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Kaizer Chiefs new era are making significant strides in their approach to team development. The move emphasised the integration of young talent from their DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) team into the senior squad. This strategic shift marks a new era for the club which includes their best talents. Which highlights their commitment to nurturing emerging players and building a formidable team for the future. Dynamic shift: Young players from DDC team step Up to senior squad The latest beneficiary of this strategy is the young forward Donay Jansen. His journey from the DDC side to securing a spot in the senior team exemplifies the club’s dedication to talent development. Despite facing disciplinary challenges in the past, Jansen’s loyalty and commitment to the club ultimately led to his reinstatement. The offer of a four-year contract has been presented to Jansen, according to Soccer Laduma.  Donay Jansen’s journey: Four-year contract pending Quoting a source familiar with the situation and Kaizer Chiefs new era. “They are looking at next season already and they want to keep as many youngsters from their development as they can.” This statement encapsulates the club’s forward-thinking approach which has worked in the past. By emphasising the importance of securing young talent for the long term. Jansen’s contract extension not only rewards his loyalty and discipline but also aligns with Chiefs’ vision of building a future-proof squad. The decision to offer Jansen a significant contract underscores the club’s belief in his potential and their commitment to nurturing homegrown talent. As another source highlights Kaizer Chiefs new era , “it’s also good for the club to keep players who understand the culture and philosophy of the club.” This emphasis on cultural alignment and continuity bodes well for Chiefs’ long-term success. Jansen, 20, scored 12 goals last season, and backed that up with 11 goals in the 2023/2024 season. Uncertain future: George Matlou’s dilemma Meanwhile, uncertainty looms for George Matlou as his contract expires amidst Kaizer Chiefs new era. Limited playing time and recurring injuries have raised doubts about his future at the club. With questions surrounding his contributions on the field, Matlou faces a challenging decision about his next steps. Kaizer Chiefs’ new era and strategic emphasis on youth development and talent retention signifies a bold step towards building a competitive team for the future. But releasing players who do not contribute will be of utmost importance. Because by integrating promising young players like Donay Jansen into the senior squad, the club is laying the foundation for sustained success in the seasons to come.

1 A new major contender has emerged in the heated race to clinch Erik ten Hag’s job as manager at Manchester United. With criticism against Ten Hag mounting following what has been a heavily disappointing second season as United boss, an array of potential candidates to replace him as manager have been put forward by the media. Former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter was one of the early names linked with the club, along with England manager Gareth Southgate. As explained by The Peoples Person, however, it appears that Southgate remains focused on England’s performance at Euro 2024. Another former Chelsea boss who has been linked with Ten Hag’s job is current Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel. Set to depart the German club following a disappointing season, Tuchel let slip that he would love to come back and work in the Premier League, thereby adding fuel to the fire. David Ornstein suggested that current Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino could be a strong candidate, claiming that his playing style could be suited to INEOS, hence why he previously met with them about the then-vacant managerial post at OGC Nice. Just yesterday, it was reported that Hansi Flick may be interested in managing United despite being considered as Tuchel’s replacement at Bayern. Even today, the rumour mill continues to spin. The Telegraph reported this morning that Brentford manager Thomas Frank is a “strong contender” to become the next United manager should Ten Hag be sacked. According to the report, INEOS admire Frank for his work at Brentford over the past six years. Under Frank’s leadership, Brentford have become one of the most successful data-driven clubs, punching well above their weight by finishing ninth in the Premier League last season. This is a major accomplishment for the club considering that it was only their second season in the top flight after earning promotion in 2021 – yet another example of Frank’s managerial success. The newspaper alleged that United are looking for a head coach “to help rebuild the club rather than a short-term fix from a proven trophy winner”. This only strengthens the argument in favour of appointing Frank given how his current club have risen under his guidance. There’s also the fact that Frank has an existing relationship with INEOS Director of Sport Sir Dave Brailsford, which could work in his favour. On May 25, Ten Hag will have perhaps his final opportunity to save his job as United take on bitter rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final. United will surely be desperate to win this clash as a slice of redemption following a majorly disappointing campaign. Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.

According to a report in this week’s iDiski Times newspaper, Petro de Luanda head coach Alexandre Santos is the leading candidate to take over at the helm of Kaizer Chiefs. Santos is currently in line to claikm a third consecutive domestic league title with Petro and took the Angola giants to the semi-finals of the Caf Champions League in the 2021/22 season. On that occasion they claimed a memorable victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarter-finals. This year, Petro also progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals, where they were beaten by TP Mazembe. Multiple publications have also reported that Amakhosi are interested in the 47 year-old, who is set to leave Petro at the end of the current season. Leading African football journalist Micky Jnr has also shared on X that Santos has now been given permission to enter into negotiations with Chiefs, and the word on the ground suggests it could quickly advance to finalising personal terms. However, he is also believed to be in the sights of struggling three-time African champions Wydad Athletic Club. EXCLUSIVE: Assistant coach at Petro de Luanda confirmed that the Club has given his boss, Alexandre Santos the permission to speak to Kaizer Chiefs over a possible move to South Africa. Santos’ contract ends just next month. He refused a new deal from the Angolan giants.… pic.twitter.com/gCYWIMkMNr — Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) May 14, 2024 So who is Chiefs’ possible new boss Alexandre Santos? The 47-year-old was born in Lisboa, Portugal, and holds a UEFA Pro coaching licence. He has vast experience, and is now as an astute tactician, particularly favouring a 4-2-3-1 formation. You can find a more detailed breakdown of his career here as well as below: Full coaching experience: Petro Luanda – Manager FC Alverca – Manager SM Caen – Assistant Manager Sporting CP U23 – Manager Estoril Praia U23 – Manager Real SC – Manager Sharjah FC – Assistant Manager SC Braga- Assistant Manager FC Porto – Assistant Manager Al Ahly – Assistant Manager Al-Wahda FC – Assistant Manager SC Braga – Assistant Manager Saudi Arabia- Assistant Manager Vitória Setúbal FC – Conditioning Coach CF Estrela – Assistant Manager Estoril Praia – Conditioning Coach FC Alverca U19 – Manager

