A new era officially begins for the Glamour Boys! Kaizer Chiefs kick off their 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign on Saturday, 1 August with an away clash against newly promoted Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium (Kick-off: 20:00).
The fixture marks the start of Amakhosi’s 57th top-flight season—and their 31st in the PSL era—as they target a fifth PSL title and their 14th overall league championship.
A Historic Debut for Fernando Da Cruz
Saturday’s clash marks the official competitive debut of French tactician Fernando Da Cruz. The 54-year-old becomes:
- The first French coach to manage Kaizer Chiefs in the PSL era.
- Only the second French-born manager in the club’s history, following Philippe Troussier, who lifted the BP Top 8 title with Amakhosi back in 1994.
Dominant Opening-Day Stats Favor Amakhosi
History is heavily on Kaizer Chiefs’ side as they look to make it three successive opening-day victories following past victories over Marumo Gallants and Stellenbosch FC:
- Overall Opening Day Record (PSL Era): 17 Wins | 8 Draws | 5 Losses (30 Matches).
- Away Openers Record: 12 Wins | 5 Draws | 2 Losses (20 Matches) — avoiding defeat in 90% of away opening fixtures.
- Biggest Opener Win: 6-0 vs AmaZulu (2012/13 Season).
New Rivals: Kruger United
Kruger United—who earned automatic promotion by clinching the Motsepe Foundation Championship—will become just the third Mpumalanga-based side to face Kaizer Chiefs in top-flight history, joining Mpumalanga Black Aces and TS Galaxy.
Match Prediction: Kruger United 0 – 2 Kaizer Chiefs
