Everyone thought they knew how this was going to go. For nearly a decade, the narrative surrounding the South Africa Premier League—officially the Betway Premiership—has been a repetitive loop of Mamelodi Sundowns winning before the winter jackets even come out of storage. But 2026 has decided to be weird. Honestly, it’s about time.
If you haven't been looking at the log lately, you’ve missed a legitimate earthquake in the standings. Orlando Pirates aren't just "competing" anymore; they are sitting at the summit with 28 points from 12 matches. They've found a rhythm under Abdeslam Ouaddou that feels sustainable, which is a terrifying thought for the rest of the league. Meanwhile, Sundowns are chasing. They aren't used to chasing. It’s a bit like watching a king realize his crown is slightly crooked while everyone else in the room is staring.
Why the dominance of Mamelodi Sundowns is actually under threat
Masandawana have won eight titles in a row. It’s a record that feels like a typo, but it’s real. However, the 2025/26 campaign has shown cracks in the "Shoe Shine and Piano" philosophy. They’ve already dropped points in five draws and a loss, including a shocking 1-0 defeat to Lamontville Golden Arrows back in September.
The gap isn't just closing; it's practically gone.
Former Pirates winger Daine Klate recently pointed out that the Soweto giants have finally leveled the playing field. It isn't just about money anymore—though Sundowns still have plenty of that—it’s about tactical stability. While Sundowns were busy navigating a busy January window, trying to lure Puso Dithejane from TS Galaxy to fix their "unmet expectations," Pirates were quietly solidifying.
The Abdeslam Ouaddou Factor
The appointment of Ouaddou has changed the DNA in Orlando. He isn't just a coach; he’s been a stabilizer. Under his watch, the Buccaneers went on a 10-match unbeaten run. That doesn't happen by accident in a league as physical as this one. They’ve brought in Daniel Msendami from Marumo Gallants to add some serious width on the right, and the Zimbabwean international is already looking like the signing of the season.
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The Battle for the Golden Boot: Not the usual suspects
Forget the days when one striker would run away with it. The race for the top scorer in the South Africa Premier League is a crowded room right now.
- Junior Dion (Golden Arrows): Currently leading the pack with 7 goals. He’s been clinical, especially in that 3-1 win over Siwelele.
- Bradley Grobler (Sekhukhune United): The veteran just won’t quit. He’s sitting on 6 goals and continues to be the most reliable "fox in the box" in the country.
- Iqraam Rayners (Mamelodi Sundowns): Also on 6 goals, Rayners is the primary reason Sundowns haven't slipped further down the table.
It's refreshing. We’re seeing goals come from everywhere. TS Galaxy’s Seluleko Mahlambi and Stellenbosch’s Langelihle Phili are both sitting on 5 goals, proving that the mid-table teams aren't just there to make up the numbers. They’re actually hurting the "Big Three."
The chaos of the January transfer window
The mid-season window that opened on January 1, 2026, has been nothing short of a frenzy. Clubs are panic-buying, and honestly, you can’t blame them. The stakes for CAF Champions League qualification are massive, and only the top two get that golden ticket.
Kaizer Chiefs, currently in 4th with 24 points, are desperate. They’ve been frustrated lately—back-to-back 0-0 draws against Chippa United and TS Galaxy have left the Amakhosi faithful restless. To fix the "bluntness" up front, they’ve cleared out dead wood like Mduduzi Mdantsane and brought in Etiosa Ighodaro and Lebohang Maboe from Sundowns. It’s a bold move. Taking players from your rivals is always a gamble, but when you've gone four games without a win in late 2025, you take what you can get.
"The club's transfer activity reflects a determined effort to reclaim their place at the summit," noted one recent league report.
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But will it work? The problem with Chiefs hasn't been the names on the back of the jerseys; it’s been the lack of a cohesive identity. While Pirates and Sundowns have clear patterns of play, Chiefs often look like eleven strangers who met in the parking lot ten minutes before kickoff.
Realities of the relegation scrap
Down at the bottom, things are grim. Chippa United are propping up the table with a measly 9 points from 15 games. They’ve only managed one win all season. One.
Magesi FC and Stellenbosch FC aren't much better off. It’s heartbreaking to see "Stellies" struggling in 14th place after the seasons they've had recently, but losing key players like Fawaaz Basadien to Sundowns has gutted their defensive stability.
The newcomers making noise
Let’s talk about Orbit College and Siwelele. Both are playing in the top flight for the first time this season.
Siwelele (who purchased the status of SuperSport United) have been remarkably stubborn. They held Sundowns to a 1-1 draw in December, a result that sent shockwaves through the league. They aren't pretty to watch, but they are hard to beat.
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Then there’s Durban City (formerly Maritzburg United). They’ve appointed Gavin Hunt as head coach, and you can see his fingerprints all over their 7th place standing. They are disciplined, they don’t concede easy goals, and with Darren Keet in goal, they have a literal wall at the back.
Tactical shifts across the league
We are seeing a move away from the traditional "counter-attack and pray" style. Coaches are becoming more sophisticated. The South Africa Premier League is witnessing a surge in high-pressing systems.
Polokwane City, for instance, has used a 4-3-3 that transitions into a 4-5-1 defensively with such efficiency that they’ve managed to stay in 6th place despite having a relatively thin squad. They aren't trying to out-possess you; they are trying to out-work you.
How to actually follow the league right now
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, stop just looking at the final scores. You have to look at the xG (expected goals) and the transition numbers.
- Watch the Friday night fixtures: This is where the tactical experiments usually happen.
- Track the Diski Challenge graduates: 18 out of the 25 players in the current Bafana Bafana squad came through the DStv Diski Challenge. The talent is there; it's just about who gives them the minutes.
- Ignore the "Big Three" bias: Teams like Sekhukhune United and AmaZulu are playing better football right now than Kaizer Chiefs.
The league resumes in full force on January 24, 2026. Pirates travel to Sekhukhune for what will probably be the game that decides if the Buccaneers are truly "title-ready." If they can go to a place like Polokwane and take three points from a rugged Sekhukhune side, the trophy might actually be heading to Orlando.
The days of assuming Mamelodi Sundowns will just "find a way" are over. The South Africa Premier League is finally a contest again. It’s messy, it’s unpredictable, and for the fans in the stands at FNB Stadium or Loftus Versfeld, it’s exactly what football should be.
Check the upcoming fixtures for the Nedbank Cup as well, as the PSL has just confirmed the participating clubs for the 2026 edition. This is the stage where the smaller clubs usually pull off the "giant-killings" that define South African soccer history. Keep an eye on the injury reports for Ronwen Williams at Sundowns; any time the nation's number one is sidelined, the title race swings wide open.