Here’s who would qualify for the MTN8 if the season ended TODAY

A look at the latest Betway Premiership standings shows that there’s a made scramble on for lucrative MTN8 spots next season.

Apart from Kaizer Chiefs who have only played 20 matches to date, every other side has completed either 21 or 22 fixtures, meaning we’re well into the final stretch of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season.

If the season were to finish today, this is how next season’s MTN8 would look:

Orlando Pirates vs Golden Arrows

Mamelodi Sundowns vs Polokwane City

AmaZulu FC vs Sekhukhune United

Kaizer Chiefs vs Durban City

However, there is a battle royal on for places in next season’s MTN with red-hot Stellenbosch FC and Siwelele FC still in with a shout.

The MTN8 winner will bank a cool R10 million while the seven other competing sides will take home R1 million each.

Orlando Pirates are the defending MTN8 champions.

Latest Betway Premiership log

Soweto derby

Meanwhile, football rivalries in South Africa don’t come any bigger than that between Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

As soon as the league fixtures are announced ahead of any season, fans of both sides are only interested in TWO matches – the derby matches.

In the 29 completed PSL top-flight seasons to date since the professional era kicked off in 1996/97, the Buccaneers have each finished higher in the standings on 15 occasions, with Kaizer Chiefs claiming bragging rights on the 14 other occasions.

The biggest difference in final positions for Kaizer Chiefs ahead of Orlando Pirates is 7 places (2016/17 season), while the biggest difference in positions for Orlando Pirates ahead of Kaizer Chiefs is 8 places (2023/24 season).

Recent form

Recent form has favoured Orlando Pirates – and at the same time illustrated just how far Kaizer Chiefs have fallen.

In the last eight seasons, Orlando Pirates have finished ahead of Kaizer Chiefs on six occasions.

At the time of publishing, the Buccaneers are 15 points ahead of Amakhosi. However, the Glamour Boys have played two fewer matches.

League champions

Both Kaizer Chiefs (2003/04, 2004/05, 2012/13, 2014/15) and Orlando Pirates (2000/02, 2002/03, 2010/11, 2011/12) have been crowned league champions on four occasions to date.

Mamelodi Sundowns lead the way with 16 titles, while SuperSport United (3) and Manning Rangers, Santos and Wits (one apiece) are the only other sides to have tasted success.