Kaizer Chiefs chase third straight opening-day win against Kruger United
· The South African
Kaizer Chiefs will look to make it three successive opening-day victories when they begin the 2026/27 Betway Premiership season against newly promoted Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, 1 August.
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Kick-off is at 20:00.
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New coach
The match marks the start of Amakhosi’s 57th season in South Africa’s top flight and their 31st in the Premier Soccer League era.
It will also be the club’s 1 759th league match overall and 923rd since the PSL was formed in 1996.
Kaizer Chiefs head into the new campaign chasing a 14th league title in their history and a fifth in the PSL era.
Saturday’s encounter will also be significant as it marks the competitive debut of new head coach Fernando Da Cruz.
The 54-year-old tactician becomes the first coach from France to lead Kaizer Chiefs in the PSL era and only the second France-born coach in the club’s history after Philippe Troussier, who guided Amakhosi to the BP Top 8 title in 1994.
Optimistic
History suggests Kaizer Chiefs have every reason to be optimistic.
The Soweto giants have won 17 of their previous 30 opening fixtures in the PSL era, drawing eight and losing just five.
They are also seeking a third consecutive opening-day victory after beginning the last two league campaigns with away wins over Marumo Gallants and Stellenbosch FC.
Kaizer Chiefs have frequently started their league campaigns away from home.
This weekend will be the 21st time they have opened a PSL season on the road, having won 12, drawn five and lost only two of the previous 20 such fixtures.
Overall, they have avoided defeat in 18 of those 20 away openers.
Their biggest opening-day victory came during the 2012/13 season when they thrashed AmaZulu 6-0 away from home.
Promoted
Kruger United, who earned promotion by winning the Motsepe Foundation Championship, will become only the third Mpumalanga-based club to face Kaizer Chiefs in the PSL era, following Mpumalanga Black Aces and TS Galaxy.
With a new coach at the helm and another title challenge beginning, Amakhosi will be eager to start the season on a winning note and maintain their impressive record in league openers.
Prediction
Kruger United 0-2 Kaizer Chiefs
Will Kaizer Chiefs get their 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign off to a winning start?
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