All the coaches in place for the new season

The appointment of Lehlohonolo Seema as the coach of the new franchise Siwelele completes the line-up of coaches for the new season with all 16 teams now having a man at the helm for the coming campaign.

Siwelele bought the franchise of SuperSport United and Seema, who was last working at Sekhukhune United, effectively takes over from Gavin Hunt and Andre Arendse, who stood in at the end of the season after Hunt was fired.

The 61-year-old Hunt, with more than 1 000 games in charge in South African football, is returning, however, as coach of Durban City on one of six changes to coaching personnel for the top flight season.

Orlando Pirates surprised by appointing the inexperienced Abdeslam Ouaddou as the replacement for José Riveiro, but he obviously impressed when he started his tenure at the Bloemfontein-based club by beating the Buccaneers 2-0 in the Free State capital in March.

Pirates are the only club among those who finished in the top eight who have made a coaching change, although this was forced on them as Riveiro departed for Egyptian giants Al Ahly.

To take Ouaddou’s place at Gallants, the club have appointed Alexandre Laffite, who at 28 will be younger than many of his players. The Frenchman won the league in Ivory Coast with Stade Abidjan this year.

He is one of three newcomers for the new Premier Soccer League season, with Chippa United appointing the unknown 35-year-old Sinethemba Badela after showing Thabo September the door, and newly promoted Orbit College’s Pogisho Makhoye having no previous top-flight experience.

John Maduka’s season ended abruptly in January as Royal AM were suspended and then expelled from the league, but he is back on the touchline, taking over from Owen da Gama as Magesi begin a second season in the top flight.

2025-26 COACHES

Mamelodi Sundowns: Miguel Cardoso

Last season he arrived in mid-December and won the league as well as taking Sundowns to the African Champions League final.

His record last season was P39 W25 D8 L6 GF71 GA26

Orlando Pirates: Abdeslam Ouaddou

Took over at Marumo Gallants in February and saw the club miss out on a top eight place by a single point.

His record last season was P12 W4 D5 L3 GF12 GA10

Stellenbosch: Steve Barker

The Winelands club finished third again and reached the African Confederation Cup semifinal as their sixth season in the top flight proved their best yet.

His record last season was P51 W26 D12 L13 GF65 GA43

Sekhukhune United: Eric Tinkler

Fired by Cape Town City at the turn of the year, the former Bafana Bafana midfielder bounced back at Sekhukhune for the closing months of last season.

His record last season was P25 W9 D7 L9 GF24 GA26. At Cape Town City he was in charge of 15 games and at Sekhukhune 10.

TS Galaxy: Adnan Beganovic

The Bosnian took over from compatriot Sead Ramovic in November with the club bottom of the Betway Premiership but finished the season in fifth spot.

His record last season was P25 W10 D9 L6 GF38 GA25

AmaZulu: Arthur Zwane

The ex-Kaizer Chiefs coach replaced Pablo Franco early in the season, initially sharing coaching duties with Vusi Vilakazi, but was then on his own for the last ten games after Vilakazi left.

His record last season was P29 W12 D5 L12 GF35 GA35

Polokwane City: Phuti Mohafe

For a second successive season, Polokwane City finished in the top eight with Mohafe solidifying his credentials.

His record last season was P31 W10 D19 L13 GF23 GA31

Richards Bay: Ronnie Gabriel

Taking over at the end of November when Brandon Truter was fired, Gabriel was initially only an interim coach but took the club from relegation candidates to a first-ever top eight place.

His record last season was P22 W8 D5 L9 GF18 GA22

Kaizer Chiefs: Nasreddine Nabi

The Tunisia coach ended Chiefs’ decade-long drought by seeing them to Nedbank Cup but for a second successive season, Chiefs failed to finish in the top eight.

His record last season was P36 W14 D9 L13 GF45 GA41

Marumo Gallants: Alexandre Lafitte

New

Chippa United: Sinethemba Badela

New

Lamontville Golden Arrows: Manqoba Mngqithi

Dismissed by Sundowns after their shock Carling Knockout final loss, he bounced back at former employers Arrows at the start of March.

His record last season was P22 W16 D7 L9 GF48 GA25. The first 19 games were at Sundowns and then 13 with Arrows.

Magesi: John Maduka

After a torrid experience at Royal AM, the former Malawi international has bounced back at the Polokwane-based club, taking over from Owen da Gama.

His record last season was P12 W1 D5 L6 GF10 GA17

Siwelele: Lehlohonolo Seema

Seema was fired at Sekhukhune in March, even though they were comfortably inside the top five places but returns in charge of the new franchise.

His record last season was P25 W12 D4 L9 GF32 GA27

Durban City: Gavin Hunt

South Africa’s longest-serving coach returns at the helm of the second-tier champions as Simo Dladla has gone to join AmaZulu’s staff. This means a 28th successive season for Hunt in the PSL.

His record last season was P26 W7 D7 L12 GF18 GA32

Orbit College: Pogiso Makhoye

New to the top flight