New coaches ready to change the positions of mid-table teams in the Betway Premiership 2026/27

The Betway Premiership 2026/27 season is determined not only by the fight for the championship or survival. In addition to traditional leaders and clubs aiming for continental tournament participation, there is an ambitious group of teams focused on closing the gap and strengthening their positions among the league's more competitive participants.

Mid-table ambitions

These clubs include Durban City, Polokwane City, Golden Arrows, and Sekhukhune United. These teams begin the 2026/27 campaign with different objectives, but a common goal—to advance into the upper half of the table. Notably, all four clubs enter the new season under new management, bringing fresh ideas, different philosophies, and heightened expectations.

Durban City: New technical staff

Durban City enters the second season of the Betway Premiership with elevated expectations following a strong return to the top division. Last season, the club exceeded many predictions by finishing eighth in the table and winning the Nedbank Cup. This success secured their participation in the CAF Confederation Cup, where they will represent South Africa, adding responsibility to an already intense season.

However, the new campaign starts with a new coaching structure after Ben Khalil Youssef was appointed head coach, with Musa Nyatam and Ashraf Hendrik joining him as assistants. The task of the new technical team is to maintain the momentum of the previous season while meeting the demands of both domestic and continental competitions.

Polokwane City: Moloto's return

Polokwane City begins a new chapter under Bayano Moloto following the departure of Futi Mohafe, who moved to Marumo Gallants. Moloto returns to the top division after being with University of Pretoria in the Motsepe Foundation Championship as an assistant coach to Kwanele Kopo.

Nevertheless, for Polokwane, this is not an unfamiliar environment for the new manager. Moloto previously served as a co-coach alongside Innocent Mayoyo in the 2021/22 season and played a vital role in developing the club's youth team in the DStv Diski Challenge. This institutional knowledge could prove valuable as Polokwane strives to solidify its steady progress and approach eighth place in the table. The main challenge is turning competitive performances into more consistent results throughout the season.

Golden Arrows: The search for success

Golden Arrows appointed Pitso Dladla as the team leader, starting a new era after the departure of the previous coaching staff. Dladla arrived after leaving Durban City, despite having helped them secure eighth place and win the Nedbank Cup last season. This success raised expectations, and Arrows hope he will bring the same winning mentality and organization to KwaZulu-Natal.

Traditionally, the club has been built on talent development and competition with limited resources, but consistency remained the biggest problem. Dladla's task is to transform potential into tangible results and help Arrows become a regular participant in the upper half of the standings.

Sekhukhune United: Khase's goals

Sekhukhune United regularly demonstrates ambition and resources to compete in the upper echelon of the Betway Premiership. However, the next task is to transform flashes of promise into sustained success. Former Kaizer Chiefs head coach Cedric Khase now leads Babina Noko, inheriting a team that previously contended for top-four spots and qualification for continental tournaments.

Khase is expected to establish a clear tactical identity and bring Sekhukhune closer to the status of a recognized contender in the league. The focus will be on stability, especially in key matches, as the club aims to move beyond the underdog status and become a genuine contender for a spot in the upper half of the table.

For Durban City, Polokwane City, Golden Arrows, and Sekhukhune United, the Betway Premiership 2026/27 season represents an opportunity to take another step forward. With new coaches, renewed ambitions, and various challenges, each club enters the campaign confident that it can close the gap and leave its mark among South Africa's leading teams.

iol.co.zaJuly 24, 15:10

Johannesburg aims to win fifth consecutive National Netball Championship title amid squad overhaul

The Johannesburg team intends to achieve a historic fifth consecutive title in the Spar National Netball Championship, despite undergoing a squad restructuring period. Previously, the Johannesburg team won its fourth consecutive title in the Senior Division National Netball Championship in Boxburg in December in the Ekurhuleni region.

Upcoming Tournament

In the coming year, the team will compete for the fifth consecutive title at the tournament, which will take place at Stellenberg High School next month. The tournament, which is South Africa's main inter-regional competition, is scheduled for August 6 to 11 in Cape Town.

Previous Achievements and Opponents

Defending the championship title, the Johannesburg team defeated the hosts from Cape Town with a score of 52:51 in a tense senior division final last year. This victory marked a significant improvement for the Jo'burg team, which had previously lost to its Cape Town rivals in the group stage.

Scale of Competition

In addition to defending the title in the senior category, Johannesburg will also defend its title in the under-21 category. In total, 122 teams will participate over six days, including 58 senior regional teams and 64 under-21 teams, making this event one of the key platforms for talent identification in the country.

Coach Comments and Squad

Despite the ambition for a fifth consecutive trophy, Johannesburg coach Elshe Jordaan emphasized that her team approaches the tournament without the burden of history. She noted that the current squad is significantly different from the team that began Jo'burg's dominant period. Jordaan stated: 'This is a new team. Only one player remains from the team that started the winning streak, so we are rebuilding, and we are very happy to see what these new players can do for us.'

The coach also mentioned difficulties related to injuries during preparation but stressed that training sessions are intense. She added that championships remain a vital step for athletes striving for higher achievements, as it is a platform where players can demonstrate their value.

Opponent Motivation and Sports Development

Meanwhile, the host side from Cape Town is determined to achieve even greater success after losing the final last year by a single point. The advantage of playing at Stellenberg High could give them the necessary chance to interrupt Johannesburg's dominance.

Furthermore, South African President Mami Dial highlighted the ongoing role of this event in developing national potential, noting that the tournament continues to showcase the depth of the country's talent and provides valuable experience before selection for the Spar Proteas national team.