FIRST START

The club takes its name from SaintGilles in Brussels and was founded in 1897 and has played in Joseph Marien Stadium since 1920.

Before the Second World War, Union were the giants of Belgian football, winning the Belgian championship title 11 times, starting in 1904.

In 1920, the club also produced the largest number of internationals for the team that won gold at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp.

It was also before the war that the team, under captain Jules Pappaert, went on a run of 60 games undefeated, which remains a Belgian record, as they won three successive championships from 1933-35.

FADING AWAY

After WWII, Union had a brief spell of European success, playing in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and reaching the semi-finals in the 1958–60 edition after a two-legged victory against A.S. Roma.

In 1963, however, the club was relegated to the second division, and in 1980 even fell as low as the Belgian Promotion division, the fourth tier of football in the country.

The club rallied to earn back-to-back promotions back up to the Second Division, claiming the Fourth Division crown in 1983 and the Third the following season.

But no further progress could be made and Union would yo-yo between the second and third flights for close on the next four decades.

REVIVAL

USG’s transformation has been remarkable since Tony Bloom took over the club in 2018 alongside longtime friend and business associate Alex Muzio – they attended the same school in Hove and Muzio rose through Bloom’s gambling consultancy company StarLizard.

Bloom was already chairman of his hometown club in England, Brighton & Hove Albion, and brought all of the technological innovation they were famous for to help Union begin a climb back to the top.

Among their first signings of the Boom era was Percy Tau, who was named best second division player after his one season at Union in the 2018-19 campaign.

EUROPE AGAIN

USG moved back up to the top flight in 2021 and in their first season in D1, surprised everyone. Coach Felice Mazzù’s team finished the regular season top of the standings but in the post-season playoffs were overtaken by Club Brugge.

The following season, the Unionists made their comeback on the European stage after a 59-year hiatus, losing to Rangers of Scotland in the Champions League knockout rounds, but got to the Europa League quarter-finals, where Bayer Leverkusen ended up being too strong.

They won that and that was the end of our European dream (1-1 and 1-4), for that season at least.

TROPHIES AT LAST

In May 2024, Union won their first Belgian Cup title after 110 years, following a 1–0 win over Royal Antwerp in the final, and they again finished as runners-up in the league, just one point behind the champions, Club Brugge.

But in the 2024–25 campaign, they finally won a league title again. On the final matchday, a 3–1 victory over Gent sealed their first top-flight title in 90 years, finally achieving glory after three previous near-misses since their promotion.

The triumph also secured their first-ever spot in the Champions League league phase for the following season.

Union last season competed in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club’s history, recording three victories from eight matches during the league phase.

At home, Union were unable to convert their regular-season success into a league title, ultimately finishing as runners-up again.

TOP PLAYERS

USG are now shorthand for quality, data-led recruitment and confounding expectations through over-performance and have made good business selling players.

This means Rele Mofokeng is in the right place to showcase his talent this season.

Players typically arrive unknown and undervalued, and depart for big sums that keeps the virtuous cycle spinning forward.

Deniz Undav, who joined on a free transfer from the German third division, was sold to Brighton for €7 million and is today a German international playing for VfB Stuttgart. Dante Vanzeir was playing for Genk’s C team in 2020 when he was signed for €300 000, but left three years later for the New York Red Bulls for €5 million.

Players leave, but without leaving gaps behind. When Nigerian international Victor Boniface was sold to Bayer Leverkusen €20 million in 2023, he was replaced by Mohamed Amoura, who left for VfL Wolfsburg a year later for €17.5 million.

The post Belgian Royalty appeared first on SportsClub.

Orlando Pirates, like their going to strengthen their squad with some of the Premier Soccer League’s finest, but few would have predicted that Gamphani Lungu would be among those on their radar.

The Zambian international had been a loyal servant at SuperSport United and, even after the club’s status was sold and the team rebranded as Siwelele, with an imminent move to Bloemfontein, the utility player did not look for a way out.

In football, players who remain committed through such upheaval are increasingly rare. Lungu’s consistency at the highest level, however, never wavered.

Perhaps that is what caught Pirates’ attention, particularly because the 27-year-old offers the versatility modern coaches crave. He can operate at right-back, on either wing and, if required, lead the line as a striker.

At a club increasingly built around emerging talent, Lungu also brings something else: experience.

He has played extensively in the Betway Premiership and on the continent, offering Pirates an important senior presence as the champions attempt to strike the right balance between youth and experience.

For coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, technical ability is only part of what makes a player suitable for his system.

Being a good human being matters, but character and heart are also important. Lungu appears to have those qualities in abundance.

It would help explain why he has settled so quickly at Pirates, while also making an immediate contribution on the pitch, scoring important goals in both the league and the MTN8.

Ouaddou was candid when explaining why “Mr Jones”, as Lungu is affectionately known, did not appear to struggle with the transition from Siwelele to the Soweto giants.

