Kaizer Chiefs face challenging start to the season with tough fixture list as trip to Mamelodi Sundowns looms large
Though Kaizer Chiefs will not be involved in the opening weekend of local football action in the MTN8, they will still have their work cut out from the outset in their new Betway Premiership campaign.
With Chiefs having finished outside the top eight in the league the last two seasons, there are increased expectations that the Soweto Giants will produce a much better showing.
Even though Chiefs won their first piece of silverware with the Nedbank Cup title last season, it did not hide their underperformance in the league.
Now, Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi will have to ensure his troops hit the ground running from their first clash.
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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Riveiro has since left Pirates to join continental giants Al Ahly of Egypt and the big question is which coach is going to replace him as the king of the MTN8. The Ghost surely need the trophy to remain their property and will be backing new man Abdeslam Ouaddou to lead their clubs to glory. The short road to what would be a record-extending fourth successive title begins this coming weekend with a tricky home clash against Polokwane City. On paper, Pirates have to be the favourites to progress into the semi-final but the beautiful game is played on grass and few clubs would know better than the black and white clad outfit how tricky things can be on the pitch. This, after all, is a team that slipped on the banana skin that was another team from Limpopo in the form of Magesi FC in the Carling Knockout at the same Orlando Stadium last year. They are sure to tell you that their shock defeat is water under the bridge and that City and Magesi are not the same. In any case, Pirates have mastered the art of winning the MTN8, haven't they? And there's just no way they'd relinquish their reign this year, at least not as early as the first round. 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