The Betway Premiership has set a trap for Kaizer Chiefs’ new regime, and the 2026/27 fixture list is the bait. By forcing Nasreddine Nabi’s side to face Mamelodi Sundowns and Sekhukhune United inside the opening three weeks, the league’s scheduling desk has effectively handed Chiefs a high-stakes gauntlet that could shatter their season before the September break. This isn’t bad luck—it’s a structural ambush designed to expose every fracture in a squad still learning a new system.
Take the opener against Sundowns. Rulani Mokwena’s machine has lost none of its edge—Peter Shalulile’s movement remains a nightmare for any backline, and Lucas Ribeiro’s late runs have already carved open two pretenders in pre-season. Chiefs’ defence, still adjusting to Nabi’s high press, leaked two goals in the 2-1 defeat I watched from the stands last weekend. The midfield pairing of Yusuf Maart and Samkelo Zwane couldn’t handle Sundowns’ relentless switch plays, with Teboho Mokoena dictating tempo from deep. One loss is manageable, but the schedule offers no respite. Sekhukhune United in Week 3 is far from a soft landing—Lehlohonolo Seema’s side punished Chiefs in the 1-0 reverse last season through physical pressing and set-piece disruption. With new centre-back Edmilson Dove still integrating, Sekhukhune’s Tshepo Mohlala and Siyabonga Ngezana will target every aerial duel early. Two losses in three matches would leave Chiefs with four points at best from a possible nine—a psychological sinkhole for a club that has not won a trophy since 2015.
The implication is brutal: this fixture list is a referendum on Nabi’s project before it can breathe. A poor start means the pressure cooker at Naturena flares instantly—board impatience, fan fury, and the dreaded “crisis meeting” headlines. Meanwhile, rivals like Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United face gentler opening runs and can bank points while Chiefs bleed momentum. By December, the deficit could already be insurmountable. Here’s my verdict: if Chiefs fail to take four points from these two matches, they will finish outside the top four for a seventh consecutive season, and Nabi will be gone by January. The trap is sprung—only a miracle can stop the jaws from closing.