Kaizer Chiefs are expected to make some big changes on and off the field at the end of the season. Chiefs will be hoping to appoint a new coaching staff that can change the club’s fortunes going forward. That change of fortunes will require some freedom for the new coaching staff to dip into the market. This being in an effort to find some quality players that can come into the club and take the Chiefs brand back to where it belongs. It is no secret that Amakhosi have had a large turnover of players over the last two pre-season transfer windows. Neither have been a success, unfortunately.  Chiefs bad recruitment Ahead of the 2022/23 season, Chiefs signed Ashley du Preez, Zitha Kwinika, George Matlou, Kamohelo Mahlatsi, Yusuf Maart, Siyethemba Sithebe and Dillan Solomons. Then as the season progressed they added Edmilson Dove, Caleb Bimenyimana and Christian Saile. Out of those 10 players, two have been released by the club already, while at least five have been linked with an exit. At the start of the current season, Chiefs revamped their playing squad, making nine signings. These included Thathoyaone Dithlokwe, Given Msimango, Mduduzi Mdantsane, Pule Mmodi, Ranga Chivaviro, Edson Castillo and Potsane. Then, with the season already under way, Chiefs added Jasond Gonzales and Sibongiseni Mthethwa. In October, they added a 10th signing, the late centre back Luke Fleurs. The former SA U23 star joined Amakhosi on a red transfer from SuperSport United.  This transfer window yielded no success either for Chiefs, who are set to finish the season trophyless again. They will be looking to change that in the next window, however. According to a cryptic post on their website, they could be announcing a new coach and two international signing on Wednesday! Here is the now deleted post below courtesy of goal.com  Two top stars signing soon? “Kaizer Chiefs MD Kaizer Motaung says the search for a new coach is over and that the new man, along with two other international signings, will be unveiled at a media conference on Wednesday,” wrote the statement.  It remains to be seen if this is true, or what type of coach and players Chiefs will announce eventually.

The relationship between Bafana Bafana star Percy Tau(30) and Al Ahly coach Marcel Koller is believed to have reached a dead end. The 30-year-old forward has hardly played or impressed for the Red Devils this season. The former Mamelodi Sundowns star played 28 games this season, netting just eight times. Percy Tau has had a poor year by his standard and has scored just once for Al Ahly since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations in February. The striker flopped at the Afcon tournament, managing to score only once for Bafana Bafana. Having struggled for game time at Al Ahly, reports suggested the forward may have had a fallout with Koller. Former Ahly star Ahmed Abou Moslem said Tau had not lived up to expectations as per Kick-Off. “Percy Tau has not performed as expected for Al Ahly since his return from the South African national team’s camp for the last African Nations Championship and there’s a state of tension between him and Swiss coach Marcel Koller, the team’s coach, and the relationship between them has reached a dead end.” Tension between Bafana’s Percy Tau and Al Ahly coach Tau played a small role in helping his side see off TP Mazembe in the CAF Champions League semi-final. It was reported that he suffered an ankle injury in March hence he missed some games. According to Moslem, the Red Devils have not looked sharp in the past few week. “Al Ahly achieved an important victory before the CAF Champions League final match against Esperance of Tunisia next week, but the level is not reassuring before the next Esperance match, and there are many players who were out of service, led by right-back Mohamed Hani,” he added. Percy Tau’s time with Al Ahly might be coming to an end very soon. The 30-year-old’s poor form since the Afcon hasn’t helped and this might force the Bafana star to seek a move elsewhere. Bafana Bafana coach could snub Tau ahead of WC qualifiers in June Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos will pick his team for the FIFA World Cup qualifications next month. ‘The Lion of Judah’ could miss out on selection given the form other strikers have shown this season. The SA National Soccer team impressed at the Afcon earlier in the year reaching the semis of the competition. Percy Tau joined Al Ahly back in 2021 from English side Brighton and Hove Albion.

Alexis Mac Allister has arguably been Liverpool’s best player this season, but the 3-3 draw at Aston Villa highlighted how sorely the Argentine needs support. Mac Allister’s £35 million switch from Brighton should go down as the bargain of the summer transfer window, with the 25-year-old worth significantly more. He has stood up as an indispensable player in Jurgen Klopp‘s final season, with only Virgil van Dijk (3,982) and Luis Diaz (3,542) clocking more minutes than his 3,430. But that importance to the side has undoubtedly worn Mac Allister down, as could be seen during the trip to Villa Park on Monday night that saw Liverpool go 3-1 up only to concede twice late on and take only a point. The World Cup winner started as the left-sided No. 8 in a midfield anchored by Wataru Endo and led by Harvey Elliott as the creator. When Klopp opted for a quadruple substitution with 15 minutes to play, however, Mac Allister dropped into the No. 6 with Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch more advanced. Mac Allister had already been at fault in the buildup to Villa’s first goal, giving the ball away before Ollie Watkins pulled it back for Youri Tielemans to fire in. Feel like Villa’s first goal was a great example of Liverpool’s issues being rooted in their aggressiveness. At 1-0 up, why is Mac Allister trying an impatient, eye-of-the-needle pass immediately after a turnover in midfield? Seconds later, Watkins is at Quansah and it’s a goal. pic.twitter.com/PNAC5kMkGB — David Lynch (@dmlynchlfc) May 14, 2024 He was then easily bypassed by a one-two in midfield to give Douglas Luiz the space to set in motion a Watkins goal that was eventually ruled out by VAR. After shifting into his deeper role, he was pickpocketed after a sloppy touch to allow Jhon Duran to score the first of his brace, and then easily skipped past by Moussa Diaby before Duran’s fortunate second. Stats show Mac Allister’s weakness Put simply, Mac Allister looked tired, and FotMob statistics show that he was dribbled past more times (four) than any other midfielder, with only Trent Alexander-Arnold (five) ending the game with more. Across the Premier League season, he has been dribbled past 66 times, which puts him in the third percentile for players in his position. Alexis Mac Allister has been dribbled past 66 times in the Premier League this season (4 times against Aston Villa), more than any other Liverpool player in a single campaign across the last eight seasons. ? pic.twitter.com/qS3Qtf9wKW — Squawka (@Squawka) May 13, 2024 According to Squawka, no Liverpool player has been dribbled past more in any of the past eight seasons, meaning Mac Allister’s rate is the worst of Klopp’s reign. And per WhoScored, as a whole the Reds have been dribbled past more times (413) than any other team across Europe’s top five leagues this campaign. Mac Allister adapted well to the demands of playing as a No. 6, but his best run of form only came when Endo was brought into the side and he was able to assume his natural role again. With question marks over whether Endo is a long-term starter, it shows an area that Liverpool desperately need to address again this summer. Sign a top-class No. 6 and let Mac Allister flourish in an advanced position. FotMob is an essential app for every fan to keep up to date with their team or follow football worldwide, their incredible new features provide all you could ever want and information you never knew you needed! You can download the FotMob App here.

