The 2002/2003 season is not a good one to be a Premier Soccer League (PSL) coach, with several already having paid the price for players’ poor performances on the field. But of the five coaches who have resigned, been fired or pushed out, only one has been able to find new employment.

Kaizer Chiefs and Jomo Cosmos players will compete for a big Christmas bonus when they meet in the Coca-Cola Cup final at the FNB stadium on Saturday. The teams are already guaranteed R1-million each for reaching the final and they will be playing for the additional R1-million that goes to the winners.

The lions of Teranga come hunting in South Africa next Tuesday and the prey they stalk is the prestigious Nelson Mandela Inaugural Challenge Cup.

A youngster by the name of Wayne Rooney is the toast of the English premiership these days.

In Zimbabwe he was known as the ”Undertaker”; in France he is ”Benjani”. When he played in South Africa he was known by his real name, Benjamin Mwaruwari.

South Africa soccer is in shambles, with sponsors and supporters deserting the beautiful game in droves. The question is now whether the return of Trevor Phillips as boss of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) can turn around the fortunes of the country’s number one sport.

Banyana Banyana take on Zambia in an African Women’s Nations Cup qualifier at the Seisa Ramabodu stadium, in Bloemfontein on Saturday. The South Africans are just one game away from qualification after thrashing Zambia 4-1 in the first leg in Zambia a few weeks ago — their sole competitive match so far this year.

Bafana Bafana host Burundi at the Free State stadium on Saturday knowing their fans will not be satisfied with anything other than a convincing victory.

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) board of governors caught fans by surprise on Wednesday when it announced that Trevor Phillips would return as chief executive officer. National sports council chief Mvuzo Mbebe and businessman Khehla Mthembu had been favourites to fill the post, which had been vacant for almost a year.

South African soccer fans will be hoping the Coca-Cola Cup provides scintillating football over the next 12 weeks.