The Stormers have been South Africa’s form team across the 2025/26 club season, and if all goes to plan, they will host a European Champions Cup playoff in early April as well as a United Rugby Championship quarter-final in late May.

Rugby director John Dobson believes that the franchise is building towards a more prosperous future, and expects the squad to peak in 2029 – once a large group of homegrown youngsters have come of age.

In the meantime, the Stormers have announced that two high-profile Springboks in Siya Kolisi and Wilco Louw have signed on ahead of the 2026/27 season.

It will be a homecoming of sorts, with Kolisi rejoining the team that gave him his f irst professional contract in 2010 and the Worcester-born Louw returning to his roots.

From a personal point of view, Kolisi’s move from Durban to Cape Town will allow the 34-year-old to be closer to his children, Nicholas and Keziah.

“This move gives me the chance to do that while giving back to the team and fans who made such a big contribution to the player and person I am today,” Kolisi said, after the Stormers announced the signing in December.

“This decision wasn’t easy, but it’s about being closer to my kids.”

That said, the timing of the move is particularly significant for the club as well as the player. The Stormers will tap into Kolisi’s wealth of rugby knowledge as they attempt to become one of the world’s leading teams over the next few seasons.

Apart from his Stormers commitments, Kolisi will need leeway to prepare for the f inal phase of his journey with the Boks.

As Dobson suggests, it is a mutually beneficial arrangement for all the relevant parties concerned.

“We’ve got an outstanding crop of loose forwards in our squad and a number of very strong young leaders, with the last three Junior Springbok captains all on our books,” the Stormers boss said.

“Siya will help to develop these players and mentor them in a way that nobody else could, given what he has achieved and what he represents to all South Africans and especially our fans.”

Paul de Villiers led the Junior Boks at the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship, and has gone on to become one of the Stormers’ most important young players in recent years.

After a series of impressive performances across the URC and Champions Cup, the openside flanker is looking to take his game to another level.

Watch how Siya Kolisi reacts to messages from fans after reaching 100 tests!

“Siya is a South African rugby icon,” De Villiers told Rapport.

“For me to learn from someone like that is a huge privilege.” With the Bok management team based in Cape Town, Kolisi will be a lot closer to head coach Rassie Erasmus and should have an opportunity to discuss the build-up to the 2027 World Cup on a regular basis.

Kolisi won his 100th Test cap against France in Paris this past November.

Along with other ageing veterans such as Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Damian de Allende and Frans Malherbe, he will continue to push for a place in the national team in 2026 and 2027.

While Erasmus has integrated a number of promising youngsters over the past two seasons and spoken about the delicate balance between youth and experience in a successful Test squad, he knows how valuable Kolisi and others will be at the next global tournament, having won the previous two titles in Japan and France.

Even at the age of 34, Kolisi continues to impress on the international stage, and there is something to be said for the fact that he is featured in most of South Africa’s greatest wins since 2018.

His ability to unite and amplify the playing group is well-documented, and it is worth noting how previous South African captains such as Francois Pienaar, Gary Teichmann and John Smith have described Kolisi as the greatest Bok skipper of all time.

Incidentally, the Boks have won 72% of their Tests under Kolisi, and the f lanker (67) is closing in on Smit’s record of 83 Tests as South African captain.

While the 2027 World Cup – and potentially a record-breaking third successive title – remains his biggest goal, Kolisi will have to prove himself across a demanding 2026 season.

Once his tenure with the Sharks comes to an end, he will turn his attention to the new assignment with the Stormers.

Expectations will sky-rocket in the coming years, and the Stormers players as well as the coaches will have to ensure that they continue on an upward trajectory.

From a Bok point of view, he should not look any further than the Greatest Rivalry Series between South Africa and New Zealand, which kicks off in August.

Much has been made about the inaugural Nations Championship tournament, which will commence with a mouth-watering match between Boks and England in Johannesburg on 4 July and conclude in late November with a decider in the northern hemisphere.

But as Erasmus recently stated, the result of the quadrennial series between the Boks and the All Blacks will matter a great deal more to the respective rugby communities in South Africa and New Zealand.

While the All Blacks have dominated the rivalry for much of the professional era, the Boks have clawed things back in recent times, winning five of the last six match-ups.

Erasmus’ charges will be favourites to extend that winning run over the next four Tests – three of which will be staged in South Africa.

Erasmus has refused to give any guarantees but has intimated that Kolisi and other key senior players will be in the mix across the 2026 and 2027 Test seasons.

At the same time, he has spoken about developing the leadership group, and has given others like Jesse Kriel and Salmaan Moerat opportunities to captain the Boks in recent seasons.

