Super League round 1: Rabotnicki in Strumica; Skopje host Kozhuf; Pelister meet TFT

Three opening-round games in the Macedonian Super League take the spotlight on October 4, 2026, with matches in Strumica, Skopje and Bitola scheduled across the afternoon and evening.

Rabotnicki visit Strumica; Skopje host Kozhuf; Pelister meet TFT

In Strumica, the home side will host Rabotnicki in a fixture that kicks off at 17:00. Rabotnicki captain Viktor Efremovski set the tone for the season ahead: "I expect an interesting and uncertain season with many exciting matches. Every game will be a new challenge and I think the competition will be strong. I hope for fair play, full stands and a good atmosphere, and we will give our all to justify the trust of our supporters," he said.

Strumica enter the campaign with a young roster and the primary objective of securing top‑flight survival, but they also hope to produce surprise results. "We expect a quality and unpredictable season. Apart from MZT Skopje and Rabotnicki, I believe the other teams are of fairly equal quality and that nuances will decide the standings. For us this will be a great experience, especially for the young players, and we want to improve from game to game," said their captain, Aleksandar Shaikarov.

At SC "Jane Sandanski" Skopje take on Kozhuf at 18:30. Skopje captain Marjan Mladenovic outlined the club's targets: "The ambitions for the new season are to be in the Top 6 and to play better and better from match to match. Our biggest weapon will be solid defense and a fast offense. I expect the championship to be quite unpredictable. Nuances will decide every position," he announced.

Kozhuf arrive under coach Miodrag Todorovic, who last season guided the surprise package Majdari. Todorovic believes this season will be tightly contested: "The league, in my opinion, will be very balanced. Some clubs have strengthened a lot compared to last year. Some perhaps not so much, but this year, it seems to me that it could be the most interesting and most unpredictable. The advantage for my team this year should be physical preparedness. A win is important in every round, not just the first. Yet the opening round carries its own weight and importance. For us it will be of great significance to take a victory, to send a message to the fans that we will go for a win in every match."

The day's programme closes in Bitola, where Pelister host TFT with a 19:00 start. Expectation across the league is for close contests and lively atmospheres as teams begin their bids for this season's standings.

Photo: KK Pelister