{"id":26447,"date":"2025-09-01T14:49:35","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T12:49:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=26447"},"modified":"2026-03-12T09:55:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T07:55:42","slug":"betway-premiership-log-race-heats-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/betway-premiership-log-race-heats-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Betway Premiership Log Race Heats Up: Sekhukhune, Chiefs, Sundowns in Battle"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Betway Premiership will pause after five rounds of action, as South African football shifts focus to the FIFA international break. Sekhukhune United lead the standings, holding top spot on goal difference over Kaizer Chiefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns sit third, still unbeaten and ominously placed for another title challenge. Orlando Pirates, who recorded three consecutive wins before the break, have climbed into fifth place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the opposite end, Chippa United anchor the log with only a single point, while newly promoted Orbit College are second from bottom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bafana-bafana-s-world-cup-tests\">Bafana Bafana\u2019s World Cup Tests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>During the break, attention turns to Hugo Broos\u2019 Bafana Bafana side. South Africa face two critical Group C World Cup qualifiers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lesotho<\/strong> \u2013 Friday, 5 September (18:00 SA time)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Nigeria<\/strong> \u2013 Tuesday, 9 September (18:00 SA time)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The clash against Nigeria will be particularly decisive, given the Super Eagles\u2019 pedigree and Bafana\u2019s inconsistent record against them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1178595667\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-betway-premiership-results-round-up\">Betway Premiership Results Round-Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The final weekend before the pause produced drama across the country:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Orlando Pirates thrashed Chippa United 3\u20130 in Gqeberha.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kaizer Chiefs edged Golden Arrows 1\u20130 away in Durban.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sekhukhune United beat Durban City 2\u20130 in Polokwane to cement top spot.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>TS Galaxy outplayed Orbit College 3\u20131 in Soweto.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AmaZulu and Magesi drew 1\u20131 in Pietersburg.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Marumo Gallants and Polokwane City shared a 1\u20131 stalemate in Bloemfontein.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"644\" height=\"607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gauteng-image-1756730588.png\" alt=\"Gauteng News Image\" class=\"wp-image-26448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gauteng-image-1756730588.png 644w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gauteng-image-1756730588-300x283.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 644px) 100vw, 644px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-fixtures-after-the-break\">Key Fixtures After the Break<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once domestic action resumes, fans can look forward to high-profile clashes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mamelodi Sundowns vs Magesi FC<\/strong> \u2013 14 September, Pretoria<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kaizer Chiefs vs Sekhukhune United<\/strong> \u2013 16 September, Johannesburg<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Marumo Gallants vs Sundowns<\/strong> \u2013 17 September, Bloemfontein<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The Chiefs\u2013Sekhukhune encounter at FNB Stadium will be the standout, a battle between the early leaders and the Glamour Boys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2536698378\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-analysis-who-holds-the-advantage\">Analysis: Who Holds the Advantage?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While Sekhukhune have impressed, the looming presence of Sundowns cannot be ignored. The champions remain the most consistent side and their squad depth could prove decisive after the break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaizerchiefs.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kaizer Chiefs<\/a> have shown resilience but will need to sharpen their attack if they want to sustain a title push. Pirates\u2019 revival also hints at a season where the \u201cBig Three\u201d may not have it all their way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the bottom, Chippa United already look in trouble. Without a turnaround, they could face another relegation scrap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Check also: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/how-kaizer-chiefs-remain-unbeaten\/\">Kaizer Chiefs Remain Unbeaten: How Amakhosi Outclassed Golden Arrows to Claim Three Points<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sekhukhune\u2019s rise has given the Premiership a refreshing twist, but the real test comes after the FIFA break when Sundowns and Chiefs begin to flex their muscle. For now, South African fans can turn their attention to Bafana Bafana\u2019s qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>What do you think \u2013 will Sekhukhune stay at the top, or will Sundowns reclaim their throne once the league resumes?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Betway Premiership Log Race Heats Up: Sekhukhune, Chiefs, Sundowns in Battle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":26449,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"Betway Premiership Log Race Heats Up: Sekhukhune, Chiefs, Sundowns in Battle","footnotes":""},"categories":[59,56,64],"tags":[296,275,360],"class_list":{"0":"post-26447","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-soccer","8":"category-sports","9":"category-sports-news","10":"tag-betway-premiership","11":"tag-kaizer-chiefs","12":"tag-mamelodi-sundowns"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26447","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26447"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26447\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26450,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26447\/revisions\/26450"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26449"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26447"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26447"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26447"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}