While it would be a stretch to suggest that either player is ready to replace Kolisi on a full-time basis, it is encouraging to see that Erasmus is planning for a scenario where Kolisi is unavailable, or for the inevitable moment.

when the warrior king hangs up his boots for good. Fortunately for the Boks, Kolisi has committed himself for the next two seasons, and should continue to add value as a player and leader.

The post Siya Kolisi: Home Coming appeared first on SportsClub.

While his quality has never been in doubt, Kaizer Chiefs’ decision to sign Lebo Maboe inevitably raised eyebrows, largely because of his troubling injury history.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United midfielder arrived in Naturena as a free agent, but it would take nearly three months before he could make his official debut in the famous gold and black.

For a club desperate to accelerate its rebuild, patience was not a luxury Chiefs could always afford. Yet with Maboe, they believed the gamble was justified.

That belief was not shared lightly.

Both Sundowns and SuperSport, the two Tshwane giants Maboe previously represented, had explored the possibility of keeping him on their books.

His talent, after all, is proven at the highest level of the local game.

However, his tendency to spend long spells on the sidelines ultimately worked against him, forcing those clubs to make difficult decisions. Chiefs, though, saw opportunity where others saw risk.

When co-coach Cedric Kaze speaks about Maboe’s role since finally being integrated into the squad, it becomes clearer why AmaKhosi felt compelled to take that chance.

“He has an unbelievable football IQ,” Kaze explains.

“He can play any position, as a six, an eight, a 10, or even higher. If you want, he can play as a winger because he knows how to find those little spaces between people.”

“He understands where the spaces are and he is accurate in front of the box because he knows he has a very good shot, and the correct shot too.”

That intelligence, coupled with an elite work ethic, is a recurring theme among coaches who have worked with Maboe over the years.

Eric Tinkler, Pitso Mosimane, Rulani Mokwena, Manqoba Mngqithi and Gavin Hunt have all, at various points, spoken glowingly about his professionalism and commitment.

For Chiefs’ sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr, securing Maboe’s signature on a free transfer increasingly looks like a masterstroke, particularly in a squad still balancing youth and experience.

What was crucial after his arrival was ensuring Maboe could influence the team beyond just matchday contributions.

Chiefs’ return to continental football, via the Confederation Cup, marked their first appearance on the African stage in five years.

In that context, Maboe’s experience at Sundowns, where continental campaigns were routine rather than rare, became invaluable.

Maboe has played interclub football at the highest level on the continent.

Now, as a seasoned professional, he brings that know-how into a Chiefs dressing room still learning how to navigate Africa’s unique demands.

“And that’s what he’s very good at, being a team player and an extremely hard worker,” Kaze adds.

“It’s a very good thing to have him, especially because of his experience. In the Confederation Cup, he offers advice. He’s been there before. The conversations he has with the young players play a crucial role in our journey, because many of them haven’t played at this level.”

For Maboe himself, joining Chiefs carried weight well beyond footballing ambition.

In his first-ever interview since signing for the club, the 31-year-old spoke openly about the significance of returning “home” and what wearing the Chiefs jersey represents.

“It’s such an honour and a privilege for me to be back home and representing the team,” Maboe said.

“Kaizer Chiefs is a very big brand. Playing for a big team, there are always very high expectations, not just from a player’s point of view, but from the supporters as well.”

That sense of responsibility has shaped his mindset since arriving at Naturena. Maboe understands that Chiefs are not merely seeking stability but are chasing restoration. “As players, we also want to bring ourselves,” he continued.

“We want to leave the jersey in a better place than the state we found it in.” Despite his delayed debut, Maboe insists the environment within the squad has made his transition smoother. “The mood in the team is very positive,” he said.

“Everyone is positive. I’m fitting in very well with the team. I’m a people person, which makes it easy to get along with my teammates, and they’ve welcomed me very warmly.”

Fitness, however, remained the final hurdle. Missing more than two months of training, and a significant chunk of pre-season, tested both his patience and resilience.

“It’s not just going to come instantly, but I should be ready soon. You can imagine not being able to train with the team for over two months and missing a huge part of pre-season, it’s a big thing,” the player said at the time.

Now fully integrated, Chiefs are beginning to reap the benefits of that persistence. Maboe may not be the headline signing that ignites instant excitement, but his value lies in nuance, intelligence between the lines, leadership in the dressing room, and experience when it matters most.

The post Lebohang Maboe: Back Home appeared first on SportsClub.

The 16th edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will, for the first time, feature 16 teams in an expansion of the tournament that speaks to the continued growth of the game.

It will be hosted in Morocco for a third successive time, with the hosts hoping to go one better than their previous two finals but face stiff competition from the rest of an improving pack.

