The Soweto giants will begin their campaign against past winners of the competition
Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs will face tricky challenges in the PSL Reserve League as they start their season with matches against past winners AmaZulu and Golden Arrows respectively.
Pirates will begin their campaign on August 31 against Usuthu, the 2020-21 champions, hoping to improve on last season’s third place finish while Chiefs, who were fifth in 2023-24, search a bright start when they take to the pitch on September 1.
Soweto giants looking for improvements
The Buccaneers will likely still be under Joseph Makhanya and the tactician will be expected to oversee improved results after the Soweto giants lost eight of their 30 games last season, contributing to the third-place finish.
Chiefs, meanwhile, will be under Vela Khumalo, hoping for a change in fortunes against two-time winners Golden Arrows.
Chiefs were let down by their nine draws last season and if they can convert most of the stalemates into wins, they will be in a good position to challenge for the DStv Diski Challenge crown.
Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns, second to Stellenbosch FC last season, will begin their season against Richards Bay on August 31. The Brazilians missed the title by just three points and will want to right those wrongs in 2024-25.
What else is there to know?
The other match to look forward to is the clash between Royal AM and TS Galaxy scheduled for September 1.
This is because Galaxy will be under new coaches as former Bafana Bafana star Bernard Parker and Vuyo Mere begin their coaching journeys.
The PSL Reserve League will be marking 10 years since its inception, having been started in 2014 to develop youth football in South Africa.
Holders Stellenbosch are one of the two teams to have won the title twice, the Stellies doing it in 2021-22 and 2023-24, while Golden Arrows triumphed in 2015-16 and 2017-18.
Pirates and Chiefs have never laid their hands on the trophy with Amatuks (2014-15), Mamelodi Sundowns (2016-17), Bloemfontein Celtic (2018-19), Bidvest Wits (2019-20), AmaZulu (2020-21) and SuperSport United (2022-23) the other teams to have won it.
When and where to watch?
The first round of matches will be played on August 31 and September 1 at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban and will be live on SuperSport TV.
Entry into the stadium is free but fans must be in possession of a match ticket which can be collected at the stadium's ticket office on Friday between 13:00 and 18:00.
DSTV DISKI CHALLENGE WEEK 1 FIXTURES
DOWNLOAD DISKI CHALLENGE FIXTURES.pdf
| DATE | FIXTURE | BROADCAST | VENUE | TIME |
| 31/08/2024 | Chippa v Marumo Gallants | NO | Buffalo City Stadium | 10:00 |
| 31/08/2024 | AmaZulu v Orlando Pirates | SS PSL | King Zwelithini Stadium | 10:00 |
| 31/08/2024 | Magesi v Stellenbosch | NO | Old Peter Mokaba Stadium | 10:00 |
| 31/08/2024 | Richards Bay v Mamelodi Sundowns | SS PSL | King Zwelithini Stadium | 12:00 |
| 01/09/2024 | SuperSport United v Polokwane City | SS PSL | King Zwelithini Stadium | 10:00 |
| 01/09/2024 | Cape Town City v Sekhukhune United | NO | Malta Park Sports Ground | 10:00 |
| 01/09/2024 | Golden Arrows v Kaizer Chiefs | SS PSL | King Zwelithini Stadium | 12:00 |
