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Marumo Gallants might face relegation after Cape Town City won their SAFA arbitration case against them yesterday. City accused Bahlabane of playing with an unregistered player, Monde Mpambaniso, who made twenty appearances last season.
Sello Nduna, spokesperson of Gallants, said he cannot say anything now as the investigation is still taking place.
“Unfortunately, at the current moment, I cannot say anything as the investigations are still taking place, but what I can assure you is that when the matter is done, I will inform you.”
According to the PSL rules, using a non-registered player in a match is a serious violation with potential consequences for both the player and the club. The club could face fines, have the match results overturned, and potentially face further disciplinary action. The unregistered player could also face sanctions.
If Gallants are found guilty of playing with a non-registered player, they will automatically be relegated to the National First Division in accordance to the PSL rules, while City make a dramatic return to the PSL log for the 2025/26 season.
All the teams that played with Marumo will also be handed three points, which will further impact other league dynamics.
Kaizer Chiefs, for example, will enter top eight as they will be gifted a total of three points after losing 2-1 on one of the two games they playedagainst Marumo .
After finishing ninth with 32 Points last season, Amakhosi will have same points as Richards Bay who are currently on 33 points but will move to 35 points should outcomes favour City.
Richards Bay will thereforebe condemned to a ninth place finish on the log, while Chiefs ascend to eighth due to a superior goal difference.
Chiefs currently have 25 goals while Richards Bay are on 19.This also means Chiefs will face Mamelodi Sundowns in the opening fixtures of the MTN 8 cup competition on 9 August 2025.
Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi is about to begin his second season in charge of the club and will be desperate for a prolific striker who can score goals.
On the eve of the new Betway Premiership season, the question on everyone's lips remains the same: where are the goals for Kaizer Chiefs?
This would have been foremost in the minds of fans as Kaizer Chiefs have stumbled at the finish line once again, suffering a defeat to Ghanaian visitors Asante Kotoko in the Toyota Cup on Saturday.
The encounter, held at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium, ended goalless after 90 minutes and was ultimately decided by a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out.
Marking their second consecutive year of falling short in this competition, having lost to Young Africans last year, Chiefs now face a daunting prospect as they prepare for the upcoming season.
It was their sixth outing during the pre-season, and Chiefs struggled to assert their dominance in the first half. This challenge was exacerbated by the mounting pressure of expectations from their passionate supporters.
Despite the hope that the pre-season clash would serve as a springboard for success, it was not to be as the match ended goalless after regulation time.
The tense encounter was ultimately decided by a penalty shoot-out, where Chiefs failed to exploit their chances, limiting their efforts to seize victory. Last year, the clubs faced a similar fate against Young Africans, ending the tournament without silverware and subsequently finishing the Premiership season in a disappointing ninth position.
While substitutions in the second half brought a noticeable change in intensity, it was not enough to secure victory. Notable replacements Wandile Duba, Mduduzi Shabalala, and Pule Mmodi injected life into the team, but the opportunity to clinch a win remained elusive as the penalty shoot-out brought significant uncertainty into the mix.
After the match, head coach Nasreddine Nabi remained upbeat, asserting that the game provided valuable insights into the teams' performance and areas for improvement. That has been his demeanour ever since he joined Chiefs, but the fans will become impatient with him if the season does not start on a high note after two or three rounds.
Nabi's sentiment fuels hope that the lessons learned from this latest setback will galvanise the Chiefs as they embark on a fresh league campaign.
As Kaizer Chiefs regroup and recalibrate, they should harness this disappointment to fuel their ambitions for the season ahead. Only time will tell, but their supporters will be eagerly awaiting the chance to witness the fruits of these valuable pre-season experiences.
BT Academy coaches Jesse Julius, Clayton Levendal, Keeno Damons and Jayvin Chrisholm have resigned after their harrowing experience being stranded in Spain without return flight tickets.
The soccer coaches of BT Academy, who were praised for their performance at a tournament in Spain and for supporting the players after they were left stranded without return flights, have officially resigned from the academy.
A group of 38, including an under-14 team, an under-19 team, and a girls team, travelled to Spain to participate in the Donosti Cup 2025. The teams performed well and the trip went smoothly, until the final day. When it was time to return home, they discovered that their return flights had not been booked by the organisers, despite each person having paid R50 000 for what was meant to be an all-expenses-paid trip.
In a statement reflecting on the ordeal, the four coaches wrote: “To Brandon Timmy: we are nothing like you. You tried to break us. You failed to pay us. You abandoned us. But in the end, all you did was bring us closer together. We are coaches with integrity, honour, principles, and honesty. The very things you lack.