“This boy helped us to win the title last season,” joked Ouaddou, referring to Lungu’s hat-trick in Siwelele’s remarkable 7-4 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns, a result that had a significant impact on the Brazilians’ goal difference.

“I was not surprised. When he came here, he was very excited, first of all. He was very happy to join such a big club. From last season, I think he was already part of the family. We integrated him very well, and he’s giving all his best.”

For all his experience, Ouaddou was still struck by the humility Lungu displayed after making the move to one of the biggest clubs in the country.

“I always say that you all the time have a short time or a long time for new recruitment when you come to a new club, but we just opened our hearts when he came, and he was part of the family,” the coach said. “It’s like he’s been here for a long time.”

That sense of belonging may prove just as valuable as Lungu’s versatility.

At Pirates, he has arrived not simply as another signing, but as a player capable of filling multiple roles while providing the character and experience required in a squad with serious ambitions at home and in Africa.

The post Gamphani Lungu: Big Impact appeared first on SportsClub.

The Springboks will start the Championship as the best-placed team in the 12-side tournament, having accumulated the most log points across the three rounds staged in July.

At this stage, Rassie Erasmus’ charges are on course to qualify for the grand final in London on 29 November, which will be contested by the top-ranked teams of the southern and northern conferences. France are the favourites to represent the European contingent, having finished at the head of the northern standings this past July.

It is interesting to note, however, that the French have accumulated just 12 log points after three rounds, whereas the leading teams in the southern conference, namely the Boks and the All Blacks, have banked a maximum of 15.

There has been a lot of criticism of the tournament structures over the past few months, and there may well be an outcry if one of the aforementioned teams wins all of its league matches yet fails to progress to the final.

While the Nations Championship is essentially a clash between the hemispheres, the integrity of the competition may well be compromised if the best-performing teams do not meet in the decider.

There is still a lot of rugby to be played, though, and it remains to be seen whether that scenario will come to pass.

In the meantime, Erasmus will keep one eye on his side as they battle Italy, France and Ireland in successive weeks, and another on the All Blacks, who will face Scotland, Wales and England.

At a glance, it would appear that the Boks have the tougher schedule, given that France and Ireland have been among the world’s leading sides for several seasons, while the teams from the United Kingdom have been far less consistent.

THE STORY SO FAR

At the start of the season, Erasmus explained that the Boks were building towards the four-Test Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks, and beyond that, the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

While the Nations Championship was never a priority, the Boks set out to win all three games against England, Scotland and Wales in South Africa, and to bolster their squad depth with future series and tournaments in mind.

Erasmus blooded five new players in Paul de Villiers, Jaco Williams, Vusi Moyo, Ruben van Heerden and Carlü Sadie, and used as many as 43 players across the three Tests.

The Boks averaged 43 points and seven tries a game. More importantly – at least in the context of the southern conference league race – they recorded a points difference of +81, and this allowed South Africa to finish ahead of the All Blacks.

Dave Rennie’s side faced tougher opponents in July, and were made to fight tooth and nail for a 34-32 win against France and a 40-21 victory over Ireland. After a slow start, the All Blacks hammered Italy 47-17.

Meanwhile in the northern conference, France bounced back from that loss to New Zealand in Christchurch to secure a 42-26 victory against Australia in Brisbane and a 42-15 win against Japan in Tokyo. Les Bleus were without several star players in July – due to injuries and resting protocols – butstill managed to finish at the top of the standings.

While Scotland recorded big wins against Argentina and Fiji, it was the four-try bonus point they earned in the loss to South Africa that allowed Gregor Townsend’s men to edge ahead of England in the northern conference standings.

England hit back after losing to the Boks in round one, thrashing Fiji 73-8 in Liverpool before pipping the Pumas 31-24 in a spiky contest staged in Santiago del Estero.

Ireland beat Australia 33-31 in Sydney before downing Japan 36-20 in Newcastle.

The loss to the All Blacks in Auckland, however, brought them back to earth with a thump.

While they only trail France by two log points in the northern conference at this stage, it would be a surprise to see Andy Farrell’s side qualifying for the grand final in November.

THE RACE FOR FINAL PLACE
The Boks will fancy their chances against Italy in Turin this November, having beaten the Azzurri three times in 2025. They shouldn’t take Gonzalo Quesada’s team lightly, though, given they will face Italy in the pool stages of next year’s World Cup.

Erasmus is likely to rotate his team over the course of the four-week series in Europe, and it is worth noting that there will be a six-day turnaround between the first game in Turin and the second in Paris.

The Boks may be desperate to bank a big win against Italy, but they will be looking to peak in later games against France and Ireland Can the Boks score four or more tries and win all three matches? Their point and try-scoring averages in the recent matches staged in South Africa bode well, as does the fact that they swept all three nations on the previous tour to Europe in 2025.

The performances of the All Blacks, of course, may influence the Bok tactics as the competition enters the final stages.

