A look at the latest Betway Premiership standings shows that there is still one spot up for grabs for the lucrative MTN8 next season.
Apart from Mamelodi Sundowns (currently first) and Polokwane City (currently seventh), every other side still has one match remaining in the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season.
If the season were to finish today, this is how next season’s MTN8 would look:
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Durban City
Orlando Pirates vs Polokwane City
Kaizer Chiefs vs Golden Arrows
AmaZulu FC vs Sekhukhune United
Every side above apart from Durban City are assured of their places in next season’s MTN8.
Durban City can still be pipped at the post by one of Stellenbosch FC or Siwelele FC depending on results next Saturday.
The MTN8 winner will bank a cool R10 million while the seven other competing sides will take home R1 million each.
Orlando Pirates are the defending MTN8 champions.
Latest Betway Premiership log
Soweto derby
Meanwhile, football rivalries in South Africa don’t come any bigger than that between Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
As soon as the league fixtures are announced ahead of any season, fans of both sides are only interested in TWO matches – the derby matches.
In the 29 completed PSL top-flight seasons to date since the professional era kicked off in 1996/97, the Buccaneers have each finished higher in the standings on 15 occasions, with Kaizer Chiefs claiming bragging rights on the 14 other occasions.
UPDATE: The above will change to 16 for Orlando Pirates who are guaranteed to finish ahead of Kaizer Chiefs this season.
The biggest difference in final positions for Kaizer Chiefs ahead of Orlando Pirates is 7 places (2016/17 season), while the biggest difference in positions for Orlando Pirates ahead of Kaizer Chiefs is 8 places (2023/24 season).
Recent form
In the last nine seasons (including the current season), Orlando Pirates have finished ahead of Kaizer Chiefs on seven occasions.
Champions
Both Kaizer Chiefs (2003/04, 2004/05, 2012/13, 2014/15) and Orlando Pirates (2000/02, 2002/03, 2010/11, 2011/12) have been crowned league champions on four occasions to date.
The Buccaneers could make that five titles with victory over Orbit College on Saturday, 23 May.
Mamelodi Sundowns lead the way with 16 titles, while SuperSport United (3) and Manning Rangers, Santos and Wits (one apiece) are the only other sides to have tasted success.
