Kaizer Chiefs face ultimate test in Sundowns clash

Kaizer Chiefs will face the ultimate test of their Betway Premiership ambitions when they come up against Mamelodi Sundowns in the pick of a midweek round of matches across 26 and 27 August.

Chiefs have made an outstanding start to the 2025/26 league season, racking up three successive wins to be co-leaders alongside Sekhukhune United (who are ranked ahead only on goal difference) but their status as title contenders will be truly revealed by a clash against Sundowns, the defending champions, at FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Brazilians will be doubly motivated heading into this battle, as they not only look to re-establish their status as the Premiership’s dominant force, but also bounce back from a heart-breaking penalty shootout loss to Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semifinals this past weekend.

The Amakhosi will welcome back head coach Nasreddine Nabi, who has missed their strong start while attending to family matters back home in Tunisia, though assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef and the rest of the technical team have done an excellent job.

“For us, we take it game by game, we don’t think about nothing, we don’t have any pressure,” said Youssef. “[But] for sure, Kaizer Chiefs is one of the biggest teams in South Africa – if we play in the league, we play to win the league.”

Wednesday will also feature leaders Sekhukhune chasing a fourth straight win when they host AmaZulu in Polokwane, while Golden Arrows will welcome Magesi to the King Zwelithini Stadium.

On Tuesday, Stellenbosch FC will be under pressure to get their league campaign back on track when they tackle Marumo Gallants at home. Stellies have failed to win any of their opening three league matches and sit just above the relegation playoff zone, yet in the MTN8 they have romped past in-form Sekhukhune across two legs to secure a place in the final.

“We need to get back to Cape Town, regenerate and get ourselves up and running in the league,” said Stellies coach Steve Barker.

Tuesday also sees Pirates hosting Orbit College in Soweto and chasing a second successive win; Siwelele will look to avoid a hat-trick of defeats when they face TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium; Richards Bay and Chippa United will have a bottom-of-the-log battle at the Princess Magogo Stadium; and Polokwane City will welcome Durban City to the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

BETWAY PREMIERSHIP MIDWEEK FIXTURES

Times CAT

Tuesday 26 August
- 7:30pm: Orlando Pirates v Orbit College
- 7:30pm: Polokwane City v Durban City
- 7:30pm: Richards Bay v Chippa United
- 7:30pm: Stellenbosch FC v Marumo Gallants
- 7:30pm: TS Galaxy v Siwelele FC

Wednesday 27 August
- 7:30pm: Golden Arrows v Magesi FC
- 7:30pm: Sekhukhune United v AmaZulu FC
- 7:30pm: Kaizer Chiefs v Mamelodi Sundowns