The new 2023/24 DStv Premiership season gets under way on Friday night when Sekhukhune United host champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
It is the start of another long campaign for the 16 topflight clubs and the question remains – who can topple the mighty Brazilians?
We bring you a club-by-club to their prospects in the season ahead.
AMAZULU
Last season’s finish: 12th – P30 W7 D12 L11 GF29 GA33
Coach: Pablo Franco (Spain)
Key signings: Victor Letsoalo (striker); Rowan Human (attacking midfielder)
Season’s prospects: The only way is up for AmaZulu are a disappointing campaign in 2022/23 in which they went through three coaches and failed to put together a consistent run of form. New Spanish coach Pablo Franco may need a period of adjustment to the league – just like his compatriot at Orlando Pirates Jose Riveiro last season – but there have been some promising signs in pre-season. The team is still light on goals but the arrival of Bafana Bafana players Victor Letsoalo and Rowan Human should help.
Predicted finish: 7th-10th
CAPE TOWN CITY
Last season’s finish: 4th – P30 W12 D9 L9 GF34 GA30
Coach: Eric Tinkler
Key signings: Jo Paciencia (striker); Tshegofatso Nyama (defender)
Season’s prospects: Cape Town City had a below par campaign last season but still managed to finish fourth, which shows the quality in their squad. Their big issue was giving up leads, they let 19 points slip from winning positions, the worst record in the league. They have added Jo Paciencia as a targetman striker, a position they have battled badly almost since their inception. He has the potential to make a huge difference by bringing into the game more skillful players around him. The side have lost Mduduzi Mdantsane to Kaizer Chiefs but he was less influential in the last campaign.
Predicted finish: 3rd-5th
CAPE TOWN SPURS
Last season’s finish: 2nd (second-tier) – P30 W17 D6 L7 GF42 GA27
Coach: Shaun Bartlett
Key signings: Keagan Buchanan (midfielder), Boitumelo Radiopane (striker)
Season’s prospects: Spurs earned their DStv Premiership spot through the play-offs after being denied automatic promotion on the final day of the Motsepe Foundation Championship season. They are a mix of nags of experience with the likes of Clayton Daniels, Nazeer Allie and Michael Morton, and young players who have never tasted topflight football before. Gone are the days of trying to play the ‘Ajax Amsterdam way’, the team is more pragmatic these days under coach Shaun Bartlett and will likely be tough to beat. The return on loan of Boitumelo Radiopane to play with Ashley Cupido up front makes for an exciting young strike partnership.
Predicted finish: 12th-14th
CHIPPA UNITED
Last season’s finish: 14th – P30 W7 D9 L14 GF29 GA44
Coach: Morgan Mammila
Key signings: Luvuyo Memela (attacking midfielder); Craig Martin (winger/wingback); Goodman Mosele (midfielder)
Season’s prospects: Chippa have rode their luck in the topflight for most of the last decade and it must surely run out soon. They were saved by a Lamontville Golden Arrows side who clearly had no intention of trying to win their final game of last season, the point Chippa ‘earned’ enough to keep them away from automatic relegation. The club has made some decent signings since, but their propensity to shoot themselves in the foot is never ending and you get the feeling this will be another season of chaos, and perhaps finally a relegation that has been looming for some time.
Predicted finish: 15th-16th
KAIZER CHIEFS
Last season’s finish: 5th – P30 W13 D5 L12 GF32 GA33
Coach: Molefi Ntseki
Key signings: Pule Mmodi (winger); Mduduzi Mdantsane (attacking midfielder); Ranga Chivaviro (striker)
Season’s prospects: Chiefs finished fifth last season and despite several new arrivals, they look set for a similar season of some toil. They conceded a club record 12 defeats in the last DStv Premiership campaign and have since demoted Arthur Zwane back to his assistant coach position. In has come head of technical Molefi Ntseki, who at least knows the players and the culture within the team. But pre-season has been dire, they lost two high-profile friendlies against Young Africans (Tanzania) and Township Rollers (Botswana) and there was nothing in those 180 minutes to suggest a change in fortunes is on the horizon. Put them down for perhaps a cup win to end their eight-year trophy drought, but the league looks like it may be a slog.
