Will the Soweto giants – Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates – take advantage of having the perfect pre-season compared to Mamelodi Sundowns?
That is the question facing the country’s two biggest clubs ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Chiefs are already back at training in preparation for the new season, while Pirates will report back this week.
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This will happen with Sundowns still in the USA, where they still have at least one more game to play against Fluminense in Group F of their Club World Cup adventure.
The encounter against the winners of the 2023 Copa Libertadores is at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Wednesday (21:00 SA time).
Sundowns need victory to go through to the Last 16, otherwise they will be on the long-distance flight back to South Africa before the weekend.
From the first match they played in starting the 2024/25 season, The Brazilians have now played 55 matches, which has included five trips to North Africa during the CAF Champions League.
Should their campaign end on Wednesday, then Sundowns will have to negotiate a short off-season before returning mid-July.
The domestic season starts a few weeks later in August.
In comparison, Chiefs reported back last Friday and will set up camp in Holland from July 3-19.
Nasreddine Nabi’s team will have perfect preparation as they will not be involved in the early-season MTN8.
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Fellow giants Pirates are back on Friday–June 27.
They will be in Marbella, Spain from July 8-20 and will play friendly matches against Bolton Wanderers (England), Pafos (Cyprus), Las Palmas, and Granada (both Spain).
Photo: Eurasia Sport Images