"The brotherhood you tried to destroy is now stronger than ever: an unshakable force of unity forged through adversity. We won the hearts of the nation not through deception or silence, but through our courage to do what you didn't have the backbone to do - stand up, speak out, and protect the children and families you left behind.
“We are emotionally scarred, yes, but we are not broken. And we will not fail the children, the parents, or the people who believed in us, the way you failed them all.”
The coaches also thanked everyone who helped bring them home.
“We write to you as the coaches of the former BT Academy, not just to thank you, but to honour the nation that stood up when Brandon Timmy turned away. When we were left stranded in a foreign country, abandoned, unpaid, and emotionally broken, it wasn’t Brandon Timmy that came to our rescue. It was you. The people of South Africa, and even strangers from across the globe, who opened their hearts, their hands, and their homes to bring us back.
"From those who gave despite having little, to those who sent messages of hope and solidarity every day. You carried us when we were at our lowest. Because of the generous, fearless spirit of South Africans and our global allies, we rise, not with anger, but with resolve, dignity, and truth. This is not the end.”
Soccer coach Keeno Damons, who had been with BT Academy for three years, confirmed they had all resigned and submitted formal resignation letters.
“You can’t work for someone you can’t trust. The fact that he did what he did to all of us, the coaches, the players and the parents. Reality is kicking in for me. Brandon, Jayvin and I had a good relationship. To just throw that away is not easy for me. I have so many questions. What was going through his mind when he did this? It’s heartbreaking. I feel betrayed,” he said.
The sister of one of the coaches who was allegedly dismissed by BT Academy while in Portugal for speaking out about what was happening, said he is still owed over R70 000.
“It all started when they landed in Spain, there was no transport. They were stuck at the airport for a while. Jesse found transport to take them to the (accommodation); he paid R70 000 and BT paid R40 000,” she said.
She added that, along with the other coaches, her brother had also contributed towards food for the group, but he was yet to be reimbursed.
“I tried my best to keep them in good spirits. I’m ecstatic that he is back, these past few days felt like months. It still feels so unreal.”
BT Academy did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.
The Siwelele FC general meeting that took place at the Mangaung Indoor Sports Centre in Rocklands, Bloemfontein, not only served as an introductory platform for the new premiership club but also marked a major shift in Bloemfontein football support.
Kaizer Chiefs are putting in the final preparations ahead of the new season, but it’s difficult to see how the club will improve unless they address the striker position by signing a proven goalscorer.
Chiefs’ problems up front were well documented last season. Amakhosi often dominated games and created more goalscoring chances than their opponents. But, without a clinical finisher up front, those chances created often went abegging.
It was an issue head coach Nasreddine Nabi repeatedly raised after one frustrating performance after another.
In this transfer window, the club have sought to address that problem by signing Guinea-Bissau-born Portuguese striker Flavio Silva. The 29-year-old has had a journeyman career that’s taken him all over the world, playing in countries like Portugal, Indonesia, Luxembourg, and the United States.
While his goalscoring record did not set the world alight, he did put up impressive numbers during his time in Indonesia, where he found the back of the net 39 times in 78 games. Decent, but it remains to be seen if he can replicate that form in a tougher league like the Betway Premiership.
One man whose name has been mentioned in recent weeks is Peter Shalulile. According to reports, the Mamelodi Sundowns striker is open to exploring his options despite being contracted with the Tshwane giants for two more years.
Since moving to Sundowns from Highlands Park in 2020, the Namibian hitman has proven time and time again that he knows his way to the net. His best tally was 23 goals during the 2021/22 campaign.
In his five seasons with the Brazilians so far, he’s scored 65 goals in the league. In all competitions, and if you add the goals he scored for Highlands Park, that number is well over 100. Shalulile knows how to score goals.
If a player with such numbers wants to leave, Chiefs should be one of the first clubs to inquire about his services.
Chiefs should know what a prolific striker can do for one’s league campaign. If you cast your mind back to the 2004/05 season, when they pipped Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates to the title thanks to the exploits of one Collins Mbesuma.
The Zambian great, who was just 21 at the time, scored an amazing 25 league goals, which remains a record to this day.
A signing of that calibre could be the difference between another year of frustration and a genuine title challenge. With the right investment up front, Chiefs could finally begin turning dominance into results and restore their status as a feared force in South African football.
The blueprint for success is there – now it’s up to the club to act decisively and bring in the firepower that can reignite the faithful supporters’ dreams.
Rob Valetini was named Thursday in Australia's side for the second Test against the British and Irish Lions in Melbourne, a big boost for the Wallabies ahead of a clash they must win to keep the series alive.
