Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns meet in early Betway Premiership test

Kaizer Chiefs will host Mamelodi Sundowns in the first major contest of the Betway Premiership season at FNB Stadium on Saturday (15:00).

Amakhosi go into the heavyweight meeting at the top of the league table after beginning their campaign with victories over newcomers Kruger United and Sekhukhune United. They will now face a Sundowns side also looking to maintain a winning start after securing a late victory against TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium earlier this week.

The match brings together two teams with early momentum, although both managers could have selection concerns. Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz is expected to have most of his regular squad available, while Mamelodi Sundowns manager Miguel Cardoso may be without influential midfielder Teboho Mokoena.

Chiefs defender Inacio Miguel has started both of his side’s league matches so far, forming a central defensive partnership with Zitha Kwinika against Kruger United and Sekhukhune United.

The Angola international says representing one of South Africa’s biggest clubs should be viewed as an honour rather than a burden.

“Everyone talks about pressure at Chiefs,” he said.

“I always say to our young players that pressure is when you have to feed your family and you can’t do it because you don’t have work.

“Pressure is when you have someone on a hospital bed and there is nothing you can do about it. I felt pressure when my grandmother was in hospital in Portugal and I was in Angola, and I couldn’t do anything about it.

“Playing for such a big team like Chiefs is not pressure, but it is a privilege, and it comes with responsibility.”

The result at FNB Stadium will be the headline fixture in a busy weekend programme, with matches scheduled from Saturday through to Sunday.

Stellenbosch FC had already moved into third place on Friday after beating Marumo Gallants 3-1. The victory also saw 20-year-old Quwan Plaatjies make history as the first player to score a hat-trick on his PSL debut.

Betway Premiership weekend fixtures

Saturday’s schedule begins with AmaZulu facing Siwelele FC at 15:00, before Sekhukhune United meet Polokwane City at 17:30.

Durban City will play Richards Bay at 20:00, while Milford FC host Kruger United at the same time.

On Sunday, Chippa United take on Pirates at 15:00. The final fixture of the weekend sees TS Galaxy play Arrows at 17:30.

The full schedule is:

– AmaZulu v Siwelele FC – Saturday, 15:00 – Kaizer Chiefs v Mamelodi Sundowns – Saturday, 15:00 – Sekhukhune United v Polokwane City – Saturday, 17:30 – Durban City v Richards Bay – Saturday, 20:00 – Milford FC v Kruger United – Saturday, 20:00 – Chippa United v Pirates – Sunday, 15:00 – TS Galaxy v Arrows – Sunday, 17:30