Three reasons why Kaizer Chiefs will win the league

Kaizer Chiefs have shown significant improvement despite their MTN8 defeat to Golden Arrows this past weekend. liveiplscore.homes

So far in the Betway Premiership, Amakhosi have scored five goals in their opening two matches and currently sit at the top of the standings.

With four different goalscorers already finding the net, Chiefs look sharp and clinical in the final third. Their attack could prove to be one of the most dangerous in the league, while their midfield has also looked compact and well-balanced.

Defence remains their biggest concern, but the return of players such as Bradley Cross from injury, combined with the introduction of Thabo Moloisane, could strengthen that area significantly.

Kaizer Chiefs eyeing the league

Here are three reasons why Kaizer Chiefs could be genuine title contenders this season.

Strong signings and a dangerous attack

The signing of Langelihle Phili has added another dimension to the Amakhosi attack. He was virtually unplayable on Wednesday as Chiefs defeated Sekhukhune United 2-0, showcasing the pace and creativity that could make him a key player this season.

Luke Baartman’s impressive form has also created more opportunities for the likes of Wandile Duba and Mduduzi Vilakazi to make an impact.

With Khanyisa Mayo now a permanent member of the squad, Chiefs have another proven attacking option who will be expected to contribute plenty of goals. If the forwards continue to click, Amakhosi could have one of the most potent attacks in the division.

Depth in the squad

Another reason Kaizer Chiefs could challenge for the league is the depth available to coach Fernando Da Cruz.

In midfield, Adolf Mtshinga can provide defensive cover if Sibongiseni Mthethwa or Siphesihle Ndlovu are unavailable or need a rest. Having players capable of stepping in without significantly weakening the team will be crucial over a long league campaign.

Further forward, Asanele Velebayi and Faiz Abrahams provide additional attacking options and could become increasingly important as the season progresses.

At the back, the return of Moloisane would give Chiefs greater experience and depth, particularly in the big matches where defensive stability could make the difference between winning and dropping points.

Pirates and Sundowns could face fixture congestion

Kaizer Chiefs could also benefit in the league from the challenges facing their biggest rivals.

Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates have both looked somewhat sluggish at times at the start of the campaign. The additional demands of the CAF Champions League could put further pressure on their squads, particularly as the season progresses.

Pirates are already dealing with injuries and have a demanding schedule ahead, including their MTN8 semi-final commitments. Sundowns, meanwhile, will have to balance domestic football with their continental campaign.

Chiefs have fewer distractions. Having already been eliminated from the MTN8, they will have more time between matches, while their CAF Confederation Cup campaign also gives them a less congested schedule than their rivals.

That could allow Nabi to keep his key players fresh while Pirates and Sundowns rotate their squads more frequently.

History points to Kaizer Chiefs winning the league

There is another interesting piece of history that could give Amakhosi supporters reason for optimism.

Since 2003, Kaizer Chiefs have won the league on two occasions after Orlando Pirates had previously lifted the title. In 2004, Amakhosi claimed the PSL title after Pirates had won the 2002/03 campaign.

The same pattern emerged in 2012/13, when Chiefs, under Stuart Baxter, won the league after Pirates had dominated the previous two seasons.

With Pirates having won the 2023/24 Betway Premiership, Amakhosi will hope history repeats itself.

It is still very early in the season, but Chiefs have already shown enough to suggest they could be serious title contenders. If they can tighten up defensively while maintaining their attacking form, Amakhosi could be in the mix for the league title come the end of the season.

What’s your take?

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has renewed his call for VAR to be introduced in the Betway Premiership, insisting the technology could help protect players from dangerous challenges.

Sundowns take on Amakhosi

Cardoso’s comments come ahead of Sundowns’ highly-anticipated clash against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Brazilians head into the encounter on the back of a hard-fought 3-2 victory over TS Galaxy on Tuesday, but they could be without one of their key players.

Teboho Mokoena missed the midweek victory after suffering a suspected injury following a rough challenge during Sundowns’ MTN8 quarter-final against Polokwane City last Saturday.

With Chiefs expected to provide another physical test, Cardoso is hoping the Bafana Bafana midfielder will recover in time.

“I hope Teboho can come back on the football pitch very quickly. I hope South Africa doesn’t lose players,” Cardoso said.

The Portuguese coach’s concerns come amid growing frustration over the standard of officiating in the PSL, with Orlando Pirates also losing Sihle Nduli following a horrendous tackle against AmaZulu.

Cardoso believes VAR could give referees greater assistance when dealing with potentially dangerous challenges that go unpunished while clubs lose key players to injuries.

Cardoso – ‘The referees are not helped if they don’t have VAR’

“The referees are not helped if they don’t have VAR. When I saw the tackle (on Mokoena) in the match, I said to the fourth referee that it’s a red card,” Cardoso revealed.

“And he said that ‘if I had the VAR then I would be able to immediately correct the action’. It’s a tough job for us coaches, players and referees when you don’t have the capacity of having an instrument that can be so powerful and so helpful that you can use.”

The last meeting between Chiefs and Sundowns in the league was also a physical affair, with both sides losing key players in Mduduzi Shabalala and Keanu Cupido respectively.

Cardoso feels the incidents underline the need for greater protection of players, particularly after Mokoena’s latest injury setback.

“I think it’s important that South Africa understands that we have to protect our players,” he concluded.

“We cannot come from the world cup and make Teboho the national hero, and then when he plays his first match on South African soil, we allow such aggressive action on him without even being penalised.”

Chiefs and Sundowns couldn’t be separated last season after both their two league matches ended in draws.

