South African Premier Division


The South African Premier Division is a South African professional football league highest division of South African football league system. As the division is the top level of association football in South Africa, it is often referred to as the PSL – the name of the league's administrator.
The Premier Soccer League, South Africa's "administrator of professional football in the Republic of South Africa" refer to the competition as the "Premier Division" in their constitution.

History

The league was founded in 1996 after an agreement between the National Soccer League and the remnants of the National Professional Soccer League.
The league was reduced from 18 to 16 teams after the end of the 2001–02 season to avoid fixture congestion, causing two teams, Ria Stars and Free State Stars, to be disbanded.
In 2004, a match-fixing scandal rocked South African football. An investigation codenamed "Operation Dribble" was launched by the South African police in June 2004. More than 40 arrests were made, ranging from club bosses to match commissioners, referees and their assistants.
Kaizer Chiefs successfully defended their league title in 2005 after they won the prestigious trophy in 2004 for the first time in a decade.
The 2005–06 season saw Mamelodi Sundowns capturing the title for the fourth time.
In 2007, the PSL signed a television deal with SuperSport worth R1.6-billion. It is the biggest sporting deal in the history of South Africa, and it took the Premier Division into the top 15 ranked leagues in the world in terms of commercial broadcast deals.
In the same year ABSA replaced Castle Lager as name sponsor.
In 2008, 2009 and 2010 SuperSport United won a hat-trick of titles.
As of May 2019, the league is rated as the 6th best in Africa according to the CAF 5-Year Ranking system.
For the 2018–19 season, the PSL gives each club a monthly grant of 2 million rand, with funds coming from the television broadcasting rights and national sponsorships. The Premiership champion earns a 10 million rand prize.
In 2019, ABSA increased their sponsorship to the PSL to 39.9 million rands. This meant that ABSA Premiership league winners pocket 15 million rands. However, as of the 4th of June 2020,ABSA has canceled its sponsorship with the PSL.

CEOs

Since its inception in 1996, the Premier Division has been sponsored. The sponsor has been able to determine the league's sponsorship name. The list below details who the sponsors have been and what they called the competition:
South Africa's Premier Soccer League has awarded a $277 million, five year television rights deal to the country's SuperSport satellite channel, operated by media conglomerate Naspers. The deal, which begins in a year's time, extends the arrangement SuperSport entered into with PSL in 2007, covering the five years to May 2012 at a cost of $200 million.
Broadcasting about seven live football matches a week, SuperSport sub-licenses certain games to the state TV network, South African Broadcasting Corporation.

Format

There are sixteen clubs in the Premier League. During the course of a season each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents for a total of 30 games for each club. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a defeat.
The champion and runners up of the Premier Division advances to the CAF Champions League, while the third-place finishers and the Nedbank Cup champions advance to the CAF Confederation Cup.
The bottom team in the ABSA Premiership is automatically relegated and replaced by the winner of the National First Division. The team finishing 15th on the log enters a mini-league playoff with the teams who finished 2nd and 3rd in the National First Division – the winner earning a place in Premier Soccer League for the following season.

Media coverage

The league's main broadcast partner is SuperSport. SuperSport have in turn sub leased the rights to certain matches to the SABC, so that matches can be shown on public television.
SuperSport broadcast matches on Wednesday and Friday nights, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays. The SABC broadcast Wednesday afternoon matches, as well as Saturday and Sunday matches.

Clubs

Previous winners, runners-up, relegated and promoted teams

SeasonWinnerRunner-upRelegatedPromoted
1996–97Manning RangersKaizer ChiefsMichau Warriors, Witbank AcesSantos, African Wanderers
1997–98Mamelodi SundownsKaizer ChiefsAfrican Wanderers, Real RoversSeven Stars, Dynamos
1998–99Mamelodi SundownsKaizer ChiefsDynamos, Vaal ProfessionalsAfrican Wanderers, Tembisa Classic
1999-00Mamelodi SundownsOrlando PiratesAmaZulu, Mother City F.C.Golden Arrows, Ria Stars
2000–01Orlando PiratesKaizer ChiefsBloemfontein Celtic, African WanderersAmazulu, Black Leopards
2001–02SantosSuperSport UnitedAmaZulu, Thembisa ClassicAfrican Wanderers, Dynamos
2002–03Orlando PiratesSuperSport UnitedUmtata Bush Bucks, African WanderersAmaZulu, Silver Stars
2003–04Kaizer ChiefsAjax Cape TownHellenic, Zulu RoyalsBush Bucks, Bloemfontein Celtic
2004–05Kaizer ChiefsOrlando PiratesManning Rangers, Wits UniversityFree State Stars, Tembisa Classic
2005–06Mamelodi SundownsOrlando PiratesFree State Stars, Bush BucksWits University, Benoni Premier United
2006–07Mamelodi SundownsPlatinum StarsMaritzburg UnitedFree State Stars
2007–08SuperSport UnitedAjax Cape TownBlack Leopards, Jomo CosmosMaritzburg United, Bay United
2008–09SuperSport UnitedOrlando PiratesBay United, Thanda Royal ZuluJomo Cosmos, Mpumalanga Black Aces
2009–10SuperSport UnitedMamelodi SundownsJomo CosmosVasco da Gama
2010–11Orlando PiratesAjax Cape TownMpumalanga Black Aces, Vasco da GamaJomo Cosmos, Black Leopards
2011–12Orlando PiratesMoroka SwallowsSantos, Jomo CosmosUniversity of Pretoria, Chippa United
2012–13Kaizer ChiefsPlatinum StarsChippa United, Black LeopardsMpumalanga Black Aces, Polokwane City
2013–14Mamelodi SundownsKaizer ChiefsGolden ArrowsChippa United
2014–15Kaizer ChiefsMamelodi SundownsMoroka Swallows, AmaZuluGolden Arrows, Jomo Cosmos
2015–16Mamelodi SundownsBidvest WitsJomo Cosmos, University of PretoriaBaroka, Highlands Park
2016–17Bidvest WitsMamelodi SundownsHighlands ParkAmaZulu
2017–18Mamelodi SundownsOrlando PiratesAjax Cape Town, Platinum StarsHighlands Park, Black Leopards
2018–19Mamelodi SundownsOrlando PiratesFree State StarsStellenbosch F.C.