Ten-time champions Nigeria, who completed what they called Mission X just nine months ago at WAFCON 2024 (which was played in July 2025 after a clash with the Paris Olympics caused the tournament to be delayed) go in as strong favourites with South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, 2022 champions and a team that has not missed out on a spot in the last nine WAFCONs over two decades, not far behind.

That statistic is important because this year’s WAFCON also serves as a qualification campaign for next year’s World Cup. Africa has four spots at the tournament, which means that the winners of the four WAFCON quarterf inals will book their tickets to Brazil.

If history is a barometer, Banyana Banyana should be confident of their chances of going to a third World Cup and building on their progression from the previous two.

After failing to win a match or even score a goal in 2019, they became the first senior national football side to make it out of the group stage in 2023 and will hope to get the chance to go further in 2027.

To get there, they have to have a successful WAFCON, where they have been drawn in Group B alongside Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania, all of whom are ranked well below South Africa.

Banyana are the continent’s secondbest team, behind Nigeria, and 55th in the FIFA’s rankings.

Ivory Coast, who were included in WAFCON as one of the best four teams who were eliminated during the qualification stage, are 17 places below them at 72nd in the world.

Burkina Faso and Tanzania come in at 118th and 121st respectively, though South Africa will be wary of both.

Burkina Faso climbed 16 spots in the recent update while Tanzania held Banyana to a 1–1 draw in the previous WAFCON.

South Africa finished fourth in that tournament, after topping Group C and beating Senegal on penalties in the quarter-final but lost 2-1 to Nigeria in a fraught semi-final in Casablanca.

That result ended Banyana’s hopes of defending the title they won three years earlier and exposed the gap in quality left by the unavailability of striker Thembi Kgatlana, who was absent for personal reasons.

Mexico-based Kgatlana could be back for this event, which will significantly boost Banyana’s attack, but they will be without Jermaine Seoposenwe, who retired after the last WAFCON.

Seoposenwe cited her own mental health and the poor treatment of women’s players in the country as reasons for walking away.

“I haven’t been happy in the national team for a very long time,” she said on Marawa Sports Worldwide in July 2025.

“It’s definitely the (South African Football) Association (SAFA) and the treatment of us in many instances.

“I tried to wrap my head around it but as a player, it’s difficult, especially being overseas and in an environment where our directors try to make everything as equal as possible.

“Every time we go to a major tournament, we must fight about money and basically everything. Why do we have to fight? Why can’t you plan out for the year? FIFA gives you a calendar of what we are going to do, why can’t you budget for those FIFA dates? Why is it so impossible for you to do well by us?”

SAFA have not covered themselves in glory when it comes to their handling of the women’s game since.

Longserving coach Desiree Ellis was without a contract for over a year from mid-2024 and was not part of the management group that oversaw Banyana’s qualification to WAFCON in a tie against the Democratic Republic of Congo in October last year.

It was only after the team had ensured they would be heading back to Morocco that SAFA and Ellis agreed terms on a new four-year deal, that will see her in charge until 2029.

While that provides some stability, the domestic women’s football league has yet to be professionalised despite continued pleas from players who continue to punch above their weight.

They include the likes of co-captains Refiloe Jane, Amogelang Motau and Lebohang Ramalepe and goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, who are all expected to be part of the squad that will compete at WAFCON 2026.

The winner of the group will go on to play the second placed side in Group A, which features Morocco, Algeria, Senegal and Kenya, while the second-placed side will play the team that tops Group A.

The post Banyana Banyana: Morocco Mission appeared first on SportsClub.

To some, the surprise signing of Monnapule Saleng by Mamelodi Sundowns from rivals Orlando Pirates may be viewed as a power play, another flex from a club already dominant in South African football.

But according to coach Miguel Cardoso, the move is far more calculated than symbolic, a tactical decision aimed at strengthening attacking options as the Brazilians chase a ninth consecutive Betway Premiership title.

Context makes the transfer even more startling. Saleng began the season on loan at newly promoted Orbit College after falling out of favour at Pirates, and a January switch to Chloorkop seemed highly improbable.

Yet football has a habit of tearing up scripts and Sundowns have never shied away from rewriting the market. “He is an international player for South Africa, a qualified player,” Cardoso said, offering clarity on the thinking behind the deal.

“I remember coach José Riveiro speaking about Saleng at a moment when he was starting to struggle at Pirates in terms of playing or not playing and being separated from the group.

“I don’t need to speak about his quality. You know the quality the boy has. I will not speak about what happened with Pirates because that has nothing to do with me. What is important is that we wanted to sign a winger.”

