Golden Arrows out to spoil Siwelele’s return as Richards Bay open against Marumo Gallants

Golden Arrows will look to dampen Siwelele FC’s top-flight return party when the sides meet in the Betway Premiership at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Saturday night (8pm).

The soon-to-be Bloemfontein-based side’s readiness remains something of a mystery. Siwelele have not played any competitive or friendly matches during the build-up to the new season, leaving their form and tactical sharpness open to speculation.

While the club’s history is rich with moments of promise, the absence of recent match data makes it difficult to predict how they will shape up on opening day. That uncertainty could play into the hands of Arrows, who head into the season determined to make a strong start after falling short of their top-eight ambitions last term.

Coach Manqoba Mngqithi’s side have worked hard to sharpen their squad during pre-season and will aim to collect early points to set the tone for the campaign.

The lack of recent meetings between these two clubs adds further intrigue, with both sides relying solely on pre-season preparations and tactical adjustments rather than head-to-head insights. In a match fuelled by unpredictability, the first goal could prove decisive.

Earlier in the day, Richards Bay begin their 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign against Marumo Gallants at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi. Kick-off is set for 3pm.

The Natal Rich Boys have their eyes on back-to-back top-eight finishes and will hope to turn their home ground into a fortress once more.

Having been eliminated from the MTN8 in pre-season action, Ronnie Gabriel and Papi Zothwane’s charges can now channel all their energy into the league.

Gallants, meanwhile, are entering a new era under French coach Alexandre Lafitte, who takes over from Abdeslam Ouaddou after a solid 10th-place finish last season.

Bahlabane Ba Ntwa ended the previous campaign strongly — one win and five draws in their last six matches — to steer clear of the relegation battle.

Lafitte has made it clear that making an early statement is essential for his project to take off.

“I think the opening match is very important because we really want to get off to a good start,” he said. “We’ve got exciting young players in this project, and we intend to play with a lot of intensity to win the first game.”

With both Richards Bay and Gallants targeting the upper reaches of the table, Saturday’s clash could set the tone for their seasons. The Rich Boys will look to the experience of their core players to impose themselves, while Gallants’ fresh tactical approach under Lafitte could catch the hosts off guard.

Two very different match-ups, yet both brimming with early-season intrigue — Arrows aiming to spoil the celebration in Bloemfontein, and Richards Bay eager to claim first blood in Umlazi.