South African Premiership Predictions

The South African Premiership (officially known as the Betway Premiership) is one of Africa’s most important domestic leagues. It has viewers from across the continent and leads the way with both tactics and raw talent. Here, we take into consideration their early results in the league to make some predictions about the remainder of the season.

The sundowns dynasty continues

Mamelodi Sundowns are no doubt the kings of South African football right now, having recently secured their eighth consecutive league title in the 2024-25 season. It places them among the most dominant forces in African football history, even if they have gotten off to a slower start than their rivals.

Owned by Motsepe, a South African billionaire, it would be unwise to suggest their success was simply financial superiority – their approach to squad building, tactical innovation, and youth development have so far been what rivals are looking to replicate.

The manager, Cardoso, is a Portuguese coach with an incredible amount of experience despite his young age. At just 53, he has worked in some coaching capacity at 16 different clubs – including Porto, Sporting CP, Shakhtar Donetsk, Celta Vigo, and Nantes. He hasn’t been the coach across the eight straight league wins, and so his 3rd-place start to the season could raise some eyebrows early on.

Of course, when looking at the best no deposit bonuses in South Africa, Sundowns are heavy favourites. And while he did win the league for them in 2024-25, there could be room for a narrative change. Still, the club benefits from extensive scouting networks from all across the continent – and the two Brazilian forwards of Arthur Sales and Lucas Ribeiro, who can speak to their coach in Portuguese, show that there’s a global reach by the club that not everyone can compete with. Their challenge will be in remaining hungry for the season ahead, with some other competitors hot on their heels.

The struggle of the big three’s others

Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, two-thirds of South Africa’s traditional “Big Three,” continue to fight for their relevancy in the Sundowns era. Pirates have shown more promise in recent seasons, with their attacking philosophy and commitment to developing young talent beginning to bear fruit. Their ability to compete in cup competitions while building for the future suggests a more sustainable approach than their rivals, but they have had a slow start to the season, sitting 11th after matchweek three.

Kaizer Chiefs face their most challenging period in decades. Recent results, including struggles to secure top-eight finishes, show the depth of their rebuilding project – a little bit like Manchester United right now.

The Amakhosi faithful deserve credit for their support, but patience is wearing thin. A strong start to the season with three straight wins puts them joint first. Nasreddine Nabi, the manager, has only been with the club for one whole season so far. This season will be where he is really given his run to see what he achieves after building the team he wants.

The rise of the new contenders

Stellenbosch FC is seen as the new wave of professional management in South African football. Their rise through the divisions since being founded in 2016 was truly impressive, and they’re being led by Steve Barker, a former player in the league. Because he’s been with the club (almost) since its inception, there is a romantic belief around this club. Last season, they finished third, and many are wondering if they can top that this year despite the poor start.

AmaZulu FC’s recent investment has yielded mixed results, but their commitment to infrastructure and player development suggests long-term thinking that could eventually pay off. Their ability to attract quality coaches and players proves they’re one to watch this season. Though, their 2-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns does show they have a little way to go still.

How tactics are changing

José Riveiro’s appointment as Orlando Pirates head coach in June 2022 was a big watershed moment. The Spanish tactician (Spanish being the most tactically influential nation in the English Premier League, too) helped Pirates win the 2022 MTN 8 League Cup and 2022–23 Nedbank Cup in his first campaign.

Riveiro’s tactical tweak was to deploy a high-pressing 4-2-3-1 formation, much like we have seen around the world, and kept opponents on the back foot. His tactical adaptability was evident in matches like the victory over Polokwane City, where he changed tactics at half-time before making strategic substitutions that led to victory.

Riveiro departed Pirates after the 2024-25 season, but his influence lives on and other high-pressing managers in 2025 stand a unique chance to fill that tactical gap he’s left behind.

Looking forward

Three games into the new season and we can’t tell much besides the fact it will be a close and unpredictable campaign. While Sundowns’ dominance is often presumed, they have failed to beat Chippa United and Orlando Pirates over the past two weeks. While they remain firm favourites at the bookies, all dominant eras end at some point.