On paper, Saleng certainly adds pedigree. But a closer look at Sundowns’ squad suggests his arrival may be more of a luxury than a necessity.

The club already boasts an abundance of attacking talent in wide areas, raising questions about how much value an additional winger realistically brings.

The move inevitably draws comparisons with the signing of Thembinkosi Lorch from Pirates in January 2024.

At the time, it was hailed as a major coup, but it later became evident that Sundowns could afford to sideline a player of Lorch’s calibre, literally, as competition for places intensified.

Cardoso, however, rejected the notion that Saleng’s arrival is surplus to requirements. Check out this stunning hat-trick by Monnapule Saleng for Orlando Pirates against Moroka Swallows!

“We wanted to sign a quick player, an aggressive player, a quality player, someone who can bring something different from what we already have,” he explained.

Is that justification enough? “If you compare, for example, the profile of a Nuno [Santos] with Saleng, it is a completely different profile of players,” Cardoso continued.

“But it’s important that the coach has different tools to manage different moments of the game, different opponents and different characteristics of matches.”

“The decision to bring Saleng was a sporting decision from the club, one that I obviously shared. We have expectations for the future, but we also have patience.”

That patience may be tested early. Saleng arrived at Chloorkop nursing an injury, with initial assessments ruling him out for at least six weeks, possibly longer.

His integration into the squad will therefore be gradual, offering Cardoso time to evaluate where, and if, he fits into an already well-oiled machine.

At his best, Saleng is electric, confident, direct and fearless, a fully fit and firing version of the winger is capable of turning matches on their head.

But football history is littered with talented players who struggled to assert themselves in squads overflowing with quality.

The post Monnapule Saleng: Wing Wizard appeared first on SportsClub.

ALEX BAPELA
Bapela is a Sundowns legend who played for the club during their three consecutive Premiership title wins from 1998–2000, among many other accolades. He wore the No.8 jersey with distinction and is fondly remembered by fans. He retired at Sundowns aged 33 after the 2002/03 season, and was later assistant coach under Pitso Mosimane.

LERATO CHABANGU
Playmaker Chabangu took over the No.8 in the 2005/06 season having arrived in the second half of the campaign from University of Pretoria. He had a tumultuous time with Sundowns, winning back-to-back league titles and scoring the winning goal in the 2008 Nedbank Cup final, but also battling with off-field issues that saw him in and out of the team. He had a half-season loan at SuperSport United, where he won the league again, but was released by Sundowns in July 2010. He would later revive his career at Moroka Swallows under Gordon Igesund, who had also coached him at The Brazilians.

HILTON JORDAAN
When Bapela retired the unlikely figure of Hilton Jordaan took over the No.8 jersey following his arrival from Jomo Cosmos in the 2003/04 season. He flitted between defence and the defensive midfield position, so it kind of made sense for him to take on the No.8. He made 16 appearances in his 18 months with the first team, and left mid-way through 2004/05 for Bush Bucks, a move he later described as “the worst decision of my life”.

TEKO MODISE
Modise took over the jersey number upon his arrival from Orlando Pirates, though it would only be for the 2010/11 campaign before he switched to the No.10, which he would wear for the next six years. Papi Zothwane was wearing 10 in Modise’s first season at Chloorkop, but the Bafana Bafana star grabbed it as soon as it became available.

BONGANI ZUNGU
The midfielder took over the number from Kekana but never enjoyed anywhere near his success. He was in and out of the team in his two seasons at Chloorkop before leaving for AmaZulu in 2024.

HLOMPHO KEKANA
Stalwart Kekana had worn the No.28 at SuperSport United and No.5 during his single season with Bloemfontein Celtic but settled into the No.8 released by Modise as soon as he arrived. He would hold onto that number for the next 11 seasons, before vacating it when it was announced he had mutually parted ways with the club in 2021. He is truly a legend of the team, having captained the side through the most successful period in their history. He won eight Premiership titles, six of them with Sundowns, and along with Brazilians goalkeeper Denis Onyango is the most decorated in that regard.

ERWIN SAAVEDRA
The Bolivian was back at Sundowns in 2024/25 following a loan spell away but again failed to find a way into the first team. His 2021 move was nothing short of a disaster.

JAYDEN ADAMS
The young midfielder arrived from Stellenbosch in 2024 and is now the owner of the number eight jersey, though he is also finding gametime hard to come by in the starstudded midfield. But he is certainly a player who can go on and become a club legend.

The post Mamelodi Sundowns: Great Eight appeared first on SportsClub.

Kaizer Chiefs have rarely had reason to worry about their goalkeeping department. If anything, rivals have often looked on with envy.