Predicted finish: 5th-8th
LAMONTVILLE GOLDEN ARROWS
Last season’s finish: 9th – P30 W10 D8 L12 GF32 GA40
Co-coaches: Vusi Vilakazi & Mabhuti Khenyeza
Key signings: Bradley Cross (defender)
Season’s prospects: Golden Arrows’ shenanigans on the final day at Chippa United last season cost them a top eight place, but they may fall even further this term. They have lost the considerable talents of winger Pule Mmodi (to Kaizer Chiefs) and Divine Lunga (loan return to Mamelodi Sundowns) and have added liberally to their squad, with perhaps defender Bradley Cross the only stand-out. Only two clubs conceded more than their 40 goals last season and if they cannot sharpen up at the back then they may yet be sucked into a relegation scrap.
Predicted finish: 10th-13th
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Last season’s finish: 1st – P30 W21 D7 L2 GF52 GA13
Coach: Rulani Mokwena
Key signings: Júnior Mendieta (attacking midfielder); Lucas Ribeiro Costa (attacking midfielder); Thapelo Maseko (winger)
Season’s prospects: It is hard to see Sundowns finishing anywhere other than first, even if perhaps the chasing pack will be a little more robust this season. They just have so much quality ion their huge squad, with depth to cover for injuries and goal-scoring threats across the park. They have arguably added to that from last season. The one thing that may be a hindrance is the fact they will have a punishing schedule as they potentially contest for six trophies this season – DStv Premiership, MTN8, Carling Knockout Cup, Nedbank Cup, CAF Champions League and the mysterious African Football League. That will stretch them in a season where there is already a six-week break for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast and four Fifa windows. They could potentially play up to 66 matches, which even with their big and multi-talented squad is a lot.
Predicted finish: 1st
MOROKA SWALLOWS
Last season’s finish: 8th – P30 W11 D7 L12 GF26 GA33
Coach: Steve Komphela
Key signings: Andile Jali (midfielder); Dumisani Zuma (winger)
Season’s prospects: Swallows are back with ‘Moroka’ in their name this season after all issues around its use have been sorted out, and they also have a new coach after the surprise capture of Steve Komphela from Sundowns. A late season surge saw them grab a top eight place for 2023/24 and they will want to build on that. They have made several new signings, headlined by Andile Jali, who brings bags of experience and know-how. They have also brought in Dumisani Zuma, who is looking to get his career back on track after several fallow seasons. They are a squad of hard grafters and could repeat their top eight finish, or end up just outside, but it is unlikely they will be dragged into a relegation scrap again.
Predicted finish: 7th-11th
ORLANDO PIRATES
Last season’s finish: 2nd – P30 W16 D6 L8 GF40 GA21
Coach: Jose Riveiro (Spain)
Key signings: Melusi Buthelezi (goalkeeper); Lesedi Kapinga (attacking midfielder); Karim Kimvuidi (attacking midfielder)
Season’s prospects: Pirates were excellent in the second half of last season and actually outscored Sundowns in terms of points. They ended runners-up and booked a place in the CAF Champions League, which could have an effect on their coming campaign. How they add that into the mix, plus the Carling Knockout Cup, will be interesting, but they have a good squad with a hard-working group of players and a tactically astute coach. Jose Riveiro had a dream, start to life in the PSL but also claiming the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup trophies last season. They should be right up near the top of the table again, but the extra burden of two more competitions could take its toll on them. But conversely, this is a period of great excitement for The Ghost and it will be fascinating to see how they go. They are probably the team best placed to challenge Sundowns for the league title.
Predicted finish: 2nd-4th
POLOKWANE CITY
Last season’s finish: 1st (second tier) – P30 W17 D6 L7 GF44 GA24
Coach: Duncan Lechesa
Key signings: Given Mashikinya (midfielder); Oswin Appollis (attacking midfielder)
Season’s prospects: Polokwane City are back in the topflight after an absence of three seasons and the only real aim this term will be to keep their place. They have a squad with very little DStv Premiership experience, and a coach in Duncan Lechesa who has spent most of his career working in the lower league. That being said he was a fine player in the topflight. They will hope to make Polokwane a tough place to visit, but will likely be found out fast by their opponents. As Richards Bay and Sekhukhune United have found out in the last two seasons, once the defeats start coming they are very hard to stop for promoted teams.
