Defending Betway Premiership champions Orlando Pirates keep ticking along. Rivals Kaizer Chiefs, however, are stuck in second gear.
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Pirates put Chiefs in the shade
Kaizer Chiefs have, undoubtedly, the most supporters of any club in South Africa by a long stretch. However, Pirates fans have more to shout about these days. A sequence of four MTN titles on the bounce finally came to an end at the weekend in a final defeat to Sundowns, but the Buccaneers are the champions of South Africa and rightly so. They have the deepest and most balanced squad, their kit looks good, their socials are popping off, and everything is running smoothly.
Since 2014-15, Chiefs have just a solitary piece of silverware to show for their efforts. A win against Orlando Pirates in the 2025 Nedbank Cup final was a solid fillip for the club, but it’s not enough. Chiefs have to mount credible title challenges year on year, otherwise their work is incomplete. The Glamour Boys’ reputation precedes them, and they dine out on it to this day. They’ll always sell millions of jerseys and garner the most attention online, but the inescapable truth is that they’re underachieving badly.
Mbatha returns for Orlando Pirates
26-year-old midfield dynamo Thalente Mbatha was absent with a knee injury for just shy of two months. However, the Pirates fan favourite was fit enough for a substitute role in the MTN8 final. In stark contrast, Chiefs are without regular central midfield pairing Siphesihlw Ndlovu and Lebohang Maboe.
Kaizer Chiefs are the draw specialists
A 1-1 draw isn’t the worst result in the world, but Chiefs have now drawn five of their last six Betway Premiership outings and not beaten Stellies in any of their last four H2Hs, a sequence that includes three defeats. They trail champions Orlando Pirates by eight points after just eight matches of the 2026-27 season.
Square pegs in round holes
Maboe missed Kaizer Chiefs’ 1-1 draw with Stellenbosch, and it showed. Coach Fernando Da Cruz opted for a back four and a double midfield pivot of Reeve Frosler and Sibongiseni Mthethwa. Although Frosler assisted Mdu Shabalala’s goal, Frosler is a square peg in a round hole and not a long-term option for that role. Chiefs’ regular engine room partnership of Ndlovu and Maboe has been obliterated because of injuries to both players. Maboe has two goals and two assists this season in the league. Without him, they look devoid of creativity. At 32, ‘Lebza’ is hardly a spring chicken, so what’s the alternative?
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