From Brian Baloyi and Rowen Fernandez to Emile Baron, Itumeleng Khune and, briefly, the late Arthur Bartman, who arrived at Naturena as emergency cover only to claim the No.1 jersey, Chiefs have traditionally been well stocked between the posts.

Yet speak to supporters today and they will tell you the Soweto giants suddenly look uncertain in an area that once defined their stability.

With Khune advancing in age and injuries beginning to dictate his availability, AmaKhosi were forced into an unavoidable succession plan.

What followed, however, has been a prolonged and often confusing search for a worthy heir.

As things stand, Chiefs have Brandon Petersen, Bruce Bvuma and Fiacre Ntwari on their books, and for a significant period it was difficult to establish who the coaching staff truly trusted as their first choice.

That uncertainty only began to ease earlier this season when Petersen was handed the captain’s armband by co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze, a clear signal that, fitness permitting, he would be the starting goalkeeper.

But with the season still unfolding and decisions looming beyond it, SoccerClub takes a closer look at the state of play between the sticks at Naturena.

BRANDON PETERSEN

AGE: 31
When Petersen arrived from Ajax Cape Town, then-head coach Gavin Hunt was unequivocal: he believed the goalkeeper was the ideal long-term replacement for Khune.

The pair had worked together at Bidvest Wits, and Hunt was convinced Petersen possessed the temperament and technical ability required at a club of Chiefs’ stature.

Hunt, however, never got the opportunity to fully implement that vision, exiting Naturena early amid a run of poor results.

His successor, Stuart Baxter, largely continued along the same trajectory with Petersen, but a series of elementary mistakes soon disrupted his momentum.

The goalkeeper slipped in and out of the starting line-up until the defining moment of his Chiefs career arrived in May last year – the Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Petersen’s standout performance played a decisive role in ending Chiefs’ decade-long wait for silverware.

That display restored faith within the technical team and, despite lingering scepticism from sections of the fan base, convinced the club to back him as their first choice heading into the new season.

BRUCE BVUMA

AGE: 30
A product of the Chiefs academy, Bvuma considers Naturena home and, despite entering the final year of his contract, is unlikely to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Throughout his career he has been a reliable understudy, frequently stepping in when form deserted those ahead of him, including Khune, Petersen and Daniel Akpeyi. Yet there has always been a sense that Bvuma exists in a state of limbo.

At times he appears on the brink of cementing the No.1 role for good; at others, merely holding the fort while the club searches for someone else.

Behind the scenes, the perception has long been that Chiefs were intent on finding a definitive successor to Khune, even while Bvuma remained part of the set-up.

Some observers believe he has played under the weight of knowing that one error could cost him his place.

That fragility ultimately spilled over into his international career, contributing to his loss of a Bafana Bafana spot despite being one of Hugo Broos’ early selections.

FIACRE NTWARI

AGE: 26
Chiefs’ decision to recruit Ntwari from TS Galaxy was meant to provide clarity. Reports suggested the club paid around R3 million for the Rwandan international, identifying him as a priority target to finally solve their goalkeeping puzzle.

Petersen had fallen out of favour after costly mistakes, while Bvuma had failed to convince during a 2023–24 campaign that ended with Chiefs missing out on the top eight under Cavin Johnson.

Ntwari arrived with momentum following an impressive debut season at Galaxy and was immediately thrust into the starting line-up.

But as results continued to elude AmaKhosi and cup exits mounted, the goalkeeper became a convenient scapegoat.

By the end of the campaign, he had slipped to third choice.

At the time of writing, Ntwari remains nowhere near the starting line-up, prompting his national team coach Adel Amrouche to publicly suggest Chiefs should release him if they have no intention of using him.

A sale at the end of the season is a realistic possibility, though it will depend on whether Chiefs can recoup a portion of their investment in a player once viewed as a long-term solution, but who, for now, is considered surplus to requirements.

The post Who Is Kaizer Chiefs’ No.1? appeared first on SportsClub.

Ronwen Williams’ nomination for the prestigious Ballon D’Or award – the first for a footballer plying his trade on the African continent – and his subsequent listing among the 22 goalkeepers in contention for FIFA’s Best XI has sparked debate about his position among the pantheon of Bafana Bafana goalkeepers.

The Bafana captain also added the 2024 CAF Goalkeeper of the Year award to his burgeoning collection of individual awards which also include the 2023-24 PSL Footballer and Goalkeeper of the Season awards.

“Ronwen’s nomination for the Ballon D’Or and also being shortlisted for FIFA’s Best XI has put not only South African but African goalkeeping on the map,” former Bafana goalkeeper Andre Arendse tells SoccerClub.

Arendse, who was a key component of Bafana’s 1996 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team, is himself regarded as one of the country’s best since a fully representative South Africa’s admission to international football in 1992.

