Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League is the trading name of the National Soccer League (NSL) of South Africa, also known by its initials (PSL). The top league is the ABSA Premier League, sponsored by ABSA. The next highest league is the National First Division, which is divided into two regional streams.
The current CEO of the PSL is Norwegian Kjetil Siem who succeeded Englishman Trevor Phillips after the 06/07 season. The PSL's headquarters are located in Parktown, Johannesburg.
History
The PSL was founded by Kaizer Motaung, Irvin Khoza, Raymond Hack and Jomo Sono, in 1996.Manning Rangers were the first to be crowned champions of the PSL in 1997 when the Gordon Igesund-coached side was stunning all and sundry by winning the title ahead of a number of more fancied opponents.
From 1998 to 2000 the league was dominated by Sundowns, who pulled off a hat-trick of titles.
In 2001, Igesund moved to Orlando Pirates and helped the Buccaneers secure the title. The following season he moved to Cape Town-based Santos, and steered it to win the league title, thus becoming the first coach to win the championship with three different clubs.
The 11 April 2001 marked a dark chapter in South African history when 43 people lost their lives and 158 others were injured in a stampede during a match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at an overcrowded Ellis Park Stadium.
The league was reduced from 18 to 16 teams after the end of the 2001/2002 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 soccer. 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 2005/2006 season saw Mamelodi Sundowns capturing the title for the fourth time.
The PSL has helped raise the standard of club soccer in South Africa, providing the sport with better media coverage and much-improved revenue through strong sponsorship deals. Sponsors include renowned brands like SABC, SAA, Vodacom, Telkom and Coca-Cola. It has also provided a platform for local players to make their mark and catch the eye of overseas clubs.
In February 2007, the much-awaited launch of a Reserve League pilot project took place. The football fraternity, including newly-appointed Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira had been calling for a Reserve league to strengthen domestic structures ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Norwegian Kjetil Siem will be the league's new CEO after Trevor Phillips announced his retirement from the post after numerous years.
Sponsorship
Since its inception in 1996, the Premier Soccer League 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:- 1996–2007: Castle Lager (Castle Premiership)
- 2007–: ABSA (ABSA Premiership)
Format
There are sixteen clubs in the Premier League. During the course of a season (which lasts from August to May) 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 of the Premier League and the second placed team advance to the MTN CAF Champions League, the third placed team, and the Nedbank Cup champions, advance to the CAF Confederation Cup, which is the African equivalent of the UEFA Cup.
The bottom team in the ABSA Premier League is automatically relegated.
2006/2007 season
2007/2008 Premier Soccer League teams
| Ajax Cape Town Urban Warriors | AmaZulu Usuthu | Bidvest Wits The Students | Black Leopards Lidoda Duvha | Bloemfontein Celtic Phunya Sele Sele | Free State Stars Ea Lla Koto |
| Golden Arrows Abafana Bes'thende | Jomo Cosmos Ezenkosi | Kaizer Chiefs Amakhosi | Mamelodi Sundowns The Brazilians | Moroka Swallows The Birds |
| Orlando Pirates The Buccaneers | Platinum Stars The Lions of the North | Santos The People's Team | Supersport United Matsatsantsa | Thanda Royal Zulu Amabhubesi |
Maritzburg United were relegated to the National First Division after the 2006/2007 season. 15th-placed AmaZulu survived the drop after winning the relegation/promotion play-offs.
League table