New Zealand should win all three of their matches against Scotland, Wales and England this November.

Erasmus will be hoping that one of those teams possibly England – can force an upset or that two or more can deny the Kiwis a try-scoring bonus point.

Bonus points may decide the race for top spot in the southern conference, and neither the Boks nor the All Blacks will want to leave themselves with too much to do on the final weekend of the league stage.

Erasmus has managed his squad well over the past few seasons, and may feel that he has the resources to win three matches and possibly a final in Europe this November.

Should they qualify, the Boks may meet France for the second time in the space of three weeks, and the team with the greatest strength in depth may win the all-important encounter at Twickenham.

Alternatively, one of Scotland, Ireland or England could advance to the decider. England have recorded some poor results in 2026, but will be tougher to beat in a rare final staged at their home ground.

That said, the Boks have beaten England on their last two visits to Twickenham, and have an excellent record against the side in knockout fixtures.

While the Nations Championship was never going to be a priority for the Boks at this stage of the World Cup cycle, they will have the opportunity to push for a place in the final, and for yet another title this November.

The post Nations Championship: Sudden Death appeared first on SportsClub.

England arrive for a marquee Africa this summer with questions over their ability to put a chastening 12 months behind them and whether any of their New Year’s resolutions include a little more restraint.

They are all but out of the running for the World Test Championship (WTC) final but have not lost a series to South Africa, the defending champions, since 2012, and not lost a series in South Africa since 2000 and will see this as an opportunity for rebirth after several controversies, many involving the team’s drinking culture.

At the helm is new coach Stephen Fleming, officially appointed in July and taking charge for the first time on this tour, alongside returning captain Joe Root, whose job it is to score runs and bring respectability back into their game.

He led England between 2017 and 2022 stepped down before Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum ushered in the age of ‘Bazball’, an aggressive, entertainment-focused approach to Test cricket.

Stokes and McCullum urged their players to adopt an aggressive, fearless mindset, but the approach eventually came under increasing scrutiny. It marked the end of an era for England that had promised so much but ultimately fell short of its ambitions.

On numbers alone, the Bazball era was not that bad. Between May 2022 and July 2026, England played 49 Tests under McCullum, winning 27, losing 20 and drawing two; a win rate of 55%. In series terms, they won half of the 16 series they played, drawing four and losing four.

But it was the way they were defeated in two of those four series they conceded that soaked an unwashable stain into their reputations.

Losing 1-4 to India and 1-2 to Pakistan in 2024 at a time when both teams had home conditions heavily in their favour was disappointing but not unheard of.

In fact, no one beat India in a home series between England’s win 2013 and New Zealand’s in 2024 and while Pakistan’s record is not quite as strident, there was a brief period when they rode their luck on batting first on spinners’ tracks.

Tough, but understandable.

In Australia, England lost the first Ashes Test in two days and the second in three and then went on what was described as a glorified stag-do to the coastal town of Noosa, where things started to fall apart.

Players were filmed taking up residence at beach bars, vaping and staggering around. They went on to lose the third and fifth Tests too and return home embarrassed.

England’s response was to install a midnight curfew, as though they were a team of Cinderellas. McCullum and Stokes survived the scrutiny until their home season started.

Immediately after the first match – a win over New Zealand – Stokes and Gus Atkinson were out in the early hours of the morning, there was an altercation they were adjacent to, and a huge fall out followed.

Stokes missed the next match, which England lost and then returned for the third, where he announced his retirement mid-game.

England lost again. Even with Stokes gone, an axe still needed to fall and it landed on McCullum, but he has kept the white- ball job. Still, sorry England still had mistakes to make.

With Fleming due to take over for the South Africa series, Marcus Trescothick was in charge for their home Tests against Pakistan.

Just after his first match, squad member Brydon Carse, who was released to play a county match, was caught on video in handcuffs after a night out celebrating Durham’s win over Derbyshire. In the background, Stokes lurked.

The new-old captain Root could only comment on being “hacked off,” at developments. What the impact of all this on his own game will be remains to be seen.

Root has played 101 Test matches in which he has not been England’s captain and his record in those games is eye-wateringly good.

He has scored 8696 runs including 27 centuries playing as just another member of the XI and his average is 53.34.

As captain, the record is not much worse though his average dips under 50 and

he has not scored as many hundreds.

There was a period between 2017 and 2019 when Root did not hit a century in 29 innings where the leadership seemed to be weighing on him but he came back to score three hundreds (two of which were double tons) in three games to put any worries to bed.

These days, Root’s form is not a discussion point. He is the most accomplished batter still active on the international circuit and only Sachin Tendulkar has more Test runs than him. That he will play for England is not in doubt but the question could be: for how much longer?

Root is 35 years old, has been playing at the highest level for 14 years and seems to be thinking about the twilight of his career.

He will return to Paarl Royals for season 5 of the SA20, after playing there in season 3 and there is even talk of Root looking into a winelands holiday home for post- career visits.