Raphael Varane has confirmed he will leave Manchester United in the summer, upon the expiry of his contract, following three seasons at Old Trafford.  RECAP: VARANE’S MANCHESTER UNITED CAREER The much-decorated defender arrived at the club from Real Madrid in August 2021, and was memorably unveiled in front of our home fans at the Theatre of Dreams, before the opening-weekend win over Leeds United.  Varane has brought a great deal of class and experience to the team throughout his 93 appearances so far. The Frenchman also helped to win our first major trophy in six years, when lifting the 2023 Carabao Cup at Wembley Stadium. Newcastle United were shut out in a 2-0 triumph for Manchester United, with Raphael showing all of his experience alongside Lisandro Martinez. The 31-year-old has scored twice for the Reds, his first goal coming in a home win over Brentford a couple of years ago. Varane’s second effort earned us three points from our 1-0 victory against Wolves, at the opening of this current 2023/24 campaign. However, it is unflappable work at the heart of the defence that Raphael is most recognised for, as he has shown his undoubted quality since joining the club. To date, he has made 67 appearances for Manchester United in the Premier League, 58 as a starter. The centre-back has been absent since the 4-3 defeat to Chelsea on 4 April but he is currently working hard on his recovery from injury, and hopes to be available again before the end of the campaign. VARANE’S EMOTIONAL FAREWELL NOTE Raphael Varane says Manchester United will always be a special place for him as he prepares to leave when his contract expires in the summer. The Frenchman is due to say his farewells at Old Trafford on Wednesday, when Newcastle United provide the opposition in the Premier League, and admits it will be an emotional moment after three seasons with the club. In a video posted on his Instagram and X accounts, Raphael also suggested he feels the future is bright for the Reds, despite a difficult campaign, and he will cherish his memories of proudly wearing the Manchester United badge. Man United centre-back Raphael Varane out for weeks. Image: @UnitedStandMUFC/Twitter

1 In a barrage of trouble and inconsistency at Manchester United, one player has stood above it all to keep producing the goods. Bruno Fernandes’ style of play might be divisive, but his commitment to the cause and the importance to this team cannot be questioned. The Portuguese’s importance has been emphasised further in the last two games he has missed, with United barely looking like creating, let alone scoring. However, if recent reports are to be believed, they might have to get used to his absence really soon. Miguel Delaney of The Independent reports that Fernandes is inching closer to United exit as he is getting frustrated at the malaise surrounding the club, with Bayern Munich the new contenders. Since joining, Fernandes has a solitary Carabao Cup to show for his efforts, a horrific return considering he is one of Europe’s most productive players in that span. He has signed a new contract to the one he did when he joined the club but to an ambitious individual like him, this is always going to be a worry. The report states that Bayern Munich are looking at him with increasing interest as they have received indications there is a deal to be done, with United also open to selling. It is worth noting that previously, a report emerged that United are open to offers for pretty much all of their squad except for a few players which didn’t include Fernandes. The price for Fernandes is expected to be high, while manager Erik ten Hag has so far looked defiant in public when talking about his captain. He said: “It’s the same question as last week [On Fernandes’ future]. So I answered. The same answer. Now in all the years he was, he was a tremendously important player for Manchester United and creating the most chances across the Premier League. So many assists, so many goals. It’s clear he’s a very important player for us.” It remains to be seen if even Ten Hag is here in the summer so his words will be scrutinised heavily. In the meantime, however, INEOS’ era will hardly be off to a good start if it begins with the club’s talismanic presence leaving. Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.

Kaizer Chiefs have reportedly intensified their search for the head coaching position at the club with Alexander Santos emerging as a favourite. According to iDiski Times, Santos is on his way out of Angolan giants Petro de Luanda when the season comes to an end. And Chiefs are reported to have identified him as a possible replacement for outgoing Cavin Johnson who’s set to return to his old position at the club. Johnson joined Chiefs as their Head of Youth but he was asked to step in as coach on an interim basis when Molefi Ntseki was sacked in 2023. However, things have gone from bad to worse under Johnson, and the Chiefs hierarchy, through Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr, has confirmed that a new coach will be coming in. To date, a number of coaches – both locally and abroad – have been linked with the Soweto giants but the club has continued to play its cards very close to its chest. Now, with Santos’ name still there, it appears it won’t be easy for Chiefs to get their man as two other African teams are after his services. Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club and Tanzania’s Simba SC are reported to be eyeing Santos alongside Chiefs. KAIZER CHIEFS FACE STIFF COMPETITION FOR COACH SANTOS “Santos is also believed to be courted by the struggling three-time African champions Wydad Athletic Club,” reads part of the report. “They had their worst run in the CAF Champions League this season in a very long time. Tanzanian giants Simba SC have also been mentioned as another suitor for Santos.” NINE COACHES IN NINE YEARS FOR AMAKHOSI It’s common knowledge that whoever comes in will become the ninth man to coach Kaizer Chiefs in nine years of their trophy drought. The last coach to win a major trophy was Stuart Baxter in 2015, and since then, no any other coach, including the Brit himself was able to achieve that in his second spell. Here is a list of all coaches who took charge of Chiefs over the past nine years… Steve Komphela Giovanni Solinas Ernst Middendorp Gavin Hunt Stuart Baxter Arthur Zwane Molefi Ntseki Cavin Johnson

Kaizer Chiefs are looking to appoint a new coach at the end of the season, with the list narrowing down.  Chiefs are searching for a new coach, who will come in with his own technical staff for the new season.  It’s believed Chiefs are willing to give the new coach and his staff authority to lead them in a new era. Amakhosi have not won silverware for the past nine years now and currently fighting to finish in the top eight. The risk of going a full decade without a trophy is surely giving the club’s management sleepless nights. It is for this reason that, this next coaching appointment could be undoubtedly the most significant in the clubs history.  Chiefs coaching shortlist getting shorter! Currently interim coach Cavin Johnson initially harboured ambitions of becoming the permanent coach at Chiefs. A run which saw Chiefs winning three of their last four games of 2024, saw Johnson in with a shout. But now according to the latest, the club are back looking at other candidates. There have been the likes of Pitso Mosimane and Manqoba Mngqithi in a local sense. Internationally, Jose Peseiro, Vanderlei Luxembergo , Raul Caneda Perez and Nasreddine Nabi.  In the last couple of weeks, the likes Perez, Rui Vitoria, Patrick Aussems and now Alexander Santos have been mentioned. Now according to goal.com the Chiefs website may have accidentally revealed when they will announce the new coach. In a strange post, Wednesday (tomorrow) was stated as the day!  Announcement on Wednesday “Kaizer Chiefs MD Kaizer Motaung says the search for a new coach is over and that the new man, along with two other international signings, will be unveiled at a media conference on Wednesday,” wrote the statement.  Even though the statement above, no longer exists on the Chiefs website, Goal was able to capture it. It has also often been claimed they will announce the new coach before the end of the season. So, with just two games remaining, will tomorrow be the day then, Amakhosi fans?

2 Erik ten Hag says Lisandro Martinez will be in the Man United squad for of tomorrow night’s last home league game of the season against Newcastle United. Addressing the media at the pre-match press conference, Ten Hag said: “I think he will return to the squad. He’s done some sessions with us and we plan for him to be available if this afternoon everything goes right in training, he will return to the squad.” The manager also confirmed that he’ll “wait and see” whether Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes will be available. He also said Raphael Varane won’t play but could be back vs Brighton on Sunday. More to follow … Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.