for updated standings visit PSL.co.zaTop goalscorers
Last updated April 27, 2008PSL managers
| Manager | Club | Appointed |
|---|---|---|
| Craig Rosslee | Ajax Cape Town | July 2007 |
| Clive Barker | AmaZulu | July 2007 |
| Vladislav Heric | Bay United | |
| Roger De Sa | Bidvest Wits | June 2007 |
| Khabo Zondo | Bloemfontein Celtic | May 2007 |
| Kinnah Phiri | Free State Stars | July 2007 |
| Manqoba Mngqithi | Golden Arrows | January 2007 |
| Muhsin Ertuğral | Kaizer Chiefs | June 2007 |
| Trott Moloto | Mamelodi Sundowns | |
| Gordon Igesund | Maritzburg United | |
| Ian Gorowa | Moroka Swallows | June 2007 |
| Owen Da Gama | Orlando Pirates | September 2007 |
| Miguel Gamondi | Platinum Stars | December 2007 |
| David Bright | Santos | January 2008 |
| Gavin Hunt | Supersport United | June 2007 |
| Roger Palmgren | Thanda Royal Zulu | August 2007 |
Replaced managers
Last updated January 10, 2008| Club | Date | Out | In |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando Pirates | September 2007 | Bibey Mutombo | Owen Da Gama |
| Platinum Stars | September 2007 | Owen Da Gama | Allan Freese & Thierry Mulonzo |
| Platinum Stars | December 2007 | Allan Freese & Thierry Mulonzo | Miguel Gamondi |
| Santos | January 2008 | Jean-Marc Ithier | David Bright |
Past seasons
2005-06 season
2006-07 season
2007-08 season
Past winners
| Season | Winner | Relegated | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | Manning Rangers | Michau Warriors; Witbank Aces | Kaizer Chiefs |
| 1997–98 | Mamelodi Sundowns | African Wanderers; Real Rovers | Kaizer Chiefs |
| 1998–99 | Mamelodi Sundowns | Dynamos; Vaal Professionals | Kaizer Chiefs |
| 1999–00 | Mamelodi Sundowns | AmaZulu; Mother City | Orlando Pirates |
| 2000-01 | Orlando Pirates | Bloemfontein Celtic; African Wanderers | Kaizer Chiefs |
| 2001-02 | Santos | AmaZulu; Tembisa Classic | Supersport United |
| 2002-03 | Orlando Pirates | Bush Bucks; African Wanderers | Supersport United |
| 2003-04 | Kaizer Chiefs | Hellenic; Zulu Royals | Ajax Cape Town |
| 2004-05 | Kaizer Chiefs | Manning Rangers; Wits University | Orlando Pirates |
| 2005-06 | Mamelodi Sundowns | Free State Stars; Bush Bucks | Orlando Pirates |
| 2006-07 | Mamelodi Sundowns | Maritzburg United | Silver Stars |
| 2007-08 | SuperSport United | Black Leopards; Jomo Cosmos | Ajax Cape Town |
League records
- Most PSL titles: 5 – Mamelodi Sundowns (1997/98; 1998/99; 1999/00, 2005/06, 2006/07)
- Biggest PSL win: 8-1 – Supersport vs Zulu Royals (2003/04)
- Most goals scored in a season: 73 – Chiefs (1998/99)
- Most goals conceded in a season: 85 – Mother City (1999/00)
- Most points in a season: 75 – Sundowns (1999/00)
All time (1996/97-2007/08) PSL records by clubs
| (Pts) # | Club | Seasons | GP | W | D | L | Pts | PPG | (PPG) # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaizer Chiefs | 12 (1996/97-2007/08) | 384 | 184 | 131 | 69 | 683 | 1.779 | 1 |
| 2 | Mamelodi Sundowns | 12 (1996/97-2007/08) | 384 | 192 | 103 | 89 | 679 | 1.768 | 2 |
| 3 | Orlando Pirates | 12 (1996/97-2007/08) | 384 | 185 | 121 | 78 | 676 | 1.760 | 3 |
| 4 | Supersport United | 12 (1996/97-2007/08) | 384 | 150 | 124 | 110 | 574 | 1.495 | 4 |
| 5 | Moroka Swallows | 12 (1996/97-2007/08) | 384 | 144 | 110 | 130 | 542 | 1.411 | 7 |
| 6 | Jomo Cosmos | 12 (1996/97-2007/08) | 384 | 125 | 134 | 125 | 509 | 1.326 | 12 |
| 7 | Bidvest Wits | 11 (1996/97-2004/05, 2006/07-2007/08) | 354 | 118 | 120 | 116 | 474 | 1.339 | 11 |
| 8 | Santos | 11 (1997/98-2007/08) | 350 | 120 | 114 | 116 | 474 | 1.354 | 10 |
| 9 | Ajax Cape Town | 10 (1998/99-2007/08) | 316 | 123 | 82 | 111 | 451 | 1.427 | 5 |
| 10 | Manning Rangers | 9 (1996/97-2004/05) | 294 | 114 | 73 | 107 | 415 | 1.412 | 6 |
| 11 | Hellenic | 10 (1996/97-2003/04, 2006/07-2007/08) | 324 | 93 | 92 | 139 | 371 | 1.145 | 18 |
| 12 | Bush Bucks | 9 (1996/97-2004/05) | 294 | 97 | 78 | 119 | 369 | 1.255 | 16 |