Before that, he will bring a Test squad headlined by seamer Jofra Archer but laced with inexperience in both the attack and the batting line-up to try and topple the WTC title-holders.

The series will be an opportunity for vice-captain Harry Brook to prove his maturity, and for the likes of opening batter Emilio Gay and wicket-keeper Jamie Smith to establish themselves as regulars.

But for England to win they will need their pace pack to step up which puts the onus on Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson to bring their best, and make sure they stay away from the bar.

The post After BazBall appeared first on SportsClub.

There is an interesting subplot developing at Kaizer Chiefs, and it has nothing to do with the attacking department or the latest transfer rumour.

It is happening between the posts. AmaKhosi moved quickly to sign Renaldo Leaner, and the goalkeeper has immediately been installed as the second choice behind captain Brandon Petersen.

That move has significantly changed the goalkeeping pecking order at Naturena.

Bruce Bvuma, who has spent much of his career competing for the No.1 jersey, is now effectively third choice with one year remaining on his contract, while Fiacre Ntwari has been sent out on loan to Kruger United.

For now, Petersen remains the undisputed first choice – and you would think the armband also gives the experienced player a slight edge.

But there is a bigger question sitting behind Leaner’s arrival: are Chiefs simply strengthening their goalkeeping department, or are they also preparing for life after Petersen?

The timing makes that question difficult to ignore. Petersen, like Bvuma, has one year left on his contract, and negotiations over a new deal have been stalling.

Chiefs continue to rate him highly, and coach Fernando Da Cruz has made it clear that he has not lost faith in his captain following several howlers that cost AmaKhosi points early on in the campaign.

“Brandon also made mistakes last season,” Da Cruz acknowledged.

But that was only part of his assessment. “He also made a very good season last season, he got a lot of points for his team.”

And then came the strongest endorsement of Petersen. “He’s our captain so we trust in him.”

Those words matter because Petersen is not just Chiefs’ goalkeeper. He is their leader and that makes his position considerably more complicated than simply deciding who is making the fewest mistakes. It takes a certain amount of guts to drop your captain.

For Da Cruz, there is an additional consideration – goalkeeper’s mistakes are often more visible and more costly than those of
an outfield player. One misplaced pass, one poor decision or error in a crowded penalty area can change the result of a match.

And Chiefs are a club where those moments are magnified.

The Glamour Boys have historically had great goalkeepers in Brian Baloyi, one of the club’s most dependable figures between the posts before Itumeleng Khune eventually took over and became an institution at Naturena.

Khune’s longevity set an incredibly high standard for what Chiefs supporters expect from their No.1 shot stopper.

But since his decline and eventual departure from the first-team picture, the positionhas been more hit and miss. Chiefs have tried different options without finding someone who has truly made the position their own for an extended period.

Petersen has arguably come closest. His performances last season earned him the captaincy and, despite mistakes, the trust of Da Cruz. The coach’s comments suggest he believes the good has outweighed the bad.

But football has a short memory. A goalkeeper can be trusted today and questioned after one costly mistake tomorrow.

That is where Leaner becomes particularly interesting.

Petersen knows him well. In fact, the Chiefs captain revealed that the pair go back to their school days, with Petersen having been Leaner’s head boy.

“I’ve known Renaldo since we were very young. I was his head boy in high school, and we’ve always had a good relationship.”

There is no sense from Petersen that he sees Leaner’s arrival as a threat.

Quite the opposite. “I think he [Leaner] is a good signing for the team.”

He also welcomed the competition. “It’s a great opportunity for him, and for us in the goalkeeping department, it’s good competition.”

And perhaps that is exactly how Chiefs want it to be viewed. Leaner has earned his opportunity after developing through the Ajax Cape Town system and fighting his way into the professional game.

Now he has walked into one of the biggest clubs in the country and immediately finds himself one mistake, injury or loss of form away from potentially being asked to take over.

That is a very different proposition to simply signing a goalkeeper for squad depth.

The question, then, is whether Chiefs see Leaner as Petersen’s understudy or potentially his successor.

There is no indication that the club has already made that decision yet and they clearly still value Petersen, otherwise he would not be captain and Da Cruz would not be publicly defending him.

But the unresolved contract situation adds another layer.

If negotiations continue to stall, Chiefs now have a goalkeeper who can develop behind Petersen while the club assesses its options.

If Petersen renews and continues performing, Leaner provides the competition Chiefs have been lacking. We will know more a few months down the line.

The post Is Leaner the Future? appeared first on SportsClub.

Pitso Mosimane has returned to the helm of South African but what do his numbers tell us about his first two stints in charge?

He is a much more experienced coach than the one who left the role 14 years ago and has gone on to become the most decorated tactician in the country’s history.

But that does not mean we cannot take pointers from history.