Kaizer Chiefs are looking to appoint a new coach at the end of the season, with the list narrowing down.  Chiefs are searching for a new coach, who will come in with his own technical staff for the new season.  It’s believed Chiefs are willing to give the new coach and his staff authority to lead them in a new era. Amakhosi have not won silverware for the past nine years now and currently fighting to finish in the top eight. The risk of going a full decade without a trophy is surely giving the club’s management sleepless nights. It is for this reason that, this next coaching appointment could be undoubtedly the most significant in the clubs history.  Currently interim coach Cavin Johnson initially harboured ambitions of becoming the permanent coach at Chiefs. A run which saw Chiefs winning three of their last four games of 2024, saw Johnson in with a shout. But now according to the latest, the club are back looking at other candidates. There have been the likes of Pitso Mosimane and Manqoba Mngqithi in a local sense. Internationally, Jose Peseiro, Vanderlei Luxembergo , Raul Caneda Perez and Nasreddine Nabi.  Chiefs identify Santos as top target? One of the coaches that was previously mentioned among the favourites is Portuguese Alexander Santos. Santos is believed to be on his way out of Petro de Luanda with this publication also reporting on Tuesday that he, is now the front runner for the Chiefs job! According to iDiski Times Chiefs will encounter some stiff competition for the services of Santos. Face stiff competition from Wydad and Simba? “Santos is also believed to be courted by the struggling three-time African champions Wydad Athletic Club. They had their worst run in the CAF Champions League this season in a very long time. Tanzanian giants Simba SC have also been mentioned as another suitor for Santos” wrote the publication.  Santos has plenty of experience in his homeland of Portugal, being an assistant at top clubs. He has worked at FC Porto, SC Braga and even Al Ahly before a stint with the Saudi Arabian national team. Is he now the right guy for Chiefs?

With his contract due to expire at the end of the season, Liverpool’s third-choice goalkeeper Adrian has confirmed his intention to leave the club. Given the sheer scale of change at Liverpool as the campaign nears an end, it is not unfair to say that Adrian‘s future won’t be viewed as a priority. But the 37-year-old joins Joel Matip and Thiago in finding himself in the final weeks of his contract at Anfield, with all three now expected to depart. Adrian was perhaps seen as the most likely to extend his terms, given he is more of a key presence in the dressing room and during training, but the Spaniard appears to be planning to move elsewhere. Speaking to Movistar Plus+ in an interview relayed by Muchodeporte, Adrian announced his desire to return to LaLiga. “I would like to return to LaLiga after 11 seasons in the Premier League. It would be the end of a cycle,” he explained. “I’m still ready to compete. I feel very good despite being 37. “You know that goalkeepers, if you take good care of yourself, if you haven’t had any serious injuries lately and you’re fine, the daily training gives you that intensity that makes you compete.” “I think Adrian [the player] has a long time left and it’s true that I would like to return to LaLiga. It has to be a nice, interesting project.” However, Adrian did add: “I haven’t sat down with Liverpool yet either. “I don’t rule out that we could have a pending conversation, but it is true that we will be looking out of the corner of our eye to see what happens in LaLiga.” The veteran stopper spent 15 years with Real Betis, coming through the academy to become a first-team starter, before joining West Ham in 2013. It is perhaps timely then that their No. 1, Claudio Bravo, is due to depart on a free transfer at the end of the season. Adrian was linked with a return to Betis as long ago as 2021, and given the Andalusian side are not averse to ageing goalkeepers – Bravo is 41 – it cannot be ruled out this summer. Liverpool will see at least two of their goalkeeping coaches leave as part of the post-Jurgen Klopp exodus. Head of goalkeeping John Achterberg has confirmed he will move on after 15 years with the club, while This Is Anfield has learned that assistant Jack Robinson is also leaving. Alisson is the subject of interest from Saudi Arabia, while Caoimhin Kelleher had been expected to push for a regular starting place elsewhere.

Orlando Pirates have reportedly made a decision on the future of midfielder Goodman Mosele, according to iDiski Times. According to a report by the publication, the Buccaneers have decided to recall Mosele who’s currently on loan at Chippa United. Mosele has been one of the standout players for the Chilli Boys this season, and he appears to be enjoying his football again. Now, there seems to be light again for him at Pirates whom he left after struggling for game time under Jose Riveiro. As things stand, Pirates have a plethora of central midfielders, including Miguel Timm, Thabang Monare, Makhehlene Makhaula, and Siphelo Baloni among others. However, reports suggest that Monare is leaving Pirates when his contract expires in June, meaning Mosele could be his replacement. Mosele will not only be returning to Pirates but he will also sign a new contract as the current one expires in June, according to the same publication. ORLANDO PIRATES TO RECALL MOSELE? “Goodman Mosele is set to return to Orlando Pirates at the end of the season after his loan at Chippa United, and set to sign a new contract at Orlando Stadium,” reads part of the report. “This publication has established that Pirates will recall Mosele and want to keep him for the upcoming season, despite his current contract ending in June 2024. The Buccaneers are also expected to hand the midfielder a new contract.” WILL MOSELE EMULATE SALENG AND MABASA? Mosele can take a leaf from Monnapule Saleng and Tshegofatso Mabasa’s book as he prepares to return to the Sea Robbers. Saleng was loaned out to Moroka Swallows immediately after being signed, and he returned to Bucs to take the PSL by storm the following season. Just recently, Mabasa was recalled from the very same Swallows team, and he’s now top of the goalscoring charts in the league with 15 goals. Some years ago, Thembinkosi Lorch also did the same. He was loaned out to Chippa United by Pirates and returned to become the club’s legend.

1 Manchester United hardly showed any attacking intent against Arsenal and surrendered 0-1 to the league leaders at Old Trafford on Sunday. On the back of a 0-4 thrashing at the hands of Crystal Palace, Erik ten Hag decided to play it safe and the team seemed quite happy to keep damage to a minimum despite the Gunners being far from impressive. Alejandro Garnacho was profligate while Rasmus Hojlund once again got no service as he tried to wrestle with the Arsenal backline and ended up losing most of his duels. The Dane needs a rest and has simply been overworked in his debut season. The United boss had asked for reinforcements last summer and in January but no help was forthcoming. Rasmus needs help Due to the perennial absence of Anthony Martial and now Marcus Rashford, the former Atalanta starlet has been forced to start almost every game when fit. He needs time to adapt and the club needs to bring in an elite striker who can take the pressure off the young Denmark international’s shoulders next season. One striker that has been frequently linked with the Red Devils this season is Joshua Zirkzee of Bologna. The Netherlands U21 star has 12 goals and seven assists this season, the most for his club, who are currently third in the table ahead of defending champions Napoli and giants Juventus. The former Bayern Munich man’s exploits this season has attracted plenty of teams both in Italy and in England and that includes the 20-time English league champions as well as Mikel Arteta’s side. According to Teamtalk, the North London team are ahead of the Manchester giants because of the uncertainty surrounding Ten Hag’s future and the fact that they can offer the 22-year-old the chance to play in the Champions League. Zirkzee race The United manager is an admirer and uptil INEOS’ arrival, the Dutchman was calling the shots regarding the transfer market and he had made the club keep tabs on the Bologna star. But with the petrochemical giants taking transfer matters into their own hands and with Ten Hag’s own future far from certain, the club could potentially look elsewhere. The Feyenoord youth product is desperate to play in Europe’s premier club competition with Bologna also set to qualify. It would be a huge call to go on represent the three-time Champions League winners who are looking likely to miss out on European football altogether next season. “In England, two clubs have been following him carefully for some time. One of these is Manchester United, although TEAMtalk can reveal that option is complicated for two reasons. “Firstly, the likely sacking of Erik ten Hag at the end of the season, his admirer and compatriot, could reduce the Red Devils’ interest. United lagging behind in Zirkzee race “Secondly, Zirkzee’s main desire is to play in the Champions League either at Bologna or with his next club, and United cannot guarantee him that possibility. “Sources have confirmed to TEAMtalk that this is why Arsenal – who have already approached his entourage – remains a very hot option, in the event of a farewell to Bologna.” His former club also possess a €40 million buy-back option but so far there has been no indication that they intend to activate it. However, a lot will depend on Thomas Tuchel’s successor and what he decides. As for United, they will need to either keep looking or they could decide to try and blow their competitor’s out of the water with a huge bid if they are really interested in landing the 2019/20 Champions League winner. Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.

