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Soccer Laduma
People will always worry
Years ago, before he retired from the game, Thabo September stated that he did not want to be a coach. Life, however, had other plans. He became the coach of SuperSport United's DStv Diski Challenge side and then went on to take on arguably the most insecure job in the Betway Premiership at Chippa United. After leaving the Chilli Boys at the end of last season, September decided to take a different path and, with a business partner, bought a franchise in the ABC Motsepe League. Now the CEO at Komani FC in the Eastern Cape, September is determined to build a club that will produce some of the finest talent South African football has to offer. Soccer Laduma's Tshepang Mailwane spoke to September about his big decision to purchase a club and what the plans are going forward. He also confirms that he is done coaching.
4 min |
November 20, 2025
Soccer Laduma
We need to broaden our horizons
I think the first objective was to get out of the group stages of the FIFA U17 World Cup, which they did, and for these boys to qualify for the World Cup is an achievement in itself.
5 min |
November 20, 2025
Soccer Laduma
It's a different pressure
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers almost concluded, the bright lights of international football have dimmed, and the intense, passionate focus of a continent shifts back to its club rivalries.
1 min |
November 20, 2025
Soccer Laduma
When love overrides business
We all agree that professional football is a business and therefore there are ethics, code of conduct, contracts and everything that goes with the employer and the employee when it comes to an agreement between a football club and a football player.
5 min |
November 20, 2025
Soccer Laduma
I have a bit of history with him
In Part Two of our interview, Modabi opens up about what led him to part ways with Pirates as one of their junior coaches and also talks about the lessons he learned from the club. With his trademark honesty and humour, Modabi also sheds light on what truly makes Pirates different – from the hunger demanded at training to the humility expected off the field - and why, for him, the Buccaneers' biggest gift wasn't just a coaching job, but a lasting education in structure, discipline, and belief.
4 min |
November 20, 2025
Soccer Laduma
I've seen the worst
“I’ve seen the worst. I’ve seen worse in my time. Me sitting here in this very moment in a club like Werder Bremen, or me playing in Germany is something I never imagined.
1 min |
November 20, 2025
Soccer Laduma
It will be a waste of money
Hola Soccer Laduma readers,
2 min |
November 20, 2025
Soccer Laduma
They focus entirely on being Pirates
Gerald, you’ve had the unique privilege of both playing for Orlando Pirates and later being part of the club’s DStv Diski Challenge technical team as a coach. Looking back, what does the club’s philosophy around youth development mean to you personally?
6 min |
November 13, 2025
Soccer Laduma
Football players are not slaves
Mzwanele Mahashe did not get to play for the big guns of South African football, but he will probably be remembered as one of the most solid defenders to have played in the PSL. He has officially retired from the game and is focusing on a business he started with his wife, but he still wants to be involved in football after his playing career. The former defender started his professional journey at Bush Bucks FC and went on to play for Bidvest Wits, Bloemfontein Celtic, Baroka FC and Mpumalanga Black Aces, among others, but the last few years at Royal AM, TS Galaxy and Sekhukhune United were not so great for him, until he decided to retire. In this interview with Soccer Laduma’s Tshepang Mailwane, Mahashe opens up about retirement and the challenges footballers face along the way.
5 min |
November 13, 2025
Soccer Laduma
Adams faces race against time
Jayden Adams' international future hangs in the balance, and the countdown has officially begun. With just one month remaining before Hugo Broos finalises his squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, the 24-year-old midfielder finds himself in a position few would have predicted two years ago. Once a rising star of Stellenbosch FC and a standout performer at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, Adams now faces the harsh reality of reduced game time at Mamelodi Sundowns and uncertainty around his Bafana Bafana role. The player who earned his way into Broos' plans through hard work and consistency has slipped into unfamiliar territory at club level, and his national team prospects have dimmed as a result. The Siya crew has been tracking his situation closely, uncovering worrying signs behind the scenes as Adams fights to keep his AFCON dream alive.
2 min |
November 13, 2025
Soccer Laduma
Never become complacent
Reaching 300 matches in charge of a single club is not a milestone that happens by accident in South African football. It speaks to discipline and a level of consistency that very few coaches have ever managed to sustain in a league known for volatility and constant turnover. For Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker, this journey has come with pressure that never switches off, scrutiny that grows with every result, and expectations that rise with every young talent that his club produces. Yet through all of it, he has remained steady, present, and unwavering in the values that have shaped Stellies into one of the most admired operations in the country. In Part One of this interview with Soccer Laduma's Delmain Faver, the Stellies coach reflects on the psychological battles behind the touchline, the unity that holds his dressing room together and the evolution that keeps him relevant. Coach Barker also opens up about the mechanisms, principles and perspectives that have fuelled his remarkable longevity.
4 min |
November 13, 2025
Soccer Laduma
Ox's Chiefs comeback story
Sibongiseni Mthethwa was signed by Kaizer Chiefs just over two years ago.
4 min |
November 13, 2025
Soccer Laduma
Those boys proved many people wrong
Amajimbos lost their last group stage match 3-1 against Italy but still qualified for the Last 32 of the ongoing FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar.
5 min |
November 13, 2025
Soccer Laduma
Still In Touch With...
GERT SCHALKWYK (PART 2)
4 min |
November 13, 2025
Soccer Laduma
The EPL season for the ages?
More than a quarter of the 2025/26 English Premier League season has been completed, and there are already glimpses of what many can expect for the remainder of the campaign. The league table is starting to take shape, revealing which teams will compete for the title, who will challenge for European qualification, and which sides may be dragged into the dreaded relegation battle. Soccer Laduma’s Matthew Petersen looks at the season so far and how the rest of the campaign may unfold, including a look at the teams who are expected to be in the title fight, the race for European football and the dreaded relegation battle come the end of the season.
