Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso wants his team to make a statement against Chippa United in their Betway Premiership opener at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on 9 August.
Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
Current form:
Cardoso guided the Brazilians to a record eighth league title in his debut season at Chloorkop, as they finished a comfortable 12 points ahead of Orlando Pirates.
Bafana ba Style kicked off the new campaign last weekend with a convincing 4-0 victory over Richards Bay in the MTN8 quarterfinals and they will face the Buccaneers in the semifinals.
Masandawana won their opening four matches last term before Polokwane City beat them 1-0 on October 27 to bring an end to their 100 per cent start - the first of just three defeats for the league champions.
The Pretoria giants have come out on top in their last seven meetings with Chippa, scoring 15 goals and conceding just one, while they won 3-0 both home and away in 2024-25.
The Chilli Boys made a promising start last season, winning four of their first 10 outings and picking up 14 points in the process, but they fell away badly in the final month.
Chippa only collected one point from their last five matches, of which four ended in defeat and they missed out on the MTN8 after finishing in 11th place.
Thabo September, who took over the reins from Kwanele Kopo in the new year, has since departed the club and Sinethemba Badela has been brought in as head coach ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
What was said:
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso
"Any club that is capable of competing at the highest level must be very respectful towards their opponents. The story of Sundowns obliges us to think about winning regularly.
"I told the players that it is very important to deliver a statement in the first match of the new league season.
"Chippa United have been playing some friendly matches here in Joburg but we do not know what to expect. I hope that after the match on Saturday, the new Chippa United coach goes on to have a successful career."
Players to watch:
Chippa United - Goodman Mosele has returned to Gqeberha for a second loan spell after he barely featured for Pirates last term. The 25-year-old midfielder impressed for the Chilli Boys during his previous stint in 2023-24, making 22 league appearances and he brings plenty of experience to Badela's side, having featured for Baroka in the top flight for four seasons.
Mamelodi Sundowns - It will be interesting to see how Fawaaz Basadien fits in at Sundowns after making the move from Stellenbosch in the off-season. The 28-year-old left-back was an integral member of Steve Barker's side, contributing three goals and five assists in 25 league appearances last season, but he will face plenty of competition from Aubrey Modiba, Divine Lunga and Terrence Mashego at Chloorkop.
Head-to-Head: (Last Five Betway Premiership Matches)
Matches - 5
Chippa wins - 0
Sundowns wins - 5
Draws - 0