The 16 Premier Soccer League teams in the Betway Premiership are edging closer to the end of a gruelling 10-month season as they prepare for their final two matchday league fixtures.
Mamelodi Sundown...
By: Mpho Sekharume
The goal difference tally may prove to be the difference to determine who will walk away as the Betway Premiership champions between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns as the l...
Pirates will face Durban City in their penultimate match on Saturday at Orlando Stadium before taking on Orbit College next Saturday at Royal Bafokeng Stadium, with both matches kicking off at 3pm.
Victory in both fixtures would likely hand Pirates the title, as they are expected to finish with a superior goal difference should both teams end level on 71 points.
Kaizer Chiefs,meanwhile, are expected to finish third on the log and will look to consolidate that position by beating AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday before concluding their campaign against Chippa United at the same venue a week later.
AmaZulu and Sekhukhune United have already secured a Top 8 finish, while Polokwane City, Durban City and Golden Arrows could join them if they win their penultimate fixtures against Marumo Gallants, Pirates and Chippa United, respectively.
Meanwhile, the relegation battle remains finely poised. Bottom-placed Magesi FC are just three points behind 14th-placed Orbit College. Should Magesi FC beat Siwelele FC, Gallants overcome Polokwane City, and Orbit College defeat Stellenbosch FC on Saturday, the fight for survival could go down to the final day of the season.
Kruger United have already secured promotion from the Motsepe Foundation Championship and will join the elite division next season. The NFD's promotion/relegation play-off spots, however, remain undecided.
Milford (53 points), Cape Town City, Hungry Lions (both on 51 points), and Casric Stars (49 points) are all vying for the two spots that will qualify them for the mini-league against the Premiership's 15th-placed club, currently Gallants.
The goal difference tally may prove to be the difference to determine who will walk away as the Betway Premiership champions between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns as the league races down to a nail-biting finish.
Fortunes have swung dramatically in favour of Pirates following a high-stakes week that leaves the Buccaneers with one hand on the trophy, after Sundowns dropped points against Chiefs who put up a spirited performance to deny the reigning champion maximum points at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Wednesday night.
A glaring error from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams allowed the visitors to snatch an early lead, while midfielder Jayden Adams compounded the Brazilians' misery by picking up a red card for simulation.
Sundowns coach, Miguel Cardoso, was visibly furious following the stalemate, directing his ire toward a congested fixture schedule and a perceived lack of protection for his players.
He bemoaned the physical toll of the campaign, noting that the combination of fatigue and a bruising encounter left several of his key stars requiring hospital attention for serious injuries.
“We are currently losing players now, and maybe we are lucky because it could have happened earlier,” Cardoso stated.
He stated that every coach depends on their best players, suggesting that even a high-quality coach can suddenly appear average if they lose their top talent.
“South Africa also needs to think a little bit about how we want teams to arrive at the end of the season because no one else played international competitions besides Sundowns.
“I would like to have Sundowns in the final of the Champions League, and other teams closer to that as well. So why not have a PSL final in a continental competition? It can happen, but for that the league must protect the teams,” Cardoso added.
Despite Sundowns sitting at the summit at the moment, Pirates will clinch their first league title in 14 years if they win their remaining matches, as their superior goal difference has become the ultimate trump card in this heavyweight duel.
The permutations for the championship are now crystal clear for both South African giants as the season reaches its boiling point.
Mamelodi Sundowns now face an uphill battle where even winning all their remaining games might not be enough to retain their domestic crown. The Brazilians must hope for a Pirates slip-up while simultaneously attempting to bridge the massive goal gap that currently separates the two contenders.
Meanwhile, Pirates coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, has indicated that his players will fight to the very end after securing maximum points against Stellenbosch FC on Tuesday.
“You know, in every league, in every country, if you can see the Premier League in England, Manchester City, Arsenal, they're fighting. I think it's the same fight that we see in the PSL,” the Moroccan mentor said.
As the final whistle approaches for the 2025/2026 campaign, the margins have never been thinner between the hunter and the hunted as Pirates look to change the narrative in a league that has for close to a decade been ruthlessly dominated by an almost indomitable Sundowns side.
