Tough Beginnings for Some Teams in the 2025/26 PSL Season: Which Squads Face a Brutal Initial Schedule?
The 2022-2023 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season, marking its 30th edition, is set to kick off in early August, providing an exciting start for football fans across South Africa. However, some teams are facing tough opening fixtures that could impact their early-season performances.
Stellenbosch FC's Challenging Start
Stellenbosch FC has been handed the toughest start of all teams, with games against Kaizer Chiefs, Magesi FC, Orlando Pirates, Marumo Gallants, and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the first five matches. Historically, Stellenbosch has struggled in their opening fixtures, managing only 6, 6, and 8 points in their first five matches over the last three seasons.
Chippa United and Magesi FC's Difficult Beginnings
Chippa United and Magesi FC follow closely behind Stellenbosch FC in terms of difficulty for their season-opening fixtures. Chippa United has the second toughest start, opening against defending champions Sundowns, while Magesi FC ranks third.
Kaizer Chiefs' Tough Test Awaits
The Kaizer Chiefs also face a challenging start with their first five matches against Stellenbosch FC, Polokwane City, Richards Bay, Sundowns, and Golden Arrows, placing them fourth in terms of tough openings.
Orlando Pirates and Sundowns' Mild Starts
Orlando Pirates and Sundowns have mild starts, with Sundowns facing Chippa (away), AmaZulu FC (home), Magesi FC (away), Chiefs (away) and Stellenbosch FC (away), while Pirates face Sekhukhune (home), Marumo Gallants (away), Stellenbosch (home), Orbit College (home) and Chippa (away).
TS Galaxy's Favourable Start
On the other hand, TS Galaxy has a favourable start to the season, with their first five games against Durban City FC, Sekhukhune United, Chippa United, Siwelele FC, and Orbit College.
Fixture Congestion and AFCON
Fixture congestion will play a significant role in the early part of the season, with 15 league games played before mid-December 2025 to accommodate the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The season will continue again in February 2026 with league and Nedbank Cup fixtures. The latest news indicates that the PSL season has an early August start, which is timelier compared to the 2019/2020 season's late start due to COVID disruption.
[1] Based on the strength of the opponents in the opening five matches and historical performance in early-season fixtures. [2] Mamelodi Sundowns began with relatively mixed results but are dominant in possession and chances, reflecting their strong setup despite early difficulties. [3] Orlando Pirates start their season against Sekhukhune United, a challenging fixture though ranked somewhat less harshly compared to the others mentioned. [4] Chippa United has the second toughest start, opening against defending champions Sundowns, which is a demanding fixture right from the start.