4 min |
November 13, 2025
Soccer Laduma
We can now compete against the best
The domestic season is in full flight, and the Africa Cup of Nations is fast approaching, placing Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams at the centre of one of the most demanding periods of his career.
6 min |
November 13, 2025
Soccer Laduma
The team has more respect
The current season is important for a lot of players in South African football because Bafana Bafana will be participating in the FIFA World Cup next year. Who wouldn't want to be part of the squad going to the competition? That's why Terrence Mashego had to make a move away from Mamelodi Sundowns to first get regular game time at club level and, second, give himself a shot at getting back into the Bafana squad. A loan move to Durban City has opened the door to regular game time and it will no doubt build his confidence as the season progresses. In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Tshepang Mailwane, the 29-year-old left-back discusses his move to KZN, where he is working with head coach Gavin Hunt.
6 min |
November 13, 2025
Soccer Laduma
We can't afford to let them down!
Let me open this week's column by congratulating Orlando Pirates and Marumo Gallants on their impressive wins in the Carling Knockout semifinals against Richards Bay FC and Golden Arrows, respectively.
2 min |
November 13, 2025
Soccer Laduma
Coach Rhulani knows Sundowns very well
Kaizer Chiefs CAF Draw
4 min |
November 06, 2025
Soccer Laduma
Chiefs don't have to rely on Lilepo
Kaizer Chiefs have played 11 league matches this season, and Glodi Lilepo sits on a paltry one goal.
7 min |
November 06, 2025
Soccer Laduma
PSL over 30 Over the hill or veterans?
In South African football, the age of 30 is more than just a number, it's a career crossroads that separates the pragmatists from the dreamers, the planners from the hopeful, and ultimately, those who control their destiny from those who let the game decide for them.
8 min |
November 06, 2025
Soccer Laduma
Will Broos take the risk on Zwane?
Hugo Broos is just a few weeks away from announcing his final Bafana Bafana squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and many are waiting to see if Themba Zwane will be on the plane to Morocco for the competition.
6 min |
November 06, 2025
Soccer Laduma
In Touch With... THEMBELA SIKHAKHANE - UNATTACHED
Hola Thembela, it's been a while since we heard from you. It's a pleasure to have you with us this week.
3 min |
November 06, 2025
Soccer Laduma
I was shocked by that man's behaviour!
The Carling Knockout semi-finals will be kicking off this weekend, and we all expect to see fireworks as we approach the business end of the tournament. I wish all the remaining teams all the best. Our national U17 opened their FIFA World Cup campaign with an impressive 3-1 win against Bolivia on Monday, which was incredible to see. I want to congratulate them for that important win and wish them well in their second match this afternoon (Thursday) against Qatar.
6 min |
November 06, 2025
Soccer Laduma
They are the future Bafana Bafana players
That was a very good victory against Bolivia and a nice confidence booster for Amajimbos going into the rest of the competition.
5 min |
November 06, 2025
Soccer Laduma
It made me want to work harder
Siyabonga Nhlapo is part of a small group of players who have a club to play for in the top-flight even after the age of 35.
7 min |
November 06, 2025
Soccer Laduma
I'm not really angry
The 2015 MTN8 title is the only trophy that Travis Graham won as a player. The 32-year-old, who recently retired from professional football, led a young Ajax Cape Town team against a formidable Kaizer Chiefs side, and Nathan Paulse's goal from the penalty spot was enough to separate the two teams. A year earlier, Graham ended up on the losing side in the Nedbank Cup final against Mamelodi Sundowns. Despite his illustrious career, which spanned over a decade, the Cape Town-born former midfielder finished his career with only one trophy and no national team caps. In the second part of his interview with Soccer Laduma's Delmain Faver, Graham shares his thoughts on the reasons why he never played for Bafana Bafana, lists the best coaches he has ever worked with and opens up about his best achievements.
5 min |
November 06, 2025
Soccer Laduma
Still In Touch With...
GERT SCHALKWYK (PART 1)
3 min |
November 06, 2025
Soccer Laduma
I had mixed emotions
Mention the name Phakamani Mahlambi and many would probably sigh at the thought of what a legend this man could have been. With so much talent, Mahlambi had the potential to have a great career, but some decisions led him the wrong way and eventually out of football much earlier than expected. But there's still hope of another Mahlambi making it big in the Betway Premiership and possibly abroad in the future. Seluleko Mahlambi, the younger brother to Phakamani, is having a dream start to life at TS Galaxy and fingers are crossed that he can go on to have a great career. In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Tshepang Mailwane, the 21-year-old striker talks about how he got to Galaxy and what it was like growing up with his older brother.
7 min |
November 06, 2025
Soccer Laduma
Arne Slot would have been fired at Chippa
Following a brief but eventful spell in charge of Chippa United, Belgian coach Luc Eymael parted ways with the Gqeberha-based side after just seven matches in all competitions. His departure came in the wake of a 2-1 defeat to Marumo Gallants in the Betway Premiership – a result that left the Chilli Boys anchored to the bottom of the table. Eymael, who succeeded Sinethemba Badela earlier in the season, managed one win, two draws and four losses during his stint, including an early Carling Knockout exit. His departure was the latest chapter in the club’s well-known pattern of frequent coaching changes under chairman Siviwe Mpengesi. In this interview with Soccer Laduma’s Masebe Qina, Eymael reflects on his short stay in the Eastern Cape, his disappointment at not being given more time, his working relationships within the club and his ambitions for the future.
6 min |