Xoki – It’s Always Been A Goal

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Orlando Pirates vice-captain Tapelo Xoki has addressed why the club and squad has been so vocal about their league title ambitions this season. In years gone by, Pirates have been reserved and never clearly outlined their intentions to say they want the league, leaning more towards the narrative of a long-term project and process towards success as they picked up several domestic cups. With the MTN8, Carling Knockout Cup in the bag, and leading the league by two points, albeit having played one game more than Sundowns – who are chasing a ninth consecutive crown, it appears a race that

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Bafana Draw Closer To Learning Final WC Opponent

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Bafana Bafana will learn their final opponent of Group A in the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, when the European Play-Off Final takes place. Denmark will take on Czekhia in Prague at the epet ARENA in a once-off fixture that will determine the final spot in the group that contains Mexico, the hosts, South Africa and South Korea. Bafana have already been confirmed the opening game – a replay of the iconic 2010 opener at FNB Stadium – which makes for a compelling group for the neutrals. Denmark thrashed North Macedonia in the semi-finals while the Czech Republic ousted

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Broos Singles Out Praise For Bafana Duo

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Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos says he was impressed with his new-look centre-back pairing in the 1-1 draw against Panama on Friday evening. Ime Okon of Hannover 96 earned a start alongside Mamelodi Sundowns’ Khulumani Ndamane and looked assured in possesion, buidling out from the back with notable aerial presence and physicality to deal with the Central American nation. While there were a couple of nervy moments in the second half, Broos singled out Ndamane’s passing range and admits he ticked all the boxes expected of him in deputising for Mbekezeli Mbokazi – who is expected to start on

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Lebitso – We’ll Take It Until The End

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Orlando Pirates defender Thabiso Lebitso has weighed in on the league title race after suggestions that it’s gone – having dropped crucial points against Siwelele. Pirates lost two points in a frantic fixture at Orlando Stadium in which Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ricardo Goss pulled off a staggering 11 saves in a Man of the Match display to deny the Buccaneers top spot. Sundowns took advantage by moving top of the table with the win over Marumo Gallants a couple of days later, which the Soweto giants have now taken back with a 6-0 thumping over TS Galaxy – albeit with

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Broos Makes Sundowns Plea Over Mshishi

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Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has urged Mamelodi Sundowns to give Themba Zwane more game time to help him regain sharpness. Broos was pleased with Zwane’s display against Panama at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday, where the playmaker played a key role before being substituted in the 60th minute for Relebohile Mofokeng. The coach believes Zwane brought improved fluidity to the team compared to previous matches during his absence through injury.  However, he noted that the player occasionally looked off the pace due to lack of fitness as a result of limited minutes at club level, as he is often

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Khanye – What Foster Needs In Bafana

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Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye says it shouldn’t matter which leagues South African players play in but should be given a chance to also impress the national team coach. Khanye’s comments come after Bafana Bafana’s 1-1 draw with Panama in the first of two international frieldies played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday. Striker Lyle Foster and Sphephelo ‘Yaya’ Sithole who play in the English and Portuguese top-flight leagues respectively were preferred starts for coach Hugo Broos in attack and in midfield. Foster missed at least three chances in the game with Khanye saying the Burnley man should

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Benni Reveals Kenya AFCON Target

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Kenya national team coach Benni McCarthy says success for his side at the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be getting out of the group. The 2027 edition will be hosted in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania with the preliminary round of qualifiers for the event scheduled to start this week. 12 lower ranked sides on the continent will start battle for six available spots for the group stage qualifiers. Meanwhile, the last time Harambee Stars qualified for the continental showpiece was at the 2019 finals in Egypt where they didn’t get out of the group. McCarthy

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Panama Coach Christiansen Offers Honest Bafana Assessment

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Panama coach Thomas Christiansen says the FIFA World Cup stage will present a far greater challenge than what his side and Bafana Bafana experienced against each other on Friday. Panama and South Africa played to a 1-1 draw at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban and are set to meet again in Cape Town on Tuesday.  Christiansen said he faced the kind of team he expected—well-organised, difficult to break down, and dangerous in the spaces his side tried to control. Despite that, he stressed that both teams must continue improving as they prepare for the much tougher demands of the World Cup

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Broos – Foster Can Be Sometimes Lazy

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Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has spoken candidly about Lyle Foster following criticism of the striker’s missed chances against Panama. South Africa drew 1-1 with the Central American side in their first of the two meetings at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday.  The teams are set to face off again in a second friendly at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Tuesday, both aiming for a stronger showing. Broos praised his team’s overall performance, noting improvements compared to their AFCON displays earlier this year.  Addressing Foster’s outing, the coach admitted the Burnley forward has quality but can appear lazy at

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