Orlando Pirates supporters pose ahead of the football match against Kaizer Chiefs during their derby match on October 29, 2016 at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER
Are you ready?
Orlando Pirates supporters pose ahead of the football match against Kaizer Chiefs during their derby match on October 29, 2016 at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER
As the World Cup draws to a close this weekend, soccer fans will be turning their attentions to their favourite top-flight clubs, and it will not be different in South Africa, as teams will be readying for the 2018/19 PSL season.
Despite the uncertainty over which sides will make up the top flight of South African football – posed by the Ajax Cape Town saga – the PSL confirmed on Thursday that the upcoming season will start as scheduled.
Far from the courtroom scuffles, next season’s title hopefuls have been hard at work strengthening their squads, with some sides welcoming some big-name players within their ranks.
Fresh from losing second-choice goalkeeper, Brilliant Khuzwayo to the free market and, ultimately, to bitter rivals Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs have made big-name signing of their own in the form of Mamelodi Sundowns forward, Khama Billiat.
The defending champions themselves have made a big acquisition in the transfer market, as they snatched up the services of former Buccaneers skipper, Andile Jali, who joined on a free, after having cut ties with Belgian outfit, KV Oostende in April.
Sundowns do, however, look set on losing the services of their star player from last season, Percy Tau, who has drawn interest in Europe, with Brighton and Hove Albion putting a record offer for his services. Club chairman, Patrice Motsepe has also given the possible move the go-ahead.
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Sundowns will begin the defence of their eighth league title on the weekend of 3 August 2018.
The Absa Premiership is, however, yet to release the fixture list, meaning that all 16 clubs, as well as their fans, will have to wait a while longer to find out which teams will be clashing on the opening weekend.
Read: Percy Tau: Five clubs that have expressed an interest in the Sundowns superstar