Table-toppers make their move
Three games in and two teams have thrown down a marker. Sekhukhune United and Kaizer Chiefs are flawless so far, sitting side by side on nine points with spotless defensive records. Sekhukhune have five goals from three outings without conceding. Chiefs are just behind on goal difference with four scored and none against. Early days, sure, but clean sheets and control this early in the Betway Premiership do not happen by accident.
Chiefs got the big early boost by pouncing when rivals slipped. With Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates both dropping points in previous rounds, Amakhosi took care of their own business and quietly climbed to the summit. Sekhukhune, meanwhile, have been all about structure and efficiency. They do not waste much in either box, and that balance is why they currently hold top spot on goal difference.
The latest set of fixtures on 26 August delivered tight scorelines and a few useful clues. At Old Peter Mokaba, Polokwane City and Durban City cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw. Chances were limited, and the point suited Durban City fine; it keeps them unbeaten with eight points from four, good enough for third place. For Polokwane, it was another solid, if unspectacular, shift that banks a result without swinging their season either way.
Down in Stellenbosch, the hosts finally found the relief they were chasing. Stellenbosch FC edged Marumo Gallants 1-0 at Danie Craven, a result that will feel bigger than the scoreline. Phili came off the bench to decide it, the kind of impact that can unlock a spluttering start. First wins settle nerves, restore belief, and turn training-ground details into points on the board.
In Soweto, Orlando Pirates handled their task with minimal drama, beating newly-promoted Orbit College 1-0 at Orlando Stadium. That is two wins already for the Buccaneers, who have been tidy if not yet free-flowing. The narrow margin underlines a theme of this round: control over chaos. Pirates are in that early-season gear where you grind first, polish later. They sit on six points alongside TS Galaxy and Marumo Gallants, with enough to build on but a gap to the leaders they will feel they can close.
Richards Bay got their lift-off too, a 1-0 victory over Chippa United at Princess Magogo that does a lot of heavy lifting. Mhango delivered the match-winner, and it matters on two fronts: it kick-starts Richards Bay's campaign and deepens the worries at Chippa, now on a single point from four matches. When margins are thin, those first three points are gold. For Chippa, the picture is stark: one draw, three defeats, pressure rising.
What the latest round tells us
The current table tells a neat story. Sekhukhune United and Kaizer Chiefs are perfect with nine points and no goals conceded. Durban City, who have quietly strung together two wins and two draws from four, sit third on eight. Sundowns are fourth with seven from three, unbeaten but no longer faultless after a draw that let the top two steal a march.
Just behind, the six-point cluster is where things feel volatile. TS Galaxy, Marumo Gallants, and Orlando Pirates are grouped together, each with reasons to be pleased and plenty to fix. AmaZulu are on six too, and with fewer games played than some around them, they are well-placed to climb if they stay steady.
So why are Chiefs and Sekhukhune leading? Starts like these usually come down to defensive rhythm. Chiefs look compact, with their back line reading danger before it turns into shots. You can see the value of early game management: keep it tight, take the moment when it arrives, and do not give teams late gifts. Sekhukhune exude similar control, and the five goals scored so far suggest they are not just sitting deep and hoping. They are picking their moments and punishing mistakes.
For Sundowns, there is no alarm in fourth. Seven points from a possible nine is a strong start, and they know how to turn that platform into long unbeaten runs. The key will be accelerating chance creation without exposing the back door. One clean, convincing attacking performance could flip the narrative quickly.
Pirates have banked their second win and look comfortable defending a lead. The next step is turning 1-0s into 2-0s by being more ruthless when they are on top. With Orbit College still adapting to the intensity of this level, Pirates did enough without overreaching. It is a professional win, and banks exactly what you need in a midweek round: three points, no drama, move on.
Stellenbosch's breakthrough matters for momentum. Teams stuck on zero wins often end up chasing games and overcommitting. Getting that first one frees the legs and the mind. It also creates internal competition; when a substitute like Phili decides a match, the whole squad sharpens up.
Richards Bay's result feels bigger because of the opponent. Beating a direct rival in the early going is a six-pointer in disguise. It nudges them upward and leaves Chippa looking at the table a little longer than they would like. For Chippa, this is now about stopping the slide quickly. Changing the mood might be as simple as a goalless draw and a gritty follow-up win, but they need a foothold.
Durban City have been the surprise package in the best possible way: hard to beat, clear in their approach, and getting something from every outing. A goalless draw away at Polokwane may not make headlines, but it travels well in a long season. That plus-three goal difference and zero losses paint a picture of a group that understands game states and refuses to panic.
Orbit College will know the step up is unforgiving. You can play well for long spells and still watch a single mistake cost a point. The job now is to turn good passages into clean chances and to keep the back door locked for longer. The template is simple: stay in games, take the one big opportunity when it lands.
There is also the calendar to consider. The season will soon tighten with quick turnarounds and cup commitments. The teams that manage minutes smartly tend to ride out the bumps. Rotations at center-back and full-back often decide early-season clean sheets. Get that wrong and you chase matches; get it right and you stack points.
- Two perfect records: Sekhukhune United and Kaizer Chiefs on 9 points, zero conceded.
- Durban City unbeaten and third after a disciplined 0-0 at Polokwane City.
- Orlando Pirates grind past Orbit College 1-0 to notch a second win.
- Stellenbosch earn their first victory; Phili delivers off the bench.
- Richards Bay lift off; Mhango's goal leaves Chippa rooted near the bottom on 1 point.
- Mamelodi Sundowns steady in fourth with 7 points and room to accelerate.
It is tight at the top, unforgiving at the bottom, and already tense in the middle. The margins are thin, and the teams that master them now will set the tone for the next month.
