Three league leaders—Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Kaizer Chiefs—are scheduled to kick off the Betway Premiership tournament on August 1st.
Seasonal Plans of the Teams
Kaizer Chiefs will begin their 2026/2027 season by hosting the recently promoted team Kruger United on August 1st. Orlando Pirates will play a title defense match against newcomers Milford FC at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday at 3:30 PM. It is expected that the Buccaneers' fans will attend in large numbers to support the team.
The Sea Robbers squad must approach the match confident and motivated after the preseason tour in Marbella, Spain, where they played against Córdoba, Cádiz, Al-Ittihad, Las Palmas, and NEOM. Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou aims for a strong start to the campaign, especially since Pirates lost their first two matches last season against Sekhukhune United and Marumo Gallants.
Strategies and Preparation
Mamelodi Sundowns, who failed to secure their ninth consecutive championship title last season, intend to begin their journey toward high-level resurgence. Their debut will take place at Loftus Versfeld stadium against Gallants on Saturday at 6:00 PM. Despite winning the CAF Champions League last year, restoring domestic dominance remains the priority. The team possesses a deeper squad than any other in the league and skillfully manages a tight competition schedule.
Coach Miguel Cardoso will have more preparation time this year, as two years ago he had a limited preseason due to the Club World Cup. In the coming days, the team will travel to Austria to enhance its training process. Sundowns' European schedule includes challenging fixtures against Dynamo Kyiv, Cardiff City, Al Hilal, and Red Bull Salzburg, which should prepare them for home games.
New Chapter for Kaizer Chiefs
Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs, under coach Fernando da Cruz, are ready to start a new era by hosting the rising newcomers Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday at 8:15 PM. This match is important for Amakhosi, as a successful start will serve as a statement of intent to the fans, showing readiness to build on last season's third-place finish and fight for trophies.
Da Cruz is familiar with the high demands at Naturena, but the pressure this season will be even greater. Two seasons ago, he worked in the staff of predecessor Nasreddine Nabi before leaving before the campaign began. To ensure a fast start, Chiefs strengthened their squad by signing goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner and defender Thabo Moloisane. The team also planned a trip to Spain for a preseason tour on Thursday evening, where, it is reported, they will meet Rangers FC, Al Kholood, and Elche FC before returning home for a match in the Toyota Cup against Scotland FC on July 26th.