Soccer

PSL football is finally back as matchday one kicks off with a banger

By Siyasanga Monoalibe
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Mvelo Zikakayo of Milford FC and Thalente Mbatha of Orlando Pirates duel for the ball during a Betway Premiership match.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 01: Mvelo Zikakayo of Milford FC and Thalente Mbatha of Orlando Pirates during the DStv Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Milford FC at Orlando Stadium on August 01, 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images)

“Football is finally back!” as staunch South African football fans would say, with the 2026/27 Premier League (PSL) season under way.

Granted, some of the games played yesterday did not live up to expectations but there have been signs that we are in for yet another exciting and competitive season.

For instance, the Betway Premiership defending champions Orlando Pirates did not have it completely easy against newcomers Milford FC. They had to wait for the last minutes on the board to kill the game and record a 2-0 victory at their slaughterhouse last season.

Despite the game being a sold-out affair, Orlando Stadium was not as boisterous and electrifying as it usually is. That could be due to how their team were playing, especially in the first half — as they were not as fluid as they normally are in their backyard.

One would have thought they were going to be commanding against the newcomers. As captain Nkosinathi Sibisi declared before the game, they “suffocate” and ensure that their opponents “do not breathe” at the Arena. However, that was not the case in the opener yesterday.

The supporters tried to bring some life to the match with the famous Viking Row, which we witnessed during the Fifa World Cup by the Norway fans, signalling their excitement at the arrival of Norwegian striker Sebastian Pedersen.

Inasmuch as the Buccaneers started the season better than they did previously, with three points in the bag, coach Abdeslam Ouaddou will have some slight concerns about how they approach their next game against Durban City in the MTN8 this coming weekend.

There were, though, some positives Ouaddou will take from the game, such as managing to keep a clean sheet, two of his important players Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi getting on the scoresheet and four of his debutants displaying convincing performances.

Also, young midfielder Camrin Dansin pulled a man-ofthe-match performance and showed signs of someone who could be a key player for Ouadou this season.

For Milford coach and chairperson Xanti Pupuma, after that confident performance against the reigning champions, he must have been proud, with little to worry about and might just survive relegation, as premature as that might be to predict.

Kudos to the league for also commemorating all 36 teams who formed part of the PSL for the past 30 years and no longer exist.

Right before kick-off, the flags of teams Santos, Bidvest Wits, Vasco Da Gama, Bloemfontein Celtics, Moroka Swallows, Free State Stars, Mpumalanga Black Aces, among others, were displayed inside the pitch during the celebration of 30 years of the PSL.

  • The 2026/27 South African Premier League (PSL) season has begun, with mixed performances but promising excitement ahead.
  • Defending champions Orlando Pirates narrowly secured a 2-0 win against newcomers Milford FC, showing less dominance than expected.
  • Orlando Stadium was less lively than usual, partly due to the team's sluggish first-half display, despite fan efforts like the Viking Row cheer for new striker Sebastian Pedersen.
  • Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou highlighted positives such as a clean sheet and strong performances from debutants and key players, but remains cautious ahead of the next match.
  • The league commemorated 30 years of PSL by honoring 36 former teams with flag displays before the kick-off.
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“Football is finally back!” as staunch South African football fans would say, with the 2026/27 Premier League (PSL) season under way.

Granted, some of the games played yesterday did not live up to expectations but there have been signs that we are in for yet another exciting and competitive season.

For instance, the Betway Premiership defending champions Orlando Pirates did not have it completely easy against newcomers Milford FC. They had to wait for the last minutes on the board to kill the game and record a 2-0 victory at their slaughterhouse last season.

Despite the game being a sold-out affair, Orlando Stadium was not as boisterous and electrifying as it usually is. That could be due to how their team were playing, especially in the first half — as they were not as fluid as they normally are in their backyard.

One would have thought they were going to be commanding against the newcomers. As captain Nkosinathi Sibisi declared before the game, they “suffocate” and ensure that their opponents “do not breathe” at the Arena. However, that was not the case in the opener yesterday.

The supporters tried to bring some life to the match with the famous Viking Row, which we witnessed during the Fifa World Cup by the Norway fans, signalling their excitement at the arrival of Norwegian striker Sebastian Pedersen.

Inasmuch as the Buccaneers started the season better than they did previously, with three points in the bag, coach Abdeslam Ouaddou will have some slight concerns about how they approach their next game against Durban City in the MTN8 this coming weekend.

There were, though, some positives Ouaddou will take from the game, such as managing to keep a clean sheet, two of his important players Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi getting on the scoresheet and four of his debutants displaying convincing performances.

Also, young midfielder Camrin Dansin pulled a man-ofthe-match performance and showed signs of someone who could be a key player for Ouadou this season.

For Milford coach and chairperson Xanti Pupuma, after that confident performance against the reigning champions, he must have been proud, with little to worry about and might just survive relegation, as premature as that might be to predict.

Kudos to the league for also commemorating all 36 teams who formed part of the PSL for the past 30 years and no longer exist.

Right before kick-off, the flags of teams Santos, Bidvest Wits, Vasco Da Gama, Bloemfontein Celtics, Moroka Swallows, Free State Stars, Mpumalanga Black Aces, among others, were displayed inside the pitch during the celebration of 30 years of the PSL.