Nick Mallett expects the Vodacom Bulls to draw on the emotion of the occasion when they tackle the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The All Blacks arrive in Pretoria for the third match of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour having beaten a competitive Stormers side 38-21 in Cape Town before thrashing a severely weakened Sharks team 54-0 in Durban.

Like the Stormers and Sharks, the Bulls are in pre-season and will be without their current Springboks, but coach Johan Ackermann has still been able to call on considerable experience.

Four capped Boks – flank Marcell Coetzee, scrumhalf Embrose Papier, flyhalf Curwin Bosch and fullback Willie le Roux – have been selected, while flank Hanro Liebenberg is back in Pretoria following a successful stint with the Leicester Tigers.

Former Sharks and Munster wing Thaakir Abrahams and No 8 Jeandré Rudolph, one of the Bulls’ standout performers in last season’s URC, will also face the tourists.

TEAM: Bulls get Bok boost for All Blacks clash

The hope is that the Bulls can follow the Stormers’ example by putting the All Blacks under sustained pressure rather than suffering the same fate as the Sharks, and Mallett believes a blend of experience and youthful enthusiasm will be crucial.

“I think a lot of it is having five or six guys over 30, if you can – guys who can guide your team and hold them together when things get a bit panicked,” the former Bok coach said on the Talking Boks podcast. “But also you must have the enthusiasm of youth, and I think the Bulls have got that.

“The Bulls got to the final of the URC and they’ve got strength in depth. And they will also play for their coach. They will play for their supporters.

“They’ve got that sort of Stormers-like, ‘We don’t want to let our public down.’ I get that feeling when I see the Bulls play, that they respect Johan Ackermann. They don’t want to let him down. They don’t want to let the supporters down either.”

ALSO: Ackers hails injection of ‘brilliant’ new recruits

Mallett pointed to the Stormers’ effort in Cape Town as the blueprint for the Bulls and urged Ackermann’s men to embrace the opportunity rather than focus on the disruption to their pre-season preparations.

“I think that’s a key part of this whole match. If I was coaching, I’d say nothing negative at all about the game.

“It is what it is. You’ve been given this game. You’ve got to make the best of it.

COETZEE: Bulls have to be clinical

“I think what [Stormers coach] John Dobson did was outstanding. And I still think the last 10 minutes of that game [when the All Blacks scored three tries] was mainly through the disorganisation in the backline [due to replacement scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage’s injury] rather than a lack of excellence or enthusiasm in his team.

“That’s what we hope to see from the Bulls. You want to see them give it a full 70, 80 minutes and don’t give a yard.

“Tackle as though your life depends on it.”

Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images

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Orlando Pirates have reportedly completed the signing of Dublin Boon from Stellenbosch FC, according to several local publications.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper has now believed to have agreed a permanent transfer for the highly-rated shot-stopper. The move comes after an earlier player-swap proposal between the two Betway Premiership clubs collapsed.

DUBLIN BOON COMPLETES ORLANDO PIRATES ASSESSMENT

The Buccaneers initially wanted to sign Boon as part of a deal involving Kabelo Dlamini and Faiz Abrahams. However, the proposed agreement fell through after Dlamini rejected a move to the Cape Winelands.

The Sea Robbers returned with a separate proposal for the goalkeeper. Several local reports now indicate that Orlando Pirates have decided to sign Boon.

The deal still requires an official announcement from the club.

Also read: Transfer report: Three more Kaizer Chiefs players move to Cape Town

YOUNG GOALKEEPING INVESTMENT

Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in December 2004, Boon began his development at Roda JC Kerkrade in the Netherlands before joining Wellington Phoenix.

Stellenbosch FC signed the goalkeeper on a free transfer in August 2025. He has mainly featured as a backup and in the DStv Diski Challenge, with limited opportunities in the senior team.

Despite that lack of first-team exposure, Boon remains highly rated and is viewed as a goalkeeper with significant long-term potential.

His arrival would add another young option to the Orlando Pirates goalkeeping department. Sipho Chaine remains the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, while Siyabonga Dladla and Ethan Visagie provide further competition.

Melusi Buthelezi has already left the club to join Sekhukhune United.

If officially confirmed, Boon will become another young player added to the Orlando Pirates squad as the club continues to invest in emerging talent.

Junior Springbok JD Hattingh starts for the first time in the 2026 Currie Cup as the Lions make several changes for Friday’s clash with the Boland Cavaliers at Wits Stadium.

Centre Exauce Kevani and scrumhalf Layton Horn are also handed their run-on debuts, while winger Rabz Maxwane returns to the starting XV.

Flanker Siba Qoma and prop Juan Schoeman add experience, at No 7 and off the bench, respectively, after coming back from injury. Captain Jarod Cairns shifts to the back of the scrum.

TEAM: Flu floors Boland backs

With only three rounds left before the playoffs, the Lions sit third on 12 points after two wins from four matches, while Boland are fifth on 11.

Both lost last week, the Lions going down 31-19 to Griquas in Kimberley, with Boland edged 19-12 by the Sharks XV in KwaMashu.

The sides are level in recent meetings, the Lions winning 67-19 in last September’s semi-final after Boland’s 29-10 win in Wellington a month before that.

LIONS – 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Keagan Smith, 13 Exauce Kevani, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Layton Horn, 8 Jarod Cairns (c), 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Thando Biyela, 5 JD Hattingh, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Ruan Swart, 2 Mahle Sithole, 1 Cecil Parsons.
Bench: 16 Armand Combrinck, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Marco Ferreira, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Asad Moos, 22 Likhona Finca, 23 Luke Cannon.

Weekend teams

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

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