The Betway Premiership continues with two matches on the evening of Wednesday, 18 February, headlined by a top-of-the-table battle between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Catch all the action live on SuperSport.
The Buccaneers and the Brazilians will meet at the FNB Stadium (upgraded from the smaller capacity Orlando Stadium) in a fixture which could go a long way in deciding whether Pirates can break Sundowns’ hegemony in the Premiership.
The Tshwane side have won eight successive titles (and nine of the last 10), but come into this clash six points adrift of leaders Pirates (who have played a game extra).
Sundowns claimed a 2-0 win over MC Alger in the Caf Champions League this past weekend to advance into the quarterfinals of the continental competition for an eighth successive season, but they now face a tough domestic challenge that will test their depth and resilience.
The Buccaneers secured their 12th win from 16 league matches (and extended their unbeaten run across all competitions to 14) by crushing Marumo Gallants 3-0 this past weekend, thanks to goals from Yanela Mbuthuma, Patrick Maswanganyi and Relebohile Mofokeng.
Despite their excellent form, coach Abdeslam Ouaddou was left frustrated by his team’s performance – feeling that they failed to fully capitalise on their dominance and kill off the opponent earlier.
“The only positive point about today is the three points,” said the Buccaneers boss. “The positive is that we scored early. Had Marumo scored early, the game would have been different.
“When you are playing for such a big club with a lot of ambition, it becomes crucial that we finish in the last third. I have been saying that, and it is now becoming a sickness.”
Pirates will look to bring a new ruthlessness to the fore on Wednesday night, but Sundowns are not to be underestimated – their dominance of the past decade has been hard earned, and they will not relinquish it without an almighty battle.
Wednesday evening also features a lower-table battle, as 13th-placed Stellenbosch FC welcome bottom-of-the-log Magesi FC to the Danie Craven Stadium.
Stellies were last in Betway Premiership action in January, securing a 1-0 win away to Sekhukhune United thanks to a debut goal from Tshegofatso Mabasa. It was just a fourth win from 15 league matches this season, leaving them just a point above the relegation playoff zone (albeit with games in hand on those below them).
Stellenbosch coach Gavin Hunt is happy to return to action at the Danie Craven Stadium, with the team playing at the venue for the first time since September 2025, while it has undergone renovations and updates.
“It means we don’t have to sit in a bus for two hours, getting to the stadium in Cape Town,” said Hunt.
Magesi, meanwhile, come into the match having taken just 11 points from 16 matches in the 2025-26 season thus far. Dikwena tsa Meetse have lost their last four matches on the spin (their most recent outing was a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Golden Arrows on Friday, 13 February) and gone eight without a win. Their last taste of victory was in a league game at home to TS Galaxy back in October 2025.
The match between Siwelele FC and Kaizer Chiefs was postponed due to the latter’s travel constraints in returning from a Caf Confederation Cup match in Egypt.
BETWAY PREMIERSHIP MIDWEEK FIXTURES
Times CAT
Wednesday 18 February
- 7:30pm: Orlando Pirates v Mamelodi Sundowns
- 7:30pm: Stellenbosch FC v Magesi FC
- Siwelele FC v Kaizer Chiefs – Postponed