The Stallions of KwaZulu-Natal and The Village Boys of Mpumalanga are set to face South Africa's biggest football clubs in their first fixtures following their promotion from the National First Division.
We look into how both teams have prepared and their respective approach ahead of the upcoming 2026/27 opening fixtures.
Milford FC
The Stallions gained promotion through the play-offs, condemning Magesi to the Motsepe Foundation Championship following a 1-1 draw in their final match.
Milford will be slightly confident in their abilities to cause an upset against the defending Betway Premiership champions Orlando Pirates this Saturday, after having previously defeated topflight sides Kaizer Chiefs and Sekhukhune United in their Nedbank Cup appearances.
The KwaZulu-Natal outfit has taken the unconventional approach of not signing players with PSL experience during the current transfer window but rather opting to retain the majority of the squad that gained promotion with the addition of a few players from the lower division.
Head coach Dr Xanti Pupuma has openly admitted that his side are the underdogs in the top-flight league this 2026/27 season but backs his side to embrace the challenge against the Buccaneers.
"To get the champions away on day one - it doesn't get tougher than that," said Pupuma to the club website.
"We will embrace it, knowing it won't be easy, but my only wish is that we show up and don’t get carried away by the occasion."
Pirates can expect a defensively compact Milford side which can punish opposition with their quick transitional play from counterattacks through wingers Sifiso Mdluli, Siphamandla Mhlongo and others while also threatening from set-pieces.
Kruger United
The Village Boys from Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga will face Kaizer Chiefs in their historic top-flight opener this Saturday after gaining automatic promotion from the Motsepe Foundation Championship last season.
United have embarked on a busy transfer window, making 14 signings as they look to ensure they can compete at the level required in the Betway Premiership by adding experienced players like Fiacre Ntwari [on loan from Chiefs], Kwanda Mngonyama, Thendo Mukumela and forward Thabang Sibanyoni to the roster.
The club recently secured a three-year deal to use the Mbombela Stadium for home matches, a sign that they intend to stay in the first division for a long time.
Head coach Abram Mongoya is confident that his side can shock Amakhosi on Saturday and has identified their strengths and weaknesses during the latter's pre-season matches.
"Getting a Chiefs side at a time where the coaches have not yet settled is a sort of perfect situation. Hopefully it goes our way," said Mongoya to FARPost.
"We are going to try and impose our game as much as we can against Chiefs and test ourselves in the big league now. We studied their past three games, and we've seen how they structure and restructure the team to try and change shapes.
"You don't know how they are going to start or who they are going to play."
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