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Toyota Cheetahs jumped over the angry and aggressive Airlink Pumas when they beat them 42-25 during their Carling Black Label Cup at Toyota Stadium on Friday night.
The first half was action-packed with both teams showing their fighting spirit early on.
The visitors were the first to strike with a try in the 14th minute, taking a narrow 5-0 lead, however, they missed the conversion.
Just three minutes later, the home team responded strongly with a well-worked try in the 17th minute and they made no mistake with the conversion to lead 7-5.
In the 20th minute, the Pumas were awarded a penalty and slotted it in t take the lead again, 8-7. But the Cheetahs came back firing, scoring a try in the 22nd minute and converting it to regain the lead 14-8.
The home side kept the pressure on, adding another converted try in the 28th minute to stretch the score to 21-8.The Pumas managed to come back into the game with a try in the 32nd minute, but once again missed the conversion, bringing the score to 21-13.
The final moment before the halftime, Cheetahs showed their strength once more with another try and successful conversion, ending the half in a strong position.
Halftime score, Toyota Cheetahs 28-13 Airlink Pumas.s
In the second half, Cheetahs continued to take charge of the game and scored the try in the 48th minute, but missed the conversion for the first time in the game; the score was 33-13.
Pumas hit back with a try in the 53rd minute and once again, missed it. A few minutes later, Cheetas got a penalty and extended the lead to 35-18.
The Cheetahs opponents pushed hard to get a try in the 76th minute and convert it, however, the home team bounced back with another try and conversion a minute later. The match ended with the Cheetahs claiming a hard-fought 42-25 victory over the visiting Pumas.
The North West province will be well represented in top flight football in the upcoming new premiership season, after Lerumo Lions - owned by the flambouyant Sibongile Marokana - acquired the status of Motsepe Foundation Championship side Pretoria Callies.
Last season, Lions competed in the North West ABC Motsepe League, finishing second with 89 points, just nine points behind champions, Thames FC.
Prior to the conclusion of the amateur league season, Lions had filed a formal complaint with SAFA, alleging that Thames FC had fielded an ineligible player - namely Isa Mangera. Lions alleged that Mangera joined Thames without completing the required medical documentation, which violates league regulations.
Thames subsequently won the case and went on to play in the ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs, which were ultimately won by Gomora Unted from Alexandra, Johannesburg.
Following Lions’ acquisition of Callies, the North West province will now have two clubs representing the province in top flight football, after Orbit College FC’s promotion into the Betway Premiership.
Following widespread speculation that Marumo Gallants will get relegated after Cape Town City won their arbitration case the had lodged at the South African Football Association (SAFA) on Monday, the Bloemfontein-based outfit merely got a slap on the wrist, with the Premier Soccer League (PSL) handing them a fine.
Gallants were found guilty on charges of fielding an improperly registered player in Monde Mphambaniso by the PSL disciplianry committee (DC), who fined Bahlabane ba Ntwa R200 000, with 50% of the fine suspended for 24 months. This means the 2025/2026 league season will start as scheduled, with Gallants’ PSL status still intact.
In a recorded audio press release, PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu further stated that the DC found Mphambaniso not guilty, while handing City the opprtunity to appeal the outcomes of the case should they feel the need to.
“The PSL DC ruled as follows: one, that Marumo Gallants be fined an amount of R200,000, half of which is immediately payable, and the other half suspended for 24 months, on condition that during the period of suspension they are not found guilty of the same offence again.
“Should they reoffend, that suspended portion would be triggered immediately, and they will be further sanctioned for that subsequent misdemeanour,” said Majavu.
Galants were also ordered to pay for the costs of the sitting.
The Premier Soccer League held its annual awards ceremony on Tuesday evening for the 2024/2025 season. These awards were a grand celebration of South African football excellence.
Mamelodi Sundowns were the first to be awarded for being the best team in Africa and to be able to reach global stages such as the Club World Cup a few weeks back. The Brazilians also won the league again last season for a record-extending eighth consecutive time.
Meanwhile, Elvis Chipezeze from Magezi FC won the Carling Knockout Player of the Tournament, while Relebohile Mofokeng lifted his first trophy of the MTN 8 Last Man Standing.
Here’s a list of all the winners:
PSL Awards:
§Chairman’s Award: Mamelodi Sundowns
§PSL Footballer of the Season: Lucas Ribeiro Costa
§DStv Premiership Coach of the Season: Miguel Cardoso
§DStv Premiership Player’s Player of the Season: Lucas Ribeiro Costa
§DStv Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season: Sipho Chaine
§DStv Premiership Defender of the Season: Nkosinathi Sibisi
§DStv Premiership Midfielder of the Season: Makhehleni Makhaula
§DStv Premiership Young Player of the Season: Relebohile Mofokeng
§DStv Premiership Top Goal Scorer: Lucas Ribeiro
Cup Competitions:
§MTN8 Last Man Standing: Relebohile Mofokeng
§Carling Knockout Player of the Tournament: Elvis Chipezeze
§Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament: Pule Mmodi
§Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player of the Tournament: Mbekezil Mbokazi
Diski Challenge:
§DStv Diski Challenge Player of the Season: Tylon Smith
§DStv Diski Challenge Top Goal Scorer: Siphamandla Msezane
§MFC Player’s Player of the Season: Muzomuhle Khanyi
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.