Others in the conversation about the country’s top goalkeeper include Hans Vonk, Brian Baloyi and Itumeleng Khune.

“The world must now take African goalkeeping seriously because Ronwen is serious about what he’s done and how he’s done it. That’s been shown in his performances for the national team specifically at the last Africa Cup of Nations.”

Arendse believes what makes Williams’ continuing upward curve even more impressive is the absence of serious competition for his place in the team.

“The reason why I managed to reach the levels that I did, whatever that looks like, is because of the competitive nature in goalkeeping at the time. That alone kept me on my toes.

“When you’re competing against the likes of Mark Anderson, Roger de Sa, Steve Crowley and John Tlale you have to stay on top of your game. I think that’s the one thing that’s pushed me to greater heights in my own career.”

“And then along comes Hans Vonk and I’ve got to work even harder to retain my place.

Ronwen has had his fair share of competing against others, but with respect to the other goalkeepers, not to that level after Itumeleng Khune’s retirement.”

“The fact that Ronwen has been able to keep a steady kind of performance level without massively being challenged by other goalkeepers for the position speaks volumes for his credibility and also his work ethic.”

“That for me alone puts Ronwen up there with the best Bafana goalkeepers that the country has ever had.

Of course, there are others like Hans, Itumeleng and Brian who come into the equation,” adds the former custodian who won 67 caps for his country.

William Shongwe, the former Kaizer Chiefs and Eswatini national goalkeeper, is hesitant about putting his head on the block about Bafana’s best custodian.

“I think the best is to rather compare within the generations because the game has changed so much over the past three decades since Bafana first played international football,” he said.

“Andre Arendse, Hans Vonk and Brian Baloyi were the best from their generation, Itumeleng Khune was top of the tree when he was at his peak and now Ronwen is obviously top of the lot.

“Each one had their own qualities as well. Itu’s distribution was fantastic and he was a great shot-stopper too.

Brian had great reflexes and was great in one-on-one situations.

“Consistency was Andre’s name. He didn’t do anything flashy but he was just so reliable, especially when it came to handling crosses and organising his defence.

The same applies to Hans who was reliable and consistent. Right now, Ronwen obviously is top of the lot.

“Much of the equation also revolves around sustainability and consistency. Ronwen has been around at the top level for a long time but so was Andre, Hans, and Itu.”

In addition to winning the 1996 AFCON, Arendse also played at the 2002 World Cup in Korea while Vonk, who won 43 caps for Bafana, played at the 1998 World Cup and was understudy to Arendse in Korea.

Khune featured at the 2010 World Cup on home soil while winning 91 caps for his country.

Baloyi won 24 caps for Bafana, was understudy to Hans Vonk at the 1998 World Cup, and played in the Nations Cup final against Egypt in Burkina Faso four months earlier.

Shongwe, who oversaw much of Williams’ formative years as an aspiring young goalkeeper during his time at the SuperSport United academy between 2004 and 2010, says he saw the potential in the current Bafana captain to become a top goalkeeper when he was still a callow teenager.

“As a youngster Ronwen was a bit casual at training and I looked him in the face and screamed: ‘Do you know that one day you can be Bafana Bafana’s number one? But not when you’re going like this.’

“He’s worked hard at his game and I’m really proud of what I see now with Ronwen,” adds Shongwe.

Gavin Hunt who, as SuperSport United coach gave Williams his topflight debut in the African Champions League against Lesotho champions Matlama in 2012, also reasons it is difficult to pick the best Bafana goalkeeper.

“For me one of the big character traits, and this is so important for a goalkeeper, is that if you can find the method by which you make yourself look and feel unbeatable every time you play, that makes you one of the great goalkeepers.

“And Ronwen gives you that. Look at his performances at the 2024 AFCON. When the chips were down and it needed big performances, he was the one that stood up.

“His ability to make himself so unbeatable for the sake of his team just takes the pressure off the rest of them.

The best goalkeepers in the world have their flaws but for me Ronwen is very close to an all-around package.

“He is more of a modern-day goalkeeper. His passing out from the back and playing balls into the striker or playing through into midfield is second to none,” he says.

“Khune was magnificent at kicking a ball out of his hands, he could find players 60-70 meters away, putting the ball on their chest or on their foot. For me his one-on-one goalkeeping was second to none.

“All-round, you could say Ronwen is possibly the best but Khune’s one-on-one saving was on another level. Andre was your real steady goalkeeper. He was very good at dealing with crosses and the same applies to Hans who read the game well,” Hunt added.

The post Ronwen Williams: Number One appeared first on SportsClub.

