KZN clubs gear up for the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season

KwaZulu-Natal enters the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season with four clubs representing the province — each with contrasting ambitions, identities and levels of pressure. 

AmaZulu, Golden Arrows, Richards Bay and newly-promoted Durban City are all part of the top flight again, but what separates them this time is the urgency to make their mark in what promises to be a competitive and unpredictable campaign.

At the top of the KZN food chain is AmaZulu, who finished sixth last season and appear to have turned a corner under Arthur Zwane. 

After taking sole charge in February following the departure of Vusumuzi Vilakazi, Zwane stabilised the side and gave the squad a clearer tactical direction. 

Now, with a full pre-season under his belt and several new signings, Zwane will be expected to push Usuthu beyond mid-table. 

A top-four finish and possibly a return to CAF competition isn’t out of the question — but it will depend on how quickly the team adapts and finds rhythm.

Golden Arrows, on the other hand, are a side looking to arrest a worrying slide. Arrows flirted with relegation last season and haven’t looked like the competitive force they once were under Mandla Ncikazi and Steve Komphela. 

Their identity as a club that nurtures young talent is still intact, but it’s starting to look fragile under pressure. Unless they fix their defensive frailties and become more consistent, Arrows could once again find themselves in a relegation scrap.

Durban City are the most intriguing of the KZN contingent. Making their top-flight return under seasoned coach Gavin Hunt, they bring a mix of raw youth and old-school pragmatism. 

Hunt has already added familiar faces like Darren Keet and Shawn Poggenpoel — players he worked with at Bidvest Wits — and is still assessing the fitness of veteran defender Thulani Hlatshwayo. 

Despite lacking a Diski Challenge structure prior to promotion, City have quickly built a base and are targeting more than just survival. If they can avoid a poor start and pick up key points at home, they could very well punch above their weight.

Richards Bay are the dark horses of the group. After years of flirting with relegation, they’ve now secured an MTN8 berth following a much-improved campaign. 

Co-coaches Ronnie Gabriel and Papi Zothwane have crafted a resilient side, one that has already won the KZN Premier’s Cup and believes it can challenge the traditional order. 

Their clash against Sundowns in the MTN8 quarterfinal will be a huge test, but also a massive opportunity to set the tone for the season.

Collectively, the four KZN teams carry the province’s hopes of being more than just developmental contributors to the Betway Premiership. 

For too long, KwaZulu-Natal clubs have lacked consistency and leadership at the top level. This season, with a variety of philosophies and ambitions on display, there’s a genuine opportunity for the region to step forward.

Whether it’s continental ambitions, survival battles, or fairytale breakthroughs — KZN is officially in the fight.