Hannah Pearse became the final addition to the Commonwealth Games qualifying list on the final day of the SA Swimming Championships in Gqeberha on Saturday.
The 23-year-old swam to victory in the 200m backstroke in a time of 2:10.92 to take a step closer to achieving her ambition of competing at the Commonwealth Games, which take place in Glasgow this July/August.
“It’s surreal. It’s a big dream, so I can’t believe the dream finally came true,” said the neurophysiology honours student after the race. “I knew I had it in me, but I wasn't sure. It’s been a rough year with lots of ups and downs. So the belief was there, but it was a deep-down belief, and we had to really dig deep to find it.”
Also securing a comfortable victory in the 200m backstroke was fellow Pretoria swimmer Pieter Coetzé. The 21-year-old was considerably faster in the final, taking his fifth individual win of the championships in 1:55.26.
“I used to swim this race very back-end based, and I want to get my body used to going out a bit faster… I would have liked to go out a bit faster than that, but it’s okay,” said Coetzé.
As for his overall performance in Gqeberha, where he achieved Commonwealth Games qualifying times in all five of his events, Coetzé added: “This is only my second meet in about nine months. So I think it’s a great base and I’ve got about two months now to go back to work and make sure I put in a good performance at Commonwealth.”
“It was always going to be close. It’s all about the start and the finish and timing everything perfectly,” explained Erin Gallagher, who also won the 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle titles at these championships. “You never really know what to expect, and it’s always great when it pays off. But it’s a splash and dash. You don't have much time to think, you kind of just close your eyes and go for it.”
Adonne de Lange agreed: “The 50 is always such a hit-or-miss. From the start, you either feel so great or so bad, and you just ride along with it. But that was a really fun race.”
A total of 13 swimmers achieved Commonwealth Games qualifying times at the Bombela Concession Company SA Swimming Championships.
Pieter Coetzé: Emerged as the standout male swimmer with five titles and matching qualifying marks.
Aimee Canny: Led the women’s contingent with four titles and qualifying performances.
Nasreddine Nabi's departure from Kaizer Chiefs drew mixed reactions, but the subsequent developments at the club suggest the Tunisian coach may have left the team better than he found it.
Nabi arrived at the club widely regarded as the 'messiah.' However, he did little to live up to that tag in his first season, winning only the Nedbank Cup and finishing a disappointing ninth in the Betway Premiership – a minimal improvement from the season before.
Entering the current campaign, expectations were high for him to improve, with the 'process' he preached finally expected to bear fruit. Instead, the club sacked him over allegations of mistrust between him and the board.
His departure divided the club's faithful, a feeling compounded by his replacement: his former right-hand men, Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, who possessed little track record of competence as sole or co-coaches.
Their appointment appeared to be a ticking time bomb, threatening to drag Chiefs down further than their 10th-place finish and leading to the potential loss of the Nedbank Cup. After an impressive start that momentarily silenced detractors, the wheels seemed to come off.
The downturn was unpleasant but highly anticipated. Pressure mounted on Kaze and Ben Youssef as disgruntled fans, former coaches, and club legends called for their immediate removal.
But Chiefs continued with their uncharacteristic approach: they stalled. This pause unleashed further wrath, leading some fans to march to the club's plush headquarters in Naturena to hand over a memorandum detailing their grievances and requests.
However, Chiefs' patience and trust in the coaching duo has since proved worthwhile, forcing most detractors to eat humble pie. This interesting turn of fortunes has seen the team record a five-game winning streak in the league – a feat not achieved since the 2019/20 season – as they are chasing a Top 3 finish.
Although things could still end sourly, Chiefs have already surpassed their performance of the past two seasons, reaching 45 points with seven league games still to play.
Kaze and Ben Youssef may not be the ideal long-term candidates to lead Chiefs forward, lacking the experience, composure, and aggression Nabi boasted. Yet, they are currently doing everything right, effectively building on Nabi’s foundation.
Flavio Da Silva’s signing under Nabi was heavily scrutinised after he looked like a defensive striker during the pre-season tour of the Netherlands and the camp in Durban for the Toyota Cup.