Mosimane’s South African side were extremely difficult to beat, excellent at protecting a lead and outstanding defensively, but frequently struggled to turn control and clean sheets into victories.

That was ultimately his downfall the second time around.

He has already started his third tenure with a home game against Guinea and an away clash with Eritrea in neutral Egypt, but here are his numbers from his first two spells in charge.

OVERALL RECORD

Mosimane took charge of 23 Bafana Bafana games across two spells, first as an interim coach ahead of the arrival of Carlos Alberto Parreira in 2007, and then after replacing the Brazilian following the 2010 World Cup. He had previously been an assistant coach to Parreira.

His sides won nine of those games for a 39.1% win rate, which is not that great. But they also drew 10 and lost only four, so Mosimane was unbeaten in 82.6% of his games, a much healthier statistic.

TIGHT AT EITHER END

Mosimane’s sides remarkably kept 17 clean sheets in those 23 games, which means they prevented the opposition from scoring in almost three out of every four matches.

But the flip side is they were not so hot in attack, failing to score in 10 matches and netting 17 times in 23 games (0.74 goals per game). They conceded only eight times.

It means there were just 25 goals in total across his 23 matches.

Which is not a lot!

South Africa did not win a single game in which they conceded. All nine of Mosimane’s wins came with a clean sheet.

In the six games in which their opponents scored, they drew two and lost four.

In his first spell of seven games, South Africa conceded only one goal, but also scored just three.

HOME VS AWAY

Mosimane took charge of 11 matches on home soil and won five to go with five draws and a single defeat, which was a 1-0 loss to the United States in November 2010.

There were nine games away from home, of which three were won, alongside four draws and two defeats. Three games were played on neutral soil, with one win, one draw and one loss.

COMPETITIVE VS FRIENDLY

Mosimane took charge of 11 competitive matches and lost only one, keeping nine clean sheets. He won four but drew six. Again, the draws are the issue.

Bafana scored seven goals in those 11 matches and conceded three. It has the feel of a ‘don’t lose’ instead of a ‘try to win’ approach, which will likely be different this time.

‘KILLER’ IN THE BOX
One extraordinary statistic is that Katlego ‘Killer’ Mphela is the only player to have scored more than once under Mosimane. He netted seven times and was a key player for the coach.

All seven of his goals came in Mosimane’s second spell, when the team netted 14 times, meaning he scored exactly 50% of their goals.

The other 10 players to find the back of the net, all once, were Benson Mhlongo, Katlego Mashego, Aaron Mokoena, Bernard Parker, Davide Somma, Steven Pienaar, Siyabonga Sangweni, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Andile Jali and Bradley Grobler.

The 12 friendly clashes therefore produced five wins, four draws and three defeats, with 10 goals scored and five conceded.

GOING AHEAD
Bafana Bafana scored first on 10 occasions under Mosimane and won nine of those, an excellent record. Once ahead, they were tough to beat.

The lone exception was a friendly against Zimbabwe in 2011, where they went 1-0 up but lost the game 2-1.

However, when fell behind, they never won. His sides came back to draw twice and suffered three defeats. Eight of his matches ended O-O.

Bafana led at half-time in eight matches and won seven, with the Zimbabwe game the anomaly.

They were level at the break on 11 occasions but won only two, drawing eight and losing one. When trailing at half-time, they drew two and lost two.

REGIONAL WARS

Bafana face two opponents from East Africa (Kenya and Eritrea) and one from West Africa (Guinea) in the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

They are unbeaten under Mosimane against East African teams (P3 W2 D1 LO GF4 GA1) and have a single loss against West African sides (P8 W3 D4 L1 GF8 GA3). That defeat was away to Niger.

The only one of their current AFCON qualifying opponents he has faced before is Kenya, which resulted in a 2-0 friendly victory.

He has back-to-back home and away games against Kenya coming up in November.

MOST USED PLAYERS

Winger Tshabalala appeared 17 times under Mosimane (15 starts), the most of any player.

The less likely figures of defender Morgan Gould (15 appearances and Thanduyise Khuboni (14) make up the top three.

The late Anele Ngcongca, Itumeleng Khune, Pienaar and Mphela (all 12) are next on the list.

In Mosimane’s second spell of 16 games, Gould appeared in 15 of them, the most of any player.

Only eight players appeared for him in both spells: Mokoena, Mphela, Macbeth Sibaya, Siboniso Gaxa, Tshabalala, Siyabonga Nomvethe, Pienaar and Tsepo Masilela.

Across all 23 games, he used a whopping 94 different players.

The post Pitso Mosimane: Third Time Lucky appeared first on SportsClub.

One of the biggest endorsements in at Kaizer Chiefs has come from his skipper, Brandon Petersen.

The goalkeeper, who has entered his sixth year at Naturena, said he took one look at the junior international following his much- talked-about transfer from Stellenbosch FC and knew immediately that he would be able to handle the pressure.

