Rival fans of Mamelodi Sundowns could be having hope of an unpredictable Betway Premiership title race while Bafana Bafana could suffer ahead of the unusual, compressed 2025/26 season.
There is a general feeling Sundowns will take their level higher when they resume domestic duties, after exposure and participation at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
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In addition to having a short off-season break, the core of the Tshwane giants' players will be back in the thick of things when World Cup qualifiers resume in September (and back again in October), just after the Betway Premiership gets underway.
With the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations starting in December, the PSL is likely to take a break, which will compress the calendar ever closer than before, especially should Hugo Broos' men qualify for the World Cup, which starts on 11 June next year.
The Belgian mentor could require preparation time of weeks prior, likely leading to a compressed fixtures list.
Sundowns and Orlando Pirates legend Teko Modise has conceded that things could get tricky with regards to the load.
"It's going to be a long season. I think it's gonna be longer than the one we had last season. But it's a privilege to be in such spaces, where you regularly play football, you regularly play big tournaments," Modise said on The Pitchside Podcast.
"Other footballers around the world are envying you, they envy the space you're in. Yes, it's a lot of load on the players, but that's what is expected when you're playing for a team of Sundowns' calibre.
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The load on Miguel Cardoso's charges will also be a huge concern for Broos, with Bafana in pole position to clinch automatic qualification to the World Cup.
