are still trying to adjust to the competitive nature of top flight football, collecting points remains a key prerogative that is sacrosanct to sustaining a club’s premiership status at the end of the season.
As we enter the second quarter of the season, some may also rebuttal with assertions that teams should have adequately acclimatised at this stage of the season and follow through with their season’s plans.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has made a bold call on teenage defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, insisting the Orlando Pirates youngster must take his career to Europe sooner rather than later.
The 19-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise since stepping up from the club’s DStv Diski Challenge squad last season. Within months, he established himself as a first-team regular and earned three senior international caps for Bafana.
Mbokazi was part of the Amajita side that won the Cosafa U20 Championship, securing qualification for the U20 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, his growing role at Pirates, which includes him being vice captain kept him out of the continental tournament, and now he finds himself a fixture at senior level.
His commanding display in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Nigeria, where he partnered Siyabonga Ngezana at the heart of defence, underlined his credentials.
He walked away with the Man of the Match award, sparking fresh debate on whether he should still be considered for the U20 World Cup squad under Raymond Mdaka.
Broos, however, sees a bigger stage for the teenager.
“Mbokazi… this guy has to go to Europe, he’s 19-years-old, you see the way he is playing, it’s like he has 10 years experience at this level, it’s his second, third game with the national team – third game! You see how he’s playing,” Broos said.
“So let’s hope that some players can do the step next here [move to Europe] it will be very good for South African football really.”
Mbokazi has already clocked up eight appearances for Pirates this season and started both recent qualifiers against Nigeria and Lesotho.
If Broos gets his wish, Europe could soon come calling for one of South Africa’s brightest defensive prospects.
…Our destiny is in our own hands, says the Bafana Bafana Captain
By: Mpho Sekharume
With just a few hours away before Bafana Bafana host Nigeria tonight at 18:00 at the Free Stadium in Bloemfontein, shot stopper Ronwen Williams has boldly deflated any suggestion that the national side will go into the looming battle with any form anxiety, given the stature of the continental clash.
Bafana Bafana are on the cusp of securing qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, should they beat Nigeria in the City of Roses in front of vibrant crowd.
Speaking at press briefing ahead of this titanic clash yesterday, the Bafana skipper said the team is more focused on the objective of securing their ticket to the World Cup, given the fact that they have become quite familiar with tonight’s opponents from their previous encounters.
“It is good for us that we have not lost to them in open play…we went away to them and got a result (in Nigeria), so there is nothing to fear. There is not so much extra motivation, besides the fact that we can obviously qualify tomorrow.
“We need to play the same way we have been playing and have the same mentality and the same team spirit. And I mean we have played Nigeria twice in the last two years, so we are familiar with them, we know them, and we have got the experience as well,” said Williams.
He stressed that the team’s fate is in their own hands and will opt not to rely on other teams and pertinent permutations to qualify for next year’s showpiece.
“We will just go out there and do what we have been doing and obviously get the job done.
“The most important thing is to get the job done. We don’t want any favours from anyone; we want to do things for our way. We learned a hard lesson a few years ago where our destiny was in other teams’ hands and things didn’t go our way.
“We learned and we grew as a team. Now we want to do it our way and get the job done,” he said.
While beating Nigeria will grant Bafana Bafana World Cup qualification, a loss would push them to chase victory away against Zimbabwe next month on 6 October 2025 and possibly against Rwanda a week later 13 October.
True to Williams’ supposition, sweating over Nigeria is not that necessary. Nevertheless, victory over the Super Eagles would be an essential morale booster, that will save them the dreaded effort of pulling out all stops against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.
Said Williams: “There are still nine points to play for…we shouldn’t put too much pressure on ourselves to get it done, but it would mean so much to get it done as early as possible. But we should just treat it like any other game.”
…says the team’s focus is on qualifying for the World Cup and not the rivalry sideshow
By: Mpho Sekharume
Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, has declared that his charges are ready to face Nigeria this evening in Bloemfontein and will be going out to get a positive result to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America next year.
The national team coach told the media at a press briefing in the Free State capital that his side is confident ahead of the Super Eagles clash, despite the latter pushing for Bafana Bafana to be docked points for having fielded a suspended player in Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, Teboho Mokoena, in the 2-0 first leg victory against Lesotho back in March this year.