“For me, seeing a younger player like that come in and settle so quickly is a good sign. When players normally come to a team, especially younger ones, it takes them a bit of time before they settle,” the AmaKhosi captain explained.

The Glamour Boys pulled out all the stops to get the Phili deal over the line, first parting ways with striker Ashley du Preez before surprisingly allowing defender Given Msimango to also move in the opposite direction.

Chiefs then added a cash component to entice Stellenbosch, immediately putting pressure and attention on Phili to hit the ground running.

His debut, despite ending in a narrow defeat to Golden Arrows in the MTN8 quarter-finals, would have reassured the technical team – and perhaps some of the doubting Thomases – about his ability on the pitch.

Phili showed flashes of brilliance in a fixture where AmaKhosi were wasteful and were ultimately punished for their profligacy, missing out on yet another trophy.

But perhaps the 21-year-old was the silver lining in a performance theChiefs hierarchy will lament for months to come.

Petersen had already made up his mind about what Phili could bring to the table from his first glance following the winger’s arrival.

“I watched him and I was like, ‘Okay, no, we’re fine. We’re good to go.’ But just the fact that when he stepped onto the field, no one had to motivate him or encourage him, telling him, ‘Okay, don’t worry, you’re going to settle in’ – he just did it,” the captain added after observing Phili in training.

“He stepped onto the field and it was like he had always been there. So, to me, that’s a good sign, and it gives me confidence that it’s not going to take him a long time to come in and do his business.”

There is a school of thought that one of the reasons Phili was immediately comfortable is because he was reunited with familiar faces from the South African U20 team that competed at the FIFA World Cup in Chile last year under coach Raymond Mdaka.

Chiefs had both Mfundo Vilakazi and Luke Baartman representing the junior national team at that global showpiece, with both players having been teammates of Phili at the time and pretty much competing for the same position.

Now, the trio share the dressing room at Naturena following the latest transfer.

“Yeah, I mean, that could obviously have played a role in him settling so well, and I think it also speaks to him as a player,” Petersen agreed.

“You know, his confidence and just him backing himself, especially coming to a team like Chiefs, where there are expectations and all eyes are on you. So, for me, that’s a good sign as one of his teammates – to know that he backs himself and knows what he’s capable of doing.”

Phili is not the only player who signed for Chiefs during the early registration period as the new era under Fernando da Cruz began.

The Soweto giants also brought in goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner, defender Thabo Moloisane and midfielder Adolf Mtasingwa before concluding the Phili deal.

It’s the winger’s deal that was much more demanding and no doubt one fans will be more eager to see succeed.

“A good sign is seeing them settle so quickly,” said Petersen of the new boys.

“I think the most important thing for them is to focus on their business and not let all the hype and all the noise around them cloud their judgement. I think it’s about backing themselves because they’re here for a reason.”

The skipper argued that the biggest thing the new signings can do for themselves is remember why they were recruited by AmaKhosi, particularly when the pressure inevitably mounts.

It doesn’t help that the first trophy of the season has already eluded the club, meaning Cruz could likely be a lot more demanding in what is required.

“They performed very well at the clubs they were at, and that’s the reason why they were signed by Chiefs. So, for me, it’s just about going out there, believing in themselves and knowing that they are capable of performing to the best of their ability,” Petersen concluded.

The post Langelihle Phili: New Chief appeared first on SportsClub.

All eyes are on the Springboks 2027 World Cup in Australia.

Having won the last two tournaments, Rassie Erasmus’ charges will be gunning for a hat-trick of titles, and legends such as Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth will be aiming to finish their storied careers on the highest of highs.

In the meantime, it remains to be seen how the respective franchises will manage their Boks over the next 12 months, and how the national resting protocols will influence the performances and results of the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers across the club season.

Leading South African players have enjoyed few precious opportunities to rest over the past five years, as the club season has bled into the international schedule.

The 2026-27 season should prove especially challenging from a player- welfare point of view, as the club calendar gives way to a six-round Rugby Championship tournament, before Erasmus and company turn their attention to the global showpiece in Australia.

With all that in mind, the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers may be hard- pressed to improve on their previous showings in the United Rugby Championship – and it may be some time yet before one of these teams ends South Africa’s club title drought.

The Bulls have been South Africa’s most consistent team in the URC, qualifying for four of the past five finals. In each and every decider, poor game management has cost them the title, and that was certainly the case when they lost 36-7 to Leinster in Dublin last term.

The Pretoria-based side took some time to find its feet under new coach Johan Ackermann, but went on to score more points (640) than any other side in the 16-team tournament.

Flyhalf Handré Pollard contributed 129 points to the Bulls’ cause, while scrumhalf Embrose Papier (12) was the competition’s joint top-scorer, along with Stormers No.8 Evan Roos.

Bulls fans may expect their team to go one better this season. Whether they can reach the same heights without Springboks of the quality of Kurt-Lee Arendse, Ruan Nortjé and Wilco Louw remains to be seen.