Predicted finish: 14th-16th
RICHARDS BAY
Last season’s finish: 13th – P30 W8 D9 L13 GF20 GA30
Coach: Kaitano Tembo
Key signings: Thabani Dube (defender)
Season’s prospects: Going into last season, promoted Richards Bay’s major aim would have been survival, and they achieved that, so it was job done. But given they were second after 18 rounds of the championship and finished three points above the relegation zone, their freefall in the second half of the campaign and is something they have to arrest for this season. They took two points from a possible 36 to the end of the campaign. They have appointed Kaitano Tembo as their new coach and their last victory was 2-0 away at relegated Marumo Gallants on January 14, so it has been a long wait. New signings have been underwhelming and they need to add goals – their total of 20 last season was the lowest in the top division.
Predicted finish: 14th-16th
ROYAL AM
Last season’s finish:
11th – P30 W9 D8 L13 GF33 GA43Coach: John Maduka
Key signings: None
Season’s prospects: Royal AM are currently under a Fifa transfer suspension, so may have to go into the season with the same squad as last year unless they clear their 12-million debt to former striker Samir Nurkovic. If they cannot bring in new players, it is hard to see how they can improve, having already seen exits in the form of Tebogo Potsane to Kaizer Chiefs, Lantshane Phalane to Moroka Swallows and Mbhazima Rikhotso to Sekhukhune United and veteran winger Elias Pelembe back to Mozambique. What may save them from a relegation scrap is the fact it remains a good squad of players with a solid coach in John Maduka. But it could be a tough old campaign.
Predicted finish: 11th-13th
SEKHUKHUNE UNITED
Last season’s finish: 7th – P30 W10 D10 L10 GF24 GA27
Coach: Brandon Truter
Key signings: Jamie Webber (midfielder); Tiklas Thutlwa (Black Leopards)
Season’s prospects: Sekhukhune United were much improved after coach Brandon Truter took over from Kaitano Tembo last season and ended with a top eight place and a runner-up spot in the Nedbank Cup. That is a great base to build from, but they need to find goals from somewhere. They scored only 24 last season and have lost the services of forwards Victor Letsoalo, Tshegofatso Mabasa and Tashreeq Morris, potentially leaving them a little light up top. But Truter will have them well-drilled and organised, so it is unlikely they will struggle. It is just not clear if they can match last year’s finish.
Predicted finish: 6th-10th
STELLENBOSCH FC
Last season’s finish: 6th – P30 W10 D10 L10 GF39 GA38
Coach: Steve Barker
Key signings: Thabo Moloisane (defender); Olivier Touré (defender); Oscarine Masuluke (goalkeeper)
Season’s prospects: Stellenbosch ended the season well last term and booked a top eight place but have since lost some top talent they have yet to really replace. Losing Júnior Mendieta to Mamelodi Sundowns is a huge blow to their scoring potential, while teenage defender Olwethu Makhanya has gone to Major League Soccer and Nigerian midfielder Ibraheem Jabaar to Israel. All of those were influential players last season and while they have reinforced the side, it is mostly in defence (which was needed). Where the goals are going to come from remains more of a mystery …
Predicted finish: 8th-12th
SUPERSPORT UNITED
Last season’s finish: 3rd – P30 W14 D9 L7 GF34 GA22
Coach: Gavin Hunt
Key signings: Siyanda Xulu (defender); Phathutshedzo Nange (midfielder); Terrence Dzvukamanja (striker); Etiosa Ighodaro (striker)
Season’s prospects: SuperSport lost top young talent Thapelo Maseko to city rivals Sundowns, but have also signed some excellent talent and look a better squad than the one that started last season. They have added experience and quality in most areas and are well set to match, or improve, last season’s third place. They should have more potency in attack, better balance in the midfield and in new centre-backs Siyanda Xulu and Abdul Hamza will be strong in defence again. Toppling Sundowns is unlikely, but second place is on, or certainly qualification for CAF club competition …
Predicted finish: 2nd-4th
TS GALAXY
Last season’s finish: 10th – P30 W7 D14 L9 GF28 GA22
Coach: Sead Ramovic (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Key signings: Ntwari Fiacre (goalkeeper); Higor Vidal (attacking midfielder)
Season’s prospects: Coach Ramovic enters his third season and they often say you need to give a tactician three years to build a squad and get them to play his way. We are at that point now, so Galaxy need to deliver and they do have the building blocks for what would eb considered success – a top eight place. The slight worry is where the goals will come from, buit they were rock solid in defence last season and should eb so again, even if centre-back Given Msimango has left for Kaizer Chiefs. They also lost goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi to Orlando Pirates but have replaced him with Ntwari Fiacre. Brazilian import Higor Vidal is a bit of an unknown quantity.
Predicted finish: 7th-12th