The national side secured a very important 3-0 victory against their landlocked neighbours Lesotho last Friday at the Free State Stadium and will now be hoping to get another win again against Nigeria – whom they have developed a fierce continental rivalry with over the past few years.
“We believe in ourselves, and we are confident,” Broos said in Bloemfontein yesterday ahead of tonight's clash.
“We did a very good mental job on Friday – it wasn’t easy to play that game. You know the nonsense that has been told before. So that means that the team is mentally strong.” He added.
While lauding the intense football rivalry that continues to develop between the two countries – hailing it as ‘good for football’ - Broos emphasised that the Bafana Bafana’s greatest motivation is to win and qualify for the World Cup competition next year and not necessarily to defeat Nigeria in particular.
“Okay it is nice, and it is good for football that there is a rivalry between two countries, but for us this is not the most important thing.
“We may beat Nigeria and practically we would have qualified for the world cup. That is important…not the fact that we beat Nigeria (in particular).
“It’s up to us to manage the game and not to lose our heads, because the rivalry is so high,” said Broos.
The Free State Stadium is expected to be packed to the rafters when these two African football giants collide tonight. The match will kick off at 18:00.
The South African national team will be looking to draw great motivation from the vibrant football loving crowd in Bloemfontein when they face Lesotho tomorrow and Nigeria this coming Tuesday at the Free State Stadium. Known to have to have some of the liveliest football supporters in the country, Bloemfontein football fans have for decades embodied the undy ing spirit of cheering their team on in synchronised fashion that is yet to be emulated elsewhere in the country. This distinctive factor has also served as a key moral boost for their local teams namely Bloem fontein Celtic – which the supporters have since ‘abandoned’ in favour of premiership entrants Siwelele FC. At a press briefing at the stadium yesterday, Broos said he believes the massive support the team will enjoy in the upcoming two fixtures will serve as a much-needed boost to get the job done against their African counterparts. “The last time we played in Bloemfontein there was a big crowd…and I think it was the first time we played in front of a big crowd. “The atmosphere in the stadium was fantas tic. After that it was the beginning because after that in every stadium we played it was a full crowd,” he noted. Broos recalled times when his chargers used to play in front of almost empty venues elsewhere. “Before we played in front of around 2000 people at a big stadium like FNB,” noted Broos “It is not nice and it doesn’t make a player or a coach happy when you come out of a dressing room and you see an empty stadium. “When there is a crowd behind you as a team you can always do more,” he added. Skipper Ronwen Williams recollection of the last time Bafana Bafana was in the Free State was also very positive. He said he hopes supporters will come out and show similar support when they face Lesotho tomorrow and Nigeria four days later at the same venue. “We know the crowd can be an extra motivation and we have got good memories of playing last year here against Zimbabwe. “So hopefully the fans will come out again and be that extra motivation that we need for these important games. It is two massive games in this group and we hope to get positive results in both games. While aware of the mammoth task of qualify ing for the FIFA World Cup to be hosted in North America in June and July next year, both Broos and Williams indicated that the team is ready to deliver against their African coun terparts. Broos said the match against Lesotho is a must-win fixture, as it will also put pressure on their other opponents in Group C. “For us we have to win the game tomorrow. The way we will try to do it I will tell you. But what makes me happy is that I see a very motivated group. And all the boys know that also for them it will be a highlight in their careers to go to America, Canada, Mexico next year. “From my side we are very motivated to play the game of tomorrow and try to win it. At the other side we also know that Lesotho is always a very tough opponent. I think it’s important that we do that tomorrow and put pressure on the other oppo nents. I think Nigeria is only playing on Saturday, so that means we have to take this opportunity with both hands. “So, it will be a very tough game. But again, when you are so far already as we are for the moment, you can always try do something more and that we will try to do tomorrow and beat Lesotho,” Broos said at the media conference. Williams also highlighted the importance of win ning against Lesotho and Nigeria, as part of their objective to go compete at the looming World Cup tournament next year. “We know how important this game is and what it can do the qualification for the World Cup. This is the next step for our objective, which is to be at the World Cup. “So, everything has been going well and we are just looking forward to doing the business tomorrow,” added Williams. Bafana Bafana’s match against Lesotho will kick off at 18:00 tomorrow evening, while the fixture against Nigeria on Tuesday will also kick off at 18:00 at the same venue.