The Stormers started the 2025-26 season well, winning 10 matches in a row across both competitions, before losing momentum at the back end of the campaign and travelling to Dublin for the penultimate clash.

Coach John Dobson is determined to build a team that can win the URC and the Champions Cup – possibly by 2029 – and has backed up the talk by making several high-profile signings in recent months. Kolisi and Louw have returned to the franchise, while Cheslin Kolbe is back in Cape Town after a long stint in France and Japan.

The Stormers will begin the season with two – and in some cases three – excellent options in each position.

Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg- Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse and Kolbe will headline an explosive backline – although Bok resting protocols may ensure that some of the stars are managed across a club schedule that spans 10 months.

The Lions made history last season when they qualified for the URC playoffs for the first time. While they do not have the same resources as the other three franchises, they should be pushing for another top-eight finish in 2026-27.

Coach Cash van Rooyen has signed Bok prop Boan Venter and forgotten No.8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, and will look to harness a clutch of Junior Boks who recently defended their title at the World. Rugby Junior World Championship in Georgia. The powerful No.12 Ethan Adams is certainly one to watch.

The Sharks come into this URC campaign with everything to prove, having finished 10th in the standings last term. Despite their status as one of the richest teams, they have failed to deliver a trophy of significance over the past five years, and are yet to progress to a URC final.

The Sharks have parted ways with coach John Plumtree, and JP Pietersen, who took charge in the second half of last season’s campaign, will have the opportunity to change the narrative in the coming months. High-profile players such as Kolisi, Aphelele Fassi, Grant Williams and Marvin Orie have moved on, but Bok powerhouse Thomas du Toit and two former internationals in Ivan van Zyl and Stephan Lewies have joined the franchise.

The Sharks pack looks set to dominate, but the questions regarding their best halfback pairing persist. Pietersen may give further opportunities to Junior Bok stars such as Vusi Moyo – who made his Test debut for the senior national side this past July – and Zekhethelo Siyaya, while André “the Giant” Esterhuizen should continue to play a key leadership role from the No.12 position.

Ackermann, Dobson, Van Rooyen and Pietersen will have other fixtures to consider over the course of a long and taxing season.

The South African teams have been criticised for their inconsistent performances in the Champions Cup, but given all the demands at club and national level in 2026-27, they may struggle to shatter the glass ceiling and progress to the semi-finals.

The Lions will make their Champions Cup debut this season, and may be hard-pressed to compete against the best teams from England and France – after delivering an underwhelming performance in last term’s Challenge Cup, where they failed to reach the playoffs.

The Sharks will be desperate to regain their Champions Cup status this season, but may be caught in two minds.

Pietersen’s side has to finish in the top eight of the URC (at least) to qualify for the next edition of the Champions Cup.

Alternatively, they will earn a place at Europe’s top table if they win the Challenge Cup title – as they did back in 2024.

Overall, South African fans will be hoping for a more consistent showing across the board that results in two or more of the local teams progressing to the URC semi-finals, and possibly a decider on home soil.

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When Kabelo Kgositsile made the Orlando Pirates matchday squad for their Betway Premiership opener against Milford FC, many wondered what he had done to force his way into the plans after missing the club’s pre-season trip to Spain.

The Buccaneers had returned from Marbella, where coach Abdeslam Ouaddou had integrated several new faces into his squad ahead of a demanding 2026/27 campaign.

For some reason, Kgositsile had not made the cut, despite his return being all but guaranteed after Baroka FC were relegated from the Motsepe Foundation Championship to the amateur ranks.

Pirates had sent the 21-year-old to the Limpopo-based outfit last season in search of regular game time in a league renowned for its physical demands.

Perhaps the Soweto giants were still contemplating another loan move to allow the speedy winger to continue his development – until Ouaddou saw him in action.

Just like that, Kgositsile was back in the plans as the reigning champions prepared to begin their title defence at the Orlando Amstel Arena.

When asked about his new signings, Ouaddou explained that he prefers to gradually introduce new players without placing unnecessary pressure on them.

The Moroccan-born coach also praised Pirates’ scouting department for the work done to identify players capable of helping the club compete on all fronts – from defending the Betway Premiership, MTN8 and Carling Knockout titles to challenging for the Nedbank Cup and progressing beyond the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.

“I’m not going to speak about all of them but, generally, I think these players, what I have noticed, and I think it’s where the club is very good, is when they scout the players,” Ouaddou explained.

“The type of players they bring in terms of human values – the values are very important. Because if you want to work with some players, the strong foundation that they must have is values, and they have good values.” At his age, Kgosietsile still needs to be eased into the Pirates environment.

The fact that Ouaddou brought him into the squad despite him not being part of the pre-season tour speaks volumes about what the coach saw in him, particularly with the number of options available.

Captain and defender Nkosinathi Sibisi is also convinced the reigning champions have a special talent on their books.