It is well known. Orlando Pirates love to make big transfer decisions. Goodman Mosele and Boitumelo Radiopane are set to return to Soweto. ORLANDO PIRATES TO OFFER GOODMAN MOSELE A NEW CONTRACT Mosele signed for the Sea Robbers in July 2021. After enjoying 27 games under Mandla Ncikazi, the arrival of Jose Riveiro saw the Spaniard select players such as Miguel Timm, Thabang Monare, and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo in his central midfield. Mosele, 24, left Orlando Pirates to enjoy improved game time at Chippa United in Gqeberha. With four Man of the Match awards in 25 games, the midfielder from Stilfontein, North West, is coming back to Soweto. According to iDiski Times leading reporter Sinethemba Makonco, Mosele has been offered a new contract. “Goodman Mosele is set to return to Orlando Pirates at the end of the season after his loan at Chippa United, and set to sign a new contract at Orlando Stadium. This publication has established that Pirates will recall Mosele and want to keep him for the upcoming season, despite his current contract ending in June 2024. The Buccaneers are also expected to hand the midfielder a new contract,” the report said. BOITUMELO RADIOPANE’S RETURN Buitumelo Radiopane‘s agent Mike Makaab has revealed the young striker is going back to Soweto. The Sebokeng-born star shot to fame in the DStv Diski Challenge in 2019. The success was followed by a loan move away from Orlando Pirates to Cape Town Spurs. With his loan deal ending on 30 June and Spurs relegated, the 21-year-old striker is going back to the Sea Robbers. His agent, Makaab, has confirmed that, Radiopane, who is yet to score after just eight appearances due to injury, will be part of Orlando Pirates’ pre-season in July. Makaab also confirmed that Mamelodi Sundowns‘ Luvuyo Phewa will return to Kabo Yellow. “The two players that we represent are actually loan players, that’s Boitumelo Radiopane and Luvuyo Phewa. They will return to their respective clubs,” Makaab said on Gagasi FM. “Vuyo to Mamelodi Sundowns and Radiopane back to Orlando Pirates. We’re in the, let’s say fortunate position, that we have players at the club that we have to really concern ourselves about. “But, it’s a sad day. Because the club has big heritage. I thought that they would’ve strengthened the team with a few more experienced players, early on and then give themselves more of a chance to retain their PSL status. “Sadly, it wasn’t to be and they have to work hard now to get back into the top flight now,” Makaab concluded on the duo. Do you think Mosele and Radiopane will break into the Orlando Pirates starting 11? Let us know in the comments section below.

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has revealed that he was “almost shot” in South Africa after he said Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen – and not Percy Tau – was a big star. “They almost shot me for it, because I said that Percy Tau is not a big player,” Broos said in an interview on the Frank & Franky Podcast, as reported by Belgian media outlet, m.nieuwsblad.be “When I talk about a great player, I think of (Sadio) Mané of Senegal or (Victor) Osimhen of Nigeria. “The (South African) press then turns Percy Tau into a real star player. “Strangely enough, Tau was criticised afterwards for not playing well.” Broos’ comments, highlighting the exceptional talent of Napoli’s Osimhen, did not sit well with some local fans and pundits who believe Tau’s achievements deserved more recognition. Despite the backlash, Broos maintained his stance that players like Osimhen were currently performing at a higher level than Tau. Broos, 72, took over as Bafana Bafana coach in May 2021. He guided Bafana Bafana to the bronze medal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). Broos’ overall record in charge reads: Played 32, won 15, drawn 11 and lost six for a win percentage of 46.9%. 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers Meanwhile, Broos will lead his Bafana Bafana team as they renew their rivalry with Nigeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Friday, 7 June at 21:00 (SA time). The two sides have been drawn in Group C along with Rwanda, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Benin. After two rounds of matches, Bafana Bafana lie in second place with three points having beaten Benin 2-1 at home and lost 2-0 to Rwanda in the Central African country. Nigeria sit in third place 1-1 draws against Zimbabwe and Lesotho.

Kaizer Chiefs star midfielder Edson Castillo has made a cut in the provisional Venezuela national team squad that will compete in the 2024 Copa America. Castillo arrived at Naturena at the start of the season, and he had a promising start to his career until his recent dip in form. And while reports of him possibly leaving Chiefs continue to do the rounds, Castillo is still very much their player. Now, despite his lack of game time at Chiefs, Castillo appears to have earned the trust of his national team coach. KAIZER CHIEFS STAR HEADING TO COPA AMERICA Castillo, who has already featured for Venezuela while on the books of Chiefs, will get another chance to play international football. This time, the 29-year-old midfielder will not be rubbing shoulders with ordinary players but top superstars such as Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Vinicius Jr of Real Madrid. Having already featured nine times for Venezuela, Castillo will look to add to those caps at this year’s finals in the US. Castillo has one goal to his name at international level. Castillo made his debut for Venezuela senior national team on 13 June 2021 against Brazil under then coach Jose Peseiro. According to CONMEBOL, 14 different cities will host this edition of Copa America, and they are Las Vegas (NV), Arlington (TX), Charlotte (NC), Orlando (FL), Miami Gardens (FL), Santa Clara (CA), Atlanta (GA), East Rutherford (NJ), Houston (TX), Austin (TX), Inglewood (CA), Glendale (AZ), Kansas City (KS) and Kansas City (MO). WHICH GROUP IS VENEZUELA IN? The draw for the group stages of this 48th edition of Copa America finals was conducted in December 2023. And Venezuela were pitted in Group B alongside Mexico and Ecuador as per CONMEBOL – all groups have three teams each.

