Galaxy Unbeaten in Five vs Chiefs – Can Amakhosi Break the Curse?
Kaizer Chiefs will attempt to close out the 2025 calendar year on a high when they travel to the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday for a crucial Betway Premiership clash against TS Galaxy. It has been a taxing week for Amakhosi, who by Sunday will have played in three different provinces within seven days — from Limpopo to the Eastern Cape, and now into Mpumalanga.
Their midweek trip to Gqeberha delivered frustration rather than progress, as Chiefs were held to a goalless draw by Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. That result kept the Soweto giants on 23 points after 12 matches, in fifth position and five points behind runaway leaders Orlando Pirates.
Chiefs began the season with three consecutive victories and early optimism, yet inconsistency has crept in through a string of draws — five already — which have slowed momentum and raised pressure on the playing group and the co-coaching duo of Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef. A victory in Nelspruit, however, would dramatically improve their outlook, lifting them to third place and level on 26 points with champions Mamelodi Sundowns, separated only by goal difference.
TS Galaxy enter the fixture with their own ambitions. The Rockets sit eighth with 20 points from 13 matches, having surrendered a chance to climb higher after a costly 2-1 defeat to Magesi FC. A home win over Chiefs would propel Galaxy into sixth place and draw them level with both Amakhosi and Polokwane City, keeping them firmly in contention for a top-eight finish.
Galaxy also hold a psychological advantage over Chiefs, having gone unbeaten in their last five meetings — four draws and one victory — a run that underscores just how tricky the Rockets have become for South Africa’s most decorated club.
Chiefs face this decisive encounter without several key players. Makabi Lilepo, Gaston Sirino and Bradley Cross remain unavailable due to injury, though the return of defenders Given Msimango and Aden McCarthy provides crucial stability at the back. Midfielder Ethan Chislett is once again fit and in contention, offering the technical team additional options amid a congested schedule. Galaxy, by contrast, report a clean bill of health and are expected to retain the side that held Polokwane City to a stalemate.
Speaking ahead of the match, Chiefs attacker Asanele Velebayi stressed the urgency to respond after the draw in Gqeberha. “Dropping points gives you the hunger to go all out in the next game,” he said, warning that Galaxy’s recent form demands full concentration. “I know it’s going to be intense. We just need the right mindset from everyone.”
Galaxy coach Adnan Beganović described the fixture as “another final” for his side, noting that the tightness of the table means two positive results can transform a team’s season. “Everything is on us,” he said. “We want to go home with something. If we reach 23 points before the break, the second round becomes much easier.”
Beyond the tactical and log implications, Sunday’s meeting carries emotional weight for Chiefs supporters, who hope to see their club deliver an early festive-season gift before the lengthy break caused by the Africa Cup of Nations. The club has urged fans to travel safely, wear their Gold and Black colours proudly, and use the municipality’s park-and-ride services to ensure a smooth matchday experience.
With both sides desperate to close the year with momentum — Chiefs chasing the summit, Galaxy fighting to solidify their top-eight status — the Mbombela Stadium is set for a gripping finale to the 2025 Premiership calendar.