Fifa and the South African authorities have shown little interest in confronting a scandal that weighs on Bafana’s image.
Barcelona and Real Madrid lead the way on social media as Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool try to keep up.
Not for decades have the Soweto giants headed into the derby with such contrasting fortunes – Chiefs look unstoppable while Pirates are crumbling.
Bafana coach Sahes Mashaba has confidence that Bafana Bafana will get through to the next round, despite a difficult draw.
The young Belgian goalkeeper is thoroughly enjoying playing for José Mourinho after his three loan years at Atlético Madrid.
Frank Lampard believes teammate Sergio Aguero can be compared to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after his win against Bayern Munich.
Inconsistent Sundowns will have to pull out all the stops to dent Amakhosi’s 11-point league lead.
It was the individual power and pace of Tokelo Rantie that swung the game in South Africa’s favour. He now needs to work on consistency.
The United States is still a wild frontier for football, and the former Tottenham striker has gone in guns blazing.
The Brazilian team is playing around the world. Not necessarily in the players’ best interest.
Orlando Pirates take to the field for the first time since Senzo Meyiwa’s death and their reaction will decide the outcome of the game.
Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Barca suggests coach Carlo Ancelotti has successfully integrated Kroos and Rodriguez into a fearsome attacking side.
Quarterfinalists stumbled in midweek PSL games, but they could have held back for Telkom tournament.
Previous form against the Ivorians suggest Banyana are marginal favourites, but any optimism is tempered by the bitter memory of past letdowns.
Jérôme Champagne stands against Sepp Blatter, but has little chance of making it to Fifa presidency.
The national football team have proven they can do well under pressure but they are dangerously close to being eliminated.
Organisers of the Indian Super League are hoping to convert cricket crazy Indians to the joys of football.
Bafana Bafana’s coach has based his selection on taking the team to the Nations Cup in Morocco.
Two months in and several coaches are already uneasy in their seats.
The injury-plagued Gunners have hired a crack performance guru, but the healing is slow to show.
Dismiss Jose Mourinho’s tactics as negative if you like – but the tumultuous tussle at the Etihad was, in fact, a great spectacle.
Under new Dutch coach Vera Pauw Banyana have a reasonable chance of doing what no South African women’s side have ever done before.
As Arsenal supporters will attest, being a fan is not a choice or a label, it is part of your very being.
The Football Association wants to reduce the number of non-EU players in England’s leagues by half to foster local talent and boost the national side.
Mashaba should beef up the squad and allow more convincing options off the bench, instead of players who haven’t even touched a ball in the PSL yet.
Sporting Lisbon president Bruno de Carvalho has called for action over offshore funds with financial stakes in football players.
There are signs of improvement but a lack of ambition and dedication is still prevalent.
Mashaba is back – and he’s just as defensive as ever about his push for patriotism over self-publicity.
Football in Algeria has been cancelled in protest after a projectile from the crowd hit and killed a league player sparked revulsion at the violence.
There is a dearth of real talent and there is no time to nurture players for Bafana.
Having lived all over Europe, Liverpool’s new central defender is a seasoned man at 25.
As Barcelona manager Luis Enrique tries to build a dream machine. He has to start work without its most important part.