| 13 | Bloemfontein Celtic | 9 (1996/97-2000/01, 2004/05-2007/08) | 290 | 98 | 71 | 121 | 365 | 1.259 | 15 |
| 14 | Free State Stars | 8 (1996/97-2001/02, 2005/06,2007/08) | 264 | 86 | 89 | 89 | 347 | 1.314 | 13 |
| 15 | Golden Arrows | 8 (2000/01-2007/08) | 248 | 82 | 79 | 87 | 325 | 1.310 | 14 |
| 16 | AmaZulu | 9 (1996/97-1999/00, 2001/2002,2003/2004, 2005/2006-2007/08) | 290 | 70 | 80 | 140 | 290 | 1.000 | 21 |
| 17 | Black Leopards | 7 (2001/02-2007/08) | 214 | 67 | 53 | 94 | 254 | 1.187 | 17 |
| 18 | Platinum Stars | 5 (2003/04-2007/08) | 150 | 52 | 51 | 47 | 207 | 1.380 | 9 |
| 19 | Mother City | 4 (1996/97-1999/00) | 136 | 40 | 34 | 62 | 154 | 1.132 | 19 |
| 20 | Dynamos | 4 (1998/99, 2002/03-2004/05) | 124 | 29 | 39 | 56 | 126 | 1.016 | 20 |
| 21 | African Wanderers | 4 (1997/98, 1999/00-2000/01, 2002/03) | 132 | 28 | 30 | 74 | 114 | 0.864 | 26 |
| 22 | Tembisa Classic | 3 (1999/00-2001/02) | 102 | 24 | 30 | 48 | 102 | 1.000 | 22 |
| 23 | Vaal Professionals | 3 (1996/97-1998/99) | 102 | 23 | 26 | 53 | 95 | 0.931 | 25 |
| 24 | Ria Stars | 2 (2000/01-2001/02) | 68 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 94 | 1.382 | 8 |
| 25 | Real Rovers | 2 (1996/97-1997/98) | 68 | 16 | 19 | 33 | 67 | 0.985 | 23 |
| 26 | Maritzburg United | 1 (2005/06-2006/07) | 60 | 11 | 18 | 31 | 51 | 0.850 | 27 |
| 27 | Michau Warriors | 1 (1996/97) | 34 | 9 | 6 | 19 | 33 | 0.971 | 24 |
| 28 | Witbank Aces | 1 (1996/97) | 34 | 4 | 7 | 23 | 19 | 0.559 | 28 |
Top goalscorers
| Season | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006/2007 | Chris Katongo | Jomo Cosmos | 15 |
| 2005/2006 | Mame Niang | Moroka Swallows | 14 |
| 2004/2005 | Collins Mbesuma | Kaizer Chiefs | 25 |
| 2003/2004 | Jackie Ledwaba | Zulu Royals | 14 |
| 2002/2003 | Lesley Manyathela† | Orlando Pirates | 18 |
| 2001/2002 | Ishmael Maluleke | Manning Rangers | 18 |
| 2000/2001 | Daniel Mudau | Sundowns | 15 |
| 1999/2000 | Daniel Mudau | Sundowns | 15 |
| 1998/1999 | Pollen Ndlanya | Kaizer Chiefs | 21 |
| 1997/1998 | Keryn Jordan | Manning Rangers | 11 |
| 1996/1997 | Wilfred Mugeyi | Bush Bucks | 22 |
- Youngest player to score a goal in PSL history:
Thulani Ngcepe, Moroka Swallows : 16 years, 359 days (January 14, 2007) 
- Most goals scored in one match by a single player :
James Chamanga, Moroka Swallows : five (December 09, 2007)
Notable current players
- (Supersport)
- (Sundowns)
- (Chiefs)
- (Chiefs)
- (Thanda)
- (Ajax CT)
- (Bidvest Wits)
- (Pirates)
- (Sundowns)
- (Pirates)
- (Thanda)
- (Pirates)
- (Sundowns)
- (AmaZulu)
- (Chiefs)
- (Supersport)
- (Pirates)
- (Sundowns)
- (Chiefs)
- (Sundowns)
- (Chiefs)
- (Chiefs)
- (Santos)
- (Jomo Cosmos)
- (Ajax CT)
Notable former players
- (Chiefs)
- (Sundowns)
- (Chiefs)
- (Pirates)
- (Cosmos)
- (Cosmos)
- (Chiefs)
- (Rangers)
- † (Pirates)
- (Sundowns)
- (Chiefs)
- (Seven Stars)
- (Cosmos)
- (Santos)
- † (Sundowns)
- (Sundowns)
- (Bush Bucks)
- (Rangers)
- (Cosmos)
- (Swallows)
- (Pirates)
- (Chiefs)
- (Chiefs)
- (Ajax CT)
- (Chiefs)
- (Supersport)
- (Chiefs)
- (Pirates)
- (Pirates)
- (Moroka Swallows)
- Note: Some players have played for more than one team
Founder Members
AmaZuluBloemfontein Celtic
Cape Town Spurs
Hellenic
Jomo Cosmos
Kaizer Chiefs
Manning Rangers
Michau Warriors
Moroka Swallows
Orlando Pirates
QwaQwa Stars
Real Rovers
Mamelodi Sundowns
Supersport United
Umtata Bush Bucks
Vaal Professionals
Witbank Aces
Wits University
Executive Committee
Irvin Khoza (chairman)Kaizer Motaung
Mato Madlala
Natasha Tsichlas
John Comitis
David Thidiela
Goolam Allie
Stanley Matthews
See also
References
External links
- Premier Soccer League (PSL) Official Website
- South African Football Association (SAFA) Official Website
- Confederation of African Football (CAF) Official Website
- RSSSF competition history
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Last updated on Friday September 19, 2008 at 20:31:48 PDT (GMT -0700)
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