Back-row marauder Valetini, hooker David Porecki and lock Will Skelton all return from injury to add physicality to a Wallabies side outmuscled as a hardened Lions won the opening Test 27-19 in Brisbane.
There were no major selection surprises, with coach Joe Schmidt sticking with an unchanged backline for Saturday's match in front of an estimated 90,000 spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Valetini, awarded Australia's best player in each of the past two years, has recovered from a calf injury and will add power and strong ball carrying.
The 26-year-old replaces Nick Champion De Crespigny, who was a surprise selection for the opening Test and impressed on debut with ferocious tackling.
Even though he completed a full training block this week, Valetini is unlikely to play the full 80 minutes.
"He tends to play full games for us, but I doubt whether that's going to be the case," Schmidt said.
"He's been incredibly resilient, one of those players who finds a bit in reserve.
"So we'll get to half time, have a look at how he's travelling and then during the second half, again, see how he's travelling."
Imposing lock Skelton will slot into the number five shirt while Porecki returns after suffering concussion in the 21-18 win against Fiji at the start of the month.
Schmidt has persisted with the combination of Jake Gordon and Tom Lynagh in the half-backs.
There had been a push for scrum-half Tate McDermott to be paired with Queensland Reds teammate Lynagh, but Gordon retained the No.9 jersey.
With wet weather forecast in Melbourne, Schmidt has opted for six forwards and two backs on the bench, with lock Jeremy Williams and hooker Billy Pollard among the reserves.
"We've got a group of players who haven't won too much in recent times, whether it's Super Rugby or internationally," Schmidt said.
"I think confidence is an incremental thing. We know we have to stack the winning moments together to get a result."
Champion De Crespigny, Matt Faessler, Tom Hooper and Andrew Kellaway have dropped out of the matchday 23.
"The squad has recovered well after a very physical first Test and the week's preparation here in Melbourne has allowed us a bit more time together," Schmidt said.
"We took some confidence from the second half last week, but we know we'll need to improve further against a Lions team that will bring plenty of fire to the contest on Saturday night."
Australia (15-1):
Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter; Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson (capt), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini; Will Skelton, Nick Frost; Allan Alaalatoa, David Porecki, James Slipper
Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson
Lucas Ribeiro Costa, the dazzling forward for Mamelodi Sundowns, has made his eagerly awaited return to South Africa for pre-season preparations following his impressive stint at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The 26-year-old Brazilian was undeniably the standout player for Sundowns during the 2024/25 season, contributing a remarkable 25 goals across 51 matches, leading the club to a triumphant league victory and an exhilarating run in the CAF Champions League, where they reached the final.
His journey to the forefront of international football reached its zenith when Costa showcased his skills on a global stage in the United States, where he received the 'Goal of the Tournament' award for his breathtaking solo effort against Borussia Dortmund.
This prestigious accolade only adds to the expectations surrounding Ribeiro as he prepares to gear up for the upcoming Premiership season.
Despite attracting interest from several clubs across Qatar, France, and Belgium, sources have confirmed that the offers received did not meet the valuation set by Sundowns for the player.
Moreover, both Costa and his representatives have demonstrated a clear intent to remain focused on his development at Sundowns rather than exploring the other options.
After a rejuvenating vacation back in Brazil, Costa has rejoined his teammates at the state-of-the-art Royal Marang Sports Campus for the final phase of pre-season. This venue, known for its top-tier facilities, has been a familiar haunt for the club, having spent time there before embarking on their previous European adventure.
As Ribeiro dusts off his boots and trains with the squad, a report on X on Thursday said that the club is in advanced discussions with Egyptian giants Pyramids FC regarding a potential transfer for the dynamic winger.
Ahmed Shobeir, a prominent media personality and former Egyptian national team goalkeeper, posted this development through a tweet, stating, "Pyramids is in advanced negotiations with South African club Mamelodi Sundowns to sign the Brazilian winger Lucas Ribeiro Costa."
In addition to the transfer saga, Ribeiro's accolades continue to pile up. He has received nominations for two prestigious Premier Soccer League Awards this season: the PSL Footballer of the Season Award and the Betway Premiership Players’ Player of the Season Award.
His stellar performance last season also saw him crowned as the top scorer in the Premiership, netting an impressive 16 goals.
As fans and pundits watch closely, the coming weeks could prove pivotal for Ribeiro. Will he remain a stalwart for Sundowns or embark on a new chapter with Pyramids FC? The answers remain on the horizon as the pre-season unfolds.