READ: Orlando Pirates: Derby Danger

There is plenty at stake for Kaizer Chiefs’ youthful side ahead of the season’s first Soweto Derby, the very fixture most debutants dream about when they sign on the dotted line.

While AmaKhosi have added a handful of reinforcements to steady and bolster a campaign that began under coach Nasreddine Nabi before his abrupt exit, it is the academy graduates who are beginning to step into the spotlight and solidify their positions.

SoccerClub takes a closer look at the emerging talents poised to make their mark when Chiefs host bitter rivals Orlando Pirates on 28 February at Soccer City.

MFUNDO VILAKAZI
When it comes to the 20-year-old talisman, few would argue that Vilakazi returned from the World Cup carrying a renewed edge, a touch more swagger, even. It is as though the spotlight in Chile simply confirmed what many have long believed: this is a rare talent. Under Raymond Mdaka on the global stage, Vilakazi started three of the four matches and made one appearance off the bench. Chiefs’ technical team has since embraced his dynamism, using him as an impact player, and he thrives in that role, consistently shifting the tempo and flipping games on their head the moment he is introduced.

NKOSINGIPHILE NGCOBO
Everyone at the club, from chairman Kaizer Motaung to the supporters, holds this midfielder in high regard, even though he has yet to hit his ceiling. It is a big part of why the coaching team, led by Ben Khalil Youssef and Cedric Kaze, remain committed to shaping the game around Ngcobo. Fitness concerns persist, but when he is fully firing, the player first promoted by Ernst Middendorp in 2019 is capable of being a match-winner. This would not be his first Soweto Derby, but he will need to ignite something special to repay the unwavering faith of his admirers.

FLAVIO SILVA
Just before the AFCON recess, the Portugal-born striker was oddly being used only in flashes, despite sitting at the top of Chiefs’ scoring charts. Surely the moment has come to trust him to lead the line? Silva faced heavy scrutiny from supporters during pre-season, an unfair window to judge any newcomer still acclimatising to a foreign league. Yet he quickly showcased his pedigree, scoring crucial goals that secured Betway Premiership points for the Glamour Boys. Even so, the coaching staff continued to place their faith in Etiosa Ighodaro. Is it too much, too soon, to hand Silva the reins from here, starting with the Soweto Derby?

KHANYISA MAYO
Describing his loan move from CR Belouizdad as underwhelming so far would not be unfair. Mayo is effectively playing for a contract extension at Naturena, yet his numbers carry an air of urgency that is missing. Given his years at Cape Town City as a consistent top scorer, expectations were that he would hit the ground running. That is precisely why AmaKhosi moved swiftly when they learned a long-time target had suddenly become available before the September deadline, sealing a short-term deal in the hope that he would reignite his spark. All will be forgiven, however, if Mayo finds the winner, arrowing one past goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, and hand Chiefs a Soweto Derby triumph this month.

BRANDON PETERSEN
He may not need to prove himself within the club, but to the AmaKhosi faithful, the newly appointed skipper does have a redemption story to write. Petersen’s time at Naturena has been a mixed bag. At one point he looked like Chiefs’ best goalkeeper since Itumeleng Khune stepped aside, only to later find himself drifting into a secondary, even tertiary role. At his peak, Petersen produces clean sheets that win matches and repeatedly validates the decision to start him. But on his off days, he commits the kind of basic errors that are hard to reconcile with a keeper of his calibre and experience. If Pirates arrive at the Soweto Derby carrying the form they showed at the halfway mark of the season, Petersen. will need to be at his sharpest, because it could be an unforgiving afternoon at Soccer City.

THABISO MONYANE
One of two former Pirates players to cross the divide this season, the other being fellow defender Paseka Mako, Monyane faces a fixture loaded with emotion. But sentiment will not count for much; both will need to set it aside and deliver. Monyane has earned praise for helping stabilise a position that has troubled Chiefs in recent years, although persistent injuries have again limited his rhythm. What he does carry into this clash is intimate knowledge of the current Pirates setup, even if Abdeslam Ouaddou has tweaked the dynamics on the flanks with Tshepang Moremi and Oswin Appollis. Crucially, Monyane brings extensive Soweto Derby experience, exactly the kind of composure and know-how this youthful Chiefs side will depend on when the pressure peaks.

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READ: Kaizer Chiefs’ Derby Army

The Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will usher in several debutants in this fixture for the Buccaneers, including coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, a former international who has experienced football at its peak but is yet to feel the heat of South Africa’s fiercest rivalry.

He will need an abundance of composure as he leads a group of new Pirates players into one of the country’s most demanding fixtures.

SoccerClub breaks down which Pirates players could deliver both the points and the bragging rights.

