Kaizer Chiefs begin 2025/26 Betway Premiership season in Cape

Kaizer Chiefs will begin their 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign with an away clash against Stellenbosch FC at Athlone Stadium on Sunday, 10 August, with kick-off scheduled for 17:30.

The fixture marks the start of Amakhosi’s 56th season in the top-flight of South African football and their 30th in the PSL era, having debuted in the professional league system in 1996/97.

Opening Day Significance

This will be the first time since the inaugural PSL season in 1996/97 that Kaizer Chiefs open their campaign in the Western Cape.

The last time they faced a team from the region in an opening match was against Santos in 2009/10, which ended in a goalless draw.

Historically, Kaizer Chiefs have performed well in season openers:

29 PSL-era opening matches: 16 wins, 8 draws, 5 losses
19 away openers: 11 wins, 6 draws, 2 losses
Their biggest opening-day win came on the road – a 6-0 demolition of AmaZulu in 2012/13, a season in which they also won the league title.

In fact, three of their four PSL titles have come in seasons where Kaizer Chiefs began the campaign away from home.

Stellenbosch FC: A Familiar Foe

Sunday’s clash will be the 13th league meeting between the two sides.

Kaizer Chiefs hold the edge in this fixture with:

6 wins,
3 draws, and
3 losses against Stellenbosch

Last season, Amakhosi enjoyed a dominant run against Stellies:

A 1-0 away league win,
A 2-1 home victory, and
A 3-1 win in the Nedbank Cup quarter-final

The fixture also produced a slice of PSL history in October 2022, when Caleb Bimenyimana scored a hat-trick of penalties in a 3-1 victory – the first time a player achieved such a feat in a single PSL game.

Momentum and Ambitions

Kaizer Chiefs head into the new campaign looking to build on their recent form against Stellenbosch and secure a third successive league win over them, as well as a fourth consecutive away victory in this fixture.

With a strong historical record in opening games and renewed ambition for silverware, Amakhosi will be eager to make a statement as they kick off their latest pursuit of the league title.