Kaizer Chiefs captain speaks: ‘Who can be against us?’

Brandon Petersen has broken his silence on social media after being snubbed from the FIFA World Cup squad. The Kaizer Chiefs captain is also one of six Bafana Bafana players who turned down an opportunity to travel to Mexico to watch the tournament as spectators.

KAIZER CHIEFS CAPTAIN BRANDON PETERSEN SPEAKS OUT

Brandon Petersen has made his first Instagram post since the Bafana Bafana FIFA World Cup squad was announced last month.

The Kaizer Chiefs captain – who was seemingly snubbed by coach Hugo Broos – has chosen to spend quality time with his wife and children, turning down a free trip by Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie to watch the national team’s opening match in Mexico. catcross.org

In the post, Brandon posed alongside his family, his biggest supporters.

He shared: “In the eyes of my wife and the smiles of my three children, I see everything I’ll ever need. They are my absolute world”

The post was liked by Bradley Cross, the only Kaizer Chiefs player to make the Bafana World Cup squad.

Another footballer, retired Bafana star Benni McCarthy, also showed love to the Amakhosi goalkeeper.

Benni previously encouraged Brandon to keep his head high, despite the disappointing news.

He commented under a previous post: “You deserved more broertjie. But you should be proud of everything you did up until now, better things are coming your way 🔥 Keep pushing my man”.

‘THE OUTCOME IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT WE WANT’

On his Instagram Stories, Brandon Petersen also shared a link to a video in which he quoted a Bible verse and spoke about his Christian faith.

In the video, the 31-year-old Kaizer Chiefs skipper spoke about a time during his professional career when he had received a devastating diagnosis from a doctor.

His faith in God encouraged him to stay strong, and after a lengthy rehabilitation, he was back on the pitch.

Brandon encouraged his followers to trust in God during difficult life circumstances.

He said during the video: “He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. The outcome is not always what we want or look like what we wanted it to be. But with Him on our side, we are always the victors. We can freely declare that if God is for us, then who can be against us?”

FAMILY OVER FIFA WORLD CUP

Brandon Petersen is among the six Bafana players who turned down Gayton McKenzie’s FIFA World Cup offer.

The Minister of Sport invited the players from clubs like Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns on a sponsored trip to Mexico to watch Bafana Bafana play their opening match against Mexico, as mere spectators.

Despite being national team players, the group did not appear on FIFA’s official registered player list. This means they could play in the tournament and will be merely spectators in the stands.

Bafana Bafana will make history when an American woman, Tori Penso, becomes the first referee from the United States to officiate one of the national team’s FIFA World Cup matches, marking another milestone for the global tournament.

South Africa head into the fixture under pressure after suffering a 2-0 defeat to hosts Mexico in their opening Group A match. Hugo Broos’ side will now be targeting a positive result against Czechia to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.

TORI PENSO MAKES FIFA WORLD CUP HISTORY

The historic officiating appointment reflects FIFA’s continued efforts to increase diversity among match officials on football’s biggest stage.

Women referees have featured at recent major tournaments, but this will be the first time an American woman oversees a Bafana Bafana fixture at the World Cup.

MORE ON TORI PENSO

After starting her refereeing career at age 14, she made history in 2020 by becoming the first woman to referee a Major League Soccer match in two decades.On the global stage, Penso officiated the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final, making her the first American ever to lead a World Cup Final crew.

She reached another historic milestone with her selection as a lead referee for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, becoming the first American woman appointed to referee the men’s tournament.

For South Africa, however, the focus remains firmly on the task at hand. The national team must recover from the disappointment of the opening defeat and produce a disciplined performance against Czechia.

Broos will also have to cope without suspended midfielders Siphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane after both were sent off against Mexico, forcing changes to his starting line-up.

Despite the setbacks, Bafana Bafana still have an opportunity to revive their campaign. A victory over Czechia would put South Africa back in contention ahead of their final Group A match against South Korea.

As the players prepare for a crucial showdown, the match will also be remembered for its place in history, with the appointment of the first American woman to referee a Bafana Bafana World Cup game highlighting another step forward for officiating on the international stage.

HOW BAFANA BAFANA CAN STILL MAKE THE NEXT ROUND

• Finish top two for automatic safety.
• Beat Czechia on Thursday.
• Avoid defeat against South Korea.
• Target four to six total points.
• Aim for a best third-place spot.
• Keep a positive goal difference.