LEBONE SEEMA
Captain Nkosinathi Sibisi’s return to full fitness late last year reduced Seema’s minutes alongside Mbekezeli Mbokazi, but with Mbokazi now heading to the United States, the spotlight swings back onto the young defender. He must forge a renewed partnership with his skipper, a combination that will face immediate scrutiny in front of more than 80 000 fans demanding nothing less than victory. Seema has already shown he belongs at this level, but a commanding performance in the derby would mark a career-defining moment and offer undeniable validation.

SIPHO MBULE
Now here is a genuine matchwinner for the Buccaneers, a player who would have drawn months of anticipation ahead of his Soweto Derby debut. Mbule has grabbed this “second chance” with conviction, not only reigniting his club career but putting himself firmly in the frame for Bafana Bafana’s World Cup squad in the Americas. A natural crowdpleaser, he thrives on big stages. So, producing a bit of magic in a packed Soccer City should feel as effortless for “The Master Chef” as whipping up French toast in his own kitchen.

TSHEPANG MOREMI
At AmaZulu, the winger showed flashes of real promise but still needed guidance to unlock his full potential. That is precisely what Moremi has found at Pirates since arriving from Usuthu. He fits seamlessly into Ouaddou’s approach, which relies on quick, direct wide players who can get in behind defences and regularly chip in with goals. Moremi is poised to give the Chiefs back four a demanding afternoon.

SIHLE NDULI
The former Stellenbosch midfielder is, in many ways, one of Pirates’ most underrated contributors. The spotlight naturally gravitates towards the flair players, the goal scorers, and even the decisive interventions from goalkeeper Sipho Chaine. But the graft, the balance, the quiet protection that keeps the team’s structure intact often goes unnoticed. That is Nduli’s domain. It is the role he executed with precision in the Winelands, and one he has arguably elevated even further since pulling on a Pirates shirt this season.

OSWIN APPOLLIS
Another of Pirates’ marquee signings ahead of the 2025/26 season, Appollis arrived from Polokwane City as the club’s standout performer, and he has continued exactly where he left off. He has brought the same energy, directness and en eye for goal to the Soweto giants, emerging as a genuine talisman. His influence, alongside Moremi’s, has quietened the noise around Tshegofatso Mabasa’s limited minutes in this campaign. Appollis has the ability to change a game on his own, and that’s precisely what Pirates supporters will be hoping to witness in his Soweto Derby debut.

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INNOCENT MDLEDLE
Mdledle was a stalwart defender who joined the club from People’s Bank Spurs in the 2005/06 season and became an instant regular. He would spend the next four years with the club before moving on to Mamelodi Sundowns and later SuperSport United. He made 95 starts and scored three goals in his time with the Buccaneers and also took the No.19 jersey at Chloorkop.

DENNIS MASINA
The jersey remained vacant for a season before Masina moved from No.34 to 19 for the 2010/11 campaign, which was also his last with the club. The Eswatini midfielder never quite managed to nail down a place at Pirates and spent the second half of this campaign on loan to Mpumalanga Black Aces, who he then joined permanently. He made just five starts during his time at Pirates.

BHEKI NZUNGA
Nzunga took up the 19 jersey following his arrival from M Tigers and played his part in the 2011/12 title-winning campaign, making 12 starts (and 14 appearances in all). But his Pirates career faded thereafter and he made just a single league start (and two appearances) in the next two seasons before departing for Chippa United, where it did not work out either. He did not play top-flight football after 2015.

JUSTICE CHABALALA
Centre-back Chabalala was signed from Free State Stars for the 2016/17 season and took the number 19 after it had been vacant for a few campaigns. He never really settled at Pirates and had loan spells away at Chippa United, Bloemfontein Celtic, Sekhukhune United, before signing permanently for the latter in 2022. Despite six seasons on the book of Pirates he made only 12 starts for the club.

BONGANI SAM
Sam is another who did not have much luck in the No.19 jersey. He joined Pirates from Bloemfontein Celtic in the 2019/20 season but never really settled. Sixteen starts (29 substitute appearances) in three seasons is not a great return, and he also had loan spells with Maritzburg United and Swallows, before a permanent move to Kaizer Chiefs at the start of this season. Injury has meant he has not made a single appearance for the AmaKhosi. Mabasa took over the No. 19 jersey from him in the 2023/24 season.

TSHEGOFATSO MABASA
Striker Tshegofatso Mabasa has not always worn the No.19 jersey at Orlando Pirates. He had 16 when he first arrived at the club and then took the No.9. But loan spells away at Sekhukhune United and Moroka Swallows saw that jersey taken by Evidence Makgopa, and since his return to the club in January 2024, Mabasa has made the No.19 his own.

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