Only 18 matches remain in the 2023/2024 DStv Premiership – one of which will be played on Tuesday, 14 May. While the vast majority of sides only have two matches remaining, thanks to their African commitments this season in particular, champions Mamelodi Sundowns still have four games to play. Masandawana will be in action on Tuesday evening when they take on struggling Royal AM at the Harry Gwala Stadium. Kick-off is at 19:30. Mamelodi Sundowns have long since clinched a seventh consecutive title – and 14th overall – and hold a 16-point lead over second-placed Stellenbosch FC. Rulani Mokwena’s men have also played two fewer matches. Meanwhile, Royal AM are clawing their way to the end of the season having lost their last four matches. Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize’s team have slipped into a relegation dogfight. While they cannot be automatically relegated this season, they are in real danger of finishing in 15th place which would result in a promotion-relegation playoff scenario. Mamelodi Sundowns remaining matches Tuesday, 14 May v Royal AM (A) – 19:30 Saturday, 18 May v Stellenbosch FC (A) – 15:00 Tuesday, 21 May v TS Galaxy (A) – 19:30 Saturday, 25 May v Cape Town City FC (H) – 15:00 Royal AM remaining matches Tuesday, 14 May v Mamelodi Sundowns (H) – 19:30 Saturday, 18 May v Chippa United (H) – 15:00 Saturday, 25 May v Swallows (A) – 15:00 Bookmark The South African website for the latest DStv Premiership news, fixtures, results, logs – and more! LATEST DSTV PREMIERSHIP STANDINGS

Gary Neville’s claim that Kai Havertz was emulating Roberto Firmino at Arsenal drew criticism from Liverpool fans, but colleague Jamie Carragher has agreed. Following Arsenal‘s 1-0 victory over Man United on Sunday, Neville lavished praise on Havertz and compared his role to that of Firmino at Liverpool. “He’s subservient to the team, he’ll do whatever the team needs in the game,” Neville explained in a chat with Peter Drury on Sky Sports. He added: “I always used to mention Firmino, because I used to think the way he played connected midfield into the attack, and Havertz is doing something similar.” That was branded ‘disrespectful’ by many on social media, with Firmino’s influence at Liverpool acknowledged even by rival fans. But Carragher gave a similar view in the Sky Sports studio prior to kickoff. “I think Arsenal right now are as good as anyone in Europe and probably the world defensively and at making it tough for teams,” Carragher said. “They have definitely improved in 2024 from the first half of the season, and one of the reasons is the role of Kai Havertz.” Comparing Havertz to Firmino, he continued: “When I think of great centre-forwards in the Premier League who haven’t been great goalscorers, the one that comes to mind is Firmino at Liverpool and the work he did off the ball. “How often did we talk about that Liverpool team, with Firmino being deep, helping the midfield, and the wide players being in a position to penetrate?” Carragher analysed a goal from Leandro Trossard during Arsenal‘s 3-0 win over Bournemouth earlier this month and how Havertz was “absolutely shattered” due to his input. “Trossard on one side, Saka on the other. The centre-backs are not quite sure who they should pick up. They have been dragged out of position,” he explained. “Look at the reaction of all the players [after Trossard scores the goal]. Everyone is celebrating, because they know the second goal is the relief. “But look at Havertz. He is shattered. He is not celebrating because he’s absolutely knackered. “He is on his haunches, absolutely shattered, because of the work he is doing for the team. Absolutely fantastic.” When Havertz was still at Bayer Leverkusen he was earmarked as a potential successor to Firmino, with reports of interest from Liverpool emerging as early as 2017. His initial struggles after switching to the Premier League with first Chelsea and then Arsenal made that seem laughable, but perhaps there is a kernel of truth in this latest comparison.

‘You have to defend well and you can’t just take the game to Sundowns because you will open on the other side,’ said Maduka. Expect more of the same when Royal AM hosts Mamelodi Sundows in a DStv Premiership match on Tuesday night as both teams meet for a second time in three days. Sundowns recorded a narrow 1-0 win over Thwihli Thwahla last Saturday thanks to a late goal by Peter Shalulile. ALSO READ: Mokwena staying off toxic social media as he also defends Shalulile Royal AM defended well for the majority of the game to frustrate the Brazilians and nearly walked away with a credible draw in Tshwane before Shalulile scored the winner with four minutes left in the game. John Maduka says his team can’t afford to go toe-to-toe with Sundowns who are looking to extend their unbeaten run to 27 league games this season. “Sundowns are a team that believes in themselves and Coach Rulani Mokwena and his technical team have done a very good job. They don’t play for a draw in every game because they go for a win,” Maduka told Phakaaathi. “It seems like it’s in their system and to stop them you have to be tactically disciplined and that’s the one way that you can be able to stop them. You can allow them to have the ball in certain areas but you don’t allow them to come in your half because if they do that, they will cause so many problems. “Again, when you have the ball, you must use it because if you don’t use it well, they will press you immediately. We were not far in the last game from getting a point and we can build on where we left off before we conceded. “You have to defend well and you can’t just take the game to Sundowns because you will open on the other side. They play in every moment of the game and they can also play in transition and combination play. Tactical discipline has to be there and the concentration has to be at a maximum and that is the only way that you can stop them.”   ALSO READ: Williams believes Bafana can clip Super Eagles’ wings Royal AM are in 14th place on the log standings. They are two points ahead of Richards Bay who will be hoping Sundowns do them a favour by beating their KwaZulu-Natal neighbours in order to suck them into the battle to avoid the relegation-promotion play-off spot.

Kaizer Chiefs could be edging ever so closer to making their final decision on their new coach. Chiefs are searching for a new coach, who will come in with his own technical staff for the new season.  It’s believed Chiefs are willing to give the new coach and his staff authority to lead them in a new era. Amakhosi have not won silverware for the past nine years now and currently fighting to finish in the top eight. The risk of going a full decade without a trophy is surely giving the club’s management sleepless nights. It is for this reason that, this next coaching appointment could be undoubtedly the most significant in the clubs history.  Currently interim coach Cavin Johnson initially harboured ambitions of becoming the permanent coach at Chiefs. A run which saw Chiefs winning three of their last four games of 2024, saw Johnson in with a shout. But now according to the latest, the club are back looking at other candidates. There have been the likes of Pitso Mosimane and Manqoba Mngqithi in a local sense. Internationally, Jose Peseiro, Vanderlei Luxembergo , Raul Caneda Perez and Nasreddine Nabi.  Chiefs identify Santos as new coach One of the coaches that was previously mentioned among the favourites is Portuguese Alexander Santos. Santos is believed to be on his way out of Petro de Luanda and according to iDiski Times, is now the front runner for the Chiefs job! “iDiski Times has it from impeccable sources that Chiefs are intensifying their efforts to secure Santos. This is a move that could potentially transform the fortunes of South Africa’s largest football club, instilling hope and optimism among its supporters” wrote the publication.  Is he the right guy for the job? Santos has plenty of experience in his homeland of Portugal, being an assistant at top clubs. He has worked at FC Porto, SC Braga and even Al Ahly before a stint with the Saudi Arabian national team. Is he now the right guy for Chiefs?