Une nouvelle page de l’histoire du football va s’écrire à Atlanta. L’arbitre américaine Tori Penso dirigera la rencontre entre la République tchèque et l’Afrique du Sud, prévue le 18 juin au Mercedes-Benz Stadium, dans le cadre du groupe A de la Coupe du Monde 2026.

Tori Penso entre dans l’histoire

En officiant lors de cette rencontre, Tori Penso deviendra la première Américaine à arbitrer un match masculin de Coupe du monde. Une nomination historique qui confirme sa progression au plus haut niveau du football international.

Elle deviendra également la deuxième femme de l’histoire à diriger une rencontre masculine dans un Mondial, après Stéphanie Frappart, qui avait ouvert la voie lors de la Coupe du Monde 2022.

Un quatuor nord-américain

Pour cette rencontre importante entre deux équipes en quête de points, Tori Penso sera accompagnée de ses compatriotes américaines Brooke Mayo et Kathryn Nesbitt en tant qu’assistantes. Le Néo-Zélandais Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh occupera, lui, le rôle de quatrième arbitre.

Ce quatuor confirme la montée en puissance de l’arbitrage féminin au plus haut niveau. Avec cette désignation, Tori Penso ajoute une nouvelle ligne prestigieuse à son parcours et renforce un peu plus la place des femmes dans le football mondial.

The post Coupe du Monde 2026 : Tori Penso au sifflet de République tchèque – Afrique du Sud appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Orlando Pirates have not lifted the CAF Champions League trophy since their historic triumph in 1995, but there is growing belief that next season could finally bring an end to their long wait for continental glory.

The Buccaneers enjoyed another successful campaign, adding a domestic treble to their growing collection of silverware.

Over the last four seasons, Pirates have established themselves as South Africa’s premier cup team, winning eight domestic trophies and cementing their reputation as one of the country’s dominant forces.

With domestic success becoming a regular occurrence, attention is now shifting towards the one prize that continues to elude the club, the CAF Champions League.

Orlando Pirates have come close to continental success in recent years.

They reached the final in 2013 and enjoyed another impressive run during the 2024 campaign. However, inconsistency in the competition has also been a concern.

The Soweto giants have been eliminated in the preliminary stages on several occasions, including last season when their journey ended before the group phase.

To challenge for Africa’s biggest club prize, Pirates will need to strengthen their squad, especially with key players such as Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis reportedly attracting interest from abroad and potentially heading for exits.

Orlando Pirates already signed three players

The club has already begun preparations for the new season by announcing the arrivals of Mthetheleli Mthiyane from Stellenbosch FC, Sbangani Zulu from Richards Bay, and the Siwelele duo of Bohale Ngwato and Ghampani Lungu.

While those additions provide depth, further reinforcements may be required if Orlando Pirates are serious about competing with the continent’s elite.

One player who could make a significant impact is Seluleko Mahlambi. The talented attacker possesses pace, creativity, and an eye for goal, qualities that could help fill the void should Mofokeng depart.

Another intriguing option is Devin Titus. The Stellenbosch FC star has enjoyed a strong rise in recent seasons and could provide a like-for-like replacement for Appollis with his direct attacking style and versatility in the final third.

Meanwhile, Peter Shalulile remains one of the most proven goalscorers in South African football.

Although he has fallen down the pecking order under Miguel Cardoso, the Namibian striker’s experience, movement, and finishing ability could give the Buccaneers the clinical edge they need in high-pressure CAF Champions League matches.

If Orlando Pirates can retain the core of their squad while adding a few quality signings, they may finally have the tools required to challenge for African football’s biggest prize and end a drought that has stretched for more than three decades.

Which players should Pirates sign?

Tunisia have parted ways with head coach Sabri Lamouchi after just one game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 54-year-old’s future was plunged into doubt following a disastrous opening match defeat against Sweden in Monterrey.

Lamouchi, took over as manager in January 2026 and has won just one of his five matches in charge – a 1-0 victory over Haiti. His assistant Wahbi Khazri could take charge on an interim basis until the end of the tournament, whilst the name of former Tunisia manager Mondher Kebaier has also been linked with a possible return.

The North Africa giants sit fourth in Group F, and will need to win their game against Japan and Netherlands, to stand any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the World Cup.

While the result on the pitch was the primary catalyst for the dismissal, it has been reported that significant dressing room tension had been brewing behind the scenes.

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