Some weekends you can watch from the couch with one remote. This is not one of them. Our three biggest football clubs are spread across three countries, the Premiership keeps going without them, and on Sunday morning the Proteas walk out in Gqeberha one Test down. Here are the SA sport weekend fixtures for Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October, with every time in SAST, and a straight answer where a time has not been confirmed yet.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October 2026 |
| CAF first legs | Pirates (Gaborone), Chiefs (Ndola), Sundowns (Angola) |
| Premiership | Four matches, Saturday and Sunday |
| Cricket | Second Test v Australia, day one Sunday, 10:00, St George’s Park |
| Rugby | No URC round this weekend |
SA sport weekend fixtures at a glance
| Day | Match | Competition | Time (SAST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 17 October | African Stars v Orlando Pirates | CAF Champions League | To be confirmed | Botswana National Stadium, Gaborone |
| Saturday 17 October | Red Arrows v Kaizer Chiefs | CAF Confederation Cup | To be confirmed (reported 15:00) | Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola |
| Saturday 17 October | Chippa United v Kruger United | Betway Premiership | 15:30 | Buffalo City Stadium, East London |
| Saturday 17 October | Golden Arrows v Milford | Betway Premiership | 15:30 | King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium, Durban |
| Saturday 17 October | Sekhukhune United v Marumo Gallants | Betway Premiership | 18:00 | Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane |
| Sunday 18 October | South Africa v Australia, second Test, day one | Test series | 10:00 | St George’s Park, Gqeberha |
| Sunday 18 October | Wiliete v Mamelodi Sundowns | CAF Champions League | To be confirmed | Angola (reported: Lubango) |
| Sunday 18 October | Siwelele v Polokwane City | Betway Premiership | 15:30 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
Premiership times are from the PSL match centre and the Test start time from Cricket South Africa. CAF has not published kick-off times for the three African ties, and the reports we have found either disagree or do not give one, so we will update this guide when CAF or the clubs confirm them.
Saturday: Pirates, at home to nobody
African Stars are the home side in this second preliminary round tie, but not on Namibian soil. With no Namibian ground cleared for CAF’s club competitions, the Namibian champions picked the Botswana National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana’s state news agency BOPA reports. For why the venue, the seeding and the away-goals rule matter so much at this stage, our CAF Champions League explainer walks through it.
On the kick-off time, the sources split. African Stars’ own announcement in September gave 15:00 Namibian time, which is the same as SAST, Briefly News reported. A report this week from AfricaSoccer gave 19:00. Until CAF or one of the clubs settles it, treat it as unconfirmed.
The Stars got here the hard way. They lost their first-round home leg 3-1 to AS Mangasport of Gabon, won 2-0 away, and went through on away goals. AfricaSoccer reports they have since changed coach: Gerald Guther, previously in charge of Namibia’s Under-17 side, replaced Ronnie Kanalelo, who left for Marumo Gallants. Pirates host the return the following weekend. Our Orlando Pirates page has the club’s story.
Saturday: Chiefs in Ndola
Kaizer Chiefs open their Confederation Cup campaign at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola against Red Arrows. ZamFoot in Zambia and AfricaSoccer in South Africa both have the first leg on Saturday, and both give 15:00, which is the same in Zambia and South Africa. Neither club nor CAF has published the time, so we list it as reported until they do.
Red Arrows earned this tie by beating FC Rouge of Madagascar 4-0 on aggregate in the first round, Lusaka Times reported. ZamFoot says they will be without midfielder Alassane Diarra, suspended after a red card in their league opener, and notes that reaching the group stage would be a first for the club. That is the kind of motivation that makes a first leg awkward.
Chiefs moved their league game against Stellenbosch to make room for this trip, and drew it 1-1 on Tuesday. Our report on that draw has the detail. The return leg is in Durban the following weekend, at Moses Mabhida Stadium; reports differ on whether it is the Friday or the Saturday, so check back before you buy a ticket.
Saturday: the Premiership plays on
With the big three away, the Saturday programme belongs to the rest of the league, and it has a newcomers’ flavour. Kruger United and Milford are both in their first top-flight season.
Chippa United host Kruger United at Buffalo City Stadium in East London at 15:30. At the same time, Golden Arrows welcome Milford to King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in Durban. Then at 18:00 Sekhukhune United meet Marumo Gallants at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. Our view: Arrows at home to a promoted side is the game most likely to tell us something about where the middle of the table is heading.
Sunday: Sundowns in Angola
The holders start their defence of the CAF Champions League away to Wiliete on Sunday. As one of CAF’s top seeds, Sundowns skipped the first round, CAF confirms. Wiliete earned their place by beating Foresters of the Seychelles 5-0 on aggregate, finishing the job at the Estadio Nacional da Tundavala in Lubango.
AfricaSoccer reports Lubango will host this tie too, roughly 350km from Wiliete’s usual home in Benguela. CAF has not published the venue or the kick-off time, so both stay provisional here. Sundowns host the return at home the following weekend. Our Mamelodi Sundowns page has the bigger picture on the club.
Sunday: the second Test, and Siwelele in Bloemfontein
Day one of the second Test starts at 10:00 at St George’s Park, Cricket South Africa’s schedule confirms. Australia lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning by 214 runs at Kingsmead, so a defeat in Gqeberha would hand them the series. The ICC reports Kagiso Rabada is in line to return, though the XI has not been named; our One to Watch on Rabada covers what his comeback could change. The third Test follows at Newlands from Tuesday 27 October, also at 10:00.
In the afternoon, Siwelele host Polokwane City at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein at 15:30, the only Premiership match of the day.
Rugby: a quiet weekend
There is no United Rugby Championship round this weekend. Round three finished on 10 October, and round four is on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October, according to the published fixture list. Rugby fans, the Proteas and the CAF ties are all yours.
What this weekend could decide
Nothing gets settled in a first leg, but plenty can be lost. If Pirates, Chiefs and Sundowns all come home level or ahead, the return legs in South Africa start with the home side in charge. If one of them slips badly on the road, that club starts the following week chasing the tie with league fixtures still waiting. In the league, Sundowns lead Pirates by a point with Pirates holding a game in hand, so nobody at the top can afford a hangover from a long trip.
And in Gqeberha, it is simpler still. Win, and it is 1-1 going to Cape Town. Lose, and the series is gone.
Frequently asked questions
What time do Orlando Pirates play African Stars on Saturday?
The kick-off time is not confirmed. African Stars announced 15:00 Namibian time, which is the same as SAST, in September, but a report this week gave 19:00. Wait for CAF or the clubs to confirm before you plan your afternoon.
Where are Kaizer Chiefs playing Red Arrows?
At Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia, on Saturday 17 October. Zambian and South African reports give a 15:00 kick-off, which is the same time in both countries, but neither club nor CAF has published it yet. The return leg is at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban the following weekend.
When do Mamelodi Sundowns play Wiliete?
Sundowns play Wiliete away in Angola on Sunday 18 October, with the venue reported as the Estadio Nacional da Tundavala in Lubango. No kick-off time has been published. Sundowns host the second leg the following weekend.
What time does the second Test at St George’s Park start?
Play starts at 10:00 SAST on Sunday 18 October, according to Cricket South Africa’s schedule. The Test runs to Thursday 22 October. Australia lead the series 1-0.
Is there URC rugby this weekend?
No. Round three ended on 10 October and round four is on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October. The South African sides are back in action that weekend.