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Old Firm again for Makhanya as Bafana Bafana hopefuls look to make their mark

Olwethu Makhanya will be in action against bitter rivals Celtic again
Olwethu Makhanya will be in action against bitter rivals Celtic againIAN MACNICOL / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

It is another busy weekend for South Africa’s overseas-based players with some having enjoyed a Bafana Bafana call-up this week and others still looking to catch the eye of new national team coach Pitso Mosimane.

With the international break looming, this will be the last bit of club football for three weeks. All times are South African.

 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

 

Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela, Portugal)

Away vs Imortal DC, 12h00

Sithole and Tondela switch their attention to the Taça de Portugal after back-to-back league victories over Porto B and Portimonense. The Bafana Bafana midfielder came off the bench in last weekend's 2-0 win at Portimonense.

 

Aden McCarthy (Sabah, Azerbaijan)

Home vs Imisli FK, 17h45

McCarthy and Sabah return to league action against Imisli after a superb start to their domestic campaign. Sabah have won all four of their league games and McCarthy has also featured in their historic UEFA Champions League campaign.

 

Samukele Kabini (Molde, Norway)

Home vs Aalesund, 18h00

Kabini and Molde host Aalesund in the Eliteserien as they continue their push towards the European places.

 

Luke Le Roux (Cercle Brugge, Belgium)

Away vs Sporting Charleroi, 18h15

Le Roux could make his Cercle Brugge debut following his move from Portsmouth. Cercle are still looking for their first league victory of the season and face a Charleroi side that have made an excellent start.

Luke le Roux
Luke le RouxFlashscore

Siyabonga Ngezana (FCSB, Romania)

Away vs Universitatea Craiova, 19h30

Ngezana's FCSB face a difficult trip to Universitatea Craiova. The Bafana Bafana defender has been sidelined by injury and is still waiting for his first appearance of the season.

 

Manasse Kianga (Slovan Bratislava, Slovakia)

Away vs Komárno, 20h30

Kianga and Slovan travel to Komárno in the Niké Liga. The South African forward has made an eye-catching start to the season with two goals and two assists in three league appearances.

 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

 

Tylon Smith (New England Revolution, USA)

Home vs Orlando City, 01h30

Smith's New England welcome Orlando City as the young South African hopes for his first minutes in MLS.

 

Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota United, USA)

Home vs LA Galaxy, 02h30

Hlongwane's Minnesota host the Galaxy, although the Bafana Bafana forward has been sidelined by injury in recent weeks.

 

Lyle Foster (Houston Dynamo, USA)

Home vs FC Cincinnati, 02h30

Foster will hope for his first minutes as he settles into life in MLS following his move to Houston. The Dynamo host Eastern Conference opposition Cincinnati.

 

Puso Dithejane (Chicago Fire, USA)

Away vs Nashville SC, 03h30

Dithejane and Chicago travel to Nashville in MLS. The former TS Galaxy youngster has continued to earn first-team opportunities during his breakthrough season in the United States and been rewarded with a Bafana Bafana call-up.

Puso Dithejane
Puso DithejaneFlashscore

Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire, USA)

Away vs Nashville SC, 03h30

Mbokazi has returned to training following his thigh injury and could come into contention for Chicago's trip to Nashville.

 

Olwethu Makhanya (Rangers, Scotland)

Away vs Celtic, 13h00

Makhanya gets another taste of the Old Firm just seven days after helping Rangers to a superb 3-0 Scottish League Cup victory over Celtic. The centre-back has rapidly established himself at Ibrox and earned widespread praise for his performance in last weekend's derby.

 

Ime Okon (Hannover 96, Germany)

Home vs VfL Bochum, 13h30

Okon and Hannover host Bochum in the 2. Bundesliga. The South African defender came off the bench in last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Nürnberg and will hope for more minutes this time.

 

Relebohile Mofokeng (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium)

Away vs Royal Antwerp, 13h30

Mofokeng has made a superb start to life in Belgium and scored his third league goal of the season in last weekend's 5-0 victory over Lommel, before adding another in the UEFA Europa League in midweek. 

 

Jaedin Rhodes (Ried, Austria)

Home vs Wolfsberger AC, 14h30

Rhodes made his return from an adductor injury against Salzburg last weekend, coming off the bench after 72 minutes in the 1-1 draw. He will hope to build on that comeback when Ried host Wolfsberger AC.

 

Yusuf Maart (Ried, Austria)

Home vs Wolfsberger AC, 14h30

Maart continues to be a regular in the Ried midfield and provided the assist for Philipp Pomer's late equaliser against Salzburg last weekend.

Yusuf Maart
Yusuf MaartFlashscore

Max Conway (Bolton Wanderers, England)

Away vs Norwich City, 14h30

Conway and Bolton travel to Norwich in the Championship. The South African-qualified left-back has been a regular member of the Bolton squad during the opening weeks of the campaign.

 

Thapelo Maseko (FC Copenhagen, Denmark)

Away vs Brøndby, 15h00

Maseko faces his first Copenhagen derby following an excellent start in Denmark. He has two league goals this season and played 75 minutes in Copenhagen's midweek cup victory over Skovshoved.

 

Gift Links (AGF Aarhus, Denmark)

Away vs AC Horsens, 16h00

Links' AGF travel to Horsens looking to improve on a difficult start to the league season. The Bafana Bafana winger has been sidelined by injury and has not played since August 27.

 

Shandre Campbell (Kortrijk, Belgium)

Home vs SK Beveren, 19h15

Campbell and Kortrijk are desperate to get their season moving after six successive league defeats. Campbell played the second half of last weekend's 3-0 loss at RAAL La Louvière.

 

Nick Said has been covering African sport for almost three decades, specialising in football, rugby and cricket. He is based in Cape Town, South Africa and you can follow him on X and LinkedIn.