‘Chiefs are trying to bring back Nabi’s right-hand man’ – Khanye

Outspoken football anaylyst Junior Khanye has questioned Kaizer Chiefs’ decision to pursue Fernando Da Cruz.

Amakhosi are in a process of looking for a new coach having parted ways with Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze last month.

Da Cruz is no stranger to Chiefs, having worked as an assistant coach to Nasreddine Nabi two years ago. Although he only spent a week at Naturena, it appears he left a positive mark at the club. saltysenoritaaz.org

Khanye however feels Chiefs are making the same mistake as previous seasons.

“Chiefs are trying to bring back Nabi’s [former] right-hand man, but why are they pursuing him? This shows they are repeating the same mistakes made with Nabi,” Khanye told KickOff.

“What real change will occur if Da Cruz is appointed? Chiefs need a coach who will demand a chequebook, restructure the club’s development, and work closely with the head of development.

Khanye on what type of coach Chiefs needs

“They require a coach capable of attracting high-profile players, someone who understands South African football and can restore the team’s identity. The coach must be judged on results and help build a strong, sustainable club structure,” Khanye explained

This past season, Chiefs finished third under Kaze and Ben Youssef, which was their best finish in six years. With CAF Confederation Cup spot secured, Amakhosi have already made a few signings for next season.

Khanye had urged his former club to bring in a coach who understand South African football and has vouched for Pitso Mosimane.

Do you agree with Khanye?

South Africa’s top two schoolboy rugby teams will lock horns this weekend when Paarl Gimnasium host Paul Roos in what promises to be one of the biggest school rugby clashes of the 2026 season.

With both sides boasting identical records of 12 wins from 13 matches, Saturday’s encounter at the JA Kriel Field in Paarl could prove decisive in the race to establish the country’s leading first XV side.

READ | Updated SA schools rugby First XV rankings: Top 20

Dominated opponents

The two Western Cape giants have dominated opponents throughout the campaign, suffering just one defeat each.

Interestingly, both losses came at the hands of Stellenberg, who edged Paarl Gimnasium 20-19 earlier in the season before beating Paul Roos 20-10 in April.

Since then, neither side has tasted defeat.

Paul Roos head into the clash with impressive momentum after a commanding 68-3 victory over Bishops.

Their season has also featured notable wins over Affies, Garsfontein, Oakdale and Paarl Boys’ High.

The Stellenbosch outfit have combined attacking flair with defensive resilience, conceding 20 points or more in only three matches this year.

Stern examination

However, they will face a stern examination against a Paarl Gimnasium side that has been devastating on attack throughout the season.

The Gimmies have amassed an astonishing 645 points in 13 matches, averaging close to 50 points per game.

They have scored 40 points or more on 10 occasions and produced dominant victories against several traditional rugby powerhouses.

Among their standout performances were a 51-24 demolition of Affies in Pretoria, a 29-14 triumph over Grey College and last weekend’s emphatic 49-13 victory over Oakdale in Riversdale.

Excelled defensively

Like their rivals, Paarl Gimnasium have also excelled defensively, conceding 20 points or more only twice all season.

Recent history suggests little separates the two sides.

Paul Roos claimed a narrow 23-17 victory when the teams last met in Paarl in 2024, while Paarl Gimnasium responded with a 17-10 win in Stellenbosch last year.

With both teams in outstanding form and plenty at stake, Saturday’s clash has all the ingredients of a classic encounter between South Africa’s two premier rugby schools.

Kick-off is at 14:00 and the match will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Worth noting, Paul Roos have produced the most Springboks (56) by any school in South Africa, with Paarl Gimnasium in joint fourth place with 32.

Don’t be surprised in a number of players from both sides go on to don the green and gold jersey.

WEEKEND SCHOOLBOY RUGBY FIXTURES

WESTERN CAPE
Boland Landbou vs Paarl Boys’ High
Paarl Gimnasium vs Paul Roos
Rondebosch vs Milnerton
Stellenberg vs Bishops
Wynberg vs Bellville

EASTERN CAPE
Port Rex vs Queens
Kingswood vs Westering
Hudson Park vs Dale
Selborne vs St Andrews
Graeme vs Stirling
Daniel Pienaar vs Pearson

KWAZULU-NATAL
Kearnsey vs Maritzburg College
Westville vs Michaelhouse
Hilton vs Northwood

NOORDVAAL
EG Jansen vs Middelburg
Noordheuwel vs Rustenburg
Monument vs Garsfontein
Pretoria Boys vs Jeppe
Northcliff vs St Albans
St John’s vs St Benedict’s

Bordeaux Bègles president Laurent Marti says Springbok loose forward Jean-Luc du Preez should seriously consider retirement.

Du Preez joined the French club from the Sale Sharks ahead of the 2025-26 season, but has managed just three appearances for the back-to-back Investec Champions Cup winners.

The 30-year-old has not played since January after suffering a head knock and continues to battle concussion-related issues.

AFRICA PICKS: URC betting preview – Saturday semi-finals

Marti admits he is deeply concerned about Du Preez’s future in the game.

“I have serious doubts, but there are medical experts for that,” he told Sud Ouest. “If it were my son, I would ask him to stop because I’m very scared.

“It would be a huge loss for us because he’s exactly the kind of player who would have done us a lot of good.”

ALSO: Concussion lawsuit could collapse

Du Preez has endured a frustrating run of injuries and setbacks over the past two years.

He missed out on the 2023 World Cup squad and has not played a Test since facing Argentina in August that year.

Just when it appeared he was set to re-establish himself in the Springbok setup last year, illness ruled him out of the Rugby Championship match against the Wallabies in Cape Town before a knee injury sidelined him ahead of the clash against the All Blacks at Eden Park.

MORE: Boks get massive lock boost

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

The post Bordeaux president ‘very scared’ for Bok appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

La JS Saoura a assuré sa participation à la prochaine édition de la Ligue des champions africaine de football, en terminant à la deuxième place de la Ligue 1 Mobilis, à l'issue de la 30e et dernière journée du championnat, disputée vendredi au stade du 20-Août 1955 de Béchar, et l'ayant vu remporter une importante victoire contre le CS Constantine (3-1).

The post Ligue 1 (J30) : La Saoura gagne son duel à distance avec le CRB ! appeared first on Football Algérien - DZFOOT.COM.