TS Galaxy coach Sead Ramovic has again taken a jibe at Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena. The two coaches have engaged in a war of words for several months. Their on and off-field battle started when the Rockets eliminated Masandawana from the Carling Knockout last year. Last month, the two teams met once again with Sundowns winning 3-0. As usual, the match ended dramatically after the Galaxy player was given a red card for a dangerous tackle on Bongani Zungu. Mokwena accused Ramovic of instructing his players to intentionally injure Zungu. The Downs midfielder was sent off after his reckless tackle on Benard Parker last year when the side met for the first time. Following The Rockets‘ draw with Cape Town City, Ramovic blamed their lack of results on losing players. “In the last two and a half seasons, we did not spend. We sold seven key players to one of the best clubs,” he said. “Show me one team that sold three players to all three big teams, show me one team that lost seven key players and after that reached the [Carling Knockout] Cup final after that is number five in the log, one team? Gloves off: Ramovic and Mokwena not holding back “I am the smallest part, I don’t need this attention like somebody mentioned about me that I like to have attention. I don’t like attention, because I played in one of the best leagues, and the other one probably played badminton. “So I don’t like it but the thing is that I want my players to start to get recognised because they’re playing a fantastic season, and they have a fantastic character; they show it every day until now,” he said this past weekend. Sead Ramovic responds to Mamelodi Sundowns coach Over two weeks ago, Mokwena accused Ramovic of instructing his players to intentionally tackle Zungu. The comments had led the Mpumalanga-based club to threaten with legal action. The two teams are scheduled to play each other for the third time this season. Ramovic’s side are one of the two teams to beat Mokwena’s Sundowns this season. Galaxy needed penalties to hand Masandawana their second cup defeat of the season. Although the matter between the two coaches has escalated in the past weeks, The PSL has yet to comment. TS Galaxy’s next game is against Orlando Pirates at the Mbombela Stadium this coming weekend.

2 Raphael Varane has confirmed he is leaving Manchester United. Merci, @RaphaelVarane #MUFC — Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 14, 2024 More to follow … Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.

Liverpool’s assistant goalkeeping coach Jack Robinson is set to leave the club this summer. This Is Anfield understands the Englishman will join John Achterberg in departing as part of the post-Jurgen Klopp reshuffle taking place behind the scenes at the AXA Training Centre. Robinson is understood to be keen to lead a goalkeeping department elsewhere, and his services are expected to be in high demand after a successful stint at Anfield. He arrived from the Football Association in September 2018 having previously worked for both Man United and Leeds. At Liverpool, Robinson was part of three-man team alongside Achterberg and Claudio Taffarel that worked closely with Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher as well as the club’s emerging goalkeepers. His arrival coincided with the start of a remarkable period of success for the club, with his first season ending in the Champions League being lifted. Robinson subsequently helped add the Premier League title, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups to the Anfield trophy cabinet. His imminent departure has created yet another backroom vacancy for Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes to fill in what promises to be a busy summer. It remains to be seen whether Arne Slot looks to tempt his goalkeeping coach at Feyenoord, the highly rated Jyri Nieminen, over to Anfield with him. The future of the last remaining current goalkeeper coach, Taffarel, has also yet to be clarified. 6 other staff members known to be leaving Last week, This Is Anfield learned that head of fitness and conditioning Andreas Kornmayer would also leave along with many of Klopp’s staff. Assistants Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz and elite development coach Vitor Matos have already confirmed their departures through the club. Head of recovery and performance Andreas Schlumberger is also expected to leave a year early, while Jorg Schmadtke has already vacated his position as sporting director. Slot is due to bring assistant Sipke Hulsoff, head of performance Ruben Peeters and technical advisor Etienne Reijnen with him from Feyenoord.

1 Manchester United’s long list of injuries have played a huge role in what has been an awful season for Erik ten Hag and his troops. The United boss has seldom been able to pick his strongest team, which has resulted in some disastrous performances and ultimately left them languishing well behind the chasing pack in the Premier League. Marcus Rashford is one of many first team stars currently on the treatment table and details of his injury have emerged. As reported by the Manchester Evening News, the Englishman has been nursing two separate issues since leaving the Wembley field during the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City on April 21. Bruised ribs and a bruised heel are the reasons behind Rashford’s absence for the last four games but the forward is expected to make his return before the FA Cup final. Rashford was pictured back in first-team training last week and was expected to be named in the squad for the limp 0-1 home defeat to Arsenal on Sunday. However, the 26-year-old was left out once more but will want some minutes under his belt before the huge clash with Manchester City at the end of the month. United have just two league games remaining, starting with the visit of Newcastle United to Old Trafford on Wednesday before travelling to Brighton to bring the curtain down on a season they will quickly want to put behind them. It’s reported that Rashford’s preference is to come back for the trip down south on the final day which would mean he has played his last game at Old Trafford this season. It may even be the case that Rashford never plays at the Theatre of Dreams again with rumours of a move away from Manchester rife, after a disappointing campaign. Despite his poor individual form this year, Rashford does possess the ability to cause a threat to Pep Guardiola’s side in the final and Ten Hag will be desperate for him to be available on the day. Ten Hag is expected to provide a further update on Rashford’s fitness in his pre-match press conference later today. Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.

Kaizer Chiefs new mentor decision is drawing closer and closer each passing day. In a fresh development poised to reshape the landscape of Premier Soccer League(PSL) football. The potential appointment of Petro de Luanda’s dynamic head coach at Chiefs, suggests that it could ignite a comeback. Kaizer Chiefs’ potential game-changer In a shift for PSL football, Petro de Luanda’s talented head coach, Alexandre Santos, has emerged as the new leading candidate for Kaizer Chiefs. A decision which is set to breathe new life into the legacy at Naturena. Heralding a promising wave of triumph for the club in future, according to iDiski Times digital newspaper issue 154.  A new dawn for the Soweto Giants With inside sources confirming that Kaizer Chiefs are stepping up their pursuit of Santos. The club embarks on a resolute quest to usher in an era of renewed success and revitalisation. A move set to ignite hope and optimism among its loyal supporters. Santos: The solution to Chiefs’ drought Enduring a nine-year silverware drought and facing uncertain prospects of securing a top-eight finish this season. Kaizer Chiefs is currently facing a critical need for stability within its coaching ranks, especially since the departure of Arthur Zwane. Kaizer Chiefs has grappled with a revolving door of head and interim coaches, failing to secure a permanent replacement to date. Now, the club firmly set its sights on Santos, aligning with its steadfast commitment to find a new head coach as the season draws close. Santos’ Journey and International Appeal Santos’ illustrious track record, highlighted by his tenure at Petro de Luanda where he clinched two Girabola titles and steered the team to a memorable CAF Champions League semi-final berth. Is a record that underscores his suitability for the Amakhosi role. Furthermore, his intimate knowledge of South African football, demonstrated through encounters with reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns. Is experience that would solidify his candidacy as a transformative force for Kaizer Chiefs. International interest and local imperatives With interest from clubs such as Wydad Athletic Club and Simba SC on the rise. Securing the next coach has become increasing challenging. But Kaizer Chiefs recognizes Santos as the linchpin to its revival. As the club navigates the stringent coaching standards set by SAFA, Santos emerges as a beacon of hope. He is also stands ready to integrate youthful talent and restore the club’s former glory on both the domestic and continental stage. With Santos on the brink of departure from Petro de Luanda, Kaizer Chiefs accelerates its quest for a seasoned mentor. As the season gradually winds down, the club is steadfast in its resolve to finalise its coaching transition, positioning itself for a triumphant return to prominence of the PSL. Keep following The South African for the latest on the next Kaizer Chiefs head coach.