Most league titles

Manager records

League winning managers

SeasonWinnerManager
1996–97Manning Rangers Gordon Igesund
1997–98Mamelodi Sundowns Ted Dumitru
1998–99Mamelodi Sundowns Ted Dumitru
1999–00Mamelodi Sundowns Paul Dolezar
2000–01Orlando Pirates Gordon Igesund
2001–02Santos Gordon Igesund
2002–03Orlando Pirates Roy Barreto
2003–04Kaizer Chiefs Ted Dumitru
2004–05Kaizer Chiefs Ted Dumitru
2005–06Mamelodi Sundowns Neil Tovey &
Miguel Gamondi
2006–07Mamelodi Sundowns Gordon Igesund
2007–08SuperSport United Gavin Hunt
2008–09SuperSport United Gavin Hunt
2009–10SuperSport United Gavin Hunt
2010–11Orlando Pirates Ruud Krol
2011–12Orlando Pirates Augusto Palacios
2012–13Kaizer Chiefs Stuart Baxter
2013–14Mamelodi Sundowns Pitso Mosimane
2014–15Kaizer Chiefs Stuart Baxter
2015–16Mamelodi Sundowns Pitso Mosimane
2016–17Bidvest Wits Gavin Hunt
2017–18Mamelodi Sundowns Pitso Mosimane
2018–19Mamelodi Sundowns Pitso Mosimane

Most successful managers

ManagerClubWinWinning year
Ted DumitruMamelodi Sundowns,
Kaizer Chiefs 		41997–98, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2004–05
Gavin HuntSuperSport United,
Bidvest Wits		42007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2016–17
Gordon IgesundManning Rangers, Orlando Pirates, Santos, Mamelodi Sundowns41996–97, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2006–07
Pitso MosimaneMamelodi Sundowns 42013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19
Stuart BaxterKaizer Chiefs 22012–13, 2014–15

ClubNumber of seasons in Premier DivisionSeasons
African Wanderers41997/98, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2002/03
AmaZulu151996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2001/02, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15
Ajax Cape Town181999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17
Baroka42016/17,
2017/18,
2018/19,
2019/20

Bay United12008/09
Benoni Premier United12006/07
Bidvest Wits221996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17,
2017/18,
2018/19,
2019/20

Black Leopards92001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2011/12, 2012/13
Bloemfontein Celtic211996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17,
2017/18,
2018/19,
2019/20
Bush Bucks91996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06
Cape Town Spurs31996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99
Cape Town City42016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20
Chippa United72012/13, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17,
2017/18,
2018/19,
2019/20
Dynamos51998/99, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06,
Free State Stars191996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17,
2017/18,
2018/19
Hellenic81996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04
Highlands Park32016/17,
2017/18,
2019/20

Jomo Cosmos151996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2011/12, 2015/16
Kaizer Chiefs24all
Lamontville Golden Arrows162000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2015/16, 2016/17
Mamelodi Sundowns24all
Manning Rangers91996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05
Maritzburg United132006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17,
2017/18,
2018/19,
2019/20

Michau Warriors11996/97
Moroka Swallows191996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15
Mother City F.C.11999/00
Mpumalanga Black Aces61996/97, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16
Orlando Pirates24all
Platinum Stars142003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17
Polokwane City72013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17,
2017/18,
2018/19,
2019/20
Real Rovers21996/97, 1997/98
Ria Stars22000/01, 2001/02
Santos151997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12
Seven Stars11998/99
SuperSport United24all
Tembisa Classic41999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2005/06
Thanda Royal Zulu22007/08, 2008/09
University of Pretoria42012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16
Vaal Professionals31996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99
Vasco da Gama12010/11

Local Trophies Winners

Top goalscorers

All-time top goalscorers

NB: list includes all players who have scored at least 100 goals in the PSL era. Also includes cup competitions.
Source:

All-Time table

Current players playing in other confederations

Footballers who have previously played for Premier Division clubs, and currently play for clubs in other confederation