“Look, he is an exciting talent, but not him alone,” the Bafana Bafana international said of Kgositsile.

“I think we have a couple of them. But with him, I think it was a much-needed debut, playing at home and coming off the bench against Milford. It’s just going to boost his confidence, and what better way to make your Pirates debut than with a win at home? I think he’s an exciting winger and the fans love him.” Sibisi believes Pirates have a huge prospect on their hands.

“Once he gets more comfortable, I think you will see he is full of potential, and I think the fans, even the team, will be mesmerised by his talent,” concluded the skipper.

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Mamelodi Sundowns’ victory in the 2025/26 African Champions League did more than deliver a second continental crown and erase the pain of losing the previous season’s final against Pyramids.

It also completed their rise to the top of Africa’s club rankings, ending Al Ahly’s long stay at number one and perhaps cementing what many have long believed, that the Pretoria-based side is the top team in Africa.

The Confederation of African Football’s updated five-year table that they use for seedings in competitions has Sundowns first with 73 points, seven clear of Egypt’s Al Ahly on 66, with Espérance from Tunisia in third on 58.

That is a significant shift from the ranking released before the 2025/26 season, when Al Ahly led with 78 points and Sundowns were second on 62. The change reflects both Sundowns’ relentless consistency and the way CAF’s rolling system places greater value on the most recent campaign.

With Al Ahly not qualifying for the Champions League this season, Sundowns have a further opportunity to cement their place as Africa’s top club.

The rankings are based on how clubs perform in CAF’s interclub competitions over the last five editions. CAF uses the list to organise seeding and place teams into pots for competition draws, helping to keep the strongest recent performers apart during the early stages.

CAF’s system awards Champions League clubs six points for winning the competition, five for finishing as runners-up, four for reaching the semi-finals and three for making the quarter-finals.

Clubs finishing third and fourth in the group stage receive two and one point respectively.

The Confederation Cup scale is slightly lower: five for the champions, four for the runners-up, three for semi- finalists, two for quarter-finalists, one for third place in a group and half a point for fourth.

But the crucial part is the weighting. The oldest of the five seasons is multiplied by one, the next by two, then three and so on until the most recent campaign, which carries a coefficient of five.

A Champions League title in the latest season is therefore worth 30 ranking points (six points multiplied by five), while the same achievement five seasons earlier contributes only six points.

Sundowns’ total of 73 can be followed season by season. Their quarter-final appearance in 2021/22 earns three points because it is now the oldest campaign in the cycle.

Their semi-final runs in 2022/23 and 2023/24 are worth eight and 12 respectively. Finishing as runners-up to Pyramids in 2024/25 contributes 20, while defeating AS FAR 2-1 on aggregate to win the 2025/26 title adds the maximum 30.

Al Ahly’s fall to second will hurt for fans, but is reflective of their recent struggles.

The Cairo giants remain the competition’s record 12-time winners and are still the benchmark for long-term African success.

Their 66 points comprise five for finishing as runners-up in 2021/22, 12 for winning the title in 2022/23, 18 for retaining it in 2023/24, 16 for reaching the 2024/25 semi-finals and 15 for making the quarter- finals in 2025/26.

They have entered the African Confederation Cup this season, so can still score points there.

In the 2025 ranking, Al Ahly still benefited from their 2020/21 Champions League title and had their more recent achievements multiplied by larger coefficients. Once that season dropped out, all their remaining results moved down one weighting level.

Sundowns also lost points through the rollover, but their new title was worth 30 and more than compensated.

The result was a rise from 62 to 73 points for Sundowns, while Al Ahly slipped from 78 to 66. That 23-point swing turned a 16-point Al Ahly lead into a seven-point advantage for the South Africans.

Domestic results do not alter the calculation. Sundowns were pipped by Orlando Pirates in the 2025/26 Premier Soccer League season, ending their run of eight successive league titles, but that setback has no bearing on CAF’s interclub coefficient.

Being number one brings practical benefits as well as well as that little extra bit of prestige and bragging rights.

The rankings are used for seeding, so Sundowns hold the strongest possible position when CAF assigns clubs to pots, although the precise procedures vary according to the stage of the competition.

It is not a guarantee of an easier route, but it rewards the years of work required to qualify repeatedly for the knockout rounds.

There is also a broader symbolism to Sundowns’ rise.

African club football has long been dominated by North African sides, particularly Al Ahly, Zamalek, Espérance and the leading Moroccan clubs. Sundowns have broken that hold through year-on-year consistency at the business end of the Champions League. The challenge is now to remain there.

Because the ranking is rolling, points are constantly losing value and eventually dropping out.

Sundowns cannot live indefinitely off the 2026 title. Their 30-point reward will become 24, then 18, 12 and finally six over the next four rankings before disappearing completely.

Al Ahly remain the continent’s greatest club historically, but measured by recent CAF competition performance, Mamelodi Sundowns are the current number one.

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