The fact that the Buccaneers and the Phefeni Glamour Boys won their first games of the season over the weekend promises a good season for football in Mzansi. Some prophets of doom who are unhappy with Chief’s victory have sought to downplay Kaizer Chiefs by dismissing PSL newcomers Kruger United FC as little more than the ordinary staff of the Kruger National Park. Such attempts to caricature Kruger United FC as little more than the staff of the Kruger National Park are both patronising and misleading, serving only to diminish a legitimate Premiership opponent and detract from Kaizer Chiefs’ deserved place at the top of the league table.
With Mamelodi Sundowns out of action for the weekend, a consequence of the recent burial of their departed beloved player Jayden Adams, it was the two Soweto giants that attracted attention over the weekend. It must be remembered that Kaizer Chiefs finished strongly last season behind Pirates and Sundowns. The resurgence of Amakhosi in the last season is good news to football in South Africa and their form must be sustained to make the 2026/27 truly exciting.
It is not good for South Africa and the economy when Chiefs don’t do well. Despite its mediocre and disappointing performance in the recent past, Chiefs remains the most popular and most supported football brand in the country and its renaissance is good for football all round.
On the other hand, last season’s national anthem that “sekusele kancane” inspired Ezimnyama Ngenkane to the league Championship after many years of drought. Playing the most exciting football in the country last season, led by the likes of Rele Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis, Tshepiso Moremi and “Ngwana Sesi”, the Buccaneers were a marvel to watch. It is therefore not surprising that Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos World Cup 2026 squad was dominated by players from the Orlando outfit. It is this stellar performance that one of its key stars, Rele Mofokeng plays in Europe and scored a brilliant top of the corner penalty to lead his new team in Belgium to win the Super Cup. Let the good times roll.
Finally, the weekend’s MTN Top 8 promises fireworks as the PSL’s top dogs go to battle for a trophy that Orlando Pirates has claimed so many times. Will the PSL champions lift the prestigious trophy again? I doubt it. With Chiefs in a mean mood and Sundowns still smarting from losing the championship to the Buccaneers, the Top promises to be a humdinger.
Besides the top three Gauteng giants, there is the emergence of Amazulu FC from KZN under the capable leadership of a successful businessman in the mould of Patrice Motsepe. Not only is Sandile Zungu seeking to build a football outfit to challenge the hegemony of Gauteng, the wily entrepreneur is challenging the leadership of the South African Football Association to jumpstart the skorokoro run by Danny Jordaan. Should the young billionaire succeed in dethroning the ageing dictator of South African football seeking an undeserved fourth term in office in September, the country will undoubtedly be on a firm trajectory to greater things continentally and globally. It is only when leaders know when it is time to leave the stage that they earn respect and escape the ignominy of defeat and condemnation. Can common sense please prevail?
Sello Lediga is a writer and historian who has published four books. His latest book, Ndizani Bafana Bafana – The Comeback Story of a Nation, is available online at sellolediga.co.za
