The Betway Premiership is reaching its dramatic conclusion, and things are looking grim for Kaizer Chiefs. With only two matches left to play, Amakhosi find themselves outside the Top 8, putting their place in next season’s MTN8 competition in serious jeopardy.
Due to Royal AM’s expulsion, each team will now complete just 28 matches—leaving Chiefs with only two more chances to claw their way into a better position. Adding to the pressure, both of those games are against teams ranked higher on the log. One will be played at home, the other on the road.
Chiefs’ Final Fixtures:
- 🗓️ Saturday, 17 May – Sekhukhune United vs Kaizer Chiefs
- 🗓️ Saturday, 24 May – Kaizer Chiefs vs Polokwane City
Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates are cruising. The Soweto Derby might be the highlight of every season, but in terms of overall league performance, Pirates have clearly pulled ahead. The two giants of South African football have finished higher than one another 14 times each in the PSL era—until now.
This season, the gap between the two sides is historic. Pirates sit in second place with 49 points from 22 matches, while even two wins for Chiefs would only take them to 36 points—mathematically eliminating any chance of overtaking their rivals.
If things stay as they are, this will mark the sixth time in eight seasons that the Buccaneers have outperformed the Glamour Boys. Worse still, they’re on track to set a record points gap between the clubs in a single season.
A Look Back:
- Biggest gap in favour of Chiefs: 7 positions (2016/17)
- Biggest gap in favour of Pirates: 8 positions (2023/24)
- 2024/25: Expected to break that record
Despite both clubs having won four league titles each during the PSL era, recent years have clearly favoured Orlando Pirates. Chiefs, once the giants of South African football, now face the real possibility of ending yet another season without silverware—or even a place in the MTN8.
