Former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Oupa ‘Ace’ Manyisa believes the current Betway Premiership season is one of the most competitive, explaining what makes it fascinating.
Manyisa reckons that the defining characteristic of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign is how teams are maximising their opportunities. Unlike previous seasons, where missed chances often stalled momentum, citing that teams are now punished for even minor lapses.
Meanwhile, the Big Three typically dominate the conversation; the current log suggests a much tighter battle as the league moves past the halfway mark. With roughly 14 games remaining for the top contenders.
As things stand, Orlando Pirates currently occupy the summit of the Betway Premiership table with 38 points. They are closely pursued by Mamelodi Sundowns in second place with 35 points, while Sekhukhune United leapfrogged Kaizer Chiefs to hold third position with 32 points.
‘MOST OF THE TEAMS SCORE WHEN THEY GET CHANCES’: OUPA MANYISA
Speaking in an exclusive interview with FARPost, the Pirates legend highlighted a significant shift in the league’s dynamics, particularly noting a surge in clinical finishing and tactical consistency.
The statistics back up Manyisa’s observations. Currently, the league is seeing an average of roughly 1.94 goals per match, with heavyweights like Pirates [26 goals] and Sundowns [26 goals] leading the charge. This attacking intent is shared across the board, with mid-table teams like TS Galaxy [22 goals] and Golden Arrows [23 goals] also contributing significantly to the goal tally.
Manyisa went on to point out that this season has become a stage for offensive talents to reclaim the spotlight. The race for the Golden Boot is already heating up, featuring a mix of veteran experience and clinical young talent.
Currently, Junior Dion of Golden Arrows is leading the top goalscorer charts with nine goals, followed by Bradley Grobler of Sekhukhune United with seven goals and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Iqraam Rayners with six goals.
“What makes it interesting is that most of the teams are consistent. To add to that, most of the teams score when they get chances. You can see that there are a lot of goals this season,” Manyisa told FARPost.
“This is an attacking season where strikers and attacking midfielders want to show up and score goals.
“At the moment, if you look at the top teams, everyone still stands a chance to win the league. We still have about 15 games to go. This is football, and anything can still happen.”
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