But the Guinea-Bissau international is making his naysayers eat humble pie. He is not only finding the back of the net but also consistently earning the team crucial points. This impressive run has rattled some opposition fans, especially those of arch-rivals Orlando Pirates.
Chiefs are hot on Pirates’ heels, though a 10-point gap remains, with Chiefs holding a game in hand. As a result, the coaching duo is set for a thrilling showdown in the return leg of the Soweto derby at FNB Stadium on Sunday, April 26.
By the time the two teams meet, the gap could be trimmed down to seven points, still with Chiefs holding a game in hand, depending on their respective weekend fixtures against Polokwane City and AmaZulu.
Naturally, Nabi could have done better in accelerating the development of youth graduates like Mduduzi Shabala, Wandile Duba, and Mfundo Vilakazi. However, their fluctuating form and recent resurgence have allowed them to mature at their own pace.
This trio has been a notable contributor to the team recently under Kaze and Ben Youssef, who could potentially guide the team to 66 points this season – the highest tally since Chiefs won the league with 69 points during the 2014/15 season.
Again, Chiefs could have done better, but Nabi's departure forced the team – from coaching staff to playing personnel – to mature rapidly. The Amakhosi faithful will undoubtedly want this newly found momentum to continue until the end of the season.
Nasreddine Nabi's departure from Kaizer Chiefs drew mixed reactions, but the subsequent developments at the club suggest the Tunisian coach may have left the team better than he found it.
Nabi arrived at the club widely regarded as the 'messiah.' However, he did little to live up to that tag in his first season, winning only the Nedbank Cup and finishing a disappointing ninth in the Betway Premiership – a minimal improvement from the season before.
Entering the current campaign, expectations were high for him to improve, with the 'process' he preached finally expected to bear fruit. Instead, the club sacked him over allegations of mistrust between him and the board.
His departure divided the club's faithful, a feeling compounded by his replacement: his former right-hand men, Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, who possessed little track record of competence as sole or co-coaches.
Their appointment appeared to be a ticking time bomb, threatening to drag Chiefs down further than their 10th-place finish and leading to the potential loss of the Nedbank Cup. After an impressive start that momentarily silenced detractors, the wheels seemed to come off.
The downturn was unpleasant but highly anticipated. Pressure mounted on Kaze and Ben Youssef as disgruntled fans, former coaches, and club legends called for their immediate removal.
But Chiefs continued with their uncharacteristic approach: they stalled. This pause unleashed further wrath, leading some fans to march to the club's plush headquarters in Naturena to hand over a memorandum detailing their grievances and requests.
However, Chiefs' patience and trust in the coaching duo has since proved worthwhile, forcing most detractors to eat humble pie. This interesting turn of fortunes has seen the team record a five-game winning streak in the league – a feat not achieved since the 2019/20 season – as they are chasing a Top 3 finish.
Although things could still end sourly, Chiefs have already surpassed their performance of the past two seasons, reaching 45 points with seven league games still to play.
Kaze and Ben Youssef may not be the ideal long-term candidates to lead Chiefs forward, lacking the experience, composure, and aggression Nabi boasted. Yet, they are currently doing everything right, effectively building on Nabi’s foundation.
Flavio Da Silva’s signing under Nabi was heavily scrutinised after he looked like a defensive striker during the pre-season tour of the Netherlands and the camp in Durban for the Toyota Cup.
But the Guinea-Bissau international is making his naysayers eat humble pie. He is not only finding the back of the net but also consistently earning the team crucial points. This impressive run has rattled some opposition fans, especially those of arch-rivals Orlando Pirates.
Chiefs are hot on Pirates’ heels, though a 10-point gap remains, with Chiefs holding a game in hand. As a result, the coaching duo is set for a thrilling showdown in the return leg of the Soweto derby at FNB Stadium on Sunday, April 26.
By the time the two teams meet, the gap could be trimmed down to seven points, still with Chiefs holding a game in hand, depending on their respective weekend fixtures against Polokwane City and AmaZulu.
Naturally, Nabi could have done better in accelerating the development of youth graduates like Mduduzi Shabala, Wandile Duba, and Mfundo Vilakazi. However, their fluctuating form and recent resurgence have allowed them to mature at their own pace.