There has been an exciting Orlando Pirates talent at Cape Town Spurs. Buitumelo Radiopane‘s agent Mike Makaab has revealed the young striker is going back to Soweto. CAPE TOWN SPURS STAR BOITUMELO RADIOPANE RETURNING TO ORLANDO PIRATES The Sebokeng-born star shot to fame in the DStv Diski Challenge in 2019. The success was followed by a loan move away from Orlando Pirates to Cape Town Spurs. With his loan deal ending on 30 June and Spurs relegated, the 21-year-old striker is going back to the Sea Robbers. His agent, Makaab, has confirmed that, Radiopane, who is yet to score after just eight appearances due to injury, will be part of Orlando Pirates’ pre-season in July. Makaab also confirmed that Mamelodi Sundowns‘ Luvuyo Phewa will return to Kabo Yellow. “The two players that we represent are actually loan players, that’s Boitumelo Radiopane and Luvuyo Phewa. They will return to their respective clubs,” Makaab said on Gagasi FM. “Vuyo to Mamelodi Sundowns and Radiopane back to Orlando Pirates. We’re in the, let’s say fortunate position, that we have players at the club that we have to really concern ourselves about. “But, it’s a sad day. Because the club has big heritage. I thought that they would’ve strengthened the team with a few more experienced players, early on and then give themselves more of a chance to retain their PSL status. “Sadly, it wasn’t to be and they have to work hard now to get back into the top flight now,” Makaab concluded on the duo. JOSE RIVEIRO REACTS TO RICHARDS BAY SHOCK DEFEAT Orlando Pirates lost to Richards Bay at the Orlando Stadium last weekend. Speaking to the media after Sanele Barnes‘ strike sunk the Sea Robbers, coach Riviero revealed what he would tell his Orlando Pirates team. “As usual, we will do a collective analysis of the performance and I’m sure that if I have this feeling after I’ve lost, just a few minutes ago, that my team was playing as good as we could today, at least in the the first half, it’s true in the second half we were a more, not disorganised, but tried something different and didn’t get what we were looking for,” the Orlando Pirates mentor said via iDiski Times. “So it’s going to be easy to show them they were doing what we were looking for, with things we know we need to improve. There was a situation in our right side that didn’t work they way we were expected today, there’s little things that could have helped us a bit more to get the result. “Like I said, we have the opportunity to do an objective analysis of the game, and show the players, we still performing the same way than in the previous seven games where we got the results. The Spaniard added to say that Orlando Pirates played well enough, the difference was in the final actions to score. “The only difference today, we didn’t score, we didn’t manage to put the ball in the net like in the previous games, but everything else, the concentration, the pace, the desire, the level of aggression – everything was there. That’s why I said, in my opinion, it’s a defeat that won’t affect us at all, there’s not going to space to feel sorry for ourselves. “We understand the dynamics of the game, and sometimes you have these types of games and if we have to lose, let’s do it in this way,” the Orlando Pirates tactician concluded.

Santos’ Petro famously beat Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2021/22 Caf Champions League quarterfinals. Kaizer Chiefs are looking at acquiring the services of Petro de Luanda head coach Alexandre Santos, according to a report in this week’s iDiski Times Newspaper. The publication claims that Amakhosi are interested in the 47 year-old, who reportedly set to leave Petro at the end of the current season. Santos is currently on target for a third consecutive domestic league title with Petro and took the Angola giants to the semifinals of the Caf Champions League in the 2021/22 season, when they recorded a famous victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarterfinals. This year, he got Petro to the Champions League quarterfinals, where they were beaten by TP Mazembe. Amakhosi sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jnr recently indicated that the club would definitely be looking to replace interim head coach Cavin Johnson in time for next season, as well as making several other changes to their coaching staff. Nine barren seasons Chiefs are going to finish a ninth successive season without a single piece of Premier Soccer League silverware and are even in danger of missing out on a place in next season’s MTN8, currently clinging on to eighth spot in the DStv Premiership, having won just two matches in 2024. It remains to be seen who Chiefs do ultimately hire as their new head coach, with Sundowns senior coach Manqoba Mngqithi heavily linked to the post, while TS Galaxy coach Sead Ramovic certainly appeared interested after his side’s recent 2-2 draw with Amakhosi.

After uncertainty over exactly when Arne Slot‘s assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, would join Liverpool, that has become clearer with an update from the Dutch FA. Slot is due to be formally unveiled as Liverpool’s new head coach at the end of the season, and will bring at least three of his Feyenoord staff with him. Assistant coach Hulshoff, head of performance Ruben Peeters and technical advisor Etienne Reijnen are all due to join after compensation was agreed with the Eredivisie club. However, with Hulshoff also serving in the Netherlands national team staff, it was unclear if he would be able to join for the start of pre-season. • READ: I followed Arne Slot at Feyenoord – here’s why LFC made the right move With the Netherlands part of this summer’s European Championship, which runs from June 14 to July 14, there was a chance that Liverpool would be without a key part of their new-look backroom. But the Dutch FA have now confirmed that Hulshoff has vacated his position as Ronald Koeman’s assistant, to be replaced by Dwight Lodeweges. That paves the way for the 49-year-old – who has worked with Slot at both SC Cambuur and Feyenoord – to join Liverpool as soon as the season ends. Hulshoff can be compared to the departing Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders, in that he works closely with Slot, preparing and often leading training sessions. • READ: Pepijn Lijnders wanted for manager job that could still benefit Liverpool During his time with the Netherlands national team he has already worked closely with Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch. Speaking during Hulshoff’s first camp with the Dutch squad, Van Dijk praised his impact in training, describing the coach as “very clear and tactically strong.” “I like when he leads training” “Of course I didn’t know Sipke Hulshoff before this. You have to get to know each other,” the Liverpool and Netherlands captain told vi.nl. “You see what his qualities are and I personally certainly like that. Hopefully he can continue that well. “He is very clear and tactically strong. I like the moments when he leads a training session. “I think I also speak for the group. We’re only four days into it, but it’s a good start.”