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October couldn't have started better as we defeated SuperSport Utd in the league for a much needed three points, prior to defeating then-PSL leaders Bidvest Wits in the Top 8 Cup final. Champions for the second year running! Very nice. It also meant I was inducted into the South African Hall of Fame (see above). Unfortunately, friendly wins aside, the month ended with major disappointment as we were eliminated from the Knockout Cup at the first round - just like last season! We're pretty much in the same overall position than this time twelve months ago - Top 8 Cup champions but out at the first hurdle in the KO Cup.

Just the one PSL fixture this month so we're still quite a way behind the early pace setters Cape Town City, who are six points clear of us. Five league matches are scheduled for November, a major catch up is needed. The CAF Champions League returns next month with the group stage starting. Still four months away from the FA Cup.

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Mixed month. Our PSL fixture list began with two wins and two defeats, one of which came against big rivals Kaizer Chiefs - the other was a silly 3-4 defeat to lowly Chippa Utd. In more positive news, we have progressed into the CAF Champions League group stages after defeating our Tanzanian counterparts over two legs; the win in Dar es Salaam being the clincher. In the groups we'll meet Horoya (Guinea), Ismaily (Egypt) and AS Vita (DR Congo). We should be controlling that. Arguably the biggest result this month was a friendly over Yebo Yes United, a lower league powerhouse!

We sit 6th in the league, very disappointing start. The Champions League groups are to come as mentioned, with Maritzburg United awaiting in the Knockout Cup first round. October gives us a chance to win a piece of silverware, with Bidvest Wits waiting for us in the Top 8 Cup final as we look to retain our trophy. The FA Cup is held back until 2020. Bigger and better performances are needed.

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Promising first patch of the season, which we went through undefeated. Progression through the preliminary round of CAF Champions League was secured and we've made the Top 8 Cup final for the second year running, as we look to be the first team to retain the trophy since 2011 - which was achieved by Orlando Pirates themselves. We also won Be The Coach, which is a glorified friendly but a trophy I am taking!

Be The Coach was won by us despite some pretty awful team selection by our supporters, which you can see below but to summarise: they didn't select Thamsanqa Gabuza, our top goalscorer from last year, or fellow key players Paseka Mako (LW) and Asavela Mbekile (CM) - nor Kudakwashe Mahachi and new signing Anthony Cáceres - fools! January signing Siphesihle Ndlovu was the matchwinner versus our Soweto rivals, he scored our sole goal as well as the winning penalty. Nice moment for him! Just over a week later was our CAF CL first leg with Saint George in Addis Ababa, where we notched six goals but did concede three to leave the door ajar for our opponents.

Before the second leg with the Ethiopians, we fought Golden Arrows in the Top 8 Cup quarter-finals. It was a rather easy encounter as we put three past last season's fifth best team, all goals came from new signings - Riyaad Norodien (2) and Tokelo Rantie. Both of which aren't first-teamers at the moment, so good to see such strength in depth and positive impacts from new signings. Then came leg two with Saint George, as we secured a 3-1 victory on home soil and sealed advancement to the first round where we'll face Tanzania's Simba.

August 2019 ended with a double-header in the Top 8 Cup as we met Cape Town City in the two-legged semi-finals. Leg one ended in a 1-1 tie, which was a little disappointing but overall a draw away to a title rival (albeit in a cup) is a decent thing. Showed by the fact we beat the Benni McCarthy managed club at home in the second leg 1-0, Xola Mlambo with the goal. Bidvest Wits defeated Kaizer Chiefs in the other semi, so we'll face them in October's final.

As you'll notice, despite playing six competitive fixtures we still haven't had a league match. PSL games were scheduled but subsequently moved due to our cup exploits, but a few other teams have played. As such, we are 12th with SuperSport United leading the way. Rather odd.

Thanks for reading! I appreciate it.