Latest news with #CAFCL
The South African
3 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
'Mayele will score against Sundowns' – Khanye makes CAF CL final prediction
Former Kaizer Chiefs attacker Junior Khanye has predicted Mamelodi Sundowns to lose the CAF Champions League final to Pyramids on Sunday. The two teams play in the second leg of the final on Sunday evening after the first leg ended 0-0 in Pretoria last weekend. Masandawana need to win or force a scoring draw to win their first CAF CL title in nine years. This is the third time the Brazilians have managed to reach the final of the competition. Speaking on iDiski TV, Khanye felt Sundowns were less confident going into the final 'Sundowns were supposed to win here (at home), so going away is not going to be easy. As I said when the Champions League started, Sundowns will never win it. They have quality players and they are a quality team but going to the game, they don't have the confidence to win away,' he said. 'Personally, I don't think they will trouble Pyramids. They will have their moment, but their coach…' The former winger said the match will likely finish 0-0 after extra time or end with Pyramids winning. 'I see the game finishing 0-0 or it will end 2-1. Sundowns will probably score but won't win the game. Mayele is going to score tomorrow, he will score the winning goal.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
5 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
FIVE big signings that can win Orlando Pirates the league and CAF next season
Orlando Pirates came close to winning the CAF Champions League but still finished 12 points behind Mamelodi Sundowns in the league. With Jose Riveiro gone, the Buccaneers don't need to rebuild since the Spaniard left a complete team. In the three seasons Riveiro was at Pirates, the Soweto giants won five trophies and finished second each time. Next season will bring a new challenge for the Sea Robbers, especially with a new coach coming in. After seven matches this campaign, it looked as if Orlando Pirates would end Downs' reign and claim the league title. Lack of consistency, suspension and injuries to key players saw the Buccaneers lose out in both the CAF CL and the Betway Premiership Pirates have not won the league in 13 years. In that period, though, they have claimed seven trophies, but fans are hungry for a league triumph. If the Buccaneers want to get their second star and claim the Betway Premiership, here are five players the club needs to sign. Fiston Mayele The Congolese striker was the reason the Sea Robbers were eliminated from the Champions League this season. Mayele is a player for big games and there's no doubt Orlando Pirates need that kind of player, especially in the league. The 30-year-old has only one year left in his contract with Pyramids and might opt not to renew and make a move. Bucs rivals Kaizer Chiefs are also interested in Mayele. Fawaaz Basadien With his former teammate Deano van Rooyen already at Pirates, it would make sense for the quality left-back to join the Buccaneers. The team has struggled to get a consistent left-back, but with Basadien, all their defensive struggles can be solved in one signing. Oswin Appollis With Relebohile Mofokeng set to leave, Pirates might need a right winger and Appollis is the perfect replacement. The 23-year-old speedy winger has not had the greatest of seasons but he can resurrect himself at Pirates. Sphesihle Maduna The TS Galaxy star can be a perfect substitution for Makhehlene Makhaula. With Makhaula turning 36 later this year, the club needs to prepare a replacement. If Orlando Pirates can have cover in key positions, expect them to compete for the league once again. Jaedin Rhodes If the Bucs decide to part ways with Monnapuls Saleng, Rhodes can be a perfect replacement. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Sundowns offered tip on Fiston Mayele
Mamelodi Sundowns are firm favourites to beat Pyramids FC in the CAFCL final this weekend, but there's a dangerman to watch from the visiting Pyramids FC. With eight goals in 10 CAFCL matches this season, the Congolese striker could possibly be the difference between Sundowns winning or losing over the two legs. According to the Tanzanian defender, Hamad Wazir, Sundowns should be aware of Mayele's ability to seem out of the game until he produces a match-deciding moment. 'Mayele is a player who you can contain for 89 minutes, but he comes in and uses one minute to change the result,' Wazir told FARPost . Pyramids FC striker Fiston Mayele against Orlando Pirates in the CAF Champions League. Image: CAF Online 'He's a player who knows how to capitalise on his opportunities. Fiston knows exactly what to do when he gets a chance,' he concluded. Sundowns will host the first leg at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday at 15:00, before the return leg in Cairo next Sunday at 19:00. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Three reasons why Orlando Pirates imploded
Orlando Pirates appeared to be on course to win a treble this season, but everything collapsed in the past six weeks. The Sea Robbers started the 2024/25 season on a high by claiming the MTN8. At the time, the Buccaneers were top of the Betway Premiership, having won all their matches up to that point. With rivals Mamelodi Sundowns struggling under Manqoba Mngqithi, it looked as if it might be a big year for the Buccaneers, Lack of signings in January Pirates lost to Stellenbosch and Cape Town City midseason and that should have been a wake-up call for the Bucs management. The club decided not to sign any new players during the January transfer period, and that came to bite them later in the season. Orlando Pirates needed to bring in a top striker and a creative midfielder. The goals have come from Mohau Nkota, Relebohile Mofokeng and Evidence Makgopa, while Tshegofatso Mabasa has not been himself this season. With Monnapule Saleng sidelined, the Sea Robbers often lacked a supersub or creative spark in big matches. A top striker was needed in the CAF Champions League, while a creative midfielder would have won the team league matches, especially against Sekhukhune United. Losing key matches Pirates lost a handful of matches, but the defeat to Pyramids in the CAF CL semi-final was the turning point. A few days after the CAF exit, the Buccaneers lost a league game, ultimately seeing Sundowns extend their gap at the top. The Nedbank Cup loss to Kaizer Chiefs was Jose Riveiro's first defeat in a final, having won his first five. Riveiro's departure The Spaniard announced his departure early in April and that seemed to have affected the players. Their performance dropped even in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals, where they scraped through. It was evident that hi announcing his exit a few months before his contract was a bad call. Orlando Pirates were often found wanting and that ultimately saw them winning just one trophy all season. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Timeline: How Orlando Pirates' season turned into a nightmare
Orlando Pirates looked set to win at least a treble this season, but things went south quickly for Jose Riveiro's men. In October, the Sea Robbers won the MTN8 and were top of the Betway Premiership after five matches played. At the time, it looked like Pirates would add on to their MTN8 title given how they played earlier in the season. Despite a mini-slump in January and February, Jose Riveiro's men were still on a hunt to claim the CAF Champions League, Betway Premiership and Nedbank Cup. On 3 April, Pirates released a statement on Riveiro's departure. With three months remaining in his contract, many Bucs fans hoped the players would go all out and win several trophies for their coach. 25 April: Pyramids 3-2 Pirates Three weeks later, the Buccaneers crashed out of the CAF CL semi-finals before losing to Sekhukhune United a few days after the agonising defeat. That saw Pirates now hoping for rivals Mamelodi Sundowns to drop points in the league. 10 May: Chiefs 2-1 Pirates Despite back-to-back league wins against Kaizer Chiefs and Golden Arrows, the title was already out of reach for the Sea Robbers. The only chance of saving their season was a win against Amakhosi in the Nedbank Cup, but Riveiro's men suffered a 2-1 defeat, making it the first time the Spanish tactician had lost a final in his three years at Pirates. Under the Spaniard, Orlando Pirates only lost eight of the 47 matches this season, but only three defeats spoiled their campaign. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