This trio has been a notable contributor to the team recently under Kaze and Ben Youssef, who could potentially guide the team to 66 points this season – the highest tally since Chiefs won the league with 69 points during the 2014/15 season.
Again, Chiefs could have done better, but Nabi's departure forced the team – from coaching staff to playing personnel – to mature rapidly. The Amakhosi faithful will undoubtedly want this newly found momentum to continue until the end of the season.
LIV Golf is preparing to make structural changes that "might surprise some people," CEO Scott O'Neil said Thursday, as the embattled breakaway league scrambles to fend off rumors it could soon collapse without Saudi funding.
Multiple outlets this week reported that Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund will shortly stop bankrolling the divisive league, which has spent billions to lure top golfers away from the traditional PGA and DP World tours.
The league has said its current season will continue "full throttle," and this week's Mexico City tournament began Thursday as planned, although coverage was hit with a lengthy broadcast blackout due to local power outages.
"I talked about some structural changes. They're coming," said O'Neil, in an interview broadcast during the Mexico City event.
"You can ask just about the 50 people I met in Augusta," he said, referring to last weekend's Masters venue.
"I rolled out the plan. We have one, and it is... It might surprise some people."
The Saudi-backed tour, which features major winners including Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, and a focus on faster, geographically diverse and team-oriented competitions, has bitterly divided the world of golf since its 2022 launch.
Seeking to tap into markets beyond the United States, it has attracted strong crowds to tournaments in countries including Australia and South Africa, but has struggled to bag lucrative television deals.
The Saudi wealth fund is estimated to have spent around $5 billion on LIV Golf. But at a five-year plan presentation this week it said it would focus on "increasing the efficiency of investments."
O'Neil said Thursday that the LIV Golf tour would "probably" have to raise money.
He pointed to a previously touted strategy of selling stakes in LIV Golf's 13 team franchises, and said he had received "two calls this morning" on the topic.
The league plans to replicate sports like Formula 1 with separately owned teams.
Sales of minority or even controlling stakes in two teams to wealthy individuals or companies were being explored this year prior to the reports of a possible Saudi withdrawal.
In January, Bloomberg reported that the league was targeting valuations up to $300 million per team. There is currently no public valuation of what the teams are worth.
O'Neil also pushed back on media coverage of LIV Golf in recent days, in particular a story from Britain's Telegraph newspaper reporting that executives had been called into an emergency meeting in New York.
"It's a lot of reaching and grabbing for headlines and clickbait and stories," said O'Neil.
"Will there be a change in how we operate? Of course," he added
The South African Sevens team is looking to underline a period of total dominance with a fourth consecutive tournament win when they run out in Hong Kong on Friday morning. The Blitzboks are targeting the Hong Kong Sevens, the first event of the World Championships, with a well-rested squad and fresh ideas after a successful Sevens Series campaign.
The Hong Kong Sevens is the first of three World Championship tournaments.
The Series champions, the Blitzboks, are entering a new phase in the Sevens season with renewed determination, and veteran Blitzbok Zain Davids also points out that they start with a clean slate.
“We had our goals. We won the World Series, and that’s done. We can see on the log sheet that it is nil-nil, everybody is starting from scratch, and we all have our goal to perform in Hong Kong and do our best. We have the processes to go forward, we will take it hurdle by hurdle and be successful at the end of the tournament,” says Davids.
Davids missed the tournament wins in Vancouver and New York, but tasted success this season in Cape Town and Perth. He will be playing in his 58th tournament, and says rotating the squad helps to prolong careers and keep the Blitzboks ahead of the curve.
“I think Coach Philip has bigger plans for the squad. He knows what he is doing, keeping the guys fresh for each tournament. I think we are growing depth, and that’s what he wants,” he says.
The Blitzboks, the current standard bearers for the sport, are desperate to get a first win in Hong Kong, a tournament that embodies the ethos of sevens.
“I think Hong Kong, you can’t say it is like home, but the vibe, the stadium and many South Africans here make us feel at home. And you feel at home as well. The vibe is incredible and the guys love coming to Hong Kong,” adds David.
Winning in Hong Kong would be a full-circle moment for players like Davids. To win so much in the game, but not in Hong Kong, is all the motivation the Blitzboks need.
